Caray, Caray!

Here's to another week en otra dimensión!
 

An Ooops, sorry, yes, it's Caroline's night. No switch. I won't be available again until Friday, Nov. 7, if you still need me.
 

Novela Maven said,

Later TWCILV somehow stumbles on the fact that Navier is actually a Secret Agent Man.

I don't think it was that big a lift for TWCILV to conclude that Navier works for the CIA. Once he knew that Navier was NN, then the faking of his death in prison and changing of websites suggests pretty strongly that government was involved. Also Navier has never been very good at pretending to be a member of the public at crime scenes when Esmeeth, Rocky or FELS were present.
 

Honestly, I don't know how everyone else HASN'T figured out that he's a secret agent. Especially Reina, who has seen him do his secret agent thing way too often, he close relationship with Rocky, and herself has been recruited. She really should have guessed long ago.
 

Thank you Recappers. I was once told if you want to learn Spanish watch the novalas. I am so grateful that you teach us words, phrases and Spanish customs. Now that this story is almost over. I don't see any new story that I like. I will miss your wonderful recaps. Hasta LA bye bye and mucho muchos gracias #char
 

I hope the story isn't almost over, Anonymous 8:41. There are still too many mysteries to solve.

Excellent capitulo tonight. So Estefi does know who her brother is and he Asunción's son - kudos to Cuatro Ojos for that one!
 

Jean - I agree...another great capítulo tonight!

The Susana/Juanjo/Yolanda scene was great comic relief, especially Susi's 'bubis' hanging out and her grabbing Yoli's ponytail.
 

Lunes Part 1

ONCE UPON A TIME IN DRAGON LAND (my only creative heading tonight)

Navier is pointing the gun at Cristian!! Cristian doesn’t understand what the Dragon is saying. “Let me refresh your memory”, the Dragon says. “Camila De Rosas. The daughter of your best friend.” Be careful, Cristian warns. The Dragon doesn’t know who he is but he knows who the Dragon is -a secret agent from the CIA!

Reina and Connie are trying to listen in the next room. Connie wants them to speak louder. She can’t hear them. Why don’t they think about us? Reina shushes her.

Apparently even though Cristian knows that the Dragon is working for the government it doesn’t change his opinion-he still killed someone. Fine then the Dragon will tell a story. A story of two friends-Victor and Cristian. What a coincidence, the Dragon snarks. “Can we stop with this stupidity,” Cristian wonders. Be quiet and listen to the Dragon’s story! They were really good friends BUT, and there is always a but in this story, they wanted the same woman, Susana! Guess who won?
The dragon continues with his bedtime story- Victor has a daughter Camila. Cristian, being the best friend, becomes the god father. Now comes the most interesting part. Cristian, although married, becomes Camila’s lover but Victor does not know.

Cut to Reina and Connie. Connie is concerned because she believes Cristian and Navier are going to kill each other in her house and she can’t stand the sight of blood. Don’t worry, Reina says, Navier is not a killer. Well if they do leave blood then Reina is cleaning it up. Calm down, Reina says, she needs to think-she doesn’t understand why Navier is still in town. Because of Estefy?

[Back to the important scene] Navier tells Cristian-Let’s get back to the stable with Mirta’s “accident”! We are treated to a flashback of Camila trying to wake up Mirta. Cristian walks in and Camila is hysterical. “I didn’t mean to do it but she was talking trash and I pushed her!” Cristian says she is dead. Camila cries saying she is going to stay in prison. This was an accident, Cristian says. You didn’t push her (wink, wink) Do you understand?
Flashback over: That wasn’t an accident Cristian. You covered up the crime!

Flashback again! Cristian and Camila are coming out of the stable. They make it look like Mirta died falling off a horse.

Flashback Over: Dragon continues with his story. Cristian paid to get a false autopsy report. A false report like your story! Don’t make fun of me, Cristian whines. I’m not making fun of you- I feel sorry for you (siento lastima)!

CIA LAND
Dr. Moto is talking to Esmith and FELS. The mystery woman aka Victor’s Bon Bon died from a virus-a virus they already have encountered. This same virus poisoned Reina and Navier and the others but this time it was a lethal dose. It was injected in the neck-there were small puncture wounds. Esmith tells them that Reinas’ cross was found on the victim. Moto informs them the puncture marks form a perfect diamond!!

CONNIE’S HOUSE
Connie has to tell Reina the location of the red diamond before she dies. She goes to her hiding place-her shoe and its missing!!!
Dragon tells Cristian that he can put his (so called) career on the toilet unless he does what the Dragon wants. And if he doesn’t is the Dragon going to kill him? No but Victor will- with his own hands!!!

CRYPTIC SCENE
Cut to Victor and Izzy in the study. Victor is looking at his porn collection again. Izzy tells him he will take of it for him. No Victor says, I will take care of her myself.
 

Lunes Part 2

BROTHERLY LOVE
Estefy is in her room on the phone. She tells the person on the other end that she couldn’t speak before because the nurse was her. She then tells the mysterious called that Asuncion had visited her and asked about her little brother. It is then revealed that Estefy is actually talking to her brother!!! Asuncion seemed moved when I told her that I didn’t know anything about YOU, Estefy tells her bro. How strange. They have to investigate. She is a box full of surprises. On and thanks for the roses-red like blood. I see that you know me well. I love you! [So it seems like they have been keeping in touch and are close!]

BACK TO THE DRAGON”S TALE
“Victor is incapable of killing me”, Cristian says. (obviously in denial) We have known each other forever-he would understand. The dragon laughs! You have a romance with your friend’s daughter and you call him your friend. You don’t know him at all!! Let me give you some advice. Investigate to determine who the good and the bad are in this story….unless there is more to the story and you are really one of the bad guys!

WHERE’S THE DIAMOND
Lopez 2.0 arrives to the singer’s room. He points a gun at her-what do you know about the diamond? Diamond, she asks. Victor happened to walk in and knocks him out. I hate a man who mistreats a woman! You saved me handsome!! He kisses her. She smiles. [I would have preferred Lopez!]

MENTAL NOTE-NEVER GIVE ANYTHING TO CONNIE
Connie is still looking for the diamond. Reina says that she specifically told her to not forget where she hid the diamond! Connie happened to find Cristian’s engagement ring-she never gave it back to him. She suddenly remembers the diamond is in the living room. Oh no, Reina says, now Navier is going to find it! Like he finds out everything!!!

CRISTIAN IS DUMB!
Navier tells Cristian that he can’t reveal that he is a secret agent-he would be dead within 24 hours. What do you want? Navier wants his silence and his cooperation. I’m not an assassin, Navier says for the umpteenth time-I killed in the church in self-defense! Cristian scoffs at the notion-right like you didn’t kill the woman who was wearing Reina’s cross. Navier doesn’t know what he is talking about but he does have a pretty good idea who did it. Navier tells Cristian to keep investigating-that’s what he gets paid for. ( I found this line extremely funny) Navier will be back when he is exonerated. He went to prison once as an innocent man, he won’t go again! But besides being a Dragon he is also rich and if he dies, it will go really bad for Cristian. Is he threatening hiM? No take it like another piece of advice. Navier leaves.

Cristian then calls out for Connie. She brings him his gun. The robber left? It was Navier. He hopes that he didn’t have anything to do with this-she is one of the only things he has left in the world. He leaves and Connie finds the diamond.

MISCELLANEOUS SCENES
The scene cuts to Izzy who is with a tied up Lopez. The diamonds are Estefy, Lopez claims. Nope, they are Victor’s!

Meanwhile Dr. Moto and FELS are brainstorming over how the virus got into the victim. Moto’s theories are getting closer to the truth. She is one smart cookie.
Victor is at the hotel. There is a knock at the door –it is the singer. They have some small talk. The kiss. He mentions jewelry.

 

Lunes Part 3

THE LOVERS REUNITE
Reina is holding the diamond when Navier jumps through an open window and scares the crap out of her and Connie. Reina drops the diamond to the floor and he picks it up. Is this yours, the Dragon asks, where did you get it from? God gave it to me-so I could fight with the devil. Are you going to keep my secret?

Connie leaves the two of them. Navier reminds her of the danger that this will expose her to. Where did you get it? Estefy had it in her wedding dress-she took it from my safety deposit. But she steals everything from me. Including your love. Dragon tells her that Estefy can rob every jewel from her-but she can never take his love. Because a woman hasn’t been born yet who can take that away from her. (All together now…awwwwwww) They kiss passionately!

THE INLAWS
Back at the De Rosas mansion. Susana and Laz have a talk-Susana is staying with Greta tonight. Good, Laz has to attend the races. Susanna doesn’t like the races. He doesn’t want to hear it. He mentions Juanco. He leaves.

NEVER WAKE UP ESMITH
FELS goes into Esmith’s office. Esmith is passed out on her desk. He kisses her tenderly. She wakes up and pulls out a gun. It’s only me. I should have taken out 2 guns because you are extremely dangerous. Moto walks in and interrupts. You guys make a great pair, she says.

