Thursday, January 30, 2014
Lo Que La Vida Me Robó, # 57, 1/29/2014, Ale Hates Montse; Montse Hates Ale. Things are even, but will they ever get better?
Victor now seems to be getting as fed up with Ale as the majority of us on the Patio are, but is much more patient and polite than we would probably be in his place. Luckily for some of us Grammar Geeks, Victor makes use of the opportunity to demonstrate one of the functions of the imperfecto de subjunctivo to offer some courteous but pointed speculation regarding Ale's 'tude--in English this is equivalent to the second conditional. It went something like this:
Labels: robo
This line will remain in the "Annals of CarayCaray" forevuh!!! "I think I heard the raspy sound of his avocados shriveling in situ"! BRAVA
IN SITU! Absolutely perfecto!!!!!
Fatima
This is magnificent and superb! I loved the length of this one and all the little details. I too loved the line about his shriveling avocadoes in situ! Great line.
Such a sad episode. Poor Monse. It's one blow after another for the poor girl. I really liked the scene where Nadia was cuddling with Monse as she was grieving. Nadia is a great friend. I am glad that Monse had the chance to go off on Ale. He so deserved that. I hope he is riddled with guilt. Funny how he told Gracie and Monse it was he that told the Admiral about Gracie and Don Benny when in fact it was BM that told the Admiral. Why is he protecting that beyotch I'd like to know. Saving the family more grief? I'm sure Monse will find out at some point what really went down.
Poor Rosy. She looked so anguished as she was trying to talk to Ale.
So Tia Lottie has been the caretaker. I really feel for her. First she took care of her Mama, then Monse and Dimwit and then Lauro. She will be at odds and ends wondering what to do with herself. But there is Monse's coming bebe. I'm sure Tia Lottie will be helping Monse with the new bebe.
I really liked how Victor also gave it to Ale. Good for him and I liked the fact that he told Ale all about paternity tests. Ale is on the River DeNile, but wait till he finds out that bebe is in fact his. I hope he takes Victor's words to heart.
Loved the scene with Angie and JL. I just hope that they are able to be married and left in peace. I'm hoping Joaquin and Pedro's plans are botched, like Pedro's plans always are.
Thanks again Julia, for this most marvelous recap and the lightness you added to this very sad capitulo.
As Fatima noted, the grammar lessons are always helpful. I had to stifle my cackling (family asleep) at your description of Gracie's ability to shrivel avacados.
Speaking of Gracie, isn't it nice that her study of the latest fashions in black (mourning) was put to use? She was also wearing the proper jet jewelry for mourning.
I'm always amazed at how quickly the TN families put together a viewing/wake and funeral. Someone dies and *boom* everything is in place for the proper rituals.
Carlota was poignant in her meditations about how quickly life has passed her by. One wonders if Gracie will maintain her as a resident of the home or force her to move out?
Gracias for the recap. And do not worry, it was not long at all, it was just right.
I felt so sad for Montse and Tia Lottie. They are the ones that loved Lauro the most. I was glad when Montse confessed that she should have told her father the whole truth. She knows that now, but unfortunately she realized that too late. RIP, Admiral Lauro Mendoza.
Surprisingly, I kind of felt bad for Dimi. It was as though he was trying to speak from the heart to his mother about his guilt regarding his fathers death, and she did not want to empathize with him. I liked the fact that he tore away from Gracie's arms and went to cry alone. He realized that his mother did not understand his pain, guilt and suffering. Is Fina making an influence in Dimi's life?
Ale owned up and said that he and BM did wrong and should not have said anything to Lauro. Of course BM made excuses for herself, and said that it wasn't just her, but Ale too. She is such a BITCH! She had no remorse, unlike Ale whose face was riddled with anguish. He was probably thinking that Montse would never forgive him for this. But there's stupid BM telling Ale to send Lauro's body back to Aguazul with the chauffer. Is she nuts? Oh yeah, I forgot we're talking about BM; a person with less scruples than her pervy uncle Juvie.
Ale does do the right thing in calling Victor and having him make funeral arrangements. And going to the Mendoza Mansion to tell the family in person was the only respectful thing to do.
I am not sure why Ale did not tell Gracie and Montse that it was BM that started the whole thing. Maybe he is feeling too guilty. Maybe he is taking all the blame because he knows that BM doesn't give a crap. I am so tired of all her bullshit. Can someone please just knock BM upside the head? Can Gracie give her a finger punch? Can I please just scratch her in the FACE!!!!!!
BM conveniently left out the fact that she was the one who started in on Lauro when Victor asked her how the Admiral died. She put all the blame on Ale. She is the evil bitch that started in on Lauro, but she doesn't have the decency to tell Victor. According to her rendition, she said nothing and is therefore not guilty. BM is going to pay for everything she has done one of these days. She always plays the innocent standerby, and I am sick and tired of it. And seriously, she really isn't pretty. She is not hot or remotely attractive. And those new cloths are not going to make a difference. Once a nasty bitch, always a nasty bitch.
