Tuesday, April 29, 2008

La Traición, Mon., April 29 - I'm not happy with the 'Etapa Decisiva'

(I hope they haven't wrecked my favorite novela ever. I hate Michelle. I don't want any other adult to have catalepsy. I hope I'm wrong but I'm not optimistic.)

After Beatriz stabs Alcides, he falls over and she assumes that he’s dead. She turns her back on him and says that she told him to behave and he didn’t so she had to kill him and now he’s going to hell. She plans to bury Alcides, clean herself up and go look for Hugo. He must be concerned about her. Behind her, Alcides manages to pull the knife out of his chest, get on his feet without Beatriz being aware of it. He comes up behind her, grabs her by the hair and says that he has got his memory back. He has realized that his mission in this world is to get Soledad back. She is the love of his life, not her. She’s just in the way. He drags the knife across her throat. She falls. (So what happened when Hugo felt Alcides get stabbed? Did he just think he had heartburn?)

Soledad comes into her room and Ursula tells her that Alcides has sent her some roses. She recalls his accusations of the night before and throws the roses on the floor. She says that Alcides won’t play with her. She won’t let him.

Alcides staggers out of the LNoP, knocking the lamp on the floor as he leaves and setting the place on fire with Beatriz inside. Alcides manages to get on a horse and rides away.

Repeat of the fencing scene from yesterday’s episode. The woman is Michelle and the guy is Andres, her butler. He shows her a newspaper article that says that the daughter of Alcides de Medina has catalepsy. Michelle has the same disease.

Hugo tells Boris that Soledad and her baby are alone and he can’t abandon them. When he looks into Soledad’s eyes he has an immense desire to tell her that he is Hugo, love her and finally live a normal life but that is impossible. He couldn’t live with her full of jealousy and pain over her betrayal.

Michelle has decided to go to San Marino and Andres doesn’t think it is a good idea. She asks him to come with her to help the little girl. Andres says that Michelle's desire to live is so apparent. He will prepare everything. They can leave tomorrow. Michelle asks Andres to go to the telegraph office and see if there is any new of old Dr. Chirac. When he is gone, she looks at the photo of Hugo/Alcides in the paper and says that he is very handsome.

As he crosses the river, Alcides passes out and falls from the horse. A man who has been fishing finds him. The guy decides that he is dead. As the man is walking away, Alcides starts to cough up blood. The man cauterizes Alcides’ wound with gunpowder. He takes Alcides to his cave. (Alcides is back where he started, in a cave). He is delirious and keeps muttering that he has to go to San Marino. The guy says that it is perfect that Alcides is from San Marino. If he saves his life, he can help him with his plans.

Dr. Ortiz tells Ester and Lucas that Antonia’s condition is probably the result of a trauma she suffered in her past. They have no idea. She always lived alone in a cabin and had a very quiet life. Antonia has a traumatic memory of being raped by a fat guy. (First we’ve heard of this, of course. She stopped talking because Ester wouldn’t listen to her accusations against Rebeca.) Sobbing, she curses those who ruined her life and leaves the house.

Andres reports to Michelle that Dr. Chirac was murdered in San Marino, the same place that she wants to go. “Poor, Dr. Chirac,” says Michelle. “he saved my life.” Andres found this out because the much-looked-for young Dr. Chirac is coming to see Michelle this very afternoon. Young Dr. Chirac arrives. Michelle says that she just heard about his father’s death. She has been trying to reach him for months to tell him some important news. Thanks to his father, she has been cured of her catalepsy. Dr. Chirac is impactado.

“You’re saying that he finally found the cure?” he says. “Yes,” she says, “thanks to him, I no longer suffer catalepsy attacks.” Dr. Chirac asks Michelle if she is sure that his father found the cure. Did he tell her that? She says that she was his patient for many years. Old Dr. Chirac did many tests on her. Young Dr. Chirac says that he knows that but his dad never mentioned that he had found the cure. Michelle says that she thinks it has something to do with the blue orchid. “Yes,” says Dr. Chirac, "the Orchid Vivantis. My father was sure that plant held the cure but he hadn’t found the right compound from it that was 100 percent effective before he died."

Alcides wakes up and asks where he is and who the guy is. The guy says that he used to live in San Marino. He fought in the war and then returned there. He is an architect. Some men hired him to build a house. The house was a special project and he didn’t realize this until the end. The house holds a great secret that only he and the men who built it know. There is a wanted poster on the wall of the cave. Alcides says that he is a lawyer and he remembers perfectly that the guy is a fugitive and there is a price on his head. He is the famous murderer, Vladimir Cuencas.

