Caray, Caray!

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – Viernes – Part 1

Vicente chases Miggy on his motorcycle. Miggy, of course, is driving like a professional motorcyclist. He makes a sharp turn, and it’s Vicente who can’t make it. His car rolls over.

However, Miggy is a mensch. He tries to rescue Vicente and then calls 911 for an ambulance.

D8D and the Reptile are celebrating the death of Estela with some red wine. And the Reptile is gloating about Miggy's demise [counting her deaths before they have hatched – to mix a metaphor]. When she hears about Vicente, the Reptile tells D8D he was right about Vicente’s incompetence. [I love the way news travels so fast in telenovelas.]

For some reason, Sam appears to be in charge at the hospital. She tells El Jefe they’ll try dialysis, but Nicolás doesn’t stand much of a chance.

Predictably, Ángela has made a fabulous cake and Gustavo [later in the episode we finally learn his name] is appreciative. Nora tells him they don’t have any documents to use to work, saying all burned up in the fire.

JM is VERY sweet with Violeta. He tells her she’s staying with him. He’ll care for her, and she will be with her brother. Miggy calls to tell him that Vicente tried to kill him and doesn’t have a good prognosis. Neither Miggy nor JM can figure out why Vicente tried to kill him. [Wake up! He’s always been the perro faldero of the Reptile!]

El Jefe is telling Sam about his memories of Nic as a toddler. Willy comes to the hospital to say he’s concerned about Nic.

Violeta prays for her evil granny. Génesis tells Emma she wants to help get Pablo back. Meanwhile, poor Pablo must be having a flashback. He is again at a nightclub with a spoiled rich girl, guarding her. Some woman is taking pictures of Pablo and later tells him he could be a male model, giving him her business card.

Natalia shows up at Miggy’s, having had a makeover. She tells him she’s getting married the next day. She’s caught a rich guy. But, of course, she wants a farewell boink from Miggy! The next morning Natalia coos to the boyfriend about spending the night with a girlfriend while Miggy cracks up in the background.

While Willy is again telling Sam how much he loves her, El Jefe comes out and says that Nicolás needs a transplant [big surprise, eh!]. Instead of coming out with the truth about Nic’s parentage, El Jefe says that Nicolás has been placed on the transplant list.

When Gonzalo questions Nora about what’s going on, she lies like crazy and tells him some guy who was infatuated with “Milagros” burned down their house out of spite.

The Reptile comes to see JM and to brazen it out about what happened with Vicente. She tells JM Vicente is crazy. She reaches out to touch him, and he pulls away. JM tells her she should denounce Vicente. She tells him she doesn’t do it because she’s sentimental. [Oh boy, if I were directing the show, they’d give her a big, growing Pinocchio nose immediately.] Just then Ángela calls again. JM calls her Ángela, and the Reptile looks stunned.

El Jefe has gone to be tested as a possible kidney donor. Willy asks Sam if she thinks their child could have found a family ready to do anything for him. Sam hopes so. Willy suggests maybe they could go on TV to see if anyone comes forward. El Jefe returns to say he’s not a compatible donor. Sam asks if he knows anything about Nic’s biological family. Unbelievable, the guy continues to say nothing, while Willy offers to hire investigators to find a relative of Nic’s. El Jefe is saved by the bell when the doctor comes to say that there is an organ donor in Oklahoma.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – Viernes – Part 2

Miggy gets a call that Vicente has awakened and will be interviewed in the morning.

Ángela tells JM that her name is Milagros and that she thought this phone number might be a family member. She hangs up, and JM says he’s going to find out about this. Nora comes in, realizing Ángela has called again. She tells her they can never go back to their life before [without telling her why].

Emma, Génesis, and Violeta have hatched a very cute plan. They show up when Pablo is just about to put Luciana in the car. The kids run up calling him papí. They also mention two brothers and their mamá. Oh, and by the way, they mention that they hope Luly will be all right; his last client was killed! He’s immediately fired.

The Reptile tells D8D about Willy being at the clinic with Nicolás.

Vicente tells Dummy Duval that he’s going to tell the whole story. Miggy has come into the room and asks if he’s going to tell why he wanted to kill him. Duval throws Miggy out. And then Vicente says that it was Miggy who was trying to kill him! And that, furthermore, Miggy is an assassin, like his sister.

Emma’s plan didn’t work. Pablo is angry and says he’s not going to be her bodyguard.

JM tells Sam that a woman called him twice, named Milagros, who sounded like Ángela.

Trying to maintain his control over things, D8D comes to the hospital pretending to care about Nicolás. He mocks El Jefe, saying that El Jefe didn’t tell Sam about being Nic’s mother because he would lose her. El Jefe tells him he sure doesn’t sound fatherly about Sam. D8D says he’s not her father. El Jefe is astonished. Then Sam and Willy aren’t brother and sister?

The doctor comes to say he’s sorry, but the kidney is not going to arrive after all. D8D, almost out the door in his wheelchair, overhears this and doesn’t look pleased.

The Reptile makes her 500th unannounced visit to JM’s office. She asks if that woman called again. JM doesn’t even look at her. She tells him she can’t bear his being so cold with her. Pablo comes in with the cell phone number from which the calls were made and the name, Gustavo. But, of course, the Reptile is there to know all, as usual.

Gustavo takes “Lourdes” and “Milagros” on a tour of the bakery facility he had ready to go until, if I remember correctly, his mother the baker died. He asks if they’ll help him start the business up. Right now he can only offer them food and a roof over their heads. But, if the business prospers, he’ll share the profits with them. Both women are thrilled.

Three evil looking guys confront Miggy and tell him to stay away from Natalia. I’m not sure if this is a continuation of the narco plot before or if Natalia’s rich boyfriend has sent them.

D8D shows up at Willy’s apartment. [Who is pushing him now that Estela is dodging flames in the hot place?] He tells Willy he’s come to talk to him about El Jefe’s child. He says Willy can save him.

Sam is praying for Nicolas. Sam says she would be willing to donate an organ if she’s compatible.

Simultaneously D8D tells Willy Nicolás is his son and El Jefe tells Sam the same thing. ¡Al fin!
 

Una Maid en Manhattan...

Gran Final is this Monday,
(also posted by sfchicabointa with some interesting comments but her post is on the tail end of last weeks page)

(wow, I posted mine there as well by mistake, errrr)

as far as I can tell this will only be 1/2 hour,

I watched it tonight (Friday), lots of action, fun to watch,
the show ended with hairless Lalo, who was being kidnapped by Sara and the bad guys, escaping on foot, with his dad, closely followed by Sara and a bad guy with a gun, closely followed by Marisa without a gun.
 

Rosa Diamante

Eva's grandfather has died,
he left everything to her,
the Sotomayor house is in grief, about being left out of the will,

the cad, JI, goes to San Miguel de Allende to see if the new heir is the Eva he met, but he doesn't remember what she looks like.

Eva has had JI's baby

Eva and Rosa travel to the capital to collect her inheritance,
but are in a terrible car crash,

and Rosa is the wild card,
how could Rosa and JI ever, ever anything?

Carla Hernandez (Rosa) is bewitching to watch,
please someone slap me so I don't watch all 3 Telemundo novelas
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 1

Pablo's back from vacation, and it's time to be sworn in as Congressman. A throng of reporters questions him outside the courthouse. Niki (Guillermo Cano's reporter/sleuth) asks where he gets all his money. Pablo says he'll reveal this all later. But meanwhile he asks for her name, and writes it down in a little book. Uh oh! The guards won't let him in, at first. Why? He's not wearing a tie!

Niki reports back that strangely, there's no proof in court records in Medellin that Pablo has ever been in jail, or even arrested, although they thought he was arrested for drugs, or at least attempted bribery. How could it all be covered up?

Pablo goes to visit Regina Parejo, the classy television reporter. BTW, she's played by Angie Cepeda, younger sister of Lorena Paz, who was the sexy bad girl on Yo Soy Betty La Fea, and also was in the Spanish version of Desperate Housewives. Reginia tells Pablo that hundreds of guys want her, why should she care about some hick like him. But later, she finds her hotel room filled with bouquet after bouquet of pink flowers. She agrees to have dinner with Pablo. Again she says he's not guaranteed to get anywhere. He throws her for a loop by saying that's not what he's after - he just wants an interview! He says he's the second most powerful man in the world after the Pope. He wants to tell his side of the story, his hopes, his desires, how he's raised himself out of poverty, how he'll help others do the same. THIS does the trick, and next thing we know, they're in bed! Yes, Pablo knew the magic words.

Rodrigo Bonilla, who was Galán's advisor, has been appointed Minister of Justice by the President. I think this is equivalent to Attorney General. He's higher up than Senator Galán now.

The papers call Pablo Robin Hood Grillo (I'm guessing Grillo means Colombian). But Pablo doesn't want to be portrayed as a their, even if his money helps the poor.

Regina wants to know the origin of Pablo's money. He starts talking about vague business interests, but before he gets too far, he gets a call from Pati. She's pregnant again!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 2

In his first speech as Minister of Justice, Rodrigo goes on a rant about drug money which is paying for soccer fields and political races. He carefully doesn't name names, but Alonso Santolini knows who's being hinted at (Pablo, the Montoyas, Mariachi). They have to do something to stop this.

Guillermo gives Niki a huge stack of newspapers. Maybe the court records have been laundered, but if you look through all the newspapers, the truth is in there somewhere about Escobar being arrested. Niki looks at how huge the stack is.

Pablo gives a speech to the poor about how terrible drugs are. Hah!

Pablo argues with Pati about Regina. He needs her connections. Pati thinks he needs more than that.

Pablo invites Regina to tour his zoo. Fabio had told him there was a problem getting permits for zebras. Pablo told him “deal with it”. So Fabio has donkeys painted with stripes!

Regina and Pablo argue while in his jeep heading to his zoo. She doesn't like some of the things he's been doing. He threatens her, you're either with me, or you're against me. But then he breaks into this big smile, and I think she's charmed again. (At one point in the episode, they showed a photo of the real Escobar. I think the real one was a little more handsome than the actor. But the actor does have that baby faced grin, which allows him to win over people. He's doing an excellent job of being evil and charming at the same time, which is probably what allowed the real Escobar to get so far).

Ortiz has demanded a public debate with Rodrigo Bonilla. This will be on national tv. In the car on the way, Galán urges Bonilla to stick to his guns, don't let these guys intimidate you. We're on the side of good. Ortiz goes first. He says Mr. Bonilla may be accusing some people of funneling drug money to pay for soccer fields and political races, but Bonilla's OWN races was funded with dirty money! Bonilla is outraged. What are you talking about? Where's your proof? Give us some names!

Oh, you want names? retorts Ortiz. Then how come you didn't name any names when you said drug money was paying for soccer matches? And where's YOUR proof? Got any?

This could be sticky!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR:

Corrections: I meant to say Pablo doesn't want to be known as a "thief", not a "their" :)

I know grillo also means cricket, but I think some more slang was involved.

In the last paragraph I meant to say Bonilla's own race (not races) was funded with dirty money. Whoops!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks for the recap, Novelera!

I think Peralta was not having a flashback, he was just guarding Luciana in that nightclub. Now that he's been fired by her, he might be fired by Jefe, since Luly's Dad was so important. Then, he'd need a modeling job. And of course, sex with the lady in charge of the agency will be a prerequisite! (Maybe)

I agree, who IS pushing D8D?

Miggy had a good point with Duval, saying, how is a guy on a motorcycle able to run over a guy in a car? But I'm sure Duval will be his usual dumb self.

Why did D8D actually reveal to Jefe that Willy and Sam were not related? I guess he knows that Jefe will STILL keep this info secret to keep them apart, even though they now know they're the parents of Nicolás.
 

