Thursday, June 23, 2016

TELEMUNDO Y MÁS (#2): Eva la Trailera, La Esclava Blanca, El Señor de los Cielos #4 & La Sombra de Helena: Week of June 20, 2016

TELEMUNDO WEEKEND EDITION (continuación)

Here's Page 2 for the week.
Here are the current telenovelas (all times are Eastern Time):

• 12-2 pm —La Sombra de Helena
• 8 pm—Eva la Trailera  
• 9 pm—La Esclava Blanca 
• 10 pm—El Señor de los Cielos  


Everyone is welcome to join in the conversation.  Since discussions of all the Telemundo novelas share the same page, please remember to put the name of the telenovela you're referring to at the top of your post, so readers can easily find the conversations they're looking for.

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Comments:
EVA – JUEVES

Armando tells Aristóbulo Cepeda that he had nothing to do with Marlene’s drug business. Marlene is furious with him. When he says he doesn’t want to put HIS money into this payoff, the Capo scornfully tells him he’s sure what business there is was thanks to Eva Soler. He gives them 2 weeks to come up with $8 million.

Rebeca did kill Gusano and, as predicted, Elsa drives off.

After the Capo leaves we get a couple of cachetadas. Marlene, actually looking hurt by Armando’s throwing her under the bus, slaps him. He slaps her back - harder.

Once more Eva sends Pablo on his way. She describes all the ways Dra. SF is the one for him.

Marlene has the cojones to tell Armando that he should move his money stateside to prepare to pay off Cepeda. He tells her he won’t do it, and to use the money she stole from him.

Marlene finds out that Rebeca killed Javier. Andy turns off the TV, grinning and saying that this is better than the program. However, he is ordered to go with Rebeca to dispose of Javier. Gusano to gusanos, I suppose.

Marlene comes home and finds a For Sale sign on her house and a realtor and photographer inside.

Reynaldo and Eva are having lunch. He tries again to woo her. She tells him she doesn’t love him and, good kisser though he may be, she just isn’t feeling it.

Pablo never gets even 15 minutes alone with his kids before SweetFace shows up, this time to check on Diego. Kisses ensue.

Armando meets with Evencio in their dive bar and tells him to tell Eva right away about the house sale.

Marlene tries to get some money out of Robert and Cinthia. They are drunk as skunks and laugh in her face.

Fajardo tells Soraya about Marlene having gone to see the Monteverdes. He finds their connection suspicious.

Luis suspects that Adriana and Soraya are hiding something from him. He gets the story about Pancho’s death not being an accident from Pablo.

The Furias and male friends are having an engagement party for Virginia.

Luis shows up and catches Robert Monteverde choking Cinthia. He pushes him away. Then he tells Cinthia not to touch him because her hands are stained with the blood of his father.

Marlene tells Armando that, if he betrays her once more, she’ll make the ones he loves suffer.

Evencio tells Eva about the house being for sale, that it was a case of life and death, and that Armando said she had to be the first one to know. Eva figures it out. “It’s about the drugs!” She smiles rather fondly, calling him Armandito. She says that he’s given her some vengeance on a silver platter and that this is going to be what hurts Marlene the most.
 

La Esclava Blanca... epi 46/61
part 1

as the night moves on,

Trinidad and Miguel argue over Victoria, Trinidad says she is the root of their problems, white is white, bringing Julian to break them up.

Tomas tells Miguel, Trinidad doesn't understand because he has has never loved like that, then reflects on his own life with Lorenza, he will never be with another woman.

Abdul comes to apologize to Ayutunde, it's just that when she gets in those moods, but not to worry, it will rain money tonight.

the Padre preaches a sermon against the fortune teller, the devil wears many disguises, it may look like a game but there is an abyss beneath it and as the church goers make their offerings, so do the line of ladies awaiting to see Ayutunde.

at the inn the musicians practice for Isabel's party, there will be a lot at stake that night.

the General, Alonso, and Eugenia celebrate their success.

Milagros and Julian are together.

Nicolas stays by Isabel's side as she sleeps.

and Miguel lies awake in his hammock thinking over what Trinidad said.

morning arrives,

and we find Nicolas still with Isabel, asleep in a chair, she wakes him, urges him to go lie down, he asks about her ankle, it's better, Milagros is good with herbs, but I'd like you to see the doctor, and she has two favors to ask, she wants the fortune teller at her party, but Adela will have a fit, she won't know, Nicolas laughs at the idea, and second she wants someone to protect her when Nicolas is gone, she doesn't trust the guards, how about Miguel.

Victoria awakes still concerned about seeing Ayutunde, Reme wants to know what is bothering her, Victoria says she thought she saw a person from along time ago, who Reme asks, but Victoria won't say, and later with her necklace summons her ancestor's (sounds like Alugimi but captions spelled it different) and Lorenza's help, to protect us.

as Victoria slides into memories of the Palenque, Ayutunde slides out awakened, holding her necklace, saying Alugimi.

Nicolas summons Miguel to the house to take care of Isabel, he and Victoria are so excited they... oops Adela appears, don't forget your place, and takes him up to Isabel's room where she wants him to stand guard, but Isabel invites him inside.

Victoria goes to Santa Marta to make arrangements for the party, at the inn she looks pale and isn't feeling well, but hires the band to play all night, while Milagros talks to Gabriel as Jesus plays his drum covering their conversation, she tells of the gunpowder, he doesn't like it, but he is in too deep now to back out.

Nicolas meets with the General and Alonso to file his complaint for the stolen cacao, everyone perks up when he says the bandits were not negroes, and then the part where they were being led by a woman, Nicolas is seething, Alonso looks away, in thought.

when Victoria mentions the fortune teller, Manuela informs her Padre Octavio forbids people to come here because of her, which has brought a lot of people to see her, and directs Victoria to her room, the feelings come back, as she knocks at the door, Ayutunde is also feeling strange, it takes her a while to cover herself but she does open the door and they gaze at each other... and, Abdul arrives stepping between them, and sending her back inside, he makes all arrangements and he wants nothing to do with her mother-in-law, double the pay Victoria says, nope, triple?, well ok.

