Caray, Caray!

LA CASA DE AL LADO – viernes
Part 1 of 2

Close, but no cigar!

Adolfmael almost outs Gonzaki to Pilar.
Gonzaki nearly closes Rebeca’s lovely azure eyes forever
Sebastián doesn’t even come close to sweeping Pilar off her feet.
And Carmen gets made by Sebastián sooner than you can say Soy Lucy Chuncler

On the other hand:
Javier Ruiz takes over the center ring of the circus.

The envelope, please
Nibaldo has accepted big bucks to hand-deliver an envelope to Pilar, observe her reaction and report back to Adolfmael con lujo de detalle. In the envelope: the famous Gladview Park snapshot that identifies the three Mora boys – Iñaki (aka Gonzalo), Ismael (aka Adolfo) and Ivan (aka Leonardo).

Nibaldo fends off Javier’s attempt to intercept the envelope. But later Karen grabs it away and won’t give it back but agrees to deliver it and report back to Nibaldo. But Pilar gets home late, and Karen is sooooooo tired. The envelope can wait until morning.

Where in the world is Carmen?
Following the script written by Junior detectives Emilio and Carola, Carmen arrives at Sebastián’s office, tells him she is Anderson Chuncler’s granddaughter, Lucy, and she’s heard he’s been writing books under her grandpa’s name.

Sebastián’s response: Oh, am I supposed to admit writing the books? Is that what Emilio told you to say?

Poor Carmen. That wasn’t in the script! She stumbles: Yes ... er ... no ... Emilio didn’t tell her to say that. Oh that’s right – she doesn’t know any “Emilio”. And she doesn’t know any “Carola” either.

Sebastián manages to talk Carmen into believing his innocence. And when she reports back to Emilio and Carola, these two also begin to doubt ...

Pilar sets Sebastián straight
She wants no misunderstandings between them: whatever his feelings may be, she doesn’t love him. He tells her she was and is the perfect woman. Besides, she can’t depend on Gonzalo. Here, Pilar gets very defensive: it’s just that he’s had a lot of problems lately. Then Sebastián gets grabby (blech) but she pushes him away. “I chose Gonzalo” she tells him and leaves.

Being an ass means never having to say you’re sorry:
Andrea demands an apology from Javier for his latest atrocity. (Which one? You pick.) Since Discúlpame isn’t in his vocabulary, he makes a counter-offer – he’ll throw a party in his new house for Andrea and her friends. Of course Diego and Pilar are also invited!

Pilar successfully persuades Hilda to stick it out a little longer in Javier’s house. And so it is that during the party, she happens to be in the kitchen when Gonzalo sneaks in through the service entrance. She agrees to distract the Nookie Monster, Javier, long enough for Gonzaki to slip upstairs quietly and check on Rebeca. Pilar asked him to do so, he tells the girl.

Javier has been cavorting gaily like a randy old goat in a meadow of nubile maidens. But he takes Hilda’s bait and trots obediently after her...

No one notices Diego who sits alone on the couch and observes Gonzaki climb the staircase...
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO – viernes
Part 2 of 2

This hurts me more than it hurts you
Gonzaki sits beside Rebeca – he is embracing her and about to choke her all at once. He cares for her, he really does ... but he doesn’t want to be Iñaki Mora. He wants to be Gonzalo Ibañez and have a family. He’s sorry ...

Wait! The door to Rebeca’s room opens suddenly and Gonzaki releases Rebeca from his chokehold, thereby sparing her life. The unlikely hero? It’s Diego!

A moment later, another figure enters the room. It’s Javier who, noticing Diego’s absence (really?), has come looking for him. Javier takes in the tableau – Rebeca, Gonzaki and Diego and then pounces on Gonzo. The two take their fight outside the sickroom, and down the corridor. The huge red tongue of the stairway vomits them back into the party, rolling and tumbling and striking out as they go. Finally, Gonzaki heaves Javier over the banquet table and leaves.

Javier stands up, holding his back and obviously in pain, and limps weakly away: Todo bien, he says, waving a dismissive hand at the gawking kids. Que siga la fiesta.

Ignacia tries to change her role in the story
We see her deposit the forged check in her bank account. (Does it really say one million dollars?) Later we see her ask a travel agent for a one-way ticket. Where to? Oh ... somewhere far away.

Other stuff
The water is cut off in Pilar’s house – apparently Javier has carried out his threat to stop paying the bills.

Eva is still trying to talk Emilio out of marrying Hilda and especially in an expensive church wedding.

When Andrea confides to Pilar that Javier’s violence frightens her, Pilar explains that her father can’t control himself.

And the evening’s big tease
or: Never believe the previews!
Rebeca is alone in the darkened room. She shakes her head and removes the oxygen tubing from her nose. We see her bare feet on the floor. She creeps quietly along the corridor, down the long staircase and out the door. She enters la casa de al lado and goes up to her sister’s room. Wake up, she whispers to Pilar. Things aren’t what they seem:
Gonzalo te está mintiendo.
Gonzalo es Iñaki Mora.
Gonzalo es un asesino.

But then we realize the scene was all in Rebeca’s imagination. She lies immobile in that cuerto condenado, a prisoner of her own body.

Later, Pilar confronts Gonzaki: Why, she wants to know, did he go to see Rebeca without telling her first? [Meh. No sweat. If there’s one thing Gonzaki’s good at, it’s thinking on his feet.]
 

LA CASA

NovelaMaven, Outstanding! ...faster than Carmen can say "yo soy Lucy Chuncler". haha. So good, cracked me up!

I don't even know where to start with the party that Javier threw for Andrea. All her friends there and Dad acting the fool, almost a good "white man's dance" that he was pulling off. Dad was truly embarrasing his girl and in a big way.

Gonzalo coming in through the service door was just rich. I'm just full of disbelief every episode, this thing delivers.

Then Javier offering him a copy of the house key, as much as he finds him there he really should have his own set. Good stuff.

Sebastian making his moves muy de cerca with Pilar really was kind of repulsive. This guy doesn't have much game. Kind of gross. lol.

Hombre helped me out with some background regarding Adolfo and Leonardo. I'm still kind of confused...when Pilar sees the photo of all 3 of them, she will realize that Gonzaki is really Inaki? This will prove what? Sorry guys, just still getting a handle on all of it.

I knew Rebeca was dreaming by the reaction of Pilar. Just too obvious the way she accepted seeing her their at the foot of the bed, too casual. I was thinking though during the sequence that led up to that, with the music and the way that she took off the hoses kind of with disgust, I was thinking this could be real...kind of cool. I was thinking they really keep this thing moving quickly, but alas, not to be.
 

FLOR SALVAJE

JM agrees to go see Rocio after work. He brings her flowers. Nice music, nice wine...then he decides against it all and tells her he has to go. Rocio gets right to the point, why are you here then? Why bring me flowers? Why the wine? What does any of this mean then?

And he leaves saying he doesn't want to hurt her. Too late for that. Broke my heart to see Rocio like that.

At the end of the show Rafael shows up at the merendero and starts with letting Amanda know that he normally doesn't bring gossip, but he's going to this time. He implies that Sacramento is having a hard time being a good husband because he's waiting for the birth of his child with another woman.

I think this might backfire on Rafa because there's still the chance that the father of the baby is Rafael.

With Rafaels change lately, I could see this story going another direction, actually putting Cat and Rafa together for a reconcilliation.
 

LA CASA – viernes

Hola Rand! Gracias!

“Hombre helped me out with some background regarding Adolfo and Leonardo. I'm still kind of confused...when Pilar sees the photo of all 3 of them, she will realize that Gonzaki is really Inaki? This will prove what?”

Ismael and Iñaki Mora grew up dreaming of getting even with the Conde family whom they blame for destroying their family. Years ago, Renato – egged on by Eva – falsely accused Igor Mora, the boys’ father, of embezzling funds. Igor was eventually exonerated but unfortunately suffered a debilitating stroke while he was in jail.

