Caray, Caray!

OMG!! Más sabe el diablo was the first full novela I've seen, and I truly loved it!! Jencarlos Canela, and Jorge Luis Pila were just beautiful. Loooved to hate Miguel Varoni... he was great.

I hope ya'll see and enjoy it.
 

This is one of my favorite telenovelas too. Interesting story, and what a cast! The chemistry between the two leads is incredible.
 

Dona Barbara:

Jean,  again thanks for your recommendation on  this incredible  novela that, in my book, rates at the top along side the Eduardo Palomo CS, the best novela of all time! 

So many things came together in the end, and most of all, an incredible sense of peace and acceptance given to a woman who had been given more than she could handle in life,  the horrendous violation.  After feeling so denied by God, her last sentence, "I go with Dios y La Virgin" was extraordinary to me. While there were so many good/strong love stories in the novela, they were secondary to Barbara's move into the light!  She could love her daughter, and made the ultimate sacrifice, she gave Marisela  Santos, the love of her life. 

One small annoyance was the acting of Christian Meier, I felt he was just plain silly at times. I saw little depth in his portrayal of Santos. The novela was good despite him.  

I loved the character of Marisela, funny, loving, GOOD, sexy, innocent, caring and most of all a HUGE heart. We could all learn from her.  

Oh well, good programs so seldom appear anymore...... This one was well worth the time! I was really touched by it, thanks Jean for the heads-up. 
 

Más sabe el diablo

ah! the cast - yes... wonderful, wonderful. the storyline... unexpected at every turn.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

After threatening her and their daughter with a gun, Luis now has the job of trying to win back Angela. She tells him it's too late, after all the hurt, she just doesn't care for him anymore. Of course, he's going to keep trying, but this reminded me of the book I'm reading in Spanish now, Quantum of Solace, an Ian Fleming book (in Spanish, it's Una Parte de Cariño). The title means that the amount of affection you have for someone is limited, you only have a "quantum" of "solace" to give them, and once they've betrayed you too many times, there's no chance of reconciliation, because all your affection has been used up. Interesting theory. I'll leave it to others to tell the rest of what went on last night, let's just say that after all the violence of the first few episodes, it was time for some sex- LOTS of it!
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 1

I love this show! It's contemporary, deals with real issues, has tons of attractive and talented cast members, and the main plot really hit home last night.

Mauricio and Miranda are in her room, saying goodbye for a year. After a long, well acted scene, in which she goes from denying to longing to fear, Mau puts his arms around her and tells her not to worry, he'll always protect her. Miranda says (or maybe just thinks it to herself) "I know this is illegal, and I know society disapproves, but I don't care" and kisses him deeply, for the first time fully giving herself to him. They part slowly, she saying adios, he hasta luego, and he climbs out the window, speeds off on his moto, eluding the mafia guy who was outside.

In another powerful scene, Alejandro is just about to take a fistful of pills and kill himself when Diego knocks on the door. He forgot to return Alejo's keys. But they get into a discussion. Alejo can't understand what's so damn funny for the bullies who make fun of gays, of artistic black guys like Cassius, etc. He tells Diego about a 14 year old kid who committed suicide after classmates bullied him for being gay. Alejo says those classmates were the ones who really killed the boy.

Diego doesn't know why he laughs and goes along with the crowd, he now knows it's wrong. Alejo looks at him with those penetrating blue eyes, and says, I'm gay. But I'm not going to let the likes of Leo and Gonzalo kill me. I won't take those pills. I'm going to live!

Nora knocks on the door, and Diego hides. Alejo tells her how he was tricked into stripping for Javier, how Gonzalo took a photo. Nora is super mad at Javier, Gonzalo and Diego. Ale says maybe there's at least a chance for Diego.

Patty continues to amuse. She's jogging, and sees Joaco doing pull ups in the park. He helps her try one, and of course she gets all flustered. But she likes him. He also tells her the truth about how he was in jail for 1 1/2 years, but now he sells tacos. So now Patty has two possible guys, but can she overcome her psychological problem?

Gonzalo is leaving for Mexico. He packs his knapsack, buys a ticket, but the drugs start to kick in and he gets woozy. He goes to his house, demands his passport, he Mom is bewildered, and Gonzo collapses! Benita goes through his stuff, hides the drugs in her bra, and he's rushed to the hospital. The Doc (Diego's Dad, apparently) says it's MDMA again, someone must have supplied it. Orlando asks Liz, please tell us to prevent more deaths, but she tearfully remembers Gonzo's pleas, and says she just can't remember what happened.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 2

Gilberto tells Ana that if she becomes Principal, she should appoint him Vice Principal. She looks as if she wants to hurl. He tries to get frisky again, but she doesn't want to mess up her jogging outfit.

At the hospital, Nena runs into Benita, and says sorry about your cousins losing their house in Vera Cruz (what Gonzo told her to get money). Benita says I don't have any cousins in Vera Cruz. Hmmmm. But I'm looking for work. Nena agrees to hire Benita as a maid. Meanwhile Andres has been released from jail, and Leo has one of the most pained, scared looks one can imagine. He's really getting payback now.

While Olivia is working on getting Mau to safety, she's also taking calls from JP, seeing him socially. This is not wise on her part. Mau finally gets back home, and the entire family has to say goodbye. Manuel, Carmen and Sofia are distraught, the sadness is palpable, as Mau gets ready to move away for a year.

We later see him in his new home, in Georgia. Back in Miami, Carmen approaches Miranda, you've got to go see Mau if you can, that's the only way we can preserve his scholarship. Mau calls Miranda from his computer to her cell, and says guess what I just found out on the internet? The legal age of consent in Georgia is 16!!!!
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – VIERNES

Embarrassed by the ghastly maid’s costume Isabel bought for Ángela, Juan Marcos gives her some money to go shopping.

During their drink-off, Sam tells Willy all about the time they made love after her quinceañera party. As I guessed because they only showed her face, he was passed out and didn’t hear it.

Fernanda gives Luis a tryout. She says he’s not the world’s best lover, but he does pass the test. She decides also to give him a makeover, with a new “look”. I love the way “look” has totally crossed over and is used by Spanish speakers.

Génesis grows more and more fond of Ángela. She wakes in the night and Ángela goes to her room and, while in bed, she tells her about her childhood with Samantha, two girls who didn’t pay any attention to class differences but were like sisters.

Isabel tells JM she has organized a cocktail party to celebrate the merge between the Del Castillo and Arroyo automobile businesses. He is disgusted once again for her tone-deaf reaction to his parents’ deaths.

Emma’s bratty behavior finally cracks a bit. First she forces Peralta [played by Guy Ecker’s son Jon Michael Ecker] to sit all night in a chair to watch her sleep because she’s afraid. The next day she’s in a deep depression. It’s alluded that she’s bi-polar because she talks about mood swings. When she tells Peralta she’d be better off dead, he reminds her that an artist is meant to bring color into the world. She throws herself into his arms sobbing.

Meanwhile, Samantha has gotten Willy into a tub to sober him up. He pulls her in there fully clothed, and she can’t resist him any more. We are treated to a very hot lovemaking session between the two. Sam wakes up and says she has to leave him, even though it kills her to do so.

