Sunday, October 20, 2019
La Usurpadora - 1998 and 21 years later!
Hi LU Patio. On the heels of our recently concluded LU remake, I thought I’d do this post talking about the original LU and continue the discussion of some of the topics we touched on here throughout our whirlwind series!
Fun fact: La Usurpadora that aired in 1998 was one of the first novelas I watched. I lived outside of the United States back then and TNs were a rarity there, so this was one of my favorite ones for a long time. Graciously, my tastes have changed over the last couple of decades. Nonetheless it was such a great trip down the memory lane to remember the original LU over the past month with this great remake.
So without further ado, let’s take a look! Before we start though: A SPOILER WARNING. If you haven’t seen LU 1998, but are planning to watch it, this post will contain some plot spoilers, so maybe avoid it until you have a chance to catch up with the original.
The original LU, in contrast with this shortened version, was a full TN of over a 100 episodes, so they had plenty of time to develop the storyline, wrap everything up, spend copious amounts of time filming close-up scenes of characters, gasping in shock at various plot revelations. Yet it moved at a good pace still, or at least so I remember.
It had a star cast: Gabriela Spanic (more recently you may remember her as Ivana from Soy Tu Duena), Fernando Colunga (who was quite a bit younger and looked a bit less buff than he does these days), Chantal Andere, brilliant Magda Guzman (who starred in so many TNs, but those of you who watched Alborada may remember her as “La Poderosa”), Dominika Paleta (she also played Liliana in Manana Es Para Siempre), and – of course – Libertad Lamarque, one of the icons of Mexican cinematography.
The story also includes two twins – Paola and Paulina, played by Gabriela Spanic, but for the most part it diverges from here. In the original novela Paola Bracho is married to Carlos Daniel Bracho (Fernando Colunga) and is a stepmother to (much younger than in 2019 version) Lisette and Carlitos. Both of the kids are her stepchildren in this version. Their mother died of an illness years ago and Carlos Daniel married Paola, who he is in love with. Here is the (not really) happy family.
Paola’s character is very calculating and cruel, but not at all manic, like what we’ve seen with Paola in the latest version. She doesn’t love Carlos Daniel and, while she enjoys the rich and comfortable life he is able to give her, she is bored and needs more entertainment and more men in her life. She frequently travels under the guise of needing medical attention. In those travels she has affairs and, when she gets bored with those, comes home to Carlos Daniel.
Paola meets Paulina Martinez by chance in Cancun, where Paulina lives with her mother. In this version the two are also separated twins, but do not find out about it until much later in the series. Shocked by their likeness, Paola conceives of a plan: Paulina will take her place in the house Bracho for a year, while Paola travels with her new and very rich (and also much older) lover. Paulina, of course, is not very keen on this plan, so Paola blackmails her. So under the threat of going to jail for theft she didn’t commit, but Paola accused her of, Paulina agrees to the plan. The decision made easier for her by the fact that her mother dies after a long illness (without having revealed the secret about the twins), and her fiancé has just abandoned her and ran away to be with an older wealthy woman.
Here is an original promo shot with Paulina, her fiancé (who, like Wilson, reappears to play a role) and Carlos Daniel's sister Estefania (played by Chantal Andere).
So Paulina arrives to the house Bracho and finds it in disarray. The household consists of Paola’s husband Carlos Daniel – a good, but weak (and also not very intelligent, just as he is in 2019) man, who nevertheless worships the ground Paola walks on. His two kids are Lisette – a very sweet girl of 4 or 5, and Carlitos, who is maybe 10, and is a sweet, but very difficult child. Both kids consider Paola their mother and call her “mom”.
Also in the house are Carlos Daniel’s grandmother Piedad (Libertad Lamarque), who finds solace in alcohol – a habit Paola encourages. Piedad quickly becomes quite fond of Paulina and supports her in everything.
