Caray, Caray!

New Yorker cartoon:
Bearded therapist to worried patient lying on couch:
"Let's try focussing on your posts that do receive comments."

Enjoy!
 

Great read to start the day! Loved: La Escondida Home of the G Rated Pole Dance" and "Graciela Wallows in her lecho de muerte." Thanks for the humorous recap of a tedious episode!

I felt sorry for Montse because the woman who repeatedly used her as a commodity now wants to be treated as a real "mother ". Too bad Graciela could not have just gone out in a blaze of glory (or something ) in a fight for the gun with Fabiola rather than having to share her endless dying miserable self one more time with Montse.

Is JL's "hmmm" contagious. I did a double take last night when Alejandro said to Montse "José no va a salir con la suya. ¿hmmm?"

Finally Adolfo and Ezequiel face the truth and decide it is time to do something about Pedro rather than just let their loved ones be sitting ducks. Should be interesting!

Jarifa


 

Love the title...especially Refu and JL break up. Ah, the insight!

"[This vehicle screams NARCO. Fina, Fina, Fina, don't you ever watch Telemundo? If Adolfito were really a good guy, he'd be driving a Tundra.] "

Just great. Vintage NovelaMaven. As is this:

"His voice is so loud I had to turn down the volume so he won't waken Mr. Maven."

Ah yes, the looks I get whenever my husband or son pass through the room and see (and hear!) what's going on. Their analysis of telenovelas: Someone is ALWAYS screaming or crying. Yep, that's pretty much it.

Loved all the translations. "Tremenda". Meaning trouble. That's a new one for me.

EZ as "pillar of the community". As if. So funny. So subtle. So NovelaMaven.

You are always a delight to read. I will look forward to watching this later and seeing Graciela work over her children and trumpet her virtue as a loving mother. Victimizers always blame the victim. She's running true to form but I still admire the skill and dogged persistence with which she does it.
 

Oh yes, ditto what Jarifa said..."Wallow in her lecho de muerte" is a keeper.
 

To our most wonderful NovelaMaven, thank you, thank you for making this story so much better than it was last night. The grammar was FIRST RATE as always (and MUCH appreciated by this grammar nerd!). The humor was perfect. Would that I could write like you!

So, Graciela/Gaudencia has a Glioblastoma Multiforme. For once, the TN doctors are correct in telling her that she has, at best, 1 year to live. This was the same cancer that killed Senator Ted Kennedy. He did not live more than one year after his diagnosis.

I am tired of Graciela. I know we are stuck with her to the end, but the way she played Montserrat last night was sickening to watch. While Montserrat had some come backs of her own, it FRIED me when she told Dimitrio "now was not the time" to talk about the truth.

So, Montserrat, when IS it a good time to be truthful, hmm?! Graciela played Montserrat like a well used violin and Montserrat falls for it hook, line, and sinker.

I shouted out at the TV: "Hey, Montserrat, remember when your GOOD mother used to viciously slap your face?!" The whole stinking scene made me sick.

Why shouldn't Dimitrio say what he feels?! Why shouldn't Dimitrio stop Graciela's manipulative scene.

Mother my azz. Graciela is the most pathetic, sorry excuse for a mother that I have ever seen. This toxic, poisonous person is now going to inhabit Montserrat's home. I guess they feel it isn't enough with JL and his toxic crap, but they need to throw in a little extra dash with Graciela.

This woman has robbed her own children blind. Well, this Crackpot Theorist™ is not buying Graciela's crap. She doesn't deserve to be called "Mother".

...and Alejandro with the "hmmm"!! OY!

Fatima
Member, Crackpot Theorists™
 

Perfect Saturday morning read with coffee NM. Your recaps are always such a joy!

"She's down but she's not out." I so wanted to just scream at the TV "No, don't make us listen to this whining!" So help me if this is what we get out of Gaudy for the rest of the episodes, well, maybe it's mean of me but if the Doc says she could lose speech, I say, Please sooner rather than later. Her tirades are hair pulling inducing.

I know how a parent can try to guilt you into the "I want to live with you and you take care of me" when it really isn't in your power to do so. It is hard to have to say no, but the one hope I would have for Monse and her poor kids who would have to listen to this woman ( and who never liked little kids before anyway) is that she has round the clock care and the family goes on as before. I don't want to see Rosario stuck taking care of her either and getting daily abuse. Make it so.

Dim continues to make me happy in that he just doesn't drink the Kool-Aid whether it's his mother or JL. So JL says "I can't tell you" in response to Refugio, how else to interpret but that he knew all along. His only one out would be to know but he's trailing the guy and wasn't the one to help him. I have admitted to never loving the character of JL much, but boy, that would just be the worse, especially allowing the possible harm to Nadia who he once tried to save? What if Victoria had climbed into that bed with Mom? If he is guilty--make that anvil the larger size.

And poor Refugio: losing his wife and his bromance. But lord, I do love our sweet smiling BuskerGuy.

Where the heck is Maria right now? Could she be our little scorpion gift-giver? She has no attachment to ANYONE, and feels betrayed now by Adolfo, so I could see her doing Pedro's dirty work on that front. Inquiring minds want to know already!!!

Prediction, no spoiler: there will be an OLDER child that will surface that Dominga and Mac take in for some reason. All the insistent on a baby in this TN almost smacks that it will be the opposite.

Fired up for Mi Corazón es Tuyo. Something a little lighter is going to be welcome with my work days getting longer and busier.

Daisynjay
 

How ironic is that Gracie laughed at Angelica's death.
It's so sad that a woman such beautiful and elegant like Graciela will end up like this. I feel sorry for her but I think that while living with all of them she will keep indicate discord.

Graciela's addiction for money is forward her love for her children.

Graciela loves her children. Althought she had shown some real love (when Dimitrio faced debt problems, when she protected him from being arrested for Bruno's murder, when Fabiola threaten her and Montse with a gun, when Maria shot Montse, when Fabiola suicide in front of her).

The problem is she cant realise the harm she causes.She thinks that according to her poor childhood money and luxury can make her kids happy.

A punishment like that is very tough.

 

Anon@0959. Thank you for your comments. When you said "Graciela loves her children., the first thing that came to mind was the tremendous con she pulled on her own daughter, Fabiola. There have been so many comments about Graciela "loving her children in her own way". This kind of love boggles my mind. I understand, of course, that opinions may vary.

Fatima
 

Honestly, I wish we were in "ultimos capitulos".

Fatima
 

@ Fatima
"Would that I could write like you"
...Some grammar nerd you are. LOL.
 

The sun has now peeked through the clouds, emitting its warming and sustaining rays of life and hope. Your recap has done the same for me, dear NovelaMaven.

"Refu and JL break up"; "limpid pools of Blue Water have turned murky and menacing" and "Her outfit may be tacky, but her face is luminous" were wonderful. "And let's hope that Padre Anselmo sets Graciela straight with some remedial theology before it's all over. Illness is not a divine punishment" was my favorite.

I was not able to see this most of this but thanks to your descriptive, vivid retelling, I feel as though I missed nothing. Agree with Judy that your translations and embedded vocabulary was a treat.

"It's not easy for her to hang tough in the presence of her mother's misery." Yes. While I can muster no sympathy for Graciela, I would be utterly conflicted if she were my mother (perish the thought I shudder). I am sure Monse is being torn apart, and she has my sympathy and support whether she chooses to forgive and support or simply forgive and try to keep her emotional and physical distance. From what you wrote, Dim has apparantly made his choice. At least, for now.

Fatima: "I guess they feel it isn't enough with JL and his toxic crap, but they need to throw in a little extra dash with Graciela". Oh my, splendid!!

Fina should surely realize that something is amiss now. And Adolfo must realize that he cannot be in several places at once, protecting Fina as well as Nadia and Victoria. I fear for them all.

