Caray, Caray!

Another enjoyable episode.

Teresa was one smart cookie tracking down the Fabergé egg and Oleg’s address at the antique shop.

Looks like Rocío is stuck with abuse at the hands of the self-righteous slap-happy martyr Cayetana who considers her grand daughters as “dead” while Paloma is in a bad situation with Juan telling her to get used to his abuse because that simply is how things are now that she is with him.

Batman may have physically survived his family’s massacre at Rata’s hands but he is far from the Batman of the first season. His chat with Epifanio about his “suffering” seeing his dead wife and children and having wanted to have tortured Ratas to death himself was chilling. Epifanio is sending him back to care for Sofía as he has another job for Lupo outside of Mexico.

Lupo refuses to tell Sofía why she was kidnapped. Sofía almost gets slapped by Morgana but she ends up freaking Morgana out talking to her “invisible” father who was just about to stab Morgana with a knife.

When Teresa arrives at Yasikov’s mansion we find out it is one of Willie’s guys who has been tailing her. Oleg guesses correctly that the only reason Teresa is there for help is that something happened to her child. Willie’s guy takes pictures from the bushes. After Teresa tells Oleg she thinks she was followed, Oleg’s men go looking but find nothing.

Lupo does a food run and does some public service killing a thief who is robbing the store. Lupo goes down to the cellar to look at Sofía’s tree drawing and is transported back to his own childhood. He smiles and adds to the drawing.

Teresa tells Oleg about having to do a job for her worst enemy Epifanio to get her daughter back by having to infiltrate Zuro Villa’s drug business. Oleg tells her she needs to locate her daughter and take her back. She has to become her old “Reina del Sur” self again. She wishes she could but has no contacts in Mexico. She is at a loss. How is Oleg doing? Oleg tells her how he fell into disfavor with the Russian government because he knows too much about those in power in the Russian government, how they want to kill him and, therefore, sent his family to London for their own safety. The government confiscated all of his property except for this his family home (mansion) he had inherited.

Siso and his goons torture some guys back at pig processing plant to find out who helped Teresa escape. It was somebody from her old business in Marbella. Siso thinks he knows how he will get Teresa out of hiding.

Major problem for me: Willie’s guy could be on Oleg’s property that long without his men knowing???

The new Oleg was just fine but the sizzle went with Alberto Jiménez. ☹️
 

Yes that was for La Reina 2.
 

Jarifa: Let's hope the Protagonista gets a happy ending.
 

reina-sur2

Thanks so much for the fine recap, Jarifa! Yep, another great episode.

You and me both! Oleg's place is swarming with bodyguards but no one sees the DEA guy with the long lens!

Batman almost seemed to be trying to get under Epi's skin. I don't remember the circumstances of his families deaths. Did Epi order that? Well, at least it's an explanation of why he's back working with him, rationalizing that Ratas did it without Epi's approval.

Yep, our wolf (Lupo) does have a heart, even though Sofía claimed there was none. He spared the store clerk, even though they teased us with his saying there could be no witnesses. But, logically, what was the point of saving the guy in the first place if he went on to kill him? And I liked his covering Sofía up.

Siso is one cold stone psychopath and it seems to run in the family.

Unbelievable that Oleg would have given Teresa a Fabergé egg. I sort of remember that from before. The things are SO expensive.

Yes, the new Oleg is quite serviceable, but not as sexy as Alberto Jiménez.

Lots more thoughts, but gotta go to work.
 

reina-sur2

Thanks so much, Jarifa, for your fine short recap, and thanks too, novelera, for your comments. I think the three of us are in agreement about the new Oleg. Jarifa, I loved your saying "The new Oleg was just fine but the sizzle went with Alberto Jiménez." Yes!!

And I too was surprised and disappointed that Oleg's men found no trace of the follower, not even seeing his car drive off. Oh well, at least the guy was reporting back to Willy, not to someone out to kill Teresa.

