Caray, Caray!

Wow, so it WAS Erick who exterminated The Ratt, after all.

And Franco is definitely irredeemable now.
 

Now that we finally got confirmation of Erick whacking the Ratt: it's open & shut!

You're right Mauricio: Franco won't be among the living when all is said & done!


 

Thanks a lot Mauricio. WOW you covered so much that I didn't see here on Univision in FloriDuh.

A coma? Jeezo Pleezo, how lame, everybody in a TN is in a frippin coma at some time or another. Perfect would have been with Nina Purple Lips bedside questioning him, then confession with cop secretly listening, then coughing and spitting up blood and flatlined as Purple Lips looked on in horror. Then she could have blamed herself for bugging the shit out of him minutes after he had BRAIN SURGERY. Huh QTH?

I agree, Franco has crossed the line. Julia suspects something just is not on the up and up with Franco, but how long will this smelly little turd keep everyone fooled? There are too many people suspicious of him, but no one is really on to him yet.
 

Mauricio, terrific recap. I'm amazed at your speed in covering this jam-packed episode and even the clipped scenes. Thanks! They hug, kiss, and twirl around in circles as if they were playing a nice game of ring around the rosie. -- too cute. Another favorite: We are taken over to Madrid, Spain. Huh?! Who do we know in Madrid?! Oh snap, it's Aldo.

I saw Montserrat's fall as an accident. Erick was pulling her toward him and she jerked herself backward to get away and tumbled over. But he shouldn't have run away. Hmmm, will the cops charge Nina as an accomplice?

Franco is loathsome. He's drunk on power, which he really didn't earn himself, and thinks he's a god. His cheer when he returned home with Gaby when he thought Erick was dead was sickening.

David that jealous? Really where is that coming from?

When in the world is Consuelo's pregnancy going to show? That washboard-flat stomach at this stage is ridiculous.
 

David and Regina B O R I N G. The only positives are when Regina is not clothed. OK so an old childhood friend shows up and Regi and he are still good friends. She has known this fellow many years, since she was a kid, she has known little Davey, what? a month? Little Davey has professed a sickening number of times his undying love for and TRUST of his precious Regi. She has professed the same for little Davey the same sickening number of times. So QTH? She can't have any male friends? You two insecure little squirts, get over it. Maybe when you both get your braces off you can go steady.

What I am concerned about is how they made it look like they smashed up a beautiful red Ferrari without actually destroying it. (Say they didn't) That was the real heartbreaker with the cut brake lines, the fate of the car. We care less about the amoeba driving the car.

Eladio has turned the corner. Even I believe him, and that's a hard sell. Once again he unwittingly gave Arturo a chance to show what a Jackass he truly is. And Artie rose to the occasion and then some.

Can't Erik just die? Two birds with one stone.
A. No more disgusting Erik
b. Franco is officially a murderer and his anvil doubles in size
 

Awesome Mauricio!!

Well, color me surprised, Erick seemed too obvious there for awhile, but there you go. So he conveniently goes into a coma, and may I add hopefully it's a LONG coma that lasts maybe until the ultimates, and Nina knows the truth. Would she try to nail someone else to free Erick? Talk about putting the plot in her hands.

This whole Jorge thing leaves me cold. Plot device.

And I love Jorge Salinas, but Arturo as a character is just more and more annoying. I guess we should applaud his acting that he is making us see a man unhinging at the seams.

Love how a lousy Presidency of a local Businessmen's association seems to have so much importance. I'm sorry, it just cracks me up. I know we're supposed to think it brings a level of prestige and importance, but really in the real world, not so much. These two men need to get hobbies outside of work.

Gaby makes me sad. Really. I gave her more credit for smarts, but she sure has a blind spot where Franco is concerned. Between her and Caridad, I get overload on their delusions with this guy. Blech.

Daisynjay
 

Gracias, Mauricio. Just caught up with this. Loved the "two five-year-olds in suits" description; it was perfect.

I agree that this looked more like an accident but why wasn't she screaming as she went over the rail? That doesn't make sense unless this actually was a suicide. While I don't think Erick is smart enough to lie about this (unless he rewrote history in his head far in advance, as many narcissists do) he was definitely stupid as all hell to take back the necklace.

And Franco has earned his suite in hell whether Erick dies or not.

Julia still has feelings for Arturo, who has reason to think that Eladio was gloating about this, as he had done previously. Eladio should not have been at the hospital and should have allowed David to represent their family.

David is starting to show the paranoid jealousy of Eladio. This is something he should have learned a lesson from ages before this. Not a good sign.

Daisy, I agree that Erick in a coma is a relief, at least for now. I can see Nina trying to frame Consuelo for the crime, which would take her out of the picture and put the baby in Nina's hands (poor kid). That would also put control of any shares already transferred out of Consuelo's hands (since Erick didn't get them into his). Consuelo was the one who wore the necklace to the party and threw it into the Rat's face in front of all the guests. However, the police already know that it would require someone strong to throw the Rat off the balcony.

BTW, sometime in the last few episodes there seemed to have been a threat by Eladio to take back the shares he gave to Franco. Can that happen?

In case I can't post within the next 15 I'll see you guys later. Going to see Turandot in HD.
 

I just realized that the Rat was backing away from someone saying "Tu?" so this didn't play like the murder scene I covered.

BTW, it occurred to me that I've seen that actress before and she was in MCET as the annoying Tamara who was conveniently killed in a car accident after a half dozen episodes or so.
 

Mauricio, thanks so much for your delicious, detailed recap. When the action is fast and our characters are yelling, I lose my ability to understand. Thanks for the much needed translation.

Daisy, I thought the much anticipated meeting of the Businessman's Association was silly as well, particularly since everyone was jammed into a small conference room all but sitting on each other's lap. In the real world of business, association types who campaign for the presidency of these organizations aren't truly respected, they waste valuable time in search for personal recognition. The exposé quality of the event made it more interesting than most meetings I have attended, I'll give it that!

Drats! I thought Erik was dead, now we'll have to suffer through the "coma."
But, yes, maybe coma is better that menacing Consuelo.
 

Augie has said he was going to take Gaby's blinders off about Franco by playing the recording Art made of Franco trying to blackmail him. Augie, what are you waiting for?
 

Oh, Niecie, good point. Probably wouldn't win him points with her right away, but at least it might wake her up to his true nature.

UA, I'm starting to worry whether the writers are purposefully putting David into the "just like dad" jealousy scenario. When you want to string out the will they, won't they, that would be a good way to do. And now we have the dweebie old friend in the picture for her to turn to. I can see it now, it will be Eladio to show his son the error of his ways as a further step on his redemption. And Artie will bust a gut because Gina and David are back together...blah blah blah. Shoot me.

Did anyone else think, when Miguel walked out of the apartment, that HE was going to be the one set up to be accused of tampering with Erick's brakes?

Daisynjay
 

Mauricio- Thanks so much for both expertly recapping what Uni chose to show us, but also some of the cut scenes.

Well, after his dream the other night, I was sure the killer was Erick. And so it is. But of course it was more of a stupid accident resulting from both he and Monse being too drunk/high, too hotheaded, and too stupid to realize you don't have a shoving/pulling match on the edge of a high balcony.

Urban- We never got the murder scene before. What we got was Monse looking up at someone who entered and referring to them as "tu." That could have been anyone before Erick came back in, even Callao, who had been ordered by Eladio to go up and make it clear to Monse that she needed to move out and get out of town.

It will be interesting to see what Nina does to cover up her baby boy's crime.
 

Don't forget that Purple Lips could pin it on Miguel instead!
 

Vivi, "It will be interesting to see what Nina does to cover up her baby boy's crime." For those of us who have tried to throw a little sympathy Nina's way, it is going to be down right painful!
 

Gracias Mauricio

I began to think it was Erick when he tried to force himself on Consuelo, I was afraid he was even going to kill her.

Maybe PyP isn't getting good ratings & they are trying to get it over with like they did Tempestad.

Ladrones with FC & Yañez will be released on DVD Feb 2. The 1st one was very good.
 

