Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Refugio Para el Amor #144 Tue 10/30/12 "Now Faith Is The Substance Of Things Hoped For, The Evidence Of Things Not Seen." Hebrews 11:1



Readers, you know by now I need a template or structure to manage writing about all the disparate characters and scenes in these episodes. And I've chosen faith tonight, because it has been a vital part of this story from the very beginning. Tonight as we look at our drama, we find out who has faith, who has not, and who is making those first tentative steps on the royal road. Hang on! Because it's a wild ride as usual.

ROSELENA: No Spiritual Faith. Only Fear. And the need for control that only Fear engenders.

A fear which drives her to commit the most unthinkable of crimes, allowing a newborn baby, blood of her blood, son of her son, to be thrown away in the trash on a cold rainy night.

Fear, rather than Faith, leads her to control the lives of her children with an iron hand.
She's decided that Jana will marry Boris, and now she's meeting with Padre Honesto to decide their wedding dates. Padre Honesto weakly protests that our “hijos son prestados” (our children are loaned to us) but Roselena is quite certain that she owns them. My children don't have the maturity to make their own decisions, she asserts. So it's my job to decide what they should do....until the Lord calls me home. Call me controlling if you must, but I'm a caring mother. Not like some mothers who lose their babies in the middle of the night in a storm! Oh dear, forgive me padre, I shouldn't have said. It was my grandchild, after all, she simpers.

Later, Roselena is equally controlling during a confrontation with Gala and don't-call-me-abuela-Julie. Gala is complaining that Rodrigo hasn't slept with her since the conception of Alexis, and if he doesn't start paying attention to her soon, she's going to unfaithful. She's not cut out for chastity after all! She's particularly incensed that Pato and Rodrigo are in San Francisco el Alto right now...with the domestica...

Roselena: If I find out you're cheating, I'll move cielo, mar y tierra for him to divorce you.
Gala: If you want to lose Alexis, do it! In this country patria potestad (custody) is given to mothers, not fathers.
Julie: Chicas!...we're playing on the same team, aren't we?
Roselena: Alabado sea el Señor ( Praise be to God), you [Gala] can liberate yourself from a life of lust and dedicate yourself to your child! She only knows her nanny and Brigida. She's a desconocida (unknown person) for you.

After this verbal tussle with Gala, Roselena is now ready to take on the hapless Jana. When Boris comes calling, Rose nags Jana....
Rose: Hurry up Jana. It's bad manners to keep your prometido (fiancé) waiting.
Jana: He's not my prometido, he's only my novio (boyfriend). Now that I've got my degree, I want to develop my career in the corporativo. Why do I have to marry right away?
Rose: You can marry and still have your career. He's the ideal match, he's of our class, his family has lots of money, he's got a bright future, and I'm not la tonta that you believe. Once that taquero finds out you're back from Europe, he'll try and get in touch with you. And who knows what temptation you could fall into.
Jana: Mom, don't start.
Rose: I haven't forgotten what I promised five years ago. If he approaches you, something VERY BAD will happen to him.

In short, Roselena has no faith in her supposedly beloved children to choose their life course or their spouse. Only she has the right and the alleged wisdom to decree what they will do and with whom. She is ready to steal, cheat and even kill, if necessary to ensure that her will be done on earth. At the very most, God is simply a Cosmic Vending Machine. She puts in her pesos and collects her desired product.
Roselena is one of the most blasphemous characters I'v ever seen in a telenovela. Truly blood-chilling.


GALA: How best to characterize Gala's faith? Dios? Qual dios? She doesn't misuse or corrupt her alleged faith like Roselena does. She simply doesn't have any.
In the beginning there was Gala, and the stars and planets all revolved around her as they should. And when they didn't, there was hell to pay.
In her later conversation with Julie, she carps about what a pill Rose is. “How can you be Roselena's friend? She's sangrona (annoying), pesada (a drag) and a hypocrite.
Julie: Yes, but she's a society lady. And she's crazy enough that maybe eventually we can get our hands on some of her money.
Gala: Well, I want to meet someone. You're an expert in ligar (hooking up). Help me out.
Julie: And have Rod find out! No way. And what about poor me? I'm making no headway with Linares. Why should all his fortune go to his beloved Luciana?

Lovely mother-daughter duo, no? Perhaps we're wrong to say they have no faith. But their faith is in money, power, sex and status. God simply doesn't factor in.

LUCIANA: Our poster child for faith. Which is not to say her faith hasn't wavered. It has. As it does for all people if we're honest. But time and time again, she has come back to prayer and the hope that the good Lord and the Virgencita will look after her child, and God willing he will be with loving people who will raise him with affection, care and kindness. And if God is Love, then she is a special agent for God, generous with lovingkindness to her parents, to Ariche, to the abandoned children in Mexico City orphanages, and to her friends and extended family.

She and Pato, a man of faith himself, continue to work with the people of the north, especially women of “basos recursos” (low-income, disadvantaged) to develop skills which will help support their families. For that reason, Claudio is happy to know that Luciana has signed an exclusive contract with a big hotel chain. That will raise the price of the pottery and increase income for these needy women.

Ariche's Graduation in Het Het
Luciana has also always had faith in education , encouraging Ariche to continue on ,now that he is graduated from primary school with such good grades. Claudio promises to help him with his further studies, meaning that he will pay the tuition for secondary school (which normally Ariche wouldn't be able to afford). We see the back of Ariche's mom's head as she congratulates her son on his graduation and later invites them to her home, but most of the scene involves Luciana, Pato and Rodrigo (who originally said he couldn't come to Ariche's graduation because of his daughter).

