Caray, Caray!

Thanks for the start Jardinera. A fun episode, I think.

The start of the fall, I believe, is the veil lifting over Aggie's eyes?

Now I think Nat and Yago deserve each other. Both are easily bought off. She really disgusts me. Almost as much as Yago.


 

I have to run but I'll be back this afternoon. It's high time Augustina came out of that haze. She will need to have her wits about her but that may be asking too much.
 

Jardinera- I am sure you are cooking up a delicious recap of this pivotal episode.

Finally, Gussy is beginning to see the light! But Natalia is letting herself be blinded so that she can have the fantasy life she always wanted-- doting dad, being treated like a princess, rich boy fiancée, dream wedding, a home, and a baby on the way. All three of our tontos (Gussy, Nay, Cayetano) will have to learn the hard way. Hopefully they will all survive their stupidity and come out of it stronger, and wiser, than before.

Camila and Ana were adorable together. That was my favorite part of the episode. Cami really would make a great mom for Ana. Too bad Dan had to come along and spoil the fun.

 

That's Nat, not Nay. :)

I bet Mauricio was way happier to do the furniture shopping with Cami and Ana, than he would have been with Teresa. I think he found Teresa really attractive, but she also made him uncomfortable.
 

Teresa makes EVERYBODY uncomfortable. I hope she settles down soon. Loved that Aggie was shown proof positivo of the grand deception. You're right UA, wits are not her strong suit. So many threads will be unraveling and it's good to see this starting to happen at last. I hate it when all the delicious justice gets crammed into los ultimos capitulos.

I also loved the scenes with Ana & Cami. So well played and such a relief from the bitter anguish surrounding them (both, really). But, it's still no reason for Cam to pair up with Mar.

And Nat is such a nit! So well cast, with her adorable round eyed babyface.

Looking forward to Jardinera's magnum opus this weekend. —Agnes
 

ITA Agnes. Cami would make a great mom for Ana. But Cami wouldn't make a great wife for Mariano (because she doesn't love him that way). So Ana's just going to have to be content with Cami as a mentor/aunt figure in her life- which is not a bad thing.
 

Boy, that Gussy story took me by surprise. I did not expect it so soon. I had even thought to skip this episode, as I am so tired of the Cam/Dan split. Glad I did not. I may not be able to watch the toros get killed though. I figured that that would not happen, that someone would die from the virus before the bulls got it. It does not look that way from the previews.

Looking forward to the recap. There was one line that I think Oswaldo said that I tried to replay and still did not get. The subtitles flew by, and I was not able to pause them. Later, I may go to the website where the dialog is posted. What is that person's name again?

Do we know the kind of drug Isa is administering?

Cindy
 

Cindy- Here is Gato Viejo’s site: http://users.frii.com/markzimm/ambrav/latest

Last week Jardinera gave great detail about the drug Isa is giving Caye. Here’s what she wrote:
“At the same time, the aforementioned shameless hussy and home-wrecker is at the local farmer’s market purchasing an herb, “tolonche”, aka, toloache [tolonche/toloache=moon flower/datura =jimsonweed/”loco-weed”= a toxic hallucinogen containing scopolamine and atropine, which is also seen by some as an aphrodisiac. It makes rich old farts even slower and stupider before giving them gut pains and, in higher doses, untraceable heart attacks.]”

 

Vivi, I thought you came up with a new name for Natalia, Nay is good. What young girl wouldn't be blinded by all that is happening to her.

I am impactada that our clueless Augustina didn't immediately get on the phone to Dionicio. I guess Aug doesn't have 100% confidence in Dio anymore. I don't think he can come up with a convincing story for this one, but with Aug, who knows?
 

I think our Aggie has been harboring doubts for a long time, but has been too vain & self-righteous to examine them...until now. I also think that she's secretly afraid of Dio (and that she secretly hates him for all the abuse he has directed at her) She may become a serious opponent to the forces of evil (that is, after she eats a lotta crow) —Aggie (la otra)
 

Does gato viejo do that for other novelas?
 

Jardinera I really enjoyed your recap - just enough witty phrases and straight forward storytelling.
Couple of Phrases that are keepers IMO......

Locoweed juice
Two words Dan, second opinion

I enjoyed the scene with Ana and Camila. It seemed so spontaneous when camila told Ana to leave the carrot in the store or she would say she stole it. This is the first TN I have seen with SN and she seems to be a master at this.

Weird detail that stuck with me .... Cami intros Dante to Ana for the first time and then sends them off alone together for ice cream.... Ok, Dante is a good guy, but I did wonder about the wisdom of that practice.








