Caray, Caray!

tonight's ep had some hysterical moments...
Begona to Enrique: no tienes nada que preocuparte, Enriquito!
Gael: Estaba dormidito!
Padre Lupe: cabeza de alcornoque!
 

Thanks, Marta. I really enjoyed your recap, especially your take on Damian. Why did Damian never once come home in 15 years? Why did he never once write to his Uncle??? I find those things stranger than him not recognizing Elisa. Or did he recognize her after all?

So many questions...it will be fun to see how this plays out.

EJ
 

i think he did recognize her, otherwise why would he say her name right away after she said his? it must be something he is holding back for.. seems he is engaged to marry and he probably knows Elisa was holding a hope he would come for her... we will find out soon enough.
 

Super Marta, thank you for the superb recap. Gracias a Dios that you had this episode to recap. There was so much dialogue and setting things up for future events, I was so happy it was not my night, whew!

Yikes, Elisa has been living in the house of pain all these years? It's hard to believe she is still toughing it out with detached papa and wicked jealous Tia/Stepmama.

Marta, I do enjoy your wry humor, especially Damian saying "I have not attended mass, have not taken a shower, have not paid my cell phone, have not eaten my green veggies," very funny!! How many Hail Marys does he get for all that?

Hooray, Altair Jarabo! I loved hearing her voice and seeing her headband-for-a-dress. She's just super and I know she won't disappoint. I noted that Enrique made a point of saying he and Damian never got along, hmmm...

Speaking of Damian, what a poor tortured soul he seems to be.

Marta, thanks again! I liked it when Padre Loopy called Gael a cork-head. Very cute.
 

A wonderful recap indeed. Thanks much, Marta! :)

Y'all have definitely hit a nail on the head when it comes to Damian -- something is dreadfully wrong. It looked to me like he was completely lying when he said he didn't recognize Elisa. Either that or Hell Mom Fina has perpetrated something insidious behind the scenes. Yeah, exactly what kind of "great sacrifice" did you make while keeping Damian away, pray tell?

And speaking of praying, how is it that you can sit up in church before God with a mantilla on your horned head and walk right out in the street and act like the Devil, and think that's acceptable? Isn't going to church supposed to encourage folks to act BETTER? I'm shocked a bolt of lightning doesn't split the woman in two the second she walks over the church threshold. When that telenovela anvil finally falls on her head and she goes on to Glory, the gates of Hell are gonna blow wide open for her.

Why is everyone still suffering the rantings of Carmaniac? Why hasn't she been locked up in an asylum or ridden out of town on a rail yet? Does anybody have any b@llz in LaErmitaville?? (I know, I know, where Augie the Lame is concerned, that there is laughable.) If I was Carmina and all I'd all had to do for 15 years was listen to my same-old same-old venom, I'd have bored myself stupid by this time and just signed the commitment papers on my own.

Dr. Tovar hiring Paloma makes the hairs rise on the back of my neck. I'm not sure why...

Begona should never ever let anyone see her with a deep cleaning mask on. I mean, no woman looks attractive in one, of course, but wow, she looked like a joker from hell. (I think it was just her expressions making it that way, which says a lot about the actress. Good job!)

Well, poor Elisa. Even in 15 years she just can't get a break. But the story is set up nicely for her and Damian to have to work their way to each other. And she is old enough now to give as good as she gets!

Thanks again for your hard work, Marta.:D
 

Wonderful Marta. Emotions and intrigue all over the board last night and you captured them all so well.

Poor Damian. Comes home to tell Mama he's getting married and moving away again, but then BAM, first person he sees is Elsa. He did recognize her and even he probably did not expect all the emotions that came back for him. Seeing her still wearing the amulet was probably a shocker as well as how gorgeous she is. Talk about conflicted, and fast!
Loved his interaction with Padre-that confessional scene was so cute!
Paloma - love her!!! The way she landed hat job, how could the Doc resists.

As for Gael - oh man. Already it breaks my heart that you know he's been protecting Elisa all these years, is nuts about her, and voila, Damian arrives and he's chopped liver again. Hate when that happens to the secondary guy...hopefully he comes out ok in the end.

