We Were Kings (Original title: Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) is a gripping crime drama series that explores the complex and intertwined lives of Javo’s family set against the gritty and chaotic backdrop of Mexico City. The story opens with Javo, a young man drawn into a life of car theft under the influence of his uncle, Taiguer, despite his family’s disapproval and concern.
Meanwhile, Javo’s brother, Mike, and their childhood friend, Santos, serve as police officers, creating a tense contrast as Javo’s dangerous choices spiral out of control. The tension in Javo’s life takes a dark turn when his secret affair with Santos’s mother, Malena, is uncovered, leading to a devastating fallout. Santos’s discovery of their relationship triggers a cascade of events that shatter long-standing bonds and escalate toward violence.
As guilt and regret consume Javo, his world spirals further into chaos. A series of brutal events pull him deeper into the criminal underworld, where he becomes entangled with the ruthless crime boss, Mariano Venegas. As Mike starts to close in on the truth and Javo’s desperation to protect his family grows, the series masterfully weaves a narrative of blurred moral lines, betrayal, and the heavy costs everyone must pay in a world where no one is innocent.
We Were Kings (Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) Episode 1 “The Secret” Recap:
“We Were Kings” opens in Mexico, where Javo and his friends steal a high-end car. Although Javo’s uncle Taiguer runs the operation, he refuses to involve Javo. However, Javo insists on making easy money to support his family. Meanwhile, Santos is training to be a cop, and Javo’s brother Mike already serves in law enforcement.
Although Javo, Mike, and Santos grew up together, Javo chooses a different path. Javo’s mother, Nora, works in a salon with Ofelia, who grows curious about Javo’s secret girlfriend. They assume Malena, Santos’s mother, and Javo’s godmother know something, so they question her, but Malena pretends to be unaware.
Who is Javo’s secret girlfriend?
Later, Mike invites the family to Santos’s graduation ceremony. The next day, Malena feels uneasy with Santos’s gun at home. Since Santos is determined to pay off Malena’s debt, he works hard. Once Santos leaves home, Javo sneaks up on Malena, and they kiss, eventually sleeping together. Despite Malena’s insistence that they stop, Javo reminds her they’ve been saying that for six months but can’t resist each other. At the salon, Ofelia suspects the affair, but Nora dismisses the idea.
What happens to Santos?
Later, Javo takes Malena on a cable car ride and dreams of living with her in a castle. It’s the day of Heidi’s (Javo’s sister) baby shower, though no one knows the father’s identity. While preparing for the party, Javo rehearses a speech on the rooftop, intending to confess his affair to Santos. However, when Santos arrives, Javo hesitates and says nothing. That night, Malena encourages Santos to drink and enjoy the party. As Santos does, Malena sneaks off to meet Javo in the bathroom, where they have sex.
Meanwhile, Mike informs Santos that his loan is approved but needs Malena’s details. Excited, Santos searches for Malena and spots Javo and Malena through the bathroom window having sex. Shocked, Javo turns around and knocks some paint cans down. Hearing the noise, Javo gets out and sees Santos. Immediately, Santos rushes home, drinks more alcohol, and picks up his gun.
Outside, Santos confronts Javo, who feels betrayed. Drunk and armed, Santos threatens to kill Javo. With some difficulties, Javo calms Santos, but when Javo tries to take the gun, Santos won’t let it go. After a struggle, the gun goes off, killing Santos. In a panic, Javo disposes of the weapon before anyone arrives. When the others find Santos’s body, they assume it is a robbery that has gone wrong, leading to Santos’s murder. Javo keeps the truth about Santos’s death to himself.
We Were Kings (Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) Episode 2 “Free Fall” Recap:
The episode begins with Heidi visiting the crime scene to leave flowers for Santos. Mike, the lead investigator, handles the case. At the police station, Javo tells the police that they were mugged. Furthermore, Javo claims that Santos pulled out his gun when the attacker appeared, and the attacker shot Santos during the struggle. When asked about the gun’s whereabouts, Javo says the assailant must have taken it. However, the cops remain skeptical of his story.
