Monday, December 01, 2008

Fuego, Monday 12/1 (#147): The Day the Plot Stood Still

Don Clemente comes over to pay Juan for his crop, and invites Juan to his daughter Juliana's birthday dance. He adds that Juliana really likes Juan. Juan says he'll think about it.

Sofi and her sisters are excited about the three nameless girls' upcoming baptism. Sofi has a sad flashback to when Juan bought a baptismal gown for the tiny pillow under her dress. Gabi shows up, thinking she'll be among the godmothers. Sofi breaks the awkward news that she picked her sisters and Eva over Gabi. Gabi is insulted and says she won't even go to the baptism, then, and by the way since Sofi doesn't yet have possession of the hacienda, Gabi's not going to let her have a baptism party there.

Juan and his brothers are excited about the money Don C. gave them for their crop, which they're going to use to buy a tractor. Or spend on a party for the baptism. Or save. (They discuss which should be first priority.)

Sofi confides to her sisters that the hacienda is in financial trouble - in addition to the crop troubles, evidently they have some big debts thanks to Feo. So they can't afford a party for the baptism. It'll have to be just a religious ceremony.

One of the adopted nuns comes over to tell the sisters that the social worker showed up to check on the happily married couple. Jimena is annoyed to have to pretend to be living with Oscar, whom she's angry with at the moment, but it's an emergency, so away she goes... with Sarita, not sure why - I thought they were divorced? Oh well...

Juliana pays Juan a visit to persuade him to go to her birthday dance. She adds that she's not into deceitful games. She says her dad really likes Juan, and would be very happy to have a son-in-law like him. Plus, she thinks he's attractive. He says his heart belongs to someone else, para siempre. Juliana's flirting gets on his nerves, and he pushes her away. She asks if they can be friends.

Juan says he doesn't know about going to the dance, but they might as well be friends, sure. She then suggests that perhaps someday he'll see her as something more. And by "someday" she evidently means "now," because she launches a facial attack, battering him with kisses. He pushes her away, but not before Jimena and Sarita see. He shakes his head at them in horror and denial. They ask to see Oscar. Juliana tries to be friendly with them, but they snub her. Juliana surmises that one of them is his girlfriend. Juan says no, neither of them. She looks like she's planning another kiss attack.

Now awaiting Oscar in the kitchen, Sarita and Jimena discuss what they've just seen. Sarita clarifies that Juliana was kissing him, but she doesn't understand why Juan allowed her to. "All Reyes are alike!" Oscar and Franco walk in. J punches Oscar, and S kicks Franco. The social worker shows up, and the two couples put on a fantastic show of affection while hissing at each other through gritted teeth.

Quintina sells conchas in the street. Juliana's two friends try some of the bread and are impressed. Evidently, they made a deal with Q some time ago - something they don't want to talk about explicitly, but whatever they agreed to still stands. Q says she loves her Reyes boys, but other women have already claimed them. Except... well, they're sort of fighting now, she adds. This news makes the girls' day: they want to get these guys for themselves. Q doesn't like the sound of this, but one of them reminds her of their agreement and says she'll pay Q later!

The social worker is happy with what she's seen and says the kids can stay with Oscar and Jimena now that they've reconciled. Their steamy displays of affection convince her not to wear out her welcome, and she leaves. The brawling resumes immediately, and the sisters explain to the brothers that the only reason they showed up was for the kids, NOT to be with the guys. They leave. The guys complain that they get crazier and better-looking every day.

Juliana is still bugging Juan and he's still not interested. She tells him to they can always decide later! He firmly shows her the door. He tells Oscar and Franco about the upcoming dance. They tell him about the social worker visit. Now all three of them understand why Sarita and Jimena were so annoyed. Juan worries that they'll tell Sofi what they saw.

Jimena and Sarita go to Crap From Afar, where Eva overhears them debating whether or not to tell Sofi.