When Lupo pointed his gun at the guy behind the counter and said "Sorry, there can't be any witnesses," my heart sank. What a relief when instead of shooting the guy, Lupo asks for and takes the contents of the security camera. BTW, I got the impression that Lupo may have lied to Sofia when he told her he couldn't read. We know he had gone to school (though too often that's not a guarantee of literacy), and last night, when he looked at Sofia's drawing, we saw where she had written his name and perhaps Morgana's, and I had the impression he simply blacked out one of the names, probably his, with a black crayon.

I was surprised that Jonathan confronted Manuela in the DEA office. What was she doing there, since supposedly she'd been fired? Anyway, she's annoyed that he hasn't asked about her mother, since she (Manuela) knows he was in the hospital. Even more to my surprise, he tells her he overheard everything she had said to her mother about using him. Manuela tells him she didn't fake everything: no one makes love as well as he does, but he's going to regret helping Teresa. Uh oh. It may have been Manuela who spilled the beans to Sheldon about what Willy and Jonathan were up to. Sheldon warns Willy to stop working on the Teresa Mendoza case.

IIRC, Teresa tells Willy about the people from her past that she misses, and she singles out Conejo, who was like a mother to her. Uh oh again. The last thing we see is Siso appearing with his goons at Conejo's door.
 

Reina 2

Jarifa, so delightful to read your recap, you have such a nice touch!

wondering what Rocio and Paloma's next moves are now that granny has disowned them, I'm guessing Cayetana saw Rocio helping Teresa on the home cameras.

I was confused by Siso returning to the sausage shop, I thought he had rented it for the afternoon, why go back and torture the employers, but I guess he was looking for who it was that helped Teresa, no luck on the surveillance cameras, so I'm not sure if he found anything but came to the conclusion it was her old gang.

poor Conejo, she always seems to get the worst of it, I think Oleg said that after Teresa left, the government stepped in and took back all she had left them.

Batman's story is interesting, did super Epi say he was selling crack at Malverde's shrine when he recovered him? I think Batman is looking for a sign that Epi was involved with his families death, and far from thanking Teresa for taking out Ratas, he despises her for denying him the privilege, but yea, he'll take care of Sofia (hmm, I think he likes kids)

Oleg's story was interesting, not sure if I got it right, the president of Russia (not to mention any names) required from those working out of country to give up half the profit of come home, but when he returned they took everything anyway, now he's marked because he knows too much.

sloppy that Willy's boy could get pics of Oleg, but what about that surveillance camera?

Oleg suggests they skip Epi's plan and go get Sofia, Teresa sleeps while he looks for a way.

ah, was Manuela rehired, Willy and Jonathan are suspicious, and Willy is off the Teresa case, he puts Jonathan in charge, steam is rising as Manuela's kiss tells Jonathan she wasn't faking everything, until he finds the tracker she left on his collar.

Sofia's wall painting is fascinating, it keeps growing, and Lupo is no dummy, as he draws out some of the hidden writing (strega ?? is highlighted) as he weaves in some of his own, Sofia will be sure to notice.

 

reina-sur2

Excellent comments everyone! Thanks, Juanita, for reminding me of Siso and the Psychos (good name for a punk band) pushing their way into Conejo's house. Like the white hair. Teresa is going to need four arms to put out all these fires.

Interesting. Maybe it's my smallish TV, but I didn't notice Lupo painting out his name. I thought he was just adding to Sofía's mural. I'm already starting to turn him into a good guy, probably too soon.

Well, I'll put his name in here: Putin. In my mind it's OK to criticize politicians who are not our own. Juanita, if you disagree, feel free to zap my comment. I was wondering how much truth there is to seizing assets of returning Russians who had been working in other countries. I can easily see that being true. I've read about how much $$$ Putin has.

I was also confused about what went down with Manuela. I thought she whined to the boss, ratted out Willy and Jonathan, and got her job back. But, outside the office, Willy stated she was out of the DEA, just like he was going to be.

I KNEW it was going to be Conejo when Siso was mentioning TransNaga and someone who was working there.
 