Being back in San Francisco el Alto has triggered all of Rodrigo's romantic memories of his courtship and marriage with Luciana.

Rodrigo: I have such happy memories here. You and I together, passionately in love.....
Luciana: Pero bueno, the reality now is otherwise. We must accept it.
Rodrigo: I don't know how much longer I “can accept it”. I can't live without you. I'll move out of the apartment. And file for divorce.
Luciana: What about the effect on your daughter? If I had my son with me, I wouldn't do anything to jeproadize that.
Rodrigo: I'll do anything to get back to you!
Pato sees what's going on and interrupts. Luciana, they want you back at the fiesta. After she leaves, he turns to Rodrigo.... “You both look sad....”
Rodrigo, Our son...our future...el panorama no est muy prometidor...
Pato: You can change scenarios. If you want, you can do it. (now there's faith!)
Rodrigo: I can't stand it anymore. I'm going to negotiate with Gala...give her money. Divorce her.
Pato: And immediately go looking for Luciana....
Rodrigo: Yes. And my son.

Pato's faith is quiet but well-grounded. We've seen the faith, and effort, he's put into his painful rehabilitation. Today he can move both arms, hug his sister when she returns from Italy, and power his own wheelchair with the strength of his shoulders. He doesn't bluster about grandiose promises, as does Rodrigo, but simply makes his plans to achieve and sticks with them. A man of faith indeed. But a man who has to sit by and watch his brother, in spite of his many mistakes, still claim the heart of his beloved Luciana.

Later, Luciana and Rodrigo are walking along the rustic, cobbled streets of San Francisco el Alto, ostensibly to pick up the campechanes for the graduation group now back at Paz's home.
Luciana: You're going back today?
Rodrigo: Yes, I suppose you're staying because you have so much to do. But I don't want to be away from Alexis overnight. She'd never forgive me.
Luciana: She adores you.
Rodrigo: She and you are the only women whom I would never want to fail.
Luciana: Alexis should be the most important thing in your life.
Rodrigo: But how I love these streets! They were witnesses to our gran amor—which will live in me 'till my last day, my last breath.
Luciana: Yes, I too have beautiful memories. But it was a love that didn't have a happy ending.
Rodrigo: But the last chapter in our story hasn't been written! We still have another chapter to write together. (And it appears he leans in for a kiss. But do those lips actually connect? We'll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out. But have faith!)

CLAUDIO LINARES:
Another man of faith. He held on to his faith through 20 years of prison, and now 5 years of looking fruitlessly, both for Pedro Campos and his lost grandson. He also has faith in the corporativo's responsibility to protect the environment as they develop new real estate and business sites. He has faith in the power of education to better one's life, and in addition to paying for schooling, he gives Ariche a dictionary for his graduation present, stressing that learning to write correctly will take one far. But does he have the faith to believe in love again and give Melissa a chance? Dunno. Not sure if I care either.

DON CHELO Y DOÑA CHUY: I'd call them people of faith for sure. Chelo had the faith to give up alcohol and use his meager funds, not for booze but to provide for Mateo. But now that the young boy wants to go to school and learn and learn and learn! and make new friends, Chelo's in a bind. How will we manage without a birth certificate and papers? he wonders. I'll just have to teach Mateo reading and math myself.
But we don't want Mateo to grow up without any formal studies, counters doña Chuy. God and the Virgen de Guadalupe will help us somehow.
A simple faith, but a firm one.

PADRE HONESTO: Well, our padre, like most of the clergy in these stories, certainly has faith in the importance of true love for a valid marriage. We get some idea of his views as he counsels Jana about her impending wedding.
P.H. : Your mom shared the wedding date with me.
Jana: I'm not even sure I want to get married. He's a good guy. I'm known him since childhood. Our parents are friends....
P.H.: That doesn't mean that you love him. Marriage is not a game, Jana. I think of it as “el sacramento de la alegria”. You support each other, you defend the union. It's a chance to unite yourself with someone who is not in your original family but who makes you happier than anyone else in the world.. To share everything...joys but also sadness. To share even conflicts together so that every day your love gets stronger.
Jana: That's what I want.
P.H.: But there's not enough love here?
Jana: Or none!
P.H.: If you're not in love with him , don't marry him! I know I'm going against your mother's wishes but look at Rod. He married Gala only because a baby was on the way. And he's miserable.
Jana: I'm only getting married because I've been pressured into it. And I just don't know if I have the heart to back out.
P.H. But do you have the heart to spend the rest of your life with Boris? Think about it Jana.


Padre Honesto has enough faith in the importance of true love that he really tries to dissuade Jana from this railroaded Roselena marriage. Now does Jana have enough faith to defy her mother and choose the man of her dreams?

LORENZO: Not a man of means, nor of great education, but surely a man of faith. Faith that he could grow his business. Which he has in the last five years. From a couple of bicycles, the enterprise has expanded to a large kitchen with many woman dishing up the taco fillings, a snazzy camioneta that Lorenzo drives around to check on his various locations (all doing a brisk business) and faith in his continuing love for Jana, even though his friend Fabian, and his neighbor Estellita, repeatedly warn him that he's aiming too high. When they try to get him interested in dating someone...anyone else, he replies simply “My heart only beats for Jana.”

Will his faith be rewarded? I'm betting that it will be.

