Caray, Caray!

I think Nando and Edith did it but Edith was not sufficiently relaxed to enjoy it properly. Nando was remembering Diego's lessons on how to go about this and was very considerate and patient.

Soledad will have to see to it that Yomama gets lots of margaritas to loosen her tongue.

Sarai's parents better show up next week. I want to see what kinds of dysfunctional parents made her the way she was upon arrival.

And if Nick was too old, what would adoption authorities say upon learning that Johnny and Jen own a pole-dancing school?
 

Tks Cathyx
Not like Jardinera not to check in, I hope everything is ok.

I think Angel is going back to his wife, so Jen will be stuck with Johnny, maldita sea.

Did Soledad invite Yomama to the fiesta?

Ana looked beautiful.
 

Look that witch was not invited and yet nerve of her to show up any way i cannot wait until Fernando find out the child is not his i wish he go visit enqrice and i want to see her face when he announce his love for Ana,this is what i am looking forward too yeah.
 

Cathyx, thanks for the great recaps.

I liked:

Yolanda calling Soledad "Chola" and Soledad making suremshe calls Yolanda "Yola".

Yolanda calling Isabela "habibi". Our characters are multilingual!

Everyone dressing up for New Year's Eve at the Lascuráin's

I did not like:

Getting a child psychologist? Magda a stranger to talk to Alicia privately as they all listened. Give me a break! She needs time, talking to her friends/family and activities; not a shrink or counselor at this point and some PRIVACY. Fernando should have had the time with Magda to find a response to Alicia's situation somewhere between "no es para tanto" (It's no big deal) and having Alicia talk to "somebody" because he can not bear his daughter being in the pain of love in adolescence.


Will Enrique escape at some point and be a crazy man on the loose seeking revenge? Will he be a stalker? Not a spoiler just looking for possible interesting action.

I am okay with Johnny and Jennifer. Looks like eventually she could get the adopted family she wants if they marry. Ever since Johnny stopped acting and being all pathetic as Dototeo's indentured servant, I have liked his character much better. Sure am hoping Nico does not come to his senses and decides he wants her back. He needs to go back to Europe and take care of his son.

Can't wait to see how the party goes!

Jarifa





 

Thanks for the awesome recap!

So did Sol invite Yomama? I think that is weird even if she wants to be friends to help Ana.

Not a merry party for Ana or Sebs with Isa there. I doubt Fer will kick her out at this point.

Fer is so concerned with Lichis but I'm surprised he hasn't spoken more to Fanny about what's going on bet her, Leon and Lenin.

We are close to deadline day for Ana telling Fer the truth. Should be next week.
 

Carvivile, thanks for the deadline reminder. Ana said she would tell him after the holidays. I am wondering if she will follow through or just find more excuses to put it off.

Jarifa
 

Thank you CathyX! Your recap was detailed, captured all the drama, and made enjoyable "morning after" reading.

I'm glad Yola and Sole got together for a friendly convo. Ana has issues with it and doesn't trust Yolanda--but I hope the writers are transforming the character of Yo-Mama.

I thought it was totally inappropriate to bring in a child psychologist for a house call, and then be listening in at the door as the doctor assures Alicia "anything you tell me will be kept in strictest confidence". Bah!

Didn't Nando say, a month ago, that Ximena had broken up with him? It was when he first started showing interest in Ximena.

Also, if this whole Pablo storyline is just written to support the departure from the show of Kaay (the MCET theme song band), it has been sort of a waste of time, IMO. Pablo, with his donkey-bray laugh and awkwardness, was never a convincing boyfriend for Alicia, IMO.

J in Oregon




 

Oops--I meant to say "Didn't Nando say...that Ximena had broken up with him? It was when he first started showing interest in EDITH".

J in O
 

Perfect cathyx. Hit all the right highlights and love your insights.

So I agree, the whole Magda speaking to Alicia-poorly done. Like I said the other day, if Alicia withdraws for days, then this is way more than an a-typical tween romance. That girl had a serious self-confidence crisis, was used by Isa and lost her mother. Whether we liked him or not, Pablo got her out of that funk and now that plug got pulled. If you're going to show a young person grappling with all that, try to be realistic with how a psychologist would help her. AND LET HER TALK! Don't sit there and tell her how she feels. Cripes.

Undercover Soledad. Love it. But she really shouldn't have invited Yomama to the dinner. Isa inviting herself because she's the mother is little Diego--yeah, that would be a no and Fer SHOULD show her the door. They are divorced, she hurt his children and this is their family celebration. Period

Kinda like Betty and Bruno. But this Ximena coming back--what the blazes. Why are they retconning that she broke up with Nando and now she's coming back. Oh please make him misunderstand her letter--let her come back with a new beau and wanting to thank him for his past help and then bye bye.

Case of Jen--is single parent adoption not as much of an option in Mexico as it's starting to be in the states? Was surprised at Fanny's comment or is that strictly for plot purposes?

If Sarai is in the opening credits, I'm don't think she actual goes off with parents never to be seen again. And yes, I want to see these two idiots who have treated her like this.

Daisynjay
 

My teenager's in a funk! Call the doctor! We need a psychologist who makes house calls, STAT!

With an overly dramatic teen like Alicia, the psychologist should just move into the house.
 

I suspect that there will be 2 or 3 situations where Ana will start talking and then there will be an interruption.

Fernando has become a helicopter parent to Alicia, which isn't good.

When are these kids going to start objecting to these ridiculous nicknames?
 

Jarifa, I agree about an escape by Enrique. Let's hope he takes out Isabela. That will kill 2 birds with one stone.
I'm also not looking forward to Ximena coming back. Does this mean we will also have Pablo coming back in the future too? Hope not.

If I knew we were going to have so many children's love life stories in this one I never would have started watching it. Their love lives bore me and I'm completely turned off watching children's love lives.