Jarifa, I am also glad Adolfo and EZ want to take on Pedro, but it appears as though they are trying to find the invisible man. I may be naive, but I don't think it is JL helping him. I hope I am right. At least this once.

daisy "But lord, I do love our sweet smiling BuskerGuy" - as do I...Sigh...

NovelaMaven, thank you for your warmth and your presence.

Diana
 

Dear Diana, "invisible man". Exactly! Pedro is going to be like that Chuckie Doll...he is going to pop up with his evil smile when we least expect it.

I felt such sadness for Adolfo last night. He could have made such better choices. He is going to pay a very high prices for the choices he has made. He is endangering Fina and he knows it. I wish he would just come clean with her and tell her the truth, but, of course, that might be asking too much.

Anon@1023, LOL!!

Fatima
 

QUESTION: will Alejandro REALLY get back his money when Graciela dies? She stole the money. Why is it her right to determine where that money goes? It would seem to me that Alejandro is due that money now. Why is Graciela allowed to keep something she stole?

Fatima
 

Wow, NovelaMaven. Would that I could have come up with:

"It's the devil, not the humidity!"

So simple and yet so nimble and clever. I always adore your recaps and all the little nuggets tucked lovingly within.

Well, I'm sure there were snickers (and not the good kind with chocolate, nougat, and peanuts) all around The Patio when Dimitrio and Montserrat registered Graciela as Gaudencia Jiménez, but especially considering how they found her, wasn't that just unnecessarily spiteful and mean? Perhaps, however, Gracie might have been secretly proud of that not so subtle proof of her genetic influence.

So Eric is happy that Esmeralda is separated from her husband? Well isn't that special? Maybe she can arrange for Refugio to babysit while she explores her feelings for this wastrel.

Fatima,

"Why is Graciela allowed to keep something she stole?"

I'm guessing that Alejandro has a legitimate claim to that money but doesn't pursue it since he made a deal with Gabriela for her to end up with it.

Carlos
 

Exactly Fatima!

She loves them with her own way. I'm not justifying her, I try to understand her. I'm not saying she's the best mother but every person express their feelings in a diffirent manner. We consider what love is through our experiences and Graciela consider that what she was doing was the best for Montse and Dimi.

Billie
 

Of course I meant Graciela in that last sentence. Wouldn't it be nifty if Rosario and Graciela become fast friends during Gracie's last days and join forces as doting mothers and grandmothers?

Carlos
 

Billie, Thank you. :)

Carlos, yes, I had forgotten that he had promised to give her the money. Oy. Such a deal, eh? BTW, I didn't feel too pleased that Esme was getting chummy with Alex Sirvent's character. Before she can move on to anything, she needs to resolve her issues with Refoolio. It felt like she was going to do the very thing she is having difficulty forgiving in Refoolio. Is their whole story line one big PSA? If so, then resolve it NOW.

Fatima
 

Great stuff, NovelaMaven! I particularly love these:

What relief you and Dimitrio must have felt when you found me lying on the bedroom floor...you must have thought you were free of me.

This vehicle screams NARCO. Fina, Fina, Fina, don't you ever watch Telemundo? If Adolfito were really a good guy, he'd be driving a Tundra

Monserrat's bucking for sainthood if she takes Gracie in, but I don't see this playing out. There should be a psychiatrist (played by Otto Sirgo) telling Monse to lay down the law to Gracie. There is a saying: Be kind to your children; they pick out your nursing home.

Alejandro should object to this. Gracie not only swindled him out of $50MM, she was the one whose perjury sent him running into that plane crash that took seven years of his life. She has repeatedly insulted Rosario and even Laurito. Maybe Alejandro should pick out a nursing home for Gracie.
 

Thanks, Novela Maven. Wow, what a treat to read your words at breakfast today. You are indeed a wordsmith. Excellent.

Anyone who has taken care of an aging parent can relate to this episode. However, Graciela is as graceless and demanding at her end as she has always been. Perhaps she will cause us to reflect on how we are living our own lives . The title As I Lay Dying comes to mind. I must admit that it is hard for me to watch her . ...a wasted life. Some people are their own worst enemies who hurt others routinely while at the same time destroying their own chances for a happy life. Rosario will leave this world surrounded by the family whom she has loved and cared for while Gracie seems to be unrepentant and still demanding love because she is still convinced that she has always been a good mother. Sad. Yes, there is none so blind as he/she who will not see. Tragic.
 

Judyb...Why do the victimizes always blame their victims?
 

Excellent comments Susanlynn and Urban; EXCELLENT!

Fatima
 

I am guessing right now that Gracie might off herself. The diagnosis is grim and the progress of this condition will be horrific. It also carries the double bonus of a heaping pile of hot, steaming guilt she can lay on Monserrat.

Maria would definitely be vicious enough to put scorpions in a bed, but she wouldn't waste them on Nadia. Nor do I think she would help Pedro, who beat the crap out of her once. Part of her motive for visiting JL in prison in episode 113 was to frame Pedro for killing Monserrat, which she attempted herself. She's out of her mind, but not about Pedro.
 

I think Rosario had the correct moral point of view with respect to taking Graciela into the household during her final months. OK she was a lousy mother. But the moral thing to do has nothing to do with your emotions or feelings about for person or action your conscience tells you to perform. The German philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that a moral act was something you ought to perform because it was in accordance with the moral imperative which was within each rational agent. The criteria guiding an individual in making a moral decision are variously stated by Kant as: (a)always treat a person an an end in themselves; never as a means to an end; (b) act in such a way that your decision can be turned into a universal moral law, which he made simple by restating the golden rule, e.g. 'treat others as you yourself would wish to be treated.' Kant was a deontologist in ethical theory not an emotivist or utilitarian. To do a moral act because it made you feel good is quite beside the point. When it comes to Parent/children relationships I think he has pretty convincing arguments in favor of living up to obligations to a parent even though you may hate the parent. Monse did the moral thing in accepting Gracie. Naturally there is a huge debate among ethical/moral theorists about Kant's position.
 

Good morning, my friends!

It was surely a dark and gloomy night in Aguazul -- at this point a little of Graciencia goes a long way -- but the sun is always shining over the Patio.

Jarifa,

Thank you very much!

"Is JL's 'hmmm' contagious?" It is! I don't know if you remember (well how could you? It happened nine years ago!), but in the episode where Ale records a message on his phone for Montse and entrusts the phone to JL, Ale's and JL's 'hmmm's' were caroming off each other.

I'm not so sure Ezequiel is a sitting duck. He doesn't seem nearly as upset as he should be. Hmm. (bwahahaha)

JudyB,

I'm glad you found a few bright spots to enjoy. Thank you so much for your careful and kind reading, a combination that is, as you perhaps know, vanishingly rare -- at least outside this blog.

Fatima,

Silly girl -- your own writing is wonderful! I'm always delighted to read that you have enjoyed my recap, in part because you are such a discerning reader and writer yourself.

To add to what Carlos said in answer to your question (will Alejandro REALLY get back his money when Graciela dies?), Graciela did say, although I didn't include it in the recap, that her children and grandchildren would inherit everything when she died. So she meant that the money would revert to his family.

Daisynjay,

"if the Doc says she could lose speech, I say, Please sooner rather than later."

Oh yes, that would be something. And maybe as a silent and somewhat helpless observer of human kindness in the final months of her life, she may finally realize the life she could have had.

I like Busker Guy too, but I have a hunch he is just a set-up for getting Esme and Refugio back together. Nice eye candy, though.

As always, thank you for your articulate and interesting comments.

Anon 9:59, While I agree that Gracie's fate is tragic, I resist seeing it as punishment of any kind -- unless you are talking about her estrangement from her family.

Diana,

Thank you so much for your lovely words.

"While I can muster no sympathy for Graciela, I would be utterly conflicted if she were my mother"

I make fun of a lot of the melodrama and bathos on these shows, but I admit that Montserrat and Graciela really got to me in their scenes together. I thought AB was superb in her restraint. That's the thing about a good telenovela -- for all its absurdities, it can pack a real wallop on an emotional level.

