Caray, Caray!

Vivi, I loved the recap. You are an excellent writer! I missed it tonight and who knows when Uni will have it posted OnDemand. Thank you.

So glad that the good doctor is getting Violeta into the hotel and that Isabel's engagement to Diego is off. Poor Mercedes would have to have a sister like Eugenia, wouldn't she?
 

Wonderful way to start the day Vivi. Masterful recap!

"Teresa is downright discombobulated"

That was a perfectly played scene. The outright confusion on the face of Teresa on how to handle a grateful hug said so much about this woman. And about her children. Each is an emotional, if not overly emotional at times, individual with a mother who can't handle a simple hug. She must have been a hoot to be married to.

Isa absolutely glowed as the steps played to be free of Diego.
And yeah--Isa was not only free, she got rid of the braid to go kiss her dude. And boy, did she go in for the kill. You go girl!

But right now we're being set up for a tragic love story since it's implied there can actually be no future with her and Julio...which only makes us confirm again that Diego is the wrong murderer. And something will need to happen while he's in jail to throw Ayala off him. I don't think he's pure as the driven snow, but still think it is too neat to have him kill the other women. He may have even other secrets (illegal trade etc.) that he's more concerned to not come out.

The future of Violeta fascinates. Working under Sophia and then going on a "trip", she may come back a more confidant young woman. Did double-take Andres lighting up when he saw her, as I thought she was being meant to be Jacinto's fascination. One worry for me, she has long dark hair and does bear a resemblance to Cristina.

One quibble last night, not sure I see the point of Eugenia in the scheme of things except to be a pain in the rear end for Mercedes. Everything seems to connect somehow in this tale, and I'm struggling to find why we got her now...or is a diversion tale that gives us a break from the overall mystery?

Great cinematic work last night. Framing Diego in that jail cell was well done, as was the lighting. Gave the right air of darkness and devious plans to those two as they parried back and forth.

Daisynjay
 

Thanks, Jarifa and Daisynjay!

Isabel was glowing last night, each time she got one step closer to being officially free of Diego. But I also feel that it's too soon for Diego to be taken out of the picture. He didn't seem too worried about the accusations against him, just ticked off that he was imprisoned, so I'm guessing he'll somehow prove he wasn't involved in Cristina's disappearance. The writers had Andres ask the question for a reason.

Daisynjay- Don't know if Andres' smile was more lit up than usual, but Violeta certainly lit up when he smiled at her. Who wouldn't? Natalia and Belen certainly won't be happy if Andres starts paying her special attention. We know how he feels about fatherless babies and damsels in distress. He might not be able to resist.

The jail scene- the dialogue, acting, and cinematography- was brilliant. And so very true about the irony of cold Teresa having such emotional and high strung children. I laughed at how thrown off she was by Isa's hugs and kisses. Notice too how often Sofia hugs Doc Vic. She would never dare do that with Teresa.
 

Vivi, your work is so good and appreciate the dialog of my favorite scene between Teresa and Diego at the jail. Incredible and thanks

Not the romantic type but as Isabel sprang through the metal gate with Julio following trying to keep up, it felt funny in my chest.

So the good doc is safely inserted into the family. With Teresa, Sofia and Isabel grateful for his help. Something ain't right.

Oh, Eugenia is played by the same actress, Sofia Castro, that played Dafne in Por Siempre Mi Amour.
 

Tofie- Glad you appreciate the jail dialogue. Best scene of the night.

Yes, the doc has worked his way in with all three Alarcon women. He definitely has ulterior motives. Question is, are they good or bad?

Yes, Sofia Castro, aka daughter/stepdaughter of the current first lady and president of Mexico.
 

Great job as usual Vivi, thank you. It is too early for Diego to be the actual killer. One way that will prove he's not is to have another prostitute show up dead while he's in jail.
 

Thanks, Cathyx! I think we need to separate a few assumptions. We can't assume that whoever is responsible for Cristina's disappearance (we don't know if she was murdered), is the same as the person who's been killing young women in the area (and we can't assume they were all prostitutes). It will be interesting to see if and how the writers connect them.
 

I was assuming that if they are accusing him of murder, they must be lumping all of them together. They have no proof that Cristina was murdered yet.
 

Tks mucho, Vivi

Slept through most of this.
What is it that Julio could testify to? His sister is missing,what else?
 

