Caray, Caray!

Great start, Hellashelle. I'm posting at this hour because I couldn't sleep.

I had problems understanding the dialogue in places; the actors seemed to mumble or talk too fast or not loudly enough here and there. But I knew there would be a shitstorm when Danny-Boy finally heard about his father's death. He was nowhere near the scene, but it is obvious now that Hector was murdered. The only question is by whom. We didn't see Ursula fire the gun so it's still an open question. I wonder whether the writers had made up their minds at this point or were still deciding.

The later scenes at the police station were horrific. I wonder what really happens in Mexico when a rape victim comes forward.
 

Golly. Hellashelle this is great.

"Everyone freezes, knowing why"

"Instead, the trauma shakes free a flashback"

Claudio told the maid to give Alma the sleeping pills, how convenient for he and Isela.

Max knows everything leads back to Dan and will not stop despite MD telling him to. He will find out so why cannot she tell him? If not as an ex, as her attorney.

Wondered when they would go after Gerry, please don't let anything happen to Gerry.

Wow this show, so much suspense in reporting her rape

Well Dan thought of everything. Dan was playing with a toy car while speaking to MD calmly about the rape that didn't happen.

 

Thank you Hellashele, I am looking forward to the full recap . This episode was very disgusting after the last hideous one but at the same time many crucial things were revealed . I suppose Arango was the one who pulled the trigger on Hector . Dan is a psychopath, his backstory did not make me feel bad for him. He is a hideous monster that was spoiled too much by Ursula.

I cringed when MD went to report her case only to find someone trying to take advantage of the situation. They were obviously crooked . Now Dan has all the weapons to make MD look like a slut to everyone else. Max will most likely fall for the trap even when he has braincells.
I screamed when MD had her phone unlocked, she should have locked it knowing what the reptiles she is surrounded with are capable of.

Maly may be BSC but I am rooting for her to uncover the full truth and take revenge on all of the involved.
 

Hellashelle- Brilliant writing! I'm not just speaking about the writers of this show, but your account of the first minutes of this episode. I haven't see it yet, but I felt like I was in the middle of it all, taking it all in. Wow! Can't wait for the rest of the recap.

From the sound of the other comments, MD does go to the police. Glad to hear it.

Count, if Max hasn't believed any lies about MD by now, I don't see him suddenly believing any slander about her. He has not shown himself to be that kind of person.
 

Vivi, I hope Max does not believe Dan at all but as you know Josefa and every other reptile has spread lies about MD and Clara for the longest time . The more you hear it the more beliavable it is even if it is a dirty lie. That is what true propaganda is .
 

Agree Vivi, Max has a great bullshit detector but more importantly he loves MD unconditionally.
 

It very much looks like the den of vipers known as the Santibanez family will implode before all this is over. I can easily imagine them killing each other in some way in which case anything they have should go to charity after the Morales family is compensated twice over for what was taken from them.

Which could eat up all their assets considering the reign of terror Danny-Boy just started with phone calls and those damning but fake pictures and texts. That was obviously pre-meditated. They'll drag Alma into this, too, by showing her those pictures. She could end up in the nut farm after that plus the knowledge that Claudio is fouling his own nest.

As to the life insurance and suicide issue, I just read that it is possible to collect after the policy is in effect for two or three years. However, proof of mental illness would invalidate that. This likely means an investigation which will delay the payoff by at least a few months. This is US law, but who knows what happens in Mexico.


 

There is one other thing that is bothering me: What was Arango's motive for concealing the true state of the Santibanez' finances? I suspect it is something a little more complex than simply looking at the bank balance and predicting when it was likely to hit Zero.

It's easy to understand Ursula's motive for continuing with this charade: It gives her a weapon she can use in an attempt to control her children. This won't last long, though. Maleny in particular is an expert eavesdropper and I can see her finding out and blackmailing Arango out of cash for her indulgences. Not that she's likely to tell Danny-Boy because I think she would enjoy having an edge over him.
 