IS CONNIE GOING TO MIND?
Reina and Navier are still kissing, she doesn’t want him to leave. Did she hear his conversation with Cristian? No..I tried but I couldn’t. She thought he would be long gone from Vegas. He couldn’t leave. Why because he wanted to prove his innocence alongside his wife? The only person he couldn’t leave was Reina-how many times does he have to show her! They kiss again. Do you think Connie will mind us having mind-blowing sex on her bed, the Dragon asks. Um no! He goes to lock the door (This exchange and their facial expression had me LOL!)

THE SINGER IS SCREWED (LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY)!
Lopez 2.0 tells Estefy about Victor. That singer is stupid, she says. He is winning the battle-I don’t want to lose!
The singer is in Victor’s bed How about you spend the night and we make love until exhaustion, he tells her. Oh no, I am going to die. Not yet, he says kissing her, not yet! He is interrupted by a phone call-its Cristian. He needs to talk to him now!! Tonight! It’s about Navier. Victor tells the singer he has to leave. Wait for me. I’ll be back. He gets a text from Izzy-her apt is clean-no diamond. Aren’t you afraid that I’ll steal something, she asks. Aren’t you afraid I’m a killer!

MISC SCENE PART 2
FELS goes to Moto’s office. She is going to the races. He kisses her. She rejects him-he won’t use her because Esmith is rejecting him.

CONNIE’S HOUSE OF LOVE AND OBSESSION
Reina is looking at the diamond. You always surprise me, she tells Navier. They have some small talk. They fall on the bed kissing.
Connie is looking at the ring on her finger. Izzy arrives. He is a little drunk. Who sent you-your boss? No your body, he says, and grabs her and they kiss.
Navier loves Reina’s mouth. She is like his sickness (disease?). He needs her-his body and soul.
 

Lunes Part 4

CONNIE'S HOUSE OF LOVE AND OBSESSION CONT
Connie rejects Izzy-she has a marriage proposal. He doesn’t care-he needs to win her back.
Reina can’t tell Navier goodbye-she can’t she wants to stay with. She wants to live with him.

Izzy wants to go to Connie’s room. She says no and Izzy suspects that Cristian is in there. He goes into a jealous rage and threatens to kill him. He goes toward the room but Connie stops him. He gets very upset and tells her that that she will never see him again.

Dragon and Reina are dressed. He has to leave. Goodbye, he says. Adios no, she says. She kisses him and then says “Hasta siempre” (Forever?)

CLARITA HAS GONE TOO FAR
Reina arrives home and Clarita is on the couch. She was waiting for her to tell her that she hates her. She is the worst mom in the world. Well Reina loves her. She believes that Reina wants to send her away to school again. Why did she lose her memory-she wasn’t like this before-she now prefers that Reina had dies in the accident (Patience is over-Clarita is now a brat!)

BORING SCENE
Back to the boring races Moto wants a rematch with Laz.

JUANCO IS DUMB!
Juanco is getting frisky with the maid. Susana walks in and yells at them. This isn’t what it seems!

THE INLAWS PART 2
Estefy wakes up and sees Esmith at the foot of her bed. I’m here for two reason. One to say thanks for saving my son. The second reason is to finish a task and she hands Estefy a cell phone. It’s Navier on the phone. I’m going to be far but still close. I still have a debt with you. Are you going to come back, she asks.

JUANCO IS DUMB CONT
Susana is yelling at Juanco and the maid. She kicks Juanco out.

THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR HOW STUPID CRISTIAN IS
Cristian is telling Victor that Navier is innocent-he didn’t kill that girl. What are you hiding? You are not telling me the truth, Victor deduces. You’re right-your brother is blackmailing me. He knows I was Camila’s lover. Victor does not look too happy!

ASUNCION DEEP DOWN SECRET
Navier hangs up without answering Estefy. Estefy needs to know something-Asunción came to see me and told me she was my father’s great love. I need to know why she asked about my brother.
Reina walks into the kitchen and tells Asuncion that she can’t take it anymore. My daughter says that she hates me. You said the same to me, Asuncion reminds her. Never abandon your child-don’t do what I did. And what I did to this one-she shows Reina a picture of a baby boy. Who is that, Reina asks. She had another child! My little Gregorio!
 

Forget this last line of tonight's episode.

"The Son of El Coyote! Brother of Estefy!!"
 

Excellent recap, Caroline,of a very revealing episode (in many senses of the word LOL).

Penny
 

Cuarto Ojos: You are a genius.

Penny
 

Thanks for the super recap, Caroline. I chuckled over a lot of your lines tonight but I think this was my fave:

MENTAL NOTE-NEVER GIVE ANYTHING TO CONNIE

And Cuatro Ojos, well played! Now we need to know more about how Gregorio ended up with the Pérez family.

What a great episode -- comedy and plot reveals galore! (Why can't Univision ever make a comedy that comes anywhere close to being as funny as this show?)
 

Excellent recap, Caroline! Yes, very revealing episode. Stefi is in contact with her brother, and Reina and Stefi share a sibling (even if it later turns out they are siblings too). For having kept totally mum this entire tn, Marsuncion's secrets are just tumbling out now!

NovelaMaven- Because Televisa comedies are made for a Mexican audience, and these are made for a US audience. Humor doesn't always translate across cultures.


 

Sorry, that should be Cuatro Ojos. My spellchecker spells almost as badly as I do.

Penny
 

Vivi, the question was asked tongue in cheek.
:D
 

NovelaMaven- Oh, I know. It's just fascinating to me the cultural differences in comedy.

Since Cristian was busy walking down memory lane with Navier, and Laz was busy racing at the time Stefi was talking to her brother, I think we can rule them out. I'm becoming more sure that it's P/FELS.
 

Caroline - thank you for the great recap.

Javier "jumping" thru that window was another LOL moment, and fodder for the "Wisdom" list.

I could. not. believe. TWCILV. told Victor about his affair with Camila! I had cara de impactada. He's now officially TSCILV (the stupidest cop in LV.)

Javier and Reina locking themselves in Connie's bedroom, in Connie's own house, to have hot nookie time on Connie's own bed, was a bit tacky.

Connie was still wearing the Diamantes Rojos dress. I love that fabric! I love the wardrobe dept's sense of humor! I'll bet they had that fabric made for them @ spoonflower.com. I wish we Reinamaniacs could have tee shirts made from it to buy at NetaMart. ~sigh~
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Great recap, Caroline!!

THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR HOW STUPID CRISTIAN IS. How true. Why did he feel it necessary to make a big deal about telling Vic that Navier was innocent? It was bound to raise his suspicions. Why not just say nothing and start using his brain again? Stupid me - he has no brain. Navier didn't mention the 13 now dead people who where in the video of Camila's last party. I think he knows that Vic killed them all. He certainly knows that it was Victor who had him shot and framed for drug possession because he messed with Camila. Christián certainly knows that Victor's description of his daughter as an innocent was way off base.

Based on Victor's look when Christián told him, TWCILV's days may be numbered.

I loved the scene with Juanjo, Yoli and Susana.

If the brother is FELS, he and Estefi have been hiding their relationship and feelings for one another very well. It makes you wonder about FELS' demand that Navier marry Estefi. Maybe he knew Navier's loyalty to her would prevent him from actually getting evidence against her. If Esmeeth has issues because her son is an agent, FELS really has issues if Estefi is his sister.
 

Thank you for the great recap, Caroline! My patience with Clarita is also at an end. She is a brat for sure.

Vivi- I mentally started tracking everyone during Estefy's call to her brother as well.

I kind of wonder who Telemundo's audience is. I guess it's the US audience first, but this was aired in Mexico before the US and Telemundo does have an international audience.
 

Caroline--Soooo Good. (I've just started reading, but have an early appointment.)

Here's what I gleaned from the episode.

1. It took a forensic doctor of medicine to point out pin pricks form the perfect diamond on the BonBon's neck. AND, that the projectile acted more like a harpoon. Guffaw.

2. PFELS was in the room with Smeeth and the Doc when Stefi was on the phone with 'lil hermanito. But space and time mean nothing to these writers, viva telepathic conversations. Guffaw.

3. El Dragon flying in through the window. Who leaves windows wide open in Las Vegas at any time of year? Even in a middle-class barrio, there would have been bars on the window. Guffaw.

4. Though a laughable moment, it was rather pathetic to put Yolanda and Susana side-by-side in front of Juanjo. Let me think now, nubile, eager young thing vs. big bazoomed, repressed, won't-give-it-up matron. Easy guess even for a committed love-puppy. Guffaw.

5. Actually loved Connie forgetting where she put the Red Diamond when she couldn't find it in her shoe.
 

Oh, I think Victor was looking at a video of the Madam he's about to go after for having the Red Diamond. Izzy was offering to get the information out of her. Victor wants to take care of her himself.
 

Ha Ha, so even Javier recognizes that Cristian is TWCILV!
 

Jean - I really like your theory on PFELS and Stefy.

Clarita...ugh.

KIAmania seems to be on more than Telemundo. There is a big KIA dealership here and yesterday, I saw a local TV commercial on a major US network, with the lovely local spokespersons standing in front of . . . NO PUEDE SER! . . . a white DragonMobile and the acid green RodentMobile Soul SUV.

Anita - I agree ... Who knew Connie is such a ditz?
 

