Caray, Caray!

I look forward to your recap, Sara.
I too was disgusted with tonight's episode. Why didn't anyone suspect So-Not with Ara's disappearance. What kind of mall security cameras did that mall use? They couldn't capture any sign of Ara. Oh come on! Art is starting to work on my nerves. He is blaming only Isa but Tita is trying to tell him that they were together. They both should have known better and someone should have accompanied Ara when she walked off with the store clerk. Enjoy your tea but I need something stronger.
 

Recap is up! I need to polish a few things.

I probably should have had something stronger too. I'm still mad.
 

Sara:

This was marvelous, simply marvelous!

I too am mad! How long will it take Art to open his eyes???? He should know already how Ara stretches the truth. Isa has never lied to him and neither has Tita, what is wrong with him????? He should have gotten Ara that therapy.

So-Not needs to be caught already. She has done enough shifty things and killed Eugenia to boot and still she has gotten away with it. I want her Teflon to come off and be caught already!

Those puppies were so cute.

Thanks again Sara for this terrific recap.
 

Art, father of the year, blames Isabel. I'd like to smack him into next week. What a clueless piece of dung. Eugenia, rest your weary soul, how did you stay with this guy for 10 years?

Bruno, girls today call your behavior clingy, possessive and creepy. Why don't you grab a club, bonk her one and drag her back to a cave?

Score Sonia 10 everyone else 0. The ole police thing taking Aranza home was brilliant

Andy is moving on up but I hope Mau isn't moving in yet. Please, someone needs to be sane around the kids
 

Good work, Sara.

Arturo needs a restraining order against Sonia. She is either crafty like a fox or batshit crazy. He also needs to chill because Isabel is fighting a losing battle at the moment. A normal 9-year-old is tough enough, but one being manipulated by someone as evil as Sonia is another matter.

Isn't it also time that Aranza's room stop looking like it belongs to a 4-year-old?

And Domenika Paleta is being typecast because this is the same character she played in TdA.

I understand that Gaby is apprehensive about relationships, but not learning how to cook? And Bruno does need to slow down.


 

Great job, Sara. Sonia certainly scored some points last night.

Let me ask this, if Art had been quick to assume that Ara was lying, would we had thought any better of him. He is right, that lying is not something Ara is accustomed to doing. Wouldn't we think he was continuing to be an insensitive dad, had he believed a woman he'd only known a couple of weeks over his normally honest child?

He's being hysterical and overreacting. But that describes almost every parent when something has gone wrong with their child when someone else was watching them. Try reasoning with a parent then.

But this shows that perhaps he and Ara aren't yet ready for someone else to enter their family dynamics, since neither is able to trust a third person. They should be spending time with each other instead.
 

I thought Bruno scored points by whipping up that meal from the scraps in Gabi's kitchen. He did promise to back off a bit, but Gabi's also acting crazy and sending mixed messages about what she wants.

As dangerous and Mexico City and other parts of Mexico are right now, offering to follow a lady home late at night as she drives in her car, is akin to walking a woman to her door instead of letting her walk by herself late at night. The galan in Mentir did the same thing last night. So I didn't find that creepy. It's just a different cultural (and crime) context.
 

Funniest moment, Mine rushing out of the bedroom, purse and sweater in hand and ready to go apartment hunting, just in time to see the backs of Andy, Mau, and the kids as the happily head out.
 

Vivi you state succinctly what is at issue and it is Art that has all the control but has been remiss. I agree he should have taken his child's position but what made me angry is Art being so quick to blame (and punish with words and deeds Isabel) without accepting any responsibility. The larger issue is selfishness and chasing another woman he just met, trying to force her on his daughter and be damn the consequences. Furthermore, while watching how Bruno operates with women, he would be the last to listen to where it concerns love. (it was with his prompting Art go for it)

"But this shows that perhaps he and Ara aren't yet ready for someone else to enter their family dynamics, since neither is able to trust a third person. They should be spending time with each other instead".
 

I didn't have a problem with Bruno's offer either. If Gaby doesn't think there's a safety issue she's an idiot. However, Bruno is still throwing off a clingy vibe. Though I feel a bit of pity for him. He's clearly smitten with her and all she can do is send mixed messages.

I speak for myself only when I say that I probably would have been fine with Art mistrusting Ara. Bear in mind though that I teach teens so I almost always assume there is some deceit in every action.

Art is really confusing me though. He breaks up with Isa and then the Avances shows a proposal. Have fun with that on Monday, Kathy!

