Caray, Caray!

reina-sur2

novelera and I have switched Monday and Tuesday recap days for this week. I'll be recapping tonight's episode and she will do tomorrow's. Mine is likely to be posted quite late.
 

reina-sur2
La Reina del Sur2 - Lunes - Parte 1 de 3

Oleg questions everyone about whether they told anyone the address where they are. No one replies. Paloma looks down. Oleg repeats how vital it is not to divulge their whereabouts. Oleg turns to Paloma: "Who did you give the address to?" Teresa says she can forgive anything except betrayal. Paloma admits she told Charo, but it wasn't betrayal. Teresa says "Siso knows where I am. We have to be prepared."

I assumed that when, in the last episode, Alejandro invited Dainilo to meet him at the rooftop at 10 pm, he was tired of Danilo and was going to throw him off the roof. WRONG! When Danilo arrives at the rooftop, there's a helicopter waiting. OK, thought I, Ale will throw him from the helicopter. WRONG AGAIN! The two of them take a delightful ride, seeing the city all lit up at night, and even some fireworks. Danilo is awestruck and thrilled. Ale tells him, "You are my refuge. I'll never let you go." They reminisce about the first time they met.

Batman and Sheila return to Batman's place. She seems to have had a lot to drink. She asks him for some water, but he says he'll make her a paloma, a drink made with tequila and grapefruit juice (refresco de toronja). He goes into the other room, and immediately Sheila starts looking through drawers, presumably for any information that could be useful. Batman returns as she's rifling through a drawer. He asks her what she's looking for. She claims it's the remote control, so she can play some music. Batman points out that it's sitting in plain view. But he doesn't seem to sense that Sheila is up to something. They do some sex talk, and although they are dressed, Sheila is bent over and Batman seems in position to take her from behind. Suddenly Sheila says "I can't!" She points to a photo of Batman's wife. Batman assures her that she's dead, but Sheila claims she's watching her. She then points to another picture of the wife on the wall. Batman tells her that it's just a drawing (dibujo), but Sheila insists that the eyes are following her. She uses this as an excuse to leave.

Siso and his two friends/relatives/thugs arrive at the El Submarino bar. To his surprise, Teresa comes out. She walks to a car, seeming not to see him. "This will happen faster than I thought," says Siso. He and his men point their guns at Teresa's back. Just as they're about to shoot, some uniformed guards (or cops?) drive up, their arrival apparently arranged by Teresa. A frustrated Siso and the others quickly leave.

We next see Teresa driving a car. she's on the phone and tells whoever she's talking to that she's being followed and she'll get back to them later. She then observes to herself, "Ah Siso, you're so predictable (predecible).

We see the large truck carrying the merca Zurdo is expecting. Two men are in the truck's cab. One is Lencho, who takes out the other guy's CD and inserts "The Ride of the Valkyries," which he loves (as do I!). The two guys don't realize that there are two (or three?) people attached under the truck by "hammocks." At least one of them has a small torch he's using to make a hole in the underside of the truck. He's in communication with Oleg.

Siso continues to follow Teresa's car. One of his men suggests that they pass her. Siso explains that if Teresa sees them, she'll probably run them off the road. He suggests they continue to follow and see where she's going.

Ale and Danilo have returned from the helicopter ride and have apparently had sex. Danilo is unhappy that they always have to hide their relationship. Lots of people are now out of the closet. "It won't happen," insists Ale. "The world of politics is machista (macho, sexist). Telling would be suicide. I don't want anyone to hurt us."
 

reina-sur2
La Reina del Sur2 - Lunes - Parte 2 de 3

Oleg tells everyone that Team Alpha has made the opening in the truck, and they should be ready. Ray responds that they'll be ready in two minutes.

In the truck, the driver hears noises. He's about to turn off Lencho's CD, but Lencho objects, "No, no, the cymbals are coming!" The truck continues to move, and suddenly five or six small trucks pull out from a side road and follow the big truck.

Oleg then tells Rocio and Paloma it's their turn. They each drive a car and carefully crash into each other, blocking the road. The two young women get out of their cars and argue about who is at fault. More cars come, but they can't get past the "accident." A few of the drivers join in the discussion of who is at fault. (I was confused at first about what the point of this was. I finally realized that Rocio and Paloma had blocked the road AFTER the large truck carrying the merca and the six smaller ones had passed. Thus, no one else would see how Operation Hammock took place.)

Teresa is no longer following the truck. She drives to a building. Sheila and Conejo are inside and lower the entrance door as soon as Teresa has driven inside. Siso has been following, but he can't drive in. Teresa gives Sheila and Conejo pistols. Sheila notes that this is a very dangerous situation. Teresa agrees, but adds "I'm not Little Red Riding Hood, I'm the Big Bad Wolf." Siso and his men try to raise the entrance door but cannot. They try other doors as well, but those too are securely locked. Then they find one door that's open. They enter, and then they hear a door slam behind them.

In the truck with the merca, the driver says to Lencho that something's wrong. The trucks that are following them aren't trying to pass them. Lencho makes fun of his worry. "You think Spiderman is going to get into the truck and steal the merca?"

Meanwhile, Operation Hammock is working splendidly. The men under the truck have succeeded in making a hole in the floor of the truck. They now set up a slide down which they send container after container of drugs. The first container is grabbed up by someone in the first small truck. The next container is taken up by someone in the second small truck, and so on. This goes on for a while. Then Oleg contacts the guys under the truck and tells them that they have enough, so they should now leave the truck and are picked up by people in the smaller trucks. At Oleg's command, the small trucks all turn around and rush off in the opposite direction. Oleg also calls Rocio to tell her that she and Paloma should now clear the road. The two young women get into their cars and drive off.