,,,You’re right-your brother is blackmailing me. He knows I was Camila’s lover. Victor does not look too happy!

I think Cristian, The Fool, left himself some wiggle room.

Javier is blackmailing him. He's saying Cristian was Camila's lover.

This gives him the opportunity, maybe tonight, to say ...but it's all a lie.

Cristian, The Fool, thinks that by going to Victor first, he can be a step ahead of Javier. Fool that he is, he's going to trade on his and Victor's friendship.

 

Jean--I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head regarding PFELS's actions toward Stefi.

With Javier married to Stefi, he cannot testify against her, or some trope like that (which has actually eroded dramatically in the justice system here). Nowadays, the spouse can voluntarily testify against the other spouse, but I think PFELS knows he won't.

CIA big-shot or not, he doesn't want Stefi in prison OR he really IS a first class international criminal, posing as a CIA big-shot and has to protect himself and those near and dear to him.

I have a feeling the with either person, he's going to protect La Rubia and El Dragon from harm.

 

thanks so much Caroline,
what a wonderful recap!

Connie's impromptu love life hasn't been going so well lately, what with Javier and Reina in her bedroom this time and earlier with Christian when she remembered the diamond under her shirt,

so Susana is living at Estefi's, she kind of lives everywhere.

the Susana/Juanjo/Yoli scenes were funny.

 

Thanks so much, Caroline. That was a fine recap of a very exciting episode.

I'm sort of over Connie. Having a nice woman, kind of major character, portrayed as a motormouth ditz isn't working for me. I'm also over Izzy showing up at her house every single episode even though she's told him they're through. Stalking much?

I am decidedly NOT over Reina and Navier love scenes. These two are very believably in love and hot, hot, hot for each other.

I will be disappointed if PFELS is Estefy's brother. The theory of insisting Navier marry her kind of makes sense, though. I prefer him as a straight up, kinda suffering from Asperger's, but honest agent.

I do believe this was the first episode in a while that we were spared a scene of Victor mentally torturing Reina. I definitely needed a break from those.

Yeah. Clarita missed out on the full-sized Dragon brain. She should have remembered how Victor treated her when he thought Reina was dead and not bought the suddenly fond father act he's putting on now.
 

I keep forgetting that Clarita's grandfather was Big O. She is definitely showing his horrendous DNA right now.
 

I will be disappointed if FELS is Estefi's brother, too, because it is the most obvious choice and I'd prefer the writers didn't go for the obvious. I agree that if he is "Gregorio," he's probably dirty and I also would rather he be a good guy.

Did we actually find out how Estefi found out that Navier is an agent? I recall her saying that she used her "connections." If she has been in touch with FELS all this time, that is one good connection.
 

I will also be disappointed if FELS is the brother (for the same reasons as Jean.)
 

Doris, do you have the diamond fabric available? Can I get a scarf made?

I imagine a world where Reinamaniacs recognize one another on the street by their diamond-patterned scarves and ties...
 

NovelaMaven - I wish I had that fabric! My guess is that the wardrobe department had it printed for them specially at a website called Spoonflower.com. Either that or they struck gold at the local TJ Maxx. ;-)
 

In that case, they're missing out on a great marketing opportunity. They sold all kinds of Jade stuff during El Clon and lots of Reina del Sur stuff during that show's run. I say bring on the diamond-themed tchotchkes!
 

Another great recap Caroline!

Ditto on how dumb Christian is, could not believe he told Victor. Connie sure got stuck with some dud
suitors.

Also ditto on being disappointed if FELS is the brother.

I know that it's Estefy being Estefy, but that was such a weird thing to say "Thanks for the flowers, they're red like blood". Dramatic much?

And, If I was Yolanda, I would be pissed if someone pulled me back with my ponytail.


I imagine a world where Reinamaniacs recognize one another on the street by their diamond-patterned
scarves and ties... HA! Novelamaven, that would be pretty fun.
 

Juanjo's socks, oh my!

Qué suerte tienes, Novela Maven. I can think of lots of cleverheadings for this one.
 

Juanjo's socks were the LOL moment of tonight's episode. I knew there was no way he would stand up to Victor while wearing them.
 

Kitchen Confessions
Asunción shows Reina the baby picture of Gregorio. He was your big brother, she tells her. Asunción was so young when she had him. She gave him up because she thought he'd have a better life with that family. Look how it turned out -- the whole family was murdered! A life based on lies and deceit can only end in death. [Um, honey, that's pretty much the end of the road for everyone.]

Speaking of Lives based on lies and deceit
We see the Injecto-Death 3000 glinting on his wrist as Victor reaches for the flask in his jacket pocket. Then he sits down and waits for Christian to tell him the whole story. Christian says he's been feeling guilty about Camila for years. Navier said Victor would kill him if he knew the truth. Victor admits that the news is a shock, but he is certainly not going to kill Christian -- he's not a... murderer!

So why tell me now?
The secret weighed her down for years, says Asunción. She finally had to tell someone. No one knew, not even Reina's father. But when she found out that Estefanía was the daughter of El Coyote and therefore her son's sister, she went to see her to ask about him.

Reina still doesn't understand how a mother could abandon a child. And yet Asunción admits to doing exactly that twice. What kind of a mother is she? Even though Clara is showing signs of becoming a preteen OB, Reina would never leave her.

Why me?
Reina laments: Her daughter doesn't love her, she has lost Navier, there's someone out there trying to kill her or drive her crazy. And now she and Estefi not only share Navier, they share a brother!

Asunción leaves the kitchen. Reina stares down at the smiling toddler in the photo.

VROOM!
Laz and Dr. Moto are both a little too confident for their own good. Helmets on, jackets zipped. They're off!

Keep Talking, Christian
Christian admits that Susana knew about him and Camila. Victor -- clearly even angrier at the revelation -- retaliates by reminding The Worst Cop in Las Vegas (TWCILV) and arguably The Stupidest Cop in Las Vegas (TSCILV) that they both had the hots for Susana in the old days...and as usual, it was Victor who won out. So what other secret was Navier holding over his head?

Eat my dust, enfermero!
Dr. Moto beats out Laz -- and not by a nose either. "I shouldn't have raced tonight," he says. "Sore loser," says Moto, grinning. After Laz leaves, she notices his wallet on the ground. She picks it up.

¡No Más!
Clara plops down on the couch and takes out her pencil case and drawing pad. Reina looks at her sullen child and says: "If you're so blind that you can't see how much I love you, so blind that you don't love me, so blind that you can't see that everything I do is for you and that even though I don't remember you I love you with all my heart, if you're really so blind as to say you'd rather see me dead, then from this moment, consider me dead. I'm dead to you."

Clara looks down at her paper and pretends to concentrate on her drawing. But when Reina walks away, she says very softly: Yo te quiero, mamá.

Oh, did I Scare You?
Connie is terrified by the intruder who bursts into her bedroom in the dead of night and points a gun at her bed. It's Izzy and he's after Christian's blood. He couldn't stand the idea that TWCILV was in her bed (which Izzy lifts up with Connie still on it, checking to make sure his rival isn't hiding underneath it). Connie confesses that she lied. She has never been intimate with Christian. Izzy tells her he LOVES her and he doesn't know how to manage his feelings. He's not used to feeling vulnerable.
 

Part 2

Connie Disarms Him
...literally and figuratively. She persuades Izzy to put the gun down. He's been drinking, she says, and she'll take care of him. She removes his jacket, settles him on her bed and loosens his tie.

What could be worse than what you already told me?
Victor speaks in his seductively smooth con man's voice, inviting Christian to confess the sin that once known, could destroy him. TSCILV speaks: Mirta's death wasn't an accident. She didn't die because she fell off a horse. Camila killed her.

Greta lies awake and remembers:

Flashback: Camila is scrubbing blood from the stable wall. "You killed that woman," says young Greta. Camila tells her she didn't mean to do it, one thing just led to another...it has to be their secret or Camila will end up in prison. Greta swears to keep the secret.

Greta looks at a photo of herself with her sister. "Perdóname, Camila," she says softly through her tears. "Perdón."

That Wasn't Jealousy! That Was Class!
Juanjo scares Susana by bursting into her darkened bedroom (although unlike Izzy, he doesn't point a gun at her). Susana had no right to abuse Yolanda like that! And she has no right to be jealous because Juanjo means nothing to her. That's what she told Greta, right?

Susana slaps him hard... and then throws him on her bed and climbs on top of him.

You Think That Was A Betrayal?
Clueless Christian is really into the story now. Camila was out of control, he says, because Mirta had told her terrible things...
"What things?" asks Victor dangerously.
"Things we knew and Mirta should never have spoken of."
"So in that moment, she found out she wasn't my daughter," says Victor, still calm but looking very angry indeed.

Clueless Christian asks if his old friend forgives him. Victor says he's not going to get mad. But if it's confession time, then he has one too. Christian may have betrayed him, but he betrayed Christian many many times:

Flashback: Mirta in bra and panties posing for Victor's pervy home movies. He tells her they'll watch it together afterward and then he'll destroy the film...

"All I had to do was pick up the phone and I had your wife in my bed -- so I could screw her."

