Caray, Caray!

I think the Luci names (Lucia, Luciana, AnaLucia), are starting to take over the Maria names for protagonists. Or maybe the name is just really popular right now.

Was glad to see that Gabriel Soto's character is a man with grown children, meaning he's playing true to age. I guess this IS indeed supposed to be a romance between an older man (late 30s-early 40s) and a very young woman. I'm ok with it if the writers are acknowledging it.
 

And Moises Arizmendi is in it, too, as a doctor.
 

I sorta like the sound of this TN, but I don't know if I'll watch. I'm really burnt out and stressed out now, and with TVA ending I'm about to get five hours back per week. It's interesting that Soto gets to play his own age, but if only they'd have an older protagonista too.
 

I think that I will stop at the state store for a bottle of vino. I feel a ritual coming on...starting at 9pm. Might be just what I need to deal with life's stresses.
 

Is miss carmine playing a good person but dies off? I would like to see laura carmine be
In the rolll of a good guy, she'd be good at it. I've only seen her in 2 crazy lady parts and she really shined in them. Glad to see gabe In any thing again.
Thank you Vivi. I hope someone will recap it.
I know folks are workin, tending family and stuff. But I always appreciate a good recaper.
Thank you all.
 

Nina- Laura Carmine played the good girl protagonist twice. First in Ni Contigo Ni Sin Ti, and then again in Quien Eres Tu.

In Ni Contigo, her galan was blind and was played by Eduardo Santamaria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npymgu1OvE4

And in Quien Eres Tu, she played twins, both the heroine and the villainess, and her galan was Julian Gil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96BCeq3KWfI
 

I'm totally in on this one, but I will pass as a recapper. I'm already committed to two. I'd love to have a discussion patio for this one, it looks good.
 

I'm willing to do the debut episode and stick with it if anyone else signs on.
 

I'm sorry to be a nit-picker, and it may be Uni or Televisa that describes the novela as being in "Napa Valley", but the vineyard scenes were filmed in Sonoma Valley at Viansa Winery. I'm just saying....

I've lived in Sonoma County for 16 years and worked in the wine industry for 15 of them and we've always been the red-headed stepchild to Napa. As Tommy Smothers once said, "Sonoma makes wine, Napa makes auto parts".

We really do make great wine over here....:)
 

LoriLoo- Sorry they're not giving Sonoma Valley the love it deserves. Perhaps they thought saying it was taking place in Napa Valley sounded sexier? :)

Urban- It would be great if you could recap the first episode. I'm sure many folks on the blog would appreciate it. Perhaps your recap will tempt other recappers to come out of the woodwork.
 

Hi Vivi. Of course Napa is sexier, it always has been. And better known than Sonoma. As you watch the vineyard scenes, just think that LoriLoo is only about 45 miles away....

 

LoriLoo- Did you catch a glimpse of any of the cast while they were up there filming?
 

No, unfortunately. They sort of came and went and the filming wasn't always advertised. I'm not even sure if they have finished filming all of the vineyard scenes. From what I read, they were very gracious guests and enjoyed the times they were here.

Shouldn't you be sleeping by now?
 

:)Yes, but I'm so used to staying up late on Mondays to do my Color recaps, I don't know what to do with myself. Going to sleep right now. I promise.
 

Sweet dreams!
 

Vivi.... THANK YOU for doing this!! I have been traveling and as such only keeping up with CarayCaray on the most ephemeral basis. But I was getting increasingly alarmed when, with time ticking away, there wasn't anything to gather us all around and see what kind of group might be formed for this new novela. Again, THANK YOU for doing this for us!!

I've just landed back in Toronto now, but have no idea where the rest of fall and winter will take me (hopefully someplace that's NOT here). I've also been watching this series whenever I've been able to (i.e.- anywhere 'down Mexico(ish) way'), so don't think I can really commit to anything on a permanent basis but, as I wanted to do with 'A que no me dejas', maybe I can give my two cents here, in the hopes of tipping anybody sitting on the fence over to the FUN side! :-)

For starters, first and foremost... the scenery. Unlike you've seen in any telenovela thus far ('Destilando amor', my ass!), and really quite stunning. Not in terms of a 'bucolic magnificence' kind-of stunning... just different, and the director really seems to have done his best to try and emphasize as much as he can so that- without doing anything- the scenery almost seems like another character in and of its own.

