Caray, Caray!

Merry Christmas, NovelaMaven and others. No idea if anybody's going to officially recap anything...but here are at least the relevant bits from last night's La Casa al de Lado, or

Of Wedding Bells And Beatdowns

- Renato's alive! Yes, he actually manages to somehow fire a revolver and not even shoot himself after having it in his own mouth. This, however, does not improve his eternal gloomy disposition; as usual he spends the entire episode grumping about like an actual raincloud given human form.

There's an aside along the way where Eva tries to convince Pilar (you know, the shrink?) to talk to Renato to get him to lighten up and Pilar blows her off entirely.

Because of all this Eva and Yolanda decide that he needs a mood-lifting event in his life before he finally does, somehow, maybe, accidentally manage to deliberately off himself. So, when Emilio tells them that he and Hilda want to push up their wedding date, they're all for it...which means

- Emilio and Hilda get married (after he inevitably sees her in her oddly lampshade-like wedding dress, the universal cliche for bad luck). Nearly everybody shows up for the big day, which also includes the baptism of their daughter as a bonus. This includes Emilio's bane Greta, complete with her usual eye-popping cleavage and awesomely ominous background music, but she doesn't do anything to stop the wedding apart from interrupting it to give a typically soapy speech about how he's an honest man and that marriages are built on trust, et cetera. Obviously she watches a lot of The Bold and the Beautiful, which does this a lot. (This also segues into the avances for Monday's episode, which seem to indicate that at long last Hilda gets clued in about Emilio's job.)

There are only two people who do not show up at the wedding/baptism. One is Yolanda's imaginary boyfriend Carlitos. The other is Javier, even though Ignacia appears to him in a dream and asks him to go. On the other hand, since Hilda and Emilio's wedding day is the last day that Adolfo gave him to get Carola out of jail, he's got more important things to do. Like brood. Speaking of Carola, though...

- Live from IKEA Women's Prison: Carola gets a visitation/dream from Ignacia and the newly-dead Carmen. Later, we get the expected cliche where she gets picked on by the usual cliched gang of prisoners (who aren't even that intimidating--they should have gotten the lady who played Butterfly in El Fantasma de Elena); she gets into a cliched fight over her notebook and amazingly doesn't kick all their asses before it gets broken up. But she does lose the notebook.

- Crazy-Eyed Cecilia disappears entirely from the episode after about five minutes in, but with Pilar's increasing off-ness (complete with her showing up at the wedding in a stunning and utterly inappropriate blue sparkly minidress) Diego does note to Andrea that he wants to go see her to try to figure out what's wrong with Mom. Sadly, this moment of actual intelligence does not happen in this episode.
 

LA CASA

"Crazy Eyed Celcilia". Love it! I have trouble with this actress, always the payasa in everything I've seen her in.

I can't believe I can't peg the male voice when Pilar is using the voice disguiser! I know that actor from somewhere.

So Emilio comes home with his cabeza gacha completely in the dumps...they all ask him what's wrong. He explains the death of Carmen and it's heartbreaking...next line is we need to move the wedding up, we're all smiles again! Yayyy!

Did anyone else notice Carola's first night in the pokey? With the lights out, she had no prison garb and the wall behind her as she looked out the bars was like unfinished cinder...like some old prison from the turn of the century. Next day she's in a modern facility, nice bunks, hair up in a pony tail and a fresh set of prison jumpers. Nice!

This thing is a complete looney bin. Sooo much filler it seems as they've lost any direction.


FLOR SALVAJE

I like Sacramento much more with his conversion. Don't you love how they've made him smarter and more astute now that he's from Rojas money? LOL. Hey, I'm not complaining.

The story line with Correcaminos is so tired. I guess the writers have had enough too as it looks like they're gonna push Dudi to Susana.

I've noticed that Sacramento carries his 6-shooter in the front of his pants now too, just like Rafael. Ahhh, the good old days, the Wild West LOL.

How about when Rafel tells Mr. Peter.."Corra Gringo". Too much. Peter runs for his life while the shooting commences. Out-freaking-rageous!

Has Peter had ONE scene where he doesn't make those stupid faces when he says his lines?? This guy is the ultimate patsy. Way too hard to watch this dude when his turn comes up.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED!! watching Francisco's face as he watched Zhara come out for the inauguracion of the 4P's. Good lord her body is smokin hot, if only she didn't have that massive lift kit...I was cracking up out loud watching Tio tip em back like it was water on a hot day. Great scene, pure disgust in his eyes and only the booze was gonna help him in that moment as the entire pueblo gawked at his Zhara's amazing body, lol.
 

FLOR SALVAJE-
I agree that Zahra's bod was hot, hot, hot and that Tío Francisco's problems are tiresome but what I enjoyed in last night's episode was Rocío coming on to José María while she was having a pelvic examination - feet in the stirrups and all!! I can't think of a less romantic situation but I guess Rocío was taking the opportunity of having JM alone. I don't think my gynecologist wears a surgical mask when she's doing a pelvic. Ines' freak out was funny, too. JM is realizing what he has got himself into by having a little nookie with Ines on the floor of the examining room.
 

LA CASA

tnx Bill C. nice job.
"IKEA Women's Prison"! haha! great point. and i agree wit you about the cliched prison scene.

yes Rand, this episode was 95% filler. it all could have been easily skipped.

Pilar(?) asked about Gonzalo when she arrived but we didn't see anything especial. maybe in next episode...
 

Now that you mention it, after the opening scene there was almost zero Gonzo in this episode (IIRC he only appeared in one close-up at the wedding). Then again, he'd just killed Carmen and taunted Carola about it before running into Pilar and Eva in Thursday's episode...I guess he was due a break.

So, about Pilar: evil twin or alternate personality? The evidence thus far seems to go either way, with one specific exception as I understand it: the very first distorted phone call, which Pilar couldn't possibly have made herself (though that doesn't rule out workarounds).
 

FLOR SALVAJE – VIERNES

The ranch workers on the Rojas Hacienda don’t like the idea of the oil wells on the property they had loss of life to defend. Avelino assures them that Sacramento is going to share the oil profits among the workers.

Sourpuss Filomina shows up in the middle of the promotional photo shoot and again threatens Enrique with being disinherited. She also says she hopes they can live on what she “earns”. He doesn’t back down, tells Alicia to hold her head high and proudly tells his mother that he’s in love with a prostitute and to take her prejudices and leave.

Sacto has an idea for using his cotton crops, making clothes from the fabric. I think this is foreshadowing Sacto being a rich man soon.

Ines is giggling over the photos of the engagement party. JM tells her that things are moving too fast for him. She says that because they made love (forgetting that she was so aggressive) he has to marry her right away.

Flor is in the convertible, being driven by Rafa, passing out flyers when, of course Sacramento is passing by with the girls. Flor admires their new dresses and they smile back at her. She thanks Sacramento for taking such good care of them, driving Rafa nuts in the car. Sacto asks if he’s so broke he has a job as the 4P chauffeur. He asks the girls to go on and tells Flor he has a business plan he wants to discuss with her. Despite Rafa interrupting every 5 seconds, he tells her about his plan to make clothing. Mina models one of the designs. Flor is interested.

Rocío overhears the despicable Lourdes overriding Cat’s objections to a plan to harm Flor Salvaje.

Mariano is walking around shirtless, apparently to attract Cat. He tells Rocío that the P’s need those certificates of health for when the cabaret re-opens and puts her in charge of it. He tells his wife to take her viper’s tongue elsewhere.

Filomina tells Tío that she’s going to sell her shares, ruining him. Talk about cutting off your nose! Later Tío tries to convince Enrique to bend to her will saying he lacks respect, is irresponsible and an egoist. Enrique isn’t having it, and says he can’t see why he has to sacrifice his happiness for everyone else.

JM finally puts his foot down with Ines. After quite a few arguments and tears from the spoiled brat, he tells her either they wait or there’s no wedding at all. She says he’s not getting any until they marry. Don’t think this bothers him that much. And he’s gotten a taste of what marriage to this little harpy would be.