Lucas tells Ester than Antonia has left. We see Antonia waving down a wagon in the forest. Bad choice of a ride. The guys in the wagon try and attack her. She escapes and ends up at Dr. Max’s house. He takes her in but she won’t let him touch her. Dr. Max reminds her that they were partners in the plan to kidnap the baby. She knows him. He leaves her alone.

Michelle tells young Dr. Chirac what happened to her. She had a bad attack of catalepsy. Her butler wasn’t around. She got buried alive. Old Dr. Chirac rescued her and gave her an injection of something. She ran off into the woods where she was almost raped by two guys (there seems to be a lot of that going on here). Her butler rescues her. At the end of this story, young Dr. Chirac says that he is sorry but he isn’t sure that she is cured. Michelle says that she hasn’t had another attack. She is sure that she is cured. Dr. Chirac says that’s great but he has to find his father’s notes and find out what injection he gave her. The notes must be somewhere in San Marino. Michelle urges Dr. Chirac to go to San Marino with them. She shows him the picture of the Hugo/Alcides and the article about the baby with catalepsy. Dr. Chirac recalls that one of his father’s patients was a Hugo de Medina.

Omar, the bar owner, tells Guillermo and Elena that Margot has been acting strangely and saying that she saw a dead woman floating in water in a cabinet. She can’t sleep because of her experience. Moreover, continues Omar, Margot says that the cabinet belonged to Dr. Max. The diminutive duo kidnap Margot to prevent Dr. Max from killing her but she escapes.

Vladimir tells Hugo that he didn’t kill anyone. His enemies made false accusations against him. He says that he was a war hero. He saved his comrades. His enemies wanted to kill him after he built the house. Alcides says that he has to leave but he’s too weak. He tells Vlad that he wants to see his wife, Soledad de Obragon.

Soledad comes to see Dr. Max. He said he hasn’t had time to visit her daughter but he’s been researching catalepsy. Dr. Max tells Soledad that he is glad she showed up because her aunt just turned up in a bad state. Antonia tells Soledad that she won’t go back to her parents’ house or the convent she was going to before. She will stay with Dr. Max.

Eloisa is combing her hair (she looks so much better without her hair pulled back, which makes her look like a lizard) when Arturo comes in. He’s come to see her because she hasn’t come to see him. She claims that she has been depressed because he wedding was canceled. Arturo has exciting news. He’s brought a notary. They can be married right now.

Soledad goes to see Hugo. He asks if she got the flowers he sent her. “The ones I threw out?” she says. “Yes, I got them.” Hugo asks why. Soledad tells him not to be a hypocrite. “What are you talking about?” asks Hugo. Soledad walks out of the room.

Alcides says that he hasn’t seen his wife in a long time and now that’s the only thing he wants. Vlad says that destiny has brought Alcides to him. He will make Alcides his apprentice and teach him martial arts so that no one can defeat him and then he can go to San Marino on a mission for Vlad. “Do I have to kills someone?” asks Alcides. Vlad says that he hopes not. Alcides has to find he secret of the house he built so many years ago. (Vlad doesn’t look old enough to have built a house before or around the time Soledad was born 18 years ago. Ester said that she told Jeremias that he was the father of be baby and he built them the house.) Vlad tells Alcides that the owners of the house he built have the same name as his wife – de Obragon.

Vlad asks Alcides to be his ally because he can’t return to San Marino. He has tried 3 times and was almost killed by his enemies who want to know the secret. Alcides says that he won’t do anything to harm his wife or her family. Vlad says it has nothing to do with them. They don’t know about the secret. “What secret?" asks Alcides.

Eloisa tells Arturo that she has changed her mind about marrying him. He reacts in character and hits and kicks her. First Rebeca and then Paquito come to try and stop him but Raul, Arturo’s chief henchman comes in with a gun. Arturo says that it’s senseless to fight over this tramp. He tells Eloisa that she has made a big mistake in fooling him. He isn’t finished with her. Arturo leaves.

Paquito rushes to help Eloisa. Rebeca is not sympathetic. She says that she warned Eloisa not to play around with Arturo. Paquito says that at least Arturo knows she is not alone. He knows how to get back at Arturo. Rebeca angrily says that he will do no such thing. This is all Eloisa’s fault because she wanted Alcides. Rebeca slaps Paquito and leaves in a huff. Eloisa is a little puzzled at Rebeca’s reaction. It seemed like jealousy. Is there something she doesn’t know? Paquito changes the subject. He is glad she didn’t marry Arturo. He would have beat her up all the time.

