Caray, Caray!

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – VIERNES – Part 1

On the phone with Jesús Matamoros, Samantha repeats: “mi Salvador?” He tells her to watch out for D8D. Willy asks who she’s calling her savior. For someone who’s done with Samantha, he’s pretty interested in who’s calling her and asks suspiciously how the guy knew her phone number. And he says: “He knew that my father poisoned you?” [I think they missed a step here. Other than what Jesús just said, I don’t remember their knowing it was D8D who poisoned her.]

D8D tells Camilo that now that Matamoros is gone, his army of guys are obeying him. Camilo tells him to go ahead and kill him because he won’t do anything that would result in Clara going back to him.

Fabiola tries to go after La Niña Bonita while Clara tells her to cut the crap and think about Camilo. FF and NB spit insults at each other until NB finally says she can have both FF AND the baby killed. Miggy is not pleased with that!

Miggy tells Fabiola that she and the baby are going to LA. He’s going to stay here until they find Camilo.

The doctor in LA tells JM that the blow on the head had consequences. Ángela comes in before we get his diagnosis.

EM says he wants to re-decorate the apartment where they’re staying. Lady guesses it’s for a woman, Samantha for sure.

Fabiola tells Miggy she doesn’t have Alma’s passport or even her own – which is at EV’s house. Miggy says he’ll get NB’s help in getting the documents. Fabiola starts in on him about having made love to NB.

D8D comes in to talk to the Reptile and says he’s confirmed that Sam is in LA. He says she’s a curse. [I think HE’S the curse.] His darling daughter pokes fun at him saying one woman loves his son and the other loves Camilo. She asks what he’s waiting for to kill Camilo, and he says he wants to make him suffer a long time.

Sam confides in Nora about how distant Willy is. Nora is sure he’ll get over it and urges Sam to keep trying.

Willy has decided to re-open his public relations company. And Sam will go back to work at her bodyguard agency, but only part time.

EM appears to have a drinking problem. He eyes the vodka bottle. Lady comes in and removes it for him. He thanks her, telling her she and her brother are his family. [Brother? I don’t remember a brother.]
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – VIERNES – Part 2

Willy and Sam bring Nico to physical therapy. We see some time pass and steady improvement for Nico. He can stand, and walk with a walker.

After one of Fabiola’s hissy fits, NB asks Miggy why he wants that kid when he could have a real woman.

We see JM having an MRI.

Sam says she has an appointment with someone that seems a bit odd to her. We see EM as the “client”. He introduces himself as Dr. Montoya and wants her to be his bodyguard. Sam wonders why he asked only for her. She also says she looked him up on the internet. [So there is a Dr. Montoya.] He says then she must know about his career, but they want to steal his newest formula: a drug that gives eternal youth! Gigante’s lips twitch, and EM gives him a warning look.

Piedad finds Camilo in the dungeon in very bad shape and begins to try to help him.

EM tells some more of his whopper. He says he began his research in Mexico, but the guys financing him sent him to LA. Sam offers her best bodyguard 24 hours a day. He quickly says he doesn’t need someone full time, only when going out. She agrees it can be her if it’s only once in a while. When she looks dubious about the eternal youth drug, he tells her he’s 80! And then says he’s kidding.

JM appears to be keeping his diagnosis to himself and speeding up the wedding plans.

NB has gotten documents for FF and Alma, and they can leave tomorrow. She tells FF she’s happy she’s leaving. She took the baby to make Miggy completely happy. They had great times in bed, in the dirt, up against a wall, until Fabiola got here. Fabiola says she hopes EM comes to finish her off; but NB says he loved her too much and no one could make him forget her! Hah!

It’s fun watching Varoni pretending to be a humble, nice guy. He and Sam are about to leave so that he can have lunch somewhere when some guys roll up in a car. Sam disposes of all three in the blink of an eye.

Miggy tells FF that a Sandoval Aviation plane is leaving tomorrow and he wants her to take advantage of this to get to LA.

The Reptile comes to gloat over Camilo. She says his brother was a real man, and Luis was the only death she regretted. But she coos a bit about how much he looks like him and plants a kiss on him. He does what I wanted JM to do SO many times. He bites her! She punches him in the stomach a couple of times, furious.

EM pretends to have to sit down, feeling woozy. He tells Sam she’s a complete professional and raves about her skills. He says he’s not accustomed to danger [!] He invites her to have lunch there, but she says she doesn’t eat with her clients. When she brings up her fees, he tells her anything she asks is all right with him.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – VIERNES – Part 3

Willy is interviewing a bunch of young women for a bathing suit ad campaign. One of them is Lady. She gives Willy a come-hither look.

Angie and JM spend the afternoon making love, but after she leaves, he holds his head in pain.

The Reptile comes screeching in asking D8D to kill Camilo, blood on her face. He says they’ll kill him before they leave. Rotten Rod looks at the Reptile as if he’s scraped her off his shoe, pissing her off. He tells her he doesn’t like her at all.

Fabiola comes in to say that Clara is nowhere to be found.

Sam sets a scene that should have melted Willy’s heart. Flowers, candles, wine, rose petals, pretty nightgown. She wants him to forgive her. She wants his eyes full of desire, his mouth. He retorts that he would have wanted his Navarro who never would have left her children, but he doesn’t have her.

NB is back at the beauty salon, raving at her hairdresser about how much she hates Fabiola. Miggy is the only man who could have made her forget Jesús, and she’s not going to lose him, no matter what.

EM tells the “attackers” that they did a great job, but to make sure Sam never sees them.

Clara is drinking tequila shots in the only bar in Colombia. Ringo tells EM over the phone that D8D has a prisoner. Clara is pretty blitzed and shows Camilo’s picture around, while the guys in the bar laugh at her. Ringo finally comes up and says he’ll help her, with his eyes running over her body.

Duval asks Laura to help with a police sketch of EM, since she’s the only one who’s ever seen him.

Sam tells Nora that Willy rejected her because he has another woman. She decides to go through his briefcase and finds a photograph of Lady. Willy has come in and she asks him who this is.

Meanwhile Lady, has taken off her robe in an attempt to seduce EM.

Miggy has tried to seduce Fabiola, but she runs out into the rain. He chases her, catches her, and asks if it’s going to be like the first time they met when he had to chase her all over. Passionate kisses. Looks like they plan to do it right there in the pouring rain and mud.

They announce Últimas Semanas.
 

Corazon Valiente -

I love reading your summaries and comments novelera,
thank you so much!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Viernes, Part 1

President Delacruz has agreed to an interview with Niki. She asks again, what are you doing about the violence? The President says it's not so bad, look at the Liberal Party primary, that went okay. But, Mr. President, what about 224 cops killed so far this year in Medellín? Well, sure, Medellín has some violence. But that's because we're really putting pressure on Pablo Escobar, and this is his response. But Mr. President, weren't you putting pressure on him last year without cop killing, and maybe when those negotiations to free the son of Mr. Bedoya went bad, Escobar got angry and started killing policemen? Oh no, Niki, that has nothing to do with it. We're really putting lots of pressure on him now, that's all there is. So that's all there is, Mr. President, she responds dryly, almost snapping her pencil in frustration.

Lucio goes over the plan with Leonel to kill the new leftist. So, I pass the candidate on the plane, go to the bathroom, where a machine gun is waiting, pick it up, wait 30 seconds, and come back out and shoot him right? Right. But, Mr. Lucio, you'll really have other guards there to kill HIS guards? Of course, son, that's what I told you. But that didn't happen with Jason! And why didn't you tell me it was a candidate, not a businessman? Look young man, it's better you don't know everything, now let's go over the plan again, you goofed last time, you didn't look at the candidate when you walked by him, any normal person would always look at a famous person, let's do it again, concentrate!

Cut to the candidate, Diego Pizano (thanks, Deb), looking very dapper in a leather jacket, white Panama hat in hand, giving an short interview where he tells the press he's not afraid, the fight to help the downtrodden overcomes any fear.

New recruits arrive in Medellín to help the elite cops, even though they're not elite. Pineda remarks they're new recruits for the cemetery. Pabon gives them a rallying speech.

Pablo is playing with a bird's nest, making little bird calls, calm, happy. Here comes Pedro again. Look, Pablo, if Santorini's right, why don't we just let Gavirira win, the constitution will get changed, and extradition will stop? We don't need to keep killing cops. Gonzalo disagrees, if we slack off, they'll find us. But Pablo, adds Pedro, don't you realize, cops are just like bandits. They come from poverty, it's a way out. And if you kill them, hordes of new ones will keep arriving, just like the ones who just got here from Bogotá. You know, Pedrito, says Pablo, you're absolutely right. Chili, come here. Let's stop screwing around. As of now, there's a reward of $100,000.00 to whomever kills Colonel Pabon!

Pabón's son Martín (actually the father's first name is also Martín, but I'll keep calling him Pabon), has been allowed to join his father's investigative unit. As a young guy, he's much better with computers. He tells Pabon and Aguirre that the Americans are sending equipment which will allow them to triangulate the satellite calls and locate the cartel. So far, they've been picking up words like boss, Escobar, etc. But they don't have to wait for the American equipment. Why not key on words like dirtbag, trigger? His Dad beams in pride for his son, excellent idea!

Chili makes a call, and it's to Pineda (he IS dirty!). We have to meet in two hours in Sabaneta Park. Sure, Chili. You idiot, how could you use my name! Ah, chill. Well, thanks a lot, “officer”. Just be there. Cut to Pabon and crew, they heard it all. We knew it was a high up guy, but he said Chili. And the other guy is a cop! Can we locate them? Not yet, says Martín, but eventually if they keep using this frequency. But guys, says Aguirre, we know where they're meeting, two hours in Sabaneta Park! Pabon picks up the phone, get me General Ulloa, immediately!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 2

Candidate Diego's assistant Nydia tells him his wife has called several times, should she connect them? Nah, says Diego, I'm writing a letter, it's more romantic. Ah, Diego, she says, you've always been a flirt. Not a flirt, romantic. Well, whatever, she replies, there's a change in your schedule, we're not flying out tomorrow. So spend some time with your wife and kids.

A change in schedule?! Lucio is furious. Well, fine. He tells Leonel we'll have to wait here in this hotel a few more days. Leonel is getting stir crazy, asks about Jason again. Lucio says don't worry, I've got two lawyers on it. Leonel turns on the radio, and the announcer says that Jason has been transferred to the Juvenile Facility in Medellín. Yes! Leonel is happy now, we've been there before, it's like he's home. See, says Lucio, told you I'd help out your buddy, I just didn't tell you the details, because I want you to focus on your job. But Mr. Lucio, I'm 18, if they catch me, I couldn't go to the Juvenile Facility. Look, Leonel, I've told you over and over again, we can't tell you all the details. I've got your back. (Right...)

The cops, in plainclothes, arrive at the park, hoping to catch “the criminal and the traitor” (Chili and Pineda). Pineda is sitting on a bench a few blocks away, Kiko and Cain hustle him up, move him out. Back at the cop base, they're still monitoring the radio when they hear a call come in to Chili. Boss, there's 8 cops about 3 blocks away, looking suspicious. Well, go get em! Chili tells them get your money, boys! Pabon urgently tells Aguirre, get your men out of there, Chili knows you're there, he's ordered an attack! And sure enough, the sicarios roar around the corner, armed with machine guns, while the poor cops just have pistols. After killing one cop, the sicarios speed away. Aguirre saw El Buitre. But they didn't catch or hurt anyone, and the bad guys won again.

Miguel asks Pablo, when are you going to stop killing cops? Pablo asks Miguel, when are you going to stop killing politicians? And by the way, Miguelito, I take responsibility for what I'm doing, everybody knows who's killing the cops. Why don't you man up, and announce that you're killing the politicians? Miguel is defiant, I don't tell you how to do your job, don't you tell me. You know those leftists killed my father. Yes, I know, says Pablo, but don't you think you could be letting your personal feelings cloud your tactical judgment? Get over it. I don't know, says Miguel, how'd you feel if they killed YOUR father? Could you get over it? Have a nice day. As he drives off, Pablo says to himself, disgusted, this guy is unbelievable.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Excellent recap, Novelera, as usual you point out many of the gaps these writers leave. I was wondering who Sam thought Gigante was, if not a bodyguard. He doesn't exactly look like a lab assistant. But I guess he wanted a female bodyguard?

I'm excited about Willy's ad campaign. Interesting how all his ad campaigns just happen to involve scantily clad women.

While every other character in the show pops back and forth from LA to Colombia like magic, it takes weeks for Fabiola to get a passport.

