Caray, Caray!

Hey, anybody mind if I recap this week's episodes of Santa Diabla? Lord knows Hombre deserves another break. :)

El Señor de los Cielos:

Dear Turco:

¡Qué tonto eres! Actually, you just might be el mas estúpido del novela since you were actually out and clear (if after a couple of close shaves, IIRC) and you were happy with the woman you'd been adoring from afar for however long--but you just couldn't help going after Aurelio's emergency stash, could you? It doesn't even matter if you did it either because you wanted the money or because you wanted that one last screw-you against your old boss; you just signed your death warrant, and/or possibly Ximena's, by doing that.

Then again, I guess that's one of the guiding cliches of all crime dramas...once you're in "the life," no matter how smart you are, you never get out. Even Don Cleto said something to that effect way back in episode three, though since it was in a flashback you couldn't have heard it.

And this is where I guess I have to wonder if Cabo, fashion disaster that he is, will indeed take over from you as the smartest man in the room and be the last man standing. I mean, really. Cabo. Geez.

Again: Turco, you dumbass!

Sincerely,

Bill C.
 

CIELOS:

Bill- With Lorelei after him, I doubt Cabo will survive either. So let's see...who do we think will take out whom in the finale?

My guesses:

-AC will take out Turco and Irina
-Beto will take out Leo
-Chacorta will take out Beto
-Marco will take out Chacorta
-Lorelei will take out Cabo
-Tijeras will take our Lorelei
-Chema will take out Tijeras
-Alba will get killed in the crossfire of one of these many shootouts
-Destiny will take out AC

Last men standing will be Marco and Chema (Marco's new enemy).

Last women standing will be Ximena (living happily in the States with her kids), Matilde (who returns to Colombia and becomes a crime boss), and Raquel (who hooks up with Chema).

These are all guesses. Can't wait to see who wipes out whom tonight. In any case, I am sure there won't be many left standing.
 

Cielos
"Last men standing will be Marco and Chema (Marco's new enemy)."

Sounds like a sequel to me.

I think Ximena & Leo will survive.
I won't say on some of the others, 'cause I know the real story.
 

CIELOS

Variopinta

"I won't say on some of the others, 'cause I know the real story. "

Thank you for that, Variopinta!

Remember guys -- please don't talk about what happened in life before it happens on the screen.
 

Cielos
My curiosity always gets the best of me. I had never heard of Amado Carrillo & had to ck him out.
 

CIELOS:

Hi, Bill! Yes, please do recap Santa Diabla the first week. I'm planning on doing Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but yes, I could use a break for the first week. Thanks.

I predict Rutila will grab that sword from Turco, kill everybody, and SHE will be the new leader! Maybe not.

Can't wait to see what happens!
 

El Death Pool de los Cielos:

The one thing that should ensure Leo's survival is that Marco already lost one gal to AC, but I'm not sure if that's inviolate in this case depending on the circumstances. If somebody kills her, though, our Standard Action Hero MUST take that person out. It's the last cliche they haven't done yet, I think.

As for the other ladies (apart from Irina, who likely is going to be somebody's collateral damage): maybe I'm just feeling pessimistic, but I can't help thinking that Ximena and Matilde getting whacked aren't off the table even with their both having children. Matilde's off to one side with one alternate--Alba, who in her way is finally realizing what's what (and if they went there means the rest of her immediate family has to die, which really isn't a stretch)--and Ximena's on the other with hers, Turco (it would be in Telemundo's wheelhouse to have him survive but lose the woman he loved just a little less than that emergency stash he couldn't help going after). Ximena theoretically should be the one near-innocent and thus the only one to get out clean, but...

And by extension: the show's in a parallel universe anyway, so is it possible/likely that AC could get a non-lethal Karmageddon? They're not going to let him escape, that'd be too much, but blowing off a limb or something before he gets caught and sent to prison (in the States, finally fulfilling Marco's promise from the beginning of the show) would fit--somewhat. Unless he kills Leo, in which case we're back to Marco avenging her by taking him out.
 

CIELOS:

I did consider the kids being Ximena's and Mati's life insurance in a way. Ximena is directly responsible for the care of three children, one who already lost his mother. So I think that guarantees her survival. But Mati's kid already has two nannies and Alba, and even Raquel taking more care of him than Mati. So she could easily be on the death list. Of course, Ximena might actually be the little guy's grandma. She just might end up with a fourth child to care for at the end of this.

I can't believe the finale is only one hour! Will the whole hour consist of shoot outs, and murders?
 

Cielos
I didn't find this a cliche driven TN
The thing I found unrealistic was how everyone would go in shooting & miss the one they were after usually Aurelio.

Aurelio isn't stupid, he knows Turco will be coming for that stash. He'll probably torture Turco trying to find out where Ximena is, but Turco wont cave & we all have guessed he is the one in the opening credits.
 

CIELOS

Thanks, Vivi. I love the Death Pool discussion.

Andres Lopez Lopez has given us a truly riveting story, and at this point I think almost anything could happen. I think the only person who has a better than 50-50 chance of a fps is Ximena - only because of the kids. She'll probably end up in Florida taking the them to Disneyworld. Marco may/will probably survive, but not be happy. As Leo pointed out to him, he's never satisfied that his work may be done and will always be obsessively hunting someone down.

Beth
 

CIELOS

What fascinating scenarios! I don't have strong feelings about one being most likely. The only thing I feel somewhat sure of is that Turco will indeed be the hooded guy in the theme song. A week ago, I would have been VERY sad about that. After the events of the past few episodios, not so much. I thought Bill C's comments about Turco as "el más estúpido del novela" were right on. (Welcome back, Bill C!)

Vivi, you said exactly what I've been wondering as well: "I can't believe the finale is only one hour! Will the whole hour consist of shoot outs, and murders?" I guess we'll find out pretty soon.


 

Cielos
Too bad we weren't keeping a whack count.
I'd like to see Cabo make it.
Is Loreli Oscar's sister or wife?
 

CIELOS

What fun! You guys are a riot. And Bill C., Tienes toda la razón. Turco es el más estupido del novela! He sealed his doom and will surely get his just desserts tonight.

I guess I'd also like Cabo to make it to the end. His snarky comments have caused me to back up the DVR over and over, sometimes to wade through Colombian slang and sometimes to just enjoy the very dark humor.

I'm really worried about Leo. But, I agree, Marco's having lost everyone he loved may give her an extra bulletproof vest tonight.
 

SANTA DIABLA

Bill, thanks for your recapping offer. I just got on my computer to volunteer to do the first episode, but your recaps are terrific. I look forward to reading them.

And, yes, Hombre deserves a break. He might have blisters on his fingertips from months of solo recapping!
 

CIELOS

Again, many, many thanks, Hombre for your brilliant recaps!

I am going with Leo surviving. It would be refreshing to have a woman make it out of all this mess without compromising herself (okay...except for the unwanted sex).

As for Turco, I no longer care what happens to him.

If AC makes it out of this alive and intact, that sends a really bad message....

And as far as Ximena, I want her to make it, although the fact that she remained with her despicable husband all these years makes me wonder if the writer's have saved her.

Well, fasten our seat belts. The end is near:)
 

DyO
This went onto page 2 at the end of last week--I'm reposting here:
Novelera, it seems like the writers are using Marge's cancer diagnosis as a cheap plot device. We have Marge flirting coyly with Olegario one minute, and being cold and insensitive to her daughter and sister the next, but no mention of her treatment. What a shame that the writers are missing an opportunity to pass along a message of hope and encouragement to those who have been similarly diagnosed.
J in Oregon
 

SANTA DIABLA

"I just got on my computer to volunteer to do the first episode"

Novelera and Bill C
How about if Novelera does the first episode (Tuesday) and Bill C picks up on Wednesday?

That would take a little pressure off Bill C. Would you mind, Bill?

Novelera, are you still game?
 

DyO

Thanks, J in Oregon, for your response to what I posted about the writers' tone-deaf plotting about Margarita's cancer.

I agree 100% with what you wrote. If they're going to play "the cancer card", they should, as a public service, show the character getting the right treatment.

I have been wondering; if they've shown such a change in Santa Madrecita's behavior lately, perhaps she's going to die, leaving Pedro with only his bio mother. Not a spoiler at all; I have no idea what Marge's fate will be.
 

SANTA DIABLA

I'm still game. I volunteered because I hadn't seen anyone post about doing recaps for this novela. And the first episode usually lays out the background information - very useful to have written down.

Hombre posted he'd be willing to do Tuesday and Wednesday, but not the whole week.

I can't really take on regular recapping because I'll be on vacation most of September.

I would be willing to do Mondays until then.

But, Bill spoke up first, so let's see what suits him.
 

SANTA DIABLA

Novelera,
Hombre said he would do Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning NEXT WEEK.

If you did Tuesday (ep 1) this week, that would still leave W, Th and Friday for Bill C.

During week two, M, Th and Fri are up for grabs.

You guys can do what feels right to you. Let's say what Bill C has to say.
 

Cielos

Here is my live or die list for tonight:
Marco and Leo- live as happily ever after as two narco cops can, fighting crime and what not.

Aurelio- dead. And to make iy worse, he accidently kills Alba in the crossfire.

Chacorta- killed on purpose by Beto

Beto-lives but gets shot and goes to jail

Raquel-gets the music career that Mati wanted, becomes big start singing narcocorridos

Mati-lives and heads a colombian cartel, trains little carlos to take over, probably gets killed at some point by Loriley

Cabo-kills Aurelio but gets killed by Loriley

Tijeras-lives, and needs a new best friend. Chema takes him on but makes him cut his hair.

Turco-lives in an american prison for the rest of his life, jerk. The intro is a tm con.

Ximena-moves to canada and marries a nice mountie with no gun

can't wait. Got the tequila out and ready to celebrate. Or not celebrate. Either way, tequila.

Kelly

 

CIELOS

Kelly: Love "Either way, tequila".

Can I come over to your house for the gran final? I prefer Don Julio, but will certainly enjoy whatever you're pouring.
 

Santa Diabla:

I'm still down for recapping at least the first couple of episodes to give everybody a break (damn, it's a running gag: Hombre finishes recapping one show, I pop up and start the next one, and he takes over later), though if novelera really wants to jump on in come Friday morning or so it's okay. I'm not greedy. Just slow. :)
 

Cielos, Santa Diabla
I'm just so happy that so many of you want to do this for us. It is greatly appreciated.
 

Novelera- I have Hornitos and no glasses as small as shot glasses. Should be a fun night! As long as work doesn't expect much in the morning.

Kelly
 

SANTA DIABLA

Bill, I am not sure what you mean by "jump on in Friday morning" (Thursday's episode?).

I am willing to recap this Friday's episode which would appear sometime late Friday night California time, when probably 60% of you are already tucked up in bed.
 

CIELOS

Kelly - you crack me up! "Tijeras-lives, and needs a new best friend. Chema takes him on but makes him cut his hair." So funny! My son watched El Señor with me one night and declared Tijeras' haircut "the worst mohawk-mullet on earth".

Salud!

Beth
 

DyO
Novelera-...as a public service, show the character getting the right treatment.

THIS THIS THIS.

The lack of treatment cancer story is a serious, serious flaw. Almost irresponsible IMO.

SANTA DIABLA
I am looking forward to this one.
 

DYO

Sara and Novelera - I had also thought it strange that we were not hearing about further tests or treatment for Marge's cancer. But now I'm wondering if the message is "get treatment for your cancer or you will die." This a terrible loose end.

Beth
 

CIELOS

Kelly - Like your scenario, all except for Alba...but can see where that could easily happen.

So I'll be joining in the celebrating or not celebrating except with vino tinto.

Salud a todos:)
 

DyO
Hmmmm. Yeah. That would also work as a PSA. It seems odd that they don't even mention her diagnosis anymore.
 

El Señor de los Cielos:

What in the...

FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~~ *head explodes*
 

CIELOS:

I could not wait until the recap. I just watched the finale and my first reaction is…epic fail by the writers. Too many loose ends! More tomorrow when the recap and comments are up. Maybe someone can make a convincing case for why this was a good finale.

 

CIELOS

So are we to expect a sequel, Cielos 2? I'm with you, Bill. Weird finale.
 

Cielos
Holy mierda!
How wrong could we be?
Turco makes it, who the F was that that Aurelio incinerated? Talk about red herrings!

Was Alba ok?
Never thought Marco would get it.
This should have been a 2 hour final.

Some of the real story
The doctors that operated on Amado Carrillo ended up in cement barrels. They aren't sure that he wasn't murdered.
His brother Vicente took over the cartel. There is a $5mil reward on his head.
He tried to keep his kid,also Vicente out of the business & sent him to schools in Europe but it was in his blood, he is now in jail.
The Juarez cartel is not as big as it once was. There is legend he is still alive but they have verified that was him in the casket.
 

CIELOS:

Glad I am not the only one who had a wth look on my face....

Nia
 

CIELOS

I suppose it makes sense that a non-traditional story ends in a non-traditional way. But never again will I complain about a big wedding finale.

Kelly
 

Cielos
I'm confused... Help!
Waiting for recap
 

SANTA DIABLA

I'm glad to see there is so much interest in this tn, I plan to watch, if only for Carlos Ponce.

I'd love to recap, but I have MARIDO. I'm sure in a couple of weeks you'll figure out a schedule.
 

CIELOS -FINALE

This wasn't so much a gran final as a season-ending WhoShotJR cliff-hanger, and a poorly crafted one at that.

As Marta in NY already speculated, the announcement of the Great Return of ... shouldn't be long in coming. Ugh.
 

CIELOS

Like so many who have already commented, I had a WTF look on my face and in my brain at the end of last night's "finale." At first, I was very disappointed. But the more I thought about it, the more I rather liked the end, at least the very end, where Rutila sees someone she thinks is her father. It's not at all clear (just as the image we see is not clear), but I think she's probably engaging in wishful thinking. It makes sense, since she's unhappy/afraid of Turco and she has told Ximena she misses her father. That plus the somewhat unclear image makes it possible, perhaps even likely, that she's imagining that the person is her father. But it's not definite that what she sees is her father.

Of course, if it is Aurelio whom Rutila sees, that throws much of what we've been assuming into doubt. For starters, Turco is in deep mierda, since Aurelio has found out where he and Ximena are living. And the hooded figure in the theme song about to be torched could be Turco in the future. It also means Ximena and the kids are in danger of being retaken by Aurelio.

I realize that the scenario I've described (Aurelio alive) is improbable, but I rather like the feeling of uncertainty that the final scene creates.

Two other thoughts about last night's episode:

1) How sad/ironic that Tijeras goes off in the car, leaving the wounded Cabo lying in the street to be arrested by the police. I would have expected more loyalty from the man whom Cabo courageously saved more than once.

2) Even with Aurelio dead, why isn't Marco wearing a bulletproof vest and being a lot more careful about standing around exposed in the street? The danger to him as head of the government's anti-drug effort doesn't end with Aurelio's death.

Gotta run. Looking forward to reading more commentary and Hombre's recap when I get back later today.
 

Cielos

http://www.druglord.com/amado_carrillos_fuentes.html

This is interesting, you can see AC in the casket with his face a mess.
 

CIELOS:

I'm going to rewatch the episode sometime this week, since I got a call during the first half, but here are the loose ends/questions I felt were left:

What did Tijeras eventually do with Alba? The purpose was to use her to smoke out AC, who they did not believe was really dead. I assume Cabo will rot/be killed in prison.

What the heck happened with Lorelei? Did she do anything at all?

When did Chema and Chacorta become friends?

It's so unfair that la perra Irina lives on, and poor Racquel gets shot down like Ruti's pet dog.

I'm going to assume that in the final showdown between Beto and Chacorta, Chacorta wins, right after telling Beto that AC killed his beloved grandpa.

I don't much mind the mystery of whether or not AC is still alive left hanging at the end. But I would have preferred his shadowy figure to be menacing one of his enemies, not looming over Ximena and the kids. That makes me very unhappy. I'm also unhappy that Ruti has to live on in fear of her stepdad. That little girl has been through enough for three lifetimes. Ximena is really perceptive, so I'm going to imagine that she keeps trying to get the truth out of Ruti, and dumps Turco immediately (after getting on a stepstool and slapping him a few times).


 

EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS, Gran Final, Part 1

In a bizarre episode, it turns out that I was right. Rutila DID become the leader of the drug world, thereafter known as La Niña de la Cocaiña! Wait a minute, you say they didn’t show that? Well, they didn’t show much of ANYTHING, leaving us with more loose ends than a prune juice convention!

We begin with little Rutila asking Turco if he killed somebody. Proving his qualifications as stepdad of the year, Turco tells the girl that if she cares about her cousin and her little sister, she’d better shut up. That night, in bed, Ximena enters the room, sees Rutila is uneasy, asks her what’s wrong. Well....Turco....then Turco enters the room, and Rutila zips the lips. Hmmmm.

Irina does have that date with Cabo, and it turns out she’s as impressed by his lovemaking as was Mónica way back. Who knew? He looks at her black eye, vows he’ll take care of that bastard Aurelio. And that’s the LAST TIME we ever HEAR of “Ih-wee-nah”. I think she weturned to Fwance, and waised wabbits.

Aurelio has gotten the guys to get him a doctor to change his face. Disregarding the warnings that it could interfere with the anesthesia, he’s drinking shot after shot of tequila. In the operating room, Bert is standing by with his pistol, telling the doctors not to mess up. As soon as the anesthesia is administered, though, Aurelio flatlines. Whoa! We’re only ten minutes into the show, so I’m SURE he’ll recover. They get out the paddles. Nada. Again with the paddles, again nada. Bert shoots one of the docs, telling the other (or maybe an assistant), you’d better save him, or everyone dies! Cut to commercial, and NOW I’m sure he’s recovered. They give him a shot of adrenaline, right in the heart. But it’s no use. He’s dead. The thing is, I keep telling myself I don’t believe it.

No one does, actually. Marco is dubious. Cabo is dubious. There’s a funeral, and apparently the body is verified. Bert and Chacorta don’t give any indication of any trick, it all just seems as if he’d dead (but did Bert kill everyone in that room?) At the funeral, Chema shows up. Chacorta greets him a bit warily, then they hug. He introduces Mati, wearing one of the shortest mourning mini-skirts we’ve seen in a while. Chema says now that Aurelio is dead, they should work together. Chacorta says he’ll think about it. And guess what happens? We NEVER KNOW, as that’s the last we see of Chema! And what about Loraley, who was introduced to such fanfare a few episodes ago? Nada! She’s not even IN the episode. Huh?
 

CIELOS, Gran Final, Part 2

Cabo and Tijeras figure the best way to find out if Aurelio is really dead is to kidnap Doña Alba. So one day, they watch her at a food market, and when she comes out, they shoot her guard, and (I think) hustle her into an SUV. Except there are lots of other guards around, and police, too. There’s all sorts of shooting, and Cabo gets shot in the leg, then the shoulder. As Tijeras speeds away, Cabo is arrested. And what ever happens to Doña Alba? Beats me! At least we know what happens to Tijeras. NOT!

Marco tells Leo, it all doesn’t add up. Aurelio had over a billion dollars, and we haven’t recovered nearly that much. That darn Turco! He must have not told us the truth, and kept some stuff for himself! He goes to visit Turco, just after the kids and Ximena have left for school, and tries to grill him, but of course Turco denies everything, and says what Marco is doing is illegal. But then Marco spends a night poring over photos of Aurelio’s art collections (yeah, right) and finds one of that silver horned shaped sculpture! He tells Leo, I was just at Turco’s house, and he had the sculpture there. We’ve GOT him. So we viewers know that Turco is going to be caught by the police. Or is he? We never find out.

And how about that scene in the credits where Aurelio torches some guy, whom most of us thought was Turco? That scene was NOT IN the gran final. Good work, writers!

 

CIELOS, Gran Final, Part 3

Chacorta is still mad at Bert. He takes him out in a field, and shows him a bullet he’s been saving, ever since he discovered Bert was screwing around with Mati. He reminds Chacorta of that valuable lesson Aurelio gave Bert, having Bert shoot Rutila’s dog. Yes, you need to do things like that to harden you, so when you’re holding a gun to someone’s head (he holds his to Bert’s), your hand doesn’t shake. Chacorta ask Bert if he’s still going to kill Marco and the bitch. Sure am, replies Bert, I promised Pa. Chacorta thinks another lesson is in order, calls Raquel over, makes her stand in the middle of Chacorta and Bert. Saying something like watch and learn, Chacorta KILLS Raquel with a single shot! Bert is angry, distraught. But I guess this hardens him so he can pull the trigger on Marco. Huh? BTW, Bert NEVER learns that Aurelio killed Don Cleto. Thanks again, writers!

So off go Chacorta and Bert to kill Aurelio and Leo. Back at the police station, Marco makes an impassioned speech to Benitez and lots of government bigwigs, telling them there are still lots of druglords out there, much bloodier than the current ones, and we have to continue the fight, so can we do an operation where we watch Turco’s house? Apparently not. Marco and Leo exit the police station disappointed again.

In the SUV, Bert is livid, can hardly see straight. I’m thinking this helped him keep his hands steady? Why did you have to kill Raquel? Well, says Chacorta, would you have rather I killed you? Now focus! Bert tells him after this is all over, I’m going to kill YOU. And later, we see the dramatic resolution to this conflict between uncle and nephew. NOT! Anyway, they arrive at the police station, Bert starts firing, Marco jumps in front of Leo, and is killed. Leo isn’t hit. Because this final was so gripping, I’m going to give you the entire moving farewell that Marco and Leo shared, after all these years of love, loss and pain.

Marco: I love you.
Leo: Nooooooooo!!!!!

Yes, very moving.

It’s a few months later, and Rutila and Victorcito are playing ball outside their house, in a woods a few hundred feet away. The ball goes off into the brush. Rutila goes to retrieve it. It’s being held there by a big cowboy boot. She looks up the tall form, the sunlight blocking any view we might have of his face, and says, Daddy?

Yes, it all makes perfect sense.

I’ve enjoyed recapping this show, which despite its weak gran final, was one of the most gripping I’ve seen. And thanks to all of the rest of you commenters, you’re the best!
 

CIELOS:

No, thank YOU Hombre! I am in awe of how you provided us with gripping and funny recaps day after day for this narco-novela. And even if the finale disappointed us, your final snark-filled recap did not. Again, gracias amigo.

 

CIELOS

I can't hate the ending since it wouldn't have been in character of this thing to wrap up everything and the good guys all live happily ever after. But that hasn't stopped me from making up some endings in my head. (Tijeras teams up with Irina to get Cabo out of jail, Cabo and Irina Move to Paris, Leo goes after everyone Aurelio has ever known including Turco, he needs to go, Ximena steals some of his money before Leo finds it and bails with another new name and NO MEN, etc.)

