Caray, Caray!

Gracias NvMv : I'm psyched for tonight! I should have the recap up by noon tomorrow. I am confident we'll not be disappointed, despite all the anvils still waiting to fall.
 

My TV does not show tomorrow's finale as 2 hours. Interesting.
 

Woohoo!!

El Señor EC
 

Dos meses después... lol

-El Señor EC
 

LOS MIZ Monday March 23 Episode #118 Part 1

HHH in DF
Lil's getting all remorseful about fatally shooting her ma, the only person who ever really loved her; Nuria says, "it was an accident, these things happen; here have a drink." Lil is pretty serious now, "No, Ma's dying!" Genaro rushes in yelling for them all to get the F*** outta there. They've been found out! Ponce's men [!!!] are outside. Nuria's drops an ID card in her haste to escape. By the time León & Rodriguez break in, the rats have fled. León picks up Nuria's card. Rod calls Dan.

LA MISERICORDIA
The family is gathered in the hall (where else?). Fern's still hanging in there. One by one, they take a turn at having last words: she "understands" and "accepts" Abel and begs forgiveness "Life is too short." More dying words to Chelito "Sorry you were so hurt; be happy." Sweet sadness.

Out in the hallway Dan tells Lucha about the fleeing rats. Lucha can only think about Fern's impending death. Dan & Pab go off to do policework: "Block all the exits; particularly all highways to the north." "What about private airstrips?" wonders León, the smartest one in the group.

A DARK STREET
The gang of four in is a car barreling down some city street; Gen is at the wheel. They're all nerves, getting alarmed by a random siren off in the distance. Nuria thinks it's just a wreck, but Diablo & Gen think they might be dealing with transit cops & a roadblock.

AFIAD
Dan gets news over the phone & tells Pab that the fugitives were on the highway where they attacked a control point and killed a couple of guards. Now Dan & Pab are convinced they'll escape by plane.

A CLANDESTINE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP
The gang of four boards a plane. The pilot pulls the door shut and the next thing we hear of them is they have crossed the border and are hunkered down in Austin TX.

LA MISERICORDIA
The family is still gathered in the hallway when the cura emerges from Fernanda's room (presumably after having heard her last confession). "How is she?" She's in peace, but she wants to see Lucia. "Are you sure about that?" says the incredulous Lucha. So Ig & Luch go in. Fern is repentant.; she admits to having been cruel & egoista. "You didn't deserve what I did. You're also my daughter" Poor Fern must be scared for what faces her on the other side because with her dying breaths, she beats a dead horse about how much harm she caused. Luch will forgive & forget. Ig begs forgiveness. "She may have done wrong, but she is the L-O-O-V-V-E of my life." Fern's eyes close; her head slumps; she's gone...as the violins soar heavenward.

It's all over; Ig is having trouble accepting. Lucha tries to find words to soften the blow. They go out into the hall to tell the rest of the assembled family. Elena breaks down at the sight of Ignacio — it's obvious.

 

Recap Part 2

AFIAD
"Sh*t, we've lost them; they've crossed the border in a "mini-yet" They're in DEA territory now. "You think they'll be back?," wonders Marisela. Diablo's destroyed, but Dan's sure he will be back for him & for Lucia.

Then, Dan gets the call: Fernanda's dead.

DAN'S PLAYPEN & NURSERY
Octavio & Zorraya are lolling between the sheets in the big bed, when he, feeling a pang of responsibility toward his baby daughter, disrupts their romance by phoning into the deathbed scene. Zorraya whines about this. Chelo tells the shocking news and of course, he's on his way to come pick up lil Vick. As he's pulling on his pants he blurts out to that goggle-eyed siren that Liliana killed her own ma. Zorraya gasps to herself, "Does this mean, I won't get paid?" (I made that up, but surely it must have crossed her mind)

CASA DURAN
Deya & Carl, who I guess have been babysitting, gush over baby Vick and babies in general. "Four kids?...Don't scare me!" Does he actually say he's going to be her husband? All smooches and smiles. Deya's enjoying her hormones, and it looks as if Carl is too.

AFIAD
Marisela is tired (huh? what's this? uh-oh!). She's going home to go to bed (her bed, by herself) she insists, brushing off the persistently insinuating Evaristo. Evaristo, however, presses his suit (and I'm not talking about an ironing board, athough he sure could use one of those too). She says she still doesn't get it, like where he's coming from. He keeps trying to tell her how he feels for her in his blundering way and it sort of comes out by accident. She's astute enough (and receptive enough) to hear it and admits the same. They kiss, awkwardly but ardently across the desk. So...they go off to bed together at his place.

LA MISERICORDIA
Nurse Nancy recruits Abel to go in an be present for el Acto de Disfunto; Pab arrives and hugs Elena; Dan arrives and hugs Lucha. Chelo hugs her daddy. Tears spill down all cheeks.

AUSTIN TEJAS, EEUU
The Lone Star flag flies alongside Old Glory in front of the statehouse. Zorraya, down there in the DF, has called her erstwhile friend and procuress, Nuria, with the emerging news. It's about Fernanda. Lili enters wanting to know whats going on. Diablo rather baldly tells her that her jefa se murió.

CASA DURAN
Dan is in a suit; Lucha is in tears. Everybody's in black. She's sad about never having had a loving relationship with Fern; she's overcome by Fern's last words. "She's in peace, now." They hug. Elena gives coffee to Pablo; she's worried Dad won't get over this. He arrives on the scene to say he doesn't know how he will either. How sad it is to try to sleep alone in their marriage bed after 35 years of the good & the bad. Now, he's got to go bury his other half.

MISERICORDIA
Gonzalo is awake!!! Abel tells him about the forgiveness & understanding his mother gave in the moments before her demise. He's happy; Gonzo's sorry he won't be able to make it to the cemetery, but he's all wrapped up in bandages like the Mummy.

RODRIGUEZ' BEDROOM
Rod & Mari have spent the night together, but she's already up bright & early and nagging at him to get dressed for the funeral. She carps that he hasn't even got a black tie or anything appropriate yadda yadda, etc. and in the midst of all this he manages to propose to her in a backhanded sort of way. And she goes for it.

BACK AT CASA DURAN
Ig reminisces over a photo; he admits to Elena that in all those years with Fernanda, he never forgot Isabel, his true love and Lucha's mother. He admits Fern's errors, but that he loved her deeply. "You never know what you have until it's gone."


 

Recap part 3

AUSTIN, TX
Diablo & Nuria pace around the joint. He's preparing for battle, he's not sunk yet! "Ah no?," she insinuates. We're going back?, why on earth? This is the land of opportunity? "Sorry sweetie, but we won't be staying lon; we're just here to rest & recharge." "What, you're going to go after Lucha?" "Whadda you think?"

Gen & Lil, in another room; she wakes up groggy. He had given her a tranquilizer cocktail to ease her mental anguish. But she tearfully remembers "mi mami, mi mami " Gen warns her not to let Diablo see her like this. She says, "why not, I AM like this; I killed my mother" and she asks him if he believes in hell, to which he replies, "We're living it, no?"

LA CASA DURAN
They're holding the wake, I guess. Neno, dressed in civvies, walks up and condoles with Chelo.

Mari shows up with Rodriguez who has no black tie (in fact no tie at all) but he is wearing a jacket and slacks. Pablo takes the opportunity to rib him about his appearance but Rodri gets the last word with his announcement of their upcoming marriage.

Chelo demands to know about Lili and the bad guys. Dan tells her they've fled. Iggy blows a gasket about Lili killing her own mother. He can't forgive; he charges Dan with her capture and bringing her to justice. "She's gotta pay for this crime."

Dan will do all he can. Iggy goes on up to his room. Abel tries to follow, but the assembled company call him back. Better let Iggy work it out alone. This certainly gave me pause; I wasn't sure it was a good idea for him to be alone; ...but my suspicions were unfounded, because ...

TRES MESES DESPUES (arrgghhh)

DAN'S DAYCARE
Lucha's holding li'l Vicki while Dan gripes about that worthless lout of a nephew abandoning his kid to the care of others while he plays around with that up-to-no-good hussy. And just on cue, who walk in together? Dan scolds Octavio about dereliction of duty and frivolity, while the girl sneers and says petulantly, "Why do you let them treat you like a baby?" Octo declares that he's going to get his own apartment with his inheritance money and move out of there; he defiantly takes the kid from Lucha's arms and flaunts false promises to distance the baby from all of them. Lucia is aghast; Dan says, "Let him."
 

