Caray, Caray!

PABLO ESCOBAR Jueves, Part 1

Outside the police academy, Major Aristides is conducting drills when Pedregal, now in street clothes, approaches him asking if he knows where Pablo Escobar is. Sorry, responds Aristides, you know we can't give out that kind of info. Pedregal gets a sour face.

Pablo and crew are approaching a helicopter to go on their next mission when Aristides flies in in HIS helicopter, and he starts shooting. Unfortunately, most of the shots miss, and Pablo and crew escape. The army guys do manage to kill Pavon, but that's little consolation. Aristides sees the body, and feels sympathy for the young sicario.

Next we see Pavon's family grieving around his casket, when Aristides approaches in street clothes, possibly to pay his respects. But the family members yell he's a cop, the cops killed Pavon, get out of here, you murderer!

Wanted posters offer a 100,000 peso reward for information leading to the arrest and capture of Pablo Escobar. But Pablo's guys cover these up with their own posters offering 102,000 pesos for the denouncement of Major Aristides! Pablo is meeting with all his associates, and everyone wants war, wants revenge, on Cali, on Aristides, on the government. Cain, Marino and Chili are assigned to kill Gerardo Corerra. Topo and Kiko must kill Aristides. There are also two new guys for security, El Buitre (vulture), a tall blond dirty looking guy with a fu manchu) and Candongo, a short guy, I've seen as a thug in other shows.

Pedregal is outside, and pitifully asks Pablo for a job. Pablo refuses. Why don't you just retire with the money you earned? I never give advice, and I'm giving you this advice for free. His guards escort the ex-Colonel out.

In the town of Cali, Cain, Chili and Marino are checking things out. Marino buys a box of cigarettes and gum (the whole box) from a lady vendor, presumably because she'd be in the way when Gerardo comes out, and he's sparing her from collateral damage. We see that the lady was in front of an old car, booby trapped with explosives. The 3 guys take out the detonator from 30 yards away. Here comes Gerardo's convoy of SUV's down the street! They press the button, but nothing happens! Technical difficulties, as Gerardo's car casually drives away. Pablo, reached on the satellite phone, is livid. Chili says the dynamite must have been bad. No, says Pablo, YOU messed up. Well, on the second try, we'll....forget that, says Pablo, too risky. Should we come back? No, stay there, I have another job for you.

 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Jueves, Part 2

Pedregal is now meeting with Gildardo! He tells the Cali guys that Escobar is planning revenge against Gerardo. He tells them he knows Pablo like the back of his hand, and he could be their adviser. For a monthly stipend of course, deposited in his off shore accounts. The Cali guys agree.

Topo and Kiko are watching Aristides eating a meal in a restaurant. It would be so easy to kill him in the restaurant, he doesn't even have a bodyguard, but the boss insists on a car bomb. Yeah, he's picky. The Major comes out, the button is pressed, the car explodes, the boys laugh! They drive away, as we see Aristides on the ground, his leg is a mess, his face bloody, but I don't think he's dead. Lots of other bystanders, including women, are.

Cut back to Pedregal walking along, looking at apples on a cart, but here comes Cain, following. And Marino. And Chili, who raises his weapons and shoots Pedregal in the chest. The others fill him with some more lead. Guess he won't be needing those offshore accounts anymore. As they say, if you lie down with dogs....

In the police hospital, Aristides had his leg amputated, but isn't dead. Ulloa is talking with another Colonel, Oswaldo Quintana, who is going to take over. They discuss the horrible risks of the job, as we see the scarred and bloody face of the fallen hero, Aristides, unconscious.

Miguel, whose job is to find kidnap candidates, suggests the son of the ex-president, who until recently was a tv news anchor, Andrés Pastrana. He's a conservative and they're trying to retake power. His campaign slogan (he's running for mayor of Bogotá) is Saying and Doing. That could be my slogan, says Pablo. The guy is very popular, the government will definitely negotiate with us to get HIM back. Pablo asks Pedro for his opinion. As usual, Pedro wants to avoid confrontation, which causes the others to bicker, but Mariachi calms them down, and asks Miguel who the second choice is. Carlos Mauro Hoyos, the “General Procurator” of the government. He's a big power in politics. We see him being interviewed, saying he's not afraid, only has two guards. Despite wearing glasses and initially appearing weak, he talks tough. The best part about this guy is he visits Medellin every week.

Pedro interrupts again, what about the Cali guys? Well, we'll get another bomb and try again, says Pablo. Miguel, though says it's not wise to fight two wars at the same time. Which one is more important? Pablo is deep in thought.

We see Marino on a plane flight, looking at a picture of the next victim. To be continued.

 

PABLO ESOBAR, Viernes, Part 1

A full contingent of Pablo's guards check out the area in front of a modest rowhouse in the City, then calling the boss to tell him the coast is clear. Pablo enters, and this is where Pati and the kids are living. She tells Pablo how Emilio is upset, he has a private tutor woman, but is being mean to her. Pablo urges Pati to teach Emilio to respect his teacher, but Pati says she tries, but she's not the man of the house. And their daughter keeps asking when she'll hear out of her bad ear again. They keep telling her soon, but they know she never will. Pati laments, what good is all our money if we have to live like this?

Marino is having a strategy meeting with El Buitre and two others, about kidnapping the mayoral candidate Andrés Pastrana. They can't get to him in his neighborhood (too many people and guards), but might succeed if they infiltrate his campaign headquarters. Marino gives new guy Piufo 3 ID's, he's to buy three cars, one with each ID, different colors (Piufo is a car expert). Tiji (rough looking guy with a beard) is ordered to get weapons, machine guns, etc. Buitre has to scout things out. So, guess how I'm going to get into the headquarters? asks Marino. No idea, says Buitre. That's why I'm in charge, says Marino, cause I have the brains.

To the background of a salsa beat, we see cars being bought, weapons acquired, and El Buitre seems to be checking out a small house in the country where maybe they'll be holding their prey captive. Marino? He's getting fitted for a new suit!

Marino, Piufo and Tiji, ALL wearing dark gray suits, arrive at Pastrana's campaign headquarters. Marino goes up to the receptionist, introduces himself as “Victor Sabogal”, asks to speak to the candidate. No way, says the gal. But when Marino says he's bringing votes, she reconsiders, and directs him upstairs to Inés, the personal secretary of Pastrano. Inés also says there's no chance of a meeting, but when Marino says he's from out of town, from Medellin, just leave a message that a guy left who was bringing 5,000 votes, she also changes her mind, and makes an appointment for “Sabogal” to come back in a few days and meet the candidate.

Back in Pablo's makeshift headquarters, he tells Candongo (the short guy, who also played a druglord's guard in Muñecas de la Mafia), that his objective is the new police Colonel, Quintana. Kill him? asks Candongo hopefully, playing with his lighter. Nah, sometimes it's better to keep our enemies alive, replies Pablo. Your job is to bribe him to be on our side.

 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Viernes, Part 2

Cut to Colonel Quintana at home, with his 20 something son, a young police cadet. I recognize this son from other shows, so I bet he'll figure in our show at some point. Son tells father I'd like to achieve even half of what you've done. No, says the father, you have to do MORE than I have. And you will. They hug.

In the government building, we get another scene which reinforces my belief that the producers of this show are trying to portray the government as weak and incompetent. Maybe they were, but it just seems a little exaggerated to me. The President, the Minister of Justice and General Ulloa all seem to be giving each other excuses why they can't catch Escobar, the Montoas, Mariachi. In truth, it probably ISN'T so easy, as evidenced by the problems the Mexican government is having these days with it's druglords.

Outside Pati's temporary house, Emilio is playing soccer. Pati comes out, time to come inside, son. But a guy is asking a lady if he can rent a house in the neighborhood. This guy is looking repeatedly at Pati. He obviously recognizes her. Either he's a good samaritan who is going to tip off the government, or he's working with the government. Either way, this could be one little chip in Pablo's armor, as Pati's current location is going to come out.

