Caray, Caray!

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OH, the drama begins, two minutes early, no less. The first episode carries us through an attempted Date Rape, a serious Car Accident, a Bitchy Mother who believes a cover up is the best decision, a Handsome Daddy-Lawyer, a Promising Soccer Player’s career is derailed, Paralysis, Gorgeous Young Women who all look alike, the Regulation Prison Scene, but without violence, a Condemned Husband-Killer and we get to see “The Look” when the Handsome Daddy-Lawyer meets his future client, the Condemned Husband Killer.

Will be back with all the details later on.

 

" . . . Gorgeous Young Women who all look alike, . . . "

Anita - Thank you. I'm glad it wasn't just me who noticed that!
 

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Rats!

"...and we get to see “The Look” when the Handsome Daddy-Lawyer meets his future client, the Condemned Husband Killer". This sounds great Anita, right out of the gate.

Well, I can't watch but the recaps are going to sizzle.

Diana
 

CULPABLE

With a title like this, I sure wish I had time to watch!
 

Me Declaro Culpable – ACCIDENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Episode #1, 2/17/20

Part 1 of Many
Prologue
Sorry, I forgot this was being posted in the comments section, so there will be many parts. Because this is the first episode, it will take longer to issue a report on the drama, with emphasis on the conversations—just so we are all on the same page. I’m aiming for posting 15 min. worth of scenes at a time. These are the first 15 min. Univision was in such a hurry to air this telenovela they began it a couple of minutes early. Strap on your beanies and here we go.

The Prisoner
A woman, AL Castillo, is being processed as a new prisoner and shown to her cell. She sits down, contemplates her fate and cries. She was judged guilty of killing her husband. We clearly hear a voice-over then see a handsome, well-groomed, smartly attired man in a courtroom, defending a woman who is being tried in a case of domestic violence that ended fatally for the husband. We quickly see it is a different woman. He states that Maria Gutierrez is the victim. She picked up a knife, not to intentionally kill her husband, but to defend herself, to save her own life and the lives of her children. (Note: this scene is done for the purpose of setting up the lawyer’s skills. Maria Gutierrez does not show up in the character list.)

Alba, that is the prisoner’s name, sitting in her cell, is having a flashback to her son’s first day at school. Her husband is holding him and encouraging him. They tell him they will never leave him alone—prophetic words (and music). Alba, in her prison garb, continues to cry and remember how she took both his mother and his father away from her son at the same time. She failed him and through her tears, asks him to forgive her.

El Fútboler
A young(ish) man, hair pulled back, is churning up the soccer field with his skills during practice and then a game. It turns out that three men are watching him on a video. The heavy-set man seems to be his agent and is promoting his promising player, despite still being a bit green and untried to a guy behind a desk, wearing a red tie. The third guy was probably the scout. After some back and forth, red-tie guy, who is probably the manager, gets an offer he doesn’t refuse.

An Impressive Apartment Building Where a Parking Spot is Always Available for the Leads
An attractive young woman pulls up, leaves her car at the front door, steps out in her spike heeled sandals. She’s dressed in a poufy black outfit with a plunging back, but still real short and still butt-tight. She carries herself as if the world were her oyster, confidence oozing in her stride, light brown hair flowing behind her. This is Natalia, who has a date with Julián, her boyfriend (who looks about 10 years older than Nat). They are to have dinner with Nat’s father. She doesn’t know he’s preparing a surprise for her—an excessive amount of ecstasy in a partially-filled glass of wine.

He pulls her into his apartment and immediately we sense Nat is still a little young and inexperienced. He wants to get cozy, tells her how lovely she looks and how desirable she is. She doesn't want to delay and lose the reservation. Jul says it's ok, he's already checked with her father and he's up to his ears in a case and then points to the wine. She’s thrilled. Apparently it’s rather exclusive and she loves it. The wine reminds her of the two months she spent in Paris—the best time in her life. Jul tells her it won’t be long before she’ll be back there—on their honeymoon—if she accepts to marry him. We see the slightest indecision reflected in her face. Perhaps that is why Jul doctored the drink.
 

Me Declaro Culpable – ACCIDENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Part 2 of Many

The Half Man-Bun, Half Pony Tail Soccer Guy Gets a Contract
We learn this is Paolo. He’s asking his agent what the scout thought of him. The agent toys with him, but not for long. He’s being signed to a team in Spain.

Darn Near Date Rape
Jul is urging Nat to have some more wine. She declines. She doesn’t feel well. She thinks it’s the wine. He tries to convince her it’s not the wine, it’s that she always gets that way when they talk about marriage. No, she’s sure she feels ill. He begins to caress her. He asks if she loves him. She says yes. He asks her to show him and starts trying to paw her and put her in the mood. She pushes him away because in truth, she doesn’t feel well. Jul acts frustrated. How much longer, then? They’ve been together for five months already. It’s about time; he wants to make love. She reminds him that they’ve been over this before. She’s not ready to take this step. They agreed to wait. Well, Jul can’t wait any longer. He tries again with a hair smooch. Nat gets up saying, no, not like this. She realizes how dizzy she is. Jul comes up behind her, already shedding his jacket and loosening his tie in preparation. He tries to embrace her from the rear and whispers that she has to be his. He tries a frontal kiss. Again she says no because she feels dizzy.

Then, there is a lightbulb moment. Nat accuses him of putting something in her wine. He denies it. All the same, she asks him to let go of her. She wants to leave. He says she can’t leave while feeling ill. She accuses him again of drugging her drink in order to rape her. [Remember, in Spanish violar is the verb used for rape.] Jul backs off. How can she think that, he declares innocently. Who does she think she’s with? She manages to grab her purse and leave with Jul right behind her. He tries to stop her from getting in her car (it’s a good thing it was right in front and not down the street somewhere) and driving away. He claims her father would never forgive her for driving in her condition. She starts to make a scene and he gets huffy. She yells — wait for it — “Sueltame!” And she means it, too. She never wants to see him again in her life. Jul says she’s acting crazy. Nat gets the door open with such force it hits Jul in the abdomen. He doubles over. She pulls out around him and hightails it onto the street. The last words we hear him call to her is the lie that she’s accusing him of something he didn’t do.

Paolo Looks Forward to Getting Out of Debt
As Paolo is walking home he’s on a video chat with his girlfriend, a blond-tipped, long, curly haired excited young woman (who so far remains nameless). Apparently he sold his car to cover his debts, not knowing he was going to come into a fútboler’s fortune. She’s thrilled. They’re on their way to Spain. She hopes his mother doesn’t hear about this, since he used up all his earlier earnings on a modest little house for her. Surely she will want a bigger house now. They laugh. He’s thinking of all the houses he can buy. She promises him a little nookie as soon as he gets home. Still video chatting, she asks how close he’s getting and begins to pull down her top the closer he gets. He keeps his eye on the smart phone.
 

Me Declaro Culpable – ACCIDENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Part 3 of Many, but this is all for the first 15 min.

El Choque
Nat is driving like Adela at the Indy 500. Jul keeps calling her. She finally puts him on hands-free speaker. He wants her to come back and talk. She’s upset and crying. She responds to his declaration of love by screaming that he doesn’t love anyone and she’s not going to let him do whatever he wants to with her. He implores her to return. She’s drunk. No, Nat says he’s the one panicked that she’ll tell her dad and he’ll fire him from the firm. He’s still denying he would ever rape her. She keeps on driving toward her unintended destiny.

From what I could see, they both contributed to this horrific accident—a distracted pedestrian walks into the path of a car driven too fast by a distraught and distracted driver. Each could have avoided the accident, but then, there’d be no story, no getting out of debt, no avoiding Julián.

