Wednesday, June 04, 2014
Lo Que La Vida Me Robó, #146, 6-4-2014: José-Luis suspects the rumors of Alejandro's comatose state have been greatly exaggerated
Unanticipated Noble Gestures May Have Surprisingly Negative Consequences
"Why are you talking in the past, Montserrat?" he asks. "Did Alejandro already wake up?"
Quick Cut to a Hotel Room on Outskirts of Agua Azul
Alejandro has made quick trip to Pier One and bought a bunch of white candles on sale to place around the room in anticipation of Montserrat's arrival.
Shocked and hurt, a distraught J-L sits down on the bed.
Jeez, that's complicated!
Think of the consequences, says Rosario. Think of the consequences of a lie like this, Montse responds.
Labels: robo
Thanks so very much for this superb recap. I like all your little details.
Ay, yi, yi, it's getting really bad and the testosterone is really ratcheting up. Victor really did a dumb thing, and wasn't that nice of JL to offer to move Ale, it's too bad that Rosy and Monste keep lying. I can understand Monse's indignation, but, she's lying too and she keeps on lying. Woe to her when JL finds out the truth, jus' sayin'.
I liked the sparring of Graceless and EZ, too funny. I also like what EZ said to Sandho.
The other thing that bothers me is when Monse said that JL forced her to marry him. So not true! She agreed, she made her bed, and she'll have to find a way out of it. Monse should have told JL no when he asked her to marry him. That would have been the end of that, but then we wouldn't have this contretemps would we?
I don't know if JL would throw Ale in the prison. If the roles were reversed you can bet that Ale would JL in the prison without a second thought. JL has sacrificed much for Monse, and she still doesn't get it. I just hope JL sticks with his principals and let's Monse go, after he is over his anger. He'd be better off.
Victor and the "lie" were just lame. What a bad plan. Let's just lie some more. I do not understand why Ale does not just leave town now that he has made contact with Montse and the two of them make plans to meet somewhere else a couple months down the line.. They also have Laurito to think of and Rosario.
Loved Carlota at the dinner telling Sandro she and he would not be "tutearing" each other and why; and also telling Graciela to pass it by her first if she wants to invite anyone for dinner.
Jarifa
Mads, ITA w/you about the foolishness and hypocrisy of the lies Rosie, Monse, and Victor are telling.
Gracie continues to juggle people and her interests. I wonder if she and Fabs will grow to be civil to one another?
What an episode. Filled with so many discoveries and lies. At least Montse finally knows that JL lied to her about Ale. And I am glad that she heard that conversation between JL and Refu. She kept insisting that JL would help Ale clear his name. But now she knows what JL's true intensions are. Thank goodness she heard that convo.
When Montse says she was forced to marry JL, I think she means she felt obligated. The time JL spent in jail for Montse made her feel guilty, especially after Gracie showed her that video. Plus Tia Carlota was a big influence too. The final blow was Rosario giving her blessing. Plus she thought that her son needed a father figure. I think Rosario felt pressured to give her blessing because she didn't want to be the one to keep Montse from moving on with her life.
I am a bit stumped at how all of this will play out. But I am pretty sure that BM will try to separate our couple. I really wish BM were out of the picture. I don't have the strength to watch her spew her hatred again. I don't want to see BM try to put her paws all over Ale. I might throw something at the screen. I don't even want to think about it.
Off to bed...hasta pronto!
A sense of obligation is harder to fight than the brow-beating Monse could have gotten from Gracie. That worked 9 years ago when she was 19 but it won't work now. Conscience is something altogether different.
Now that she knows JL lied to her all bets are off.
The idea of Gracie joining forces with Maria is too disgusting for words.
Hate the way the story is going-Aunty Ann, I feel like throwing the Tiki Torch again at the TV.
If the story ends by August, and we are in June (as I count on my fingers due to my agitation with the story) shouldn't they be trying to resolve some of the issues by now? The are going on making new conflicts that would take months to resolve.
Que?
I could rave about this marvelous recap for hours. This was laden with witty insights and high humor.
I had to pare down my list but had to keep "her residual anger at him for lying, begrudging respect for his inherently good character, and crazed fear for the consequences of her own lying about Alejandro's current very non-vegetal state", "Gracie insists that she's not jealous and again says that it's just that she doesn't want her own daughter's sloppy seconds--she didn't say that last thing, but that's probably what she is thinking", " Oh, the Potential Metadrama!" and "However, José-Luis seems a much more discerning critic of their thespian skills and begins to ask Victor some pointed questions". Wonderful all!