Meanwhile Igor’s wife and the mother of his sons, Mabel, abandoned her kids. (We don’t really know why.) The kind-hearted maid took the little boys in to her humble home. She died a few years later and the boys were left on their own.

When the novela begins, the Mora boys have insinuated themselves into the Conde family under their new names. They have vowed to eliminate the family, one by one. So far, however, the Condes have survived while the Mora boys have killed two of their own: father Igor and brother Ivan. And they have hurt and or killed many people associated with the Condes.

The viewer knows that Iñaki has been the brains of the operation. We also have seen him personally commit horrible murders. Some of the characters – especially Carola and Emilio – are convinced of Iñaki’s guilt and strongly suspect that Gonzalo is Iñaki. But only his brother Ismael and his mother Mabel know the truth.

It would be tough for Gonzo if Pilar learned he was really Iñaki but he just might be able to talk his way out of any responsibility for all the mayhem – except for one little detail: Rebeca. Rebeca knows.. That’s why Gonzo is so anxious to silence her permanently.

The truth about Adolfo/Ismael was revealed some time ago. He’d be looked up in jail if it weren’t for the idiot Conde girls letting him escape over and over.
 

MI CORAZÓN INSISTE:
Thank you, Jean, for your on target and FUNNY ("stinking badges"!) recap! Viewer recaps and reactions are treasures for other viewers like me who need summaries and opinions to verify or correct our own interpretations. Too bad TN scriptwriters don't seek input from Caray, Caray! recappers to avoid major plot and editing mistakes that turn off viewers.

MI CORAZÓN is the only TN I'm currently following because of its great cast, mix of lovable saints and scoundrels, and its scary and/or humorous subplots. Because MI CORAZÓN had such strong characters and subplots, but is now foolishly wasting them, I wonder if there were major personnel changes in its production company.

Jean, your Friday recap notes the same flaws I noticed. Also, one of the ladies stupidly threw away Felix's gun, which they should have kept since they obviously lugged him to the back seat of the car. I expected him to wake up and recapture them with his last ounce of strength. Did the ladies tie his hands and leave them tied when they left him in the abandoned car? When we next saw them in a cafe, I wondered if they were simply dreaming in a hot thirsty delirium. Like you, I would like to have seen the ladies glimpse a village down the road and produce cash from their pockets or Felix's wallet or beg from cafe patrons to pay for their order, ladies room primping and Soledad's call to Rodrigo. And what call to Rodrigo? Did Soledad forget about Rodrigo? Anyway, such a call would necessitate Vicky's tearful departure. While I initially wanted her to go to jail for her abuse of the Volcans, I really got to like her and hoped Soledad would help cut a probation-only deal for her. I hope Vicky secretly stays in touch with Soledad. I will miss her even though we're near the end.

Regarding Lola's earlier roadside scuffle with Angel, I'm wondering if she actually tossed the car keys out the car window and into the grass and that's why Angel exploded? That would explain the ladies running into the woods instead of driving off. And maybe Diana didn't grab Angel's gun because she feared he would wake up? Anyway, too bad Diana died -- her Dangerous Curves deserved some jail time. I fear this TN will end with many loose ends about her mysterious history with Tiberio's gang.
--Mary
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO – viernes

awesome recap! tnx, NovelaMaven.

the scene of Inaki intending to kill Rebeca was...mmm... unacceptable! he had many better opportunities to kill her and he didn't do it, he took big risks to keep her alive... now, in front of these many eyes how could he kill her? Hilda - and probably many others - had seen him going upstairs.

I liked the fight scene. todo bien, siga la fiesta... haha
 

MI CORAZON INSISTE:

Thanks for the fine recap, Jean. Mary, here's my opinion about some of the unlikely events. The ladies threw away Felix's gun because they don't like violence. They didn't tie him up. This means that yes, he could still be alive and come back and do some harm. In the cafe, they DID have to beg. They only had coffee, and Vicki charmed the waiter for that, and later thanked him. They tried to call, but Felix's cell battery was out. So I don't think they've called yet. I'm pretty sure Vicki said she didn't want to go to prison, and even rejected Soledad's offer to testify on her behalf, since there's no guarantee she'd stay free. So she's off on her own. However, we may still see her again (I think we will).

Did you notice Soledad said they were both "undocumented"? Who knew? But Vicki said no one would DARE deport HER (since she's so classy).

BTW, I think Rodrigo and Soledad are the moral centers of the novela, even though Rodrigo did have a lapse, when he slept with Sofia (his blindness may have been some kind of divine punishment). But unlike all the other stupid or immature characters (and I'm talking about most of the heroes), these two have shown calm in the face of adversity, intelligence in the face of foolhardiness. I'd like to be more like Rodrigo, warm, steadfast, calm, but never giving up. And Soledad is so good, Vicki was calling her Santa Soledad!
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO:

Great recap, NovelaMaven! I loved Carmen's slipups. I also think the check Ignacia deposited was for One Million dollars. So Javier has that much in his regular checking account? And no one from the bank calls to verify? Javier sure is rich, especially considering that when Renato fired him a few months ago, he said he was ruined, had NO income, and tried to kill himself in a car. Now that Renato's business is kaput, where does Javier get all this money?

And what about Pilar? Can't she get a court order for Javier to pay temporary support, since they're separated? And how was she going to pay Hilda extra if she has no money? Let's not ask these questions.

Alex, you make a good point about Gonzalo risking a lot if he killed Rebeca then. Actually, he thought only Hilda saw him go up the stairs. He didn't know about Diego, and took a glance to make sure all the kids were too preoccupied to notice him. But if he HAD killed Rebeca, MAYBE he could escape out the window and later kill Hilda. However, I agree, he doesn't seem to have thought it out well, so it's better for him that he didn't do it. I agree that he'll probably talk his way out of Pilar's question.

Rand, just to amplify what NovelaMaven said, if Pilar saw the picture of Adolfo, Leonardo and Gonzalo, that might not immediately prove Gonzalo was their brother (she knows their brother's name is Iñaki), but Carola and Emilio could fill in the pieces. And there really is no way (I think) Gonzalo could explain that picture. However, as also explained by NovelaMaven, Gonzalo MIGHT be able to say that even if he IS the brother, Adolfo did all the murders, and he's trying to stop him. Unless, of course Rebeca speaks, because she saw him kill an innocent bystander, and saw the dead body of the real estate lady in his basement. She KNOWS he's a multiple murderer.
 

Mi Corazon
Big thanks to Jean, Mary and H de M for the recap and comments.
I did catch that remark "what if someone picks us up...we're undocumented." Huh? I thought maybe they have already crossed over into Mexico and have no papers, but then minutes later they are sitting in a cafe in the 'burbs (Palm Springs or San Diego?).
Mostly, though, felt sorry for Felix and for Diana's mother.
J in Oregon
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO
Thanksfor the great -as usual--recap, NovelMaven.

Hombre; If Pilar sees the picture then I'm sure Gonzaki will say it's a phony (Ive forgotten what you call it when people cut and paste and make a new composite). And of course, Pilar --the big brain-- will buy it. But it will up the ante re getting rid of Rebeca.
 

Gracias NovelaMaven y Hombre! I appreciate you guys filling in the pieces for me.

This one's a lot of fun. I loved it the other night when Javier played with Karen in Spanglish!
 

FLOR SALVAJE - VIÉRNES

Thanks for keeping the ball rolling, Rand. I agree with what you said about Rocío. I've lost nearly all my respect for José María. He likes Ines as a person and probably sees marrying a person like that as inevitable, even though he really loves Rocío. Actually, there are a few similarities between JM and Enrique. Of course, Enrique would have defied everyone for Alicia if she hadn't been so weak and bought Francisco's insistence that it would never work because of his family's resistance.

