Caray, Caray!

We'll gladly wait for it. Such an exciting episode to capture with words. More "Boys Fighting in the Bar and No One Can Stop Them." QTH?. At least Roddy does it with pink meringue.
 

I did a full recap, I think that even if few people are reading the recaps for this I should at least try a little harder for those that are still invested in this story.
 

Thanks Ellie there are enough of us who are having fun with this to wit eagerly for the recap, especailly after a block buster epi like this one.
 

Decie, here to help! I'm just sorry the recap is so late, my bllody DVR broke down and I had to wait till this morning to watch the episode because televisa pulled everything off of youtube. Boo and hiss. The way I see it they should be paying us to watch!
 

I was hoping that we would come to a point where Maria would just tell Oscar in front of witnesses: "Stop calling me 'chiquita" and get over it because I will never be your mujer!" This was about as close as that was going to get and it still hasn't sunk in.

Maria has to get over the fighting. I can't fault her for not wanting violence as a solution to anything but there is only so much talk before some men realize that their stubbornness isn't going to fly. What's going to happen when either Oscar or Jorge Alfredo has to rescue her from Ruben? (Not a spoiler, just a prediction).

Justo is in an interesting psychological position. What I am wondering about from that scene is where Jorge Alfredo wants to go from here. Is he planning on giving up his fortune? That would be foolish.
 

I wrote this last night after the epi so will post before reading what ellie has to say.

Urban really agree with you as you can see.

Some interesting revelations in this episode. JAntos is obviously much more wounded by all the betrayals then i originally thought. He really lashed out at Justo about his doubts and Wendy’s behavior. It was completely justified. In one fell swoop he lost everything he was used to, friends, family, his work, his name and even his home. Justo is concerned and asked him about money to be sure he would be safe not as the big answer to all the problems. I think Justo was taken back by JAntos reactions and hurt but he was also proud of the way Santos has managed to create a life for himself and didn’t try to talk him into moving out of the barrio. Justo is a wise man.

The endless fight I could have done without. Like Maria I’m no big fan of violence as a way to solve problems but unlike her I understood why JAntos was so outraged when he came in and saw Coloso attacking her. Somehow she seemed to overlook that and also how Oscar went after JAntos after he pushed him away.

Ruben is obsessed and Fabnot really creeps me out. He wants Ruben to forget the girl and concentrate on the business with those stupid gringos. He is also one of those types who seems to think all poor women are sluts and fair game for which he deserves a few good punches from JAntos.

Coloso has spend a considerable amount of time trying to get Concho to get rid of JAntos. Now Trampira has managed to get him fired. I had to laugh at that whole scene when Maria caught him and then Concho walked in. Not a good day for either Oscar or Trampira who was told she was going to have to move to a modest apartment.

Mancia and Amelia still meddling and manipulating their children. Both of them could take lessons from Gracia who loves her children as much as they love theirs but leaves them to live their own lives and learn from their mistakes.
 

Can someone give me instructions on how to post my recap?
 

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Ellie - The way I see it they should be paying us to watch! - LOL

This tn is so bad it's almost good, I only read the snarks not commenting much so far but you guys do a great job interpreting a painfully bad TN which is a wasting of good actors talent.

 

There is no doubt that Elvirus was going to get busted sooner or later.

Oscar deserved to get fired for what he's been doing to Maria since whenever, but Concho also needs to know that Elvirus has been clucking after his two prime roosters under his nose. I don't know how much wool she has been pulled over his eyes, although he does seem very aware of her $elf indulgence$. A modest apartment and a job is a good prescription for her even if it's happening for the wrong reason.

Edited to remove excess repetition.
 

Maria should take her own advice. She counseled Susanito to fight for Irasema because "those that don't fight for their love don't deserve it." Yet, she's been easily led to believe the worst of JA time and time again. Hopefully, with a "ring on it" she will put more trust in him and less on the words of (all) the others.

Her attitude toward JA about the fight is also ridiculous. He jumped in to protect her from Celoso's stupid forced kiss and instead of being grateful to JA, she lit into him. But SHE should have slapped Coloso away and stood up to demand he leave her alone. It really bugs me when anyone in TNs (male or female) is kissed by force and they just stand/sit there and do nothing. You better believe no one gets within one foot of me without my permission - ever! If you are grabbed by surprise, push, knee (where it hurts) and kick and then ask questions later. As George Lopez would say, "that way they learn!"

