Caray, Caray!

FATMAGUL:

I'm about to be snowed in for a few days starting tomorrow, so I plan on catching up and even getting a Fatmagul recap up tomorrow.
 

Vivi, stay safe and warm! Looking forward to your Fatmagul recaps. Your loss the patio's gain.
 

BAJO – JUEVES – Parte 1 de 2

Carlos begs Felicia to let him go, but she refuses and fires a shot in the air, bringing Colmillo who orders more kicking and baseball bat blows for Carlos.

The restaurant is ready to open. Jacob tells Susy he hates keeping Carlos’ disappearance from María. Rodolfo shows up at the opening. Lupita and Pedro sob in his arms, asking him why he did it (the supposed almost suicide).

Colmillo gets annoyed when Feli rags on him about not having gotten the baby back. He gives her a cold killer stare and tells her it’s not their baby. “If we get her back, fine. If not, that’s fine too. We’ll find some other way to hurt Fire.” The light bulb goes off over Felicia’s head. “You only wanted Anita to hurt Rodrigo!”

Adela keeps the truth about how bad Carlos’ situation is from Luis. She tells him she heard his voice when she spoke with EC and knows he’s alive. She tells him she and Rodrigo are the ones to handle this.

Rodolfo tells his children he said ugly things about their mother, and they aren’t true. He tells them that both their parents love them and they’re going to make this work.

Felicia bribes the housekeeper to let her leave.

Jacob, María and Rodolfo talk in the restaurant’s office. Jacob agrees to recommend Rodolfo to an executive he knows at a record company. Rodolfo and Jacob shake hands.

Felicia follows the big black car that is taking Gracie to the airport to see her mother off. There are a couple of bangers along as guards.

Luis tells Santiago that he knows just what to do. He grabs a hedge clippers and says that his father is going to find him working when he gets back.

Cristobal tells Chabela that the undocumented girl perfectly described Felicia as EC’s accomplice.

At his house Rod tells his remaining guys that he’ll understand if they don’t want to come along to bird-dog Suárez. All say they’re coming.

Gracie screws up and sends the bangers away to say goodbye to Lourdes. She turns around, and there’s Feli! Felicia demands that she give her the baby. Gracie refuses, and tells her that the court has awarded her custody. They have the same argument they always have. Eventually Feli pulls out her gun and makes her leave with her to the parking garage.

Adela shows Cristóbal the video of Carlos being tortured. He calls in the undocumented girl who finally agrees to tell them where EC’s house is.

Rodrigo and his guys have followed Suárez to EC’s lair. Suárez is trying to warn EC that Cristóbal is planning something and he should run for it.
 

BAJO – JUEVES – Parte 2 de 2

Felicia’s cell rings. It says “José”. Felicia gets distracted. Gracie knocks the gun out of her hand and runs, hiding behind cars.

Rod and his guys kill some of EC’s guys. Rodrigo grabs the housekeeper and points a gun at her head, asking where his father is.

EC says multiple times that he won’t leave without killing El Jardinero and Fire. Rod’s guys are shooting at Jay, Suárez and EC. EC hides behind a cardboard looking patio table that miraculously protects him.

Rod breaks into the room in which Carlos is caged up. He shoots the guy guarding him, shoots the lock off the cage, wraps his father in some sort of shawl, and gets him out of there. EC arrives shortly, furious to find Carlos gone.

Felicia hides her gun and tells some people who have arrived at the parking garage that some woman stole her baby and asks them to help her find them.

Carlos keeps telling Rodrigo to leave him. Rodrigo hides his father behind a tree and shoots. He hits Suárez. Then he takes his father into a stable and puts him into one of the stalls.

Jay wimps out and tries to leave, but EC doesn’t shoot him.

The cops arrive, along with Adela. They grab up Jay, and it’s a pleasure to see him on his knees and in handcuffs.

Colmillo swaggers into the stable screaming for Fire. But Rod has outflanked him, points a gun at him and tells him how easy it would be to finish him off. But Rod says: ”¡Vamos a hacer eso chingón! (That was bleeped out, but I read his lips!) "Let’s kill each other with our fists!" He takes the clip out of his gun. EC agrees to the challenge and also takes out his clip. But Rod is beating him bad. EC tells him through bloody teeth that he’s going to find his daughter and kill her. EC puts his foot on Rod’s chest and flips him over. Rod lands hard on his back. We see EC approach him with something, a mallet or a shovel, I couldn’t tell which. Carlos yells for his son to watch out. As EC swings his weapon, Rod quickly grabs a pitchfork and sticks it in EC’s chest. Yes!

Cristóbal and Adela come in. Rod gives up and says he’s unarmed. Adela rushes to Carlos. Carlos begs Cristóbal to let Rodrigo go, but he takes him away in handcuffs.

What a thrilling episode!
 

Bajo

another wonderful Novelera recap, thank you so very much!

well, I got my surprise, I thought for sure Colmillo would slide out and grab Adela along the way, but I'm going with Colmillo being dead this time, and it looks like Cristobal has put a pretty big dent in la Colonia, only that one crazy woman (Felicia) still running around.

pretty smart of Greicy getting away, setting off the car alarms and all, geez I wish someone would call the cops, and who can help her now, Rodrigo is out of action and it's a wonder Carlos even made it to the stables, loved the horses in the background.

and the girl who spilled to Cristobal, that was her boyfriend/brother/? guarding Carlos, that Rodrigo plugged when he walked in the door, ah yes the american dream, in the narco novelas they laugh at these guys that they smuggle north.

one of my favorite actresses is baby Anita, so cute and well behaved, they've used her in so many scenes when they normally slip in a doll, no wonder everyone is fighting over her, I would love to have her too.

 

BAJO

Thank you novelera; that was a brilliant wrap-up of a thrilling episode. I, too was surprised that they dispatched Colmillio so soon, but that leaves us two more nights to watch Gracie's denouement and, perhaps, a bit of reconciliation and family harmony. And a boda, for sure!

Well, we won't have to suffer Colmillo's hideous grin any longer. I've never seen this actor do anything else, but what a cold, cruel villain.

I agree deb, about Gracie and the car alarms. Don't know if I would have had the presence of mind to do that.

I wish Cristóbal could get over himself and see how he was responsible for some of how this all came down. I fear he will continue to be ruled by misguided loyalty for his cray-zee sister.

 

Bajo
Yay Rodrigo survived another episode! I had to look away a couple of times because of all the killings. I agree with the other posters that Greicy was very smart to set off the car alarms. I hope she can figure out a way to escape felicia! I hope Felicia gets arrested soon. She is delusional. Losing her own 2 babies & Greicys baby has pushed her over the edge.i too was glad Yei was arrested. I hope Yei meets his match in the big house! N.Lopez
 

Bajo

Novelera, you continue to amaze me with your terrific recaps. It doesn't seem to matter whether they're more detailed or more succinct, they're always informative and a delight to read.

I loved your remark "EC hides behind a cardboard looking patio table that miraculously protects him."

The episode had two big surprises for me. One was that Colmillo didn't shoot Yei when Yei said he was leaving, that this wasn't his fight. Is it possible that EC actually feels something for another human being (well, another pseudo human being)? The other surprise was that Colmillo was killed (at least, I think he was--many of us were fooled the first time, when he was shot in the head). Actually, let's hear it for Telenovela Medicine: after being shot twice, once in the head, and being in a coma for months, EC recovers completely, with only a scar on his head to show for all he's been through. In light of that, I'm even afraid to let myself believe that this time he is really and truly dead dead dead.

