Tuesday, May 17, 2016

El Hotel de los Secretos #78, 5/17/16: The Truth is Finally Told!

This recap is by commenter Cynthia. Her first recap on the blog!  Thanks so much, Cynthia!
We open with Ayala on the phone confirming the real identity of Diego. He is a Colombian who has been a fugitive from the law for 6 years named Juan Camilo Angarita. Ayala explains that Diego is a very dangerous murderous man, who was running from the police. Romulo saved him because he was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was trying to help out of good faith. The problem is that Ayala doesn’t know if Romulo actually knew that Diego/Juan Camilo Angarita was a murderer. The part he can’t figure out is if Diego/Juan murdered Romulo himself or if it was truly Teresa who murdered Romulo.

Next, Melibea barges in with the man who took Fulgencia and never returned with her. She is angry as all heck and wants Ayala to do something about it. Ayala asks him if his name is Bulmaro Rangel Canfield, and the man replies, yes. She is saying something about how he needs to learn to respect women and she wants to know what happened to Fulgencia. Unfortunately, Ayala has to break the bad news to Melibea and explain to her that she was found dead a few days ago. However, her death is the last part of a piece of a very perverse puzzle that needs to be solved that will bring peace back to San Cristobal.

Later, Ayala is questioning his suspect, Bulmaro Rangel Canfield in the jail. Ayala tells him that he is just stuck and he’s dead because he has more witnesses than fingers on his hands who will swear that he was the last person who was with Fulgencia before she died. He says he’s not saying anything without lawyer. Ayala tells him to shut up and offers to explain. We have two scenarios regarding this ring (Belen’s wedding ring). First, we have that you simply murdered this prostitute and if so, you will spend an eternity in one of these cells. The second scenario is that this ring may have been used to falsify evidence in a case where it was intended to be used as a tool by a very perverse mind and that requires a much superior punishment. So Mr. Oilman, are you going to die in one of my jail cells to protect someone that you care nothing about? Then Bulmaro replies, “It was Belen Garcia. She was the one who asked me to.” Ayala goes on to explain that in a trial it will be her word against his and so far, she has proved to be much more ready for a song and dance that she can fool people with. Bulmaro is in deep doo-doo, if you know what I mean. This is a serious problem. Bulmaro asks what to do and Ayala asks if he has nice handwriting. He starts writing a confession or statement for the police dictated by Ayala.

Later, we see Angela in her new room muttering to herself and getting weepy saying that Romulo is everywhere, when there is a knock on the door and it is Isabel. Isa notices that Angela is weepy and asks if there is anything that she can do. Angela replies that she's just a sentimental old lady. They share a laugh, but Isabel has some questions for Angela. She wants to know if Angela was there when her father died. Angela replies that she was around but Teresa did not allow her to go into Romulo’s suite while still alive. She would have liked to have seen him, but instead she and Don Benjamin were asked to collect her father’s things while Teresa was preparing for the funeral. There was a tray service with a cup at the bedside. There was also that bottle of cough syrup, or expectorant that belonged to Teresa. They were asked to dispose of the things there. Angela wants to know why she wants to know all this and Isabel replies that since she wasn’t around when it happened that there are things in her head she is trying to figure out. She thanks Angela for the information.

After leaving Angela, Isabel sets up a plan with Julio to make up her father’s room to make it look as Angela had explained it looked on the day of his death, complete with the tea set and the cough medicine. She and Julio set up the room and Isabel says she is going to hide in the bathroom.

Outside the room, Julio encounters Teresa and says that he was called there because of an emergency in room 10. He does not know what it is except that the person had complained. Julio says that she can check things out since she is the director and find out what the problem might be. She walks in and is horrified and says, “What kind of game is this???” She asks Julio to remove the tea service tray immediately. He does and walks out the door. Teresa picks up the bottle of expectorant. Then Isabel comes out and tells Teresa, “It was you! It was you who killed my father!” Teresa throws the bottle on the floor breaking it into pieces. Teresa says to Isabel, “How are you going to prove it?”

Teresa goes to try to open that safe and is unsuccessful. She goes downstairs and asks Mateo to get the car ready because she needs to go somewhere. He says, why not wait till tomorrow because it’s dangerous outside. She refuses and decides she must go now. They end up outside some building in town where Teresa is then handed some documents and something else that she quickly tucks away.

We now are checking in on how Elisa is doing with Victoria back at the old homestead in Mexico City. She is mumbling something about wanting to make tea in the morning, but couldn’t find her English Tea. Victoria says that she gave Elisa her breakfast, including her fruit, ham and eggs, accompanied with French bread, with strawberry jam. With all that was the English tea! (Looks like Elisa has symptoms of dementia.) Elisa goes on to look at the San Cristobal news and all the happenings going on over there. She told Alfredo not to go back and that it was nothing but trouble over there because it’s nothing but a hell hole with those evil, malcontented Alarcons.

