Caray, Caray!

Thanks Cynderella. This was actually just #59 and #60. There was no editing tonight.
 

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I have #62 almost done so I will work on #61 today. Considering where the story is now, editing will hurt it more and we don't need to catch up to Mexico.
 

Eladio Schwarzenegger and Julia Shriver. That's hilarious! Can't wait for your recap, Cynderella!

Thanks for the heads up, Mauricio! It's just as well I didn't make any comments cause I saw episode #61 as well. I'm glad I no longer have to watch 3 episodes at a time, I had become so excessively immersed in the PyP universe, I'm even dreaming about these crazy characters!

Looking forward to your recounting of yesterday's happenings, Cynderella. Cheers.
 

Ok, what we know:

Children's birth order:

Miguel
David
Franco
Erick
Regina
Daniela

Gaby is probably in the Regina age range.


What we know: Arturo & Julia started having sex when they became engaged.

What we know: Nina has Dani & Regina's shares of the company and wasn't intending to give it to either of them. She wanted Arturo to give Dani & Regina fresh shares of the company while keeping the shares they already own but don't know about to herself.

So what I want to know is this: Does Nina have 25% of Grupo Montenegro or are Dani & Regina's shares part of that 25%?

If Dani & Regina's shares are NOT part of that 25%, how much controlling interest in Grupo Montenegro does Nina actually have? 30%? 40%?

How much are Miguel & Consuelo's shares and how much will Arturo actually have left?

I'm enjoying the counseling sessions with Julia & Eladio. I'm glad the counselor asked Julia why she was so mad at Eladio giving Franco 20%, when David doesn't care. And then Julia tried to get David to say he was upset at Eladio for giving Franco 20% but again, David doesn't care.

They freshened up the opening credits. Caridad is in and Ratt is out. I also saw some new names, I will have to watch and see if Joshua has been erased from the credits.
 

I think the 25% includes Dani and Regina's shares. We don't know any of the other metrics.

I don't think much of either company is being publicly traded. Eladio gave 20% to each of his sons and I'll bet he holds at least 50% in his own name. Arturo should retain at least 50% in his own if he gives shares directly to his children. Comments:

#59

The DNA results took away Eladio's primary weapon against Julia. What his sessions with the shrink are revealing is his personal fear of weakness. He is not concerned with others knowing it because he can hide it well from most people; he has been hiding his fear of weakness from himself behind his cruelty. I'm wondering how much more of this he will take.

Eladio giving 20% each to David and Franco means he will need to keep the other 60% to maintain control of his company.

His actions aren't making sense to Julia and she doesn't want David to lose out in the end.

Would Eladio lose Julia over this 20+ year deception about Franco? Only if she uses that against him as grounds for divorce vs the worse things she could charge him with.

Arturo giving Nina that car was a mistake I didn't see coming. I was expecting it to be a gift for Regina.

You'd think Caridad would want to start wearing bright colors again, but Gisela's death will delay that a bit longer.

Nina is taking a page from Daniela's playbook by showing up at the meeting. Messing up Arturo's company would be contrary to her own interests but she will stalk him.


#60

It will be interesting to hear the autopsy results on Gisela. The marks on her face will probably have the last word on cause of death.

Augustin is right; Nina is ambitious. Marrying Arturo wasn't just about his money, it was for social position. That was just as important to her in absence of fame and fortune earned on her own. She doesn't want to lose that. She also thinks that what was good enough for her should be the standard for what is good enough for her daughters.

Nina's move on Ashmore was very risky. She probably is beginning to realize that ruining Arturo as revenge would not be in her own best interests. However, this move will come back to bite her on the ass eventually.

Finally, since the 25% of the company includes shares belonging to Regina and Daniela she doesn't have as much pull as she thinks she does. We don't know how that 25% is divided, but she will now owe whatever earnings the girls' shares have accrued since whenever they were signed over.

Julia has been completely guilt-tripped in a squeeze play. Her next session with the shrink should be interesting.
 

-- Anon207: Joshua's name is off the credits and so is Maribel's. There was also a mysterious "Santos" in the old opening credits but I never knew who that was. The new names I managed to catch are "Ashmore" and Nina's friend "Fanny", so it looks like they're gonna be with us for a while.

As regards the shares, my understanding is that the Montenegro womenfolk have been granted 25% of the Grupo Montenegro but they were put under Nina's name because the girls were small when this happened. Arturo also mentioned in that same conversation that he wanted to give Miguel shares beforehand but that Miguel refused them (maybe this happened when Miguel was a teenager or when he turned 18. Arturo was never specific). I'm going to wildly speculate here that every Montenegro kid has 10% and Nina has 5%, so their collective shares in this scenario would amount to 45%. If we include the "Consuelo + Nieto" company shares, the total could be 55% to 60%. I believe that Auggie is also a business partner / "accionista" in Grupo Montenegro. Basically, the only thing that is clear in this confusing situation and with an impending Montenegro divorce, is that it is crucial for the parties involved to form alliances and create a voting block in the GM Board.
 

Thank You in advance Cynderella. Yours are always to my liking as you do not mince words and aren't afraid of the hall monitors.

I know what they are doing, and it is Muy interesting. The counseling sessions are making ElDaddio more human and likable, and the opposite for my Queen Julia.

Under hard cross examination from the interrogator...er...therapist, she could not offer a plausible explanation for her angst over the Franco gift. Reading between the lines I thought I saw the word Greed faintly. Hmmm

ElDaddio on the other hand, is showing us some believable human frailties and some believable human reasons for trying to hide them. Some elements of his discussion with Franco made sense, but probably are still wrong. As I have mused before, are they (writers) going to do a switcheroo on us and make good bad and bad good? I smell a Rat and not a dead Ratt.
 

-- Kirbo: I too feel there will be a switcheroo but I think that the writers have been preparing the terrain for this since just before Julia's fall. We were seeing glimpses of Eladio's frailties and were already speculating about his painful past. I also feel that the writers never painted neither Art nor Julia in a favorable light. They both emotionally manipulated their romantic partners for their own convenience and/or out of spite.

Though he probed her harshly, I think Julia's therapist hit the nail on the head! I even feel that the judgy shrink must has been reading Caray Caray! All the stuff we, Julia detractors, have been discussing for a long time about her martyr complex, her need to replace one economic crutch (Eladio) with another (Arturo’s), her obsession with making Eladio and David get along as a pretext to guarantee her son’s inheritance and her future financial security... As I said way back when Julia was in the hospital, she wants to secure her son's status as universal heir to Eladio's fortune and she wants to ensure that the time she had to endure being Eladio's pretend wife is handsomely compensated. That's fair enough, she has every right to do so. What I couldn't stand is her sanctimonious, holier-than-thou demeanor where she consistently paints herself as the martyr, the imprisoned princess who has to sacrifice her life for her son (who is a grown man and a highly educated professional capable of fending for himself) and her despicable father (whose snooty behind can perfectly survive in a government-sponsored nursing home instead of the five-star facilities he had grown accustomed to).
 

