Caray, Caray!

Hi Jean!

Wow - I am so jealous of your birdwatching trip! I definitely need to bird South America. I would also love to go to Argentina and see if I can understand their Spanish. Thanks for posting those great pictures. I would LOVE to see a condor in flight in it's natural habitat. And whoever heard of a burrowing parrot?!?!

Those of us watching El Fantasma de Elena have been twiddling our thumbs waiting for it to FINALLY be over. They really stretched it out to delay starting the next TN by a week or so, so it's been slow.

Merry Xmas!

Audrey
 

GENERAL --

Jean, how wonderful to have you back here! The photos from Argentina are gorgeous -- thanks so much!

I'm going to post the week's update on Aurora and Alguien below.
 

AURORA – As of Thursday, December 23

The people who matter most to Aurora – Blanca, Lorenzo and Martín – still believe that two Auroras, mother and daughter, exist. Thinking there’s an Aurora apiece, father and son still believe things will end happily, each one with the love of his life.

Unfortunately Blanca’s anger at stumbling across still more mentiras (lies) blunts any pleasure she might have felt at the discovery that ‘la congelada’ is alive and is, in fact, her mother. She reverts to Paris Hilton mode, flies off to Miami with César and exposes to him, at least partly, her soft white underbelly. He manages to keep his shirt on.

With the false logic we know so well here in TN land, Natalia reasons that: Since Lorenzo loves the congelada so much, if she becomes a congelada, she will also be the object of his attention and love. Now what does she have to die of so they’ll freeze her?

Aurora, wearing outsized gafas de sol (sunglasses) and a blond wig styled in a bob, follows Blanca to Miami. Melanin-challenged Martín guesses Aurora’s plan and the two end up on the same plane. Let’s hope he remembered to pack the SPF45.

While chasing after her wind-tossed scarf, Blanca loses her footing and falls over a rooftop railing. She catches the edge of the building and clings to it while she screams for help. In a – you should pardon the expression – cliff-hanging final scene, Aurora arrives and hangs on to Blanca as the latter dangles from the rooftop. Aurora flashes back to Dra Liliana’s deadly fall. Any bets on Martín coming to the rescue?
 

ALGUIEN TE MIRA – As of Thursday, December 23

It looked like Pedro Pablo finally had Lucía’s number – just deny, deny, deny – but she easily calls his bluff. And now she has more control than ever over him and Lola. Not only is she demanding a home dinner invitation to discuss their ‘arrangement’, she’s dictating the menu: pato a la naranja (duck with orange sauce).

Tatiana and Benja are locked in a death grip now. She refuses to acknowledge that her behavior is hurting her kids. She’d be thrilled to know that Benja’s stud service has hit a bump in the road.

Matilde reluctantly tells Mauricio that it was Julián’s mother who wore the black dress in the photo. Mauricio asks her to get the actual photo so the dress can be compared to the one used to dress Eva’s body.

Daniela’s visit to the clinic unmasks Julián as an imposter but, unfortunately, she still doesn’t have a clue that he is a killer.

Dani tells Piedad that Rodrigo has never stopped loving her and it is clear to her that Piedad still loves Rodrigo.

There was never any doubt that Julián had targeted Daniela as his next victim, but we were hoping that either the scrutiny of the police or that of Mauricio would stand in his way. And yet Julián managed to follow his prey home, somehow gain entrance to the gated community and talk his way into her apartment. Last night left us with the image of Daniela’s terrified face pressed up against her window, screaming for help. Julián brandishes a candlestick…
---------

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves over the holidays! ¡Felices Fiestas a todos!
 

Wonderful pictures!! I'm very impressed. Your trip sounds absolutely wonderful, thank you for sharing and for providing the link and info about the Burrowing Parrot.

Happy Day Everyone!
 

Alguien:

Those pictures are great, Jean!
As for Alguien, that whole thing with Rodrigo not having his cell phone, and having to go home to retrieve it could be bad for him if Daniela gets murdered and Rod is accused. He doesn't have any good way of accounting for his whereabouts. Valeria expected him at the group, but he wasn't there yet. And Daniela wasn't there, either. Of course there's no motive for Rod to kill Daniela, but that hasn't stopped people from jumping to conclusions before.

When Lucy threatened Pedro Pablo with the loss of his license if he didn't go along with her blackmail, he should not have given in. If he does go along with her, that's probably even worse for his license. He had nothing to do with Lola and Yoyita's hiring El Buitre. But things look as if they'll get far, far worse for him and Lola. At some point, something will go wrong for Lucy (such as getting involved with Julian somehow?), but for now, she holds all the cards.
 

GENERAL
I hope everyone had/is having a wonderful holiday!

Jean- Your photos are beautiful! Thank you for sharing them with us. It looks like you had a wonderful time.

Herederos looks like it will provide lots of male eye candy with all those brothers. Most of them are not familiar to me. I'm not sure if I will watch, but may drop in from time to time if those brothers are going to constantly be shirtless on the ranch. :)

ALGUIEN-Thursday
What a cliffhanger. Things do not look good for Daniela. Blu also did a detailed recap on Thursday's episode over on the previous Telemundo post. Thank you to her and to NovelaMaven. Tonight's episode should be exciting and upsetting for sure.
 

Tagged this for you.
 

Jean, Thanks for sharing the wonderful bird photos of South America. I would like to know more about your trip. Did you go with a specific bird tour group? I am going to Costa Rica again next month for more Toucans, Hummingbirds and the night time lapse photography of Arenal the active volcano. We are going up near the Nicaragua border to start.
 

ELENA:

OK, I must be in post-holidays-food-coma...but could someone explain again why Elena and Ruth were at that restaurant/club...talking to press/doing publicity? QTH is going on??

Another episode without Milady and Michel--my primary reason for sticking with this novela. I wished they had used them more for the "filler" scenes with the novela extension as opposed to seeing Elena in all these random conversations about the same thing--when does the senora ever sleep now??? lol

Who were those dudes with the cowboy hats at the club, and what did they want with Corina? (refresh my memory, but other than being Rebecca's sister...does Corina have a life/job/other stuff going on minus the whole Walter thing??)

Lets see how far gemela goes...and of course Nena Ocoha comes through....we'll see.