Soledad comes back into Hugo’s room in time to see him throw his glass against the wall. She asks why he reacted like that. Angrily, Hugo asks why she came back. Once again, Hugo tells Soledad how much Hugo loved her and she used him, etc. etc. “No more,” says, “Soledad, I won’t let you say one more word. This is the last time that I will let you use Hugo’s memory to disrespect me.” She says that we won’t permit it and stalks out. (We can hope it is the last time because we sure aren’t making any progress here.)

Dr. Chirac tells Michelle that the Medina family has paid for the investigation of the cure for catalepsy. Michelle asks if he has heard from them. He says that they have asked him to continue the investigation. That is why he will go to San Marino with her. He says he has to find his father’s patient, Hugo de Medina.

Ursula says that if living with Alcides is so difficult, they should leave the Hacienda. They can go back to her parents’ house. Soledad says that she would love to but Alcides is the only person who has the means to help find a cure for her daughter. They have to stay for Aurora’s sake.

Vlad tells Alcides that when he built the Obragon house, he had to create a special place where a immense treasure is hidden that could make them both millionaires. The credits roll.

Tomorrow- Alicides gets martial arts training and returns to San Marino.

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Comments:
Great job as usual, Jean. I know what you mean about Michelle. I've never been a big Michelle Vieth fan, so her addition to the cast is not helping, in my opinion. I guess "Etapa Decisiva" is code for "Lots More Characters, No More Resolution." :-)

Nancy: Thanks for the info on the cast nationalities. That's neat to know. As for Mario's affinity for Brando, I'd heard that before. In fact, his character in "Pasion de Gavilanes" reminds me of a (much sweeter) Stanley Kowalski, so it's easy to think of the Brando thing when you watch him work in PDG.
 

I am NOT happy at all with the new twist of events. And especially with that "Michelle" character, there's just something about her that I do not like (bad acting) and the fact that we can REALLY see now where the plot is going (a liason between Michelle and Hugo - ich!). Why do they have to have another person with a catalepsy problem? The script is complicated enough without it.
 

As we bid a fond adieu to the LNofP, I was trying to see if Beatriz’s fingers were moving slightly in the flickering firelight (maybe it was just wishful thinking). Her character is so bonkers that she has to survive to bedevil Alcides, but she’ll have a lovely scar on her neck.

I thought Dr. Chirac didn’t have a cure for catalepsy but was just experimenting on white mice that he kept in a bird cage. All of a sudden we learn that he exhumed Michelle and gave her an injection that supposedly worked. Why wasn’t Hugo told about this even if it was experimental?

And what’s with the “blue” orchid. Soledad’s Orchid Farm certainly isn’t filled with blue orchids (they have a striped brown and yellow design, as I recall).

Alcides said that he was a lawyer. Did we ever have any evidence of him practicing this profession?

I don’t like the new version of the opening credit’s song but I really enjoyed the expanded photo montage. Boris looking down at Ursula bathing al fresco is great, especially when Marina steps up to his side. She’s not going to be a happy camper (not that she ever is).

Did anyone notice that (young) Dr. Chirac was having a bad hair day. I wanted to take some styling mousse to calm down that huge cowlick on the side of his head.

My worst fears have been confirmed. Michelle Vieth is terrible (both as an actress and the character she plays). I can hardly stand to watch her. I wonder if they gave her character’s name “Michelle” because she couldn’t remember her cues otherwise. I think that was a Frederick’s of Hollywood shroud she was wearing in her coffin! Don’t you love the fact that she was buried alive because her butler wasn’t there. Didn’t they already use that excuse with Boris?? But, hey, I’ll put up with Michelle-Michelle if it means seeing more of her butler, Andres. Does anyone know the name of the actor who plays this part?

Jean, I loved the comment about Eloisa’s hairdo. I knew it was a very unattractive style probably meant to make her look devious but I hadn’t thought of her looking lizard-like.

But if Hugo and Soledad stop talking there won’t be any chance that one of them will slip up and say something that is a clue. But what am I saying, they’re both clueless!

Who’s snarky now???

