Caray, Caray!

Jean, thank you once again for the recap and the morning Spanish Lesson (I now know how to say Happy Mother's Day in Spanish).

The screen shot of Alej sweet smile was wonderful. He doesn't get to show us that smile very often.

The look on Malicia face was priceless when she saw Pablo with Andrea!

Gloria is a wonderful, level headed mother, Marisa should take notes.

The scene with Leo, Amalia and Cris was funny. Amalia so deserved it. And yes, Cris does have a lovely smile.

Fernando is beginning to look like a troll that lives under a bridge. Watch out Clara, I could see him doing you harm.

I hate that all of the men are so blind about Malicia, what is it going to take for them to see her for what she is?

Rosemary
 

Thanks once again, Jean, for an excellent recap. One amusing glitch: apparently you too think that Lucas and Daniel are identical, since in the scene where Daniel comes to Albieri's office, you write "Lucas says that he will go and live on the street because the people there won't be afraid of him." Ooops.

I guess Telemundo is no longer on "Latin American time": El Clon had always started a few minutes late, but the last few episodes that I've seen have apparently started on time, so I missed the first couple of scenes. I came in when Gloria was telling Nati that she can count on her as long as she stays clean.

I loved the scene with Leo, Amalia, and Cristina! Finally there's a point to Cristina's continuing to believe that Leo and Dora had an affair.

Fernando looked really scary at the end of the episode. I can't imagine that the writers will have him kill his mother, but he looks as if he's crazed enough to do so. Indeed, he looks so far gone that I'm wondering whether he'll be the druggie who doesn't make it to the end of the TN, though that might be too much for Clara to bear.

I was afraid that Samira was going to cave in to Latifa's despair and agree to wear the veil. I'm glad she didn't.
 

Thanks for your great recap, Jean.

Latifa gets on my nerves. I know she loves her children, but her husband staying with her is more important than anything. I wonder if you can call what she feels "love."

Ann-NYC
 

Thanks, Juanita for the correction. I get the names wrong all the time. Sometimes I catch it, sometimes not.

Yes, the scene with Gloria and Nati lowered my frustration score. I think she and her son are my favorite characters in the whole novela (not that that's really saying much).

Fernando does seem to be circling the drain. I don't think he'll take Clara down with him but maybe Rogelio will rescue her from scary drug guy creditor or something.

Why isn't Paula in the same condition as Fernando?
 

Jean another wonderful recap of a difficult and frustrating episode thank you.

My take on Marisa not only was she jealous but that look said she was envious and wistful of wanting a relationship exactly like that with her daughter. But unfortunately she will never understand it's not about what she wants for her daughter. But to be supportive and be there ready to battle like a lioness for her cub. Picking up your baby and brushing off the dust when they fall down and telling them you believe in them with loving and motherly support.Not berating and projecting your pain upon your child because life isn't turning out the way you want it. Taking out your frustration with a failed and not ideal relationship on your child. Telling your child they aren't as pretty as they can be and they should try harder to measure up to your beliefs. Yeah i would say Marisa has no one to blame but herself.
 

I was scared for Clara too the way Fernando was looking at her to end that episode. I can't see them killing her off but like some have said i don't expect Fernando to be around for the Gran Final.

Rosemary i maybe wrong again but it seem that Rogelio was questioning the veracity of Malicia saying she didn't see Clara at the club and her trying to get Diana fired.The look he gave her said to me are you for real trying to get someone else fired? Did love seeing her catching Pablo with Andrea at the beach together. Even though he doesn't deserve it i hope the Chump beats her nasty behind in court.

So Lucas is going to have to testify in court about Daniel yup that'll be going over real well especially when he finds out that Daniel has kissed Jade and has her stone necklace.
 

Andres i don't even know why he asked that question to Albieri when it's quite obvious he did it for his vanity.

Clara wasn't smart again telling Fernando to come to the house if he needs money and talk to her first.

What is going on did the writers take a lot of stupid pills writing this novela?