 

La Esclava Blanca... epi 46/61
part 2

Nicolas arrives at Eugenia's, gun drawn, tell me you did it or I will kill you, you messed with my daughter, I can't forgive that, they are quiet, but the gun to Bunme's head changes things, ok, ok, I did it, Eugenia says, I was desperate,

as Victoria leaves she is still shaken, Reme is happily eating, but Milagros, who is also the daughter of Lorenza, senses something.

Ayutunde doesn't want anything to do with those people, but Abdul likes their money, "our lives will change completely", he says.

Victoria goes to Felipe with the gunpowder plan, he thinks they are crazy, black powder is dangerous, but goes along, but how will we buy it, we are all broke, Ana overhears, and offers all the jewels that Francisco bought her, but Victoria worries she'll be pore and out in the street, Felipe says no, she will always be welcomed in his house, and Ana thinks if it helps free a lot of slaves, it's worth it.

so Nicolas and Eugenia get down to business, he wants his money, Eugenia says Alonso owns half, he says he will spill that she stole his cacao, and, what will everyone think hearing about what she enjoys in bed, she'll be alone and broke, but he makes her a deal, he wants Bunme (his favorite when they all slept together) as his slave, Eugenia says she would rather die, ok with Nicolas, Bunme jumps between them, she'll do it, and Nicolas coaxes Eugenia through the paperwork, making it nice and legal, and justifying it, it's our duty to put negroes where they belong.

Isabel works on Miguel to get him to talk, he calls her mistress, how about sister, he doesn't know how to entertain her, she just wants to get to know him, slaves just do what they are told, then tell me what you would do if you were free, and Miguel's eyes light up, as he talks about horses, the country, having a house with crops and animals and a wife that he loves, and your mama, ah but he tells the sad story how they lived free at the Palenque, the raid and how Morales beat her so bad she died, Isabel is horrified, wants to touch him, comfort him but doesn't know how, when they hear a gunshot... it's Adela learning to shoot, these are violent times she says.

ah yes Morales in the manicomio, he tries beating his head on the stone walls hoping to forget his mistakes, when the Abbot comes to his rescue, and next we see Morales tied to the dunking wheel, the Abbot explains killing yourself won't rectify your mistakes, the only way is to testify, Morales will, in court, before god, to the devil, ah but you must be clear headed when going against a man like Nicolas, ok Morales says, he'll get better, take as long as you want as the Abbot leaves, with a nod to keep up the treatment (the water dunking) as Morales screams no, the Abbot tells his helper to tie Morales up in his room and don't let hin hurt himself, we need him, he will help us restore this place.

later Isabel is teaching Miguel math, as Victoria smiles from the door, and Adela appears, Miguel says he should go and Victoria follows, and so does Adela, and what is this,

Nicolas rides in tugging along Bunme who is tied behind his horse.

 

ESCLAVA:

Thanks so much, Deb!

And just like that, Eugenia's plot is discovered. I really don't know how she thought she would get away with it. It was so EASY to figure out she was behind the theft. And Bunme pays the price. I liked the final scene when Bunme is in the kitchen with Reme and Milagros, and Milagros being kind offers her food and drink. Bunme is being a snot and refuses the food and demands wine to drink. Say, what? Uhm, Dorothy, you are NOT in Kansas anymore! Milagros reminds her she's a slave now, and her former owner Eugenia made it happen. Bunme snaps that Eugenia wasn't her owner. "Then, how was she able to she sell you ?" Mic drop, and Milagros walks away.

With one harebrained scheme exposed, I can now turn my full worry to Victoria's plan. I thought they were going to use part of the gunpowder from the fireworks, but now I see they are going to buy the explosives separately. Perhaps the fireworks explosives aren't as effective? What do I know? In any case, I don't like that they are using up all of Ana's emergency assets for a plan that's flimsy.

I had to tighten my beanie to accept that even when standing less than a foot away from her mother, even with her face half covered, Victoria couldn't recognize her mother. Her eyes, the slant of her cheek, her voice, the way her body moves... Really? Noting? Just a gut feeling?
 

Eva

Thanks so much, novelera, for this excellent recap, concise but complete. I chuckled over "Gusano to gusanos, I suppose." Good one!

I'm getting a bit dizzy watching all the pop-ups. If it's not Pablo it's Eva, or Rebeca, or in this case Doctora SweetFace.

I was a bit surprised to see how fully recovered Andy seemed to be. I guess EVERYTHING happens more quickly in Telenovela Time: airplane flights, divorces, and recovery from life-threatening wounds.
 

Esclava

Thanks very much, deb, for your very fine recap.

I haven't seen all the episodes, and perhaps that's why I'm not sure about Bunme's history. I know she's not Eugenia's slave, but has she never been a slave?

I'm struck by the very different way I feel while watching Esclava in comparison to Eva, which I'm watching at the same time. With Eva, there are things that enrage me and things that frighten me, but there are also lots of things that make me happy. With Esclava, OTOH, there are huge numbers of things that enrage and/or frighten me, but there's relatively little cause for happiness to offset that. That's very likely more realistic, given the subject matter, but I'm still a bit surprised.
 

ESCLAVA:

Juanita- It's hard to be optimistic when you know what the realities were. Like this plan to escape with ALL the slaves. OK. Then what? They will be hunted. That many escapees won't be easy to hide, even if they manage to get to a area where freed Blacks have settled. And it's not like South America at that time was teeming with places where freed Blacks were allowed to live and thrive without harassment or the threat of being enslaved. Add to that, Victoria would be traveling with them, making them even more conspicuous. And just where do Victoria and Miguel think they can set up this home where a Black man and White woman are free to marry, have kids, and live their lives?

I have hope for Ana and Felipe, after her husband inevitably dies in some horrible way. And perhaps Isabel and Gabriel. Heck, I even have more hope for Isabel becoming a doctor as she desires to! But some fairy tale happily ever after for Victoria and Miguel and for all of the people Nicolas has enslaved...well...
 