 

IMO, I think Natalia is certainly blinded at the moment by everything that Dio is giving her, but it's mainly that it is attached to her happiness that Yucko has proposed. She's just so happy after so many tears that Dio can hardly get the words out of his mouth, "You deserve ... you should have ... let me spoil you ..." etc, and she's all, "yes, yes, more! more!" - I don't think she's driven by money/material things like Yago. She's not seeing the things she's getting from Dio as much as the "love" she thinks he's giving her.

Yago looked so awkward throwing darts, it was embarrassing watching him! Athletic/graceful, he isn't! LOL

Soyyo
 

Marvelous recap as always Jardinera. Thanks.

I am loving the way the writers are digging deep psychologically in this novela. Cam and Dan are being dragged through living hell. How much more can two human beings take? Meanwhile, El Diablo is playing Nat like a Stradavarius. And now Augie getting wise to the monster she married.

I'm dreading the death of the bulls and hoping that somehow, some way, tarde o temprano, Dio will get infected and die a horrible death.
 

Thank you, Jardinera, for a rip-roaring recap! I didn’t care for the episode so much, but I didn’t want the recap to end.

A few favorite bits:

“It’s the general consensus that if it weren’t for bad luck, poor Dan wouldn’t have any luck at all.”

“Aaron and Anselmo scold her for not being more considerate of Rafa’s part in this since now they have a “formal relationship.” (Oh, is that what priests call shacking up these days?)” LOL!

“Grand-Daddy Devil-Dude” and “Ol’ Yippee Ai Cayó”

“—The wedding is always paid for by the father and you cannot oppose me giving her a MOB princesses’ wedding like she deserves!” (fixed that for ya!)

“Two words, Dan: ‘second opinion’.” You could also ask to see the scan images and radiologist’s report, dood. Thank goodness he is talking about going to a specialist in DF. Otherwise, he might need to have his head examined as well.

Don’t Mexican passports ever expire? Why keep one for so long that 1.) has a name that you don’t use anymore, for what are undoubtedly nefarious reasons; and 2.) isn’t any good for travel or much else.

Augustina has had private doubts about Dio for a very long time. She went to the padre and admitted that she didn’t want to admit that she had picked another louse of a husband not that long after she married him. The passport was the first physical evidence that she has faced, other than that lipstick on the glass from Isadora. Everything else was just stuff she could pretend she didn’t see or pretend the person telling her it was mistaken. I think she may have turned a corner here. I hope so.

I’m all aboard the Darling Ana train. She’s cute as can be and her acting is great for a kid that age. That was the happiest that we’ve seen Camila since her honeymoon. Too bad Dan had to come along and ruin it, indeed! LOL, Vivi!

Sooooo, does anyone want to re-think their position on Dan and Mir getting down and dirty before this party wraps up? Hmmm?
 

Maybe until Dan gets his second opinion, he'll put Mir off with his concern for her aneurysm, although how is he ever going to do that while not telling her she's so fragile? She's certainly not frail, so she'll feel fine! Oh, boy, Dan ... mas mentiras?
 

Thanks Jardinera, what a pivotal episode.

Omar gets a couple of novice bullfighters to put the virus in the water and tells them they're vitamins. Would novice bullfighters have anything to do with the water supply, trust a stranger that they are to do this, and not ask why Omar isn't asking someone who takes care of the bulls to do it instead? Wouldn't they think this is odd and report it?

Having sex with Dan would be very taxing on an aneurism, so I do not believe they will have sex. I'm betting he stays true to Camila.
 

Fabulous and fast Jardinera. Thanks!

Variopinta- I think Gato Viejo has done it for other tns but I don't know which ones. Perhaps if you shorten the url you'll be able to find others.

Carolina- Now that he and Cam are broken up officially, there is no excuse or reason for Dan not to sleep with Miriam. I wonder what else he felt they needed to speak about? What more was there left to say after what he told her about sticking it out with Mir?

Jardinera- One correction. Vivi, Aaron, and Padre were at the literacy center/ reading room that's part of the community Aaron started. Not the jail.
 

The bullfighters will be distracting the bulls while Dio's men put the virus in the water.
 

Back in the Dan&Miriam Casa de Misery, what's all that hot sex she's expecting going to do for the delicate artery in Miriam's cranium? How's Danny going to treat her in bed knowing about the time bomb in her brain? and how's he going to tell her to back off for her own safety without spilling the beans...and how's he going to get her to go to another specialist without raising suspicions. If he gets any more shuffly and mumbly and hangdog, I'm going to scream. I realize he's up against the wall, but ¡basta ya!