ALGUIEN:

I've actually been watching the last few episodes of this one (your discussion has spurned me on); and I'm eager to see how this all ends, now.

According to some of the actors' tweets, they are in the final days of shooting for this one...I would assume that they have maybe until the end of January in the can; lets hope they aren't doing the silly Elena-extending-with-more-episodes deal...it's been frustrating!
 

ELENA-
In a flashback laden episode, not much happened.
Eduardo is still staggering around with a terrible headache. He appears to end up in a boxcar, which I thought meant that he was going to go somewhere but it looks like from the previews that Elena finds him tomorrow.

Chaparro prepares to bring La Gemela back to Florida. Elena Calcaño plays her one remaining card - she tells Chaparro that Elena's baby is still alive but Chaparro doesn't believe her. When the car gets a flat tire, La Gemela escapes.

Andrea asks God to help her forget Walter and, presumably, to stop having so many flashbacks about him.

Nena has a dream in which Daniela shows her that the baby is still alive but doesn't provide any useful information such as where the baby is. Nena decides that she has to tell Elena about this.

Elena continues her mysterious plan of vengeance. I think she goes to the fashion show with Ruth so that she can be seen by the people to whom she is offering the hacienda. Apparently, it worked. Elena gets a visit from a female representative of the big boss to set up a meeting. Evidently, this is someone we and Elena know because Elena keeps talking about how she has never met this person and we have the classic 'face hidden' scene of this person making a phone call.

I'm guessing that this evil crime boss is also 'the Greek' who is protecting Montecristo in prison. Montecristo tells his minder that he wants out of prison, pronto, 'cause he has business to attend to.

Laura is leaving town.

Corina does her dance performance at the club and impresses a national talent guy who is there. He asks to meet with her. Without Walter, Corina doesn't have much going on so maybe she will go on a tour of sleazy bars with her charming dance performance and fend off drunks. Sounds like fun.
 

Cheryl- I went to Argentina with the bird tour company, Wings (http://wingsbirds.com/). I've never been to Costa Rica although I've been to Belize, Guatemala and Southern Mexico. Volcanos, hummers and Toucans sounds like fun.
 

GENERAL

Thank you Jean, for the wonderful pictures and welcome back- it's nice to vacation vicariously through your pictures- I was stuck in snow and ice in Chicago for the duration.

AURORA

NovelaMaven, I just about fell out of my chair reading your comment on Martin's need for SPF 45- actually I'm still laughing. Yes, he's ghostly white and pretty ghostly in his acting as well. I'm not sure why I am still watching this novela- the story is weak and the acting horrible- the only character I like is Lorenzo, and even he is unpredictable at times. Writers, heads up- we're in need of two strong lead protagonists here- we have no one to inspire us and rally behind.
 

AURORA

I knew that the writers wouldn't kill Blanca at this stage of the story, but nothing about this scene on the balcony/rooftop was realistic:

-- Martin should not have been able to get to the roof so quickly

-- Both Blanca and Aurora should have been shaking like leaves in the wind after the off-camera rescue. They both calmed down way too fast.

Natalia is obviously on Elizabeth's hit list. Considering her recent behaviour I hope our serial killer succeeds.

Aurora needs to make up her mind about whom she loves. If Elizabeth is successful Lorenzo will be free to pursue her and further complicate the web of lies that's been the basis of this story.

I'm still wondering what Vanessa expects to gain from manipulating this situation. It's 20 years later and she should be aiming higher if she's looking to replace Eduardo.


ELENA

I dearly hope we don't get another "close call" with Elena and Eduardo. I'm tired of this particular cliche. As to Gemela's attempt at bargaining for her freedom, I would certainly allow no deal. Chappara should just recapture her and drag her back bound and gagged. A little sodium pentathol should do the trick from there (an underused cliche at the moment).

Montecristo will go down big.

What does everyone think the truck driver will do now that he knows la gemela was running away from something?
 

ELENA - Monday

Nena is really funny. Not only does she know that the baby is alive, but she knows that he's either in "an SUV or a truck". So she tells Anacleto, now that we know that, let's hit the highway and find them! Right.

I'm hoping Corina does go on a dance tour. In fact, I'm hoping she comes to Baltimore soon. I'm ready!

Elena's "plan" with El Greco doesn't seem to make much sense. She lured him with the offer of selling the hacienda, but she has no intention of doing that. So then what? BTW, I think El Greco is about fed up with Montecristo's threats. MC said he'd tell all about El Greco unless he's out of jail soon. But I don't think a tough guy like El Greco would cave in to that kind of pressure. More likely he'd double cross MC. I hope.

I think the truck driver will do the right thing and call the authorities.

Why did Laura leave? I'll miss her bare midriff.:)
 

ALGUIEN - Monday

Julian has to be the smartest (and most odious) killer ever. He cleaned up every single trace of things at Daniela's apartment. And now he has her tied up in her underwear, just as he did Eva. But he doesn't seem amused as much by Daniela as he was by Eva, and already has the knife out!

I wonder if Valeria's cell phone video of Rodrigo at the group will provide him with an alibi if he's accused of Daniela's murder. BTW, I was glad Valeria threw the drugs over the balcony, but she's still on edge.

I think Tatiana is having second thoughts about how mean she's been with Benja, since she was looking wistfully at their wedding album from happier times.

I'm (almost) starting to like Lucy, or at least not hate her so much. She's crazy, she's obsessed, but she does have a certain kind of style.
 

ALGUIEN – Tuesday

Yes, Julián is very good at everything he does, including – or especially – killing. I suppose the objects he gathered up – the rag, the candlestick – will be planted strategically to cast suspicion elsewhere.

Julián had a grudging respect for Eva and may even have felt affection for her. But for Daniela he feels only contempt. Murdering her will be like having sex with a prostitute – it will meet a need at its basest level.

I also hope Valeria’s time- and date-stamped video will exonerate Rodrigo. (Although taking pictures of a group session seemed a violation of privacy and I was surprised at the time that no one objected.)

Benja seems to be falling out of lust with Camila even to the point of muttering that Tatiana was right, she is an ‘inmadura.’

