Thursday, August 09, 2012

Por ella soy Eva #18 Thurs. 8/9/12: Being a Woman is Hard Work.

Thank you, Ithabill, for writing the recap for tonight's show.

At the big colorful table Adriano welcomes Helena to Grupo Imperio, but lets her know she's there because Plutarco vouches for her. Mutt and Jeff are assigned to work for her. Everyone leaves, and Mutt and Jeff give Helena a hard time about working for the company she claims stole her project. They tell her, "What starts bad, ends bad." In Adriano's office, Toni tells her brother that Helena appears decent and professional. Adriano is not convinced. One of his bimbos calls about the job he promised her, and Adriano excuses himself telling Toni it's his dentist on the line. She sneaks a chocolate.

Marcela shows Helena her new office and is the first person to be nice to her. Helena asks whose office it was and hears it was JC's. On the desk she finds the memory box she gave him, caresses it, and remembers. She cries.

Mimi bursts into Grupo Imperio and hugs Marcela (who she's never met) for the loss of JC. Her pretext for being there is that she owns a travel agency, but she's really on a fact-finding mission. Adriano walks in the hallway and Mimi addresses him Hola, machote (Hello, stud). She's obviously struck by him, and he's so flustered by her attention he walks into the elevator door. JC steps off the elevator- in his Fidel Castro disguise- and Mimi urgently shoos him away. She later scolds him for taking the risk of showing up there where he's supposed to be dead.

Helena apologizes to Santiago for disrupting his wedding, and he tells her that's the trouble with women- they act first and then think. She tells him that she's glad he works for her and not the other way around (oh snap!). They glare at each other.

Plutarco sends Onesimo to investigate Helena. Helena and Plutarco agree they want Playa Managua to be as successful as Acapulco. Rebecca tells Mutt and Jeff they need to put Helena in her place before it's too late. They all agree to make her look bad.

Helena and her team are presenting the project at the big colorful table. Plutarco nods at Helena in agreement. Toni looks rapt. Rebecca does a lot of eye rolling. Fernando reads his notes scribbled on his hand while Toni looks on bewildered at his unprofessionalism. Finally he says the project will be ready to begin in 5 years. Adriano is livid and says obviously there's a communication problem within the new Super Team. Helena takes the responsibility.

JC tells Mimi he needs records, a new identity. She has her cousin's [prima] records- birth certificate, etc. - and JC is incredulous. He can't be a woman. Why not, she asks. Acting is in his genes from his mother.

Helena tries to smooth things over with Mutt and Jeff, but they give her a hard time about being a single mom, that this is no job for a woman, blah, blah, blah. Helena tells Plutarco that with the way things are going she needs a female assistant. She has someone in mind (Lucia) but Rebecca doesn't like the idea and says there are protocols to follow.

JC calls Grupo Imperio in a disguised voice and learns that Helena is looking for a female assistant. The light bulb goes on, but he asks himself, "Me a woman? No, it's crazy."

Mutt and Jeff make a joke at Helena's expense about tours, and she realizes they were JC's accomplices in the big swindle. She scolds them and tells them she's going to have as little to do with them as possible. Plutarco hears details of Helena's life from Onesimo, and is particularly interested in her having mortgaged the house. He says that except for the kid, she's perfect. He looks at her picture with what appears to be longing. (well, aside from being The Putz, he is the only man in the business to treat Helena respectfully)

JC is in the park in his hoodie disguise, observing women and copying their mannerisms. Another man gives him a strange look and JC shoos him off.

Bastardo summons Silvia and tells her the mortgage is in danger of not being paid. He roughhouses her a little and says that if they wind up in the street it's her fault. She says bite me. no, wait. That was in my head.

Toni tells Rebecca to give Helena a chance. Rebecca tells Toni that Helena is a single mom and will take advantage, but Toni respects the double duty single moms do. Rebecca seduces Toni with a box of truffles and Toni caves.

JC says to himself that with so many women in his life, it can't be hard to imitate them. He starts the physical transformation himself by asking why do they put centipedes (false eyelashes) on their eyes? He struggles with fishnet stockings, puts on a wig, lipstick, and red shoes with heels, and goes out looking like a horror drag queen barely able to walk. Four workmen make fun of the awful drag show- "with legs like that you look like a spider-" and chase her off. Mimi scold him for trying it himself and promises that tomorrow she'll transform him.

Helena appreciates Toni being so nice to her. Toni asks about her son- Toni had wanted children herself. Rebecca eavesdrops and mutters to herself that the whale and the piranha are now friends.

Bastardo derides Helena's new job and wants Helena to give him custody of Lalo so she can have the life she wants so badly. She punches his sour face. no, wait. Me again.