Consequently, Santos’s funeral is held with full honors, as would befit any fallen officer. Afterward, Mike assures Malena that he will seek justice. Back at home, Malena leans on Javo for support. In Santos’s remembrance, Malena gives Santos’s ring to Javo. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door—officers and eviction agents arrive to clear out Malena’s belongings. Enraged, Javo fights back, but Mike steps in and takes Malena home. When Malena admits to debt, Javo’s family promises to help.
Who helps in kidnapping Alicia?
The following day, Mike continues to question Javo regarding the details of Santos’s death, leading Javo to accuse Mike of trying to frame him out of personal dislike. Later, Mike finds spilled paint and bootprints near the bathroom. Javo steals a luxury car the next day and takes it to Taiguer’s scrapyard. Unfortunately, Taiguer is furious upon discovering the vehicle belongs to Mariano Venegas. Consequently, Mariano’s men capture Taiguer and Javo.
Meanwhile, Heidi goes into labor. With Nora and Malena’s help, she delivers her baby on a bridge as Heidi could not reach the hospital on time. Simultaneously, Mariano is ready to kill Javo and Taiguer at his hideout. However, Taiguer reveals that Javo’s grandmother, Herminia, works for a wealthy woman named Alicia, giving Mariano a way to make money. Thus, Mariano spares their lives and forces Javo to devise a new plan.
Afterward, Javo visits Herminia and Alicia, discovering that Alicia will be alone for a day. Reluctantly, Javo tries to back out, but Mariano threatens to harm his family. On the day of the kidnapping, Mariano’s men abduct Alicia. When Herminia arrives unexpectedly, Javo knocks her out to prevent interference. Later, Herminia wakes up to find Javo’s chain on the floor but keeps silent when Alicia’s daughter wants to call the police.
That’s when Mariano’s men call Alicia’s daughter and warn her not to get the cops involved. Meanwhile, Malena tells Mike that Santos vowed only to use his gun for work. That night, Malena confronts Javo about the truth behind Santos’s death. Eventually, Javo insists on his version of events, and although Malena remains doubtful, Javo manages to convince Malena he’s telling the truth.
We Were Kings (Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) Episode 3 “Love Triangle” Recap:
“We Were Kings” episode three begins with a rag picker finding Santos’s gun in a dump yard. In the church, Herminia confronts Javo, accusing him of kidnapping Alicia. Moreover, Sonia, Alicia’s daughter, shares the same suspicion. Consequently, Herminia gives Javo an ultimatum: bring back Alicia, or she’ll never speak to him again. While standing at Santos’s grave, Javo demonstrates to Mike how the perpetrator killed Santos. Suddenly, news arrives that someone has caught Santos’s alleged murderer. A crowd gathers, intent on lynching the accused—a rag picker named Lucas. However, Mike intervenes, wanting to ensure Lucas is indeed the culprit.
Who does Javo want to work with?
Consumed by rage, Malena rushes towards Lucas, intent on killing him, but Javo and the others stop her. Throughout this, Lucas claims he found the gun at the dump yard and, seizing an opportunity, escapes. Later, while watching the incident video, Mike tells his fellow officer that he believes Lucas is telling the truth. Afterward, Javo meets with Mariano to collect his payment but expresses his desire to work for him.
Mariano agrees to give him a chance but puts him to the test. First, Javo calls Sonia and demands a hefty ransom for Alicia. Then, Mariano and his gang take Javo to Alicia’s location. The gang drugs Alicia, and Mariano takes her ring and orders Javo to cut off Alicia’s ring finger, but Javo hesitates. To avoid doing so, Javo lies, saying Alicia has a condition that prevents her blood from clotting.
This lie sparks a heated argument between Javo and Pitbull. To support his claim, Javo argues that if Alicia bleeds, they’ll have to take her to the hospital, jeopardizing their ransom plan. Convinced, Mariano decides not to cut Alicia’s finger. At home, Malena apologizes and thanks Mike for his support.
While caring for Heidi’s son, Mike notices Malena’s heel with pink paint on it. So Mike measures the paint print against the heel and finds a match, fuelling his suspicions. Elsewhere, Javo’s friends plant a GPS tracker on Pitbull’s vehicle, hoping it will lead them to Alicia’s location. When Javo tracks Pitbull, he finds him having sex with a woman and records it for leverage.
