Caray, Caray!

MARIDO - LUNES – Part 1

Fernando’s hired killer enters Antonio’s hospital room after the nurse leaves. [This results in this novela’s using the same cliché twice: the victim isn’t quite killed off, ends up in the hospital after the murder attempt, and another killer, or the same killer, tries again in the hospital. They did it with Marcela and now with Tony.] But Pati had left her purse in Tony’s room and calls Griselda to ask her to get it. Thus Griselda arrives in time to save her son, and the killer flees.

Speaking of this killer, he’s eligible for a Darwin Award (given posthumously to those who have done us all a favor by removing themselves from the gene pool). He certainly showed himself to be a prime candidate for having agreed to murder someone in a hospital room with a few vague promises from Fernando and no upfront cash at all.

Beatriz continues to harass Esther with phone calls, and Gabriel tells Esther he’s going to have a serious talk with her.

A cop is stationed outside Antonio’s room.

Rosario tells Teresa Cristina that he overheard her conversation with Reinaldo about the Wanted Poster photo looking like her. She denies that anything happened at all.

Once again meeting in the never-heated sauna at Casa Palmer (Valdés?) Fernando tells TC that Antonio is alive. She raves on as usual about his incompetence. She moans that she’d already bought the dress to wear to his funeral. And, once again, I question Fernando’s IQ as he appears to be getting neither sex nor money for all these attempts. TC wonders if the dead killer could be traced back to Fernando. “And thus to you”, Fernando finishes her thought She interprets this as a threat, but he settles for reminding her that her freedom depends on his remaining free.

Gabriel has come to Maridas in Alquiler looking for Beatriz, but Gigante tells him she’s not there. After Gabe leaves, she comes out of a storeroom and Gigante demands an explanation.

Gris tells Amalia that she fears that TC will go after Quiquito next. She plans to hire a 24-hour bodyguard for her grandson. Quique, not too smart as usual, argues with her. Later, demonstrating why they make a good pair intellectually, Barbie also argues with Gris about the bodyguard. She thinks the guard will be watching HER every move.

Rats! Gigante sets up a meeting with Beatriz and Richard Mendoza, the only reporter in Miami, so that she can tell her story. He’s trying to help a co-worker, but I’m not pleased!

Clara and Beto are again squabbling, this time about who's spending less time at the counter of Tacos Bar. When Gabriel says he’s going to have to hire someone else to solve the problem, Diosa asks for the job.
 

MARIDO - LUNES – Part 2

As usual, José walks right into Barbie’s bedroom without knocking. She tells him about Gris hiring a bodyguard for Quiquito. We see his memories of when Griselda appealed to him for help after the snake attempt, and his refusing to pay attention. He also remembers his and TC's last “róbalo” in Barbie’s bedroom when he heard her speaking into her cell phone: ¡Mata de una vez a esa rata! [Does he even know about the attempt on Antonio’s life?] He also remembers Barbie telling him Griselda was going to hire a bodyguard for Quiquito.

TC is preparing for war. She’s got on her sexiest lingerie. She encounters Reinaldo in the hallway and starts vamping him. She tells him he can’t escape from her, and she knows why he came back to her house. She says she knows it was for her. He plays along a little bit, turning her around several times as if to look at her. Then he bolts into the Guest Room and locks the door. She rages outside, and he insists that he wants nothing to do with her. First he tells her to take a cold shower and then he tells her to go after some róbalo!

Once again Quique tries to talk Griselda out of hiring the bodyguard for his son. He says she has no proof TC is behind everything. Gris: “You think I’ll wait for proof before protecting my grandson?”

TC has taken Reinaldo’s advice and is about to rush out of the house in her lingerie when Ro tries to stop her. She practically runs him over. Ro tells Pati her mother went out in her nighty. Pati asks where she went. Rei overhears and chimes in that she went to the fisherman’s house. Ro: “You pushed her into the arms of another!” Rather inappropriately, Rei tells Pati that her mother tried to abusó de mí. [This verb gets a lot of use and covers a lot of ground. Sometimes it means outright rape, and other times just attempts to have sex with someone who’s not willing.]

Ro, again risking a nationwide protest about his portrayal of a gay man, puts together an outfit to take to TC at José’s house so she’ll be appropriately dressed. He rushes into TC’s closet and Rei tells Pati that no one would believe what just happened if they told them about it.

Gabriel has come to see Esther and finds only a note. She says she has to get away from Beatriz and is going somewhere only she knows about.

The reporter tells Beatriz that Gloria needs to be interviewed for his story. He asks for the name of the woman who has the baby and licks his chops when he finds out it’s the famous Esther Salas of Fina Estampa. He tells Gigante and Beatriz that he’ll try to talk with Esther.

TC shows up at Casa José demanding sex, but José, for a change, doesn’t drop his pants on command.
 

Thank you, Novelera

I'm in full agreement with teh comments posted over the weekend about this once being a very good tn that has now turned into a joke.
Gris won't allow anyone to harm her grandson and that's why he has a bodyguard?? Does that mean that she "allowed" for her kids to be harmed?

I wonder if wherever Esther is hiding is a place JP might know about. I keep thinking he is her endgame, even if he keeps acting like a prick.
If they got Paty and Antonio back together...
 

Excellent recap, Novelera.

The writers FINALLY listened to us, and Gris has taken action and will get guards, for at least her grandchild. At it seems that the hospital took it into their hands to have a police guard put on Tony. Gris still didn't seem motivated to speak with the cops, although she promised to swing by the police station to make a statement once she's up to it.

While I enjoyed Rei toying with TC, it's inappropriate given that he suspects that she might be a MURDERER.

Like the TC adoption story, I don't get the angle this reporter is going after with the Bea-Ester-Victoria story. The law is very clear about this. Bea willing donated her eggs. Ester legally went to a fertility clinic and got implanted and had a baby. There is NO legal recourse for Bea against Ester, and Ester did nothing wrong or illegal. Alba, on the other hand, crossed ethical lines (by not speaking up once she knew the baby would be the product of her brother and his ex, who was friends with Ester). But even then, I think there's more chance that her nurse would get jail time for what she did (sharing the info in confidential files), than Alba.
 