Once again, Victor is the voice of reason. I think that Nadia and Victor will be the catalyst for Montse and Ale's relationship. They (V&N) are Ale and Montse's confidants, and will be the chain that links them together. No spoiler here, (I did not watch AR) but I would assume that the 2 protagonist will talk to their BFF's periodically and therefore keep tabs on each other.
It is going to be a long road to recovery for Montse and Ale.
off to bed...hasta pronto!
BTW, loved these:
"...presumably to protect him from the dangers inherent in being around his small, blond, sexy wife."
"BACK TO MISERY CENTRAL"
"Having decided that she has expressed enough tenderness for the moment, Gracie then draws herself up and tells DIM he is now the man of the house."
"Study, Mansion Mendoza, where THINGS ARE GETTING EVEN WORSE THAN THEY WERE A FEW PARAGRAPHS AGO:"
Favorite lines:
"...weird,freaky look from Pedro to end the scene. Wait, that's just his face."
"Study, Mansion Mendoza where THINGS ARE GETTING EVEN WORSE THAN THEY WERE A FEW PARAGRAPHS AGO."
"...raspy sound of his avocados shriveling in situ."
Like you, I have come to admire, in a way, the incredible force that is Graciela. The actress is playing her to perfection. She's the middle linebacker of Malice that no one can take down. She could be ruling a South American country, she's so formidable. Really, she's wasting her talents just coddling Dimetrio and harassing Montserrat. Let's go for bigger things!
Will look forward to seeing a little glimmer of humanity from Useless Big Brother. If Josefina can reform Demetrio, maybe she should be the next Pope while Graciela can take over a few more countries!
I loved everything about last night - acting, accusations, intrigues. We may not like what the characters are saying or doing, but it's being done wonderfully and the players are sure giving it everything they have.
That standing ovation when Monse let Ale have on the patio was awesome. It was like she read our comments from yesterday and mushed them into one short speech. SR went through every emotion last night: guilt, anger, regret and being a pain in the a**. You want to hug him one minute and give him a swift kick in the nether regions the next. Hard to play that and he's doing a great job.
And Dim--have to say that scene with mumsy was very interesting. You felt his true anguish, and maybe he was right. The admiral may have been cold to him growing up, we've never seen their youth and the tug of war he was caught in between the parents didn't help. Knowing your last words were one of vitriol..but what I loved was his breaking away as Graceless was getting more and more creepy clingy in her comfort (there is something so not right about her "devotion" to him) and the look on her face. Could he be moving away from her....and what will she do if that happens?
Ok, Tia was moving last night. Bless her that has to be horrible to realize your function in life has ended.
Side note: Maria looked horrid in that dress. To me anyway. Little too stuffed in. And I love Vistor...that is all.
Daisynjay
“Ale exits the scene, leaving María behind to have some quality time with Admiral Mendoza's corpse”, “she's going with him to Agua Azul, presumably to protect him from the dangers inherent in being around his small, blond, sexy wife”, “she low growls”, “ Weird, freaky look from Pedro to end the scene. Wait, that's just his face” and finally, the marvelous “ not before giving Alejandro a silent stare down of such scorn that I think I heard the raspy sound of his avocados shriveling in situ”.
What a treat this was.
I have no sympathy for Ale: “The Admiral didn't deserve to die this way, knowing his wife had tricked him all his life”. Yes, Ale, he didn’t. And your cruel, angry tirade was largely responsible for this occurrence. As you noted Julia, even Maria chimed in with “She reminds Ale that he was the one who told Lauro about how Montse was having José-Luis's child”. ‘nuff said.
On a lighter note, Graciela was on fire last night, wasn't she? She commanded the small screen royally last night. Judy, your “middle linebacker of Malice” had me laughing in great appreciation!
AuntyAnn, I also felt for Dim. He really was saddened by Lauro’s passing. But I took heart in that Josie’s kindness is seeping into his consciousness and already influencing him! I suspect she will indeed change him before this is through. No small task certainly.
Madelaine, I was also thinking that Nadia is a wonderful friend! She is there for Monse, heart and soul. Monse is berefit, but not alone.
JL looked so happy in his uniform! I am very worried about Ale loading his gun (again) in the previews. Let's hope the scenes are unrelated and that JL and Ale do not yet cross paths. JL has a wedding and Ale has other temper tantrums and angry tirades on his agenda, I'm sure.
I don't see how Monse can ever forgive Ale. I don't see him acknowledging his mistakes and proceeding with the annulment with the child on the way is just another strike against him.
Julia, you rock! Totally.
Diana
Maria was true to form; she barely mourned her own father, so what could we have expected from her? She also seems unaware of how her lack of empathy could play with others, especially Alejandro. Not an intelligent villana, that's for sure, because she doesn't even know her own victim well enough.
AuntyAnn, you beat me to the info that she put all the blame for Lauro's death on Alejandro. If he ever really opens up to Victor he could finally see who and what Maria really is. The better possibility would be that Maria will be dumb enough to let it slip someday or that someone will overhear her telling someone else (although I have no idea who that would be).
Graceless was her usual cold and hypocritical self.
I don't believe that any conscience was born in Dimwit. His whole "time to party" speech to Monserrat was ill-timed and grossly insensitive. Very true to form for him.