The sibling rivalry with Enrique and sis will be messy--reminds me of Juliano and Jose (sp) in Mi Pecado. But my fav moment of the night---seeing Gossip Girl in the face lotion. That was too funny for words.

I love Altair...would just once love to see her in a different type of character. Getting frustating to always have to dislike her.

Had a dream about work last night and was working with "my boss" on a project--except it wasn't my usual boss, across the desk sat Gabino. Does that qualify for a nightmare?? As Scrooge would say...must have been something I ate.
 

Great recap Marta! We indeed know that Damian recognized Elisa immediately. He is comflicted and holding back (not just with Elisa, but in all of his interactions with the people "back home"). But those tears and look of longing when he saw Elisa was real. I like that the scene didn't come out the way we, and Elisa, expected. LOL! Weren't we speculating on the slow mo run and embrace yesterday?

Damian has a lot of issues to work out, obviously.

Loved how Paloma got her job. The doc was utterly charmed by her, and not in a creepy way. I think they'll work well together.
 

Oh Marta, I just loooved your recap -- starting with the title and continuing all throughout.

Like Sylvia, I chuckled over your expanded laundry list of Damián's "sins" in the confessional.

But I really giggled at your description of Becreamed Begoña looking like a mime. HAH!

Daisynjay -- Having Gabino as a boss definitely qualifies as a nightmare!

Stephe, I think I know what your neck hairs are telling you about Dr. Tovar and Paloma -- he is a closet lech and soon he'll be coming out!

Elna June, Damián definitely recognized Elisa. (He breathed her name after all). What he failed to do was ACKNOWLEDGE her. Paloma knew that quite well and needled him about it skillfully.

I'm curious to know what his wicked Botox-Queen Mama has been doing all these years to brainwash him and keep him completely incommunicado. Whatever it was, the spell seems to be in danger of dispelling under the magical influence of the trio of Elisa, Paloma and Gael -- with emphasis on the first of the three.

Enrique and Sabrina look like they're going to be pills, just like their parents. But maybe they'll just be jerks and not DEMONS.
 

Great work.

Damian must have a lot of inner demons. I wonder whether not being back home in 15 years was his desire or his maternal unit's. I hope we find out soon.

As for not writing, this is nothing new in novelas and I am at a loss to explain this, particularly since this is the internet age.

Please clean up, Gael. I think someone should contact the Fab 5.
 

Marta: Great snarky recap. Damian should have smiled and thrown his arms around Elisa. So, we now need to know why he is robotic and reserved. Of course, during his formative years, he had no family to love and encourage him except from way afar.

Enter Altair Jaraibo in a predictable role. She will be self-centered, demanding and mean.

The last scenes with Carmina egging Toadface on to tell Elisa the truth were so Greek drama. She personified the harpy pecking away at her prey.

So, who's her Daddy now?
 

Vivi, i agree with you about Doc and Paloma interaction being fun and natural... i dont see the danger on him becoming a creep withher, their chemistry felt rather that he was entertained/amused at her spunk and she might be what he needs to enjoy coming to work (no pun about Paloma intended) when he has the 'gossip girl' for wife at home with his own kids, each with their own issues (i have a feeling both parents treat them as if they were still kids, i noticed when the dad does not trust his qualifications to get a job and the mom will use Fina influence to tell her son 'nothing to worry about Enriquito' LOL)

UA, ok Gael can clean up but don't give him a short haircut and clean shaven a la old Emiliano S-G, it would not fit with the environment of the novela. I like the fact that Mark T's portraying the character fits with the town/scenario Gael grew up in...

btw, did the Padre teach him about accounting? how can he tell ToadHead that he 'did some numbers and he won't have to come up with so much cash at first'?? he doesn't have a PHD in Economics, does he? first we had a mechanic with ability with numbers... but a farmer with ability for numbers seems a MUCH BIGGER stretch of the imagination.
 

NM, i am wondering if Damian is taking back the snapping of the red shoes and saying 'i wish i was home'... lol
 

Marta - Thank you for the wonderful recap. My favorite part was Damian's ... er ..."confession"... LOL!