I finally took a look at Friday's recap and the comments that followed. Thanks so much, Sue, for your fine recap.

I've been MIA over the weekend because...Christmas.

And my fabulous assistant went to Zacatecas, Mexico (where she was born) for the first time in about 5 years, so I'm stumbling through doing her job (payroll and accounts payable) on top of my own.

I feel like all I'm missing is a tall stool and a quill pen to resemble Bob Cratchit right before Christmas!

I agree with everyone that the novela has gone downhill in the last couple of weeks. Who do they think they're kidding with all these cliffhanger almost murders of the Salinas-Carrasco kids?

I'm especially annoyed by the fact that Ro, in spite of definitely suspecting that TC pulled the trigger on his boyfriend, continues to fawn over her to the level of inducing nausea!

And don't get me started on Beatriz!
 

TUESDAY RECAP
Part 1

TC needs Jose’s robalo, but Jose has had it with her. He explains how when he was a little boy he used to love chicken soup, until he loved it no more – he got bored of the chicken, just like he’s now bored of TC.
She can’t believe he’s comparing her to poultry, wonders what’s wrong with men turning down sex and follows him upstairs, practically begging to eat his robalo (yuck, yuck, yuck!).
Barbie catches her and they start taunting each other: which one wins the Lame Academy Award – Female Category? So far TC is definitely in the lead.
Going downstairs, TC meets Ro, who came to bring her some clothes.

Pati and Rei are talking about Tony’s kidnapping. Rei is sure Gris is very scared, but she’s also such a powerful woman, there is nothing she can’t handle. Then they talk about the 3 attempts on the Carrasco kids, who could hate Gris so much, Pati wonders. Rei stays mum.
Later he goes to talk to Gris but he sees Gabe’s car outside and gets back home. Pati explains to him that Gris and Gabe are only friends and Gabe is with Esther now, but Rei doesn’t want to intrude / knows he couldn’t stand to see Gris being comforted by another man. Pati thinks Gris still loves him, but Rei is still not willing to be more pro-active in his approach.

TC shows up, still wearing her robe and looking like she’s been medicated. At least that’s the impression she and Ro want to give Rei and Pati to avoid questions. After she gets into bed, TC tells RO not to expect a thank you from her, she put him in her will, anyway – if he lives long enough, maybe he will inherit her dresses and start a second hand fancy boutique.
Pati and Rei talk about how deranged TC has become; she needs professional help, not popping pills; Rei doesn’t think he can stay in the house for much longer, but Pati isn’t yet ready to leave.

Gabe shares with Gris his worries about Esther. He feels very guilty, thinking Esther left because he wasn’t man enough to protect her and the baby. After he explains the entire situation to Gris, she tries to make him see that Esther was acting like a mom, not a woman when she decided to take off with Victoria and her leaving has nothing to do with him as a man. Gabe is still reluctant to believe this, so Gris insists, pointing out the fact that sometimes woman can do irrational things that have nothing to do with the men in their lives. They hug it out, but Gabe is still very worried.

In the meantime Esther and the baby arrive at the house that we later find out used to belong to her parents – it was the house where they vacationed every year, her mom’s favorite place. The next day she introduces Victoria to Dona Eulalia, an old friend, who apparently also knows JP; that means that sooner or later JP will realize where Esther is hiding.

The next day, the Carrasco kids (sans Tony, but with Rafa and Deborah) are eating breakfast, wondering about Gris’ whereabouts.
She’s at the hospital, preparing to take Tony home (I didn’t know being shut gets you out of the hospital so fast). She talks to the doctor first, assuring him she WILL go to the police… Ha, that would be the day.

Arriving home, they meet TC in the neighborhood – they throw jabs at one another for a while and then Gris and Tony get inside, just as Deborah is complaining that Gris should hire a maid.
While the family welcomes Tony, Gris explains to Deborah that she likes to take care of the house, each member of the family has to clean up their own mess and besides, a cleaning company comes every week for general house chores.

 

TUESDAY RECAP
Part 2

Gabe comes to tell JP that Esther disappeared. JP is furious that she’s not there for his collection/ smug because he knew things will go bad with the whole insemination debacle. His reaction is so strong, he gets sick/ loses his breath – is he suffering from some serious illness or is it his guilty conscience/ true concern for Esther that is causing this?
He starts to call several places where he thinks Esther might be, but he gets no results. He blames Gabe for not protecting her, but Gabe doesn’t allow him to go too far.
When an envelope comes from Esther, JP assumes she’s asking for his help, because she trusts HIM and only him, but it turns out it’s only the designs for the new collection – even with all the problems she had, she still kept her end of the bargain, like a true professional would.
Gabe leaves, but before JP thanks him for letting him know what happened and they decide to keep one another informed with whatever news they might have.

In the meantime, the journalist that is investigating Esther and Bea calls Esther one more time; when he doesn’t get an answer, he starts writing his article.

Barbie is trying to clean up the house and gets into a fight with Jose because of it. She explains Kikito is coming over, so she wants everything to be perfect. Later she goes to pick him up at school and meets the new bodyguard. She warns the guy to keep his distance, but at least K, who is also present, tells her the Bodyguard is necessary and he stays.

Gris arrives at work, makes sure the maridas have appointments for the day and asks Gigante about Beatriz. He says he doesn’t know where she is, but it looks like he’s lying.

Rei is about to leave the house when TC comes back from her power walk around the neighborhood. They start to fight, Rei thinks she’s disappointed because her seduction didn’t work; TC calls him a good for nothing cynical – he shouldn’t have moved back in if he didn’t want her because he knew she wanted him back. Rei says he only came back to help her and protect Pati from her madness, but sex was never part of the return package. But he’ll have no more of this, he will be leaving and taking Pati with him, too.
If he dares, he’s dead, TC threatens and Rei believes she’s very well capable to do it. After he leaves, she goes upstairs and, remembering their fight, she acknowledges the fact that yes, if she has to, she WILL kill him, like she killed others before.

Rei goes straight to the police – he wants to file a complaint.

