Caray, Caray!

Thanks so much, Jean -- that is a riot!

Enjoy your trip. Stay safe but do have a blast. We'll be waiting to hear all about it when you get back.
 

That was fantastic! I loved it when the turkey went flying out of her mouth. She was pretty cool to do that skit. i didn't t like the Will Farrel movie very much, but i liked her in it. His Spanish was not too shabby! You know who else speaks fluent spanish...Ben Affleck. Saw him on 'Hoy' promoting Argo...he was very fluent.


Have. A great trip and thanks for sharing this! just awesome!! Gertie
 

Mexico for a couple of weeks! Sounds terrific, Jean, have a wonderful time. And thanks for the clip, it was hilarious.

MADE IN CARTEGENA:

There was no show Friday, but here are some of my thoughts about the show.

The guy playing Harvey is really doing an amazing job. Yes, I know, he ALWAYS plays the narco boss with some human feelings, but this time, he's even better than usual. Just think: He's despicable, ordering robberies, killings, apparently with little regard for human life. But everyone idolizes him! Yes, some, out of fear, like Belen. But Max, Blatcho and Agua Mala really think of him as a father. Flora looks up to him. He's not like some hated villain (as in La Patrona). He's really admired. But at some point, all this has to crumble.

I still don't completely understand what he's told Flora for why she has to get close to Vicente and find out stuff about the Santa Helena. Yes, to get Candelerio out of jail. But how? Did Harvey tell Flora that if they get the Santa Helena, Vicente will bargain to get it back, and use his influence to get Cande out of jail? Flora knows Cande tried to steal it, but doesn't know Harvey was behind it. Oh well.

We keep having all these close calls. Harvey's problem is that too many people are suspicious of things. At some point Flora will figure things out, probably after she's fallen for Vicente. But can she betray her godfather whom she admired? Can she betray Watusi? If she thinks she caught in the middle NOW, just wait!
 

Telemundo -


Pasión Prohibida,
I'm still watching, but as J in Oregon has put it, this novela hasn't really gotten "legs" as yet, it still seems to be in an introductory phase. Bianca (Mónica Spear) remains a mystery to me, she appears to have a hard, calculating, and controlled look about her, and her interactions with others seemed to be staged, (am I seeing this right) so I wonder if this is a shell that she lives behind, a result of her entire life under the influence of the master manipulator, her mother, Flavia (Rebecca Jones), and on the other hand she is so much like her mother, clever, but is there an attempt to be a good person here, to do the right and proper thing, and Bianca's relationship with Ariel (Roberto Vander) a possible replacement for her very much loved father that died at the hands of Flavia, is this the only relationship she has ever had, could it be that another could crack this shell that Bianca hides behind, and unleash a passion that even she can't control, will that person be Bruno (Jencarlos Canela).


La Patrona,
wow, what an incredible show last night,
I can still see Tigre's battered, dying body,
a glassy eyed alcohol saturated Fernando, surrounded by his demons,
dragging, carrying, a crying, kicking, screaming Gabriela,
out of the mine shaft,
then it all blows....

thanks so much Bill C. for your most wonderful recaps that have pulled me right into this action packed, and emotionally moving story.


El Señor de los Cielos,
from it's wiki page,
began filming January 16th in Mexico.
according to Telemundo, this will be the most expensive produced telenovela to date.
Andrés Parra will guest star once again playing Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Carmen Villalobos will also make a special appearance.


Marido En Alquiler,
from a Telemundo press release,
in the preproduction stage,
starring Sonya Smith, Juan Soler and Maritza Rodríguez
the adaptation will be written by Perla Farias

 

LA PATRONA

Yes, Deb, last night's episode WAS amazing. Just one exciting moment after another. Fernando's scene with his mother was fantastic. He said things to her no mother can bear to hear from a son. After he left she just tried to wipe it from her mind, saying: "I didn't hear that. I didn't hear that." She certainly has some ability to rationalize all her horrible actions.
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA -- viernes
QEPD Marcos Alvarado: just another victim

What I remember, not necessarily in order: (NovelaMan, I wasn't sure if you were going to post anything. If you have a recap, please add it. I'm sure it will have things I left out.)

Eliana, convinced that Alicia can use the hidden letters to prove Marcos's innocence, turns them over to her. Ezequiel is furious, tries and fails to get the letters back, and then sends his goons after her; she fights off one and escapes the other. Later Alicia smuggles in one or two of the letters to Martín in jail.

Leyton's change of theory -- that one of the surviving female classmates, not Marcos, is the killer, has everyone, including Martín, Alex and Tomás, confused and upset.

Alejandra, the recovering alcoholic, is now roaring drunk. Natalia tries to take advantage of the situation to get her to say who clobbered Martín at the class reunion. The strategy looks like it might work, but Tomás's arrival at the apartment distracts her and then no one can pin her down again. Natalia is fed up with the lot of them and wants her space back.

Braterina and Miguel Angel have another hotel tryst.

Laura has more evidence that the Brat is lying about her pregnancy when she finds tampons in the girl's purse.

Luciano urges Diana to run off with him; she is unwilling to leave her brother.

Marcos begs Veronica to take him back but she rejects him. She's not even sure of his alibi for the night of Mariana's murder: how does she know what he did when she was asleep?

We learn that the girl who OD'd in the hotel is out of danger.

Later we see Marcos swilling vodka as he drives alone on a lonely country road. He stops to pee and then walks back to his car; he seems delighted when he sees someone -- a friend -- waiting there. He asks that person to take over the wheel. We see a black-gloved hand opening the car door. Oh no! We've seen that black glove before.

Tomás wants to know where Natalia spent the night. No, he's not getting personal -- she needs an alibi because last night there was another murder(asesinato)! (Why does he use the word asesinato? Sloppy writing or does he know something?)

Ezequiel gets a call that Marcos is dead! He identifies the body at the site of what appears to be a car crash. Is it a suicide? Ezequiel says that's not possible: his son wasn't a killer and he wasn't a coward either.

So is everyone going to assume that Marcos killed himself (he didn't) because he was guilty (he wasn't) of the past and recent murders? That is, until the next murder --
 

off topic

Gertie - I wanna say like 10years ago, I saw Ben Affleck conversing fluently in Spanish with a spanish speaking model in a talk show. I've been trying to find it on youtube cuz I thought I'd imagined it all these years.
 

Off Topic

Shallowgal, I just googled ben affleck speaks spanish, and several youtube videos popped up of him doing it. He's good, but he's definitely not a native speaker, as he lapses into English a lot, and couldn't remember the Spanish words for "performance" and "director". Very good accent, though, very relaxed about it. Impressive.
 

Hola, Hombre de Misterio. plus his Spanish probably got a little more honed when he was dating JLo.

btw, even though I didn't watch Escobar, nor read your recaps, I just want to thank you anyway for the time, effort, and dedication you put into it.
 

GENERAL

There is now a link to our INDEX on the sidebar. Thanks to Jean for suggesting this and thanks to Melinama for giving us the real estate.

Congrats, Hombre! (I was cheering on your guys too --
lo siento, Novelera) :-)
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA

NovelaMaven for some reason my dvr failed to record fridays capitulo. i just saw it online sunday morning. But i think your recap was pretty accurate. Lmao at Alejandras behavior. Im bettin she danced at La Cueva before it closed!
 

FOOTBALL

Congratulations, Hombre!! Your team looked great. My team played like high school players for the first half, only to rally in the second.

When it looked like they might actually move ahead my son, daughter-in-law and I were hoarse from cheering them on. But alas, it was not to be.

Had it been the Giants that didn't win "the big one", I'd have been seriously depressed today. But I'm much less of a football fan, so I'm fairly philosophical about it.
 

FOOTBALL:

Thanks, Novelera. I am very much a football fan, and along with the whole City of Baltimore, we were celebrating! The 49er's also did an excellent job, and have a great team.

MADE IN CARTEGENA, Lunes

While waiting in the hospital, Vicente comes out into the hall. While he talks to the doctor about getting a cardiologist in to help with Harvey, Flora tries to hide, and Agua Mala stands in front of her, to block the view. But Vicente sees her anyway, and she has to pretend Agua Mala is her boyfriend. He says his name is Ronald. Vicente is surprised she has a boyfriend. Agua Mala even forces Flora to give him a little kiss to keep up the charade. Later, Sofi hears about this and asks Flora, what about Watusi? Flora has to say that Watusi and she are from different worlds, so even though she likes him, she has a rich boy, Ronald, as her “official” boyfriend.

Vicente had told Flora he gave Harvey artificial respiration he learned in the army. Mireya is still hot to have Vicente killed, and tries to make it sound as if the mumbling, sedated Harvey says Vicente did this to him. But Flora isn't really sure Harvey knows what he's saying. Outside the hospital, she sees Blatcho and Max follow Vicente's car, and thinks that's weird. Blatcho almost got a shot at Vicente outside the hospital, but Imanuol stepped in the way.