Rosa Diamante

sfchicabointa - indeed... who's gonna protect the nietas now? sad. but it seems Eva's not gonna make it out alive, so Rosa'll be left to fend for herself.

deb - ITA about the actress Carla Hernandez. she's good. I was just thinking a couple days ago of the word 'cad.' totally fit JI.

I went on youtube yesterday to check out Perla Negra. RD was patterned exactly as PN, but PN looked more opulent as far as the homes are concerned. and the galan was really handsome, imho.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -- viernes

Hombre, thanks for another very helpful recap.

From what I've read and from interviews I've seen, years of research and preparation went into this production. And it shows.

I think both you and Novelera have pointed out before that the jumps back and forth in time are a bit challenging for us but probably not for the target audience of this novela who are already (too) well-versed in the historical underpinnings of the story.

I love the (unattributed) quote that is read and displayed before each episode:

"Quien no conoce su historia está condenado a repetirla."
(Those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it. Edmund Burke, 18th century English philosopher.)

One small point: The magazine cover Pablo was holding said "El Robin Hood Criollo". "Criollo", in its usual meaning, is someone of Spanish origin born in Latin American. Here, I think it just means something like "the Colombian version of Robin Hood."
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -

excellent recap Hombre !!!
would I be right in thinking you are getting more comfortable with the accents?

NovelaMaven, thanks so much for the clarification on the robin hood story. There seems to be a lot of depth to the details, if one can catch it.

While Rodrigo was testifying, was that his wife, caring for their new baby, that noticed someone outside their house, and locked all of the doors. Pablo, who looks like a real dummy sometimes,the way he carries himself, never does he lose this unspoken menacing violence that always surrounds him,
except maybe in the presence of the too innocent Pati.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Hombre, I didn't mean Pablo had a literal flashback, rather that his guarding Luly in a nightclub, standing at the bar looking glum, was exactly what he did when Emma and Gabriel went clubbing and he was the bodyguard.

That's what I thought, too. D8D couldn't resist telling El Jefe, with that evil twinkle in his eye, about the fact that Sam wasn't his daughter. He, of course, thinks El Jefe will be selfish enough to keep it to himself.

Of course, the big reveal about Nicolás being Sam and Willy's child still maintains the incest lie intact.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Great recap, Hombre. I didn't understand why Niki was supposed to comb through all those newspapers, but you explained it.

The sense of menace and foreboding is intense in this novela. That Alonso Santorini, to me, is more sinister than all the narcos put together.

Deb, I also remember the wife of Rodrigo Lara Bonilla seeing someone walking around outside her home, her baby in her arms. Scary.

I don't think Ortiz' big speech made any sense at all. To me he just seemed to rant on about anyone daring to accuse members of the camera of involvement in what they are calling "hot money" in politics and sports.

That speech to the crowd about drugs WAS amazing hypocrisy. But, he's told his henchmen several times that the drugs are to mess up the lives of the gringos. So I guess he feels that as long as the drugs aren't sold in Colombia, then he isn't harming his own people.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

We know why El Jefe told Sam in the hospital church that Nicolás is her son. He loves the child.

But - D8D?

Multiple Choice Test:

1. He actually cares about his grandson.
2. He wants Willy to forgive him.
3. He thinks telling what he knows will make Sam spend a little time with him.
4. He's got some devious reason we haven't even thought of yet.

What say you?
 

PABLO ESCOBAR:

NovelaMaven, thanks for the clarification about El Robin Hood Criollo.

Deb, I'm still having trouble with the Colombian accent (even though I've watched Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso, Muñecas de la Máfia, Yo Soy Betty La Fea, and Rosario Tijeras, all of which had it). Sometimes I can hear every word, other times it sounds like mush! And yes, that was Rodrigo's wife hearing that sound, holding the baby. Uuuuuy!

Novelera, I agree that Alonso is one of the most sinister characters. Of course there are lots of them!

BTW, I have been saying Pedro Montoya, but it's Montoa. Another of the narco partners is Marcos Herber, who has been in several scenes, but whom I haven't mentioned much yet. So the main crime family leaders we've met so far are:

Pablo Escobar
Pedro Montoa
El Mariachi
Marcos Herber
Graciela Blanco
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE -

nice recap novelera !!!

is Gustavo's cake store, the same store where our story started, run by Angela and Estella?
wow, we've come full circle,
(yea I know it's probably not supposed to be, but it sure looks like they are using the same store)

On Bernardo, wow, I would have to go with yet another answer, I think he drops these mental bombs on people just for the perverse pleasure he gets in watching another's world fall apart, all the while knowing he is the cause. Look at all the lies he has been cooking up throughout the show. And this one is better than ever, because it's true, well almost true because he is not telling all of the truth like you pointed out.

and when he says he is not a killer, I believe him, I think he likes to keep people around, so he can watch them suffer as he toys with them, ya ya he killed Dario, but that was more like he got out of the way as the totally rattled Dario lunged at him. Bernardo was having fun with him and probably wished he hadn't died so soon.

interesting how he arranged it so that Sam and Willy are separated when they get the news, so that he is not in the crosshairs for not telling Sammy earlier, and yet he gets to twist the knife a little deeper into Willy, who has been giving him a hard time lately.
 

Corazon Valiente
Yes, very nice recap Novelera!
Okay, my take on DD is that he showed a spark of humanity in revealing to Willy that Nic is his son. However, I'm quite sure that will prove to be wrong.
Deb: it never dawned on me that this might be the bakery where Angela was working when she graduated from nursing school...but then, wouldn't Gustavo recognize her? By the way, were those giant jars of yellow mustard on the shelves of the bakery?
J in Oregon
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE:

Thanks for the recap!

Hmm… I think D8D wants his bloodline to survive. He can mess up his kids without feeling remorse if it gets him what he wants or his own "justice" is served, but he doesn’t want them to die. I do think that he feels a certain sense of loyalty towards what is "his", maybe even love, although his love is usually kind of twisted.

I also agree with Deb. I think D8D prefers not to kill and for him it’s a last resort (or unfortunate consequence). It’s more enjoyable to watch people suffer and know that he is in control of their fate. (He is still a killer though, no matter how much he wants to insist that he isn’t. ;) )

For me the bigger question is why D8D revealed to El Jefe that Sam and Willy weren’t siblings. I understand that El Jefe wouldn’t want to tell them for his own reasons, but what on earth does D8D gain? It's not worth the risk just for some enjoyment.
Also, the fact that Sam and Willy are Nico’s biological parents is a reason to reveal the truth and not keep on lying.
 

Corazon Valiente
I think D8D revealed to Jefe that Sam wasn't his daughter. Then Jefe said "so Sam and Willy aren't 'hermanos'?, and I believe D8D said "No, I didn't say that." That one left me a bit puzzled. Really not liking the whole incest plotline; it's not suspenseful, just annoying!
J in Oregon
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Thanks for the great recap

I won't be surprised if there is no logical explanation for what DD did! The telenovela writers usually don't bother thinking about WHYs.

Oh I hope the modeling agency lady won't want to have sex with Pablo. Too a worn out cliche.

I think we'll next have Nicolas' trauma for his parents being siblings.
 

El Rostro De La Venganza -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Rostro_de_la_Venganza

"MIAMI – June 21, 2012 – Telemundo Studios has begun production of its new telenovela "El Rostro de la Venganza" (The Face of Revenge), a story of a man who must face the harsh reality that freedom brings, after living 20 years in prison."

"Taped in New York City and Miami,"

"Although his parents turned their back on him once he went to prison, Diego (David Chocarro) will find support in a group of people who will help him cope with his new life, finding new friends, as well as new enemies. These people include his therapist, Antonia Villarroel (Maritza Rodriguez), his benefactor, Ezequiel Alvarado (Saul Lisazo) and Ezequiel's fiancée, Mariana San Lucas (Elizabeth Gutierrez). The lives and stories of these characters will intertwine in a web of intrigue, suspense, action and love that will capture viewers from the first episode."

ref: http://telemundomediakit.com/tag/el-rostro-de-la-venganza/

(pic)
http://p2.trrsf.com/image/get?src=http%3A%2F%2Fvgn-live-mia.terra.com%2Fwebimg%2FUSA%2FImages%2FEntertainment%2FB8%2FB6%2F2B%2Felrostrodelavenganza20120621060535.jpg&o=cf&vs=301x464&hs=619x464


twitter: https://twitter.com/RostroVenganza
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElRostroDeLaVenganza (some nice pics here)
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA

Deb:

Thanks for the info! David Chocarro is definitely ready for top billing. He surely has the acting chops for it.

I'm hoping against hope that this show will replace Pablo Escobar (do we have any idea how many episodes that PE will run?). If it follows Corazon valiente, I'll have to take a pass. Must. Avoid. Novela. Overload. :)
 

EL ROSTRO

NovelaMaven, I read 36 episodes somewhere, but surely it can't be that short. And in another place I read that it's "open ended", which surely means they'll extend it. It's been a ratings bonanza both in Colombia and here in the US. It's definitely a well-acted and very interesting production.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR / EL ROSTRO

Novelera:

Thanks for the additional info on Pablo Escobar. I agree that 36 episodes sounds way too short (although in any other context, a 36-episode television series would sound like an epic and would probably be shown weekly over at least two or three years!)

I guess we'll know how many episodes there are when they finish filming. Punto. But in a show based on real life which begins with the end and then goes backwards -- and forwards -- there's only so much extra stuffing you can fit into the bird. :)
 

Pablo Escobar

¡Gracias, Hombre!

Without your recaps, I wouldn't understand a thing.

Thank you, also, NovelaMaven and Novelera & anyone else for filling in the blanks. Much appreciated.

Marie in Natick
 

PABLO ESCOBAR / EL ROSTRO

hi NovelaMaven,

there is a wiki page on the Pablo Escobar novela, but it is following the Caracol presentation,
last thursday was chapter 36, no entry yet for friday but no indication when it will end,
we just saw chapter 10, so it's 5 weeks plus and then some for us,

if you have noticed,
they are shooting on location,
and those people walking around are all cast,
cast of thousands,
this must be costing a fortune,
so it won't be short,
but then, how long will they be able to afford to produce it?

Corazon Valiente, we just saw 96,

what will El Rostro replace?
ok, the betting window is now opened,
step right up.

(psst, Rosa Diamante, speculation is Eva will die in the car crash leaving Rosa with the baby, who will be the new heir to the Sotomayor fortune, so you better not watch, ha!
also, gran final of Una Maid en Manhattan, 1/2 hour on monday, are you kidding me?)

oh no, the Blogger just gave me a fraction, how do I do that?
 

Corazón Valiente

@novelera - Gracias for the recap!
Re: D8D's Multiple Choice Test:

1. He actually cares about his grandson.
2. He wants Willy to forgive him.
3. He thinks telling what he knows will make Sam spend a little time with him.
4. He's got some devious reason we haven't even thought of yet.

As #5 I'd add what deb said about D8D's power trip and his seemingly insatiable need, at all costs, to reap perverse pleasure from messing with people and making them suffer. #6 would be ALL OF THE ABOVE (my choice). For D8D, getting a "fix" for his immoral addictions trump ethics, any sense of decency, and even any love he might feel..

Then, again, NovelaObserver is probably correct in saying that logic doesn't even figure into the reasoning -- especially in this novela -- lol!

Re: Who's pushing D8D? IDK. How come someone as wealthy as D8D doesn't purchase a state-of-the-art motorized wheelchair? Mega millionaire JM didn't get one for Génesis either. Telemundo seems to use the wheelchair convention enough to invest in at least ONE.

I wonder when JM will actually see "Milagros" and how that plot twist will play out?