I'm getting psyched for the time jump but nervous, too. New actors, new accents, new speech speed/patterns.

UA- I'm still trying to decide if DoPa has been type cast. This BSC seems to be a quieter, more deliberate and strategic BSC. The other one was more delusional and fly by the seat of her pants, completely unorganized BSC. I guess really it is still type casting in that it's just a different kind of crazy. Ok. I guess I decided. :) You have to admit she does it well.
 

Taken alone and in the context you speak of I get it however Bruno's overall approach is full court press. Gaby says you are smothering me so he squeezes harder. Big red flag. Not much longer and he will be driving in front of her house and showing up unannounced at work or calling 12 times an hour. I wonder what would he have done had she not answered her phone? When she did answer he shamed her a bit and invited himself over. But, but I love you Gaby
 

Tofie- I still love your assessment of Bruno. Last night I kept telling him to stop humping her leg.

Wasn't there a dog named Bruno on LFDD?
 

Sara, he was doing it wasn't he
 

Yes he was, but it was mitigated by eggs Benedict and whine....digo, wine.

I like Gaby but I wonder why her independent streak is so very strong. I am hazarding a guess based on the intro: perhaps the introduction of some competition will wake up Gaby.
 

eggs Benedict and whine
another classic
 

Sara, your recap blew me away. You recounted the (mostly ghastly) events evenly, insightfully and with great humor. Marvelous.

"Girl day was a disaster","Aranza went to pet a dog. Somehow So-not slithered into the picture, the two of them decided to "play a trick" and it all went downhill from there", "Art had a mid-mall melt down", "Poffy (poor dog, what a humiliating name" were great. "Men who cook are keepers. Gaby is being an idiot" was my favorite.

I share the frustration of all of the commenters. Of course Art was upset, but he did channel his anger at Isa rather than including Tita. Interesting points raised here as to Art's reaction. I can't quite blame him for being upset but when Ara turned up, perhaps he should have sat her down with Tita and Isa and tried to piece the story together. I'm confused as to why he considers Isa irresponsible one moment yet proposing the next knowing there is an expanding chism in Isa and Ara's relationship.

Bruno's behavior is gallant if a bit strong. Now that he has pushed, I bet if he were to back off a bit, Gaby might realize what she is missing. Absence does make the heart grow fonder - it's hard to miss someone when they are in your face, all the time.

Sara, you brought fresh perspective and fun to this.

Stay warm everyone.

Diana
 

Sara...I got a kick,out of your comment about teens. Tonight ,I am meeting three of my friends who taught in a high school with me and their hubs for a belated New Year's dinner ...a Spanish teacher and two English teachers. I will share your comment with them , and they will all laugh and agree. We always share many stories along these lines. Some teens can look right in your eyes and lie. It's a gift.

I agree that Art and Ara both should have hunkered down together for awhile to go through the grieving process. it's called a process for a reason. They should have both had counseling. However, some people react to grief by trying to run away from it, and I think that is what Art did when the work trip came up. It is tempting to move away from the pain by moving on to something new..a new person...a new place...an escape. Now, we will have to see what happens in these next ten years that will speed by.
 

Susanlynn- I hope my mistrust of my students doesn't sound harsh. I never feel they are being malicious. I just recognize their strong sense of self preservation.

Diana- well said. Why was Isa taking the brunt of the blame even when Tita said it was partly her fault??

I'm curious as to how we are going to go from "you aren't the gal for me and my family" to "will you marry me?"

One thing I did like last night... which I probably didn't do a good enough job of reporting... was that Ara really had to be strongly convinced to go along with the "joke". I was glad to see the glimpse of the real (good) Aranza. Left alone, Ara would accept Isa and she would be happy with her new situation. Unfortunately So-not is playing her games. It just made me happy that they are trying to keep the good in Ara alive. If the writers keep up with the evil glares and berrinches it will be hard for me to forgive future Aranza. I think the Isa/Ara dynamic is going to be two steps forward and one step back for most of the novela.
 

...."their strong sense of self preservation."...a very politically correct way to put it. I once was reluctantly and naively brought into a sting operation by the guidance counselor who heard that drugs were going to be passed from one student to another. He said that we had to actually see the pass. When confronted with the evidence found in a book , both students said that they did not know what it was. Really ? Or, you see them doing something..pushing another student, glancing at someone else's test but they deny it. Really? I was just hallucinating then ? You learn to take everything with a grain of salt. Do not even get me started on plagiarism which is a big problem for me with my foreigner students now since the Internet has made it so easy. Did you write this paragraph yourself ? Really ? You know how to use present perfect progressive tense , infinitives, and gerunds? WOw, why are you even in this class ?
 