My goodness Rania jealousy and insecurities is going to have her thrown out of the house instead of Jade. I love how Jadiya has father wrapped around her finger. That scene was too funny to me.
 

Raina better take a good look at what happened to Jade. Doesn't she know that Said will keep the child and she will be sent back? I think Said and Mo are both in same boat regarding the women in their families. The only one I like is little Jadiya. She is one smart cookie to have learned at such an early age to get her way.

Rosemary
 

Thanks for another great recap, Jean. Between you and NovelaMaven, even the dullest of chapters gain interest. Wonder what your next project, if any, will be. Any idea? Hope you both and the commenters herein find a good novela in the near future to view together, as it were.

One thing came up in this chapter that has me concerned: Padre Andres belief that cloning creates a person "who has no place in humanity." This may be the current understanding of cloning worldwide and, thus, Daniel must die. Meanwhile, in the "real" world, if such exists, will clones ever become acceptable as many people once considered bad, evil or simply unacceptable have? Lois
 

Rosemary, I love to watch Jadiyah scheme, and she's very cute, but I fear her values are pretty screwy: tell lots of lies to get her way and be sure to marry a man who will give her a mierda-load of oro. I'm glad she's not my daughter. My favorite is Samira, who wants to get an education and have a career, and who sticks to her guns about not wearing a veil in the US.
 

I noticed the difference in the end time, too, Juanita. My TiVo starts recording at 8pm and goes for an hour and 4 minutes. I just fast forward past whatever is left of the 7pm show and the scenes from yesterday's Clon episode so I don't really pay attention to when it starts.. But Clon usually goes 3 or 4 minutes after the hour, so I was pleasantly surprised when it ended on the hour.
 

Juanita, I like that Jadiyah has learned her lessons well to live the Muslim world. She would make someone like Said very happy.

On the Western front, I like that Samira is sticking to her guns about the veil but I worry that she will be like Jade, torn between two worlds and will never be truly happy. Of course, this is the fault of the parents. If they want a Muslim child to abide by the Muslim rules then they should raise that child in Muslim country. Samira and Daniel are both confused and not really happy. Again, parallel lives they both think they are freaks.

Rosemary
 

Loved the recap, Jean! And I enjoyed this episode very much.

As other people have mentioned, the scene between Gloria and Nati was heartening. Once again Gloria shows a flexibility, an adaptability to circumstance that Marisa lacks. Gloria didn't want Alej to be a fighter but when she realized it was his great passion, she came to support him. And now, she certainly isn't happy about Natalia's pregnancy, but there she is, offering support to Nati, Alej and the baby.

And Blusamurai, I loved your analysis of the Marisa-Natalia-Gloria dynamic.

I also loved the Leo-Amalia-Cris scene. Amalia is such a snob that it's fun to see her snookered. As Rosemary said, yes, Cristina has a lovely smile.

And yes, the look on Malicia's face was priceless when she saw Pablo with Andrea. I just hope she doesn't try to hurt Andrea.

Juanita, you're so right about Fernando looking scary. I think he might hurt Clara physically in a way she can't hide. I hope it's Rogelio who finds her and then learns what she has been ashamed to tell him.

It looks as if Jade is lucky not to be married to Said. If she were Second Wife, Rania would be able to order her around. As it is, she is outside the 'chain of command'.
 

Thanks for the recap Jean. I like the way you insert pictures into the text as it helps refresh my memory.

I have to say my favorite scene was the exchange between Dona Gloria, Nati & Marisa. Gloria is my favorite character. I loved the envious look Marisa sported. It had to stab her heart her child was behaving well with someone Marisa considers beneath her.

Clara is really frustrating me. Why on earth would she even bother to speak with, much less believe, anything Malicia the Skank has to say? Why did she leave without looking for Rogelio or even calling him?

Latifah is also annoying me. If after almost 20 years of marriage (I think), she does not know her husband or have some confidence in herself as a good loyal wife, I don't know what can help her. Instead she wimpers and cries like a baby instead of a grown woman. She is exhausting.

