Caray, Caray!

SILVANA – JUEVES – Parte 1 de 2

We begin with Margarita having a hissy fit with her grandfather. She’s upset everyone is helping paint designs on Silvana’s used van. She tells her kindly gramps that he shouldn’t associate with that family. They're all awful, especially Angie. She says that Trini is taking advantage of him [true]. Then she stomps off to “mark her territory”.

Jorge has just insulted Angie’s painting of a whale when Margarita waltzes up and starts kissing Jorge. Angie just leaves. Padre Sánchez shows up to bless the new van. Trini can’t accept his sandals, but thankfully only thought-bubbles her feelings. Champagne is poured into the usual red plastic beer cups. Everyone is having a fine time when Stella pops up. [She must have drugged him and put a tracking device under his skin, because she knows where he is at all times.]

Lupita advises Angie not to give up on Jorge. Angie admits that she does have a thing for him.

Stella has brought some gifts of clothing for Lucha. She’s trying to win the girl over, and it seems to be working. [Actually I think the jealous Lucha finds Stella less of a threat to a share of her father’s love than Silvana.] Anyway, Lucha agrees with Stella that Chivis is the worst, a liar who’s after Manuel.

The queen-sized woman Poncho bedded a couple of nights ago in a fit of pique about Stella shows up at his house. She calls him Alfonsito. Dominique has a lot of fun at Poncho’s expense when he finds out what transpired. But he eventually helps him get rid of her with a series of excuses.

Angie comes to see Jorge. She tells him she needs him to go along with her lie that they’re going to a school dance together. She needs to be out that night to go to work at the salsadromo. It finally comes out that his cold behavior toward her is because he overheard her say to her sister that she didn’t want him to fall for her. Of course, he just says the walls are thin, not about peeking through! She tells him she only said this to keep Majo from prying into her relationships. She tells him he’s nice, entertaining, intelligent, and a great guy.

Manuel asks Stella why she told Chivis he had proposed. She denies doing so, of course, saying that Chivis is a huge liar. He definitely looks like there’s a liar all right, but not his neighbor.

Andrés has come to see Majo. Vicente is in the driveway of his half of the building washing the truck. Up to no good, Vicente invites Andrés and Majo to celebrate their engagement at the salsadromo. Majo, of course, is horrified, calls the place naco, and tries to talk Andrés out of their going. But telenovela plotting wills this to happen.

Majo tells Angie she has to come to the salsadromo to protect her from Vicente. Angie tries and tries to refuse because she has already committed to work there that night.
 

SILVANA – JUEVES – Parte 2 de 2

At the salsadromo we are treated to a series of funny scenes of Angie trying to play both roles: her sister’s wingwoman and a waitress at the club. She puts her hair in a ponytail and wears an apron for waiting tables. Then she shakes her hair loose and takes off the apron to rejoin Majo. Sometimes she doesn’t get it right! We notice that Andrés is not a great dancer. Poncho shows up and makes a comment about seeing Majo there a lot lately. There’s some funny stuff where Angie swears she's been the one hanging out at the club and that they look so much alike [not].

Stella is wearing some sensible cotton thing to sleep in. She tells Manuel she’s staying there until Lucha is completely well. [I wouldn’t put it past her to push Lucha down the stairs to re-injure her.] Manuel tells her she is, of course, sleeping on the softa.

Silvana comes out onto the balcony. She looks hopefully at Manuel’s side, but doesn’t see him. She’s about to go inside when he comes out. They talk comfortably together, about Majo’s engagement at first. He teases her saying she’ll have to give back the vacuum cleaner if Antonio José returns. When Silvana says that Majo really wants her father to be at her wedding, Manuel asks if she wants him to return. She says she’s not sure.