Pablito comes home with a note from school about his non-consensual kissing of Rosita. Juan and Oscar are furious and send him to his room. Franco points out that Pablito's no worse than they were. Juan gets fed up and is ready to walk out on them. Then they all think how harmless it was, and how cute it must have looked, Pablito kissing that girl on the cheek, and they laugh.

Sarita and Jimena tell Eva all about the kiss this Juliana chick was giving Juan. Eva advises them not to tell Sofia. Then they have a surprise for her: Sofi wants her to be a godmother (I didn't realize Eva didn't already know this). "Does your mother know?" Yeah, she knows, she didn't like it, and she's not going to let them have the party at their house. Eva says that's okay, they'll have the party at the "Uribe" hacienda (I can't believe she doesn't call it the Robles hacienda!). She tells them it's worth sacrificing a little bit of their pride to do this for their sister and her kids.

Quintina is bummed out, thinking that thanks to Santa, Grandpa no longer pays any attention to her. Franco says it's time for them to go do a serenade. She tells him how she feels about being sidelined. She's jealous. Besides, she says, Santa is about as much a saint as Quintina is an astronaut!

At this moment, Grandpa is having Rosende take Santa's bags up to Feo's old room, and they agree to meet in the parlor later for a drink. Gabi overhears and privately vows that Santa will pay for all the trouble she caused.

Juan burns himself on the oven again but doesn't get upset because he's so excited about how great his daughters' baptism will be. He's going to make something with his own hands. (I'm guessing it will be some kind of baked goods.)

Franco and Quintina do their scheduled serenade, but no one comes out to hear it. Franco asks Q who hired them. She is very, very vague. Then Paulina - the non-blond friend of Juliana - comes out and says she's the one who hired them. Quintina confesses that Paulina paid them a lot for their services... they're going to have to stay for a long time. Franco has to dance with her while he sings (or lip-syncs along with a boom box) a song about jealousy. Jimena and Sarita just happen to be passing by at the time and see. They even drive up for a better look. Franco waves timidly. Quintina tries to cut in on the dance to make it look more innocent, but the sisters take off.

Grandpa and Santa enjoy martinis in the salon as planned and talk about old times. Their romance was before either of them got married, and they had some memorable times. She can't remember why they didn't marry each other. He reminds her that she married a much richer guy than himself. But now that they're both available, they can make up for lost time. She agrees to this. Then Sarita and Jimena come in with steam coming out of their ears. Santa deduces that this is about a couple of jerks who aren't worth the trouble, they're all the same. It's best if they just have fun with men and don't take them too seriously. Grandpa admits that Santa knows more about men than he does.

Santa also tells them that all's fair in love and war, and they can't give these guys up without a fight.

Juan hops the balcony into Sofia's room to give her three little cupcakes he's made in honor of their daughters. Sofia gets all sad. He reminds her that they had decided to call their daughter Maria Guadalupe, and he was thinking another could be Maria Libia after his mother, and maybe Sofi has a good idea for a third name. She suggests Maria Jose, after his father. (She says "Jóse" but the captions say "José".) He is touched. She is sad as usual. Destiny is so cruel and won't let us be happy. She can't live without him, she loves him so much. He loves her too. (Will someone please get rid of that noisy crinkly bag!!!)

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss para siempre! But he can't stop thinking about how her father killed his parents (according to Gabi). "Try to understand," he says, and exits over the balcony.

Quintina and Franco come home from their gig and Oscar is impressed by the money they've made. Franco is not at all happy that Quintina agreed to this deal with "La Pau" (Paulina). Q says "money is money" but the guys don't like this complication in their love life.

Oscar privately tells Franco that he just can't believe that Bernardo killed their parents. Franco agrees. The met him, and yes he did deceive their sister, but he was also planning to dump Gabriela on the day he died. He just didn't strike them as the killing type.

Also, Padre Tadeo told them that kids mustn't bear their parents' guilt, so they can't blame any of this on the daughters.