Art has now officially entered the Pantheon of Idiot Galans. Yes he was shocked at the idea that previously non lying Ara would tell a lie but he really doesn't know his little girl anymore since he is so busy living his own life. But he went over the line implying that two adults his love Isa and Tita a woman he has known for year were lying.

Yes technically Ara wasn't lying when she said they had left her alone - they did by letting her go off with the salesgirl, which was stupid on their part. I also saw that Ara felt uncomfortable about the "joke" which shows she hasn't completely gone over the edge and that may serve her well after the time jump.

Been thinking about that poor child. As someone pointed out the other day because of Art's estrangement from his father and society Ara, Ara and Eugenia were a little world of their own. It was the three of them 24/7 with some contact with the servants and Tita and good old So-not. Eugenia dies, Art goes into mourning and the fabric of Ara's whole world is torn apart. Her father isn't there for her, a new grandfather shows up, the servants and Tita are dealing with grief but who remains the same - So-not. She hasn't changed and is busy planting doubts and little poison darts in the child's ears. Add to that Downer Daphne ranting about lying fathers who go on trips and bring home novios and everything she says seems to be happening to Ara. I keep reminding myself she is only nine and can't be expected to see manipulation. Children are linear thinkers and what she sees is Daddy very quickly bringing in a new woman so of course she is going to be a brat. Unfortunately Art can't see it and just plows ahead like an insensitive dolt.
 

Art's behavior is a man in heat not in mourning. For me he got a lot of splaining to do and more than a little groveling. Starting with Aranza, Isabel and Tita. Oh, he makes my blood boil.

Bet he was an absentee dad before Eugenia's death. I really wanted to like the dude,

Sara, thanks for making the point about Ara struggling with the deception, lying and game
 

I am confused. The mall security guards said that someone saw Ara leaving the mall with some man and his dog,but no video was available (broken camera). Yet later on, both Art, Isa, and even Tita were going around the mall asking shoppers if they had seen Ara. Why would they do this if they already knew Ara had left the mall?
 

Bravo, Sara! An excellent recap, with an appropriate title to boot.
I love how you handled- how teenagers lie. Self preservation is so true.
Diana said it all for me, so ditto. :-)
Decie Girl- what you said about children being linear thinkers is so true and how you broke down Ara's experiences is dead on.
 

Pantheon of Idiot Galans
Oh the images this evokes!! LOVE IT, Decie Girl! Let me guess...Octavio was the first inductee?

Art's behavior is a man in heat not in mourning.
Ding ding ding!!! This!!!!

Why would they do this if they already knew Ara had left the mall?
Because we had all kinds of continuity problems last night.

Did you write this paragraph yourself ? Really ? You know how to use present perfect progressive tense , infinitives, and gerunds? WOw, why are you even in this class ?
Oh you should see the notes I write on their papers. I teach Spanish I only and I can't believe the kids think I won't notice. I usually write a note like: "I cannot give you credit; however, if you can come after school and explain the proper use of the imperfect subjunctive I will give you credit and we can discuss changing your schedule so you can be in a class better suited to your level." No one has taken me up on the offer so they get stuck re-writing it in my presence.
 

Great recap Sara C---I loved it.
Pop goes the Sleezell! So-not shows up out of nowhere. Was a LOL
line for sure. Also---your line
"men who cook are keepers" really
made me laugh. I love to cook and I'm good at it but by her choice,
my wife rules the kitchen and usually takes over. It's her area.
Culture, pride?

Tablet Jefa TJ---What's wrong with
mall security? Answer---If there was good mall security, we wouldn't have a story.

Tofie---You make me laugh the hardest, you just crack me up. I'm
glad that you came over to this novela. --- Smack Art into next week---Grab a club, bonk her one and drag her back to the cave. ROTFL.

Will this incident separate Art and Isa allowing the She-devil to move in? The advances went by so fast. A proposal? Who to who?
the gringo
 

If as someone said the time jump is within a week I can only say the adult actors taking over for these very talented children are going to be interesting to watch. The children have established facial expressions and actions that the adults will need to incorporate into their portrayals or it will be jarring. One of the good things about this TN is that when we swing into the meat of the story all the motivations and rationale for adult behavior have been set and we won't have to endure one of those long monologues were everything is explained or the more popular trend say nothing and assume the audience is too stupid to care.