" --- he doesn't have a PHD in Economics, does he?"
Maybe some left-over knowledge from his role in LHDM? ;o)

daisynjay - Any dream with Gabino is a nightmare in my opinion.
 

the apple does not fall far from the tree in this show, does it?

Elisa and Estefania
Damian and Rosendo (good thing he did not inherit much of BotoxQueen)
Gael and Padre Lupe
Sabrina and Gossip Queen Begoña
Toñita's son and Gabino(?)
spunky Paloma and Ramona
 

Toadhead! So perfect Marta! Thanks for a great recap.

I loved Gael giving Toadhead hell about not respecting his daughter, warning him that other people in town would treat her poorly if her own father does the same. Gael's ready to give her her place - yay Gael!

I guess we'll all see the unraveling of the super-reserved Damian character. I see his mother having worked real hard to keep him away all these years. The letters? He seemed shocked, so I think letters were intercepted.

So predictable that Toadhead is ready to "accuse" Elisa of not being his daughter. He's such a clueless creep! I'd feel sorry for him except that he brought all his misery down on himself!!!!! I was horrified to see that Estefania still had a dirt grave among all the other tidy ones. Way to diss your wife to the whole town all these years! Gah!

Audrey
 

I just want Gael to have neat facial hair and a flattering haircut. I hate how so many handsome actors are subtly or obviously made to look less than they deserve in situations that don't demand it.

As for Estefania's grave, I totally agree. This is a disgrace.
 

UA, ok. yes it can be a bit cleaner... but the character does not seem to worry about those things so i guess it doesn't bother me as much... he is gorgeous sweet and caring and we all know it.
 

daisynjay, yikes, Gabino was your boss? Scary! You've got to stop eating whatever it was you ate to cause that nightmare.

Marta, Gael knowing about accounting was not a stretch for me. He was a very practical child and I wouldn't be surprised if, growing up, he learned to do the church's accounting for the padre. Sometimes people with practical knowledge are much better at the job than people with tons of education. However "left-over knowledge from his role in LHDM" makes more sense and completely cracked me up!

Stef's simple dirt grave made me sad. I wondered why those who loved her didn't throw some of their money together to improve it. Maybe they are all too poor? (Jobs seem few and far between in La Ermita.) Maybe since Augusto was the husband nobody can do anything without his permission? Maybe those who loved Stef figure that outside appearances cannot tarnish the beautiful person she was so it's just not important?

Poor Damian, ITA with those of you who say he has been traumatized somehow. I think the theory of Vampira intercepting any letters to him sounds likely. He was probably stuck far away thinking all his little friends had forgotten all about him.
 

Thanks for the great recap Marta!

I have to say I'm impressed, so far, with David Zepeda's ability to be the "good guy" (I missed Fuerza del Destino") and Angelique Boyer's ability to play a sweet, humble girl, going against type from her Teresa character.

If Carmean-a makes Elisa believe that she's Rosendo's illegitimate daughter, then Elisa won't be able to have a relationship with Damian because he would be her half brother!? It seems the only person who knows the truth about Estefania is Gabino and fat chance he's going to get off his dumba** and tell anyone. At least until the end!

How about Carmean-a's streaked Farrah Fawcett hair and her PAINTED on pink lycra top tucked into skin tight jeans. Wow. That's quite an outfit for the ranch!

Everyone was right--this was worth dumping El Talisman for! (Although I still FF through it and watch the good scenes!)

Katy
 

Thank you for the recap Marta!

I love Begoña, Nailea Norvind's faces and mannerisms crack me up.

I took two years of accounting wrokshops in high school, it is usually one of the obligatory workshops you have to choose from in high school or middle school if you go to public school. Maybe Gael took accounting too, he doesn't seem the type to go for electricity or nursing.

It's interesting that the show is going for a tortured version of Damián here. Totally the opposite from Cañaveral, where Pablo was the better adjusted of all the kids as he grew up with his aunt and uncle, very well cared for and away from the nastiness of the town. He doesn't actually recognize Julia and they are very awkward in their first meeting after all those years, unlike Damián who just pretended to not recognize Elisa but had an angsty response to her.

