Caray, Caray!

Silvana. Happy New Year everyone! I'm back! I was able to watch a couple of episodes at my daughter's in Houston and the rest till now when I got back. A few observations that I'm sure others have already made: I figured Margarita's mom would pop up eventually from the moment she was first mentioned. Manuel and Chivis' separation seems more artificial than ever--especially since neither his children nor her children, possibly excepting MJ, have anything against the relationship any more. The change in Stella's attitude toward Poncho happened way too fast and wasn't convincing. From obsession with Manuel to love for Poncho, practically overnight, after 1 kiss? Nah! Also, I feel kind of sorry for Genesis, who seems like a decent person--as even Trini mentioned. I was expecting that there'd be some sort of The Graduate destroyed wedding ceremony imitation at some point in this novela; the other 2 (Stella and Poncho, Andres and MJ) weren't quite close enough. Weird that everyone clapped, though. Wouldn't you know that MJ would be immature and air-headed enough not to follow through with a gynecologist's visit, even though she suggested it. Ah, well, I guess there has to be at least 1 unplanned pregnancy (or possibility of one--I'll bet she's not pregnant)/telenovela. What has happened to AJ's legal case?
 

Silvana

Welcome back, SpanProf! It's great to have you back. Your comments were spot on. I hope you had a restful visit and are now ready for the crazy couple of weeks leading up to the Happily Ever Afters (and, ojalá, Jail for AJ).
 

Silvana: Welcome back, Span Prof! Glad you were able to ponerte al tanto with the show. Recap for today up soon.
 

SILVANA – LUNES- Parte 1 de 2

We again see Majo tell Angie and Chivis about her father catching her kissing Vicente. Chivis tries to calm her. No hagamos un tormento en un vaso de agua. (Let’s don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.) I love Maritza’s hairstyle in this episode.

Padre Sánchez also buys his bread at Don Benito’s bakery. He runs into Manuel there. Manuel tells him his life has had its ups and downs. The priest says it looks more like downs recently and manages to draw him out. Manuel tells Padre Sánchez to ask God not to take away the woman he loves. PS knows that he refers to Chivis. He says the two of them are very transparent. The priest warns him that, if her marriage is repaired, Manuel will be on the outside looking in.

Angie tells Majo that it’s a good thing that AJ saw them and things are out in the open. Majo disagrees. She says it was horrible how furious her father was. Chivis tells her daughters that they can’t let AJ try to run their lives.

Manuel tells the priest that Chivis is separated from el bandido. He’s only made her suffer. He says that he and Chivis are in love hasta el tuétano (literally into the marrow – head over heels). PS says that he’s a bit díscolo about this. (wayward, rebellious). [I took this to mean that he’s not chapter and verse with his church about marriage in the church being forever.] But he does tell Manuel that Chivis is traditional about having been married in the church. Manuel tells him there’s no saving this marriage. PS says that Don Benito told him the whole story – and in 3D! Manuel asks the priest if he should keep hoping. Wow! The priest tells him he would risk everything for her and for the family.

The cops take a report at the old 3 Stooges house about the threats of Jonas and his sons. Dom says they need to go home. But Stella says THIS is their home. [I guess being over Manuel means she’s over living next door to him.] Dom, really scared, admits that Javito is missing. But Stella is in love and over worrying about the dog.

Chente calls the owner of Javito.

Trini is at Don Benito’s. He asks her if she feels better with something in her stomach. She says that a half dozen croissants did the trick! Margarita seems like she’s on the third week of a course of anti-depressants. She beams at Trini and tries to get the two of them to declare themselves novios. But it doesn’t happen. Just as Trini is leaving she declares herself wanting things por escrito. Don Benito, as usual, doesn’t get it.

Majo tells her mother she’s late. Chivis tells her she needs to take a pregnancy test and right now! We then are treated to a silly scene about who goes in to buy the test. Majo behaves like a 12 year old. She finally does go in. But she apparently inherited Trini’s belief in sunglasses as a good disguise.

Vicente breaks the news to Manuel that he may be about to become an abuelito. Manuel starts in on a lecture, but Vicente assures him he did use precautions, but they may have failed. Vicente tells his father he’d marry Majo in a NY minute. Manuel tells his son that a child is always a blessing. Manuel is starting to like the idea. He suggests Manuela or Silvano for names. They also mention Shark III.
 

SILVANA – LUNES- Parte 2 de 2

Catalina shows up at Manuel’s house talking about his using the dog as a pretext to see her. WOW!! Talk about coincidences. She’s Fluffy/Javito’s mistress. She paws Manuel some and plants a kiss on him. Vicente comes out to explain that he was the one who called. Catalina gets nasty, saying she might press charges for kidnapping. Then she sidles up to Manuel saying that the two of them could have dinner and work things out. He hustles her out the door.

Majo has taken the test. She scares her mother a bit and then: ¡Falsa alarma! Chivis and Angie are very happy, as is Majo.

We see a long scene of the two tortolitos (lovebirds) Stella and Poncho. The romance is a bit ruined for me by her chewing gum throughout. We are reminded that Stella forced Poncho to buy an engagement ring for the make-Manuel-jealous phase of the show. Now he puts it on her finger and proposes. They’re going to get married soon.

Majo calls Vicente to tell him she’s not pregnant. He tells her he was starting to get excited about it and was looking up cribs on the internet!

Lupita went to camp at exactly the right time so we could have some normal scenes with Chivis and her older daughters. The girl is fairly annoying, most of the time behaving like a 4 year old.

Angie, Chivis and Majo are discussing AJ’s not being around recently. And, of course, “Ding dong” goes the doorbell. He arrives looking serious. Chivis says the four of them need to have a serious talk and he says that’s exactly why he’s come.

Judging by the look on his face, I’m guessing maybe he’s finally going to be put on trial.
 