I like Betty and Bruno too, but I wonder what was the purpose of Bruno and Manuela. This show just goes in too many meaningless directions.

UA, I agree about how many times Ana will be interrupted as she tries to tell Fer the truth about her other job. As many times as they are interrupted when they kiss. EVERY TIME!

 

Great job Cathyx.

I also think it highly inappropriate for Soledad to invite Yolanda to the party. It is not her house and don't care her reasons.
 

Hola Cathyx!

Totally agree with your comment:

"If I knew we were going to have so many children's love life stories in this one I never would have started watching it. Their love lives bore me and I'm completely turned off watching children's love lives."

I've turned it off the past two nights. This started out with great expectations for a good love story between Fer and Ana and now it has become a circus and soooooooo boring.
 

Thank you, CathyX!

Best part of last night's capitulo? When the orderly told a straight-jacketed Enfrique to push the button if he needed anything! JA, JA, JA, JA, JA!!!

Where is Nico, btw? He arrived home for dinner on Christmas Eve, and he hasn't been seen since.

Didn't Magda violate her patient's confidentiality? Daisynjay - You're right about Magda's technique. She never allowed Alicia to speak. Magda simply told Alicia how she feels. Geez.
 

Anyone that that goes to a psychiatrist needs to have their head examined. Do you know one that isn't weird, bordering on loco?
You'll get over it, how many times did you hear that one when you were heartbroken, but you did. Don't need a psychiatrist to tell you that. A hug works great.
 

Thank you, Cathyx. Great summary and excellent points made!

I don't recall Soledad inviting Yolanda. If I remember right, they just showed up because it was so dreary at their apartment on New Year's Eve and of course they can visit the baby whenever they wish, as per Fernando, no?. Happy to stand corrected of someone heard differently.

Magda assures Alicia that all is confidential while the three stand at the door. And one of them is a doctor! Novela medicine seems to include psychiatry now.

I did have to laugh the other night when Ana decides the baby is colicy, gets right through to Angel who tells them to come over, and magically cures it. Real colic takes weeks to iron itself out, as I recall so vividly from not one but two colicy babies! There are no instant curies. There is a lot of walking, burping, riding around in the car in hopes that the motion will put the baby to sleep. Little Diego Nicholas is such an angelic, quiet little guy and clearly not really colicy.

I do hate to see Sarai go and loved her sleeping in Ana's bed with Luz. Ana is a sport, whatever else we can say about her, and lovely with the kids. I want to see these terrible parents, too.

Someone said last week that this would have been so much better at 125 episodes. Amen to that. So much now is filler and off the rails at that.
Hope next week, after the holidays, begins to take some form for our main couple. I fear that we will have a lot more of Lenin/Leon/Fanny and Nando/Ximena/Edith instead.
 

cathyx and all of our recappers this week, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I so hate to say it, but I am losing interest in the show, so I am just reading the excellent recaps.

I know we are stuck with Johnny, but I think Urban said something earlier this week with which I totally agree: Johnny is a two timing jerk. Look at what he did to Ana and why would Jen want this guy?! I am missing the boat on that pairing.

What happened to that young woman we saw earlier on in the show that Johnny was trying to impress...the model or something...did she just disappear?

Also, when did the Bruno/Betty pairing happen? Where in the world would Bruno have met Betty?

...and what about Manuela? I am also not to keen on the Lenin/Fanny pairing and Leon is just too much of an immature hothead.

I am losing track of it all!

Fatima
 

Isa will probably spill Ana's secrets to Fer!
 

Isa doesn't know Ana's secret.
 

Don't know why, but Juan is the resident stud puppy in this show. He had Ana begging him to marry her, was using his position at the club and as a faux talent manager to sleep with women on the side, had both Edna & Dana, got Isabela hot and bothered and Jenny on deck. Are we set up for Jenny & Isabela fighting over this clown? I for one have not forgotten all the crude comments, leering and unwanted touching this sorry excuse has gotten away with.

Fatima, I agree, Juan cheats and two times and cannot understand why Jenny would want her best friends ex whom she knows does these things. Edna traveled to some other city for work, and who knows if she pops back up.

Ana said she was gonna tell Fernando on January 2nd, we'll see, but after all the expressions of love and intent on Fernando's part to be together, how does she continue to lie at night and expose herself to leering men?

 

I don't think those men exist in Ana's mind. She dances to go to a place in her own head/heart/spirit and is therefore capable of ignoring them. She doesn't interact with them and has no track record as a slut (unless boinking Johnny qualifies).

Confession time: I spent one summer as a bartender in a topless joint (no, I wasn't topless and wouldn't have worked there if that had been a requirement). I think about half the topless dancers tuned out the customers or they would have lost their minds.
 

Tofie, I honestly feel like neither Jen or Ana has a good self-confidence to feel they are deserving of much because of their poor background and struggles. Ana hit the luck button with Fer, but she acts as if she's fortunate that such a smart, etc. man fell for her. There's a borderline hero worship with her that maybe is breaking down a bit, but I still want more of a real equal relationship. Otherwise their "love" so far for me is a little off.

But Jen's love with her rich, smart man turned out to be a bust and I think she feels unjustly that maybe she isn't ready or deserving of someone loving her again. She has a safety net with Johny because he knows her, knows her background and accepts it. I see no passion or great romance there, it's like she is going to settle because well, it's what she should have based on who she is. Stinks but I agree this is all about shoring up this ridiculous actor who for some reason we are supposed to think every woman wants as her stud puppy. His ego alone is the turn off for me. And meanwhile poor Jen is being set up to endure this jerk till death do them part.

Daisynjay
 

Thx again CathyX for your assist.
My apologies to all of you FWIW.