However, after they follow Vicente home, they watch as he makes a long phone call outside his house. Blatcho puts together a high powered rifle with a scope, and Max checks the distance with the binoculars. NOW they have him, and Blathcho's fingers start to squeeze the trigger when.....Max's phone rings. It's Harvey, recovered a little, and says hold up, boys. Now is not the time. They were so close!

Matilde reminds Silvia that tomorrow is Sofi's birthday. Silvia then reminds Vicente, who decides to plan a little party for Sofi, inviting her friends. When he tells Sofi, she's shocked he remembered. He says she should invite Flora. She says, YOU call her.

Flora has come to reconcile with Watusi again, but this time he's had it. He says you agreed to marry me, so let's do it now, or that's the end of our relationship. She says she can't get married with all her problems, such as Cande in jail. Watu says what if he's in for 15-20 years? Whoops!

Belen tells Susana she's going along with all this, but her Flora had better not get hurt.

Cande wakes up, Profe tells him we're getting out, but you get well first, don't play the hero when you can hardly move. Perez almost catches Profe digging into the ceiling, but doesn't. Cande calls Flora, and I think she wants to visit him again.

The show for the exhibition of the Santa Helena is a go. Silvia assures Vicente that if he wants to cancel, he can. For some reason, I'm a little suspicious of Silvia.

And Cabache shows up at the club. We hear him on the phone saying, “So Harvey's in the hospital. We'll, hed better not die yet, because he hasn't paid his debt from long ago. We need that money, we don't forget debts that big. We may just have to teach him a lesson.” Uh oh!
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA pt 1

dMart is at the visiting room with Rafaela and Alicia. Rafa informs him that Marcos committed suicide by driving his car off a cliff. dMart thinks that Marcos couldn’t handle the truth. Ali hopes that Zeke will tell the truth. dMart is led back to his cell. Braterina is eating breakfast with her mother. Laura asks her about the tampons. Of course Brat acts offended. Then she gets a phone call and learns that Marcos is dead. Tomas is at the Samaniegos manor when he asks about what happened at the class reunion. Fed decides to show him the tunnel where they escaped. Tom then asks the Blonde Gorgon if she knew Ramon Farias. Dmart informs Alex that Marcos committed suicide. Alex hopes that peace will follow, but now dMart doubts Marcos was the killer. Eli, Brat, and Luci are mourning over the loss of Marcos. Ali is tending to Elis needs. Laura enters the house hugs Luci and tells Ali quietly that they need to talk. They go to Zekes office. Laura says Marcos told her he was going to hang out with Ali before he died. Laura wants to know whats going on. Tom says a man could only drag dMart through the tunnel. And Tanya too. Tom asks Fed who else knew about the tunnel. “My wife, guards, Tanya. But Marcos didn’t. He never came to this house. Do you think Marcos is the killer?” Tom hopes so. “If the deaths stop, it’s because the killer is dead.” Ali denies meeting with Marcos. He did want to hang out but she didn’t trust him. He was crazy after he drugged the club girl. Laura says he may have killed the kids but he as an adult he was peaceful. If Ali went to see Marcos maybe he wouldn’t be dead. She says if she did he could’ve killed her. Alex sees dMart writing. He says he is writing to his future child. We get to hear what he wrote. The funeral for Marcos is held. Vero approaches and drops a rose on his casket. She remembers his last words. “I hope you’ll be happy.” 2 months later….. Vero reads Hector papers and refuses to disrespect Marcos. Hector calls him a killer. Vero says he didn’t kill anyone. He committed suicide because the whole world was pointing at him, and refused to help him. Hector doesn’t want her to badmouth Marcos, just read the report. Rafa tells dMarts parents that the trial has been postponed until tomorrow. Though he had no gunpowder he fired at the Camera. Rafa says that while Marcos is the killer the court considers dMart an accomplice. Ali visits Tom, and he shows her a video of her and Dmart kissing. He asks if he lost her forever. “Forever is a long time. But now my heart is taken.” She goes to see Mary Ann who has been transferred to nyc. She gives Ali a copy of the check confirming that Valeria is the killer.

 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA pt 2

The check is more than enough evidence to Ali. Vale says Fed will end up in jail. Fed says he doesn’t care, and taunts Vale for being scared, but she feels shame. Her husband is abandoning her when she needed him the most. Sonia and Juan tell dMart that the judge found the video suspicious. Vero refuses to denounce Marcos. Hector says if she doesnt do it shes fired. Brat is negative again. She moved back in with Zeke. Miggy tells Brat to abandon the idea before its too late. Eli bring Zeke food. He refuses to eat. Marcos’ death isn’t the worst thing. It’s the general public dragging his name through the mud. Sonia and Juan enter Zekes office and beg him to help dMart. Eli agrees but Zeke just wants to be alone. They leave but Juan stays. Zeke he had Marcos for 26 years. Juan wants to stay with dMart to be him him until his hour approaches. Alex proposes to Nat that they try to have a child. She agrees. Vero is reporting that Marcos was the Monster boy (We see a picture of Marcos with that nasty Porn-Stache!). The report ends. “Happy now?” Vero asks Hector. Zeke visits dMart. dMart feels bad for Zeke knowing he lost his son. Zeke decides to testify for dMart. Zeke doesn’t care much for his life much anymore. Tomorrow he will tell the truth. Zeke encourages dMart to keep on fighting. Things are going bad for the Alvarado bank. If things don’t improve then Luci will have to declare bankruptcy. Diana enters his office and wants him to help dMart. dMart is reading the killers letters. dMart then gets a clue. dMart wants to see the camera. The camera will explain why no gunpowder was on his hands. He didn’t fire at the camera. Laura confronts Brat and says she knows the pregnancy is a lie. She demands that Brat tell dMart tomorrow. Ali meets with Vale telling her she has no plans to leave NYC. The two of them still have unfinished business.
 

MADE IN CARTAGENA:

Thanks Hombre for the recaps. So Watusi finally gave Flora an ultimatum. It will be very interesting watching her deal with it along with everything else she has to do.

Harvey has a debt to pay off to Cabache? whoa! could this be why he needs the Santa Helena? very interesting twist.

 

PASIÓN PROHIBIDA

Still not wildly excited about this one but I am watching.

It could be better if it weren't for the Nina character. Her whole personality, the way she behaves, and her place in the rest of the family is just ludicrous. They finally stated her age: 18. She behaves as if she's 12. She behaves like her father is her boyfriend. That mimor they both use gets on my last nerve.

The fact that she went to a nightclub at 18 is presented as a scandal about as bad as turning up pregnant. Apparently that night was the first time she was ever permitted to sleep over at a friend's house. Gah!

I get her being upset about her room being re-decorated without consulting her. That was not a good move on Bianca's part. But wanting to sleep in the same room as her little brother at 18 years of age - unbelievable.

I'm also not pleased about how unrealistic Guillermo's behavior is. OK, he's mad Flavia extorted $1 million. But they said it was Nicolás's mother's land that she brought into the marriage that was sold. So this guy, who is apparently the villain of the show, plans to sabotage the rest of his son's life for this?

And I guess the snotty little Camila plans to make trouble between Nina and Bianca for the rest of the show.

Even though the premise was ridiculous, Jencarlos did a good job in the scene where he spirits these girls out of the nightclub and lets them stay at the friend's house, even though the parents aren't there.
 

LA PATRONA

Boy they are POURING on the villainy in this one. The plots against Gabriela are getting just about unwatchable.
 

PASIÓN PROHIBIDA

ITA, novelera.

This show is going real slow for me. That Nina grates on my last nerve; grow up already!

I'm still watching only in anticipation of Bruno/Bianco hook-up. I have a feeling it'll be another couple of months. ugh!
 

LA PATRONA

and that's why I'm not really watching this, novelera.
 

MADE IN CARTEGENA:

Jody, I think Harvey actually owes money to Cabache's (unseen) boss, and Cabache's just the messenger.

LA PATRONA:

I agree, it's ridiculous, getting the whole town against Gabriela, having 4 or 5 people knowingly lying (Antonia, Anibal, the Mayor, Lagarto, and Alberto), others just going along (Irene, her mother, the family of the miner who was killed), and with Tigre dead, the only ones who might support Gaby are Francisca and Alejandro. And as usual, Alejandro might question Gaby, as could little David. Since Gaby's all woozy, she might herSELF not be sure what happened. And do we think Ricardo will be any help? Not likely.

Yes, carcel for sure.
 

Pasion Prohiba
Novelera-- Nena's little tantrums and pouty expression make my blood pressure shoot up. The actress looks about 30 and is seriously over-acting the part. And in a mansion that size, the 18 year old girl and the 10 year old boy were still sharing a bedroom? Oh puh-leeez! However, I am sticking with it, there are enough other interesting characters and, I still feel, lots of potential.
J in Oregon
 

LA MARIPOSA

http://www.mundofox.com/videos/la-mariposa-6112

Online now to episode 35.

