Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Pasion 12/04/07 "A pill, A little blue pill, my kingdom for a pill"
and some fine scientific points about virginity.
We begin with small town anywhere in the “New World”, yeah we’ve seen it before, Jamestown, Boston, somewhere in Mexico. The townspeople look hail and hardy considering smallpox, syphilis and so on were quite abundant. A woman is in a church praying, she is praying for her son, Cuatro Anos, Cuatro Anos..he has been gone for Cuatro Anos. He doesn’t call, he doesn’t write. He is in jail or something.
The Lady’s name is Ofelia & she is missing her beloved son Santiago. From now on he is Santi to me. A priest or brother or Moe from the three stooges approaches. He gives her generic words to help her carry the Cuatro Anos Cross. This sends my easy distracted mind to wonder, what possessed those religious guys to wear their hair like that? I mean was it for religious reasons like humble yourself before God and man by cutting your hair with a bowl? This look was of course copied by farmers through the great plains, cowboys fortunately never bought into the craze. That little kid that yelled “Shane” across five states had the same haircut.
Meanwhile we see Camila the young, oh yes, virginal good girl, she is playing with some kid. She tells the kid to take a hike and go find Tia Rita. The kid is like no way, Tia Rita is boring.
We see a stranger, a hairy stranger. Dr. Livingston I presume? No, who is this hairy man? He walks down the street, in tattered clothes & more than his fair share of dirt. Two workers whisper Senor Santiago?
Ofelia of the Cuatro Anos Cross is standing looking out a window. She hears a voice. Tears run down her face, it is her beloved Santi. Oh Son, Oh Ma… He says so how are things. Ah okay. Santi inquires after Camila, the fetching maid we met earlier. She is fine and waiting. Just what a man wants to hear.
Next thing we see Camila catching a glimpse of boots; then her eyes rise to the face of “Santi”, he has returned. Many words of it’s a miracle, I would die for you, I waited…and so on. Santi wants to marry her. Camila does the, I’m not young anymore…and truthfully by the days standards she is a bit over the hill, but it looks like she has most of her teeth. She’ll do. Actually by him being locked up or where ever the hell he has been for Cuatro Anos, she probably extended her life by three years of not dying in child birth.
Ofelia & Santi join the Darien family for a sit down, with wedding talk. The Darien clan consist of Pa(Jose), Camila(the pretty one), Rita(yes the Jan Brady sister), Vasco(the uber hawt young brother). If she has a Ma, I missed it. But all these people have way too much hair so I’m not sure. Seem like they will go asked Don Jorge if it is okay to get married. I guess you have a few really powerful people and the rest are just kinda property.
Now back to the rich guys house, you know there is going to be a rich UberBastard, keeping with the TeleNovela theme that it is better to be poor and honest than rich and evil. This is open to debate.
Anyway we see the family come to ask if it is okay for youngins to jump the broom. Don Jorge does his best eye rape and comments the face of the virgincita, but the body of a woman. Don Jose (Cami’s Pa) says hello to Dona Sofie & Dona Fortuna. Dona Sofie is the gravely voiced wife of Don Jorge. Dona Fortuna, well she is plump, rich and named Fortuna, funny how that worked out. So somewhere in this town is a poor skinny urchin named “golfilla”? I’m really not sure how Fortuna fits in this little group.
Our young lovers will marry in two weeks.
Okay on to a fiesta at the Darien’s, it is the pre wedding party. The is some really quaint, yes boring dancing, you know the little men in a line, women in a line nonsense. Then our two, chaste lovers are standing under a tree. However, this is not a magical tree like the one in DA, & no clothes go flying, no Tequila either. Santi is trying his best to pull the it’s really painful for a man to wait, after all we will be married tomorrow, how bout we seal the deal. No young Cami is a good girl and will have no part of that.
