Caray, Caray!

Jar--Sorry, I am so impatient. I want to read your take on the episode. Grrrr--Ok, I'll have another cup of Mexican Chiapas smooth, velvety coffee with half 'n half and wait patiently.

We all KNEW the poor foreman wasn't going to get a chance to read the verdict.

My vote is: Santos is a Horse's Ass.

OTOH, he knows the stateside police, the federales nor the DF police have done a very good job protecting anyone in danger, but he could have at least told Maria and Justo about the video.

I forgot to alert everyone yesterday about the true solemnity of the court proceedings.

Every time they want us to know the scene is returning to the trial, we get an outdoor shot of THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT (unless a mini-version was constructed in California). Believe me, we lived 3 blocks from the Supreme Court years ago, my children played on the front plaza, I know what it looks like....Loved it as a genuinely funny moment in an otherwise frustrating episode.

At least on LaTemp the prisoners can get together and play a mean game of cestaball.

Decie--Paloma going into her old apartment after the frappe incident, went right passed me. They probably filmed it out of sequence and just left it in. Mejia probably assumed most of the watchers were like me and wouldn't notice.
 

ANITA

The LA courthouse looks nothing like the shot in the TN and furthermore neither does the police headquarters building the Derechos were always shot in

I agree Santos is a Horses Ass and is now in full borne Galan stupidity mode. He thinks he is doing the right thing but his actions were a direct slap in the face to Justo, Maria, the Mariachis, Michael and most of all the jury.

This is a bad day for me so I'm resally looking forward to lots of witty commentqary about this train wreck.
 

Sorry, but had to get this translation done and up since MPV starts in a week or so. Am only doing high points for this one and they'll have to wait to get up till later this evening. I am not going happy with JAntos this time, not in the least!!!
 

Also, the letterhead on the legal papers Santos was reading when he discovered the info about Don Nando read "US POLICE"- Really? Not County of Los Angeles, State of California or U.S. Department of Whatever? Just US Police. hahaha
 

Horse's Ass
 

Oh and the sentence for perjury is 2, 3 or 4 years not 8.
 

Decie--
Yeah, I heard 8 years also, unbelievable, booo, hiss. But worse, didn't the judge say he is yet to be sentenced for the rest of those crimes he admitted to? Money laundering and killing Bruno and Arnold--or aiding and abetting? I don't feel like going back and reviewing the episode--that's punishment enough for me to watch it the first time through.

 

Take your time, Jar, we're amusing ourselves ok, but really do want your input AND your vote.

 

What I don't get is why Santos didn't hand the cell phone to Justo and show him what was on it. Its placement clearly proves that Giuliano has spies on the inside of both the prison and the courtroom. Justo could then demand to be heard in chambers and this could end this whole travesty of justice. Summers would have to be limping away scared.

Fortunately, Maria's IQ is back to normal to smell the rotting fish.

However -- of course -- that leaves too much time for a chase to finish Giuliano off. Or does it, because there are still Ruben, Elvira, and Mirna to deal with.

I know we don't always have to see every reporting of information from one character to another, but it would be good to know if Justo ever told Santos about being shot at as he was dropping off the metal briefcase full of cash. I don't think Justo actually saw Giuliano because he retreated fast enough so he can't prove this, but I'm sure he suspects him. He does know about the death threats made to Wendy.

Giuliano is a Scarpia wannabe. Like Scarpia, he has no intention of keeping his word and carries out threats after the blackmail demand has been satisfied. No matter what Santos does or doesn't do Giuliano will try to rape or kill Maria.

Who is perfectly capable of killing him in self-defense. The novela audience is ready for this. However, unless his guilt can be proven without sweating a confession out of him she won't.
 

A horse's ass, and a gigantic one at that.

I don't know why he even bothered to answer that cell phone. All he had to do is report it and have it finger printed and they could figure out who OG's accomplice in the prison and court house is. BTW, what would a prison guard be doing in the court house, anyhow?

Soooo, if he was going to be so estupido to answer the phone AND watch the vid, then, he needed to tell his 'team' about this new development, obvio.

And why on earth would he think that OG would keep his end of the deal if he didn't do so after Justo forked over ten million dollars? Now, with JAntos locked up forever, he thinks that OG will keep his paws off of Maria? JAntos needed to think things through a bit better. The only way his loved ones would ever be safe from OG would be if he were OUT of prison, not in it.