Pobre Lina died; now Smitty won't get his happily-ever-after, and he's more disagreeable than ever.

Altagracia and Laurens are now officially a couple.

Mariposa's mom died too... sad.
 

PASION PROHIBIDA

I like the show quite a lot, though is still a bit hit and miss.

NOVELERA said:
"The fact that she went to a nightclub at 18 is presented as a scandal about as bad as turning up pregnant. Apparently that night was the first time she was ever permitted to sleep over at a friend's house. Gah!"

I agree, this scene diddn't work. PP is an almost scene-for-scene remake of a Turkish show, I wonder if PP's creators get into trouble sometimes by not accounting enough for cultural differences. I'm too ignorant of Turkish custom and social mores to comment with any authority, but I would imagine it is quite a bit different for an 18 year old Turkish girl to go unescorted to a nightclub with out her family's permission versus an 18 year old girl in Miami.
 

LA PATRONA

A really stomach churning scene was Lagarto forbidding Alejandro to see Gaby. And then her waking up to the lizard himself gloating over her and saying she blew up the mine.

I agree, Hombre, she'll probably be convicted and sent to prison.
 

LA PATRONA

I love this TN, but last night's ep. was so difficult to watch as the axis of evil kept lying and manipulating the town against Gabriela. Even the priest stood by and said nothing to stop Antonia's and Irene's vicious lies again Gaby.

However, the writers certainly advanced the plot, and it does look to me like Gabriela is going to do jail time. Maybe this will be the time jump we've been expecting.
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA

HOLY S**T!
Everyone Ecuador is 2 weeks ahead of us in this novela.
Here is a link:http://www.ecuavisa.com/novelas/resumen-del-rostro-de-la-venganza.html?start=5
 

Anonymous-Co sign our feelings so last night's ep-painful and so upsetting. The writers have done a great job in that they have created such good 3 dimensional potagonusts, and mostly thre-dimensional antagonidts, that the whole ep so offended one's end of fairness and justice, you get for the Suarez family.

But for the priest, who knows what Antonia and Irene said was bunk, to stand there and say nothing?? Slapworthy. Did he have to allow Antonia to speak all hose lies? And Antonia is seriously projecting her anger at Gabriela because she feels horrible that her son was willing to die for someone she hated then live to please her. I also think the writers are setting up the idea that Guerra is nuts.
 

MADE IN CARTEGENA, Martes

Harvey is feeling a bit better, and tells his crew, in the hospital room, that something just doesn't make sense. That guy Dominguez really did save his life, and also got him a cardiologist. It just doesn't seem like a type who would kill Robinson. Mireya gets a little nervous recalling how she kicked Robinson out into the line of fire, and a cop killed him. Outside of the hospital, Calabache has hired a black guy with a receding hairline to do something. He tells the guy about each of Harvey's crew. As the black guy enters the hospital, all 4 come out, not noticing him. Except Blatcho. He gets a vibe, and looks back at the black guy smoothing the back of his shirt, as if he has a gun back there. He rushes back into the hospital, heading for Harvey's room.

He actually gets there first, tells Harvey to fake being asleep. The black guy enters, takes out his gun and screws in the silencer. Unbeknownst to him, right behind him is Blatcho, taking out HIS gun, putting on the silencer. Harvey “wakes up” says to the guy, I'll pay you double, when Blatcho kills the guy, splattering blood on Harvey, almost causing another heart attack. Harvey tells him to take a picture of the guy, find out who he was. Blatcho was caught on the hospital security camera entering and exiting Harvey's room, but guess what? Agua Mala can just tap into the hospital system, and he erases the evidence by pressing a few buttons on his laptop. Impressive.

But they can't trace this black guy, there's no record of him anywhere. Calabache visits Harvey, taunts him, you don't even know who tried to kill you, do you? Harvey says maybe you did, but Calabache says no, man, we need you alive, to pay the money. Harvey says I've got that Santa Helena just about in hand, this time it'll be a clean job. Calab says it'd better be. (So, I think Calabache just sent the black guy to scare Harvey, and didn't think someone would kill him). Harvey now wants one of his crew guarding at all times. First Max is the guard, later, Mireya. Mireya guards him so well, she takes off her top and starts grinding on top of him. At this point, Susana happens to enter, gets jealous, and leaves without being seen. I think she's sort of a loose cannon, may end up betraying Harvey.

Flora is very upset about losing Watusi. He's also upset about losing her. But they're not talking. He gets advice from Sabroso, she gets advice from Susana. But this relationship is not looking good. Watusi gets a call to put on some kind of show, but he doesn't even want to call Flora to help.

Flora's mood is not good when Vicente invites her to Sofi's party the next day (I think it's going to be a barbecue at the house). But later, when he needs her help in buying Sofi a present, she goes, and cheers up a little, although she won't tell him why she was sad (just says she argued with someone). He asks what kind of present would you get for someone going on a trip, and she replies, something that would remind them of the one they love. He then gets an idea, and they buy Sofi a little present. We don't know what it is yet.

No show tomorrow, so I'm guessing Thursday will be Sofi's party. Should be fun!
 

I'm avoiding La Patrona for now until we get to the venganza etapa because the pile of caca that they are piling up against Gabi makes my blood pressure shoot up. I hope by next week we see a time shift into the future because I can't deal with the estupidez that passes for common sense in that town. Like really Gabi I gonna blow up her own father!
 

I feel you on that anonimo. This week's eps are heartbreaking...I just finished watching tonight's EP on YouTube, and I am too through with the townspeople. Yet, I get the rationale. In developing countries stuff like this happens a lot the powerful grinding down those who don't have power so these eps are as much social commentary as it is advancing the plot. The corruption of police and public officials are a big issue in Mexico, and is shown in the entitlement and hubris of the senado and mayor.

Anyone who could speak for Gaby, especially Gaston, is in jail or dead (Tigre, Fer, Guillen, Julia). Gaby has no way out. These eps also show how rumor and mass hysteria can pervert justice.

Plus, Antonia set up everything perfectly by having the psiquiatrica come in and drug Gaby to make her nuts. Also, no one in the town knows the whole truth, not even the priest, who only knows about the rape and maybe Guerra killing her husbands if Fer revealed all that...only the audience knows everything...Gaby doesn't even know she's pregnant again. Only the viewing public knows the truth. Maybe the writers shouldn't depress us so much, but what they're doing makes sense.

So, it isn't really stupid for the townspeople to believe the lies since all the respected and trusted people are telling them something that, given Gaby did threaten miners at the fair, seems plausible.

Part of the journey this novel a offers is the characters, especially Gaby, Ale, Francisca and Patricia finding out the truth we the viewers know. So, we have to be past this bump to get to the good parts.

I did get tears in my eyes watching Los Suarez mourning at Tigre's funeral. The actors who play young Max and David were really believable.

I'm still gonna watch but I'm bien afectada by it.
I'll be howling desgraciados, descarados, imbeciles the whole time.
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA

Ali accuses Vale of killing Toni and her father and shows her a copy of a signed check. Fed enters and Ali introduces herself. dMart shows Tom and Rafa the video of him shooting the camera. Had he fired at the camera kids would’ve panicked. But nothing happened. Brat begs her mom to keep the fake pregnancy a secret. Laura is touched that brat called her mom. Ali shows Fed the check the police will see when she turns Vale in. Luci refuses to side with dMart. He had dMart have hated each other for years. dMart tells Alex that the letters blatanly say he didn’t kill anyone. He sees Brat as only the mother of his child, he is in love with Alicia. Ali glees to Laura that Vale is going down. Laura doesn’t care. She abandoned her kids. If there not happy she could care less about Vale. Ali knows that Brat is faking her pregnancy. Laura confirms this. Ali wants to tell dMart but Laura refuses to betray her daughter. Miggy and Pen cant believe that Brat is going on with the lie. Vero goes to the hotel where mary died to see francisca, another employee said she was fired. Fed refuses to cover for Vale. The big day arrives. dMart has his trial. His family says they support him. They all hug him. Zeke arrives and claims to testify for Martin. Ali visits Eli. Eli cant believe Zeke is going tom lie that Marcos isn’t the killer.
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA pt2

She asks if Ali found any clues. Ali says the notes claim the killer had a desire to kill again. Diana hopes the Marcaders and Alvarados will reconcile but Juan and Omar doubt this. The judge arrives. dMart has another flashback as a child. Nat wants to kick Caro out. Vale pays Ali a visit. She says that Ali lived off her money for years. Leave her alone. Or else she will tell the truth to Zeke, Fed and everyone. Vale damands that Ali give her the copy of the check or Zeke will learn the truth. Zeke admits in court that he lied. God knows he made a mistake. He paid with that mistake by losing his son. Zeke has a flashback. We see a young Luci with Nat and Zeke kicks the gun to dMart. Fed tells Laura he wants to be happy with her. Rafa demands that dMart be free. The judge wants to continue that trail. But the judge wants a recess. dMart gives a speech asking the judge to please release him. The judge will sleep netter when he decides to release an innocent man. Ali burns the copy of the check when Tom knocks on the door he enters proclaiming his love for Ali. He grabs her and they kiss. Tom says he can change but Ali refuses to listen to him. Juan says he feels guilty for failing to protect his son. Zeke commited a crime but he did it to save his son yet Juan did nothing. And worse he told his wife to forget about him. And he lied to his kids that dMart died. He apoligizes to dMart and the judge, then he says that his son doesn’t deserve 1 more second in prison.
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA -- martes

Thanks, NovelaMan.