I'm not prepared to discuss this one yet, as I don't know if Friday's epi is on Hulu--who rightly blames Uni for not getting it to them in time to update-- and I have egg on my face as it is re: thinking it was Thursday all day long til a coworker shocked me at supper Friday late evening. (Check your email, recappers.) Yes, it's a bitch gettin' old (at least for some of us)!
 

Totally agree with ALL the comments so far.

Cathyx, I love your recaps because of all your little snarky side comments that hit the dot every time !

Like a great many things in this novela I cannot figure out the whole Sarai, germ hating, little Miss Princess storyline. Couldn't Osorio come up with enough side stories for all of Fernando's kids that he had to introduce a new character who isn't really here nor there? What purpose has she served to further the plot? (Does Osorio owe her a bit part because he cut out too many of her scenes in PQEAM?)

The same with Don Nico: marries a sweet young thing gives some sage advice, then, one day, pouf out of the story. (is Nico a good friend of Ozorio's father?)

Edna: Johnny goes after her, she becomes such an integral part of the story that she's even invited to the big family wedding (although it looks like the Lascurains offer invitations like lollipops), gets a job at Chicago, gets another job at the Mansion, then pouf, she's off the show. (Is Edna perhaps a friend of Osorio's Playboy Centerfold (ex?) wife?)

Diego: well we all know what happened there.

Bruno: sees his mother after years and years of not seeing her, has lied to her for who knows how long about his true career, she finds out his true profession, then pouf, she's gone, never to be heard of again. (is she an old aunt of Osorio's perhaps?)

Manuela: falls for Bruno and vice versa, even to the point that Bruno confesses intimately that he's still a virgin, off Manuela goes to join a cult (WTF), Bruno, the dashing Prince saves his Princess from the evil cult leader, then pouf, no more love story no more cult. (was Osorio "late to bloom" so to speak, although with Niurka Marcos as his wife, one wouldn't think so (how did that hookup come about anyway?, another story, another time), or was he taken in by an evil cult group in his youth only to have broken free to share his personal experiences with us through his terrible telenovelas? )

Big mystery around Bruno: where does he sneak off to so quietly and stealthy in the night? Look he's a magician for a children's cancer ward, stealing the broken toys of his Patron to fix and give out to needy sick children. BIG PSA with the whole clan, then pouf, no more charitable visits or overtures of kindness or even showing Bruno leaving the house all decked out as a magician. (perhaps this was Osorio's charitable hospital contribution for the year, filming the sick cancer kids in the hospital)

Pretty college girl Ximena falls for dorky high school nerd kid Nando: next thing you know they are into some serious, serious sex that everyone seems to know about and which is broadcast to all adult show members, then pouf, off goes Ximena to straighten out her relationship with her never before seen or caring, sensitive mother and, more importantly, to fix her Bipolar Disorder (as if she were the Tin Man in Oz and just needs some oil here and there). Oops, but wait, she's coming back to throw a punch to Nando who jumped right into or up the skirts of vampire Edith. (I know, Ximena's mother must be Osorio's new squeeze.)

Oh I just can't go on.......

** Osorio can't stay on track,
** must have super bad ADHD,
** can't keep his facts straight,
** can't make up his mind,
** has tons of relatives and friends he owes favor to,
** is an opera lover at heart (probably thinks he can sing better than Enrique too),
** lost his true calling as a musician,
** because he changes the theme song and the group more than two thirds of the way into the show (thank goodness no actor substitutions so far)

Anybody want to play "Musical Chairs" or "Guess Who is Coming to Dinner" ??




 

You see, tofie, you bring back ALL the things that make me dislike Johnny. I suppose the Mexican audience sees something in this joker. He is no galan in my book.

Daisynjay, YES, yes, and YES! Perfectly stated and I love it.

Anon@1043, loved your summary; absolutely loved it! You've hit the nail on the head with your bullet points. Well done!

Fatima
 

tofie, one more thing. I will picture the two of us together throwing the evil eye at this fool Johnny every time he is on screen. This joker should have ended up in that cult.

I wonder how Rene Casados feels about his role in this show. He is such a good actor, but it is sometimes painful to see him in this Bruno role.

Fatima
 

I also love Anon 10:43 comments.

Fatima, don't know why and know this is a fantasy show but I see red when men treat women like this ass clown and I don't forget it. I also bristle over Fernando & Nics condescending mindset or whenever some guys gets grabby, in anger, sexually or to control.
 

Fatima, I'm guessing that he either accepted this as a challenge or he is enduring it for the paycheck.

Rene Casados is capable of massive overacting which we forgive him for since he is like actors of an earlier generation who were somewhat larger than life. I can easily imagine him with dark hair and period clothing in a swashbuckling role and he's my pick for the role of Nicolas Blair in my hypothetical Televisa Dark Shadows. We usually see him as characters with the gift of the Blarney (because he's a Libra) so this is either a challenge or... payback for something we don't know about.
 

I really think we here at "Caray, Caray" need to have a lobbyist at Televisa to get them to hear and listen to our opinions and clean up their act (novelas, that is). Boy could we help.

Telemundo is okay; they're just producing Narco-novelas anyway.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Who thinks that Fernando will find out about Chicago before Ana finally tells him? Who do you vote for to be one to break the news?

Doro
Isabruja
Yoyomama
Johnny with his big mouth
From the Internet
From a friend
From IkkyLizard
From. ????


I'll keep track if you want to vote.

 

Oh, Urban, you've probably got it right re Rene Casados and why he is in this show. I LOVE your Dark Shadows idea. :))

Victoria Gomez, here is my vote: Big mouth Johnny.

Fatima
 

Fatima, there was a Weekend Discussion about it a while back.

My vote for who tells Fernando is the Internet. That video probably went viral before Fanny even saw it.
 

Urban, I will have to check it out (weekend discussion). Thank you!

Fatima
 

Urban and Fatima :

Counted.
 

