Friday, April 15, 2011
La Fea Más Bella #299-300 4/15/11 The Finale.
.
Capitulo 299. Read the team’s original recap.
In the board meeting, Fern gives Aldo the receipt for the final loan payment. The company is back in his family’s hands. MamaT gushes that today Fernando recovers the presidency. Fern refuses the throne and laterals it to Marcia, but not before teasing Ariel. Fern can’t stay because Conceptos will always remind him of what he lost forever. Lety squirms.
Luigi runs the shoot in Monterrey. A little boy asks Sara to adopt him.
Lety presents Marcia the new badge Lety made for her. Marcia thanks Lety for teaching her to value something other than looks and social class. She asks forgiveness for how badly she treated Lety.
Fern tells Marta that he can’t stay, without Lety. He’d die of sadness. He asks her to book a flight to Rio. He leaves the building with his toy car and poseable model, and Lety follows. He couldn’t bear to say goodbye to her because he couldn’t stop himself from shouting...
I WANT ALL CONCEPTOS TO KNOW THAT I LOVE LETICIA PADILLA SOLIS!
Lety squirms again. All that matters to him is that she will be happy. He tells her goodbye forever. She panics and hugs him.
Tom regrets that he let Ali go. Paco knows where to find her.
Fern leaves. Aldo steps up and tells her to read Fern’s diary. He knows Fern tells on every page how much he loves her, because he and Aldo love with equal intensity. She reads Fernando’s pain and wants to stop because it hurts her. Aldo says the way she hugged Fernando means more than she realizes. They both know Fern loves her, but how does she feel?
Lety doesn’t want to answer, because she’s engaged to Aldo, but he pushes her to face the truth. Finally she says the words we’ve been waiting for, for 50 episodes.
"Estoy profundamente enamorada de Don Fernando." She asks to cancel the engagement and he agrees under one condition, that she is immensely happy with Fernando. Lety turns toward where she last saw Fern. When she turns back, Aldo is gone. She shouts like Fern did, that she wants everyone to know that she loves Fernando.
Tom finds Ali at the cemetery, crying to her father’s grave. She says she’s been talking to him by phone for 10 years. She could never accept that she was alone with no one to take care of her. But now Tom loves her, and she loves Tom so much. Tom steps up and says, “I was right. You’re a little girl with no one to take care of you.” He asks for the chance to take care of her. She says, “I love you.” Ali tells him they’re expecting.
Lety finds Marcia at Fern’s apartment. Lety says she loves Fern. Aldo got her to decide, because on her own, she wouldn’t have dared to cancel the wedding. Marcia says Lety waited too long (don’t we know it!). Fern left a note. He can’t break free of the pain. He’s leaving Mexico. He won’t return until he can smile again, and that won’t happen unless he can forget Leticia. He tells Marcia to enjoy life, for the both of them.
Marta tells Lety that Fern is catching a flight to Rio. Lety gets to the airport too late. He already took off. Marta calls a friend with the airline. The pilot announces to the cabin, “I have a message for Fernando Mendiola. Leticia is not going to marry Aldo. Leticia loves you, Don Fernando.” Fern jumps out of his seat and wants to jump out of the plane.
Lety is crying in the hotel room. “You’re a fool, Lety. You let him go. Why did he leave? He was here with me.” Lety remembers their first night together. She puts her hand on the bed, and Fernando’s hand covers it.
F: Do you think I’m only a memory, Lety?
L: Yes, just a memory.
F: (He kisses her hand.) That kiss too?
L: Then, Don Fernando, love isn’t a dream? You’re really here with me?
F: I don’t know why I felt that you’d be here. Where you and I made love the first time.
L: Yes. I remember. It was my birthday. And today is your birthday!
F: Really? Lety, I want to be with you the rest of my days, the rest of my life. That is, if you accept me.
L: Yes, Don Fernando. I accept.
Kisses. Serious kisses. This is not GSNAK. They continue the conversation with their eyes.
Capitulo 300.
In the morning at Casa Padilla, Fern pops out from behind Lety, gives his MamaJ a huge hug, and says, “If you permit, and even if you don’t permit, I’m going to marry your daughter!” Lety tells Pop it’s what she wants with all her soul. Pop gives his permission and Fern swings him around the room. Fern tells what happened. The pilot announced that Lety still loves him. Fern wanted to jump out, but the other passengers convinced the pilot to take Fern back to DF.
Ali begs Tom to bring churros for her cravings. She calls him the most wonderful man on earth, and she means it. He leaves and she says, “I can’t live without him.”
Fern’s parents tell the Padillas their plans for a huge wedding. Erasmo nixes that since he’s the one paying for it. Fern suggests to Lety that they use the cathedral in Monterrey since everyone’s already there.
Fern arrives at the church and jokes that Aldo got sick and asked Fern to fill in for him. Fern thanks Marta for making it possible. Marcia says she’s very happy to see the couple together. Fern is in a hurry to start the wedding (so Lety doesn’t have time to change her mind again?).
.
Aldo saves a boy from drowning and revives him with mouth-to-mouth. A choir sings Bach. In church, Fernando (ADOS: Attention Deficit.. Oooh! Shiney!) notices that a painting of an angel has Aldo’s face. Then the words every TN finale needs, “You may kiss the bride.” Ricardo Montañer sings Besame, but in my head I hear From This Moment, Shania Twain. [snip]
From this moment as long as I live I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give from this moment on
You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us My dreams came true because of you
.
Outside, Fernando promises to love Lety for his whole life. Lety promises Fern to make him happy for her whole life.
L: Lo amo, Don Fernando.
F: Don Fernando?
L: Te amo, Fernando.
F: Yo te amo, Lety.
The song in my head switches to Gladys Knight, You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.
They go from the church, to a car parade through Monterrey, to a concert, to the wedding night, interspersed with scenes from the concert.
.
.
• I’m pretty sure Camila is Jaime’s favorite band.
• Kalimba has had recent legal troubles regarding underage girls. ‘nuff said.
• Jerry Rivera sings Tropical.
• José José and José Feliciano sing Por Ella, a song about two men who love the same woman. Wasn’t José José’s voice spectacular, back in the day?
• Reik – If you want to study Spanish via music, Reik is a good choice because his lyrics make sense – they’re not shrouded in poetry like many songs.
• Then the whole ensamble.
.
FIN
Capitulo 299. Read the team’s original recap.
In the board meeting, Fern gives Aldo the receipt for the final loan payment. The company is back in his family’s hands. MamaT gushes that today Fernando recovers the presidency. Fern refuses the throne and laterals it to Marcia, but not before teasing Ariel. Fern can’t stay because Conceptos will always remind him of what he lost forever. Lety squirms.Luigi runs the shoot in Monterrey. A little boy asks Sara to adopt him.
Lety presents Marcia the new badge Lety made for her. Marcia thanks Lety for teaching her to value something other than looks and social class. She asks forgiveness for how badly she treated Lety.
Fern tells Marta that he can’t stay, without Lety. He’d die of sadness. He asks her to book a flight to Rio. He leaves the building with his toy car and poseable model, and Lety follows. He couldn’t bear to say goodbye to her because he couldn’t stop himself from shouting...I WANT ALL CONCEPTOS TO KNOW THAT I LOVE LETICIA PADILLA SOLIS!
Lety squirms again. All that matters to him is that she will be happy. He tells her goodbye forever. She panics and hugs him.
Tom regrets that he let Ali go. Paco knows where to find her.
Fern leaves. Aldo steps up and tells her to read Fern’s diary. He knows Fern tells on every page how much he loves her, because he and Aldo love with equal intensity. She reads Fernando’s pain and wants to stop because it hurts her. Aldo says the way she hugged Fernando means more than she realizes. They both know Fern loves her, but how does she feel?
Lety doesn’t want to answer, because she’s engaged to Aldo, but he pushes her to face the truth. Finally she says the words we’ve been waiting for, for 50 episodes. "Estoy profundamente enamorada de Don Fernando." She asks to cancel the engagement and he agrees under one condition, that she is immensely happy with Fernando. Lety turns toward where she last saw Fern. When she turns back, Aldo is gone. She shouts like Fern did, that she wants everyone to know that she loves Fernando.
Tom finds Ali at the cemetery, crying to her father’s grave. She says she’s been talking to him by phone for 10 years. She could never accept that she was alone with no one to take care of her. But now Tom loves her, and she loves Tom so much. Tom steps up and says, “I was right. You’re a little girl with no one to take care of you.” He asks for the chance to take care of her. She says, “I love you.” Ali tells him they’re expecting.
Lety finds Marcia at Fern’s apartment. Lety says she loves Fern. Aldo got her to decide, because on her own, she wouldn’t have dared to cancel the wedding. Marcia says Lety waited too long (don’t we know it!). Fern left a note. He can’t break free of the pain. He’s leaving Mexico. He won’t return until he can smile again, and that won’t happen unless he can forget Leticia. He tells Marcia to enjoy life, for the both of them.
Marta tells Lety that Fern is catching a flight to Rio. Lety gets to the airport too late. He already took off. Marta calls a friend with the airline. The pilot announces to the cabin, “I have a message for Fernando Mendiola. Leticia is not going to marry Aldo. Leticia loves you, Don Fernando.” Fern jumps out of his seat and wants to jump out of the plane.Lety is crying in the hotel room. “You’re a fool, Lety. You let him go. Why did he leave? He was here with me.” Lety remembers their first night together. She puts her hand on the bed, and Fernando’s hand covers it.
F: Do you think I’m only a memory, Lety?
L: Yes, just a memory.
F: (He kisses her hand.) That kiss too?
L: Then, Don Fernando, love isn’t a dream? You’re really here with me?
F: I don’t know why I felt that you’d be here. Where you and I made love the first time.
L: Yes. I remember. It was my birthday. And today is your birthday!
F: Really? Lety, I want to be with you the rest of my days, the rest of my life. That is, if you accept me.
L: Yes, Don Fernando. I accept.
Kisses. Serious kisses. This is not GSNAK. They continue the conversation with their eyes.
Capitulo 300.
In the morning at Casa Padilla, Fern pops out from behind Lety, gives his MamaJ a huge hug, and says, “If you permit, and even if you don’t permit, I’m going to marry your daughter!” Lety tells Pop it’s what she wants with all her soul. Pop gives his permission and Fern swings him around the room. Fern tells what happened. The pilot announced that Lety still loves him. Fern wanted to jump out, but the other passengers convinced the pilot to take Fern back to DF.
Ali begs Tom to bring churros for her cravings. She calls him the most wonderful man on earth, and she means it. He leaves and she says, “I can’t live without him.”
Fern’s parents tell the Padillas their plans for a huge wedding. Erasmo nixes that since he’s the one paying for it. Fern suggests to Lety that they use the cathedral in Monterrey since everyone’s already there.
Fern arrives at the church and jokes that Aldo got sick and asked Fern to fill in for him. Fern thanks Marta for making it possible. Marcia says she’s very happy to see the couple together. Fern is in a hurry to start the wedding (so Lety doesn’t have time to change her mind again?). .
Aldo saves a boy from drowning and revives him with mouth-to-mouth. A choir sings Bach. In church, Fernando (ADOS: Attention Deficit.. Oooh! Shiney!) notices that a painting of an angel has Aldo’s face. Then the words every TN finale needs, “You may kiss the bride.” Ricardo Montañer sings Besame, but in my head I hear From This Moment, Shania Twain. [snip]
From this moment as long as I live I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give from this moment on
You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us My dreams came true because of you
.
Outside, Fernando promises to love Lety for his whole life. Lety promises Fern to make him happy for her whole life.
L: Lo amo, Don Fernando.
F: Don Fernando?
L: Te amo, Fernando.
F: Yo te amo, Lety.
The song in my head switches to Gladys Knight, You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.
They go from the church, to a car parade through Monterrey, to a concert, to the wedding night, interspersed with scenes from the concert..
.
• I’m pretty sure Camila is Jaime’s favorite band.
• Kalimba has had recent legal troubles regarding underage girls. ‘nuff said.
• Jerry Rivera sings Tropical.
• José José and José Feliciano sing Por Ella, a song about two men who love the same woman. Wasn’t José José’s voice spectacular, back in the day?
• Reik – If you want to study Spanish via music, Reik is a good choice because his lyrics make sense – they’re not shrouded in poetry like many songs.
• Then the whole ensamble.
.
FIN
Labels: fea-2010
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Okay, actually that makes three things that I difficulty keeping a lid on.
1. Alicia's Papi is dead. So who's she been talking to all this time? Who CALLED her those couple of times? I came up with an answer for that not too long ago that I will explicate later today, after the dust clears and I have more time.
2. Aldo is an angel. This continues to boggle my mind, but it's slightly less absurd in light of Paula's Disengagement Theory. Diann, this was what I was referring to yesterday when I said that one of your comments on the Weds recap made me laugh. You thought Fernando's sweater looked like it had angel wings on the back, because he was acting like an angel. Right idea - but wrong guy, apparently!
3. The one I wasn't sure about - LETY FAIL. I got my hopes up yesterday when Lety seemingly dumped Aldo, saying she was sick of both men. But apparently it didn't take, because today she speaks of still being engaged to Aldo. That was the technicality that I had been wondering about. I think we all wanted her to dump Aldo decisively, especially after all of what now appear to have been calculated efforts on his part to make that happen. But Aldo ended up doing ALL of the heavy lifting here. What a letdown for a TN called "La Fea Mas Bella" which should have been called "El Galan Mas Guapo Who Falls in Love with an Ugly Chick with a Makeover."
1. Alicia's Papi is dead. So who's she been talking to all this time? Who CALLED her those couple of times? I came up with an answer for that not too long ago that I will explicate later today, after the dust clears and I have more time.
2. Aldo is an angel. This continues to boggle my mind, but it's slightly less absurd in light of Paula's Disengagement Theory. Diann, this was what I was referring to yesterday when I said that one of your comments on the Weds recap made me laugh. You thought Fernando's sweater looked like it had angel wings on the back, because he was acting like an angel. Right idea - but wrong guy, apparently!
3. The one I wasn't sure about - LETY FAIL. I got my hopes up yesterday when Lety seemingly dumped Aldo, saying she was sick of both men. But apparently it didn't take, because today she speaks of still being engaged to Aldo. That was the technicality that I had been wondering about. I think we all wanted her to dump Aldo decisively, especially after all of what now appear to have been calculated efforts on his part to make that happen. But Aldo ended up doing ALL of the heavy lifting here. What a letdown for a TN called "La Fea Mas Bella" which should have been called "El Galan Mas Guapo Who Falls in Love with an Ugly Chick with a Makeover."
So, just as I'm watching this, I have to say, what a man Fer is. He gave up what he wanted so much in his life before: Conceptos. I think that's what made Lety squirm so much. He's leaving Conceptos because of her. Also, the fact that she wouldn't see him again, or rather, he wouldn't be in Conceptos where he always was.
The scene between Lety and Marcia was really sweet. Indeed, Marcia loved that company the most.
Also, Marta and Fer, aw. So great. I've always loved Marta, but she is so incredibly sweet to Fer. Their relationship is so cute to watch as well.
The first time I watched this novela, when Fer and Lety are saying goodbye, I remember just yelling at the TV saying, "what the hell is wrong with you, Lety? This man is perfection on two legs, you idiot." Since I had seen this, I knew that him leaving was what jolted her out of her stupidity, but all of you who said Fer would have to leave for her to realize how much she loves him, were all right.
I assume that the scene where Aldo forces Lety to realize how she feels for Fernando is what really got the disengage theory rolling. This seems to be the strongest evidence for it; giving her Fer's diary, him telling her to recognize how she really feels and letting her out of their engagement. He even smiles when she finally says that she's in love with Fernando. Although, this is just bitchy on my part, but I always scoffed at Aldo saying he loved Lety with the same intensity as Fernando. Um, no.
Also, Julie, it completely threw me the first time when they said Aldo was an angel. I thought, how weird, but I never took it seriously. I like how Fer couldn't concentrate at the wedding, I would be looking around too.
I think the first time I saw this, I was surprised that Alicia's father was dead, I thought he was in prison or some poor pauper that she was ashamed of. The scene at the tomb made me cry the first time around, and the second time as well, lol.
Of course, another bitchy thing: I still never felt that Lety deserved Fernando. She stayed the same in the finale; she realized her errors, but I always thought she should have asked him to marry her at the least. Do something. I always thought maybe she should have jumped onto a plane to Brazil and found him wandering around Rio. By the way, Julie, I love your title, certainly fits the show better.
Also, it's kind of bad, but the last episode of a novela usually doesn't do it for me. Maybe because it's usually the same in all novelas, but the boda always seems to be the most boring part, but I do love when both Lety and Fer get up startled, thinking that someone might interrupt the wedding, like Lety's dream.
I liked better Fer and Lety talking to her parents, or Fer saying that he was sorry he was late, but he didn't know Monterrey too well and there are many churches. Also, the woman next to him on the plane was hilarious, basically molesting him, and his freaking out trying to jump out of the plane. Camil is still amazing to the end.