Vivi,
I remembered that also, the way Ratt said it, it didn't sound like it was Erick.
I guess they are making it up as we go along. Alejandro Nones probably has better job to go to.
 

Mauricio thanks bunches and double for including the missing pieces.

"Oh, Arturo is NOT amused AT ALL"

Don't like Erick but that was an accident

Crazy still lurks in Julia's eyes

I give David a little pass, those are full body hugs

Franco was beat near death, Erick had it coming

When Gabi goes missing look in Agustíns basement

 

Thanks for the great recap!

To me the whole Ratt death doesn't work. The police said she had to been thrown off the balcony by someone strong. In Ericks flashback, he didn't push her. She pulled back, lost her footing and fell over. So the police's definitive statement that she had to have been pushed by a man doesn't hold up with what really happened. This would have allowed many scenarios, Ratt could have fallen off, she didn't need to pull herself up. Also, she looked strong enough fighting off Erick with all of those drugs in her system. If she lost her balance, anyone could have given her a shove. So if the police keep with their full of holes belief on what had to have happened, Erick's accident plea won't work.

Disappointed it wasn't Connie. Would have made her character so much more interesting.
 

Regina could be subconsciously punishing David by giving Jorge the full body hugs.
 

Great recap Mauricio---I don't know where all the deleted stuff comes from but I'm
glad that you found it and put it in. A BIG thank you for your hard work.

Nina once again tries to get her lipstick on Arturo, but he backs off. As heavy as she puts that stuff on, it sure would rub off--lots of it. I'd be backing away too.

Gaby la tonta

Oh yeah she does. Oh no she didn't.

Two comments in question---Mauricio--So it was Erick who exterminated the Ratt. The word exterminated makes it sound like murder and I'm not convinced.

Steve---You said--We finally got confirmation of Erick whacking the Ratt. Again, I'm not convinced. Whacked? I'm going to look at it again but it looked like a tragic accident to me.

Also---We were first told that Monse said Tu--no, no, no just before she died. We didn't hear anything like that last night. Are the writers just playing with us of have they actually got the story mixed up?

Now we have Erick's hospital confession. Que? Well, whatever is going on, my guess
is that everyone's favorite bruja will try her very best to pin the Ratt's death on
any innocent person, anybody but her saintly Erick.

Tofie---When Gaby goes missing look in Agustin's basement. What?

Yes to be elected president of the association is nice but is it really that big a thing. What extra privileges if any other than prestige comes along with the title?
Is it just an ego thing?

Franco is on the road of no return.

must see tv
the gringo
 

Thanks so much, Mauricio, for recalling the episode including tscenes that disappeared.

Vivi...yikes...."too drunk\high, too hotheaded, and too stupid"..that was a pretty thorough description of those two.

I agree that Eladio should not have been at the hospital. He and Art both just love to get into each other's faces and preen and pose and threaten...but going to the hospital with Erick in such bad shape.....not prudent, not kind. By the way, I think that guys who are kind and sensitive and responsible are verra sexy, so what has happened to the traditional telenovela galan who had these qualities? Have the studios decided that the audience prefers antiheroes? I don't. I like nice guys who finish first.
 

So we are to believe that these fairly shrewd cops had enough mental horsepower to figure out it had to be Erik or ElDaddio, Right?
We are also to believe they let their prime, Under Arrest Already, suspect, have some alone time with his Mommy without a bug in the room? Hospitals are bristling with electronic equipment to begin with. They do it everywhere else.

I just want these two to kill each other already, and leave Connie and Gabi to somebody, anybody, who will not produce offspring with horns.
 

Mauricio: Thanks for this excellent recap!

"Nina, once again, tries to get her lipstick on Arturo, but he backs off, and leaves" was a great line.

Franco's perpetual scowl doesn't ever diminish, does it? His anger constantly simmers and stews barely staying submerged beneath the surface. I thought there might be hope for him but even the love of a good woman and the adoration and support from his newly found mother did not make a dent in the bitterness he has cloaked himself in.

Julia always seemed uncomfortable with Franco. She seemed to want to care about him but think she strongly suspects that he is not quite the loving man he portends to be.

Initially, I didn't think Erick killed Montse but did start suspecting him after his nightmare. He should have confessed right away but not doing so is right in line with his weak, cowardly character.

It's a shame Nina and Arturo and Consuelo are reproaching themselves for causing the accident. If anyone can bring him out of his coma it is Nina. She is strong and let's be honest, relentless. She won't let her husband shed her - she certainly won't let Erick die on her.

Diana
 

I think going to the hospital when your "enemy's" (man) child is gravely injured is inappropriate, the family doesn't want to see you there, but paying your respects at a funeral is always appropriate, especially if you stay toward the back and just sign the guest register. For some reason I thought Eladio went to show compassion, but his presence was NOT appreciated.
 

Good afternoon everyone! Great comments today. Thank you!

I agree. Eladio had no business being at the hospital. He may have meant well, but he's the last person that Arturo wants to see there. I bet Eladio would have felt the same way if he was in Arturo's situation.

It did look like an accident, but Erick made the mistake of running away, and now he'll really look guilty. It will be interesting to see what Nina does to save her son from the big house.

Ugh, don't like the introduction of Jorge. He's not needed here. We have enough with Daniela chasing after David and causing trouble. Hope that Jorge isn't around for too long.

Hope Franco gets a good anvil at the end.
 

Remember everyone, what we were seeing was a 'reenactment' as Erik (the liar) was telling Mommy dearest, what happened. We weren't seeing as a mouse in the corner. We were shown a visual of Erik's story of how it happened as told to Nina. "Three sides to every story, mine, yours, and the truth".

Inspector K
 

I don't think what we saw is the truth, but Erick retrieving the necklace will make him look guilty in combination with him running away to Puerta Vallarta and the way he has treated Consuelo. Now that he's just slipped into a coma he can't say stupid things to anyone and we know Nina will keep her mouth shut about what he told her.

It still could be Eladio or Callao acting on his orders. Their conversation in the car was cryptic and thanks to how these series don't give us a clear picture of time passing we don't know how long it took for them to get home.
 

Kirbo and Urban---No, I guess that we didn't see the truth Friday night. What we saw was Erick coming back to Monse because he didn't want to loose her. I love you
Monse, no we're finished. Don't say that, I love you, I can't live without you. No, no more, we're finished. Get out! They end up on the balcony. There's pushing, grabbing and a struggle. Monse was way drunk, she looses her balance and over she goes. Erick didn't push her or throw her over. What we were shown Friday was for sure a tragic accident. --- What I don't get is why did Erick tell Nina that he did it? Could it be that in his mind, he really thinks that he pushed her?

Right Urban---he took the necklace and ran. That's a big you're guilty as the police see it. The question is---who will Nina throw under the bus to save her son?

Right Kirbo---Where is the hidden camera or microphone? He's under arrest.

Who did Monse say Tu--no, no, no to? We didn't hear that last night.

I think that we are getting close to anvils. After Friday, Franco has sure earned one. How far behind will Dani be?

Things are moving faster now. which definitely

must see tv
the gringo


 

We're only hearing Erick's version of events. He probably realized Ratt was still seeing Eladio, showed back up furious, he tries to force himself on her, they struggle, he flings her off the balcony.
 

Gringo: I'm predicting Purple Lips will throw the following people under the bus to save her spoiled bratty boy, Erick:
1.) Miguel

2.) Counselo

3.) Julia
 

Miguel was nowhere near the crime scene and besides, he had no motive. Nina is more likely to frame one of the two women, but Julia had no motive at that time. I'm still not buying Eladio's 180 but that was still a little way off.

Julia is the only one of the women in this situation who might have the strength to dispose of this Rat. Nina had no motive herself.
 

Thanks so much Mauricio for taking the time to view both episodes pre-smuushing and detailing the missing parts of our experience in purple. Like Diana and others I loved the line "once again nina tries to get her lipstick on Arturo". So symbolic of branding and trying to claim ownership of someone. Highlights her anxiety and desperation.