The main cast, also, is the thing that- for ME- was one of the biggest draws. Gabriel Soto, as his most recent turn as Galan-of-the-Century Max in YNCELH, I think REALLY hit a BULLS-EYE in terms of determining where his strengths lie. No manly, neanderthal Yanez, no jaws-that-could-slice-cheese, smouldering Colunga, no 'I just want to lose myself in you you're so beautiful' Levy, for all his pecs aside, Soto does 'sensitive', 'devoted', 'silently strong' REALLY, REALLY well. His protagonist here is in the same vein. Max was just a noble, loving, honorable, strong, yet still kind and gentle soul- so OBVIOUSLY the son of his mother than his tortured father. His David here is likewise no 'type A', hyper-masculine brute... this is not a galan that would break up any sketch taverna fight for any reason, but a man trying to be strong, and good and keep-it-all-together, yet still aware that he (for various reasons) may not be able to do so. It plays to Sr. Soto's strengths, and it shows.
 

Above and beyond the protagonista (more on her later... nothing bad, but this really does deserve pride of place), the main supporting actresses...

Anybody that caught the recent 'El hotel de los secretos' would probably agree that one of the most fun things was watching any scene in which Daniela Romo and Diana Bracho were together. These are two telenovela titanesses, famed most especially for their villainous roles, but two actresses that- whatever they are in- COMMAND their attention, and make whatever show it is better because of their contributions. To have them both TOGETHER was epic. Well, 'Vino el amor' does the same thing, but with what one might call the NEXT generation of epic actresses (again, both more often than not villains)- Cynthia Klitbo (whose villains in 'Cadenas de amargura', 'La duena', 'El privilegio de amar', 'Velo de novia', amongst others, are legendary), and the mighty Azela Robinson (of 'Laberintos de pasion , 'Canaveral de pasiones', 'Contra viento y marea', 'Lleno de amor', and most recently her feral Josefa in YNCELH). Their characters are frequently pitted against one another and the results are always ABSOLUTELY CRACKLING!! It's like watching Godzilla battle Mothra over the streets of Tokyo!

I'm only being slightly hyperbolic here, but Klitbo- in a role one would think Victoria Ruffo would LOVE to have been offered- is quite good as Martha- the loving, dedicated housekeeper (with long, flowing hair, shawls, and floral, 'Laura Ashley' style frocks), of Sr. Soto's home and family, with whom his kids grew up with and view almost as a grandmother... AND, also the mother of our eventual 'protagonista'.

Pitted against her we have Azela Robinson in the role of the resentful, envidious Lilian- mother-in-law to Soto, mother to his wife (Laura Carmine- EXCELLENT) and sister-in-law (Kimberley dos Ramos in a role that ten years earlier would have been MADE for Catherine Siachoque), and grandmother to his children. Big Lil' is a piece of work, but watching Sra. Robinson in the role is like watching a force of nature. She can do more with PERFECTLY delivered line than most actors and actresses do with a whole monologue complete with histrionics. Lilian and Marta, then, are from two totally opposite ends of the spectrum- Lilian is money, class, power, and spite. Marta is humble, humility, the hearth, the family, and the home. Marta as such represents everything that Lilian despises, the fact that she and her family are immigrants makes it even worse. Wouldn't it make it even more deliciously better if I were to tell you that- from episode one (so I'm not revealing any spoilers)- there is also BAD BLOOD between the two for a reason that none of us know of? I only hope that the writers come up with something worthy of the talents of these two women, as they can obviously bring it- WHATEVER it is- in spades!
 

