Saturday, July 12, 2014

De Que Te Quiero Te Quiero #128 & 129, 7/11/2014

Both Part 1 and Part 2 are now up!!

De Que Esta Comedia Se Volvio Tragedia, Se Volvio Tragedia 

Recap by LatinaInMD

Part One

These comedy writers played a dirty trick on us.  Months and months of the comedy train going in circles and just when we thought the plot was heading somewhere interesting…wham…they throw a wrench in it…literally!!!!

We begin with a quick re-hash - in no particular order:  Diego continues to whine about Natalia’s infidelity, first to his “shrimpy shrink” friend and then to his dear aunt Irene, both of whom try to reason with him; alas, he jumps off the comedy train and skips town, not a moment too soon before the comedy train derails.  In the meantime, Natalia drowns her sorrows in her coffee.  In another part of town, Alberto (until now a mere sideshow in the Brigitte-Rod-Alberto “love triangle”) suddenly has plans for a future (ah, the irony!!!) with Bri, despite the countless clues she’s given him that she could care less.  Let’s start off with a weekend meal to introduce your whole family to my parents while they are in town, he says.  All she cares about is what HIS parents will think about HER family, but she appears genuinely touched when Alberto reminds her she should be proud of her family.

Natalia and her fake mama Carmen agree it’s best for her to quit her job, and she heads to Caprico to do just that.  A dapper-looking Andres (who has just come back into town) shows up at Caprico with a gorgeous bouquet of red roses, ready to grovel some more for a little bit of her love.  But she is not there yet, so he leaves the bouquet for her and departs.  Brigitte shows up at work first and just as she starts admiring the roses, grumpy grandpa shows up and she has to bear his groans and moans about all the employees who never bother to show up on time.  He’s got a point there!!!  She offers to help, but he grunts that the only thing she can do for him is locate Natalia…stat!!!  Brigitte reaches for her phone in her purse and…ooops!!!....she realizes she left it in Alberto’s car.

Irene returns home and informs Tadeo that Diego left town because he didn’t want to turn into his brother’s murderer.  (“no se queria convertir en el asesino de su hermano” - alternate translation of the same Spanish words – “he didn’t want to turn into his brother, the murderer.” - prophetic choice of words!!!!)  Tadeo reminds her they still have pending the “big reveal” to Natalia, which reminds Irene she has to go to work to see how the business is doing, how Natalia is doing, and how the heck they will reschedule the “big reveal” with Carmen.

Brigitte almost calls Alberto about her phone, then stops and decides it is best not to alert him, lest he discover her cheating ways as a result.  She thinks it’s best to go find the phone herself.  Unfortunately, at that very moment Rod sends her a text saying “wasn’t it urgent for you to get rid of the kid?  If you want me to make you a deposit, send me your account number.”

Natalia enters grumpy grandpa’s office.  He begins one of his usual diatribes, but she cuts him off and informs him that she washes her hands of the hot mess that is his company because she quits.  She then walks out on him.  Take that grandpa!!!!!  All he can do is dial up Rod but alas he too is MIA, so he calls Irene to bark at her next and she informs him she is on her way.

Abdul’s new “girl” friend (Mali) approaches Carmen on the street, hands her a piece of paper with Abdul’s new address, and leaves her just standing there.  Color Carmen confused!!!  Later Carmen tells Angela about it and she warns her not to trust her; Carmen agrees, saying “if” she wants to look for him she can just find him at the garage where he works.

Natalia reads the card Andres left for her with the roses and says to herself “what a nice guy, Andres”.  (We all know what that means….nice guys never win!!!)  He calls her at that very moment and tells her he is back in town and wants to see her.  No problem, she says, come pick me up at Caprico in a half hour.  Irene shows up and Natalia informs her of her impending departure.  Irene says if she is going, then she is leaving with her.  She is not about to hold on to something that is already destroyed.  Eskenda is over.  They smile and hold hands affectionately…..Irene reminds Nat that she has Tadeo’s full support to start over.  They hug and agree all will be well….Later, dapper Andres picks up Nat in front of Caprico and asks her how he looks.  The boy is quite proud of himself, but the object of his affections tells him nonchalantly that he looks good.  Poor guy, he just about tells her (in not so many words) that her foul mood burst his happy bubble.  She apologizes and states the obvious…that she is not in a good mood.  So off they go in his brand-spanking new and shiny red sports car.  Irene, for her part, goes to grumpy grandpa and informs him that she quits, not only from Caprico, but from anything that implies being part of the Caceres family.  When he suggests she’s lost her marbles, she rebuts it by noting that the only crazy person there is him because he gave all the keys to the castle to his even crazier favorite grandchild Rod.

Paolo helps his girlfriend pack up her dead evil mother’s religious chotchkies.  He wonders out loud what they are going to do with all that stuff (read:  “junk”).  She plans to donate them to her evil mama’s congregation.  (Great, so they can resell them to another religious nut job in their midst.) “I just want to keep the good memories I had with my mom,” she adds.  (I assume those FEW memories will fit neatly in a teeny, tiny empty box of Kleenex.)

Alberto’s secretary informs him she can’t find the file he requested.  He says he probably left it in his car and asks her to go look for it. 
Of course, Bri’s cell phone rings right when the secretary opens the car door, so she takes it to Alberto along with the missing file.  Alberto immediately recognizes it as Bri’s phone.  While everyone else is barely arriving at work elsewhere in town, it must be the end of the day in his part of el D.F., because Alberto tells his secretary she can go home already.  As soon as the secretary leaves he reads the bombshell text message from “R” and quickly surmises “R” is none other than nutty Rod.  He tells himself it can’t be, but then his brain cells fire up and we get his sepia flashbacks of the many times he found Bri and Rod in compromising positions.  Just to confirm he is not imagining things, he calls “R” back on Bri’s phone and without any prompting Rod answers with: “What’s up with you?  Didn’t you need the money urgently?”  Alberto immediately cuts him off and just sits there with fire in his eyes.  This “always-way-too-calm-and-nice-to-be-a-lawyer” guy (and I should know) looks like he may finally explode…..Moments later Bri shows up all lovey-dovey, announcing she left work early so they could maybe go to the movies.  She is greeted with Alberto’s fiery, lazer-sharp angry stare.  She asks why he is looking at her that way.  “Why, Brigitte?” he responds.  “Why, what?  What’s wrong, my love?”  He wonders if perhaps instead of wanting to go to the movies what she wants is…he picks up her phone….THIS.  Oooops.  She knows her little game is over.  He tells her to take it because she has a message from Rod.  She takes it and just hangs her head in shame.  Alberto finally explodes and yells at her to speak.  He wants to hear from her own mouth that Rod is her lover and that she is pregnant with his child (read:  spawn).  He warns her not to dare deny it, and tells her she should at least have the courage to admit it.

Irene calls Tadeo and informs him of her decision to leave the family business.  He fully supports her and they are both hopeful about the prospect of starting a new business all their own.  Theirs and their daughter’s.

It breaks his heart/soul that the love he gave her was not enough for her, Alberto cries to Brigitte.  “You never loved me.  I was just a puppet for you.”  He wants to know why she had to betray him and why precisely with Rod.  Then he answers his own question, telling her the one she wanted to sleep with was Diego, all because of her sick rivalry with Natalia.  She barely mutters his name and he cuts her off, telling her not to bother saying anything.  (And we on the patio are eternally grateful for sparing us from her whining, at least for now!!!)  He bemoans how happy he was because he had the woman he loved at his side.  He never thought she was so fake and cynical.  It’s not as if his buddies didn’t tell him plenty of times, he says, but he was too stupid to pay attention.  Why?  Because he loved her.  Oh, here we go.  Bri finally starts her lame attempt at begging for forgiveness, but to no avail.  He never wants to see her again and demands she go get her things out of his place – stat – because he wants nothing there that reminds him of her.

Grumpy grandpa finally gets through on Rod’s phone and demands to know where he is and what he did to get everyone to quit.  He is not too pleased, but Rod reminds him he accomplished exactly what grandpa wanted.  Grandpa demands to see him immediately.

Natalia informs Andres that it’s over (again) with Diego and that she (again) never wants to see him….again.  And yet she goes on and on about him, asking Andres (as if he has the answer) why Diego behaves that way, when all she has ever done is to love him.  Luckily, they finally change the subject to Andres himself.  He plans to open new offices in el DF and…oh, here’s a convenient thought…since Nat just quit her job, why not go work for Andres now?  “Who better than you to work for me?”  (Who?  Just about any other woman you are not madly in love with would be a better option, Andres.  Just saying.)  She promises to think about it.

Rod arrives at grumpy grandpa’s office with his near permanent smirk of evil self-satisfaction on his face.  Things turned out even better than he expected, and it’s reason to celebrate.  He is not the least bit concerned about Eskenda’s future.  After all, clothing designer are a dime a dozen, in his opinion.  Piece of cake replacing his auntie, he says.  Don’t you worry about it, old man.

