Caray, Caray!

Amigos:

This compacting of episodes is just crap. The storyline is so chopped that there is no keeping up with everything. Pah!

The main thing that was edited out of today's capitulo is that Fulgencio killed the missing Federale. Fully stalked the guy after he got drunk and stumbled out of La Guacamaya. Fully hit the officer with his giant SUV and ran over the guy with a thump.

Next, we saw Fulgencio in the cop's room searching for the 'evidence' that the Feds have on the trafficking cartel. We wondered just where he was and how the hell he got there.

Well, now you know. Fulgencio can add the policeman to his list of victims.

This is not a spoiler, people. This is not a preview of something yet to happen in the action of the story. I offer here, for the sake of the good viewer, a few missing bits of the narrative that have already occurred in the story but that have been left on the cutting room floor as it is being shown here in the US.

I am such a story geek. I HATE this horrible editing. It is so distracting! Have I said that I HATE these compressed capitulos?

Your very cranky recapper,

Elna June
 

EJ:

Thanks for this marvelous recap. You may be cranky but this recap is glittering with every word!

Marina sure is jealous. I am glad she told Ursully that she loves DamHawt with her whole heart and soul.

I don't like the fact that Herny now knows about the twins, just one more thing he can use. I can't stand him!

I do feel really bad for Bea, before Y'all throw things at me, she is dying now for sure. Who knows how much longer she has left? She did know that Marina was Ariel's with another woman when he brought her home to Bea, and he even begged Bea to forgive him. She did and accepted Marina, she just never knew who the Mama was, and now she knows. I think that now she knows she is dying she doesn't want Marina to leave her. I don't think Marina would do that anyways and I think maybe Marina would react to Mercedes the same way that Mags did unless she got the whole explanation. But I am very glad that they are at peace now and agreed to protect Marina and keep her away from Pervy Ernie but the problem is Herny of course. They have no clue about him being in with Pervy Ernie.

I am glad that Laz told DamInterested about the Commandante being alive. I hope Dam joins the team to nab the bad guys, cause at the rate the cops are being knocked off, they will need all the help they can get. I am still liking the Commandante.

Thanks again EJ. You being cranky produced such a sparkling recap I must say Thank You Very Much!!!!!!!
 

I second Madelaine's comment. Elna June, you very effectively untangled that mess of an episode.
I cannot believe the way they chopped that up, there was no clue as to where Fully was when he was looking at those papers or what had happened to the Fed. Thank you for finding out about the lost scenes, I suspect that they may have skipped almost a whole Capitula.

And, you managed to put in some much needed snark. I loved, "The foxtail Hernan-(just try to get him out of your sock)
Think, DamSlow, think…."

What was DamSlow was the CC. They where running about 5 minutes behind, so you had Hernan saying to Mags, "I am her real Madre".

I wish Mags would have kicked Hernan before he realized she wasn't Marina.

By the by, Damian doesn’t drive to the DF to be with Marina because that kindly old doctor told him not to…that a fight with Hernan at the hospital in the DF would be disruptive (or something equally ridiculous) to Bea’s health. That was toward the end of the episode on Tuesday night. Doesn't explain why Marina was mad at him, though.

Are they trying to hurry the story?



 

Elna June: You extracted something delightful out of this sour, sordid mess. You stamped this with your marvelous humor which made me momentarily forget what an unintelligible mess this episode was. Gracias.

"Bea extracts a deathbed promise from Marina, only she doesn’t die", "the foxtail Hernan (just try to get him out of your sock!)" and "the bleeding edge of drama" were Damwonderful.

I was totally lost as to where Fully was looking for evidence. Thank you so much for explaining the missing events. So, he has added yet another victim to the list.

With all the secrets that were revealed last night, these events deserved far better than the abbreviated scenes that ran. So, Ernesto and now Hernan both know of Mags existence and revenge and manipulation are threatened. I wanted to reach into the TV and smack Hernan's smirk from his face as he taunted Mercedes. I feel for both her and Bea. Difficult situation for both of them but glad they are banding together for M&M's sake.