-----------------------

AURORA – Tuesday

Matilda1, I have to say I’m not enjoying Eugenio Siller in this role although I’ve liked him in other novelas. I was willing to accept the absurd premise that twenty years would morph Siller into Pila physically if the writers were up to the challenge. Sadly, it seems, they are not.

Before it began, I said the previews suggested the show would be a combination of shampoo commercial and Paxil ad. Now the novela itself is fulfilling that promise (not to mention the clumsy Subway pitches inserted early on.) Meanwhile, as Urban points out, the narrative is floundering and so are the characters.

I think I’m ready to move on.
 

Aurora

Urban i'm ROFL with your suggestion that Elizabeth hurry up and off Natalia can we dream.

Elena

It looks like they changed the Greco character even though we only got to see his silhouette but his hairstyle looks like it's different now. MC is heading down a slippery slope. Nena i think the reason she hits the road because in her dream she did see what the guy driving the suv look like who has Elena's son.Elena is trying to destroy Greco's org. so she's trying to get people who have worked for him to turn on him so she can take him down.

Chapparro did get talked into trying to meet up with the guy who has Elena's son but the flat tire happened and gemela escaped. She told gemela if she was lying she deliver her dead to Elena that's why when Martin called her she acted like she couldn't hear him on the phone.

Corrina sorry Hombre is getting offered a job from those guys who are from Vegas. Maybe to work at a casino or who knows a high class strip club.

Gemela does get away from Chapparro the previews as they showed during Alguien commercial break she is chased wearing some weird halloween getup like a witch with a mask.Eduardo reconnects with Elena as they offer money and we see them in the house looking up towards the stairs telling someone not to drop what they think is the baby, probably gemela.

I'm kind of disappointed with the way this novlea is ending it doesn't seem like it was when it was enjoyable it seems like they haphazardly are having scenes and and silly plots just to stretch the novela because the new one isn't ready yet.
 

Alguien

Not only do i think that Valeria's film footage will clear Rodrigo of Daniela's murder but all of the people at that meeting will be his witness. Remember the guy who held the knife on Valeria wanted to leave but Rodrigo decided to act in Daniela's stead. Of course that memorable altercation with the guy with knife held to Valeria's throat another reason why everyone should remember Rodrigo and what he said during that time.

NovelaMaven haha you caught that too as Benja said that about Camila i was LOL myself saying see it's not so fun and games anymore you're sneaking around with your sister-in-law huh? Amador was right outside when Benja came ot of Camila's so i think he has his alibi too.

Mauricio is getting close to identifying Julian, even though Matilde doesn't want to help him anymore. Her giving him Julian's mother name i believe will be the beginning of the end for Julian at least i hope.

Previews Julian drags the body bag with Daniela's dead body into Rodrigo's apartment.He drugs it looks like Rodrigo with something so i guess we now understand why he took those items from Daniela's apartment. One thing to watch for if he doesn't put Rodrigo's fingerprints on those items it won't make sense. Mauricio excitedly tells Matilde he may have a break based on Julian's mother's name.
 

GENERAL
Jean, welcome back! Thanks for the great photos. I work with an Argentinian and can understand his Spanish, but then most of our Hispanic employees are from Mexico, so perhaps their speech has rubbed off on him!

ALGUIEN

That scene with Julián and Daniela in her apartment was VERY disturbing. I kept hoping she'd get away, but as a veteran novela watcher, I knew it was too soon for Julián to be unmasked. However, the noose may tighten for him because Mauricio has a photo of him dining with Daniela. The one with Rodrigo isn't incriminating really because she's the leader of Rodrigo's therapy group. The combination of the dress photograph and the photo of him with Daniela may keep Mauricio on his trail.

Is there any chance Daniela will survive? I really like her character and found it unbearable to watch the taunting way the monster stalked her, playing games with the keys, etc.

It looks like they're going to go with Benja getting back with Tati. For a while there I thought he might really love Camila, but he's now seeing her frivolous nature and not liking it.

As Piedad thinks more and more about Rod, she is going to be less and less interested in Julián. This might have disastrous consequences for her if she pulls away. Of course, Piedad and Rodrigo are the main protagonists, so I doubt anything will happen to either of them.
 

NovelaMaven, find I don't believe--or care--what is happening with/to Aurora. Even your great insights and witty presentations can't save this one for me. I'll be taking a rest the rest until tuning into Levy's new one Monday. I'll still read your and others' comments just in case the writers somehow save this dud. Thanks for all you do. Lois
 

AURORA -- Monday

Oh, yes, I meant Monday in my earlier comments. If I can't keep the days straight, I guess I can't expect anyone else to. Ah well:D

Lois, I'm with you. Aurora is disappointing. Intriguing premise, attractive and skilled cast, glamorous setting -- and narrative poop-out.

I guess I'll see you over at Triunfo -- that one promises to be big and messy and even if it's not that good, it should be satisfyingly over the top.

Hasta pronto, amiga!
 

AURORA
I agree about Aurora going off the tracks. It's like the writers have just been improvising from day to day and can't keep all the lies straight. I had hoped they had a plan all laid out from the beginning, but I really doubt it now. They need to tighten up the storyline and the character motivations. Cesar and Blanca continue to be the most interesting storyline for me. Will they or won't they? Is this true love for two people who have pronounced themselves incapable of love? When will Blanca discover the tell-tale tattoo and how will she react? At this point I couldn't care less about Aurora/Martin/Lorenzo/Nina/Vanessa/oh heck, anyone else!

ALGUIEN
Farewell Daniela. We didn't know you long, but we liked you. RIP. I am really worried about Rod. If Julian just dumped the body anywhere or left Daniela's body in her apt, I wouldn't be so worried. But the fact that Julian is going to drug Rod and dump Daniela in his apt, is going to mean BIG trouble and I see Rod being hauled away by the cops before they ask any questions. And the answers would be pretty unbelievable. Sure..."someone" drugged you and planted a dead body in your house. A likely story.
 

Alguien

Yeah Vivi i was thinking the same when i saw the previews for tonight's episode how in the world is he going to explain that? Plus with his drug addiction history they can say he had a relapse. The only thing that doesn't make sense is why would he kill Daniela of all people that's why i think that little incident at the therapy session will hopefully exonerate him.

How in the world is Julian going to get past Benja unless Benja is not home yet? Because then he would have to drug him too.

