Caray, Caray!

Hoping Univision does NOT chop-up this TN too.

I'll be watching this though!


 

I've been thinking about it. I have mixed feelings. I've never seen a drama from Rosy Ocampo before. Her comedies tend to be really heavy-handed with "messages." I don't mind that as much in a comedy because then someone will slip on a banana peel or something to lighten up the mood. But the same kind of heavy-handedness in a drama would drive me bonkers.

On the other hand, I don't know that it will be that way. And I think Stevey said it was probably going to be just 67 episodes or so, which is a good length. So... I will at least start to watch it.

I don't want to join the recap team and then bail on you if I hate the show, plus I really need a few weeks off after Vino ends. But if I can stick with the show, and if there are still recapping slots available a month later, and if I'm welcome, then probably?

On the other hand, I can definitely put up discussion headers and so forth if that's helpful to you at all, Juju.
 

Steve, I'm worried about univision chopping this up... but I'm even more worried about them bouncing it to unimas after a couple of weeks like they did with Yago. That would make me really, really, really mad.
 

I certainly hope they don't bounce it
To unimas cuz I can't get that. That's what they did to yago? No wonder I couldn't find it.Only 67 episodes,that would be good. Short and to the point.
 

I wish I could recap, but can't due to my low level Spanish comprehension.

I hope others who are looking forward to this might sign up Princess.

I had really looked forward to this but there is no point in my watching if it isn't recapped.

Thank you for offering to recap!

Diana
 

Julie: Univision seems to push good TN's to UniMas because they don't want to deal with the drama & graphic violence.

I'm worried about this being moved to UniMas too.

 

Hi everybody!! I just wanted to chip in with my two cents about this one...

I think a lot of people will really like it. I despise Rosy Ocampo productions generally, but I believe this is more of result of the fact that the kinds of telenovelas that I like ("dark"), are pretty much the exact opposite of the kinds of telenovelas that she produces (NOT "dark"). But there is a lot here to enjoy, because there is a lot here that is really quite good.

I am usually indifferent to galan and heroine, and as such Ariadne Diaz doesn't really register as a blip on my proverbial radar but, as much as I am able to, I like her Laura/Estela... She has not once done anything to make me want to scratch her eyes out, and that is the highest praise indeed when it comes to me and heroinas. Also, the little girl in the crucial role of her young daughter, Paloma, is FLAWLESS. I would rather have syphilis than have to endure any scene involving children in telenovelas (my only exception was the little boy from 'Tormenta en el Paraiso'. Anyone watching that one remember at the end, after his monstrously evil mother (Mariana Seoane) was dying in the hospital after being attacked by bees, and with her dying breaths asked him to come closer and then told him that she hated him, always hated him, and all of this was his fault (he's was about 6 years old), and the little guy in response just asked if he could give her a kiss because he loved her? I wanted to adopt that little guy!!)), but this little girl is absolutely amazing. And Rosy Ocampo has done some really great things with her. You guys will note that there will be these little breakaways in a scene where the camera cuts to show what the little girl is doing that have nothing at all to do with what the adults are doing or conversing about in the scene. Apparently, this is because everybody on set would notice the things that the little girl would do to occupy her time (i.e.- quietly pretending inanimate objects are animated, wide-eyed and agape at a passing butterfly, etc... normal kid stuff!) when the Big People are doing whatever it is that they have to do, so they decided that one camera should be on the little girl at all times! And, some of this found its way into the scene and it makes perfect sense... if two people are talking about a little girl (who's IN the room), wouldn't it be natural to cut to the little girl who is the reason why they're having this conversation?? She's absolutely adorable.

Her galan has surprised me, too. I have to admit that to me David Zepeda was one of two things... he was either "that telenovela guy when X-rated videos of himself pleasuring himself were leaked to the public responded by saying "well, I hope at least everybody enjoys them" (which is an AWESOME way to respond, I think), or I am ashamed to admit, more derisively as "aging hunk clinging to the last vestiges of his galan youth, who's hoping that we'll still buy him in a role that ought to go to somebody 15 years younger (a la Eduardo Yanez)... Poor thing.... Bless his heart." But he's very good here! I certainly look forward to seeing his 'Ryan' and Sra. Diaz's 'Laura/Estela' getting their Feliz Para Siempre (which, again, I usually couldn't care less about).