Meanwhile back at the big house of bad morals, rich men are drinking and talking about how’d you like to get a piece of that virgin action Patron? Well seems like it is the Patron’s right to bang anything he sees moving. The other men encourage the Patron to take what is his. Psychologist call this HomoErotic, when men all get together to encourage the humilation of a woman. Yep, it does seem like this is quite to group of deviants.
Now we also get to see Don Jorge’s plump blonde daughter, Ursula, she is rich, spoiled and mentions Vasco, the uber hottie brother of our Cami. She takes lovers like good girls take vows seriously and with passion.
Now the men jump on their horses and off they go. They arrive at the Pre Wedding Party. Some Lackey of Don Jorge is giving the orders. So the little to be bride is gonna give it up to the Patron. Santi says no, the church has outlawed the practice. They actually mention a mujers himen (spanish spelling), thank you Univision, I don’t believe I have ever actually heard the term used in conversation. Just wait til I play scrabble again.
Well that is all the men needed to hear, they apologized gave ducats to the children and left.
Bwwwahhhaa as if. A fight breaks out, of course the many fiesta goers can’t possibly overcome five guys with swords. Santi gets a huge saber through him and falls to the ground, where he is also kicked in the head. Lil Cami realizing the fate of the Western World as we know it rests on her giving it up. She goes quietly after kissing the lips of her true love, who is unconscious at the time.
She is taken to the big house and locked in a room. Don Jorge will be up shortly. She frantically tries the door, egads, it is locked, the windows, alas they too are locked. The door opens and Don Jorge comes in. He is doing his best Hugh Hefner, complete with silk robe. I’m surprised she doesn’t swoon at his manliness and good taste. He pours her some wine. He basically tells her, young men don’t know how to pleasure a woman, it is all about them. He starts undressing her, well he tells her, this can be easy or this can be hard, it is up to you.
---I think he may have won her over, had he given her more wine and hired the Black Guy we saw earlier in the story, do a little Barry White under the window…
Darling, I can't get enough of your love babe
Girl, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know why
I can't get enough of your love babe.
She is paralyzed under the covers when he drops his robe, she shuts them even tighter after a brief peek.
He slips into bed with her.
Over to Santi..well things aren’t looking good, He was hit really hard in the head. Yeah and that giant saber surely nicked at least one vital organ. Santi’s sister is crying by his bed and Cami’s kinda weird sister is just staring into space.
Cami’s Pa & Santi’s Ma show up at the house demanding to speak to Don Jorge, he has Cami in there. The guard says okay hang on a minute. He goes in and speaks to Don Alfredo? I’m not sure if that is his name, but he was the RatBastard who got this whole thing started. Don Alfredo is like, nah Don Jorge is busy doing your daughter, she’ll be home safe in the morning. The two good parents leave, wailing and lamenting.
Meanwhile, back in the love shack, seem Don Jorge, couldn’t do the deed. If only he had the little blue pill, but alas we are hundred’s of years prior to that great scientific discovery. Never fear Camila, the Don promises to get the job done tomorrow.
Sorry If I missed anything…but I couldn’t torture myself enough to watch it again.
Now I go off to ponder how life has changed since those days of yore, if only he would have had jello shooters, Barry White, viagra & some awesome bling…well we might just have a different story.
Normally I would never make fun of a scene like the "attempted Rape", but I felt more threatened by lack of interest than any real mal intent.
Labels: Pasion
bravo and you deserve a well earned vacation for the rest of the week, after doing monday's DA finale and now this one.
J.R. :)
I was very happy that Don Jorge couldn't get it up. Serves him right. Loser.
Beckster, thank you for taking on this opening night. Great recap!
So, the dirty old man can't get it up and he tells Camila to come back tomorrow night. He's crazy as well as old, ugly and perverse.
Unfortunately, he's probably going to be around till the very end. This is a great pain to inflict upon viewers.
The galan must show up tonight and rescue someone. Maybe me.
