Caray, Caray!

I caught the very end of the Flor Salvaje finale...damn if you weren't right about Zahra looking younger than I'd ever seen her...

As for tonight's Relaciones Peligrosas (giving Hombre a break): let's just say that

The Writer Fiat Is Double Parked

- Thursday's episode saw Mauricio get arrested in the sweep that seemingly took down everybody involved in the drug ring he had hooked up with. So everybody gets dragged to a police station that apparently has never heard of holding cells, since half the detainees are just stuck in a hallway and pulled away in turn to be interrogated by Orlando "Crusader" Aragon and the perpetually curt lady cop we saw earlier, whose name turns out to be Olivia Kloster.

When it's Mauricio's turn in the box, Orlando asks to speak to him alone--and it's to thank him for helping him in his crusade. So it's Orlando and his previously-unseen boss who drag the show into fifteen minutes of exposition hell; glossing things over a touch, it turns out that Mau actually went to Orlando for help after Oliver Torres first tried to blackmail him and Miranda. This effectively led to his deliberately getting involved in drug-running for "the Indian" as a police informant so he could help lead them to him, let alone possibly the folks above him. And to Oliver being saved from dying in prison by the police and apparently deciding to cooperate with them to save his own skin (though this was indeed kept quiet). Yes, that's right: a 17-year-old was risking his life for the police, though Mau's dad apparently signed some sort of permission slip for the whole damn thing--and writing that out actually enhances how whacked out it was, since Mau not only gets out clean but is a hero for risking his neck to help bust the Indian and company. Let alone that he'll have to testify against the guy, since he saw him involved in the murder-by-poisoning of the actual MPD undercover cop, Giant.

To protect Mau, Orlando agrees to release him from jail due to lack of evidence. Mau, being the caring and insane galan he is, asks that his fellow courier and car wash guy Billy be released as well to back up the story; Orlando says he'll consider it (this is after Billy mentions that the only reason he was part of Team Indian was to get money for medical treatments for his daughter in Nicaragua...and that faint thumping noise you hear is me banging my head into the wall). Mau also uses his secret-VIP status to call Miranda, who flipped out at him after seeing his arrest and almost ran off to tell his mother about it, and sets up a meeting with her at the station. He still doesn't tell her exactly what's going on--she, insanely, gives him until the following morning to clear it up--but instead goes on yet again about how she wouldn't be this messed up about his apparent state of affairs if she really didn't love him. (Thump, thump, thump.)

On the other hand, Mau's "criminal" status gets outed by the voluptuous pink-clad lady we saw at Gia's salon when she got busted. This is Olga (Mildred Quiroz), Ricardo Gomez's chatty and gossipy wife and Liz's mother, who also got dragged in as part of the sweep and then released. She ends up calling Liz about it, and Liz in turn tells Yesenia during a sleepover at Yesi's trailer (like she has anything better to do, since Yesi firmly puts her foot down about Liz and Joaquin macking on each other).
 

Relaciones Peligrosas (p. 2):

- Speaking of Liz, though, it appears that she's already gotten tired of Gonzalo--and moved on to a down-low fling with Max, of all people, apart from flirting with Joaquin. And she and Max are just fine with keeping Gonzo in the dark about it. (Fortunately Team Douchebag isn't cool enough for the Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage analogy that came to mind. Thump, thump.)

- Gonzo has his own problems. After Joaquin "convinced" him to locate a buried stash of stolen gold for him, it turns out that the stash was buried in the same graveyard where poor dead Rodrigo ended up. So Gonzo going there results in a near-miss with Orlando, who swears over Rodrigo's grave with Gonzo within earshot that he will bring everyone involved in the drug ring to justice. And after a run-in with a hallucinatory Rodrigo due to a joint (just the thing to calm you down when you're out on the town digging up stolen valuables because you've been threatened by someone bigger than you) Gonzo gets the idea to use some of the gold to get the hell out of the States to avoid getting caught and imprisoned. It appears, though, that he makes the gold drop at Cervantes as planned for Joaquin...and Paty, who was already suspicious of their connection, happens to see the drop go down...

- And, somewhere in the middle of all this, Ana apologizes (sort of) to Santiago for blasting him after Gilberto's drunken womanizing declarations the other night. Santiago, as is his way, looks slightly bemused...even when Gilberto drops another, sober this time, womanizing remark. I actually liked him better when it just seemed like he was a milquetoast and Ana was overly bitchy; now I kind of want to see her clock him one and then go off to get her some Santi. At least we'll have one adult relationship on the show then...
 

^ Oh, and I forgot one small detail: after hanging out with the anonymous dance students, Miranda and Juan Pablo and Patty all end up back at Miranda's. JP, being the sneaky curly-haired devil he is, just happens to come across a piece of paper on which Miranda had scribbled down the address of the police station where Mauricio was being held when he called her earlier. Later, in the privacy of his own lair, JP ends up looking into the station online--and comes across a picture of Olivia Kloster. Where they're going with that, no clue...
 

FLOR SALVAJE – GRAN FINAL - Part 1

OK, I cried. A lot. I found the last episode to be very exciting, and I liked the way they wrapped things up at the end. But it was sad.

Rafa tries to tell AA on the phone that it should be between the two of them. “ Leave Flor out of it. Why do you want to mix her up in it when you came here to revenge yourself on me?” AA tells them to meet him at a crossroads and, if not, get ready for funerals for Zahra and Flor’s sisters, although, when I burn them with acid, there really won’t be bodies to bury. [What a guy!] Rafa tells Flor that he wants the both of them to come to him, while Cat looks on.

AA tells Arsenio he knew they wouldn’t refuse. Luck is on his side. Arsenio says the cops may find them. But AA says he’s not going to leave without fulfilling the dream he’s had since he was 10 years old – to kill his father. [I suppose we have to assume that Zahra’s mother told him about Rafa wanting him aborted. I’m sure Zahra wouldn’t have done so.] He tells Arsenio; if anything looks suspicious, kill Flor in front of Rafael.

Cat tells them they have to tell the police. Flor says she’s going along and that’s her final word on the subject. Rafa looks intently at her and says OK. He tells Cat that she should not tell anyone the call was from AA. Give them a chance to get away and then tell Sacramento.

Cat goes out and tells the wedding guests that it was some other person who pretended to be AA. She says that Rafa gave Flor a tranquilizer to calm her down, and that the police will be investigating.

Rafa tells Flor this whole thing is his fault and asks her to forgive him. He says he’s going unarmed. She changes from her wedding dress into jeans, and they slip out.

Sacto and Avelino are scouring NE looking for Susana and Beba. Meanwhile, Zahra, in the hanger tries to calm a sobbing Beba by telling she and Susana that their mother is looking down from above protecting them as their guardian angel. AA loves to see people suffer so he has to tell them that they’ll wait to see if her sister will give her life for them.

Arsenio searches Rafa and Flor for weapons. Rafa drives the vehicle.

Enrique tells everyone that what Cat and Rafa said doesn’t make sense. Alicia looks in the bedroom and says they’re not there. Cat tells Sacto the truth – that AA would only let the girls go if Rafa and Flor exchanged themselves for them. Sacto looks devastated. He says he’ll kill them both.

They arrive at the hangar. Rafa tells her that, whatever happens, she’s the love of his life. They kiss until jerked apart by Arsenio. Inside, AA mocks them. Rafa isn’t in the mood for his ironies. “Where’s Zahra and the girls? Give them up!” AA is in no hurry. He wants to enjoy their suffering some more.

Enrique says if only they had some clue. Rocío comes up with the idea that perhaps Mariano knows something.
 

FLOR SALVAJE – GRAN FINAL – Part 2

Rafa tells AA they should leave the women out of this and arrange things between them. AA says Rafa is going to die like a dog and Flor is going to live. We then get a very interesting flashback of Rafa saying practically the same thing in that cave: that one of the two was going to live [between Pablo and Flor] and the other was going to stay alive to cry over the death the rest of their life. Rafa then says to Abel: “OK, you’re my punishment, and I accept it. But let them go.” Flor approaches and tells AA she’ll go with him. Let Rafael, Zahra, and the girls go.