The counselors* are digging into what makes Eladio & Julia tick. We know Eladio's motivations; he wants to possess Julia because she's noble & good & the only thing "good" about Eladio. He feels without her, he is nothing. Eladio doesn't love Julia the person, he loves Julia the idea.

Julia, on the other hand, is a hot mess. The counselor is trying to get at why she's really upset. If she's raised Franco as a son since he was three, why would she be upset that Eladio gave him anything? Because frankly, I think Julia would've been just as upset if Eladio gave Franco 5%, and this episode reveals how she really feels about Franco (IMO).

Julia's trying to convince herself that she's stayed with Eladio because she's fighting for David's inheritance, but David doesn't care about the inheritance and has rejected what Eladio's tried to give him. Then she started talking about Hummy's medical care.

I think the counselor is trying to get Julia to see if she's staying with Eladio out of fear or economics...i.e. leaving Eladio would mean leaving your comforts & luxuries behind. Why are you really staying with Eladio and why are you really leaving? Are you exchanging Eladio's life of luxury for Arturo's?

I'm really hoping this turns out to be a situation where Julia is fixated on Arturo as an escape & not a situation of Julia is fixated on Arturo because it's "true love." None of these people know what true love is all about.

*The counselors need to head on down to the Montenegro House and give ALL of them a group rate on counseling.
 

And while we're talking about the therapy sessions, did anybody get freaked out by the look Eladio gave the therapist just before confessing that he has another son noone knows about? That was really scary! Brrrrr...

By the end of the session when Eladio started babbling incoherently that he must gain time so Julia can see the good side of him and forgive him when he tells her the truth about Franco, etc... The whole time the shrink was just nodding along and I imagined he must be thinking: "You poor delusional man! You are gonna be needing so many sessions that I'll be able to put all my kids through college, get a luxury penthouse in Vallarta AND buy a new sportscar for my "Nina" on your dime! Ha-ha! Suckaaaa!"
 

"As I said way back when Julia was in the hospital, she wants to secure her son's status as universal heir to Eladio's fortune and she wants to ensure that the time she had to endure being Eladio's pretend wife is handsomely compensated. That's fair enough, she has every right to do so. What I couldn't stand is her sanctimonious, holier-than-thou demeanor where she consistently paints herself as the martyr, the imprisoned princess who has to sacrifice her life for her son."


Right, Nandicta. Julia is actually no better than Nina. Nina is doing the same thing, using her children to secure her financial future. It's just that Nina knows exactly what she is doing while Julia pretends not to.

We've been seeing glimpses of Julia's ruthlessness. I'm hoping these counseling sessions will show Julia she is every bit as much of a shark as Eladio is, just wrapped in a dainty little package.

I've been wondering about Hummy saying that Julia was willful & not as compliant as her mother and I've been saying "Um, where?" Perhaps Hummy knows Julia is a shark wrapped in a goldfish's package.
 

Julia Shriver ? LOL!

Let's hope Eladio doesn't plan on becoming President of Mexico!
 

I'm not a therapist but if I were I'd

Tell Eladio to give Julia an apology, a divorce and a nice monthly stipend, recognize Franco and spend time working on a relationship with his two grown sons. Eladio seems to be the only person willing to be honest with himself so give the guy a chance. He'll never get better with the constant reminder of his pain hating him up close.

Tell Julia to get a job, any paying job, so maybe she learns money doesn't grow on trees and it is possible to support yourself. Impossible I know for someone that grew up with a money tree. When Humberto killed his money tree, Julia wouldn't marry Art with one in his backyard she married Eladio for the money tree in his and won't leave till she gains access to another. Now she's mad Franco has access to "her" tree, huh?

 

I think two things are going on with the writing of this series:

-- There could be a mandate at Televisa to keep viewers hooked with constant plot twists and character reversals. We've seen this in other series in the last year or two.
-- There wasn't enough thought in the updating of this story about changes in gender roles. Regina is the only one of the younger generation who rings true to our times. Gabriela, Clara, and Consuelo are getting there, slowly but surely. Daniela is a garden-variety narcissist like her mother. Marintia is close to today, but still uses sex as a tool to manipulate men.

Julia is a prisoner of abuse from two men who should love her. She is actually typical of the breed and with Humberto in the house she could easily lose her mind. What a lot of people here are failing to understand is that she has been brainwashed into feeling worthless. This often happens way out of proportion to the objective reality we see and is very difficult to fight. Even if she and David would leave the mansion she would need years of talk therapy to feel normal as well as a lot of support from friends, something else she seems to have been cut off from.

In the real world abusive men don't reform and normal men don't become abusive without something like a brain tumor or sudden drug or alcohol use. Watch Eladio's facial expressions and you'll see that his anger is not being defeated; he is also getting new targets for it. He is also still attempting to conceal the fact that Franco is his biological son despite that Franco knows it and Caridad is now free. This will create more stress to feed the anger.

Julia will find out about that eventually because this is too big a secret to not be revealed. It will come out in one of the conventional ways this happens and there will be major fireworks.
 

Cannot wait to read your take on the crazy, Cynderella.

I only watched the first hour. That scene of Eladio hurting Franco in the bedroom was disturbing. For a very pretty boy, Franco makes the most grotesque faces.

Poor Nini was so thrilled to get that new car that she went on and on about to The Banco de Art in the first episode. Then, Art (Bart?) Burst that bubble. Ouch. The disappearance of the fabled purple lipstick seems symbolize Nini's burst bubble. Wait? What? Art? What's up?

I wish that I could care about any of these people. Right now, Caridad is the only one I am having any feels for.

Okay....as to those therapy sessions..let's hear about that tattoo. I am interested. Did Eladio do any tagteam wrestling with The Rock back in the day?

Are the writers just making stuff up as they meander their way to the end? Was there ever a plan?
 

-- Anon 207: I agree with everything you said, especially the fact that Julia and Nina are very similar in their desire to guarantee their kids' cut of their respective daddies' fortunes, except that Nina has gone about things in a smarter way. Julia would've had Eladio eating out of the palm of her hand (remember the lion-taming gestures she did earlier in the show?) had she given him the affection and bunnyhopping (credit to Susanlynn) he always craved. Nina got so much out of Arturo using that same technique and the guy never loved her to begin with!

Moreover, Julia has always treated Franco well but she never hid her resentment or mistrust towards him because he was Eladio's favorite. She tries to sideline him to protect her son's interests the way Nina tries to sideline Miguel to have Art favor her kids.

Last but certainly not least, you said something that I personally found truly edifying, I don't think it's ever been said here before: "Eladio doesn't love Julia the person, he loves Julia the idea." That is so true and the best thing he can do for himself and for Julia is to dissolve their marriage.

-- Tofie: I'm in complete agreement with your suggestions, I would just add Caridad in your recommendations. Indeed, Eladio can't atone for his sins unless he apologizes to Caridad for abandoning her when she was pregnant, for attempting to delay her parole hearing and for never recognizing their son. He also needs to pay his ex-lover / baby mama a generous monthly stipend to compensate for all the horrible years she spent in prison for defending their son.




