Caray, Caray!

Lado

Thanks Juanita!

New cast tonight

http://peopleenespanol.com/telenovelas/al-otro-lado-del-muro-renueva-su-elenco-nueva-etapa/


 

Lado

OMG! Thanks very much, deb, for the heads up. Just when I was getting accustomed to who's who, there are new people to learn--tonight!! Arrgh. Looks as if the novela will make a 10-year leap. Oh well...my recap may be even shorter than I had anticipated. How long does it take to type "Who ARE these people?" :-)

Anyway, I thought I'd repeat the message I posted a few minutes ago on the first Telemundo page, namely, that I'll do a short recap of tonight's episode.
 

"LADO":

Deb: I'm looking forward to seeing the Time-Jump.
 

"ENEMIGO":

HALIMACANDY: Alejandro has STUPID on his forehead because it's obvious his new partner is dirty & the cousin of one of the Drug-Lords.

Big question is who likely gave the order to whack Roxana & Alejandro's parents ?
 

Lado: My hope is that the Sofia that leaves prison in 10 years is sharp, shrewd, intelligent, and still retains her compassion. Hope she has a brilliant plan to prove her innocence and being down Ernesto, Paula and the others. I also hope she meets another Galvan. Joel does not deserve her!
Bella
 

Lado

Tomorrow night I have a monthly rotating dinner with friends. This time it's my house. I probably won't be able to watch nor recap until after 10:00. I'll try to put something up for Friday's episode, but it might not be thorough.
 

Al Otro Lado del Muro - Capítulo 17 - Parte 1 of 2

The episode opens "six months later," in November 2007. A very pregnant Eliza has come to see Sofia in prison. [Huh? Didn't Sofia tell her not to come, because the bad guys would track her back to where she lives and would find Alondra? And they'd also find Eliza.] Sofia says she's being treated better than she expected. She asks about Alondra. Eliza tells her she's quiet and sad, but OK. Has anyone come looking for her? No. Sofia is relieved. Eliza has learned on TV that the judge will be passing sentence the next day. She urges Sofia to tell the truth. Sofia tells her that Alondra's well-being depends on Sofia's insisting that she's guilty.

The next scene is in the courtroom, where the judge tells Sofia that she has committed heinous crimes that deserve no mercy, and he sentences her to death by lethal injection. We then see Sofia strapped to a table with drugs being injected into her. Joel seems to be present. She remembers making love with him, and his saving her life on the trip across the border.

We jump to 2017. In bed in Bogotá Colombia, Joel awakens with a start. Lorena, his fiancée, asks him whether he's had that nightmare again. Yes. She's worried, since the nightmare has recurred for years. She asks him why he keeps dreaming about an execution that didn't even exist. Before they get married, she wants him to see a loquero, a shrink. He laughs dismissively.

Alondra, now in high school, visits her mother's grave in Los Angeles.The headstone says that Sofia died in 2015. Alondra listens through headphones to a recording she apparently made when she last saw her mother. Her mother warns her never to say that her father was the guilty one. She must be strong and happy. Then Sofia too will be happy.

Andrés has gone into the bakery business with Eliza, and they have done very well. Business is booming. Eliza's son Tomas is skilled at fixing cars but has no money to start a shop. His friend Benny suggests robbing some gang members who have tons of money and are always high on drugs, but Tomas thinks this would be too dangerous. Eliza's daughter Karina is smart and is friends with Alondra, who is bullied and harassed at school. They have a younger brother, Rodrigo, who is chubby and wears glasses. Eliza tells him he looks very much like his father! [Is this another sign that she doesn't really know Max, or just bad casting?]

Ernesto is drinking heavily, since it's the anniversary of Sofia's death. Paula asks whether he wants to be President. "I've prepared all my life for that," he replies. Then stop drinking and start working on our plans, says puppet-master Paula.

Lorena is looking at a computer, probably Joel's, that contains video of a news broadcast about an accident that apparently took Sofia's life in 2015 as she was being transported to a hearing before a judge. A construction truck slammed into the vehicle carrying Sofia, and she died shortly thereafter.

There's a lot of attention in this episode to the problems of immigrants, especially those without papers. Joel watches TV coverage of authorities cracking down and the government threatening to withdraw funds from sanctuary cities. We also see La Migra come and arrest Benny's father, as Benny and Tomas try to stop them. Later, Eliza reminds Tomas of the current hostility toward immigrants and that he too is without papers; thus he should not do anything to provoke the police. Tomas replies that the next time he sees someone being killed, he'll turn a blind eye (hacer la vista gorda).
 