Even so, those writers better not let anything happen to our Fina! :D
 

Gee whiz, aw shucks, NovelaMaven! Mil gracias!!

I faded away to attend to some work at home, so came in on the tail end of what would happen with the money, so thank you for that clarification. All I saw was Gracencia being imperious in saying what WOULD happen to that money.

I like what you said here: "Oh yes, that would be something. And maybe as a silent and somewhat helpless observer of human kindness in the final months of her life, she may finally realize the life she could have had."

I think this should be Gracienca's (PERFECT, btw!)anvil; realizing the life she could have had. That is punishment enough.

Fatima

 

Anon...My wonderful maternal grandmother lived with our family , and even though I do not think that she ever read Kant, she taught me the golden rule...a good rule for life.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (even if they are not doing unto you the good and right thing). A good rule....but not an easy rule to follow when dealing with some people. Just as the maxim of forgive and forget is right but not always an easy task.

Novela Maven, yes, I agree that Busker is just a passing fancy for Esme to regain her self esteem and know that she's still got it going on . I think that Esme and Refu will be back together in the end , especially now that Refu has broken up with crazy JL.
 

Susanlynn, I lover your comment on the contrast between Rosario and Graciela and their final days. TO go along with that, I thought it was a telling moment when after Monse dealt with her mother, and agreed to bring her into her home, it was Rosario's simple agreement that the kids made the right choice that elicited Monse to rush to her and give her a huge hug and be comforted. For all her tears over her mother, there was no actual signs of real affection between her and her mother.

Daisynjay
 

Aw Carlos,

You've written many many amazing lines, lots of them far better than the one you quote. Even so, I admit I like it. It just popped into my head when Victor and Nadia realized they couldn't keep blaming the humidity in Campeche for the almost biblical-scale plague visited upon their house.

It is the lines that show sweat stains and erasures that are often the clumsiest ones. Sigh.

"So Eric is happy that Esmeralda is separated from her husband? Well isn't that special? Maybe she can arrange for Refugio to babysit while she explores her feelings for this wastrel."

I share your skepticism. Maybe Eric has to be Esme's Mónica, the infatuation she has to get past to end up with Refugio. There are so many ways that this new romance can go sour, but I will leave the pleasure of imagining them to others.

Billie,

Have you commented here before? Welcome! You know I share your feelings about Graciela -- for all the harm that she has done to them, on some level she does love her children.

I would add that she made a fatal error with Fabiola by assuming that Fabs was as tough and resilient as her other children. Sadly, she miscalculated.

Urban,

Thank you. Your praise means a lot!

"Monserrat's bucking for sainthood if she takes Gracie in, but I don't see this playing out. There should be a psychiatrist (played by Otto Sirgo) telling Monse to lay down the law to Gracie."

Maybe there should be, but what we're likely to get is Padre Anselmo blessing Montserrat for what she and Alejandro are doing. And maybe he'll be right.

"I am guessing right now that Gracie might off herself."
That occurred to me too. Ugh.

Susanlynn,

Thanks so much! I'm glad you mention the contrast between Rosario and Graciela. Do you think Carlos's wishful thinking about these two becoming fast friends at the end is possible? It would be nice to think that such a thing could happen.

What are we to make of the fact that Rosario has had so many years of suffering and Graciela so few? Is it only the end of the story that matters in a life?

Anon 12:10, Thanks for the Kantian analysis.

Susanlynn, If grandma and Kant agree, who are we to differ? And yes -- much easier said than done!
 

Daisynjay...I have always loved and believed the lyrics of a Beatles' song....."so in the end, the love we take is equal to the love we make." Simple but so true. What we give out returns to us. Rosario and Gracie are cases in point.
 

OT..for fans of the Outlander book series..I just saw a promo for a screen version coming to the Starz channel in August. it looked pretty interesting...aye, lassies...lots of men in kilts.
 

Nanette

I've been meaning to give you this link to the main page of the Telemundo discussion here on CarayCaray:

http://caraycaray.blogspot.com/2014/07/telemundo-y-mas-front-page-el-senor-de.html

You'll find short daily summaries of En otra piel. A new page is posted weekly (Jean and I have alternated weeks for the last few years.)

I'm not watching the show, but according to what people are saying in the mini-recaps and comments, they haven't announced 'últimas semanas' yet although apparently the story has begun to drag. Since I am following another Telemundo novela, Reina de corazones, I'm likely to see the announcement that Piel is mercifully nearing its end. I will let you know.

NM
 

A word on moral dilemmas --

One of the ways the writers have chosen to simplify moral dilemmas is by limiting the life expectancy of the dying and the difficult (or as Fabiola once callously remarked about Angélica, putting una fecha de caducidad on her forehead).

It was one thing for José Luis to make the grand and noble gesture of marrying Angélica, knowing that she would not live very long. I wonder how their marriage would have turned out if she had lived.

And it is easier for Montserrat and Alejandro to take in the odious and grating Graciela, knowing that their penance will be done within a year. It would be different -- much harder, though probably more realistic -- if Graciela had been diagnosed with a terrible chronic condition that promised an unknown number of years of misery.
 

NovelaMaven - I too loved This vehicle screams NARCO... and Her outfit may be tacky, but... Thanks for that complicated sentence of Graciela's. I've written it down for study. Can Graciela really be that ill if this much exposition can roll off her tongue?

Wondering how Graciela will treat Laurito and Romy. Monse and Dim should encourage Graciela to write her memoir, "The Good Mother," to keep her busy and her mouth shut. I do feel bad for Graciela though. She squandered what she had. Once she got Lauro's love, she could've turned her life around.

So Esme's may take up with a guy who earns his living from coins tossed in a guitar case? I don't know, but she seems to have regressed. Those pole-dancing running shorts are circa 1980s.

Diana, I still don't think JL is working with Pedro either. But why JL is going it alone instead of letting Dim (who is smart) and Refugio (not smart, but loyal) is a mystery to me.
 

Awesome recap! I especially loved the "Refugio and JL break up" line-it was about time!

I will respectfully disagree with those that say that Montse has a moral obligation to help her mother. I don't think anyone should have to come to the aid of a person who has treated them like dirt. Graciela is responsible for all the horrible things Motse has been through- from the start where she framed JL, to selling her to Alejandro, to being directly responsible for Alejandro having to run away and then selling her daughter AGAIN. Why should she be forgiven? I strongly believe that a parents number one responsibility is to look after the well-being of their children and Graciela has done the opposite of taking care of her kids, from allowing Dimi to be a loser so she could keep him close to verbally and physically abusing Montse. How dare she ask anything of her? Just because someone shares your DNA it does not mean that you have to go out of your way to help them, especially when said person has brought you nothing but pain and misery. I lost my mother to a vicious case of cancer, it happened quickly-less then a year and I can't imagine having to take care of someone who was slowly wasting away when all they did was hurt me. In short, if you treat people like crap don't be surprised when they turn their back on you.
 

Ohhhh, NovelaMaven, what a splendid recap full of your trademark eloquent insights and super grammar sections with translations.

Graciela will try everyone's patience before this is out. I too hope for the early loss of voice option!! I think she is too selfish to end it all early for the benefit of others. But what a fine acting job Castro is doing. Brave of her to smear that picture perfect face with smudges, letting her hair go flat and dull while dressed in hospital sad sacks with no bobbles or beads of any kind.

The acting is great on everyone's part right now even JL has managed to make me guess that he must even smell bad with the sour stench of disappointment and impending madness. I kind of liked that delicate little Romina cried when he picked her up.

Rosario needs to join a garden club or find some way to get out of the house so she doesn't have to care for the nasty queen in her waning months. I also fear that the true love of daughter Montse will melt her icy heart and we will have a miracle cure that could last for decades.

The comments are off the register with sage insights and even amazing lessons on Kant. Thanks to all the delightful people who write in comments to embellish this superior recap.