Carlos Daniel also has two siblings: Rodrigo, who is married to Patricia, and Estefania, married to Guilly. Both of them hate Paola, because they see her for what she is and know that she is cheating on Carlos Daniel. Estefania knows this better than anyone, as Guilly is one of Paola’s lovers.
The siblings also inherited a ceramics factory that Rodrigo and Carlos Daniel run, and do so very poorly. By the time Paulina arrives there, the factory is about to declare bankruptcy, and the workers are out on strike. So Paulina has much to do here and - over the course of the series - she manages to take care of all of these people, resolve all of their difficulties, and eventually meet again with Paola and discover that they are sisters.
In the meantime Paola did not get very far in her year of freedom. She is involved in an auto accident, while driving recklessly in Monaco with her lover Alessandro Farina. They both are seriously injured, and it takes Paola about a year to fully recover. Alessandro remains paralyzed, but they part amicably, as Paola returns to Mexico to take her place back and make everyone’s life a lot more difficult. Like Paola from LU 2019 she is determined to hurt everyone, who stands in her way and will not stop for anything.
There is also a Gema in this version, but she is far from the able and wise Gema from LU 2019. This one is a Bracho family relative and a socialite. She has been in love with Carlos Daniel for years (apparently in 1998 in Mexico being a cousin did not preclude her from dreaming of a marriage to Carlos Daniel). Over the course of the series, this version of Carlos will go back and forth to Gema, depending on whether he was mad, sad or glad at any of a number of Paulina’s actions. (Carlos Daniel is a very frustrating main character for a viewer, as he changes his mind five times before each scene is over.)
Paulina here does actually fall deeply in love with Carlos Daniel and there is no second contestant for her heart. If anything, at the end of the series, it somewhat appeared that maybe it was Carlos Daniel who was settling, because Paulina was so good for him, for his family and for his life (although they did play out the whole romantic connection and love angle.)
Also similarly to 2019 they showed Paulina, who took over all of the household problems, but also here - business problems, as she saves and begins to work at the factory as one of the executives. It was very interesting that even then they were showing a very independent and strong female character (which was less common in Mexican TN land back then). They were also showing a (much more common for those time) strong, impatient, volatile and jealous male lead, which was bound to create all kinds of episode cliffhanger scenarios. It is so interesting and fascinating, though, how with times they moved in a positive direction in this area as well. In 2019 version we’ve seen Carlos, who gave up presidency to be with Paulina, and in general we see more stable and much less volatile TN galans.
Of course another aspect that was present in abundance in 1998 version are contrived plot points, complete with kidnappings, amnesia, court appearances, fake paralysis, etc.. Thankfully we really missed out on all of those in the last version, and it was actually really surprising how original the content was. It moved fast and, other than some minor commonalities, had little to do with 1998 version. One of the plot points the two versions did have in common was how few people recognized that Paola was substituted by another woman, so most of the series no one had any idea in 1998 either.
All in all, the 1998 version is a classic, but this one, I think, is one of the better novelas and remakes I've seen in a while. In a lot of ways, it may have surpassed the original!
Labels: usurpadora
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Gracias, Ria. Ii can't stand Gabriella Spanic so I won't be watching the original. I do have to say that while Fernando Colunga is eye candy the idea of him playing dumb is distinctly unappealing. If it's anything I can't handle in a man it's a lack of intelligence.
Ria, what an excellent comparison. I hung on every word.
Your "...it somewhat appeared that maybe it was Carlos Daniel who was settling, because Paulina was so good for him, for his family and for his life (although they did play out the whole romantic connection and love angle)" was a bit different but fascinating twist.
Loved your observation "spend copious amounts of time filming close-up scenes of characters, gasping in shock at various plot revelations". :)
I was wondering how the acting compared? I realize it was a different time, different actors. That said, I could not imagine the earlier version surpassed this especially with Sandra as the lead.
What a fun way to start the morning. Thank you for everything Ria.
