Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Sortilegio, Tuesday, December 08--Ep #44: Alex sure knows how to sell divorce.
Review: Meche and Gabriel are free and planning to visit an aunt in Xalapa (Jalapa?). Chucho is a cheap bastard when it comes to paying cabbies. Gabriel doesn't know how to walk properly with crutches. Alex wants 3 plane tickets to the DF for him, MJ, and the lawyer to facilitate the quickie divorce. Mari tries to make the arrangements, but Katia is being nosy and won't take "none of your business" for an answer. Mari reports little miss snotty-pants to Alex and ends up using his phone.
If anyone asks where Alex is tomorrow, Mari is to say she doesn't know. They'll be taking the helicopter to the airport. Alex listens to a little of Katia's conversation, but not nearly enough. All she knows is someone is going to DF. Bruno isn't pleased with the scarcity of the information.
Chucho tries to convince Meche and Gabriel to talk to Alex, or at least to take some money. Pedro comes up with a plan to send Paula back to Alex's house and have Meche and Gabriel stay with them, at least until they come up with a better plan. Meche and Gabriel cry about how well Chucho and Pedro are treating them. Chucho isn't a fan of crying.
Raquel brings martinis to Lisette and Maura and bitches at them about how they never come to visit anymore. Maura claims they're there to support Raquel, like the good friends they are. Raquel cries and whines about what a tough time she's having. The sisters try to pump Raquel for info. She admits she's a bastard cause her mom got around. Maura and Lisette try to console her, but you can tell they're laughing on the inside. Raquel gripes that Roberto only cares about himself and as soon as this is all over, she's divorcing him. Lisette tells her she'd better not be doing it to marry Uli, cause he'll just wring every last cent from her. She denies having anything to do with Uli and calls Lisette and Maura "viboras" (snakes). She kicks them out. Maura tells Lisette they'd better go as Raquel is probably "en sus dias" (lit. "in her days"; i.e. PMS-ing). Raquel shrieks at them and throws her drink at the door as they leave.
Maura and Lisette feel sorry for Roberto after that display. They see Fernando driving up. Maura thinks when she's Vicky's age, she'd like to have a Fernando. Lisette agrees. They get in Maura's red convertible and drive off, complaining about the heat.
Vicky gives Fernando a big hug when he comes in. They do their song and dance about how he's too young, what's going to happen, etc. while smooching and hugging.
Erick drives back to his house and finds the door open and unlocked. He calls for Meche and Gabriel, who have thoughtlessly left without even leaving a "Dear Erick, we're escaping, too bad sucka!" note behind. He calls them imbeciles for escaping and moans that he's going to be in such big trouble with Bruno. For the not killing them part or the letting them escape part?
Alex comes home. Ezequiel informs him that Maura and Lisette visited Raquel and Fernando is there to see Vicky. MJ is in her/their room. Alex has Zeke tell Fernando and Vicky that he'd like them all to have dinner together. Upstairs, MJ is getting packed for tomorrow. She's worried that people are going to start talking smack about her again--saying she's going to betray him and run off with his money, etc. Alex doesn't care anymore. He knows Vicky will understand and the rest of them can go jump in the fake lake. He doesn't want to talk about it anymore. He says he trusts her like he trusts himself.
At dinner, Vicky asks if there has been anything more than what was in the paper. Alex says he doesn't think so, but he does have a plan--he and MJ will divorce. That way he keeps his word to Bruno, but also this will fix it so that no matter what happens, Bruno won't get his hands on the money. Alex says he won't be left with nothing because he can get a job somewhere else. MJ brings up that she thinks they think she's going to take off. She wants to reassure them that she won't. Vicky gets weepy at the thought of Alex leaving his father's company. Alex tells her that MJ will own most of the company and Bruno will drive it into the ground. Then MJ and Vicky can move to have Alex reinstated. Vicky doesn't like the risk, but Alex couldn't think of another plan. MJ will also own half of the house. Alex says he'll live somewhere else or he can stay in one of the chalets. Alex says the only problem is that they won't be divorced for a month and if Bruno gets his way before that month is up, then they will have a big problem. Dun, dun, dun. Cause the problems they've had so far have been so small?
