Caray, Caray!

loli

Well, since no one has said they'd do a recap tonight, I'll try to put something together and put it up a bit later.
 

La Suerte de Loli - #5 - p 1 de 3

Loli has come home found the note from Sam saying that Loli won't have to worry about them any more, they've left. Loli calls Bruno and asks whether the kids are there. Bruno says oh, you've finally noticed they're missing? Well, yes, they're here. Loli, you're going to have to try harder.

Rafa tells Jessica they have to talk. They have to have better communication with each other. Jessica tells Rafa she's sorry, it won't happen again. Please don't tell Mom. And in walks Paulina.

At Bruno's, Bruno, Melissa, Carol, Sam, and Nicky are sitting around the table. Bruno says that last night, Carol came home in a patrol car and Nicky and Sam ran away from Loli's. Carol says to Sam, "I told my parents that the friend of yours went too far." Sam looks puzzled. "My friend?" "Yes, says Carol, the one who picked us up and drove drunk." Melissa tells Carol that next time, she should call her (Melissa) and she'll come pick her up. It seems clear that Carol's version of what happened isn't truthful.

Melissa tries to convince Sam that she and Nicky should return to Loli's. Sam is adamantly opposed to this. Melissa then suggests they go to live with their grandmother. Nicky isn't keen on that idea. Bruno, of course, tells them they're welcome to stay with him. Melissa and Bruno leave the table. Melissa tells Bruno that the kids can't stay with them. Bruno says they can't just kick them out, they're his sister's children.

Loli arrives, expecting to bring the kids back with her. She tells Sam, "Your mother wanted you to stay with me." Sam replies, "She no longer has a say." Loli prepares to leave without them. As this is happening, the goon squad returns in their menacing black outfits and black car. Loli opens the door and walks into the two goons. Bruno quickly lets the goons in.

Rafael and Mati are playing a game of ping-pong, though "war" might be a better word. Each of them is forcefully slamming the ball back to the other. Finally, one of Mati's slams hits Rafa in the eye. He momentarily can't see, but he nonetheless tells Mati he'll meet him in 20 minutes for a game of darts.

The goons walk out with more cartons of merch. Bruno asks how he'll pay Victor if they take all the merch. That's not their problem, they tell him. Moreover, he still owes them a lot. They can handle this the easy way or the hard way. As one of the goons says this, he illustrates the "hard way" by showing what looks like a nasty black tire iron. Bruno says he likes the easy way. The guy then walks around the livingroom, smashing vases and other decorative objects.

Loli goes to the cemetary to have a talk with Mariana's tombstone. She tells Mariana about her problems with the kids. With Nicky, all is well, but not so with Sam. Eventually, she receives a phone call and says "OK, I'm on my way."

Angie asks Paulina how things are going. Paulina admits that they're going badly. Angie knows about the divorce plans. Paulina says that if that happens, it will be the end of her image as a marriage guru. Angie tells her to remember what she says in her book: "Hope is the motor of love."

Norita asks Bruno whether he has contacted a lawyer for her to help her get custody of Sam and Nicky. Bruno says not yet.

Rafael also is concerned about custody--of Jessica. His lawyer tells him that custody cases take a long time, and it can be hard on Jessica. Moreover, Paulina is famous for being an exemplary mother. The lawyer says he'll tell Rafael what he should do. Rafa replies No, don't tell me to do what Paulina wants. The lawyer says it would be just for two months, until Paulina's book comes out.
 

La Suerte de Loli - #5 - p 2 de 3

We see a menacing boy and girl enter a seemingly empty school bus calling out "Come out, orphan, where are you hiding?" A terrified, crying Nicky is hiding behind the seats in the back of the bus. It's not clear whether this is really happening or is just an image of Nicky's fears. It seems a little too menacing. However, he does tell Loli later that the kids tease him and call him orphan, and they won't listen to him when he tells them he has a father who is an explorer and a spy.