Fernanda, the black sheep who has been living in Rome, is going to be running the new merged business. [¿Qué?]. Over breakfast she snarks about Willy, the preferred child, sleeping in. She notices that Bernardo has his eye on Samantha and calls him on it.

Luis comes to Casa Arroyo and begs Ángela’s forgiveness. She tells him, if he had cleaned up his act a month ago, it might have worked. But now she doesn’t love him any more. JM comes to her side protectively. Luis manages to choke down his rage and shakes his hand begging forgiveness from him as well.

Willy tells Sam it was the most amazing sex he had in his life. [Considering what he’s been up to, this is high praise! Although I suppose it’s meant to indicate that sex with love is the best of all.] She tells him he was drunk and imagined that she had sex with him. It doesn’t work. He tells her his memory of the night is intact.

Isabel sees JM and Ángela sending the kids off to the private school and has a hissy fit. She asks Renzo to be her spy. Later she plants a big kiss on him.

While Fernanda is doing some typical villain gloating about her plans, she reaches out for the cat, Lucy. This cat does NOT like Aylin Mujica. The ears go flat and we can see she has to restrain said feline with her hand to keep it from jumping off the bed.

We find out that Isabel's baby really is JM's. She tells Bernardo she's never been unfaithful. Later JM and Isabel have sex. Usually in a novela the galán can never do the deed with anyone except the one he loves.

We get an idea of why Isabel is so screwed up. She thought bubbles conversations with her mother telling her she’s fat and hitting her. She asks why her mother can’t just love her the way she is.

Sam tells Ángela over the phone that she’s not going to play games any more. She’s going to tell Willy the truth. Just then he tells her they’re going out, but they have to wait for someone. A voluptuous Paloma shows up. He says he needs to be with someone who doesn’t want to forget him.

I guess they’re going to this celebration of the two companies merging because Ángela is wearing a dress and looking great. JM and she look longingly at each other.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS

So my cable went out Friday night, and I wound up having to watch Friday's episode online "sin subtitulos". I understood most of it, but there were a couple mumble moments I couldn't make out... anyone know how I can get subtitled episodes online?

Love the Patty/Joaco pair. Santiago seems to be moving on, so I'm rooting for "Paco" all the way! He's a sweet guy, despite his dark past, and I get the feeling he'd be a bit more patient and comprensivo with Patty and her idiosyncrasies.

Miranda and Mau are keeping me guessing too, even though this plot already feels drawn out--they're already pulling out the old "witness protection" plot device? I'm not sure how they can keep this going for 100ish more episodes, although I'm sure there's a pregnancy in there somewhere.

Ana/Santiago--bleck.

LOTS of PSAs in this one... bullying, drugs, teenage sexual identity. All great messages, just seems a little forced sometimes. But I'm still glued to this TN... there's enough going on to keep me interested for sure!

Sofia, Yessenia, Cassius, lots of interesting fiery characters!

AnotherAmy
 

CORAZON

I'm watching this one, too :) It's keeping me somewhat interested so far, although I would have liked Sam to tough it out just a little bit longer without giving in to Willy.

I had to laugh, though, when I saw that Fabian Rios has traded in his vests (from Mi Corazon) for cardigans ;)

AnotherAmy
 

I'm amazed at how fast Corazon valiente is moving. Juan Marco's parents and Angie's father are already dead. What are they going to add to the plot . . . now that Sam has given in, for instance and we're pretty sure we know the pairings; are they just going to keep the couples separate and flog them for five months? Porfa! i hope there will be some surprises. Anciana
 

CORAZON and RELACIONES:

Another Amy and Anciana:

Thanks for commenting! Don't worry about how the writers will keep the shows going, they always surprise us. Look at Una Maid en Manhattan. We knew from episode one that the two leads would get together. So they get together, are split, back together, split again, and so forth. Meanwhile the bad guys come up with plan after plan. And the side characters have their stories, too. The same thing will happen with Corazon Valiente and Relaciones Peligrosas. Both have lots of possibilites, both with the main characters and the supporting cast. I trust the writers to keep us super entertained!
 

DONA BARBARA:

Sandy,

I also recorded and watched the recent re-run of Doña Barbara, and really enjoyed it. I agree that it was a really well done and well acted tn. One of the best I’ve seen. And the lush setting was also amazing- a character in and of itself. I thought Genesis Rodriguez did an amazing job portraying Marisela. She was sweet, sexy, funny, and feisty. In another young actress’ hands, Marisela might have come out looking like a buffoon half the time, and a spoiled brat the other half. But Genesis pulled it off. I also thought that Edith Gonzalez was successful at making me absolutely hate La Doña most of the time, but sometimes she made weep for her. I wanted her to be successful in her quest to kill every single one of her attackers, the law of God or Man be damned! I expected the writers to punish her for her crimes and her hubris at the end, so I was surprised that her end was so peaceful. I didn’t mind though, because there had been those many moments when I really felt for her. I wish she could have found that peace at the side of her daughter.

I liked Cristian Mayer in Alguien, but I could never warm up to Santos or accept the age difference between him and Marisela. Both Genesis and Edith managed to make me feel sympathy for their characters, despite some stupid behavior on their part. But I could never get over Santos’ stupid, controlling, willfully blind behavior that affected not only the two women he loved and his ex girlfriend, but also Antonio and his family, and Cecelia. I am surprised they didn’t tell him to go jump in the lagoon more often. I loved seeing him and all the other hunky men in this tn bare chested. Lots of great eye candy!

I am so impressed with Jean for recapping this whole tn almost single-handed. I really enjoyed going back to read them, and wished you had more people commenting back then. Great work Jean! Many thanks.
 

Corazon Valiente
Thanks to Hombre and other commenters--because unbelievably, I drifted off last night (blame daylight saving time) and missed all the hot scenes! Hopefully there will be more. So much happening here. And, AnotherAmy, ITA that Fabian Rios carries off the little preppy sweater look with great dash. :o)
J in Oregon
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES

Isabel is about to do the deed with Renzo when a knock from the maid interrupts. Juan Marcos and Ángela have a heart to heart while waiting for Issie to get ready. He admires her for having the courage to leave Luis, but says he can’t do so because of his expected son.

Willy introduces Sam to Paloma, his date for the big party. [To me she looks quite a lot like pictures I’ve seen of blow-up sex dolls!]

Dario, Sam’s father, comes to talk to Ofelia, the all-purpose whipping person of Fernanda. He seems to have had a thing for her and asks about what happened to her in Europe.

Fer starts sending nasty texts to Issie, telling her that tonight she’ll know who her husband’s lover is. At the party, Issie drinks champagne while Willy looks at her reprovingly.

Perla, Sam’s mother is at the party and is shocked to see her daughter dressed as a chauffeur. She says she knew she was a bodyguard, but not that. Sam asks her to pretend she doesn’t know her. Sam also tells her mother there’s a past she’s still searching for, thanks to her parents.

Perla is happy to see Ángie and asks how to contact her mother, Estela.