All the P’s, including Rocío show up for their gynecological exams. Ines throws a fit, refusing that he examine them. He tells her this is his job and to let them pass. Rocío goes first and manages to get a “rise” out of José María. They almost kiss, but Ines storms in shrieking. Rocío tells Alicia that Ines is jealous and at last she got one up on the “saint”.

When Flor says she’s also going for the exam, Rafa objects strenuously, saying she’s his woman. He asks her how much for the night of the re-opening. She tells him she intends to be “libre” that night. You got me into this life and now you have to bear it.

Zahra offers to work at the 4P if Francisco needs money because of the sale of shares. He’s horrified. But Enrique is VERY open minded. Alicia plans to work until he has a better paying job. He does make a phone call to some newspaper asking for work and offering an exclusive about the re-opening of the 4P.

Avelino shows up to escort Manuela, looking fabulous, to the re-opening. Frigida screams to no avail.

I’m done with Tío Francisco. The leopard has NOT changed his spots. He tried to convince Enrique to go back to an unhappy marriage. And he sits in the bar pouting when Zahra appears looking very sexy in a top hat and introduces Flor.
 

FLOR SALVAJE - VIERNES

I forgot one thing. Two vicious looking thugs show up at Hacienda Lazárral, saying who do they have to kill. Cat tells them that they can NEVER admit who hired them, no matter what.
 

LA CASA - VIERNES

Bill C., thanks so much for your recap! Much more than "relevant bits", it was very well done indeed.

I loved Ikea Prison. And, why oh why did they have to go with the butch prisoners attacking Carola? And sometimes her cell is wide open and other times she's locked in? This does look more like a college dorm than a prison. And what the heck ever happened to Carola's workouts with the punching bag. She should have KO'ed those prisoners muy pronto.

And, speaking of stupid, knowing that Renato is suicidal, why don't they grab his phone and, at the very least, change the number so he won't get those calls any more?

I suppose that dumb speech by Greta at the wedding was supposed to raise our blood pressure thinking she was going to tell all in the church.

And we've had a complete change of heart by Eva with no explanation whatsover. Now she's thrilled to have Hilda as her daughter-in-law, where she was trying to get rid of her the whole rest of the show.
 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!

I'm preparing to leave for my son's house with a car full of presents for his family. This year there was no restraint whatsoever!

We alway spend holidays at his house in order to not leave the five!!! granddogs of mine alone.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO:

Great recap, Bill C., well written and very funny!

I always like weddings on these shows, because the ladies are all duded up. Karen looked particularly hot in her slinky green satin dress. Yolanda, looking far more dowdy, was just about to leave with Nibaldo when Karen showed up, and when talk went to Carlitos, Yolanda was stuck in her lie again, so Nibaldo left with Karen.

Another person who wasn't at the wedding was Mabel, who made a remark to Adolfmael about how bad Eva must feel knowing her husband loves Mabel more. Adolfmael filled her in on Javier's little one week deadline to get Carola out of jail. I wonder if Javier has anything up his sleeve.

I also liked Pilar's blue minidress. And as for twin/MPD, the other day I thought MPD. But after this episode in which Cecilia says "she's not who you think she is", combined with Bill's observation of that voice box phone call when shy Pilar was standing right there, I now think there are twins. But where is Good Pilar?

One last thing - Rebeca is still trying her own physical therapy, repeating Gonzalo/Inaki over and over again. Go, Rebeca!
 

UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN:

From watching telenovelas, one gets the feeling latinos use what some would call derogatory nicknames more than anglos. For example, Calixta, a good character, called Estanislo "polano" or Polish guy. And Victor called Marisa chaparita (shorty), although she didn't like it.

I'm still not sure if the feds are going to go after David Tanaka, the contributor to Tyron's campaign, who is behind the drug thefts from Cris's company.

Lety does tell Tania and Belinda that her "dream guy" stole everything she owned. Belinda seems to be warming up to Gojo, although it's risky since evil Hugo's ever suspicious. Also, Hugo pretty much forces Belinda to have sex on her most fertile day, and when she goes to take her birth control pill, it's gone! Hugo probably took them. Pobre Belinda.

We now know what Estanislao (I'm calling him Stan from now on) is up to. Steroids. He and Darek convince Jerome he'll be a star if he just shoots up steroids, "like everyone else". Naive Jerome seems just about to inject them. No, Jerome, no! Stan hopes that after he gets Jerome on them, Jero will sell them to other guys. After all, everybody likes Jero, right? Personally, I don't think Jerome has much chance at getting into the NBA, since a) he's only playing on playgrounds, not on any real team, and b) he's shorter than his girlfriend Tania! Ok, he could be a point guard. But really!

Sara has told Cris about Marisa's (untrue) Mexican past. Cris has doubts, schedules a dinner with Mari and Lalo, at which he'll ask Mari if it's all true. He also asks Amador if they screen the maids. He never looked at Tito's report. He sort of doesn't want to know. And he may not even get to that dinner, since Victor shows up at Cris's hotel room, ready for a confrontation.

Sara is renting a condo for Cris, wants him out of the hotel.

Carmen (Nana) disagrees with Amelia's views on Marisa and Cris. She points out that Tyron was American, Amelia Mexican (I think) and her parents didn't approve of Tyron, but she fought for her love. Shouldn't Cris be allowed to do the same?

I say yes, but only after 100 more episodes!
 

Una Maid
Thanks Hombre for the recap. I must have been wrapping presents during part of this show because I missed a few things.
So...I really like the secondary characters in this show, like Yaya, Gojo, Lety, The Moms, Tito, etc.... Still really steamed that they killed off a perfectly good villain (*Miguelito) in the second episode!
J in Oregon
 

UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN

Thanks for the recap of Friday's episode! Victor is really on my nerves. He's so obsessed with getting Marisa and Lalo back but he does nothing but cause trouble for them. He never shows that he could actually be a good person or that he really cares about them. I think it's a game to him and he just wants to win. He's always fighting with people and drinking and not to mention the fact that he cheated on Marisa on their wedding day. That fact alone should make it clear to him that she's never going to take him back. I also don't get why Cristobal doesn't ask Marisa anything. Why doesn't he want to know anything about her life? He's just going by rumors and starting to worry about what Sara's telling him but he hasn't asked Marisa about her past. He needs to make an effort to learn more about her if he really wants to be in her life forever.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

Felices Fiestas, a Todos

I'm on holiday break from training (and, wow, the MP Corps has really tough, strict standards), catching up on lovely recaps and videos. Everyone here has really kept me up to date.

About Eva/Hilda, I wonder if Eva's inexplicable change of heart is because she thinks the wedding will do Renato good? I don't know--I've given up on trying to make sense of telenovela stuff. Yet, no puedo dejar de ver!
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO - Lunes

When it rains it pours. The wedding of Emilio and Hilda is over, everyone's happy, rice is thrown, and they're off to the reception. Things are fine, Emilio and Hilda have a loving first dance. Nibaldo then delivers his special gift - he dresses up as a mariachi, and sings a terrific mariachi love song to Hilda, which he wrote, and which brings tears to just about everyone. Hilda is so happy. Karen and Yolanda vie for best fan of Nibaldo's new talents (Yolanda loses out when she still can't produce her novio Carlitos).

But there's thunder and lightning outside, and it starts to rain. Greta takes Hilda in a back room, and delivers HER present, an envelope full of pictures of "Orlando". She flat out tells Hilda that Emilio has been a male prostitute all this time, had several clients a night, didn't he tell you? Oh, I'm so sorry, what a blow that must be to you that he's been LYING all this time! Hilda is destroyed, rushes out to confront Emilio, he admits it's true, she slaps him, wants no more to do with him, EVER, and he's prohibited from getting near the baby, too. She runs outside, trips, and gets her white dress soaked.

Javier faces Adolfmael's gun barrel, whining that it's not so easy to get Carola out, they're trying to prove she had no connection to the big dealers, but they can't exactly find the big dealers. Adolfo doesn't care, tells Javier he's a dead man if Carola's not out of jail NOW! Javier at least decides he should be the one to communicate with Carola, tells the warden he's the new lawyer, and the warden agrees, he can talk to Carola. Carola is told she has a new lawyer, and is being brought out to see him.