I'm thinking those pictures of Julian and Daniela will definitely have not only Mauricio now believing that Julian is the killer but he's wants the proof of his mother wearing that dress. Once Matilde finds out that Daniela was killed she can't have anymore doubts that a killer is among the friends and all signs by what she and Mauricio know point towards Julian. I hope Mauricio tells Luisa about Julian's mother i think he showed her the picture of him with Daniela already.
 

Aurora

I kind of agree with what everyone has been saying i've been half watching it because i do love Jorge Luis Pila but this plot oh my goodness.If Univision had something that was worth watching at the 8pm hour i would tune into that one. But after hearing about the what was it the woman with the gloved hand no thanks. Waiting for Levy next Monday.
 

ELENA-
Ruth is worried about Elena's plan of vengeance on Montecristo but Elena assures her that she has it under control.

Chaparro is chasing la gemela around the woods but ends up losing her.

The guy who has the baby hesitates to turn him over to the police. Meanwhile, Nena gets better information on where the baby is from Daniela in a dream.

Elena and Ruth are standing right next to Eduardo but they don't recognize him. They have him picked up by an ambulance, though.

Rebeca tries to convince Dulce to agree to let her adopt Eduardito but Dulce says that she will kill Rebeca first.

Andrea confesses to a nun that she is love. She claims that she wants to stay in the convent but the nun tells her to follow her heart.

Elena finally meets the big boss and he isn't anyone we know so what was all that hiding the face about?

Walter tells his love troubles (without mentioning names) to Corina. She is not very sympathetic. The club owner tells her that the cowboy hat guy wants to represent her and send her on a tour of Europe. She is ecstatic.

Another dream for Nena and this time Daniela shows her la gemela threatening to kill the baby.
Meanwhile, la gemela has gotten out of her handcuffs and found the guy and her baby. He wants an explanation but la gemela tells him just wants her baby back or she'll call the police. A bluff but he doesn't know that.

Evil mafia guy rolls out the charm on Elena and then makes an offer to buy the hacienda.

LOS EXITOSOS GOME$
We know that we're getting close to the end because things stop going Franco's way.

Sergio and Daniela kidnap Martín out of the hospital and take him to Gonzalo's old apartment. Nuñez prevents Ricardo from following Gonzalo to the apartment but Roberto does find the apartment. Without any alternative, Sol and Gonzalo tell him what is going on. He promises not to tell Franco or Nuñez.

Martín wakes up from the coma and tries to figure out what is going on. Gonzalo's friend Rita tells him that he is safe but provides no other information.

Franco threatens Sol's baby if she doesn't tell him where Martín is. Later, Franco threatens Roberto with prison if he doesn't tell where Martín is. Roberto stands up to Franco saying that he is only interested in Sol's well being. He tells Franco that he will go to prison but he knows that Franco won't do turn him in since that would break Franco's hold over Sol.

Amanda knows where Gonzalo's apartment is and she goes there with 2 thugs. Rita successfully hides Martín. Sergio shows up and pretends to call the police. Amanda leaves.

Nuñez overhears Franco, Amanda and Ricardo discussing their situation.
 

ELENA - Tuesday

Are they EVER going to tells us when the Gran Final will be? This thing just keeps spinning round and round. Gemela is caught, she's loose, she's caught. Elena has is going to offer $1 million for info about Gemela, then Elena's going to buy the clinic, then she'll meet with the Mafia guy. It's all getting a bit silly.

I don't think the guy Elena met with is El Greco. I think maybe El Greco sent this guy to pretend to be him. I had the feeling El Greco was older. Elena wanted the guy to put down his offer. Now he wants her to write her selling price for the hacienda on a napkin. If she goes too low, he'll buy it! She has to insist that he goes first.

I'm glad someone told Walter to stop being so namby-pamby and just go for it. He has to tell Andrea that he broke up with Corina, and that he loves Andrea, and that should do the trick.

Speaking of Corina, she is a sexy dancer, but a 1 1/2 year tour of Europe just based on her dancing in this club? Okaaaay. (I'm moving to Europe :)

Nena is great. First she knew it was either an SUV or a pickup (although she does know what the driver looks like). Clue #2, they were going west, but now they're going east. Problem solved! Anacleto said let's just get a map of the US, and we can find her!!!
 

ALGUIEN Tuesday:

This was a very, very disturbing episode. I almost couldn't sleep after watching it. Julian wasted no time in stabbing Daniela. Then he calmly cleaned things up (except the bloody mattress!), laid out a bunch of trash bags, stuffed her in a duffel, and after calling Benja (who lucky for Julian decided to spend the night with Camila), Julian went over to Rodrigo's apartment, somehow got in, and while Rod was asleep, Julian drugged him (needle in the chest, don't you have to find a vein?).

Julian then cleaned himself up, went to see Piedad, and told her the bump on his head (from Daniela) was from a minor car accident, so he was woozy. Of course Piedad offered that he could stay.

So Benja spent the night in Camila's arms, and Julian in Piedad's. Rod slept alone. But when he woke up in the morning, Daniela's bloody body, in her underwear, was in his bed! Plus, Rod had blood on his hands. In in the living room, neatly laid out were cocaine, empty liquor bottle, I think some pot, and a roll of money. To me, this was so much overkill that Rod should have just called the police, but he freaked, and called Benja. Previews showed them both being arrested.

Meanwhile, smug Julian sneaks a peak at Piedad naked, and later tells her maybe Rod will never be around for the baby.

Bad Julian!
 

ALGUIEN-Tuesday

Hombre- I agree with you. What a disturbing and tense episode. I had a knot in my stomach the entire time and had to watch through my fingers half the time. Poor Rod was freaked out. And smug Julian looks like he'll continue to get away with it all, for a while at least. I don't know if I can bear to watch tonight. I really, really hope that Mauricio and Matilde make some progress on the Julian front. But it is going to be very hard for Matilde to accept that the man she was married to, who is the loving father of her child, is a murderer.
 

Elena

Hombre De Misterio i'm thinking the same thing this novela just keep going around in circles they need to end it soon hopefully. I am getting a kick out of Nena and Anacleto though with their antics.Chapparro who i first didn't like has me laughing my head every time she calls gemela perra and rolls those r's of hers.

