Caray, Caray!

In a nutshell:
*Lucia wasted time professing her love for Ivan. Ivan said not matter what, I love you. Ambulance arrived in time.
*Lucia and Camilo waited at the hospital all night. The next morning Tony sees them asleep together on the waiting room couch and later warns Ivan that if he doesn't get the resentment stick out of his butt, he's gonna lose Lucia to someone else. Tony doesn't say who the "someone else" is"
*Carmen spills the frijoles to Saul about Merry Piece, Ivan and Alex. Saul runs to JJ and blabs in the hopes of getting back in papas good graces.
*Alex visits Lucia, who does her child psychology magic. Alex meets Bruno. Lucia talks up Ivan and even convinces Alex to go visit him the the hospital.
*Camilo and Lucrezia talk ranch stuff. I miss a bit, but I think LuLu is figuring out JJ is stealing her agua.
*Also, LuLu is getting the hots for Camilo. Blech.
*Cuthberto (farmer of burned crops fame) needs to cash in the insurance, which David agrees to....much to the chagrin of JJ. Businessy stuff is said that I don't cattch.
*In the hospital, Ivan asks Alex "are you my cuate?" Alex says he doesn't know.

Any thing else? I think that's the big stuff.

Oh, I've decided everyone says the same thing to Teodoro's portrait?

¿Qué?
 

Feel better Gloria!

Sara- I think you got it all. The only thing I would add is that the Ag Association doesn't have money to pay the ranchers for losses, although they have been paying their dues, because JJ has been stealing money from the association. David called him on it, and JJ basically admitted it. Now he wants David to be his accomplice in covering this up. This leaves David in a tough spot, since he seems determined to stick by his dad because of his medical issues. Judith was paying close attention during that conversation too. She's now driving JJ around because of his illness. He really is going to milk this for all it's worth. JJ also let Saul back into the Mondragon fold after he shared the info about Alex, but Saul has to work under David. I don't see that going well.

I wonder what JJ will do with this info about his grandchild?

I was shocked by Lucrezia not only acknowledging that Camilo really does know the ag business, but also having some impure thoughts about him. Camilo might have Lucrezia and MP hitting on him, while he tries to hit on Lucia. That will make for some interesting family dynamics!
 

This episode moved along pretty well. I loved Tony's observations of Lucia and Camilo and warning to Ivan.

Ivan is in a bad way physically and emotionally. The man needs help on all fronts.

If we're half way through, we should see things heat up quite a bit now, my telenovela pacing meter suggests.
 

One more thing, Sara: Both Gerry and Antolin have failed yet again in reasoning with Carolina about Alex. I still want to kick her butt.

Lucrazia having the hots for Camilo is going to lead to some serious humiliation for her. Which she richly deserves and we will enjoy the joke.

I wonder whether Saul heard about the $5MM Ivan was willing to pay to get his son back (Too bad for him that Ivan already knows that Alex is his). When Aracelia hears that Carmen opened her big mouth about this I hope she gives her a good spanking with a wooden spoon.

Carmen and Saul deserve each other but little Lichita deserves better parents.
 

Regarding the ranch stuff, I zoned out a little bit but I think the gist of it was that Camilo told Lucrezia that he won't be needing water from her portion of the land after all because his plot does have water. Apparently there is evidence that the water from that portion (which borders JJ's) is being funneled somewhere else (I think underground somehow). So Lucrezia realized that the previous administrators were stealing her water and giving it to someone else (most likely JJ).

I hate how Lucia is starting to feel more and more comfortable with Camilo. I thought it was almost cute that Lucrezia has a cougar crush. But it didn't really seem in line with her character to want to buy a lover.

I thought Antolin was going to tell Carolina to get the operation because he wants to marry her. The only thing that will stop this raving lunatic is forming her own family with Antolin. She's really my least favorite character right now. Please, please I hope someone slaps her before the end of the novela.

I wonder what part Judith will play in the end? I have a feeling she might be the one who outs her daddy.
 

All I remember is

Lucrazia wanting to get her some of that Camilo

Toni giving Camilo/Lucia the eye, then cryptically warning Ivan

Merry Piece in bed with Saul.