The police haven't said anything to Diego about the other girls yet, and the testimony both Julio and Isa are making is all about Cris-- the blackmail note from Pascual about keeping quiet about Cris; Diego shooting Pascual; Diego's admission of being Cris' lover; his admission to giving Cris the cameo; his disappearance the night of the lights party, just when Cris disappeared; the made up theft he told the rest of the staff for why Cris left. And they don't even know that HE was the one who put Cris' uniform into the stove to burn. If they knew that, it would really be damning that he had harmed her in some way, if not murdered her. None of these things is proof of murder, but very suspicious. If he was some poor peon, he would surely be locked away and have the book thrown at him. But if Teresa does get him a hot shot lawyer, I'm sure he'll be able to at least get Diego out on bail, while the police are forced to look for more proof.
 

Thank you, Vivi. I dozed in and out of this episode last night (couldn't make it through the commercial breaks) and missed a lot.

An additional assumption we need to question is whether there was anything at all between Cristina and Diego. Maybe Diego had a thing for her. Or maybe the other cameo was meant for someone else - heh, for all we know, maybe he's got a 12-pack of them in his room. (He really should have given one to Belen, LOL.)

Teresa's incompetent hugging has been a sort of running joke throughout this TN. She's flailed helplessly in the arms of all three children now. Apparently she hasn't hugged enough during her lifetime to really get the hang of it yet.

Not having seen all of the episode nor having actually read the recap yet, I probably shouldn't have much of an opinion of Eugenia - but from what little I saw, I disliked her instantly. (I saw her peeping at the shower, and caught her little crack about Felipe being drawn to a motherly figure.)

And I did catch that very last scene. It seems way too early in the story for them to be happy. I can only assume that she'll bump her head tonight and get amnesia for the next six weeks at least.
 

Variopinta- Glad the recap could help where sleep took over. :) I wrote my last comment before seeing your comment. Julio as the family member is the one to bring the charges of foul play in the disappearance of his sister without a trace. He was able to quickly prove that it was a lie that Cris was dismissed for the theft of a guest's jewels (by speaking with the guest). He saw Diego shoot down, in cold blood and with no warning, a man who was blackmailing him about "what he did to Cristina" and was about to tell Julio what he knew about his sister.
 

Oh, in "she'll bump her head" she/her=Isabel. I didn't mean Eugenia. It's fine with me if Eugenia wants to bump her head and wander off.
 

Julie- Come back when you've read the recap. You'll see we're totally in agreement on a lot.

I too think it's too soon for Isabel and Julio to be happy, but don't think the writers will resort to something as stupid as amnesia. These two of plenty of real-life problems working against them to separate them.
 

You know I'll be back after I read the recap!

For what it's worth, I thought I did see Andres light up at the sight of Violeta. I thought it was a look of recognition, like maybe he remembered seeing her in the village when she was a little girl and now here she is all grown up. But the impressions that I get between zzzz's are not necessarily reliable. ;-)
 

OMG! Carlos Rivera (Andres) was the lead singer of a mariachi band that serenaded the Pope just before he left Mexico. The audio is lousy from the CNN video, but check out around minute 3 as Carlos and the others take pictures with the Pope. So cute. My goodness, doesn't Andres/Carlos look good in those charro pants!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMXTKVnLQPY
 

Oh, I forgot Andres would have recognized Violeta from last week. (That's the episode that I missed. Apparently I have trouble with Wednesdays.) So of course there was recognition in his face. Maybe in addition he was just glad to see that she didn't die after being dragged out of the hotel by her nasty mother.
 

Just finished the recap. Thanks again, Vivi. Yes, we're on the same page regarding Eugenia, LOL. It didn't take long to see that she's trouble - and spying on her sister in the shower was a dead giveaway.
 

He is a cutie Vivi!!

I agree this is still going to be a cloak and dagger love affair with Julio and Isa...not sure how far they take it. Right now, even between the two of them they think they are on borrowed time, so that may be why Isa didn't mess around in claiming her man. Grab the time the have.

I doubt Diego stays in the jail long since so much is dependent on thinking Cristina is dead. Where's the body? And how do you like all the Cristins stuff to the other dead women...it's sort of shaky case. And he is going to be a vengeance machine if and when he gets out, even if he is still a suspect.

Daisynjay
 

meant LINK to Cristina....I should go back to work :)

Daisynjay
 

Vivi--Your delivery is impeccable, as always (why do I even need to say, AS ALWAYS, but I do). I was wide-awake and focused for the whole episode, yet so much of the conversation gets by me. For instance, in the jail scene with Diego and Teresa, I thought at first I heard her tell him that under no circumstances was he to break the engagement. Fortunately that was clarified by the Teresa-Isa convo later. But without your recap all the other instances would still remain cloudy. Thank you.

Musings: How are they going to explain two very pregnant women going on a "trip" and only one coming home with a newborn. Did anyone ask Violeta if she was willing to give up her baby?