 

Thanks Adriana. And YAY Rei! Finally, someone is getting the police involved.
 

Maido

another great recap Adriana!

what I thought of when Jose blew off TC is the last time, when he got all duded up and went to see her and she just brushed him aside, not so much any noble thoughts on his part.

that was an interesting scene when TC told Reinaldo that she would kill him if he left and took Pati, and I think Rei was seeing that she would/could.

 

I can see everyone is having a busy week, no busier than Griselda, of course.

Please note: I will do tonight's recap (Wednesday 12/18), but then that's it for me. I will be off to sunny Spain and will have to catch up after Marido is all over and done with.
 

Thanks so much for the fine recap, Adriana. I was a bit confused about who Griselda said comes over to the Carrasco house regularly. I thought she said it was the Maridas, but I thought they were handywomen, not housecleaners.

I've got a bad feeling about Juan Pablo. He still loves Esther, and may even reveal her whereabouts, if he figures it out, to Beatriz. He's so self-centered that he might think Bea can get the baby away from Esther and he'll have her back the way things used to be.

It will be VERY interesting to see how Rei's visit to the cops turns out.
 

Adriana--Thank you for the detailed recap. (I loved your CI recap, too, even though I'm no longer watching).

TC going out in her nightgown to get a little nookie, makes her certifiable in my book.

My, my but the guardespalda Gris got for Quiquito is quite a looker. I hope he earns his pay.

I can't remember if TC threw the wig and glasses away or not. Now is the time to do it. Ro is the link to connecting her. He saw the items and she confessed to him that she's the one in the wanted posters. If he doesn't tell the truth (if the popos come a calling), I'll be disappointed. It's time he comes clean on what he knows. Time is running out. It's running out on him, Rei-Gris and me.
 

Anita- I loved Quiquito's reaction to the bodyguard. I think he sees the guy as an action figure doll, come to life. :)

Have a wonderful time in Spain! We need to get together when you get back to share stories and photos.
 

Anita, where are you going in Spain? I was just there in September and had a fabulous time. Madrid, Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada and Barcelona.
 

Thank you for asking about my trip. I should have put feelers our earlier to find out what's on the Do-Not-Miss-This list. Instead, I'm relying on a Top Ten guidebook I bought a couple of months ago. Vivi--I'd love to have a post-trip get together with you.

We are heading for Barcelona, mainly. My son and grandson are on a short vaca time frame. (I'm making sure we get to Granada, though--their first, my 2d visit.)

Novelera, I've been to all the other places you mentioned. In the past I got to the island of Majorca, Segovia, Avila, Toledo, Gibraltar, and Aranjuez.
 

Wow, Anita, you've really seen a lot of Spain. The trip I just made was my first and only trip there. I hope to return and see other places. Thanks for letting me know where you're off to!
 

MARIDO - Wednesday - Part 1/3 (or maybe 4) La Rhumba (pun intended) Hacia el Final, scheduled for Jan 13.

Good evening friends and fellow sufferers. Would that I could give you two sentences that would cover the entire episode—1) The Ester-Bea-Alba scandal is the talk of the town; 2) Reinaldo decides to tell the police what he suspects about TC (without a shred of proof, mind you, just his hunch). But you deserve more punishment, so here goes.

Reinaldo shows up at the police station full of vinegar, ready to rat out TC. Det. Ríos is not available. Rei says he’ll return later.

Gabe returns to El Taco Bar to find Gloria waiting for him. We hear Richard in a voice-over putting the finishing touches on his explosive (he thinks) article, “Who’s the Real Mother of Little Victoria.” Gloria is there to tell Gabe the story is about to hit the ocean breezes, well, the internet clouds anyway and further, that Beatriz is going to file suit against Alba. Gabe firmly declares he’s not going to let anyone take Ester’s baby away from her.

At TC’s lonely manse, Ro reads the exposé on line and runs to TC. She’s not interested. She wanted to REST. Ro says, ok, but then mentions one name, Richard. This gets TC interested. They read the story and TC is relieved that at least this time she is not at the center of the scandal. Ro feels sorry for Ester.

At Fina Estampa, Marcia comes in to tell JP about The Scandal of the Week. JP has a cara de impactado when Marcia tells him it’s on the internet and probably all over Miami by now, written by the same reporter that exposed TC’s origins.

At Maridas en Alquiler, Gris finishes reading the exposé. Amalia’s assistant is showing it to Amalia at her shop. Gigante and Gris admit to each other they already knew the details but Gigante is surprised to hear that Ester has disappeared. Soon the whole family is in her office (except for Tony, who is recovering at home) discussing the matter. Now Ester’s disappearance makes sense and so was Bea’s peculiar behavior of late. Amalia waxes poetic over being pregnant and what it meant to Ester and to give birth. Jethro lays out the bloodline problems and Gigante reminds them that all those issues were laid out in the article, but the decision lies in a court of justice.

At Alba’s office, she learns there’s a raft of reporters at her office wanting interviews. Elio shows up and rescues her by unplugging her phone and spiriting her off to the Fish House (José’s current domicile). There they run into BB sans-Q and she tells Alba her sob story about abandoning her baby son, for which she now repents. Alba tells her story and BB sans-Q admits that the stories are not exactly alike, but guess what, O.M.G. they have the same lawyer. She promises not to reveal anything. Out of earshot, Elio tells Alba BB sans-Q is not to be trusted.

Gabe gets a call from Gris and reluctantly comes running when she says it’s urgent and can’t say anything over the phone. The Carrasco clan doesn’t think he knows about the online article yet. Gris wants to be the one to tell him (and I ask why?).

Pati calls her Amor because she found out he was home. She’s at the front door and wants to know if she can visit. Tony comes right down and there’s some serious Kissing to Music when he lets her in (and I say dang). While she claims it’s true that living with her mother is difficult, Pati feels she needs to stick around to help. What really concerns her, of course is the effect of the Ester-Bea-Alba story.

 

MARIDO - Wednesday - Part 2/3

At TC’s, Ro is still occupied by the Ester story. TC has a simple explanation. Knowing Ester as well as she does, she’s certain the whole thing of the baby theft was planned from the beginning and Ester was in on it. Ro doesn’t think so, at least not according to the article. TC tosses it off and dismisses Richard and his work.