Silvana. Excellent recap as usual, novelera! I missed them while I was away. We can only hope that AJ is about to be put on trial--it would be nice if they could discover some bigamy too, but I think it's too late in the novela for that, especially without any previous preparation for it. I loved Maritza's hairstyle too. It made her look like a completely different person. Yep, Padre Sanchez is very modern--but I understand there are priests like that out there. Even Pope Francis seems to have been saying a few conciliatory things about marriage dissolution. (Though until the 16th c. anyway it was fairly easy--especially if a person was rich and powerful enough). The pregnancy test purchase scene was truly silly and possibly even more foreshadowing that MJ would turn out not to be pregnant. And was I right or was I right about its being a false alarm? Despite the incredible coincidence of who his owner is (How big is Miami anyway?), at least now we're rid of Javito! Interesting that he liked Genesis, Pedrito and Catalina, his real owner, but had no use for Stella, Dom or Poncho.
 

La Dona:

Saul & Lopez keep digging more into the Monkeys while AG's cronies are whacking many people, etc.,

Gabino & Jorge plotting something sinister regarding Monica.

I'm glad that Regina finally met Monica face-to-face!

 

Silvana

Thanks very much, novelera, for another superb recap. Once again, you've included some Spanish that had eluded me: ¡muchísimas gracias! Also, I enjoyed your remarks about anti-depressed Margarita and gum-chewing Stella, and I strongly agree about Maritza's hairstyle in this episode.

Doesn't Catalina live in Coral Gables? If so, how did Fluffy wind up many miles away?

I pity poor Don Benito. Trini is being her usual PITA self, and it's highly likely that she'll continue to be that way even after they're married. That's just the way she is: a spoiled, self-centered, snobbish PITA. It's possible that before the novela ends we'll have a scene where she stands up for him in front of her snobby "friends," but that won't convince me that such a person will really change after 60+ years.


 

SILVANA:

Many thanks, novelera! I’m glad we got the maybe-baby story out of the way. Whew! The scenes with Majo refusing to go see a gynecologist, being too embarrassed to buy a pregnancy test, and being too incompetent to understand the test instructions and pee on a stick, without her YOUNGER sister’s help, had me tearing my hair out. In fact, I caught myself yelling out “Oh my God!”, right before Majo yelled that out herself, and then I had to laugh. :)

Did we really need to see Catalina again? OK. Whatever. Please let it be the last time, Writers.

I loved your spot-on comments about Marg being on anti-depressants, and annoying Lupita being away. Wonder if the actress was off on another acting gig, playing a more age appropriate character?

 

Silvana. Juanita: I believe that Dom and Poncho had gotten Javo/Fluffy from an animal shelter which was probably centrally located, so that he could have come from anywhere in the Miami area. Vivi: Yep, MJ is obviously way too immature for motherhood. I've been thinking about AJ. Jorge made a joke about how nice it would be if AJ were struck by lightning (or something equally catastrophic, I don't completely remember), but not likely to happen! The best outcome would be that in a flash forward final episode Chivis receives word that he had passed away peacefully in jail, asking everyone's pardon for all his crimes and creepiness, freeing Chivis and Manuel to marry in the Church, and getting him off the family's backs. Anything else in the way of elimination would just be too negative for a mostly gentle comedy telenovela.
 

Silvana

Yes, the biggest mystery regarding this novela is how they're going to get around Chivis being Catholic and her husband alive and kicking. I was surprised that the priest seemed on board with Manuel and Chivis finding happiness together. But then he does wear sandals to church!
 

Silvana:

Novelera: I'd like to SLAP Trini & pull a Braulio on that twit! This brat is OMG!

SpanProf: You know AJ's got more tricks up his sleeve until the very end.

Vivi: 13 days before this nightmare of a TN finally ends!
 

Silvana sin lana:

Padre Sanchez being completely on board the Manuel/Silvana train came out of nowhere, though he did at least try to walk down the middle of things for a moment. But why the heck couldn't we have gotten that conversation, oh, around the time the Douchebag of the Universe moved everybody back into the big house?

Cata showing up in last night's episode was a pleasant (sort of) surprise, and it did put a bow on the whole Francisco Javier 2.0 sub-subplot, but this late in the game I was happier to see her bounce on out of Manuel's house.

By extension, Maria Jose's pregnancy scare being just that was also sort of pleasant. Vicente has grown up somewhat since falling for the chirpy one, but she's only grown...ever so slightly? If that?

OTOH, last night's episode got Margarita dragging Trini--if good-naturedly--for a hot minute ("...and I was like 'When will she shut up?'") before continuing its ongoing attempted redemption of her, and it's still not working at all. I know, it's comic relief in its way, but it's backfired massively. At least Margie has actually recycled karma a little via Lifetime Stalker Benji, for the love of Genesis. Trini hasn't recycled a damn thing.


El Chema:

I have a love/meh relationship with this show. Thirty-odd episodes in, it's become an actual prequel to its big brother novela El Señor de los Cielos--invoking a fair chunk of its older and departed characters (Oscar Cadena, Isidro and Guadalupe Robles, Ramiro de la frickin' Garza, and for one scene Don Cleto Letran). The cast is a bit all over the place apart from Mauricio Ochmann, Arcelia Ramirez, Julio Bracho, Itati Cantoral and Carla Carrillo (Amanda, the proto-Rutila), and the show may actually be talkier than the past season or two of ESDLC was.

OTOH, it's established one hilariously and ultimately messed up thing: Chema had a thing for clones of the women he loved but couldn't be with going way back (The show is currently in late 1985. This may make Chema's later relationship with Rutila even more May-December and...disturbing?...than I thought it was before.)
 

SILVANA

novelera – Thank you for the recap (or is it a recrap? GAH!!!) and the snark.
Snarktastic line of the recap: ”Margarita seems like she’s on the third week of a course of anti-depressants.”

”Angie tells Majo that it’s a good thing that AJ saw them and things are out in the open. Majo disagrees.”
Majo is dumber than a box of rocks. Did she think Vicente would want to be Majo's secret boyfriend .... indefinitely? Good thing she is ~not~ reproducing any time soon.