When Alicia left the paper burning in the ashtray to answer the door, I expected the couch to burst into flames while she and Tom were talking. (Also, I expected his first words to be: What's that smell? Something's burning!)

Alicia is looking more and more sly in every scene. What if she IS Valeria's daughter but not Federico's? What if Ezequiel is her father? That would explain Zeke's statement in court that he acted to protect his own child.

I wonder if we will ever find out who is Martín's biological father (and whether he is his adoptive brother Omar's father too -- how else to explain that Omar's son is just like Martín?)

We've seen some pretty silly courtroom scenes from Telemundo but this one may have been the silliest. The judge declares a recess and the defendant argues him out of it? He tells him he'll rest easier after he's freed an innocent man? Right.
 

LA PATRONA:

This is getting like a Univision novela, or maybe like one of the wacky ones Telemundo had, such as El Fantasma de Elena. But in that one, and in Corazon Valiente, the bad guys were sort of funny, the whole thing could be seen for laughs. I'm not feeling any humor here (except maybe the appearance of the psychiatra), as things are so negative, it's painful to watch. Now, Gaby seems crazy, yelling about killing in her delirium, even Alejandro is waffling again, as well as David.

The only good part of the show was the two pregnancies. This is ALWAYS good in a novela. As for Gaby's, they have to do blood testing a lot for pregnancies, right? Antonia or Anibal said they'd stop blood testing so no one would detect the psychotropic drugs. But if they're going to test, I think Antonia will have to tell the psychiatra to stop. This would a) protect the baby, since the writers would NEVER let a baby be poisoned, and 2) Gaby should recover her sanity. But of course, it'll be too late, the horse is out of the barn.

The other pregnancy, Patricia, allows her to confirm Alejandro is a creep, and may somehow help in other ways, but I have no clue how. Still, we know it's a blessing, as they always say.
 

LA PATRONA:

Correction: Alberto is a creep. But Alejandro's not so perfect, either!
 

EL SECRETARIO - Feb. 6, 2013:
(according to the official website on caracol.com, this is #101)

Papa and Olga are on the phone - Olga asks him why he invited her boss Toni and her husband to the dinner, it was only going to be a intimate gathering for family.

Toni is in her office - she tries to call Paula, but only gets her voice mail. Toni calls Olga and tells her that she and Feliz will happily be at the dinner tonight. Olga nervously tries to back out of the invite, but Toni insists on coming. Emilio stays busy at his desk the entire time.

Felix is in Mario's office, spanking Mario with his belt. Mario screams in pain and begs forgiveness for turning Felix in to the police. Felix only grows angrier about the arrest, the embarrassment in front of the press, his friends, about it almost costing him the company, and his marriage. Mario begs and pleads for Felix to stop spanking him. Felix stops and leaves the office. Mario is in pain (as he rubs his bottom).

Pato is working with the cafeteria workers. Nelson tries to approach Pato again - asking for forgiveness for insulting him and trying to get him to help with reports. Pato says they are at war and he refuses to help Nelson at all. Pato takes his basket and walks away.

Felix goes to Toni's office. She asks about Yensy's contract. Felix tells her that Mario was to blame for everything, especially his arrest. Felix grumbles that there's no place at Copito for useless people.

Mario is in his office, talking to himself. He boxes up his stuff and then sits down. He tries stapling himself to the chair - no staples. He takes the duct tape and starts to tape himself to his chair.

Millie finds Yensy at her desk in the warehouse. Yensy is crying and tells Millie her horrible, tearful story. Millie doesn't really care. Yensy is hurt by the lack of sympathy and leaves.

Felix and Toni enter Mario's office and are stunned to see Mario taped like a mummy to his chair. Mario grumbles that he refuses to leave and they can't make him. He isn't a dog (he starts to bark, Arf! Arf!) Felix is antagonized and starts to argue with Mario - they trade barbs and insults back and forth. Toni has to play referee to get them to stop. Felix calls Emilio into the office and orders him to remove Mario from the building. Mario begs "encanto" to help him, back him up, not to let them take him away. Felix orders Emilio to do it. Emilio slowly walks over and pushes Mario's chair out the door, with Mario screaming and begging.

Conde, Pato and Aguirre are informed about an emergency meeting of employees. They make a friendship pact and leave.

Felix and Emilio push Mario's chair through the warehouse and out the garage door. Felix wants to kick the chair even further. Emilio stops him. Emilio feels a little pity for Mario. Felix pulls all Mario's company IDs out of his pockets and he talks with Emilio. Mario whimpers as Felix pushes the chair away from the building.

Toni meets with employees and tells them Mario has been fired and will not be part of Copito Inc. any more. Toni walks up to Yensy and has a private conversation about her status at the company.

In the elevator, Felix is so overjoyed about finally getting rid of his half-bro. Emilio just looks at him. Felix tells him to stop staring like that; then tells Emilio to order him a pepperoni pizza.

Back in his office, Felix calls Paula. Paula is indifferent to Felix. Felix is very annoyed by her attitude.


 

EL SECRETARIO - Feb. 6, 2013: part 2

Yensy is in the ladies room, and uses her cell phone to talk to Mario. Mario scolds her over his firing and she still being an employee of Copito. She acts sympathetic. He doesn't believe it and vows vengeance (or was he cursing her with bad luck?). She is shocked.

Toni questions Felix's smile. He says he is happy. She asks why. He double talks his reason being that he is ultimately wiser for what has happened. Toni wonders where he discovered this 'wisdom'. He claims at the psychologist's office (although he has trouble remembering the doctor's name). Toni informed Felix that they have been invited to secretary Olga's house for a party for her and Emilio - baby shower, engagement party. She says she has already told Olga that they will be attending. Felix covers up with joy.

Frank, Lorena, Valentina and Dona Trudy are in the hallway waiting for Rosita to finish in the apartment. Lorena, Valentina and Rosita walk out. Frank and Dona Trudy discuss her opinions about Olga. Frank tells Dona Trudy to keep her comments to herself - they need to support Emilio tonight.

Olga and Emilio arrive at Olga's house. Papa welcomes them inside and then starts in on Emilio about doing the right thing and marrying his daughter soon. Emilio is very nervous and thinks they should wait and slow down. Papa continues to talk about their impending marriage.
 

MADE IN CARTAGENA:

Yes, things are getting very interesting.

I think the thing Sabroso wants Watusi to call Flora about is the grand opening of the teen beach hut/club since it was both Flora's and Watusi's idea in the first place. But now with both of their hearts breaking, Watusi doesn't want to call or talk with Flora at all - he doesn't want to her any more of her 'padrino' excuses. He's tired of it.

About the gift - Flora followed Vicente as he bought the gift. He didn't let Flora see it - he wants it to be a total surprise for Sofia and doesn't want Flora to gossip to her what it is. Apparently, throughout the years, he hasn't done a very good job with the birthday gifts - either he forgot, had someone else do it or given her the same thing a couple years in a row. At the end, Flora went off to buy a surprise gift for Sofia - and won't let Vicente know what it will be.
 

LA PATRONA

Two simultaneous pregnancies announced in one ep. last night raised a red flag for me. I hope the writers aren't planing to use that old TN maneuver of doing a baby switch because Patty dies or loses her baby and Antonia wants to get a hold of her other grandchild.

Meanwhile, Gaby is more and more isolated and unprotected. The only people who are supportive, or at least not condemning her, are Francisca, Patty and the miner who loves her. And they can't do anything much to save her from the evil ones.

Another thought, if Antonia tells the weird looking shrink that Gaby cannot be given any more psychedelic meds because of the pregnancy, then Gaby will really end up in jail and not in a manicomio because she'll no longer be "crazy".


 

LA PATRONA

Anonymous at 12:07 PST, we'd love it if you signed a name so we have someone to respond to. Excellent comment.

Antonia may not try to have the horrible vampire looking shrink inject Gaby again since she already told the guard to take off the restraints and, to boot, told him to deny she'd ever been there. So Gaby was able to escape the clinic and appear totally nuts. Mission accomplished for Antonia. When will her string of victories ever end?

