Friday, June 13, 2014

Lo Que La Vida Me Robo 152 - 13 May, 2014 - As The Plot Thins, Maria’s Indecent Proposals Are Given Due Consideration


Honest. If there was any scoop to give you tonight about Aguazul I would. Withholding information would only irritate you, fair reader, and, by being chintzy with the facts I could easily work my way out of a job. Not that recapping pays much, but there it is. We’ve all got to have a reason to get up in the morning.

The town of Aguazul, Campeche State, MX, was as quiet as Bethlehem before the ‘Silent Night’.  And, the plot of Robo is moving as slow as honey dripping down the side of a comb.

So, in the interest of interest, yours, that is, let’s take a look at the slow goings on in Bluewater, character by character, instead of following the action geographically.  Let’s go alphabetically, just to keep things straight. You can always skip the characters you don’t want to know about.

Adolfo
Tonight Adolfo quietly makes his way about town. He meets up with Maria and decides to give her a house. You know, for all the good times. Like when he put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger but it was loaded with blanks. Fun times, huh? He meets up with Maria at her new house and is unable to resist her indecent proposal. “Let’s just do one for the road”. So they rock and roll in the empty new house and he hands her a wad of cash after; she needs some money to furnish the place. After all, how can she entertain Alejandro in style on a bare stone floor?

Later, Adolfo meets up with his brother-in-law the Governor, Pedro Medina. Now that guy, Pedro, is a real whack job. After watching the last couple of shows I think he has begun to believe his own publicity. And when he starts to drink his own Kool-Aid, all hell is going to break loose. You heard it here first. I, for one, will be happy to be here Stateside, watching the action on a very long Televisa/Univision lens. Televisa ought to pay those camera guys double the union scale to work on THAT job.

Adolfo stays cool while that ‘dumb’ EZ Basurto provokes the hell out of Pedro. Dumb, you say? Yea, he’s as dumb as a fox. Basurto. Basurto tells Little Pepe that it is time Pedro took care of some business up north, personally, as in ‘on the ground’. Pedro, who has always kept his mani/pedi clear of the muck, was one flustered customer. Adolfo backed EZ up in his little tease of Pedro; of course, he has his own reasons for wanting Pedro away and over the Campeche State frontier.

Alejandro
Alejandro had nothing to do tonight other than look stunning in a tight blue t-shirt. I hope the guy keeps pumping iron because his pecs are so developed that if he were to slim down a bit he might have a real problem with saggage and be in the market for a ‘man-ziere’.

Alejandro also smiled a lot, exchanged ‘Te amos” with his ex-wife, and looked shocked—no, stunned I say!—when Montserrat told him he should take Maria up on her indecent proposal. After all, IF he sleeps with Maria, AND she gives him the precious WILL with no more strings attached, his name will be cleared! Montserrat will automatically be his wife again; Lauro his son, and all can live happily ever after.

To hell with Jose Luis Alvarez who spent seven years in jail for Alejandro, oh yeah, and saved his life three times before that AND did not press charges against Ale for shooting him in a19th century style duel on the beach. After all, Bad JL is a rotten guy, he has a heavy black beard and he manipulated Montserrat into bigamy, knowing Ale was still alive and on a respirator in Buenos Aires.

Carlota
If her husband EZ Basurto is dumb as a fox, then Tia Carlota is dumb as a post. She almost spills the beans to EZ about Montse being separated from the not-as-dead-as-reported Alejandro.

She persuades EZ that they should visit Poor Blind Nadia Medina and her daughter.

Dimitrio
Dimitrio has a beer with his buddy Refugio and invites Refu and Esme to dinner. No can do, says Refu, but a little mariachi has now fixed his marriage. Esme is due to give birth in two to three weeks unless some healthy sex can hurry the little nipper along.

Dimitrio is worried that Monica wants he and his mother Graciela to reconcile. She does not understand that Graciela does not play well with others.

EZ Basurto
EZ Basurto is working from home today. Yawn. When Carlota comes into his home office and they talk, he agrees to go visit that dirtbag Pedro Medina so that Carlota can snoop around, er, visit with Poor Blind Nadia and Victoria.

While visiting with Pedro, EZ steps over some invisible line and Mad Pepe reminds him that that are in business together and not friends. Basurto has no right to comment on Pepe’s family matters.

Later, Basurto taunts Pedro in a clever way. He suggests that it is time that Pedro finally got his hands dirty with a little work. They need him to travel ‘up north’ to resolve something in person. Adolfo supports EZ in the little game.

Graciela

Graciela is at her devotions in the estate chapel when her son-in-law, Jose Luis, visits her. She is praying for God’s help in recovering the love of her children. Jose Luis accuses her of being a hypocrite and shamming her religion just as he hands her a check to continue her campaign to keep Montserrat with him. The irony here is lost on no one.

There is no person with pure motives in Aguazul. All are corrupted and even the children are becoming accomplished liars.

Graciela visits Montserrat at work and gives her some motherly advice. JL is suspicious. Montserrat tells her that he has the navy and the municipal authorities looking for Alejandro. Graciela says Montserrat is being stupid, acting so cold and distant from her husband. Gracie knows, she has a multi-year affair with Benjamin that she managed to keep secret. Montse wants to know if this is the first time JL has asked her for help, because she knows her mother does nothing for free. Gracie tells her to reconcile with JL. Montse says no, she is not like her mother was. For her, Alejandro is still her husband.

Graciela visits with her other daughter, the lush Fabiola. Graciela ‘kindly’ presses a glass of red wine in Fabiola’s hand. They agree that Amalia knows more about Fabiola’s past than she is saying. Gracie wants to know why Fabiola is so determined to find her birth mother—is it for love or for revenge?

