Caray, Caray!

Sorry about this. All I got from the AQNMD page on Univision's website is that Inés threw The Gonz out of the mansion and that Adrián reconciled with Julieta. If you wish to contribute some details about what happened in yesterday's episode, please feel free to do so in the comment section. Many thanks :)
 

Hello Everyone! And thank you Pablo and Nandicta for your juicy recaps! And happy belated Pablo! So sorry but I have family visiting and it's been brutal.

I can offer some highlights:

Gonzalo talked to the bank guy about giving the documents to Julieta and threatened him with jail time because he suggested he deposit the money off shore in the original "fraud."

Nuria insisted (more than once) that Ines should take Gonzalo back until her wedding because you know Nuria cares so much about herself and what's happening in her life and what is important to Nuria.

Beto is not going to give up on Chelo and even considered leaving the Murat household so that he doesn't distract Chelo from her work and Mauricio gets lost again.

As Nandicta mentioned, Ines threw Gonzalo out of the house and the battle lines have been drawn…Nuria and Gonzalo vs Paulina and Ines. Gonzalo tried to leave some clothes because he didn't think Ines was serious and she asked the staff to pack everything up and take it to him at the hotel.

Monica heard Nancy tell the valet to put Gonzalo's bags in one of the hotel rooms so she thinks they're "happily" divorcing.

Nuria told the social worker that her mom is very sick in an effort to derail Mauricio's adoption.

Julieta and Adrian reconnected and Jaime promised to visit her because Adrian told him what actually happened with their family. Julieta had projected all her loneliness and abandonment issues onto Adrian.

Paulina told Karen about the proposal and Karen seems to finally be making peace with her feelings for Camilo.

Odette told Adrian that she got the last spot in Spain even though the spaces were all taken…wonder how long she can keep this lie going.

See you all in the a.m.! :)
 

Thanks, Nandicta for the space, and Alfie for the highlights.

I cheered when Inez stayed strong and kicked Gonzo out. He infuriates me! Same with Nuria.

Not only did Juli project her loneliness and abandonment onto Adrian, she projected all the anger she felt towards her father on Gonzo. I think he's a worthy target for hate and anger. :)

I wouldn't be surprised if Odette killed someone to get their spot in the graduate program. Craycray!
 

Thanks ever so much for this excellent summary, Superalfie! You're a superstar!

"the battle lines have been drawn… Nuria and Gonzalo vs. Paulina and Inés." So true! In a sense, it seems that it has always been this way. However, now it's official! In the past, Inés was blinded by love and swayed by the illusion that, in spite of any dodgy behavior her husband displayed, deep down he is a good and respectable man. Just like you, Vivi, I whooped out loud when Inés kicked that lying cheating scoundrel out of HER house! I was also glad that The Gonz didn't get the presidential suite. He'll have to share a regular room with all his personal belongings that Inés removed from HER house! He should consider himself lucky that his wife is such a noble and magnanimous lady. I would've chucked all his rubbish all over the city's communal bins. He'd have to spend a week scouring through the trash of Puerto Esperanza looking for his things!

Mónica is delusional if she thinks The Gonz is finally going to make an honest woman out of her now. He treated her like trash for over ten years and it's not about to change now. Besides, His Royal Awesomeness is convinced that he can reconquer the wife he cheated on for over 10 years, he has no time for the mistress right now.

I had to readjust my beanie for this beanie moment: Karen falling out of love with Camilo just like that! *Magic finger snap*

Actually, given the quality and substance of the Pau-Karen conversations lately, I could do with less PauKaren and more LeoNuria moments.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Odette killed someone to get their spot in the graduate program. Craycray!" Great one, Vivi! Is it bad that I really really want this to happen? This show could use some murders (and some slaps!)

Thanks again Superalfie and Vivi! Have a wonderful day! :)

 

Nuria also told the social worker that Ines and Gonzalo are divorcing...so you know she means business about getting Mauricio out.

I had to laugh when Nuria told Ines that she was selfish and for once in her life she needed to think about Nuria's needs...the look on Ines' face was priceless!

Monica is such an idiot. Why in the world would she want to be with a man who cheated on his wife for 10 years???? She is delusional if she thinks that even if they do get together, he would be faithful to her. I just don't get it.

I am hopeful that now that Julieta is becoming a little less crazy, that she will tell Adrian the truth about the wedding. I may not be a huge Adrian and Paulina fan, however, I am a huge fan of the truth coming out.
 