Is there any emotion to Mags or is her steely smile and lazar sharp glare all there is? I'm not sure. I feel she has had a terrible life so perhaps her fate in life will be a good offense (the best defense) and a purposeful warding off of any real connection with others and an inability to be or feel kindness or caring. My heart goes out to her.

"WHY DOESN’T DAMIAN DRIVE TO D. F. TO BE WITH MARINA???" I imagine Dam listed to the doctor and decided he would be a distraction (?) Another bad decision.

Madelaine, I was also glad Laz confided in Dam about the Commandante. He can be trusted and sharing his secret to a valued friend was the right thing to do.

As for Ernesto slapping Ester? He just gained a seat on the express train to hell.

Thanks again Elna June!

Diana
 

Diana:

I can see why Mags is the way she is, all those years on the street and it would be hard for her to trust anyone. I do like the fact she basically listens to Mercy and is staying with her and off the sauce. What I really like about Mags is that she has an instinct about Herny not being trustworthy. I loved the look she gave him as if to say take your BS and move elsewhere ; )


I wish that Mercy would tell Mags the whole truth now. Pervy Ernie and Herny are both wise about the twins now, if she wants to protect Mags she has got to tell her the truth. I also don't like it that Marina has no idea about Mags or Mercy being her Mama, but at least Marina has people looking out for her.

I also had to laugh at the confrontation with Mercy and Pervy Ernie. At the end of that convo I thought it was funny that he told her never to come back there again, just as she told him the other night, never to come back to her club again. He said it with such a smirk, she got the irony ; )
 

Well then.

The Personal
I was watching this WITH YOU.
I FEEL your pain.
The grouchier you get, the funnier you get.
Moral of the story: never ask WHY.

The Technical
Your bullet points are things of beauty.
If I were Susanlynn or Vivien, I would use them in my classroom.

The Narrative
I'm glad you told us where Fulgencio was when he went on his mysterious nocturnal errand.
Almost all of Ursula has been edited from the version we are shown; this is not a bad thing.

A Small Doubt
"Marina promises her un-dead mother to leave Nuestra Señora del Mar. FOR. EVER."
Did we hear her say that? I must have been nodding at the switch.

A Sample of Brilliant EJ-isms
Ernesto’s Penitentiary and Mansion
Bea extracts a deathbed promise from Marina, only she doesn’t die.
the foxtail Hernan (just try to get him out of your sock!)
Ursula’s tail is not prehensile but she is able to grab Damian anyway.*
[Actually it might be]
It is easy to hate Fulgencio.*
[A new song for us? You'd beeeee so easy to hate...]
Think, DamSlow, think.
The Graffiti Van Federal Command Center
Bea the Bass is gape mouthed in shock. - Shut your trap, Bea, or you could catch a fly in it.

The Closing
I'll stop here before I end up quoting your entire arsenal of silver bullets. I know I am being much too wordy; but I will be away for a while and wanted to be sure to squeeze in most of what I wanted to say before I go.

Thank you so much for working your magic on this dreck. You are amazing!
 

So much to love, starting with the bullet points idea which is so good for my chaotic brain.

And then:

"Bea extracts a deathbed promise from Marina, only she doesn't die."[more's the pity, this woman annoys the bejesus out of me}

the foxtail Hernán (just try to get him out of your sock!)[what an image!]

Ursula's tail is not prehensile but she is able to grab Damian anyway." [unforgettable...and as NovelaMaven noted, maybe it IS]

"Bea the Bass is gape mouthed in shock.-Shut your trap, Bea, or you could catch a fly in it."

Way to rock a recap, lady. May you always be fervently annoyed and driven to bullet points, my friend--because this was brilliant.
 

Thanks for this snappy and wonderfully detailed recap. I thought I was losing it (well, maybe I am) with the talk about the missing agent and with Fulgencio shuffling through those papers. Thanks for explaining what we missed.

