Monse, Cesar, Jamal, and Ruby make up the core friends in On My Block, but season 3 revealed that the group is no longer. There are a number of reasons why the group could have separated during On My Block‘s ending time jump. It’s also safe to assume the group will reunite if Netflix decides to renew the coming-of-age tale for season 4. In order to better understand the events of the flashforward sequence, we broke down the time jump to theorize what separates the core four.
When the core four were introduced in On My Block, they were just about to begin high school. It was established that this group had been longtime friends, but their dynamic was changing as they got older. Monse and Cesar entered a romantic relationship while the others were getting pulled in other directions. As tragedies and mysteries plagued their lives, it became harder and harder to hold on to what they once had.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
Their total separation might not come as a complete surprise to some viewers since On My Block season 3 put out a few hints that there were lingering fractures in the friend group. The stress of the Lil Ricky mission and events within their personal lives also added to the ongoing tension. That said, here’s what we think happens to Monse, Cesar, Jamal, and Ruby and what could potentially bring them back together.
Cesar Picks The Santos Over His Friends
Cesar was the last character shown in On My Block season 3’s flashforward sequence, but his reveal was one of the most surprising. After fighting to get out of the Santos with the help of his best friends, Cesar fell back in with the gang. The teenager wasn’t just a member of the gang, but he was also some type of leader, overseeing a brutal attack. A lot has hardened Cesar over those two years, but it looked like he became indifferent to violence.
It’s very likely that the core four distanced themselves following the Cuchillos incident. With Monse out of the mix and the lack of unity among Jamal and Ruby, Cesar could have turned elsewhere like the Santos. It was made clear that his brother, Oscar (aka Spooky), had his sights set on leaving the Santos. This became true when it’s revealed that Oscar found a chance at being a family man in the time jump. Oscar’s decisions may cause more internal conflicts for Cesar when it comes to questioning where he belongs. Rather than turn to his longtime friends, Cesar probably found refuge with the Santos.
Cesar realized that his friends never felt comfortable with his connections to the gang. By the end of On My Block season 3, the group sort of reached an “us or them” type of mentality. Without Monse, Jamal, and Ruby around to convince him otherwise, Cesar probably got pulled deeper and deeper into the gang. By then, it was too late to get him out since he had been longing for some kind of acceptance among peers. Jamal and Ruby might have tried to help him, but it seems his loyalty remains with the Santos in the two-year flashforward.
Loss Of Innocence Separates Jamal & Ruby
Emotionally, Cesar was probably best prepared for living in Freeridge since he was raised by Oscar, a member of the Santos. Though he’s still young, he lost his innocence a long time ago. His friends, however, still had a tough time when it comes to anything gang-related. Looking for Oscar and, instead, finding Cuchillos dead body might have been the last straw for Jamal and Ruby. After the event, they couldn’t even hang out with the group to share a meal. Teenagers shouldn’t have to face shootings, kidnappings, and turf wars, especially before they enter their senior year. Jamal and Ruby may have been hit the hardest when it comes to the trauma, essentially leading to their separation as friends.
It’s not uncommon for friends to grow apart as they get older. In fact, this happens a lot among friends groups. Jamal and Ruby always had a close bond but it would be difficult to hang out and do something normal without being reminded of the horrors they endured. Instead of overcoming what they’ve dealt with, it would probably be easier to look somewhere else for companionship, similar to Cesar’s situation. This could explain why Jamal rejoined the football team and Ruby turned to Jasmine as his closest ally.
The separation specifically between Jamal and Ruby may happen gradually but a single event might have sent them over the edge. Knowing their background, the duo must have tried to remain friends but their underlying PTSD could have been masked under anger or other dark emotions, leading to tension. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the two have a big argument that serves as the justification for their separation. It’s clear by the look they give each other in the time jump that there’s some bad blood between those two.
Monse Distances Herself From The Group While At School
Monse wanted to leave her friends behind at the end of On My Block season 2 before the group was kidnapped by Cuchillos. Throughout the latest season, Monse shared his dismay for the lack of support she had been given by the group. They tried to make amends which caused her to question whether or not she should leave for her boarding school but she ultimately left. As the group said their goodbyes, Monse worried that they will forget about her but the opposite comes true. Two years later, Monse had a new group of friends and the picture of the core four on her bedside table was pushed to the back as if they became an afterthought.
Considering Monse was still on the east coast in the timeline, her time at her new school obviously went better than expected. Even though Cesar, Jamal, and Ruby came together to see her off, the group wasn’t on the best of terms. Deep down, Monse must have known that the group was splintering. She tested the waters regarding their unity before she leaves and they didn’t reciprocate. Monse saw that their future is a lost cause so she fully threw herself into her new surroundings by allowing her distance from Freeridge to grow.
A Tragic Event Brings The Group Back Together
Each member of the core four went in different directions, but if On My Block is renewed for a season 4, the group will need to reunite. It would be difficult to imagine another chapter of the story if there are four different subplots. That might be the case for the beginning of a new season, but it will only work if they come back together. Unfortunately, the only plausible event that could force them to put their differences aside would be something tragic like a death.
Something monumental would need to happen to get Monse back in Freeridge. It’s unlikely that the series would kill off a member of the core four, but due to the seriousness of the subject material, it’s always possible. Maybe something happens to Cesar or one of their family members that cause them to regroup. Or the Lil Ricky mystery could take a dark turn forcing them to reopen their own investigations. Either way, let’s hope On My Block has the chance to provides some answers.