 

The first thing I thought when i saw Graciela lying in that hospital bed was damn, what the hell did Sandro ever see in her? Ouch!

I loved the passionate care of the hospital staff, particularly when they dragged Graciela unsedated and terrified into the CAT scan room and then they strapped her in to that gurney. It looked like she was going to have a lobotomy. I thought I was watching " One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest".
 

I'm sorry for your loss, Eli. And I completely agree with you.

Gracie doesn't deserve even for her children to go through the motions. She will be able to delude herself into thinking that her children forgive her. And trust me, she will try to pull at least one more fast one (we have 18 more episodes to go).

Padre Anselmo deserves one more shot at her, but it might be too much for his heart by now. I can easily see her causing his death.
 

The fact that Pedro did survive raises so many fascinating questions.

While it's looking more and more like he was aided by JL, one has to wonder... why?

Where could he have been hiding out all this time and why has he delayed his revenge for so long?

Has Nadia inherited his considerable wealth?

Whatever became of that DNA testing on the presumed body? Was JL part of a falsification?

Where's he getting all these scorpions?

Is he living off a stash of cash that he had on hand when he was shot?

Did he have a spare scorpion necklace (Dimitrio has the original)?

Does he have a loyal team that's looking after him? Wouldn't EZ and Adolfo have noticed some of the original gang missing?

Is Nadia's marriage to Victor now void since he is alive (like Montse's marriage to JL)?

Carlos
 

I also admire Angelique Boyer!!! Great job and superb actress!!! It must be very hard for her to act in the telenovela and at the same time her real mother in life was having her own health problems and died.

My respects!!!

Billie
 

Carlos, those are excellent questions.

The legal status of Nadia's marriage(s) is more complicated than that. She was married to Pedro, then disappeared for seven years. He was married to Amelia during much of that time so he must have had her declared legally dead. Seven years is the amount of time it becomes automatic in most places (including Mexico). Therefore, a reasonable court would have said that she was no longer Pedro's wife when she turned up. However, Pedro obviously bought his way to reclaiming her when she was found to be alive.

JL would have helped Pedro because Pedro is out to get Alejandro. JL could get revenge without getting his own hands dirty. Under the heading of If Nobody Finds Out Nothing Happened, he's not worried about being caught himself.

Pedro had a lot of dinero before his disappearance, so he would have offshore numbered accounts. Money buys escape.

Nadia inherited whatever was in Pedro's own name; she and Victor were working at selling the house in which she has so many bad memories.

So who's taking care of the Almonte hacienda now?

Pedro probably called in some markers on guys outside of Aguazul so that EZ and Adolfo wouldn't notice any thinning in their own ranks.
 

I haven't had a chance to read all the comments yet so I don't know if my thoughts have already been expressed; but I noted the following during last night's episode before I forgot what I wanted to blog:

Gracie still giving the guilt trip to her children. What a blubbering idiot she is. Good for Dim for telling it to Gracie like it is.

Looks like cutie Alex Sirvent loves and appreciates Esme’s dancing ability.

Still can’t believe MDJL is trying to get custody of Romina. Seven years in prison and impersonating Ale’s “capataz” makes him a fit parent? How delusional!

So now we know that Gracie legally changed her name and identification documents to Graciela Giacinti.

As Victor and Dim are talking, I'm wondering is it really MDJL that’s protecting Peddy?

Oh no, so Gracie’s karmageddon is a brain tumor that will keep her alive at least ½ to 1 year! How much destruction can she do in that time? And poor Gracie still thinking about herself and how she’s going to die without the pardon and love of her children! Poor me!

Did Refugio and Dim really think MDJL was going to confess that he was protecting or hiding Peddy? That’s kind of stupid thinking for law enforcement officers. My guess is though that it isn’t EZ protecting Peddy but really MDJL, otherwise why would MDJL tell his best buddy Refugio that he couldn’t tell him what he knew about Peddy. So he does know something, but what?

 

Another fine recap NovelaMaven. You had me laughing from the get go:
"Poor Blind Nadia knows those scorpions didn't just dance into their bed by chance"--I can just imagine the scorpians doing the cha cha as they made their way into Nadia's bed. Lol!

Also loved the Title, especially "Refu and JL break up" Its about time someone with authority starts questioning JL's actions. Who would have thought the way our Dim started off he would have made it to the rank of Captain? Lauro Sr. would be so proud!And Refugio is starting to realize how much JL has changed and the possibility that he can be aiding Pedro. It's hard to picture JL doing that, but his character has taken such a twisted turn from who he was originally that anything could happen. If not JL, then who else? EZ and Adolfo seem downright scared! Could it be the maid?!

As for Graciela, NM, you are right when you say "She's down but she's not out." She's still finding a way to tug at her kids' heart strings and make them feel guilty for leaving her alone. Dim told her straight out "estas cosechando lo que sembrastes", you reap what you sow, and if she had indeed been a good mother as she claims, the outcome would be different.

It looks like she is going to start paying for the harm she has caused and her worst fear of dying alone could come to pass. However since I have watched so many novelas, the Crackpot Theorist™ in me doubts if this could not be Gaudy trying to pull another fast one? We've seen it before, the wrongdoer buys the false diagnosis of a doctor to get pity and manipulate those around her or him. Knowing who Gaudy/Gracie is, could this be the case?

Maricruz
 

I applaud Monse for taking in her mother. By the way, I hate Gracie but she ain't my mother, lol. As horrible a mother as she is Gracie is her mother and that is sacred I really really believe that. Remember the turn the other cheek precept. Yay, Madelaine is coming back.
Romy
p.s. I am off to Jamaica for 8 days. I set my DVR. Bye Patio and Aguaazul.
 

NovelaMaven:

I loved your detailed recap. You brought Gracie's grumbling and whining to real life for me. But I would have to say that I think the mother in FELS was much worse than Gracie, even though she didn't sell her daughters but she held them mentally hostage.

As others have commented, I loved the phrase:

"[This vehicle screams NARCO. Fina, Fina, Fina, don't you ever watch Telemundo? If Adolfito were really a good guy, he'd be driving a Tundra.]"

And the word: broromance! Superb and ingenious. I personally hate when guys call each "brother" but then I'm an old chick not liking this new slang.

Again, thanks for a great recap. I think you were substituting for someone, so your efforts are so appreciated.
 

Off topic question, but do we know who the team leader for Mi corazon es tuyo is? I kinda wanna get in on that action!
 

Victoria..Have you ever seen "Alborada?" In that novela, the priest Cristobal constantly referred to his best friend (Fernando Colunga) as "Hermano.,
 

Susanlynn:

I loved Alborada and have watched it at least 3 times. Yes I remember Ernesto Laguardia calling Fernando "Hermano". Somehow it just seems more acceptable to me in Spanish than English. I don't know why.

I just finished "Mi Destino Eres Tu" which I loved. I thought Lucero's acting was superb, and she did deserve the best actress award for her performance.

I'm a Carla Estrada fan. I don't know of another producer who is a wonderful as she is. She can make the storyling alive and realistic in under 100 episodes! Also, she doesn't usually have a comedic or stupid character in her novelas as other producers do. This is so annoying to me.

I've seen Amor Real and Pasion at least 1/2 dozen times.

On the Caray, Caray blogsite regarding recommended novelas, Amor Real, Pasion, and Alborada were mentioned at least 20 times each by bloggers. Other individual novela recommendations were only listed once or twice.

I made draft Excel spreadsheet of the recommendations so I can look at what to watch next. I hope BlogMom agrees to put Recommended Telenovelas on the home page.

I wish there were some way to know what was upcoming on TLNovelas. Unless you are actually watching a novela one can't seem to find a website detailing the upcoming programing. I don't know where to find the upcoming releases.

Any hints or suggestions from anyone out there?
 

Victoria, there is a blog post about upcoming telenovelas, it's on the side bar, just scroll down!
 