Diana
Your "...it somewhat appeared that maybe it was Carlos Daniel who was settling, because Paulina was so good for him, for his family and for his life (although they did play out the whole romantic connection and love angle)" was a bit different but fascinating twist.
Loved your observation "spend copious amounts of time filming close-up scenes of characters, gasping in shock at various plot revelations". :)
I was wondering how the acting compared? I realize it was a different time, different actors. That said, I could not imagine the earlier version surpassed this especially with Sandra as the lead.
What a fun way to start the morning. Thank you for everything Ria.
Diana
Permalink posted by 
: Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:43:00 AM EDT
: Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:43:00 AM EDT
DIana - The acting was good, but yes - no match to what we've just seen. I agree with you that different time does play a role. The vintage TNs back then relied a lot on these cliffhangers, when something happens, gloomy music plays in the background and the involved characters do indeed gasp or stare in shock, then they fade out or cut to next scene. Here in the later version there were no fillers and so the actors had to do the hard work of taking the viewer through these revelations with their acting. So given the changes the TN land underwent even in that regard, perhaps not a fair comparison, however the medal belongs with our later version IMO.
UA - I have never been a fan of Gabriela Spanic afterwards, but this is one TN where I thought she did a great job. Like Sandra, she did well changing between an outgoing, cruel, attention demanding Paola and modest hardworking Paulina. Years later when I saw her in Soy Tu Duena, I did not enjoy as much either the storyline, or most of the acting for that matter. But yes, lack of intelligence severely detracted from Colunga's character, though a young him was nice to look at! The writers there hung their hat on the fact that he will have a strong smart woman, who will tell him what to do.
Jarifa - I am glad you enjoyed it. When they announced 2019 version, I originally thought it would be a complete remake and was pleasantly surprised that the plot was someone changed, watching the trailers, and even more so throughout the series!
UA - I have never been a fan of Gabriela Spanic afterwards, but this is one TN where I thought she did a great job. Like Sandra, she did well changing between an outgoing, cruel, attention demanding Paola and modest hardworking Paulina. Years later when I saw her in Soy Tu Duena, I did not enjoy as much either the storyline, or most of the acting for that matter. But yes, lack of intelligence severely detracted from Colunga's character, though a young him was nice to look at! The writers there hung their hat on the fact that he will have a strong smart woman, who will tell him what to do.
Jarifa - I am glad you enjoyed it. When they announced 2019 version, I originally thought it would be a complete remake and was pleasantly surprised that the plot was someone changed, watching the trailers, and even more so throughout the series!
Ria, thanks for the outstanding comparison. I didn't watch the original; and now I have less inclination to watch it. Fernando Colunga does seem to be an attraction, but, reading about this character...well Mehhh.
I've never watched anything with Gabriela Spanic, so I have nothing to comment about her other than I think it's interesting that she has a twin in RL, though not identical.
I enjoyed LU 2019, but it seemed a little too fast at times and the transition between scenes sometimes gave me the impression that something was left out. Aside from that it was an excellent show.
I've never watched anything with Gabriela Spanic, so I have nothing to comment about her other than I think it's interesting that she has a twin in RL, though not identical.
I enjoyed LU 2019, but it seemed a little too fast at times and the transition between scenes sometimes gave me the impression that something was left out. Aside from that it was an excellent show.
After reading about the older version, it Seems they added to the newer one. They didn't have poor misguided Manny
In the first one? Someone that Paola could walk over and throw away when she didn't need him anymore?
And also seemed to have made some small switch-a-roos to. The old lady in he scooter was the drunk instead of the Grandson. I'm glad they changed that. Tho seeing a teen drunk is not good either.
100 episodes? I think I would have lost interest waiting for the truth of
The switch to come out. And All that filler. I'm glad it was 25 episodes.