Nancy
 

I’ve gone completely around the bend and that’s probably why I was a little testy today. Last night I checked the maboucita site about 11:30 and found that she had already posted Monday’s transcript. I started translating it using a much better site that I found recently. Unfortunately it only translates about 500 words at a time so I was back and forth for over three hours making a Word document. I won’t (can’t) do this every night but I thought this might give me a better feel for the language by following along on my transcript as I watch LT.

Nancy
 

Nancy, you absolutely slay me... Thanks for joining me in the Snarky Society. I haven't watched this episode yet, but based on everyone's comments so far, it looks like I may have a lot to sound off about after I do.

Three hours putting together a translation!!! You remind me of myself when I first became obsessed with translating Spanish song lyrics. Hours would go by & I'd look at the clock & think, "What the hey????" Keep up that voraciousness & you'll be stepping up to the recapper plate yourself in no time!
 

After the first few months of this novela, I never would have thought it would be mockable, because it's so good compared to other novelas--but that scene in Michelle's flashback when Dr. Chirac saves her, and she goes running into the forest reminded me of that kid in the "Home Alone" movies. And Chirac just sitting there looking thoughtful had me laughing.
 

So, I finally watched it...

Jean - Re: Alcides' getting up & staggering toward Beatriz without her hearing him - I had the same thought exactly; who could not hear that? She must have been suffering from Deafness of Truly Loca. This silly scene just set my mood for the rest of this episode of "Tall Tales" ;-p The one thing I was hoping for was that in learning that he'd been such a sleaze, Alcides might have returned a new man, ready to make amends & start a new life. After seeing the fond farewell he gave Mistress Bea, though, I won't be holding my breath on that...

I'm not impressed with the reworked theme song, nor the new title images, except for the Ursula/Boris/Marina bit. That gives me hope that 'The Family Montsalve' may not be a completely done deal after all. (She says, rubbing her hands in sinister delight!)

Re: Michelle - Oy vey... This little story thread is going to be tough to stomach. I don't really dislike Michelle Vieth (much), but I think this is a monumental casting error. Putting her in this kind of "female Hugo" character is just too big a stretch; physically she's just not a good fit for the part. With those Clara Bow lips & Shirley Temple cheeks, she's about as sophisticated as a living Betty Boop cartoon. And whatever makeup artist(?) decided she should wear that dark pink lipstick ought to rethink their vocational choice; it makes her mouth look like Jack Nicholson's Joker from the first "Batman" movie. Talk about distracting....

And don't get me going on her burial & reawakening flashback scene... Who the heck gets buried in a bustier & slip?!?! Since her majordomo wasn't around, was there no one to dress her for her funeral? Thank God he was there just in the nick of time to thrust those swords out over her shoulders & scare the bad guys. (Now, if she could get them to shoot out from her bustier, she could be a Bond girl.) And your right again, Jean, the Plot Device of the Day seems to be rape, attempted & otherwise. WAY too much of that popping up in this episode.

Young Dr. Von Chirac seems promising; nice eyes & restrained acting. But you're right, Nancy, the hair just wasn't working for me. I've also been annoyed at the whole "blue orchid" reference. How they get that from "Orchis Vivantis" is beyond me. And they clearly aren't even blue at all.

Re: Fugitive, Cave-Dwelling Architect Who Takes In Perfect Strangers and Imparts Treasure Secrets & Martial Arts Training -Suuuure, why not (throws up hands). We just lost our token loco(a), so he's got the job. But as Jean stated, he definitely looks too young to have built the house that the De Obregóns moved into as newlyweds. And way too tidy to have been holed up in a cave for too long; with his smartly trimmed hair & crisp, white shirt, unbuttoned to his belt & so carefully arranged to highlight that manly chest & oh-so sexy jewelry. Still, he's a cutie. If the butler can help Jean through the Michelle scenes, here's hoping Cute Accused Murderer-Architect time gets equal time. (Although if the martial arts training sequences focus exclusively on Mario, I won't complain...)
 

Marie, Celeste, glad you checked in regarding Tuesday night's episode!

Betty Boop, what a great description for Michelle-Michelle and her awful makeup job.

I'm still holding out for Beatriz' phoenix act. She's too bad to kill off.

At the very end of LT (sometime in August?) they’re going to have to kill off Alcides because, after all, he is Soledad’s legal husband. Neither one of them would ever agree to a divorce, her because of religious reasons and the era and he because he worked too hard to acquire her.

The way Vlad, the Cave Dweller, was attired, I kept thinking he was going to burst into a hearty pirate song.

And, by the way, I was the one who put first dibs on Michelle's butler, Andres!

Nancy
 

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