Vitriol Quazi in MD
 

Another well done recap, Jean. I especially liked your aside about Tío Abdul: Doesn't Allah need him in heaven or something?

My take on Marisa's watching Gloria and Nati was a sad recognition of Gloria's maternal skills. She couldn't even get Nati on her feet. But Gloria is giving her an example of her strength and devotion to her child. She manages to inspire Nati to do the right thing for all three: Alej, the child and herself.

Leo standing up Cris two times in a short period of time was a real beanie moment.

Clara does need her head examined. She should never have let Fernando into the apartment. Probably there isn't anything left to steal, but still. And, even if she thinks Rogelio's moved on to Malicia, she should have the guts to have it out with him, tell him about Fer, etc. It's obvious from his wistful questions to Malicia that he wants Clara to make a move.

My take on why Paula isn't as bad off as Fer and Nati is that she's what you might call a maintenance addict. There are also maintenance drunks. These are people who have enough sense of self-preservation to use just enough to apparently enjoy their vices but not completely ruin themselves physically. In addition, Paula is on her own. Unlike Nati and Fernando, she can't afford to go down too far; there's no one to pick her up.

Rania is behaving like an idiot. She constantly descends to Jadiya's level of childish spite and then loses the battle. If she had any sense she'd woo Said by being the sensible, loving one. But she wants all or nothing. She's never had from Said that wild passion that he has fixed on Jade, and she can't give up - thinking somehow she'll get it.
 

Vitriol, the problem is that after 20 years of marriage, Latifah does know her husband, she knows that he's easily influenced by Tio Abdul and that he (Mohamed) has frequently and unjustifiably accused Latifah of not teaching her children anything whenever the children do not do what he thinks they should. So Latifah is quite understandably fearful that if her husband goes to Morocco by himself, he'll wind up being persuaded by Tio Abdul to take a second wife.
 

Juanita, I agree completely with your analysis of Latifa and Mohammed's relationship. The guy is rigid and actually quite delusional. He seems to a practitioner of magical thinking. He believes he can live in the US, make a good living off the Occidentals, and expect his children not to be influenced at all by the culture around them. And the worst of it is, when the inevitable happens, he turns on his loving wife and blames her for his house of cards not working out.
 

In the department of Language Delights --

I loved what Malicia said to Diana when she realized she was watching her:

¿Qué mira? ¿Se le perdió otra igual? (Whadda YOU lookin' at?)

I'm always glad to learn new ways to be rude in Spanish:-) Of course this particular grosería is vulnerable to Diana's snappy reply, no maybe not such a great put-down after all.

[It's also interesting that these two young woman use 'usted' with each other -- it's pretty uncommon in this show among young people, especially co-workers. It's just another way to show how much they dislike each other.]

I also noticed that Leo referred to Amalia as a 'reportero' while she always calls herself a 'periodista'. At first I thought 'reportero' was Spanglish, but it's not. You can find it in the RAE. But I guess 'periodista' sounds classier, just like 'journalist' sounds more serious than 'reporter' in English.
 

I never noticed that Diana used usted with Malicia. But they are not really coworkers, Malicia is Diana's boss. I haven't noticed if Malicia uses usted with Zein or Rogelio.

I also wanted to address Lois' comment:
'Padre Andres' belief that cloning creates a person "who has no place in humanity." This may be the current understanding of cloning worldwide and, thus, Daniel must die. Meanwhile, in the "real" world, if such exists, will clones ever become acceptable as many people once considered bad, evil or simply unacceptable have?'

Padre Andres and Alí are looking at Daniel's creation from a theological point of view. Humans have only reproduced by egg meets sperm whether that takes place inside or outside the woman's body. Daniel was created by taking that process a step further and replacing the genetic material in an embryo that was made in the normal way. People who have religious beliefs concerning reproduction may conclude that Daniel is not part of humanity because of the way he was created. It's doubtful that the Catholic church, which doesn't even sanction the prevention of fertilization of a woman's egg by artificial means, would ever accept human cloning although other more tolerant Christian denominations might.

