Caray, Caray!

AVENIDA BRASIL

Am I the only one still watching?!
~ Wee Rita

 

Avenida Brasil

Wee Rita, still watching. Maybe no show tonight [Tues.] due to soccer?

Fast-thinking Nina so clever in forging the alliance with Nilo, no?
Nilo gets to choose between Carminha and Nina, and pobre Tifón foots the bill either way.

I really like Débora. Painful to think she will be hurt again [I assume].

Clara
Thanks NovelaMaven for posting the page!
 

Tierra. Also seems to be a bit neglected. I really thought that Verónica would find Arturo and not just his car. And it's hard to believe that at this point Fernández doesn't have someone following Isadora, or that Valverde wouldn't have really reined her in instead of just covering for her. It looks as if after all that torture and physical suffering from the gunshot wound that Arturo is going to have to save himself.
 

Tierra. Not surprised that Pati outwitted Roger and Matamoros though. :)
 

AVENIDA BRASIL

Yay, Clara! :)

What were Tifon and Mona Lisa arguing about beside the big pink birthday cake?

My heart breaks for Jorgito (and will, presumably at some point in the future, for Debora again!)

Nilo is never done eating and drinking. Old guy should be the size of a house!

~ Wee Rita

 

Can't stand Paty on Tierra, but she doesnt deserve to be killed. Tired of them not telling Ver the truth, and tired of Isadora. Not sure how much longer I can stick with Tierra.
 

Tierra. Well, some of the plot developments are silly, and sloppily written, like allowing Isadora to get away with things so easily, for instance, or not pulling off the kidnappers' masks. Also, its villains in general are a bit over the top--it's a Telemundo telenovela after all, and sometimes it can't seem to decide if it's really set in modern-day Houston (a weird modern-day Houston where everyone speaks perfect Spanish) or 19th-century Mexico. OTOH, it's about true love, family, and justice, and, silliness aside, most of what it says about those 3 themes is pretty much right
 

Tierra

I agree about the silliness of it, BUT I'm sorry, I still like it. I didn't really like any of the sisters at first, but they've all grown on me,
especially Sophia. I also enjoy the brotherly love of the Gallardos as well as their love for Veronica. As much as I can't stand Leo, I get
a good laugh out of his songs like the one after he told Andrea about seeing her kissing Sam.

AnonGringa
 

I like it too. And I think one of my favorite lines was after Beatriz's death, when Pati started pursuing Samuel again. One of the brothers (Arturo?) was worried that Samuel would take up with her again, but the other (Flavio?) said: "Oh, no, he's known true love and true beauty. He'll never be attracted by someone like Pati again." A real a..a..a..h..h moment.
 

Avenida B
No, Wee Rita, you're not the only one watching. I've been reluctant to comment lately, because almost everyone has said they're loving this telenovela, but I'm becoming increasingly impatient with it. As you also have noted, Rita's thirst for vengeance has become truly excessive. Given how much she claims to love Jogito, and how much he seems to love her, her vengeance obsession is downright sick. I'm finding it hard to sympathize with her. And I'm tired of most of the comic subplots. They seem annoyingly repetitious. OK, so now do you see why I haven't posted? I don't enjoy being so negative, and rather than express an enthusiasm I don't feel, I thought I should just be quiet. I'm continuing to watch, at least for now, and every now and then I do find myself enjoying it, but for the most part, I'm disappointed.
 

I don't speak Spanish, so I missed that wonderful line. I pick up most of it, but not the details.

AnonGringa
 

Avenida Brasil

Hey Wee Rita! MonaLisa and Tifón convo, I am a little dim on it now. I think they were exchanging barbs about the importance of love and loyalty in life, with the undercurrent their past. He was rather sarcastically congratulating her on her engagement to Silas. I remember MonaLisa clearly expressed to Tifón that his wife doesn't love him.

With you on Jorgito! Remember how happy he was in the airport waiting for her, buying the wine? We got to see his big smile. Mostly, he just looks confused. With good reason.

Nilo with his dubbed chuckles and food in his beard is one of the most annoying characters ever.

Juanita, please post your thoughts! You and Mama Lu have some good arguments that Nina's "vengeance obsession is downright sick." I think Nina/Rita was so traumatized in her youth that she is self-destructive. It is hard to sympathize with her, and I agree with you on the subplots.