Caroloca screaming at Antolin/Gerry that Ivan is depraved & doesn't deserve Alex, while they both look at her like WTF? and try to reason with her.

Carmen exposing Alex/Ivan/Maripaz to Saul for $$$.

David & Judith* discovering JJ did some funny business with the association money after JJ rebuked David for telling Cutberto he'd have his insurance check the next day.

Lucia taking Alex to Ivan's house to meet Bruno, then to the hospital to see Ivan.

Ivan asking Alex if he was still Alex's buddy, and Alex saying "I'on't know" and Ivan looking sad.

*Judith is probably the sharpest & most well adjusted out of JJ's 3 legitimate kids, but being female he'd never ever give her a chance. I also laughed when (i think) JJ insulted Judith's driving skills, and Judith laughed & told her mom if there was an accident & JJ died then at least Ester would be a widow.
 

This was a really interesting episode. The JJ embezzling reveal (and JJ not imagining that his children would dare rat on him). Lucia starting to mend bridges between Alex and Ivan. Tony getting a strong hint a about Camilo and Lucia and warning Ivan. Lucrezia deciding that Camilo was a talented and honest agricola tecnica after all and then deciding he was really hot stuff!!!! (Although she looked more like she was having hot flashes)

I just KNEW Saul and Carmen were going to hook up and compare notes and end up being up to no good! Funny that Saul's reaction was to tell his father everything - instead of doing something on his own. Of course his main goal right now is to get back in his father's good graces.

Antolin did not seem to give in to Carolina's strident arguments. Hope he stays firm.

Audrey
 

Judith was kidding, but that doesn't mean that JJ'd death wouldn't be a good thing for her and her mother.
 

Lucrazya's menopausal mood swings are hilarious. I firmly approve of her crush on Camilo, because it will provide such great reactions from Carlota, plus she's sure to thoroughly embarrass herself.

My other favorite part of the episode was when Judith said if JJ died in a crash, bright side is Esther would be a widow, and Esther chided her that it was sinful to say such horrible things but then as soon as Judith and JJ weren't looking she kind of smiled, like "dare I dream?"

I like Antolin's trying to reason with Carolina, but he really stepped in it saying he wanted her to get her eyes fixed to help her give up Alex. Wrong thing to say. Carolina needs a good shrink. Probably Lucia the child psychologist would do...Carolina certainly thinks like a child.
 

Gloria I hope you feel better and thanks Sara for the recap.

Though Lucia did her "child psychology magic," Alex still has to go home to the nut case and have her tell him more bile and untruths (I'm with UA and Hilda that Caro needs corporal punishment in addition to her medical treatment). Since she really did kidnap him, she should only be allowed to be with him when another adult is present.

Julia - yes a child psychologist is right up Caro's immature alley.

Now that Carmen has blabbed, MP will know she's Alex's mom and try to use that as leverage on Ivan.
 

Someone needs to tell Caro that she is just being selfish. Everything she is whining about is about her. "Me, me, me!" She should know that at the end of the day, adding MORE loving adults into Alex's life is a good thing for Alex.

I'm glad Alex's internet search for "depraved" didn't result in a more salacious definition. It might have really scared him away from Ivan.
 

Feel better, Gloria and thanks Sara for your recap, as well as all the others adding to the story.

I find myself getting so frustrated with Caro, she is such a thickhead!!! you would think dealing with her blindness she would be able to come to terms with disappointments.

Ann-NYC
 

I think both Gerry and Antolin have tried telling Carolina that she's wrong. She's too busy whining and crying to hear them. She even asked Antolin to help her escape with Alex again. Luckily he has some smarts and refused. How selfish is she to think this would be good for Alex? And that he wouldn't end up hating her in the end? Someone give her that operation so she can see how blind she's been!

What happens when Lucrezia finds out that her crush Camilo has a crush on Lucia? She's naturally nutty and menopause can't help things. Maybe she can take out her wrath on JJ once she finds out what he's been up to all these years. And that comment from Judith to her mother about being a widow was great. If David can't call his dad out on his stealing, maybe she will. She's 29 and not allowed to get a job. She needs something to keep her occupied.
 