Human cloning can also be looked at on moral, ethical and legal grounds that have nothing to do with religion. In these considerations, the clone is definitely a part of humanity but there are many other issues with cloning that would have to be addressed, including what Daniel is concerned about - that is, whether there are physiological consequences of being a clone.

I certainly remember the press coverage when Louise Brown, the first test tube baby, was born. It was still news when she grew up and became a mother herself. Nowadays, babies created by in vitro fertilization are very common and no one thinks that there is anything unusual about a child that was conceived that way. If human cloning ever became common, presumably, the same thing would happen.
 

I agree, Jean. And, in this regard at least, Albieri is right. Human clones could well be common 100 years from now. We have no way to project ourselves into the future. It's possible that there may be reproductive breakthroughs that we cannot even imagine. Dystopic fiction usually makes cloning seem bad as well, focusing on sinister government forces creating large, immoral brutes for soldiers or some such.

And, of course, organized religions are always in the vanguard of trying to suppress every scientific change that they think is contrary to doctrine.

While I think plot service likely will do away with Daniel before the end, intellectually I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't have a normal life. He could move away from Miami, where no one knows Lucas, hopefully with Dora, Miguel and his abuela, and have a very good life.
 

Thanks for the recap Jean! After having a mixed-up viewing/reading schedule for a while, I'm back. I want you and NovelaMaven to know I very much enjoyed the recaps for the past week. The show remains an inconsistent mix of frustration and charm, but thankfully your work has kept to an admirably high standard. (NM's Friday the 17th may even have been a personal best.) Thank you both for lending your time and your brains so generously for what seems like so long! And who knows how much longer?! I also feel lucky to be in the company of such insightful commenters! Cloncitos rule!

On to the show... Is this a mistake? Are there really three pending lawsuits? Sylvia v. Albieri, Leo v. Dora, and now Escobarde v. Malicia! Something tells me we are not going to spend a month watching court scenes. I wouldn't be surprised if we stay entirely out of court. But I wouldn't be surprised to see some kind of public spectacle with Albieri, which has been his fantasy since the first episode.

On clones "having no place in humanity," I think Andrés might have meant that there's no established social role for him. His family relations are unique: we all know what it is to be a child produced in the ordinary way, to have the usual biological parents, or even to have adoptive parents, step-parents, etc. But Daniel's situation is entirely new, so he can't comfortably fit into any pre-established role. Likewise, he bears a special relation to Lucas that no one knows how to deal with, because no one else has ever had it. It's similar to being a twin (or even just a sibling) in that they will inevitably be compared, but it's different in that Lucas has a 20-year head start, and unlike with twins, there is no standard way for them or others to think about this connection. They have to make it up as they go, and they will be constantly reminded of their uniqueness by others, even by people who mean well.

Because of those problems, I think it would be harder for a clone to find his place than a test-tube baby. It's a bit more like being intersexed, in that it resists our attempts to treat a person exactly like anyone else. The differences aren't merely in the past, but are relevant to everyday issues. I'm not saying people couldn't become comfortable with cloning in the future, but only that it would require a lot of social change, more than it took to get used to many now-familiar medical techniques.

I agree with Novelera: Daniel's best hope of dealing with his unique situation is to live away from Lucas and the Ferrers. That is, unless the clone story gets out, in which case he would have to go somewhere especially remote.

Abdul is once again playing the novia-scout. He seemed almost guilty to be "caught" by Zoraida and Zumaya. I hate to admit it, but I like him sometimes. Not when he's angry, but when he calmly speaks his mind like an old man who just doesn't care anymore---I'll be polite when I'm dead. The way he recently told off Said and Jade when they were in the room with him was priceless.

Also, why is Amin having an easier time keeping up the family customs than Samira? Is it because of his personality, or is it just easier for him because he's younger, not yet old enough to pursue a relationship with a local girl, fantasies excluded, and most of all he's a boy and the expectations are easier to (appear to) to meet?