Candongo meets with Quintana in a public park (Quintana has lots of security, he has no idea he's talking to a bad guy). Candongo says he has a message from Escobar. Escobar kidnapped my family, and he said he won't release them unless I give you this message. He wants you to join with him, and he'll pay you 10 million pesos per month ($5,000) if you stop pursuing him, and another 10 million if you work WITH him. Quintana doesn't even blink, tell him Colonel Osvaldo Quintana doesn't sell his dignity for ANY price, and would never accept dirty drug money from Pablo Escobar. We see the “good samaritan” wanting to get the Colonel's attention in the background.

Candongo tells this to Pablo. Well, says Pablo, we gave them a chance to do this the easy way, it's their own fault now (his own little moral code). He takes out his little black book, when Gonzalo interrupts. Pablo, I've backed you on everything, but killing this guy won't solve anything. We kill a colonel, they put in another Colonel. We kill a major, they put in another major. It just isn't going to work.

Bogotá, January 18, 1988. Pati calls Pablo, can't you come visit? Not yet, honey. Outside the house, the “good samaritan”takes out a walky talky and calls Colonel Quintana! Nothing new, he says. Keep me informed. So the guy IS working for the government!

Our thugs in suits get out of their SUV at Pastrana headquarters. The receptionist happily tells them the candidate will be with them in a half hour. They'll wait. We see them standing nervously, as we also have to wait nervously until Monday to find out what happens!!!!!

 

PABLO ESCOBAR -

great recaps Hombre !!!
thank you so much!
I think you covered everything.

I too was taken a bit by the scenes with the president,

"In the government building, we get another scene which reinforces my belief that the producers of this show are trying to portray the government as weak and incompetent"

what struck me most here was the scene itself,
these guys looked way too old,
wearing baggy suits that seemed way too big for them,
sitting in chairs that were too big and too short,
around a giant desk,
like they were 6 year old kids in grown up clothes,
with their feet dangling in the air,
trying to look around all of the big stuff,
whining about this Pablo thing that is not going away.

the production crew here has been excellent telling the story with or without the dialogue.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – VIERNES – Part 1

We start off with more scenes of Miggy and Fabiola in bed. [These two are making up for lost time!] He teases her about not remembering having proposed marriage. He then tells her he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. He tells her they’ll marry in Ushuaia. She tells him she’ll be happy to give up the map. She only wants Miggy.

In another of those parallel conversations the writers like, El Verdugo, who is not the most tactful guy ever, rubs Fernanda’s nose in the fact that he wants to spend the rest of HIS life with Fabiola. She doesn’t understand why a man like him would want Fabiola. Frustratingly, he says he’s known her for a long time, without any real explanation. He knows he can have any woman he wants but he also has his corazoncito and he wants her for himself.

Gus elaborates on wanting his own child with Ángela. He says she’s a wonderful mother, and twins run in his family! She drops the hammer, telling him bluntly that she doesn’t want any more kids. She says that sometimes people’s needs don’t match up. [Ain’t that the truth!!] Gus gets a bit angry accusing her of depriving him of being a father.

Willy has called Sam at the hospital. He’s worried about her being out and about with her medical condition. She tells him the baby is dying. After she hangs up she begins the “guardian angel” prayer. When Willy arrives, she tells him she HAD to be with the baby and she can’t explain why.

EV tells the Reptile that Fabiola lived in the jungle a long time, among narcos, among guerillas, with constant danger. He likes her bravery. She did all this for her father, the old guy who took the money from him (??). He says that Fabiola obsesses him more than the treasure.

Jessica, at D8D's and in some heavy foreshadowing, is writing in her journal about how miserable she is. Her father is dead and her mother doesn’t love her.

JM can’t get off the subject of whether Gus and Ángela are having S&M sex. He queries Laura again. She doesn’t really answer him.

Clara and D8D arrive at the hospital. Clara and Sam go in to see the baby. While D8D and Willy snipe at each other, calling each other by their first names, Clara runs out saying there is a miracle. The baby will recover. Sam is inside talking to Mini-Sammy who is shown clutching her finger. [If they watched telenovelas, they’d know live babies never die. Sometimes there are miscarriages. But once the baby pops out, it survives anything!]

In Bogotá, Miggy and Fabiola are in the office of Congressman Carillo. [Again a little telenovela watching would have revealed to them that this guy ALWAYS plays a baddie!] Fabiola says she doesn’t want a reward. Her father died for this treasure. She just doesn’t want EV to get it. EV winces a bit at this.

Miggy says something about this set-up isn’t right. Fabiola is giving up something she’s risked her life for and there’s no paperwork, nada? Where’s the file, something in writing. EV quickly sends for a notary.

Laura tells JM she doesn’t know how to compete with Ángela, a wonderful mother, a cake baker, submissive. She moves in. But in bed …

Génesis overhears the tail end of Ángela and Gus’ conversation, telling her father later that Gus wants something Ángela won't give him. More S&M misunderstandings.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – VIERNES – Part 2

The papers are notarized in Colombia. A piece of paper with a map is handed over. [Huh? This looks like the cell phone picture of Fabiola’s back. Where’s the grungy looking map that was in the fruitcake tin? My interpretation of what was said is that both parts of the map were required.]

Willy starts up his modeling agency in the same place as Sam’s bodyguard agency. Is that one now out of business? She starts up with a jealous hissy fit. Willy shows her his team, lots of older women, and some of them not very attractive. His publicist comes out, a guy named Gael, who turns out to be one of Sam’s old boyfriends. Predictably we see several scenes of Willy’s jealousy.

Surprising me a lot, Miggy and Fabiola are actually allowed to leave Colombia.

D8D calls EV and tells him that Luis Martínez wants another drug deal. EV tells him that he now has the treasure, and will soon have another.

Miggy and Fabiola are at the police station meeting with Gus and Duval. He tells them his gut is saying something is wrong about what went down there.

Meanwhile, in Colombia, Carillo comes in to get his bribe from a masked El Verdugo. He says he’s planning a long vacation with his family. In typical villain style, EV toys with him, hinting about a very long trip, takes off his mask and shoots him. After administering the coup de grace shot, he says that he hates corrupt politicians!

Miggy and Fabiola have come to stay at Willy and Sam’s, I guess because of bomb damage. This novela must have the world record for characters moving around from house to house! Nora tells Miggy that Fernanda is in Colombia. Miggy starts thinking: El Verdugo, Fernanda, D8D, must be a connection.

EV comes in to talk with the Reptile, who now has a blonde wig with bangs and what looks like a perfect black leather S&M dress. She wants to know if he killed Miggy. He waxes philosophically for quite a while. He tells her she only thinks of killing and does it because she likes it. In his case, it was thrust upon him. He inherited the mask (?) and it gave him power. He goes on and on about how poor he was and how rich she was. He gets tears in his eyes remembering. He tells the Reptile she has no heart. He says that he’s el verdugo (executioner, tyrant) of the bad guys, but for some he’s a saint.

Miggy searches on his I-Pad for news about the treasure being donated, but only finds an announcement of the dead Congressman.

EV asks Ringo if he sent the package. He also tells him he wants a few million dollars spread around the town! He tells the Reptile that people pray for him without ever seeing his face, but for her, no one prays.

Gus tells Ángela he never thought she’d refuse to have his child. He loves her, and he loves her children, but he wants to be a father.

Miggy, Willy, and JM get drunk together and talk about women, including S&M experiences. Sam and FF eavesdrop. The next day Fabiola angrily accuses Miggy of satomatoquismo, not really knowing what that is. Miggy cracks up.

A package arrives at JM’s house for Miggy. Miggy’s box contains a smelly, bloody mess. We see some hair. [I guess the budget didn’t run to creating a fake head of Alex.] There’s a picture of a masked Verdugo and a supposedly dead Javier Falcón. A note says that here is his old friend, using the feminine noun. Miggy swears vengeance.

Nico comes running into Sam’s arms saying that Jessica committed suicide.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Great recap, Novelera, with lots of funny observations. Our heroes don't seem to be able to put two and two together. But the villains never learn. I think EV was asked by Ringo at some point why he didn't just kill Miggy, take FF and the map? In typical villain style, he wants to make his triumph BETTER, with lots of drama, maybe a big speech when he has Miggy at his mercy. This of course will be his undoing.

Also, villains are never happy. EV grew up poor, so he's resentful, and hates the world. The Reptile grew up rich, but "ugly" and ignored, so SHE's mad at the world. Get a life, villains!

