Caray, Caray!

Wow! The story has really turned a corner, hasn't it? Now Arturo gets to be the madman and Eladio gets to be the (deeply flawed) sweetheart. I'm not sure how long this will last, but I'm enjoying every moment of it!
 

Wow, NovelaMaven right out of the gate! Thank you

"Eladio makes a silk purse out of a sow's ear – well, out of two ears and a snout – while Arturo manages to make himself a horse's ass"

"Slick..Slicker...Sick"

Eladio is a more sympathetic bad guy and believable good (reformed) guy than Art

What a classy guy, Art. Unsolicited leave your husband for me pitch runs concurrent with his hatchet guy arm twisting his wife for a divorce
 

Novelamaven...Such a treat to have your recap to read. I have another sinus infection and am not feeling great. Doctor appointment at 11.00 to beat the snow that is predicted to start tonight.

I was watching a documentary about The Eagles last night and two adverb\adjective combinations from the lyrics to "Life in the Fast Lane" leaped out at me ..."brutally handsome " (especially Eladio but also Auggie and Art) and "terminally pretty" (Julia).

Hmmm...are the bad guy and the good guy changing places?
 

Gracias, NovelaMaven. Love the simian metaphors about Erick. He deserves every last one of them.

I'll get this out of the way first: Arturo blew it last night. After Julia's behavior toward him a week ago or so he had every reason to expect her to return his feelings. Her about-face is confounding. However, that meeting was not the time or the place to say anything about it or to try to blacken Eladio's name. This situation is bringing out the worst in him. The worst was his argument with Regina.

However, I give him a pass on his treatment of David because it's a normal, fatherly reaction. There was a missing scene last week when Daniela was playing him over being neglected by everyone, including Nina. He fell for it hook, line, and sinker. He still doesn't know about the drugged-out night in the hotel.

Nina manipulated Regina into thinking that Arturo would leave her penniless when that is not the case. Bitch. She also showed up at the business meeting dressed like a biker mama, which was completely inappropriate. She would have had time to go home and change after flirting with Eladio, which (fortunately) didn't work. She doesn't know whom she's dealing with. She may be a barracuda but he's definitely a shark.

All the scenes with Franco and the ones with conversations about him are pointing to the explosive reveal. Can't wait for that.
 

NovelaMaven, I enthusiastically commend you for an extraordinary recap. Bravo!

As you noted, this was a very pivotal episode! Have the tables turned permanently or is this simply a romp through madness as our leading men temporarily inhabit each other's souls?

There is no galan to be found.

“He waits indulgently as Julia, sporting a snout and pig ears and snorting judiciously here and there…”, “His simian features look hopeful” and "We are treated to tight close-ups of chiseled jaws and sculptured cheekbones" were among many favorites. Also loved your "Slicker" vs. "Sick" comments.

Eladio is clearly desperate and last night, turned from a pursuer to a stalker. At first, Julia seemed to have understanding and patience. But at their second unwanted discussion, she was clearly nervous and on the verge of being afraid. I have no doubt she did not want Eladio to find them but Arturo was clearly not willing to accept what he was hearing.

After Arturo threw Regina out of the room and accused her of being a traitor, hope for him continued to evaporate.

And even though Nina has never been the loving, attentive mother to Regina that she deserved, Regina is supporting her mother as she believes (rightly so) Arturo wants the divorce to be with Julia.

Not sure how much longer the staunchly loyal Augustin will be able to stand by and support the newly vicious and vindictive Arturo.

Enjoyed Nina flaunting her charms in front of Eladio and have to admit to being a bit relieved he had no interest.

Wonderful NovelaMaven! Thank you so much.

Diana
 

I think Art has always felt entitled to anything he wants and this not new. Perhaps his son Chimp Boy is a chip off the ole block. The way he handled cheating on Julia, expecting her to forgive and forget a "mistake" and going along with a punitive prenup because Nina was poor and you know how poor people are.
 

Thanks, tofie!

"Eladio is a more sympathetic bad guy and believable good (reformed) guy than Art"

Definitely! I find myself thinking of Tony Soprano watching the ducks in his backyard swimming pool, or of the womanizing imposter Don Draper, both of whom manage to be sympathetic and abhorrent at the same time.

Susanlynn,
Sending you virtual chicken soup and get well wishes! What about "terminally handsome" (Eladio) and "brutally pretty" (Nina)?

"Hmmm...are the bad guy and the good guy changing places?"

Yup.

Urban, I applaud your consistency. :)

Diana,

"Have the tables turned permanently or is this simply a romp through madness as our leading men temporarily inhabit each other's souls?"

I pick Door Number Two (but how elegantly you phrase the choices!). Thanks as always for your gracious comments.
 

Oh..I am again reminded of Amor Real because after pining for AdolfoSolis, Matilde actually falls in love with her husband Manuel and no longer wants him to be her wasband (thanks ,UA) . Like Art, first love Adolfo pleads and pressures Matilde to leave Manuel and fly away with him.

I still say midlife crisis. Art has pushed all the little birdies out of the nest. He is an empty nester and wants to go back and start over again with Julia.
 

Absolutely, tofie. Arturo has always had a sense of entitlement. But when things are going well, it is his (superficial) charm that you notice. (Unless you are Carlos and you see into his soul from the very beginning.)
 

NovelaMaven, loved your excellent recap. There were so many quotables, my favorite was,
"We can almost hear the air noisily exiting Erick's giant ego [fzzzzzzzzzzzz] as he leaves the office."

As others have noted, "Slick" "Slick" "Sick" was fantastic as well. Thanks! Your command of Spanish is fantastic, do you have an advanced degree or have you made studying the language your passion?

Deliliah, loved you late comment from yesterday. Ditto everything.

In Nashville Snowmageddon today babysitting with sweet grandchildren...more later.

 

NovelaMaven- I am woefully behind on this tn (and all others), but your recap both had me chuckling and hanging on every word and twist. Wow! The writers are now having Arturo and Eladio change places. Art isn't quite there yet. When he gets a few henchmen/bodyguards in black suits, who follow, threaten, intimidate and kill people at his order, then we'll know he's definitely crossed over for good to the other side. Manhandling women, rape, and bribing public officials will also need to be added to his arsenal if he wants to compete with Eladio. Right now he's more asshole than villain.

But good for Eladio for giving being a decent husband a try. For sure it will blow up when Julia finds out Franco is his son, and that he manipulated the justice system to keep Consuelo in jail. But for now, it's good to hear that the Gomez-Luna marriage is having a good period. And of course there's that little thing about him being obsessed with Julia, wanting to know her every move, not wanting her to work or earn her own money, and not even considering the possibility of giving her a divorce if it doesn't work out. But again, that will be part of the eventual blowup.

Julia shouldn't be with either one of these losers. Hope that before her marriage to Eladio blows up for good, she has found that paying job, and her therapy has helped build her self-esteem and independence.


 

Diana, "There are no galans to be found." Yes, I agree perfectly.
 

Caridad in jail, not Consuelo.
 

Novelamaven. ...I always had a soft spot for Don Draper despite the fact that he was a hopeless womanizer. Some guys just love women. They just cannot get enough of them ...one is never enough. ...not good marriage material.
 

AuntyAnn- I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to read your excellent recap until this morning as well. Thank you! Great comments from everyone yesterday too.

Why is everyone pointing out how mean Regina has been to David, when there have been at least two occasions when David has accused Gina of stabbing him in the back, when she didn't. And she continues to be fair and loyal in her business dealings with him, as we saw the last two episodes? Why no criticism for David? They've both made mistakes here.
 