Lado - Cap. 17 - Parte 2 of 2

Max and family have returned to Los Angeles. He comes to see Steve, who is now divorced from Margot but is on good terms with her. Max asks Steve to come work with him. Steve tells him he's no longer a corporate lawyer, he works with immigrants. He makes less money but finds the work more satisfying. He prefer to help those in need rather than to help the rich become richer. Max tells him he could work with him and also continue his work with the immigrants. Steve says he'll think about it. He asks about Charlie. His illness has worsened, but they've found a new doctor who has an experimental treatment. Max invites Steve to the party they're throwing for Charlie.

Paula and Ernesto talk strategy. Ernesto is worried that his ties to Sofia will be used against him by his political opponents. Paula suggests that they can use his relationship with Sofia to his advantage. They'll present him as an honorable politician who turned his wife over to the police and continued to fight corruption. Paula then presents him with the next step to bolster his image: a folder containing photos of potential first ladies.

Joel and Lorena are watching Javier Duran (is he the current President?) and talking about how all politicians in Mexico are crooked. Suddenly, Joel sees Juan Estevez appear with a young girl. He remembers Estevez's role in the human trafficking network and jumps out of the car, gun drawn, to arrest him. Alas, Estevez had been released from prison a year ago, and there was no warrant out for his arrest. Joel arrests him anyway. However, the young girl says nothing, and there's no reason to hold Estevez. Joel may be in deep mierda.

There follows a scene I don't understand. We see an empty house with many rooms. The camera moves from room to room. We see someone's hands picking the lock on one room's door. Inside, there's a young girl who looks somewhat like the young Alondra (or perhaps the young Karina). A hand holding a cell phone calls 911. An operator ask "what's your emergency?" End of scene. ????

It's the day of Charlie's party. Various people have been hired to help set up. Jennifer has invited 60 guests. A truck--of course, Eliza's truck--drives up and Rodrigo knocks at the door. Charlie (who is several years older than Rodrigo but considerably smaller) comes to the door, asks Rodrigo whether he's here for the party, and lets him in. Max comes out to the truck and asks whether he can be of help. Oops. Max and Eliza stare at each other in astonishment as the episode ends.

====

Well, this wasn't the bare bones recap I'd planned to write, but the 10-year time jumps and other confusing elements seemed to require a bit more. Still, there's a lot I didn't include. I hope everyone else will add the missing pieces and correct my errors.
 

"LADO":

Juanita: My personal thoughts.

1.) Ernesto plotting to go to Los Pinos (Residence of the President) in the 2018 Presidential Election.

2.) Paula looks like Claire Underwood.

3.) Alondra being bullied by racist students at school & they hurl other derogatory insults at her.

4.) Joel & Lorena ? Something tells me this will NOT last.

5.) Eliza still needs to speak English.

6.) Steven finally divorced Margot. Could this mean he ends up with Eliza in the end ?

7.) Jennifer showing her inner Deborah Sanders with the Buji parties.

8.) Good to see the kids all grown up.

9.) What happened to Andres' ungrateful wife, Maria ?

10.) I'm assuming Slimy United States Senator Irving Hastings (R-TX) is still in the United States Senate.

11.) Where is Patrick (Joel's boss) ?

12.) Estevez still involved in human trafficking.

13.) Javier Duran as the outgoing President ?
 

Lado

Juanita, thanks a million!! That was way more than bare bones and VERY well written.

Well, color me totally surprised. I never expected an episode like that one.

OK, let me get right into my theories. I don’t think Sofía is dead. I’m not sure how it was pulled off. But I think the hands picking the lock were hers and that she’s saving little girls who have been trafficked. Perhaps she can’t let Alondra or anyone else know she’s alive. At first I was gob smacked with the lethal injection scene. Those who watched Bajo el Mismo Cielo may remember the heartbreaking one with Rodrigo, who had reformed, but still had to pay for his crimes.

But then Lorena says he was having nightmares about something that never happened.

I also wondered where María might be. Either she’s accepted that Eliza and Andrés are just friends or they’ve divorced. Somehow I doubt it.

Santiago is all grown up and has a pregnant wife.

I held my breath when Benny was trying to get Tomás (now Tommy) involved in robbing gangbangers.

I don’t like Alondra being bullied. I hate plots like that.

I am not buying Eliza having no English. I work with immigrants. Even the wives who stay home with children are able to manage simple communication.

They are definitely into "ripped from the headlines" scenes of people being grabbed up by ICE.
 

Lado

Please know that what I wrote above was in no way a spoiler. I have no idea what happens going forward. But, historically, theories are OK here on Caray, Caray.
 