Boy, is Belen in for a surprise when Teresa's deal with her is OFF. I wonder if she will go after Diego and reveal all (if anything) she knows about him and Cristina.

Julie--I agree with you. Violeta's reaction to Andres was one of recognition between the two, not of mere friendliness, but certainly a warm welcome was there.

Julie--that was my contention yesterday, about Diego NOT having been successful in bedding Cristina and what he told Teresa about their relationship was a lie. Belen has been a much more willing partner. I got a kick out of your suggestion that Diego has a box full of those brooches, when he should have had a twelve-pack of condoms.

 

Vivi, thanks so much for the excellent recap. I don't know how you all do such great work so late at night (or so early in the morning, whichever you're choosing).

Forget the prudish local pharmacist; this town needs a Costco selling condoms by the gross. Diego and Felipe in particular should be taking more care not to reproduce, and I'm sure the local prostitutes would appreciate them as well!

This show has now taken so many little diversions that, even having seen the original, I really have no idea what will happen. It's exciting! I mean, they MIGHT follow the same overall plot...or they might not; they have changed so many other things.

I wonder what will happen to Diego. I don't think he is the main murderer, or at least will get released this time for lack of proof/conveniently provided alibi/corrupt judge/whatever. It's too early for him to actually be convicted. So what will happen to him next? Looking for revenge, probably. I wonder what Teresa will do. Even if the charges don't stick, she's so concerned with appearances, would she want someone who had even been accused managing the hotel? But he seems to have some serious dirt on her, so she may have no choice but to keep him in order not to have her own secrets aired.

Sending two pregnant women who generally never travel away on a trip and then coming back with only one baby who doesn't look like the supposed parents is likely to fool no one. What is the doc thinking? Just to get Sofia and Violeta away from the hotel to never come back and live happily ever after someplace else? Sofia and Alfredo both have such pale skin, it's hard to believe that the baby of Violeta and some random local man could be passed off as theirs. Will Sofia claim they were at the beach and the newborn got a tan?

I wonder if the cameo that Isabel found didn't actually belong to Cristina, but Diego gave it to someone else and Cristina took it as some sort of evidence of his misdeeds, or maybe to try to sell if she needed money. Or maybe he made a pass at her, but she didn't go for it. And he readily agreed that he and Cristina had been lovers because that was less damaging to him than to let Isabel keep digging for more information. He's definitely been up to something criminal, even if he hasn't murdered anyone.


 

Awesome recap Vivi. Thanks so much.

Do we know how Violeta got pregnant? Was she raped? Did she give herself to someone who then left?

I had this totally out there theory about the doc. He's Diego's father.

I was afraid that Teresa was going to suspect there was someone else, when Isa was soooo excited about her engagement being at an end. That scene was a hoot, by-the-way.

I notice that Isa calls her mother "madre" and not the usual "mama".

Daisynjay: I agree with you about the scene in the jail. The way the scene was lighted and played was major motion picture quality.

Julie: thanks for the info yesterday about why Ayala was so upset.

No TN tonight, I think.

OT: does anyone here who's watching Poder know when it's going to end? Will it end before this one?

Nanette
 

Julie:"I wonder if the cameo that Isabel found didn't actually belong to Cristina, but Diego gave it to someone else and Cristina took it as some sort of evidence of his misdeeds,"---ooooo, I like this idea!
 

If its too soon for Julibel to be happy making out in the maze, I think Diego will be free so he can keep blackmailing Teresa into helping him marry Isabel and for some reason, she will be forced to keep that charade for another 60 episodes, LOL!
 

Good afternoon, Daisynajay, Anita, Julia, Nanette and Pablo! Good to see you all out on the Patio.

Looks like most of us agree that it's too soon for us to be rid of Diego, and for Isabel and Julio to have a happily ever after (if that's really in the cards for them).

Pablo- I certainly hope that Isabel isn't saddled with Diego for another 60 episodes, as that would take us to the end of this 80 episode tn!

Daisynjay- Nope. Diego will not be a happy camper when he gets free. Sofia (who ratted him out about getting Belen pregnant), Teresa and Isabel, better watch out!

Anita- It's Doc Vic's, Sofia's, and Teresa's problem to figure out how to make this baby caper work, without anyone figuring it out. I'll enjoy watching how they try to pull it off. Nope. Belen is NOT going to be a happy camper when she learns her baby has been passed over for another, and that the deal is off with Teresa. If they are smart though, they will keep both expectant mothers on the hook. Alfredo needs a male child to inherit. No one knows the sex of either of these babies.