Clara
 

AVENIDA BRASIL

I'm agree on the subplots too. Going round and round, hard to see where they're leading.

Please post your opinions, favorable or otherwise. I th No part of what makes this telenovela draw me in is the very fact that Rita IS such an ambivalent character. It's like when I was watching The Sopranos back in the day and would find myself identifying and rooting for Tony before realizing that what he was doing was actually despicable! It makes it more often net resting than a black and white good person/ bad person plot for me.

I just keep imaging the smell at that tiradero :-/

~ Wee Rita
 

Sorry, so many typos :(

I meant "more interesting than a black& white good person/bad person plot for me."
~ Wee Rita
 

Avenida B
Thanks, Clara and Wee Rita, for your comments. Wee Rita, I found your comparison with the Sopranos very interesting. It made me ask myself why I liked The Sopranos far more than Avenida Brasil. Part of it was the humor in The Sopranos. Often, the humor involved the major characters, whereas in Avenida, it's mostly the shlocky, repetitious sub-plots that provide the humor.

I agree that complex characters are more interesting that those who are all good or all bad. Both The Sopranos and Avenida have some complex characters, but for some reason I found the complexity in The Sopranos more interesting. I'm not sure I can put my finger on just why that is. I think, too, about another telenovela that had very interesting, complex characters: La Reina del Sur. That remains my very favorite telenovela. I found myself much more interested in the characters there than in Avenida. But again, I can't quite explain why. I guess they seemed to have more interesting lives and more dimensions to their personalities than do the characters, even the main characters, in Avenida. Also, I found the plot more varied and more interesting. I realize all this is much too vague, but I can't come up with more specifics right now. But I'm really glad you raised the issue.
 

Tierra. Whoa! Isadora the dominatrix. S&M anyone? Should we be watching this? Btw, as a Spanish teacher, I must say that the scene between Arturo and Isadora's two matones, when he had a gun trained on them, was an excellent illustration of the difference between Ud. and tu.
 

Tierra- Por fin! Pablo finally stood up to that cheating creep Leo and beat his posterior. Looks like we're finally going to see some action
with Sophia confronting both Leo and Isadora. Should be good tonight. AnonGringa

 

Tierra. And of course, as usual Leonardo didn't play fair--hitting Pablo with a heavy stick when his back was turned! And it looks as if Flavio and Verónica's search for Arturo--very foolish without backup--is going to pay some kind of dividend. I certainly wonder who those armed men are and if they're working for Isadora or not. Yes indeed, tonight should be exciting. And since the online versions of the telenovela are divided into neat little segments, I think I will show that formal vs. informal address episode from last night to my next semester's advanced conversation class. If you're not going to respect someone who has a gun pointed at you, then who?
 

Tierra

Hey guys I'm back - I hurt my hand and it made typing painful so that's why I haven't been around - its mostly healed now but I don't know when I'll be up to recaps again

but
wow has stuff been happening and yay Pablo standing up to Leo - I hope he isn't dead now though

I have an opinion question for everybody watching Tierra

The henchies have attempted to kidnap both Arturo and Sam and they consistently succeed w/Art but fail to kidnap Sam - why?
Is it because Sam is smarter or more effective than his brother?
Is it because Andrea is a more effective heroine than Sophia? She has rescued Sam twice - once w/her pistol and once w/a fire alarm
Is it because Isadora is planning Art's kidnappings and she is an especially effective villaness? The henchies had to plan Sam's kidnappings themselves. Isadora's foiling of Art's escape attempt last night gives weight to this theory I think

I'd love to hear what everybody else thinks


Span Prof - I liked your usted vs tu example - who indeed lol I've been noticing how much Spanish I've learned from tns myself lately - when you pay attention you can really pick up fun stuff like that

 

Tierra. Thanks, Sneaky! Though I was wrong about this episode being exciting. In fact, everything seems to be at an impasse. And Flavio thinks that because two armed hard-nosed types tell him and Veronica that of course there's nothing that they're hiding and there's no cabin there, that everything must have been Veronica's imagination? Really, Flavio? I would think anyone with an i.q. approaching normal would reach exactly the opposite conclusion. And it looks from the preview as if Arturo is going to give in to Isadora on Monday in hopes that she'll let him go. May I say yuck? It really is time for this series to do something about Isadora. I agree that she's getting awfully boring. Again, why isn't Fernandez tailing her?
 