I was wondering how to capture how disillusioned, disappointed, and dazed I felt about last night's events. There was no need, you did it perfectly: "Very interesting scene as everyone involved feels surprise, shock, and disbelief but must also must simultaneously feign feeling surprise, shock, and disbelief for other reasons".
Such an opportunity for our favorite (and least favorite) characters to hone their lying, cheating, manipulating personnas.
Proof positive that when you are caught in a lie, turn the tables and attack with lies and recriminations.
"You forced me to marry you!" she says. "I didn't force you to do anything!" A true rebuttal, one of the few in last night's agonizing events. Madelaine, I agree that whatever else may have transpired, JL never forced Monse to marry him. Whatever her reasons were, they were her own and of her own accord.
I'm not convinced that JL will put Ale in prison either. The reverse? Absolutely.
I was very uncomfortable when Rosario was questioning Monse if she was pregnant. I sensed her reaction would not be far from Ale's. I am beginning to see a dark side of Rosario and perhaps an understanding of where Ale did indeed come from.
I was also not happy with Monse. I understand her outrage that JL kept the news that Ale was alive from her. Still, that doesn't justify what she and Ale are doing. All hell is breaking loose for everyone else while Ale's biggest concern seems to be finding the perfect romantic setting accessories.
Men behaving badly. Women behaving badly.
Loved Carlota's put down of Graciela. She is a formidable woman!
Hoping we can move to some resolution so this wild havoc can come to an end. We need some levity and lightness.
Julia, thank you for providing this amazing recap.
Diana
I personally would love to see JL, Alejandro, and Adolfo find out Pedro's shameful secret. Individually or in some combination they could make things even uglier for him.
When I saw Ale bringing in the bag and start arranging some white objects I thought, "yum! Chinese take-out!"
I was so disappointed when I saw candles. Shows you where my mind is, so not into this story. But great recap, loving it, and the comments!!
Monse was living in a dream world if she expected that JL's reaction to learning that Ale was back and that she is leaving JL to be with Ale, would be JL immediately offering to clear Ale's name. I guess he has made so many crazy sacrifices for Ale and Monse before, that she just figured he'd roll over and do it again. Oh, please! I think eventually he will do this, but that's not going to be his first reaction knowing that he's being dumped to Ale yet again.
I hope Monse sticks to her guns about divorcing JL, but drops this silly idea about going on the run. That means Lauro and Rosie would have to go on the run too. Why? They are not in the same situation as Nadia, Vicky and Victor who have a madman after all of them. Ale needs to take care of his business and then come back to his family.
It looked to me like JL was trying to give the impression to Rosario that he had been planning to bring Alejandro back to Agua Azul for sometime... somehow I doubt that was his original plan. What was he going to do, present the vegetating Alejandro as a surprise gift, sort of like a fruit basket?
UA,
"I personally would love to see JL, Alejandro, and Adolfo find out Pedro's shameful secret."
This disturbs me a bit. I'm no fan of Pedro, but if there is anything that one should or could be sympathetic with him about, it's that horribly tragic genital mutilation. I have no idea if this detail was intended by the writers to play a part in making him into the monster that he is, but if so, then it is unfortunate. To call it a shameful secret and a reason to hold him up to public ridicule doesn't seem to me any more fair or seemly than mocking a woman who has been mutilated in some way... say for example, either genital mutilation or mastectomy.
Pedro is a cruel vicious sorry excuse of a human being and deserves most any punishment that is directed at him, but I simply can't get on board with holding him up to public scorn for this. Of course opinions vary.
Carlos
I can guess that he takes some form of testosterone supplement or he wouldn't have a mustache or a widow's peak. Doesn't abuse of this stuff lead to aggressive behavior that can be hugely destructive?
Whatever the answers to those questions, nothing excuses what he did to Nadia. He...
-- courted her for two years, pretending to be a gentleman
-- married her without explaining his condition
-- abused her emotionally for almost two years before explaining the truth
-- had her under video surveillance, watching her in bed with Victor
-- repeatedly threatened Victor's life and had him beaten and almost murdered
-- tracked them down in Argentina
-- kidnapped Victoria
-- emotionally abuses Victora
-- physically abuses Nadia, who is now helpless because she is blind.