Anyway ladies, it's been a good week or so seeing this board. Like I said before, I wish I had found this board earlier. The first time I watched this show, I didn't talk to anyone about it. This time around, my sister and I watched it together, but just reading this board has been really interesting. You guys do great analysis and really dig into these characters. So thank you, Paula and all the other recappers. It's been fun.
Alexis
The scene between Lety and Marcia was really sweet. Indeed, Marcia loved that company the most.
Also, Marta and Fer, aw. So great. I've always loved Marta, but she is so incredibly sweet to Fer. Their relationship is so cute to watch as well.
The first time I watched this novela, when Fer and Lety are saying goodbye, I remember just yelling at the TV saying, "what the hell is wrong with you, Lety? This man is perfection on two legs, you idiot." Since I had seen this, I knew that him leaving was what jolted her out of her stupidity, but all of you who said Fer would have to leave for her to realize how much she loves him, were all right.
I assume that the scene where Aldo forces Lety to realize how she feels for Fernando is what really got the disengage theory rolling. This seems to be the strongest evidence for it; giving her Fer's diary, him telling her to recognize how she really feels and letting her out of their engagement. He even smiles when she finally says that she's in love with Fernando. Although, this is just bitchy on my part, but I always scoffed at Aldo saying he loved Lety with the same intensity as Fernando. Um, no.
Also, Julie, it completely threw me the first time when they said Aldo was an angel. I thought, how weird, but I never took it seriously. I like how Fer couldn't concentrate at the wedding, I would be looking around too.
I think the first time I saw this, I was surprised that Alicia's father was dead, I thought he was in prison or some poor pauper that she was ashamed of. The scene at the tomb made me cry the first time around, and the second time as well, lol.
Of course, another bitchy thing: I still never felt that Lety deserved Fernando. She stayed the same in the finale; she realized her errors, but I always thought she should have asked him to marry her at the least. Do something. I always thought maybe she should have jumped onto a plane to Brazil and found him wandering around Rio. By the way, Julie, I love your title, certainly fits the show better.
Also, it's kind of bad, but the last episode of a novela usually doesn't do it for me. Maybe because it's usually the same in all novelas, but the boda always seems to be the most boring part, but I do love when both Lety and Fer get up startled, thinking that someone might interrupt the wedding, like Lety's dream.
I liked better Fer and Lety talking to her parents, or Fer saying that he was sorry he was late, but he didn't know Monterrey too well and there are many churches. Also, the woman next to him on the plane was hilarious, basically molesting him, and his freaking out trying to jump out of the plane. Camil is still amazing to the end.
Anyway ladies, it's been a good week or so seeing this board. Like I said before, I wish I had found this board earlier. The first time I watched this show, I didn't talk to anyone about it. This time around, my sister and I watched it together, but just reading this board has been really interesting. You guys do great analysis and really dig into these characters. So thank you, Paula and all the other recappers. It's been fun.
Alexis
Permalink posted by 
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 1:02:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 1:02:00 PM EDT
Hooray! Thanks for posting before I have to leave for the weekend. I watched the episodes on line this morning so I wouldn't be late posting for once.
Well, so much for my theory about Tomas needing to see Ali as a whole person. Looks like he wants a little girl with a bun in the oven. Cute scene with Tom's mom though.
ADOS - very funny!
Julie, I was also baffled about Alicia's dad being dead. She had phone bills. Whom did she call? And yes, who called her? Maybe she hired an answering service to call her and take her calls.
Aldo an angel? With a dad? Is his dad God? He looks more like Santa Claus.
Julie, great idea for the alternate and more accurate title.
Paula, I'll be away for the weekend so will likely be unable to post any more comments until Sunday night. I'd like to thank you immensely for starting this board and allowing me to enjoy this show that I missed the first time around. Your recaps were insightful, educational and tantalizing.
Also a huge thanks to Pata for the amazing screen shots, and thank you to the original recappers for your thorough and entertaining masterpieces.
A special thanks to all you commenters for sharing your viewpoints and brain power. You're quite a smart bunch. It's been fun knowing I could always look forward to a completely different point of view from my own which inevitably enhanced my enjoyment of the show.
Maybe Lety wasn't very decisive in her final decision, but I can understand the difficulty in making a u-turn after going so far down the road. She ended up with the right guy in the end...finally! I enjoyed seeing everyone so happy at the end. Looks like Sara ends up with a rambunctious lad; no doubt she will turn him into a boxer.
I'm thrilled that Marcia is the new Prez of Conceptos. Yes!!
I look forward to watching these episodes again and reading everyone's comments at the end of the weekend.
Thanks again Paula!
Well, so much for my theory about Tomas needing to see Ali as a whole person. Looks like he wants a little girl with a bun in the oven. Cute scene with Tom's mom though.
ADOS - very funny!
Julie, I was also baffled about Alicia's dad being dead. She had phone bills. Whom did she call? And yes, who called her? Maybe she hired an answering service to call her and take her calls.
Aldo an angel? With a dad? Is his dad God? He looks more like Santa Claus.
Julie, great idea for the alternate and more accurate title.
Paula, I'll be away for the weekend so will likely be unable to post any more comments until Sunday night. I'd like to thank you immensely for starting this board and allowing me to enjoy this show that I missed the first time around. Your recaps were insightful, educational and tantalizing.
Also a huge thanks to Pata for the amazing screen shots, and thank you to the original recappers for your thorough and entertaining masterpieces.
A special thanks to all you commenters for sharing your viewpoints and brain power. You're quite a smart bunch. It's been fun knowing I could always look forward to a completely different point of view from my own which inevitably enhanced my enjoyment of the show.
Maybe Lety wasn't very decisive in her final decision, but I can understand the difficulty in making a u-turn after going so far down the road. She ended up with the right guy in the end...finally! I enjoyed seeing everyone so happy at the end. Looks like Sara ends up with a rambunctious lad; no doubt she will turn him into a boxer.
I'm thrilled that Marcia is the new Prez of Conceptos. Yes!!
I look forward to watching these episodes again and reading everyone's comments at the end of the weekend.
Thanks again Paula!
Alexis - I am seldom satisfied with TN finales. In fact, I consider this one of the better ones I've seen, as far as pacing and such. But obviously not so happy with some of the specifics (Lety, Lety, Lety).
I LOVE YOU GUYS! Silvia I'm LMAO about this...
"Aldo an angel? With a dad? Is his dad God? He looks more like Santa Claus."
Ok - my secret- I've known Aldo was an angel since the first few weeks I started watching. That's probably why I defended him so much - I knew he wasn't the bad guy in the piece. Before I found this board I'd read the LFMB wikipedia page so I sort of knew the basic story - I just didn't know all of the details, nor how they would explain Aldo being an angel.
I have to say that I haven't seen a finale in TN world ever - are they all usually like that? Big concert affairs mixed in with dialogue from the characters? It was a little weird, but I'd totally fly down to Monterrey for the next one. :) Maybe AMC and OLTL can do that for their finales!
I agree Alexis- I don't think Lety really deserved Fern in the end. I felt like Aldo pushed her to choose him. So I guess the disengage theory makes sense.
Marta really was a champ today! Wow! So happy she pushed - I would have expected Irmita to be the one to help out in the end...Fern had many godmother's in this piece...
I guess I'm satisfied with how things ended. I'm happy that the boy got his girl (not the other way around because I really don't think that Lety really proved herself worthy after her regression. Plus she still used baby talk in the last cap even after Aldo left so can we stop blaming him for her using that blasted baby talk already??? I've always felt that was just an annoying tick of the character and not really anything he causes.
Marcia really should win the most dramatic personality transformation of a character award. She really became someone that I could like after Humberto gave her that talk. When I first started watching the show without recaps I never realized how TRULY nasty she was to Lety, because I didn't always understand the dialogue, but once I realized how truly hateful she was before - I didn't expect to ever like her again. The same for Luigi although honestly I don't think his character had as big a transformation as Marcia did.
I'll be back for more later...I'm processing everything I saw now. I think I'll have to re-watch again tomorrow just to catch some of the things I may have missed.
"Aldo an angel? With a dad? Is his dad God? He looks more like Santa Claus."
Ok - my secret- I've known Aldo was an angel since the first few weeks I started watching. That's probably why I defended him so much - I knew he wasn't the bad guy in the piece. Before I found this board I'd read the LFMB wikipedia page so I sort of knew the basic story - I just didn't know all of the details, nor how they would explain Aldo being an angel.
I have to say that I haven't seen a finale in TN world ever - are they all usually like that? Big concert affairs mixed in with dialogue from the characters? It was a little weird, but I'd totally fly down to Monterrey for the next one. :) Maybe AMC and OLTL can do that for their finales!
I agree Alexis- I don't think Lety really deserved Fern in the end. I felt like Aldo pushed her to choose him. So I guess the disengage theory makes sense.
Marta really was a champ today! Wow! So happy she pushed - I would have expected Irmita to be the one to help out in the end...Fern had many godmother's in this piece...
I guess I'm satisfied with how things ended. I'm happy that the boy got his girl (not the other way around because I really don't think that Lety really proved herself worthy after her regression. Plus she still used baby talk in the last cap even after Aldo left so can we stop blaming him for her using that blasted baby talk already??? I've always felt that was just an annoying tick of the character and not really anything he causes.
Marcia really should win the most dramatic personality transformation of a character award. She really became someone that I could like after Humberto gave her that talk. When I first started watching the show without recaps I never realized how TRULY nasty she was to Lety, because I didn't always understand the dialogue, but once I realized how truly hateful she was before - I didn't expect to ever like her again. The same for Luigi although honestly I don't think his character had as big a transformation as Marcia did.
I'll be back for more later...I'm processing everything I saw now. I think I'll have to re-watch again tomorrow just to catch some of the things I may have missed.
Oh yes Julie - your title makes a WHOLE lot more sense...I wonder if they just felt like Jaime as Fern was more interesting to show the transformation in vs. Angelica as Lety. I've heard some of the comments from Angelica at the time of the season finale saying she felt very close to the character of Lety (that she was like Lety) - I wonder if she too regressed like Lety did and whether that had any influence on the characters arc. Or do we just blame Rosy O'Campo? haha
I can't wait to hear what everyone on the west coast has to say! :) It's been such a pleasure hearing all of the different theories and points of view on here.
I can't wait to hear what everyone on the west coast has to say! :) It's been such a pleasure hearing all of the different theories and points of view on here.
First and foremost, I want to thank you all profundamente for the kind and generaous comments you've made to me. Your gratitude is a gift, one I do not take lightly. But even more gratifying than your heartfelt words, are your posts over these past six months. It was those comments that kept fueling my engine. Two weeks ago when I posted a plea to not "poop out," you came back full force. I will confess, and Pata will bear witness, that earlier this week I wasn't sure I'd have the energy left to write up the finale. Your words did the trick to "animarme." Thank you. The quality and comradarie of this board have been peerless.
Now, what will I do with my Saturdays? (For the past six months, I've spent the better part of every Saturday on summaries.)
Pata, thank you many times over, for the cascade of wonderful screenshots today. You really made it special. Thank you for all your tremendous work all along.
On Fea's first run, people were still posting to the board as much as two months later (I confess, I pushed to instigage that). I don't know that we'll persist for that long, but I intend to check the board for new posts at least twice daily for awhile. So if something occurs to you next week, or you wonder if anyone had afterthoughts, there's a good chance you'll find others here.
Notice Fern asks Lety about getting married in Monterrey, instead of making the decision for her.
In the concert, notice Camil’s signature Hoppy Dance. I've seen him do that many times outside Fea. My theory is... as hyperactive as he is now, can you imagine how he was as a child? Probably, sometimes he felt like he'd just explode from excess energy. I suspect that he started the hoppy dance early in childhood because it tapped off a lot of energy. BTW, regarding Camil and ADOS, I saw him in a clip from a recent premier. In the middle of a reporter asking something, Camil turned to his left, commented on some distraction, then returned to the reporter's question!
Now, what will I do with my Saturdays? (For the past six months, I've spent the better part of every Saturday on summaries.)
Pata, thank you many times over, for the cascade of wonderful screenshots today. You really made it special. Thank you for all your tremendous work all along.
On Fea's first run, people were still posting to the board as much as two months later (I confess, I pushed to instigage that). I don't know that we'll persist for that long, but I intend to check the board for new posts at least twice daily for awhile. So if something occurs to you next week, or you wonder if anyone had afterthoughts, there's a good chance you'll find others here.
Notice Fern asks Lety about getting married in Monterrey, instead of making the decision for her.
In the concert, notice Camil’s signature Hoppy Dance. I've seen him do that many times outside Fea. My theory is... as hyperactive as he is now, can you imagine how he was as a child? Probably, sometimes he felt like he'd just explode from excess energy. I suspect that he started the hoppy dance early in childhood because it tapped off a lot of energy. BTW, regarding Camil and ADOS, I saw him in a clip from a recent premier. In the middle of a reporter asking something, Camil turned to his left, commented on some distraction, then returned to the reporter's question!
Alicia - I know earlier there was the theory that she and Lety were equal and opposites. I felt that although it was all nicely tied up in the end - we never really got any growth from her character either. She just found a caretaker replacement in Tomy. I'm not sure I liked that line - you're just a little girl who needs to be taken care of... :( I think she needed to suffer a little, but I wonder if her losing everything was the suffering she was supposed to go through? I really can't wait for all of the Alicia theories on that one. She's another character that while I always disliked the character, felt like, Paty Navidad always did a great job of portraying her in a vulnerable light...
GP, I know this is heresy, but I think Paty Navidad was the second best actor on Fea.
GP, yesterday you said, “I just hate that Alicia's character has been allowed to get away with making mistakes, lying, cheating and stealing with no ramifications or punishment.” And today you said, “we never really got any growth from her character.” That’s the perfect intro to my thoughts on Alicia.
I agree. She did not redeem herself. She couldn't. Normally, Justice is a strong theme in TNs. The good get the happily ever after, and the bad get the pie cart of scorpions. The worser you are, the worser you die.
But Alicia’s situation is like the Prodigal Son. The Tomás/Alicia story is not about justice. It's about grace. Ali was helpless because she didn't have the strength of character to be anything different. Essentially, she was hopeless. Tomás, as a Christ-figure, loved her completely despite all her flaws. He married her even though she didn't deserve him. She couldn't redeem herself because she was weak. So instead he redeemed her. He sacrificed himself for her when he was willing to go to jail in her place, even though he realized she was the culprit.
Tom loved Alicia infinitely, but all the things he did for her did not accomplish anything for her because she kept rejecting his love. Like the Prodigal Son, she finally regretted her choices and turned her direction around. She couldn't DO anything to earn redemption for herself. All she had to do was turn around, and recognize that she loved him. Tomy's Grace covered the rest.
Tomy sees what no one else sees in Alicia - that she is a weak, defenseless child who needs someone to take care of her. On one hand, of course she evokes lust. But on the other hand, he loves her almost like a father loves his young child.
She planned to leave the country and retire in luxury, much like the Prodigal Son. Th embezzlement was the last straw. He recognized that his love for Ali was hopeless. He gave up and left her.
Just like Lety, his leaving finally opened her eyes to the treasure she had lost. Like the Prodigal Son. She went to her father's grave and poured out her heart about losing the only other man who honestly loved her, and that she realized too late that she loved him. Her “father figure” welcomed her back with open arms and celebrated. She couldn’t fix her past errors, she couldn’t become worthy of his love. All she was capable of doing was turning around. And for Tom, that was enough.
GP, yesterday you said, “I just hate that Alicia's character has been allowed to get away with making mistakes, lying, cheating and stealing with no ramifications or punishment.” And today you said, “we never really got any growth from her character.” That’s the perfect intro to my thoughts on Alicia.
I agree. She did not redeem herself. She couldn't. Normally, Justice is a strong theme in TNs. The good get the happily ever after, and the bad get the pie cart of scorpions. The worser you are, the worser you die.
But Alicia’s situation is like the Prodigal Son. The Tomás/Alicia story is not about justice. It's about grace. Ali was helpless because she didn't have the strength of character to be anything different. Essentially, she was hopeless. Tomás, as a Christ-figure, loved her completely despite all her flaws. He married her even though she didn't deserve him. She couldn't redeem herself because she was weak. So instead he redeemed her. He sacrificed himself for her when he was willing to go to jail in her place, even though he realized she was the culprit.
Tom loved Alicia infinitely, but all the things he did for her did not accomplish anything for her because she kept rejecting his love. Like the Prodigal Son, she finally regretted her choices and turned her direction around. She couldn't DO anything to earn redemption for herself. All she had to do was turn around, and recognize that she loved him. Tomy's Grace covered the rest.
Tomy sees what no one else sees in Alicia - that she is a weak, defenseless child who needs someone to take care of her. On one hand, of course she evokes lust. But on the other hand, he loves her almost like a father loves his young child.
She planned to leave the country and retire in luxury, much like the Prodigal Son. Th embezzlement was the last straw. He recognized that his love for Ali was hopeless. He gave up and left her.
Just like Lety, his leaving finally opened her eyes to the treasure she had lost. Like the Prodigal Son. She went to her father's grave and poured out her heart about losing the only other man who honestly loved her, and that she realized too late that she loved him. Her “father figure” welcomed her back with open arms and celebrated. She couldn’t fix her past errors, she couldn’t become worthy of his love. All she was capable of doing was turning around. And for Tom, that was enough.