Siso yells out to Teresa that she's not going to get out of the building alive. A log of gunfire ensues. Suddenly, Siso is upset. He has run out of ammunition. Teresa mocks him and informs him that she still has lots of bullets left, and she holds up a box as proof. Somewhat to my surprise (and disappointment), she seems to be telling Siso that she's going to let him live, she's not an assassin. To which Siso replies, "Oh, did Teo die of a cold?" She replies that Siso killed Pedro, who has done nothing to him, and also Pablo Flores. We don't see what happens after this.
 

reina-sur2
La Reina del Sur2 - Lunes - Parte 3 de 3

The truck driver looks out his rear view mirror and sees that the small trucks that had been following him are now heading in the opposite direction. Convinced that something is very wrong, he wakes up a sleeping Lencho. They pull over, get out of the truck, and open the back.
Oops, lots of the merca is missing.

Zurda and Sanchez Godoy are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the large truck. Zurdo tells Sanchez Godoy how much more this shipment will be worth than previous ones. That, of course, is the signal for Zurdo's phone to ring. It's Lencho calling to report that "someone stole part of the merca while we drove. It was a professional job, they even had a ramp." Sanchez Godoy asks Zurdo why he has such a dark look on his face. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to hear Zurdo's reply, but of course we already know.
 

Thank you, Juanita. Your recap caught all of the action of such a satisfying episode so well. It was a pleasure to read this morning.

Operation Hammock was so creative with the drug transference. Finally,Paloma did something useful.

I wonder what Teresa has planned for Siso. She has him and his guys trapped like rats. I guess we will have to wait until tonight to find out what exactly she has in mind. She was smiling.

I found it interesting that while waiting for Teresa, Sheila references “ Chucky el muñeco diabólico” when describing how she feels to Conejo. It must have been for comic relief. This is particularly funny to me because I have heard references to “Chucky” several times in novelas. Being a “Chucky” fan, it always makes me wonder how popular those “Chucky” movies must have been in Mexico.

Can’t wait for tonight!
 

reina-sur2

Thanks very much, Jarifa. I too wonder what Teresa has planned for Siso. I had been hoping that she'd finally get rid of that monster for good. And I can think of only one way to do that. Then again, anyone who can plan Operation Hammock is clearly a lot more imaginative than a mere mortal like me. I think it was Oleg who said, after the operation was successfully completed, "I don't know how she thought of this plan, but it's a work of art."
 

POQUITO--
This isn't everything, but some highlights and lowlights.

Catalina puts over a BIG one on Antonio. She asks him by phone if she can take a few things from the house for her new (palatial) new digs, which Lety is already envious of. While Antonio and the kids are out of the house, she has movers come in and take all the furniture (except for the kids bedrooms) and the paintings off the walls and the rugs from the floors. He took it fairly well when he saw what she had done.

Javie tries to get Anty to confess to him that he and Julie have a thing going on--based on the various names he uses to cover her texts and the fact that she's asking how he feels today. He explains that since he was so close to her place when he got beaten up and his car stolen, he called her, since his cell phone wasn't stolen, to lend him money to pay a taxi to get home. Of course, he doesn't mention The Kiss.

Elena needs a job and tries out at Beto's restaurant at the same time Javie is there asking for help finding a cook. (Dividing up the housekeeping duties didn't go over too well with Vivi--she doesn't know how to cook.) Elena volunteers (for a salary) and he takes her home to see the premises. When they run into Antonio, she tells them it won't work out and she can't do it. Javie doesn't understand why not. Anty covers for her. Later she explains to Anty that her sister is marrying Elvis just to forget Anty. She points out that now that he is getting a divorce, there is nothing "scandalous" standing in their way to happiness. She asserts that Julie loves him and not Elvis. He cogitates.

The police call him to tell him they recovered his car. When he gets there they hand him a seat and a wheel--that's all that was left. Oh, but they did find the little good luck elephant Julie had given him. He calls her to tell her and he has another one of his spells where he tells her he's hoping that in their next life he can give her all the kisses he couldn't give her in this life. (So sad, sniff, sniff)

Back at the shop, Elvis appears out of nowhere and frightens Juliet out of her skin. She agrees to stop being novios and to get married. He sweeps her off her feet, literally, and hugs every shopper in sight. He later returns to tell her he "knows" someone at the registry office and they can get married in 5 days, not 30. Julie's face reflects how she really feels about moving the date up.

Anty calls Julie and finds out the wedding is to be in 5 days.

Oh, Mateo has made a deal with Francisco to fix the prices so they will no longer be competing.

Mateo runs into a red-headed chippie (with a brain), literally, outside the shop and accidentally spills some carry-out coffee on her bosom, which he tries and then stops trying to dry. She's looking for Juliet's shop. Juliet needs to hire a replacement for Elena, who has left the home and the business. I've forgotten her name (she did introduce herself) gets hired and immediately Francisco sends her on a spying mission to Viviana's to double check that the deal he struck with Mateo is holding. She comes back with a yes.

Beto and Azu agree they had a nice time together. There is a kiss and it's meaningful.

Johnny Green comes back and ready to make trouble. I got the impression that Beto was a little envious of the exuberant welcome back Vivi gave Johnny.
 

POQUITO--
Forgot these scenes which will figure largely later. Catty tells Lety she arranged to sell the beach house and the buyers gave her a big deposit. She figures she'll be able to hold her own once they pay for the whole thing (and live off of Hot Doc).

Hot Doc, meanwhile has come to see her. He tells her it's all over between them. She can't believe it and tries to seduce him back. He's a non-starter.

Meanwhile, Antonio and Catty have a "discussion" over the beach house. He tells her he has no intention of selling it at all--ever. It is for his children--their patrimony. She scoffs at his sudden regard for his children's future.


