Caray, Caray!

Thanks Marta. The scene with Chema made me cry.

I loved this: "if this guy is over gambling then I can fly me to the moon". Just beautiful! No kidding the way he kept blowing on the dice and rolling them. He's got it bad.

Marta, thank you!! I got home late-ish tonight and could only watch the first half, deliberately pausing at Chema's hospital bed. I'll finish up my comments later...
 

Thank you so much Marta. A perfect read before heading to early morning meetings.

Chema's passing in the hosipital was so sad, and I felt so sorry for Don Ben. But, Chema died happy and that's what they all wanted anyway.

Jero's lawyer said that although Alvaro's word isn't the most weighty since he's a criminal, it would be the third matching statement that they need, since Jero and the prison director are both telling the same story, but the prison doctor is not. I guess having three matching statements is the key to Jero's freedom, so Alvaro's statement would help (or hurt if he took the doctor's side). I don't think Carlos is going with Nata, but Nata promised to bring him if Tony can't go with her.

I also noticed that Nata was stand-offish with Augie and didn't let on to anything that was going on with Jero's case. I think you guys gave her too little credit assuming she would run to him for help. She's kept him at a distance for a while now, only seeing him when needed (to bring Ani to him) or when she wants clarification on something he's involved in. I'm glad Ani is on to Augie's game. He doesn't seem like he's willing to feed Augie info about what's going on at La Bonita. But we'll see.

Trojan Baby is firmly in place now. I'm sure Connie's life is about to get very complicated. I see many arguments with Honorio coming.

I had to laugh when Jero said he would make up an excuse for him and Nata to go get medical check-ups because it was exactly like Chema and his dad. When will these folks learn that these little deceptions are not the best way to go about things?

Looking forward to reading all the comments later.
 

Thanks so much Marta. Long day at work today and was hoping I could relax for ten minutes this morning before heading in. THis was perfect, funny and touching.

Chema...now I have to go get kleenex again. Couldn't help it, just a total bummer they killed this character off after all. Glad he had his chance to go out gracefully and get his due air time (unlike a certain Alonso in TDA).

Why is even the lawyer buying into Nata's money idea? The guy is in jail, what's he need the cash for anyway? You just know this isn't going to work out well. Also, that guard in the jail...he sure stays close doesn't he? For a moment there I thought he was on Auggie's payroll trying to overhear every conversation. Wasn't there with Nata...weird.

"(but has a face of liar, nose growing)"
Wanted to leave the room at the Berta/Germs scene. Went far too long and was a major 'ewwwwwww' moment. Please writers, let's not do that again. We get it with these two.

Another party. These always seem to bring the anvil of doom.I didn't hear that preview statement so I guess some sort of fireworks will happen. Oh boy.
 

ITA about the Berta and Germs scene being an EWWWWWW moment... esp with Berta's smile in the end...
things would have been SOOOO different if she did not give in to her mother's antics this time and let the truth come out about Gina's daughter at first. Gina would have loved them both the same anyway... so now she is up to end up losing it all...
 

Marta: This was excellent. I love your insight "Adri looks on Corina as if she was seeing a vampire and wry humor: "(well, I know touching a baby’s hands is very moving… but you don’t have to feel responsible for that baby for the rest of their life either, woman. ") Perfect!

Sylvia, I did significant damage to a box of Kleenex last night myself. I did wish they had let his collapse at the opening be his last breath rather than prolonging the agony.

Perhaps it's just me, but I find that Hon is being extremely cold regarding the baby. While I can understand why he might not want the child to be with them permanently (his age, etc.), I don't see any sympathy or empathy for the child or Con.

Prissy is looking more like the big, bad wolf every episdoe. She's practically licking her lips in anticipation of breaking Charlie and Mati up. Blech.

Diana
 

Aye, Marta, thank you. What a sad episode you got but how wonderfully detailed and sensitive. I have yet to finish my tape but got up to Chema's collapse at the grand opening. What touching tributes he paid to everyone.

Ok, I finally get it. Hook Tata up with a ne'er-do-well, Jero takes off after her or at least exerts herculean effort to protect his babies, Nata flies of the handle, leaves him, fleeing into the arms of. . . .