Back at the wedding reception, Diego is desperate to get away from Pilar and go with Cecilia. He convinces Andrea to take Pilar's keys, and they sneak out. Since she's only 15 or so (probably 24 in real life), she has no license, but drives them anyway across town to Cecilia's. She won't tell them the truth, but decides to call Javier to pick them up.

Javier gets this call just as Carola sees that Javier is her new lawyer. Ecstatic, she tries to get his attention. But Javier, upon hearing that Andrea and Diego drove to Cecilia's, tells the warden he has an emergency, can't see Carola now, he'll be back in a few days. He leaves, Carola screaming behind some glass that Gonzalo is Iñaki, but Javier doesn't hear this.

Arriving at Cecilia's, he yells at the kids for taking the car, but Cecilia finally spills the beans a little. Saying that it's all her own fault (I'm guessing that there were twins, and she gave up Raquel to adoption years ago and kept Pilar), she says Pilar's a murderer, and adds, "the woman you've been living with is not your wife". Whoa!!!

At the end of the episode, a disconsolate Carola is cheered a little, as the guard gives her back her libreta (diary).
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

I appreciate the recaps, though I watch the novela almost every night. I didn't pick up on all the inconsistencies mentioned, such as Carollo's Shawshank-to-chic cell change. That jail looks more like a rehab facility than a jail. Speaking of residences, I don't understand how the supposedly broke Condes can afford such a swanky condo, unless "Orlando" helped chip in for the rent. Speaking of "Orlando," did anyone notice the weather change between Hilda's breakdown on the grass and Javier prepping to leave his house? We saw a rain, then a clear Miami skyline, then ligthing and such on a 'dark and stormy night.' Sloppy editing!

The loose ends in this novela drive me nuts, such as there being no investigation into Gonzalo's murder of the bank employee who had helped Rebecca with the safe deposit box. In real life, I can't imagine someone not noticing her absence almost immediately and calling the police in due time. Security cameras outside a bank would surely record something like that, as would security cameras in the aforementioned condo building where Gonzalo killed Carmen. And no one has bothered to investigate Gonzalo's realtor's disappearance?? I guess everything will be revealed in the "gran final."

I will miss Rosalinda Rodriquez and her interpretation of Karen. Karen has been one of the few stable characters in the novela. Her code switching from Spanish to English is hilarious.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

Has anyone felt like busting out and singing a Brady Bunch tune whenever Cecilia pops up on the screen? I swear, that hairdo is classic Carol Brady. Couldn't they have chosen something better?
 

LA CASA - LUNES

Excellent recap, Hombre. Would someone just strangle Greta already. All these murders and the one I really want bumped off has ruined Hilda's happiness.

Anonymous, welcome! Good points you made! It would be nice if you added a name to your posts or create a handle on Google so we'll recognize you the next time you post something.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

FLOR SALVAJE – LUNES

The re-inauguración of the 4P Bar is quite the spectacle. The whole cast shows up, including those who sneer disapproval, like Rigoberto, Filomina, and Diana. Rigoberto snarks at Olga that maybe she will be working as one of the P’s also. She delivers a well-deserved slap and asks him why he even came here if he was going to disapprove of everything. Tío Francisco is there but pouts the whole time and wants Zahra covered up right now! I said it before, but I’ll say it again. I’m so over this guy. The Ps put on an adult version of the Three Little Pigs. Then they have an odd raffle of the women. Two guys stand up as contenders and the lucky guy is selected by audience applause!

Ines is rapidly wearing out her welcome with José María. She gripes some more about his examining the prostitutes. She said something about his only having intimacy with her now that they’re engaged. I guess she forgot she told him no sex until they married in a fit of pique. She invites him to dinner with Mamá, but he begs off. Of course, he’s going to the 4P.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Frigida is suspiciously sweet to Susana and Beba. She offers them some sweets. When she’s out of the room, Abelardo shows up, rottener than ever, wanting the girls to steal something so he’ll have money. He eats all the sweets. Later on we see him doubled up in the alley. Frigida really is nuts. If the girls get sick from something she gave them to eat, Sacramento will throw her out in the street.

While Diana makes bitter remarks to Enrique, Filomina goes to the dressing room and offers Alicia a suitcase full of money to leave town and never see Enrique again. The miserable b*tch has sweetened the deal by putting drugs under the money. After moving from this scene to increase the suspense, Alicia tells her she’s not falling in the trap. She took drugs before because of the pain of losing Enrique.

At the opening, Mariano tells Rocío he’s so happy she’s by his side again, and strokes her hand and kisses her sort of on the corner of her mouth. She manages to not flinch.

They finally get to the raffle of Flor Salvaje. When they ask for contenders, only Peter raises his hand, quickly putting it back on the table when Rafa draws his gun. Of course, Sacramento goes on stage. The applause for Sacto instead of Rafa is deafening. Rafa refuses to abide by this and says to leave his woman alone. When they are outside, Flor tries to smooth things over by reminding Rafa that she left Sacto to be with him. Also, these are the rules of the raffle, and he has to abide by them. I don’t remember him ever agreeing to FS being raffled, but oh well. We then get a scene in the street and Rafa challenging Sacto to a duel. Mariano helps organize this, but the Governor tells the two of them he’ll put them in jail for 6 months if they do it.

Sacto treats Flor with contempt. He says he’s her client and she needs to get busy and do her job. When his hour is up, she tries to get him to leave. He comes up with more money and says he’s staying the night. He also says that they won’t kiss because girls like her don’t do that. He’ll have her body, except for her heart because she doesn’t have one.

Mariano, apparently stimulated by his night at the 4P Cabaret, comes into Cat’s room and tries to kiss her, even though Lourdes is asleep elsewhere. She refuses his advances.

Flor gets up in the morning to leave Sacto sleeping. He is awake though, and looks guilty for how he treated her. She tiptoes out and is grabbed up by the thugs hired by Lourdes. She screams Sacto’s name, and he comes out to see her being forced into a car.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

tnx so much Hombre for the recap.

zero Gonzalo again, Bill C.! and a few seconds of Pilar. it was a episode of minor characters.

unfortunately the twin story seems to be true :(
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

My first desire upon seeing Greta was not to strangle her. However, time has proven that not all that glitters is gold, er, silver. Silicone, probably, but not silver. Regardless, she's turning out to be a desperate psycho, not the confident business owner she first appeared to be. The same goes for Pilar, who I think developed a taste for blood after killing Ricardo. "I like it; I love it; I want some more of it." Maybe her serial killer name in the press will be Pilacula.
 

FLOR SALVAJE

Yeah, that was quite the spectacle, the way they put the girls up there one at a time to be kind of auctioned off to the most applause. And to only 2 guys? Really, really weird.

The last thing I needed to see was La Mina breaking out those knobby knees. That body aint workin.

Mariano losing control already being near Rocio. The attempt at the kiss on the lips was crazy, and Manuela watching.

I like the new Sacramento a lot more than old dumb Sacto. I like watching him push Rafa around. Hey, just a few weeks ago Rafa was chasing him through the town taking shots at him with his pea shooter in front of all the townsfolk.

Good lord this Rafael is tired. How about him screaming for Flor on top of his trusty Diablo after losing Flor for the night to Sacramento.

So we don't get to see Flor in her new role as jefa at the 4P? First night out and they change the story line with a kidnapping. Just like when she was gonna be super tough Flor last time and then they changed it up and had her marry Sacramento. Remember, for a day or two it was tough Flor calling the shots, then it was back to Amanda and learning to read...

How about Manuela reading the part with Piru and the camera working it's way around the characters as they're all listening intently.

Jeebus, what kind of podunk is this place?? Duels in the streets with 6-shooters? Shoot-em-ups on the property lines for disputes, Hookers having to service clientel that the audience chooses?

Speaking of Piru, I can't stand this guy in any of the roles that they've given him. He sucks all the way around.

I really felt bad for Diana last night. Enrique doesn't want to hurt her but it's too late and he knows it. Man, she's asking him what it is about the prostis that the men like, she was really hurting.

How about Ines listening to the radio show and tugging at her skirt! lol. Even Frigida, until she learns it's her daughter on the mic.
 