Eli:

I went to the side bar and clicked on Las proximas
Feed for news about upcoming telenovelas

but all I got was a blank screen after it loaded. Don't know if it's something with the site or my computer because I didn't see any upcoming novelas listed.

Will keep trying to click "Las Proximas" to see if it works later.

Thanks for the tip.
 

Victoria...You. Ames my top 3 novelas...Alborada, Amor Real, and Pasion all by the dynamic duo of Carla Estrada and Monica Miguel. Those women make a great team and know the formula for creating an outstanding telenovela. I wish that they would get together to stir up a new historical novela.
 

Computer has been down all day. Just getting back.

Eli, I believe the team leader for the new show is Jardinera. And I'm sure she'd love to have you on the team.

Susanlynn...Victimizers blame the victim as a way of protecting their own self esteem. "I'm basically a good person. Therefore if I hurt this other person it's because they deserve it." A very toxic variant on the old "See what you may me do" cry of exasperated parents.

We can all, under the right circumstances, mistreat other people. But we will always tell ourselves they deserve it because of something they've done, or failed to do. Human Nature at its worst.

I agree with Carlos that Dimitrio's registering his mother under the name Gaudencia Gimenez was unnecessarily nasty. But I'm sure he feels she deserved it. And so it goes....
 

Eli:

It worked! I guess I wasn't patient enough. There seems to be little bit of lag time to load the page.

Thanks again. This is great.

By the way, has anyone heard of a site called "DramaFever"? It's like Hulu and Netflix.
 

Sorry that was supposed to be....You named...not You. Ames...
 

Niecie,

Thanks so much. You always manage to crack me up with your comments -- sometimes I just want to quote the whole thing. Today I'll settle for this:

"Monse and Dim should encourage Graciela to write her memoir, "The Good Mother," to keep her busy and her mouth shut."

I know I'd buy it. I would want it to have a good index though so I could rapidly find her thoughts on any subject, say the role of head-poking in child-rearing, or how far is too far to push your children.

Eli,

It's nice to see you here. I'm especially glad you liked the recap because I'm such a big fan of yours.

I'm very sorry about your mother. And I agree with you that there's no moral absolute here, though I certainly respect the opinions of those who think otherwise.

About "Mi corazón es tuyo" -- I'm pretty sure Jardinera is the team leader.

Cheryl,

My goodness, I didn't know I HAD "trademark eloquent insights." Fortunately I have my intellectual property guy on speed dial (as I told Fatima a few days ago when Crackpot Theorists™ was just getting off the ground here) and I'll get to work on protecting them.

I loved so many phrases in your comment, but I think this one is my favorite:

"JL has managed to make me guess that he must even smell bad with the sour stench of disappointment and impending madness"

You're so right about the actors -- they are doing amazing work right now.

Oxnard Huero,

I'm thinking that if their places were reversed, we might be wondering what Graciela ever saw in Sandro. Illness, depression and long-standing personal neglect are rarely a recipe for sex appeal.

I love Daniela Castro for allowing the camera to look at her like this (though the fact that she's a beautiful woman is still obvious, dull messy hair, blotchy skin, and shapeless gown notwithstanding).

You're right about the CT scan scene -- it was somewhat nightmarish.
 

I also really enjoy the novelas by Carla Estrada. Don't know how much of this may be true, but I read some tidbits from TV y Novelas de she may be preparing to do a new historical novela called A la Luz del Ángel.

Keeping my fingers crossed for this to happen.

Maricruz
 

Carlos, I loved your questions. I'm going to address only one of them:

"Where could [Pedro] have been hiding out all this time and why has he delayed his revenge for so long?"

We know that he was taken to a "clandestine" hospital to recover from his gunshot wound. Then he was "out of the country."

Since Graciela told Fabiola that she had timed her return to Aguazul to coincide with Fab's release from prison, I'm betting that cash-poor Pedro timed his return to coincide with Graciela's. He knew she was loaded and it never occurred to him she'd have the...er...nerve to turn him down when he asked for a couple of million.

That's my theory anyway.

NM, Member, Crackpot Theorists™
 

Novela Maven, what a wonderful recap! I am kind of disappointed that Gracie's anvil appears to be a brain tumor. I actually feel sorry for the tumor, being housed in such a nasty person's head.

I had to laugh at this line, "When God takes me, I only pray that he has mercy on my soul, because the only thing that terrifies me is dying alone, without the love and forgiveness of my children." So she's not afraid of her certain end in the fires of Hell? I guess Satan better start worrying. Gracie may take over.

Carlos, I also laughed at seeing Pedro with his scorpion necklace. Maybe he has a whole jewelry box full of them.

I'm going to offer another crackpot theory. If I remember right Pedro told someone (Gracie I think) that he was being helped by someone higher up. We do know that he had to go to Monterrey for business that one time, maybe his helper is someone higher up in the cartel that we haven't - and never will - see. And do we know if Sandro is really dead? This TN has been full of not-really-dead folks popping back up.

Just what is Esmerelda thinking? Every single mom needs a guy who can't even afford to feed himself. Sheeesh.


 

Victoria, the same happened to me when i used chrome but when I used Internet Explorer it worked just fine :)

Novela, hiiiiiiii! I always feel like such a bum because I don't comment enough but I work long hours and sometimes get so busy that I just can't, but I do read the recaps and love them! You are such a talented writer!
 

Maricruz,

Thank you so much. I'm delighted you enjoyed the recap. I'm also thrilled to see you once again dipping a toe into the Crackpot Theorist™ waters.

I like your theory that Graciela faking her illness, though it is a little late in the day for this particular Hail Mary pass.

"Could it be the maid?!"

hahahahaha! Sure! Why not? There are no butlers to blame in these things!

Victoria Gomez,

I'm so glad you liked the recap. Oh yes, the mother in FELS was horrible. As Urban has told us many times, there is no shortage of dreadful mothers in novelaland, but some are certainly more ghastly than others.

Actually, I'm not filling in for anyone today. It's just that my schedule is a bit goofy: I share Fridays with Mads and Tuesdays with Gloria. Last week, I was filling in for Mads.

Romy,

Safe travels! Have fun in Jamaica!

Xintperuvian,

Thanks for the kind words.

"I actually feel sorry for the tumor, being housed in such a nasty person's head."

Oh my. That sounds like the punchline to a joke that asks: How bad was she?
Answer: She was so bad that ...

I think we can take it as a given that Sandro, the handsome amoral Miama Cuban, is dead. Of course I could be wrong (I almost always am) but I suspect he isn't important enough to be resurrected.

"Just what is Esmerelda thinking? Every single mom needs a guy who can't even afford to feed himself. Sheeesh.

Sheesh is right. I guess the answer is that she ISN"T thinking, right?

Thanks for the nice words!
 

NovelaMaven, thanks a lot
Romy
 

I am still not finished reading comments from wednesday or Friday, so many wonderful recaps and comments, so little time.

I have a theory, Perhaps someone else has the same or similar theory. Forgive me if I am repeating it. If I dont post now , the moment will be gone. I dont think JL is helping Pedro. I think he knows who is helping him, and he is keeping that secret. The writers so obviously painted JL as the person that helped him becsuse even the marina and best friend suspect him. He got to the scene before the marina, right? Well maybe Amelia arrived a little before or same time to drop off her stuff. She for her own purpose is hiding him and begged JL not to tell. He probably helped her remove him before anyone arrived and he is protecting her, Angelica's mom plus one person who genuinely cares for him. Now that he is better he is going around planting scorpions.

Its a toughie, cant wait for truth to be revealed.

Back to reading the comments, enjoy the weekend!

Leticia
 

I just realized that MDJL (Luis Roberto Guzmán) is a prominent figure in the music video of Alejandro Fernández – “Se Me Va La Voz”. You can see the video on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BLLdXNdr4I) or Vevo. He looks a great deal better in the video than in Alborada or LQLVMR.