Now we return to Alfredo and Sofia and Alfredo is very angry and can’t believe that she allowed little Freddie to go with his real mother. He tells her that it was their child and she should have defended him and kept him. She says no, you left and this baby was a victim of the Alarcon lies. I just repaired one of them. Or are these lies only punishable when you do not agree? Alfredo replies that he loves that child deeply and he was not going to allow it to be condemned to a life that bloodthirsty and reprehensible as Hell’s inhabitants.

Andres comes to the suite that he and Belen share and there she is with the baby looking like Harriet Nelson, Mother of the Year. Andres says that his mother is going to the Capital to get a new dress for the celebration and why doesn’t she go with his mother so that they can patch things up? Well Belen will have none of that and goes on to disrespect Angela. Excuse after excuse and then tells Andres it’s either her or his mother and he has to choose. Andres tells her he chooses Mom and to do what she likes. Belen proceeds to have a temper tantrum after he leaves the room.

Downstairs, Andres finds Lupe and the rest of the staff celebrating. He asks what they are celebrating and Lupe says they are celebrating and toasting to his mother. Andres toasts his mother and all of them who work there by the sweat of their brow. It belongs to the workers who deserve it. And they all toast together! One of Cecelia’s nieces takes Natalia from the group.

Later Andres speaks to his mother and tells her that he had a fight with Belen. She tells him that she knows that he is not in love with Belen because she can see it. Andres says he wants the best for Belen and especially for the baby. Angela explains she needs to tell him something. Detective Ayala wanted this kept confidential because he had no evidence. But now he thinks that Belen was behind everything that happened and she was in cahoots with Olegario to take your inheritance. They wanted you dead. And they all appeared at the funeral like vultures.

Outside the hotel, Cecelia’s “nieces”, find Felipe and ask if he knows that they will soon be departing and that their Tia Cecelia told them to pack their things because she wants to leave as soon as possible. But Felipe says, “Are you going to leave me here and abandon me? You are going leave me alone in this place that has turned into a mausoleum?” The nieces shower him with kisses on the cheeks. How lovely is this? Felipe is just taking it all in! Next we find Felipe in Cece’s room asking her not to leave. She asks him if he has not read what is going on in the newspapers. The country is going to hell in a handbasket. She needs to get back to her business which is doing well. Felipe replies that he needs to get away from this big hunk of cement that will be converted into a bastion of boredom. Cece says that if she doesn’t leave now, something will happen to her. She knows too that Melibea will be doing well without her. Felipe just goes on and whines about whatever is he going to do for the centennial celebration and who is he going to dance with if he can’t dance with her? With his sisters? They’re the only women left here. Of course Cece replies, “With Jorge Arenas.” (Oh to have such problems!) Cece explains that if she had the opportunity to live again, she would live with gratitude instead of pride. You have to let go of your pride and leave it at the door, otherwise, true love with never cross your path again. Jorge is the best thing that ever happened to you, Felipe. What are you going to do, let her mustache/whiskers get in the way? Anyway, Cece changes her mind and says she will go to the party because she has never been able to reject a good dance. But now she has something important to do and wants Felipe to accompany her.

They and Natalia end up over at Melibea’s place, and who should come with her entourage but Mimi Peralta! They begin a song and dance and Mimi announces to the crowd that none other but Violeta will be accompanying her on tour. Melibea turns to Cecelia and tells her she can’t thank her enough. And Natalia’s brother, Gabriel, can come too and be the wine taster! Everyone is happy, everyone is singing (even though there is a lot of shooting going on outside) and Melibea couldn’t be happier for her daughter. She takes Violeta into her room and helps her pack. She apologizes profusely for not being the kind of mother she should have been and bringing her up in this place. She advises her to do well and to please be happy and to find love. Please do the things that Melibea was never able to accomplish. The last thing she says to cover up take something warm with her because it might be cold where she is going. They embrace one last time before it’s time to go. There is a lot of gunfire outside and Jorge gives advice on how to get out of there. So they all hurry out and Cece says she will get out later.

While they are all leaving Felipe pulls Manuela aside and tries to kiss her but she just angrily rebuffs him. She says they have nothing to talk about.

Back at the hotel Ignacio is confronting his father about his dirty business when Mateo comes to the door with a letter for Belen. Downstairs Ayala and Matilde are with Andres and they are explaining that Belen was taking advantage of him. Olegario had him sign a lot of papers but he didn’t know exactly what he was signing because he didn’t understand it. Ayala explains that Belen was behind this huge deception along with Olegario. Oleg goes to Belen, gives her a large envelope of money to deal with the problem of the person who just sent her a blackmail letter, and tells her he wants nothing more to do with her.