This was the first time in weeks that Piedad went to the dungeon? She should use her psychic powers a little faster.

I don't like people hiding medical conditions from their loved ones to protect them, but this happens ALL the time in this show. As a matter of fact, I think the good guys lie to each other much more than the bad guys do. Of course, it's out of "love".

Willy tells Sam she abandoned her children. But the reason she was in Colombia was directly to help one of her children, Nico, who begged her to rescue Jessica.

It's okay though, we can see all this coming to a head with Willy and Lady together, and Sam and EM together, then they could just switch, but more likely fighting will be involved, since Piedad predicted Willy would be the downfall of EM. I'm sure it'll be entertaining. As for realistic? Who am I kidding?!
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Terrific recap, Hombre. That Lucio is just as, if not more evil than Escobar. Since he's a right-wing guy, I suppose he's supposed to be a leader of one of those notorious South and Central America death squads. You know, the ones who trained at the "School of the Americas" at Fort Benning. The "graduates" of this infamous place went on to commit war crimes after returning to their home countries.

This latest scheme of Lucio appears completely harebrained. Leonel is actually supposed to BOARD the plane and shoot Diego? He appears to have a few brain cells floating around because he doubts there's going to be any "backup".

I love it that they know Chili's name. I can't wait for him to go down.

I have my fingers crossed that they don't get Diego!

Niki is clearly meant to be the voice of hindsight. She questions all the inept government actions that Colombians doubtless obsess over to this day.
 

Pasión Prohibida -

update,
it looks like they have started filming in Miami,

" tells the story of Bianca Santillana (Monica Spear), a beautiful woman that becomes a victim of her own vengeance. Everything unfolds when she discovers a dark secret of her mother Flavia (Rebecca Jones). As if by destiny, Bianca appears in the life of Bruno Hurtado (Jencarlos Canela), an attractive playboy with whom she will face seemingly insurmountable challenges."
ref: http://telemundomediakit.com/2012/11/15/telemundo-studios-kicks-off-production-of-its-upcoming-primetime-novela-"pasion-prohibida"-with-novela-stars-monica-spear-jencarlos-canela-and-leading-actress-rebecca-jones/

and here are their official sites,
http://twitter.com/PProhibidaTV
https://www.facebook.com/PProhibidaTV

Priscila Perales (the maid Nelly from Corazon Valiente) will be in this one.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE
Thank you so much dear Novelera for the great recap , It was so good
----
And in Twitter!! in this week( 2 Tweets which were interesting to me and I will share with you)
one of them is a tweet of Brenda Asnicar(Fabiola) , her photo with Gabriel(Miggy) in the last day of photographing ,: https://twitter.com/Asnicar__Brenda/status/275268599566962688/photo/1/large
and her tweet tels(meaning in English): I will miss you chaparrito!! working with you was a pleasure , your chaparrita!!!

and the other is a photo which Ximena Duque has taken of Gabriel Porras:
http://instagr.am/p/SqQ4RzFlPK/
and her Tweet tells(meaning in English):
my brother "Miguel" or Iñaki?, Gonzalo? Roberto(or only Porras!!!
P.S. (Iñaki, Gonzalo, Roberto reffering to the different names of the Character of Gabriel in La Casa de al Lado , a very great Novela which you must watch)
 

Pasión Prohibida -

wow! looking forward to seeing J Canela again. hope this one's better than Mi Corazón Insiste.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR:

Novelera, interesting comments. I'm finding it hard to understand the right wing paramilitary guys. Miguel seems motivated by the fact that leftists killed his parents. He sees leftist candidates as "guerillas", which I guess to him is some bad word, but to me, just seems like what HE's doing, just from the other side politically! We see the leftists stating they're for the poor, to help fight for the downtrodden. But who are the right wingers fighting for? Maybe they're primarily fighting AGAINST. Against the leftists, against the middle of the road government. But how do they get people to join? I know, with money. But they don't seem to have any rousing rhetoric.

BTW, as usual, due to football, my recap of tonight's episode won't be up til tomorrow night.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES – Part 1

Ok, I’m officially tired of the alternate scenes, where they quickly switch back and forth between two sets of characters, with some sort of theme. Tonight we see Miggy and Fabiola having very dirty, muddy sex. Then we see Jesús bending over Lady as if to have some very clean sex. Lady is begging him to make love to her. She doesn’t even care if he has Sam and she’s just on the side. He tells her he’s not the man for her; he’d ruin her life. When she asks about Sam, he says that from the first moment he caught her scent, he realized she’s the woman he’s been waiting for all his life. When she asks him what she, Lady, smells like, he says almíbar (estar hecho un almíbar is to be all sweetness and light).

Laura refuses to participate in a police sketch of El Mesías. She fears reprisals against Jessica. Duval says her first duty is as a policewoman. She takes off her badge and gun and quits.

Miggy is happy and thinks that their making love means they’ve reconciled. But Fabiola is still angry at him.

Clara agrees to trust Ringo and to go with him to find Camilo. Before they leave, Jesús calls Ringo. Ringo tells him Clara is the boyfriend of the prisoner, but the wife of D8D. EM reminds Ringo that HE captured Camilo. He won’t allow them to do anything against Camilo without his authorization. He has a premonition that it will be useful to him to have something this woman wants.

NB is hopping mad at the beauty salon. Her car won’t start, and she doesn’t want to leave Miggy and FF alone.

Miggy tells FF that a child unites them. He asks her to put herself in his place. He was a prisoner, and she made him believe she was in love with El Verdugo. She was very convincing. She looked him in the eye and said she was in love with Javier. She tore out his heart. FF says that, whatever happens, he won’t be her guardaespaldas and she won’t be his chaparrita. She won’t ever trust him again and she won’t ever give him her heart again.

Willy is just as obstinate as FF. He tells Sam that she abandoned him. She says Lady is beautiful. He says that the scientist must be short, bespectacled, grey, limping and with a big nose.

Aha! Gigante is the brother of Lady. I had missed that. He comes in to tell EM that his sister is very angry.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES – Part 2

Ángela tells Laura she understands that children come first and offers her a job in the bodyguard agency, angering Dummy Duval who was trying to talk her back on the force.

Clara is brought to EV’s house blindfolded. When it’s removed, she’s face to face with D8D. He giggles sadistically, telling her that Camilo is here. Meanwhile, Piedad is caring for Camilo in the dungeon. Clara runs to him. D8D says they’re both going to die.

NB’s plan she mentioned to the stylist is revealed. She jumps into bed beside a sleeping Miggy.

Sam comes to work for Jesús and notices his chest, exposed in an open bathrobe. She says he has the body of an athlete. He leans forward and tells her he had liposuction! [Varoni is endlessly entertaining in this role.]

Willy is organizing a camera shoot with the models beside a pool. Sam shows up. He thinks she followed him. She says she’s on duty. Her client wants to swim. Willy says she must have brought a lifejacket and quarts of suntan lotion for the pale guy. Just then Jesús strides out. He asks Sam if this is another client. Willy sticks his chest out a bit and says he’s Sam’s husband. Sam says ex-husband because he left her. Willy agrees she’s his ex and is cad enough to say she was trying everything to get him back last night. EM looks away in disgust.

D8D has Camilo hanging by his wrists and Clara handcuffed to a chair. They both say it was worth it; they were never so happy as when together.

NB’s plan, of course, works. FF comes in and sees them in bed together. He snarls at NB that he doesn’t like being played.

JM is in terrible pain and practically collapses. He manages to call his doctor.

Laura has her bodyguard clothes on and thanks Ángela for the opportunity. She also tells her that JM never stopped loving her.

NB says she had illusions about him. Miggy tells her he never lied to her, never spoke of love. When she says he made love to her, he says they were adults; it was only sex.

The truly disgusting pair, D8D and his evil spawn the Reptile, have come to gloat over Clara and Camilo. D8D says he wants their deaths to be spectacular. But Ringo enters to spoil their fun. He tells D8D he can’t do anything without the OK of EM, much less kill people.

JM describes his symptoms to the doctor. Bingo! Probably a brain tumor. The doc opines that maybe the tumor was there all along and getting hit in the head woke it up. He’s been back quite a while and they’re only now coming up with a theory! Dr. Malpractice says he’ll be running some tests. Guess he was on Spring Break when they had the section on reading MRI’s.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – LUNES – Part 3

Miggy tells FF he hopes she doesn’t think he’s such a cad as to have gone from making love to her right to NB.

Some teenager has guided Miggy and Gus, armed to the teeth to an SUV in a clearing. Some guys jump out and are shot. Inside is Rotten Rod, sniveling with fear as always.

Piedad shows up to release Camilo and Clara. They don’t get far. D8D and a bunch of thugs catch them.

NB gives FF hers and Alma’s passports. FF gives her a sly grin and says she knows what NB wants: that she take her daughter and leave, leaving Miggy to her. FF tortures her a bit saying maybe she’ll forgive him and take him along far, far away.

Miggy has brought Rotten Rod to the hideout.

We are treated to a really funny scene with Willy and Jesús. Willy approaches him and tells him that he and Sam have three kids. Jesús says “Great! I like kids.” Willy says one is beginning the difficult period of adolescence. Jesús replies that would keep you young. Willy says the babies cry all the time and that they’re 3 months apart. Jesús says that’s impossible. Willy says they were very sexually active. Jesús says he was once completely happy with a woman with 5 kids. Willy tells him that, if he wants to have kids, he should hurry – for his age and all. Jesús laughs and tells him men can have children way late in life and, so far, he has no problems in that area. The kids could be his or those of his future wife. Willy looks like he bit into a lemon.

Laura finds JM miserable and asks what’s the matter. He tells her he doesn’t want Ángela or the kids to know but he’s sick. And he’s afraid he’ll die. She embraces him, but of course Ángela comes in. Laura makes up a good story about JM comforting HER about Gus. But Ángela doesn’t look 100% convinced.

Sam approaches Lady to tell her that she’s Willy’s wife. She tells her she shouldn’t mess with a man with three kids. Plus she’s armed!

The Reptile is furious with Ringo for thwarting hers and D8D’s plans and for taking orders from EM. D8D enters after Ringo leaves and says he’ll kill them anyway.

Rotten Rod tells Fabiola he approaches her originally for the money, but he’s come to realize how great she is. If she could just give him a chance. Miggy and FF look at him scornfully. Miggy is calling someone on a cell.

D8D and the Reptile have Camilo and Clara with nooses around their necks and standing on rickety stools, while D8D’s cell rings. D8D and the Reptile each have a foot on the stools. Holy Guacamole!
 

CORAZON VALIENTE -
Holy Guacamole, great recap!! It was so silly to have D8D and the Reptile setting up the execution while D8D's phone is just ringing and ringing.

Miguel Varoni is obviously having a great time with this role. What a hoot his mad scientist is. I don't know how the actors can keep straight faces.

How much does D8D value his rotten ahijado? Enough to exchange Camilo and Clara for him? I guess we'll see.

Anyone want to bet that JM won't collapse at the wedding? His doctor really is incompetant. Now he finds a tumor? I've never heard a of a tumor being activated by a blow to the head but I suppose it's possible.
 

El rostro de la venganza -- lunes

Part 1 of 2

In which Carolina Pinto is persuaded that she is the "niña monstrua"; Ramón Farias's death is revealed as murder; and D-Mart and Mariana prepare to escape to Chile.

D-Mart's sister Diana admits to Luciano that she tricked him in order to protect her brother. And she has no regrets -- or so she says -- especially now that she knows her brother is innocent.

Liar Liar Pants on Fire Tania reminds Carolina Pinto that she was a witness to the school massacre. But since Tania, unlike the other surviving children, was not subjected to electroshock, she remembers the events perfectly. And guess what? Carolina herself is the real "niña monstrua". Carolina is furious, accuses Tanya of lying and throws her out of her apartment. Then she storms into Alex and Natalia's place and demands to know the identity of the real killer. Alex refuses to tell since it would be a betrayal of Diego's confidence. Will Carolina be able to seduce Natalia into telling her what she wants to know?

After TV reporter Veronica has been pressured by her editor into outing Diego as Martín, reporters flock around the Mercader home and shove their microphones into his parents' faces. His mother proclaims her son's innocence while her husband Juan denies any contact with D-Mart.

D-Mart and Katarina watch the televised media assault on Sonia and Juan Mercader. D-Mart is packing his bags -- he has decided to get out of Dodge -- when Katarina glances out the window, sees that the news vultures are gathered outside and warns her "Muñeco" that his getaway won't be as easy as he thought. D-Mart is undaunted. He confronts the reporters angrily, jumps in a cab and leaves.