NO, not revenge says Fabs! She was so young when Anastasia died she cannot remember her. What she really wants is to know a mother’s love. The only other person who might be able to tell her the truth of her real mother is Father Anselmo, and he disappeared years ago.

Fabiola cries so hard that her mascara runs. Gracie wipes away a tear as Sandro Navarro enters the room.

Jose Luis Alvarez

Jose Luis finishes the transaction buying Montserrat’s house.

Later, he visits his mother-in-law, Graciela, in the family chapel. He notes her hypocrisy and she comments on his. They trade finger pokes to the head and insults.

He reminds her that no one has shown him proof that Alejandro is dead. If Ale turns up one of these days…Jose Luis gives Graciela 24 hours to get Montserrat back in his arms, or else!

Later he tries to break into his stepson’s iPad to spy on him but cannot get past the tablet passcode.

Josefina
Josefina tells Montserrat her version of the story of all that has happened since she accidently saw Nadia performing in a piano concert in Buenos Aires. She reminds Montserrat that she went to the Hospital in Buenos Aires, talked to Ale’s doctors and they did not have hope that he would recover.  Nadia and Victor were in financial straights and she stepped in to pay for Alejandro’s care.  She came back to Aguazul to find Rosario and Laurito and tell them that Ale was alive. Remember, Josefina thought Montse was dead. She came back just at the time of Montse’s wedding to JL and she did not want to interfere in Montse’s new life.

Montse wants to know who convinced Josefina to say nothing about Alejandro being alive, was it Jose Luis? Nope, says Josefina. It was your mother. Montse looks stunned.

Josefina asks Montserrat to forgive her and tells her that Montserrat can count on Josefina to be there for her. Montse is glad to have regained her friend.

Laurito
Laurito is in his room looking at a recently shot photo of himself and Alejandro on his iPad. JL walks in and Lauro hastily closes the iPad. He calls JL “padrino”. He says he is doing his homework and he does not need help.

As Chief of Police, JL could cite Laurito for underage overuse of adult hair product, but instead, he announces that he has a terrible headache. He questions Laurito’s use of the word ‘padrino’ and supposes that Montserrat put Lauro up to it. Lauro nods. When Laurito runs out of the room to get JL a pill for his headache, JL tries to open the page Lauro was viewing on his iPad but he is foiled by not knowing Laurito’s passcode.

Macario and Dominga
Now that Montserrat has completed the sale of her home to Jose Luis, Montserrat decides to give her business to Macario and Dominga to reward them for all of their hard work.

Maria
Maria, Maria, Maria. Tonight just might be Maria’s best in all the years we have known her in Aguazul. Adolfo responds to her indecent proposal by giving her a house, a tumble and a large wad of cash.

She still has Alejandro on the hook with the possibility of a night of pure bliss as payola for turning over the true Last Will and Testament of Don Benjamin Almonte.

We are treated to a moment in Maria’s mind’s-eye when she gleefully remembers that she hid The REAL Will in a place no one will find it; drumroll, behind the elaborate gold alter piece in the Mendoza/Basurto Family Chapel.

Kind of like hiding something in plain sight, huh?

All right, you guys, you can cut her some slack. Carlos never said he admired Maria for her SAT scores.

Montserrat
Montserrat finishes her business of selling the house to Jose Luis. He wants her to take a ride down memory lane—she once sold her land so that she could run away with him! Doesn’t she remember? Montse doesn’t want to remember. She wants Jose Luis to give her a divorce and he will not.

After her reconciliation with Josefina, Montse brings a bag of money to Alejandro—the proceeds of the sale of her house, for him to keep. Way to repeat history, Montserrat.

In a surprise move, Montserrat advises her ex-husband to accept Maria’s indecent proposal. Alejandro is shocked when she reminds him that he has to forget her ‘infidelities’ with JL; she, Montserrat, would do the same for him with Maria—if he got the REAL Will back.

Her soul, her whole heart is his, etc., etc. Maria’s proposal is for just ONE night, and they could recover their lives.

This is a slippery slope, Montse. Watch yourself.

El Monstro, Pedro Medina
EZ Basurto visits with Pedro and chides him for not mentioning that Nadia was back, and with her was her daughter, Victoria. This was information that EZ might have liked to have. Pedro tells EZ to butt out of his personal business. EZ says he understands perfectly, but the information might help him protect Pedro’s family. What about Victor?
Alacran, aka Adolfo, enters Pedro’s office. They discuss a deal that is going down. When will the goods arrive in Aguazul? EZ reminds him that there is much money at stake in this operation.

Adolfo says the merchandize is ready to go but the other guys will only deal with the head of the operation, Pedro Medina, personally. Pedro says that this is impossible especially because he cannot leave Nadia and Victoria. Especially now that he suspects that Victor is in Aguazul!

Adolfo says that he is there. He would not let anything happen to his sister or his niece! EZ agrees with Adolfo and needles Pedro. Business is business, especially with a deal like this. He needs to deal with it personally. Pedro blows a gasket and Adolfo calms him down.


Poor Blind Nadia
Amalia pays Poor Blind Nadia a visit and answers the question: “How could you marry a monster like Pedro?” Amalia reveals that she did it to gain proof of Pedro’s crimes, to bring him down, to put him in jail for the rest of his life. But she never found any concrete proof of his crimes. She did this because Pedro caused Joaquin, her husband to suicide while in prison. Angelica died and Virginia still lives with the idea that their father was the only bad guy in the narcotraficante business.

Poor Blind Nadia and Amalia agree to remain united in their struggle against evil Pedro Medina.