This is Irina Baeva's first role as protagonista and, while I wouldn't say she's the next Silvia Navarro or Thalia... were even THEY a 'Silvia Navarro' or a 'Thalia' after their first major starring role? At the risk of sounding superficial... I think it helps that Sra. Baeva has got to be one of the most absolutely physically STUNNING women to have ever graced a screen. Her face is just uncommonly beautiful. And she's certainly not disgracing herself by any stretch of the imagination. If, to me, she seems to sometimes fade into the scenery, I think is just more about the strength of those actors around her, as well as (I will admit) my lack of affinity to those characters so 'lily-white-of-hue'.

We also have two newbies to villain-land- Christian de la Campa-And-His-Lips (they're just so magnificent, they always have to be mentioned) in the role of Sr. Soto's "best friend" and financial advisor (without saying anything, I will ask you all to note the quotation marks...), and Kimberley dos Ramos in the vital role of Sra. Carmine's sister, Soto's sister-in-law, and Robinson's daughter, the capricious Graciela. The writers are making Graciela a much more vital character than her counterpart in the Chilean original, but dos Ramos- who already stands out in every scene just on the basis of her flawless, porcelain/alabaster skin and white blonde hair- is proving up to the challenge. Personally, it's nice seeing these two young, attractive actors being cast against what historically has been type for them. Sr. de la Campa's 'Juan' would have been perfect for a Sergio Sendel, and I've already remarked on how Graciela would have been tailor-made for a Catherine Siachoque (even if she's not the kind of murderous psychopath La Siachoque is so good at... yet!). Supporting roles are also well-cast. Sofia Castro is excellent at playing roles in which we don't like her, without necessarily wishing harm to befall her. She is likewise here, but gets much more to do. I think it is to Srta. Castro's credit that our feelings towards her adolescent Fernanda (daughter to Sr. Soto) are always varied and changing, much like adolescents themself! Laura Carmine and Alejandro Avila, neither of whom I think need much introduction, are cast here in two 'featured actor' roles (like Susana Gonzalez was in LSDP). After her turn as the thoroughly evil Nuria in AQNMD, it is striking to see her here in the role of Soto's beautiful, wonderful, incredible wife, and the two of them make an almost impossibly handsome mature couple. And Sr. Avila here is cast against type as Sra. Klitbo's husband, and Sr. Soto's character's most trusted employee.

The supporting cast (which features Mar Contreras (Nanciyaga in LI), is comprised of many new faces to Televisa/Univision viewers, and fulfill all of their roles demands admirably. One person, I think, must be singled out in particular. The Dominican actor Juan Vidal is cast as local policeman/enforcer Brian Gutierrez and, ladies... you have your new eye candy. I mean, the last reason I watch telenovelas is to ogle anybody- male or female, but Sr. Vidal just looks so obviously like a Chippendale Dancer in his blue policeman's uniform that I keep thinking he's going to tear it off any minute! He's certainly in his late-30's-mid 40's, but even I have to admit that the many is sexy. His character is also intriguing... I of course can't give away too much but let's just say he factors prominently into the story and with all of the major players but for different reasons, and whether it's the writing, the character, Sr. Vidal, or any combination of the three, I find his tormented character almost adorably compelling.

Interestingly, as the policeman in the California town where this takes place, most of Sr. Vidal's dialogue is in English, which brings me in to a little quirk which might annoy some of you, but that I just LOVE...
 

Namely, that there's a lot of English going on! Sensibly (as a California cop), it makes sense that most of Sr. Vidal's characters dialogue be done in English, and he's actually an excellent English speaker (not quite at the capacity with which his real-life counterpart would probably have but, hey! It's a telenovela!!), but I am absolutely LOVING watching somebody like Cynthia Klitbo (playing an immigrant living and working in California) conversing with another character in English like HOW MANY immigrants living in the States have to every day?? We get this quite a lot... and, YES, some of you will undoubtedly point out facts like WHY are Californians living in California speaking to each other in Spanish when their Mexican servants aren't around, but get over it! They're trying to show some sort of 'mix of cultures' thing going on here and, if it doesn't work as perfectly as it could... well, that sorta goes for real life as well, doesn't it??