JA's reaction to his father surprised me. He didn't even seem all that surprised to see his father there and though he had told Fernando how much he loves his family and was glad that his father had finally believed in him, once he saw Justo, everything came out. The feelings of betrayal were still there, just buried deeply.

So tired of Mancia's stupid little faint-and-kick-legs-up-in-the-air-with-sound-effects drama. It's not at all funny, let alone dramatic. Ya basta!

What a relief to see Wendy being the one to console her mother and telling her to "have faith." Altagracia should cry more often, then we'd see less of Whiny's hair-rending antics. lol

Soyyo
 

It always bothers me to see women put up with jerkwad behavior from men when we have every right to tell them to back off and not get within five feet of us. These same women have always been taught to "be nice" and never try to tell off other people.

Been there; suffered that. Didn't do it long.

Santos needs his money, por favor! He needs somehow to get it for everything needed to make his new life better in D.F. Maria and her family need to be free of Ruben and Maria will need a bodyguard to protect her from him afterward.

 

What a fun recap, Ellie! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Mike Johnson reminds me of a tellytubby. I would say teddy bear, but he’s not even that. He’s a blob of nice and that’s it.

For those of you scoring at home, Randy Roddy reached third base, although just briefly before Ump Isa stopped the play, while Gentleman George keeps hitting singles and getting tagged for outs at second. However, it can’t be much longer before he swings for the fences and connects for a grand slam. :) QTH do two horny catholics do the boda simbolica thingie if not to get down and dirty anyhow?

That engagement ring sure is causing confusion. First Amalia and then the saucy wenches thought it meant marriage. I’m guessing that maybe people at that socio-econ level in Mexico usually only have wedding rings and not engagement rings? I’d love to hear from someone who knows that for sure. It seems to have confused JA, too, as he is now calling Maria his wife (mujer). Even though ‘mujer simbolica’ is a bit of a mouthful, you’d think that someone who calls himself ‘Jorge Alfredo’ could manage.

I do have to say that I felt for Coloso. Delusional as he is to think he has any kind of a chance with Maria, when he melted into tears, his pain was real. I did NOT feel sorry for him getting caught with Elvirus or getting fired. (Did that actually happen or just threatened?) And it’s about time Concho got a freaking clue about his ho of a daughter.

ITA that Maria should tell Coloso to back off. She should have done it long ago. She sure looked frightened when he found out about the engagement. He’s a bully.

However, I’m really tiring of all the fighting. “ …it makes me want to go down to your studios to punch you for subjecting us to this.” Good one, Ellie! I laughed out loud last night when the two fightin’ fools fell off the stage. JA was truly provoked this time when he walked in on Coloso accosting Maria, but then he let it escalate. JA needs to learn to tune out the taunts. As someone who grew up in a large family, I wouldn’t have survived if I had skin as thin as his. Most boys learn how to deal with bullies provoking fights by junior high. It reminds me of Maria falling for the mean girl tricks of Elvirus – repeatedly. How’d she ever survive eighth grade? The two of them make quite a pair of naifs.

Gracia is being portrayed as perfect, but it’s not fair to compare her to either Mancia or Amalia. She’s in mop up mode, after the mistakes have been made, where it’s much easier to simply be supportive. The other two are trying to prevent mistakes, as they see it, from being made in the first place. Big difference. Plus Gracia’s kids are much older, with Wendy divorced and apparently the family pastime was badgering Santos to get married. Worst of all, it was Gracia’s advice that caused Santos to flee to Mexico. He was going to ignore OJ and turn himself in until she talked him into running away, which was perhaps the worst advice from any mother on the show so far, so I’m not giving her a pass. It’s hard not to like her, though, and Santos adores her.