NovelaNewbie
 
 

Corazon Valiente:

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that in Friday's episode there was a brief glimpse of Ofelia that implied (to me) that she might be getting fed up with all of the deceit, killings, and cover-ups, despite her culpability in everything. I know I'm asking for a lot, but I wonder if she's cracking? Will she be the next victim since she's got the goods on the Reptile and Daddy Dearest?

NovelaNewbie
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES – Part 1

Neither Sam nor Willy at first believes that they are Nicolás’ biological parents. Both Jefe and D8D lie, saying that they just found out the truth. Then we get a split screen of Sam and Willy with rapt expressions saying: mi hijo.

It turns out that the thugs threatening Miggy are from Natalia’s fiancé. Miggy manages to talk his way out of things, saying they’re just friends.

Sammy rushes in to offer her kidney. Willy tells D8D that his child is sick and he hates D8D. Said rotten father says that it was Darío who took the kid and he found him. It turns out it’s Ofelia who’s pushing D8D around. As a parting shot, D8D tells Willy that El Jefe knows about Nic being their child. When D8D is back en casa with Ofelia, she asks him why he spoke up. He says that his lies have a limit – the death of his grandson. Or maybe it’s egotism. She asks him if he’s also going to tell the truth about Sam and Willy not being brother and sister. No answer.

JM asks the Reptile to leave he and Pablo alone for the information about the cell phone. She maneuvers herself around his desk and looks at the name. After she finally does leave, JM asks Pablo to find Gustavo Ponte.

Ángela and Nora are delighted to accept the bakery jobs. Gustavo offers to buy them some clothes. Nora wants Angie to go to a beauty parlor to change her appearance [because of the made-up obsessed guy].

Natalia comes to tell “Mikie” that she’s changed her mind and it’s because she loves him. Miggy tells her that he’s pretty sure that Johnny, the fiancé is a Mafioso.

Willy shows up at the hospital and punches out El Jefe, who offers no resistance. Jefe tries out his lie on Willy, saying he just found out. Willy tells him he wants to kill him. Sam is being tested for compatibility.

Miggy tells Natalia that Johnny has bordellos in Mexico, Colombia and Los Angeles. Natalia cracks that at least he didn’t lie; he said he was an international impresario! She offers to marry him to protect Miggy.

Willy tells Sam that he knows about Nicolás and they embrace.

Gustavo is buying clothes for Ángela. [Does she really need 7” high heels to work in a bakery?] He gets a call from JM asking if he’s Gustavo Ponte. When JM asks for Milagros, Gustavo says he doesn’t know any such person and hangs up.

Sam and Willy tell Nicolás that they are his biological parents. They tell him they only just now learned. Sam makes a beautiful speech, with tears running down her cheeks, about how she and Nic grew to love each other before knowing they were related. Willy can’t resist saying that El Jefe knew, but Sam says it doesn’t matter. She tells Nicolás that she can live just fine with one kidney and that she’s going to donate one. Willy tells Nic that he knows he doesn’t care for him, but he hopes he’ll give him a chance. The kid is completely stunned.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES – Part 2

The Reptile asks Vicente to trace Gustavo Ponte for her. I’m pretty sick of the Vicente/Fernanda toxicity. I was hoping they’d kill him off in the car crash.

Miggy tells Natalia that he runs for the hills at the first hint of love.

Camilo is teaching Emma to help in his gardening business.

Pablo seeks out the woman at the nightclub who thought he might be a success as a model.

JM tells Miggy he wants him to be Emma’s bodyguard. We’ve heard of musical chairs. In this novela we have musical bodyguards. Every bodyguard appears to have guarded every other member of the cast.

Sammy comes out sobbing to say that she’s incompatible. Willy immediately says he’ll donate a kidney. Amazingly the Reptile also offers. She and D8D have shown up because there were too few cast members in the hospital waiting room to be a normal telenovela hospital scene.

Cecilia continues with one of her very funny scenes trying to jump Miggy wherever she finds him. Natalia calls Miggy to say she’s knocked out by the expensive wedding dress and jewelry Johnny provided and has decided to go ahead and marry him. Miggy grins and wishes her the best.

Oops! One more cast member shows up at the hospital: Lorena. She and Sam embrace, and Sam touches her belly asking about her other child. D8D is absolutely stunned to hear about the surrogacy. The Reptile grins. Willy is compatible! Sam runs into his arms, overjoyed. D8D looks pensive. El Jefe smiles with relief. Sam, Willy and El Jefe go in to tell Nicolás that Willy will donate a kidney. Nic thanks him, and it looks like these two are on their way to a better relationship.

The Reptile tries a tactic on Miggy of apologizing to him for Vicente’s actions. He just tells her he knows she had something to do with it and he’s going to keep searching.

Ángela and Gustavo look through hair style magazines and decide on one.

Nora goes to a priest and tells him that everything isn’t just black and white. When she and Ángela got away and Nora learned about her memory loss, she thought it would be dangerous to tell her the truth. Nora says she wants justice but she also wants to breathe free air.

Ángela is wearing a pretty obvious wig with much shorter hair. When she leaves the room, JM and Pablo show up and ask for Milagros.

Natalia has run out on the wedding and left Johnny at the altar. This won’t end well.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE-
Hello from from scenic and televisionless Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. At least they have internet. Thanks for the great recap, Novelera. I particularly liked:

Does she really need 7” high heels to work in a bakery?]

and

"She and D8D have shown up because there were too few cast members in the hospital waiting room to be a normal telenovela hospital scene."

Finally, Sam and Willy find out the truth about Nicolás! I believe that I predicted that Willy would be the kidney donor. I hope it won't be long now before the whole brother sister thing is over.

Miggy shouldn't be bodyguarding anyone - people are trying to kill him! There's no reason to believe that the Reptile won't try again and I bet this Natalia/mafia guy thing is going to put Miggy in the crosshairs again.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Novelera thank you for your recap.

I love this line: [Does she really need 7” high heels to work in a bakery?]

I have to tune in just to see Angela's new hairdo, a heroine with short hair? Unthinkable. I have to ask is she more responsive with this new guy or dull like she was with JM?
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE:

Thanks for the recap!

Btw. Willy told D8D that his son (Nicolás) hates him (Willy), not that he hates D8D.
Anyway, it does seem that Nico is warming up to Willy.

Yup, Jean. As we expected, Willy was the donor. :)

Well… at least the people at the hospital had a reason to be there and were all somehow related to Nicolás. (Miggy without knowing it and Lorena is carrying his future sister/brother. :) Of course those two were there for Sam and Willy). If we needed people in the hospital why wasn’t Jessica there? Where has SHE been all this time? I’d expect Nico’s great love to be informed about this, but he himself wasn’t even asking for her even though he was dying.

I wasn’t surprised that Fernanda offered to donate her kidney if Willy wasn’t compatible. (Nico is her nephew, after all.)

Natalia is getting on my nerves and Miggy should really stop indulging her! Now they’re both in trouble!

I’m starting to like Gustavo. It’s a pity that he has to fall for Angie.

I thought Angie’s hair looked real. :) But I don’t understand why she changed it so little. There is no point in cutting it and styling it just a little. I expected something like short, black and curly hair. (Not that it would help either, but at least there would have been some effort.)
And yeah, where is she going to need those heels?
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -- lunes

A few observations about words:

Did you notice that scuzzball Santorini referred to Pablo as "Doctor Escobar" in his interview with the journalist. (And of course, he establishes HER status by calling her "Niki".)

Fans of La Hija del Mariachi may remember a classic exchange between Mexican Emiliano and his Colombian buds. Someone tells Emiliano that a certain Doctor Macías* wants to see him. "Which one is el médico?" asks Emiliano innocently. And his Colombian friend smirks and explains: "He's not a medico -- in this country, we call any toad wearing a tie Doctor".

*the actor playing Senator Galán is the same one who played Dr.Macías in LHDM
-----
new vocab for me:
mangonear: to boss around
(related word: mangoneador = mandón)

Pablo's mother is chewing him out for putting himself at risk by getting involved in politics. He tries to bulldoze over her concerns and she says:

A mí no me vas a mangonear!
(You're not going to boss me around/shut me up)

Then she tells him:

Estás en la picota pública tildado de delincuente.
(You're hanging out there in the wind, branded as a criminal)

poner o estar en la picota: to make evident, to put out on the stage.

The expression derives from the former usage of "picota" to mean a column on which the heads of vanquished enemies or convicted criminals were displayed. [When I was telling Mr. Maven about this he said "Oh. You mean a pike."]

And then tildado from tildar, to brand as, to mark -- but literally, to put a 'tilde' on!

ok. I'll stop now.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Thanks for the great recap.

To me Angela's hair looked real, unlike the extension wig she wore before.

Nicolas se parece mucho a su papa, no? :) Que bueno that Jessica wasn't there! she's not sympathetic at all.


Yes, Natalia is putting Miguel in big trouble. And DD and Reptile have their own plans for him.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 1

NovelaMaven, thanks for the vocab. I sort of got the meaning, but not the words. Excellent!

In this episode, the tension rises, as both sides discover the best defense is a good offense.

It turns out Javier Ortiz wasn’t just shooting the breeze in saying that Rodrigo ran a dirty campaign. There’s a check made out to Rodrigo, from drug people, and also there’s a recording of him talking about accepting funds from them! Rodrigo flashes back to what he thought was an innocent lunch with a wealthy businessman (this was the slimy guy with glasses, for whom Pablo said I’ve got a job for you). The guy wanted to back Rodrigo. Rod never even said yes, but he did talk to the guy. He also probably didn’t know the guy was bad. However, the guy did say, “our group transports a lot of crops”. So crops could be a code word for coca.

Rod doesn’t even want to defend himself, he’s so outraged. I think he’s also embarrassed that he didn’t realize what was going on. Unfortunately, by not defending himself specifically as to the check and the recording, Luis doubts him a little (doesn’t say this, but his waffling shows it).

Ortiz meets with Niki, you guys should investigate Rodrigo. Why don’t you do your job? Niki is dubious and non-commital. Personally, she’s sure Rod is clean. So is Guillermo, her boss. And of course Rod’s wife is with him. But Luis’s wife has doubts.

Rod decides to ignore the charges and hit back. He has General Jiménez, chief of drug enforcement, raid the Medellin airport. It turns out that 12 light planes, perfect for transporting drugs, are all there, all owned by Escobar. Doesn’t this prove Escobar is a drug dealer? Not really.

Regina meets with Santori, who sort of threatens her. But I can’t figure out if Regina is with Pablo or against him. She seems to be on his side, despite knowing the truth of what he does.

At a press conference, Rod announces the drug planes they found. But he won’t answer as to his check and recording scandal.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 2

Niki had been discouraged by the sheer volume and disorganization of all those old press clippings Guillermo wanted her to go through. But one night, she finds something!

Jiménez tells Rod his phone was tapped, that’s how the other side got the recording.

Pablo tells his wife, then his Mom, he’s not into drugs, it’s all slander. As Novela Maven pointed out, his Mom doesn’t fall for this at all.

Niki found a picture of when Pablo was arrested for attempted bribery, immediately following the seizure of 31 kilos of coke paste being transported by his associates. This is paydirt! But Guillermo tells her not to publish. Wait til they really need it.

Pablo admits to Regina he had that check sent to Rod. Regina thinks it was a dumb move.

Luis is going to investigate Rod for ethics violations. Rod isn’t happy. Luis says it’s not me, the party is making me doing it.

Pablo has his own press conference where he says that if Rod doesn’t provide some proof of his drug allegations in 24 hours, he’ll file suit! He shows the press his passport, he had permission to fly to the US everytime. So what if he has planes. He needs them for his legitimate business. That Rodrigo is slandering me, a member of Congress, to avoid answering questions about his dirty dealings.