I'm dreading JL's arrival in his new dress uniform. He will feel so conflicted in view of recent events. Monserrat will probably send him on his way, but I wonder what she will feel now.
What can I say?
Maria was revolting in her recounting of Lauro's death "with some delight" as Julie aptly described her delivery.
Ale was honest about what had happened with Lauro and took responsibility for his part. I was surprised he was as tortured about it as he was until he explained how he had felt about Lauro. Too bad that experience didn't cause him to want to proceed more slowly with the Montse situation just in case he was wrong.
Judy B., you called it with naming Graciela "the middle linebacker of malice." She didn't miss a beat in continuing her machinations. The best was her wanting Montse to take advantage of the death of Lauro to get back with Ale.
Wow, Fina did have a positive influence on Dimitri. I liked the talk he had with Montse. It was pure Dimitri but he did have her best interest at heart. Also Interesting was seeing how conflicted he was about Lauro. Only Graciela knows the truth on that one and she is not talking.
Poor Carlota having spent her whole life as a caretaker. No wonder she never had a family of her own.
Joaquin contracting JL's hit through Pedro. I wonder howthat will play out.
The plot just keeps moving and I just keep enjoying!
Jarifa
Dim's listening to Fina and genuinely trying to comfort and bond with Montse signals a change in him. I want to see their first conversation after their Father's death.
All were excellent in the scenes when Ale tells of Lauro's death and you described these wonderfully Julia. Although painful, I was relieved to see Gracie and Dim's very real shock and grief and the scene between Gracie and Dim was touching. Combined with the earlier scene of Dim heeding Fina's advice and his moving expression of the aching void he feels for the loss of the chance to ever win his Father's love, I do feel this is a turning point for Dimmy.
"You're a monster," Well, Montse just answered Ale's question from a few days ago.
This was just delicious, Julia: Gracie also exits the scene, but not before giving Alejandro a silent stare down of such scorn that I think I heard the raspy sound of his avocados shriveling in situ.
Delicious and very descriptive of the devastated, guilty, finally beginning to think Ale. I hope Montse can go from hate to strength, that she can be delivered from all these powerful negative emotions while she's pregnant. I would to hate to see her go through these critical months doing odio and venganza monologues like somebody else we know.
Off to work. Thanks again, Julia. It was refreshing also to hear the characters acknowledge many of the things we've been discussing here.
Lila
I have to wonder why the producers cast an actress who is so much younger than Rogelio Guerra but it must have been to drive this point home.
Graciela, our very own Small Screen Evita!!
Madelaine, "River DeNile"!!! I love it!!!
Aunty Ann, "And seriously, she really isn't pretty. She is not hot or remotely attractive." I've always thought this about this actress since I first saw her in "Cuando Me Enamoro" and in an episode of "Mujeres Asesinas". Welcome to my table of one!
Every one of these episodes, as painful as they have been, have delivered. Why else would we be having almost DAILY comments over 100?!
I have to think that it has been emotionally and physically tiring for the actors. I would so love to hear their perspective on this TN.
Fatima
Judy B. I like your idea of Graciela running a country. How bout she takes on Pedro? The two could destroy each other!
As long as we are wishing for a bachelor number 3, how about a hook up for Tia Carlotta? I know she's a totally different character than Tia Rebecca in Tempestad,but she was a confirmed bachelorette that found her mate. I'd so love to see Lottie get a love connection.
Becky
To Everyone--Thanks so much! I am teaching all day today and have a class I'm taking tonight, so I won't have much time to comment back directly on all your marvelous comments, but please know that reading them is my greatest reward for doing the recap.
I am grateful to you all.
Forgot yesterday to send positive vibes to our friends in the southeast. Hope everything is better today.
Lila
Lila
Yes, The Capitan is married. He brought his wife to Monse and Ale's wedding.
SusanLynn:
Amiga, sending you lots of good thoughts and positive vibrations for a very good outcome.
Susanlynn, I will be sending positive vibes and hopes your way nonstop until the custody hearing tomorrow. Please keep us posted.
I felt for Tia Carlotta in last night's episode. I also know someone with the Tita Syndrome, youngest daughter, her life was her work (where I knew her) and taking care of her parents. They passed away and she inherited the house and property, where she lives alone.
At one point we were hoping that Carlotta and Fina's bro Tomas might sparkle. He could use some lessons in TLC and she could use a protector.
Julia R., thank you again for this most excellent recap, it was both entertaining and educational.
OK, so if Captain Robledo is taken, there's still time to introduce someone new, maybe a nice widowed Colonel with teen children, for Monse's tia. As the sister of an admiral that should work well.
I'd still love to know how Graciela navigated the social obligations of a military wife while carrying on an affair with a shady civilian. Or does this require more suspension of disbelief than usual?
:p Lila
The Admiral may have gone on many deployments on a ship. This way Gracie could do basically what she wanted to do, as long as she was discreet. We know how good she is at keeping her little secrets and that's probably how she got away with it all this time.
Daisynjay, thanks for making the comment about Graceless's affection. There is an unhealthy vibe there but I can't to put my finger on it.
It does seem that Fina is having an influence on Dim. Though his attempt to cheer up Monse was off base, its all he knows. And his pulling away from his mother while grieving was sad and telling.