I've only #299 so far. I want to savor it -- especially that last kiss.
I loved the places where the old Leticia showed up in the new persona. When she got all excited in the "officito" when Marta told her about he plane to Rio Lety moved just like the old Lety. Again at the end in the hotel room when Fernando & Lety are sitting on the bed & mention that it is where they made love the first time. The look they exchange & the hurried, embarassed movement away from each other was just like the first time. Very cute.
I loved the places where the old Leticia showed up in the new persona. When she got all excited in the "officito" when Marta told her about he plane to Rio Lety moved just like the old Lety. Again at the end in the hotel room when Fernando & Lety are sitting on the bed & mention that it is where they made love the first time. The look they exchange & the hurried, embarassed movement away from each other was just like the first time. Very cute.
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 3:39:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 3:39:00 PM EDT
Paula thanks for this wonderful opportunity! Watching LFMB and reading this blog has been a much needed distraction these past few months. And Julie I loved your recaps and at times you elevated the standards of the some of the dud episodes. You should be hired as quality control for some of these TN. And the rest of you posters, it has been great fun to read your comments. Now I actually have to work from 12-2 M-F.
I am glad that I was not terribly disappointed with the finale. I am sure I never will be with one after what happened on the Lost finale. I am still steaming over that one. But I think for the past several weeks Camil was really carrying the show running the gamut of emotion from goofy to heartbroken to mischievous to serious. towards the end it became more about Fernando and his transformation than Lety's. I was disappointed she never became active in deciding her future and Aldo had to do it for her. I am sorry but I cannot see him as an angel literally or figuratively. And that picture of him in the church well someone in Britain just found a jelly bean with the image of Kate Middleton on it. I was kinda hoping that Alicia's Papi was in prison that would have made more sense and Tomas could still be her savior. The scenes at the Padilla household were priceless. And though I do see Camil having ADHD I think when he is asked a question and is distracted he does it on purpose to get more time to answer or to throw off the one who is asking. I would love to see him in his own variety show he would be great. I have seen him in a couple of films and he is not as memorable when he cannot adlib and do physical comedy. And of course he was just great with about everyone on LFMB even Samson!
Jenn
I am glad that I was not terribly disappointed with the finale. I am sure I never will be with one after what happened on the Lost finale. I am still steaming over that one. But I think for the past several weeks Camil was really carrying the show running the gamut of emotion from goofy to heartbroken to mischievous to serious. towards the end it became more about Fernando and his transformation than Lety's. I was disappointed she never became active in deciding her future and Aldo had to do it for her. I am sorry but I cannot see him as an angel literally or figuratively. And that picture of him in the church well someone in Britain just found a jelly bean with the image of Kate Middleton on it. I was kinda hoping that Alicia's Papi was in prison that would have made more sense and Tomas could still be her savior. The scenes at the Padilla household were priceless. And though I do see Camil having ADHD I think when he is asked a question and is distracted he does it on purpose to get more time to answer or to throw off the one who is asking. I would love to see him in his own variety show he would be great. I have seen him in a couple of films and he is not as memorable when he cannot adlib and do physical comedy. And of course he was just great with about everyone on LFMB even Samson!
Jenn
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 3:57:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 3:57:00 PM EDT
@Paula...I love your analysis of Alicia and Tomy. Fantastic. You have added a completely new dimension there. And it rings true.
Today is my last day of recapping. I'm retiring. And thought I could start enjoying your marvelous blog again, but it's your "grand finale" as well.
I know you've created a rich exchange here and happy I could celebrate the wrap-up with you.
And I see others struggle with the same questions I did first time around. Who was Alicia talking to if her dad was dead? And if Aldo is an angel, who's his dad?
But there really aren't any logical answers and maybe there don't have to be in an adult fairy tale.
But love the theorizing and love you Paula for putting your heart and soul into this as only you could. Gracias mi amiga.
Today is my last day of recapping. I'm retiring. And thought I could start enjoying your marvelous blog again, but it's your "grand finale" as well.
I know you've created a rich exchange here and happy I could celebrate the wrap-up with you.
And I see others struggle with the same questions I did first time around. Who was Alicia talking to if her dad was dead? And if Aldo is an angel, who's his dad?
But there really aren't any logical answers and maybe there don't have to be in an adult fairy tale.
But love the theorizing and love you Paula for putting your heart and soul into this as only you could. Gracias mi amiga.
Guera,
I loved the way Lety moved in that office too. Very cute. A lot of the ticks for Lety could be seen as too much or annoying, but I think her spastic actions are kind of cute. Sometimes I did think her facial movements were too exaggerated. However, I do think Angelica Vale was impressive with that. This may sound completely dorky, but once after watching her, I tried to have my eye twitch and twist my mouth and I couldn't do it, lol. So, more power to La Vale for being so physical in her role as well.
GP, I think Marcia too was a great transformation of character. Once she wasn't so crazy over Fernando, she normaled out.
Paula, that's a really great analysis of Alicia. I hadn't thought much of the prodigal son, but it does fit with her. I don't know if she suffered enough for novela standards, per se, but I do think she grew. Maybe I do say that as well because I really loved Paty Navidad as Alicia. She was ridiculous as a character, but so plausible at the same time.
Alexis
I loved the way Lety moved in that office too. Very cute. A lot of the ticks for Lety could be seen as too much or annoying, but I think her spastic actions are kind of cute. Sometimes I did think her facial movements were too exaggerated. However, I do think Angelica Vale was impressive with that. This may sound completely dorky, but once after watching her, I tried to have my eye twitch and twist my mouth and I couldn't do it, lol. So, more power to La Vale for being so physical in her role as well.
GP, I think Marcia too was a great transformation of character. Once she wasn't so crazy over Fernando, she normaled out.
Paula, that's a really great analysis of Alicia. I hadn't thought much of the prodigal son, but it does fit with her. I don't know if she suffered enough for novela standards, per se, but I do think she grew. Maybe I do say that as well because I really loved Paty Navidad as Alicia. She was ridiculous as a character, but so plausible at the same time.
Alexis
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 4:19:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 4:19:00 PM EDT
GP - I like your remark about Marcia being the most transformed personality. I'm glad at least one female character got something more out of this than a waxed upper lip or a loosened corset.
Speaking of which: Alicia didn't grow. It's true. She did only ONE thing right... but at least she made the choice to do it. And she didn't have to wait for any prodding from Aldo to make that decision!
As for her punishment - maybe it's enough when all your protective layers of badness get stripped away and you're defenseless. Hitting rock bottom, like the prodigal son, as Paula said.
Regarding Paula nominating Navidad as the second best actor on the show - actually I'd agree. If you like a nuanced performance, you have to look to Camil, Navidad, and Soler. The other actors on this show had their moments too, but these three really brought it. (I hadn't thought so about Soler until the Disengage Theory came along. Before that, I just thought the guy didn't know what to do with his face.)
It's not that I don't think Vale did a great job as Lety, too. But if we are talking about a sophisticated performance filled with subtlety and nuance... no. Not with what she was given to work with. It seems she was expected to play it as broad physical comedy.
Speaking of which: Alicia didn't grow. It's true. She did only ONE thing right... but at least she made the choice to do it. And she didn't have to wait for any prodding from Aldo to make that decision!
As for her punishment - maybe it's enough when all your protective layers of badness get stripped away and you're defenseless. Hitting rock bottom, like the prodigal son, as Paula said.
Regarding Paula nominating Navidad as the second best actor on the show - actually I'd agree. If you like a nuanced performance, you have to look to Camil, Navidad, and Soler. The other actors on this show had their moments too, but these three really brought it. (I hadn't thought so about Soler until the Disengage Theory came along. Before that, I just thought the guy didn't know what to do with his face.)
It's not that I don't think Vale did a great job as Lety, too. But if we are talking about a sophisticated performance filled with subtlety and nuance... no. Not with what she was given to work with. It seems she was expected to play it as broad physical comedy.
Judy! Glad you popped in! Congrats on your retirement!
Since Judy mentioned the phone calls again, I'll give my own theory about them:
Around the time Alicia lost her father, a woman about Alicia's age died, leaving behind a lonely father.
One day, Alicia was making a phone call - most likely to her bank - but misdialed and got the grieving father. (Or maybe it was the other way around. Doesn't matter.) His voice sounded a lot like that of her Papi. Her voice sounded a lot like that of his little princess.
A phone call that normally would have ended with "numero equivocado" and a click instead became a confusing, somewhat demented reunion between father and daughter. Neither Alicia nor this mystery man could bear to face the truth, so the conversations continued for the next almost ten years, until at some point (I don't know exactly when) she became too demanding and he could no longer continue the charade.
After that, she was probably calling a 900 number, if she was calling anyone at all! (That would certainly explain the high cost!)
Since Judy mentioned the phone calls again, I'll give my own theory about them:
Around the time Alicia lost her father, a woman about Alicia's age died, leaving behind a lonely father.
One day, Alicia was making a phone call - most likely to her bank - but misdialed and got the grieving father. (Or maybe it was the other way around. Doesn't matter.) His voice sounded a lot like that of her Papi. Her voice sounded a lot like that of his little princess.
A phone call that normally would have ended with "numero equivocado" and a click instead became a confusing, somewhat demented reunion between father and daughter. Neither Alicia nor this mystery man could bear to face the truth, so the conversations continued for the next almost ten years, until at some point (I don't know exactly when) she became too demanding and he could no longer continue the charade.
After that, she was probably calling a 900 number, if she was calling anyone at all! (That would certainly explain the high cost!)
I'll be back later because I have to make this short so I can get to MDA which is getting close to its end as well.
The first time around I HATED the ending of Fea ,it dragged on with the idiotic concert and took the actors out of character. Had they ended it with the kiss outside the church after the wedding it would have been perfect.
As for Alicia and her phone calls, this is where I think the writers made a mistake. She got incoming calls. If they had all been out bound it would be understandable.
When my husband died and I had to travel I would call home and talk to him on the phone telling him where I was and what I was doing. I did it for several years because it gave me comfort. I had his voice on the answering machine and even the kids said when they called they always hoped I would be out so they could hear his voice. Ali obviously lost her father in her teens, we never heard about her mother and she felt so lost it gave her comfort so it all made sense to me when I found out the first time around.
Aldo as an angel? PULEEZE. I don't recall any stories about Michael, Gabriel and the rest having a father, a dead wife and spending their time trying to get into someone's pants. Nor do i recall them collecting a little harem of adoring women and getting into pissy little fights with a mere mortal.
The picture in the church with a bad paining of Aldo was ridiculous. That was just too over the top and in a way detracted from his sacrifice by making him seem something other than a human being. .And at least this time when he saved someone from el mar it wasn't a homely needy girl.
The first time around I HATED the ending of Fea ,it dragged on with the idiotic concert and took the actors out of character. Had they ended it with the kiss outside the church after the wedding it would have been perfect.
As for Alicia and her phone calls, this is where I think the writers made a mistake. She got incoming calls. If they had all been out bound it would be understandable.
When my husband died and I had to travel I would call home and talk to him on the phone telling him where I was and what I was doing. I did it for several years because it gave me comfort. I had his voice on the answering machine and even the kids said when they called they always hoped I would be out so they could hear his voice. Ali obviously lost her father in her teens, we never heard about her mother and she felt so lost it gave her comfort so it all made sense to me when I found out the first time around.
Aldo as an angel? PULEEZE. I don't recall any stories about Michael, Gabriel and the rest having a father, a dead wife and spending their time trying to get into someone's pants. Nor do i recall them collecting a little harem of adoring women and getting into pissy little fights with a mere mortal.
The picture in the church with a bad paining of Aldo was ridiculous. That was just too over the top and in a way detracted from his sacrifice by making him seem something other than a human being. .And at least this time when he saved someone from el mar it wasn't a homely needy girl.
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 4:55:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 4:55:00 PM EDT
I want to again give thanks to Paula for the tremendous job she did for us. I know the show would not have been as enjoyable for me if it were not for her and for all of you here on the board.
As the screen displayed "Fin" I realized how exhausted I felt. Months and months of watching 10 hours a week was pure joy up until Cap 251. The last 50 caps were torture. I am one who owns the 60 disc set and I now confess I could not wait out 50 caps to see how this Aldo thing was going to shake out. So, with a lot of FF, I watched up until Cap 299 where I stopped until seeing it today.
So I too had to keep quiet about things I knew (even though I am a newbie).
Needless to say, it was difficult to post when the progress of the show was all muddled for me. (Did such and such happen yet, or not yet....)
Only today did I find out Aldo was an Angel. I think the only explanation of "how can that be" is anything is possible with the help of God.
Aldo's dad may very well have been an angel also. And as far as all the "hot" feeling he had for Lety? Explainable in the fact he KNEW she would never "go there" with him, and he had to push her to realize what she had with Fernando.
Love the explanation of why Fernando didn't die at the moto crash.....Aldo Angel with the hand of God.
Now, if only we had a cap 301. I say this because it ended too fast, it only needed one more hour to fully wrap up. I felt too much time was spent on the concert and parade. They could have left that stuff for a 301, but 300 should have had more happy everybody, and happy wedding details. They could have wrapped up nicely in just one extra hour.
And don't get me started on the micro-second of a honeymoon!
We viewers deserved much more than what was delivered. Omar's apartment is now the best love scene where the wedding night should have been.
Now, no more obsessing over Fern and Lety; I am kinda at a loss. But no mind, I am watching Teresa and will give Cuando me Enamoro a try. (Juan Soler looks much more agreeable in this other character)
And, I just received my copy of REGRESA from Amazon. So when I need my Jaime fix, I have Regresa, Recien Cazado and all 300 caps of La Fea Mas Bella!
Ciao to fellow posters! Perhaps we will see each other on another Caray board. I shall be looking for your names!
Hasta Luego!!!!!
Diann
As the screen displayed "Fin" I realized how exhausted I felt. Months and months of watching 10 hours a week was pure joy up until Cap 251. The last 50 caps were torture. I am one who owns the 60 disc set and I now confess I could not wait out 50 caps to see how this Aldo thing was going to shake out. So, with a lot of FF, I watched up until Cap 299 where I stopped until seeing it today.
So I too had to keep quiet about things I knew (even though I am a newbie).
Needless to say, it was difficult to post when the progress of the show was all muddled for me. (Did such and such happen yet, or not yet....)
Only today did I find out Aldo was an Angel. I think the only explanation of "how can that be" is anything is possible with the help of God.
Aldo's dad may very well have been an angel also. And as far as all the "hot" feeling he had for Lety? Explainable in the fact he KNEW she would never "go there" with him, and he had to push her to realize what she had with Fernando.
Love the explanation of why Fernando didn't die at the moto crash.....Aldo Angel with the hand of God.
Now, if only we had a cap 301. I say this because it ended too fast, it only needed one more hour to fully wrap up. I felt too much time was spent on the concert and parade. They could have left that stuff for a 301, but 300 should have had more happy everybody, and happy wedding details. They could have wrapped up nicely in just one extra hour.
And don't get me started on the micro-second of a honeymoon!
We viewers deserved much more than what was delivered. Omar's apartment is now the best love scene where the wedding night should have been.
Now, no more obsessing over Fern and Lety; I am kinda at a loss. But no mind, I am watching Teresa and will give Cuando me Enamoro a try. (Juan Soler looks much more agreeable in this other character)
And, I just received my copy of REGRESA from Amazon. So when I need my Jaime fix, I have Regresa, Recien Cazado and all 300 caps of La Fea Mas Bella!
Ciao to fellow posters! Perhaps we will see each other on another Caray board. I shall be looking for your names!
Hasta Luego!!!!!
Diann
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 5:41:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 5:41:00 PM EDT
I have to do a quick comment now as I have read the recap and the other comments but have not watched the last episodes. I'm off tonight to a surprise 70th birthday party for my pastor.
I agree that the writers screwed up concerning Alicia's phone calls. I'm not surprised that her father is dead but providing no explanation for the phone calls is just sloppy writing. I too don't think of Aldo as an angel. In fact his behavior wasn't anything close to angelic. But I do agree with the disengage theory. I think Aldo saw the writing on the wall, how Lety could never completely let go of Fernando. But for him to say that his and Fernando's love for Lety is equal is balderdash!!! Fernando loves Lety with fire, passion, and completeness. He even is quick to forgive her mistakes. Aldo, on the other hand, just takes Lety to task and acts more like a domineering father than a lover. You never saw the passion in their kisses like you saw with Fernando and Lety.
Looking forward to viewing the final episodes tonight after the party. Paula, thank you for the outstanding work you have done with this board. Thank you Pata for your marvelous pictures. Thanks to all you commenters who have kept the discussions lively over the last several months. I will miss you all. It's been so much fun!!!
I agree that the writers screwed up concerning Alicia's phone calls. I'm not surprised that her father is dead but providing no explanation for the phone calls is just sloppy writing. I too don't think of Aldo as an angel. In fact his behavior wasn't anything close to angelic. But I do agree with the disengage theory. I think Aldo saw the writing on the wall, how Lety could never completely let go of Fernando. But for him to say that his and Fernando's love for Lety is equal is balderdash!!! Fernando loves Lety with fire, passion, and completeness. He even is quick to forgive her mistakes. Aldo, on the other hand, just takes Lety to task and acts more like a domineering father than a lover. You never saw the passion in their kisses like you saw with Fernando and Lety.