Rodrigo may have left home when he was quite young, but he certainly is his father's son. Carlos wanted to take on Colmillo hombre a hombre, with no weapons, and his son now wants the same. How dumb do you have to be to disarm yourself in front of an unscrupulous, obsessive maniac like EC and says "let's fight it out with our fists"? Oh well, I guess it's OK if there happens to be a handy pitchfork nearby.

Deb, I too wondered whether the guy guarding Carlos at the end was the indocumentada's boyfriend/brother. I thought your remark was all too true.

LXV, yes! I too was really hoping that Cristóbal would not arrest Rodrigo, but for all he has learned, Cristóbal apparently remains a self-righteous prig. (Did I mention that I was not pleased?)
 

BAJO


Novelera,

This recap was AWESOME! You really did a blow by blow, play by play, detailed
account. Cristobal is indeed slow to catch on to things, but at least he was able to
use the young girl as a reliable resource as to EC's location. The young guy that
Rod shot appeared to be her brother/boyfriend. What a Baptism by fire! I am hoping
that he is only wounded, and that the two of them will find a better life in America.



I am ecstatic that Rod is alive, and I am certain that EC has met his final demise.
It will certainly be interesting to see how Rod's fate is determined. Are we, the
viewers, the only people who know about all of Rod's victims?

Since he did not harm any one of my family members, and is a handsome dashing
riveting character, I am willing to forgive him and trust him to lead the good life from now on....especially for Carlos, Greicy, and Anita.

I am anxious to be rid of all the violence and go for a happy ending and move on.
I especially like Span/Prof's ending given the other day -- go with a years later version with everyone leading, happy, productive lives. It will be interesting to see what type of CEO job Rodrigo will have with his prison background. Maybe he will get into community service and help struggling immigrants. He certainly has leadership qualities.


I love the way Carlos yelled after Cristobal that Rodrigo was acting in his propia defensa.



Chat later....... Thanks again, Novelera


 

Bajo. Thanks for another wonderful recap, novelera! This was most definitely not the climax I was expecting, but it was probably all the better for that! Rather than going out in a blaze of glory protecting everyone else, Rodrigo killed (we hope) El Colmillo rather handily with a pitchfork and was arrested. He'll no doubt go through the very conventional, even banal, justice system, and unless the remaining police EC informant gets him in jail or an EC follower kills him in prison, he should get out (at least eventually) and be able to live a normal life with Greicy and Anita. He may even have so much evidence on the LA gangs to share that he'll get out fairly quickly. (Though I wonder if they'll try to get him for killing the undocumented guy). Gee, almost more like real life than a telenovela. :) And sometimes real life is a bit anticlimactic. It occurred to me that in the ancient world Rodrigo would have been a very good general. Just like Rudolfo btw to hit Jacob up for a job! Also, I loved how María and Jacob called each other socio and socia (partner) as their restaurant opening turned into a big success.
 

Span Prof: I'm hoping Rodrigo finished the job on EC this time around because last time, he shot him multiple times & EC still manage to survive that.

Meanwhile, where is Felicia ?

Juanita: I'm with you on EC!
 

FATMAGUL: Tuesday and Wednesday Episodes, 1/19-1/20

Part 1:
Justice Isn’t Fair and Injustice Isn’t Cheap:
The Yasaran spend these episode buying all the witnesses they can to testify in their favor during the June 16th hearing. The story that must be supported is that ALL the Yasaran peeps, including the three guys, were together the WHOLE night. That Kerim raped Fatmagül and came to them for help. They are successful in buying off Mustafa, the doctors who attended Fatma, the employees/servants in their Ildir home, pressuring Vural, and Meltem’s dad, Turaner is helping out by calling on his powerful contacts in the region.

Munir gives Asu a stack of cash for her testimony, reminding her that she has to look out for herself, since she can’t rely on Mustafa. She remembers Mustafa’s words when he coldly pressured her to get the abortion (which she did), basically telling her the same thing, and she accepts. She then breaks up with Mustafa and kicks him out of her apartment. She’s tired of him always reminding her about her prostitute past, yet never bothering to learn anything more about her—not even her real name. When she deposits her cash in the bank, we learn her real name is Hacer. Mustafa has one of the Yasaran henchmen following her and reporting all her movements.

Unfortunately for the Yasaran, Meltem has no intention of playing along. She secretly gave Fatma the ring and gave the real scoop to the press, who are now hounding the Yasaran, then she skips town and heads to Italy for a few weeks. When she gets back, she meets with Mustafa in his new, fancy, way above his paygrade house, and rips into him for betraying Fatma and selling himself to the Yasaran. Mustafa calls her on being too much of a coward to do what she’s demanding that he do—tell the truth to the authorities. He points out how she read the story of what happened right after her engagement party, AND was told by Fatma right before her wedding, but she still married Selim, because having the Yasaran name was so important to her. He pins her against the window and kisses her! She seems confused by this, but doesn’t seem to mind that much. He tells her she doesn’t even know herself.

The heat from the press is more than Turaner or his party can take, so he eventually resigns from the party and the race. There is nothing standing in the way of Meltem getting her divorce immediately, but she says she wants to take care of some things first…She goes to visit Selim in prison and tells him she’s divorcing him and has another man in her life. Selim loses it, and says he will kill her and get revenge on her when he’s out.

Kadir keeps running into the roadblock of all the paid off witnesses. He follows Mustafa to the bank and tells him that it was easy to lie his ass off when he made his statement, but it won’t be so easy when he’s on the witness stand looking Fatma in the eye. Mustafa’s parents also get on his case about what they know are pure lies (about the supposed secret romance between Fatma and Kerim in the village), and confront him about being bought off. He admits it, then blames THEM. They were the first ones who discouraged him from getting revenge on the Yasaran, and encouraged him to abandon Fatma. They part with angry words and his parents return to Ildir.

 

FATMAGUL: Part 2:

The Yasaran attempt to buy out Mukaddes doesn’t go very smoothly (surprisingly). Mukaddes first refuses Perihan, and spills the beans about Meltem giving them the ring. (Later, Resat lies to Meltem that Kerim was the one who ratted her out.) Then Mukaddes turns down a very insistent Munir. He follows her to the local outdoor market, where Rahmi, Murat and Ebe Nine has just set up a stall to sell Ebe Nine’s creams and remedies. The local gossip about their scandalous family has gotten around the hood, and no one is buying her products from the local stores. Suddenly, Salih, and his wife and one of his daughters, is standing before them. Ebe Nine recognizes him, and so does Murat. He alerts Rahmi that it’s the bad man who beat his mommy. Rahmi leaps across the table and starts beating Sahli, insisting very loudly that Murat is HIS son, and that he wants him to stay away from his wife. Salih’s wife quickly leaves with her daughter. Mukaddes and Munir show up as this drama is happening, and Munir immediately understands what’s going on. He gives Salih his card, and they later meet to plot how to get revenge on Mukaddes. Munir will make sure he’s well compensated. The plan starts out with Salih meeting with Mukaddes, giving her a sob story about being kicked out by his wife and father, and implying that he wants to make a go of things with her.