Marcos and Veronica watch this televised confrontation (I guess there is a New York City TV channel which offers 24/7 coverage of developments in this novela). Marcos seems to smirk when Veronica remarks that Diego's violent appearance isn't going to clear his name.

Luciano confronts his father: why did Ezequiel set Diana Mercader on him? Ezequiel wanted his son to get a taste of his own medicine. He wanted Sofia/Diana to break Luciano's heart as retaliation for Luciano's dalliance with Mariana. Luciano is only slightly appeased when he learns that D-Mart has refused the 25% share of the family business that Ezequiel had been prepared to give him.

 

El rostro de la venganza -- lunes
Part 2 of 2

D-Mart hops out of the cab, notices a man and woman with cameras following him, and manages to elude them. He shows up on Mariana's doorstep and begs her to come away with him. He has tickets for Chile -- they can leave tonight.

Carolina meets a gray-haired man wearing a gray suit and gray shirt. He is her father. She wants him to tell her what really happened 20 years -- not the version in the papers, but the truth. Did he pay for a cover-up? Is she the killer? Yes, says her father. She did it. She's the killer. And it was Ezequiel who helped them escape the consequences.

Laura has spoken to the police about Ramón Farías's sudden death. They are looking for a nurse whose suspicious presence and activity was captured on a video surveillance camera. Laura is sure Ezequiel is the one who hired the killer nurse (although we know it was Tania, under Valeria Samaniego's orders).

Valeria is chewing out Tania for the killer nurse's failure to notice the surveillance cameras. Samaniego sees them together and wants to know what the devil is going on. Tania takes the opportunity to flounce out angrily -- Valeria has no right to scream at her, she is no one's slave.

D-Mart makes a side trip to Veronica's place to shame her for selling him out for a few television ratings points.

Carolina, still reeling from her father's confirmation of Tania's accusation, bursts into Mariana's apartment and finds her friend packing. Mariana trustingly confides that she is going to Chile with Martín this very night, perhaps never to return.

 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Super recap, Novelera! I really liked your snarky and funny comments.

It's definitely fun to see D8D and the Reptile having to be a little subservient to someone (EM)

I guess it's about time Laura resigned as a cop, she really hasn't been very coplike at all, since she discovered Jessica was her daughter. And I'm sure even with a police sketch, Duval would be the LAST person to outwit EM!
 

El rostro de la venganza

thanks for the recap, NovelaMaven. I haven't seen last night's episode yet, but happy to read about it.

I love the fact that D-Mart eventually refused the 25% - that was so unexpected.

geez, can't wait to see what happens to him (his life) next.
 

ExitosTV, Telemundo's digital subchannel for reruns started airing MARINA today. This 2006 novela stars Sandra Echeverria, Aylin Mujica, Humberto Zurita, and briefly Mauricio Ochmann before he is replaced by Manolo Cardona. It's running at 8am/pm 12pm/am 4pm/am ET.
 

El rostro

De nada, Shallowgal. I'm afraid the trip to Chile won't happen. Mean Girl Carolina Pinto will sell out Mariana and Diego to Ezequiel. Exit Mariana (and Elizabeth Guttiérez).

But I'm just guessing here and I actually hope I'm wrong.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

"I’m officially tired of the alternate scenes, where they quickly switch back and forth between two sets of characters, with some sort of theme."
I can't agree with you more! It's sometimes demasiado ridiculous.
 

EL ROSTRO

Thanks so much for the recap, NovelaMaven.

I also am sure that Diego won't go to Chili. He has to stay in NYC with the rest of the cast to keep the tension going.

I'm not loving this and would have given up if it were longer than a half hour.

The three Alvarado children are unbearable. Marcos seemed nice for a NY minute, until he found out about Diego getting the 25%.

And, did I miss an episode? Does Diego still think he had sex with the awful Katherina?

Interesting theory about Carolina Pinto being the one who prevents the trip to Chile.

If she's NOT the niña monstrua, it's pretty weird that her own father would say that she was. Or, I suppose Ezequiel could have like to her father that she did it to get him to cooperate with the electroshock.
 

EL ROSTRO

...Diego won't go to Chile, not chili verde!
 

El rostro

Novelera, you know Julia has a space on her Bingo cards for "Galán falsely believes he has had sex with the villainess".

That particular plot thread just faded away, didn't it? Katerina never told Diego the truth; on the other hand, he was careful to keep his distance from her after the non-event. It may be important later on if Diego does turn out to be Ezequiel's son.

Of the three Alvarado kids, Katerina is looking like the "good" one right now. And that's really saying something.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR Lunes Part 1

Pineda is being held in a jeep by Kiko and Cain. When Chili arrives, Pineda says I did just what you told me, it's not my fault some cops followed YOU. Look, bud, replies Chili, you're not in any position to say anything. You do what we say. It's simple, you're going take out a Colonel.

Peraza picks up his phone. It's Pablo. I don't talk to terrorists, roars Peraza. Me neither, says Pablo, but I have something important to tell you. I don't like being blamed for something I didn't do. And you know what? Candidate Diego Pizano is going to be assassinated. A right wing group (he names it) has already sent men to Bogotá to do the job. Just remember who gave you this valuable info. And stop blaming me for things I didn't do. If I do something, I'll take responsibility for it!

Pabon is talking to his wife, they miss each other. They're happy son Martín is getting to work with his Dad. They're worried about the cop killings.

Cut to Pineda, screwing a silencer onto his gun. His wife Isabel comes in, what's going on? Nothing, honey. Look, Javier, you can lie to other people, but not to me. Well, I've got something to do. With the police, or with your new friends? He won't confide in her, and she warns him this could get out of hand. She says before when Quintana went down, you were quiet, but we were scared. But now things are different, you have to stop. He shoots back, who told me back then not to talk to Ulloa? Wasn't it you? I remember now, wasn't he the driver of Quintana's car, who knew what was going to happen, stopped the car, and walked away, knowing Quintana was going to get murdered? I think so.

Peraza comes to warn Diego of the right wing threat. Diego and his assistant Nydia both say it's the government's fault. Peraza reminds them of when they occupied the hall of justice. They both calm down, and agree that Diego's security is important. But before General Peraza leaves, Diego urges him, don't just go after Escobar, you also need to work against the Cordoba and Uroba paramilitary forces, led by Miguel Moreno. Peraza leaves without responding.

At the youth jail, Jason's mother or grandmother urges him to tell the police everything, he was fooled by “those people”. Jason says there's nothing to worry about, he's a minor. But what about Leonel? His parents want to know where he is. Jason assures her Leonel is smart. Right.

At the army barracks, Martín Pabon is worried. Cut to his Dad in bed, looking equally concerned, holding a little cross. Pineda goes into the police rest room, puts the silencer on his gun. We see lots of calls being monitored by police. Aguirre is out jogging (at night). As Pabon sleeps, Pineda is just about to get in the elevator to Pabon's floor (I guess he's been sleeping at the Police Academy) when Aguirre jogs in, what are you doing here? You don't sleep here. Oh, I was just looking for someone. Well, you shouldn't be here, says Aguirre. Pineda says good night and stiffly walks away. I think his plan has been foiled by fate (for now).

 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 2

Pablo talks quietly to Pati on the porch at night. She complains that she came here, but they're never “together”. It's not hard to guess the reasons. One, he keeps smoking marijuana, two, he keeps drinking pepto bismol for his “gastritis”, and three, he's worried about the big mess he's in. And he's lost faith, not just in the government, but in everybody. He doesn't trust anyone. He thinks the only hope is if he can escape extradition. But not just by some paper, he wants a constitutional amendment that bars it. Then he could rest easy. Pati understands.

Morning. Aguirre tells Pabon he has a hunch about the “mole”. Cut to Pineda's bed, his wife rustles him up, you're late for work, why are you so tired?

In Bogotá, Lígia (Diego's sister) and Marcos (bespectacled campaign manager) are concerned for Diego's security. The candidate comes downstairs and Marcos wants to go over today's schedule. Outside, we see Leonel, nervous in a suit, getting into a cab holding a duffel bag. As Lucio looks on from above, he says take me to the airport.

Aguirre tells another officer “We've located Chili”. Pineda just happens to walk by at this precise moment (could this be a sting?!). We see the tape recorders spinning. Yes! Pineda calls Chili, says they're coming for you. But Pabon and his son hear this, and say “It's him”. Chili pulls Mireya off her exercise machine, we're leaving NOW.

The Motoa brothers, Pedro, Julio and German come to meet with Pablo. After a round of drinks, Pedro doesn't waste time. Look Pablo, we've never supported your cop killing. And we're not happy about what Miguel is doing with candidates. We're sort of caught in the middle, and they keep blaming the Medellín cartel. We still want to be friends with you. But we're not waiting for any constitutional amendment. We're going to negotiate with the government. Now.

 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Great recap, Hombre, of an exciting episode!

I THOUGHT that guy looked familiar. I agree that Pineda was the guy who ran away so Chili and the boys could kill Quintana in his car. But he sure has changed! Wasn't he a good guy forced by threats to his family to play along? Since then we've seen him shoot a fellow officer for the $2K (or is it $5K) and he seemed fine with killing Pabon.

I thought the woman who always appears with Diego is his wife. But she's his assistant?

I'm loving this interception of calls Pabon's guys are arranging. This entered very significantly in the events in "Killing Pablo".
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Martes, Part 1

Pineda is detained. Aguirre gets in his face, you sapo, because of people like you, 200 of our brothers have been killed! He has to be physically restrained from beating up Pineda. They take him into a classroom, sit him down. He says you guys are making a mistake. Oh really? Pabon plays him the tape of him warning Chili. Any questions? They give the guy two options, keep up your farce, I'll leave you alone in this room with Aguirre for 30 minutes to beat you up, or be a man, tell us all you know.

Pizano is being interviewed on the radio. Commander, you fought in the mountains, killed people, how do you feel about that? Well, it's true, I was in battles. When you're fighting for a cause, you sometimes feel the violence isn't so bad. But that's not what our country needs now. If I'm elected, I want to give our people a purpose. I want to give our country peace. But right now, I have a plane to catch. Cut to General Peraza, how could he just announce he's going on a plane, that's crazy! Don't let him go through the regular gate.

We see Leonel stumbling into the airport, nervous. He's juggling his tickets, he drops a magazine. A guard picks it up, he says no that's not mine. They think it's suspicious. Later, after he sits down, they ask him to stand up. They check his tickets, his license. They search him. But he's clean, and they let him go.

Pineda explains, one normal day, this guy pulled me over at gunpoint and said he'd kill my family if I didn't cooperate. Well, who was it, and what did he want? We see it was Chili, and Chili says you let us kill that Colonel (Quintana), or we'll kill your daughters. But Pineda tells Pabon, it was a guy from the Medellín cartel, and he just wanted information. Information? Why did you have to meet in Sabaneta Square? What did they end up wanting? At this point, Pineda cracks a bit, and tells them the truth. He wanted me to kill you, Colonel.

So what happens to me now, court martial? You have to protect my family. Aguirre says we could use him to locate Chili, set up a meeting. No way, says Pineda, once he finds my cover is blown, he'll kill my family. Well, then we won't let him find that out.

Pablo is finished with his meeting with the Montoas. He tells them he respects their decision. They've been friends too long. They can negotiate with the government if they want. But his own war will continue. And he still wants them to keep up their drug quota. They agree, and part friends.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 2

Diego has a nice chat with Marcos in the car on the way to the airport. Marcos praises his speech. He won't be on this flight, he's coming in two days. Diego gives him a letter for his sister (so it's probably not his wife or his assistant, it's his sister always at his side. I think her name is Lígia. By the way, they may have been hinting that there was a little gay attraction between Marcos and Diego, but I'm not sure about that. I don't think they've ever mentioned a wife. But I could be wrong).

Aguirre tells Pineda tell him to meet outside the bullring. Pineda is still worried. Pabon yells, just do it, you were going to kill me! No, he says. Look, yells Aguirre, I was THERE! They put through the call. Pineda says to Chili “Watch out, they already know I'm with you...!” The cops are outraged, cut the call, whisk Pineda away.

On the plane, a security guard checks all the overhead bins before telling the flight attendant the passengers can board. Leonel is the first on, very nervous. Others board, then the candidate, sitting near the back, with the guard in the row behind him, right in front of the lavatory.