Oh, no! Thugs at Conejo’s door! My recording ended before that. I better reset it.

I keep wondering where that Fabergé egg that Oleg gave Teresa ended up.. .
 

reina-sur2

novelera, I am not 100% sure that Lupo was blacking out his name. I remember that we saw a shot of the mural that showed names, one of which was Lupo, I think, and I think it was in the general vicinity of where Lupo was blacking something out. As for "strega," that means "witch" in Italian (if my very limited opera-based Italian serves me correctly). Perhaps that's the way Sofia thinks of Morgana. But I didn't go back to the recording to try to see more clearly what was written and what lupo was blacking out. I do think he was blacking out something, not adding to the mural.

As for mentioning Putin, I didn't think twice about it until you raised the issue. I don't see any problem with mentioning foreign leaders/political figures. I would draw the line at extended criticism/rants about them, and that's not what you were doing. It's certainly the case that Reina2 takes place in the present, and Putin is the current head of the government in Russia. I might add that as I watched the novela, I found myself worrying about Oleg's wife and son in London, remembering that people out of favor with the Russians have been murdered or seriously wounded in London. Anyway, I agree with the policy that discussions about politics don't belong on CarayCaray, but I don't think your message violated that policy. I do agree that we need to be even more circumspect about political figures in the US.
 

Reina del sur2

Thanks to everyone stopping by the patio today for your comments.

Steve, I am betting on a happy ending after many trials and tribulations.

Juanita thanks for adding the bit about Manuela. I had forgotten her name and confess that I was too lazy to look it up. Yes! “Strega” does mean witch in Italian and Sofía has called Morgana that from the get go.

novelera, thanks for the comments about Conejo. I, too, thought Lupo was just coloring in a leaf on the tree.

deb, I, too, feel that Sofía will be okay with Batman and agree he seemed to be on a “fishing expedition” with Epifanio. My happiest moment in season one was Teresa killing Ratas.

 

reina-sur2

I'll put something up tonight, likely not lengthy.
 

reina-sur2

LA REINA DEL SUR – Viernes – Parte 1 de 2

Rocío is my new heroine. She packs her clothes to leave el cortijo. [This is what they call where Cayetana hangs her hat; my dictionary calls this a farmhouse. Some farmhouse!]

General Chaib puts the lab at the Moroccan military through its paces asking for fast DNA testing on the hair from Rocío’s hairbrush. [What was that they used for the match to the hair; looked like a tooth?]

Teresa has had her good sleep. She wanders through the Yasikov mansion while the Russian choir sings. Oleg promises her borscht and lamb shashlik for dinner. From what he tells her, apparently the wife in London is fine with their friendship.

Hmmmmmm. Oleg doubts that Cayetana found her. Only the DEA knew her whereabouts. Oleg is almost never wrong. [my suspects: Manuela and/or Sheldon??]

When Rocío is leaving her granny’s house, they exchange terrific mutual insults. Cayetana says Rocío’s mother could not hide su pelo de dehesa [humble origins]. Wow! Apparently Cayetana has loved only one person her whole life: Teo. His wife, her grandchildren mean absolutely nothing to her.

The Galicians tie up Conejo and then threaten to castrate her boyfriend, Fermín. [I vaguely remember Conejo liking them younger from Reina 1.] Analyzing the three Galicians: Siso is ruthless but only wants revenge for his brother; another brother or cousin hates all the violence; and the third one is a straight up sadist who can hardly restrain himself from his joy at the possibility of hurting someone.

Conejo hasn’t lost a step. Just before they cut Fermin’s throat she says that she HAS heard from Teresa. She pretends to call her; but instead calls 911 España.

Lupo shows Sofía how he’s caused Strega and Lupo to appear fluorescent on her mural. She gives him a point in his favor. He tells her he’s leaving but Batman will come so she won’t be alone with Morgana.