 

Forgiveness is shaping up for another big theme of the show, I think. This story is essentially about Santos, his problems, and how he resolves them. We know that due to the evil orange cousins, he needs to clear his name and legal problems before he can go on with his life. But he also has emotional debris to deal with and until he finds a way to forgive, he won’t be able to live in peace. He refused to forgive Bruno before he died and that is why I think he took his death so hard, at least in part. He seemed to forgive Wendy easily, but perhaps he didn’t really know the depth of her betrayal or maybe it’s just easy to forgive your kid sister. He does seem to have a soft spot for her. He clearly isn’t feeling forgiving towards his dad and seemed to backtrack a bit on forgiving Wendy (I’m not sure about that?). He has expressed hope several times that Maria will teach him to forgive, and his mom also hopes that love will teach him this, then his dad was repeating it. Interesting how families will spew the same psychobabble. Viewerville may dislike Wendy, Bruno, and the behavior of his dad, but until Santos forgives all of them, his nightmare won’t be over.
 

What a fabulous recap! You did the story justice, amiga! Justo is glad his boy has finally grown up (I don’t buy this whole growing up bit, especially since Jorge, whom I adore looks older and older in each episode). " ITSA! I love JS, but Mejia's worst fault is putting older actors in roles they're physically too old now to play on screen. If they were on stage it might be different.
 

Thank you ladies for the kind thoughts, and Tellytuby? LMAO, omg that made my day,lol
 

Growing up is about more than physical age. We all know people who haven't grow up in the sense of emotional maturity and the ability to take responsibility.

Justo's viewpoint was that Santos hadn't grown up because he was still a bachelor who had never actually loved a woman. Yes, he started and ran a business and made a pile of dinero, but that's not all there is to being a adult. Being an adult is accepting emotional responsibility for oneself and learning to be supportive of others.

One could make the argument that the luxury cars Santos was selling are toys for big, rich, boys. It's not like he had become an emergency room doctor or a civil rights attorney. Perhaps the emptiness Santos mentioned might have been filled if he had had the sense of mission to become a professional of that type. However, he isn't too old to learn the life lessons he's been getting and falling in love with a good woman like Maria is his salvation.

That's TN Cliche #34.

I don't fault Mejia for casting, but for inconsistency and for inappropriate comic relief. We've mentioned more than once how inconsistent Amalia is about Jorge Alfredo. It always seems to suit the immediate situation but leaves us scratching our heads afterward.

I don't have a high-def TV so perhaps if I did JS would look older to me than he does. I'm not too concerned because novelas as so like opera sometimes.
 

Urban, you make very good points, but I personally find it hard to believe that loving one person can suddenly change you. I think that maybe you can become a better person but at the end of the day you are what you are, your life long habits and views and attitudes don't change that quickly, however we could argue that Santos changed so quickly because he was thrown into this situation and his life went to hell over night, but still, he and Maria don't really know each other and it's hard for me to really believe in them as a couple. They are no Camila/Daniel, or even Teresa and El Guero or Fistera.
 

Amalia's inconsistency is classic approach avoidance conflict, IMO. That's what happens when you want two opposing things at the same time. Think of a cat who wants to eat a goldfish but doesn't want to get her paws wet. She keeps circling and licking her chops and dipping in her paws and shaking off the wet and backing away. Repeat ten thousand times. Amalia wants Maria to marry and be happy, but she can't get past her bad hunches about JAntos.
 

I bet they never show us Mikey with his shirt off. We'd see his telly screen. ;)
 

Poor Mikey, but at least he gets to do arts and crafts! Maybe he could hit the jail gym in the mornings and get nice and buff, he looks like the dough boy to me.

Carolina, two things (A) I love your name (B) I love your avatar!
 

I think Santos is basically a good person who grew up in privilege that didn't require him to do much other than write a checque when money could solve the problem (though I still believe that most of his money he made himself). He was a model older brother and a good son. I doubt that he has ever been less than a decent boyfriend. It's that the depth of emotion wasn't there yet.

This situation has plunged him into sudden poverty which -- thankfully -- he has the ability to deal with. His interpersonal skills are key to his day to day survival. Falling in love with Maria is also helping him to become the person he is meant to be. No shallow trust fund brat like his sister could have done that. Nor a nouveau riche bitch like Elvirus.
 

Thanks, Ellie. I love your recaps. :)

 

Thanks Ellie for the recap.

