Caray, Caray!

Maria is not Paloma's responsibility, but she's not Fidelia's either.

All of this could've been solved with a DNA test.

Paloma knows she wishes she could jam that knife right between Matilde's eyes.
 

Excellent recap Paquita. I'm in the middle of watching right now.

The other day someone said Mayrin and DZ are the exact same age. This is not true. She is 4 years older than he is. He just turned 39 in September and she turned 43 in this month. I think she looks wonderful for her age (or any age), and I'm happy to see someone her age not playing the galan's monther (a man usually in his 30s), as is more typical.
 

Is Maria's problem one of a chemical imbalance/mental illness, an intellectual disability she was born with, or a result of brain damage from the seizures? Or a combination of all/some of these?

I laughed when Maria scolded her kidnappers for their dumpy house and lame tv, and demanded that the tv be turned on.

Anon207- I can understand why young Ricky was too dazed, confused and guilt-ridden to initially demand a DNA test all those years ago. But I would have thought his father would have been more on the ball and seen through Ben's plan for a lifetime of money from their family.
 

Thanks Paquita, I don't know why I was surprised about Cesar wanting to be a religious missionary, but I was. Now it makes sense that he went into the fetal position after having sex with Raquel.

Vivi, the story of Maria is that she was deprived of oxygen when she was born and the epilepsy is a result of that too.
 

Paquita thanks for the recap and appropriate title.

Anon207 & Vivi - I understand why Ricky has not had a DNA test but not realizing that Ben is a good-for-nothing who would take his money and not care for Maria... This is a beanie moment b/c Ricky is smart. I guess the guilt of taking advantage of Maria has impeded his judgement.

However, Ricky has to know that Ben is a rat. And if Ben claims Maria isn't his, DNA test for him too as well as jail; I'm sick of him.

I'm happy Cesar wants the priesthood b/c being w/Berto would get him killed.
 

Karen- I think if the drunken stupor/rape claim had happened today, Ricky would not have fallen for it. Even now, he's questioning how he could have gotten it up when he was so drunk. But the guilt over Maria and the acceptance of Sebas as his son/brother has been part of his life for so long, that I think it will be hard for him to let that go. I was hoping Ori would have been more supportive about his doubts about being able to stand up to the occassion. I think he needs an outside person pushing him to get to the truth and to not just accept Ben's claims and threats.
 

I can see Ricky not demanding a DNA test. I can't see Gabe or Ricky's mom not demanding a DNA test, though. Had they done that, Ricky wouldn't be having the problems he's having today.

Maria might be mentally challenged but she's not stupid and she was intelligent enough to know to blackmail Sebastian with the news that Ricky ain't the daddy was the way to keep from going back to Benigno's house.
 

Tks so much Paquita

So if you are ever kidnapped, pretend to be loca & they will let you go.

Maria is Antonio's responsibility. I'm sure Seb is going to find out who the other guys were, probably do a DNA test himself. Probably blackmail them. He wants to know who his papa is.
 

Sebastian is going to figure out Piero's role very soon...since Maria said she "saw one of them with Ricardo just the other day."
 

Paquita:

Thanks for this excellent recap. I am really liking this TN. The storyline really is moving.

I too am with Anon 207 about Maria's mental faculties. She is intelligent enough. I think she likes Ricky so much cause he has been the only one to be kind to her. If I were her, I'd want to get away from Bennie too. He is horrid to her.

I was surprised when Paloma mimicked MadHild and stabbed that knife, but it was funny. I hope Paloma never eats those apples.

So Cesar wants to be a missionary. I am glad he went and talked to Padre Plaid.

Raqui is really working thru the men in that family. I am waiting for her to "do" Rueben next, what a hoot that would be. I think if she tried her wiles on Padre Plaid he'd tell her where to go. Or maybe she'll work on Berto. Let's see where that goes, lol.
 

Anon207, true Maria isn't Paloma's responsibility, but the house that Fidelia lives in is his, and he can say who lives there. If they bring in around the clock nurses, she can be managed.

Variopinta, Sebastian knows who is cash cow is, and it's not going to be Antonio or Piero. He may want to find out who his real father is, but he would keep it quiet. He's already gotten the inheritance money that he doesn't deserve.
 

Cesar should just go ahead and become a missionary like he wants to. He would be away from Mati traveling the world, so it's not like he would have to see/hear her displeasure about his choice each day.
 

Paquita - Thanks so much.

I feel for Sebas. He's a brat, but it can't be easy finding out you're the product of rape, and that it was 2 on 1 at that. He was protective of Maria in his way with his cuates. He brought Maria to the family home, even though she's unstable and could spill the beans about Ricardo not being his dad at anytime. This isn’t a PSA, but I hope they show Maria finally receiving professional help.

Cesar wants to be a missionary, not a Catholic priest, right? So sex is still on the table for him.
 

Niecie- Yes. Sex would still be on the table, but not sex outside of marriage, or even a committed relationship, with a woman he hardly knows and doesn't even like.
 

Great recap, Paquita. I haven't even watched this episode yet but with your recap I was able to visualize it clearly.

Niecie:

"So sex is still on the table for him."

Vivi:

"Yes. Sex would still be on the table..."

But I'll bet not in the car.

Carlos
 

I didn't realize there was still an active Catholic Mission (considering how much of the world the Church conquered long ago). I've only ever bumped into various Protestant missionaries on my travels. But I went to the Catholic World Mission site, and this is what it says:

"These foot soldiers for Christ traverse rural areas throughout Latin America, assisting parishes and priests, tending to communities that are often lost and forgotten.

These missionaries are critical support, particularly in Mexico, where there are an average of 6,200 Catholics for each Archdioceosan priest, a 30% ratio increase over the past decade due to a decline in vocations.

Traveling literally on foot or moped, these men call on families in forgotten areas, such as the mountainous areas of Veracruz and remote villages in Quintana Roo. Parish priests, already stretched with so many to serve, could not possibly leave their churches long enough to tend to people in these distant villages."


 

Thanks Paquita, I love your style. I had already seen the episode and knew that Sabastian's slimeballs didn't harm Maria, so I loved your line
"one dude, true to his kind, finds her strangely attractive, even though she's older".

Vivi my feminist feathers rise when women are cast as the mother of a guy who in reality could be a boyfriend. My mind goes back a few years when I watched a novela where Laura Flores (50) was cast as Sabastian Rulli's mother. He's 38.
That said, I don't think the Oriana DZ match is the greatest for some reason. Maybe it's the chemistry (or lack of). Whenever they start that "heavy kissing", I'm like "enough already".

Vario, I agree with you that Sabas is curious about who his daddy is. But he knows a good thing and knowing him doesn't necessarily translate into wanting to claim him as new dad. .
 

Paquita, thank you for the amazingly detailed recap. Wow, Sebastian figured out the truth. That surprises me; I thought his brain would be thoroughly pickled.