Almost 21 million people have viewed this song. That’s a record number!
 

Maricruz, I want you to know that a wee bit of me last night wondered if Graciela had paid off the doctor for the diagnosis so that she could manipulate her children even further.

Yes, it was a fleeting moment, but it was there nonetheless.

Fatima
Member, Crackpot Theorists™
 

Carlos, loved your questions and loved NovelaMaven's answers. :))

Fatima
Member, Crackpot Theorists™
 

Fatima, I hadnt thought of that (G bribing the doc to give fatal diagnosis). I can see your point, because she has paid lots if people to do her dirty deeds and was in cahoots with Pedro and false dna results. She has more money than ever, so yes that is not below her to pull that off. Maybe she trying to worm herself into Almonte residence to do more evil. Scary thought, indeed. I know she looks pathetic, but look at how far she went, crying w Fabiola playing her role that she had all if us fooled. Then....she is Paris drinking champagne and admirung her jewels. She pulls all stops to convince people of whatever she wants them to believe. She is a very convincing liar, but no more credibility to me anymore. Se acabo!
 

Could it be Juventino who is helping Pedro? I don't remember actually seeing him get shot or his body.
 

Juventino was shot dead by Efrain Loreto relatively early in the story. He was killed in Episode 42 because he knew too much. He has been seen in a few flashbacks since.
 

Nice recap,NovelaMaven !i am actually laughing at Gracielas anvil and at the new guy in town,i like him more that Refugio but he kinda disturbed me when he "saluted" Esme in her room it seemed rather creepy. I wonder if Graciela is truly paying for her crimes,she is still nasty and hypocritical as ever..Is there an option that the doctor was bribed or is one of her friends? If Graciela was capable to con Fabiola ,she could easily commit this emotional fraud.
 

I've also been thinking about this possibility. There is enough time left for it.

No weekend topic this time because I have a Meetup this afternoon and am also doing double duty on MCET, which debuts tomorrow.
 

Novella lover, well our theories are certainly within the realm of possibilities. Graciela is a very, very smart con. I think it comes naturally to her. A person might learn aspects of being a con, but Graciela is a natural.

As Urban says, there is still time!

Fatima
Member, Crackpot Theorists™
 

Novelamaven: you have a natural talent for humorous and bright quips so well laced with the irritating venom of the fattest and fastest mosquitos around. Buzz. Zzip. Buzz. Zzip Zzzing! Ouch! --I’m still laughing my head off despite needing to scratch like crazy!!

“…A Plague of Scorpions has descended on the lovely city by the sea, and the limpid pools of Blue Water have turned murky and menacing. Boo!!! Hiss!!!”

“Her outfit may be tacky, but her face is luminous.”

“This vehicle screams NARCO. Fina, Fina, Fina, don't you ever watch Telemundo? If Adolfito were really a good guy, he'd be driving a Tundra…” ROTFLOL

======

As for the graceless Graciela, “Siempre he sido una buena madre, siempre, siempre, siempre...—“

The third time’s the charm they say, but what’s this the 1000 and 3rd? 1004th? --And it still ain’t workin’, woman!! Not only is this horse dead, it’s putrefied and the only thing rising about it is its stench.
 

Novela Maven,

Reading your recap is such a delight! Thank you for the hard work and clever insights. You already know how much I love that you include grammar points and vocab words from the show. I just want to tell you again that I'm grateful for your efforts - especially that you research words like "imagenología" and discover a different spelling in the RAE. Wow! I appreciate that extra touch!

I wonder if María and Pedro are together since they both have been missing for a year.

Thanks again!
 

Novela Maven thank you for the splendid recap. All of my favorite moments have already been mentioned, but it was really a gem!

I just wanted to weigh in that if Graciela really loved her children so much she might have thought to mention to Montserrat or Dim that she had had a visit from Peddy. Especially after the incident with Fabiola, shouldn't she have had the sense to warn them as well?!

Very happy to be in ultimas semanas. I feel like one does at the end of a pregnancy-- everything hurts so lets just get to the finish already!

Thanks,
Rebecca
 

Leticia,

I share your skepticism about JL being the one who is helping Pedro, if only because the writers took such pains to point a finger at him in this episode.

I am very suspicious of EZ. He is NOBODY'S friend and I could see him helping Pedro if only to spare himself the trouble of eliminating the people who know too much about EZ himself, like, say ADOLFO and MARIA.

Victoria Gomez,

Thanks for the video -- MDA looks better, but I don't think he'll ever look GOOD to me. :-)

Fatima, Leticia and Urban,

I see you feel that Maricruz may be onto something with her FAKE ILLNESS theory. I'm still not persuaded -- wouldn't she have chosen a more attractive affliction?

But if it turns out to be so, then Maricruz will be toasted at the Crackpot Theorist Table.

If it turns out differently, we will all sidestep the theory with a cara de yo no fui. :-)

Hi Countx,

So glad you liked the recap. Yes, the new guy has his charms, and we were more than ready for a new, but still familiar and popular face. Any lady on the Patio is likely able to identify with Esmeralda -- who hasn't been tempted by a 'free spirit' like Eric? [snort]

Jardinera,

What fun to see you here. I didn't know you were watching this one.

As for my "quips so well laced with the irritating venom of the fattest and fastest mosquitos around. Buzz. Zzip. Buzz. Zzip Zzzing! Ouch!"

Nice metaphor, hmm?

Tracy H.

¡Gracias! I'm delighted you're enjoying the vocab and grammar I slip in. (There are probably nine yawns for every WOW when I indulge myself on words like imagenologiá, so how lovely to hear the 'wow.')

Has María been missing? I thought she'd been around and was actually working at La Escondida. Did I get that wrong?

Rebecca,

My pleasure! I especially loved this part of your comment:

"I feel like one does at the end of a pregnancy-- everything hurts so lets just get to the finish already!"
 

Novela Maven

"I'm thinking that if their places were reversed, we might be wondering what Graciela ever saw in Sandro. Illness, depression and long-standing personal neglect are rarely a recipe for sex appeal".

I am not trying to be cruel, but I never found her remotely attractive. She is chapa, gorda, una calculadora and dresses like a rodeo clown.

As far as Esme and Eric the Homeless, goes, this is a classic case of two free spirits attracted to each other. Esme does not seem like the marrying kind. She kvetched all through her pregnancy, seemingly worrying more about her figure than the baby. What is the difference between her dancing for tips and he singing for tips?
 

I just saw a clip on Univision during Premios Juventud that

"Hasta el Fin del Mundo" with Marjorie de Sousa, Claudia Álvarez & Diego Olivera

will start Augusta 18th at 9 p.m.
 

WOW!! 74 comments and I have read them all. Some really great thought out in blogger land.

A BIG thank you NovelaMaven.
She's down but she's not out. Yes I think you are right. Did she/Gracie bribe the doctor for a fake analysis as some suspect? Could be
I loved your good guys drive Tundra's line. I also loved your
"la Escondida, home of G rated pole dance but because of some of the angry comments that have been posted recently that's all I'm going to say about that.

Judy B---Someone is always screaming or crying. I loved the way that you describe novelas--it's true or seems like that anyway.

Fatima---Love your comments. Right, Montserrat will now have JL and her poisonous mother to put up with. And not only that, with children and the sweet shop, I don't know how she will be able to cope with it all.

Thanks Urban---Since I came in to this novela late, I didn't know that Graciela did all of those things. OMG! sounds like your worst nightmare or a mother from hell.

And that brings up the question, should Montse forgive her and take her in during her last days?
BOY! A lot of comments both pro and con on this subject, one even
with the words of Kant expressed.
Love your enemies or do good to those who hurt you---this is the hardest thing to do but I do believe that Montserrat made the right decision. However, Montse needs to make the rules and be strong when her rules are either tested or broken.

Alejandro, how is he going to take this?

Urban---I like your suggestion that Montse should have a Psychiatrist on duty. She's going to need help for sure.