Or of José Luis, Susanlynn, in the newer version of the story, Lo que la vida me robó. Now that was a character who took a hateful turn!

Stay warm and safe, Sandy! Thanks for the flor :) Actually, I'm passionate about language and languages in general, but Spanish is my favorite.

Vivi,
"Right now [Arturo's] more asshole than villain."
Haha! Nice.

To be fair to Eladio, he is now okay with Julia working. I didn't mention that in the recap because it wasn't new information, but it's probably worth remembering.

I don't think it's a stretch to imagine Arturo taking on a couple of legbreakers, though maybe they'd wear nattier clothes than Callao.
 

Vivi..I saw on the news that things are a little crazy where you are. Stay safe and warm .
 

Thanks, Susanlynn. Snow starts to come in this afternoon, and it's supposed to be a big one (for our area that doesn't have the heavy duty snow clearing capacity of other areas more used to this kind of weather). So, we are all hunkered down and working from home starting today. The fridge and cabinets are stocked, and so is the dvr with all the tns I've missed this week, so I'm ready to go!
 

Yeah, does Callao have an entire closet of off-black suits and grey turtlenecks? I don't recall seeing him wearing anything different.

And where is his daughter and her mother?

As to Regina and David, we can expect that Daniela and Erick will cause more trouble of the usual kind. The difference between them is that Daniela just wants to torture Regina for the rest of their lives while Erick would sell her for spare parts because she is has become more likely to inherit most of the family fortune. Arturo's reaction will not be permanent and I see the current situation as temporary in the current Televisa thing of wanting to keep the audience guessing (at the expense of verisimilitude vis a vis human nature).

Snowmageddon is on it's way here, too. We're expecting it tomorrow morning and I am not looking forward to it.
 

Vivi, good for you! Mujer precavida vale por dos :)

I thought Regina had one of her finest hours last night when she behaved like a professional and refused to apologize when she knew she had done nothing wrong. She and David continue to be manipulated by people they think they can trust. I'm hoping that meet (por casualidad) in New York and are able to reconnect without the toxic others around.

Ay, Urban, stay safe.
 

To quote a line from Game of Thrones, "Winter is coming," and I hate winter. Snow is supposed to start tonight here. I hear that the grocery stores have been packed even though we are not expected to get the amount of snow predicted for south of us. The high winds will be a problem.
 

The one good thing is that Regina knows Daniela's game. I'm sure she's been playing it for at least five years before the curtain went up.

The problem is that the only thing that could stop it now is for that little brat to OD or end up in rehab because nobody can stop her doing this. Arturo can't because he doesn't know how and Nina won't unless it somehow interfered with her own interests and when the divorce begins it won't anymore. I can't even guess if it would frustrate Daniela for Regina to not have a novio she can mess with or if it would totally satisfy her because it would prove her (to herself) to be The Better Woman.
 

I think Art and Daniela should sit down and compare notes on how to win a reluctant obsession and rival crushing.
 

Have the tables turned permanently or is this simply a romp through madness as our leading men temporarily inhabit each other's souls? Wow Diana, you nailed it. I watched this and wondered what the heck was going on.

NovelaMaven...still a hopeless fangirl. Here are my faves for today:

Alas he will have no bananas today.

We can almost hear the air noisily exiting Erick's giant ego.

your trio of "Slick Slicker Sick"

but the winner and perhaps all-time champ is:

Gives him a view of the back porch

Lord have mercy, hard to miss it in that get-up but she did pivot and perch a number of times so it was practically "en sus narices".

In the midst of all this role-switching and making amends and whatnot, I remain amazed, gob-smacked really, by Caridad's generosity. Here is a man who has treated her abominably, about to ruin things with his wife, and she steps in and saves the day and perhaps the marriage. Granted she likes Julia and doesn't want to see things blow up in her face, but still...given Eladio's brutal rejection of her in the past and in a time of great need, what a moment of grace! She could give Mother Teresa a run for her money if the good Mother were still on this planet. Wow.

As for Callao, he looks great in that sport coat and gray turtleneck, he sure doesn't have to change for me.

Can't help it, rooting for things to work out for Eladio and Julia. Trop bonne poire to the end! And fangirl. Another great one NovelaMaven. Mil gracias.
 

Just a note for those in the path of this storm, it is muy, muy fuerte. We have about 6 inches of snow which is very rare for Nashville. Many surface roads are closed as well as some of the interstates! I'm told that there are big trucks abandoned on the highways. I changed my profile photo to show my back yard! So If you haven't made your grocery run, better leave now!!


 

Judy- Let's see if Caridad still feels so charitable towards Eladio when she learns he actively worked to KEEP her in prison.
 

Stay warm, Sandy! They are predicting 24 inches for us by the end of the weekend. Yikes!
 

Even without knowing that Vivi, I find what she did truly extraordinary. But yes indeed, Eladio's many transgressions are going to come back to haunt him. And all the more painful now that he has marital happiness in his grasp.
 

Thanks ever so much for an exquisitely written recap, NovelaMaven! I'm a big fan of your work.

I'm having a hard time keeping up with this double (and at times) triple offerings of PyP and I can't wait for next week to roll in so we can go back to a normal broadcasting schedule.

I'm loving the way this novela is keeping a steadily fast pace and is straying from formulaic TN conventions. The twists and turns are consistently entertaining though I don't feel that the switcheroo has taken us off guard because the writers have been preparing the terrain for it since before Julia's tumble down the Gómez Luna staircase of doom.

Don't know about you but I for one I'm liking this Arturo more and more. Upon watching his shenanigans in this episode, I cheered and celebrated the fall of his masks of innocence, the demise of his poor deceived put-upon "blanca paloma" persona. Personally, I like it more when people are honest with themselves and this blunt-spoken Arturo is winning me over: An Arturo who is embracing his inner a**hole, an Arturo who is flirting with the dark(er) side of his nature, an Arturo who is prepared to fulfill his midlife romantic caprices at any cost... De veras, me encanta.

So much happened in this double episode, but I was mostly excited about one thing: Lulis! Lulis finally made an appearance! She is not just some imaginary phone buddy that Dani gossips with; she is real! Yaaaaaay!

The second thing that caught my attention and truly intrigued me was Eladio's pair of jammies. This must be the third time we see him in the same set. As an avid Seinfeld fan, I can't help but wonder: Are we always catching him at the start of a wash cycle or does he have a closet full of them, like Superman?

Gotta dash. Maybe more later.
 

My dear JudyB,

Aw. You do know the feeling is mutual, right?

I share your awe before the aptly named Caridad's generosity of spirit. I'm enjoying the actress very much in this role.

Many dirty secrets will be revealed, but with Gisela gone, I wonder if Caridad will ever learn that Eladio was working against her release.

Oh wow, Sandy – that looks like a picture of MY backyard, but that's completely normal for us in the frozen tundra. Do take care!
 

Oh, and best of luck to those who have to battle the snow-tastic weather. Keep yourselves warm and novela-entertained! :)
 

Thanks so much, Nandicta!

"Don't know about you but I for one I'm liking this Arturo more and more."

Hahahahaha! That makes ONE of you!

The jammies? I'm guessing a closetful, maybe on rolls like paper towels.
 

Thank You, NovelaMaven. So much fun, so much going on, I do NOT know how you do it.