Looking forward to viewing the final episodes tonight after the party. Paula, thank you for the outstanding work you have done with this board. Thank you Pata for your marvelous pictures. Thanks to all you commenters who have kept the discussions lively over the last several months. I will miss you all. It's been so much fun!!!
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 5:51:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 5:51:00 PM EDT
I can finally post the last of the predictions.
In 259/260 GP said, “I wonder if one of the full circle moments will be Lety reading Fern's diary.”
In 269/270 Barbara said, “There is a point where Fernando will have to cut and run in order for him to survive. If Lety agrees to marry Aldo, Fernando will, for survival sake, leave.”
In 259/260 Barbara said, “I bet we'll see that Lety's not willing to give up Fernando for Aldo.”
And the best one. Back in 211/212, soon after Aldo arrived in DF, Diann said, “Could Aldo be some kind of angel sent to get Fern and Lety together the way they are suppose to be together?“
About Aldo the Angel. Back in 07, we felt like the angel thing came clear out of the blue as it were. This time, knowing what to look for, some of us spotted a few hints. They're pretty weak, but it's all we've got.
A. His hair gives the impression of feathery wings. Check these photos.
B. In Cap 290, Juana warns Aldo, “There is a God.” Aldo answers, “I know Him personally.”
C. The whole Disengage Theory. Diann speculated that maybe he was an angel. Also there is Diann's Theory that says Aldo was in DF on a mission to keep Fern and Lety apart until Fern grew, but in the process Aldo fell in love.
Frankly, I think the writers wrote themselves into a corner, and the extension ended up being shorter than they expected. They didn't have enough caps to resolve him as they wanted, so they depended on skyhooks - the angel explanation. I thought the last 20 caps were really rushed, starting with the filming of Carazon Corazon Amor. That's probably where the extension was shortened.
Alexis, you mentioned the birth of the Disengage Theory. Back in 07, when Aldo pushed Lety to break the engagement, it seemed to come out of nowhere with zero justification. But this time, with the benefit of hindsight, I started seeing lots of moments where Aldo was trying to ditch Lety, and all of them failed, so he finally had to take a sledge to her thick skull, much like Aurora had to do to Omar.
And Alexis, I agree, I almost gagged when Aldo said he loved Lety with the same intensity. He can't. He doesn't HAVE that intensity. Fernando is rock. Aldo is water. Yes, a wall of water is strong. But compared to an equal SIZED wall of falling rock from an avalanche or volcano, like Fernando, ... you ain't even in the same league, Water Boy!
In 259/260 GP said, “I wonder if one of the full circle moments will be Lety reading Fern's diary.”
In 269/270 Barbara said, “There is a point where Fernando will have to cut and run in order for him to survive. If Lety agrees to marry Aldo, Fernando will, for survival sake, leave.”
In 259/260 Barbara said, “I bet we'll see that Lety's not willing to give up Fernando for Aldo.”
And the best one. Back in 211/212, soon after Aldo arrived in DF, Diann said, “Could Aldo be some kind of angel sent to get Fern and Lety together the way they are suppose to be together?“
About Aldo the Angel. Back in 07, we felt like the angel thing came clear out of the blue as it were. This time, knowing what to look for, some of us spotted a few hints. They're pretty weak, but it's all we've got.
A. His hair gives the impression of feathery wings. Check these photos.
B. In Cap 290, Juana warns Aldo, “There is a God.” Aldo answers, “I know Him personally.”
C. The whole Disengage Theory. Diann speculated that maybe he was an angel. Also there is Diann's Theory that says Aldo was in DF on a mission to keep Fern and Lety apart until Fern grew, but in the process Aldo fell in love.
Frankly, I think the writers wrote themselves into a corner, and the extension ended up being shorter than they expected. They didn't have enough caps to resolve him as they wanted, so they depended on skyhooks - the angel explanation. I thought the last 20 caps were really rushed, starting with the filming of Carazon Corazon Amor. That's probably where the extension was shortened.
Alexis, you mentioned the birth of the Disengage Theory. Back in 07, when Aldo pushed Lety to break the engagement, it seemed to come out of nowhere with zero justification. But this time, with the benefit of hindsight, I started seeing lots of moments where Aldo was trying to ditch Lety, and all of them failed, so he finally had to take a sledge to her thick skull, much like Aurora had to do to Omar.
And Alexis, I agree, I almost gagged when Aldo said he loved Lety with the same intensity. He can't. He doesn't HAVE that intensity. Fernando is rock. Aldo is water. Yes, a wall of water is strong. But compared to an equal SIZED wall of falling rock from an avalanche or volcano, like Fernando, ... you ain't even in the same league, Water Boy!
LOL @ your water boy comment Paula.
Alicia as "the prodigal daughter" it makes sense to me. She found her redemption in Tomy. I think that yes - the writers made a mistake with the whole phone situation as well. Julie your theory is an interesting one to consider. I like the idea of Alicia just having to turn back to the one who loves her, but it makes me wonder what happened in her previous marriage. In reading the full recap and what she was saying about being all alone for 10 years...it just makes me wonder if her first hubby ever loved her at all. I will also say that yes - I can agree with you Paula (and Julie) that Paty Navidad was the 2nd best actor on this show. She almost always got me to feel something for her whether disgust, anger, hatred, mirth or sadness. During almost all of the vulnerable moments, even when I didn't want to, I felt sorry for her.
Paula - I wonder if the extension and then eventual shortening of the extension is why we never see Lety fully mature. It really bothers me that her character seemed to only get the physical makeover in the end.
Interesting thought - Aldo the angel was the reason that Fern didn't get seriously injured. Also I agree that Aldo loved Lety with the same intensity that Fern did, but I'll give his angelic self the benefit of the doubt... :) maybe he just expresses it a lot differently than Fern does.
I agree with you Diann - I really wish we'd had an hour to wrap up a few more things. I was sort of confused at first by the whole concert setup...i'd never seen anything like that for the end of the show. Especially with the interspersed clips of some of the characters trying to do dialogue while some of the other cast were on stage performing as themselves...it was just a strange way to end the show. I would have done a separate concert special afterwards because I sort of felt cheated by the lack of a real passionate love scene myself. Plus you didn't really get to see them at their reception hanging out with their friends getting congratulated, etc...
I'll re-watch again this weekend, but overall I'm glad I watched. I will probably try to watch the earlier caps with my dvd's as well. Now that I know what to look out for - maybe I'll spot some of the details I missed the first time around. Personally it is very difficult for me to watch early Lety - she's just so darned socially awkward; it's heartbreaking to watch everyone kick her when she's down :(
About Marcia - I think she actually seemed to learn everything Lety was supposed to learn. At least she was the only one to verbalize it! :)
Alicia as "the prodigal daughter" it makes sense to me. She found her redemption in Tomy. I think that yes - the writers made a mistake with the whole phone situation as well. Julie your theory is an interesting one to consider. I like the idea of Alicia just having to turn back to the one who loves her, but it makes me wonder what happened in her previous marriage. In reading the full recap and what she was saying about being all alone for 10 years...it just makes me wonder if her first hubby ever loved her at all. I will also say that yes - I can agree with you Paula (and Julie) that Paty Navidad was the 2nd best actor on this show. She almost always got me to feel something for her whether disgust, anger, hatred, mirth or sadness. During almost all of the vulnerable moments, even when I didn't want to, I felt sorry for her.
Paula - I wonder if the extension and then eventual shortening of the extension is why we never see Lety fully mature. It really bothers me that her character seemed to only get the physical makeover in the end.
Interesting thought - Aldo the angel was the reason that Fern didn't get seriously injured. Also I agree that Aldo loved Lety with the same intensity that Fern did, but I'll give his angelic self the benefit of the doubt... :) maybe he just expresses it a lot differently than Fern does.
I agree with you Diann - I really wish we'd had an hour to wrap up a few more things. I was sort of confused at first by the whole concert setup...i'd never seen anything like that for the end of the show. Especially with the interspersed clips of some of the characters trying to do dialogue while some of the other cast were on stage performing as themselves...it was just a strange way to end the show. I would have done a separate concert special afterwards because I sort of felt cheated by the lack of a real passionate love scene myself. Plus you didn't really get to see them at their reception hanging out with their friends getting congratulated, etc...
I'll re-watch again this weekend, but overall I'm glad I watched. I will probably try to watch the earlier caps with my dvd's as well. Now that I know what to look out for - maybe I'll spot some of the details I missed the first time around. Personally it is very difficult for me to watch early Lety - she's just so darned socially awkward; it's heartbreaking to watch everyone kick her when she's down :(
About Marcia - I think she actually seemed to learn everything Lety was supposed to learn. At least she was the only one to verbalize it! :)
You can find more of the Monterrey concert on YouTube, starting with this clip. The quality is truly horrible, but at least you can see what else was in the concert. The Fea finale was my first introduction to Latin pop, and now I have an iPod full of it!
This talk of Prodigal Alicia makes me think of a exceptional song based on the Prodigal Son by Christian folk singer/balladist Don Francisco. I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping.
Somebody mentioned that Camil would be great hosting a variety show. I agree. If he could yield the spotlight to his guests, he would be a FANTASTIC host for a Leno-type show. He's so gregarious and has so much fun in whatever he does, that his guests would get caught up in the fun, and the audience would be carried away by it as well. Did you see him in El Gran Show? Not the same format as we're talking about, but it was something less scripted.
This talk of Prodigal Alicia makes me think of a exceptional song based on the Prodigal Son by Christian folk singer/balladist Don Francisco. I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping.
Somebody mentioned that Camil would be great hosting a variety show. I agree. If he could yield the spotlight to his guests, he would be a FANTASTIC host for a Leno-type show. He's so gregarious and has so much fun in whatever he does, that his guests would get caught up in the fun, and the audience would be carried away by it as well. Did you see him in El Gran Show? Not the same format as we're talking about, but it was something less scripted.
Paula,
I saw El Gran Show almost every week. It was good, but then I heard they were canceling it, so I stopped watching, I don't even know if it's still on. It was a cute show though. He's a good host; he's adorable, he cracks jokes, and the actual game wasn't bad. I mean, I watched at least.
I also agree with everyone that said it would have been nice to have another hour to wrap things up. The concert was good, I mean, the people who performed were good. Camila is excellent and I'm Puerto Rican, so of course, I love me some Jerry Rivera. I also love sappy ballads, so Jose Jose and Jose Feliciano are great.
I never knew they were planning on extending it further than what it ended up. Already Fea is the longest novela I've ever seen. Can you tell me what the story is, why they thought it might be extended further, then shortened it?
Alexis
I saw El Gran Show almost every week. It was good, but then I heard they were canceling it, so I stopped watching, I don't even know if it's still on. It was a cute show though. He's a good host; he's adorable, he cracks jokes, and the actual game wasn't bad. I mean, I watched at least.
I also agree with everyone that said it would have been nice to have another hour to wrap things up. The concert was good, I mean, the people who performed were good. Camila is excellent and I'm Puerto Rican, so of course, I love me some Jerry Rivera. I also love sappy ballads, so Jose Jose and Jose Feliciano are great.
I never knew they were planning on extending it further than what it ended up. Already Fea is the longest novela I've ever seen. Can you tell me what the story is, why they thought it might be extended further, then shortened it?
Alexis
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7:03:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7:03:00 PM EDT
Alexis, I only heard vague rumors about the extension being shortened. And Televisa is so tight-lipped about such things, I'm not sure anyone knows, outside those involved. But the way the plot moved, it seems pretty likely. Also there was a LOT of buzz about the actors being exhausted, sick, and fed up, and that they ran out of filming time. I have to wonder if that's why the wedding night scenes were so abbreviated - they couldn't pull off a good love scene.
BTW, I think Fern and Lety had a bit of wedding-night "practice" at the hotel. He arrived at night, and when they went to Casa Padilla it was already morning. I'll tell you what I wish we would've seen that night. Their teasing and playing and deep connection like we saw in the amphitheater at Cuernavaca. Of course there'd be some inuendo thrown in, but most of it would be two lovebirds talking about their future together.
I don't think El Gran Show was canceled. I KNOW Camil finished taping all 12 shows it before the first show even aired. I know that awful Nuestra Belleza runs every March. Didn't Mira Quien Baila run for 12 shows too? What I suspect (I'm willing to be corrected) is that Uni does a 12-show "season" of its non-novelas. If the show does well, then they run another season next year. Compared to your typical Spanish language game show, EGS was practically Jeopardy! Hint: 12 Corazones!
BTW, I think Fern and Lety had a bit of wedding-night "practice" at the hotel. He arrived at night, and when they went to Casa Padilla it was already morning. I'll tell you what I wish we would've seen that night. Their teasing and playing and deep connection like we saw in the amphitheater at Cuernavaca. Of course there'd be some inuendo thrown in, but most of it would be two lovebirds talking about their future together.
I don't think El Gran Show was canceled. I KNOW Camil finished taping all 12 shows it before the first show even aired. I know that awful Nuestra Belleza runs every March. Didn't Mira Quien Baila run for 12 shows too? What I suspect (I'm willing to be corrected) is that Uni does a 12-show "season" of its non-novelas. If the show does well, then they run another season next year. Compared to your typical Spanish language game show, EGS was practically Jeopardy! Hint: 12 Corazones!
One final thanks Paula for all your hard work on this fun, if sometimes frustrating, novela. I now have a complete set of LFMB in hi-def with CCS and all these wonderful recaps with links to the orignals for when I get nostalgic.
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7:42:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7:42:00 PM EDT
Paula,
Thanks for the information. If you google "el gran show cancelado" some sites come up. No idea if any of it is legit or not. I'm not sure how many shows ran. Either way, Camil is certainly charismatic enough to hold his own on a game show or a variety show. That I would watch. I never watch Nuestra Belleza Latina either. Never appealed to me, although looks like there are cat fights this season. I also never watched Mira Quien Baila, so I don't know about the seasons. I usually only watch novelas on Uni or Sabado Gigante.
It would make sense that the actors would be burnt out. I could not imagine their schedule for so long. Sounds like a hassle.
I also think it would have been quite interesting to see their practice wedding night. They didn't really get to talk about their future or have a real conversation about getting back together and hashing things out.
Then again, that's novelas for you. I've always thought it was funny that after so much time of the protagonists being apart and all of the problems that have inevitably come up, the couples get back together and then immediately get married.
Alexis
Thanks for the information. If you google "el gran show cancelado" some sites come up. No idea if any of it is legit or not. I'm not sure how many shows ran. Either way, Camil is certainly charismatic enough to hold his own on a game show or a variety show. That I would watch. I never watch Nuestra Belleza Latina either. Never appealed to me, although looks like there are cat fights this season. I also never watched Mira Quien Baila, so I don't know about the seasons. I usually only watch novelas on Uni or Sabado Gigante.
It would make sense that the actors would be burnt out. I could not imagine their schedule for so long. Sounds like a hassle.
I also think it would have been quite interesting to see their practice wedding night. They didn't really get to talk about their future or have a real conversation about getting back together and hashing things out.
Then again, that's novelas for you. I've always thought it was funny that after so much time of the protagonists being apart and all of the problems that have inevitably come up, the couples get back together and then immediately get married.
Alexis
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7:54:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 7:54:00 PM EDT
thank you so much for the recaps. i thought maybe the phone calls were from a bill collector, and this was alicia's way of covering at work when the phone would ring.
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 8:04:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 8:04:00 PM EDT
To Paula, Julie and all the other current and past recappers I offer my most heartfelt gratitude! I came late to the show the first time around and believe me, it made no sense whatsoever. The second time around, I started early one, caught up on other episodes via youtube but it STILL wouldn't have made sense without having stumbled on to Caray Caray! I think I googled something that then popped that up.
The show itself was fun but I think I enjoyed the CC community much much more. The truly laugh aloud comments along with some very heartfelt analysis truly made this event special for me. What a kind and generous group.
One of the bonuses of watching LFMB, I have a whole new raft of iTunes songs that I really love! Lu- love the duo. Reik- good for long driving tunes. Por Ella? Wow- bought it while watching the finale today and believe me, it took some major googling to find the title :-)
I'm going to search for a new TN. Just saw Llena de Amor and it has some guy in an S&M suit and a pretty girl obviously in a fat suit. Maybe I'll watch the new one with Juan Soler- especially if some of the same people here migrate as well.
Paula- thanks so much for the link to your learning Spanish website. It's bookmarked and used!
Here's wishing the best to all of you and again, thanks for allowing me to join the group.
DrJ
The show itself was fun but I think I enjoyed the CC community much much more. The truly laugh aloud comments along with some very heartfelt analysis truly made this event special for me. What a kind and generous group.
One of the bonuses of watching LFMB, I have a whole new raft of iTunes songs that I really love! Lu- love the duo. Reik- good for long driving tunes. Por Ella? Wow- bought it while watching the finale today and believe me, it took some major googling to find the title :-)
I'm going to search for a new TN. Just saw Llena de Amor and it has some guy in an S&M suit and a pretty girl obviously in a fat suit. Maybe I'll watch the new one with Juan Soler- especially if some of the same people here migrate as well.