Alberto now sits in a bar drowning his sorrows, while having more sepia flashbacks remembering the “highlights” of his relationship with Brigitte.  Remembering those weak moments should have been enough for him to get over Bri, but instead he continues to ask himself why she did this to him.  His wounded male pride is stronger than the obvious fact that she is not worth his tears.

Speaking of tears – Brigitte is back at the apartment packing her bags, sniffling and crying, having her own sepia flashbacks of his relationship with Alberto – surprise, surprise, the highlight for her was him being willing to spend money to buy a place to her liking.    She wraps her arms as if to console herself, saying out loud what the patio peeps have said repeatedly for months, that she is a dummy.  “How could I lose him?  How could I not if all I did was dedicate myself to bugging him, lying to him?”  A dim light bulb flickers in her head, as she wonders if maybe she can ask him for forgiveness, then she looks up to heaven and declares:  “I swear to you, my God, that if he forgives me I will consecrate myself to making him happy.”  Consecrate?  Oh Lord.  What a hoot.  Pardon the double negative, but this ain’t no Gettysburg Address.

Nat’s biomama Irene calls fakemama Carmen and informs her both she and Nat quit Caprico, but they will start a new project together.  They make plans for lunch at Irene and Tadeo’s home the next day, where they will again attempt to make the “big reveal” to Nat.

The next morning Brigitte wakes up in Alberto’s bed and realizes, duh, that he never came home to sleep.  She wonders where he could have gone.  “Where are you, Alberto?”  she cries.

Tiburcio’s wife takes him out to the garden, dressed in full DF winter garb (no joke).  She just wants him to get some sunshine, which will either roast him or get those brain cells working again.  Randy Rod comes out in baggy shorts and sandals, pretending he too is out there to get some sun.  (Patio peeps know better, because that sickly pale skin tells us he hasn’t been in the sun since long before he woke up from his coma – since the first episode months ago, to be exact.  So why on earth is he out today?  The writers are cooking up something…and it’s not just Tiburcio’s brain.)

Natalia informs fakemama Carmen that Andres offered her a job.  She likes the idea but she also wants to accept Irene’s offer of a new job, though she is afraid that way she will always be “linked” to the Caceres.  (Carmen thought bubbles – “you can’t imagine how LINKED to them you will end up.”)  Speak of the devil….Andres shows up looking even more dapper.  He wants Nat to accompany him to look at some new offices, and she gladly goes with him.  (Carmen reminds her to take her phone with her.  She never knows if she is going to get a call that will change her life forever.  No, she didn’t say that to Nat, but she sure said it to the rest of us as soon as Nat and Andres left.)  And sure enough, while on the road, Nat gets the call from Irene inviting her to lunch at her home.

Grumpy grandpa, who until now has never made any attempt to socialize, informs Hilda that he is heading off to the golf club.  And, by the way, Lala asked for the day off.  (The writers are clearing out the mansion of its usual occupants…..never a good sign!!!)…..Soon after, Alberto shows up at the front door, and Hilda immediately informs him (as if she knows why he is there) that Rod is out in the garden.  Alberto tells her not to bother going to get him because he’ll find him on his own, and he marches right in.

Rod sees Alberto’s bloodshot eyes and says that must have been some party, why didn’t you invite me?  Alberto responds with a hard punch to Rod’s face…..Cut to Bri showing up at shrimpy shrink’s party-and-sobs pad, wondering if Alberto is there.  She says she is afraid he did something crazy because he found out she was cheating on him with Rob and she is carrying his spawn – er – child.  (No, Bri, he is only just now doing the crazy something, walking right into the lion’s den.)  Alberto screams at Rod about his betrayal; Rod says it’s not his fault Alberto set his eyes on a “__________” (fill in the blank), and they immediately come to blows.  At first it looks like they are just engaging in a bit of Greco-Roman wrestling, but as Alberto gains the upper hand, straddles Rod and chokes him, Rod reaches a hand over to some nearby bushes.  He has quite a choice of rocks to pick up, but no, apparently none of them were good enough for him…or for the writers.  No, somehow a heavy wrench (…a heavy wrench!!! in a garden!!!) just happens to be within Rod’s reach.  He grabs it and smacks Alberto squarely on the right temple with it.  Poor Alberto, one of the few truly likeable male characters in this whole thing, drops dead with a thud.  Proving yet again that….only the good die young.

(End of Part One)


Part Two

Apparently Rod thought he just used a toy wrench, otherwise I don’t get why it took him a moment to realize that his blow to Alberto’s temple did some REAL damage.  He gets up and tells Alberto to get up, but no response.  He nudges him, but no response.  He turns him over and sees the blood and the blank look in Alberto’s wide open eyes.  He feels for his heartbeat.  Now it hits him that he’s dead.  Remorse?  From Rod?  No way.  What we get is Rod screaming at the top of his lungs at Alberto for being stupid and showing up at his house.  “That’s what you get for defending a slut!!!,” he screams violently at Alberto’s lifeless body.  Tiburcio stares at the spectacle with shock and fear in his eyes.  Rod notices and marches up to him, declaring with gritted teeth:  “You saw nothing!!  If you say something, you die.  I swear you’ll go with him.  You heard me?”

Brigitte is afraid Alberto will go confront Rod.  (So why did you go to the bro pad first, idiot?)  Shrimpy shrink Alonso tells her to calm down, because he figures if Alberto had wanted to confront Rod he would have done it last night.  Why would he wait until now?  He figures Alberto just doesn’t want to answer Bri’s calls, but he is sure that he will answer him.  While he calls, Rod is busy tucking Alberto’s big body in the tiny bushes, presumably until he can come up with a better plan.  He picks up Alberto’s phone when it rings and turns it off.  (Here’s to hoping his fingerprints remain on the phone.)  Now Alonso tries to call Rod, but no luck.  Bri is a nervous wreck and begs Alonso to help her find him.  Alonso wonders where his “cabeza dura” friend is.  (Really, writers, “cabeza dura”?  If Alberto had had a hard head perhaps that wrench blow would have done less damage.  Just saying.)

As if all that wasn’t enough drama for one day, we now move on to Abdallah’s heartache over his son’s rejection.  He is feeling so down that he thinks it is time to call it quits on Mexico, because he no longer has anything there to “fill his existence”.  (Wasn’t he doing just fine with himself not too long ago until he accidentally met Natalia?  Talk about melodrama.)  Later he goes to Carmen’s fonda and informs her of his decision, but she puts her foot down.  No sir, she says, I won’t allow you to stick your head in the sand like an ostrich by simply running away.  He warns her she better not go beg his son to forgive him, because he has his pride and doesn’t want the crumbs of his son’s affection.  (Like father, like son.)

Rod goes to the kitchen and tells Hilda to go to the pharmacy to buy him suntan lotion because he needs it….urgently, he says.  (Well, it’s not a complete lie; I would agree his pasty skin needs it urgently.)  She tries to wiggle out of it, but to no avail.  He wants his lotion.  Ok, she says, but let me bring my old man back in from the sun BEFORE he gets heat stroke.  (A bit too late for that, methinks.)  Rod assures her that he will bring him in, but all he does is go back and remind Tiburcio that he saw nothing.  Then he wipes the tiny bit of blood off Alberto’s face, takes his car keys, and rolls him back into the bushes.  Poor Alberto, the indignity of it all…..Rod pulls Alberto’s car into the mansion’s carport and loads Alberto’s dead body into the trunk, as Tiburcio continues to watch helplessly.  Hilda returns to the garden with the lotion only to find Rod gone and Tiburcio still supposedly burning in the sun (though all along he was sitting in the shade).  While on the road to who-knows-where, Rod throws yet another hissy fit about the situation Alberto put HIM in by showing up at the mansion.  (The nerve of Alberto; how dare he die after getting smacked like that; so not fair to Rod!!!  Not!!!)  Speaking of the mansion, Alonso shows up there looking for Alberto; Hilda informs him he was there earlier, but stayed only a little while and left.

Rod goes to the novela well of “tried and true fake accidents” and selects the “drive car off a cliff accident” from it.  Cops are supposed to believe Alberto accidentally drove off a cliff, never mind that Rod tied a rope to the gear shift so he could put it on “drive”.  Either patio peeps are considered stupid, or the cops are stupid, or Rod is stupid.  Take your pick.  (One not-so-stupid thing Rod did beforehand, though, was to wipe his prints off Alberto’s phone.  Oh darn.)….As he turns to walk away, he stops cold in his track.  The specter of Alberto is standing there waiting for him.  Looks like nutty Rod will eventually “go over the edge” too…at least figuratively.  Fitting retribution from the novela gods, if you ask me.