Lado

wow Juanita, you gave us another wonderful recap that you do so well!

two of the new cast I recognize,

Daniela Wong (Alondra) she was the teenage daughter in "Dueños del Paraíso" and again in "¿Quién es quién?", love her!

Jullye Giliberti (Lenora, Joel's partner) who I first saw in "Dame Chocolate".

looks like Paula is keeping her word, the kids are safe and unbothered, although, someone was videoing Alo at her mothers grave site and Ernesto is watching, oh wait, earlier videos of her and her mother, turns out the pics were used to harass her by her schoolmates.

wow, Sofia sentenced to death,,, gulp!

did Joel say he was upset she died and didn't serve out her full sentence,,, creep.

so Lorena won't marry Joel until he puts his past behind him.

"Eliza tells him (Rodrigo) he looks very much like his father! [Is this another sign that she doesn't really know Max, or just bad casting?]" Ha!

and I'm wondering where Carmen is.

evil people always seem to spend their lives screwing up, Jen returns to LA and hires Eliza to cater her party, Rodrigo, meet your other family, I think he will get along with Steve.

and did Jen get pregnant again, 10 years later, nope.

I didn't recognize the name Duran and so stumbled on this, but I thought I heard them say he was wanted in Mexico, (hmm was it money embezzlement, $2 billion) hence the interpol operation in Colombia.

hmm, I would think that Eliza being legally married to Max (is she) that she could legally be in the US, (right?) but they didn't show her entering and what occurred there, so I'm going with that she entered with a visa, and is undocumented.

 

Lado

hmm, on Jen getting pregnant again, the kid who answered the door looked rather young, maybe that wasn't Charlie, these writers don't always tell us everything up front.

 

Lado

hmm, Sofia's non-death, this was good, let's see, she probably was never extradited because she was sentenced by the American judge, the Senator could have arranged to actually kill her, but Paula softened him by saying even if there were copies of the CD, she would be so discredited they would be dismissed, and no one seems to know she is alive, and there had to be a body, and who would want her alive, so what is everyone's theory, I'm going to go with a fluke of mistaken identity, or, a setup by Richard García, FBI.

 

Lado

Thanks, Juanita. Your recap answered many questions. I pretty much agree with Everything Novelera said. Looking forward to a new set of storylines...

Spanish Student
 

Lado

Are we to assume the little girl locked in the room was in Medellin, Colombia? If so, and that's Sofia saving the girls, then she and Joel are about to reconnect. Just hope she's not accused of being a repeat offender. If she's acting independently, you never know...

Spanish Student
 

Lado

Aha! Spanish Student, I wasn't connecting the dots about where the little girl was. She may well be the one who Juan Estevez had by the hand (gag!). I normally delete episodes from my DVR after watching, but I saved last night's for a second viewing. I guess I was thinking the little girl was in the US and so was Sofía.

Rats, I have friends over at 6:30 and may feel like speeding the dinner, giving them no dessert, and yawning a lot so I can watch tonight's episode!
 

Lado

this is all speculation, (but do they have 911 in Colombia with english speaking operators),

so if Sofia never was extradited, she would be away from Paula's control and off her radar.

taking my guess further, Sofia could have made a deal with the FBI giving them what she knew about the Senator, but no evidence, in exchange for the witness protection program, and if you remember the beginning when Joel didn't want her screwing up their investigation he tried to consol her with sometimes they find the girls after they are sold and set them free, I think Sofia is going rogue and hunting down the girls that the Senator buys.

oh this is good!

 

"LADO":

Novelera: Benny is BAD NEWS from the get-go, I suspect we haven't seen the last of many attempts of Benny luring Tomas into violent crime.

Deb: Paula pulled a Claire Underwood: she's got the haircut, the EVILNESS, etc.,


 

"LADO":

Spanish Student: Don't be shocked if Jennifer has Eliza DEPORTED.
 

Lado

Thanks, novelera, deb, and Spanish Student, for your appreciative words and wonderful insights.

novelera, I too doubt that Sofia is dead. Mostly my reasoning is the same as when Carmen seemed to be killed in the fire: it's too soon to kill off a major star. And in the case of Sofia, much of the plot revolves around her. It's clear she wasn't executed (though I too was stunned when the courtroom scene unfolded), but I don't think she was killed in the crash with the construction truck either. My guess is that that was staged, possibly as deb suggests by Richard Garcia of the FBI. Though it's hard to see her cooperating with the FBI, given the threats to her family. But I really don't think we've seen the last of her. Of course, I do remember Rodrigo's execution in Bajo el mismo cielo, and it was one of the first things I thought of during the courtroom sentencing. I didn't believe he would really be executed, but I was wrong. However, his death came pretty near the end of the novela.