OMG ElDaddio had me holding my breath, as he went on and on ALMOST telling Julia the truth about Franco. I kept telling him, "Spit it out !" "You have laid the groundwork, she is in a forgiving mood, NOW is the time, strike while the iron is hot, bla blah, ba bwa baaa." He pretended to not hear me.
 

Thanks, Kirbo!

I agree that was a compelling scene. It could have ended in resolution or disintegration – maybe it was just too early for either of those outcomes. But yeah, beautifully written and acted. (Maybe he did hear you, but he was pulling an Arturo on you.)
 

NM this was beyond great. So many of your astute comments and observations were already highlighted but have to say I just second them all. I can never get through the whole show before start nodding off, so ever so grateful.

Show of hands: How many think Arturo is showing his colors as a true CLUELESS Brat?

We've always felt uncomfortable with him, but he came off cool and better than Eladio because things worked his way, his kids weren't that much of an issue and he was IN CONTROL. he could afford to look good and nice. Now said kiddies are grown, causing issues, he gets fixated on Julia, and his business is taking a back seat because he can't get a grip on reality. Good word for that SPOILED!

I still aren't entirely ready to sit at any Eladio table because he's not far enough into his reformation to convince me. But hearing Art admit he didn't need a pre-nup with Julia because she was loaded too ( or so he thought) tells me they were both spoiled kids and he couldn't keep it in his pants, party boy most likely he was, while engaged to her. It gives a whole new meaning to Erick's tendency to his behavior. And Art being all self-righteous now about what's right and wrong... We thought he changed, but being the spoiled kid who was never told no, he can't admit defeat or losing the girl. I mean, c'mon, he's gotta be a better catch than the poor kid down the street. All the rich cute girls say so...Barf.

I'm getting woefully tired of the Daniela hitting on David antics. Enough already. In fact, I'm not sure where any of these kiddie plot lines are going...and wondering if I'm starting not to care.

Eladio is blowing it not fessing up to Franco's parentage to Julia. BIG MISTAKE if he's being honest on wanting to change.

Daisynjay
 

Thanks for that beautiful photo Sandy. I love snow. I even like shoveling it as long as it's not 10 inches of heavy wet snow.

Something just came to mind, wondering if it bothers anyone else. David and Gabriela's mouths always seem to be half opened, giving them a perpetually stupid duh look. I know we call Marintia a mouth breather, but Lordy, those two seem incapable of closing their mouths all the way. Deducts about 50 IQ points for me.
 

I think they both have pronounced overbites, Judy.
 

Thank you very much for the recap of last night's episode!

The Gomez Luna's are the Newman's & the Montenegro's are the Abbott's!

This is Mexico's version of Y&R with more cutthroatness!
 

Just got back from the store and I'm ready for the snow. And I have 24 episodes of MIVAC to catch up on...

Regarding the PJs, I'm sure Eladio has multiples. Did you notice his wardrobe closet the other night? At least four each of the same color suit and probably a dozen of the same white shirt. More cost-effective if ordered at the same time (I'm assuming custom-made) and makes daily clothing decisions easy and time-efficient.

Many years ago I read that Jackie Kennedy would purchase multiples of the same garment if it was something she truly liked. Think of those sleeveless, boat-necked black dresses that just barely cover the knees and are always worn with pearls.
 

Thanks so much, Daisynjay!

"Show of hands: How many think Arturo is showing his colors as a true CLUELESS Brat?"
Hey, I see lots of hands raised on the Patio. And I found myself thinking the same thing about Erick last night – now we understand where he gets it from!

I know what you mean about struggling to stay awake. Like everyone else, I can't wait to get back to single episodes at the time we signed on for.

You're welcome, Steve!

Good point about the wardrobe, Urban. Eladio values efficiency and elegance, but he is a profoundly conventional man. Cloned items of clothing make perfect sense for the character.
 

Judyb..teehee..mouthbreathers. I am just short of that . Hub just went out to get me the antibiotic that the doctor prescribed , so I will have it before the snow hits us. I wish that I could pass this yucky feeling on to Art. That would slow him down and maje him feel crappy.Flirting with Eladio's wife right another his nose is pretty dangerous. It looked like Eladio was not captured by Nini's chartms despite the chance to gaze at that back porch...good one , Novelamaven. He evidently likes Julie's more modest back porch . It seems that a wife swap is not going to happen.

Sandy...Gee, I wonder if my cousins in Murfreeboro got that snow.
 

This cold/sinus infection is really laying people low, Susanlynn. A number of my students have been sick and have needed a second round of antibiotics to quell the misery. I think because I was sick for about 6 weeks BEFORE I finally got a prescription, one round really worked for me. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Possibly I'm hyper-aware of David and Gabriela's duhhhh overbite because I too have a mouthful of teeth, and either have to compress my lips (and look pissed off) or go natural and look stupid. Tough choice!

Sending healing thoughts to go along with the antibiotics....
 

I've been battling a sinus infection this week as well. It's going around.
 

Ha, Judyb.Yes, the crud is rampant around here, too. My boss has been sick for weeks and has five classes to teach. The doctor thinks that the first antibiotic did not get all the nasty out of me , and then family members brought home a cold which I caught. be thinks tge cold bugs triggered my sinus infection. I taught yesterday and felt fine until last night when I started feeling dreadful..headache, sore throat, runny nose, sore eyes. Very attractive. Nobody ever gets a cold on the telenovelas.
 

Thanks for this brilliant recap, NovelaMaven. What a special treat this morning. And then there's this:

"Unless you are Carlos and you see into his soul from the very beginning."

My inner narcissist is beaming.

It looks like Miguel came by his stalkiness honestly. Those fearful looks that Julia once had for Eladio are now directed at Arturo and he doesn't even notice.

UA,

"Nina manipulated Regina into thinking that Arturo would leave her penniless when that is not the case."

She showed her the prenuptial agreement for goodness sake. As the lawyers delight in saying, res ipsa loquitur.

and don't disregard Agustín's advice (threat?) for her:

"Negotiate now or lose everything. Ask another lawyer, if you don't believe me."

Speaking of Agustín, I suspect that Lic. Hector Rueda will move to have him replaced as Arturo's lawyer since he also represents the corporation.

I got a big chuckle when Petra slyly asked David if he was there to see Regina or Daniela when he showed up at the Montenegro mansion.

Carlos
 

I loved how NinaHo wore a completely different 'get-up' to go and (she hoped) WOW ElDaddio into becoming her ally. Skin tight pants on that bulbous ass of hers. YIKES ! I'd rather sleep with Julia's panties than with Nina. Plastered down hair and those duck lips, YUK. I guess it was not as hard as it looked to say no for our new hero.
 

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Wow,Vivi..snow and a sinus infection. What a winning combination.I just made chili, and the doctor said to drink lots of liquids, so I will be forcing down mint tea all weekend.
 

Anyone noticed that Miguel was holding onto Clara while she was working on the laptop computer ?


 

My goodness, Carlos, you are much too kind.

(Beaming, you say? Wow. It's not every day that I get to touch someone's inner narcissist.)

You're sick too, Vivi? Dios mío – we're putting masks and hand sanitizer at every table on the Patio. Take care of yourself.
 

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Susanlynn, Murfreesboro has had snow, just not as much.

I don't remember seeing characters change so much mid-stream. It is fascinating. It is hard for a domineering type-A like Eladio to show vulnerability, LISTEN and share in therapy. They think sharing is a weakness. Like Judy, I would like nothing better than seeing even a fictional character walk from darkness into light. If this happens, it will be a novela first for me. With everything that has happened, don't think the patio will be enthusiastically toasting the noche de boda of Arturo and Julia, so where does that leave us, Julia as a career woman head of HR, General Electric, Mexico City? Arturo building apartments in Puerto Vallarta? Julia with Eladio?