Recap Part 4
AUSTIN
The rats are packing and Nuria can't understand why they would leave such a nice place. Reason #1 is that they've run out of money, says Diablo; and #2 is that their business is there and not here. And by the way, what's up with that piruja you & Liliana hired? "Oh, she's got it all under control, totally "in" over at Dan's house, down to the smell of his shoes." [this seems to be a theme with Nuria, the shoe-smelling thing]. NO! says Oleg, not HER! "Ohhh," says Nuria, "you mean Lucia." So Oleg has to hear what he doesn't want to: that Lucia and Dan are a thing, all lovey-dovey and the family adores her and it couldn't be more perfect. Oleg says, well, we're going to wreck all that. Nuria has no patience with his attitude.

LA CASA DURAN
Lucha & Chelo gab about Octo and the girl who gives them all mala espina. Chelo thinks she's up to no good. Lucha admits she is suspicious too. The most important thing is to try to locate Octo so they can stay in touch with the bebe.

Chelo then tries to convince her dad to help out in la fonda; it might lessen his negative feelings to be busy doing something useful. He's still not able to engage with life. They worry.

AFIAD
Dan & Pablo are looking mighty fine all dressed up in suits; in fact, everybody in the joint is wearing a suit. They're waiting for Leoncito to do her makeup. It's wedding bells in the police station! Then, this thuggy guy wanders onto the set; wait a minute, it's Pajarito, our songibird, the hapless victim of gang violence from several episodes ago, who exchanged some much-needed rehabilitation for a little pertinent information about his drug connections. Well, now he's here with un pitazo bien cañon for Dan, it's the least he can do for all the help Dan gave him. "Can we talk in private?" It's about a shipment arriving either today or tomorrow (how convenient); it's at least as big as the one at Veracruz. Dan presses him for more details which he either can and won't, or simply can't, give. Pararito gets testy and reminds Dan how much credit he deserves for Dan's success in the drug war. If anybody finds out he's been to AFIAD he's toast, Dan agrees he's been a good informer. They shake on it. Be in touch. So is this a setup, or the real deal?

Marisela makes her appearance in a short white number with a long tulle veil attended by 2 lady cops all dressed up in jewel-tones. Dan's going to escort her to the altar.

LA MISERICORDIA
Elena is in her session with Marina. I imagine there's been plenty to talk about of late. She's been worried about her dad, blabbity blah, Marina suggests the only other psychiatrist in Mexico City. Why don't you let Carlos take a crack at him. "And by the way, how's your husband?" "Oh Pablo's great." Marina thinks Elena's so normal now, she's ready to stop therapy. They can still be friends... Elena expresses gratitude.


THE DARK, MEAN STREETS SOMEWHERE
It's nightime, in a car, Lil & Genaro and a suitcase full of money. She's taken the last penny out of the bank. Gen has the same opinion as Nuria. Why the heck are they going back? Lily rebuts any argument in that direction. "I don't care what you think, We're going and that that" Genaro argues that it's as if they're asking to be arrested. Lil says Diablo's lost all street cred & they are the laughingstock of el cartel The only way to go forward is to get Dan ...and ... of course, Liliana still has to get her revenge on Lucha.

See you all tonight for the final. It says 8PM -10PM EST here in NJ.

 

LXV,

Thank you for feeding our hunger for all the glorious details in this penultimate episode with your witty prose.

"Evaristo, however, presses his suit (and I'm not talking about an ironing board, athough he sure could use one of those too)."
hehehe!

We need to keep a light touch, don't we, especially for what seems to be ahead.

I'm glad you mentioned mala espina. How funny that Lucha uses the same term that Dan used three months ago. Can we officially dub Zorraya as the Mala Spina Girl?

-And there's Genaro (who has probably read his Sartre) with his fatal self-awareness

-And Nuria, who is apparently-- and reluctantly -- going to go down with the ship, though she would much rather find some local Austin rats to hide with

-And Ignacio isn't allowed to grieve? (three months is nothing!) (I wasn't worried about him blowing his head off or anything -- he was too angry and bent on avenging Fernanda's death for that.)

-If there's such a thing as a 'good death,' then surely Fernanda had one, including a chance to say goodbye and make things right with all the people she hurt and with her God. Meanwhile, the truly 'good' people continue their earthly suffering.

-"So is this a setup, or the real deal?"
Pajarito me dio una mala espina. He seemed much too nervous when he was talking to Danny. This does not bode well...
 

Nuria's dialogue is chockfull of interesting slang. Last night she said this in reference to Fernanda's death.

"Ya se la cargó la tía de las muchachas"

I thought it might be one of the myriad euphemisms for death itself, but apparently not. It turns out to be one of less vulgar equivalents of the very Mexican curse word, ch...da, which in terms of vulgarity is roughly equivalent to the omnipresent English f...d up. Another euphemism for the same word that we hear over and over in the dialogue is fregada

And since I'm here again and running my mouth (or my mouse), here's another line that I especially loved in your recap, LXV:

"Gonzo's sorry he won't be able to make it to the cemetery, but he's all wrapped up in bandages like the Mummy."
LOL!
 

excellent recap lxv!
something about the way you write pulls me right in and sets me down next to our novela people, in a warm kind of way.

loved the scene where the Diablo family escapes in the night, Genaro hunkered down at the wheel, Diablo riding shotgun, the girls in the back.

wasn't there any one else that Fernanda could ask forgiveness from before she died, did they walk the hospital staff through as well?

oh, did Elena and Pablo get married?

and where was Adriana and her stroller?

 

Fine writing, LXV.

Zorraya gasps to herself, "Does this mean, I won't get paid?"
Or am I going to get killed before I get paid?

"Mari shows up with Rodriguez who has no black tie (in fact no tie at all) but he is wearing a jacket and slacks."
But Marisela is wearing that horrid biker jacket with the spikes on the shoulder.

TRES MESES DESPUES (arrgghhh)
lol

"Oh, she's got it all under control, totally "in" over at Dan's house, down to the smell of his shoes."
I'm not sure I understand what Zorraya's role is.

"Elena is in her session with Marina." What?! Marina is still alive? Or is that her ghost talking?

-El Señor EC
 

The Finale is tonight ?

I'll be Tivo'ing Pretty Little Liars: so I'm going to miss the 1st hour!


 

Thanks, LXV! One episode to go ... and all the anvils will fall at once.

At this point the 2 main antagonists are so weak and confused that it's just a matter of time. I wouldn't be surprised if they turn on each other. (Porras must have been awfully busy during the filming because I haven't seen enough of him to consider him a viable threat to Dan...but it is the last episode, with the most surprises.) And since Zorraya has had more than enough time to come clean (tres meses), I expect an anvil for her too. But then again she’s bound to show her true colors now that Lil Vicky will be around, so Octavio may have to return to Dan's place with his tail between his legs.

Spanish student
 

Gracias a todos for all the great comments. I am so looking forward to tonight's presumed blockbuster (¡ojala!). There's still a bit of ground to cover before closure and I hope they don't disappoint.

Genaro: Sartre? LOL NvMv; but you're so right; we've needed his dark philosophical musings to keep this band of lunatics grounded.

And I'm with you about Pajaritos hot tip. I'm guessing Dan's on the skeptical side of this; I sure hope so anyway.

deb Elena had a civil wedding, but we are waiting for the boda in church with the white gown and 10-foot train & bouquet tossing.

I love your description of the Diablo family outing: "Diablo family escapes in the night, Genaro hunkered down at the wheel, Diablo riding shotgun, the girls in the back." So evocative!

El Señor I guess you think Marisela is due for a makeover; well, I certainly do. But I also think the point of all her encounters with that rough'n'tumble bumpkin of an Evaristo was to show that they are indeed birds of a feather. I wish them well. And thanks for your sympathy about the meses despues . I saw it coming, but honestly, it does take a bit of momentum out of the drama.