Vicky and Fernando discuss The Plan. Fernando likes it, but he thinks giving it all to MJ is risky because she's vulnerable to threats from Bruno and pressure from her sister and father. Vicky is worried that Fernando will get fired, but he says he can always get another job. Fernando tells her that he's got a ranch that a great-uncle takes care of for him. Vicky is surprised at how little she knows about him, but he says it's because he's confined himself to only telling her how much he loves her. Another round of "You're too young/No I'm not" ensues. More smooching.
Alex tells MJ they've got to get up early to catch a 7:00 helicopter. Alex says that even if Vicky and Fernando don't trust her, he does. MJ says she's feeling something like a "comezón" (an itch) near her wound. Alex smooches on her nonexistent bump as she asks him how long they'll be separated. He says it all depends on how the court case goes. He says she won't be without him, though. He'll sneak into her room every night and they'll get down. She tells him she'll love him for evah.
Ulises meets some guy in a hotel. This is the guy who set him up with the original Fake!Mario. The guy says Fake!Mario must have found someone who paid him better. "Con dinero baila el perro, y sin dinero bailas como un perro" (money makes the dog dance and without money you dance like a dog). He has no idea where Fake!Mario lives, but he'll try to find out. Uli sees Roberto macking on a hot chick and comes over to say hello. He asks for a moment of Roberto's time to tell him that the guy he was just talking to is going to find their Fake!Mario. Roberto gives the valet ticket to the hot chick and tells her to have the car brought up. Uli comments that Roberto has now taken to getting it on with prostitutes. Roberto ignores him and asks what he wants. Uli doesn't like it when they fight. He says they need to enjoy life, but Roberto doesn't like Uli "enjoying life" with his wife. Uli asks what he should do. Duh, quit seeing her. Uli says he can't, Raquel is an unflushable. He tries to get Roberto to come back to his place instead of leaving with the woman. Unfortunately Roberto's not in the mood for sausage tonight.
Raquel calls Uli. She's lying around having a moment with a peacock feather. She teases him that she only calls him so often because he never calls her, so therefore it's his fault. She has a surprise for him and wants to pick him up at 10 and she won't take no for an answer. She ends up letting it slip that the surprise is his new apartment. He's thrilled. Not.
Alex and Fernando review The Plan. Fernando will be in charge until Alex gets back. Despite Vicky and Fernando's doubts, Alex trusts MJ and besides, he doesn't have any other options. When he gets back, they need to talk about Katia--she's not doing her work and she's spending too much time with a possible boyfriend. Alex tells Fernando that even though Katia's his sister, Alex doesn't want her hanging around with just any guy.
MaryJo talks to Pedro. He pleads for Paula to go back to the big house. MJ says they're going to DF today on business, but they can talk about it more tomorrow. Zeke comes to fetch MJ. She points out the luggage to him as she finishes throwing stuff in her purse and they walk out.
Fernando walks the lawyer to the helipad. Vicky wishes MJ a good trip. Felipa tells Alex to take care of himself. Vicky gives MJ and Alex both a blessing. Vicky and Felipa walk Alex and MJ to the helipad. The helicopter takes off. Vicky, Felipa, Fernando, and Zeke watch them take off. They all sincerely hope things go well. Fernando invites Vicky to dinner, but she says she's too tired to go out. He's invited over later though, if he wants. Felipa comments that Fernando makes Vicky smile. Vicky tells Felipa about Fernando's ranch as they walk inside.
In the Bachelor Pad + Pau, Pedro is hanging up his picture of the Virgen. This place is looking more and more like the apartment in Saqui every day. Pedro asks after Meche and Gabriel. Chucho says they're really nervous. Pedro tells Chucho that MJ is in DF until tomorrow and he hopes she'll agree to let Paula go back to the big house. Paula comes out of the room and the two guys try to cheer her up. Paula is cranky that Pedro hung up the Virgen. Pedro fills Paula in on the trip to DF. Paula is grouchy that they've gone on vacation while she's stuck there. She declines to go with the guys to the mercado. Once they've left, she pulls her cell phone out of her cleavage and calls the big house. Paula tells Ezequiel she needs Roberto's cell phone number. Dun, dun, dun.
Raquel takes Uli to his new apartment. She's rented it for a whole year. She asks whether they should break it in in the living room or the bedroom. Uli wants to do it riiiiight here.
