Caray, Caray!

I'll start the conversation with some highlights from episode 1--

DONA FLOR Ep 1: Girl Meets Boy

The story starts out with Flor preparing for a dance at her hometown. She awaits Valentín who is late. When he finally gets there he smiles up at her, but then falls to the floor. Flor rushes to him and tells him he can’t leave her; she is expecting his baby. Teo is beside her and tries to help resuscitate Valentín, but it’s of no use; Valentín dies.

One year earlier—

Flor gets an invite to an audition at a dance company in Mexico City.

Flor’s mom has never been supportive of her dancing unlike her father who always told Flor to follow her dreams.

Valentín is some hotel room with Cassy all over him. They seem to have stolen some money from her father. When she mentions marriage, Valentín’s brakes screech; he doesn’t want to discuss that right now.

We have a card reader named Itzamara who tells Margarita (Flor’s mom) that something bad is going to happen. The last time those 3 cards came out together was when Narciso (Flor’s dad) had his accident.

Cassandra handcuffs Valentín to the bed and takes off with the money; she doens;t trust him anymore though she will miss him.

Flor goes to tell her sister in law,, Mariana, about the invite to try out for the dance company. Marina fears what Flor’s mom will say.

Cassy finds out that she took a suitcase of fake money. She curses Valentín.

Valentín and his buddy, Chile/Porfirio, take off with the money while Cassy tells her father that she will find him. She will need a couple of weapons.

Flor tells her mom about her audition at the dance company. Her mom wonders if Flor didnlt have enough with causing her father’s death. As a child, the mom told her tah just as she was going to bury her husband, Flor would have to bury her desire to dance. The mom threatens Flor that if she leaves for the audition, she might as well not come back; she will not be welcome in her house. Flor calls her bluff and takes off in her blazin’ blue MoPed.

Valentín and Chile ae walking through the woods when Cassy catches up to them and starts to shoot at them; so they separate.

Teo goes to Flor’s house with a bouquet of flowers; he finally got the courage to ask her to marry him. Margarita tells him she is on her way to Mexico City.

Flor stops on the highway and calls Mariana to tell her about her fight with her mom. She is heading back. Before she leaves, Flor has to go do her business. As she is finishing, she catches Valentín trying to steal her bike. (They have a “moment”) He drives off, but comes back as Teo arrives. Valentín tells them he was just trying out the bike. They all head back to town together.

At Teo’s office, Flor’s sister, Rosalia, is preparing a sexy welcome for Teo because she thinks he is going to ask her to marry him. When she calls her mom to tell her, Margarita clarifies that Teo was there to ask Flor to marry him.



 

DONA FLOR Ep 1, Part 2: Girl Meets Boy

On the way back, Teo stops and asks Flor to marry him as Valentín watches from afar. Flor turns him down because he is her friend and marriage is not in her plans. Teo is very disappointed and asks for a moment. When they get back to town, Teo goes to the casino for a drink. Meanwhile, Valentín turns on his charm with Flor.

Flor talks to Mariana and tells her about Teo proposing to her. She also describes Valentín as aggravating, but he made her laugh and is good looking.(oh, it’s luurve!) Later, Aureliano, Flor brother arrives drunk and gets scolded.

Valentín goes to the casino and meets Samantha, the owner of the casino. He goes and buys Teo a drink after apologizing for what happened on the highway.

Teo, who is drunk as a skunk, gets the crap scared out of him when he returns to his office and finds Rosalia there…but she turns on the sexy charm and he goes toward her.

Valentín tells Chile about Flor…she is different; she’ll be a challenge for him.

Cassy and Malba are still on Valentín’s trail.

Next day—

The priest, Elpidio, and some nuns find a bundle of money (from Valentín?)

Valentín decides to stay in town

Teo tells his assistant, Mica, that Flor turned him down.

Flor dresses in a shimmery silver dress with a neckline that flows waaay low. It’s or the fiesta where she plans to dance.

Valentín spots Malba so he and Chile disguise themselves.

Mica finds Rosalia’s bra and grills Teo about it. He admits it belongs to Rosalia; he knows what he did was wrong, but he doesn’t even remember what happened,

Flor joins the dance group on stage and starts dancing…to everyone’s chagrin! She swivels her hips as Valentín watches; so he goes to join her and they dance. As Valentín kisses her, Teo hangs his head low and Cassy arrives, points her gun toward the stage and shoots!