I’m hanging in there to see how the Manuel/Chivis/AJ thing gets resolved. Even if he dies in jail, his daughters will be very sad. I’m holding out for Margarita’s mother to be AJ’s “other” wife. Bigamy sounds good to me for a con guy like him.

”(Though until the 16th c. anyway it was fairly easy--especially if a person was rich and powerful enough).”
It was fairly easy in the 20th century, too, if the person donated enough money to the local church or diocese. Ages ago, when I was still Catholic, I knew of a Catholic family, with six or seven kids, the parents got it “annulled” so one of them could remarry in the future, in the eyes of the church. I always wondered if this would make the kids bastards in the eyes of the church? I don’t know, I’m not catholic anymore.

 

Silvana

I expect to have tonight's recap posted sometime tomorrow morning.
 

LA DONA:

So, is the guy who runs the center for abused women a potential Monkey? That's all kinds of messed up if that's the case. Is he possibly the Monkey who didn't kill AG, instead of Rafael?

What's AG playing at, making the General Monkey wait and wait, while she (partially) bares her soul (and other things) to Saul?

I really like the young doctor, and am worried about his safety with psycho Gabino stalking every man who shows any interest in Monica.

I really have zero interest in the teenager storyline.
 

Silvana sin Lana (Capítulo 112) - Martes - 1/3

Antonio José arrives. Chivis tells him she's glad he has come, because they need to talk. He says that's why he has come. He announces to Chivis, Majo, and Angie that today is the last day that he will come to the house. They'll be free of him: "I'm leaving the way clear for you to do what you want."

Lucha is drying her hair when she gets a Skype call from Andrés. He's at the airport in Mexico City waiting for his connecting flight. He tells her he realizes how much she means to him. His flight is announced. Lucha tells him Te quiero mucho, to which he replies Te quiero más. She is ecstatic.

Stella wants to get married the next day. Poncho reminds her that they need to get a license, etc. They do a lot of kissing. Dom brings out a bottle of champagne.

Vicente is trying to cheer up a rather depressed Manuel. Chente tells him that Sra. Chivis is going to be with him when AJ relents (se ablande). Manuel doesn't share his son's optimism. "At your age, romanticism moves mountains. But not in our case." Manuel tells Chente that when Chivis was their neighbor, the barrio was an island where her old life didn't enter. Chente tells him he can build bridges. Yes, says Manuel, but she can decide whether to cross or not, and she has decided to stay on the other side of the bridge. Switching metaphors, Manuel declares, "I was a parenthesis in her life."

Chivis warns AJ not to be a manipulator [but that's like telling him not to breathe]. He tells Angie and Majo that "it's clear that you don't care for your father, and so I'll go, and that's that." Of course, that prompts both of them to assure him that they care for him and don't want him to leave. Chivis looks as if she's well aware of what he's doing.

Jorge returns to the house while Vicente is trying unsuccessfully to cheer up Manuel. Both boys tell Manuel that he brought them up to be strong and not to give up without a fight. Jorge recites, "El cura predica pero no practica" (The priest doesn't practice what he preaches). Both Vicente and Jorge talk about how many difficulties they encountered before they won over their novias. Vicente tells Manuel, "If you crack, we will, too" (Si usted se raja, nosotros también). Finally, Jorge says to Manuel: "Tell me if you think Señora Chivis won't make you happy for the rest of your life. Listen to your heart!" Manuel admits that Padre Sanchez said the same thing. Vicente says, "See. Even God wants you to stay with Señora Chivis."

AJ continues with his manipulating. "I'm doing what you all have been asking, that I let you do what you want." Chivis forcefully contradicts him: "No. It's one thing to let your daughters choose their novios, and another, very different, to abandon them." AJ shifts into pity-party mode: "I feel that you don't care for me, that I'm useless, that I get in the way" (Yo siento que ustedes no me quieren, que soy como un inútil, que estorbo). Majo, of course, assures him that that's not the case. Chivis finally asks that the girls leave and let their parents discuss things between themselves. They leave, and the discussion becomes more heated. Chivis says he's leaving because he's a sinvergüenza (a good-for-nothing, a scoundrel), and he accuses her of having lost her manners in that neighborhood with matching houses (Perdiste los modales en ese barrio de casas pareadas). He claims that she has removed him from her life and is doing everything possible for the girls to do likewise. The discussion continues like this for quite a while. Chivis finally asks him how he's going to deal with Lupita; how is Chivis going to explain to her again that her father has left without even saying goodbye.
 

La Doña

good comments Vivi!

maybe Daniel is the good monkey, (I think AG said she was raped by all five), Saul was on a roll until he asked about Veracruz,

so Regina comes to meet Monica, Laz flips and kicks her out.

I also liked that Felipe was shown his future, by being introduced to Lazaro whom he knew nothing about, and in a step forward in trust Felipe tells of being accused of murder, and Yesenia spills on Guillermo, with that dark look in her eyes, but Laz holds back on Monica.

and Emiliano calls his dad to let him out (and not Diego)

so is the good Dr. Adolfo Mendoza making a move on Monica?

and AG covers herself in honey and rose petals, clinging to her skin like Saul's touch will be, before telling him almost the truth (the deadliest kind of lie)

ha!, Lopez's wife sends their son along with Lopez so there will be no funny business.

 

Silvana sin Lana (Cap. 112) - Martes - 2/3

Margarita asks Don Benito, "So are you novios, yes or no?" DB says he's puzzled, Trini said something about putting it in writing. Margarita explains to her dense grandfather that Trini wants him to write her a letter, that women like super-romantic things. Margarita offers to help him and asks what he wants to say. He suggests that the letter begin Estimada Señora Trini. Margarita tells him he sounds as if he's writing to a bank manager. She urges him to be more affectionate, romantic. He tries again: Amada Señora Trini. Much better, says Margarita.