Fernanda lays some BS on Issie in the bathroom, telling her she wants them to put the past behind them and be friends. Issie then gets a text that her husband’s lover is very near. Ángela comes in and Issie goes after her, accusing her.

Then Isabel gets a text to go upstairs for proof of her husband’s infidelity. While Fernanda and then Juan Marcos are making speeches about the company merger, Isabel falls down the glass Staircase of Doom. Of course, she has lost the fetal alcohol baby. In the hospital she starts whining right away that now JM will leave her. She blames the whole thing on Ángela, saying she was sending her texts.

Estela tells Sam she doesn’t want Perla to find her. She says that she got Perla the job as a servant in the Sandoval house, and then she ended up marrying the boss. Later, when Perla does find Estela she accuses her of sleeping with her husband. This is very odd. It doesn’t seem like something Miguel would have done.

Sam has an intuitive bad feeling about Paloma. Willy says he’s going to a “casting” with Paloma and doesn’t want her along. Sam goes over his head to his father, and follows him on a motorcycle.

When Isabel comes home from the hospital, she goes into a rant about JM not leaving her. She says that if he does, she’ll die. She’ll kill herself. Meanwhile her child and Ángela listen on the stairs. The poor little kid runs down begging her father not to leave and her mother not to die.

The “casting” is a big trap by Leo Carrreño, the Mafioso, to kill Willy. Who gets shot is Paloma, but Sam arrives to save the day – just like Mighty Mouse.

Fer sets up some kind of a weird event in which she runs over Luis with her car. Don’t see the sense in this.

We learn during a conversation between Bernardo and Isabel that he helped her escape from “her” long ago. Presumably this is the vicious mother. Bernie says he can’t forget when he found her in a clinic and everyone thought she’d gone to Europe. She says that what “she” most loved about her was her face. Bernie says, but she disfigured it. Isabel says that he saved her.

JM tells Pedro about Emma’s bipolar condition, asking him to get her prescriptions for her. Said Emma is, of course, listening at the top of the stairs.

Fernanda admits to her father that she’s behind all the bad things happening to JM. She’s going to get rid of everyone near him, then marry him, get him to fall madly in love with her and then kill him.

Willy follows Sam and finds out she’s getting ready for a boxing match as “La Pantera Navarro”.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Thanks so much Novelera. Interesting episode. I agree that it doesn't seem like Angela's father was the cheating kind, from flashbacks and what we've heard of him. Perhaps it's a big misunderstanding. Plus, Perla seems like the kind of woman who sleeps "up" (with rich men like Bernardo), not "down" with a bodyguard.

Now that Sam has bagged Willy's mafioso, does he still need a bodyguard? By the way, the actress was a porn actress. The other bodyguards told Sam. So, the blow up doll wasn't far off.

It should be mentioned that Isabel didn't just fall down the stairs. We saw black gloved hands push her down-- whoever Fernanda hired for the job. Probably the same person Fernanda had send those well timed texts since she was busy at the party.
 

DONA BARBARA:

Vivi, I completely agree with everything in your post on DB! I'm just sad it's over!

Just a heads-up, Genesis Rodriques, Marisela in DB is in Will Farrell's new Spanish language movie, "Casa de Mi Padre." I just saw a clip and she looks adorable. The other latin actors mentioned are Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. The movie is completely in Spanish with subtitles!
 

Dona Barbara- I'm so glad you enjoyed DB, Sandy. I thought the ending was very sweet. Having only seen Edith Gonzales in Mundo de Fieras, a truly awful Univision novela, I was astonished at how good she was in DB. It's amazing what a good script can do! That was what I took away from DB - the problem with most bad novelas is that they are written so badly - tired old plot devices, one dimensional characters and stupid dialog. DB always kept you guessing. Barbara was such a complex character that you could feel sorry for her and hate her for what she did at the same time. The characters, including the minor ones, were also well developed.

I thought Christian Meyer did a pretty good job. We had the benefit of Novelera's comments on the book, in which the transformation of Santos' attitude toward the traditional culture of the Llanos as represented by DB, was an important theme. There was much more plot in the novela than in the book so I think it was hard to sustain that tension over the whole novela. His age never bothered me. Young women have been marrying older men for a long time.

I thought Genesis Rodriguez was excellent in showing how Marisela developed from wild child to sophisticated woman.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks for the recap, Novelera. A few things popped into my mind while watching last night:

- They have amazing doctors. The doctor whom JM called in saw Emma exit a room with a big outburst, and immediately said "Bipolar". Okaaay.

- Why are all the bodyguards mixed sex with their clients? That is, Angela and Sam are guarding guys, and Renzo and Pablo are guarding women. They can't follow them into rest rooms, and there's a chance of romantic urges getting in the way of professionalism. Of course, that's what makes this show fun, but it's completely illogical.

- How come the guard NEVER use those little earpiece thingees? Several times, they could have called for help, talked to each other, etc., but have we even seen them use them ONCE!? They look cute, though :)
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 1

Mau is all excited about the fact that Georgia has an age of consent of 16. Miranda has mixed feelings about this. Mau hides his call to Miranda from Olivia. Olivia is definitely falling for Mau herself, looking longingly at him when he goes for a swim in the ocean. His witness protection place is beautiful! Orlando goes to visit Miranda, says we want you to go tutor Mau a few times a week. But tell no one!

Miranda, despite realizing the temptation, says okay. She tells her Mom, who says go for it. She tells Patty that she's going to try really hard just to tutor Mau, nothing more. Right. She tells the school people she has to go to Columbia University for something. JP, for one, thinks this is fishy. He's a troublemaker.

Ana shows up at Santiago's all sweaty again, strips off her top and is standing in her sports bra putting water on herself, as Santiago eyes her perfect body. A few seconds later, they're just about to kiss, when there's a knock. Gilberto again? Nope, this time it's Armando (Santi's Dad), who's mad that Santi's trying to take away his job! As Ana hides, Armando says he GOT Santi the job, paid for his rehabilitation from drugs, after he lost his wife and child from that. Ana's mouth goes wide. The men yell, and Armando has a heart attack! Well, maybe just his pressure, but they call the paramedics. While he's unconscious, Ana says to Santi, maybe your Dad's right, you DO owe him for what he did.

Joaco flirts with Patty and Miranda at the taco stand. After they leave, Corina shows up for more sex, even though Joaco says he's "paid in full". Later he sees Patty left her wallet. He's intrigued, since he like her.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 2

Cassius tells Leo you owe me $50, since I cleaned up your place. Leo pays. Alejandro makes a bold video with Nora where he officially comes out. He then dresses very flamboyantly for school. Leo, Gonzalo and Diego try to make fun, but he stands his ground, saying, you guys are so weak you had to PAY someone to take a naked picture of me. Touche, Leo!

BTW, Leo's Dad Andres ruthlessly beats him with a belt, as Nena looks on horrified. I bet he beats her too. This guy is a pig. He's upset because the scandal of the party messed up his business dealings.

And Gonzo's Mom Jefa (Benita) says she found the drugs, he's got to stop this. Gonzo is basically just rude and mad to her, and tells her Liz gave them to him. He tells that to Orlando, too. He then tells Liz, I'm 18, you've got to take the rap for me. Say you gave them to me. And of course I wasn't going to go to Mexico without telling you! Liz swallows this, and I think she's going to be sent to a treatment center for admitting they were her drugs. Whoops!