He tells her it’s true he wanted her for himself, but she refused him. He says he’s going to sell her to a Japanese or an Arab and she’ll be far far away and never see the light of day.

Rafa says: “Get on with it, Abel Torres!” AA says his name is Rafael Urrieta. Rafa again says he should let Flor and her sisters go and just kill him. AA yells that he makes the rules.

AA tells Rafa that his wife wants him to live, and he’s going to grant that wish. But she’s going with him. AA tells Rafa that he doesn’t deserve anyone loving him the way she does. He tells FS to go to the plane with Arsenio. Arsenio will let Zahra and the girls go. Rafael is staying here. She wants to say goodbye. She tells Rafa it’s the only way to save him and her sisters. He looks at her and asks her what kind of life would she leave him with. He’d a thousand times rather die than not be with her. They kiss passionately.

Flor is dragged out saying she loves him as she leaves. She embraces her sisters.

Rocío is asking Mariano for help. He asks why he should help her when she betrayed him. She tells him he’s going to be tried. It would go better for him if he helped them. Mariano says he heard Abel talk about a pista (landing strip) near the junction of two highways. It’s how he gets the mercancia out quickly.

Arsenio tells Zahra and the girls that Flor has exchanged herself for them.

AA tells Rafa that neither of them are idiots. He should know he’s not getting out alive. AA wants to know why Rafa has this thing about prostitutes. First Zahra and then Flor. Rafa tells him: “Your mother is a fighter, a decisive person, and she has character. She’s one of the most wonderful women I’ve had the privilege to know. And Flor Salvaje is the only woman I’ve ever loved. You probably wouldn’t understand that.” AA says that according to Rafa he never understood anything. Rafa says: “About women, no.” Rafa moves toward him saying that there are doctors that could help him. AA shoots him.

Quesada calls the Gov and asks for the use of his private helicopter.

Flor is distraught hearing the shot. AA says he did justice. The man who wanted to kill me when I was defenseless died. He says he’s going to let Zahra suffer. Flor gets into the plane sobbing. Rafael is not dead. Bleeding from his side he runs toward the plane like a superhero. While the plane is still taxiing, he grabs hold of Arsenio and throws him off and jumps into the plane. He gets hold of Flor. They look at each other for a long moment, eyes welling up with tears. He lets go her hand, and she falls onto the runway.

AA has his gun on Rafa. Rafa says to go ahead and shoot him. AA says he’s not going to die alone. He shoots the pilot, and the plane begins to go down.
 

FLOR SALVAJE – GRAN FINAL – Part 3

Rocío thanks Mariano for his help. He says he did it for Flor. Rocío expresses regret for being the reason he’s in a cell. He tells her she has nothing to regret. She’s the thing he loved most in his life, tears running down his cheeks. He tells José María to take good care of her. She’s a lady.

Sacto embraces Flor, who is sobbing. She says that Rafa saved her life. The girls return to the hacienda. Flor goes to the riverbank and remembers, in a flashback, when Rafa met her coming back from Timotes with Ana. He says he’ll help her get her other sisters, but there’s a price; that she’s his. She agreed and they shook hands. Rafael appears just then, as a spirit, I suppose, and they kiss. But he disappears and she’s alone.

Sacto tells everyone that they found the plane, with the two bodies inside.

We see Flor walking into the deserted and derelict 4P bar with a child. Ten years have passed. This is her’s and Rafa’s son. She tells him how this place was the biggest cabaret around and that the stage is where they all danced and sang. She says the town was new then. The boy says that this is where she met his father; they fell in love and got married. He says Tío Sacramento told him that. She tells him maybe people will tell him bad things about his father, but she doesn’t want him to be ashamed of his father or of her. She says they conceived him with much love.

In a very clever gambit, Rafael Jr. wipes off the old portrait of all the P’s. Flor tells him in turn where each of the women in the portrait are now. And we get to see them!

Ana and Titi are married and living in a big house. Three kids run around the yard, and another one is on the way. Abelardo comes up and the kids run to hug their doting grandfather.

Correcaminos owns a gym and also has a television program doing aerobics.

Mina left with Mr. Peter, but didn’t like the cold so much. She moved to Los Angeles and became a big star. Mina is shown getting into a convertible, dressed to the nines. Rafael wants to see her movies, but Flor tells him he’ll have to wait until he’s of age.

Piru is the director of the Nueva Esperanza Theater. He’s shown, with a grey streak in his hair, rehearsing some dancers. Manuela is the director of a very large school. She’s married to Avelino and gives him a playful pat on the tushie to show she’s not your usual schoolmarm.

Flor says he knows Rocío because she’s the wife of his doctor. And she’s also the director of the new hospital that was built with oil money. She tells him he ought to know Alicia because she sings the songs on the disc he likes so much. We see Alicia in the recording studio, with Enrique by her side.

Zahra has apparently been living in Spain for 10 years. Flor says she had to get away to recover. Beba asks if she’ll recognize her, and Cat says probably not – she was just a small child when Zahra left. Zahra comes in and embraces Sacto. Susana is pregnant with Dudi’s baby. Olga has come in with Zahra and tells Susana Rigoberto will be happy she’s going to be a grandmother [honorary mother to Susana].

Cat calls for the children. Raimundo is her son and Rafael comes right behind him. Rafael asks if he can call Zahra Grandmother.

Flor goes out of the room to look at a portrait of she and Rafael on their wedding day. Her eyes fill with tears and she says she’s never spent a moment without thinking of him.

FIN
 

Corazón Valiente

Will we have lots of folks watching this?

I am provisionally on board. The promos look interesting.

Obviously I really, really liked Flor Salvaje.

I don't plan to be writing something every night for the next show, but I would be willing to do, perhaps, one a week.

Does anyone else have an idea about this? Or an interest in kicking off a discussion comment to encourage other folks to comment?

Maybe we could have the introductory comment be very, very brief.

Thoughts?
 

I'm at least in to see how it starts...

Okay, and for the potential for schlock and leg porn. No idea how many other CCers are going to be tuning in, though as the current new novela on the block it'll probably get a curiosity bump of some sort. That said, would giving it its own discussion thread be a bit much this close to the wire?
 

Bill, several years ago Jean and later NovelaMaven had put up links for specific Telemundo novelas. They were doing a lot of work recapping each night, alternating.

As you know, the folks who watch Univisión have more people visiting and more available recappers. Thus, having a link for each of the evening Univisión novelas works for them.

It was decided to just have one link for all the Telemundo novelas and have each commenter give their comment a title and, hopefully, a day of the week. This way, you could skip comments on a novela you're not watching. And, as an added benefit, read older comments on the novela you ARE watching by checking the day of the week and not reading comments for a later day in the week that would spoil plot developments for you.

I'm just a frequent commenter here. I don't know if there's an interest in having a specific link for only Corazón Valiente or not.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE-
I'm planning on watching this one unless it's really, really bad. I am certainly willing to post some recaps of CV. If a number of folks are willing to do this, I don't see why we can't have an informal schedule in the general Mundo post so that someone doesn't write a recap only to find that someone else has done so.
My problem with posting recaps of Flor was that it was so much more dense in plot and dialog than most novelas, I would have had to pay a lot more attention when I was watching it than I was in the habit of doing. I am assuming that Corazón Valiente will fall into the usual, less challenging group of novelas that I can recap from memory the next day at work.
 

FLOR SALVAJE:

Novelera, thank you for all your your excellent recaps of this show. I joined the show in the middle, and you really helped me understand and enjoy it.

I guess Rafa had to die, especially after they reminded us in that flashback how cruel he was to Pablo. Of course this made it ironic that while almost all the other girls of the 4P were either happily married or famous, Flor, the main character, just had her son and her memories, though that was equally as valuable.

AA made the classic villain mistake of talking too much, giving the heroes time to arrive. Also, his shot of Rafa in the shoulder was careless. And it wasn't even in view of Flor. He could have easily done what he said he wanted to do, but his big mouth made that impossible. Too bad, buddy!