After what Monica and Irina have said about Cabo, I'd really like to sleep with him I think. It'd be a shame for him to end up in jail permanently.

Kelly
 

Muchas gracias a ti, Hombre! A hilarious recap...yes, I can now laugh. Snark-filled, as Vivi pointed out. Loved your reference to "Ih-wee-nah" and so much more. Your recap is definitely more entertaining than the finale was for me:)
 

CIELOS:

Kelly- I didn't want or expect a happy ending either. What I expected was more excitement, and frankly, more death! LOL! There were too many people who I thought would be dead kicking around alive at the end of this.
 

Cielos,

thanks so much Hombre,
for ALL of your recaps, without which I would have been lost, much appreciated,

and nice snarks, prune juice for everyone,

this final reminded me of La Diosa Coronada, where everyone coming to work one day were sent home, and what ever bits and pieces they had already filmed were snipped together for one last show,

but I guess the moral to the story is, the narco scene never ends, if they had killed all of the bad guys they would have had to introduce the new characters that took their places.

I didn't really try to follow the real story (Amado Carrillo Fuentes) on this one because it didn't track very well, if at all, and the real story was just too gruesome,

like Variopinta's pic of the dead Aurelio, here is one of the two surgeons after they were dug up and pulled out of the 55 gal. drums,
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U5-pVJ_qx9I/T_vC-BteqqI/AAAAAAAACTM/ftGFqJp9BDk/s400/mex2+carillo.jpg

as the real story goes, Aurelio had 5 brothers and 5 sisters, and the uncle, Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, a/k/a "Don Neto", the Guadalajara Cartel leader,

"The DEA confirmed the body belonged to Amado Carrillo four days after his alleged death, using fingerprints positively matched to an old U.S. immigration card."

"Carrillo was given a large and expensive funeral in Guamuchilito, Sinaloa."

"After Carrillo's death, it was assumed that control of the cartel would fall to Amado's brother Vicente Carrillo Fuentes,"

"and his nephew Vicente Carrillo Leyva,"

"Carrillo Fuentes is currently at large" (oct 2012)

Vicente Carrillo Leyva, "was arrested by Mexican police on 2 April 2009, but subsequently acquitted of money laundering charges, though charges of illegal possession of firearms kept him from gaining his freedom. After being found guilty of illegal arms possession, and paying a $16,000 USD fine, he was released on 17 December 2010, to the custody of Mexican federal police with new charges of
money laundering.

("Amado Carrillo Fuentes, had told Carrillo Leyva not to enter the drug trafficking business. Consistent with this, Carrillo sent his son to study at the best private universities of México, Switzerland, and Spain. Carrillo Leyva, however, paid no attention").

ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amado_Carrillo_Fuentes
ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Carrillo_Fuentes
ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Carrillo_Leyva

also PBS and borderlandbeat.com/ have some pretty good articles.

 

CIELOS

A million thanks, Hombre, for all your recaps and for this dripping-with-sarcasm gran final!

I join in the coast to coast chorus of ¿Qué?

I was deeply shocked at Turco's evil threatening of Rutila. He even threatened to harm her baby sister or her cousin if she spoke up. And no retribution for Turco???

I absolutely love it that the dumpy, less than matinee idol Cabo was thought amazing in bed by both Mónica and Irina.

Cabo to Chema: La rusa me lo va a entregar marinado y listo para el asador. Cabo's bragging that Irina would deliver AC already marinated and ready to grill!

Chemo to Cabo: Cómo te gusta morderle el muslo de las sobras de Casillas, no. Now this is a new one for me. Chema's idiom for having sex with woman already bedded by Casillas: chewing on the thighs of the leftovers!

Well, the theory that Aurelio survived is somewhat supported by a very odd conversation between Beto, Aurelio, and AC. There is a guy at the hospital that they say is going to die. They take him to an adjoining room. I'm thinking: "What? Is this a re-make of the movie with John Travolta, FaceOff? They're going to transplant this guy's face? But he could be the cenizas, I suppose.

I HATED their killing off Marco. Not fair at all.
 

CIELOS

Hombre, my beanie is off to you! You took a disappointing final episode and managed to spin it into golden snark.

Thank you for this recap as well as all the others you have written here. This was a difficult novela and one that I approached and avoided in equal measure. I'm glad you were able to focus -- the results were splendid.
 

CIELOS

Novelera - I hated their killing off Marco too, but I'm not convinced he's really dead. This, of course, feeds my feeling that we may be seeing a sequel sometime en el futuro:)
 

El Señor de los Cielos:

Way to go, Hombre. That recap perfectly summarized the whole problem with the episode, IMO: it wasn't treated or executed as a novela finale. It was more of a season finale, and perhaps not a good one even by English-language standards; nothing was resolved, and that was bad enough, but then they just had to get in one last death on top of that. And that, honestly, is the one thing I can't forgive--even though, after sleeping on it, I suspect that was the writers engaging one of the last action-movie cliches they hadn't invoked earlier (the heroic sacrifice). If--and I mean if--Telemundo had gone ahead and announced a sequel series at any point before this episode had aired, I think I for one could have at least accepted it...grumpily. As it is, however? Telemundo successfully pissed me off with the most unsatisfying finale I can recall in recent memory (and suddenly Bernarda's demise in Triunfo del Amor looks like high damn art).
 

Cielos,

in La Reina Del Sur, wasn't there a part where it was said, the russians don't use the "R" and so Teresa's name was shortened to Tere, wight?

interesting twists in the "is he dead/alive" theme,

first with the show opening with Aurelios face surgery,
and ah novelera, I didn't get that part now where,
"an odd conversation between Beto, Aurelio, and AC. There is a guy at the hospital that they say is going to die. They take him to an adjoining room."
a face transplant? ahha,

and also the earlier scenes where Tijeras was confirmed dead, to everyone's satisfaction,
as well as Turco,

overall in our story, I'm going to go with,
"Rutila DID become the leader of the drug world, thereafter known as La Niña de la Cocaiña!"

 

El Señor de los Cielos

http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-3942657

real life cabo and tijeras killed in january 2008
 

Cielos

gracias mil veces Hombre

I think they got the Mejia crew in to write the final chapter.

Thought the sequel would be Chema/Marco but now it looks like Chema/Chacorta

Another interesting article about Carrillo's in with the Mex Fed police.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mexico/family/secretdea.html
 

MARIDO:

I enjoyed the new character, is her name Marcela? I had felt a little sorry for TC, who didn't have enough evil allies, and seemed alone. Now she and Marcela can wreak havoc together.

How come, if TC was already rich when she met Reinaldo in Paris, and he was penniless, did she not look down on him with her snobbish ways? I guess she just changed later. Because if she married a poor guy, Pati should be able to do the same.

I thought Max was very well behaved in his encounter with K. Sometimes I get a little miffed that characters have these obsessions, such as K and Gabriel, which are sort of explained by their "hot blood" or something like that. In other words, even though their behavior is bad, it's okay, because it's sort of honest. Whereas being controlled is sort of phony. On the other hand, Reinaldo is controlled and is a hero, so I guess I'm oversimplifying.
 

Cielos
Carrillos also had 5 children by 5 different women, don't know if that includes his ligit son Vicente.
 

DyO,

who is this old white haired guy in a wheelchair that Tomas is complaining too, family?

ah finally, Gina got a doctor's appointment for Margarita,

did someone change the channel, oh yeah, it's Isabel the new secretary, changed her clothes, at home ?? , talking to her mother ??, about...a bank robber did I hear,

is it Zafira ?? the dancer with the black eye, that's showing us that stripping isn't all that glamorous,

so Margarita after driving off the drunk Ru-ben, tells Squeaky, don't let my story repeat itself,

and could someone pull that drunk Ru-ben off his moto,

and where is the car wash limo guy?

to close, sweet Ignacia sneaks into the hospital to kiss Pedro goodnight.

(hope I got some of this right)

 

MARIDO

Hombre, I agree about Máximo's behavior with Kike. He came by because Bárbara nagged him into it and he was actually right to do so. Kike shouldn't be stalking his ex-wife. But Max behaved like a gentleman. And I thought he might have been impressed by Griselda, seeing what kind of family Kike is from.

He also mentioned a couple of times that he could be jailed for street fighting and miss his opportunity to take on the guy he's come to fight. Maybe that's one of those "fists as deadly weapons" laws that may or may not actually be on the books.

The "journalist" is sure to cause some problems by printing an article, including photos, of the confrontation between Kike and his ex.

They sure are showing Pati softening about Tony, which I don't think she should anytime soon.
 

CIELOS

Muchísimas gracias, Hombre, both for this delightful, witty recap and for all the others you have so generously provided. I have enjoyed the telenovela, but I don't think I could have done so without your help, day after day.
I LOVED this final recap, starting with the very first paragraph. I only wish the TN writers had been half as talented as you are.
 

MARIDO

Mini-cap will be up later after I take a nap, change the cat's litter, and take out the trash. Long day, I went to work for 5:00 AM. Oh, and I have to watch Part 2.
 

DyO
You got it all right! At least, as far as I can tell.

Lots of new possibilities in this episode.

I'm most intrigued by guy in the wheelchair.

Isabel's bro supposedly got a bum rap.

Why the heck is Ru-ben so pithed? He accused Lupita of being a gold-digging slut and washed his hands of her. Babies cost money, and yeah she did take the payoff but it's not like she's livin' large.
 

CIELOS

Hombre - fantastic recap! Your best ever. Great detail and wonderful snark and sarcasm. This final ep was more like a Friday night cliff hanger than a gran final, and you so clearly spelled out where the loose ends are.

My take on this is that Lopez Lopez is working on his next book, and it will pick up where Cielos left off. Cielos was always intended to be fiction using parts of Amado Carillo's life, not a biography, so in TN narcoland, AC could be alive in Albuquerque.

The tall, handsome guy at Chacorta's chalet was supposed to be the unsuspecting face donor, so who knows - Chacorta and AC could have orchestrated a fake death.

I did wonder what the Telemundo ads for Cielos AFTER the final were all about.

Beth
 

MARIDO

Don't worry, Sue, take your time, enjoy your nap, we;ll be here, waiting.

I thought Max was pretty decent, too, when he's not around Barbara he's quite a nice guy. And everybody loves Gris...everybody unless her ungrateful son,Tony, who should not - SHOULD NOT - be forgiven by Pati - totally agree with you on this, Noevelera.

Hombre, you make a very good point about TC choosing a poor man as a husband - I guess with her the old saying is available:
"Do as I say, not as I do"
I can't even begin to tell you how much K and Gabe annoy me with their "hot blood".
 

DYO lunes part 1/2

Scenes are condensed and may not necessarily be in perfect order. Sorry!

Mariano and AA are still working on those margaritas from last Friday, conspiring to convince Lupita to move in with them so that she can live with the papá of her baby. I’m sure that plan will come to fruition smoothly.

Estela admits that she offered Lupita money to leave Ruben alone and that she took it happily. He calls Iggy and meets with her, and she confirms that Mamá paid Lupita off. Ruben gets drunk, shows up at Lupita’s house, and from his lofty moral high-ground, proceeds to chew her out for “selling” their child. She maintains she only did it so she could support their hijo, he says she rejected his help.

Gina feeds the seed in Iggy’s mind about her mother’s involvement in Pedro’s attack, and Iggy confronts her. Tomas interrupts her interrogation, mad that she went running to the hospital to see Pedro, and starts breaking things and throwing things around (and we learn that there has not, in fact, been any “intimacy” between them since they got married). Ignacia storms out. Estela and Tomas cuddle. Iggy sneaks out of the house (to meet Ruben for the Estela/Lupita conversation mentioned above).

JM lets it slip to Karina that Iggy told him she and Ignacia were having problems. Karina stomps off to pout and refuses to take any of Iggy’s phone calls.

Tomas is seen talking to an old man in a wheelchair, whom we only see from behind, in the garden at what looks like a rest home. He tells the man, who never speaks (maybe someone should check his pulse), that he will not permit Pedro to come between him and Ignacia and he will do whatever it takes to get Pedro out of the way.

Ignacia, having been abandoned at the restaurant by Ruben, calls JM because she needs to talk and has no one to talk to. But she doesn’t want to talk about Karina or Tomas or Pedro or Estela, she just wants to chill. JM obliges and he asks her what book she’s reading or what her hobbies are… she cheers up and tells him he’s a “true success of a man.” He blushes. Guess who’s headed for Ignacia-ville. Sigh. Heartbreak ahead (for him—and me). Ignacia advises JM never to get married, it ruins everything. “If you marry the wrong person,” says JM, and Iggy responds… “Yes, if you marry the wrong person. Like me.” SHE SAID IT, FOLKS.

NewGirl2 Isabel arrives at home where she lives with her mom after her first day on the job, and they are throwing a “welcome home” celebration for her brother who is getting out of prison. In their interactions, it’s obvious we have another case of favoritism going on… mom believes brother was innocent because he is an angel, and the bank robbery charge was a misunderstanding. And his name is, of course, Angel. Isabel, on the other hand, is a bad sister for doubting him, just like her father.

 

DYO lunes part 2/2

At the strip club, Zafiro warns Barbie to never accept work at one of Lorenzo’s “private parties.” Later, Lorenzo strongarms Zafiro into working a private party for a guy they refer to as “el duro,” and she comes back roughed up. She tells Lorenzo to never send her to him again, and he says “you’ll do whatever I say, remember I know your family’s address in Mexico.”

Gina makes a doctor’s appointment for Marge (FINALLY). Marge doesn’t want to go (SURPRISE). Lots of whining and whimpering.

Ruben is still yelling at Lupita and throws his advance money at her, and then takes off, drunk, on his moto. Hope the ER is getting his bed ready. Marge wants to know what they were fighting about, but Lupita won’t tell. Mariano shows up as Gina is picking up the remains of the $300 on the sidewalk.

Marge is upset that Ruben talked to Lupita that way, even though he was drunk… it starts that way, the abuse. She warns Lupita to be very careful, and in a whimpery voice recalls Lupita’s father, who was verbally and physically abusive. [Is it a coincidence that we learn of three brutal abusive men in the same episode, or could “El Duro” be Lupita’s father??? And Isabel’s father???]

Ignacia sneaks in to see Pedro (I’m assuming after visiting hours, since she’s sneaking and all, but maybe she shouldn’t be wearing that big white visitor’s badge) and has a tender moment with unconscious Pedro, where we learn that he’ll be released tomorrow.

 

MARIDO:

ITA about Quique and Gabe. Enough is enough. They both feel inferior (Quique to Max, and Gabe to Reinaldo), and it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. By acting like losers, they are becoming losers.

Max handled the situation very well. He handled both Barb’s and Quique’s behavior like an adult, while setting boundaries for them both (they are both acting like spoiled children). I think Max did walk away from that meeting with a lot of respect for Gris. For Quique…not so much.

It was cute the way Kikito cuddled his dad on the couch when he got home. But Quique is setting such a bad example for him right now.

 

DYO

Another thought about El Duro... was he the creeper in the car that was ogling new girl 1 (get a name, please!) at the car wash?

Sara, ITA about Ruben's pithy attitude toward Lupita and how judgey he was being. Total case of pot and kettle and blackness.
 

CIELOS

I thought I recognized the writer of El Señor. His name is Andrés López López. This guy has an amazing background.

He became part of a drug cartel as a very young man, lived that life for many years, and turned himself in to the DEA after things got too hot in Colombia. He served some prison time in the US; and, while there, wrote El Cartel de los Sapos on which the telenovela El Cartel was based. The book was also a best seller.

Apparently Telemundo is open to employing ex-cons!

I found this interesting article:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/el-senor-de-los-cielos-del-escritor-andres-lopez-lopez-a-la-venta-ya-215553441.html
 

GENERAL/PABLO ESCOBAR/LA SELECCION:

I saw in a brief ad for the soccer tn (is that a new genre?), La Seleccion, that just started on UniMas, that Andres Parra is revising his role as Pablo Escobar yet again for that tn. Like in Cielos, I think it will be a tiny cameo role. But is this a record for an actor to appear as the same character in three separate telenovelas/shows?
 

CIELOS

"More loose ends than a prune juice convention." Love it HOMBRE!!

I'm glad I'm not the only one that was left disappointed with last night's f*%#ery, and that is not censored for foolery.

Too many unanswered questions. I saw somewhere on TV that there will be a sequel. We shall see.

-VRO
 

CIELOS

Maybe this hinted-at sequel will go the way of the hinted-at sequel to La Reina del Sur: nowhere

These networks are SO greedy! They get something with high ratings and just have to over-egg the pudding by trying to get more mileage out of a tight, interesting novella.
 

DYO

Thanks so much Amy for your recap. I missed part of the DYO last night so you filled in the blanks for me beautifully.

Nomas is "madly" obsessed with Iggy, but the old man in the wheelchair adds another dimension of creepy to this story. Father? Relative? Someone who hates Pedro's family and maybe knows Gina?

Drunks on motorcycles - not a good thing. Couldn't tell if he had on a helmet either.

So glad to see that Gina is taking Marge to the doctor. With Gina talking to the doc, maybe we'll find out more about Marge's diagnosis and treatment.

I love AA and margaritaville.

Beth
 

DyO
I am going to finish reading your recap in a minute AnotherAmy, but I wanted to tell you there is no need to apologize for any of your work. You could just say "here's what I thought of tonight's dreck" and I would still hang on every word. You have a real Zing! Pow! Acerbic! way with words that I love (and secretly envy.)

Now back to reading...
 

DyO
...and from his lofty moral high-ground...

BINGO!!

And who were the three baddies? El Duro, Lupita's dad and ??? (or are we counting ogling scuzzball in the limo?

I was sad there was no sighting of the Nameless New Girl.

I hope they tie all these new plots into the rest of the story soon.
 

MARIDO lunes 5 de agosto Mini-cap PART 1

Max, Babs and K
Waah! Babs cries to Max because K confronted her in the salon and humiliated her in front of everyone and (supposedly) attacked her in her hotel room. She's out for blood and wants Max to go beat him up. (She doesn't say it out loud but given the type of b!tch she is we can assume.) Later the intrepid reporter Marcela visits Babs and tries to win her confidence. Babs wants to know why she's recording their conversation. She doesn't trust her and demands she turn off the recorder. For this scoop, Marcela wants to be a featured reporter.

Meanwhile K buys two six packs and goes home. Antonio is trying to study but all he can think about is Pati. K invites Antonio to drown his sorrows with him. And so the brothers compare their situations, both left by the woman each loved. K says Antonio should get down on his knees to ask for Pati's forgiveness.

Gris and Gabe
Gris stops by Tacos Bar with Kikito in tow. Clara tells her that Gabe thought K didn't look well and sent him home. Gris again explains to Gabe that she is doing a job at Palmer Gourmet–there is no hanky-panky!

Daniel and Pati
At school, Pati asks Daniel if he knew about Antonio's deception. At first he denies it but later says he did know. He tells her Antonio was afraid that TC wouldn't accept him as he was and that's why he did it. He tells her that Antonio still loves her and hopes she will forgive him. Hard-hearted Pati walks away. Later at home she recalls Daniel's words. Nope, she ain't over him.

Rafa and Amalia
Rafa tells Amalia about how Max Duran bought a motorcycle from his store. Amalia reminds him that Duran's wife used to be her sister-in-law. Foot in mouth. Amalia wonders what she will do with her life now that Doña Olga is gone. No nookie tonight–she's way too depressed.

Gris and Celeste
Chit-chat at the supermarket. Evidently the formulas for the creams were written down by Doña Olga's great-grandmother but no one can read her writing. Gris tells Celeste about Gabe's visit to Palmer-Gourmet while she was working.

Staff Meeting at Palmer Gourmet
Reinaldo tells how he was inspired by a show he saw on TV last night (I don't think it was Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.) Vanesa shows up late and Reinaldo reminds her to let Simon know if she's going to be late. Vanesa seems disillusioned by the very mild rebuke.

TC and Ro
Party planning. FF>

Gris, K and…Max
Gris should smack K upside the head for forgetting Kikito at school two days in a row. Knock at the door and Gris says it must be another problem. Give that woman a gold star! Here's Max! K wants to fight him but Max, being a professional boxer could take him out with one hand tied behind his back. He wants to know what was up with that scene with Babs at the hotel. Gris wants to know too. K and Gris discuss what happened and K ends up apologizing to Max for his behavior towards Babs and says they don't have to worry about him and that he won't show up at the hotel anymore. We know K is not going to let this go.

Daniel and Antonio
Paloma interrupts their studying and asks Antonio when he is moving in. Cara de disbelief de Antonio.

JP and Ester
Ester tells JP that she wants to call Dr. Perkins to start the in-vitro process again. JP is not happy.
 

DYO

I was counting the 3 "faceless" baddies that were mentioned at some point in this episode... el duro, Lupita's dad, and Isabel's dad. Although I guess we don't know for sure if Isabel's dad was a true baddie, we just know mom doesn't like him. I thought el duro might fit in each of those situations seamlessly, and Lupita could have a sister close to her age (that what do you want to bet might be a rival at some point for Ruben's affections). I'm not sure what NewGirl1 will have to do with anything, but she'll be getting pulled in somehow if Ogler was El Duro after all.

I'm kind of disappointed that it seems JM may become Pedro's rival in his affection for Ignacia... but I guess we can't have a protagonista that only has two pursuers. And there has to be an alternate pursuer that the audience likes so that we will be conflicted at some point about who we're rooting for... I just don't want little JMcito to get his heart broken. Which will inevitably happen, more than once, because he's such a nice guy, "un verdadero exito de hombres" as Ignacia put it so well.

I always tend to jump to conclusions fast and make all these predictions, and then it goes all to h*** within a few episodes, so we'll see...
 

DyO

AnotherAmy, I don't know if Ignacia's real bio dad will show up (I suspect he will), but I don't think he's going to be a baddie.

They showed Estela mooning over his sweet-faced picture very early on. He was some kind of an...wait for it... obrero! And she burbled on about how she couldn't leave with him because she had to stay with Mariano for the money and prestige.
 

MARIDO lunes 5 de agosto Mini-cap PART 2

Max and Babs
Babs says Max should have smacked K. Max reminds her he doesn't fight outside the ring. She feels that her honor has been besmirched. He says K apologized and promised to leave them alone. You have to wonder how Reinaldo, K, and Max could have fallen in love with TC and Babs respectively. Shaaaaallow!

Dr. Perkins
Alba receives a call saying that her brother Guillermo has died in an accident. She informs his girlfriend, Beatriz. What does this have to do with anything?