Prissy. You know what? Carlos, Jero, Gonzo, Matias and Hon all need to take what? Psych or Human Resources courses? Talk about taking a snake into your bosom! You asked for this, Charlie!

Poor Connie! Corina played her like a fiddle. I guess she could take the Psych course, too, or better yet, how 'bout some sessions in Mother Wit (what's that in Spanish?) from Manuela.

Your description of previews leaves me both EWWWW and WOW! Oh. My. Gosh. What's going to happen?

Thank you, Marta, can't wait to see the second half of my tape, your cap will aid my understanding.

Lila
 

I love your recaps. They are so informative. I'm so glad I was wrong about what I thought Chema was going to do. This was a much better, albeit sad, ending. Did anyone else notice how long his eyelashes are? When he closed his eyes laying in bed at the hospital, they must have been a good half inch long. I would kill for those.

I bet Alvaro needs the money for bribes in jail to get some extras. I don't know how it is in Mexico in real life, but bribery seems to be rampant in telenovelas.
Cathy
p.s. my word is bugers(boogers?)haha
 

I would guess that Alvaro wants enough to bribe his way out of there. Kari isn't out of danger yet.
 

is it me or are there PLENTY of villains in this all of a sudden?
Augie,
Saul
Alvaro
Prissy
Fina
Blanca
Corina
Melesio (the guy who helped kill Ezeq)
Berta
German


geez!!
 

Thanks Marta. This was wonderfully detailed. I also wish that they had let the collapse at the restaurant be Chema's end. The tributes could have come at his velorio. When I saw all those people sitting around that same waiting room one more time it just seemed too much. I must say though that I clutched my share of soggy kleenex at the final scene of Don Benjamin curled around the body of his dead son as the camera flew upward like Chema's soul.

Just because it came in the ver next episode I was struck by the contrast between Anibel's sepia toned flashback and the black & white memories of everyone's happy times with Chema.

Speaking of Anibel I'm glad that he is on to Auggie's desire to use him to keep tabs on the goings on at La Bonita. He & Alison were cute with their flirting and almost kiss in the kitchen -- but it is obvious that this girl does not respect food. Really? Destroying all that bread -- maybe she IS anorexic.

Gonzo & Regina were saccharin in that brief honeymoon scene -- but I enjoyed the way he teased a series of Te amo's from her and it was lovely to see the Taxco backdrops.

Güera
 

Ay, Marta--so you got to do the Chema death scene. Sorry, but I had to >ff through the antics on the floor, but I welcomed your recap. I guess he's getting ready to go to jail over in LFDD and needs all the strength he can get.

The rest was pure joy to read. Yep, Cor dumps Amp on Con and Hon, Mat and Adr see it all. T'nite we see All Hell break loose and HIT the FAN.

Vivi--I also noticed that once Nata greeted Augie she stood away from him and was certainly not as effusive as she normally is and only gave him the barest of bones of information. Did you notice how Anibal was watching his dad during this exchange? He's already called his dad on liking her--poor disillusioned kid when he finds out what Augie's really been up to.

Lila--with your "Ok, I finally get it. Hook Tata up with a ne'er-do-well, Jero takes off after her or at least exerts herculean effort to protect his babies, Nata flies of the handle, leaves him, fleeing into the arms of. . . ."

...Augie!!!! [Am I Right? Am I Right?] This was just what I was thinking when Augie told Saul to get this show on the road asap and later Jero agreeing with Tonio that this particular suitor is not the one for Dr. Tata and she should be disuaded from hooking up with him.

How much do we want to bet that the mole inside EM who is supposed to tell Berta what to do is.....The Germ himself. Daniel went over to the good side and everyone else is loyal to the T.

Haha--my word verification is "witypned"--what our recappers deliver unfailingly, typos included.
NOK
 

Beautifully done, Marta. My heart went out to both you and Chema last night. Both of you handled his death with grace.

I'm feeling a bit guilty over Chema's collapse. I was looking forward to seeing what kind of snacks they were going to serve at the grand opening.

I was stunned that Jerry's lawyer seemed to think that bribing Alvaro could help. I guess the way things work in Mexico is even more different than I had imagined.