Regina seems to like this boldness by Pablo, and they have sex. Back home, Pati is suspicious.

Guillermo gives Niki the green light, publish the mug shot of Escobar. Why now? Because of that 24 hour deadline? You got it.

When Gonzalo shows Pablo the newspaper, Pablo is livid. Rodrigo is joyful. Jiménez seems to be tracking Pablo somehow. I think all hell is about to break loose!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -- lunes

Hombre, this is great! Thank you so much. I find myself really looking forward to your recapettes.

I was wondering what was going on with Regina too -- was she really going over to the dark side, colluding with Pablo? By the end of the episode, the answer was clear: Yes. Why? Because she had fallen in love with him!

I loved the exchange between Regina and Santorini. She accuses him of taking advantage of (!!!) Pablo. She KNOWS the real Pablo, she tells him. And S replies: You know "la oveja" (the sheep); yo conozco el lobo." (I know the wolf.)
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Novelera, great funny recap! Yes, Willy and Nic are closer, as shown by a few fist bumps.

I continue to be jealous of Miggy, with two gorgeous women chasing him. Of course I'm not jealous that he's in the crosshairs of assassins!

I also don't think Angela looks very different. I understand why Gustavo is wary, as JM could be that dangerous stranger. JM should show his lawyer's ID, maybe that would help (or maybe not!)
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -

thanks for the recap Hombre !!!

yea, and what is Regina's story,
is she with Pablo or against him,
interesting scene the other day when Pablo threatened her,

and why is Pablo bringing her in and showing her around,
is it that he is just that confident in himself?
I would think anyone in the media would be suspect.

oh and Coronel Jiménez,
have you seen him before?
took me a while but wasn't he in Victorinos,
he was the bad Victorino dad's (and later his) right hand man, who did all the dirty work.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE -

thanks so much for the recap novelera !!!
your summaries are so good I sometimes have nothing to add,

I kind of thought Angela, after her makeover, kind of looked like, well, Angela.
So Nora doesn't get any new clothes or pampering?

wow, JM walking into Gustavo's place, followed by his body guard,
after all he has been through,
really does look like a bad guy,
especially with Gustavo lying to him.

Amazing how much Nicolas and Willy are starting to look alike,
I was amazed at how all these adults around him when he is dying,
are dumping all of this heavy stuff on him.
I'm starting to wonder if he won't turn out like another dad he had, in ATM.

yea, and where is Jessica?

btw novelera,
did you get any offers of help with the summaries, now that Jean is gone?
you two are really doing an amazing job, especially with the quantify of stuff this novela throws out,
and you still manage to make all of the connections,
thank you so much !!!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Muchísimas gracias to you Hombre and to NovelaMaven for the unusual vocabulary.

This novela is riveting! Just as with El Cartel, listening to an episode each night has improved my comprehension of voseo and the Colombian accent.

The novela is SO well acted and the various cat and mouse games with both the politicos and narcos make this a pleasure to watch. Plus there is the added interest of knowing that it's pretty much all true.

Paty seems like a bomb getting ready to explode as Pablo gets more and more involved with Regina.

The actress playing Pablo's mother was amazing last night, basically saying "Don't try your BS on me; I know you for what you are!"

And the actor playing Rodrigo Lara Bonilla is so good. He's tortured by the false accusations against him.

Pablo's cousin Gonzalo is getting fed up with the political stuff and has a big "I told you so" ready for Pablo when he brings him that newspaper.

I was surprised when they revealed that they hadn't yet loaded the drugs on those planes. Darn!
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Deb, no one volunteered to do any Tuesday or Thursday recaps in Jean's absence.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

"Riveting" is exactly the word, Novelera!

We watch the "good guys" fighting lies with truth. WE know that history will vindicate them. But we also know what is in store for them personally because the "bad guys" are playing by a different set of rules.

So it is riveting and heartbreaking at the same time. But it is so well-done that it is also, at times, quite funny. And the "bad guys" can be quite engaging.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

OK, weighing in about why I thought Ángela's hair looked like a wig, albeit a good wig.

It's way thicker than the actress' real hair has been during the rest of the show.

It's got one of those too straight parts on the right side.

What telenovela actress would EVER get any hair cut off for a role?

It's very similar to the part in the side of the wig Andrés Parra wears in his role as Pablo Escobar.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

novelera, the actress' own hair is probably short. she's been wearing an extension during the other parts of the show. photo
 

Corazón Valiente:

*Snap* *Snap* @ the snark in that recap, novelera!! 7 inch heels are just what we women need when we stand on our feet for 8+ hours a day. I recall having similar wonderings about Ángela's shoes when she was Génesis's bodyguard. I agree with you about Ángela's hair looking wiggy, and I agree that the part in it makes it look that way. The wig doesn't seem to fit her head well. The puffiness of the style makes it look as if it's sitting a teeny bit too far up on her head because the part is sitting up too. Something was kinda off about the way her hairline looked. When will JM and Angie finally see each other and will it jog her memory?

Since new blood samples were taken from both Willy and Sam, I hope that someone thinks to do another DNA analysis immediately to finally put the incest story to bed. I think it would have been an interesting twist for the Reptile to be the one to donate one of her kidneys since it's possible for her to be compatible. I co-sign about being sick of the Reptile/Perro Faldero tag team.

Lol@everyone's comments about Jessica.

I normally watch CV online while eating lunch the next day. I was pleasantly surprised to see Camilo actually doing some gardening because that's how I spend most mornings during the summer. For hired help on a finca of that size, he sure seems to have a lot of free time on his hands as well as free reign to hang out in his employer's kitchen and raid the refrigerator.

I'm hoping that Natalia's relationship with Johnny has something to do with D8D's drug trafficking and also finding Fabiola so the plot will move along. Otherwise, it's just a recycled version of Willy's bachelor days. Miggy's sexcapades are getting a little old and redundant for me as well. If he's had 300 women it's amazing that he hasn't gotten any of them pregnant (like his papi). Don't get me started on the lack of implied condom use in these novelas. I guess STD's don't exist.

@Jean - I hope you're having BIG fun on your vacation. Your island getaway sounds lovely!

NovelaNewbie
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Muchas gracias for the recap! I got to watch again yesterday. I thought Angie's hair looked real too, like they had taken our those darn extensions, but I'll take a closer look tonight. Loved your line about the 7 inch heels, because I was thinking the same thing when she tried them on!

Glad the the kid mystery is solved, but wish the incest story would go away. Please writers.

Right now I'm having a hard time following the thread of the story and seeing any coherence. I want them to get back to JM finally finding out who killed off most of his family and for D8D'd dastardly deeds to be revealed. The baby surrogate, Emma/Peralta, narcos, and amnesia storylines seem forced to me. Let's get back to the core story and solve some of the mysteries surrounding D8D, Ofelia, and the Reptile.
 

Corazon Valiente
Novelera you are a real trooper and your recapping is appreciated by ALL! Thank you so much.
Vivi: yes, they have dropped the ball on the original storyline...do they think nobody remembers all the loose ends? I'm tuning in mosty for Miggy's scenes these days.
Anyway, Angela's makeover was underwhelming; I was expecting a pixie cut at least! My vote for worst extensions goes to Fernanda. Best hair on a guy: Willie, hands down.
J in Oregon
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
I do like that the Reptile is wearing jeans now, instead of those rubber band dresses. Her fake butt looks better in the jeans.
 

ROSA DIAMANTE
In the off-chance that someone is still watching this, I am obsessed with Gabriel (Manuel Balbi). He is a total slime, but oh so beautiful... I am praying for a redemption here!

The sheer volume of baddies in this one is a bit overwhelming, and we've already lost two of the goodies!

And, seriously, Carla Hernandez is rocking this part! LOVE the attitude!

AnotherAmy
 

Corazon Valiente
Okay, this is out in left field, but tonight was the second time that Angela referred to Nora as being "como mi propia Mama." Is it possible that Nora is Angela's mother? I can't quite get my head around how that would be possible, but such heavy hinting by the writers is hard to ignore.
:o)
J in Oregon
 

Corazon Valiente -

ok, I'll try doing the recap so novelera can have a break, but I don't speak spanish and don't get english captions so I'm counting all of the great commentators here to keep this straight, thanks.

Willy and Nicolas get a great hallway sendoff on the way to the operating room,

JM and Pablo show up at Gustavos,
JM decides maybe he is going to far,
leaves without seeing Angela,
Gustavo is relieved,

Fernando and Bernardo are at the hospital,
she asks him if he will kill for her,
he says once again he is not a killer,
but a strategist,
he can get her to the altar with JM,
are they bonding, gag

Nora relives for us her fear that JM,
in the same form he was showing us in Prison after the trial,
when he took JC,
that finding Angela, he would surly send them back to jail,

Natalia shows up at JM's, in her wedding dress,
the young girls are ready for a wedding with Miguel,

Lorena, who was part of the operation,
tells everyone the operation was a success,
but there were problems,

Miguel tells JM, Fabiola has been found ??,
but he can't go because of complications with the Vicente crash,
JM decides to go.

Pablo does his photo shoot,

Jessica shows up at the hospital to see Nicolas,

Miguel takes Natalia to his place,
tells her the story of Alehandra, how he loved her and was not able to protect her,
later Natalia finds a picture, Miguel says that's her,
Natalia says I know her,
she is a prostitute,
wow!

a complicated night/day at the hospital with great scenes by all,
Willy and Sammy are the best!
as things wind down, Lorena texts Camilo, wants to meet for coffee, she has a sweet smile,

JM with the girls, Nelly, and a new bodyguard are at the airport,
Fernanda shows up with her bag, she wants to surprise him
JM is not happy,

Nora calls Willy's phone ?? answered by Sammy, discovers he is being operated on,
she calls later and finds out all is ok,
hmm, (she doesn't know that Willy knows she is his mother does she)
Willy doesn't know who that was that was calling.

Vicente, who is acting strange after the crash,
to the dislike of Bernardo,
shows up at the cake shop, facing Angela, who doesn't recognize him,

trouble at the hospital,
Nicolas may be rejecting the transplant,
Willy also goes into pain.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Thanks so much deb, for the recap

novelera wins! Extensions again. Angela's hair must be under the extensions: photo

Wow! Alejandra no esta muerta! Very surprising. So Miguel is going to end up with her? What a strange plot.
 

ROSA DIAMANTE

AnotherAmy, I do tape this every night, and can only watch this on the weekends, look forward to it. Hopefully next week I can start watching the actual viewing as crazy Corazon Apasionado ends on Friday. I will look out for Gabriel.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Thanks for the recap. I watched this for one minute I think, I saw Sam holding D8D's hand? Was I daydreaming? I had to change the channel.

So JM told Reptile to continue with them on the visit? JM, JUST SAY NO.

Oh Miggy of all the women you have had on this TN, you're true love is a prostitute? So sorry.
 

Deb,
thanks, your recap was great!
Okay, is there any chance in heck that Fabiola is Alejandra? Just the musings of an overactive mind, but they were both kidnapped and disappeared. That is my only clue.
J in Oregon
 

PABLO ESCOBAR Tuesday Part 1

1983. Pablo Escobar was hurt when Senator Luis Carlos Galàn and Minister of Justice Rodrigo Lara Bonilla kicked him out of their party, and even more so when Rodrigo dared to accuse him of being involved in drugs! But his campaign of character assassination has started spiralling out of control. (I missed a lot last night, so corrections are welcome).

After the bombshell newspaper showing Pablo’s mugshot, arrested in connection with cocaine paste, Niki and Guillermo wonder why the court proceedings have disappeared. They also discover that the two cops who made the arrest were killed. Hmmmm.

Regina wants to help, but Pablo tells her he wasn’t born to resolve problems from behind a microphone. She should stay out of this for her own good. She tells him to keep a cool head.