At Maridas, Gris finishes Ro’s thoughts—Nobody stole anything. Bea was a willing egg donor….(and I say yada, yada, we know the whole story, >>FF). End of story, Bea is a victim, just as Ester is. Gabe arrives and Gris shows him the story. He’s not surprised. They both feel for Ester who, due to her disappearance, can’t defend herself. Gris tells Gabe that it’s a good thing those reporters haven’t uncovered Gabe’s relationship with Ester. Gabe has no fear. She’s sure Ester will get in touch with Gabe, or JP. Gabe changes the subject to Gris’ statement that she needs to make at the police station. He insists on accompanying her.

At Fina Estampa, JP is pithed that he has reporters waiting for an interview with him. He tells Marcia to get rid of them, any which way she can.

At the Gris Mansion, Pati and Tony are discussing the content of Gris’ statement to the police. Tony has no idea what she’ll say, but once she gets a bee in her bonnet, that’s it. Pati muses that it is not so different from her mother. She also can’t believe that she wouldn’t tell the whole story, including her suspicions of who was behind the attempt on Tony’s life. Tony doesn’t really want to tell her, but finally comes out with it—TC.

At the TC Mansion, Pati confronts her mother. TC manages to easily turn the tables back on Gris, that she is making this all up because she’s upset and looking for revenge because Rei left her and moved back in with her. Furthermore, does Pati really think she, TC, her very own mother, is the head of a gang of criminals who has orchestrated all these incidents. She hits Pati with a low-blow suggesting she’s crazy. After all, Carlota’s blood runs in her veins. Pati begins to doubt herself, Antonio and Gris, but tries to stand her ground. She still wants an answer to whether TC had anything to do with those incidents against Griselda’s family. TC says Gris is a liar and doesn’t Pati think it strange that Gris never went to the police with her suspicions? Pati says it was because Gris didn’t have any proof. TC counters with what proof, if Pati were in danger, does she think a little thing like proof would hold her back from going to the police? Ha! Nosiree. After Pati leaves, TC swears that if Gris wants war, war she’ll get. She phones Fernando to meet her in the usual location. He tells her Gris went to give her statement. Well, she knew that, she’s always a step ahead of Fernando. Well, then she surely knows the content of the statement? TC doesn’t quite admit to not knowing, but wants Fer to tell her what she said. Fer smugly replies that Gris said nothing that could incriminate them, though Fer reminds her that Gris is pretty sure who was behind the attempted murder of Antonio—TC herself.

>>FF Ro and Manuel have a suggestive little interplay that TC joins in on, making Manuel fume. Ro wants the afternoon off, but doesn’t tell her why.

At the Gris Mansion, Gris is telling Tony about her trip to the police station. No, she didn’t mention that it started with the kidnapping and attempted murder because the police are convinced the attack at the hospital was an isolated incident perpetrated by a crazy guy who was intent on killing someone else and got the wrong room (and I wonder if the police aren’t curious as to why Tony was all banged up in the hospital in the first place). Gris is still going on about lack of proof and that someday, she will prove all of TC’s crimes (and I say CSI: Miami she’s NOT and it’s their job to I N V E S T I G A T E).

 

MARIDO - Wednesday - Part 3/3

At Rei Gourmet, Rei is contemplating the Wanted Poster again and is having flashbacks to his conversation with TC and the other one with Pati about the attempt on Tony’s life. He calls the police station again and plans to stop by later.

>>FF At the TC Mansion, TC is bored. Ro is gone for the day and Manuel can’t help. She dismisses him.

>>FF At Celeste’s, Ro is applying make-up to Celeste, who, as a nueva impresaria, wants to look nice for her clients and her hub, even though he has stated he doesn’t like make-up on Celeste. Ro is proud of the job he did.

>>FF at the beach, Daniel has apparently cast aside his fear of Manuel or the police charging him with contributing to the delinquency of a minor (and I say or worse). He and Sol are enjoying a cool drink while she excitedly tells him about the upcoming video, made-to-order for the internet. He hopes to be able to watch her make it. There’s some kissy-face in there somewhere

>>FF At Ester’s hideaway, she plays with a smiling Victoria.

At Fina Estampa, JP has a moment of inspired revelation. He’s sure he knows where Ester is hiding away—at her mother’s deserted ranch. He tells Marcia where he’s going but begs her not to tell anyone, even lie if she has to.

At the Police Station, Rei is having coffee with Det. Ríos. The detective reminds Rei that Marcela cultivated a lot of enemies in her life, to which Rei reminds him, like most journalists. Rei wants to know how the investigation is going. Ríos sadly replies that it is stalled due to the disappearance of their only witness, the nurse (and we all remember she was offed by Fernando, right?). It is the detective’s suspicion that she was dispatched so there wouldn’t be any witnesses, but since they haven’t found a body, they can’t link the two incidents. So far, it is just a hypothesis. Rei then shows him the wanted poster. He’s sure they’ll have found the assassin (and I was temporarily distracted by a seductive Giorgio Armani commercial for a men’s fragrance, sorry.) Rei tells Ríos all about his ex-wife and Ríos gets flashbacks to TC’s antics as she made and signed her statement after Marcela’s accident. He and Rei go over the details. Then Rei drops his bomblet, that he’s convinced of the similarity to TC to the woman in the wanted poster. Ríos wonders why is it precisely now that Rei is coming forward. Rei assures him that it is not for any revenge on his part. He’d always tried to protect TC from herself, a selfish, self-absorbed millionaire, but too many things have happened recently to let them go by and he would like Ríos to investigate further. Ríos promises to do so and make an official call on TC (and I recommend he take a partner and decline any invitation to go upstairs).

At the TC Mansion, Pati is undone, talking to Tony. She said her mother categorically denied having had anything to do with harming Tony’s family. But of course they knew she would deny it. It’s still hard for Pati to admit that her mother might be a very bad person. Tony gives her a “Strength and Love” pep talk.

