Caray, Caray!

Reina,

links for this week,

our Monday show should be the Thursday show on the old link
http://caraycaray.blogspot.com/2011/04/el-mundo-de-telemundo-week-of-april-11.html

and our Tuesday show should be the Friday show, on a new link,
http://caraycaray.blogspot.com/2011/04/el-mundo-de-telemundo-week-of-april-18.html

I think Mondays show is 34 out of 63, titled "Mexicanos a la brasa"

 

deb, you are the best. I admit it takes me a bit of backing and forthing to figure out where we are in this novela, especially because CarayCaray doesn't really support the Telemundo viewers. Glad to be able to read the old recaps ahead of time because the language is kind of tough for me with all the regional dialects. Thanks for posting these important links. I'm back in town and hope to stay on top of the viewing and commenting.

—Agnes in NJ
 

Agnes,

I agree we all owe a lot to Deb for digging out the old conversations and posting the links. But I don't think we can blame CarayCaray for access issues.

When Jean and I opened up a discussion page for Telemundo shows, we were just a handful of people who wanted to chat. Our minirecaps were very informal and somewhat unpredictable. Our blog mom Jane gave us exactly what I personally asked her for -- a sidebar link to a weekly page. It never occurred to me that anyone would want to go back and read our ramblings a couple of years later.

At first we posted on Fridays (we were writing a lot in the posting and Fridays were easiest). More recently, at Juanita's suggestion, we started posting on Mondays. Unfortunately that makes following the past, week by week, even trickier.

I guess what I am saying is:

1. Jane has been a peach. If anyone made things messy for posterity, I did, never dreaming that anyone would be looking back.

2. Deb is a peach for combing through the rubble and making sense of it.

I am so glad you're watching and I look forward to reading your comments. I'm not watching this time around -- I have seen this novela more than once since I actually bought the DVD set after I saw the first run on TV. But I'm fascinated by everyone's reactions here.
 

OT

I just read some tragic news. Monica Spear, whom many of you enjoyed in Pasión Prohibida, was killed last night in Venezuela, as was her husband. Her young son was shot but is expected to survive.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/monica-spears-dead_n_4554456.html

QEPD.
 

Monica Spear

wow, this is absolutely horrible news.

 

REINA

Dear, dear NvMv, Thank you for chiming in. I sincerely hope that no one was offended by my remarks. It wasn't meant as a complaint so much as a confession of my own incompetence. I am more grateful than you can imagine for having this at all. And Melinama has been a hero since the get-go, back in the days of Alborada. Never believed I'd be watching this much Telemundo and so have been learning to orient myself with the generous help of all of you who've been down this path before.

As for the show itself, I am completely captivated. It's so unlike the run-of-the-mill TN with its casting, acting, verismo and unpredictability, that I have no desire to watch another. (One is my limit these days).

Teresa is starting to get that hard look to her face that signals the shift to the dark side. They did a great job building her up as a compassionate, sensitive (albeit strategic and daring) young woman and now, I think the tragedy is her loss of all that. People (I can't remember if it is in the new comments or the old) have discussed the psychology of her being destined vs choosing this path. I think it's both. I think she has a strong drive to exploit her natural strengths but the circumstances of her upbringing limited the opportunities to exercise those abilities. Of course, Pati has no such excuse, and looks like a flawed weakling by contrast.

Because this show is so non-formulaic, I can't even hazard a guess how things might turn out, but I do read the old recaps ahead so I can anticipate certain linguistic treats and with any luck hear them when they happen. I just have a plain old TV, so there's no rewind for me.

Thanks to all who contribute. I check in everyday for my fix.

—Agnes
 

I am too shocked and saddened by the tragic news out of Venezuela of the murder of Mónica Spear and her ex-husband to express in words, but my admiration of her talent and beauty has been expressed in previous columns I wrote for the We Love Soaps website and I excerpted them there along with excerpts from three of her telenovelas.

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2014/01/monica-spear-1984-2014.html?showComment=1389213624883#c8055297940179220977

Literally this past Sunday I was reviewing clips from PASION PROHIBIDA for my "Best Telenovelas of 2013" article and marveling at the emotional depth of Spear's performance and how she could modulate her emotions within a scene, in seconds, from bliss to heartbreak to insanity.

Though now seemingly so inconsequential, here too is my "Best of Telenovelas 2013" article.

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2014/01/telenovela-watch-best-and-worst.html
 

Reina
¡Maldita sea! Ratas escaped & he wasn't even in the book. Too bad Teresa didn't use that knife to remove his privates. The events in the bk were much worse. At the time I was wondering why they were dragging him outside to shoot him.
Oleg's guys weren't too efficient on that one. I'm thinking it might be Pote that gets him. Glad Oleg didn't let Tesa kill them, I was going to say nice or sweet, but it doesn't seem to fit the situation.