JM had another embarrassing moment when Angela came out and said the thing Gus wanted but she didn't was kids. What were YOU thinking it was, JM? (S&M) Hah!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, jueves y viernes

Hombre, you've written some excellent recaps here but I think this double-header is really one of your best. Your descriptions of events are so vivid with just enough detail to make it easy for the rest of us to sort things out -- especially the names!

Deb, until you pointed it out, I hadn't really paid much attention to how OLD the president and his inner circle look and how ineffectual and weak they appear in their baggy suits. Nicely observed and described -- thanks!

It's interesting how carefully the writers are singling out Marino:

He's the one with enough of a conscience to spare the old woman selling gum and cigarettes and peanuts (maní).

He obeys Pedro's order to murder Yesenia -- maybe he knows someone else will do it if he doesn't and that person will be less humane -- and then goes on a suicidal tear on his motorcycle.

Then we see him as a stone-faced witness to Pedro's display of grief after the Mónaco was bombed and the Escobar family was unaccounted for.

Now it turns out that all you have to do is dress him up in a bespoke suit, and he has the sophistication to infiltrate the highest level of the mayoral campaign in Bogotá. Can you picture any of the other thugs pulling that off?

I'm sure his story doesn't end well -- how can it? -- but I am very curious to see how things play out for him in the novela. I'll be disappointed if the writers don't pursue this particular narrative thread after setting up our expectations so deliberately.
 

Corazon Valiente
Novelera, great recap, I enjoyed very much. The whole S&M misunderstanding was sly and funny. I loved JM's imagined scenario of Angela in the fishnet getup!.
Meanwhile, FF told Miggy that, even though she liked the army, she wasn't going back. Amazingly, Miggy sees no problem with this. The character of Rodrigo has certainly mellowed--he is sympathetic and helpful. Wonder where he will end up.
J in Oregon
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Excellent recaps, Hombre! I agree with NovelaMaven, you clarify things a lot for me. I have a hard time sometimes sorting out the baddies!

I just can't get over what Marino did to Yesenia. I get it that he may have convinced himself that someone else would do it more cruelly if he didn't. But I don't see how he could go on being such a loyal henchman. Couldn't he go to another part of Colombia and start over?

I didn't shed a tear when Pedregal got his. That really took brass cojones to expect to STILL be getting paid (by Escobar) when the government had relieved him of duty. They leave a lot of things out, though. I wasn't sure if Chili and the boys killed him because they knew he'd gone over to the Cali gang or whether that had been the plan all along.

Marino does clean up nicely! The other guy, not so much. Buitre's sidewalls haircut screams thug.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Novelera, I wasn't trying to justify Marino. I was also beyond horrified at his killing Yesenia. And yes, I kept hoping he would come up with an escape plan for the two of them. It's just that he has been singled out for us as the killer with something resembling a conscience.

He would, I'm quite sure, be able to define "innocent bystander" for you and explain why killing such a person is not a high-five occasion. Someone like, say, Chili, would just laugh in your face at the question.

I guess all I'm saying is that sadism doesn't come naturally to him. It doesn't make what he did to Yesenia any less horrible -- only more interesting, dramatically and narratively.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

ugh! I still think Guy and Angela should end up together.

please bring Emma/Pablo back.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:
Thank you so much Novelera for the wonderful recap.

Finally watched Friday's episode. Two things left me scratching my head: 1) After all the drama, Verdugo brings Fabi and Miggy all the way to Colombia and into his clutches without doing anything to them?! Not even one good shoot out or attempted kidnapping?!; 2) The Reptile actually cried while Verdugo told her his sob story! I didn't think she was capable of sympathy or empathy, for anyone but herself. Maybe she's crying because she can't now claim to have the biggest sob story.

So I guess the writers are now starting to show the chink in Gus' shining armor, and the reason why Angie and JM will be thrown back together. Gus won't budge about wanting to have his own kids. This is actually a normal real world problem that has broken up real life couples, so I'm not going to think of him as a bad guy because of it.

JM's fantasy about Angie-Gus's S&M encounter is hilarious. I notice that Angie has her long locks in JM's fantasy. Does this mean he doesn't like her shorter do?

I have started to think of Sam and Willy's jealousy fits as their form of foreplay. It means nothing, and it's just a little game they play so that they can then have great make-up sex.

Finally, please give Fabi a brush and put her in some adult clothing. I haven't worn short overalls since high school!
 

Pablo Escobar -

current events
wow!

let me tell you a story about one Griselda Blanco,
also known as "Madrina de la coca (cocaine godmother)"
who brought cocaine to Miami,
as well as murder-by-motorcycle,

she was known to us as Graciela Rojas,
well, she has pretty much disappeared from our story, but the fact they may include her again might make this a spoiler,
(nothing about our Pablo story here)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/09/09/griselda-blanco-cocaine-godmother-meets-a-sudden-grisly-end.html

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/04/griselda-blanco-godmother-of-cocaine-gunned-down-in-colombia/

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

PABLO ESCOBAR:

Deb, thanks for the links to the real life Pablo and associates. I'm not reading them now, but will definitely go back when the show is over.

I agree the writers may be singling out Marino as different from the rest of the thugs.

They also seem to show the higher ups in government as weak, but the next level down (Jaime Olivaras, Aristides, Quintana) as heroes.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR:

Monday night football tonight, so I'll have a double recap Wednesday.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES – Part 1

I HATE those little scenes of the episode we haven't seen yet that they have started showing. They drive me nuts!

Miggy blames himself for Alex and Javier Falcón’s deaths. He thinks he should have known that El Verdugo would know all about their being in Colombia and that he ended up with the treasure.

Nicolás sobs to Willy, Sam, Ángela and Gael that Jessica called him to say goodbye. Sam calls D8D to get him to check on Jessica. At D8D’s, we see that Rod is running in with Jessica in his arms, saying that she cut her veins.

Fabiola is very worried about Miggy’s plans to get revenge on EV.

I didn’t mention in Friday’s episode that Laura had some whip marks on her back. She has a big smile as JM insists that he couldn’t have done it. He’s never hit a woman. He drank too much and can’t remember what happened.

The Reptile tells EV that she needs to go out for a while to do some charity work so that people will pray for her. He laughs and then launches into another one of his philosophical lectures. I’m getting bored with them. The Reptile tells him she’s been in touch with some people and her big charity plan is for cats! EV tells her that cats don’t pray.

Miggy studies the photo of EV and the dead “Javier”. He says he knows who EV is.

Sam, Willy, and Nico run off to the clinic. Rod shows a bit of his good side, saying he should have realized that Jessica was depressed. [The one who should feel guilty is D8D who, for spite, called up Thelma so that Jessica could not stay with Sam and Willy.] He tells D8D he was focused on himself, telling Jess that they both suffered from the same thing: mothers who didn’t love them. His mother only cared about Fernanda, and we know why. [!]

Willy almost runs over a woman jumping out of a taxi as they rush to the clinic. She blames the whole thing on Willy being a bad driver.

Ángela notices the whip marks on Laura’s back and wants to tend to them.

Miggy appears to think that Ringo is El Verdugo. At the cop shop with Gus, they do a computerized drawing, and the computer matches with the mug shot of Ringo. Gus says that, if Ringo was EV, then he was very clever pretending to be one of the underlings.

JM can’t stop picking at the Ángela scab. He asks Laura if Gus wanted kids when he was with her.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES – Part 2

Miggy tells Fabiola that he pretended to help the police in order to get the information about the guy’s name, but he’s going after EV himself. It’s personal.

In Colombia Ringo offers to get Miggy killed, but EV wants him to suffer, to be on his knees. He says he’s going to make him suffer in the worst way by taking what he most loves, Fabiola.

The snotty woman who jumped from the taxi is Thelma Colmenares, Jessica’s mother. D8D introduces Willy. Sam gets right in her face. “Did you come here to watch her die?” When Thelma gives her a weird look, she says she’s Willy’s wife. D8D says, a bit too quickly, that they aren’t married.

Thelma says that her daughter is weak, and Nico goes after her. He says that Jessica is strong, but her mother was the one who caused her problems and, if she dies, it’s Thelma’s fault. Thelma says that she’s feeling generous, and is going to let Nico see Jessica.