 

Thanks, NovelaMaven. Terrific recap. So many great lines but the "no banana" at Erick's expense was my favorite.

What a hoot seeing Art act like a Grade A jackass! Hombre, so you call Nina selfish and insensitive? Look in the mirror. But I'm guessing Art's lovesick middle-aged rage will subside and he'll soon be apologizing to Regina. But his going ballistic on Regina should make her realize Nina's right when she told her Art means to replace her with Julia.

Eladio is so sweet and tender -- and HOT -- with Julia and he's even going to help women in business -- whoohoo! But outside of Julia and David now, he treats everyone else like crap. I don't see remorse about helping to keep Caridad locked up or bullying Franco. I only see fear that Julia will leave him if she finds out.

I thought mom and daughter both looked hot in their biker gear. Everything Nina wears let's you know she's spoiling for a fight.
 

Steve I saw that and thought we were leading into some intimate moments with Clara having forgotten about Francisco, what with Miguel around now. What I really liked was Consuelo calling Monkeyface Miguel then she and Regi both had to immediately lie about it. "Yo chimp boy, your ears are crazy too, you are hearing things."

Connie sure didn't waste any time running around telling all her girlfriends "Miguel kissed me." Not "My brother-in-law tried to kiss me and I slapped him into next week!" As should happen when Dani tries another lip lock on Regi's on/off/on/off/who forkin knows boyfriend.
 

Wow, thanks NovelaMaven! This was wonderfully written and full of many great lines.

Arturo certainly did show his worst side last night. Stalking Julia, getting mad at Regina for being a professional and doing her job, having the nerve to tell Eladio to let him have Julia, and rudely interrupting Eladio when he was giving his speech to other BA members.

Wasn't it awful when Arturo told Regina that if she and David get back together it would ruin his life? How selfish of him to say that.

I'm also getting tired of Daniela stalking David and getting her lips on him. Enough already!
 

Novelamaven...I like the title. I went to bed at ten, so I missed the second hour. I have not seen this much macho posturing since the captain of the basketball team and the quarterback both wanted to take Mary Jane to the prom. Geez..get a grip boys. In the telenovelas , usually the leading lady and the leading man are both pursued aggressively by others who sometimes team up to pull the two leads apart. However, since the untimely demise of Montsy , nobody seems to be jonesing for Eladio..unless NIni is going to get proactive about wooing him.
 

I just looked back at a couple of older recaps of this series and I think we may need a drinking game for every time Regina

-- calls Daniela a slut (pick your favorite word)
-- tells Daniela she's ashamed she's her sister.
 

Oh NovelaMaven---I have a big dilemma as how to capture and write down all of your great lines. If I wrote them all, I would be here most of the day and I can't do that. Why do you make your writing soooo good as to make difficult choices for us?

OK--OK--Here are just a few that caught my eye this morning.

We are treated to tight close-ups of chiseled jaws and sculptured cheekbones.

We can almost hear the air noisily exiting Erick's giant ego.

Miguel gets that crazy look in his eyes and Clara gets that here we go again look.

Nina babbles, Arturo fumes and the Gomez Luna keep their cool.

She (Nina) flashes that scary smile.

ENOUGH? --- Then there's slick, slicker, sick and the back porch line.

How do you do it Novela? I couldn't begin to think of lines like those. I'm jealous

Eladio tells Julia that Franco is another son to him. Wow, so close. How can one get so close and yet not give away the big reveal?

Sandy---Seeing your backyard photo and seeing tv views of the storm, I'm feeling cold here in LA just looking at those. However, if it is of any help, I saw some live shots from Mongolia and it is quite a bit worse. Yet, people were still off to work. It was hard to believe. Especially the policeman directing traffic---I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Speaking of great lines---Urban you had a great one today. She (Nina) may be a barracuda but (Eladio) he's definitely a shark.

Diana---Is it simply a romp through madness as our leading men temporarily inhabit each others souls.
Yes there sure seems to be a role reversal going on doesn't it? Arturo is coming unglued, he's loosing it. Well ask either Kirbo or me. It's over Susana. We understand.

I kinda understand Regina's hurt over the photos, but she knows her sister would stop at nothing to hurt her. Regina should at least give David a chance to explain.

I love the way that the story is moving along but will really welcome back the one hour schedule. But in anyway, it's

must see tv
the gringo

 

Susanlynn, Nina's friend Fanny is not indifferent to Eladio's charms. :)

Thanks so much, Mauricio!

"Wasn't it awful when Arturo told Regina that if she and David get back together it would ruin his life?"
Gee, that flew right past me. Thanks for pointing it out. And yes, what an incredibly selfish thing for Arturo to say.

I've never been charmed by Daniela – from her first graceless dance on the yacht up to now, her appearance on the screen makes my fingers twitch for the FF-> button on my remote. I am a little curious about what the writers will do to her: punish her? send her in for soul repair? bump her off?

Niecie, you're welcome. I'm so glad you liked the recap.

"But outside of Julia and David now, [Eladio] treats everyone else like crap."
Excellent point. Eladio is going to have to do better than that before we can be persuaded that he has seen the light. (And I hope he does – like Julia and JudyB, I'm a sucker for the new, improved - and HOT - Eladio. :)
 

Novelamaven..I am definitely standing in line for Hotladio. There is just something about that beautiful face. All three of the older dudes outshine those young bucks...like fine wine compared to Ripple .

As for Dani, I think that something bad will happen to her that will trigger some soul repair.
 

Wowie wow wow! I just read this delicious recap and I hung on every spectacular detail. Superb! Thank you NovelaMaven!

This 2 hour ep was popping on all cylinders and I have to say JS, was giving it his all last night and then some. Finally I was interested in him. No more nice fair Artie; he's tired of playing by the rules. The gloves are OFF!

The biggest chuckle last night was Nina,she looked so ridiculous and pathetic last night when she tried her best to use her call girl charms on Eladio while thrusting her backside at him. It was probably just me, but I did not think that outfit flattered MF at all. Her posterior looked awkward and very fake to me and that embarrassingly obvious sashay to the bookshelf, aye carumba! Her Back Porch brilliant NovelaMaven, this had and still has me laughing out loud! This is how I shall always refer to it now. Eladio ignoring her obvious attempts earned some points back with me last night. He knows what a good thing he now has going with Julia.

Speaking of, was I the only one that thought even with pig snout and ears she looked beautiful? Is there anything that can hide her beauty? I think not! (This is me fangurling on SG). I rolled my eyes when Artie boy showed up though, that was the REAL pig! This guy has some nerve doesn't he? Caridad saved Art's face on this one. I love her! What was that look though? Does she still pine for Eladio?

Speaking of pigs, Daniela continues to serve herself up like a slab of bacon to David and no matter how many times her tells her he's a vegan she doesn't give up! Like father/like daughter. Poor David and Julia, stalked by two obsessed Montenegros. I think it's time for some restraining orders.

Consuelo giving Errrrick the old heave-ho and yes NovelaMaven, I heard the air deflate from chimp boy's ego. Back to the tree to peel bananas with his feet! Auggie...that's your cue! *fingers crossed I get my wish for a Con/Aug pairing)* Miguel/Clara are betters suited and find myself enjoying their scenes.