Paolo checks the stoplight. It’s green for somebody. He begins to dart diagonally across the intersection when he’s hit. Nat plows into him and he’s thrown off the top of the car and ends up bloody and twisted in the middle of the intersection. Nat stops. Jul is still on the phone and heard the thump. She tells him she hit a guy and he’s probably dead. She wants to call and ambulance and help the person. Jul counsels her to leave, as long as no one else is around as witness. She looks around and reluctantly agrees to leave after he says she’d go to prison for being drunk and to think of her dad. Jul is saving her life.
 

CUPLABLE

Anita, hitting out of the gate girl.
And juls has got his ticket for black mailing her into marriage.

From what I saw in the openning credit
She's gonna fall for her hit n run football guy.

Her momma is a nutjob. Nough bout her
For now.

Lawyer daddy is in Loooove with his
Prison flower. The nutjob wifey will flip over that one.

This is a good one. I think I'll watch it. When I can. The snark will be good
I can just imagine JudyB's ladylike
Snarkiness on this one.

Thank you Anita


 

Me Declaro Culpable – ACCIDENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Part 4 of Many (this is the next 20 min.)

Lawyer-Daddy Remains Clueless
It’s time to meet the handsome lawyer outside his professional role. (I guess we can call him Franco now.) He’s at home chatting with Natalia on the amply furnished deck of their home (which I’m sure is quite luxurious). It’s already nighttime, so I guess she never made it to the restaurant. She says nothing is wrong when he asks. He reminds her he knows her very well. She can tell him anything. Anything, she queries? Even if it means she disappoints him? That can surely never happen, he tells her. Everyone makes mistakes, as long as she does the right thing in the end. Nat wonders if this time it doesn’t go that way. Papi says now she’s scaring him. He’s sure that everything in life has a solution. Nat says, everything except death. She begins to explain the reason for the state of her disquiet when a shapely lady in a short, tight red dress with poufy sleeves appears. We see her from the rear (and now we know where daughter got her fashion sense) exclaiming that here she finds both her loves. She brings Franco his phone with two missed calls. They might be important. Nat urges him to go attend to them. They can talk later.

Mama Gets The Whole Unvarnished Truth
Roberta, for that’s her unlikely name (even though she looks just like Graciela in LQLVMR) tells Nat she can’t hide anything from her. She knows her too well. Besides, she overheard what she was saying to her Papi, so spill the beans, now. What is it that she did to put her in this state? Mama gets her best ‘grit your teeth and hiss’ face on and tells Nat to talk. It’s obvious Nat has been treated like this before and she cowers and folds like one of Urban’s beautiful fans. She tells Mama she hit someone with her car and thinks, no she’s pretty sure she killed him. Her mother is shocked into silence momentarily.

It’s Hard to Kill a Lead, But He Can Be Maimed
Someone must have found Paolo because he’s now making the hospital apparatus beep consistently. He has survived, but lies unconscious in bed with a huge blue tube going into his mouth. His long hair is artfully draped on the pillow but his face is pretty banged up. His girlfriend is in blue scrubs beside him, crying. (I would have continued to call her GF, but I believe I heard him call her Katia later on.) LATER ON, to make a long story shorter---Paolo wakes up, Katia still by his side. He’s aware they can’t travel on time and worries whether the team will wait for him while he mends. Katia assures him the folks in charge are taking care of everything. He wonders why she’s crying (probably because she knows). She tells him that he was involved in a hit and run accident and the driver didn’t stop to help him. Paolo thinks that’s so cowardly; surely the police are looking for the person responsible. There have to be security cameras along the way. Katia says unfortunately, not on that strip of road. She just wants him to concentrate on getting well and letting the police do their job. He is worried about his career. Their dreams. He could lose it all because of a nogoodnik runaway driver. He swears he’ll find the person responsible and break his face. All of a sudden, he realizes he can’t feel his legs. He screams in agony, but not because of the pain.

Back to Mama
The interrogation begins. Mama’s anger and consternation grow into rage as Nat tells her the story. Nat claims it was an accident, but admits responsibility. Mama calls her an estupida escuincle and means it. Mama accuses her of being drunk. Nat swears she wasn’t, she’d only had a small part of a glass of wine at Julián’s. She’s in tears. She suspected Jul put something in her wine to make her feel ill. Mama says that can’t be true. Nat says she doesn’t know what to believe. She just wants to open her eyes and learn it was all a bad dream.
 

Me Declaro Culpable – ACCIDENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Part 5 of Many (this is all for the next 20 min)

Julián Plays Night Detective
Jul has parked near the intersection where the accident took place. He sees the skid marks and the blood. He sees some movement around a nearby house and gets in his car and waits to see what transpires. Soon the man who came out of the house is joined by a woman. The man is taking his leave of the woman—who is not his wife, we learn immediately. She’s worried what would his wife think if she knew he had been there when all that business happened. The man says he can’t in good conscience keep quiet. He saw everything. She tries to dissuade him. What will he tell his wife if his name appears in the papers. Well, for one, she doesn’t know he’s in the city and for another, he doesn’t intend to go to the police voluntarily. Let them keep investigating. He’ll be back in two months. She’ll miss him. They kiss and she goes back in her (really nice) house. Jul steps out of his car and hails the man. He asks if the man lives in that house. The man wants to know why he is asking. Jul says it’s about the accident. He’s a lawyer investigating and it seemed logical anyone in that house would have seen or heard something.

The man says he doesn’t know anything about it. Jul insists. If he saw something they need to talk. The man claims he doesn’t want to speak to the police, nor get involved. Jul explains he’s a defense lawyer trying to help his client, capish? Well, says the man, suppose he did see the accident and can identify the make and color of the car and what the driver looked like. Well, says Jul, if he did, they ought to talk. There could be LOTSA money involved.

Back to Mama
Natalia is still crying her heart out to Mama, expecting by chance, to be comforted, soothed and supported to do the right thing. How mistaken she was. Mama tells her again she’s not a bad person, but a stupid one. (Roberta has probably had time to think of the shame and mortification a scandal like this would bring to the family—her especially—if it was revealed to the public. Mama tells Nat she will say what Mama tells her to say and first of all she’s not to open her mouth, least of all to her Papi. Nat protests that it’s not right. Mama tells her to shut up. She wants to know who else besides Julián know about the accident. Nat says, no one. Good. Mama claps her hands. She’ll take charge of that swine and make sure he doesn’t open his mouth. Nat doesn’t think he will, seeing as he took care of everything—the car, the story about the dog—all to protect her.

Mama tells her all he did has made him an accomplice. Now she tells Nat to calm down. Nat screams how can she just calm down. She killed a man. Mama shakes her. She says, suck it up, Nena, what’s done is done. Mama does try a little tenderness, but it lasts a nanosecond. As Nat flags, Mama hisses in her ear, do it for your father. How will it look that one of the most important attorneys in Mexico has a convicted daughter in prison. She should do it for her father.
 

Me Declaro Culpable – ACCIDENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Part 6 of 7

Restless Prison Night
Alba is crying softly to herself in her cot, but it’s keeping her cellmate (who turns out to be Maria Gutierrez) awake and she goes over to her and tells her the first night is the hardest. (Interesting note—they sleep in their daytime prison garb. Is this normal?) Maria offers her a friendly ear. Alba tells her she doesn’t know what to do. Her son will never forgive her for killing his father. Not having any money, they are going to assign her a public defender and who knows, she may be locked up for years and won’t see her son for a long time. Maria tells her she’s also there for killing her husband. It was self-defense, but no one believed her. Then an angel appeared, in the form of a great attorney who believed her and took her case, so she has hopes of getting out with his help. Alba wonders if he could help her, too. The conversation drifts off and we don’t hear the rest.