Chivis again asks AJ what she's going to say to Lupita when she gets back from camp. AJ replies, "I don't know. That's your problem." Chivis tells him that when he left before, Lupita slept with Chivis every night because she couldn't imagine where her father was. AJ tells her "That's your interpretation." Chivis denies this and tells him that Lupita was destrozada (torn apart, broken-hearted). "You broke her heart when you left, when you abandoned her! Do you want this to happen again?" AJ says no, and for a moment he seems moved, but then he replies, "Why not tell her the truth, that her mother and her sisters threw me out of the house." He adds, "If your daughters lose their father, it's your fault!" He leaves.

Letter-writer Don Benito is on a roll. "Tell her she's more beautiful than the sun, when I think of her my heart beats like a 15-year-old, and when I see her smile, I'm left breathless." Margarita says what he's said is marvellous, but the letter also needs something more concrete." Like a request? he asks. "Exactly," replies Margarita, "something that comes from deep within your heart." He asks his granddaughter to close her eyes and not to laugh. He then says, "Write that I love her, and that I've done so since the first day she appeared in the bakery."

While Chivis and AJ are having it out, Majo and Angie are talking in another room about what AJ has said to them. Majo asks whether he's leaving because he can no longer get along with them (porque ya no puede con nosotras). Angie says that a father should continue with his daughters until the end, in good times and bad, and not leave at the least provocation. Majo objects to "least provocation," saying that how they lived didn't please AJ at all. Angie points out that that's because he was wrong, and to leave is even more wrong. "Our mother is right, he's trying to manipulate us." Majo claims that the Gallados have absorbed them (los Gallardo nos tienen absorbidas), and AJ is all alone. Angie points out that if he's all alone, it's his fault, that all his prohibitions, prejudices and scoldings have done is to drive us away from him. Both girls admit that they feel very badly about the situation. They hug.

Pedrito admits to Manuel that since Lupita has left, he feels lonely. He talks about the great connection he had with Lupita, and that there was chemistry between them. He goes on to make all kinds of romantic observations about her eyes, her hair, and about love (though he says some of what he says are her words, not his). Manuel advises him to look for friends. Where? asks Pedrito. Manuel asks whether he would like to go to summer camp, like Lupita. That would be incredible! says Pedrito.

The Three Stooges go back to the duplex to look for Javito. Stella and Poncho are very much in love. Dom is sad.

Margarita and DB finish The Letter. The next step, Margarita informs him, is to invite Trini tomorrow, prepare some terrific food, have flowers, and give her the letter. DB hugs her and says "what would I do without you?" She replies that if things work out with Trini, she will take care of DB and he won't be alone. "But why would I be alone if I have you?" he asks.
 

Silvana sin Lana (Cap. 112) - Martes - 3/3

Very hesitantly, Margarita says that there's something she's been meaning to tell Don Benito. After much thought, she has decided that she wants to go live with her mother. DB says he understands, and that he too misses her mother. He says that they would have to look for her, and communicate with her, and they don't even know whether she wants to come see them or where she lives. Margarita tells him that she has said nothing because she didn't want him to be angry, but she has been communicating with her mother via Facebook, and she's still living in Los Angeles.

Stella and Poncho are chasing each other all over the house, laughing and kissing. Dom finally explodes. He explains that he feels superfluous (sobrando). He is very happy for them, but he had always hoped that they'd remain together, like a family, and now that's not possible.

DB tells Margarita that he will support whatever decision she makes, but he's going to miss her a lot. She will miss him a lot, too, but she has to leave. Seeing Jorge bothers her too much, and she won't be able to get over it if she stays where she is. She asks DB's forgiveness, and he assures her that the only thing that matters to him is her happiness. They hug. She goes upstairs, and he cries.

Dom tells Poncho and Stella that he doesn't want to be a father-in-law. Poncho suggests that he could be a grandfather to their children. Stella adds that if he doesn't want to be a grandfather, he could be an aunt, since he's really their brother. He mustn't leave. They pose for a selfie and gradually realize that no one is taking the photo.

AJ comes to see Manuel. Manuel tells him he's not looking for more conflicts. Always the snob, AJ says something like "on the alert and resentful, like all the people of your class" (prevenido y resentido, como toda la gente de su clase). Manuel tells him not to insult him, or he'll throw him out of the house by force. Manuel then lets him come in. He tells AJ that there's nothing between Chivis and him. AJ says that he already knows this, and that's not why he has come. Manuel says that if he has quarrels with his sons, so be it. "My sons are good people, and your daughters, too." After a few insult exchanges, AJ tells Manuel that he's not going to bother his sons. "My daughters have made it clear that they prefer your sons rather than me."

Chivis, Trini, Majo, and Angie go to mass. Majo thanks God she's not pregnant, Angie prays for her mother's happiness and that AJ will accept Jorge, and Chivis prays for help in removing Manuel from her heart. FF>>

AJ blames Manuel and his sons for alienating his wife and daughters from him. Manuel tells him that if his daughters are angry, it's because he hasn't let them choose who they want to be with. AJ then tells him that he's leaving, and they can all do what they want. Always the good father, Manuel advises AJ to think twice, and have a little tact with his daughters. All isn't lost: AJ simply has to let them control their lives. AJ continues to put the blame elsewhere: "You and your sons are responsible for my having to leave my family, Señor Gallado!" He leaves.

Chivis' former friend Cristina comes to visit her. She tells Chivis that she doesn't mean to gossip, but people say she's selling fish. Chivis says that's true, and that it's a good job. "Perhaps I'll look for another job in the future." Cristina tells her that's what she wanted to hear. She and a friend from the club are bored with their lives and have started an interior decoration business. They're looking for someone with good taste and elegance to assist them.
 

Silvana sin lana:

Thank you for that thorough recap, Juanita. This was actually a fairly good episode even in the face of the Douchebag of the Universe's insistence that nothing is/was his fault, but the thing that sticks in my craw is Margarita's sudden wanting to not just reconcile with her absent mother, but now to live with her. Did I miss an episode where that came up before last night, or did the show literally just pull that out of its collective derriere?

(Sidebar: it would have been nice if Dominique had elected to stay in the duplex while Poncho and Stella took their kissyface-selves back to her house, but hey. And it would have been damn nice if Trini had actually prayed for something--anything--with regard to Benito. Show, show, don't tell.)
 