Agree with everyone else that Eladio showing up at hospital was a bad move. Clearly he is very poor at reading social cues. Almost autistic in that regard. I guess we're supposed to see Julia's sensitivity and emerging love at gradually civilizing him and leading to eventual social redemption. We shall see. As for his shying away from physical touch (other than from Julia) I think we are supposed to see this as the legacy of his abusive childhood.

Mauricio, appreciate all the time you put into this. Ditto for all the other hard-working recappers. Was at a conference all day yesterday or I would have commented sooner. But always enjoy your recaps and humorous take on our chsracters' antics.
 

Production values are low in novelas. I noticed a fairly obvious toy train posing as a real one in one of the opening scenes of Hotel Secrets. Could it be that the director thought that "throwing"
Monse over the railing would have been difficult, even giving that Erik is a big guy.....she isn't tiny, and opted for a sloppy fall and then call it murder? It seems that the story is moving in a way to show Nina in an extreme mother defense mode (I'm having a flashback if the charging elephants in Elephant Walk) and if Erik didn't do it, why set the scene like this? In a word I'm trying to blame the obvious discrepancy on the police statement and the actuality of scene shown on ordinary bad novela production values. Just a thought....
 

My 2 cents. Erick's version is the truth. He's heavily sedated and thinks he's on his death bed and wanted to get it off his chest. I don't think he had the ability to lie at that point. He even fessed up to wanting to get back with Connie, not for love, but to return to the good old days when he was an innocent jerk. Even though it was an accident, he feels just as guilty as if he threw her off the balcony.

Eladio is not totally innocent in his mentor's death. He keeps the mentor's framed photo in a desk drawer and not out on display as one normally would for an early founder of the company. Probably not outright murder, more like he helped trigger it.
 

The big picture here is, it appears, that whether or not we know the real story of the Monster Ratt's extermination, she is gone and Erik is the only one crying. None of us shed a tear for her/it. The salient point is that Nina is the only one on Nina's planet who heard his confession, and she will surely attempt to use it to her benefit. And of course, much to our chagrin, we are STILL not rid of Erik.

I don't want to wait for Ultimas Semana and have everyone kill everyone else. Come on, let's thin the herd as we go. Augustin...Psssst...did you know what Franco has been saying behind your back? Yeah, and I heard he beat up Gabi too. You are an attorney, you can get away with it. Go get him big boy. :-)
k
 

I personally don't like Augustin's obsession with Gabriela. I've said this before: If he were a college professor and she was a genius student it would be understandable for them to have a romantic relationship despite that being an ethical violation on his part. But what do they actually have in common?

Daniela is eventually likely to crash and burn whether she lives or dies.

It would be monumentally cruel of the writers to leave Arturo with only one loving child (Regina, because she is the junior female protagonist) and I've said before that Erick is the most expendable of the others. So I think he will be in a coma for a while. Let's see if he wakes up with amnesia, which I think has been done before.
 

They've groomed Augustin in a way to make him seem inappropriate for Gabi as well. I realize that his "pop" haircut, long/high on top, almost shaved on the sides, is making its way through the entertainment industry and perhaps other places, but this hair style, combined with his conservative clothes makes him seem wrong for Gabi. If he had normal hair with less product, along with more casual clothing, that would help sell them as a couple. Of course, he also seems awkward in her presence too, I think that is due to lack of chemistry between the actors. This novela is filled with chemistry, and Augustin and Gaby stand out as lacking.
 

Maybe it's chemistry lacking between the actors but I'm leaning toward it is what it is. A mid 40's guy lusting for a hot 20 year old with good birthin hips and attempting to convince the girl it's love and for real, using every trick at his disposal. It's made awkward since Gabi has never shown any interest in the man, isn't playing coy, barely knows him and Agustin respects no boundaries. This is a dangerous man to have stalking you and Gabi's WTF look sometimes is priceless. Guessing he and Art went to the same woo a woman school, class of 1916.
 

Oh, I could care less if Auggy and Gabi get together. I just want someone to kill Franco.

I have it on good authority that a boatload of 'Hot' twenty-somethings have mercilessly chased a good looking successful fortyish man.
 

"Huh?! Who do we know in Madrid?!

Hah! I love the way you manage to make us feel like part of the story. It's as if we're all watching together on The Patio, passing around the popcorn and trading asides. And I'm especially grateful for some of the missing links you supplied – above and beyond the call of duty.

There were two beautifully structured episodes in there. Why Uni decided to smush the life out of them is beyond me. Sigh. Oh well. Thanks a bunch for this wonderful recap, Mauricio!
 

Who killed the Ratt or was it a terrible accident is or has become a big secondary part of this novela. I started smiling when I thought that it's kinda like the Iowa caucus vote that is about to take place tomorrow. I mean that everybody has an opinion but no one really knows for sure. Size has been mentioned. Could the tiny mouse Consuelo really take on the much bigger and heavier, stronger Ratt? Remember the Ratt was drunk at the time. Did Erick really do it or in his hospital drugged condition, just thinks that he did? Was it a yet to be a revealed person? If it was a yet to be revealed person, did Erick run back or enter just a few minutes after the death to grab the necklace and quickly leave? This is really getting good.

Great comments today.
Sandy---If Erick didn't do it, why did they set the scene the way that they did? Good point. Something to ponder anyway.

Niecie---A good 2 cents worth on both points.

Anyway---Can't wait to see what Purple Lips action plan will be moving forward.

I'm with most of you guys in that I'm not on the Augie-Gaby bandwagon. A big age difference and no chemistry. We all think that Franco will soon be out of the picture and so what about that new guy that is an old friend of Regina's? Jorge?

the gringo

 

Thank you, Mauricio, for pointing out we were instantly transported to Spain and back again in a Flash .. and .. for everything else before and after. Excellent recap.

Sorry Kirby, I think Alejandro Nones expected to be paid for the whole run. We can only hope Erick stays in a coma for awhile.

I'm still bothered by the whole set-up for Montse's unfortunate attempt to fly. In the original episode. Someone knocks at the door. She opens it and she doesn't identify the caller--only Tu? etc. In Erick's retelling, we see her sitting at the table, singing Happy Birthday to herself. She looks up AT THE OPEN DOOR with Erick standing there. No, Tu did we hear.

Something is still not right with those two scenes. In my wobbly theory, Erick turned his dream into what he thinks he did. He's just come out of surgery (don't think it was brain surgery--he's not wearing a bandage around his head) and surely he's still in an anesthetic fog and retells Nina what he thinks happened. OTOH, he looked quite alert before sinking into his come. Wish they had added a few bruises to his face. He needs to have it re-arranged. (So does Franco--he's just too pretty.)
 

Urban: Most likely you're expecting Purple Lips to frame either Counselo or Julia!

Kirby: This mystery doesn't look like it's over yet. Ultimas Capitulos will likely have a resolution to this.

Anita: We all agree that Daniela is heading towards a devastating crash that will result in rehab or death.

How did the 1988 Original turn out ?

Gringo: Interesting to see if Martinita ends up like the Ratt!


 

Urban--Nina did have a motive at the time. She had recently caught Erick at the hotel with the Ratt and she wanted him to go back to Consuelo, to ensure "their" inheritance. I think Nina has a stronger motive than Julia.

We still don't know what it was Eladio wanted Callao to do after he finished roughing up the Ratt at the party.
 

Steve--Please don't invite comments on the original novela. That would only invite spoilers.

Also, I don't remember saying anything about Daniela's fate (but at times my memory fades). I agree with you, that she will have to pay a big fine in remorse. People like Daniela seldom succeed in rehab unless they have reached bottom. I can't wait to see what kind of bottom she finds herself in.
 

Urban - Way OT: Did you have a transmission problem with Turandot? We did.
 

UA and others--I guess you can tell I haven't finished all the comments yet. It seems most of you feel that we haven't seen the real Montse last act yet.
 

No, Anita; the transmission was perfect. And I finally understand this opera because I saw it with a friend who calls it his favorite.

As to Nina's motive, I don't think it's big enough to make her decide to commit murder. The last thing she did that night was go up to the master bedroom in anticipation of some serious nookie. She may not have gotten any, but I'm sure she worked on it. Now if Julia had been murdered, Nina would be my #1 suspect.
 

