Caray, Caray!

Eva/General. Gee, novelera, I was kind of looking forward to hearing about the goat fair. .) I spent a good part of my weekend at the Colleges against Cancer Relay for Life, since I am the faculty adviser for our campus's Relay.
 

EVA – LUNES – Parte 1 de 2

This one won’t be long. I had to watch the Warriors beat the Rockets for the second time.

At Pablo’s house Eva asks Diego to wait in his room. When Betty tries to blame her homelessness on Eva, Eva reminds her that she brought it on herself trying to put her behind bars. Eva is quite cool and collected and tells her she’ll wait for Pablo’s return. Betty goes nuts, starts screaming, and upsets Diego.

Eva tells her to shut it and gives her a lesson on the behavior of kids like Diego, their sensitivity to noise. Diego tells Betty that Eva and his father will be together forever. Betty shrieks at him. Eva finally leaves.

Outside the house, in Martín’s car, Eva, predictably, tells him she’s through with Pablo.

Armando has made a mistake telling Fabiola about being with her mother. She gets insistent and starts packing her stuff. The shrink chews him out for not realizing that Fabiola would assume this was going to happen right away. She tells him it appears he doesn’t love his child at all and is only using her to hurt her mother. She picks up a drawing and tells him that he doesn’t even appear as part of Fabi’s family when she draws. She tells him to show what he feels for the child by taking her out of this place where she doesn’t belong at all and giving her back to her mother.

Eva refuses to see Pablo when he comes. Estebita is telling him not to come in and wields a baseball bat as an enforcer.

When Armando comes home the shrew starts in on him. He says he went to see Fabiola. He tells her he’s thinking of taking her out of that place. Marlene freaks, saying she can’t come to live there; her mother has turned her against them. Then she gets it that he plans to give Fabiola to her mother.

¡Te lo prohibo! Armando looks at her incredulously. “You don’t forbid me anything! Do you think I’m an idiot you can order around as you choose?” He loses it when she starts to say something about Adriana. He tells her that it’s her fault his daughter is pregnant by a creep. He says the shrink is right and that he’s behaved like a monster to his children. When she gets her back up about the shrink saying that, he blows. He tells her to go ahead and turn him in to the cops. He’d like to just have this crap over with. He points his finger at her. “Don’t mess with my girls. If I find out you’ve done something to them, I’ll tear your head off with my own two hands!”

Eva goes to the hospital to relieve Bobby at Soraya’s bedside. She talks a long time to Soraya, and I half expect her to wake up.
 

EVA – LUNES – Parte 2 de 2

Marlene drops the bomb about marrying her father to Adriana. [She just can’t resist her sadistic nature, can she?] Adriana tells her father that, if he marries the person who ruined their lives, he’s dead to her.

Adriana comes to see her mother, not knowing she’s at the hospital. She meets Camila and seems a bit put off by Camila’s closeness to her mother. [Wait until she finds out Camila has her eye on Bobby!]

Marlene seduces Armando.

Betty finally notices that Diego and Martín can’t stand her.

Armando is leaving for Pancho’s funeral and doesn’t want Marlene to come with.

The doctors remove Soraya’s breathing device.

Betty rags on Evencio for waking her up vacuuming. He asks why she thinks he should be nice to a woman who threatened him and is also a dishonest and corrupt harpy! He goes on to say: ¡Aquí todos a usted mastican pero no la tragan! [They have to chew – deal with her, I think, but they can’t swallow her.] And he starts right up vacuuming again. Still delusional, she mutters something about Evencio being booted out if he isn't nice to her.

At the funeral Pablo approaches Eva wanting to talk. She’s trying to get him to leave her alone when Armando enters. He sees that Eva is upset, approaches the two of them, and asks if this guy is bothering her.
 

Eva

Thanks so much, novelera, for another excellent recap. I so admire your ability to be succinct and yet cover everything important. I especially appreciate that your succinct account nonetheless included and translated Evencio's terrific put-down of la perra Betty. His words went right by me when I watched.

At times Evencio has seemed afraid of confrontation, but last night he stood up to Betty forcefully and with style.

I guess one of the first things they teach at Perra School is how to assume that you're the dueña of wherever you're living. Betty clearly got an A in Chutzpah 101. Pablo takes her into his house out of pity and guilt, and she threatens to throw Evencio out!

The real star of Perra School, though, is Marlene. Indeed, she probably didn't need schooling. In earlier episodes, she threw Tia Berta out of "her" house, and even questioned Adriana's right to be there. But last night she raised chutzpah up several notches by prohibiting Armando from returning Fabi to Eva. Part of me hopes that Armando really will tear her head off with his own hands, as he has threatened. If he's going to go to prison, it might as well be for something worthwhile.

Speaking of Armando, what's with that guy? One minute he is furious at Marlene, and two seconds later he can't keep his pants on.

I too half expected Soraya to open her eyes while Eva was talking to her.

Last night's episode made me even more wary of Camila. Do we really need yet another love triangle in this novela? (What a silly question--it's a novela! Sigh.)
 

Eva

I know I'm a little late with this question, but I'm a little behind on watching Eva. Can someone please tell me what Andy said to Adriana when he went to see her at the pool house after finding out she was pregnant? He's waiting for her there when she walks in and he grabs her by the hair and it looks like he's threatening her.

I got a DVR from Time-Warner and the CC3 still shows everything in Spanish. I tried to translate words I didn't understand but they go by too fast.

Thanks!
 

Eva. Another great recap, novelera! Great remarks on perra school, juanita! I somehow don't think that Adriana and Camila are going to become good friends, despite what tía Berta said. On the upside, a bit of jealousy might get Adri to start considering Bobby as a romantic interest again. I like it that Fajardo seems to be closing in somewhat on Marlene and Andy. And last night we had some strong people communicating hard but necessary truths: Eva to Betty, the psychiatrist to Armando, Armando to Marlene (until his hormones got the better of him). If Armando hadn't been complicit in a couple of murders and insurance fraud, I'd feel sorry for him. Federica gave some excellent to Eva about Pablo and Betty, and I expect this separation from Pablo won't last long. Eva has figured out that Marlene is somehow extorting Armando. The Pablo and Esteban scene was kind of funny. Pins and needles until Soraya is taken out of her coma.
 