And Nueva Esperanza sure changed a lot in 10 years, from a wild western town where everybody had a gun to a typical suburb with pilates classes. Okaaaay. :)

But really, I did like the finale, and was actually carried away by the emotion.

I'll definitely be watching Corazon Valiente. The cast looks great, and I bet it will be action packed.
 

Flor Salvaje- gran final

novelera, once again I wish to thank you for your most wonderful and detailed recaps, this added so much color for me,

and you really did a nice job capturing the finale, from the flashback of the original handshake deal that Rafael and Amanda made, to the pinch on the butt Manuela gave Avelino,

I'm so happy that you too enjoyed one of Perla Farias stories, isn't she the best, an interesting blend of unique characters, so well developed that sooner or later, they reach out and grab you, so much depth, and the finale turned out to be a real treat for anyone that stuck with it, (pass the tissues)

and when the characters all gather 'round at the end, there is always a chair for the viewer,

thanks so much!
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS:

Thanks, Bill. Your unique style and viewpoints are always entertaining, as well as revealing (I enjoy how you remind of how crazy some of this stuff is!)

If Miranda really thought this thing through, she'd realize that if Mauricio delivered an envelope to a locker, and it was picked up by a cop (Olivia), he'd have to be working with the cops! But she's a little too shocked to think of that. She sure was surprised when Mau showed up in class!

I got the impression that maybe Liz and Leo are not dating, but working on some deal or surprise. But I could be wrong.

I'm glad Patty saw Gonzo make the transfer to Joaco. But I'm not happy Joaco is doing bad things (or is he?). Gonzo is bad, but I still feel a teeny bit sorry for him, that he's just messed up on drugs, but he didn't purposely cause Rodrigo and Oswaldo's death. Oliver is far more responsible. BTW, I think they said they were transferring him to another prison. But it's weird they'd open the door near the bust, and Miranda would see him.

So "Indio" was not the big boss. The cops still don't know where the factory is, and don't know who the big boss is. Here's a hunch out of left field. Could it be JP?!! 99% no way, but he is really seeming more and more sinister.

The writers definitely are good at twists, turns and surprises.
 

FLOR SALVAJE

I saw this one all the way through and like the others, appreciate all of your work with great recaps Novelera.

I liked the ending (seeing where they are now) but I was saddened that Rafael had to die, after we got to see him change he was a lot of fun to watch as a "good guy."

I'll be on board with the new one Corazone Valiente.

I like how this page has been set up with all of the Telemundo shows together. Makes it easy to follow the comments on all of the shows if we're watching more than one and it's nice to be able to come to one place.
 

FLOR SALVAJE

Novelera, I saw only fragments of the actual show all along but experienced it largely through your eyes and your words. I loved your recap of the last episode. You are such a gifted storyteller. Thank you for all the effort you put into this and all your minicaps.

EL CLON

Ok. The Brazilian version now being recycled on PASIONES is nearly word-for-word identical to the Telemundo Spanish version, save for a few changes in geographical references and the tweaking of a few names.

Since I dislike watching a dubbed version of ANYTHING and I thought the Spanish-speaking cast did a fine job, I PREFER the one we watched. The things that drove us nuts -- the repetition, the PSA's -- were all in the original. Oh well, Chacun à son goût. Whatever floats your boat.

CORAZON VALIENTES

I'm going to take a look at this one. Not sure if I'll stick with it. I'm already recappping the Worst Telenovela Ever Made, ie El Talismán, so I'm reluctant to commit to a day.

GENERAL

The changes in Blogger are a huge pain. Now that we don't get the option of being notified of follow-up posts, it's hard to follow one thread, let alone several.

And posting a recap (as opposed to a comment) is now more difficult for me than ever. Grrrrrr.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

OK. I volunteer to do a detailed recap of Tuesday's first episode. This is the one where they usually introduce the main characters. From the promos, it looks like the Ximena Duque [Carola Conde] character and the Adriana Fonseca character will be introduced as children.

I'll get the ball rolling, and see where we go from there.

If we get around to picking days, Monday is the best one for me.
 

Thanks for leading us off on Corazon, Novelera. We start with the best. Speaking as someone who has single-handedly recapped a novela on more than one occasion and knows how much work it is, I want to thank you for all your entertaining and perceptive recaps of Flor. They added materially to my enjoyment of the novela.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 1

It's time for Mau to tell Miranda the truth. After class, he tells her the whole thing, how Oliver threatened physical harm to her, how the bullet which hit Gilberto was intended for her, how he approached Orlando for help, and how he worked undercover, buying those drugs for the police. Miranda totally disbelieves him. This isn't the 16th century. Nobody would risk their lives for love!

But Orlando comes to the school and confirms it all. Miranda is shocked. Orlando says this is strictly confidential, so of course Miranda immediately tells Patty, who thinks is so romantic, just wait that one more year, and you've found your man!

Mau did lie about one thing, though. He forged his Dad's signature on the permission slip. Orlando warns that if Mau's father didn't really sign, Mau has committed a major crime. Orlando approaches Manuel (Mau's Dad) and says it's a good thing you signed that permission slip. Manuel hides his shock, covers, says of course, but wants to confront Mau.

Meanwhile, Alejandro and his gay friend are becoming friendlier.

The triangle between Patty, Santiago and Ana is heating up (both women like him). Gilberto takes Santi to a strip club to show off how sleazy he is again.

JP wants to meet with Officer Olivia, which will cause problems.

Indio and buddies apparently KILL Billy in jail (I'm not sure he's dead, but I think so) by stomping him. Indio's contacts have raised his $500,000 bail, so he's getting out. Look out, Mau!
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 2

Joaco opens the bag Gonzo had gotten from the graveyard (Patty saw the exchange, and is suspicious). It's got several gold cups, and some coins (proceeds from a robbery?). But 3 coins are missing, so he's mad at Gonzo. Gonzo is mad at Joaco, too, since Liz seems to like him. He forces Liz to have sex in a supply closet in school, showing that he's a "bigger man" than Joaco. Hmmmm.

In the library, Miranda sees Mau across some books. She finally admits that she misjudged him. The lesson that day in class had been about truth and lies, and Miranda was really laying onto Mau about what she thought were his lies. But now that she knows that he wasn't lying, and was actually very noble (except for forging Manuel's signature, which Sofia also knows about), Miranda forgives Mau, and they feel their attraction, so long held in check, about to explode.

Unable to resist any longer, they lean towards each other, and teacher and student start to kiss deeply in the school library. In the middle of their clinch, who should come around the corner of the stacks? Mauricio's Dad Manuel!!! Caught in the act!
 

Corazon Valiente – Martes – Part 1

I had a technical problem about halfway through this very event filled episode. I record the East Coast feed off the dish at 6:00 pm. I watched the episode until I had to leave for a meeting. Unfortunately my DVR was pretty full and since somehow the recording wasn’t set to save, it deleted it by the time I got home from the meeting. All was not lost, as I turned on the TV to resume at about 9:40 and caught the rest of it. But there’s a gap in the middle. Hope someone else can fill in.

Anyway, we start off in 1994, in the Valle de Bravo, which Wikipedia says is in the State of Mexico, SW of Mexico City and W of Toluca. It’s about a 2 hour drive from DF, and a popular getaway for affluent capitalinos.

And speaking of affluent we see a beautiful house. There are two little girls outside the house, one blonde and the other brunette. The blonde calls the brunette’s attention to a necklace she has and gives the other girl a similar one. An SUV pulls up with an ugly, fat guy at the wheel. He shoots the guard who comes to see who it is with a silenced weapon.

Miguel Valdez (Jorge Luis Pila) comes out of the house and tells the blonde girl (Samantha Sandoval Navarro) that her mother wants her inside. She says she wants to stay longer with her best friend Ángela. The three thugs have crept up to the house and start firing. Miguel is shot in the leg, but manages to kill two of the kidnappers. However, the other one gets away with Samantha

The anxious parents await the phone call. I didn’t get who plays the father, but Katie Barberi plays the mother (Perla Navarro). The kidnappers call. The father insists on speaking to Samantha. The kidnappers say they want the bodyguard who shot their friends to bring the money.