Miggy asks JM for a favor.

Ángela and Gus talk about poor Jessica, whose mother doesn’t love her. Gus says there’s nothing worse than an unwanted child. Ángela says that he has the right to be a father. His face lights up, thinking she’s changed her mind. But instead she tells him she’s moving out of his house and away from his life.

Nico talks to an unconscious Jessica. Willy assures him that he and Jessica will be able to watch movies together, and be a couple.

The Reptile calls JM. [Can’t he block her freaking number?] She asks how many times he can save the police girlfriend from her bullets. She says JM needs to be alone because someday she’ll come for him. They’ll be together, alive or dead. She says she sent him a gift.

After hanging up, she tells EV that she took his advice. Nothing makes one suffer like losing what they love most.

Willy says that Jess needs a psychiatrist. D8D pipes up that her mother will arrange this, while said mother giggles to some boyfriend on her cell. When Sam asks how the baby is doing, D8D says she’s welcome to come visit any time she wants. Willy insists she won’t be coming there. But Sam says she’ll make her own decisions.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES – Part 3

Nora arrives and Thelma accuses her of killing her mother. A while later she says she should have visited her in jail to thank her for killing her mother. The mother was a contemptible, sinister person, and better that she die rather than embarrass the family.

Miggy leaves a note for Fabiola. He says he’s gone for the head of EV. He tells her in the note he’s arranged for her safety. We see him at the airport and a flight for Bogotá is called.

Fabiola chews out JM for not telling her Miggy was going.

Miggy checks into a hotel in Bogotá and calls someone.

Willy gives Thelma a piece of his mind for her abandonment of Jessica. It doesn’t affect her at all; in fact, she comes on to Willy.

Génesis and Violeta are waiting on customers at the bakery. A guy comes in asking who Génesis is. He’s come from JM and she needs to come; there’s a rush. When Ángela returns, Violeta tells her that a chauffeur came for Génesis. Angie is worried and calls JM. Just before that JM had one of those corazonados that something was wrong. When Ángela asks about whether he sent someone, he remembers what the Reptile said. Ángela says she only left for a moment. He angrily tells her she didn’t care for Génesis.

The Reptile is all dressed up and says she wants to go out with EV. She spent the day going to hospitals, putting all her energy toward children.

Miggy meets with some guy who says he has someone who can help find Ringo. The guy says no one thought Ringo was El Verdugo.

Thelma tells Willy that she’s not Jessica’s mother. Victor never told her who the mother was, and she did bring her up.

D8D is meeting with “Luis” and tells him he has the deal ready. Thelma marches in and announces that, of course, D8D would welcome her in his house. When they are alone, Thelma asks for the whole truth about Victor. Who is Jessica’s mother?

JM is very cruel to Ángela when she begs his pardon. Sam steps in, reminding him that Ángela treated Génesis like her own child.

Laura and Gus arrive and say that they found a bag with Génesis’s bloody clothes inside. JM collapses, sobbing.

EV grabs the Reptile asking what she did to Génesis. [How the heck did he know?]

We see one of those fake scenes the writers love in Miggy's hotel room. He imagines FF arriving dead in a box like Alex. When someone comes to the door, he hits him or her on the head. It’s FF.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE –

excellent recap novelera !!!

I too dislike the intro previews, what's the point? I see the HOY and I just wait for the intro to start again.

Hmm, with Javier now dead, why doesn't anyone know that he never existed? Hopefully when Miggy meets Ringo, things will click.

I'm not quite sure what to think of Fernanda these days, or the new dress shop she found in Colombia. She seems to be oscillating between being JM's worst nightmare and being Verdugo's submissive plaything. She really doesn't shine in another persons shadow. I question why D8D put her in this situation, surely since she has seen Verdugo's face, one of them must die.

The JM / Angela story is such a disaster, that a comment made by someone earlier about Angela's predicament with Goose wanting kids, (a good chance for twins, is it) where her life is in such a disarray with what Fernanda and Luis have done to her, I actually feel sorry for her. In fact having sympathy for JM as well, in regards to how totally destroyed their lives are, has given me a new viewpoint on their story.

Ah yes Theresa (Leslie Stewart), now this is an interesting character. I still remember her in El Fantasma de Elena, where she was Katie Barberi's friend, and they accidentally hit a little boy, and in their panic they ran over him again, bump, bump, as the tires hopped over him.

Fabiola in a box, that was cute, she is small, they just stuffed her in there with the styrofoam peanuts, ha! But what a nightmare for Miggy. It's good to know with all of the restrictions on shipping these days, you can still ship a dismembered body in a cardboard box.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE-

Thanks for the great recap, Novelera.

So we have two new characters: Gael, Willy's publicity manager and Thelma, Jessica's non-mother. So who could Jessica's real mother be? Presumably, it's someone we know or they wouldn't have bothered with all this. Trouble is, we knew zippo about Victor, Jessica's dad. Could Alex have been the mother? I don't remember her ever hinting any such thing and, of course, she's dead. Very weird.

If Genesis can take orders in a bakery, she could certainly be taught never to go off with someone claiming to be from her father. It's the oldest trick in the book - adults have fallen for it on novelas - but JM is supposed to have all this security because of the threat to his family.


 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE –

oops,,,

when I mentioned Jessica's not-really-her-mom earlier, I called her Theresa,
when this character's name should be Thelma Ríos,
(probably not related to Fabián Ríos)

and yes Jean, the new characters, this is interesting how the tall Gael (Fernando Sanchez), always seems to be innocently standing there with Willy and Sammi, talk about an elephant in the middle of the room, and he doesn't even have to say anything. I'm wondering if he actually has a part.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Thanks so much for another great recap, Novelera.

I'm bored with EV's "philosophical lectures" too. But it's interesting how he is trying to justify himself.

Miggy will be in big trouble again.

Poor Jessica!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Lunes, Part 1

The receptionist tells Marino the candidate will see him now. As he goes upstairs, his 3 buddies pull out guns, and order everyone to the ground. Marino coolly takes Pastrana hostage at gunpoint. When he brings him downstairs, one of the staff members tries to play hero. Buitre almost kills him, but Pastrana says if you're trying to send a message, you don't need a death, and they let the guy off with a gun butt to the head. They drive the candidate off in a green car, then pull behind another, stop, get out, and stuff Pastrana into the trunk, as he says they're making a big mistake.

The news hits. Pablo hears it in his SUV and is overjoyed. Quintana is troubled. The government leaders look befuddled as usual. Pastrana's father, the ex-President, arrives, and the new President guarantees they'll get his son back, safe and sound. Yeah, right. They'll never get out of the city. Double yeah, right.

Outside Pati's apartment, Candongo smells something is wrong. What's that strange car? Sure enough, it's our good samaritan, keeping an eye on the residence. He tells Quintana he's not sure, but he thinks one of the guys who just pulled up to the house was the same guy who met with Quintana the other day in the park (Candongo).

As Pastrana fights for breath in the trunk of an orange car, the radio says be on the lookout for a 1976 green car. There was also a red SUV (and this is correct, it's being driven by El Buitre – the other 3 guys are in the car with Pastrana). But Buitre parks this car, and hands it over to some other guy. Now we know why Marino bought three cars.

We're out in the country, our boys approach a roadblock. Marino points his gun at Pastrana in the trunk with one hand, smooth talks the guards at the same time, and they're waived through. No problem. We arrive at the farmhouse El Buitre has secured, and he's there, too. Marino shows Pastrana to his new room, a small room with a neatly made bunk bed. Pastrana wants to talk to Marino's boss. Marino says all in due time. He hands the candidate a transistor radio, so the candidate can learn what a wonderful job the government is doing in finding him. Not!


 

PABLO ESCOBAR Lunes Part 2

In his makeshift country headquarters, a painting of Jesus behind him, wearing a poncho, drinking a beer, Pablo calmly discusses strategy with Miguel. Both of them think the government will do anything to get Pastrana back, maybe even nullify all extradition. And when they get the Procurador General (the chief national prosecutor, Hoyos, their next victim), even better.