Eva. excellent advice, that is.
 

EVA

Thank you novelera! I am starting to adore Evencio! Thanks for translating what he said to Betty. I'm wondering if they aren't setting up Camila as a mini-Marlene. Sort of evil smiley-face. I hate the black eye makeup. Please please, Soraya wake up!! I don't welcome seeing her grieve, but I do want to see her alive. (How many novelas have we seen that do NOT include a major character either in coma or with amnesia—methinks it's a device for the writers to catch up with the audience and strategize about plot direction, or cover any multitude of errors and production snafus). I can't figure out what sort of nueva etapa Eva is in other than the 8PM time slot. I had imaged an entire cast change with her driving her truck all over the SouthWest.
 

Eva. Hi, LXV. The truck driving may still happen. Eva is probably not quite half over.
 

Eva

thanks so much novelera for another wonderful recap!

this show is starting to crack me up like back in the days when everyone was slapping everyone else.

when Eva showed up at Pablo's the menfolk couldn't get out of the house fast enough slithering through any crack they could find, Martin goes out the front door where he awaits for Eva, and when she finally leaves he invites her to sit in his car and vent, ha!, and later when Pablo arrives, the menfolk are all back sitting around the living room, chatting, and playing, each with his own dinosaur.

and Diego's plan is for a hungry T-rex to scare Betty so bad she never comes back, which he attempts with his mask, but she wasn't scared.

I too thought Soraya would wake up, but duh I remember, they were inducing her coma.

 

Esclava

Did anybody see the premier of La Enclave Blanca?
I did, but do not have time to recap other than to say that it's beautiful visually. The story is horrendous right from the get-go. Injustice abounds. There is whipping! But the whipped people just go their merry way (not) immediately after being whipped, so it's not at all realistic in that regard. It shows a lot about class differentiation in the "new" world (which tropical paradise? I never figured out). There are good slave-owners and bad slave-sellers. The white woman (who is married to the "good" slave owner)'s baby (who only stops crying when her slave nanny picks her up) is rescued from the inferno of their hacienda being burned down by the bad slave buyer as retribution for the humanitarian changes that the G.S.O. and the government are about to implement. The B.S.B. has just scuttled his own boat carrying a whole load of "merchandise" who naturally drown, and so he is rather annoyed at having lost his investment. The white baby girl is carried off and the slave who had just paid his final installment on freedom loses everything, because the G.S.O. had signed the paper, but had his house burnt down before it could be notarized and recorded.

Sorry if this sounds glib and rushed. Because it is. But that's all I can manage for today. I hope others will watch and share.
 

La Esclava: LVX, I DVR'ed it for the weekend.
I was a bit put off by "the good slave owner" until I understood your point. Sorry, I mean no offense whatsoever but I am a descendent of slaves and in my book, no owner of a human being is good. I debated watching this because of the heart wrenching scenes I am sure to come. I will see if I can stomach them. Thanks for your short recap and once again I mean no offense about the good but it is personal to me.
Romy
 

ESCLAVA

Romy
Thank you so much for your input. I feel badly that you were hurt by my reference to the "good" slave owner. It was short handed of me, just to get the story out. If you would prefer, I will remove the post entirely, as I have not the time to rewrite anything today. It is a painful story. And I believe the more people learn and understand history the more we as human beings stand a chance at survival on this planet. I don't intend to stir up a hornet's nest here, but let me know if I was really too far out of line and I will remove it no further questions asked.

 

Esclava and Eva

I really wanted to watch the first episode of Esclava. I do have it set on my DVR. But, as I mentioned at the top of the recap, I had a whole basketball game to watch as well as Eva; a goodly time commitment even skipping commercials with the DVR. I may be in the position of watching 5 episodes over the weekend, going forward.

Great comments, everyone. I loved what Evencio said to Betty. I actually tried googling it in case it was a well-known dicho, but didn't find it anywhere.

Juanita, loved the concept of Perra School. I've worked with a few graduates in the past! I'm completely grateful for the fine relationship I currently have with my two female co-workers. The one from México was the one who helped me into telenovela abuse! I had tried to watch and didn't understand much. She told me when one was starting: El Privilegio de Amar and it made a world of difference watching from the beginning.

I love how open Diego is with his dislike of Betty. She can't do much about it unless she's alone with him and can practice Marlene's method of torturing kids who can't fight back well. I don't think Evencio is going to give her much opportunity to do that. He's become quite fond of Diego.

There was some Telemundo novela in which someone did a weekly recap. It wasn't one I was watching so I don't remember this clearly. I wonder if that would be a possibility for Esclava.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Eslava: LXV, please do not remove the post. I was just taken aback for a few seconds about "good slave owner" until I read the whole post. I just posted my honest reaction but by no means should you remove it. This opens a dialogue between us and that can only benefit all. My people were slaves 500 years ago but it is not ancient history to some of us. You know? But, I get this is a show so it's all good amiga.
Romy

 

ESCALVA:

Hola, Caray Peeps! I just got back yesterday, but did not see Esclava. I already knew the premise of the setup of the tale, from reading about the tn. Thank you LXV, for the overview of the first episode! Also, thank you Romy, for getting a juicy conversation started. Like you, the premise of a "good" slave owner is always hard for me to swallow. But many shows/movies/novels are set up with this premise, in order to show the main (white) characters in a good/heroic light, while being able to highlight the ambiance/luxury/romance of the era. As a decedent of slaves as well, I can never accept it. Sorry, I will never be a Gone With the Wind fan, although I understand why people love it. I have a feeling that this tale will also relegate the black characters and their immense struggles and suffering to the background, while elevating the white characters and their struggles to the forefront. I will be pleasantly surprised if the writers manage to keep the black characters and their stories on even footing with the white characters, once the little girl grows up and moves away from the black family she grows up with. The story looks very interesting and cinematography looks amazing. Not sure I'll be able to take a look at it until next week, however.
 