>>FF At the Taco Bar, Diosa tells Gabe she doesn’t have any experience waiting tables but she needs an inside job because the sun is bad for her skin. He hires her on probation.

Gris shows up at the Taco Bar in her overalls (and I see Sonya and Ricardo making goo-goo eyes at each other and pretending not to). There was too much work, not enough manos a la obra. She gets a plateful of tacos, destined for someone else. The talk continues about Ester and the scandal. Gris recommends that Gabe not try to look for her, but to wait until they have a chance to talk.

At Rei Gourmet, Rei returns from the police station and Simón follows him into the office to find out what happened. What about the Wanted Poster? Rei says he’s already taken care of it and the police know where to find Marcela’s assassin.

And we’ll see tomorrow how slick Teresa Cristina is and how she gets out of this pickle, because she will for at least 16 or 17 more episodes.
 

Gracias Anita!!!

I liked your two sentence synopsis of what happened. Described it perfectly. Just like with the TC adoption story, I couldn’t believe the traction the Ester-Bea IVF story was getting. This isn’t the 1970s and IVF and donor eggs/sperm isn’t some new thing. The title of the article asking who Victoria’s mother is was ridiculous (cute baby!). Bea doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on. Her case wouldn’t even go to trial. I don’t even think Bea has a case against Alba. She wasn’t drunk, drugged, incapacitated when she signed away the use of her eggs.

Ester, however, does have legal recourse to sue the pants off of Alba and her clinic for unethical behavior and violation of doctor/patient confidentiality—inseminating her with her family members’ eggs/sperm, and then allowing the information to leak to Bea and then the media (who are all now harassing her). Alba is for sure out of business, and her nurse should be too. Ester can also sue Bea and the media for harassment and slander. If the writers continue with this story and show Bea making legal progress against Ester, they deserve a good beating.

I thought the writers were toying with us when Rei ended up leaving the police station without speaking to anyone. Glad he went back. I had a hearty laugh when TC pointed out what we’ve all been shouting. If a mother knew/witnessed attempts on her children’s lives, AND suspected who did it, she would immediately go to the police. Gris not going to the cops long ago isn’t logical.

 

Anita, if that was your Swan Song for this novela, it was a doozy! Thanks for the terrific, belly-laugh inducing recap. I especially enjoyed being addressed as a Fellow Sufferer.

I was wishing someone at Tacos Bar would point out to the suddenly remorseful Gloria that this whole baby hassle is ENTIRELY HER FAULT!!

TC reveals again what a s#*t she is by seeming to enjoy her former sister-in-law's predicament and jumping on the bandwagon by saying she colluded in "stealing" Bea's egg.

Please, please writers don't write that JP is going to where Esther is staying and they'll make up and he'll accept the baby. I can't stand him.
 

Thursday, pt 1

I missed the first couple minutes, but came in where Barb was giving Alba advice about fighting (for what? Her reputation is shot), and then Elio gives her a kiss.

Ro is filing his nails when some stripper music comes on and Celeste walks out of the room in a short, hot pink number and asks what he thinks. She feels like an actress in a telenovela. They’re having a good time until Manuel enters and ruins the mood and the mood music. Ro steps in to defend her but she can defend herself. She’s not listening to his crap anymore. She pays her half of the bills so the whole “this is my house” thing isn’t working. He wants to know what Ro is doing there: He had a date with Manuel. To talk to him about the video for Sol. Manuel kicks him out but Ro tells Cele to “call me” if he hurts her. Here are the things they called each other during this convo: Gacela, Hiena Panzona, Ingrato, Mariposa, Troglodita, Troll. I'd look up those first two but I'm tired. Sorry.

Celeste tries to talk to the troll and wants him to look at her. She asks him if she’s beautiful. He hedges and then grabs her and gives her a big kiss. But she first wants him to control himself for the good of the family. He promises and they go to it. Blech.

Gris dismisses the maridas. But Deborah isn’t there because she’s getting ready to come over for dinner with Kike. Then she comes out in a knock out black dress and Kike is happy.

Old house. Jose gets home and finds the bodyguard at the bottom of the stairs. The bodyguard (BG) asks who he is. He does his Jose thing and announces himself and asks who BG is. If he’s a cop then Jose didn’t do anything; he’s absolutely innocent. He’s also relived when BG tells him who he is (not a cop). The kid greets abuelo who isn’t happy to have his age revealed. Then Alba walks by and greets them both before heading upstairs. Elio offers her a tea but she doesn’t want to cause any more work for him. Like he worked much to begin with. She calls the nurse who should have been fired and tells her set up an appointment with the reporter for the next day.

Iris and Mario go to Gourmet Ibarra or whatever it is now. She asks where the toilet is but on the way pokes her head into Rei’s office. She just wanted to inform him that they would be paying the check tonight! Whoa! Then she spots the flyer of TC escondida sitting on his desk. I just have to say here that Iris looks pretty amazing. She really is a stunning woman.

Meanwhile TC is spying on Paty. Then back to ther restaurant where Iris tells Mario what’s going on with the flyer and guess what they’re going to do with this info? Blackmail! Again! She calls TC to tell her that they should meet unless TC would rather meet the cops instead of her… Iris says she’ll come by later to tell her what's going on and TC is like that was strange.

Big house- Everyone is done eating. Tony, despite being close to death, offers to wash the dishes. Kike ribs him about this but Deb points out that Gris says everyone does their part. Redemption washing.

 

Thursday, part 2

Gris goes by the old house to talk to Barb. Barb complains about BG. But Kike likes him! They argue a bit. Barbs heads upstairs and Jose brings Gris a mug. She asks what he thinks. He blabs for a while as he does, and finally says he doesn’t want to know about it. She calls him pathetic and he can't even make a cup of instant coffee. He yells at her up the stairs, where she’s gone, until she comes back down to confront him. But he doesn’t do confrontation and she calls him a coward.

Esther and Victoria. Knock on the door. Who is it? You’ll never guess. JP! The talk about the “reporter”. Esther is annoyed that Gabe told JP about her leaving and the scandal-like thing going on. Esther tells him about Victoria being HER daughter and JP tries to convince her that the stories won’t stop even though she’s not there. He says that she needs to do things right and fight!