Thank you, Meeks, for the important detail that the social worker now knows the Murats are divorcing. I've amended the episode highlights accordingly.

Couldn't agree more about Mónica. She is not a bad person, she is just weak, naive and stupidly in love. She has gone through 10 years of heartache and it's going to be over any time soon. If he cheats with you, he'll cheat on you! Plain and simple.
 

And yes, Nuria is very entertaining, as long as they spare us the child abuse. We get it, show makers! Nuria is an evil vitch who hates little Mau and likes to torment him, but please stop showing us that poor wee boy getting verbally abused and physically roughed up.
 

Nandicta,

To continue your AQNMD in the afternoon discussion and Univision/Televisa analysis, I recently read another article on La Hora de la Novela, I believe, that said one of the main reasons Televisa was doing so poorly is that it had failed to change with the times, not just in stories, but in management. As Televisa grew as a company and became #1 in everything telenovela during the 1970s to 2000s is that it would consistently reinvent itself, invest in new writers, producers, head of management, etc. and it has failed, in the last decade, to pass the torch to the new generation.

For example, Valentín Pimstein used to be the head of Televisa for years and then eventually passed the torch after a decade or so to Salvador Mejia who has failed to pass his own torch. Not to mention, he has surrounded himself by some producers who were either never good (his wife) or just need to retire and/or go on a retreat to find some new ideas (Llarosa and Osorio). And it's sad because Osorio and Llarosa were some of the most creative, inventive, forward thinking producers at one time. Osorio produced the first novela to deal with a full blown gay relationship and Llarosa was the king of hot button, teen issues. He produced Sonadoras at a time when drugs weren't as talked about as they are now and did Amiga y Rivales were one of the main characters had AIDS and the topic was handled with care and nuance. I grew up on these two producing jewels and it sucks to see how far they've fallen.

Another thing they talked about is the lack of these same topical issues in current novelas. Televisa seems so disconnected some the times and don't seem to see or want to see that there are now other topics that deserve their care and attention. LIke marriage equality, immigration, rape, human trafficking, etc. And the few novelas who deal with these are renegated to horrible time slots. The best producers Televisa currently has are Giselle Gonzalez and Roberto Gomez Fernandez and who produced Para Volver a Amar, YNCELH, ECDLP and they're not given the confidence they should be. AQNMD was put at the 7:15 slot and PyP was given the 9:00 slot when it should've been the other way around. Univision just adds to this…

Full discretion though, Televisa is trying with EHDLS, Yago, Mujeres de Negro, Corazon Que Miente but they haven't been the expected HITS they want or need them to be. Viewers need to embrace new formats as well instead of waiting for the next Maria la del Barrio because those times are over.
 

Could someone please explain to me what crime did Gonzalo do? I know it has to do with embezzlement, Edgar and Julieta's father but with Spanish not being my first language, I am confused. Whenever they talk about business stuff, it tends to go over my head. Thanks so much in advance.

Veronica
 

Thank you, Superalfie, for sharing with us this insightful analysis. I would only like to add that Televisa ought to respond to this request to include more current themes in a researched and serious way and not throw them at us pell-mell in little clichéd soundbites. Looking at you, Juabbly Juan Osorio!

For those of you who missed it, Superalfie is commenting on a late post I added to Monday's discussion thread, in response to Urban's remark that it's puzzling a star-studded TN like AQNMD would be buried in the afternoons. Here it goes:

"I really can't fathom how a show that created such a buzz in Mexico, gained a bigger audience, generated more critical acclaim and won more awards than PyP, Univision's highest rated show of this year, is relegated to the afternoons. What bugs me even more is that it received zero promotion before it premiered, literally, ZERO! Not a single mention on their Facebook pages or Twitter pages. The only reason I learnt it was airing on Uni was because a "Sueño de Amor" commenter mentioned that he saw AQNMD on his DVR schedule (Thanks ever so much, Jon!) I wasn't until recently and after several complaints that Uninovelas FB page started posting AQNMD every now and again. Given that Telemundo has been kicking Looneyvision in the gut lately, it is inconceivable that Uni keep shooting themselves in the foot like that.