Esclava: Vivi, welcome back! I am so happy to have you back with us. And of course, your first post is brilliant as usual. I will take a wait and see attitude also about the black characters evolution. I just hope they are not caricatures. I do not like Gone with the Wind either never did. I am actually looking forward to this novela and I am willing to love it if it stays interesting. Once again welcome back and get some rest so you can tell us a bit of your wonderful adventure.
Romy
 

ESCLAVA

Romy & Vivi (welcome home by the way!): I am hoping they tell a more accurate story than say, Gone With the Wind, about the true economic underpinnings of colonization, and slavery. It's a shameful, but undeniable fact that the US built its economic might on the backs of slaves. This is still barely acknowledged to this day. Productions like this have the burden & responsibility of revealing much of what was glossed over in the history I learned growing up. The first episode started out with a bang and I'm going to try to follow as much as I can.

 

Eva

britishcomedyfan, as best I can recall, Andy scared Adriana by sneaking into her house and suddenly appearing, but I don't think he said very much. He said he wanted to talk, and he tried to get her to recall the great times they had (huh??), but she wasn't buying it. She was terrified and angry that he was there, and she ran into the kitchen and grabbed a large knife and threatened him with it, telling him again to leave. He claimed he wasn't scared, that she wouldn't hurt a fly. I'm not sure, but I think he grabbed her. I do know that she screamed very loudly, and that Celeste, Noemi, and Esteban heard her cries and came running to her aid. They--especially Esteban--made Andy decide he should leave. He said all he wanted was to speak to "mi mujer." Adriana quickly replied that she was NOT his mujer and he should leave. He left.

If you want to check out the scene, and see whether there were any more with Adri and Andy in that episode, you can take a look on the Telemundo website at capítulo 43. The little CC box at the bottom near the right hand side will give you Spanish captions, and you can stop them when you don't understand something and look it up. I'm not sure it's worth it for that scene, but you may find this feature useful at other times. Buena suerte
 

Isn't "La Esclava Blanca" a remake of the previous Brazilian TN several years back ?
 

Eslava


I knew this TN was going to be a hard TN to watch just because of the subject matter and setting. It didn’t’ help me that Nikolas a/k/a bad slave owner whipped his lover/slave Sara, at the request of his mother. …then tried to have sex with her. And his horrible mother caused Sara to drop the platter and then demand that she be whipped made me want to scream. Unfortunately, Sara seems to think that Nik really cares for her and only whipped her to keep up appearances for his wife and mother. Sara is in for a cruel awakening….especially when she finds out that Nik is a black market slave trader who’d rather see a boat load of human cargo drown to death than to be found out for who he is.

And I knew Domingo a/k/a good slave owner wouldn’t make it long in this TN…since he had agreed that Milogros, one of our protagonist, had just made his final payment towards his freedom. How heart breaking it must be to come so close to freedom and then see it taken away because Domingo wasn’t able to file the papers before his untimely death. How Milagros recovers from this heartbreak, I don’t’ know.

This TN is going to have to grow on me….. and so far, I’m not optimistic.

Nett

 

Eslava.

Milagros' wife received Domingo's child, a white daughter, from the criminal who burned down the house to kill Domingo. I had thought that the white daughter/slave was actually of mixed race and not white. Guess I didn't understand the premise of the show. Will be interesting to see where this goes...as Milagros and his wife continue to protect this child.....especially since they already have a girl child of their own.

I'm with you Romy/Vivi that I hope the writers give equal time to both black and white protagonist. I also hope there is balance in the story line regarding the realism of slavery.

Nett
 

@Steve Boudreaux

I don't think La Esclava Blanca is a remake of La Esclava Isaura, the Brazilian one that was dubbed into Spanish and shown on Telemundo. Mind you, I have yet to see an episode of La Esclava Blanca, but the premise appears to be different. In La Esclava Isaura, Isaura was the daughter of a white overseer type guy (nice guy) and a slave woman. She was brought up in the house of the white owners of her mother and treated very well, especially by the kind wife of the owner of the property.

From the promos I've seen, I think La Esclava Blanca may deal with a white child brought up by slaves.

If anyone knows I'm wrong, chime in please.

I do plan to watch La Esclava Blanca. The question is when I'll have time to do so!
 

Esclava

Esclava

Novelera…I think you are right. In this TN, Victoria is a white baby who apparently is going to be raised by her nurse who is an escaped slave along with her husband Thomas.....the slave that is free on paper.

The nurse and her husband Thomas (I mistakenly called him Milagros in my earlier post) run away the night that Victoria’s parents are killed for their land. Victoria is spared by the killer, and handed over to the slave nurse with orders that she and the baby are to disappear or he will kill her. This works with the plot as the slaves are later wrongly blamed for setting the fire that kills Victoria’s parents so some of them escape…including our main protagonist, Thomas and his wife/slave nurse…and their daughter Milagros.

Going to be interesting to see how Thomas and his wife care for Victoria……who is obviously the main character……without neglecting their own daughter.

Nett

 

Esclava. I think I'll give La Esclava blanca a pass. I was the third reader a couple of year s ago on an MA thesis about a novel set in a slave society in the Caribbean and found that there was a lot of crypto-S&M in it--even though it was by a very well-regarded contemporary novelist. I suspect from what I have read about this tn so far that it won't avoid the same temptation. Besides, I only have time for one telenovela a night, and think I'll stay with the one that keeps me updated on contemporary vocabulary.
 

Eva

I had thought that I'd have a recap ready by now, but I'm falling asleep, so I will finish it up tomorrow morning.
 

