From the Horse's Mouth
On the one hand, Johnny remembers his father telling him about how he should treat his horse with love so that it follows his commands without having to use verbal cues. On the other hand, Johnny is a motorcycle cop who has a real connection with the machine he rides on and yet has to use commands when shifting lanes. This contrast between the two men highlights an ironic disconnect between generations and their relationship to technology. It also subtly suggests that there is more power in biological connection than in any machine.
Irony of Preconception
Leti's father grew up in a poor part of Mexico and worked hard to become a lawyer and provide for his family. However, he does not want her daughter to be with Johnny because he is a cop. He believes that if she were to marry him, she would suffer from being looked down upon by the people around her. At the same time, Albert is seen as a positive role model with his giant Virgen de Guadalupe tattoo and the arm tattoos of his wife. Despite not having much money, Albert has worked hard to restore old vehicles and provide for his family as well as teach his sons valuable lessons. The irony here lies in the fact that Leti's father is trying to protect her from the dangers associated with being with Johnny.
The irony of Good Intentions
While Ximena and her family are trying to keep the baby alive, they have to make up a story about it being a "baby kitten" to get the formula from their neighbor. The irony lies in the fact that Ximena has just gone through an incredibly difficult experience of finding and saving the baby. Yet, she still has to pretend that it is something else for them to get the resources needed to care for it. This creates a paradoxical situation where Ximena must hide the truth about her heroic actions for them to be successful.
Global Pandemic
Ximena is expected to save money for her future while Mrs. Bunny can continue to indulge in expensive items such as purses and shoes which she doesn't need. This ironic juxtaposition highlights how class privilege can provide opportunities for some people while simultaneously denying them to others. Even though Mrs. Bunny was wealthy enough to own many designer items, she was unable to protect herself from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, Ximena helps her to survive it yet she lacks access to luxury items like Mrs. Bunny. This is ironic because it shows that even wealth cannot always protect someone from the consequences of a global health crisis.