Teresa IS getting a hard look, kudos to del Castillo.
 

RG, Thanks very much for posting the link.
 

RG, thanks,
I swing by "we love soaps" every now and then,
and always enjoy what you have to say.

this is really sad,

Mónica Spear had so much to give this world...

 

General / ratings

it looks like the rerun of "la Reina" is the number one novela on Telemundo,
second "Marido", and last "Santa".
http://foro.telenovela-world.com/n4/read-t.php?f=21&i=631079&t=631079#reply_631079

"Avenida Brasil"
the young girl playing the earliest life of the lead was really adorable,
abandoned at the dump to glean through the garbage for anything of value.

 

Thanks for the ratings, Deb. I wish we had more comments here about the rerun, but I'm sure lots of people are watching it. We just don't have a lot of comments here.

And I SO appreciate your posting the links to the 2011 comments. It's really fun to read what we said then.
 

GENERAL

I wanted to post something about the sad, sad death of Mónica Spear. I found out about it from NovelaMaven’s post here on Caray. I just felt gutted. News accounts with interviews of her parents stated that she had been robbed before in Venezuela. Her parents had urged her not to go there any more. But she had a strong love of her country and refused to stop visiting.

I first saw her in Flor Salvaje. I really, really liked that novela and thought she was terrific in it. I recapped many episodes and never tired of watching it. I read La Novia Oscura, the source novel by Laura Restrepo.

I didn’t like Pasión Prohibida quite as much. I watched about ¾ of it and then just stopped. Mónica was excellent in that role as well.

Anyway, a beautiful person and her ex-husband were killed. A child has lost both her parents. The only good that can possibly come of this would be having the Venezuelan government shamed into some crime prevention. I was shocked to read that there were 70 murders in Venezuela the FIRST WEEK of January.
 

Novelera,

"Gutted." Yes. That's how a lot of us feel about this.

You might find this piece in BBC-Mundo interesting:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/noticias/2014/01/140106_venezuela_spears_analisis_cch.shtml

It talks about how the particular horror of this incident has made (or should have made) people aware of the ongoing nightmare of the violence in Venezuela.
 

Avenida Brasil

Deb, how old is Rita supposed to be? She still likes dolls but she was smart enough to warn her father about Carmina's plans.
 

I have been a fan of Monica Spear since seeing her in MI PRIMA CIELA when it was broadcast on Telefutura in 2008. Univision mostly stopped showing Venezuelan novelas round this time, so I missed her next two works, but was excited when I found out she signed with Telemundo.

I was blown away by FLOR SALVAJE, so I then read about LA MUJER PERFECTA, which seemed such an unusual protagonist role - a girl with Aspergers - I had to see it. Happily, it was posted on YouTube by a fan, though the video quality was poor, I was again blown away. That the same actress was giving life to 3 (really 4 because FLOR SALVAJE is really a dual role of Amanda/Flor) such radically different personas, I knew I was seeing somebody special. And then in PASION PROHIBIDA she again goes in another direction. Outwardly, there is almost nothing those characters share in their movement or manner of speech, but what does unite them is a remarkable and profound emotional depth Spear imbued each role she played.

Here are brief clips I made from the 4 telenovelas I saw and loved starring Monica Spear.

MI PRIMA CIELA (2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icg-IwQXyy8

LA MUJER PERFECTA (2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QONSAG9F8Vk

FLOR SALVAJE (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZawBj6OMsQ

PASION PROHIBIDA (2013)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5HsvnUEF8U

More importantly than the work, from the words of those who knew her, she seemed a lovely, sweet woman.

Roberto Manrique, her co-star from FLOR SALVAJE, wrote some beautiful sentiments here.
http://m.peopleenespanol.com/article/roberto-manrique-rinde-homenaje-monica-spear-muerte-emotiva-carta

One thing that moved me terribly is that her Colombian co-stars from FLOR SALVAJE are also holding a mass this weekend in Colombia: Geraldine Zivic, Gonzalo Vivanco, Angelly Moncayo, Indhira Serrano, Carolina Gaitan, Pedro Palacio and others.


As for tragedy provoking social change, I can't help but be pessimistic given circumstances even here in the US where a fertilizer plant in my home state can blow up killing 15 people and injuring over 200, an entirely preventable tragedy with even the slightest oversight, yet not a damn thing is done by the state government to ensure it doesn't happen again, so it no doubt will.

On an entirely unrelated note, Nick is running something weeknights called EVERY WITCH WAY. It's obviously very low budget and for kids, but made in Miami, it features Katie Barberi and Jimmie Bernal (known for his gruff gringo roles in DONA BARBARA, RELACIONES PELIGROSAS, and LA MARIPOSA) in English speaking roles.
 