Urban- Arango works for Ursula, so he's going to go along with her wishes. Ursula seems to be the only person he is beholden to, or who holds any importance for him. Other than their roll on the desk, what could Maleny blackmail him with? He's an accountant, but it's not a crime for him to back up his client by confirming her lie to her adult children that she's broke and can't bankroll them anymore.
 

Maleny coming unraveled at this point, though a bottomless stash of cash would be great, needs to be freed of the guilt of murdering her father.
 

No, the lie isn't a crime although it is likely to be an ethical violation of some kind. Unless there was a fourth adult in the room, either he or Ursula killed Hector. As far as I'm concerned they're equally guilty on that. They also share the guilt for putting the crime on Maleny.

I think she is probably close to remembering who did it but after all this time and all the psychological damage she has taken I don't think it will help. I think she's beyond repair. She's a loose cannon and will do whatever she thinks will benefit herself. Since she called it on Arango having a thing for Ursula she could disclose their roll on the desk. Ursula might not believe her the first time, but there is always the open door and the screaming matches to count on for Ursula finding out. And she might just as easily kill Maleny over this.
 

A lot of these events have been triggered by Ivana's desire to have a child. I know she had an operation that removed some or all of her reproductive system. But, does she still have an intact ovary, so that possibly she might be able to have her own child via a surrogate mother?
 

Wow, great job Hellashelle. You nailed it.

True, so much came out this episode. I thought it looked like Ursela pulled the trigger, and when Maleny was listening at the door, I believe Ursela said that Arango and she knew what happened, but also that the doctor did too? I think Mal will go to the doctor with her questions now.

I was so disheartened when she went to the police and how they acted, I was glad she left, but also very disappointed, until she went to the center to get help. I hope she follows through even after Daniel's threats and pictures. And please tell Max.




 

Hellashelle--Is a mere thank you really appropriate? It goes way beyond. This is a stellar recap, with all the emotion of the whole episode laid bare before us. Your skill with words goes right to the heart. I'm speechless! I need some time and space to process all of what happened.
 

I came away believing Ursula killed Hector and though Arango suspected she did was trying to get Ursula to admit to him after Maleny questioned. So many twist and conversations I'm usually exhausted by the end, usually wishing for a commercial so I can process what happened.

Wonder how far Claudio will go to be with his little doll, sedating Alma already. Disgusting man.

Isn't this wild, I squeal for joy just as much when Doris comes busting in as I do for Max. Girl got a good head on her shoulders along with a take no prisoners attack button.
 

Hellashelle- I'll repeat my wow from before. OMG! What an episode. What a recap! I can't wait to finally watch it.

Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t! That was a smart and diabolical move by Dan to send that pic and text message. It makes me want to scream. Still, I'm so glad MD got some help at the rape clinic, and didn't have to continue dealing with those idiots at the police station.

Just to put this into context of some of the issues around sexual violence in Mexico, here's an article about a case from last year, in which the victim/survivor has been jailed for successfully turning the knife on one of her rapists. Here's a quote from the article that stood out for me: "46 percent of women over the age of 15 in Mexico said they suffered from emotional, physical or sexual violence in their romantic and intimate relationships. However, less than 20 percent of women report the violence they suffer to the authorities because a lack of confidence in the police and judicial system."

Here's the link to the article: http://tinyurl.com/pf57tdb
 

Thank you Vivi and makes me wonder why rape is used in almost every TN yet rarely reported and often times totally ignores anything but a bruise for a day or two. Here instead of using the can't let mother and Max know excuse, the angst in making the decision to report and the difficultly she faces is laid bare. They are dealing with it head on. I screamed when the police so nonchalantly said he would use his phone to take photographs.
 

Thanks, Hellashelle. Great recap. You certainly have a way with words.

Sure hope MD continues with pressing charges. There should be ways to disregard what's on her phone. There's no history of her texting lovey notes or photos to Dan, and surely his fingerprints are on her phone.