Julia- It seems to me that as tacky as it is, having these identical homages to his supposed love and devotion made, Diego doesn't give the cameos to any woman (like Belen). He gives them to the ones who are hard to get-- like Isabel and Cristina. Even if he gave it to her, it doesn't mean they were lovers. It might just mean that he WANTED to be her lover.

Nanette- I think a customer got Violeta pregnant.


 

Pablo- I like your nickname for this couple- Julibel. It's quite cute.
 

Nanette - your theory (about the doctor being Diego's father) doesn't seem totally "out there" to me at all. The only objection I can think of is that he seems too nice to be related to Diego. If he's secretly evil, he's much better at faking than Diego is.

Your quote about Diego giving the other cameo to someone else was from Julia and not me, but I did have a similar thought. I suppose he even could have given it to Belen (I'm sorry, I just gagged a little). And then Belen going back to her room, showing it to Cristina, and laughing at how cheesy it is. Cris says "oh, that's pretty" and Belen flings it at her disdainfully and says, "fine, you can keep it." Can't you just picture it?

I would like to see some flashbacks of Belen and Cristina, JOOC to see how they got along.
 

Julie- Well, we know Belen was jealous of Cristina. At the best, they were frienemies. We saw in the first episode Belen whispering in the halls with another maid, behind Cris' back, spreading the rumor that she got promoted because she was sleeping with Diego.
 

Belen could have been the person who harmed Cris. Professional jealousy and jealousy over a man.
 

Thanks.

I didn't mean that Isabel would settle with Diego, but something more like pull and push (estira y afloja), to keep things stretchy and fill up the quota of episodes ordered by the tv channel. From hate to love there's only one step and if Julio makes a mistake, I can see Isabel making her own out of (how do you say despecho?)
 

Despecho=spite
 

Thanks.
La donna e mobile is a good excuse for the writers to make Isabel do the most unexpected things, like running outside after feeling herself free to kiss "a waiter", who I am sure will encounter countless obstacles and misunderstandings to keep things interesting.

Madre is how we respectfully call our mothers, so being this 1908, and their status, I guess is right. On the other hand, we don't use "papaito" but being the Captain's daughters well traveled and Eugenia reading about Cuba, I could overlook that.
 

Vivi: I thought that Violeta had refused to be a prossie.

Julie: the doc could still be Diego's father and not be evil. Though I know that's not TN usual.

Pablo: thanks for the clarification. That makes sense considering the time period. I'm just so used to the kids calling their mothers "mama" in TNs--even the the evil mothers.
 

Here theres only one word to address the second person (pronoun), formal or informal> Usted and tu. In Mexico, we used to have something that I am sure is no longer in use> Respect for the elders. We used to address everybody older than us with respect, using "usted". "Tu" o tutear, is something we use among friends and people our age.
 

Julia, I had read an interview with producers that though this TN is based on the original, viewers should think this is a solid remake. They are making it their own with twists and changes to the original. Not having seen that, no clue what that all means :)

Boy, Julie, it would be interesting to see some sort of actual Cristina flashback. She's this ethereal someone we can't seem to connect or visualize but who seems to permeate everything and all our ideas. The true center to the plot...or the perfect red herring who only started it all?

Daisynjay
 

Lord I wish we could edit and my editor is changing words...meant the viewiers should NOT think this is a solid remake.

Daisynjay
 

Nanette- Violeta has been a reluctant prostitute, but it was established when we first met her that Melibea and Genaro had already turned her out.
 

I would like to hear Angela's take on Cristina. What did SHE think when Cris got promoted to floor manager? Did she think she deserved it?
 

It would be nice if Andres and Julio would let Angela in on Julio's identity, but I guess that's not a realistic wish considering that Andres is barely willing to speak to her.
 

Pablo: thanks for the info.

Vivi: I missed that fact about Violeta. Thanks for clearing that up.
 

Ay Papi, what a vision. Vivi, thanks for the link to Carlos and the Mariachi serenading the Pope. Yes, the sound was awful, but the rear view of the singer was maravilloso. Those pants, couldn't have been much tighter, eh? (Not wet or white, but man can he wear 'em.)
 

You're welcome, Anita. ;-)
 

Isn't Jorge Poza killing it? Even in La Gata, horrible as that was, I could see the guy could act.

Why would they keep Belen around now. If Violeta's child doesn't work out then Sofia would be raising Diego's child and that seems a non starter. I wonder who runs Belen off or does she just disappear?

I see plenty of reason for Diego to lie about his relationship with Cristina but he didn't. That is what's a mystery to me. He easily could have denied anything was between them and other than the cameo, which proves nothing, not a soul knew.
 