Diego's Dad the doctor did a urine test on him, and MDMA (Ecstasy) came up. He's in trouble with his Dad, but of course won't mention what Gonzo or Leo did.

Indio finds out that Mau's in witness protection. But where is he? He sends a thug to Miranda's house to force the truth out of her. As the thug tries to get into the apartment, Joaco comes up, returning Patty's wallet. Patty's also arriving. Trouble ahead!!!!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Hombre, actually, JM has a guy guarding him (the extra guard who likes Angela) and Angela is Genesis' guard. So it's not all boy-girl parings.

The doc has already seen the sister in the past, at the parents' request, so he was just updating JM on what he already knew about his patient.

DONA BARBARA:
Indeed, it was a great script Jean. Most tns, on Telemundo and Televisa/Uni could benefit from such a good script.
 

DONA BARBARA:

Jean, yes, the minor characters were really very well developed, and in fact, as a group "stole the show." Parajote and Genoveva were wonderful and the resolution of their relationship was completely unpredicted. Also, Antonio and Cecilia's May/December romance was delicately presented with tons of chemistry and emotional growth on the part of both of them. Carmelito and Gervasia were soooooo beautifully drawn. The most complicated relationship was that between Melquiades and Barbara. Writers as a whole are so heavy handed with unrequited love stories, they turn one of the parties into a peeping tom, perverted type of person, they can't interpret unrequited love without hitting the viewers over the head with it, not so in DB. I found myself watching both M and DB closely for the duration of the novela to figure just was going on between them!! (I loved your quip, at least I don't have to type "Melquiades" anymore, when he died....funny.)

A minor detail......as a retired RN, I so loved the way they presented Pernalete's stroke. First he was very sick, but it took YEARS for him to make a still partial recovery, very accurate depiction for a change.

Christian M, for me, had a silly, smirky smile on his face for the duration......bless his heart, maybe I just didn't like his smile!!! I know he represented "the good" in the undeveloped Venezulan plains, but I couldn't see it, I saw a lightweight guy. Oh well, to each his own. I probably need to watch him is something else or read the book!

Jean again thanks for putting me on to this wonderful novela that was 1000 times better that most of the ones I have watched in the last few years. Please let me be the first to know if you make another recommendation!!!!! (Seriously, Vivi has my email!)
 

DOÑA BÁRBARA

Sandy and Vivi, I'm so glad you enjoyed this great telenovela. As Jean said, if you start with the bones of a great, classic novel, it's hard to mess it up too badly.

The way it worked for me was that, as I recall, the novela started in August. By an amazing coincidence, my fabulous Spanish teacher assigned our class this novel to read and then discuss in class beginning in September. So, carefully avoiding spoilers, I posted how some of the events happened in the novel.

The stories of the ranch hands, Pajarote, Carmelito, María Nieves, etc., were not really described as they were in the TN, with novias and all. The writers of TN's want to make sure we get lots of romance!

When and if they repeat Flor Salvaje on daytime TV, I can certainly recommend that one as well. It was also taken from a book: The Dark Bride by the fabulous Colombian writer, Laura Restrepo.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE
Thanks so much, Novelera, for the recaps for Fri and Mon. I will write one for tonight's episode. I've been too busy to comment much.

I predicted that the fetal alcohol baby would never be born and it wasn't.

I think the Fernanda hitting Luis thing was part of her plan to get Angela and Luis back together. She stages the accident, calls JM and figures Angela will be tagging along and hopes that a suffering Luis will bring him and Angela together.

I too wondered how the doctor diagnosed bipolar disorder in Emma on the basis of one tantrum. Maybe he had seen her before.

When Fernanda told Bernardo her plan to make JM fall in love with her and then kill him, Bernardo told her not to harm Isabel. Bernardo clearly has a thing for Isasbel. Fernanda didn't really promise not to harm Isabel and Isabel's status as JM's wife is going to be an impediment to Fernanda's plan to get JM.
 

Corazon Valiente
Jean, have we seen any actual romantic stuff pass between Bernardo and Isabel? Is it possible she is his daughter?
J in Oregon
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

J in Oregon, you may be right about Isabel.

As for Fernanda and the car accident, it would be fun if she felt "sorry" for Luis and "repaid" him by making him her chauffeur. This would be symmetric. Please note, my track record for predictions is very weak.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

J in Oregon, Bernardo has a thing for Isabel, and I don't think it's fatherly.

However, he appears to adore her. It almost looked as if he were going to kiss her during one of her visits to whine about JM. But he backed right off when she told him she'd never been unfaithful to JM and wasn't going to be. That's when we realized that the baby was JM's baby.

Thanks, Vivi, for the extra info about the black-gloved figure that pushed Issie down the stairs and the fact that Paloma was a porno star.

Another thing I noticed, but didn't write about before, was the funny way Bernardo pretended to have a spell of weakness in order to grab hold of Samantha's arm when she was telling him she needed to follow Willy. He continued to hold her hand until she tactfully removed it.
 

Corazon Valiente
Novelera--Yes I noticed that too, the spell of faintness. I have never seen that actress before who plays Navarro, she is quite something and puts a real interesting edge on her character.
J in Oregon
 

Corazon Valiente - martes
Today's recap will be a little delayed. I can't finish it until I go home for lunch. ;-)
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 1

More intense excitement! This show has to be one of the most action packed I've seen.

When last we left off, Joaco had come to Patty's to return her wallet. Miranda wasn't home, but a guy in a pink shirt was trying to break in, to threaten Miranda! Joaco rushes in to save Patty, she starts screaming, he tries to keep her quiet, she screams, he grabs a knife to protect her, she screams. He tries to explain, but it's impossible. Outside, the guy in the pink shirt gets a call, they've located Mau, call off your mission, and he leaves. So when Joaco explains he's saving Patty from an intruder in a pink shirt, she doesn't believe him and thinks HE's the intruder. She already called 911, too. When the cops arrive, she's calm enough to tell them to leave (she DOES KNOW Joaco, after all), but she tells him to split. Now.

Later, Yesenia shows up, with Patty's wallet, tearfully explaining her brother would never attack Patty, he's a good guy. Patty still has a few doubts, but later, Orlando shows up, and says did the guy in the pink shirt hurt you? She thinks, oops, Joaco was telling the truth.

We now know how they pick the principal of Cervantes High School. 3 people decide, a student representative, a parent representative and a faculty representative. The parents have Olga, who likes Ana. The kids have Nora, who likes Teresa. And Santiago is the faculty guy, so it's all up to him! His father, Teresa and most students like Teresa. But he's super attracted to Ana. Plus Ana has vowed to deal harshly with Leo and Gonzo, which is Santiago's goal, too. What to do?

Javier comes to school, tries to make fun of Alejandro, who shoots back, I may not have biceps, but I've got a brain. So watch out!