Vivi: On Esclava: I'm not optimistic of a happy ending on this show with the good guys being hunted.

I just can't see Miguel & Victoria being together in the end as a result of what you've mentioned.

I hope you're right about Isabel having a happy fairy tale ending!
 

Esclava

Vivi, yes, I agree that it's hard to be optimistic given the realities. I've read a fair bit of African-American literature and history, and I don't for a moment think that Esclava is exaggerating the horrors of slavery. What surprised me, I think, is that Esclava is being presented as a telenovela. The form leads me to expect certain balances and conventions, but historical realities demand something rather different. To Telemundo's credit, I guess, the production seems weighted toward the historical realities rather than my telenovela expectations.

There's one thing I wonder about in terms of historical accuracy. In Esclava, I'm continually struck by the extraordinary array of colorful clothing the slaves wear, not just for special occasions but every day. Did they really have access to so much colorful material?
 

ESCLAVA:

I think the costumers are taking some poetic license with the colors. Would a cheapskate slave owner like Nicolas spend money on cloth dyed with such bright colors for his slaves? Heck, no! At the very least, they would be extremely faded, frayed and worn from daily wear and wash in tough conditions. The clothes they wear are more like what a lucky enslaved person of the time would has as their ONE good outfit for church on their one afternoon off on Sunday. Or maybe what a house-slave would get to wear. But certainly not the field workers. But I'm ok with it. It would be even more depressing to see all the Black cast in brown rags. This IS a telenovela, after all!
 

Eva. Excellent succinct recap, novelera!. I share Juanita's admiration for "gusano to gusanos." I also liked your observation that Pablo never gets to spend 15 minutes with his kids. Javier's death was a bit of a surprise. I thought he would escape somehow--maybe end up wounded and in a coma, a tn favorite. It's one of those ironic situations in which, by trying to escape death, you hasten it. Good for Pablo for telling Luis the truth about Pancho's death! I hope Pablo's explanation about why Soraya and Adri kept it from him registers. Also, given that Luis has started to be very suspicious of of the Monteverdes, maybe it won't be as much of a shock now. Yet another threat from Marlene! And I wonder if the children Andy and Rebeca chased from the park turn out to be significant. Wow! I knew Beverly Hills properties were expensive, but $10 million?
 

Esclava

thanks everyone for your comments!

and thanks Vivi for finishing the episode, this thing where Bunme became a slave at the drop of a hat just stopped me cold, how could that happen, and how long before Nicolas is pawing at her?

I think Victoria senses it's Lorenza, but is convinced it can't be, they just need to talk, and when Loremza tries to remember it takes her back to the horrors of the raid at the Palenque, where she lost everything.

Nicolas is so smart and Victoria's plans are so full of holes, I've come to the conclusion that no one is going to go anywhere, it's going to be a last man standing kind of thing, and the only true resolution will be the ending of slavery.

Juanita, it may help to keep in mind that Telemundo had nothing to do with this production as in what to expect.

ah yes the clothing, that's one of my favorite parts, it really brings out the contrast between the slaves and the owners, take Adela who almost always wears black, stays in doors with the windows covered in dark dirty dingy spaces, even the church is like that, while the slaves are so colorful and full of life, living in wonderful surroundings, loved the tree at the pit, yes they are slaves but the depth of their lives and their humanity really outweighs the shallow cold lives of their owners.

 

ESCLAVA:

Deb- Yes, the clothing colors seem to be a representation of the inner lives of the characters, more so than reality of the period. On the Wikipedia page in Spanish (there aren't any spoilers), where it talks about how the tn was received in Colombia, the only real criticism from the tv reviewers was about the slave costumes: "Cada moña de las mujeres y cada detalle las hace ver no como esclavas, sino como modelos de pasarela de una feria de moda. ¿Mal? No. Solo un poco extraño ver tanto ‘fashion’ en los atuendos de los que sufren."
 

Eva

Thanks for the kind words, all. I have definitely shortened the length of my recaps over the years. And, if tired, I feel it’s better to get something short up to spur the cyber conversation than just skip the whole thing.

It’s interesting how the writers are moving Armando more and more to being a sympathetic character. He’s doomed, of course. But their long years of marriage enabled Eva to “get the message”, that he was giving her the first option to savor how devastated Marlene will be about the sale of that house she was so obsessed with that she attempted suicide about losing so many years ago.

I hope Luis finding out about the Monteverdes being behind the death of his beloved father doesn’t put a spoke in the wheel of Fajardo’s investigation. Robert is evil enough to tell Marlene he knows, putting him at risk. Last night, drunk of course, he told Marlene to kill Luis first before killing he and Cinthia.

Boy did I enjoy that slap Armando gave La Alacrana! It was so hard that I backed up my recording to check that maybe it was a punch instead.

Pablo disappointed me several times last night. He’s like a broken record. Eva rejects him and he tries it on with SweetFace. He also disappointed me when he handed Cecilia over to Celeste, saying she needed changing. ¿Qué? Is this how things were when Diego was a baby?

Unless I was just tired, the writing about this fiesta seemed off. They just started referring to a party and I had no idea why. Given the speedy divorce and Virginia’s white dress, for a moment I suspected they were going with the wedding right then and there.
 

Eva

what a wonderful recap novelera, you make this look too easy!

the last guy Rebeca shot in the back is still alive, is their any hope for Javier, does anyone care.

Loving how Luis is taking charge, he's developing an executive flare, not sure if I liked Pablo pinning Pancho's death on the Monteverdes with no proof, and it doesn't tell the whole story as to how Marlene fed them the idea, but his adoptive parents were in real form last night.

like Andy's observation that Rebeca and Marlene are psychos, being around them almost makes him look good.

so will Eva buy the house?

the furias may as well own the whole neighborhood.

 

Esclava

Many thanks, Vivi, for your account of what the slaves were likely to have worn. What you say is very much in accord with what I had thought. I also really like the more positive spins you and deb have offered re the clothing.
 

Eva

oh and when they had the toast, Adri wasn't drinking wine, are they not telling us something?