It appears as if Miguel Valdez, his wife, and Ángela have lived with the Sandoval family for a long time. Estela de Valdez, Miguel’s wife tells her husband that he can’t do this. They’ll kill him. Ángela is listening to this. He says he can’t let them harm Sam. This is his life’s work, protecting people, and he has to carry it all the way, giving his life if necessary.

The father of Sam gives the bag of money to Miguel and wishes him luck. Perla, his wife, is appalled. You’re not going along? The guy totally wimps out. Perla thanks Miguel from the bottom of her heart. Miguel drives to the exchange point. Perla is back about 20 yards. Miguel limps up with the bag of money. Fatso and another greasy thug get out. They check him for weapons. They ask what he’s wearing. He says it’s a bulletproof vest. He insists that Sam get out of the car before giving up the money. She runs to Miguel, telling him he has to come with her, he’s like her papá. He tells her not to worry. He’ll be like her guardian angel always. When he gets in the car, the thug tells him he’s going to suffer. Miguel tells him they’re none of them coming out of this well. But, one thing is for sure, they won’t be kidnapping any more children. And he pulls something on that vest that blows up the whole car.

We see the scene at the cemetery. Chicken daddy forks over an envelope of money to Estela. Perla tells Estela that they used to be close, and she wishes it could be like that again.
 

Corazon Valiente – Martes – Part 2

We now move to Beverly Hills in 2012. The adult Ángela arrives at an estate to deliver what looks like a wedding cake. The guard isn’t going to let her in, when the owner of the house, Juan Marcos Arroyo (José Luis Reséndez) shows up and we get one of those classic admiring looks between two people. She is very innocent and bubbly and says it looks like some really rich folks live here. She asks him if they pay him well to be a waiter! He tells her it’s his house, and she’s mortified.

We see some kind of an animal rights protest. The adult Samantha is guarding a woman in a grey suit. Some guy gets through the crowd and throws fake blood on the woman. Sam takes him down and I mean right now!

We meet Guillermo (Willy) del Castillo (Fabian Rios) who is flying a jet and loses one of the engines. He tells the tower this, and wants some landing instructions.

Juan Marcos helps Ángela get the cake on the table. He introduces his daughter, Génesis, who looks to be about 8 years old. His wife, Isabel Urirte de Arroyo, (Sonya Smith) comes up to gripe at the kid for playing with the dog. Later we see Isabel complaining about her dress for the party. She’s a perfectionist and says taking care of details is how she won all those beauty contests. We see right away that these two are not happy with each other.

Génesis is running after her dog and falls into the pool. Ángela hears the dog barking and sees what happened. She jumps into the pool after the child. She’s doing CPR when idiot Isabel tries to stop her, apparently not wanting peasant hands on her precious child. Juan Marcos tells her he’ll never forget what she did.

We meet Fernanda del Castillo (Aylin Mujica) the sister of Willy, the pilot. She’s stroking a white cat and thought bubbling that she used to be an angel before “they” turned her into a demon.

Sam is back at the office, and one of the guys tries to put a move on her. She immobilizes him immediately. She has a new assignment: Bernardo del Castillo. We see that very Bernardo (Manuel Landeta) telling his daughter, Fernanda, about her brother’s airplane problem. She grouses that he always worries about his younger child. He tells her that the boy has given him more satisfaction. She asks if he had her return from Rome so he could rag on her. Meanwhile, Willy arrives, and is embraced by his doting father. It is revealed that Willy managed to have sex with the wife of some mafioso and this is why he left the country for a year. His father thinks they may have tampered with the plane.

Juan Marcos tries to give Ángela some money, but she just says anyone would have done the same. The grandparents arrive. Is this the child’s birthday party? Isabel gives Ángela something dry to wear which turns out to be a sequined cocktail dress.

OK, THIS IS THE GAP WHERE I NEED SOME INFO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
 

Corazon Valiente – Martes – Part 3

When I turned on real time TV, Ángela is being slapped around by Luis Martinez (Gabriel Valenzuela) after she has accused him of stealing something. I assume this is her husband. She gets away from him and gets him to leave by brandishing a knife. But he does say he’ll kill her if she ever has another man.

We see Juan Marcos asking Isabel for a divorce, and that Génesis is going to live with him. She tells him she’s pregnant with his baby. He’s appalled that she’s drinking while pregnant. She begs him not to leave her, saying she’ll kill herself.

Fernanda is saying how much hate she feels for Juan Marcos because of his pushing her down the stairs (?). She’s telling someone about this, but I don’t know who it is. She had a miscarriage because of it and now can never have a child. He and his whole family are going to suffer. I am a killer, but I killed the wrong person. When she realized that Gonzalo had en su bolsa el traje de casanova (????), I went to find papa’s gun. When I returned drenched in blood, he sent me to Europe with you. Now I’m ready for revenge.

I guess Sam has been hired as Willy’s bodyguard. He tries to put some moves on her in the room that I suppose has been assigned to her at Casa del Castillo. She first immobilizes him and then tells him she doesn’t like men.

Ángela tells her mother that this is the day she’s going to meet with Samantha again after all these years.

Some guy named Vicente brings Luis to meet with Fernanda, telling her this is the right person for her. After Vicente leaves, she tells Luis every member of the Arroyo family is going to die – one by one.

Some other thugs try to rob Ángela in a store (don’t know about the store since I missed things). They think she’s defenseless now that Luis isn’t living there any more. But Sam shows up at just the right time and the two gals make short work of the thugs. Sam tells her she became a bodyguard, like Miguel. He was her example. She makes some comment to the effect that she doesn’t have much use for her parents.

Ángela tells Sam that she and her mother made the difficult decision to come to Los Angeles. She met Luis when she was very young. He was and still is her only boyfriend. She had a daughter, Violeta. She married and became a nurse. But she just separated from Luis. Sam decides she’s going to help her.

We see Sam training Ángela. They show them shooting, boxing, running on treadmills.

Juan Marcos’s sister Emma calls him, hysterical, their parents are dead. I didn’t really see anything but stretchers and an ambulance. Shot? Run over by a car?

The bodyguards show up from Sam’s agency to escort the family to the funeral. Each member of the Arroyo family will have their own bodyguard. Génesis is to be guarded by Ángela who shows up later than the rest. Fateful meeting of the eyes of Ángela and JM.

At the cemetery, a sniper tries to kill, I think, Génesis, although he puts the sights each family member in turn. Who gets shot is the priest. The bodyguards protect the family members, Ángela again saving Génesis.
Ángela then shoots the sniper.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE-
Thanks, Novelera for the detailed recap. You got most of it. I think that Vincente is a childhood friend of Fernanda and they both went to the same school (colégio) with Juan Marcos (JM) and Isabel. Fernanda was in love with JM and I guess she got preggers by him but she was the victim of Isabel and her friends who called her the ugliest girl in the school. At a costume ball, she got pushed down the stairs by someone in a Casanova mask and lost her baby and can't have more children. At the time, she thought it was some other guy who did it. She killed that guy, told her father what had happened when she came home covered with blood and she went abroad with her mother (I think). She tells her mother or whoever that woman was about this.

Vincente tells Fernanda that it really was JM who pushed her down the stairs. I'm guessing that's not true. Anyway, Fernanda decides to kill the whole Navarro family.

Vincente brings Luis Martinez (LM) to Fernanda as a hired killer. I guess LM kills JM's parents - and you're right - we don't know how. The party at the beginning of the episode was an anniversary party for JM's parents.

That's what I recall right now.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE
Thanks Novelera and Jean. I really enjoyed this first episode. Very exciting. I missed the first 15 mins, so came in at the first funeral with the little girls making their promise to serve and protect others.