Restless Night for the Tortured Lawyer’s Daughter
It can’t be too late, because Nat’s light is still on, but she can’t sleep. She relives the accident in all its horror. Her Papi is in a dressing gown and comes in to finish their little talk. He embraces his daughter, saying that he knows he can be harsh at times, but he loves her with all his might. Nat knows and says she loves him back. He wants her to know her Mama told him what was bothering her. She’s surprised by this. He knows Julián is pressuring her while she needs her space and time, so a long trip would do her a lot of good. Nat says it means losing a whole semester. Papi says her well being is more important. She should take her time, as long as she needs. So, Nat wants to know, this is ok with him? He assures her he is.

Prison Business
Franco and his colleague/pal Gael are making their way through the prison hallway to the visiting area to see their client, Maria. Franco lets us know he doesn’t think much of Gael’s smoking and womanizing. Gael answers it’s better for him than to have a father-in-law and a wife like Franco’s.

Whoops, Alba almost runs into the two. How she knows which one is Maria’s “great” attorney is telenovela magic, but she disappears quickly and as quickly reappears holding her stomach. The guard stops her. She tries to tell the guard she needs to go to the infirmary. She’s not well, she’s in pain and it’s her right. The guard tells her there are civilians in the passage so she can’t. This gets Franco’s attention. He turns toward her and asks the guard to go ahead and let her through. Alba falls to the floor “in pain.” The guard goes off for a stretcher while Gael and Franco pick Alba up from the floor. They sit her down in a room and Gael leaves. Here then, we have a musical interlude while Alba and Franco exchange “The Look.” (I’m still enamored by “The Look” Camila and Daniel gave each other in the restaurant in Amor Bravío.) Alba gives him a Mona Lisa smile. Franco’s face softens and his blue eyes piercing into hers, smiles, sort of, and puts his hand on her shoulder.

Gael returns to remind Franco they only have one hour with their client. He tells Gael to go on ahead. He’s going to stay with---what’s her name? Alba Castillo, she answers. With Alba until they come with the stretcher. As soon as Gael is gone, Alba jumps up, no pain, and runs to shut the door. She turns to Franco, who is looking at her speechless. She tells him she needs his help. He’s a bit perturbed by her actions, but she says all the right things. She knows he’s the best attorney in the country and she needs his help. Well, he says seriously, if she wants his help, starting out with a lie is not the way to do it. She indicates she’s not going to let him go until he listens to her.
 

Me Declaro Culpable – ACCIDENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Part 7 of 7

Prison Business Continued
Alba pleads her case. Her public defender is incompetent. He could care less if she spent the rest of her life in prison. Franco says he doesn’t even know what she’s accused of. She says she’s accused of killing her husband, and she did. She plead guilty of killing the only man she’s ever loved in her whole life. She begs for just a few minutes. If he doesn’t like what he hears, he can walk away and leave her to her fate. They hear voices outside. He tells Alba to get down on the floor while they work out this lie. He holds her as the guards come with the stretcher. He touches her face and tells her she’ll be ok as she is placed on the stretcher. Franco tells the guards to be careful.

LATER ON, in the visiting area, Franco asks Gael if he can speak to the lady alone. Gael gets it that something is going on and agrees to leave and meet up back at the office. Franco and Alba are for all practical purposes alone together, smiling across the table at each other.

It’s a Wheelchair, Bro
One of Paolo’s buds has stopped by to see him. He has dark curly locks and 2 ft. fringes hanging along the arms of his suede jacket. He mentions that it’s been two whole months and a whole bunch of surgeries and here he is, still in bed. Paolo complains that after all those operations, he still can’t move his legs. CurlyBro says at least he’s still alive. Paolo says, what good is that if he can’t play fútbol. His agent won’t see him or return his calls. CurlyBro says he’s here for him, through thick and thin. Just then a nurse arrives with a wheelchair. Paolo looks at it and asks, what is it? Nurse says it’s a wheelchair and it’s for him. He’s being discharged. Paolo is dazed and confused.

Paolo grimaces and is on the edge of tears as he contemplates what’s ahead of him. He does cry. He’s not ready to leave. A wheelchair means only one thing—he’ll never walk again. Another soccer compa comes in to accompany them out. He’s tall and he’s the goalie. Paolo is now dressed, sitting in the chair, but reluctant to go. Paolo wonders where to, the apartment or maybe go dancing. He smirks at his own joke. Can’t a paralytic make jokes? TallBro leans over and tells Paolo this is hard on them, too. It hurts them to see him all depressed. CurlyBro says they are going to stick to him like glue and help him get ahead. Paolo says he just doesn’t know how. TallBro says, just like on the field, step by step. Uplifted a bit in spirit, Paolo allows them to roll him out only to come face to face with Katia who is standing at the other end of the hall. It looks as though she’s glad to see him and starts to walk towards him, but she takes a sharp left and flees, leaving the three amigos there together.

Fin of Episode #1
 

CULPABLE

Anita, a work of art. Pure and simple.

I can only rave about your writing: "An Impressive Apartment Building Where a Parking Spot is Always Available for the Leads" and "Half Man-Bun, Half Pony Tail Soccer Guy" stood out to me, among many others.

"A Mama gets her best ‘grit your teeth and hiss’ face on and tells Nat to talk" was my favorite.

I was going back and forth looking at the cast as I read this. So much action and great heartbreak out of the gate.

Congratulations on a stellar start.

Diana
 

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Anita, WOWSERS! A stellar start indeed! I am in awe of the vivid detail and characterization you graced us with in this introductory episode. So much happened as you delineated and you caught e v e r y t h I n g!! Thank you!

This looks very promising and truly enjoyed seeing Juan Soler once more.

Have a wonderful day, Patio!
 

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Anita – thank you so much for your recap! This one burst out of the starting gate and left us all gasping for air. You did a stellar job with your thoroughness is covering this Gran Estreno.

This is not your usual afternoon telenovela fluff. Nopis. It seems to have a more gritty atmosphere to it. No comedy, whatsoever. It probably won’t incite much snark, either, because of that.

Yes, I also caught that look between Franco and Alba, even told hubby about it when he walked in and asked ‘how was the first episode?’

Julian is slime. Did we ever learn if he works in Franco’s firm?

That Roberta is an icy cold bitch. I remember the actress and her raspy voice, from the week or two I watched LQLVMR.

Paolo is a cautionary tale of walking while doing stuff on your cell phone. Distracted walking is very dangerous. (I could not tell if he had the light to cross, or not.)
 

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Ah ANITA, I knew you were the right one to start us off on this. You gave us all everything we need to know for the lift-off of this dramatic story. WOWSERS! indeed, just like Rgv Chick said.

Lots of gems, of which these are only a few:

Strap on your beanies and here we go.

an impressive apartment building where a parking spot is always available for the leads

part 3 of many

Nat is driving like Adela at the Indy 500

(and now we know where daughter got her fashion sense)

"grit your teeth and hiss" face on

cowers and folds like one of Urban's beautiful fans

back to mama

Mama does try a little tenderness but it lasts a nanosecond

Oh my, oh my, is Daniela Castro tearing this up big-time again. I'd fold like a fan myself if she grabbed me by my chinny-chin-chin. Yikes.

Now has my TV suddenly changed or are they filming this through a special colorized filter. The usual TBW (toilet bowl white) teeth are so WHITE THEY'RE PRACTICALLY BLUE! And all the false eyelashes seem twice as big as before. Even the eyes seem bigger. Either that or I was in an altered state of consciousness last night.

Anyway, this promises to be a Barnburner. Bring it on! And Lady, you really "brought it" with this fine, detailed recap. I hereby dub you the PREMIERMEISTER! A title well deserved and handily won. THANKS SO MUCH PARTNER!!!!!
 

And excellent title as well. Just awesome.