JP and Ester
Ester says she feels dead without a child. JP says he thought they had decided that children weren't for them. She has this need and she will have a child with or without him.

Daniel and Antonio
Daniel is reading aloud about an incision in the heart . ¡Qué coincidenca! They're studying about the heart and Antonio has a broken one. FF>

TC and Marcela
TC receives a call from her BFF…Marcela Córtes our intrepid reporter. ¡Otra coincidenca! She will stop by to visit with TC. Marcela arrives, they exchange pleasantries and both do this weird walk into the house. Chit-chat about how happy TC is Reinaldo and the renewal of vows, Palmer-Gourmet and its awards, and how Marcela stumbled on to a big story as soon as she got to Miami…and she already has a job. Marcela asks about JP–she had a thing for him back in the day before he married that "simple" Ester. Marcela mentions that she saw TC's Tía Iris in New York. That makes TC spill her wine on Marcela's skirt. TC gives Marcela the third degree and a new skirt she never wore. They chat some more about JP and then she leaves.

Best scene of the night: Inside Ro says he heard Marcela mention Tía Iris. TC becomes incensed and takes her glass of wine and pours it down Ro's pants. His member will be one big wine stain!

Gris and Reinaldo
Outside Palmer Gourmet, Gris gets her toolbox and when she walks by someone's car, she stares at the reflection. She lets her hair down. She meets Reinaldo on the way in and he says she should keep her hair like that. No, she puts it back into a bun. Honestly Reinaldo should know better being a chef. They go inside and Reinaldo muses that there is no message from TC on his phone. They chat about how Reinaldo met TC while she was traveling in Paris. It was love at first sight and they married in the US. He tells Gris that at one time he considered going into a different field but he loved culinary too much. TC put up the money for the restaurant. He suggests they cook something together. Gris agrees because she didn't have a chance to eat at home.

Rafa and Leo
After insulting Susana's desire to study ("For what? Serving coffee?") he spies Leo waiting for him by the door. They go inside. We don't learn what Rafa wants Leo to do but Leo says the money is bad and the risk is too high. He'll think about it though.

Gabe
He drives to Palmer-Gourmet and sits outside in his Tacos Bar truck.

Reinaldo and Gris
They are chatting about cooking when Reinaldo's cell rings. It's TC checking up on him. Gris takes over the cooking but a towel catches on fire. She yells and throws it on the floor and stamps out the fire. However, TC says she heard a woman yell and demands to know who is there with him. He denies it's a woman but TC demand that he put the "builder" on the phone. Cara de impacted de Gris.

Prediction (not a spoiler): Luckily Gabe is sitting outside in his truck. He will be the voice of the builder.
 

DyO
Ah. Ok. I did not listen closely to the Isabel/Mom conversation and missed any talk about the father. It was early, I still hadn't finished my coffee.

I'd completely forgotten that we still have Iggy's bio dad in the wings, too!

I didn't get a JM/Iggy chemistry vibe at all. All I got was "besties and confidantes" vibe, but see above.

I have yet to make a correct prediction with a TN.
 

MARIDO:

Thanks for the recap, Sue, I love your sense of humor. I agree Gabe could be the voice of the builder. Then, of course, Gris would be indebted to him.
 

DYO martes, part 1/3

Mariano is still hunting for Ruben, Gina tells him he left on his moto drunk as a skunk. Mar muses about how destiny has put them together again, and Gina is on the verge of telling him about Pedro when Olegario busts in on the conversation.

Estela and Tomas are cuddled up in the bedroom sleeping (thank the lord just sleeping), and Tomas is having a nightmare about his father yelling at and hitting his mother (who is blond, by the way—coincidence?) accusing her of being in love with someone else. Little Tomas runs in to defend his mother, but she sends him away telling him to run. Big Tomas wakes up abruptly calling for his mother, and sends Estela away telling her he wants to be alone. He sobs. He does have a poquito of humanity in there after all…

Olegario says he heard shouting and wanted to make sure everything is okay, Mariano and Gina scold him for interrupting their private conversation, and he leaves. G & M decide to postpone the conversation. Of course.

Tomas is having his breakfast coffee, seemingly recuperated from his pesky bout of emotions. He asks Ignacia where she slept that night, she tells him she slept in Ruben’s room, where she will continue to sleep. He asks her where she went last night and she blows him off, leaving for work. He starts to go after her, but Estela holds him back, promising to fix it with Iggy.

NoNameNewGirl is having a great time bouncing around and dancing cheerfully as she washes a car (this job must be growing on her). CreepyOgler pulls up with his driver and tinted windows again and comments on her, the driver volunteers to find out more about her but CO declines—he’ll find a way to meet her (Maybe she has a sick brother or something he can use as leverage…. I’m sure that’s what he’s thinking…). She approaches the car to invite them to get their car washed (which, at this point, is not yet a euphemism for anything else), but CO slinks back and driver takes off. Not suspicious at all, StealthyCreepyOgler.

Isabel is leaving for work, and mom wants to make sure she’ll be home in time to welcome Brother Angel the Unjustly Imprisoned. Isabel is annoyed , but assures her mother she’ll be home in time. Mom asks for some money to buy a cake and Isabel gives it to her with an eye roll.

Lots of unnecessary talking at Casa Perez about preparing to pick up Pedro and Gina needing to get her pocketbook from the bedroom but Oleg saying there isn’t time (for you to walk 10 feet to your bedroom, pick up your pocketbook, and walk all the way back to the living room), so why don’t you just catch up with us later in a taxi. Besides, maybe Mariano will stop by again and you can finish your conversation from yesterday. What conversation? Marge wants to know. Gina pulls her aside and assures her that it’s not what she’s thinking… Mariano doesn’t know anything about their hijo.
 

DYO martes, part 2/3

Ruben is hung over and is late for work (so he is apparently very adept at driving a two-wheel killing machine while plastered and angry—sorry ER folks. You’ll be needed again soon, I’m sure). Mariano asks him what happened with Lupita and Ruben is grouchy. Mariano suggests Lupita comes to live with them.

JM tells Karina that he didn’t call her, just like she asked, (even though he admits having to hide the phone to avoid it), and if she’s mad about his talking to Ignacia he’ll never talk to any of her friends again (whaaaat?? PLEASE don’t simper, JM. This is NOT okay.). Karina interrupts him saying he’s a good guy, loyal, kind (here it comes…) but she thinks they should end it. JM looks panicky.

Ruben thinks Mar is crazy… Lupita wants to have nothing to do with him, but Mariano and AA are sure that if he talked to her calmly, she would reconsider, but he says no—especially after what happened last night. He grabs AA’s hangover pill and leaves. AA says she’s known him since he was born, and thinks she might know how to make this work.

The desperation look is not a good one for JM. He’s begging Karina… you’re dumping me because I’m too good? I do everything you tell me to! Karina looks sincerely remorseful and tells him he doesn’t deserve what she’s been doing to him. It’s not you, it’s me… I don’t deserve you. (No you don’t, and stop looking so torn you harpy). She leaves, crying, and snaps at Isabel on the way out. JM is devastated. A little piece of the magic that was JM has been destroyed.

Stripper prancing around in their underwear… Barbie gets a call about an audition, and she’s sure she’s going to get the part once they see her. Zafiro is sour.

Back at Casa Perez, Mireya asks Neto/Hammy how things are going with Mary, and he says they’re going great, she forgave him for standing her up, they’re really in love. Lupita walks in dressed in form-fitting new clothes and gets ogles from Neto who comments that she’s almost a mamacita, Mireya smacks him on the back of the head.

Ruben walks into the office, where JM is sitting catatonic sans glasses, breathing strangely (it’s actually kind of creepy, like he’s about to shift into werewolf form). Ruben asks him what’s wrong, JM stands up and leaves.

Marge and Oleg are walking Pedro out (whose hair has bounced back miraculously from bandage-head), Tomas follows from behind, eyes narrowed (even more than they usually are).They arrive at Casa Perez with balloons and cake.

Ignacia walks into her office to find another rose on her desk, which she assumes is from Pedro, and she gets dreamy-face. Of course, we know it couldn’t be from Pedro, as he was barely able to walk out of the hospital without help only moments before. Tomas enters and admits the rose is from him. Who did she think it was from? Her amante?

 

DYO martes, part 3/3

Gina and Olegario talk outside. He wants to know what the big deal is with Mariano, but Gina won’t tell him. He says he’s going to find out because he doesn’t like secrets, especially if Mireya is going to be entering the family.

Gina asks to see Pedro in the kitchen and tells him Estela was behind his attack… she’s a very dangerous woman, she knows from experience. Then she produces two airline tickets from her bag and tells Pedro to take Mireya to London. He thinks she’s crazy. She begs him and puts the tickets in his hands.

Karina shows up at Casa Villamayor and demands to see Tomas but is headed off by Estela and they get in a shouting match. Karina deduces Estela loves Tomas, her own yerno. Estela slaps Karina and K threatens to tell Ignacia.

Ignacia says a flower won’t undo the ruckus that occurred last night. Tomas approaches her and she tells him to back off, “Are you afraid of me, mi amor?” he asks menacingly, continuing to approach her. JM barges in (back in human form), and Iggy gloms on to him using the excuse that they have a meeting to go to. They leave, Tomas grins maniacally.

Pedro refuses to go anywhere, in fact, he’s marching right over to Estela’s house to give her a piece of his mind (or what he has left of it after that golpe she arranged).
Gina tells him not to do anything that will complicate things with Lupita and Estela’s impending nieto. He relents, and promises to act like there’s nothing wrong when they leave the kitchen.

Oleg returns the ring to Mireya, which she gave to him to give back to Pedro when she was leaving for Corpus in the taxi. Mireya hesitates.

JM and Ignacia arrive at Casa Villano-mayor, and Estela is flustered after not being able to reach Karina by phone. JM and Iggy have a heart to heart about her marriage, and being afraid of Tomas… JM tells her it’s not wrong to admit the marriage was a mistake and to want to start over, but she says she can’t—besides, Tomas would never permit it.

Back at the departamento Ruben tells Mariano that Estela offered Lupita money to stay away from him and she accepted. Mariano tells Ruben he needs to show Estela that he and Lupita aren’t her puppets, maybe….by… for example… bringing Lupita to come live with them?? Like Pedro would EVER let that happen…

Ruben still says no, no way it would work. Mariano tells him he’ll regret letting Estela get away with separating him from his hijo.

Karina wants something in return from Estela to keep her from telling Ignacia about her mas-que-yerno feelings. She wants to be able to enter Tomas’s house whenever she wants, and she wants Estela’s silence and complicity in her relationship with Tomas. Estela begrudgingly agrees.
Gina visits Ignacia at her office and asks her for help to send Pedro out of the country.

Fin del capitulo.

# of tries to finally get a word verification I could read: 7

 

DyO
I can't wait until the video is available....tomorrow. --__-- Drat.

Another winner, AnotherAmy. Let's see...which line to I single out for praise???? Oh the one between "DyO martes Part 1/3 and DyO martes Part 3/3."

The nicknames had me howling!!

I do not like this JM/Iggy turn of events at all. Just. No.

 

MARIDO:

Thanks so much Sue. I thought it was cute how affectionate Gris was with Daniel, even making his favorite cake, while she ignored Tony. And Daniel just rubbed it in more by calling Gris "Tia".

 

DyO,
AnotherAmy, superlicious recap, thanks so much! ("A little piece of the magic that was JM has been destroyed"--we are feeling your pain.) I'm liking the intro of new characters, but there are way too many girls with long wavy brown hair: Karina, Zafira, Barbie, NewGirl-1, NewGirl-2. Then we have two new as-yet unseen brothers: Benjamin with his desperate illness, and Angel, the jailbird. Then we have Creepy Carwash-Ogler, old white haired guy in wheelchair, the AWOL Enrique, and Tomas' awful Daddy from the flashback. Hey, maybe the old white haired guy is Tomas' dad, he had a stroke and Tomas goes to visit him just to torment him. Hmmmm????
J in Oregon
 

DYO

Another great recap, Another Amy. I loved "StealthyCreepyOgler" and "JM barges in (back in human form)". Your recaps are better than the TN!

I felt just a smidgen of sympathy for Tomasito. He probably had the childhood from hell with his abusive father - and just look at how he turned out! I'm betting Old Guy in Wheelchair is dear old dad.

What's up AA's sleeve that she's going to "make this work"?

And didn't Lupy look like a teenybopper headed for the mall in her short shorts and cowboy boots? Finally someone (Pedro) had the awareness to ask "Where's she getting her money/"

Beth
 

Haven't had time to catch up on yesterday's episodes but thanks for the recaps, they'll keep me updated.

Whats the verdict on SD first episode, is it any good?




 

SANTA DIABLA

Irisz, I think it was ok, I found some things that I liked and some others that were kind of "meh.."
Carlos Ponce is still a hottie!

I'll come back with more opinions once the recap is up.
 

MARIDO - Tuesday
Part 1

While Reinaldo is on the phone with Teresa Cristina, who is demanding to speak with the handy-man, Griselda goes to answer a knock at the restaurant door.
Rei tells TC the handy-man is in the bathroom, so she decides to wait for him to come out. Gris convinces Gabriel (who was, indeed, the one knocking) to pretend to be the worker. He reluctantly agrees and then he talks with TC. He tells her he’s in the restaurant with her husband, he’s working and he just came back from the toilet. The scene is quite funny, it’s such a shame they don’t use Gabe for this kind of comic relief – him trying to seduce Gris is NOT funny.

After the conversation is over Gabe explains that he came to accompany Gris home once she’s done working - and wonders how come she and Rei were in the kitchen, cooking.
A while later, while Gris is in the restaurant fixing stuff, Rei thanks Gabe for helping out with TC, explains him that he didn’t mean to lie to his wife, but he had no choice. Gabe feels bad for being part of the lie, but he calms down after he makes Rei promise that he’s only interested in Gris because of her working abilities.
Gris overhears this talk, though, and is very disappointed – but really, what did she expect Rei to tell Gabe, that he’s in love with her?

In the meantime Manuel arrives home and almost finds Sol dancing to her music. They really messed up the timeline here, because Gris is supposed to work after midnight, in the early hours of the morning, but when Manuel gets home and asks for his dinner it’s not that late – Celeste is not even home – it can’t be more than 10 p.m.

Anyway, we get a glimpse of Esther and JP, too, she is in bed, thinking about having a baby that she can give birth to, and he’s outside, not looking to happy about the situation.

Back at the restaurant, once the food is ready and they all have to sit down to eat, Gris refuses, saying she doesn’t have the time for this. But Gabe insists, too, he’s more than happy with the late dinner Rei prepared for them, even if he calls it “medio fufurufo” (kind of pretentious); he makes himself at home, pours some wine – he’s quite funny when he’s not screeching for “his Gris”.

In the morning, once the work is done, Gabe asks Gris to go for a walk before going home (really, Gabe?). Gris refuses this and treats Rei kind of cold, she’s still upset over what she heard, that he considers her only a good handy-man. This is a little too much, if you ask me…
Anyway, when she’s alone with Gabe, she tells him AGAIN about not coming to bother her at work, but what is the point if he’ll never listen?



 

MARIDO - Tuesday
Part 2

Pati, Ro and Elsa (the servant) are in the kitchen, joking about food and …FF

Barbara sees K on the beach, he’s jogging. Back home Amalia, the eternal optimist, thinks that maybe K is in love with another woman and he won’t go after Barby again. Antonio is pretty sure of that, too, but Gris has her doubts.

When she finds out that Tony is well enough to go to school, Gris tells him it’s time he left her home. Later on, she shares this piece of news with Paloma, too. There is no turning back, apparently, but since this will only cause Gris to spend more money on Tony’s sorry a.ss, I can’t really be happy with her decision.

Max is training for his fight, takes a shower (thank you, show!) and then sees the article about the argument between Barby and K (if these two ever hook up again, I WILL call them Barby and Ken, it can’t be helped). Barby sees it, too, she’s furious, asks Max to go fight with K again. But Max, the only sane person of this twisted triangle, knows that he can’t go about punching people in the street, when he’s a professional fighter – and since we’ve already seen how he was able to overpower K the other day with only one hand, I think his decision is the right one. He reprimands Barby for not keeping her mouth shut in front of the press, he’s sure the journalist couldn’t have made up the entire thing. She tries to defend herself, tell him she didn’t agree to be recorded, but there is nothing much they can do about it, Max decides. He wants to avoid another scandal – the fact that during his press conference he will be asked about his wife and not about his fight is bad enough.

Anyway, Barby still wants some blood, so they decided that when Max has his fight he will look at his opponent and think about K. This turns them on so much that they start making out. What else is new?

K reads the article, too, and, to nobody’s surprise, he doesn’t seem too mad about it. He’s more worried that he didn’t come out good in the picture, he’s still convinced that going to confront Barby was the right thing.

Clara tries to make him see that he created a scandal, he went and put himself in a ridiculous situation; she asks him to think about Little K and how this will affect him. K is thinking about HIS “Little K”, though, he’s still in love with Barby, that’s more than obvious. These days his son is the last think in K’s head, he almost forgot to take him to school again and when Clara points out the fact that he should be concerned about the child and forget about the rest, he thinks she’s jealous. That is not entirely false, but Clara is still right.

Gabe adds his two cents to the story, too, telling K that both he and Gris like to keep their distance from the people who really love them – he and Clara – and fantasize about who they shouldn’t – Rei and Barby.

Later we see that the journalist found K and is asking him about Barby.

 

MARIDO - Tuesday
Part 3

Rei arrives home, has a nice chat with Pati and then tries to go to sleep. But TC wakes up just then, smells his clothes, but not finding any women’s perfume on them is not good enough, because she smells the food.

After a scene with Ro, which she sends to the beach with the dogs, she goes back to the bedroom and interrupts a very sexy dream that Rei was having, of he and Gris making out in the sea.
Reinaldo Ibarra, you naughty boy, if your brain is already going there, your body will soon want to follow.

Gris is home, too, remembering Rei’s words and still feeling very disappointed. Later on she sees that a button is missing on one of Tony’s shirts, the one he wore that night at the fancy dinner at the Palmer house. She wants to change it at first, but then she reminds herself what a jerk he is.

Penny and Leo meet at the beach, he asks her to go grab a drink again. Isn’t she much older than him, though? I don’t feel this couple and apparently there is a Lifeguard interested in her, too.

Rafa’s employees talk about Rafa some more, the girl is upset that Rafa is flirting with the clients like some kind of a gigolo – but I don’t think Rafa is flirting, he’s trying to play nice to make a sale, which is not bad, it’s in the job description. Amalia visits Rafa at the store, tells him she’s going to Dona Olga’s house with Paloma, to search for the cream recipe. She does that later.

Ro arrives at the beach with the dogs and the big bad boys who are always there bully him again. Gris encourages him to stand up to them, but he ends up with a kick in the b.utt for doing so.

Tony arrives at school, he’s nervous about meeting Pati. He can’t concentrate on one of his classes and then he sees Pati on the halls – freeze screen and “Desnudo” in the background – we are supposed to root for these crazy kids to get back together, but I just can’t stand Tony right now, pretty eyes and all.

 

MARIDO:

Thanks so much Adriana. I really don't want Pati to forgive Tony. He is still a royal ass and doesn't get what he did wrong at all.

I'm upset that TC interrupted that great dream, but I also don't understand why Gris is upset that Rei said to Gabe exactly what she would have said to anyone. It's not like he insulted her in any way, in fact he praised her skills.
 

Thanks Adriana!

When Gabe is not in stalking mode he's quite funny, I like that guy :)

I was quite surprised at Gris's hurtful expression when she overheard the guys talking.
1. YOU ARE in a working relationship so far and known each other for about 2 weeks, even if you like "LIKE" the guy and vice versa nothing much happened.
2. What do you expect to hear some gushy declaration of love??

IS TC a psychic now? How does she know Rei is not dreaming about her...

I really, really like the Max character - aside from the great body (NEED MORE SHOWER SCENES!!) - he is sensible and not led by the nose.

What I don't get, why Amalia needs to search for the cream recipe, doesn't Gris told yesterdays epi that they have it, only cannot make it out because of the cramped handwriting??
 

MARIDO

Thanks very much, Adriana, for this very full recap. I'm delighted that it is so full, since I was out last night and didn't get a chance to see the show. I loved your remark that "K is thinking about HIS “Little K”." That seems to be the only kind of thinking he's capable of. Blech...he so turns me off.

Sorry I missed the shower scene. I'm hoping for some hot fight scenes.

Sue, I think I didn't have a chance to thank you for Monday's recap. I really appreciate your doing it.
 

MARIDO

Great recap, Adriana! Thanks so much. Barbie and Ken - love it.

I do understand Gris' hurt feelings. She is so conflicted it's painful to watch. For so many years she has focused completely on work and raising her kids. She's avoided relationships with men and, I think, made herself immune to masculine attentions. Suddenly her world is upside down. Her kids are going off in their own, sometimes misguided, directions and don't need her anymore. She has to be questioning the value of sacrificing her time and energy on the likes of Tony. At the same time she has met, and is attracted to, a handsome, wonderful man who appreciates her as a professional and as a woman. She enjoys his company and admiration, but, since he's married and from a different social class, she cannot acknowledge it. Gabe is intruding on Gris' time with Rei, and the men's conversation seems like a betrayal or denial of her importance to Rei. And she can't admit to anyone she's fallen in love with Rei.

Ugh! That Barbie is such high maintenance. Max is too good for her. B and K are both so volatile the journalist should be able to get a running series out of their antics.

Moto shop girl is going to be trouble for Rafa and Amalia. I think Moto girl has the hots for Rafa and that's why she's always watching him.

Beth
 

MARIDO:

Great recap, Adriana! Thanks again for your humor and insights.

Beth, I never thought of the moto girl (Susana) having the hots for Rafa. Very possible!

We're almost sure Tony is going to eventually be forgiven, and be good, and Pati and he will be together. It's just a matter of time. But what about Rafa? He's terrible, stealing money, having sex with Mirna while romancing Amalia. But could he, too, eventually turn to good? This is something which could go either way. Yes, I know he looks bad now. But the music they play behind his and Amalia's encounters is so nice, maybe the writers are telling us something.

Yes, that Barby is high maintenance. But if both Max and K are crazy about her, she's doing SOMETHING right. Yes, the sexy body, the pretty face. But she also has a certain excitement to her. As a guy, I'd be turned off by a beautiful woman who was sad, or too quiet, or just plain dull. Barby is not dull!
 