Pati, Enelia, Emilio and the little girl are holed up in the apartment, bored, watching TV. The kids are drawing pictures, there's not much else to do. They miss their Dad, but Pati has to tell him he's away for a while. Pati's wearing big shoulder pads, and leather pants, very 80's. After the kids go to sleep, Enelia breaks down crying, telling Pati, I'm not sure if you're naïve about things, but it's pretty obvious Pablo is behind all these events in Bogotá. And heaven help us, I'm worried what's going to happen. Pati summons some inner strength and comforts her suegra.

Pastrana is mad at Marino, where's the boss? Cool it, says Marino, and change out of your suit into these regular clothes. Tell me the truth, says Pastrana, are you going to kill me? Marino coldly says, if anyone's going to kill you, you'll just have to wait until they get here. He leaves.

It's morning. Marino wakes Pastrana, now wearing sweats. It's time to go. Pastrana demands to know what's going on. What's your name? Marino says my name doesn't matter. He pulls out his pistol, cocks it, tells Pastrana, you've been kidnapped by the Extraditables, by Pablo Escobar. Let's go. Into the helicopter! Pastrana's face falls. I knew it! The helicopter lands, and Pastrana, with a hood covering his head, is led towards Pablo's jungle headquarters. Pablo saunters out to meet him.

Why are you doing this? Pablo calmly tells him why. You represent the ruling class of this country, who have maintained power and want to extradite people to maintain power. Your father was President, and you're in the conservative party, trying to turn back the country, to have all your rich buddies keep control of the country. But my partners and I in the cartel (and let me assure you I'm the most moderate of us, the most serene), will not allow this. What, are you going to kill me? If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already. So I'd like to tell you, Sir, that from now on, whatever happens to you, and whether you live or die, will depend solely upon the response of your dear father. (Uyyyy!)
 

PABLO ESCOBAR
Thanks for the great recaps, Hombre!! I usually watch about 5 - 10 minutes of this after CV is over. Your recaps really fill in the details.

Where have we seen the actor who plays Pastrana? He looks so familiar but I couldn't place him.


 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – martes – Part 1

Miggy realizes that he has knocked FF out. He carries her to the bed and tries to revive her.

We go back and forth between JM going crazy about Génesis’ kidnapping and EV reaming the Reptile out for ordering it without his knowledge or permission.

EV, showing an unexpected bit of humanity, asks the Reptile how she could do that to a child? The Reptile replies that EV gave her the idea – he wants to hurt Miggy by taking away what he loves most and she wants to hurt JM by taking away what he loves most.

JM is devastated. He blames Angie for Génesis’ kidnapping. Laura says that the blood on the clothes will be analyzed.

The Reptile tells EV that her plan was perfect and left no clues. EV tells her that the next time she does something like this, she had better warn him or he’ll kill her.

JM says that if Génesis is dead, he wants to die too.

The Reptile tells EV that she doesn’t ask permission to do things because she doesn’t have a “dueño,” an owner. EV tells her that she is wrong. He is her owner.

FF wakes up. Miggy scolds her for following him to Colombia. Miggy assumes that JM helped her but FF tells him that it was Rodrigo. Miggy is mad about that, too since he doesn’t trust Rodrigo.

D8D says that not only is Thelma not Jessica’s mother, Victor wasn’t her father. Thelma is panting to know who Jessica’s real parents are but D8D says that if he tells her that, he would have to kill her. [I’m going to take a guess here that EV is Jessica’s father. This is based on his sensitivity to hurting children and the fact that he is only person that makes sense.]

EV hits Ringo and asks why he obeyed the Reptile and arranged for Génesis to be kidnapped. Ringo replies that EV told him to do what the Reptile wanted. EV clarifies that that meant bringing her drinks and stuff not kidnapping children. Ringo gets a call that Miggy is in the village asking about him.

FF tells Miggy that she wants to face danger together with him.

Willy tries to get Samantha to relax for the health of her baby. He says that he has heard that new mothers are so absorbed in their babies that they ignore their husbands. Sam replies, “not if you are their husband.”

Nora gives Nic a little PSA about teen suicide. Jessica wakes up and is disappointed that her suicide attempt failed.

 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – martes – Part 2

The police get some kind of lead on Génesis’ kidnapping and the whole gang including Duval, Gus, Angie, JM and Laura go to check it out. They find Génesis unconscious but ok in a warehouse or something. Angie finds a note from the Reptile that says, “Quise ser su madre, podria ser tu asesino,” “I wanted to be her mother, I could be her killer.”

FF tells Miggy that she wants to get a tattoo of his name. Miggy is horrified and says no.

EV and Ringo are going to the US. EV orders his henchmen to take Miggy and tells them not to screw up. They don’t know that FF is with him.

Jessica tells Nic that his love for her is not enough to make her want to live. She needs the love of a mother.

The Reptile has a new ‘do. She tells EV that she wants to help capture Miggy. She puts on a mask and tries to seduce EV.

Gus suggests to JM that Génesis needs a bodyguard. Génesis says that the only bodyguard she will accept is Angie.

EV calls Miggy and tries [unsucessfuly, in my opinion] to disguise his voice. Miggy tells him that he knows that Ringo is El Verdugo.

The Reptile and the gang of EV’s henchmen sneak up on the hotel where Miggy and FF are. Warned by the telephone call, Miggy and FF have escaped. There’s a lot of running around in the bushes and then Miggy hijacks a hay truck.

JM does not want Angie to be near Génesis, much less be her bodyguard.

Willy sees Sam talking in her sleep about Clara’s baby. He wakes her up and begs her to forget this baby that has nothing to do with them.

Rodrigo finally tells D8D that he helped FF go to Colombia. D8D is furious. He says that he won’t tell EV about it since Rodrigo might get killed for that. He reiterates to Rodrigo that he can’t fall in love – all their loyalty has to be to EV.

EV is angry with the Reptile for failing to capture Miggy. The Reptile blames him for calling and and inadvertently warning Miggy.

Thelma tells Sam and Willy that she appreciates their concern for her daughter and that Jessica can live with them. Then she says that since Jessica needs her mother, Thelma is going to live at Sam and Willy’s, too. Sam and Willy are less than happy about that idea but Nic forces them to accept it.

 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – martes – Part 3

Laura says that she will be Génesis’ bodyguard. Génesis doesn’t look too happy about that. Later, Laura tells Angie that Angie gets close to men by taking care of their children while Laura does it with great sex.

Miggy and FF need to get out of Colombia. Miggy nixes the idea of using Rodrigo’s plane that FF came on. They are in the house of the owner of the hay wagon. He has a little shrine to EV with a picture of him in his ridiculous mask. Miggy and FF dress up like campesinos and take the hay truck to drive to Bogotá. The truck breaks down and Miggy and FF get on a truck taking farm workers someplace.

Luis tells D8D that his clients don’t want to deal with a middleman. They want to deal with D8D personally. D8D agrees.

Willy sits down in the hospital and dozes off. Thelma takes advantage of the opportunity and goes up and kisses him. Of course, at that moment, Sam comes in.

A car carrying an unmasked Reptile and some bad guys overtakes the truck that Miggy and FF are in and orders it to stop.

 

PABLO ESCOBAR Martes

Marino calls Ex-Presidente Pastrana, the father of kidnapped candidate Pastrana and tells him, we’ve got your son.

Marino and Candongo observe Procurador General Carlos Hoyos with only one guard, in Medellin for his weekly visit. Marino calls Pablo, who says you’re in charge, do the kidnapping however you want.

Candongo goes and picks up Pati and the kids from the temporary apartment at 4 in the morning. They’re then reunited with Pablo, at a new highrise, which Pablo says will be their permanent home. They have 3 floors. Pati says I don’t care how luxurious it is, I just want to be with you. Pablo gets turned on by this, and I think they have sex.

Pastrana tells El Buitre he wants to talk to Pablo. The elections are in a few days. He can work with them, but he needs to be back in Bogotá. This falls on deaf ears.

Marino knows that Hoyos’s car will come back on the Medellin to Bogotá road in the morning, so he and the guys pull off the road at night to wait.

2/25/88, morning. Hoyos wakes up, says goodbye to his Medellin mistress, hits the road, with a driver, one guard, and him in the back seat. On the open road, Marino and crew zoom their SUV behind him, crashing into it. Both cars stop, and shooting begins. Piufo is killed, as are the guard and the driver of Hoyos. He, himself is slightly wounded in the leg, as Marino and the rest take him prisoner, and also retrieve Piufo’s body. A taxi driver watching from the overpass above is also quickly killed by Marino’s expert aim.