Oleg and Teresa talk after dinner. A wise man, he tells her that perhaps she had Teo killed so as to prevent him being in Sofía’s life. Oleg promises to help her find Sofía; he’s anxious to meet her. But he says he has to ask permission to leave the country.

When Siso figures out Conejo fools him, he goes for her, but she throws boiling water at him and Fermín gets free. They manage to get into another part of the house and are safe.
 

LA REINA DEL SUR – Viernes – Parte 2 de 2

The cops come; but, sadly, one of them is the despicable Flores. He tells Conejo that Teresa killed her boyfriend. [He never fails to get everything wrong, doesn't he?]

Paloma and Rocío have a coffee in Marbella. Paloma tells her sister about Juan raping her. Rocío is livid. Both their credit cards have been cancelled by Evil Granny; and they have to search through their purses for cash.

Teresa, waiting for Oleg in Red Square, sees the DEA guy, gives chase, and gets a cell phone picture of him.

[Is this really the Kremlin?] Oleg walks into Telemundo’s version and meets with the President, while the Russian choir again chants. He’s denied permission to leave Mother Russia.

Can we dare to hope that something really, really bad befalls Morgana? She washes off Sofía’s mural in the basement. Later Sofía overhears Batman say that Teresa killed Sofía’s father and Morgana gloats.

After Oleg and Teresa leave Red Square, they are followed by a black SUV. Teresa tells Oleg about the guy she took a picture of.

Willy and Jonathan realize that they’ve lost some access to higher-level files at the DEA.

Sergio shows up at his grandmother’s hospital room. He’s sullen. Manuela asks if he’s taking his pills [bi-polar?] . The kid appears to me to need a couple of slaps upside the head. He says that his mother was a lesbian killed by another lesbian. He wonders if Manuela is one as well. She backs him up against the wall and tells him that, if she catches him in anything illegal, she’ll turn him in to the cops herself.

At the end of the big car chase in Moscow, it turns out it’s the Russians who are after Oleg and Teresa. At the end Teresa has a gun at her head, and Oleg puts his down. [I worry about Oleg, Teresa not so much; she’s safer than my 401K!]
 

reina-sur2

Great recap, novelera! Clear, concise, and complete. (I'll learn words that start with D tomorrow.) But while we're still on the letter C, I should mention Conejo, who at least three times has to say, "No, he's not my son, he's my novio!" As you say, even in Reina1, she liked them young (e.g., Alberto). And while we're on the topic of Alberto, are you saying that Flores told Conejo that Teresa killed Alberto and that "[Flores] never fails to get everything wrong, doesn't he??" I thought Flores was saying that Interpol has a warrant for Teresa's arrest for the murder of her--Teresa's--boyfriend (Teo).

One more thing about the scene with Conejo: I loved it when she swears to Siso "on my mother-in-law and my dead husband" that she hasn't heard from Teresa in years. Siso probably doesn't know that Conejo went to prison for killing both her mother-in-law and her husband! I also enjoyed the scene where Conejo says to Fermin, "When the police leave, I have to tell you a few things about my past that I forgot to mention."

Hmmm...I really thought that Lupo had blackened out his name on Sofia's mural. Looks as if I was wrong. Thanks for your explanation.

I was amused to watch Teresa trying to run after the guy who was following her. I guess she still hasn't learned that she can't run fast in heels.

Poor Sofia. She finds out from her eavesdropping that her mother killed her father. And strega Morgana just laughs.

Loved your remark about Teresa being safer than your 401K!
 

Reina Sur 2

Thank you, novelera. I have to admit that I wanted to laugh as Conejo had to make sure that Siso and his crew knew that Fermín was her boyfriend not her son. Thanks for reminding me that she likes them “young.” That Russian building was impressive Kremlin or not.

Juanita, too bad Sofía had to find out that her mother killed her father. Being kidnapped was enough. Morgana was just cruel. I hope she has a bad end before this ends. As for the heels, I still remember Teresa carrying hers along with her clothes in that roof top chase scene in the first season that hooked me on this novela. How could she have forgotten the practicality if bare feet? Too funny.