Jardinera, that was a masterpiece. Since Carolina has beat me to the punch by quoting our mutual faves, I will just go on record with a simple thank you.
—Agnes
 

Vivi: "Now that he and Cam are broken up officially, there is no excuse or reason for Dan not to sleep with Miriam." Yes. That is my point exactly. I just hope that we don't have to actually watch too much of it (eeew!) and they do a quick cut away.

I hope that the other thing Dan wanted to say to Cam is that she should wait around for him. Because she shouldn't. And he shouldn't even ask, though I do think he is capable of it.
 

Agnes: "If he gets any more shuffly and mumbly and hangdog, I'm going to scream."

Oh, good lord, me TOO! The only good thing about it is that I think Camila might be starting to feel the same way that we do. ¡basta ya!
 

Great work, Jardinera. And I get the aftermath of this one.

I don't think El Diablo would risk giving a spoiled rich boy like Iagho a fake Rolex. He isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he's likely to be able to spot a fake.

He is not graceful enough to be a matador, nor does he have the charisma that they're required to have now. Rodolfo, en otro lado...

Mena, I see your point, but I think Camila and Daniel are decent judges of character and she would never suspect a close friend of Daniel. Not that I didn't have the same knee-jerk reaction considering that there was a pedophile on my childhood block.

I was also thinking "second opinion" but I don't think Miriam will sit still for that. And what will that doctor tell her?

Is it possible that if Miriam pushes the issue Daniel might suffer a round of impotencia?
 

For good or bad, in other cultures people are much more trusting of other adults with their kids, especially their friends. I'm sure the Mexican audience didn't even bat an eyelash.
 

Thank you Jardinera!

I didn't feel good about good ole Dan last night, but I think that the UA has found the solution to his problem: IMPOTENCE!!! Yessiree Bob...and I do hope it happens.

I am still laughing at Yippee Ai Cayo! That is a darn good one, Jardinera and fits the old bug eyed codger perfectly. :))

Fatima
 

I meant to say:

I hope that the other thing Dan wanted to say to Cam is NOT that she should wait around for him.
 

Thanks Jardinera, once again you nailed it in all the right places.

For me, Nat and Yago are not half as disgusting as Dio is. Not only the bribe that initiated the lie about Miriams aneurism, but with a simultaneous scheme "Not a bull will remain alive in this place!” According to the Avances, his plan is already in action. My dis for today goes to Dio.

"Dan says they still have things to talk about. NO, says Cam. We’ve got nothing left to discuss". Good for you Cami. Let Mr Confused take a hike with his wife.





 

Jardinera thanks for the recap. I'm glad there was more for you and us than the continued torment of Cam & Dan. The fact that Gussy's anvil started to fall was unexpected.

Since the bullfighters will be distracting the bulls (thanks Vivi), I wonder if they will eventually step forward? Dio is killing off their livelihood and that's serious.

Though Nat is just enjoying the moment and she has a lot of emotions swirling around, her reality check will not be good. I'm sure once Dio is found out the things he bought will be confiscated.

I'm really curious to know if Gussy will go to Os and Amanda and show them the burnt passport. I hope she does not try to confront Dio b/c at this point in the story, he would kill her (a guess) to get her out of the way and similar to his buddy Isa.
 

Foxy, absolutely agree with you. The one MOST satisfying point in the entire episode for me was Camila telling Dear Ole Dan that there was nothing left to discuss. I gave it a thumbs up!

Fatima
 

Thanks, Vivi! I went to fast through that last part and totally missed it. Also, didn't realize where Aaron spent his days any longer. Thought it was at the prison's learning center.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

The "novilleros" (rookies) that Omar contracted to distract the bulls will probably be sent away as soon as their job is done. Omar seems to pay better attention to details than Dio. If he had sent Omar instead of Julian to Chile to get rid of Daniel, the job would have been quick and clean. Okay, but then we would have the shortest TN in history - 10 capitulos! :-)

Soyyo
 

LOL, Soyyo! The thing I like about Omar is what a spectacularly good bad guy he is.
 

Great recap, Jardinera, as always...excellent.

For me there was a puzzling scene that you didn't describe but did refer to:

"Mario and Pablo are glad to see her, thinking that it will do their mama good to have Refu there since all she’s done is cry since Padre Anselmo spoke with her."