Niecie in MD.---Have Graciela write a book called "The Good Mother." Good idea, that would keep her busy but would it be enough?

Esmeralda's now found guy---A guy that can't even afford to feed himself? Well we don't know that.
He might sing in the park as a side line from a regular job just because he likes to.
the gringo

 

Gringo: ITA--I was thinking it could be that Esme's huarache heart throb is an incognito prince rather than a pauper, but that she will decide that her seven and a half year itch isn't worth losing the lo-o-o-o-ng-suffering Refu over after all.
 

Oxnard Huero,

No worries. I know you're not trying to be cruel. I think that Daniela Castro has been a remarkably good sport to lend herself to the various ridiculous stylings of the unattractive character she is playing. As to what any of us might find attractive in real life, well, de gustibus

Gringo.

You're welcome! It's nice to see you jumping into this story with both feet! The crazier the plot complications, the more fun, right?

Jardinera,

"Esme's huarache heart throb"

hahahaha
 

Just watched a show about Maite P. on Univision. Wow..they showed her dancing with a very handsome hombre in her new music video. Girl can dance. Very sensual video. William Levy, Diana Castro, Angelique Boyer, and Ana Brenda were interviewed about Maite.
 

Oxnard Huero, you said: "I am not trying to be cruel, but I never found her remotely attractive. She is chapa, gorda, una calculadora and dresses like a rodeo clown." I'm with you 100% on this point.

gringo, thank you for the kind words! We love having you here. We know you are loyal to your TN! It is so nice to have the male perspective from you, Oxnard Huero, Carlos, Count Alacran/Demetrios, and our other male lurkers!!

NovelaMaven: " cara de yo no fui. :-)" Bwahaha!!!

Fatima
Member, Crackpot Theorists™
 

Thanks Novela and thanks to all who offered their comments and experiences. This makes for a wonderful learning and sharing venue. Susanlynn, your comment reminded me of what my maternal grandmother told me once when I felt like verbally assaulting someone. She said do not treat people they way you think they ought to be treated. I agree with gringo that Montse needs to set and enforce some rules for Gracie.
I also think that Jl is not the one helping Pedro, the only person who is great at breaking and entering is Maria. Thanks so much for the language lessons. I truly need them.
Yola

 

NovelaMaven, thank you for such a clever and captivating recap. Although I don't comment much, I so appreciate the wonderful work all the recappers do. Many thanks!

Wow, Graciela's emotional blackmail has no bounds! I don't believe Montse owes her Mother anything. These Novelas seem to say that any woman who gives birth 'deserves' complete devotion all the days of her life. Of course Montse should forgive Graciela, but not forget that her Mother is a sick and dangerous person. Montse has to think of her children, Alejandro, and Rosario and put their happiness first.

It might be a different story if Graciela didn't have any money or options. Graciela can get the best of everything, and Montse can visit Graciela on her terms. Montse's behavior seems co-dependent and bringing Graciela into her home will be toxic.

Marea Primavera
 

Marea Primavera, I really like your analysis of the Graciela Conundrum!

Fatima
Member, Crackpot Theorists™
 

NovelaMaven,
Extremely late to the party, but my many thanks for the wonderfully written and awesome recap. Are drinks still being serves on the patio? I could sure use one right now. A very long weekend, and still not done yet.

Of course I am not as busy as Montse will be once Gracie comes to live with them at the beach house. She will surely have her hands full. I get that Gracie's her mom and she's dying and all, but it still sucks that she has to take her in. And Gracie totally put the guilt trip on Montse to get her way. I was with Montse when she told her mom to buy a house and have round the clock care. After all, Gracie can afford it. Montse is way too nice. If it had been Dimi, he would have told her to find her own place. Gracie is just going to cause problems. I wouldn't doubt that she would scheme something up with JL. He goes to the beach house everyday, so they are bound to run into each other.

ITA with the blogger that said JL is helping Amelia with Peddy. At first I thought it was Amelia alone, then I thought it was JL, but now I'm thinking it's both of them. JL obviously knows something and he's not talking. He has known all along that Amelia was out to get Peddy, plus I think Amelia needed help getting Peddy's body out of the house. Remember she was going to move back into the house that day, but we never saw her. No spoiler here, but my theory is that she arrived to Peddy's house, found him shot, called JL for help and swore JL to secrecy. Only time will tell.

I am intrigued by Esme's new friend. He knows that she has a child and it doesn't seem to bother him that she's a "dancer". And speaking of Esme's career choice. She has said time and time again that she loves to dance and that's why she works at La Escondida. I agree that she likes to dance, but you can tell that she likes the attention too. Maybe she was ignored as a child and has some issues to work out. It would be interesting if there was a strip club for women in Aguazul. You could call it "Fofito's" (Adolfo would own it), and Refu worked there. I wonder how Esme would feel about that?

BTW, bravo to everyone this weekend for all the awesome comments. And I read ALL of them before posting mine.

Back to organizing...hasta pronto!
 

Aunty Ann, one of my Crackpot Theories all along has been that Amelia was some how in on the moving of Pedro's body. I like your line of thinking! :))

"Fofito's" I LOVE it!!

Fatima
Member, Crackpot Theorists™
 

Fatima,

"Fofito's" I had to find a use for that name. Question is, would Refu be a good dancer? Or is he standing next to BM in dance class?

I vote for Ale to do at least one dance for the ladies on the Patio! Who's in?
 

Susanlynn---WOW!!! I whish I had known about the Univision special about Maite Perroni. I'm an RBD fanatic and Maite was the third female voice in the group along with Anahi and Dulce Maria. They were perfect together and yes she can really dance. I've seen the YouTube videos from her album Eclipse De Luna which I own and love.
Maite, Ana Brenda and Angelique together, that must have been quite a show.

Susanlynn---I forgot to mention it today but you were asking about doctors in Mexico. A few years ago, my mothers eyesight was failing her. The doctors told her that there was nothing more that they could do and that she would loose her sight. In desperation she went to Mexico because they have treatments and medicines that are not available here. I don't know how much money she spent down there but in the end they couldn't not help her either. I guess that sometimes a trip to Mexico for treatments works but not always. It's hit and miss. Caution is imperative.
the gringo


 

Aunty Ann, I am DEFINITELY "in" for Alejandro doing a pole dance for the ladies on The Patio!

I used to think that Juan Soler was the only guy with a megawatt smile, but I think Sebastian surpasses Juan in the smile category! ☺
 

I'm doubtful of Alejandro's abilities on the pole, but I think Refugio could work it-- the actor is Domnican after all. Here he is shaking it a bit on a Dominican talk show: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XnemXNia5HM
 

It's not the pole but Sebastián Rulli half stripped in Un Gancho al Corazón, when Mauricio disguised himself as a stripper to get the Monita to forgive him, he is not the best but he is cute:

Rulli dancing to Macho Men

And those are Veronica Jaspeado (Fina) and Margarita Magaña (Esmeralda) screaming in the audience.

Jarocha
 

Thank you for the recap Novela Maven.

About the Graciela debate, I have to say that I'm with those that believe Montse is doing the moral thing by taking her in. But I'm also aware that, unlike Montserrat, I have a wonderful mother and my views are biased due to that, if I had such a horrible mother as Graciela, I might think differently.

But from another standpoint, I do think it is important to have a peace of mind for our own health, and we should do what we believe is right. If Montserrat needs to take care of Graciela right now, maybe that's the right choice, for now.

Vivi, thank you for that link to the interview with Carlos de la Mota. I hadn't seen it. He seems like a fun guy.

 

And that anon at 02:04:00 AM EDT was me again, Jarocha.

:)
 

Gracias, Jarocha, for that clip of Rulli shaking it. Also love how it ended with Danna Garcia's "Rocky" sequence.

As to the Gracie thing I would have no attack of conscience if I were Monserrat about having her buy a house and have live-in nurses. I had a mother like her and -- unlike Monse -- I bolted when I was 20 and never went back.
 