Yes, Rafael is definitely changing. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he agreed to let Cat have the hacienda. I thought a big part of his self-esteem was being a landowner. And we got to see him as having had a loving father, a father who is now incapable of recognizing him and in a wheelchair.

Anyway, in another interesting plot point in the war between Rafa and Mariano Guerrero, he moves into the 4P bar and can't be dislodged because he owns the property. Ana is not best pleased to give up hacienda life and starts to whine. He throws her out and tells her to go to one of the casas in the Calle de Consuelo. (I never miss an opportunity to use that phrase; it's such a brilliant euphemism.)

Amanda continues to be unhappy with Sacto. I get the impression that what Rafa said to her in the storeroom resonates. He said that Sacto was trying to suffocate her natural personality. But she observes how much her sisters love him.

Mariano kept his election night promise and closed down the 4P's. The P's are worried about how they will have money to live.

Something Zahra says seems partially true to me. Rafa is mostly motivated by hatred and revenge. He wants Amanda, but almost more than that he wants to completely destroy Mariano. They have a snarling scene in the 4P bar. Rafa warns him against harming Rocío. After Rafa's lawyer shows MG the deeds to the property, MG warns him that, if there's the same kind of thing going on here, he'll knock down the buildings.

Cat chills Mariano out. He's all hot and giggly that they're mostly alone in the hacienda. She shuts him right down, telling him she doesn't mix business with sex.

We see Francisco taking Zahra to Enrique's wedding. They gave us a bit of suspense when it took him a while to say "I do", but he is now well and truly married. I am so enjoying Francisco and Zahra together. I've got my fingers and toes crossed that the "new" Rafa doesn't spoil this for Zahra.

José María tells Manuela that, if his mother refuses to let Sacto run the hacienda, they'll lose it.

I'm not too fond of the Correcaminos/Dudi/Gabriel aspect of the story. The actress playing CC has good comic timing, but the kid is annoying.

Ines is definitely after JM big time. And she's moved into annoying metiche territory for me. When Rocío came to see JM at the clinic, she didn't have the decency to leave the room while they were talking. And she asks him what's wrong between he and his sister and, to top it off, questioned him about his evening with Rocío.

I think the actor playing Rafael Urrieta is fantastic. He gets us all over the map from loathing him to admiring him. I admired what he said to Sacramento. He told him that this "saint" had secrets. When Amanda comes up behind and asks "What secrets?", he says to her: "Your husband, who is ashamed of your past and is insisting on changing you, has made another woman pregnant." Oh boy! Monday should be good.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO - VIÉRNES

NovelaMaven, all praise to you for that hilarious recap. "Nookie Monster", indeed. Varoni is fantastic in this role.

Pilar never fails me; she gives credence to all the blonde jokes ever told. And, while I'm on the subject, why in blue blazes didn't she do what she threatened right off the bat. Go to the police and tell them her sister had been kidnapped. Surely even the "greatest lawyer in the country" wouldn't have more right to a paralyzed patient than her sister, even if only a half sister.

Anyway, she totally infuriated me insisting that Hilda go back there and put up with more sexual harassment.

And, of course, Gonzaki's murder scheme is more full of holes than a colander. He has to ask Hilda to distract Javier. So right there someone knows he's been up there. Guess he doesn't watch CSI or he'd know about those broken blood vessels in the eyes or whatever when someone is strangled.
 

Mi Corazon
Anyone know if Telemundo is broadcasting novelas on Thanksgiving night?
J in Oregon
 

MI CORAZÓN INSISTE PERO MI PACIENCIA ESTÁ HARTANDO

From now on I'll investigate whether the actor playing Ángel is going to appear at any time before committing. If I never see all those teeth again, it will be too soon. I couldn't stand him in Herederos and groaned when he appeared in this one. Pure Parma Ham!

I enjoyed every scene with Vicki and Soledad. And the Spanglish of taibelera for lap dancer was so rich. Her agility definitely came in handy. And their disagreements about what to do about Félix were well acted also. That scene in the coffee shop was very good. Soledad, of course, so happy to be free, did not realize how she was wounding Vicki by rhapsodizing about having her daughter and her granddaughter in her life. I thought Vicki swinging up into that truck cab was perfect. She's back to living by her wits and her ability to seduce men.
 

LA CASA -- viernes

Alex, I liked the fight scene too. And Javier's fake-casual "Party on!" as he hobbled away just cracked me up.

Hombre, de acuerdo. Some questions just shouldn't be asked. Just tighten the old beanie and enjoy the ride -- especially if we're talking about money, law or medicine. And if, in real life, you happen to have any expertise in these areas, check your knowledge at the door please:)

Rand, I wonder how much Miguel Varoni is improvising at this point -- the whole bit about mocking Karen's Spanglish, for example... Does that come from the writers or the actor?

NJ Sue, I didn't even consider Gonzaki claiming that the photo was fake. But since he pretty much lies about everything all the time, why not?

Novelera, If you keep saying things like that, my head will get too big for my beanie and I won't be able to watch anymore.

"Gonzaki's murder scheme is more full of holes than a colander."
Hah! But lucky for us! If these guys were more competent villains, the show would have been over long ago.
 

LA CASA -- lunes

Wow. Javier's performance in the last two days could be used in a training film for psychiatrists -- how to recognize a manic episode that crests and segues into a depression.

Let's see:
Grandiose? Check.
Hypersexual? Check.
Hyperverbal? Check.
Aggressive? Check.
Elevated mood? Check.
Sleeping very little? Check.
Generally inappropriate speech and behavior? Check.

and now:
Turning morose and self-pitying? Check.

I'm curious to see what our trained mental health professionals have to say. At least Pilar says "Javier needs help" and not the kind Gonzalo can provide (although some might disagree -- Gonazolo's special gift would be just the ticket here.) And she heads off to consult el creepo, Dr. Sebastián...
 

MI CORAZON INSISTE - lunes

We lurch along toward the end of this novela. My DVR says that there won't be an episode on Thanksgiving but there will be one on Friday. I have not seen any promos for an exciting gran finale so I assume we are going to have a pretty low-key one.

Like some other commenters, I would have thought that making a call to say that she was free would have been the first thing Soledad did, before, say, having a coffee but I guess not. After Vicky leaves, Soledad tries to borrow a phone. The waitress tells her to leave and it is only when her picture comes on TV identified as a kidnap victim (how lucky was that?) that she is able to make a call.

Rodrigo and Andres come north from Mexico and there is a joyous reunion, then Soledad faints. Rodrio whisks her off to LA leaving Andres in Mexico and hoping he isn't going to let his frustration get the better of his judgment.

Meanwhile, Lola implements a plan to get rescued. She bucks up Marcosito's confidence, coaches him on what to do, gives him a compass that she conveniently finds in a drawer and sends him out the window to go north to find a policeman or a priest. Pretty risky and it wasn't clear why if Marcos could get out of the window, she couldn't but maybe Lola believes that she has to stick around because of the threat to Soledad.

Angel sure is a failure as a crime boss. He is is furious that Felix hasn't called and he starts drinking. He is about to exercise his marital rights with Lola when he discovers that Marcosito has escaped. He has to pay the coyote to get some guys to search for the kid.

Soledad confesses to Rodrigo that Tiberio made her have sex with him and Rodrigo confesses to Soledad that he had sex with Sofia. They forgive each other (not that Soledad has done anything that requires forgiveness - what Tiberio did is called rape) but whatever.

There are more happy reunions at Lola's house and Soledad gets to meet her granddaugher.

The Mexican police tell Rodrigo that they are willing to cooperate in a raid on Angel's Tijuana hideout.

In the final scene, Marcosito goes into a church and says his piece to a priest.
 