 

REINA 2

Juanita, I am wondering if Siso has a $$ price on his loyalties.
 

La Reina 2

thanks so much Juanita! wonderful recap!

I too was waiting for Danilo to get tossed.

Ahmed did a pretty good job on the truck, I was surprised they only took half the merca, and that there was no escort cars, and wow, sliding down the ramp and hitting the pavement.

my take on the girls accident (what? sending a pregnant girl to have a car crash) the merca came out of the truck in the center of the lane so in order to pick it up the little trucks had to be over into the oncoming lane, I think the driver was confused as to why they look like they are trying to pass but don't, so the girls were up ahead blocking the oncoming traffic.

 

reina-sur2

Wonderful recap, Juanita! You got it all and with so many great details.

I also expected Danilo to go off the roof for being a difficult lover. I didn’t really expect cold fish Alejandro to care about him that much.

So, the part of the plan with the Spanish girls crashing vehicles didn’t make sense to me since none of the pickup trucks nor the big merca truck ever approached this deliberate “accident”. I had an “aha” reading Juanita’s recap that stated this was to prevent other cars coming up behind and watching the drugs go down the slide and be picked up. Deb’s theory that they were ahead making sure there were no oncoming cars when the pickups swerved into the other lane to grab up the flying merca is equally plausible. Not sure.

Yep, the whole plan was Teresa's, and Oleg confirmed it. I thought it might have been from the two of them brainstorming a way to hurt Zurdo.

I don’t usually approve of murder, but I’m also wanting Teresa to bump off the Galicians. We’ll find out tonight what her plan is. But Siso’s unquenchable desire to avenge his brother doesn’t seem likely to be quelled by a bribe. And I suppose the writers don’t want Teresa, our heroine, to kill people in cold blood.

So drug prices are rising? This is what Zurdo and Faustino were gloating about. Wonder why? Have we managed to shut down some of those tunnels? I vaguely remember reading some had been found.

I expected our amazing, stouthearted crew to take all the drugs. I suppose they thought it was too risky to endanger Ahmed and the other guy by continuing until they were all sent down the ramp.
 

La Reina 2

ah, nice comments novelera, hmm,

I think I heard Teresa on Friday pondering a connection of Siso coming, operation hammock, and Zurdo, and she doesn't really have the connections to sell the merca, could there be some sort of deal with Siso?... and she did ask Faustino for his help.

that is a pretty big warehouse they are in.

 

La Reina 2

oh, and I loved the old Semi truck, with the fringe around the ceiling, the bobble doll on the dash, and the music.

 

reina-sur2

Great comments, deb. Many thanks. I too wondered about having a pregnant Paloma involved in even a mild car crash, but then I wondered whether perhaps it was deliberate (I was about to write "killing two birds with one stone" and then thought better of it!). I don't think she has decided what she wants to do about the baby. Having a miscarriage as a result of the crash might be one solution.

At first when I read your explanation for what the car crash accomplished, I thought yes, I think you're right. But then I thought more about how the containers of drugs were scooped up. I think I remember that they were scooped up by someone on the right side of the car, not the left. That would mean that the cars were lined up behind the truck, not in the right-hand lane. Actually, no matter which explanation is correct (yours or mine), it still means that someone could drive from the direction not blocked by the "accident" and see what they shouldn't see. So I'm now just as confused as I was at the start. :-)
 

reina-sur2

Thanks very much, novelera. I'm amused to see that you, deb, and I all expected Ale to toss Danilo off the roof.

I'm afraid you may be right that the writers don't want us to see Teresa kill in cold blood. Sigh. I keep thinking of Siso's great line "Did Teo die from a cold?" True, Pote pulled the trigger, but only on her say so.

Looks like you'll have a good episode to recap tonight. I hope we'll get to see more of Sofia. I missed her last night.
 

reina-sur2

Deb, thanks for bringing up the truck decorations. I also enjoyed this. I wondered if the writers and/or Telemundo could be accused of stereotyping Mexicans. But it was so cute, the way they'd decorated that truck. And the driver's enjoyment of the banda music and dislike of Ride of the Valkyries.

Juanita, I also love Ride of the Valkyries. A long, long time ago I saw Die Walküre at San Francisco Opera. I have never seen the whole Ring, but I believe you mentioned you'd seen it recently.

Unfortunately, I also think of Apocalypse Now. It's a great movie, but Robert Duvall's pleasure in killing a bunch of Vietnamese is not my favorite thing. Brilliant use of the music, though.
 

reina-sur2

Thank you, Juanita.

Exciting episode. Action on multiple fronts.

I liked how they cracked Paloma. Menacing Oleg - bad cop, less menacing Teresa - good cop. One-two-done. Although to Paloma, knowing the fate of her father, when Teresa said she would not forgive betrayal, it might have sounded even scarier.

I remember Teresa saying that with Siso coming she can kill two birds with one stone. Can she hang the robbery of merca on him? I also think that Sanchez Godoy knows about the "Operation Hammock."
 

Reina-sur-2

Thanks, Juanita. Last night's episode was simply fabulous and so is your recap.

I too was afraid for Danilo. So Alejandro does have a soft side. But this was telling: "The world of politics is machista (macho, sexist). Telling would be suicide. I don't want anyone to hurt us." Now I fear what Ale will do if/when he's outed.

Yay, I love seeing Teresa and Oleg work a plan together. With everybody playing their parts well (though Sheila was skittish), this reminded me of the best caper movies, The Sting, Ocean's 11, etc.

What to do with Siso? I don't see him every laying down his vengeance. But as Juanita points out, Teresa is no mere mortal. Will she find a way for him to reel in his hatred and feed his manhood so he'll cooperate with her? This I gotta see.