Thanks, NovelaMaven. That was a very interesting article from Mundo BBC. The political angle is fascinating.

I read an article about the murders in a Caracas newspaper and also the comments posted by the public about the article. A lot of the commenters blamed the chavistas for coddling criminals.
 

Thank you again, RG. While your pessimism is likely justified, sometimes one has to look for any glimmer of light.

I hope you will let us know if you discover that one of Monica's novelas is being aired in the US.

Novelera, did you read what Jean wrote last week about the situation of the Venezuelan actress who plays Elisa in Santa Diabla? If not, check it out. She was blacklisted in her country because of her politics.
 

RG, thank you so much for your post. I wish I would have seen those other novelas of Mónica. The letter by Roberto Manrique brought tears to my eyes. I'll try to find time to view the videos for which you gave links.
 

NovelaMaven, I quickly went through Santa Diabla, Week of 12/30 but couldn't find a post by Jean about a Venezuelan actress who was blacklisted. Different week, perhaps?
 

Sorry, Novelera. It was from December 15:

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=25394992&postID=7493165862964761698

Jean's comment is about 3/4 of the way down the page.
 

So sad about Mónica Spear. I didn’t know her until Pasión Prohibida, which I watched for a few weeks. She was very beautiful and good in her scenes with veteran Rebecca Jones.

REINA – Lunes y Martes

At first I was horrified by the torture of the three and wasn’t sure I’d watch the next episode. But I did watch, and loved seeing Teresa walk in and lord over her enemies. I believe she didn’t know where Oleg was bringing her and why, but the dark double-breasted overcoat she wore was the perfect power outfit for getting even with the three. Interesting the different reactions of the three. Pote looked embarrassed, crazy Ratas defiant, and Gata (surprisingly to me) terrified and pleading.

But I’m surprised Batman would send all three out of the country together just to kill Teresa. It’s not clear to me how Teresa is a big threat, or any threat, to Batman. When he knew her, she was only El Güero’s girlfriend and knew nothing about the details of his business. So she’s grown powerful in the years since – I don’t see how this threatens Batman.

Loved Teresa and Patty dealing with the Italians, almost as much as Patty. Oleg is quite the mentor to risk his reputation to bring in women on a deal with the Italians.
 

Reina

Niecie- aside from the usual narco codes and such, and that Ratas and Gato would probably have gone to Spain anyway, and I think he added Potemkin for a bit of sanity, but I'm thinking that Teresa and the Russians completely cut the Batman out of the cocaine trade with the Colombians.

what did Oleg say, with every success comes new enemies.

 

Thanks, Deb. Now, Batman's moves are clear to me. This TN is the most challenging one - plot-wise and dialogue-wise -- that I've ever watched.
 

REINA

I have been out of town all week so I am catching up with Reina. Can't wait to catch up and thanks Deb for the links you always give us. It does help immensely and Thanks NovelaMaven for getting this Telemundo thread up and running. Melinama is a peach : )
 

REINA Lunes thru Viernes

I finally got caught up.

Neice:

I agree with everything you said about Gato, Ratas and Pote. I am glad Pote lived, but Ratas should have been killed too. Too bad he made it to the Mexican Embassy. I had to laugh when they let Teresa in there and she had that convo with Ratas. I too agree about Batman being cut out of the Columbian deal, but he has wanted Teresa dead for a long time. He never liked the fact she got to escape from Mexico.

I looked at some of the old comments and there was one about Willy Rangel being Mexican. He's actually American, working for the DEA, now in Spain. I had to laugh when he told someone at that Columbian party he was from the north of Mexico.

I was surprised that Batman called Pote at all and Pote called him "Patron", old habits die hard. Poor Pote. I was surprised he saved Teresa, but his reasoning later said it all. She saved his life and so he saved hers. He is a stand up guy.

I like that Teresa has an office building now, but she is becoming a bigger target. I too liked how she dealt with the Italians, but I like how she dealt with the Pernas best of all. Siso thought he would get away with it. He seemed to forget what happened to Santiago, somewhere along the way, and that the Russians might be on Teresa's side. I guess he thought she was some woman trying to take over his territory all alone. Big Surprise for him! He still doesn't get it.

So Willy has a secret weapon. I had to laugh when Flores' second in command, Martin, was looking through the papers on Rangel's desk and the head cop told him to stop. Seems he's afraid of the DEA.

I have mixed feelings about Teo. On the one hand, he's smart as anything, on the other I get a shifty feeling about him. At first I thought that Patti was jealous of Teresa and Teo maybe getting together, or jealous that Teresa was having a man she had, or jealous of Teo for wanting to be with Teresa. I think Patti knows him very well and there's something off about him. I'll have to wait and see what it is. I did like that he told Teresa she was like Don Coreleone when dealing with the Pernas.