Reina is Restless
She picks up a playing card at her bedside -- the Queen of Hearts.

You're Never Safe from Heartache, Navier
Boris leads Navier down to his safe house, a fully furnished underground bunker that used to belong to a big trafficker in weapons and diamonds. "A trafficker in death," says Navier. He takes out his laptop and checks an array of camera feeds from the De Rosas mansion (Boris installed them though he didn't understand why.) Navier watches Reina get up and go to the window...and GET SHOT!

¡Hija! Hija???
Asunción and Clara hear the shot. They run into the bedroom and find Reina lying on her back, a neat bullet wound in her left upper chest. Clara notices that Asunción calls Reina "daughter." Asunción rushes to call an ambulance. Clara stays with Reina and begs her not to die. The things she said before weren't true! She needs her!

In his bunker, Navier talks to the image on the screen, also begging Reina not to leave him.

Ladrón Que Roba A Ladrón
Victor interprets Christian's gobsmacked silence as forgiveness for screwing his wife. Now they're even, right? Christian had Camila; Victor had Mirta. But Christian doesn't believe Victor. He thinks he is making up the story about Mirta just to get back at him.
 

Part 3

Will The Real Victor De Rosas Please Stand Up/Or Expect a Christian Burial
Now Victor lets TSCILV see his fury. "A young girl isn't the same thing as a woman! You can't compare a daughter -- and her DNA doesn't matter, I raised her as my daughter -- to a wife. This is by no means settled, not by a long shot!"

If This Doesn't Knock Your Socks Off...
Susana gyrates rhythmically around the pole in Estefi's bedroom, her boobies bouncing to the beat. Juanjo watches with delight. Then they roll around on the bed again. Snob! Ignoramus! Arrogant! Brute! [P.S. Check out Juanjo's low-cut socks of many colors!]


Dr. Moto Follows Laz Home
She had to -- he dropped his wallet and she needed to return it to him. He thanks her. It's been a bad night but it would have been even worse if he had lost his wallet. He invites her to have a drink. Even though she won the race, she looks pretty rough herself. She doesn't deny it. Maybe she's had some victories in life but the one thing she hasn't been able to overcome is loneliness. They chug down shots of vodka.

Esmeeth Has A Night Visitor Too
She opens her apartment door and she sees someone sitting in the darkened room. She reaches instinctively for her gun. "Lower your weapon, Agent. It's me." Esmeeth turns on the light and sees it is FELS-PELS. What is he doing there? He tells her he's going to take care of Navier's problem (lo de Navier). Yes, but what does he want from her? If he's looking for a romantic partner, they are as different as night and day. He thinks not. They are more like two souls seeking one another in the night. He's playing with her. No, he's not playing.
Does he want a lover? No.
A friend with benefits? No.
A future? Children? No, he can't ask for that because he can't have children -- he's sterile.

Before Esmeeth can respond to that rather surprising revelation, both of their cell phones ring and they reach to answer them. From the dismay on their faces, it's likely they've both heard about Reina...

Breathless
Juanjo and Susana lie panting in post-nookie bliss. They have left the door unlocked, apparently, because Victor walks in and stares down at them: OH MY GOD, he says. (In English!)

Don't Die -- I'm Having A Growth Spurt And I Need More Dresses!
Reina is still sprawled on the floor and Clara is still trying to take back all the mean things she said. She needs her mami! Asunción says all will be well -- the ambulance is on the way. Why did Asunción call her mother "hija"? Because Reina is her daughter and Asunción is Clara's grandma. It's a long story...

Boris Tries to Talk Navier Out of It
Boris knows what his boss is thinking. But the mansion is far away and it's too dangerous for Navier to go out. Meanwhile Navier straps on his Kevlar vest, grabs a wicked looking weapon and asks for the car keys. He has to be with Reina. If she dies, he dies with her.

Turf Wars
While the EMT's are rolling in a stretcher, Christian and Esmeeth bicker over turf. Christian says they have a wounded man with a sniper's rifle. FELS-PELS says his people are checking out the area where the shot came from. So are Christian's people. FELS-PELS thinks they should cooperate with one another. So does Esmeeth, as much as she and TWCILV dislike each other.
 

Part 4

Victor Lies Awake At Night Wondering Why Everyone Is Unfriending Him On Facebook...
What do they call women like Susana? Besides whores? Ah yes, cougars, chasing after young men instead of taking care of their families. Juanjo says he won't allow Victor to talk to Susana that way, not even if he sends a hundred men to beat him up. Victor seems undaunted. He came to discuss Greta -- he thought she was taking care of her, not screwing around with her boytoy. Juanjo jumps up to confront Victor. "Apologize to her!" he says in his face.

"Victor De Rosas doesn't apologize to whores -- or to guys like you."

[But he does talk about himself in the third person, which NovelaMaven has always found to be a bad sign.]

Victor is almost out the door, but he can't resist this parting jab: "Please tell me that you're not paying him with my money."

Juanjo wants to go after him, but Susana holds him back.

It's Only Make Believe
In her bed (which has gotten a lot of action in the last 24 hours), Connie cradles Izzy. "Let's forget our pasts and play at being a regular couple who go to the movies, who sleep together every night, who go to nice places to eat, who bore each other at times, who are crazy in love with each other.

The Vodka Is Doing Its Work
"I had to repeat third grade. Top that," says Laz. "I forged my father's signature on my report card," says Dr. Moto, her speech not quite as crisp as usual. "That's nothing," counters Laz. "Three women left me." "I left four men," says Moto. Four? Laz doubts that. Moto takes it back. She left three -- the fourth was by mutual agreement. Laz says she's right though -- life is divided into those who get left (los dejados) and those who do the leaving (los que dejamos).

What's the worst thing Laz ever did? He stole. Top that! Dr. Moto says she lied and said she was sterile. What? Why? She did it so her ex-husband wouldn't know suffer, so he'd think they couldn't have children because she had a problem. "You must have really loved him," says Laz. She did.

Her phone rings. She listens to her boss and seems to sober up quickly: "Reina Ortiz has been shot," she says.

Esmeeth watches Reina taken out on a stretcher and wonders if the same killer who has been after Navier is responsible for the shooting. It's possible, says Christian. Asunción weeps and prays. "If Navier were to find out about this..." muses Esmeeth. (Si Javier se enterara de esto...)

But of course, Navier knows all about it and he is now speeding through the night to be with his true love. He glances at his cell phone. He thinks about making love to Reina just a few hours ago and giving her the heart bracelet "so you'll always remember me and so that you won't miss my cross." (para que siempre me recuerdes y para que no extrañes mi cruz) And he remembers Reina's promise to wear it always.

"That's not the hospital," he says worriedly. "Where are you, Reina?"
[Oh I get it! The heart bracelet has a cheep!]
 

Part 5

Victor Dismisses The Vixen
The singing madam awaits wrapped in the black sheets of Victor De Rosas' bed. But he is no longer in the mood and sends her away. The vixen is vexed -- she thought he was too good to be true! [Run, vixen, run!]

Juanjo is so over Susana
Juanjo is upset. Obviously Susana still cares what Victor thinks; and it's clear she agrees with the things he said. She should look for a man like her ex-husband because the two of them are alike. Sure, she and Juanjo had a night of mind-blowing sex. But Juanjo needs more than that. He needs a girl like Yolanda, a girl who likes and accepts him as he is. He warns Susana not to wreck his budding relationship with Yoli.

An Audience With The Queen
López 2.0 marches the battered sticky-fingered EMT guy into Estefi's hospital room. What does she want from him? He already told López everything he knows. "But you stole my diamond and you're going to have to pay for that...unless you return it to me. But if you tell anyone about this, your mother, your children, your wife and your dog are all going to end up in a ditch...no, that's not true. I'm not capable of hurting your dog."

Victor sends a message...

...and Christian receives it on his computer in the police station: "If you don't do what I tell you to, this video will be on the internet. For now it's a private page, but everything can change. Oh, by the way, enjoy it and learn!"

Christian watches the image of his dead wife in Victor's homemade porno flick.

Back in his hotel room, Victor looks at his phone. "Reina," he says.

Christian quickly closes the video when Dr. Moto enters his office asking if he has any news. Esmeeth pushes past her and says Asunción called. "Reina isn't at the hospital where they were supposed to take her and our people are still waiting for her there." TWCILV jumps up in surprise. Esmeeth says the ambulance isn't in communication with the hospital and the ambulance nurses aren't answering the phone. She's sure something is wrong. [Ya think?]

"That can't be -- Reina is in very grave condition!" says TWCILV. "Reina is in very grave condition... and kidnapped," says FELS-PELS.

Leave It To Victor
Asunción is at the hospital with Victor, she weeping, he fulminating -- ¡bola de inutiles! -- because Reina hasn't arrived. She is afraid Reina will die -- she's lost a lot of blood. "Reina can't die," says Victor. He knows what to do -- just leave it to him.

He steps aside and consults a locator screen on his phone. "There you are, Reina. There you are."