LA CASA - LUNES

Thanks for your great checklist of Javier's DSM-IV symptoms.

¿Qué¿ We see Karen calling the police while Javier is trying to break into his former casa. But do they come so that a rape can be reported? They do not.

Sebastian continues to look honest at times and sneaky at times.

Frankly, I was surprised Pilar didn't try to talk Hilda into going back to care for Rebeca. It might work out if she were given an illegal Taser.

I'm sure Ignacia is going to cave and stay with her bi-polar buddy. Except apparently has bank hasn't contacted him about the $1 million check that cleared his account. I suspect my bank would give me a call. This is sure to dampen his enthusiasm for Iggy.

I'm pretty tired of Gonzaki managing to leap against the fence and catch the almost home run hit by his brother. Karen has told her that Gonzaki took an envelope from her that had a photo in it. Will Pilar figure it out? Nah!
 

MI CORAZON INSISTE:

Jean, thanks for the excellent recap, especially pointing out many of the unrealistic things the writers threw in. A compass just happens to be in the drawer? C'mon, man!

When we first saw Marcosito he was sort of autistic. Then he perked up a bit, and I think Sofia said he had ADD. But now that he has no problems (yeah right, what about mother shot in front of his eyes and he's a prisoner?), he's basically fine, easily capable of going off by himself, and telling the whole story to a priest. Okay.....

I agree, Soledad's getting raped by Tiberio is nothing like what Rodrigo did, but as long as they're both happy, I'm happy. Of course Rodrigo needn't have worried. If Soledad could forgive and try to save Felix, she could forgive anything!
 

MI CORAZÓN INSISTE - LUNES

Great recap, Jean! Lurching along, indeed. I actually did see a promo for Gran Final.

It would have been refreshing if Ángel had NOT tried to jump Lola's bones. Has there EVER been a villain that wasn't a rapist?

I enjoyed Soledad's reunion with Rodrigo and meeting the grandchild. It was pretty funny the kid burst into tears at the sight of her. But I guess she would, never having seen her before. I agree that Sole had nothing to apologize for, but, as Vicki said, Santa Soledad always goes the extra mile.

Marquitos did a great job. I hope the priest believes him. Ángel is truly depraved, telling his hired thug to bring him back alive or dead.
 

LA CASA -- lune

Yes, Novelera, Ignacia's not known for her steely willpower, is she?

Of all the roles in this story, Siachoque's Iggy has to be among the most thankless -- striking that same emotional note over and over. It works, sort of, the first few times but now I have to stop myself from throwing the remote at the screen. That plaintive beating of the breast -- man, a little goes a very long way.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO:

I loved your analysis NovelaMaven, and Novelera, your comments made me laugh out loud. Lots of craziness going on.

I'm starting to hate Emilio. How can he be so sure Gonzalo is not Iñaki Mora? He really jumps to conclusions (and is usually wrong).

Javier really knows how to step in it. I don't care what stresses or problems he has, there's no excuse when he grabs Hilda outside Rebeca's room, starts ripping her clothes, lowers his pants, and tries to rape her! Diego shows up, sees it all, shocking Javier, and Hilda and Diego run next door, as Karen slams the door shut.

But Javier isn't through. He smashes his hand through the glass part of the door, grabbing Hilda (who was right behind it) by the throat, and starts trying to choke her. She breaks free, Javier realizes what he's done, and staggers away, his arm and wrist filled with glass fragments, which he later painfully tries to get out. A doctor later wraps the arm.

Yes, the police are called for the break-in, not for the rape. Well, Diego is a kid, and didn't tell Karen about the rape. Hilda also is hesitant as usual, and only later tells anyone, and it's Pilar. Pilar tells Hilda she's not at fault, not to worry. As to whether Pilar will actually do anything against Javier, such as filing charges or reporting it, no way (I'm guessing). She'll probably just rant at Javier, and may not tell Gonzalo the hollow, or Sebastian, the bastion of righteousness.

Yes, Gonzo almost gets out of everything. Karen never does get around to giving the envelope with the dreaded photo to Pilar, since Adolfo stupidly brags to Mabel, who then calls Gonzalo to warn him about the envelope. Gonzo uses intimidation to get it from Karen, and after discovering the photo, he breathes a sigh of relief. He's still prepared for major problems with Pilar, since he never really answered her question about why he visited Rebeca. But since Emilio the fool tells Pilar Gonzo is totally innocent, she asks his forgiveness, and he gets off the hook again.

Except that Gonzo dropped the envelope on the floor, and explains that HE wrote Pilar a letter, but destroyed it. This doesn't sound so good when Karen later tells Pilar she's so sorry she didn't give her that envelope she was supposed to deliver in person, and that Don Gonzalo took from her. Hmmmm.

Gonzo knows Nibaldo gave Karen the envelope, and may take out some rage on him. Adolfo may, too. Look out, Nibaldo!

Carola is getting desperate, and Carmen goes to bring Eva to see her. We don't know what this is all about.

Javier is so distraught, and although Ignacia says she's leaving, he says over and over again, Te amo, so she'll probably stay. But as others have pointed out, what about that little matter of a $1 million check?!!
 

LA CASA - lunes

what about the V sent to Sebastian? who has sent it? what does it mean?

this time, it was Mabel who saved Gonzaki. little by little we know her and her complicated feelings better.

"We see Karen calling the police... But do they come so that a rape can be reported [and Javier be arrested]? They do not. "
now we know why the characters in this show don't call the police: the police don't pay attention to them! haha
 

LA CASA -- lunes

Hombre, wonderful recap, as usual! Thank you!

You know Karen not only blabbed to Pilar about the envelope but told her that it appeared there was a photo inside -- a photo that she (Pilar) wasn't supposed to see.

Alex, yes you're right. What about the mysterious "V"?

And I was also struck by the fact that Mabel stood up for Iñaki this time -- a fact which caused jealous Ismael no end of grief.

One moment I found very sweet:
Hilda thanks Diego for saving her and Diego apologizes to her for his father's behavior. Then the two hug, comforting each other.

I also found myself, just for a moment, buying into Gonzaki's plea to Pilar to go away, leave the country with the kids and start over, leaving all their emotional baggage behind. Reality check:
1. Pilar would never leave Rebeca.
2. Gonzaki is doomed. He is who he is; he has done what he has done; and there's no place on earth that will free him from his nightmares and the voices in his head.
 

LA CASA

Hombre, tnx for the great recap.

"I'm starting to hate Emilio. How can he be so sure Gonzalo is not Iñaki Mora? "
actually he shouldn't suspect Gonzo of being Iñaki Mora, since he had many opportunities to kill them all and he never hurt the Condes seriously but helped them in many ways.
 

LA CASA - lunes

"I also found myself, just for a moment, buying into Gonzaki's plea to Pilar to go away..."
me too! Gonzo may get rid of Inaki after some psychological treatment but you know the viewers are thirsty for "justice". no matter that Inaki is a victim himself, the viewers want him to pay for what he has done.
 

La Casa -- lunes

"Gonzo may get rid of Inaki after some psychological treatment but you know the viewers are thirsty for "justice". no matter that Inaki is a victim himself, the viewers want him to pay for what he has done."

I don't know ... I think Gonzo carries his demons inside himself and I doubt that any treatment in this world could free him from his torment.

Are the viewers calling for Gonzaki's blood? Me, I have to be reminded of the terrible things he's done to muster up any righteous indignation. On the other hand, I'd love to see the SOB's like Javier and Nibaldo rotting in jail.
 

FLOR SALVAJE – LUNES

We begin with Rafa at the door of the merendero looking self-satisfied because he thinks he’s ruined Sacramento and Amanda’s marriage with the news of Cat’s pregnancy. Amanda says that what happened with Cat was before she married him, so what’s the problem. She’s sticking by her man. Then he brings up Sacramento getting Mariano to send cops, what he calls allying himself with the man who killed her brother.