From lower Ala
I am kinda interested so I'll keep watching...its only the first episode anyway...this will be my first complete FC novela
I found it funny that one of the commercials was for la bombita (an implant), for treatment of the same problem our old dude had. I wonder if it was done on purpose?
-Marycelis, still on the pirate ship adjusting her banadana
Mike
I am not worried that there will be any lack of things to mock in this one.
Seattle Snooper - I have removed your comment because (as previously discussed) personal information about the lives of actors outside the show itself are NOT ALLOWED. I consider them to be spoilers. Thanks for your understanding.
I was surprised that this episode didn't grab me as much as I had hoped. Maybe I'm just being impatient. I never like the first episode of anything. I get where someone might think that an attempted murder and rape could make things more interesting, but it's difficult to get really worked up about that when you've only just met these people.
this novela makes me YARN ALOT...OMG i couldnt help thinking if only Angelica Rivera was our heroine she would have brought some much needed spunk. that i soooo much miss
Susana Gonzalez is not a good actress n she looks horrible with all that curly hair.....Sebastian he is good to look at, but he aint captivating . LOL i think i shall whip out Corazon Salvaje n remember the good old days.
I agree it was pathetic, and NO FERNANDO COLUNGA!
I'll try again as long as I can stand it. Maybe when Colunga shows up things will improve? At least he's great to look at.
I didn't care for any of the characters on the first night.
Pretty sad!
Carrie L.
I think Camila wouuld have looked better if her hair had been brown!
And Susanlynn, I agreee about Eduardo on Christina! He is soooo handsome and TALL!! I liked it when he stood up for the lady that came up from the audience!! I would have loved hugging that man!!!!:)
I agree Melinama, the music could have been given an upgrade and they didn't teach them to dance very well. With your professional ear, I bet it was disappointing.
This failure to launch problem must be hitting Mexico hard (so to speak). Seems like an unhappy side-effect of societies as they get more sophisticated. One (or this one anyway) always imagines the happy rural folks getting it on like bunnies and never a problem. But it is a favorite theme in TN's. I guess this is doubled by the egad I'm and aging old man, why isn't this country bumpkin donacella thrilled to be here in my awesome chamber. He seemed reluctant to go forward with this until his henchman goaded him into it at the henchman's dinner, so perhaps his failing powers are going to be another theme.
I liked Camila best. I think Susana makes a fine protagonista. It's my first time seeing her in anything. Sebastian looks like a cryer but awfully pretty to look at and Vasco is already a lightweight but as pretty as promised.
And Willa wants to see more horses running. She slept through most of it.
It will be interesting to see what Rita is hiding. She has some worry, and it seems to be about Santiago and Camila. She was glad to see him again, but she had some reservation. And she kept looking concerned later.
Since the topic of the episode was droit du seigneur, it made me wonder if Rita doesn't know that one or the other of Santiago or Camila was conceived in that way, and that the old lord is the father. Now that would be creepy if he were Camila's father.
Jeri
I didn't watch last night cause I decided to give "Victoria" a run. Actually the first episode was pretty good, and focuses on the more "mature woman," which I consider myself. But my rule of thumb is the first 2 wks, then I stay or switch. Most novelas have their theme pretty much in place by then.
I also enjoyed seeing Eduardo and Angelica on Cristina. Two very charming, warm people. I'm going to miss their characters, and all the rest on DA.
Lisa from Alpena
Yuck, bring on our Fernando.
The worst part was Don Awful telling C. to "help" him - honestly, did they have to put that in? Thanks to the novela gods that our heroine had no clue!
I hope she shows more gumption tonight and skewers him with that knife on his desk.
I'm staying here on terra firma, waiting for my first glimpse ever of Fernando Colunga in a novela.
Loved Eduardo Yanez on "Cristina".
Lisa - I watched "Victoria", too, and liked it - taped it while watching "Pasión".