Chili and Topo (his helper) buy ALL the newspapers in Medellin! This still may not be enough to stop the spreading of the news about Pablo. Chili drops flyers from helicopters telling everyone how bad El Espectador is. This also may not work.

Meanwhile, in Traquilandia, a jungle location which houses one of Pablo’s largest cocaine processing centers, the workers are happy, and are celebrating the fruits of their hard labor. But we see that one of the containers has a tracking device on it. THIS is what Colonel Jiménez has been up to!

Mariachi blames Pablo for starting this whole problem by sending that check to Rodrigo. There’s dissension in the ranks. Pati is mad at Pablo, too, she feels like an “accessory”, he’s never there, she doesn’t even want to have another child with him. He uses his charm and calms her fears again. For now.

Niki (I think) gives an old judge (could his name be Gonzalo Saluar?) some files on the two cops who were killed.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR Part 2

Pablo meets with Santorini, who says you blew it, buddy. You have to resign. Pablo resists.

Colonel Jiménez allows Niki to go with him on the helicopter to a raid in the jungle. It turns out to be Tranquilandia. They spy the drug factory from above, and Niki gets some pictures. Then the shooting starts. Mariachi, who was down below, escapes in his plane. But the entire center is destroyed, lots of coke is seized, lots of workers arrested, and lots of pictures taken. The next day, Pablo DOES resign.

Pablo tells his partners we’ll build another lab. This one was producing 500 kilos a day, so it’s significant. But they can’t link us big guys to any of this (so far).

Pablo blames Rodrigo. Mariachi blames Pablo, saying “how long before the government starts attacking our families?” Now Pablo is REALLY mad.

Rod’s little son gets a letter. I think it says he can’t come to school, for the protection of the other kids. Jiménez increases security around Rod, but tells him his life is in danger. Rod refuses to believe this. I’m the Minister of Justice, they wouldn’t dare!

Peluche tells Pablo, the judge’s name is Gonzalo Saluar, he’s an old guy who walks with canes, he’s a little sickly.

Chili and Topo have been given an assignment. They meet another guy Serafim, and I think they’re in the process of choosing a killer who can’t be traced to them. Uh oh!

Pablo wants to build 10 more labs, since we’re at war now. Peluche asks “what war?”. I guess he didn’t get the memo. Pablo tells him and the whole group, “If someone messes with me, he’ll PAY!”

Tonight we may find out just what he means.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks for the recap, Deb. For someone who says she can't speak Spanish, it was amazing!

J in Oregon, that would be wild if Fabiola and Alejandra were the same. So JM's sister would have been seeing Angela's brother. Why not?

It was a little sad hearing Emma saying go find "our" sister, when it's really only JM's.

Is JM really being prudent in taking the two little girls to the heart of the Colombian jungle to find a person kidnapped by druglords? Why not? Road trip! Yes, I know, maybe Fabiola is free now, but something's weird here.

Why did Lorena say there were complications, but not tell what they were?

Camilo keeps telling Emma he has this impossible love (it's Lorena). But why its that impossible, because Lorena only loves Willy? I thinks they'd be good together.

D8D and Reptile think Vicente has changed, might start spilling the beans. I hope he does. It sure is funny that Angela doesn't recognize him. I wonder if she'd recognize JM if she came face to face with him.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Thanks so much, Deb, for your recap. You did a great job!

Natalia's fiancé, the mafioso, calls Miggy and tells him he's a dead man if he doesn't get her back.

The Reptile admitted to her father that she offered her kidney only because she wanted to impress JM, and she told him about it the instant she saw him! I agree, Nellie. JUST SAY NO to the Reptile boarding with them. Talk about Snakes on a Plane!

I think the portrayal of Ángela now is interesting. She appears to have a very sunny disposition now, delighted with everything. She told Nora that she trusted her belief that it was better not to know about her past.

The reliably spiteful Nelly called Pablo to tell him what she thought he overheard - that Emma and Camilo are now novios.

Sam tells Willy she never went to bed with El Jefe.

Yes, D8D, held Sam's hand for an instant, but she didn't look pleased and someone entered the scene interrupting it.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Thanks, Hombre, great recap!

Wow, the tension in this novela is amazing. Andrés Parra has completely removed any prior good qualities we might have seen in Pablo Escobar.

The scenes where El Mariachi was telling him the truth about all the heat and potential lost profits being his fault were amazing. And that he started the dern fight with Lara Bonilla by going along with the fake check scheme. Escobar CANNOT stand anyone telling him the truth.

The scene where Santorini tries to get him to sign the resignation letter HE wrote was well acted by both. Escobar insisted on meeting in public in a cheap café so Santorini couldn't hide what he was up to. And Escobar said "I write my own letters" in a chilling voice. Santorini finally realized who he was dealing with.

It was an interesting scene when Regina tried to get Rodrigo to back off the pressure on Escobar, and he asked her if it was a threat. I actually don't think it was. I think that, in her heart of hearts, she knows what he's capable of. And thinks that if Rod lets things chill for a while the worst won't happen.

I wonder if the burning all the newspapers really happened?

The judge's name is Zuluaga. Don't remember his first name, if they said it.

I was cheering on those military guys in the helicopters like crazy!

And, this is the first time I've seen the actor playing Jimenez as a good guy. He was a lecherous scumbag in Doña Bárbara, and a loyal henchman to a drug guy in Victorinos. He was also a drug guy in El Cartel. He must be delighted with the opportunity to be good for a change!
 

ROSA DIAMANTE

AnotherAmy- I too am following this for now. as in most novelas, the beginning is always interesting. my fave hottie is Gerardo Jr. I wish he were the galan instead.

I still don't get how Rosa is Rosaura's daughter though. I thought it was Racquel.

Yes, Carla Hernandez rocks!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

the only scenes I watch are Emma, Pablo, Gustavo, and 2little girls.... love them.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks Deb, for filling in. You did a great job!

Interesting idea, J in Oregon, that Fabiola might be Miggy's long lost love. It would only work if Natalia had never seen Fabiola because otherwise, when she saw the picture, she would have said, "That's Fabiola." I don't know if it was ever made clear whether Natalia knows Fabiola or only knows about Fabiola.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

If this novela holds to type, on tonight's episode, it will be three weeks later and both Willy and Nicolás will be fine.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -- martes

Hombre, thanks for much for the excellent recap. This story is just barreling along and it helps to me a lot to read your take on it -- yours, too, Novelera!

I think the letter from school to the Minister, Lara Bonilla, said that the kids couldn't ride on the school bus because they would jeopardize the safety of the others.

About the aftermath of the raid on Tranquilandia -- First, the gang says "well at least there's no way to link us to the place." Then someone points out that the workers who were arrested are, sooner or later, going to talk. Pablo's solution (and correct me, please, if I misinterpreted this): track them down and KILL them.

Novelera, I also found the Regina/Rodrigo scene interesting and well-done. I agree that Regina wasn't threatening the Minister. She was really hoping to avert a tragedy by persuading him to stand back and let the legal processes take their course.

Vocabulary note:
Chiva: literally "nanny goat". My dictionary lists more than a dozen definitions but the meaning of the word in this context, "headline news" or "news scoop" (primicia) is not among them!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

NovelaMaven, I heard the same thing. Absolutely without emotion Escobar said the workers should all be killed. I wonder if that will really happen. I'm pretty sure that, right before Escobar was told about the workers possibly talking, they showed a uniformed guy grabbing up one of the Tranquilandia workers.
 

Corazon Valiente:
Hombre--Hahahaha! I thought the same thing: nice spontaneous family trip to Colombia with two little girls and a nanny! And of course they all have current passports, visas and shot records. No disrespect intended to Colombia, but it seems like if he bent on finding Fabiola, possibly in the environment of narcos, kidnappers, etc...what is he thinking????
J in Oregon
 

Corazon Valiente:I think natalia has seen fabiola working as a prostitute because she was forced into prostitution by the kidnappers but its only a suspicion.I wonder when The Reptile will find out it was vicente who pushed her down the stairs not juan marcos will she feel remorse for her murders hopefully soon since todays episode we see vicente confessing to miggy that Fernanda is the ilusive serial killer
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – MIÉRCOLES – Part 1

We get the usual hospital hustle where Lorena says Nic’s body may be rejecting the kidney, but later it’s only a slight fever.

Vicente is staring at Ángela in the bakery, having traced her through Gustavo. Nora comes in, but I guess she doesn’t know V – no reaction. Then Gustavo comes in and calls her Milagros in front of Vicente. He buys some cake and leaves.

Miggy tells Johnny over the phone that he can’t force Natalia to marry him. Later Natalia leaves and leaves Miggy a note saying she’s going to marry Johnny after all. Things never seem to work out for her, she says, including Miggy not loving her. If he changes his mind, he should look for her.

Nora keeps trying to find out why Willy is in the hospital

D8D has called someone in Colombia and says he wants the job done without errors. Mask of tragedy Ofelia asks why he’s going along with Fernanda’s craziness. Uh oh.

In the Valle del Cauca in Colombia, JM has rented a finca. The girls are very happy. Nelly is caring for Juan Cruz, but she takes a moment to talk to Pablo on the phone, assuring him that Camilo and Emma are novios and asking him for another chance.

The agent has gotten Pablo a job as an underwear model. He’s horrified. She keeps touching him and calling him muñeco, so it probably won’t be long before she puts some moves on him.

Vicente has come to Casa del Castillo looking for Fernanda to tell her about having found Ángela. D8D snickers and tells him gleefully that she isn’t there; she went to Colombia with JM. Vicente is very upset about her being gone. D8D pours more salt in his wounds, telling him that he himself is making sure Fernanda gets Juan Marcos. [Don’t think Vicente is going to tell anyone where Ángela is after this scene.]

JM tells the Reptile he’s going to a clinic in town for a blood test so he’ll be prepared to find out if Fabiola is his sister. Nuñez, El Jefe’s erstwhile partner in crime, is the bodyguard and comes on to the Reptile a bit. Some masked guys show up and hit Nuñez over the head. The performance is on. They try to grab Juan Cruz while the Reptile gallantly fights them off. The guys shoot Nelly. The poor little girls are scared out of their wits and Bubblebutt is carried off over the shoulder of one of the guys.

JM returns, frantic. Nuñez tells him that the Reptile prevented the kidnappers taking Juan Cruz. Meanwhile, the Reptile is in some warehouse with the thugs and talking on the phone with her papí. She tells him there was a “slight inconvenience”, and the mucama was killed. He tells her everything is all set up in the hospital. She then has one of the guys punch her.

Vicente hears D8D’s end of this conversation. Ofelia blurts out that Fernanda needs to get her way soon before they’re all killed. Vicente mutters something about the real enemy being alive, but doesn’t elaborate.

Gustavo tells Ángela he’ll protect her. He’s falling, all right.

Lorena tells Miggy who better than she to be with Willy, since Sam and he cannot be together.

Génesis and Violeta pour it on thick about the Reptile’s heroism.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – MIÉRCOLES – Part 2

Nicolás tells his father he’s worried about what happens when he comes home. El Jefe is his dad, and Willy never will be. Of course, Willy is in the doorway. Later Willy asks to be alone with Nicolás. He suggests Nic spend a couple of days with him so they can get to know each other. The kid is not going for it. Willy tells him he never knew Sam was pregnant with Nicolás, and a lot of people tried to separate them. He tells him he’s not asking that he love him like his father, but that he not prevent their spending some time together.

Miggy catches Nora trying to sneak into the hospital. [Why do TN characters think a scarf and sunglasses is a disguise?] She begs him not to turn her in. Later she tells Miggy that she escaped in the fire. He tells her about Willy giving a kidney to her grandchild.