 

SusanLynn, your last question may be answerable with "Yes. They are basing their next moves on viewer reaction."

Telemundo was guilty of this during several series a few years ago which made me stop watching that network. Televisa appears to be doing this in the last couple of years with CI being a prime offender. I watched that with half an eye and my jaw on the floor. This series is a special case:

FC is doing his first villain role and is being watched by an audience who is accustomed to seeing him as a Prince Charming. I'll bet there are some viewers who can't handle this. I don't know whether he was willing to sign on to play a full-blown villain or whether he is back-pedaling on that because of viewer reaction or even his own discomfort with this. The writers could be trying to PSA this character into therapy to demonstrate that this is what abusive men should do to fix their issues. This is starting to look to me as another failure in medical verisimilitude despite how realistic the shrinks and their questions are.

JS is highly capable of playing the dark side of a character. We've seen that in LQNPA where his portrayal of depression was very realistic. I could see the writers pushing him into that. For them to make him the villain would be unrealistic and not what I think he signed on for. This would be unfair to him and risking the possibility of him jumping ship o another network.
 

Carlos--in reference to your comment Monday evening--

Better "My thoughts only" than "My only thoughts," no?
 

I believe the top dog at any corp or business would have at least 51% to control, otherwise all those others could get together & it could be a standoff
 

Cynderella,
Thank you! With a title like that, I cannot wait for your juicy bullet points. No pressure though, I enjoy the anticipation. I
Love this blog, everyone is so respectfully if one another. Thanks to commenters too, your input is very insightful and entertaining.

Good day everyone,
Leticia
 

I think such a scenario is probably rare. Most CEOs with 50% will likely have allies among other shareholders. Eladio is a tyrant so he would need at least 51% to maintain control but his motive for giving Franco 20% probably is to insure his loyalty as much as because Franco is his son.

Julia's suspicion at this is very normal and not indicative of greed. She knows that Eladio has tried for at least the past few years to get David into the company and could suspect that he intends to make a future tyrant out of him (which he more likely could do with Franco). This is after years of Eladio favoring Franco over David and ranting about David not being his son. THAT is her discomfort with this situation. Now that she has proven that Arturo is not David's father, Eladio has to own up to David being his son. He knew this ages ago and used the accusation as a weapon. Now he can't do that anymore.

Eladio is being forced to see that David is not himself. This is something narcissists can't handle. This is the testosterone version of Nina and Regina with steroids and Roid Rage.
 

-- Susanlynn: "The disappearance of the fabled purple lipstick seems symbolize Nini's burst bubble. Wait? What? Art? What's up?" So true! I don't know if you saw this, but there was a riotously funny scene where Princess Nina was cruising in her fancy chariot and waving at people!

-- UA: "FC is doing his first villain role and is being watched by an audience who is accustomed to seeing him as a Prince Charming. I'll bet there are some viewers who can't handle this." Manuel Fuentes-Guerra in "Amor Real" was the farthest thing from a Prince Charming but it is arguably FC's best performance and most popular character to date. "Amor Real" scooped up all the awards, broke audience records and was such a resounding success it got aired a second time in Mexico immediately after it ended, which is unprecedented according to Cristina Saralegui (that's what she said in the AR special she hosted on her show).
 

-- Leticia: Welcome to the PyP Patio! We love having lively discussions here and everyone brings in an interesting perspective. We may not always agree but we learn from and value every opinion. Please feel free to join the discussion whenever you feel like it. We're saving you a seat and I'm sure Dr. Carlos will be mixing one of his delightful Nina Fresa cocktails for you. ¡Bienvenida!
 

It was interesting to note how Eladio, on being shown the DNA results by Julia, immediately turned the tables on her, making it sound like this was the proof he needed that something was going on between her and Arturo--one of his other pet peeves he uses to keep her controlled.

I've found all the comments most enlightening. Can't wait for Cyn to weigh in with her well-aimed bullet points and make my day complete!
 

It's not like Eladio HASN'T tried to give David anything. Just a few weeks ago, he gave David 20% of the company; David rejected it. Whatever Eladio's motives were, he gave David 20% of GLA FIRST.

In this case, Eladio is not favoring Franco. He gave Franco the exact amount he gave David.

I think Julia would've had a problem with Eladio giving Franco anything and that's what the counselor was trying to get her to examine.
 

But, as we pointed out before, Manuel Fuentes-Guerra was much younger and was a compassionate doctor and not a dishonest businessman. I am guessing that the character was meant to be about 30 years old and we know Eladio has to be much older than that. Manuel was in a position to become the full human being he did. Matilde did not endure 25 years of abuse, either, but rather a year or two (with much of that fueled by alcohol) and a few years of his absence. She found a lot of her own strength during his absence as well.

As to Nina's lipstick I don't think she ever wears colors that clash too badly with the color of the dress. OR maybe the viewers didn't like it.
 

-- Anita: You are right, Eladio tried to turn the tables on Julia but I think it wasn't just an attempt to guilt-trip her. I believe he genuinely wanted to find out how she came into possession of Arturo's DNA test results. When she first gave him the folder with the results, Eladio said to Julia: "You asked David for a DNA test (to determine he is my son)? You do know that you are humiliating me here?". She replied that he only has himself to blame for refusing to do a DNA test (That's right!), that's why she was obligated to ask for Arturo's help (That's wrong!) and besides Eladio knew all about this anyway. Eladio gets into his obsessively jealous bubble and starts questioning her: "He (Art) laughed his head off at me, didn't he? He must have thought I'm not a man!". Then he asked her: "When did you meet Arturo to get the results from him?" - Me: They met in church and gave each other slobbery kisses in front of Jesus! Oh the sacrilege! :p

Julia's motives for approaching Arturo for the DNA test were discussed here at length and many fellow commenters suggested ways in which Julia could've done a DNA test for her son and Eladio by stealing hair samples of something like that. Having watched yesterday's scene where Julia tosses the folder with the DNA results on Eladio's desk and storms out, I personally feel she could've achieved the same dramatic effect by throwing a folder with HIS and David's DNA results in his face: "Here is the proof you're Dave's dad, a**hole! You can redo the tests yourself any time you want!" However, like the therapist rightly pointed out, she needed to hurt and humiliate Eladio. Nothing could've wounded Eladio's pride or virility more than pulling that DNA test stunt with Arturo's knowledge and help.
Now, I'm not disputing that Eladio had it coming, I'm just saying that Julia should own up to the fact that the way she went about that DNA test was not just an innocent, well-intentioned attempt to prove her husband's paternity of their son. She wanted to hit Eladio where it would most hurt him and Boom! Bullseye!