Tofie- Yes. Jorge is fantastic. But I can't say that I have any complaints about any of this cast.
 

Ok, after reading all the comments, I have 2 of my own.

Diego could have lied about a relationship with Cristina in order to throw dirt in the eyes of those who suspect him of her disappearance. If he loved her, why would he get rid of her?

Also, in regard to Violeta and Sofia away, both supposed to be pregnant, but come back with one baby. That is easy to remedy. Either Violeta doesn't come back to the hotel when the baby is born, or they say her baby died.
 

Tnx much, Vivi, for your vivid & enjoyable recap.

IMHO:

I knew it, Eugenia as the prettier sister has to be after the same guy her sister Merci Beaucoup wants. And Eug is not wasting any time. I expect him to be caught in flagrante with Eug next. General Machete will not be amused. It might have been possible to practice polygamy in Mexico at this time in the sticks -- I think that Mitt Romney's grandpa went to Mexico for that purpose; but the General won't be in favor of that.

This is the first time that the doc has been socially unskilful. He has moved too fast in introducing Violeta that way with Sophia. He shud not be rousing suspicians in Violeta how he & Sophia are tramando-ing things with here. Of course it is quite possible that De Eggo is also the papa of Violeta's baby.

Mercedes excuses herself from the table, and Felipe follows to continue to apologize for his jerkish behavior. They make up passionately in the hot baths, but are not aware that they are being watched by a very envious Eugenia.

No doubt about Benjamin having much more substance than Andre, with Ben's dour demeanor.

Teresa tells Angela and Andres that she needs extra help from them, while Diego is “away” a few days. She tolerates no questions about it from Andres, then insults him by telling him she objects to him filling in for Ben—not because of his young age, but because of his lack of substance. (Ouch!)

Indeed, there are no witnesses to any murder of Cristina, no corpus delicti even. The grounds of jailing De Eggo are weak. But even in 21st century USA, innocent persons can easily be jailed, and rot there for quite a while if they don't have good lawyers & money -- no trial, no conviction, but rot in jail while the lawyers play games.

I wud seem that whatever De Eggo has on Mother Teresa, it must not be that serious for MT to act so uppety with De Eggo in jail.

Melibea put on the hoot of the show, with her fake sorrow over losing Violeta. It is time to make the guesses on the parentage of Violeta. We know that classic telenovelas just have to have unknown/mistaken parentage. Lets see if la sangre grita. Mother Teresa cud have had a child out of wedlock; she apparently was once low class.

We thought that Violeta would become the novia of Jacinto; but now they have Violeta putting her eyes on Andres, way too obviously. Of course that sets her up for conflict & persecution by Belen. Violeta may cause Belen to want Andres now.

Somehow I doubt that Julio is going to be outed as a witness vs De Eggo, as it is too soon for Julio's cover to be blown. Maybe Mother Teresa's judge will spring him from jail.

It strains the ability to suspend disbelief to have Isa Bell grabbing & smooching Andres that way. Like Scarlet O'Hair, she might pucker & wait for the man to kiss her.


 

So Pablo, you don't call your mama "Mamichula"? Have you noticed that the narcos in the narcotraffic telenovelas seem to speak voseo? Vos, not tu. I don't know how it goes in Argentina, but they do use vos. My wife is a Guatemalteca, she uses Ud for almost everyone except her brothers & sisters (vos). Colombia has variation. In Betty la fea, it was even, La amo to a novia in the city. But some use "su merced" in some places. But you may know more about it than I do. I am so happy in the USA that we don't have 2 or more sets of pronouns to indicate class, superiority & inferiority.

As to Violeta, Malicious said like "It isn't your first time," when Violeta objected to servicing some guy. But my guess is that she was raped.
 

On tu & Ud, it seems interesting to me that God apparently is addressed as tu, not Ud.
 

People are better off having a closer relationship with Dios than with their mothers, given the maternal qualities around here. Agree that Violeta should probably be told about what she's really there for (assuming they didn't tell her off camera and she already knows). her father is likely just one of her mother's "clients", long gone. I hope. Another mystery might be too much. But I think Andres's friendliness was just recognition of having met her before. Natalia is still around and she and Andres had more potential as a couple once Belen is gone, and hopefully she takes Eugenia with her. Poor Mercedes. No wonder she didn't want this girl invited to the hotel with them.

Maybe Diego lied about the affair with Cristina because the truth of his relationship with her is even worse. Something political that could get him killed?