Sarita and Jimena consider what Santa told them, but they feel they've already lost the loves of their lives since the guys are convinced that their father killed their parents. Still, they know their father couldn't have done that.

Franco and Oscar also say goodnight without making up their minds - but Sarita and Jimena are there. (For real? Or is it just a dream?)

Grandpa looks down the hallway with his spyglass to see Santa. He invites her to his room. They try to be quiet at first, which lasts about five seconds.

Grumpy Gabriela overhears them laughing and playing, and specifically she hears Santa say "no, that won't work, you have to straighten it/stand it up" (enderezarse) and is mortified.

Sofi wonders how she can live without Juan. Juan is wondering how he can live without Sofia. His heart won't listen to reason.

Mexico airdate: 12 de agosto
Next time: Looks like a party.

Labels:


Comments:
Hehe, Julie: "the day the plot stood still!" I was watching with half an eye, your snappy recap convinced me I didn't miss too much. Santita is quite the hot potato...Go for it, Abuelo! Life is short!
"Creemelo"
 

Oops! Thanks very much Julie!
"Cree"
 

Julie, thank you! That crinkly bad or wrap was sooo annoying! Sometimes I just don't get what they are thinking. Someone on the set had to have heard that, couldn't they stop filming to move it? This show makes me crazy. My son and I made up lots of dialog for Juan comtemplating the dough. Not really printable. Hahahahaha!
 

Excellent title Julie. Sounds like Santa is livening up the proceedings somewhat. This show is desperately in need of something. Was happy to see in the promos that nasty ol' Ruth will be coming back.
 

Thanks for the recap Julie. I think Santa can handle anything Crabi throws at her so this should be interesting. I kind of feel sorry for Quintina though.

I'm still having trouble getting this straight: Jimena and Oscar adopted the girls because they were the only ones that were married. But, Juan and Snofia are holding themselves out as the parents. This has got to be confusing for the little ninas. Sorry, it's too early to be thinking this hard. I'll just straighten my beanie! We seriously are in need of a swimming or shower scene about now.
 

Thanks, Julie! I fell asleep at some point...the last I can remember is Slofia looking sad & pensive but then again, she pretty much looks that way all of the time so I'm not sure where I conked off.

So I-Juan-A-Brain once again has a hot woman draping herself all over him & he just doesn't know how to get her to stop. I know that if a man ever did that to me, he'd get the message pronto. (yeah, yeah, yeah...like some hot guy would EVER drape himself all me! I'm dreaming of Fernando Colunga who's blind & doesn't notice my age or lack of hot-itude.)

And what hideous baked creation will Juan concoct for the baptism? I hope it's not that freakish Jabba the Hut bread baby or he'll scare the guests. Or, since we're in Mexiloon, they'll all think it's lovely & then eat it in some bizarro ritual of bread-baby dining.

I like Santa, if for no other reason than the fact that she tees off Crabi. Where's Root? Then they can annoy her in stereo!

Maggarita
:-)
 

Julie: Loved your title. This chapter really didn't do a thing for me either. I liked the fact that Juan told Pau to head for the door. I thought he let her know how things were with him and Sofi.
 

Thanks, Julie. Your title says it all. Like Connie, I'm wondering why Juan and Sofia consider thenselves to be the parents of the girls. Seems to me that no one is parenting the poor waifs. Lets get the train wreck moving again...
 

Thanks Julie! Perhaps it was a stage hand unwrapping his lunch that gave us those extra sound effects. The production values are s-o-o-o poor in this novela. I'm beginning to think they haven't even budgeted for costumes other than the big hats and some very cheap wigs. Oscar's boots are most definitely his own. From the looks of those worn soles, I would like to recommend a good cobbler.
 