The absolute BEST (for me) is Azela Robinson... I knew she was born and partially raised in Britain... but I had no IDEA that her English-speaking voice is a PERFECT, CULTURED, BRITISH ACCENT!! I think of how many times we'd watch her SPIT out a line towards some hapless heroine as Apolonia or Josefa or Dinorah, that it's absolutely AMAZING to hear her here sounding like Julie Andrews!!!

Anyway, those are the positives.... the negatives... well, I don't feel I am in any position to comment about them, as they're all subjective, and what I hate is what some of you may like. I will say this, though... with the story that they have, and the CAST that they have, I guess I was hoping for something along the lines of 'Tierra de Pasiones' or even 'Abismo de pasion' here, and I would have loved to have seen what Angelli Nesma Medina would have done with the script. But the last Jose Alberto Castro production that I REALLY liked would be 'Sentimentos Ajenos' from the late 90's. I couldn't stand CdL, LM left me cold, and I felt nothing for good for PyP either. I don't like, or buy, many if not ANY of his recent female characters- he seems incapable of drawing an aggressive female character, let alone a good villainous one, and his heroines I find insipid (LM to me seemed to border on misogyny). I guess I'm just not a fan of Sr. Castro's work, but even with that being said I can still realize that.... there's still a lot of really GOOD stuff, here!!

So, that being said... I hope you guys can form some kind of a patio!! And I look forward to hopefully reliving it all with you again soon.

With my continued best wishes to all.... :-)
 

Wow, Stevey! As usual, you do a great sales job on a new telenovela. Sounds like a solid cast surrounding a very green, but passable, Irena. I agree about Gabriel Soto in Yo No Creo. It tapped into the best version of him. A true galan well suited for GS's personality and acting style. It will be interesting to see him as a father of two children here.
 

I love GS and can't wait to see him again especially a Maxesque galan. Maria Delores didn't deserve Max in YoNo but then part of his appeal was walking through undeserved fire
 

I sent an email to Jane yesterday. I'll do it if others sign on but you guys may have to wait until tomorrow morning for it. I'm seeing the National Theatre's Frankenstein tonight.
 

Vivi, thank you so very much! I also love Gabe and am really looking forward to watching.

A huge thank you too to Stevey for all the information.

UA, thank you so much for agreeing to recap. I hope others will also offer (so many talented recappers out there now).

I was afraid that for the first time in close to 9 years, I wouldn't have a show to watch. However, I need the recaps as my poor language skills won't allow me to "follow" on my own.

Diana
 

I see that bad girl Daniela Montenegro from PyP is the leading female protagonist in this TN!


 

WOW is right, Stevey. So appreciate your in depth sketches of our characters' personalities. I wanted to watch this, but now I MUST watch it.

I might volunteer for one night a month, if that is at all possible. The time is a little more do-able than 10pm and I sincerely hope that there is no gum-chewing, staccato, slang-spewing Stella and her two Stooges in this one. That's the only reason that kept me from volunteering for Silvana, once I had time (well, there's Trini, too).
 

I am so excited by the prospect of a telenovela that features wine and Gabriel Soto. And Nanciyaga, she was a hoot and I've always liked that actress. So, yes, I will volunteer to recap; preferably on a day that I can share with someone else so it's just every other week.
 

Thank you, Vivi, for putting together this synopsis complete with links to trailers and cast photos. I'm afraid I'm going to pass on this one. I might binge-watch it a few months down the line, after ECDLP ends. In any event, I'm grateful to Urban for volunteering to recap the first episode and I hope that other recappers come forward. Thank you, Stevey, for the additional information. Hope a patio forms around this new TN. Best of luck! :)
 

I guess a glass of vino while watching this show might be a nice way to end the day. In the last few years, many small vineyards have popped up in my area. I toured one of them. I will watch for the scenery if nothing else. GS is not my cuppa tea, but I can't pass up a chance to see that spoiled, nasty, little vixen from PYp as a good girl..... plus NAnci. Good times. I am also a fan of CYnthia. Cheers.
 

Since I have a previously set engagement for this evening, don't expect to see the recap until noon tomorrow. I may post a discussion page at 11PM or so while I work on this. I don't have a chosen literary style for it at this point so this recap will have details but not be up to my usual.