Silvana

I'm Catholic and had my first marriage annulled about 30 years ago. It's not very difficult or costly. You just file some paper work and pay a processing fee. My ex actually requested it because he wanted to take communion with his daughter during her first communion.

Sue in Miami

 

Silvana. Excellent and very complete recap, Juanita! I loved your observation that Chivis' telling AJ not to be manipulative is like telling him not to breathe. I also loved your excellent explanations of Spanish phrases. I also love Doris's idea of Margarita's mother being AJ's other wife. ¡Ojalá! Probably not, but no more of a coincidence than Javo's being Catalina's Fluffy. Once again Angie is strong and wise. AJ, otoh, is not only a snob, a crook and a manipulator but a poor sport! If he can't get his way 100% he's going to take his toys and run away from home. And they'll never see him again, so there! When, oh when, is this jerk going to be arrested again? Or has that plot line been dropped?
 

SILVANA

Juanita – Thank you for the recap!!!

The level of narcissism that AJ displays is just appalling. It’s always someone else’s fault, etc. He is disgusting, yet there are real people who do this.

If AJ walks into the sunset and truly disappears, can Chivis still file for divorce? Having the show end this way, with AJ abandoning them all, daughters are alienated, and Chivis divorcing him, really does relate more to real life than the average fairytale telenovela. Unless he is run over by a bus, there is probably no other resolution for the situation. Unless he hired a fake priest for their wedding. (clearly I’ve watched too many telenovelas)

The Three Stooges scenes seem very unauthentic. Perhaps the original South American version had actors that made it more convincing, or the eighth-graders are writing this subplot. Ugh...

 

Silvana

thanks so much Juanita!
you always throw in all these little details that add a lot of color.

(didn't mean for my other comment to end up in the middle of your recap)

I don't think MaJo's arms can reach around AJ.

after Margarita contacted her mom, weren't they going to meet the next day ???

but then Lupita was going on a school field trip with Pedrito to the museum, but instead ended up in summer camp, they haven't seen each other since the girls moved out, right ?? and no one has offered to help.

odd that Catalina would have a 5 toed non-pure dog.

I was wondering if AJ is on his way to jail or hiding, as the real reason he is disappearing again.

I can see the girls moving back to the duplex, but leaving the hole in the wall.

 

SILVANA:

Juanita- This recap was spectacular. How you didn’t lose it while recapping AJ’s selfish and arrogant rants at Chivis and Manuel is amazing to me, because I wanted to throw something at my tv. When you think he can’t get worse, he exceeds your low expectations.

I’m also confused about how Margarita went from setting up a meeting with her mama who abandoned her, to deciding to live with her on the other side of the country. When is the meeting happening, and why didn’t she tell her abuelo about it?

Is it summer already? How can Lupita be in “summer camp” when all the other kids are still in school and taking exams (as Angie and Marg mentioned)? And if it’s so late in the school year, shouldn’t Angie, Jorge, and Marg have received their college acceptance or rejection letters? Why is there no talk of college? Those three are all high school seniors, right? Also, if we are close to summer break, there’s nothing stopping Lucha from going and spending the summer in Mexico, providing medical care to villagers with Andres. It would actually be a good way for a pre-med/med student like her to spend her summer break.

 

Silvana

Wow, your recap was amazing, Juanita. It was so well written and with such useful phrases translated.

Yep, AJ just gets more and more ghastly. Chivis' scene with him was excellent. She said a parent never leaves their children. If he were the good father he claims to be, he would put up with the ups and downs of adolescence and keep the relationships intact. Instead, he decides to run out on them like a sulky child because they don't obey his wishes.

Deb, you and I think alike! I also wondered if AJ could be hiding a return to jail or the imminent trial behind the pity party he was throwing himself.

Yes, that seemed like the writers had a couple too many drinks when writing Margarita's story line. She did agree to meet with her mother the next day. I assumed her mother was in Miami. Then Los Angeles is in the picture. That whole plot makes absolutely no sense. Have they said how old Margarita was when her mother abandoned her? Why would she move to Los Angeles to be with a person she hasn't seen for years?

Vivi, I thought Margarita was keeping quiet about the meeting with her mother because she didn't want to hurt her grandfather, who has apparently written her off. I thought she had more sense and was planning a meeting in Miami to test the waters about how they'd get along together. Instead she does something completely rash.

Stella is still inconsiderate (big surprise). Who kisses constantly and paws their beloved in front of someone who doesn't have a partner? I'm hoping they come up with someone for Dom before the end.
 

Silvana

Wow, thanks, everyone, for your encouraging remarks about the recap and your great comments about the episode. BillC, I loved your "kissyface-selves" and wished I'd come up with that while I was writing. As for Margarita's plan to live with her mother, I think there had been mention a couple of times about her mother, but I don't think she even tried to contact her until this week.

SpanProf, I'm delighted that you were pleased with the translations. And I laughed out loud at your saying that Margarita's mother's being AJ's other wife was no more of a coincidence than Javo's being Catalina's Fluffy.

doris, yes, I too was struck by how unauthenic the scenes with the Three Stooges were--not just in this episode, but throughout most of the novela. They were the aspect of the novela I liked least. There were times last night when Dom's situation seemed poignant, but the writers insisted on hamming it up insufferably so that instead of caring, I just wanted to fast forward.

deb, you're the one who so often catches interesting details that I miss. I was especially struck by your comment on the strangeness of Catalina having a 5-toed non-pure-bred dog. I also enjoyed your comment about Majo's arms not being long enough to reach around AJ. Also, don't worry about having posted your comment in between parts of the recap. It's all but impossible to know what's been posted since you logged on. I'm always surprised to see several comments that weren't there when I started a comment.