He's actually far worse than a gigantic horse's ass. Words fail me.

Ay, Jorgito, how could you?
 

Just loved the instant burn. Perjury >> guilty >> go directly to jail for 8 stinking years, do not pass go, do not have a trial, just get your lying azz out of here.

But if that's the way it works, how come the lovely Susan Davis didn't get the same deal?

I just loved the jury speaking Spanish during deliberations. I'm sure!! However, I have to say that the use of Spanish in this TN for the scenes in the US really doesn't bother me at all. I accept it as a well-established convention and I know there are many practical reasons for the production team to do it the way that they have. (From what I have seen, I don't think JS has really fantastic English skills, for one thing.) However, that jury scene just cracked me up.

This whole thing is in such a death spiral of ridiculousness, I am going to be glad when it is all over.
 

Not only a gigantic horses ass a cowardly one as well. All he had to do was wait for the verdict, whisper to Justo that OJ had threatened Maria. But no he acts like a jackasswith a hero complex.

I don't think the judge can sentence him for his "admitted "crimes. He was tried for those and probably found not guilty — it would be double jeopardy. Then again this is some Mejia designed judicial system. And the judge could not have sentenced him immediately he would have to have been tired. Dio Mio I need a drink.
 

"Dio Mio I need a drink."

You and me both, Decie Girl! Salud!
 

I forgot to put in that OG told JA to put the phone back where he found it, I believe--also that he did have eyes and ears everywhere JA went. So that's why he didn't supposedly show the video to the judge or Justo/Maria. I would have forwarded the video to Justo and the judge. Then, I'd have deleted the forwarded message to cover my tracks and put the phone back just like OG said. At least he'd know that the judge and Justo would be pointed in the right direction while he waits in jail on a certain to be revoked? sentence.
==============

My take:
So, in order to get Giuliano's goat and save Maria HIMSELF, he plays the sacrificial lamb and appears to be a horse's ass.

Sat Sep 28, 07:31:00 PM EDT Delete
 

You're giving him a lot of credit, Jardinera, but I like your idea.

I think I may be a bit too reality based, in that if he confessed to the judge like that, it would not be easy to repair, even if he had a good reason. However, in the marvelous, magical, mysterious, Mejia legal world, anything can and may happen.
 

None of this jives with Santos' track record of resourcefulness. Making a call on the cell phone to his father and forwarding the video is exactly what we should have expected from him if actually handing the phone over wouldn't have been possible.
 

I vote horse's ass.

This was so painful to watch! Unfortunately, Mr. 5ft was not around for me to share my shock and dismay with. Maybe shock is too strong a word, though. I'm so glad this is nearly over!
 

Jardinera, comoo siempre,you have made silk out of a sow's ear.

I was sitting there with my jaw dropped watching JA do this estupidez. I have to say that, so far, this Mejia guy does NOT impress me in the least.

I will tell you who does impress me and that is one Eugenio Derbez! Man oh man! Today, I saw the movie in which he directed and starred: "No se aceptan devoluciones" or "Instructions Not Included". I loved, loved it!

If this movie comes to a theatre new you, you need to see it. There were surprises and happiness and sadness, but so very well done. This Mr. Derbez is a huge talent! My understanding is that he has donated a fair share of the box office receipts to help the hurricane victims in Mexico.

And get this: there was a preview of a new movie opening soon that had Jaime Camil in it! I think this guy is so handsome. Plus, WAIT FOR IT: He is a mariachi! You should see him in the traje!

Guys, I was in hog heaven today and looking forward to this Jaime Camil movie, too!

Better yet, I was able to understand just about everything that was said without looking at the subtitles during the Derbez movie! My Spanish teacher will be so happy!!

Mil gracias, Jardinera. :))
 

Oy, brain is faster than the hands. Meant to say: "como siempre"

...and: That HAS Jaime Camil in it.

Fatima
 

Fatima, I had some friends' whose opinion I also trust recommend "No se aceptan devoluciones" as well. Thanks for mentioning it; I'll make a point to see it.

If JAntos is just playing with OG and giving him some line before he reels him in, then his comment just after he saw the vid that he would turn in OG makes sense. Otherwise it, and frankly the rest of his behavior after he got the call, doesn't make any sense at all. And I'll count on some Mejia pixie dust to fix the legal mess that he would be for pulling this stunt in real life.