Like you, I had a very uncomfortable feeling when Benny suggested to Tomás that they rob the gangbangers. And I'm still nervous about Tomás's friendship with Benny. He could still be led astray, though I hope not.

I liked your calling attention to the "ripped from the headlines" aspects of the plot. They even got the sanctuary cities controversy in.
 

Lado

deb, I really like your theory about what has happened to/with Sofia! And you're right about the 911 and the operator speaking in English--the scene was almost surely in the US. Those details went right by me when I saw the episode.

One thing that didn't go right by me was the toilet seat in the bathroom. The seat was up, suggesting that perhaps a man lives there or spends time there. Of course, that doesn't mean that the hand picking the lock is that of a man--I think it looks more like the hand of a woman, in keeping with your theory.

One place where I disagree is about the little boy who opens the door when Rodrigo knocks. The boy says ¿Vienes a mi fiesta?, so he's almost surely Charlie.
 

Thank you for the recap Juanita.
I absolutely loved how fast paced was this episode.
I didn't expect the time jump to be so quickly dealt with.
Sofia's execution took me completely by surprise. I was sure that we would have at least some episode of her being prayed upon and suffering in prison.
I also believe that Sofia simply cannot be dead, it's too horrible and unjust, though in real life, this is exactly what would happen to someone defying human trafficking cartel.
Many years ago I saw a wonderful Italian series " La piovra" -the octopus. It was about a police captain that valiantly fought the mafia. In one of the episodes he was gunned down and I could not believe that they killed a beloved main character of such a popular tv series and kept waiting for his miraculous resurrection, which did not happen. But I am sure Telemundo will not do this to us.
Irene

 

Lado,

Yes, thanks deb for the 911 info. I just hope Sofia's not working alone. Nice twist/redemption to turn the shamed beauty pageant queen charged with human trafficking into one who actually saves kidnapped girls.

Charlie's size must be part of the storyline...it's too unrealistic. And Eliza's youngest was cast as a much bigger kid.

Although the bakery is in Andres' name, they mentioned that several employees, not just Eliza, are undocumented. If Jen retaliates as some suggested, Andres' daughter in law would be affected too. Hopefully Carmen is doing well with her own business nearby in Tijuana.

So the watch is ancient history and Paula is no longer keeping tabs on Joel, but Lorena may have replaced Patrick as the naysaying partner.

Spanish Student

 

Also, I am floored how cowardly Max is. To leave his wife and children like that and not to bother whether they have roof over their heads and food to eat is despicable. I do not care that he did it for Charlie, he should have at least taken care of his family financially. He knew very well where they were, he knew that they were undocumented and he should have made sure that they were o.k. Eliza should slap the living daylight out of him for what he put her through. It is unforgivable and I hope he pays for it.
I agree with novelera that it is impossible not to speak at least some English after 10! years. I could believe it if it was Carmen, but young smart woman like Eliza would be almost fluent after 10 years.
Irene

 

Lado

Irene, nice to have comments from you. I've been away from the blog for a while and don't remember seeing your name before. Greetings!

I agree that Max has created his own hell. He kowtowed to the manipulation by Jennifer. Of course, she did not want Charlie to become ill, but Max had one foot out the door until that happened. I can't WAIT to see what happens now that Eliza and he are face to face. I'll NOT be happy if he hustles her out of there and postpones his reckoning for what he did 10 years ago.
 

"LADO":

Novelera: Max is a PIECE OF SHIT for letting Eliza & the kids live in extreme poverty. I hope the kids HATE him for all eternity.

Irene: Let's hope Eliza chews his ass out tonight. Plus, she still needs to speak ENGLISH!


 

"LADO":

Spanish Student: Jennifer is taking a page out of the Pete Wilson Playbook in Making CA GREAT AGAIN.


 

Lado

Spanish Student, thanks for reminding me about the watch. Yes, I think tracking Joel no longer matters, since the bad guys are no longer trying to find Sofia. But I wonder whether Joel is still wearing the watch, and whether it still could be used to track him.

As for Lorena, I think I see her "naysaying" as quite reasonable, especially her reluctance to marry Joel until he gets some help in dealing with his nightmares and his obsession with Sofia. And even her trying to stop him from going after Estevez seems reasonable to me. If someone has been released from prison and has no outstanding warrants against him, he should not be subject to the kind of treatment Joel gave him: pointing a gun at him, roughing him up, and arresting him. One can't assume that a man convicted of human trafficking is guilty every time he walks down the street with a woman or girl, any more than one can arrest a person who has served time for bank robbery simply because he walks into a bank.
 