Thanks Spanish student I do hope you're not right about Lil Vicky being tangled up in Zorra-ya's nefarious doings But I wanna see that dope of an Octavio eat some crow.

They have two whole hours. I expect and hope to see every single character resolved and sent on their way. How many weddings are in the offing? How will el Diablo meet his end? etc, etc.

Until tomorrow; not sure how long it's going to take me to write 2 hours worth of recap, but stay tuned. El Señor, listo?
 

I am ready to recap, but I want to wait until I can watch it with subtitles on telemundo's website. Lately I've been missing to many details without the subtitles.

-El Señor EC
 

El Señor; I'm also going to wait to watch the webcast because of certain things I know I missed. But I'll be right behind you. Can't wait. I'll post as soon as I can pull it all together, but that will most likely not be before 1 east coast time.
 

LXV and Señor,

Would you mind if I posted a little summary of the evening's greatest hits? (I don't want to step on anyone's toes.)
 

NovelaMaven Please, by all means. More is More! I won't have time to read them until I get my own posted anyway, and it will be a treat for me. So summarize away. (I was sort of hoping you would !)

That's the vote from my corner, and thanks

 

Anyone got the recap from last night's finale ?
 

A Brief and Lazy Resumé of the Final Reckoning
(Starters while we are waiting for the main course from LXV and El Señor EC)

Lucía and Daniel
It was a set-up! Genaro had kidnapped informant Pajarito's daughter and forced him to double-cross Daniel. Poor Daniel leads his unit right into Diablo's ambush. All his men are killed and he is captured and tortured. (Rodríguez, Marisela and Pablo are not part of the raid or they would have been killed too.) Lucía shows herself to be an Amazon in battle, a WARRIOR QUEEN! She saves Daniel and presides over the defeat of the forces of evil.

At the very end of the episode, she and Daniel are married in the Misericordia chapel, surrounding by the beaming cast.

The Diablo Family goes down in flames. Literally.
The Diablo shoots Genaro. (Or I think he does. At the end, they are all waving their guns and threatening each other.) Lily sets the Diablo on fire and he pulls her into the flames. They die together.

Marisela and Evaristo get married. They scarcely have time to warm their bed before Marisela's intuition that they are needed on the job sends them back to the AFIAD, though thanks to their wedding, they have been spared a place on Danny's ill-fated team.

Nachito has some kind of minor accident so Pablo takes him to the hospital. Therefore he is not around when Danny is rounding up his suicide team.

Pablo and Elena finally have their traditional church wedding. We catch up with them as he carries her across the threshold of the bridal suite.

Nuria and Zorraya rot in jail, enemies sharing a cell and preyed on by bigger and badder perras than themselves.

Consuelo's suitors are not in the picture. She is busy with the thriving restaurant (maybe the shooting has given it a certain cachet) and lends her strength to her father and her granddaughter.

Ignacio has gotten past the worst of his grief and is enjoying his family again.

Carlos and Deya are together. We don't hear anything about their wedding, nor do we get to see their baby. If Carlos is doing criminal profiling, he is keeping it to himself. Deya gives a loud naca cheer at Lucía's wedding and everyone smiles indulgently (although someone really should have smacked her).

Abel and Gonzalo are together. Gonzalo had a tough course of chemo and hides his hair loss with a stocking cap, but he is smiling and looking good.

Adriana has just met someone -- the son of the bigwig who hired her and Abel to design a socially responsible project. Her hair is still unbalanced but now it has a little curl to it.

Marina is alive and well. Sor Milly is teaching her to pray.

Octavio realizes he made a mistake in falling for the little zorra and neglecting his daughter. Jerk.

Mini-Vicky follows Deya's fashion footsteps. (Check out the headband and bow.)

Roxanita, Memín and Nachito live happily ever after. Or at least until adolescence.

Icky Ivana has the decency to stay away.

~The End~
 

Los Miserables
Capítulo 119 final
part 1 of 2

This is all from memory. I watched the show at 2am without subtitles, then went to bed.

At the reception for Maricela and Evaristo, Daniel receives a call confirming the place and time of the drug shipment from the little rat. When the newly weds go off to a hotel room to have sex, Daniel and a team head back to AFIAD to prepare their operation. Pablo is not among them because Nachito is taken to the hospital with stomach pains.

Daniel and the team arrive at the location, an old abandoned building, only to find packages of sugar and to find themselves as sitting ducks. They are in an open area with nothing but the crates of sugar for protection. Liliana, Genaro, El Diablo and his men have the advantage of surprise, height, cover, and fire power. A shootout ensues.

There is no cell phone signal inside the building, so Daniel could not call for reinforcements. One of the cops managed to escape to make the call, but Genaro killed him. Realizing that they're outmatched and not thinking clearly, Daniel decides to give himself up, hoping El Diablo will spare the rest of the team. After the rest of the team gave themselves up and were neatly lined up, El Diablo's men just guns them down. A massacre.

Now, this is where the villains of TV and movies always go wrong. They have captured the hero, and there is no one to rescue him. Kill him already! But no, they have to take him to another location, tie him up, torture him and explain why they are doing it, giving the hero or his friends time to figure out an escape or rescue. So, El Diablo takes Daniel to another abandoned building to do just that.

Meanwhile, Maricela, thinking about Daniel while in bed with her new husband, is wondering what other party everyone has gone to. It must be an operation. She tries to call Daniel, but Daniel has no signal. She calls Pablo, who is at the hospital. Pablo heads to the AFIAD to organize a second team. Maricel drags Rodriguez from their wedding bed to join the team.

While all of this is going on, Octavio leaves Zorraya to take care of smelly Vicky. Consuelo drops in to see her nieta, and Zorraya lets her know that she wants to have Octavio to herself without the baby around. Chelo takes Vicky home and tells Lucia what happened, that Daniel was correct is suspecting Zorraya of being a bad person. Lucia heads over to Zorraya's place to confront her. When did they find out where Octavio was staying?

Zorraya and Nuria are having a chat, when Lucia shows up. Nuria escapes, but Lucia overpowers Zorraya. Octavio returns to this scene, prepared to be upset with Lucia. But when Lucia tells him what Zorraya's intentions are, she tries to flee and Octavio finally sees her for what she is. Lucia gets her to reveal an address. Lucia finds a gun and heads out to find Nuria (?). She instructs Octavio to call the cops and not let Zorraya leave.

I am a bid fuzzy on the sequencing, but Lucia and Octavio show up at AFIAD to confirm for Pablo, that Daniel has fallen into a trap set by El Diablo. Pablo and team go to the abandoned building, but they are too late. All they find is the slaughtered bodies of they fellow officers, but no Daniel.

Octavio and Lucia, brandishing a tire iron, show up at Nuria's place. Nearly chocking her to death, Lucia tries to get tell all she knows. Lucia forces Nuria to call Olegario to find out where he is. Eventually, they take her to AFIAD, where she is interrogated by Maricela and Rodriguez. They promise her witness protection in exchange for information on El Diablo. They promptly renege on the promise once she talked.

-El Señor EC
 

Los Miserables
Capítulo 119 final
part 2 of 2

Back at abandoned building #2, Daniel is all tied up and tortured, and Liliana is taking photos and sending them to Lucia. This is her revenge. Olegario gets upset with her for doing this and slaps her. She immediately draws her gun. The two of them face off, but Genaro convinces them that they are on the same team. Daniel is the enemy. Olegario tells her to kill Daniel, but Liliana can not pull the trigger. Olegario puts a gun to her head.

Genaro, in an act of love or stupidity, lunges at Olegario to save Liliana. Olegario shoots him in the abdomen, and on the way down he shoots Olegario in the hand. As Olegario tries to flee, Liliana shoots him, in the leg, I think. But he limps away. Genaro lies dieing, begging Liliana not to leave him to die alone.

While this is going on, Lucia shows up at abandoned building #2, by herself, and is promptly taken by two of Olegario's men. When she hears the shots fired, she overpowers them, takes their guns, shoot one in the leg and knocks out the other.

Lucia finds Daniel just as Liliana is leaving. They face off, guns drawn. Liliana pulls the trigger and pulls the trigger and pulls the trigger some more, but she is out of ammo. She knocks the gun from Lucia's hand, and the to go at it mano a mano. Liliana is no match for Lucia, who is all powerful today. Lucia punches her in the face with so much force, it sends her flying across the room, and she hits her head on a column, knocking her out.