Kelly
 

As to Cristina being confronted by a guy with a knife in the hotel (when they were inaugurating electric lights) & appearing to have been murdered (which I doubt), the confrontation followed her threat vs Mother Teresa. So we are supposed to think that MT put out a hit on her. Who else wud MT use except De Eggo, who wud likely use a henchman? Of course the screen writer may just be fooling us. But I am at a loss for who else to suspect.
 

ROFL, Kelly: "People are better off having a closer relationship with Dios than with their mothers, given the maternal qualities around here. "

So you don't think much of the maternal qualities on Caray Caray??? LOL
 

Enoch- Yes, since Violeta is an unwilling prostitute, I'm sure all of her interactions with customers has been rape.

I've never paid attention to how tn characters address deities. Seems that I usually hear Usted when addressing God/the Lord/El Senor. But variations on Tu or Usted when addressing Jesus or Mary. I'll try to pay attention next time someone's having a chat with those on high.
 

If Diego's relationship with Cristina is more boss and employee with that boss is having the employee do illegal things, I could see him lie about his relationship with her and say that he and she were having a relationship in order to cover up what his real relationship with her was now that she's gone. My guess is he or Teresa had her disappeared, not necessarily killed, because she was going to expose one of their wrongdoings. I think the prostitutes murders are a coincidence. But that doesn't mean that Ayala thinks they are coincidences, for all he knows they could be related.
Without Cristina's body to have proof of a murder, he can't keep Diego in jail for that murder. And if another prostitute turns up dead while he's in jail, then that is solid proof that he didn't kill those women either, and a good lawyer will have him out shortly.
 

I think Violeta knows what the deal is with her baby, but I think we'll need to see more of her interactions with Sofia to find out for sure.

Kelly- I too think it was just friendly recognition on Andres' part, and boy did Violeta need a friendly face just then, with all the stink eye all the rest of the staff were giving her as she walked the halls. I hope Angela soon realizes that she's a good person and that she didn't choose prostitution, and lets up on her.
 

Vivi, why do you think Violeta knows about the deal with her baby? It's not been discussed that I know of.
 

Just seemed like the way Doc Vic explained the sudden mysterious trip with Sofia, once Violeta is far along, made it seem like she knew what the plan is. Otherwise, why would she not wonder why she'll be going on this trip? It's not like she's Sofia's personal maid.
 

Enoch- Ha! "Here" meant "somewhere outside of Puebla, circa early 1900's". Pretty sure no one on Caray would force Violeta into prostitution or deny Sofia a hug once in a while.

Kelly
 

ENoch
Vos is what they use in Spain, Argentina and probably some other spanish speaking countries.

I think "tu" is the equivalent here as "thy"
 

I have noticed TN characters say "tu" when they pray, but I don't know if they weren't praying to Virgencita or someone other than God. However, I wouldn't think it would be strange to say "tu" with God; it's an intimate (I don't mean sexual!) relationship.

(Someone mentioned "Ud." in Betty La Fea, they did the same between the novias in La Fea Mas Bella and many people thought it was strange. On the one hand, he's her boss; on the other hand, they're lovers. On the third hand, though, she doesn't feel like his equal, and he's feeling conflicted about playing a trick on her - I can see where that would put up a sort of grammatical barrier at least.)
 

Drat. I was just looking forward to last night's recap when I realized that there won't be one. Grumble grumble. Princess Juju, I'm sorry we won't have an installment from you today! Stupid premios show! The only way you could do a recap would be to make something up!!

Speaking of making things up, I've got a subplot idea. Eugenia can meet Elisa's assistant Victoria. What happens after that, I don't care. I figure either they'll become best friends and start some kind of Mean Girls Professional Agency together, or they'll become mortal enemies and kill one another. All good either way.
 

OT:

I had a friend once who was older than me here in the US and when I told my friends in Mexico about it, one of them asked me jokingly: y lo tuteas o le hablas de usted? (how do you address him, formal or informally?) and I remember saying, I don't know, they use ''you'' for everybody! Later on I found out about the ''thy'', ''thou'' thing, and since it is so interesting, I would like to know more about it.
 

Great work, Vivi. I finally caught up.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Violeta's baby is born. If it's not the right skin tone that will present a serious problem for Sofia unless the doctor pulls a double switch.

And if both babies are girls Sofia will be in trouble.

I also don't like Eugenia but if she gets Felipe away from Mercedes she'll get the booby prize.
 

Both babies being girls is a great idea, Urban.