I like Susanna Gonzales and felt she did pretty well holding this first episode together. So far so good; I hope there's appropriate steam between her and our valiant pirate.
I'm with Anya, a good skewering would have livened things up a bit.
P.S. great title Beckster!
I thought the gal that kept getting the closeups with the weird look - the sister or something - is in love with Santiago but can't make that known. Hey, I'm just sayin'
Okay, that was the sound I made in the bathroom after watching the first episode. Beckster, your recap was much more entertaining than the actual show. But then again, I think watching the leaves fall off the peach tree outside my window would be better than the show.
Well, I too was looking forward to a period "Pirate" movie. Hopefully there will be some sea-going scenes in the months ahead.
Just in case, here's a primer for all you land-locked swabbies...
Bow - the front, pointy end of the ship.
Stern - the back, usually square end of the ship.
Port - the left side of the ship, a place to find a ship or a type of wine.
Starboard - the right side of the ship.
Porthole - a window, not necessarily on the port side of the ship. A window on the starboard side is not called a starboardhole. Don't ask me why, I'm simply the messenger here.
Rigging - all the spiffy ropes and lines that help stabilize the masts (tall upright poles) and yardarms (poles that attach to the masts).
Sheets - another word for the ropes that are attached to the sails. Also something that you put on your bunk (bed) or something you get from indiscriminate eating and drinking in third-world countries.
Windward - the direction the wind is blowing from.
Leeward - the direction the wind is blowing towards.
Pasion - the direction this novela is simply blowing.
I think she should have taken him up on that... now THAT could take the plot into some fun places.
I'm still coming down off DA, and had high hopes for Pasion. These things can take time, sometimes, though.
Liked Eduardo on Cristina. I also saw a mini interview with him and Adela Noreiga for their upcoming novela. Looks like he's growing a full beard. I still have a hard time getting over Rod and Gavi, but do plan to tune in to his next novela cause I like him so much.
DA fan forever
We must give Susana a chance. She has potential...and though I agree her hair would look better darker and straighter, this was certainly the look in that era and we just have to live with it.
Why did Rod look so pale in cristina show? I love his olive, tanned look on destilando.
Who is in charge of keeping the town square so perfectly clean, and, in other areas, the dirt so perfectly flat and well-behaved? The opening tracking shot was really impressive – I wonder how many takes it took. That was no joke from the director’s standpoint, I’m sure.
Why is my town square so boring? I had always thought it was a busy place with lots of people bustling around, but it’s nothing like the Pasion town square which has just about everything going on except childbirth and somebody dying – markets, people meeting and greeting, romances, sword fights, and a wedding. It’s a happenin’ place!
Why do some ladies wear their hair up, and others wear it down and loose? I’m not so sure that fashions were as flexible as they are today. It reminds me of Dances with Wolves where the white lady who had been raised by Indians oddly didn’t wear the same braided hairstyle every single woman in the Indian village did. More oddly, she wore the messy, tousled hairstyle of Hollywood at the time the movie was made.
Now, with questions out of the way, my one comment: It’s not fun to start off a story with a rape.
The whole droit du seigneur routine was disgusting. As someone mentioned there is no actual proof that the custom of the lord of the manner having first night rights to the peasant virgin girls ever existed. In any event it was in the Middle Ages and in France. Unfortunately in this show we don't know where we are or when in history.
This struck me as Alborada lite including many of the same secondary cast members. The weeks of previews have pretty much tipped off how the story goes. Looks like the over arching theme will be she waited 4 years for him but he doesn't wait 4 years for her.