OSCAR: Also a man of faith. We haven't seen any evidence of religiosity, but then those are two different things. He's demonstrated faith in the importance of the firm's commitment to protect the environment (whereas Max is all about maximum profit), he has a little faith in Aldo, suggesting he might be made a supervisor of their new commercial center. But Max nixes that, saying that he has Aldo in charge of other concerns. (Which happens to be following Vicky for 5 years to see if she's taken up with anyone new. She hasn't. Although she's meeting with an old friend of her father's now, the mysterious Pedro. Aldo's other job is reassuring Max that he and Vicky never had intimate relations. Only nights out at the movies or Inferno.)

Well, back to Oscar.....
It appears he has faith in his lasting love of Connie. He's seriously considering marriage. His request for some personal advice from Max goes like this:
Oscar: Okay, I've been living with Connie for five years. I'm thinking of asking her to marry me. I'd like her to have that security.
Max: Why mess things up by getting married? Things change when you do. Did she ask you to?
Oscar: No, she's like a free bird...But why so negative? You talk as though you had a miserable marriage.
Max: I know we appear to be a perfect union to outsiders, but within the bedroom, she [Roselena] is the coldest, most arrogant woman imaginable. But at this point it makes no sense to divorce. There are our children to consider, after all.

If Oscar still has faith, Maximino is clearly cynical, disillusioned and defeated. Not surprising. But not admirable either.

BORIS: Here's a guy who has faith in pressure, especially the pressure exerted by his future mother-in-law. But he also has faith in his family connections, in the lure of the new apartment that he wants Jana to see and to decorate, faith in the whopping big engagement ring he proffers at one point, and faith in the power of social status and a long acquaintance to catapult Jana into his controlling arms. What he doesn't have is faith in Jana. She keeps putting him off. He keeps sulking. Nothing has changed in five years. He stalks her at work like he stalked her in Italy. And for now, she's letting it happen.

VIOLETA: She had the faith to start her own business and after five years, it appears to be flourishing. Her business pal Serena thinks Violeta should have taken the day off to go to Ariche's graduation in San Francisco el Alto, and also thinks Vi should open up her heart to love, since Serena and Fabio are so delightfully enraptured with each other.(There was a very funny scene where Lorenzo interrupted Fabio and Serena's slap and tickle session to announce his burning desire to see Jana.)
Violeta: Si el amor es para mi.....it will happen....
Well, we've got a lot of stories to wrap up in the next two months, but I'm sure they can fix up Vi with somebody. Maybe the next big romance will be some fine fella who comes to have his car washed.

MAGDA AND PAZ: Our gals are still joined at the hip, but their outlook is somewhat different. Paz is actually feeling a bit sorry for that old rounder don Aquiles whose outsize appetite for rich food and drink has resulted in a painful bout of gout. The camera lingers way too long on his inflamed toe as Procopio lectures him and doses him with some gawdawful mixture of garlic, vinegar and alcohol. Don Aquiles blusters and complains and opines that said mixture might be better as a laxative. Paz thinks she might be able to help him with the recipe of her great-grandmother. Magda wouldn't lift a finger to help though. In fact she'd tromp on his other foot to make sure they both were hurting.

Nevertheless, their shared faith in the women of San Francisco el Alto and in Ariche have brought benefits and success to both. And both are still hoping and praying that one day Luciana's lost son will be returned to her.

So where do we stand on faith in our episode tonight?

Luciana, Pato, Claudio, Paz, Magda, Oscar,Violeta, Padre Honesto, don Chelo, doña Chuy and Lorenzo all have it.

Jana and Max are still question marks, but I have high hopes for Jana.

Gala and Julie have none. Only avarice, envy and hate.

Spiritually, Boris has none to speak of.

Roselena has a sick faith....faith in power, control, social standing and, if need be, vengeance unto death. And a really demented faith that Christ can be implored and persuaded to help her in these dreadful deeds.

So now, how about you? Do you have faith in a happy ending for our main couples?...Rodrigo and Luci, Jana and Lorenzo, Connie and Oscar? How about Melissa and Claudio.? And what's to become of Mateo/Rodrigo?

Random scenes: The writers always love contrast scenes. So we see three different dinners. The festive but homey celebration of Ariche's graduation. The very humble dinner of beans that Mateo shares with doña Chuy and don Chelo. And the somewhat lonely dinner of Alexis, feeding veggies to her huge stuffed bear, who allegedly doesn't like them any better than she does. Brigida and the nanny stand watching, and we actually get to see some more humanity and tenderness from the former. I never thought I'd say this, but Brigida is actually pretty when she smiles. But will she eventually have enough faith to do the right thing, and reveal the secret of the hospital wristband? Who knows?

Avances:

Gala is eyeballing a new potential conquest and bed partner.
Connie gives Roselena some needed, but probably unheeded, advice.
Rodrigo and Luciana do indeed kiss!!!!!



Vocabulario:
embedded

Dichos of the Day:

1.La fe mueve montañas. = Faith moves mountains.

2.A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando. = (lit. Praying to God and hitting with the hammer) (fig. Doing everything necessary to ensure success.) [Lorenzo and Violeta have done so with their business enterprises; Luciana is trying to do so by working with the poor and disenfranchised children of Mexico City. Pato has done so with his unrelenting effort to regain movement. Anybody else? You decide.

3.“Ahora bien, la fe es la garantia de lo que se espera, la certeza de lo que no se ve.” Hebreos 11:14
Our title as it reads in the Spanish version of the Bible.


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Comments:
Judy I haven't finished this recap (just opening paragraph) but must say, in addition to your wonderful recaps, you should really blog or write things to reach a larger audience. I know you were formerly a writer previously but your themes are so well structured; I know those outside of our awesome community would appreciate your work.