Jefa goes to Nena's house, she's going to be the new cook. While there, Nena asks if Gonzalo is a druggie, which Jefa says of course not. Jefa asks if Andres physically punishes Leo, and Nena says of course not. Yeah, right.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 2

While Jefa is out for a few hours, Gonzalo ignores his Mom's orders, and leaves 7 year old Emily all alone. He then steals Bob's car, and he, Leo and Liz go joyriding, drinking a full bottle of vodka on the way! They stop at some abandoned place where Gonzo urges Liz to do a striptease. She's just about to go all the way when Leo, who's gradually developing some sense, stops her, and puts his coat over her. He also didn't want to do the drinking (but went along with it).

And what of Miranda and Mau? They're together in Savannah, Georgia, now, "studying". Mau remarks that Wagner (the opera composer) also wrote a version of Tristan and Isolde, because he too had an prohibited affair (with Franz Liszt's daugher). Mau tries to kiss every chance they get. Problem is, Olivia is there, and there are two other guards. But Olivia has to do some other thing for a few hours, and this is our lovers' chance.

While Olivia is away (and I think she stupidly revealed to JP on the phone that she was guarding Miranda), there are two guards outside the door. A pizza guy comes up. But it's Indio, in disguise, and he kills both guards with a silencer. He bursts into the apartment to kill Mau, but no one's there. Why? Mau and Mir went to this abandoned beach house a few blocks away. No one can bother them there, and one thing leads to another. Clothes come off, and since it's legal in Georgia, Miranda's love wins out over any doubts, and the two do the deed.

Little do they know that Indio also has info about this beach house, and is on his way over, armed and dangerous!!!!
 

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CORAZÓN VALIENTE - martes Part 1
Ángela's sympathy hug of JM was heading right toward passion when they broke apart. JM tells Ángela that he is married but he has never felt before what he felt when he held her.

Bernardo warns Fernanda again about harming Isabel and besmirching the family name with her plan of vengeance. Fernanda reassures him that she has it all planned out like an "abeja reina" (queen bee). She will make JM hers and then kill him. Bernardo tells her that it is not that early to kill someone you love. He apparently wanted to kill his wife but couldn't.

Isabel gets herself all gussied up and puts rose petals on the bed. She tells JM that she will be his geisha and fulfill all his desires. He asks if she understands that all she is doing is driving him into the arms of someone else. After JM leaves, Isabel smashes up her love nest including a photo of her daughter.

Diego makes a move on Ángela and Génesis overhears.

Emma reads up on bipolar disease. Pablo comes into her room to ask how she is doing. Emma accuses him of being afraid of her now that he knows she is bipolar.

Sam wins her boxing match.

Ángela and Génesis are making a cake, get into a food fight and Ángela inadvertently throws flour all over JM.

Sam discovers that Willy was in the audience of her fight.

Emma tells Pablo that he is supposed to protect people from killers and she might be one. He says that he will take care of her no matter who she is.

JM gives looks of longing at Ángela and agrees to help her and Génesis make a cake. Poor old ignored Violeta comes into the kitchen and now it's a cake making foursome.

Meanwhile Isabel is rehashing her mother's abuse of her - she doesn't have to love anyone because no one will love her. If your own mother doesn't love you, you are not worthy of love.

Bernardo tells Isabel over the phone that she is beautiful and tries to comfort her.

JM, Ángela, Génesis and Violeta are all having a great time making a cake. Then Isabel shows up as a real "aguafiestas" - party popper. She asks what is going on, accuses Ángela of having designs on JM since the day she arrived. Violeta defends her mom and Génesis tells her mother that she is wrong - Ángela is involved with Diego. Ángela has no choice but to confirm that and obviously, JM is hurt. Isabel apologizes but the cake party is over.

Sam is the last to leave the boxing place and she finds Willy with the keys. They have the place to themselves. Willy wants sex and Sam is willing but she doesn't bring any feeling to the party and Willy pulls away saying that he doesn't want to make love to a block of ice. Sam replies that this is all she's got and Willy predicts that someday Sam will beg him to make love to her.

Mafia guy tells his lawyer that he wants to get revenge on Sam for putting him in prison. His lawyer tells him to be careful - Sam is no ordinary bodyguard. She has worked for famous people.

JM is cold towards Diego.

JM is reminded that he is supposed to go to Miami on a business trip. Fernanda conveniently is present to hear this.

Ángela confesses to Sam that she is madly in love with JM but she doesn't want to break up his marriage.

Isabel shows up and tells JM that she wants to go to Miami with him. Whatever, says JM and leaves. Fernanda pours her little poison on Isabel suggesting that she shouldn't be wearing a bathing suit until she gets back into shape and that JM will miss her if she is not there. After a lot of backing and forthing, Isabel does not go to Miami but Ángela,
 

CORAZON VALIENTE - martes Part 2

Sam goes jogging and is dragged into a van and chloroformed. Willy sees and gives chance, commandeering the car of a woman who turns out to be an attractive veterinarian. Somehow, the driver loses control of the van. It crashes and the bad guys flee. Willy rescues Sam but kind of diminishes the effect by hitting on the lady vet.

Pablo gets advice from a friend on how to handle people with bipolar disorder.

Emma confronts JM about why her parents never told her that she has bipolar disorder. It sounds like JM has known about this for a long time.

As predicted by someone, Fernanda does hire Luis as her chauffeur.

Isabel goes to see Bernardo. He wants to have sex but Isabel says that if they have sex, she will just be one of his women and they won't have their special relationship anymore.

JM, Angela et al arrive in Miami. When they are checking in, who should appear but Fernanda who chartered a plane. She claims that she wants to help JM with his business negotiations.

Poor Violeta gets shunted off to her grandma's while Angela takes Genesis to Miami. Perla shows up and confirms to Estela that she and Miguel did have a passionate affair. Estela seems to think that Miguel initiated it but Perla tells her that she had this overwhelming passion for Miguel and only married Dario because she knew she could never have Miguel.

JM and Angela have communicating rooms in the hotel. Fernanda shows up at JM's room as he is about to take a shower and then they will go together to a business meeting. You can see where this going. Angela knocks on the communicating door of JM's room to get a camera before she and Genesis go to the beach. Fernanda answers in her underwear and JM comes up behind her in a robe just out of the shower. Angela draws the obvious conclusion.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Great recap, Jean! It sure is funny how so many of the characters have one person who loves them, but they love another. Besides Diego loving Angela who loves JM, we have Nellie (the maid) loving Pablo who loves Emma, Isabel and Fernanda love JM who loves Angela, and I'm sure there are others. Then of course we have Sam and Willy, who love each other, but can't admit it for 100 episodes. I love it!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE - MARTES

Thanks, Jean, great recap!

Of course, I knew that Isabel was going to ruin the happy cake baking party. But I hated it when it happened. That scene was so cute, and probably a preview of the end of the novela: JM, Ángela, and the two girls - happily ever after.

That Fernanda is one piece of work. When Ángela knocked on the door to get the camera, she opened the door in her underwear! JM at least showed up behind her, shocked out of his mind. It would be nice if he cleared this misunderstanding up with Ángela. I'd like him to say "What the hell are you doing in my room in your underwear, you crazy person? I got out of the shower to find you like this and I'm not pleased about it." That probably won't happen. We have to have lots of bumps along the road for the protagonists. And, from the looks of Aylin Mujica's "enhanced" hindquarters, she is a major speed bump.