Paula- thanks so much for the link to your learning Spanish website. It's bookmarked and used!
Here's wishing the best to all of you and again, thanks for allowing me to join the group.
DrJ
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 8:17:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 8:17:00 PM EDT
It's been awhile since I've posted ways in which Lety and Alicia are equal and opposite. But the episodes from yesterday and today are packed with them. It's as if their stories are identical at this point!
• Someone loves each one infinitely. He doesn't even notice her flaws; he loves her sacrificially. He'd do anything in the world for her.
• Neither woman appreciates the value of that infinite love.
• She accepts his marriage proposal but rejects him.
• Finally each man gives up. He's tried everything, he realizes it's hopeless, and he leaves.
• Only when he leaves does she realize how much she loves him, how foolish she was to reject him, how much she wants to be his wife. But by then it's too late.
• But wait! Someone knows where that true love went, and knows where to find them! That someone brings him back to her. Who is that someone? Marta... and Marta's husband!
• Her lost love finds her, crying for her stupidity and her loss, because she threw away the most valuable thing in the world - true love.
• She finally, finally returns his love. He's walking in the clouds, the happiest man on earth. They go off arm-in-arm to live happily ever after.
• Someone loves each one infinitely. He doesn't even notice her flaws; he loves her sacrificially. He'd do anything in the world for her.
• Neither woman appreciates the value of that infinite love.
• She accepts his marriage proposal but rejects him.
• Finally each man gives up. He's tried everything, he realizes it's hopeless, and he leaves.
• Only when he leaves does she realize how much she loves him, how foolish she was to reject him, how much she wants to be his wife. But by then it's too late.
• But wait! Someone knows where that true love went, and knows where to find them! That someone brings him back to her. Who is that someone? Marta... and Marta's husband!
• Her lost love finds her, crying for her stupidity and her loss, because she threw away the most valuable thing in the world - true love.
• She finally, finally returns his love. He's walking in the clouds, the happiest man on earth. They go off arm-in-arm to live happily ever after.
I'm putting this out there for discussion. Aldo rescues a little boy. I didn't understand the conversation between the two but I got the impression the boy didn't have a father. Aldo plays with the boy, holds him, and loves on him. I submit to you that the boy is the new Lety, which confirms the thoughts many of us had that Aldo's demeanor towards Lety was more like a father than a lover. It also may affirm the idea that Aldo's sole purpose was to help restore Fernando and Lety's relationship just as he appears to be restoring joy to the little boy.
I absolutely loved the scenes between Lety and Marcia, Tomas and Alicia, Marta and Fernando. Lety and Fernando were so cute at the Padilla Solis home the next day. You can see between them not only love and passion but a deep friendship, which I believe was made stronger by the turmoils they endured.
I would have loved to see a wrap-up show that shows the people a few years down the road. I mean, don't you wonder what Tomas and Alicia's baby will look like? How about Marcia and Octavio or Omar and Carolina? Do Fernando and Lety have children? So many unanswered questions that a wrap up would certainly lay to rest.
Buenas noches, mi amigas. Let's see how far we can continue our discussions of this show. It certainly has been a blast!
I absolutely loved the scenes between Lety and Marcia, Tomas and Alicia, Marta and Fernando. Lety and Fernando were so cute at the Padilla Solis home the next day. You can see between them not only love and passion but a deep friendship, which I believe was made stronger by the turmoils they endured.
I would have loved to see a wrap-up show that shows the people a few years down the road. I mean, don't you wonder what Tomas and Alicia's baby will look like? How about Marcia and Octavio or Omar and Carolina? Do Fernando and Lety have children? So many unanswered questions that a wrap up would certainly lay to rest.
Buenas noches, mi amigas. Let's see how far we can continue our discussions of this show. It certainly has been a blast!
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 10:46:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 10:46:00 PM EDT
I'm always frustrated by that instant wedding once the lovers get back together -- ad all the threads which don't quite get tied up. Finales are usually a letdown. This one was so sweet and wonderful right up to the wedding. The parade & concert were a letdown for me. I agree with what others have said. The big concert would have been better (for me) as a separate extra show. I kept waiting for more interaction between the characters.
Interesting theory about the extension being shortened. It makes sense. So much seemed rushed at the end.
Thanks again to all of you.
Interesting theory about the extension being shortened. It makes sense. So much seemed rushed at the end.
Thanks again to all of you.
Permalink posted by : Friday, April 15, 2011 at 11:10:00 PM EDT
: Friday, April 15, 2011 at 11:10:00 PM EDT
How could I forget the most important moment to me with Lety and Fern? They FINALLY used tu form with each other !!! I meant to mention it earlier, but forgot...thought that was a great moment. I was excited because it was so strange to me that it took so long for the change (it only happened after the I do's had been exchanged).
Also I had the thought that Fern was finally able to shout that he loved Lety, but she finally says it a few minutes after he was able to... after not being able to say that she loved him once she got with Aldo again. It was an interesting moment - not sure if it could be considered full circle since she shouted it like 20 minutes later, but I was happy he finally shouts it (for the 2nd time actually - I think he admitted it publicly before right? the day Lety and Aldo were supposed to leave the DF for Acapulco the first time).
I agree with you DrJ - I think I enjoyed Caray Caray much more than I probably enjoyed the show. Hope to see some of you on the other boards (once I find a new TN to watch).
Oh and about "El Gran Show" I remember Jaime sending out a tweet with an article in spanish and it mentioned that the show had been canceled. Didn't keep the link, but I do remember that. I did watch it occasionally as well and he was funny on it - I think he definitely shines in those environments where he's allowed to be silly, adlib and get physical - EGS was perfect for that. There was a celebrity one where Angelica and a few other stars were on as well playing for their fave charities. Angelica actually won, but I think it was fixed. LOL.
Also I had the thought that Fern was finally able to shout that he loved Lety, but she finally says it a few minutes after he was able to... after not being able to say that she loved him once she got with Aldo again. It was an interesting moment - not sure if it could be considered full circle since she shouted it like 20 minutes later, but I was happy he finally shouts it (for the 2nd time actually - I think he admitted it publicly before right? the day Lety and Aldo were supposed to leave the DF for Acapulco the first time).
I agree with you DrJ - I think I enjoyed Caray Caray much more than I probably enjoyed the show. Hope to see some of you on the other boards (once I find a new TN to watch).
Oh and about "El Gran Show" I remember Jaime sending out a tweet with an article in spanish and it mentioned that the show had been canceled. Didn't keep the link, but I do remember that. I did watch it occasionally as well and he was funny on it - I think he definitely shines in those environments where he's allowed to be silly, adlib and get physical - EGS was perfect for that. There was a celebrity one where Angelica and a few other stars were on as well playing for their fave charities. Angelica actually won, but I think it was fixed. LOL.
about the rushed finale. im wondering if it had to do with el profe's passing. the guy in the picture ali is holding at the cemetery is none other than el profe sergio jimenez who directed most of lfb and he died shortly before the finale was done so maybe they meant for another explanaton for ali's dad and had to change plans with his passing.
oan, nuria bages, the crazy woman on the plane, is a great actress and has worked on televisa novelas for many years.
loved hatby the end lety and fer had won ovr luigi, marcia and letys parents. the only one not sod on to them was ariel. funny fer kept saying he had fallen or had been dropped when little.
i agree with everyone who say letty had not changed or in fact even gone backwards in the final weeks. i woud have married the fernando of the endng with the lety before aldo showed up at conceptos. in this aspect i like betty as of the ending of ysblf much better than lety here.
well folks its been a real fun ride here. hope to do some more recapping and posting on another novela with you all.
oan, nuria bages, the crazy woman on the plane, is a great actress and has worked on televisa novelas for many years.
loved hatby the end lety and fer had won ovr luigi, marcia and letys parents. the only one not sod on to them was ariel. funny fer kept saying he had fallen or had been dropped when little.
i agree with everyone who say letty had not changed or in fact even gone backwards in the final weeks. i woud have married the fernando of the endng with the lety before aldo showed up at conceptos. in this aspect i like betty as of the ending of ysblf much better than lety here.
well folks its been a real fun ride here. hope to do some more recapping and posting on another novela with you all.
i agree jaime would be a great spanish host for a jay leno tonight show. but he might overpower guests with his ad lib skills and comic timing natural talent. saving my first watching of 'Regresa' for a treat this wknd.
I updated the list of how Ali and Lety are equal and opposite. Find the page on the Spanish Resources Menu at that link.
We've seen how Fern made Lety a better person, Lety made Fern a better person, and Aldo made Lety infantile. I think that Fern made Marcia become a shrew. Not that he forced her, but he brought out the worst in her. Once she broke free of her obsession with him, she was able to return to the enchanting Marcia of yore. Alexis touched on that.
I think a case could be made that Fern's last scene at Conceptos, he forcefully proved he'd broken from two of his biggest weaknesses - the inability to tell everyone he loved Lety, and his love for Conceptos. Yeah, he'd grown past that already, but this was a big public show of the change.
We've seen how Fern made Lety a better person, Lety made Fern a better person, and Aldo made Lety infantile. I think that Fern made Marcia become a shrew. Not that he forced her, but he brought out the worst in her. Once she broke free of her obsession with him, she was able to return to the enchanting Marcia of yore. Alexis touched on that.
I think a case could be made that Fern's last scene at Conceptos, he forcefully proved he'd broken from two of his biggest weaknesses - the inability to tell everyone he loved Lety, and his love for Conceptos. Yeah, he'd grown past that already, but this was a big public show of the change.
First i would like to thank paula and everyone for their posts, recaps and photos/links. I started watching this series about halfway through, and got hooked. I came across this group by accident and it has been wonderful. i stopped posting a month or so ago, but continued to read.
I must say that the last 10-20 episodes were over the top in many instances--and time rushed by, with Tomas' wedding, paulaMaria's wedding, Luigi's mom dying, etc etc.
earlier in the series it would take several episodes to cover one meeting--and by the end of the series, new topics and happennings were flying by at warp speed.
the ending concert was a big let down for me. half of the actors/actresses on LFMB are singers, and it would have been great to see each sing on their own; Tomas, Alicia, Julieta, Omar, Lety, Fernando, PaulaMaria, etc.
I did enjoy the parade through the streets with the thousands cheering them on.
I hope they replay the series again, as I missed the first 165 shows!
By the way i spent 8 hrs in the emergency room, and met 2 women from mexico and their baby. We spoke in spanish and I asked them if they ever watched LFMB--we actually sat and discussed the show for about an hour while waiting to be admitted. Coool!
I must say that the last 10-20 episodes were over the top in many instances--and time rushed by, with Tomas' wedding, paulaMaria's wedding, Luigi's mom dying, etc etc.
earlier in the series it would take several episodes to cover one meeting--and by the end of the series, new topics and happennings were flying by at warp speed.
the ending concert was a big let down for me. half of the actors/actresses on LFMB are singers, and it would have been great to see each sing on their own; Tomas, Alicia, Julieta, Omar, Lety, Fernando, PaulaMaria, etc.
I did enjoy the parade through the streets with the thousands cheering them on.
I hope they replay the series again, as I missed the first 165 shows!
By the way i spent 8 hrs in the emergency room, and met 2 women from mexico and their baby. We spoke in spanish and I asked them if they ever watched LFMB--we actually sat and discussed the show for about an hour while waiting to be admitted. Coool!
Permalink posted by : Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:45:00 AM EDT
: Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:45:00 AM EDT
Marie, don't hold your breath for a rerun of LFMB. This run was four years after the initial run. You'll probably have a long wait. Consider putting the 300-hours DVD set on your Christmas list. At around 60 cents per hour of enjoyment, it's a steal!
GP, you asked if Mauricio (Ali's ex) ever loved her. I rather doubt it. I think (not certain) that she dropped out of school to get married. She chose him because of his position (didn't he become a bank president?), and I believe the marriage was short. The only things I remember her saying about him were A. him telling her what was wrong with her, and B. she told Marcia that men are like that - Mauricio was always too tired for sex. That tells you that he had an amante from the very beginning of the marriage.
GP, you asked if Mauricio (Ali's ex) ever loved her. I rather doubt it. I think (not certain) that she dropped out of school to get married. She chose him because of his position (didn't he become a bank president?), and I believe the marriage was short. The only things I remember her saying about him were A. him telling her what was wrong with her, and B. she told Marcia that men are like that - Mauricio was always too tired for sex. That tells you that he had an amante from the very beginning of the marriage.
Discussion Question
The extension had a lot of problems, claro. But in retrospect, are you glad they tacked on the extension, or do you wish they would've ended it when Gaitán did, right after the proposal at the resort. I'd like to hear your pro's and con's.
The extension started in Cap 151. If you need a reminder of what the extension covered, see the episodes list.
The extension had a lot of problems, claro. But in retrospect, are you glad they tacked on the extension, or do you wish they would've ended it when Gaitán did, right after the proposal at the resort. I'd like to hear your pro's and con's.
The extension started in Cap 151. If you need a reminder of what the extension covered, see the episodes list.
I'm going to chime in and say that I think that the two positive thing(s) about the extension were
a) Fern's transformation into the perfect man. I think had they done this at some point earlier in the series then no need for the extension we got.
b) Marcia's transformation - since I haven't seen YSBLF - I'm assuming this doesn't happen with the same character there.
I think the worst thing about the extension was Lety's regression into someone worse than the Lety we had at the start of the series...she was a character that was goofy and super socially awkward, but overall I don't think she was such a bad person. I really sort of disliked the Lety wishy washy Lety that we ended up with. I didn't hate the Aldo character like the majority, but honestly I don't think we had to see any of the stuff with him - though I do like the idea of Lety having an option.
I'm interested to hear what the rest of you guys think about the extension.
a) Fern's transformation into the perfect man. I think had they done this at some point earlier in the series then no need for the extension we got.
b) Marcia's transformation - since I haven't seen YSBLF - I'm assuming this doesn't happen with the same character there.
I think the worst thing about the extension was Lety's regression into someone worse than the Lety we had at the start of the series...she was a character that was goofy and super socially awkward, but overall I don't think she was such a bad person. I really sort of disliked the Lety wishy washy Lety that we ended up with. I didn't hate the Aldo character like the majority, but honestly I don't think we had to see any of the stuff with him - though I do like the idea of Lety having an option.
I'm interested to hear what the rest of you guys think about the extension.
I realize that I didn't truly answer the question about whether or not I wanted the extension. I guess my vote was no for that extension? I put that with a question mark because I'm not sure there would have been time to transform Fern without it...
One other reason I hated it was that silly Aurora plot. I didn't think Acapulco was so bad, but I really just thought they should have gotten to the real makeover without teasing us...
One other reason I hated it was that silly Aurora plot. I didn't think Acapulco was so bad, but I really just thought they should have gotten to the real makeover without teasing us...
Oh and I meant to say to MariePA that I hope you're ok. 8 hours in the ER is no fun! :( glad you met some LFMB fans there!
I kinda vote no on the extension simply because we had to suffer through a lot of filler; Fernando's undending heartbreak; Aldo's unending platitudes, bossiness, and control freaks; and Lety's regression to a simpering child that didn't know her own mind and heart from a hole in the ground. The only yes on the extension was seeing the marvelous changes in Marcia, Omar and Caro getting together, and Luigi and Marcia making peace with Lety.
I will say that I agree with the others who said that we deserved a hot lovemaking wedding night for having to wade through 300 episodes. We got a taste but it wasn't enough. As far as I was concerned, you could've cut the concert and concentrated more on Fernando and Lety. I also agree that we got robbed on the pre-wedding night night. It did feel like the producers were rushing to finish this show and didn't give it the completeness it deserved.
I see no one's taking me up on the discussion of the little boy becoming the Lety substitute for Aldo. I don't see Aldo as an angel, but rather as a man who was tremendously hurt by his first wife. He really just wants someone to love and to love him. It's just that his method of manipulating Lety was so distasteful. It's nice to think that Carmina might follow Aldo to Acapulco and they fall in love. Still wish the producers could have shown us a little of the couples down the road and not just stopped dead at the wedding.
I will say that I agree with the others who said that we deserved a hot lovemaking wedding night for having to wade through 300 episodes. We got a taste but it wasn't enough. As far as I was concerned, you could've cut the concert and concentrated more on Fernando and Lety. I also agree that we got robbed on the pre-wedding night night. It did feel like the producers were rushing to finish this show and didn't give it the completeness it deserved.
I see no one's taking me up on the discussion of the little boy becoming the Lety substitute for Aldo. I don't see Aldo as an angel, but rather as a man who was tremendously hurt by his first wife. He really just wants someone to love and to love him. It's just that his method of manipulating Lety was so distasteful. It's nice to think that Carmina might follow Aldo to Acapulco and they fall in love. Still wish the producers could have shown us a little of the couples down the road and not just stopped dead at the wedding.