 

-- UA: You're right but Manuel had the guidance of his padrino/mentor the village priest, the wise advice of his best friend Sixto, the loyal friendship of Silvano, the motherly devotion of his mother and the love of Matilde; and still all these positive and loving influences did not help him control his fiery temper, rein in his obsessive jealousy or refrain from committing some selfish and cruel mistakes. What Susanlynn and I were saying is not that Eladio is Manuel, we were just jokingly speculating that Manuel could've turned into Eladio had he had to endure 25 years with a wife who despises him and without the support of affectionate friends / family members in his life.
 

And he deserved every prick he felt over that.

Our past discussions about the DNA testing all said that had she taken a sample of his DNA (like a used drinking glass) she would have needed a US-standard police chain of custody for him to not have an excuse to believe the results. That would also have probably needed Arturo's DNA for comparison. Eladio has no excuse and has to own his own reaction to this and his own motive for any alleged doubts of his paternity of David.

He should be grateful that Julia has never revealed that doubt to David himself, although I don't think that is right anymore. David has always looked for explanations for Eladio's lack of love for him and he will have to find this out eventually.
 

FC got his looks from his padre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0QNiwkTnE
 

UA,

"Our past discussions about the DNA testing..."

I guess my thoughts on the subject doesn't matter to you. At that time I suggested that the testing is what mattered, police-like chain of custody be damned. She presents him with the results and he can question their validity, but at that point the DNA door has been opened, the ball is in his court and the burden is now on him to refute the results with tests of his own.

Next!

Carlos
 

Oy, the comments are coming fast today.

Nandicta, Julia had every reason to despise Eladio. He raped her on their wedding night and has kept her a prisoner all these years. He is an amplified version of her father. He has insulted her repeatedly and torn down any sense of worth she had left after enduring Humberto for 20 or more years.

We have not seen a flashback of their courtship but I'm willing to bet he turned on the charm during it and went from Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde as soon as they were in the honeymoon suite. The only thing that saved Julia from not completely losing it is that she wasn't a virgin at the time of the rape.

I completely agree with the notion that Eladio loved the idea of Julia. She is a daughter of the Old Money world and the prize he needed to be accepted into that. Any other woman of her class and looks would have done just as well for that purpose but Humberto bankrupted his family through his vices so that presented a golden opportunity. This was a double bonus to Eladio because it also meant taking the woman Arturo loved after Arturo's youthful mistake and what he did to rectify it.
 

-- UA: Oh Eladio definitely got a befitting payback! I totally agree, he earned that humiliation fair and square! It's the butter-wouldn't-melt-in-my-mouth attitude of Julia that bugged me: "I only wanted to prove my husband was my son's dad, that's all!" *innocent Bambi eyes and excessive eyelash fluttering*
She should've just admitted that she wanted to stab the SOB where it would hurt him the most and twist the knife every which way she can! Good for you, lady, now could you please take off that cloak of lily-white virtuous innocence?
 

UA...and for David's sake he should be told. He's the only one in this small triangle that doesn't know why what's what. Julia, meanwhile, isn't working with a full deck either since she doesn't know Franco is Eladio's son--and won't if Eladio has anything to do with it. Despite the therapist's recommendation, I can't see him revealing Franco's paternity to Julia anytime soon.

I wonder if, for the story's sake, someone else will tell her about it, setting up more conflict and tension, whereas telling her himself, with humble apologies for keeping it secret all these years (ha!), he might come off better in her eyes.

Still, as Franco pointed out, Eladio was boinking Caridad at the very same time Julia was pregnant with David. See how that plays out on the stage, Eladio!!!

I agree with you, UA, why the writers had Julia go for Arturo's DNA at the beginning rather than Eladio's. But, at that very time, she was dying for an excuse to see Artie again and that's probably what motivated her more than for doing something to hurt Eladio with the results--even if it did last night.
 

-- Variopinta: Thanks for that video! FC's father is very handsome but mom is a looker! He got his big gorgeous brown eyes from her!
 

Don't forget, still on DNA tests, Julia was also trying to rid herself of one of the anvils Eladio constantly held over her head.

Carlos, I'm pretty sure some of us believed you to be right (I didn't only because I've been brainwashed by CSI and Law & Order--forgive me?) But now, would you acknowledge that the ball is still in Eladio's court, despite the twists and turns the test took?
 

Excellent title Cynderella. Can't wait to read it...

There really is nothing for me to add, the comments are so insightful.

Anita, I particularly enjoyed your wonderful "I wonder if, for the story's sake, someone else will tell her about it, setting up more conflict and tension, whereas telling her himself, with humble apologies for keeping it secret all these years (ha!), he might come off better in her eyes". Perfectly stated.

Diana
 

Anita,

"...would you acknowledge that the ball is still in Eladio's court, despite the twists and turns the test took?"

Of course. And I don't recall any police-like chain of custody (something which I have a bit of professional experience with) specimen collection for the current DNA testing she presented Eladio with.

Carlos
 

Anita, I don't think her desire to see Arturo mattered that much in that incidence. She was protecting her son, which has been the only reason she continued to endure the hellhole she's lived in.

I do agree with you that she will find out about Franco through some usual TN cliche like overhearing an argument or someone else will eavesdrop and repeat it to her. Franco is not going to risk telling her himself because of the possible consequences. I doubt he will tell Gabriela anytime soon. David will be livid when he finds out and justifiably berate Eladio for the magnitude of this deception. He really set up a situation with Cain and Abel potential which could lead to incredible tragedy.

My guilty pleasure viewing lately has been the true crime stuff that is all over YouTube. In a series called Behind Mansion Walls is a story about two competitive brothers who both met violent ends. Their father raised them to be competitive with each other and while one didn't kill the other, their sense of competition brought out the worst in both which led to both of their violent deaths. That's not going to happen to David, but Franco could be a casualty in this story.
 

I must have missed something. While I think that it is appropriate for Eladio and Julia to have different therapists and am glad to see that, at what point was that decided and arranged?

Carlos
 

I love the title and can't wait to read the full recap, thank you Cynderella! I'm finding myself very intrigued by the turn of events this TN is taking. Things are unfolding very quickly and I don't know if that was by design or as Susanlynn pointed; perhaps there has been no set in stone script. It seems like now it's Montsy who? We had a few tense episodes where it looked like perhaps Julia or Consuelo would be arrested but now it's shifted to therapy sessions for Julia and Eladio. I have to say though that I personally love Colunga as a layered villain. As an actor I would think growing and trying on different roles would be fun. I hope the writers are not caving to fans who may be expressing dislike and backpedaling on the story that was originally laid out.

I can't blame Regina for being grossed out and disturbed by her sister and bf sleeping together. Honestly I don't think I would have given David the time of day ever again. Personally I always thought that David hopping in the sack with Dani, knowing she was Regina's sister was sort of disgusting. Even if he thought Regina was engaged and didn't have a chance with her why hop in bed with Dani? I know...I know ...Horny-mones.

I enjoyed seeing Augie and Consuelo together. They are beautiful together and I think a better fit than Augie/Gaby.