Vivi, you always raise extremely interesting points. Yes, it's a bit strange that Margarita moves from contacting her mother to deciding to live with her even before they've met. I'm under the impression that the meeting was supposed to take place the very next day (assuming LAX doesn't have the problems that were plaguing it this week and last). And you raise excellent questions about the scheduling--how can Lupita be in summer camp when school is still in session? It's possible, I suppose, that school extends a bit longer for the older students, but still...And you're right, I don't remember having heard anything about college acceptace/rejection letters. Indeed, those often come in the Spring. There is one question I think I can answer: I think Lucha is in medical school (not pre-med), and I don't think med students get much if any summer break.
 

SILVANA

"odd that Catalina would have a 5 toed non-pure dog."
Good point! Unless she was swindled.

"I can see the girls moving back to the duplex, but leaving the hole in the wall."
BwaHahahahaaaa!!!

Vivi - I am overnighting a new telenovela beanie hat to you. Your questions are too rational. Please don't lose this one. (~wink!)
 

SILVANA:

Thanks, Doris. I'll make sure to hang on to the new one. ;-)
 

Silvana

Well, no sooner do I say that it's hard to know who has commented after one has logged on than I log off and find novelera's very insightful comment.

novelera, I too thought Chivis was great in the scenes with AJ. I was also impressed by Manuel in his encounter with AJ. As angry as he was with AJ, his instincts as a father were so strong that he tried to give AJ advice about not leaving his daughters, even though in some ways Manuel might stand to gain by AJ's leaving.

And yes, I thought both Stella and Poncho were grossly inconsiderate in last night's episode. I'm really sick of both of them. Poncho used to have some redeeming features, but his callous treatment of Génesis put him firmly on my mierda list.
 

Juanita, great recap. I too am trying to figure out how the road will be cleared allowing Manuel and Chivis their "happy ever after" ending. I like Doris' idea of a fake wedding. That would provide Chivis a way out of the marriage to AJ, right? My guess is AJ knows he is going back to jail but wants to make his girls and Chivis feel he is only doing what they had been asking of him. Such a pompous Ja..A...
Doris, where can I get one of those telenovela beanies? I should have ordered one a long time ago.😊
Helen
 

Silvana:

Juanita: I noticed that Chivis FINALLY had a backbone in standing up to AJ (AKA Daddy Dearest).

You're right about Stella & Poncho: both of these idiots deserve each other!


 

La Dona:

Deb: You nailed it on Felipe being shown the future (based on what happened to Lazaro, when AG took ALL of his $$$ & fortune).


 

First--thank you, Juanita. All the details, all the time. We can't be allowed to forget what a low-down scummy guy AJ is. Thanks a LOT.

Majo is getting more irritating with her naivetee.

VIVI--I think the writers have mistakenly put telenovela beanies ON before sitting down at their story boards (or they've never been to the States).
 

Anita: AJ's going to have more tricks up his sleeve until the Gran Final on January 16th.

You're spot on about Majo. Her buji-ism is worse than Deborah Sanders on "Bajo El Mismo Cielo".

TN Beanies ROFLOLZ!
 

SILVANA

"As angry as he was with AJ, his instincts as a father were so strong that he tried to give AJ advice about not leaving his daughters, even though in some ways Manuel might stand to gain by AJ's leaving."

Thus highlighting just how sincere and NOT narcissistic is Manuel, compared to AJ.
 

Silvana sin Lana - Wednesday, January 4 - Capítulo 113

Very little happens in this episode: Andrés finally asks Lucha to be his girlfriend. She accepts and plans to go to Mexico to see him. Stella and Poncho tell Manuel they’re getting married and start moving back to the old house.

Chivis accepts to meet with her friend the next day at the club to talk about the possible interior design job. Trini is overjoyed but Chivis looks a little unsure.

Pedrito tell the Three Stooges what happened with the dog.

Manuel and Chivis both remember the balcony scene when Chivis told him she was returning to work at the terminal.

Lucha Skypes with Andrés. He regrets telling her not to come with him. He misses her and loves her, not just as a friend. He wants her to go to Mexico as his pareja (partner).

Pedrito found some summer camps he wants to go to. One even has a tirolesa (zip line), but there’s also a ninja one. Jorge is taking the ACTs or SATs so Vicente drops him off. Manuel heads upstairs and hears Lucha accepting Andrés’ proposal to be his girlfriend. She won’t allow Andrés to pay for her ticket though; she’ll work hard to be able to see him as soon as possible. Her summer vacation starts soon.

Angie is worried about the test. She also wonders why her dad hasn’t contacted them. Trini and Chivis hug her.

Manuel remembers when Lucha told him about being in love with Andrés. Pedrito comes in and jumps on the bed. He’s chosen a summer camp and it’s near Lupita. It’s also a day camp where he would come home every night - that way Manuel won’t be alone after Lucha leaves for Mexico. Manuel asks if he’s been reading his mind. Pedrito admits he’s been spying on everyone since no one will tell him anything.

Trini makes fun of Majo for getting up early. Chivis reminds her she needs to make an appointment at the gynecologist. Trini wants to know why. Chivis just says it’s for an annual checkup, but then mentions she doesn’t want the same susto (scare) as the day before. Trini keeps being nosy. What susto?

The Three Stooges stop by Manuel’s to tell him they are moving back to their old house and Stella and Poncho are getting married.

Trini doesn’t like her family keeping secrets from her. She claims she could disappear just like AJ. Majo and Chivis tease her about where she would go. Trini has called a car to take her to see Don Benito but Chivis offers to drop her off when she drops Angie off for the test.

Stella hopes that everything works out for Manuel and he isn’t left all alone. Poncho offers to introduce him to his cousin, but she has unas carcajadas (loud laugh). Manuel says no thanks. Stella feels bad that Manuel lost Chivis and Poncho tells him to fight for her. Manuel seems convinced that it’s over for good.

Don Benito tells Trini that Margarita will most likely go live with her mother. Trini tries to make him feel better by reminding him they will stay in touch online. Don Benito admits it won’t be all that bad. They will have more privacy when Trini comes to see him. He gives her the letter he wrote.