Later, Carlota visits Poor Blind Nadia while EZ and Pedro discuss some business. Carlota meets Victoria.

Rosario
Jose Luis surprises Rosario as she enters the garage. Jose Luis wants to know where she is going with a pile of clothes in her arms. To the cleaners, replies a very flustered Rosario. JL offers to help her carry them but she refuses his support. Jose Luis asks after Laurito. She says Lauro is playing in his room.

Sandro

Sandro comes into Graciela’s living room just as Graciela is giving Fabiola some sage advice. Fabs needs to get control of her emotions, otherwise her enemies will take advantage of her weakness.

Sandro tells Fabiola to stop bothering Graciela. He and Gracie are an item. Graciela upbraids Sandro. He shouldn’t be disagreeable. Fabsi is desperate and very unhappy. Sandro tells Gracie that Fabs is very unstable and a bit crazy. He has gotten her out of several scrapes.

Gracie wants to know what is happening with the document—Don Benjamin’s real will. Sandro advises a little patience on Gracie’s part, he needs a little time. She has no time, says Graciela. What he wants from Gracie does not happen again until she has the will in her hot little hands.

Graciela dismisses him—until he produces the document, he gets nothing from her. Good night and she points him to  the door.

But, Lady Luck is on Sandro’s side. He just might get lucky after all. As he leaves the main house he spots Maria sneaking into the family chapel. He follows her and spies on her as she retrieves the precious REAL WILL.

WE can see his white teeth shining in his handsome brown face as he sees Maria with what he suspects is the REAL WILL in her hands.


Elna June


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Comments:
Well my friends, it was a slow night in Aguazul Sigh. Such is the experience of the extended telenovela.

No spoilers here, just a guess based on the foreshadowing, but it looks like we are being set up for both Montserrat and Maria being pregnant—Montse by JL and Maria by Ale.

That should give us enough drama to get us through Ultimas Semanas.

On a what-not-to wear note, I cannot say I am a fan of Montserrat's poured on, pale pink high waist jean/leggings. On occasion the tight fit of those jeggings could have given Miley Cyrus pause.

Elna June
 

Elna June, thank you for your very entertaining recap. I really enjoyed it being organized by character. "Manziere" is a term that always gives me a good laugh.

So . . . ,

Thst dog Adolfo just had to have sex one more time with that crazy BM.

Montse would really be okay with Ale spending the night with that crazy BM.

Fabiola doesn't use waterproof mascara.

Laurito had to call JL "godfather" . Is this just the first step in him inadvertently letting other info out?

Laurito is smart enough to keep his iPad pass code protected.

Graciela is still wearing those uglier than usual huge dresses.

Graciela is still finger thumping heads . . . Just when you thought that terror was over

just Ezequiel and Adolfo suggesting that Pedro should go up north and take care if business made Pedro almost hysterical. Loved it.

that crazy BM might have given up the will without even knowing it.

Sandro just might get lucky again with the will and Graciela.

Wow!

Jarifa




 

Great stuff.

I'm rather surprised at Monserrat although I understand her logic. It would seem a small sacrifice to get the rest of their lives back. However, she is not considering the possibility that Maria might have a serious STD or that she is planning something else.

I dearly hope Alejandro has an attack of ED if that scene comes to pass. It's too bad he doesn't have a way to find out that Maria is the one who shot Monserrat.

I posted yesterday that I think Maria could be planning to have him arrested as he leaves her house. Then the stakes would be higher and he would have to marry her to get the will back. She might also hold him prisoner herself (If you find this one hard to believe you should have seen Las Vias del Amor).

Nothing is going to be simple about this with so many episodes left.
 

Elna June, the title was marvelous!

I enjoyed every word of this delightful recap - sublime.

"the plot of Robo is moving as slow as honey dripping down the side of a comb", " Pedro, who has lways kept his mani/pedi clear of the muck, was one flustered customer","if he were to slim down a bit he might have a real problem with saggage and be in the market for a ‘man-ziere' (hysterial), and "Adolfo responds to her indecent proposal by giving her a house, a tumble and a large wad of cash". Gems all.

Your sage “There is no person with pure motives in Aguazul. All are corrupted and even the children are becoming accomplished liars” summed things up perfectly.

I was also transfixed by Monse's jeggins. They must have been painted on, no? How she could sit, stand or walk was beyond my comprehension. Dialog during the scenes when she was standing was lost to me.

It was interesting to see Graciela's bristling at Sandho's dissing and dismissing of Fab. I gather she believes she is the only one to decimate her children emotionally.

Jarifa, I was disappointed with Adolfo for being with Maria. Now, there is no way he deserves to end up with Fina...

I appreciate your reminding us "To hell with Jose Luis Alvarez who spent seven years in jail for Alejandro, oh yeah, and saved his life three times before that AND did not press charges against Ale for shooting him in a19th century style duel on the beach. After all, Bad JL is a rotten guy, he has a heavy black beard"...While I loathe who JL has become, I sorely miss the man I believed him to be once upon a time.

Elna June, I'm not going to prejudge Ale (much as I'd like to) about what appeared to be a cringeworthy reaction to Monse's pregnancy (if what I interpreted from the previews will occur).

Not much to love in the storyline, but ebverything to love in this recap.

Diana
 

Dear Elna June,

I didn't get to watch the episode last night, but I really enjoyed 'watching' it via your hysterical recap this morning. Every line was fantastic, but my favorite was probably this:

"Alejandro had nothing to do tonight other than look stunning in a tight blue t-shirt."

So funny! And I'm sure he played his role admirably.