Pablo, thou = tú, thy = tu, ye = Ustedes o vosotros (nominative case only), thee = te (te amo = I love thee): These are obsolete forms of English found in the King James Bible (2nd person pronouns). In the King James Bible, so far as I know, "you" is always plural (ustedes) and cannot be the subject of a sentence. "Ye are men," but "I hate you" (more than one person). "Thou art a man" would be used for vos sos hombre / tú eres hombre. You can compare the King James Version with the old Reina-Valera Spanish (1909 or earlier). So far as I know, all Spanish Bibles use tu forms for addressing God. It is easy to find articles on the internet on this subject, discussing Elizabethan English, Shakespeare, or the King James English. You might also wish to go to BibleHub.com where there are all kinds of Bible translations freely available.

I ask the experience of others here, but it seems to me that in telenovelas it is a convention that narcotrafficers use voseo (vos), regardless of which country they are in or come from.
 

Pablo, I think maybe the Amish still use "thee" and "thy" and "thou." Enoch, I didn't realize that "you" started out as a plural! I guess that makes the local variation "yous" extra-foolish.

UA, I am mystified as to why Eugenia would want Felipe at all. I mean, I get the whole sibling-rivalry thing, but as you say, Felipe isn't exactly a prize. A more constructive way to compete with one's sister (and a smarter strategy for life) would be to get a better husband. Granted I assume that her plan is to steal Felipe, dump him, and eventually marry a better guy at her leisure; but I can't imagine even pretending to like Felipe long enough to pull off that part of the stunt. Nor can I fathom the rottenness that motivates people like Eugenia.
 

A few years ago I watched a tn set in Panama. I didn't notice a lot of vos in general, but then I don't know much about that and most of the action was set in a business office where I guess there wasn't much room for vos. But I DID notice that the bad guy (thug/gangster type) used the vos form a lot. (He said to his girlfriend, "sos assesina" and I had to look up "sos" because I had no idea what it was!)
 

If Eugenia does succeed in snagging Felipe, I think the prize will be its own punishment.
 

Eugenia is the Guilded Age version of Daniela Montenegro. She's always looking to get the better of her older sister although we don't know her motive, which I suspect is just to prove she's prettier and more desirable.

And Julia, you are right. In this case the prize would be its own punishment.
 

Yeah, Felipe is no prize for any woman. But he and Mercedes have so much fun together, have so much spark, and enjoy so many of the same things. If he could find a balance between fun and responsibility, she would be an ideal match for him. And he for her, because I think she would actually be bored with a conventional husband who expects her to be a conventional wife.
 

It's obvious that Felipe is exactly what Mercedes wants/needs. So yes, he is a prize to her and I would like them to have a chance to be happy together. That's exactly why Eugenia is rubbing me the wrong way. Felipe and Mercedes would appear to have limited opportunities for happiness. How petty would a person have to be to want to get in their way? Especially a person who's actually used to getting whatever she wants. How can such a lucky person steal from someone who has so little? (I know, I'm whining about a typical TN plot element, but it really drives me bananas.)
 

Mercedes could be the woman who would be able to whip Felipe into shape, but I'm sure Teresa would have issues with that. His weakness works in her favor, at least for now. I'm sure she wants no challenges over how she runs the hotel (and other people's lives).
 

Vos seems to be close to the French vous--which is the formal way of saying you.
 

Many thanks for a fabulous recap, Vivi! And that video of our Andrés in tight charro pants! Zoweeeeee! Thank you for brightening my evening, amiga!

Muchas gracias to Julie and Jardinera for Monday's and Tuesday's recaps.

I don't have much to add to the comments other than my eager anticipation to find out how Diego and Teresa are going to carry on hiding their secrets and their murky dealings now that they seem to have turned on each other.
 

Hey, maybe Diego and Teresa will have a torrid affair of their own. (Isabel should have told her mother in the first place "if you want a marriage for business strategy purposes, YOU get married.") Anger and bickering does seem to lead to "romance" in telenovelas.
 

You're welcome, Nandicta!
 

-- Nanette: Regarding your question about PyP, it is ending in Mexico on April 10 and seeing how the US is roughly 10 or 11 episodes behind, I would assume the Gran Final is to be broadcast on Univision on April 25 or 26 (provided they don't preempt more episodes, like they did this week).

As for "vos", it is the equivalent of "tú" in certain Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America. For example, to ask you where you come from, an Argentinian will say: "¿De dónde sos (vos)?", instead of the question we're more accustomed to hearing: "¿De dónde eres (tú)?"

The equivalent to the formal singular form of the French "Vous" is "Usted". The plural French "Vous" is "Ustedes" in Latin American Spanish (to invariably address any group of two people or more) and is either "Vosotros(as)" (informal) or "Ustedes" (formal) in Peninsular Spanish.