SANTA DIABLA:

I'm looking forward to Bill's recap. I greatly enjoyed the show, for a number of reasons. First, there were lots of actors I've seen in other novelas, playing roles which were different. For example, the guy who plays the grown up Willy was in Muñecas de la Máfia, looked WAY more scuzzy, and had a Medellin accent which was almost impossible to understand. With his accent in this show, I can understand everything. Also, little Willy was a kid we've seen in about 3 other shows.

Second: The whole premise, some capricious rich family ruins the life of some nice poor family, has been done before, but it happened so fast, and was so powerful, I really was getting my self righteous revenge hormones going.

Third: Amazing music, with super electric guitar solos, which I love.
 

SANTA

Now THIS is how you do venganza!

I wasn't sure about this one since the rich family just makes me mad, but it doesn't seem bad and has Lorenzo from quien eres tu, so it may be a keeper.

Kelly
 

Santa Diabla,

ah yes a new cast, I see someone has nicely updated the wiki page with who's who, I find it helpful at the start of a novela to have this list available for reference during the show,

grown up Willy is played by Lincoln Palomeque, who I remember best from La Reina del Sur, he was the colombian connection, (also in La bella Ceci y el imprudente)

Willy's sister Paula, played by Virna Flores, I remember best as one of the bad girls in La Tracion, killed in a booby trap with a crossbow,

George (not Jorge), Bárbara's husband, played by Ezequiel Montalt, I was disappointed to see him in a similar role as he had in Los Herederos del Monte, but he does also play the sax very well, maybe him and Aarón Díaz will get together.

 

SANTA

I enjoyed the first episode and found myself getting into the whole how-will-she-pull-it-off vengenza mentality. Willy Jr. is truly a victim of the Cano family, and, for him alone, I hope Santa takes them down.

As in La Patrona, I can see where some evil doers may be redeemed, and our hero will be the spoiler, but I think this should be an enjoyable ride.

Does anybody know how many episodes there are?

Beth
 

SANTA DIABLA

I also like the guy who plays the unfortunate Willy Sr (Lincoln Palomeque - thanks, Deb!). He was delightful as the Colombian connection in La Reina del Sur. His house, a monument to bad narco taste, was part of the fun stuff in that novela. His Colombian narco accent was fabulous!

He played the weak, sometimes evil, husband of the protagonist in La Mariposa and had a bigger role.

He's good, but never seems to get a major role. I totally believe him as the artistic guy trying to make a living for his family in music.

I often wonder about the hair of novela actresses. The woman playing Bárbara, the evil sister of Ponce's character was quite blonde in El Rostro de la Venganza (the news anchor, I think, of a TV news program). And Maritza is sporting very black hair in Marido. If these are wigs, they are good ones. If not, I can't imagine the damage to one's hair going from blonde to brunette or vice versa so frequently!

I had to go to the Wiki to figure out that familiar, yet oddly different, face of the evil mother of Barbara and Humberto, Francisca. She was Estela, often called Estupida Estela in Corazón Valiente, the mother of Angela.
 

SANTA DIABLA:

Thanks, Novelera for figuring out who Francisca is. I like Wanda D'Isidoro, who plays Bárbara, and she's moved from a nice best friend in La Fantasma de Elena, to minor villain in Una Maid en Manhattan and El Rostro de la Venganza to main villain in this one. Movin'up!

Frances Ondiviela, who plays Carlos (the cop)'s sister (the landlady where Aarón Diaz's character Santiago is staying) has been in a bunch of novelas recently such as Hasta Que el Dinero Nos Separe, Eva Luna and Refugio Para El Amor (I only saw the first of those). She was Miss Spain in 1980!
 

SANTA DIABLA
I was very impressed with the first episode and hoping to keep up with it (it brings my novela count up to 4. Yikes!)

Having not seen a lot of TNs the venganza as main plot is new to me so I am looking forward to it. So far Santa seems to be executing her plan faster than Maria Alejandra in CI. Nope, Santa doesn't waste her time gritting her teeth and monologue-ing!
 

Okay, let's see if Telemundo's newest project can wash the taste of the final episode of its predecessor out of our brains...

Santa Diabla, or

Peinados Vengadores

Our tale opens on a young woman, wet hair and tears running down her face, sitting alone and staring into the camera. Actually, she's staring into a video camera slightly out of frame. It's time, The Woman (Gaby Espino) declares--she's ready to do what she's been planning "all this time," but she can't do it alone. She needs the help of whomever she's speaking to...can she count on them? Her objective is to destroy a family...the Cano family. Remember the name, don't forget it...Cano (reverb, reverb, reverb...)!

And cue the voosh of portent as it takes us to the huge front yard of a mansion, all decked out for some sort of party. The Woman narrates that the Cano family has more money than she can imagine, but she doesn't care about their blood money or their house; she's out to get them. She's also out to drag us into exposition hell, as she explains that the family patriarch is one Gaspar Cano...a lawyer who owns one of the biggest law firms in Miami. (Gaspar will hereafter be referred to as G-Cano, after the name of the law firm.) G-Cano's a good man according to
those that know him, The Woman says, but she's not having it--if he's a Cano, he's a bastard. And we see G-Cano himself (Fred Valle), walking around the yard with two other men, talking about how he's made his mind up--apparently about retiring, since one of the other men (Vicente?) wonders what he'll do now. G-Cano thinks he'll read, or finally watch some movies he'd never had time to see, and maybe pressure someone named Humberto into finally giving him some grandchildren to spoil. It's time, he says; he doesn't think he has much time left to run his firm.

The Woman's narration shifts to G-Cano's wife, Francisca (Gilda Haddock)--"a useless, superficial woman" according to her (her Universal Bitch Backdo Hair and matching beige ensemble don't help her case), but she's the one The Woman fears most, exhorting her unseen audience to be extra careful about her. We see Francisca walking the grounds and going into the house, calling for someone named Begoña and/or Lucy. Begoña turns out to be an older servant, griping in the kitchen at various staff extras about how they need to get out of there and serve the guests or else. Francisca walks in right after that, of course wondering what's up with the food--the guests have only had champagne. Begoña notes that she's on that now, and in two minutes--no, Francisca's not down with two minutes. They need to get the lead out now, since she won't allow anybody to complain about the service at her son Humberto's engagement party...claro?

Humberto, The Woman explains to her camera, is apparently the eldest of Francisca's two children (the other is named Barbara--more on her in a bit). They're how she's going to exact her revenge. But first more about Humberto: he works with his dad G-Cano at the law firm, and is arrogant and insufferable. And dangerous...or dangerously hot for that part of the audience, since it's Carlos Ponce. And there he is now, talking to some guys at the party who are wondering where his bride is. Humberto's not worried that she's late--that's women, he laughs, and that's how men like them. One of the guys wonders if she might have gotten cold feet, and Humberto is all "Pfft. Who wouldn't want to marry this?" One of the guys appropriately wonders why nobody's wanted to marry him before, but Humberto corrects him; he's never proposed to anybody before this. Sure, man.
 

Santa Diabla (p. 2)

The other guy is at least curious about this mysterious bride--she and Humberto have only been together for three months, and they're already engaged? Humberto's okay with that...if you've got the woman of your dreams, he says, why keep looking? She's the perfect woman, according to him, and once they meet her they'll see she's impossible to resist.

But don't let Humberto fool you, The Woman says to the camera--he's worse than the Devil, and he'll do anything to get what he wants. There's a reason they call him el tiburon blanco in the courtroom; like a shark, he's completely pitiless. At this point I'm having a bad Wicked Wicked Games flashback, except that Gaby Espino is a hell of a lot easier on the eyes than Tatum O'Neal was.

On to Humberto's sister Barbara (a dark-haired Wanda D'Isidoro, rocking her own Universal Bitch Backdo)--those who know her, The Woman explains, know to stay on her good side because being on her bad side can be fatal. The Woman knows this to be true--she's a snake, the worst of the lot, and The Woman won't show her any mercy. At the party Barbara walks up to one of the guys Humberto was talking to earlier--where's her daughter? The guy is all "Since when was I supposed to look after her?", and Barbara demands of Jorge--no, he insists, it's "George." While Barbara tells George that the last thing they need is for their daughter Daniela to pop up and cause "one of her scenes," The Woman notes that Barbara's husband, George Millan (real name Jorge) is a moocher who's never worked a day in his life and married into the Cano family for the money. Neither he nor Barbara have any scruples and will lie to and betray anybody--even their own families--to keep what's theirs.

Back in House Cano, Barbara walks up to Francisca and wonders if she's seen Daniela. Francisca, expectedly, is all "Bitch, please! She's run off again? Call me when the police bring her back--I've got enough to worry about with this party." Not even six minutes in and someone needs to be slapped. Thanks, Francisca Cano.

And the last member of the Cano clan, according to The Woman, is indeed Daniela (Ana Osorio, who bears a striking resemblance to the previous Lulu from General Hospital--and admittedly looks almost as old as her mom). We see her snagging a small packet of pills from inside a fashionable shoe in a walk-in closet, as The Woman inevitably blasts her too; she may look like an innocent teenager (really, Woman? Really?), but she's a demon in disguise--a nightmare--and she too needs to pay for all she's done that we don't yet know about. I'm waiting for The Woman to get to where Begoña kicks puppies after setting them on fire and the unseen Lucy is really the sister of a cartel overlord. Anyway, Barbara finally tracks down Daniela in what is apparently her bedroom before she can get her pill on (Daniela's at least a good concealer) and escorts her downstairs, wondering why she's hiding out at/from her uncle's engagement party. Daniela says it's nothing, but Barbara isn't having that--especially not after Humberto's been so good to her. And Daniela knows what she means, too. No doubt Daniela was up to no good...is she trying to start a fight at the party (Barbara, girl, what)? Daniela insists she's not, just that parties are boring ("Well, fake it!") and when Barbara asks if she's doing anything that could embarrass her (that is, Barbara) at the party says no. Well, then, Barbara figures they can head outside--Humberto's bride is going to show up any minute now, and Daniela needs to smile the minute she sees her.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Santa Diabla (p. 3)

Back in her room The Woman sniffles into the camera. As her unseen audience can imagine, What's missing in this family is the bride--the woman, she says, who will declare war on them with all the weapons at her disposal. This war will be to the death, she declares, and the only option is to win. And then the show screws with my head as we get see what appears to be The Woman in a panties slipping into some stockings, a lacy bra, garters, and some fire-engine-red heels accompanied by sexytime music...uhhh, what was I saying? Okay--The Woman's ongoing narration advises not to worry, since she's prepared herself for this day for two years. She knows her enemies, and she's planned a terrible vengeance for each of them...and why? Because she's no saint either, The Woman says to the camera--and at the party she walks in in a matching red dress and rocking a thousand-watt smile and an awesome pinup-girl hairstyle. She's a devil, and crash in what is apparently the theme song's chorus (yeah, I think that's Carlos's voice I hear). The Woman walks out to Humberto, who's happy to see his bride...she got held up, she explains. Humberto pffts--his future wife doesn't need to apologize to anybody, even him. She asks if he's going to compliment her on how she looks ("Oh, you look beautiful") before noting that he'll finally get to meet her parents; the ultimatum she gave them worked, The Woman says, as an older couple walks out from behind a nearby tree. They just got into town.

We then go to a TV in somebody else's room--they're apparently watching The Woman's recording. The Woman is explaining that what she's asking of them isn't easy, but she couldn't just sit by and watch. That's why she made the video--she needed to explain her plan, that her revenge is just starting. In a few days, she says, she'll be at her engagement party and everyone needs to believe that she's what she's not...but she needs their help. They, in this case, turns out to be a pretty blonde watching the video by herself, Paula (Virna Flores). The Woman begs Paula to help her, in the name of her family. "Of course, my friend," a sad-looking Paula says to the TV; she's with her to the end--and back at the party we get The Woman standing away from the partygoers, looking past the camera with a faintly evil look on her face. Okay, where's Miguel Varoni at?

So night falls on Miami, or whatever damn town it's standing in for this week, and Humberto is showing The Woman's parents out of House Cano. It's been a pleasure having Mr. and Mrs. Brown in his home, he says, and they're welcome any time; they thank him and exit, leaving him alone with The Woman, while Barbara and Francisca observe from afar. Barbara wonders where Humberto met The Woman, and Francisca notes that he said he met her at a gym; Barbara notes she never thought Humberto would get married. Francisca, being a suspicious rich bitch, is all "I don't know, hija...there's something about her I don't like," and Barbara figures she needs to get used to it--in a week The Woman will be her daughter-in-law. Barbara thinks The Woman is a good match for Humberto--she's a model, and a millionaire, and has class and distinction. You can't buy those--Francisca taught her that. Francisca's still all "No se..." about The Woman, and Barbara again insists she needs to get over it--especially since The Woman will be living at House Cano with them all once she marries Humberto, until they buy a house.
 

Santa Diabla (p. 4)

Humberto, meanwhile, is asking The Woman if he'll see her tomorrow; she's not sure, she says, since she has "commitments" with her parents in town. But she's all his once they get married and her parents leave--in five days, according to Humberto. Humberto then suggests that he could take her home, and his chauffeur can take her parents to their hotel. The Woman politely declines--her parents are going to want to tell her all about how nice the party was, and she hasn't seen them in a while. Humberto wonders why they're not staying with her, and she explains that they're "very independent" and she's okay with keeping things quiet at home. Humberto's still distracted by the Sexy, so he totally accepts that; "I love you, Amanda," he says. The woman in turn declares that she loves him with all her heart, before he walks her out. The next time we see The Woman, she's in the back seat of a car with her "parents" and looking rather frosty; Mrs. Brown says that she thought it all went well, and The Woman is all "There's no need to talk, señora." Way to stay focused on your mission, girl.

The aforementioned car pulls up in front of a small house in a decidedly non-affluent neighborhood. The Woman and "the Browns" get out, and The Woman gives them money from a purse--their payment for today's work, she says. And they'll be paid double the day of the wedding. Mrs. Brown takes a moment to say that "you two make a nice couple," which goes over like a lead balloon right before Paula comes out of the house--she's happy to see her friend, whom she finally identifies as Santa. Santa dismisses the Browns, and they get back in the car and head off as Paula wonders how it went; Santa admits that everything went as planned before stalking into the house. Paula follows her and urges her to calm down--she's home, she can relax. Santa manages to relax a little before asking about "my boy"; Paula notes he ate and went to sleep, but when Santa heads off to see him stops her. Can she take off the dress first? For that matter, did she wear perfume or anything? Santa nahs--nobody will know she wore the dress--and hopes nobody saw Paula sneak it out of the store she works at. Paula insists she's okay, she's the star salesperson at the store anyway, and she'll heat up Santa's dinner. Santa, meanwhile, is still in revenge mode--she exposits that the plan is proceeding perfectly and has been for the past three months. The Canos believe that she's the wealthy Amanda Brown, that her parents are sophisticated like her...Paula thinks they're close to making them pay, but Santa nahs. She's marrying Humberto on Friday, and that is when their revenge really begins. Paula wonders how Santa will be able to sleep with "that man," and Santa is all "I'll do it for Willy...our Willy." They've got to make the Canos pay. I guess using that car she rented to just run them the hell down would be too obvious. Santa then goes to see "her boy," who's indeed asleep in what's apparently her bed. She gives him a kiss before taking a picture in a frame from the nightstand next to it--a picture of her and a young man, apparently from their wedding day, looking happily at each other.

The next morning we see a train making its way through the countryside, and we go inside to see a man wearing sunglasses and an almost-as-impressive-as-Santa's hairstyle (Aaron Diaz). The train gets to its destination, and the man--Santiago--gets out carrying a large case; we later see him exiting a fake trolley car. Yeah, yeah. FF>

Over at House Cano Francisca is having brunch or something brought to her by Begoña when she gets a call on her cellphone. She shoos Begoña away before answering it--she knew the caller would call, and wishes them a happy birthday.
 

Santa Diabla (p. 5)

The caller is Santiago, who thanks her for that. Francisca is all "I hope we can meet without G-Cano finding out"; Santiago would like that, though when Francisca notes she has a gift for him says he doesn't need any gifts. Fran still wants to see him badly--she hasn't held him in so long, she says--and Santiago advises her not to worry; they'll see each other soon, once he gets settled now that he's in "Marrero" (a cursory search appears to turns up one Marrero, which is a suburb of New Orleans--we're going to need to see some license plates, but going off an establishing shot earlier I think this is correct) and finds a place to live.

And on that note we next see Santiago and a beat-up truck outside a pretty medium-sized house, talking to a woman (hi, Frances Ondiviela!) about a room she's advertised for rent. They go inside, and Santiago notes he likes her house--it's better than living in a cold hotel. The woman, whose name is Victoria, wonders what's in the big case Santiago's still toting around; "My baby," he says, and reveals that said baby is actually a saxophone. Yup. Aaron Diaz is playing the hipster black sheep of the Cano family. This should be fuuuuun...ahem. Santiago goes ahead and pays a few months' rent in advance, which is a pleasant surprise for Victoria; they get to talking about how she doesn't have wi-fi for his iPad in the house before some guy wanders in looking suspicious as hell and is all "Hey. 'Sup?" Victoria introduces her new tenant to him--Carlos, her brother--he's not moving around too well because he's on medical leave after having had surgery. Carlos is a cop, and he doesn't shake Santiago's hand when he offers it; he pretty much just glares the whole time like Zod in Man of Steel. Santiago ducks back outside for a minute and goes to his truck, bemoaning his luck--why did he have to run into a cop?

Back inside, in the house's kitchen, Zod is bitching at Victoria. He's glad he broke up her conversation with that "musician," because God only knows what would have happened next; he's her brother, and he has the right to watch out for her. Victoria retorts that she's his older sister, and she's sick of him doing this every time a male tenant shows up. It makes her feel like a prostitute, and she's tired of him meddling in her life. Zod is expectedly not impressed, so Victoria just stomps out. Girl, I've got two empty bedrooms and I'd be happy to introduce you to wifi...

Humberto at about this point is just being dropped off outside the offices of G-Cano, Attorney At Law (seriously, the sign actually SAYS THIS). Before he can go inside, he gets a call on his cellphone...okay, why is whomever calling him? He said he'd call them--what if he had been with Amanda? Why are they pressuring him? No, they shouldn't come to Marrero...that'd screw everything up. But yes, he wants to see them too...very soon. Promise. Besos. Is anybody surprised that Humberto would apparently have a piece on the side? Show of hands?

Humberto then goes inside, and after noticing the receptionist isn't at her desk heads to his office. G-Cano is parked on a couch there with the paper; Humberto notes it was strange not seeing Dad at breakfast, and G-Cano notes he had to get to work early and get cracking on things like cleaning out his office. Humberto wonders where the receptionist is, and G-Cano thinks she wasn't feeling well...he thinks she's pregnant. Humberto, being the kind and thoughtful soul he is, is all "I guess we'll need to replace her for a year if that's the case."
 

Santa Diabla (p. 6)

G-Cano continues reassuring me that he's the one decent soul in the nest of vipers (and that he's destined to die as a result) as he suggests that today's his brother's birthday...maybe it's a good time to call him? Humberto is completely not down for that, since he's got work to do; G-Cano says that "enough time has passed," and Humberto is all "Buenos dias, Papa."

Back at Victoria's she's showing Santiago his room (he likes it) and telling him how they eat lunch together every day in the dining room. Santiago's happy about that--the reason he wanted to stay someplace like this, he says, was because he needs to feel like he's part of a family. Considering his reaction to Carlos, I'm wondering how much of that is a damn lie.

Out at Revenge House Santa is giving her son lunch...or trying to, since he's just sitting there and not eating. Santa asks mi vida to talk to her, to try to say something...which he does not do...before Paula comes in with some bags. She got held up at work, she explains, but was still able to spirit away some more clothes for "Amanda" to wear on her next outing (which apparently will be a dinner date prior to the wedding). Santa's mental processes are proceeding apace, since only now--four days before her wedding--does she wonder what the hell she's going to wear once she moves into House Cano. "One day at a time," Paula urges (seriously?); one way or another Santa will rock herself a nice trousseau. Santa's a little encouraged by that; she wasn't wrong when she asked Paula to help her, she admits. Becoming a devil isn't easy, and she needed the best by her side. Paula is all "I'm with you all the way, girl. Ride or die." Willy was Santa's husband, she declares, and her brother--and after what the Canos did to him? She wants to see them pay...she wants to see them burn, begging on their knees, every last one of them crawling like worms, and we get it! Does all that hate keep them both warm at night?

Barbara and George are out on a golf course. More accurately George is golfing and Barbara is rocking a plaid top and short skirt and bitching--why's she even out there anyway? George jokes that she didn't have better plans--yeah, she was expecting a call from the President any moment now. Barbara at least sees through it--no, she says, she will not ask her father for her inheritance just so he can spend it all. George argues that they need it so they can enjoy it while they're young, but Barbara isn't having it and flounces off to a nearby golf cart. George is okay with that; she's leaving him no choice, he says to himself. And it'll make it worse for her. I think most of us probably had G-Cano on deathwatch by his second or third scene, so...

Victoria's: she, Zod, and Santiago have sat down to lunch. Santiago asks Zod about the surgery he had (apparently a transplant of some sort); Zod continues to death-glare at and alternately ignore him, which leads to him inevitably going "Where are you from? What do you do? You might as well tell me now, because I'm totally down with abusing my cop powers to find out if it comes to it." Victoria tries and fails to save the conversation by saying that she's thinking about getting wi-fi in the house, but....noooo, there goes Santiago with a "Thank you for the food" and Zod is sitting there going "What?" Since it's now established that Santiago is hiding something of his own, I'm really not looking forward to Zod being proved right even if in a small way about his suspicions about him.
 

Santa Diabla (p. 7)

And voosh we go to a cemetery, where Santa and her son are walking along; they get to a gravesite, and she is all "I'm back again, honey..and I brought our son." Some distance away, Santiago is just finishing setting up his saxophone (at a cemetery...okay, I guess zombies like jazz too) and begins playing something...which causes Santa, once she hears it, to flashback to telling her Willy "Can you hear that? That's our song. You wrote it." She heads off a little ways to try to find out where it's coming from, and her son--also named Willy--wanders off on his own across the cemetery, and towards an access road near where Santiago is jamming out. And, yes, where a truck is backing up (it's not sporting what seems to be the official current Louisiana license plate, but it's close enough that I'll allow it). This is where Santa realizes Willy wandered off, and where Santiago notices him walking along and yells at him, and he of course doesn't notice, aaaaaand...yup, Santa's noticing the truck. And there goes Santiago, and he dives to push lil' Willy out of the way. And there goes the love-at-first-sight music as Santa thanks Santiago for saving her son's life; I actually can't decide whose hair looks better in this scene.