Ok more later.
 

Ay Judy! Another knock it out of the park recap. Your theme of faith is so appropriate and beautifully executed.

More from me later too.
 

Judy-thank you so much for this very wonderful recap, and I agree with Karen, you should blog to a larger audience, your writing is so wonderful.

I think Jana will kick Bore-us to the curb sooner, rather than later. Her loca mama has some gall, and Bore-us with his pushing. I like the advice the Padre gave her bout look at your brother Rod and see how he suffers. I don't see a happy ending for Jana and Bore-us. And la loca threatening Lorenzo. I think la loca has finally met her match.

Gagme and the Champagne Queen will never change. What did Gagme expect la loca to do to get Rod to sleep with Gagme? So inappropriate and TMI for la loca that is. With the both of them filled with such avarice, they will reap what they have sown. I hope the Super-sized Pie Cart hits them especially hard.

Loved the meals with Don Chelo, Dona Chuy, Mateo, and the whole Het Het clan. We finally got to see the back of Ariche's Mom and the side profile of Ariche's grandpa. I loved the gathering so sweet and I love how they take people into their families and treat them as if they were born into the family. I love that. Ariche is quite the young man, and I think will go far.

Loved Rod coming to Het Het anyway, even though it made Pato sad, and spending some time with Luci, Gagme be damned. I loved Rod and Luci's walk about town, the memories and the love that cannot be quenched. Rod is so right, their last chapter has not been written. They still have that spark, that love, that longing, sigh. I can't help it, hopeless romantic that I am. I think they will have a fab ending, but many obstacles before they get there.

I think Oscar and Conny will be married by the end. They do love each other so much, and Oscar is also such a romantic, sigh.

Max and Rosa so deserve each other. Both unhappy and occupied trying to ruin others. The anvils for them are awaiting.

Love how Frigid is with Alexia, but for goodness sake, come up with that bebe bracelet already! It's long past time.

And lastly, loved this theme of faith, Judy. Our good characters have it in droves. Love that. While the bad guys THINK they have won, little by little there will be some payback, divine retribution coming for them!
 

Judy, thank you for the faith themed recap. I do believe you pegged every correctly.

"God is simply a Cosmic Vending Machine" I love this!

I still don't think Rod has suffered enough. He has along way to go to earn redemption. Just because he is good father like his own papa, doesn't mean a thing.

Padre's goodness is getting in the way of his good sense and counsel for that whack job RE. Another male with blinders.

Jana really needs to examine her conscience - does she want to end up as a clone of her mother and I am sure she would be abused by Bore-us. He is really creepy.

Oscar buy that ring and get Connie to the altar asap. You both deserve it and there is no reason to wait any longer. Aldo and Melissa will be delighted.

I was glad to hear that Julie is not making any headway with Claudio. From the men we have seen her with, they have all been much younger than Claudio so I assume they do not have an appropriate bank account to keep her interest longer than overnight.

Thank again for sharing your immense talent.

Rosemary Primera

 

Good stuff, JudyB.

Roselena is looking more and more like a prison matron in her grey uniform. I want to see her get hit by lightning.

12-year-old Ariche is still a charming kid. They cast this role very well; the resemblance is excellent.

Pato needs a novia; when are the writers going to give him one?

I can't really comment on the theme of faith; I am neither religious nor particularly spiritual. All I can say is that when Roselena gets hers it has to look like divine retribution (however we want to define that).
 

Loved the scene with Don C and LRod/Mateo. There is so much love there and the little boy so wants to go to school. Don C is caught between a rock and a hard place but when asked what they were going to do he got a look on his face that made me think he is remembering Luci and the card she gave him. She told him if he ever needed anything for his son he could call on her. i can't help thinking he will get in touch with her to try and get Mateo into school. With only four weeks to go she has to cross paths with the darling little guy soon or the ending will be too forced.

I'm somewhat disappointed in what looks like Jana's passiveness. She has seen first hand with her parents and with Rod what a loveless marriage looks like and yet she seems willing to, albeit reluctantly to take the same bad path. i though better of her. I also wonder why she hasn't tried to sneak out to see Lor. It's not like she is a teenager any more. I guess Rosa and her threats have really beaten her down. Sad

So poor Vi is still alone and not trusting in love. Guess Polo never got through to her and Marcial dropped off the face of the earth.

Looks to me like Vicki still has feelings for Max. Very curious to see how that will shake out.

So full of herself Julie is still thinking of making a run at Claudio. She and Gala continue to have an inflated idea of their charms and they are now five years older.

No Refugio on Monday and who knows what on Tuesdy. They are really pushing us.
 

Yeah, it is 3 hours of Abismo de Pasion and then an hour of Amor Bravio on Monday of next week. We have been lucky though. We haven't been pre-empted too much during the run of this Tn. I don't have schedule for Tuesday of next week yet, but that being election day, I doubt there will be any TN showing that night.
 

So wonderfully written Judy. I wouldn't have thought of looking at our characters this way, but it fits beautifully in examining their motives and actions.

I wish Janna would just tell Boris no, though I think her fear is founded in what her mother would lash out and do. Hopefully she doesn't take that rock he offers and keeps stalling. Was happy to see the padre for once use his common sense, not put up with his mega-donor RE, in how to talk to Janna. The man has seen enough pain in that family caused by RE's attitude that he should be advising the children to think for themselves.