UA,I Agree with you about a man that is Not intelligent. And what is worst hes Weak. I like for a man to take the lead on some things, but I can't stand
A weak man. I don't care how delicious the Eye candy looks, that can just get you so far. I like a goodlookin man, but his brain cells gotta be workin.
Ria what you said about the close ups
At the time of some shocking moment when something came to light, That's about the first time I discovered the
Telenovela on univision. Back then the
Chanel number was 32 In North Florida.
I thought the ladies were so beautiful
And The guys were gorgeous. They don't
Show closeups like that in The soaps in The U.S..
I want be watching the 1998 version.
But it's good to know they had a classic to bounce off of. I guess it's
A classic.
Thanks Ria.
In the first one? Someone that Paola could walk over and throw away when she didn't need him anymore?
And also seemed to have made some small switch-a-roos to. The old lady in he scooter was the drunk instead of the Grandson. I'm glad they changed that. Tho seeing a teen drunk is not good either.
100 episodes? I think I would have lost interest waiting for the truth of
The switch to come out. And All that filler. I'm glad it was 25 episodes.
UA,I Agree with you about a man that is Not intelligent. And what is worst hes Weak. I like for a man to take the lead on some things, but I can't stand
A weak man. I don't care how delicious the Eye candy looks, that can just get you so far. I like a goodlookin man, but his brain cells gotta be workin.
Ria what you said about the close ups
At the time of some shocking moment when something came to light, That's about the first time I discovered the
Telenovela on univision. Back then the
Chanel number was 32 In North Florida.
I thought the ladies were so beautiful
And The guys were gorgeous. They don't
Show closeups like that in The soaps in The U.S..
I want be watching the 1998 version.
But it's good to know they had a classic to bounce off of. I guess it's
A classic.
Thanks Ria.
Permalink posted by : Monday, October 21, 2019 at 1:02:00 PM EDT
: Monday, October 21, 2019 at 1:02:00 PM EDT
Thanks,Ria.
I saw Gabriele Spanic in "Soy Tu Duena", and she was a deliciously evil villain. Has she retired ?
I saw Gabriele Spanic in "Soy Tu Duena", and she was a deliciously evil villain. Has she retired ?
Permalink posted by : Monday, October 21, 2019 at 2:54:00 PM EDT
: Monday, October 21, 2019 at 2:54:00 PM EDT
Ria: I enjoyed the Gran Final from last week, it was AMAZING & satisfied with Paulina & Carlos living happily ever after.
I wasn't shocked about Gema becoming President because I did mentioned in several episodes earlier that she had the toughness to become President.
I wasn't shocked about Gema becoming President because I did mentioned in several episodes earlier that she had the toughness to become President.
I was curious so I wanted to know the English translation "CUNA DE LOBOS" it
Is "CRADLE OF WOLVES".It almost sounds
Eerily holloweenish. And it's just the
Perfect name when I see that patcheyed
Lady. She looks scary.And it's another
Remake. This one is from 1986. 23 yrs
Ago. I Wonder how many episodes that
One had?
Is "CRADLE OF WOLVES".It almost sounds
Eerily holloweenish. And it's just the
Perfect name when I see that patcheyed
Lady. She looks scary.And it's another
Remake. This one is from 1986. 23 yrs
Ago. I Wonder how many episodes that
One had?
Permalink posted by : Monday, October 21, 2019 at 3:43:00 PM EDT
: Monday, October 21, 2019 at 3:43:00 PM EDT
Ria thanks so much for this comparison. I never saw the original and it sounds very interesting. I also enjoyed your analysis of the two. It has been refreshing that Mexican tns have grown in showing strong women and less volatile men.
It's also fun to watch actors/actresses as they develop. The last tn I saw with Sandra in it was middling (I can't remember which it was but her acting to me was not at fault), but she was excellent here. I really believed she was two very different people.
Thanks again, enjoy your time off and catching up with El Dragon.