Thanks for this excellent and thorough recap, Mauricio. Well done and much appreciated.

Shoot, I had pinned my hopes on Julia being our murderess. She may be fragile looking but she's wiry and had the best reason of anyone to kill Montse.

I'm inclined to believe Erick's version that we witnessed since he was confessing to Nina and had no reason to lie (Heck,I didn't see a good reason for him to confess in the first place). The whole thing seemed like an unfortunate accident as others have noted.

Although she has been savagely and I believe unjustly vilified by so many here, Nina's children are sure quick to demonstrate their support and love... well, all except for the sulky sullen Miguel that is.

And speaking of Miguel, he certainly didn't appear very concerned about the serious nature of Erick's injuries. In fact he seemed rather smug about his grave condition.

Agustín's unseemly pursuit of Gabriela just gets more and more grotesque. He barely knows her and she hasn't given him the slightest encouragement. If he's going to woo her at least he could use some subtlety. I generally try not to comment on characters' physical characteristics but I'll make an exception for him. It looks as though a skunk has crawled atop his head to die and I can't understand why at least those greenish yellow highlights on top haven't been touched up.

I'm hoping for Eriick's speedy recovery. I think the show would be a duller place without him.

Carlos
 

Carlos...oh my...I love a silver fox, but I have to admit that the haircut is not doing Augie justice. To me, when you get a side view, it looks as if he is wearing a bike helmet made of slicked back hair. The guy needs a shorter cut or long hair...not this particular hairstyle! I want to play devil's advocate and say that this character is supposed to be smitten and ardent by sweet young thang Gaby, but it is coming off a tad lovesickpuppy \stalkerish. I still think that Augie has suddenly become aware of the ticking of his biological clock (how old is he supposed to be...45 or so?)

OT..I am watching Last of the Mohicans for the first time right now.
 

Susanlynn: I'm thinking that Jorge maybe working with Daniela to bust up David & Regina. Just a theory!

Carlos: Why do I get a bad feeling Franco will send Callao to kill Caridad ?
 

Carlos, Miguel is not Nina's child and she has guaranteed his hatred of or indifference to her by the way she has treated him all his life. She also enabled Erick's and Daniela's total disrespect for him.

No child ever wants to believe bad things about their parents, even one who was as badly neglected or mistreated as Regina was by her. Nina pretends to love her but Regina is of no value to her. On some level Regina knows this because she does have bouts of insecurity vis a vis comparison to Daniela by Nina. Erick has probably contributed to this but has more motive for it now because Regina is more qualified to take over Group Montenegro when the time comes. If she wants to, that is.

Hard to predict how long Ape Child will be in that coma, but it's been 33 episodes since Orkin exterminated the Rat so that couldn't be neglected even if it will be another 30 or 40 episodes before we know who did it.
 

Oops, that was 35 episodes. Another consequence of editing into doubles and triples.
 

Susanlynn--
OT--I've been infatuated with DD-L for evva, since The Last of the Mohicans (it turns out it was the long hair.....). Love the music, love Madeline Stowe, Russell Means, everybody in it. Last summer I took my grandson to visit Fort William Henry and spent most of the day there.
 

UA,

I'm aware that Miguel is not Nina's biological son but he is after all her stepson. I submit that her attitude toward him is primarily an amplified reflection of the contempt and neglect that Arturo has directed toward him for all these years. Miguel has always been a reminder of what might have been if only he hadn't inconveniently appeared. I think that Nina has merely taken her cue from Arturo and has treated Miguel accordingly.

Susanlynn,

I think that Agustín could certainly benefit from a change in hairstyle but sadly, I'll bet he thinks that it looks great and even makes him look younger. Old men men are adept at self-delusion.

Carlos
 

Carlos said: "And speaking of Miguel, he certainly didn't appear very concerned about the serious nature of Erick's injuries. In fact he seemed rather smug about his grave condition." How astute Dr. Your point makes so much sense, as Miguel has known that smelly turd his whole life. We have been exposed to him (Erik) for a month or two and we to a man, woman and child all already hate him. So I agree with you, Miguel had every reason to moonwalk and turn a couple backflips on the news about Erik. :-)

k
 

Mauricio, Many thanks for the recap. Especially the purple inserts on what we missed. I sure didn't expect that and was more than tickled when I read. You are awesome! I have no clue who guilty person is, if there is one. I say that because we cannot accept what the police analyzation just like that. Their theory that some strong person tossed her over has me scratching my head. #1 consuelo returned saying she was not going to leave well enough alone. But they dont show what she did if she went back to Monste. I think we all know that even a small person can get enough adrenlin to flip cars if they are that upset. Not saying it was her, but applies to all the ladies that stopped being suspect based on that "assumption."
Is Eric protecting someone by confessioning? Is it coincidence that Julia finally fell madly in love with Elodio around this time? I am suspicious by nature so I think it can't be that simple that Eric confessed and end of story. After that humiliating chain of events and all her enemies taking their turn, why wouldntshe want to end it all? No Job, apartment and surely felt used and abused. I just dont know, but I bet it will be surprise .

Leticia
 

Leticia, Julia was still seeking a divorce lawyer at least 5 episodes later. She met Arturo when he went to Puerto Vallarta to look for Erick after he bolted. So, no; she had not decided to try loving Eladio at that point.

As for Erick confessing to protect someone else, I can't see that. He's too immature and too selfish. He also bolted right after this.

As for whether the Rat would want to end it all, she did seem depressed enough to do so. However, I'm more inclined to believe that one of the male suspects did her in or it was Callao on Eladio's orders.
 

Aren't the police saying she was tossed because they know she had to go over with some force, and they know she didn't jump? They aren't taking into account the third option for how she could go over with force-- pulling away from a strong person like Erick with great effort and force, and losing her balance by pulling too hard. That's what happened, according to Erick's flashback. The police are either not taking that third option into account, or thinking that if it was such an accident, the person would have just come forward.
 

Thanks Urban, for jolting my memory about Julia and her divorce. Right about Eric being roo selfish.
But did they show what happened when Consuelo returned the second time? I don't remember

Thx
Leticia
 

The Rat's backing away saying "Tu?" was not part of Erick's "confession."

There is also the possibility that this is being retconned, but we won't know that for a while.

We were not shown what happened when Consuelo returned the second time. I will check the past recaps for her next scene. And there was no talk of Julia staying with Eladio until about episode 50.
 

We did not see the person who Monse say "no" to chase her to the balcony. The person she was speaking to could have come and had it out with her before Erick came back.

We have no idea where Connie went. She could have gone to Clara's house to cry on her shoulder half the night, for all we know.

We know Eladio sent Callao back to speak to Monse (and make it clear to her she needed to leave), so HE might have been the one she sad "no" to. She had every reason to be scared that Eladio had sent him back up there to eliminate her, so a fearful response would have been normal.

We have no idea how much time passed between when we saw Monse react to the mystery person and when she went over. None of those events were shown in real time.

Here's a clip of the sequence of events shown that episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o50OlWz3rCM
 

Carlos ..shout out to Michael MacDonald.."What a fool believes, he sees."

OT..Anita. I decided to go for a walk on this nice, sunny day and had to record the rest of Last of the Mohicans. I googled it and found that even though the setting was the Lake George area of upstate NY, the movie was actually filmed in North Carolina. Oh..and...I am not a DDL fan..but..the long hair...yeah.
 

Hola,
I started watching Pasion y Poder on demand a few weeks ago and have only completed 21 episodes. This topic might have been discussed before, but I have been wondering something: What is Fernando Calunga doing when he puts something up to his mouth that looks like a thumb drive? I keep thinking it should be an inhaler but it sure looks like a thumb drive! The story is great for my one way Spanish immersion but I think this should be called a technonovela instead of telenovela. Too much texting, calling and posting pictures! I love the scenes of Queretaro since we have friends there and I have done a couple of mission trips to San Ildefonso which is not too far from Queretaro. It's a beautiful city.

Gracias for any answers to the thumb drive/inhaler!