Iris at the house of TC where she’s made to wait.

The crowd at the old house is talking with Alba about her issue. Alba, who got through medical school and ran a successful business until now, is asking what Elio, Barb, and Jose think about talking to he reporters. Barb says yes and Jose isn’t interested in an opinion. But she decides she’s going to talk to them.

Esther decides to confront the situation too. But she’s worried. JP suggests she leave Victoria with Eulalia, who conveniently is going away for a week. Esther knows of someone else who could watch the baby. JP. (Seriously? I’ve actually babysat before and no one in their right mind would leave a kid with me for a week. And she’s going to leave her with JP? Call Gabe!) JP thinks he did his part by telling her what’s going on but that’s it. But he makes sense by suggesting they go back the next day and she brings the baby.

Iris and TC. In summary: Blackmail. Iris will tell the cops TC was with her the day of Marcela’s murder.

Manuel is heading a table with Daniel, Sol, Ro and Celeste, talking about the video. He tries to take control but Celeste tells him he hasn’t done anything as Sol’s manager. Ro starts directing the video right there in the apartment with Daniel filming. She introduces herself and says she’s a virgin and won’t tell her sign. Musica! Manuel isn’t happy with this and stops it. He doesn’t want her going on the internet talking about being a virgin. (He’s being a brute about it but he has a point. Plus it was going to be a terrible video.) But everyone argues while Daniel keeps filming. Celeste tells him this video could make Sol’s life better so she won’t have all their difficulties. More arguing and ordering Daniel to stop filming. Manuel kicks out Daniel. Manuel doesn’t want him touching his daughter because she’s a VIRGIN (as the entire internet almost found out). Sol leaves in a huff.

More blackmailing. We don’t know how much but when she tells Mario about it later, it’s a lot. They get paid after the meeting with the cops.

 

Thursday part 3

Ivan is with Paloma, dropping her off for the night. There is some back and forth with Ivan trying to get her back. They kiss but then she stops it and tells that while Carol is in his life to forget about her. Silly girl.

Manuel wants to make up with Celeste. He brings up that muchacho (Daniel) and Celeste tells him that muchacho is studying medicine. But Manuel really wants to know what he should do. He has to stop fighting with Daniel, apologize to Ro and agree to the video. For the good of the family.

Amalia and Rafa are making out on the couch when he spots Gris behind them . Whatever. They’re already sleeping together, having a kid and getting married. Gris just wants to know what’s up with the wedding plans.

Barb is putting Kikito to bed in her room and she’s going to stay with him. He asks if she’s afraid of the dark. She says yes but she’s gong him to protect her. Then she has flashbacks to her and Kike Sr. “sleeping” together in the bed where she is now going to sleep for real with her son. Gross.

Kike is with Deb. She accuses him of thinking about Barb and doesn’t really seem too upset by it. But he says no, he’s worried about Kikito. She presses the Barbie issue but then he looks up at her in her bra and chonies, and more stripper music plays as he pulls her into bed with him.

Paty and Tony are thinking of each other while the desnudo song plays. She puts on a robe and crosses the street, into their unlocked house even though someone is trying to murder them all, and goes into his room. He’s all happy, Desnuudoooo estooooooooyy. Hope they’re using birth control this time.

Ro wants to know what’s happening with TC. He tells her the cops will be there tomorrow about he rubia in the flyer. It could be her last day free if they discover what happened. Ultimas Semanas, but not ultimas enough for her to get caught yet.

Kelly
 

Thanks so much, Kelly. Excellent recap. Yep, they keep adding silliness to every episode and TC keeps not getting caught. Esther asking JP to watch Victoria after all his crap...unbelievable!

Watching Quique and Debora I was reminded of the Stephen Stills song: If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with!

I'm re-watching La Reina del Sur, and this novela is suffering by comparison.
 

Kelly--This was a great, detailed recap for a really, really, waste of an hour. I think we've lost viewers by the bucketful and sometimes I feel it's just novelera, Vivi and me who are commenting. It must be that crocodile-laden water that gets into these productions and sinks them.

Happy holidays everyone out there, see you in Jan, just before we pull the curtain on this thing we call Marido.

I didn't like the avance I saw on Wednesday night. I noticed they didn't show it last night.
 

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It looks like JP is going to fall in love with Victoria while he's babysitting for Esther. Someone's already brought up that JP and Esther made love once after the breakup and that the baby might actually be his. Maybe we'll get to see the "call of the blood" and get closer to a telenovela bingo.
 

It's gotten to the point where I'm only watching the episode I recap and maybe another earlier in the week. I'm relying on recaps to keep up. This show started out with such promise...now?

I don't think I'll recap another novela. Lately, this has been a lot of work for the audience of two or three.
 

I'm still watching, and I very much appreciate the recaps and the comments. My Spanish is improving, but I misread a few things.

I am getting lazier and lazier about looking up words, but I did look up this one: gacela = gazelle or slender girl. If anyone had ever called me a gazelle, I would taken it as compliment!
 

Atleta, I think the insult is that gacela was directed toward a man, Ro.
 

Marido

thanks so much Kelly!

I'm still watching, (and read the posts every day) but as I've said earlier, I was never really thrilled with the story, but it is written and acted well, and easy to watch.

it cracked me up last night when itchy/scratching Jose had his little chat with Alba, sitting close to her on the couch and pulling her tight, (I wonder if she burns her clothes after every visit there) and then when Jose got up and left, Elio jumped right in there next to her, reclaiming his place, that is such a strange household.

I'm also wondering if I'll ever be able to get rid of this Teresa Christina image I have of Maritza Rodriguez, it was really strange seeing her on the day novela, as an ordinary evil person.

 

Great recap, Kelly!

Silly girl is SO right about Paloma. Why is she pushing this sexy man away? He has done nothing with Carol, as far as we can see (and we have seen way too little of Ivan and Paloma). She should stake her claim and hold on to her man. She's just handing him over to Carol, and he doesn't even want Carol. And if she thinks Carol is just faking being sick, to get back into Ivan's life, then work to prove it and get rid of her. Sheesh!