After that Santiago offers to take them home--they'll be the first passengers in his new ancient truck. Santa notices the saxophone case and, realizing Santiago's a musician, guesses it was him playing that song; Santi admits he plays it there sometimes. He had a twin sister who died when they were born, he explains, and every so often he comes there to play it as his way of "thanking her for letting me live." Santa wonders where he learned the song from, and he says that he found the song--which is of course called Santa--on the Internet; the composer wasn't well-known, but he was contemporary. And he'll play the song for Santa whenever she wants. Santa manages to barely cover her angst over all that, and Santiago drives her and Willy home; Santi admittedly wonders at this point why Willy hasn't said a word during any of this, and Santa admits that he's "special"; he's been through a lot, and "lives in a world all his own." Santi is appropriately apologetic about prying, though Santa basically waves that off. He's still down for playing her that song she likes, though, any time (and Paula pops out of the house just long enough to see this); Santa notes she needs to go, but not before Santi gives her his (Victoria's) address--and hopes he can see her again. For that matter, she can at least tell him her name. No, she doesn't, and inside she goes.

Monster extended flashback, go: two years ago, in a different house, a happy Santa is fixing a chatty lil' Willy breakfast. Well, a sandwich. And we get to see Big Willy, who desperately needs a shave, pop up and kiss his wife and his son and flirt with the former a bit before heading out to his new job--but not before Santa reminds him to take his saxophone with him. (And here comes my head against the wall again.) Big Willy, whose last name is Delgado, then heads off to...wait, this is House Cano. This can't possibly end well. A maid shows him in and tells him she'll go get Daniela for him; Big Willy notices a lovely piano in the corner of their living room and makes himself comfortable playing something, which draws the attention of a wandering lavender bushtit. Which is Barbara in a tight day-glo sports top. (Real bird name, real bad pun. Line for smacks forms to the right.)
 

Santa Diabla (p. 8)

Barbara gets two or three gratuitous pose shots before Big Willy notices her and stops playing, though she urges him not to stop on his account--it's a beautiful piece. Big Willy explains that it's something he composed as a gift for his wife; Barbara at least acknowledges that he's married, but that deters her for about ten seconds. This is where Barbara, still rocking the blonde raccoon makeup even in a flashback, shows up to meet her new music teacher...who's younger than she was expecting. So what's he going to teach her, guitar?...drums?...piano?!? Really? The universal "barf" sign is invoked, though Barbara lets it slide. She's still checking Big Willy out like he's a steak.

That night in bed Big Willy is relating the whole uncomfortable mess to Santa; Barbara's too forward for his taste, he says, since she didn't care that he was checking her out. She's his student's mother. Santa jokes that he is muy guapo, but wonders if he should say something about it; BW is all "I can't make a big deal out of this--not in this country. It's delicate. But if it keeps up, I'll quit."

The next time we see sunrise, after also seeing Big Willy and Santa getting it on in bed, he heads back to House Cano and his job. And there's Barbara, asking him to play that beautiful song he played last week...the one he wrote for his lucky wife--what's her name? Santa Martinez, Big Willy admits, before Barbara starts macking on him in earnest--his wife's a saint, right? She hopes not, since "us naughty girls are much more fun." Big Willy for his part just wants to go find Daniela and get his tutor on, but Barbara's all about wanting to go grab some "coffee" with him (interestingly, this is observed from afar by George) complete with a half-threat "Don't you dare...call me senora again"; he finally just heads on upstairs on his own and finds Daniela in her room, just as she's about to pop some pills. Which she drops, of course, looking impactada and still way too old to be Barbara's daughter.

So Big Willy goes home and tells all this to Santa, adding that Daniela begged him not to tell her parents about the drug thing (which he apparently did, or rather didn't, do). Santa wonders what he's going to do, and Big Willy admits that even though they need the money...no, he's quitting and getting out of House Cano. They'll be fine.

The next time we see Big Willy, he's back at House Cano. And there's Barbara, who has finally gone full skank--a sheer robe, bra, and panties smack in the living room--wondering where Daniela is ("She said she had to run some errands and left"). And that's Babs' cue to make her move in earnest--now Big Willy can finally "take care of his student's mother." Big Willy goes all Disclosure on her--no, he doesn't want her, don't touch him--and she in turn is all "You're making a mistake" before trying to get all over him like a cheap suit. Which leads to him pushing her away, and down to the floor, and stomping out with her crying in his wake that no man ever says no to her--she's gotten every man she's ever wanted. Big Willy's insists she'll never see him again and stomps out, and here it comes: "Nobody does this to me! You don't know who you're dealing with!"

Note that that entire interlude was observed, and recorded via cellphone, by George. Okay--just once I want to see an unattractive batshit crazy girl in a novela. Just once.
 

Santa Diabla (p. 9)

That night Santa reassures Big Willy that they'll indeed be okay, that this whole thing will be just a memory in a few weeks. How wrong you are, lady: the next day (whatever) Big Willy comes outside to find that all four of the tires on his car had been slashed. So naturally he makes a beeline for House Cano and first runs into Daniela, who wonders why he needs to talk to her mother--he promised not to say anything about what he saw in her room. Big Willy is all "Let me go, girl," and Daniela proves the fruit didn't fall far from the bitch tree as she insists that "teacher" had better not say anything. Big Willy eventually finds Barbara rocking a black bikini out by a pool, and he seals his doom as he demands that Barbara not come to his house and leave his family alone or else he'll tell everyone including her husband that she's been harassing him. Barbara dares him to do it--it's her word against his. He'll see.

When he leaves Barbara makes a beeline for Daniela's room (at least stopping to get a sheer robe on the way); Daniela is all "Whatever he said it was a lie," but Barbara lets that go for the moment. She needs Daniela's help--her tutor quit, she explains, and more importantly he "crossed the line." She needs Daniela's help to teach him a lesson. Daniela isn't down for that--leave her out of it--and Barbara shows her she has no choice when she drags Daniela into the closet and pulls out her packet of pills. Did Daniela really think she didn't know she was taking pills? If Daniela doesn't want problems with "everybody here," she'd better do as Barbara says. Daniela's obviously not crazy about that alternative, so the next thing we see is her and Barbara in Humberto's office. Barbara is telling Humberto about how Big Willy tried to sexually abuse Daniela. Humberto for his part sensibly asks Daniela to explain "tried to abuse," and she reluctantly starts to explain how she was in her room...and there goes Barbara with how Big Willy had been harassing her for weeks with double entendres and such, and had finally forced himself into her room while she was changing...if Barbara hadn't managed to stop him...! (Hmm. Does this automatically qualify Barbara for a lethal Karmageddon?)

Humberto asks Daniela if she's willing to testify in court against Big Willy--she has to be sure, because he's planning to put him in jail. Daniela manages to get out a nod, while Barbara insists that both she and her daughter are sure about this; what Big Willy did can't go unpunished, she declares. She urges her brother to "destroy him"--he needs to regret what he did for the rest of his life.

And on that note we next see Big Willy coming home after apparently taking a walk by himself...to a panicky Santa, who shows him the subpoena dropped off earlier. The Cano clan is suing him for sexual harassment and attempted rape. Big Willy at least goes right to the correct conclusion--they're out to destroy him--and Santa backs that up, since she knows he's innocent, but los Cano are powerful people...Big Willy gives her a hug, again insisting they're going to get through this. He's got the truth on his side. Oh, God.

Outside a courthouse, we later see the press descend on Big Willy and his lawyer as they come out. And then the press drops them like a bad habit as Humberto comes out to give a speech about how he wants all women in the country to feel safe; as a lawyer and a man, he won't let any degenerate like that lay a hand on a young girl again. Gee, this isn't depressing at all.
 

Santa Diabla (p. 10):

Back home, Big Willy tells Santa that he wants her and lil' Willy to go back to Venezuela--the trial's turning into a media circus, and he doesn't want them caught up in the middle of it. Santa's not having it, but he insists and apparently gets his way...so Santa and lil' Willy pack some bags, head out to the car and--"Dad, what does violador mean?" Yup, someone spraypainted that on the wall of the house.

Out at House Cano the family is having dinner. Francisca is telling Barbara about how G-Cano will be back from a business trip on Tuesday when a tipsy George wanders in--they started without him? Okay, but who's going to pour him another drink? Humberto suggests he go and sleep that buzz off, and George is all "What, you're mad I had some drinks before sitting down with you fine people?" Barbara tries to get George to leave, and he takes his cue from the late Fernando Beltran of La Patrona: why should they be mad, he asks, that he had some drinks in order to cope with what this "group of liars" is doing to that poor teacher? He saw it on the news--he knows the guy didn't do anything wrong. He asks a suddenly nervous-looking Barbara if she ever told her brother that she made the whole thing up out of spite because Big Willy rejected her? Barbara at least gets to go "You don't know what you're talking about" before George breaks out the cellphone--he recorded her harassing him, just like he's recorded her with her other lovers. So he knows Big Willy never laid a hand on Daniela...or, he wonders with a matching death glare at her, did he? Rocket Raccoon's silence is all the answer he needs, of course.

So Barbara makes a beeline for the living room with Humberto and everybody else in tow, and Humberto actually gets his righteous indignation on for a minute--this trial's two months on now, it's in full media circus mode, and it's all based on a lie? This could ruin his reputation, his career, and the firm if it gets out! Barbara, he declares, is sick--a nymphomaniac! Francisca cuts him off; even if Barbara made this regrettable tale up, she insists, "the truth is what one decides it is." (Somewhere, Antonia Guerra slow-claps.) Humberto knows G-Cano would die if he knew what he now knew--and that, according to Francisca, is why he needs to continue the trial as usual. He can decide what's true and what's not. And Humberto officially gets on board the Manipulation Express when he says that perhaps they can edit George's recording to make it look like Big Willy is guilty--and from now on, he declares, everybody needs to do what he says. Everything has to go through him, since it's the only way they can stop this from getting out and blowing back on them. And Francisca is smiling like he just got an A on a history test. Please tell me there's some bitchslapping coming up, guys...

Between that and the next scene there are some timeskips all over the place, so the next thing we see is Big Willy in jail being told he has visitors. Yup, it's Santa and lil' Willy back from Venezuela--they came back the minute she heard a decision had been reached, according to Santa. Big Willy is all "Honey, you know I didn't want either of you to see me like this," but Santa isn't worried about that--she knows he was found guilty, but nobody would tell her what he had been sentenced to. She needs to know...and Big Willy, quietly, admits that he had been sentenced to thirty years in prison. For something he didn't do, he mutters, to a completely impactada Santa. What is this, the first episode of La tempestad?
 

Santa Diabla (p. 11):

And back in the present day Santa is watering some plants outside Revenge House when Paula pops out to check on her. She still can't believe it's been two years since Big Willy's sentence, she admits; Paula can't believe it either, throwing in an "And now that he's dead..."; but they're going to avenge his death, Paula adds. The Canos will pay, blah blah blah. And, by the way, who was the guy who brought her home earlier? Nobody, Santa replies, before heading inside to plop down on her bed and look at a slip of paper--Santiago's address. Paula follows her to ask again about him ("He's just someone kind enough to bring me home") before breaking out tasome of the clothes she brought home from work. Santa can wear them on her dinner date at House Cano...oh, she forgot all about dinner tonight, didn't she? Santa? But no--Santa, Santa herself says, is dead; she died the same day Big Willy did. Ahora soy Amanda, and Amanda doesn't cry or suffer--Amanda's only purpose, she says, is to avenge Big Willy's death and destroy los Cano. They're all to blame for that.

On that note we next see Santa being dropped off outside House Cano in her sweet black ride from the beginning of the episode...about fifteen seconds before Santiago drives up in Truckzilla. Upon seeing Santa he's appropriately wondering what she's doing there--I'd be distracted by her awesome hair, but then I don't have his hair--right before Humberto comes out to welcome mi amor. Santiago is kind of impactado at this, and Santa manages to ask if he and Humberto know each other. And so Humberto officially introduces Santa to his younger brother, black sheep of the family (what'd I say?), Santiago Cano...
 

SANTA DIABLA

Thank you, Bill, for this tour de force! That was a great recap and a great way to have all the little details for all of us to see, in case we missed something.



Sara C, hahaha at your comparison between Santa and MariAle... there is none to be made :))

My first impressions:

The PLOT

On the plus side I loved the fact that we got right in the middle of the action - we didn't have to wait for some 20+ episodes of exposition and side plots, I haven't watched La Patrona, but I know many of the viewers were getting anxious about the venganza.

On the down side, though, because we didn't have that built up, I couldn't really get invested in Santa's revenge at the beginning. But the flashbacks of Willy's misfortune helped a lot and the actor totally won me over in the little time we had him on screen. So, I'll call this a tie and move on.


GABY ESPINO

I found her a little forced (please don't kill me), like maybe she was trying a bit too hard? I don't know, it might have been just an impression.
On the other hand, can this woman make an entrance or what?! When she showed up at the party with that red dress, I was like WOWZA! So that's what JC Canela has by his side every day...

AARON DIAZ

It's the first time I see him as a hero; I don't really see much chemistry between Santiago and Santa so far (and now I realize they should have probably given him another name), but that can come in time - Telemundo invested a lot of money into this tn, I'm sure they chose the hero with great care.
On the plus side, he's hot(not Carlos Ponce HAWT,but still), so I'm looking forward to him maybe losing his shirt one or ten times down the line.

CARLOS PONCE & XIMENA DUQUE

They split up right before they started shooting this and rumor has it they are getting back together. It will be interesting to watch them in their scenes together, knowing there is a story off screen, too.

RANDOM

Do you think Santa has a good cover up story? I wonder how come the Cano family didn't investigate her if they are so powerful. From her pact with her sister-in-law, Paula, it looks like she still has a lot of things to figure out, she doesn't have access to this huge fortune like most of revengeful heroines do - but I really love this part, it makes the whole plot a little bit more realistic.
How do you think she'll convince Santiago to keep her secret?

 

Santa Diabla:

I probably should have noted this, mea culpa: Santiago was introduced to "Amanda Brown," not Santa Martinez, by Humberto at the end of the episode. That said, he still knows where she lives and can torpedo the "wealthy" part of her plan...but, as the black sheep of the family, would he care enough to?

By extension, though: how much money would Santa have had to go through to set this up? Obviously Telemundo doesn't want us thinking too hard about that (especially in the face of the whimsical-at-first-glance gag of Paula jacking clothes from her workplace for Santa to wear), but still...
 

Santa Diabla

Ok, Bill, I'm done reading your recap line by line - the first time I only skimmed through it.

I wonder about Santa's finances, too. I believe she's using her savings to pay what she absolutely has to, like the car and the two actors who played her parents, and for the dresses she's had Paula so far.
Or, who knows, maybe this won't even be addressed. What really makes me go "hmm", though, is how she managed to convince Humberto to marry her - she doesn't seem to have a house where she pretended to live and I don't believe they've slept together, yet, Would a man like Humberto marry a woman before, you know, tasting the merchandise?

And he's a powerful lawyer, isn't she afraid that if she gets discovered she'll be thrown into jail and her son will be left alone?
Is her end game killing them all? She said she doesn't need their filthy money.

 

SANTA:

I'm so glad you're recapping again Bill c. I started frequenting this blog because of your recaps-and proudly admit to modelling my La PATRONA recaps after yours. I can see why you don't recap often because you tell everything that happens in the EP. I watch everything up to Pg 4, and you got everything.

I love this TN already and it's a worthy successor to LP. As Adriana said, our protagonist here isn't rich, which makes the venganza realistic. I also like the fact that Santa is rigteously upset. Her husband was convicted of being a pedophile wrongfully and killed in prison for it. Pedophiles are considered lower than pond scum in jails- a pedophile priest was killed within weeks of his conviction and entering jail- so I can imagine Big Will being killed by an overzealous jail house avenger for abeing a pedophile. It must be devastating to Santa to lose her hubby that way, and I totally get her anger.
 

Santa Diabla
I sure needed your great, thorough recap Bill C. The beginning is hard trying to get all the characters sorted out.
Beanie moment 1, Where is the proof against Willy Sr.? 30 years! I really despise perverts, but this is way off.Humberto is a lawyer, I never heard prosecutor.

Bill C, we really do have those trolleys in Fort Lauderdale.

I was trying very hard to identify sites, I think the party was at Riverwalk.
http://www.goriverwalk.com/
 

Santa
I don't believe Santa told Santiago her name when he dropped her off.
 

SANTA DIABLA

Thanks so much, Bill, Terrific recap loaded with snark.

Variopinta, Humberto grabbed George's cell phone, thanking him for having recorded Bárbara's moves on Willy. He said something about being able to alter the recording to use as his "evidence" in a trial. So he probably got someone to technically change Willy's image and words so that he looks like the one who's at fault.
 

SANTA DIABLA:

Excellent recap, Bill, thank you for the details and names of the actors.

Interestingly, we have a poor person paying people to be her parents, and making up a false rich persona to get with or marry a rich person. This is the EXACT same thing we had in Marido en Alquiler! But it THAT show, the poor person doing it (Antonio) is terrible, and in this show, she's great. The difference? Motive.
 

Santa
All I can say pobre Willy must have had the world's worst lawyer. But of course we needed sth to set up the story no matter how head scratching.
 

SANTA DIABLA

Yup, I'm in for this one! Love Gaby's acting (always have), and like someone else mentioned before, I love that they jumped right in to the plot without drawing out the background building for 3 weeks. The flashbacks were powerful, and even though we didn't have much time with Willy Sr, they did a good job of getting me to sympathize with his character and invest in this revenge scheme. Thus saving us weeks of "just GET to the point already!!"

My one complaint... the saxophone thing is cheesy (nothing against it as an instrument or people who play it, just how it's being used in this tn). It kind of made me giggle seeing Santiago playing the sax in the cemetery. Just a bit over-the-top for me.


 

SANTA
Am I the only one who felt like Santiago's dead twin story was a little Elvis-y? I got a chuckle out of it.
 

SANTA

Bill - thank you for the wonderful opener with such extraordinary detail. By this afternoon I had forgotten half the characters' names, so your recap is muy helpful.

Silly details aside (like where is Santa's money coming from, did the Canos investigate "Amanda", how will Amanda maintain her supply of designer frocks) - I like this TN and will be watching to see how the venganza plays out.

Beth
 

DYO miercoles, highlights

* Gina asks Ignacia to help convince Pedro to leave the country by giving him less to stay for. Ignacia agonizes and agonizes and aaaagoooooniiiiiiiizes over this through the whole episode, at one point even getting into Pedro’s locker (which has been conveniently left open) and breathing in his scent from his shirt, deeply and amorously, which our favorite hyperactive squirrel Neto observes (DRINK) without her knowing.

* One cat’s out of the bag (the others are still hissing and scratching to get out). Gina overhears (DRINK) a conversation between Lupita and Abue, who has come to convince Lupita to move to the departamento (by telling her it was Ruben’s idea). The conversation reveals that the money Lupita has been throwing around came from Estela, and Gina wastes no time in outing her to the rest of the family. This leads to a big pelea, and Lupita huffs off to the apartment where she has decided to live after all.

* Ruben’s not sure he’s up for cohabitating with Lupita, but by the end he’s starting to warm up a bit.

* Tomas spends the episode making out with KAraña (oh how she likes to spin those webs…), and being perpetually angry at Ignacia for one reason or another…. And thusly being placated and comforted by Estela. Bleck.

* Isabel won’t go with mom to pick up Angel from prison. She hopes aloud that he really has changed. We get to see Angel being greeted by mom at the prison gates, looking all gangsta and banging on and on about how the Virgencita saved him (a little too much banging, perhaps… there is such a thing as “protesting too much”)

* JM gets in Tomas’s face after T accuses him of having something with Ignacia. He calls T pathetic and stupid and an idiot. It was a beautiful thing to behold.

*Ignacia makes her decision at the end, shows up at the vecindad, and, looking miserable and unable to make eye contact with Pedro, fires him in front of the entire family, citing a reduction of force. Mireya is FREEEEEEAKED out (Merrinche ahead!!) but the rest of the family is just plain relieved. Iggy leaves abruptly, devastated. Gina tries to thank her, but she’s not in the mood.

* Mary dumps Neto (off-screen of course) and he's depressed, nearly in tears. It's like those ASPCA commercials with the abandoned shelter animals and the "Eyes of the Angel" song... I just can't watch the pain.

* No NewGirl1 sighting ☹

Abuela Alfonsina’s drink of choice today: tequilitas (taking a break from margaritas)

That’s all I can do from memory… feel free to fill in the blanks!!

BTW, just a heads-up: it looks like I may be out of town and offline Monday thru Wednesday or Thursday next week, so anyone who wants to is welcome to throw in a recap or two. Seeing as how I'll have at least three episodes of each of the FOUR BLANGED NOVELAS I'm watching to catch up on, looks like it may take a while for me to catch up :D

 

MARIDO Wednesday
part 1

Both K and Max are being asked questions about the scandal involving Barbie. Neither wants to talk to the press, but Barbie is more than willing – when she gets out of the hotel she sees there are journalists waiting for her and draws their attention, poses for the cameras. Marcela even dares to go to Gris’ house to ask a picture of Little K, but Celeste promptly throws her out.

While he’s being attacked on the beach, Ro loses TC’s dogs. Everybody helps him search, but the dogs were taken by Leo and two of his friends.

Ro goes home and explains to TC what happened, she has a crisis, and then another and another. Ro doesn’t tell her he followed Gris’ advice when he went to confront the bullies, and that is all for the better, because she’s already too rattled.
She doesn’t want to share the information with Rei or Pati, either, she wants to handle it alone (the funniest scene of the night comes when she goes to search for money in a little metallic box in her dressing and tries to hide it from Ro, but then doesn’t remember the correct code and asks Ro, who promptly gives it to her – they have a dysfunctional, abusive relationship, but sometimes it’s fun to watch).

The dog-nappers call to ask for 50.000 $ for the dogs, and the lifeguard from the other day, Victor, overhears the conversation.
Later, when Leo is left alone with the dogs, Victor confronts him about what he’s doing - does he plan to end up in jail again?

At school Tony tries to talk to Pati, but her friends let him know that she already left (she’s in her car, crying, after meeting Tony once that day and telling Vanesa she won’t forgive him).

After buying another lottery ticket Gris explains Celeste that she won’t forgive Tony and she’ll throw him out of the house.
So when Tony gets home he finds all his things packed and ready to go to Paloma’s posada. Gris explains that she can’t forgive him because he doesn’t feel sorry for what he did, he gets all indignant, accuses her hat she wants to revenge and swears he’ll pay her back all the money she invested in him (HA! That will be the day!).
When he leaves Gris is left heartbroken and crying, but he seems to be doing rather well, he never liked the neighborhood anyway, that is not the place for him – God, how I’d smack him!