The news gets out right away, Hoyos kidnapped. Quintana arrives at the scene, retrieves Hoyos’ bloody shoe, vows to check every house in the vicinity. As Pablo gets out of bed, rising early, Pati turns on the radio, hears the news, and signs. Can I ask where you’re going? she pleads to Pablo. No.

Pastrana also hears it on his radio, and asks if Hoyos will be brought here. El Buitre says you’ll be together in the jungle. The jungle? I need to get back to Bogotá! The guys arrive with Hoyos, I’m not sure if it’s the same place, but he’s put in a little room.

Riding along the road, Quintana’s eye catches something strange, and he and the soldiers pull into one of the outposts (I think it’s where the temporary headquarters were, not where the hostages are). The only one home is Chili. Chili plays the role of the dumb farmer, and Quintana eventually leaves. Once again, they’ve dodged the bullet (too bad Quintana wasn’t shown the mug shot of Chili from a few years ago). Chili calls Pablo, we’d better be careful, they’re really getting close.

Tonight, there may be another confrontation!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR:

I meant to say Pati "sighs", not Pati "signs". Sigh...
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks Novelera and Jean for your terrific recaps. I really don't have any comment today, as things just keep going round and round and round. I did like Miggy and FF's campesino outfits. And yes, how could anyone not recognize EV's voice, which is very distinctive?
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Jean, the guy playing the ex-president's son, Pastrana, played Juan Primito in Doña Bárbara and also the psycho rapist in Los Herederos del Monte.

Hombre, you're excelling with these recaps.

Again, I just can't get over Marino being such a Class A employee of the man who ordered the death of the woman he loved.

The novela is getting to the point of the book by Gabriel García Márquez called News of a Kidnapping, non-fiction, about women who were kidnapped by the Extraditables. The remote locations where they kept kidnap victims is exactly like that book described. I got pressed for time and have only read about 1/4 of that book, but I keep coming back to it when I can. You would expect good writing from García Márquez, and he delivers.

I was SO wanting them to find something and bust Chili!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE-

Ah, of course. The guy who played Juan Primito. Thanks.
 

Many thanks once again to Novelera, Jean & Hombre for all of this week's summaries. Overall, I am watching but not commenting; just want you to know that I appreciate all of your efforts. CV appears to have no end in sight, the Interminable Novela.
I feel the pain of Angela, a tragic figure.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Thanks so much Jean.

I too liked "Miggy and FF's campesino outfits".

Isn't Jessica la hija de Fernanda?
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

I too am reading the recaps and they are most appreciated.

Interesting, but didn't FF just have a severe injury, yet no scars on her body, no hole in her stomach, or did I miss that. I like to keep track of those that have been shot or knifed to see if the writers/producers remember and give them scars.

I had heard they were bringing someone in to yet again "interrupt" Sam and Willie, but you've got to be kidding if anyone is going to take this new actress seriously as a seductress, maybe comic relief, but not seductress.

Again thank you for the superb recaps. I've said it once and I'll say it again, it's this site and the recappers that keep TN's like this going.

In the latest Tv y Novelas they state that Telemundo absolutely loves Gabriel and they can't figure out why he is so popular because he doesn't look like a typical "galan". I think the Telemundo personnel who think this should definitely go outside and smell the coffee, and that is the polite term I will use.

"Aunque no tiene la imagen del típico galán, Porras es todo un encanto con su personalidad." - page 20 of tvynovelas
 

Nellie

I think it's because of his recent villain roles. Or simply a lie by TVyNovelas which is owned by Televisa (the rival!). Anyway the ranking by the viewers in Telemundo website:
1-Porras 2-Rios 3-Pila 4-Moreno 5-Cimarro (5 papacitos, los morenos mas sexy :)
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Nellie and NovelaObserver, I also cannot figure out what TVyNovelas means.

I thought Gabriel Porras was VERY attractive from the very first novela I ever saw him in: Madre Luna, in which he was the protagonist.

Maybe it's their weakness for guys who look like William Levy or Gabriel Soto.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – MIERCOLES – Part 1

In Colombia the Reptile approaches the truck full of campesinos and introduces herself as Doña Victoria. While Miggy and Fabiola try to hide their faces, the Reptile throws a big wad of money at the poor folks, asking them to pray for her.

Sam doesn’t blow up about Thelma kissing Willy, but she’s not thrilled about her coming to live with them.

Ángela responds to Laura’s taunting about getting men with sex, saying that she doesn’t want JM back so she can save her breath.

Camilo/Luis says that the drug deal will take place on a boat, and thus be secure. D8D says he’s OK with that. He’s waaay to cooperative. I smell a rat. D8D is still suspicious of Camilo being around Clara, but still allows him to take her to the hospital to see her dad.

The capataz of the workers that were on the truck tells Miggy that Doña Victoria is very good, and they say she’s the woman of El Verdugo.

In the usual brisk fashion, EV and Ringo have arrived in LA. He approves of the house D8D rented for them. When he goes to meet with D8D, he finds out that Fabiola is in Colombia.

Miggy and FF set off for the airport on foot.

Camilo is pretty smitten with Clara. He asks her why she ignores him during the car ride. She says she’s afraid of him. He gets close. On some level she’s aware that D8D could hurt him.

Génesis tells Ángela she’s furious about Laura being her bodyguard. She doesn’t like her at all.

Willy tells Thelma he suspects that D8D sent her to come between he and Sam. He tells her the kiss can never happen again and that he’s only interested in Sammy.

There’s kind of a false alarm when Miggy and FF are at the airport and some sinister guys look them over. But the next thing we know they’re back in LA and staying with Gus and Ángela. What? I thought Ángela was leaving Gus. Anyway, Ángela tells Miggy and FF about Génesis having been kidnapped by the Reptile. Miggy says they can’t get to her; when EV falls, so will the Reptile.

Luis excitedly arrives telling them he saw EV. He’s at a club called Venus. They show him there, mask in place, while everyone at the strip club acts like this is no biggie.

Sam has gone to see her baby. D8D is beyond disgusting in this whole scene. He gets too close to her. He says he always knew something would bring them together, but he didn’t know it would be a baby. Sam isn’t happy being around him, and looks like she smells something bad, but the attraction of the baby is too strong.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – MIERCOLES – Part 2

Laura puts some moves on JM, saying that, if they take it slowly, she’s sure she’ll turn him into a perfect dominant partner. Just then Génesis starts screaming. When they rush in, the kid is obviously plotting. She says she can’t sleep alone, and wants her papí.

I’m pretty confused about what happened next. Gus, Miggy, and some other cops go after EV. They’ve supposedly followed him from the night club to the apartment. Earlier EV chews out Ringo about his behavior at the club. So the guys burst in, and the apartment is empty. I don’t know how he knew they were coming. He actually left them a note.

D8D meets with EV. EV tells him that they think Ringo is El Verdugo. EV gets very menacing and tells D8D he’s NOT happy Fabiola went to Colombia and D8D didn’t tell him about it. D8D wiggles out of it, but EV says his priority is Fabiola.

While Sam and Willy are talking about Thelma, she appears in the flesh and tells them that Jessica is neither her daughter nor Victor’s. And she tells them that the one who knows the kid’s parentage is D8D.

D8D is worried about his conversation with EV and tells him so. I do love to see him under someone’s thumb. EV says not to worry. They’ve worked together a long time, plus he was a good friend of EV’s father. D8D doesn’t understand the thing about Fabiola. EV says it’s an obsession, and it will be over when she’s his. D8D says he knows from obsessions. He promises to get Fabiola for him.

Gus doesn’t want Miggy to go along for the drug deal, but he insists. To prevent Fabiola’s coming along, Miggy handcuffs her to Ángela.

D8D orders Rodrigo to get Fabiola for him. Just then Willy arrives. He wants to know what’s up. D8D HAD to have Jessica there with him and now neither of the people she thought were biological parents are. He asks if D8D is the father.