 

Wherever Consuelo went that night, she seems to have been back at the Montenegro mansion before Erick returned. She locked the bedroom door and didn't let him in.

To Anon: No answer yet about the spray inhaler.
 

Thanks Vivi for reposting the scenes prior to Montse's demise. Well, Eliodo was speaking or giving Callado instructions right before, at the same time Eric returned. It is suppose to be a big surprise who killed her. But the two I just mentioned are obvious suspects, based on that, it might not even be either one of them. I am terrible detective so my two cents are just that. Lol
Leticia
 

I had always thought that it is nothing more than breath spray. Maybe Eladio has some kind of fear that he might have bad breath and thus the spray every so often.

Of course I don't want it to me Consuelo or Julia. Callao? Eladio sent him to make things clear to Montse but didn't say anything about killing her. We all know that Callao could easily do the job but??? Like everyone I don't know. My bet is that we may have to wait a while for the answer to this.

the gringo
 

Hola Patio pals! I'm finally caught up on PyP and very mad that the butchered double-bill episodes continue. Muchas gracias, Mauricio! This was brilliant! You didn't miss a beat and you provided so much needed detail in addition to your trademark witticisms. Much appreciated indeed!

As much as I love this show, I'm ready to start a petition: Bring Back My Baddies! Eladio has mellowed down too much, Nina is breaking my heart daily, Daniela is pulling highschool queen bee lame stunts that are boring me senseless, Danilo Carrera's Franco is only interesting to watch when he is with Eladio (bless the boy, he is cute as a button but not the best actor, que digamos), Marintia's mouth-breathing, screechy voice and awful acting gives me a headache and now Chimp Boy is in a coma! I'm sitting alone at the Baddies Table with Humberto silently zooming by is his sneaky-mobile!

I don't want Chimp Boy to die! Sadface... This is purely for my entertainment value. They could ship him to the zoo or throw him off a cliff at the end of the show for all I care!

I never ever skip the entrada (love that contrabass in the music theme!) and I have a new (harebrained) theory about the potential subliminal messages we're being sent through the opening credits. Firstly, the switcheroo is right at the beginning, we see big close-ups of FC and JS then their smaller close-ups show up inside the big close-ups in reverse order as they stare at us defiantly, as if to say: "Bring it on!"
Secondly, the red ink stains that spread and look like drops of blood showed up for two characters: Montserrat in the old opening credits and a close up of a male chin and neck. I pondered the identity of the male for a long time, the tie knot and chin shape are definitely not FC's, this chin has a scar. During the hospital scenes, they showed Erick's chin up close and I recognized the scar. Is he the next on this show to be dispatched to Hades? Thirdly, I don't know if anybody noticed this, but Luis Bayardo's name shows up in the credits at the same time as the image of some upside down buildings; look closely and you'll see a gun pointing down, hidden amongst the buildings. I went back to check the older credits (I have too much free time on my hands, I know!), when the hidden gun shows up, it's pointing down at Raquel Olmedo's name, at pesky Gisela, may she rest in peace. Fourthly, after their first introduction in the entrada, the main foursome are always shown with a burst of fire. Now the fire can symbolize the "passion" part of PyP but could it be that there is an actual fire where they could all be caught?

One last thing and I'm done with my crazy speculations. I apologize for going back a few episodes but did anybody get an ominous vibe during the scene where Eladio explains the significance of his tattoo? All that talk about eternal love, and loving Julia in this life or the next and locating each other in the afterlife made me think that this guy won't live to see the last credits roll. Anybody else get that feeling?

 

One final thought: Regina and David's romance went from vanilla to meh to plain boring! And now the writers are throwing Jorge the Teenage Foreman into the mix? Really? That's how they intend to spice things up? Oh and speaking of flimsy love triangles, I was wrong in my Clara/Justino/Francisco love triangle prediction. It looked like the writers were flirting with the idea for a while but they decided against it. Indeed, not only was Paquito exiled to Tabasco ages ago, he's also off the opening credits!
 

Hi Nandicta,

You have some great observations. I am certain there is symbolism in the opening I will try to look harder, but I cant even see
All the name credits because rhe characters name are in red too and for me illegible.

Yes I get that vibe about FC, but probably because he got soft. If he continues to keep getting mellow, someone might do him in. Franco?
Yes, Franco is cute as a button, but I think he is good actor. Especially for his first role. He makes these faces. Ha!

Okay, goodnite everyone. Sure have enjoyed reading every single comment. Cant wait for tomorrow, I never want this tn to end.
I am already dreading El FIN. Believe it or not, I did not feel that way about No Creo, even though I watched every episode.

Leticia
 

-- Leticia: To be fair to Danilo Carrera, I think he improved a great deal since the start of the TN and out of the members of the younger male cast, he is definitely the best one! I've seen a couple of interviews with him and he credits his working in close proximity with FC for this quick learning curve. I like him better in his scenes with FC because that's when he does his best work. It would be karmic justice for Franco to destroy his Pa-padrino. He's most certainly going to destroy Eladio emotionally and break down the harmony he's finally achieving with Julia and David once the truth about Franco's origin is revealed. Engineering Erick's car accident could actually speed up the fall of that first anvil we've been expecting for so long. Can someone tell Julia that Franco is Hotladio's son so we can watch some fireworks? Will Hotladio revert back to Meanladio once Julia kicks him out the house, sets his car on fire and runs back to Arturo once she finds out about Franco? Bring it on, I say!
Buenas noches! :)
 

Nanicta, all the images of fire in the opening credits (especially against FC and JS in the end shot) have been making me wonder whether the entire older generation will be dead at the end, leaving Regina, David, Miguel, Clara, Consuelo, Justino, and Gabriela to pick up the pieces. This would be the reversal of Shakespearean fate at the end Romeo and Juliet.

Eladio often flicks a cigarette lighter, which could be indicative of a future arson. FC doesn't smoke and to my knowledge none of his past characters have ever done so. We now are presented with the possibility that Eladio murdered his mentor and former business partner and he is one of the two suspects in the rodenticide case. His explanation of the tattoo only makes sense because of his refusal to allow the Rat to touch it in the past but getting it for or because of Julia makes no sense because she is Old Money and many people of that class would regard such things as declasse (especially a tattoo that large).

I haven't been buying Eladio's 180 from the get-go and it seems more and more every day that it's a set-up for the big revelation about him being Franco's sperm donor. This should really set Julia off because of the magnitude of this deception. If Humberto is still alive when this happens I don't think it will make him feel any differently toward Franco because that would mean a lesser inheritance for his own descendants. It will or it should feel to Julia like the biggest insult Eladio could have paid her. Granted, she didn't care about him fooling around at the time, but for him to have her raise his illegitimate child while he is laughing behind her back? At least that is how it should feel to her.

Since Erick and Consuelo are the comparison to them, his 180 also makes no sense. He insulted her in the worst possible ways until Nina told him to get her back and get her to sign her company shares over to him. "After that she can go to hell" was Nina's final statement and he looked compliant. Erick wants to be a Machiavelli like Eladio, but has not been effective in that at work. He's trying to do this with Consuelo. His trying to throw Regina under the bus about the info leak and his promise to Daniela to continue to help her to torment Regina would doom him even if he had nothing to do with the Rat's death. Either way he should not get off scot-free.
 