Alone in the house, Gris cries, looks at some old photo of Tony. When she pulls out a handkerchief to wipe her nose, her lottery ticket falls to the floor, in Tony’s room – THIS IS THE WINNER! I hope she finds it soon!
Tony is waiting for the bus, looking all depressed, but he gets no sympathy from me. Why didn’t he just call Daniel, since they’ll be living in the same place? Idiot!

Amalia finds him at the bus station, she doesn’t agree with what Gris is doing – why does Tony get so much sympathy for being a jerk and everyone blames Gris for being too hard on him???

Arriving home both Amalia and K try to convince Gris to forgive Tony, think she’s suffering too much with what she’s doing, but she’s not ready to let it go, yet – she wants to teach him a lesson, teach him how to be a good man – NEVER GONNA HAPPEN, mark my words.

 

MARIDO Wednesday
Part 2

Esther visits Alba to comfort her after her brother’s death. This has to be somehow connected to Esther’s baby problems – could it be that the girlfriend is pregnant and doesn’t want to keep the baby? Or Esther will use her eggs?
While Esther is away, JP receives a visit from Marcela, who hits on him with the pretense of wanting to write an article about Fina Estampa. JP shows her around but makes it clear that he only gives interviews WITH Esther, so Marcela has to wait for his wife’s call.

Clara argues with K about his attitude some more. But he thinks she’s just jealous, tries to shut her up with a kiss or two. She’s trying to stay strong, but I think she’s totally falling for him, which is all the worse since she knows he still has feelings for Barbie.

And talking about Barbie, Hombre and all the other guys watching get a little prize when we see her in a bathing suit, diving into the pool and then out of it, all sexy and whatnot.
We keep waiting for a K vs Max fight, but what if the confrontation will be a wet face off between Barbie and Clara? They sure like to bathe…

At the restaurant, Rei and Vanesa talk about a married client possibly coming to dine with a lover. Rei asks Vanessa to pay attention to the way they behave, which prompts her to ask him if he ever had dinner/ would have dinner with someone other than his wife. Rei remembers Gris, Vanesa has her own agenda etc…
After Rei leaves, Simon steps in, wants to know what Vanesa is cooking this time, they talk about the vow renewal – Vanesa thinks Rei is not that happy about it – so does that mean he should hook up with her, his daughter’s best friend? Geez!

After Gris says goodbye to Celeste, she sees a car approaching. It’s Rei, she realizes, while fixing her hair.



 

DyO
Thank you AnotherAmy! I start back to work today so I am going to be even more recap dependent.

The Neto/ASPCA line was pure artistry!
 

DyO
Now that I'm actually watching the episode: QTH with Angel's haircut?
 

SANTA DIABLA

Wow, this tn is getting really good! I wasn't all that impressed after the first epy, but now I can't wait for the next one!
 

LA PATRONA:

Adriana, I'm totally on board with this one. I love Carlos Ponce's voice, as evil as he is in this. Gaby espino also looks so much like Eva Longoria last night, it was distracting. I'm also fascinated by the Arturo/mara storyline. I also love the fast pace of this on, as well. Amanda finds out about Humberto's other woman quickly. The woman who has his child, though, has a fake big bottom. Darn those reggaeton videos bringing this explosion of fake big bottoms in TNs. Barbara's on Marido looks somewhat natural. All I'm saying is, if you don't have a naturally big butt, God didn't want you to have it. So please stop assaulting my eyes with the fake ones.
 

SANTA DIABLA:

So sorry about title-ing my last post as La Patrona- told you all my LP withdrawals were fierce. Get it in your head, j, SANTA DIABLA.

MARIDO

Now we see that it wasn't only Gris co-signing Tony's little lord fauntelroy ways-Quique and Amalia are involved, too. I rejoiced when Gris kicked the twerp out.
 

MARIDO:

Thanks Adriana. I was quite happy that Gris finally sent Tony packing. I was annoyed with everyone for guilting her about doing it. I might understand them if Tony had actually apologized. But he hasn't even fake apologized. How dare he and they think Gris should take that kind of insult. I can't even imagine how they would all react if Gris actually made Tony pay for his room and board at Paloma's boarding house, as we all want. Good grief! Enough coddling this guy.

It seems that the lottery win is coming very soon. I hope it doesn't take Gris too long before she realizes where the winning ticket could be.

 

SANTA DIABLA:

I am not watching, but I have been recording it, in case the reviews from you all were good. It seems this one is a keeper. Not sure when I'll get to watch or if I'll be able to keep up, but I'll be reading the recaps.
 

DyO,

thanks so much AnotherAmy,

haha K-Araña!
she storms into Tomás' office so determined and before she knows it she is on her back, again, and wanting more.

I'm wondering if Gina's plan to set up Pedro at her place in London has a second part, where she goes to live with him and tells him the rest of the story, no one else seems to be invited, wow, I didn't see Ignacia firing him coming, but then it's not like he is ever at work.

so Olegario took Margarita to the movies, I'm not sure how sister Gina fits in here but there seems to be some kind of rival thingy, and I'm not sure why Gina seems to have NO interest in Mariano, tonight she takes Margarita to the doctors.

I don't have a problem with Lupita taking Estela's money, it certainly seems that the way everyone treats her she is on her own, and she seems to have the best of intentions in giving her child a better life, and I didn't see anyone offering to give back the sewing machine.

and I'm enjoying Ru-ben, and the predicaments he gets himself in, when he came across Lupita, now living in his apartment at his request, what the.... and his facial exchange with Abuela Alfonsina, they looked so much alike, I see where he gets his spunk.

 

SANTA:

Vivi, this one is definitely a keeper. It's a lot like LP, but faster paced. The secrets are spilling out quickly. Humberto has a secret 18 year old son, Ivan, with a manipulative looking woman, and Amanda spots Humberto and said woman in a deep kiss. There's an interesting race story line going between one of the Cano family friends, Arturo, and his mother and his girlfriend. Arturo's girlfriend, Mara, is black, and although they've been in a committed relationship for THREE YEARS, he hasn't told his mother about Mara, since Mama wouldn't approve, although she's dying for Turo to give her grandbabies.

It's pretty good thus far, and will get me off my LP addiction. I'm totally gonna try to recap.
 

SAnta Diabla

Yeah, Vivi, be sure to give it a chance, it's really good so far. Carlos Ponce and that voice of his ...Mamma mia! And Aaron Diaz is not that bad either... :)

Did you guys notice that SAmanda was talking with someone other than Paula on the phone in the office? She called, complained that she hadn't been told about the third son and only after that she let Paula know about the new complication.

I'm sure the mysterious caller is someone who hates the Canos and is probably helping her in some capacity.

I don't know when I'm gonna watch all the tns, either, Vivi. I have La Tempestad, Santa Diabla, that abomination of Corazon Indomable that I only watch because I have to recap and Marido, which I recap almost every day...
And wait till CdlF's new tn starts in October, I'll be going insane (if I don't manage to stay away from it until Uni gets it).

What I do is watch on line more episodes at a time, mostly during the weekend. That works very well with Uni tns, because the episodes are available in advance. And it's so much fun!!
 

Santa Diabla,

did big Willy die?
I know Santa visited his grave, and Paula vowed to revenge his death, but I missed the details in the story of his actual death, and this looks like a story with lots of twists.

 

SANTA DIABLA:

Deb, we know big Willy died, but they haven't shown us how it happened yet. I'm sure we'll see it soon, in a flashback.

I agree with the enhanced butts not looking good. On the other hand, the rest of Liz Vega, who plays the other women, Lizette, looks very good to me. So, now BOTH Humberto and Samanda have children hidden from their fiances. BTW, we haven't seen the guy who plays Ivan, Lizette's son, yet, but I believe in real life he's 30 years old. Wonder how they'll make him look 19.

That George is certainly despicable.
 

Marido

thanks so much Adriana Noel for your nice recap!

I guess the part I liked the best is when Amalia sat alone in Olga's "magical" place, looking through her things in wonder, and Griselda came to check on her, and decided not to disturb the moment, but while leaving picked a pretty flower, and in turn acknowledged Olga's presence, wow...

 

MARIDO:

Great recap, Adriana. Yes, I did enjoy the sequence of Barbie bathing. Very essential to the plot :)

Gris sure has a full plate of troubles. Antonio insulting her, lying and not apologizing, K with his Barbie obsession, Amalia getting in trouble (maybe) with Rafa, although Gris doesn't know this, Gabe's obsession, no time to sleep as she works day and night, and well meaning but unhelpful friends and family. Wow. And now, just when she probably won the lottery, wouldn't just take the cake if she can't find the ticket, and someone else (like Tony) claims it? The only thing she has going right is Mr. Right, Reinaldo, who unfortunately is married. Yes, one day things may work out. But in the meantime, we all have to suffer!
 

SANTA DIABLA

Variopinta, if you know something about Big Willy's demise that hasn't been shown on screen yet, it would be better to keep it to yourself. Caray, Caray is a NO SPOILER zone.
 

SANTA DIABLA -- GENERAL
NO SPOILERS, PLEASE! JUST LET THE STORY UNFOLD BY ITSELF!!!

ANON 2:18
Thanks for the reminder about not posting spoilers. I deleted the comment.

Remember: We only talk about what we've seen on the small screen, not what someone has leaked in a tweet or an interview. Thanks guys.
 

MARIDO

Great recap, Adriana. Thanks very much. I've had a ton of things to do this week, and I'm barely able to keep up, so I'm especially grateful for your recaps.

So what is it about the name Barbara? Both Marido and Santa have perras named Barbara.
 

SANTA

Bill C, thanks for your amazing recap of Tuesday's Santa Diabla. I always find TN beginnings a challenge, and your wonderfully detailed and delightful account helped immensely as I tried to sort things out. And you also caught a number of things that I missed. (I was relieved to learn that a posting (not yours) about Willy in jail was a spoiler--I assumed that it was yet another thing that went right by me.)
 

MARIDO

Thanks again, AdrianaNoel, for the fine recap. You must have good insights, since I have the same ones! (Kidding..)

What in heck is Antonio complaining about? He is getting a free room in a pension where he should find it EASIER to study for his medical degree. I find it telling that he wants to be a plastic surgeon instead of a heart surgeon. Do we think he plans to: (a) take his skills to India to repair those cleft palates we see in ads? (b) journey to Congo to fix faces mutilated in their civil war? or (c) Nose jobs, facelifts, and maybe some of those tush augmentations we're seeing a lot of? Hmmmm?

That scene with Ro was awful, and then compounded by TC continuing to berate him. Leo is a complete shit. I suppose the kindly lifeguard will get the dogs back some way. But Leo, especially, if he hooks up with totally crooked Rafa, is on his way to the slammer. And I'll applaud to see him there.

I misunderstood about Dr. Alba's deceased relative. I was thinking along the same lines - that this might represent a baby possibility for Ester, but then I thought they said a sister had died, rather than a brother. I couldn't see how the female relative dying could help Ester. But, if it was a brother, then yes.
 

MARIDO

Haha on the good insights part.
Yes, Alba had a brother, who had the girlfriend that we saw. There are new characters showing up every day, I wish they concentrated more time on the ones we already have, like Simon or Daniel (what's up with him? he has to have s secret somewhere, right?)
 

Santa
Sorry guys, I thought I heard that here about Willy Sr., guess it stuck in my mind from Wiki
 

La Seleccion

hi guys and gals,
i know this isn't the place, but if anybody else wants to watch la seleccion, i was wondering if there's any other english speaking message board covering it.

one of the actors is from La Pola!

i'm hoping to finally get my husband roped into a TN.

mai tai
 

You can talk about LA SELECCION here in this thread. it was converted into "Telemundo y mas" thread to take in shows on UniMas and MundoFox. I've been DVRing it, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet. It's a big hit in Colombia, though.
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles

When last we saw Santa, she was getting impactada at Humberto revealing that Santiago is his younger brother at the end of the first episode. This episode thus picks up with her going "Hermanos?" and Humberto admitting it's true, but hey...she'll never meet two brothers so different from each other. Santa is still trying to make this compute--last she knew it was just Humberto and Barbara--and Santi notes that they usually don't talk about him much. It's like he doesn't exist. Humberto is all "Yeah, let's talk about why that is...you want me to tell her?", and Santi backs off. He's tired of hearing it, he says, before turning his attention back to Santa; he's surprised to see her there. Humberto wonders if they know each other, and Santa immediately goes "Nope, never met, sorry." Santi is apparently confused as hell, but he in turn is all "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting..."; Amanda Brown, Santa says, trying to put her game face back on. Humberto naturally has to add that she's his future wife, and that they're getting married on Friday.

Santi should just walk away at this point, maybe more so once Humberto asks if Mom told him he was getting married ("Well, she said you had a girlfriend..."), but as a protagonist he's screwed. So he gets to stand there and watch Humberto prattle on about how it's time to settle down and start a family...things Santi obviously doesn't care about, since he chose to go off and live like a bum. Naturally this is punctuated by Santi and Santa not being able to tear their eyes away from each other (and Humberto not noticing), though the whole thing is kind of cut short when Francisca comes out to welcome "Amanda"--and then, noticing Santi, just zooms in to give mi nina! a big hug. (Humberto: "Now you know who her favorite child is.") Francisca also doesn't notice that Santi can't take his eyes off Santa, since she's still too happy to see her son on his birthday; she invites him to come in, since dinner's about to be served and Santi's father will be so happy to see him. Humberto says that's not true, which earns him an "enough" from Mom; what will Amanda think of los Cano? Amanda's already a member of the family, Humberto retorts, and it's good for her to see how they really are. Hmm. What's up with the loathing, Humberto?

Meanwhile, Spurious George is pulling up in a 'Vette in some faintly seedy-looking part of town. He walks up to a door being guarded by some guy in a suit, who frisks him before letting him pass into what turns out to be an underground casino/club. George heads straight for the bar and says hello to the bartender, whom he calls Max; since Max knows all, according to him, and due to all the deals they've done before...does he know a way to get rid of somebody without leaving a trace? George has a father-in-law he needs to get rid of, he explains, and no foul play can show up in the autopsy; dude's an old man, though, so it shouldn't be that hard to do. It probably figures that he'd be the one with criminal ties, so I won't shed any tears when he gets killed down the line.

Over at Victoria's house Carlos knocks on the door to Santi's room. Nobody's home, of course, so he lets himself in and after a quick look around grabs Santi's backpack and starts riffling through it...though he doesn't get very far before Victoria pops up to tell Santi that dinner is ready and look suitably impactada that Zod is going through Santi's stuff.
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles (p. 2)

Victoria thus asks what would have happened if Santi had walked in on him--nothing, Zod insists. It's his house, and he can do what he wants. No, Victoria retorts; Santi pays for his room, and he's entitled to his privacy. Zod in turn says he has every right to know what kind of person is living under his roof...so, yeah, he still doesn't trust Santi. There's something fishy about him. And Zod stomps out on that note, with Victoria in tow.

Back at House Cano Humberto brings Santa in to meet G-Cano, Barbara, and their family friend Hortensia (a blonde Zully Montero, whom you saw for about three seconds in the first episode in a quasi-swerve about Francisca) and her son Arturo, whom she met at the engagement party. Santa's still out of sorts over the whole hermano thing, though when Humberto wonders what's wrong claims that she just needs to use the bathroom...no, she doesn't need to be shown the way to the one in G-Cano's office, she'll just be a minute. *zoom* Francisca pops up at that moment to go "Look who's here, G-Cano!" with Santi in tow, though...

A somewhat panicky Santa does make it to G-Cano's office/study, and after a flashback to seeing Santi outside gets on her cellphone and calls somebody...where are they? Can they talk? Why the heck didn't they tell her there was a third Cano sib? What does she do now? She's got to figure this out...she hangs up and then calls Paula to bring her up to speed, if in an "Oh, hell, I think I just blew the whole thing!" way. Humberto has another brother, who just happens to be the guy who brought her and Willy home that day--so he knows where she lives, that she's got a son and that she's broke. That she's pretending to be--oh, hi, Humberto! *beep* Humberto wonders if she was on the phone with her parents, and Santa grabs that lifeline...yeah, they're getting together tomorrow and Mom didn't remember when. She didn't want to bother Humberto's guests. No bother, according to Humberto; she's part of the family now. Santa gets a call on her phone at that point, but doesn't answer; it's Mom, she says, but she won't take that one. She'll just go ahead and use the restroom...why, no, Humberto, nothing's wrong. I'll just be a minute.

Santa finally actually gets into a bathroom, and that top's just sheer enough that I'm actually distracted from THE HAIR by the black bra underneath...but I have to note that she, looking at herself in a mirror, briefly flashbacks to her and Big Willy making out. Big Willy declares he could kiss her all day--for the rest of his life--and Santa asks what's stopping him. Her lips are his, and nobody else's. Gaby's not quite blowing me away acting-wise, but she's got a great angst face.

Back at the casino Max slips George a slip of paper. George hmms...this is exactly what he needs...and thoughtbubbles that thanks to Max and "this concoction" his suegro's going to die soon.
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles (p. 3)

Victoria's: she and Zod are heading downstairs with her kvetching about how, when she convinced him to let her rent out some rooms for extra money, he agreed that she would handle the tenants. He's got enough to deal with just being a cop. Zod, while still a cosmic jerk, is at least an understandable one; he asks if Victoria asked Santi for ID, or any type of reference...no? See? She doesn't know anything about him, and the fact that he paid months in advance in cash doesn't help. Victoria, he says, is "as naive as a nun." She believes whatever people tell her, and as a result they now have a stranger under their roof. That's not how you do things. And he stomps off again, his edict delivered. Still not looking forward to him being proved right, show...especially since his words apparently sink in a little with Victoria, since she goes back up to Santi's room and almost starts going through his backpack before stopping herself. She can't do it, she says, and leaves the backpack on the bed on her way out.

And back to House Cano, where everybody save Santa is sitting down to dinner. Hortensia's talking about how she envies somebody named Violeta Garcia, who just had a grandchild. Francisca can imagine--having a grandchild is a blessing, and she's sure that one day Arturo will give her one too. Arturo visibly isn't exactly happy about that, but waves it off with a claro as Francisca moves on to reminiscing about how she was so happy when they found out Barbara was pregnant. Barbara laughs that off--Fran cried for three days, according to her, when she found out she was pregnant and unmarried. Fran starts going on about going to see the new grandchild--oh, they say she looks like an angel!--and Arturo tries to derail that topic entirely when he asks G-Cano if it's true that he's leaving his firm. But Hortensia won't be denied; she can't wait for Arturo to give her a grandchild ("Mom, I was talking to G-Cano")...come on, it's normal for someone her age to want to be a grandma. And he's at that age to find a woman, have a family, and make it happen. That's what she wants most in life, and it's not that much...right? Fran thinks that's reasonable, adding that children should give their parents grandchildren; she can't wait for Humberto to get married and give her another one, though she's kind of losing hope that Santi will ever do so...

Speaking of whom, he's waiting in G-Cano's study when Santa comes out of the bathroom. Now that they're alone, doesn't she owe him an explanation? ("Uh, what? I don't even know what you mean...") He asks why she lied about not knowing him earlier; has his family badmouthed him that much to her? Santa spins it that she could see that relations between him and Humberto were uneasy, so she didn't want to add to that. Santi huhs...okay, did she know who he was when she met him at the cemetery? No? Then he decides to be honest: he thought that there could be something between them from the moment they met, that they had chemistry together--and he knows she felt it too. But he had no idea she was engaged...let alone to his brother.

Santa, while trying desperately not to look like she's two seconds from jumping Santi like a pogo stick, is all "Well, yeah, that's just how it is." Santi for his part doesn't believe her--if that's the case, why do her eyes say the opposite? Why do they tell him she and Humberto don't get along...oh, hi again, Humberto! Dude must have borrowed NORAD's Santa-tracking radar, since he wanders in just in time to go "What's going on here?"
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles (p. 4)

What could be going on, Santa declares, and walks out; Humberto hangs back just long enough to glare at Santi, who's all "What'd I do?", but then catches up to Santa. She should join him at dinner--everybody's talking about kids and such, and she should be part of the chat. He knows they'll soon be able to give his parents some "good news"--won't it be great to be a mother for the first time?

Santa, who still can't take her eyes off Santi when he comes out of G-Cano's study (and vice versa, though initially Humberto misses it), gives up and bails. She's not feeling well, she claims, so she's going home--Humberto can apologize to everybody for her, right? Bye! *zoom* Humberto, being puzzledly impactado at that, goes to the only available conclusion--it's Santi's fault. ("My fault? What?") Obviously he told "Amanda" something that made her bail..."What did you tell my fiancee, you bastard?" And there goes the fist in Santi's face.

The survivors of dinner are listening to Hortensia talking about how a man and woman aren't fully complete until they have a child...okaaaay...when they hear Humberto telling that "moron" Santi to GTFO. That at least gets everybody away from the table and into the foyer, where Humberto declares that Santi said something to Santa to make her leave. Santi insists he didn't say anything--she probably just figured out how much of a jerk Humberto is. G-Cano stops Humberto from going after Santi for that crack, though he yells at Santi for it--whenever he's around, he says, trouble always happens. Santi sadly remarks that he just wanted to see Dad, but G-Cano's not having it--now fuera! Santi goes ahead and leaves after giving Fran a big hug, and Humberto is all "I don't want to see him again in this house!" and heads upstairs, throwing out a brief and half-assed apology to the guests for having to see that.

Santa for her part goes straight home; Paula sees him come in and wonders why she's back so soon...was she able to save the plan? Is it ruined? A teary Santa just needs a hug, so she gets one; Paula quietly insists that they'll figure it out.

George, meanwhile, gets back to House Cano sometime after everybody has left; Begoña has apparently brought him up to speed on the evening's events, since he's in the kitchen snarking a little bit on how in the end nobody got to eat and there was a fight. The Cano siblings are like cats and dogs, he comments. Begoña notes she hasn't been around that long, so she hadn't gotten to see them face off before now...she shrugs it off, albeit remarking that she had been cooking all day--for that matter, she can reheat something for George. George nahs, he'll just fix a sandwich...but, seeing Begoña putting various things away, notices this large glass salt shaker. Hey, isn't that G-Cano's special sea salt? Nobody else uses that, right? Begoña confirms it--it's for G-Cano's hypertension, she explains. Dr. Evil is all "Perfecto...uh, not to use it," and after Begoña heads out for the night retrieves it from the cupboard she put it in long enough to add some SPECIAL TELENOVELA POWDER to it. Oh no! We did not see this coming!
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles (p. 5)

Telenovelas...Because Stalking Means You Care: Santi pulls up outside Revenge House in Truckzilla and gets to the door, but can't quite bring himself to knock. He can't leave either, though. Inside, Santa's on the phone with Humberto--he's wondering if he should come get her and take her to a doctor, though Santa nahs at that. She's already in bed, she lies (she's on the couch with Paula nearby), and she's feeling better now. HUmberto admits he was worried about how she left House Cano; if Santi did say something that made her leave, he says, he's sorry. Santa reassures him that Santi didn't do anything, and hangs up with an hasta manana before quietly freaking out to Paula. Humberto wanted to see her--what if he went to her "alleged" house? What's she going to do? Santi, who has progressed to peeking in her living-room window, sees her head off to her bedroom where she checks in on a sleeping lil' Willy and flashback to meeting Santi in the cemetery. And, yup, there's Santi at her bedroom window now. Since he is not accompanied by flowers or a mariachi band, this is just frigging creepy. At least he goes back to his truck after a minute.