I'm looking forward Tony meeting Alvaro. I hope he hasn't lost the ability to focus that chilly unblinking reptilian gaze.

I want Jerry out of jail so we will be spared more of those embarrassing "smoochy smoochy Jeronimo and Renata scenes" (thanks Cathy).

Carlos
 

NOK, by Jove I think you've got it! The thought crossed my mind but when Fina went and got Blanca, it threw me off German's scent. He has got to be the mole!

Lila
 

Thank you so much Marta. You filled in all the blanks I had regarding some of last night's conversations. You always do such a thorough and thoughtful recap.

All right Carlos, I know you don't like Jero, and I must admit, he is not very likable right now. What is he thinking, engaging himself in Marina's decisions? He has NO right to try to persuade Marina of anything. We often want to control the people who our exes choose to spend time with, especially if there are children involved, but we don't get to! Maybe Augustin read the situation correctly and counted on Jero's vanity to create trouble with Nata.
 

Elna June, this isn't the first time. When he and Renata divorced, he was apoplectic when she joined up with Augie. Granted, neither Augie nor Saúl are good choices but the fact remains... IT'S NONE OF HIS BUSINESS!

Carlos
 

Lila and NOK:

O my. The implications of German's being the mole are VERY interesting. I have always found him to be predatory and what if, What if...

-Roberta is the patsy! If Fina and Blanca have planted German—it doesn't bear thinking about how THOSE relationships went down—then Roberta was the key to the plan all along. Didn't German come in as a partner? Could he be planning to take over Empresa with Roberta's help and possibly Roberta's new inheritance? If she becomes a burden he can always dump her, and blame any financial irregularities on her stupidity. Of course the double irony is that Roberta thinks things are going according to HER plan.

Whew. I am having so much fun with this speculation that it almost almost makes up for the double yuck Germy-Berta bed scene that the writers forced us to endure.
 

Jero stepped over the line when he suggested that he be the one to try to convince Marina not to fall for Saúl's line -- but he's not particularly out of line for asking Antonio to intercede. He knows more than anyone how vulnerable she is right now. Fathers do have some rights concerning the well being of their children so I cut him some slack here. As for his going ballistic when Nata turned to Auggie when the were separated --- he knows Auggie for who he is. No wonder he gets so upset when Nata doesn't see Auggie's dark side.

Poor Constanza! I suspect that the law is about to come down on her big time. She may just have a cell reserved for her in the same hoosegow where Honorio did time.

Is Fina going to manage to get the whole fam damily (as my grandma used to say) behind bars?

Interesting thought about German being the mole.

Güera
 

Carlos--I just knew there weren't going to be any snacks--just plenty of champagne to get everyone wet and enough flowers left over to take to Chema's funeral.

I WAS surprised to see Chema show up at all. I thought he was going to stiff (pardon the pun) the whole crowd and text them from the plane that he's off to Paris and for them to have a good time without him.

Fortunately for passengers and crew he didn't croak on the plane. It would have ruined a lot of vacations.
NOK
 

Marta, thanks so much. I love your breezy humor..."Saul offers Marina the moon and the stars and even the kitchen sink", "You are the love of my life… yada yada"...and that's just in the first paragraph.

Alas, poor Chema...sniff. At least he went out on good terms with the world and with his loved ones. I'm pretty sick of that waiting room, though.

Renata is definitely keeping Augie at arm's length. She was very standoffish when talking to him, then turned to Anibal and was instantly more warm and friendly with him. Anibal has Augie's number; good for him.

I hope in all his newlywed excitement Laz doesn't forget about investigating Zeke's death. Justice for Zeke!

How are the loonybin ladies planning to pin kidnapping charges on Constanza? She has plenty of witnesses as to how things went down.
 

Wow, Marta I just finished reading your recap and watching the episode. You did such a great job with Chema's death scene. The scene was sad and a bit prolonged but it was a good one. David Ostrosky (papa Ben) has such a sensitive and tragic face. Good casting there.

I LOVE the idea of Germy being the mole. NOK you have a delightfully devious mind. I'm so glad to have you share your ideas with us.

