Caray, Caray!

Sorry in advance for the typos. Did not get a chance to double check.

Wow that last scene was harsh. I felt so sorry for Chuchette who i know it took a lot of courage to show someone her work. Alicia did not need to be that cruel.

These last few episodes led me to think about the path to the top: Does one always have to turn into a ruthless, calculating, non-empathetic human being to achieve the highest accolades. Sandra ended up that way, Augusto was probably always this way and now Alicia. Can you really stay idealistic, friendly, and happy or does something about this road to success changes innately who you are in order to achieve??
 

Thank you so much CeCe

"super duper secret drawer"

"Roberto skipped work"

"Roberto provides empty promises"

Alicia gave Braulio a veiled threat to not lose focus on his job at Iconika. I think it should have been more direct. Braulio left her hanging just the day before. He's taking advantage of the fact his roommate and friend is the GM.

I don't feel bad for Nestor or Chuchette. Both should be gone and cannot understand why Alicia hasn't fired them. Alicia doesn't owe a powder puff review to Chuchette or even a review and nasty Nestor should take responsibility for his children. If this is to be hardass Alicia she's not there yet.

However, if she takes Braulio's idea from his script or uses ideas from Chuchette's book for her own gain it still does not make her a hardass but it does make her Roberto.

In my own experience I had to develop a thick skin, sharp elbows and short memory. I also found myself in brief alliances with those I detested. However, twice when I found myself keeping score with intent to settle those scores I left the firms refusing to become embittered.

 

CeCe, this was fabulous.

"omniscient Augusto" was my favorite from your well written, thoughtful recap.

I find my head is spinning, bobbing back and forth as though I am at a tennis match. When I read "Roberto meets with Mateo and they finally reconcile. He tries to dispel the poison Sheila filled Mateo's head with", my heart goes out and I yearn for father and child to be together and happy. But "Yet, Roberto provides empty promises that this will work out differently this time" lessens that resolve and I fear the child grasps reality far better than his father.

Sorry, but I was delighted Alicia put Nestor firmly in his place. I hope his wife gets every penny and that he has to eke out a frugal, menial existence. (Whoa, am I sounding like Alicia??)

"The camera ends on Chuchette's heartbroken face". For a moment, and just that one moment, I weakened and felt a tad bit sorry. And then it passed quickly. She has been utterly vile to Alicia and payback is a beyotch.

CeCe, you posed a very interesting question. I am going to answer from a woman's perspective. I am 61 and when I started working, it wasn't unheard of to be expected to fetch coffee for your boss, make his (yes, usually almost a man) apppointments, etc. I have seen great change over 40 years of working but not enough to make me comfortable. At this point in time, it should be commonplace, not few and far between that women be CEOs, CFOs and captains of industry.

Many of those in power do "rule" by tyranny and fear and play down and dirty. They deal with others as commodities, not as humans. The best people I've ever worked for may not have been the brightest or best equipped to do the job, but they were warm and supportive. We all have hearts, it's just that some of us don't really understand how they work.

tofie, I am sorry you experienced what you did but glad you chose to leave. Dignity is never for sale.

Diana
 

Thanks, CeCe, the recap was great.

Tofie, great comments:

I agree with you in that I did not feel bad for Néstor or Chuchette either. Too too late for apologies. It is time that they be treated in a way they can understand. They are still being treated better than they have treated Alicia all this time. She should have been like this with them far earlier to make life better for herself. She really should have found a reason to fire them. I especially liked when she told Néstor he was the typical Mexican machista: he knows how to have the kids but does not take care of them.

Also, I agree on Braulio. He did leave her hanging. What? He just didn't feel like answering her calls? Did I miss something?She just should have cancelled the meeting with the director.

I also agree that if Alicia does use Braulio's work or Cuchette's, she will be Roberto (I thought of Seinfeld for a second!--I'm George!) and then them ending up together as two morally challenged characters won't be so bad.

Also, it is about time Alicia use her "you asked for it, so I am giving it to you" attitude with Magos. Alicia wanted to discuss Ximena's new school with her and Elsa but Magos was too busy watching her novela like she was about ten years old and not a grown woman.

As for Nacho, missing two mortgage payments? Doesn't want to take money from Elsa? Hasn't told anyone he lost the money? Now he wants to meet with Roberto? Roberto?

Roberto wants to run with Mateo again? Really? To the beach again? Mateo is the smart one here being sort of reticent since the first time they tried it it was a massive failure. Roberto never learns.

All I can do is borrow Elsa's ¡santa chicharra!

Should be a good one tonight and a fun one!
 

CeCe that was awesome!