El Jefe’s nice guy routine is all gone. He didn’t want to leave Nic with Willy, and he tells Sam so. He tells her he doesn’t want his son having attachments to “a man like Willy”. [Oh, and what about a man who spies on a woman in the bathroom, drugs her, and has her committed to an asylum?] Sam tells him everyone who spends time with Willy loves him, while Lorena glares daggers at El Jefe.

The cops conveniently find the Reptile, and the “kidnappers” get away. The [bribed] doctor tells JM she’s muy mal!

Miggy tells Nora he’ll keep her secret for the memory of his sister. Nora tells him Ángela didn’t die. He protests that she would have contacted her children. Nora tells him she doesn’t remember anything, and she wanted to protect her from prison. Miggy insists on seeing her. Nora says he can bring her to the bakery, but let her talk to Ángela first.

The Reptile’s plan is running like a Swiss watch. She pretends to be unconscious while JM says he’ll be grateful his whole life for her having saved Juan Cruz’s life. JM finds out that Fabiola, the reason for the trip, has escaped.

Camilo and Lorena are chatting pleasantly when Emma comes up to implement her crazy jealousy scheme and plants a kiss on Camilo. Lorena rushes off.

The crooked doctor tells JM the Reptile probably won’t make it through the night. She wakes up and says she wants to be his wife.

D8D grins maniacally and tells Vicente Fernanda is marrying JM in Colombia.

While Nora was gone for, what, half an hour, Gustavo has gotten a psychiatrist to meet with Ángela. He announces to Nora that he’s a cop! Ángela comes out sobbing and saying she doesn’t want to live. Nora gives Gustavo a look that would wilt plants.

Sam tells Willy that, while nothing happened with she and El Jefe, she’s going to try her best to learn to love him. Lorena comes in and Willy tells her he’s going to lose everything. Lorena puts her hand on her belly and says he won’t lose this one. She says she’s tired of pretending. She loves him, and leans over to kiss him. Sam is, of course, in the doorway.

JM and the Reptile are married in a civil ceremony in her hospital room. She coughs a bit before saying I do. Gah!

Vicente comes to see Miggy. He tells him that the one who killed JM’s parents, Isabel, the police investigator, Josefina Uriarte, and who hired Luis Martinez as her secuaz (henchman), the one everyone has been searching for is Fernanda del Castillo.
 

Maybe the reptiles marriage to JM will be void once Angela is discovered to be alive but knowing the fast moving plots in this novela i cant make predictions will Angela go back to jail or Fernanda will the reptile become a fugitive and scheme her revenge in secrecy killing half the cast?i want to see a sammy fernanda beatdown the reptile seems useless without a weapon
 

CORAZON VALIENTE- Wowee, things sure are moving fast again. Thanks for the super recap, Novelera. I'm not sure that I want to watch this episode when I get back. So it seems like the whole purpose of having JM go to Colombia was to have this "I'm dying, marry me" plot go off since it probably wouldn't work in LA. Poor Nelly. I guess it's time for a new maid at JM's house. Maybe Ángela could be the maid in disguise. ;-) .

So Vicente told Miggy about the Reptile. That should be interesting.
 

El Rostro de la Venganza

ahhh,
apparently this will start monday, 30 july 12,
splitting the hour with Pablo Esobar.
 

I guess the theory is that, since Escobar is the highest-rated novela TM's got right now, they want to use it as a prop/strong lead-in for El rostro de la venganza. They just did this with Rosa Diamante, and the timing seems odd going into the Olympics, but whatever...

Pablo Escobar: miercoles

I missed the first few minutes, though I'm guessing for once I didn't miss anything considering this was seemingly entirely about one major act--Pablo's third-party hit on Rodrigo Lara Bonilla--and the massive fallout from it. Of course, they had to punctuate the hit with the Colombian president basically declaring war on the Medellin cartels in Rodrigo's name, the Motoas basically going "Well, hell--we let this happen, and we're all screwed for it!" and Pablo basically embracing his inner megalomaniac by declaring that he was "more powerful than the Pope." (To his credit, Andres Parra really is rocking the overgrown spoiled child that this version of Pablo is. I can't help but think "Damn, if only Enelia had smacked him a couple of times as a child...and been less evil in her own right...")
 

CORAZON VALIENTE -

great recap novelera !!!

( ok, I'll do the recaps on tues/thurs, this and next week )

I was disappointed when the Reptile didn't donate both her kidneys to Nicolas, but then I had some hope when it looked like he was rejecting Willy's,

Then I was hoping she would be exchanged with the narcos for Fabiola,
great scenes when the bad guys hauled her away,
alas, it was Bernie's plan,

wow, JM is duped again, and marries Fernanda on her death bed,
"you look so lovely darling"
"did they damage any of your scales"
well, maybe the Reptile will hear the call of the jungle,
and slither off to be with friends,

and what's with Angela's new found happiness,
she is way too happy,
Violeta who?

wow, Vicente crossed the line,
the bad guys don't know Angela is alive,
but Miggy does,
and now he knows Fernanda is the killer'
(does this mean he has to die?)
good thing Fernanda is out of town and Bernie doesn't kill.

where is JM gonna take the kids for vacation next year,
Afghanistan?

can anyone explain the Fabiola thing,
did they say she escaped,
is that good or bad?
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA

Deb, Thanks so much for the info. My cable provider has the first (40+ minutes) episode of ERdlV available on demand so I was able to sneak a peek.

I think it starts out gangbusters -- mysterious, twisted, suspenseful. If we let ourselves, we'll be seduced ...

But Telemundo is so good at Beginnings and so lousy at follow-through. I'm not sure I'm willing to have my heart broken again. I may have to make a rule for myself: Only watch Telemundo novelas which begin to air AFTER the writers have committed to the number of episodes and how it is going to end.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR - Miércoles

The intense acting, the subtle changes in power structures and the gritty realism of this drama are hard to capture in a few paragraphs. This is a show that has to be experienced.

Everybody has been worrying about Rodrigo’s security. But there’s good news. He’s been appointed as an embassador, and the whole family will move to a foreign country in a few days. But despite his wife Nanci’s pleas that they leave now, Rod wants to clear his name first.

Regina is feeling ignored by Pablo. No flowers for a week. And when she calls, she gets the runaround. We see Pablo looking a little shell shocked. We then see Chili and Topo boozing it up in Bogotá with some babes. Pablo calls. What are you idiots doing partying? You’ve got a job to do! And remember, if you mess up, your girlfriend will pay the price! Chili and Topo sober up, go to meet with the two young sicarios (killers), one of whom’s name is Byron. Do your job, says Chili.

Rod has been meeting with various people, such as Luis, to clear his name. So he goes out each night, with a driver, and another car behind it. Byron and the other guy speed up to Rod’s house on their moto, catch a glimpse of Rod and his car. Nanci sees these two guys speed by. But they don’t do anything at this point. Later, they go to church and pray for courage.

Regina finally reaches Pablo. Don’t do anything rash, I’ve spoken with Rodrigo, he’s not going to do anything more. Pablo hangs up on her (Pati was right there, and besides, Pablo has already given the order).

Rodrigo visits Guillermo Cano. Thanks for helping, your newspaper has been one of the few groups who have believed me and backed me. And we’ll continue to do so, says Guillermo. Just be careful. We see Colonel Jiménez’ men find a hideout, but they’re too late, it’s abandoned. Rod rides home, but shortly before he gets to his house, the two guys on a moto speed next to his car, aim the machine gun, and riddle the car with bullets! The car pulls up to Rod’s house, and his eldest son (about 12) runs out, and accompanies his Dad to the hospital. But it’s too late. The Minister of Justice is dead. It think the young son may in real life, be one of the producers of this show.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR Part 2

There’s a lot of reaction when the news spreads. For one thing, the narcos know there’ll be retribution. Gonzalo tells Pablo Medellin is too hot now. Pablo gets on his high horse, they can’t touch me, I’m more important than the Pope! What? says Gonzalo. Do you really hear yourself? I’m not so sure Pablo’s listening.

The army is fighting back, searching places, pulling over every young thug to get evidence. I think they have arrested Byron (the car following Rod had crashed into the moto), but he probably won’t talk. Niki wants to interview Byron, but Jiménez says no, let us use OUR “methods”.

The newspaper headline says “Magnicidio,” which means assassination of an important person. The President of the Republic (played by a guy who played head of a mafia family on La Reina del Sur) gives a speech in which he says we won’t stand for this. The Army goes to Napoles and finds little. They go to Pablo’s house and harass his very pregnant wife and his mother, but he’s not there, and Enelia yells at them to back off.

Luis Galán gives an interview in which he says if they could kill a minister of justice, what protection is there for the average person? We HAVE to fight back. Rodrigo Lara Bonilla’s death will NOT be in vain.

The narcos are heading for Panama. Mariachi is going, so is Pedro. Pablo has told Pati to go, but she doesn’t want to fly. She’s pregnant, after all. Meanwhile, Fabio is driving Pablo and Gonzalo around in a jeep, trying to find a way to get out of the country. They figure the airport is being watched. But Pablo, as usual, has supreme confidence. NOBODY will tell him what to do. We shall see.........
 

PABLO ESCOBAR:

I know it's ambassador, not embassador. Guess I was thinking in Spanish mode.

I definitely will be watching El Rostro de Venganza, but not recapping. I'm not too happy that Pablo will now be 1/2 hour (I think), but what can you do?

This show is different from most novelas, in that it's not so overblown and overdone. In some ways, less dramatic things happen (so far), but since we know it was REAL, the impact is far more than false pregnancies, baby switching, amnesia and poison drops.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR:

Actually, Fabio is driving Pablo and Gonzalo around in a taxi.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -- miércoles

Wow, Hombre! You really nailed this horrifying episode! The megalomania, the pathological lying, the sociopath's indifference to the sufferings of others -- it's all out there now. Thanks so much for this great recap.

Bill C, it's nice to hear from you.

" I can't help but think "Damn, if only Enelia had smacked him a couple of times as a child...and been less evil in her own right..."

Hah. I'd put the emphasis on the second part of your wishful thinking -- If only Enelia had been less evil!

Some things I noticed last night --

>While the sicarios are carrying out their hideous work, Pablo is softly crooning the famous Verdi aria to Pati's hugely pregnant belly: La donna è mobile....

>And the moto driver is praying for the Holy Mother's blessing for the 'vuelta' he is about to undertake.

>Just before the hit, Rodrigo Lara Bonilla tells his driver to slow down because they are separated from the bodyguards. Did the Escobar organization buy the driver?

About words and expressions:
Yo no tengo velas en este entierro
(I'm not involved/ I have no (votive)candles at that burial)
Our writers seem to like this expression: We hear Enelia say it to Pati when asked if Pablo is responsible for the minister's assassination; and we hear Motoa (I think) make a similar claim.

Hombre, Thanks for pointing out magnicidio -- I saw it and let it slide but I'm glad you didn't!
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA

NovelaMaven - "But Telemundo is so good at Beginnings and so lousy at follow-through." SO TRUE!!!

Much as my fave was Mas Sabe el Diablo, you could tell the writers were trying to extend the series for ratings, and did a botched-up job on the last 2months, and especially the unsatisfying death of the villain.

I also caught the teaser episode of ERdlV on demand, and for now I'll be watching; I'm a sucker for beautiful people.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Thanks for the excellent recap

Seems that it's Fernanda's turn to go to prison!
Poor Nelly's death was as meaningless as almost all the others'.
I wonder what Miggy is going to do now that he knows about Angela and Fernanda.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Thanks, Hombre, excellent recap of a truly horrifying episode. Gritty realism is right! I noticed that occasionally they insert real historical footage. Last night it was the car in which Lara Bonilla was killed, glass, blood, and a book on the back seat.