 

Let's hope this telenovela can hold our interest. I'm still missing Angelique Boyer and Michele Brown. Maybe they will do a second season with Silvia Navarro as the protagonist!!
 

Episode 1 of DF consisted of scenes from episodes 1&2 from the mexican broadcast.
 

Chickie, thank you. Wow, lots of names . I hope that this is a good one.
 

RgvChick, what an excellent beginning you crafted!

"As Valentín kisses her, Teo hangs his head low and Cassy arrives, points her gun toward the stage and shoots!" This is running out of the gate. And handsomely too.

"Flor dresses in a shimmery silver dress with a neckline that flows waaay low" was perfect! "...he made her laugh and is good looking.(oh, it’s luurve!)" made me smile.

I saw the first episode and part of last night's but am a bit overwhelmed with the characters and trying to figure out who is who.

I find Teo charming despite his little boy haircut. Earnest, honest and sweet - naturally everyone wants him in the "friend zone".

Chile is Val's sidekick, correct? I get a kick out of him...I also think Flor's sister in law and brother are interesting characters.

So we know the ending, or part of it. It will be fun to backtrack and see what happens.

Rgv Chick, you are so kind to start this off. I'm afraid I won't be able to contribute much now as everything and everyone is new to me and I have such poor language skills. I really appreciate it!!! AND you :)

Diana
 

I hope this one takes off. So far I can't see any relationship to the book I read eons ago (but then I don't remember the book that well). It is nice to see a heroine who hasn't been enhanced silicone-wise. That would be a nice trend and definitely better for all these actors' health.

Valentin is a bad boy but they DO attract women and this one surely has charm. We learn from our mistakes so I think Flor will be a wiser woman by the time this is over. But not "sadder but wiser", let's just go for wiser.

Thanks Rgv Chick. You're a doll to start this off.

VICTORIA...I think we lost our avatars when Google Plus turned off. At least that's the only explanation I can think of. I still have it on my emails. Just not CarayCaray.
 

JudyB, you are so funny but right about the ”non-silicone” enhanced. Not too many out there. Too bad Valentín wasn’t a cuter bad boy. The Dr. was just blah. That actor IS getting type cast. The dancing was good.

Thanks, RgvChick.
 

Yes, Judy B, I thought it would be fun to read the novel as the telenovela unfolds. I got to page 100 before it started and not much has been the same as the book. In the book, her passion is cooking, not dance. They've changed many of the characters names, as well.

R la O
 

Thank you, RGV for providing a page to discuss and highlight the ACTION in Dona Flor and there sure was a lot of it so far. I agree, too many characters introduced in the first 30 minutes. Need a chart.

Having cooking be Flor's passion would have been fun for many of us, but very limiting to producers and directors for the number of people they could hire to dance and fiestas where the dancers could be featured.

Anywhoo, I'll be watching with one eye open and stop by here to see if I got it right.
 

Good Morning, Patio and thank you! Looks like we're are off to a fast, but good start.

Victoria, I'm still missing AAM too! Silvia Navarro would be awesome. If they did a 2nd season. I would definitely watch.

Alexander, WOW! They already started with the chopping of episodes?? No wonder it seemed like the first episode was on FFW...it really was! Thanks for letting us know.

Susanlynn, definitely too many names already! A chart is a good idea, Anita.

Diana, it is SO nice to "see" you here. You may have limited Spanish language skills, but you always have much to contribute and I look forward to reading your comments. Yes, Chile is Valentin's sidekick and he is a hoot! Teo...truly a sweet guy, I felt so sorry for him when Flor turned him down. I hope he doesn't turn bad.

JudyB, Valentin is a cute, charming badboy, but he has some good in him. They must have cut the scene where he "donated" the money to the church and nuns; I'm sure it came from him. It really is nice to see the "non-silicone" enhanced heroine, but , my goodness, that dress was so slinky, I thought it would slide off too much to the right or left! Though I'm sure the men would have enjoyed that ;-)

Jarifa, I enjoyed the dancing too and am looking forward to more of that.

R la O, so cooking was the passion in the book? Hmmm, that could have worked...maybe they could have done a combination of dancing while cooking :)

Anita, looking forward to your wise comments.