Nina in her car...aye carumba..how stupid did she look stopping and waving at the couple walking down the street. I don't see her as abused or mistreated by Art. It's actually the other way around. I think for all the years, Art was nothing but a walking wallet for her. She was used to getting her way in whatever she wanted courtesy of her vagina and that included her two faves Dani and Erick having the run of whatever they wanted as well. Now Art's removed his balls from her purse and taking control of his house/children and she doesn't like it.

I think MF is doing a great job, but I can't wait to see Nina's face continuously cracked when Art finally boots her over pumped up behind to the curb. She's going to be trouble for sure, because at her core she is narcissistic gold digging diva. I'm sure she loves Art in her own way but I feel she loves Art more for what he represents. Status and wealth, things that are important to her and she would never be able to achieve on her own.

I rather like Julia. I know she's a bit flaky, but for many years she's been oppressed and kept much like a prisoner in her own home. She never had a phone or was allowed to explore anything on her own. Eladio has been physically and mentally abusive to her. Even her own thoughts and opinions were probably controlled by Eladio. I personally don't think he even loves her...she is simply a possession to him. She's the best thing he ever had and he wants to hold on to it, because she validates him as a man.

I think it's very healthy that she is in therapy and I love that the therapist is challenging her to figure out what her motives are in being with Eladio and if she goes with Art how that would be any better?

I am hoping for a friendship between Caridad and Julia. They seem very similar in temperament and I think the two could actually be a support for each other. Is there any chance that at the end it will be Caridad who actually ends up with Eladio? She did say she fell in love with him.

I'm not sure who I am rooting for just yet, there are too many variables at play and the therapy has thrown me a bit.
 

Carlos--Of course there was no police chain of custody utilized. That's why I infer that the ball is still in Eladio's court. He could accuse her of doctoring the samples with anyone else's DNA. Far-fetched, but if he still wants to continue with this game of David-Not-My-Son, he could make a case. It would just delay things.

UA--If Julia was smart enough to want a DNA test she should have considered using some of Eladio's own DNA-marked items first, but she "resorted" to using Arturo's, just because Eladio refused to submit his own sample. I maintain she wanted to have an excuse to see Artie again, but agree she wanted to get rid of this doubt Eladio liked to hold over her and protect her son's rights and hopefully get El to see David through different eyes.
 

-- Carlos: During their first joint therapy session, the therapist watched Julia and Eladio argue for a bit then he decided that they must take separate sessions to work on their personal issues before they can "upgrade" to couple's therapy.
 

Carlos--I think in Eladio and Julia's only joint session that therapist suggested they have individual sessions. I don't think it was specifically mentioned that they have different ones, but it would have made sense.

At least to me, from personal experience. Having been "told" by my then husband that I needed psychotherapy, he wanted me to go to his shrink. I refused since that doctor had probably heard a lot about me from "his" side and I would consider him pre-biased. I didn't care that patient-client privilege was requisite--it was my sitting there talking to this doctor, wondering what was going on in his mind would make me self-conscious and would negate the process (for me). I preferred and got my own. It further upset my then hub that my diagnosis was there was nothing wrong with me that required treating--other than having lived as a doormat for 7 years. That doormat grew some spikes and flattened his tire. End of marriage (simplified version, of course).
 

If Eladio hadn't been such a jerk all these years about David, Julia wouldn't have had to resort to the DNA, regardless of how she did it. No mother wants to continuously hear "he's not mine" and who knows how cold he was to David as a child? Eladio having his manhood insulted by Julia seeking out Artie is exactly what he deserved.

If Eladio was worried about the paternity he could have had the DNA done himself or agreed to it as she had requested. He wouldn't...instead continuously berating her and insulting her.

Her going to the man she was accused of sleeping with, was appropriate in my opinion.

No I did not sleep with him, but yes I got his DNA. Here is the proof that David is your son.

I have no pity for Eladio.
 

UA--You said, " I don't think her desire to see Arturo mattered that much in that incidence. She was protecting her son, which has been the only reason she continued to endure the hellhole she's lived in."

At least that is what she has been telling herself. The therapist heard something different.

Poor Julia was sentenced to the pain of those 25 years, regardless of her motivations.

 

Nandicta,

"...he decided that they must take separate sessions..."

I saw that, but didn't realize that he had indicated that their separate sessions be conducted by different therapists although as I said, this is certainly appropriate. Since the original shrink is working with Eladio, then it probably wouldn't be fair (not to mention ethical) for him to resume the joint sessions.

I found it entertaining that St. Julia was very uncomfortable with her therapist challenging her motives. Eladio expected such, she did not.

Carlos
 

I have to do a little more, but I am at work and my lunch break has come to an end. I will try to finish this on my break.
 

I am now wondering whether those shrinks are talking to each other. That somehow doesn't sound appropriate to me.
 

Delilah63--I thought exactly the same thing when Consuelo came in to ask Auggie to be her lawyer. He's a better match for her than Miguel and she a better match for him than Gaby.

And what's with Miguel and his new eyeglasses? He wore the dark rimmed ones almost all the time, making him look very creepy. Now we see him only occasionally with the new ones on, revealing a much nicer visage. You'd think that with their money, Artie could have sprung for some laser surgery. Maybe wardrobe needed him to look creepy at first and without them or with the new thin rimmed ones he looked too harmless.
 

Anita,

"...spikes..." ?

Yikes!

Carlos
 

Delilah63 at 3:54
Excellent insight. It was eloquently stated, too.
 

Carlos--The spikes were virtual ones. I learned that I could trust my intuition and was not wrong in challenging his dicta--especially where our children were concerned.
 

UA,

"That somehow doesn't sound appropriate to me."

Without the knowledge and consent of both Julia and Eladio... it's not (at least not here in USA under current HIPPA regulations).

Carlos
 

Anita,

I simply couldn't resist that poetic juxtaposition.

Good for you.

Carlos
 

Thanks, Cynderella.

Funny when Eladio looked stunned that Julia was ticked off about Franco getting 20 percent. Eladio said something like "I thought you were altruistic?" Coming so soon after Julia dissed Nina on her tone on calling "orphans" orphans, Julia looked like a hypocrite. Hey, Julia, this "orphan" has been in your home since age 3.

I agree with Julia's shrink, that Julia and Eladio have built up a codependency over the years. I don't think it's so much of Julia being afraid of losing wealth by leaving Eladio but simply fear of flying the coop after being under Humberto's and then Eladio's thumb all her life.

Anyone worried what lengths Eladio will go to in order to keep Caridad and Franco quiet? Eladio seemed upset about indirectly causing Giselle's death, but it looks like he got over that.

In no way do I see Arturo becoming a villain. He's just a man with regrets who's sick and tired of his current wife. He'll no doubt continue to do selfish things to get Nina to skedaddle sooner than later, but at his core he cares about his kids. He might be ineffectual at caring for them, but he cares. My advice is to keep Daniela at home, while kicking out all the other kids. She’s the youngest, messed up, and needs daily supervision.
 