Piruetas reports to Francisco that Alicia is in a bad way, and it would not be safe to go where she is.

Amanda tells Sacto that she WAS hurt by the news of Cat’s pregnancy, but she wasn’t going to give Rafa the satisfaction of seeing that. Later on they have a scene where Amanda tells him he ought to go be with Cat and raise their child.

Ana is bustling about the 4P’s making it “ homey” for Rafa. What a dunce she is! She lies to one of the P’s telling her he may not show it in front of others, but when they are alone he treats her much better than he ever treated her sister!

I like Sacto less and less. He’s trying to justify his not telling her about the pregnancy by equating it with her not telling him Rafa had been to the merendero. Right. Concealing a pregnancy is, of course, just the same as not telling him about a visit from an old boyfriend! She points out that she trusted him and realized he hadn’t been unfaithful whereas he thought she’d made love with Rafa during his visit. Again: Perdóname.

We have another excellent scene with Rafa and Zahra. I love these two pros together. Zahra wonders why he’s chosen to live at the bar. He tells her the women here don’t betray him. He tells her Cat is pregnant. She says: Well, you’ve gotten what you always wanted. You scorned our child and made me abort because you only wanted a legitimate son with your wife. He replies: Mira, Zahra, la vida se encargó de cobrarse todo lo que hice. Porque es verdad que Catalina espera un hijo, pero de otro hombre. He tries to kiss Zahra, and she says she’s gotten what she’s waited for. He’s near her and she feels nothing. Unlike his usual behavior, he says: Te deje y te deje ir, so it looks like she’s safe with Francisco. But he tells her he won’t ever let Flor go.

Francisco goes to Timotes and is asking about Alicia when El Asqueroso appears and seems to feel that any woman on the streets has to have him negotiate for her. He describes Alicia and promises to pay big bucks. We see Enrique on his honeymoon, seemingly content until he sees a woman who looks like Alicia from the back. Diana tells her mother-in-law over the phone that she’s sure he’s over “that woman”.

More excellent acting from the woman playing Alicia. When Francisco shows up in her room, she rages at him, telling him he won’t put a finger on her. She won’t listen to his desire to take her back to Nueva Esperanza and even thinks he’s going to try to take the last portrait. It’s so sad. Francisco’s eyes appear to glitter with tears in the doorway.

Manuela puts her foot down with Frigida. She tells her no one but Sacto can run the hacienda, that it’s in the will. And that she’s tired of letting her get away with this behavior. Yeah!

There’s a big fire at the merendero. The firefighters find drugs in the storeroom. When Abelardo tells El Asqueroso about the fire, he completely freaks out. He says the cartel guys will kill them all. When the firefighters go away, Amanda tells Sacto that Abelardo and Alicia had put drugs in there. Sacto predictably starts ragging on her about befriending Alicia. The cops say he’s under arrest. When the drug distributors show up, El Asqueroso points the finger at Abelardo and Alicia saying it was their fault.
 

La Casa - lunes

NovelaMaven, I agree with you. (add Sebastian to that black list - even if he is innocent! haha)
personally, I'd like Gonzo to be redeemed somehow but as you said there is no way. he has done what he has done.
 

LA CASA - LUNES

I have no use for Gonzaki. His only apparently redeeming trait is that he loves Pilar. And, in the service of that love, he was willing to kill Rebeca. And would have done so if Diego hadn't shown up. He didn't kill her in the cellar because he wanted her to write a letter admitting to embezzling Renato's money and leaving the country. This was also about Pilar. Pilar wanted to have Rebeca in her life and nearby. She was never going to let go of that. So he needed that letter to convince Pilar Rebeca could not return to Miami. I'm pretty sure she was going to be killed after she wrote it. Otherwise, she'd just show up and tell everyone he was Iñaki Mora eventually anyway.

He also killed wonderful Matías in cold blood.

And putting that hypodermic syringe into a man in a wheelchair, whether he thought he was his father or not, that's it for me.

But then, maybe spending the rest of his life looking at slack-jawed, bug-eyed Pilar, who oscillates between doormat and stone killer would be an appropriate punishment for him. And then there's high-maintenance Andrea. Yep, if I were him I'd choose a super-max prison.
 

La Casa -- lunes

"(add Sebastian to that black list - even if he is innocent! haha)"

Oh yes, Alex, let's -- especially if he's innocent -- just for being insoportable.

Novelera, every word you say is true. Gonzaki is a monster. So was, say, Tony Soprano. But both are interesting and even, at times, sympathetic characters.
 

FLOR SALVAJE

Novelera, great job! You're right, the scene with Zhara and Rafa was really good. I liked when she told him that she liked being able to have him so close and not feel a thing.

The scene with Alicia and Tio Pancho was really, really good. When she saw him eye the painting and immediately ran for it and hugged it as she shook needing her fix, very convincing, like she would have gave her life to keep the only thing left of Enrique. Powerful indeed.


LA CASA

NovelaMaven, the Spanglish stuff has me cracking up. Especially Monday when Karen used espooky! describing Gonzos face haha. I think you're on to something though, most likely Varoni is just going with it, witty and funny.

I could not believe I was watching Javier pull his pants off as he was ripping Hildas clothes off, then the look on his face as Diego stopped him, couldn't believe that was actually happening! And no rape intent charges??

There's so much crazy going on in any given moment in this one that the characters just have to let it happen and move on to the next bit. Amazing.
 

MI CORAZÓN INSISTE - martes

Only have time for a quickie but as usual, not that much happened.

Marcosito executed the plan beautifully even if he gave his lines rather robotically. Andres gets to the church just in time; one of Ángel's guys is there as well. [Wouldn't it have made more sense for the priest to have taken the kid into the rectory, given him something to eat and be safer from bad guys instead of leaving him to sleep on a hard pew in the Church?]

Andres calls Marcosito his son and gets info from him on the location of the ranchero. Then the American consul arrives to take Marcos to his grandmother. So it doesn't look like either kid, Marcosito or Chabelita will figure in the gran finale.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo is dilly dallying in LA with Soledad. We get the meeting between Soledad and Sofía. I wasn't paying that close attention (I was making Cognac ice cream - mmm!) but it appeared that Soledad made it clear that she doesn't harbor any resentment.

Rodrigo displays macho tendencies by refusing to let Soledad go with him back to Mexico. She actually spent a lot of time in this house. Her information could be very useful, but no.

Ángel makes another attempt to rape Lola but is interrupted by the call from his henchman to report that the kid has been found. This time he ties her up.

Lola tries to enlist the sympathies of the woman in the house who does the cooking and cleaning. She is too afraid to let Lola free but she does tell Lola what she learned from TV reporting - that Soledad has escaped.

Ángel calls in a favor from some other criminal and borrows some armed guys. He goes to the Church where Marcosito is waiting just in time to see Andres come and get him. Ángel offers his henchman a lot of money to bring him Andres' head. The bad guys shoot up Andres' bed in the hotel but he isn't there.

Andres has ignored all the cautions and good advice Rodrigo gave him and has found the rancho where Lola is being held.

Finally, Mora calls Rodrigo is who driving down to Mexico and tells him that they have extracted the numbers from Félix's cell phone. Rodrigo concludes that the most frequently called number is Ángel's. He calls it on his cell phone. [Unless Rodrigo has some fancy phone that can pretend to be a different phone, they made a little boo boo here because Ángel answers as if the caller ID showed that it was Félix who was calling, which it wouldn't since it was coming from Rodrigo's phone.}

Rodrigo tells Ángel that Felix is dead, Soledad has escaped and he, Rodrigo, is coming to get Ángel. Naturally, Ángel is really p*ssed.
 

MI CORAZON INSISTE:

Thanks for another great recap, Jean! My mouth is watering thinking about that cognac ice cream, too!