I could not believe how harsh the padre was with Rocio. If I were her Dr. and had overheard the way he talked to her, I would have had him removed from the hospital. There's a time and place...

cathyx,

"Having sex with Dan would be very taxing on an aneurism..."

Well of course that depends on how sex with Dan is, but you make a good point.

Carlos
 

As for sex with Dan, he said it himself last night, I believe in a conversation with Dantel, shrugging his shoulders and sighing, "I feel impotent." It sure made me wonder, as apparently it did others as well. That would certainly solve one problem. Maybe Miriam will just give up out of frustration. —Agnes
 

Carlos- Padre really was harsh with Rocio was he? But it kind of needed to be said since she was still blaming others for her situation instead of being grateful for what and who she has in her life. After his harsh words she seemed to have a come to Jesus moment and seemed to finally let go of her pride. So mission accomplished Padre.
 

Maybe Dan won't bring his A game to the bedroom with Miriam like he did with Cam. But if Mir went that way, at least it would be a happy ending... :)
 

Carlos, I guess I don't follow. They're both glad to see Refu cuz Rocio refused to talk to them and they think it will cheer her up after the padre's verbal beat-down. Dunno if that's what you're referring to.
=======
Anywho, how can anybody understand a frickin' word Rocio's saying anyway? I just couldn't no matter what! It was like an oldie cartoon where the animal "talks" to its master in a whiny wordless moan that you never really catch the meaning of.
 

I think if Dan were to get it on with Mariam, he wouldn't be able to perform, because what he feels for Camila will get in the way. But I really don't think it would get to that.
My Dan will stay true to Camila, I have faith in him.
 

Jardinera,

Sorry I wasn't clear, although you mentioned the padre's visit and the result, you didn't describe how harsh he actually was with her.

Carlos
 

Carlos, that occurred in a previous episode. Maybe Mena's from Wednesday.
 

I said it before and...I just wish they could do more creative camera work when actors are required to depict the effects of a stroke. It's agonizing to watch that lady try to talk with half her face. She's not doing it well and it's distracting. I hope Rocio gets better in a hurry or that they figure out a better way of shooting these scenes.

Oh and, that's Dante, not Dantel, in my previous comment. My keyboard got stuck.

And I'm with Carlos. The padre was pretty rough on our old gal. If he's supposed to be s-o-o-o comprensivo, you'd think he would know better than to ream her out so soon after nearly losing her life and her entire future.—Agnes
 

Carlos is right. The Padre scene in the hospital room happened this episode. I'll take a look at Gato Viejo's site.
 

Here's the "coversation", as much as one can converse with Rocio right now. None of the other characters seem to be having much trouble understanding her though, and even the CCs seemed to get a bit of it! I also hope she gets better soon so that we don't have to watch the actress continue to struggle to speak with one side of her face.

Padre A: Rocio, you have to understand that as long as you keep doing this, you won't get better. You think everyone is guilty but you. It doesn't matter who you blame- Camila or even God. Where's your humility-- your sense of responsibility?
Rocio: [mumbles] It's her fault.
Padre: Life is not like that, Rocio. As long as you play the victim and refuse to accept responsibility for your own actions, you won't get better.
Rocio: [cries]
Padre: Let it all out. I'm here with you.

 

Vivi, that doesn't sound so harsh.
 

His tone was way harsher than the words. Like I said before, I think she needed to hear it.
 

Rocio is really living in a world of complete unreality if she thinks Camila had anything to do with any of this. She needs to own her responsibility for it.

The padre's attitude was completely appropriate.
 

Weekend Discussion Proposal (with minor revisions): 

Disclaimer: I have not seen any episodes of Downton Abbey but have seen earlier BBC period dramas and read a number of English novels.

Since there are British miniseries fans on this board, I'm proposing that we do a brief re-write of Amor Bravio as though it were a novel leading to the British miniseries. We can set it in Georgian, Victorian, or Edwardian times on an estate with characters' names adapted for appropriateness. I rather like the Georgian period, such as in Poldark or Tom Jones because I see Don Daniel with the title of “Squire.” He is rather like Squire Allworthy. Young Daniel can be from Wales, Ireland, or Scotland and have a surname that suits that country (Wales = sexy voice while Ireland = the gift of the Blarney; this will be a tough decision on my part).

If this idea appeals, say so now. As to next weekend -- if enough Caraymates agree by Sunday evening 2/24 to participate -- I will write the opening and post it on Friday afternoon. I will be at the opera on Saturday the 2nd until evening (Wagner, of course) and come back to the comments. In the meantime I will think about whether any of the character relationships need to be changed along with some of the names. Also about what minor characters or plot points need to be dropped.