I'm surprised Alejandro isn't worried about performance issues with María--or maybe he is, but he's just too embarrassed to say so. The implication before was that just the thought of being with María induced a permeant condition of ED in the guy. How is he supposed to have a night of pleasure now? Does María think that the blonde wig will make that much of a difference?

I wish I could have seen that scene with EZ, Adolfo, and Pedro. It sounds great! For me, EZ and Adolfo remain the most interesting characters on the show. Both of the actors are great in these roles.

Thanks again, Elna June. Hope you are getting unpacked and starting to feel at home in your new place.

Best to you and everyone,
Julia R.
 

"the plot of Robo is moving as slow as honey dripping down the side of a comb." Right there with Diana. This line was perfection!! and the rest of the recap was right there with it. Wonderful EJ!

I missed chunks of this last night watching the Spurs beat the blazes out of the Heat...it was too pretty to miss (sorry to any Heat fans) but looks like I would have been okay missing some of the antics last night.

Let me say, I would be more than happy to have Pedro do a powder and actually be a governor out in the territory. And if our Scooby Gang cannot figure out how to take advantage of that for Nadia...I do worry about the water in that town for future generations. Also, keep Carlotta away and out of any possible plans. Sweet woman, but my word...

I do get where Monse is coming from on the Maria front, ridiculous as this whole scenario is. But I don't see Ale being able to go thru with it even if he tries. Mute point anyway since Maria is now "will-less." Won't be pretty when she realizes and if Ale just can't let her "do her thang" with him.

Question is what does Sandho do now? Does he go to Pedro? Or does he go to his new lady-love with the will? I could see Gracie going either way: She likes her meal ticket with JL, but giving Ale back his inheritance gives her leverage to demand what she thinks is hers and Ale already said he would give it away since it didn't bring him happiness. I lean to the latter option, but you never know in this one.

Daisynjay


 

"The plot thins..." Love it. As well as that wonderful image of "the plot of Robo moving as slow as honey dripping down the side of a comb"

Another quip that cracked me up was the recurring refrain of "poor blind Nadia". Yes, I'm actually getting tired of her wan, long-suffering little face, even though I think this young actress is handling her role beautifully.

But my absolute favorite:

[Laurito] underage overuse of hair product

Oh my yes, I hate what the production folks have done to his hair. In fact, I'm perplexed as to why casting chose this little fellow. He's doing a good job with his lines and you have to admire someone so young coping with the killer schedules of telenovelas. But between the glasses and the dorky hair, you begin to wonder if babies weren't switched in the hospital.

Will look forward to admiring Alejandro in his blue tee-shirt later today. In the meantime, thanks for serving up a wonderful recap, busy lady. Now put your feet up and rest!
 

Oh and Daisynjay thought of you when I read about the second manhandling of the Heat this morning. Lord have mercy, folks in Cleveland must be celebrating all over.
 

I strongly doubt that Alejandro could function sexually with Maria. He couldn't before. He has repeatedly said that he sees her has a sister. That would be more than enough to put the permanent kibosh on any possibility of sexual activity between them. The writers have left open the possibility that they actually are half-siblings. What could be:

Bejamin Almonte raped Gaspar's wife and the only person she could tell without consequences was Padre Anselmo. Whether Maria is or isn't the result of that rape the possibility was so horrible that her mother committed suicide right after she was born. The possibility is what the padre thought about when he tried to talk Alejandro out of having Maria become his mistress.

I do see Maria getting insulting in some form if we get to this point and he can't rise to the occasion. I can see her ratting him out to Jose Luis.

Now on to the men: It looks like EZ and Adolfo are setting Pedro up. Since they haven't been able to get enough evidence on him after seven years they might be creating a situation for him to be caught in. The only hitch in that plan is that it wrecks their gravy train.
 

JudyB, I completely agree about the kid actor playing Lauro. He's very good but I have difficulty with how they took an average-looking kid and made him look so dorky when he has two very attractive parents. If they would just change the hair to something softer and give him better eyeglasses it would be a vast improvement.
 

Elna June:

Marvelous recap EJ, and in the midst of settling in to your new abode. I too hope you are all done with all the work of moving and settling in nicely. You rock!

I too loved your line about this plot dripping like honey, so very true, and I really like your format for this recap, so simple, yet so effective.

I couldn't believe Peddy coming unglued like that. I wonder if this is a setup, by Addled and EZ, to finally take Peddy down. That would be very interesting. Peddy hoisted by his own petard.

I really thought BM would have found a better hiding place than that little chapel. I wonder if Ale would want some proof she has it, before he does the deed with her, and then all bets will be off. This will is so important to so many people, I wonder where it will eventually end up, not a spoiler, just a thought.

I echo Diana, I really liked what JL was, and have come to point of frustration with him to what he has become. I want him to use his spidey sense against the right people, like Peddy, instead of what he is doing now. He just ought to let Monse go and save himself a heck of a lot of heartache. I didn't like him rooting through Lolo's little tablet.

I still am not liking what Monse is doing either. I truly understand why she is doing what she is doing, but well, I think I'll just let it go, so to speak.

I surprisingly felt sorry for Fablush this epi. I think she truly wants a Mama's love. Too bad that Mama is Graceless. Graceless will do what she does best. Bamboozle and use Fablush.

Had to laugh at Graceless in the chapel, so funny that will was there at the time, and JL with the head thumping. I'm glad he gives it back to her.

Thanks again, Elna June, for this most fab recap : )
 

Thanks Judy--yes there are plenty of gleeful comments running through the office today, in line at the Starbucks and on the radio waves this morning on the Spurs win. Big joke is now what will be Decision 2.0 or if the big guy tries to come BACK to Cleveland. Talk about the makings of a TN plot!