Permalink posted by : Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 8:38:00 PM EDT
: Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 8:38:00 PM EDT
Barbara- The scene with Aldo and the boy could have been cut to show more wedding night stuff imho. I sort of found it confusing - I know they were trying to prove he was an angel and all that and yes you're right it's probably Lety's replacement (although that sounds weird as I type it - old man with a young boy?). It was confusing to me because I couldn't tell if the boy actually died and went to heaven to hang with aldo or what...it was just weird, strange and pissed me off because I wanted to see more of Fern and Lety together. (haven't had time to re-watch yet to see if it's more clear this time around)
The boy said that his parents went into the ocean and didn't come back, so that's why he went in looking for them. We can assume they drowned. Though it struck me as.. macabre? Your mommy and daddy just died. Let's frolic in the ocean. The ocean is your friend, except for the part about killing your parents.
I figured that Aldo adopted him, formally or informally. And Barbara, it perfect sense. Aldo has a need to take care of a bird with a broken wing (and if it heals he'll break it again if necessary, as Julie says), so raising an orphan would fill that need. Although, heaven help the boy 15 years from now when he wants to move out and get married.
I figured that Aldo adopted him, formally or informally. And Barbara, it perfect sense. Aldo has a need to take care of a bird with a broken wing (and if it heals he'll break it again if necessary, as Julie says), so raising an orphan would fill that need. Although, heaven help the boy 15 years from now when he wants to move out and get married.
Oh, I with you on that Paula. Right now the boy needs Aldo and vice versa, but when the boy grows up and no longer needs Aldo as Aldo would want(though we always need our parents), that boy is going to discover what others know. Aldo is not nice when he is pissed off. And believe, when Aldo ain't happy, he ain't angelic.
Permalink posted by : Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 9:40:00 PM EDT
: Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 9:40:00 PM EDT
Paula,
Did the extension start at 151 or was it 251?
I could have done without the extension.
To me, all the extension did was make Fernando suffer for 50 episodes. They made him suffer WAY more than Lety EVER did. Yes, the letter killed her, but she ran away to a fantasyland. She meets Aldo, she has a GREAT time over how many weeks, and comes back to DF. Meanwhile, Fernando is going to Hell and back. He gets hit time after time after time. More and more painful with each hit. I don't think Lety hurt anymore once she was back to DF.
In other words, I think it went way overboard in the redemption of Fernando Mendiola. The whipping should have stopped at cap 250.
Plus, at 250, we still had a likeable Lety. She was confused when she came back to DF, but she put everything in order in her mind, and she was happy to accept Fernando's proposal. So happy they spent the entire night talking about their future. It made no sense what so ever for her to do a 180 degree turn the very next morning and throw away Fernando's proposal for Aldo.
And in the extension, Fernando's pain about losing Lety was a million times more intense than Aldo's pain about losing Lety in cap 251. And Lety saw Fernando's pain over and over again, but she never walked away from Aldo like she did to Fernando. And Aldo really didn't even look all that hurt when he walked in on them in 251.
So I had a very difficult time believing what the story was doing for 50 caps.
Also, the Ali/Tomas story ended nicely, but it was brutal getting there. Just too much non-advancement of plot.
The show should have ended at, maybe, a 275. Give us 25 caps of happy Fern/Lety, Ali/Tomas advancement, Omar/Caro joining and Marcia on her way with someone new.
We didn't need Luigi's story to enable the transformation of Lety. Luigi could have just up and did a make over at Lety's request. By this time, it would have been completely believable. Luigi was already getting to like Lety.
Aldo, could have just gone home to Aca, and the audience would have taken that at face value. Period. No need for all the tiresome plot points that occurred with him. And the boy in the water thing is just plain weird. Kinda creepy if you think about it, because even as an Angel, that's creepy. A little boy it that situation would have been assigned a female Angel. Not some middle aged looking male Angel.
Thank you again Paula for the updated Episodes List. I printed it out and will bind it into a folder as my reference piece. It will be stored with my DVD set.
Diann
Did the extension start at 151 or was it 251?
I could have done without the extension.
To me, all the extension did was make Fernando suffer for 50 episodes. They made him suffer WAY more than Lety EVER did. Yes, the letter killed her, but she ran away to a fantasyland. She meets Aldo, she has a GREAT time over how many weeks, and comes back to DF. Meanwhile, Fernando is going to Hell and back. He gets hit time after time after time. More and more painful with each hit. I don't think Lety hurt anymore once she was back to DF.
In other words, I think it went way overboard in the redemption of Fernando Mendiola. The whipping should have stopped at cap 250.
Plus, at 250, we still had a likeable Lety. She was confused when she came back to DF, but she put everything in order in her mind, and she was happy to accept Fernando's proposal. So happy they spent the entire night talking about their future. It made no sense what so ever for her to do a 180 degree turn the very next morning and throw away Fernando's proposal for Aldo.
And in the extension, Fernando's pain about losing Lety was a million times more intense than Aldo's pain about losing Lety in cap 251. And Lety saw Fernando's pain over and over again, but she never walked away from Aldo like she did to Fernando. And Aldo really didn't even look all that hurt when he walked in on them in 251.
So I had a very difficult time believing what the story was doing for 50 caps.
Also, the Ali/Tomas story ended nicely, but it was brutal getting there. Just too much non-advancement of plot.
The show should have ended at, maybe, a 275. Give us 25 caps of happy Fern/Lety, Ali/Tomas advancement, Omar/Caro joining and Marcia on her way with someone new.
We didn't need Luigi's story to enable the transformation of Lety. Luigi could have just up and did a make over at Lety's request. By this time, it would have been completely believable. Luigi was already getting to like Lety.
Aldo, could have just gone home to Aca, and the audience would have taken that at face value. Period. No need for all the tiresome plot points that occurred with him. And the boy in the water thing is just plain weird. Kinda creepy if you think about it, because even as an Angel, that's creepy. A little boy it that situation would have been assigned a female Angel. Not some middle aged looking male Angel.
Thank you again Paula for the updated Episodes List. I printed it out and will bind it into a folder as my reference piece. It will be stored with my DVD set.
Diann
Permalink posted by : Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10:24:00 PM EDT
: Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10:24:00 PM EDT
LOL - Diann this made me laugh out loud because it's how I felt about that whole Aldo/boy arc:
"And the boy in the water thing is just plain weird. Kinda creepy if you think about it, because even as an Angel, that's creepy. A little boy it that situation would have been assigned a female Angel. Not some middle aged looking male Angel."
"And the boy in the water thing is just plain weird. Kinda creepy if you think about it, because even as an Angel, that's creepy. A little boy it that situation would have been assigned a female Angel. Not some middle aged looking male Angel."
I am kind of no the fence about the extension as well. I did like that Omar and Caro got together, as well, I did like Marcia's transformation. As well, seeing Fer being so damn noble and perfect was hard at times, since he was in pain, but great at other times.
I think I agree with Diann. They could have gone a little further with the series, but not keeping Fer and Lety apart. Wouldn't it be interesting to actually see a long engagement in a novela? Usually the couple says they're getting married and it seems like a day later, they're at the church. They could have gotten the business out of debt as a couple; helped Caro and Omar get together; witnessed the transformation of Marcia, all that, without having Fer being destroyed for 50 episodes, or having Lety regressing. I guess if I had to make a decision, I would vote no on the extension.
Also, ITA with some of you guys that are saying Aldo saving the boy is somewhat creepy. I think it's a combination of his short shorts and the frolicking that ups the weird factor. I still don't think of Aldo as a literal angel though. To me, that makes no sense, so I take it to mean he's a figurative angel.
Alexis
I think I agree with Diann. They could have gone a little further with the series, but not keeping Fer and Lety apart. Wouldn't it be interesting to actually see a long engagement in a novela? Usually the couple says they're getting married and it seems like a day later, they're at the church. They could have gotten the business out of debt as a couple; helped Caro and Omar get together; witnessed the transformation of Marcia, all that, without having Fer being destroyed for 50 episodes, or having Lety regressing. I guess if I had to make a decision, I would vote no on the extension.
Also, ITA with some of you guys that are saying Aldo saving the boy is somewhat creepy. I think it's a combination of his short shorts and the frolicking that ups the weird factor. I still don't think of Aldo as a literal angel though. To me, that makes no sense, so I take it to mean he's a figurative angel.
Alexis
Permalink posted by : Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 2:39:00 PM EDT
: Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 2:39:00 PM EDT
Thank you all for the fun Caraycaray reads. I saw most of the 1st and 2nd LFMBs but missed the first 2 months both times. It's been my only TN, lots of fun, and a great chance to improve my Spanish. Loved the original part and put up with the extension. Even got my husband to watch some of Tomas Mora's courtship antics and some of the early Lety-DF romance, hilarious for him though he knows no Spanish, and he ended up able to do a fine "Ayyyyyyyy, MAAAAARRRRcia!"
TO me, the first part of LFMB was original, and non-soap opera-y dramatic, in fact, I thought it made fun of that kind of drama. The characters were well written, and were all individuals who consistently followed their own sometimes silly motivations. The series seemed a parody of what I think of as soap opera, so funny, with amazing plot turns, smart dialog, and great acting. The show addressed the whole issue of beauty, while I think most soap operas take it for granted and flaunt the extreme beauty of the stars as if we're all nothing without cleavage and mascara.
Here is some of what disappointed me in the extension:
In the first part of LFMB, Lety was fea but intelligent. Aside from getting caught in Omar's web, she was kind and mostly honest in interpersonal dealings. And she could recite volumes about financial issues at Conceptos. I thought that her sense of security, except about her appearance, came from the warmth of her home life. That kindness, self-worth, and honesty with herself and others was lost in the extension, and she became just an ordinary and inconsistent character. Giggly and barely competent in Acupulco...where did that exec from the sala de juntos go???
Before the extension, the characters drove the action. It was what they thought and felt and acted on that determined the plot.
In the extension, in general the action drove the characters. The show went from "showing" through their actions who these people were, to "telling" a story about them.....no longer character- driven, it became plot driven, with all kinds of extraneous happenings (Irma's hubby! Luigi's mom! etc!)and people's reactions to them, instead of the earlier focus on these amusing people and their interactions, from which the plot moved forward....or moved back and forth, or sideways....you never knew where it was going! The drama got more extreme (as did Teresita's hair) and seemed to have to include fights (Omar and DF? Oh, come on!) Sometimes I felt it had devolved into an ordinary soap opera covering all the usual bases after all.
Lety's physical transformation came so close to the wedding finale that I felt I hardly knew her...this light-haired, made-up creature, was this really mi Lety?
A word for the actor who played Tomas. He was great!Wonderful slapstick. I almost fell off the couch laughing some of the times when he fell into or out of his coche, and the first time he visited Alicia's apartment.
I was too hooked to give up my Fea even when it was boring. Let's hope it comes back, or has a sequel, or someone finds another TN that's laugh out loud funny like LFMB and lets us all know about it.
Susie
TO me, the first part of LFMB was original, and non-soap opera-y dramatic, in fact, I thought it made fun of that kind of drama. The characters were well written, and were all individuals who consistently followed their own sometimes silly motivations. The series seemed a parody of what I think of as soap opera, so funny, with amazing plot turns, smart dialog, and great acting. The show addressed the whole issue of beauty, while I think most soap operas take it for granted and flaunt the extreme beauty of the stars as if we're all nothing without cleavage and mascara.
Here is some of what disappointed me in the extension:
In the first part of LFMB, Lety was fea but intelligent. Aside from getting caught in Omar's web, she was kind and mostly honest in interpersonal dealings. And she could recite volumes about financial issues at Conceptos. I thought that her sense of security, except about her appearance, came from the warmth of her home life. That kindness, self-worth, and honesty with herself and others was lost in the extension, and she became just an ordinary and inconsistent character. Giggly and barely competent in Acupulco...where did that exec from the sala de juntos go???
Before the extension, the characters drove the action. It was what they thought and felt and acted on that determined the plot.
In the extension, in general the action drove the characters. The show went from "showing" through their actions who these people were, to "telling" a story about them.....no longer character- driven, it became plot driven, with all kinds of extraneous happenings (Irma's hubby! Luigi's mom! etc!)and people's reactions to them, instead of the earlier focus on these amusing people and their interactions, from which the plot moved forward....or moved back and forth, or sideways....you never knew where it was going! The drama got more extreme (as did Teresita's hair) and seemed to have to include fights (Omar and DF? Oh, come on!) Sometimes I felt it had devolved into an ordinary soap opera covering all the usual bases after all.
Lety's physical transformation came so close to the wedding finale that I felt I hardly knew her...this light-haired, made-up creature, was this really mi Lety?
A word for the actor who played Tomas. He was great!Wonderful slapstick. I almost fell off the couch laughing some of the times when he fell into or out of his coche, and the first time he visited Alicia's apartment.
I was too hooked to give up my Fea even when it was boring. Let's hope it comes back, or has a sequel, or someone finds another TN that's laugh out loud funny like LFMB and lets us all know about it.
Susie
Permalink posted by : Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 8:14:00 PM EDT
: Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 8:14:00 PM EDT
If I have to vote either yes or no on that extension, I'll vote no, because there were so many things wrong with it. It pretty much ruined Lety, which is unforgivable.
But I don't completely hate the extension, since it did include a nice wrapup for the other characters. I enjoyed the Aurora storyline a little more this time around, dumb as it was. And we got lots of mileage out of Aldo, whether we liked him or not!
I'm in agreement with those who would have preferred a mini-extension instead, which would have allowed everything to be tied up in a neat and leisurely manner, without the torture of watching Lety become a caricature of herself after all the progress she'd made before.
But I don't completely hate the extension, since it did include a nice wrapup for the other characters. I enjoyed the Aurora storyline a little more this time around, dumb as it was. And we got lots of mileage out of Aldo, whether we liked him or not!
I'm in agreement with those who would have preferred a mini-extension instead, which would have allowed everything to be tied up in a neat and leisurely manner, without the torture of watching Lety become a caricature of herself after all the progress she'd made before.
Barbara - little boy as Aldo's new fixer-upper project - yes, I think that's a reasonable assumption. I admit I never gave it much thought because once Aldo left the DF, I didn't want to think about him any more!
In light of the Disengage Theory, however, I no longer believe that Aldo will break the little bird's wing once it heals. He'll try again to push the bird out of the nest, and let's hope this kid is a little quicker to take the hint than Lety was!
In light of the Disengage Theory, however, I no longer believe that Aldo will break the little bird's wing once it heals. He'll try again to push the bird out of the nest, and let's hope this kid is a little quicker to take the hint than Lety was!
It's interesting when people compare Fernando's pain to Lety's, as if Lety only ever suffered a little. It's true that we SEE Fernando suffer more, but doesn't the suffering Lety experienced before coming to Conceptos count?
Before our story began, Fernando was used to getting most of what he wanted. Lety had already put in years of suffering in her lifetime as a fea - years of taunting, ridicule, etc. Enough to make her dysfunctional. SO I'm always mystified by the claim that Fernando suffered more. We don't have exact amounts to compare, but Fernando's suffering didn't even begin until the Big Meeting. Lety's got decades of suffering on him.
Before our story began, Fernando was used to getting most of what he wanted. Lety had already put in years of suffering in her lifetime as a fea - years of taunting, ridicule, etc. Enough to make her dysfunctional. SO I'm always mystified by the claim that Fernando suffered more. We don't have exact amounts to compare, but Fernando's suffering didn't even begin until the Big Meeting. Lety's got decades of suffering on him.
I happen to agree with you Julie. I think Lety has suffered as much,if not more ,than Fern. I think the only difference is that Lety seemed to not have the same mandate as Fern's patron that he must not suffer. She also didn't improve as a character once her suffering ended.
Welcome Susie!
Welcome Susie!
Thank you, Susie. I think that’s the best explanation I’ve seen, of the root problem with the extension. So many of the problems we shake our fists at are simply the results.
Gaitán wrote a masterpiece. It was fully integrated, the plot was complex and marvelously laid out. It started slow while all the pieces were put into place. Then various threads started to weave between the pieces. A tug on one would start vibrations in another. Everything came together brilliantly in Gaitán’s conclusion. And the most brilliant part of his masterpiece was the characters – fully developed, consistent, complex, with identifiable motivations. Even their transformations were consistent with who they were as characters.
And then came the extension in Cap 251 (not 151; I misspoke earlier). The pod people took our Lety and left us an alien in a Lety-suit. They threw Aldo into the perfect composition, as if someone inserted a drum solo into a symphony or an extra character into a painting. See the link. Please! The fact that there WAS an extension, just its mere existence, made a mess because it took a hammer to the perfect character development. Fernando had already been perfected but he had to be kept from his Lety. Lety had to behave totally irrationally in rejecting the perfect man. And the Televisa hacks didn’t have the chops to build on Gaitán’s genius.
OTOH, there were some things I liked about the extension. I’ll put those into another post.
Gaitán wrote a masterpiece. It was fully integrated, the plot was complex and marvelously laid out. It started slow while all the pieces were put into place. Then various threads started to weave between the pieces. A tug on one would start vibrations in another. Everything came together brilliantly in Gaitán’s conclusion. And the most brilliant part of his masterpiece was the characters – fully developed, consistent, complex, with identifiable motivations. Even their transformations were consistent with who they were as characters.