Andres comes back upstairs and Belen asks where he’s been and Andres says he’s been with Julio. She’s looking like mother of the year again and then asks Andres to watch the baby while she goes to get a new dress. Belen walks out. But the next thing we know is Andres is walking into Isabel’s room and asking her to watch the baby. He asks Julio to come with him.

Up in the grand hall, Teresa walks in while all the flowers are being put down. She’s angry and upset, but Nena calls her “Teresita”. She gets angry and says, “stop calling me Teresita, you don’t have permission to call me that.” They have some kind of conversation about the rich and the poor and Teresa seems to have no care at all what happens to the poor.

A small trunk is delivered to Diego where he and his mother are staying, with a letter that says to come to the hotel at 8:00 p.m. sharp and wear the enclosed mask, and he will find out who Isabel’s lover is. Diego demands to know who delivered the package, but the messenger says it was a man who left it there. We find that Dr. Vicario is doing this.

Outside in the hills, Belen and Bulmaro are talking and Belen hands him the hush money. He tells her the truth about what happened and says he wants nothing more to do with this. Belen claims she has Andres eating out of her hand and that he does whatever she wants. A shot is heard and Bulmaro falls down and dies. Then Andres appears with Ayala and Ayala yells to arrest her. Belen yells to Andres that she loves him but he tells her that they are through and it’s all over. It’s OVER Belen! She yells NO, turns around and jumps off the cliff. I guess that’s the end of Belen unless she somehow miraculously survives. But I don’t think so. I think this is curtains for Belen.

Thank you for giving me to opportunity to write this recap. I hope you all enjoyed it.-- Cynthia
 

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Comments:
I haven't yet seen this episode, and only just watched last night's episode. But, I can't wait to read Cynthia's first recap.

FYI- It looks like tomorrow Uni is showing soccer/football which will preempt Yago and Hotel. There will be no show tomorrow. Bummer! But that means Uni will have to show the full 2-hour finale of Hotel on Friday. Yay!
 

Cynthia, thank you so much and what an amazing job!

Well, folks we are down to the wire. I don't know about that last scene though. I can't see Belen purposefully jumping to her death. There was water in the background of the expendable dude, so could that bluff be surrounded by water and she jumped in? I swear she's like the energizer bunny, just keeps coming back. It almost seems like MEH to have her go that way. I want a real sit down and people ranting about all she did, etc.

Still wondering if Teresa is our red herring. Sophia is being sidelines somewhat and just still wondering if therein lies our big twist surprise. Maybe it's me wanting a big twist at the end.

So here comes the revolution. Celebrations and revolutions don't mix well, so I'm seeing several characters maybe not making it out alive? I felt bad for the workers though, now I don't know if I want the fire because darn, those people are out of a job. Maybe they can turn the place into something for the "poor" folks?

Did CeCe seal her doom by staying? Ok, I'm a sap and still want Manuela and Flippy to either ride off or have one major goodbye lip lock.

So we come down to Diego and the Doc someplace separate from the Hotel? We know Diego goes down, but I worry about the Doc too. Do it well Doc. For the patio.

This may be a tough two hour viewing on Friday, but realistic. Bittersweet that's it's ending, but it's been a perfect length TN and not a dull moment along the way.


 

Wow, great out of the gate Cynthia. Big thanks

"Gulmaro is in deep doo-doo"

"and there she is with the baby looking like Harriet Nelson"

I lost count. How many lives has Belen used up so far?

I can't like Felipe try as I might.
 

Wonderful Cynthia. I already knew you were a good writer because I read some of your work on your personal blog.

But this recap was very clear, flowed well, covered all the developments, and was entertaining to boot. Like tofie (we often pick the same lines)I loved:

Andres comes to the suite that he and Belen share and there she is with the baby looking like Harriet Nelson, Mother of the Year.

And actually Belen was a good mother. But quite a demon in every other respect.

I also agree with Daisynjay (Hey! How about those Cavaliers!!!!????) that this telenovela was the perfect length, superbly done, with not a slow or boring moment. I'll miss the shows on Thursday and Friday but look forward to watching them when I return home next week.

Cynthia, this was excellent. I hope you will consider becoming a regular recapper now. This vineyard needs more willing workers!
 

Cynthia's recap is now up on the main part of the post! Cynthia- This was a brilliant recap! I echo Judy's encouragement for you to do it more often.

I woke up and watched the episode early. I couldn't resist! (Cynthia- I made a few small edits, like about the blackmail letter, here and there. I hope you don't mind.)