In some ways I agree with Laurito--I hate the spikey hair and use of product, and wish his glasses were less funky. They actually don't seem to fit right and are not proportioned to his face. Just off.

But I do rather like the fact he isn't this moviestar perfect little child and I wonder if the casting folks may have done that purposefully. He's a wonderfully cute average little boy, who's smile is megawatt, and his parents and everyone who meets him adore him. Looks don't factor into it. There is a realism there that I can rather appreciate being I have a nephew who was born with spina bifada. Both parents are gorgeous ( my brother got the good genes in the family) but with my nephew's condition, he doesn't have a perfect body. His head is slightly slanted, but he has the brightest smile, is a total crack-up and beautiful blue eyes. He wins everyone over who he meets. So, I actually like that they cast this little guy! Sort of hits close to home for me.

Daisynjay
 

Elna June, what can I say? You really hit it out of the park with this recap! I enjoyed every line and was cracking up the whole time I was reading it.

Faves were:
They rock and roll in the empty new house and he hands her a wad of cash after; she needs some money to furnish the place. After all, how can she entertain Alejandro in style on a bare stone floor?

Alejandro had nothing to do tonight other than look stunning in a tight blue t-shirt.

If her husband EZ Basurto is dumb as a fox, then Tia Carlota is dumb as a post. She almost spills the beans to EZ about Montse being separated from the not-as-dead-as-reported Alejandro.

and so many more, I could just keep going...

What I found so ironic is that originally, JL paid Graciela to butt out of his relationship with Montse, but last night he did a turn about: "Jose Luis gives Graciela 24 hours to get Montserrat back in his arms, or else!" He is really getting desperate. The dark JL is drowning out whatever was good and noble about him earlier in the series, all his so called "sacrifices" for Montse and Ale are went down the drain in my eyes from the moment he knew Ale was alive, withheld the info from Montse and asked Laurito to keep quiet as well. This is a man who used to know right from wrong, he is now the Chief of Police, and instead of doing his job, hunting down criminals and bringing Pedro down,he is using the city and marine resources to hunt for Ale for personal matters, because there isn't even a single bit of evidence that shows Ale poisoned Ben.

The other part of the show I found extremely entertaining was watching Pedro squirm and sputter, while EZ and Adolfo baited him to handle the biz directly this time. Daisynjay, you are absolutely right "And if our Scooby Gang cannot figure out how to take advantage of that for Nadia...I do worry about the water in that town for future generations" LOL!

Also, I really like the little guy that plays Laurito, he is not an annoying little actor (like the one that played Kiko in PEAM)! He seems like a realistic little 7 year old, who not only grew up with a loving mom and grandma, but with a fun, smart-ass Uncle Dim.

Maricruz
 

Daisynjay, I agree. I think the casting department probably did this deliberately. Two handsome parents don't guarantee a beautiful child, just as two average parents can produce a beauty. Don't ask me how I know this.

An average-looking child can end up becoming an attractive adult. I've seen childhood photos of Pablo Montero and he wasn't a cute kid at all. He became cute in his teens and now he looks like a fairy-tale prince in the right clothes (and with a shave).

Having said that I hated seeing JL trying to break the password to Lauro's tablet. He is using his investigative skills for the wrong purpose.

In fact, didn't it somewhat echo Pedro's sick delusional behavior when JL went off about needing the large house for when he and Monse had children? I can understand him not wanting to air the family linen in front of someone else but this was Carlota, who had previously favored their marriage.
 

Urban:

Perish the thought! I don't think JL will ever echo or mimic Peddy at all. I think, deep down, he is still the noble, fighting for justice man he used to be. He is just blinded right now with his own personal demons. I think if he can get past this, he'll be okay. I really don't see him as going that far in other words. He may just want a bit of payback from all the stuff that went before.
 

He voluntarily did the time for burning the money. I am actually wondering whether the sentence would have been longer if he had done it in the Navy brig rather than a civilian jail (I think that would be the case here).

While he did that at the time for Monse's happiness it looks like he doesn't care about that anymore.
 

Urban:

As a matter of fact, taking all the evidence as a whole, believe it or not, JL would have gotten less time with the Navy than he got from the civilian court, run by Peddy. Capitan Robeldo understood why JL did it and who JL was trying to protect Ale from. He would have lost his commission anyway, but he would have gotten no more than probably two years and with good behavior out in a year, not the seven he got from the civilian court.
 

elna june, what a brilliant approach to this story! I loved it. :)

I am only recently aware of your move. My word, how I hate moving, especially from places that are near and dear to my heart. Some of the moves in my life have caused sadness because (no surprise here) I can become quite attached to "special" places. I assume this move was a long standing planned move and I hope you have found a place that will warm your heart and your soul.

I took a very, very long break from this TN and have only recently returned, so I would have missed your news about the move. Such a hassle to move, but I hope you are now settled in and doing well.

The mere thought of BM pregnant by Alejandro and Montserrat pregnant by JL is too much for a body to handle (mine). I dread it and do not look forward to this story line.

I am often amazed by these novela maidens who walk around in these short as short and tight as tight can be get ups. All in the name of work, I guess.

Fatima
 

Good morning to all:

Thanks to everyone for your generous comments. You are all far too kind—but I am delighted that you got a kick out of the format and overall recap.

I just don't know about the foreshadowing we are getting right now. I mentioned above that I could see Montserrat pregnant with Jose Luis' baby and Maria with Ale's but, as Urban Anthropologist and others have pointed out, performance could be a problem for Ale. I, too was stunned at the thought that Montserrat was willing to expose Ale AND herself to Maria's possible STDs. Beanie time on that one, amigos.