It's also fun to watch actors/actresses as they develop. The last tn I saw with Sandra in it was middling (I can't remember which it was but her acting to me was not at fault), but she was excellent here. I really believed she was two very different people.
Thanks again, enjoy your time off and catching up with El Dragon.
Thanks, Ria. I enjoyed the comparison and had been wondering about the original. 100 episodes? Yikes! This line cracked me up: Carlos Daniel is a very frustrating main character for a viewer, as he changes his mind five times before each scene is over.) This Carlos would've driven me nuts.
Interesting that the writers chose to move the action from a business to the presidency. I enjoyed LU 2019, but the first family members running to and fro without competent Secret Service agents strained my beanie. But I must say the writers and actors did an excellent job of giving us characters we cared about and others we loathed. I was neutral toward no one.
I join in with all your readers wishing you a nice spot of rest after covering LU 2019 for us.
Interesting that the writers chose to move the action from a business to the presidency. I enjoyed LU 2019, but the first family members running to and fro without competent Secret Service agents strained my beanie. But I must say the writers and actors did an excellent job of giving us characters we cared about and others we loathed. I was neutral toward no one.
I join in with all your readers wishing you a nice spot of rest after covering LU 2019 for us.
Have a great vacation Ria. You earned it girl🏕
Permalink posted by : Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:45:00 PM EDT
: Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:45:00 PM EDT
Thanks Ria. Great fun to read about the original. Gaby Spanic was so dreadful in Soy Tu Dueña, that I can't imagine her doing a good job in any show. Glad to know that I'm wrong and that she was capable of turning in a creditable performance.
I enjoyed the slam/bam/thank you ma'am pacing of the 25 episode version. Too short is always better than too long.
Mil gracias for your excellent recaps and this added treat. Very generous and I know we all enjoyed it thoroughly.
I'm sure you want to put your feet up for a while but hope that you'll be back recapping soon.
I enjoyed the slam/bam/thank you ma'am pacing of the 25 episode version. Too short is always better than too long.
Mil gracias for your excellent recaps and this added treat. Very generous and I know we all enjoyed it thoroughly.
I'm sure you want to put your feet up for a while but hope that you'll be back recapping soon.
Rgv Chick - it did indeed feel a bit like transitions in 25 episode series were too fast. A trade-off, I suppose, for the past pace. These limited series are also nice though due to the low time commitment. Three weeks is doable and even if you miss an episode or two, easy to catch up. So on the whole not too bad, we just need them to try and tie obvious loose ends ;) We'll put it into a suggestion box!
Nina - thanks! Also Paola in the first version was indeed without a Manuel. She did have an accomplice nurse there for a while towards the end, but no one of Manuel's caliber. 100 episodes was a bit too much, I agree. It was a lot of filler, still for a TN in those days moved fast-ish. There were many that were much slower. Do any of you remember/watch Te Sigo Amando? This was also ca 1997-1998 but those 100+ episodes dragged on. Since then there were others of course (Amor Real, I thought, went on for longer than it needed to...), but this 25 episode trend is welcome!
Susanlynn - I am not sure if she retired. She accepts very few roles these days. Before Soy Tu Duena I actually haven't seen her since LU 1998. I knew she starred in La Intrusa, but the plot didn't appeal to me, so I didn't watch it. Other than that she was in a few Telemundo TNs and I think that's how I missed her.
Steve - yes, the finale was fantastic and you totally called Gema becoming president!
Karen - agreed, Sandra made great strides in the recent years! I enjoyed her here very much. Thanks for the well-wishes for rest and catching up with El Dragon! Really need to do the latter and join our great patio in discussing it.
Niecie - oh yes, that main galan was driving me nuts also at the time, so much so that I still remember his negative traits, even though it has been years since I watched this :) Plenty of beanie moments in the 2019 version with the President and his family for sure, but also very true that all the characters were colorful. Thanks for the wishes - while it is nice to catch up on other TNs, I almost already miss our daily LU episode discussions!