Thanks, Julie. Great title...it says it all. This is what happens when you stretch out a story that could be told in 60 episodes ...It's Groundhog Day in Mexidoon. I hated that movie..hated that movie,,,hated that movie. This show just keeps swirling round and round and round. And where is Ferd? Is he on vacation ? It probably would have been a pretty good story if they hadn't stretched it out the way they did. So, when is the final episode ???? I am ready and waiting for Fernando to take me away from all this nonsense....into new nonsense, I fear. Let's hope that the next novela that Eduardo stars in is better than this wreck. Que lastima.
 

P.S. I did enjoy the scene of Abuelo ,that old scoundrel, and Santa in her white negligee sipping Martinis. And Crabby stomping up the stairs to put a stop to all their banter and laughter. I guess that Crabby and Ferd are the only ones allowed to have a good time behind closed doors in that hacienda. Time to paint another awful picture , Crabby. [I think that the writers are drinking Martinis, too...and they've had tee many Martoonis.
 

Well, Juan and Sofi are the biological parents of one of the girls, and everyone knows this except for maybe the clueless social worker. The social worker is the reason that Oscar and Jimena were the only people who could adopt the three girls - because O and J are the only couple of the bunch who are still married.

I don't think they could swing this without the nuns' help.

And don't forget, Pablito still thinks of Sofi as his mommy even though Jimena is technically his adoptive mother for the same reason. (And what a great and attentive mom she is!)

Now, Feo, I assume he's still in Puebla, killing time (and perhaps some random victims) and screwing around with Raquel.

What I can't figure out in this whole mess is the Sofia character. She just runs hot and cold at totally random intervals, getting all dreamy and mushy with Juan and then pushing him away. I wouldn't call this "stormy" or "passionate"; I would just call it annoying and selfish.

Fuego is the first thing I've ever seen Adela Noriega in, and I have been under the impression that she is generally well regarded. However, this role is just so awful that I'm worried that I'll never want to see her in anything else ever again, even if she's allegedly great in it.

As for Santita... thank goodness for her. She really was the highlight of last night.
 

"Tee many martoonis" - LOL, Susanlynn, it took me a minute to figure out what you meant. I've had tee little coffoo.
 

Oh, and as for whatever he was planning to make for the baptism, I assume it will be the three kinds of "M" cupcakes to represent the three little Marias... Nina, Pinta, and Santamaria or whatever they decided on... actually I believe Guadalupe, Libia, and Jose. The three cupcakes last night were meant as prototypes, I believe.

But a giant Baby the Hutt loaf isn't out of the question.
 

Naming all of the babies Maria bothered me. Really, can't do better then that? And Juan? Who calls their daughter Jaun? She didn't say Juanita she said Juan? That is going to be one messed up little girl!
 

Nina, Pinta & Santa Maria...LOL!!!

Maggarita
:->
 

While the plot {is there actually one? I forget} is stalled, I'm enjoying Ximena. She does some of her best acting using just her eyes. They really are very expressive and she seems to be really enjoying herself. even so, Ruth can't come back soon enough to suit me. Carlos
 

In the Pennsylvania Dutch culture (my dad's), pretty much EVERY boy gets Johannes for a first name and pretty much every girl gets Elizabeth for a first name. Then they never use those names, they use their middle names. Great system.
 

Or maybe it's Maria, too. I forget.
 

I went to school with a girl who was one of seven Marys. Mary Frances, Mary Anne, Mary Jane, etc...

It's still better than naming all the boys "George Foreman."
 

I've never understood why people do that. Name them something and then use the middle name or another name. Why not name them that in the first place. That would be like naming a boy Robert Matthew Smith and then calling him Pete. I just don't get it.
 

At least when you yelled "George" they would all come running! :-P
 

Thanks, Julie, for the recrap. Great title, as well. At the end, I explained to hubby about "Juan's lines" and "Sofi's lines."
Santa's an amusing character, but yet another cameo just thrown in to extend the story.
Juan's three cupcakes and the girls' names were too much. When the show has nothing else to offer, they let Juan break out that million-watt smile to keep everyone happy.
La Paloma
 

It remindes me of the Dr. Seuss story of the woman who had 29 sons and named them all Dave.
 