La Esclava Blanca

So I found the first episode interesting and will probably watch the second one tonight as this is one of my free nights this week.

So, it takes place in 1821, and then mention Bolívar and Santander. They also mentioned Gran Colombia. See this from the internet:

Gran Colombia, formal name Republic of Colombia, the short-lived republic (1819–30), formerly the Viceroyalty of New Granada, including roughly the modern nations of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. In the context of their war for independence from Spain, revolutionary forces in northern South America, led by Simón Bolívar, in 1819 laid the basis for a regular government at a congress in Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela). Their republic was definitely organized at the Congress of Cúcuta in 1821.

I wonder if this Congress was what the General was speaking about when he spoke to the landowners about libertad de vientres (freedom of the womb). Someone at that meeting said that this would mean that any child born to a slave would be automatically free at age 18. Not much, to be sure. I assumed from this that the child would remain a slave and forced to work until he or she reached that age. They also said that this was the first step toward the abolition of slavery.

Of course we've all heard of Simón Bolívar, but I needed to look up Santander:

He was the acting President of Gran Colombia between 1819 and 1826, and later elected by Congress as the President of the Republic of New Granada between 1832 and 1837.
 

ESCLAVA:

Novelera- You're bringing me back to my Latin American Studies days. This was actually a really fascinating time in South American history, and a really interesting time in which to set this story. That makes it more appealing to me. Still won't have time to check it out until this weekend, however.
 

EVA LA TRAILERA - MARTES - Parte 1 de 3

The previous episode ended with Eva and Pablo quarreling before Pancho's funeral, and Armando coming over to ask "Is he bothering you?" "Am I bothering her?" Pablo asks with scorn. Today's episode begins with Eva telling Pablo that yes, he is bothering her, and then she tells Armando that he, too, is bothering her. She asks them both to leave and not make a scene, especially not here at Pancho's funeral.

The scene shifts briefly to the hospital. One of the doctors says that even though Soraya is breathing on her own, he doesn't like her condition. The other doctor agrees, and says he wants to see whether there is still activity in the brain. He fears that she may be brain dead.

Although Armando told Marlene not to come to the funeral, she is present. She catches sight of Cinthia and Robert, and she observes, "How elegant. You look as though you're celebrating." Cinthia informs her that inside, they're celebrating, but outside they are expressing solidarity with Bobby.

The funeral begins. Eva and Bobby both give sad and moving speeches. Hearing Pancho repeatedly praised, Marlene, Cinthia, and Robert look increasingly uncomfortable. After the ceremony, Cinthia comes over to Bobby and tells her amorcito that his words were wonderful, and that she and Robert are very proud of him. True to form, Robert compliments Bobby on his speech by telling him he didn't think he had it in him to be an orator. Bobby is not interested in their praise. He tells them, "Save your energy, I don't believe you at all." Robert tells (threatens?) Bobby, "We continue to be your family, and don't forget that."

Adriana comes over to Bobby, hugs him, and tells him she's sure Soraya will recover. As soon as Adri leaves, Camila comes over to offer her condolences (mi más sentido pésame), and then she too hugs him, even though she barely knows him. The competition has begun.

Although Eva had asked Pablo and Armando to leave before the funeral started, they both stayed. Now that the ceremony has ended, Pablo tries again to explain his actions vis a vis Betty to Eva. He promises her that Betty will be in his house for no more than five days. Eva tells him he doesn't fulfill his promises, Betty knows how to play on his weak points. Eva says he's an angel, a saint, a great lawyer, and a good person, but he does stupid things, and she can't wait for him until he matures. It's over between them. Armando has been listening around a corner, and he breaks into a smile. He comes over and says to Eva, "Well, it turns out that your hero, your white knight, isn't one. He has another woman. I told you: we're all alike."

Camila the Hoverer sees Bobby again with Adriana and brings both of them cups of hot chocolate.

Damián, Pancho's lawyer, comes over to Bobby, offers his condolences, and says they need to talk. Bobby agrees to meet with him at the Mogollones' house in an hour. Cinthia and Robert see the two of them talking, and Robert says "Soon we will be multi-millionaires."
 

EVA LA TRAILERA - MARTES - Parte 2 de 3

The scene finally moves from the funeral to outside the Mogollones' house. Esteban is sobbing. He tells Noemi that he not only liked the Mogollones, he admired them a lot. He didn't look upon Pancho as a boss, but rather as a father. "I would have been delighted to have been his son, and Soraya's." He sobs. Noemi says that she knows that there's nothing between Esteban and her, but she offers him her shoulder to cry on, and she tells him he can hug her if he wishes. He does.

Just then, Bobby and Damián drive up and enter the house. Damian tells Bobby that since the doctors aren't sure how long it will be before Soraya is out of her coma, he (Damián) needs new instructions. When Bobby looks puzzled, Damián says he's talking about Pancho's will. Bobby gives him another puzzled look. Damián tells him, "Your adoptive father said you know all about the will and that you had appointed him as your legal representative." Damián then goes on to tell him that he and Soraya are about to share an inheritance of roughly 300 million dollars. Moreover, Bobby will be the owner of all Pancho's businesses. Oh, but there's one condition, adds the lawyer. Pancho says you have to change your name to Mogollon. Bobby is taken aback. The lawyer explains that Pancho hated the thought that you would continue to bear the name of the man who stole you and then tried to swindle him. Also, should we continue with Pancho's lawsuits against Robert?

Camila comes to ask Eva about Bobby. Eva expresses fondness and admiration for Camila and says she knows Camila finds Bobby attractive, but she tells her that Bobby and Adriana used to be novios, and their relationship hasn't ended. She encourages Camila to be patient, that there's a good man out there for her and she'll find him. It's just a matter of patience. They embrace, but the brief glimpse we're given of Camila's face as she hugs Eva doesn't give me confidence that Camila will take Eva's advice.