No way Ana tells and screws up her fairytale, unless Isabela forces her to.

My vote Isabela
 

On the topic of Rene Casados, I have to make a comment.

First, I bet he loves doing the role becaus of the physical comedy. Most actors enjoy a challenge of that sort and he is good at it. The rest he probably puts up with for the work and, again, the chance to do something different.

I first saw him years ago in a novela called Tres Mujeres. It is a classic because is was one of the first to give women some credit for brains, though the three women had a lot of typical soap opera problems. Norma Herrera - Soledad - was the mother of two daughters, Karyme Lozano is the younger daughter, who ends up with the divine and divinely handsome Jorge Salinas (in his prime looks-wise). Anyway, Karyme's character, Fatima, is an artist and during one of her break-ups with Jorge, she gets involved with a kind of artistic Svengali played by Rene Casados. I won't say more but he is very handsome, quite convincing and evil to the absolute max. Tres Mujers came out in 1999 and ran for more than a year. Too long but there were some great actors in it and a different kind of storyline.

UA - We should all take a shot a revealing our early jobs! They do built character and smarts about the world.

Jardinera - All forgiven as confusing days and dates has most of us flummoxed at one time or another. I changed cities and work this year and can rarely tell whether I am coming or going. I am way too old for such maneuvers!
 

Mati, do you think I could find that novela "Tres Mujeres" on You Tube. It sounds really good!

Jardinera, NEVER to worry. Good grief, you have a lot on your plate as do most of our recappers. We are simply grateful for all that you do.

Fatima
 

Anon at 10:43am, thank you and I agree with the others, great summary of all the lost parts.
To me, that is an obvious sign of a good/bad producer. How well things are summed up or how many things are left hanging. We all know which category this one fits into.
 

Fatima:
Tres Mujeres is on YouTube in a Playlist but I'm not sure that it is in a non-abridged version as Wiki lists the novela at 275 episodes of 45 minutes (extended to three times the normal novela length back then due to its popularity).

tlnovelas rebroadcast the novela from November 2012 to December 2013, not that long ago. So, the videos should be of good quality. It is also on "DailyMotion" , but I'm not sure if it is complete there or not.

I hate to start watching a novela only to find out that there are missing episodes.
 

Oh, O/T

I vote for anyone who wants to help, AND HATES SPOILERS, to assist in revising a novela's Wiki page(s) (in English the spoilers are worse) and take out all the SPOILERS as you read on the page(s).

Yes, I know Wiki doesn't have a NO SPOILER policy and spoilers ARE allowed, but still why take out all the mystery, excitement, and 'edge-of-my-seat' moments just because some guy has already seen the novela and can't shut up!

I hate when they do that! If you read such a Wiki page, you'll know who marries whom, who kills off whom, etc. ,etc. And of course one isn't forced to read the Wiki page, but I, personally, like knowing the other useful details such as actors' names, technical specs, writers, set location, etc.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Good recap.

Anon. you really nailed it, so much is hard to believe.

If they ever bring on a 6 year old so Luz can have a boyfriend, it's time for all of us to abandon ship.
 

Anon 1043 - YES!!! to everything you said! I am angry with myself for watching this tn, concerned about the brain cells I have squandered. However, I'm sticking with it because (1) the Caray bloggers are interesting and hilarious; (2) I have accumulated a hefty list of Spanish verbs from it, and (3) I feel like I'm so far committed to the tn, I want to see it through to its inane end. In all honesty, though, I could not care less if or how Fernando finds out about Ana's pole dancing. I don't even care if Fernando decides to marry Yomama, if Nando decides to marry Isabruja, or if Enfrique decides to marry Angel (OK. That last marriage would be a funny twist.)

Tofie and Daisynjay - I have no idea how any woman on the planet can find Johnny - who is ugly, uneducated, unfunny, disloyal, and narcissistic - attractive. Blech.

Furthermore, I don't understand Yomama's surprise at her daughter's capability for evil. Yomama, after all, gave her daughter the voodoo Barbi doll to play with, apparently going to great lengths to make an identical Ana-la-nana costume for it. Like her daughter, Yomama 'ain't nothin' but a gold digger.' She is a knowing accomplice to her daughter's theft of Fer's $. In this instance, the apple falls not far from the tree.

Rant over.
 

First, Jardinera, don't you feel bad about missing the recap. All our recappers go above and beyond and we're grateful for all you do! I went through all of Friday thinking I had another day of work the next day since being off Monday threw me off. Drinks on me on the patio for all who have ever done that!

Anon, I love your post! Boy,that was painful to read. I had totally forgot about Bruno's mother so shows how some of these "big" plot points just go poof. I often feel that Osorio wings it as he goes. Something doesn't seem to work, he ditches the plot line, a performer doesn't seem to fit his idea, bye bye, gets a great idea for a plot and hires in someone and when it goes flat we are left with the person to wonder WTH? they are there for (Sarai - case in point, and that stupid chauffeur).

I don't think anything will change any time soon.

My vote for the Chicago reveal of Ana--she'll blow it somehow herself. Isa is too obvious, Eeky is nuts so Fer wouldn't believe him. The kids would have shown him the video when it was available if it was going to be them. I vote for her in trying to keep it secret and take down Doro, she actually screws up and does something to make him find out. The way these people love to eavesdrop on each other, all it would take is to have him overhear a conversation with Ana and Fanny. I still think he'll be more angry that everyone knows but him than the dancing itself.

Daisynjay
 

WOW I watched 3 Women when it first came out. I KNEW I recognized Soledad but couldnt put it together. Thanks so much..OMG Tres Mujeres was the one which got me hooked on Spanish TNs. Funny I don't even remember Jorge. I remember Fatima, I was in love with her for years after that. And who could ever forget Soledad in that TN.
 