A Very Creepy Medical Facility definitely not approved by the Joint Commission
Reina lies unconscious on a table. There are three guys in black and with long, slicked-back hair. One says they have to contact Javier Bolívar. Another says Javier is on the run. "I know," says the first guy. "He probably already knows all about this." Then he grabs the IV pole rather recklessly and leans over Reina towards the doctor: "We need her alive, not dead. So do everything necessary to save her -- because if she dies, so do you."

A young guy in a uniform and cap -- a cop? a security guard? -- stands behind the worried-looking doctor, his hands steepled in prayer. "You, brother, stop praying! It doesn't work!" He raises his gun and carelessly plugs a hole in the guy's chest. Dead. His partner smirks. The doctor swallows hard. Reina lies still, a blood-soaked piece of gauze covering the wound in her upper chest.

We see Navier making his way through a warren of metal shelving and tables, following a grid on his phone. "Here you are, Reina!" he says.

Will the Dragon rescue the Queen of Hearts? Jean will tell you all about it tomorrow!
 

'perfect' NovelaMaven

love your recaps!
 

Thank you for the wonderful recap. So after reading this, my question is how many cheeps does Reina have on her? Nia
 

I haven't gotten to watch the episode and I'm not sure if I will be able to before tonight. Thank heaven for your rich recap.

I really liked all the headings but "Don't Die -- I'm Having A Growth Spurt And I Need More Dresses!" really tickled my funnybone.
 

Stellar recap, NovelaMaven, and the headings didn't disappoint. I particularly liked:

Will The Real Victor De Rosas Please Stand Up/Or Expect a Christian Burial

Victor Dismisses The Vixen


Victor Lies Awake At Night Wondering Why Everyone Is Unfriending Him On Facebook...

and my favorite, the already mentioned,

Don't Die -- I'm Having A Growth Spurt And I Need More Dresses!

So what is up with Clarita? Is she just a preteen or what?

It sounded like Navier's new hideout is Gregorio's old LV house and Asunción's love nest. When exactly did Boris get past the security at Victor's house and plant cameras everywhere? You can tell Navier is a rich guy. He used to do those things himself - now he has someone do them for him.

I'm surprised Christián didn't conclude that Navier shot at Reina.

Yes, how many cheeps is Reina wearing? Maybe Victor and Navier went in on the bracelet one together. ;-)
 

Great way to start off my day, NovelaMaven, with some hearty chuckles from your recap.

Nia- I had the same question about the number of chips on Reina when Vic was also able to locate her via GPS. And just where is his chip? Javier is lucky Reina wore that clunky bracelet to bed.

I know I was supposed to find that Connie-Izzy scene funny, but I just found it scary. Hmmm...hitman EX boyfriend breaks into your home in the dead of night with his gun drawn, because he suspects you're with your current boyfriend. Not funny.

Susana and Juanjo were hilarious though, until Vic showed up to spoil the fun and Susana wimped out again.
 

NovelaMaven - thank you for the recap and the snark. My favs:
"Victor Lies Awake At Night Wondering Why Everyone Is Unfriending Him On Facebook..."
And
"Don't Die -- I'm Having A Growth Spurt And I Need More Dresses!"

How interesting that DrMoto lied to ex- PFELS and told him that she is sterile, and he told Esmeeth that he is sterile.

I'm with Vivi. That whole Izzy/Connie scene was disturbing to me.

Also scary is the thought that Victor has placed a cheeep on Reina. When did that happen!


 

Is it possible that Vic doesn't have a cheep on Reina, but is behind the fake ambulance thing and the cheep is on the Doc or thug?
 

I had the same thought, Sara, and that could be setting a trap for Javier.
 

Oooooh, another KIAmania ad on local TV news just now, with white DragonMobile and green RodentMobile SUV. Between this and the political ads, I'm thankful for the FFWD---> button on the remote.
 

ok here's a crazy idea:

What if Boris of Belgium is Gregorio?

--new, key character that just slips under everyone's radar

--background unknown

--right age.

--Looks more Colombian than Belgian (though Navier looks more Belgian than Colombian)

--Explains his loyalty to Navier and his willingness to help him with BOTH of his sisters.

--Explains why it's only now that we catch Estefi chatting with him and that he seems a presence in her life.

--Maybe he knew about the safe house because it belonged to his adoptive father.

Hey Sara, I also had the impression that Victor was tracking the ambulance rather than Reina because he was the one who set the whole thing up.
 

Doris, the whole idea that FELS-PELS is sterile and Dr. Moto (idiotically) attempted to assuage his ego by lying and saying she was the one who couldn't have children is so out of left field that it MUST be leading somewhere. [Did Moto think she could get away with a lie to our "superdotado" big boy?] Maybe FELS-PELS really WANTS to be with a woman Esmeeth's age precisely because she won't expect children from him...

Any bets on how long it will be before a Christian burial?
 

Although he also looked surprised and annoyed that the ambulance didn't show up at the hospital, it is entirely possible that Vic had something to do with Reina's kidnapping and is in cahoots with the Belgians trying to trap and kill Navier. I wouldn't put anything past him.

Now, how is Vic going to torture/get even/kill Cristian? That's one Vic vengeance I'm looking forward to. Cristian isn't even that bad of a guy, yet I can't stand him.

We learned this episode that Victor knew from WAY back that Camila wasn't his child. Yet, he led Susana to believe recently that this was a new revelation to him when she told him after the body of her rapist was dug up. Why did he keep quiet all these years? Why would he have shared that info with Cristian? Susana said she never told anyone, and I believe her, so does that mean Vic or Cristian told Mirta? The biggest shocker for me is that Vic seemed to have known Camila wasn't his all along, and yet she was still his favorite, most-loved child.
 

Vivi,

"We learned this episode that Victor knew from WAY back that Camila wasn't his child."

I'm not so sure about that. I believed the rage and shock on Victor's face as Susana made her confession. We saw him; she didn't. That usually translates into TRUE FEELINGS REVEALED.

Victor needs to be in control. He hates NOT KNOWING something. It makes him weak. I think he was lying to Christian because his ego wouldn't allow him to acknowledge that Christian and Mirta knew a crucial thing that he did not.

In fact, I can't believe Camila would have been his favorite child if he had known he wasn't her biological father.
 

NM - the idea that Boris could be Gregorio is a good Crockpot Theory, or he could be a red herring. Sheesh, we could open up a fish market with all the red herrings the writers give us.
 

Sheesh, we could open up a fish market with all the red herrings the writers give us.

Aw, Doris, you crack me up!!!
 

Doris I think I agree with NovelaMaven that it was not clear whether Victor knew prior to Susana's confession to him (see below) or was just pretendingg to Christián that he knew. The fact that Victor sent the blackmail video to Christián indicates that Victor didn't forgive him and that his life expectancy may be very short. He should have listened to Navier.

Just for info, it was in week 9 (Thursday's capitulo to be exact) where Susana tells Victor that Camila was the rapist's child and he appears to be surprised and tells Susana that she was right not to have told him before. But how did Mirta find out?

I agree that the FELS sterility thing is right out of left field. Maybe that was the cause of the breakup of Dr. Moto and FELS' marriage. I can see Laz and Dr. Moto making a baby and said baby causing problems for Laz and Greta and FELS and Dr. Moto.

NovelaMaven Boris = Gregorio? I like the idea. I hope that it or something equally interesting is true.
 

True, Vic might have just been bluffing that he knew all along about Camila not being his. He just seemed to know immediately what Mirta could have said to Camila to drive her to kill her. He didn't assume that Camila and Mirta came to blows over the affair with Cristian, which would have seemed logical, considering what Cristian had just told him. I guess we will have to wait to see how the rest of the tale unfolds.
 

So clever, NovelaMaven. Thanks!
Bummer, I totally missed JuanJo's sox, and I'm thinking that scene unlikely to make the refrito.
Re FELS as possible brother: when Estefi was talking to bro on the phone, didn't she say something like: "Asuncion, you know who she is, right? Victor de Rosas's housekeeper?"
Does it make sense she would say that to FELS? Doesn't that argue for someone else as bro, a la Boris? Or, red herring.
 

Anonymous 2:00 - It makes sense that Estefi would say that to FELS if she didn't know that Asunción was brother Gregorio's mom. Isn't the only person she has told about being Greg's mom, Reina?
 

Thanks Jean.
Maybe I am confused. It does not have to do with the knowledge of Asuncion being the mother, it was who Asuncion is in general. I thought Estefi said it to bro as if bro only slightly knew Asuncion "that lady, you know who she is, right? she was asking about you."
FELS knows well who Asuncion is, and Estefi would know that.
I thought this phone convo pointed away from FELS, but maybe I misinterpreted the whole thing.
Thanks again, Jean.
Anon 2:00
 

Anon 2:50 and Jean

I think you make a good point, Anon. Estefi's casual "Asunción -- you know who she is, right?" suggests that she was talking to SOMEONE OTHER THAN FELS because, as you say:

1. FELS knows Asunción

2. Estefi KNOWS that FELS knows Asunción.

But as Doris says, red herrings abound in this one
 

NovelaMaven,
Not only are you incredibly witty, but you concisely conveyed the point I was struggling to express. Thanks.
Vamos a ver.
Anon 2:00/2:50
 

NovelaMaven has done it again. Offered us a heaping platter of delectable tastings from that enormous Crockpot she's been cooking up theories in.