Once he finds out about the drugs and booze the night of the hotel room he needs to get her in residential rehab and make sure there is talk therapy of the highest order. He knows his own and Nina's failings as parents, but you can't turn back the clock on this.

Daniela needs a purpose in life other than to vex and gaslight her sister. She needs a career.
 

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-- Niecie and UA: Dani needs to experience what a tough life really is so she can get over herself and quit her poor little rich girl, "boohoo nadie me pela" (nobody pays me any attention) baloney.

A while back (Episode 25), when Dani was "helping" Petra in her domestic chores by mopping the floor, this exchange happened between the two and I found wise Petra's answer so funny and a tad premonitory, I wrote it down in my notes:

Dani: - “Cuando se le pasa el enojo a mi papá, en mi vida vuelvo a tocar un trapeador!" ("When my daddy gets over his anger, I'm never touching a mop again in my life!")

Petra: - "Awww, pues así dijo una prima mía y se le cumplió, fíjese! Ahora friega con puro zacate el piso!” ("Awww, well this is what a cousin of mine said and, you know what, she got her wish! Now she scrubs the floor with pure scourers!")

I have a feeling Petra's prediction might come true and princess Dani might end up scouring floors for a long time... In prison perhaps?
 

That would be interesting. The rest of the prisoners would definitely bring her down more than a few notches.
 

Thanks Cynderella for getting this up and trying to play catch=up at work during lunch and breaks. Breaks and lunch should be for relaxing!

I especially loved this [Consuelo} she's thinking living with the penguins in Antartica. Yessss, she certainly has grown a spine with it comes to being manipulated by Erick. The more she pushes him away, the harder he tries. Will be interesting to see where this goes.

I too enjoyed hearing Eladio question Julia about her supposed altruism. But it's a very basic biological instinct to want to put one's own children first and secure as much aid (be it financial or otherwise) for one's own. Julia and Nina are very similar in this. It's primitive, "old brain" and goes deep. "Narcissism" aside (and we're all narcissistic...with some it's just more pathological than others) a woman will fight tooth and nail to protect her children. And if she thinks finances are part of that protection, she'll be ruthless.

I think it's fair to say that Julia has ruthlessly exploited Eladio's emotional attachment to her to protect her son. And Nina has been equally ruthless in trying to sideline Miguel. But at least she's given Arturo boatloads of affection and sex in the meantime.

Not sure where this is going but it's a fun ride.
 

Tofie---I understand what you are saying but I'm not convinced enough to buy it.
Tell Julia to get a job so that she will learn that money doesn't grow on trees and make it possible for her to support herself. Julia does have a job, she runs the foundation for orphaned children. I would think that she does get paid for her time and effort there. She didn't marry the money tree Art (remember that Art hurt her)and so she married the money tree that Eladio had. We must remember that Julia came from an upper crust family--that is until her father gambled away the family fortune. Ok, it's generally true that people who are born into and grow up very well taken care of, upper classed, don't as a rule search out the pizza delivery when looking for a mirage partner. She had been terribly hurt by Arturo and Eladio was there to help take away her hurt. The marriage was a terrible mistake but it was probably for the most part forced or at the least strongly encouraged by her father Humberto who saw Eladio as a meal ticket after his lost millions.

She married for Eladio's money tree? Yes she lives well, very well but---we have yet to see Julia on a shopping spree out to buy up half of Park Ave or any of the rich shopping areas of the DF in which she lives. In fact we have never seen Julia out on a wild shopping spree at all.

the gringo
 

Nandicta
Where did you see FC's mom's picture?
 

Cynderella--The title was just an overture to a splendid recap. Sorry it had to be done on the fly, but what started out with crashing cymbals and ended with soothing strings was just what we needed. Thank you very much. Your verbal twists and turns on the action is always worth the wait.

JudyB--Thank you for dropping in and giving your professional spin on our four "mature" characters (and I use the term lightly).
 

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Wow, thanks Cynderella. I love your sense of humor.

I loved your description of Nina showing off her car. Is Nina five years old? I was surprised when she later declined the car since it wasn't a "make up" gift.

Nandicta: Santos was the man that both Eladio and Artie competed to do business with in the early episodes. He and his wife were the couple that Eladio and Julia had dinner with in the first episode.

Anon207: *The counselors need to head on down to the Montenegro House and give ALL of them a group rate on counseling. Yes, they are all in need of professional help. Time to call Dr. Phil.

The opening credits: Thanks for mentioning the refreshed opening credits. I usually FF them, but went back and watched them. Joshua not being there anymore is a good sign. That means that he won't be back.
 

Thank you for the recap Cynderella.

"Julia runs off to get something"

Consuelo and Augustin I agree better suited and thought the same as some of ya'll.

I can't wait till Caridad adjusts a bit more, dolls up and jumps in the mix.

I thought Nina's quick chat with Ashmore well timed and effective and cast doubt on Eladio's offer while Art assumes the deal done. Nina has plenty to learn but a quick study and happy Art's condescension toward her is rolling off her back.

Ok, two days (4 episodes) is all I can take of Regina moping. Move on and if Daniela wants David let her.

Speaking of Daniela, poor girl is a glutton for punishment, she got nothing outta Dave.

 

tofie--For Daniela, it's all a game of one-upmanship over Regina. I don't think she cares what the outcome is, as long as it hurts Regina. But you are right, she is a glutton for punishment. Then again, since she doesn't have anything constructive to do with her days, for her this is a fun way to spend time until heading for the bars and night clubs in the evening.
 

Tofie, I don't think shes really wants anything from David. All Daniela wants is to vex Regina. If Regina were suddenly to date another guy Daniela would go after him, too.

 

gringo, I hope Julia doesn't take a salary from her own foundation. Mr. tofie and I have supported an orphanage for over a decade in northeastern Burma with our time and money, however, the man and wife that established and runs the day to day operations will go without food themselves so the children may eat.

My point is Julia greatest fear is losing her place on the socio economic ladder, not being destitute. That happens to other people not a woman in a $2000 dollar dress and great hair.
 

Thanks, Cynderella . Awesomesauce.

So, NIni is miffed and is rejecting her love!y playing gift. I would take it and ride off into the sunset...with Augie, the only hombre I can tolerate in this show.

I found some old photos of my dad. He looked a little like Fernando when he was thirty or so. He was a tall, dark, and handsome guy. I mostly keep watching this show because I like to look at Fernando no matter what kind of character he is playing , but I much prefer him as a hero. I like heroes..not antiheroes. ...really good guys.

 

I don't think she does. Had that been the case she would have found a way to save it against the day of her escape.
 

But methinks Reginia doesn't want Daniela to have David either. Regina set David free and refuses a relationship with him (I understand, really I do) so why should she care?
 

You are the queen of snark, Cynderella! Many thanks for the laughs and looking forward to the completed recap.

-- Variopinta: I don't know how to share photos here but if you type in Google Images "Fernando Colunga con sus papas", you will find a few photos. There is one in particular I like: the one where all 3 are laughing and FC's Mama is wearing a white red polka dotted dress. They look adorable!