Kim and her “flaquito” Morales are enjoying a meal after spending who knows how long “working up an appetite”.  He wonders what other excuse he can come up with so he can take more time off from work to continue their tryst.  Just then the doorbell rings; it’s Kim’s “osito” Eleazar, who just stopped by to see how his underling is doing; Kim’s hides in the bedroom while Morales tries to convince El that he is can’t return to work because his tummy is not well.  It looks like he will get away with it until El notices a scent that reminds him of Kim’s perfume.  He steps in to get a better whiff of it, and takes the opportunity to rant about how sick and tired he is of that aroma, of his nickname “osito”, of Kim’s pouty lips.  What a difference to Carmen, he says, who gives him goosebumps, whose perfume makes him feel like he is on a field of roses.  “What a difference,” he says “that IS a REAL woman.”  (It’s a wonder Kim didn’t come rushing out to smack him, or that Morales didn’t stand up for his love.) A noise in the bedroom gets their attention and Morales pretends he is going to check on it.

Carmen visits Abdul in his new bachelor pad to advocate for his father.  But Abdul, the real hard-head here, refuses to listen to reason as Carmen tries to convince him that he should be grateful to his papa for saving him from that woman…..Abdul wants nothing from the man who abandoned him and Carmen continues to waste her breath trying to change his mind.  Moving on.

Kim tells Morales she won’t allow Eleazar to speak badly of her.  “Either you throw him out, or I’ll throw him out.”  Morales prefers getting rid of him first, then getting back at him in “other” ways.  But then Eleazar knocks on the bedroom door and Morales barely has time to push Kim on the bed and partly cover her up, leaving her feet exposed.  Eleazar enters the room, notices the feet (but does not recognize them), and realizes Morales only pretended to be sick so he could do the deed.  Eleazar gives him just long enough to throw out the woman and get his butt back to the office.

Rod returns home to Hilda’s whining about him not taking her old man back inside.  He chooses to ignore her, until she mentions that Alonso came looking for him and asked if Alberto had come by the mansion earlier.  Rod demands to know what she told him, and he is none too pleased (read:  “fuming”) to hear that she confirmed to Alonso that Alberto was there earlier.  Grandpa shows up and wonders why Rod is so darn upset.

The moment of reckoning is here.  Irene and Tadeo welcome Carmen into their home, just moments before Natalia also arrives.  They waste no time to tell her why they are all gathered there.  Tadeo and Carmen are cool as cucumbers, but Irene is visibly nervous.  So, of course, they leave it up to her to start talking.  She takes Nat’s hands, sits her by her side, and tells her she will never find the precise words needed to tell her what she has to tell her.  She just asks that she listen thinking of the great love all three of them feel for her.  Nat senses something big is about to happen and she gets nervous too.  Irene tells her the daughter she had was born 25 years ago in Tuxpan and she had been told she had died, but it wasn’t so.  Nat still has no clue it’s her, she just gets excited and says “how wonderful that she is alive”.  Yes, says Irene, she was taken from my side and miraculously left in father Juan’s church in the Christmas manger.  Nat starts to get a clue, and Carmen reminds her that SHE took that baby with her.  Nat and Irene simply stare at each other, trembling, both of their faces drenched in tears…..For a brief moment it looks like we will get a “happy reunion” moment.  But no, Nat will not make it that easy for us or for her biomama Irene.  Irene tries to hug Nat and gets her rejection instead.  Nat whines that she “can’t be the woman who abandoned me.”  She reproaches Carmen for allowing them to break the news to her that way.  She refuses to hear explanations from any of them, because “there is no valid explanation for abandoning a newborn,” she says.  She gets even more upset when she hears that they’ve all known for a while but kept the secret from her.  She feels like an idiot, and judging from her reaction and her refusal to listen to reason, she is not far off the mark.  So she does the only thing she knows how to do….she runs away.  Just like Diego ran away.  Proof positive they are made for each other.  A visibly heartbroken Irene cries inconsolably and wants to run after her, but Carmen tells her it’s best to let Nat go for now, because she needs to think and digest the news.

Natalia cries as she walks down the street, telling herself “God, it can’t be.  My mother is señora Irene and my father is señor Tadeo.  It can’t be.”  She bemoans the fact that she felt so much affection for them, for the ones who “abandoned” her to her luck as a newborn.  (Because, as we all know peeps, it is just horrible to find out that your parents are two wonderful, smart, funny, creative people who loved you and helped you long before they knew they had any blood ties to you.  Oh, the horror, the horror.)  Tadeo, the voice of reason, reminds Irene and Carmen that the worse is over.  Irene is concerned for Natalia and continues to cry heartwrenching tears.  Carmen is sure Natalia is headed to see Padre Juan, so she calls him to give him the heads up and to ask him to explain to Natalia that she is mistaken about her parents.

Grandpa agrees with Rod that Hilda is too irreverent, but doesn’t understand why it bothers Rod so much that she shared information with Alonso about Alberto’s visit.  Alberto’s ghost makes a presence and suggests to Rod that he tell his grandpa the whole truth, unless he is worried that it will ruin his “perfect crime”.

Abdallah wasted no time finding a buyer for his business and is discussing with him the terms of a potential buy-out. He is serious about skipping town.  Abdul arrives right after the buyer leaves.  He reproaches his father for not being upfront with him from the start, instead of butting into his relationship with La Jaiba.  They discuss the reason for Abdallah’s disappearance 25 years earlier; Abdul says “cultural customs” are no excuse for his father not even bothering to get in touch with his son in those 25 years.  His father agrees and says that’s why it is best for him to leave.  Abdul asks if Turks quit so easily.  “Does that mean…?,” asks Abdallah.  “That means that we can try,” says Abdul, “just don’t ask me to call you dad, not for now.”  Abdallah asks if they can start with a hug, and Abdul gives in willingly.  Finally, a bit of joy in one truly dreary episode.

Natalia arrives at Padre Juan’s place, where he is all ready to tell her the whole story.  Yes, he’s known about it for a while.  No, things didn’t happen the way she thinks.  He found out from Tiburcio under secret of confession, so he couldn’t tell anyone.  But now that Natalia knows the story, he can fill in the details for her.  (Meanwhile, Irene and Tadeo agree it is best for Irene to go to Carmen’s home, in case Natalia returns there.  He would love to go too, but he understandably feels drained and needs to rest.)  Natalia cries and listens calmly as she finally gets the whole story from Padre Juan.


Previews:  Rod is sure everyone will think it was an accident; Alonso is sure that Rod killed Alberto; Eleazar tells Morales he is going to arrest Rod, proof or no proof; Eleazar and Morales, guns drawn, arrest Rod when he arrives home.

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Comments:
And how! I TOTALLY was not expecting what happened last night. Aghast. Horrified. Stunned. Lord have mercy!

LatinainMD...yikes, when you volunteer for doing a recap, better duck! You got a real blockbuster m'dear.
 

OMG! Judy- I do not envy LatinaInMD. She has quite a task with this episode.

I am both ticked off at the writers for what they did to Alberto, and impressed with them for doing something so unexpected. There goes my fantasy couple league too!
 

Yes, Vivi, the writers totally threw us a curveball there. Never in a million years, would I have predicted that. I'm totally mad at them, like you, and totally impressed at how they pulled the rug out from under us.

But still, dang it...an all-around hardworking good guy. And you went and killed him off!

Worse yet, I think he was Susanlynn's favorite, after El, of course.

I guess I should be happy that they didn't kill Gino. Or, God forbid, Paolo!
 

Judy- Paolo! Heaven forbid! Don't even put that thought out into the tn universe!
 

gloves are off. Thanks to the writers now we got something to jabber about. All the Nat is the center of the universe is kids stuff now.
 

I noticed that even though he had the right to call her every slut word in the book (cualquiera, zorra, facilota, golfa, etc.), Alberto did not utter one of these words when he confronted Brig (take note, Diego). Wish he had used such restraint with Rod too and just let it be. But he was a gentleman till the end. QEPD.
 

OMG WHAT WHAT? I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO UNI! GAH!

:)
 

I missed the first hour and felt a wobble in the universe as I walked in the house. By the time I turned on the tv, it was all over. I spent the next hour dusting off my jaw from where it hit the floor!
 

I mean Alberto's life was all over.
 

Judy, Vivi and tofie, I am also stunned and frankly, sick...

If the writers were going for shock and awe, they certainly achieved it and not in a good way (for my part).

Now I'm wondering if there is any possibility the baby may actually be Alberto's.

And Vivi, while he was understandably furious, I also noted he avoided any insults. I am still in shock.

Diana
 

So much promise, a long life ahead of him, and so much love to give, all wasted on Brigitte.
 

Oh Sara. It was terrible. Alberto is dead.

Diana
 

Wow! I was astounded too. However the only thing Rod seems to be good at is irritating Diego. He will leave enough clues around that El will get him quickly.

Hi Emilia. Say hi to Mike for me. Your granddaughter (is her name Ally?) really is cute.

David
 

Vivi, yes and sadly I do believe Brig was beginning to change. Alberto died knowing she betrayed him, what a terrible last memory.

Diana
 

NOOOOOO!
 

I tuned in to see Rodevil hovering over Big Al. I could not believe that the writers decided to kill off one of the only sensible, responsible , hardworking, sweet good guy in the show. ...and my new telenovio. YIKES Uff meh sigh As if my own personal telenovela isn't bad enough right now.