Silva, Marlene's favorite lawyer, has come to the house at Armando's request. Armando excludes Marlene from the meeting, telling her that this is just between him and Silva. She's not pleased. When, some time later, the two men emerge from their meeting, neither will tell Marlene what was discussed. She's even less pleased.

The meeting between Bobby and Damián continues, and Bobby asks Damian to withdraw Pancho's lawsuits. He doesn't want to put in prison the man who has raised him for most of his life. The meeting ends, Damián leaves, and Camila the Hoverer enters and is all over Bobby. Of course, Adri comes in just as the Hoverer is hugging Bobby. Adri's face makes it clear that she's not pleased, but she says nothing about her feelings. She explains that she has brought her suitcase because she can't stand the thought of continuing to live in the house now that her father is going to marry Marlene. Bobby agrees that she's welcome to stay.

Meanwhile, Robert and Cinthia are toasting to their coming prosperity. Suddenly Bobby enters and asks, "Are you making plans for my inheritance? When did you find out about this, when you were spying on my parents?" Bobby then informs them that he's going to change his name to Mogollon. Both Cinthia and Robert are shocked. How could he change his name from one that suggests good ancestry (alcurnia) to one so vulgar (ordinario), so trashy (naco)? After Bobby is out of earshot, Robert tells Cinthia that the name isn't all that important, that what's most important is to get hold of the fortune.
 

EVA LA TRAILERA - MARTES - Parte 3 de 3

Back at the Mogollon house, Pablo comes to speak with Eva. But he's soon one-upped by the arrival of Armando, who has "a surprise" for Eva: he has brought Fabi. Eva is ecstatic, as is Fabi. Eva, Fabi, and Adriana happily embrace in a group hug (a hug that doesn't include Armando). There's a momentary complication when Fabi wants to go to her house, insisting that the Mogollones' house "no es mi casa." Adri and Eva eventually calm her down and help her see that where the three of them are together is their home. Eva asks Armando about the order of restriction that has prevented her from being with Fabi. "I ended it," he tells her. His only request is that she permit him to see Fabi every day. "With pleasure," she responds, even though she recalls that he prohibited her from seeing Fabi. He apologizes, acknowledging that he was a brute. Pablo tells Eva that Armando is manipulating her. Eva asks both Pablo and Armando to leave. After they go out the door, Armando tells Pablo that "Sooner or later, Eva and I will be back together, and you will be one too many, as you are now" (como hoy, de más).

Esteban comes to see Bobby. Apparently the workers haven't been paid in a week, and there are other expenses as well. Bobby tells Esteban he can try to take care of all this the next day, after he changes his name to Mogollon. For some reason, Esteban isn't sure this solves the problem. After he leaves, Eva, who has overheard the conversation, tells Bobby that she will soon be earning money and will be able to help him. I think Bobby thanks her but tells her it won't be necessary. (I don't have good notes about this scene, probably because there were parts I didn't understand. It doesn't seem to me all that important, but I could be mistaken.)

Back at Marlene and Armando's den of iniquity, aka house, Marlene calls the lawyer Silva and reminds him that she was the one who was responsible for his being their lawyer. She demands to know what he and Armando were talking about. "What!" she exclaims. We then see Armando enter his bedroom and feel very good about having given Fabiola back to Eva. "Well done," he thinks to himself. (It's not clear whether he feels he did something morally good or strategically clever.) A furious Marlene enters and says in a rage, "You gave Fabiola back to Eva! You gave her her daughter!" Yes, replies Armando, I did. So what?" On that question, the episode ends.
 

EVA

Juanita, that was excellent! Thank you.

That scene with Armando patting himself on the back: ' "Well done," he thinks to himself. (It's not clear whether he feels he did something morally good or strategically clever.) ' You absolutely nailed ! That is precisely the dilemma about this character. We're not sure if he's really just a dim, weak-willed sweetheart or a vicious, unstable manipulator.

I am so not liking Camila, and Eva's face when she pondered the implications of having brought her into the mix was brilliantly played.
 

Eva

Thanks very much, LXV, for your enthusiastic response to the recap. You summed up our dilemma about Armando perfectly, not just in this episode but all throughout the novela.

I too am so not liking Camila. In the notes I took about this episode, I wrote "she's driving me nuts!"

I wonder whether Bobby will regret his good-hearted decision about the lawsuits against Robert after he learns of Robert's complicity in Pancho's death. Of course, if that complicity actually comes to light, Robert may be in for a lot more jail time than the lawsuits would have brought. ¡Ojalá!
 

Eva. Thanks for the superb recap, juanita! This was a very busy episode! Just by coincidence, on Monday I happened to watch part of the classic horror movie Cat People. The expression on Camila's face after Eva tells her she shouldn't take up with Bobby and when she sees Bobby with Adriana reminds me of the expression that the supposedly sweet ghost (played by Simone Simon, I believe) when she thinks the little girl whom she is trying to steal isn't looking--a little bit evil and most definitely "up-to-something." What would Eva have Pablo do? Maybe connect Betty to social services? I'll bet he wouldn't have any more success with that than with her moving back in with Marisol. When Armando brings Fabi to Eva--¡alegría general! Pablo can't top that! No wonder Armando is so pleased with himself! Esclava. I also enjoyed novelera's comments on the history of the abolition of slavery in Colombia. I'll still give the tn a pass, though.
 

Eva

Masterful recap, Juanita. I loved your insights into our characters. You are so right about Edith's expressive face registering her misgivings about having brought Camila into Soraya's home. What an ungrateful minx! She'd still be in el bote if Eva hadn't asked Martín and Pablo to help her. So what does she do? Move on Eva's daughter's boyfriend (maybe he's not actually el novio now; but Eva clearly told her the ashes weren't completely dead there).