Can Alicia escape?
Simultaneously, Mike becomes increasingly suspicious of both Malena and Javo. Furthermore, he’s sure someone is lying about the events surrounding Santos’s death. Moreover, Mike admits to a colleague that he loves Malena, and the colleague advises him to invite her to the upcoming police dance.
The next day, Javo pays the mortgage for Malena’s house, runs into Sonia at the bank, and talks to her as if Javo has not done anything. Once he leaves, Sonia learns the reason for Javo’s visit. Furthermore, Malena thanks Nora for letting her stay. Additionally, Nora and Ofelia sense the chemistry between Malena and Javo.
Finally, Mike tries to get information about Heidi’s son’s father from Heidi but fails. At Malena’s house, Javo expresses his love for her, and they passionately kiss. Afterward, Herminia, kicked out by Sonia, arrives at Nora’s house with her belongings. However, Herminia refuses to reveal the real reason for her removal. Meanwhile, Alicia’s caretaker goons get high and distracted. Taking advantage of the situation, Alicia escapes and seeks help from strangers who call Herminia. When the goons realize Alicia is missing, they fire at the strangers and Alicia.
We Were Kings (Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) Episode 4 “Cain & Abel” Recap:
The episode begins with Alicia collapsing on the road. Consequently, caretaker Rizos and his friend rush to take her inside her room. As they debate whether to inform Mariano, Pitbull suddenly enters and hits Rizos’s friend. Meanwhile, Malena and Javo share an intimate moment while Mike is out buying roses for Malena.
Shortly after, Mike arrives at Malena’s house, prepared to ask Malena out. At that moment, Javo storms out furiously and confronts Mike. The commotion draws Nora out of the house. Upon noticing the tension, Nora questions Javo about the situation, and Javo reveals to his family that he has been sleeping with Malena for six months.
Surprisingly, Mariano decides to give Rizos another chance. Shortly afterward, the doctor treating Alicia informs Mariano that Alicia does not have Hemophilia. Subsequently, Javo chooses to leave his home and move in with Malena. Meanwhile, at the bank, Sonia approaches her manager for a loan to save Alicia, but the manager declines her request, citing bank policy. Back at home, Nora’s frustration with Javo shifts toward Heidi. As a result, a frustrated Heidi decides to leave home with her son and seek refuge at her uncle Taiguer’s house.
What does Mariano send Sonia?
Meanwhile, Mariano gives Javo another chance. Simultaneously, Malena visits Nora and confesses that she loves Javo. However, an angry Nora kicks Malena out of the house. At this point, Mike inches closer to solving Santos’s murder, realizing what might have motivated Javo to kill Santos.
When Mariano orders Javo to harm Rizos’s friend, Javo becomes nauseous and vomits. Consequently, Mariano assigns the task to Pitbull and instructs Javo to clean up afterward. When Javo returns home, covered in puke and blood, Malena questions him. To cover up, Javo lies, claiming he was with Taiguer. The following day, Malena visits Taiguer to learn more about Javo’s true nature. Here, Taiguer reassures Malena that Javo is a good person.
Meanwhile, Mike manages to track down Lucas, who denies killing Santos. After listening to Alicia’s voice message, Herminia arrives at Taiguer’s place, seeking answers. There, Javo promises Herminia that he will bring Alicia back soon. Subsequently, Javo is summoned to the police station to testify against Lucas, but he insists that Lucas is not the murderer. Once Lucas leaves, Mike recounts to Javo how someone murdered Santos that day.
Furthermore, Mike mentions that he found Javo’s and Malena’s footprints near the washroom. Instead of showing remorse, Javo nonchalantly suggests that Mike should have used a lie detector test to uncover the truth. In the final scene, Sonia receives a box containing Alicia’s finger along with a call demanding the ransom money within 48 hours.