Have fun all. I've got a slew of Cane episodes with the divine Jimmy Smits to catch up on but may see you in whatever replaces ASL.
well, as for me, i absolutely loved the first episode! :) maybe i was just ready for a novela with a more serious tone....i don't think it's moving too slow as it's building up to the plot. i expect fernando to show up later in the novela; remember he's the pirate that she meets on the ship after she gets kidnapped, so i wouldn't be surprised if some days went bye before fer shows up. but that might be a good thing, cuz we'll be drooling by then :)
someone asked about the rape scene: don jorge was not able to rape her cuz he couldn't get his peter up, but in return he did ask for a manual satisfaction. i think the look on camila's face was actually of disgust. we therefore know that by the time she leaves, she will no longer be the untouched virgin that most 18th century heroines are expected to be. though i hate rape scenes, i am grateful that estrada crossed that traditional line.
and talking about susana, i think her acting has been good sofar :) i don't like it when actresses 'over act', like joselyn and sometimes even angelica. i actually do like the red hair, but agree maybe darker and straighter it would look better. but as someone else said in regards to the style, this is how hair was worn back then and we'll have to plunge into the past and live with it ;)
i loved the music, especially the intro 'pasion' song...i think it's the perfect combo of finesse and passion. the scenes that come up before the commertials where she is dressed in black give me the shivers!! i don't know why....maybe in my past i was a slave that escaped for freedom? in that case...maybe, just maybe someone like fernando heped me run away? ;) j/k...
As for hairstyles – who knows? In many periods it was considered hussy-like to leave your hair loose, but I’m not sure if that was true at this time and place. I’m not even sure what the time and place are! I just noticed that many ladies had their hair up in the opening show, and I wondered why some up and some down….
As for rape – I don’t know if the technical definition requires penetration, but this was definitely sexual assault. I’ve never been raped, but this sort of thing is every woman’s worst nightmare. I found the scenes difficult to watch. Give me Aaron anytime… yeah, he killed a bunch of people with his adulterated tequila, but at least his romantic partners were willing.
I'm rather new at this, so if I say anything rude or insulting, my bad, and I apologize in advance.
First off, the town square? Is it me or did it vaguely resemble that of Alborada?? Thats the first thing I noticed! Its like what? you couldn't get enough funding to at LEAST make it more, I don't know, bustling? exciting? teaming with the burden of humanity???
Second off, ok, I get that Santi was hijacked, shangheid, therefore looked like he hadn't bathed in the 4 yrs he was away. HOWEVER, after he miraculously re-appears, after everyone has given him up for dead, he "cleans" up to go see his Camilla. What they didn't have combs or brushes back then? I'm sure they did, but somehow, he must have forgotten how to use one. I like Rulli, but his do in this has to go! Its like wet, with snarls in it! I'v had bad hairs days, but this is ridiculous!
Third, I'm not really a Susanna Gonzales fan...ever since Velo de Novia, I think it was?, when she I thought, overacted the whole, I'm terminally ill sence in the first capitulo, I kinda tuned her out. BUT, I'm willing to give her another chance to redeemed herself, and her hair color. I agree...a less flaming red or brown would suit her better...makes me wonder if she time traveled forward into the future and hooked with Pammy's hairdresser from DA!!!
Alas, I too was looking forward to the first capitulo showing off Fernando, in all his Fernandoness, and was dispointed that he didn't make an appearance.
The highlight for me was the commercial for La Bombita!! I thought it was hilarious, especially when Don whatever the hell is name is couldn't get it up! Careful, Don you might end up getting the ghost of William Wallace of Braveheart & his clan after you for daring to defile the virgin bride on the eve of her nuptials...
Dear Lord, I hope this gets better...on the flip side, I totally agree with everyone, I LOVE EDUARDO YANEZ!!! I would defintely let him eat crackers in my bed!! Both he & Angelica have good chemistry both on and off DA. Sad to see DA go, but hopefully, really hopeful, Pasion will pick up.
I do hope that Fernando starts a parallel plot string tonight, we need our Colunga fix and we need it right now.
And I just can't let go of Eduardo Yáñez tingles down my spine yet but not only will he be on Cristina next Monday with the whole cast but did anyone else notice the Saturday night special show on Eduardo Yáñez, the Pasion of an Actor. He sounded intelligent and amusing to me on Cristina, I look forward to some more face time with him as himself. I have also ordered several US fillms that he has minor roles in to see more of him. Can't quite let go yet. Come on Carla, don't make us beg.