Kadir’s other roadblock comes from Kerim himself, when the authorities inform him about Kerim being arrested six months ago with the other three during a traffic stop and drug bust. Kerim has to shamefaced admit to the whole family and Fatma why he met with them that night. He explains how Vural gave him the life-changing info about him participating in the rape that night. She’s tired of constantly being disappointed (in him). She asks if there is anything else he’s hiding. He promises there isn’t. This is clearly a setback for the progress Fatma and Kerim make these episodes, but not a complete one…

Fatmagül Leaps Forward, Kerim Hits a Few Bumps:
Kristen: We left our couple looking more connected than ever, as they sang a beautiful tune from their region at Kristen’s dinner party. The evening wraps up and everyone says their goodbyes. Tipsy Kristen wants Kerim to accompany her to her hotel, since she’s supposedly too scared to go alone. She mentions where the hotel is, and Fatma immediately realizes it’s the same hotel Kerim took her to, when they first arrived in Istanbul. Luckily, another dinner guest is going closer to that direction and offers to take her. Krsiten is visibly disappointed.

When they get home, Kristen calls, and wants Kerim (and supposedly Fatma too) to come out dancing with her. Kerim refuses. The next day, Kristen requests that Kerim come to her hotel room to get his pay for the work she did for him. When he says BOTH he and Fatma are coming, suddenly she can just have the money transferred to his bank account. She emails Kerim pictures from the party, among them is a picture of her and Kerim in the background, with her hand on his cheek. Fatma is clearly pissed, but denies she’s jealous. Kerim makes a million excuses—Kristen’s just affectionate that way; we never dated seriously; now we’re just friends. Fatma isn’t buying it. She knows Kristen still wants him and is jealous. She tells Kerim that he can go ahead and tell her the truth about their (sham) marriage if he wants. Fatma says she doesn’t need explanations from him about Kristen. He asserts he does have to explain, because Fatma is his WIFE and he LOVES her. Fatma smiles secretly at this after he leaves.
 

FATMAGUL: Part 3:

Forgiveness and Trust: Mukaddes gets busted when the family are present when the mailman delivers a letter from Kerim’s dad in Australia to her. Kerim snatches the letter from her hands, and then rips into her, Ebe Nine, and Fatma when he realizes they read the last letter from his father and kept that info from him. Ebe Nine then lets Mukaddes have it. She cannot believe the f-ing nerve of Mukaddes reading the letter AND writing Kerim’s dad! As usual, Mukaddes doesn’t accept the blame and gets indignant about everyone picking on her. Ebe Nine accepts her blame for what happened, but is devastated by Kerim’s anger towards her.

Fatma tries to talk to Kerim. She explains that she and Ebe Nine were just trying to help, since he refused to open the letters, and it might have been some serious like his dad being ill or passing away. “You don’t have to forgive, but you should hear him out to learn the whole truth. I’ve learned that not everything is as it appears and you have to see things from another’s point of view. Forgiveness strengthens you-- even the attempt to forgive.” Kerim’s not ready to hear it, so after he reads his father’s letter to Mukaddes saying Kerim means everything to him, and that he’s on his way to Istanbul, he tells Ebe Nine:
“Call him and tell him not to come. If I meant everything to him, wouldn’t he have come when he heard about my mother’s death? If you and your mother hadn’t taken me in, what would have happened to me? I want nothing to do with him! He didn’t listen to my mother. Maybe she wouldn’t have killed herself had she had someone to share her feelings with. And now he wants to talk? For me, he died before my mother did.”

When his father calls Ebe Nine back a few days later, Kerim doesn’t even give him the chance to talk. He tells him off and tells him never to call him again. “We have nothing in common except your damned last name. I don’t want you in my life!”

When Fatma relates this story to her therapist, she points out how she has said the same thing to everyone, and yet they haven’t listened to her. She admits to the therapist that a part of her is mad at Kerim for dragging her into the middle of all this. She wants to trust him, but something always happens to impede that (like the reveal about the arrest with the Three Jerks). “Trusting someone is more important than loving them. If we’re going to build a life together, then trust is essential.”

Fatmagul’s Victories: Now that she’s been fired from the restaurant (after Meltem’s visit), Fatmagul dedicates herself night and day for getting ready for the secondary school exam in a few weeks on May 7th. But, with the silent boycott of Ebe Nine’s products, and neither Rahmi nor Mukaddes working (or contributing any of their savings), the family is completely dependent on Kerim’s salary. Kerim, Ebe Nine, and Fatmagul decide to invest the money Ebe Nine made from selling her house, into a family restaurant. Fatmagul thinks that her part of the family should contribute too (the money from the sale of their house and business), but Mukaddes refuses and tells Fatma she should invest HER money (the dirty money from the Yasaran that Kerim deposited in her name). Fatma decides to donate all of that money to a non-profit that helps downtrodden women and children whose rights have been violated.
 

FATMAGUL: Part 4

Kerim buys Fatma a pretty peasant blouse, and she wears it the next day to her exam. Kerim waits anxiously as she takes her exam; Fatma thinks she nailed it. She and Kerim go on a few dates through the city, and talk about their hopes and dreams. Fatma thinks she changed his life for the worse, and is sure he would have gone abroad and been with Kristen had she not come along. His wish is that the two of them had met another way—that their story had started differently. He speaks about how he fell for her from the moment their eyes met on the Yasaran staircase. Fatma doesn’t want to talk about that night at all. It just opens the wounds again. She doesn’t think they have a storybook romance that can be shared. He thinks they can build new memories together.

Kerim finds a location for the restaurant and takes Fatmagul to see it first. She approves. Kerim has Fatma and Ebe Nine sign the rental agreement, insisting that the restaurant is THEIRS. Fatma beams with pride. Together, the whole family works to clean, paint, and prepare the restaurant. Kerim surprises Fatma with an engraved sign with the name of the new restaurant: Gül Mutfaği (Rose’s Kitchen/The Kitchen of the Rose). Fatma/Fatima= Blessed, Gül= Rose. She loves it.

The day of the restaurant inauguration arrives. Friends pack the little patio sampling the delights Fatma and Ebe Nine have made. Kerim brings a bouquet of white flowers for Fatma, and another for Ebe Nine as a sign that he has finally forgiven her for the letter debacle. Fatma and Kerim proudly look out at their guests. A flower delivery man arrives with a bouquet of red roses for Fatmagul Ketenci (her maiden name—this doesn’t go unnoticed by Kerim). Fatma reads the card and so does Kerim. “Best wishes, Mustafa.” They both look up in shock, scanning the street ahead to see if they are being watched at that moment by the blue-eyed obsessed one.

-End of Wednesday episode.
 

Fatmagul

Vivi...hope you're weathering the storm fronts with no issues. I like your title to this recap...how appropriate to point out the disparity in justice regarding the parties at odds. Unfortunately....money can buy so many things including one's dignity...and integrity. I expected Asu and Mustafa to go for the money but shame on the doctors for their part in the cover up. And what's gotten into Mukka..she actually did the right thing...for once... and didn't go for the money. Otherwise, she's her usual annoying and nosey self as the other episodes this week reveal.

Kristen was so obvious in her jealousy of Fatma and Kerim. Did she really think he was going to inconvenience his wife in order to take Kristen back to her hotel....the nerve of her. I do like Fatma's response to it all...she held her own. And again I appreciate Ebe's input. She told Kerim to be very careful ...and not to do anything to upset Fatma. Her wisdom is so needed.

Looking forward to the rest of your insights.

Nett


 

FATMAGL:

Nett- Still have power (knock on wood), and hopefully my luck will hold out through this weekend. :)

I loved that scene when Ebe Nine told Kerim off about Kristen and hurting Fatma. I actually originally intended to include it. She looked fierce when she told him to put distance between himself and Kristen, and if he hurt Fatma, he'd have to deal with HER. Poor Kerim. LOL! He later wrote an email to Kristen that apparently was to distance them, but we weren't privy to what he said in the message.