And then came the extension in Cap 251 (not 151; I misspoke earlier). The pod people took our Lety and left us an alien in a Lety-suit. They threw Aldo into the perfect composition, as if someone inserted a drum solo into a symphony or an extra character into a painting. See the link. Please! The fact that there WAS an extension, just its mere existence, made a mess because it took a hammer to the perfect character development. Fernando had already been perfected but he had to be kept from his Lety. Lety had to behave totally irrationally in rejecting the perfect man. And the Televisa hacks didn’t have the chops to build on Gaitán’s genius.
OTOH, there were some things I liked about the extension. I’ll put those into another post.
I'm not so sure that Aldo has learned his lesson about being a control freak, but let's hope he learns from his past mistakes. I think we're all in agreement that the Lety in the extension was not remotely associated with the Lety before the extension. Why did Lety's intelligence suddenly go south when Aldo appeared? A woman who knew her heart and the depth of her love and pain for Fernando suddenly had a seared consciousness and didn't seemed phased by how much she was hurting people. Fernando's prime directive was Lety must not be hurt. Lety's prime directive was dictated by her relationship with Aldo and that was she was to do what felt good for her.
The sad part about the extension is that no one on the writing staff was able to pick up where Gaitan left off. Let's hope this same group doesn't try to write another TN.
I agree with Susie that La Fea was character driven before the extension and then plot driven afterwards. I suspect we won't see another show quite like this one where the writing of the characters is so complete and so magical. In fact, I see nothing currently running or coming up that peaks my interest, so I guess I'll go into silent mode on the CarayCaray board.
The sad part about the extension is that no one on the writing staff was able to pick up where Gaitan left off. Let's hope this same group doesn't try to write another TN.
I agree with Susie that La Fea was character driven before the extension and then plot driven afterwards. I suspect we won't see another show quite like this one where the writing of the characters is so complete and so magical. In fact, I see nothing currently running or coming up that peaks my interest, so I guess I'll go into silent mode on the CarayCaray board.
Permalink posted by : Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 10:23:00 PM EDT
: Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 10:23:00 PM EDT
Susie, I will disagree with you on the Fernando/Omar fight. That was in 246, before the extension, and it was in the original as well. I think it’s very important to the plot. Fernando read the diary and he finally, finally grasped the full magnitude of his crime and the level of destruction he had inflicted on Lety. In response, in the Colombian original, first he trashed his office, symbolically destroying the company and the hold it had on his heart. It was now trash to him. Then he pummeled Omar, symbolically destroying his own old self. The part of Fernando that was just like Omar must die.
Did Fernando suffer more than Lety? If he did, so what? Lety’s “crime” was that she gave all her love, all that she was, unquestioningly, unconditionally, absolutely, and she asked NOTHING in return. She never expected Fernando to love her. All she asked for was the opportunity to love him. When she discovered the letter, what stabbed her the worst was not that he didn’t love her, but that he didn’t believe her love for him, the most sacred thing in her life.
Fernando knew she loved him (though he didn’t realize the magnitude). He finally recognized that he loved her. They spent the heavenly weekend together at Cuernavaca where both facts became very clear to him. He went home and concluded that he couldn’t break the engagement. Then on the morning of Doomsday, he sat in awe of just how much he was in love with Lety. And he concluded that he had to marry Marcia.
As for the length of suffering, even if we ignore pre-Conceptos Lety, she suffered from when she read the letter (130) until Marcia told her that Fernando really did fall in love with her (249). 119 caps. Her friendship with Aldo relieved some of the pain. She grew and healed some and could function. But remember, she didn’t want to be around Conceptos because it hurt too much to be around Fernando because he never loved her (so she thought).
On Fernando’s side, he suffered when Lety left (168), but it was all selfish suffering. Why did she leave me? Why did she do this to me? So his suffering was meant to teach him a lesson, but he didn’t catch on until he read her diary (245). IMHO his suffering up until 245 doesn’t count because it was his own thickheadedness that made it last so long. Starting in 245, he finally puts her first instead of himself. So his suffering lasted from 245 to 300, less two caps of bliss for the proposal.
Lety suffered for 119 caps.
Fern suffered for 53 caps.
Maybe his was deeper, but his was deserved, too. Lety was an innocent victim.
Did Fernando suffer more than Lety? If he did, so what? Lety’s “crime” was that she gave all her love, all that she was, unquestioningly, unconditionally, absolutely, and she asked NOTHING in return. She never expected Fernando to love her. All she asked for was the opportunity to love him. When she discovered the letter, what stabbed her the worst was not that he didn’t love her, but that he didn’t believe her love for him, the most sacred thing in her life.
Fernando knew she loved him (though he didn’t realize the magnitude). He finally recognized that he loved her. They spent the heavenly weekend together at Cuernavaca where both facts became very clear to him. He went home and concluded that he couldn’t break the engagement. Then on the morning of Doomsday, he sat in awe of just how much he was in love with Lety. And he concluded that he had to marry Marcia.
As for the length of suffering, even if we ignore pre-Conceptos Lety, she suffered from when she read the letter (130) until Marcia told her that Fernando really did fall in love with her (249). 119 caps. Her friendship with Aldo relieved some of the pain. She grew and healed some and could function. But remember, she didn’t want to be around Conceptos because it hurt too much to be around Fernando because he never loved her (so she thought).
On Fernando’s side, he suffered when Lety left (168), but it was all selfish suffering. Why did she leave me? Why did she do this to me? So his suffering was meant to teach him a lesson, but he didn’t catch on until he read her diary (245). IMHO his suffering up until 245 doesn’t count because it was his own thickheadedness that made it last so long. Starting in 245, he finally puts her first instead of himself. So his suffering lasted from 245 to 300, less two caps of bliss for the proposal.
Lety suffered for 119 caps.
Fern suffered for 53 caps.
Maybe his was deeper, but his was deserved, too. Lety was an innocent victim.
Great comments everyone, they make for a lot of thinking.
I agree with those who were a bit put off by the look of the new and improved Lety. Not that she didn't need a makover but too much of her "Lety-ness" went out the window. I had this goofy hope that at the end Fernando would gaze at her, draw a little unibrow back in, and then think she was just perfect.
The extension: although on one had it was enjoyable to continue the antics of our favorite characters (or most of them anyway), and there was some good wrap up of the minor characters, I don't think the extension did justice to Lety and Fernando specifically. I felt like they lost their way.
Dian: "A little boy in that situation would have been assigned a female Angel. Not some middle aged looking male Angel." LOL!!!
I agree with those who were a bit put off by the look of the new and improved Lety. Not that she didn't need a makover but too much of her "Lety-ness" went out the window. I had this goofy hope that at the end Fernando would gaze at her, draw a little unibrow back in, and then think she was just perfect.
The extension: although on one had it was enjoyable to continue the antics of our favorite characters (or most of them anyway), and there was some good wrap up of the minor characters, I don't think the extension did justice to Lety and Fernando specifically. I felt like they lost their way.
Dian: "A little boy in that situation would have been assigned a female Angel. Not some middle aged looking male Angel." LOL!!!
Now for the things that I liked about the extension.
1. I didn't discover Fea until about Cap 285. Were it not for the extension, I never would've found it.
2. Fernando became the perfect man. I loved when he was so heroic. And he was oh so sexy while he was pining for Lety.
3. I thought some of the funniest scenes of Fea were during the extension, e.g. when Omar and Luigi found out about Aurora, or when Fern discovered Aurora was Lety, or when we saw Agente Feo.
4. Some great feel-good moments like The Kiss, the revenge on Omar, Fernando and the Mariachis.
5. All those great scenes between Fernando and Julieta. Before the extension, the only one we had was when Fern brought the trash bag.
6. Some of my favorite episodes of Fea were during the extension: Paula's wedding (both Lety/Fern and Caro/Omar), 273 when Fern recovered the patron role, 286 where the moon brings emotions to the surface, and 294 when White Knight Fern defends Lety against all the attackers.
1. I didn't discover Fea until about Cap 285. Were it not for the extension, I never would've found it.
2. Fernando became the perfect man. I loved when he was so heroic. And he was oh so sexy while he was pining for Lety.
3. I thought some of the funniest scenes of Fea were during the extension, e.g. when Omar and Luigi found out about Aurora, or when Fern discovered Aurora was Lety, or when we saw Agente Feo.
4. Some great feel-good moments like The Kiss, the revenge on Omar, Fernando and the Mariachis.
5. All those great scenes between Fernando and Julieta. Before the extension, the only one we had was when Fern brought the trash bag.
6. Some of my favorite episodes of Fea were during the extension: Paula's wedding (both Lety/Fern and Caro/Omar), 273 when Fern recovered the patron role, 286 where the moon brings emotions to the surface, and 294 when White Knight Fern defends Lety against all the attackers.
Wow - some more great comments to start off my Monday.
Paula, I want to thank you again for starting and maintaining the conversation on the LFMB rerun. I never thought I'd enjoy watching it again so much, much less get so much out of a rewatch. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Paula, I want to thank you again for starting and maintaining the conversation on the LFMB rerun. I never thought I'd enjoy watching it again so much, much less get so much out of a rewatch. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Paula, thank you for posting what you liked about the extension. I tend to get tunnel vision and then just go with an overall impression.
Also, thanks again for explaining your Prodigal Son theory about Alicia. I very much liked her character and I was disappointed that she didn't redeem herself. She was such a complex character that in retrospect a simple epiphany probably wouldn't have made sense with her.
Barbara, I hope you don't go into silent mode.
Also, thanks again for explaining your Prodigal Son theory about Alicia. I very much liked her character and I was disappointed that she didn't redeem herself. She was such a complex character that in retrospect a simple epiphany probably wouldn't have made sense with her.
Barbara, I hope you don't go into silent mode.
DISCUSSION QUESTION
Who was the dumbest character of LFMB? Why?
Everyone, your words of gratitude mean a lot to me. It touches my heart that so many people got so much enjoyment out of this project. I assure you, thanks to all your comments, analysis, camradarie, and respectful interaction; what I got out of it was tremendously more than what I put into it. I have a great sense of satisfaction from this project. And it was fun!!!
Who was the dumbest character of LFMB? Why?
Everyone, your words of gratitude mean a lot to me. It touches my heart that so many people got so much enjoyment out of this project. I assure you, thanks to all your comments, analysis, camradarie, and respectful interaction; what I got out of it was tremendously more than what I put into it. I have a great sense of satisfaction from this project. And it was fun!!!
I agree that the extension offered the transformations of Marcia and Omar, which were left hanging in the original. In the original, once Marcela tells Lety that Fer loved her and he was never with another woman after he was with her the first time, Marcela is left there... no further development, still having Patricia (Alicia) latched on to her till the end... and still with the 'nose-up' attitude even if she finaly realized she would never have Armando again... she still tried to get her OLD Armando back until the very end.
And I agree with Paula that the extension had its great moments and the Fernando the hero and Fernando the Knight are definitely worthy of watching the extension.
And I agree with Paula that the extension had its great moments and the Fernando the hero and Fernando the Knight are definitely worthy of watching the extension.
Omar is also left there in the original... we see him last when he leaves the company after being beat up to a pulp by Armando. We don't even hear from him again until EcoModa begins... and he never gets transformed, not even during EcoModa. In the end he sort of learns to acknowledge the growing and transformation in Armando, but inside he is the same ol Mario to the end.
The bliss of seeing the potential that was always inside Fernando that we get to watch in the extension is probably the only good reason I had to give EcoModa a try... we don't get to see much bliss with Armando/Betty in the original... we only get to see a taste of them happy together in the EcoModa disaster.
remember in the original there were only a few hours novela time between the 2nd night together and Betty reads the letter, so the bliss period of Fernando/Lety (like their day at the grocery store and his house and the weekend together) we did not get in the original.
The dumbest character? In a telenovela full of extremely dumb characters that's a difficult (and funny as in ha ha) question.
I'll point out the obvious that many characters, starting with Lety and Julieta, made obvious fun of Aldo DoMENSAin's name, giggling about the "stupid" word within Aldo's last name.
But more seriously, I'll throw it out that for me Ariel was the dumbest character. He was a stubborn blockhead who never seemed to grow at all. He kept banging his head against the wall trying his same tricks over and over and they never worked, pretty dumb. In the boating world the term dumb is applied to a vessel that has no means of propulsion, i.e. it is unable to go anywhere or to progress. In the computer world a "dumb terminal" can display, but cannot process data. Ariel tried to put on a good show but he was unable to process what was going on around him and turn it to his advantage. So I submit that within both those contexts Ariel was dumb.
How about the older definition of dumb, i.e. unable to speak or express oneself? Ariel could speak and was quick to spout his opinion, but I don't recall anyone paying a lot of attention to him in the long term. It was more like "oh there he goes again saying the same old crap", so if you speak and are ignored isn't that kind of like being mute? Or is that too much of a stretch?
Bottom line though, I would say he is more dumb in the modern sense, that he is stupid, and I go back to my original assertion that he didn't grow nor did he ever try any new or original ideas to get what he wanted. Not that I recall anyway. Yet he kept expecting the same result, that he should be president of Conceptos and he always seemed genuinely surprised (and dyspeptic) when yet again things did not go his way.
Finally, I loathed Ariel the most so it's easier for me to do a dissertation of dumbness on him than on anyone else.
I'll point out the obvious that many characters, starting with Lety and Julieta, made obvious fun of Aldo DoMENSAin's name, giggling about the "stupid" word within Aldo's last name.
But more seriously, I'll throw it out that for me Ariel was the dumbest character. He was a stubborn blockhead who never seemed to grow at all. He kept banging his head against the wall trying his same tricks over and over and they never worked, pretty dumb. In the boating world the term dumb is applied to a vessel that has no means of propulsion, i.e. it is unable to go anywhere or to progress. In the computer world a "dumb terminal" can display, but cannot process data. Ariel tried to put on a good show but he was unable to process what was going on around him and turn it to his advantage. So I submit that within both those contexts Ariel was dumb.
How about the older definition of dumb, i.e. unable to speak or express oneself? Ariel could speak and was quick to spout his opinion, but I don't recall anyone paying a lot of attention to him in the long term. It was more like "oh there he goes again saying the same old crap", so if you speak and are ignored isn't that kind of like being mute? Or is that too much of a stretch?
Bottom line though, I would say he is more dumb in the modern sense, that he is stupid, and I go back to my original assertion that he didn't grow nor did he ever try any new or original ideas to get what he wanted. Not that I recall anyway. Yet he kept expecting the same result, that he should be president of Conceptos and he always seemed genuinely surprised (and dyspeptic) when yet again things did not go his way.
Finally, I loathed Ariel the most so it's easier for me to do a dissertation of dumbness on him than on anyone else.
Dumbest character of LFMB... hmm... that depends on who you consider a character. I think Ana-Leticia would have to be the dumbest! Alicia looks like a genius next to her.
Teresita would have to be my second choice. Even putting aside the fact that the story seldom puts her in a situation where she needs any intelligence, she comes off only a little bit more than comatose.
But if we're only considering major characters, I'll have to think a little harder. I'll also need a good definition of "dumb." I'll assume it's a lack of intelligence, but what kind? Academic/factual? Common sense? Wisdom? Emotional maturity? Street smarts? I think all of the major characters have at least some of these.
I predict that Omar will be on the short list, though. The only skills he demonstrated consistently were: 1) seducing women, and 2) listening to Fernando. He didn't seem to be very good at finance or business stuff in general, though I'll admit he did know how to wear a suit!
Teresita would have to be my second choice. Even putting aside the fact that the story seldom puts her in a situation where she needs any intelligence, she comes off only a little bit more than comatose.
But if we're only considering major characters, I'll have to think a little harder. I'll also need a good definition of "dumb." I'll assume it's a lack of intelligence, but what kind? Academic/factual? Common sense? Wisdom? Emotional maturity? Street smarts? I think all of the major characters have at least some of these.
I predict that Omar will be on the short list, though. The only skills he demonstrated consistently were: 1) seducing women, and 2) listening to Fernando. He didn't seem to be very good at finance or business stuff in general, though I'll admit he did know how to wear a suit!
LOL Sylvia - "dissertation of dumbness"! I love it!
I'm not sure if I'd call Ariel stupid. I'll agree that he failed in his quest by trying the same bad tactics repeatedly, but he came very, very close to finding out the truth about Filmo-Imagen before the Big Meeting.
OTOH, he would have found out even sooner if he'd looked at the... uh... whatever they weres, there were some kind of financial/legal notices that were published regularly (like in the newspaper or something) that Ariel used to pay attention to and there was some aspect of the Filmo-Imagen deal that was published and Lety and Fern were worried he'd see. But Ariel was in a pissy mood that day, for whatever reason, and he scolded his assistant when she reminded him to look at them so he never saw the notice.
(That did happen, right? It seems like so long ago that I'm not even sure.)
I'm not sure if I'd call Ariel stupid. I'll agree that he failed in his quest by trying the same bad tactics repeatedly, but he came very, very close to finding out the truth about Filmo-Imagen before the Big Meeting.