 

Eva. Very observant, deb!
 

Eva

Deb, I concur with SpanProf. You are observant and insightful! Great idea about Eva buying the house. Of course, last night she was trying to pay back Federica the loan to buy trucks and other necessaries to ramp up. So, I don't know if she'd put payback to Marlene ahead of her debt with Federica. Unless she is THAT profitable.

Regarding $10 million, living in California's red hot property market, that price for a big fancy house with an ample Guest House, doesn't seem out of line at all.
 

Deb: I also noticed that as well. The anvils can't come soon enough!


 

Eva

Novelera, you've inspired me to try to put up a relatively short recap of tonight's episode.

Also, my granddaughters will be staying with me all of next week. I won't be able to do any recaps while they're here. Indeed, I may have difficulty even watching the episodes on time. I should be able to recap again a week from next Tuesday (i.e., July 5).


 

Esclava

These episodes are fantastic! It’s cutting me short on sleep, but I end up watching both Eva and La Esclava Blanca each night.

I really, really like Isabel. The girl is SO sweet, and she definitely deserves Gabriel. I noticed last night that, when Gabriel heard she had been hurt, he was very upset. Of course, Manuela was passing by just then, in the classic TN fashion, and I believe heard this. I don’t like Manuela much. She was the one who, pretending to be innocent, let Adela know that Isabel was with Ayutunde.

What punishment could ever be enough for Nicolás? Burning up like the Quinteros? Left to starve in the pit? Nothing I can think of seems adequate. Of course he’s planning to assault Bunme. Probably 50% of this was revenge on Eugenia, knowing that she loves Bunme. And the other 50% was to have someone to have more brutal sex with than what he plans for La Marquesa. He plans to be very sweet with his legal wife and get her to bear him children, while he sneaks out to Bunme from time to time.

I can hardly wait for Felipe and Ana to fall for each other. They both deserve a good person to love.

Vivi, I’m with you about Victoria not recognizing her own mother being a beanie-tightening moment. These unsettled feelings instead of knowing her the minute she saw her are just weird. Plus, upset tummies in a female protagonist leads one to try to figure out when the last time Miguel and she had sex on the beach (and not a cocktail). She did have sex once with Nicolás, didn’t she? I hate it when my memory fails about what happened earlier in a novela!
 

Novelera: I like Isabel: she's awesome!

You're right about Nicolas: the guy is a complete psycho & a hypocrite just like the other people on the show pretending to be Christians, while being monsters behind closed doors!

Felipe & Ana would be a potential couple!


 

Esclava Blanca

Thanks for the recap, deb!

I have a few open houses/parties tomorrow so hopefully Telemundo will upload Friday's episode early on Saturday morning, otherwise I might not be able to do a recap until Sunday.

Vivi, did you look at the Reparto section of the Spanish wiki page? I saw two spoilers in there... one is somewhat surprising.
 

ESCLAVA:

J- I gave a quick look at the cast list. Since I don't know any of these actors, I didn't pay much attention. But all it looked like were the actors' names and their character names, no relationships mentioned, so I didn't see anything that looked spoilerish. But, I may not know enough about what I don't know to know I saw a spoiler. :) I haven't been watching the show that closely until this past week.
 

Esclava

Victoria and Miguel making out in the back seat of the carriage on the front lawn, no chance of them ever being caught, is there?

someone should give Morales a helmet, I'll bet he has been having some bad headaches.

and don't we just feel good inside when anything goes wrong for Nicolas.

(Miguel de Miguel deserves an academy award for this part, (and what did Teresa, "La Reina del Sur", ever see in this guy, I'm thinking)

 

ESCLAVA:

Deb, this was me watching that scene of Miguel and Victoria: "But...someone might...for Pete's sake, at least keep your clothes on!...Oh, never mind, carry on!"

There must be some magical invisibility shield that covers them when they get together.
 

EVA LA TRAILERA - VIERNES - Parte 1 de 2

Eva is delighted with the news Evencio has brought her, namely, that Marlene's house is up for sale. She knows how much pain this will give Marlene.

Luis accuses Cinthia and Robert, both very drunk, of having conspired with the Palacios to have two thugs kill Pancho Mogollon, and that that's why Cinthia and Robert want to flee the country. Robert keeps repeating "You have no proof." Luis vows to find the proof, and that Robert and Cinthia will have to pay. "You're monsters," he tells them as he leaves.

Armando tells Marlene that she's pathetic with her threats, and that she won't harm his family because he's there to protect them [oops, anvil alert]. He leaves, and Marlene thinks to herself and to Viewerville, "I have more than enough venom for you and your family."

Elsa is alone in some bedroom, recalling the murder scene and crying over Javier's death.

Doctora SweetFace reads Betty's letter to Eva. [Since we've already heard it read in an earlier episode, I won't repeat it here.] She asks herself whether she should hand over the letter. In the midst of her pondering, Pablo arrives. He has brought his toothbrush, he's tired of using hers. She's somewhat grossed out [me too], but her disgust somehow leads to their kissing. Go figure. He leaves, and she goes back to Her Dilemma: "What do I do with this letter?" Her decision: "Sorry, Betty. Perdoname."

At Soraya's, Adri tells Soraya that she thinks Luis knows the truth about Pancho's death. No sooner does she say this than Cinthia, still apparently quite drunk, barges into the house and starts making accusations. Adri tells her that she's making a fool of herself (haciendose el oso) and suggests that she leave. Cinthia tells Adri that she's nothing but the daughter of a naca, trailera, ordinaria and she'll never amount to anything more. Cinthia insists that Robert and she had nothing to do with the death of the disgusting sausage maker (asqueroso choricero) that was Soraya's husband.

Luis comes to see Fajardo. "I know why you came to see my mother," he tells Fajardo. He wants to know the truth and whether the Monteverdes were involved. Fajardo says that there are suspicions but no proof. Luis asks to help find the proof and get justice for his father.