RVH
We already have a love interest for Luz. Remember they brought in Leon's son Mau !! And they have already had a play date !
 

Many thanks to recappers and commenters, especially of Friday's episode!

Anon 10:43--yep, you nailed it. Craziness abounds. As far as dropped storylines, anyone remember the crazy superhero-fitness-karate guy next door who came bounding over the fence around the trampoline and introduced himself to the kids? Another favor checked off Osorio's list?

J in Oregon

 

Oh Thank you Mati for a trip back in time to Tres Mujeres. That was one of those which was truly addictive. Was our Bruno Fatima's evil boyfriend? I'd watch it again if it were avail on DVD with English subtitles. Holy Smoke was it really sixteen years ago? Ctippity I'm surprised I'm still alive. "-)
 

Victoria,
Thanks for tracking down Tres Mujeres. It really is a blast from the past, as Kirby says.

Yes, Kirby, our lovable Bruno was the evil boyfriend. I was very new to novelas and was mesmerized by a lot of it and by his pure malice. Jorge was Fatimas's great love. Erica Buenfil was the other daughter. Lots of other well known actors made their way through it at one point or another.

I would love to see how it holds up. I think we are all glad to be alive! LOL
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

We better not talk about how wonderful Tres Mujeres was or Televisa will come back to bite us in the butt by producing a remake !
 

Victoria - You are so, so right on that one. Praise can result in refritos! LOL


 

I have the condensed DVD of Tres Mujeres, but my experience of these has never been good. I want to see all of JS's performance in that!

TN writing has become very sloppy in recent years and no network is in the clear. Telemundo did some really dumb things a few years ago and there were a couple of series I stuck it out through that I now wish I could get those hours back.
 

Urban OT

Would you be able to look and see how many episodes are shown for your condensed version on DVD, so we can compare to the Playlist or standalone episodes on YouTube and see what the difference may be for those of us who would be interested in watching this novela. I had heard that JS and EB were fantastic actors in this novela.
 

Condensed DVDs aren't usually broken into chapters in the same way; the action is continuous. Also, what is more telling is that the DVDs have less than 10% of the total footage. According to Wikipedia, TM has 275 episodes; the DVD I have is only 2 discs, which can't be more than 10 hours total.

I just checked the set I have, which is 2 double-sided discs. Total running time is 555 minutes. If we take 275 episodes, multiply by 45 and then by 90% to account for avances and title sequences and divide 555 by that result we get only about 5% of the total series.

So look for the episodes or wait for a rerun because the DVD will definitely disappoint.
 

Thanks Urban,
Tomorrow I will look at YouTube and Daily Motion to see if they have all the complete ~45-minute long episodes in case anybody else wants to watch it besides me.
 

I forgot to say, WOW only about 5% of the complete telenovela; imagine how much great stuff one looses when they go for the DVDs.???
 

I saw a number of episodes of Tres Mujeres last month when I was in Mexico, and really enjoyed it. I would say it's held up well, but I don't know about taking on a TN that long, personally. It was being rebroadcast on an all TN channel (sorry, can't recall the name). Jorge Salinas was such a baby-face back then. It must have been fairly early in the story line because he had a very bit part and I have heard that he started out that way, but he caught the eye of viewers (ahem) and they enlarged his role as they lengthened the TN until he ended up the galan. Yes, there were a bunch of other familiar faces, too.

As for this mess of a TN, I'm about to throw in the towel. As others have said, the plot is all over the place, I don't like the Ana character, Jorge isn't doing it for me, teenie bopper love stories are NOT interesting, and in the case of Pablo and Alicia, obnoxious. As for Johnny, I just flip the channel whenever he comes on because who needs that level of annoyance. I am enjoying Isadora, and if Enrique starts lumbering around as a crazed, drooling, homicidal maniac, I might have to stick around for that, lol.

It seems to me that MCET is trying to be all things to all people. It's trying to be family entertainment, but it is not exactly suitable for young kids, and as an adult, all the endless kid stuff is boring. It's trying to be funny, but let's just say that Mexican comedy doesn't export well and 'nuff said. And I've never bought into the fallacy of 'wholesome' pole dancing, either. It's sleazy business and no amount of window dressing gets around the fact that Ana is being paid to provoke lust in strange men. Ick.

Thanks to all for the fine recaps, but I don't think I can take much more.
 

I have complained in this blog many times about what is missing from the condensed DVDs. While there are many series that are bloated these days because of standard minimum lengths and extensions the editing of material into these DVDs goes way too far. While most of them keep the best love scenes they tend to eliminate the great confrontation scenes, which are always very satisfying and sometimes much more interesting.

The other issue I have with these is that Televisa doesn't often pay for the music rights to songs that appear in the original broadcast. If many of the phrases of a theme song are repeatedly used that will screw up the entire music soundtrack on the DVD. This was not the case with the 1993 Corazon Salvaje, but that was edited down to just under 4 hours, which missed a lot of great stuff.

What they really should do if they aren't willing to release entire series is to simultaneously shoot a movie version or a mini-series version that makes sense.
 

Hulu is advertising Novela Express. They condense novelas down to 15 episodes. Some of our favorites have been abridged and are availalble now. I haven't been tempted -- just too much of a hatchet job for me.
Serial drama is meant to go on for a while; the characters become part of our existence for a few months.

Carolina - Interesting story about Jorge in Tres Mujeres. It might well have been his break-out role. I have come to favor the four-six month ones over the years, but they seem to be a rarity.
 