I'm in on Victor not knowing about the rapist being Camila's dad. I do remember how he looked as Susana told him about getting the DNA and hoping it would be Victor's child.

Susana herself is probably the one who told Mirta about Camila lo those many years ago. She's the type who had to tell someone and she didn't have many friends in her "high-society" social circle. Mirta was her closest confidant.

I'd rather it be Boris than PFELS who is Stefi and Reina's half-brother. But he is a little gangsta' scruffy-looking.

But in the telenovela world of opposites, he and Stefi make perfect opposites, the good and handsome vs. the evil Barbra Streisand look-alike.

We do have to keep in mind that Boris was Big O's Man, before he became Javier's, so maybe Big O had some knowledge of his relation to Asuncion. After all, Asuncion was in his household for an overlapping period before Victor took over. Not enough information to speculate so soon.

We also have the problem of his own story of a cruel father, beating him--this may have been the adoptive family who treated him this way. But hells-bells, PFELS, you got a terrific education, you are rich and have an incomparably powerful job.

Hmmmm. Sterile. Hmmm. Let's see. Fernando El Supremo/Patricio Picaso has had relations on screen with OBD and Mrs. Smeeth and assumptions he had them with Dr. Moto. My bet is on Smeeth getting pregnant. She's not over the hill yet. Susana managed it. Wouldn't that open up a can of worms.

Do you think the doc was telling Laz the truth or Patricio was telling Smeeth the truth?
 

That is, PFELS and Stefi are opposites and Boris is the scruffy looking one.

 

Many thanks, NovelaMaven, for another stellar recap. I loved many of the headers, esp. those already cited by others.

When I watched the episode, I was quite confused about how both Navier and Victor were tracking Reina. I figured that the fancy bracelet Navier gave her to replace the cross had a cheep embedded, but surely Navier and Victor didn't go together on the gift. So I then came to the same conclusion you did, NM, that Victor was tracking the ambulance, and he was able to do so because he was behind Reina's abduction.

I was also confused about the F/P and Dr. Moto sterility thing. It made little sense, though I like Jean's theory about how a possible pregnancy of Dr. Moto by Laz would cause all kinds of problems. What I don't like about it is that I'd hate to see Laz cheating on Greta. He seemed like one of the few reasonably sane and decent men in the novela.

I leave tomorrow for three weeks, and I'll be following the novela solely via the recaps. Thanks in advance to all the recappers and commenters.
 

My mistake, Anonymous, for misinterpreting your observation. Thanks, NovelaMaven, for clearing that up.
 

Thank you for the nice words, my friends!

Dear Anon 2:00/2:50/3:03:
You are much too kind -- I pretty much said what you did in the first place.

I'm glad you're enjoying and joining in on the conversation. Why not pick a name that's catchier than anon 2:00 etc? :)

Juanita -- Travel safe and have fun! We'll miss you!
 

NovelaMaven, your recap was just fabulous! The great headings have been mentioned already. Especially adored Victor brooding about being unfriended and Clarita wanting her mamá to survive in order to get more dresses.

Hopefully, this is now the end of Clara's brat phase.

For me Victor's having arranged for Reina to be shot and taken to this "unknown location" seems like a colander theory. I don't know how he was able to track her, but he definitely doesn't want her dead. Having a francotirador take a shot at her chest seems too risky for Victor to have attempted.

I suppose there's two possibilities about the evil guys holding Reina. a) the Belgian Wafflers hired these guys to shoot Reina to lure Navier into a rescue attempt or b) Victor hired these guys to do the same thing. In any case, it's all about getting Navier and Reina is just bait. But it sure seems like these guys want to KILL Navier, and Victor doesn't want that because of his papí's video threat that Victor would end up in jail if Navier died.

I also disliked Izzy's entering Connie's bedroom in the middle of the night. Too bad she doesn't pack heat, because he deserved to be shot for that. And he definitely did NOT deserve to be cradled in her arms with a theme song playing in the background. Against all my displeasure, they're definitely going for these two ending up together.
 

That theme song we heard during Connie/Izzy in the bed was different from the usual, IIRC. That can be a signal of change.
 

Doris- Yes, the song played was very romantic and warm and fuzzy-- just the OPPOSITE of how that scene of a lunatic ex breaking in with a gun made me feel.
 

I'm I the only one who wants to put "naptha" after FELS?
 

Which may have been discussed loooong ago but I missed it.
 

I'm I the only one who wants to put "naptha" after FELS?

LOL!!! I can't get past Fuego En La Sangre when I see 'FELS'.
 

Sara: Loved FELS-naptha! So funny. And, Doris, I also think of Fuego en la Sangre instead of our big guy when I see the initials
 

Maybe we should call him Naptha-Man.
 

Okay NovelaMaven, since you asked: I do have a screen name I am quite attached to, but it happens to be the name of one of our Reina characters! [No, not "Navier."] Feels weird to use it, but at the same time, I am reluctant to let it go. What is more, my true name is already "taken" by a frequent commenter on the blog.

Anyway thanks to you and Jean for engaging on my FELS/not brother comment.

I do appreciate all the great recaps and sharp commentary by all.
Anon 2:00/2:50/3:03
 

Maybe Clara should be sent back to the boarding school. The only other person to be raised by her own (biological) mother was Delphina, and look how well that turned out. Might be better for everyone if Clara goes away.

Does the CIA or whoever they are not have a sexual harassment policy? Esmeeth should file suit, take all the money she can get, and get out of Vegas. And take Clara with her.

Thanks everyone for keeping me on track with this show, as much as that's possible anyway. Should have been taking notes from the beginning.

Kelly
 

Anon at 2:00/2:50/3:03. Here on Caray you can pick anything you like to use as a screen name. It can or does not have to be legitimate elsewhere. Once you start using it, you will be recognized with a distinct "voice" apart from all the Anons we get.

We have some folks who intentionally take on names of characters in the telenovela--or something outrageous, as when they were watching Pasion or Fuego en La Sangre. They are hysterical.

+++

OMG--More bodies to count. One dead from yesterday, 2 attributed to Javier today, and the doc attending Reina by one of the Belgian Wafflers.

Javier needs to be invited to join the Blue Man Group as an honorary member.

Victor needs to put a cheep on Izzy.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Body count, cont'd. Forgot all four Belgian Wafflers by Javier as he comes into the room where Reina is being held.

Should we start a list of potential dead bodies? The Bordello Madam who has the Red Diamond (Victor's), the EMT guy himself (Stefi's, maybe) Cristian (Victor's, for sure).

Will someone volunteer to keep track while I'm gone for the next two weeks?
 

Miércoles Parte Uno

Navier has sneaked into the place where Reina is being held. He despatches two guards. The doc says that Reina needs antibiotics but dreadlocks assassin doesn't want details. The doc should keep quiet and keep Reina alive so they can finish off Navier.

Try turning it off and on again
At the hospital where Reina isn't, a very annoyed Vic is trying to reach Izzy. He leaves Izzy a message that the cheep he put on Reina isn't working and she has been kidnapped.

I didn't mention anything about red diamonds in my sleep, did I?
Izzy wakes up in Connie's bed. He says that she “habló dormida,” “talked in her sleep,” and said that she wanted them to be the kind of couple that wakes up together in bed, looks at one another and wants to make love and they don't stop at just wanting to do it.” He rolls over on top of her and puts that into action while we see Vic calling on his phone.

In his spare time, Victor replaces watch batteries in a booth at the mall
Finally Victor's cheep is working just as three Izzy replacement guys show up. In a flashback, we see Vic sneak into Reina's room at night and put a cheep in her watch while we hear his mental gloats. So Reina is double cheeped.

The crack law enforcement and National Security team (Christián, FELS, Esmeeth and Dr. Moto) are all looking at their phones or computers in Christián's office but they have no leads. Dr. Moto announces that one thing is certain - this was a plot to kill Navier. Esmeeth demands to know if Christián told anyone that Navier is an agent. Christián says no – not because she asked him not to but because Javier is blackmailing him.

Keep her alive for 10 minutes so we can kill her
The kidnappers appear to be holding Reina is some institutional building. Navier has found the room with the fuses and things. Dreadlocks assassin can't wait to kill Bolivar and finish the job. One of his henchmen asks what they are going to do with Reina when the job is done. Dreads mimes shooting Reina. The doc doesn't look too happy. The henchman can't reach the guards. Then the lights go out. Nav straps on night vision googles that make him look like a giant bug. Dreadlocks assassin has false confidence- he says that the bad guy hasn't been born who can take him. He little knows he is dealing with the Dragon on a mission to rescue his Dragona.

López 2.0 is reporting to Estefi. His guys are are watching the “camillero,” “stretcher-bearer” (ambulance guy). He is terrified and will find the diamond if it is the last thing that he does. Estefi asks about the other diamond. López replies that the second diamond is a mystery.