Love how you noted how good Belen is with the baby. She was very affectionate with her babies. But, I get creeped out by her "you and me against the world" talk with the babies. It just seems to me like I'm seeing an early version of Elisa and Alfredo. What looks like love can easily turn into possessiveness and using your kids as extensions of yourself, and that's the path I saw Belen going with those kids. They were always a means to an end.

Belen saw that the jig was up and that the police had entrapped her. She wasn't going to jail. I can see her deciding death was better than ending up in jail for life (or executed). Olegario had washed his hands of her, so she no longer had a wealthy protector, and now she knew Andres knew the truth.

The question is, who shot Bulmaro? It didn't look like it was the cops, who were the ones who sent him on this mission to entrap Belen and who were in a totally different part of the canyon. Was it Oleg or one of his people, who didn't want the connection between Bulmaro and his partners to be made by the police?


 

Cynthia, thank you so much for your wonderfully detailed recap. I needed it last night since I missed most of the second half. Yes, those character limitations in the comment sections can be "interesting" when you are on a roll writing. Been there, done that. Hope to see you recapping something in the future.

Sounds like Cecilia had some good advice for Felipe but also I am so glad Jorge/Manuela would have nothing to do with Felipe.

Nice to see the Revolution gearing up to add some more background to frame the novela in time and place.

It looked like Belén had a long tough fall. Even if it were into water it could be bad news due to the impact. I am hoping she is dead and gone and they don't try use the "dead but not really" trick they used already with Andrés. Once was enough.




 

Teresa certainly reacted like she's the one who poisoned Romulo, but she never right out admitted it. And it could be that it was Sofia, and she knew about it/encouraged it.

I was a bit confused by the safe thing. I thought what was happening was that Teresa took the safe into town, where she had someone bust it open. The things she was given (which looked like a knife and the letter from Romulo) I thought were the contents from the safe. She wanted to break into the safe before Ayala returned to do the same thing. The fires were just torches in town to light the way. She didn't try to burn anything. Although, you would think she'd just burn that damn letter already, so that she wouldn't be in danger of anyone reading it. I'm glad she didn't because I want to know what it says!

Nena was warning Teresa about throwing the party when there were revolts nearby, but Teresa was flippant. The government has been putting down these kinds of revolts for years. The rich can easily control the poor, with money and power. The Federal army itself is made up of the poor! Let them eat cake! Well, we see how that worked out for Marie Antoinette...
 

I laughed so hard when Belen demanded Andres choose her or his mother, and he didn't hesitate to choose his mother, and walked out. And that was before he was FINALLY told Belen was the one who planned to have him killed in order to steal his inheritance. I thought for sure seeing her with the baby would soften him, but he finally stayed firm.

Glad that Violeta and Gabriel are on a fast train out of Mexico and on to Europe, and out of harm's way. Maybe they'll be some excellent medical advances in Europe that will help Gabriel regain his sight. Wish they had taken Natalia with them too.
 

Great debut, Cynthia!

Even if the water is deep that's a very long fall. We don't know if Belen can swim if she even hits the water the right way. But somebody will have to check whether she survives this one.

As much as I suspected her from the beginning I want to see Diego pay for what he did to her. We only heard her tell Andres about it and he has no reason anymore to believe anything she has ever said.

Felipe is still the slacker he was in the opening episode. Being with Jorge/Manuela won't change that. He may be in love with her but he still has no concept of responsibility.

Diego and his mother will pay. Unless we're told otherwise she is responsible for him becoming the monster that he is.

Still wondering about the doctor. I hope he doesn't turn out to be evil.
 

I think Belen's revenge on Diego was to tell the police he murdered Garrido and showing them where the body was buried. That's why the cops are looking for him and why he is basically a fugitive now. And of course, they have now learned his real identity and know he's wanted for murder in Colombia too. He can't wiggle out of this and go back to the hotel like nothing has happened (well, only in a mask). It's either escape, death, or jail, and I don't think escape is in the cards for him again.
 

I think it was Oleg who shot Bulmaro. Oleg was his paymaster and was at risk that Bulmaro woul finger him.

Damn, am I going to miss this series when it's over!
 

I'm glad we had Belen and despite her killing Violeta's child, setting Andres up for execution and other ill treatment of staff she is my favorite character. She was playing a 3D game of misguided necessity while the rich folk play 2D by choice with all the perks right till the end. Troubling to me is a poor miscreant's blood is worth more than a rich one.
 

Tofie- And don't forget to add Fulgencia's death to Belen's list of crimes. But I agree, that she was a great character to have. There were times when I cheered for her, even though I thought she was a hateful character. And she was so GOOD at lying! She was also a great catalyst for a lot of plot points.
 

Thank you, Cynthia! I haven't read this yet, but am looking forward to it. I missed a large chunk of the episode last night and am grateful to have this recap to fill in the blanks. (I'll have a chance tonight to watch what I missed, but I did see Belen take her swan dive.)