I don't think JM hinted to Isabel that she was driving him toward someone else, just that she was driving him away from her. I got the impression that he was disgusted at her sexual come-on because maybe she should be mourning the loss of their baby instead of trying to seduce him. But he didn't say that directly.

Fernanda obviously is planning to become Isabel's BFF in order to undermine her already shaky self-confidence.

And, yes, our hero Miguel did have an affair with Perla, Sam’s mother. But from now unpleasant they seem to make Estela, maybe he had reason to do so! It was interesting that Estela said that Perla was only a maid when she came to work for Sam’s father.
 

Corazon Valiente
Thanks Jean and Novelera for your recaps and insights. I have only seen the Fernanda actress in one other novela (Aurora). Is she typically cast as a villainess? Is she supposed to be tantalizing and seductive? Am I the only one who finds her a bit freakish (no offense intended)? J in Oregon
 

CORAZON VALIENTE
Thanks so much Jean for the recap. I was surprised that the affair between Sam's mom and Anegela's dad turned out to be true. Could Sam and Angela be sisters then?

I thought it was funny and, a bit creepy, that the actress playing the maid was all over Guy Ecker's son (Pablo), when in her last tn, Eva Luna, she was all over Guy Ecker's character. Wonder if she compared the two in her mind? :)

I hope JM does take your advice about what to say about the near-naked Fernanda situation Novelera. But he likely won't. Did anyone else notice how Fernanda grabbed the crotch of her mini-dress before she sat down on the couch of JM's hotel room? He noticed, for sure. That was certainly a "different" way of pulling down a dress before sitting down.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE
I did notice the crotch grab but I interpreted it as enabling her to sit down without us getting a beaver shot. With a dress that short and that tight, sitting down is going to be tricky.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 1

The good news? Mau and Mir finish their lovemaking and get dressed before Indio finds them. The bad news? He sees them kissing. He also is about to kill them. But Olivia arrives with the cops. Indio wants to take Miranda hostage and kill Mau, but Miranda sees a knife, and holds it to her own neck, threatening to leave him without a hostage. At some point, Indio turns around, Mau lunges, there's a struggle, and Indio gets the gun back. But was there a shot? Yes, Olivia shot him in the head. Everyone's okay.

Turns out Indio's not dead, though, so although Mau doesn't have to be in witness protection anymore (I think), since Indio's back in the jail hospital, Indio knows the secret.

And also, Orlando and Manuel arrive. Orlando wants to take Mau and Mir's sworn statement about exactly what happened. Mau told Olivia they heard a noise and fled to the vacant house, but actually, they left first, had sex, and then were surprised. Mau and Mir now have to decide which to do 1) tell the truth they are lovers, which Mau wants to do since it's legal in Georgia, 2) lie on a sworn paper so no one knows their relationship, or 3) punt. I'm going with 3.

JP is busy having sex with the sister of his dead wife. The dead wife was Laura, can't remember the sister's name. She loves him even though he keeps obsessing about Miranda. Also, Laura, who was pregnant at the time, caught JP and sister having sex, and DID actually kill herself over the ledge. So JP didn't push her physically, but in a way he did.

Patty apologizes to Joaco, and they're going to have a date. She has vaginismus (in Spanish, vaginismo), which causes her to tighten up at the key moment, preventing sex. Uuuuuy! But her therapist said with the right guy, she might be cured. Is Joaco that guy?
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, Part 2

BTW, Joaco and Yesi are out of a job. Joaco is tired of being an unpaid stud for Corina, and says it's over. She says, I could call the cops, and get you back in jail. He says, call them, I'll say you sexually harassed me (she did). She goes okay, I won't call, but you and Yesi are fired (could still be sexual harassment, but oh well). Yesi says they've got 4 hands, they can get a new "chamba" (job).

Diego and Nora are making out when her parents come in. Diego has to cover his excitement with a strategic pillow. Nora's mad that her parents don't seem to care that she won student representative.

Alejandro tells Sebastian that Diego actually helped him, seems to like him. Sebastian is surprised, says Diego is like his last name, Baron (or "male"). Other characters with telling last names:
Mauricio Blanco (white)
Gilberto Verdugo (executioner)
Ana Conde (Count, but her name also sound like an anaconda snake)
Leo Maximo (yeah, he's the max)

Idiots Gonzalo, Leo and Liz careen back to Gonzo's house, Gonzo is so drunk he's throwing up. Plus, they scrape Bob's car! Emily covers when the parents get home. Gonzo is just "sick" again, and as for the car, Gonzo rigs it to look as if Benita did it. Leo's appalled, says you'd do that to your own mother? Of course Gonzalo would, he's scum.

Tonight we'll see if Mau and Mir admitted their secret (I doubt it).
 

CORAZON VALIENTE – MIERCOLES – NOT REALLY A RECAP!!!

I seem to reflexively write notes about what happened these days!

Willy tries to fire Sam for her own good after the thugs tried to kidnap her.

Pedro and Emma decide to be friends, and she is trying to teach him sculpture. Later in the show, she orders him to sit down and have dinner with her.

Isabel gets it on with Renzo after whining a lot about how come everyone [Diego, Luis, and Juan Marcos] are ga-ga over Ángela. He turns out not to be too evil, telling her she can pretend he’s her husband and he won’t mind, if it helps her. [Ye Gods, I hope they’re not listening to Rick Santorum and are using contraception.]

Darío is upset that his daughter Sam is working as a bodyguard instead of taking a cushy job in his imperio.

We got TWO very satisfying scenes where JM tells Fernanda to back off in no uncertain terms. [What telenovela villainess has ever, ever done that!] Now she is saying that, if JM insists on marital fidelity, then her only option is killing Isabel.

I’m enjoying Willy and Sam’s relationship. He teases her about adding the veterinarian to his long list of conquests. He goes on a date with her, but when she tells him she’s about to marry a man she has known since age 15, he backs off. He tells her that he lost the girl he loved at that same age.

While they’re in Miami [where else in Telemundoland?] on business, both Diego and JM look longingly at Ángela while she gets into a pool with Génesis in a very attractive bathing suit.

Isabel goes to her go-to crying towel, Bernie. She confesses her infidelity and thinks the fact that she’s only every had three lovers means she isn’t beautiful. Apparently she and Bernie were lovers before she married JM. So…. Bernie, JM, and now Renzo.

I’m thinking Bernie isn’t much of a villain. Other than arranging for Fernanda to lose her baby by having Vicente push her down the stairs, he doesn’t seem that bad a guy. He’s having sex with Perla, but Darío is kind of a jerk, so whatever. He loves his son Willy. He’s kind to Issie, and apparently arranged for her face to be fixed after her mother attacked her a long time ago.
 

Corazon Valiente

Thank you Novelera. I thought that was a cute scene when Willy tells Sam about his first love at 15. Nicely done. I am enjoying the turnaround on this actor, this role really fits him.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS

Hombre, I'm still reading your excellent recaps, although I'm not watching the show itself. When I see the tail end of it before Corazon starts, I get the gist from reading about it.