I too thought Fatma handled the Kristen situation well, even when she realized/heard that Kerim took Kristen to (stayed with her in) that same hotel he first took her too. Loved how she pretended not to understand what Kristen was asking her when she asked for Kerim to accompany her. Kristen was being all kinds of shady this episode. Don't care what you guys had going on last year. NOW he's a married man. Back off.


 

FATMAGUL:

Typo above-- should have been Kristen wants Kerim to come pick up the payment for the work HE did for HER.

Another scene I left out, which was pretty funny, was Mukaddes getting into a slapping and hair pulling match with another mom, after both their kids are sent home for fighting. Seems the little boy taunted Murat about not having a dad (the gossip about the dust up in the market). I was sad for the two kids having to witness that, but it was still funny too.

Lots of great scenes of Selim and Erdogan having a rough time in prison, including fighting with each other, and having their clothes stolen in the baths and having to come back to the prison in their towels. LOL!
 

Fatmagul

Vivi...the Kerim/Fatma story has been in the news on more than one occasion. Even though Kristen is a foreigner...I'm surprised she's not already aware of this story...and what's going on. Even if she can't read the print...the pictures are enough to spur an inquiry one would think.

Nett
 

FATMAGUL:

Well, she only recently came back to Turkey, so she might not know. The Turkish people at the dinner party had no idea. I also don't think the papers mention Fatma by name or show her picture (as she is the victim). So people close to them know the story is about her, but it's not widely known by people they meet (yet).
 

FATMAGUL

Vivi you absolutely Rock!! I'm not watching this show, but your recaps read like a novel. Thanks!


 

Oh, and by the way, best wishes for a safe and warm weekend to all on the east coast. We're expecting the snow to start here in the NYC area sometime overnight. We're battened down with salt, sand and a lot of batteries.
 

FATMAGUL:

Thanks, LXV! I'm glad you are enjoying the recaps. This is quite a beautiful telenovela. I hope you get to watch it sometime.
 

Bajo el mismo cielo

Hi everyone! I can't even wait until the episode is completely over. I am enjoying that Colmillo is gone! He deserved his graphic demise. Felicia needs to pay for her crimes.

Rodrigo , as the views know, committed his fair share of crimes , yet the viewers became attached to him because of the character. His character had a heart- deep deep down; he was a good person. It took the character al the novela to finally leave the gang life. He wanted to but did not have the motivation or the means out. Instead of getting out, he decided to become the top dog.

I was checking face book's comments one day and some dummy put spoilers up with marking it a spoiler and I learned details about Rodrigo journey and character in the finale. That is why I love this site because Spoilers are not allowed. If i want to know what happen, i want to know prior. So I was not sure if I should continue watching the show, after I read some spoilers. As you can guess, I stayed until the end and I am not disappointed.

I cried my heart out in tonight's episode. I become so connected to the story, it's as if someone really was sent to death row. I just imagined what the character and his family were going through that I got emotional.
 

Bajo

Well, I guess I'll put up a short recap of tonight's episode if I can. I say "if I can," because the Washington DC area is in the midst of an "historic" snowstorm, and there's considerable danger of power outages. If my recap isn't up by about 11 am tomorrow (Saturday), it probably means that I'm without power.
 

BAJO EL MISMO CIELO - VIERNES - Parte 1 de 2

Well, today's recap is going to be shorter than most others I've written. I'm making it short in part because a storm is threatening power outages where I live, and in part because I found this a very painful episode, and I don't really want to dwell on the details.

The episode opens "Semanas después," but unlike the "weeks/months later" scene SpanProf envisioned a few days ago, this one is much grimmer. Adela and Carlos are living together, but Carlos hasn't been able to sleep ever since Rodrigo was arrested. This past night was especially hard, since today is the day that the verdict is due at the trial. Greicy and the baby are also staying at Carlos' house. Adela assures Greicy that she and the baby are welcome.
Greicy is very nervous. Even though Colmillo is dead, Felicia is still out there and wanting to take her baby. Greicy won't feel at ease until Felicia is behind bars.

Cristóbal is very upset that his sister has clearly gone over to the dark side. "I should have arrested her when I had the chance," he tells Isabel. Isabel tries to cheer him up. She tells him what a wonderful person he is, and how much he has done for her and for her son Alex.

Rudolfo, now cleaned up and sober, comes to Jacob's house to take Pedrito and Lupita to the movies. Left alone for a few minutes, he admires Jacob's luxurious house and sniffs some probably expensive brandy in a fancy decanter. "Behave yourself, Rudolfo," he tells himself, and closes the decanter.

We now come to the major focus of this episode, Rodrigo's trial. The trial turns out to be a judicial farce. Rodrigo is accused of intentional homicide and pleads innocence. The prosecution's first witness is Erick's father, who simply states that his son was an honorable man who struggled on behalf of the less fortunate and was murdered by Rodrigo. Does anyone ask him for proof? Evidence? Nope.

The next witness is Jacob. The prosecutor asks whether Rodrigo came to his magazine's office and threatened him. Jacob says that he wouldn't call it a threat, but the prosecutor goes on to give her version of what happened. When Rodrigo's lawyer objects, his objection is overruled. We see no cross-examination of these "witnesses," though I assume there must have been some.

The next witness is Yei, who recites a litany of crimes Rodrigo has been involved in, such as drug trafficking. He also testifies that Rodrigo gave the order to have Adela Morales' brother killed.

Cristóbal takes the stand, and he testifies that yes, he saw Rodrigo kill Colmillo, but the killing could be considered self-defense, and Colmillo was a danger to society. The prosecutor asks Cristóbal whether such evils should be handled by the state or by individuals, and Cristóbal admits that "assassination is assassination," and that Rodrigo took the law into his own hands.

Finally the defense gets to call its witnesses. Greicy speaks forcefully and lovingly about Rodrigo. She says she never saw Rodrigo kill anyone, but the prosecutor points out that she was sequestered in the house for months so she would have been in no position to see anything. Greicy tries to refute this, but the prosecutor manages to cast doubt on everything she says. Greicy ends by saying "I love him and we need him."

Adela is the next defense witness. In cross-examination, the prosecutor asks her whether Rodrigo was in love with her, his father's woman. The prosecutor also asks "Isn't it true that Rodrigo killed Colmillo for you?" Adela of course strongly denies this and says that Rodrigo killed Colmillo in order to save his father. As Adela is speaking, noise can be heard from the street. A large group of people from the barrio are demonstrating on behalf of Rodrigo and all the good he has done for them.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

BAJO EL MISMO CIELO - VIERNES - Parte 2 de 2

The defense attorney next calls Carlos to testify. Carlos says that yes, he saw Rodrigo kill Colmillo, but it was in self-defense, and that Rodrigo risked his own life to save Carlos. Rodrigo sees the error of his ways, says Carlos, and should be given a second chance.

Rodrigo is the last person to testify. He speaks lovingly of his father and speaks frankly of his own errors, his mistaken reasons for joining the gang, and the fact that if he hadn't done what Colmillo had asked, Colmillo would have killed not just him but everyone dear to him. Nonetheless, he goes on, I am responsible, and I want to pay for what I have done.

The trial then goes to the jury. Possibly the next day, the jury reaches its verdict: guilty on all counts, including the "intentional murders" of Colmillo and Erick. The judge then pronounces sentence: the death penalty. All of Rodrigo's family are shocked and devastated [as am I]. Erick's father leaves the courtroom and announces to the crowd of Rodrigo's barrio supporters, "Rodrigo Martinez deserves to die." He goes on: "You're all the same. Immigrants, gangsters." (Son todos iguales. Inmigrantes, pandilleros.)