Daisynjay: "Do it well Doc. For the patio." Amen!!

Vivi: "who shot Bulmaro?" I say it was Katia from Yago. Poor thing didn't get to do much on her own show last night.

 

Thank you again, Cynthia. Now I feel as though I didn't miss a thing!

Belen was an excellent character. So was Sofia and, in my opinion, Felipe. It is hard enough to accept that people can be incorrigible in real life. It's not any easier to accept that in fiction, when the writers can transform people at will. So, bravo to them for resisting the urge, even if the outcome is sad. (We don't know if it's sad for Felipe yet, but it's not looking good. And Sofia appears to be a lost cause.)

But I think that, no matter how things turn out, Dr. Vicario will be the best character at all. He's been keeping us all guessing right up to the very end!

Victoria didn't look very happy in that one brief scene. Serving an eccentric woman isn't as much fun when funds are limited and there's less opportunity for mischief.
 

I keep thinking how each of these characters will fare during the revolution. Some will join the revolution (Julio, Isabel, Mati, Ignacio), some will fight against it (Elisa, Victoria, Teresa, Olegario), some will benefit on both sides, and many will die. Elisa and Victoria definitely won't fair well, and will probably be killed because of their snobbery, inflexibility, and/or stupidity. Felipe, as always, is a wild card. I can actually see him joining up with the revolutionaries, and having a jolly good time at it. I can also see him coasting on the sidelines, not really picking a side. But, I do see him surviving, like always. He really does have nine lives, a bit like Belen.
 

Alfredo or Andres? Who's going to end up being Mr. Mom to that adorable baby? With Belen dead, and Diego a wanted criminal on his way to being dead, Alfredo, as the registered father, has the most rights. They both love that little guy, but neither is a blood relation.
 

Wonderful retelling of the episode Cynthia, hope we see more of your recaps.

I must be the only one that has never given up on Felipe, kind of like a mom, who always has hope their black sheep child will finally grow up. He & Jorge are off to the revolution.

The Doc is our most interesting character now, can't wait until we hear his story. Love Juan Ferrera, he was fantastic in Pas'ion.

All the actors have done a superb job in this novela. A shame it won't get the recognition it deserves.
 

Thank you all for your compliments. Thank you too, Vivi for putting it up on the main page. There was SO MUCH TO COVER last night, I felt like I couldn't let anything go. There were a few places where the dialogue just slipped through my hands. I didn't quite understand what Nena Limantour was getting at when she was speaking to Teresa something about the rich and the poor. And I didn't quite figure out where Teresa went when she requested that Mateo drive her somewhere. So when I got through with writing up all the details, it was a very long recap. I watched it twice last night then went back to the Univision website to replay sections that I was not getting. Anyway, it seems to have come out just fine and Vivi, making edits is fine with me. I'm sure I must have had some errors somewhere that needed editing.
 

Cynthia- You did an amazing job with your first recap! It's a bit like giving birth the first few times. :) Takes a LOT longer that you expected or hoped.
 

And recapping is much more demanding in ultimos capitulos! So, you really picked a bear for a first recap. Good job. :)
 

Cynthia--I'd like to chime in with additional praise for your debut. You are a sensational writer and to listen in one language and write in another is a gift. Yes, we want more from you!

I apologize for not weighing in and commenting after each episode is recapped. I've truly savored each and every word posted by our stalwart Hotel team and the clarifying comments that followed. I would merely be repetitious.

This has been a truly fine production. I'm going to watch it again as long as it's on Xfinity to savor it without those pesky commercials and 1-hr. limits.

My only big queja about the story is Diego's characterization. He was so intelligent, astute, manipulative, conniving and in control of running a complicated turn-of-the century hotel and ruining several women along the way with his overactive libido. I'm actually disappointed he's turned into a simpering, crazed, mama's boy. I would have preferred to see him go out in a blaze of gunfire after being cornered. Even a public suicide when cornered would have satisfied me.

As for Belen, I tend to agree she was the most complex character of the show and for her to take the "easy" way out was less satisfying than if Oleg had gone ahead and shot her, too, wounding her fatally and dying later--the same scenario as Benjamin. Just have Benjy die some other way.

Speaking of Benjy, I was surprised Doc. Vic didn't find the cilice he would normally be wearing when he was trying to save Benjy's life. One would think a doctor would expose his chest to work on him. But that's just me getting into the weeds.

Sofia played out the role of a disturbed woman perfectly, sometimes a little too perfectly. I would have loved to see her happy somewhere, but some women whether they are turn-of-the century women or not (of either one, 1900 and 2000) are trapped by customs and laws. They did not always get to be happy. Even Jorge/Manuela is in truth, trapped, and can only be happy and free pretending to be a man.