Julie, I should have skipped last night's show and just read your recap. From the title on, it was way more fun and immensely better written than the episode itself. Great job.

Maggarita, your "(yeah, yeah, yeah...like some hot guy would EVER drape himself all me! I'm dreaming of Fernando Colunga who's blind & doesn't notice my age or lack of hot-itude.)" was priceless.

It's just not the same without Feo is it? Shows how much he livens things up. Kind of sad that we all want Ruth to return, a character who's only been in 3 or 4shows! Glad Santa is annoying Gabriela and hope she keeps it up. More Coyote also please. Diana in MA.
 

I agree. More Coyote with his awesome smile.
 

This is the shortest recap I've ever written for Fuego, and possibly my shortest recap ever. I keep feeling as though I must have missed something important, but I don't think I did. If anything, I should be trying to keep them even shorter.

One thing that was really annoying was the scene with Quintina and the two girls in the street. They were talking so mysteriously about their "agreement" that I got hung up on it for a long time, thinking I needed to get every word of it for clues to some upcoming story arc.

Then it just turned out to be a serenade. What a ripoff! Don't set up so much suspense about something that's going to be resolved in 15 minutes anyway!
 

Julie - thanks for the recrap. I love your "day the plot stood still" title. Don't apologize for the shortness; when nothing happens what more can you say, except,
--- "Juan lines. Sofia lines. Same-old, same-old. blah blah blah"

I'm getting bored with this novela, mainly because it is extended and they're filling it with ... time-wasting fillers. Ugh

doris
 

I wouldn't mind the filler so much if it was interesting. Instead of introducing pointless, predictable, go-nowhere storylines, like this new one with Juliana, Paulina, and the harsh-looking-blonde, I would have preferred something unique: portioning off a segment of the show and dedicating it to one character we really like.

We could call it "Coyote's World," sort of like "Elmo's World." Coyote reads us his mail each day, and then he meets with his friend Señor Fideo (Mr. Noodle) in prison to talk about some bad habit that we kids should avoid. And then they do a song about friendship and/or breaking kneecaps.

But no, instead we get ten to twenty minutes of pouting.
 

"Coyote's World" is perfect Julie. Great idea! I think he's hawt and love the fact we don't know much about him except that we keep wanting more! Diana in MA
 

Julie~~~Nina, Pinta, and Sants Marie---HA--excellent choices. Names are very interesting. A few years ago, I had students from Colombia--4 brothers, their sister, and a wife. The women registered for classes by their first names , so I called them Liliana and Magdalena, but the boys always called them Claudia and Carmen. Confusing. I know a family with 4 boys and 3 girls. The girls were all named after their father Bill ---Billy Jo, Billy Pat, and Billy Something Else [I always forget the 3rd Billy. Also, my niece's husband's name is Edward but everyone calls him ''Pete.'' [I have no idea why.] He's named after his father who also is Edward but everyone calls him Pete.... and his son's name is Edward, but [say it with me] everyone calls him Pete. My other niece's husband's name is Carl and that's what our family calls , but his family calls him ''Robbie'' which I think might be his middle name . [I guess his dad is also Carl and that's why the family calls him by his middle name Rob.] Also, I know someone named Felicia , but everyone calls her Jane. I asked if it was her middle name, but she said it wasn't. She said her family always called her ''Jane''...she has no idea why.
 

One more~~~My aunt's husband's name was Fred...they named their son Fred ...he named his son Fred. She used to call them Fred, Freddy , and FreddyFreddy.
 