Besides being stunned and saddened, my other thought was how odd it seemed that the Devil Dude was wearing surfer shorts when he killed that sweet guy. It was like spring break gone all wrong.

Listening to the poor old helpless witness shrieking was horrible. I was shrieking, too.
 

Notice when the car was upside down in the ravine Hot Rod spit?

I for one think once the heat off Brigitte she would be right back to her old self. We'll see if she tells Nat her participation in all the Diegofooliery.
 

This was a terrible turn of events. And Vivi, I too noticed Big Al never called Brig bad names just the fact she is a liar. From throwing the viewers a curve, they did that but, as has been noted, Big Al was one of the best characters on this tn. Killing him off, not only deprives someone like Angela of a potential mate but just makes the viewers unhappy. Rod is most likely going to have to die anyway, there was no reason to kill off Big Al to seal that fate.

On a brighter note, its great seeing you Emilia. I hope Mike is well and your nieta has gotten so big!
 

Karen: enjoyed every word of your insightful comment particularly "...Rod is most likely going to have to die anyway, there was no reason to kill off Big Al to seal that fate".

Yes. I would rather it had been just about anyone else (well not Paolo as everyone's already noted).

Diana
 

Diana, actually while some characters annoy me, the only one I want gone is Grumps. Now Rod's actions may actually kill Grumps but having Rod directly kill Grumps (poisoning or something once the silly old man gave him control of the company) would be a better option to me. If someone had to die, and aside from Mara's mom, I was good.

For me, the Brat can only start her redemption journey if she tells why Diego lost his mind, as tofie noted, and that she is pregnant.
 

got an unrelated to Alberto question. PJ was forthcoming with Nat the story of her abandonment & Irene's prenatal mistreatment by Grumps and, he noted, since she now knew it was ok to discuss what had been disclosed during confession. Is there such a loophole or just contrived just for Nat?
 

No puede ser! This is so disappointing. They've been doing goofy, nonsensical stuff all this time and the ONE time they do something that feels realistic it's killing off Big Al. QDEP.
 

Wow ... just wowwww ......
 

I would guess the main secret was that Natalia was Irene's daughter. But Papa Juancho didn't break confession by telling Natalia that because somebody who didn't confess to him told her that. I guess the only thing now under confession is Vicente ordering Tiburcio to get rid of the baby but again everyone except Natalia already knew that.
 

Natalia has a lot to process:

She is Irene & Tad's daughter

Vicente is her grandfather

Diego is her cousin

Rodrigo is her cousin

Grumps has known for a long time that she was his granddaughter and has treated her like trash

She is a Caceres

The next secrets that need to come out is Grumps stealing Caprico from Irene (and Natalia), Diego & Rodrigo.

 

Tiburcio and his wife better get out of Dodge NOW!!
 

Tofie- I don't care if Padre broke any rules. I'm just glad someone was able to get Nat to stop for a minute to listen to the whole story. When Irene started out by telling Nat she had found the baby that was STOLEN from her, Nat got happy for her. Then when Irene told her she was that baby, Nat started freaking out about how Irene has ABANDONED her. WTF?! Was she not just listening 2 seconds before? Thank goodness Padre told her the whole story and saved us multiple episodes of that foolishness.
 

Anon207- Add to Nat's list of new things to ponder-- saving Tad's life if she is a match.
 

Anon 2:02- Or Tiburcio better not let on that his speech is improving. Yeah, both Mr. and Mrs. T are prime candidates to be next on Rod's hit list if they don't keep their mouths shut about visitors and murders.
 

Thanks for bringing up that irrational glitch in Natalia's behavior. Yes indeed, she DID hear that Irene's baby had been stolen from her, so the whole subsequent tantrum about "abandonment" really didn't make sense and was darned annoying.

However, I was touched by the Padre Juancho/Natalia scene since they really are father and daughter and his older hand (with the brown spots like my hands have) reaching out to hold her lovely young hand was just very sweet and tender. A good moment even if it came about by her acting really really stupid...once again!
 

The ridiculous thing is that for once, Rod could have told the truth. It was self-defense! All he had to do was call the cops right away. Even now...what can they get him on? Covering up a murder? It still wasn't intentional/premeditated. I hope Gostly Al picks on him for never being able to accomplish anything on purpose!
 

Tofie,

I think PJ found all this out from either Tiburcio himself outside the confessional or from others, thus not breaking the seal of confessional.

Did anyone else think that Rod wasn't guilty of anything up until he started moving and burning bodies? I think since Al assaulted him and had him on the ground with his hands around his neck that a good case could be made for self defense. Once he started manipulating the evidence and covering up, all bets are off.

(this doesn't mean I like Rod; as far as I am concerned he deserves anything he gets)

David
 

Ha 5ft, our comments crossed in the ether.

I think they can get Rod for obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, maybe mistreating a body if they have such a law in Mexico.

David
 

Natalia's narcissistic, "why me" sniveling was really off-putting. "No, it can't be THEM! I like them! How can it be that they ABANDONED me, just like that?" The idiot doesn't stop to think for a second. She KNOWS Irene's feelings about her baby. She knows the kind of people both Irene and Tadeo are. How can she whine about being abandoned and run out on them like that? This reaction is more suited to the Brat than to the supposedly kind, fair and loving Natalia.
 

David, I see we had the same thought. I'm guessing they'll have to charge him with theft, vandalism, interfering with an investigation...not sure what else.

Now I'm really hoping Diego took that flight and was long gone by the time it happened so there will be no "It wasn't me, it was my twin!" nonsense.
 

I agree it wasn't premeditated and was really self defense, but...just like that boy who cried wolf too often, I would not shed a tear if they threw the book at him for murder and didn't believe his self defense plea.
 

On American crime dramas, they're always talking about "means, motive, and opportunity." It's easy enough to prove Rod had opportunity and means, but motive is going to be tricky. Rod knocking up Brigitte is more of a reason for Alberto to want to kill him than the other way around.
 

Part 1 of LatinaInMD's recap is up!
 

LatinainMD, thank you for covering this one! I'm enjoying the first half already.

"wham…they throw a wrench in it…literally!!!!" Priceless!

"I assume those FEW memories will fit neatly in a teeny, tiny empty box of Kleenex." Not even a box...a travel-size purse pack.

"Who? Just about any other woman you are not madly in love with would be a better option, Andres. Just saying." Word. Never let a guy who has a crush on you offer you a paycheck.

"Grumpy grandpa, who until now has never made any attempt to socialize, informs Hilda that he is heading off to the golf club." I know! Grumps doesn't play golf. Who are they trying to kid?
 

LatinaInMD- Excellent part one! Thanks for pointing out how we should have known something bad was about to go down at the mansion when most of the inhabitants had flown the coop, and pastie Rod was sunbathing. LOL!

I just had the thought that Al's parents are coming to town! They'll either find out immediately that their son is missing or that he's dead. Those poor people!
 

Thank you LatinaInMD, needed this because the only thing I remembered from last night was Alberto's open lifeless eyes, Nat again wailing poor pitiful me and Rod spitting on the flaming car. Oh, loved “shrimpy shrink”.

Thanks folks for solving for me the confessional riddle and am glad PJ put a sock in her mouth for once. With Alberto's demise I don't want to hear another word out of that drama queen.

 

This is so good, LatinaInMD! I love the title and as has been mentioned, the opening paragraph. A wrench indeed.

I also enjoyed "...but then his brain cells fire up and we get his sepia flashbacks..." because it so perfectly captures those flashbacks scenes that seem so hard to recap (at least to me they are.)

And I LOVED your description of Brat's "dim light-bulb" and the line about "consecrating" herself to making Alberto happy.

Looking forward to part 2!
 

LatinaInMD: You invoked a tone that made this unbearable incident a little easier to bear. Your recap was excellent - written seamlessly, with humor yet the respect it deserved noted by your "only the good die young".

“shrimpy shrink” friend; “I just want to keep the good memories I had with my mom,” she adds. (I assume those FEW memories will fit neatly in a teeny, tiny empty box of Kleenex); “Who better than you to work for me?” (Who? Just about any other woman you are not madly in love with would be a better option, Andres. Just saying" were sensational. "The writers are cooking up something…and it’s not just Tiburcio’s brain) was my absolute favorite.

Here Alberto's parents think they are coming to meet their son's wonderful girlfriend, and they will be planning a funeral. This is just horribly sad.

I can't help but feel Nat was blindsided by the revelation. So much to process! I do not blame her for reacting as she did. I agree she did the right thing by going to the Padre. She will need time to digest this.

I with both of these events had not happened in the same episode (although I see they are still combining them - ack).

After Rod pushed the car in the ravine and spit over the side of the road, I thought he could not be more despicable. He can and should go to hell.

This was wonderful - thank you.

Diana
 

"These comedy writers played a dirty trick on us. Months and months of the comedy train going in circles and just when we thought the plot was heading somewhere interesting…wham…they throw a wrench in it…literally!!!!"