With Liliana out of commission, Lucia unties and picks up the practically dead Daniel and proceeds to exit the building. But she runs into El Diablo first, who is distraught that she doesn't love him after all he did for her. He is going to kill her with his bare hands. As he is choking her, she knees him in the groin, and he falls back, impaled on a piece of re-bar. But just his leg, so he's still alive. He just can't move. Lucia picks up practically dead Daniel and continues to the exit.

Liliana, having regained consciousness, is in full on crazy mode. She laughs, carrying a container with gas, as she looks for Olegario. Is this typical of telenovelas for the villains to completely spiral out of control in the final? She finds him, impaled on the re-bar, begging for mercy. She pours the gas on him and explains why she has to do this.

In the mean time, Pablo and team has arrived. Lucia promptly faints, as her superhuman strength leaves her. They hear the screams as Liliana lights up El Diablo, and El Diablo holds on to her, so they both burn together. At least one of my predictions turned out correct. El Diablo is burned alive.

The End.

Ok, there is more, but once the villains are dead, that is really the end of the story. Ignacio and his family and happy for the first time ever. Pablo and Helena finally gets married. Gonzalo, wearing a knitted cap, is up and around with Abel. Adriana meets some guy. Deyanira finally looks pregnant, and Carlos is not ashamed to be seen with her in public. Mariana is, inexplicably, still alive. Daniel and Lucia get married. Everyone, who is still alive, is so happy. Except for Nuria and Zorraya. They are cellmates, and they are not being treated well in prison. Nuria is forced to clean shoes with her tongue.

The End.

I enjoyed doing this, and I will miss this little group. Tomorrow I start over from capítulo 1.

-El Señor EC
 

NovelaMaven, thanks for you summary points! Remember, I wanted all of us to do a recap, so no toes were stepped on at all.

-El Señor EC
 

LOS MIZ Final martes 24, 2015 Cap # 119 PART #1

BODA #1—Marisela & Evaristo
Pab & Dan discuss the Pajarito thing. Dan's a little worried about how their informant seemed, a bit too nervous. Pablo wonders if it could be a setup. They agree they have to be alert.

Elena congratulates Marisela on her dress. Mari looks radiant and thanks El back for all she's done (huh?) Pablo carries a moaning Nachito in in his arms. He's fallen & hurt his left leg. The take him off to the hospital to get checked. Mari wrings her hands.

MISERICORDIA—Gonzalo's Room
Lucha tries to feed the recalcitrant Gonzalo whose appetite has been curtailed severely by the chemo. Abel enters and wants to know why Lucha isn't at Mari's wedding. She's not in the mood for parties; she's got patients to take care of and other things to deal with. Gonzo takes advantage of this to continue his "poor me" negativity; Lucha does her best to peptalk him into eating his jello. Abel decides to give it a try.

AN APARTMENT, HOTEL ROOM SOMEWHERE (WHERE DOES OCTAVIO LIVE ANYWAY, ANYMORE?)
Octos & Soraya enter with the baby. I guess these are temporary quarters until he finds a real apartment. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) He's on his way out, already late for an exam. "You expect me to take care of the kid?" she says in disgusted disbelief. He's actually leaving Lil' Vicki with Zorra-ya, who still has no idea how to care for a baby. "Gotta go; See ya soon." Zorra grimaces at the pink bundle she's just been handed. The baby starts to fuss; she's freaking out "You stink something terrible." she whines through a wrinkled nose. Doorbell rings; it's Chelo. I guess Zorra in her desperation called for help. By now the kid is crying. "Why didn't you change her diaper, what's the matter with you, you spoiled brat?" Zorra answers "Not in your dreams will I change a diaper. Just take her away so I can have fun with Octavio." Chelo chews her out.

BODA #1—Marisela & Evaristo (cont'd)
Festive wedding dancing, they carry the bride around on a chair. She tosses her bouquet. Dan phones Pajarito. "It's going down in Tlanepantla" (a northern suburb of Mexico City, for which a google image search will yield more than one gruesome decapitation. [just a warning!]). He gets the address. We then see Pajarito conferring with Genaro. "When do I get my daughter back?" "When we get Ponce."

HONEYMOON HOTEL ROOM #1—Marisela & Evaristo
He can't get her dress undone; which isn't surprising because he barely knows how to dress himself. She realizes she's left her shoes at the restaurant where the wedding took place so she sends this total klutz out to go pick them up, sparing him the frustration of trying to undress her. How romantic! Ev goes back for the shoes, but the place is empty. "Where'd they all go?" wonders Evaristo. The waiter says they got a call and decided they had a better party to go to. Everybody's GONE—ON A MISSION!

AFIAD
All our guys in formalwear have all changed to regulation black T-shirts & vests; Mari & Ev won't be joining them this time (they're busy with other things). Dan tells the team to watch out, this could be dangerous.

LA CASA DURAN
Chelo tells Lucia about Zorra-ya. Octavio's leaving the baby with her was a bad idea. Lucha's determined to do something about it.


 

PART 2
LUNCH WITH NURIA (AT ZORRAYA'S? I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS)
Nuria gives Zorra a card; "This is where I'm staying." She wants a progress report: So how's it going with "your guy"? "Oh he's dreamy & good in bed, and he's got a ton of money, but that pest of an uncle." "Oh, don't worry about that uncle, today, I promise you, he'll be 6-feet under!" "How do you know?" "Diablo's set a trap for him." The doorbell interrupts and Lucha bursts in. "Like it or not, we have to talk!" ...and she spies Nuria! "Explain what YOU are doing here!" Nuria bolts for the door; she's gone. Lucha gets tough with Zorra, "EXPLAIN what is going on, and NOW!" Zorra tries to squirm out by saying it was a coincidence. Lucha sets her straight. Nuria is a delincuente who hangs out with drug traffickers and murderers. Zorra starts to squirm bit at these accusations. Lucha strong arms the girl, who breaks under pressure and spills all the beans including about the ambush that is playing out as we speak in:

AN ABANDONED BUILDING IN TLANEPANTLA
Cop cars arrive in the parking lot outside with sirens blaring; the brigade is observed from an upper floor by Team Diablo. It's the typical empty warehouse in a state of semi-ruin, but this one has some interesting architectural features. The cops enter and find an elderly night watchman who seems to know nothing. Dan doesn't like this.

Diablo gloats with his crew about how Dan won't live out the day. He gives orders over a walkie-talkie to some plaid-shirted henchmen with guns, telling them to spread out in formation. Dan's guys do the same. They walk through a large open space where they find boxes of "drugs" marked oddly enough "U.S. Army". Dan samples the white powder; it's sugar. This whole thing is a trap! they are like sitting ducks.

HONEYMOON HOTEL ROOM #1
Ev's returned with the shoes; he blabs about the "other" party, but he's evidently had a drink or two on his own. The get into bed; it looks like they're having fun.

ABANDONED BUILDING IN TLANEPANTLA
Ferocious gunfight ensues. Lil is shooting from a balcony. Dan tries his cellphone: NO SIGNAL inside there! Diablo continues to threaten from the balcony. "Your time's up Ponce." & "I'm saving you for last" Lotsa gunfire; Dan sends one of his men un tal, Santos Moya to try to make contact outside; they cover him. He gets around a corner where Genaro shoots him dead before he can make the call.

LUNCH, BUT WITHOUT NURIA (I'M STILL NOT SURE WHERE THIS PLACE IS)
Lucha wrestles with Z, who eventually submits and confesses the plot to seduce Octavio to trap Daniel. Lucha is so angry she's trying to choke la Zorra, when Octavio arrives & intervenes. He looks nothing if not perplexed.

Lucha tells Octavio the truth; he's starting to get it. It's a plot! "Where's my uncle?" "I don't know." Obviously not what la zorra bargained for when she took this job. Octavio springs into action. The get the address from the card Nuria gave Zorra-ya.

