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| “ | He grew up without feeling things like affection, happiness or love. And while it sounds awful… there were times when it came in handy. | „ |
| ~ China's opening line about her son. |
China Jurado or 'La China' is the villain deuteragonist and later, antagonist of El Jardinero, a Spanish Netflix mini-series.
She is the mother of contract killer Elmer Jurado and the intermediary in all of his contracts.
She is portrayed by Cecilia Suárez.
Personality[]
China is a calm and affectionate mother.
Around other people, she displays assertiveness, nonchalance, and sometimes uses abrasive language.
She shows another side to her when Elmer starts questioning or refusing her orders. Her manipulative nature comes to light. She makes it clear she will not stand being disrespected in any way.
China is very good at justifying her selfish actions with selfless motives, even to herself.
| “ | I know I corrupted that act of love, but I just wanted the best for both of us. | „ |
She is a good actress, a fact that allows her to mask her emotions to feign different ones at will. She slips in and out of the role of crime lord with ease.
Despite employing criminal means to obtain money--and having little consideration for his feelings--she is genuinely protective of her son.
Her anxiety is alluded to in the first episode, when she admits she can't eat when he is out on a job.
China may be spiritual or a believer, as she is seen routinely talking to her dead mother at the altar she made for her.
Humorously, most of the things she prays for on-screen are villainous (such as the death of someone.)
She spends time in the kitchen, cooking frijoles and spicy Mexican food.
Past[]
China fled an abusive living situation with her son, Elmer, when he was six. That same night, they got into a car crash after Elmer refused to fasten his seatbelt. His mother turned around to make him do it, momentarily unable to see the road ahead. The accident claimed her right leg and the emotions of her son who suffered permanent brain damage.
Following treatment, they moved to Spain together, to settle in the northwestern city of Pontevedra. Elmer developed a boundless interest in plants and trees. China opened a plant nursery.
Years passed by before her former agent and lover, Tony, came to visit her. She agreed to let him stay at her house. Despite China finding out Tony had moved continents to escape the consequences of his sexual relationship with a minor, he long overstays his welcome. He doesn't lift a finger around the house and his bad temper escalates into verbal and physical abuse. China is faced with domestic violence a second time. She confides in her son that Tony 'always comes back' in spite of her attempts to make him leave for good.
One evening, Tony chokes China in front of her son and Elmer kills the intruder in their lives. His mother then pulls him into an embrace--whether meant to comfort him or herself at what her son had become.
| “ | Never before had anyone done anything so beautiful for me. | „ |
| ~ China reflecting on the murder. |
Obsessively chasing after the house she left behind in Mexico, she stops at nothing to get the money she needs. She shows no moral qualms in exploiting her son's deficit for monetary gain.
Where one would see a severe health condition and be frantic at their son committing a premeditated murder, she sees opportunity.
Crimes and Evil Deeds[]
| “ | You turned your only son into a killer.
I killed eleven people because you were my mother.'' |
„ |
| ~ Elmer to China, when he saw through her manipulation. |
China's most serious offenses are: lying in wait, buying a murder (sollicitation) and criminal exploitation. She also destroys evidence that would lead to her and her son's inculpation by digging up the corpses buried on her property before a warrant is granted for excavation.
Additionally, she commits a multitude of other criminal or morally reprehensible acts throughout the series:
She sells her son's contract killings.
She finds comfort in knowing he can't be burdened by the affective blowback of murder.
She doesn't terminate the contract targeting her son's girlfriend because the fee agreed upon is significantly greater than that of previous contracts.
This implies he should kill the first person he has ever had feelings for.
She exploits her position as mother and only family to Elmer to coerce him into crimes he wouldn't commit otherwise.
Being his only next-of-kin, she uses her relationship to Elmer and his unique weakness for her own benefit. He is easy to persuade due to his level of indifference. She assures him he is doing it so that they can get their house back.
She consistently resorts to false promises and lies to keep her son working (killing).
She is shown saying 'this is the last one' several hits before Sabela entrusts her with a mission.
| “ | I built a small world on these deaths. A world for both of us to live in. | „ |
| ~ On starting their murder-for-hire business. |
She rejoices in her son's heartbreak.
Even though she is aware of Elmer's emotional fragility and immaturity, she finds satisfaction in seeing his hopes derailed for what it implies.
She eggs Elmer on and aggravates his emotional turmoil, taking advantage again of how easy he is to manipulate.
This is all done so she can convince him to kill Violeta after he refused to do so on multiple occasions.
She medicates her son against his will and denies doing so.
China crushes Elmer's pills meant to treat his tumor and slips their contents into his food. When he notices their effects and asks about it, she shows him an intact box she prepared for the occasion. This decision, as well as her hatred for Violeta, is motivated by a need to save him but cruelly takes away the only emotion her son has felt in years.
She tries to kill Violeta herself.
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She puts a hit of her own on Violeta, after Sabela was murdered.
She has no other reason to do so than breaking her son away from his girlfriend, now that the client is dead. She hopes that in doing so, he will give up his emotions and agree to the surgery.
| “ | Until that girl showed up and ruined everything.
If he can’t finish her off… I’ll have to do it myself. |
„ |
| ~ China, deciding that she will kill Violeta herself. |
She hits her son at the back of the skull to expedite his brain surgery.
Once again acting against Elmer's consent, she assaults him in a way that could cause him additional brain damage. She renders him unconscious so he can't oppose treatment.
Quotes[]
| “ | We’re nearly there, Elmer. The last one. | „ |
| ~ China to Elmer, about the murders. |
| “ | Look, Elmer. | „ |
| ~ China showing a picture of the house in Mexico before pitching her idea. |
| “ | Someone who loves you doesn’t turn you against your family. | „ |
| ~ China attempting to gaslight Elmer. |
| “ | Seriously? You had a job. Don’t you remember? A job from Sabela Costeira. | „ |
| ~ China to Elmer, frustrated that he didn't go through with killing his girlfriend. |
| “ | You never cared if I was happy or not.
The money is all you care about. And getting back to the house in Mexico. That’s all you care about. |
„ |
| ~ Elmer to his mother, China. |
| “ | Well, I’ll just phrase it like you “I really tried to.” | „ |
| ~ China, on why she didn't terminate the contract with Sabela. |
| “ | — You were happy before this-- Steady, normal…
— Happy? I couldn’t be because I couldn’t feel, remember? |
„ |
| ~ China, yearning for the emotionless version of her son. |
| “ | What are you speaking about Elmer? That’s not you speaking, you sound like somebody else. These words sound like they’re coming from that girl. | „ |
| ~ China downplaying Elmer's concerns. |
| “ | That girl has you wrapped around her finger. Don’t you get it?. | „ |
| “ | Okay, I'll explain, son. When a person is interested in you, or cares about you, or has a crush on you... they want to spend time with you. If they don't have time for you, they're not interested in you. I'm hurt, Elmer, because you made a decision that was difficult. It hurts me that she hasn't responded in the same way. With love. |
„ |
| ~ China turning her son against his girlfriend Violeta, so he will kill her. |