Jarocha
 

Finally I have managed to watch this show again on the day it aired! Although with such an excellent recap, I'd feel like I'd seen it anyway.

I think Damian's letters must have been intercepted, at least while he was in boarding school. I can't imagine he wouldn't have written. Maybe that's why he was aloof with Elisa--he thinks she was getting letters from him and just never wrote back.

He didn't seem annoyed at Padre, though, even though he seemed surprised about the no letters. I love that Damian has a sense of humor. Already I am liking this character more than Ivan in LFDD.

Damian didn't seem to hate his mother, either. I wonder what sort of poison she has been feeding him all these years. She seems to have been his only contact with the village so maybe she's been pretending to pass on messages from Padre but telling him lies about Elisa, explaining the difference in his attitude toward both of them.

I love Altair Jarabo but I'd love to see her in a different role ever. How about a sweet, hardworking young lady who wears jeans? Doesn't she get cold wearing those tiny outfits all the time?
 

I don't mind Gael's look except that it is reminding me of Piglet on Talisman. So he should clean it up a little.
 

Julia,
i like your theory:
I wonder what sort of poison BotoxQueen has been feeding Damian all these years. She seems to have been his only contact with the village so maybe she's been pretending to pass on messages from Padre but telling him lies about Elisa, explaining the difference in his attitude toward both of them.

makes a lot of sense... and since when he saw Elisa she looked rather flirty than angelic, he might think that his mother's lies were not that far off, especially if he has heard the town gossip around about Elisa already... and since the only ones he would believe if they countered the 'common view' would be either at the procesadora, Lucio/Blanca and/or Gael, he has not heard the arguments/witnesses FOR Elisa yet. the only one he has talked to was Padre and they did not talk that long, Padre was too busy sermoning him about the lack of contact.
 

and about:
I don't mind Gael's look except that it is reminding me of Piglet on Talisman. So he should clean it up a little.

well, i am still geting used to his mammerisms here, but Mark T is really doing a great job differentiating the character from the characters he did just before this. This guy has a totally different background so he HAS to behave differently... but i can see where some folks are put off by Gael's 'excitement/gimmicks'.

and about his looking like Piglet, LOL i would not go THAT far... although i am still getting used to 'Gael el campesino idealista que quiere cambiar el mundo'... the depth and richness of the character is definitely there, you can tell the inner conflict of the side listening to Padre Lupe asking for restraint (there is only so much you can do to change everyone else), his jealousy toward Damian from the moment he sees how Damian's return and attitude affects Elisa, and his animosity toward people disrespecting Elisa, beginning with her own father.
 

Guess I don't mind the look Mark has in this TN--he's suppose to come off as the "salt of the earth" guy who stayed local. There is that one glimpse in the credits where it looks like his hair is either cut or pulled back under his hat, so maybe he "cleans up" a bit as he starts to compete against Damian for Elisa's attentions.

As for his working the numbers, if he had some advanced math on the high school level and then has been working as the foreman on the farm for awhile, I think he would have no trouble crunching the numbers to figure out cost, investment and possible profit increase. Gabino seems to run the plant and do the paperwork there and I highly doubt he has any management degree. (In my dream, he was a financial system expert - man, I'm going to be afraid to go to sleep tonight.Think Mark Tracher, think Mark Tracher....)

Did they ever say what Damian's PhD is in? If it's psychology, man, he could clean up in that town. If they try to say Agriculture too, I'll be adjusting my beanie on that. Dont think he would need to go to Italy to get that.

I find it hard to believe that dumba** would actually tell Elisa that she isn't his daughter with nothing but Miss Too Many Highlight's word for it. But than again, the guy is as dumb as clock, so who knows.
 

I think Damián was said to have done a Master only. Braulio said he had studied it immediately after finishing his Bachelor's (this males me guess Damián is supposed to be around 25 years old).

Jarocha
 

*makes* me guess.