The scene shifts briefly to Carlos' house. Santiago, Juana, and Ramona are there with Anita. Juana says that ever since she started watching Anita, she has felt that someone is watching her. They hear a noise outside. Santiago opens the door to see a soccer ball that has landed on the porch. He picks it up and tosses it to the people who presumably kicked it there. We see them leaving, and we see a woman with straight blonde hair standing behind a telephone pole. Though her appearance has changed a lot, my guess is that this is Felicia. Whether she had something to do with the soccer ball, I don't know.

Six months pass. Adela has been interviewing all the people in the barrio who have been helped by Rodrigo. Paulina, now eight months pregnant (we CarayCaray telenovela doctors are never wrong!), comes into Jacob's office while Adela is there. She tells Adela and Jacob that the baby is a boy, and she plans to name him Erick. Adela is pleased.

Luis, Susy, and Nick are together as students at the university. Luis is very down over Rodrigo's fate. Susy tries to cheer him up and reminds him that he promised her he would study, and he has to keep his promise to "Señora Martinez" (as she says this, she holds up her left hand, presumably to show the ring). So have they married? Don't they know they're supposed to wait until the final episode, or at least let us see the wedding?

The scene shifts to Carlos' house, where Greicy and Carlos are expecting the lawyer. He arrives and tells them that the news isn't what they'd hoped: all the appeals have failed, and the judge has set an execution date. He shows them the document. Apparently the execution will take place very soon, and there's nothing they can do.

Rodrigo, too, is dismayed that the execution will take place so soon. He knows lots of people who spend years in prison awaiting execution. The lawyer tells him that his case received a lot of media attention and pressure, and the judge wanted it to be over. "I did all I could," the lawyer tells him. "I clarified the facts in the case of Erick's death and I argued that Colmillo's death was to save your father, but the judge upheld his ruling, and there's no turning back" (no hay vuelta atras. And thus ends the episode. The gran final is Monday.
 

Bajo

yep, so much for the 6 month later happy scenes

but wow, I'm intrigued, this is so different, do we want to go there, but I can't look away, they even dropped the theme song and were leading into the segments with solemn scenes and music.

even Colmillo didn't get a death sentence, I object your honor.

and such a wonderful recap Juanita, I love how you make it all so real and human, and such a terrific job getting in the details.


and then there is that crazy lady (Felicia) lurking about.

 

TELEMUNDO...

"El Señor de los Cielos 4"
avance exclusivo after the gran final of "Bajo el mismo Cielo".

 

Bajo

Thanks so much for the recap, Juanita. Yep, I was bummed. What a sad, sad episode. And that trial WAS a joke, but then TN trials always are. The prosecutor was flat testifying and kept getting away with it.

I still think there will be a miracle.

And, even in Texas, you don't get executed in six months! Let alone California, where it's beyond rare.

I hope they don't go with Felicia grabbing the baby!
 

Fatmagul

Vivi, sorry we are snowed in but happy it gave you time for the recap. Wow, what a recap, I am enjoying reading it. My girl Fatma is pretty mature. Loved the way she comforted Kerim and his hurt/anger over his father's contact. Thought she gave him some cogent advice, can't wait to see what the writers do with the storyline of Kerim' father. Elated to see that the bottomless well of money the Yasarans gave out could possible dry up. Mom Yasaran's eerie laugh/cry during the meeting was scarey. These guys have shelled out so much money to buy favors and their plans continue to go haywire, love it. Who would have thought Mustafa and Meltem, hhhhum interesting. Looking forward to next weeks recap.
 

FATMAGUL:

Hey Brenda! How are you liking our snow? Still have power. Woohoo! I'll watch Thurs- Friday episodes and recap will be up later today.

Yeah, Mustafa and Meltem. I never would have thought it. They are both messed up and confused right now, and Mustafa isn't good for any woman. He's kind of nuts. Can't believe he's getting more action than anybody else.
 

FATMAGUL:

Since Turaner has resigned from politics and doesn't need to help the Yasaran anymore, he's also pulled back his endorsement of their business, and now all his investor friends are pulling out of the huge deal Resat had invested in. Yep, the Yasaran have taken a huge financial hit, thanks to Meltem and her father. Heehee! Resat looked like he was going to be sick when he heard the news during Weds episode, so I expect there's more fallout from that later in the week.
 

BAJO

I can't can't can't believe Rodrigo's going to the chair. It seems so un-telenovla-like. Right or wrong, he's a major galan. They don't do this! Do they?

Juanita, thank you for your sensitive, but thorough treatment of a tough scenario. That judgment was so wrong! I guess that judge was using him to send a message. Rod's taking the rap for worse offenders than himself. I was sure we'd be in "feel-good" territory by now.

One episode to go and Feli's still on the loose. Yikes! Happy that the younger generation is growing up so nicely, Luis, Susy & Nick. That's heartening. But what about our boda(s)?
 

BAJO

Thanks, Juanita for your generosity in preparing this recap for us.
Good luck with the storm. I certainly hope you do not lose power. I live in Florida, and it is too cold here for me right now. I even put on the heat.
We also have great winds where I live.

I am extremely disappointed in this episode. Admittedly, there have been several farfetched events that we have bought into up until now, but the quality of the novela has been excellent in general.

The trial was a farce. And of course, as in other cases - like the one policeman, Cristobal, and the one cemetery, etc. we have the one and only lawyer who started out helping with immigration law, and now he is acting as a criminal defense attorney -- which is a very specialized field, as we know. Ridiculous.

Rodrigo would have the right to have separate trials for his alleged offenses i.e,
the killing of Erick and the killing of El Colmillo. They would not lump these crimes together. The jury would not be deciding these cases together.

Without any proof of killing Erick, he would likely not receive the death penalty.
I am wondering if there would be a video camera of the shooting in the airport that could surface. The case should have been dropped.

As to the killing of Colmillo, there is proof that his father was tortured in a cage, and much evidence that Rod killed EC in self defense after rescuing his father.


As for the testimony of Yei, what is he being offered in return?

And as for the speedy execution, Rodrigo was right. This does not happen in real life.

The only solution I see now is that the community goes to bat for him, and he receives a last-minute pardon by the governor.


I am still hoping for that happy ending. There is much to finish in one hour.

Chat later, Thanks again, Juanita for a most comprehension synopsis.

He would not be accused of killing Colmillo after rescuing his father out of a cage.
 

Bajo

Right now I feel as if "bajo" refers to "bajo el nieve y el viento fuerte," but at least I still have electricidad, so I'm not complaining. OK, ya basta. Back to the novela.

Thanks very much, deb, novelera, LXV, and Floridia, for your encouraging remarks about the recap and very interesting comments. In a perverse way, I rather like the way the novela is defeating our expectations, but enough is enough. There just better be the milagro that novelera is expecting. ¡Ojala!

Floridia, I don't know what you do for a living, but unless you're a defense attorney, I think you've missed your calling!
 

Bajo. Excellent recap, Juanita! Disturbing episode. I know my sense of justice was offended. Would a telenovela, even a very serious one, allow one of the main characters to be executed unjustly? LXV has raised similar objections. Good comment about Yei, Floridia! And it took longer than that even to execute the Oklahoma bomber! Erick's father doesn't seem to care if Rodrigo is the actual murderer, as long as some undocumented Hispanic immigrant is killed to avenge Erick. In his own way he's as bad as El Colmillo and his attempted revenge for his daughter's accidental death. I too think that there would have been airport videos vindicating Rodrigo. My hope now is that when Felicia inevitably turns up again (yes, it was her behind the post or whatever)that she'll have some evidence implicating EC as the actual killer. And where is Jerry Brown (governor of California) when you need him?
 