Ursula is the worst. To me she brought up Maleny "killing" her father only to make Dan feel better about raping MD. Son, whatever you are, you're not as bad as that one. Grrrrr!

I remember when the first rape and domestic violence centers opened in the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. That's when police departments started a protocol of having women officers or counselors be the first line of help for rape victims.
 

Niece--thanks for your comment on the centers. All this goes to show how far we *haven't* come regarding abuse, domestic violence and rape against women in all these eons. And just to think that at one time, here and in European countries, and in some parts of the world today, a husband can do whatever he wants with a woman who is his wife, including killing her.

However brutal and headline-grabbing these stories are, they sell on the news and on tv. Is this really the way to bring these criminal acts to public attention? Yes and No. The yes is if it raises the conscience of the population and there is a consensus to organize to combat it, even on a small-scale, like these centers and clinics, and police who are more sympathetic to the victim.

Gerry at risk? Por Dios, NO! He and Doris are the ONLY sane people in this whole telenovela.

I loved Max' turn about is fair play on Baldomero. He got skunked.

So we don't really have to speculate on who actually killed Hector. Maleny was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If Ursula could have turned her murder into a suicide without a witness, she would have been ok. Unfortunately Maleny was a witness. Ursula made it her business to turn Maleny into a psychological basket case, just to save her butt. What I heard was that the primary reason to create the suicide scene was to avoid a scandal. She thought society would not turn against her, but sympathize with her. She sadly said it turned out not to be so, one by one, they gradually alienated themselves.

Even though Maleny is twisted, I'm glad she overheard the conversation between her mother and Arango.
 

Hithank you, everyone ant anyone that was too disgusted to watch to miss out. The Santibanez clan is vile, but the actors are fabulous!

I still think Ursula pulled the trigger, but last night, for the first time, I wondered if maybe Arango did.

When Dan started to absolve himself after hearing that Mal killed Hector, and Ursula followed up with a line about how hard her life has been since, I almost turned off the TV. These people are actually nauseating me now.
 

Vivi, that article made me sick on behalf of all women. It's 2015 and this hatred of women needs to stop. WTH keeps it going?

The scenes at the police station made me want to hurl. MD would have been raped all over again. Taking evidence pictures with a cell phone? Not on your life!
 

I agree, Ursula mentioning over and over that Mal killed their father was to make Dan feel better about the disgusting act that he did, and it worked. I'm actually not hating on Maleny so much as I did before, she's such a victim of cruel parenting, it's amazing that she's not worse than she is. But I am hating on Isela a lot more than before.
 

Whew! Ok, back with a computer that works!

What was the deal with Ivana wanting "to spend time with Max"? Has her desire for revenge now turned solely against MD?

I found it twlling that Maleny screamed "What do you owe her?" It's an interesting to see that she thinks of people being with her mother solely in terms of blackmail.

Props to MD. At least twice I thought she'd give up: I thought she'd try to bathe at home and I thought she bailed on the police station and would go home. Glad to see she's perservering. That being said, I"m cringing at a lot of her reactions because they might bury her later. When she spoke to Max, she didn't sound any more strained that usual, she left the police station without actually making a statement so they're going to say she bailed because she "knew the exam wouldn't reveal rape", and she took that call from Daniel without witnesses or recording.
 

I also agree that Ursula blurted Mal's secret to help her calm her baby boy down. And Dan will take ridiculous pleasure in using it to torture Mal.

Also, it was SO disturbing when Ursula cradled Dan and 1) described why she chose Ivana 2) mentioned taking Gerry out 3) told him he could do whatever he wanted with them both after getting MD's baby.

Given the way this TN is going, Ifully believe she will be, but I SO wish she wasn't pregnant.
 

Hellashelle, she could still bail on it. They didn't do the exam by the end of the episode.