Roberto comes to pick up Paula. He thanks her for saving him from a boring day of doing nothing. She won't invite him in because it's "espantoso" (horrific). She doesn't care where they go, just anywhere. So off they go, holding hands.
Erick goes to Meche and Gabriel's old place, but they're not there. He goes over to his cousin's. He claims to be nervous about them having disappeared, cause if they say anything to Alex, he and the cousin are in big trouble. The cousin says maybe they went to see their aunt in Xalapa.
Paula and Roberto are out at the beach. Paula tells Roberto that Alex and MJ went to DF. Roberto is confused because he thought MJ was too weak to travel. He orders them a couple of drinks. He tells Paula that as hard as she tries, she can't resist being friends with him. Paula agrees that now she does think they're friends.
In DF, the judge thinks that Alex is being way too generous with MJ. Alex says it's because she's having his baby. The judge asks MJ and Alex if they want to divorce. They both say yes without meaning it. The lawyer gives the judge a letter where Alex and MJ have stated that they'll submit to the jurisdiction of the DF so they can "prescindir" (dispense with) the need for "juntas de avenencia" (settlement or mediation meetings). The judge tells them that since they want the express divorce, they need to come to 1 meeting just to confirm that there's no possibility of reconciling. Then they have to wait a month for the sentence to come down. Alex asks if there isn't any way to speed things up. He claims he's going out of the country in a couple of weeks and he doesn't want any loose ends. The judge says they'll do what they can to speed things up. I kinda like Alex playing dirty. And as Mr. 5ft keeps saying, now they can get remarried, and in the church this time.
In the car, Alex tells MJ they'll be divorced in a few weeks. She's so pouty he tells her he has a surprise for her--they're going to a concert.
Fernando comes downstairs to see Katia dancing around the living room with her iPod. When he says he's going to the Lombardo's she asks why--since Alex isn't there. Fernando asks her if she has a boyfriend, cause if she does, he'd like to meet the guy. She asks him when he's going to officially introduce her to his girlfriend or lover or whatever--cause if it's Vicky, she thinks it's ridiculous. He tells her to shut it. She tells him that if she's not allowed to ask about his girlfriend then he can't ask about her boyfriend. Fernando starts in on the "well, I'm your older brother" speech as Mr. 5ft comments that Fernando will be the stepdad to his sister's boyfriend. Thank you so much for that mental image. Fernando tells her if she doesn't behave herself, she'll have to be sent away to school again. Bratia counters that if he keeps dating old hags, he'll have to consult a psychiatrist..."cuckoo!" Fer leaves and Katia calls Bruno, but gets his voicemail.
Bruno is talking to Fake!Mario. FM says he's out of money, but Bruno doesn't care anymore. If MF (oops, I mean FM!) needs to squeeze somebody, he can call Uli or Maura or whoever. And he doesn't care anymore about what he told FM before--that he wasn't to get in touch with them again. He hangs up on FM and takes a call from Katia. Katia gripes that she's sick of Fernando and she wants to tell him that she's going out with Bruno so he'll back off. Bruno says it's not time yet. He wants to know if she found out anything more about what Alex is up to. Katia says she didn't because "la gorda de Mari" (that fat [beeyotch] Mari) wouldn't speak to her anymore. So that would make her, what "la ramera de Katia?" "la metiche de Katia?" Bruno is sure that Alex and MaryJo are plotting something to hurt him and that Fernando knows about it. Bruno convinces Katia to hack into Fernando's computer and see if she can find anything useful. Not that she needed a lot of convincing.
In front of Fernando, Vicky tells Hernán, via phone, that she's grateful for the offer, but she's really, really, not in the mood to go out tonight. He keeps trying to convince her to go out, assuming that she's holing up in the house alone, as opposed to cuddling with Fernando. He just won't take no for an answer. She finally says she'll go out with him the day after tomorrow. He tells her he'll take her to the best restaurant in town. She hangs up. Fernando is upset, but Vicky says she ran out of excuses to say no. Fernando says she should have used him as the excuse, but Vicky isn't yet ready to publicly admit her cougar status. Fernando doesn't like her giving hope to that "viejo rabo verde" (dirty old man). Awww, they're having their first couple fight. Vicky thinks she's just being friendly, but Fernando knows what Hernán is really after. Vicky says she's not going to put up with him complaining over something so silly. Fernando claims not to be jealous, but Vicky has had enough and isn't going to do things just to please him. She dismisses him, saying she needs to rest now. Okay, cue the violins and the sucking up. Actually, he just says he understands and leaves. It almost looked like Vicky was going to tell him not to, but instead she beats on her desk. Hey, what did that desk ever do to you? Poor thing's had to listen to so much vacillation in the last few months, and then to get beat on top of it. It just ain't right.