OK, so Ernesto catches Hada, his pregnant wife conferring with the slimy Hernán and he chooses to slap Hada? That cowardly bastard.

Carlos
 

Good morning EJ. Thanks goodness I read your recap before I watched the episode (which I am watching now). I would have been very confused about the missing Fed. I know editing is not easy, but I still think they should be able to get humans to do it instead of a barrel of monkeys. You said it best. Pah!!

Anyhoo, the wretched editing and nonsensical sequence of events did nothing to diminish your humor. Quite the contrary.

The "foxtail" Hernan, OMG that is friggin' brilliant!! He even looks foxy so that is how I'm going to think of him forever and ever amen.

OK, back to watching this "episode" such as it is. And I use the term loosely.
 

Wow. Just saw this, and actually it looked like Ernesto hit his pregnant wife with a closed fist, not an open hand. Even worse.

Now a little rant of my own. I'm glad Bea and Mercedes came to some kind of agreement, but I really object to Mercedes saying "she's not your daughter" and "I'm the real (verdadera) madre". Jeez. As much as Bea annoys me, that approach is all wrong.

Of course Bea is her mother, for all the reasons she gave. She raised her, she suffered with her, she walked the floor at night with her etc. And of course she should have told her at some early point that she was adopted.

But Mercedes needed to identify herself as the "biological mother" rather than the "real mother". That would have been a lot less wounding. That whole conversation just made me hurt for adoptive mothers everywhere.

My children are biologically my own, but had I adopted, I would be ready to kill someone who waltzed in one day and declared herself the REAL MOTHER. No way, baby.

And for all those wise adoptive mothers who help their children search for their biological parents, I have the highest respect. A friend of mine did that, and naturally had mixed feelings, but it turned out well. The biological parents are both great (though not married to each other) but the daughter and adoptive mother couldn't be closer or more attached to each other. It turned out well, in every sense of the world.

Hmmm...feeling better now.
 

Thanks, EJ. I was more lost than the rest of you because I was surfing between R-lady and Project Runway. Thanks for providing the parts that fell on the cutting room floor. So careless.

Not having a good day...our refrig just died (researching brands to buy or avoid )..daughter was only allowed one year on the PFA and he would not sign admitting guilt .....the girls go to him this weekend...a friend just died...it's raining. I cannot watch Hernan and Ernasto because they are reminders that there are evil guys in the world for real. ....basta.
 

SusanLynn:

When it rains it pours : ( So sorry for your bad day. Sending you warm feelings and a wish for things to work out : )
 

Elna June - Thanks so much for making sense of last night. I thought I might've gotten snoozy and missed some bits. My favorites:

"the foxtail Hernan (just try to get him out of your sock!)"

"Ursula’s tail is not prehensile but she is able to grab Damian anyway."

"He wonders just HOW he could contact Marina. Think, DamSlow, think."

I like Mercedes, but she's needs to think more about what Mags has been through. Mercedes said something to Mags like “you have no idea blah blah blah how bad my enemies are.” If Mags has managed to survive all the vermin out on the streets, she can handle Mercedes telling her the whole truth, right now.

JudyB - ITA all you said about Bea.

But Bea is not thinking straight about not telling Marina, cause when Bea dies surely Marina would discover the truth in sorting out Bea's estate. Hope Bea tells Becky at least.

I have to compliment the editing on one tiny count, Ernesto's slapping 10-month pregnant Estercita/Hada. The edit made it look like the slap dropped Hada to the floor, but thank goodness didn't show her fall.

I was hoping Mercedes would run into Marcario at Ernesto's, but nope.
 

Susanlynn...I'm so sorry. You're right, there ARE bad guys in the world but I keep hoping your former son-in-law will get with a 12 step program and make amends and become a better person and father. In the meantime, dealing with rain on top of all of the family stuff is such a downer.

Most refrigerators seem pretty reliable but I will tell you that choosing stainless steel has a downside. You are ALWAYS cleaning off smudges unless you get the stainless steel matte finish where it doesn't show. I miss my old almond colored one (not to mention my avocado green one that matched my sob! now long gone Maytag washer and dryer.
 

