Caray, Caray!

Hello Patio Pals! First and foremost, many thanks to Cathyx, Julie, Jardinera, Vivi and Juju for their great recaps. Welcome back, Vivi! Hope you had a fabulous time! Now all you need is a vacation to rest from the vacation. ;) Good to have you back, amiga!

I'm feeling a little under the weather so the recap is not as detailed as usual. Please feel free to add anything I missed and to help each other with any specific lines of dialogue.

Enjoy the discussion! Have a great weekend, everyone! :)
 

Nandicta- Please rest up and feel better soon. Your feeling under the weather did not come out in the recap. It was wonderful as usual.

I'm intrigued by what Teresa said to Isa. Makes me think that Rom's secrets were pretty damned dark. And what about her own?

Felipe and the rat were hilarious. That kiss with NotAManuela was pretty toe curling. Poor Felipe is so confused now. LOL! Who is the actress playing Manuela/Jorge?

Loved all things Matilde/Ayala (aka Sugar Bear, teehhee).
 

Belen is right that Andres will need some money and power to get anything done. The guy can't even properly vandalize a dining room! Some knocked down chairs aren't going to inspire fear and help him get the kid back.

Kelly
 

He's barely been an Alarcon a day, and already Andres is having an emotional breakdown and getting drunk like his siblings. Maybe Angela was right after all?

I love the fit and detail of the white dress Isa wore these last two episodes.
 

Since we're not in the age of DNA tests in this tale, I don't see what good money and power would do in getting the baby back. They baby is registered as Sofia and Alfredo's child. Sofia's a certified nut (no one will believe her if she admits to baby theft), and Alfredo both loves the baby and needs it to hang on to the remnants of his inheritance. No way he's admitting to anything. Short of killing Alfredo and Elisa (who also needs the baby), they're not getting that baby, without just stealing it, running for it, and changing their identities. And even Ole needs the baby to be a Vergara, as a means for getting the Vergara lands which adjoin the Alarcon lands and also contain oil.
 

Ole is playing Belen for a fool, just like she's playing Andres for a fool. He knows getting the baby back isn't simple, and he has no intention of even trying. He just needs Belen to keep manipulating Andres into a position of power, and then ultimately into giving that power to him. Belen is being just as blind as Andres is, maybe even more so, since has has had many moments of lucidity questioning their motives.
 

First off, Nandicta, feel better and take time with some much-deserved pampering.

Second of all....are you kidding?? This recap is sensational, no need for apologizing for lack of anything!!

"Tell Sugar Bear I’ll be there in a jiffy!”.

How much did I enjoy that scene last night, let me count the ways. Some of the movements were subtle, the looks askance, Julio trying to just listen in and honestly, clueless on what was happening right next to him it seemed. But bless him, he has his own troubles.

So now it seems all clues are pointing to Rom not being the top notch dad and guy we were led to believe. I still think he was off anyway...keeping Angela and her son right under Teresa's nose, a secret study, etc. So now what...a hidden treasure?? I mean we've had just about everything else.

I rather liked Felippe's self realization, but boy, I really expected Jorge/Manuela to first rip off the mustache to at least give the guy a clue before barreling in for the kiss. Felippe does seem to not have a great track record in the love department. But I'm pulling for these two to get this straightened out. Not sure why, but darn, I do.

The character of CeCe is really on my last nerve. Except for her presence giving Isa a chance to have a jealous snit ( hello, woman, no one twisted your arm to get married), and threatening to have Julio's identity revealed, they should just leave her out of scenes. Had no clue why we had to have her show up at Diego's room. That seemed forced to me just to have him tell her to take a hike.

Sophia and Alfredo.....sorry to say right now with everything else, these two make me yawn.

And the light bulb is shining bright over Andres. Hurts, but especially because everyone warned him. That was sad to see, now the question is, what does he do? Maybe he and Alfredo can look for a two for 1 pricing annulment deal.

Daisynjay
 

Daisynjay- I was actually worried the whole time Ceci was speaking to Diego, when he told her he no longer needs her services because his marriage is solid. I worried that she would reveal that Isa spent the whole previous evening gallavanting with Julio. I was surprised and relieved she didn't. Had she done so, Diego would be in no physical condition to retaliate, yet. But he'd have time to slow simmer, and certainly he'd be planning for Julio the same fate he gave Pascual and Garrido. It could still happen if Ceci gets ticked off enough.
 

Nandicta, I thoroughly enjoy your recaps and your editorializing comments. Loved those comments regarding "Sugarbear". I laughed out loud reading through. You are so adept with the Spanish word meanings bringing everything into real clarity for us.

I think Andres is slowly realizing that Belen is just in this for the money. He wants a simple life, like to open a store and become a shopkeeper, a noble profession. His inheritance would allow him the start up cash and he really wouldn't have to worry about being poor.