Here are some articles you and others might find interesting:

-- "Telemundo edges Univision in prime-time ratings for a record six weeks"
(http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article98889457.html): "For the first time in history, Telemundo has beaten rival Univision in prime-time ratings Monday-Friday for six consecutive weeks."

-- "Univision, Televisa Wrestle With Changing Tastes Among Hispanic Millennials" (http://www.wsj.com/articles/univision-televisa-wrestle-with-changing-tastes-among-hispanic-millennials-1473122201) "Univision in recent months has been pressuring Televisa’s content chief José “Pepe” Bastón to infuse its programming (...) with more American flair to appeal to younger and U.S.-born Hispanics. (...) Televisa executives, including Mr. Bastón, have typically argued that Univision’s ratings woes were its own fault—that it was poorly scheduling and promoting the telenovelas, the people said." This last bit made me crack up! Looneyvision does not stand behind its programs, botches the scheduling, butchers the shows with incoherent editing, disrespects its viewers yet it expects to maintain its lead? Looneyvision is The Gonz of TV networks! :D

Televisa isn't any better because it is stuck in the 1960's. It has been rehashing the same drivel over and over again. Lately, it has barely survived by butchering the work of other original works coming from Colombia (LFMB, MEPS, La Vecina), Argentina (Un Gancho Al Corazón) and Chile (La Madrastra). Lately, they are attempting to adapt shows beyond the classic Latin American novela format, with more or less success, from Turkey (Yago) and Finland (Mujeres de Negro) for instance. They ought to retire the old bozos (Juan Osorio, the Mejía couple, Emilio Larrosa, Angelli Nesma, Rosy Ocampo,...) and bring in new blood. Take risks, sponsor young talents in every aspect of their business from writing, acting, editing, directing, soundmixing, photography, etc etc. Out with the old, in with the new!"

 

Thank you Alfie and Nandicta for the insights about Televisa and Univision. Just nodding my head in agreement at everything you say.

But it is true that the newer/fresher/more cutting edge tns haven't done well in ratings, and the stuff doing well on Telemundo isn't the highest quality or that creative either (how many Senor del Cielo sequels can they squeeze out?). So are the viewers really demanding freshness and quality? Or just a different kind of repetitive drivel?
 

Welcome, Veronica! Great to have you join us! Regarding your question about Gonzalo's murky business past, it is understandable to be confused because we were intentionally kept in the dark and given the information bit by bit to lay the groundwork for Monday's big reveal. Here is the timeline of the revelation:

- In the first episode, Julieta Olmedo accuses Gonzalo Murat of murdering her father by swindling him of all his money and leaving him in abject poverty which caused the heart attack that killed Daddy Olmedo. The Gonz denies, denies, denies.

- Édgar is a distant cousin of Gonzalo's and was also swindled out of his fortune, which coupled with his wife's untimely death during childbirth, led to him sinking into alcoholism, gambling an douchebaggery. Édgar's full name is Édgar Almonte Ezquerro. The business venture that Gonzalo started and where all his partners (Édgar and Joaquín Olmedo) lost their money was named Ezquerro. To keep Édgar's mouth shut, The Gonz accepts to pay him heaps of cash. Custody of Little Mau was also part of this deal.

- Julieta sees Édgar's obituary in the local newspaper. His second last name "Ezquerro" rings a bell. Sure enough, it's the name of the scam that The Gonz used to swindle her father. She finds a document that confirms this in her late father's personal belongings. She takes that to a notary and her Nancy Drew work leads her to a Mr. Eulate Morales, the crooked banker that agrees to give her all the documents that prove that Gonzalo embezzled the Ezquerro business and his partners. He basically asked for a huge loan to get the company going then, with Eulate's help, he put all that money in a tax haven and told his partners (Édgar and Joaquín Olmedo) that he lost their money in the stock market. Eulate has one condition before handing Julieta the documents: Nookie with Loony.

- Julieta sleeps with Eulate, gets the documents, shows them to Paulina and threatens to jail Gonzalo if the wedding goes ahead. As a consequence, Pau dumps Adrián at the altar.

- The Gonz jails Adrián on false charges. Julieta threatens to produce the documents and jail him if he doesn't get her little brother out of jail pronto.

- The Gonz moves his influences to free Adrián and get the drug charges dropped. He instructs his goon, Silvestre, to retrieve the incriminating documents from Julieta's home ASAP. Silvestre manages to do it and injures Julieta in the process.