Hello again. Thanks to EJ's superior recap I was actually able to enjoy the episode. I love the bullet points! That's a great idea.

Oh man, that Ernesto is a horrible, horrible slimeball. I can't believe he struck poor Hada. I trust it will work against him and that EsterHada will escape in order to find out her past. Not that I want her to get between Dam and Marina (which she will of course), but I DO want her out of that sadist's clutches. Pah! (to quote EJ)

I thought the funniest part of the whole episode was that everyone is tiptoeing around Bea so as not to upset her, then Mercedes shows up and drops the biggest bomb of all. Um...shock much?

Susanlynn, I wish you were having a better day. Stay strong amiga.
 

Speaking of cut scenes, I checked out the two episodes that were combined into Wednesday's episode and Novela Maven is right, a lot of Ursula's scenes are chopped. And I agree it is a good thing. They also chopped a cute scene in La Guaca where Candy flirts outrageously with Lolo (back at last!). There is also a clever scene where Olinto, depressed at being fired, sits down next to the beggar (Robles of course) and pours out his soul. He says that he saw Lara sneak into the fishery but can't prove he did anything bad, so Robles has this info.

Emarie, I don't know why they are editing, but there is always a lot of extra crap in these shows so I don't have a problem with it EXCEPT that is very badly done. What do they say...if you can't do a job right don't do it all? And I wish Mags would have kicked Hernan too.
 

Dear Caray Caray friends:

I am so happy to see each of you and I appreciate your kind words.

I know we all have different motives for watching telenovelas. My motivation is the love of learning the Spanish language and Mexican culture, the long arc—but contained—storytelling,the geography and location shots, and the chance to see a television-based repertory theater do it's thing.

I love the genre. Do not get me wrong. I love to imagine the writers working with elements of predictable stories and then see these same story basics shaken and thrown on the table for sorting and compilation.

The attractiveness of the people and their costumes is an added benefit to me, an amusement, not a primary motivation for watching the shows.

Finding myself with this rather limited focus and a finite attention span, you can imagine my dismay when a storyline is chopped up beyond all recognition.

The storyteller in me wants to fill in the blanks, to discover why certain details and information have been withheld from the viewer. When the answer is that the poor ratings of a telenovela have caused the truncation of a show I feel ripped off and unhappy. Where is the reward to even the casual viewer who invests many hours a month in getting to know a telenovela story and characters?

Knowing that many of you share my feelings, I remain,

Yours In Caray Caray,

Elna June
 

EJ - thanks for putting it in a way so we're not confused. wonderful, witty recap.


Emarie - the slow CC3 last night was distracting/annoying.


I am still utterly peeved that L-Uni would censor beautiful hot love scenes, and not, for example, the contemptible scene where Ernest slugs Hada. UGH!

I like 'pouty' Magda.








 

Susalynn:

My heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult time. Please know that I am sending you all kind, loving thoughts during this dreadful time. You are not alone.

Abrazos,

EJ
 

Emarie:

Your cooments, "What was DamSlow was the CC. They where running about 5 minutes behind, so you had Hernan saying to Mags, "I am her real Madre".

OMG, now that is funny.

Sylvia: ITA on the "Don't shock Bea" stuff. I cannot imagine a greater shock for Bea's character than what Mercedes told her last night.

ITA with all who have commented that Ernesto's punch of the pregnant Hada was hideous. I suppose that reinforces the show's central theme of violence and abuse toward women, but I question whether we had to see that.

JudyB: ITA with you about the whole REAL mother thing. What is a 'real' mother? Your friend seems to have dealt brilliantly with the situation with her daughter. Good for her.

I thought Mercedes was a little ruthless with Bea last night. You could say it was because she was worried about Bea's safety, but I also thought Daniela Romo played it a little like Mercedes had a pretty good case of entitlement going on when she said that it was time for HER agony to be at an end.