Art tried to "Kanye" Eladio with his "Ima let you finish your speech but first I gotta say I was the fairest businessman of all time!" Eladio just kept his cool. (Take notes Taylor Swift this is how you handle a rude audience member). What a smooth move bringing his beautiful and charming wife to stand next to him. Who can resist a man who says his wife is the wind beneath his shiny new wings? Slick indeed! Meanwhile behind Art stands his hard Harley mama looking like she had just left a rider meeting. Tacky/tasteless tramp.

The tour de force scene for me in this ep goes to my boy FC. His emotions as he dealt with guilt regarding Franco had me on the edge of my seat. It's obvious Eladio is wracked with guilt and fear. He wants to come clean with Julia, but his fear of losing her holds him back. I wanted him to blurt it out and let the chips fall where they may, but I knew he wouldn't. Later as he lay watching Julia sleep I found myself feeling very sad for him.

Julia telling Eladio she loved him, really got me. I'm sure that's something he's longed to hear. The guy wants to love and be loved but he's not sure how to do it but with Julia's gentle guidance she will show him the way. "I want to be yours" Yaaas Julia...I do too! Damn these writers I'm all messed up now.

Final Score: Eladio 2 -- Arturo 0 . I'm team Eladio! (for now)

I'm sending good thoughts to all those battling with health and I hope all of you dealing with the impending blizzard/snow stay safe!
 

There will be a blizzard warning until 7AM tomorrow local time. I normally don't mind winter but I can do without snow and wind together. 8 to 14 inches. Rats!
 

UA, living here in Oregon we have seen our fair share of snow, unfortunately what we usually battle is more ice/black ice. It's positively deadly on the roads as a result. I don't mind winter either, I actually love all the seasons and what they bring. I've never been in a blizzard, so I doubt I would enjoy that.
 

Gringo, what a very nice comment! Thanks so much!

I think Regina knows that David is just Daniela's victim. She's feeling a little overwhelmed right now, but I'm betting she'll bounce back and give the relationship another chance. I mean, she has to, right? It's the only "healthy" relationship in the show.

Susanlynn, oh yeah, there's no question about who the beauty queens are in this one, and it ain't the millenials!

Delilah63, Back at ya! I loved reading your comment and feeling your enthusiasm for and enjoyment of the show.

So you're rooting for a Con/Aug pairing? You've given up on Gaby and Agustín?

"Daniela continues to serve herself up like a slab of bacon to David and no matter how many times her tells her he's a vegan she doesn't give up!"
Whoa. Nice. Harsh, but nice.

Gee, I still think Nina is spectacularly beautiful. That she has a harder edge lately is no accident and, in my opinion, rather interesting. I like what Niecie wrote: "Everything Nina wears let's you know she's spoiling for a fight." Yes, warrior costumes. Definitely aggressive. I don't think that was true earlier on, but it is now.

For those of you in the path of a blizzard, I feel for you. I hope you don't have to do any driving in the storm.
 

I still cannot buy Julie's very sudden change of heart about Eladioooo. After 20 years of "stay away," why is she saying "I want to be your woman." That is a lot of time wasted when she could have been his on a regular basis. Tick-tock ..20 years ??? I am reading a novel in which the main couple are crazy in love, but after a few years of married bliss , they are separated through no fault of their own and reunited 20 years later when they are both in their 40s. People change in so many ways in 20 years , but living in the same house for 20 years and then suddenly deciding to be together is hard to believe.
 

Susanlynn, I'm not buying it either. See this article on Domestic Violence and you'll find lots to understand about Julia's situation.
 

If this were real life, I wouldn't believe it either, but in the interest of the novela, I will to suspend my disbelief. It's obvious her new found interest is to add to the story line.

I have not forgotten the abuse and infidelity that she has endured courtesy of Eladio, but I ALSO will not root for Art who cheated on her when he had no reason to. Right now, Art comes of as way more arrogant and entitled than Eladio. I see some actually vulnerability with Eladio who is seeking therapy. A sincere effort to seek counseling.

I can not say the same for Art who in less than a month lost interest in Nina, files for divorce and now decides he should everything go his way. I've yet to see him show remorse for much nor has he truly looked at his mistake with the sincere remorse I see in Eladio.

I think Art would scoff at therapy thinking he was just fine the way he was. It would be everyone else's fault for not knowing what HE needed.


 

I'm finally all caught up on the recaps. Many thanks to Urban Anthropologist and AuntyAnn for their respective contributions. Enjoyable reads through and through!

This evening, in honor of Nina, I filed my nails oval and painted them with an iridescent dark burgundy varnish (the shade was called "Cabaret" funnily enough!). I know she has zero advocates here, save for myself, Carlos and perhaps to an extent, Tofie. However, in face of the appallingly disrespectful way Arturo has been treating her of late and considering the thinly veiled threats he conveyed via his attorney / bosom buddy, I hope that those shades of warrior princess transcend her wardrobe and makeup. I hope she takes her arrogant ungrateful SOB hubby to the cleaners then cry her plump derrière all the way to the bank!

As regards (mellowed-down) Bad Boy Eladio, I must concede that though I enjoyed seeing him squirm at first, stuck in a dizzying spiral of his own lies, I really felt sorry for him afterwards. However, in a way, he established plausible deniability in case Julia reproaches him for not fessing up the truth during their reconciliation because, technically, he did tell her that he lied to her in the past in order to cover his errors and that Franco is another son of his. :p So technically, technically, he told her the truth and asked for her forgiveness, it's just that his words won't register until the Franco anvil comes crashing down on their nascent romance.

On a different note, was anybody else bothered by the way Regina joined in Consuelo's lie about saying the wrong name? I give a pass to Consuelo for being nasty to Chimp Boy he has earned it, but for Regina to mimic that instance of highschool bitchiness against her own brother, it was totally uncool! "Naaah, she never said that. You're crazy!" Sorry, but that made me cringe. I'm also having a gigantic problem with Miguel and his pregnant sister-in-law snogging, not to mention that I have a deep aversion to their almost-incestious relationship. Consuelo has every right to move on with her life but I'm sure Mexico City is full of decent suitors who don't share DNA material with her soon-to-be-ex-husband! Creepy Miguel is not her only option!

One last thing, I got a kick out of Eladio's hand salute when they said his name as a candidate to the presidency of the BA. It reminded me of "Don Fanucci", Little Italy's extortionist in "The Godfather 2", and I was wondering whether somebody else picked up on that.
 

NM--If I wait until I read all the comments before thanking you for delivering a well-told tale, it would be tomorrow. We might lose our electricity anytime from now on until Saturday evening, so here goes.

I think the phrases already mentioned stand out as out standing. I loved your description of the four principals circling each other at the Businessmen's reception.

I will never think of back porch in the same way again.

Eladio's pair of jammies--I'm sure they are laundered frequently and maybe he buys them in bulk. I think he looks particularly fetching in his tight-fitting tee and bottoms. Compared to what Nelson Brizz wears in Amores Verdaderos, well, there is no comparison. Nelson wears shiny red or copper satin, baggy old-fashioned 1950s men's pjs.