Okay, the playing of "Ride of the Valkyries." Is Lencho in on the merca theft?
 

Reina

Nice to see Paloma being useful for a change. But she looked pregnant. She might be giving birth before she makes a decision about abortion. As long as she doesn't go to law school. Not sure she'd be up for that. Rocio would be a good lawyer, but Paloma? Nah.

I still wouldn't get too attached to Danilo. Ale might be willing to let him live, but doubt Epifanio will be so accommodating if he finds out about the two of them.

Kelly
 

POQUITO:

Ha ha, Anita, "[he] accidentally spills some carry-out coffee on her bosom, which he tries and then stops trying to dry." That describes it perfectly. She didn't seem bothered at all. Quite the high-spirited girl. (Her name is Mileidy Peralta, "call me Mili.")
 

reina-sur2

Niecie! What an interesting thought about Lencho being in on the drugs theft! But he doubtless saw the guy walking on broken glass for "betrayal". Would he risk it?
 

reina-sur2

Many thanks, novelera, Lucio, Niecie, and Kelly.
novelera, fortunately, I'd forgotten about Apocalypse Now. :-)

Lucio, interesting point about how Teresa's remark about betrayal might scare the whatever out of Teo's daughter Paloma. And what a good idea about pinning the merca heist on Siso! Let Zurdo deal with him in his accustomed way.

Niecie, I too wondered at first whether Lencho was in on Operation Hammock. I was of course immediately biased in his favor because he loves The Ride of the Valkyries, even to the point of preventing the guy driving the truck from turning off the music because the cymbals were about to be heard. And of course it's the perfect music for covering up noises. Also, Lencho kept making light of the driver's apprehensions. All of this almost convinced me that Lencho was in on Operation Hammock, but then I thought about how vicious Zurdo is, and I began to doubt that Lencho would risk it. And yes, Ale may love Danilo, but I too would be very worried about Danilo if they were outed.

Kelly, good to see you commenting. And yes, Epifanio would very likely go after Danilo if he learned of his relationship with Ale. With possible peril from both Ale and Epifanio, I think you're right about our not getting too attached to Danilo.
 

reina-sur2

La Reina del Sur 2 – Martes – Un Capítulo Se Llama La Trampa
Parte 1 de 3

Teresa Mendoza - ¡jaque mate! (Checkmate!)

Teresa comes down the metal stairs and taunts Siso some more. She tells him that his father didn’t respect him. He admired Santiago Fisterra more. She tells him he envied Santiago. And Teresa goes on to tell him that one of the reasons he hates her most is because he’s a misogynist. He’s incandescent with fury. She tells him this is the penultimate time she’ll see him, then shoots out the tires of the car she drove there in and says she’ll shoot out the tires of his vehicle. And walks out.

Oleg and his crew are outside. Ray wants to redeem himself by doing the entrega (handing over). Oleg says Teresa must decide. When Ray makes a good case, she tells him he’s igual de atrabancado que tu tío (as impulsive as his uncle – El Güero). And lets him do it.

Only Rocío is coming with Teresa; the other women are not.

Sofía tries to open some door. Lupo says it’s dangerous to look inside.

Zurdo has a gun to Lencho’s head. There’s realistic sweat on Lencho’s shirt.

Siso manages to break the chain on one gate, but discovers that there’s no way out after that. He sees a truck pull into the warehouse area and tells his cousin Benxamin to go get the bar they used before.

Zurdo is screaming at Lencho and hits the other guy in the head with a gun. Just then Teresa pulls up. Zurdo is not pleased, saying she should have called first so he could chill the tequila. Teresa responds she doesn’t like tequila cold.

She goes on to say she’s grateful for the gifts he gave her, and it’s her turn to do him a solid. Someone wants to steal his merca. In fact, she thinks they’ve already done it. AND, she says she knows who did it and that they’re in the process of getting away. Lencho blurts out that this is what he was trying to tell Zurdo.

Teresa asks how many kilos were stolen. Faustino replies that there were 5 tons. She begins to tell her tale. She has contacts everywhere. She got it from a coded message that came from Morocco. Zurdo has no idea where this is. She tells him it’s in Africa. He laughs sarcastically: ¡Ahora resulta que en África no hay solo changos sino hay cuates que cuidan de nosotros! (Turns out there’s more than monkeys in Africa. There’s also buddies who help us out.) He’s still pretty suspicious. Teresa pretends to be angry and starts to leave.
 

La Reina del Sur 2 – Martes – Un Capítulo Se Llama La Trampa
Parte 2 de 3

When he wants her to stay, she tells him it’s Siso Pernas. When he says Siso’s always been a straight shooter with him, she says that Siso is a backstabber. And Faustino Sánchez-Godoy backs her up. Teresa tells Zurdo that Siso left Galicia in a private plane, giving false passenger names, and came straight to Culiacán.

Rocío tells Teresa that there’s a message. And Teresa goes on to tell Zurdo that she knows where his stuff is, but there’s a price. I think she’s risking looking very ungrateful considering what gifts he gave her, but she says everything is a negotiation. And, didn’t he have some motive behind the gifts he gave her?

Oleg is paying off the guys who helped with the “ramp caper”. Sheila says that the most dangerous of all is el pico de oro de la Mexicana (the way Teresa can convince a person of anything). Sheila also tells Paloma that they got a bonus, learning that they found Teresa by intercepting Cayetana’s phone, letting Paloma off the hook (sort of).

Teresa shows off her calculating skills, telling Zurdo she’s saved him $40 million. He lost $50 million in merca, and she only wants $10 million. She goes on to say that he’ll get $100 million from the $40 million he retains after the stuff is cut and distributed. Zurdo is convinced. He calls Lencho to get 10 guys and his doble águila (a Colt Double Eagle 45-caliber pistol).