-- Marcelo: Thank you for clearing that Santos business, it was driving me crazy.

-- Susanlynn: How lovely! I guess your father QEPD was "todo un galán"!
 

I actually like Nina. She clearly loves Art and I haven't seen a reason why he shouldn't be with her. This whole Art/Julia thing is just uncomfortable to watch. No chemistry whatsoever and the awkward kisses - ewww, but whatever. She should leave that abusive Eladio, but Art needs to stop chasing 30 year old mistakes. If she was so awesome then you shouldn't have cheated.
 

I just finished the recap, well done Cynderella. Although I will disagree about Art..I actually like him and love how he's finally deflating Nina. She's had it coming. The way she has spoken to and treated Miguel, this has been owed to her for years.

Nina's sudden desire to give the car to Julia's foundation was hogwash. Nina is no dummy and nobody's fool. She knew suggesting it would get Art's attention and showing some form of altruism by giving away her "regalo" might work in her favor. After all isn't the fair princess Julia, charitable?

I don't think Julia is about money for herself. As gringo mentioned upthread when do we see Julia asking for gifts or on shopping sprees? I think she has been guilted by her father to make sure he is provided for. He never fails to remind her of her obligation, nor does he fail to remind her of the lavish lifestyle she is being kept in. I doubt though that her own comforts matter that much to her. I truly think she doesn't want to be responsible for her father or even her own son having to struggle because of her leaving Eladio. I don't think Julia knows really how to truly put herself first. This is something she needs to learn to do. Hummy was the first man to control her and now it's Eladio. Art's betrayal must have been so crushing to her. I don't even know why she wants him back. I'm rooting for her to reclaim her life on her terms.
I like David, but as long as Dani is oozing like pus all over him, Regina would do well to move on. I have to say though how beautiful Daniela is.

I'm hoping that truth of Franco's paternity is brought out in the open soon and that way Daniela can see she has the chance to snatch another of Eladio's son. How delish would it be to see Eladio's head explode at his favorite son hooking up with another of Art's daughter's.

Both sons with Montenegro girls! I love it.

I'm ready to get back to who killed Montsy. I need to see someone's behind in jail.
 

Recap is complete. Thanks for your patience.
 

Delilah63--Montsy who? Well, now that you mention it, it would be just the moment for our dear Madelaine to say it's time to send Hercule Poirot a telegram. He and his brain cells are needed in Mexico City for a time.
 

I think that Regina doesn't want Daniela's bad behavior rewarded.

Which makes me wonder what those shares are worth now and how much of that 25% belongs to Nina vs her daughters. We don't know how long ago Arturo made that arrangement (at minimum it would have been about 7 years) so we can't begin to figure out what profits they've accrued. Daniela would run through her share in less than a year.
 

How wonderful--More Cyn stuff to wallow in. I was happy the way it was, I'm even happier now.
 

I suppose that we have all met a Dani or two in our lifetime. She is one of those females who will always be a girl no matter how old she gets. Girl has no raison d'etre. ..no reason for being ...no purpose. Sad.

What bothers me is that these people have wasted so much time being miserable. ...over 20 years!! Life is short. Do not waste it. Cut your losses. Move on and find some happiness. "Make haste...the golden moments fly."(Longfellow)

The other thought I always have when I watch telenovelas is that people are the way they are for a reason . The family and circumstances people grow up in shapes their personalities. Another favorite quote of mine is " Who you are can depend on whom you have met."

 

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Dear amigos, I have to turn in but I wanted to share some LOL moments from this double episode:

1) Gisela’s breathing corpse in the morgue: Don't bury her! The pesky old hag lives!

2) Consuelo's invisible baby: How far along is this woman? Still, her stomach is so flat it's almost concave in her super skin-tight maternity wear!

3) David showing up to an important meeting in his white wool fisherman sweater: This isn’t cappuccino with Paquito! Paquito is in Tabasco and you’re now working in a serious company with grown-ups who suit up for meetings and stuff. Dress the part!

4) The Franco and Eladio show in Episode 60: It's Cubby and Papa Fox! I love how Franco is milking every minute of it, and I especially got a kick out of his teasingly calling Eladio “Pa...drino”!

Buenas noches a todos :)



 

SusanlynnHeart--Or another way of saying it these days is--it's not what you know but who you know.
 

Anita..I miss Mads' positive, fun presence here. I like to think that somewhere she is still reading the recaps and comments and thinking of appropriate tunes.

Your story made me think of a woman I met at convocation for the spring semester last week. She was painfully thin and kind of bent over her meal as I sat down next to her. I started talking to her , and she eventually told me that she is in the process of getting a divorce after being married 20 years. She has sons who are 11 and 14 and needs a full-time teaching job but is only an adjunct with three or four classes every semester. She told me that she has a great therapist who is helping her so much. She was a lovely person , and I felt so badly for her. I cannot get her out of my mind . Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans, right?
 

Cynderella, thanks for my afternoon chuckles with Part 2. Hope you can get some rest.

 

I feel sorry for all of the recappers having to do doubles. That stinks.
 

Cynderella, thanks for going above and beyond the call of duty.I turned off the TV just as Gina was spying Dani and Davey disappearing down the hall together. Luckily, I did not dream above this trio.
 

Delilah63---I have just loved reading your through and well written comments. Very insightful and thought provoking. I agree with most, 99% but couldn't agree with your Daniela is beautiful. Really? She doesn't do anything for me. It's her eyes, I don't see them as pretty at all although I know that some would strongly differ with me about that.

Cynderella---I always love your recaps and yes, you are the Queen of Snark. It's 4:00PM on the West Coast--7PM on the East Coast I am just now starting to read it but by the time that I finish, it will be too late to comment and so I will say thank you in advance.

must see tv
the gringo
 

Thanks so much, Cynderella, for another very funny recap. Just a few of the many lines that tickled me:

"They’ll do lunch afterwards."

"She bashed him in the head with a frying pan. Caridad is my favorite."

"So much for living with the penguins."

gringo,

"...we have yet to see Julia on a shopping spree..."

No, I'm sure that each morning the little birds and small fuzzy mammals of the forest slip in to dress her in those elegant outfits she wears.

I still find it very odd and puzzling that a poor women held virtual prisoner in her own home, with minimal social contact and not even a cell phone, by a tyrannical husband, has been able to successfully create and manage a thriving charitable foundation. She's amazing.

Niecie,

"Hey, Julia, this "orphan" has been in your home since age 3."

Good one.

Carlos
 

I was hoping for a miracle but after watching last nights show I now know that doo-rag grandma really is dead and not just an assumption by Callao. But then---Nandicta
you gave me hope once again. You saw her breathing---THE PESKY OLD HAG LIVES!!!

the gringo
 

So now I will forever have a vision of Caridad as Rapunzel in Disney's animated "Tangled" because that Disney Princess's weapon of choice was a cast iron frying pan. Go, Caridad. You are fierce! P?s. Autocorrect keeps changing Caridad to Cardiac.
 