Majo tells Vicente how relieved she is that she’s not pregnant. She doesn’t feel ready yet and they are not married. They haven’t been together that long and there’s a lot they don’t know about each other. She starts asking random things. Is he messy or tidy? Is he friolento (always cold) or caluroso (always hot)? Does he sleep in the nude? He tells her that all a child needs is love, and they have a lot of it.

Trini reads the letter, but it’s not enough. She wants Don Benito to ask Chivis for her hand.

Majo tells Vicente about her father leaving. Vicente is worried about his father too. Chivis left him, and Vicente thinks it’s unfair how they are sacrificing their love for their children. Majo noticed that her mother is very sad too.

Chivis tells Cristina that she has completely changed after living in the real Miami. She doesn’t want the same life as before.

Manuel talks to the Virgencita at the terminal, asking for Chivis to come back to him.
 

Silvana. Excellent and very thorough recap, J. Darn right! Very little happens in this episode and it seems a little late in the series to have such an obvious filler episode. Those balcony reminiscing scenes were especially time wasting--We know you miss each other Manuel and Chivis! I hope Lucha doesn't give up med school to be with Andrés and that her vacation stay in rural Mexico helping with medical treatments just makes her an even better doctor in the future. An interior design job for Chivis? Really? All the interior designers I know (and I know at least 3 of them) have 4-year college degrees in Design. State standardized tests for hs juniors or seniors may include a free chance at the ACT, as the Illinois test did, and may still, though I think they stopped doing it a year or 2 ago. And trust AJ to throw chaos into Angie's life when she needs to be calm for a high stakes standardized test. Of course Trini is an ingrate about don Benito's letter! In her concern for Chivis (though coached a bit by Vicente), could MJ be growing up? At last?
 

SILVANA

J - Thank you for the recap! ITA, a whole lot of nothing going on in this one. It seemed more like the cast was planning the wrap party. I blame the writers.

My favorite escenita was so so short but I'm glad I didn't miss it --- when Manuel was on his bed and Pedro came in, and got on the bed. Manuel quickly and oh-so-naturally said 'no shoes on the bed.' Said and delivered like a real parent!

The one scene I really liked and thought was truly well done was the final one with Manuel praying to the Virgincita. Carlos' acting, the music, his 'prayer' had me getting a bit emotional. I am going to miss Manuel (as well as Carlos P) when this is over.
 

SILVANA:

J- This was the perfect amount of recap for this episode!

I know I shouldn’t be shocked by her behavior by now, by I couldn’t believe Trini’s reaction to Benito’s heartfelt love letter. Nothing is ever good enough for that *#&^*! I can’t even think of a word for her. They’re really saving her redemption for the last second. Same with Majo. I don’t really believe that her mother’s sadness has really made an impression on her, until Vicente mentioned how sad his dad has been.

High school seniors barely taking standardized tests at the end of the school year? OK. Putting my beanie on.

 

LA DONA:

Wow! They were really hitting us over the head with the likelihood that Rafael is Monica’s bio-dad this episode.

The writers are slowly building the relationship between AG and Monica as one that is both prickly/cautious and one of mutual admiration. Monica once again impressed AG by saving her from a carjacking (or saving the carjackers from getting shot by AG). And now Regina has to run around trying to keep them apart, while not giving away that she’s AG’s sister. That’s not going to be easy.

Saul has decided to not believe his lying eyes that AG did something to Miguel and is shady, because of the partial-truth she told him about her trauma. But just as he’s decided to truth her blindly, AG has found the file that proves he was investigating her, and therefor doesn’t trust her. I just hope she doesn’t find out that Lopez is his inside man. That was a close (and cute) call when his baby ran into Saul’s place and straight to AG.

It's a certainty now that trauma center guy was a Monkey. Blech!

 

LA DONA:

Typo- To trust her blindly...
 

Silvana: Vivi: Yep, the high stakes standardized tests for high schoolers are usually taken in the fall of the senior year or even in the junior year.
 

Silvana

thanks so much J!

there were some things I kind of liked here,

no AJ, no Lupita,

the 3-some were going back to their own universe.

and especially liked Pedrito's talk with his dad, how they won't tell him anything so he has developed this way of popping in here and there, catching bits and pieces, and his mature advice to Manuel on love, and how he has picked a summer camp so he can be home every day so as not to leave Manuel alone.

did you notice on the balcony scenes, other than the dead geraniums, that Chivis' balcony was so much higher and loftier than Manuel's, (I bet she'll come down to his level) and I'm glad she is not buying into her old life style, the easy way, and I'm wondering if the money is about to run out.

hmm, I can't see a happy ending here with AJ in the picture, and if something bad happens to him, that would be bad for the girls, and if he does something to make them hate him, well, that's not good either, how about something that kind of undoes his wrongs but takes him far, far, away, to another life.

 

Silvana

Many thanks, J, for your concise but complete recap. You're right--very little happened except for Andrés waking up and asking Lucha to be his novia, and perhaps Chivis telling Cristina that she no longer sees the world in the narrow way she used to. Most of the rest was annoying repetition, either in flashbacks or more of the same behavior. For me, the most irritating more of the same was Trini's [expletive deleted] treatment of Don Benito. He must be a masochist at heart. If so, he'll probably be happy with Trini. Surely no non-masochist could tolerate her.

I wonder whether AJ's silence is part of his self-pitying attempt to make his family miss him, or whether he's finally having to deal with the law. I hope it's the latter, and that he goes to prison.
 

La Doña

Vivi, thanks for your comments on last night's episode. Believe it or not, it hadn't occurred to me that Rafael might be Mónica's bio-dad until I read your comment. In retrospect, though, I think you may be right.

 

La Doña

the monkeys,
1) Miguel Preciado (dead)
2) Coronel Alejandro Céspedes (next)
3) Rafael Cabral (wild card)
4) Daniel Llamas (maybe)
5) ???

wow, great comments Vivi!

this show is really drawing me in, Aracely Arámbula (AG) is so good at being totally conflicted, while showing a pretty face, Braulio just doesn't get it and thinks they are cut from the same cloth.