"LADO":

Juanita: I'm betting there's more to Lorena than meets the eye.

 

Enemigo:

Even though Alejandro has rescued 4 girls that were kidnapped and were going to be sold into slavery, Human Rights Lady Lula is going after him. As if he didn't have enough problems, Comandante David won't authorize turning on the cameras in Priamo's office (I think they may have audio, though). And Roxana is stuck in the hole. Madre cautions Tilapia to stay away from her, which is not good because a) T is in love with her, and b) his mission is to get info from her. Roxie has a talk with herself, who tells her to get tough. She starts with the pushups and situps, which can't hurt. She also stops letting her cellmate, a rat (an actual rat) eat the gruel they give her. She needs that gruel to strengthen up for the new Roxana. I don't think she really remembers much from when she was 5 years old, although certain things keep pointing to Madre. But it's all a blur for her, which means that she also doesn't recognize Alejandro as her brother. But doesn't he still have the same name as when he was a kid? I know she doesn't. I think her real name is Adelaida, or something like that.

I enjoy the scenes between Nemesino and Luis. It's amazing how much Nemesino insults his son, calling him stupid, among other things. Yes, I know it's true, but Luis is not going to stand for this forever. I guess it's okay as long as Nemesino doesn't question Luis's fashion sense, which to me, is quite hilarious.

Trevor tells Alejandro he has to solve the murder of Ms. Keller, the rich lawyer, whom we know was killed by the Oscuros, or Trevor won't be able to help anymore (Trevor had provided Alex with lead of Orejas, who did provide good info when they reduced his sentence 5 years).

It was also very rewarding when El Gato, the human trafficker, was brought to the prison, and informed that the other inmates don't really like child abusers, and may just take it out on him!
 

Lado: I remember seeing Lorena watching the video regarding Sofia's death at the accident. We didn't actually see Sofia's body, only a covered body. My theory is that Sofia was not in the body bag but another person was substituted. Perhaps the FBI guy or someone else helped with this plan so Sofia would be free, without her enimies knowing. Hopefully, she is working with some trustworthy people to bring down Ernesto, Paula; etc. As far as Disgusting Max and Joel are concerned, I really hope that this novela breaks the mold and that Sofia and Eliza don't end up with these two but different galans.
There's no redemption for how Max abandoned Eliza and the kids. As far as Joel is concerned, he did not see into Sofia's heart and was responsible for her capture!
Bella
 

Enemigo

Hombre, you certainly have not lost your touch in writing a smooth and informative recap!

Roxana being 5 at the time and whisked away into another world may not remember she has a brother, but she is a survivor, what was her other self telling her, destroy.

warden Borges is finding Tilapia to be more trouble than anything, and has to keep reminding Alejandro, you are not my boss.

(btw, "Al otro lado del muro" is turning out to be all the more fast paced and exiting as Enemigo, but without the grunge, they even jumped the 10 years the leading lady was in prison, you might take a look).

 

Lado

Juanita, I understand your point about Joel. I was referring to the fact that Joel always has an opposing voice in his ear. His issue seems to be learning when to trust his instincts and when to believe the persistent claims (from Patrick and Lorena) that he's too impulsive or emotionally involved.

Bella, you may be right about Joel but it seems that once he was convinced she was innocent she'd already pleaded guilty. Either way, had he not arrested her, she'd be dead by now.

I'm very curious about who Eliza will end up with -- Steve or Andres. Max stalking her for 10 years but not helping his children is unforgivable.

Spanish Student
 

Juanita,
I agree that no one should be bothered without good reason after serving his time.
However, Estevez was walking around with a child(obviously not his own) and seeing as his previous activities involved child trafficking, I think it is reasonable to arrest him to check out whether this child was trafficked. It is like seeing a freed pedophile walking around with a kid, any cop would arrest him to check whether this child is a victim of a crime and this arrest would have been considered lawful, because there is a reason to suspect that a criminal activity is being committed (even if later on it is revealed that the child had a legitimate reason to be with this child).
Novelera, thank you for the welcome. I am a longtime lurker on Caray. I started to comment a couple of days ago.
Irene

 

Lado:Spanish Student. I don't remember anytime that Joel was convinced that Sofia was innocent. Maybe he thought that she was taking all the culpability when Ernesto was also guilty but I think he believed to the end that Sofia killed his sister. I think she deserves someone who truly believes in her.
Bella
 

Lado: i agree with Bella that Joel always believed Sophia is guilty. I remember even Patrick once told him that maybe she was framed and Joel discarded this idea.
I do hope that if Sophia is alive, she doesn't end up with Joel. Senator Slimy's story about Sophia was so farfetched and obviously made up,that i lost all respect for Joel for beleiving him. He is too dimwitted to be with Sophia.
Irene
 

Lado: Totally agree with Irene. I, too, have lost all respect for Joel! I find him repulsive. Even if he ends up helping defeat Ernesto and the gang, I still do not want to see him with Sofia.
Bella
 

Lado

loved Alo's goal shot, she thought it could have been better, she was aiming for Grace's nose.