Katia can't get past Fernando's password. It's probably "sex1v1ct0ria" or something.
Uli thanks Maura for her prior financial support, but he's got a new sugar mama now. Uli is cagey about telling her where he's living or who's paying for it. His cell phone rings, but he doesn't recognize the number. He answers it and it's Fake!Mario, aka, Mateo. FM thinks the story of where he's been would interest them, as long as they can pay him.
In the hotel room, Alex tells MaryJo that they have to meet with the judge tomorrow to confirm that they really do want a divorce. Then he has to go back to living the way he did before to prove that their separation is credible. MaryJo doesn't like the idea of him going out and seeing Maura. Alex reminds her that he really loves her and the rest is a farce. He says she's the only one in his heart. MJ says she can't help being jealous. Alex says they'll always be together. Smoochies.
Fake!Mario tells Maura and Ulises that the guy who paid him called himself "Mario Aguirre." He's experiencing a cash flow shortage now that "Mario" won't pay him anymore and he figures that Maura and Uli will pay to keep him from going to Alex with what he knows. He tells them to call when they've come to a decision, and then leaves, undoubtedly sticking them with the check. Ulises is washing his hands of the whole matter. He figures all he did was do a favor for Maura. In other words, if someone's going to pay, it's going to be her. Maura says she's sure the guy will want a lot of money and she'll just end up having to pay and pay and pay. Uli says he doesn't know what to do, but he'll help her if she needs it. Riiiight. As long as it doesn't mean forking over any dough, right?
In the Auditorio Nacional, Alex and MaryJo have come to see…El Divo in concert. Watch out for flying underwear and hotel key cards. Alex and MaryJo are busy making out. Alex takes MaryJo backstage after the concert. The boys are surprised to hear that their good buddy Al has gotten married. He introduces her to one guy in Spanish and the other three in English and then asks, on MaryJo's behalf, for a picture of her with them. She's all nervous and shaky, but she keeps from doing the big gummy smile. Alex invites the guys to his place tomorrow for dinner. MaryJo gets all giddy and tells the guys they sing great and she's a "fan" (which is the same in English as it is in Spanish).
Tomorrow: Bruno tries to find out what Alex is up to; Alex confronts Bruno and hears that Bruno hates him (no, really, I never would have guessed); Alex threatens Bruno to stay away from "his" family.
Labels: sortilegio
Hahaha. Funnnny. Brilliant.
Lol thank Mr. 5 ft for the visual of Fernando as step-dad to Katia's BF. I am extremely disturbed.
It was a rather dull episode. I wanted more excitement. Your recap was amazing though. :)
i don't like the sound of Alex hanging around Maura...sounds horrible.
My fav line - Roberto not in the mood for sausage. LOLed and woke the dog up.
My next favorite - 'Watch out for flying underwear and hotel key cards'. :o)
I think I kept hearing the phrase "tio abuelo"? What would that mean?
Great-uncle? Did I imagine this?
Wow, Chez Lombardo has valet parking for guests. What kind of car were Mau & Lis driving?
You are such a fine writer, Mrs 5ft. Tonight I thought to myself, "OK now.I think I'm safe to enjoy a glass of FrickC3 (a lovely ruby red Rhone blend). What can Kat possibly do to make me laugh out loud with such a yawner of an episode"? Lulled by this false sense of security, DH handed me a glass of wine. Then I read your take on Fernando's secret password "sex1v1ct0ria". Once again, I snorted a nose full of what I was drinking.
Having carefully set the glass down, I am now ROTFL...
Fantastic recap overall!Thank you so much for making me laugh out loud as I try to stay awake to continue my budgeting and bill paying!@!!
CubsFan
5ft Latina thanks for the recap, isn't Raquel on constant pms.
This episodes was definitely a filler, the only thing that as significant was how low Skankia would sink to do mad dog Bruno's bidding.
So let me get this straight Alex is willing to let Bruno take over the company but the majority controlling interest will be with MJ and Vicki.