We Were Kings (Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) Episode 5 “Revelations” Recap:
The episode begins with Malena selling candies at the market, but suddenly, she starts throwing up. Meanwhile, Heidi still stays at Taiguer’s house, where Taiguer advises her to return home. Consequently, Heidi approaches Malena to seek advice on how to raise a child as a single mother. Instead of offering guidance, Malena surprises Heidi by revealing she is pregnant with Javo’s child.
While chatting with Herminia, Mike learns that Javo has also kidnapped Alicia. Now, Herminia pleads with Mike to help Javo rescue Alicia. At the same time, Sonia uses her manager’s computer to transfer money into an international account. That night, Javo and Malena have sex. Javo and Taiguer embark on a mission to rescue Alicia the next day. However, misfortune strikes as Pitbull appears and opens fire at Taiguer.
Upon hearing the gunshots, Javo rushes out of the safe house and helps Taiguer. Fortunately, Mike happens to be nearby and rushes Taiguer to the hospital. Despite the urgency, Taiguer insists on returning to his shop instead of going to the hospital. Back at the shop, Taiguer asks Mike and Javo to reconcile.
Before taking his last breath, Taiguer reveals that he is Mike’s father. Later, Javo asks Mike to help him rescue Alicia. That night, Mike and Javo break the news of Taiguer’s death to Nora, who is left devastated. Javo deceives Mariano by claiming he has Intel and that the cops are looking for Alicia. Consequently, Mariano asks Javo to meet him the next day.
Is Alicia alive?
The following day, Nora visits the police station to claim Taiguer’s body. The officer informs Nora that Taiguer has already prepared for his death and purchased a burial plot right next to his brothers. Meanwhile, Mariano lets Javo drive them around for the day. However, Pitbull is displeased and voices his concerns, prompting Mariano to promise that he will either kill Javo or let the cops deal with him. Tragically, shortly after Mariano receives a video of Pitbull having sex with his girlfriend, he kills Pitbull.
After loading Alicia’s body into the van, Javo drives off. The tires come loose when the other goons follow in a separate van, causing the vehicle to topple. Now, Javo takes Alicia to Taiguer’s shop. Unfortunately, Mike is not answering Javo’s calls, so Javo reaches out to Malena instead. Abruptly, Javo confesses all his crimes, including accidentally killing Santos. Consequently, Malena is enraged and declares that they are now enemies. Suddenly, their attention shifts when Alicia lets out a faint moan.
We Were Kings (Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) Episode 6 “We Were Kings” Recap:
In the final episode of “We Were Kings,” Javo escorts Alicia to the hospital. En route, Javo leaves a voicemail for Mike, requesting an ambulance. Suddenly, the police intercept Javo and arrest him for kidnapping. Despite the arrest, an ambulance arrives and transports Alicia safely to the hospital. At the morgue, Mike discovers that Officer Ortega received Santos’s autopsy report long ago. This revelation infuriates Mike, who demands a conversation with Ortega. Ortega reveals a shocking truth in the car: he knows that Taiguer is Mike’s father.
As they continue driving, Mariano enters the car. Seeing Mariano, Mike becomes furious with Ortega, realizing his corrupt nature. In response, Ortega poses a question to Mike: why wasn’t he corrupt while protecting Jova, a criminal? The question leaves Mike speechless. Now, Ortega presents Mike with a choice: should they arrest Mariano and Jova or let them both go? If Jova goes to jail, he will face a more challenging time than Mariano.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the fields, the police bring Javo out, wearing a cloth covering Jova’s face. After a while, Mike arrives and takes Javo in his car. Back at home, Malena is furious with Javo. So Heidi tries to calm her down, suggesting that Santos isn’t a saint either. When Heidi refuses to stop, Malena asks her to leave the house. Heidi reluctantly agrees, giving her son to Malena and asking her not to take out her anger on Malena’s grandchild.
We Were Kings (Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) Finale Episode 6 Ending Explained:
Why did Mike ask Javo to leave Mexico City?
Elsewhere, Mike takes Javo to a wall where they used to spend time as kids. The writing on the wall, “We Were Kings,” reminds Javo of their camaraderie. Now Mike asks Javo to meet Malena one last time before leaving his hometown for good. Knowing that Mariano is angry and will likely target Javo’s family, Mike urges Javo to leave town. Before leaving, Mike takes Javo home and asks him to confess his crimes.