ABANDONED BUILDING IN TLANEPANTLA
Speaking of bargaining, Diablo tries it; the only thing he wants is Ponce. By way of leverage, Genaro walks up and says he's already killed Santos Morra. They tell Dan all his guys can go free and their families will be safe. Dan's ready to do it; his guys say "DON'T". Dan suffers the moral anguish of responsibility for his men.


 

PART 3

HONEYMOON HOTEL ROOM #1
Our newlyweds ponder the inevitable questions between an expanse of maroon satin sheets: We'll have our whole lives together, when we get old....(are they bored with each other already?) She seems a bit preoccupied. "So, what's the other party you were talking about?" she wants to know. "It's un operativo". "Let's go!" he tries to talk her out of it. Nothin' doin' She tries calling Dan; no signal. Now what?

MISERICORDIA
El & Pablo are waiting on Nachito to see what's wrong with him. Pab picks up his phone, it's Mari: "Why are you calling, it's your honeymoon?" Pab gently ribs her, "So Rodriguez didn't make the grade, nudge nudge". Mari's upset: "WTF is going on?" Pab tries to call in to Dan's operation.

ABANDONED BUILDING IN TLANEPANTLA
Heavy gunfire continues. Diablo taunts Dan, "outta bullets?" Diablo's on a tear. He's gonna win this one. The game of cat & mouse continues. Then Dan decides he's coming out. He appears in the lot outside with his arms down at his side. From the balcony, Diablo points his gun, saying, "Now, I've got you at my feet." Genaro suddenly turns up and puts a gun to Dan's head. Dan calls him "traitor." Gen beats him down and cuffs him, all the while insulting him. With Dan under his control, Diablo calls the whole AFIAD brigade to surrender and drop arms. The emerge from behind the boxes, sitting ducks in the middle of the big room. Three loyal guys get slaughtered right in front of Dan. Marrero cynically accuses Dan of responsibility of his men's death.

AFIAD
Our newlyweds walk in ready for work. Pablo knows nothing. It's all so uncertain, but they mobilize on the basis of Pablo's faith in Leon's intuition.
Luch comes in with Octo. Confirms their worst suspicions. She says it's all a trap. But she hides the fact of Nuria's address. Once the cops have gone out on their mission, Octo questions Lucha about the address. She's got unfinished business of her own: Nuria knows something that she wants to find out. "OK, but you're not going there alone," says Octo.

ABANDONED BUILDING IN TLANEPANTLA
Gen still holding the gun to Dan's head; Diablo tells him in no uncertain terms what's what. It's all about Lucha; "Kill or be killed." "An eye for an eye." It's dicho time. Dan's about to bust; Diablo just laughs & teases relentlessly. He says we're both the same, both asesinos. Dan says, "you're nuts."; Diablo says, "No, you are." His threats are pointed & ugly. Gen takes Dan away.

Pablo's team shows up at the shootout. First they find the body of Santos Moya and swear vengeance on Marrero. They find the 3 dead cops out in the lot; Pab & Ev & Mari have joined the party, they find more dead cops, in fact the entire special brigade. They ponder the awful fact that it would be them lying there if they had been on the mission. It's a massacre, but where's Dan? (I think they've shot this whole abandoned building episode in at least 5 different locations; I can't get my bearings from one scene to the next.)

 

PART 4

NURIA'S PLACE
Octavio & Lucha go at Nuria with what looks like a riding crop. "WHERE'S DANIEL?" Nuria is forced into a confession. Her story is that she's been in love with Diablo, but he doesn't reciprocate. She tells what she's overheard about the plot/trap: that they plan to torture Dan slowly.


THE ABANDONED BUILDING
Dan is led by a plaid-shirted goon down a spiral staircase. Lil & Gen follow down a dark hallway; they tie him up and remove his vest. He's forced to kneel with his hands outstretched tied to ropes in a sort of Christ pose. Diablo pontificates. He invites Lil to take part in this. She hated Dan for loving Lucha. She frisks him and pulls out his cellphone. (She's starting to get that blood-lust that helps alleviate her depression.) They take photos to send to Lucha, who, at this very moment is slapping Nuria around.

NURIA'S PLACE
Lucha's still wielding that stick or whatever (now it looks like a tire iron); her phone goes off: it's the message with the pix of the tortured Dan. Octavio takes the phone while Lucha redoubles her efforts with the stick on Nuria.

BACK IN THE TORTURE CHAMBER OF TLANEPANTLA
Team Diablo discusses how to torture Dan to best effect. Diablo is drinking as he contemplates various grotesque medieval methods he has in mind, that would culminate in sending all of Dan's body parts individually to his family. Oh, and yet another dicho: "Vengeance is a dish best served cold" he assures the hot-headed Genaro. Lil is hurtling deeper into insanity. He is interrupted by a call from Nuria who is being coerced by Lucha to play-act her concern in an attempt to determine their whereabouts. It almost doesn't work, but Nuria applies herself in response to Lucha's threats with the tire iron and manages to get the address. More violent torture follows. Lil rolls her eyes and Genaro cheers.

NURIA'S PLACE
Lucha demands a gun which she finally finds in a dresser after ransacking the place; they tie Nuria up and Octo calls the police. Lucha gets into a car and takes another look at the pix of Dan's tortured face on her cellphone. She begs Sor Amparo to help.

THE TORTURE CHAMBER
The torture continues. Standing to the rear of the action, Lily takes more pix and suddenly Diablo gets suspicious that she's collecting evidence against him. She pretends it's all just to mess with Lucha's head. Diablo challenges Lily & slaps her so she pulls her gun on him.

POLICE MORGUE
Alejandro and one of the bosses in suits watch solemnly as the bodies from the massacre are wheeled in. Remorse, regret and helplessness.

Octavio calls Pablo. "I've got Nuria Perez right here."

 

PART 5

ABANDONED BUILDING IN TLANEPANTLA
That idiot Lucia actually walks right into all this with Nuria's gun drawn. She is quickly disarmed by the plaid-shirts. They drag her off to their boss.

DOWN IN THE TORTURE CHAMBER
"Go ahead Lil, and kill me." Diablo dares her; all the while lecturing a bunch of crazy crap. Genaro is pleading solidarity. The scene get crazier and crazier with Lil in a kind of trance accompanied by eerie music. It's all very stagey. Will she shoot Dan? Diablo, perversely, keeps egging her on. She can't do it; then all of a sudden, in a weird 3-way gunfight, Genaro ends up lying on the floor shot.

Lucha meanwhile, upstairs hears the shots, disarms her guards, knocks them out of commission and runs away, down toward the trouble.

AFIAD, IN "THE BOX" (which appears to have a new coat of bright blue paint)
They've got Nuria. Mari & Pablo offer witness protection in exchange for the exact location. She gives it up, always looking after her own skin.

THE TORTURE CHAMBER
Diablo runs for it; Lil shoots him in the butt. Gen is dying on the floor; he pleads with Lil not to leave him. She's looking after her own skin . Gen dies. She's stricken for all of about one minute.

AFIAD
Pablo's team heads out to the location Nuria was fooled into giving up. She's under arrest for kidnapping. Tough luck, sistah!

THE TORTURE CHAMBER
Luch finds her way down there. She & Lil point guns at each other. Lil is out of bullets! So begins the catfight of the century. Luch gets the upper hand. She gets Dan untied; he slumps over. She wrassles him around, but he's pretty unresponsive.

MEANWHILE
Pablo and the gang are in a car, comically stuck in the mishigas of a horn-honking D.F. traffic jam.

Lucha manages to walk Dan out into the open where Diablo stumbles onto them. "You're going to die today, Lucia!" She tries to use her "nurse"-ly wiles to distract him by pointing out that he's wounded and needs care. He's totally cu-cu and grabs her around the neck.

MISERICORDIA CHAPEL
At this very moment, Deya, Elena & Sor Mili are praying for the protection of their heroes. Carlos & Marina show up at the door, reluctant to join in. Mili jumps up to invite them to cast aside their scientific soberbia and just have some faith.

 

PART 6

BACK IN TLANEPANTLA
Diablo is still choking Lucha. She kicks him and manages to stab him right through the quadriceps with a handy rod of rebar. This allows her to rescue Dan. But now she's got Diablo moaning for her. He tries to yank out the rebar—it's a bloody mess—but let's face it, well, let's just not. It's too gross & disgusting. And enough trauma to put a person into shock.