Wonderful opening paragraph. You really started your recap off with a bang. And of course "shrimpy shrink" is a keeper. Was also amused by your meditation on how small a box would hold Mara's "good memories". Yes, they would be precious few indeed.

But help me out on this 'cause I'm confused. Why are you calling Carmen Natalia's "fake mama"? She is her true adoptive mother. Nothing fake about it. My children are all biologically my own, but had I raised adopted children, I think I would find that term very hurtful.

I'm sure that was not your intent, though.

Thanks for doing such a thorough job on Part I. And hope that your packing goes well next week, and that the next part of your life will be happy and fulfilling. Starting over takes a lot of energy and dedication, but sounds like you have it. Thanks again for a sparkling first part. These double episode are recap monsters.

 

@JudyB - you are right, of course. I didn't stop to think of the negative connotation. That was not my intent. I was just rying to lighten the mood on a very dramatic episode. My bad.

LatinaInMD
 

Of course. I know you would never have that sort of intention...not "your bad"... Just my need to clarify.
Always enjoy your writing.
 

I missed everything on this show last night and I am just stunned that the writers would do this. I guess I have a lot to learn about TN writers.

LatinaInMD, I've never read any of your work. This is my first time! You did an incredible job and you had my attention right with your opening paragraph! Well done!!!

I think I am just at a loss as to why Alberto had to die. I don't like it one bit.

Fatima
 

Hi all, I finished Part Two a few hours ago and emailed it to Vivi, but she had warned me she would be going out and I'm afraid I sent it after she left, since it is not yet posted. If any one of you is currently available qnd would like to receive it and post it, send me an email and I'll forward Part Two to you.
 

That's me immediately above.

And thanks everyone for your kind comments.

LatinaInMD
 

I don't think anyone but Vivi can edit this post, so we'll need to wait for her to return from her wild night ;)
 

Part 2 is up!
 

Vivi, so much for a wild night. An early wild night, maybe? :D
 

Certainly not wild, but a nice dinner and pleasant conversation. Sometimes, that's enough. :)
 

Gracias again, LatinaInMD!

"I would agree his pasty skin needs it urgently." Thank you for reminding me that it was, indeed, a suntan lotion emergency!

"The nerve of Alberto; how dare he die after getting smacked like that; so not fair to Rod!!! Not!!!" Yep, that's Rod. It's always somebody else's fault.

"It’s a wonder Kim didn’t come rushing out to smack him, or that Morales didn’t stand up for his love." Right? This was their chance! Just throw the door wide open, tell El it's over, and go back to rolling in the hay.

"Because, as we all know peeps, it is just horrible to find out that your parents are two wonderful, smart, funny, creative people who loved you and helped you long before they knew they had any blood ties to you. Oh, the horror, the horror." Seriously. She hit the bioparent jackpot PLUS having Carmen. The rest of her siblings haven't gotten so lucky. Maybe Paolo, if we consider Cunchetina his stepmom, but since she and Gino didn't stick around, he's really back to just the 1 awesome parent on a day-to-day basis.
 

Thanks for your great recap LatinainMD. So sorry you got blindsided with an episode that was definitely not light or comedic. However, like all of our recappers you turned a real lemon into lemonade. Your opening paragraph put much needed humor back into things and your observations about important characters missing was spot on.

As David and Kat noted, Rod could have honestly said the murder was accidental/self-defense. But as is the case in most crimes, its the cover-up that gets you convicted.

Diana, you have such a wonderful, tender heart! Yes Nat was delivered a bomb and didn't process it well. And while the plot let us know this blow up would happen, it was upsetting to see her completely disregard what Irene told her, I was told my child was DEAD. Nat, who has been so patience/naive w/Rod, completely ignores Irene and her tears and goes back to Nat's own made up story of abandonment.
 

You have written this SO well, LatinInMD!! I loved this:

" So she does the only thing she knows how to do….she runs away. Just like Diego ran away. Proof positive they are made for each other."

It says it all about these two; it says it all.

Thank you, LatinaInMD!!

Fatima
 

Thanks a million LatinainMD you did an outstanding recap. Hope to see more by you.

I haven't watched my recording yet. I like to read the recap first so that I understand it better.

I had to read several times that Big Al was dead, I couldn't believe what I was reading. Which brings me to another opinion. ITA agree with Diana about Natalia's reaction.
On an emotional level Irene's words had been erased. Strong emotional reactions definitely affect the way we process information. I also blame the way it was presented to her. Nat doesn't know the pure hell Irene has been through, the alcohol and counseling etc.
I have worked with many persons who have been adopted. No matter how many times they hear that their mother gave them up for whatever reason, they can't process it. Very often no matter how well they are treated by their adoptive parent, they always feel they were abandoned. I suspect that Nat's was reacting to the fact that for 24 years that is what she believed and it just came out.

 

Sue...thanks for that very helpful explanation of the emotions that adopted children have to deal with...I guess for the rest of their lives.

A close friend has two adopted daughters. The first has never gotten over her core feeling of "not being loved". The second is a mellow, well-adjusted child.

Together with her adoptive mother, she traced and got in touch with her bio-mom, met her, her bio-dad (they are not married) and even her bio-grandparents. It was a good meeting and she got to hear all the story (high school romance).

But that was that. She's very close to her adoptive parents, they babysit her children all the time, spend a lot of time together.

One "happy ending", one not so happy.
 

Thanks for Part II Latina...and Vivi.

" What we get is Rod screaming at the top of his lungs at Alberto for being stupid and showing up at his house. “That’s what you get for defending a slut!!!,” he screams violently at Alberto’s lifeless body."

Powerful writing, bringing back that moment, Latina.

And such a telling scene. The victimizer always blames the victim. A more sinister version of the "See what you made me do!" that we heard from an angry parent or sibling growing up.

You also really brought back the drama and poignant tension of the scene with Irene, Natalia, Carmen and Tad. Painful to watch. Painful to think about again. Hope the resolution comes quickly.

Enjoyed your musing that Rod will "eventually go over the edge" himself, with the many confrontations of Alberto's ghost. Our good Alberto will at least serve as the conscience Rod never seemed to have.

Once again, thanks for pitching in Latina.

And Vivi, my wish for you is that one of these times, you will sit and talk to your dinner date and that magic will happen where you sit and talk all night, sharing heart and soul, dreams and hopes.

That was what happened when I went on a blind date with my husband. He brought me home at dawn, I gave him a couple of books we had been discussing and then asked jokingly "Is there anything else you want to take home?"

"Just you," he replied.

We got married a few months later, and while it certainly hasn't been all candles and roses, I guess it was meant to be.
 

Judy- That is absolutely lovely. I can only hope that happens to me one of these days (soon). Thank you for wishing that for me, amiga. :)
 

Sue- Thank you for setting us straight about Nat's reaction to the news. It's funny that we often complain that tns stray from reality too often, but we wanted Nat to have a fairy tale instant happy reaction, when in truth the reaction they showed us is probably more like a real reaction. I will cut Nat some slack, and I expect the talk with her spiritual guide, Padre Juancho, will help her make peace with the situation and her three parents.
 

LatinaInMD: Part 2 was as stunning to the sensories as the beginning. You are very talented and I will echo everyone's comments that this was spectacular.

"(Really, writers, “cabeza dura”? If Alberto had had a hard head perhaps that wrench blow would have done less damage. Just saying): "Ok, she says, but let me bring my old man back in from the sun BEFORE he gets heat stroke. (A bit too late for that, methinks): "Looks like nutty Rod will eventually “go over the edge” too…at least figuratively" were wonderful but "Fitting retribution from the novela gods, if you ask me. (Because, as we all know peeps, it is just horrible to find out that your parents are two wonderful, smart, funny, creative people who loved you and helped you long before they knew they had any blood ties to you. Oh, the horror, the horror" was my favorite.

I will echo Fatima, why did Alberto have to die? I am simply refusing to accept the loss of such a fine, young man who wanted nothing more than to love and be loved. The real tragedy is that his life ended as he realized he had been lied to and betrayed. There were no lingering remembrances of love as he was transported from this life to the next.

I'm taking this too seriously but life is short. We need to treasure every minute and tell those we love that they matter, often and frequently.

So I will start here by thanking the marvelous recappers and the wonderful bloggers for your insights, wit and camraderie.

Rest in peace Alberto.

Diana




 

Rod is getting crazier and crazier. It is scary watching his meltdowns.

Judyb..I loved your description of that first date with your hub. I believe in love at first sight. If you are lucky , it can last a lifetime. If not...not. I was a goner the first time my hub walked toward me .....in high school.
 

Wow.

I just watched the episode and...wow.

Ok, I'm gonna start small, I'm still processing:

Thank you for the people who defended Nat's reaction; I needed that perspective. I was back on forth on that one myself, so it's good to know I wasn't the only one. So now will she work for Andres to give herself some space, or recapacita and join her biomom in building a new Eskenda? (though they're going to seem more than flaky after Brig's fall, potentially late orders due to the bad tela and abandoning ship before the even finished one season, smh). Still think PJ fudged the lines on his part though. Tib didn't authorize him to tell anyone anything about what he said. Even if everyone else knew, until they told Nat, wasn't he obligated to stay silent about those particular details?