I've been thinking of this time frame again. We on the Patio (our Patio) keep scratching our collective heads and adjusting beanies over the 25 year agony Julia has lived through by Eladio's side and Art being oblivious to what Nina was doing to her kids. In order to have a younger set of galans, villains and mischief-makers, the kids needed to be over 20 to make sense. If all this had happened say, after 7-10 years, there would still be young kids in the house. Then where would the story be. Let's let the writers give us their 25 years of not recognizing each others' parental flaws and just enjoy the ride.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Eladio tell Julia at some point that both Franco's parents worked for GLA? It seems a little lax on her part not to have wanted to know who they were and be able to tell little Franco something about his parents. Ok, we know why Eladio didn't want anyone to probe too deeply into this, but Franco should have been questioning this long ago--ooops, sorry, I was going to ignore the 25 years. In that case, it ALL makes sense.

Now, on to the rest of the comments.
 

Vivi..I just saw on TV that 18 inches of snow is predicted for your area. Yikes. I am worried about the wind. It is cold , and we have no alternate heat source.

Hmmm.should we consider changing our "patio" to a "back porch?"

I would like to see Hotladiooo in Superman jammies. He seems like the type of guy who would just wear the bottoms, but maybe he is self-conscious about that tattoo. Didn't he once stop Julia from touching the tattoo ?
 

SusanlynnHeart--You are funny--always--"Nobody ever gets a cold on the telenovelas." Unfortunately worse things happen to them--fist fights, terminal illnesses (interminable for us), death by heart attack and falls into canals, prison, zippered dresses, moving a heavy plant into an apartment wearing very high stiletto heels, I could go on and on.

Sending you virtual hot toddys your way.
 

There are a lot of information gaps in this story; nothing new about that. :(

As to why this has taken 25 years to get to this unpretty pass, Nina could easily conceal childish squabbles and transgressions from a workaholic husband while Julia was prepped by her father to be an abused wife. That still doesn't explain why Franco didn't begin asking questions years ago. I know I already asked this, but shouldn't he have some faint memory of Caridad since he was with her until the age of 3?

Franco is also not the first TN example of an adopted child who doesn't know the truth until adulthood. I did some searches on this before but was unable to find out any stats on how often this happens.
 

Yep Nandicta I like Nina, well not calling Miguel a bastard nor the awkward faux seduction of Eladio (nobody's perfect). That worked on Artie but not a real man like Eladio, she should know that, so I take away points. Otherwise, she looks damn good for birthin three babes and raising 4, wait 5. I think her real skill is adaptability, she ain't scared of nuthin and quit isn't in her lexicon.
 

SusanlynnHeart--We had over 20" in the DC Met Area (we had 26" in our back yard, which is a little past our back porch, btw) during the 2010 snowmageddon, but what they are saying now is that then it was three separate storms one right after the other; this is ONE, all at once.
 

Vivi--A hot toddy will do you a world of good, as well. Feel better soon--you've got a big job ahead of you with Hotel.
 

-- A double dose of quotes from the double capítulo --

“Y entonces el puerquito (she asks the kids about the snout and pig ears she is wearing) ¿Como me veo? (They answer in unison: ‘¡Chistosa!’). El puerquito hizo así: oink oink oink. Vio un platote gigantesco lleno de verduras y, yum yum yum, ¡Se las comió todas! Todas se las comió porque era un puerquito tragón y gordinflón. Y después de que se las comió todas, agarró el plato y lo lavó y luego lo guardó. Y colorín, colorado, este cuento se ha acabado.” *

* Julia and the adorable children gathered in the garden of the foundation for story time: “So the little pig (she asks the kids about the snout and pig ears she is wearing) How do I look? (They answer in unison: ‘Funny!’). The piglet went like this: oink oink oink. He saw a ginormous plate filled with vegetables and, yum yum yum, he ate them all! He ate all of them because he was a gluttonous and chubby piglet. And after eating them all, he took the plate and washed it and then he stored it away. The end.”

Chistoso(a) = funny.

Platote = “plato”, i.e. plate, with the augmentative suffix “ote”.

Gigantesco(a) = gigantic, humongous.

Tragón(a) = glutton, greedy.

Gordinflón(a) = chubby, fatty.

Agarrar = (in this context) a synonym of “tomar”, i.e. to take, to grab.

Guardar = to store, to put away.

Colorín, colorado, este cuento se ha acabado = a rhyme to end a tale. Kind of like replacing “The end”, with a more colorful rhyming expression like: “Be bow, Bend it, My story has ended.”


-----------------------------


“(...) (Regina) anda bien apachurrada.” *

Petra sharing more than she should with David about the emotional state of his almost-ex: “(...) (Regina) is well depressed.”

Apachurrado(a) = depressed, crushed. From the verb “apachurrar”, meaning “to squash”, “to flatten”.
 

-- Tofie: "I think her real skill is adaptability, she ain't scared of nuthin and quit isn't in her lexicon." I really hope that once she gets over the initial shock and the dent to her ego, she puts her skills to good use and succeeds in keeping half the Montenegro fortune. Funny I did not see her trying to seduce Eladio per se, I thought she was playing the damsel in distress card and upping her cuteness potential to convince him to help her. After all, Arturo has the business acumen, the negotiation expertise and Super Auggie fighting in his corner, while Nina has her fading charms and... Chimp Boy!

-- Susanlynn, Vivi, UA and everyone battling a cold and/or getting stuck in the blizzard: Sending healing thoughts your way and praying for everyone's safety. Buenas noches a todos. Que descansen.
 

Nandicta I had to chime in and say that I positively loved Eladio's hand wave. I think FC has wonderful hands and I find myself very amused at the way he uses them and gestures to infuse a little more pizazz into his character and scenes. It appears to me that he is having a good time with this role.

"Hotladiao" Oh yes indeed, I am crushing big time on this villain. I can't wait to see him and Julia wrapped in nothing but those gray sheets. I want to see Julia planting kisses all across that moving tat! Please writers treat us to some JuliAdio s.k.i.n. Why do we have to see Franco and Manatee slobbering all over each other? I want is to see Hotladio take Julia to the moon and back and then back again! Wowweeee! I can't wait for tonight! I've got roughly 5 hours to get my hormones in check.

Novela, I'm not off the Gaby/Aug train but I've yet to see the chemistry. I got quite the spark when I saw Con/Aug together. They just seem more suited to each other. I feel like Fabiola keeps get thrust into these younger woman/older man roles. I thinks she's a superb actress.

On another note, has anyone noticed that DC/Franco's eyes sometimes slightly wander off of his subjects faces to look behind them. It appears he's reading a prompt or cue card. It's a bit distracting at times.

I wanted to say that in regards to Nina, I have enjoyed her wardrobe a bit more lately. She seems to be wearing more tasteful outfits and I love that they are letting her hair be worn down her back without those ridiculous hats and headbands. I could do without the garish lipsticks she wears, the purple was atrocious and the hot pink last night was not flattering either. A beautiful coral would look stunning on her.

Whatever the feelings on Nina, for or against her;. MF is doing a great job and obviously holding our attention! Brava!


 

Anita..I hope that the big snow did not damage your "back porch" heh heh ! Some years ago, we had so much snow that the kids missed about 17 days of school and the school days had to be lengthened to make up the time. It seemed to snow every week. We had to hire a contractor to get the snow off our roof, and the snow was so deep in our backyard that our black lab was able to just step over the fence. We are still waiting for the snow to arrive. The last prediction I heard was 6 to 12 inches. I am glad it is a weekend , and I do not have to get to work .

I still feel crummy. I am drinking lots of mint tea, but as to the hot toddy which my dear dad swore by, I have no liquor in the house so that's out.
 