I know we are supposed to be happy with the Rod/Luce movement, but I still think he's not quite there yet either. His wanting to push for a divorce just to be with Luce had me put off. He knows what he would leave Alexis to with that "mother". I agree with Luce, he needs to think of his child and not just what he wants. Children do change the dynamic of what comes first in life.

Spent a lot of time watching Pato last night versus the events. Great acting at all times. His reactions to Rod's arrival, conversations, it was heartbreaking. I think he held out hope that maybe there was a chance for him with Luce, especially as they've grown closer through the years, but it seemed the day's events just confirmed for him that won't happen. There is such a tragic vibe with this character...I hate it.

By the way, why the blazes is GTM dressing more like the child in the family than her daughter? We knew she was immature and a spoiled brat, now she looks like a 16 year old one.

No Ofelia, no GT girlfriends, no Lastra (though I could do without him)...wonder if we'll see any of these folks eventually.


 

This soared like an eagle, strong and purposeful, yet shimmmered with a soft, gossamer light of truth and hope. Sometimes words are not adequate - this touched my heart and soul Judy. A masterpiece.

As Karen and others have noted, you have a gift and you share it with us. How blessed we are...

The vocabulary (list and embedded) was exceptional. The dichos were perfect. The most moving and true line for me was "No Spiritual Faith. Only Fear. And the need for control that only Fear engenders". I know faith and mercy go hand in hand but I fear I cannot muster up any mercy for Rosa. Sanctimonius and vile, I feel nothing but loathing. "In the beginning there was Gala, and the stars and planets all revolved around her as they should. And when they didn't, there was hell to pay" was also spot on.

I'm surprised Brigida did not tell Rod about his son. He was always her favorite. Even though I'm softening somewhat, she knows the truth and didn't reveal it. She is complicit as well now.

Diana
 

Good morning everybody. Thanks for all your kind and supportive comments, your interesting insights into the characters and your speculation concerning their futures. Sometimes it's hard to see where the writers are going with these stories. And sometimes their idea of a "happy ending" doesn't match ours.

I'm sure we all want Luciana to be reunited with her son, but many of us are conflicted about whether she should end up with Rodrigo.

KAREN...that was a lovely compliment. Actually I am happy just to be able to write for our "awesome community" as you say. It's been a long time since my reporter days, and having this late-in-life gift of sharing thoughts with other CarayCarayers has been an unexpected bonus. And I love it!

VIVI...I chose the theme of faith because it is so inextricably interwoven with the romance, passion and skullduggery of these novelas. And the other day I came across a quote "The story of your life is the story of your relationship with God." And that started me thinking about the story of Roselena's life and the effect of her distorted and corrupted concept of God as a Cosmic Vending Machine and how it's influenced how she lives each day.
 

MADS...Like you, I loved the various scenes of family celebrations and meals. In the Torreslanda mansion and Rod's dark, soulless apartment, the meals are lavish but lonely. With our humbler folks, even a meal of beans has warmth and satisfies the heart as well as the stomach. And as you noted, the bad guys THINK they are winning, but faith, working slowly in the background, through the beliefs and hopes of our good guys, will eventually triumph in these stories.

ROSEMARY PRIMERA...I'm with you on Oscar and Connie's marriage. In fact, I'm wondering what's taken him so long. He's talked about making it permanent almost from the beginning. And it's been five friggin' years! Oh well...yes, in the midst of all this grief, let's have a lovely boda, RIGHT NOW! to carry us through.

URBAN ANTHROPOLOGIST....You say that you are not particularly spiritual, and yet I see your spirituality come out in your response to music, which is itself transcendent in its power to uplift and take us outside of ourselves...to a "higher place" if you will.

I also see it in how you craft your recaps and react to the hurt and cruelty you see the "bad guys" inflict. In all the ways that we care for and connect with other people, there is spirituality. At least by my definition.
 

DECIE GIRL...I too was touched by the warmth that don Chelo shows with the 5-year-old Mateo. It makes the long separation of child and mother a little less excruciating to contemplate. And I'm hoping also that the school problem will lead him to dig out Luciana's card and connect with her, as you speculated. Keep your fingers crossed. And thanks for the heads up about the schedule change. Dang! I'd like to see this telenovela 7 days a week and get everything resolved "cuanto antes".

DAISYNJAY...You're so right about the pathos of Patricio's situation. Paz noted his sadness at the table in her home, and tried to brighten him up by noting the wonderful work that he and Luciana had accomplished with the women of el norte. But you could see his heart breaking with every yearning glance between Rodrigo and Luci. As you observed, this young actor DOES so beautifully express deep emotion without saying a word.

DIANA...I loved your sentence "I know faith and mercy go hand in hand but I cannot muster up any mercy for Roselena." That's the way we're all feeling right now!

But I think the character of Roselena is an exaggerated version of the deep selfishness that all of us have, and hopefully try to overcome. We've never committed her crimes (I hope!) but we haven't always had the best interests of others at heart, we "haven't always loved our neighbor as ourselves". And I at least, have often wished I could "control" people, especially when I saw my children making grievous, painful choices. She, for me, is simply a ghastly mirror of what happens when we put up barriers of fear, rather than connecting with love.

As for what will happen to the character in the final stages of this story, I have no idea. Redemption but horrific punishment? Or dreadful punishment but no recognition of her wrongs? I honestly don't know what I want to happen to this character, but I know there are a lot of strong opinions on this line!
 

Roselena is too far gone for any redemption. In fact, every succeeding episode takes her further away. Her threat against Lorenzo is yet another step on the road to her special place in hell.