I like the scenes with Augustin and Anibal. Sometimes their postures are near-identical; not sure if it is coincidence, if they are directed that way to bring out their similarities, or if it is postural echo, but it's interesting. I also get a sense of competition from Augustin because Nata is so warm toward Anibal and currently stand-offish to Augie. Like he pretends to welcome Anibal to play the good daddy for Nata and use Ani as a spy, but in reality he's jealous and threatened by his kid.

Shame on Herminia for her big mouth.

Jero can be quite the control freak. I hope Marina eventually recognizes his negative side and wises up that maybe she'll be better off as a single mom.
 

Carlos: "I'm feeling a bit guilty over Chema's collapse. I was looking forward to seeing what kind of snacks they were going to serve at the grand opening."

I just let out a huge, long belly laugh! Oh my. You never fail to make me smile and more often than not, truly laugh out loud in sincere appreciation. I never know what you are going to say and therein lies the delight.

Gracias!

Diana
 

Great comments everybody...I usually watch this in a state of postprandial stupor and do well to understand the Spanish..without trying to sniff out the hidden intrigues. But y'all have bee thinking!

@Marta...you always do excellent work and like Julia, I was impressed with your breezy personal first paragraph. Nice intro.

@Diana...I'm with you..Honorio has logic on his side as regards the baby, but he's still running roughshod over Constanza...and it's just making her cling to the poor mite even more.

What a depressing bedmate German had to be. We're so used to incredible deltoids and chiseled pecs, and here's this skinny-armed, cave-chested, pale-skinned cretin and we're all ready to hurl. Even Roberta looked a bit dyspeptic. Can't blame her.
 

Thanks for the recap Marta. Sorry you had to recap Chema's death but you did it very well.

Jero does have control issues and he should "man up" about Tata's presence to Renata.

R la O - thanks for your kind comments the other day about Vivi's picture. We had a grand time; she is great fun and an excellent tour guide.

ITA with all those shock/horrified by the Germ/Roberta bed scene. I actually said, "my eyes, my eyes!"
 

About Prissy--If she thinks that prolonging the curse by doing something to Carlos-Not-The-Doc will work. Think again, lady.

You aren't clever enough to plot a near miss to your intended intended and have it succeed.

Your best bet to snag Carlito is to sally on down to Ensenada, pick yourself out a nice regional outfit (and don't forget the cinch band), find a spare headband in Mati's drawer and learn some cute little dichos. Oh, Carlito already has one of those. You are now a spare-girl. Join the crowd.
NOK

Oh geeze, I wasn't going to do this, but Carlos-The-Doc, my word verification is "tunapsui," the perfect canape for Chema's restaurant opening.
 

When Chema collapsed at the restaurant and I thought he was dead I said “nice exit, dude.” But when he died in the hospital, I started crying. That was so sad. It might have been nice if they had told Chema what was going on from the beginning. He might have actually made it to Paris.

Berta with German: Ewwww!

I don’t see how Coni could get in trouble with the law. There are plenty of witnesses to say that Corina is the mother, so if Fina and Blanca are angling a kidnapping scenario, that won’t wash. There are also plenty of witnesses that Corina came to Coni for help. The only thing she can be accused of is overstepping her role at the center. (Julia, I wrote this before reading your comment. I also agree with you re: Zeke.)

Karen: “I actually said, ‘my eyes, my eyes!’" Cracked me up.

Robey
 

Just got back to read all the great comments.

I was really happy that they didn't show us Berta and Germy doing the deed or even kissing. I love the theory that he's Blanca's mole in EMR! Either way, Berta thinks she's playing him, but is the one being played considering he has NO money of his own. Watching him fall for her sweet young innocent act, and watching her fall for his sugar daddy about to get divorced act, is amusing.

There are quite a few men who are control freaks, or at time insensitive, in this tn. Remember how we used to elect a Mr. Inappropriate each episode? Well, Jero of course made the list often, and it looks like he'll be pushing those boundaries again by getting involved in Marina's personal life. Honorio is being totally insensitive to Con's feelings (although she is being played). He needs to find a better way to get his message across to her. Augie is always Mr. I, even when he’s just shooting leering looks at Nata.