- At the end of Monday's episode, we learn that Joaquín Olmedo, Julieta's and Adrián's father, did not die of a heart attack. He committed suicide! In front of his daughter! But, wait, that's not all! The reason he committed suicide is because he had been planning to embezzle the Ezquerro business venture and run away with the money, but Gonzlo discovered his scam and stole the money before Joaquín could. Basically, The Gonz pr-embezzled the embezzler! And the other shocking thing is that Gonzalo said the truth to Alfonso and Camilo when they confronted him about the embezzlement: He did not swindle his partners, he stole the money before Joaquín Olmedo could. Still illegal but he was saying the truth for once.

- On Tuesday's episode, The Gonz phones Eulate Morales, the crooked banker, tells him he's onto him and threatens him that there'll be dire consequences if he speaks about the embezzlement again.

Hope this answers your query. Thanks for stopping by, Veronica! Have a great day! :)
 

Vivi, it seems that people nag a great deal about the repetitiveness and the lack of innovation but the minute they get something that doesn't fit the mould, they start whinging! Still, I think that consistency pays off and if the network gets too scissor-happy with the editing and keeps jerking the viewers around between time slots and sometimes channels (without even informing them beforehand about the schedule and channel changes) that doesn't help at all. Why should I invest my time into your new show if you pulled the last show I liked from the air after a mere 12 episodes (that included a WHOLE week of preemption) and buried it in the graveyard shift at a lesser sister channel that most viewers don't get? (yeah, I'm still hopping mad about YAGO)! You don't respect me as a viewer, I don't respect you as a channel! You belittle my time and dedication, I take my business elsewhere! Telemundo doesn't have the quality of setting and production value etc etc but it has shown consistency, it has innovated, it has stood behind its shows and it's starting to pay off.

Catch you later, amigowz! Break over :)
 

Nandicta- Very true. And I too am still angry about their treatment of Yago...and La Malquerida, and Para Volver a Amar, and La Verdad Oculta, and...I could go on. :)
 

I am so mad about La Malquerida. Univision's editing is so bad sometimes thought that I'm happy a novela gets the afternoon or midnight slots because it almost ensures there won't be any editing. In the prime time line up there will chop it up at a moment's notice if it's below their projected ratings.


 

Thanks so much, Nandicta!!! :) I appreciate the info. So Gonzalo stole the money that his partners put in the business, including the tax loan and lied to hide his crime. What a JERK!

Veronica
 

Hello Veronica and welcome!

In a nutshell he did but he only did it to save it from Joaquin Olmedo. It's was a fraud to save the company from a fraud and then paid his investors back. To me and I think a lot of viewers, it was a shock that Gonzalo actually told the truth and had not done the fraud out of malice. Julieta and Adrian now know the truth as well.
 

Gracias, Alfie.

Thanks to everyone for the info about Televisa's woes. You can't please everyone, so they need to find some balance in what they produce. I wonder whether their lack of "topical" subjects is because they are afraid of series being dated or unappealing to international markets so they stick to the tried and true. Anyway, on to our story:

Nuria is the most selfish brat of the season (so far). She has no thought for Ines' happiness or even her health with her demands. It will not benefit her to have Nuria under the same roof and if Gonzalo really cared about Ines he wouldn't even think it a good idea for any reason.

Which leads me to the main issue I've been wanting to bring up: How in hell can any man claim to love a wife he has cheated on for over 10 years with the same woman? There is a reason in nature why males and females are born in roughly equal numbers and it doesn't allow for "polyamory".

I also cheered Ines when she showed him the door. Gonzalo is damned lucky Ines didn't do this to his stuff. I'd love to send her a copy of this movie!

So Julieta's father was no saint either. The suicide was just as much about not being caught as it was about the shame. Selfish man to leave his children like that.
 

Thanks for the info, Alfie :) I agree.
Veronica
 

Urban, I totally agree with your assessment regarding the way ahead for Televisa TN output (Balance is definitely another keyword here) and regarding the incongruity of Gonzalo's "polyamory" claims (Great term invention! I'm totally stealing it!).

Funny how I pictured that very clip before I even clicked the link you provided. I admire Inés's grace under pressure and dignified demeanor but come on! He has cheated with the same woman for over ten years, he procreated two boys with her and he gave them the very names he and his wife had picked for their children had they been born male! What Angela Bassett did in that clip is the least Gonzalo deserves!