Jarocha
 

Thanks Jarocha. I thought I only heard maestria (Masters), but folks kept saying PhD, so I thought I missed something.
 

daisynjay, you got a point with
Did they ever say what Damian's PhD is in? If it's psychology, man, he could clean up in that town. If they try to say Agriculture too, I'll be adjusting my beanie on that. Dont think he would need to go to Italy to get that.

and LOL at the dumba**... have to remember that 'spelling'...
but you are so right...
 

sorry to confuse you Vivi, Mark T's character in LHDM had a PHD in Economics/Finance.
 

Didn't Damian's Momster mention he went to Italy for an art course or something? But then she said she couldn't really remember...which was kind of rude. "Hey, beloved son, I have so little interest in your life I can't be bothered to have a clue what you've been studying the last few years."
 

It was the fiance that was in Italy for art courses, not Damian.
 

Guess we'll find out what Damian's degree is in. (Thanks for clarifying the Masters vs. PhD). In either case, there are some smart kiddies in this town. Let's hope their educations and talents are able to be utilized.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

daisynjay,
"salt of the earth... good term for Gael.
it reminds me of a song "sal de mi tierra" I learned at catholic high school... fairly fast paced so i remember i enjoyed singing it...
 

"Yo soy sal de mi tierra, sabor a Cristo, te voy a dar..." lol, I can't remember anything else from that song.

Jarocha
 

let me see...
yo soy sal de mi tierra(2)
yo soy sal de mi tierra
y sabor a Cristo le voy a dar.. que bien!

sal para dar sabor
sabor a cristiandad
a mi tierra riqueña
sabor a cristo le voy a dar... que bien!

that's about what i remember
 

I don't think Dr. Tovar will make the moves on Paloma and if so she'd smack him a good one and then sic Gramma on him. I do think Tovar was a little too concerned about Carmina 15 years ago, we'll see what happens in present time.

Alfie probably told Damian all sorts of stories about how Elisa was the town slut and the biggest slut who slutted and she sluts all over town etc.

Disgusto needs to fall into that still empty pool and take Carmina with him. He's an abusive jackass who didn't deserve Estefania's love and doesn't deserve Elisa's. He was and is too quick to believe everyone's lies about his wife and daughter...I don't believe he ever loved them. They were just dolls and trophies.

And why are he and Carmina still together?
 

Gael doing the church's accounting makes sense. Why not?

Sylvia - I assume that only Digusto gets to say what happens with his wife's grave.

That was just so horrible that he couldn't care less what his daughter does all day for years until the witch-wife hints that Elisa is out misbehaving. I'm not sure a TN has ever painted a worse father in terms of how he treats his daughter. I'm burning to know what he tells Elisa tonight.

Audrey
 

Angelique Boyer's ability to play a sweet, humble girl, going against type from her Teresa character.

-----------------

She was sweet and humble when she was Jimena the gypsy girl/long lost Angela on Corazon Salvaje 2009. That's why I was interested in seeing Teresa, to see if she could pull off this ambitious power hungry vixen.
 

"Gabino seems to run the plant and do the paperwork there and I highly doubt he has any management degree."
Agree, but he may have a natural ability for numbers and business. Lack of formal education makes no difference (normally) if someone is brilliant at a given ability.

Augusto's character is annoying and disgusting. I hope he has a deliciously awful ending. He probably can't afford to divorce Carmina 'cuz she'd take half of everything he has.
 

Doris, good point about a person's natural ability. I used to work with a person who never got past the 8th grade because her father pulled her out to work on the family farm. We worked together in a sewing prototype house and she was so good at reading CAD drawings and illustrations she could tell by looking at them when there were errors in the designs. We all learned to trust her feedback and advice because she was never wrong. She had an amazing capability to visualize the 3-dimensional end product from the drawings. It was a joy to work with her.
 

Marta, thanks for the detailed and entertaining summary. I like Mark T. and Livia Brito, along with some of the supporting characters. Never could work up much enthusiasm for David Z.--something about the way his mouth always looks prissy or smirky. I'm okay with Angelique B., although it appears her carefully crafted bosom is demanding equal billing with her face.
I may just rely on the recaps and some spot viewing here and there. That's what I ended up doing with LFDD.

La Paloma