LA CASA DURAN
Abel, Octavio & Chelo chat in hushed tones. they're all in on the latest developments (well, not the latest-latest) Abel says, "you know my sister, when she gets something in her head, there's no stopping her. Octavio admits his shame about the Zorra-ya affair, but the ever-forgiving Chelo says, "don't be so hard on yourself. She was pretty, you're young." "I just hope everybody gets out of this safe & sound." Ignacio butts in wanting to know safe & sound from what? "I'm still the head of this family, no secrets, is it Lucha?" Chelo spills.

TLANEPANTLA
Sirens & cop cars arrive outside; cops with guns drawn. Viewerville gets a gander at a really interesting looking building as Dan & Luch limp through the hallways toward an exit. Will they make it? He collapses while she won't shut up her babbling. "You can do it; you have to do it!" They try it again.

Lil, meanwhile is doing her own walk in a dark hall, laughing maniacally with a gas can, as the helpless Diablo cries out in agony. Her laughter turns sardonic when she discovers him nailed by Lucia.

The cops cover the place and root out the plaid-shirts. Diablo y Diabla have their final vicious moments together. She shouts out to the dead Genaro and delivers her mad scene. Then she douses the immobilized Devil in gasoline and fishes around in her pocket for a match.

Luch & Dan have reached Pab & Mari. Luch faints; Dan collapses. He looks dead (kudos to the makeup department for that fine work on his face, especially the grisly purple eye).

Lil taunts the Devil and screams to high heaven. He's reduced to begging for mercy. "I'll give you anything you want. Help me." She laughs and slaps him and gloats hysterically. Diablo has made her what she is. She finally finds those darn matches. A conflagration! He pulls her into his fiery vortex. Pab & Ev rush to the inferno. It's all over quickly.

BACK IN LA CAPILLA
Elena takes the call from Pablo—"Yes, I'll tell them." —"They're alive!" Marina, she of little faith, hugs the nun; now she believes!

 

PART 7

TLANEPANTLA
Dan's out of it; Lucha hugs him. The ambulance is on the way.

CASA DURAN
Chelo takes the call. Good news! Luch & Dan are alive. A dark shadow crosses Iggy's face; he asks about Lil; Chelo shakes her head in the "no" direction. He shrugs in resignation " que a hierro mata, a hierro muere.. She lived by the sword and so that is how she died.

The kids arrive on the scene wondering what everybody's so upset about; and we hear yet another dicho; (that makes 5 so far) "Los nubarrones se estan yendo y el sol esta saliendo" Happy family.

NIGHT TIME AT THE HOSPITAL
Pab visits Dan on the ward (OK, now, why isn't he in a private room?) and describes the confrontation and how they were burnt alive. They hash over the grisly details and how Lucia saved the day. Dan just wants to see his Lucha. (His eye is pretty disgusting). They both praise la heroina; he owes his life to her.

She, meanwhile, wants to jump up and see him. Chelo, in her inimitable way, trying to minimize Lucha's worst fears, says he's broken 3 ribs and etc. This only gets her more riled up. They're doing their best to hold her down when who should appear, in a wheelchair, all smiles. The theme song takes over for their mutual profession of love, thereby saving him the painful task of speaking with broken ribs.

DIAS DESPUES @ AFIAD
Dan is back in the driver's seat; on the job in full dress uniform for a formal police funeral. He solemnly contemplates the tragic loss to his department as he prepares to deliver an elegiac (and rather long, IMO) speech for the slain officers. An awful lot of them, about 10 or so great guys who leave behind wives & children. Dan tells the assembled company that "la bondad del hombre existe" in spite of everything that's happened. Very moving!

CASA DURAN
Laughter & girl talk. They're proud of their Dad; they hardly recognize him, he's changed so. Iggy walks over to where they're all gossiping. He's decided to embrace life again. He wants all their boyfriends to marry them properly; no more of this "living together" (arrejuntados). They're a little embarrassed that he "heard it all".

DAN'S PLACE
Chelo is with the baby. Octo enters. (that baby hasn't grown an inch in all these meses despues, what on earth are they feeding her?) He still feels guilty for having exposed the child to such risk. Chelo wants him to hurry up and get a new mother for baby Vick; perhaps someone who will have better fashion sense than to dress the kid in hot pink rhinestone headbands

 

PART 8

UNOS MESES DESPUES (they're not even saying how many! anything could happen!)

WOMEN'S PRISON
Nuria gets Zorra as a cellmate. Z slugs N, blaming her for getting her into this mess; a catfight ensues to the amusement of the other inmates. Guards throw a bucket of water on them to break it up. Nuria & Zorra become best friends (not). They are rather convincingly put in their place in the entrenched inmate hierarchy by La Osa Mayor. Nuria is made to lick (literally, with her tongue) this bossy broad's shoes as Sorry-aya watches in dismay, knowing that her turn is next.

HONEYMOON HOTEL ROOM #2
I guess we didn't get invited to this boda, but El & Pablo follow a trail of rose petals; he carries her into the bedroom. They joke about their wedding con cliches y cursi y todo but Pab's a sentimental guy, and besides, this is like the first time because it's her first time for love. I'm sure he has no difficulty removing her dress (but we don't get to see it).

TYING UP LOOSE ENDS ON NOAH'S ARK
Adri & Abel are on the job, meeting with an investor for a fabulous new project they've won. It's some kind of humanitarian cultural center funded by a multinational private corporation. A good-looking rich dude with nice teeth, un tal Omar, the grandson of the private investor introduces himself. It appears to be love at first sight (but we don't get to see any of this either).

AND POR FIN, LA BODA #3, EN LA CAPILLA
Everybody's in a suit again; the gentlemen stand about nervously wondering if she'll stand him up. (Does this ever really happen?) Heartfelt sentiments, guy talk & backslaps from Carl, Octo & Pablo. Pablo reminds us all that in the chapel, Sor Amparo is looking down on them. Dan's an agitated wreck, until Lucia walks in on Ignacio's arm with the kids on either side. The bridesmaids wear lovely shades of pink & red. Nachito teases Memín that he looks like a penguin as he walks past his pew. Lucha's hair is done up in some kind of '30s-ish curls, slightly reminiscent of Princess Leia's cinnamon buns and she has on a double dose of eyeshadow. Gonzo's still sporting the skull cap. Deya shouts out. Applause! The vows! There's a shower of red & white petals. All the couples kiss, Roxi & Memin smile at each other. Chelo hugs Dad.

FIN


 

wow, what a great final,
and what wonderful recaps by -El Señor EC and lxv
thank you ever so much!

looks like Lucia has learned some of Dan's interrogation techniques,
and she was pretty good with that tire iron.

I think Octo and Zorraya were at her place, where they have been playing all the while, ignoring mini-Vicky, but I think Octo was intending on getting a new place now that Vicky was with him.

after the three way shoot out, Diablo escapes with one last bullet in the leg by Lili, but no longer with a gun, and Lili is determined to track him down and kill him knowing full well that if she doesn't he will hunt her down, it's only Genaro's pleas that slow her down, but I don't think it was even for a minute, I think he had to rush the dying.

incredible scene with Diablo impaled on that rebar and Lili laughing, and taking turns pushing him to add to his pain.

and that was a strange scene when our psychiatrists were lurking outside the chapel door, but couldn't go in.

Aracely Arámbula (Lucia) is an incredible actress, and I especially loved that she did the theme song.

 

This is Spanish student's post from 12:21

Thanks NovelaMaven and El Senor! Excellent job. I just have a few brief comments and/or observations.

Lucia was indeed “all powerful” (El Senor) and “an Amazon in battle, a WARRIOR QUEEN!” (NvMvn). Yes, she was a true heroine last night. In fact, all good things can be traced back to her -- Zorraya and Nuria’s capture, Daniel’s rescue, and even Diablo and Diabla’s hellfire demise. (Lucha’s push onto the rebar kept him still long enough for Diabla to set him ablaze. His last move ensured that his other half suffered the same karmic fate.)

When Lucha called out to Amparo it finally clicked that Amparo was the only Mother she ever had.

Finally some justice for Rafael and the many others they tortured and killed. Especially the detectives killed last night. I missed part of Dan’s speech but I guess he had to honor them and justify what happened.