 

LADO – VIERNES – CAPITULO 18

It’s late. This will be brief. We again see Max and Eliza meet outside the party. She throws herself into his arms. It’s obvious they still love each other.

We see the little girl again, Sara. A hooded figure puts her in a closet while a ghastly pedophile looks for her. The figure bashes him on the head. The cops come and arrest the guy and take the child to safety.

Rodrigo and Charlie bond over video games at Charlie’s party. Amazing. Jennifer is nice to Rodrigo.

Max tells Eliza he has to explain to her but not now. Charlie walks up and calls Max papa!

Joel is in deep doodo with the bosses for having messed up the stakeout of Duran by arresting Juan Estevez.

Looking out the window Steve sorta recognizes Eliza but can’t place her.

Benny continues to try to enlist Tomás in robbing the local drug dealer.

On a soccer field several girls are practicing penalty kicks. Alondra doesn’t try for the net, instead hitting one of the mean girls in the head.

Suddenly, after 10 years, Ernesto expresses an interest in his daughter and wants to find her. Paula fesses up that she made a deal with Sofía to leave Alondra alone. Ernesto knows Paula well. “You threatened her with my daughter, didn’t you?”

Karina has good advice for Alo. She must not say who her mother was.

I really like the blended family that includes Andy, Alo, Karina, Tomas, and Rodrigo. We find out that María died two years ago.

Alo and Karina watch the news about the child kidnapped from Mexico and freed in Colombia by a mysterious woman.

Karina gives Tomás a lecture about trying for scholarships available to undocumented youths.

Andy comforts Eliza. She tells him that Max is married and has a child the same age as Rodrigo. Charlie’s small size has confused her.

Benny does steal from the sleeping drug dealer.

I think it is Mothers Day. The kids, including Alo, go to see Carmen through the fence at Tijuana.

Julián is kind of a playboy. His father tells him he has to not cause scandals because of the coming campaign.

Max comes to see Eliza and tells her she’s the love of his life. She chews him royally but seems to sort of understand about Charlie.

Ernesto wants Paula to arrange for Juan Estevez to be whacked in Colombia. He sees a photo of Joel in the newspaper and tells Paula that he’s after them again.

Richard García, the FBI guy, is telling someone how dangerous it was to rescue that little girl. Joel enters and sees Sofía. They glare at each other.
 

"ENEMIGO":

Deb: I do NOT trust the Prison Warden at all. He looks & seems corrupt.

Spanish Student: The corrupt United States Senator from FL is involved in the sinister conspiracy.
 

"LADO":

Novelera: Wait a minute. Maria died ?

Say what ? How ?

Deb: Grace is on violent racist for sure calling Alondra derogatory comments.

I was hoping Alondra aimed for Grace's face too.

Bella: How do we know if FBI Special Agent Richard Garcia is dirty as well ?

I hope Karma hits Joel sooner or later.
 

Lado,

Novelera, thanks for another perfect recap.

I may be overthinking here, but Is it really possible that neither Jen nor Max knew that Eliza was the baker? Someone usually has enjoyed the food before ordering it for a big party... plus its right down the street from Andres and they've both seen her there.

Bella and Irene, you may get your wish...Sofia's story is less about two lovers kept apart and more about clearing her name and saving the girls. She doesn't need a love interest. And Richard Garcia (fbi) may have helped her even more than Joel. (Joel wouldn't have been able to protect her because he was being 'watched'. ). Ideally Joel will learn the truth about why she lied and faked her death, he'll forgive her, and they'll work together to bring down Ernesto's corrupt friends.

Im still confused about Patrick. If he's corrupt and learns about Sofia, dangerous guys reappear to threaten the peace (10 years of peace for them but only a few days for us). And With Ernesto now wanting Alondra, Sofia will either have to come out of hiding or kidnap her own daughter. Eliza never had the legal right to keep her.

Is this another short novela or does it all depend on ratings? Perhaps 2-5 more months of tn twists.

Spanish Student
 

Lado

By "he'll forgive her', I'm referring to Joel being unable to pursue his sisters killer (the case closed once Sofia took responsibility).

Spanish Student
 

Lado

thanks so much novelera for taking the time to post another fine recap!