I was wondering why Rodrigo didn't just call Andres on his cell to tell him the Mexican authorities have given the green light, and they're on their way. But of course we need some more heroics from Andres first. Lola's bonds don't look too secure - she may be able to wriggle her slim wrists out.

The lady bringing her the food was the same one who fought with Soledad months ago (they even showed the flashback). She was surprised when Lola said she could go to jail. I understand why she's reluctant to do anything now, but she certainly has been working for the bad guys long enough to know the consequences.

Daniel wasn't in any of this episode. I wonder if he is going to figure in the finale, too, or just remain on the sidelines, and join up with Adelita at the end.

I think the gran finale is Monday night.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO:

Although there wasn't much action, there were several themes, so borrowing from NovelaMaven's style, we have:

FOLLOW THE MONEY:

Nibaldo feels bad about all the money he got from Adolfo to deliver that letter to Pilar, especially since he screwed up, and Pilar didn't get it (she's still suspicious about it though, after some revelations from Karen and Emilio). So Nibaldo gives the money to Renato, to help the family. Renato doesn't want it, thinks Nibaldo is Adolfo's accomplice, but when that's cleared up, he takes it. He then gives it to Carola's mother. Wouldn't it be fun if the money was stolen or marked, and Carola herself got in trouble for it?

THE MYSTERY OF THE LETTERS:

Sebastian got that envelope with a V, and after he finds his apartment trashed, and a big "E" painted on the wall, I'm thinking "venganza" (revenge). The next letter is a big painted N in his office. Yes! Well, no, because he then gets an email with another "E". VENE.... veneno? I'm stumped.

CRYING GAME:

Adolfmael cries to his mother, nobody loves me, my revenge plan doesn't make sense now that Igor is dead, don't you love me? Nope, replies Mabel. Javier cries to Ignacia, don't leave me, help me to change. She leaves anyway, then goes to her father, Renato, and cries to him. Boo hoo!

NIBALDO the punching bag: Sure he's not innocent, but I have a little sympathy for him, as first Gonzalo lays into him about the letter, then Renato, and at the end of the episode, Adolfo holds a gun to his head. What's a manservant with a cool blue truck-car to do?
 

La Casa -- martes

Thanks for the excellent job, Hombre. Headings or not, the style is unmistakably your own.

I was also absolutely sure after V + E that it would spell VENGANZA...bwahahaha. Faked out! Venezia? Venezuela? Venerable Bede? Maybe not.

Add to the weepers -- remorseful Gonzaki with his "I don't want to be Iñaki -- I'm Gonzalo"..."Pilar fell in love with my essence (espiritu) and my heart" soliloquy.

All telenovela writers -- and viewers -- love their parallel scenes and dilemmas, especially the smaller, less obvious ones. I liked the juxtaposition of Hilda's continued rejection of her daughter with Mabel's continued rejection of her sons. In both cases, the reason is obscure. Both mothers are conflicted but feel they have to hide their true feelings. I wonder if this is one loose end that will get tied before we're done. I hope so.
 

La Casa - martes

tnx for the recap, Hombre. great job as always.

I wonder what excuse Gonzo will come up with this time! thanks to his luck Pilar is too forgetful to recall that Rebeca had disappeared after seeing "a foto".
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO: TUESDAY
Interesting comments abut last night's show. I think the two main themes, as pointed out, were unloved men feeling the emptiness, and the whole concept of mothering.

Carola was feeling depressed and missing her parents. Carmen got the Condes to come over to cheer her up (good mothering). Eva uncharacteristically was warm and nurturing, while Renato, upset to learn that Carmen is Carola's biological mother, was upset and gave Carola no support,and abruptly left because he couldnt handle it. Again, uncharacteristically, Eva assured Carola that she would bring him around. (Good mothering on Eva's part). Mabel was downright sadistic when Ismael asked for some confirmation of her love and caring. What's her problem??!! Ditto for Hilda. I like Emilio because whatever else you have to say about him, he is caring and nurturing towards his hija --almost like he plays the mothering role. Interestingly, one of the reasons Ignacia gives for rejecting Javier is that she has to protect herself and HER HIJO. Ignacia returns to the Condes and begs for their protection. I felt she was more concerned --for once-- for her hijo rather than for herself.

And finally Pilar...she talks a good game about her children, but except for running around like a chicken without a head what does she give them at this juncture? The way her character is written in such a disappointment, and her acting doesn't help things either.

There is no way any of the male characters can escaqpe their existential despair and dilemmas. It will be interesting to see how things develop...
 

MI CORAZON:
Thanks, Jean and Hombre! This episode had more holes. The bright staging in the church had me wondering why Marcos, the priest and Andres didn't notice Angel and his new recruit glaring at them from behind the candles nearby. I thought there was going to be a shoot-out in the church.

Then the ranch's housekeeper laid down a tray of food for Lola, and no wonder Lola kicked it over -- her hands were tied behind her to the bed post! While Lola is agile, I don't think she's a contortionist who can eat with her feet!

This finale would work better if Angel and Diana embezzled money from Exportex, Lola's gym and foundation and suddenly fled to the Cayman Islands for an international police cat and mouse showdown.
--Mary
 

LA CASA - MARTES

Late to the party. Ignacia completely surprised me. I was sure Javier's puppy dog eyes would convince her. I liked the way she refused him: maybe a month ago I would have done so (stayed), maybe a week ago, maybe days ago. But now? It's too late.

Hilda's character has been written so oddly. What's up with giggling and showing catalogs and inviting the folks from Zacatecas to the boda de su sueños if you're marrying the doting father of the kid you won't even look at? What did she think was going to happen after the boda? That Emilio was going to drop the kid off at the Salvation Army?
 

FLOR SALVAJE - MARTES

Amanda goes to see Cat asking for her help getting Sacto out. Cat is incredibly insulting. When Amanda tells her Sacto's in jail for drugs and it's her fault, Cat says that, of course, prostitutes and drugs go hand in hand. She says she can't understand why Sacto picked someone like Amanda instead of her. [Maybe it's that deep well of nastiness and the fact that you tried twice to murder your husband.]

The big drug wholesalers have El Asqueroso, Alicia and Abelardo prisoner to figure out what to do with them.

Enrique is becoming less and less likeable. He seems to be constantly speaking sarcastically to Diana. He calls her a diosa after she's offered to do something nice for him. But I don't think he means it. Later he calls her Alicia in bed!

Rafa decides to have a party in the 4P bar. Quezada shows up, but there's nothing he can do. No flesh is being sold; they're just having a party.

After having gone to Cat to plead for Sacto, Amanda goes to the 4P bar and manages to peek in. She looks just as Ana has draped herself all over Rafa in his hammock. The P's are putting on a dancing and singing show. Amanda cries and eventually lets out a sob that alerts Rafa.

José María comes to the jail and after much back and forth, convinces Sacto to take over running the hacienda, despite Frigida's awful persona.

Manuela tells Frigida that they'll have to let the cook go because the hacienda isn't producing any revenue. She tells her she will HAVE to let Sacto run it because JM won't permit anyone else to do so.

Rafael is delighted to clap eyes on Amanda and tells her she's made his night happy. She tells him she's come to see Ana. She would take her away if he weren't lying to her. Rafa (truthfully) tells her Ana is there because she wants to be. He smiles and says he thinks she's jealous. She replies that he's a murderer and she hates him. He says he'd kill for her. She tells him she would not give up her happiness with Sacramento to be with him. Then he tells her he'll have to eliminate him, just like he did with Pablo. She rushes him, hitting out. He tells her that if Sacto is so important, she should be with him; it's the only way to stop him. He tells her all her hate will turn to love once she becomes his woman again. He grabs her for a kiss. She bites him, and we see blood.

Rafa is in a foul mood and tells everyone to leave the party.