Siso and the primos manage to get out of the chain link fence and approach Ray and the truck. Telmo, the sadist, punches him in the stomach. They get the keys; but the truck won’t start.

Sofía sees a boat arrive. It’s Epifanio Vargas. Sofía runs down to the dock and is way too feisty with Vargas. She tells him she knows who he is from the internet, and that he’s a candidate for President of Mexico. She also tells him he’s the boss of Lupo and her mother in the plot to get ransom from her grandma. She leans toward him and tells him he looks older in person! Lupo looks very worried about this exchange. After she goes back inside, Vargas says she knows too much. Lupo leans toward Vargas, looks grim, and says that they don’t hurt kids.

Inside the house Sofía empties a bottle of wine into the sink and runs upstairs.

Faustino knows about Teresa’s plan. But he says: Si esto se sale de los manos, colorín colorado. (If this gets away from you, that’s the end of the tale.) She replies: No doy pasos sin huaraches. (I don’t walk around without my sandals or I’m prepared for anything.) Then she tells him the less he knows the better. Zurdo agrees to letting Faustino take Rocío back to the hotel. Teresa doesn’t want her at risk for the next part.

Oleg and the women watch the truck take off. Oleg tells them that Teresa has it all figured out, just like when she was working on selling him the drugs from Patti O’Farrell’s boyfriend 9 years ago. She knows how to negotiate.
 

La Reina del Sur 2 – Martes – Un Capítulo Se Llama La Trampa
Parte 3 de 3


Ray is quite convincing as a poor, innocent truck driver with a vehicle that sometimes has electrical problems.

Lupo runs through the house and can’t find Sofía.

While Teresa is in the SUV with Zurdo, Epifanio calls. She doesn’t pick up and tells Zurdo it’s Cayetana, the girls’ annoying granny. Zurdo tells her that not every day do you get an ally. Besides the $10 million, he wants to make her an offer. But he won’t say what it is right now.

Ray gets a signal on his smart watch. He connects something and says he’s fixed the problem. The truck starts. Benxamin thanks Ray. Telmo the sadist pretends he’s going to shoot him, then giggles about not having bullets.

The truck pulls out into the streets and the SUV’s close in on him. Siso swears, realizing he’s been tricked by Teresa. But then, seeing it’s Zurdo, he grins wolfishly. He asks how Zurdo knew where he’d be. And Teresa gets out of the vehicle. Siso starts cursing at Teresa, and Zurdo tells him to respect a lady. In the middle of Siso’s rant, Zurdo cuts him off and asks what he’s doing in Mexico. He always calls when he’s coming to Mexico.

Teresa; “Aren’t you going to tell Zurdo what you’re doing in Culiacán?” Zurdo loses his cool and pulls out that doble águila.

When Siso tells the tale of Teresa setting them up to follow her, locking them up, etc., it sounds ridiculous. She then shoots at their feet and says that she doesn’t almost kill.

Zurdo orders Lencho to open the truck and crates of drugs are brought out. Siso is flabbergasted. Zurdo: “And why did you come to Mexico?”
 

REINA DEL SUR 2

novelera, thank you for the excellent and very detailed recap. It was so good seeing Siso framed by Teresa. Ray sure got his baptism by fire “repairing” the truck. Poor Sofía isn’t old enough to know when to keep her mouth shut. This could get dicey. Might Francesco and Sofía end up on the run together at some point? I am still wondering how Francesco came into Epifanio’s employ. So many plots and so many possibilities make me a happy viewer.
 

O/T

If anyone is interested in the “golden age” of Mexican cinema and beyond you might be interested in the Televisa bioseries being shown on Univision “ Silvia Pinal frente a tI” at 8:00 pm central time. I am also recapping this one. It started last week and has only 21 capítulos. It has proven to be a real eye opener with reference to Silvia Pinal and her accomplishments and to the history of Mexican cinema, tv and history/social movements. It is easy to watch and Silvia Pinal herself is the narrator. It has been quite the melodrama so far but very enjoyable.
 

reina-sur2

novelera, muchísimas gracias for this superb recap! Special thanks for the Spanish phrases, which I didn't know.

I don't agree with Sheila's statement that Paloma is not guilty because Siso got the information about the address by tapping Cayetana's phone. Yes, he tapped her phone, but he wouldn't have gotten the address if stupid Paloma hadn't given it to Charo. So in my book Paloma is still very much to blame.

Wow, Sofia really wasn't very smart in telling Epifanio that she knew who he was, nor in baiting him with statements like "do you understand, or should I repeat it in Italian?" I loved her saying that, but she's just putting herself more in danger. I confess that I was surprised at how well Epifanio responded to her. One would almost think he liked her (until she left and he said, ominously, that she knew too much). I especially enjoyed his echoing her statement when he responded "do you understand, or should I repeat it in Nahuatl?" He's one smooth politician.

Thanks for pointing out that Ray gets a signal on his smart watch. I must have blinked and missed that.
 

La Reina 2

wow, such a wonderful recap novelera, there were so many little details running around and you put them all together so nicely!

yep, Faustino filled Teresa in on all the delivery info.

it's odd that Sofia has free run of the island, especially after seeing her with that big knife sharpening her pencil, I wonder what's in the basement, so she knows how to pick locks, but Lupo got a special one she can't, so what is she going to do with that bottle.

I think Oleg paid off the (real or fake) cops too, the ones that showed up when Siso was going to kill her.

hmm, when the girls asked where Rocia was, Oleg said something like, she has a mission of her own.

yes Jarifa, I can see Lupo and Sofia on the run together, Epi definitely threw out the possibility of killing Sofia and Lupo definitely said no.