-- UA: I remember you mentioned before that Eladio's occasional flicking of that golden lighter was ominous of arson. To be honest, at the time I couldn't make up my mind either way. I thought it was just another idiosyncrasy that FC added to the character, but now I'm leaning a bit more towards your theory. Regarding FC smoking, I've seen him do it in two novelas: a couple of times in "Amor Real" and quite a bit during the first half of "Nunca Te Olvidaré" (1999). In both TNs, he was smoking (or pretending to smoke) cigarillos (called "Mini puros" or "puros pequeños" because "cigarrillos" is Spanish for regular cigarettes). It would be interesting to see if your predictions comes true: the older PyP generation decimated in a blazing inferno! I kinda like it! :)

As regards Eladio's tattoo, it seemed to me like a form of self-mutilation, a constant reminder to himself that his heart belonged to someone else. I agree with you in that someone of Julia's social station would regard a tattoo as vulgar but I think he did it more for him than for her, even though she was the one he had in mind when he did it. I have a Kiwi friend who explained to me a long time ago that Maori tribes had tattoos for a variety of occasions and purposes, including marital tattoos. It's likely that other cultures have similar rituals which leave a body mark that symbolizes romantic commitment. For example, my paternal grandmother, who was born in the mid-1920s, had a small tattoo on her chin. My maternal great-grandmother was born at the start of the 20th century and she had two small tattoos on her face (on her chin and just above the area between her brows, exactly where Hindu women place their bindi). Both of their tattoos were marital tattoos but had different designs because they came from different Moroccan tribes. I guess in their customs at the time, these tattoos were a visual reminder that a person is taken and should not be pestered with unwanted attention.
If you remember the scene way back at the beginning of this TN (somewhere between episodes 5 and 10) where Julia asks Eladio to make love to her in the study, she tried to touch his tattoo and he instinctively grabbed her hand before she could do it. Many of us wondered about it at the time, especially since he seemed so touched when she kissed his tattoo. Now I understand the hand grab must be a reflex he developped with the ladies that serviced him. He wouldn't allow any of his hoes to put their hands over his heart because he believed that his heart didn't belong to him. When I think back to that scene, I feel like I've been played by the writers from the get-go. The switcheroo was planned from the beginning and was not a spur-of-the-ratings decision.

I thought the therapy was a ploy and it may have been so at the beginning, but for better or worse it has improved Eladio's home life. I think he is genuine is his efforts to save his marriage and family, except that those two things are unsalvageable because of the dizzying number of lies he's had to make to hide the fact that he fathered Franco. As you rightly pointed out, it's not so much the fact that one of his adventures resulted in a child, because at the time there was no marriage between Julia and Eladio. What is unforgivable is indeed "the magnitude of deception": sustaining an intricate web of lies for 25 years and having Julia raise his out-of-wedlock child without her knowledge or approval. I hope she goes medieval on his behind when she finds out!

Personally, Erick's misguided attempts to win back Consuelo make perfect sense to me becasue: a) there is a respectable chunk of Grupo Montenegro at play, b) Consuelo has been enough of a doormat for him to think he could fool her again, and c) Nina ordered it and Chimp Boy does not like to cross his Mommy.
 

Dr. Nandicta Thank you so much for your in depth analysis.

It appears you are as adept as I at wasting time, so if I may, maybe the oracle could answer a question for me.

You have analyzed the credits (which, by the way, appear as a small mini series in itself) quite thoroughly. So why do they swap the leading men's names and pictures in the opening credits? All the other people whose image appear have their name unambiguously associated with their picture. But the two main snots have FC under the pic of JS and vice versa. The first time I saw it I thought "Whoa, what a colossal FU, wonder if they will correct it before tomorrow?" To my surprise it has stayed long enough to indicate that it was not a mistake.

Your thoughts? Please? pretty please?
k
 

Interesting theory about the tattoo, but Eladio was looking for acceptance among Julia's class. I'm not sure how old one's money has to be in Mexico to qualify as "Old Money" but Arturo wouldn't quite qualify here. He might have just made the cut in DF. In either country Eladio is a Johnny-come-lately. So his story about the tattoo sounds like BS designed to encourage Julia to get a similar one to "mark" her.

The therapy was a desperation ploy and I think it will backfire on him if he goes long enough to get too close to the original source of his issues.

I have new theory about the murder, which is that Erick returned to the Rat's nest (We saw him go into the building's basement or parking garage) and saw either Eladio or Callao dispose of the Rat. Either of them would then have threatened the hell out of him if he blabbed so he made up a story about an accident. He might have picked up the necklace on the way in or out without thinking or it could have been planted on him. By the time Eladio knew he had made the anonymous phone call the case picked up too much profile for him or Callao to dispose of Erick. That means that Erick lied to Nina, who inadvertently drew police attention back to him because she didn't know about the necklace and most probably didn't know about the party.
 

Urban Dectective: Then why did Erik wait until now to confess to Mommy? In his mind deathbed confession, or medicated and not thinking clearly, or new interest in the necklace by the Popo?
 

#3 is the most likely reason; not excluding the other possibilities.

It could also be about protecting himself by not leaking info to Mommy Dearest. Nina has (over)protected him most of the time but is willing to back Arturo when it's in her own best interest. Remember also when she caught him playing with the Rat she was peeved and I'm sure he didn't want another lecture about this.
 

Thanks. Any of you TN veterans want to put a bet on or against a bout of amnesia? Let me think, when Julia whacked her head did she have amnesia? I forgot, and do not off the top of my head know the requisite number of amnesia cases in a standard TN.
 

Wow..UA and Nandicta, I love the way you two analyze these characters.

Nandicta, Your comment about Hotladio marking himself as Julie's was interesting. I was fascinated by your comments about your grandmother's ' tattoos. So..how do people mark themselves as belonging to someone..wearing an engagement or wedding ring..back in the day girls wore their boyfriends' class rings on a chain around their necks or their letter sweaters or varsity jackets. In Outlander, when Jamie and Claire part forever, she has him cut a small "j" into her palm and she cuts a "c" into his.

I do not know where this show is headed , but I have a feeling that the writers are going to put Augie and Gaby, David and Regina (yawn) and Hotladio and Julia together in the end.
 

-- Kirbo: Wasting time is an art in itself and I'm proud to say that I work very hard at perfecting this skill. :)

Initially I thought that the way in which they swapped the leading men's faces and character names in the credits was the best solution the producer could find to give first credit to FC while keeping JS happy. Before the show aired, FC was announced as the designated villano and JS as the designated protagonista but villanos don't normally get billed first. That's why I supposed that little trick was done so that each actor would look like he got first billing.

However, I discovered another explanation when I binge-watched several PyP episodes this weekend to catch up to where you guys are. I never fast-forward through the entrada, it is indeed "a small mini series in itself", so I also wound up binge-watching that switcheroo at the beginning of the opening credits. That's when it hit me! The character evolution of the two leading men, that you dubbed a "switcheroo", has been under our noses the whole time! We've been told about the switcheroo from the very beginning, it's right there in the opening credits! They were planning the role reversals from the get-go!

-- UA: Indeed, Eladio tried therapy as a last-ditch attempt to save his family. At first I suspected he did it as a trick to win time until the storm subsides but then his trick ended up helping him delve into his personal issues and tackle his demons. However, like his therapist told him, his anger, his lies, his dependence on Julia and his obsession with Arturo are the main issues he needs to address to make progress. The Doc also made it clear to Eladio that the couple's therapy process could end in a separation, that he should prepare himself for a life without his wife, that his wife is not his property and that retaining her by his side at any cost is not the be-all and end-all of his happiness.
The funny part is that no amount of therapy could stop the "Franco is my son" anvil or mitigate its devastating effects. Nothing Eladio can do would avert that disaster, nothing other than confess everything and fall down to his knees begging for forgiveness. Maybe with time he can get Julia and David to forgive him eventually so they can all get closure but, if that happens, Julia's forgiveness will come with a side of divorce and half of Hotladio's fortune. She can then nurse her sorrows in some exotic island and he can jump off the balcony to find out whether the tattoo helps him latch onto another Julia in the next life!
 

-- Susanlynn: My grandma and great-grandma's face tattoos seemed so normal to me as a kid, because I saw quite a few older women that had them. My reasoning as a little child was that these tattoos were a requisite for old people, that you can't be allowed to reach a certain age unless you get this stamp. If you type "Berber face tattoos" in Google Images, you'll see pictures of these face tattoos. My paternal grandma's tribe was not ethnically Berber / Amazigh but she had a face tattoo nonetheless. I haven't seen a lady with a face tattoo in ages; that generation and the practice of face tattoing are becoming extinct in Morocco. I wish I could meet one of these ladies to ask them about the significance of their face tattoos. All my grandparents died by the time I was 10 and it's a shame that none of the queries or questions that I now have for them occurred to me as child.
 