How are the Good Guys handling the Villains so far ?
 

Thanks, Cece. Terrific recap. Fun reading.

Nope, I have no sympathy for Chuchette or Nestor. After all the dirty, cruel things they've done to Alicia strictly for amusement, each had some nerve being offended. Alicia was a straight shooter with both of them, not a bully like they've been. And Chuchette, sitting there looking hurt. About time the tables turned. But I do admit, in Alicia's position (if she's not going to fire Chuchette but keep using her for PR), she should've given Chuchette some advice on how to improve her book and not simply trash it.

I don't want Alicia to become hardened inside and uncaring about others. That's not who she is at heart. Hopefully she learns how to command respect without being mean.

So Bea has a brother and he has Iconika USA shares. He can't turn up fast enough to do battle against Augusto.

Love the Roberto-Mateo scenes. Poor Mateo, remembering Roberto get carted off by the police.

Luciana cracked me up telling Val she “inherited” her mom's adultery gene. How’s that for taking personal responsibility?

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought Braulio didn't come to the meeting because he hadn't been alerted about it.
 

Thanks so much, Cece! I couldn't pay attention to the details of this episode, because I was writing at the same time.

Like others, I did not feel bad for Chuchette and Nestor. But, as Niecie says, if she is going to keep them on as employees, then this is not the best management style. Sure, it may get back at the employees you dislike, but it sets a bad example for all the other employees and creates a toxic environment.

Braulio did not know about the meeting with the movie guy. It was a surprise Alicia had set up for him.
 

Great recap Cece!!

It sounded like Augie told Rob that he has been laundering money through API for his "clients" for years.

I did feel bad for Chuchette and then remembered her humiliation of Alicia. So to me this is Chuchette's anvil and Nestor's wife coming after him is his. Can't say both don't deserve it.

But what I don't like is that Alicia is taking her unhappiness out on everyone. It does look like she is planning to steal from Braulio. In her fourth wall speech she talked about the hell she was going to bring to Iconika. Looks like she is on the warpath. But will she lose her friends and support staff, i.e. Elias and Fatima?

I wonder if Gumaro took the pill box? I thought when he found it he put it back. It is the only thing linking Augie to Rafa's death.

Actually, I understand Rob wanting to take Mateo and run this time. Mateo is in real danger from Augie.

Steve, good guys are losing at the moment.
 

Thanks, Vivi, you always are so good with remembering all of the details. Guess I am also annoyed that Braulio never responded to her numerous texts and calls.
 

ITA with everyone. I do not fill one bit of pity for Nestor. Its appalling that he does not want to help financially with the upbringing of his kids.

I think I feel bad for Chuchette because it seems that she is trying to believe in herself more (seeds planted by Rafael) and the way Alicia just crushed her dreams was harsh. If she said..."this is not good you have a long way to go instead of do the world a favor and throw this garbage away" would have been better.

Thanks tofie and diana for sharing your experiences. I am still a grad student and I am already noticing the jadedness of my peers and how much they have changed from when they first entered. And those who are further along in the process tell me it only gets worse.
 

CeCe, I fear the one thing that has gotten much worse over the years is pressure to succeed.

I do not have children but have watched my friends spend endless hours helping their kids with their homework and know the ever increasing pressure to get into a good school is alarmingly real.

The pressure continues unabated I fear. I see tense expressions and unhappy demeanors in many of my young colleagues and it saddens me.

Diana
 

Diana, well put about kids being under pressure way too early. The problem is kids don't have the chance to be kids anymore or to experiment or even (oh, no - meant sarcastically ) fail. Too mich is at risk.

CeCe, I learned all about workplace/department politics in grad school at a large university. Not a pretty picture, but the lessons I learned have served me well.
 

CeCe---Thank you much. If you did miss some it must have been very little because everything seemed smooth to me.

I don't feel sorry for Chuchette or for Nestor either. Both of them were just way too cruel in the past. Two wrongs do not make a right but it has also been said that what goes around, comes around. It's payback time for those two. Yet, forgiveness is a good thing. Let's wait a while and see if a new leaf especially on Chuchette's part has been turned. I don't think that there is any hope for Nestor.

Yes Nestor needs to pay up. It's only right.

What??? Roberto wants to grab Mateo and run again? He didn't learn from last time?
Are Roberto and Magos related? They both seem to be missing some vital brain parts.

So Bea has a brother. Maybe it will be that brother that helps to bring down Augusto. Bea's brother, Gumaro, Roberto, or the bodyguard Draco turning on him. I don't care who or what combination that it may be, I just want Augusto's anvil punto.

must see tv
the gringo
 

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