Eliza's first tip on Max was the wedding ring, we also learn Rodrigo is 10 but Charlie is 13.

Ernesto has been duped all these years in Alo being lost to them but when Paula starts dressing up a presidential family for him with daughters, he wants his own, and starts whining, becomes determined to go look for her but Paula reassures him she is alright, boing!, you knew where she was all this time?, you used her to blackmail Sofia into confessing? (are his eyes boiling) well yeah Paula says, you told me to do anything...

it looked like Juan was off the hook and Joel maybe out of a job, but the young girl talked, I guess the news picture of Juan's arrest also showed Joel.

did anyone catch why Mari Linda died?

Eliza didn't go to the wall because Carmen would have guessed the situation with Max.

hmm, I wonder why Sofia is revealing herself now, there must be a plan, sorry Lenora.

 

Lado

Many thanks, novelera, for a wonderfully succinct and yet complete recap. (I hope your friends will forgive you for all the yawning you must have done to get them out of the house so you could write your recap! :-) )

I too like the blended family that includes Andrés. I seriously doubt that Eliza will wind up with Multiple-Marriage Max at the end of the novela. My guess is that somehow he will wind up giving his life for Charlie. (Perhaps there's a new treatment that requires a parental transfusion, Max volunteers, and something goes amiss?) Of course, Steve's also a possibility for Eliza, and his work with immigrants might bring him back into contact with her AND be very helpful, but I'm still leaning toward Andrés.

So Telemundo again uses the "there are becas for undocumented students" PSA. I guess that's a good thing to do.

I missed the fact that the newspaper article about Estevez included a photo of Joel. Uh oh, I wonder whether Joel's tell-tale watch is still working.

Finally I can identify an actor from a previous novela! Julián is being played by Jonathan Freudman, who played Bobby Monteverde in "Eva La Trailera." I'm usually hopeless about these kinds of identifications, but Julián looks exactly like Bobby in the earlier novela, so much so that I found it a bit disconcertning. Bobby was a much nicer guy.
 

TELEMUNDO...

"Mi Familia Perfecta", pronto.

some old friends return, Sonya Smith, Karla Monroig, Gabriel Valenzuela, Laura Flores, written by José Vicente Spataro, (La Doña, also helped with Bajo el mismo cielo, Santa Diabla, Flor Salvaje and others)

 

Lado

Spanish Student, I too find myself wondering whether the very rapid pace of this novela means that Telemundo is shortening it. I have no idea how it's doing in the ratings. I'm enjoying it a lot, but I doubt I'm their primary audience. Of course, it has been the case for quite a while that Telemundo moves things along much more rapidly than I was accustomed to on Univisión (but for all I know Uni has increased the pace as well...it's been years since I've watched one of their novelas). I tend to like the rapid pace, rather than having a problem drag on unresolved for months. Still, Sofía's appearance last night caught me by surprise. I wasn't surprised that she was the hooded figure responsible for freeing the girl, but I didn't think she and Joel would confront each other nearly so soon.
 

Lado and Telemundo

deb, am I right in remembering that this is the second recent "coming soon" announcement you've passed along? If so, that may not bode well for Lado. I assumed that the first announcement you made was for the novela that would replace José José, which has been running longer than either Lado or Enemigo. But if there's also another new novela soon to appear....
 

Lado

Deb, they never said how María died. Santiago's pregnant wife, I can't remember her name, teased him for being a bit flirtatious with a bakery customer. She said he'd been in luto for two years. And it was high time he found someone. Luto is mourning. In the past, I believe this word described people dressing in black for a year, covering mirrors with black cloth, etc.

Juanita, I'm Team Andrés as well. I can't imagine Eliza going for Steve when Andrés, very sexy in my opinion, is right there. Unless they're going with so many years of only friendship precluding him.
 

Lado

Irene, I'm glad you've started to post about Lado. I hope you'll continue to do so.

I agree that a police officer might be suspicious of a convicted pedophile walking around with a child, but while that officer might be justified in approaching the guy and asking questions, s/he would NOT be justified to come running at him with a pointed gun, nor for grabbing him, putting handcuffs on him, and arresting him without even asking any questions.
 

General

I guess the docudramas about singers must get good ratings. I don't care for them. I either read something online or saw something about one coming up about Luis Miguel. Gah!



 

Lado

The actor playing Julián was also in En Otra Piel.
 

Lado

Juanita, I was also surprised Sofia and Joel were reunited so suddenly. I'm guessing the FBI can testify to her innocence... and they may end up working together...but even that seems too easy for a tn.