Just then Stella pops up again. She wants to know if they gossip like this on the balconies every night. Just as Silvana is about to go inside Stella tells her that she and Manuel will try not to make much noise since the walls are thin. Manuel is not happy about this. He reminds her she agreed that she’d sleep on the sofa. She tells him she was just joking. She’s very clever in putting in her digs and then saying she’s kidding.

The next day Silvana has come to the country club in Coral Gables in her van. I think her plan is to go inside with some fish. But the guards don’t let her in and tell her that her husband hadn’t paid the fees for six months. People are honking their horns because she’s blocking the entrance. Her friend from her old life, Carmen, walks up, surprised to see her. Chivis looks embarrassed.
 

Silvana

Many thanks, novelera, for this delightful recap. I especially loved your asides, such as "But telenovela plotting wills this to happen" and "[I wouldn’t put it past her to push Lucha down the stairs to re-injure her.]" I wouldn't put it past her, either, although she'd probably not push her but make her slip on something like oil or the traditional banana peel. If she physically pushed Lucha, there's a danger that Lucha would know who did this.

I'm really unhappy that Lucha seems to get along better with Stella, though I'm not surprised. In the previous night's episode, she told Manuel that if she had to choose between Stella and Chivis, she'd opt for Stella, since Stella is "at least a little more like us." The class distrust is clearly evident on both sides.

I was somewhat puzzled by Andrés as a dancer. At first, he seems pretty awful, but later on he seemed to be immensely improved. ???



 

SILVANA

Maybe Andres became a better dancer once he had had a couple of drinks. Works for me!
 

Silvana
Just wanted you folks to know that I'm still catching up after being away. I've been reading the recaps ahead, and let me tell you, that really helps. Novelera and Juanita--thank you for interpreting all the hijinks in this fishy tale with such enthusiasm.

Like most telenovelas, the chase is much more fun than the getting together part. I think Stella is the irritant to keeping Manuel and Chivis apart, yet neighborly until they recognize they are right for each other. But, her character annoys me, as it does you two.

What? Jorge patched up the hole in the wall? Can't wait to see that.
 

Silvana. Wonderful, witty recap as usual, novelera! I second what Juanita said about your remark on telenovela plotting, etc. I also enjoyed "She must have drugged him and put a tracking device under his skin." Right on about Lucha's seeing Stella as less of a threat. And yep, Andrés is not a great dancer--another reason he and MJ are not compatible. Why doesn't Angie just tell MJ that she's working at the Salsadromo? It would be much easier. And why doesn't the owner check Angie's id to make sure she's old enough to serve liquor? Chivis will find a way tosell her seafood at the country club!
 

Silvana

Is Silvana available on Hulu? I have been viewing either on the live broadcast (while traveling in California), on the Telemundo Now app on Roku, or the Telemundo web site.
 

Silvana

thanks novelera!

and why is MaJo taking her 18 y.o. high school sister to a night club, and why is Andres buying her drinks, and no one can see that she works there?

it's interesting that Jorge was using the peep hole to learn more about Angie but when Vicente starting checking out MaJo undressing, that seemed to cross the line for him and he plugged it.

 

Silvana

Today I looked up a phrase that I struggled with translating last night. It was, I think, when Angie was talking with Jorge. The phrase was for someone not to hacerse ilusiones. I translated it as "not wanting Jorge to fall for her". My online dictionary, if I'd taken the time to look for the phrase, has a better definition: "to get one's hopes up". I understand this often used phrase quite well when I hear it in a novela, but sometimes it's hard to come up with the English!
 

SILVANA

In addition to the tired 'gay friend' stereotype they're trotting out with Dominique, I really didn't like the fact that the overweight lady was held up for cheap laughs because 'Alfonsito' had slept with her. Happy to have sex with her, just not be seen with her. Charmer!
 

Silvana

I'll do a recap of tonight's episode and will have it posted sometime tomorrow morning.
 