Pineda is thrown into a cell. I had to do it, to protect my daughters. Shut up! If you had originally gone to your superiors, all this could have been prevented. They leave him in disgust.

Chili tells Pablo what happened. He apologizes that the job of killing Pabon is a little behind. No problem, says Pablo. Here's what you do. Go to Bogotá, hire a few guys to plant a car bomb at the building where Pabon's family lives. But make sure the bomb does NOT go off!

Leonel goes back to the lavatory. The guard glares at him. Inside, he's shaking like a leaf. He dabs his forehead with paper towel after paper towel. But under the towels, there's a gun! He picks it up, loads the cartridge. We see Lucio drink a tall glass of water, waiting in his hotel room. Diego is calmly reading. Leonel takes a deep, breath, opens the bathroom door, and..........
 

El rostro de la venganza -- martes
In which Laura becomes a very wealthy divorcée, Mariana breaks Diego's heart to save his skin, and Caro takes a chill pill.

Part 1 of 2

Veronica defends her actions to the furious Diego -- by exposing D-Mart's identity, she has given him an opportunity to proclaim his innocence and let the true "niño monstruo" pay for his crimes. If he won't name the killer, she'll continue her investigation and find out the truth on her own.

Ezequiel updates his own niños monstruos on D-Mart's decision to renounce his shares in the business and to go off for a while "to find himself". Ezequiel then invites the children's mother, Laura, to join them in his office. He is giving Laura her half of the business, he announces. Katerina angrily rejects Laura -- as far as she's concerned, her mother is dead. Once Katerina is out of the room, Ezequiel continues calmly: he wants to avoid conflicts. The only thing he asks for in return is a divorce from Laura so he can marry Mariana.

When Mariana gets back to her apartment, she finds Ezequiel already pouring the celebratory champagne. Laura has agreed to a divorce and now they can be married. Uh oh. Mariana tells him she is in love with someone else. He doesn't take it well. If she dares to defy him, she'll be a widow before she ever has a chance to be a bride.

Martín is at the airport checking in. Where's Mariana? She's not coming, she tells him on the phone. He's a lot less appealing without his 25% interest in the Alvarado business. She'll stick with big Zeke and his big bucks. Poor D-Mart -- he doesn't know Mariana has just sacrificed her happiness to save his life. The romantic music swells, the tears flow...
 

El rostro de la venganza -- martes
Part 2 of 2

Tania escorts Carolina into the Samaniego home and offers her a drink or an anxiolytic. Not to worry, she says. Valeria Samaniego doesn't bite. (We know better.) The blonde Gorgon herself now joins the two junior Witches. Carolina tearfully apologizes for her actions of 20 years ago. She will do whatever the Gorgon wishes.

In another room, Samaniego takes Tania aside and reminds her it is a better bet to be loyal to him than to Valeria. Is she hiding something from him?

Valeria, meanwhile, is telling Carolina that this is the story: Ramón Farias was the one who killed the children. But Carolina doesn't understand. She's the one who killed Valeria's daughter so why is she protecting her? Valeria, of course, is toying with the younger woman. She murmurs understandingly that Carolina was just a child at the time of the tragedy. And with Ramón Farias so conveniently dead, everybody wins. (Hah!) Now Tania comes in with some Valiumish pills on a silver platter. As Valeria says, that Tania always thinks of everything.

Back in D-Mart's apartment, Katerina tells her dopey posse that she feels like a broken-hearted telenovela heroine. They encourage her to focus on real estate. By tomorrow, she'll have forgotten D-Mart anyway. Maybe her dad will let the three of them live in the place now that the muñeco is gone ... Hold that thought -- Mother Laura, smiling broadly, arrives at the door.

The chemically blissed-out Carolina is now sipping tea (or something) with Mariana. The latter is surprised that Caro would take a drug without knowing what it was and then admits ruefully she wouldn't mind a chill pill herself. Why isn't Mariana on a plane with D-Mart right now? Because it would be a death sentence for D-Mart.

She's not wrong, dude. Ezequiel has brought back his old henchman for a new job: follow Mariana night and day, find out who has stolen her heart, and then kill him!
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – martes – Part 1

At the hanging, D8D finally answers his phone. The Reptile is annoyed. It’s Miggy and he says that he has Rotten Rod and will kill him unless D8D returns Camilo and Clara.

EM tells Sam that he believes in love at first sight and that he is a passionate guy who would put a woman ahead of his work. I guess he is telling her that this has happened to him but not that she’s the woman, obviously.

JM lies to Angie about the call from his doctor.

The Reptile can’t believe that D8D would exchange traitors like Camilo and Clara for Rotten Rod. [Not to mention the fact that they should know that Miggy would not kill an innocent person in cold blood.] D8D whines that RR is his nephew. Fed up, the Reptile kicks over the stool that Camilo is standing on. D8D runs over and supports Camilo so the noose doesn’t choke. [Fortunately, the drop isn’t long enough to break Camilo’s neck.] He begs the Reptile to put the stool back but she won’t.

Willy tells Nora that he is worried about Sam with this so-called scientist. He says that he doesn’t seem like a scientist. I’m not sure if Willy senses that EM is a fraud or just doesn’t think he is nerdy enough to be a scientist.

Meanwhile, EM is trying to undermine Willy to Sam. He says that Willy seems to be a little insecure. He imagined the husband of such a valient woman differently.

FF continues to tells Miggy that she doesn’t want to be with him and is only staying in Colombia to find Camilo and Clara. She doesn’t trust NB.

I guess the Reptile finally helped her Dad out because Camilo and Clara are back where they were pre-hanging: Clara in the wheelchair and Camilo suspended by his wrists. They avow their love for one another; Doña Piedad is listening. D8D comes in and tells them that they are traitors and shouldn’t think that they will escape.

The Reptile tells Ringo that she wants to kill Miggy and she doesn’t care if Rod or D8D die, too. Ringo tells her to go ahead and kill Miggy.

JM agrees to have a biopsy done on his brain tumor. [Ok, this is stupid. If a brain tumor is causing pain and loss of vision, you take it out regardless of whether it is malignant or not. If tests show that it is malignant, then you do more treatment.] JM tells Angie that he has to go on a business trip to San Francisco for a day.

Lady tells EM that she will help him get Sam by going after Willy. EM tells her that she is not the type of woman who would do that. Lady replies that she isn’t wussy and anyway, going after Willy is no hardship; he’s sexy.

 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – martes – Part 2

The Exhange. Both sides show up with their hostages. The Reptile is hiding somewhere with a sniper rifle. She has Miggy in the cross hairs. Ringo stops her from firing saying that EM wouldn’t like it. [Didn’t he tell her it was ok to kill Miggy, before?] D8D tells Miggy that he can have Camilo but he’s keeping Clara. Miggy refuses and it’s a standoff.

Sam exploits Willy’s jealousy of EM and they are kissing and starting to have sex [on the couch in the living room!] when Sam foolishly admits that she brought EM to where Willy was doing his photo shoot to make Willy jealous. Willy is angry and leaves. Sam is frustrated.

EM wants Lady to return to Colombia but she refuses.

Camilo won’t leave Clara with D8D so finally D8D lets both of them go. The Reptile is angry that he gave up Camilo and Claro for this “infeliz.” D8D tells her that this “infeliz” is her brother (half-brother, actually). He tells her that it is time that she knew that Ofelia was her mother. The Reptile is impactada.

There is a happy reunion of Clara and Camilo with FF. Miggy announces that all his buisness in Colombia is done and it is time to return to LA. We see NB give a sign to one of her henchmen but she tells Miggy that they will have a farewell party.

EM puts on boxing gloves with Gigante and they start hitting each other. Then EM calls Sam and tells her that he was attacked.

The Reptile flashes back to the dying Ofélia trying to tell her something. Ringo tries to buck her up by telling her that Ofélia chose to be with her.

Miggy tells FF that they should be a couple and get married. He asks for her answer.

EM asks Sam to teach him self defense because he is all alone in LA and is afraid.

Sam tells EM how she was poisoned in Colombia and saved by an unknown stranger. She says that she hates narcos and would kill them all with her own hands.

Miggy tells FF that he wants an answer. She replies that she can’t get past the fact that Miggy took a lover while she was always faithful to him. She says that she doesn’t have confidence in him. She isn’t the same person that he met before. She admits that she loves him but says that sometimes love isn’t enough.

JM leaves Willy’s house [are he, Angie & the kids living there again? What about the apartment he had?] on his supposed business trip.

Ringo asks D8D to help the Reptile who is just lying on her bed. She tells D8D that she wants to die.

 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – martes – Part 3


NB pays her guy to do something. Miggy comes up and thanks NB for all she did for him. He says that if she needs anything, she should let him know. She says that what she needs is his love.

Lady returns to EM’s place while Sam is still there and Sam recognizes her from Willy’s photo shoot. EM tells Sam that he invited Lady and she is the special one that he told her about. When Sam leaves, Lady apologizes. EM tells her, “no hay mal que bien no venga,” (literally, “there is no bad from which good does not come”) or “every cloud has a silver lining.”

The Reptile asks who her father is (she knows this already). D8D replies that he is her father. She says that she is the child of perversion and forbidden love and that made her the incarnation of the devil on earth.

JM arrives at the hospital. He tells himself that he has to fight for his family and for Angie.

Angie tells Nora that she believes that JM is ill and that she does not have a good feeling about this “business trip.”

Sam returns home. Willy is snarky and asks why she didn’t spend the night with her “Einstein.” She replies that EM is spending the night with his favorite model.

EM takes a drink. [He’d be less likely to succumb to temptation if he didn’t carry a flask.] Lady comes in and he tells her that she can help him get Sam by being his “novia” and they kiss.

FF is dreaming when she wakes up to check on this baby. [She doesn’t have to feed the baby every 2 hours?] The baby is gone and there is note which says:
“My friend Javier deserves vengeance. Blood of Verdugo, blood of Valdez, it’s simply blood.” Kind of cryptic and it’s not clear where the baby fits in. FF calls Miggy. He reads the note and the credits roll.

 

Off Topic:

While looking up more info on the tn "Quien Eres Tu?" that will star Laura Carmine (Amor Bravio) and Julian Gil (LQNPA, Sortilegio), I found this article in English about the upcoming changes to TeleFutura. Starting January, when "Quien Eres Tu?" starts, TeleFutura will become UniMas. It represents not just a change in name, but a change in programming. Seems that Univision will air more original/daring programming and novelas and more sports on its UniMas channel. The tns on UniMas will not just be from Televisa (like they are on Univision), but also from RTI (Colombia) and others. Not sure if the changes to the network will mean any changes to local channels across the country. Here is the article on UniMas: http://rbr.com/telefutura-becoming-unimas/


 

El Secretario - Dec. 6, 2012 - Episode 76:

Paola and Toni are having a pow-wow in Toni’s office. Toni tells Pao about her conversation with Felix. Pao tells Toni she has two options: to forgive him, or not to forgive him. Toni tells her that she will resolve this situation somehow.

Retirement party for Patricio in accounting. Pat and Conde recite their own impromptu poem. Raquel runs in and tells Pat he has a phone call. Pat starts to panic and tells everyone to stop singing and be quiet, he doesn’t want his wife to hear anything. He gets on the phone - his wife already suspects he is leaving Copito. He has a panic attack and curls up in a ball under his desk as she threatens him with legal action if he tries anything. Conde and young accountant have to pull him out from under the desk and sit him on top. They get Pat to start to talk. Pat reveals his nightmare -- to be alone at home all day with his wife, Dona Perfecta. (AYAYAYA!)

Raquel tells Yesse about Olga, who is in the bathroom crying. Yesse runs off.

Mario pulls Emilio away to have a private conversation. Mario wishes to see Emilio alone tonight for drinks and appetizers. Emilio is very uncomfortable and walks away from Mario.

Yesse sits with Olga in the bathroom. Yesse makes one comment and Olga starts balling and screaming again. Yesse runs away.

Emilio rejoins the party and wishes Pat well in his retirement. Emilio then finds the HR director and pulls him away from a private talk about his employment and salary.

Toni and Pao leave work.

Emilio runs to Toni’s office, looking for her. He finds the office empty. Olga sees Emilio in Toni’s office. She sets down her headset and runs away from her desk.

Outside, Conde and friend are trying to calm Pat down. They decide to help Pat with his problem (his wife). Millie and Sebastian are puzzled by their plans.