Good morning peeps,
Nandicta that is funny, about Elodio's tat meeting up w another Julia.

I just had this thought about Mr Smith leaving everything to Elo because he was like a son to him. What if he was his real father? He said his real father was abusive, but that could have been because he knew he wasn't his son?? Could history repeat itself? There is a very mysterious psyche going on inside if Elodio. Something that he has yet to share w the therapist because it is so painful.
Leticia
 

Before we analyze Eladio to death, I want to put my hand up and go along with UA, for now. He hasn't quite gotten to the 180 yet--or does he want to. He *has* learned that going along with Julia has made a calmer home life, but SHE had to invite him back into a physical relationship, which she did *only* after her trip to the beach and meeting Arturo.

As for me personally? I'm tired of his repeating, "Te amo" in all its different forms (No olvides que...Lo hice porque...) every time they are together. That alone makes me think he is insincere. Not that he doesn't love her, but because he doesn't know how to love anyone, his verbalizing, "I love you," makes it seem more real to him.
 

....cont'd--Well, a calmer home life, etc. and the therapy he was "forced" into.
 

Leticia--It would be a wonderful theory. I like it, but can we give the writers credit for being such deep thinkers?
 

It could be, but we don't have enough information to land completely on it.

We also need to keep in mind that it's likely we'll never find that out definitively, as David was not even born before DNA analysis could be done. If Eladio's parents are dead and Smith is dead and all were cremated we have no way of ever finding that out. However, if they were buried instead and your theory can be proven we'll have an operatic event with Eladio offing himself or going mad.
 

-- Leticia: Good morning! I personally like your theory about Smith (they sometimes say Schmidt as well) potentially being Eladio's Pa-padrino, especially as it mirrors to an extent the story of Franco's origin. A few episodes ago, NovelaMaven made a speculation about the possibility of Arturo's father being Eladio's real father, seeing how similar the dynamics are between the past trio of Young Eladio / Daddy Montenegro / Young Arturo and the present trio of Franco / Mature(ish) Eladio / David. Both yours and NM's theories draw parallels between Eladio's past and Franco's origin. Very interesting indeed!
 

-- Anita: Eladio is trying to fit in as many "Te amo"'s as humanly possible before the doo-doo hits the fan! :D
 

Nandicta how very clever. I wondered about the switcheroo long long ago but never connected it to the credits silliness. Your explanation makes perfect sense. I'm afraid I do not give the writers and producers enough credit. I tend to explain life's mysteries with "Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then."
Thank You again.
k
 

He has to know that Julia will find out about Franco sooner rather than later.
 

Nandicta...very interesting. I do not have any students from Morroco right now, but I have had a few in the past few years..all young adults. And..your attention to detail is amazing. If I am ever in trouble with the law, I need you and Vivi to represent me. You both have the most extraordinary ability to analyze a situation. As the sidebar notes, My brain is often like a pear floating in jello as I let these crazy stories just wash over my mind.
 

Eladio will have to get Julia to another vacation LOL!
 

Julia will find out about Franco sooner rather than later." Yes, UA ElDaddio was fairly safe as long as Gisela was paid off and Caridad serving a 'life' sentence.

With Gisela dead and Caridad out and rambunctious, Eladio has a new set of problems to solve/hide. Does he kill Caridad in lieu of her continued sniffing blabbing? She is showing herself to be unmanageable. She prob does not know that Eladio indirectly killed her Mom or that he was instrumental in keeping her in jail for so many years. If this ever comes to light for her, she will go wild.

That said, even though Eladio shows every indication of turning over a new leaf, he has some debts to pay, given that history can not be 'undone'.
 

Let's bring Callao back into the picture as a possible culprit in MontseRatt's extermination.

We KNOW he roughed up a drunk Gisela and she died of a heart attack. He did what any paid goon would do, dispose of the victim in a location that would bring the least suspicion on his "patron." But..remember how angry Eladio was when he found out?

Now that I think of it, that anger a bit over the top because Callao had also "accidentally" caused MontseRatt's fall onto the top of the car below.

The police have said the angle of the body--falling on a car parked on the street and not on the sidewalk right below the balcony--indicated it had to be thrown. Well I think we could agree that if Montse was trying to get away from someone in fear of her own life, tipping over the balcony, could have thrown her ontop of the car. I'm at the point of believing the police theory is a red herring.
 

Kirby--So true, you can't undo a pregnancy and birth of a child. Eladio tried to take care of the inconvenient truth, though when he ordered Caridad to get rid of the fetus.

If the man is so ruthless about keeping this particular secret, I don't understand why he didn't "take care" of both Caridad and the unborn child, but then where would the story go.....

Maybe once Caridad was sentenced to prison, he thought he was safe. But then, WHY did he take the child? He could have left him in an orphanage. That tells me he has a speck of paternal pride (not love for the child) and couldn't slough off the child without knowing where he would be raised.
 

Anita,
Yes, I agree with you. Elodio's anger was more in line, like "what? Again??? You dumb s___t.!!! What are you trying to do me???$&"'
That goon trying too hard to please Elodio is causing major problems.

Leticia
 

Nandicta,
In that case NovelaMaven has a a good idea about Elodio and Arturo. Those embecil'es might even be brothers. I also thought their dynamics are much like David and Franco. The legitimate loved son and smoldering illegitimate son looking on. Whee, I am certain it will reveal something along those lines.
 

Above comment was from Leticia.
Thx
 

He might have been thinking along the lines of "an heir and a spare" because of his megalomaniacal thinking. There is also the possibility that while he tortured Julia for so long by doubting his paternity of David he could have come back with the big zinger of "You also raised my real son" as a reveal. This could still happen if something else breaks Eladio's current behavior and sends him back to the man we met in the opening scene.

This is a great contrast to Nina's genetic narcissism in her hatred of the intelligent and gentle Miguel vs the simian and stupid Erick. She actually had the nerve to call him a "bastard," as though she is Arturo's only legitimate wife.
 

Oops, I should have said "Denying" rather than "Doubting."
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Let's not forget opera. There is huge potential here for parental loss as well as the betrayal of a child.

Many novelas of the past have taken inspiration from the classics; how many ways has The Count of Monte Christo been done? Narrative themes have probably not changed since Sophocles and the elder Edda.

In Eladio's statement to the shrink about how being a loving person is evident of weakness (extremely Wagnerian with this Ring Cycle reference), he was preying on Arturo's alleged weakness by bringing about Erick's betrayal. That hasn't destroyed Arturo's love for his son but it could destroy Arturo himself by bringing him down to Eladio's level. This is the only reason Eladio hired Daniela. That could destroy Arturo's company if Daniela doesn't self-destruct before that ad campaign breaks.

Meanwhile I'm sure that shrink is writing a book....
 

I see Eladio and Arturo as the essential Tweedledee and Tweedledum at the center of the story. Both are in thrall to their Passion for Julia and their thirst for Power. In the beginning, we see Arturo's good side and Eladio's bad side. Now, we walk around them (as if they were statues) and we are looking at Arturo's flaws and Eladio's virtues.

They are both tricksters, but perhaps neither one is a murderer.

They have both fathered a son (Franco and Erick, respectively) who embodies all their worst qualities and none of their saving graces. Both sons are capable of murder, and neither is likely to survive the novela. Maybe the grief over losing a son will be sufficient anvil for each of them. And maybe they will turn out to be half-brothers.

How Shakespearian is all this? Well, I think novela writers draw from the same narrative themes as the Bard did (unrequited love, rivalry between brothers, star-crossed lovers, parental sorrows and ungrateful children, among others); sometimes our writers allude to particular stories (mostly Othello, but of course Romeo and Juliet and Lear (Think of Regina and Arturo)). But in the end, Shakespeare is just one influence among many. As I've said before, I see traces of Jane Austen here too. (Think of Pride and Prejudice.)

Of course, YMMV. :)
 

Philosophically speaking...If you hire someone to commit murder, but your henchturd is so incompetent, or the victim is so resilient that he/she survives, does this affect your anvil size? Of course I am concerned for our little Cherub Franco.
 