Upon hearing Javo’s confession, Nora becomes annoyed and tells him to leave the house forever. The next day, Nora reveals to Mike that she and Taiguer are secret lovers. One day, Nora becomes pregnant and asks Taiguer to leave the life of crime. When Taiguer refused to choose family over crime, she married Miguel, who had always been interested in Nora.
Meanwhile, Malena informs Javo that she is pregnant with his child. However, Malena refuses to forgive Javo and insists on raising the child alone. Javo arrives at the bus stand, ready to leave for Tijuana. Meanwhile, Ortega and Mike receive awards for solving the kidnapping case. Furthermore, the department promotes Mike to second lieutenant.
When Malena stops by to congratulate Mike, he shows her the forensic report, which proves Javo’s innocence in Santos’s murder. Despite the evidence, Malena remains unwilling to forgive Javo. At Taiguer and Santos’s grave, Heidi reveals that her son’s father is Santos. As the family leaves, Javo enters the cemetery and writes a graffiti on Santos’s grave: “We Were Kings.”
In the end, Javo returns to Mexico City, and it seems he has returned for love. Javo seems enthusiastic and excited to start a new chapter in his life, but the reality for him may be different, as it is not easy for Malena or Nora to forgive Javo that easily. Also, Mariano threatens to kill Javo for the crimes he has committed. The kidnapping case was closed by framing Pitbull.
Luckily, Alicia is safe, but Sonia keeps a bodyguard at their gate. Sadly, Herminia did not get her job back. There’s a strong possibility for We Were Kings to return for a second season, as the story leaves much to be explored. How will Javo navigate the aftermath of all the people he has hurt? Can they ever forgive him, or will old wounds continue to fester? Javo’s volatile, short-tempered nature threatens to create even more chaos for his family and friends, who are already fractured by betrayal and violence. His impulsive decisions could lead to deeper complications, setting the stage for the series’s tense and unpredictable continuation.
We Were Kings (Los Reyes de Oriente, 2024) ‘Netflix’ Review:
We Were Kings takes a distinctive approach to the crime drama genre, shifting its focus from adrenaline-pumping action to the intricate, often strained dynamics of family relationships. While this offers a refreshing departure from the usual high-speed chases and explosive confrontations, the series ultimately falters due to a repetitive storyline and underdeveloped characters.
The show delves into complex, forbidden love stories—notably between Javo and Malena, Mike and Malena, and Santos and Heidi—adding layers of tension. However, the overreliance on themes of sordid relationships, both in the present and past, quickly becomes predictable and tiresome. Instead of breaking new ground, the series leans heavily on familiar plot devices, with the narrative dangerously bordering on melodrama. Focusing on a recurring cycle of forbidden romances within two troubled families feels tedious, detracting from the story’s potential.
Unfortunately, the characters are largely one-dimensional and fall into common stereotypes. Javo, portrayed as an impulsive, hot-headed criminal from a poor background, is a tired trope in the crime genre. Although the series attempts to present characters striving for morality and redemption, their motivations often come off as forced, and their actions are predictable. This lack of depth and development makes it hard to invest fully in their journeys.
Despite the weak narrative, the cast delivers impressive performances. The chemistry between Javo and Malena stands out as one of the show’s stronger elements, with Javo embodying a frustratingly impulsive character who seems trapped in his own self-destructive habits. While there is a hint of possible redemption by the finale, viewers are left skeptical about Javo’s capacity for real change, given the well-worn patterns of his character arc. Unfortunately, the strong acting cannot fully compensate for the lack of a compelling story and layered characters.
Plot points often feel overly convenient, such as Mariano and Javo’s frequent chance encounters, which lead to Alicia’s kidnapping. This sequence feels more like a series of contrived events than a carefully crafted storyline, leading to viewer fatigue. While We Were Kings is far from a failure, it falls short of becoming a must-watch. It remains in a middling space, where it neither captivates nor completely disengages its audience. The series ultimately lacks the “wow factor” needed to make it truly memorable.