 

Rats, I set my DVR to record the second episode and it got obstinate on me...boohoo. Last night I watched with one eye and typed the highlights for episode 1 with the other; so I did't catch everything. Here is some what I remember seeing--

*Cassy didn't shoot Valentin, she ended up shooting Valderrabano. She was arrested and taken to jail, but Malba used her charm and talked the police chief (with the help of money) into letting Cassy go.

*Everyone blames Flor for the incident. The holier-than-thou ladies think that her dancing "unleashed the demons" and suggest that she leave town sooner than later.

*Flor is distraught because she thinks that every time she dances, something bad happens..as when she talked her dad into going to one of her recitals and he was killed in an accident when he was on his way to see her. She goes to visit her father's grave and wonders if she actually should give up dancing, but recalls how her father would always encourage her to follow her dreams.

*Valderrabano dies and Valentin goes to see his body at the hospital, After he says his apologies and leaves, Valderrabano's spirit comes out and realizes he is dead...he thinks it wasn't his time.

*Chile gets anxious and leaves with the suitcase of money. As he stops at a red light, he makes a pass at Malba who is in the car with Cassy who recognizes him. Cassy gives chase until Chile crashes into a pole. As Cassy and Malba are struggling to get Chile out (and the money), the cops arrive and arrest her. She reminds that chief that she paid him well, but the chief tells her that when Valderrabano died, that changed everything. Off to jail she goes.

*Chile gets back to the hotel room in a stupor and goes straight to a tub of water. Valentin asks him what is wrong and where is the money; so Chile tells him about running into Cassy and the pole...and how the car exploded and all the money is now ashes.

*Flor is sitting at the plaza when Valentin sees her. She tells him she going to go ahead and leave to Mexico City, but fears dancing since bad things happen when she dances. He talks her into dancing with him. Flor tells him there is no music, but VOILA! there is music! They get on stage to dance and heat up the dance floor so much that the heat expands throughout the town and the church; and all the couples rush to their beds and homes to get it on. Wow, that's ALOT of heat!

That's all I remember for now. I'll have more later...if I remember anything else :-)
 

That's plenty to go on, RGV. Take a rest until 3 pm!!!
 

RGV Chick: I'll be looking forward to watching "LA REINA" & seeing the lovely Michelle Renaud as the leading Protagonista.


 

Omgosh, they’re showing a repeat of Dona Flor right now. I forgot about the kid who took Flor off the bus to take her to Valentin who gives her a serenade. How sweeeet! And Valentin tells her that he’ll follow her wherever she goes. what a man!!
 

Ok, Valentino maybnot be the greatest looking guy and a con artist, but he’s sweep me off my feet with his charm and smile :-) it was really sweet how he shared his sandwich with Flor and then used his jacket as a pillow for both of them to share.
 

Rgv Chick, and yet, another installment. Gracias, amiga...

Thank you for retelling last night's events. So much to savor but "The holier-than-thou ladies think that her dancing "unleashed the demons" and suggest that she leave town sooner than later" was simply great.

I did not understand who it was that got shot - Valderrabano. Who was he??? I was a bit surprised to see him "up and about" but it looks like Lazarus isn't the only one rising from the dead :)

"Wow, that's ALOT of heat!" certainly nailed it! And, I agree Val has a certain charm, especially when he smiles (genuinely). Looks have little to do with it as far as I'm concerned. That said, I didn't mind his open shirt in the previews we saw before this began. Shallow, shallow, shallow :)

Thanks again Rgv Chick!!! Greatly appreciated.

Diana
 

It looks like “Doña Flor” is also on at noon central time tomorrow and Friday
 

Jarifa..I just saw a commercial for a scary movie
coming out April 19 "La Llorona."
 

I agree with your assessment of Valentin Diana. I think he's quite fetching and has that lithe, muscular body that I find very attractive. That said, I fear his ethics may be a bit more fluid than is wise. The dorky doctor is probably a better bet, but I can see why Flor is charmed by her bad boy.
 

Susanlynn, UA is going to see an advance showing of La Llorona tonight. Me, I'm a wuss. Have avoided scary movies even since Psycho, where I spent most of the time under my movie theater seat.
 