It seems that another Televisa tradition has been broken here: She never boasted of her recent crimes to Padre Honesto. He doesn't know that she had anything to do with the disappearance of Luci's son. When this fact comes to light my prediction is that Luci will forgive her (because that is her overly saintly nature) but her children won't. Rod will have her arrested, she will rat out her accomplices, and all of them will end up in prison. Where nobody will visit her and where the other prisoners will delight in tormenting her for her snobbery and hypocrisy.

Did anyone else see the film The Magdalene Sisters? She reminds me of the Mother Superior in some ways. She was perfectly charming in public to outsiders but a tyrant and a sadist behind closed doors.
 

Don't know the film The Magdalene Sisters, UA. Is this a classic film or a recent one? Well, I guess I should google it and check it out. Your description of the Mother Superior certainly fits our Roselena!
 

Oh my UA...... I do know the film. Read the reviews but never saw it. Most disturbing was the one actual inmate's assertion that the real Magdalena Asylum was much worse than depicted in the movie.

I understand people's revulsion for organized religion when they read about abuses like that.
 

That scripture is beautiful in Spanish, too.
Love your themed recaps; so beautiful, so hopeful. Especially now after the storm, like a soothing balm.

Loved how you point out Rosa's hypocrisy, “Not like some mothers who lose their babies in the middle of the night in a storm! Oh dear, forgive me padre, I shouldn't have said. It was my grandchild, after all, she simpers.” I suppose she has liberated herself from a life of lust and devoted herself to ruining her children’s and husband’s lives.
When Rosa told Jana about the consequences of even seeing Lor she actually said something bad would happen, but didn’t say “to him” but the meaning was there, I think. I think she’ll lie about him and get him thrown in jail for a long time if he tries to see Jana.
She is filling her cup of TN judgement.
I will scream if Jana marries Boris out of fear of her mother.
THERE WILL BE NO FAITH FOR THIS FAMILY UNTIL THEY GROW A SPINE.

Gala is going to be unfaithful to Rodrigo. Oh, big threat. Go ahead, make our day, PLEASE. What is Gala thinking, flirting with that guy, she could surely do better. Go for it, Gala; get out of their lives!

I am only reading this now at home because my job is closed, but I am thankful for the protection from this storm I was given. This is a huge disaster, I think the economic fallout from this will be worse than anyone thinks. Sorry for inserting this here.
Thanks Judy for the relief of your recap filled with hope and faith; you are a gem.

 

Judy, my late mother was raised Catholic and had never heard of that scandal. She nearly flipped when I told her about it. It's that kind of hypocrisy that turned her -- and all her surviving siblings -- away from the church.

It's available on Amazon Instant Video for $3 if you're a Prime member. Also noteworthy is the documentary on the DVD Sex in a Cold Climate.

Jana needs to grow a spine. Here's hoping we don't have another time jump and she gives Boris his walking papers long before the expensive wedding Max will be expected to pay for.

Don't you all just love how Roselena described him as "sin caracter"? Who the hell would wish that for a son-in-law?
 

EMARIE...thanks for pointing out the ambiguity of Roselena's statement..I looked at the object of the sentence "le", in the closed captions, and figured it referred to Lorenzo. I knew it couldn't be Jana, because then it would have been "te". But you're right...the exact object of "bad thing" wasn't clear. Threats are even worse, I guess, when they are deliberately vague.

Sorry your job is closed, but happy that you have power. So many people don't and there are so many suffering from this mega-storm, and the loss not just of power but of their homes and livelihood.

For me, it's perfectly alright to insert real life daily issues here. No need to apologize.

And I thought of these stories when I read in the paper today about Elisabeth Smart, speaking at Penn State at a conference on preventing child abuse. There is someone whose faith has transformed her from a victim into a hero-- whose trauma and abuse has led her into an active caring ministry to others. Proof that the super saintly actions of Luciana actually do happen in real life as well.
 

Hola UA...thanks for giving me some more background on the movie and on the very understandable disillusionment of your family with organized religion. It's a puzzle because religion seems to either bring out the very best in people or the very worst.

I'm not sure what Roselena meant by "sin caracter". Does she mean easy-going? Or easily manipulated? Or simply affable?

I know sometimes "caracter" as in "que caracter!" refers to having a temper and being defiant. We know Roselena certainly wouldn't want that! Guess she figures Boris is already under her thumb and with him as Jana's husband, she'll have them both firmly under control. The perfect solution!
 

I think Rosa's estimation of Boris "sin character" is what Urban said before-Rosa's object relations; people around her are objects to be present and accounted for; to also be used but they have no existence apart from her-so sick.

 

Yeah, I think what Rosa meant about Bore-us is that he's simpering and easily led. Exactly what Rosa wants in a son-in-law. I best she wishes that Gala was a bit more "sin caracter".

Yes, please Gala. Go ahead and have an affair, get caught, and give Rod his divorce.

I have to agree that Rod still seems a bit "sin caracter" himself, and just not up to Luci's level. But, the heart wants what it wants. I think Luci would put her son as #1 on her list of wants, and Rod would be #2, if not further down the list.

Daisynjay- Thanks for pointing out the unsaid things that were going on with Pato, Paz, Luci and Rod during those scenes. It was very well played by all the actors. Rod's glances at Luci always look a bit leery to me. He hasn't perfected the look of longing and love that Pato/Brandon has.
 