Camila is walking down the street talking to Esteban on her phone. Esteban tells her that he thinks she will be a great mother for their children [have she and Esteban even had a first date?]. Suddenly, up pops Andy. "I forgive you," he tells her. "I miss you. I want you at my side." No way, she says. "You love me," he replies, "you're mine." She finally tells him to leave or she'll call the police. Those magic words work.

Armando tells Marlene that if they have to sell the house, it's her fault, not his. He then goes off to the office. Where is everyone? he asks the one person he sees. "There are fewer of us every day," replies the employee. He then asks for Javier and is told that neither he nor his wife have been seen for several days.

Doctora SweetFace and Pancho are admiring Cecilia, who is at the hospital to get a routine exam and some innoculations. At the same hospital (TOHILA), Eva and Fabi meet with the psychiatrist, who says that Fabi has made great progress. Eva says that part of this may be because Fabi feels that her father truly loves her. Eva explains to the surprised psychiatrist how much Armando has changed in his attitude toward Fabi. As Eva and Fabi leave the psychiatrist's office, they of course see Pablo and SF. Fabi gets upset: "The papa of Diego is kissing someone else."
 

EVA LA TRAILERA - VIERNES - Parte 2 de 2

Dra SF is pleased that for once Pablo doesn't run after Eva to "explain." However, when Pablo arrives back at the office, he apparently moans yet again to JJ about having lost Eva.

Martin snidely observes that Pablo has finally appeared at the office. Martin lets Pablo know that he is fed up with Pablo's adolescent behavior, playing with Ana and Eva, and he (Martin) has decided to leave Pablo's house. He wants to remake his life and be with Federica. He leaves the office just as Doctora SweetFace arrives. Pablo races after Martin, leaving SF temporarily alone in the office with JJ and Marisol. SF decides that the bathroom would be a more pleasant environment, so off she goes, leaving her pocketbook behind on the table. Marisol rummages through the pocketbook and finds what she's looking for: Betty's Deathbed Letter.

When SF returns from the bathroom, Marisol confronts her with the letter: "Here's the letter you stole, ladrona." The two women exchange accusations, and Marisol finally puts the letter back in SF's pocketbook. Just then, Pablo returns, Marisol and JJ leave, and Pablo wants to know what's going on. After a long pause, SF tells him she's very ashamed. Marisol was right. SF hands Pablo the letter and says, "This is Elizabeth's letter. I stole it. I read it. I should have turned it over to Eva, but I was in love with you and didn't want to lose you. Perdoname." She leaves.

The scene shifts briefly to the real estate agent's office. In walks a guy wearing a baseball cap and sun glasses and dancing to music only he can hear. The agent greets him warmly. He tells her he "loves the crib," and apparently hands over a check [perhaps for ten million dollars?].

Camila and Esteban finally have their movie date. Her cell phone rings as they're walking to the theater. She looks to see who is calling, says it's not important, and turns off the phone so as not to disturb anyone in the theater.

Andy complains to Rebeca that Camila isn't even answering her phone. Rebeca tells him she warned him not to look for such difficult women. She adds: "And look what you lost."

At Pablo's, Martin and Federica are talking about their plans. Diego overhears them and gets very upset. "You can't leave! You can't leave!" he screams over and over again.

JJ tells Marisol he has discovered all kinds of unsavory things about the lawyer Silva. His law office wasn't making much money, so he closed it, but somehow he nonetheless had an account with half a million dollars in it. Drugs! JJ hopes that they'll find that the drug connection leads to Aristóbulo Cepeda.

Marlene, meanwhile, is conferring with lawyer Silva. Silva tells her to stop being upset about Armando selling her house. He's actually doing her a favor, since she'll then have the money to pay Cepeda. Silva tells her that his "friends in the cartel" tell him that Cepeda will have her killed if she doesn't pay. "What's important is that you free yourself from the norteño" and be much more careful in the future, because you don't have money to lose." At that moment, the phone rings: Elsa accuses Marlene of having Javier killed, and says if Marlene wants Elsa to be quiet, she's going to have to pay up. [Oops, bad timing, Elsa]

Pablo comes to Eva's and gives her Betty's letter. "Betty wrote it for you just before she died. I think it's important that you read it." End of episode.
 

Eva. Excellent recap, Juanita. I especially liked anvil alert, Have he and Camila even had a first date? and Bad timing, Elsa. I notice that we didn't see what Andy and Rebeca did with Javier's body. I trust they didn't try to feed it to the sharks, as that worked out so well for them before! Luis told the Monteverdes way too much. And is that Damon who is buying Armando's house based on some B-list celebrity, or a stereotype of one, and could he be just a front for either Eva or one of the members of the drug cartel? Elsa is trying to make a profit from Javier's death? Bad idea!
 

La Esclava Blanca – Friday, June 24 – Capítulo 47/61, part 1/2

Nicolas explains to Victoria and Adela that he kept going to Eugenia’s house because of business but that is done now. She owed him money and that’s how he ended up with Bunme. Victoria remarks that she always thought Bunme was free, to which Adelia responds pero si es negra, cómo va a ser libre (but she’s black, how is she going to be free)? Nicolas explains that Eugenia never treated her like a slave, but she was legally – too bad people put money before friendship. Adela is on a racist roll. Qué amistad? No existe la amistad entre un negro y un blanco. No existirá jamás (What friendship? Friendship between a black person and a white person doesn’t exist. It will never exist).

Miguel gets upset at Candela and Enith for gossiping about Isabel (saying that she's just as crazy as Adela). They can’t talk about her because she’s his sister? No, she’s the only good person in that family, and she’s definitely not crazy. They change the subject to Bunme and wonder where she’s going to work.

Nicolas tries to convince Adela to take Bunme as a replacement for Hilaria but she doesn’t want to. It’s obvious that she hasn’t worked hard in her life. She wants Milagros instead.

At the church, the Padre and other people are jerks to Ana, questioning why she’s there for communion. One lady even calls her sucia (dirty). She walks out quickly, and Francisco catches up to her and Paca outside. He threatens that he can force her to go back home with him; the law is on his side. Does she really think she’d be better off without him, sad, alone, poor? She turns on him – look at your life. You’re alone too, you have no one. Estoy mucho mejor ahora sin ti que todo ese infierno que viví contigo (I am much better now without you than all that hell I lived with you). He tries to force her to come with him, but Paca threatens to start screaming like crazy and tell everyone about his branding.