Wow, no wonder this novela is on at 10 pm! A character who has a problem with her lady parts is pretty risqué for a telenovela.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Novelera, it may not be a "recap", but you recaptured almost everything! I agree Bernardo doesn't seem totally bad.

JM thought Angela and Diego were an item, but that was cleared up. At the end of the episode, he said "well, if your secret love isn't Diego, who is it?". Hah.

Luis and Isabel are both trying to keep their marriages together by being nice to their daughters (nothing wrong with that, but the way they do it is a little cruel to their spouses).

Isabel asks what does Angela have that SHE doesn't have? Personality, Isa. You're just as pretty, but whining and cloying, whereas Angela is a saint.

Someone asked if the actress playing Fernanda always played a villainess. I don't know if always, but yes, the last 3 or 4 times I've seen her. Her red hair is a bit garish, but she still has a great body and a pretty face. And remember, Vicente (the one who really pushed her down the stairs years ago) totally adores her.

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS:

Novelera, yes, the themes are definitely not meant for young children (compared to Maid en Manhattan, for example), which is part of why I like the show.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Thanks Novelera. I missed the first few minutes, so I missed how JM got out of the near-naked Fernanda situation with Angela. But I was glad to see him being firm and clear with her later on.

Bernardo is a puzzle. His admission that he tried to kill his wife is disturbing, as is his cool reaction to his daughter's murderous plans, and his involvement in her losing her baby. But, like you said, he seems to genuinely care for Isabel. I can't understand why. The woman is a MESS! All she does is bitch, whine or cry. Not sexy at all. THAT'S why she's only had 3 men in her life. I actually find it refreshing that she and JM are both so reluctant to cheat on each other, despite the obvious signs that their marriage should be terminated.

Angela's "very attractive bathing suit" is an understatement. Yowza!!!

Am liking Sam and Willy's relationship. Still had to tighten my beannie on JM not recognizing his first love. But it looks like Sam gets outed by her dad tonight.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Typo. Ooops!

"...on WILLY not recognizing his first love."
 

Relaciones Peligrosas:

What killed me about last night's episode, apart from Gonzo being perfectly fine with letting Benita take the blame for dinging the Bobmobile (keep on keepin' on, Team Douchebag), was how Olivia apparently teleported into the house right behind el Indio so she could "wound" him...by shooting him in the head. (And that was right after I saw that Daniela Navarro had been added to the already insanely long opening credits. Damn, show, going for a main cast record or something?)

And I officially have no idea what the hell Juan Pablo is doing. Who, sure, but not what--is he going to turn out to be a narco or something?

Corazon Valiente:

Whomever plays Vicente looks and sounds almost exactly like Ronn Moss (Ridge Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful). This is the most distracting thing on the show for me--yes, even more distracting than Aylin Mujica's insane hair color or Angela's barely-squished-into swimsuit. And I still don't know why he pushed Fernanda down those stairs way back when in the first place, though I suppose it backs up Bernie's villano cred that he's aware of it and has said nothing.

And Fabian Rios playing a fundamentally nice guy is kind of refreshing, even if he comes with hipster sweaters.
 

Corazon Valiente
Thanks Hombre for the info on Fernanda actress. Everyone's comments are so helpful. I must be the only one who missed Angela's bathing suit the other night, I'd better pay closer attention and keep up!
Willy was reminiscing how the love he had at 15 was stronger and truer than all the relationships he had as an adult. I really like him in this, after seeing him in 2 or 3 psycho/bad guy roles.
J in Oregon
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Vivi: whoooaahhh!! "Pablo Peralta" is Guy Ecker's son?? interesante! he's a hottie.

Bill: funny you should mention Ronn Moss of B&B's look-a-like Vicente... my cousin observed exactly the same thing.

I was so glad when JM scathingly told Fernanda off. and that just probably made her love him mas y mas... OY!
 

RELACIONES
Just finished watching tonights episode, and have to say QTH is up with Santiago's lady shirt?? That alone should have disqualified him from the vote.

CORAZON
I, too, am really liking Willy's character... the actor really fits the part, and I agree that it's refreshing to see him good again :)

Oh, brother. Angela's bathing suit?? For a bodyguard, she's sure not into the "laying low, blending into the background" thing is she? That was kind of annoying, but oh so feisty latina :)

AnotherAmy
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

I noticed that, in Fernanda's apology to Ángela, she sneaked in a lie, saying that she knew her behavior was inappropriate with a married man, but that she and JM still desired each other - from way back when

Willy now knows who "Navarro" is. Darío let the cat out of the bag. Sam told him she stopped respecting her father the day he let another man give his life for her!

Well, the separate the two lovers telenovela meme is well underway. Ángela catches Issie and Renzo in a passionate embrace, but keeps quiet about it. Issie then decides to turn the tables and tells JM that she caught Angie and Renzo in flagrante delicto and to rub more salt, she said, I think, that Violeta had seen them. Renzo then apologizes to JM, as if this really happened, while Ángela, blissfully unaware, can't figure out why JM said "I thought you were different".

Fine acting by Ximena Duque in the big scenes, both with her parents and with Willy. She tells Perla she'll never forgive them for what they did years ago. Apparently Darío was the one who did "it" while Perla was an accomplice. I have an idea of what it could be, but will refrain from possible spoiler speculation.

Fer tells Luis he didn't quite get the job done. It's kind of funny, in that these two are married in real life. Vicente has to wait outside for their "encounter" and is fed up with Fer. It sounds like he may now be plotting against her.

Emma cries wolf, pretending to drown, while she and Peralta are at the beach. Later she really does almost drown, but he saves her, of course. She tells him she now knows she wants to live.

Issie comes in to reinforce the message that Ángela needs to keep quiet about she and Renzo, hinting that the good school could be withdrawn from Violeta. Ángela goes off on her about being unfaithful to such a great guy. When Issie says that it sounds like A loves him herself, she pipes up that she does!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

I did not understand last night - is the issue that W did not know she was his bodyguard and he though that she was only his chauffeur?

I have two scenarios on my mind as to what happened after the encounter at 15, I will follow your lead Novelera and keep them to myself.

I like this novela a great deal. But still ff through the sister scenes, yuck. I don't think I will tolerate her even if she gets nicer, it's how I felt of the sister in Eva Luna, never warmed up to her.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Yes, Nellie, Bernardo told Samantha that Willy would be too macho to accept a bodyguard, especially a female. So she was hired to pretend to be his chauffeur, but to protect him from the mafioso who wanted to kill him for sleeping with his wife.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks Novelera. I actually don't think speculating is a spoiler, if you don't know for sure what happened. And I think they gave it away when they showed young Sam in labor in flashbacks...

Although Willy now knows who Sam is, he still doesn't know she's a bodyguard. Bernie asked Sam's parents to keep going along with the lie that Sam's a driver to keep Willy in the dark about it. So there are now two secrets about Sam Willy doesn't know (1-That she's his bodyguard, not driver; and 2-Whatever made her hate her parents, which I think has everything to do with the consequences of them having sex at 15).

The scenes between Sam and Willy were really sweet. I like how his first instinct wasn't to get mad, but instead to help and protect her, and genuine joy at finding her again.

