Warning: spoilers from Episode 10 ahead! To be honest, I've never been a huge fan of Mylene's dad, Pastor Ramon Cruz. He's controlling and ignorant and uses his religious platform for his own selfish gains. However, I was not expecting for his storyline to take such a drastic and devastating turn. So why did Mylene's dad kill himself on The Get Down? In the end, it seems finding out the truth of his family's biggest secrets was simply too much for him to bear.
It all started when he discovered Mylene was performing at a New York City nightclub called Ruby Con, where she was scheduled to perform a very sexy dance — a far cry from the religious persona he was forcing upon her prior to this. When he tried to go and stop her, his wife intervened, which led to him physically beating her. When he finally got inside the club, he was appalled at his daughter's provocative performance and attempted to drag her away from there. Mylene had him kicked out immediately (and rightfully so). But his night of revelations didn't end there. He set out to find his brother, Papa Fuerte, only to discover that his wife has been cheating on him with his brother. Oh, and that Mylene isn't actually his daughter.
So yeah, that was a lot for him to take in. He was obviously devastated from not only losing his wife, but feeling as though he'd lost his daughter as well. Plus, it didn't help that he was also heavily drinking at the time, which undoubtedly sent him spiraling even further into his depression. Father Ramon then treated to his new sanctuary and started conducting what felt like part-sermon, part-confession on a recording, which revealed everything he had just learned.
At the end, the camera panned away and a gunshot went off, leaving him in a pool of his own blood. He had shot himself in the head and, unfortunately, Mylene was the one who found him. She may have wanted to break away from her father's grasp, but she never wanted anything bad to happen to him. So watching her fall onto his body in sorrow was truly heartbreaking and something no one should ever have to go through.
Suffice to say, it seems to have been a number of things that led Ramon to the decision to end his life. He couldn't handle the surprising truths that were thrust upon him and acted in the heat of the moment. It's a tragic end to this character. Let's just hope it doesn't destroy Mylene in the process.