I usually fast forward past the commercials so I didn't notice until yesterday that their theme song was sampled from my current favorite, HBO's Westworld...which I'll watch in Spanish when it returns in April.

Spanish Student
 

TELEMUNDO...

"Luis Miguel, la serie", was the other, I saw a quick promo for "Mi Familia Perfecta" the other day, pronto anymore can be a couple of months or longer, we'll have to wait and see.

"Sin Senos si hay Paraiso 3" has been filming and was slated for the middle of the year, but I haven't heard anything recently.

 

Lado

thanks novelera!, Santiago's wife is Raquel.

Andres hmm, he was sure spending a lot of time with Eliza and Sofia while leaving Mari Linda home in the kitchen, I don't know if he is a good marido, Steve will certainly be a wedge for Max.

loved the bros together, Rodrigo and Charlie the Vampire.

 

Telemundo

Thanks very much, deb, for the follow-up. I've just googled "Mi Familia Perfecta" and found info here that it will begin April 8 and will replace José José. I hope that's right. Also, it's unlikely that "Luis Miguel" would replace Lado--as another singer biopic it would be more likely to be aired at 8 pm. I couldn't find anything in my short venture into google to indicate that "Luis Miguel" is about to appear, just notices (mostly from last year) that it was being filmed. It's all very confusing.
 

Lado

interesting site Juanita, thanks, btw for Lado the have it down for 80 episodes, 90 for "Mi familia perfecta", you know the bios started by being aired on the weekends.

 

General

5 times today recaptcha has passed me without a test, are we BFF's now?

 

Lado:
I kind of like the guapo FBI guy, Richard García, possibly for Sofia. Either Andres or Steve for Eliza. I agree that Steve will be brought in to help with immigration problems.
Bella
 

Mi familia perfecta

the lead, Gala Montes, was the youngest daughter in "En Otra Piel" and Luz in "El Señor de los Cielos".

 

Lado: Although Eliza looked sympathetic at Max's telling of Charlie's illness, which is appropriate, I hope she realizes that if she hadn't been hired to make the pastries, she and Max would not have met and he would still be hiding from her!
Bella
 

"LADO":

Bella: I noticed Jennifer met Rodrigo. Just wait until she figures out that his Mommy is Eliza ?

Neither Rodrigo or Charlie have any idea they're brothers.

Spanish Student: I liked Karina standing up for herself & being proud to be an American :)

Those racist students bashing Alondra at school pissed me off.


 

"LADO":

Deb: It appears that Julian will turn into Ernesto 2.0 & become more EVIL. I'm wondering what happened to the housekeeper ?
 

Lado:

Thank you very much, Novelera, for the great recap.
"Ghastly" is exactly the word I was looking for to describe that pedophile. And I cheered a little bit when Sophia whacked him on the head.
I finally managed to watch the latest installment and what can I say, I am I bit disappointed Eliza was so restrained with Max.I would have slapped the sh-t out of him, he is such a despicable coward. And he dares to say to Eliza that she is the love of his life after marrying someone else for money while still being married to her and then abandoning her and her children with no concern for their well being.
He is so despicable that he didn't even keep tabs on them for 10 years to make sure that they are o.k (he didn't know that Eliza had another child). I totally agree with Bella that with all of his "love" for Eliza, he would still be hiding from her had it not been the chance encounter at the birthday party!
Irene

 

Lado:

As far as love interests for Eliza, I am almost certain that both Andres and Steve will vie for Eliza.As long as she does not stay with Max, I am ok with whatever decision she makes.

As far as Charlie's illness is concerned, I read that it can often be cured by a bone marrow transplant. So my guess is that one of Eliza's children will be the donor, probably Rodrigo.

By the way, the disease can stunt physical growth of a child, but it should not affect mental and emotional development, so Charlie behaving as an 8 year old is not very realistic.

Irene

 

"LADO":

Jennifer will put 2 & 2 together & will likely bash Rodrigo as "another bastard"!
 

LADO

SO SOFIA IS ALIVE??? AND RESCUED THE CLOSET KID.. From that sex tourist chicken hawk..???
works for me.. where has she been since she escaped the electric chair.. ???

back story please!!
 

"LADO":

HALIMACANDY: We'll find out soon enough on Monday night.
 

Mi familia perfecta

complete trailer,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8bavy3eu6Y



 

"MI FAMILIA PERFECTA":

Deb: Are they're going to be in the afternoons ?
 

"LADO":

Deb: Interesting to see if slimy United States Senator Irving Hastings (R-TX) is still in the United States Senate in the Time Jump.

We know Ernesto is campaigning for President of Mexico in the 2018 Elections.