Judy, thinking she really needs to do something about her old teeth....and maybe invest in some eyelashes as well
 

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Anita, again girl you knocked out of the ball park.
Nat's moma is full of pepper. And that
Other stuff to.(If you get my meaning)
If Franco n alba gonna get together it
Is gonna be an up hill battle.

I'm gonna have to remember these names
When katia was at paolo's, soccer guys bed Side, I knew she'd bolt and run. But he might walk agian, once the all the swelling Goes down. And Julian does his dirt & All the other messy obsticals are out of the Way. By the way how many episodes?

Anita, kudos to you girl. Patio, let's rock this tn.
 

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Anita, thank you for your detailed and masterful recap. It might be longer than the episode's script!

This TN is definitely not the usual daytime fluff, and I'm not sure it's my cup of tea; I prefer escapist stuff with lots of eye candy and romantic silliness.

We'll see.

Thanks again for the great recap, you really outdid yourself.

andy
 

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Hey Patio Peeps--What a launch, indeed. Huge serving of straight up drama. I don't think this was ever meant to be a daytime show in Mexico. It is Univision's loss (though saving it to watch later is always an option).

Nina--Total episodes: 62; Countown--61 left. You bring such fun in your word play to the table. A big round of applause. I'm pretty sure, along with you, that your prediction for Nat and Paolo are already inscribed in digital code--given the big hint in the opening credits. I wish they wouldn't do that. I guess we're supposed to enjoy the journey, spoilers and all or do they consider them teasers.

Diana--Praise from you for my scribblings have me dancing the rest of the day.

Doris--I count you among all Gorgeous Young Women, especially on the inside. I love your new avatar, though I'd prefer cheesecake to cupcakes. Also, Julian is part of Franco's firm. I got that feeling right away when he greeted Nat at the door and said they didn't have to hurry, he'd already checked with her dad. Then when she was about to have her accident, she yelled at Jul on the phone that he was afraid she'd tell her daddy and he'd have Jul fired.

Jarifa--I know how busy you are, but 44 min on the DVR is doable. You needn't comment, though we'd love to have your astute observations.

RGV--It was tiring to do a blow-by-blow, but never tiresome. I adore Juan Soler. He's trimmed down quite a bit since he appeared in Marido en Alquiler (just silly fluff and not really fun to watch).

JudyB--Forget the color of your teeth, dear, and just be overjoyed you still have them. Thanks for pointing out some of the turns of phrase I cooked up. Those are partly responsible for the recaps taking so long to compose and post. There's no show this Friday, but I checked my calendar and all my Fridays are free until May 8. I'm in for this one.

Just for fun, I looked up all the ages of the actors playing main characters. For once they seem age appropriate with each other, except for Julian. Someone 25-30 should have been cast. Natalia seems to still be at University and that ought to make her around 21 at the high end. Irina's doing a great job, following all the tramps she's played--going back to El Tal. Paolo is a bit too old to play a "promising" soccer star, though. We'll se what chemistry he and Nat have.

Franco 54; Bertie (aka Roberta), his wife 53; Alba (his future love interest) 48

Natalia 27; Julian 39; Paolo 32; Katia (Paolo's now ex-girlfriend) 28

Ingrid (the aunt we haven't seen yet) 53

Mauro Monroy (Bertie's dad) 80

Gael (Franco's partner at the firm) 54 (He'd BETTER stop smoking, NOW)
 

Oh, Andy--So glad you popped by. It would be great if you give this a try. After three bombs (I'm counting Sin Tu Mirada, along with Manana and Hijas), we have what promises to be fireworks on the 4th of July. Take care because escapist fare with eye candy can get repetitive and then you become inured to it, then bored.
 

OT/OT/OT EXTRA EXTRA
I finally spied our Vacuum Cleaning Kisser, Lino, from Sin Tu Mirada over on Telemundo's Operacion Pacifico. Unfortunately he plays a narco cartel side-kick, but I bet he has a bigger role as we go along, since they are killing each other off at the top.
 

Culpable

So...I have not seen this show yet. Dies it seem worth watching ?

I saw Big Ed Yanez in a promo for " Sin.. "
 

Oh, Susanlynn--This one is right down your alley--I sincerely think so, at any rate. Handsome leading "mature" lawyer paired with a pretty woman whose capital crime case he takes. His marriage is wavering on the edge. The younger level leads will have an interesting story line. Add to the mix a "primer" actor, and several seasoned actresses providing the human evil and nastiness.

Check out the cast list (on the read more front page) and some of the comments.

I saw Big Ed, too. The eye glasses look good on him.
 

Anita, I watched today and saw many familiar faces. It seems that way me actors and actresses are in good with TPTB and are in a lot of sho ws, one after the other. Irina , for instance . You're right. I think that I could get interested in this one. Nobody can chew up the scenery like Castillo. It is moving fast right from the start, too.
 

CULPABLE #2 MAKE WAY FOR THE LETHAL LADIES!

Part 1

Well, one was an accidental maiming (he didn't actually die, but Natalia thought he did); one was a mercy killing (our heroine Alba putting her husband out of his misery at his request) and one was a stone-cold assassination (thanks to "loving, protective" Mom Roberta. Nevertheless, these gals are dangerous to life and limb and they're going to take us on a wild ride for the next 60 chapters or so.

We begin with a smouldering Roberta talking to her doctor friend, lamenting the lack of good lovin' at home. All Franco does is work and hang out at the office. She's sure he has a lover! Women KNOW these things. They can feel it in their skin! (Plus, according to her he hasn't touched her in years. Okay then.) Friend Luciana tries to talk her down and inquires discreetly if she's still taking her bipolar meds. She is. Or so she says.

So where is husband Franco? He's at the prison, exchanging soulful looks with Alba and listening to the story of her husband's death. Good guy Franco reminds her this is the last time he'll go along with a fib (she pretended to be sick in order to see him); now he wants her to be totally sincere and honest with him. Well, sure. She DID kill her husband. But it was an Act of Love...granting his final request. He was powerless to do anything, being hooked up to a breathing machine. But he begged her to let him go while he still had his precious memories of their life and love together. And reluctantly she did--by disconnecting him.

Franco believes her, but says he won't defend her. NO ONE NEEDS A DEFENSE FOR LOVE. But yes, he'll take her case. And argue that what she did was no crime. More soulful looks.

Not so much in New York where we see a restless Natalia, in a room with the most horrible psychosis-inducing wallpaper ever! She's reluctantly on the phone with slimy novio Julián. He's trying to persuade her to come home after her 2-month sojourn. For one thing, she could be sleeping with a different guy every night and no one would know. (Great way to express love and longing, no?) He switches gears to something more palatable--I miss you, your parents miss you. She's not sure. Something in her died when she ran over that poor, hapless pedestrian. Indeed. And then was persuaded to run from the scene.

Well back to business. Franco is in the law office arguing to take the Alba case pro bono. Fellow lawyers are reluctant. No money in it and a lost cause to boot. Franco says No! Our reputation was made winning "impossible cases". The head honcho (who turns out to be Roberta's dad) finally acquiesces--but if you lose, heads will roll. Yours!

Well, Roberta is not the only one smouldering. Paolo is eaten up with rage and hate for the person who ruined his life and left him for dead. He's torturing himself watching videos of old when he was a star player, and torturing girlfriend Katia as well. Mind you, she disappeared for several weeks, avoiding him like a leper, but his real beef is with that heartless person who stole his manhood and lives happily ever after. While he's stuck in this infernal wheelchair! Katia gives the standard company line--"you can't live in this hate"--but it doesn't make a dent.

Now sometimes our absentee husband Franco does get home. And Roberta is right there, slipping off his jacket, loosening his tie, making all her moves for a night of cozy romance. Fortunately for him, his phone rings. And unfortunately for her, he answers it.