And why is Jadiya having an easier time than Samira? Is it because she's younger? More sheltered? Spent more time in Fez?
 

Novelera,

While I'm delighted by your idea of a sort of Clone Protection Program for Daniel and his loved ones, Jean's point about the unknown physiological consequences of human cloning is valid. There really are concerns about premature aging and robustness in cloned specimens. Poor Daniel is right to be worried.

And there is a miasma of ethical issues surrounding current advanced reproductive technology -- the practice among the super-rich of bidding on the best donor egg money can buy, for example, just to name one. Cloning would (or should I say "will") up the ethical ante that much more.

Human beings aren't very good at foreseeing the consequences of their interventions either. Just look at what the Chinese did with a combination of a one-child per family policy and a preference for males which you no longer need infanticide to indulge given ultrasound's ability to show fetal sex and widely available abortion. There is now a shortage of brides in China!
 

Luke,

Welcome back! And thank you for the 'flores'!

As usual, you have given us some things to think about.

"why is Amin having an easier time keeping up the family customs than Samira?"

I think it's easier settling into a patriarchy if you know you'll be one of the patriarchs. Amin has been brought up with a sense of entitlement and so far nothing, like falling in love, say -- has led him to question that. The unfair treatment of his sister might lead some brothers to question the system, but Amin is not heavily burdened by empathy, is he? He is young though and he may think twice about the price of privilege as he gets older.

As for why Jadiya has adapted so readily to tradition while Samira hasn't -- well, as you point out, Jadiya was raised in Morocco and Samira in Miami. Beyond that, Jadiya has experienced life as an adored only child while Samira has had the social preference for male children crammed down her throat every day of her life since Amin's birth.

As for individual differences, Jadiya seems to be the kind of girly girl who would embrace the female role completely wherever she might have been raised. (Ironically, she might have thrived with a mother like Marisa! No, I take that back. She would have turned into a monster like Marisa.) Samira is a thinker and much less bound by convention. I think she would have challenged the status of women even if she had been raised in Fez. But who knows?

By the way, it's worth pointing out that Jadiya's new tricks of feigned faints, bloodcurdling cursing, and running to Baba to tattle are all things she learned from Rania. Jade has been a wonderful mother to her daughter while Rania has been more of a bratty, jealous, older sister who has brought out the worst in her. (And Jadiya brings out the worst in Rania. Let's hope the end of this novela spares them the ordeal of living together.)
 

Samira like Jade assimilated into Western society by attending public schools. The females along with males are educated to think and be more than pampered pets. I doubt if Jadiya has any education to speak of. Amin is very Westernized just more devious than his sister. Poor Samira will always have problems just as Jade has. Amin will be the one making the rules so he will be very happy.

I still wonder how Mo makes a decent living for his rather large family from his little tienda.

Rosemary
 

NovelaMaven, nice point about Jadiya learning from Rania's example. I hadn't thought about that. She's acting childishly, as one should expect from a child, but this behavior is reinforced and developed in Rania's company. While I doubt Jade would know what to do with that behavior if it arose, she would have provided an environment where Jadiya would be less likely to resort to it.

Rosemary: Don't forget Jadiya also goes to school in Miami, although she hasn't done so for as long as Samira. And I'll bet she was far behind her age group when she moved to Miami from Fez. This is an underdeveloped part of the story: Jadiya and Said don't value education for women, but she is legally required to be educated in this country, so I would expect to see them complaining about that, or having some sham home-schooling.

I imagine Amin will become like Zein or Said, with at most an interest in or a superficial adherence to his family's customs.

About Daniel, I would be surprised if he has any medical problems besides his mole.

By the way, here's a scoop for Amalia: Polygamy in Miami. Hop to it, woman.
 

Luke, welcome back!

And I laughed out loud about Amalia's scoop!

They've never shown Jadiya going to school, so I suspect she doesn't. Concerns about breaking US law about kids attending schools would seem to be secondary to concerns about having two wives. I think Jadiya's never being shown getting an education are just because that doesn't serve the plot. I don't think she's illiterate; they just haven't shown how she is educated. Samira's going to school does serve the plot because she falls in early puberty love with Carlos, thus sending a message about the culture clash.