After the first time Montse was "sold" by her mother, Montse had no moral obligation to do anything for her.
Just because someone gets pregnant and gives birth does not afford them any automatic respect or reverence. Montse is going above and beyond because she does not have to "morally" do anything.

Jarifa
 

Jarocha...thanks for that clip from Gancho (and Vivi, thanks also for that clip of Carlos de la Mota). Judging from those, I'd say they both could pole dance very effectively. And Jarocha, oh my...there was never a better show, nor a better ensemble cast than Gancho al Corazon. Wish they would put it on Hulu Plus.
 

Dear NovelaMaven,

What a fantastic recap! It always amazes me how funny, smart, beautifully written, and helpful your recaps are, and each one an original. You've been doing extras, lately, too. I am so impressed.

I loved so many of your observations and comments:

[This vehicle screams NARCO. Fina, Fina, Fina, don't you ever watch Telemundo? If Adolfito were really a good guy, he'd be driving a Tundra.]

La Escondida, Home of the G-Rated Pole Dance

Yet her behavior suggests that she thinks she is in God's blind spot.

These were among my many favorites. You are incredible! I'm running out of superlatives to praise you but really thank you for the effort you always make.

We've got a big week ahead. Looking forward to more recaps from our team, and especially grateful it's an off week for me!
Best to you and all,
Julia R.
 

Jarocha- Thanks for that clip. Yet another reason why that show was so much fun. :)
 

Jarifa said: "After the first time Montse was "sold" by her mother, Montse had no moral obligation to do anything for her.
Just because someone gets pregnant and gives birth does not afford them any automatic respect or reverence. Montse is going above and beyond because she does not have to "morally" do anything."

In total agreement, Jarifa.

Fatima

 

The actor playing JL also loves to dance. When he was on the talk show Cristina after the finale of Alborada, he and Daniela Roma were moving and shaking, but Fernando Colunga refused to dance no matter how hard Daniela tried . Lucero sang and danced a little.
 

FC always refuses to dance. In PEAM there was one scene where he was supposed to pretend to be a stripper, and he barely swiveled his hips once before the character gave up and stopped. It started off so promising too.
 

Hola to all you Monday morning quarterbacks out there on the Patio. As we officially enter las últimas semanas tonight, our expectations may be low, but somehow our hopes are still high, judging by your insightful and clever comments.

You know this blog would be nothing without your feedback and great discussions, right?

Susanlynn,
I'm sorry I missed the show about Maite P. (Wow. Did I just admit to that in public? I guess I did.) I've always found Maite one of the most endearing of the Televisa actors. There is something about her that just feels genuine and makes me want to cheer her on as she continues to hone her craft.

Yola,
Great to read your comment. You are so right: this place "makes for a wonderful learning and sharing venue."

All of this conversation of "Do Unto Others" reminds me of the version taken up by managerial types or anyone trying to "shape" someone else's behavior. It goes something like "Treat people AS IF they are behaving in the desired way." Of course this only works if the people in question aren't, say, RAVING LUNATICS! :D

Marea Primavera,
Thanks so much! It's good to know you've been enjoying our stuff here. The Robo team does aim to please:)

"Wow, Graciela's emotional blackmail has no bounds!"

Yup. Both Graciela and José Luis make a mockery of the idea the suffering is ennobling.

AuntyAnn,

Nonsense. You're just in time! And your idea about Fofito's has really caught on around the Patio. Nice.

I know Amelia was planning to go back to Pedro's house to pick up her 'porquería' (as he so charmingly referred to her belongings), but do you think Amelia would have called Virginia back from Europe if she knew Pedro was still alive?

¡Gracias! ¡hasta pronto!
 

NovelaMaven- I still haven't actually seen the episode, but I really feel no need to after your recap. Sorry for not saying thank you earlier, but I only read the recap late last night, and then ALL of the many comments, and had to jump in when we started talking about Fofitos. :)
 

Jarocha,

It's always a pleasure for us when you stop by to comment. And thanks so much for the Gancho link. It makes me wish I had watched that one with the CarayCaray gang.

Vivi,

You're welcome! And thanks for the Carlos de la Mota/Refugio link. To judge from the dancing we've seen on this show, Dimitrio would acquit himself better than most on the pole.

Dear Julia Rold,

Thank you so much for your kind and considered praise. It is especially sweet coming from a writer as talented as you are.

Confession time: I am so glad you liked the line about Graciela thinking she is in God's blind spot. It was one that I hesitated to include, so I am thrilled that you got it.

It's such a joy to be on this team with you.
 

NovelaMaven---Maite Perroni as an endearing actress? Try her out as an endearing singer. Youtube, Mi Pecado with Reik and A Partir De
Hoy with Marco De Mauro.
When she was with RBD, Anahi and Dulce got most all of the lead vocals but Maite sang her parts perfectly and was the ultimate third voice in the RBD female trio.
I'm waiting for La Gata---I don't know why Univision has pushed it back to who knows where.

Montse was sold??? GOOD GRIEF!!!
I didn't know that. And Montse is going to take her ailing mother in
She's got a BIG heart.
the gringo

 

Graciela did this twice to her:

The first time was to Alejandro. Monse was not pleased at this but put up with it until she knew more about Graciela's communication with Alejandro about it.

The second time was to JL (or Mad Dog Alvarez) behind her back. When she found out about it she slapped both of them. The Slaps Heard Across Mexico...
 

Thanks Urban---OMG! What a mother
I know that children are sold in some parts of the world but I never even dreamed about it in a novela. Montse should be given sainthood for caring for Graciela.
I can't wait for tonight.
the gringo
 

Jarocha

Where in the world did you dig up that YouTube video of SR? Boy has he got a great body in this video. But his dancing could use some improvement!


How in the world did you know this video even exists?
 

Oh, and by the way, thanks Vivi for the Carlos de la Mota clip.
Dominicans can dance their butts off -- I should know, this gringa married one. I love to dance merengue!
 

Reina de Corazones:

Is this novela really worth watching? I started to tape it but then there were so many negative comments, I gave up.

I have it on Prime Time with Time Warner and am wondering what everybody thinks. Does anyone have any comment(s)?

I saw a preview for La Malquerida starting in August and will definitely pass on this one. When will they stop casting Victoria Ruffo? I'm so fed up with her. This novela seems terrible.
 

I'm glad you enjoyed the clip, Gancho did have an incredible cast. It was fantastic.

Victoria Gómez:

I just loved that telenovela, I've watched it in its entirety two times and sometimes I dig old clips in youtube for my own amusement. Here's another one of my favorite Mauricio clips:

Mauricio imitating Constanza.

I love how he doesn't break character even when Coni starts screaming.

Jarocha
 

Victoria- I just answered your Reina question on that line.

As for Gancho-- some Caraymates hated it, but they also tend to hate comedies. But there is a large group of us here that loved it because it had such an awesome and funny ensemble cast (including many who are in Robo). We even followed it when Uni kept screwing with the schedule and moved it to midnight and midday. But now we should just be grateful that they didn't chop and combine episodes, because we would have missed some comedy gems.
 

About Reina de Corazones...

Victoria Gomez, I'm not sure where you've been reading negative comments about this novela, but I can tell you it's got several of us over on the Telemundo page very excited. IT IS SO MUCH FUN! Jean just posted this week's page so there's not much to judge by yet. But just check out last week's discussion:

http://caraycaray.blogspot.com/2014/07/telemundo-y-mas-front-page-reina-de.html

The cast is a treat, especially Juan Soler as a villain with his killer smile turning on a dime into a cold cold scowl, and the lead actress Paola Núñez, new to most of us but someone who can really light up the screen.

If you're looking for a logical, coherent drama with well-motivated character and plot, this isn't for you. But if you're looking for a fast-paced, fun ride with tons of beautiful people, grab a titanium beanie and jump on board.