He knows how incompetent Bruno is he will quickly run the company into the ground. All of the board of directors who have been bribed by Bruno will quickly changed their minds about who should be the President.
Alex will then come back to revive the company to what it is today. Has even consider what Bruno would try to do to MJ?
I like how fake Mario got kicked to the curb by Bruno, the man needs his money right now.
Then fake Mario had the nerve to threaten Maura and Useless. I can't wait to see where this plot is going.
Kudos to Alex for telling Ferdumbo his sister isn't working out and protecting his executive secretary Mari.
If only our bosses in real life could recognize the difference between a valued and conscientious worker and outright Kiss a$$.
thanks Elna for wishing me luck earlier. I read your comment, but I didn't get a chance to respond.
Last official day of class tomorrow. I'm gonna get some sleep.
Note to self: Control. You can live a week without spending your time on Caray...(?)
lol good night guys.
Here i thought Ferdumbo password was cougarsjustluvthem.
sorry anon :)))
I even went on youtube to confirm it at the time.
they even changed Bruno's car at one point didn't they? He was driving a silver Porsche and then it became a white BMW.
Maybe i need my eyes checked again.
It must be effected by the Lombardos technicolors mansion.Maura's Barbie playhouse living room decor. Sorry.
Anyway, add me to the throng of people who loved Fernando's password. When you get done acting in this play, maybe you should write one yourself. You have a strange and wonderful mind, amiga.
Quick thoughts before rushing off to work:
-Vicky is now just toying with Fernando. Making a date with another man with him in the same room, kissing and hugging on him, while at the same time telling him they can't be together, refusing to go out in public with him, but accepting basically a booty call from him in the secrecy/privacy of her house...I would be a bit ticked if I were Nando.
-Paula, Paula, Paula- Why was she upset that MJ would dare go on a trip with her own husband/soon to be papa of her child? It's none of her business and MJ owes her nothing!
-Oh Raquel, what to say? There are no words.
-Useless continues to do what he does best, mooching of people and taking no responsibility for anything. It seems like Bobo is not putting up with his crap anymore.
-I continue to be intrigued by the relationship between Bobo and Paula. He doesn't seem to be making obviuos moves on her. If I didn't know all the other dispicable stuff he's done, I would have said the hand-holding was sweet. He's certainly after information from her, but what else?
-Describing Maura and Lisette as the Kardashians (as many here have called them) really is accurate. Those girls are just "mean girls."
-Parfect title Kat, because Alex really is doing as much as humanly possible to soften the blow of the divorce for MJ- well, aside from mentioning that he needs to "pretend" to go back to his former playboy lifestyle. Backstage access to Il Divo, and inviting them to your house! Plus, lots of hugs and kisses. I'm sold! ;)
-Vivi in DC
It was a bit of a snooze episode though more light hearted than EDNA. (Gees, that one needs to lighten up somewhere.) Sortilegio seem to always have an episode or two like that before some major upsets. Catastrophe should be just around the corner.
Fer and Vicki were sort of "cute". He seemed genuinely surprised when she greeted him with the big hug. Love him calling Hernan " a dirty old man" as opposed to being, what Fer, a dirty young man? Aren't you both after the same thing, hmmmmmmm?
And Raquel, really. She must go through half her monthly allowance in just getting glasses replaced. Is it me, or is she reverting back to her teen years with the whining, temper tandrums and giggling? What's next, a sleep over with Katia. They can compare "ick" notes on their boyfriends.
This whole divorce scenario will be setting up all sorts of possibilities. Can't wait to see which way they move the plot lines.
Cielo - I know its hard to stay away from Caray but we'll be here when you get back. Best wishes with exams, papers, etc.
Doris - tio abuelo was what one of the children from Tontas used to call his uncle.
The possibilities for disaster with this divorce scheme are endless. And I'm with those of you who don't want to live through seeing Maura coiled around Alex any time soon.
Well, I knew it, Maura and Alex will be in loving embraces again, he as well as said it! In talking with my Spanish speaking friends they said " será tan feo" and I agree.
In this novela, I notice that they use ingeniero as a title as we would use "Doctor" Jones. Is that what they are doing? It is very charming.