And the rant begins.
 

CULPABLE #2 MAKE WAY FOR THE LETHAL LADIES!

Part 2

"How long since we've made love? Why does everyone and everybody get your attention but me!? I know you have a lover!" Like friend Lucinda, Franco tries to talk her down. He's a family man, devoted to her and Natalia. There's nobody else in my life. "Well, there'd better not be. If there IS somebody, I'LL KILL HER!" Our thoughtful Franco looks very worried indeed. (Do you think he knows he married a Lethal Lady?)

Let's return to our enraged victim Paolo. He's wheeling through the park with his gal Katia and ready to set her free. After reminding her that "his loving fiancé disappeared along with his legs" (he's still got 'em, they just don't work) he pretty much tells her to vamoose from his life, permanently! And off she goes.

Well,prison-bound Alba's not going anywhere. But she's meeting again with soulful-eyed Franco and things are gradually getting warmer and more intimate. She touches his hand once in gratitude. He's startled and draws back. But as they continue to talk, he reaches in turn for her hand. And she covers it with hers. And so on. You know where this is going. But let's talk about the case. He's explaining that they need to pluck the judge's heartstrings in order to have a chance of winning. And explains the pro bono terms of the case which elevates him to Head Angel in her eyes. Now how about your son? Well, he's living with my sister-in-law, but she fears he's being turned against her. She calls and calls and never gets a chance to talk to him. "We're a team," Franco assures her. "Never leave me!" whispers Alba.

Okay. It's a done deal. They're a couple. Viewerville knows it, even if they don't yet.

Are Julián and Natalia a couple? Well he thinks so. She's back from New York and the psycho wallpaper, but no warmer when it comes to him. So he hops out of the car to score a bouquet of flowers for his reluctant lady love. And parking right in front of the handicapped ramp that leads to the street. A livid Paolo rolls up and starts screaming at Natalia in the passenger seat while she's scrolling through her phone. She hops out, all apologetic and...wait, what?...there's the LOOK again. Twixt these two. Wow. Wait until they find out their underlying relationship. But no matter. Julián returns, shows he's an asshat, by blowing off Paolo's complaint about where he parked and tossing him a few coins to " chill out and get yourself an ice cream cone".

As they drive off, Natalia protests his cavalier treatment. "Hey, it's not like it's YOUR fault he's in a wheelchair," snickers Juls. Ah, if you only knew, buddy! But Paolo is in a snit, and he's looking after them in a rage, rather than looking where he's going. And hits a bump and gets bounced out of his chair onto the pavement.

Julián doesn't care. Natalia does.

She bounds out of the car and after a bit of a struggle manages to get hefty Paolo back in his hated contraption.

But something has changed. As they drive off, Nat looking worriedly behind--Paolo watching her go, we see his face softening. And yes, he seems to be almost smiling for the first time since the accident.

Yep. They're a couple. They may not realize it yet, but we in Viewerville are totally in the know.
 

CULPABLE #2 MAKE WAY FOR THE LETHAL LADIES!

Part 3

Back to the pen, where Franco is telling Alba he needs every last fact and detail in order to win the case. Well, no problem. Her wise husband asked her to make a video of his dying wish and she has it...on her cellphone. Which of course was confiscated with all her clothing and personal effects when she became incarcerated. And as we watch her husband's last moments, through Alba's memories, it's poignant indeed. The illness is robbing him of his memories. And he wants to leave this world while his mind in still intact, full of those sweet and tender "recuerdos" of their love, their wedding, their bliss as a family. "Alba, my friend, my companion, my greatest love, do this final great act of love for me and let me go.

And she does. After recording his dying wishes as he asked her to do.

Well, the jury is out on whether this was a true act of love. But another Lethal Lady, Roberta, is in the law office, demanding coffee and the 411 from a secretary. "Have you EVER heard my husband Franco in a compromising phone call?" Of course not. Papi arrives on the scene. Turns out he's the glowering head of the law firm. He exits and who should enter but the Skanky Guy who saw her dear daughter hit that pedestrian. And leave him to die in the street like a dog. And he'd like to talk to Ms. Roberta about it.

Well, suffice it to say that Roberta's marital love life is not her main preoccupation right now. She invites Skanky Guy to her home to discuss this important matter more discreetly.

Pretty tense, Patio! Let's take a break and check in on Franco. He's talking to an employee who locates Alba's cellphone and will process it quickly so he can get it to the judge in the case. And Alba is on the phone, once again trying to talk to son Gabriel. Sister-in-law Ingrid is pretending he's not around. But Gabe overhears and says "Yes, give me the phone!" And then breaks his mother's heart by reminding her he's basically an orphan now. She's in the pen. After killing his beloved Dad. "I never want to talk to you again." Ingrid puts in her cruel two cents and snarls, "You broke his heart. Now leave us alone!"

Franco and Gael (his law buddy) are on their way home. Gael is looking forward to a juicy date that evening, a delectable little brunette in a sweet, sweet sauce! Franco wants to know when he's going to settle down and know the true happiness of marriage. "Like you!?" chortles Gael. "No thanks. Now if you met up with a real woman, Franco, you'd ditch your wife and run after her in a minute!" "You don't know me," replies Franco the Family Man. (Ah, what fools these mortals be. Just wait, laddie boy.)

Skank Man is now in Roberta's palatial home and luxurious patio, talking turkey with Mama. He's hands her a note with the amount he's requesting to zip his lip about the accident. She's fine with it. Tears it up and goes to phone the bank to get him his money IN CASH as he requested. While she's gone, he phones buddy Julián to tell him the blackmail is working like a charm. "And in two months we'll get the same amount again. We'll bleed her dry!"

Well, turns out the bleeder is Skank Man. We don't see it but evidently our laser-focused Roberta overhears the phone call, heaves him over the railing and splatters her blackmailer all over the pavement.

Love me a woman who takes care of business without delay! Bet she turned in all her term papers on time as well.


 

CULPABLE #2 MAKE WAY FOR THE LETHAL LADIES!

Part 4

So that's the end of Skank Man. And, as it turns out, also the end of Julián's romance with Natalia. She's had time while in New York to think it over. She's fond of him. But doesn't love him. This relationship is finished. He protests but you know...it's a done deal.

Franco arrives home. To the murderous mess on the pavement outside his house. And looks up at the family patio overhead, seeming very worried indeed.

Perhaps he knows what a decisive lady his wife can be.

Stay tuned Patio. More lethal mayhem to come tomorrow, I'm sure! Doris will take you on the wild ride tomorrow. So buckle up!
 

CULPABLE

Thank you for a great recap, Judy! You got this one up in warp speed, too, like a pro.

”- Okay. It's a done deal. They're a couple. Viewerville knows it, even if they don't yet.
- Yep. They're a couple. They may not realize it yet, but we in Viewerville are totally in the know.”
You got a two-fer in today’s episode. LOL

Roberta might need her meds adjusted. Franco’s only mistress is his work. Workaholics are like that.

”we see a restless Natalia, in a room with the most horrible psychosis-inducing wallpaper ever!”
Oh heavens! That stuff was hideous and could trigger a migraine headache. Ow!

Oooh, Cold-blooded bitch Roberta pushing Skanky guy over the ledge….who knew she had it in her? Too bad the guy couldn’t get a complete (incriminating) sentence out of this mouth before he died.

I have to admit I got weepy watching the recording of Alba’s husband, begging her to end his life. Gah….am I getting soft in my old age? Alba’s case does beg the moral dilemma question of modern medicine extending a life for the sake of extending a life when there is no hope. And, I suppose that is the main PSA of this telenovela. Along with distracted walking (Paolo).