We won't have El Asqueroso to kick around any more. The cartel guys kill him, but Alicia and Abelardo escape after two rival gangs shoot it out in the warehouse where they were tied up.

Zahra sees Amanda in the street and has her come into her house. Amanda tells Z how bad Alicia is. Zahra appears to feel guilty and wants to help. Amanda says that she has a dark destiny. Everyone she is close to is ruined. Sacramento deserves a better life sin esta oscuridad que me persigue.

When Ana returns, Rafa tells her her sister was here. He can't forget her. He needs her near him. He tells Ana to dress like her sister, walk like her sister, dance like her sister, wear the same perfume, to copy her. En una noche tú serás mi flor salvaje

When Zahra tries to enlist Francisco to get Alicia, he tells her he was already there. She was so bad off that maybe it's better if Enrique stays with Diana.

Correcaminos has gotten the job as cashier at Dudi's store.

Catalina has gotten Sacto out of jail.
 

Mi Corazon
This novela is ending with a whimper.
I agree with Mary that the finale should should be taking place at Angel and Lola's "honeymoon" location in the Caymans. I also thought we would have a baby kidnapping, a rehab relapse, and a reunion between Rodrigo and Soledad with bullets flying. Oh well. I also thought Felix deserved better than to die off-camera. Hoping the writers give us some surprises at the end, at least.
J in Oregon
 

Mi Corazon--miercoles

What is with the orange juice?? Did I miss something when I was fast forwarding (which I do more and more of recently...)? It must be more gratuitous product placement...

I have another case of Adela/Daniel whiplash. Weren't they just all lovey-dovey when everyone was watching the televised hostage situation? Suddenly we're back to Daniel begging for attention and Adela playing coy. Sheesh. They really are dragging this thing out, arent they?

I'm really missing Vicky too :( Loved her spunk!

Another Amy
 

Feliz dia de pavo!!! y pastel de calabaza :))))
 

Mi Corazon
Another Amy: I love it--the Adelita/Daniel "whiplash"...Yup, they were all smiley and chatting, and when we came back from commercial break, they were both all pouty again. ???
About that orange juice--I have seen other novelas where there was always a large pitcher of glowing nuclear-pink juice on the table at every meal. Maybe it's supposed to make them look healthy.
Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!
J in Oregon
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO:

¡Feliz día de acción de gracias!

Our show wasn't too happy, though. Especially for Nibaldo. Adolfo, filled with rage, rejected by his mother, and quite a bit unbalanced, takes it out on Nibaldo. He accosts him at gunpoint, ties his hands behind his back and puts a hood over his head. Back at the sótano de muerte, he removes the hood, yells at Nibaldo for messing up the delivery of the envelope. He was supposed to deliver it to Pilar in person! And see her reaction! Adolfo punches Nibaldo several times, bloodying his face. He kicks him without mercy. He then aims the gun at prone Nibaldo's heart, and pulls the trigger! It appears (but is not certain) that Nibaldo is DEAD, and Adolfo later dumps him on a lawn somewhere.

Mabel had pleaded with Gonzaki to speak to his brother, who was really losing it, feeling abandoned. Gonzaki retorts, "Looks who's talking about abandoned, after what you did to your three sons!" Gonzaki has bigger problems to tend to.

He actually admits to Pilar that he is Adolfo's brother, but she doesn't believe him! He says, if you don't trust me, it's over, and walks out. This means she has to represent herself at the abuse hearing. She goes there, looking lost (as usual), but Gonzo does show up, he'll help with the case, but as for their relationship, he just can't do it anymore! Javier does NOT show up at the hearing, and the judge postpones the case for one week. If Javier doesn't show the next time, he goes to jail.

Javier is also feeling alone. Nibaldo's nowhere to be found, Ignacia left, and that Hilda thing didn't work out too well. Pilar shows up, but her new idea is this: She'll live in this house (in Ignacia's old room), to take care of Rebeca. She'll also help Javier take care of his cut arm. She's determined to take charge of things. And no, she's not stopping the case or forgiving him. And he'd better restore the water next door for those kids, cuanto antes!

Guess what? I actually was right that vene was the start of veneno, or poison. It turns out the book Condenados has a chapter on a family friend, who strongly resembles Sebastián, who gets poisoned! Seb's not happy when he gets this info. But the biggest surprise is that now we know who wrote Condenados. Renato!!!! What?! Yes, we see him checking out a big new shipment of the books. And later, Eva's face makes me think SHE might know about this, too!

This doesn't mean for sure he's Anderson Chuncler, and he might not have written LA CASA DE AL LADO, but WOW! I can't begin to explain his motives. What do you all think?
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO/wednesday
Great summary, Hombre. Thanks.

I agree that Eva looked like she knew. There was some speculation that a woman could be the author (between Emilio and Sebastian). Could it be Eva?(I seem to recall that she met Matias at a book signing). Or Eva and Renato, and Renato just arranging the printing of the books?

As for motivation, I can't think of any --unless they were trying to flush out the real murderer/s. Or scare their kids into more vigilant behavior... Or maybe in the end, neither wrote the book, but they are involveed in having it circulated --for whatever reason. With LA CASA who can say? What do you think, Hombre?

Happy Thanksgiving All!
 

MI CORAZON:
Another Amy and J, I noticed the orange juice too! -- it must be squeezed from Telemundo's FLORIDA orange grower sponsors. And don't forget the orange Lola couldn't eat because her hands were tied! Etelvina regularly brought her orange juice when she was pregnant.

Speaking of Etelvina, Pepe finally hit on her and almost kissed her, but someone (Adelita?) came into the room. I also noticed that Pepe's mustache matched Etelvina's! I hope there's time for Etelvina to get a makeover -- the actress who plays her is normally glamorous.

Why isn't there a major international police SWAT search for kingpin Angel and kidnapped Lola instead of lone Andres lurking in the bushes? I'm guessing that the production company ran out of money and couldn't afford such scenes, which is precisely why the scriptwriters should have had Tiberio's gang quietly EMBEZZLE ala Madoff instead of shooting everything that moves. Such carnage demands budget-busting city and border lock down responses, whereas white collar corporate and banking crimes go unpunished for decades and would be very timely for a smart TN subplot.

Imagine instead that Lola and Andres discover that not only were they both respectively jilted at the altars by Angel and Diana, but also their respective companies were completely looted, their mansions foreclosed, and their vehicles repossessed. Because Angel and Diana finally hacked into their various accounts, forced or scam marriages to Lola and Andres are no longer necessary. Moreover, the police aren't interested because there aren't enough dead bodies. Lola and Andres team up and pool their pocket money to hunt Angel and Diana in the Cayman Islands. What they discover is worse than what they imagined -- while Angel and Diana are enjoying their lavish 10-year-delayed honeymoon on Lola and Andres' dineros, Debora is dividing her affections between Tiberio, Marcelo and Angel, and Diana is Tiberio's OTHER daughter!

Andres is also pissed that Debora and Marcelo made him do jail time for Debora's non-fatal attack on Marcelo. Lola and Andres disguise themselves with more than mousse and lopsided wigs and get jobs (or stolen hotel uniforms) in the resort to collect enough evidence for the showdown arrests and rescue of Soledad. Lola and Andres cleverly turn tables on the gang by leaving or planting evidence of everyone's cheating. Marcelo's hitting on Diana enrages Angel, and Angel's hitting on Debora enrages Diana, while divorced moll Carmen and demoted moll/servant Vicky are aghast at the catfighting Lola's "inept" housekeeping causes between Debora and Diana (Soledad smirks over this when she's not gagged).

Meanwhile, Rodrigo uses the pictures, etc. from Lola and Andres to convince DEA and Interpol officials to plant wired undercover "wealthy tourists" at the same hotel for a financial sting on Tiberio's gang. Since Ramon, Vicky and Felix aren't treated well by Tiberio's gang, they start feeding info to Lola and Andres and cut snitch deals with authorities.