I was not overly concerned about why everyone was running around in the mall asking people if they had seen Ara and the man with the dog. They knew she had been or so they thought seen leaving with him but asking questions inside might have given them a clue to which way they went and also would reinforce the story about her leaving with the man.

Now So-not conveniently showing up was a bit of a stretch but it seemed that Ara had told her she was going on the girls day out and So-not figured to show up on the off chance she could make mischief. The fact that somehow she parked her car right were Ara could see her was one of the "Oh for God's sake" stupid things that are the trademark of all novelas and soaps.
 

Thanks, Sara, I enjoyed the recap very much!

Re Arturo giving the ol' adios to Isabel, all that was to me was - expected. Ham fisted, clumsy script writing but, hey, don't we see that betrayal or shunning based on lies and deceit in all TNs. Could have been more artfully played, but it's done now and the plot can move forward.

Since Aranza leaving the mall was apparently just one person's allegation, I thought Isabel and Tita did the right thing by continuing to look for her in the mall.

Continuity issues, indeed. I was waiting for Aranza to pitch a tantrum over strawberry instead of chocolate ice cream.
 

Good grief. Art tells Isa she isn't a responsible person because Aranza disappeared from the mall? Excuse me Mr. Responsible, but didn't Aranza take her stuff and "disappear" from HOME as well? As I recall Lucha and Gabino didn't get reamed for that even though they were home at the time and Mr. Responsible was out talking to the stars *without* his cell phone! My hubby keeps saying, "Why doesn't Isabel just run away NOW?"

I have no idea how we're going from "You're not responsible and we have no future" to "Will you marry me?" Does. Not. Compute. I know I wouldn't marry this guy... Maybe Tita beats Arturo with a Clue Bat.

Bruno stepped it up too much. Now he needs to back off. Is there no med-high heat on his burner?

They all seemed to forget that when Aranza ran away she spent hours at Sonia's house.

Meanie can't stand Andrea and her grandkids, but still wants to move in with them if they leave? Is a better apartment going to make her love them? How does that work?
 

xlntperuvian says "Maybe Tita beats Arturo with a Clue Bat"

Needs to be her role throughout the TN and don't stop with Arturo
 

I'm starting to think that Gaby is the only one of these adults who has any sense of propriety. It is way too soon for Art to be so intense with Isa and Bruno is pushing like crazy. All of these guys need to calm down for a minute. Isa is just as bad. You would think that having just had a nasty experience with Feo that the last thing she would want is an instant romance and fast marriage with the first guy to come along. We all wondered how smart Isa didn't see through the snake oil salesman Feo but i'm starting to think that she is just one of those desperate needy women who falls for the first guy who pays her any attention.
 

xint: "Bruno stepped it up too much. Now he needs to back off. Is there no med-high heat on his burner?" Exactly! Excellent comment.

Diana

 

I am loving the comments today! My husband thinks I've lost it sitting in front to the computer laughing and muttering about clue bats, ham fisted writers and med-high heat.

xlntperuvian-I loved your Art shaming! How quickly he forgot!
 

Sara..this past semester, a guy from Bangladesh and a girl from PR turned in the exact same paragraph ...busted. The college has software that enables teachers to type in one paragraph from a paper and..bam..there the original composition is on the screen.
 

..correction ..you only have to type in one sentence, not one paragraph.
 

I think our English dept has something like that. In my experience, our foreign students outshine their US counterparts, but that's probably because Spanish is the third language they are learning while the US students have barely been exposed to other languages.
 

Sara

And many of our students are barely able to speak their own language competently must less write in it. LOL
 

Amen Decie! I talk about English grammar in my Spanish class a lot and my students are always surprised to find that some of the most common English phrases are incorrect. Of course, in trying to come up with an example my mind has gone blank.
 

Here's an example: In a current commercial running in my area everyone says, "You got this." Bugs me to no end. It should be "You've got this."
 

Ooo. Good one!

While watching this show, the teacher in me has also noticed missing accent marks on the notes the kids have passed each other in class. :-P
 

I wonder if accent marks will eventually disappear from Spanish as it's used in the United States. When friends send text messages or e-mails to me in Spanish, they leave them out.
 

My heritage speakers never use them either.
 

It is interesting that some of my students have attended American high schools for a few years and can speak and understand English well, but they have trouble with spelling and grammar.

American students are getting much less grammar instruction than they did in the past. I had a lot of grammar in elementary and junior high. We diagrammed sentences. However, my daughters had very little grammar . They were taught process writing. Now, there seems to be some movement back to diagramming and more formal grammar instruction by some English teachers. It would probably be helpful when American students study foreign languages.