Many women have come to apply as Helena's assistant. Adriano tells Rebecca to only consider the young, pretty ones with good presence. Marcela looks disapproving. Adriano catches it, but Marcela denies it. Lucia stumbles into the lobby, spilling her papers in front of Rebecca who scowls at her. Rebecca learns she's Helena's friend, asks if Lucia is titled, and when not Rebecca dismisses her.

Mimi begins Juan Carlos' transformation! We see the brief scenes we've been seeing earlier this week. Mimi tells JC that being a woman isn't easy- it's hard work.

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Comments:
Don't be shy, friends. You can post your comments about the show even if Ithabill's recap isn't up yet.
 

Finally our dear Juan is becoming a woman! *snif*
 

Wow! Helena has so much to teach her male and female co-workers. It's no surprise that Marcela (Fernando's wife) and Toni seem to be natural allies. But what is surprising is that Pluto appears to be the most respectful man towards her in the company. We all know he's a creep, but from Helena's point of view he's the only man who respects her ideas and has put his faith in her. Meanwhile, Santi and Fernando, who are supposed to be good guys, are giving her nothing but disrespect and trying to sabotage her. Shame on them!
 

Yeah, I'm not surprised Pluto is being nice to Helena. If she doesn't help him, he's dead meat.

I'm really glad that Antonia seems to be giving Helena a fair shake.

I'm still trying to decide what fate I would like for Rebeca, assuming that she doesn't suddenly become a nice person (it's a comedy, though, so who knows). It was good of her to be horrified by Pluto's flippant attitude towards JC's supposed death, but at the same time she is pushing truffles at a woman who has diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and I forget what else.
 

Fabulous recap Bill! I enjoyed the inner workings of your mind. If only the women had said those things you thought. Maybe they will eventually.
 

Thanks for your recap Ithabill. I too used to live in Ithaca many years ago. I loved your imagining Sylvia and Helena giving it too Bastardo. Hopefully by the end of the TN someone will put that horrible man in his place.
 

Ithabill thank you so much for this fab recap. I love your style and so quick too. Loved what you said about Silvia giving it to Bastardo, where oh where, is that cast iron frying pan already,and Helena giving it to him too. He is the worst male chauvinist I have ever seen.

Glad Helena and Toni are getting along so well, and I think Toni will suss out that Helena will be doing all the work on the project. I think Santi and Ferni are mad at Helena cause JC loved her. He even told them so. Course Santi is mad at her for breaking up the wedding, but I don't think he was ever going to go thru with it.

I hope Rebecca is redeemed too, but right now she is as bad as the Putz, but at least she has feelings not like the Putz who gloats alot.

Julie-it will be fun to see Juan as "Eva", it will be a fun transformation I think. I can't wait to see what he does as a "woman". It should be a gas.
 

I just moved Ithabill's recap from the replies section to the body of the actual blog post. Thank you, Ithabill. Great recap. I would love to see you take the Thursday recap spot.
 

Quickly we have some new alliances shaping up. Finally Antonia has a friend and Helena has someone who doesn't hate her! Adriano and Mimi - sparks flew! I knew those two would get together. And what is Juaneva going to do when he (she?) sees how Mutt & Jeff treat Helena?

Ithabill, please forgive me for calling you a "she." Que bobo soy yo!

I loved it when Juan found out that the assistant position is for women only. He hung up the phone and had this whole detailed argument with himself, without opening his mouth. Camil is the master of the silent monologue - I love it!

So, JC has a plan to win back the woman he loves by becoming her assistant. Yet another LFMB parallel.
 

Thank you Ithabill. I would be continuously scratching my hair out without the clarity you and the other Recappers and Commenters bring to these shows.
OK, so Plutarco thinks well of Helena. No surprise that he would plan to kick her out when she has all her ducks in his row. Nicely fattening up the goose. But I'm suspicious about what other plan he might have for Helena seeing that he says she is perfect except for the child.
 

Oh yeah, Adriano, I noticed at the meeting was staying in Helena's physical space. I take it that he was trying to intimidate her. Of course Helena has family experience with that kind of behavior. She didn't waiver from her purpose. The writers added the comedic touch of having Helena force Mutt and Jeff to stand up, move out of her way and watch her take over the power controls (the keyboard of the computer). Loved it!
 

Fabulous recap Bill! You're a natural - you did a great job of condensing yet leaving in plenty of juicy details, just like a seasoned pro! Thanks for giving us the satisfaction of your imagined reprisals against nasty Eduardo.

Adriano's "good presence" was really a euphemism for a candidate to have a good bustline.