It was sad seeing Oleg in his current state in the gun fight. He is sort of like a trapped rat.

Looks like another “película” tonight of this week’s episode. Smart marketing.

 

reina-sur2

That's interesting, Juanita. My interpretation of what Flores told Conejo was that Interpol was after Teresa for killing Pedro, her current boyfriend. I sort of remember his just saying novio. It could be either Pedro or Teo, I suppose. My take was that there was a current manhunt (womanhunt?) on for Teresa, which is what Siso wanted. He was the one who called the cops, in Italian, before leaving Teresa's house. He said that a man had been killed by his girlfriend. And by Flores getting things wrong, I meant that it never crossed his closed mind that someone else could have killed Pedro.

I also got a big kick out of Conejo swearing on the lives of her murder victims. I can hardly wait for her reunion with Teresa. Fermín, like Alberto, isn't worthy of Conejo. To me he just looks like a sex toy with little grey matter.
 

Reina 2

terrific recap novelera, always a pleasure to read!
safer than your 401k, funny!

oh but I think I heard when Rocio got up to leave with her bag, witch Cayetana asked if she was moving out, nope, Rocio wasn't planning on leaving till she is forced out, just taking some of her favorite clothes to a friends place before Cayetana burns all her stuff, or so she said.

yes Juanita, Flores told Conejo that he has an interpol warrant for Teresa for killing her boyfriend, but it's for killing Pedro as set up by Siso.

I think Conejo was elated to hear that Teresa was indeed back, even with all the violence that comes with her, Flores asks.

it was strange to learn that Alberto left her when the Police took back all the money Teresa gave them, and moved to Colombia, so we may see him yet.

Conejo's new boyfriend looked a little wide eyed at these new developments, your not really an academic professor? (or something) nope, but experience is the best teacher.

and thanks Juanita for pointing out her swearing on her dead husband, I missed that, she gave him a glass of Drano or something, right?

yep, Oleg was surprised at being denied permission to leave the country, and if he did leave he would be considered a traitor, and we all know what Russians do to traitors, so he's DEFINITELY not leaving, or is he?

sad day for Sofia, Lupo leaves (but denies he will be seeing Teresa), Morgana washes the wall, and Batman spills on her mother killing her father, but wait, didn't Teresa tell her not to believe anything the bad guys say?

isn't there something heavy Sofia can slide over that trap door when Morgana is down there?

Jarifa, 10 facts about the Kremlin
https://www.onthegotours.com/blog/2017/11/10-interesting-facts-about-moscows-kremlin/

 

Thanks, deb, for the article. I like your idea of Sofía trapping Morgana in the cellar.
 

reina-sur2

Thanks very much, novelera and deb, for setting me straight about the novio Teresa (supposedly) killed. All I could think of was Teo. I guess poor Pedro wasn't around long enough to make much of an impression on my feeble brain. And you're quite right (as usual), novelera; Flores gets it wrong yet again.

And thanks, too, deb, for the Kremlin article.
 

Reina-sur-2

Thanks, Novelera. Terrific job.

I didn't realize who Conejo was at first, but then remembered the fondness for young novios and it all came back to me. Loved her quick thinking and fighting off the Galicians. You go, girl.

Oleg's attraction to Teresa is more open this time around.

Sofia is naturally hurt that her mom killed her dad, but I think she's smart enough to eventually fathom that mom had a good reason for doing it.
 

Reina 2

ah, the Russian president (not to mention any names) lives in the Kremlin.

https://www.businessinsider.com/vladimir-putin-daily-routine-2017-6

[in the birth of narconovelas, they were completely filmed before shown to avoid deadly threats by the cartels,,, and so was the Russian filming}

don't you dare hurt Oleg!

 

reina-sur

I'll re-post this on Monday. I have a basketball game to watch and would prefer not to recap. I have done some on Mondays, but not this one.
 

reina-sur2

novelera, I'll do a short recap of Monday's episode.