Summary
“Gold Rush” remains on the surface and generic, honouring the singer’s success as her music starts to earn accolades.
This recap of Netflix’s Selena: The Series season 1, episode 8, “Gold Rush” contains significant spoilers.
We recapped every episode — check out the archive.
The opening
At the start of “Gold Rush”, Selena is upset. She locks herself in a room because of her new hairstyle but fortunately, Abraham and the family like it. Selena is concerned that the record company isn’t going to like it, but Abraham tells her to be herself. In the next scenes, she’s signing her new album with her new look to screaming crowds. “Gold Rush” is mostly about Selena finally rising up and desperately trying to be who she wants to be.
Music video
“Gold Rush” then moves to 1991. Suzette is pumped that Selena is going to her first music video. This is something they’d dreamed of since little children. The producer of the music video believes Selena is an outstanding actress.
A moment to savor
The label gives Selena and the family a gold record. Abraham is proud, but then he asks about the English album. When they get home, the family and the band celebrate with drinks and food. Abraham still reminds them that the hard work is not over. Selena is overwhelmed at the moment — “A gold record for singing in Spanish”. She’s grateful for the moment and thanks her father.
Staying apart is wrong
Selena heads inside the house, and Chris follows her. He gives her congratulations but tells her it is hard being away from her. The pair kiss but then Suzette walks in, and she senses a tension. While Selena has all her success, she evidently feels she is missing out on a romance in her life. Meanwhile, Suzette has taken a liking to a man named Bill. “Gold Rush” suggests that it gets to the point where you can have all the success in the world, but if something is missing, it doesn’t matter.
When did you know dad was the one?
Later on in “Gold Rush”, Selena doesn’t want to sneak around with Chris anymore, and she wonders if she should tell her father. Later on the tour bus, Selena asks her mother Marcella about love. Marcella tells her she knew Abraham was the one and flashbacks show how they fell in love.
We want an English record!
Later on, Jose from the label tells Selena and Abraham that their record has gone number one. Jose hints that the label doesn’t want to do an English album yet, despite all the promises. Selena and Abraham tell him that they want to do an English album, but Jose is still hesitating about it. They are both fuming — Abraham tells Selena never to stop doing what she does. The whole “English album” has been an issue all series and shows how record labels can really suppress an artist.
The ending
Selena tells Chris that she cannot have the English record and not have him. Chris tells Selena that she has him; he’s worried about the family and Abraham. Selena doesn’t want their relationship to be a distraction. They both agree to remain low. As the episode nears the end, Abraham shows his wife Marcella that they’ve paid all three houses in full — no mortgage. Marcella sobs from happiness.
Selena: The Series season 1, episode 8 remains on the surface and generic, honoring the singer’s success as her music starts to earn accolades.