I have said before, "He who predicts the outcomes of a telenovela..... is a fool," but it looks like they are, for the time being anyway, putting Paula and Roberto together. I have always thought that holding hands is a very silent, but very strong message...we love each other, we are comfortable together. You even see hand holding quite often in very old couples. For me that was a strong message.
Anon 7:39...agree, please no manicomio scenes!!
Fer-no-no is turning into a Fer-yes-yes. He'll do anything Vic wants, albeit with some protestations. I hope he gets home (since he was dismissed early) in time to catch Katia at the computer. Love the passwords. Ugh on the kissy-face with Vic. Gabriel Soto knows darn well how to kiss meaningfully (see Querida Enemiga). There must be a lack of chemistry between these two. Ale & MJ make absolutely convincing lovers.
How much thicker will the plot get? It's already thicker than posole. Mateo, Mau, Uli, Pete, Chucho, Meche and Gabe all seem to be heading for the same pot of soup that Bruno has been stirring. Alex adds the spices.
Il Divo was a surprise. I'm glad I taped it--it will have to be preserved for ever. I saw them years ago on the Young and the Restless. They are still very guapo.
Estrada's costs must have been sky-high paying for every glass object Raque throws. (On the other hand, helicopter rides are pretty expensive, too. Did anyone notice that Alex got in the front seat next to the pilot, but in the following scene the seat is empty?)
Yes, I agree that Robo and Pau seemed genuinely happy spending the afternoon together. It saves us from all the whining.
Newbie in MD
That in turn will make Alex upset and he's the one controlling the purse strings. Roberto is not going have his pesos cut off.
Am just NOT understanding Alex' anvil-laden plan and can only see problems ahead. One problem is that the company will be in the dumper immediately upon Bruno assuming the presidency! (No doubt he'll replace trusty Mary with Katia and that little inept, spoiled little bigot will be in charge of the front office...)
Also am not understanding the possible return of fake Mario. Guess I have to stay tuned.
Oddly enough, for someone my age (Vicky or there abouts) I don't have men friends. I think some of the younger generation can and do have male/female friendships.
And MJ is worried about Alex's single life when she has all his dinero?????
Loved Il Divo, wish it had been longer.
Tks Kat, great recap.
Maybe at the beginning he was looking at Paula differently, now i see a sort of change in his actions with her.
He probably is still pumping her for information, for his benefit of course.
I don't see him crossing that line with her because he would have too much to lose. As long as he has stayed with Raquel do you honestly believe he would ruin his good life to have a affair with Paula.?
Could Alex have given the money to the baby? and appointed himself as conservator of the estate
I'm going to put Alex's status as "smartest galan" on hold until I see how this plan is going to work out. At this point it seems much too elaborate a plan merely to satisfy the likes of Bruno!
I like the way Jardinera described Alex's determination to keep his promise to Bruno as Alex being "hogtied to principal".
I'm sure this plan will work in the long run. But in the meantime It's bound to keep us sitting on the edge of our seats and biting our nails when Bruno has his say.
Ebony Katia along with Raquel caught Vicki and Ferdumbo in a restaurant together. She was tenderly touching his face that's why Katia is saying all her nonsense about Vicki.
Yet in still she has no right to dictate to her older brother who he should see.
Good point about the baby, maybe he would have done that but the baby isn't born yet. We don't know what might happen to it or MJ now that Alex has put her in control of the money.
We know Bruno is willing to kill.
Now I think better of Fernando, knowing that he has a little ranch in the country and a password that Katia couldn't hack. Liked your password suggestion.
Having Alex as a husband is such a sweet deal, what with a helicopter and Il Divo on call. (And that's not even counting his hotness.)
Now to see how this divorce works out. Probably not as they planned.
La Paloma
"I am worried too that MJ may be locked up someplace for a while. Look at Manana es para siempre".
Manana (being my first telenovela) made an indelible impression on me. Bruno is not nearly as evil as Barbara, maybe, with effort in a few years he could be in her league. It seems that ENDA's Carloca may be the baddest queen of all, between the purple and the poison and the stairs and all.
But I hate the anvil hanging over MJ right now. You know, it wouldn't be ok with me, pregnant and all, to have my hunka-hunka burning ex-husband out acting the playboy. Not at all.