Maybe one psychotic break will be enough. Plus, the writers may not want continuous baby poisoning to happen.

This was a truly disturbing episode. Even before Alejandro saw her raving and scaring David, he expressed doubt. I suspect he's going to have another episode of terrible guilt when he finds out the truth, like the one when he doubted she was raped. His name should be Tomás, as in "Doubting Thomas".

I liked the scene with Patricia telling the loathsome Alberto that she only told him to prove her theory that he was a complete jerk. Of course, she'll keep the baby since no one in telenovelas ever has an abortion.
 

LA PATRONA

I was impressed with Aracely Arámbula for allowing such a disfiguring makeup-job to be done on her for the hospital scenes. She's the first female protagonista that I've seen look truly bad, and not just a bit wan, in such a scene.

This is my first comment over here; I comment now and then on Caray, but always on the Televisa novelas. La Patrona is the 1st one that Telemundo has run that I decided to follow, after having sampled a number of them over the past 5 years. I've always found them boring until now. Interesting that Hombre de Misterio characterizes this one as being atypical of the network, and akin to a Televisa production. I do like them wacky and dark.

Karamy

 

LA PATRONA:
So much evil and villany tonight, so little time. And Macario needs to be in the manicomio, not Gaby. I literally lost my breath when he punched her in the stomach.

I'm also sick of Alejandro. Although Guerra set up Gaby well, the only piece that proves Gaby's innocence is the death of her father. Why would she do anything to harm her father? Even when she threatened the miners, she said she kill them if they hurt her family. Why would she do anything to hurt her father?

Gaby's lawyer was also useless because he never defended her, which is why she interrupted the prosecution witnesses. Gaby only went to the mine because Guerra told her that's where her father was. Any decent defense attorney would have brought that up by giving a timeline of Gaby's day.

I still think, though, that Roberto Villegas and Alejandro don't believe the charges, but they can only go by their 'gut' feelings at this point. But still, why would Gaby blow up the mine and risk killing her father?

David's destiny with Guerra and how he relates to Max and with the kids of the dead miners seem as if it's gonna be a good portion of the middle portion of the novela. I'm glad David was overhearing what his abuela was saying about his Mom. I think it's significant that the only thing he took from his home was a pic of himself with his mother. Guerra is not gonna get the parenting reset she's hoping for he's gonna give her problems tarde or temprano.

I'm so frustrated by the injustice and villany, but I can't stop watching.
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA pt1

The judge apologizes to dMart and says that since Zeke admitted he lied in court, he will have his own trial. And because Zeke and Luci withdrew their charges dMart is then declared innocent. Eli and the maid watch Vero on TV who gives the scoop on the trial. Luci tells Eli he temporarily moved back in. dMart will keep the penthouse in an attempt to please the public. The bank is also losing more customers. News reporters flock to dMart who says he doesn’t want revenge. He wants to live in peace with his family. Fed apologizes to dMart but he says to apologize for the man he killed in his place. Rafa says that if dMart wants he could take everything from Zeke considering his actions. Fed wants to know why Vale covered up for Zeke. Since Zeke and Luci withdrew the charges Alex will be freed tomorrow. Gutierrez informs Layton that he will be alone again. Layton says to himself that the killer was waiting for dMart to be freed. Caro opens the door for a mysterious person. Ali enters the penthouse and tells Kat to tell the truth. dMart wants to know what’s going on. Brat has a hard time but is able to continue to lie about the pregnancy. Miggy admits to Penelope that he loves Brat. She says Brat will never love him. Fed and Zeke shoo them out of the living room. Vale enters and Zeke tells Vale to tell Fed the truth. Ale admits to Caro that the killer is a woman. dMart wants a job to take care of the baby. Ali tells brat she has until tomorrow to tell the truth or else. Zeke tells Fed that his affair with Vale started shortly after Luci was born. Fed calls them bastards. Ale can’t tell Caro who the woman is or she will be killed. Nat returns. She asks if something is wrong. They both say no. Ali tells dMart no sex it’s dangerous for the baby. dMart tells Brat that the only thing uniting them is the baby but he doesn’t love her.
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA pt2

Fed is packing his clothes deciding to leave Vale for good. He wants to know if Eva was his daughter. Vale says Fed is crazy. He says it makes sense that Vale would help Zeke. Fed spent 20 years of revenge for nothing. Brat wants to heve sex with dMart, but he says no. The doorbell rings. Dmart is surprised to see Juan. He says that he will need help raising a son since he doesn’t know how to be a dad. He wouldn’t be a good father if he didn’t forgive his own. But there were things he still didn’t understand. Sonia is happy now that the world knows that dMart is innocent. Diana thinks Luci and dMart can make peace. But Sonia says her grandson is the only thing uniting them. Otherwise the Alvarados were still evil people to her. Luci tells Zeke they should declare bankruptcy. He refuses. And they argue about it. Vero enters and says though Marcos may have killed the kids he didn’t kill Tanya or Mari. Ale gives a drunked goodbye to Caro and Nat. Caro says Ale was acting weird. That she admitted that Tanya was killed because she wanted to talk and that Marcos wasn’t the killer. The killer was a woman . Juan admits he was harsh on dMarts. dMart says while he feared and sometimes hated Juan they did (Rarely) have a few good times. They fished once and dMart caught a 4-pounder. Juan admits that he isn’t dMarts father. Juan is sterile. He was humiliated when his mother was pregnant. He wrongly thought she cheated. He didn’t see what was so obvious. Ali enters her apartment and Tom is already waiting. Tom says no one will love Ali like him. He says dMart won’t be able to tolerate her problems. He asks her to come back to him if she really needed him she says she will. That was enough for Tom. He leaves . Vero feels Marcos didn’t commit suicide. Some one drove him off the cliff. Juan admits that dMart and Diana that they were rape producs. The rape ruins their lives. But now he feels like a father more than ever. If dMart will give him the chance……
 

LA PATRONA:

Parts of this show are reminding me of the one it just replaced, Corazon Valiente. In that show, Angela, the star, was convicted of something and had to spend a year in jail. And she also had just found out she was pregnant, and I think she couldn't have the baby in jail. And her boyfriend/husband got custody of the baby. Yes, there are many differences, but couldn't the writers come up with something else?

Patricia is really suffering with morning sickness, weak spells, and doubts of whether she can raise her baby by herself. We knew there was no way she'd have an easy pregnancy.

The mayor has pierced ears, I think. Maybe in real life he's some cool guy who has to dress an act uncool for the part. He's doing a wonderful job at being uncool :)

I think the nice miner, who likes Gaby, is named Manuel.

No surprise that the evil psychiatra (is her name Gertrude?) who injected Gaby as a nurse, and condemned her as the state's expert witness, is also the head of the "readaptation center". Of course!!
 

LA PATRONA

'not watching this, but all your comments/recaps are making me ill, too.

maybe I'll tune in if or when they change Aracely Arambula's wig.
 

I actually like AA's wig. I think she looks great with brown hair. I didn't know it was a wig until 3 eps in. Christian Bach's wig is worst. She's a natural blonde, I don't know why she was wigged out. Manuel isn't a miner, he's the mine accountant, iirc. He might not have turned on Gaby because he knows the mine finances.
 

LA PATRONA

JdesdeNYC, I think we're going to see Christian Bach's real hair after the time jump. The opening credits show her that way. I guess they decided to have two different "looks" to emphasize time having passed.

I'm also OK with Aracely's wig. It's a pretty good one and not distracting at all.

Hombre, interesting point about the prison pregnancy. For me nothing about this novela reminds me of Corazón Valiente. This one is replete with Televisa like downtrodden women and overbearing rich folks. Bad things happened to the women in CV but not because they were pobres.

Wow, just wow, about the rent-a-shrink. Her method of "analyzing" Gabriela was to sit there and tell her in a long monologue what her problems were - with no feedback at all from the "patient". I loved it when Gaby said that some of the things the evil witch said were true, but she was not crazy. And certainly in her right mind enough to remember said witch injecting her saline solution with mind-altering drugs.

The punch in the stomach was interesting. I'm assuming Antonia wants THIS grandchild to disappear. I'm a bit surprised she didn't go for waiting until the birth and stealing that one as well.

JdesdeNYC, you're so right. The "trial" was a travesty. I didn't even think she had a defense lawyer until he got up to stop her angry insistence she hadn't killed her father.

I was sure David was going to reject his mother, Francisca, and Max. But taking the photo was a good sign. AND, he overheard his granny plotting with the Senator and ran out upset.
 

PASIÓN PROHIBIDA

They surely are making Bianca a very ambivalent character. It's hard to say at any given time what her motives are.

She certainly seems to want to make a success of her marriage and to get along with the step-kids. She made great strides with Nina with her apology at the dinner table, also causing Bruno to look as if he was wondering if he misjudged her.

AND, she doesn't want her mother to get money from Ariel.

Big surprise that Flavia gave up on the house.