It's too bad about Alfredo. He's such a mama's boy. He can't figure out that his own mother is even more manipulative, conniving, and evil than Teresa. Elisa makes Teresa look like Mother Teresa.

I was hoping Dr. V. would stay the night with Diego to make sure he got worse and would be on death's door due to so much "infection". Maybe he will even have a pulmonary embolism or something. I am eager to find out what Diego did to Dr. V in the past regarding his daughter that warrants such hate from Dr. V.

Well Nandicta, I hope you feel better soon. Take care now.
 

Nandicta, fantastic job, even when you're under the weather, it was terrific. I loved your Matilde calling Ayala sugar bear, that was so funny. Also, your comment about Isabel pining for another man's harmonica, haha, you have a way with words.

I know how Sofia can get Alfredo back. All she needs to do is tell Beatriz that the Vergaras are penniless. She knows about that, doesn't she?
But if Alfredo does leave, then Sofia doesn't need the baby anymore, isn't that correct?

The Filipe and Jorge scene was great too. Poor Filipe has to be even more confused than ever. Maybe he needs to go back to the abbey to sort it all out.


 

Cathyx- I don't think Alfredo or Elisa plan to leave the baby behind with Sofia. They both know that baby is the key to accessing the meager remains of the Vergara fortune.
 

What you talking bout Nandicta this is great and thanks I missed the pony part.

"Oddly enough, the merry ho seems offended"

"This woman puts the mother in smother!"

A real crime solving duo Ayala & Matilde. I still don't want see them as a romantic pair, (they're like a niece and her favorite uncle) but they complement each. Julio and Isabela can retire their gumshoes.

The kiss scene was well done, both actors killed it. I found myself forgetting Jorge is female.

 

Thank you, Nandicta, for another fantastic recap. Hope you are feeling better soon.

OT: I just saw Erik Elías in "Compadres" this afternoon where he plays a villain. Okay action flick heavy on violence, light on humor with Omar Chaparro starring as the good guy.

Wow! Jorge/Manuela sure paid for that kiss and Felipe's confusion with that punch especially after springing him from the jail.

 

Ah Nandicta, your under-the-weather recap was sparkling as usual with lots of humor, reference to classic myths, helpful vocabulary and riveting quotes galore. Many of us on our "best" day couldn't do as well as you do while feeling punk.

Love the Sugar Bear nickname

"...while pining for another man's harmonica."


"This woman puts the smother in mother!" and


"low-grade school bully and sometimes lovable goofball."[Felipe]

I do give Elisa props for both honesty and self-honesty.Villains are seldom so candid with their opponents. Now we'll see what the resurrected, calm Sofia will do with that. Certainly makes her imposed holiday at the retreat center seem more and more inviting.

Teresa may be a baddie but her take on reality, the setbacks of parenthood and the necessities of defending one's family tooth and nail are always eloquent and well said. The dialogue in this has been stellar. If I had a little more energy, I'd try to memorize passages from this. It would be a great way to improve one's spoken Spanish.

Thanks Nandicta. You entertain, inform and delight. Always.
 

That poor baby.

When Ollie laid it on the line that Belen just shut it on the baby if she wants the money, the look on her face and immediate silence told me that really, she would want that money and power more than her child. There is still that essential greed in her that over-writes it all.

But as much as Alfredo seems to have the winning touch with that little angel, not sure his wanting to use it with his mother to get their hands on the land is giving me the warm and fuzzies either.

I wouldn't be surprised that the poor dear does wind up with Andres, and I'm counting on Andres surviving this mess. He has no claim to the child at all, yet seems to be the one who wants it for nothing more than to have a son and family. Has to count for something.

It struck me reading comments on what Diego and Rom could have been up to that it hit me...who the heck is Diego anyway?? We still have never found out how he wound up there in the first place and got so ingratiated so fast.

So many back stories....so little time. Hope we start getting these soon.

Daisynjay
 

Oh and thanks for the picture of the actress playing Jorge Arenas. Reminds me a little bit of a younger Jamie Lee Curtis. Lovely.
 

There's a picture?! Be right back...
 

Cool! What's her name? Don't think I've ever seen her before. So many fresh faces in this tn, mixed with many familiar ones.
 

Fernanda Borches is the actress that plays Jorge
 

Thanks, Tofie. I see she does mainly plays and movies. She's great!
 

How many more episodes are there until the end? A month's worth?



 

Thanks for the recap Nandicta!!

Only 18 more episodes. :( Tres Veces Ana starts Monday, May 23.
 

Tres Veces Ana, what is that and is it supposed to be any good?
 

Gracias, Nandicta, and feel better.

Teresa just keeps on insulting Isabel's intelligence. She is determined to rule her forever. This has to wear a person down eventually.

Hasn't Felipe caught on yet to Jorge Arenas actually being a woman?