Excellent comment, NovelaMaven about Amin's having an easier time because he knows he'll be the patriarch himself someday.
 

Novelera: Didn't Jade meet Jadiya at her school a couple weeks ago, to tell her she wanted to see her again? The same stairwell set from that scene was used in school scenes with Nati and Andréa earlier in the series, if I remember correctly.
 

Luke M, what a memory. I had totally forgotten about the scene in the school stairwell.

I loved your comment about Amalia!

Rosemary
 

Luke, you are so right. I had totally forgotten about Jade coming to Jadiya's school.
 

Welcome back, LukeM! We missed your insightful comments.

I remembered Jade going to Jadiya's school because with schools so security conscious, I wondered how she got in.
 

Good point about the school security Jean. I missed that irony.

It's starting to get to me how little interpersonal understanding there is on this show. Nobody but Enrique understands the addicts, and nobody understands him. Nobody but nobody understands Lucas, or Daniel, or Leo, or Jade, etc. (Although Cristina at least tries.) Everyone finds everyone else's behavior surprising, if they care at all, and no one ever learns what other people are likely to do. And it's not because everyone is difficult to understand (though some of them are), but because no one bothers or they are too dense. It's almost too much to take. I'm sure if I were stuck in the world of El Clon I would run to the last bastion of sanity, Gloria's place. But only if she fires Ramoncito.
 

Luke, your remark about a dearth of 'interpersonal understanding'is interesting and worth pursuing, but right now I'm going to talk about the irritating Ramoncito. While I can see why you'd ask Gloria to fire him, she'd be making a big mistake if she did.

Ramocito is the town crier. He may tell you more than you wanted to know, he may not get it exactly right, but he keeps you in the loop. And this novela, unlike any other I've seen, argues for the value of gossip.

Imagine --

If Cristina and Luisa had 'gossiped' about Malicia when they were in Morocco...

If Clara had 'gossiped' about Malicia to Rogelio early in their relationship...

If Lucia had gossiped to Marisa or Clara about the kids using drugs early on in their downward spiral...

-- a lot of misery could have been avoided. (Of course, misery is the lifeblood of the telenovela. What was I thinking?)

But still, these people could use a Ramoncito. Or at least a water cooler in Empresas Ferrer:)

[The Fez contingent, by contrast, has an amazing communication network that is not impeded one whit by distance. When somebody... um ... passes gas in Miami, they smell it in Fez!]
 

Good point NovelaMaven. But I'd say what the Miamians need is not gossip but healthy communication among friends, family, colleagues, etc. In some novelas I'm sure it would be an entirely silly question why doesn't A tell B about C. They don't talk because that's how conventional novelas (and farces) build conflict, and not for any reason about the psychology of the characters. (Likewise for the question why doesn't A understand obvious facts about B.) But this show doesn't always go for such cheap conflict, so I prefer to make sense of the lack of communication whenever possible. For example, it makes sense to me that Marisa and Lucía don't talk about drug problems, because Marisa doesn't want the story to get out, and Lucía is too superficial and deferential to Marisa to discuss it. But a lot of the failures to communicate are just by chance or by weakly developed characterization. For example, we have only unconvincing reasons for why Clara fails to talk to Rogelio about anything (or to tell Leonardo or Lucas about Fernando). Likewise with Pablo and Rogelio failing to talk to Cristina. Once in a while communication breaks down for no good reason. But not so often as we've seen.

To add something positive, I was pleasantly surprised to see Lucas's recent little "me moment." He seems to have realized he's old enough to dress himself and pursue his own happiness. Even with all his responsibilities, he can try occasionally to do what he likes and stop being such a sad-sack.
 

Jean, thank you once again for the recap and the morning Spanish Lesson (I now know how to say Happy Mother's Day in Spanish).

The screen shot of Alej sweet smile was wonderful. He doesn't get to show us that smile very often.