Can't wait to see what happens on Monday.


 

Reina

no show Monday,
preempted by a 2-hour Marido
 

Deb:

Thanks so much for the info on Reina, sigh! This TN is so easy to get addicted to!
 

Looks like Teresa is firmly over on the dark side now. Fine that they want to get even with the Gallegos, but the airplane seemed extra cruel and brutal. And her "condolences" to Papa Gallego was just cold. But I do look forward to seeing the next time she meets with Don Epifanio.

Kelly
 

Kelly, I agree. Despite her nightmare flashbacks to happier times her relationships with other humans have become nothing but painful memories. She's on the path to perdition now.
 

'La Impostora"

hmm, I don't know if I'm all that thrilled with another 6 months of Christian Bach as the evil mother-in-law (La Patrona, she was the best), but I was thoroughly stunned with Begoña Narváez bad girl performance in "Rosa Diamante" along with the controversial/non performance of Julieta Grajales, as her bff in that same novela, both in this one,

along with Jonathan Islas, who played the crazy bad guy against Flor Salvaje (Monica Spears)

btw, Lisette Morelos, was so hot with Pablo Azar in "Aurora" it carried the show.

oh and novelera, wiki is linking this novela to "Cerro Alegre"

what?
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1497698_227684790736125_1769650788_n.jpg

 

REINA

Just finished a marathon of the last three episodes. Ratas is one lucky loco that the Mexican Embassy was so close by. Oleg might want to give his guys more training cause Ratas, without a gun, shouldn't have been able to overpower the Russian chasing him.

Glad it looks like Pote will work for Teresa. Wished he had been faster to alert her about the car so Vladimir could've been saved too. My guess is Pote won't survive the TN, but I sure hope he doesn't go down by Ratas' hand.

Teo is smart but he doesn't move me. But Teresa needs a man, at least sometimes. And I guess she and Oleg have an understanding that they are off limits to each other.

Madelaine, I had forgotten Willy is an American! So many details. I have trouble keeping up.

Kelly and Ixv, agree Teresa has become pretty brutal now. But I did like seeing the senor Gallego realize this is a woman to be reckoned with. She is piling up the enemies.
 

REINA

Kelly:

The method of revenge against the Gallegos was not Teresa's idea, it was Oleg's. He is the one that sent that message to Siso and Joaquin.

Kelly and Ixv:

I think Teresa is turning out to be a lot like Epifanio, isn't she? Except she is keeping the people she loves away from her. Epifanio keeps his family close. I wouldn't say he loves his family but he keeps them close. In a way, Teresa is the same way. She keeps Patti close, but the rest of her friends she keeps away to keep them from danger. I don't think she is on the road to perdition, she is realizing in order to survive she has to keep herself to herself.

Neice:

I so agree with you about Pote. I too will be happy if he works for Teresa and he is a part of her Mexican homeland. I think they will get along quite well. What will Patti think of that?

I also agree with you about Teo. I too think that Teresa is just needing a guy and I also agree about Oleg being off limits. Can you imagine them together? I have a hard time thinking of that! IMHO I don't think Teo is going to turn out to be some big love of Teresa's. But who knows, maybe we will see more of what makes Teo tick.
 

Madeleine, I guess by the "road to perdition" what I mean is that Teresa's involvement in this distasteful and immoral business has migrated from being fairly innocent (possibly justifiable due to circumstance) to ruthless, self-serving and unrepentant. Or maybe I'm just taking too simple-minded a view. She has been very hurt and still feels remorse for the hurt she has caused others, but her insatiable thirst for revenge and power has become a malicious force. Not disagreeing with you, just random thoughts. She IS learning to "keep her own counsel" but always runs to Oleg when the sh** hits the fan. He is an enabler and is using HER pragmatism, daring and talent for his own ends. As much as he admires her, she is a pawn to him. She craves independence and is moving steadily in that direction. I am sympathetic with these attractive characters, but the cold-bloodedness underlying it is hard for me to swallow.

I have trouble anticipating watching this every night because of the vicious violence, but I do realize that it pales in comparison what actually happens in the "real" world.

I think she keeps Pati close because she knows she can't control her, and because there IS loyalty and some creature comfort in their relationship. But Pati is a weak link & a loose cannon and Teresa knows this.

Actually, thinking about Epifanio now that you've mentioned him. His power comes from a deep-rooted, tradition. He was born into an "old boys club" and never had to battle the machismo, deprecation and particular physical danger that a woman would have been subjected to. I wonder if Tere would have stood a chance in Mexico. Funny how she managed to get a toe-hold in the "Old World"