Hate to think of you feeling so miserable Susanlynn. My dad also made us hot toddies when we were done in by a cold. He'd make some lemonade from those little frozen cans, then add a good dollop of Jack Daniels. I still remember the thick mugs he used, and after my parents passed away, I kept one of those mugs just for the memories.

The hot toddy had no antibiotics, but it sure helped us sleep. And the love that came with it was surely healing. Sending some of those healing vibes to you right now. I think the love our parents gave us remains in our cells for life...and beyond.
 

Just coming back to the comments:

Nandicta: "Was anybody else bothered by the way Regina joined in Consuelo's lie about saying the wrong name?"

After Erick actually tried to pin a CRIME on her for the fraud he committed?...NOPE!
 

That's for sure. He tried to frame her for selling out company information. Arturo should have shipped him off to Devil's Island for that.
 

Judyb..You are the dearest person. I always hear your heart when I read your words. I agree that we carry those we have loved and lost with us through life. One of my favorite quotes is : "Life is an accumulation of love and loss." Thanks for your good thoughts
 

Vivi, I'm sure everyone here respects Regina and wants her to marry David eventually. Dani is so obviously ruining her life and she seems powerless to see her as she is and put a stop to it. Also, when Connie said she was tired of Erick's frauds, Regina said she was tired of David's frauds too. David does not commits relationship frauds. Regina is a throwback to those tedious novela caracters who are constantly bamboozled by the obvious bad guys, in this case her sister. We just want Regina to wake up and silence Dani, not David. Except for her personal relationships, she is one of the strongest women in the show!

Limbs hanging over my roof and all over the yard are breaking. Magnolia trees aren't designed for lots of snow. Oh dear....
 

Sandy...Just got up to take meds. It started snowing about nine last night. I am looking out at my deck , and there seems to be almost a foot of snow on the picnic table, and it is still snowing lightly. To quote Camus : " Snow..the leprosy of nature." Hope that your beautiful magnolia trees are not dasmnaged.
 

Thanks Susanlynn,

We have lots of medium damage, nothing big yet. Spent the morning knocking snow off (bent to the ground) boxwoods.

Are you feeling any better today?
 

I noticed that Arturo put Ashmore on full blast last night!
 

Sandy...Yes, thank you. I am feeling better after a good night's sleep and the antibiotic kicking in . Still snowing steadily here in the northeast..nothing but white and silence. I am waiting for the local forecast. I have a feeling that we are getting more snow here than was originally forecast. Stay warm and safe. I. Hate. Winter. Latest report...heavy snow continuing and blizzard conditions all day. The advice is to stay home and off the roads which are snow covered . I think that I will spend the dayz reading Outlander, getting a few chores done, and waiting for the recaps of last night's PyP.
 

So glad to know you're feeling better, Susanlynn. I'm not a fan of pharmaceuticals and normally don't take anything more than a multivitamin....but when I'm really sick, antibiotics are truly a miracle. After I take the first one, I already have that blissful certitude, "I'm getting better, I'm getting better!" although I remember when I had pneumonia 20 years ago, it DID take two rounds to knock it out. But sure glad I had 'em. Forget the chores, just heat up another cup of tea and settle in with Outlander. Even the Good Lord took a day off! Or so they say.
 

Judy and Susanlynn, are you all doing the Secretos Hotel novela? It comes on late and I only have time for one program, but it looks really good.
 

Sandy..I am going to try Hotel, but I will have to record it and watch it with breakfast because I have to go to bed at ten. I will still try to watch PyP from 9 to 10.

Judyb...As soon as I feel better, I have trouble sitting still. My face no longer hurts , and the Sudafed PE seems to be helping the congestion. Now, poor hub thinks that the germs have found him. I am hoping that this does not go through the whole family. How much snow did you get, Judyb? I think we have almost two feet , and it is still snowing steadily.

I have discovered Black Sails which our Carlos watches and describes as "steamy." AHOY PIRATES !! I've seen a few episodes and the new season just started. I may try to get into that. Outlander does not return until the spring , but I am totally into that saga. I do have to correct the essays my students wrote about themselves.

Looking out my sliding glass door to the deck, there appears to be almost two feet of snow on the picnic table.

Stay warm and cozy, Sandy and Judyb.


 

Glad to know that our dear Susanlynn is feeling better and hope all those stuck in the blizzard's path are safe and sound.

-- Steve: You are right, I did notice how Miguel's hand seemed to linger on Clara's shoulder and arm, and later I caught a furtive swoon in her eyes. Then, Miguel went back to obsessing over Consuelo and Clara went back to encouraging him in his misguided attempts to woo his pregnant sister-in-law. :(

-- Vivi and UA: It has been established beyond the shadow of a doubt that Chimp Boy is a disloyal, bullying, conceited, insufferable jerk who thinks he's God's gift to women and Mexico's savviest businessman. If Erick didn't pull such funny faces and entertain us with his stupidity, the Patio would've started a collection to bankroll his exile to Devil's Island. Regina on the other hand is supposed to be the sweetest, kindest gal in this show, I expect her to defend herself against a direct attack from Dani or Erick but it seems out of character for her to jump in with a bitchy remark in an argument that has nothing to do with her, especially if it is to cover up for an unsavory situation like the Miguel-Consuelo cuñados romance. Maybe I'm being overly touchy on this subject and I apologize for harping on about it, but to me the romantic interest, the spouse and/or the ex-spouse of a sibling are forbidden territory when it comes to love or lust or any feeling that isn't strictly platonic.
Hope your sinus infection is subsiding, Vivi, and I'm sending positive vibes to both of you. The images I saw on the news of DC and NYC were pretty scary. Be safe, amigas! :)

-- Sandy: So sorry about your Magnolia trees! I'm praying for your safety and that of your loved ones.
I agree with your take on the Regina character, especially this: "Regina is a throwback to those tedious novela caracters who are constantly bamboozled by the obvious bad guys." Like many here, I find myself getting tired with Dani's dumb antics in her relentless pursuit of David and with Regina falling for them hook, line and sinker, every single time! There are so many situations that can genuinely cause tension in Regina and David's relationship, like the family rivalry, the Montenegro divorce, the Arturo-Julia on again-off again emotional affair / midlife crisis... Instead, we are stuck with Dani and Franco lame plotting to separate the young couple. Which brings me to this puzzling question: Why is Franco trying to separate David and Regina? What does he gain? If anything, their relationship keeps him a notch or two closer to his Papá-drino's circle of trust, seeing how the legitimate Gómez Luna son is romancing the enemy... I honestly don't understand Franco's reasoning here. But then again, I don't understand why he's confiding almost all his secrets to the mouthbreather secretary with benefits, who is clearly in love with him, crazy jealous of his fiancée and very likely to betray him out of spite!

-- Delilah: I love reading your comments! We may not see eye to eye in everything PyP-related but I admire your eloquence and I truly savor your great sense of humor! Since we both seem to be swept off our feet by Eladio's sexy, tender, romantic and attentive alter-ego, "Hotladio" (Great one, Susanlynn!), then I propose we set up a "Hotladio Table", where we can swoon, comment the love "action" (I hope we'll get to see some "action") and sip Grand Marnier Champagne cocktails until the inevitable Franco anvil blows the Gómez Lunas' harmony to smithereens!

 

Sandy and Susanlynn...Probably not going to watch Hotel de los Secretos. Like Susanlynn, I would have to record it and watch the following day, and while I need to watch and hear some Spanish every day, just to keep on learning, some of that needs to be READING, as in a book!

But I agree, the cast looks good, a murder is always fascinating (sad to say)and the recapping team is superb.