SILVANA SIN LANA - VIERNES - Parte 1 de 3

The guard at the country club won't let Chivis enter because her husband hasn't paid for membership for at least six months. Chivis wants to talk to his superior. A line of impatient drivers forms behind her. One woman, Catalina, gets out of the car to see what's holding things up. She recognizes Chivis and tells the guard to let her pass, she's her friend. Catalina and Chivis then sit and talk. Chivis mentions that absolutely no one has called her to ask how she was since the day the detectives came looking for Antonio José at the golf course. Catalina explains that, well, Antonio José cheated several of their husbands. She assumes Chivis knows this. Chivis tells her she knows nothing about Antonio José's dealings, and she had nothing to do with them. Two more women join Cata and Chivis. They're rather contemptuous of Chivis's driving a truck and selling fish. Chivis tells them she's not going to let them humiliate her. She has learned that her worth comes from who she is, not what she has. She tells them to "swallow your smiles, you frivolous, useless, pathetic women" (traguense sus risas de viejas frívolas, inútiles, y patéticas).

At the university, Andrés sees Lucha and asks how she's doing. He tells her she should rest more, and he says this not "as a doctor but as her friend." And her Facebook friend as well, he says, since he responded to her friend request. They both protest too much about how little they use Facebook. Finally, his face becomes more serious. She asks whether something is wrong. No, he just wanted her to know that he has given Majo an engagement ring and they're planning to marry. [Yup, there is something wrong.] Andrés also mentions that Vicente has invited them to go dancing at the salsadromo--Majo, Andrés, Vicente, and Angie. Andrés says he thinks Vicente is fond of Angie. "Vicente?" Lucha asks in disbelief?

At the charter school, Jorge asks Angie how things are going. Angie says that things are hard on her mother, but she admires her mother for being so valiente. Jorge replies that Angie, too, is valiente, surviving all the harassment (el acoso) from other students and also working as a waitress at the salsadromo. Angie says she just wishes that she didn't have to lie to her mother about the job. Jorge takes her hands as he reassures her, but she pulls away and asks him not to take her hands. Why not? he asks. She responds, "Because then I won't want you to ever let go" (Porque entonces no te voy a querer soltar nunca). Oh, and also, you have a novia. She then admits that she has liked him from the first day she met him, when he helped her carry suitcases into the house.

Jorge then tells Angie that he cares for her a lot, too. Moreover, he has decided to end things with Margarita. Angie protests that she didn't say what she did to get him to break off with Margarita. She doesn't want to steal anyone's novio. Jorge assures her that he's been wanting to end the relationship for a while.

Trini is vacuuming (!) when Chivis returns home, very disheartened. She tells her mother about not at first being allowed into the country club, and then about the women laughing in her face because she's selling fish. They showed no affection or compassion. "I would never have laughed at them. They erased me from the map, as if it were my fault." She asks how Antonio José (AJ) could have done this to her, she's having to pay for the mess he's made (estoy pagando todos los platos rotos por su culpa). She takes off her wedding ring and slams it onto the table. "It's over, and for ever!"
 

SILVANA SIN LANA - VIERNES - Parte 2 de 3

Trini picks up the ring and tells her to put it back on. She reminds Chivis of all the good times she has had in her marriage [we see a nostalgic Christmas flashback with AJ as Santa Claus]. Trini says that at the very least Chivis should talk to AJ before she makes a decision about her marriage. "Think about your daughters," Trini says. Chivis says that's all she thinks about. "Why do you think I took this job? Do you think it's easy for me?" Trini tells her that if the job wipes her out physically and emotionally, it's not worth it. Chivis replies, "I'm going to provide for my daughters no matter what, and it doesn't matter what happens to me" (Yo voy a sacar a mis hijas adelante sea como sea, y no me importa lo que me pueda pasar a mí). Trini then tells her that this job is not right for her, firstly, because of the people she has to be with (por la gente con la que te codeas). And secondly, because it's not a good idea to work with your neighbor. Trini claims that Chivis' anger about her marriage isn't just because of what happened at the golf club, and she urges her again to put her wedding ring back on. Chivis reluctantly does so. [Maritza Rodríguez (Chivis) and Adriana Barraza (Trini) were superb in this scene.]