OTOH, he would have found out even sooner if he'd looked at the... uh... whatever they weres, there were some kind of financial/legal notices that were published regularly (like in the newspaper or something) that Ariel used to pay attention to and there was some aspect of the Filmo-Imagen deal that was published and Lety and Fern were worried he'd see. But Ariel was in a pissy mood that day, for whatever reason, and he scolded his assistant when she reminded him to look at them so he never saw the notice.
(That did happen, right? It seems like so long ago that I'm not even sure.)
Ana Leticia, I had forgotten about her. At least Ariel's character had a purpose. What was the purpose of Ana Leticia? I can't think of any.
Julie, good point about Ariel almost discovering the truth about Filmo-Imagen. I have a difficult time recalling specific details so I think it could be easy to dispute my assertion that Ariel is the dumbest. I am relying on overall impressions. However, he did NOT discover the truth about FI because, as you say, he was in a pissy mood which, if accurate, is pretty dumb.
Julie, good point about Ariel almost discovering the truth about Filmo-Imagen. I have a difficult time recalling specific details so I think it could be easy to dispute my assertion that Ariel is the dumbest. I am relying on overall impressions. However, he did NOT discover the truth about FI because, as you say, he was in a pissy mood which, if accurate, is pretty dumb.
Seems so odd to be reading this and thinking about FEA when it is over and I doubt the replacement will grab me. I may give it a half hour or so test run but another two hour block in the middle of the day - not so great for me.
As for dumb i have to go with Ana Leticia who was so stupid she could have been put in a corner and never been missed. I have absolutely NO idea why the character was even part of the show. She served no purpose, nothing she did moved the plot in any direction and she didn't even contribute to Ariel (dummy #2) and Marcia's back story. One of the first things I learned in acting class and later as a writer is that every character must serve a purpose and move the story forward. AL did neither.
Ariel come in second because he never learned anything. His entire motivation was to bring Fern down and even after having been rebuffed repeatedly he persisted right up to the last meeting. He still thought he would end up as president of the company. He was the classic example of the person who thinks that if you want something and do something often enough you will get different results.
As for dumb i have to go with Ana Leticia who was so stupid she could have been put in a corner and never been missed. I have absolutely NO idea why the character was even part of the show. She served no purpose, nothing she did moved the plot in any direction and she didn't even contribute to Ariel (dummy #2) and Marcia's back story. One of the first things I learned in acting class and later as a writer is that every character must serve a purpose and move the story forward. AL did neither.
Ariel come in second because he never learned anything. His entire motivation was to bring Fern down and even after having been rebuffed repeatedly he persisted right up to the last meeting. He still thought he would end up as president of the company. He was the classic example of the person who thinks that if you want something and do something often enough you will get different results.
Permalink posted by : Monday, April 18, 2011 at 1:00:00 PM EDT
: Monday, April 18, 2011 at 1:00:00 PM EDT
Hmm - interesting question & comments. I'd have to agree that I thought AnaLeticia really probably was the dumbest character, both literally and figuratively. She added nothing to the story and I think a box of rocks probably had a much higher IQ than her character.
I don't necessarily agree that Ariel was the dumbest character. There were actually several instances in the story where he almost uncovered what was truly going on at Conceptos. He was only foiled by his nasty attitude, but he was written in a one-note way and I think if we'd gotten some of the backstory from his perspective he might have been a more sympathetic character of why he was such a nasty little pill.
I think I'd 2nd a vote for Teresita as the dumbest. But I think Julie or someone said that all of the characters had their "dumb" moments and I totally agree. There were many a scene where I had to turn my brain off and enjoy the stupidity unfolding on the screen. (Fern, Lety, Tomas, Alicia, Omar - pretty much everyone had multiple DUMB moments in this show).
I'm currently watching the LFMB replacement - not sure I'll keep trying though - so far it's not really appealing to me...
I don't necessarily agree that Ariel was the dumbest character. There were actually several instances in the story where he almost uncovered what was truly going on at Conceptos. He was only foiled by his nasty attitude, but he was written in a one-note way and I think if we'd gotten some of the backstory from his perspective he might have been a more sympathetic character of why he was such a nasty little pill.
I think I'd 2nd a vote for Teresita as the dumbest. But I think Julie or someone said that all of the characters had their "dumb" moments and I totally agree. There were many a scene where I had to turn my brain off and enjoy the stupidity unfolding on the screen. (Fern, Lety, Tomas, Alicia, Omar - pretty much everyone had multiple DUMB moments in this show).
I'm currently watching the LFMB replacement - not sure I'll keep trying though - so far it's not really appealing to me...
Ana-Leticia did have a purpose in the story, but it was so trivial that I think she should have been skipped. Lety had dropped an important envelope, which was then misdelivered to Ana-Leticia due to confusion over the names, and this caused all kinds of temporary grief for Lety and Fernando.
THAT'S IT!!
Seriously, another way to delay Lety getting that envelope would be to not have her name on it at all. Or kept her name on it and had it fall under a piece of furniture where it isn't seen right away. That would have worked just as well.
This was in YSBLF too (her name was Ana-Beatriz I believe), so it appears that this was actually Gaitan's idea. And as far as I know, the character didn't do much else in YSBLF either. I'm wondering if MAYBE the character made more sense in YSBLF because YSBLF was less comedic on its own and Ana-B may have provided some comic relief. LFMB really didn't need that.
THAT'S IT!!
Seriously, another way to delay Lety getting that envelope would be to not have her name on it at all. Or kept her name on it and had it fall under a piece of furniture where it isn't seen right away. That would have worked just as well.
This was in YSBLF too (her name was Ana-Beatriz I believe), so it appears that this was actually Gaitan's idea. And as far as I know, the character didn't do much else in YSBLF either. I'm wondering if MAYBE the character made more sense in YSBLF because YSBLF was less comedic on its own and Ana-B may have provided some comic relief. LFMB really didn't need that.
Sylvia, about this...
... (I) had this goofy hope that at the end Fernando would gaze at her, draw a little unibrow back in, and then think she was just perfect. ...
I think Fernando did reject the 'Aurora' looks in favor of the old Lety... remember the scene where he discovers they are one and the same, he did because he began saying Aurora needed some updates to look good... and he began drawing the eyebrow, glasses, mustache, braces and Lety hair into the Aurora picture...
then he said 'there! she looks MUCH better now'... so he clearly chose the old Lety look over Aurora.
and in the end, when Luigi gives Lety her midpoint/more human transformation (not as out there as Aurora but a look that would make Lety feel better about herself, granted I think the gold hair color was too light for her, I like Angelica's brown natural hair and waves better than the forced bangs...), fernando reacts with a double take when she turns around but he comes to like it and also notices the change in her self-esteem and demeanor right away.
so I am satisfied that Fernando would have taken the original Lety appearance happily... but he liked her final makeover and, more importantly, he understood that it made her feel better about herself.
... (I) had this goofy hope that at the end Fernando would gaze at her, draw a little unibrow back in, and then think she was just perfect. ...
I think Fernando did reject the 'Aurora' looks in favor of the old Lety... remember the scene where he discovers they are one and the same, he did because he began saying Aurora needed some updates to look good... and he began drawing the eyebrow, glasses, mustache, braces and Lety hair into the Aurora picture...
then he said 'there! she looks MUCH better now'... so he clearly chose the old Lety look over Aurora.
and in the end, when Luigi gives Lety her midpoint/more human transformation (not as out there as Aurora but a look that would make Lety feel better about herself, granted I think the gold hair color was too light for her, I like Angelica's brown natural hair and waves better than the forced bangs...), fernando reacts with a double take when she turns around but he comes to like it and also notices the change in her self-esteem and demeanor right away.
so I am satisfied that Fernando would have taken the original Lety appearance happily... but he liked her final makeover and, more importantly, he understood that it made her feel better about herself.
I think I have to agree with the people that said Ana-Leticia was the dumbest character, in terms of actual intelligence. However, she was cute, and I was so astounded to see that actress in Llena de Amor being all serious. I think Omar was pretty dumb too. Perhaps Omar was more oblivious than anything else, he rarely understood when someone was being sarcastic and things just flew over his head.
I don't think Ariel was stupid; he was just bitter. Plus, he was the closest thing we had to a real, stereotypical villain. I agree that he never grew, just stayed bitter until the end.
By the way, just as a question, what would be your ideal for a LFMB sequel? I heard EcoModa was no good, but I think it would also be interesting to revisit the characters to see their lives after the wedding and the presumed happily ever afters. What was it that made EcoModa bad?
Alexis
I don't think Ariel was stupid; he was just bitter. Plus, he was the closest thing we had to a real, stereotypical villain. I agree that he never grew, just stayed bitter until the end.
By the way, just as a question, what would be your ideal for a LFMB sequel? I heard EcoModa was no good, but I think it would also be interesting to revisit the characters to see their lives after the wedding and the presumed happily ever afters. What was it that made EcoModa bad?
Alexis
Permalink posted by : Monday, April 18, 2011 at 2:39:00 PM EDT
: Monday, April 18, 2011 at 2:39:00 PM EDT
What was it that made EcoModa bad?
... well, as Beth (B) would say, where do I start?
EcoModa was kind of a sit-com instead of a spin-off novela. And sit-coms usually have some scenario/issue starting and resolving in the same episode... For most of the 26 episodes of EcoModa, that was the case. There were a few sets of multiple episodes, one at the beginning and one between eps 20 to 22 that took several eps to resolve. But usually the routine was the issue is introduced, Armando gets in trouble one way or another, sometimes Betty looks pretty dumb or makes some dumb decisions or conclusions, and then things get resolved, Betty and Armando have a kiss and makeup session and the ep is over...
in a nutshell that was what we got at EcoModa.
Regarding the secondary characters including the entire cuartel, it seemed like all growing/transforming they did toward the last 10 episodes or so of YSBLF, never happened or were just a dream... since all those characters reverted in EcoModa and some of the biggest issues that are worked in EcoModa were begun or caused by the cuartel themselves.
Marcela and Patricia are not part of the characters in EcoModa, and they bring in a new character who is not as dumb or backbone-short as Marcela (played by Lorena Meritano) and there is another character who is brought in, apparently to replace Patricia, but she just does not fit the bill.
The good part is we get some 'kiss and makeup' scenes and some 'Armando supports Betty' scenes but that's about all the good I can list from EcoModa.
... well, as Beth (B) would say, where do I start?
EcoModa was kind of a sit-com instead of a spin-off novela. And sit-coms usually have some scenario/issue starting and resolving in the same episode... For most of the 26 episodes of EcoModa, that was the case. There were a few sets of multiple episodes, one at the beginning and one between eps 20 to 22 that took several eps to resolve. But usually the routine was the issue is introduced, Armando gets in trouble one way or another, sometimes Betty looks pretty dumb or makes some dumb decisions or conclusions, and then things get resolved, Betty and Armando have a kiss and makeup session and the ep is over...
in a nutshell that was what we got at EcoModa.
Regarding the secondary characters including the entire cuartel, it seemed like all growing/transforming they did toward the last 10 episodes or so of YSBLF, never happened or were just a dream... since all those characters reverted in EcoModa and some of the biggest issues that are worked in EcoModa were begun or caused by the cuartel themselves.
Marcela and Patricia are not part of the characters in EcoModa, and they bring in a new character who is not as dumb or backbone-short as Marcela (played by Lorena Meritano) and there is another character who is brought in, apparently to replace Patricia, but she just does not fit the bill.
The good part is we get some 'kiss and makeup' scenes and some 'Armando supports Betty' scenes but that's about all the good I can list from EcoModa.
I think AnaLeticia's function was to show Ariel's humanity. It was a high priority to him to protect Marcia - his baby sister's fiance was sleeping with a different woman every night, for goodness sake, and it was his duty as the big brother to protect his sister. But some people thought he was just doing that out of rivalry with Fernando. Whereas with AL you saw more of his pure motivation to take care of his little sister, especially since their parents were gone.
The thing that struck me about Ariel was not his assaults on the presidency but his assaults on Lety. Like an aggressive rooster I had once. He kept attacking, and she kept whacking him, but still he kept coming back for more, thinking THIS TIME I'll get her for sure!
Sylvia, I don't think Ariel was dumb, but in choosing him, you brought out many interesting points about his character, so I'm glad you chose him.
Alexis, that's a good question. I look forward to the answers.
The thing that struck me about Ariel was not his assaults on the presidency but his assaults on Lety. Like an aggressive rooster I had once. He kept attacking, and she kept whacking him, but still he kept coming back for more, thinking THIS TIME I'll get her for sure!
Sylvia, I don't think Ariel was dumb, but in choosing him, you brought out many interesting points about his character, so I'm glad you chose him.
Alexis, that's a good question. I look forward to the answers.
now, some 'backstage' details about EcoModa... EcoModa's original idea was to use the cuartel as the main characters wwith some Betty and Armando as secondary storyline... but the audiences were totally enraged by this so JEA (mostly) and AMO (more reluctantly) agreed to increase their participation. So if the idea was to build the show around the cuartel, it was a complete failure. Even Armando looked like a clutz and weak character there (with very few exceptions like when Armando supports Betty and helps her clean up the mess caused by the cuartel in episode 4).
ideal for LFMB sequel? something that makes sense for all characters, jump about 3 yrs in time, give the Mendiolas a child, give each member of the cuartel a reasonable character progress (Lola and cheque are away from each other, Realistically Omar and Carolina hae divorced since he never matured, Paula Maria and Saimon are doing ok, she is no longer the receptionist and has changed her ways a little... and we can have some more real life issues as in a semi-funny sit-com like modern family or parenthood type series without falling into the ridicule or charicaturesque arena.
Yes, new page or something please!
Martaivett, thanks for that info about EcoModa. That sounded dreadful, even as sitcoms go. Of course, the improvements would have to begin with the elimination of the cuartel, so the prospect of a show that was originally intended to have been built around them... *shudder*
Martaivett, thanks for that info about EcoModa. That sounded dreadful, even as sitcoms go. Of course, the improvements would have to begin with the elimination of the cuartel, so the prospect of a show that was originally intended to have been built around them... *shudder*
I just read all the comments on the extension. I think I would vote yes because there were some very funny bits and some good wrap ups of minor character story lines.
It's interesting that after extending they then seemed to rush the end so much. Someone said that the extension got cut short. That makes me think that they could have had a useful 50 episodes if they had actually planned for 50. They could have tightened up the first 30 -- less Fernando suffering, less Tomy & Alicia disfunction -- and given time to explore the wrap ups in more depth. I agree with whoever it was who said that it would have been nice to see Fernando & Lety get back together sooner and let them solve the company's final problems TOGETHER before they finally headed off for the wedding.
It's interesting that after extending they then seemed to rush the end so much. Someone said that the extension got cut short. That makes me think that they could have had a useful 50 episodes if they had actually planned for 50. They could have tightened up the first 30 -- less Fernando suffering, less Tomy & Alicia disfunction -- and given time to explore the wrap ups in more depth. I agree with whoever it was who said that it would have been nice to see Fernando & Lety get back together sooner and let them solve the company's final problems TOGETHER before they finally headed off for the wedding.
Permalink posted by : Monday, April 18, 2011 at 4:29:00 PM EDT
: Monday, April 18, 2011 at 4:29:00 PM EDT
Marta,
Thanks for the info on Ecomoda, it does sound awful.
I like your idea for the sequel too. I think it would be interesting to have a Modern Family type of novela, something that is funny, but not so over the top and actually deals with real issues that couples go through.
Alexis
Thanks for the info on Ecomoda, it does sound awful.
I like your idea for the sequel too. I think it would be interesting to have a Modern Family type of novela, something that is funny, but not so over the top and actually deals with real issues that couples go through.
Alexis
Permalink posted by : Monday, April 18, 2011 at 4:35:00 PM EDT
: Monday, April 18, 2011 at 4:35:00 PM EDT
Paula, I do remember Ariel saying something once (maybe twice) about protecting his sisters, but that's as far as I remember it going. OK, there was also the time Ana-Leticia was crying, but for him that just seemed to be another opportunity to scold Fernando rather than to comfort Ana-Let.
If caring for her was supposed to be a real motivation for Ariel, it really fell flat. When things went bad, Ariel's main concern was getting his own monthly stipend. He practically offered to prostitute himself to Lety to get an advance on his payment. If someone had WANTED his concern for his sisters to be more clear, a better way to have written it would have been for Ariel's dinner with Lety to be about getting money for his sister rather than himself. THEN the Ana-Leticia character would have been meaningful, and Ariel would have been something more than a cartoonish rooster.
But it does make sense that that could have been the intention of the character. If only it had been more clear. :-(
(Oh no. Now I'm imagining Ariel with Foghorn Leghorn's voice...)
If caring for her was supposed to be a real motivation for Ariel, it really fell flat. When things went bad, Ariel's main concern was getting his own monthly stipend. He practically offered to prostitute himself to Lety to get an advance on his payment. If someone had WANTED his concern for his sisters to be more clear, a better way to have written it would have been for Ariel's dinner with Lety to be about getting money for his sister rather than himself. THEN the Ana-Leticia character would have been meaningful, and Ariel would have been something more than a cartoonish rooster.
But it does make sense that that could have been the intention of the character. If only it had been more clear. :-(
(Oh no. Now I'm imagining Ariel with Foghorn Leghorn's voice...)
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