And some help from Vivi here, I do not fully understand the Kardashians reference. I know Robert Kardashian was one of OJ Simpson's attys and I see the photos of the sisters (his kids?) in the tabloids. Isn't there one sister who can balance a full plate on her back assets? Now that is natural talent! But I haven't followed their reality exploits etc. and did not know that they were mean as well as well-endowed.
I think we have reached the absurd (or perhaps the limitations of a production budget) with the idea that Maura and Lissette live in that white mansion that is always shown before we see the cheap set of the Barbie pad. Where are Mommy and Daddy? In Manana Erika lived with her parents in the grand hacienda. If you were twenty-thirty something would you live with just your sister in a palace like "the white house" or maybe something a little more "young"? I am tired of the sisters for sure. I really must learn how to use my DVR so I can FF through their scenes.
Finally, the fashions in this telenovela seem almost comical. Every dress that Maura wears is the halter-bubble style, which, although perhaps the height of fashion now, will look ridiculous when this TN is reviewed in a few years. Pedro with his untucked shirt (loser) and Chucho with his shirt nattily tied at the waist both look silly. EZ wears his 60's nehru jackets with pride, Paula is always falling out of her t-shirts and toppling about on her sky-high wedges and all the men's trousers are skin tight. (The last issue does not bother me too much). Maybe that is why they have to re-make the telenovelas so often—because looking back at the fashion choices of a few years previous is too distracting.
I will say this, Victoria and Fernando usually look great.
Elna, grumpy as usual with the wardrobe department.
Thanks for saying the make of the sisters' car. I was wondering what Fernando was driving??? a BMW suv???
Does Alex speak perfect English or does he have a bit of foreign accent???
I hope Fernando catches skanky Katia at his laptop...
Ann-NYC
Even though they aren't related i have had many brotherly type of relationship with men. So that's what i was picking up.
Paula and Roberto seem pretty platonic to me. She just wants some company, and for him she's a better option than his other nasty friends. I don't think she'd get romantically interested in a man unless he had a lot more money.
Speaking of accents—Jarocha and others who live in Mexico and all ye Caraylanders who actually SPEAK Spanish, perhaps you could talk a little about regional accents in Mexico and beyond.
I can clearly hear the difference between Alex's accent (Cubano? and difficult for me to grock) and, say, Bruno's. Victoria is very easy for me to understand I think because she enunciates so well. Fernando's accent is very sibilant with the "th" thing happening with the letter "s". Is Fernando's accent common in Mexico? Once, when I spent some time in Andalucia I finally developed an ear for that accent but last year in Madrid I found the sibilant thing so pronounced that I was always about 10 words behind anybody who was talking.
I can't understand Hugo Chavez when he talks (Venezuelan) but sometimes folks from Columbia or Chile sound as clear as a bell to me.
Is there a standard "BBC" type of Mexican Spanish? Does American English have a big influence in Mexican Spanish? I know they have the Academy in Spain to keep Castilian more "pure". Also, what about class differences as well as regional ones in the way the language is spoken?
I would love to hear from all of you fluent Spanish speakers.
Beth: "Maybe Roberto and Paula will one of the few somewhat normal relationships in this Sortilegioland...big brother/little sister."
You both have good points. Maybe the writers plan for the relationship to stay brotherly/sisterly. It will be fun to watch for little clues to see which way everything is going. I thought they were using each other for kicks and support until they held hands. I know I'm not going to enjoy the MJ/Alex divorce, I'll concentrate on Roberto and Paula as a distraction.
"Elna did you see Useless in his bright blue members only jacket. I was like for real who the heck dresses like that in this day in age".
Sandy, in the Latino culture, almost everyone from middle class up has a title. People working in offices are often called "licensiado", and of course anyone in any kind of technical field is called "ingeniero" or engineer. In Destilando Amor they called Rodrigo "ingeniero" when of course he wasn't any kind of professional engineer, but he ran a tequila company. And if you're president or vice-president of something, you can be call "doctor" or "doctora", as was Lety in LFMB. Note that at work everyone calls Fernanda "arquitecto", since he's an architect, instead of Mr. ___.
BTW, if this show were in America, I don't think Alex's plan would work. You can't really give away your goods to avoid creditors or lawsuits. Unless the transfer is in the normal course of business, judges routinely void such transfers. But that would be so boring, I'm happy Alex will transfer so much to MJ. But why does he have to resume his old life so it'll look good? The whole thing is pretty flimsy, and that means it won't work. I have no idea what'll go wrong, but it should be fun to find out.