I actually watched the whole show last night! For me the draw was Paty Navidad - she's fabulous (just like everyone said). I had to listen for Paty's "Sinaloa" accent - its pretty subtle, but I guess when contrasted with Juan Carlos' more sing-song Chilango accent, it's a bit more obvious. Loved Mimi's interaction with Adriano - hilarious!

Of course, watching JC get ready for his transformation was hilarious too.
 

The writers have really thought about the things men do to belittle women in the workplace. Bonney you pointed out Adriano using his physical presence to try to intimidate her. Also, Santi and Fer kept telling her to stop getting emotional when they were trying purposely to tick her off. A man can get angry when provoked, but a woman can't get "emotional" when faced with the same kind of provocation. You're right that Helena's hellish years with Bastardo have toughened her up to this kind of treatment.
 

That is one of my pet peeves - when someone says I'm being "emotional" when they're obviously the ones who are upset.

Actually, it's more than a pet peeve for me. Ironically, telling me I'm being emotional when I'm not will probably make me very emotional. I'm gonna get really mad.

I thought Helena handled those guys pretty well yesterday, considering it was her first day. I'm more interested to see how she handles Rebeca.
 

Thanks for the recap, Bill. I especially liked your imaginary reactions --the things Silvia & Helena should have said & done -- and then your "oh, no. That was me" interjection. Very clever. And...a lot of us out here were in total agreement with your interpretation.

Yesterday there were some musings about who would come around in their attitudes about women and the consensus seemed to be that Eduardo would never change because he seems to actually dislike women. I have another feeling about that. Bastardo's attitude is so harsh that he must be harboring some deep hurt which comes out in angry resentment. I think that makes him a candidate for a deep transformation when something happens to make him face that old resentment. Just hopin'

I loved how Helena foresaw that she couldn't count on her pair of doofus assistants -- so she did her own calculations even though the number crunching was supposed to be their job. Even though she took responsibility for the "miscommunication" -- but then she stepped up & plugged in her own numbers -- and took control of the meeting. You go girl!

Güera from Syracuse
(Are you really from down the road in Ithaca, Bill?)
 

Where is everyone going to be on Labor Day Weekend?

Since I'm out of work I'll be around and if most of you are around we can continue our discussion of novela cliches and what we would do if we were writing novelas.

I will cross-post this in the other discussions and if most of you are around we can have that discussion then.

Back with comments on this show in a few minutes.
 

Good job on the recap; please join us permanently!

Trivia: Jaime Camil is of Brazilian and Egyptian parentage.

It was hilarious watching Juan trying on women's clothes. Jaime Camil is over 6' tall, so Eva in Heels will be very intimidating when the time comes.

I'm sure he'll also learn a hell of a lot about how many men treat women and come with a meeting of minds with himself.

Do Mexican men in business really think that little of women?
 

Excellent Ithabill. And now at last I understand your intriguing name.

Favorite lines:


"She says Bite Me. no, wait. That was in my head."

"She punches his sour face. no, wait. Me again."

Also, just in general, I love your short, crisp,to-the-point sentences. Were you ever a newspaper reporter? That is very much the style of effective writing encouraged there.

And finally, do hope you'll become a regular recapper. The male point of view is always treasured here (thought NOT the male point of view in this story.)
 

I've noticed that they say "Carramba!" in this show. I've never heard that in a Mexican TN, but in Colombian ones, yes. Think it's a remnant of the original script?

Güera, interesting point about Ed. He hates women so much, it has to come from somewhere. And so many times after a conflict, the camera hovers on him, alone and upset. Maybe his mother abandoned him, and to survive emotionally he convinced himself that he didn't love her, then that grew into a hatred of all women.

Camil gets his personality from his Brazilian mother's side - she's a firecracker! In fact she seems even more spontaneous and excitable then he is if that's even possible (and Jaime's long-term girlfriend is very subdued and placid just like his father). But his looks are entirely from his father who is half Egyptian. During the Egyptian revolution I kept seeing Camil-look-alikes in the crowd scenes.
 

Bill! This was even better than your first recap. "Adriano excuses himself telling Toni it's his dentist on the line. She sneaks a chocolate" Ahh - the perfect demonstration of what is wrong with their relationship. They keep secrets from one another (her health issues, his womanizing) that truly don't need to be secrets.

Paula - regarding "caramba" - maybe they're all channeling Bart Simpson. No? OK, no.

Ed's bitterness - I've wondered if it didn't have something to do with Silvia herself. Maybe she let him down in some way. (For one thing, she committed the regrettable crime of giving birth to a GIRL! And maybe she burnt his toast a few times.)

Maybe he thought there was going to be a LOT more money when he married her, but she invested it unwisely and lost it, or something like that. There's more than a hint of something really ugly in their past.
 