 

Regarding the villains that stand in their way. Pride of place must go to somebody who I think earns it just because (for me, at least), it's light years away from everything that I think about her in regards to the characters that she plays- Erika Buenfil as our antagonista, 'Mercy Cabrera', a character that unquestionably has earned a spot on Urban's next (and wonderful) 'Toxic Mothers' list. Whether it's ordering a violent hit on somebody, feigning attacks of illness, or screwing her lawyer while maintain the public appearance of respectable widow and mother, I am thoroughly enjoying Sra. Buenfil and her role here.

Danilo Carrera as our antagonist will affect viewers in one of two ways- either they will swoon, fall in love with him, and trumpet him as Televisa's next great galan, villain, anything, or they'll think he's annoying an annoying punk who should get off of their screen. He has a natural youthful exuberance, stunning looks, an absolutely dazzling smile, and charisma in spades, so I tend to think people will lean towards the former, and something which the young Sr. Carrera fully warrants. Interestingly, both his 'Danilo' and Sra. Buenfil's 'Mercy' are presented as much more fully developed and complex characters than is usual, not just in Rosy Ocampo productions, but in telenovelas in general. They're not solely bad and evil people (Nuria in AQNMD, anyone?), and on more than one occasion in this novela they will do something which we are either cheering them on for doing, or feel a lot of sympathy to them for doing what they are doing, which is interesting, and that I think a lot of people will prefer to the, you know... black-hearted, soulless, murdering psychopaths that I tend to prefer. ;-)

Supporting cast isn't letting the production down at all either. I DO feel that Rosy Ocampo should be sent to jail for the way she is criminally under-using Zaide Silvia Gutierrez as little Paloma's devoted nanny and mother figure to Laura/Estela, but Alejandro Tommasi is reliable as ever in a very interesting role, that of John Green Blake ('Mr. Blake'). We also Africa Zavala, her left breast, and her right breast in the role of Danilo's lover 'Morgana' who views Laura/Estela as a threat both in love and profession (Danilo covets her because a) she's sweet and nice, b) his half-brother who was the light of his father's eye loves her so he's got to have her for that reason alone, c) that same half-brother is the cherished son of his now-stepmother who views him as worthless trash and tells him so, and d) because she's got this fantastic voice and he wants her to be the lead singer in the band he desperately wants to be a success, and Morgana is the band's current lead singer). And can somebody PLEASE give Lourdes Reyes a role that she is worthy of??? Sure, she doesn't have 'leading lady' looks, but she's terrific in everything! Her 'Roberta Jauregui' in Azteca's 'Las trampas del deseo' is now considered to be one of the iconic characters in the history of telenovelas, and deservedly so). Here she is consigned to another role which does nothing to honour her talents, Mr. Black's faithful 'Rita', but she is good in it as she always is.

 

There is also a truly terrific Mexican actress who will probably be totally unknown to most telenovela viewers, Vanessa Bauche, in an unfortunately minor, but important, role, that of 'Leticia'. Sra. Bauche is a multiple Ariel award winning actress who has worked in quite a lot of Hollywood films, since her breakout role in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's BAFTA award winning, Cannes award winning, Academy Award nominated movie, 'Amores Perros', where she starred opposite Gael Garcia Bernal. Mike Biaggio also shows that he really IS a seriously overlooked major talent, in his role of 'Fausto', a crooked and venal bar owner. There are also lots of nefarious characters (underworld, hitmen, human traffickers, drug-runners, brothel madams, etc.) all of whom, of course, have names with definite articles in them (El Dorado, El Calao, La Tona, etc.)