Yes Becky we need another bachelor for Tia. I hope the writers don't leave her alone after caring so much for others. And if Fina can change Dim, perhaps she can make her brother stronger marriage material.
Graceless is some piece of work, isn't she? The whole thing about taking advantage of Alejandro was both shameless and pathetic.
Graciela remained true to character in this episode. She is going to make the most out of every bad situation up to and including extorting something out of Ale for her benefit even if she has to use Montse. Alejandro better get out of town quick.
And then there are the rosary beads. She was wearing a rosary that could fit around two people, bless her little black heart.
Lila
Excellent!!
Diana
I just wish I could believe that Monse would keep her resolve to have no more to do with Ale, but unfortunately, I suspect that's not a revised ending the author's have in mind.
---
What a terrific job you did with this emotionally loaded episode, Julia Rold! And then to include a little for the Grammar Geeks too -- awww!
I join the chorus of those who admire your description of Graciela's ability to cause avocados to wither on the vine. Excellent.
JudyB -- I think you get the award for snappiest comment of the day:
"Like you, I have come to admire, in a way, the incredible force that is Graciela. The actress is playing her to perfection. She's the middle linebacker of Malice that no one can take down. She could be ruling a South American country, she's so formidable. Really, she's wasting her talents just coddling Dimetrio and harassing Montserrat. Let's go for bigger things!"
This was so great that I just had to quote the whole paragraph.
Let me go on record here:
Episode 57 marks Dimitrio's first step toward redemption.
Oh and didn't you all love how Josefina explained the difference between pity (lástima) and empathy (empatía) to her dim Dim?
So Alejandro is in serious trouble (i.e., he is flipping out). First he thinks Adolfo is Jose Luis. Now he verbally attacks his friend Victor because he is cuckolding PEDRO MEDINA!
He is actually pretty abusive to BM even if she is too dense to know it. If she weren't such a B, I would have felt sorry for her when Alejandro told her he had kicked her out once and he could do it again.
I also have my doubts about the plot Joaquín and Pedro are hatching. Thank goodness for inept public officials.
For Tia C: I can see her take care of Monse's little one, but it would be nice to break that chain of just caring for someone else and have someone care for her. I want Rosie to be the doting caregiver for her grandson.
I too thought about the movie and Tita. With 165 episodes, hope they develop something for her. She gets to futzy and gossipy when just left to agonize about everyone else. Needs someone to take her mind off the shenanigans of this bunch.
Heat wave today! WE actually have a temperature with a "2" in front of the double-digits coming. I'm beside myself with glee!
Daisynjay
Wishing you some warming sunshine and an end to the frigid temperatures. It's a wonder we aren't all sick. What crazy weather.
Diana
Leave it to Pedro to try to turn a funeral into an for advancement of his political career. He has an anvil hovering before the end of this novela. I still cannot figure out why he wants Ale's land so much.
Graci is such a grasping opportunist. She seems to getting worse and worse . She is so much worse than the mother in AR. Dim really did not have a chance to grow into manhood with a mother like Graci. Josefina has a big job ahead of her.
Susanlynn, sending warm thoughts that everything turns out in the best way.
I see Tia with Tomas. Tomas has a temper and can be insensitve to Fina, but his heart is in the right place. Tia can straighten him out.
Agree all the performances were stellar, especially Daniela Castro. Even though Graciela was still up to her evil tricks, I did feel she was sorrowful for the loss of Lauro. After all, he was the only person in the world who was starry-eyed about her.
I *do* belong to the Avocados Club. Wish there were (note, Grammar Police) an easy way to go back and collect all the references we've made to avocados since El Tal. Now there were some real low-hanging avocados, ripe for picking or shriveling.
This was a beautiful rendition of a very sad episode. Ale can look as genuinely anguished as he wants to, but it's not enough to get a pardon from me.
I loved the way BM tried to invite herself along to the wake. I'm sure she would have provoked another cat fight. OTOH, Gracie might have gotten in that finger poke we've been wanting.
Aunty Ann--"And seriously, she [Maria] really isn't pretty. She is not hot or remotely attractive. And those new cloths are not going to make a difference." And you, my dear are going to be in serious trouble with Carlos.
"Even though Graciela was still up to her evil tricks, I did feel she was sorrowful for the loss of Lauro. After all, he was the only person in the world who was starry-eyed about her. "
Brilliant observation!
Julia R.- Brilliant storytelling. Your best lines have been mentioned multiple times already, but ITA with everyone else.
I enjoyed seeing a bit of Dim's human side poking out last night. Hopefully Fina can continue to drag it out.
I find it interesting that Lauro may have kept Dim at arm's length (I don’t think it means he didn’t love him), while being very affectionate with Monse. There is a very similar dynamic over on Por Siempre Mi Amor. One of the good characters, a retired military man, indulges his oldest child (his step daughter), while being very severe with his son (expects him to have a military career; shakes his hand instead of hugging him; etc.). Perhaps this is the cultural view of how Mexican military men treat their sons vs how they treat their daughters.