Sorry to come so late, but there are a couple details about thursday that will put into context the beginning of friday's episode.
First, Fernando did argue and yell at Ana that if she had gone along with him and not allowed Alicia and Pablo's relationship to go so far, Alicia would not be suffering so much. He got so angry at her she yelled back for him not to yell at her, she reminded him that she did not respond well to him yelling at her. She then lifted her hand as in 'talk to the hand, gotta go' sign and he yelled for her not to leave him talking alone, 'NANA!!'. This got her really upset and he realized he had gone WAY over the line, esp toward the woman he loves.
So he walks in Ana's room when she is sleeping with Sarai and Luz and he tries to whisper an appology to her, but as she wakes up she gives him a 'slap heard 'round the world!'... then she woke up and it took him a while for him to convince him to get her to come out of the room to talk...
They end up in the kitchen and as he is trying to understand what happened and appologize again, he offers to her to slap him again. She takes a couple of fake swings and they do end up kissing and making up.

DaisynJay, I agree that Ana's infatuation with Fernando was a 'hero-like' visualization. But this 'vision' crashed into a million pieces when he decided to marry Isa. She came back to the house mainly for the kids sake, but i have to think that also she had realized she was in love with him and wanted to be near him, no matter what, even if this would be a torture for her seeing him with Isa.
WHen things got ugly with Isa and the kids, Ana became the kids protector and eventually when Fernando saw the light about Isa then now it was new hope for any future for Ana-Fernando.

UA, totally agree on Rene Casados and most condensed novela DVDs are a mess... even the Corazon Salvaje DVD is split into 3 or 4 parts/sections, two of which are in the wrong order on the condensed DVD. i believe it is parts 2 and 3 that are out of order.

I agree that this show has lost focus and direction. the teenage and young kid love stories gotta go and Osorio better get his focus back on wrapping up the main couples in a reasonable way. Or this will be the last Osorio production I watch no matter who is starring in it. I doubt Mau Islas would go with him anyway.
 

Fernando went completely contrary to current conventional wisdom about teen love relationships which is that to make something forbidden makes it more attractive. He should have allowed Alicia to date Pablo with standard teen rules as in 10PM curfew and double dates only. He might have looked less attractive to her this way if the other couple on that hypothetical date regarded him as uncool.

Not sorry to see this kid off to Argentina because Alicia can do better. Here's hoping she doesn't become vulnerable to Isabitch as a result.
 

Is that Lenin kid related to Osorio in real life?

His attitude towards Fanny gets on my nerves. He borders on sanctimonious at times. He's another character I just switch off literally or mentally.

I wish someone would bring him down a notch or two.

Fatima
 

Great discussion points this go around--especially the anti-Osorio rant! (I'm off today and can indulge myself, again, finally!) I would add that he's no doubt an out of the closet Marxist and thus our little boy loud mouth Lenin is a serious love interest for Fanny, but what would I know?
==============

Martai: Je-je! I would have sworn this was a Mejia production, it's been such a circus. What a come down from Salomé and PEAM. Anywho, because of those, this one's plug cannot be pulled, nor fiddled with, I am sure. Bummer.
=============

Cathyx:

"We get a bit of cake porn as YoMama feeds herself a piece of chocolate layered cake." Great line, Cathyx! And, I cannot help thinking the obnoxious writers were snidely "dissing" those of us who are either addicted to chocolate or are the "pleased-to-be-plump" crowd among us who enjoy a great American dessert tradition and are not averse to expressing that appreciation! Good on you, Yolo!
===========

I am with Urban A and Martai when it comees to the 2 week condensed novelas now on line via Hulu +. My experience is with the cd of Corazón Salvaje 1993. $20 for 4 hours of C/C-less condensed crap soup. The passion and the intrigue were either missing totally or barely there. I have watched a couple of the famous novelas since that are on YouTube--Cafe con Aroma de Mujer--the 2nd one, with Guy Ecker--and La Mentira-- also with Guy Ecker. They are all there and free of commercials--and full of the passion and intensity of intrigue everyone ever raved about. However, they are ones that are 20 years or so old, but if you've got a good ear for the language (it's a C/C Free Zone, essentially) and a good rendition of the episode by one of the fans who uploaded it successfully, then it is well worth the effort to catch the show on YouTube.
 

From my now ancient vantage point -- 20 years of novela watching -- I would say that Osorio has had a very uneven track record with some other real messes in his history. There was a goofy novela starring Victoria Ruffo called Vivo por Elena that, like this one, took unexpected and inexplicable twists and turns. The Telenovela Forum group renamed it Vivo por el fin.

I swore off Osorio and was later shocked to find that Mi Pecado was tightly written and well done AND done by Osiorio.

I will certainly avoid Osorio comedies like the plague in the future. There is way too much free rein for someone with his tendencies. But, honestly, I haven't loved most Mexican comedies I have watched. Many have tended to veer off into strange directions, even ones that started strong like Las tongas no van al cielo.

Avoiding Osorio, Meija and refritos sure cuts down on the possibilities! Thank goodness that this group gets the word out on quality ones appearing now and then.

J. - had no idea that Cafe was available on YouTube. That may well be up next for me. Everyone says that it is a true classic.

For anyone who likes historical novelas, the Spanish novela, La reina, Isabel is available on Hulu. NOT abridged or otherwise chopped up and about 40 chapters.
 

Traveling Lady:
I saw Isabel - a Spanish production. Is that the one you're talking about? The one that takes place at the end or middle of the Inquisition?

Telemundo has not put their product on Hulu has it?
 

Jardinera,

Yes, that's the production of Isabel. How was it? I know it was a big hit in Spain but wondered how it would seem to an American audience.

I haven't seen any Telemundo programs on Hulu but haven't been keeping track. Having cancelled my cable (picking up Univision, however, with a traditional antenna to my surprise!), I am less aware of what is on Telemundo. Back in my cable days, I did watch a few good ones on Telemundo.


 

Telemundo posts their episodes on their own website, but I had problems with it when I tried to watch TdR a few weeks ago.
 