Victoria asks Bunme what happened. Nicolas discovered Eugenia planned the robbery and threatened to kill her if she didn’t give him los más valioso que tuviera (the most valuable thing she had). But he doesn’t know about her and Miguel, and Bunme hopes that whatever they have planned works out and that she can hurt Nicolas as much as possible.

Nicolas tells Miguel he knows what happened to Francisco, but Miguel claims ignorance and “hopes” that he’s fine. Nicolas laughs. Crees que me trago el cuento de que todo está bien? Que ese cochino foso te bajo los humos (Do you think that I buy the story that everything is fine? That that filthy pit took you down a peg)? Miguel repeats that he doesn’t understand. Nicolas slaps him and knows that he had something to do with it. The only reason Miguel is still alive is because he saved Isabel’s life twice, but he will not permit rebellion in his house. No me obligues a hacer algo que no quiero hacer, hijo (Don’t make me do something that I don’t want to do, son).

Nicolas goes to Victoria’s room, throws Remedios out, and tries to get busy with Victoria. Luckily, Remedios comes right back and announces someone is there to see him.

It’s the abbot from the frenocomio [not sure what the difference is between frenocomio and manicomio], asking for more money to take care of Morales. Nicolas changed his mind though, he wants Morales back and he knows the abbot only cares about money. The abbot reveals he knows all about who he is – a murderer.

Victoria asks Remedios to get Milagros to make the drink for Nicolas so he can’t be with her. Outside, Miguel doesn’t think he can stand being there much longer. Victoria gets his attention. She has to tell him something that she couldn’t even tell Remedios. She thinks she saw Mama Lorenza. Miguel says that’s impossible, but she insists she recognized her voice. Uno no olvida la voz de su madre (You don’t forget your mother’s voice).
 

La Esclava Blanca – Friday, June 24 – Capítulo 47/61, part 2/2

The abbot claims he’s not trying to blackmail him, but Nicolas had promised to take care of Morales and Dios castiga la avaricia (God punishes greed). Nicolas threatens to denounce him, especially since no one would believe crazy Morales. The abbot saves himself by revealing that he knows something about his spouse; she went to see Morales.

Miguel calms Victoria down about Lorenza as they sit in the carriage outside. They start kissing, undressing each other, and apparently are going to make love right there where anyone could see them...

The abbot doesn’t know what Victoria told Morales, but Nicolas could ask Morales, for a fee of course. He authorizes who sees which patients. Nicolas could always get another doctor to talk to Morales, but then Morales would have more chances to run his mouth. They both leave El Eden as Victoria and Miguel are walking back to the house. They hide behind a tree, and Victoria starts panicking that the abbot told Nicolas that she visited Morales.

Adela wakes up to the sound of footsteps and grabs her gun. She sees someone open a door and shoots. Victoria falls to the ground, but she’s ok. Isabel, Remedios, Milagros, Miguel, and Julian all rush into the room. Adela is paranoid, yelling about the slaves coming out of the shadows. Julian admonishes her; that the gun is dangerous and she shouldn’t have it. She blames Victoria for walking around at night. Victoria says she was just saying goodbye to her husband.

Back in the kitchen, Milagros tells Bunme what happened, who remarks esta lugar está lleno de locos (this place is full of crazy people). Milagros tells her to get used to it.

Morales actually seems grateful to see Nicolas. He is still loyal to him and needs to get out of there to finish the job. Nicolas doesn’t understand; he did finish it. Morales confesses he never killed the girl. Nicolas is NOT happy. Usted no me sirve de nada (You are useless to me). Morales begs to get him out of there. Nicolas changes the subject and asks what his wife was doing there. Morales refers to his first wife, Doña Isabela. He doesn’t know his second wife. Nicolas thinks he’s pretending and starts banging his head against the bars. The abbot runs up with his men and pull Nicolas away. The abbot refuses to let Morales go with Nicolas. He’s going to stay locked up so he can’t talk to anyone else, and Nicolas is going to keep paying him. Nicolas finally gives up, tosses him a bag of money, and leaves.

Isabel asks Victoria to stay with her. She remembers when Rosita used to sleep next to her.

Nicolas claims that Francisco is the only man he trusts, and since Francisco is ruined and Nicolas does have one loose end to get rid of, they can help each other. Francisco knows he’s talking about Morales.

On the ship, the nun tries to convince the real Marquesa to get off the boat in Jamaica, but all she cares about is getting to Santa Marta to get revenge on the orphan who stole her destiny.

Nicolas arrives home and goes straight to Bunme. She says she’s not afraid of him; he orders her to take off her clothes. If she disobeys him or tells anyone what happens between them, he will kill Eugenia.

Victoria and Isabel wake up in the morning to Nicolas staring at them, sitting in the chair. Victoria tells him about the incident with Adela. He asks why she didn’t tell him that she knew the abbot. She responds that he knew he wouldn’t like that she went to visit Morales in that horrible place. Isabel asks why she went to see a murderer. Nicolas gets scared, who told you that? Miguel told her that Morales beat his mother to death. Nicolas is shocked and walks out.

Victoria follows him, explaining that she went to see Morales because of her duty to God, and she didn’t know that he had killed Miguel’s mother. She can also tell that he didn’t know either, and that he loved Sara. Nicolas claims it doesn’t matter; Victoria is the love of his life now, but it’s obvious that he is very shaken up by the news.
 

Eva

Many thanks, SpanProf, for your very gratifying response. No, we didn't see what Andy and Rebeca did with Javier's body. As you note, they didn't have great success disposing of the previous corpse, so I doubt they'll try that method again. When Andy returned the soccer ball to the boys, I wondered whether the fact that his fingerprints were now on the ball would prove significant. Probably not, but who knows?