We have about seven weeks to go, based on the known number of episodes. I propose that – for ease of posting and commenting – we do two chapters per weekend and post them separately. Authors of the even-numbered chapters should see the immediately preceding one via e-mail as soon as it is ready or at least be notified as to where their new entry should begin. Considering the number of episodes in the series I think that each book chapter should cover 12 episodes, with either the opening or closing chapter covering 13. Pull up the recaps for information.

Fatima is the first volunteer. Any others?
 

Due to a brain glitch, the HPLP list will not be posted until Monday.

Haven't seen Friday's ep and, judging from the above title, I'm not sure I want to.
 

Nanette- You have to watch. There are two important reasons-- 1) The beginning of Gussy opening her eyes; and 2) Cami and Ana's fun day out. I would even say that Cami and Dan putting an end to their relationship (for now) is a positive as it's forward movement instead of the limbo that have been in since Miriam showed up.
 

UA...I've looked back at the episodes from the very beginning...oh my...I think this is way too much for me. I don't even begin to come close to how well you and the other recappers write. I've been trying to come up with how I would write this based upon what I see in the earlier recaps and I don't even know where to start! Yikes!!

I'm just not in your league.

I'm going to quietly back out the door now. I'm sorry, UA, but better to disappoint now versus once we get started.

Fatima
 

Practice cures that.

I've wanted to write novels for ages but being unsuccessful in love prevents me from having any credibility in the field of romance novels.

Tried mysteries once and that's very difficult. Maybe I should try horror...
 

Fatima, UA makes a good point... Practice will cure that! If it helps encourage you this is my first time recapping. I bet you would get lots of tips from other recappers.

UA You know I ve been bugging you in the comments that you are underestimating your options. Writers of romance novels are no more successful at love than any other mere mortal! If you have good ideas and can write (which clearly you do and you can) I say go forward with your talents!
 

UA:
I'm not sure that "credibility" is exactly a word I'd associate with romance novels anyway.

I will NOT be trying to put together any old timey English recaps or the like, so discount my inpupt apropriately, but I wonder about the varioius suggestions you've made about period: From Victorian to Edwardian to Georgian.

I'm not sure you (or y'all) need to choose one. I would suggest that it might be that the several retro-Anglo-recappers could veer wildly from Dickensian to Shakespearian to Edwardian to ...
--not, I would hope, within an episode, but from episode to episode.

Just as you, UA, couldn't really do Downton not having watched it, someone else, a Downton fan, might have a raft of ideas involving Downton characters or situations and explore those resonances and conventions, but have never read Tom Jones or even seen the movie, and thus opt not to participate at all.

Compared with American egalitarianism, there is a certain similarity in broad strokes between the British class structure across the centuries and that of TNexico which allows for Rocio and Augustina to be plausible characters.

So while you might stick with the Tom Jones and someone else Downton, I'm sure there's also an inner Jane Austen just waiting to come out of somebody, transposing the soldiers from the regiment into our vauqueros, or the like.

I for one wish I had the wit and depth of knowledge to do a treatment of Isadora as a slightly more murderous Becky Sharp. But my recollection of Vanity Fair is barely deep enough to realize that Reese Witherspoon wasn't nearly nasty enough as Becky.

My suggestion would sacrifice some sense of specific continuity, but provide more variety for us lazybones readers to enjoy.

But the chief effect, I think would be to allow a better chance of those making the effort of transforming AB to do so into periods or situatations with which they are comfortable or interested.

However that works out, I'll be interested in the results.
Chris in FL
 

Mena, most of the authors I met when I attended the conventions in the 90s were happily married. I even stopped reading them a while back; whatever I was looking for in those books I'm now getting in telenovelas.

I could probably have written decent Regencies if I had the patience and the life experience in love; my British dialogue is quite effective.

Chris, the main reason I stopped watching Telemundo novelas was the ridiculous inconsistencies that came up in them because of pandering to immediate viewer response or to lack of forethought on the part of the writers on how to develop a story. You may not be comfortable brushing up on Fielding or Austen, but no one else who recaps has yet spoken up. It's possible that they just don't have the time for this and I'd respect that.
 

Jardinera - Muchas gracias. Love "Yippee Ai Cayo."

Since Dan has made a clean break with Camila, I couldn't blame him if he has sex with Miriam. If he's going to sacrifice himself for Miriam, he should go all the way to give her a full, rich life for whatever time it lasts. No half-stepping.