Traveling Lady/Urban A: I have 2 tv "streaming" devices--a Roku Box and the Amazon Fire stick. I saw the entire production via Roku last year, a program which I throughly enjoyed. I only got English CC's, but I found after a while some of the antiquated Castilian was eventually intelligible. Yes, you can get Hulu+ streaming on line any time you sign up and pay the $8 monthly charge or with the investment in any streaming device.

As for Telemundo, the drug cartel novelas are too bloody and shocking for even me, which is saying something. I get Telemundo on local cable, but if no cable, I could pick up locally here in Ft. Myers/Naples area no problem. I missed the launch of Tierra de Reyes with Aarón Díaz and just began watching Cap 1 online for grins this afternoon. Nice to see AD again, but I find that a Tejano-American show doesn't really grab me. I prefer a south of the border--a truly Mexican program has more of interest to offer culturally.
 

Traveling Lady, I can't remember if you watched Que Pobres, Tan Rico, but it was actually funny and a good comedy. The plot stayed on point and there seemed to be a coherent storyline.
 

Cathyx - I have heard that Que Pobres was good, amusing and on track. I need to look for that and will definitely look for La Reina based on Jardinera's experience.

I saw two good ones on Telemundo some time ago: Donde esta Elena and La Reina del Sur. I haven't followed trends since then but I keep hearing about the move to more narco novelas. Ugh. I don't put La Reina del Sur in that category because of the quality but I guess that Telemundo had such success with that novela and a few others that they have gone pretty singularly in that direction. Ugh again.
 

OT!

Jardinera - My parents live in Cape Coral. In fact, many years ago, when Ft. Myers' US41/Cleveland Ave. had nothing more than a McDonald's, tiny Edison Mall, Red Lobster, and a handful of small stores, I graduated from Bishop Verot High School. (And, believe it or not, Sanibel/Captive had one hotel and a handful of small houses/shacks.) I'll send out a mental 'hello' to you when I next visit them!
 

OT/EquadorBound:

Back atcha, amiga! I was first here and won a company trip to Captiva for a sales meeting with my district. Anyway, that was in 1991/2 and the place (along with me) has definitely changed!! I think, depending on the time of year, that the area actually expands here to about 1 million plus. My personal opinion is that only the traffic increases. I hardly recognized it all when we finally came down to resettle here.
 

Traveling Lady: La Sombra del Pasado is coming after La Gata. It is a refrito of another classic, La Manantial, which might also be on YouTube. It is one of my all time faves.
 

Traveling Lady:

Watch El Manantial on YouTube. No one, I mean no one, can beat Adele Noriega and Mauricio Islas together !
I watched it on YouTube and loved it!
 

Part 1 of 2

Coming in late, as usual

I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. (Understatement of the week)

Glad to see that Jardinera resurfaced and was only a case of losing her mind. Welcome to the club! We greet you with open arms, only rivaled by the scene in Titanic where at the end all the souls in the sunken ship welcome Rose back.

“… but in time she will get over it and feel better. (If this is all it takes to get her past this, then I will say only in a TN)”

… and in a Brady Bunch episode. It seems as though the Lascurain family is the cure all for dysfunctional young people and attracts them like a magnet. We started out with Ximena then followed by Edith, Sarai and Pablo. They all seem to become attached to this family where they find their nirvana.

“And if Nick was too old, what would adoption authorities say upon learning that Johnny and Jen own a pole-dancing school?”

But the pole dancing is only for fitness, that’s ok, isn’t it? Maybe we should rename the business “Pole dancing for fitness”

“Did Soledad invite Yomama to the fiesta?”

Another vote for no.

“i want to see her face when he announce his love for Ana,this is what i am looking forward too yeah.”

Agreed. That is the only redeeming feature of this travesty. Anything to give Zerobella a hard time!

“Will Enrique escape at some point and be a crazy man on the loose seeking revenge?”

Great idea! This could provide a vehicle for Fernando to find out about Isa’s baby. Seeing how Reecky is now, it could also provide some genuine laughs! The only problem is that he would have to act really crazy to distinguish himself from everyone else.

Magda’s visit to see Alicia: Yeah that was funny with everyone hanging on every word. Why didn’t they just sell tickets and make some popcorn?

“Didn't Nando say, a month ago, that Ximena had broken up with him?”

I believe he did say that. I really don’t care what happens when she gets back. The letter sounded harmless; except for the brief mention by her that she still loved him. I guess we’ll have to wait to see whether this love is as a human being or as a boyfriend. Still this looks like a looming conflict for Edith.


About Aliblo: Way too much drama. This seemed more like a breakup between tweens, not two 15 year olds. But I’ll cut Lichita some slack. She lost her mom less than 2 years ago so being able to love someone else must have been hard (although the novella portrayed it as very trivial so right now few if any in Viewerville are invested in her feelings and struggle). Then when she does find a way to express her love this gets the hatchet. Her crying is because she was left… again. I would not be surprised if she would never love again. Fast forward 3 years and they can make another novella called La Que No Podia Amar… uh wait… is this title already taken?

For those ready to throw in the towel… stay insane! Just for a little longer! A new novella will be replacing MCET early March which means that MCET will be ending in the US early April. Like others I too have lapses of sanity that tells me to abandon ship, but I have taken up meditation to stay insane and finish this off. After all, I am having too much fun with all of you.

“Best part of last night's capitulo? When the orderly told a straight-jacketed Enfrique to push the button if he needed anything! JA, JA, JA, JA, JA!!!”

Totally agree! I could not tell whether Reecky’s expression was because he was loony or whether it was a reaction to the intern’s statement. The intern should have added “… with your nose sir”

Sarai: Looks like she drank the Lascurain Kool Aid and is now fused to this family. Her parents (or mom) will have to pry the Lascurain family from Sarai’s cold dead hands. It is interesting how these young people seem to join the Lascurains like this family was the Marines.