Great title, Julie, and such funny comments too. I worked in a hospital and some mother named her twins, no less, the same name. I must have missed the middle names. The funniest thing in this episode were those cupcakes which one would never guess were made by a baker, maybe a 5 year old child, but not a professional baker. Ruth, pleeease come back, pronto. G in CA
 

Yes, Julie, your recrap was better than last night's pointless episode. I am utterly, completely sick of Jimena and Sarita's childish hissy fits toward the hermanos. When they talk to each other, they admit how much they love them, but treat them like dogs.

I think the first name that is not used is a saint's name that is given at baptism and not generally used from then on. Thus the Mary Janes, Mary Frances. For Hispanic men, it's often Juan as the saint's name.

I've seen Adela in roles that I liked better. I thought she was great in Amor Real, much spunkier. I also saw her in El Privilegio de Amar a long, long time ago and liked her in that. She generally does play the sweet ingenuous person, although it does seem she's getting a bit long in the tooth for it.
 

Adela was very good as Matilde in ''Amor Real'' but she cried a lot. Adela 's ''thing'' seems to be angst and tears. She was very thin and waiflike in Amor Real.
 

Thanks Julie for your recap which was so much better than the episode itself. The title is perfect, "stood still" indeed, drowned in a hole, shriveled on the vine, they all work but you picked the best!

The naming comments are hilarious. Also they are much better than the episode itself.

Whoopee! I am off to recap the party, hope it isn't too sad and crybaby. Where's Feo indeed, he needs to get up put on his pants and give us some plot interest. NOW!!
 

I like "Coyote's World", too. Sounds like it would be a howling good time! Perhaps he can put on a cardigan sweater like Mr. Rogers (Neighborhood) when he reads his mail.

doris
 

I'm not even sure which party this is - the baptism, or Juliana's birthday dance party?

Juliana is also known in the captions as Liliana, Luliana and even Xuliana... I was tempted to make up a new joke name for her, but I am hoping that the character fades out of the story so quickly that it won't be necessary.
 

Do they make cardigans in leather?
MinMN
 

MinMN~~~Anything is possible. Look at Sofia....She's now wearing black and white instead of all black....or all pink gingham check.
 

A cautionary tale about giving all your kids the same name. Many years ago I worked in Mexico City processing immigrant visas. A family came in whose father was named Fernando (he did not seem to bear any resemblance in temperament or propensity to kill to Feo). They had five sons I believe, all of whom had names beginning with Fernando, i.e., Fernando Fermin, Fernando Frances, etc. The last two kids on the application were named Juan and Maria. Perhaps they were expecting an encounter with someone like Fuego's social worker who wasn't disturbed by the inappropriate PDA during her home check with the adoptive parents. Sadly, if Juan and Sofia every try to pass off someone else's kids as their own, they would probably not be any more clever about it than that couple.
 

I have female cousins who were born in the late 60's and early to mid 70's with Maria as part of their first name. Sometimes abreviated by Ma.followed by the name. ie, Ma.Sophia,Ma. Francisa. Now those that use Maria by itself will use Maria.....A few will use both names such as Maria Gudalupe..


Ok who is Sofia's real daughter? The Unibrow baby with Red hair?

Ibarramedia
 

I like all the suggestions by the Coyote Fannies, of which I am a charter member; where can I buy a ticket to Coyote-Land? Is it like Wally-World? Can we go on a roadtrip?
BTW, did you notice how disappointed Sufria was when she unwrapped the pastry and found 3 stunted cupcakes instead of her big juicy S cake?
"Creemelo"
 

I figured it was the dark haired baby with the misshapen head!

Yes she was totally disappointed Creemelo! Must be feeling the sting of being displaced by babies!
 

Hey Julie,

I can't stand Adela Noriega's character in this novela. Sometimes I just want to slap her silly (her sisters too) so I rely on your recaps and that of your fellow recappers. Thank you.

I loved her in El Manantial and Amor Real. I got the DVDs for Amor Real from the library and saw they cut out a lot of material. There were only two DVDs. I know they commercial each episode to death when they broadcast but even taking out the commercials this should have been at least a 4-DVD set.

G.
 

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