I could slap Nat. She's so deliriously happy with Daddy Dio, she's not even seeing how hurt Amanda is that she's going to take his name.
 

She already has one of his previous names, but that will be moot when the rest of it blows up.
 

Urban- I also love the idea of the AB period writing challenge, but don't think I can commit the time to it. I know we have some other really talented writers like you here, so you might still get some volunteers.

Nat is behaving like a lot of other brides who want everything to be fairytale perfect for their wedding. The fairytale includes her being a princess, a king to give her away, and a prince to marry. Dio and Yago are playing into her fantasies. I would think she start to wake up from this fantasy fairly early into married life with Yago.
 

How many episodios do we have left to go? 36 or so? We should be seeing las ultimas semanas notification soon.

IMHO Nat cannot marry Yago unless he has a change of heart! If she isn't meant to end up with Rodolfo, then Rod can pair off with nice Nat replacement Girl Friday, Malana? Somehow I think Yago is doomed just like Alonzo was. Nat will end up getting what Brat Girl always wanted and could never have and I hope she'll end up snubbing Daddy when he's eventually? sent to prison.
 

Natalia: She is behaving the same way towards Dionicio as she is towards Yago...multiple people have told her each of these dudes is BAD but because they were nice to her (b/c of their hidden agendas) she thinks they aren't as bad as what people are saying.

Yago basically told Natalia to her face that she was a gold digging sleep around slut trying to get a payday by trapping him with a baby but all he had to say was "I wuv U" and everything was ok with Natalia.

I think Amanda is at the point where she knows she can't make Natalia see reason or the truth about Dio or Yago. Natalia will just have to find out the hard way, on her own.

Augustina is about to find out the hard way herself. Getting the sheets snatched from over her eyes by The Help™ was the only way Augustina would even suspect Dio because she thinks everyone against Dio has a hidden agenda:

Camila just doesn't like Dio b/c she doesn't want a father figure

Daniel just doesn't like Dio b/c he's trying to scam Camila out of the ranch.

Amanda just doesn't like Dio b/c she's just mad that Dio dumped her for being a sleep around slut.

Osvaldo just doesn't like Dio b/c he's mad that Augustina didn't want him.

Piedad would have no "agenda" against Dio AND brought her a piece of proof which confirmed what Amanda told her. That's why her face cracked at the end of Friday's episode.

Yes, Augustina, you've risen as far as you can go and now your downfall is beginning.
 

We have 35 episodes to go with a possible 2-hour finale. If there are no pre-emptions between now and the end the finale will air on a Friday.

Does anyone remember if there are normally pre-emptions over the Easter weekend (end of March this year)?

I would hate to see Nat yoked to Iagho unless he really reforms, an event I would find hard to believe.
 

UA and Mena, your points wrt "practice" are well taken and very much understood. I am such a newbie to this forum and the writing style here.

One thing for sure, the next novela I follow will be based upon where this current group of recappers decides to go! I've really enjoyed all of your writing styles which have added greatly to my understanding both of the storyline and the language. Thank you all so much!!

Fatima
 

I am really curious as to what is going to happen to Natalia. I just can't see her with this boorish, insulting man. I think Iago (Otello to be on PBS soon!) could easily become an abusive man. Natalia is behaving like a clueless woman bordering on bimbo status.

Fatima
 

Jardinera- Oooh! Interesting theory that Nat could end up an Albarran widow, and inherit what Yago would have gotten. I like that as an option. I did get a chuckle out of Yago rubbing it in Iliana's face that he just stumbled into what she had been trying so deperately to get by marrying an Albarran. Ha!
 

I could believe that one. Iagho has far fewer IQ points than either of his brothers. Not to mention far less integrity.
 

Novelas Lounge celebrates the 15 year anniversary this month of Silvia Navarro being a telenovela heroine. Happy 15th SN! May your career continue to flourish.

http://novelalounge.com/nn/2013/02/20/silvia-navarro-celebrando-15-anos-de-trayectoria-en-telenovelas/
 

UA, I can't believe you couldn't write a novel. I would love to read it. Just write a mystery with a protaganist who loves opera and novelas but was disappointed in love. She also had a difficult childhood which gives her greater perception when it comes to devious chaaracters. For a plot just look in Daily Mail or one of the tabloid style newspapers here or in Britain. Go for it!
 

I tend to think Yago will get on a plane to the US at the last minute to get away from Natalia, the baby, Dionicio & the disapproval of his family.
 

I tend to think Yago will get on a plane to the US at the last minute to get away from Natalia, the baby, Dionicio & the disapproval of his family.
 