On that note we go to some sort of nondescript building where two women, a pretty black girl with a mostly-fro and somebody who looks like a brunette Ana Layevska are coming out. The black girl's all "This is perfect for the cafe I want to open," and remarks that she'll bring a check by in the morning. They'll sign a contract after her investor, who happens to be getting married on Friday, can see the place. They shake hands and she goes off to her car, gets in--and gets a hand over her mouth from a guy in the back seat, who turns out to be Arturo. ¡Sorpresa! (Really, man? Really?) The girl is appropriately all "What the hell?", though Arturo tries to soften the shock with some flowers he brought for her; the girl, whose name is Mara (Jeimy Osorio), then wonders why he didn't give her the flowers when she was with that realtor earlier. Arturo for his part blows right past that and just goes straight to macking on her--he missed her, he's waited all day to see her and be alone with her, and he doesn't know what he'd do without her. It's been three years, he says--the most important three years of his life. Even though, Mara retorts, it's a secret--a secret affair? Arturo seems like a decent guy, but he's damn sure not endearing himself to me when he just tells Mara to drive home...he knows how to get rid of that anger inside her. Which leads to them getting their freak on in a shower. I guess you can get away with that stuff if you're hot.

Victoria's: Santi gets back to his room and sees his backpack still on the bed (insert flashback here to him placing it on the wall hook it was on before Zod moved it earlier). He frantically dumps its contents out on the bed and riffles through until he finds a newspaper clipping declaring Musico profugo tras ser acusado de crimen, and this is accompanied by both a photo and a flashback of Santi sporting some full-on dude-looks-like-a-lady long hair. (Suck it, La tempestad!) The flashback isn't as funny as the picture, but more important since it shows Santi waking up somewhere covered in blood.
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles (p. 6)

A new day rises over Marrero, and Mara's throwing on a bathrobe. Arturo's already mostly dressed and sucking down some coffee in the kitchen of what's apparently Mara's place; Mara wanders out that way and he's all "You've got to get going--Mom could wake up at any moment." Mara pffts--it's not like it's the 50s--and Arturo objects; things have changed, he says, but not his mother. She'll die if she finds out that he...that they... "That you're in love with a black woman," Mara finishes, and I'm kind of wondering how well-advised this story is nowadays (then again, considering the "mama's boy" trope, I'll allow it for the moment). Mara asks Arturo how he can expect Hortensia to accept them if they keep hiding it like they're doing something wrong...for that matter, does he think they are doing something wrong? Arturo continues endearing himself to me when he says that it's difficult for him; yeah, well, it's difficult for Mara too. She can't take much more of it; if they don't take the first step they'll be stuck that way forever, so if he can't do anything she'll have to...

And Arturo actually walks out on her in mid-monologue. Que que what, show?

Victoria's: Victoria is making breakfast herself when Santi pops up--though he can't stay for breakfast, he's got something to do. But he asks if anybody had gone into his room last night, since some of his things were moved around. Victoria goes ahead and covers for Zod--it was her, she says; she had gone up there to tell him about dinner, but when she noticed he was gone and that his room was a bit of a mess she decided to tidy it up. She didn't actually go through his things, though. Santi accepts that, but he asks that she doesn't do it again...he doesn't like strangers going through his things...before heading out on his "important" task.

At House Cano Begoña and the other servant we've seen a few times now--the aforementioned Lucy (Kenya Hijuelos), a short curvy brunette--are fixing breakfast. Begoña specifically is working on some eggs for G-Cano; she asks Lucy to get her a plate and his sea salt, though she has to grab the latter herself since Lucy's short. And so it begins...

Elsewhere in the house Barbara is riffling through a collection of newspaper clippings--yup, they're all about Big Willy and his trial and sentencing--when Daniela pops up to smirk at her. After two years she still hasn't forgotten about that man--she's obsessed with him, Daniela remarks, because he rejected her. Barbara is all "No I'm not!" while frantically shoving the clippings into her nightstand, but Daniela forges ahead; that guy had a wife and child, didn't he? Did Mom ever find out what happened to them? Isn't she curious? ("No!") Didn't she ever have the urge to go find out about his wife, "like the killer who returns to the scene of the crime"? Barbara for her part at least looks a little haunted by that, though I still can't enjoy it because Daniela's just as deep in the mess as she is.
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles (p. 7)

And at around the same time Lucy is dusting in the living room when Begoña pops up; she needs her to help with the laundry once she's done dusting. Lucy is more than a little interested in a particular tchotchke, a small box; it looks expensive, right? It does, Begoña confirms, so Lucy should put it down before she drops it--which she does, but then she goes all "Just think...that little box could solve all my problems, but instead it's just sitting there on a table and nobody cares about it." Begoña understandably is all "What's up with you, girl?" and Lucy blows it off as just talking nonsense--but when Begoña leaves, there she is still looking longingly at the box. Yeah, this is going to end well too...

Green Ass And Ham: at the offices of G-Cano, Attorney At Law, we see Aylin Mujica's phenomenally pneumatic posterior strutting through the hall in a green skirt...wait, this lady has dark hair. Is that Lis Vega? When the hell did she get that?!? She swoops into Humberto's office to say hi to mi amor...isn't he glad to see her? Considering the low-cut top she's rocking, and the lingering shot of DAT ASS immediately beforehand, I'm certainly glad to see her. (And we're officially going the opposite direction from El Señor de los Cielos's rampant leg porn doing ninety.)

Humberto for his part is all "Girl, how'd you even get in here?" He should know that nothing's impossible for her, our mysterious sexpot purrs; and she's still waiting for a hello kiss. Humberto explains to "Lissette" that he was perfectly clear on the phone--she was not to come to Marrero--and she's all "Too late. I was already here...but not by myself. I brought our son with me." Dun dun dunnn! Ivan, Lissette explains, needs to be with his mother--he's almost 18--and she couldn't just leave him wherever. Humberto is all about Lissette screwing up their "agreement" by complicating his life, and she's all "Well, Ivan and I needed stability in our life. That's why we came back home to Marrero." Humberto bahs at that--she falls for a guy, follows him around the country, moves in with him, and gets tired with him. That's her pattern. Perhaps it can change, she says. Perhaps she and he...no, Humberto declares, there's no "them." He's getting married, and she needs to remember that. So Lissette just goes straight to "I need money, and we need a place to live"; she spent all the money Humberto already gave her, of course. Humberto tells her he'll give her what he can later, but she's got to leave the firm and not come back there--and he all but shoves her out of his office ("You're not even going to ask about your son?").

Way out at Revenge House Paula is urging Willy to eat some breakfast when there's a knock at the door...yeah, hi, Santi. He's there to see...ah, there's "Amanda" now. They need to talk. Santa shoos Paula and Willy off, and then asks what Santi's doing there; he in turn asks if she lied to him when she told him that child was her son and "all that she had left"? No? Then why doesn't Humberto know about it? Why's she lying to him? Santa sucks it up and commits hardcore to the Amanda lie (with Paula observing the whole thing from the hallway); she doesn't say whose grave she was visiting at the cemetery, but she does say that she's a widow with a child that met Humberto at a gym a few months ago. She wasn't looking for a novio, but it was love at first sight--it just happened.
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles (p. 8)

Santi, being the more obsessive type of protagonist, is all "So it's really love, then?" It is, says Santa. That's why they're getting married in a few days...which brings him back to why she's lying to his family about this. Santa explains that, when Humberto introduced her to his parents, they intimidated her...she felt they were judging her about everything, and they wouldn't let him marry a woman with a child with special needs who lives where she does.

Santi can accept that, but he outright says he doesn't care...the only thing he cares about, he says, is whether "Amanda" is lying about her feelings. Santa naturally goes for the "I won't even dignify that with a response!" defense; she's in love with his brother, she's marrying him in two days (so it's Wednesday now?...I thought it was Tuesday) and she'll decide when and how to tell him everything. Now Santi needs to leave...and he goes without a fuss, though Santa catches him outside just to reinforce that it's her problem WRT Humberto. He doesn't need to say anything. Santi tells her not to worry--he's different from the rest of his family, as she saw last night. He won't say a word. And off he goes in Truckzilla, as Paula (rocking a rather tight top and jeans in her own right) pops out to check on her. Santa wonders aloud if she managed to pull it off; Paula reassures her she did okay, but she still doesn't trust Santi. Santa in turn worries if Santi will blab to Humberto; Paula doesn't know, but she's got an idea...

On that note night falls on Marrero, and Paula is popping into Santa's room to see her sporting a short black dress. Paula's plan is pretty simple and/or pretty stupid; if Santi did tell Humberto anything, he'll forget the hell out of it once he sees Santa. Let alone when she gives him "the surprise of his life" and seduces him. Santa's very not crazy about the plan--she's not sure she's able to do this. But isn't she Amanda now, Paula objects--a devil who's ready for anything? Now she needs to get out there, use her charms, and screw the man she hates! (Well, she doesn't say that last part, but if only...)

New location alert: a small cafe-style bookstore, imaginatively called Bookstore. (Okay, the jokers who came up with "G-Cano, Attorney At Law" need to stop now.) Arturo is outside picking up some books when Hortensia comes out; he'll have to lock up the place on his own, she says. She's going to go see Violeta Garcia's granddaughter. And that's her cue to again put a full court press on Arturo about wanting to see him get married; he can't deny her the joy of being a grandma, right? For that matter, why hasn't she ever met any of his girlfriends? Arturo tries to swerve her by bringing up the aborted dinner party...right before Mara walks up. She needs to talk to Arturo. Hortensia, upon seeing Mara, immediately scrunches up her face into the International Rich Bitch sign for "Ugh...you people" and is all "Arturo, when did you run into that?" Arturo explains that Mara is a "friend" who's there to visit him, and that appeases Hortensia enough for her to head out--albeit with an ominous warning to call her if he needs anything.

Arturo and Mara head inside to an office, and Mama's Boy is all "What are you doing here?" Mara's done hiding, she says; she just met his mother, Arturo retorts. She knows he wasn't making that stuff up! Mara in turn insists that she had to come--it's a life and death issue.
 

Santa Diabla: miércoles (p. 9)

That said we're just going to FF>> to where she declares that she came because she wanted his crazy-ass mother to see them together--to know they're a couple--because she's fed up with the whole Secret Lovers (that's what we aaa-aaare) thing, and because she loves him. She probably should have dumped him by now, she admits, but she loves him...and it hurts when he just calls her a friend. She's not going to let her skin color be an issue any more. Mama's Boy persists, declaring that as long as Hortensia is alive (interestingly, he says this twice) they can't go public. STFU, Arturo. This leads to her wondering what they're going to do, which leads to him embracing her and telling her to never let go of him...which leads to kissing...oh, hell, here comes Hortensia looking for her cellphone. Aaaaaand she walks in on them in mid-kiss, death glare in full effect. Being a Telemundo show, I suddenly suspect Hortensia's about to pick up a new hobby: destroying Mara's life.

We take a quick detour back to Revenge House, where Paula is taking out the trash--observed by Barbara from a nearby car. Hmmm.

House Cano: Humberto gets home from work to Lucy telling him that he has a guest waiting for him in the study. Yup, it's Lissette. Humberto's not happy about this--in the nearly twenty years they've known each other, he says, she's never come there. Lissette's there for the money he promised her, which doesn't help Humberto's disposition. He's getting married in two days--what if he'd come in with Amanda? Lissette pffts--nothing, since Amanda doesn't know her. Let alone that he has a child with her.

Devious Maid Lucy, who was eavesdropping on the conversation from the door, is at this point rocking the "OMG! This is great!" face. She retreats to the kitchen and is all "Aw yeah...I can use this." She's not important enough to live, IMO, but it's still early in the show...

Upstairs in their bedroom Francisca is kicking back in bed with a book as G-Cano comes out of the bathroom or something in his pajamas. Which is right before...yup, searing chest pains for G-Cano. SPECIAL TELENOVELA POWDER (Genomma Lab!) works every time, y'all.

Back in the study Humberto is giving Lissette a check and hoping it's more than enough...for a while, she purrs. Humberto's not crazy about hearing that--does she expect him to give her money every month? Lissette's retort that she and his son have "developed this bad habit of sleeping under a roof, eating three meals a day, and wearing clothes--and that costs money" is at least inspired; Humberto suggests that perhaps she can get a job like a regular person. "The kid" can too, since he's old enough. Lissette asks him not to talk about Ivan like that--how can he not even wonder about his own son, what he looks like and is up to? Ivan reminds Lissette so much of Humberto from when they met nearly twenty years ago, she says; she remembers the first time she saw him, what he was wearing right down to the lotion. And she's pressing herself up on him, talking about how shocked she was back then when she realized that they wouldn't be together "until death did us part." Humberto's resistance to DAT ASS wears out at this point, so he holds on to some sexpot and gets some kissing on...

And thus Santa walks in on Humberto eating Lissette's face. Which is kind of hilarious because of Gaby Espino's utterly underwhelming "surprised" face, but under the circumstances...
 

LA SELECCIÓN

What a coincidence. I watched part of an episode of this last night.

I think it deals with the road to the World Cup by the Colombian team in the 80's. I could tell this because that real player Valderrama is represented by an actor with the same head of bleached blonde hair and they addressed him by the real guy's name.

I don't have time for another novela but it did seem interesting. AND the Colombian accents used by the soccer players are even more difficult to understand than the ones on the Colombian narco novelas!

There is a very interesting documentary that deals with this team called The Two Escobars. It's sort of in English but lots and lots of interviews in Spanish with English sub-titles.
 

DYO

Another Amy - thanks so much for your great recap. I love "our favorite hyperactive squirrel Neto" and KAraña. Perfecto!

Iggy smelling Pedro's dirty shirt (more like smothering herself with it!) - ICK!

AA's choice of drink of the day - Tequilitas. She must be worried about the calories.

After Mireya's intimidating/bullying Iggy at the hospital, I was pleased to see that no one supported her little merriniche when Iggy fired Pedro.

Beth
 

MARIDO

Excellent recap, Adriana. Actually a lot happened last night and you included great details. Thank you!

I am so annoyed with all three of Gris' kids. Good riddance to Antonio - he still blames his mother for all his problems and unhappiness. K and Amalia are just idiots, trying to make Gris feel worse than she already does about relocating the insufferable one.

The lottery ticket - obviously someone besides Gris will find it and try to cash it in, but everyone knows she always picks the same numbers each week.

Leo and lifeguard are probably going to make up a story and then return the pups for a reward. That lifeguard (?name) was right - Leo is working on a return trip to the slammer. Poor Clara - what a lazy, dishonest little sh!t her son is.

Beth
 

Santa
Tks so much Bill C, great recap

So Mara is Jessica from PEAM, Why doesn't she look as cute as Jessica?
 

SANTA

Another amazing recap, Bill C. Thanks VERY much. I love the combination of attention to detail and clever snark.

It's hard to believe that Santa is only now worrying about what would happen if Humberto goes to "her house" to look for her. How could she possibly have carried this off successfully for three months? Admittedly, Humberto isn't exactly the most observant guy, as the scene with Santiago and Santa staring at each other made clear. But still....

So who will do in Arturo's charming mother, Arturo or Mara? Perhaps they can ask for help from the more experienced Spurious George (I love that name).
 

Bill c, you are lo mejor! I am guaranteed to get paroxysms of laughter reading your recaps!
Arturo and Mara...argh...this story line is stale in the Anglo world, but I want to see what the writers do with it in a TN. I've never seen a TN deal with race this directly before but I'm new to tns. Second, Arturo looks like a refined gremln, so he should be glad a great looking girl like Mara, with her head on her shoulders, is even checking for him. Arturo better not try and kill off Mama Hortensia and then blame Mara that he had to do it so they can be together. I don't put it past him since he broke in Mara's car to 'surprise' her.

The only thing that convinces me Turo is not a complete jerk is the fact he hasn't brought any other acceptably white-looking girls home to convince mama that he's trying to find a wife. He just needs to man up and tell his mother it's caramel nietitos she's gonna get or no nietitos.
 

DYO jueves, part 1/3

Mariano lets Marge and Gina know that Lupita is staying at the apartment and tries to convince the ladies this is the best thing for now. They don’t agree, but Marge goes to pack some clothes for Lupita.

Mireya’s still mad about Pedro’s getting fired and tries to get Oleg to go talk to Tomas.

Angel arrives home with Mama, tells Isabel he’s changed, Isabel says she hopes so because he owes her money and needs to get a job on the straight and narrow.

Ignacia is still agonizing over the decision to fire Pedro, but knows he is in danger and she had to do something to get him to leave. Pedro is flashing back to the kiss in the elevator, and then the firing. “Fine, you’ll never see me again,” he says to the air.

Mama wants Isabel to take Angel to the constructora to get him a job, but Isabel doesn’t want to because she is embarrassed by his haircut still doesn’t trust him.

Ruben is avoiding Lupita in the apartment but AA and Mariano conspire to have Ruben take her to school. Both Lupita and Ruben resist, but in the end Dad and Grandma win.

Now that Pedro has nothing to lose (except a Mamacita Santa with cancer and a single teen mom sister), Gina tries to convince him to go live in her house in London.

Isabel gets up early to help Mama clean up from the night before, but Angel has beat her to it and is taking Mom breakfast in bed. Isabel Impactadabel.

Lupita thanks Ruben for taking her to school on the moto, but Ruben doesn’t want her to get used to it… he only did it because Abuela forced him too. Lupita says she only did it for Abue, too. Then she gets nauseous, and Ruben gets concerned. “It’s a normal part of the pregnancy, didn’t you know that?” she says. “Um… sure I did… who doesn’t know about that stuff?” Um, apparently YOU, Ruben. Weird.

After a long, laborious decision making process (which I’m assuming happened, because we didn’t see it), Pedro tells Mireya he thinks maybe losing his job was a good thing, and maybe they should go abroad. Mireya loves the idea, but says she has to take care of something first. Apparently, to h*** with Marge’s cancer and little sister’s unborn baby.

Neto catches Oleg packing Pedro’s things from his locker and finds out that Pedro was fired.

KAraña is in Iggy’s office trying to find out more dirt on her feelings for Pedro, and Iggy is sick of her digging. She turns the tables and asks K what is up with her breaking up with JM just because he’s “too good” and SORPRESA! Here comes JM. Iggy dismisses herself saying, Karina was JUST talking about how she wanted to talk to you! And Iggy bolts. AWK. WARD.

Neto’s not buying the “reduction of personnel” excuse, he thinks it was personal. Oleg says that Pedro crossed a line that he shouldn’t have crossed, and Iggy had no choice but to let him go. SORPRESA! Here comes Ignacia. “Had no other choice but WHAT?”

Neto speaks up. He knows this was no “reduction of personnel”, she fired him because she has feelings for him! He saw her going through his things and sniffing his clothes! Oleg is taken aback, and Iggy is speechless. Oleg shepherds the feisty little chihuahua out, and Ignacia is left in the locker room, stunned and preparing to ugly-cry.

 

DYO jueves, part 2/3

WE HAVE A NAAAAAAAAME!!! At the car wash, NewGirl1 (now known as Gema) is introduced to NewGirl3, whose name is Candy, who has come to work at the carwash. The boss puts Gema in charge of training the new girl, who I am suspecting may be a plant from CreepyOglerGuy, since he said he would meet her in his own way. Just a random feeling, could be wrong. By the way, all the bouncing is seriously getting in the way of Gema’s carwashing technique. She kind of sucks at it.

Zafiro asks Barbie how the casting went, and Barbie said it was great… they took them to a place to get massages before the auditions (did I get this right? Sounds weird).

Gema is telling Candy (speaking reeeeeally fast, and I’m not sure I caught everything right) that yesterday another girl, an actress, came before her, and was saying that this job (the car wash?) had something to do with prostitution, but Gema wouldn’t believe her. Candy says, this city is full of “actresses” like that. They shrug and roll their eyes. So perhaps the car wash is a cover business for a prostitution ring? I could have very possibly misinterpreted the whole conversation.

Barbie says that they offered her an amazing salary, but they wanted a “morena” and she doesn’t want to change her look (doesn’t morena mean brunette? I’m confused.). But she’s not worried there are lots of producers and directors that would die to work with her. These two characters are SOOOOO annoying, and they better hurry up and connect them to the plot somehow, cuz I’ve got an itchy FF finger when they come on.

Car wash guys “baptize” the new girl Candy with the hose, which starts a big water fight.

Angel is being way too Eddie Haskell, and Mama is telling him Isabel will come around to trusting him again. “If I can change, she can too” says Angel as he repeats something about God not leaving his sheep that Mama apparently always used to tell him. They light a candle to the Virgencita.
Ignacia has called a meeting in the obra office of several workers to set something straight. She wants them to know that she does care about their problems and wants to hear their suggestions, so she’s installing a suggestion box outside. They can even leave anonymous notes so they can be sure there is no reprisal (may the genitalia drawings and graphic anonymous love/hate notes begin.). In a veiled attempt to explain to Oleg and Neto why she did what she did, she launches into a speech about how she realizes that they have lives outside of the constructora, and they should be sure to take good care of and protect the ones they love. She gets applause from everyone except Oleg and Neto, who kind of clap but are rolling their eyes. Apparently, Ignacia, it was TOO veiled.

Mireya goes to see Tomas at the constructora office. This should be interesting.

JM is begging KAraña for another opportunity. She tells him to have some dignity and stop begging a woman not to abandon him. “I’m not begging!” he insists. “Pleeeeease let me tell you how I feel!” She calls him pathetic (and despite his cuteness, I’m bound to agree this time ☹ ), and on her way out the door says “If the circumstances were different…” but leaves before she finishes her sentence. Yeah, that’s totally not going to confuse him even more. Good one. [I need for JM to grow some huevos soon, or he’s going to lose me. Begging is not a good look for him.]