Emilio tries to leave work - Mario starts to pester him again about meeting him alone for drinks - Emilio is very uncomfortable and tries to get away from Mario by getting on the elevator. Mario follows him onto the elevator and won’t leave him alone. (Hilarious scene to watch)

Felix calls Paola at her home. Where’s your proof Emilio and Toni’s love? Paola is still working on it. Felix is impatient. He tells her about his phone call with Toni. Paola wishes him well with his wife and hangs up. Felix is stunned.

Toni is at home, alone. She sits in her kitchen, drinking water, and thinks about her time at the beach resort working with Emilio, and then her confrontation with Yesse and Mario, and then her private talk with Emilio.

 

Off topic:

Thanks Vivi for the information and link on Telefutura's changes. Very interesting and intriguing.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Thanks, Jean for another superb recap, with your usual fun comments!

I think when the Reptile had Miggy in the crosshairs, Ringo said not to do it, because she'd be killed in retaliation with all those weapons. As we know, he has a crush on her.

We may have heard this earlier, but I noticed that D8D told the Reptile that he and Ofelia didn't know they were half-siblings until after they had their affair which produced Fernanda. It sure was funny though how she's almost reveling in herself as the Devil's Spawn!

Angie isn't just upset with JM for being sick, she suspects he might be having an affair (typical for this show when someone lies).

ITA about EM and that flask. Same thing happens to me with ice cream. If it's in the house, it's in the mouth.




 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE-

Thanks for the corrections, Hombre. My notes were not too good.

I don't believe that we ever were told before that D8D and Ofélia didn't know they were siblings when the Reptile was conceived. I do want to find out what Nora knows about this. Now the Reptile has a new excuse for her behavior besides ugliness and JM's spurned love: she is a child of incest.

Presumably Rotten Rod doesn't know (yet) that he and the Reptile are half siblings. That might affect his opinion of D8D.


 

EL ROSTRO

Poor Mariana. Felt sorry for her the way Zeke went Martin Acero on her.
 

Floridia

DONDE ESTA ELISA?

Im so sorry i know this question is overdue but yes Dana did do the deed with Cristobal at the beginning of their relationship they stopped at capitulo 40 because Maliano caught her and ended up in a fistfight with Cris.
 

Mun2

Mun2 will rebroadcast Sin Senos and will also feature Pasion de Gavilanes.
 

Jean

Bernie just told Fernanda in front of Rod that he is her brother So obviously he knows. But maybe we will see his reaction today.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

Loved your recap, Jean. But you may have to go in for a beanie fitting and adjustment. You noticed far too many inconsistencies!

That WAS a new revelation that D8D and Ofelia didn't know they were blood relatives until she was already pregnant. The guy is such pond scum. If I remember rightly, he told Fernanda that he never could love her because of the almost incest thing. What a great thing to say to your child!

Gah! They had to go with the kidnapped baby trope. I hate kidnapped babies and hysterical mothers of kidnapped babies.

Did I remember correctly that the note about the kidnapped baby said it was from Jesús?

Loved yours and Hombre's comments about it being hard to be strong when you have a flask of aguardiente or a pint of ice cream close to hand.

I hope I never have a brain tumor and the specialist is Dr. Malpractice in Los Angeles (really Miami).

I got the impression Ringo did want Miggy killed in revenge for having killed EV. But maybe he didn't think Doña Victoria was the one to do it. He does seem to care about her. I guess he has a thing for blondes, having drooled all over Sam earlier on.
 

EL ROSTRO

NovelaMaven, have I completely lost it? I could have sworn Mariana told Ezequiel that she was not going to marry him a couple of nights ago. Then last night she told him that again, with the added twist that it was because she loved another man. Or was that maybe a preview? He seemed completely stunned by the news last night. ??????

So do we really think Carolina Pinto is the niña monstrua?

Loved "Blonde Gorgon". What is up with this creature? Is she the one who killed the kids?
 

El rostro

Hi Novelera! This thing is so insubstantial that it's hard to remember what happened from one night to the next. Mariana and Ezequiel have been an on again, off again thing for a while. Did she tell him to forget their wedding plans because he was a married man? Last night he was declaring himself officially free so Mariana couldn't use that as an excuse. Or that's what I assume. And it was the idea of a rival taking his place that made him go nuts.

Is Carolina Pinto the niña monstrua? Could be but I doubt it. She doesn't seem to be important enough for the elaborate cover-up. I have no idea why Tania and Valeria have decided to make Carolina believe she did it except to exert control over her. Gratitude and Guilt -- the behavior mod cocktail par excellence!
 

EL ROSTRO:

Also, Carolina's own father told her she did it.
 

NovelaMan,

Thank you so much for your response! The chemistry between Dana and Cristobal was amazing. I would like to see it again.

I cannot figure out if you are a man who likes telenovelas or if you are a woman who likes men in telenovelas.

In any case, many thanks!
 

Telemundo is running muy pronto ads for LA TENIENTE, an Azteca drama coming to Mun2.

re: Telefutura/UniMas

Televisa and Univision have signed a long-term deal with Colombia's Caracol TV to produce and broadcast Caracol content in Mexico and the US. So as Telefutura turns into UniMas in January, they've swapped one Colombian content producer (RCN - now on MundoFox) with the other (Caracol).

The Laura Carmine/Julian Gil LA USURPADORA inspired novela QUIEN ERES TU? and a Colombian crime drama called MADE IN CARTAGENA starring Carmen Villalobos premiere on Telefutura/UniMas on January 7.

QUIEN ERES TU? is a co-production between Televisa, Telefutura and RTI - the former Colombian production arm of Telemundo. I believe they are already working on another co-production for Telefutura called LAS BANDIDAS, a new version of LAS AMAZONAS, starring Ana Lucia Dominguez and Marco Mendez.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Miércoles

Leonel bursts out of the bathroom and immediately shoots Diego. He yells out “don't kill me” as he's pushed to the floor of the airplane. But the guard DOES kill him. If you ask me, maybe that guard was in on the whole thing. Anyway, the plane lands, Diego is rushed to the hospital. His sister and Marcos rush over, but they're too late. He's dead.

The government gets on the air, offers huge rewards for the capture of Pablo Escobar, or his lieutenants. Pictures of Gonzalo, Peluche, Chili and others are shown. Pablo remarks they're offering more than we're offering.

There's another huge public mourning demonstration, with real footage. Marco laments with Lígia, he says even though they used violence, we'll respond with peace. He tells Lígia maybe one day, divine intervention will stop the killing.

Chili comes back home to his mansion. His sister Mireya, living there, is bored. He agrees, what good is all this money if we can't live in peace? He has to leave again. But he gives her a satellite phone. I think he tells her not to use it, it's just so he can call her.

Lucio and Miguel embrace. Mission accomplished.

In the youth prison, Jason won't tell his grandmother anything. He also won't tell anything to Leonel's family, who wonder where he is, except that he's afraid Leonel isn't coming back.

Outside the home of Pabon's family in Bogotá, Chili calls her, anonymously telling her it looks like a car bomb outside her house. She frantically calls the police. Later she calls Pabon to tell him it was okay, they defused it. But Pabon is worried sick, and rushes to Bogotá to be with her. He's not sure what to do, but says she can't come to Medellín. No way. Pablo's plan of terrorizing is working.

The President goes on the radio, urges the people to help out the police. If you see one of Escobar's men, call us. You'll get a big reward. Immediately, tons of calls come in. Unfortunately, they're all frauds, as people just hope for the money. But one call is “real”, Pablo has one of his guys tell the cops to come to this outdoor restaurant. They do, and Candonga, Topo and crew kill the cops when they arrive! So much for the President's plan.

But guess what? Mireya just can't help using that big satellite phone. She calls someone, maybe a boyfriend, or maybe one of Escobar's underlings I don't recognize. Anyway, the cops pick this call up on their equipment. The guy says hi, Mireya, don't call me on this phone, always use the following number (and he gives the number and the cops got it!) Could it be that Chili's days are “numbered?”
 

El rostro de la venganza -- miércoles
In which our hero's peace in Patagonia is shattered by a brat on a mission.

Part 1 of 2

The maid discovers nasty señora Eliana sprawled unconscious but alas, still stirring, on the floor.

In D-Mart's apartment, Braterina rudely dismisses her mother's attempts to reach out to her. When her mother leaves, she gets a call from her father -- granny Eliana has had a heart attack!

Mariana tells Carolina that Martín is protecting the name of the niño monstruo. Carolina marvels at Martín's capacity for forgiveness. But if Martín won't be there, she sees no point in attending the Massacre Survivor Festival.

Take a deep breath, folks. Forget spoiled children of mafiosos, forget crowded, dangerous cities and people driven by their basest desires. The screen tells us we are in Chile. We see hunky, dreamy D-Mart as he walks along the beach and we listen to his thoughts as he composes a letter to Antonia. He crouches at the water's edge. He has finally found the peace he dreamed of.

In New York, Granny Eliana returns home, her heart damaged but not softened.

D-Mart is in a place where the word greed doesn't exist, a place where he can be in touch with what really matters.

The Alvarados are in a world of lawyers and contracts and figuring out who gets to keep what.

Mariana watches miserably as the work on her wedding gown proceeds.

And Diego, on the pristine beach, reflects: "Here, after 20 years, I finally understand the meaning of the word happiness."

TIEMPO DESPUÉS

Marcos is in AA celebrating 42 days of sobriety. He has shaven off his silly facial hair. Veronica and Alejandra are there to support him. All are looking forward to tomorrow's MassacreFest.

Mariana meets with the wedding planner while Eliana looks on sourly. Scratch Braterina off your guest list, she tells her future nuera. The crazy girl went to Chile to find Martín.
 

El rostro de la venganza -- miércoles
Part 2 of 2

Have you been missing Alex and Natalia? They are still in their apartment and still hard at work on MassacreFest. Everyone's coming but Martín. They understand their friend's need to be far away right now and are glad he seems happy in Chile. They are convinced that tomorrow's meeting will show Samaniego that their friend is innocent.

Let's look in on another couple:
Samaniego's sleep-tousled head and bare chest emerge from under the covers. "I needed that," he says, "although I suppose Valeria knows all about it." Now we see his companion -- it's Tania. "You think so, Freddy?" she replies with a worried look. He reassures her -- she'll be safe as long as she is loyal to him.

Crap! Martín's Patagonian idyll is rudely interrupted by Braterina's arrival. Armed with daddy's credit card, she has come to take him back to New York. But for now she wants to go someplace a little more glam than his modest hostel.

New character alert! *Patricia's* flight from Colombia was a bit late but Valeria is still delighted to see her. Miguel Angel also seems to be taking an interest in this young woman. Curiouser and curiouser.

Martín teaches Braterina a new word: "bacán" -- that's what you call a good person in Chile, he tells her. And there's a bacán in the next room over with a mattress free if Braterina wants a place to sleep tonight.

Back in New York, Ezequiel tolerates Luciano's presence in the office but continues to reject him as a son. Would Ezequiel feel differently if he knew that Luciano had kept a secret out of loyalty to him? Because even though Luciano knows that Marcos is the real niño monstruo, he has no intention of betraying the family secret at the meeting at the Samaniego house.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE –miércoles – Part 1

We get Novelera’s least favorite scene- a hysterical mom of a kidnapped baby – in spades as FF goes nuts. She accuses NB of being responsible and of course, she’s right but nobody believes her.

EM stops kissing Lady saying that he can’t hurt her; she’s too special. Lady is understandably annoyed that he keeps teasing her but she agrees to help him get Sam.

Arturo is with Sam and Willy!! Willy asks Sam if that model was really with EM. Sam replies that it is not surprising – EM is a handsome guy.

FF continues to have hysterics. Gus says that no one could have gotten into NB’s place so it must have been one of them.

Angie calls JM, who in the hospital. He keeps up the pretence of being on his business trip. Laura shows up at the hospital having somehow found out about JM’s being there. She reiterates to JM that he shouldn’t lie to Angie. JM replies that he is doing this for Angie and for him.

Miggy demands that NB’s guy tell him if any of them took the baby. If he finds out they were involved, he says that he will kill them. Then he realizes that one guy, Lalo, is missing. NB instantly concludes that Lalo has sold out to EM.

Sam tries to seduce Willy by saying how hot she is and taking off her robe to reveal a sexy nightie. Willy seems interested but finally tells Arturo that they will go to his room, which is air conditioned. Sam is frustrated again.

We see JM having his biopsy. This was pretty silly. JM’s head was immobilized with what looked like masking tape and Dr. Malpractice was sticking a laparascopic camera up JM’s nose. You can’t get to the brain from there!!! But this did obviate the need to drill a hole in his skull, which is what you’d have to do to biopsy a brain tumor and which would be pretty hard to disguise.