Hope this answers your query.
 

--Julia: You know, I've been holding my tongue on the possibility of a "torrid affair" between Teresa and Diego because I was thinking that Diana Bracho's turn in Fuego En La Sangre (FELS) was playing tricks on my mind. However, there were times in EHDLS where I could swear Teresa was eyeing Diego up and hoping to take their partnership to the next level! I watched FELS back in November 2015 so those bizarre and nauseating mating rituals between Gabriela and her son-in-law are still fresh in my memory!
 

Diego would have to come up with a piece of jewelry way more impressive than that cameo though, to impress Teresa.
 

Thanks Nandicta. That will be about a month earlier than Hotel. That's my maximum timeframe for wathcing two novelas at a time. I'm hoping the next 9:00 one is a good one. Not sure I can handle another 10:00. I could watch the eps the next day, but then I'd miss out on the discussion and I'm liking this TN too much to want it "spoiled" by reading the recap/comments before I see it.
 

Nandicta, congratulations on surviving FELS. The affair between Gabriela (I think that was her name) and Feonando was quite a sight for sore eyes.

Vivi, it's funny that you say Diego would need a better piece of jewelry to impress Teresa, because I was thinking just the opposite. She may not be exactly hot to trot, but she might be a little warm. I think Diego wouldn't have much difficulty flattering his way into Tere's bed if he thought he could get something useful out of her that way (some type of cooperation). I don't think it would work the other way around, though. That is, I can't see her using sex to extort him. But Diego, I can totally see him trying that on her.
 

It's Doc Vic who seems to get Teresa's motor running. Not really seeing it with Diego.
 

Voseo (which is the term for the use of vos and [usually] its corresponding verb forms) is used instead of (or sometimes along with) tuteo by some speakers in virtually every Spanish-speaking country of Central and South America. There are even tiny pockets of voseo in a few isolated areas of rural Mexico. BUT it is only used in the written language and completely accepted as standard usage in Argentina. In most of Central America (especially Costa Rica) it is extremely common and fairly accepted but not used in formal writing, and the elites tend to use tú for familiar address even in the spoken language. In all of the other countries where voseo exists there is a great deal of snobbery and prejudice about it, as it is associated with lower socio-economic status and, often, rural origins.

I’ve watched a number of narconovelas and never noticed any voseante characters that weren’t from countries where there is at least a fair amount of voseo. Colombia is one of the countries in which voseo is fairly common in several regional dialects; perhaps the numerous Colombian characters in narconovelas have led to this mistaken notion of a link between narco-culture and voseo that goes beyond national/regional origin.

Gala

 

I was taught the simple rules to address everybody with respect and they are (in México):

Call "usted" to everybody older than you, unknown people, domestic employees and authority figures like teachers, policemen, doctors, priests, etc. After that, if someone asks you to call them "tu" you can do it.

You also had to address elders as "señor, señora, don and doña'' Until they told you to do the opposite (I am too young to be called Ma'am), and ''señorita'' to any woman you didn't know her marital status, allowing them to correct you in case you were wrong.

The only insult or sign of disrespect was to use Don or Doña followed by the last name. Examples:

Right: Sra. Teresa Alarcón, Doña Teresa Alarcón, Sr. Benjamín Nieto, Don Benjamín Nieto, Sra. Alarcón, Sr. Nieto, Doña teresa, Don Benjamín
Wrong: Don Nieto, Doña Alarcón

It is as confusing as interesting, but is part of the protocol or good manners
 

Thank you Gala and Pablo for the information on "Voseo" and the social etiqutte of addressing people in Spanish! Very interesting indeed! I'm not very familiar with other Latin American countries but I've noticed that Mexican Spanish is more polite than Peninsular Spanish. In Spain, a lot of people tend to address others as "tú" and "vosotros(as)" from the get-go, even if the addressees are clients. It struck me as unprofessional and rather discourteous because in France it is inconceivable to "tutoyer" (the equivalent of "tutear" in French) customers, older people or unknown people. The rules in French are similar to the ones Pablo kindly explained. Another thing that bugged me was how people in Spain almost never ask "permiso" to get through a crowd or a line of people, they just push through! In Mexico, if someone is even remotely in the vicinity of where you are, you ask permiso to go through. Some might find that exaggerated but I personally think that it's right; we can never be too polite or considerate towards one another. After all, as Seinfeld's George Costanza would say: "We live in a society!" :)

I love spending time in Spain and I find Spanish people very friendly but when one is used to Mexican etiquette, certain aspects of Iberian Spanish sound a little too abrupt and lacking in civility. Just my personal opinion.