Emaire, don't feel bad about noting what has occurred with Sandy. I've been talking to some of my co-workers in east coast offices, some still no power at home, damage to homes, flooding. And those people who lost their homes in Queens...gives us all pause to be grateful.

speaking of RE's ending--I think at this point, as she continues to try and rationalize and manipulate, if events start to implode and her children especially rebel against her, I think she will lose the fragile thread to any sense of normalcy she has. She did not start "mad", but I think it's evident she is heading in that direction. She so strongly believes that what she is doing is right, that if events play out differently or people don't listen, she won't be able to handle it. I think her anvil seems to point to suicide or madness. For some reason, I don't see her being killed for her "crimes".
 

Lovely recap, Judy, and a great job of threading the faith aspect among the characters.

Re Roselena, I can't stand the character and expect she'll end up in a manicomio as a heavy user of thorazine. Last scene of her will probably have her crouching on the padded room's floor in a straitjacket crying and drooling. But I continue to admire the way Laure Flores has handled the role with the continued but slow descent into utter madness.

Who knows? Maybe Boris will end up as boy toy in residence for Gala and Julie. That would be an equitable outcome for Los Tres Parasitos.

BTW, the sun is shining in Yorktown today. We're feeling very grateful to have been spared by Sandy. As bad as the flooding is of New York and surrounding areas, Emilia and I are holding with the folks in the Appalachians who got the snow. Judy, did you get hit w/ snow in Columbus? DaisynJay, how was it in northeast Ohio?
 

Whew, what an episode, what a recap, what soaring comments. There is nothing I can add to make it any better. Again, whew--my best reaction. Great work, everyone deserves a huzzah. With the passing of this storm and the return of sunshine, we see hope as well as faith in the face of adversity. That leaves charity. However, there is little charity in our hearts for Roselena--a more deserving twisted character I've ever had the pleasure of not knowing in real life.

One thing I can't wrap my head around, though. The three brujas committed an unpardonable sin. How can they even be associating with each other, let alone engaging in intimate conversations.

Gala, we know, has no respect for RE. Juli just sees money everywhere and her pipeline to money is Gala, not RE. But, why are any of them still talking to each other? Except for family dinners, birthdays, weddings and funerals, there would be no other need for them to associate. Even little Alexia is an unnecessary appendage to bind the three women. So, WHY on earth are they sitting there discussing Gala's pending infidelity with Roselena of all people. Gala and Juli know her by now, especially her views on sex in and out of marriage. It just seems so perverse.

 

Anita

I think the three brujas are tied together now because of what they did to the baby. They have no choice but to cling together lest one of them break and let the horror be known. From the very beginning Rosa was not impressed with the divorced Gala and her social climbing mother. She only went along with them when she realized she could use them to split up Rod and Luci. Then they did a little snooping and figured out her actions in the original baby gifting, binding them closer together. Now they are stuck with each other, all of them hating each other but they have no choice. In a way it is a fitting punishment at least for the time being.

Bad News Everyone Just checked my Uni schedule and no TN's on Tuesday. That means we have four days to discuss Friday's episode. Let's hope we have plenty to chew on.
 

WOW!!! The Caray, Caray! people have just about said it all, what more can I add? I don't know but I must try.

JudyB---I LOVED your recap based on the faith theme--that equalled a bases loaded homerun.
Julie & Gala Perhaps we're wrong to say they have no faith. But their faith is in money, power, sex and status. God simply doesn't factor in.
Roselena has a sick faith---Faith in power, control, social standing and, if need be, vengeance unto death. And a really demented faith that Christ can be implored and persuaded to help her in these dreadful deeds. Great observations.

Is La Loca going to hire a hit man to take out Lorenzo? We must have faith.

I REALLY loved the festive but homey celebration of Ariche's graduation last night. There is so much love with Luci,s family and extended family. When I watch scenes like that, it makes me want to go visit Het Het.

I had to laugh, I thought that Gagme was getting ready to try out for cheerleader last night in that white skirt--what?

Decie Girl---We are both on the same wavelength---I thought of luci's card last night also. That's the answer. It must be, it's so obvious. Luci will help young Mateo/Rodrigo get into school and in the process will see the gold medallion. Missing boy found.
I also agree with you about Jana. I can't believe how much power La Loca has over her children--[well not Pato.] Jana, vaminos.
the gringo
 

Had meetings at midday. How wonderful to come back and find all these interesting comments.

DECIE GIRL...I'm sorry we're going to miss two days, but with our great crew of commenters, I'm sure we'll manage to stretch out the Friday discussion for a bit more. If not, we can just wander off-topic (as long as it's not actor gossip or spoilers of course)

MIKE...Both Daisynjay and I had snow. I drove to work at 7:30 Tuesday morning through utter darkness and blizzard-like blowing snow. But by 8:30 it had turned to rain. I think Daisynjay was harder hit up in the Cleveland area. However, I love snow so I found it rather exciting.

EMARIE and VIVI...thanks for the further clarification of "sin carácter". And I agree,Viv, Rodrigo is a bit "sin carácter" himself. Too much of his rebellion gets worked out on the punching bag, or abject apologies. And not enough on constructive action.

ANITA...good point. Regardless of the group need to stick together(CYA), why would Gala even think of telegraphing her infidelity plans to Roselena? Just another writing device, I imagine. And speaking of imagining...I often like to speculate on just what the conversation is like at these writers' tables (as I picture them) hashing out the next day's script. Some of it does seem a little seat-of-pants. And have we had much in the way of egregious product placement? Other than the ubiquitous orange juice, I can't think of anything. Over at Abismo, they're still awash in tostachos.