Loved your reference to Jocasta. That describes Elise perfectly.
 

Tres Veces Ana is based on the older play/film Three Faces of Eve. Us elders may remember the Joanne Woodward movie for which she won an Oscar. It stars Angelique Boyer, Sebasiant Rulli, and I think David Zepeda. I'm not a Zepeda fan, but I like Boyer and Rulli and will probably give it a watch, if only on Hulu re-watches. I'm always intrigued to watch an actor playing different characters/personalities and how well they do. I don't think this has hit Mexico yet. I thought I read somewhere this is another being released her first. Anyone know for sure?

I'll definitely miss Hotel. I've liked seeing so many new actors along with TN veterans and the writing/directing has been superb. Hope there are more of these shorter, well produced TN's to come.

Daisynjay

 

We were lucky with this one. It followed another great TN Yo No Creo En Los Hombres. I thought I was going to be lost after that one ended, it was so good, and we all know how unusual that is, I figured it would be a long time before we got another one as good. But lo and behold, El Hotel came along right afterwards, and now, once this one ends, I don't know if I could stomach anything less. 2 in a row!
 

me too cathyx. Yo No and Hotel back to back. It already has changed how much I will put up with, especially the acting. Just because someone is handsome or pretty but lazy doesn't mean they can entertain me and certainly not worth what they are making.
 

It seems the powers that be are bound and determined to keep us up late by putting the good tns on at ten (Amor Bravio, La Malquerida, YNCELH, and now Hotel). But if we keep getting these gems, I'm all for it ... that's why God invented DVRs! Of course, we've also seen some clunkers at that hour, which allows us to catch up on our sleep! LOL
 

Hey beautiful peeps! Hope you're enjoying your Sunday. Thanks ever so much for your kind words and good wishes. It's just a little bout of flu, I'll be as good as new in a couple of days.

-- Vivi: Ever since it was revealed that he maintained his mistress and kid below stairs for 30 years, humiliating Ángela, Teresa and Andrés in the process and pitting his children against each other, I really think that the real villain of this story is Rómulo Alarcón. I put nothing past him and I believe that Diego may have been his Garrido at some point. Maybe Diego helped his boss eliminate a business rival or silence another Baby Mama. Who knows?

As for Sugar Bear and his Matildita, I'm 'shipping them so hard, purely because I hold the hope that, by the end of this tale, they will be the Nick and Nora Charles of San Cristóbal. If you guys have never seen The Thin Man series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, I highly recommend it.

-- Kelly: Andrés isn't willing to let money and power corrupt him. He never aspired to riches, just a quiet and blissful family life. Right now, he's hurting more because he was denied the affection of a family rather than because he was denied the commodities that normally come with being born to money.

-- Daisynjay: Weren't Matilde and Ayala just precious in those scenes? My heart skipped a beat when they were discussing the parchment and Mati looked Ayala dead in the eyes before saying: "The line that goes between you and me" and he added: "is an inescapable destiny ("un destino ineludible"). Poor Julio looked so uncomfortable intruding on that special tête-à-tête!

Just so you know, Matilde mentioned the information you posted on the Thursday thread about Orion. I made a note of it but left it out of the recap. Here is what she said: "The stars of Orion's Belt. The three blue supergiant stars. The Three Marías. The place where souls rest before their resurrection". ("Las estrellas del cinturón de Orión. Las tres gigantes azules. Las Tres Marías. El lugar donde descansanlas almas antes de la resurrección."). I saw in Wikipedia that the 3 brightest stars of the Orion constellation were also called "The Three Kings" or "The Three Sisters". I know very little about astronomy, so it was nice learning these facts with Matilde and Ayala.

-- Cynthia: Thank you for mentioning that Andrés wanted to be a shopkeeper somewhere as far away as the Gran Hotel as possible. That's what he suggested to Belén when she said she didn't want to go back to being just simple folks ("gente sencilla"), working as a maid, cleaning latrines, etc. I don't think that Andrés even plans on taking any money from his inheritance. He just wants to take the baby, Belén and leave the venomous environment of the Gran Manicomio.

In a sense, I feel that both Alfredo and Andrés are mama's boys and both their mothers did them a disservice by smothering and emasculating them. Of course, Ángela is nowhere near as attached to her son as Elisa is. Elisa's love for her son is perverse and obsessive. I do enjoy her character a lot though. The actress is doing an outstanding job. I feel that she and Diana Bracho have been so brilliant in this production that they even eclipsed the excellent Daniela Romo.

Dr. Vicario's beef with Diego has me intrigued as well. My guess is that the Doc's daughter and Garrido are somehow involved too.