Andres won my heart. I knew nothing of Carlos Rivera before this started and someone mentioned this is his first acting role. That surprised me. He was so at ease on screen. When I looked him up, he's had prior experience in short appearances in telenovelas, but he also has been on the stage in important roles in several musicals, namely the Lion King and Mama Mia, of course melding acting and singing. I hope we get to see more of him as an actor.

I can't think of anyone else right now who would have fitted the role of Julio any better, but I couldn't get excited by this lean, almost emaciated Erik with the constant whisker stubble. Julio (and Cristina) were educated and their parents were, or at least their mother was, propelling them into the middle class. If he had first shown up with currently popular beards, such as Ole's or Ignacio's then shaved to get employment at the Hotel, it would have seemed more realistic. He did show up in working-class clothing, though, so I shouldn't express opinions on facial hairstyles unless I've studied them more closely.

I'm not sure what the purpose was to have Isabel always show up with messy hair. It was not becoming, but it did differentiate her from her stiff upper lip mother. Maybe it was to soften her personality, make her seem somewhat more vulnerable and independent, at the same time, from the rest of the Alarcons. I absolutely loved the way they dressed her, though. And how she moved. She floated.
 

The rest of the comment:

I think the production crew took a lot of time and care to dress them in the proper period style and use peiod furnishings. They are to be commended. However, the phones and the cars were a little too modern for 1904 (or was it 1906). Small things, though.

As I said. this is just me getting into the weeds. Overall, it was a wonderful telenovela. I'm going to miss it, too.

Thank you again for the wonderful job the recappers did and dedicated commenters who encouraged intelligent discussion and above all, the speculation. That was the fun part.
 

If I highlighted every actor for some excellent contribution, it would cramp my fingers, but I really need to single out Daniela Romo. She has been one of my favorite actors since Sortilegio. She's REGAL. I don't know how else to describe her. She brings a serenity to each of her roles that you believe she's like this in real life--then catch one of her concert numbers on You-Tube. That woman is on fire.

I admire her for what she went through publicly with breast cancer a few years ago.
 

Anita- I think the story is taking place around 1910, when the revolution started. I think we started around 1908. The revolution will last from 1910 to 1920. These folks are in for some rough years ahead. Although I guess living in that hotel was like living in a war zone!
 

Just to give us a bit more context. September 15, 1910 was the 80th birthday of dictator/president Porfirio Diaz, and the next day September 16, 1910 was the 100th anniversary of Mexico's Independence. So this party is a BIG deal, and we are in mid-September 1910. November 17, 1910 is when the first official shots are fired in the Revolution, in Puebla (although there had been many small revolts throughout the country leading up to it).
 

I'm still confused how we got to 1910 already. Diego & Isabel's wedding was Autumn 1908 in episode 34. Have two years gone by in the meantime? I don't remember any other time jumps (though I miss anything that appears at the bottom of the screen since my closed captioning is always on.)
 

There was definitely a time jump while Belen went from pregnant to babies being born. And there have been many months in between. I don't remember a year being given for the wedding date, just the season. I do remember that we started this tale in 1908, because we noted that it was 2 years until the revolution.
 

Cynthia: Great debut recap. Look forward to seeing more from you in the future (please!). Thanks.

Daisynjay: I so agree with you about Belen jumping. I had a WTQ?! moment. It was out of character. She’s a fighter. She fought tooth and nail to get that baby back and then two days later jumps off a cliff. It’s more her style to try to escape.

It looked like Teresa had the knife that Sofia used to kill Bea. I figured she somehow got the safe open. Vivi: I’m with you—why didn’t she burn the letter, but so glad she didn’t so we can finally (maybe) find out what it says, for crying out loud.

Vivi: I, too, wondered who would get the baby. They would both make good fathers. Also, are you sure it’s been two years since the start of the action? The baby looks too young. Even if the action started at the end of 1908.

Did you notice the look on Andres’ face when the nieces came to get Nat? It was such a look of regret.

Also Mati’s face when Isa was holding the baby. Priceless.
 

It's not two years since the babies were born, but 2 years since we started the tale. Belen wasn't even pregnant when we started. So give it a year plus until the babies were born, and now it's been just under a year since they were born, putting us in 1910-- the year of the centennial which is about to be celebrated as we know, and the year of the revolution.
 

There was a 4-6 month time jump between Isabel dumping Julio and Diego building the hospital/proposing to her. I just watched episode 34 and it said Otoño 1908 for the wedding which is the same night when Belen gave birth. I thought only a few months had passed since then because the baby does not look two years old already. (But I'm terrible at guessing ages, so you never know!)
 

I thought Sofia lost her baby near the beginning of the TN, so Belen would have been pregnant then.
 