In the next scene Majo calls to Lucha, asks her whether Andrés has told her they're engaged, and with a triumphant look, holds her hand out to show off her engagement ring. Lucha replies, "Congratulations. Let's see if you stop cheating on him now" (Te felicito. A ver si no le pones el cuerno ahora.).

Chivis goes to see Manuel in his office and describes her experience at the golf club. He tells her there's no victory without a battle, and difficult times are when you really know who your friends are. "They're just snobs" (fresas), he tells her. Oops. He assures her he didn't mean her. She's an ex fresa. She begins to feel a lot better, and she declares that they're not going to defeat her. Moreover, she has an idea about the job: she's going to visit the restaurants she used to go to and show them the merchandise, and she has a very good contact who she's sure will help. She asks that Manuel accompany her just this once. She wants to be sure she doesn't make any mistakes. She adds that with him, she feels more secure. He, of course, is delighted. He also assures her that no one is going to try to trick her (the phrase is dar gato por liebre, but Manuel says conejo instead of liebre and Chivis corrects him).

There follows a scene between Dominique, Stella, and Poncho. I have no patience for most of these scenes, including this one. Lo siento.

Trini brings her dirty laundry to Don Benito's bakery (!) so it can be washed. He assures her that he washes the intimate things very carefully so they'll be right for her family's fine skin. Trini responds rather indignantly that the intimate things (las prendas íntimas) remain in the tub in her house. Don Benito's young assistant tells her that Don Benito has ordered him to do the washing. DB is a bit embarrassed, but he explains that "at times, old people deserve to rest a bit, no?" Trini agrees, though of course she's not old (!), but she has so much work to do in her house, she sometimes identifies with Cinderella (La Cenicienta). DB tells her that she deserves a good rest, so how about going with him to the movies that night. The assistant says that it's in 4-D, which I assume is what we call 3-D. She agrees to go. At the cine, the film makes her very dizzy. After bothering all the people sitting near her, she goes to the restroom. Always the gentleman, DB stands up, further angering people whose view he's blocking.
 

SILVANA SIN LANA - VIERNES - Parte 3 de 3

After Trini comes out of the restroom, DB races back into the theater to see the end of the film before taking her home.

Majo and Lupita are looking at wedding gowns in a bridal magazine. Majo wants something exclusive and totally original, not common (ordinario). Lupita is really into all this as well. But then she raises a problem: "You're not going to be able to marry if my father doesn't come back." Angie has overheard this, and she says it doesn't really matter whether or not he's there. Lupita gets upset at what Angie is saying about their father. Majo tries to make excuses for him. If he hasn't communicated with us, it's because there's no phone signal where he is. Lupita angrily tells Angie never to say bad things about their father again.

Jorge comes to DB's bakery, intending to break up with Margarita. She greets him warmly and expresses delight that he's remembered their anniversary, and she gives him a present: a tee shirt with a huge photo of the two of them. He chickens out and says the reason he came by was to tell her that he had ordered her present but it hasn't come yet.

Jorge tells Lucha that he wants to break up with Margarita, that he's in love with someone else: Angie. Lucha isn't pleased. Angie was born in a cuna de oro (in English, a similar expression might be "born with a silver spoon in her mouth"). Jorge denies that Angie is a fresa, she's beautiful, inside and out.

When they're alone, Angie explains to Lupita that their father is an estafador. Lupita is puzzled, and Angie tells her he cheated many people. Later, Lupita tells Pedrito and says she hopes he isn't arrested. Pedrito says his father was arrested once for defending a woman who was being beaten, but he wasn't put in jail. Lupita then says that perhaps it would be best if her father didn't come back, but her mother made lots of money and bought her a ticket to go see him.