I don't comment here much because it is hard to watch this inane TN filled with such great actors. So I don't watch every day but when I do, there is usually something I can find to like about it st least a little. IMO JS does seem too old for this part but I think he and Maria make a nice couple anyway. I liked how he told papa that now he has real friends and a new family. But I agree with you all, he could still use the dinero.

I really am tired of the fist fights though. Not just because it is violent but it has been done to death here. And I also agree that Maria needs to tell Coloso to GO. AWAY.

I am most disappointed in my dear Susanito though... he needs to grow a spine. But he is just so stinking cute! Que hombre!
 

He is a cute guy... and 34 years old.

I found it interesting and revealing that Susanito told Maria "You are stronger than I" with regard to standing up to La Madre. But I think in general that women are better at standing up to their mothers than men are.
 

Urban you've got the same take on Santos that i do.He may be disappointed in Justo for his doubt but his parents raised him grounded. For a lot of rich people suddenly finding yourself in the situation he did would reduce them to babbling idiots. Not him. He took all those menial jobs, earned money and has put together a life with new friends replacing the traitors. He is mature enough to stand on his own feet.

I am concerned in the previews that Maria goes to Ruben, obviously to get some kind of work to earn money for Paloma's Quince. Walking in on him with OJ there is dangerous. If he discovers who she is in relationship to Santos she is in real trouble. Fortunately at this point the two capos don't know they have a single enemy in common. I'm wondering how they will figure it out? Maybe Ruben will drag OJ to the bar - very scary thought.

Meija isn't the only producer who is miscasting. Televisa's problem is that they are loading novelas with aging popular galans who look ridiculous with the pretty young things opposite them.
 

I think Susanito has been so sheltered by his mother that he really is scared that something he does will upset her or worse make her ill. My mom was a lot like Mancia, and tho I loved her and miss her that woman would not let you breathe, now I have so much more freedom and no one to make me feel guilty. If I want to go for a morning run I can, if I want to pay $200.00 bucks for Laker tickets I can, if I want to stay at a friends house till 1 am watching bad tv I can and no one is there to make you feel badly about doing the things you like/love, no one knows how to guilt their kids more than a Mexican mother, I'm sure they teach them how to do it in school,lol.
 

JS is 45, looks it, is thick around the middle, and gets out of breath in any scene he has to move in, but I love him just the same.
 

Ellie- I'm not watching this one, but see bits and pieces of it now and then, but your recap was so funny, it makes me want to watch. :)

Here is a clip of Mike and Elvira, as Marco and Claudia in Dinero, and his shirt is off. Jump to minuute 0:53: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFcTp_hvAuo
 

There is a crop of galans who 38 and under who are often used in the tns I have seen over the last few years. And they all look good next to young heroines:

- William Levy
- Gabriel Soto
- Eugenio Siller (gone to Telemundo)
- Cristian de la Fuente
- Erick Elias
- Valentino Lanus
- Sebastian Rulli
- David Zapeda
- Daniel Arenas
- Sebastian Zurita

The only older ones I have seen are:
- Jorge Aravena (plays his age)
- Juan Soler (plays his age)
- Jaime Camil (plays his age)

These are the repeat "younger" offenders:
- Jorge Salinas
- Fernando Colungna
- Eduardo Yanez
 

Vivi- thank you, that means a lot!

I miss seeing Valentino Lanus on my tv, he's so pretty *drools*
 

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I like Valentino too. There are actually a bunch of the current "young" galans who are mid-late 30s now, and quite a few of them seem to be pulling themselves out of the game, like Valentino. They need more guys in their 20s and early 30s to add to the mix. I forgot to add Jose Ron among the younger galans, and Diego Olivera among those who play their age.

I do think there are quite a few younger galans we don't see because they star in Televisa's daytime tns that don't get here to the States.
 

Jose Ron bugs me, not I take that back, Jose Rons facial hair in LQNPA bothered me to no end, it's what firmly made me a Rogelina,lol.
 

Excellent recap! Short, to the point and FUNNY!!!
Many thanks!
 

The fighting is boring. The mothers are ridiculously clinging. The writers are being paid a lot to do very little.

The recappers have more wit than the writers.

Thanks.
 