My guess about MD and pregnancy. I think she got pregnant having sex with Max, but Dan's family will think that she's pregnant by Dan. And no one will know before she has it who the father is. So they will still try to take the baby from her to give to Ivana.
 

cathyx - 100% agree. Question is will Max buy into that story?
 

Hellashelle, what a wonderful recap on such an emotional episode, thanks.

This tn always has so much going on and on so many different levels, so I'll just say that I enjoy reading all of ya'll insights.

"What was the deal with Ivana wanting "to spend time with Max"?" IDK but at this point I'm feeling more sympathetic towards Maleny than Ivana.

jlk
 

I am hoping that Ivana wants to spend time with Max because his honesty and truthfulness is a breath of fresh air. She knows how he feels about MD, so I don't think she want to make a move on him. Or maybe she still thinks MD is carrying Dan's child, so she's going to talk to him about that and Dan's plan?
 

CountX - I'm also wondering if Maleny is the sleeper hero. She knows all that Dan and Ursula have done and has motives to reveal it. I was hoping it would be Dan at some point, drunkenly revealing it to someone like Claudio.

Also thanks to everyone for reading, even before I got the short recap up!
 

Ooh! Jilk and cathyx, my bad; I missed those last comments.

She def still thinks MD's carrying Dan's baby and is willing to essentially sell it. I hope she does tell Max since he was with MD when she got the proof she wasn't pregnant, but now the rape will, of course, complicate things.

If she'd leave MD alone, I would feel worse for her, but she keeps venting all of this on MD in a poker came where she holds all the power cards.
 

I'm kind of liking the idea of Maleny as the sleeper hero. Don't know how likely that is to happen though. Maybe she'll redeem herself a bit as she takes her family (herself included) down in flames.

The way the actress is playing this character is so fascinating, I'm always waiting to see what'll she do next.

jlk
 

Thank you Hellashell it was wonderful recap. The Santibanez home scenes and rape made me feel yucky after watching, but I couldnt resist reading yoyr recap.
I have noticed Max wearing a white mesh looking thing on his hand? Is that a fashion thing? Its bugging me what it is does anyone know? Thanks in advance.
 

Thank you for the excellent recap Hellashelle! Wow, you captured the moments with the Santibañez so perfectly.

The way those officers treated MD was horrible but unfortunately not too far from reality. Men tend to think women invent these kind of charges to get revenge on their exes if they are told by the victims that they had a previous relationship with the aggresor. I'm glad that the nice lady from the organizarion was there to help MD. That's a good thing about Mexico City, there are many organizations for many causes that constantly keep an eye on this kinds of injustice, that's why the case Vivi brought made so much resonance. Women who live in other parts of the country, especially in poor rural areas aren't that lucky. Ñ

Ivanna and Maleny have both endured terrible upbringings woth women who tore apart their self image. Ursula is much more horrible than Susana so I guess is natural that Maleny's behavior is worse. Except, I do think Ivana is able to tell right from wrong, she just lets her emotions get the better of her, while I'm no sure Maleny knows the difference.

Jarocha
 

Anon 3:46- Both Max and Orly are sporting those mess covers over bandages for the burns they suffered in the fire of Espie and MD's business.
 

Jarocha--Thank you for enlightening us to an unwinnable situation for women in Mexico or anywhere, for that matter. I had considered that for a few seconds, about false accusations, but since we saw what had happened to our tn lead, it just wasn't appropriate.

And thank you, Vivi, for the article. Apparently is ok for a gated community person to kill an unarmed teenager, but not alright for a woman to kill one of her two sexual attackers. At what point did the judge think she should have stopped, I wonder.

 

Thanks so much Vivi. I am so releved to know because I noticed it on Orly too
 

Hellashell, this was sickeningly good. I wouldn't mind one bit if someone killed the
Rapest, and the woman that gave birth to "it".
These people give disfunction a whole new
Meaning. Espy is sick anyway go ahead and
Press charges and deal with the fallout, she
Will survive, with heartbrake but she will come through it. But, yall it may get worst
Before it gets better.