Una Maid
Okay I missed the first half last night (Monday). What was Calixta swearing "I'll get even, I swear I will make him pay" or something to that effect...what was that about?
Thx!
J in Oregon
 

UNA MAID:

J in Oregon, yes Calixta (I think her nickname is Calsi) wants to make Stan pay. Apparently he is her brother in law, although maybe they never met? He cheated his own brother, Calsi's husband (or serious boyfriend) out of all his money, and the guy was so despondent, he died (I think). So she wants revenge.

Now, back to Marisa. When I said that Yaya made up the story about Mari being the lover of a druglord, I forgot all about Miguel, from the first few episodes of the story. Miguel WAS a druglord, and Marisa WAS "involved" with him, but although he wanted her, she never did anything with her. And yes, he was killed by the police, and she left town the next day, but not because she was part of his drug ring, rather, she was afraid of his other thugs killing her and Lalo. So now Cris gets the report from Tito, which sort of confirms all this, but leaves out all the details which would show that Marisa did nothing wrong.

Tyron is livid, his son mixed up with a druglord's lover! When Amelia says she could try to accept Marisa, he says no way!

Lalo has another fight with a kid, and Mireya asks Mari if Lalo can leave his regular school, and go "on tour" with Joaquin, the other kids, and her (Mireya is quitting her school to go with Joaquin). Lalo wants to go. Mari's not so sure.

Jerome is doing the steroids, they seem to affect him like uppers, he can't stop doing pushups. I think Stan and Darek want to get Victor involved in this next.

Victor shows up late to a dinner with Bruno, Sara and Yaya, but it's okay, because 1) Sara likes him, even may want to go to bed with him and 2) his wildness can help them. Even when he gets roaring drunk, Sara's not too upset. The next day, Victor and Yaya meet Catalina for the interview. They don't want to talk until money is agreed on. Catalina offers them $2,000 (they were expecting $100,000!).

Alicia can't persuade Mari to work at the hotel. She may lose her job, after 15 years of work, for this. Mr. Frost is the hotel guy who keeps pressuring her. Amador tries to help, goes to see Mari, but can't convince her to come back. I think I detected some sparks of attraction between Amador and Calixta.

Lety didn't like Gojo, and he wasn't wild about her. So Tania realizes that Belinda likes Gojo. But of course there's that Hugo problem.

After not even showing up at Marisa's house for the dinner, and not even calling, Cris runs into her at the hotel (which he bought, but hasn't told her), and wants to talk. She admits that yes, she had something to do with Miguel, a druglord. Yes, Miguel was killed. Yes, she fled. It's all true, every word!

But MAYBE she'll get around to explaining the rest of the truth.
 

Una Maid
Thank you Hombre!!!
I will be glued to the set tonight--no more gift wrapping, no more drop in visitors, no more nada!
J in Oregon
 

La Casa de al Lado: Martes

Unfortunately I missed a chunk of this (apparently where a drunken Emilio went Pac-Man wild at Greta's office), but then they went and finally cleared up the Pilar issue--or rather Raquel, Pilar's evil twin sister, who had kidnapped her and is now masquerading as her. (The Red Lipstick of Doom really should have been a giveaway.) The one major obvious question: why is she gunning for the Condes? Or is that being lumped under the general heading for most Evil Twins, which is simply "bitch crazy"?

Oh, and there was some space filler with Hilda and Karen and, more importantly, Nibaldo and Yolanda sortakinda bonding...at least up until the Carlos issue once again reared its imaginary head.

And as cracked-out as that was, which included a suddenly sane Cecilia (you can tell she's sane because the crazy eyes were under control) showing up at Pilar's house to protect her grandchildren, they actually went above and beyond with the end of the episode...where Raquel made good on her promise to "help" Renato by drawing him to Ignacia's studio and encouraging him to once again shoot himself. And the third time's the charm--this time he succeeded, complete with gratuitous matter spatter across a canvas. Dulce from El Fantasma de Elena would be so proud!
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO:

Great post, Bill! Yes, it's Pilar and Raquel, and Raquel has Pilar held prisoner in some house we haven't seen before. At least she's feeding her. She tells Pilar her name. Pilar didn't know she had a twin. Neither did Raquel until a few months ago.

So I guess Raquel killed Ignacia, and now helped Renato kill himself. She's using "Condenados" as her guide. But that doesn't solve the mystery of who wrote it, since if she did, should wouldn't need to mark the page as a guide. Wouldn't it be funny if Pilar is a bit crazy, and wrote the book as a fantasy, but Raquel is making it come true? But who wrote the first book?

Adolfmael tried intimidating Javier to get Carola out of jail, but Javier is unsuccessful so far, even though he was given a whole week to do it. So Adolfo realizes Gonzalo planted the drugs to get Carola in jail, and holds the gun to HIM. Gonzalo admits he did it, he HAD to, Carola was about to blow his cover. Adolfo gives him 1 DAY to get Carola free! We'll see.

Javier wants Gonzalo's help to have "Pilar" put away in a hospital for her own good. Gonzalo doesn't want to betray Pilar, but is waffling.

When Emilio came to Greta's office, he was wielding a baseball bat. I really wanted him to smash
Greta's brains out, but he just smashed all the furniture and went to sleep.

Cecilia has moved into the Ruiz house (current occupants: Raquel, Andrea, Diego, Hilda and Karen). Oh, and probably the baby, whom we didn't see last night. Cecilia is even going to sleep in the same room as Andrea and Diego, or at least close by, to protect them from "Pilar". So far, she hasn't told anyone that Pilar is Raquel.

Nibaldo has now seen that Yolanda isn't ALWAYS truthful, because she knew Emilio was an escort, and lied to Hilda (Hilda is so sad, she wants to sleep in Karen's bed. Karen asks if she snores :) So when Nibaldo finds that there's no Carlitos, will he forgive Yolanda? Of course he will.
 

UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN:

Cris and Marisa have a talk. Marisa explains that yes, she did know Miguel, but didn't know he was a druglord. His men killed Lalo's godfather, and terrorized everyone. The cops killed him, and she fled. "But were you lovers?" asks Cris, greatly offending Marisa, and she decides it's over if he doesn't trust her. She leaves.

She also found out that Victor told Cris that he and Marisa were really close and Cris was splitting them up. Mari finds Victor drunk in a bar with two babes, and dunks his drink on him. She screams that he KNOWS that there's NOTHING between them, and he'd better stay away or she'll get a restraining order. I don't think Victor is deterred one bit.

Victor had walked out of the meeting with Catalina when Catalina offered Yaya and him $2,000 for the interview, and they wanted WAY more. But this was secretly videoed by Catalina, and it can show how greedy they are.

Catalina accosts Tyron outside his house with prying questions, and Tyron almost has a heart attack (his pressure rose). Cris is so mad he goes to Catalina to ask how much does he have to pay for her to pull the plug on this smear campaign? Guess what - Catalina was videoing this, too!

Jerome is getting very manic from the steroids (I think the producers are confusing it with cocaine). He sort of wants to stop because of the side effects, but Stan tells him that's only the cheap stuff. His stuff is high quality. Keep using.

Amador is supportive of Marisa, who says he's like the father she never had. And she can never talk to her mother. So guess who's on a bus to NY? Yep, her mother, Marcela, having left Teo.

Little Lalo picks up a flute and instantly can play better than Sir James Galway. So they give him bongos, and he's also the world's greatest bongo player. And he never tried either one before. Okaaaaaaaay. Mireya and Joaquin REALLY want him to go on tour now. Marisa says "on tour?"

Calixta is fixing up her nightclub. She hires some guys to do the rehab for $8,800. But Stan finds out, makes a call, and they leave in the middle of the job. She's also concerned about permits (which we know Stan pretty much controls).

Yes, everything's going wrong. But I learned a new word, sanguijuela, which Marisa used to describe Estanislao. It means leech, or bloodsucker. Hah!
 

FLOR SALVAJE – MARTES

A Really Bad Night for the Good Guys and Gals O Una Noche Para Villanos

This episode was so very depressing and hard to watch. Rocío is very suspicious of what’s going on with Lourdes. She sees one of the thuggy guys show up to meet with Lourdes and connects the dots with the partial conversation she overheard a couple of episodes ago about harming someone. Cat is worried that, if she saw the guy, Rocío also might have seen him.