The charge is "Conspiracy to Commit Murder" either way. Erick is equally guilty because of the intensity of the beating Franco took. And the thugs didn't even take his cell phone nor did they destroy it. Either would have been a dead giveaway, but Franco is smarter than Erick, who is too stupid to realize his own stupidity.

I still wonder whether he is Nina and Arturo's child because he is far less intelligent than either of them and doesn't even look like he could be their child. However -- as I can prove myself -- not every child looks like his/her parents.
 

I really want to see both couples, Arturo/Nina and Eladio /Julia together in the end. A probable reason, my husband and I have been married for 48 years, we believe in STAYING. I hope Arturo realizes that Nina has been a loving, FAITHFUL wife and a doting mother to their children. They are both flawed parents but in reality, they both care. Eladio might be forgiven after the Franco reveal because Julia, like so many kind, wonderful people, looks at a problem and then analyzes her responsibilities, "I never gave you a chance" etc. RIGHT OR WRONG she might just take some blame for the terrible Franco situation that has grown and festered in the marriage............A girl can hope anyway...

I thought that Don Draper would die at the end of Mad Men because there was a representation of him falling off a building in the opening credits....he didn't!

 

NM...ah yeah. This show is especially channeling the new movie.."Pride and Prejudice send Zombies.". I cannot even....
 

Whoops..."and " not "send"... Thanks, tablet. I want to break up with you.
 

I would hardly call Nina a doting mother. She has two children who have no sense of responsibility, one whom she does not love because she isn't like her, and a stepchild she hates because he represents a wife who was there before her.

As for Julia's "I never gave you a chance", my answer is that if Eladio knew that Julia didn't love him at the outset he could have also chosen not to marry her after all.
 

"as I can prove myself -- not every child looks like his/her parents."

Ummm...I was looking at your picture and I suppose I understand. :-)
 

Nandicta---The opening credits. I for one ALWAYS love the opening intros. Sometimes a person will get tired of a hit song after they have heard it many times. but for some unknown reason, I never tire of seeing the novela intros night after night. I admit though that I have never tried to analyze one as you have. Hidden meanings?
I had never thought of them in a novela opening but I guess that you could find them most anywhere. One thing that must be for certain, with all of the thought and analysis that has been written about this novela by our patio peeps---by the time that it finally ends, we will all be a little wiser. I'm sure of it.

must see tv
the gringo
 

UA, it is a sad fact of life that wonderful parents produce troublesome children and occasionally, bad parents produce superstars. There hasn't been a confrontational situation between Arturo and Nina in which her children haven't rallied around their mother, in fact, all have lovingly taken her side every time. Her children LOVE her. There hasn't been one flashback of her supposed neglect. She has been accused of "having lunches" and "nannies" but really, is this truly neglect?

I don't think that Julia should take responsibility for the Franco problem, I thought because of her kindness, she just might.
 

Erick and Daniela love that she has overindulged them because they are narcissists just like her. There has been no proper discipline in their lives. She has allowed them to get away with all sorts of things and only tries to apply the brakes when her own interests are served by doing so.

Regina is desperate for approval she will never get from Nina.

Julia might ultimately feel guilty about Franco, but you are right. He is Eladio's Mini-Me because he created that situation.
 

...wonderful parents *can* produce troublesome children.
 

UA, we see four children. Both Miguel and Regina are fantastic. Erik and Danela are seriously lacking. Everyone grew up in the same environment. I think that the major problem with Dani and Erik is substance abuse, not parenting.
 

Parents are not the only influence on their children in the modern world. Many have the delusion that they are and others lament that they are not. Nina wishes she could be more controlling, but usually that is less possible as the kids get older.
 

UA, when I see problematic children, I have learned not to blame the parents. Too many wonderful parents have "bad" children. Let's agree on one thing, "Parents are not the only influence on their children in the modern world."
 

Sandy---Parents are not the only influence on their children. No but they are the BIGGEST influence. Nina is/was a rotten mother.

Urban---I completely agree with your 5:30 post. You're right on point.

the gringo
 

Gringo and UA, you could be completely correct, but in the novela world, we don't have to guess, we SEE neglectful parenting. We haven't seen flashbacks or current "neglect" by Nina. Before I tarnish even a fictional character with the label "bad mother" I want to see the evidence, not extrapolations.
 

I can't explain how much I adore this blog! I'm a translator that works precisely writing the closed caption for Univision novelas... It's really funny, and when I can't find enough info about a novela, your blog is always a good source for material. I really appreciate what you did for the audience in general and for us, the translators. Kisses and be sure I'll be back!
 

Sandy,

Wow, thanks so much for bravely standing up against the unwarranted accusations against Nina that we have been incessantly bombarded with since the very beginning of this TN. So many scurrilous charges have been thrown at her that many who have not been paying close attention now accept these vicious fictions as established fact. Every time I see her being described as a scheming narcissist who is incapable of love I shake my head in wonderment... have I missed something?

Carlos
 

Welcome Daniela, we are happy to have you here.

Carlos, thanks! In my opinion. the reason Nina makes mistakes is that she blindly loves her children and husband and has given, as she says, "The best years of her life," and now finds herself fighting for her children and marriage against Arturo's abandonment in pursuit of Julia.
 

"who is incapable of love I shake my head in wonderment... have I missed something?"
Yes, apparently Episodes 1 thru 77.
 

Um knowing your son is wanted as a suspect in a murder investigation and hiding his whereabouts from his Father and the P O L I C E is kinda sorta maybe not a real good thing.
 

Welcome, Daniela! We're so glad you are enjoying this blog. I'm sure there are a lot more gringos watching than Nielsen tells you about. If we helped increase that, we're happy!
 

Hi Daniela---This gringo doesn't get English cc's but I bet that a lot do. Please come back often. If you have any influence---please tell Univision to STOP cutting and editing these great novelas. It's terrible all the cuts they make.

LOL Kirbo---episodes 1 thru 77

the gringo
 

Kirbo, "Um knowing your son is wanted as a suspect in a murder investigation and hiding his whereabouts from his Father and the P O L I C E is kinda sorta maybe not a real good thing." No that isn't a good thing and you are proving MY point, Nina makes mistakes because she DOES love her children. She is involving herself in a felony to save Erik.
Reply
 

She would never do this for Regina. She has enabled Erick and Daniela in the way they abuse her. She has also called Miguel nasty names in front of the others -- including Arturo -- and threatened him to his face.

She tried to help Erick escape but that's about saving face and making sure that he ultimately inherits everything (which is also unlikely in the modern world).
 

UA,

"She would never do this for Regina."

This is exactly the sort of thing that I was talking about. There's simply no way you can know this.

Carlos
 

WOW Thanks everyone. 120 something comments. Mauricio you should take a bow.
 

The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, Carlos. What I have seen of her past behavior toward Regina says it all.
 

I'm late AGAIN to the comment party but wow what a recap Mauricio, so good. I won't add too much because everything that could be said pretty much has...but I'm calling major MAJOR BS on the scene with Erick/Montsy before her death. That is now how it was set up for the audience. She was on her balcony when the killer came back. She was surprised and startled by the person..and it didn't appear that too much time was given for all that they showed in flashback before she fell. This was a horrible sloppy rewrite. I feel very let down by this whole murder mystery.

Can Arturo die already...I loathe him more and more with each eppy. I really didn't think he could surpass Nina in my dislike of a character but he has. I simply detest him.
 

You guys, thank you for your warm welcome! Unfortunately, I don't have any influence, and as a translator it's also hard for me to work with an episode full of cuts :/

Now I'm working on episode 78/79... I guess you don't want spoilers, haha.
 

She doesn't like regina. She loves her own daughter, but she just does not like her. I have witnessed that in real families. A child or children a parent is willing to do anything for.
Even what this woman is doing for her very
Screwed up kids. She created these...... her monsters. This wont end well. Sadly.
 

Wooo Hoooo Haaa Haaa Mouth Breather Preggers. So of course Franco has no problem with ending / preventing life so he orders her to abort. Caridad, not so much.