I love your idea that Damon might be a front for Eva. I can't decide which would upset Marlene more, having a creature like Damon buy the house and populate it with people like himself or having Eva buy it.

Yes, Luis did divulge too much information to Robert and Cinthia. Fortunately, though, they're not the sharpest knives in the set, even when they're not drunk.

I have to confess that I may not be all that sharp myself. I actually put the recap up last night. This morning, I looked to see whether there were any comments. At that point, there weren't any, but I noticed to my dismay that the recaps claimed to be for MARTES, not VIERNES. Duh. I had used my useful little program to put up the header at the start of each section, and that program dutifully posted what it was supposed to: MARTES! I decided that could conceivably cause confusion, so I zapped the two parts of the recap and reposted corrected copies.
 

Esclava

Thanks very much, J, for another marvellous recap. I haven't seen the episode, since I was busy last night recapping Eva, but after reading your vivid recap, I feel as if I've seen the episode. That will be especially helpful next week, when I probably won't be able to watch Esclava at all.
 

Eva

thanks so much Juanita, it is so kind of you to do a recap on a Friday night, er... Saturday morning!

was it the next morning that Pablo left the doctora's place, and without his toothbrush, Martin is so right, Pablo is just playing the field and not doing the family thing.

as Evencio leaves the party, he tells Federica and Soraya that Eva Wants to see them.

was it Silva's office in Mexico that he closed and moved north, but didn't close the bank account, and we never heard anything about that file on Silva JJ gave Eva earlier.

hmm, I was wondering if the cool dude buying the house was Esteban, so who is Damon, is that the guy that arranged Armando and Marlene's wedding, the cast lists a Damián Alcolea, who is a real person, the writer's have a way of throwing things at us and explaining it later, I'm going with the furias bought the house, as the reason Armando wanted Eve to be the first to know it was for sale, interesting twist that Evencio is the messenger between Armando and Eva, and that they both love, respect, and trust him, as the wonderful person he is, something Carmen never did.

 

Esclava

wow, love reading your recaps J!

a baby from Miguel and Victoria at this point in our story would be a disaster for everyone.

the writers sure aren't holding back when it comes to churches and psychiatry, interesting twist from the abbot, that both his and dr. Arturo's diagnosis that led to Morales (morals) being committed makes it all legal, and that the abbot decides who sees him and who doesn't, can't say much for the treatments, but it seems the abbot because of his religious beliefs can't kill Morales, nor let him commit suicide.

so the nun with the Marquesa (what's her full name again, joking) is the good one under the mother superior, right?, who knows Victoria and Reme, and I remember earlier the Marquesa saying her family was made the local joke when Nicolas declined to marry her, and her arrival is going to be interesting in so many different ways, one being that I think Nicolas truly has a thing for Victoria, and is married to her, as in his family is very important to him.

and Nicolas seems to go to a lot of trouble not to stain his name.


 

ESCLAVA is one of the most interesting in historical terms of the Americanization of the African and the Africanization of the
Americas. The culture blend of central and west coast Africans supported the rebellion/liberation events of Mali/Palmeros. The joining of African nations, brought the continuous slave revolts from ship to shore for over 500 years, the African in the western hemisphere, never stopped resisting enslavement.The show is interesting as Islamic influences in South America is being presented.Thanks to the 'ROOTS' legacy, we know half of those so-called s;aves/enslaved Africans from the west coast were muslims.The Moslems were great organizers/leaders in most slave rebellions.
....Clothing:the colors in clothes would have been availible[indigenous /native dyes, tradition African technique for color extraction , but a lot of tye-dye patterns and lots more indigo. The African woved/dyed their own clothes using tradional[plantbased] techniques and cotton, not reliant on the so-called master. However,Bunme's dutch wax outfits , that I buy now,on a regular basis is clothes for the very wealthy. and lot of her patterns would have been woven, not prints!but a good try, the head wraps are great and traditional bantu locks,,cornrows, dreads/ Nubian locks!......These African came with their own cultural practices for economic,science[iron work, food,medicine,textile] family norms, political folkways, religious and cosmology traditions, they were Architects',Doctors,Lawyers and scholars,who were made slaves!!!!However when I saw the white Santos statues in the Palenque/Marroon settlement instead of carved African Orisha, I had to laugh, The African, would have used traditional African representative of their African[ wolof/IBO/YORUBA,MENDI,FULANI,HAUSA.. ancestors, the white Santos were for so-called slaves under the white man eyes, to cover the true form of the African Orisha....
Lorenza/Ayutunde's man is a conman,I haven't seen him in prayer/salat yet..I love Trinidad, he is the voice of African pride/reason. He is the strength and fortitude that help Black foks endure the legacy of resistance to chattel slavery and I like how the African is humanized and his/her internal dialogue and rational for actions are given flesh...love this site!!!!
 

Eva

Deb, I have some of the same questions you do. I'm assuming that some will be answered in upcoming episodes, and some will probably be overlooked by the novela writers. :-)

I loved the point you made about Evencio's being loved, trusted, and respected by both Eva and Armando in a way that Carmen never did.
 

Eva

Thanks so much for the terrific Saturday read, Juanita. Lots of great lines in there [oops, anvil alert].

Elsa is nuts. She knows full well what Marlene is, and instead of beating feet in an easterly direction has decided to poke the bear.

I agree that Luis should not have opened his mouth around his adoptive parents. Cinthia wouldn’t say anything to Marlene, but Robert…

I was off my sofa cheering Marisol when she found the letter. Of course, that was an only in a telenovela moment. Who, except for a flat-out villain, would rummage into someone else’s purse while they were in the bathroom? At least we’re spared another monologue from SF, seeing her tortured face, and her finally deciding to hang onto Pablo. Whatever happens with Pablo and Eva, I don’t want him to end up with SF.

I really liked Martín reading Pablo the riot act. This is a first for me, a novela in which the supposed hero doesn’t hesitate to jump the bones of the “other woman”. Of course SF isn’t the stereotypical other woman, bad to the bone, but still.