Consider how this must look from Rebeca's perspective. A few weeks ago Helena was just a desk clerk at one of their hotels, and she was fired. Suddenly she's hired back with the position of Director, apparantly one step down from a VP (is Rebeca a director?). On top of the fact that, as far as Rebeca knows, Helena stole from them and involved the company in a scandal. She stole from Pluto, and Pluto is the one who insists on hiring her. Rebeca believes that she's always been privy to Pluto's plots, but when she asks her lover why he hired Helena, he refuses to answer. And he seems more interested in Helena than in Jaccuzi dates. And to top it off, now Rebeca is told to do whatever Helena asks of her, when Rebeca's the one who told her she was fired. I think Rebeca has much more reason than Mutt and Jeff, to resent Helena.
 

Am enjoying these empathetic "what made him this way?" discussions of Eduardo. But am also remembering a book written a few decades ago....

MAYBE HE'S JUST A JERK

I'm going with that one.
 

Oh, sure, Judy. Lots of people experience hardship and do NOT turn into big jerks. I think jerks are born and not made. Ed would probably be a jerk no matter what. But I think there's a reason why he's directing all of his jerkitude towards women. I just don't know what it is!

Now, Rebeca. Yeah, I can just imagine how she must feel right now. (I don't have to; she's articulated it clearly enough.) And while she seems to have more success at handling the sexism at GI than some of the other female employees, her main strategy seems to be 1) reinforce it, and 2) sleep with the VP. So the truth is that she's as much a victim as any other woman who works there. If Pluto gets tired of her, she'll probably be out of a job unless she blackmails him.

Rebeca is ACTING like a jerk, but that may just be how she's coping with a difficult situation. She might be redeemable if her situation changes. Eduardo, not so much, because his behavior doesn't seem to be a coping strategy.

Have we ever seen Ed interact with any man besides JC? That would give us a better idea of how jerky he is.
 

The only other "man" I've seen Eduardo interact with is Lalo. And so far, Lalo is refusing to turn into a jerk. Whew. So maybe we can assume that Eduardo didn't have a nifty, affectionate, wise and loving mom like Helena. But then again....
Time will tell...
 

I'm with you Judy, "he's just a jerk". No matter if he had bad experience with his mother or...learned it from his father! Ed is OLD ENOUGH to have changed himself. He is instead indoctrinating his nieto. Ed's just a jerk.
 

Rogelio in LQDPA uses ¡carramba! all the time. We usually translate it as "dang!". So I figure it must be Mexican enough.
 

I've never, ever heard "carramba" from my Mexican friends. But most of them are norteños, and a few from Central Mex. So maybe they use it in regions where I don't know anyone, like the gulf coast.
 

I know Rickie used it a lot on 'I Love Lucy". But he was from Hollywood right?-)
 

Well, Rickie was Cubano. I know the Colombians use it. I wouldn't be surprised if all the rest of Latin America uses it. I just don't hear it from Mexicans.
 

Thank you all for the kind words. I had a rough night of it. This show was much more dialogue than the first I did (with the car crash) so I had to watch it twice to recap it. Someone showed up at my door at 8:10 while I was taking notes and I told them I couldn't talk to them at least until the commercial (and even then I kindly shooed them away). Then when I got the recap done the internet was down (we were having a storm), and I thought, oh great, the first time I promise to do something and I can't follow through. I tried to think of whose house I could bring the file to, but most all of my friends are asleep by 11 and I blamed them for not being night owls. But the internet was down for only 40 minutes so I got it up. And I would like to continue. I was a bit intimidated by all the work they put into their recaps over at LQNPA and didn't want to commit to that level of work (which is helpful for improving Spanish skills), but I can commit to what I've been doing so far.

It was so strange to see that a couple of you have lived here, and Guera lives an hour away. I hadn't expected that since I imagine people on a blog like this live all over the world. Although I do suppose this blog is primarily for English speakers. BTW, I've tried to use the English CC's (CC3) when I'm too lazy to work at doing it myself, but they always stop mid-sentence when the sentence is longer than the screen, and then don't necessarily continue with the next line. And I think, really? With all our technology this is the best that can be done? Do other people experience this? It defeats the purpose for which I started watching TN's to begin with though, so I let it go.
 

Ithabill, I think we need Ramona of AdP to do a spell for us because I had a nasty computer virus back in January when I was supposed to do the premiere of LQNPA. My computer was in the shop until that Wednesday, so someone else had to do the premiere.

Which will not happen for Amor Bravio.

I do mine over the weekend with an online video without subs. If I had subtitles I'd get lazy.
 

testing
 

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