We now are at a marina where a bunch of boats are docked. D8D is there with a big bodyguard and Dante arrives. Something is up, and we can tell by the big smirk on D8D’s face. Dante says he has no choice to do what he says.

Clara brings the baby to see Sam, obviously growing fond of Sam. She mentions something about Sam having been there the night before, and Willy overhears.

The cops realize that D8D isn’t going to be present at the drug deal and duck down in their boat.

JM, Ángela and Fabiola are in the Arroyo kitchen. The phone rings and Génesis answers. She tells Fabiola it’s her ex-principe azul. Rod tells her over the phone that he urgently needs to see her.

D8D tells EV that, if the drug deal is a trap, they’ll be in the clear. Then he tells EV that he was sworn to secrecy by EV’s father, but the man is dead now. D8D says he has a right to know. He has a daughter, and her name is Jessica. Jean, you win the brass ring once again! I wouldn’t have guessed EV.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE-

Great recap, Novelera, of a repetitive episode. Just how many more times are we going to have Miggy and FF running around dodging bad guys? A lot, I bet.

For my recap of tonight's episode, I'm tempted to just note any new plot developments - that would make the recap pretty short.

Yes, it seems that I did guess right about EV being Jessica's father. Nothing else made much sense - not that this does either. Poor Jessica - her father goes from being a minor drug guy to a major drug kingpin who is certain to end up just as dead as Victor.
 

La Patrona -

(future telemundo novela)

It's 1928. Esteban Rigores, an opponent of the brutal regime of Gen. Juan Vicente Gómez, lies wounded on a beach after taking part in a failed coup d'état. Fearing death is near, Esteban begs Basilio, his faithful and mute servant to search for Adriana, his daughter, and hand her the documents that will make her the heir to his large fortune.....

cast, (as per telemundo press release yesterday)
Aracely Arámbula as Adriana Ordóñez "La Patrona"
Jorge Luis Pila as Alejandro
Christian Bach as Alejandro's mother

adaptation by Valentina Parraga
La reina del sur
Mi corazón insiste
Doña Bárbara

location,
miami/mexico city

wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Patrona
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatronaTV
twitter: https://twitter.com/lapatronatv
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE –

great recap novelera !!!
thanks so much!

ah yes, Jessica being Verdugo's daughter, shades of "Mi Corazon Insiste". (the writers must have a whole staff researching the novela archives looking for new gimmicks), but now who is the mother?

and why doesn't Fabiola ever have her own gun?

ah Rodrigo, the young fall so innocently into D8D's web, never seeing the spider.

I'm kind of intrigued with CluelessClara/Camilo, talk about two people living on the edge of D8D's evil world, who could die at any moment, and a possible romance, a forbidden romance, and the way these two mild mannered characters, the simple goodness they have inside, the way it just flows together like it was meant to be,
interesting!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Miércoles, Part 1

Pablo is back at his jungle headquarters. Gonzo remarks if he had arrived 10 minutes earlier, he’d have been caught. Pablo smiles, feeling a bit lucky. Marino calls, we’ve got the two pidgeons, and their cages are pretty close to each other. Should I move them together? No, says Pablo. Gonzo agrees, it isn’t wise to have 2 eggs in one basket.

El Presidente has a new idea. He tells Ulloa our methods aren’t working. We have to start thinking like these guys. We need a security department which will analyze their behavior, so we can get one step ahead of them.

By having two prisoners and only a limited amount of guards, Buitre is alone guarding Andrés Pastrana. The cops luck out and check this farmhouse. Buitre pulls his gun, hustles Pastrana outside, yelling I’ll kill him! It’s evident Buitre can’t escape, so when the police major in charge offers himself as a hostage, in place of Pastrana, El Buitre agrees. With tensions high, he pushes Pastrana away and leads the handcuffed Major into the forest. The other solders let him go, exultant at rescuing Pastrana. They call Quintana, also with a contingent combing the woods, and the news is music to his ears.

Out in the woods, Buitre cuffs the Major to a tree, and is just about to kill him, when the Major pleads, he has a wife, young kids, and Buitre doesn’t pull the trigger, just runs off. Later, the Major is rescued, but El Buitre isn’t caught, and manages to get to where they’re holding the other hostage, Carlos Mauro Hoyos, whom I’m going to call Mauro.

We see actual news footage of the hideout which was discovered.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR Part 2

Ex-President Pastrana is relieved his son is safe, and General Ulloa takes this opportunity to introduce the new Security Expert, General Muriel Perasa.

Pastrana, having been released after 8 days of captivity, holds a press conference with his wife and kids, saying that the Extraditables are inhumane, we have to stop them. He calls on them to free Procurador Mauro. We see Mauro’s wife, nervously watching the news. We also see actual footage of this press conference from 1988, and video of the major who allowed himself to be substituted as a hostage.

Pablo is furious about this mistake. He tells his buddies we can’t have two humiliations in one day. That should never happen to an important, radical and transcendent group such as ours.

Pablo tells Marino, you were in charge of both operations, it’s up to you to wrap up the one which remains. Marino is riding on his moto when he’s stopped by the cops. Once again, they don’t have a clue he’s a killer on the loose, and let him go, warning him to watch out for anything suspicious! He arrives at the place where they’re holding Mauro, just after Cain has somewhat “cured” Mauro’s leg wound. The guys huddle outside, as Mauro tries to see and hear through the window. Marino says something about “polishing him off”. Uh oh. They hustle Mauro out of there, with him pleading to “Jason” (I think that’s Marino’s real name, which Mauro heard at one point) to be reasonable.

Pablo is still in a blue funk. Pedro calls, he’s opposed to this kidnapping. He didn’t even like the bombs, just went along with it not to cause waves. You got any better ideas?”asks Mariachi. Sure, we could use our political connections, to make sure extradition is determinatively declared illegal. We should do this legally. We see the reaction of Gonzalo, Mariachi and Pablo. NO WAY.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks for the recap, Novelera. Good observations about the numerous plot holes, and especially the speed at which EV goes back and forth from Colombia to LA. He got mad at D8D for not telling him FF was in Colombia. D8D should have said, "Chill, man, she'll be back in LA by the next commercial break!".

I can't think of anyone for Jessica's Mom, so maybe we'll have another new character.

I think Ringo's days are numbered. Since Miggy thinks Ringo is Verdugo, Ringo could be killed, the good guys could rejoice, then EV show up again (sort of like how the Reptile keeps coming back).
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE - jueves - Part 1

D8D tells EV there was a child from a romance that he had 14 years ago with a woman named Maria.

FF leaves a note for Miggy saying that she is going to meet Rodrigo. She trusts him.

D8D tells EV that he promised EV’s father not to tell him about the child but now D8D thinks he should know [and we need a new plot line]. EV wants to know where his daughter is.

Willy confronts Sam about lying to him about going to see Clara’s baby.

In the ridiculous boat drug deal, Dante decides that Camilo hasn’t betrayed him and doesn’t shoot him. I guess the deal goes down. I thought Camilo told D8D that his clients wanted to deal personally with D8D but Camilo was alone in the boat.

Clara tells Nora that she gives a lot of affection to the baby but the baby seems to need something more.

Rodrigo is at a cafe with FF. He tells her that he has gotten involved with drugs and mafia guys and he hates it but can’t escape. Weeping, he tells her that he has to hand her over to Verdugo or he will be killed. FF doesn’t understand why EV is interested in her since he has the treasure. Some bad guys led by Ringo show up and snatch FF just as Miggy calls her. EV and D8D are notified of the success of the FF snatch.

On her own in Colombia and obviously bored,the Reptile rummages through EV’s stuff looking for info on FF. She finds a letter from someone named Maria.

Laura tells Gus that she is having trouble being Génesis’ bodyguard because she doesn’t like children.

Clara lets it slip to Sam and Willy that D8D is not the father of the baby.

JM is just as nasty as he can be to Angie. He tells her that he does not want her to take JC home with her. Legal action is threatened.

Camilo tells Gus that he wants to continue with the plan to get D8D.

FF is brought to EV who has his mask on. He tells her that she will die of love for him. Then he tells her that he knew her when she was a child and that he didn’t kill her father . His father did that.

Willy tells D8D that Clara told him that the baby isn’t his. D8D denies it.