Chivis has apparently made her first sale, and she invites Manuel to celebrate with her over a taco dinner. Later, we see them at the outdoor taco place. Manuel recalls that the first time he had tacos, he couldn't even put salsa on them. Chivis observes that tastes change, and not just in food. She says something about geraniums and social class, but I didn't fully understand her. Manuel says we all have our prejudices. "For example, I think sushi is muy fresa." Chivis says she adores sushi, and she misses it immensely. Manuel asks her what other things she misses. She asks him not to laugh, and then she lists them: sleeping late, going to the house in Acapulco, her masseuse (mi masajista), and having breakfast brought to me in bed, especially on Sundays. He replies, "I see nothing that can't be solved." He invites her to the beach whenever she says. The massage he's not so sure about, it could be dangerous. But breakfast, he can prepare it and pass it over the balcony on a tray of silver or exotic bamboo. Chivis tells him that what she likes best about her new house is the balcony. He replies, "you know what I like best about my new neighbor?" "What?" "That I feel I'm important to her, that she needs me." [Music and loving looks end the episode.]
 

Silvana. Excellent recap, Juanita! Absolutely right about the acting in the scene between Trini and Chivis. Of course, the character Trini is a bit unrealistic about what Chivis would do without the fish distributorship job. The scenes between Dominique, Stella and Poncho are annoying. They remind me a little bit of some of those comedy sketches in Hispanic station comedy shows and variety programs. OTOH, they may be necessary to keep reminding us that this novela is a comedy. Chivis probably made a professional mistake in treating the country club women like ex-friends instead of potential customers and in insulting them. But selling to upscale restaurants is very likely a better idea anyway. Jorge is right. Angie is beautiful inside and out (and very responsible). The "anniversary gift" excuse for keeping them apart seems pretty artificial, but I guess the writers don't want happy endings until the end.
 

Silvana

Thanks for the excellent recap. I was lucky enough to catch the show live on Telemundo from our hotel.

It looked like both Chivis and Manuel were leaning forward for their first kiss when the show ended. Of course this could be a teaser scene and they will not kiss in the next show. Is it too early in the show for these two to fall in love and declare it to each other?
 

Silvana

Thanks very much, SpanProf. I always look forward to your comments, and I'm never disappointed. They're always interesting and insightful. I'm happy to hear that you, too, find the Dominique/Stella/Poncho (DSP)segments annoying. Some years ago, when I was starting to try to learn Spanish, I didn't have the nerve to try a full-length telenovela, so I bought abridged versions from Amazon. They tended to include 13-14 hours of episodes. They normally included English subtitles, no commercials, and very few DSP-like segments. That tended to be one of the things I liked best, the fact that there were so few of those exceptionally stupid parts (even by telenovela standards). More experienced telenovela watchers tended to be horrified by my enthusiasm for the abridged versions. I haven't watched an abridged version in years, but I still think they were enjoyable and useful, especially to a beginner.


 

Silvana

I agree, Gobluefan, Chivis and Manuel were indeed leaning forward for their first kiss. I don't think it's too early for them to fall in love, but if they do, I suspect that that's a clear sign that Antonio José will reappear. Not to mention the mischief Stella will create. (And with her uncanny ability to pop up at all kinds of crucial moments, I wouldn't be all that surprised if she were to appear either just as they're enjoying a first kiss or are about to kiss.)
 

SILVANA

I still think it's going to be super-weird if Angie and Jorge get together and then have to live in the same household almost as brother and sister because Chivis and Mañuel are a couple.
Maybe the two families will buy both houses and knock through the dividing wall, haha.
 

Silvana

@Jude Gray, I think it would be unusual, but I'm not sure I'd say "super-weird." After all, they have no biological parents in common, and they haven't been raised together. And I don't see why they would have to live "almost as brother and sister." They're pretty much adults (i.e., 18+). Also, judging from the likely ages of Manuel and Chivis, people marrying young seems to be the norm. So if they fell in love, they might well get married sooner rather than later.