Hi there GRINGO on the West Coast. I do indeed have faith that Roselena would take out Lorenzo if she needed to. Don't know if she'd trust a hit man though. She's cold-blooded and shrewd enough to do it all on her own, I think. Scarrrrrry lady.

To a certain extent, I can easily believe in Roselena's power over her children. In many cultures, even today, children are expected to follow the career path their parents deem appropriate, and also to marry someone whom the parents chose and whose family they approve of. It's shocking to Americans but it's common and acceptable in a number of other cultures.
 

I thought that Jana was just too exhausted to fight with her mother until RE threatened Lor last night. It seems that Jana is just protecting him (better than Rod protected Luci i have to say). But she needs to gather the entire family together and THEN dump Bore-us (love it)and reveal her mother's threats. She needs support behind her, esp. from Pato and Max (if he can stop thinking about his long time ex, Vicki). Then she needs to move out.

Kelly
 

Oh yes...the look on Fabio's face when Lorenzo bursted in was priceless. "DUDE..REALLY????" LOL

So Gagme is going out on the prowl...*YAWN*. She thinks she has Rod wrapped around her finger and that if he strays off the beaten path, all she has to do is threaten to leave with Alexia. I'm sure she's probably done it a thousand times and that's the only reason he tolerates her around is because of Alexia.

Good move Pato going & separating Luci & Rod at Ariche's celebration party. Notice Mama Paz was kinda staring at them.

I've already checked ahead on my DISH DVR guide and no Telenovelas on Univision Tuesday nite due to the Election coverage.
 

JudyB - Loved the faith theme. Missed most of the episode so especially appreciate the detail.

Add me to the list of those feeling Rod is just not ready and likely will never be. Leave his daughter alone with heartless Gala? I was hoping those glasses were a signal that he had grown from his suffering, but nope. Rod is one man who really really needs a good woman to achieve his potential. Luci may be younger, less educated, less privileged, but she is the leader of that couple.

I’m ready for Pato to try to move on. It’s been five years and he knows Luci will never look at him as she does Rod. He needs to give himself the good advice he gives others.

 

Yes, Fabian and Serena provided the comedy last night. They were really enjoying themselves until the clueless Lorenzo walked in moaning about his love for Hannah. Fab had to sort of cover up Serena as she made sure her girls were still tucked into her shirt. LOL! He also called her his little berry when he was speaking to Lor about her. Berries- Dark, plump and sweet. It fits Serena.
 

JudyB,
Your character-based faith theme was PERFECT not only for where we are in this TN, but thought-provoking in real life post-storm.
This is completely illogical, but somehow I find RE and Gala's words about Luciana's baby loss even more chilling than the deed itself.
I didn't get why Gala had to announce to RE she was looking for a lover, now I see she's still thinking RE controls Rod.
My favorite scene last night .... Claudio's speech about his dictionary gift to Ariche!
Claudio's face lit up, and as a language learner I take his enthusiasm to heart.
Also Padre Hon's speech to Jana about marriage. Sad to see her pinched face.
Gracias JudyB!
Clara

 

Perhaps Gala now dresses like a teenager because she thinks it will entice Rod somehow?
 

Vivi, I agree about Soto. I don't mind him as an actor, I actually think he's improving from earlier work I had seen him in. But he falls flat to me when it comes to those longing looks. Forgive me for saying, but it always seems to me to look like a little boy desiring an ice cream cone that someone is holding away from him. Wants it, desires it, but there doesn't seem to be heart or heartache in it. I would say the he's a bit flat when he's supposed to be in "anguish" too. just the extra something I feel like I want to shake out of him. I was hoping for a Rulli awakening like we got in Teresa when he blew us all out of the water, but I have more hope for Brandon wowing us down the road.

 

Been thinking about Luci finding her little guy vi the medal, case closed. Somehow i don't think it should or should go that way. Little Mateo has a man who calls papa and loves. He has no idea things aren't what they seem. Think of the trauma of strangers coming and taking hi away from the only life he has ever known. In an odd way it is a repeat of what happened to Luci but she was an adult and had had time to come to know Claudio.

I think Luci will help the little guy with his school, build some kind of relationship with him and then discover the medal. As much as we'd all love the idea of Luci finding LRod and sweeping her into her arms it would not be good for the little guy.
 

Oh dear DECIE GIRL...that may be the way it goes. I was hoping it could be like an open adoption...little Mateo spending time with both his original "found" family...but also with Luciana and Rodrigo. But we'll see....

CLARA....Like you, I was sickened by Gala's fake words about Luciana's loss. Just wanted to hurl when she said "she would pray for her, of course". She's learned Roselena's religious hypocrisy very well.

NIECIE IN MD. I wish Pato could move on too. But generally these good guys have one true love that lasts forever, last day last breath sort of thing. If that's the case, he's destined to burn the torch forever.

ANON2:32...Yeah, wasn't that smoochus interruptus funny? A nice touch of real life when one has both a roommate and a romance going. Plus we needed a few laughs last night.

KELLY...Not sure how Jana will rise up to thwart Roselena and her marriage machine, but garnering some family support is definitely a good idea. She's already got Padre Honesto on her side...but he seems as helpless against Roselena as Matilde is. Mobilize, mobilize!
 

VIVI...What WAS up with that outfit on Gala last night. Hope this isn't the new fashion trend for women. I still remember those awful shorts and tights that they had our favorite actress in CME wearing last year.

DAISYNJAY...Love the ice cream cone analogy. Soto's not quite ready for an academy award yet. But I still love those shoulders.
 

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