Jarifa, Urban, Diana, Julia Rold, Daisynjay, JudyB, Mads, Maricruz and Fatime—thank you each and every one for coming by and commenting. I am not spending as much time on the blog as I would like and I miss hearing all of your voices.

OT and on my recent move—Downsizing is hellish, my friends. We have now been in the loft for two weeks and I cannot believe how unsettled I still feel.

The exhausting deal with downsizing is all of the many decisions I have to take, everyday. Open box, examine contents, feel overwhelmed, long for more closets, and decide what to do with the precious something that I felt compelled to schlepp over in the move. Was it really so precious after all? Why was I so attached to this particular 'noun'? I would guess that almost 1/4 of what I moved here will still have to go away, even after all the give-aways and intense decluttering at the house.

Thank to all of you for your continuing kind wishes for me in this process. Your good vibes and prayers have meant the world to me. I am daily surprised at how difficult I have found it to be in this experience. I am sure that I will be happy as a clam to find myself so 'lightened' when we complete the process.
End OT.

I'll try to be more present on the blog in the near future. Thanks to all the other recappers for your incredible work.

Kindest Wishes To All:

EJ
 

EJ, I swear if you were to read this recap out loud you could hear some good fella speaking, if you don't mind me saying it.
I'd elaborate on all the funny comments, but I'm typing on an iPad which drives me nuts, not to mention I'm on a plane heading where they probably don't have no Telenovelas, if you know what I mean.
That EZ, you're right, he's crazy like a fox, but I also wonder what that Graciela is up to. Who is she going to double-cross in the end?
 

Thanks for your recap. The breakdown by character was great and I completely understand the downsize yet still feeling overwhelmed.

Judy & Daisynjay, as a Heat fan I continue to be amazed by the hate in Cleveland.
 

Thanks, Elna June. I agree with all the favorite lines that everyone else has mentionned.

I am glad that spiky haired Larry is techsavvy enough to have chosen a good password that JL could not guess.

Mony is being beyond pragmatic in her idea that Ale should sleep with the enemy. Maria has been around and around the block with who knows how many dudes not to mention her drug addiction. Ale might catch all kinds of cooties. However, as many have said, he was unable to rise to the occasion before when he made Maria queen of his hacienda, so maybe there will be yet another failure to launch.

As for Gravie, she will never have enough money. she will go to her grave still lusting after cash. Que lastima. Someone should let her know that she cannot take it he with her.
 

To our dearest elna june, I don't think our Caraymates would mind if I continued in OT fashion re your move. You are a beloved person on this site, so I am sure they understand.

I understand the difficulty of moving on so MANY levels. For someone like me, place is very important. I suspect that it is important to you as well.

I am truly and actively thinking of you and hope that the opening and examining of boxes will end soon.

This wonderful site is like a refuge. To be blessed with so many wonderful people here is a blessing beyond compare.

We are all anxiously awaiting your full time return. Please know that I am thinking of you.

I am stunned that you even have the energy to muster up for such a snappy recap, but that is what makes you, you!

Fatima
 

(((Elna June))). So sorry that you are still dealing with unpacked boxes and feeling overwhelmed. perhaps, it might help you if I share that I, too, am feeling overwhelmed at the moment. These concentrated courses I am teaching are rushed and rough plus Hub and I are still babysitting full time until daughter is done teaching on the 18th. As my friends and I often say, "We have been waiting for life to slow down a little, but now realize ...it won't". I have to do some downsizing after being in this house since shortly after we got married. However, it will have to wait until I finish teaching the end of this month. Then, I will be faced with the decision to relax and do what I want to do or dig in and do what I should do. As Hub always tells our daughters "let things unfold." (sometimes. I have to remind him of his own favorite bit of advice.). Eventually, all those boxes will be empty, and you and hubby will be snuggling into your new nest. In the meantime, think of me trying to empty my old nest a bit. If it is not one thing, it is another..verdad?
 

Regarding Larry's beautiful parents, anyone who has gone to a class reunion knows that people's appearances sometimes change a great deal when they become adults. I have seen shy little mice from high school turn into very attractive, stylish foxes. Plus, how do we know that Mony and Ale have not had laser eye surgery and wore glasses themselves as children . Mony, at least, would have had the cash to have a little improvement work preformed. I think Larry is a precocious cutie pie, but I think that he made a bad choice with those glasses. As for the dippy, gelled hairdo...I guess that is what the kids are wearing these days.
 

Thank you for the wonderful recap!

This show has gone off the rails for me.

Ale is supposed to be in hiding right? So why is he and the gang sitting outside of Montse's little cafe for the whole world to walk by and see him?!

And if JL believes Ale is alive, just put a tail on Montse and Rosario and one of them will lead him straight to Ale.

Why, oh why, would Maria hide Ale's will right outside Graciela's house? So stupid!!

The writers are getting desperate.
 

"Ale is supposed to be in hiding right? So why is he and the gang sitting outside of Montse's little cafe for the whole world to walk by and see him?!" Carvivlie, I was thinking the same thing when I saw that last night. It seemed so strange to me.

I think the iPad situation almost gave me a heart attack. Why would they put the photo on the boy's iPad? It was bad enough being on Monse's phone!

Caryn
 

I loved this episode ,especially the Adolfo,EZ and Pedro scene and the scene with Sandro and Maria.That is the WORST hideout ever( Why hide it in the chapel when you know that nerdy Gracie comes to pray there everyday?),why didnt Maria keep the document in Adolfos house?? And i forgot to comment yesterday yikes! ,that mariachi scene was just HILARIOUS ,i couldnt stop my laugher at the sight of Refugio singing!!
 