Michael had his shirt off a while ago when Darren shanked him. He looked buff.
 

Thanks, Vivi. I see that he cleverly kept the sheets covering his tellytubby screen. ;)
 

Eli-Finally got to read your recap (last night was the summer encore of the Met's Carmen in HD with Elina Garanca--and a more sensual Carmen has never been seen....whew).

Congrats and love your reasoning for why JA should accept financial help from Justo. If Justo sticks around he may accept the help in the end. OTHO, Justo may have to dole out some pesos if JA is finally wrangled into jail. Especially, if there are hands out for bribes.

I agree with all of you about Maria's behavior toward Coloso's forcing himself on her. She didn't hesitate to slap Elvira, twice for messing with her man. I can't remember if she slapped JA or Coloso or Ruben before, but it seems to be in my unrevised memory.

"Our" Maria would have slapped him, told him off and proudly waved her ring in his face. I think those were partly crocodile tears he shed. He was hurt, but also angry that his professional and personal enemy bested him. Heck, he's had enough signals since the day JA walked into the bar. How long has that been.....a couple of Mejia months?

Loved all the comments. Sometimes it's an advantage to come to the party late. I get to enjoy everyone's takes.

Carolina--It's obvio you spend a lot of time digging under the surface of this tale--to our great benefit. Loved your "QTH do two horny catholics do the boda simbolica thingie if not to get down and dirty anyhow?" In fact I expected them to do it that night. Instead we get JA having a nightmare. I was surprised to see Maria sitting in a chair and not beside him comforting him. I guess she has to stay as virginal as the Virgen until after the boda. She won't be able to lie to her sainted mother about "nothing happened" if it does. But, it's none of Amalia's business.

What can I say about poor Susanito. On the one hand, he gets love + the physical thing with Ira, maybe a family life of his own. With mama, he has to continually deal with her jealousies, "fainting" spells (OCD where he is concerned), hugs and kisses, but no + physical thing, children, etc. Hmmmm, Susanito, this soothsayer did a job on you if you chose her over Ira.

Ok, on to Wednesday's show (didn't get to see) and recap. Olé!

Vivi et al on galans: EY is playing his age very well on Amores Verdaderos.

Sweet William will be passing over to repeat younger offender in La Tempestad (maybe not, but isn't he paired with a very young ingenue?)

Fernando C. is trying his best on PEAM to play a more mature, wiser adviser role with a small child. Unfortunately he seems a bit pasty since he's neither a comic nor serious character. It's obvious he adores the little actress playing Vale and she him.

 

Anita- I love that EY is playing his age in AV. That is exactly what he should be doing, and didn't in the previous three tns of his I saw. Although FC is playing the father of a small child, he should be playing the father of teens or older by now. Plus that role is as bland as Bimbo bread. He's great in his scenes with the young actress though.

WL is still only 32 and Ximena Navarrete is 25. Not a great difference in age at all.
 

About the ages, only a question: do you think Juan Ferrara is out of age for this role playing Justo? He's born in 1943 (is 70), to me is perfectly normal and believable that he has a son of 40-45. And Monica Sanchez Navarro is 68. To me they fill perfectly with the age of Jorge Salinas. The greatest error is pretending JAntos being a 30-35 man... They never mentioned his age, only told in the first episode that he was "too young to marry", but simply it could have been a "chiste". He's a self made man, who rised up his own business, and is going to open a new one. What's the problem with his age? A man of 40 must be necessarly married (or even divorced)? He's got many adventures, but nothing serious, maybe never fall in love so deeply to take the decision. IMHO.

Thank you all for your recaps, I come daily to read all of them, I'd like to comment but is quite difficult writing in english, so... but thank you very much! :)
 

My dad is 73 and I'm in my 30s, so Justo's age doesn't seem odd to me (even though my dad was older than most of the other dads).
 

Gracia--Please come back. We can understand you perfectly.

Vivi--My father was also almost 40 years old when I was born, so I felt the "old" dad syndrome whenever I met my contemporaries' fathers. It didn't stop me from adoring him.

Yes the whole age thing would have been easier for us to to believe (swallowo) if they had just made JA 40. Maria, at 27 (a little too old for university), could very easily fall in love with him.