Lisa from Alpena
http://www.history.org/history/clothing/intro/index.cfm
What is it with the raspy voice of Mariana Carr? I don't remember her voice being like that in Alborada.
I don't hate the music, though. I really like it. Is there a soundtrack yet?
And Susana Gonzales has not yet earned my contempt... so I'm still holding out hope.
I didn't hate her as Babe Lawyer either, but if people didn't keep reminding me of that role there is no way I would have recognized her. The hair is absolutely awful - does not flatter her at all. Braids or even Princess Leia buns would be a huge improvement.
La Paloma
This is my first period telenovela so my attention was captured by the costumes and grand interiors. This will also be my first Colunga experience, so I'm looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about!
My two cents....everyone give this more time. I wasn't wowed either, but like someone earlier said we have no investmnet in these characters yet. Recently, I must say, the only novela I was absolutely wowed with on the first episode was Zorro. That was just out of sight. Everything else grows on me.
I actually loved the Don Jorge character artistically and thought his acting was the best and most believable in the episode. And I liked that he couldn't perform. I was thinking where is Andres Garcia and his little toy when a guy needs him, oh right, not born yet, though my local network didn't treat us to a bombita commercial that I saw. HA!
Susana was really great in Velo de Novia after a while (maybe because she and Eduardo Santamarina had already fallen for each other by then so their coupledom was quite convincing), but I'm hoping she'll be ok in this too.
I say bring on the pirates!!!
DA was not that great the first week either, but it got better once the crew got its timing down and got used to working with each other and when the plot got good.
“A priest or brother or Moe from the three stooges approaches.” ROTFL! I knew he reminded me of Someone!
“I’m not young anymore…and truthfully by the days standards she is a bit over the hill, but it looks like she has most of her teeth. She’ll do.” ROTFL! I’m going to be careful where I read your recaps, Beckster, I can see now that everyone will wonder about the wild laughter.
“he is taken to the big house and locked in a room.” I wanted to whack that jerk (was it Don Alberto?) when he told her to just get comfy. That’s a quote. And he’s a jerk. Reminded me of Gasca, procuring for the Conde or whatever in Alborada.
Susanlynn, failure to launch!!!! ROTFL!!!!
Ferro, “'hunky twins' - all I could think of when they were on screen was "did they show up thinking this was a porno shoot?” ROTFLLL!!!
Great one, Beckster! Keep up the good work! It’s bound to improve once Fern comes on board (so to speak) and there’s more cool swordfighting.
Schoolmarm Jeanne
Can anyone confirm the time period. After all, there were pirates in 16th-18th century, as far as I know.
Carole
Schoolmarm Jeanne
Thank you everyone for your comments about the historical particulars. That's one thing that I love about these period dramas, the curious and the expert come out of the woodwork. Entertainment = Education is a great combo.
Jardinera AKA Dread Pirate Cash, nice picture. Are you and Captain Jenny Cash cousins?
Cheryl, little did Pirate Poodle Willa know that she would at the forefront of this telenovela's fashion scene!
"Jardinera AKA Dread Pirate Cash, nice picture. Are you and Captain Jenny Cash cousins?" Six degrees of separation.....yo, ho, ho....
Captain Jenny Cash, the Schoolmarm in Black
I have to agree with another post I read, it where it doesn't seem like Rulli & Susanna have chemistry going...hopefully she & Fernando will, although I think Fernando would have chemistry with a turnip, but thats just my opinion...
Its also hard to me to get into another novela, and it takes a couple of days for me to warm to it, hopefully by tonights episode, I'll start to thaw....
I thought Marlene Favela would've had absolutely perfect chemistry with Colunga or Rulli. Can't you just imagine that...
jb
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