I'm watching a strange but compelling real murder investigation shot in real time called The Killing Fields about a murder that took place back in the 90's. The lead detective, who came out of retirement to focus on this cold case is fascinating and it's clear that solving cases is an obsession with him that leads him to neglect his home life. He's had six wives!
 

Where would you find The Killing Fields? Have you seen The Making of a Murderer? It is incredible.
 

Judyb...My sister and mother were crazy for murder mysteries..TV shows and books. They could always figure out whodunit. I like romance and comedy and history. I am getting caught up in Black Sails, so I will watch the season premiere tonight ...Still snowing here. 22 to 30 inches predicted now. Wow...This amount was not predicted for us.

Cannot wait for the recap of last night's episode so that I have an excuse not to do chores.
 

I've read about The Making of a Murderer Sandy. Sounds incredible and very sad. But then so is this story. It's on the Discovery Channel Wednesday night.

I'm sure Black Sails will be fascinating, Susanlynn. And if you're going to have 22 to 30 inches of snow, better be prepared to hunker down for a while. After all the hoopla, we haven't had any snow here yet.
 

Wow, Judyb. Perhaps the storm will miss you. Last night, the local forecast was for 8 to 12 inches, but it is still snowing here, and hub just opened the garage door and said that he thinks that we have had more than two feet of snow so far.✴✴✴✴✴ No traffic..no snowplows. Hub is waiting to shovel until the snow stops. Sometimes, we get less than the predictions, but this time, we were surprised with much more. At least we do not have to be anywhere.
 

A couple of thoughts/confessions/admissions –

With all this talk of blizzards and winter miseries in general, I thought I'd share a saying I came across as I bumble my way through beginning Swedish:

Det finns inget dåligt våder, bara dåliga kläder
(There's no bad weather, just bad clothes)

I gather other northern countries have some version of this saying as well. (Sadly, it doesn't much help with sinus infections or dreadful road conditions.)

The other thing: I'm watching a bunch of Ingmar Bergman films, partly for the chance to fill my brain with the sounds of the language. Right now, I'm into "Scenes from a marriage," released in the early 1970s as a six-part television series and then later edited into a feature-length movie. Now Nina and Arturo aren't exactly the Marianne and Johan in the film, but it's kind of fun to compare and contrast. Johan is certainly a dolt who blindsides his wife with the announcement that he is leaving her for another woman. (Hilarity does not ensue.)
 

Yikes...Swedish! How many languages does this make now, Novela Maven? I was crazy about Ingmar Berman films during my graduate school days. Clearly haven't watched any in ages.

Oh and Sandy, I was wrong, Killing Fields is on Tuesday night, not Wednesday. Elegiac in tempo and mood. The rough hewn cops and detectives remind me of some of the people I knew eons ago when I was a reporter. Smart, gritty, cynical but dedicated.
 

At this point, Judy, I think I'm moving backwards, and each new bit learned pushes out something old.

As for Bergman, you'd be amazed how "prehistoric" his view of gender roles seems from a 2016 perspective. It's just incredible to realize the sea changes we've lived through.
 

Novelamaven..Yes..so true. Life has changed so much in just the last ten years of so. I had to do an online course for my job, and I did not even know all the different sexual identity terms that I was reading. A!so, the guidelines for avoiding sexual harassment are detailed. You cannot tell anyone now " You look nice today" or " That's a nice shirt." A far cry from what male teachers I taught with used to say to female teachers and students .

Still snowing here. I think that we already have 30 inches.
 

I resently read that when Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were band mates in Fleetwood Mack and dating, she would come home and he would have left notes on the fridge that said, "Clean this!"
 

I remember being haunted by one of Berman's films (and don't remember the name) but it was a progression of tiny cruelties (like deliberately making someone dear to you insecure and jealous) and then gradually escalated to big cruelties like stubbing out a cigarette on someone's skin. A relentless black and white study of all the ways we humans inflict damage on each other.

Which is probably a good reason NOT to go back and watch those films again. But I'll look forward to more Swedishisms from you. One of my grandfathers though (a bellicose Irishman) was so furious when the genealogist he hired found a Norwegian in the family tree, ("I won't have a 'dumb Swede' in my family!" he roared) that he fired the poor guy and refused to pay him. This was back in the late 1800's in a small burg in Kentucky where you could get away with such bad behavior.
 

Sandy..ha..I love Stevie. We saw a Fleetwood Mac concert a few years ago. She still rocks. I bet she left a note for Lindsay saying " Bite me, Baby." Or..maybe that is the note that I would write. I think that the snow and the meds are starting to get to me.

Judyb.....I have been doing a little geneolgy research for our family. Hub is Danish and German, and my ancestors were German and English, but further research into the English part revealed a Norse origin. Yeah, Yay Vikings.This explains a lot.
 

I was looking up some vocabulary in WordReference because I wanted to talk to my Spanish teacher about studying Swedish and I found this:

hacerse el sueco (simular no entender) to play dumb, to feign ignorance (i.e., to act like a Swede). Xenophobia rules. Sigh.
 

It's still snowing! Chicken soup, grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches, hot tea, meds, cell phone, laptop, books, tv and dvr. I'm feeling fine. Thanks for thinking of those of us who are sick and snowed in. :)
 

Hi, Vivi!!! I am watching the local forecast, and the guy just said that it looks as though we will be breaking the record which goes back to 1922 for the snowiest day.

We slept in and then had a brunch of potatoes and scrambled eggs , coffee, and juice. I need to push liquids , too, so I am making mint tea.

Stay safe and warm inside. No one on the roads here. Kind of surreal. I feel blanketed in snow as I look out at the deck in the fading light. Out in the front yard, our mailbox and fenced are covered with snow. No plows out all day.
 

NovelaMaven--If you want some Hilarity with your Ingmar Bergman, I suggest you check out De Duva. It's a short film in b&w. We showed it at a friend's birthday party one year without telling the audience anything, other than it seemed to be a lost Bergman short subject.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X2QmLWWxq4

Kudos for delving into Swedish. I like to see how many words I can recognize in a sentence--hardly any. (Can't even fall back on my poor, little-used German.)

We're still getting snowfall in the DC-MD-VA area. Unofficially I have about 19", not our biggest snow (my boots are only 12" high). Fortunately, it is the light, dry, small-flaked stuff which is easy to sweep and shovel. Haven't seen plows or humans out all day. The birds and the squirrels did come for a good meal at my house.

 

Apologies, Bergman fans, I didn't realize this link has English subtitles. It's much funnier without them.
 

Great stuff, Anita, with or without subtitles. In fact, the subtitles kind of add to the humor, I suspect. Thank you!
 

Not everyone hates this snow. Check out this panda on YouTube...Tian Tian in the snow at National Zoo.
 

I love that video! Saw it on the 6:30 news. That little critter was in ecstasy with the snow.
 

Enjoyed your superb recap, NovelaMaven. It helped my ice-bound cabin fever, as did Anita's suggestion of De Duva.

NM, I'm sure my many Swedish ancestors would be impressed by your study of the language. I've not made the effort, but treasure my grandmother's Swedish Bible.
 

La Paloma, De Duva... tee hee hee.

My pleasure! It's nice to know you're watching this one too. I hope that for you (and for all our friends in the affected area of the country) the crisis is resolving and that everyone has weathered it safely.

My study of the language would impress no one, certainly not your ancestors – I'm just playing in the linguistic sandbox – but how lovely for you to have your grandmother's Swedish Bible.