 

-- Cathyx: To be fair, the comment about the harmonica was added because after Dr. Vicario left the room, Isabel walked towards the window and wondered why she can't hear any harmonica. So she was literally pining for Julio's harmonica! :D

Sofía needs the baby because her mother needs it a bargaining chip against both the Vergaras and the Olegario-Belén-Andrés trio (not that Olegario cares about the baby's welfare). Teresa needs the baby because of:
1) The Gran Hotel and the adjoining Vergara lands (and by definition the country club project) are at stake, and
2) The reputations of her daughter and of her family are at stake. A marriage annulment citing her daughter's insanity as cause, is completely out of question. Teresa would scratch Elisa's eyes out before allowing that to happen.
The writers have created and interweaved an intricate web of interests with that poor baby in the center of it all. Everybody needs him for a reason or another.

-- Tofie: I totally agree; that kiss scene was so hot, I didn't care whether Jorge was a bonafide Jorge or a delicate Manuela hiding behind a male character. At this stage, any other romance is more interesting than Isabel and Julio's. My favorite shippeo is Mati and Ayala. They are followed by Ángela and Lupe, Natalia and Andrés (hope she makes him suffer before taking him back), Jorge/Manuela and Felipe, Teresa and Dr. Vicario (please don't judge me), Dagoberto and a pitcher of pulque.

Thank you for giving us the name of the actress who plays Jorge/Manuela. I saw that she was starring in a play with Alejandro de la Madrid (Alfredo).

-- Jarifa: I too laughed at Felipe's confusion and the way he ran away! I do have a soft spot for him though, despite his many many shortcomings. I would really like to see the actor who plays him in something else. He is just great!

Thanks for telling us about the movie you saw. Erik Elías as a villain? A proper villain or a goofy villain like in Porque El Amor Manda? He stole the show in that one; I liked him better than Colunga. Well, at times, I did. Colunga is, and will always be, mi amor platónico!

 

-- JudyB : I enjoy Elisa's character a lot but I must admit that my favorite is Teresa. I know she doesn't have many fans here but I discreetly set up a Teresa Table For One in a dark corner of our patio a long time ago. I feel she is the way she is because having a selfish man shatter a young woman's dreams of married life and a happy family mustn't have been easy. Moreover, enduring the humiliation of seeing her husband's mistress and bastard son every day for 30 years would break even the strongest most resilient soul. She had to fight tooth and nail for what she feels is her children's patrimony and she had to do her best to protect a sickly child and a screwed-up one, while her husband mingled limbs with the help and ignored his children. Is Teresa an exemplary mother? Absolutely not! Has she done some irreparable harm to her children in her misguided attempts to protect them? Yes indeed! However, I do believe that she loves her kids dearly. Then again, they say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions ("el camino al infierno está empedrado de buenas intenciones.") Och well... :)

-- J: Thank you for replying to Gobluefan's query. Tres Veces Ana premieres May 23 but the exact date of EHDLS's finale has not been announced. If it's on Friday May 21, then I'll get to recap that one. However, I think they'll schedule the finale on a Thursday (May 20), like they're doing with PyP. Novelas get a lower rating on a Friday. Don't know why, but that's what happens, apparently.

-- Urban Anthropologist: I don't know why, but I have a feeling that Teresa might be right in wanting her nosy daughter to let sleeping dogs lie. I fear that Rómulo is hiding darker and more disturbing secrets. Besides, I see glimpses of Teresa' personality in both Isabel and Sofía. Had Isabel gone through the same ordeal as her mother, she would have turned out the same, in my opinion.

Felipe is not as experienced with women as he thinks he is. Cecilia knew Jorge is a woman from one dance! :)

Elisa's attachment to her son is pretty perverse. The Jocasta reference actually came to my mind a while back when, during an argument over Sofía, Elisa reproached Alfredo for disobeying her and/or ignoring her advice "because she can't give him what his wife gives him!". I wish I could remember the episode or what they were arguing about, but I was so shocked when I heard her say that! Ewwww!

-- Anon@ 1:45 pm: I fear that the lucky streak of excellent novelas at 10 pm will be broken with Tres Veces Ana. Yago was supposed to replace EHDLS, a captivating and gritty series of 62 episodes. I don't understand why they made the switch. I'll provide more info about Tres Veces Ana in the next post.
 

Nandicta, Erick Elías plays a real villain and very well. Nothing goofy about his role in this one.
 

"Tres Veces Ana" is not a remake of "The Three Faces of Eve" (If only that were true, Daisynjay!). It is a remake of Carla Estrada's "Lazos de Amor" (1995), starring Lucero, José Luis Santander (the "English" corsair from "Pasión"), Juan Manuel Bernal (before he confined himself to movies), Otto Sirgo (the evil Doc in "Sortilegio", Manuel in "Quiero Amarte"), Marga López (the villainess in "El Privilegio de Amar"), a pre-Hollywood Demián Bichir, Silvia Derbez, Mariana Karr (Isabel from Alborada, who inspired the name of this blog), Angélica Vale (Leti in "La Fea Más Bella"), Fabián Robles (Vladimir in "Mañana Es Para Siempre", Efraín in "La Que No Podía Amar"), Luis Bayardo (Humberto in PyP) and many other excellent actors. The story talks about triplets who became orphans in a car accident. One of the sisters just vanished into thin air after the accident. (This isn't a spoiler. Any synopsis of the show you will encounter will contain a lot more information than this).