Looks like Angela is being made to look like a horrible person in JM's eyes. I hope the truth comes out soon.
 

I missed Isabel saying that to JM, but caught Renzo doing it (and the avances for tonight's episode just compound the asshattery, since it appears that Renzo sets up a scene for JM's "benefit" with him and Angela--at gunpoint). I don't suppose we'll be lucky enough to see Renzo actually take a bullet for Issie...?

Hombre, take the day off. :)

Relaciones Peligrosas: jueves

- As expected, during their sworn statements about the incident with El Indio and company Miranda and Mauricio both conveniently omit that they were having mad [TV-14] sex before he showed up. Orlando is still totally clueless about that part, so he's okay, but the ever-suspicious Olivia is like a dog with a bone; not only does she not accept it, but she goes back to the foreclosure house where it all went down to try to find some evidence of their dirty deed. And she does: part of a condom wrapper, which she totes all the way back to Miami and then has tested for fingerprints. And she hits the jackpot when Mau's prints are found on it. So (at the end of the episode) she pays Miranda a visit at Cervantes and lays the truth smackdown on her.

Olivia also came back from her trip to a bouquet of flowers from Juan Pablo. This actually made her smile; the universe actually ended immediately after that, but since it restarted a millisecond later nobody noticed.

Orlando, meanwhile, makes plans to relocate Mau again (this time with a willing Manuel in tow), but they appear to be put on hold when news of Indio's henchmen apparently bailing from Savannah comes out. That said, Orlando reinforces the "no communication with anybody" rule by setting up an effective radio/cellphone dead zone around the house Mau and Manuel are in. (I guess Mau's MP3 player is going to get a workout.)

- In the last episode we saw Bob asking Gonzo if he was the one who dinged his car, and here we see Benita insisting that she was the one who did it (with an assist from Emily). Bob grumpily-as-usual accepts that and stomps off, though Benita shrewdly tries to appeal to Gonzo in front of Max and Liz afterwards by explaining that Bob had inherited the car from his brother, who was killed in Iraq (thump, thump, thump); this doesn't make it past Gonzo's wall of indifference, nor does a second attempt to appeal to him later. Later still, we see Benita again saying to Bob that she dinged the Bobmobile and was sorry about it; Bob actually gets some warmth on as he declares that he loves Benita more than the car, and is looking forward to celebrating their upcoming wedding anniversary (in both sweet and down-and-dirty ways, and Benita's apparently happy either way--you go, girl).

After leaving Gonzo's Max takes Liz home. Liz thanks him for saving her life (?), and it continues to look like Max and Liz are growing closer while Gonzo's...Gonzo...

- Nora has a chat with her dad about her political/activist aspirations. Dad isn't terribly optimistic about them, saying that if she tries to run without walking first she'll fall, but she at least manages to dent that with a little happy tickling.

- Patty's dinner date with Joaquin ends without fuss, apart from another one of Patty's daydreams about him carrying her off to bed. Patty agrees to look into a job for Joaco at the "cafe at Cervantes" (not the cafeteria?...though Joaco in a hair net would be pretty comical). Patty goes from fantasizing about Joaco to squeaky best friend/sounding board in about two seconds when a weepy Miranda returns from her trip to Georgia...and that appears to indicate that nearly all the above happened in one night (thump, thump, thump) because the next day is...
 

Relaciones Peligrosas (p. 2):

- Indecision 2012: election day at Cervantes! Ana at first isn't optimistic about her chances of being elected principal over Teresa, since even a tie in votes would mean Teresa would retain the position; with the PTA (spearheaded by Olga Gomez) backing her and the students (spearheaded by Nora) backing Teresa, the deciding factor would be the votes of the teachers themselves--and they are conveniently split down the middle. Gilberto tells her to have faith, particularly in one swing vote: Santiago. Teresa, in her way, is concerned about the other swing vote--Armando.

Santiago (who spent the evening before flashbacking to Armando showing him the family heirloom, a Colt 1911 revolver that dates back to the Mexican Revolution) accidentally ends up in the student boys' restroom and ends up hiding out in a stall when Gonzo and Javier show up. Gonzo is buying some Adderall from Javier so he and Liz can focus for a surprise test Ana was planning; Javier brags about how he was faking ADD to get the prescription for the Adderall among other drugs, and Gonzo naturally is all over working the system like that. (Welcome to Team Douchebag, Javier.) Afterwards, a sober Santiago shows up at the election meeting and reluctantly casts his vote...for Ana, giving her the win. Almost immediately after that he packs his bags...well, bag and tenders his resignation via letter to Teresa, even after Ana asks him to become her vice-principal. Santiago isn't down with taking his dad's job, after all.

- And Armando, the potential tying vote, was MIA for all of this. He was off seeing his doctor, who had him get an MRI--which detected a tumor in his brain. Depressingly they jumped straight from that to "How long have I got?" instead of stopping at "What can we do about it?", which is the only reason why Armando reacting to that by going home and loading his 100-year-old revolver didn't faze me that much. (That said, I do hope they don't Renato Conde the poor guy.)
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS.

"hope they don't Renato Conde the guy".

Funny, very funny, Bill
 

And of course I forgot to mention one brief laugh-out-loud moment: Olga all but thumbing her nose at Teresa after Ana won the election. Way to support your candidate, Olga...
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Vivi, I got sort of down on speculation when I was reading stuff on Telenovela World.

I found TW to be rife with wild speculation, and I thought it was ruining parts of Flor Salvaje for me. They'd put up a comment subject such as: JOHN DOE DIES???? Trying not to think about the possibility that our dear John would soon pass was for me like not thinking about the elephant in the room.

So I try not to say anything that they haven't explicitly said is true on the show itself.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

I understand Novelera. Something like that would be annoying. They gave us a pretty big clue about this one though, with Sam's flashback. Seemed sort of obvious. But I'm sure they will give us an even bigger clue soon-- enough of one to have a discussion about it.
 

RELACIONES PELIGROSAS:

Thanks, Bill, great job. I was so busy at work I didn't even get a chance to log onto the site.

I was thinking part of this show was about "little things" making a big difference. One was the piece of condom wrapper which Olivia found. But also, Bob found the top of a liquor bottle in his car! We had seen it the day before when the kids parked it at the house.

Leo DID save Liz's life the other day by giving her CPR when he dragged her out of the pool. I agree, they're falling for each other, which Gonzo will not like.

You know why Nora's Dad doesn't want her to be student representative, or go into politics? Here's my guess. She's undocumented, and doesn't know it! She may be adopted, and not have papers. We'll see.

And Santiago didn't just hear the guys talking drugs in the stall, he apparently taped it on his phone, potentially getting them back for Leo and Gonzo's taping of him!

I also hope Armando doesn't pull the trigger. And no possibility of an operation?

Wonder how Miranda will wriggle out of Olivia's question about the condom wrapper. And now her tutoring is over. She's not a happy camper. But everything could be different by tonight, since this show moves really quickly.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Just wanted to say I really like the theme song and graphics, which for some reason they only play once in a while (not every night). Very colorful, very sexy, very exciting.