Armando is a very ambiguous character at times. But he's a very jealous man. The reason he put Fabi in the institution (besides Marlene's pushing him to do so) was to hurt Eva for having another man. He overheard Eva telling Pablo to buzz off and that her #1 priority was getting her child back. So he restores Fabiola to her mother. I noticed he said that his condition for continuing to keep off the order of restriction was for him to visit Fabi every day. Hah! He wants to visit Eva every day. It was sort of cute when the camera showed him smiling at some of the expressions Eva used in telling off Pablo, mostly the ones about his being immature.

When they showed Bobby remembering parting from Pancho and Soraya I was wondering if they were going to show a metaphoric light bulb over his head.

I guess the writers just want Marlene to be 100% sociopath. It's not really any skin off her nose if Fabiola is with her mother. But she saw getting the kid in that place as a big victory over Eva, and Marlene doesn't like to lose any battles. But she's surely setting Armando against her more and more. I really wonder if either of them will be alive at the end of this.
 

Eva. Just reread the comments and realized that it was LXV who noticed Eva's face after her "little talk" with Camila.
 

Eva

thanks so much Juanita for the recap, I really enjoyed your look into the individual characters.

Pablo was very annoying last night following Eva around during Pancho's funeral trying to make his point, which was what, and Eva nailed it pretty good, Betty is playing him, she is not going to wait for him to grow up, "it's over", with a smile from the eavesdropping Armando thrown in.

a pretty overwhelming night for Bobby, who finds himself in his dad's shoes, maybe a hundred sizes too big, which allows Camila enough room to move in.

Armando does the "big dummy" role pretty well as he convinces himself he is a match for Marlene.

Katie Barberi (Cinthia) and Henry Zakka (Robert) are a perfect match.

 

La esclava blanca

novelera- thanks so much for spilling some history, I was not familiar with Simon Bolivar much more than the name and had not heard of Gran Colombia, and how great would his dream have been if he had united all of south america.

and further looking around led me to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpieza_de_sangre
a short history on the importance of blood lines.

Simon was Creole

"The Criollo were a social class in the hierarchy of the overseas colonies established by Spain in the 16th century, especially in Hispanic America, comprising the locally born people of confirmed European (primarily Spanish) ancestry.

The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent resident colonists born in Spain. Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes — people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans."

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

...which sets the stage for this story.

 

La Esclava Blanca

Thanks, deb, for the criollo info. I got some hint of the snobbery last night when Nicolás and his mother appeared to scorn his wife. They implied she was a criollo social climber marrying into a Spanish born family.
 

Eva

What I forgot to put in my comment earlier is this: What right does Armando have now to reinstate an order of restriction if Eva doesn't meet his "conditions"? She was declared innocent in her trial. There is no legal reason to deny her custody of her daughter. Of course Armando could ask for shared custody, but I don't think he'd do that.
 

Eva

Many thanks, SpanProf, novelera, and deb, for your appreciative remarks about the recap and your great comments about the episode.

I agree, SpanProf, that any other arrangement Pablo tried to make for Betty would not have been well received. Pablo doesn't realize how skillfully Betty (of the on-again off-again cough) is playing him. I wonder what it would take to open his eyes.

novelera, it's clear that Marlene takes Armando's returning Fabi to Eva as first and foremost a slap in the face to Marlene. She takes an almost visceral pleasure in seeing Eva suffer, and has an almost equally strong negative response when something makes Eva happy.

deb, I loved your description of Bobby's finding himself in his father's shoes, "perhaps a hundred sizes too big, which gives Camila enough room to move in."
 

ESCLAVA Thanks all for the historical input, novelera & deb. Also, Vivi, Nett, Romy SpanProf, among the lot of us, it looks as though we might have a good group commenting. I confess, tried watching last night and found myself so upset by the utter cruelty and terror inflicted upon the oppressed people that I had to turn it off. Also, it can't be denied that there was a tremendous amount of sexual abuse by the masters. Kara Walker is a contemporary artist who depicts this extensively in her work, often disguising it in caricature. Her political stance is so clear that no one would mistake it for S&M. She uses ironic references to the stereotypes that only a generation ago were accepted as harmless comedy. I'm interested to see how they handle this issue in the novela. So, I'll be watching, but maybe not every day.







 

Esclava

Just want to add my thanks, novelera, for your account of some of the history underlying La Esclava Blanca. I found it very helpful. I watched the first episode, but it will take me a while to decide whether I will continue to watch it. If I do, it will probably be mostly on weekends.
 

ESCLAVA:

Indeed, it does look like we may have a good commenting group, if this tn captures and retains our interest.

LXV- I saw a profile on Karen Walker some time ago on a Sunday morning program, I think. Thanks for reminding me of her. Her work certainly does not fall under that S&M category. But the 10 minute preview of Esclava posted above, where the slave mistress gets whipped by her master/lover, and then turns around and starts kissing on him, does. Not only unrealistic as you mentioned in your first post, but just gross in so man ways.
 

Esclava

Don't want to post spoilers, but stay tuned for what happens with the slave mistress.
 

La esclava blanca

...and last night's show jumped ahead 12 years.

 

Esclava

I just watched last night's episode. I found it a little hard to believe that Victoria at the end of the episode is only twelve. She looked a bit older. And the boy she with at the start of the 12 años después part--was he supposed to be Sara's son, and thus also only 12 years old? If so, that's an even harder stretch for me than Victoria's being 12. But perhaps he's not Sara's son?
 

Eva. I'm just waiting for Eva to climb back into her truck. :)
 

Esclava

Yes, the boy is Miguel, Sara's son, who is Victoria's BFF. I thought the girl looked 12. I think she was about 2-3 months old when they left with her. And the boy is, what, 7 or 8 months younger than Victoria? He could surely be taller than she is, assuming that his parents are taller than Victoria's parents, even though he's months younger.
 

Eva

SpanProf: AMEN!! I am SO looking forward to Soler e Hijas prosperous business.
 

Eva

I'll try and do the recap tonight.

 

Eva. Looks as if LA only has one cemetery too! :)
 

Eva

Good point, SpanProf. :-) You'd think that with all the people who die in these telenovelas, there'd be more than one cemetary.
 