I get the feeling that the guy Elena is talking to is a decoy because she has already seen Greco herself. So now Montecristo is going to try to break out of prison if Greco doesn't hurry and get him out?
 

ELENA -- Tuesday

There is no European tour; Corina is ripe to fall into a human trafficking trap.

I agree about El Greco; that handsome young guy isn't the real deal. He's bait. However, I don't think Elena is going to bite in the long term.

When the hell is she going to find out that Eduardo is alive? Will we have to wait for the finale for the gemela to be captured? Will Dulce ever be able to get out of the hospital bed?

I suspect that the finale date will be announced tomorrow night.


AURORA -- Tuesday

Natalia being embarazada is quite a curve ball. Somehow I don't think that Lorenzo is the father.

The way things are going I expect that there will be a new love interest for Aurora if only because she can't handle the choice between Lorenzo and Martin.

Which doesn't necessarily mean that she will choose Bachelor #2 or even live to do so, if El Cuerpo del Deseo is the precedent.

Blanca will go batsh!t crazy when she finds out that there never were two Auroras.

Again, is Martin's medical education going to go to waste? I'd really hate to see that happen.
 

Alguien

Include me also in being creeped out by this episode.

Tatiana it seems is weakening in her stance with Benja but i believe once she hears him being accused along with Rodrigo for Daniela's murder and his alibi is he was with Camila that weakening feeling she's feeling right now will disappear.

Hombre you are so right boy did Julian overkill that setup for Rodrigo if Rodrigo is smart he should have the police give him a blood test to see if he has any traces of pot or cocaine in his system. Let's hope that therapy meeting saves him from this accusation.

Go Mauricio go, Vivi you're right it's going to be very hard for him to convince Matilde to think that Julian is the killer. Even though subconsciously she has been disturb several times by his odd and strange behavior. I can't wait for Mauricio to find out about Daniela's murder that should get him on the right track for the real killer. Thank goodness this time Benja and Rodrigo did the right thing and called the cops.

Major clue the article Mauricio showed Matilde was about Julian's mother being killed and the prime suspect was Julian himself. The name he was called at that time was Daniel Vidal. We all know Julian told Daniela his name was Daniel and Daniela even told Benja she knew someone who looked liked Julian but his name was Daniel and he was a lawyer.If Mauricio ever gets his hands on the photo of Julian's mother in that same dress he used to put on Eva after he killed her it's over for him.

So he actually intentionally got into a accident with his suv so he had a excuse for the knot he has on his head from Daniela hitting him? This guy is so sick and twisted.

On a lighter note i hope that Pedro Pablo goes to the hospital where Lucia got her injuries taken care of and get a blood sample to determine if she is really pregnant which i still seriously doubt.
 

ALGUIEN TUESDAY

I'm joining the chorus of those disturbed by last night's episode. I had a faint hope she'd survive since he took her to his hideout. I never watch previews and would prefer not to read about them, so I had no idea his dastardly plot was to move the body to Rodrigo's apartment.

Unless we can attribute this to the effects of whatever Julián injected I don't understand why Rodrigo would even remotely consider that he'd consumed those drugs and alcohol. An entire bottle of vodka would produce a massive hangover, if not alcohol poisoning!

I get so angry with Julián and want the plot to hurry up so he's caught. But then I have to remember that this is a very fine acting performance by Rafael Amaya.

His phony performance with Piedad was disgusting. No matter how many times she catches him doing something weird (peeking at her in the bathroom), he always has an excuse and she always buys it. I felt like throwing up seeing him cuddled up with her in bed.

I understand Mathilde's not wanting to believe her husband is a murderer, but I'm VERY impatient with her for continuing to berate Mauricio for his excellent detective work.
 

ALGUIEN - Tuesday 12/27


I know there was a question that Julian might have murdered his mother. But I'm wondering if he has been murdering women right along or if he started up again these past few months.

I used to think he was cute. But he seems to be getting creepier and creepier. I guess that means he is doing a fine acting job.

Ann-NYC
 

ALGUIEN

Ann- I remember when Luisa started doing her investigation of the doctors she said there was an unexplained death of someone when they were in med school together. I am sure the cops will find some other suspicious deaths from years back, but Julian appears to be in a killing frenzy right now. I wonder what set it off?
 

AURORA -- Wednesday

Am I imagining things or did they just ask US to vote someone off the island????
 

ELENA-
My TiVo shows that Elena is still on through Jan. 10th. What on earth are they going to do for all those episodes?

Maybe mostly nothing as in last night's episode.

Elena continued with her loopy scheme to cut Montecristo off from his protectors. We clarified that the guy she met at the restaurant, Ramiro, is not El Greco. Elena tells this Ramiro about how Montecristo kidnapped her and put her in a bordello. Ramiro seems to be totally smitten with Elena and orders El Greco to hold up on helping Montecristo.

Montecristo is frustrated with the lack of action on his demand ot get out of prison. I don't know why he would have to bribe a guard to speak to the prosecutor but he does.

Eduardo continues to be assalted by flashbacks as he is returned to a hospital.

The police lady hears about a patient who was in a hospital in Homestead with no id and who was apparently injured in an explosion. (How on earth did Eduardo end up in Homestead? Was he blown there by the explosion?)

Martin and police lady have to actually go there and examine the clothes that Eduardo was wearing when he was brought in. I guess neither Martin nor the hospital have heard of using photographs to try and id a patient with no id.

So now Martin knows that Eduardo is alive but is hesitant to tell Elena. Meanwhile, Ruth is headed off to the hospital to see the patient with no id that she called in.

Back at the border, la gemela ditches the guy who helped her and buys a big knife. She decamps from the motel she is in when she sees Chaparro arrive there.

The guy who helped la gemela sees a news broadcast and realizes that she is a fugitive. He runs into Chaparro and confirms to her that the twin is travelling with a baby.

I'm writing this from memory and as far as I can recall, that was about it for Wed.'s episode.
 

ELENA - Wednesday

Thanks, Jean, you pretty much covered the episode. I agree, nothing really happened except that a few people now know that Eduardo and Tomasito are alive. BTW, I think the police lady's name is Gandica.

It was so funny when the truck driver saw the news about Gemela. The news said she was using various disguises, and then showed great big pictures of Gemela dressed as a cowboy, followed by Gemela as a country bumpkin girl. Where did they get those great closeups???