Juanita, yes Paloma is guilty, but I think they meant she is off the hook for intentionally "betraying" Teresa to Siso.

 

Reina-sur-2

Thanks, Novelera. A treat reading your recap.

Squee, Teresa has beat Zurdo good. His poor head must be swimming wondering what to do next.

Yep Sofia was a little miss smarty pants. Epi enjoyed sparring with her, like with her mother, but he would kill her. I'm guessing both Lupo and Batman will wind up shielding her.
 

REINA Del SUR 2

Got in late tonight. The recap will be up sometime tomorrow morning.
 

LA REINA DEL SUR #32 Wednesday 6/5/19 Part 1

As Oleg watches from afar with the team. Teresa stands stonefaced as Zurdo confronts Siso and his men about the stolen drug shipment. Siso blames Teresa for setting him up. Zurdo says if it were only Teresa who spoke against him he would believe Siso about this all being a trap but Godoy did, too. Suddenly, Siso and his men are surrounded by more of Zurdo’s men with rifles. Siso swears on his father’s life and insists that Zurdo has to believe them. Zurdo wants to know why Siso robbed his merchandise. Teresa tells Zurdo that that is how cowards are. They never take responsibility. She asks a crying Siso if he isn’t ashamed of humiliating himself like this. If his father were still alive seeing him like this would kill him again. That comment pushes Siso over the edge and he spits in Teresa’s face. Zurdo responds for Teresa by socking Zurdo in the jaw. Zurdo’s personal firing squad take up their positions as Siso rails on about Teresa and Zurdo being cowards. If he would have wanted to steal from Zurdo, he would have taken it all. Siso (the man that killed Flores by having him being eaten alive???) calls Zurdo and his crew savages. Zurdo takes the first shot at Siso and the rest of his men join in executing Siso and his men on the spot. Zurdo turns to see Teresa’s approval. She smiles and nods slightly.

Sofía is still loose on the island. She has written a note to put in the wine bottle to throw in the water. In the note she asks for help and gives her grandmother Cayetana’s phone number. Lupo is still chasing her. She hears him and hides her notebook. She refuses to talk to him and runs off as he tries to follow her. Sofía ends up falling in a hole. She is unconscious and huge cockroaches are her only company. Lupo yells he is giving up and going back to the house.

Oleg is still watching with the rest of the team. Paloma is particularly upset. The rest not so much. Oleg says they are seeing the collateral damage of this kind of business.

As Zurdo’s men remove the bodies, Zurdo tells Teresa that is how he pays back betrayal. She knows but it isn’t easy watching anyone die even if they clearly deserve it. Zurdo sees it as a life lesson so people respect you. What were Siso and his men expecting anyway? That he wouldn’t find out? He is impressed with Teresa’s Africa friend. She says she has few friends but the ones she has are loyal. Zurdo says same with him and she just made herself ten million big ones. He then asks her the real question. Does she want to be his partner? Teresa asks why? What would she have to gain? Zurdo says a lot of money. She doesn’t need it. He doesn’t know why not. Oleg sees the interchange and guesses that Teresa is killing two birds with one stone. Zurdo says working with him she would get respect. She asks what makes him think she doesn’t have respect now. Yes, he knows she doesn’t want Epifanio to be president. He suggests they go back to his ranch to talk and seal the deal. He sees himself as the “King of the North” and she as the “Queen of the South”. She smiles and shakes on it but they will talk about dates, mutual interest and numbers before they mention the word “partners” again.


 

LA REINA DEL SUR 2 Wed. Part 2

Oleg says Paloma never should have come seeing her as upset as she is. Ray tries to call her down. The team goes back to Club.

Godoy has taken Rocío on a date to The House of Terror at a carnival. He is hoping she likes it. She says that he doesn’t quite understand about the “dark or black wave” style going on in Spain. It has really nothing to do with this. Godoy says she can’t blame a guy for trying. She doesn’t and says it was a very nice gift but this is really for kids. He agrees it is all rather funny. He says at least it is nice and dark. Maybe they could come up with something to cure the boredom. . . Godoy is freaked out by the guy with the chainsaw. Rocío has to laugh. He says she has turned out to be braver than he and gives her permission to do whatever she wants with him. They almost kiss.

Epifanio calls Teresa but there is no answer Batman explains she must be with Zurdo. Epifanio is just anxious to be done with the whole thing and to get rid of the girl. Batman asks Epifanio if he was serious about what he said to Lupo. Epifanio can’t remember what he said. Batman reminds him what he said about killing Sofía. Epifanio “barely” remembers but says he didn’t mean it. One would never do that. He just wanted to put some pressure on Lupo because he was letting the girl run wild and she is smart not a dummy like Lupo or him. Then it occurs to Epifanio that his comment reminded Batman of his own children. It is the same old song. Epifanio tells him he would never kill parents or children. Well, maybe a parent here or there but never children. Veva arrives. Batman looks on.

Willy pays Carmen a visit. She introduces herself as Carmen Martínez “EX” de Vargas. Willy identifies himself as a “DEA” agent. She is reluctant to talk. He brings up investigating the death of Father Anselmo. He knows about the granddaughter being involved and Epifanio getting her off. She doesn’t understand why the gringos would be interested. He knows all about what she said about Epifanio on tv and how he publicly denied her. He has been after Epifanio for a long time and Carmen is the only one who can help him now..She let’s him in.