So I am changing my vote from horse's ass, not to sacrificial lamb, but to sly handsome devil covered in pixie dust. :)
 

Great point, Carolina. That would be consistent with Santos' previous behavior and his modus operandi.

The spirit of justice would have to cut Santos some slack for perjury in this case for two reasons: The ineptitude of Curtis and Derecho in their failure to protect him from the two attempts on his life and Giuliano's threats against Maria and Wendy.

One also has to wonder if Maria's deportation would somehow legally invalidate her participation in the trial and create an opportunity for a new trial if the rest of the evidence against Giuliano isn't in yet.

Since Santos never set foot in the Palmdale bank and never touched that bank account I think that nails Giuliano and the nasty ex-GF.

Here's what I'm guessing will happen:

Justo will pursue his suit against the city of El Lay for their gross mishandling of the case. He can also file a suit personally against Carl Summers for defamation of Santos' character. Summers should end up before a legal disciplinary committee and get disbarred for prosecutorial misconduct (If his personal motives for his slanders in the courtroom were known he would have been asked to recuse himself from the case). When Giuliano is finally nailed -- not just for what is in the video but for his infiltration into the prison and the courtroom -- Justo will drop his suit against El Lay in exchange for Santos' release and his name being cleared.

Whether or not Justo goes back into diplomatic service he will sell the family mansion and move back to Mexico.
 

Carolina, I so think you would enjoy the Derbez film. I hope you get to see it!

Guys, you know what really kills me? PALMDALE! The huge deal in Palmdale is Edwards Air Force Base. NASA has a contingent there. The "Skunkworks" is there (super secret!!) In short, a very "big deal" Air Force base.

Maybe one of Mejia's writers spent some time in Palmdale. Who knows?!

:))

Fatima
 

The idea of forwarding the video is a good one and Santos is smart. Since we only have 5 hours left and one will be dedicated to the boda and a load of singing (we can only hope) I now must have faith that someone with brains will do the investigation.

I still think Santos was a horses ass for picking up the phone and even bothering to talk to the orange one.

God help us please do not make Mirna Isa's true mother.The woman has no morals or values but it certainly is pointing that way YUCK, the little girl deserves better. and much as I hate to say it Amelia is the better option.

With any luck I won't have another word to say about the horrific liberties taken with our judicial system but no DA in his right mind would taunt a defense attorney after apparently winning a case which we know he actually lost. It is the height on incivility and while the two sides may not like each other (anyone see the Jodi Arias case) they do maintain a professional code of conduct. Justo will have the last laugh since Sommers will be discovered to have been OJ's puppet.

Since OJ is going to make a run for the border I'm hoping he is stupid enough to leave his computer and that some bright cop will find the video on it and turn it in, on the off chance that Santos didn't forward it.

So now we have the mishmash advances which tell us only that Santos gets shot. Guess that is a must in a Mejia TN, that or being stabbed a couple of times or blown up in a boat a couple of times. If there is any shooting I want it to be OJ, Redneck and Evile.
 

Just thought of something. OJ reported Maria to ICE. How did he know she was in the country illegally? I'm pretty darn sure she never told him and Justo most certainly wouldn't have. Was it just a lucky guess on his part?
 

DecieGirl: good question. Obviously you haven't been tightening your beanie the required amount or you wouldn't be asking such things.
 

Jardinera

I'm a writer who studied acting with a lawyer for a father and since I don't speak Spanish I have to watch things very closely and sometimes my logical mind gets in the way.

I know all about suspending disbelief but even that is no excuse for how far off the rails the writers on QBA went. To be fair to them the ones on LT and the rest push the believability envelope as well. I have to occasionally take a good gulp of wine and remind myself that this is after all entertainment.

I wonder why it is that so many times when we get near the end of a novela it goes off the rails and we are left counting the days until we are put out of our misery while at the same time thinking how much we will miss the characters we have come to love, to like and to hate and wish dead.
 

Ain't no beanie strong enough for some of this nonsense. :)

QBA has been ridiculous pretty much from the get go, but those of us who have stuck it out have done so (I think) because of the music, the location, Jorge and perhaps other reasons. At least those are my reasons.

ITA that it has completely gone off the rails here at the end. As you all know, they lost me a few weeks ago, and it's only gotten worse since. I've only watched a few TNs from start to finish, but this is the only one that I have felt just disgusted with at this point.