El Senor – “Is this typical of telenovelas for the villains to completely spiral out of control in the final?” This is the 2nd novela I’ve seen with Aylin (the first was Corazon Valiente) and she was pretty much possessed by the devil at the end of both. Relaciones Peligrosas ended in a similar fashion. Anything goes…ordinary shootouts are too easy for those channeling the devil’s power.

When Ignacio spoke of the peace that finally exists in the family, I couldn’t help but think it was partly due to Fernanda’s death, not just Lili’s. He even appeared happier without Fernanda’s negative energy casting spells on everyone’s happiness.

All the couples were happy and even more in love but I kept wondering what happened to Chelo’s perfectly good suitors. I’d hate to think that the only purpose for the chubby sister was to feed others and take care of an aging father and motherless grandchild.

Guess we were wrong about Marina…she survived until the end without any major life changes but perhaps with a little more peace and many new friends. So maybe it’s a win for her too.

In the last few seconds of the show, the smiles of Lucha and Daniel seemed forced, or maybe just bittersweet.

For some reason I thought it had been stated or implied in the past that Lucha’s calling was to run the hospital.

So many biblical overtones. How appropriate that La Biblia follows.
----

Well, this was the first novela I watched WITH recappers, from beginning to end, and it’s been a pleasure. Thanks to all!

¡Adiós, y cuídense!

Spanish student

Posted by Anonymous to Caray, Caray! at Wed Mar 25, 12:21:00 PM EDT
 

Amazing! My friends, you have outdone yourselves!

El Señor EC

It was fun to hear your perspective on things. We saw foreground and background quite differently, didn't we? What you put in a little throwaway paragraph at the end was for me the heart of the story. I hated the ghastly shoot-out. That seemed to go on forever. The only thing I enjoyed was seeing Lucha as a superhero. Her feats of daring and strength were so remarkable that I couldn't help giggling.

I'm really glad you stepped up to recap on this one and hope to see you writing here again. I enjoyed your sly humor very much. Hasta la próxima!

P.S. The little zorra actually called Chelo and asked her to come to her apartment, saying there was a problem with the baby. When Chelo got there, the problem turned out to be a stinky diaper that Ms Zorraya couldn't be bothered to change. So that's how Chelo and Lucía knew where Octavio and Zorraya were staying.
 

Sigh, the Gran Final was too violent for me to really watch, so much thanks to LXV and El Señor EC for filling in all those gaps with style. I did hang in to see the payoff [?] of Lucha and Chipmunk at the altar. I will miss looking at "Warrior Queen" Aracely.

NovelaMaven, LXV, El Señor EC, spanish student, Aficionada, anyone I might be forgetting: the Miserable Community truly had a Dream Team of recappers! It can't be as effortless as you guys made it look, day after day, so thanks for your time and dedication. Thanks for sharing your wit and talents. Thanks for helping me over the bumps in the telenovela road.

Hasta la próxima, Clara
 

LXV

What a feast you have set out for us! I'm just going through and savoring this, line by line.

So we've cleared up the "Where was Octavio?" question, right? He was in the Zorra's place and the Zorra called Chelo for a diaper emergency.

"Gonzo takes advantage of this to continue his "poor me" negativity;"
I did a double-take when I read this. At first, I thought you meant Abel. Poor Gonzalo -- I think he's entitled to wallow a little.

"Evaristo can't get her dress undone; which isn't surprising because he barely knows how to dress himself."
Haw! He was never your fave, was he?

"[Diablo's] threats are pointed & ugly.'
...As is the entire TLANEPANTLA scene, but she captured it faithfully. I would have preferred reading your description to watching and listening to this endless and disturbing part.

"Dan is led by a plaid-shirted goon down a spiral staircase."
This is a sentence that cries out for a novel (or at the very least, a short story) to be written around it!

And this is such an on-the-money observation:
"(Lily's starting to get that blood-lust that helps alleviate her depression.)

"That idiot Lucia actually walks right into all this with Nuria's gun drawn."
LOL. I thought the same thing -- but that was before I realized that Lucha had super powers!

"Pablo and the gang are in a car, comically stuck in the mishigas of a horn-honking D.F. traffic jam."
I know! Hilarious, right?

I beg to differ on one point (a sharp one, at that). Lucha doesn't stab Diablo; he IMPALES himself on a spike and it seems to traverse his thigh from back to front. It is, in its own ghastly way, perfect.

"Marina, she of little faith"
Nice.

I agree that Dan's words about his fallen comrades were very moving.

"Chelo wants him to hurry up and get a new mother for baby Vick; perhaps someone who will have better fashion sense than to dress the kid in hot pink rhinestone headbands"
I see that we were both taken aback by the headband. It may just be a cultural thing, de gustibus and all... (I notice that El Señor was unimpressed by this detail.) :-)

This whole thing is just brilliant – if anyone wants a how-to on writing a double finale, this is it! Thanks for this and for all the recaps you have written for us. You absolutely raised the level of the conversation here.
 

Thanks, NovelaMaven, for reposting my earlier post!

Just a few more comments after reading LXV’s recap and comments.

First, thanks to LXV ...you outdid yourself.

My favs
- “Pablo reminds us all that in the chapel, Sor Amparo is looking down on them.” You’re right, Sor. Amparo wasn’t just a Mother to Lucha but a Saint to all.
- “She's starting to get that blood-lust that helps alleviate her depression.” That was spot-on.
- “Lil taunts the Devil and screams to high heaven. He's reduced to begging for mercy...” How apropo!

The writers went black and white with the whole spiritual vs. intellectual scene in the chapel. Both Carlos and Marina have sat in the chapel and "prayed" before. But this is a story about the triumph of the spirit and faith, so even the proponents of “self” have to lose.

I also noticed that Lil Vicky wasn’t replaced by slightly bigger Lil Vicky. Sadly I didn't pick up on the tacky headband.

deb, you took the words right out of my mouth… “incredible scene with Diablo impaled on that rebar and Lili laughing, and taking turns pushing him to add to his pain.” It was almost laughable unless you imagined the pain. Their verbal exchange was part kids on the playground and part sadistic husband and wife. Fortunately his words had no power over her. The Durans are equally fortunate that he took her with him.

¡Adiós, y cuídense!

Spanish student
 

El Señor EC : you gave a nice & concise tactical description: "Diablo and his men have the advantage of surprise, height, cover, and fire power." Dan's guys were indeed sitting ducks, as was mentioned more than once.

"Maricela, thinking about Daniel while in bed with her new husband" You are SO bad!

Thanks for getting all the particulars of that shooting down in the dungeon straight. It was all a blur for me.

...and "Mariana is, inexplicably, still alive." Are you still beating that dead horse?; I told you she was going to join the convent. We just didn't get to see that part.

Clara : It was pretty grueling to write those Tlanepantla scenes; they did seem endless to me and I couldn't really follow their trajectory until the second viewing. But a lot was said & done that brought our characters to their final moments, and as unpleasant as it was, I felt responsible to report it.

spanish student : There was once some talk about Lucia taking on a larger administrative role, but from what I can tell, she's more of a mascot than anything else. She makes her own hours, wears what she wants, chooses her own assortment of patients and dashes off at a moment's notice without consulting anybody. Oh, wait, she once did ask Nurse Nancy to cover for her for 2 hours while she picked up her kids, and she changed uniforms to do this. That's half a shift right there!

I think it's in the nature of TN villains to spiral out of control. It's the only way they can achieve the true malevolence required by these plots. I think you put it well: black & white. In this particular case, all i could think of was the demons being cast into hell.

deb: "That was a strange scene when our psychiatrists were lurking outside the chapel door, but couldn't go in" —I know; almost as if there were some kind of "force field", but Sor Mili "forced" the issue and called it for what it was.

NvMv : "Lucía shows herself to be an Amazon in battle" I so enjoyed the vigorous & powerful Lucha. It wasn't at all out of character and was motivated by extreme urgency of the moment. No wonder she fainted. El Señor EC described it perfectly: "Lucia promptly faints, as her superhuman strength leaves her."
Thanks for your kind & supportive appreciation, careful comments and generous welcome to the ranks of recappers. Especially coming from you, it's given me confidence to write them. It's been a lot of fun and I look forward to doing it again.