I also thought it a bit icky of Barbie to be thinking of the hot monkey sex she and Q had, while cuddling her son in the same bed.
 

Recap up tomorrow morning. I'm a little more than halfway through. Not a really exciting episode.


 

MARIDO viernes 20 de diciembre Part 1

¡Feliz Navidad a todos!

Ro is afraid that TC will be arrested and sent to a maximum security prison (which is where she should be!). TC admits there is the possibility that she could be arrested. But she now has an alibi: Iris and Mario are going to say they were with her at the time that Marcela was murdered. Or as TC put it, “when Marcela made her trip to the confines of Hell.” In exchange for his silence she will give him one of her old corsets that she doesn’t wear anymore. What a gal! Used underwear!

In his office Reinaldo stares at the Wanted poster and thinks that he now believes what others have said about TC. He calls Gris and after some lamenting about having lost her he asks her to meet with him to compare notes.

Ack! Superman Antonio who was recently shot and almost strangled to death in the hospital has just made love to Pati. Such recuperative powers! They promise they won’t lie to each other anymore. She recalls that all this started when he tried to pass off Myrna as his mother. They declare their love for each other. GAG! FF>>

Victoria is keeping JP awake with her crying.

At the restaurant Reinaldo says good night to the staff and chats with Simón about TC. Reinaldo doesn’t suspect, he is convinced that TC is behind the “accidents” that happened to Gris’ children. Simón agrees that it is too much of a coincidence that all three children have been at the point of death in such a short period of time.

Esther leaves JP a note and sneaks out of the house. She asks Victoria to behave like a little princess.

Beto wonders why Clara left work so early and Gabe wonders if Beto has a crush on Clara.

Next day Max is doing a sprint when Clara comes up with some nutritionally appropriate food for Leo. Clinton shows Max his time and Max is excited to get his old form back. He hugs Clara. ¡Cuidado! A jealous Susana is watching.

JP wakes up, calls for Esther and doesn’t get a response. He finds the note and reads it: “I’m sorry, I had no other choice. I left in my car and took the keys to yours with me. You’re going to have to continue taking care of Victoria. It seemed better to me to leave you some instructions. You’ll see it’s not so difficult, although I know that you don’t like babies. I left the milk in the refrigerator so you’ll have to fill the bottles and give them to her.” JP is livid. “The baby could die of hunger and it will be all her mother’s fault!” We see Esther on the highway, driving back to Miami.

Frosty Gris arrives at Rey Gourmet. “I didn’t come for you.” “I know you came for your children and the danger they’re in which has a first and last name.” “Is it the same person who’s been tormenting me?” He pulls out the Wanted poster and shows it to her. He tells her this is the woman who is suspected of killing Marcela. “I’ve already reported my suspicions to the police.”





 

Viernes 12/20 Part 2

“You reported your own wife to the police?” “TC stopped being my wife long ago. The only woman in my life was you.” Did I mention that Gris is really frosty? “I’m not interested so don’t waste your time.” He tells her that he’s moved out again because there is no helping TC. He does feel anxious that Pati is still there with her. Gris reassures him that Antonio can take care of her and that will help. Reinaldo: “There is love that comes back together, that cures all.” Gris: “And there is love that’s full of pain and wounds and will never return.” Ouch! *Sigh* Will these two ever get back together?

Elio wants to accompany Alba to her interview but she’s concerned the press will think he’s her lover. Well…he is. He says he can pose as her chauffeur or bodyguard, whatever it takes. He is there to support her. They leave and José who’s been listening from the kitchen says to himself, “I don’t know if this interview is going to work but those two are going to end up getting married. I wonder if it’s that or finally he’s learned how to pretend from his father.”

At Tacos Bar Clara, Beto, Celeste and Gabe all wonder what Alba is going to say. Gabe has had no news of Esther and doesn’t know what to do.

Susana says to herself that if Max thinks he can use her and dump her then he doesn’t know who he’s involved with.

JP is confronted with a crying baby and has no clue what to do. How many times has this scene been done? Heck I can think of a whole movie based on that premise, Three Men and a Baby. He grabs the instructions and reads, “If she is crying, it’s probably because she’s hungry or needs to have her diaper changed.” So he asks himself how does he know if she needs changing? He smells between her legs and starts to gag. He looks for something to clean her up with. Esther is on the highway and is trying to convince herself that Victoria is in good hands.

Beatriz returns to work at Maridas and tells Gigante that she needs to work now more than ever if she is going to get custody of her daughter.

TC asks where Pati is and Elsa lies and tells her she had some things to do early at school. TC thinks that she’s with Antonio at school. Ro asks her if she’s going out and she says she has her own things to do. She leaves and Elsa warns him not to ask too many questions. “If she knew the truth…” “What truth?” “That she didn’t sleep here last night…she was with Antonio, genius!” The doorbell rings and Ro lets Iris and Mario in. “I’m sure you know why we’re here. Where’s TC?” “Upstairs getting ready for her appointment. Don’t worry–she’ll be ready on time.” They wonder what she is going to say to the police. Manuel comes in and asks to speak to Ro in private. Gay innuendos follow. They go into the kitchen and Manuel apologizes for his behavior at the taping of Sol’s video and tells Ro that he wants him to continue working on it with her.

FF>> through Antonio’s lovey-dovey talk to a sleeping Pati. She wakes up and realizes she spent the whole night there and tells Antonio she has to leave without anyone seeing her. Really?

Iris suggests that when the police arrive he sees them all eating breakfast as a family. TC thinks that’s a good idea and they go into the kitchen. Evidently Manuel didn’t know about the impending visit. Ro orders him to stay outside with the car and not to breathe a word of this.

JP has actually made progress: he managed to change Victoria’s diaper whiteout dropping dead. He notices she’s stopped crying and makes a deal with her: he will be more patient with her if she doesn’t cry. Good luck with that.