Meanwhile Génesis gets a call from JM’s office looking for him. She tells Angie who realizes that JM has lied to her about his trip.

NB calls Lalo and tells him not to screw up. Lalo is at the airport. He hands off the baby to our friend the doctor, whom we learn is named, Dr. Velasquez. We see the doctor getting on a plane to go somewhere with the baby.

Miggy tells NB that he is going to go look for the baby and he won’t leave any Matamoros’ alive. NB tells him that only she knows where EM is.

We see EM talking to someone that is revealed to be Dummy Duval. He’s not Dumb; he’s Dirty. He tells EM that he needs money to continue not to advance the investigation. EM is concerned about Laura – she could recognize him. Duval resassures him that Laura isn’t a problem – she has quit the force and is afraid for her daughter (who could also id EM. Later Jéssica tells Sam that she wants to meet the “scientist” she is working for.) Sam shows up at EM’s place. EM tells her that Duval recommended her bodyguard agency to him. Sam asks how they met and EM launches into a long, unnecessarily complex story about Duval and EM and their spouses both going to Playa del Carmen and bonding over bad beach books while their wives cavorted in the sea.

 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

fLORIDIA

I am a 20yo man. The first novela i watched was SIN SENOS, the second MAS SABE EL DIABLO, then DONDE ESTA ELISA. So watching Cristobal Rivas was like seeing an older, darker, more agressive Jimmy Cardona. But i really wish JLP could've been Miggy Jr intead of Gabriel.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE - jueves - Part 2

Miggy is sending Camilo and Gus to LA. NB warns them about some unhappy customers who might try and stop them from reaching the airport.

Angie tells Nora that JM lied to her about his business trip. She says that she trusted him. Meanwhile, JM tells Laura that he won’t tell Angie about his medical testing until it can’t be avoided (which won’t be long). Laura tells JM that she will help him.

Lady tells Willy that she went to EM’s house but she believes that he really likes his bodyguard. Cut to Sam teaching EM karate, which necessarily involves a lot of body contact. In a funny scene, Willy asks Lady exactly how EM spoke and looked at Sam.

Gus, Camilo and Clara decide not to leave Colombia until Alma is found.

The Reptile is angry at D8D for hiding the truth from her all these years. In a pity party, Rotten Rod says that he is the victim. His mother never cared about him and shipped him off to a boarding school and never acknowledged his birthdays. The Reptile says that she wants to be able to look in Ofélia´s eyes and call her, “mother” but she can’t.

NB pays off Lalo and tells him to leave town and never return. When he turns away from her to leave, she shoots him in the back. The three Musketeers (Miggy, Camilo and Gus) hear the shots and come running but arrive too late. Miggy goes ballistic.

Doña Piedad calls EM and tells him that she is going back to her house. She doesn’t like D8D and the Reptile and what they are doing. She hangs up when the Reptile comes into the room. The Reptile wants Doña Piedad to have a séance to contact Ofélia in the “mas allá.”

Miggy has to tell FF that he was too late. FF says that NB wanted her to leave Colombia but she stayed to help Miggy find Camilo so that what happened is Miggy’s fault. Miggy promises her to find her baby.

JM comes home. Angie asks why he lied to her. “Don’t you love me anymore?” He tells her that he had medical studies done but everything is ok. His symptoms were the result of stress. Angie asks him to forgive her.

Nic is starting to walk on his own.

EM calls Sam and tells her that he is at the swimming pool and is afraid. He has gotten threats. Sam says that she will come to his place. NB then calls EM and tells him that his end is near.

Doña Piedad is doing a séance for the Reptile with a Ouija board.

Miggy finds out that FF has disappeared. FF goes to a bar with a gun and demands to know where EM is. NB lies to Miggy about conversations she had with EM about and money exchange for the baby.

Sam arrives at EM’s place and finds him floating facedown in the pool.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

I found yesterday episode hilarious. I busted out laughing a couple of times. I love the fact that Ringo told the Reptile "look I will kidnap,torture and kill for you, but contact the dead...nope not happening. Lol. I was pleasantly surprised about Dummy Duval working for EM. The writers can surprise you. -- Nia

 

EL ROSTRO

great recap, NovelaMaven. you didn't miss anything. thanks.

pobre Martin - his idyllic life disrupted by 'Braterina.' haha I like her new name.

I like his new look too. and his hairstyle is better than the one he sported in NY.
 

LA MARIPOSA on MundoFox

is anyone watching this? it started Tues night, and I am hooked. yes, another novela about the drug industry. The others (La Reina, Escobar) didn't hold my interest, but for some reason, this did.

The protagonists (never seen them before) are compelling to watch.

IMHO, it's well made. they're going to re-run the four episodes this Sunday.

would be nice if i'm not alone in this.
 

mun2

Anon: thanks for the info on Pasion de Gavilanes. I'll try to watch it, as it stars Cimarro, and Michael Brown who is now in La Mariposa.

'wonder when it'll start.
 

Pablo Escobar -

thanks so much Hombre !!!
(don't know how you do it)

Tiberio Cruz as "Diego Pizano" (Carlos Pizarro Leongómez),
the real guy has a wiki page, looks just like Tiberio,

there is a spoiler on that page, in that it discloses the outcome of the election,
so I'll summarize,

"He enlisted in the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC)) at the age of 18 years. Because of disagreements with the group's leaders, he left FARC and with Jaime Bateman, Alvaro Fayad "the Turk", Luis Otero Cifuentes, Vera Grabe and others, founded the April 19 Movement (M-19), at the end of 1973."

"The 6 of November of " 1985 "Alvaro Fayad orders the taking of the Palace of Justice"

"The government ignoring the requests of the group, orders the army to attack the building, without surviving the guerrillas nor the hostages who requested ceasefire and the respect to the life."

"Pizarro became commander of M-19 in 1986, following the Palace of Justice siege."

"After 19 years in operation the group, commanded by Pizarro, began negotiating with the Colombian government, in April 1989, for demobilization conditional on certain grounds. The primary request of the group was a full pardon for all prior activities as well as the right to form a political party. M-19 in return agreed to turn over all weapons and not to return to violent activities, the demobilization date was set for mid December 1989."

"Following the signing of the accord, M-19 announced Pizarro would officially run as the groups presidential nomination in the 1990 elections."

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

(and so this brings this up to our story)
 

El rostro de la venganza

Thanks, Shallowgal. I'm glad to know that a few of us are still watching this show. And I agree completely about David Chocarro's new look -- very easy on the eyes:)
 

MundoFox

Hey Shallowgal, my provider (U-Verse) doesn't offer this station, at least in my market. Drat!
 

El Rostro -

I'm not watching this, but maybe tonight,
I hear, Marlene Favela, appears.

 

MundoFox

NM, but I have U-Verse too. it's channel 22 or 1022hd. that's odd. I'm in the LA area; where are you?
 

MundoFox

Shallowgal, I'm in Wisconsin and we have no channel 22 or 1022. It takes a while for new things to reach us here in the heartland.
 

Corazon Valiente -

thanks so much Jean !!!

I don't suppose someone can tell Miggy that el Mesias isn't even there?
maybe it's time to charter a BIG plane back to Hollywood,
as it's looking like Ivonne has outlived her usefulness,
(killing her loyal hunk guy is not novela acceptable),
and the Castillo's are running out of people to torture,
It should be fun watching el Mesias conceal his identity when the out-of-towners return,
especially as I suspect he will be caring for a baby.
 

MundoFox

ah,NM... me entiendo.
 

Pablo Escobar

Hombre, I always look forward to your recaps. You have really mastered the art of telling a suspenseful story. Thank you so much.

And thank you, Deb, for the additional info on the Tiberio Cruz character.

I found an online PDF (which I won't cite because it's probably pirated but I'm sure anyone can find it who wants it) of Gabriel García Márquez's "Noticia de un secuestro". It is a journalistic/historical treatment of the real-life kidnappings ca. 1990. Because the language is sober and straightforward, it is a little easier to read some of the author's fiction.

I think other people have mentioned this slender volume here already -- Novelera, did you say you were reading it? I wasn't ready for it before but I am now.
 

Pablo Escobar

I meant to say "easier to read THAN some of the author's fiction."
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE
Thank you so much Jean for the great recap , I love the term "The three Musketeers" you use for the great team
(Miggy, Camilo and Gus) , I love their adventures and any action they inter in ,hope Miggy can find his daughter and I am sure that finding Alma causes exciting advantures....
 

LA MARIPOSA

I'm checking this one out, at least for a few weeks, maybe longer. anyway, it's a pretty short novela, only 60 episodes.

There are a few familiar faces. The lead girl, Maria Adelaida Puerta, was Catalina in the original Colombian "Sin tetas no hay paraiso" and had a memorable role in the first "El Capo" series.

The male lead, Michel Brown, who is playing an American on this show (it's largely set in Miami), was in a bunch of Telemundo's Colombian productions in the mid-2000s like "Amores de mercado" and "Madre Luna."

Bit of irony of casting, the big drug jefe on "La Mariposa" is the same actor (Ernesto Benjumea) who played lara Bonilla, on "Escobar," the Minister of Justice and first big national figure Pablo had assassinated.

Also, Salvador Zerboni is on "La Mariposa," he's playing an American agent. He was most recently on "Abismo de pasion" and played Ratas on "Reina del Sur."
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

NovelaMaven, I began reading News of a Kidnapping in English when Pablo Escobar first started. So many books, so little time. And I've only managed to get through a couple of chapters.

In my Spanish Literature class we read Relato de un Náufrago by García Márquez, a book written in the first person in, I suppose, the as-told-to style. It concerned a man who fell off a Colombian vessel and was shipwrecked for 10 days. It's a great addition to the "survivor" literature. GGM was a reporter before and during his career as a novelist. His non-fiction stuff is really good.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE

Thank you for great recap.

I am not surprised Duval was not a good guy. He was just too annoying to be one.

I love how the storyline between Miggy and FF is being played out. I think it's been terrific acting, the facial expressions of both actors have been compelling.

But to me it looked like D8D was trying not to laugh during Reptile's scenes when she was saying she hated him.

And the last thing, really Miggy, you're not going to believe FF about NB???, NB who set you up in bed...I don't get it.
 

MARLENE FAVELA

In celebration of Marlene Favela joining EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA, I hope you all will indulge me this bit of nonsense. Indicative of nothing other than I have too much time on my hands: "Marlene Favela's Rough Telenovela History on Horses - an observation from watching far too many Marlene Favela telenovelas."

http://rgmsblahg.blogspot.com/2012/12/marlene-favela-horses-part-of-i-watch.html
 

El rostro

RG, we will not only indulge you, we will egg you on! Well played, my friend!

Luckily for Marlene, there are no horses to be seen in El rostro de la venganza (though there is no shortage of horse's asses).
 

LOL!!! Good one RG.
 

LA MARIPOSA/ MundoFox

aaahhh!!! gracias a dios, RG.

I only saw a few episodes of La Reina, and Abismo. I did notice the actor Salvador Zerboni in both, and he is fascinating to watch. seeing him play a good guy in this show is refreshing.

Happy to hear this show has only 60 episodes.
 

Corazon Valiente
Thanks Jean for the recap! Don't know if there are new writers onboard, but the last several weeks we have had more interesting character development (okay I admit--it's all about Miguel Varoni!).
NovelaMan--if you watched "Mas Sabe El Diablo", you remember what a boring villain Varoni was in that? Too one dimensional. I don't see how they can kill off Jesus after giving him so many playful and funny sequences...
Hopefully he will survive the Finale.
J in Oregon
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Jueves, Part 1

Ex Colonel Andrade has come to see Pabon. He says Pablo Escobar's men have his wife and children tied up. He said he will give you $5 million to call off your pursuit of him. We see Kiko and Cain do have the family tied up. Andrade comes in, I told him what you said.

Cut to Pabon, at the airfield to say goodbye to his wife Elena, he's returning to Medellín. He tells her of the offer. $5 million is a lot, but no, of course he won't do it. She's proud of him. Elena backs him 100%, and seems fearless. She tells him that if that nut made that offer, he must be getting a bit scared. You must be getting closer. Pabon says yes, there's a long way to go, but we're making progress. They kiss warmly.

Aguirre and a bunch of fully armed police arrive at a pool hall, Aguirre demands to know who's in charge. It's the guy Mireya called, Fabricio Suleta. Aguirre asks where Mireya lives. Well, I guess she's at that new apartment. Fine, says Aguirre, you're going to tell me where that is, right?