The way our ESL department teaches English grammar and writing is similar to the way grammar used to be taught to American students in the past.
 

gringo, yeah me too and thanks again for the referral
 

Susanlynn-do not get me started on approaches to learning languages or the demise of grammar teaching in general.

I was surfing around yesterday and I found the entrada for the original story this is based on (Mi Segunda Madre.) I am wondering if anyone else finds it as creepy as I do:

http://youtu.be/3GXpetHzW20

Also, I noted that the leads were also somewhat older so I don't get why everyone is whining about Guy Ecker being too old.

Disclaimer: If you look up info on MSM, be careful of spoilers. Of course we have no idea how much they plan to stick to the original or if they will go a different route, but it pays to be cautious.
 

yes, and those 80's big hairdos

Just the intro gives me the feeling of loss Aranza is going through. Watching her father so quickly replace her mother I would run away too. Maybe not to Sonia but to the circus'

I am struggling with something we all have pointed out but need some reassurance (if there is any. Bruno and his full court press, more obvious because Gaby is a modern independent woman. A guy today that acted like he does (I understand the safety issue)is borderline clingy, creepy and a red flag. What happens when Gaby really tells him no to something? Is his approach cultural or generational?
 

I attended primary and secondary school in the 1990s ending in 2002 and I had grammar instruction in six grade and eleventh grade which was around 2000. My schooling wasn't as test-centric as now, so my teachers could spend the time to do it. My nephew, who just turned eighteen, went to private school from middle school onward and he's a grammar whiz. He had grammar instruction in the first year of high school and he can explain grammar in three languages-Latin, Spanish and English. He's such a stickler he says, 'It is I.' Like most things regarding schooling in this country, it really depends where you go to school.

I don't think Bruno is being clingy. If Gaby wanted Bruno to go away, she shouldn't date him. He's courting her and if she doesn't want to be courted, she shouldn't date. I actually don't understand her apprehension because she supported her friend Isa's whirlwind romance with Art but is blanching at going out Bruno. I think she and Bruno should've been full speed ahead and Art and Is a should've slow-walked it. Andrea is still married and she and Mau are looking at apartments. Making Gaby breakfast and spoiling her is clingy?
 

He is just all over her and you can see it makes her uncomfortable sometimes. When he called her the morning after the garden party and she tried to hold him at bay for a day he acted like a petulant child and continued to push and she relented. I get chivalry (however I saw a young woman in NY berate a guy for opening a door for her last week) and romance but I don't think he would accept a no.
 

I think accent marks in Spanish will fall victim to technology just as the separate letters ch and ll have already done. These used to be considered separate letters for alphabetizing purposes but no longer are. It seems like a loss to those of us of a certain age, but it probably will not affect comprehension at all.
 

The teachers and upper educated people on Caray, Caray always put me to shame. I'm American and have a lot of trouble with English
Just posting comments on this blog is a chore for me. Picture the gringo typing with the index finger of his right hand while holding a dictionary in the left hand and you have a pretty good vision of me. Right Susanlynn---
spelling and grammar, are a big problem, especially spelling.

Aleta---Will accent marks disappear from Spanish? I have trouble with accent marks in English. But here is some insight to your question. I couldn't use
the Spanish accent marks as my computer doesn't have them. I have a good quality Lenovo laptop
that is only one year old. It didn't come with Spanish accent marks so even if I knew how to use them, which I don't, I am not able to. Maybe that is at least one reason why you get messages without them.

Bruno y Gaby---It had been said over and over that if Bruno wanted
to win over the stronger Gaby, he would have step up his game. Well
he did that and now the "tough" Gaby can't breathe. She needs some space. Que? May I see you once a week mi amor? Maybe a double date, would that be ok?
the gringo


 

I definitely think it's more people of my age that bemoan the changes. I'm a big grammar and spelling geek and I confess I own copies of some RAE publications and I like to peruse them once in a while.

Gringo- I think you don't have to worry. I never notice the mistakes you claim to make. I'm sure all of us make them. Punctuation is my downfall.

Now about Bruno and my own hypocrisy...

I think Bruno is being very sweet, but there's an air of desperation about him. I guess I am also taking a cue from Gaby. To me she has YET to look comfortable with the whole thing. I personally don't see any chispas in their smooches. She always looks very uncomfy to me. She should still get a grip, though. THE MAN LIKES TO COOK!