Oh yeah and the IPad situation was funny too,damn you bastard JL you ruined a 500€ worth tablet,this tops even Sergio Sendel when he has a phone tossing contest.
 

I think we got a truly amazing view of Refugio's molars in that one. I was beginning to feel like an overworked dental hygienist after that serenade.
 

Our thoughts are with you EJ - it's hard sometime to realize you maybe can't keep everything. When I first down-sized, my brother was kind enough to let me store a few boxes of items in his garage that I just couldn't deal with making the agonizing decision over whether to keep or not I I was going to rent a space, but he took pity on me). Many of the items had been MY parents who had lived with me and my sons for several years when they were older. I finally got to the boxes a year or so later when I felt less overwhelmed and was much more settled. a few things I still have, few are put away in small boxes for the boys and I put pictures together and sent to other family members asking if they wanted any of the other items. Everything found a home and I was glad I wasn't too hurried to just give things away or throw out at that time. Set things aside and try another day...might be easier than.

Karen: sorry for the Heat hate. I think a lot of Cleveland fans just have a hard time forgetting The Decision and how LeBron poorly handled how he left town. Things are better now, but there's still a little residual dislike for how he sort of tanked and went through the motions during the playoffs here and then decided to move instead of grow with the city he said was his home ( and still is--he still has his huge place in Akron)because he wanted those rings. Nothing against the other players really, it's about King James.

Daisynjay
 

Thanks for this cleverly formatted recap, Elna June. I enjoyed the focus on each individual character. I especially appreciated:

"Carlos never said he admired Maria for her SAT scores."

Heh heh. You're on to me.

Daisynjay:

"I could see Gracie going either way..."

I think that right now Gracie is firmly committed to Alejandro since he pledged his entire fortune to her for her promise not to out him and Montserrat to JL. It's in her best interest that his legacy is restored. In the meanwhile she will continue collecting an allowance from JL.

The other night I looked very closely at Laurito and I see quite a resemblance to Alejandro. His face will grow to match those rather large recently emerged two front teeth (braces may be in order at some point) and contact lenses or laser surgery will allow him to ditch those dorky specs. He also seems to be athletically inclined. Heck, I can picture him turning out every bit as pretty as either his mom or dad.

I loved watching Pedro squirm, sputter, and spew. However my favorite scene was between Graciela and God, rudely interrupted by JL, after which Graciela turned back to face the altar, sighed, and piously crossed herself and said, "Perdóname Padre Santísimo, por este exabrupto (outburst)."

Carlos
 

Daisynjay..That was very good advice. Sometimes we can be a little too impetuous and give away something and regret it later. Likewise, after a little time passes, we may look at something we carefully packed away and wonder "why did I ever feel that I wanted or needed this ?"

Carlos...I think that Maria may have been otherwise occupied on the day they administered the SATs. Just a guess.
 

Elna June, wishing you fortitude and patience in your post move sorting and acclimating! Moving is hard work.

Jarifa
 

EJ, moving is awful. I've lived in my place forever and don't expect to move anytime soon, but I've been through enough corporate moves to say I've had my fill. My best to you on this.

If Gracie succeeds in getting Alejandro to hand over his fortune I'm sure she will betray him again. Staying out of his and Monserrat's lives means giving up her only prime merchandise -- Monserrat. Despite that Monserrat would never cooperate with her again.

I could easily see Gracie asking Pedro to have Alejandro killed.

Gracie's own inability to love or to be happy is something she likes to spread around. She delights in the pain of others, including Monserrat's.
 

Susanlynn, my .02, for what they are worth is this: you have been working NON-STOP now for how long?! You need a break. Take the break; refresh and recharge, only then will you be able to tackle the task at hand.

I am really, really working daily to take my own advice. Priorities, m'dear. Priorities. Right now, that priority is YOU!

Urban, you are always really good at analyzing these characters. We know that Graciela is "not quite right", but what label would you give her? It irks me TO NO END that she goes in that chapel daily to pray. Holy Cow, what a P.H.O.N.Y.

Fatima
 

Fatima: I know you didn't ask me the question, but I think of Gracie as being warped.

I think that Maria is mentally ill--probably from childhood trauma. She honestly believes what she is doing is right. If Maria had been put in the mental hospital after her "suicide attempt" she might have been helped. I'd like to see her getting better in a hospital at the end of the show, though TN rules probably mean that won't happen. And no, I'm not a fan of Maria.

On the otherhand, Gracie is fully aware of what she's doing--warped or not--and deserves whatever she gets
 

Going back to the episode of a few nights ago, can someone please give me the literal translation of "encerrón"? While I can imagine what it means, I can't find it on SpanishDict and don't know any other good site safe dictionaries. I found the scene with Esme and Refugio in the hospital to be amazingly funny.
 

EJ, many thanks for a great recap! I am amazed at the devotion and willingness to support this community amidst all the difficulties of the move. One box at a time... one at a time.

I too loved your lines: If her husband EZ Basurto is dumb as a fox, then Tia Carlota is dumb as a post. and As Chief of Police, JL could cite Laurito for underage overuse of adult hair product, but instead, he announces that he has a terrible headache.

And Diana I loved your line:I gather she believes she is the only one to decimate her children emotionally.

Re the hair product, the part that makes me cringe is the-- I don't know, is it called a "comb-forward?" It starts at the back of his head and is all gelled forward. Reminds me of my great uncle Eddie!