The only other details I'll add are:
- Luis stole Angela's savings and didn't show up to her nursing graduation. These two things, and his lazy, abusive ways finally convinced her to kick him out.
- JM ends up giving Angela his business card before she leaves the house in the cocktail dress. I thought she would eventually use it, but turns out she came back as a bodyguard before using it.
- Sam's parents turn out to be friends of Willy's dad. They visit and lie about what Sam (clearly the family black sheep) is up to. They must all be lousy at recognizing people because it turns out the last time they saw Sam was at her 15th b-day party, where she and Willy shared some hot teenage kisses. Willy may or may not have made the connection that his hot driver (his dad has Sam pretend to be a driver while she's guarding him) is the same 15 year old he made out with years ago. Now Sam's initial reluctance to take this job is explained.
- In addition to having lost her baby because someone in a Casanova mask pushed her down the stairs (whom she now believes is JM), Fernanda also confronted JM about him and another boy making a bet that they could get the ugliest girl in the school (her) to sleep with them. I'm not totally sure if it was JM or the other guy (whom she killed) who won the bet. JM clearly looked uncomfortable when she brought it up.
- Isabel was obviously the queen bee in high school and took the lead in making Fernanda's life hell.

I laughed out loud when Fernanda made her appearance stroking a pussycat on her lap...Thanks writers.
 

Corazon Valiente:
Thanks Vivi for more info. I also remembered (while I was in the shower) that Bernardo told Willy and Fernanda that he wants to unite his and JM's businesses - car dealerships? He wanted his children to go to the anniversary party to make contact or something. Willy declined but Fernanda, obviously, went.

Also, I thought that when Willy went to Sam's room with the beers, she told him that she wasn't interested in men.
 

Flor and Corazon:

I thought the last episode of Flor was by far the best I have ever seen of an ending of a TN.

Corazon

Am so happy so many actors that I recognize are in this, it was a great first episode and I am definitely hooked. Thanks for all the recaps, as I am down with a miserable cold and my ears missed most of the dialogue, so thank you so much. I hope this becomes a classic.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

What a great opening episode! Tons of action, impossibly beautiful people, and most are familiar to us from past telenovelas, so it's fun to see them in new roles. Thanks, Novelera, Jean and Vivi for all the details.

The guy playing Vicente often plays a druglord. I'm guessing HE's the one who pushed Fernanda down the stairs.

Although Sam said she didn't like men, that' probably not true.

The guy playing Luis was sort of a good guy/innocent in La Casa de al Lado. Now, they've darkened his hair, made it straighter, more stringy, just right for a bad guy.

So far, Fernanda and Willy's father, Bernardo seems like a good guy. But all the previews made him look evil. I wonder when this will come out.

I'm really enjoying this show where the two leading ladies are both good, both strong and smart. But they could also both fall for the same guy, JM.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 1

Manuel, having found out that Mau forged his signature, and seeing him kissing Miranda, wants to talk to him in private. Mau and he have their first "man to man" talk, and in the end, he understands why Mau did it for love, and he agrees to keep quiet. Carmen walks in, but he hides it from her, too.

So Mau reassures Miranda, who was a basket case, that everything is all right. Miranda had met with Teresa, who told how she had married Ricardo, but when she couldn't have kids, he found someone 18 years younger (Olga) who could (and Liz was born). But now, Ricardo is 53 and Olga is 35, and they're not so happy because of the age difference, which is always there (making Miranda worry about her and Mau's difference).

Alejandro's gay friend is Javier. Javy's ready to rock, but Alejo is shy, since he's never actually done anything sexually with a guy (but he doesn't want to tell Javier). They go to Alejo's house, and his Mom starts to cook for 2. Then Sebastian shows up, and she's cooking for 3. But both Javier and Sebastian end up leaving. So much for the food!

Were Leo and Liz hooking up? Nope, they were planning a surprise birthday party for Gonzalo! But he's so jealous he rags on Leo and abuses Liz. Oh well. The party is supposed to be a Gonzo's and Bob isn't too happy. I'm betting on major trouble with this.

Meanwhile, Joaco wants the 3 coins back from Gonzalo. He swipes Gonzo's latest drugs, and says you don't get them back until I get the three coins. Gonzo had the 3 coins in his pants cuff, but didn't reveal this. Later, Joaco is stashing the drugs and the gold cups under his mattress when he's caught by Yesi, who starts crying. Why is he doing drugs and stealing again? He proves he's not doing drugs by pouring (Gonzo's) drugs down the toilet. As for the cups, he was with a friend, they went into a church, and the friend robbed all these chalices and coins. They buried them in the cemetery. But both got caught and went to jail. The friend was killed, so he ended up with the loot. Yesi makes him promise to return the items to the church. We'll see.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 2

JP continues to bug me. He meets with officer Olivia, makes up a phony story, and checks out her desk for clues. Later, he pretends she almost ran him over, and she agrees to have a drink with him at a bar. He's definitely trying to get info on Mau.

Cassius has taken 5 karate lessons, he tells Sofia. Like that'll help.

Santiago finishes off his time in the strip club with Gilberto with a lap dance, paid for by Gil. As the stripper takes off her top and starts the dance, Gil says "think of Patty". But Santi is dreaming of Ana! Later, Gil gets home, finds Ana in bed, and cuddles up for some action. As usual, she shrugs him away. Sorry, Gil!

Is Mau really in the clear now? Maybe not, as someone in a passing van takes his picture. We see Indio in jail (possibly to get out soon on bail), planning to silence anyone who might testify against him. Uh oh!!!
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS:

Also, tonight is the first PTA meeting. Manuel wants to talk with Miss Miranda!
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE - MARTES

Thanks so much, Jean and Vivi for filling in the blanks. I was SO bummed when I got home. I am the treasurer of our neighborhood association, and we have these excruciatingly boring meetings once a month. So not only did I have to break off watching a truly exciting first TN episode to go there - I had to suppress yawns for an hour and a half, and then came back to find that my DVR had betrayed me.

And thanks to Hombre and Nellie for stopping by. It looks like we'll have a decent core group for this novela.

I was STUNNED when they killed off Jorge Luis Pila in the first 15 minutes. Did anyone else see, or think of, the movie with Denzel Washington: Man on Fire? It was also about a bodyguard who dies rescuing a little girl that he's come to love like his own child.

Hombre, I agree that it's great to have two heroines, strong and feisty. I hope you're wrong about them both falling for Juan Marcos.

I will probably watch tonight's episode after I get home from Spanish class, but won't be writing a recap.
 

Corazon Valiente
Novelera et al: Una Maid will now be my time to watch TV while doing dishes, scooping catboxes etc. I plan to be glued to my seat during Corazon Valiente. Certainly was an unpleasant shock to see one of my fave actors blow himself up in the first 12 minutes. But plenty of other familiar faces. I am onboard unless they go off in some completely loony direction :o)
J in Oregon.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Small world - I am the treasurer of my neighborhood organization and we also have horribly boring meetings where I sometimes read a book on my iPad or play games on my iPhone.

I will volunteer to do a recap of CV tonight.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

I really enjoyed the premier last night too. I was really surprised to see Pila go so soon! I was already liking his role as the bodyguard.

Nice to see a new face on Telemundo, this is the first time I've seen Adriana Fonseca in a novela, stunning is an understatement. But did anyone else notice how weird she looked when running to save the drowning Genesis in the pool? Looked super uncoordinated, like it was her first time running!

I'm a little disappointed in the Willy character. This guy has never been much for me to watch, always El Payaso.

Aylin Mujica is hard to watch too, maybe I'm judging a little early, but it looks like they've already got lots of crazy for character.

I like seeing Sam as the super competent bodyguard.

The father of Willy and Fernanda looks like he's gonna be fun to watch. I remember him from something years ago that I saw on Univision. The guy has a really powerful camera presence.

I agree with you all that I don't think it was Juan Marcos that pushed Fernanda down the stairs, but I think he knows who it was.

Is his sister Emma the girl who played Elisa in "Donde Esta Elisa?"

I don't recall her getting any lines last night except for the screaming when the parents were being loaded into the ambulance.

Great start, I liked the action.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

I too was extremely disappointed they killed off JLP so soon.

Love the concept of 2girls protecting the 2guys.

Fabian Rios and Resendez are hot!!
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE- miércoles

Part 1:
Wow, lots of action on this novela at least so far.