I still don't understand why Laura left, when Elena's right in the middle of her big plan.

Montecristo is getting a little full of himself. It seems as if he's alienating the very people who might help him, such as El Greco, and the guy in the jail, who said he was also getting out soon and would set up some business. MC doesn't want any competition. But I can see EVERYONE, good guys and bad guys, turning on him in the end.

BTW, all those previews did look exciting, although you couldn't really tell too much of what was going on (and I don't want to know).
 

ALGUIEN - Wednesay

Well, Rodrigo's in jail, accused of murdering Daniela. The good news - Mauricio is sure he's innocent, and is trying to convince Carvajal. The bad news - all that "evidence". Benja says he believes Rod, but those drugs... Piedad thinks there's no way Rod would do this, and when Julian keeps being so cavalier about this, she's not amused. Plus at the end of the show Piedad saw Julian fondling a big knife.

It also looks as if Valeria will try to help Rod. But I'm a little worried that Julian will find out about her, and something bad could happen.

I can certainly see why Piedad would start to doubt Julian (why didn't she doubt him earlier?). For the past few weeks, he's been alternating between crybaby (for Eva, for himself), and tyrant (placing himself above the others, not caring about anyone, almost forcing himself on Piedad). He just isn't genuine, and I think she feels this.
 

ELENA:

I'm boycotting this show until I see Milady and Michel again! darnit...if they aren't on tonight; that's a whole week w/o them. They must be on the world's loooongest pleasure cruise/honeymoon...with the parents. le sigh

If it's on until at least Jan 10....eish, it'll be like going in circles....
 

ALGUIEN

"For the past few weeks, he's been alternating between crybaby (for Eva, for himself), and tyrant (placing himself above the others, not caring about anyone, almost forcing himself on Piedad)."

Hombre- You nailed it. There have just been too many red flags and Piedad should be putting him at arms length just for these reasons alone. I was glad that her belief in Rod's innocence still wasn't shaken, much to Julian's frustration. Hah!

I was full of anxiety watching last night's episode. Things look really bad for Rod and even Luisa is getting a case of the stupids (I expect it from the male cops, but not from her). Thank goodness Mauricio is still on the right track, but Luisa isn't listening right now.
 

Elena

Hombre De Misterio i think Laura took her bare midriff to another novela it makes no sense why she is leaving when her BFF is in the situation that she is going through.It looks like this novela is going to be as long as 120 episodes i guess we'll have to watch them discover that Eduardo and Tomas are alive and the chase to capture gemela.Watch MC final demise from prison as for Dulce i don't see her leaving the hospital. Some of what you saw in previews leading up to the gran final are some of the scenes from previous shows.
 

Alguien

Vivi i'm upset with Luisa also for taking the stance that she is but i'm hoping that Mauricio will convince her that it doesn't make any sense for Rodrigo to kill Daniela like that and then go to sleep right next to her in his bed. I agree it looks like Valeria is going to help Rodrigo i'm thinking it's the timeline between her murder and Rodrigo being at their therapy session that will save him.

Four things that stood out for me last night stupid Benja trying to cover up what happened again but this time Rodrigo tells him no to call the cops he can't do that to Daniela she meant a lot to him.If only stupid Benja didn't cover up the heart sent to him the cops would probably be on to Julian now.

The Daniela's phone left in her apartment it's going to show how many times Valeria and Rodrigo called her.

Rodrigo told them as he was being interrogated about Daniela telling him about her new boyfriend who's name is Daniel Vidal if Mauricio ever hears that he can connect it to Julian.

Rodrigo telling Benja not to get rid of the drugs that was set up everyone is telling him he killed her because he was hyped up on drugs and alcohol.

The one thing i have to ask was why Rodrigo didn't ask for legal counsel call Pedro Pablo.The cops still believe that Benja and Rodrigo are accomplices in the murders it's going to take Mauricio to help prove their innocence. LOL that all that Julian has done Piedad still believes in Rodrigo.

Revenge boy hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, Tatiana just took it there last night she went to Camila's new job and got her fired. When she learned Benja was with her the night of this latest murder.
 

ALGUIEN

Blu, I agree that Daniela's phone is going to be important. And so is the name 'Daniel Vidal'. As I recall, that was Julián's stepfather's name and he was the one (falsely) convicted of murdering Fabiola, Julián's mother.

Let's hope Rodrigo doesn't spend too much time in jail before the cops figure it out. And let's hope that Daniela was the final victim -- although considering that we're not yet in las últimas semanas, I doubt it. Sigh.
 

Alguien

NovelaMaven i don't think this will be Julian's last murder either i'm just scared to guess how many more he will kill before he gets caught. I have to agree with others who have stated the actor Rafael Amaya is really playing this role to perfection he is just really creeping me out now every time i see him on the screen. Let's hope Piedad wakes up after seeing him handling that knife that way last night.

i thought about it some more and i'm going to give Luisa some slack on the stance she is taking now because she really was Eva's friend and i can see how she would jump to the conclusion that Rodrigo and Benja are the killers. I think after she calms down and sees the evidence that Mauricio is gathering she should be the first to change her mind.

The best thing for Rodrigo right now is Mauricio isn't swayed by the set up that Julian made yes he cared about Eva too. He knows that Julian knew Daniela too i just wish he would give Luisa the evidence he's been gathering himself on Julian.
 

ALGUIEN

Boy, I sure hope Piedad gets a clue from Julián's creepy stroking of that knife.

I was screaming at my TV. Rodrigo, for God's sake get them to give you a blood test right now. If he waits too long they'll probably say the drugs and alcohol are gone from his system.

What a nasty B@#$h Tatiana is!!! She fires her sister from her company and then gets her fired from another job. She may not want to be around her, but she doesn't even want her to be able to eat??

I agree, Blu, Mauricio should give Luisa the photo of Julián dining with Daniela. Rodrigo has an excuse to be seen with her; she was his therapist. Julián does not have an excuse.
 

ALGUIEN:

About Rod and a drug test, I'm worried that whatever Julian injected into him could show up as something.
 