I simply do not agree with the REAL mother stuff. Why can't there be TWO real mothers? Perhaps this is a Mexico US cultural difference that we are experiencing that is related to the call of the sangre trope we see in so many TNs.

EJ



 

EJ thanks for this great recap. I understand why you were crabby, with all the deleting of plot points, though vexations of all types seem to make recaps even better. I hate horrible editing also. At least Uni could post something so we (and you recappers) wouldn't have be wondering where on earth Fully was and why?

NM - you are too funny "Almost all of Ursula has been edited from the version we are shown; this is not a bad thing."

Susanlynn - pointing positive energy in your direction. I hope you can use the bad weather here in southeastern PA as an excuse to treat yourself to something fun (good book, warm bath, hot cocoa).

Mads - though Bea's situation is bad, I can't total feel bad for her b/c of her continued manipulation of her daughter. She and Marina have a good relationship but she's so insecure she tries to make Marina marry someone she wants to, repeatedly tries to make Marina quit her job, and won't tell her about her birth mother. Marina will always love you and you raised her.

Carlos & Judy - Ernesto hitting Ester was wretched and now with the closed fist. ITA w/Diana his train to Hades can't take him there fast enough for me.

Sylvia - on Bea - how did she manage to stay alive with no crises through Mercy's reveal but seems to be near death so often?
 

Karen, I think EJ nailed it when she said "This appears to be Bea’s MO—her character takes us to the bleeding edge of drama, but doesn’t die."

I am always amazed at EJ's astute observations and ability to sum things up so succinctly. Yeah yeah, I know it's her "job", but still.
 

Why does DamFab get to be just friends with Candy and Ursula without Marina going apesh*t, and doesn't work the other way around?



 

NM: thank for your comments. I am glad you were amused by the recap.I know, I am so predictable. In every novela you always end up reminding me to stop asking 'Why"? My need to understand the 'logic' of a story is absolutely compulsive. Thanks, amiga. Hope you have a good day.

Karen: Thank for stopping by and empathizing with me in my sad plight (ha ha). Grin. Great to have a friend who is also a fellow story lover—and you are a real expert in the question of film-based story editing. We are lucky to have your feedback on the blog.

Diana: "As for Ernesto slapping Ester? He just gained a seat on the express train to hell". May your words come true sooner rather than later, dear. It is hard to watch an actor who is playing an abuser so successfully.

Mads: You are right about what will happen if Mercy doesn't tell Magdalena the whole truth ASAP. Magda has a great bullshit meter and she might prove a good ally for Mercedes if she got the chance. I, too, like how Ximena is playing Magda. A lack of trust is what probably kept Mags alive. Survival is hard work.

Carlos: Ernesto is a cowardly bastard. if Hada were to stay with him he would make her life a living hell after the baby is born. Furthermore, he will try to maintain custody of the child, you know that. How funny if Mercedes and Hada/Ester ended up being allies against Ernesto. OK I admit that is a bit farfetched, but Mercy gave Hada a hard look as she left the Mansion/Prison yesterday.

Sylvia: Everyone should have a friend like you.Thanks for all your kind words and for filling in more of the blanks of the story.

Niecie: You ar SO right about Bea needing to tell Becky about what is going on. I wonder if the docs told her that her disease is terminal and she is in it's later stages. Perhaps them Bea would WANT Mercedes to be there for Marina, since our heroine is so dependent on her Mom Bea.

JudyB: I had to giggle at you (still) mouring your long dead olive green Maytag washer and dryer.

EJ
 

shallowgal: Marina is a jealous one, isn't she? That could cause her some REAL problems later on, but it is nice to see the Protagonista have a few flaws.

On the censoring of love instead of violence, go figure.

EJ
 

EJ, at first I though Mercedes might be giving Hada hard look because she recognized her somehow. But after reading your comment I realize she might have given her a hard look because she has a finely honed abuse meter.