“Lenin/Leon/Fanny and Nando/Ximena/Edith”

 

Part 2 of 2

“Lenin/Leon/Fanny and Nando/Ximena/Edith”

Oh no, please. I may be insane, but not a masochist. These people can go any way they want. Maybe a chipmunk will fall for Fannie’s teeth. The story took what could have been a sweet innocent first love and turned it into the Young and the Ridiculous.

Johnny: I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again (insane people are allowed leeway). After the third episode of this story I could not stand him. That guy is a lewd, selfish, two timing stealing parasite. Yet it seems that this is the kind of character that Mexico loves; as it seems that the audience is willing to overlook these “minor” defects and see him as a sweet well intentioned bumpkin. Either Televisa thinks we are idiots or this reflects the intellect of the viewing audience.

Jen: A Greek tragedy is more cheerful than this! At this point she is in such a lose-lose situation that being dead would actually be a step up. I just don’t get it. One would imagine that Nico would come to his senses, ride in on a white stallion, declare his regret and love and the two would ride into the sunset, but his turning into Nicthedic has gotten so out of hand and so extreme that there is no redemption for him. I just don’t get it. (It seems that with this novella, this phrase is turning into a mantra.)

“Diego: well we all know what happened there.”

Huh? Was I absent that day? What did I miss? :-)

Anon at 3:43: Well said. But you can’t deny that people with attention spans of a gnat are loving this novella! It is the new normal :-S The opening credits foreshadow this menagerie as the characters run around seeming lost in a maze. We the audience get to do the same in the novella.

“…but I see red when men treat women like this ass clown …”

Yes, and my red goes infrared when this type of disgusting behavior is written off as funny or cute or is condoned by not having the offending character get his deserving anvil.

“I really think we here at "Caray, Caray" need to have a lobbyist at Televisa to get them to hear and listen to our opinions and clean up their act (novelas, that is). Boy could we help. ”

Uh, no. Totally disagree. We could only provide mature, insightful and intelligent opinions that would make the viewing experience motivational and meaningful. This would go over many of their heads and Televisa would not have any of this, unless of course we throw in some mundane Benny Hill chasing women routines in there.

Victoria G: My vote is for Ana. Yeah, I know, I am insane. This goes against all novella illogic.

“Tofie and Daisynjay - I have no idea how any woman on the planet can find Johnny - who is ugly, uneducated, unfunny, disloyal, and narcissistic - attractive.”

Ecuador Bound, are you saying that Osorio might reveal that the women attracted to him are extraterrestrials? If he’s done super hero Karate guy, why not ETs? (PS: Dang, I missed that episode!)


 

I wanted to share this link with anyone who is interested in trying to figure out what the big deal is in Mexico about Johnny (AU).

It lists the 5 amazing qualities we should all love about him. I could barely read the article before laughing so hard and rolling myself off my bed.

I just can't come to grips with how this actor has brainwashed his fans, producers, fellow actors, etc. He might have a nice body (nothing so spectacular in my mind), but I still can't get comfortable looking at his mashed up face. The link is from Televisa so I don't think there are any spoilers.

http://television.televisa.com/telenovelas/mi-corazon-es-tuyo/noticias/2015-01-13/mi-corazon-es-tuyo-5-razones-cuales-johnny-es-irresistible/
 

Votes to date for how Fernando finds out about Chicago / Ana.

2 for Isabela
2 for Ana
1 for Johnny's big fat mouth.


Soliciting more votes.


 

If Johnny had been shown in a different light, we would probably love him. Can't deny, nice bod. Let's wait for his next TN.

BTW, Pedro Fernandez has jumped ship to Teleundo, probably the reason he was replaced by David Zepeda. Ill??? I don't think so.

The one directors have ruined for me, never will recover is Daniel Arenas, always will be an imbécile. Need I say more, CI y La Gata. And Los Mejia
 

All I can say is it wont be Ana that reveals Chicago, otherwise we couldn't stretch to several capitulos of Fer being mad.

I'm thinking Yomama.
 

Yomama is in the best position to find out, but will she risk Soledad's wrath over this?
 

Variopinta:

Agree about DA who showed a lot of potential in "Teresa" then ruined it with CI and completely lost it with LG.

I just don't understand why Televisa can't turn out more seasoned actors. IMHO not many male or female actors of the younger generation show the guts and potential of their peers such as Fernando Colunga (his acting skills climbed incredibly with each successive novela), Mauricio Islas, Arturo Peniche, Cesar Evora, Adele Noreiga, Kate del Castillo, and even Lucero just to mention a few.

Sebastian Rulli is making a great effort to pick the right roles and not be pigeonholed into any one type, and doing quite a bit of theater work also.

I don't think David Zepeda had the same luck (even as a protagonist, he acts like an antagonist) and guess what, he wants to be a singer on top of everything.

And what ever happened to Cristian de la Fuente after his great role in AB?

William Levy has left for Hollywood's golden hallways (hope he takes Ximena Navarrette with him and she never turns around), Eduardo Yanez is back from the golden pastures of Hollywood only to show up with some campesino mustache and hairdo.

There are too many to list, but where are all the young talented actors that Televisa should be turning out? Instead we get the refritos of Victoria Ruffo, Maite Perroni, and others.

At least Telemundo seems to be trying to let some actors break out of their typecast and experiment. I just wish they would get away from nacro-novelas.
 

My vote is that Doroteo tells Isabela who then spills the beans to Fernando.
 

Oh sheezo peezo. The shaving cream was the best episode if this TN. I laughed till I cried.
 

I vote for Isabella, too.
 

Can't wait to see Pedro Fernandez on Teleundo. I'm trying to imagine him as a narco,ja, ja, just doesn't work.

CdlF was in Quiero Amarte, which was aired in the afternoon,I caught it on occasion. Why didn't they have that on instead of that stupid La Gata. I only saw a little of Teresa & I don't remember DA at all.