My hypocrisy- J desde NYC kind of made me see it. I'm squeeing all over Mau and Andy looking for apartments, but it's true...she isn't even divorced...but I'm not sure he's even said they were looking to live together. I just assumed he was trying to help her out of her situation. I'm sure he's assuming he will be spending a lot of time there.
 

Sara I too think Mau was only helping her look for a place not planning to move in with her. He just doesn't seem the type and why hasn't she done something about a divorce or at least an annulment?

Bruno does seem a little desperate but maybe he's picking that up from Tita who is not reluctant to push him. I cringed when they were having dinner and Gaby mentioned, under cross examination, that her father was a doctor. Tita immediately said it would be good to have a doctor in the family.

There must be something in Gaby's background that makes her so uneasy, than again maybe it is having just watched what Isa went through she is just naturally cautions.

I too am a grammar nut but that comes both from my Catholic school training and having a teacher for a mother and lawyer for a father. Bad grammar, written or spoken didn't fly in our household. Picture being a teen and using slang and than having to explain what it meant - kind of took all the fun out of it. LOL
 

Gringo - check out Google Translate (http://translate.google.com/) as there's a virtual keyboard there. You can use your regular keyboard. While it's tedious to type by mouse clicks, you can get a better result sometimes by inserting accent marks with the virtual keyboard.

Re Bruno and Gaby, I get the sense neither of them have much experience of the opposite sex even though they both appear to be around 40 years old. Bruno, IMHO, has been reading and watching crap about "You, Too, Can Be A Bold Stud!" I don't expect a whole lot of social performance from a guy who would let his mommy pack his suitcase for a business trip, but it's apparent he's not real sensitive to her signals.

Here's my "a-ha" thought re Sonia and Dafne and Aranza. S and D are gifted demagogues and it's working - as demagoguery always has and always will - on Aranza. Their comments about how Aranza's life will play out are much like Hermann Goering's old quote on statecraft:

"...the people (Aranza) can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders (Sonia & Dafne). That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked (your daddy is going to marry a mean old lady named Isabel who will make your life hell), and denounce the peacemakers (Tita, Lucha, Isabel, Arturo - todos son mentiras)."

Re writing and plagiarism, my last active duty Air Force job involved occasionally grading Army lieutenants' "battle analysis papers." One individual wrote his on the Alamo to include the line "What sweet meat was set before Santa Ana for him to carve," being a reference to outnumbered Texan inside the Alamo.

Seriously. "Sweet meat."

Six months later, another individual from the same Texas reserve unit submitted his paper with the same line. We (the Marine Corps liaison and I) had kept a copy of the first submission because it was just so rich. Comparing the two it was pretty clear Lt #1 had given his floppy to Lt #2 and told him to just change the name, class number and date and hit print.

Punishment meted out by the Army was that Lt #2 would not cross the stage to have his diploma presented.
 

Decie- I'm pretty sure Edgar is helping her with the divorce and it's just not final.

Mike- love that explanation and I'm really hoping I can incorporate "sweet meat" into a recap.

I am pretty stoked about our time jump this week. I think TJ will get the first time jump episode.
 

Gringo- I'm with you. We wanted Bruno to step up his game, and he did. I actually thought that Gabi looked really into it when he surprised her with the meal and started kissing her on the couch. I think she likes the romance and the pampering. She just wants it on her schedule, and frankly, I think she just wants to receive, but she doesn't want to give. If she allowed Bruno to think that they have a commitment to each other, then that would mean that SHE would have to step up her game, and reciprocate the pampering and affection. By having Bruno being the one constantly on guard, on her timetable, waiting for her cues, then she never has to really give of herself.

Decie- Andy started the divorce process. It's just a matter of time, but Edgar thought it would be a quick an easy process to finalize the divorce and to sever Fer's parental rights, since he's a convicted criminal.

 

Thanks for the explanation IRT Gaby, Vivi. Maybe that's what I'm seeing.
 

But didn't Bruno already tell Gaby he loves her (already) and she didn't reciprocate? His disappointment was obvious. Did everyone but Gaby catch a love bug?
 

Vivi, ITA on your read of Gaby-she doesn't want to reciprocate what she gets in a relationship and I don't understand why. She implied that her parents are still together, so she comes from an intact two parent home. We don't know if she was raped, tricked by a man like Isa, etc. What she's doing doesn't make sense especially since she told Isa to rush in headlong with Art. Isa and Art are the couple I would've told to go slow like molasses since they have the most obstacles.