On the way to the ranch, Teresa remarks about he double eagle on Zurdo’s gun. She says it reminds her of El Pote a guy who saved her lee more than once. He was more than a bodyguard he was like a dad to her. Zurdo explains the double eagle is to bark and bite. Zurdo is interested in her African connection. Teresa says he controls everything that comes into and leaves Spain over the Straits of Gibraltar. Zurdo knows little of geography and she might as well be talking in Chinese to him. She encourages him to get acquainted with geography because it is the only way to grow the business. He is content with his market in the USA. She sees so much more money to be made beyond that. He moves more like 10 to maybe 20 tons of merchandise a week. She tells him of moving 150 tons of hashish between Morocco and Spain in the same time frame.She remembers being like a fish in water and starting out by driving the boats herself. The topic changes when he says he has to ask her a question that has been gnawing at him. She put Epifanio in jail and the DEA protected her for nine years. How is he to be sure that the gringos haven’t sent her to set him up?

 

LA REINA DEL SUR 2 Wed. Part 3

Willy is on a “fishing expedition” and tries to talk to Carmen about her granddaughter being released by Epifanio’s campaign manager. She sees that as no problem because Epifanio must have ordered it. Willy wonders what he got out of the deal. She sees this as all obvious. Epifanio is Ximena’s grandfather. She shows him the door and Ximena appears to back up Carmen. Willy tells Ximena that he knows she couldn’t have killed a priest but he still wonders who killed Father Anselmo. Ximena tells him not to stick his nose in their family’s business.Willy thanks Carmen for her time and leaves a business card with Ximena if she wants to talk. He mentions he is a ballistic expert and he knows a girl like her would not have access to the type of gun Anselmo was shot with. Ximena knows that. She said that the gun wasn’t hers and that it was planted in her back pack at the university. Carmen snatches the business card from Ximena and tells Her that she has said enough. Willy leaves hoping tohear from Carmen.

Back at the fun house, Rocío and Godoy are having a fine time talking about vampires. He tells her to bite him on the neck and to really sink her teeth into him. They almost start nipping and kissing when something makes a loud noise next to them and makes Godoy jump. Rocío cannot help but laugh. He cannot imagine what his associates would say if they saw him all jumpy like this in a fun house. Rocío says his secret is safe with her. He asks if she means what happens in the fun house stays in the fun house. They start to kiss and suddenly Rocío asks him to take her back to her hotel. He asks her if she liked the kiss or not and they kiss a little more but then she stops.

Veva talks to Epifanio about discontinuing her political talk show for ethical reasons. She doesn’t want any fallout because she us going to be his wife. He acknowledges she is making this sacrifice for love. She laughs saying she fell into his nets. She also mentions having gone against her father’s wishes. Epifanio thinks her father will be eating his words when he sees her as First Lady and her brother as Secretary of the Interior.

At Epifanio’s campaign headquarters, Danilo is making a presentation on how to incorporate the engagement between Epifanio and Genoveva into the campaign. He thinks the more romantic of a love story the better. A team member thinks his idea is too corny like something out of telenovelas. Alejandro is okay with it. Danilo stays behind to ask if Alejandro is coming by tonight. Alejandro says he is planning on it. Danilo mentions it is his mother’s birthday so it is a good time for him to get to know his family. As he tells Alejandro “No excuses”, they are interrupted by a co-worker.

As they arrive at the ranch, Zurdo is reiterating that the DEA kept her safe for testifying against Epifanio. She says that was the deal. She was to disappear forever after handing over Epifanio and then he got out of jail. She asks if Zurdo can understand how enraged she is with the gringos who did nothing to help her. Zurdo asks how she started out in Europe. She explains that she started in the south of Spain and is known all over the world. He is not. Zurdo is anxious to get into business. Teresa says first things first. Epifanio cannot become the president. Afterwards she and he can turn the world upside down. Zurdo smiles. Her deal is half of what he owns right now in exchange for everything she learned the hard way. That is her price to become partners.



 

LA REINA DEL SUR Wed Part 4

Zurdo thinks Teresa’s price is way too high. She reminds him that this was all his idea in the first place. If this doesn’t suit him, she doesn’t see any problem. They can still be friends without any issues. He can do his business in his part of the world and she in hers. There is no competition. She doesn’t sell drugs. She provides the transportation from point A to point B. She tells himto think about it. It is getting late and she needs to go. He will get back to her with an answer. He thanks her for the Galicians. She thanks him with a smile for there being less garbage in the world. Zurdo is left deep in thought.

Sofía wakes up in the hole and has an injured leg and arm. She calls out for Lupo and tries to climb out but she cannot. Lupo is still looking for her calling her name. He doesn’t like the cat and mouse game. He goes back to the house saying she can come back when she wants.

Willy is looking at a surveillance video of a black cloaked figure taken from above. At first, he is sure it has to be an old woman because of the little feet. The technician enhances the image the best he can. He sees a gun in the person’s hand. He is now sure it is the girl who killed the priest. He asks the tech if the police saw this. The tech is sure they did. Willy is surprised that the police didn’t realize who this was or wasn’t.He remembers Ximena’s long manicured fingernails when he handed her his card. Unless Ximena was now using false fingernails to get them off track, this is not the granddaughter of Epifanio Vargas on the tape. It is the girl who killed the priest. Who is she?

Sergio is looking at a photo of a guy on his phone. Manuela grabs it. She identifies the guy as Jonathan and wants o know why his picture is on his cellphone. Sergio explains the guy is not Jonathan. His name is Esteban and he is his friend.

Willy is making a call to Jonathan to find out if Manuela has long or short nails. He says they are short and wants to know what is up with the personal questions. Willy asks him to meet him in Culiacán tomorrow.