Some of the mothers of Manuela’s students approach her in the street asking if the “voice of love” was really her. She’s concerned they won’t want her teaching the kids, but they love what she did and want another episode of the radionovela as soon as possible. One of the ladies says she thought she was dead (sexually) until she heard Manuela!

The thugs tie Flor to a tree and hit her many times, telling her she has to leave town.

Aaaargh! Johnny, El Asqueroso, is not dead after all. He shows up in Alicia’s casa and tells her he’s “researched” her and that she is going to sell drugs in the 4P Cabaret or he’ll kill her loved ones, especially her boyfriend. Unfortunately, she doesn’t tell Enrique, who shows up just as El Asque is leaving. This plot development drives me nuts. She appears to be going down the same road as before, giving in to this creep.

When the P’s are discussing who might have kidnapped Flor, Mina puts her finger right on it. She says it must be a jealous woman and mentions Cat. Sacto refuses to believe this because she’s expecting his baby (¡tan estupido!).

Rocío follows the thug from the hacienda but is noticed by one of them. They chase her and drag her into the black SUV. Nasty little Ines sees this and only looks contemptuous. They plan to kill Rocío because she knows too much and has seen their faces. She tells them that she’s the sister of the Mayor and they should let her go. They decide they only have to blind her. (Like this would be OK with Mariano?)

Rafa passed out drunk near where he was riding his horse and screaming Flor’s name. Some guys find him and wake him up. He goes right to Flor’s house and finds Sacto there. Sacto accuses him of kidnapping her since he already did it once and he wanted to get even with her for the night with Sacto. After some snorting and threats from our two bulls, they realize someone else did it and organize search parties. Sacto is eaten up with guilt for the way he treated Flor during their night together. He’s sure that, if he had been kinder to her she would not have rushed out so quickly and the guys would not have gotten her.

One of the petroleros comes to the medicatura for treatment and spills the beans in front of Ines about José María having been to the 4P opening. Ines asks him if he had a date with that prostitute Rocío. When he patiently tells her Rocío doesn’t do that any more, she tells him she saw her get into a car with some guys, presumably to have sex with them. JM runs out.

Mariano is organizing a police search. Rotten Lourdes tells him that’s a lot of manpower for looking for a prostitute. He gives her a withering look and reminds her that his sister is also missing.

The jerks who have Rocío say they’re giving her some colirio (eyedrops), and, giggling sadistically , they spray something in her eyes that causes her to scream with pain. This was waaaay too much for me. Rocío is my favorite character and I’ll be pissed if she’s blind.

Rafa finds Flor unconscious near a riverbank. They showed a snake earlier on, but we don’t know if she was bitten or just unconscious from the beatings.
 

UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN

Thanks for the great recap! I don't really understand why Cristobal is so furious with Marisa. She cleared everything up and he was still saying that he wishes he could hate her and forget about her. She didn't do anything wrong. She has the right to be mad because he investigated her without giving her a chance to explain first but I don't know where all his anger is coming from. Is it because she said she doesn't love him anymore? He was angry before that though.
The Lalo storyline is getting ridiculous. Now he's a musical genius too? I wonder what "on tour" really means. His teachers still seem like they're up to no good.
 

Una Maid
Okay Hombre and Nancy, that Lalo kid is getting very irritating.
When he started on the bongos, I'm surprised they didn't have a voiceover doing Ricky Ricardo's "Ba-ba-looooooo! Babalooo-ay-aaaaaaa!"
I have the feeling he is going to be kidnapped the the mad genius, Joaquin.
:o)
J in Oregon
 

FLOR SALVAJE

Novelera, I'm with you on this one. The scene with the thugs spraying that crap in Rocio's eyes was really hard to watch. The way she screamed, she really sold it and it seemed real. The scream was nasty, like I could feel it.

I don't want to see her blind either.

I don't get it, was the point of blinding her so that she can't identify them with the "law"? I would think that once they knew she was Mariano's sister, they would let her go as no damage had been done and try to cover the damage with him. As it is now, she can easily describe them to him from memory and they've got their worst nightmares coming as we know what he's capable of.
 

...try to cover the "misunderstanding" with him.
 

FLOR SALVAJE - MARTES

Rand, I knew you'd be upset about what those guys did to Rocío. And, yes, her acting was impressive in portraying the pain she was feeling.

I never like blind episodes in telenovelas. Sometimes the victim recovers his or her sight and pretends to still be blind for some reason (Ambrázame Muy Fuerte). Or the hero doctor restores the person's sight. If they go there, it will be more like the crap Univisión dishes out.

It didn't make much sense that they thought blinding her would protect them from her identifying them. As you said, she can describe them. But I guess thugs aren't that smart. I just hope we don't have to wait until the last week for Lourdes and Cat to be revealed as the author of this awful business.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

tnx Bill & Hombre

actually I'm so bored with the fillers. I hope the next episode will be a interesting one. in the preview Gonzo & Adomael were fighting. let's see who will be the winner :)
 

Novelera,

Even though Cat didn't come up with the whole idea, she reluctantly went along with it. So while we were seeing a bond forming between her and Sacto and the kids, that will all be long gone as soon as he finds out.

That and the fact that he still can't bury his feelings for Amanda.

Gonna be a rough one for Cat.


They healed Olga's hands in 2 episodes from 3rd degree burns. I'm hoping they'll do the same with Rocio via JM.

She's my favorite too. Carita like no other, body of a dancer, amazing eyes and super talented as an actress.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

Does anyone recall when Pilar went outside her house (maybe the night of Hilda's engagement party (?)), saw someone and said something like, "You? Where did you come from?" I'm guessing that might have been her twin. Yet, last night she says she didn't know she had a twin? So, how does she recognize Raquel and then not know she had a twin?
 

Pretty sure she said it to Crazy Eyes, aka Mom when Mom was with Javier.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO:

Good point, Novelero Tex. But which Pilar said that? Maybe that was Raquel seeing Cecilia!

It was a wild ride last night. Rebeca is being transferred to the high security mental hospital. Raquel happens to go to the clinic at this time, tells the evil doctors, how dare you transfer my sister w/o my permission! They fumble that Javier authorized it, when Rebeca gets out some words. Gonzalo. Asesino. Iñaki. Raquel, being quite a bit sharper than our doofus doctors, says, Gonzalo is a murderer? Sí, replies Rebeca. And Gonzalo is really Iñaki Mora? Sí. Raquel then starts walking away, at which point the doctors go, so what should we do with Rebeca? She replies. Whatever you feel like! and leaves everyone stunned.

Javier really pressures Gonzalo to commit Pilar to a hospital, has it all arranged. Gonzalo shows up to convince "Pilar", but she tells him he's got a lot of nerve, since he's a killer too, they have a lot in common (she admits she killed Ignacia), and he's Iñaki Mora! He's shocked, Gonzalo walks out, Pilar follows, as do Hilda and Nibaldo (and Karen) and maybe Emilio (who knows, it was pretty crazy), and Adolfo shows up, guns blazing, and KIDNAPS Gonzalo! We later see him bound and gagged in a basement. I guess he should have listened to that warning about Carola. Later, Mabel questions Adolfmael, but he's not talking.

Javier arrives to see if Gonzalo has gotten Pilar to the clinic, only to be told Gonzalo was kidnapped. Later, he thinks he hears Ignacia (finds a few of her bracelets on the ground), and wanders into Ig's workshop, only to find Don Renato dead, in a pool of blood!

Cecilia wants Diego and Andrea to go with her somewhere "far away" to escape from Pilar.

Hilda is actually closer to baby Ignacia, now that she's through with that "liar" Emilio (who isn't giving up winning her back, though).

Sorry if this was all out of order, but it was a pretty crazy, fast moving episode. What's next?

BTW, Raquel goofed. She told Javier that "Leonardo" came and kidnapped Gonzalo. Since Leonardo has been dead for months, maybe Javier will realize this is not the real Pilar. Wait a minute, who am I kidding?!!!
 

UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN:

Yaya is all dressed up in a smart business suit for her interview with Catalina. But Victor busts in, HE'S doing the interview, and he wants $5,000.00! They actually give it to him, and he does the interview. Around town, everyone's tuning in (even Marisa and Cris, who both separately say they're not interested before pressing the button on the remote).

Victor proceeds to tell how HE was the hero who saved the family from Miguel the druglord (he did get shot in the shoulder, and that's why Lalo saw him as a hero, leading to the one day marriage). Catalina asks if Marisa and Miguel were lovers. Victor's response? Oh, that's for Marisa and her conscience to say. (!!!!) He then makes a direct plea to Lalo, saying he's sorry, forgive him, give him another chance.

Lalo asks his Mom, what do you think about that? Marisa says I think it's all pitiful, the depths to which Victor has sunk, but what really matters is what YOU think. Lalo says, I don't know what I think, but I know what I FEEL. I feel I should give him another chance. (Oh well).

Meanwhile, Hugo is still trying to get Belinda pregnant, unaware she has new birth control pills, hidden under a lamp.

Jerome is getting more steroided out, and Tania is just beginning to sense something's wrong.

Calixta tells Mari to go work at the hotel, and Mari says she will, after one week more of helping Calixta. Cali also says she lost her husband and her little sister (I think), but won't tell Mari how (we know it had to do with Stan).

Tyron thinks his political career is over. Most of the rich people now think Marisa is a criminal of some sort. Cris sort of does, too, although he can't get Marisa out of his mind.

And Sara and Bruno are having the times of their lives. Bruno especially seems to be having sex with lots of people (Sara, Catalina, and now he has his eye on Yaya). Yes, the bad guys are having their day. But will it last?
 

LA CASA DE AL ALDO

tnx Hombre. after a boring week at last we had a fast moving interesting episode.
I wonder what Mabel is going to do with his loco sons. I liked her scene with Adomael. she got extremely worried about Gonzo being kidnapped by Adomael.
the kidnapping scene could have had more action! Gonzo was caught too easily!

I guess the writers don't know what to do with Rebeca! pobrecita :(
 

FLOR SALVAJE – MIERCOLES

Rafael Urrieta is beside himself with worry that Flor will die. He actually prays and says to God that he will change if she lives.

What the thugs sprayed in Rocío’s eyes was industrial ammonia. They give her another “dose” to be sure she’s really blind.

Cat is worried sick about what’s happened with the sicarios. She tells Lourdes they should fess up. Lourdes tells her that, if she goes down, Cat is going down with her.

When José María tells Rafa the extent of her injuries (not too bad, apparently), he of course asks if she was raped. Is this a guy thing? Never mind if she was beaten to a pulp. Did someone else get there? Sacramento overhears Rafa’s tearful declaration of how much Rafa loves Flor and that he’ll get revenge on whoever did this. He leaves quietly.

Sacto tells Avelina that he spent a night with Amanda for revenge and treated her badly. He says that Rafael is a better man than he is. He didn’t care about their having spent the night together and swallowed his pride to care for the injured Flor.

Rafael is definitely on the right track about who did this. He says that he’ll pay big bucks to find the guys who did this. He also says in front of Mariano that he thinks the ones who wanted the 4P Cabaret not to open are the ones responsible. He thinks it’s that harpy Lourdes. Mariano says it couldn’t be his wife

In the clinic Ines asks those in the room with Flor if she should have done something when they snatched Rocío. Duh! She also overhears José María talking with Rafa about Rocío. If she hasn’t appeared, is she dead? Ines picks up on how much this would hurt him.

Tío is positively bipolar. He switches moods every scene. First he tells Filomina to get over herself. He and Enrique are with the woman they love. Then she brings up the sale of the shares. He then tells her that, if she gives him some time, he can give her what she wants. I thought he meant he’d earn enough from the hotel to buy her out. But she tells him the only thing she’ll accept is Enrique back with Diana. He looks like he’s ready to wimp out and work on Enrique to me.

Susana and Beba insist on going to see their sister. Ana embraces them and goes in as well. Ana is behaving much better since her sister was hurt.

Mariano tells Lourdes and Cat that Rafa opened his eyes. The same ones who went out there to protest the opening of the 4P cabaret are likely the ones that had Flor and Rocío kidnapped. When Lourdes indignantly says she didn’t do it, Mariano gives her a cold look and tells her she better pray that Rafa is wrong because, if he’s right, the blood that is going to flow will be Lourdes’ blood.

The three thugs have celebrated their successful operation, gotten roaring drunk and passed out under a tree. Sacramento and Avelino find them, immediately guess by all their guns that they’re the guys they want, and capture them. When Mariano is called by Quezada telling him they have three suspects, Lourdes pipes up that she wants to go along. Mariano gives her a very cold look and refuses, also telling her that, if anything happened to Rocío, Vicente will be an orphan.

Ines tells JM that she doesn’t understand how two men can fight over such a woman (Sacto and Rafa over Flor). JM looks at her like she’s a bug and asks her where her medical ethics are. If she doesn’t have anything more intelligent to say, just shut up. Yay!

José María refuses to admit that he loves Rocío, but goes out on a horse looking everywhere for her. Rocío has gotten out of the place where she was being held and stumbles around in the open air. When JM calls her name, she answers. He holds her while she sobs and tells him she can’t see.
 

FLOR SALVAJE - MIERCOLES

I forgot to include that El Asqueroso showed up at the 4P Cabaret and saw Abelardo sweeping the floors. He looked around with a proprietary air, and said this would be an excellent place to sell drugs. Abe looks very frightened. If Flor Salvaje takes notice of this, and she certainly takes notice of everything to do with the 4P, there will be hell to pay.
 

FLOR SALVAJE:
Thanks for the great recap, Novelera.
We're left in suspense as to whether Flor will identify the guys who beat her. It's tough to do that when they're right there. Don't they have the one-way mirrors in NE?

I sort of got the impression that Rocio was being held in town in some kind of industrial place but of course for JM to find her as he gallantly rides around on horseback, she has to be stumbling around in the countryside.

If Mariano can't gets the goods on Lourdes, he's a crummy cop. Catalina has already blabbed to Louisa and it won't be hard to get her (Cat) to confess to Mariano.

I loved it when JM told Ines to shut up.
 

FLOR SALVAJE - MIERCOLES

Jean, the guys wore masks when they beat up Flor because they always planned to let her live. But she might be able to say they're the right height and weight. I don't think she'd be afraid to identify them if she had clearly seen their faces.

The one I'm worried about is Ines. She saw their faces as they pushed Rocío into the SUV, but her motives are always suspect since all she cares about is getting JM to the altar.

I'm waiting for the fireworks when Rafa finds out they've got them in custody. Hopefully, he's smart enough not to murder them on sight and to find out who hired them.
 

FLOR SALVAJE

Nice job Novelera. The scenes last night with Mariano and Lourdes were some of the strongest I've seen in novelas. I had to rewind it was so good. The look he gave her, and the way he delivered those lines telling her it was going to be her blood that ran...wow! This guy is such a good actor.

Seeing Rocio like that is completely heartbreaking. I need to see her get her sight back and I need to see those guys strung up, La Reina style en un calabozo.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Mariano go to work when he sees the state Rocio is in. This is gonna be good.

Cat is in a world of mierda.
 

Una Maid
Thanks for the recap Hombre. I am already cringing when I think of Hugo finding Belinda's stash of BC pills under that tiny candleholder on the dresser! Sheesh!
Well, things are finally starting to heat up...was Victor faking his emotion during the TV interview? I thought it looked like he felt real remorse for his past behavior.
J in Oregon
 

UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN

Victor is a jerk. I don't care what he said in the interview. Actions speak louder than words and so far he he hasn't done anything to show that he can be a good person. Maybe he'll change, but it isn't likely. I feel sorry for Lalo because he is going to give Victor another chance to be a good dad, but I have a feeling Victor will end up disappointing Lalo.
I wonder how long they are going to keep Cristobal and Marisa apart. I think the best scenes are between them and the rest of the novela can be repetitive and kind of boring at times. I hope they don't drag on this Marisa's a criminal thing for too long.
 

UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN:

Nancy, I totally agree with you about Victor being a jerk, and actions speaking louder than words. It's interesting that some of the characters are leaning towards forgiving him (Lalo, Tania, Lety) and others won't (Belinda, Jerome, Calixta). Marisa's sort of in the middle. She won't forgive him, but she IS going to let him have time with Lalo.

It looks as if Tyron didn't see the interview. Amelia and Cris agree that Tyron's health should stop him from running for Senate. But Tyron is defiant, he's running anyway.

As predicted, Marisa's Mom Marcela shows up, SHE doesn't trust Victor, and she's a little suspicious of Calixta, who's been acting like a mother to Marisa.

Calixta sees HER workmen getting paid by Stan, that's the last straw. She calls the IRS, and has Stan audited. He has 24 hours to prove his innocence, or it's off to jail (hope it's not like that in real life!:) He suspects Calixta turned him in. Meanwhile, Calixta hires some new workmen, and is okay with Marisa going back to work at the hotel.

Bruno and Yaya get caught by Catalina kissing in the ladies room. Catalina is mad, boasts that she can bring down Sara if she wants, and Bruno frantically tries to calm her down, saying things like, you like the danger, don't you? Catalina is back on board. Sara doesn't care who Bruno hooks up with, as long as he's discreet, such as not right in front of Catalina. BTW, Bruno's next job is to act totally gay and seduce Tito.

Cris is upset (as usual) and asks
Tito if HE ever was in love. Tito hedges, says he's married to his work.

Marisa finds out Victor got $5000 for his interview. She yells at him, that's how little our privacy is WORTH?! He wants to give some of the money to Lalo.

Okay, of the bad guys, whom do we hate the most (Sara, Bruno, Catalina, Victor, Hugo, Yaya, Stan, Alicia or Darek?) At this point I hate Catalina the most, although Stan and Hugo aren't far behind.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO:

Although not much happened, we found out A LOT! Benefiting from some good camera tricks, Raquel tells her twin Pilar the whole story.

Raquel was raised by a woman whom she thought was her Mom, I think her name was Joana. That woman was mean to everyone, had various other kids, was poor, and hoped getting married would solve her problems. She married a loser named Jonnie, who proceeded to sexually abuse Raquel for years! Finally, at the age of 20, Raquel killed him with a kitchen knife, and got sent to jail for 15 years.

When she got out, she tracked down her real mother, Cecilia Arismendi, and through her, Pilar. For three years, she's been observing, observing. (most of those times when a character thought someone was watching, and we got a view behind a bush, it turns out to have been Raquel).

After learning all about the family, she wrote La Casa de al Lado. And she also wrote Condenados, remarking how funny the name is, since it starts with "Conde". She also made sure all the right people got the books. At one point, Emilio almost caught her, so she killed that librarian.

Now aware of everything, she's been impersonating Pilar, even took some of her clothes. She killed Sebastian, was in the house at the same time as Pilar! She killed Ignacia, too, and then wore some of her old clothes. Over and over, she's been making it look as if Pilar has been doing the murders. Yes, that's her ultimate revenge - Pilar, who grew up rich, and married a big lawyer, will get blamed for everything, and go to jail, whereas she, Raquel, will end up rich! What a plan.

The family discovers Renato, and is destroyed (Mabel, too). The cops think it's suicide. But Nibaldo says he saw Pilar lurking around. Looks as if Raquel's plan is working!

Gonzaki is still tied up in Adolfo's basement.

Carola can't get the guard to give her notebook to a person to read, since the guard says she doesn't do favors.

It sort of feels as if they're dragging this out a bit til the end, with lots of flashbacks. At least we found out all that Raquel stuff. Who's the next victim?
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO – jueves

I’m finally caught up with the story and have read all your great comments from the past week. Thanks to Bill C, Hombre and Novelera for your wonderful recaps. And Erin, I’m so glad to see you here, safe and sound. And to the new voices here, ¡bienvenidos a todos!

Thanks for today’s terrific capette, Hombre. Yes, now Raquel has had a chance to tell her side of the story:

But I was wondering ...
Why WOULD Cecilia Arismendi separate her twins? Wasn’t their father around, the guy who left Rebeca’s mother for his new wife and family? And if Cecilia really were desperate for money, why not SELL Raquel to a wealthy, childless couple (like Eva and Renato Conde, for example)? Or if she just wanted to get rid of her, why not leave her with an agency where healthy white babies, then as now, were in great demand? Or on a church or hospital doorstep, if she just wanted to get rid of her anonymously?

Wouldn’t it make more sense if Susana were the twins’ birth mother and she gave or sold one of her twins to Cecilia because Crazy Ceci needed a baby (to seal the deal with el señor Arismendi?) and Susana just plain needed the money? In that case she lied to Raquel on her deathbed, but only in part. She wanted her to look for her sister; and maybe she hoped that Crazy Ceci would help her out if only to maintain the secret of Pilar’s origins.

Also ...
If Raquel succeeds in painting Pilar as a crazed killer and Pilar gets locked up, where does that leave Raquel? She can’t usurp Pilar’s life – that life has been destroyed! Raquel would have to kill Cecilia (she and Pilar know the truth but no one will believe Pilar because she’s “crazy”) and then disappear into the shadows. (Well, I suppose she could lie low for a while and then show up as the long-lost twin and worm her way into everyone’s affections, assuming anyone is still alive, that is.)

If she kills Pilar and gets away with it and then tries to take her place, she’ll be the one accused of murdering Ignacia and Sebastián and she’ll be the one implicated in Renato’s death.

She stands to gain only one thing: the satisfaction of seeing Pilar suffer.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO
Some not so deep thoughts by NovelaMaven ...

Good and Evil Twins, Maternal Abandonment, and a Thirst for Vengeance: Make that a double!

There are two sets of siblings, the Arismendi sisters and the Mora brothers, each with a set of twins.

In each set of twins, one is good (Iván and Pilar) and one is evil (Ismael and Raquel).

In each sibship, the eldest is the dominant personality (Iñaki and Rebeca). Rebeca wasn’t exactly a palomita blanca when we met her, but we have come to think of her as one of the good guys. Could she have more in common with Iñaki than we think?

The theme of maternal abandonment runs rampant through the story:

Mabel abandoned her boys and now blames herself for what has become of them.

Regardless of who is their biological mother, both Cecilia and Susana abandoned their daughters (both twins seem to have been raised in abusive homes though CC hasn’t had a chance to tell her story yet – and neither has Pilar.)

Carmen abandoned Carola, perhaps thinking she was providing a better life for her. But Carola has been a misfit her whole life, one of the unhappiest people in the story.

Hilda has only now accepted her daughter. (Apparently the shock of finding out her husband is a whore has jolted her out of her postpartum funk.)

We thought Ignacia was another bad mother. Then we were led to believe that she was little Luis’s fairy godmother. Have we heard the full story?

And what about the origins of Ignacia and Emilio? Will we ever know how these pieces of the puzzle fit?

Finally: Consider the irony that all the abandoned children turned psychopathic killers – Raquel, Iñaki and Ismael – chose to direct their vengeance towards the Condes, a family who took in and raised children abandoned by others. Or so we believe ...
 

LA CASA - JUEVES

Excellent recap, Hombre. And I liked your insight about all the times someone appeared to be spying on either the Condes or the Ruiz's, and that it turned out to be Raquel.

Welcome back, NovelaMaven!!!! I enjoyed your analysis of maternal abandonment and good/evil twins.

And, great minds...

I was thinking the same thing. What good does it do Raquel to get Pilar locked up for murder since her goal is to usurp her life? Her logical move was to kill Pilar and assume her identity. She doesn't know anything (if my memory serves) about Javier and Gonzaki planning to put her in the loony bin.
 

FLOR SALVAJE – JUEVES

Part One

Flor can’t recognize the guys who kidnapped her because they had masks on. But she told Rafa that she had a strong feeling they were the guys. Ines says she can’t recognize them either, because she was focused on Rocío. Rafa grabs Quezada’s gun from the holster and tries to make the guys confess, but Quezada isn’t having it. José María brings Rocío in with a bandage over her eyes. The thugs are made to speak, and she recognizes the voice of the small, mean guy as the one giving the orders to blind her.