Are we sure Ab isn't Nat's dad, cuz he's down over Abdul's reaction and ready to split as a result too. BTW, I think I missed something: what happened to his family in Turkey?

Good on Carmen for going over to Abdul's to tell him his dad was leaving so that he has a chance to get to know him before it's too late and good on Abdul for letting her in. So many times the characters are mad at each other and slam the door in someone's face, and claim to already know what the other is going to say (which is half a step away from putting their hands over their ears "lalalala I can't hear you!")

Man, I thought the jig was finally up for Kim/Morales/and El. K and M are cute, but enough already with the sneaking around.

And now, of course, the Big Al shocker. TOTALLY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE! I was really not expecting that one. Part of the appeal of tns is seeing the bad guys get their comeuppance and the good guys being happy. Big Al was definitively a good guy, so I was completely gobsmacked.

When Rod jumped after watching the car catch on fire, I somehow thought there would be a kid standing behind him, at which point I was like, "good thing Diego's on a plane." Why must DF be a beautiful city apparently seconds away from cliffhugging roadways with no witnesses?

On the self defense angle, the writers or directors must want Rod to get out of this one. They had Big Al say "I want to/would kill you, but it's not worth it" but then he doesn't really stop holding Rod down by the neck. One shot of him getting off of Rod and Tibbie's testimony would have given us far more hope that Rod will pay for homicide. Of course, between Tibbie's wife and V, that may still happen.

Now I really don't want Brig happy. If she comes out of this on the plus side when Big Al died...well, it would just be the worst kind of injusto.
 

Ok, now that I've taken a breath, LatinaMD, that was an awesome recap. Huge, detailed and funny! I'm glad I got to see it, but I totally could've skipped the eppy and still basically seen it in my head.

Faves I haven't already seen mentioned (though I may have missed them in my Big Al shock): “I just want to keep the good memories I had with my mom,” she adds. (I assume those FEW memories will fit neatly in a teeny, tiny empty box of Kleenex.)

"He wonders if perhaps instead of wanting to go to the movies what she wants is…he picks up her phone….THIS. Oooops." That is EXACTLY the way it played out! Spot on with that description!

"Tiburcio’s wife takes him out to the garden, dressed in full DF winter garb (no joke). She just wants him to get some sunshine, which will either roast him or get those brain cells working again. " Yeah, wtq? Diego's in shorts and a tee sunbathing and you've got this helpless man bundled up for snowstorm?
 

Mrs Country Caretaker is an idiot. That's been demonstrated repeatedly throughout this show.
 

I'm not shocked Rod killed someone (ticking cartoon bomb) but am shocked it was Alberto. I recall he had picked up a heavy object ready to brain Diego and he did try for months to murder the guy.

I think Brigitte just as culpable in this death as Rod and while she not as clever, just as nasty. I see nothing redeemable in her at all. She wore a wig to look like her sister and rip the heart out of Diego to stick a finger in the eye of Nat. (It makes me ill to see this and I'm not a Nat fan by any stretch) We'll see if she fesses up to that one because Alberto won't be telling anyone about the wig.

While I accept Nat's reaction to the news of her parentage, particularly since everyone knew except her. Her reaction to this is the same as she reacts to everything. I think she believes she the center of the universe but I do give her some slack because everyone certainly treats her as such. They're all afraid of her boohooing and stomping off to pout like an oversensitive child. Good god the girl is 26 years old, grow up. There is more maturity in one finger of 17/18 year old Mara.

 

Tofie- I had totally played out this scenario in my head that the truth about the hotel room antics would come from Alberto casually mentioning the wig to someone. Now, it really is all up to Brig, and if she really wants to come clean.
 

Vivi- yup, when Big Al saw Brig with the wig, that's how I thought it would play out too, esp since she said it was part of a campaign. Thought for sure he'd ask Diego about it.

Tofie - I'm not a Brig fan at all, but I don't know that I'd find her as culpable as Rod in Big Al's death, but I'm curious as to your reasoning, I always like hearing your perspective on things.

BTW, did someone connect Angela and Abdul's dad before? I didn't see it then, but when she spoke to Carmen right after he did, I could kind of see it. Would Abdul be piqued that his dad was involved with two women he was involved with first?
 

And if Brig keeps quiet because Rod threatens her, I won't buy that either. All it would take is one quick call to El, and it would be all over for Rod. The only reason for her to continue to keep quiet is to continue Nat's suffering, and to not let her mom find out the lowdown kind of person she is.
 

But does Brig have proof of criminal activity on Rod's part? He knows he's a s***, but there's nothing El can really do about that, right? (I'm actually a lil worried about that bc in the avances, El says "even if we don't have proof, arrest him anyway!" I'm a little worried this will come to the attention of his superiors and with all his personal use of his position, he'll get demoted or something)

Sorry, got sidetracked. I agree she's only in this for the Nat torment, $ for the kid and keeping her fam,esp her mom, from finding out what a miserable excuse for a human being she is. I believe that she would keep quiet to keep Carmen from finding out. She's always had a complex about Nat being the "perfect, good girl" while she (/Brig) gets the rep of meanie. She'd prove herself wrong if she came clean now, and now that Nat has two moms, plus a (rich) dad (who may die and leave Nat a fat inheritance), I doubt Brig would be willing to risk losing Carmen. Also, now that Nat and Irene have left Eskenda though, she'll prob be in it for the promotion (and I want to see her fall flat on her face with that too).
 

I mean if Rod threatens Brig that he would hurt her or her family if she spilled the beans about their dirty deeds. Like how he stuffed her into his car and manhandled her the other day to "force" her to be his minion in his scheme. If she really wanted help, she could have El and her brothers, and her mom, on Rod like white on rice and he wouldn't be able to hurt her. She is choosing to go along with him and keep quiet about her role in his plots because she wants to.
 

Isn't it strange that this is "only" a story, but I am still upset about Alberto's death this morning. The writers have really confused me on this one, so I will just wait and see.

Diana has expressed how I feel: " I am simply refusing to accept the loss of such a fine, young man who wanted nothing more than to love and be loved. The real tragedy is that his life ended as he realized he had been lied to and betrayed. There were no lingering remembrances of love as he was transported from this life to the next."

The loss of a life for someone like Fish Lips Brat. Her mouth has now taken on huge and ugly proportions for me. I can't stand to look at her. These writers had better not make it some easy little deal for her if it's redemption they are seeking for this miserable, self centered little wretch.

As far as I am concerned, she is an emotional accessory in Alberto's murder. I am still shocked this morning that the writers did this.

Fatima
 

Vivi - Ooh, I hadn't considered him threatening her family. That actually makes me wonder more about her motives. That actually gives her a legit, non-selfish reason for going along with Rod; Brig could call him out with El and her bros, but this is the man who tried to rape her sister, en...coma-nated? his bro for two months, stole his life and tried to kill him and GOT OFF SCOT FREE. She has no proof of him doing anything but having an affair with her. El could def make his ppl tail him, and the boys would def defend their fam, but Rod would sue the police and the Garcias for harassment. Or, and I don't even want to say it, he could threaten Brig that he would go after the most vulnerable, Lupita. I can just hear him telling her that anything cold happen to Lupita. She could run after a puppy...into the middle of the street...she's a smart girl, but smart kids disappear in the city all the time. Who's to say he had anything to do with it? If Diego comes back, maybe she went to talk to her sister Nat's on again off again boyfriend during recess a couple of times. They were planning a surprise for Nat, so he could win her back. One time, she just didn't come back. Rod? Rod was in a meeting with someone (someone bribable) the whole time. Don V will back him up (even if he judges him later). Sadly, Brig doesn't even go down those roads, I guess. She stops at "I don't want my fam to know how horrible I am."
 

You know, I think a big part of Alberto falling in love with Brig was really about falling in love with the whole Garcia family. He saw how united and good they were when he was defending Carmen from the drug charges. He made the mistake of believing Brig was like her mother and siblings, and it definitely helped things along that he was physically attracted to her too. The problem was that he also thought/assumed she was a better person than she is because of her family.
 

HellaShelle, with Brigitte, Vivi pegged it "She is choosing to go along with him and keep quiet about her role in his plots because she wants to". Now why does she want to?

There are people that are blessed and capable and produce to give.

There are people that are blessed and capable and use that to relentlessly exploit. Rod

There are unfortunates that were given a karmic short stick but strive to make the best of their lot to become capable and produce to give.

There are functioning less fortunate that use the karmic short stick as justification to relentlessly destroy. Brigitte

 

Anon 11:51 - They're stories, but they touch us. When someone who's genuinely nice, genuinely a good guy, gets sacrificed that way, it's jsut wrong.

This is the second time a death has taken me by surprise in this tn. Interesting tactic, but I hope Al's death means more to everyone than Diana.

Vivi- Truth.