Susanlynn, thanks for reminding me. 😊 I will be going this weekend.
 

Thanks for all the info and notes on the first episodes of Dona Flor! I'm going to try to watch it and see how it goes. So far it's pretty fun. A good mix of drama and silliness.
 

"Dorky" describes Teo perfectly Judy! :) I was surprised seeing "real life" pictures of him. He is actually quite hawt!

Oooh La Llorona. Susanlynn, looks good but I can't sleep as it is now let alone with that scary stuff. Enjoy Jarifa!

In terms of last night, I'm no expert but this seemed completely sliced and diced. Did anyone else think so? Either that or this is moving at a frenetic pace!

Diana
 

Rgv Chick, I love your cat avatar!! So sweet.

Diana
 

The pace of this does seem a bit frenetic and choppy. And the "magic realism" is going to cause some confusion too, but so far this is entertaining, and I'm always happy to see a kindly priest in the mix. I have missed that in some of the more modern telenovelas.
 

Good Morning, Patio!

Diana, "Val has a certain charm, especially when he smiles (genuinely). Looks have little to do with it as far as I'm concerned." ITA! and that open shirt does impress :-) Oh and that is Tori and her three babies in my avatar. They are about 8 weeks old and getting into EVERYTHING! but they are cute :-)

JudyB, "I think he's quite fetching and has that lithe, muscular body that I find very attractive." Is that NudyB emerging LOL

Lynne, I agree, this is a pretty good mix of drama and silliness. It's a nice change from what we've been seeing.

Diana and JudyB, I do believe that last night's episode was another slice and dice of two episode made into one. I'm hoping Alexander will confirm. It's too bad that Univision has started with the machete so early on. I too think that this show is quite entertaining. My notes from last night will follow...

 

Doña Flor
Episode 3: Shattered Dreams

*Flor and Val get to Mexico and share a room at a boarding house (they are both nervous as heck, but no hanky panky …sigh). She goes to her audition the next day and does so well that one of the judges offers her a slot on a tour to Europe that will last at least 6 months.

*Flor and Val talk. Flor wants to know what’s wrong with him. Val doesn’t know; he has never felt this way. He is crazy about her and can’t stop looking at her. He wishes she could stay so that they can get to know each other. Flor would also like to get to know him…she has also felt something for him, but she needs to follow her dream. Val is just there to make sure she accomplishes her dream.

*Malba tells Cassy that her father wasn’t able to help her; she will spend quite some time in jail. Cassy asks Malba to keep an eye on Val.

*Flor goes back to the second round of auditions (Just to go through the motions since she has already been selected). One of the judges wants her to be bold take risks in her dance. When Flor jumps up high she comes down, missteps and falls. She is taken to the hospital where the doctor tells her she has broken her tibia and heel; she will need surgery. Flor is at risk of not being able to use her leg; she will never be able to dance professionally. She is told she needs to pay 50 percent of the costs unless she or her husband have medical insurance. Later Val talks Flor into marrying him; he will get the medical insurance and that way she will be covered…it’s their only option. At the civil court, Val asks to say a few words before signing the marriage certificate. He vows to be with Flor in health, but especially in sickness…he is very happy to be there with her. After they both sign, Val is anxious to kiss his new bride.

*Val charms an insurance agent into approving his application for the medical insurance.

*Teo tries to tell Rosalia that there won’t be anything between them . Though he doesn’t remember what happened, Rosalia assures him that she does remember and starts fanning herself…she’s getting claiente. She tells him that while he is pining away for her sister, there is a woman who is there for him.

*Doc comes out and tells Val that everything turned out well. When he asks if Flor will be able to dance, the doc tells him that unless Flor wants to have more surgery, she will have to give up dancing. Val goes to see Flor and tells her she will be well as long as she follows doctor’s orders and has therapy.

*Rosalia tells Teo about Flor going to Europe. He is not a happy camper. She tehn goes to tell her mother who is glad that Flor will stay away since she brings shame to the family.