The instant I saw Camila walking on the street, talking on her phone, I knew Andy was going to “pop up”. And, yes, it’s quite amazing how quickly he’s recuperated. And he has some villain characteristics as well; i.e., thinking that having chloroformed her, kidnapped her, tied her up in a dank warehouse and tried to choke her to death when she wouldn’t return his affections doesn’t impede her being in love with him still.

Hmm. Some of you are really good at conspiracy theories. I never twigged that the hip-hop mansion purchaser might be a front for Federica. I loved that guy and backed up and watching him again! Marlene’s version of Hell would be a Scrooge-like watching from the side and seeing Hip-Hop guy and his pals living it up in “her” family home, sort of a Christmas Future moment.

I was thinking that the violent reactions of the two autistic children could presage things not working out for Pablo and SF, the purloined letter notwithstanding.
 

Esclava

Thanks, J, for another fine recap. This novela is really heating up! Like everyone else, I was astonished at Victoria and Miguel having sex in the carriage. And the carriage wasn’t even tucked away in a hacienda carriage house!

They surely do have some evil religious figures in this, don’t they? That abbot is a piece of work. I don’t know if I’d say that he wants to prevent Morales’ death by suicide or by Nicolás for religious reasons. He wants to keep the goose there for some more golden eggs. That was a terrific scene with he and Nicolás when N grasps that someone else, for a change, has some power. And the nerve of the guy talking about God punishing greed, as if that couldn’t possibly refer to him.

I’m glad they spared us exactly what happened with Bunme. And he used the same exact thing on her that he used on Eugenia, threatening to kill the person they love.

Adela looks to be unraveling a bit. And she didn’t even seem that bright last night with her remark about no such thing as a black person being free. She’s been to Santa Marta, hasn’t she? And seen the libertos who live there?

I loved Paca saving Ana from Francisco by threatening to scream out in a public place that he’d been branded. She knows his monstrous ego very well.

I was worried when Adela said she wanted Milagros. Milagros has been key to La Causa, and having to wait on Adela hand and foot could cramp her style. I surely hope Adela finds out someday that her precious son killed her only friend.

It was awful when Nicolás slapped Miguel. Tomás had to calm him down from, as he said, doing something crazy. Miguel is a proud man and being disparaged and slapped like that is just about unbearable.

I am really enjoying Miguel and Isabel’s growing affection. And it was the way for Isabel to tell her father about Morales having killed Sara.
 

Eva

Thanks very much, novelera, for your kind remarks about the recap and your insightful comments. I too sensed that Andy was likely to pop up as soon as I saw Camila walking down the street. In fact, I even said so in my recap, but I wound up having to placate the automated space nazi, so I cut out that remark and some others as well.

Your point about the responses of the two autistic kids was really interesting. I hadn't thought of that, but I think you're right. And their objection works in two ways: Pablo would certainly not want to do something that would make Diego unhappy. Moreover, both kids have been presented as having a kind of sixth sense about people's goodness and badness. If Diego (and perhaps Fabi) wind up being wary of SF, that's a sign one shouldn't ignore.
 

ESCLAVA:

J- Thank you so much. Another fabulous recap.

I am also glad that they didn't show is the rape of Bunme. Blech!

Since I wasn't watching in the beginning and didn't read all the recaps, can someone explain how it was that Morales killed Miguel's mom, and Nicolas didn't know about it until now? What did he think happened to her?

Why is Adela so on edge about the slaves? Isabel told them that the bandits were not Black, so why is Adela all of a sudden so hopped up about the slaves turning on them? Victoria was very lucky, in more ways than one that night!
 

Esclava

Vivi, my memory is a bit fuzzy about details. Nicolás was in love with Sara, but she ran away from him to live in the Palenque, already pregnant with Miguel. While she still lived at El Edén Morales had some kind of weird hatred toward her because of the way Nicolás felt about her. I know he beat her, but I can't remember exactly when. She lived long enough to tell Nicolás that Miguel was his son and to exact a promise that he not harm him.

I think Adela is afraid for several reasons. After Miguel and others overpowered Francisco, there might have been a general fear of how outnumbered the whites would have been. And she's just high strung and batty anyway!
 

Esclava

Sara dying is a fuzzy area for me, after the raid on the Palenque, the slaves were marched back to Santa Marta ?? where they were sorted out to the various owners, the rest to be sold, and Morales singled out Sara and as soon as he got her back to Eden, he beat her, just the two of them, and then he left her, then in another scene, Nicolas comes upon her, laying on some kind of bunk, (I assumed he knew Morales beat her) where she lay dying and he gets on her about betraying him, and she tells him about being pregnant, not wanting their son to be raised a slave, begs him to promise to take care of Miguel, but he doesn't promise, then the story moves on and I don't think we saw her die.

so I'm not sure if Nicolas was upset at finding out that Morales killed her, or upset that Isabel knows this and could trace it back to him, since we are talking about Isabel's brother's mother.

why wouldn't Nicolas know that Morales beat her, he did know she was dying, which is why I thought he went to her, but he did nothing about it, they just didn't give us enough information here, it could go either way.

 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Esclava

In the 80s I saw a movie called Quilombo. At that time I was studying Portuguese and planning a trip to Brazil. It was a wonderful visit that took me to Rio, Fortaleza, Manaus, Bahia, Ouro Preto, the colonial capital of Brazil. The movie was Brazil’s entry in Cannes the year it was filmed.

Quilombo was about Palmares, a community in the NE of Brazil that existed from around 1605 to 1694, when the Portuguese finally were victorious. Many assaults failed during this period. Escaped slaves and native Americans created a society largely based on African customs and religion.

So I was fascinated to see in La Esclava Blanca a community, in this case called a palenque that was quite similar to a quilombo.

Googling on a Sunday afternoon yielded this article about a community in Colombia that exists to this day. The people are descendents of people escaping slavery.

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

Esclava

Many thanks, novelera, for the link to this article. I found it extremely interesting, especially in light of what I've been learning thanks to Esclava.
 

ESCLAVA:

Thanks for the answers, Novelera and deb. Novelera, I'll have to look for that movie. Sounds interesting.
 

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