Mau and Andy had the fact that Esteban and Angelito loved Andy from the beginning and WANTED a father;Minnie was supportive, for her own selfish reasons, but she read Mau as a good man. And of course Mau and Andy were attracted to each other because of their brains.

I always liked Gaby and Bruno b/c they could grow together and bring out the best qualities in each other because they seemed so lonely.


Is a and Art
 

Tofie- I don't remember Bruno telling Gabi that he loves her, but I'm rewatching their scenes right now. Here is their phone conversation:

Phone call (obviously a continuation of an argument they’ve been having)
B: I don’t get it. You mean I have to ask forgiveness for being attentive towards you?
G: No, it’s not that. I’m grateful that you’re attentive towards me. But I don’t know. Sometimes I feel suffocated.
B: Look, Gabi. You’re going to have to forgive me for what I’m about to say, but I don’t know what kind of guys you’re accustomed to dating. But I’m a gentleman, and as such, that’s how I treat the woman who’s with me. If that’s fine with you, then great, we can continue. But if not, then you know what, we’re wasting our time.
G: Ay! You don’t have to be so melodramatic. (jokingly)
B: I don’t understand you. I call you to find out how you are, you get angry. I want to follow you home to make sure you arrive safely, and you get angry too. Explain it to me, please.

Gabi then suggest they speak tomorrow (Monday), and he doesn’t get why they can’t take advantage of the weekend (since they both work). He’d like to take her out. She says she doesn’t leave her house on Sundays and suggests that he come over to her place instead. He’s exasperated and DOESN’T accept her invitation to come over, and says it’s best that they speak later when they are both calm. After he hangs up, it’s Tita who encourages him to go over to Gabi’s place, as she suggested, and bring over some food that Gabi would like.

 

I've already erased my recording so I don't remember exactly when he says it, but during his visit to Gabys Lavender Living space he does say he lives her. That's why she told him she wasn't in love.
 

Loves her. Darn autocorrect.
 

Thanks for your recap Sara. Your discussion of teens and lying has been funny. The antics continue in college and don't get me started on poor writing and bad grammar. Also thanks to TJ, J, and Kathy for your work and helping me catch up!!

I'm torn about the jump in time as I really do like the young actors and have bad flashbacks from the Passion Pit. The young actors were great while the older actors parts were written badly and they weren't likeable as they were as children.
 

In real life I am a real pessimist, but when it comes to TNs I always have on rose colored glasses. Then things go to pot and I end up so sad. Sorry, gringo but that was the case with CI. Karen, you've just reminded me that AdP did the same. I hope this doesn't do the same. I will say I do like the adult actors. We will have to hope the writers don't mess it up.
 

OK. Just watched the scene. Gabi says she isn't accustomed to telling someone what she's doing or going to do. Bruno says not to take it the wrong way. Him asking about her is to show that he's interested in her and her life, the things she likes to do, to show that he cares about her (que te quiero), etc. He didn't say it in some huge declarative way, so I didn't take it as the big love, but the other meaning of te quiero, that you care about someone. Gabi says at times she really likes that, but then sometimes it annoys her. Bruno then says he promises to take things slower, to be more patient, and to not overwhelm her with his calls and questions.

B: But give me the chance to love/care for you (quererte), to show you what a real noviazgo is like. Let me be that person in your life who wants to share everything with you. Agreed?
G: (smiling and laughing) OK.
B: I think when you're falling in love with someone, the only thing you want is to be by the side of that person. The hours until you see that person again become an eternity, and that's what's happening to me with you.
G: I want to be honest with you, and please don't take this badly. I really enjoy your company, but I'm not in love with you. (Bruno grimaces.) Well, I don't know if I'm in love with you because I've never been in love. But that doesn't mean I won't ever be in love with you. Give me a chance, because for me, it's too soon to talk of love.
B: Alright. Then give me the chance to woo and win you, to have you fall in love. Stop resisting. Please.
G: (smiling) Ok then. (Some phrase about love that I didn't catch. They kiss.)

 

It just came off as practically begging to me.
 

Sara: Thanks for the link. I see that Liliana Abud (Raquel from Destinos) played the role of Sonia in the previous version. After seeing Destinos, it's hard for me to see her as a villain. I don't like spoilers, but after this is over, I will check out some clips. (Although I don't like spoilers as a rule, I do read ahead for La Reina del Sur, to be prepared for the violence and FF through the worst of those scenes if I need to.)

I also thought that the entrada was creepy. Of course, I think the current Sonia's pointy-toe boots are creepy and witchy too.
 