 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE - jueves - Part 2

Miggy is running around looking for FF. He confronts Rodrigo who says that D8D ordered him to betray FF and then defeats 3 bad guys all in front of Clara. Then he bursts in on D8D and attacks him so savagely that he was sent to the hospital. Miggy is taken to the police station where Gus and Duval decide that it’s not a crime to beat up a bad guy like D8D. Miggy wants the police to help him find FF.

Nic overhears that Thelma isn’t Jessica’s mother.

Willy overhears Sam tell Gael that they had some kind of relationship in the past.

Willy and Nora decide not to tell Jessica that Thelma isn’t her biological mother. This ensures that Jessica will find this out in the worst possible way.

I guess D8D’s injuries were “nada grave” because we see him ask Clara why she told Sam and Willy that he wasn’t the baby’s father. Clara wants to know what is going on with Miggy and all the thugs. D8D tells her that Miggy is a narco and he, D8D, is working with the police. Then he says that he wants to have sex with Clara.

When Thelma gets herself alone with Willy, she takes off her shirt and of course, Sam walks in.

EV arranges a “Cinderella” night for FF on a yacht. She is brought to him in an evening gown, made up but in handcuffs. EV goes on about how much he loves FF and then he takes off his mask!!


 

Thanks, Jean

Another great recap! Now, the big question, is Marie dead or alive?
I guess it would be nice to learn that Marie is a wonderful person
who loved her daughter very much but was somehow or other prevented from raising her. Jessica needs reassurance that she was or is loved by her mother.

JM seems very confused but is nevertheless increasingly hateful
to Angela. Fabiola finally had her hair brushed or combed! looks better without makeup. The novela marches on!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE-

We should consider the possibility that Clara is Maria. Did she ever see Javier when he was in LA? I don't think so. It seemed like D8D hadn't met her when he took charge of the baby. That would make sense on several levels. It would give Clara a child to soften the blow when she has to give up Sam & Willy's baby. It would also be one of those amazing novela coincidences that Clara/Maria marries D8D, the confederate of EV.

I agree that FF looks better without makeup.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Jueves, Part 1

We find out what happened with Marino’s order to “finish” the matter of Carlos Mauro Hoyos, the Procurador General. He and El Buitre take him out to the mountains and kill him. Marino gets tons of congratulations and a big money bonus from Pablo. But we find out later through flashback that he actually couldn’t pull the trigger, and El Buitre had to do it for him. Marino does, however call a talk show, and on the air, says we’ve just executed the Procurador General. We simply want extradition stopped, but the government won’t listen. The war continues. We see Mauro’s wife, destroyed by the news.

The government guys are upset. They find the body where Marino told them it would be.

Pablo gives a rousing speech to his troops of a job well done. He uses the word “verraco” about ten times. This word means fantastic, or brave. Chili seems almost turned on sexually by the killing. Gonzo says, whoa, boy, we’re not doing this for fun, or even for money. Right, says Pablo, we must do every killing in a perfect, cold, calculated manner, to advance our cause only. We’re doing it for our organization, to protect your rights! It’s almost like a union rally, and the sicarios give a big cheer.

We see a montage of Mauro’s life and death, including actual footage. White handkerchiefs are waved in tribute as the funeral procession crosses government square. Luis Galan is marching with the others.

Cut to Pati, in her new digs. She’s wearing a wide belt over a sort of peasant blouse, capri pants, and heels. Pablo shows up, surprising her. He tells her she and the kids may have to move to Panama. Pati’s not happy about switching the kids’ schools, but Pablo points out that any school around here could have problems.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 2

Senator Luis Galan, looking strong, criticizes the President (looking weak). All the President can say is we’re losing the war against these guys. Galan decides to re-enter the political fray, maybe he’ll run for President, things have got to change.

Aristides, looking fairly strong in a wheelchair, leaves the hospital. He’s greeted by General Ulloa (looking weak). Aristides wants to do SOMETHING, even from behind a desk. Ulloa seems to have almost given up.

Political operatives Santolini and that other guy from way back meet with Pablo at Napoles. They laugh, isn’t it funny the government doesn’t even think to look for you here! Yeah, says Pablo, but it won’t last. In the meantime, I want one little favor from you guys. I need you to pass a new law, that definitively bans extradition of Colombian citizens.

Chili and Topo atop a bridge, see the car of Security Chief Perasa approaching. Smiling gleefully, they press a button to detonate a bomb, but we don’t see what happens.

In Cali, Regina, the TV reporter and ex amante of Pablo, visits Gildardo!

Perasa gives a press conference (so he wasn’t hit by the bomb). Niki asks, what are you doing to protect journalists? Perasa says there’s nothing to worry about. Niki doesn’t believe this for one minute. Nor do we.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Thanks, Jean, great job on the recap!

The actor playing Rodrigo did an excellent job playing a sniveling coward.

Ridiculous boat drug deal is right! Plus, how can the LA police continue to fork over money to buy drugs and not get any arrests? If there are any LAPD cops watching this, they must be rolling around on their couches laughing.

I guess we have to assume that JM and Ángela will end up together. A big plus sign for that is how unappealing they've made Laura. But it is going to be hard to believe after all the crap JM has pulled. Also, have Gus and Angie ever had sex? We know that telenovela protocol says the female lead never has sex with anyone except the male lead, after they finally meet. The male lead, he gets a pass on fidelity most of the time.

As far as Gael is concerned, I don't think it was Sam who brought up their prior relationship last night.

It was first mentioned when Willy hired him as his publicist and Gael and Sam hugged fondly. But last night Gael brought it up, noticing all the jealousy in the Sam/Willy relationship and hinting he'd be willing to re-kindle.

I'd be very surprised if Clara were Jessica's mother. But, Jean, you seem to have a spidey sense about what's going to happen. I just have the impression she's meant to be very young, early 20's. She's been so innocent. And wouldn't Lorena, as a fertility doctor, have picked a young woman. If she'd been EV's girlfriend 15 years ago, she'd have to be at least 30, more likely 35 now.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Great recap, Jean! I think Clara is too young to be Jessica's Mom, but other than that, it would work. Actually we don't know her age.

I agree that JM is not making anyone (except for Laura) root for him.

I think Camilo should have pulled a gun on Dante in the water, and threatened to kill him if D8D didn't show up in person. Isn't that the kind of thing the real Luis would do? Since they then did a drug deal, why not arrest Dante? They never arrest anyone, and although we hope it'll work out in the end, this police work seems a bit shoddy.

I enjoyed Miggy's fight with those big guys, especially the one who was like Oddjob at first, punches just bounced off of him. But Miggy's the man, and finally won. He told Clara, see what kind of people D8D is surrounded by? I wonder if D8D and Clara did have sex.

I like FF without makeup AND with makeup!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR -- jueves

Hombre:

I'm sorry I haven't been very faithful in commenting but I wanted you to know that I have been reading all of your fabulous recaps. You seem to be getting better at this every day -- is that even possible? :)

I especially like the small, telling details that you tease us with like Pati's wardrobe choices, for example.

Some general comments about the show:

The switching back and forth from the mundane details of the life of the Escobar family to the brutal world of murder and megalomania that is the Medellín cartel is very effective and disturbing. (The domestic worries of the familia Gaviria Escobar remind me of Count Vronsky's toothache in Anna Karenina.)

I know a lot of people are disappointed that this show is aired in a 30" time slot but honestly that's as much as I can take in one sitting.

About Marino:

He read from Pablo's script (and seemed almost eerily to be channeling Pablo's intonation) in his statement over the radio. But he ad libbed a little by saying something like: The war will go on. Pablo and Gonzalo definitely notice. For the moment, they choose to say nothing.

El Buitre and the other sicarios have seen Marino flinch more than once. They can't be happy that Pablo is singling him out for so much praise. I wonder if Marino will be done in by "sibling rivalry" ultimately.

About the government and Napoles -- in fact, they have raided it several times but Pablo et al are always tipped off ahead of time.

About the government's failure thus far -- the bad guys have been successful in infiltrating all levels of legitimate authority. No matter what plan the army or police have devised, there has always someone within their own ranks to betray them and sabotage the operation. I don't really know how they overcame this problem but historically, they must have done so; because eventually Colombia DID emerge from this tragic period of its history.