Since the Meandragon kids and wife are starting to display a bit more personality, I thought I'd repost the analysis of their Biblical names and see if they are moving closer to their Biblical namesakes:

Bible: King Saul becomes jealous of David when David becomes more popular among the people and they start to believe he should be King. This is the same little David who slew Goliath. Saul plots to have David killed, but in the end Saul ends up dying on his own sword and David becomes king.

What would this mean for the future of our David and Saul? I think after defeating his demons (his Goliath) David will end up beloved, powerful and victorious and the rightful head of the Mondragon ranch/business. And Saul will meet a bad end.

Bible: Queen Esther hides the fact that she is Jewish from her powerful husband the king. It is only when her people are about to be massacred that she finally gets brave enough to reveal her background to her husband and begs him to spare her people. She succeeds.

Will our scared Esther go against the mighty JJ to save her children?

Bible: Judith is a wealthy and beautiful young widow. During a siege of her town, she undertakes a daring mission to save her people from annihilation. She seduces and then kills the general of the enemy forces by hacking off his head as he lies in a drunken stupor. Her story is a variant on the David and Goliath story, where a seemingly weak person overcomes a person of superior strength by calling on God's help and using cunning and intelligence.

Still not convinced about Judith, but she is starting to become more observant, and snippy. Perhaps she will become cunning.
 

Is there a Juan Jaime in the Bable who comes to a bad end? It's an interesting take on the story. Maybe he'll be the one Judith takes out. They didn't seem to realize she was sitting right there when JJ and David were talking about the stealing and now knows all about it. Not that she should hack off his head of course. Maybe that rattlesnake could come to good use here?
 

Well, it is the King James (Jaime) Bible. But other than fancying himself a king, I don't think JJ has much in common with him. Don't think he has much in common with any Johns (Juan) in the Bible either.
 

Great job reposting the bibilical names of the Mondragon characters Vivi. I like that. Ol John James could be the Goliath or the King that is slain.

It's not that they did not think that Judith was there, they did not care and JJ certainly thinks that she will not do or say anything which is why they talked so openly or they would have made Judith leave the room.

Everyone is right in criticizing Carolina's possesive behavior towards Alex, but just to be a Devil's advocate, in her confused, misguided mind she thinks she is really entitled to keeping him even though she has no blood relation to him because she has nurtured, cared for and loved him since he was a baby for 10 years.

How many of you could really and trully separate the emotional tie to a Son who is not really a son technical or otherwise? If most of the female viewers here were in Carolina's same position, do you think you could easily let go of Alex without having some sense of feeling of loss? Or would you scheme to find a way to have him still in your life? Again, just had to play devil's advocate on that issue. And again, everyone has been right about their comments. We also have to remember that it is easier said than done since we are not in that same position that Carolina is in.


Carmen does not know when to stop. She has been told numerous times to keep her big fat mouth shut and what does she do? She blabs to Saul. Tsk tsk tsk.

I like the part where JJ insulted Judith's driving skills, and Judith laughed & told her mom if there was an accident & JJ died then at least Ester would be a widow. Lol @ Ester saying it is sinful to joke about that. That would be like a Christmas present to the family if it happened.

Ibarramedia
 

If Gerry & Carolina had come clean w/Ivan first came around, he likely would have left Alex in their care without telling anyone that he's Alex's real dad. But Carolina running off w/Ivan makes that less likely.

Judith has always been observant. She was the first one to recognize Ivan when he came back.
 

Good points Ibarramedia. Even in real life you hear of cases where the birth mother changes her mind within a year of giving her baby up for adoption, and the adopted parents fight her tooth and nail in court. Or the parents of a child that was in long-term foster care return. Often, the sympathy is with the adopted/foster parents, and they usually haven't formed a 10 year bond with the child.

I think for me, I was sympathtic the first couple of times she freaked out. But now she's doing emotional harm to the child and tried to kidnap him. And yet she STILL hasn't learned her lesson. That's what's so frustrating. She needs to try a new tactic that will have the best result for the most people, with Alex being the most important.
 

Sorry I missed a few points. I was trying to put something up quick before heading to work and I was going purely on memory.

Hope I didn't step on any toes by posting the in a nutshell recap.
 

OMG Sara. It was perfect.