Eva la trailera... epi 59, wednesday
part 1

Marlene is HOT, that Armando gave Fabi to her mother, he could care less, go to the police if you want, and walks away.

ah, but later Marlene puts on her finest lingerie and lays in a bed of rose petals, this reels Armando back in, and when he wants seconds, she wants a wedding, ok he says with a smile, as he is off to the shower, this worries her.

Eva snuggles up to Adri and Fabi all sleeping in her big bed, and asks papa Pepe for help.

Pablo spends the night at the office while Betty joins the others for breakfast, Diego points out how bad things have been since she arrived, Betty gets on him, Martin flips pointing out kids and drunks don't lie, and leaves with Diego, Evencio throws in his 2 cents and calls her a perra.

Eva, tells the girls they have to move, but Camila likes it there, and alas no one but Eva has ever had a job before.

Fabi is back in school and meets up with Diego, Pablo is there but not Eva, as Adri brought her.

Eva with her one truck snags a job from a former customer, almost cries she is so relieved.

Bobby is at Soraya's side, still in a coma, the doctor says the longer it lasts the less chance Soraya will be all right, and after, Camila who told the girls she has a plan, pops out of thin air, says he can count on her, and steals a kiss, before leaving.

Pablo makes it home, Betty asks if he's avoiding her, what do you think, he says, and Betty answers the knock at the door, its Eva, come to see Pablo, Betty figures, nope, Evencio, and they go outside to talk, Pablo rushes after them, still trying to get in his talk, but Betty snags him, but somehow he slips out of her grasp, and Eva, Evencio, and Pablo meet at the mailbox, and here the conversation becomes who can be more childish, well not by Evencio who steps aside.

and finally they break and Eva gets to talk to Evencio, who wisely points out her stubborn ways, so they change the subject, Eva has two favors to ask, 1) will he be her co-pilot, and wow, Evencio is bowled over, he would be honored.

Martin visits Virginia in prison, with the trouble she is in there is nothing he can do with her case, but I was set up she says, and we need proof Martin points out, ok, she'll get it, but Martin warns her to be careful because she is all alone now (and without her knife) and is that guard listening to them.

and 2) we see as the girls all move into Evencio's house, and what a mess it is, no water or power, and Eva reminds us that this was the house she was born in and grew up in.

 

Eva la trailera... epi 59, wednesday
part 2

Javier (does Armando keep calling him Gusano (worm)) is laying out how business is bad and getting worse ever since Sofia died, their customers are moving away, as if Armando is even listening, as Marlene arrives, she has decided the wedding will be in a week, and she and Armando put on their best fake smiles, and chase the gusano out, Marlene wants a small wedding, maybe just a judge, ah the still smiling Armando goes, so none of your high society friends will see you marrying a truck driver, (as he walks away yet again)

Marisol swings by Pablo's, Betty tries not to let her in, but spills about how everyone hates her, Marisol wants her back at her place, nope, Betty's staying, they'll get used to me after awhile, and besides she heard Pablo and Eva fighting, something about they are breaking up.

at the office JJ is killing aliens or something on the computer while the unbearable Pablo starts in on him, and then on Martin but wait a possible client walks in, something about her cheating husband, Martin grabs for the tissues (what no perfumed hanky) and Martin assures her they can help and if he is cheating Pablo is a crack divorce attorney, and after she is safely gone they are back at it, I'm not divorcing anyone Pablo says, your making my blood boil counters Martin, and asks Pablo to just leave, go for a walk, and he does.

Eva leaves the house to see about getting the utilities back on, Federica gives her a ring to pawn, and she swings by Pepe's grave 1933-1988 for some advice, she has had two men in her life, one has really messed up and the other is borderline stupid, no more for her.

Pablo has swung by to lay flowers on his wife's grave, Mercedes, where he talks about his troubles, yep I was the stupid one,

Robert and Cinthia drop by to see Marlene, handing her the will that Bobby brought home, Soraya is still alive so we only get half, you need to finish the job, no, no, we'll just let her die gracefully on her own, says Marlene (and I'm pulling my hair out, when is someone going to investigate the accident?)

Bobby is with Soraya, he tells her his real name is Luis Roberts, from now on he will be Luis Mogollon, (hmm and not Beto) gets a call from Damian the lawyer and is off to meet him at the house.

[I see in wiki Beto is a nickname for alberto, humberto, roberto...etc]

Eva moves to Carmen and Sofia's graves and tosses out her regrets and adds how much she loves them, and promises them both, that justice will be served, as Pablo quietly walks up, that's a mighty big promise you make, but I will vouch for you, because I promised to help, are their eyes sparkling again?

 

Eva. I thought some of the dates on the graves were a little strange. Was that 1965 for a birthdate on Pablo's wifes'grave, or should I have been wearing my glasses? Anyway, cool the way Evencio seems to have turned into a full-fledged housekeeper and also his joy at being Eva's number 2 driver. Hope he's taken Martín's and Pablo's advice and joined AA! The women at Pancho's house and then Evencio's have become like a little all-female coop. I like the theme of the restoration of Eva's old family home, now Evencio's. It's sort of symbolic of what is happening with both their lives. And shouldn't Eva at least have child support for Fabi from Armando? Betty is still delusional about Pablo. I thought her smile when she talked about Eva's and Pablo's breakup was both detestable and creepy. Is she really sick or just faking it? Marlene's refusal to do in Soraya seems to mostly be because she knows that the police are watching her.
 

Eva

Thanks so much, deb, for another wonderful recap. Among the phrases I especially liked were [Marlene's sexy attire] "reels Armando back in," and when Bobby is visiting Soraya at the hospital, Camila "pops out of thin air." I fear this is part of the plan she said she has. I already have two dart boards, one with Marlene's picture in the center, the other with Betty's. I guess I'm going to have to buy a third so I can add Camila. Her perra-ness grows day by day, though she isn't yet a match for the other two.