"Lazos de Amor" was one of the first TNs I watched as a kid (dubbed in Arabic). Lucero became my girl crush and José Luis Santander was converted into an unlikely teen idol (at age 35) in Latin America and beyond. Lucero gave arguably the best performance of her career in this TN. I personally don't think anything she did after lived up to her performance in "Lazos de Amor".

Despite having Carla Estrada at the helm, an excellent cast and a bunch of very loveable secondary characters, the plot of "Lazos de Amor" was extremely slow. The TN was 100 episodes long but that story, with filler and all, has enough to make up 70 to 80 episodes max! And that's accounting for all the repetition, the (mostly entertaining) filler, the very lovelable secondary characters, etc. In my humble opinion, "Lazos de Amor" is one of the weakest links in Estrada's panoply of excellent TNs because it falls into a lull for several episodes and comes to a virtual halt in the middle 20 episodes. This is an honest assessment coming from someone who, all in all, enjoyed Lazos de Amor and found it very entertaining. I am also someone who, I believe, has a rather high threshold for estupidez when it comes to TNs. (I'm currently watching the unintentional comedy / whodunnit "La Madrastra". I know. I never learn.)

(To be continued)

 

(Cont.)

Tres Veces Ana is Angelli Nesma's attempt to capture double the rating by putting together the protagonist couples of "Abismo de Pasión" (that Carayites dubbed "Abismo de Tonterías") and of "Lo Que La Vida Me Robó" (which I affectionately call "Lo Que La Paciencia Me Robó"). That's why she opted for Boyer, Rulli and Zepeda. She also changed a few things in the story. For example, one of the triplets is not blind like in the original story, she has a limp. Apparently, Televisa's "most talented actress" can't play a blind character! Nesma also made some dumb changes (that I will spare you) to the Rulli character as an attempt to give him more screen time and turn the bloomin' story into a bigger circus. The role of the triplets' uncle, originally interpreted by the excellent Otto Sirgo, who had the appropriate age and appearance for the character, has been given to some Argentinian model with grey hair, a certain Ramiro Fumazoni.

One of the triplets is of humble means and dresses in long flowing skirts. In the new version, La Boyer is styled as Sienna Miller circa 2005! She sports hobo chic clothes and a lot more makeup than her character calls for. I shared the photo of the original triplets on the Tuesday thread of "Sueño de Amor", if anyone is interested. Lucero infused each triplet with her own visual identity, mannerisms, voice, tone, etc. They were so different, you would forget that they are played by the same actress. I don't believe Angélique Boyer has what it takes to capture and transmit those nuances in her characters. Unfortunately, the promos of "Tres Veces Ana" are not alleviating my apprehensions.

In conclusion, I see too many red flags about this TN to inspire anything in me other than avoiding it at all costs. Especially when I think of all the utter drivel Angelli Nesma will come up with it to turn a story that has enough material for 70-80 episodes into 135 to 140 episodes. I do hope for the viewers' sake, that I'm proven wrong. If you're a Boyer and/or Rulli and/or Zepeda fan, by all means, enjoy "Tres Veces Ana" and don't mind me. My opinion should not prevent you from enjoying the TN. On the contrary, it should pique your interest and incite you to tune in.

Here are the promos shared by Uni:

Promo 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfyuRED3AB0 (stop at 0:16 to avoid spoiler. I can't believe Uni is running this promo to people who are unfamiliar with the story!)
Promo 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AZkowOctCY
Promo 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjHQ7SN8Wg0

 

Cheers for getting back to me, Jarifa! I'll give "Compadres" a wee look when I get a chance.
 

Since there are 18 episodes left over a period of 20 weekdays and El Hotel is not on this Thursday (because of the 3 hour PyP finale), that would leave one more day without it before TVA starts, so yes it does seem like Thursday May 20 might be the finale. Perhaps they'll show a special on the Friday like they're doing with PyP this week.

It does seem like Yago would be better at 10pm. I don't see why they had to delay TVA since it was only a 3 week difference to get everything ready, but maybe they will eventually change hours like Sueno de Amor & El Camino.
 