Ángela saves Génesis at the funeral and shoots the assassin.

JM's sister, Emma, tries to hang herself but is saved by her bodyguard, Pablo. She is really nasty to him. He is obviously taken with her and I foresee them getting together after a long, tempestuous relationship.

Isabel is hitting the bottle. When she starts smashing stuff, Génesis comes to see what is going on. Isabel tells her that she, Isabel is worthless because she didn't do anything to save her child. Then she tells JM that Emma tried to kill herself and she doesn't want his suicidal sister in her house.

Ángela has to go to the police station to make a statement and JM goes with her. When they get back to the house, Isabel tells JM that his place is with his family, not with the bodyguard who was only doing her job when she saved their child.

Bernardo is apparently pretending to be ill to get Willy to do what he wants.

JM comforts Emma who promises not to try and kill herself again.

Isabel makes a call to a mystery person telling him/her that she needs him/her because JM pays more attention to the bodyguard for his daughter than to her.

Willy tries to put the moves on Sam but she appears not to be interested. Then he gets a call from Amanda, his mafioso girlfriend.

After hearing how much her daughter misses her, Ángela decides to quit being Génesis' bodyguard. JM is able to persuade her to stay by offering to have her daughter, Violeta, comes and live at his house with her. Of course, we immediately see the parallel with Sam and Ángela's friendship.

Sam watches Willy fooling around with Amanda. The next day he teases her about spying on them.

The woman who is Fernanda's confidante is Ofelia. She isn't her mother, though. Fernanda tells Ofelia to burn some of her clothes. Ofelia is shocked to see that they have blood on them. If we had any doubts that Fernanda is a really bad person, they are eliminated when, in a flashback, she is shown shooting JM's parents when they are bound and gagged. Before shooting them, she accuses them of encouraging JM to push her down the stairs.

The mafioso guys shoots Amanda in the bath and says that he will get JM.

Ángela’s husband, Luis, keeps popping up when Ángela is with JM.

Isabel goes to see Bernardo and presumably that is who she called earlier. She tells him that her life is a disaster. He says that her life would have been better if she had chosen to be with him rather than JM.

Sam calls Bernardo to ask him to figure out a way for her to go out on JM's boat with him. Then her mother, Perla, shows up at Bernardo's and they appear to be having an affair. Perla tells Bernardo that she wants to get her daughter back.

When Willy and Fernanda go to a business meeting with JM, Ángela and Sam get to chat. (Why is Ángela with JM when she should be guarding Génesis?) Sam tells Ángela that she is employed as the bodyguard of her 'primer y unico amor' (her first and only love). As we learned yesterday, Sam's and Willy's parents were friends. Sam was in love with Willy but he was sent to school in London. However, he came to her 15th birthday party and they had a wonderful time and made love but then he went back to London and when he saw her again as his supposed chauffeur, he didn't recognize her. She's using her mother's name so it's not the same as when they knew each other before.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE - miércoles

Part 2


Vincente shows up at Bernardo's (he appears to live in an art gallery). He tells Bernardo that he lied to Fernanda and told her that it was JM who pushed her down the stairs when in reality (as we suspected) it was Vincente to did it on Bernardo's orders! [I think it was Hombre who thought that Bernardo is a good guy - nope!] So Vincente not only finds hired killers for Fernanda, he is also involved with Bernardo.

Fernanda puts on the moves on JM at their supposed business meeting and reminds him of their past but he says that they can only be business colleagues.

On the docks, the boat driver, clearly on instructions of Bernardo, tells Willy that he is sick and Sam offers to drive the boat, preloaded with bimbos in bikinis.

Isabel's job apparently is to be incredibly nasty to everyone. She performs on Emma who has brought all her artwork into the living room of the house.

Fernanda tells Luis that she wants him to kill the bodyguard who saved Génesis' life. Luis does't mention that the bodyguard is his ex-wife.

Violeta is very impressed with JM's house and predictably, Isabel comes in and is incredibly nasty to Ángel and Violeta.

The mafia guys come after Willy in a boat and start shooting. Sam has a little pistol but Willy produces what must be an automatic pistol. He shoots off about a zillion rounds and the bad guys take off.

Ángela tells JM and Isabel that Génesis has a headache and needs to be picked up from school. Isabel says that she isn't able to go so JM and Ángela go. Luis is there and he pulls a gun on Ángela telling her that even though the loves her, he has to kill her.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE
Thanks so much Jean. Bernardo seems to be the puppet master of everyone. He's got a thing going with Sam's mom AND Isabel. I am starting to think that he actually recognizes who Sam is and is pushing her and Willy together on purpose, as well as keeping Willy safe. I still can't believe that Willy doesn't know who Sam really is. I was sure it clicked for him the other day when her parents showed up.

I was also shocked that Bernardo was the one behind having Fernanda pushed down the stairs. Why? If he's so keen now on forming a business alliance with JM's family, wouldn't it have been easy way back when to force his daughter and JM to marry since she was expecting his baby? It seems that he wanted to turn Fernanda into a killer. He's certainly fueling her vengeance fire now by having his hecnhman feed her lies about JM. I can't quite figure out what his plan is. Certainly, there will be hell to pay once Fernanda finally finds out her dad was the one behind everything.

I was surprised that they gave some depth to Isabel. Her reaction to not being the one to save Genesis was interesting-- her feelings of uselessness, of just being a pretty thing, as her mother taught her to be. I was touched when she told Genesis that she wants her to be different than her. Geni looked scared and confused. Poor kid. JM needs to get Isabel some real help for her alcoholism if he wants his baby born healthy and his daughter to grow up in a more healthy environment.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE-
Somehow, I don't think Isabel's baby is going to be born. Drunk Isabel almost told Genesis something about the baby - my guess is that it isn't JM's or that she's not pregnant at all.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

What a tangled web they weave! Thanks, Jean, excellent recap, cleared up a few things I wasn't sure of. Yes, I wondered when we'd see Bernardo's bad side, but we didn't have to wait long! I'm guessing that he had Vicente push Fernanda down the stairs because he didn't want the shame of an unwed daughter giving birth (and who knows if JM would have married her).

Bernardo's whole family is pretty bad. He's having affairs with Isabel and Perla and orchestrated his own daughter's fall, his son Willy is involved with mafia guys, and daughter Fernanda is out to kill all of JM's family.

Luis is funny - getting all macho, that he's the man, and should be working, not Angela. But his "job" is to kill her!

I agree it's crazy that Willy wouldn't recognize Sam, especially since at age 15, it was not only her first time, but his, too. Beanie time! And Sam, please don't fall back in love with this guy. He's bad news!

I'm not sure it's so wise for Angela to bring her daughter to such a dangerous environment, where people are under attack.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS:

Well, tonight we have the PTA meeting and Gonzo's birthday party.

PTA meeting: After Manuel has a talk with Miranda, telling her he understands the situation, and doesn't blame her (Mau did NOT reveal they had sex), and Carmen gets a little jealous, thinking Manuel and Miranda might have something going, the meeting starts.

Apparently the parents have to select a representative. Last year it was Ricardo. I'm getting the feeling that somehow, this being a private school, the parents select the principal. Ana says it's time for change, for youth. But also stronger discipline, to stop the bullying, drugs, etc. Ricardo wins, but he says his job won't let him do it. So his young wife Olga pops up, she'll do it for him! This is exactly what Ana wanted to hear.

Olivia meets with Mau (observed by JP), and Mau gets a phone call while in her car. It's Billy from jail (not dead), who says Indio is out, and wants to silence any possible witnesses. That means Mau!

Joaco does go to the church and leave the gold chalices on the altar in a velvet bag. He prays for a chance to start his life over.

Gonzalo has HAD it with his stepdad Bob, who says tomorrow he turns 18, so it's pay rent, or you're kicked out. Gonzalo decides he's going back to Mexico.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS Part 2

Okay, Leo and Liz told Gonzo about the party, so he's not so mad at Liz anymore. And it's going to be at Leo's house. Liz models sexy underwear for Yesi (or was it Sofia?), saying she'll be Gonzo's birthday present. Yesi notices a bruise on Liz's leg (from Gonzo's rough sex), but Liz makes up something.