Ale may have admitted his part in Lauro’s demise to Maria, but I did not see a sufficient amount of guilt or regret in him during the rest of the episode. In fact, he seemed to be right back to blaming others for everything that’s happened. When he told Monse and Gracie what happened, he wasn’t the one who volunteered the info about what had been the death blow (telling Lauro his daughter was a cheating ho, who was having another man’s child). It was Monse who guessed he had told Lauro this. Well, at least he didn’t throw Maria under the bus.
Graduation from the Naval Academy gets you an officer rank, of the lowest kind, but still officer. JL was a cabo, or corporal, no?
Gracie did not seem very moved by old Lauro's passing. She definitely had to keep her two children from completely breaking down, but still, she just didn't seem that broken up about it herself. (Loved the comment about the Triple X-sized rosary, Pasofino.)
Of course Graceless will inherit from the will. (Lauro didn't have time to change it if he didn't want her to benefit.) It'll be interesting to see what it says--does he skip over Dimmy and leave something only for Graceless and Montse?
We all know the family was financially on a teeter-totter, land rich and cash poor, but with Ale's help they have been getting by. I wonder if there are going to be any more fiscal surprises when the books are examined. Isn't it Gracie that was cooking, er doing the books for him?
I'm worried about Carlota's future, too. I think Graceless tolerated her because she was useful. If she's no longer useful, it could be the poor house for Carlota. I don't think Montse would allow for it, but we don't know what her financial situation will be. Will she ever get that suitcase full of money back from the authorities?
OK, back to home improvement. Today they are drilling holes in all the walls to install insulation, and there is a handsome gentleman demolishing the arbor on our patio. It's very NOISY here!
I SO want to see Graciela go after Maria. Dim should tell her how Maria was boinking Adolfo and how they stole the money from Alejandro. She should anger Maria to such a state that she (Maria) screams out at her, "Yes, I did all that, so what? I have Alejandro wrapped around my little finger and he will believe ANYTHING I tell him! I am HIS WOMAN! All I have to do is tell him how I've loved him all these years and he'll believe anything I say, even if the proof is right before his eyes, 'cause I'm bad like that!" - and have her say all this within earshot of Ale. Maria is so arrogant and stupid, it wouldn't take much to have her spit it all out - even Macario and Dominga can drive her to this.
Niecie I also love your observation about Gracie. I think she is affected by Lauro's death and exhibited it to just the degree I would expect of her. It would be un-Gracie-like to collapse in a heap, wailing or to get off her game of "managing" everything and everybody around her to her advantage.
Lila
"Cue Requiem mood music."
Susanlynn, you already know that you and your family have my full support in your ongoing struggle. My prayers and best wishes continue.
Auntie Ann,
though I disagree with you about María's beauty, in no way are you (as Anita suggests) in serious trouble with me... in fact... here... allow me to prepare a special drink... just for you...
Since I find myself (pretty much alone) reveling in María's evil beauty, I especially enjoyed this scene:
"Ale exits the scene, leaving María behind to have some quality time with Admiral Mendoza's corpse..."
but I just wish she had gone ahead and punctuated her little posthumous scolding for him choosing to die on her turf with a gentle but sincere kick to his lifeless body. That would have pretty well locked in the scorn everyone here has for her and elevated her to genuine villainess status.
I reject Capitán Robledo as a model of integrity since earlier he allowed himself to be suborned by Graciela and Pedro and now he's turning a blind eye to the mutiny and murder committed on his officer by Refugio.
Carlos
JL, in the avances, is wearing a LT's uniform. When you are in school at the Naval Academy you are called a plebe (low man on the totem pole) cabo is the same thing. He will be an officer, not enlisted.
1. Everyone knows he killed Gamboa, so that anvil won't come back to bite him.
2.His guilt over the things he said to his father prove that he is able to feel remorse, I was surprised that he cried over Lauro's death when you consider what had just taken place between the two.
3.Jofefina might have a good influence on him, as seen with him trying to cheer Montse up by telling her they should go party,he was trying to comfort her the only way he knows.
I love the avocados remark!
I haven't been this crazy about a novela in a long time. It's rare when I start discussing the characters as if they were real people and speculating on motives, thought processes, etc.
I have to say that the two actors who play Dimitri and Maria are pretty danged good. When I look at them I feel anger and disgust because they are SOOOO convincing. Another reason I haven't given up yet is because, so far, Ale is the source of his own stupidity. Maria starts talking trash, but he just wants her to shut up. I remember in STuD, Lucero's character believed EVERYTHING that dear cousin Ivana lied (over and over and over and over and over and over and over)about.
Maria still likes to trash talk, but at least Ale treats her like dirt so that makes her a little more bearable.
My thoughts:
I believe that Dim IS Benjamin's child. There has to be a reason that Lauro shunned him, despite his telling Dim that he didn't. I believe that Dim was telling the truth.
I also do NOT believe that Maria is Alejandro's half sister from Gracie. It is true that Malria did grow up with Ale, but that doesn't mean the ages are the same. She seems to be more of a contemporary in age to Montse. I can see BM as the younger little girl who always idolized Ale growing up, but that he just always looked at as a little sister. I also think that if her character was supposed to be older, close to 30, the show would make her seem as such.