You're absolutely right, J! Yago would have been more appropriate for the 10 pm slot. And I can't emphasize enough the fact that it's only 62 episodes! The main reason that EHDLS was aired in Mexico (to abysmal ratings!) to replace PyP was because "Tres Veces Ana" wasn't ready (they're having production and editing problems. Apparently, Angelli Nesma didn't realize just how time-consuming it is to film and edit the work of one actress playing three characters!). TVA wasn't going to be ready until August. So imagine my surprise when I learn that they are airing it in the US first after EHDLS ends! That doesn't bode well for the quality of the finished product. I just don't understand why we couldn't have gotten "A Que No Me Dejas" or "El Color de la Pasión", while TVA fixes its production problems and is ready to give the viewers a decent finished product. Och well...

Enjoy your Sunday evening, everyone! Many thanks for stopping by! Much appreciated, as always! :)
 

Sorry if I have bored you with this before, but no one can mention
La madrastra w/o me inflicting this on all of you

chuckles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DqnRjoI818
 

-- Variopinta: I can't play that link in my location but I'm aware that The Soup had a grand old time skewering La Madrastra! Full disclosure: the sole reason I'm watching La Madrastra is to be in on the joke! Also, bloody Televisa has erased the episodes of almost all their TNs on Youtube, ever since they launched their bloody Blim (Televisa's version of Netflix. El chiste se cuenta solo. The joke tells itself!). I was left in the middle of "Cuna de Lobos" and two-thirds of the way into "Lazos de Amor". That's why I'm trying to get through watching "La Madrastra" before it gets taken down. Man, that Victoria Ruffo woman can cry! She is bawling her eyes out through 95% of the dialogue! "Virgencita, give me the strength to get my children back! Boohoohoo". "I'm so happy today! Boohoohoo". "I take my coffee with 2 sugars! Boohoohoo". I'm willing to bet that a third of the production's budget of that show went on tissues and IV rehydration for La Ruffo! :D
 

Could Rom have cheated someone out of the hotel? Could it have been the Arenas family?

Another thought: Alfredo will never be truly free unless Elise dies.
 

Hiya, Nanette! It is quite possible that Rómulo had some business associate or rival killed to maintain control of the hotel. It would be interesting if that person turns out to be Jorge's father. Though I remember Mariano Arenas telling Felipe that their father was of a poor background (can't remember if he said farmer or miner) and that he was murdered by rich folks. Still, it would be an interesting way to tie the Arenas brothers into the story, if Rómulo had indeed harmed their parents.
 

I also highly recommend the Thin Man series especially the first three (there are 6 total).
 

Maybe the Arenas father worked for the original family and knows what went down and therefore was eliminated.
 

I tried the La madrastra link & it says,"no longer available" a pity
 

Victoria Ruffo, I will not ever watch anything she is in, good grief, how much crying can a person take, boo hoo, that is her only claim to fame, boo hoo
 

Ugh! Terrible ratings in Mexico? So, little positive reinforcement for what I consider excellent programming.

Wonder why.
 

-- Anon@ 8:29 pm: EHDLS is really struggling in Mexico despite a great deal of promotion (even the star-studded PyP and its finale didn't get as much promotion. Many viewers didn't even know that the PyP finale in Mexico was on a Sunday!)

Costumed events were organized in various cities as well as meet-and-greets, flashmobs, etc. before and after the semana de estreno (first week of airing). Televisa is even offering a car to viewers, if they'd just tune in every night to collect codewords that will be shown in every episode. Nevertheless, EHDLS continues to rank fourth in ratings amongst Televisa's TNs (barely breaking the 15.0 bar), only managing to beat out the Osorio catastrophe called "Sueño de Amor" (and if you've ever caught a few minutes of SdA, you'd know that videos of paint drying would easily beat out that dud!)

Azteca TV, Televisa's rival, is pummeling EHDLS every single night. Considering that EHDLS cost about 4 times the budget of a regular primetime Televisa TN, does anybody honestly think that we will be getting more productions of the caliber of EHDLS? The logical answer would be a resounding no, and this thought makes me so very sad.

If anyone is interested, at the end of the recap I added a photo of the "Pretty please watch our show and you can win a car!" advert that Televisa is running in a desperate attempt to raise EHDLS's ratings.

Good night, everyone! :)
 

Isn't this show doing well here in the US though?
 

No, it does not bode well for the future of other quality (and period) tns that this is not doing well in Mexico. I guess we should just be grateful we got it at all.
 

What show if Azteca winning the ratings with? Fatmagüil?
 

Thanks, Nandicta. I won't be able to read this until later in the day. :-( At least it gives me something to look forward to!

I was struck by one thing on Friday, though. Teresa is always telling her children to act like Alarcons. Which Alarcon is she referring to? There's neurotic Sofia, mischievous Felipe, bland Isabel, and of course Romulo who (according to Teresa) had lots of bad habits. I suppose there's Teresa too, who's an Alarcon by marriage, but her behavior doesn't seem to be working out so well either.

So, which Alarcon are they supposed to emulate, and how will it help?
 