I've noticed those boots, too!! Maybe they'll go away after the jump. I seem to remember seeing an interview with Dominika and she commented in the fashion flashback for the early capitulos.
 

Vivi, thanks for the nuance and why this community so awesome. I thought it a declarative statement of the big ole L.

Hope the two continue to speak and accept the truth.

For me the most interesting character is Gaby and I wonder what is behind door number 3
 

regarding Gaby and Bruno, sometimes if your heart has been broken by a cad, it is hard to believe an attentive guy is really a good guy, not another insincere wolf in disguise. Perhaps Gaby has had one or more experiences with players and doesn't want to risk being hurt and disappointed again.
 

If I were Bruno, I might suspect that Gaby preferred women to men, but just didn't know it yet.

But in that case, she probably wouldn't have tried so hard to fix up Isabel with Arturo.
 

Sara, it seemed like begging to me too but it just might be my own flashbacks or Gaby just seems so put together and confident I don't take Bruno seriously (sorry folks). I know Nicholas (think that is his name/the hotel manager guy) pissed Gaby off but before he made his assumption (and quite blatant about it) I could see them as a couple in public and not think it an unequal match.

Never, ever come off as desperate especially if you are a nice guy and afraid we will see this same dynamic play itself out after the time jump between Aranza and Estaban
 

Esteban is a little Bruno. Sweet, good natured, dedicated to his mama, and in love with a gal with issues. Poor guy! :)
 

But the opening credits show Bruno in between Gabi and another woman, not Gabi between two men. And the promo shots show Esteban between Ara and Dafne. Our two gals with issues may just find that they have competition for their sweet galans.
 

Eh. Bruno just needs to:

Play a Barry White CD

Wear a leopard print smoking jacket

Open a bottle of "shom pon ya"

Engage in some heavy eye contact

Keep his mouth shut, except to say "my darling."

Might or might not work for him, but it would be fun for us to watch.
 

Aleta, now that I didn't consider. Not sure of TN's but with Thai Lakorns (similar story lines and viewership as TNs) you could assume that possibility.

I think Gaby just hasn't taken the time for a relationship but focused on career. I imagine she has had multiple suitors and can spot a cad a mile off (she did warn Isabel about F-NO) and knows how to shoot them down.
 

Damn Mike you should write one of these TN's
 

tofie-I think what is hurting Bruno's rep right now is the "mama's boy" thing. I cannot get the image of his Tita-prepared suitcase out of his mind. Tita was none to subtle at dinner either. His hair isn't helping.

Aleta-That same thought crossed my mind today!!

Vivi-I think a little competition will do Gaby good. It might make her think and reassess her position on relationships.

Mike-Leopard print smoking jacket. Muy sexy.
 

ugh. Out of my mind. Out of MY mind.
 

Mike, that sounds like advice one guy would give another to eliminate him as competition!

I think Gaby was the victim of a cad. Her behavior is very typical of that.
 

Vivi in DC "in love with a gal with issues"

I see Gaby and

Hall and Oats Man Eater is now running through my head
 

Just saw a bald eagle fly over. So cool! Just had to tell somebody!
 

Mike...I am not so sure about all your suggestions to Bruno , but I definitely agree with Barry White..and also some Al Green.
 

Aleta- That IS cool!

Mike- Bruno would at least get a laugh out of Gabi if he took your advice, and that's better than nothing.
 

Good comments all.---

Tofie---I agree. At this point Gaby is most interesting. Door #3?

Mike---You gave us a great plagiarism story. Six months later and busted. Wow! Sometimes I can't remember yesterday but six months? Good going.

Vivi---Esteban and Bruno, both sweet but both have gals with issues. It seems that way but does Gaby really have a hidden issue of some kind? We don't know
that for sure, maybe she is just being cautious.

Mike---Leopard print smoking jacket? Yes ok but please someone
grab a pair of scissors and eliminate those two front curls.

Sara---I didn't think of it before but Bruno is kind of a mommy's boy but I'm not sure that is why Gaby is holding back.
the gringo
 

When does the time jump occur? Is it in the episode #26 titled "Fiesta de cumpleaños"? That chapter will be broadcast I think this Thursday or Friday.
 

I think that's when Urban said it was. Makes sense and goes with the opening credits. I'm pretty sure it's Thursday.
 

Well, I certainly hope they handle it well and that we still stay engaged with the characters so many years later.One giant leap of ten years seems risky to me. If not with La Impostora beginning next money and Pobre tonight I'm not sure I will be able to handle three novela a night.