I know there has to be a villain in every novela, but the big wrong note to me is Guillermo Arredonda, who says he has no son and all but twirls his Simon Legree moustache in every episode. Too over the top.
 

PASIÓN PROHIBIDA

Alls I can say right now is Jencarlos lights up my evening everytime he's on the screen, especially last night.
 

LA PATRONA

Hola Novelera; I'm Anon at 12:07. I fell into watching La P by simply clicking the wrong tv channel one night several weeks ago (I was looking for Amor Bravio), and I've been hooked ever since.

Interesting ending last night with Macario delivering the punch to Gaby's abdomen that supposedly will cause a spontaneous abortion. I did not see that one coming, but of course it makes sense that Antonia will want to sever any connection Gaby has to Ale. Our spunky little protagonista just can't catch a break - and probably won't for months.

BTW, does anyone know how many eps are planned for this TN?

Is anyone else wondering if Poncia's "secret" is that she's Ale's mother? It seems to me that Antonia's "love" for Fernando is much more intense than her affection for Ale. I'm probably way off on this (I usually am), but Antonia seems much more obsessive about Fer than she is about Ale.

And to echo someone else's comments about Ale, he's just about worthless as a galan, so wishy washy. Maybe he will become David's protector in the casa de "guerra".

Isn't Gaby a Beltran through her mother? I missed a few eps, but I thought Tigre said the Chamuco land came from Gaby's mother, a Beltran.

Beth from Denver

 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA -- miércoles

Thanks again, NovelaMan. We must be getting near to the end, don't you think? I mean we're running out of characters.

So Tomás knows the truth about Alicia. Hmmm.
 

LA PATRONA

Beth from Denver: Welcome!

I'm sure Antonia sent Macario there to deliver the stomach punch thinking Gaby would lose the baby.

But female protagonists often have scares but nearly always manage to deliver a full-term baby. Of course, said baby can be stolen from her right after the birth and not recovered until the last week of the TN, but that's another story! I think Gaby and Ale's baby WILL be born.

Yes, I think El Tigre said that Lucia, Gaby's mother, was a Beltran, but I remember them saying she was not a close relative of Antonia, sort of a cousin twice removed or some such. But Antonia said that since the name Beltran was involved with the mine, it was hers. But then she would say that, wouldn't she?

They probably could go with Ale not being Antonia's real son. But so far, they've led me to believe that she loved Fernando more because he was wimpier and easier to manipulate.
 

MADE IN CARTAGENA - Jueves, Feb. 7, 2013:

Harvey starts to cough as Mireya climbs off the bed and puts on her shirt. He gives her instructions for Agua Mala to accompany Flora inside the party and for her to watch from the van. Mireya assures him she will handle it. Mireya leaves Harvey alone. As he starts to mutter to himself, Susanah enters and scolds him for having sex with Mireya. He doesn’t like her scolding him - he’s a man with needs. She continues to tell him off about his ‘needs’ and then the plan. She says they need to end it now; she and Flora want out. Harvey is stunned as Susanah leaves the room.

Flora talks with Sabroso as Celina does the laundry. Sabroso tells her about Watusi’s phone call/invitation. Flora wonders why he didn’t call to tell her. Sabroso asks her, can she really blame him for not calling? Flora feels guilty and upset. Sabroso gives her some advice. She says she still loves Watusi. Sabroso tells her, right now, with the way she’s acting, it doesn’t look like it.

Harvey meets with Max (or is the black guy Blachko? i keep confusing them) about Susanah. Meanwhile Vicente and Imanol get the BBQ started for Sofia’s birthday pool party. In the van outside the house, Mireya and Agua Mala get Flora fitted with a wire and give her instructions on what they need her to do inside the house -- to get information; they tell her it will help get Cande out of jail.
Meanwhile, in the prison infirmary. Perez and Profe whisper in the doorway of Cande’s room. Perez leaves. Profe and Cande discuss his plan for escape (the strick happens tomorrow). Profe wonders about Titi, he’s in solitary confinement. Perez is listening to the conversation from the hallway.

Guest start to arrive to the pool party. Vicente and Imanol continue talking and grilling.

Perez goes to solitary and knocks on door for Titi. He gives Titi a message - from Profe and Cande.

Imanol talks with Sylvia; She takes off her wrap skirt and goes for a swim. Inside the house, Flora and Agua Mala (Fernando) arrive. They wish Sofia a happy birthday. Vicente also welcome them. Sofia opens Flora’s gift. It’s used ballet slippers - something to remember her by when Sofia’s in Paris. Sofia says it’s perfect and thanks Flora. As Sofia and Vicente’s backs are turned, Agua Mala whispers to Flora. Agua Mala goes outside to the pool with Sofia, leaving Vicente and Flora alone inside. He gives her directions to the bathroom upstairs (to change into her suit).

Profe is talking with Titi, at the solitary confinement door. Profe slides a hot dog bun through the door window for Titi.
 

MADE IN CARTAGENA - Jueves, Feb. 7: Pt. 2

Flora comes out to the pool. Vicente watches as she walks around the pool in her bikini and wrap sarong. Vicente looks down at the grill as she sits down. Agua Mala walks away from Flora, and Vicente and Flora look at each other. Mireya is in the truck listening to Agua Mala’s wire feed. He starts to talk with Vicente about cooking and grilling. Vicente asks Fernando about his ancestry - he doesn’t look or sound like a native latino. Fernando says he is German and explains his family tree. Vicente glances at Flora and tells Fernando he is a lucky guy, Flora is a wonderful girl and he needs to take care of her. Fernando assures him he will. Agua Mala stands at the grill while Vicente sits down and joins the group. Mireya starts to talk with Agua Mala through his ear piece. Agua Mala used his microphone to talk back to her. Agua Mala serves food to the group.

Watusi and kids walk, skip along the road - they are going to Sofia’s party.

Flora and Sofia sit alone and talk about Vicente. Flora defends Vicente, saying he’s trying to make things right with Sofia. Sofia doesn’t believe he sincerely cares. They argue. Sofia finally sees her point. On the other side of the pool, Pablo talks with Fernando about how much he (Pablo) likes Sofia - but when she leaves, he wonders if their relationship will survive.

Sabroso wakes up in his hammock. He has blurred vision and starts coughing. He looks down and kicks the gravel under his shoes. He wipes his mouth.

Flora talks with Marcos as Vicente leaves the house. He walks over to Sofia and gives her his gift. She opens it - and is surprised. Vicente says the rings are to protect her while she is away from home and to remember him and home. She loves them and tells him “thank you”. She also calls him “papi”. Everyone applauds. Flora gives him thumbs up.

Harvey and Max are in the hospital room, talking about the search for who the dead shooter was. No answers so far; Harvey wants constant patrols at the hospital - he doesn’t want any of the dead guy’s associates to enter the clinic. Max wonders, ‘associates?’

Vicente looks at the over-grilled food and talks with Fernando (Agua Mala). Agua Mala asks about Sylvia - is she your girlfriend? Vicente says no, she’s just a friend, and my boss. Pablo tries to talk with Sofia but she’s too busy with her guests. Sofia sits down with Marcos and Flora. Marcos is too anxious and tells Sofia he will go get it and bring it to her. He leaves. Agua Mala takes this opportunity to walk to a private corner of the yard and talk with Mireya - fill her in on who is at the party. Sofia and Imanol talk in private about Sylvia - Imanol is curious about her - Sofia tells him she wants to date her dad. Alone, Flora and Vicente have a private conversation.
 

MADE IN CARTAGENA - Jueves, Feb. 7: pt 3

Sabroso and Celina are talking. Sabroso starts coughing again. He coughs and coughs. Celina tries to get him to breath.

Vicente tells Flora that he has one more surprise for Sofia. Flora asks what the surprise is? Watusi and Campeon are walking up to the house. Vicente inside tells Flora he invited Watusi to come to the party to dance. As Watusi and Campeon are at the front path, Watusi gets a phone call - it’s Celina; Sabroso is coughing really badly, you need to come quick. Watusi says he will be right there. He tells Campeon to stay and tell Vicente the dance is cancelled. Watusi leaves and Campeon rings the doorbell. A security agent opens the door. Campeon says he’s there to see Vicente. Agent goes inside and tells Vicente. Flora is stuttering as Vicente goes to the door. Campeon tells him that Watusi had to leave and the dance is cancelled. Vicente thanks him.

Agua Mala is still having his secret conversation with Mireya. Mati sees him talking to himself and calls over to him. Agua Mala covers with his cell phone in hand. Mati buys it; Agua Mala and Mireya finish their conversation very quickly. Flora joins Vicente on the balcony overlooking the pool. Vicente tells her something came up and the dance is now cancelled. Flora tells him something and then leaves to join Sofia at the pool. Sylvia takes the opportunity to join Vicente and flirt with him. Imanol watches them. Vicente walks away to supervise the party. Mati joins Sylvia - they talk about how quiet it will be there without Sofia. Vicente is standing at another side of the balcony. Sylvia walks over to join him.