I thought I saw a vehicle cut off the bodyguard's car and that's why they were behind. I also thought they shot the sicarios on the moto. But it appears that Byron survived. But it's hard for me to tell some of these young thugs apart.

Apparently criminals lack a sense of irony, praying to the virgin before murdering someone.

I thought Escobar said he was the second most important man in the world, after the pope. Gonzalo's reactions to his craziness are well acted. But Escobar is lost in a world of his megalomania and doesn't even appear to hear him.

The elder of the two sons was in Flor Salvaje as the self-righteous son of one of the prostitutes. It was driving me crazy where I'd seen him before, and last night the penny finally dropped. I think you're right about this boy being the producer of the show as an adult.

I find Colombian actors so much better than what we often see in US and Mexican telenovelas. The widow of Lara Bonilla was perfect. So often telenovela grief is so overacted that it takes you right out of the moment. This woman was perfect.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Thanks so much, Deb, for offering to do the Tuesday and Thursday recaps. I read all of the ones you did on Telenovela World and you write very well!

"You look so lovely, darling. Did they damage any of your scales?" Funny!

Even as young as he is, Juan Cruz could well be traumatized by the Reptile's ghastly kidnapping farce. And the girls saw Nelly killed in front of their eyes.

Come on, writers, let's see SOME retribution for the Reptile. I loved it when JM threw her out over lying about Ángela's friends beating her up insteaf of Vicente. But that didn't last very long!
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

I just thought of a good partial retribution for the Reptile.

That JM will suffer from the same "little problem" as her last husband, Vicente.
 

GENERAL

Novelera:

"I find Colombian actors so much better than what we often see in US and Mexican telenovelas."

Yes, but for me, I would amend that to "acting" or perhaps "direction" rather than "actors".

I'm watching a Mexican film right now, "El callejón de los milagros", which features these familiar telenovela faces: Salma Hayek (remember she was a tn actress before she became a movie star), María Rojo, Delia Casanova and Tiaré Scanda, just to name a few.

This is a wonderful movie and gives the actors a chance to show what they are capable of when they are free of the stylistic constraints of the telenovela.

Personally, I don't dislike the operatic, exaggerated style of the typical Univisión tn. But I DO get bored with it at times and I'm grateful we have the Colombian novelas to turn to (well SOME of them) as an alternative.
 

GENERAL

Point taken, NovelaMaven. I watch movies sometimes on CINE LATINO, a channel I get on DirecTV. I do occasionally see a telenovela actor doing a fine acting job. So it probably is the directors and/or the writing that makes so much of the acting seem overwrought to me.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Thanks for the great recaps this week. I really hope that JM invests in some major therapy for Genesis and Violeta. I'm surprised those two little girls are still functional with all the violence they've witness and loved ones they've lost to violence.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Deb, I forgot to answer your question about Fabiola.

My understanding is that Miggy found out that Fabiola had been "rescued" from whoever was holding her in the Colombian jungle. Miggy told JM.

I suppose the police or the military, or whoever rescued her, were questioning her or something. JM rushed down there to hopefully find his biological sister.

Last night they said she ran away from where she was (police headquarters? military headquarters?) presumably afraid of something or someone.

I guess the writers just want us to wait until the ratings go down or something in order to spring her on us.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks for the recap, Novelera.

Deb, I love your sense of humor! such as "well, maybe the Reptile will hear the call of the jungle, and slither off to be with friends" and also the remark about the kids' next vacation spot - Afghanistan. Great stuff!

Once again, the bodyguard didn't help much. Nuñez got shot, didn't notice the attackers, didn't stop them from shooting Nellie, didn't stop them from taking Reptile.

And what did the kidnappers want? Reptile said "take me, I have lots of money". But they apparently let her go w/o even asking for money. Does that make sense?

Even though Vicente told Miggy that Fernanda was the killer, Miggy might not totally believe him. Even if he does, no one else would, and Miggy would have to gather proof (or set some sort of trap). Maybe something will happen to knock him out of commission for a while (like a coma) so he can't tell anyone. But if he IS going to tell, Miggy, DON'T TELL JM! He'll just blab it out, and ruin everything :)
 

Thanks Deb, for filling in for Jean. My hat is off to all you fine recappers!
My favorite comment this week referred to the Reptile flying down to Colombia as: "Snakes on a Plane"--hilarious!
Anyway, the reptile's marriage to JM may be void once Angela is discovered to be alive, but don't forget that JM and Angela's marriage may not be legal either because Luis was still alive (although presumed dead) when they married.
I wonder, now that we know Angela is known to be alive, and Sam and Willy found out who their son is, doesn't it seem like that should be happening in the "Ultimas Capitulos"?
J in Oregon
 

Corazon Valiente: o yea i forgot about luis martinez still being married to angela but i dnt think that matters because he was presumed legally deceased muerto en el cielo at the time throughout his return as his troll look alike twin hermano camilo till his ultimos momentos when he confessed his identity to JM before dying for real.we need a lawyer or Dra. Ana maria polo to close this case.novelas usually last 6 months on average CV is aproaching its 5th month on air maybe we get another month or two?ultimas semanas is always a month or so.this novela got good
 

Corazon Vaiente - thursday - 1

chapter 100...

Fernanda played JM so well,
signatures all around, as witnesses to their wedding,
wow,
I really wasn't looking forward to,
Snakes on a Honeymoon,

the Reptile takes her last breath, collapses, JM is in a panic,
the doctor arrives, rushes JM out of the room,
when he is gone, they both smile,

the doc later rushes the Reptile to surgery past JM,
I don't think she will make it,

it's a miracle,
the Reptile lives,
and it's all because of you JM
(they really got him, hook, line, and sinker)

meanwhile,
Lorena, hopelessly in love with Willy confesses to him and then kisses him,
Sammy watches,

later when Willy goes home from the hospital, with Lorena who also lives there,
he has a talk with her,
they will only ever be friends, and if she can't have that, she needs to leave,
she stays, tears in her eyes,

Emma and Camilo chitchat,
he likes Lorena but he knows she loves Willy

Bernardo shows up at the hospital to see his nephew,
brings him a present and starts clueing him in on how the world really works,
Sammy is not comfortable with this at all,

is Vicente really going to tell the whole truth?
of course he won't,
but he does,
(wow, nobody does this in a novela, and lives),

Vicente starts at the beginning with his push down the steps,
then her shooting Gonzalo, JM's friend,
then muder, after murder,
he really does tell all,

is there proof, a totally unbelieving Miggy asks,
yes, the Rat made a video of Fernanda's confession,
and there is a copy,

Miggy drops in on Vikingo, gun drawn, I want the disc, gets it,
and at home, he watches it,

Vicente, who asks to be left out of it all, and agreed to by Miguel,
calls Fernanda, yes we got married, but you Vicente are the only one who ever loved me,
did Vicente really screw up this time he wonders,
but Miguel is at his car window to get a packet with more proof before he can backslide,

Miguel drops off the proof at detective Dummy Duval's,
(this is all just too easy)

Miguel tells Sammy,
Sammy tells Willy,
(wow, this is spreading fast, the truth goes viral in a novela)
Willy says it's all the monsters fault, my dad,
 

Corazon Valiente - thursday - 2

earlier at the cake shop,
Angel has broken down with her talk with the shrink,
he leaves,
but after some rest, she is back to being her too sweet self,
Gustavo and Angela go shopping at the local market,

Miggy can't get a hold of JM,
He stops by the cake store to see Angela who is not there,
Nora has still not spoken to her yet as she promised,
Nora is worried about Angela going back to jail,
not to worry, we have discovered who did all of the crimes Angela was accused of,
(I forgot about this angle)
oh happy days !!

oh wait,
the killer is your daughter, Fernanda,

Miggy shows her the video,
Nora is devastated
(this was hard to watch, all of her new found happiness just fell apart, great acting),
her whole life of prison and dispair just poured out,
it's all his fault, Bernardo!
for putting me in jail, and taking my kids away from me,
wow,

Angela and Gutavo do some lovey dovey shopping, at the market,
opening and tasting some chocolate,
but the store is being robbed,
(is that a gun Gustavo pulls out of the back of his pants),
and clobbers the one guy at the register,
and holds him at gun point,

the second gunman comes around and takes a bead on him,
Angela comes alive,
wow, what an knockdown drag out fight,
the bad guy finally kicks her into a stack of cans,
breaking Gustavo out of his stupor,
he jumps out to see if she is alright,
and they fight side by side finishing the bad guys off,
then he hustles Angela out to the car before the police come, because she has no papers,

later when the police have gone he meets her at the car,
he asks her about how she...
(did he say he was a cop?)
Angela is quiet with her old time bug eyed sad face,
does she say,
"I remember"

meanwhile, Bernardo has a visitor out by the pool,
it's Nora, and she is pissed,
he plays with her,
but you can see this obsession he has that she slept with Dario,
just like Fernanda's obsession with JM,

when all seems hopeless for Nora,
she pushes him into the pool
when all of a sudden Willy shows up,
probably planning on doing the same thing,

JM, a still bruised Fernanda, and the kids, safely arrive in Los Angeles in a private plane,
soon to be met by detective Duval and company,
and a swat team,
and Miggy and Sammy,
and Vicente lurking in the background,

you are under arrest, Fernanda, for the murder of,
and, and, and, and, and, and ,and,,,
the list rolls out on the floor,

wow, the look on her face,
(Aylin Mujica is so good at what she does)
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/metervik/corazon%20valiente/100e.jpg
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE-

Holy Mackerel! Great recap, Deb, and thanks so much for filling in while I'm away. What a week to miss!

I can't believe all the Reptile's crimes have been revealed. The writers must have something pretty wild in store for the rest of the novela.

I know that a while ago the Reptile said that she didn't mind that much if the video came out because there was no proof of her crimes. I guess we'll see.

There's a pattern here - JM gets married and his bride is arrested. It does seem rather surprising that they never mentioned him divorcing or annulling his marriage with Ángela. Poor Génesis and Violeta - another Mommy accused of murder.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Thanks Deb. Wonderful recap. Wow! A lot happened. I'm going to have to watch this one online. So glad some of the original storlying is starting to move again. It's like the writers actually listened to my complaints. :)
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Deb, amazing what a great recap. I did watch this episode because I knew D8D was going to get thrown into the pool. You're recap was spot on.

I absolutely loved Nora in yesterday's scenes, and I applauded when D8D did go into the pool. I could not believe that Ofelia was not lurking behind something to jump into the water to save him. Ofelia seems to be changing.

Of course it took Miggy to uncover everything, now I hope Nora will let Sam and Willy know that D8D is a liar, she seems to be the only one with a senisble head.

I wonder how Reptile is going to get out of this. I could not understand how Vicente got there with a full force of a swat team in the building?
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Jueves, Part 1

When you want to kill someone, it’s best to distance oneself. So we know that Pablo and Gonzalo told Chili to take care of it, and he and his friend Topo got two kids, Byron and Serafin to do the actual hit. Byron is in custody. I’m not sure about Serafin. Either he’s dead or he escaped. His Mamá comes to the door of the apartment where Chili and Topo are staying (they’re very nervous), and they give the Mom the money through a crack in the window.

Niki still wants to interview Byron, and Jiménez won’t allow it, but he leaves a slit in the door open so she can listen to HIS interrogation. He tells Byron that your pal in the other cell is collaborating, he’s gonna be freed. Now you need to tell us who hired you. If not, you’ll pay for everything, and your buddy goes free. The only thing Byron says is “I didn’t know who the guy was.” Yes, Byron, a typical teenager, has no clue who the country’s attorney general is.

Pablo calls Pati, change of plans. Here’s what we’re going to do (we don’t hear it).