Asunción is a terrible judge of character
Asunción comes to see Estefi. Estefi tells her to keep it short, “no estoy por telenovelas,” “I'm not in the mood for telenovelas.” Asunción asks Estefi to help her save her daughter. Estefi asks why Asunción thinks she would be interested in saving the woman who is trying to steal her husband, stole her diamond and wants to see her dead. Asunción says that she thought that Estefi would understand after all she has gone through. “No mi habla si fueramos Carmelitas Descalzas,” “Don't talk to me like we are Barefoot Carmelites, ie, are so holy.” I don't care what happens to Reina, says Estefi. Asunción tells Estefi that she and Reina are united by a brother, a bond that should be stronger than their hatred caused by loving the same guy. Estefi replies that she is not sure she is in any condition to hear about that. Once again she says that she doesn't care about Reina and she would be happy if Reina ended up dead. Asunción admits defeat and leaves.
 

Miércoles Parte Dos

Dragon what, like 6? Belgians 0
Dreads tells his guys that they will wait for whomever is out there to come in. The doctor tries to make a run for it and is shot. Navier peeks into the room where Reina is then does a Dragon-like sideways leap into the room shooting one of the bad guys in the process. He shoots the other henchmen in short order. Dreads appears to shoot Navier but he is wearing the vest and is faking it. When Dreads comes over for the coup-de-grace, Nav shoots him. So much for these bad guys. Reina comes to. She says that she wouldn't mind dying if she was by his side. She asks him to take care of Clara because she is... but she passes out and the information that Navier is Clarita's father fails to be communicated to him once again. Navier tells Reina that she can't die. They have unfinished business – a life together. They have a future.

Everything is on the internet, right?
Clarita is on Vic's computer trying to find information about her mother's condition. [You'd think Victor would password protect his computer. I can't imagine what Clarita thinks she would find out. Maybe she's trying #Reina kidnapped on Twitter] What she does find is a letter from the “internado,” “the boarding school” saying that they have accepted Clarita as a pupil under the conditions stipulated by Victor – namely that her mother not be allowed to contact her. Upon reading this, Clarita asks forgiveness of her mother.

So much for Victor not wanting to kill his “hermanito”
Reina is back with us briefly. She asks Navier if this is real. He replies that he is her reality, her “verdad.” He asks her to be strong and hang on a little longer. He takes out her IV, picks her up and starts to leave with her. There's a shot and he falls to the ground but in such a way that he cushions Reina's fall. It's Victor. His henchman says that Navier is still breathing and asks if he should kill him. Victor says no. He picks up Reina and tells Navier's unconscious form that he loses again. It sucks to be born second. He wants to make one thing perfectly clear – Reina is his. Vic and his guys leave with Reina.

Greta is in bed still obsessing about a promise made to a dead person. [You can't hurt dead people. Dead people can't go to jail. What is the big deal here?] We see the flashback to her making the promise to Camila not once but twice. Greta cries out and Susana comes in. Greta wants Laz and Susana has to tell her that Laz isn't there.

The drama never ends in Connie's bedroom
Laz comes in calling Connie and Izzy leaps up out of bed in his underpants with a gun. The two guys exchange insults until Laz says that he came to tell Connie something important that Izzy might want to hear, too – Reina has been shot and kidnapped. Izzy goes straight for his phone and sees that there are 10 calls from Victor. He says that his boss is going to kill him.

He ain't a john, he's your brother
Estefi flashes back to her days as the porn star, Estrella. A guy comes in and says that he was sent by another guy. “How much is he offering?” asks Estefi. The guy replies that money is not being offered. He has come on behalf of her brother, Gregorio Perez. Back to the present and Estefi says that her little brother is hers, hers alone. [Maybe she's never met him. Maybe she just talks to him on the phone. [That would mess up our “it's not FELS” Crockpot theory.]


 

Miércoles Parte Tres

I know which blackailer I'd obey
Dr. Moto comes to see Esmeeth with the file on Christián Palacios. She says that his record is perfect. No scandals or investigations. His wife died in an accident with a horse. In comes FELS and asks to see the report. Esmeeth reports that she was able to hack into Christián's email and found a “linda” video sent to him by Victor. FELS and Dr. Moto troop behind Esmeeth's desk and we see the beginning of Mirta's sex tape. Esmeeth says that Navier apparently isn't the only one blackmailing Christián. She wonders which one he will give in to.

Christián gets a call from Victor. He tells Christián that he has rescued Reina. He says that he has a lot of things to discuss with Christián. He needs to listen and obey.

Victor brings Reina into the house. He is in a really nasty mood. He chews out Izzy for being completely useless. When he tells Asunción that Reina will recuperate in the house, Asunción protests that she was shot in the house and might be in danger. Victor orders her off the couch and tells her that since when does she offer her opinion about what he does. He carries Reina upstairs.

It's Boris Bosch the Belgian at your service
Esmeeth shares Asunción's opinion about Reina staying at Victor's house but FELS tells her that their people are guarding the place now, too. [Like that's going to help based on their record.] FELS has more information to transmit to Esmeeth. Victor has accused Navier of being the kidnapper. He says that their agents have found someone who can tell them where Navier is. Dr. Moto leads Boris in. His full name appears to be Boris Bosch.

Not only is FELS sterile, he's from Spain!
I guess the CIA needs the human lie detector because FELS and Esmeeth can't get anything out of Boris other than he is a financial consultant who used to advise Big O and now advises Navier. He doesn't know anything about assassins or trafficking in diamonds. FELS tells him that he can leave. “Au revoir,” says Boris to show that he is Belgian and leaves. Esmeeth yells that she is sure that Boris knows a lot more than he is telling. FELS replies that he will be followed 24/7. FELS wants to help Bolivar. Esmeeth says that she doesn't trust him and he makes more of his totally inappropriate comments about his desire for her. FELS gets a call. He has to go to Spain. His mother just died.

Clarita has recovered from bratiness but let's not tell Victor
Navier is back in his hideout. He was shot in the arm, which hardly seems enough to have rendered a Dragon unconscious but whatever. He gets out the first-aid kit and bravely puts some antiseptic on the wound with manly groaning. He sees on his tablet that Reina is back at Victor's place. Victor tells Reina that she was kidnapped and he saved her. Navier pours himself a drink and watches Victor take all the credit for saving Reina. Reina tells him that if it is true that doesn't change anything. He shouldn't get his hopes up. Clarita comes in. Reina asks to be alone with her daughter. Clarita tells Reina that she didn't want her to die and asks forgiveness calling Reina, “mama.” Reina tells her that there is nothing to forgive now that she has heard Clarita call her “mama.” Clarita says that she knows Reina is a good person and didn't send her to the boarding school. She read some of Vic's emails and found out that it was he who ordered that Reina not be allowed to see her daughter. Reina tells Clarita not to be angry with her father. This will be their little secret. Clarita says that she is afraid of her her father. Reina replies that she will protect Clarita.
 

Miércoles Parte Cuatro

Laz is lyin' about racing; Greta is lyin about maybe dyin'
Laz comes to Greta's bedroom. She is angry because he left her. At first, he lies and says that he went out with some friends. She replies that she doesn't believe him and asks if he is lying to her. Laz admits that he was lying and this wasn't the first time. Laz tells Greta that he lied because he needs to make money. He doesn't want her to support him. The only way he knows how to make money is by racing. Greta asks if there is another woman. Laz says of course not. Greta admits that she has been lying, too. When he thought she was going to therapy, she was being evaluated for a surgery that could let her walk again. There's a 50-50 chance it will work but the other 50 percent is that she won't survive the surgery.

But what kind of socks does the “marchand” wear?
Connie is filling Juanjo in on what has been going on when Susana shows up. Connie leaves. Susana says that she came to tell Juanjo that he was right – she is more like her ex-husband than he in lifestyle and tastes. There was something she couldn't tell him the previous night about why what happened can never happen again. She has met a guy – a “marchand” [Juanjo doesn't know what this means and neither did the English titles] an art dealer- who is the right guy for her. Juanjo says that he supposes that Susana strips for him like she did for Jaunjo the previous night. Flashback to same. JJ pushes Susana out the door.

Maybe Estefi will blackmail Christián, too
López tells Estefi that the singer/madam has disappeared after finding her place trashed. They both know that it was Izzy who tossed the place. Estefi demands that López find the woman. Christián comes to see Estefi at her request. She needs to speak with him urgently.

Of course you don't have an ulterior motive
Victor tells Izzy that Christián did what he was told but Navier escaped the police again. Izzy thinks that Christián deserves a “castigo,” “a punishment.” He offers to terminate the life of the cop with “mucho gusto.”

Are you sure you didn't confuse chilling champagne with treating a fever in your Secret Agent handbook?
We see an apparently naked Navier carrying buckets of ice to fill up an old-fashioned bathtub. He climbs into the tub. We see his back with the Dragon tattoo [Drink] and beads of sweat so I guess he has one of those quickie infections that produces a fever. [His hideout must have a commerical icemaker but not a shower? See week 3 where Reina treats a similar fever by putting Navier under a cold shower. If he can haul all that ice, how sick can he really be?] Anyway, Navier gets into the bathtub and in a weird scene, we see just Navier's manly legs emerging from the ice one after the other like whales breaching. [I guess they didn't make Eugenio actually get into a tub of ice.] As Navier sits in the tub of ice, his drink slips out of his hand and I guess he has passed out. The image of him unconscious in the tub looks a lot like the famous 1793 painting of the Death of Marat by Jacques Louis David.