As for the fashions, I like them as wacky as possible, and so far, I haven't been disappointed.
Elna June, I am not a native Spanish speaker but I can tell you that I watched a telenovela set in Panama, and that accent was quite different from the Mexican accents I'm used to. I found it much more difficult to understand. It sounded very slurry to me, and they kind of dropped off the endings of a lot of the words. The main characters were not played by Panamanian actors, and didn't seem to be faking Panamanian accents, just using their own regular way of speaking, as nearly as I could tell.
Re. Paula and Roberto. I think Roberto does have genuine affection for Paula but as a little sister while Paula does have a crush on him. I have a feeling, she's just waiting for the Raquel-Roberto marriage to go bust so she can declare her true feelings. I just hope she isn't too heartbroken when she finds his dual tastes.
Interesting call by some commentators that Alex should be the one jealous & worried about MJ being footloose and fancy free with all that loot. But, maybe he figures that being pregnant, she won't attract a whole lot of suiters once she begins to show!!!
Preparing for a major ice storm & black ice road conditions because of the falling temps tonight. Here's hoping the electrity doesn't go out and I miss tonight's cap and the Caray2 blog access!!!
CubsFan
Foreigners come to the U.S. and generally have no trouble understanding New Yorkers. But bring them down here to the Say-outh (South- said with two syllables) and they're lost.
Katia already told Bruno about the DF trip, but only that someone was going. But I think he'll figure out the who.
The Spanish speakers in our classes are terrible about dropping the 't' on negative contractions. I lecture faithfully on pronouncing the 't' in can't and tell them if they won't do it, they need to say "cannot" otherwise we think they're saying "I can". (argh)
Newbie in Md
The worst of all for me are any of the countries classified as Caribbean: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic. They tend to cut off the ends of their words, leaving the tense of the verb in doubt lots of times. I dated a guy from Cuba who referred to himself as Lui (Luis). When I was around he and his friends, I could understand about 2 words in 10. But he sure was a great dancer!
Yes, the spanish used in novelas when the character is not supposed to have a particular accent it's the standard accent. David Zepeda speaks like he does because his regional accent is very particular and he hasn't been able to shake it off entirely. I don't know why Gabriel Soto speaks like that though.
Here's some accents for other countries:
Colombia The standard is a polished version of the "rolo" accent, from Bogotá, which is the easiest to understand. I've been in Medellin and Bogotá and there's a big difference between the "rolo" and the "paisa" from Medellín. Note: If you hear someone saying "¿Como así?" in a novela, you can be sure it's from Colombia.
Argentina (for Gancho watchers those are Coni and Xime but we won't have that scene, our story is completely different from "Sos Mi Vida" now, and it has been for a while).
Venezuela.
Perú
Spain.
Jarocha
Jarocha
Saying that Spain has the purest Spanish would be saying that England has the purest English. I could get behind that if we specified the right region according to acceptable reasons.
Saying "Bogotá" has the purest Spanish would be like saying that a city you all think has a clear pronunciation of English (Either in USA, Canada, Australia, etc.) has the purest English of all.
Jarocha
Jarocha: Gracias por los ejemplos de acento! Doris, SuZan, Newbie,
Thanks for your feedback. I learn so much here on this board. Novelera: I love this idea of taking repeat classes. How clever of you! And re: Lui' the great dancer, you made me LOL!
While taking a history class in Spain I heard that there was not an official "Spanish" language until the Catholic Monarchs and the reconquista. According to this fellow—who was from Barcelona and must be presumed to have his own axe to grind—it was the power of the joint monarchs combined with the new money coming in from the New World that gave the cachet to Castellano and it edged out the other Penninsular dialects. Also , weren't some of the great classics of Spanish literature published in Castillian, which also helped it to become the "official" Spanish?
Again, thanks so much to all for this info.
Gotta run to a meeting. Adios.
Castilla was always a big and important Kingdom: Madrid, Burgos, Valencia, Guadalajara, Toledo, etc. were all part of Castilla. The thing is, there are specific accents from each of those cities too.
Jarocha
About Gabriel--I think he may have a slight, but not annoying, speech impediment, because he sounded the same on Querida Enemiga.
Newbie
on a less serious note, I think Alex was amazing in that red t shirt :)
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