I have to think that the writers know what they are doing. They know their primary audience, which is not us gringas. And I have to think that this is what their main audience must like or want, or at least is not bothered to the extent that we are.

I can handle all the misrepresentations of our legal system if I just see it as indicative of the gulf of misunderstanding and ignorance that lies between our two cultures. I haven't seen anything in QBA that I consider really anti-American; it's just showing the way that they see us, accurate or not, warts and all. After all, their institutions are horribly misrepresented in our entertainment and even our news programs all the time. Both cultures do a lot of stereotyping.

What I have tried to do is not take things too personally, but just try to gain some insight from their point of view. Mainly what I have seen is an overlay of how their justice system works on ours. They think our system is a lot more like theirs than it really is. That's pretty ignorant, but then how many Americans understand how any other country's justice system functions? Not many, I'd say.


 

ps. Palmdale? Yeah, that's rich!
 

Ok, yet another one of us who agrees that Palmdale (the quasi Area 54 of CA) is a huge stretch. The minute they said Palmdale, I wondered if there was going to be another angle to this story. I just kept scratching my head and tightening the vise grip even stronger when they first mentioned it. Why in the heck would someone in LA go to a bank in Palmdale (unless they had something to hide, of course). Zowie.

Carolina, you make a good point. The writers aren't writing for us gringas, but when you go see the Eugenio Derbez movie, you will see that some writers/producers/directors actually write for a THINKING audience.

You guys have got to go see the Derbez movie!

Fatima
 

Decie Girl, forgot to say that I think it is fantastic that you are a writer! What a talent you have. You and Urban should become TN writers as should the rest of our wonderful recappers on QBA. You ladies just have a gift and I admire you for that!

Fatima
 

Giuliano has spies in a lot of places, so why not immigration or whatever office you need to get a passport from?

Giuliano isn't stupid about stuff like that. If Santos was taken back to El Lay as a fugitive Maria could easily be regarded as someone who aided and abetted his continued absence from the US. That kept her from getting a passport in the first place.

It could just as easily have been a shot in the dark and it would be consistent with the regular stupidity of all the police in this story for them to grab her first and ask questions later (or not at all).
 

Pretty stupid of Giuliano to report Maria to ICE. What happened to the "vas a ser mia, solo mia" he was pursed-lip-claiming? Now he has to go back to Mexico after her if he intends to have her - where her people will rally around her and keep her safer than she would be all alone in LA. Menso!
 

Giuliano may not realize how close Maria's friends are to her. This move also accomplishes two other things:

-- It gets her away from Santos
-- It disorients her in the process and makes her more vulnerable.

However, Giuliano isn't smart enough to realize that Ruben is going to fight him, too.

Per the first statement, both Giuliano and Ruben see women as objects to be possessed. I doubt they realize that other men can or do think any different way about this.
 

Deciegirl: Never meant to get your hackles up. I was agreeing with you, amiga. Drink another tinto for me since I'm on a diet and cannot commiserate and enjoy mis tragos! ; ? ))
 

Hey folks--as many eyes as OJ has doing the spying on Maria, the incredibility started when
1. he showed up at the restaurant
2. knew exactly where she was staying (run down motel).

If he didn't know then, he would have seen her on the 'streaming live' broadcast of the trial.

As UA alluded, he may just be guessing she's here illegally and it we want to give him a couple of pennies for common sense, even if she is here legally (got a visa, etc. etc.) it would be enough to fastidiar her. Too bad ICE can't charge folks to recoup the cost of raids on false leads.

Shot? With only 5 epis left? How long will it take him to recover? Has Santos been in the hospital in this tn? THAT seems to be the Mejia rule. This tn has been so interminable that I can't remember--I do remember that all other Mendoza family memebers have been in, except for Paloma. Oh and Wendy has, too.

Carolina, your quip sounds like a good song title: "Ain't no beanie strong enough for some of this nonsense. :)" [P.S. I like this one, too, "...sly handsome devil covered in pixie dust. :)"

 

Carolina/Anita: ditto those phrases.
 

Paloma has been the only member of the Mendoza family to escape the Mandatory Hospital Stay. Santos hasn't been hospitalized yet, either. He was either Just Visiting or donating blood.

Giuliano found out how to find Maria because the guard on his payroll had the information from when she left it for Santos at the prison. This is very believable, as he would have learned how to do this from El Padrino. It is much less believable that he would be out for personal revenge for his petty reasons. If Santos had knocked up his sister, his revenge would at least have a logical motive.
 