Epifanio calls Teresa. She only wants to talk about how her daughter is. Well, Epifanio has news about her. Her daughter recognized him and he her . . . She is doing very well. Teresa asks where she is. Teresa knows he cannot tell her where her daughter is because that would be the end of the story and Teresa still has a job to do getting him Zurdo Villa. What did Sofía tell him? What didn’t she? She talked like a parrot. Does Teresa know what the bad thing was? Sofía knows a lot of things and when you talk about a lot of things, it gets very dangerous. Besides Sofía knowing that Teresa killed her father, she also knows he is the candidate for president and that has him very nervous. Teresa reminds him that it is not her daughter’s fault. They were just minding their own business in Italy when he forced them to come here. Epifanio says that’s life and that Teresa just needs to get her job done so she and her kid can leave before something bad happens to them. Teresa says she is already working irking with Zurdo. SHE wants this over ASAP. She doesn’t like his tone. Is he threatening her daughter? No, he is just warning her that with each passing day, her daughter is turning even more against her. Teresa has a demand. She wants a video of Sofía telling her the date and that she is healthy and safe so her mission can continue. If he doesn’t do it, then it can all go to hell. She wants it TODAY.

It is night and Sofía is crying at the bottom of the hole all by herself.


 

REINA 2

I sure enjoyed the Siso execution scene. That was so well done. One less enemy for Teresa. I also liked Teresa referring to El Pote as a father figure. Epifanio is so slippery. I hope he has an unpleasant ending once and for all. How long will Sofia be in that pit? Are her arm and leg broken@? Will anyone find her “message in a bottle?” (I am singing the song) Willy is on to something and someone. : ) I cannot wait until tonight.
 

La Reina 2

wow, Jarifa, your recap was like watching the show, you do this so well!

I noticed in the opening scene with Sofia on the island, it was titled "Vera Mercado", the name of the island perhaps?

I think Epi said he doesn't kill kids or "priests", interesting because we know of at least one he had killed.

also interesting was Rocio's explanation of why vampires are not dark skinned, "as they reach perfect vampire form, vampire poison depletes pigment in human skin".

hmm, will Alex go to meet Danilo's mother, this guy is really pushing it.

what really blew me away was Teresa's talk with Epi, she referred to Sofia's keeper as "Lupo", then I realized she knows the name from Sofia's mural, but doesn't know who that is, but does Epi know this?

 

reina-sur2

Jarifa, what a splendid recap!! As deb said, it was like watching the show.

I too enjoyed the Siso execution scene. I loved your point about the irony of Flores' killer calling Zurdo et al "savages." I confess that I was nervous when Siso swore on his father's name that he didn't take the merca and also said that if he had taken it, he'd have taken it all. Those statements seemed to me pretty convincing, perhaps enough to sway Zurdo. Fortunately, they didn't, or at least they didn't stop the execution. However, the "deep in thought" look on Zurdo's face later on, after Teresa thanks him for there being less garbage in the world, gave me the impression that he still had some doubts, doubts that could and probably will grow.

Poor Sofia. She's usually amazingly resourceful, but it looks as if she has broken her arm or her leg or both. I saw that she had written on the note that she'd been kidnapped and that her name was Sofia Aljarafe, but it went by too fast for me to see that she'd also included Cayetana's phone number. To paraphrase Chekhov, if a phone number is hanging on the wall in Act 1, it has to be called by Act 3. :-)

I wonder how Danilo's wanting Alejandro to meet his family is going to play out. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I fear that this may not work out well for Danilo.

I was a little puzzled by Sergio's holding the phone so that the photo of Esteban/Jonathan is pointing outward, where Manuela can and does see it. Sergio wasn't trying to show it to her, so it seems strange that he didn't have the phone's screen facing himself. Manuela, of course, recognizes Jonathan. Uh oh.

What did Sofia mumble at the very end of the episode? It sounded vaguely like "mami," but it really wasn't clear.

Can't wait for tonight.
 

reina-sur2

deb, that's an excellent point about whether Epi knows that Teresa knows the name "Lupo" but doesn't know who he is. Look out, Lupo!
 

REINA 2

Thanks, guys. This one is so much fun to recap.

deb, that was a good point about Teresa using Lupo’s name and what Epifanio might know or not. Hmmmm . . .

Juanita, I also got the feeling that Zurdo definitely is still thinking and given his quick temper and idiosyncrasies, it is not a good situation. I checked my recording and Sofía did say “Mami” at the very end.
 

La Reina 2

Juanita, I went back to the end of the show and english caps have Sofia saying "mommy", while the spanish caps just say sollozo and balbuceo (sobbing and babbling) but it does sound like she barely says mamá ayuadame ??

Teresa and Sofia must have an intense connection, too bad the plot has derailed that.

btw, telemundo has really upgraded their video player, captions in either spanish or english, the entire show at once, and you can slide your pointer along the time line to see individual pics so you can really zero in on a particular scene fast.

 

La Reina 2

I agree with you Jarifa, Zurdo is a box of nitroglycerin going down a rocky road, interesting comparison we get that Teresa has earned her respect, while Zurdo gets his from fear, and he drove home the point of what happens to people that betray him, which the steely eyes of Teresa showed no hint of.

 

reina-sur2

What with Spanish class last night and then a whole basketball game to watch when I got home, I did not see Wed. episode of the novela. So I'm avoiding a recap and comments. I expect to be able to catch up tonight.
 

Reina-sur-2

Thanks, Jarifa. Fab recap.

Yay, Willy is on to something. I feel like I've seen her before too.

Godoy being afraid in the Horror House and Rocio thinking the place was for kids was too cute. He wanted to tap in to her goth.
 

REINA 2

Niecie, Godoy made me smile he was trying so hard to please Rocío. Lo

novelera, anytime I hear you talk about basketball it brings back fab memories of Michael Jordan and the Bulls. I used to tape games so I would not miss them.