Alguien

Novelera i was yelling too at my TV ask for a blood test please Rodrigo it will prove right away at least all the drugs laid out and alcohol was a set up.I so want Mauricio and Luisa to at least exchange some information with each other. He giving her the pictures of Daniela with Julian and she telling him how Rodrigo mentioned Daniela was dating someone called Daniel Vidal. Probably we're going to have to wait for that to happen since we're not in ultimas semanas yet.
 

Alguien

Hombre that's true but i would to think whatever drugs Julian shot in Rodrigo was something only to put him to sleep they do have drug test to determine the difference nowadays between that and the supposed cocaine he was supposed to have taken.
 

ALGUIEN—Thursday (Who Framed Rodrigo Rabbit?)

I’m eagerly awaiting a clue as to what set off this killing spree. I’ve wondered about that, and about how exactly Fabiola abused Julián. (I promise I’m not a perv, but it must’ve been profoundly sexual, judging from how he fondled the knife. Freud theorized that weapons are subconsciously phallic/sexual.) Ann & Vivi, Rafael Amaya’s work is so good, it makes me want to understand Julián more.

Haven’t worked in law enforcement for a while, but I had supposed that testing for those drugs in Rod’s system would’ve been automatic. If they do it, I hope they’re smart enough to distinguish Julián’s sedative as a “sleep aid” (or something) from “narcotics/opiates.” It’s a TN, but they’ve gotta be smart enough to know that Rod was set up.

El Cazador is sharp, but I think he dropped the ball concerning a lack of Rod’s fingerprints, Daniela’s cell phone, surveillance @ Dani’s security gate, Piedad’s phone call with Rodrigo during the murder (the autopsy should approximate Dani’s time of death), no report/vehicle damage of his “accident,” unexplained amount of tranquilizers missing from his office, etc.

Cositas like that gnaw at me, and Matilde reminds me of myself--I can tell her mind is churning. Maybe she’ll team up with Mauricio soon. She seems very worried about revealing her suspicions to Julián; like a good detective, she’s staying quiet with what she knows. Smart lady… Her eyes are more open than Carvajal’s. When Matilde find’s Fabiola’s photo, it’s curtains…!

Who knows if Julián will kill again? Todo en su tiempo, carelessness and Team Mauricio will catch up to him.
 

ELENA - Thurs. 12-30
Gawd!!! Absolutely nothing happened in last night's episode to move the plot forward. There were more flashbacks than new material.
Here a few kernels that I pulled out of the mess:

Elena agrees to go alone on the yacht of a person she knows is a criminal. Good thinking.

El Greco tells prison guy that Montecristo is no longer in favor. He wants prison guy to make sure MC stays in prison but doesn't talk.

Corina says goodbye to Rebeca before going on her dance tour.

Dulce curses Padre Aguas then asks to see Rebeca. While rehashing the episode where Rebeca and her friend ran Eduardito down, Dulce tells Rebeca that Tomasito was not in the house with the bomb.

Martín tells Jesusa the same information. Soon, the entire cast will know except Elena.

New nap, new communication from Daniela to Nena: la gemela is going to chuck the baby from the tower of the house. This would seem pretty easy to prevent but depend on it, la gemela will get up there somehow.

More boring frustrated love between Walter and Andrea. Just grab her and kiss her already.

Ruth once again fails to recognize Eduardo.

That was about it. No episode tonight. The crawl toward the end continues on Monday.
 

Alquien

Erin(hypnotized viewer)i believe the relationship he did have with his mother was sexual.Now what set off this killing spree i think it all starts with his mother and the sexual abuse he couldn't deal with it and eventually snapped.

These cops aren't very smart they should have asked Rodrigo if they could have taken a blood sample from him right away.

El Cazador not being so sharp yeah i agree all that he laid out on Rodrigo's table there's probably not one single fingerprints on the rolled up dollar bill or liquor bottle he left in Rodrigo's apartment.I don't know if they'll show Daniela's security gate survellance that would be another way to prove if Rodrigo was with Daniela or not. But Daniela's phone call to Rodrigo about Julian. The time both Valeria and Rodrigo called her should show up on her phone. Two other things that should exonerate Rodrigo is Valeria filming him at their therapy session and him breaking up the altercation with the guy who pulled the knife on Valeria. Just about all who attended that meeting is a good witness for Rodrigo and it would make no sense for him to turn around and kill Daniela like that. As for the car accident he did mention to Piedad that he called his State Farm insurance agent and they took care of it i laughed when i heard that reminded of the commercials.

I have some serious doubts still about Matilde she believed Julian's story about him seeing Daniela for Piedad's sake about Rodrigo too easily.Even though it looks like she'll be snooping around his place on Monday to find the picture of his mother.

I like the fact that Valeria is the second person to mention Daniela's boyfriend Daniel Vidal.Now only if they let Mauricio in to talk to Rodrigo.Rodrigo told Amador to go to his house and get his cell he remembered the message that Daniela sent him about Julian.

Luisa it seems may start to be having her doubts about Rodrigo or maybe she is covering all her bases. It seems after retrieving Daniela's phone and Rodrigo that's why they showed up to bring Julian down to police station.

Benja pleaded with Tatiana to let him have access to their kids but she refused citing the latest killing gives her proof it's too dangerous for her kids to be around him and the company that he keeps. Benja is seeing the immaturity of Camila who kept whining to him about losing her job. Benja told her what's more important now is getting help for Rodrigo.

Finally he contacted Pedro Pablo who told him it's going to be very difficult getting Rodrigo out of this mess this time.Pedro Pablo wanted to stay home to avoid Loca Lucia but she called him and asked where he was at. He reluctantly came to the office and made a deal he would recognize her child as his and take full responsibility for it. Still that wasn't good enough for La Loca so Pedro Pablo then offered that she could move in to his house with his wife and kids.

Lola told Yoyita to get a room ready for Loca Lucia as a in horror and upset Yoyita if Lola has lost her mind? Lola responds either we put up with her demands or you and me both have to go to jail. I still don't believe La Loca is pregnant but we have to wait and see.
 

Elena

Jean ROFL from your description of last night's episode i was so annoyed by all of those flashbacks i just want them to end it now. If this is what they're going to do to stretch it out before the Herederos de Montes novela starts i rather have two hours of Alquien then.