Alejo isn't coming to the party, but Javier says he's invited, so they both go. The party is fun, everyone's dancing to a techo beat (Leo's the DJ). Gonzalo decides it's drug time. Leo tries in vain to stop him, as Gonzo crushes most of his drugs, and puts them in the punch! Soon, everyone's drinking it, and getting a little crazy. They all strip down to underwear and jump into the pool

Javier talks Alejo into going into a back room. Alejo admits it'll be his first time, never been with a guy or a girl. Javier says lets both strip naked, close our eyes, then meet! Alejo does, but Javy doesn't. When Alejo is nude, he opens his eyes just as a flash goes off! Javier and Gonzalo are standing there laughing at him. Javier says of course I'm not gay! But the whole world will love this picture of you!

In another back room, Liz gives Gonzalo her present by approaching him in her sexy lingerie. He talks her into taking his "special" drugs, and they start to make love. She hears the kids jumping into the pool, and says let's go. She runs out first, gets very woozy, falls into the pool, and shortly thereafter, Leo sees her floating face down! They pull her out, but she may be dead!!
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE - Miércoles

Excellent recap Jean! Thanks!

Emma seems to be the classic - a spoiled little rich girl. I'm sure she's going to fall for her bodyguard, but right now she is a royal pain in the hindquarters.

I love it when I learn a new word, admittedly one that won't come up much in general conversation: francotirador [sniper or freelance sniper]. I'd love to know the root of that one. I looks like French shooter to me. Do the French have a reputation for more than wine and cheese?

Boy, Fernanda is evil, evil, evil. Another good expression El patito feo se convirtió en cisne. She took their jewelry as well. Fake motive or serial killer trophy?

As much as I despised him in Mi Corazón Insiste, I'm liking Fabian Rios in this one. Who'd a thunk it! He isn't coming up with the phony toothy smiles so much. He's a complete womanizer, but I think he has a good heart in spite of that. It doesn't make sense Sam would be unrecognizable 10 years later. I predict she'll reform him.

And José Luis Reséndez has managed to wipe his role as the nasty Del Monte brother in Herederos from my mind. He's quite the gorgeous but nice man in this one.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Novelera- I found this word origin explanation for francotirador:

"El origen del término español se sitúa en la Guerra Franco-prusiana de 1870-1871, pero el término es más antiguo, por ejemplo usada en la guerra entre Dinamarca y Suecia 1563-70. Las mejoras técnicas habían permitido al ejército francés dotarse de fusiles de largo alcance, ideales para abatir enemigos desde posiciones lejanas. Los soldados prusianos los llamaban "franc-tireurs", esto es, "tiradores francos" (franceses). Esta situación fue la que llevó a los soldados alemanes a cometer crímenes en contra de la población civil, especialmente en Bélgica, durante la Primera Guerra Mundial, pues aún tenían el recuerdo de las bajas producidas por estos tiradores durante el conflicto anterior.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

That information about the origin of the term francotireur is very interesting Vivi.

Up until the mid 19th century, most soldiers used a musket, which was a short range and very inaccurate weapon. Guns with long rifled barrels could shoot much farther and more accurately. I assume that is what the French were using against the Prussians. France lost the Franco-Prussian war so they couldn't have been that advanced.

The origin of the English word sniper is interesting, too:

from Wikipedia: The verb "to snipe" originated in the 1770s among soldiers in British India where a hunter skilled enough to kill the elusive snipe was dubbed a "sniper".[2] The term sniper was first attested in 1824 in the sense of the word "sharpshooter".[2]

Snipe are small, cryptically-plumaged wading birds.

I think Fernanda took the jewelry as serial killer trophy. We've barely seen a cop much less had any information about how the police investigation of the murders is going.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Thanks so much, Vivi, for answering my "inquiring minds want to know" question about francotirador. That was very, very interesting.

Jean, in scanning my memory of Fernanda's face as she took the jewelry, I think you're right. It was a trophy.

And it was certainly weird that Fernanda came on to Juan Marcos right after arranging the sniper at the funeral. Yep! Bat Sh!t Crazy!!!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Wow, I feel like I'm always the party pooper! Last night for me was such a let down.

The storyline with Emma and Peralto is too much already. The girl was caught hanging herself and she's ok to just hang out at home like nothing happened?

The Fabian character (mujeriego) eventually hooking up with Sam...wow, where do I start? There's no chemistry there, or maybe it's just me? Sooo boring that one. I can't take this guy seriously.

How about the fact that we were let in on the fact that Fernanda's own pop was the one who commissioned her getting pushed down some stairs, his own style of abortion I guess. Wow.

2nd episode in and we get to see JM's wife in her falling fast woe is me act. Full blown alcoholic and he's already ready for the divorce. Can't get the new bodyguard and her daughter moved in fast enough so the little girls can be sisters.

Don't get me started on Alyn Mujica...just curious, did she get implants for those nalgitas? Wayyyy too much shelf on that booty, hey just sayin.. :)

I need some good writing, give me something like Alguien again! I know it's too much to ask for another Teresa Mendoza but Alguien was sooo good!

Sorry guys that I'm so negative, I just don't have the patience for such cheeseball stuff. The first episode of Una Maid started out really cool too, then went in 4 or 5 different directions the 2nd episode and quickly fell to crap.
 

Corazon Valiente

OMG! Aylin Mujica replicated Bim-Butt's of Eva Luna. dunno how anyone can think that's attractive. I'm tired of her character already.

I recognized one of the bodyguards, and the maid from Eva Luna.

'hated Fabian Rios in Fantasma de Elena; sorta liked him in the beginning in Corazon Insiste; but always thought he was good-looking.

same goes for Reséndez. I've never seen that Peralta character before - another hottie!
 

Corazon Valiente

I happen to like this one very much. I see it as double Honey West style (old 1965-66 TV series). I'm not going to lie about it, felt some of this could have already been packed with a punch, but I've been waiting for a while to see Adriana Fonseca return, and to see Ximena Duque in something other than the sister who sleeps with her brother-in-law, is well worth the wait.

As for the men, I am so glad Fabian Rios cut his hair and is not wearing a vest! I can now stand to watch him. It's also a hoot to see Aylin act with her husband, especially last night's episode when he stated no harm will come to his wife and child.

There are just too many actors in this one that I like watching. I am hoping though that Roberto Matoes (Tiberio)in Mi Corazon shows up somewhere along the line, maybe a possible hook up with Katie.

Who I would drop immediately? the bratty sister, oh boy does she need to get an introduction to reality, fastforward time for her.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS:

Liz isn't dead. Leo gives her CPR (they call it los primeros auxillios, or first aid), and she breathes, but she's in a coma, and is rushed to the hospital. The doctor knows she took MDMA, or something like that. Leo and Gonzo know Gonzo supplied it. The other kids suspect a little, but no one says anything to the cops or grownups. Gonzo reminds Leo of their "pact", Gonzo has to remain quiet. Besides, Gonzalo (who is now 18 and could be charged as an adult) is leaving for Mexico.

Before he leaves, he enters Liz's hospital room unseen, and is about to strangle her, when she wakes up. He says he loves her, but never tell anyone I gave you drugs. And I'm leaving forever.

Olivia and Orlando tell Mau he's in danger, and has to leave Miami, not to return until it's time to testify, which could be a year! They have to tell Mau's parents. Carmen doesn't understand why Mau would get involved with the police just for "justice", since they don't tell her about Miranda.

There's more aftermath from the party. Cassius cleans up all the mess, even though no one told him to, and no one will thank him. Diego (who was last seen about to have sex with Nora) goes back to dump the spiked punch. He sees Alejandro, who's in a daze, half from drugs, half from his humiliation by Javier and Gonzalo. Diego feels he owes Alejandro one, since Alejo took him to the hospital when Mau beat him up, and takes dazed Alejo back to his house (parents are away). He leaves him on the couch to sleep it off (Alejo says he's okay). But Alejo is NOT okay. He empties a full bottle of pills into his hand, and is about to take them!