I really feel like I’m in over my head with recapping this thing. #nervous
I’ll have to pay attention tomorrow! Qué?????????? There won't be any six-line recaps (or even recraps) with this telenovela.

Alba's sister-in-law will be a force to be reckoned with. Sabine's face looked slightly different. She's probably (ahem) "had some work done" since the last time I saw her. Maybe it's just me and this gloomy weather.

Okay, Judy, our shopping list? Teeth whitened. Face lift. Um..... nopis. I'm just happy to be upright and moving forward on my own speed. :-)
 

Culpable

Judyb, thanks so much . I am definitely for this one. Now I just have to remember that it is on at 3.00. My life has changed in so many ways in the last year and 4 months...and not in a good way. I loved my old life . It is nice to have the familiarity
of a good old fashioned telenovela to escape into. I

You must knew that guy was going over the edge of that roof patio. #obvious
 

CULPABLE

LETHAL LADIES! these gals are dangerous to life and limb" - outstanding Judy!

This rollercoaster ride was exciting seen through your eyes. And I wasn't even on the ride! Just marvelous.

"(Ah, what fools these mortals be. Just wait, laddie boy)" had me smiling away.

"We don't see it but evidently our laser-focused Roberta overhears the phone call, heaves him over the railing and splatters her blackmailer all over the pavement". Atta girl!

Blackmailers are the lowest of the low. No loss I say heartlessly.

"Love me a woman who takes care of business without delay! Bet she turned in all her term papers on time as well". Women acting intelligently, dispatching justice as she sees fit. Works for me.

doris, I read your comment about feeling nervous about recapping. You are not alone, I feel the same way. A gentle reminder that you are surrounded by friends who appreciate your wry and wonderful humor. It's not what happens but what you do with it. And from everything I've seen, you've done an excellent job!

As always Judy, fun and fresh. You always bring the sun...gracias amiga.

Diana
 

CULPABLE

JudyB, thank you for this snarktastic
Recap.

He can fly, he can flyyyyy. SPLAT!
When he was walkin towards that ledge
I was saying "shes gonna push him over
The ledge". And dog if she didn't do it. That's what he get for being dumb.

Moma Roberta is on loan from lifetime.
And she's a keeper. For now. And she
Forgot to take her meds.Again. Dangit.

Julian is a looser. A bad one too. Now
I could see him in the sack with moma
Roberta. Yeah shes just that sick and twisted, so is he for that matter. He
Can't get nat in the sack,so do moma.
And she is not gonna get Franco in the
Sack. The zipper is closed.

Well thats two future couplings on the
Way.

Katia came back. Why? She not staying.
GlAd bag broke it off with Julian. He
Is too in love with himself anyways

Probly not that good of a lawyer either.

Thanks JudyB. This is gonna be another
Fun patio.
"The look" hah, that would be a good
Title.
 

CULPABLE

Hello Fun Patio. We are indeed off for wild and wooly drama here with an antagonist (Roberta) “on loan from Lifetime “ as NINA noted. And some interesting legal, ethical and spiritual questions as well which makes for a nice change.

DORIS...You bring up an important point. Why prolong the agony of dying if the patient’s disease is robbing him of all he holds dear. I cringe whenever anyone opts for chemo that is only going to prolong their lives for a few weeks or months. At tremendous cost. The only winners are the pharmaceutical companies who make a huge profit on these drugs. But still—the patient has to choose. And Alba’s husband did choose to opt out. But can she prove it.

SUSANLYNN...So glad you’ll be joining us for this one amiga. And I’ve got some heavy questions about Roberta. During her rant to her friend she mentioned a woman Fernando fell in love with during a time when they were split up. But the woman died. Given the alacrity with which she dispatched Skank Man, I’m thinking Miss BiPolar may have rushed another soul heavenwards back in the day. Lethal Love if she did. Yikes.

DIANA...Always soak up your kind words like a sponge. Hope that you can enjoy this wild romp with us and maybe watch it a bit if you’re working from home due to bad weather.

NINA...Wow, you’re on fire with your spicy speculation about Roberta and slimy Julian. And you could well be right. You have been before in your predictions.
 

CULPABLE

Sorry...called Franco Fernando. Mea culpa mea maxima culpa. I’ll get these names straight eventually.
 

CULPABLE


NINA. - OMG, girl, you had me guffawing while I was reading your post.
"He can fly, he can flyyyyy. SPLAT!
When he was walkin towards that ledge
I was saying "shes gonna push him over
The ledge". And dog if she didn't do it. That's what he get for being dumb.

Moma Roberta is on loan from lifetime."

On loan from Lifetime, indeed. LOL

This is way more fun than watching our hockey team get beat. 🏒🥅😜
 

"Glad Nat broke up with Julian"
Auto correct is gettin on my Last nerve"😒
 

CULPABLE

ANITA, how wonderful that you are free on Fridays until May 8th. Does that mean you are going to be OUR GAL FRIDAY for this telenovela? (until May at least?) That would be truly wonderful.

Judy, breathing a sigh of relief
 

CULPABLE

JudyB, I just knew you'd find a way to get in some of your much appreciated snark; thanks for such a grand recap!

Glad you mentioned that gawd-awful wall paper; psychosis inducing indeed!

I'm going to luv hating Roberta; why does she remind me of Lucero? I'm willing to bet that this murder will be somehow considered an accident. It's wa-a-ay too soon for Roberta to be carted off to the slammer.
 

CULPABLE
JudyB--What a feast to serve up on our second day of Culpable. I thought this one was going to require straightforward reporting, but you found some holes through which to poke your snark. (Oh, and thanks for yielding Fridays to me.)

Nina--I was already laughing at some of JudyB's recap when I got to your comment. I nearly fell off my chair. Keep it up, we need you to lighten up what is supposed to be a serious tn and put some humor in where we least expect it.

Tell me, if anyone else thinks Slime Guy's sailing off the upstairs deck was a beanie moment? There was no railing--just there? But there was one on both sides of the gaping space? In the first scene Monday, Franco and Nat are out on the deck and he's leaning against a railing. And Slime Guy takes his time to walk up to the edge and peer over? Well, give credit to the writers--he needed to go and Roberta didn't have much time.

What a revelation that SG and Julian got into cahoots. No wonder Jul's parting words to SG when he met him is that there could be MUCHO dinero involved.

I'm afraid I already have to point a finger at Paolo for too much OTT acting. Ok, we get it. He's mad at the person who did this, but I'd much rather be watching Rogelio Montero with his angry whip thing, falling out of his chair than Paolo's rendition (but that's just me).

Ah yes, LETHAL LADIES. I would never have thought of that, but Alba is certainly right up there on the list, not just for offing her husband, but with her cunning way to get Franco to take notice of her (as in lethal doesn't necessarily mean fatal).

Gabriel already bothers me, the snot-nosed teenager. Alba took his father away from him? He'll never forgive her? Well, ok, but how much of a father would he have had left if Javier's dying was extended.

I know how important it is to the living who will be left behind to keep their loved one alive as long as possible, but there is a point where it becomes cruel and unusual punishment. The medical profession is still complicit in ingraining the attitude in patients and families that an extended life, even under the most adverse circumstances, be it just a few hours, days, weeks longer, is better than the alternative. A friend of ours spent months in and out of the hospital with pancreatic cancer until he finally decided to cancel further treatments and go into hospice with only medication for his pain. He passed away within a month, at home, with his family there with him--to let him go on his own terms.

I guess Javier's circumstances were different, because it was his mind and his memory, but physically he looked as though he was pretty close to death's door.

RVG--Which tn did you see Lucero in that Daniela reminds you of? Was it MEPS, by any chance? That, I think, was her only role as the consumate antagonist, but she didn't leave a trail of bodies behind her. I wonder if Roberta will get the taste for eliminating estorbos through killings and escalate.