Only if that plane goes down, I hope!!
 

Thanks you, J., for one of your witty and thorough recaps. It's always a pleasure.

It's all been said, by now. Thanks to viewerville for some characteristically smart and thoughtful comments. Lots of action in the cards now!
 

I guess next weekend's discussion will be either a gallery of older actresses or some hot issue that may come up this week in AB. No prob.
 

Thanks for the great recap Jardinera. Though already mentioned, I love the observation about Dan's luck. LOL!

I think Padre was a little tough on Rocio as well. Though I'm not a Rocio fan, you don't kick someone when they're down. This is a "conversation" he could have had with her a later if he felt the need. And how did Refugio make the leap that Rocio had seen the errors of her ways?  Padre talked at Rocio, Rocio wouldn't talk to Mariano or Pablo after Padre left, yet Refugio walks into the hospital room and is immediately glad Rocio has awakened to her sinful pridefulness. Huh?

As can be expected, I didn't agree with any of the comments this week about Augustina being selfish, inappropriate, callous, etc. when comforting Camila. Camila and Gussie have a loving mother-daughter relationship, even if they do aggravate each other at times.  

I am however enjoying the "big reveal" to Gussie about Dionisio.    I'm fine with Gussie having a big 'ole plate of crow. 
 

I think Refugio was Rocio's nanny back in the day and consequently knows her better than anyone else, including Cayetano. I can't disagree with the Padre's attitude when Rocio tried blaming Camila for what went wrong in Rocio's own family; sooner or later that secret would have come out.
 

I'm sorry, maybe it's just the nurse in me, but the padre was very rough with Rocio considering she's just survived a stroke. His message may have been true, but the delivery was too much tough love for a person in her condition...and completely lacking in psychological understanding (and finesse for a trained counselor). You don't bully a person into realizing that their lifelong attitudes may need adjustment. Especially not someone who just woke up with mental & physical deficits she's barely aware of. She's got a tough row to hoe and needs comforting from her family and spiritual advisor, not a lot of "toldyouso" hectoring. It takes insight to recognize one's own attitudes and then take the steps (sometimes baby steps) to change them. The scales may begin to fall from her eyes as the facts are revealed, but I would guess she's vacillating between terror & denial. —Agnes
 

I believe Rocio will really see the light while she is in Luzma's care.
 

Good point Vario! Luzma may be her salvation, although I guarantee Rocio will be a nasty handful when she's transferred to her care. —Agnes
 

Highpoints:

Aaron is the first to acknowledge Nat’s baby event as a happy one and gives her a gift.
Dan tells Cam about Dio’s involvement in the BIG MIRIAM REVEAL.
Dan once again tells Cam she’s the one he loves.
Our Luz returns home.
Dan’s reaction to seeing Luz.
Vivi tries to talk Cam down.
Aaron the wise strikes again telling Rafa he has to be patient with Vivi.
Cam tries to talk sense into Vivi.
Padre Anselmo talks with Luz. Best priest ever.
Omar and other Dio thugs threaten Iago.
Teresa tells Cam to move aside so she can work on Mariano and is brutally honest about it.
Pablo and Rocio have a lovely reunion.
Baby siting. I have to say CdlF is very good with the baby.
Aaron has a heart-to-heart with Vivi. His advice is good, if a little simplistic, for a complicated situation.
Cute Hipolito/Elueterio/Piedad/Dorotea scene in the kitchen.
Caye has a lucid moment and confronts Isa re: her reasons for marrying him.
Caye defends Mariano to Isa.
Isa making faces when Caye kisses her.
Pablo/Luz cuddle moment.
Luzma offers to care for Rocio.
Pablo calls Luz “cachorrito”—so cute.
Rafa is being reasonable about his and Vivi’s impasse.
Dio’s creepy Cam talk to Dan.
Ileana is not happy about Iago’s news.
Gussie gives Dio a disgusted look as she heads off to “comfort” Cam.
Miriam is beginning to realize that LMQ means a lot to Dan.
Luz gives Cam some hope.
Once again Rodolfo stands up to Ileana.
Juarez is ready to arrest Isa for Padre B.’s murder.
Piedad and Dorotea find the partially burned passport.
Padre tells Rocio she must accept responsibility for her actions.
Rocio asks for Nana’s forgiveness.
Cam and Ana’s day out.
Dan decides to get a second opinion.
Gussie begins to see the light.
Padre tells Agustina to cooperate with Os and Amanda (will we be welcoming Gussie into the Scoobies?)
 