He lost out on any right to compassion long ago.
I am so with you, we do need a bit of levity. I also agree with you about the men behaving badly, women behaving badly, so well said!
Vivi:
I agree with you about Laurito and Rosy on the run with Monse and Ale and the "Club Med" version of being on the run. JL and Refug had it bad the whole time they were on the run. The car over the cliff, being dirty and muddy, taking a bath in the creek. No pasta and candles for them ; )
I've been thinking if JL could really throw Ale in the prison. I think if he did, it might be to protect Ale from Peddy. If Peddy were ever to get wind of Ale being back in Aguazul, he'd kill him and use his being a fugitive as an excuse. One the one hand, Peddy is now the governor, on the other hand, JL would insist on complete control of the prison. I don't know, we'll have to wait and see how JL handles this.
I think he'd be a sitting duck and JL wouldn't care.
More likely he will be angry and feel "betray" by them and will want revenge and want to hold on to Montse even more. It is best if Alec, Montse, Laurito run away and leave town.
This was an exceptional recap.
I appreciate your dedication and diligence to duty and detail.
This episode was loaded with action, emotion, and much humor too...both in the novela and on your part as the writer.
Loved your analysis of the roles and many faces of the characters after Victor's shocking news.
Carlos
I feel in watching events unfold that the smartest person in the room is Laurito. These grown-ups are acting like spoiled children instead of thinking through the issues, taking a deep breath and just getting a grip on the facts. Everything is reacting by the seat of the pants, which digs the holes deeper and ramps up the jealousy and anger. And we are suppose to root for these people?
And are we now supposed to believe that JL is so desperate to hang on to a woman who obviously doesn't want him any more (yeah, that will be fun dude), that he's willing to go in league with Pedro? What other favors will he ask for?
But can I say, Sergio gave me a mighty chuckle last night in that brief scene. Not the character, but the actor. He played that as over the top as you can possibly do it without making it pure nonsense. The glee at hearing it was JL, the constant referring to his name, the way he puffed on the pipe...give that man an award. The character may be vile and hard to take, but darn, the actor is giving it his all.
Ah, the brief, happy moment with Dim and company. Love the new furnishings and hate to admit that Dim and Monica seem to be doing ok. Could use a little more of that.
Daisynjay
Pedro is wriggling with glee because he knows he's getting an exact replay of what happened last time. Last time his used jealous husband Ale as a weapon to take down fugitive JL. Now, he figures he can just sit back and see JL go all homicidal when he realizes Ale is alive. Problem solved for Pedro, and he doesn't have to get his own hands dirty.
Sandro rocked it with his orange blazer last night. It looks like he picks his color scheme from a assorted popsicle box.
Graciela with her usual puffy, billowing sack-like dress that would look perfectly appropriate on a rodeo clown.
It can also be found in the fashion as Oxnard Huero noted.
Vivi, ITA that Pedro's glee was based on him being able to watch JL and Ale do one another in.
He limps away using his cane, no doubt leaving Rosario to deal a large range of emotions including her residual anger at him for lying, begrudging respect for his inherently good character, and crazed fear for the consequences of her own lying about Alejandro's current very non-vegetal state.
Yay, JL may be obsessed but he’s no monster! I loved the look on Rosario's face when JL said he would have Ale's body moved to Agua Zul so she can watch over him. Nope, it doesn’t make up for his deception, but it shows a working brain and sheepishness – and it’s better than nothing.
How stupid was that lie Ale made Victor give? Answer: as stupid as “The dog ate my homework!” Please! That lie only insulted JL and heightened his resolve to hang on, for spite. But, JL, honestly you committed burlarse to your own self by marrying a women you knew full well wasn’t in love with you.
I’m in the camp that says no way is JL going into league with Pedro. JL just needed Ale's hospital address, period. Agree it's nuts for Monse to have expected JL to immediately want to help Ale with all these emotions running high. Also, Monse must have a lot of trust in JL to ask for a divorce, toss off her wedding ring, run out of the house in the middle of the night, leaving Laurito there with a step dad who feels betrayed.
Maria looked great with her hair up in braids. But please writers, no more dancing for her.