ITA that Ernesto would/will eventually dump Hada and keep the kid. No real person could possibly live up to his expectations, even a Stepford amnesiac.
 

Susanlynn, sending hugs and prayers - God bless.

Diana
 

Many thanks for making sense of this recap, elna june sonoma! This episode was cr@p as you said!

I think the Doc was telling DamMad to calm down and control himself before he went to see Marina. But DamDumb didn't get that he could go see Marina and also not create a scene with Herny.

Can't say much about Bea, since she is dead to me. But, her reaction speaks volumes of who she is and it isn't pretty. Come on! Bea will always be her Mother. Mercedes will have to work into a place in Marina's life as another Mother. Bea's limited thinking is sad. There isn't a restriction on how much love can go around. There's plenty for both Mothers. In fact Bea got the better end of that deal and she should be grateful that Mercedes is such a thoughtful and giving person.

I too miss my old appliances. I think they're making them out of plastic now and don't last long.

Marea Primavera
 

Elna June, thanks for creating a useful, logical, and entertaining silk purse from this sow's ear of an episode.

This is a wonderful place to hang out, with warmth, care, and comedy to lighten the load of our daily lives. Continuing wishes for Susanlynn's difficult situation and for any others dealing with burdens in their lives. At least we can lose ourselves for the moment a pair of manly, muscular arms, or some new scenery. Or, we can fuss about the TN as we please.
 

Elna June, thank you so much for angry bullet points and stitching together a ragged storyline.

Mercy is delusional. That's all I can say. I know I am biased toward Bea as I like her as an ordinary person who tries to do her best with her limited insight, but Mercy is insane. I remember she said earlier she gave Marina to Ariel with a promise to retrieve the baby when she finds Maggie. No lady, you do not lend a baby and come back 25 years later to claim a young woman as your daughter. It does not work this way.

Ugh.
 

La Paloma:
I agree with you; Caray Caray is a wonderful place to hang out. I feel very lucky to have 'met' so many dear, smart, funny, kind and sassy people. Thanks for articulating the pleasure I take from being a member of this forum.

vita:
You have a real point about Mercedes. I pointed out earlier that I found her to be rather ruthless with Bea. That was an understatement, no? I was particularly struck by Mercedes' comment that it was time for her to be out of HER agony as a mother. Huh? For most women who take a decision to give up a child for adoption it must be a life-long pain. But there is no end date in the plan. Unless the child should so choose, as in the case that Judy mentioned above, you have forfeited your right to a relationship with that child/person.

As to Bea, I do find her character to be very annoying. I appreciate that she is doing her best, but I cannot get over her extremely controlling behavior. Her is the control of the more subtle tyrant—the victim/martyr.

I am glad that you are on this board. I always enjoy your comments and poetic offerings.

EJ
 

Elna June, thank you for your kind words. Sometimes I feel out of sync with wonderful ladies and gents on this board being new to TNs. Ask me about Korean dramas and actors though and I would talk forever!

Yes, Bea is manipulative. You nailed it. She is a martyr, she is passive-aggressive and plays the mother's card as a pro. She is blind to Herny's moral bankruptcy and is superficial. And... she reminds me of my mom.

I feel bad for Bea though... it's terrifying to be unable to breath and feel excruciating chest pain and oxygen deprivation in the brain (that's why she faints so often). Dying thousand times only to be revived and brought back by modern medicine. People don't die quickly in this age of advanced medical interventions and Bea will suffer...

As for Mercy, she is an exceptional woman with her own blind spots. Her pain is so great she cannot feel for Bea. It does not excuse her emotional cruelty. I don't fully understand her backstory. Mercy loved Michael Fabre but slept with Ariel. Somehow Fully fell in love with her? Mercy and her secrets!
 

I like the magdalena version of ximena niverrte....she;s hotter and such a bitch ass as compared to marina's version of her;-]
 

hernan meets magdalena?????somebody please high five my forehead with a frying pan...that guy gives me the creeps uurrghh
 

Great outline! You really highlight the fraught character relationships.