I hate the idea of Maria preggers by Ale, or even able to fake a pregnancy a la Ale. In my time watching novelas,I've seen lots of PSA themes-- perhaps even the advice to get it on while preggers. I suppose it would go against the culture to have one about condom use?! If yes, I don't get it... pre- or extramarital sex is ok, but a condom is not? That would take care of the risk of pregnancy and disease, but, alas, the writers aren't asking me.

One last note that no one has mentioned: Dim started poking his nose into the secret mission that Refugio is in charge of. Surely Montse could trust Dim and he will put 2 and 2 together?

Till tomorrow!
Rebecca

 

Dear Elna June,

Thank you for this elegantly styled character-focused recap. It was a pleasure to read.

A couple of things I found interesting in this episode:

--I noticed that in her confession to Montserrat, Josefina said nothing about Alejandro's note. Even though Montse was already married, she would never have left on her honeymoon with JL if Fina had delivered the note as Alejandro asked her to. I think Montse might have had a hard time forgiving Josefina for making that decision.

--Dimitrio is aware that Refugio is involved in some top-secret 'operativo' and asks in on it. He suspects it has something to do with bringing down 'the scorpion.' If he only knew! Refugio is using military resources to indulge the obsessive pursuit of his best friend's romantic rival, a man who poses absolutely no threat to public safety or military security, a man they are not even sure is alive.

Refugio and JL are no more ethical than they were years ago when they deserted the marina and in their flight, murdered the good Lt. Avellaneda.
 

Nanette, I would agree that Graciela is definitely warped, but there is something "more" and I can't put my finger on it. I don't know, maybe it is just a personality disorder NOS (not otherwise specified). Ha! Who knows if such a thing even exists!!

NovelaMaven, Carlos has brought up the point many times (and with good reason) that JL and Refoolio did kill a man in their escape shenanigans in the very beginning. I wonder if that will ever come to light? I don't recall, but was Robledo aware of that?

Fina seems to be good at giving the info when it seems "safe". Not telling Montserrat about that note would have definitely put their friendship on the back burner.

I've been thinking about Laurito's hairdo and now I know where I have seen it before. For those of you who are fans of "Calvin and Hobbes", remember the wonderfully hilarious story when Calvin was having his school picture taken and he spiked up his hair with Crisco? It was HILARIOUS. Just thinking about it makes me laugh all over again. They had several different shots of Calvin's school photos. I LOVED the look on the parents' faces when they saw them. How I loved Calvin and Hobbes!

Fatima
 

I like Lauro's hair. I think he's very cute and I think he looks like his "dad".
 

Of course, I haven't seen this ep. Maybe they did something really wonky with it?
 

Like others, I really liked the part where J.L. couldn't open Laurito's iPad. I am not a fan of J.L. at all and think his character will deteriorate even furter. I hope Monse isn't pregnant by J.L. but, as I've watched telenovelas now non-stop for over two years, I can see this happening and Ale accepting the child in the end, where, most likely J.L. willl have to be killed off because the two of them can not have Monse, and I don't see J.L. giving up ever.
 

Like others, I really liked the part where J.L. couldn't open Laurito's iPad. I am not a fan of J.L. at all and think his character will deteriorate even furter. I hope Monse isn't pregnant by J.L. but, as I've watched telenovelas now non-stop for over two years, I can see this happening and Ale accepting the child in the end, where, most likely J.L. willl have to be killed off because the two of them can not have Monse, and I don't see J.L. giving up ever.
 

Fatima,

Robledo DID know about Avellaneda's death. Eventually, he allowed himself to go with the flow (Prudencia and Angélica were JL's great advocates) and persuade himself that the two had acted in self-defense.
 

Novela Maven:
So good to have your feedback. You are right on all counts. Josefina was a little economical with the truth by neglecting to mention the note.

JL and Refu have no scruples about using power to their own advantages: whether we are talking about firepower or political influence. How brilliant of you to have taken us full circle in remembering that these two best friends are really loyal only to their own interests—not to the Navy or communities that proport to serve. Great Call!

So great to see you!

EJ
 

ElnaJune,
So sorry I am late with thanking you for a supurb recap. I really liked that style. It's an easy way to keep track of the evil doings by the evil people.

It sucks to move, and I know how hard it is to downsize. My husband did mot too ling ago and I know it was difficult for him because he is a Collector. You can do it. Just be patient and take it one box at a time, as someone already commented. Also, it does help to take a break and get away from it for a while. That said good luck and positive thoughts going your way.

Short on time, but I would like to say that I was taken back by Montse telling Ale to take up BM on her offer. I know there were several comments about STD's and such. We know that BM was a prostitute and drug addict. Ale and Montse know she is promiscuous, but they think she has been working at La Escondida all these years. They don't know about her life on the streets. Granted they should still be cautious because of her promiscuity. Maybe the writers will throw in a PSA for condones. But that would mean Ale sleeping with BM. The thought of it makes me sick. If it happens, I might not be able to watch.

Back to work...hasta pronto!


 

Victoria Gomez,
Encerron comes from encerrar, "to enclose". So encerron means "to enclose oneself". Or in this case enclose themselves. So Esme was talking about enclosing herself in the bedroom with Refu. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
 

Graciela's mental disorder will be the subject of this weekend's discussion.
 

Elna June, I so appreciate your perfectly unpacked and well ordered recap. I think this was a bit of transference from your real life tasks just now and I hope it brought you the deep satisfaction that it did to all your patio fans. Having missed some episodes recently, I loved how your gave us such a clear picture of each important character. It's like you loaded the characters into one clean closet and turned all the hangars facing the same way. Now we can get ready for the untidy events to flow on and on... Thank you so much.

Elna June, I tried to post this yesterday but the system wouldn't let me post for some reason. Hope you see this even though late...
 





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