For me, Daniela reminds me of Daniela, starting with Pasion. I never saw her in Una Familia Con Suerte, so I can only speak to her roles as a villain.
 

OT

I feel like a kid who wakes up to learn that school has been cancelled because of snow. Snow Day and no school! Yay!

Blue Demon has ended, Mi corazón es tuyo is preempted most of the week for fútbol, and Culpable is for adults, which leaves me out.

I could get used to this.

:-)

andy
 

OT/ Aww, Andy, can't we suck you in to Culpable? With Doris and JudyB recapping, you'll be sure to get lots of laughs (from me, not so many). It'll be like old times!
 

CULPABLE --- OF BLACKMAIL AND JUSTICE Part 1 of 4

A few scenes are combined, not many, because this was not a choppy pinball game type episode. If I made any translation errors, someone please correct them.

- We open with Natalia wanting to end the relationship with Julian, and he is not having it. He tries to emotionally blackmail her over his “help” about that hit & run thing a few months ago. If she dumps him, he will tell daddy about her H&R and it won’t be kept a secret anymore.
(Julian is a slimy snake of a sociopath and he makes this recapper’s skin crawl. )

- Meanwhile, back at the homefront, the EMTs and police are finishing up with Skanky guy who Roberta pushed off the roof. Roberta spins a good tale about how the guy showed up at the house, acting like he was on drugs, going on about needing a divorce and his wife won’t let him see the kids, and as soon as she was not looking, he must have jumped off the roof.

- We see Julian at the office, looking at a computer screen filled with various security camera shots of offices. He is transferring/downloading this to something. Whatever it is, he cannot be up to any good. The police arrive at the office shortly afterward to review the security cameras.

- While Franco, Roberta, Nat & Julian are having family dinner at home, Franco’s cell phone rings. Roberta is not happy that he is taking the call, especially because the caller I.D. shows ‘unknown.’
It’s Alba. She is lonely, has nobody in the world, etc. (Okay people, this is why most smart attorneys have unlisted phone numbers, especially if they have wives and family. These women, whether in jail or at home going through a divorce, only call their lawyers at night when they are lonely. As if the lawyer has no life. Ladies, the meter is (or should be) running! And Franco should have let it go to voice mail. I'm with Roberta on that. I’m just sayin’ … but this serves as a plot propeller so we put up with it.)

- Afterward, back at the dinner table Franco tells the family he was talking to a client in jail for pulling the plug on her terminally ill, slowly dying husband. Roberta laughs and says STTE that the woman is exactly where she deserves to be for killing someone. Nat and Jul share a look. Um, yeah, they’re thinking about that H&R of Natalia’s after Julian drugged her.

- Ingrid (Javier’s sister/Alba’s cuñada/all around crazy person played by Sabine Moussier, expert actress at portraying crazy people) visits Alba at the jail. She wants Alba to sign over custody of Gabriel to her. Otherwise, he’ll be sent to a foster home or group home. They argue over Alba pulling the plug on Javier and Ingrid is still not a happy camper about that. (why is it the non-primary-caregiver family members are the ones who get so pissed off when the person who has suffered the most caring for the patient pulls the plug when the patient has requested it? Ah, the human condition…)

- Alba takes the papers, but it does not look like she signed them. Can anyone else confirm this? As she gets up to leave, Ingrid tells her that she needs her to do her a favor: stay in jail forever and ever, and even if she (Alba) gets out of jail, then stay away from Gabriel. Not much love lost between these two.
 

CULPABLE - OF BLACKMAIL AND JUSTICE - Part 2 of 4

- Julian (who is wearing a cheesy plaid jacket that Dario Iriarte from Hijas de la Luna would kill for) visits Roberta. They briefly rehash yesterday’s Skanky guy thing and then Julian gets down to business. He asks Roberta for her help with Natalia.
- Roberta tells him the best thing that could happen to her daughter is to be free of him, and that he is not good enough for Natalia. (ouch) She tells him that Nat does not love him, and why can’t he get that into his head? She tells Julian to have some dignity and leave her alone. She warns him that she can make his life miserable and have Franco kick him out of the law firm.

Julian does not take kindly to this response. Aw heck, no. He tells Roberta “be very careful what you say to me, it would be in your best interest to help me if you don’t want your daughter to end up in prison. !Boom! Bombshell dropped. Cara de impactada de Roberta. I guess she had no idea Julian knew about the H&R?

Julian negotiates his blackmail payments with Roberta, telling her the payments can end as soon as Natalia marries him. She calls him a monster. (pot calling kettle black, no?)

- Nice scene where Natalia is out jogging and encounters Paolo. They talk about the previous day’s run-in, their novios, or ex-novio in Paolo’s case, formally introduce themselves and learn the other’s name. This is a much better “meet cute” than yesterday’s scene. Paolo learns that Nat is “daddy’s princess”, that daddy is an attorney, Nat says she will run his case by Daddy and let him know if he is willing to take on Paolo’s case. ( I don’t think Paolo told Natalie exactly what that case is….?)

- Lots of drama re: Alba not there for her hearing, Franco talks to her, she is afraid, she IS guilty, yadda yadda yadda, She is ready to face her consequences of pulling the plug. Franco tells her that brave people always have fear, and when they overcome their fear, they become heroes. (Okay, Patio, this guy is a little too chummy and familiar with his client and some mild hand porn on the prison cell bars…)
 

CULPABLE - OF BLACKMAIL AND JUSTICE - Part 3 of 4

AT THE HEARING:

- Mucho drama. The judge says the Death with Dignity law is not yet in effect until September ___, 2018 and this case happened prior to that date, so it will be treated as a homicide. Franco interrupts the judge (I don’t think that would happen in real life!) and tells him that terminal patients like Javier don’t have time to wait (for laws to come into effect). The moment arrives when the suffering can no longer be tolerated, as much for the patient as for their loved ones. Alba suffered night after night with her husband’s pain, perhaps even more. Javier had no life to fight for. Alba debated for days whether to comply with her husband’s wish to die while he is kept on artificial life support to breathe, keep his heart beating, etc. Alba could no longer stand to see her husband hooked up to the ventilator and machine that kept his heart going.

Next, Franco shows the judge the video of Javier, begging Alba to disconnect him. We can hear Alba sobbing in the background of the video. This video is replayed in its entirety as the judge watches, in case Viewerville forgot any part of it. Franco asks that Alba be freed. Yes, she could have waited and watched Javier lose his dignity, day by day. Franco believes this woman deserves to be released to live free in honor of what her husband so badly wanted. The last will of Javier was that Alba live without his pain and with his dignity. The only way to honor a life is with dignity.

- After the hearing, Alba tells Franco that no matter what the judge says, she appreciates what he has done for her and appreciates his confidence in her.
-Franco tells her he likes to look into people’s eyes because they are the window to the soul (my words, not Franco’s). Your eyes tell me you are a sincere person. (I wonder what Franco sees when he looks into Roberta’s eyes?)
- Alba hugs Franco in that hallway when …. AT THAT VERY MOMENT … Roberta has entered the hallway and sees this. Oh noes! Roberta’s worst fear is real. She looks like she just bit into a lemon. Her brain misfires several times and she finally pulls a standard telenovela issue brown glass vial from her purse and drinks it. Franco never saw her.

- They all go back into the courtroom. The judge grants “provisional freedom” (is this like probation?) to Alba. Oooooh, Ingrid is not going to like this.
 

CULPABLE - OF BLACKMAIL AND JUSTICE Part 4 of 4

- Días despues . . . . .