If anything it will be interesting to see if Irina Baeva can play a good girl. She seemed to have so much fun as a bad girl in PyP.
 

Hey guys!This seems interesting. i'm going to watch it for sure. The cast seems good. I only watched some parts of the first episode on YouTube and it reminded me of the Parent Trap. I'm going to warn you : Azela Robinson has a British and plays a woman living in California. But I guess Televisa got the resources they could use.
Stevey, have you watched La Que no Podia Amar. It is also by Jose Alberto Castro.That is I think his last good production and a some what similar setting to this novela.
 

Thanks, Vivi, for posting the info. Thanks, Stevey, for your input.
 

I'm so going to be watching this TN beginning tonight!

Jarifa: This will tell if Irina Baeva can play the female leading protagonist because I was so used to her being the bad girl causing havoc in "Pasion y Poder".


 

Thanks for the heads up, Steve, but I never watched PyP. I missed that one.
 

Does anyone know or has said if Hulu will air this one? They usually air the primetime novelas but I don't yet see this one on Hulu's site?

I hope someone knows!
 

Vivi
Did you get to see Quien Eres Tú?
I started watching and just when it was getting interesting, I thought it was being pulled from the US but they may have kept it going in other countries.
If it is complete on YouTube, I think I will give it a shot to finish up. And if it isn't uploaded into a playlist, I'm not sure I want to watch something with missing episodes.

OMG I haven't watched El Gran Final yet of TVA. I hope the writers did not shred it to pieces on the cutting room floor.
O/T
Hey Stevey, what's up? I know from your comments that you left gorgeous country of Nicaragua, went home to Canada, then to the remote never ever lands of south Columbia near the home jungle of Tarzan 🐒
 

Victoria- I lost track of QET around when it was pulled from Unimas too, but they finished up in other countries as the videos can be found on YouTube, but not super high quality.
 

Vivi
I just don't understand why Televisa and/or Univisión don't hire one of the super-duper Caray recappers or at least get our input/suggestions on how to write, produce, edit, and air a great story. We would really pick up their ratings!!

IMHO Caray Recappers/Commenters should put on our 'bucket list' writing one, or perhaps two, decent telenovelas: one great murder mystery for Urban; and one that ignores the typical telenovela rules. I would love it.
 

Victoria: I don't think new TN's ever show up in a Hulu search until after the premiere. And of course each new episode shows up only after it has aired.
 

Then it's just a 'wait and see' kinda thing. I love watching on Hulu. I hate being bombarded with commercial after commercial that is the same over and over again and which takes away the flow factor.
Hulu is worth every dollar I pay, more than Netflix which,IMO, hardily ever uploads new stuff.
 

If my Spanish were better I'd rewrite Dark Shadows for them.
 

Urban- Looking forward to your recap of the first episode later!

Anita and dy77- I hope you guys get in touch with Jane and Urban and see if you can wrangle up some more recappers. I think you all would make a fantastic team!

Any other willing recappers out there?...
 

Guys, after Jane contacts you send me an e-mail. There should be a schedule. Until all the days are covered I'll post discussion pages with bullet points of the most relevant happenings.
 

Email to Jane sent! Looking forward to the discussion pages too. Wasn't quite the Hallmark movie I was expecting/looking forward to last night, but it was interesting and I will keep watching.
 

Bullet points are fine with me because I know Urban will expand the bullet points.
 

I don't know where to post this question, so I put it here. Please tell me if there is an appropriate place for it. Does anyone know what happened to Telenovela-World? I know it had spam problems & that Ben Spade was trying to get it going. But the last I saw anything posted on Twitter or Facebook at their sites there was in March of 2016. Until very recently the menu page would come up, but if you tried to click on a telenovela forum, it went back to the menu. Some plot summaries were still available on internet. But today nothing worked at all. It looks like Telenovela-World is dead, but neither Ben nor Diane posted anywhere an obituary, and I haven't seen any explanation or update now since last March. Does anybody know anything? thanks, Enoch