Small a anita
Amigo! This is act of "mutiny" was clearly self defense. LT Avenilla had a gun to JL's head and was about to pull the trigger. Refugio fired at him before he could kill his buddy, and I have no doubt the LT would have killed JL. I rest my case : )
"Study, Mansion Mendoza, where THINGS ARE GETTING EVEN WORSE THAN THEY WERE A FEW PARAGRAPHS AGO:"
LOL.
Novela Maven: I too thoroughly enjoyed Josefina's explanation of the diferences between pity and empathy. Josefina could make somebody a really great friend in this novella. I hope Montserrat snatches her up and that she and Nadia team up to do the hair, makeup and tweezer work we have so been longing for. I adore a good makeover, especially in the absence of good romance.
Go Angelica and Jose Luis! I am depending on you two to get me through the upcoming doldrums in the TN.
EJ
I am sending you (and yours) my kindest thoughts in this very stressful time.
May you feel the care of your friends here at Caray Caray from across the miles and may it offer you some solace.
Abrazos,
EJ
Thanks for all the good vibrations. I am trying to keep busy. I just made a big pot of chicken rice and vegetable soup , and it is simmering on the stove. The hours stretch when you are waiting for something to be resolved. I don't talk about this mess to those near and dear to me in the noncyber world, so sometimes I just have to know that some good hearts know what is happening.
Amiga mia! Refugio was part of a military escort transporting JL to Mexico City. He pulled a gun and initiated an escape attempt. Technically both JL and Refugio are guilty of that murder.
Carlos
Angry? You bet. It wouldn't change her current feelings about Alejandro, but it would definitely provoke another catfight.
I don't get grief coming from Graceless at all any more than any genuine guilt from Dimwit. Graceless might be worried about their financial situation and her position in the community. The way she insisted that Dimwit stop crying and show a Stiff Upper Lip doesn't sound like she has much regard for his feelings. He does not behave in the manner of a military son and that is probably starting to bother her.
Her concern with appearances is her driving force. Ramrod-stiff and dry-eyed is what she wants of herself and her children, which makes me wonder whether she came from a military family.
Because María is NOTHING to Alejandro NADA. Un cero a la izquierda. He LET her talk. And even then, Lauro turned to him and said: Tell me, Alejandro. I want to hear it from your lips.
Alejandro is using María, but he shows no pleasure in her company. He is treating her like crap. In his mind, she is not important enough to bear responsiblity for what happened to Lauro. [There's a reason why the man sitting alone at her table on The Patio is wringing his hands.]
Here is something that will probably earn me a few nerfazos:
Parents, normal ones -- by that I mean scratching around, everyday regular neurotic ones -- usually love their children. But guess what, folks? They don't always like them equally.
Ask around: who was your mother's favorite? who did your dad like best?
Grown-up kids always know! Usually they can laugh about it. They have come to terms with it. Besides, it's a bit fluid -- at times the light shines more brightly on one child than on another.
Montse was Lauro's favorite; Dim was Graciela's favorite. But this is a telenovela and Graciela isn't just an ordinary overindulgent mama. She is a monstrous caricature of all bad mothers.
[Little kids are always saying "It's not fair." And parents put on their game faces and try to make it fair for their kids. But in the end, we all learn that life's not fair. And we figure out how to deal with it.]
[NM heads for the Bunker]
And the other thing is, it's perfectly reasonable to want good parents, but it's catastrophic to INSIST on it. Because there are lots of poor parents out there. And you have to learn out to deal with it, and all sorts of other unfairness, and then move on.
JudyB heading to the bunker right after you. Is there still room?
"There's a reason why the man sitting alone at her table on The Patio is wringing his hands."
Yikes!
I'm just wishing that, if María is indeed evil, she'd step it up a notch... perhaps in a way similar to my earlier suggestion of corpse abuse.
I fret, I pout, I dither, I weep... but I've never ever wrung my hands... perhaps you saw someone else temporarily occupying my spot at the sparsely (for the moment) populated María Mesa. By the way, could I interest you in a specially prepared drink much like the one I offered Auntie Ann?
Carlos
Lila
I would have hated getting a nerfazo from you -- you're one of my favorites here, you know.
[NM snorts wickedly]
Carlos, mi vida, I'll give you this. The actress playing Maria has lovely hair, skin, a lush figure and is doing an excellent job playing her rather thankless role in all this.
But we're supposed to loathe her.
Look what the costume department has done. Dumped her into all those busy, über-floral housedresses that don't flatter, even though her anxiously inviting cleavage is always displayed.
She is supposed to look tacky, and act tacky. And she does.
I'm glad you and Otro Gringo can appreciate her womanly charms; that's what keeps the world turning, after all, but I'd say from the way the writers and the wardrobe people are setting her up, her finale will be dreary indeed. Not Karmaggeddon. She hasn't killed anyone. Just dreary.
Where it gets toxic is when they show it, which gets even more toxic when they go into denial about it.
Without the parentage issues we're speculating about Graciela would probably favor Dimwit anyway because he can't compete with her and she can still also feel superior to him.