At the funeral for Rodrigo, his wife Nanci thinks back to all the beautiful good times they had. A crowd chants support (something like Rodrigo, amigo, estamos todos contigo). Then it’s like a national day of mourning (reminds me of when JFK was assassinated). The archbishop gives a speech in the cathedral, the coffin is draped with the vibrant colors of the Colombian flag, and a somber but powerful speech is given to a crowd of thousands by El Presidente Veracruz. Luis Galán also gives a speech about how Rodrigo’s cause will be vindicated, his struggle will not be in vain.

Gonzalo tells Pablo there’s no easy way from Colombia to Panama. Pablo says let’s take a lancha (boat). I know the route like the back of my hand. The others are dubious.

Enelia buys 3 tickets to Ecuador (for herself, her nieto Emilio and Pati). She uses her original last name, and Pati’s maiden name, avoiding “Escobar”.

Jiménez tracks down where Byron and Serafin were staying in Bogotá. He points to some cocaine residue, advises the landlady she’s better help. She tells him there were also two older guys who met with the teenagers. Jiménez asks her to describe them.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR - Part 2

President Veracruz thanks Nanci, says he’ll pay for her to move her kids out of the country, but she wants to stay.

Niki is allowed to talk to Byron. She sort of blows it, letting Byron realize that maybe Serafin wasn’t in that next cell, but Jiménez is still grateful, she’s started a dialog, and eventually Byron will give them what they need.

Nanci’s 12 year old son comforts his Mom, from now on, he’ll be the man of the family.

The cops realize that all the calls from Byron’s apartment in Bogotá went to the same number in Medellin. They trace it to where Chili and Topo are partying down with Topo’s girlfriend (Fabiola?) and Chili’s sister Mireya. But the cops come in with so much noise, sirens blaring, that Chili and Topo escape on the rooftops.

In Panama, the other narcos don’t think Pablo will make it there by boat.

In the airport in Ecuador, Enelia splits up with Pati and Emilio. This guy is following them. He follows Enelia, who confront him. Get off my case, buddy, I know what you’re doing. Later, the three are in another plane. The guy is on the plane, near Enelia. Pati and Emilio are far away from them, all by themselves. Pati takes a glass of water, purposely pours it between her legs, and screams, help, I’m pregnant, I think my water broke! The stewardess does to the pilot, we need to turn around, that lady is about to deliver. The pilot says we can’t turn around. This is wild!

Nanci gives Rodrigo’s documents and appointment book to Luis. What can I tell my kids, their father was killed by a druglord? No, counsels, Luis. I’ll talk to them. We’ll tell them the truth, their father was a respected Senator of the Republic, who fought tirelessly and with honor on the side of good.

Back in Medellin, wanted posters of Topo’s face have been plastered all over town. The police are asking for the public to help. If not, they’ll go house by house until they find this scoundrel. We see Chili and Topo, with Mireya, nervous, on the edge, getting desperate. The cops are closing in!!
 

Corazon Valiente:
Fernanda could say that luis was angelas accomplise and threatened her to falsely confess to the murders but Vicente also handed Miggy additional evidence in a yellow envelope whaterver that is it could incriminate the reptile further and that doesnt include the hostage situation with the infant juan cruz plus shes holdin and aiming a pistol with a couple swat sharp shooters ready to,blow her brains out cmon shes gonna have to explain why she had a gun on her.theres something i dnt like about Fernoandas voice it annoys me i always mimick her por favor juan marcos perdonameee
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Great recap, Deb! What an amazing episode. This was my favorite episode in a long time. Several times my fist went up into the air and I said "Yes!"

Of course this fun can't last, but we'll have to see what the writers come up with.

For one thing, Willy may end up saving his father, even though he hates him.

It was strange that Nora would be so distraught about Fernanda. If what we suspect is true (that Fernanda is really Ofelia's daughter), wouldn't Nora know this? To me, this has only two possible explanations: 1) Fernanda is NOT Ofelia's daughter, and they've been jerking us around for months with the hints, or 2) Baby swap!

Yes, Angela did say she remembered something, but we don't know what. All it took was the ol' blow to the head to get those memory juices flowin' again.

And I LOVED it when the corrupt doctor described Fernanda's condition the night before with the word they always use - "grave" :)
 

ROSA DIAMANTE

Wow! Rosa sure is super spunky!!

I just love how she doesn't feel sorry for herself (in her life, she's only loved by one friend who dies). She does not take sh*t from anyone, and knows how to give it right back.
 

PREMIOS TU MUNDO -

"Miami, FL – July 24, 2012 –Telemundo will produce and broadcast live the first ever "Premios Tu Mundo," (your world awards) an awards show that celebrates the best in pop culture, Thursday, August 30, 8PM-11PM/PT, from Miami, Florida."

"Fans can vote online through www.premiostumundo.com or through the Telemundo entertainment iPhone App."
ref: http://telemundomediakit.com/2012/07/24/telemundo-presents-the-first-edition-of-premios-tu-mundo-your-world-awards-celebrating-the-best-in-pop-culture-thursday-august-30-from-8pm-11pmet/

I wasn't able to visit the glitzy telemundo site with my antique internet connection, but here are the nominees,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premios_tu_mundo_(2012)

"Voting for nominees started on July 25, and will end on August 17, 2012."

wow,
Tony Dalton in the "The Best Bad Boy" category,
that was such a unique role he had in Flor Salvaje, and he played it so well,
(I have never rooted so much for a villain to succeed!)
too bad he is up against better known villains like Miguel Varoni,
Tony should really have his own category, Bad Boys that Save the Day !!!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -- jueves

Thanks, Hombre, for another of your increasingly elegant recaps of this excellent, if disturbing, series.

According to a news article I just read online, the second sicario WAS, in fact, killed at the scene.
---------
So were Enelia and Pati and the kid all on the same plane? I guess that will be clearer after tonight's show.
--------------
I imagine the speeches were the actual ones read on the day of Lara's funeral. The juxtaposition of these sober scenes with those of the piggish Escobar clan trying to make their escape spoke volumes.
--------------
I think Topo's abused gf or wife, Fabiola, pointed the police in his and Chili's direction.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Great recap, Deb! You got it all.

A couple of things that stood out for me were:

Gustavo tells Nora that the shrink said that, if they push Angie to remember, she could go crazy.

Gustavo said in the grocery store that he wasn't a cop any more; so I guess he quit or retired.

D8D, absolutely shameless, knowing that Fernanda was alive and only slightly bruised in Colombia, shows up to take advantage of the situation by sobbing to his "dos hijos" about the Reptile and her dying in South America. Bet the "hijo" on whose shoulder he wants to cry is that of Samantha Navarro!

It was cute when Willy, as a parting remark, complimented Nicolás on his taste in women, earning a smile from the boy.

Why weren't the robbers in the grocery store at the cash registers, where the money is, instead of in the canned goods area?

When Willy saw Nora, he said "Mamá!". So these two will have a chance to bond again. I hope she tells him sooner, rather than later, about all D8D's nefarious doings.

Yes, this was a humdinger of an episode. I enjoyed every minute of it. Dummy Duval apparently couldn't still insist on Ángela having been a criminal mastermind.

I know Willy will pull his father out of the pool. No chance the miserable creep will drown tonight.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -

thanks so much Hombre !!!

I guess we can see that the life of a Sicario is not all glamour, pretty women and big bucks,
neither does it fair well for the lessor bosses of the cartel, like Chili or Topo,

( Sicarii- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicarii)

I thought I recognized Mireya with Chili, but I forgot she was his sister,
she has a lot of spunk,
women and kids so far are being passed by as this appears to be a man on man war,
(not like in LRdS where everyone was killed)
the police seem to be way to nice in their monster hunt,
and the young soldiers so innocent looking,

not quite sure who was following Pablo's family,
were they already on a flight out of the country,
or is her stunt meant to divert the plane to Panama,
maybe they will explain more tonight,
apparently Panama is a safe haven, and is Noriega the big cheese there?

btw, I noticed at wiki, this novela is, "loosely based on the novel La parábola de Pablo by Alonso Salazar"
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Thanks so much, Hombre, for another excellent recap.

Topo appears to have a drug problem. Chili keeps trying to settle him down, but the guy is totally wired and unpredictable. When Escobar called Chili and he and Topo were in the middle of partying a couple of nights ago, I think he realized something. He snarled at Chili about what he was messing with.

I enjoy seeing these actors in different roles. The President of Colombia, as you mentioned, Hombre, is played by the actor who was the head of the Galician drug cartel in Spain in La Reina del Sur. In that novela he was speaking Galician some of the time and had a distinct accent in Spanish at other times.

I'm really unclear about Enelia and Pati's plan, with pretending her water broke. If they just left Colombia, and I thought the plane was headed for Peru, would it be possible they'd divert to Panama for a woman in labor?

NovelaMaven, interesting what you said about the second sicario in real life. I thought I heard shots fired when the two thugs fell off the motorcycle when the bodyguards went after them.

The actress portraying Enelia is superb.

Deb, Noriega was the big cheese at that time, and corrupt as could be. He definitely facilitated drugs moving through Panama and on to the US while he was in power.
 

Corazon Valiente:

@deb - you're doing a fabulous job as a recapper. I'm still cracking up at your vacation in Afghanistan comment! Hilarity!

Dios mío, what an episode! It was oh, so satisfying to see D8D going backwards into that pool! Way to go, Nora! I only wish they could have shown his face as he realized what was happening. I'm sure it would have looked like a reinactment of the painting, The Scream.

I hope D8D survives, but only after swallowing a gallon of chlorinated water because I want him to see him squirm and suffer and, more importantly, I don't want Nora to have a murder rap pinned on her. Btw, I agree that her scene anguishing over the Reptile was epic.

I didn't think the JM character could be more of an idiot than he has already been, but after seeing him put his children at risk and watching his puke worthy marriage to the Reptile, I'm upgrading my asssessment to certifiable dumbazz. Did he promise to marry her to fullfill her dying wish because he thought she'd croak? I've always tried to cut that character some slack, but I just can't anymore. The writers are to blame for the script, but is José Luis being directed to act like a emotionless zombie around Fernanda, or is that his interpretation of how he's supposed to act?

!Muchísimas gracias, Vicente! The Reptile has begun her descent. I kind of thought that Duval might be a dirty cop, but I guess he's just dumb. He's following through with the arrest. I'm with everyone else who wonders how Fernanda will play this. Because the Reptile and D8D's corruption is so far reaching, I hope Miggy made copies of the DVD and other evidence.

Now that Ángela is remembering things, I wonder what will transpire once she is reunited with her children? Hopefully that event will completely erase the "amnesia." Those babies desperately need some good news in their little lives and maybe her annoyingly positive, bubbly Pollyanna demeanor might be just what they need. As I recall, wasn't that the way way Ángela was in the beginning?

I hope all of this will finally remind Sam and Willy to get another DNA test. Despite the incongruous plot flow, I have to hand it to the writers to keep us guessing about the parentage of so many of the other characters.

Is anyone grieving for Nellie?

What about Fabiola and Alejandra?

Who's caring for Arturo -- and Lucy?

NovelaNewbie.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

NovelaNewbie, you cracked me up about Arturo, and Lucy. Yep, that has to be the first time the Reptile has been separated from the long-suffering white cat, whose ears go back every time she touches it.

I can hardly wait until tonight when JM finally catches on to what a blithering idiot he's been for so very long.
 

Corazon Valiente
Yah, that poor cat is desperately unhappy to be around Aylin Mujica--she slings it around like a duffel bag when she picks it up. Anyway, Fern will have excuses about being coerced into making the tape. What sort of other evidence could Vicente have kept? Also--he made Miguel promise not to finger him as the one supplying the evidence. Duh! My guess is Fernanda will hunt him down like a dog...