Leticia, upset that Rafael wants kids that she has been denying him, not good for her body/image that she uses on tv, (and interesting point that Emiliano has made that maybe Rafael has other kids from his younger days) has come to Valeria, who keeps balking at the discussion enough to reveal that Braulio not only beats her but rapes her as well, good advice by Leticia, to use her position as judge (and knowledge of the law) to take him down.

and AG's dream, seeing her young daughter with the monkey mask, then total sympathy with Monica who has had a similar (same) experience.

and sweet Valeria has managed to poke her finger into everyone else's pie.

 

LA DONA:

Deb, that dream with the masked little girl was creepy. For the first time I had some empathy for AG's coldness towards the child she abandoned.
 

SILVANA

Thanks so much, J! Less was definitely more for this episode. You did a great job synthesizing what moved the plot, if only at a snail's pace. I don’t mind brief flashbacks to significant moments in the novela. But it drives me crazy when they show a whole 5 minute scene in its entirety.

I was also spitting fire at Trini’s treatment of Don Benito while reading his love letter. She seemed to be criticizing his writing style. What an ass! And, she finished it off by asking a 60-plus man to ask for her hand in marriage like she was a 20-year-old. Vicente better hope Majo doesn’t keep on behaving like her granny. At least DB said out loud that Trini is a very difficult woman.

Doris, I also enjoyed Manuel telling Pedrito to get his shoes off the bed. I was wondering if Carlos ad-libbed that one! He has four children in his real life.

Yep, no AJ and no Lupita was great. But we got some serious overacting by Dom about the loss of Javito. These three are SO annoying. Poncho and Stella are all over each other and then they sort of notice Dom feeling left out. But the next episode they’re back at it again.



 

La Doña

ahh, not Valeria, I meant to say,

"sweet Regina has managed to poke her finger into everyone else's pie",
not a good move introducing herself to Monica, but she did need to know what she was like.

Vivi- yes, creepy!

 

La Dona:

Deb: I agree with you on Regina: she's butting into everyone's business. I'm worried that Regina will either get violently beaten by Braulio or worse.

Isabela further going into the danger zone with Emiliano.

I think we should play a game called "WHO IS MONICA'S DADDY ?"

 

Silvana:

Juanita: I'll believe it when I see it when it comes to AJ finally turning himself into the law enforcement & federal agencies.

 

SILVANA

I'm feeling much better about FFWD>>> thru the Trini scenes after reading the comments. 😜😜😜
 

J--thanks for the recap; it was actually more than we needed, but less episode than we deserved.

Deb--I think you are onto something with your earlier comment--Is the money about to run out? Maybe that's why AJ has made himself scarce. I don't think he would be acting this way if his "investments" had gone the right way. I don't think Steve's patron's pockets are deep-less.

I hope it's the end of the legal line for AJ's and in his last ditch effort, he's wanting to make both Chivis and Manuel bear the guilt for his alienation of affections from his daughters.

Unfortunately, as you said, it doesn't solve Chivis & Manuel's HEA dilemma keeping him alive and merely in jail. I don't want to see anyone die unnecessarily, so I'm hoping that a serious conviction is enough grounds for the Church to grant Chivis an annulment. The Church does have its own dilemma, do the children automatically become bastards? They exist, for heaven's sakes, even if the marriage never did. Did anyone ever answer that question for us? Inquiring minds wish to know.

AJ is the bastard in this story.
 

Silvana. I think whether a child is a bastard or not has always been more a civil than a religious issue. Aren't all humans supposed to be equal in the sight of God? Besides, without the bastard children of kings and nobles, what would the medieval and Renaissance Church have done for bishops and abbots?
 

LA DONA:

SpanProf: I hope Juanita is wrong about Rafael being Monica's bio dad because no matter how well he tries to promote himself as a distinguished lawyer, he still has the blood of AG's parents & Cesar on his hands!

I hope Rafael is NOT Monica's father!
 

La Doña

Steve, I think the novela has made it clear that Mónica's bio-father is one of the Monkeys. So whichever Monkey it was has the blood of AG's parents and novio on his hands, be it Rafael or Daniel Llamas or Miguel or the Colonel or the as-yet unidentified fifth Monkey.
 

LA DONA:

Steve- Monica's father IS one of the rapists. Whether it's Rafael or not, she doesn't have a bio-dad she can be proud of. It really doesn't matter which Monkey it is. Having it be Rafael, someone AG knows and trusts, just amps up the drama.
 

LA DONA:

Juanita- Ha! Jinx!
 

General

SpanProf, you mentioned bastard children of kings and nobles. I am currently reading (listening to CD's in my car during my long commute) Blood and Beauty by Sarah Dunant. It is about the Borgias. I devoured the Showtime series. It's really shocking how popes in that era had children and then made their bastards archbishops and later cardinals, with no expectation of celibacy.
 

General

Loved that Borgias show. It was like a real-life telenovlea. Also enjoyed the show "Isabel" out of Spain about Queen Isabel and Ferdinand, but definitely needed the English subtitles on that one. Then start looking at how they are connected to all the other royal houses and the popes and it moves way beyond the pale even for a telenovela. At least here, when relatives start dating (hello, AQNMD!), no one actually has children.


Silvana

As a former designer, yep, we have educations. But if Cristina has really good taste and lots of rich friends to hire her, she could make a go as a decorator. But she's going to need a very good office manager because very little time is spent on the pretty stuff. I thought that might be a good career move for Majo. She likes high style and could use Cristina's business for experience (and let her pay for all the mistakes) while Majo goes to school for a degree. Then she'll be able to get a better job and finally pay for some birth control.

Let's just assume that Angie and Jorge are overachievers who are taking the SAT again to get a better score. Ok, Angie is on her third try and Jorge just remembered abut the test. That's more realistic.

Trini. Ugh. Margarita should find him someone better now that she's doing good.

Kelly
 

SILVANA

I'm sorry but I'm still confused about why Chivis let herself be railroaded into moving back to Poshlandia and breaking up with Mañuel..? She's a grown woman!