Tofie-Lol, also truth. Sometimes I give characters too much credit I guess; I prefer them more complex than they're sometimes written.
 

There are complex characters here, even Brigitte, but if you strip away everything and look at eventual outcomes of some causative ill intent you have destroyers. What could happen to a good man when he is repeatedly lied to and deceived for gain by someone he trust? Just a black eye and slight limp, professional scorn being picked up for a DUI, humiliation, loss of livelihood, death by his own hand or a wrench to the temple.

 

Paolo already knows what a piece of crap Brigitte is. He chooses not to tell the rest of the family because it was hurt Carmen very much.

Natalia knows Brigitte is low down but is choosing to overlook that. I think sometimes Natalia doesn't wash her hands of Brigitte because of Brigitte's accusations of Natalia being the good, perfect one. Like, yes I am good & perfect & that's why I'm going to love, protect & defend you even though I know you can't stand me. You slept with my boyfriend's twin even though you thought you were sleeping with my boyfriend but I love you anyway!!

When Carmen finds out what a low down piece of crap Brigitte is, I think Brigitte will be getting the back from the Garcias until she can act right. I don't see much redemption from Brigitte at this point. She's going to end up like Teresa, having alienated everyone in the name of jealousy & ambition. Maybe Zbrat can find her daddy & go off with him.
 

HellaShelle, anon@1151 was me, Fatima. Thank you for understanding that even though these are stories, they surely do touch us. I appreciate your validation of my thoughts.

Vivi in DC, you are absolutely right. Alberto loved everything about the Garcias; everything. Unfortunately, he made some bad assumptions about Fish Lips which he either saw or simply chose to ignore. Gosh darn it, what a sad story line.

Fatima
 

Thank you LatinaMD for a great recap. I just read all of the comments and have to say that I enjoy this blog BECAUSE everyone gets into the characters and really cares about them.... or hates them when deserved. This means that I am not the only lunatic that loves these stories, as my husband seems to think! So, thank you to all of the commentors as well.

I don't have this epi recorded so I can't go back and watch, but, when Rod pulled Al's body out from the bushes, didn't anyone see what I thought was Brig's phone laying there?? I think there was a smaller style cellphone (Like Brig's, not Al's) still laying under the bushes. Can anyone confirm?

I don't think it matters if Rod threatens Brig to not spill the beans because she told Alons, and/or, he figured it out and she didn't deny.
 

Thanks so much Latina, this was masterfully written and special because of your thoughtful delivery of such a sledge hammer (oops make that the very large wrench) crashing into the plot of mean people doing dastardly things but now one of them is a killer and I don't expect Rod to change his stripes. He made some mistakes that will come out.

I agree that BratBridgett deserves no pardon. Remember though that she bagged the Nat Wig and put that bag on a shelf in the workroom so maybe it iwll be caught when Irene moves out of Caprico so she and Nat can start a new design business. Once the horrid news of beautiful Alberto is out, Brat may not think of removing it. I also wonder if she will pawn the engagement ring or use it to beguile Al's parents into support her if she tries to convince them that the spawn is their grandchild. So many ways this could go but I hope for the innocent baby's sake that Nat and Diego eventually get to raise it. No one else is stable enough...

Wow, what a SHOCK!! I am not going to be able to watch for much of next week so I so appreciate all the work being done here by the recap masters in our midst. Thank you, thank you.
 

LoriLoo - I think that was the bloodied wrench actually. Also, good point that Alonso knows everything and has no reason to hide the truth.

Fatima - Sorry, I should've checked for the signature, my bad.

Tofie - You're right, at the core, she's a jealous destroyer. I was just thinking through her reasons. I think it goes beyond "I hate Nat" to "also I don't want to lose my fam and I don't want this kid," but you're right, probably not as far as "and Rod could hurt my family." I don't get all of the references in your post though. Who were you talking about?
 

Thank you so much for Part II, LatinaInMD!!!

Add me to the list of people who get very into these TNs!!

I can't remember who said it, but I can't stand to look at Fish Lips any more either. That mouth just dominates her face. Bless her heart.
 

LoriLoo there was something under the bush but I dismissed it as a reminder look the wrench was there but do recall it looked black and not like a wrench at all. So Alberto's phone in in the burning car, I thought Alberto gave Brats phone back but could that have been a wallet? Just guessing.

HellaShelle, Brigitte is eat up with envy, hate and a selfish sense she is entitled and gotta get hers anyway she can. I think if Rod came to her and asked her to do something despicable unrelated to Nat or Diego she'd do that too if there was something in it for her.

There are people that are blessed and capable and produce (create) to give. ie. Tad or Irene and I'll hold my nose and say Diego

There are unfortunates that were given a karmic short stick but strive to make the best of their lot to become capable and produce (create) to give. ie. Carmen, Paolo, Angela, and hold my nose and say Nat

In the follow up post I was musing about outcomes for Alberto. An honest, way too trusting sort and Brigitte exploited that trust for her own gain and did it repeatedly. She even asked him for money to abort Rods child and he gave her what he had on the spot. The cheating aside, when you have someone deceiving you that you trust, it rarely comes out well for the deceived and in this case death was one of those possible outcomes.


 

Alonso knows about them being lovers and the baby, but he doesn't know about the wig or how Brig conspired with Rod to break up Nat and Diego. I am sure he will figure it out though.
 

Hi, LatinaInMD

You have a great talent for recounting things in great detail and with wit and wisdom.

As to Nat's reaction to her birth parents, I think that is about right considering the circumstances and her age. Up until about that age, I harbored feelings of having been abandoned by my birth mother, but then as I gained more life experiences, I decided that given the era (1947) and the circumstances - a single woman with no family support of any kind - she surely saw a life of hardship and squalor for herself AND for me, and just wanted to give me a chance with a two parent family that she could never provide. So I respect her and her decision.

What followed, unfortunately, was not ideal. Instead of winding up with a mother like JudyB I got one like Gracie on LQLVMR, although my adoptive mother wasn't after money like Gracie is, she just liked to bask in the glow of my and my sister's accomplishments, feeling that that reflected well on her. She never once complimented me when we were alone for anything, but "stupid" and "we picked you up out of the gutter" were recurring themes. I had tuned her out by the time I was about ten and left the house for good 8 years later.

But, I have a wonderful wife who has let me stay around for 44 years, and three great kids - and I complement them every chance I get.

David
 

David, dear David, the inner strength you have is beyond description. You have come out of it whole and with a loving family. I send you huge, huge hugs and I hope you don't mind me sending those virtual hugs!!

When I think about horrible Fish Lips Brat, I really wonder what can make someone so young have such hate and anger. What?

I fear that Fish Lips is capable of some of the things CherylNewMex has postulated. I can see her trying to swindle Al's parents, but at this point, she won't succeed. However, if she tries it, she is truly a lost soul.

HellaShelle, no probs! Just wanted to thank you for noticing my comment.

Fatima
 

David..Thanks for sharing your story. You are a very strong person to have gone on to have a successful, happy life. Good for you. I always told my daughters that we build our lives, and evidently you built a good life for yourself and your family. Your life sends an inspiring message.

 

Thanks again everyone for your comments. I would respond to each of you in turn, but I'm still busy packing for my impending move in just three weeks.

BTW, often when I write a recap its tone reflects how I am feeling at that particular moment, or I am just playing devil's advocate. I'm rarely expressing my personal opinion. (Must be the lawyer in me.) For example, I'm much more sympathetic towards Natalia than my recap suggested. Heck, I still haven't gotten over the sense of abandonment from when my parents left me and my siblings in Mexico for almost two years - supposedly in the CARE of adult relatives, but like David's adoptive mother they were closer to Graciela on LQLVMR than Carmen on DQTQTQ. So, I do understand Natalia's reaction, even if it was impulsive and unreasonable under the circumstances.

Oh, and by the way, I saw almost all of DQTQTQ online a while back, so I actually wasn't blindsided by Friday's episode. I knew it was coming. I just didn't realize when I volunteered that I was going to get this particular episode. But it was pretty shocking for me too when I first saw it several weeks ago.

I really enjoyed recapping again - haven't done it since C.I. ended back in December - but man, my hats off to everyone who has had to recap double episodes. It's brutal!! I was physically and mentally exhausted when I finished Part Two yesterday.

I'm tempted to volunteer to recap MCET because I already watched the first ten episodes and it is simply FABULOUS. But, given my impending move and marital separation, the most I may be able to do is the occasional substitution recap, if someone asks.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. :-)
 

Does anybody know what episode #'s did they give on Friday's show?
 

Angie V.- This was Univision episode 90; and Mexico/Televisa episodes 147 and 148.
 

David- Thank you for sharing your story. It takes a lot of strength and character to decide not to repeat the bad patterns we've experienced in our lives. You became a loving and nurturing parent and grandparent, despite your rough start in life. That says a lot about the kind of person you are.
 

Vivi thank you. :-)
 

Ah David, just getting to this after meeting with a friend for coffee and then coming back to watch the end of the World Cup with my adult son.