Bajo

Gracias Juanita on a very sad episode.
Things look very bleak for Rodrigo but
I predict Felicia will be caught & will spill the frijoles that Colmillo killed Erick, (I think she knows)

I was surprised CA has the death penalty, seems to be an on & off thing & Rod is caught in the on again stage, reinstated Nov 15. I protest!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_California
 

Bajo
Nov 2015
 

Bajo
Great recap Juanita! I hope you are right novelera that there will be a miracle for Rod! Maybe Felicia will redeem herself by implicating Yei in erik's shooting;thereby, saving Rod? Eso espero!N.Lopez
 

Bajo

I thought the trial demonstrated the unjust world that Rodrigo lived in, but the true charges were on how Rodrigo choose to live his life and the misery he brought to others, and he has killed others. (and the writers got the idea across very well without bogging on the details)

(and didn't the lawyer present new evidence for Rodrigo on Erick and Colmillo in his appeals but the judge wouldn't reverse his decision)

was that a shock on his family's faces, when Rodrigo explained that he did everything Colmillo ordered, because they would have been the ones killed, he was protecting them.

I'm looking at mr. Jacob's magazine getting out an issue that will sway public opinion, but I'm not making any predictions on how this story ends.


Variopinta- hmm, interesting, I see elsewhere in wiki that "Charles Manson's death sentence was automatically commuted to life imprisonment when a 1972 decision by the Supreme Court of California temporarily eliminated the state's death penalty... now currently serving nine concurrent life sentences".

 

FATMAGUL: Thursday and Friday Episodes, 1/21-1/22

Part 1- Every Rose Has Its Thorn:

The delivery of the roses, with the note from Mustafa, explodes like a bomb. Kerim runs out to the street after the delivery man and learns the shop is located just on the next corner and the order came in by phone. Kerim’s yelling and obvious aggravation brings the whole family running, wondering what’s going on, while at the same time trying to keep the guests/customers from realizing what’s going on. The Yasaran newest henchman, Yasar (the same guy Mustafa has following Asu), slips in amongst the other customers and sits at a table on the patio where he can watch the family and Kadir have a meltdown as a result of the roses.

Inside, Kerim is having a fit, as the others try to calm him down. He sees the flowers as a threat from Mustafa and the Yasaran. Fatma doesn’t see it that way. Kerim thinks she’s just blinded by her feelings for Mustafa. Rahmi calls Mustafa and warns him to stay away from his sister and not send her any more flowers. Kerim gets on the phone and adds some more threats, which Mustafa returns. But Mustafa is clearly confused about the flowers. Fatmagul is annoyed by all this male posturing, and tells Kerim she’s not scared and he shouldn’t be either. She doesn’t want them making stupid snap decisions. She wants to face her enemies in court.

Yasar leaves, and calls Munir to tell him the flowers he sent did the trick. Fatma and Kerim are fighting. Later, Mustafa confronts Munir about doing things behind his back. Munir counters by telling him to stop doing stupid things like living like he’s a millionaire, and making it obvious he’s been bought off. Mustafa later corners Yasar and tricks him into admitting the flowers trick, and telling him about Fatma’s new restaurant.
 

FATMAGUL:

Part 2- Divorce and Bankruptcy:
Now that the Alagoz Family (Meltem’s family) don’t need to worry about the elections, they decide to strike the final blow at the Yasaran. Turaner meets with his friend, the head of the bank who provided Resat with the capital for his new wind energy venture. He wants the bank to demand their money back, now that all the guarantors (Turaner’s friends) have backed out of the deal. He wants to destroy the Yasaran!

But first, he wants his daughter to cut all ties with them. He, Ender and Meltem speed up the divorce proceedings/agreements. They will sign a confidentiality agreement (Meltem can’t testify at the trial or speak to the press), sell back her Yasaran Holdings shares for the fair market price, and cut their ties with the Yasaran forever. Meltem is nice enough to tell a weeping Perihan that having her as a mother-in-law was the best thing to come out of all this. She and Ender understand that she’s just doing what any mother would do and fighting for her son, but Fatmagul had a mother and has a family too. They can’t be accomplices to the Yasaran as they try to destroy her any more.

After the divorce papers are signed, and the Alagoz leave for the U.S., the Yasaran meet with the bank owner, who demands back the 26 Million Euros they loaned them! Perihan has a mini mental breakdown. Resat looks like he’s about to have a heart attack. He loudly blames the boys for this disgrace and declares that they ruined, bankrupt!
 

FATMAGUL:

Part 3- Mukaddes Gets Found Out (AGAIN!) and Goes AWOL:
While the family closes up shop after the first dinner at the restaurant, Mukaddes takes Murat home. They find a group of curious children surrounding the house, and broken glass everywhere. The kids explain that some crazy lady smashed up all their windows with rocks, and was screaming about Mukaddes stealing her husband. Mukaddes, however, doesn’t tell the family this, and they all assume the Yasaran and/or Mustafa did this. They call the police and report the incident and who they believe is behind it. Fatma tells Kerim she is certain Mustafa didn’t do this. He is once again eaten up with jealousy, and believes her lingering feelings for Mustafa are blinding her to how dangerous and obsessed he is. When Ebe Nine comes back with the real scoop from the neighbors about who broke the windows, Fatma is vindicated and Kerim has to eat crow. Ebe Nine confronts Mukaddes about allowing them to make a false report to the police, but she just acts defensive and offensive and deflects the blame from herself, as usual.

The next day, Rahmi overhears Mukaddes on the phone with Sahli, telling him about his wife’s craziness, and urging that no one can find out they are seeing each other. Rahmi loses it. He tells her off, throws her phone into the river, locks her out of the house, throws her stuff out the window, and demands that she leaves! Mukaddes wounds him by telling him she never loved him, hated having to take care of his stupid self and wasting her youth, and that she pined for the man she really loved their entire marriage. She goes straight to Salih, who has been given instructions (and more than enough compensation) from Munir to keep her away and occupied until the hearing—she’s a key witness for the prosecution. Salih takes her away to the beach, but she spends most of the time fretting about being away from Murat, whom she misses (she’s human after all!). Her emotional distress turns in stomach issues, and suddenly she realizes she not throwing up because she’s sick, but because she’s PREGNANT…and Rahmi is the father!
 

FATMAGUL:

Part 4- Love In Bloom:
Ebe Nine, Kadir, Rahmi and Murat head to Izmir so that Ebe Nine and Rahmi can make their official statements to the DA. Mukaddes’ absence is problematic. And no one has a clue who this new defense witness, Hacer Ovacik (Asu) is. As they leave the DA offices, they are confronted by Vural’s parents, who are distraught that Vural has been sent to the prison there to join Selim and Erdogan, after trying to escape from the hospital. Too bad, so sad. A newly riled up Rahmi, and Ebe Nine, tell them off and head to their hotel.

While Rahmi and Murat rest, Ebe Nine and Kadir go out for a walk and dinner. The sparks are obvious. She kicks herself when she orders alcohol with her dinner, remembering he is an alcoholic. He tries to make her feel better and buys her a beautiful, long-stemmed red rose. He speaks openly about his alcoholism, how he tried to shut himself off from his emotions and other people, because he felt things too deeply. He used to write poetry. He separated from his wife and hit bottom, and then his wife got cancer. He came back to care for her, and in the process of trying to cure her, his illness (alcoholism) was cured. He feels guilty because of this, which is why he fell off the wagon when they first met. Ebe Nine urges him to forgive himself. “Only the brave can forgive themselves.” She tells him everything happens for a reason, including them meeting and coming into each other’s lives. He believes the same. “I feel close to you all. Fatmagul is like my daughter. I believe we’ll win this case.” Ebe Nine agrees. That night and the next morning, Ebe Nine can’t help but stare at her rose, and blush, and fiddle with her hair. She’s a goner, for sure.