 

DYO jueves, 3/3

Tomas walks out of his office as Mireya is trying to convince Isabel to interrupt Tomas’s meeting. She introduces herself, and he remembers her from the obra during the elevator accident.

Gina is taking Marge to her doctor’s appointment and Marge is whining the whole way. Pedro comes out holding his head (why do I feel t his head injury is going to come back to bite us in the @$$?), and wishes his mom well, telling her to call if she needs anything.

Mireya wants to know why Pedro was fired (which is news to Tomas), but Tomas insists that Ignacia is the jefa of the obra and she’s the one who makes those decisions. He wants to know more about Mireya’s relationship with Pedro. The more he knows, he croons to Mireya, the more he can help her… here, have a coffee.

Ignacia finds pathetic JM deep in thought in the obra office. Does he launch into his problems with Karina? NO! Because he’s usually awesome (when not KAraña-ed). He asks her why she looks so upset and she tells him she had to do something she didn’t want to do. Then she tells him she doesn’t love Tomas anymore, she’s has feelings for someone who’s going to marry someone else. JM wonders how she’s still married to Tomas, and she says she doesn’t know, but something has to change. She gets up to leave, and when JM asks her where she’s going, she says “to continue telling the truth.” Whatcha wanna bet it doesn’t happen?

Tomas is turning on the charm with Mireya. She doesn’t see why he wants to know about her and Pedro… she just came to tell him she wouldn’t permit anyone to abuse her novio. If she wants his help, he says, she need to help him in return. She’s disgusted and tries to leave, but he keeps pulling her chair back. He tells her Pedro and Ignacia are cheating on them, and he wants her to tell him anytime Ignacia shows up at the vecindad, and in return he will get Pedro’s job back (I thought she was all about going abroad??). She’s still not quite on board, but he gives her his card, which we know she will use at some point.

The doctor wants to do more tests to see if the cancer cells have spread. He encourages her to trust him and pursue treatment as soon as possible. He says treatment has come a long way in the last 10 years, and if they catch things early enough, the prognosis can be good. Marge approaches the news with her usual optimism. “I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die!” Groan.

Iggy is back at the vecindad, and Mireya wants to know what she’s doing there.

Gina speaks to the doctor alone about Marge’s prognosis. The doctor says it’s too early to tell. Gina continues to whine (family trait, apparently). The doctor says they need to just take it a step at a time, and to not get ahead of themselves. They need more information, and Gina needs to be calm and strong for her sister. Gina continues to whine. Then, “She’s gonna die. She’s gonna die!” (optimism: another family trait).

Ignacia says she came to see Pedro, and Mireya lights into her. “You and your husband are cut from the same cloth. I know how manipulative you are, and how you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and couldn’t care less about other people. Do you think Tomas would be happy to know you’re here?” Pedro walks up. “Should I leave you two alone? Can I get you something to drink?” snarks Mireya. Iggy and Pedro look at each other awkwardly.

Fin del capitulo.

Will Ignacia tell Pedro the truth? Blink once for yes, two for no. * Blink Blink * IMHO, anyway.

 

DyO
A big thank you Another Amy! For a great recap! Why isn't there any chemistry between Mariano and Gina? And, why are they bringing in more new characters with long brown hair, they all look alike! Isabel (Office NewGirl) seems nice but boy is her mother annoying. I see they are putting some makeup on Lupita and updating her hair to make her look more mature. On the plus side, Abue is an absolute scene stealer, her little facial expressions are priceless.
Okay, complaint-fest over. For now. :o)
J in Oregon
 

La Seleccion!

i could hardly do a recap justice, but to whet anyone's appetite, i will say, the third ep was weds, and had scenes from Cali, Bogota, Medellin and a coastal town, because the 4 primary players whose story this is come from different towns. seems like a lot of comfortable race mixing too, which i like to see. esp for the 80s.

club team green has the famous blond guy. "mono or el pibe." he expects to be chosen for the national team, but his babymama spilled something to the press and jeopardizes that. "vaina" is his favorite word. she must not like it, she jumps in a taxi with the boy and some luggage.

club team express rojo has two rookies that were duped into thinking they could buy their moms a house in the first year. they meet the asst coach who tells them you play 7 years in the reserves, and then you're in. they have to decide if they can live on the tiny wage, and being constantly robbed. there was a vocab word i forgot to look up here, it was probably "cleats" because i can't imagine they had anything more valuable than that. they are Julien (hot!) and Freddy (the important one).

team yellow (which may already be the national team or La Seleccion) has the goalkeeper (arquero) with the big black loose afro. is jericurl the right way to describe something so long? he appears to be one of the nicest, easygoing, noble people in the world. he loves his fans, his mom, and sticks up for his coworkers. the new coach can't wait to work with him. when asked what his secret it, he answers, duh, the hair! and no, by the way, i will not cut it. this is rene.

and then there is Fausto. he likes a little nip at the games to steady his nerves. his agent promises his mom to get him to study at night, but this immature phenom (he has a song about playing!) just gets into trouble. in they end, they get Pibe to come have family dinner and they both apologize for all the smack talk during their match.

so far, i think this is a fun one. it comes with a warning that it's fictionalized history. the actors play soccer pretty well, as far as i could tell. oh, and the head coach looks like O'bama with the mole on the wrong side.

mai tai




 

MARIDO - Thursday

part 1

Rei and Gris talk about why he came to visit her, is it because she doesn’t have to go to work at night, did TC say something? No, not at all, Rei reassures Gris, and mentions Gabe being more jealous than his wife.
But both TC and Gabe are exaggerating because nothing is happening between them, right? Riiight….
Rei notices that she’s sad, but she doesn’t want to share too much information with him, she just says that it has to do with Tony and the fact that she threw him out of the house. Rei is quite impressed to hear this, she’s not only beautiful , but she also has such a strong character – “me encanta como eres” (I love the way you are) – he proclaims, just as a nosy neighbor comes to ask questions about Tony. Gris chases her off and soon after Rei leaves, too. So, why did he come anyway?

Tony finally arrives at Paloma’s and she makes it clear that she won’t judge him for what he did to his mom, this is for him and his conscience to deal with. If only he had one…

Victor is still with Leo, trying to make him see that he’s mistaken, but tonight I find Leo even more annoying than Tony – he thinks that because they are poor, this is a good enough excuse to steal; he suggests to Victor they share the ransom money if he keeps his mouth shut. But Victor has a better idea – how about he doesn’t tell Clara about what Leo is doing, provided that they take the dogs back?

At the taco bar, Gabe is getting ready for his nightly “stalking Gris” routine. Clara warns him that Gris we’ll get fed up with his attitude (God knows that we’re already there), especially since she made it perfectly clear she doesn’t want him near her place of work. Gabe promises not to show up at the restaurant, but maybe just drive over, just to check out the place? Ugh….

Max is training, but he can’t concentrate, he says he feels nauseous. His coach thinks it’s something he ate and asks him to pay more attention to his diet and the way he’s preparing the fight.
Later on he calls Barbie, they have their usual “sexy” talk – who writes these lines?

Kikito asks if he can play in Tony’s room and K gives him permission. The boy finds Gris’ lottery ticket and gives it to his dad, who says he’ll put the ticket on Gris’ night stand…One can only hope…

Tony and Daniel are at the posada, Tony is as annoying as ever. Is his room too small, he wonders? Daniel thinks the room is big enough, but not for Tony’s ego – hahha.
And, indeed, the room is OK, but Tony is obviously not happy about it. Ugh…
Daniel calls Pati, asks her to give Tony another chance. She won’t, though, so Daniel asks her to make this clear with Tony, because he still has hope.

At Palmer Gourmet, Rei and Vanesa talk about the married client and how he came with his dad, not another woman. They laugh it off and Simon comes to join them. When Vanesa leaves, Simon warns Rei about her, telling him that Vanesa is falling for him (yey for Simon!). Rei disagrees, Vanesa is Pati’s friend, she could be his daughter etc… But Simon reminds him how suspicious they were about the married client and explains that he has the same suspicions about Vanesa now. Rei is left thinking…


 

MARIDO - Thursday

part 2

Barbie wants to go out, eat at Palmer Gourmet, but Max is not feeling well, he has a diet to follow, he’s also very tired. She offers to massage him, but he’d rather sleep for a while.
Later on, while Barbie is sleeping, Max is awake, worrying about some stomach cramps that he keeps having. Hm...

Clara arrives home and is about to fix dinner for Leo, but he leaves without telling her. As it turns out, he and Victor go to return the dogs. They say they found them and recognized them as being the dogs Ro always take to the beach.
TC is very suspicious about it, but finally the two boys leave. Later on she asks Ro if he believed their story, and Ro has to agree that he didn’t.
Leo arrives home, acts like the jerk that he is with his mom …FF

The restaurant is closed for the night, Simon leaves, Vanesa is about to leave, too, when Gris shows up for work. I hope V doesn’t talk to TC about Gris being there, she’s already so low on my like-o meter.

Pati goes to visit Tony, but she makes it clear that she didn’t come to get back together, but to make him understand that they are over. He insists they are still in love, but she says she knows better than this, she fell for an illusion, a character that he created. She storms off, meets Paloma and asks her not to tell TC that she was there.
Once Pati is out of the house, Paloma urges Tony to go after her.

Daniel and Victor are outside, looking at an almost naked lady who’s on a balcony, when they see Pati and Tony talk.
Tony tries to remind Pati their good old day, Pati stays strong for a while, but then he kisses her. She runs away, but this is the proof Tony needed to know that he and Pati WILL get back together. He’s more than happy about it, he explains Daniel that his new life is about to start (now I think he’s worse than Leo… oh, it’s so hard to make up my mind).

At the restaurant, Gris is very sad, she doesn’t want a drink, to eat or to talk to Rei about what is bothering her.

Amalia and Rafa are at her home, kissing. K chases Rafa away, after that he and Amalia talk about how bad they feel that Tony left and Amalia wonders if she’ll ever be able to prepare Dona Olga’s creams.
When he’s alone, K thinks about all the people who left them because they’re poor: his dad, Tony, Barbie. I say good riddance to bad rubbish, but what do I know?

Ivan comes to the taco bar with his latest squeeze. Gabe is very impressed that Ivan has all that luck with women. If only he could have the woman he wants… Ivan tells him to stop working so much, the ladies will come – I’d also add: shave, get a hair cut, change that shirt, or better yet, change your attitude!!

Celeste is going home, but the bus gets stuck and she is late. In the meantime Manuel arrives and finds Sol dancing (ugh, another idiot kid). He starts to scream, Celeste arrives and says the recorder is hers, Manuel throws it to the floor and slaps Celeste. She slaps him back, which only enrages him more. He starts to choke her and Sol, to save her mother, hits Manuel in the head (was it the recorder? I didn’t pay attention). Manuel falls to the floor, they think he’s dead, but he’s still breathing.
They are both relieved at first, but after that they start dreading the moment when he’ll wake up and want to settle some scores with them.
My opinion: tie him up, put him in a bag and throw him in the sea…

Gris is still sad about Tony, Rei finds her crying and hugs her to give her some comfort. But Pati needed her dad, too, because she went to the restaurant and now she’s looking at the hug and not enjoying it one bit.

 

LA SELECCION

Thanks mai tai for recapping this one! It sounds interesting, I may have to give it a try... I love Colombian novelas.

DYO

J, I totally agree about zero chemistry with Mar/Gina. Gina is nice and supportive and all, but has approximately 1/4 of the personality of Gina1 (although I can't see her having chemistry with Mariano either). And I hate her voice when she's whining.

Yes, Abue is an absolute JEWEL. Total scene-stealer!
 

La Seleccion

Thanks Another Amy. i've been enjoying dyo a lot!

I just wanted to mention that tonight's ep starts at 7 and is 3 hours long. is it too much to hope that it's a "start from the beginning recap"?

and yeah, the sport documentary Two Escobars was "esco-lent!!" i think ilooked up the timeline to see if this novela would cover that area, but i think the player escobar came to the team in 87, and this novela is about the 86 team. not positive, but i have no doubt the drug lord will have a role in this.

There aren't really the normal eye candies i like in a TN. the sets are not poppin (yet) and the people are average. however, i think soon, they are all going to start partying like rock stars on boats, so that ought to be good. Champagne for everyone!

and yes, the hubs did watch. wants to follow the story, but is v frustrated by not knowing enough spanish (yet). he read a bunch of tweets instead, but i'm keeping at him politely.


mai tai
 

DYO recaps

BTW, plans have changed and I'm going out of town (and offline) this weekend. So I won't be able to recap tonight's DYO but should be back for next week's!
 

Santa Diabla

I'm having a hard time imagining what Santa's revenge plan IS, it's obvious she wants to destroy the whole family and I would guess in a way where she does nothing that could land her in jail away from willy, hmm, so how is getting married under her false name, and worse signing a pre-nup contract, going to work, just wondering,

and now Paula is the new secretary, using her real name, same as big Willy's, and Humberto is checking her out, (I'm loving Carlos as the bad guy, and his white hot car with the red interior isn't bad either)

and now Santiago wants to help,

and what was Bárbara doing checking out their house?

ah, Santa has so many loose ends, like a nice house she doesn't live in and parents she doesn't have, for a clever guy like Humberto not to see, and only 2 days till the wedding,

and there is certainly no shortage of bad guys in this one, still waiting to learn more about Inés (Ximena Duque), and I see Roberto Mateos in the cast list.

like DyO (same author) it's a small world in a big town where all of the characters are connected somehow, like Lisette and Ivan moving into the same house as Santi, and Lucy with a cop boyfriend,

[thanks so much Bill C. for your most appreciated recaps, my favorite way of starting a novela]

 

SANTA DIABLA

I'm not sure what Santa's plan is, either, because in the first epy, when she was talking to the camera, she was saying that the Canos have filthy money that she doesn't want - and now, when talking to Paula we understand that she plans to marry Humberto and get ALL the Canos money. And possibly kill him, too, since she told Paula she doesn't want Humberto's son to become an orphan...
Hm...many questions, but as far as I can see each day we get some answers (like the house that she supposedly owes) and new questions.
I still don't get it how Humberto doesn't know who Amanda really is, yet and Paula using her real name can't be good, right?

Paula is already coming off a little strong, in my opinion - it's easy to tell Santa: 'do this, do that, seduce Humberto', but let's see how she behaves once she's in the vipers' den.

I suppose between Ivan and the lady renting the rooms (forgot her name) will develop some kind of a romance, but I find the idea kind of ick - the age difference is just too big and it shows way too much.

What did you all think about the kiss at the end? I think it was ok, but I would have liked it if they waited a little bit before giving us the primer beso - in real life Santiago would come off as a stalker and even slightly creepy, following Santa everywhere. And in tn life, I much rather wait for it for a while, leave some room for the tension to build up.
Also, how come doesn't Santiago suspect that Amanda might be interested by Humberto's money? That would be the first natural thought to come to mind.


Deb, I think Barbara went to Willy's old house because his daughter had asked her before if she ever thinks about what she's done... the whole return to the scene of the crime trick.
 

DyO,

another great recap AnotherAmy,
so perfect it left me with nothing to say,

oooooh Ignacia,
being exposed as a shirt sniffer,

and Lupita, is she really going to school, or just on her way to the mall,

and why even have a girlie bar in a novela when you have a car wash,

so glad Tomás and Mireya haven't joined forces (as yet), and the way he was manhandling the poor handicapped Mireya, I was waiting for her to jump up and smack him one,

 

Santa
I think Barbara is either just curious or possibly feeling about the family she destroyed.

Maybe Samanda's plan is just to prove that Willy Sr. was set up. That would destroy Humberto & the law firm.

None of these characters are ringing my bell.
 

Santa
Barbara feeling guilty
 

SANTA DIABLA:

I agree that the age difference between Victoria and Ivan seems a bit much.

I thought maybe Barbara went to the house to meet "the wife" of Willy. Good thing she only met Paula, because if she met Santa, end of plan!

Thanks, Bill for identifying Zully Montero as Hortensia. It's a bit of a shock for me to see her so evil, since she was really nice and good on the last few telenovelas I saw her in.

I've seen several novelas with black/white couples. Usually, the bad people react badly, and the good people react supportively.

I think the people who are producing this show also did La Casa de Al Lado. That show was nuts! (in a good way), with all sorts of interrelationships between the various characters, just as we have here. You almost needed a chart to keep track of things. I can't believe Lizette and Ivan are going to live in the same place as Santiago.

That Lucy sure is a bad girl. And her boyfriend works with Carlos the cop, brother of Victoria? Okaaay. And of course Mara's investor in her cafe is Humberto.

Yes, we're gonna need a chart.


 

MARIDO:

Great recap, Adriana! A also liked the line about Tony's room not being big enough for his ego.

It's interesting that Daniel DID apologize to Pati, but Tony seems incapable of that.

The actress playing Paloma played a very different role in Relaciones Peligrosas, a rich, snobby woman, who was however being beaten by her husband (like Celeste), but had an affair with a teenaged guy. Yeah, that was another crazy novela.

Despite his fame, Max has told Barbie he has to win the fight, because they need the money. And now he has cramps of some kind, and could lose. Since K has the lottery, ticket, what if Barby ends up with it?

What's up with that girl who keeps posing in her underwear on that balcony? Not that I'm complaining, of course :)
 

MARIDO:

Adriana, yes, Sol did hit Manuel on the head with part of the boom box which Manuel had broken. I think both Celeste and Sol should report Manuel, go to some sort of shelter, but I know it's unlikely. Maybe they'll move into the posada with half the other characters. I noticed Paloma said that Fernando and the guy with the washboard stomach, who also live there, would have to leave if they don't stop bugging Ro.
 

SANTA DIABLA

Hombre, funny that you should say that you were surprised to see Zully Montero as a villana - in my head she's one of the best villanas in tn history.

One of my very first tns, Guadalupe (with Eduardo Yanez and Adela Noriega) had Zully as a great villana - this was back in the 90's, still at Telemundo.
And after that I've seen her in plenty more evil roles, like El rostro de Analia, Perro Amor, Prisoniera...

I didn't watch some of her recent tns, though, so maybe that's why I'm so used to her being bad, bad, bad.

I also think that Barbara wanted to meet the "other woman" but that can easily be explained by saying that Santa moved back to Venezuela indefinitely. But by the pace this story moves, Barbara may end up finding out about Santa faster than we imagine now.
 

MARIDO

Hombre, I hope Gris gets her lottery ticket and her fortune and all this near misses are just red herrings!
Could you see her living in a rich neighborhood, with Tony still at the Posada, whining that his rich mother doesn't want to help him?

As for Barbie, I'm almost sure that Max loses his fight and somehow she gets back with K again. We've already seen that she's not happy when Max is not 100% concentrated on her inflated tushy, so if he loses the fight, he'll be in no mood for Barbie love.
And if Gris gets rich...I bet Barbie we'll want to follow the money trail.
 

SANTA:

It is hard to keep track of everyone here. I'll never complain again about tns having characters who know each other well calling each by their nombre y appellido fifty eps in. La Patrona did this a lot and it annoyed me, but i always remembered everyone's name, even Valentina's lawyer, Braulio. Eres tu que has olvidado nuestro pacto, Anibal Villegas, is one of the most famous instances of it in LP when Antonia was upbraiding Anibal for dropping her for Veronica Dantes. But it really does help you know the characters names. I remember Lisette's son's name Ivan because lizette said it so much while talking with Humberto, but didn't know Lisette's name until I read bill C's recap. And Ivan is still unseen!
 

SANTA DIABLA

Just a reminder that I committed to recap tonight's episode (Friday, August 9).
 

MARIDO

Thanks so much, AdrianaNoel, for the excellent recap!

Good grief! They went with the really idiotic telenovela cliché that any woman can be kissed into submission - no matter how bad the behavior of the offending male.

I was very disappointed that Pati kissed Tony back. It just fed his idea that he's going to get her back without changing his attitude in any way.

I've got a bad feeling that TC might pursue el secuestro de perros and that the kindly lifeguard might find himself in the soup alongside deserving Leo.

ITA that all the business about the lottery ticket proves to be a red herring and that, when Gris' numbers win, she has the ticket in hand.

Poor Max. Miss It's Always All About Me wants to drag him to Gourmet Palmer when he's exhausted and on a special diet. He obviously has something unspecified wrong with him.

I don't really like the way they have Griselda moping about. She made the right decision about giving Tony the boot and, to me, it doesn't fit with the way they've portrayed her resolute character that she'd be so miserable. Especially since she hasn't exactly thrown him out to live in an alley! But I suppose this is a plot device to get Reinaldo's arms around her.

I can't even imagine where they're going with the unconscious Manuel. Celeste is surely not going to kill him. And when he does wake up, they surely need to be gone.
 

DYO

Another fantastic recap, Another Amy. I love, "Blink once for yes, two for no." That's going to be muy difficult for me because this show has me staring into the distance unable to do anything except shake my head.

I forget - who is funding the construction? Is it truly a joint venture with both Nomas and Iggy putting up money, or is it Nomas' money and Iggy's brains? The reason I think it might be important is that it may be why Ignoracia won't file for divorce.

Too many girls with long brown hair - even with names, I can't keep them straight.

No one has yet told Estela that Lupita is living with Ruben, right? How long can that secret be kept?!

Iggy can't tell Pedro the truth - about anything - we still have months to go with this story.

Meriya is sooo annoying.

I was glad to see that some realistic info about breast cancer came out of Marge's appointment with the doctor. Gina will have to maintain her efforts to get Marge treated because Marge is so frightened by her diagnosis she's unable to take care of herself.

Beth
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

SANTA DIABLA

The entrada song, composed and sang by both Aaron Diaz and Carlos Ponce (according to an article I just read).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQKpXX9kFQs

Their voices just work so well together! I love it, really really LOVE IT!! And that saxo...

Gotta go listen again!
 

MARIDO

Adriana, thanks so much for the excellent recap. I had not seen the part about Max's stomach pains, so now I have another piece of the K-Barbie-Max puzzle. I like Max, and I'd hate to see him lose the fight.

K has the lottery ticket. I was afraid he might find it and cash it himself to impress Barbie with new found wealth. Of course little k can still blow the whistle on him.

Tony is the lowest. He is despicable. He doesn't respect anyone and can't admit he's wrong. At this point he doesn't deserve Pati, but I fear she's going to weaken and take him back

I too wonder about the semi-naked girl on the balcony. Diversion? But for whom? (I mean besides Hombre and the other guys!)

Rei has a potential teachable moment with Pati and Gris at the end of the episode - the fact that these two smart, intelligent, compassionate women have been badly wounded by a *#@!$* self-centered, lying jerk. But I have a feeling the encounter will disintegrate into accusations and more hurt feelings.

Beth