Cande gets out of bed and unhooks himself from his IV and machines. He takes something out of the medical cabinet and hides it in his bed frame. He closes the cabinet and jumps back in bed, before anyone sees him. Cande pretends to sleep while the nurse is in the room. When the nurse leaves, he gets out of bed. Profe and Perez are standing in the prison yard - looking around and at each other. Cande drops the thing out the window and it lands in a wheelbarrow down below. The nurse enters and helps Cande back to bed. Profe quickly picks up the item from the wheelbarrow and hides it in the back of his pants.

Sylvia and Imanol sit together and talk privately. Vicente makes an announcement - he has a special show for them in honor of Sofia’s birthday. He asks Flora to dance the ‘campeche’ like she and all the children dance in the streets and on the beach. Flora is reluctant but Fernando (Agua Mala) encourages her. The music starts and Flora starts to dance. Vicente is infatuated. As he watches Flora, Sylvia walks up to him, kiss him on the lips and then walks passed him. Vicente is stunned. The music ends and everyone applauds.

NEXT WEEK: Flora and Watusi -- Vicente and Sylvia -- What will Flora do now?
 

LA PATRONA:
Jueves
)
I am so ready for the venganza portion of this novela. I am not a crier, but I shed real tears at tonight's EP. Francisca and Maximilian are now suffering from hunger pangs because they don't have any income from Gaby or Tigre to live on. That was a kick in the gut for me.

The villany is too much now. I was especially hurt when the nurse stole Gaby's medallion-and I'm an arch-Protestant, but that hurt my feelings because it was just so unnecessarily mean even after Gaby explains to the nurse it was her mother's. Gaby loses the baby after Macario beats the stuffing out of her and tells her it was on the Patrona's orders for messing with her.

Soon after Alejandro visits Gaby after trying forget her by drowning his sorrows in liquor. Seeing Alejandro coming on the manicomio premises, the psiquiatra Gertrudis Aguirre tells Stealer nurse to give Gaby drugs to make her seem crazy when ale sees Gaby. in the meanwhile she tells Ale that he can't see his mujer because she in full crazy mode--she aborted his child by throwing herself down trhe stairs because she didn't want to have a Beltran, she tells him, since beltrans are the enemy. Ale is bien impactado and I feel sorry for him because he's really hurt that Gaby could do this. Yet, i wonder if he's an idiot. Why would Gaby abort the child of a man she loves when she didn't abort the child she had via rape? Again, galans lacking the sense God gave a gnat.

 

Yet, i wonder if he's an idiot. Why would Gaby abort the child of a man she loves when she didn't abort the child she had via rape? Again, galans lacking the sense God gave a gnat.
***********************************

Especially since Gabriela's "ravings" during his visit were fairly coherent: that "they" killed her baby, that Macario kicked her into miscarrying, and that the psiquiatra is a paid-for minion of Guerra. It was like he didn't even hear it.

Karamy
 

La Patrona -

loving your nightly comments J desde NYC!

it's tuff watching Gabriela suffering,

but in her conversation with Antonia, I think she has given us an outline of what's to come, didn't she name the Lobos, all of Antonia's helpers (and Irene was on that list), and said she would take them out one by one until only Antonia was left, and then...

wow,
I believe her,
now how can she get out of that horrible place,

so Ricardo is impotent, and the unknowing pregnant Patti jokingly asked him to marry her?
(I was wondering when we would get to meet his mom),

Francisca is my all time favorite character, if they keep messing with her, I'm climbing inside the tv, with a big club,

Gertrudis Aguirre, the psychiatrist, is my worst nightmare, what used to be done in the old days with things like electroshock and lobotomies can now be done with drugs.

I'm putting my money on Gabriela,
Alejandro, go have a drink, and why are you living with your mother.
this town is being run by people that still live with their parents.

btw, and this might be a bit of a spoiler, but, Gonzalo García Vivanco, who was the bad guy in Relaciones Peligrosas, is listed in our cast as Lucho Vampa, thief, Gabriela's friend/accomplice, so wow, does this ever open a lot of doors.

from TW, could the stolen necklace identify the nurse as Gabriela's?

and, did Aníbal slip and say sons, plural?
like with Antonia?
 

MADE IN CARTAGENA:

Jody, thank you SO much for the recap. My DVR didn't tape it! But you brought it all to life, I could just visualize each scene. Several close calls as usual- Watusi getting called away at the last minute, Agua Mala fooling Matilde with his cell phone, really talking into a wire.

We knew Silvia liked Vicente, but it's a little more out there now. But of course he's going to like Flora.

I wonder if Sofi will really go to Europe, since her character is important to the plot. We'll see.

And Susana wanting to call it off. Yes, she's another one who could change things.
 

LA PATRONA:

Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does, with Gaby's baby being killed, she being shot full of drugs, Francisca and Max with no money. But yes, Gaby's speech was great. I really DO hope she kills them, one by one, even Alejandro! Yes, we don't necessarily have to have her end up good (I'm probably wrong here). And of course, one day, that gold will come into play.

Ricardo's Mom (forgot her name) also being held at the same manicomio! And Anibal wants her to spill the beans about some document. But she won't!

Antonia, you're smiling now. But your day will come.
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGAN ZA pt 1

Zeke doesn’t know how to prove Veros theory that Marcos was murdered. Vero says there was a woman who was fired from the hotel for talking. She says Zekes contacts can help find the woman. Zeke tells Vero to just let go of the past. Fed tells Laura that Zeke and Vale were lovers shortly before Luci was born. Brat enters the apartment demanding to know why Laura told Ali about the pregnancy. Caro enters her apartment and finds a dead woman. Brat says Laura doesn’t act like a mother. Laura says Ali promised to keep it quiet. Brat says that’s not true. Brat insults Fed when he steps in. Laura then says Brat should stop lying to dMart. Brat doesn’t want to see Laura ever again. She leaves and Laura is heartbroken. Caro is running in the streets out of fear. Ali is watching a Chrysler commercial. dMart goes to see her. dMart was a Monster Boy. His mother suffered to give birth to him. He thinks he can only be happy with Ali by his side. Tom wants to celebrate with Nat but she doesn’t want to. Caro enter the apartment and pukes all over the floor. Alex offers Layton a drink. He toasts to his freedom tomorrow. Layton toasts for the deaths yet to come. Caro is traumatized she can barely say a dead woman is at her room. As Alex is leaving the showers he is raped by Moreira. dMart tells Ali he was norn due to rape. Ali says that Sonia probably considers dMart and Diana a blessing. And Ali is glad that dMart exists for her. They share a kiss. Tom enters the Caros apt and asks if the womans head has been found. The police say no. Ali is given a present. The womans head! Underneath the box lid is written “THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!” dMart tries to calm Ali down. Ali calls Tom. The dead womans ID confirms that she is Alejandra Moreno. (Thank God! I never liked her!) Ali says a womans head has been delivied at her house. Tom asks if the head looks like Ales. dMart says yes (dMart I wouldn’t touch it). Ali tells Tom it is. dMart embraces a traumatized Ali. Nat tries to offer Caro tea. Caro says Ale told her she suspected Nat. Caro pulls a knife on her and tells her to back off. dMart tells Ali that Marcos wasn’t the killer. Ali says that Marcos was probably killed, but who is doing this and why? The head wanst meant for Ali but for dMart. Everyone around dMart is in danger. The inmates mock Alex about the rape. Alex says Moreira will pay. But the inmates find it hilarious.

 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA pt 2

Tom brings Layton to his office. Layton wants Tom to take him to the crime scene to see if he can find clues. Ali asks dMart if he had any sleep. dMart cant fall in love with her. The women who love dMart die. Ali says that Tanya and Pat didn’t love him. dMart doesn’t want Ali to die but she says she is willing to die for him. Zeke is glad that Brat is back home but she says that she will move in with dMart soon. Laura visits them and Brat gets aggressive toward her Zeke calms her down. Laura says she wants to talk to Zeke about Vale in private. At Zekes office Laura asks if Eva Samaniego was his daughter. If Eva survived she would be Lucis age. Fed told her he suspected this. Zeke said that Vale told him that but he never believed her. He never interacted with Eva. He loved Laura. Their marriage was a fraud she says. But Zeke says he was really happy with her. He made her feel like garbage when she cheated yet Zeke had a doughter with another woman. Her supposed best friend. Zeke says Eva was a daughter he barely knew. A daughter he didn’t care about. Fed visits Evas tomb. He says he cant ever get over her. If Eva isn’t his daughter they will pay. He will always love her no matter what. A man named Pablo is hired to exhume Evas body. He has to have a DNA test to confirm if Eva is indeed his daughter. Alex is finally home but he is still hurt over the prison rape. Caro tells Tom that she is certain that Nat is the killer. Ali reads a letter for dMart “Diego if you only knew how much I dreamed about you the last few weeks it must be because spring coming. But I remember you playing alone in some far off corner of the school patio you cant escape. When you get this letter please reply. I write and I write but you never answer. ” Alicia seems rather affectionate at this letter……… Tom thinks Caro is crazy but she says it makes sense. Ale says the killer was a woman but she never said the womans name. Nat was bullied even worse than dMart her husband never slept with her. Nat could be a boiling pot of anger. Nat tells Alex that Caros in shock and even went as far as to accuse her of being a killer. Alex tells Nat he wants to make love to her. dMart visits the Alvarados. Luci blames dMart for ruining the company. Their company is going to die. Laura says she tried to build a good family. Zeke says maybe Lauras cheating was his fault. Mari and Marcos deaths made him think a lot of things. He didn’t treat her like he should’ve. Laura says its too late. Zeke asks if she knew Ali was Ramons daughter. She says yes and she hopes Ali will bring him down. dMart says the killer struck again. Luci realizes that Marcos was innocent. dMart says that Marcos death wasn’t a suicide but murder. If the killer is indeed alive Brat and Luci are in danger.
 