NOK- A man once died on a flight I was on. The flight was from DC to Ethiopia and he died pretty early on over the Atlantic. I was seated in the back of the plane with a group of friends and the flight crew decided to stick the body back there after rearranging some seating so that a whole middle row was free to lay the body across. The feet of this very tall man then stuck out a bit into the aisle—right next to me, as I was sitting in the same row in an aisle seat. I endured this all the way to Italy, where we stopped for fuel and to deplane the body. They actually made all of us get off the plane through the process. They did cover his head and much of his body with blankets, but I still remember those long narrow feet pointed at me for hours!
 

Anibal might just be one of the smartest people in telenovela history. He's been there, what, a week?, and he's already got Augie's number down. Genius.

Maybe pawn off Saul on Priscilla. They'd deserve each other.

I still heart you Chema. You'll be missed.

Kelly
 

Kelly- Well, he did come with prior knowledge with that cold-hearted letter Augie wrote to Hortencia ordering her to get an abortion.
 

JudyB @1:28 ROFKASLMAO! That is a KILLER description of German! OUCH! Thanks for the warning, haven't seen that half of the show yet!

Vivi, what a sad and sobering sight that must've been! I'd hate for that to have happened to darling-eyed Chema!

ITA Robey, if they had told him earlier, maybe he coulda made it to Paris. RIP, Chema!

Lila
 

Don't forget -- Corina is not the baby's mother. That baby was stolen from somewhere & Corina (which is probably not her name) is about to disappear with her pockets full of ill gotten cash. I don't remember -- who actually saw the mother? There are several people who heard Coni's story o perhaps who even saw the fake baby mama -- but still...

Güera
 

OMG-Vivi--how dreadful for you. I was snarking only because I assumed they would make the plane turn around or land at the nearest airport. Thank goodness plane cabins are normally ice cold.
NOK
 

It's ok NOK. It was pretty horrific at the time. I was on my way to Ethiopia for a month to do field work for my thesis project. There were a few other of my classmates with me too. We soothed our nerves at the airport in Italy with gelato. By the time we flew back to the States a month later it was a morbid joke between us- especially at my expense since I was so up close and personal with THE FEET. I can laugh about it now.

But the situation was sad and reminded me of the Chema story line. The man was old and sick and traveling with his son to see his homeland (Nigeria) one last time before he died. They obviously did not have a lot of money because they were taking the VERY long and convoluted route to Nigeria: DC-Italy-Nigeria. He didn't even make it to Europe. The son looked devastated, but carried on. While we waited, medical personnel came on the plane, declared him dead, then they took him off, got him in a coffin, and put him back on the flight in cargo. He made it home to Nigeria to be buried.
 

Left out something. The route was: DC-Italy-Ethiopia-Nigeria. Made no sense.
 

Vivi--I'm glad you were with friends. It would have freaked me out and left me with Jeronimo-free pesadillas for months.

Can't believe my word verification is "diest," may Chema RIP.

The way you shared the story with us, I feel horrible for making light of such a situation, especially for the son.
NOK
 

Vivi, that was a horrible flight but you will have an interesting story to tell for a long time! I would die if I had to sleep with German. There's something about him that is very revolting. I don't know why I have such a strong reaction to him. Poor guy may be very nice.
 

Mil gracias for your recap, Marta. And to everyone else this week. I'm woefully behind but absolutely still involved.

Pobre Chema. Que en paz descanse. He was such a hunky, sweetheart of a guy. We'll have to make "I miss Chema" shirts to go with our Ezequiel editions. :(

Amy
 

Thanks Marta for a great recap!

For those of you who loved Chema so much, you would not believe how opposite the character in La Fuerza del Destino is, and the actor is so darn convincing as a nasty, provincial, not so smart sleaze. It blows my mind at times.

Audrey
 

Thank u ......

Your blog is very nice & informative...



kiss trow
 

Devastated by the Chema scenes... was really hoping for a miracle cure and a future with Julieta and his dream restaurant!!! He was so adorable, and La Fuerza Saul is no Chema :( Boooo, writers! Booo!

AnotherAmy