I too wonder why apparently no one has investigated the "accident" that killed Pancho and gravely injured Soraya. We may have to wait until Bobby--oops, Luis--puts together his being called back because of Cinthia's non-existent suicide attempt and the timing of the accident.

Speaking of Bobby--oops, Luis--, did you mean to say that Bobby told Soraya that his real name was Luis Roberto (not Luis Roberts)? I could be wrong, but I don't recall his saying anything about being named Luis Roberts. My understanding was that he is going to keep "Luis" and drop "Roberto," since he wants nothing to do with Robert. And, of course, he will change his last name to Mogollon, as Pancho requested.

I wonder whether Armando's increasingly overt hostility to Marlene a strategy to get her to abandon her plan for them to marry.

Yes, deb, I too thought Eva's and Pablo's eyes were shining at the end of the episode. Let's hope.
 

Eva. And I neglected to say that I loved your recap, deb. Thorough and perceptive as always!
 

EVA

Thank you deb; I love your observation that none of that gaggle of girls had ever held down a job except Eva. So, what's the deal with Evencio's apartment. He was kicked out by management for lack of upkeep? Was he paying the rent meanwhile? (or the monthly fees?) does he own the place? Why the heck wasn't he living there after his rehab? Beanie time, for me anyway!!

I'm with you about "what, no investigation?" At the very least, a police report about a fatal wreck on the highway.

Not looking forward to Adri playing mini-Eva over the impending misunderstanding about Bobby and mini-Marlene (Camila).

 

Esclava: I was debating about watching the violence I knew would be visited on the enslaved people but if my ancestors survived it I can watch a recreation of it. I will just double my blood pressure medicine just in case. What we decided if there is going to be a mini recap, highlights or one weekly recap? I am jut asking not hinting at anything, lol. I always explain because intentions are hard to read when you post. Out of topic, Prince is dead, oy
Romy
 

Eva. Hi, LXV! The house where Evencio was living originally belonged to Eva's father. He told his daughters that one of them could inherit the house and one the truck. Eva chose the truck and learned to be a skilled truck driver under his tutelage. Carmen chose the house, and when she married Evencio the two of them and Sofía lived there. After the deaths of Carmen and Sofía Evencio let the house become an eyesore and was served notice by the city that he had to clean up the place. Instead, he left the it to live in a drunken stupor in a homeless encampment. I'm surprised the city didn't condemn the house while he was gone, but evidently it didn't and that's why Eva can move herself and her crew into it.
 

Eva. It seems like a pretty nice California-style art deco house. I used to walk along a street filled with that kind of house on my way to and from school.
 

Eva

SpanProf, the birth date on Pablo's wife's tomb is 1985. I remember thinking that she was a good bit younger than my son, who, fortunately, is very much alive (knock on wood, salt over my shoulder).
 

Eva

Late to the party. Insane day at work! Deb, your recap was terrific! Wish I had time to comment more.

Armando is definitely up to something vis a vis Marlene. He's too compliant about the wedding in one week. And he now thinks he can get back with Eva since she broke up with Pablo.

I thought Bobby said Luis Robert, not Roberto, but I could be wrong.

Yes, Betty is SO creepy. And it would be great if Marisol told Pablo she'd offered her shelter and been refused. Everyone in the household despises her.
 

Eva. Juanita: 1985 would be about right since she died at around 20 and has been dead for about 10 years in the tn.
 

EVA

SpanProf Thanks for reminding me about Evencio's house. I had forgotten that rift between the two sisters. As if Carmen would have deigned to drive a truck in the first place. She was an angry loser if you ask me. Probably jealous of Eva's fond relationship with her dad. Still doesn't justify her murder, however. But she sure did make Eva's life miserable.
 

Thank you for summarizing the first episodes. I am a black american learning a little spanish by immersion. La Esclava Blanca seems to be the only broadcast program with afrolatino characters. It is interesting to see the similarities and differences of slavery in the USA versus Columbia. This is interesting although i feel bothered that the white characters are the devils AND the saviors of blacks. Too many times the whites are the saviors and many of the black characters are written in such a way that they lack depth (like sheep). Consequently thus goes against what the show tries to do which is to have the audience deeply empathize with the black slaves. This is a problem in almost every movie or show about slavery that ive seen and ive seen at least 40 major productions. Overall La Esclava Blanca is well done and yet i do wish to see more spanish programming that shows modern black spanish speaking people in interesting, complex...even classy ways. Im open to recommendations of shows that fit this description. Please recommend. Thank you for these synopsi in english! So appeciated!
 

I am a regular novella watcher, and as an AFRICAN American I diligently watch for any/ all Black character or story lines.
Watching this novella has given American student and educators of African diaspora a little insight and graphic images of how African in central and South America survives the nightmare and horror of chattel slavery.
Enslavement of Africans [Transatlantic Slave Trade/MAAFA] in the Western Hemisphere was/is a holocaust that has still not been addressed and social political ramification are a cultural and economic battleground for Civil Rights and economic Equality for African Latinos.
The episode of the branding of children was the catalysis of my scroll of notices of this novella. The genocide both physical and mental, the terror and torture, is still in the memory of our folkways, art, songs and cosmology. The current political struggle for human right and dignity. The assertion of an African identify and national collective in resistance to white domination/supremacy.

The novella was very good at showing the structure of white domination and the dehumanizing of Africans.

The representations of the African community resistance to subjugation, were excellent, but over, all too quickly, in its portrayal as Akan, Yoruba, Fulani, Mali and of course Benin /Dahomy Muslims!!!

I hope the next telenovela will show African Latino in the current modern society. But the truth of their social status [racial caste system] will have to be seen as well.

The economics of the Black Body is interesting and has been discussed in the script, the genocide of whole groups of enslaved tribes in the mines. I found that interesting given the call for Reparation from Spain in restitution for 500 years of inhuman bondage and genocide.
Reparations for Slavery Due now!!!