J- Thanks for going back to check. They might just not want to find another baby, but we are firmly in 1910 now with the events happening.
 

That's why I was confused about the revolutionaries. I thought we were still in 1909--or early 1910, I just assumed this was an isolated incidence and not the beginning of the revolution. Did they mess around with the timeframe and jump us ahead?
 

Maybe they want to speed things up to get us to the big 100th anniversary party for the finale.
 

Wonder why they didn't just start the action a year later.

The hotel's parties are always so eventful. I'm sure the big 100th anniversary one will be a BLAST!
 

So glad Andres finally snapped when it comes to Belen. I really think Belen is gone for good, it appeared that she fell off the cliff onto rocks.

I am still wondering about Dr. V. Who the heck is this dude? I know he is out to get revenge for Clara, but was he dating her or was he her father. Did I miss something?

 

Anon3:51- We know nothing about Doctor Vic yet, other than his real first name (Simon), that he knows Diego's mom, hates Diego/Juan Camilo, and that he has a wedding photo of a woman who looks a lot like Diego's first wife, Clara.
 

Don't like the doc using Isa as bait--especially since she's unaware of it.
 

I'm so sad there's no show tonight. :(

Nanette- Doc Vic has been using Isa and Julio as bait for while now, in order to draw out crazy Diego.
 

And I don't like it either.
 

Vivi: agree. He has been using them for quite some time. This time he's gone too far, unless he has a plan to keep them safe.
 

Perhaps Doc V is a Masonic enforcer out to discipline Diego for having gone rogue and Isabel, Julio, et al. just don't matter because they aren't Masons? But I'd be betting on vengeful father who had been in Spain during the courtship, though how Diego wouldn't have even seen a photo does make me wonder. In any case, it isn't as though Isabel, Julio, or anyone else would hesitate to serve as bait to bring down Diego if they knew the plan.

Just how bad a person am I for hoping Belen hit a few bushes and such and broke her fall just enough for her to linger a bit before the end?
Poisoning Violetta and forcing the abortion/miscarriage, sacrificing Fulgencia, and attempting to fatally frame Andres, plus the insufferable way she treated any and all "below" her when she had two pesos to rub together, no, a quick clean passing just isn't very satisfying.

Given what he'd been blind to before, hard to accept Andres suddenly getting it about her when he did, but those who saw subtle signs of doubt were apparently more perceptive than I and I guess it wasn't as sudden as it seemed to me.

Where are Jorge/Manuela's brothers and brothers in arms. Did I miss their escape or release?

I can't make the timeline work from October 1908 to September 1910 either. Odd that they would be so precise with the month of the wedding/birth and the historical date of the anniversary.

Chris in FL

So did Olegario managed to silence the witness, or will there be a dying declaration? As best I could see, he had only ratted out Belen, omitting Oleg's part.
 

Oh, and thanks and congratulations to our pitch-hitter on an excellent recap. I rarely am able to watch a whole episode and last night was no exception. Cynthia, if you're not careful, you'll have lurkers like me thinking that it's easy to recap and anyone can do it.

Chris in FL
 

Chris, if you're interested in recapping, 3xAna needs some coverage. Any coverage. Seems like a good opportunity to give it a try. It's easy to recap and anyone can do it. You will become famous, and be adored by millions all around the world. ;-)

I don't believe Belen is dead. I think she'll try again to claim her child. Sofia will interfere in some way, they will struggle, and then they'll BOTH die.

Naturally, this will happen at the big fiesta. There will be a mishap with the fireworks, and that's what will burn down the hotel.

That's my prediction for the day. :)
 

So many great comments and I was totally caught up at work today.

Yes. Judy! Hot damn those Cavs last night. But Hotel still took priority. I flipped over during commercials.

Can I say I was a tad disappointed that Violetta went away as a singer, not as a student of medicine, but at least she's away and may she have a bright future. Maybe her ability to earn and sing will get her to seek a further education herself.

And honestly with Teresa, I was waiting for her final line being "let them eat cake". What a ridiculous snob.


 

sorry...there goers the Google account again.

6:51 was me

Daisynjay
 

Daisynjay- Her snobbery will be the death of her, I'm sure. And look at it this way, with the revolution waging for ten years, Violeta was not going to go to med school in Mexico. In Europe or wherever else they land with Mimi, she'll have more opportunities if she chooses the medical path.
 