Terrific recap, Cynderella! And I'm loving the onslaught of conversation that it's triggered!!

Not sure if it's the writers or the actor (or a bit of both) but I'm impressed at how Isabella Camil has already worked her Caridad into her hearts... she's already the character that I'm hoping most will get a Feliz Para Siempre, certainly more so than any of the other characters at this point.

What a change from when we last saw this actress in any particularly notable role... anyone remember her absolutely vile Ingrid from Abismo de Pasion?? She wound up getting buried alive in that novela, but so hateful was she that I don't recall any of us on the patio shedding any tears for her...

Regarding Gisela... alas, I read an article online a couple of days ago about an award that Raquel Olmedo (she's 78, didn't ya know!) was given for her lifetime in the arts. The article mentioned that Sra. Olmedo had recently finished her participation in the novela 'Pasion y Poder'... so, yeah, I think Gisela's good and dead. :-(

Am I sensing a change in Franco?? (God, I hope so!)

While I'm actually NOT a huge fan of Nina (I know I would absolutely detest the woman were I to meet her in real life), I do SO want her to take Art down a few pegs. She's been the way she's been all throughout their marriage, Art has no right to be so insulting, dismissive, and verbally and emotionally abusive to her now that he's realizing that he's still pining away for (the married) Saint Julia. I'd love for her to show him- somehow- that, even though she may be a vapid narcissist, she's still the same vapid narcissist that he married- she hasn't changed one bit- and one that managed 24 years of marriage to him. Just because HIS feelings may have changed, that still warrants more respect than that which he's giving her (which is none), and she shouldn't just allow him to get away with that. I hope she doesn't.

Thanks again, Cynderella!!! :-)
 

Wow gringo I am most humbled by your compliment. I have been a longtime lurker on this blog and it took me quite a while to nerve up and jump in with my own thoughts on these nutty characters that pull me in nightly.

As for Daniela, I do no find the character beautiful but when I step back for a moment and look at the actress, why yes I do find her quite lovely. There is a luminous quality to her face and I think she has stunning bone structure. I'm enjoying her take on this character; I think she's quite the scene stealer!


Nandicta, the old hag breathing was pretty funny and I found myself thinking if Caridad pulled out a flask from her purse that Gisela would suddenly sit up! Miracle indeed!

I still find it very odd and puzzling that a poor women held virtual prisoner in her own home, with minimal social contact and not even a cell phone, by a tyrannical husband, has been able to successfully create and manage a thriving charitable foundation. She's amazing.

I would be willing to bet that even her shopping trips were orchestrated with Eladio, deciding when she would shop and expectations for how she would dress. Most men like him control everything. Her charitable work was probably the only thing he allowed her because it kept her busy and was another way of being confined. If I recall he recently threatened to take that away from her, knowing how much it meant to her. Eladio has monitored her every move with his goons. I don't give him a pass on much. Though I have to say I f'love Colunga in this role. He's got me riveted.

I loved Franco imitating his Pa-drino with his mannerisms as he confronted him in the bedroom. I chuckled when Franco rubbed his fingers together and then later placed his two fingers together and waving him off was pure gold. It further highlighted to me that indeed Colunga has really infused his character with mannerisms and tone. I believe he is powerful when he is on screen.

All in all with the exception of chimp boy (who may as well be up in a tree peeling bananas with his feet) the cast is doing great work.
 

The foundation was created by Eladio to make himself look good to the world. Such things are normally run by upper-crust wives. This is consistent with the real world.

Isabella Camil was also in LQLVMR as the helicopter mother of a young woman with cancer. Her husband was driven to suicide by the villain after having been blackmailed into illegal activities that he benefitted from. Great performance from her and an excellent casting job on her and the actress playing her daughter.
 

Cynderella, you have a wickedly funny sense of humor, I am a big fan. It seems that you had to go to extra lengths to get the recap done, your efforts are much appreciated.

It isn't so much that Eladio and Nina are paragons of virtue, it is the fact that Arturo and Julia, the novela supposed good guys are so plainly non-virtuous. All their teenage panting and hidden meetings are WRONG for two married people.

I don't think that excessive materialism is a factor for either women, they are wealthy and they look it. Neither Eladio or Arturo have accused their wives of compulsive spending.
 

All their teenage panting and hidden meetings are WRONG for two married people.

I won't argue with this, still I give more sympathy to Julia for being married to Eladio and starved for the gentle love she craved from Eladio who was a rapist brute from their wedding night. What woman would be turned on to have any intimacy with a man who behaved that way on their honeymoon?

As for Arturo, he has been lead around by a bedazzled vagina and a wife who has sytematically manipulated him. I won't forge the first scene when the ground work for this conniving woman was "laid" out. She wanted her car, he refused and she persisted finally using her silken thighs to make her case even more. The next morning to be certain, she once again reiterated she was going to get her car be damned when she said "Thank you for getting me my car" She was all but telling him, he was going to get it for her.

I'm sorry I can not stand that vapid woman and the more she coos and breathlessly begs him to stay with her the more she nauseates me. Again though I do think MF is doing a grand job, otherwise I would not feel such vileness towards Nina.

Still, I have to admit. Arturo could have and should have left her long ago. I can only say that perhaps he just thought this was how it was supposed to be, and with all those kids to raise why raise them in a broken home? It was most likely better to just grin and make the best of it.
 

I missed the wedding night rape and strangely, there haven't been any flash back scenes of it since I've been watching the novela. Most people have a sense of fairness in their judgement of marriages and Julia should have left long ago and not used the "terrible" Eladio as a bank for her father. Fish or cut bait, she's smart, beautiful and competent, no excuses for staying for YEARS! Less competent women with fewer advantages leave all the time. At least both Arturo and Nina got along for years, recently their problems have come to a head.
 

I feel that a complicated and deep emotional affair as with Julia and Arturo is just as WRONG as a physical one. We don't have the loving priest in this novela, but if we did, he would never approve of Arturo and Julia's conduct.
 

Thanks for the recap Cynderella!

The internet ate 2 of my comments. They had to do with Julia's reaction to Eladio giving Franco 20%, and her therapy session. I know she has suffered having Hummie as a dad and Eladio as a hubby, but she sure knows that she would not want to be poor. It seems she would rather be rich and abused, than poor and free. At least that's what the writers have me believing.

Hasta Pronto!
 

Cynderella, marvelous.

"Although he treated Franco like a guest, trained to be his servant, and didn’t acknowledge him as his son, Eladio did not allow him to be raised by an alcoholic and known as the child of a murdereress" and "Nina jumps in and drives off in order to taunt the poor people along the way with her gaudy display of wealth" were sensational.

"Caridad is my favorite". Yes, she is mine too. Seriously. Although the pickings are slim, aren't they??

I can't think of an instance where I wouldn't feel badly for an adult child who just found out his "padrino" is really his father and never acknowledged him. Until now.

Diane
 

Diana