- Paolo is at Franco’s for a consultation regarding his case. He recounts what he knows and can remember about the H&R, which is not much due to lack of witnesses and cameras, and then tells Franco all he has lost since then – his career, his girl.
- Ingrid drops Gabriel off at school. She seems like a very clingy person, wanting him to kiss her goodbye for the day, etc.
- Alba is outside as Gabriel goes into school and talks with him, tries to hug him. Ingrid witnesses this scene. Gabriel acts embarrassed for his friends to see them, and is somewhat distant.

And we end there. So, Alba se declaró culpable, she is mercifully now free, and we have 59 episodes to go. Hmmmmm..... Stay tuned?


VOCABULARIO (because it’s still about the Spanish even with serious telenovelas)

“pasar la factura” – pay the bill or invoice ….. as in … it’s time for Natalia to “pasar la factura” (pay up the blackmail) by not breaking up with Julian

“casa hogar” – group home for youths … as in Gabriel will go to a “casa hogar” if Alba does not sign over custody to Ingrid.

“engendro” - monster … as in Roberta calls Julian an “engendro” when he blackmails her.

“dineral” – a fortune … as in Paolo doesn’t have “dinerales” to pay a lawyer
 

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"So, Alba se declaró culpable, she is mercifully now free, and we have 59 episodes to go. Hmmmmm..... Stay tuned?"
I guess we will stay tuned to see when Natalia declares herself culpable. 😉
 

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Thanks so much Doris. I was able to enjoy my once a month meeting with students from an exercise class I used to teach, knowing the recap was in your capable hands. Such a blessing to have you on the team.

Boy, this was a tough episode to watch. I'm almost felt sorry for our Bi-polar Homicidal Roberta when she had to sit and listen to hubby talk to "lonely Alba" during dinner, and then watch them exchange a tender hug outside the courtroom. Also agree that Franco is "a little too chummy and some hand porn on the prison cell bars" Andy would tease us about our female bias if he were watching this with us I'm sure. But those are scenes no wife wants to see! Sets off our radar immediately.

Right with you on this one too:

- Julian (who is wearing a cheesy plaid jacket that Dario Iriarte from Hijas de la Luna would kill for)

My thought exactly! Horrible jacket. And horrible character. Good move on the part of the wardrobe department in case we hadn't already figured out he was a classless lowlife.

Also loved "standard telenovela issue brown glass vial" that Roberta grabbed...Yeah, what IS in those things? Not bi-polar medication, that's for sure.

You know yesterday, I thought Skank Man was visiting Roberta at her home. But actually that swank patio was at the office. And so, when Julián was messing with the computer, I assumed he was erasing the relevant surveillance videos. But what do I know? And I also thought Ingrid browbeat Alba into finally signing the custody papers. But I could be wrong. I probably need adult ADD medication.

Thanks for the vocabulary too: I've heard "engendro" before but never knew what it meant. And IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SPANISH, SO THANKS!

Oh and one more thing, also agree that non-caregivers are always quick to criticize the poor folks on the front lines. Guess that it takes care of their own guilt for not being there. Ugh. But must say, this story is bringing up interesting questions. And certainly elevates it over Hijas by a gazillion miles.

Sorry your hockey team lost the other night. Do they ever play the Columbus Blue Jackets. We don't go. Tickets cost an arm and a leg, But our neighbors are big fans.
 

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Doris, thank you so much for the recap. I missed this episode.

I love me some Castillo. I remember her in Pasion in love with her primo pirate Captain Rick ( Fernando Colunga).
 

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Judy -

"But actually that swank patio was at the office. ". That makes more sense, because those pics looked like offices and I wasn't paying close attention to the previous episode, and just assumed Roberta was at home. All the rooms on the camera shots looked empty (to me), so something was up with that scene or the writers would not have included it in the story. I bet your theory is spot on. It would give Julián more blackmail ammo.

The custody papers--- I rewound and watched that two or three times and never saw pen on paper. Who knows? If she did sign them, it would make a great plot propeller and keep Alba's storyline going.

We play Columbus twice per season. We've had season tix to half the games throughout the season for the last twenty years. As traffic and parking get worse and worse, it's probable we will give it all up in a few more years. All the open air parking lots keep getting sold and hotels built in their place.
 

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Too bad we can't teleport to these games. I'd like to use the same method to get down to Charlotte to see my family there. Ah well, were we telenovela actors we could materialize from place to place in the blink of an eye.

Maybe we'll get a clue as to whether or not our "lonely Alba" signed the papers today. Wish we had MELY watching this one. She was always spot on with the visuals.

MELY where are you? This one looks good.
 

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Started backwards reading the comments UP to the Recap, so I'm looking forward to Doris's great recap.

Yes, it WAS the office where Slime Guy went splat. I remember Gael or someone telling Franco to take Bertie home. So the office deck has wooden slats and the home deck has a traditional metal/wire railing.
 

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Re: the building skank guy "fell" off: We need Vivi watching this with us. She was always superb in noticing the details. Is she still here om the Caray Patio? We have not watched the same telenovela in quite some time.
 

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Excellent piece of work, Doris. Thank you.

So it was at the office where Slime Guy wandered in while Bertie was waiting to go to lunch with Daddy. Besides the wooden slats on the office deck, she or someone else called it the roof garden. That's why he could fall so far to go splat--even though from the outside, the building looked to be no more than two stories. Still, one would probably not survive a fall like that onto concrete, especially if the person got pushed.

BTW, Bertie did know Julian knew about Nat's H & R. Nat confessed it to her in the first episode. I remember Bertie saying, "Who else knows besides Julian?" I guess she convinced herself he would never reveal that, being in her husband's & father's firm, he'd come out the loser. The game plan changed when Nat wanted to break it off with Jul.

-Loved Franco saying "Your eyes tell me you are a sincere person." And your aside, "(I wonder what Franco sees when he looks into Roberta’s eyes?)" Clearly, he tries not to look at her too often.

And of course, the hug was going to be seen by Bertie. How otherwise was she going to be able to confirm that he has some nookie going on with another woman. Ah, Envy, thy name is Roberta.

My mother had a very irritable throat and she carried a small bottle of cough syrup to use, especially in the movies, concerts or the theater. She used to get all kinds of peculiar looks when she took a swig in her seat. Now her daughter carries around a small plastic (not brown) bottle with water in it because drinking fountains are become rare. Now I'm the one getting the looks--people probably think it's vodka!

There was that last BOOM--nice look between Paolo and Nat when she barged into Daddy's office. I sure hope he doesn't palm P's case off on Jul. Wouldn't that be a very peculiar twist.
 

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Doris--Vivi is watching Rubi, spotty on, but present and accounted for.
 

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Anita -
"I sure hope he doesn't palm P's case off on Jul. Wouldn't that be a very peculiar twist."
Oh, wow. I did not think of that. Yikes.
 

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Doris lovely recap. Probly "lovely" is
Not the right word to use. So much of
The ugliness. Including that plaid coat.

Julian is slime on a stick. And he is
Worst in that cheap lookin used car salesman plaid coat. I cant stand the way he Treats Paolo. I'm gonna enjoy his Flight off the ledge or cliff. Whatever berti wants to push him off.

They would have to spice this up by letting nat and paolo fall in love,and
Then he finds out She's the one that
Hit him, left him for dead, and went on With her life. Sorta.

I love watchin Franco and alba having
Hand sex.Lol. He is such a gentleman
At it too. Oh I can see we are gonna have so much fun with this tn.

Thank you Doris
 

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I am glad you guys are watching so carefully because I am not.

The good guys and the bad guys are pretty distinct in this one. No more frolicking in the sun and sand, getting visions , not combing your hair, and everybody wearing the same colors at events. However, Julian seems to have come into possession of Dario's wild wardrobe. Garage sale ?

I think that Irina looks better with dark hair. I a!most didn't recognize her with blonde hair in Dragon.