 

Doña Flor
Episode 3, Part 2: Shattered Dreams

*Val contacts Chile who brings him up to date on Cassy. When Val tells him that he got married, Chile beams himself to Mexico City. Chile thinks Val has all the symptoms of being in love. Val needs help because he told Flor he is a businessman. He lied because Flor told him she would never accept a man like he used to be. He wants to tell Chile his business idea, but Chile would prefer to break into a museum and steals some statuettes. Val refuses because he wants to do things right; he needs to help Flor and pay for her therapy. When Val asks Chile for some money, Chile gives him what he can since he is also almost broke.

Days Later—

*Val shows up at the hospital in a suit. Flor is pleasantly impressed as she goes to her therapy.

*Mica tells Teo that he needs to lighten up. To help him, she left something for him on his desk…he needs to get on with his life.

*Val starts his business of selling (Doña Flor) tacos. Chile doesn’t know what Flor gave Val; he doesn’t recognize him anymore. When he reminds Val that they were going to do great things together, Val assures him they will do great things, but the right way. After he reminds Chile that a man died because of them, Chile refuses to sell tacos and leaves.

*Chile complains to Don Gozo that Val left him for the first woman that danced in front of him. Don Gozo suggests he let Val live his life.

*Flor thanks Val for helping her despite not knowing her for very long. She also apologizes for being so obstinate. She promises that she will have a better attitude.

*Flor goes to tell the judges and tells them that she is very grateful for the opportunity they gave her, but she will no longer be able to dance. She needs to find another dream and start from zero.

*Flor calls her mom to tell her about breaking her foot. She is having therapy and will be fine. Marg wants to know if she will return. NO! she’s staying in Mexico City. Flor calls Mariana and asks her to sell her bike; she needs money. Later Marg refuses to give Mariana the bike; she is already selling it. Marg doesn’t give up and chides Marg because of her son’s misfortune. Mariana ends up taking the bike.

*Flor doesn’t feel comfortable relying on Val; so she asks him to give her a job. She even writes out a contract indicating that she will pay him back for everything. Val looks guilty and insists that he has something to tell her, but Flor can’t seem to keep her mouth shut long enough.
 

Jarifa, thanks for the heads up on the repeats at noon today and tomorrow.
 

The Valentin character is growing on me. He's like a fun, sleazy, unkempt, lovable William Levy.

One good thing about the dance injury is hopefully we won't have to watch anymore of that attempt to make us not notice the body double with blurred vision and below the neck shots.
 

Perfect title Rgv Chick.

Thank you for all of your clever detail with marvelous humor. I find I smile my way through your recaps.

"Flor is pleasantly impressed". Yup. I sort of am as well. Agree with Rosemary - he could be William's brother. Definite similarities.

I laughed out loud at “he wants to tell Chile his business idea, but Chile would prefer to break into a museum and steals some statuettes”, it just struck me as hilarious. Man, that Chile!

I like the romantic and physical attraction Flor and Val have for each other. Sweetly skulking outside her room, being too nervous to enter was fun, although I don't think Flor would have minded a bit....

Her falling was sad. It is sad that one moment can alter a life to the point that the entire direction needs to be rethought and changed.

“She tells him that while he is pining away for her sister, there is a woman who is there for him”. Good grief woman, have a little bit of pride! And your OWN sister. ‘nuff said.

Rgv Chick, just loved this. Thank you!

Diana

 

Wednesday's episode consisted of scenes from episodes 4&5 from the Mexican broadcast.
 

Thanks, RgvChick.

Alexander, thanks to you for the info. They are really pushing this one and it has barely started.. I wonder what the reasoning is.

Rosemary, I do admit that I am liking Valentino more. There is something sweet about him and he does look better in a suit. It is just too bad he is a criminal.

Diana, I was sorry that Flor's dream was stopped by her fall but also was sorry that her mother could not have been proven wrong about her if she had been successful as a dancer in the big city professional company.

Flor married Valentino for health insurance benefits. Hmmm . . . At least we know now.

Margarita seems intent on protecting her alcohol imbibing son and coming down hard on her daughters and daughter in law. They can cut more of her.


 

R la O and Diana, I think that the "Val is adorable and hawt" table is filling up :-) Shall we have some cocktails or wine? Oh, and Doritos! I sure miss Kirby!

Alexander, thank you for confirming that. What a shame that we are probably missing out on some good scenes.

Jarifa, "Margarita seems intent on protecting her alcohol imbibing son and coming down hard on her daughters and daughter in law. They can cut more of her." I'm with you on that!