Sandro flashed the maid such a gorgeous smile. Uhf! Even the orange jacket didn’t turn me off.
If they go that route, horrors, it would almost be a slap in the face to Angie. By that I mean, it would make me feel like the writers would take away the man she kept insisting to everyone was worth her love and in that way make her look foolish and wrong. Just me.
But again, would put nothing past how these TN's flow, especially one where we know they are dragging out the story for all it's worth for additional episodes.
By the way, my day perked up as I went out for lunch. There walking down the street was a dapperly-dressed (is that a word) middle age man in an orange sportcoat, baby blue shirt and plaid pants with the same colors. Sandho would be proud.
Daisynjay
"When I saw Ale bringing in the bag and start arranging some white objects I thought, "yum! Chinese take-out!" LOL! I thought the same thing! I wonder where Ale is getting the money for flowers, candles, and the hotel room? Is Josephina giving him (and Victor) an allowance?
I have enjoyed every single one of your recaps, but I do believe this one is my favorite. While it is hard to pick the best lines to highlight (there are so many great ones), I think I'm going to have to go with this part:
"Oh, the Potential Metadrama! Very interesting scene as everyone involved feels surprise, shock, and disbelief but must also must simultaneously feign feeling surprise, shock, and disbelief for other reasons."
which several paragraphs later culminates in this:
"To me, they were pretty convincing. Maybe they as characters are wasting their time in Agua Azul and should move to Mexico City where they could train at the Televisa Academy and start careers as actors in a telenovela within a telenovela. However, José-Luis seems a much more discerning critic of their thespian skills and begins to ask Victor some pointed questions:"
I just love your ATTITUDE and WIT and SMARTS, Miss Julia. Thank you so much. The bases were loaded and you brought everybody home!
More gorgeous scenery - makes me crazy to see some of these vistas and not be able to teleport myself instantly. That Cathedral alone is stunning.
What on earth have they done to LoLo's hair? He's such a cute little boy -- Woody Woodpecker. Horrivel!
And, yes, JL needs to be done with Monse and get his life in order without her. Will he do any of that? Por supuesto que no. It's painful to watch. The refritos are charred and burning, exuding smoke, on that stove top.
Last shallow observation: Monse's coffee and cupcake paradise really looks dreadful. The one epic fail of the set designers.
Thanks as always for the super detailed and witty witty witty recap.
I had to comment because this episode made me laugh so much. When Montserrat went to Victor screaming "DON'T DO THIS!" and Rosario took her to the bedroom I just couldn't stop laughing. That's the kind of crazy I can enjoy in these telenovelas.
Jarocha
In Mexico there are 2 types of divorces. The first is called Nicesario . This is a contested divorce where the parties do not agree and need to fight it out in court. This process will be very expensive, and the only winning party will be the lawyers. The courts are pretty tight here concerning the split of the assets, which is normally 50/50. Throw in custody battles, and off-shore pensions, and this could drag out for years. The minimum time to complete this type of divorce is one year.
The second type is Voluntario. This is where both parties agree to all terms, and have an agreement drawn up to supply to the courts. The judge will review this and then meet with both parties to determine if in fact this is the way they want to proceed. The judge will usually call two of these meetings. These uncontested divorces generally take 3-6 months.
Jarifa
Now that said, we are talking about a Catholic church marriage. I doubt JL is coming from that perspective, though who knows if he'll use it, but there are those who are very serious about a church sanctioned marriage and the consequences of a divorce because of the status you garner once divorced. Technically, the Catholic church doesn't recognize a civil divorce. Only an annulment granted by the church technically frees you. If a divorced person, not annulled, should remarry they are considered living a perpetual sin since the church never recognized the first divorce....gets messy, and the person can no longer receive the sacraments of the church, especially communion. My old school teaching and watching my brother go through all this. So in those circumstances it does mean a great deal if one of the couple refuse or won't go for the annulment.
Daisynjay
It's a TN, where everything is done with the writers imagination. This is almost a throwback to 1900 with I won't give you the divorce thingy ; )
How about the Express Divorce, Vivi, we saw on PVAA, does that exist? It took like two weeks to a month I think, and the poor wife had no idea she'd been divorced! They also used this on Refugio too.
It's very sad with the annulments in the Catholic Church if you have children, cause the annulment makes the children you have had null and void also, in other words the marriage never existed and neither do your children. I think the Church needs to change the rules.