Low Points:

Dio receives the means to destroy LMQ.
Rafa is not having a good day re: Vivi.
Rocio wakes up and realizes the extent of her injuries. She also asks for Cayeskunko.
Gussie is rude to Dan, Miriam and Dante.
Gussie is unforgivably rude to Luz and Pablo.
Miriam wants to get it on with her hubby.
Cam is sure that Dan will rediscover his feelings for Miriam.
Rafa is angry at Vivi for not choosing happiness.
Dan says goodbye to the LMQ crew.
Miriam thanks Cam for her kindness, making Cam wretched.
Excruciating scene between Dan and Cam as he comes to tell her he’s leaving.
Nat still loves Iago.
Rodolfo still loves Nat (where is NG?).
Caye’s lucid moment lasts about two seconds.
Rafa is leaving, temporarily.
Dan doesn’t get a chance to punch Dio in the face because Miriam interrupts (damn that woman!)
Cam continues to use Mariano as a crying board.
Nat’s nauseating giddiness about her wedding to Iago.
Gussie’s hissing to Dan to leave her daughter alone.
Dan and Cam’s longing looks as he leaves.
Dio taunting Dan as he leaves.
Isa takes Caye’s phone.
Dio wants Yago to help him get closer to Nat.
Nat’s delusions know no bounds as she talks to Padre A.
Yago, who couldn’t have gotten any slimier, just got slimier.
NG’s look at Pablo in the office.
Padre A. makes his first false step in this TN and spills the beans to Aaron about Vivi wanting to adopt Roman.
Miriam’s doc tells a big a$$ lie to Dan.
Vivi has started proceedings to adopt Roman without telling Rafa.
Piedad gives the passport to Agustina instead one of the head Scoobies.
Nat is a bubblehead.
Nat agrees to take Dio’s name. I think Amanda should tell Nat she has a choice of at least two of Dio’s names.
Dan tells Cam that it’s over between them.
Dio’s plan to poison the cattle is on.
 

Thanks Nanette, your list is a Highpoint of my afternoon. I'm sitting here working on taxes and taking a few too many Caray breaks as the reports are running. Sigh! Anyway, I cracked up at the last line: "(will we be welcoming Gussie into the Scoobies?)"
 

LXV: glad to make your afternoon :)

You noted that Nat is such a nit and was well cast with her adorable baby face. I agree. But it's hard to watch this character when this actress played such a wise and good friend to SN's character in CME. Shows her versatility, that's for sure.
 

Nanette- Great lists as usual.

"Miriam’s doc tells a big a$$ lie to Dan." LOL! Although I don't think he got any $$ for the lie. He just gets to keep his job and reputation.

I agree about Florencia/Nat. In CME she was so wise and spunky and fit that role well. But her baby face and big round eyes are perfect for this character and she's playing it up. Good job Florencia!
 

Vivi: $$ I didn't even think about it in a monetary way! I thought of it as the best way to get across the other word for a donkey.
 

Vivi: can't remember. Were you in one of the Adriana camp?. I really liked the first one (Wendy something, I think) and missed her for a long time. I finally got used to Florencia and really ended up liking her, too.
 

Nanette- LOL! Yes, a very good way of not having to spell the word out.

I also really liked Wendy, because I liked her from Sortilegio. But Florencia grew on me fairly quickly, and they did an excellent job finding another cute, tiny, dark-haired actress to play the role. Florencia did a really good job jumping into the role last minute, I think.
 

I agree about Florencia jumping into the role really quickly. I just liked the mannerisms, etc. of the other actor so much that I kept imagining her in Adriana's scenes for a long time after she left.
 

Dan doesn’t get a chance to punch Dio in the face because Miriam interrupts (damn that woman!)

Nanette, love this -- great HLP this week --Thanks!

Myo-
 

Myo: Thanks. That's exactly what I was thinking as the scene ended, so had to put that in there.
 

Nanette: "Dio’s plan to poison the cattle is on." GRRRR!
"Yago, who couldn’t have gotten any slimier, just got slimier." LOL!! Yup!
 

LXV - I thought of your comment today when I came across a study presented at a professional conference recently. It turns out that stroke survivors show a higher risk of suicidal thoughts than heart attack survivors and cancer patients. I suppose there are additional factors in this study (as in any study), but since you mentioned it was the nurse in you that thought that Padre needed better skills in talking to Rocio I thought I would add some research to support your intuition! Bien hecho!

I kind of thought she had it coming, but I have since rethought my hasty reaction.