I thought I had already posted this, but I was wondering this afternoon whether in addition to the prevailing issues whether Dimwit was a sickly baby or toddler. This could account for not only the 9-year age difference between him and Monserrat but Lauro's coolness toward him. Military men don't usually take well to having sickly male children. Lauro would have wanted a son like JL, Refugio, or Alejandro.
You know, Maria hasn't killed anyone but she is sooo hooked on Ale, I just can't see her giving up this role as his moo-hair while she is still drawing breath. Way down the line when Ale wins Montse back (as we know he will) I could see her trying to kill Montse which will end badly for her with Ale going back to Montse literally over her dead body. Not that Ale or Montse will do it but she may have the final anvil waiting for her.
Lila
Thanks for the drink. I will enjoy it while chatting with Cynderella over at the Ale table. I can appreciate the fact that you stand by your girl, just as Cynderella and I stand by Ale.
Therefore, I think that unless there is a contract dispute between any of these actors and the production team, the final anvil will fall on Pedro. I'm going to guess that he will be responsible for more deaths than Graceless will.
Lila
Susanlynn, sending you all my good vibes for a favorable outcome.
After El Tal, I'm not sure avocadoes will ever not be funny to me. Indeed, I think Ale's are currently shriveled to peanut size.
Lila: his moo-hair. HA! Are you calling her a heifer?! Good one.
So Dim actually has a few feelings. Who knew? What an interesting turn of events, especially as contrasted with his mother's "oh, well; what can we do? Let's move on, as soon as we've spent a few minutes in a display of mourning in front of the neighbors." I guess he isn't exactly his mommy's clone after all. I hope Fina continues to work her magic. Although a death in the family will probably postpone the wedding again, which is probably a good thing.
Believe it or not, I was thinking about you, your daughter and granddaughters the other day. I remember you telling us last year that the next hearing was in January and I was thinking that maybe it had passed since we were close to the end of the month. Sending you positive vibrations; keeping you and your family in my prayers.
I had an observation that I want to share because I know I'm not the only one who saw it. I got the feeling that Montse thought Ale went to her house to reconcile. Did anyone else get that feeling? When she saw him she looked a bit nervous (messing with her hair in a sort of flirtatious way) and dare I say happy. I wouldn't doubt that she would be thinking that. She had just had a conversation with Fina, who had told her that it would not be a surprise to her (Fina) if Ale came looking for Montse. Just an observation.
No spoiler here, but this is what I think was said during Gracie and Pedro's private conversation last night. Pedro told Gracie that JL is alive and engaged to marry Angie. He wants Gracie to somehow let Ale know this so that Ale will go looking for JL and they will have a confrontation and Ale will kill JL, and or they will both die. Montse will either get all of Ale's money because he will go to prison for murder or she will be a widow and inherit everything. Gracie will then have to convince Montse to sell or give that piece of land to Pedro that he so desperately wants. This works great for Pedro (he gets that land), Gracie (she gets the Almonte money) and even Joaquin (if JL dies he won't marry Angie). This would also resolve the favor issue between Pedro and Gracie.
back to work...hasta pronto!
Lila...moo-hair..HA..love it. Thanks for that giggle.
Carlos..I think you just like to stir the pot, amigo.
5.17 and it is already getting dark...help. Winter is winning. Auxillio.
Some of those fates are worse than death.
AuntyAnn, I don't think Monserrat would comply so easily with a demand like that. I don't remember whether Alejandro told her anything specific regarding Benjamin's dirty dealings or his suspicions of them, but I think he told her he suspected Pedro of being corrupt. Nadia probably suspects that as well.
I don't think Monserrat would give up that land because isn't it the land on which that peasant community now sits? She would want it to do exactly what it's doing now, which is to support the people who are living there.
I also have faith in her future developing spine against her mother. She might stay angry at Alejandro for 50 more episodes over the revelation but that doesn't erase Graceless' hypocrisy over the whole ugly mess. Graceless would have to kill her own daughter to get that money and I'm trying to decide whether she would be willing to do that.
Yes, I thought that Mony looked surprised to see Ale suddenly standing there, but I also thought that I saw a little sparkle of hope in her eyes. That was a terrible scene to watch. Delivering the news of a death is always awful, but Ale looked guilty as hell, too, no matter what he is telling himself. People say and do very stupid things even to people they love and respect when they have become irrational. People can be their own worst enemies.
Yah, she did brighten in the most subtle way. That was a great scene, those electric seconds when Ale appeared in the doorway. Yeah, I think she was hopeful. The horrible contrast of that nanosecond of hope with what he really came to say made it all the more crushing. All of these guys are just splendid actors.
Lila
Hey Ale. If Lauro was the only decent member of the family, why did you kill him?
Let’s have a Clueless makeover for Fina.
Put me in the camp who believes that: 1. Dim is genuinely mourning his father, or the “if onlys” at least, and 2. is on the road to redemption. I think he’s intrigued by Fina’s devotion to him and relieved he can be honest with her, at least. He’s told her more than once that he’s a bad ‘un.
Susanlynn: I’m sending all kinds of love and light and positive energies into the Universe, so that you get happy news tomorrow.
Nanette
On Maldito - it comes from the verb Maldecir, which is to curse or to damn. Maldito as an adjective usually translates as "damned" - so with "maldito viejo" María was actually saying damned/cursed old man, basically swearing at him there already dead.