Andres and Nena arrive home. Their house has no evidence of the party, but the cops are there, and they arrest Andres, presumably for "allowing a party to take place when you're not home, at which a girl takes drugs and goes into a coma", a new crime, but oh well.

Miranda dreams that Mau said I have to leave forever, but I love you. She tells Patty, who asks, would you have sex one last time before he left? Miranda scoffs at this, and Patty leaves. Mauricio DOES show up (some bad guys may have seen him, though), and he IS leaving forever (well, for a year). Miranda is overcome with emotion, tells Mauricio he's the most amazing man she's ever met, and kisses him desperately!!
 

RELACIONES:

I meant to say, LEO has to remain quiet.

If Mau does leave for a year, they could fast forward, and he'd be legal!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Here's what I remember from last night:

Willy is amazed at how Sam is not just a driver and a cook, but also a fighter! He doesn't trust her, though, and rips out the gun she has behind her back. She easily takes it back, so he takes out HIS gun. She easily takes this, too. She explains that she's just defending herself, since he did come into her bedroom the other day, and a girl can't be too careful. Willy is really falling for her. He later admits he loved a girl at age 15. Sam decides to go for it, and says I'm that girl! (but maybe she isn't!!)

Isabel is drinking and insulting everyone. She dresses Angela up in a maid's outfit, that way "no one will guess she's a bodyguard". JM is appalled, keeps telling Isabel his parents were shot, and she keeps whining about herself! She finally apologizes and says she'll be nicer, but I doubt it.

The two little girls, Genesis and Violeta, meet. At first Genesis is wary, but later they become friends.

Luis can't bring himself to kill Angela. JM follows them, and there's a big standoff, but in the end, Luis leaves. He then tells Fernanda he can't kill his ex-wife. Oh, and by the way, don't YOU touch her, either, or I'll kill you. And if you try to harm me, I've already told a friend all about you killing JM's parents, so don't think about it! (thanks for the info that these two are married in real life!) Fernanda's plans are a little messed up by this, but not by much. She tells Ofelia she'll NEVER give up on her revenge.

Emma has a boyfriend named Gabriel, whom I think is Vicente's brother. She's still mean to Pablo.

Angela overhears someone say that Perla has lots of lovers. That's her mother they're talking about!

I'm sure there was lots more, but that's all I remember.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Rand- I understand what you're saying. This is no Alguien, but I also find the pretty people, the premise of the two lead women being body guards, and all the action each episode to be fun.I'm hoping the writers find ways to keep it fun and interesting, and not turn it into a train wreck. There were SO many guns drawn on people last night that I thought we could start a drinking game for this show. Take a shot every time someone points a gun at someone else. I would have been flat on my back drunk after just the first 20 minutes last night! LOL!

RELACIONES:
Thanks Hombre. I watched most of this last night for the first time in a long time. I was shocked by how all of the "kids" kept quiet, even though Liz was on the brink of death or at least coma. Wow! Not many of characters that you could call "noble" in that bunch. Then again, Liz isn't the greatest person in the world. It wouldn't be a huge loss...
 

CORAZON:

Whoops, SAM overheard the conversation about Perla, it's HER mother!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE-
Thanks, Hombre. I think that you got most of it. Nobody got killed in last night's episode so that was a change.

I love how nonexistent the police are. I guess Willy and Sam had to talk to the police about the big gunfight on the boat but it didn't seem to be any big deal.

I really thought Luis was going to get out of town after failing to kill Angela. Knowing what she is capable of, I sure wouldn't have gone back, reported failure and tried to blackmail Fernanda.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

I also like the novela. It’s not La Reina del Sur and it’s not Flor Salvaje, both of which I loved, but so far the characters are believable to me, especially Ximena Duque’s work as Samantha Navarro.

Nellie, ITA about the bratty sister. I know they’re going to turn her nice. But right now she’s unwatchable.

Hombre, thanks for the minicap. Some things that stood out for me:

Luis also threatened Ángela with killing his own daughter if she didn’t come along quietly. In the standoff in the house, Juan Marcos was trying to be tough, but his hand holding the gun was trembling uncontrollably. He tells her in the car that it’s not his fault she stopped being a good wife and mother. He also smells the budding relationship with JM and tells her she left to go be with him. Jealousy, always bubbling around in these TNs.

Willy IS a mujeriego, but Fabian Rios is doing a good job showing both sides of the character. He told Sam that his life isn’t worth much and no one would cry for him. He thinks his father is going to die soon [and don’t get me started on someone who tells their child they have a terminal illness to manipulate them!!]. His sister doesn’t care about him at all. He doesn’t love anyone or have any children. I think Bernardo, and maybe the mother whoever she is or was, really dropped the ball on their kids. Nevertheless, Willy’s genuine love for his father shows through.

Juan Marcos had an excellent scene with Isabel. He told her off in spades, and in front of her bodyguard and Ángela. “She thinks she’s the center of the world. No one else matters to her. She says she loves him. But his parents died and an attempt was made on their daughter. And from her he got absolutely nothing. The saddest thing is that she doesn’t even do it on purpose. She’s just like that and always has been. Unfortunately it took him until now to realize it. She should go ahead and keep drinking; he doesn’t care.”

Sam tells Ángela that she can’t control what she feels for Willy. And now he’s in danger!

They said that Perla, Sam’s mother, is a partner in the art gallery we saw them in.

At the end of the episode, Ángela comes to ask JM to get another bodyguard. She realizes that her presence is causing friction between JM and Isabel. He should get someone else from the agency. He says he can’t let her go.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Thanks Hombre and Novelera for the recaps. Yes, I enjoyed that scene of JM telling Isable off too. I also liked when he admitted that he's scared, big time. Nice vulnerable moment. I also noticed his hands shaking when he held the gun at Luis.

I think Sam is going to learn a lot of things she doesn't like about her parents. I still suspect that Bernardo knows exactly who she is.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Oh, I remembered another thing. Fernanda came up with her Plan B after Luis painted her into a corner on killing Ángela. She wants him to become the ideal man, affectionate, a good father, etc., etc., and get Ángela to fall back in love with him.

Unless I missed something, they've done a poor job of showing exactly how Fernanda knows that Ángela is becoming more than a bodyguard to JM. She definitely wants to separate the two of them.

So, from what they said, Fer's plan is to kill everyone close to JM so that he suffers a whole bunch and then somehow she's going to get him to fall for her. And then kill him? Or not? Don't know.

I can't tell if it's her acting or her Jessica Rabbit body that bothers me. But I don't care for the scenes featuring Aylin Mujica.
 

Corazon Valiente

Novelera, Jessica Rabbit, oh boy was that on target. I think in the two novelas I've seen her she always dies by being buried in a box, I hope there is another ending for her.

Now I'm bothered as a new TN is starting at Univision which also contains actors that I like (but unfortunately not the leading lady), so I guess I'll have to tape and watch them on the weekends and then decide between the two.

I hate to admit have not noticed Aylin's backside, did remember that I found something was wrong somewhere, thought it was the red yucky hair maybe Telemundo now has "a backside of the month actress".
 

Corazon Valiente
Thanks Hombre, Novelera and all who summarized/commented on this show. It moves fast and I have missed some major stuff. Did Sam really admit to Willy that "she was the girl" he fell for when he was 15? Did he believe her? It didn't really show any more.
Nellie, I got a prickle of anticipation when you mentioned Robert Mateus being in this show...was that wishful thinking--or is it in the cards?
Too much stuff happening her, and I'm looking forward to all of it!
By the way the actress who played the jealous wife in Eva Luna (and is now the villainess in Una Maid)--I alwasy thought she had a padded rear end. They always showed her in tighty tight pants to highlight it.
J in Oregon
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

J in Oregon, after a lot of tequila shots, it did appear to me that Sam admitted to Willy that she was the 15-year old he lost his virginity to.

But I think that's going to be a red herring and he'll either be too drunk to take it in, or she'll wiggle out of it. I think it's early for these two to resolve things.