What was funny though how Padre Aquas was giving Dulce her last rites and how she was cursing up a storm i was hoping he would sprinkle some holy water on her. I expected her to spit up pea soup from the way she was acting. Rebecca was right she's the last person who should speak about anyone after all of the people she has killed.
 

ELENA:

Well, it's been a WHOLE WEEK sans Michel and Milady. grrrr. Nope, I'm not bitter at all. TPTB should have used M&M in this "lets waste air time with flashbacks" deal...heck, they made them happy too quickly--imagine the amount of angst/sadness/tears that could have happened had they drraaaagggeeeddd oooouuuuuutttttt their storyline from say...baptism to their wedding. Heck, we could have seen Michel disappear for WEEKS delivering pizza and Milady all mopey waiting to hear from him...but, nope. M&M's storyline, I would assume, happened as it was supposed to w/o silliness added on. Oh why, oh why...I'd take M&M plot-less-ness any day over some of this stuff right now...but, that's the M&M 'shipper in me.

Here's hoping that Elena on the boat Elena gets marooned somewhere and low and behold...here comes M&M (and the parentals) coming up in their boat to rescue our heroine.

Can you tell I'm po-ed of lack of M&M/Liannet&Mauricio?

Happy New Years everyone!!
 

Elena

Hello Canuckfan and Happy new Year i agree i really didn't like how quickly they let Clara off the hook so fast after all that she did to keep our two favorite lovebirds apart in this novela. I guess i'm like you i sort of lost some of my interest in this after they shipped them off on their honeymoon.


I can't help but feel that maybe some of these actors are now working on other novelas that's why we're not seeing them now like Laura leaving this week and her lame excuse why.
 

ELENA - Thursday

I agree that all these flashbacks are frustrating. Also, the fact that Elena and Ruth don't recognize Eduardo is frustrating. Lots of times the heroes on these shows have psychic connections - possibly even on this show, I can't remember - where if their boyfriend/girlfriend gets hurt/is in trouble, they know it. So why couldn't Elena sense (or maybe even smell) Eduardo when she was so close? Oh well.

It will be funny if Elena takes down the entire mafia, by her scheme of catching them with laundered money, or whatever her scheme is. She also wanted them to keep Montecristo in jail, and that part seems to have already worked, as the other inmates have been told to beat up MC, I think.

I wish they would just go ahead and tell us when the end date was, even if it's weeks away.
 

ALGUIEN - Thursday

The problem is that this police department hasn't been keeping up with their required CSI watching. I doubt they'll succeed with most of the ideas we've suggested.

A phone call from Rod to Daniela doesn't really prove anything. He could be standing over her dead body when he made it. The phone call from Daniela to Rod, saying she has something to say about Julian is not specific enough to prove anything.

I also don't think Matilde will look in the box. She would have before, but now she (sort of) trusts Julian again, after falling for his explanation of why he was with Daniela (which she stupidly helped him construct, by revealing what she knew too soon). Julian can tell this same thing to the cops. I picture Matilde going to the box, and stopping herself from looking at the last minute.

I do think the picture of Julian's mother, and the name Daniel Vidal, will eventually trip up Julian, but way down the road. But I also think this will also be figured out too late (see below). He'll probably continue to luck out or dodge these things for a while.

On the plus side, I agree that Valeria's cell phone video will help get Rod off the hook. So maybe he'll be released, but the cops will still be looking for the real killer, not thinking it's Julian.

I still think he's going to one day turn on Piedad, and Rod will have to rescue her. And the police never will figure things out, or they figured them out too late. (But I'm usually wrong in my predictions!)
 

Alguien

Hombre where's CSI when we need them in these novelas huh?

I was thinking the same about Matilde stop giving him your info you must have some doubts that's why you confronted him but she went right on ahead and showed him what she knew or thought.I'm kind of on the fence on whether she will still look to go see the picture she is gullible that i do believe. But now she has this niggling feeling in her thoughts and the more she talks to Mauricio the more she keeps getting these doubts.

I have no doubt Julian's going to say the same thing to the cops with what he said to Matilde.

Can Julian turn on Piedad yeah i believe that the guy is just not sane. The fact that Piedad went to see Rodrigo after she coldly told him she was going out and wanted to be alone and he questioned her about it. When the charges get dropped from Rodrigo i'm thinking that they will get back together and that will send him really over the edge.
 

ELENA:

So Telemundo has tweeted that Los Herederos del Monte is starting Jan 10...so that gives us 5 episodes left of EDFE.

At the rate that it went last week, here's hoping that they actually pick up a bit to the finish.

AND...I hope the ending is nice and satisfactory; showing us how everyone is...and not like in a montage that lasts 45 seconds then FIN.

And...M&M better show up...and muy pronto porfa!!!
 

ELENA:

Speaking of Elena ending...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that TPTB posts some bloopers from this show--don't they usually at their site at the end of the run?

I can imagine some classic ones feature Ana/gemela...
 

ALGUIEN - THURSDAY

Well, Mauricio seems to be a voice crying in the wilderness about Julián. That fiscal is dumber than a box of rocks. If I remember correctly, he was convinced the crazy, schizo, drug addled guy Rodrigo knew was El Cazador. All he wants is caso cerrado and for the credit to be his instead of the hardworking female detectives: Eva and now Luisa.

And he's more than willing to cooperate with Tatiana's revenge by cutting through any red tape to get a restraining order against Benja (in hopes of getting into Tati's pants).

Looks like Camila and Benja's relationship is racing for the rocks. She's behaving like a selfish child.

Piedad is definitely getting that whiff of desperation from Julián. She stupidly allowed him to stay overnight because of a tiny bump on his forehead. And now he wants to continue to have slumber parties. He's going to blow like Old Faithful when he finds out she went to see Rod.

And speaking of that I was delighted to see Piedad didn't doubt Rodrigo for even an instant. She knows he couldn't kill anyone (except, apparently, to save his own life).

Personally I'd like to see Lola in the slammer, pregnant and all. Her entire family is going to suffer because of her apparent belief that she's above the law. She was more than happy to hire someone to beat up Lucía, and now she threatens poor Yoyita over and over with accompanying her to jail.
She yammers on about what Lucía is doing without ever, as I remember, accepting responsibility for having created Lucía's blackmail opportunity.