 

FATMAGUL:

Part 5- The Green-Eyed (Really, the Blue-Eyed) Monster Strikes Again:
Kerim and Fatmagul are in Istanbul alone, which gives them plenty of time to argue about Mustafa after the incident with the roses. Kerim can’t even stand to hear her say his name. She points out that she has to hear him talk about and TO Kristen all the time. His brain stops working as soon as he realizes she’s jealous, and he starts grinning from ear to ear like a fool. Fatma is exasperated.

He helps her out in the restaurant, before heading off to work. Little do either of them know that they are being watched. As soon as Kerim drives off, Mustafa appears in the restaurant doorway. “Congratulations, Fatmagul. The Rose of the Kitchen…that rose was supposed to only be mine.” Fatmagul tells him to get out and threatens to call Kerim. “Call Kerim…so that I can kill him once and for all.”

Fatma is at her wit’s end. She obviously doesn’t want to call Kerim (or the cops), because she doesn’t want another round of mortal combat between Mustafa and Kerim. Then she has customers to attend. Mustafa inserts himself into her conversation with her customers, telling them he’s an old friend from their village, and making subtle threats about wanting to see Kerim. Fatma miraculously manages to keep her cool, and serve her customers and Mustafa. She grits her teeth and hands him his food and his check. She somehow manages not to smash the plate over his head, or throw the yogurt drink in his face, when he attempts to grab her hand and has the f-ing gall to accuse her of starting an affair with Kerim when they were still novios.

Finally, a call from Munir to get back to Yasaran Holdings since things are falling apart because of the bankruptcy, makes Mustafa leaves. He pays his bill, keeps the receipt, and promises/threatens Fatmagul that he’ll always be close by and will never leave her alone.

That evening, when Kerim comes to pick her up, she’s as jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof. She’s so nervous that she accidently cuts herself, refuses to let Kerim sit at the same table where Mustafa sat, and can’t take her eyes off the door. She’s hesitant to head home, so Kerim takes her to the movies instead. While there, she remembers the last time she went to the movies, with Rahmi, pregnant Mukaddes, and Mustafa. Mukaddes went into labor in the middle of the movie. Fatma gets teary, and tells Kerim the story, and he realizes that Mustafa was with her at the time. During the movie, they try hard not to touch, but Kerim gets to eventually enjoy the feel of Fatma’s head on his shoulder when she falls asleep halfway through the movie.

Fatma’s suspicious, jumpy behavior continues when they get home, and is made worse by the fact that she finds Mustafa’s receipt under the door with a note written on the back: “Everything was delicious. We’ll see each other soon.” Fatma checks the whole house and keeps checking the backyard and Kerim’s cabin from the window. She even suggests that he stay in the house with her, in Ebe Nine’s room. Kerim notices and asks her what’s up with her, but she denies anything is wrong.


 

FATMAGUL:

Part 5.2:
That night, Fatma has a nightmare where Mustafa enters the house, wakes her, and is confronted by Kerim who shoots him. She screams, but when she looks down, it’s Kerim on the ground dying, and Mustafa standing over him holding the gun. She begs Kerim not to die, and wakes up crying. She gets up and checks the house and yard again, waking Kerim, then she makes a mysterious phone call that neither we nor Kerim gets to hear. She claims she was calling Rahmi (in the middle of the night) when Kerim asks. The next morning, Kerim sees her wrapping up a call she made outside, while he was in the bathroom. Again, she’s squirrelly and claims she was speaking to Rahmi. Kerim learns from Ebe Nine when he calls her that Rahmi isn’t even awake yet. Kerim’s suspicions only grow when he realizes Fatma is doing her best to get rid of him and keeps looking at her watch. He drops her off at the restaurant, watches her go inside, parks around the corner, comes back on foot, and watches. He breathes a sigh of relief when Fatma stays put, but as soon as he turns to go, Fatma leaves, locks up, and heads quickly down the street. Kerim follows her a few paces back, as curious as we are about where Fatma is going, and who she’s going to meet.

-End of episode. End of week.
 

Bajo
I don't think Charles Manson killed anyone, just incited his groupies to do it, a most evil maniac. Just don't understand state approved murder. And to execute Rod so quickly is indeed fiction, usually takes 20-30 years, costing the state a lot of money in appeals. Life is cheaper & also gives a chance of discovering mistakes or corruption, which has happened many times.
Rod had a very quickie appeal.
 

Bajo

After further reflection, I'm almost certain they won't execute Rodrigo. Other gang related murders weren't even brought up. And I agree that it's insane they'd lump two murders and drug and gun running charges into one trial.

I have the sense that Rodrigo will do some time, but something will absolve him of killing EC and Erick. I just don't think TV would show a person executed for a first-degree murder (which killing Erick absolutely was) that they didn't commit. Something will happen on the conviction for Erick's murder.

I suppose you could make the case that they skipped over the reading of the charges at the beginning of the trial and may have called killing EC manslaughter instead of first-degree murder. Wouldn't Cristobal, who came on the scene immediately after EC was pitchforked, have testified to whatever weapon was probably still either in his dead hand or very nearby? Bah.

I don't know why the writers had to do this to us. And, yes, I was also cursing the writers because the last thing you want is to cry a lot when you already have a cold!
 

Bajo. I don't like the thought of even a criminal being punished for a crime he didn't commit! And Erick's murder was probably the only killing that would have resulted in a death penalty rather than life in prison.
 

Bajo
Rod should have a humanitarian award for killing Colmillo, in self defense no less
 

Bajo

Novelera, I hope you're right that Rodrigo won't be executed. However, if I recall correctly, when the jury foreman read the jury's verdict for each of the crimes, he called both the death of Colmillo and the death of Erick "intentional homicide." I don't swear by my memory (indeed, I more often swear AT it), but that is what I recall.
 

BAJO
"I don't swear by my memory (indeed, I more often swear AT it), but that is what I recall." LOL Juanita! y a mi tambien

The whole Rodrigo/death sentence thing is so-o-o-o-o o improbable at so many levels that I also don't think he'll actually be executed. Not only is there no legal precedent for such, despite the telescoping of telenovela events (The Only Prosecutor in LA; The Only Doctor,,,, The Only Whatever...) but also the fact, as many have pointed out, that it defies the expectations of our experience. Nobody gets executed that fast in a democratic society, no matter what message the judge wanted to send. And, the immutable rule of Telenovelas: that the galán doesn't die except in a heroic way. And since he dodged all the bullets in Thursday's episode, and has undergone a conversion to the side of right-thinking, family values etc., ad nauseum, he should be given a reprieve (most likely at the very last minute—NOT A SPOILER, just a speculation). Maybe, he'll end up with life and Gracie will go back to being a prison nurse where she can boink him in the library. Who knows, but I do feel a bit at 6s & 7s over how the writers have put us on the brink at this late date. They'd better resolve this credibly on Monday, or I'll really feel let down.
 

Bajo

LXV, I burst out laughing at your marvellous suggestion: "Gracie will go back to being a prison nurse where she can boink him in the library." Priceless! I guess that's one way to give Anita a sibling or two.
 