LA PATRONA

Excellent comments JdesdeNYC, Karamy, Hombre, and Deb. Welcome, Karamy, I don't remember having seen you here except for the last couple of days.

Boy was I ever wrong about Gaby and Alejandro's baby surviving Macario's vicious attack! They also teased us with a preview of Alejandro being in Gaby's room the day before. I just about jumped through the screen when that vicious rent-a-shrink told Alejandro that Gaby herself had thrown herself down the stairs to lose his baby.

I am SO ready for the time skip and Gaby going after the lobos. But, if she actually murders them, this will be a big switch from what the "good guys" usually do. Maybe she'll just expose them and ruin them financially instead.

David never stops disappointing me. After overhearing the "lobos" gloating over Gabriela's conviction, actually drinking champagne, he gets sucked in by evil granny once again. And he doesn't even object when said granny tells Max that he and his mother are to NEVER come to her house again.

I'm really curious about how much time will elapse. Will a new, possibly better looking, child portray David? I'm sure Antonia's wig is going to go since they show her in a fancy, platinum blonde "do" in the opening montage.
 

PASIÓN PROHIBIDA

There doesn't appear to be much interest here in this novela. I'm not thrilled either, but haven't given up completely.

Nina is still driving me crazy. After she and Bianca appeared to have arrived at a truce, it looks like she's back to getting her hate on. First she blathers on for a full 5 minutes about Bianca's lack of emotion about her mother being muy grave. Then she discovers Bruno comforting Bianca and will jump to conclusions faster than a flea can jump on a nearby dog.

And the repetitive scenes of the cook, Salomon, admonishing the chattering magpies in the kitchen are boooooring.

Of course Flavia will survive, and it looks like sickeningly sweet Penelope has turned on poor Nicolás for having warned Ariel that he was going to be hit up for money. Gah!
 

EL ROSTRO DE LA VENGANZA -- jueves

NovelaMan, thank you for hanging in there. After last night, I officially throw in the towel. I feel sorry for the actors who are locked into this thing, especially David Chocarro, who deserves much better.
 

PP: I'm not watching this because JenCarlos annoys me---Zoolander without the sense of irony. From what I've read here,though, it seem as if the writers are hewing too close to the Turkish original which is making it boring to us. La Patrona is a refrito of a venevision novela La Duena but it is contextualed for Mexico, which tends to stress mugrosa or hard-scrabble heroines anyway. They just switched it from 19 century Venezuela to 21st century Mexico. It seems lazy on the PP's writers to not try to contextualize PP if it's taking place in 21 century Miami.

LA PATRONA:
The writers must be planning some vengaza torture scenes--waterboarding or something extreme like that--on Gaby's part to prolong Gaby's suffering like this so the audience will shrug when it happens. There is no the explanation thus far for the vanity fair of suffering they have shown us.

Will this be like The count of Monte cristo where there is a meditation on the justice of revenge even if well-deserved? Poncia hinted last night that vengeance was near when she said 'God's time is perfect, Antonia. You'll see' when Poncia was tucking in David.

We have to give David a break. He's a kid surrounded by shiny, new things. Most kids would be bought of by that....Plus he saw when his Mom was acting nutty under the hallucinogens, which backs up Guerra's story. Also, Ale told Guerra that she's not gonna buy David off no matter what because he misses his Mom. David also gave Guerra a serious side eye when she said she loves to look after the men in this family. He isn't completely sold yet, which is why he keeps sneaking around eavesdropping.

J desde NYC

La Patron a:
 

MADE IN CARTAGENA:

Hombre, you're welcome. If you want to see Flora's dance at the pool party and Sylvia stealing a kiss from Vicente, Univision.com has the video up in the uvideos area of their website. Just look for Made in Cartagena section and click on Capitulo 21 El Mejor Escena.

I know Hulu Latino added Made in Cartagena to their catalogue. I don't have a subscription to their website so I don't know if they have the full episodes there or not.
 

LA PATRONA

So Ricardo is impotent and Patty is pregnant. Sounds like a match made in heaven. Ricardo can let AniMal think that he's a real man, and Patty won't be doing the single parent thing.

I did hear AniMal say "sons" (plural) when he was talking about manhood, so now I'm guessing that Ale is Antonia's and AniMal's son (not Poncia's - boy, was I off on that one!) and that's one of the things Poncia has on Antonia. If my hunch is correct, then Ric and Ale are half brothers. Not sure what that would do for the plot.

I felt so sad for Ricardo when we saw his mother in the bed in the manicomio, probably chemically restrained. How many years was that little boy without a loving mother. Now we know why AniMal has been paying off the head shrinker!

And the nurse who stole Gaby's religious medal and blatantly wears it in front of Gaby to show her how helpless she is. Wow! These villains are all evil and arrogant and I can hardly wait for their comeuppance!

Beth
 

Pasion Prohibida
Novelera, Shallowgal: I am watching this and although no one is recapping, I do enjoy reading your comments.
(When Bruno came out to look for his pajama top last night, I was pawing at the TV screen...)
J in Oregon
 

PASION PROHIBIDA

I'm still watching, too. I totally agree with all the sentiments about Nina... she looks ridiculous (like a 30-year old trying to look 18 by dressing like a 12 year old), and her tantrums and horrible overacting make her character so unlikeable! I'm actually kind of rooting for Camila most of the time because of it. And Yair?? What an idiot... what does he see in her?

Bianca is confusing me a bit... she's shown us a kind, soft side but is so cold and rude to Mme Deniz, the saint. As much as she hates her mother, she sure can be quite the Flavista! And OMG, that WALK she has! Pure attitude!

I can't really watch the Ariel/Bianca romance scenes. So unbelievable... and you can really tell how awkward he is in those scenes. Sure, maybe the zero-chemistry thing is part of the plot, but it doesn't make it any less painful to watch.

On the plus side, I'm intrigued to see things get a bit sparky between Bianca and Bruno. Jencarlos is impressing me in this one... maybe because he seems the most normal of them all in a house o' crazy...

Please send Nina to boarding school. SOON.

AnotherAmy
 

PASIÓN PROHIBIDA

J in Oregon - lol!!! on shirtless Bruno. I had to rewind that a few times.

Truth is, both Nina and Mme Deniz annoy me; Nina for obvious reasons, and Deniz just cuz she's simply boring.

Here's what's said about the show on We Love Soaps.net. I agree with "The actions of the characters are often left open for interpretation."

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2013/02/telenovela-watch-pasion-prohibida-init.html#more
 

Pasion Prohibida

Finally, PP is starting to heat up. Those scenes between B&B were a great tease and I really enjoy the slow burn.
I see nobody is recapping the show. Are there no volunteers? I would like to do it, but I am not sure if I am allowed to.
 

Pasión Prohibida

AdrianaNoel

Welcome! You'll find the most recent page here: http://caraycaray.blogspot.com/2013/02/telemundo-y-mas-week-of-21113.html

ANYONE is welcome to try a miniature recap, ideally one that fits within one or two comment boxes. We try not to step on each other's toes, we NEVER post spoilers and we keep the language PG-13.

It can be pretty tedious committing to a daily recap; most people prefer to do a day or two a week.

If you announce that you'd like to try miniature recaps on Thursdays, say, maybe other people who are enjoying the show will volunteer for other days.

¡Ojo! If you are thinking of full-blown Univisión-type recaps, you should get in touch with Melinama, the blog mom.
 

Thanks for the reply.

I think I will give it a try with the short "recap in comment" type for now, see how it goes. You are right, it is pretty demanding to do the recaps every day; I do love the Univision recaps, the ones for Amor Bravio bring tears (of laughter) to my eyes, but I will see how it goes with the mini recaps for now.