Miguel meets with Pablo. Pablo is, of course, mad, since Miguel killed another politician and Pablo got blamed. Miguel says I can't provide you with much protection. But I have a guy who can set up a bunker for you to hide in. Let me introduce Freddie Perea, head of the Self Defense Forces for the area of Magdalena Medio. And here's Evéncio Diaz (the guy who killed Galán, now out of jail!), the second in command. Pablo is suspicious, since he tried to have Evéncio killed in prison. But these guys are cool as ice. Freddie explains that Gustavo Ramirez (the late Mariachi) was good to us. And we want to do our part now. The cops never did penetrate Mariachi's area (they got him when he was on vacation). And Evéncio says I'm out of jail now, and my brother (Baldy) hasn't squealed, so there's no more problem. Pablo agrees. He'll listen to their plan.

Aguirre sees Chili from afar. The info was right. It's a raid! The cops kill two guards, start moving in. Inside, Chili sees what's going on, tells Mireya to pack. He gets out several guns. Many, many cops start moving up the floors of his mansion/condo. Mireya begs him to turn himself in, but he won't. Back at cop headquarters, Pabon and son are monitoring the situation. Pabon assures Martín the family is fine. The phone rings. Someone knows exactly where to find Pablo Escobar, and doesn't want a reward! It turns out to be Freddy. Is this a trap?!

Pablo wonders where Chili is, he's late. Very late. The cops are yelling at the door, Mireya is despondent, hugging him, when they blow up the door and move in. In the smoke, they quickly find Mireya. Where's your brother? She looks his way. He's on the ledge, yells, Let her go! He raises his gun, and Aguirre fires. Chili's hit, and goes over the ledge to his death 20 feet below. Mireya collapses in sobs. We see the bloody body of Chili from below, arm grotesquely extended through a grate.
 

PABLO ESCOBAR, Part 2

Isabel comes to visit her husband Javier Pineda in jail. She feels shame. He wants her to help. He's no traitor. Oh come on, what about Quintana? He says quiet, I only told them I was passing info. Oh, is that all? He tells her he needs her support.

There's a funeral procession for Chili. Mireya is leading it, and we see Candonga and Buitre. We see Pabon observing from the shadows, in full armor. Back at Pablo's headquarters, Topo loses it. He starts sobbing, then pulls his gun on Pablo, but Pablo calmly talks him down, hugs him. Don't worry, Chili was a warrior. And we're going to avenge his death. The others are pensive.

So here's Freddy, a big man in the barrio, meeting with Major Aguirre in the neighborhood. Freddy tells him, I know the exact location of Escobar. But who are you? I'm just a loyal Colombian. And I have nothing against how Escobar earns his money. But I don't like what he DOES with the money. Okay, says Aguirre, I'm listening.

So, is this guy really going against Escobar? Or is it another trap? Stay tuned.
 

El rostro de la venganza -- jueves

In which the novela clichés are thick on the ground -- a false paternity claim (maybe a fake pregnancy too) designed to lure Martín back to New York; a sexpot nurse (Marlene Favela) in towering tacones for cranky old Enelia; a frustrated wife seeking solace in the bed of a patán.

Mariana tells Ezequiel that his mother's nurse starts tomorrow. Ezequiel surprises Mariana by saying he wouldn't mind seeing Braterina and Martín together. In fact, he'd welcome him as a son-in-law.

Diana is choosing her outfit for tomorrow's MassacreFest. She admits to her mother that she's nervous about seeing Luciano again.

Luciano is thinking about Diana too when Natalia shows up at his apartment, ostensibly to ask him if he's going to tomorrow's MassacreFest. Why would he want to see those losers? he asks. His friends were all killed by the niño monstruo. Natalia, who seems to be listening to her hormones and not Luciano's obnoxious words, leans in for a kiss. She seems to have second thoughts in mid-clinch, perhaps because the illicit sex music is so very loud. But it doesn't take much persuading to arouse her interest again.

While Natalia is preparing to get horizontal with Luciano, Alex is fussing over tomorrow's menu with Federico Samaniego. Patricia from Colombia enters smiling and greets Alex by name -- she remembers him as an old classmate; he recognizes her from her films and telenovelas. So Patricia is a famous actress!

Braterina and Martín dine together. He has never been happier, he tells her, and plans to stay in paradisiacal Patagonia. And yes, he still thinks about Antonia.

Chez Samaniego, Tania is thinking aloud when she tells her kid she may tell Federico the truth ... he has been so good to her ... oops ... Valeria walks in on that last part. How much did she hear?

Luciano is dancing Natalia towards his bedroom. Cha Cha Cha. She sure has a lot of moles on her back.

The following morning:

Mariana admits to Carolina that she is still pining for Martín.

Alex confronts Natalia as she creeps quietly back into the apartment: "Where the devil have you been all night?" She admits she was with a man -- she loves Alex but she needed to feel desired.

Braterina wakes up Martín. First, there's a mouse in her room. Second, she's having a baby. "You're gonna be a daddy, Martin." Martín is dumbfounded. Didn't they use protection? Well no, she was just an innocent virgin, remember? Is she sure? Yup -- she went to the doctor and everything.

Stripper music, sky-high heels, tight jeans, shapely derrière, wolf whistles in the street. The doorbell sounds. It's the nurse Mariana hired for Enelia! "Buenos días," says Marlene Favela with a sweet smile. "Mi nombre es Alicia Ferrer. Mucho gusto." Alvarado padre y hijo seem momentarily dazzled. Much gusto indeed.

It seems that 42 days of sobriety have gotten Marcos into Veronica's bed. She is even bringing him his morning coffee. He gets her to dig in his pants pockets for his keys. She pulls out a ring box instead. That's a rock and a half inside! "Mi amor, ¿quieres casarte conmigo?"

Braterina tries again. "Are you coming back to New York with me?" "No, Katerina, I can't." He's not ready to be a father nor does he think she's ready to be a mother. Is she sure she wants to have this baby? What? Is he suggesting an abortion? No way! He can stay where he is and play at being a hippie; she's going to have her baby with or without his help!
 

Corazon Valiente
Okay, Fabiola is even more annoying than 'Sofia' in "Fuego en la Sange", endlessly moaning "Donde esta mi hiiiiijjjjaaaaaa???"... Somebody make her stop!
J in Oregon
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – jueves – Part 1

Sam arrives at EM’s pool, sees him floating there, dives in and pulls him out of the pool. [I guess she changed into her bathing suit before she left her house.] She starts giving EM CPR.

FF is still going crazy firing her gun into the ceiling of the bar demanding to know where EM is. Finally some guys come and overpower her.

Willy tells Nora that Sam’s work is always comes first over her family. She is a addicted to the action and adrenaline. He hoped that when they had a family, she would change like he did but she didn’t. He says that he loves Sam with all his heart but she isn’t the woman that he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

There’s a knock on the door and it’s Lady. She apologizes for coming so late and asks if Willy has time to see her. He replies that he has nothing but time for her.

Sam revives EM.

At the séance, the Reptile says that she feels the presence of Ofélia. She tells the astral Ofélia that she didn’t treat her well when she was alive. She knows that Ofélia loved her and asks her forgiveness. She receives a psychic forgiveness. Then the ouija board starts shaking and the Reptile asks what is happening. Doña Piedad replies that Ofélia wants the Reptile to look for her. The Reptile looks like she has been possessed by the devil and leaves. Doña Piedad is relieved that the Reptile didn’t attack her and crosses herself.

JM and Angie are going to honeymoon with the kids at that park in Orlando. [I guess you have to pay to mention Disneyworld by name.]

The Reptile says that she is Ofélia’s instrument now. What does she want?

EM tells Sam that he was swimming, felt a blow on the head and then nothing. Sam tells him not to leave his apartment alone again.

The 3 musketeers arrive at the only bar in Colombia too late as usual. They are told FF was there and went crazy.

FF wakes up and Ringo is there. She begs him to ask EM to return her baby.

Lady tells Willy that she ran away from EM’s place because she got a call saying that anyone around EM would be killed.

Laura comes to see JM and Angie to find out if Clara, Camilo and Gus have returned from Colombia as scheduled. JM replies that they haven’t heard anything. Then Angie gets a call from Gus telling her about the kidnapping of FF’s baby by EM. Laura is outraged that EM would do something so cruel and says that she will help the police create a drawing of EM.

Ringo tells FF that EM is far away and had nothing to do with the kidnapping of her baby. Naturally, FF doesn’t believe this. Doña Piedad comes in and confirms that nobody in this house was involved with taking her baby. FF asks Doña Piedad where her baby is. Doña Piedad replies that the baby is far away and is caught in a war between two demonios. She advises FF to pray that these demonios don’t do too much damage to each other or she will never see her child again. Ringo tells FF that he is waiting for EM to tell him whether to kill her or not.

 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – jueves – Part 2

While she is at EM’s place, Sam gets a call from Miggy telling her about the kidnapping of the baby by EM. She mentions this briefly to EM and he asks to hear the whole story.

Willy calls Sam and tells her what Lady said about people who are near EM being in danger. Sam brushes off his warning.

Laura, JM and Angie go to Duval and tell him about the kidnapping. He says (naturally) that he can’t do anything. Laura says that she can do something and offers to help the police make a drawing of EM.

FF is in the dungeon. Like the rest of us, Ringo is tired of her endless laments about her baby. He tells her again that he is waiting for EM’s decision on what to do with her.
Doña Piedad shows up and tells Ringo that the Reptile went crazy after the séance. She says that she took off her clothes and is wandering on the road naked. She urges Ringo to go find her. When he leaves, she tells FF that she and FF will escape from this place.

NB calls the doctor and checks in on the baby. She tells him to wait for instructions. Clara comes in and tells NB that she doesn’t understand why EM is interested in FF’s baby. She understood EV’s interest: he was in love with FF. NB replies that EM is unpredictable and cruel.

Sam has told EM the story of the baby kidnapping. He tells her that he wants to help and has contacts at the police. Sam replies that the police won’t go to some places. She tells EM that she is afraid for the baby and that in a confrontation between EM and Miggy, one of them will end up dead. When she leaves, EM calls up Ringo and wants to know that the heck is going on with FF’s baby.

The 3 musketeers find the Reptile naked (but modestly posed) in the road apparently unconscious. They wrap her in a blanket. She says that she isn’t Fernanda or Doña Victoria and then says a lot of crazy stuff. The musketeers put her in their car.

Angie and JM decide to postpone their wedding festivities because of the situation with FF’s baby but they will get married.

Neither EM nor Ringo can figure out what is going on with FF’s baby. They review the possible culprits in the house: Ringo says that the Reptile has gone crazy and is obsessed with her mother and D8D and Rotten Rod have gone back to LA.

Doña Piedad calls EM from the dungeon. EM tells Ringo to let FF go. He doesn’t want any trouble with Valdez family members. He asks to speak to FF. “Yo no fuí,” (it wasn’t me), he says and reminds her that he warned her to be careful with NB.

The 3 musketeers bring the Reptile to NB’s place much to NB’s annoyance. Miggy says that the Reptile might be useful in negotiations like Rotten Rod was. FF calls Miggy.

 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE – jueves – Part 3

Duval comes to see EM and tells him the bad news that Laura has agreed to help a police artist do a drawing of EM. EM tells Duval that this must not happen.

Miggy comes to Doña Piedad’s house for FF. [Doña Piedad seems to have an extensive collection of yellow turbans.] FF tells Miggy that NB took the baby. Miggy asks how she knows and she replies that EM told her so.

EM tells Gigante that he faked the drowning and wanted to kiss Sam back when she was giving him the “kiss of life.” Gigante asks about the warning from NB. EM says that he will have to be careful. Meanwhile NB is calling somebody and telling that person that EM is on guard and this person has to wait for the right moment.

Lady reports to EM that she told Willy what EM wanted her to say. She says that Willy and Sam love each other. Why can’t EM leave them in peace and fall in love with her? EM replies that life (at least in novelas) is complicated.

Camilo is guarding the Reptile who even unconcsious manages to have a boob partially exposed. She wakes up and asks if they are in heaven or hell because if they are in hell, let’s burn together. She gets up, climbs up on Camilo’s lap and starts kissing him. Of course he doesn’t just push her off like a normal person would. So of course Clara comes in and seems them kissing and runs away. Camilo follows her leaving the Reptile unguarded.