I'm pretty sure the civil marriage is a done deal, even if Ale being alive is established. But I would think things will be a lot more complicated in the Church, no?
Yes, there is an "express divorce" in Mexico. Montse could try for one of those. But then there is the church wedding, and if Montse does end up being pregnant I don't know if an annullment would be granted. Of course I would think that the church still recognizes her marriage to Ale as the valid one once it is known that he is alive.
Thanks for the info on the Express Divorce.
If Ale gets his name back, the Church may recognize that marriage as being valid. He was declared dead though, so I really don't know how that would work. Legally though, without the Church, the marriage to Ale is not valid since he was declared dead.
JL and Monse have no children, but she still can't get annulment because of the consummation of her marriage to JL, BUT JL knew Ale was alive and in a coma before he married Monse so she has grounds to stand on for an annulment.
Jarifa
How are you ????
I haven't seen your name for so long.
Did you finish school and recover from surgery?
All the Best,
Floridia
JL contracted the marriage in bad faith, which might be sufficient grounds for Monse to request an annulment. Consummation is therefore not a factor.
To Mads' point, rich people get annulments all the time despite the marriage having lasted ten or more years and there being children. It's sick.
Canon law states that "children who are conceived or born of a valid or of a putative marriage are legitimate." A marriage which is eventually discerned to be invalid through the annulment process was nevertheless considered valid by both parties at the time of the wedding, and presumably at the time the children were conceived. This constitutes a "putative marriage", and children conceived in such a relationship are therefore legitimate.
Canon 1137 of the Code of Canon Law specifically affirms the legitimacy of children born in both valid and putative marriages (objectively invalid, though at least one party celebrated in good faith).
Now bear in mind two recent Popes
St. JPII and Benedict XVI both complained that annulments granted for lack of 'capax' or emotional immaturity were being granted way too often at the diocesan level. Not sure if the annulments mill has put on the breaks recently.
If Gracie is still alive at the time that Alejandro is proven an Almonte she will end up in prison for fraud. Maybe the church will excommunicate her.
BTW, in all of the preceding episodes have we ever seen her even enter a church except for Monse and Alejandro's first wedding?
The situation with Ale would have to get a lot of legal eagles involved, and perhaps a good church lawyer to create the needed paperwork to straighten out, might be able to make the case that his marriage is the true binding one since he really wasn't dead. You know what good lawyers can do!
In any case, I think JL's church marriage would be toast from a church perspective, only any civil ceremony they had would have to be dealt with. Did they have a civil ceremony? I don't remember.Are u required to have both in D.F.?
Daisynjay
Carlos’ comment about Pedro’s overexcited puffing and E-Marie’s comment about Ale bringing in the little white boxes both made me laugh.
Pedro’s puffing reminded me of the trains in the cartoon “Thomas and his Friends”. Whenever Sir Topham Hat, the fat gabacho who runs the trainyard gives one of the engines a compliment for a job well done, that’s how they react.
And, when Ale came back to his hotel room with his little white boxes of candles I thought to myself, “There’s a Pier 1 in Aguazul”? The second thing I thought is “Why did you go out shopping without any disguise, you dumb payaso”?
Y'all know, right, that no matter what the legal marriage rules are regardless of Church or state, that we are in TeleNovelaLand. So, certainly, if Monse being pregnant will mess this whole thing up legally, then she MUST be pregnant. TN rules.
And they do have a couple of months to go.
I hate the lying storyline-it's like a bad "Three's Company" rerun.
I enjoyed everyone's comments today as well. Even though all these characters have their flaws, and are downright lying to each other right now, I hope their conscience gets the better of them and that they don't turn to the dark side. JL, I'm looking at you! I do admire Montse for trying to tell the truth. I don't fault her as much as JL because he hid the truth from her because he knew she wouldn't have married him.
She just found out the truth about Ale, and although she failed JL in her midnight rendezvous with Ale, she has always wanted to come clean to him. With all she heard last night from JL's call with Refu, now she really does have reason to hold back.
Oxnard, your last comment on Ale's shopping and lack of disguise was hilarious!
Maricruz
Thanks so much for the update on canon law. I am very glad the rules have changed for the children, that's a good thing.
DaisynJay:
Thanks so much for your added info also. It's a good thing.
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