Jardinera sweetie you didn't get my hackles up I was agreeing with you as well. I keep reminding myself this this is entertainment and it really is.

ANITA OJ knew where Maria worked and stayed because in one of her idiot moments she gave his guard her contact information in case anything happened to Santos. He of course practically broke his finger passing on the info to OJ.

OJ knows that Ruben is interested in Maria because first they had that little tiff when Ruben canceled the business deal because he didn't like the way OJ reacted to Maria and secondly after the great bar blow up Ruben told him he would pay for trying to harm Maria. OJ, like Ruben, thinks he's hot stuff and I'm pretty sure he thinks Maria would prefer him to the other crooked lawyer. Two delusional idiots if there ever were any.
 

Anita/Jardinera, I'm happy to bring a smile to your faces, mis amigas.

And Jardinera, I realized I forgot my manners. Thank you for rescuing a really bad episode with an entertaining and well written recap. I don't know how you and the rest of our fab recap team do it.
 

Maria had no way of knowing that this guard is on Giuliano's payroll. Santos still didn't seem to realize it although finding the cell phone the other day should be a clue.
 

With only 5 hours to go I have list of questions that I would like answered although i have little hope they will be.

OJ - will he be charged/convicted of murdering his cousins, the GF, attempted murder of Maria and Santos, of Justo?

The money laundering

Blackmailing Santos

Extorting money from Justo

RUBEN - Fabnot’s murder

Kidnapping of Santos

Essentially stealing the bar from Concho

The attempted rape of Maria

CONCHO - stealing the Mendoza share of the bar

E-VILE - the wax job

Stealing Mirna’s stolen money.

MIRNA - embezzling money from JTNR

ISA - who are her parents - God help I hope it isn’t Mirna

THE DERECHOS - will they finally get a clue about OJ’s murders,

El Padrino murder

The real money launderer

The crooked guard

The crooked lawyer

MEXICAN KOPS - Fabnot’s killer

The Bar bombing

Irasema and Santo’s kidnappings

IRASEMA - will she remember Ruben’s voice during the killing or who cares anymore

Her brothers

7 SEAS - what is his connection to Mirna or am i the only one who wants to know

VAINESSA - punishment for all her nasty spoiled rotten little tricks

I'm sure I'll think of more but those are on the top of my list at the moment.
 

If Mirna is Isabel's birth mother maybe Siete Mares is the sperm donor.

Do we know either of their blood types?
 

URBAN nope their blood types never came up. The reason I am curious about their relationship is that when he first went to JTNR and saw Mirna he comments that she reminded him of someone and she was very uncomfortable. Since he is so shattered by the death of his wife and child I can't see him being the type who would have let Mirna run off and give away his child if the relationship took place prior to his marriage. But, he may know something about her history.

Where did she get a picture of who we assume if Isa? I'm wondering if this is just another diversion on the writers part. Does she have a beef against Ruben other than him stealing the bar. Maybe the picture is of Concho?

Thought of another question for my list

Don Nando - will he get his memory back and hopefully will he get out of jail. If he killed anyone it might be second degree or manslaughter and those do not carry a 30 year sentence. Heck Dan White killed the Mayor of San Francisco and a city Supervisor in what was obviously 1st degree and he got 7 years still SHM after all these years.
 

Good question. Maybe they're related?

No matter, but I'd rather have the mystery of Isabel's parentage solved. I'm also concerned about Don Nando.
 

Another mystery OR Red Herring--

Wasn't it Santos who had the rare blood type that matched Isa's and that's when it all came out that she was a foundling?

Didn't we all speculate that there was an unrevealed relationship between the two?
 

ANITA

Correct Santos had the rare blood type and nobody else did but I don't remember Mirna being there. We were heavy into speculating at that time that there was a tie either through Santos or Justo. Of course it could have been Graciela or Wendy which is about as likely as me winning a Powerball Jackpot. The only good thing is that there are only 5 days left to either reveal the truth or forget the whole thing. Of course we need to consider the fact that Isa had an instant attraction to her Papito so is this yet again THE CALL OF THE BLOOD? lol
 

Me? I'm preparing to forget a lot of things. I think the writers of this wreck are all ADD, or maybe they've had a lot of staff turn over and the new crew doesn't bother to read what the old crew wrote.

I do not think all of this will be tied up in a pretty bundle for us.