I am fashionably late to the party (what else is new?) but really, what a marvelous gift you gave us, Cynthia! You are a natural-born recapper and I would love to read more of your recaps in the near future! Thank you bunches and bunches :)

Thanks ever so much to Cathyx, Julie, Jardinera and Vivi for their last recaps and for all the entertaining, witty and informative recaps they delighted us with over the course of this excellent telenovela. I was always in a mad rush to catch up to the group and I carried the habit until the very last week despite my best intentions. However, let me assure you, dear ladies, that I read and savored each one of your recaps, even though I didn't always get a chance to show my appreciation. Thank you to each one of you for your great dedication! (I haven't forgotten our dear Princess Juju but we still have a chance to read one last EHDLS recap from her on Thursday).

 

As for the show, my mind is getting blown at every turn, EHDLS is suprising me, shocking me, playing with my emotions and I am loving every second of it! These are THE best últimos I've ever seen in my TN-watching career!

Belén's olympic dive was awesome! Some viewers may feel cheated but I loved it and I believe it is in line with her character's psyche. This gal was adamant she would never go back to the miserable and humiliating life of simple folks, can you imagine just how desperate she would feel at the prospect of finishing her years in jail or getting hanged for murder? Belén was greedy, feisty, manipulative and self-assertive but she was also cowardly. She was a bully who only tormented and victimized those weaker than her. She dodged responsibility for all her evil deeds by lying, manipulating, bullying, fleeing and this time was no exception. Belén wanted to escape her responsibility yet again but she could not resort to any of her usual devious stratagems, so she chose to plunge to her death in an act of ultimate cowardice. Though we might want to wait until Thursday to make sure the wily one is not only merely dead but really most sincerely dead!

We are almost sure that good old Dr. Vicario's beef with Diego is related to his dead daughter. Moreover, there isn't any lingering doubt that the Doc is using Isabel as a tethered goat in his revenge plan. My guess is that he is trying to push Diego to kill Isabel in public, in order to have him caught red-handed. However, this theory wouldn't make much sense unless we find out why the Doc doesn't just alert the authorities that fugitive Juan Camilo WhatsHisName is in the vicinity. Maybe by putting Isabel in harm's way the Doc plans to get back at the Alarcóns for granting safe haven to his murderous ex-son-in-law. Or maybe it turns out the Doc has always hated the Alarcóns' guts for a reason yet to be revealed, just like good old Don Relojito who acted like the sweet family majordomo but harbored murderous hatred about every single Alarcón. Oh well, we'll find out in a couple of episodes! ¡Qué emoción!
 

Nandicta- I agree totally with your assessment of Belen.
 

Thank you Cynthia, great job, and yes, it takes much longer than you ever imagine to write the recap. But it's especially true for this show, being a mystery, all info is relevant, and therefore needed to be mentioned.

I thought the person who shot Bulmaro looked like Oleg. There was a very quick camera shot of the person with the gun, and to me it looked like Oleg.

I will guess that Teresa wasn't the one who killed Romulo, but she's covering for Sofia who did, by not denying to Isabel that it was Sofia.

Yes, Doc Vic is an interesting character, now we know that Clara is his daughter and he's revenging her death. By bringing Diego back to the hotel, he's luring him in to have him killed.

Belen said right before she jumped that she would never go to jail. So I'm sure she's dead because we also know that Andres will remarry, so she needs to be dead for that. But who will take the baby? I say Alfredo should, he's the only one who's expressed any real parental love to the baby besides Belen.
 

Cathyx, yes the person who shot Bulmaro was Oleg. I watched the episode again Hulu and was able to freeze frame and yes, it was Oleg.

I am so blown away at how cruel Teresa is. I am re-watching the episode with the wedding, "Dos Nacimientos". In this episode where Belen gives birth to baby #1, Teresa has the midwife leave before she is finished with the job even though the midwife said that Belen could bleed to death. So Teresa just gives the midwife extra money and leaves Belen, presumably, hoping that she will bleed to death, locked in the room. I am of the opinion she did kill Romulo. Her uncaring attitude about "the poor can just kill each other" in her conversation with Nena was just nasty.
 

Cathyx- I'd include Andres in the list of people who truly loved BOTH babies.
 

Vivi: I agree about Andres loving both babies. I think he actually cared more about them than he did Belen, though he didn't realize it.
 

I did get to watch the episode last night and am kind of amazed that it took all of Andres' friends and family having to do an "intervention" to get him to see the light about Belen.

I appreciate idealism and naivete in a young person up to a point, but Andres strikes me as quite a bit too old and too experienced (having been exposed to so many kinds of people while working at the hotel) to be so innocent. He grew up among Alarcons, for Pete's sake!
 

Don't hate Andres but he is not appealing to me at all. Sure he's cute and sweet but cute and sweet ripped Natalia's heart out and stomped it a few times. Nor is it attractive watching a fool. There were times even Belen would caution him about herself yet he blindly marched on leading me to believe he is not the sharpest crayon in the box. You know, cute and sweet but dumb like a Labrador puppy that will eat anything.
 





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