Ah... I couldn't wait. I read it early when I should have been doing something else. :)

Take care of yourself, Nandicta. Don't fool around with the flu!

Regarding the remark Elisa made to Alfredo, "because she can't give him what his wife gives him," I don't have the exact date or episode number handy, but it was on a Monday night. I was so stunned that I wasn't even sure if I had understood it correctly. Ew!
 

Oh and about the car. You would have to offer me a car to make me STOP watching this TN.
 

-- Cathyx: Telenovelas are struggling to capture rating both in Mexico and in the US. In early 2012, in the same time slot, "La Que No Podía Amar" periodically had up to 4 million people tuning in every night and 8 million viewers for teh finale. EHDLS manages to get around 1.7 to 1.9 million tops (PyP is Uni's highest rated show with 2.2 to 2.5 million viewers nightly. It is barely holding its own against Telemundo's "El Señor de los Cielos 4", which has been beaten out EHDLS several nights. I think that this is one of the reasons why Univision is choosing to show "Tres Veces Ana" at 10pm, in an attempt to reclaim this time slot.

-- Vivi: Nicandro Díaz, the producer of "Destilando Amor", "Mañana Es Para Siempre" and "Amores Verdaderos" was working on a remake of an installment of a Spanish series set in the early 20th century, called "El Secreto de Puente Viejo". After several months of work, Televisa chose to pull the plug on the project citing the high budget as a reason.

-- Jarifa: Indeed, Azteca is winning with "Fatmagül" and the grand premiere of EHDLS in Mexico (aired on Sunday April 10) was beaten by "MasterChef México". I know, right?


 

Hahahaha! You are so right, Julie! If they insist on giving away free stuff, I feel I deserve to get something for watching "Sueño de Amor". Cris de la Fuente and his gorgeous brown eyes are no longer enough, I'm afraid!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by! I hope you enjoy the recap. You raise an interesting question: What does acting like an Alarcón consist of? Every member of that family is a choice compilation of nuttiness. Even the reputation that Teresa is trying to save is irremediably damaged after the Andrés scandal. I'm gonna miss these loonies! :(
 

Sorry, I had skipped one of your comments, Julie.

Thanks for confirming that I didn't dream up what Elisa said. I wish I could remember what they were arguing about. I also wish I could guess where the Vergaras storyline is going. I know that some of our Patio Pals are bored with Sofía, Alfredo and Elisa but I find them very intriguing. I'm also puzzled by that priest and the creepy lady from that convent. I wonder how they tie into the story.
 

High Points:

Julio finally tells Isa the whole story re: CeCe.
Alfie nixes a trip to Europe and sets Elisa straight.
Andres demands a suite for Angela.
Andres stands up to Teresa.
Dag has a light bulb moment.
Jorge/Felipe exchange soulful glances.
Felipe admires Jorge’s courage.
Felipe tells Jorge they should let him go, he’s no good to them.
Lupe offers Nat help.
Ayala/Dag find out Oleg ordered the arsenic.
Meli blackmails Genaro for the deed.
Sofia says she won’t beg.
Meli tells Genaro off.
Meli won’t forgive Genaro.
Genaro does not get his last rites.
Genaro dies.
Felipe and Jorge on the floor.
Sofia apologizes to Alfie.
Lupe asks Andres if Gabe can work at the hotel.
Andres says yes.
Lupe hauling Jacinto out by the scruff of his neck and Nat giving him a watery beat down.
Julio tries to warn Andres.
Ayala decides to fingerprint the finger.
Jorge wants to give the money to Meli.
Sofia is calmer now.
Sofia has a little talk with Alfie about respecting her.
Ayala suspects Felipe was in on the kidnapping.
Felipe promises Jorge he’ll keep mum.
Andres confronts Sofia.
Alfie comes to Sofia’s aid.
Julio locks CeCe in his room.
Mati asking if Ayala is safe.
Below Stairs making fun of Jacinto.
Felipe off the hook for his dad’s murder.
Diego’s ramblings lead to a discovery.
Teresa slaps Oleg.
Ben helps Lupe write a letter.
Lupe asks his wife to return to help Jacinto (hopefully, that will include taking him away).
Sofia is snarky with Beatriz.
Alfie is given the director position at the hotel.
Angela and Andres make up.
Ayala figures out what the dots mean.
Jorge gives the money to Meli.
Meli reaction when she gets the money.
Isa says “No” to Teresa when asked if she’ll help the family.
Teresa asks Barreda to give Ayala his job back.
Mati tells Ig to cool his jets.
Doc warning CeCe there’s to be no hanky panky with Diego.
Diego rejects CeCe.
CeCe is offended.
Ayala asking Jacinto about Garrido gives J. nightmares.
Andres is FINALLY begins to doubt Belen.
Mati’s attitude change when she finds out it’s Ayala who needs her help.
Felipe grateful to Jorge for everything.
Jorge kisses Felipe who kisses him right back.
Ayala/Mati moving closer as they talk.
Ayala moony face as Mati talks.
Julio’s cluelessness.
Mati has a breakthrough.
Mati/Ayala hand touching as they both reach for the card.
Julio thinking the card is poisoned.
Another clue is found.
 