Growing up is hard, even with the best of parents. And yet you found a way to do it with a strength that came from inside you, rather than from any kind of loving nurturing. You tuned out your harsh adoptive mother , but you didn't allow her to ruin the rest of your life.

Resilience is everything.

And you clearly have it.

And I love it that you created a happy marriage and a loving family, and had someone special to share that with. Sometimes Life's blessings are late in coming. But you found yours. Not by chance, I'm sure.

Thanks for sharing a story that is uplifting and hopeful for all of us.

I remember a book on forgiveness which I have read and re-read which said....

Wanting a loving parent is perfectly reasonable. But insisting on it is a disaster.

You didn't get a loving parent but you didn't allow it to darken your adult life. That is a lesson for all of us.

Thank you, David. And yes, sending a virtual hug to you and your loving wife both. And those twins!
 

LatinainMd..Thanks for providing us with this excellent recap at this very busy time in your life. I hope the move goes smoothly and that you love your new nest and the path that you are on. Best wishes . In my summer session class, I had a young woman from Peru whose father came to the U.S. ahead of the family to work and get a place for the family. She and her siblings stayed with her grandparents .

Judyb...I always love your wise and wonderful comments. To err is human; to forgive is divine...and often difficult.
 

You're telling me Susanlynn. And it's one thing to "decide" to forgive, but Lord, it seems to take forever for the feelings to catch up with the decision. As UA often says, "Don't ask me how I know." But it's nice that we can all talk about this here. Amazing group.
 

Sue thanks for sharing about real-life adoptions. What you have said makes sense and I'm pleasantly surprised the writing actually reflects reality.

And David, thank you for sharing your own story. Sometimes its easy to forget that life experience can and does change your reaction to life events.

tofie, your description of givers and takers is great food for thought in relation to our characters.

I know the reason why so many of us enjoy these stories are the characters and it's that connection and his being such a nice guy that makes Big Al's death so bad. And as Diana noted, he only wanted to love and be loved and his wrong choice in who to love resulted in his death. Another horrible aspect of his death, as Vivi pointed out, Al loved Brig for her family and tragically she is the one member of the family who didn't like and wasn't like any of her family.
 

What will be Brat's karmageddon? She bears a big responsibility for what happened to Alberto.

Instead of Nat being upset about Irene and Tadio being her parents, she should have been upset about Vincente being her grandfather.

Not only did Rod spit on the burning car, he smiled. Despicable.

Irene's sobbing broke my heart.

Alberto is haunting Rod. This is going to be fun.

Nanette


 

The whole "Car into a Ravine" scene reminded me of Hair-Yellow-as-Pissadora, Alonso and Ximena in Amor Bravio and to a lesser extent, Valentina from Soy tu Duena.
 

David: Thank you for sharing your story. While difficult and painful, you not only survived but thrived (I've no doubt with the love of your devoted wife and family). You've added so much to the discussions here. God bless.

Karen, our lives are indeed shaped and perceptions sharpened by what we have lived through. Perceptive comment.

Judy, "Wanting a loving parent is perfectly reasonable. But insisting on it is a disaster". Leave it to you to get the heart of the matter. And beautifully.

Nanette, you are so right, the only bright cloud is that Alberto is haunting Rod! I hope it hurries his descent.

Fatima, I understand what you are saying about Brig. Call me gullible, foolish, but I have to admit, I am feeling a bit of pity for her. I think she was just starting to realize what she had...That doesn't excuse what she has done in any way. I'm still thinking the baby will be Alberto's..And yes, we don't know what made/makes her SO angry. Is she just the proverbial bad seed? I'm not sure.

LatinaInMD, best of luck with your move. The recaps were amazing. Thank you.

Diana
 

Dear Diana, I have wondered about Fish Lips Brat being a bad seed. If that's the case, could she even be helped? I honestly don't know, but people like this are certainly to be pitied. I continue to be amazed at the level of anger and desire to hurt others in someone so young.

Fatima
 

I have NO pity for someone like Brigitte, I do for someone like Mali
 

To add to the Grumps as a Good Guy mentionings, I'm currently watching Laberintos de Pasion on TLNovelas where Aaron Hernan is the good hearted father of Leticia Calderon's character Juliet. He was just hugging her and grinning while she was buzzing gleefully about how she was in love with Francisco Gattorno's character Pedro. It's funny to imagine the villains an actor or actress has played in the place of a goody they have also played. Heck, I often imagine Rod in the place of his dorky character Johnny in Atrevete a Sonar (I assume he would mock all the songs and singers in the show. It's also funny that Cynthia Klitbo and Ricardo Faschlit were there as funny villain partners who would never have coital interaction and here Chato and Carmen contributed to our evil genius Lupita Garcia Pabuena LOL.)
 

Wow, I am bowled over by all the virtual hugs and statements of support. Thank you all very much.

I should add that my home life wasn't all negative. My Dad was a hard working, successful, caring and supportive man. A few days before he died he told me that he was proud to have had me as his son, and I told him that I was proud to have had him as my Dad.

Thanks again for all your supportive comments.

Getting back to the story, like 5ft, I am hoping that Diego actually did get on that airplane so that we won't have to go through another round of twin misidentification.

David
 

I don't think Brigitte is a bad seed. I think Brigitte is very self centered & very resentful and very ambitious.

I don't think we've seen Brigitte help out at the fonda except in the very beginning of the show when they were in Tuxpan. Yet we've seen Abdul, Natalia and Paolo helping out. Lupita would help out too if she was old enough.

When they were planning a party for Carmen, it was Natalia, Paolo and Lupita who pitched in. If Abdul hadn't been on the outs with Carmen he would've happily pitched in too. Yet Brigitte not only didn't want to pitch in, she didn't even want to go to her own mother's party.

Have we seen Brigitte helping Lupita with school? No, but we've seen Natalia & Paolo pitch in (Abdul working in the fonda). I think Angela spends more time with Lupita than Brigitte.

Check this out: each of her sibling's fathers have come back into the picture and left them a financial settlement of some sort:

Lupita gets a bank account from Chato

Paolo gets a new car & the proceeds from the bowling alley from Gino

Abdul's daddy Abdala is a merchant...you know Abdala will either bring Abdul into the business or leave him a hefty sum

Natalia's bio-dad is a wealthy world famous painter and her bio-mom is of the wealthy Caceres family.

If Brigitte gets a piece of lint from her daddy she will be even more angry than she is now.

Brigitte is totally disconnected with her family and she will become even more so with the revelation that Natalia is a Caceres. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think Brigitte will end up permanently estranged from the rest of the Garcia family and she will have to leave to find her own way.


 

Thanks Judy and Susanlynn for sharing your personal love stories. They brightened my day!
 

David...thanks for getting back to us and letting us know that in spite of your adoptive mom's awful treatment, you had a caring adoptive dad who could express his love for you. Unfortunately, most of the messages we get growing up are from our mothers, especially if they were stay-at-home moms, but it's good to know your Dad was there too, with an open and caring heart.

Karen, glad you enjoyed my and Susanlynn's falling-in-love stories. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say there have been some very rocky times since...very rocky. But this is a quote from a letter that JR Tolkien wrote to his son once, which I treasure:

"Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes in the sense that almost certainly (in a more perfect world, or even in this very imperfect one) both partners might have found more suitable mates. But the real soul-mate is the one you are actually married to."

My husband and I are doing our best to forgive and forget the many hurts and heartbreaks--and we'll finally understand that Love is the desire to bring only healing to a situation.
 

LatinainMD thank you for your time and effort in providing great weekend entertainment.
It’s obvious from the huge number of comments that you have a natural feel for “snark” that stimulates interesting conversation.& comments.

I’m late signing in and it seems everything that I would’ve commented on has already been addressed in detail. I’ll add just a couple of my thoughts .

To those who think Brat was on the verge of redemption, I say, there’s a big difference in feelings of desperation and feelings of remorse. Desperation is what I read on Brat’s face and heard in her voice.

Nat was raised in a household with 3 siblings who had been abandoned by their fathers. Since Carmen didn’t know the real story, she had no way to clarify with Nat that she wasn’t abandoned. Not only that, I’m not sure if the words “I thought you were dead” would immediately sound more comforting or acceptable than any other reason. If I were in Nat’s shoes, I think my first reaction would be “If you loved me so much, why did it take you so long to find me”? Of course we know the answer. Also, I’d probably feel “now that I’m grown, let’s continue to be friends but I want to continue being a part of Carmen’s household.

I wonder why we didn’t get on Abdul’s case the same way we did Nat? The explanation he was given wasn’t enough for him to immediately accept his father?
 

I would totally understand if Abdul didn't forgive Abdalah. The excuse Abdalah gave was basically, I was too weak to go against my family and cultural expectations to be man enough to come back and take responsibility for you. Irene has a MUCH better excuse.
 

I've got to admit I can hardly wait for El to arrest Rodrigo tonight. C'monnnn 7 o'clock!
 

Is this the first time we have beaten "Robo" re the number of comments?!

Pretty cool, eh?

Fatima :))
 

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