—

Thanks all for getting the rebar impalement correct. I must have missed it bcs I was writing so fast and had to turn the page. Gruesome anyway way you slice it. But it explains why he couldn't run away. And adds to the horror!

¡Hasta la próxima!
 

Lxv, loved all the details that I didn't mention. I did notice the ugly headband and other details, but since I decided to do the recap from memory, rather than spend another 4 hours going thru scene by scene, I didn't remember lots of details and got some sequencing wrong. I mixed up the scene with Zorraya with the scene with Nuria. And you're right, NovelaMaven, all the touchy feely stuff was background noise to me.

Thanks to everyone who has written recaps and everyone who reads them. Hasta la próxima. ;-)

-El Señor EC
 

El Señor EC Thanks for chiming in. I'd like to be was able to get back to recapping from memory, it has a nice "live"quality, but I have this thing about getting buried in detail. I guess I enjoy the writing even if it takes hours (as you say). I hope to see you on the same team again sometime and I'm happy to know there's someone else out there on the spinner every night learning Spanish. I'll be thinking of you.
 

Were any of the villains punished ?


 

And thank you NvMv for managing our page so tactfully for us. I'm very grateful that you consolidated my wordy recap.
 

LXV,

Lavish? Luxuriant? Maybe. But wordy? Nah!

And I do like a tidy page. :o)
 

Dear Alicia Boudreaux,
"Were any of the villains punished ?"

In a word, yes. But you are entirely welcome to read the recaps we have posted, if you're interested in the details. Thanks for commenting.
 

So now what are we gonna do? Huh?

[snort]
 

I just watched La Biblia, but there's no way I'd attempt to recap it. I found the production to be not as wacked out as I expected. And with all the apocalyptic fear-mongering we are subjected to these days, it seemed pretty tame.Tonight started with Noah and the Ark with a backward glance at the creation + Adam & Eve. Abraham was the main feature. We got to see Lot's wife turned to a pillar of stone and the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah. Isaac was born and saved at the last minute from sacrifice. Tomorrow promises to be a blockbuster with Moises, the 7 Plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. Those Egyptians rival all the supernumeraries at the Met during a production of Aida. The makeup is a crackup. I'll keep watching until Agenda Brasil starts up. And of course, can't miss La Voz Kids on Sunday.

Got any better ideas?
 

That would be Avenida Brasil (thank you spellcheck)

 

La Biblia sounds exciting. But remember – this is a no-spoilers zone!
 

spanish student; I'm enjoying your comments particularly about Ignacio being happier after Fernanda's demise. Yes! For all her "too little, too late" attempts at repentance, she never got that social climbing snobbery out of her system; it was a terrible poison that afflicted her and all who came near. And she created a monster in her own daughter Liliana. She was a fitting counterpart to Radames in a way, and it's good they got rid of her completely.

I also thought Chelo was treated rather shabbily and I don't know why she couldn't have been coupled happily like her sisters.

NovelaMaven: thanks for the anti-spoiler reminder. I'll do my best to remember not to reveal any future plots.

 

LXV, sorry, that was a joke about spoilers in La Biblia – and apparently, a rather lame one.
 

Lxv, in La Biblia are they speaking modern Spanish or the spanish equivalent of King James English? Trying to determine if it is worth watching for language learning purposes.

-El Señor EC
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

NvMv You sly one! But, my answer was intended tongue-in-cheek, as well. It's the BIBLE! LOL!

El Señor I regret to inform you that what language there is in this production hews to no known Biblical text of my acquaintance, modern or traditional. It consists largely of almost unbelievably short declarative phrases and the repeated exclamation of names. A little less sophisticated than a comic book. And, due to time constraints, of course the story line is quite selectively chopped (and choppy),

I'm watching it for the special effects and to evaluate the socio-political subtext. I was raised religious and lost it all decades ago but am still fascinated by these tales. How they are told now is different from the "bible stories" I was given in childhood.

Aarrgh, spellcheck will be my downfall. I guess it didn't want Lot's wife to be a pillar of salt.
 

La Biblia, I thought it was dubbed into Spanish. Seemed a standard contemporary Spanish.

Time will soon tell, but does anyone know, Avenida Brasil, is that the original Brazilian TN? Or a Telemundo remake. I looked around online and only saw the original version. But it's in Portuguese?

LXV, after 30 years of practicing criminal law, I find myself unable to stomach much violence in my leisure viewing. Thanks again for hanging in to capture it all in the caps!

NovelaMaven, they are talking about you over on the La Sombra page (epi 27).

Clara
 

hmm, la Biblia looks kind of violent, it's not a narco novela is it?

so did Ivana take Radamés' advice, what was it, "get-a-job"?

and the big Echeverría mansion must be empty, or is that where Pablo and Elena live, oh wait didn't Olegario own all of Radamés' stuff including the hotel, and that would go to his wife, right.

I'm sure the shoe-shine gatas will catch on, it's only a matter of sexual orientation, what was Zorraya's crime again, associating with Nuria?


Clara- Avenida Brasil is the original version dubbed in spanish, that was acquired by Telemundo sometime ago to run in primetime, but didn't, and then was run during the day, and recapped here.

 

deb, thanks for answering re Avenida Brasil. I guess I will give it a try, but I don't like that it is dubbed.

Yes, deb! Been wondering for days what was Zorraya's crime. Best I can come up with is some sort of conspiracy or accomplice liability, but that doesn't really hold up. Wasn't her mission just to gain entry and confirm who was living in Dan's pad, and only later did she learn about Lili's past crimes. But I'm probably over-thinking again.

Finally deb, I've really enjoyed your clever comments all along.

Clara

 

deb & Clara : thanks for revisiting Soraya's "crime". It was all a bit vague, but they had to put her in jail for the sake of Telenovela justice. I agree she & Nuria will find out how to work the system. Soraya will probably get sprung before long; while I can imagine Nuria having some other girl licking her shoes before long. And what was Nuria's charge?

I didn't notice that La Biblia was dubbed; I'll look more closely tonight. It's just that the script reads like Dick & Jane. It's moronic. As for violence, there's plenty, but nothing as vicious or specific as we see in a narco-novela. And everybody already knows the plot. So if Daniel goes into the lion's den (that's still a few days off, I figure), we don't have to worry that he'll be eaten, and when David wields his slingshot, we already know the outcome. And speaking of Old Testament gore, you should check out the Crusader Bible at the Morgan Library. I went over to see it while they had the pages separated for restoration, but the exhibition is over now. However, they had the opportunity to scan it all while they had it apart. Here's the link and if my html didn't work, just copy and paste this: http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/Crusader-Bible

Medieval manuscripts trump television for gore any day of the week. I'm so grateful for modern technology allowing us to share these cultural treasures in whatever form.
 

THIS is what el Diablo was proposing to do with Daniel's body, by the way.

http://www.themorgan.org/node/572/zoomify
 

Chiming in here because I saw a mention of Avenidas Brasil. I'm planning to watch this, as I've heard it's good and Los Dueños won't be shown much longer.

I know it's been on before, but I'd be willing to do a once a week recap, if there are any other takers.
 

Well, La Biblia is most definitely dubbed (I am assuming over English), but the script is so sparse and declamatory it almost doesn't matter what language it's in. You'd get the picture! and you do...the burning bush, the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea were all masterpieces of cheesy spectacle. So the Israelites were enslaved for 400 years in Egypt-land before Moses was rescued from the bulrushes after which he grew up in the palace until he had a falling out with el faraon.. So he got reacquainted with the god of Abraham and led his people out of bondage. And "pharaoh's army got drownded.." Next up Samson!

As for Avenida Brasil, as much as I would like to, I cannot commit to a regular recap. My schedule gets very busy with travel for work through May and June before I leave for good until about November. I go out of state to take my turn with mom where there's no internet or TV. Keeps me sane to go off-line for a while, and I actually get some real work done! So, I will pitch in when and if I can, but it will be sporadic & spontaneous. If this show is as good as they say, I'm sure there will be an enthusiastic following including incorrigible blabbermouths like me. I bet you'll pick up a great crew of recappers.
 

What is the last episode