Low Points:

Isa/Diego agree to start over.
Oleg stops Belen from taking her baby.
Gang members resent Felipe.
Angela begs Andres for her job.
Priest lies about Sofia.
After the papers are signed, Andres becomes the Alarcon heir.
Oleg transfer suspicion to Felipe—says poisoning his idea.
Felipe about to steal what’s rightfully Meli’s.
Elisa/Vic tell Beatriz that Sofia and Alfie are not the birth parents.
Alfie does not accept Sofia’s apology.
Ignacio asks Matilde to be novios.
Jacinto uses bad words to Nat—the sweetest girl in the world. What a wanker.
Violeta and Gabe on the bridge.
Oleg wants to make a deal with Elisa.
Isa/Diego smooching in his office.
CeCe hanging all over Julio.
Isa is bitchy to Julio.
Ben’s uncomfortable little convo with Angela.
CeCe interrupts Isa and Julio.
Nat overhears Andres/Belen frolicking in their room.
Diego does not die.
Once again, golden opportunity for Jacinto to be riddled with bullets--gone.
Felipe believes he caused his dad’s death.
Teresa not letting Felipe see his dad.
Felipe jailed.
Jorge resigned to doing what’s best for the gang.
Teresa isn’t happy to find Felipe has all ten fingers.
Sofia sees Alfie being affectionate to Beatriz.
Belen interrupts an Angela/Andres moment.
Isa knocks on Julio’s door just as CeCe is leaving.
Ayala makes Dag stay and guard Felipe.
Isa still harping about CeCe.
Oleg wants Belen to push Andres to be director of the hotel so he can push Andres into giving him the power over the hotel.
Alfie tells Sofa their relationship is over.
Jacinto is ONCE AGAIN rude to his caring father.
Elisa/Sofia have a showdown.
Sofia listens outside the door as Alfie tells Beatriz he’s going to get an annulment to be with her.
Felipe punches Jorge.
 

Nandicta: loved the recap. Thanks so much. Feel better soon.

What an ep!!!
 

Nandicta- I'm not bored with ANY of these storylines! I love/hate/am intrigued/amused by all these characters and looking forward to see how these writers wrap up all these storylines.

I love Fatmagul. It also did pretty well in it's afternoon slot on Telemundo. I get why it would be a contender. But I still don't get why this tn has struggled so much to find an audience. Oh, well! Again, glad we were lucky enough to get it, uncut and that Televisa didn't tinker with it to try to boost ratings. And they certainly wouldn't need to offer me a car to watch!
 

Thank you, Nanette, for reminding us of the highlights of this week. Your hi-lo lists are always appreciated!

Dagoberto having a light bulb moment, though delightful at first, made me worry a little bit. I like Dagoberto as a dim bulb and more so as an arrogant dim bulb that overestimates its brightness. I don't want him to get smarter!

Moreover, I must confess that I was a little sad to see Genaro go. The character is despicable and deserves the end he got but I was hoping he would stick around with us until the end. I do like me a good villain and Genaro was an excellent one. He had some of the best lines in the show.
 

Nandicta, I believe the argument was about Elisa wanting Alfredo to take the job in the city.

Last week, I'm not so sure Dagoberto had a light bulb moment so much as that he said a dumb or careless thing that gave Ayala a good idea. Maybe I got that wrong, but I thought he said something about bottles that made Ayala decide to go to the place where the arsenic was bottled.
 

-- Vivi: I'm really tempted to give Turkish novelas a shot. I saw the first episode of "Ezel" (the Turkish series being remade as Yago, which will replace PyP as of next Monday.) dubbed into Spanish and I totally understand the hype. I heard so much praise about "Fatmagül" that I've added it to my viewing list.

-- Julie: Checking out the bottle factory was entirely Dagoberto's idea. It even took Ayala a couple of seconds to catch on. I was really proud of Dagoberto at that moment, then I realized how less entertaining it would be if Ayala's sidekick were to suddenly grow a functioning brain.

Cheers for reminding me of what Elisa and Alfredo argued about in that instance.
 

For the sake of the people in San Cristobal, I suppose it's for the best if Dagoberto gets a good idea once in a while!
 

That's true, but once the Gold Knife Killer is captured, San Cristóbal will go back to being a quiet little village where the local police only has public intoxication and occasional pig-stealing to contend with! :D
 

As long as the Gran Hotel stands, San Cris needs good law enforcement. But I think most of us are on board with burning that place down, right? And the arsonist should probably be given a medal.