We also often hear the phrase "¡maldita sea!" which translates to "damn it!" in English. A female gender noun is implied by that common phrase. It might be referring to luck (la suerte). You can also hear other forms such as "maldito sea el día en que lo conocí" - damned/cursed be the day I met him.
Ok. . .need to rattle some pots and pans. Can't wait for tonight.
Lila
UA: Dim is kind of thin and gangly—maybe you’re right about him being a sickly child. Or a child who liked the arts—that probably wouldn’t go over too well either. Also, if he was shy when he was a child (he’s not an introvert—though he may have showed introvert traits when he was younger). His acting out may have been the stereotypical wanting to get attention. Add that to Gracie enabling him and he never outgrew it.
I always thought it was a little unfair and immature that Montserrat expected JL to go to her father and, without her even having clued her dad in that she was seeing someone, to announce his intention to marry her. If she, who already had a great relationship with her father, wouldn't tell him about her romantic life, how much worse would it have been for JL, who was not the one Lauro cared about and who rightly feared being unfairly judged by the family, to drop that on Lauro out of nowhere?
"Hey Ale. If Lauro was the only decent member of the family, why did you kill him?" He wasn't thinking.
I've known a couple of people, women, too, who have anger-management problems. As soon as the spewing ends, they don't stop to reflect on what just happened and how they have hurt the person they've been attacking verbally. They behave as though *nothing* happened and revert back to their normal behavior and treat the wounded person as they would when not angry. It takes a heart attack or just a long time for the wounded party to forgive and forget that kind of blow.
This is how the cycle of domestic violence is perpetuated. The "wounded" person may actually have bruises, cuts and swellings and the aggressor begs forgiveness and swears it won't happen again. The sad part is that at that moment the aggressor feels it is the truth.
"Malria hits a very sensitive nerve in women."
Thanks for that. I kinda guessed that is the case. I've had a very difficult time understanding the scorn and vitriol directed at María from almost the very first episode. I guess you guys recognized her character's seriously negative potential long before I ever did. Nevertheless, I generally find the bad girls much more interesting than the so-called good girls. Several of the bad girl's I've invested in have ended up being redeemed in some fashion and a number have ended up... well... dead.
In CME, you may recall, this same actress played a similar part (Matilde) and was pretty much generally disliked but then latched onto a guy (currently our Refugio) and feelings toward her softened and even warmed (although her headband never quite seemed to catch on).
I can see redeemable qualities yet (she didn't give Lauro's corpse a little kick when she had the opportunity as I hoped she might to emphasize her annoyance) although I gave up on her ending up with Alejandro long ago. Maybe she can find happiness with a reformed Adolfo.
Carlos
I always wonder what photos and captions you would be choosing when you are not on the recapping team. When you get right down to it, I started watching telenovelas six years ago because I surfed into Alborada and was smitten by Fernando , but I have stayed for the fun and the snark. Melinama had me at "the mystery Boinker of Santa Rita". And Diego's "swelling in the humid zones." I have discovered that I like a little bizarre craziness in my day...as long as it is on theTV screen.
Jarifa
Anita, your theory is probably spot on, but as a girl who went to convent school Monserrat couldn't have been expected to figure out much more than that at the time. A thousand pesos says she never had a boyfriend before that.
She's growing up fast now that she knows her mother was not what she represents herself to be and that there are vipers like Maria lurking around her.
Ale is playing Little Mister Victim here—even after “killing” Lauro. He’s all about the ME. I’m glad Vic warned him about what would happen if he persisted in his current behavior and then finds out he’s actually the baby’s father. There still will be is determined belief that Mons cheated on him, but at least he can’t hold the baby situ over her.
Carlos: we might have initially not liked Maria because we saw she was going to be a problem for our hero and heroine. Now she’s not liked because she really is a nasty piece of work.
Let's hope that Montse does grow a spine when it comes to her mother. My theory about the convo between Gracie and Pedro is far fetched, but I am just so curious to find out what they are up to. It can not be good. Any ideas?
Carlos,
I agree about Matilde on CME. I watched that TN and found that character annoying, it was like she was a spoiled brat. She then changed and I ended up liking her. That character is a huge contrast to the mischievous and evil BM.
I have a bad feeling after watching the avances. It looked like JL went to Montse's house. Why would he go there? It also looked like JL and Montse were going to have a reunion in their old meeting spot. And Ale's got a gun. Does Ale know JL's back in town? Will Ale meet JL and Montse on the beach. I can't wait to find out.
back to work...hasta pronto!
If Alejandro were to kill JL and go to prison, is there any possibility that Pedro could seize his property? Not that I think this is what the writers are thinking, but that Pedro would try to do this with the very far-fetched idea that Alejandro manipulated Benjamin into the change in his will. He would have to kill the Padre to prevent the truth of that from coming to light.
There may still be the possibility of DNA material of Benjamin's that could help prove that he was Alejandro's sperm donor.
Also, the other obstacle to that plan is Monserrat and her baby. If anything were to happen to Alejandro she would be the one with the property rights.
Lila
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