Caray, Caray!

Readers: Thank you for sticking with me through this.

I enjoyed every minute of the docu-drama.
 

Pasofino,

I'm so glad you gave us a place to talk about this incredible and unforgettable drama. Thank you soooooo much for all the time and effort and thought you put into it.

Marta, your comments have been enormously helpful all along. I was often lost on the battlefield (and had lots of trouble keeping the names straight) and I came to depend on your explanations and explications. Thank you so much.

Carlos, I'm so glad you were here too and willing to lend your wit and insight to the mix. Gracias.

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More later about the episode itself...
 

NovelaMaven: Thanks for your kind comments. I just made a few typographical corrections.
 

Pasfino, thank you for giving us a place to share our thoughts about this wonderful show. I delayed watching Wed.'s episode until last night when I was able to watch both uninterrupted.

I thought that the loose ends were for the most part tied up rather well. What a surprise to see a destitute Gertrudis near the end. I wouldn't have thought I would care but that was disturbingly satisfying.

It was good to see Nariño one last time.

I'm really going to miss this show.

Carlos
 

My Spanish teacher and I have been reading the first essay in El laberinto de la soledad by the brilliant Mexican writer, Octavio Paz. I thought of our wonderful show when I read these lines:

Sin duda la cercanía de la muerte y la fraternidad de las armas producen, en todos los tiempos y en todos los países, una atmósfera propicia a lo extraordinario, a todo aquello que sobrepasa la condición humana y rompe el círculo de soledad que rodea a cada hombre.

(My rather flatfooted and literal translation: Undoubtedly the imminence of death and the brotherhood of arms produce -- in every era and in every land – an atmosphere that lends itself to the extraordinary, to all that which goes beyond the limits of the human condition and breaks the circle of solitude that surrounds every human being.)
 

NovelaMaven: What a great translation. Thank you.
 

Thank you Pasofino for all your dedication and hard work, and to all the rest of the Pola compañeros.

I cried like a baby last night. I loved this story and will miss it terribly.

If anyone finds any books in English on the life of La Pola, please post it here - I'm not ready to let her go yet and want to find a good book to read about her.
 

Thank you, Anonymous.
 

A few things about the ending...
Tolra had predicted to Samano that if he indeed killed Pola, she would become a legend, an inspiration for the rebels to fighgt harder and make it all the way, which they did...
Also, Alejo got to tell MI that he and Pola were together the night before and that they were now together forever, and that is when she totally lost it.
Samano had asked Herrera to make sure whoever he took the 'document pardoning Alejo' from to lock them up so they would not have a chance to let Pola know, but Francisco was able to escape them after they took the document so he was able to tell Pola that she had been betrayed, that they were planning to execute Alejo anyway. That might be (along with Alejo telling her not to do it because she was a symbol of the freedom fight and in the end signaling to her not to do it) what made Pola not to recant.
At the last battle, for which the black troop was very significant (such a divine justice after it was originally Narino's idea to let the black slaves join the troops in exchange for their own freedom).
With Bolivar there were Santander (the col from the plains) and Rodriguez... so they survived in the end.
It was funny how even Perez Delgado abandoned Samano to his own fate in the end... since Samano wanted to stop by the tax office to steal money, Samano was true to his priorities to the end.
The only one I did not see in the end was Lopezito, but we know he survived in real life since he eventually became the President of the country.

And thank you Pasofino for providing the quick summaries. I have been super busy this week at work so I was unable to keep up with the summaries.
Everyone, thanks for making this such an enjoyable experience to watch this historic novela together.
 

Okay, did I miss the reason, or can anyone explain why Pola was sitting on a chair and facing away from the firing squad? Was it her choice in a last gesture of defiance, or simply scripted so she would conveniently fall face-to-face with Alejo for a final farewell?
La Pola is the only telenovela I've watched in almost 10 years and not missed an episode..well, except when Telefutura screwed something up.

Before a final exit, I proudly thank Pasofino and NovelaMaven who transscripted this docudrama for our enjoyment and education. This production sets the bar very high for all-round quality.
 

they yelled at Pola that she needed to turn around, so they were probably trying to avoid her from saying much more looking at the 'pueblo' direcly in the eye. As far as why they had her sitting instead of standing, I have no idea. i guess they try to treat women differently? LOL
 

Martaivett and Chapateo: Thanks for your comments - and Marta - especially for your superb translations.

Yes, the bar has definitely been set very high.
 

When this program debuted I wasn't able to watch and I now wish I had been able to drop something for it.

Anyway, if anyone who loved this one has Latele Novela Network or can get it by calling their cable company, they will soon begin re-airing Siete Mujeres, a Brazilian mini-series (52 episodes) that takes place during the Guerra de los Farrapos in 1835. About half of the characters are real historical personages.

I absolutely recommend this series. Several cast members were in the original El Clon and the leading man, Tiago Lacerdo, is seriously caliente.