Also, they wouldn't be the only "pair." My expectation is that by the end of the novela, we will see Vicente with Majo. And, although not a pair in the same way, there's Andrés and Lucha. And let's not forget Don Benito and Trini. (I'm not counting Lupita and Pedrito, though in some ways the pairing of Manuel and Chivis would impact more strongly on them, since they'll continue to live in the same house for at least a few more years.)
 

Silvana

Wow, superb recap Juanita! Loved all the Spanish phrases. That one about giving a cat instead of a rabbit is one of those expressions that just doesn’t translate. I get the gist but I would never drop that one into a conversation with my friends and co-workers from México!

There is some rationale behind Trini’s difficulty with a 3-D movie. My son has the same problem. He got nauseous seeing Avatar and hasn’t gone to see one since. But I was on the verge of fast forwarding through what seemed like 30 minutes of her way-over-the-top “suffering”.

I agree that she and Maritza were terrific in the scene where she convinces her daughter to “stand by her man”. Of course, we [at least it feels that way to me] aren’t sure if she’s urging Chivis to stay with him for her beliefs about the sanctity of marriage or because she’s wishing he’d come back and whisk Trini herself back to a life of luxury.

I enjoy every scene with Maritza and Carlos. They are SO believable as two nice people drawn to one another for all the right reasons: respect and admiration as well as sexual attraction.

This is, of course, a telenovela staple; but I often marvel at how completely lacking in instincts the “other women” in these programs are. Stella forces herself into Manuel’s home over and over again, completely unaware or just ignoring his reaction, just short of cringing. The same thing is true of Margarita. Anyone with any intuition would see a big red flag about his reaction to the t-shirt she gave him. Oh well.

And, yes, Trini has no intention of contributing financially to the expenses of that family but scorns her daughter’s way of earning money. She lives in a fantasy world in which AJ would magically re-appear or Chivis would get a high-paying job as CEO of a corporation with no actual job experience.
 

SILVANA

4-D movies incorporate moving/tilting seats etc as well. I'd get horribly motion-sick in them so I've never even tried. I also got sick seeing 'Avatar.'
 

Silvana

Thanks, Jude Gray, I had no idea there WAS such a thing as a 4D movie in which the seats move.
 

Silvana

Looks like this is the only one everyone is watching. I try to do it but politics interfere. So I really appreciate the recaps.
Gracias mucha
 

SILVANA

novelera- yeah, I've only noticed them in the past year or so. Saw a little kid coming out f one with his abuelo, green to th gills.

Re the tn...I'm hoping they make Lucha a bit more likeable. Right now she's coming off as the ultimate killjoy!
 

Silvana

Thanks very much, novelera, for your enthusiastic response to the recap and your terrific comments. I'm especially glad you liked the Spanish.

I agree with so much you've said. It's a pleasure watching Maritza and Carlos. I had seen him in a leading role before, and I was impressed, but I think this is the first time I've seen her in a major role. Good acting can go a long way toward redeeming an otherwise so-so novela.

Like you, I'm astonished at how seemingly insensitive Stella and Margarita are to the signals their novios are sending, though to be honest the signals Manuel sends are somewhat mixed. And Stella is now getting encouragement from Lucha as well. Sigh.
 

Silvana

Muchas gracias, Jude Gray, for clarifying how 4-D differs from 3-D. I guess I've actually experienced 4-D at the Newseum in Washington DC, but I don't recall their calling it that. They did warn people about the possibility of getting dizzy or nauseous, and I was a bit apprehensive, but I found their version much tamer than I'd expected.
 

Silvana

Thanks so much for the recaps novelera and Juanita! I'm finally caught up again.

Jorge being mean to Angie made no sense to me. Glad they're back to being cute together.

Looks like Manuel was going in for the kiss and Chivis will stop it...