 

Viernes 12/20 Part 3

“Smile Maridas, it’s payday.” The Maridas go out to their jobs and Gigante goes to do something with the books. Gris is surprised to see Beatriz who tells her that she has had some personal problems lately. “I’m aware of your problems.” Gris, however, doesn’t want to have to deal with the press or curious people coming by to see Beatriz instead of soliciting their services (hasn’t she ever heard there is no negative publicity?). She grants Beatriz a paid leave of absence. She says she just wants to be fair.

I’ve never understood the Diosa character. What is her purpose? Anyway she reports to work at Tacos Bar and Gabe says she’s going to wear a uniform which makes her excited for some strange reason.

The phone rings at TC’s and Ro gives Security permission to let the detective in. Ro is very nervous when Detective Ríos arrives and Ríos asks him if he’s all right. Ro tells him TC is in the kitchen. Next we see Elsa taking pictures of the “happy” family. Ríos asks her if they can speak in private but TC tells him that anything they can discuss anything in front of her dear Tía Iris. Ríos tells her that the reason he’s there is very serious and he would prefer to speak with her in private. He also implies that he doesn’t believe this is a happy family. This offends TC and Tía Iris and they are further offended when their “traditional” breakfast gathering has to be cancelled because of the detective’s arrival. They go back and forth and finally Ríos tells TC that the law allows him to make her speak to him. The others leave the room. “Won’t you sit down?” “Thank you, I’ll stand.”

JP tells Victoria he’s going to heat up her bottle. Reinaldo is in his office at the restaurant wondering what’s going on at TC’s. Ro asks Manuel to take the dogs out. Manuel protests especially when he hears he has to pick up their poop. The others want to know what Ríos and TC are taking about.

Ríos shows TC the Wanted poster. He believes that it’s TC. She denies this and says she wouldn’t wear that kind of outfit or those glasses. “Not even to disguise yourself?” TC says she has an alibi for the time Marcela was murdered: “My adorable family.”

And now it gets really dumb. No one discussed what they were going to say and so they came up with something on the spot. Iris tells Ríos that they were together celebrating a birthday. “Whose birthday?” “Uhhh…the dogs. We celebrate their birthday every year. They’re part of the family.” They celebrated with food and lots of champagne. “So on the day of Marcela’s murder, you were celebrating your dogs’ birthday?” “Yes, very sad coincidence but that’s life.” Rios doesn’t believe a word of it and warns all of them that they may have to swear to this in court. They all raise their hands as if taking an oath but they will be committing perjury instead.

Ríos tells Reinaldo about this ridiculous story and that he doesn’t believe a word of it. Since she has an alibi there’s nothing more he can do for now. They are sitting in a car and in the background we see Fernando peeking out from behind a tree.



 

Thank you, Sue!

Esther must be really crazy and a BAD MOTHER, letting JP in charge of her baby, which he despises and has never spent more than 2 seconds around, while huffing and puffing.
If she needed to go back to the city to solve the Bea problem, why didn't she ask Gabe to help... you know, the man who knows Victoria and calls her "his daughter"???
It is not realistic AT ALL that JP would know how to take care of a baby as small as Victoria. Nor is the fact that Esther would consider it for a second.
Ah, well, I guess that means that he's Esther's end game.
But then Gabe what?
 

Thanks so much, Sue. I can see that the same things that drive me nuts also bother you!

Speaking of things driving me nuts, this whole Susana gets another medical opinion for Max is near the top of the list. I was thinking at the beginning that she was going to get a fake second opinion somehow to get his earning power back up and thus have him support her in the manner to which she wants to become accustomed - until he croaks anyway.

But it sorta seems like they're going with there having really been a mistake in the first diagnosis. But for crying out loud, the doctor emails his findings to the not even wife of the patient? I guess HIPPA (federal patient privacy act) doesn't apply in Florida. And said patient never talks to the doctor himself, only reads Susana's printout and right away starts training like a madman?

I'm really, really not happy they're going with JP likely ending up crazy about Victoria and he and Esther being back together. Looking at things from a clearly logical point of view, I suppose this makes sense. Gabriel's simple, unsophisticated persona doesn't necessarily work in the long run with a person of Esther's obvious refined tastes. But Gabriel deserves her.
 

Excellent work, Sue.

I echo everyone's frustration with the JP/Baby/Ester storyline. Que?! Poor Gabe. He just can't win, can he? Maybe Diosa will dump Gigante and move to Gabe?
 

I figured that was the purpose of rich Diosa working at Taco's Bar: To distract Gabe when Esther dumps him. Gigante should suffer a little for supporting Bea.

kelly
 

Thank you, Sue. Having a couple of days to let the episode blur a bit in my mind, your recap was better than the epi--and you didn't dwell on the smelly parts. For that, I am grateful.

Ro deserves a cute, pink anvil or a solid cast iron skillet to head his way. It's one thing to be the recipient of a "third hand" confession, it's another to be actively involved in obstruction of justice. I expected it of Iris and Mario, but not of Elsa and Ro. I hope their consciences bother them and keep them from sleeping at night. Well, maybe Elsa not so much, I don't think she knows why she's in on the lie.

OTOH, I didn't think much of Rios' interrogation. He should have taken TC downtown to the station and put in one of those hot little rooms with a camera and really grilled her (that would satisfy me for the time being).

Well, folks, it looks like it'll be a long cold spell before Gris thaws. I felt so sorry for Rei on Friday. This is the first time he's had a chance to talk about his feelings for Gris and she blew icicles in his face.

ITA with you folks about Ester leaving Victoria with JP. Not in her character, especially after all the nasty things JP has said about Ester, baby and motherhood. We can't help it if the writers want to lead us in that direction. I never thought Gabe was right for Ester, but he was certainly earnest and caring and got his mind off Griselda. I wonder what will happen if he does get dumped. I always thought Klara was his type from the very beginning, but I guess she and Max are really into each other now.

I'll keep an eye on things as they develop from across the ocean, but I'm already looking forward to a marathon after I get back to catch up.

Happy Holidays everybody.
 

Thanks for chiming in from a distance, Anita.

I'm glad to see you're also fed up with Ro and his idolization of a psychopathic murderer. There does need to be some punishment for that, but I doubt if they'll mete it out. They more than likely will go with PC and let the gay guy go scot free.