The one thing about it is, if someone were to ask me what it was about, my response would be something along the lines of "Jesus Christ, who the f**k can tell??"
"It's about mistaken identity"
"It's about the cutthroat world of the music industry"
"It's about the plight of working migrants and trafficked humans"
"It's about the difficulties Latinos can face assimilating into American society"
"It's about a little girl"
"It's about the protecting your family"
"It's about power"
"It's about a family feud"
"It's a murder mystery"
"It's about sibling rivalry"
"It's about the dangerous underworld of drug traffickers and mob bosses"
"It's about making it in the music industry"

All of these, technically, are right. But in 67 episodes?? Sometimes, it reminds me of a salad that you DO enjoy, but probably wouldn't order again because there was just too much stuff in it, preferring next time to order a salad that has fewer ingredients but sound like they'd be absolutely delicious together. But I would still encourage people who are mildly curious, people who like hearing actors sing, and people who kind-of like or at least aren't put off by the narco/'nasty underworld' stuff that Telemundo is now cranking out ad nauseum (because there is that in here.... as I mentioned above, there's pretty much everything in here...) to give it a try. Again, while it will never go down as among my very favourites, this is probably just because like with everything Rosy Ocampo does- it's not my cup of tea. But even I will acknowledge- and acknowledge freely- that there is a great deal to enjoy here, as well as probably Rosy Ocampo's most ambitious work yet, which is something that I feel she should be both commented for, and supported in doing. I encourage you to watch it.

My two cents!

With my continued best wishes to all, as always... :-)
 

Thank you for the two cents, Stevey... though I'd say that was closer to a dollar. ;-) It's making me feel more optimistic about this TN!
 

Juju- Thanks for letting us know this is starting. I have been taking a telenovela break, so I nearly missed that this is starting. You might want to tag this as "proximas" so that the post doesn't get lost in the online ether once it falls off the main page.

Stevey- From you first post about this tn over a month ago, I was interested in this series. The full trailer, which YouTube has now pulled in the U.S. for some reason, definitely prodded my interest.

Interestingly enough, since you first posted about this, Telemundo has now also advertised and started running their own tn about the lives of Mexican-American music stars and the intersection between the music industry and organized crime, as well as a healthy dose of family drama and sibling rivalry-- Guerra de Idolos. I've only seen a few episodes, but it's pretty good.
 

I watched a few episodes of this and it is pretty good. I fon't really care about the leads, but here theu are Ok, they click well.
I'll try to give it a chance if I have the time. Do we have any recappers for this?


Adriana Noel
 

I plan to watch this telenovela. I hope that it will be recapped. Otherwise,I will have no idea what is happening!!!
 

HELP, Please

I'm so sorry, I'm so confused, I know I missed it somewhere. You guys put so much hard work into your recaps / comments that I'm really ashamed to have missed this information:

Does anyone know how many episodes of :

(1)* "El bienamado" have aired so far on Unimás @ 10 pm ESDT) ?

(2)* “Mi adorable maldición” have aired so far on Univisión @ 3 pm ESDT

And is this right:. ???


(A)* "La doble vida de Estela Carillo"
Starts May 8 on Univisión at 9 pm ESDT

(B)* "La Candidata"
Starts May 16 on Unimás at 9 pm ESDT

WHEN / CHANNEL
* "Enamorandome de Ramón"
* "Simplemente María”


I would really appreciate the help with the information, as school is winding down and I have time now to watch novelas!!
 

OMG
David Zepeda AGAIN?

The only role he played really good was in Sortilegio.

I am excited about seeing SN again. In fact, I think I'll go back and watch MEPS again. Her eyes, when she turns around and looks at FC walking down the wedding aisle, are absolutely stunning.

And you guys have said she is great in Montecristo, so that's another one for my list.

I hate when several great actors have novelas airing at the same time, so it makes it that much harder to select the "best" for Los Premios.
Sebastián Rulli.
Jorge Salinas.
Fernando Colunga


 

WOW, I've been out of the loop lately and am just getting back in to watching some novelas so I really hope someone can answer ANON 6:32.


 

"El bienamado" is 4 episides in. #5 is tonight. Great show! I am loving it!
 

Yes, "La candidata" starts on 5/16.
 

I just saw last night's episode. I really liked it. Is there going to be recaps or a discussion area? It seemed so much like what we are hearing/seeing in the news these days.

Thank you,