Filomina is a monster. She tells Diana she wishes it had been Alicia who was kidnapped. And she looks like she may be thinking about having this done to solve her problem.

Rafa asks Sacto why he didn’t risk his life to save Flor from the kidnappers. Where was his gun? Sacto sheepishly admits he ran out without it. Rafa comes up with an insulting remark about Sacto’s manhood.

While JM is attending Rocío, Mariano is there, frantic. She tells the two of them that they put ammonia in her eyes so she couldn’t identify their faces. JM puts some kinds of drops in her eyes, which hurt a lot.

Sacto has the same pity party with José María that he had with Avelino. He is to blame for what happened to Flor. Because she left him, he was enjoying humiliating her, and that caused her to run out of the bedroom.

Lourdes finds out that the thugs are in jail. Cat still wants to confess, but Lourdes snarls that, if she does that, her baby will be born in prison.

Mariano returns to the hacienda and tells Cat that his sister is blind. Cat is stricken with remorse and spills the whole story to him. But she insists that the plan was only to scare FS into leaving town, something that she also wanted. Lourdes wanted the Cabaret to close. Mariano asks why, after everything he did for her, she didn’t tell him before Lourdes could do it. Cat tells him that probably Rocío followed the guy who came to the hacienda for money. It all just spun out of control.
 

FLOR SALVAJE – JUEVES

Part Two

The new, improved Rafael Urrieta is spoon feeding Rocío. He tells her she’s a hero for trying to save Flor Salvaje.

Cat beats herself up some more, telling Luisa she can’t believe her jealousy made her do such a low thing.

Back at the jail in Timotes, Lourdes is playing Wife of the Mayor to the hilt, trying to convince Quezada to release the three thugs. Mariano shows up. She walks right into the trap, not realizing he knows what she did. She tries to convince him Flor was involved with these thugs in some evil doings. He finally tells her he knows everything, and the worst error of her life was messing with his sister. He doesn’t believe that Rocío’s kidnapping was not part of the plot. She plays her hole card. If she goes down, he will likely lose his job as mayor. [I don’t see the logic of this, but it slows Mariano down a bit.]

Titi is at the medicatura for treatment of his gunshot wound. JM tells him he won’t need to come back again. Titi tells JM and Ines that he’s very upset about what happened to Rocío. Ines pipes up that probably Rocío enjoyed her profession (prostitution). This is a complete non sequitor and JM gives her another “Who the hell are you?” look. Titi disagrees vehemently. He said that Rocío went into that life after her boyfriend was killed. When she “worked” it always seemed like she was gritting her teeth through it. And one time she broke his heart because she cried after they made love. He tells Ines that Rocío is a very special person.

Amanda tells Zahra that, because of the way he stayed up all night with her, she’s finding it difficult, but she still plans to get revenge on Rafa.

Apparently Mariano was convinced by Lourdes that, if she were convicted, his career would be over. He plans to let the three thugs go for lack of evidence. Rafael Urrieta shows up screaming that these are the guys. I wouldn’t bet the farm on these guys living out the week.

Lourdes shows up to yell at Catalina for telling Mariano. He comes in just then and tells her the only one who needs to shut her trap is Lourdes. His sister is in bad shape because of her. Push her luck with his patience and she’ll end up in jail.

José María comes to Rocío’s casa to check on her eyes. He tells her he’s not coming as a doctor but because of his concern for her. He kisses her. She obviously enjoys it, but pushes him away. Presumably because he’s engaged to the little witch.

Mariano comes into the bedroom where Lourdes is sleeping and has a scarf in his hand. He looks like he’s contemplating strangling her.

Flor comes to spend the night with Rafael all dressed sexy and made up. He kisses her passionately.
 

Una Maid
Hombre, your question about most despised villain (Sara, Bruno, Catalina, Victor, Hugo, Yaya, Stan, Alicia or Darek)got me thinking--I really find them all fun to watch, with the exception of Hugo, Darek and Estanislau. Those characters are just plain evil.
J in Oregon
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO

great recap Hombre, tnx so much

NavelaMaven welcome back! :)
I too enjoyed your comments and I agree.
the whole Raquel story is sort of nonsense in my opinion. if she wants to usurp Pilar's life she would kill her and take her place. finished! especially writing those books makes no sense indeed!
by the way, if Raquel really wanted to see Pilar suffer she should have killed Gonzo, not Sebastian! though I do appreciate her choice! haha
 

LA CASA -- jueves

Gracias por la bienvenida, Novelera y Alex!

"if Raquel really wanted to see Pilar suffer she should have killed Gonzo, not Sebastian! though I do appreciate her choice!"

So do I, Alex :)

If they were going to go with the old good-and-evil-twin bit, I wish the writers had used it to explain the Ricardo Merino subplot. If Raquel had been stalking Pilar (and from time to time, impersonating her) for many years (not just three), she could have been the one who led Ricardo on and harmed him enough to make crazy Marisol blame Pilar for her brother's misfortunes.

"Who's the next victim?"
Hombre, I vote for Mabel. She has become a threat to Adolfael. He HAS to kill her to silence her. Besides, her death will be painful for Gonzaki, as much as Gonzo tries to pretend he has no feelings for Mabel, insisting on keeping his distance by addressing her as 'señora'. (It will be painful for Adolfael too -- he'll have the same kind of nightmares that Gonzo still has about murdering Igor. Ni modo. The brothers lack ... shall we say, impulse control? And they don't seem able to foresee the consequences of their acts.)
 

LA CASA:

What great ideas! Yes, maybe Cecilia is NOT the bio Mom. She's certainly hiding something! As for Raquel's plan, I don't think she's really revealed it in total, and she may have some tricks up her sleeves (I know, her dress doesn't HAVE sleeves!)
 

UNA MAID EN MANHATTAN

Out of all the villains, I really don't like Sara, Catalina, and Hugo. Hugo is Belinda's husband, right? Whoever her husband is, I can't stand him.
It's unbelievable that some of the characters fell for Victor's speech to Lalo, especially Tania and Lety since they are Marisa's friends and should know better.
I'm so disappointed that Sara and Cristobal kissed. I was hoping he'd be able to resist her, but I guess we're at the point in the novela where they'll do anything and everything possible to keep Marisa and Cristobal apart.
If Tito really is gay (do we know that for sure?) then I think he might have a thing for Cristobal. I sensed something when Cris asked him if he's been in love and he said he loves his work.
I also think Marisa is going to see Cris and Sara together when she starts working at the hotel again.
 

LA CASA DE AL LADO -- jueves

¡Feliz año nuevo a todos!

Oye, Hombre, What about this trick up Raquel's nonexistent sleeve?

The other characters realize that Pilar has an evil twin. Raquel engineers Pilar's murder in such a way that it appears that Raquel is the victim. Then FAKE Pilar (really Raquel) gets to step into REAL (and dead) Pilar's life.

This is an echo of the strategy Adolfael used when he led everyone to believe HE and not his angelic twin, Leonardo/Iván had died. He got away with ... well ... murder ... before anyone figured out what had really happened.
 

LA CASA

NovelaMaven, that's a very interesting idea. Since this novela doesn't hesitate to off characters we like, killing Pilar has a certain logic to it.

Maybe you should try for a job as a writer on one of these!

Raquel isn't THAT smart. She'd do a better job of it if she pretended to be nicer, especially to the children Pilar adores. But then, it wouldn't be so much fun to watch.
 

EXACTLY Novelera! I LOVE watching this brutal Pilar/Racquel. The faces, the attitude, love it!

When she looked at Javier after Ismaael was shooting his gun and had put Gonzo in the back seat...LOVED how she was just so casual about it! He says, did you call the police? And she's like me?? LOL. Isn't that supposedly what you lawyers do?? You do it! LOL.
 

LA CASA -- jueves

Novelera and Rand,
I'm also enjoying the new, wicked Arismendi twin. But I beg to differ about one thing, Novelera -- If Raquel lurked unseen for three years, wrote, self-published and distributed two books, got away with various murders while framing Pilar for at least two of them, I'd say she IS that smart. Or as mis cuñados from Boston might say -- she's wicked smaaaht! :)