D8D comes to see JM. After a pointless conversaton, JM collapses. [I liked how D8D poked him with his cane.]

EM calls Laura from outside Jéssica’s school. He asks her not to make him choose between the life of her daughter and his liberty because he will choose his liberty. Laura turns pale and hangs up the phone. None of the people standing around: Duval, Angie or Sam make a connection between Laura suddenly turning pale and the call she just got. Duval is called away but Laura says that she wants to go ahead and do the drawing.

FF finally convinces Miggy that NB is behind the kidnapping of her baby. She points out that NB didn’t want Miggy to go back to LA and now they are all staying with her. She says that no stranger could have entered their bunker undetected and that Lalo was killed.

JM wakes up in a hospital. D8D is there. He tells JM that he is really sick. At that moment, Angie comes into the room.

EM is talking to Duval on the phone. EM says that he can’t believe that Laura had the drawing made. Sam arrives. EM asks how she is and she says, “mal” because now she knows the face of EM.

Miggy grabs NB’s neck and says that if she was involved in kidnapping FF’s baby, he will kill her. She replies that if he kills her, he will never see his daughter.

 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

Great recap, Jean! Well things are really happening now.

I think of all the cast members, Aylin Mujica (Reptile) would be most likely to agree to pose naked on the road like that (having posed nude in magazines in real life).

Although it sort of "fits", I really don't think the writers decided to make Duval corrupt until recently. They may not have even thought up the character of EM all the way back. Anyway, Duval is dumb AND dirty.

Sure, you can just "fake" being drowned.

I'm glad Laura finally didn't cave to the pressure. Maybe she knows that in a telenovela, they're never going to kill an innocent 15 year old girl.

Angie is a nurse (/caterer/bodyguard), you'd think she could a) recognize JM's lying about his symptoms, or b) call the doctor behind his back (don't all characters usually do this) and find out the truth.

Yesterday someone commented they'd like to see EM survive. But I think Piedad predicted Willy would somehow be the "end" of EM, and as we all know, psychics are never wrong.

Sam really doesn't seem to have very good radar to know when guys are obsessed with her. She was clueless as to El Jefe, and now as to EM, although HOPEFULLY, she now knows the truth as to EM.
 

oops. I mean "padre e hijo". (mutter mutter grumble)
 

CORAZON VALIENTE-

Thanks, Hombre but I'm guessing you are going to be disappointed by the police drawing of EM. No spoiler but I'm guessing that Laura's solution to her dilemma was to create a drawing of someone who doesn't look like EM at all.

Can you fake being drowned? I actually looked up the rules for CPR. Getting heart compressions when your heart is actually beating can cause damage but isn't fatal. You are supposed to do 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths. I think the hardest thing would be not breathing or breathing very shallowly while you are getting the chest compressions.

I agree that Dummy Duval turning dirty was a recent decision of the writers.

 

CORAZON VALIENTE:

As always thanks for the recap.

Hombre, I think you hit it on the head on the failure of the Angela character. She seems to be the most inconsistent of all.

"Angie is a nurse (/caterer/bodyguard), you'd think she could a) recognize JM's lying about his symptoms, or b) call the doctor behind his back (don't all characters usually do this) and find out the truth."

I missed I guess someone shutting up FF, boy was that annoying.

I too like EM, and I hope instead of a bodybag, we see him say "I quit the business" and he becomes another person. That would fit the psychics prediction.

I did not understand the Reptile thing about "find Ofelia?". What does that mean?
 

Pablo Escobar -

thanks so much Hombre !!!

Anderson Ballesteros as "El Chili" (John Jairo Arias Tascón "Pinina")
wow, I was totally impressed with this actor and hope to see him again,
so lets see what the real guy was like,
http://www.semana.com/wf_ImprimirArticulo.aspx?IdArt=46839


"De acuerdo con las investigaciones adelantadas por el DAS, "Pinina" tenía una larga amistad con Pablo Escobar. A su lado se había hecho un hombre rico por sus acciones al frente de los grupos de sicarios. Tanto que llegó a ser el quinto en la Jerarquía de la organización y, según las autoridades, el jefe de escoltas de Escobar.
Como en la mayoría de estos delincuentes, su niñez transcurrió en medio de la pobreza y la violencia de los barrios marginales de Medellín. Antes de los quince años ya conocía muchos de los secretos del oficio. Había sido raponero a los 12, pandillero a los 14 y a los 15 hizo sus primeros trabajos como sicario. Era, para entonces, uno de esos adolescentes que iba a recibir entrenamiento en las escuelas de sicarios organizadas por el cartel, en las afueras de Medellín. Su sangre fría, su instinto para matar y el arrojo demostrado en los entrenamientos contrastaban con su figura frágil y, más aún, con la voz chillona que le valió los apodos de "Pinina" y "Andrea" con los que sus compinches lo bautizaron, pues la encontraban parecida a la de la niña actriz argentina Andrea del Boca.
Muy rápidamente ascendió en la jerarquía del sicariato hasta llegar a ser considerado uno de los hombres más cercanos a Pablo Escobar. Una de las cosas que más le ayudó en su oficio fue el conocimiento que tenía de las gentes de la comuna. Era un tigre para reclutar muchachos para el sicariato. Por eso, el primer magnicidio del cartel, el asesinato del ministro Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, se le encomendó a él. Fue él quien contrató y pagó a Byron de Jesús Velásquez, Iván Darío Guizao Alvarez y a los demás integrantes de la banda que cometió el asesinato en 1983.
Pero, su gran prueba como hombre de confianza del narcotráfico tuvo lugar en 1988 cuando Escobar lo envió al Valle con la misión de desatar la guerra contra el cartel de Cali. En compañía de otros sicarios recibió la orden de organizar el asesinato de las principales cabezas del narcotráfico en esa ciudad. Para lograrlo, "Pinina" compró apartamento y finca en lugares cercanos adonde residían y tenían propiedades los jefes del cartel de Cali. La operación fracasó después de que las autoridades en Medellín, tras una serie de allanamientos en la capital antioqueña, descubrieron y divulgaron los pormenores del plan.
Pero como el fracaso no había sido su culpa siguió gozando del aprecio de los jefes del cartel de Medellín, quienes para protegerlo, decidieron su traslado a Bogotá y desde entonces alternó sus actividades entre estas dos ciudades. "Pinina" pasó del magnicidio al carro-bomba y al crimen colectivo. Organizó y ordenó la racha de explosiones que ha dejado 262 civiles muertos, 129 policías asesinados en Medellín y miles de damnificados en todo el país.
El final de uno de los hombres más buscados por las autoridades militares y de policía se logró después de una larga labor de inteligencia que se inició hace cerca de un mes. El éxito del operativo se debió a la información entregada por un ciudadano que se comunicó en varias oportunidades con la comandancia de la policía de Antioquia para suministrar información sobre el paradero de "Pinina". Como recompensa por su información, el gobierno nacional le entregará, en absoluta reserva, cien millones de pesos.

(looks like the actor played the character, very well)

(for challenged people like me, this translates pretty well with Google translate),
http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#es|en|
 

Corazon Valiente -

thanks so much Jean,

seems like I read a spoiler a long time ago about Dummy Duval being dirty, but discounted it, but anyway, he doesn't do that very well either.

I too think, from Sammi's expression when she tells the Scientist she now has seen la Mesias' face, that Laura gave them a wrong face.

I posted a pic of the obsessed Reptiles road kill pose at TW, but, it seems if our boys hadn't of stopped, bump, bump, I don't think anyone would have noticed or cared,

funny how Camilo goes running after Clara, and tells the obsessed Reptile to stay put, after the endless torture that she and her dad gave him, nice guys are always being caught off guard by true evil.
 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE-

Hi Deb: I didn't really understand what Doña Piedad meant either. The Reptile told the spirit of Ofélia that somehow, someday they would meet again (probably in hell). The ouija board shakes. The Reptile asks what that means and DP says: "Quiere que usted la vaya a buscar," which I would translate as, "She wants you to go look for her." Then the Reptile gets the devil look. Beats me.

Nellie: I don't think there was a spoiler that Duval was dirty. When he showed up a long time ago, he was just the latest in a line of dirty cops. At the time, we speculated whether he was dirty, too. Up until now, all we have seen is that he has been clean but incompetent.


 

CORAZÓN VALIENTE

First rate recap, Jean!!!

I thought that the message from el más allá was expressed as buscarla, but I interpreted that as join her in death. Sadly, she did not do that, unless lying in the road was an attempt.

There was a spoiler on Telenovela World about Duval being dirty, but I also took it with a grain of salt and thought he was just mentally challenged.

I'm sure that Laura had the police artist draw a fat, bald guy with a small nose. There have been several funny narizón lines since Varoni joined the cast. And, when Sam was leaning over him preparing to do mouth-to-mouth, you could see the huge nostrils clearly! Sam would not have calmly arrived to talk with EM if she knew who he was. She might still have come, of course, but with gun drawn.

J in Oregon, good one about the similarities between Sofía in Fuego and FF in this one. At least things often get discovered quickly in this novela. NB has now lost all hope of hanging onto Miggy as her lover. She can spite him with not telling the location of the baby, but he's not jumping into bed with her anytime soon.
 

CORAZON VALIENTE-

Not that it matters but I went back and looked at the seance scene. Dona Piedad said what I wrote above but captions had it the other way: Quiere que usted vaya a buscarla. I don't think it makes any difference meaning wise. I also thought maybe it meant, hurry up and join her in death to which I say, "what are you waiting for?" ;-)
 

PABLO ESCOBAR

Super recap of an exciting episode, Hombre. Pabon is a real hero.

That surely was an ambiguous ending. It's quite possible Freddy and Evencio would want to sell out Escobar. The reward is huge. And Evencio may not be 100% convinced Pablo won't eliminate him to remove the connection to the assassination of Galán.

Thanks so much, Deb, for the post about the real Chili - Pinina. It appears that the writers were very accurate in their portrayal of this guy.
 

EL ROSTRO

Very funny recap, NovelaMaven. Sometimes you can get more juice out of the lemons!

I groaned out loud when Braterina came up with her pregnancy gambit. Of course, Martín cannot stay in Chile, so I suppose her gambit will work. Are we going to be treated to a foam rubber baby bump? I hate, hate, hate the awful cliché of a drugged galán waking up next to some witch who tells him what a stud he was last night.

Of course Mariana calmly going ahead with the wedding plans and accepting a kiss from Ezequiel is totally ridiculous, as is 100 roses smoothing things over after that violent scene he made. After all, she could just leave town and never say who "the other man" was and everyone is safe.

It's interesting, NM, that you called Ezequiel's mother Enelia. That's the name of the very devious mother of Pablo Escobar. While Ezequiel's mother is Eliana. They are, of course, much alike!
 

El Rostro

Ay ay ay, Novelera -- what's wrong with me, mixing up my evil matriarchs like that. I looked in the Susana Dosamantes catalog and thought I'd picked the right one. Oh well.

Fake pregnancies and/or misattribution of paternity aren't my faves either. However in this case it will clarify things a bit:

1. Ezequiel's reaction to a possible Katerina/D-Mart coupling tells us he doesn't think D-Mart is his son.

2. It remains for D-Mart's mother to react to Braterina's claim that she is carrying D-Mart's child. If she's horrified, then we know THE TRUTH. Snort.
 

Pablo Escobar

Deb, great stuff on the real-life Chili. Thanks!

You know I'm not usually a Torches and Pitchfork kind of novela watcher waiting for the bad guys to get theirs and then celebrating when they do. But I have to say i got great satisfaction seeing Chili fall last night.

El Topo's over-the-top response to Chili's death really surprised me. I never knew he cared so much.
 

EL ROSTRO

I'm checking this one out after abandoning it for a while (just didn't like it) to see how Marlene Favela will fit in or shake things up.

I loathe drugged hero/fake father stories. ROSA DIAMANTE is doing one also right now, the villainess, Barbi, is pregnant with her blackmailer's baby, so she drugs the hero and he wakes up with her and she'll try to pass the baby as hsi.

I thought Marlene looks good. She's lost quite a bit of weight from her last novela, the Venevision Miami CORAZON APASIONADO, and anything would be an improvement over her frightening hair in that show. And her acting - well, it's only one scene, but, yeah...

It's funny, I mostly make fun of Marlene, but I was looking at her credits and I came to the sad realization that I've seen every one of the telenovelas she's appeared in. I mean every single one. I had the same realization with another actress I mostly make fun of - Victoria Ruffo - then I noticed i've seen everything she's done since 1995. So who's the joke really on?