Fatmagul

Vivi, the snow is beautiful, but driving me loca. My street is impassable, no snow plow yet. However, was elated to see/read your fab recap. Your comment about the rose and the bomb was too funny.You kept me laughing with your humorous apt descriptions of events in the episodes.It appears that Fatma/Kerim are both jealous of one another. He really loves her and she is beginning to realize that and the fact that she has feelings for him. Can't wait to see them actually embrace. Ene Nine & Kadir are a good pairing by the writers. Ebe is so wise, caring, smart and supportive of Kerim, Fatma, Rami and Murat that she deserves something good. Mukaddes preggers, Mustafa stalking Fatma, the Yasarans broke; what next??? Must watch!
 

FATMAGUL:

Morning, Brenda! No snow plow on my street yet either. These are times when I'm glad I live in a condo, and the only shoveling I have to worry about is getting my car dug out of its parking spot. Will we be able to go to work tomorrow? Looking doubtful.

Yes, both Kerim and Fatma are jealous of the other. But the fact that Mustafa is a murderous, traitorous, stalker, adds to Kerim's mania about him. I get it. But I understand Fatma's frustration with all this macho posturing, yelling, anger, and threats and counter-threats. Plus, there is the very real possibility that these two could kill each other, so cooler heads need to prevail here. Kerim is a total hothead when it comes to Mustafa.
 

[Bleep Bleep Bleep]

The above is snow in my language. :-) I just came in from shoveling. When my husband and I went out this morning to shovel, it was hard to tell that we'd done so twice yesterday. And even though I could now get my car out of the driveway, it couldn't go past there. Plow? What's a plow??

Juanita in MD
 

SNOW:

Juanita- LOL! I hope you have some warm beverages ready (alcoholic or not) to fortify you for all that shoveling. Suerte, amiga.
 

Fatmagul.

Does anyone know what the scene with the beads, a prisoner and Erdogan was about. The primos are having a tough time in prison and it appears that the bead scene was significant. I also noticed other prisoners fingering beads in the prison yard when the boys were walking along. Maybe they barter with them but in that scene Erdogan clearly lost out. They also lost out on precious bathing time. The other prisoners know what they are accused of and are giving them a hard time, deserevedly so.

Nett
 

FATMAGUL:

Nett- The beads are prayer beads. Erdogan was just losing it in general with all the little sounds and ticks of the people around him-- from the prayer beads clacking, to Salim's shaking leg. He has cabin fever.

They are actually in a cell with other rapists now, so these prisoners aren't judging them for their crime like their first group of cellmates were. They're just annoyed with their privileged, weak richboy attitude.
 

FATMAGUL:

Nett- Here's a reference about the difference between Islamic prayer beads and the Catholic rosary beads:
http://classroom.synonym.com/difference-between-rosary-islamic-prayer-beads-5660.html
 

Fatmagul..

Vivi...thx much for the clarification on the beads. Because the other prisoner broke them and let them fall to the floor, I started thinking it couldnt be a religion symbol.

Nett
 

General. My sympathies, Juanita. I live in Northern Illinois but have lived in Virginia. We may get bad winter weather here routinely compared to the central Atlantic states, but we do have the advantage of lots of plows and lots of road salt. Stay warm!
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

BAJO

Does anyone else think that the judge might be on the take or that is family was threatened by La Colonia if Rodrigo didn't get the death penalty? I'm thinking either Erick's father bought off the judge for a quick execution or Yei had members of La Colonia threaten the judge that he and his family would suffer if Rodrigo didn't get the death penalty. That's the only thing I can think of as to why the judge would execute Rodrigo so soon.

Oh and I want something bad to happen to Yei in prison and a final shot of Alan in prison being passed around like a pack of smokes would be a good ending too.

 

Bajo. I don't think our justice system is quite that corrupt. More likely the judge and the jury were trying to "send a massage" to the LA latino gangs. Also it's quite possible that many Hispanic immigrants perceive our court system as inherently unjust and prejudiced against them--an attitude that is not without a grain of truth.
 

BAJO

Hey britishcomedyfan, I like your ideas about the judge & the payoff. You could be spot on, but with only one hour to go, that seems like a bit too much denouement for them to fit in. I hope I'm wrong, because I don't want to see Rodrigo going out like that. A noble death, perhaps, but not this. Unless this novela breaks the mold, we've still got to have at least half an hour's worth of happy family reconciliation and one or possibly 2 (or 3?) weddings. That plus the Yei and Alan in prison scenes (which I wouldd also love to see) makes for one busy último capítulo
 

Fatma: Thanks Vivi for your recaps. Kerim loses every time Mustafa is mentioned, lol. Kadir and Ebe are cute. In Turkey, the first season had 39 episodes of about an hour and half each so this week episodes are the end of that season. The show had 80 episodes total. I adored the first season much more than the second but it is still a wonderful show. Lots of complications but I am happy the Yasarans are getting some payback.
 

FATMAGUL:

Romy- I did read that it was two seasons (over two years) with a total of about 80 episodes. I saw that the numbering for the episodes this week in the opening credits was in the high 30s, so I figured we were winding down the first season. I suppose that means we'll get some kind of season-ending cliffhanger this week.
 

FATMAGUL:

I just want to say thanks to all of you guys, vivi and J desde NYC for your recaps and others for comments and keep this fatmagul train going. Even though I watch this show dubbed in English i cant help but come here every week to see just what you guys thought of the episodes. Such a gerat novela.

Shelloh from Tanzania.
 

FATMAGUL:

Hey, Shelloh! So you guys get this dubbed into English in Tanzania? Cool! I would love to find the English dubbed version to share it with my sister who doesn't speak Spanish. I know she would love it. What's the title of the tn in Tanzania?
 

FATMAGUL:

Vivi! It's titled just "FATMAGUL" I almost didnt watch it because I was not a fan of Turkish drama. The last two (Secrets and another i forgot the title) I watched didnt impress me but I'm so glad I decided to watch this. And fatmagul has become so popular that fans demanded it to be put on prime time. So now we watch it at prime time.
 

FATMAGUL

Hey Shelloh, it's great to hear from you. That is so interesting that they dubbed Fatmagul in English in Tanzania but not in the states. It is a great series and I wished it was in prime time here in the US, in English or Spanish.

By the way, I won't have a Monday recap today.
 

FATMAGUL:

Shelloh- Good for you guys for getting it to primetime. I hadn't originally planned on watching it either, especially at 2 hours a day! But the actors captured me, especially the leads, and not only was I pulled in to watch, but to also share through recaps. Couldn't find anything in English online, so bummer for my sister.

JdesdeNYC- Hope you're ok and were able to come through the snow storm without problems. No worries if you can't do a recap today.
 

Fatma: Vivi, I had all the episodes saved with English subtitles but my old laptop crashed and I lost them. Now that it's airing all the episodes with English on the web vanished. I am sure they will show up again once this airing ends. Yes, there will be a doozy of a cliffhanger. Hang on to your hat. Welcome Shelloh.
Romy
 

FATMAGUL:

Romy- Ay! That just makes me worried that the trial is not going to go Fatma's way. We're only halfway through the series, after all, so it wouldn't be a shock. OK. I'll wait patiently and watch it all unfold. Thanks for the tip about the disappearing (and hopefully, reappearing) English subtitle videos. Hopefully they will be re-posted.
 

Fatma: Yes, sit back and go for the ride. As a veteran soap watcher you know it is way too soon for any real progress. I did a quick search for subbed episodes and yep they are gone.
 

The message Kerim sent Kristin was " I love my wife and dont want to upset her. "

I am late to the Fatmagul party . I appreciate these excellent recaps since i am watching them in the original Turkish. Thanks so much to all the talented recappers.