I also wouldn't kill off Lola's husbands -- divorced Dr. "Blue Pills" should be on the lam in Spain, secretly pestering Etelvina for "care packages" and divorced Apolo, saved by Andres, gratefully retains Lola and Camilo as his managers. Daniel sticks with non-dead Veronica and Adelita has her wedding with non-dead Lopez.
--Mary
 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I have the beginnings of a Flor Salvaje recap, but I gotta hit the road soon. So that recap may not be up until tomorrow.

My plan this year was to get up early, make the stuffing, stuff the turkey, put it in my roasting pan, and drive to my son's (1.5 hours away), put it in their oven. In prior years I've slept badly on a blow up mattress, occasionally licked on the face by one of their four dogs, and did the same thing at THEIR HOUSE. [My daughter-in-law is a terrible cook, and all the family, plus their usual guests rave on and on about my stuffing, so I'm trapped.]

LA CASA

My theory is that maybe Renato re-wrote Condenados, taking out the part about Ignacia being killed for sure, and planned to replace the earlier editions to spare his family. Did I mention I really like Renato?

Javier, Javier. He manages to stir from the deepest depression to put a move on Pilar. He's already declared that he really loves Ignacia, but the sight of any female between the ages of 16 and 60 sends his testosterone level through the roof.
 

Mi Corazon
I got one paragraph into the above alternate-plot scenario and said Aha! That sounds like Mary's fertile brain!
Indeed, I'm sorry I didn't wait and read it tonite (Thursday), it would have made a nice fill-in for the missing episode.
One other possibility I would have liked to see: when Vicky leaves Soledad and goes hitchhiking to her new life, she is picked up by her secret admirer, Felix, who has recovered and stolen a truck. They drive off into the sunset, bickering like an old married couple.
:o)
J in Oregon
 

Mi Corazon:
J, I like your ending too! Vicky's new vagabond life with strange truckers after losing her husband, daughter and financial security looked awfully bleak. Felix could win her back by admitting that Angel, not he, shot Ramon. I don't like how he died off-camera either.
--Mary
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

Hombre, tnx for another great recap

wow! Gonzaki very clearly said that he is Inaki Mora! but Pilar doesn't want to see what is before her eyes.

I really can't guess what Renato's motives are to write a scary book about his own family! and killing his favorite daughter... It must be a red herring.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO -- miércoles

Buen día a todos! I hope you all had a lovely Turkey Day with those you care about. I finally had a chance to watch this latest episode and -- yikes! They've pulled the rug out from under us. Again.

First of all, thanks to Hombre for the great recap. And hats off to you for "VENE + NO" -- excellent!

Oh yeah, Eva looked like she was in on whatever Renato was up to. And I sure hope he turns out to be engaging in some clever counter-strategy -- maybe one of those Novelera and NJ SUE imagine.

Did you notice how the camera focused on Mabel when -- was it Emilio and Sebastián? -- began to consider the possibility that a WOMAN had written the books. Another red herring? Probably.

Alex, I couldn't believe it when Gonzaki told Pilar he was Adolfo's brother, Iñaki, and she just brushed it off as another of his ironies. The only way that scene could have been more frustrating is if Pilar and Gonzaki were speaking in Rebeca's presence and Rebeca's eyes were burning holes in Pilar in a futile attempt to communicate with her.

But what kept running through my mind as the scene shifted from Ismael to Iñaki (and even to Javier) and each one realized how catastrophic, how tragic, futile, how wrong-headed and finally, how irreversible his path has been and how they, and not the Condes, are the real condenados -- what I kept thinking of was the woman in labor who suddenly sits up and says: I don't want to do this anymore! I'm going home right now. Fat chance. And fat chance that our psychokillers can run from the doom that awaits them.

As for Javier, a little lithium might help control his moods but he's still a criminal; and I'd love to see him end up in jail for a very long time.

Nibaldo isn't a character who inspires warm and fuzzy feelings. But his death -- if he is dead, that is -- would be very disturbing to Yolanda, Hilda and even Spanglish girl. And as for Javier's reaction -- THAT I want to see.
 

FLOR SALVAJE – MIÉRCOLES

Like every self-respecting “Other Woman” in a telenovela, Cat continues to believe Sacto will turn to her. She looks at him as if he’s a hot fudge sundae, while he’s being released from his cell.

Amanda tells José María, who’s come to see her after getting Sacto to agree to run the hacienda for Familia Rojas that Cat would make a better life partner for Sacto. He tells her about their lives improving because they’ll come to live at the hacienda.

Sacto tells Cat that Amanda should not have come to see her. Rafa might find her. Cat sneers at the idea that Rafa would harm Amanda. She says the guy loves her; the one who is danger is Sacto himself. When Sacto tells her that he’ll be in their child’s life, but that is all he can offer her, she cries as Mariano Guerrero looks on in disgust.

Abelardo and Alicia show up at Amanda’s house. JM begins to try to treat Alicia, who is in horrible shape, malnourished and terribly addicted.

Mariano tries to talk Cat out of her feelings for Sacto. When she tells him she’s expecting his baby, MG tries to talk her into an abortion, suggesting he “knows someone”. When she refuses, he deduces that it’s because the baby would unite the Rojas and Lazárral families and that’s why she wants it. She tells him he doesn’t understand that the baby was conceived in love and how could he understand that because he doesn’t even love his own family. After she leaves, he says, obviously thinking of Rocío, that he loves his family in his own way. Later on he has Quezada follow Rocío. Ugh!

Abelardo tells Amanda that the narcos did not burn down the merendero; why would they burn up something so valuable?

Sacto returns to the house where Amanda, JM, Alicia and Abelardo are together. He behaves like a complete ass, yelling at Alicia and trying to hit Abelardo. JM tries to restrain him. When he insists on throwing Alicia out, Amanda says, “If she goes, I go” and leaves with Alicia. After JM talks to him about his judgmental attitude, saying that Alicia is a victim, we are treated to another boring scene of Sacto feeling contrite about blaming things on Amanda.

Zahra tells Francisco that the P’s are running out of money fast. He comes up with the idea of having them work in his hotel, which earns him a ¡Tan divino! from Zahra.

Rafa is thinking about another company to extract the oil on the lands he bought. Peter is not best pleased. Cat suggests they work together in the oil business and also to separate Amanda and Sacramento.

Alicia and Amanda are at the burned out merendero. Amanda tells Alicia how much the place meant to her, that she felt valued for something besides her body. Rufino shows up with a box containing some matches and a note from Rafa admitting he had the place torched. He says in the note that, if she continues to live apart from him, everything she touches and loves will burn. The only fuego con que viverás soy yo.

Ines comes to see Rocío asking her to not be around JM so she will have a chance to marry him and have his children. With no apparent sense of how insulting she is, she tells Rocío that JM could never marry her.

Enrique tells Francisco over the phone that he’s heard about the big shootout between gangs in Timotes and that a series of articles would be good. Later on, after Francisco, tells him to select his best reporter, Enrique, of course, says he’s coming himself. When Diana starts to object, Enrique reminds her that she said she’d accept him as he is. And one of those things that he is is a reporter who exposes injustice.

Amanda tells Alicia that she has to disappear to keep Rafael from harming her family. She gives a letter to Beba’s teacher to give to Sacto. The letter tells the three of them she’s going away.

Amanda shows up at the 4P bar, seeing Rafa and Ana in the tub together and asks if she’s interrupting anything.
 

Flor--miercoles

Ines! Bleck, bleck, BLECK! The whole saintly thing matched with her snobbery makes her more reprehensible than JM's madre, who at least comes right out and spews her evilness. Chema, be an HOMBRE... grow a pair!

AA