Oh, and in answer to your question, it's because Isadora is so effective--and since she's crazy, she'll stop at nothing.
 

Avenida B
Just a heads-up that there will be no Avenida episodio tonight (Friday). It's been pre-empted by FIFA.
 

Tierra

I have hesitated to post any comments on this novela. The earlier Telemundo version, Pasion de Gavilanes, is one of my favorites and this remake, while sticking very close to the plot of PdG is just awful but I am watching it anyway.

The real reason that Sam's kidnappings are foiled and Arturo's was not is because in PdG, Sam's kidnappings were done by the equivalents of Nicholson and Malkovitch, who were almost comic characters, always bragging about their abilities and yet always screwing up their assignments. They only worked for the Ulises equivalent.

In PdG, Isadora's equivalent hired different, more professional guys to kidnap and hold Arturo's equivalent.

In PdG, nobody really suspected that the Isadora equivalent was the kidnapper although she was interviewed by the police as someone who had had problems with Arturo and the Isadora equivalent didn't tell the Cayetana equivalent that she was responsible. She only told the Leonardo equivalent (but who never went to the cabin in person or shot Arturo) and her cousin.

I could go on and on but I won't.

No Tierra tonight either.
 

Avenida B
Hey, Wee Rita and everyone else. I'm still watching, but a whole week behind. Got family who just moved in with me. We're adjusting. Nothing like Tifon's household, though. I've gotten to the part where Nina/Rita broke it off with Jorgito and I'm in full agreement with Juanita et al. See you around the corner, next week.

 

Tierra

As a fan of PDG, I watch Tierra mostly to see how the writers will adapt the scenes that were terrific in PDG. My favorite scenes were the ones with Juan and Norma (Art and Sofia). They were tender and loving, and Juan even though he was a brute, when he was with Norma was a complete teddy bear.... even his voice was gentle and soothing, and what to say about their love scenes. I don't think Art and Sofia in Tierra have been able to capture that essence.

And then, there is the baby Juan David, who was just plain adorable and seemed to love everyone in the cast. I don't remember ever seeing him cry. He was so lovable. Incidently he was played by a little girl, Gabriela Garcia

This video is a clip about Gabirela, from the old Cotrreando show from Telemundo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BUDzjIkoIk

I hope the coding works and am able to put a direct link to the video. On the preview of my comment, it seems like it worked, so just click on the names in blue to view the video on you tube.

GabrielaGarcia

This one is a music video of various Juan and Norma scenes showing them as a couple in love. There are no spoilers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzUWvsYHadA
JuanyNorma

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
una juancha
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Tierra

So now Pablo knows and he's going to keep the secret from the woman he supposedly loves too! Arrggh
Though I did love when DF mentioned in a loud voice that Sole was Vero's mom and M looks around and says shh one of the servants could hear you and there was Pablo hearing him -so funny - that stuff is what makes this show worth watching

oh and
in PdG there was no Valverde so that whole story line is new, as is the guy in the cell and the mom in the manicomio

should be interesting

and yeah Juan was a superior galan to Art IMO


 

Tierra

You are right, SpanProf, that Veronica (and I meant Veronica when I wrote Alma in my previous comment) and Flavio's reaction to the armed guys makes no sense. At a minimum, they should have told Capt. Fernandez what happened so he could look into who owned the property etc. In Pasión de Gavilanes, it happened a little differently. The Veronica equivalent didn't have a 2nd dream about where the Arturo equivalent was being held. The Flavio and Veronica equivalents just went out riding looking for the Arturo equivalent and ran into the armed men when they trespassed on the property of the neighboring ranch that belongs to the family of the Isadora equivalent. It was AFTER that that the Veronica equivalent has a dream about the cabin and she does some things that haven't happened yet on Tierra.
 

Tierra:

Sneaky two shoes said:

Juan was a superior galan to Art IMO

I totally agree!


It's true that the Valverde character wasn't in PdG but there was a manicomio and I have a pretty good idea about who is going to end up there besides the obvious person.
 

Cielos

Who killed Pilar & why?
 

Cielos

Who killed Pilar & why?