[I always like to watch an episode that I am going to recap straight through before I start so I know what is going to happen. There isn't enough time to do that if I watch it when it is broadcast so at lunchtime I watched the episode online that was broadcast in Mexico. There were two very short scenes cut that I recall. One was where Victor told his henchmen that they were to make sure Reina wasn't harmed but kill everyone else. The other was a scene where Clarita tells herself that she was wrong about being mean to Reina and starts crying. She needs to work on pretending to cry so it wasn't any big loss.]
 

Jean, I LOVED your recap. If I had more time, I'd cite passage after passage, but I'm about to leave for the airport, so I just want to say thank you. See you guys in about three weeks.
 

Jean - Thank you for the recap and the snark.

That final scene with our Dragon on Ice had my telenovela beanie ha buzzing. I wondered if he was experimenting with DIY cryogenics. Gah. For a grazed bicep, that raging fever sure set in really quickly, while Reina has no antibiotics and no fever. (Yet.)

Those night vision goggles looked like they had google glasses attachment, too. But what do I know? He got the high end trim package on those things, for sure.

Wow, Victor was especially nasty to Asunción last night, just like he was with Susana the night before. I was appalled. The evil one must be hitting the limits of his patience.

I am SO over Susana. Ya basta! Grow up, girl.
 

Juanita - Have a good trip!
 

Just fabulous Jean! My top faves:

In his spare time, Victor replaces watch batteries in a booth at the mall

But what kind of socks does the “marchand” wear?

Are you sure you didn't confuse chilling champagne with treating a fever in your Secret Agent handbook?

...but really, I could have kept going. Yes, the camera just loves focusing on the Dragon's body perhaps hoping to keep us from thinking too hard about what is really happening in any given scene. Oh well. Works for me.

And Jean, how brilliant of you to associate Navier's image in the ice bath to David's Death of Marat. (And me, I was reminded of the ice tubs in "Aurora" -- how's that for low-rent furnishings cluttering the old brain?)

Nia
Good call on Reina being multi-cheeped! You too, Novelera! (I mean good call, not that you are yourself bearing more than one cheep or any cheeps at all, for that matter.)

So are we thinking that Boris Bosch of Belgium is Susana's "marchand." Three French words in one episode: merci, au revoir, and marchand.

And why are Christian and Estefania so chummy? I would HATE for him to be Gregorio?

And are we going to lose Greta so Laz and Moto can be a couple? NOOOOOO!
 

One yawning logic gap last night was why the kidnappers didn't try and contact Navier to tell him that they had Reina and lure him to their lair to kill him. Presumably, the kidnappers didn't know that Reina was doubled chipped and that Navier and Victor would find her.
 

Doris

Wow, Victor was especially nasty to Asunción last night, just like he was with Susana the night before.

I still contend that when Victor sat at his desk and smoked a pipe á la Big O, at that moment he took Big O's place in the hierarchy of maldad. Before that, as horrible as he was, he had flashes of humanity and likeability. Not anymore. Now he is PURE EVIL.
 

Thanks, NovelaMaven. I assumed that Susana was just making up the "marchand" but maybe you are right and it is Boris. Interesting idea.
 

Jean

One yawning logic gap last night was why the kidnappers didn't try and contact Navier to tell him that they had Reina and lure him to their lair to kill him.

Maybe not. Here is what I wrote on Tuesday:

One says they have to contact Javier Bolívar. Another says Javier is on the run. "I know," says the first guy. "He probably already knows all about this."
 

Ok. I had forgotten about that scene. "This" could have referred to the fact that Reina was kidnapped. I still think that sensible kidnappers, even Belgian ones, would have tried to contact Navier with their ultimatum. Dreadlock guy was in a big hurry to get the job done. But it's more fun to see Navier and Victor violating Reina's privacy by putting cheeps on her.
 

"And why are Christian and Estefania so chummy? I would HATE for him to be Gregorio?"
---- that same thought has crossed my mind. I dismissed it because it would be just too icky.

Jean - the fact that you noticed that yawning gap in logic means your beanie hat is slipping. ;-)

Hhhmmmmm . . . I'm having an early lunch so decodes to check out Cosita Linda on Looneyvision. Our Big O (Octavio) has reincarnated himself as a character there.
Sound quality is the pits, BTW, so I turned it off.
 

NOT 'decodes' but 'decided' to.... Darned autocorrect.
 

what a terrific recap Jean!

so Reina is "double cheeped" ha!

is FELS really going to Spain,
does his family look like a basketball team?
or was he adopted?

 

is FELS really going to Spain,
does his family look like a basketball team?
or was he adopted?

deb -- what can I say? You and Doris could really take your act on the road!
:D
 

Thanks Caroline and NovelaMaven for your recaps for Mon and Tues. Thanks Jean for Wed's recap.

So Navier has been shot yet again. How many times is that now? How long before he is shot again? Smart move to wear the bullet proof vest but he really should invest in a full body one. That was funny how an arm wound caused him to pass out while the shoulder wound he had back when Frank shot him didn't knock him out. And yes if he was really hurt he wouldn't have been able to carry all that ice to fill the tub. That was so funny how he decided to take an ice bath to cure his fever.

Good to see Clara is no longer being a brat to Reina. It was funny how she went looking online for news on Reina. Good thing she didn't find Victor's porn or worse the email sent to Christian.

I hope Reina remembers that it was Navier who saved her and not Victor.

I don't know what Asuncion was thinking by going to Estefy for help.

I didn't like how Izzy seemed eager to be ordered to off his rival.
 

Jean--This is really a great recap of a heart-pumping episode. I feel so sorry for Reina, Clara and Asuncion right now. I also feel really sorry for Izzy. Even if he's the furthest thing from being an elephant, he never forgets, ever, the failings in others.

I didn't associate Javier's ice bath with the Death of Marat until you put it down on paper. I wondered what on earth a really old fashioned tub was doing in Gregorio's former hideout--it didn't even look like it was in a bathroom. And, yes, where did he get all the ice?

You are brilliant. I had to go and look at the painting. I think we have an exceptionally clever and well educated writing team and director (who slip only occasionally).

PFELS *is* from Spain--or at least he's described that way in the beginning (as I recall). He doesn't have much of an accent, so we've probably forgotten. We don't know who his adoptive parents were or where they were from. I guess we'll find out if he really does go to Spain, we get to follow him--and if it really is his mother.

What I would absolutely HATE (for Smeeth's sake), is for someone to call Stefi and tell her he has to go away for awhile, but he'll be in touch and she says goodbye, hermanito, see you later.

Victor was at his most despicable--but I'm sure more despicability (!*@#??) is yet to come. This Dragon vs. Demon ('cause he certainly isn't any St. George) battle is to the death and it's only about 2/3 over.
 

Thanks Jean for your recap! & thanks for the info on the cut scenes, though thankfully they didn't detract from the story.

The ice bath scene was too funny! & poor Reina, being dragged from one place to another with a bullet in her shoulder. & it was so thoughtful of the Dragon to cushion her fall as he was falling unconscious.

Yes, Asuncion really is a bad judge of character. I can't really work up much sympathy for her though. Something about all her crying, and probably for keeping silent for so long.

It looks like the writers are going towards a possible Greta/Laz/Dr.Moto triangle, which I'm not liking. Plus Dr.Moto is still such a big question mark for me.

With all these cheeps, they're almost an extra character. Surely they deserve some credit in the intro with all the work they do in this tn.

& glad Clara ended her brat phrase. Those scenes were just so painful/annoying to see.

jlk
 

I meant Victor's memory.
 

Jean, thanks so much! Such a terrific recap! If I ever recap again [maybe it's better to say when] I hope to learn from the masters about putting those great headings at the top of paragraphs.

OK, I thought I heard something but no one else has mentioned it. I thought Clarita read Victor's email aloud and that it was a brand new one. By that I interpreted that Clarita was AGAIN going to be sent to the internado. He had already faked Clara out a couple of episodes ago pretending to argue with Reina over the phone about sending her again.

But the rest of you seem to think that Clara was reading the old email confirming Victor's instructions that the mother was not to visit from when he sent her during our 6-month passes phase.

I get a kick out of how fast wounds get infected and cause a fever in telenovelas. Actually, Reina had one as well. At one point the now deceased doctor said she was ardiendo, which made it doubly awful that Victor wouldn't take her to the hospital. He'd rather risk her life than have her get out of his control for one second.

The actor portraying FELS is Spanish, so maybe they're going with his family being from there to explain a slightly odd accent. But I don't notice it that much. I think it's harder for non-native speakers to detect accents.
 

Novelera--Yes, Clara was reading a NEW e-mail, but in it, the director of the "Lady School" says Clarita has been accepted, again, and will follow the instructions identical to the previous time Clarita was there, i.e. no visits and no contact with her mother.

So you are pretty much right.
 

NovelaMaven--Are we about ready for page TWO?
 

Anita, I was going to wait until close to show time, but I had a hunch you had something on your mind.

PAGE TWO IS UP! Continue chatting over there, guys!