JudyB - oh yes, Ivana in Soy Tu Duena was a very special villain. I didn't particularly care for her there either and it's really quite a difference between her acting in these two series. I really enjoyed recapping this LU and our wonderful patio company. So while I will indeed put my feet up for a bit, hope to be back soon! :)
Nina - thanks! Also Paola in the first version was indeed without a Manuel. She did have an accomplice nurse there for a while towards the end, but no one of Manuel's caliber. 100 episodes was a bit too much, I agree. It was a lot of filler, still for a TN in those days moved fast-ish. There were many that were much slower. Do any of you remember/watch Te Sigo Amando? This was also ca 1997-1998 but those 100+ episodes dragged on. Since then there were others of course (Amor Real, I thought, went on for longer than it needed to...), but this 25 episode trend is welcome!
Susanlynn - I am not sure if she retired. She accepts very few roles these days. Before Soy Tu Duena I actually haven't seen her since LU 1998. I knew she starred in La Intrusa, but the plot didn't appeal to me, so I didn't watch it. Other than that she was in a few Telemundo TNs and I think that's how I missed her.
Steve - yes, the finale was fantastic and you totally called Gema becoming president!
Karen - agreed, Sandra made great strides in the recent years! I enjoyed her here very much. Thanks for the well-wishes for rest and catching up with El Dragon! Really need to do the latter and join our great patio in discussing it.
Niecie - oh yes, that main galan was driving me nuts also at the time, so much so that I still remember his negative traits, even though it has been years since I watched this :) Plenty of beanie moments in the 2019 version with the President and his family for sure, but also very true that all the characters were colorful. Thanks for the wishes - while it is nice to catch up on other TNs, I almost already miss our daily LU episode discussions!
JudyB - oh yes, Ivana in Soy Tu Duena was a very special villain. I didn't particularly care for her there either and it's really quite a difference between her acting in these two series. I really enjoyed recapping this LU and our wonderful patio company. So while I will indeed put my feet up for a bit, hope to be back soon! :)
Ria, this was a great read! Unfortunately I didn't have the time to check in with all of you watching LU 2019, but I did get to watch every now and again, as the LU 1998 is one of my favorite tns. Not because of the great acting (as you said, telenovelas used to be different back then - still are now, sometimes) or the smart lead (your comment about Carlos Daniel changing his mind 5 times before a scene was over was hilarious and sooo true).
But Gabriela Spanic before all the plastic surgeries was a true beauty. This novela made her career, she was absolutely perfect playing Paola Bracho. LU 1998 is memorable because of her and Abuela Piedad, the rest of the cast and plots being just regular novela stuff. I wouldn't have the patience to watch it all again, but I do believe that LU of '98 is on the list of "must watch" if you're a novela lover.
But Gabriela Spanic before all the plastic surgeries was a true beauty. This novela made her career, she was absolutely perfect playing Paola Bracho. LU 1998 is memorable because of her and Abuela Piedad, the rest of the cast and plots being just regular novela stuff. I wouldn't have the patience to watch it all again, but I do believe that LU of '98 is on the list of "must watch" if you're a novela lover.
Adriana Noel - oh so very true - LU 1998 was so memorable! Abuela Piedad was a wonderful character, Fidelina was great and even bitter Estefania was memorable. Gabriela Spanic was gorgeous back then and did a great job. I nodded right along with you that it is a "must watch" for a novela lover.
I like the original 1998 version. I like eye candy and the new version just doesn’t cut it. They will never compare to the 1998 version. I think the protagonist on 2019 version is below average. Better said all of the cast is below average. Gabriela español was at her best and looked phenomenal, gorgeous, fine. These days it’s unseen in novelas. What’s happening are we getting uglier? Why is the new casts so unattractive?
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Permalink posted by : Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 5:07:00 PM EDT
: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 5:07:00 PM EDT
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