Bruno is cleaning up the mess the goons made in the livingroom. He comes upon a framed photo of Melissa in a wedding gown with her father on one side of her and Bruno on the other. He then has a flashback of Melissa visiting him in prison. They communicate on the prison phones. He wants her father to get him out. She tells him that her father has disappeared. Bruno becomes enraged. "He screwed me, Melissa! Your dad agreed to get me out!" Finally, two guards have to drag him away from the phones.

Paulina and Rafa are talking. She is being conciliatory. She tells him she was wrong. He accuses her of starting the war, and she says she wants to end it. She doesn't want to continue to fight with him.

Loli has picked Nicky up from school. She tries to convince him to come back to her house. He is afraid. Sam will be mad at him. He runs away from Loli and dashes into the street just as a truck is coming. Loli runs after him and pulls him away just in time. Nicky tells her, "You were like a superhero! You saved me!" He wants to tell everyone, but Loli insists that he not say anything (perhaps fearing that his almost being seriously hurt could reflect badly on her?).

Mati goes into Loli's empty office. He looks around, sits in her chair, puts his feet up on the desk, and clearly imagines himself in her job. Rox suddenly dashes in and announces excitedly, "They're turning our programs into videos!"

Nora tells Bruno that she wants to bring the kids to live in Mexico. Bruno replies that she should consult with them before she makes any plans. Melissa comes back with Carol and Sam. She's annoyed that Loli picked up Nicky from school without telling her. Then she looks at the mess in the livingroom and asks Bruno what happened to the vases? He tells her that the contractors were here to do some painting and they broke a lot of stuff. She says she hopes he has deducted that from their fee. He tells her they'll talk about it later.

Carol and Sam retreat to Carol's room. Carol is amazed that Sam seems to intend to do her homework. She also apologizes for the account she had given to her parents earlier about what had happened the night before. Sam says, "Tom is your friend, not mine. And you made me get into the car." Carol says it's clear that Sam needs to have some fun.
 

La Suerte de Loli - #5 - p 3 de 3

Jessica informs Rafael that thanks to Sam, she's doing better in Chemistry. Rafael tells Jessica that both her parents love her and want what's best for her, and he assures her that none of their problems are her fault. While he's having this conversation, Paulina texts him and invites him to join her for a glass of wine.

Norita is telling people that Bruno is finding her a lawyer so she can have custody of the children. Bruno tells her she won't be able to take them to live in Mexico. Well, she says, if she can't take them to Mexico, she'll move to Los Angeles. Nicky wants to tell everyone that Loli saved his life, but she had made him promise not to say anything. So he simply says, "I want to stay with Loli." Sam insists, "Nicky and I are staying here."

Angie tells Rox that no, her show is not on the list of those being made into videos. She also makes it clear that she's the one who doesn't want Rox's show. Rox's image is not what we want.

Rafael arrives at Pauline's, where she has prepared a spread of wine and cheese. She tells him, "I admit that I was wrong. Confused. Angry. I want to salvage our marriage."

An angry Rox finds Loli talking with Mati and accuses her of not wanting her show to go to video. Loli respone: "What??? I didn't know they were streaming the show. I'd be thrilled to have your programs on video! You'd be a star! Tequilas all around.

Paulina tells Rafa, "I didn't mean what I said about custody. I just got caught up in the heat of the moment. We can work things out as we have before." Rafael tells her he'd like to work things out, but her conditions are excessive.

After downing a number of tequilas, Rox, Mati, and Loli play a game of "Never," where they claim they've "never" done something they have. Rox starts: "I've never slept twith two men at the same time." Mati follows with "I've never asked for a raise." Loli immediately says, "Why didn't you tell me?" Then it's her turn.

Paulina tells Rafa that she's not wanting to get back together just because of the book. It's also for Jessica. She'd like a better relationship with her. Rafael claims that Paulina wants him to accept everything she's asking for. Paulina tells him it's just for two months.

Loli says, "I never kissed my boss." Both Mati and Rox make disgusted faces, thinking that she's referring to Federico or Vicente. Then they realize...Rafael! Rox claims she knew it all along; "That animosity wasn't normal--it was attraction!" Loli explains that she didn't know he'd be her boss. She also didn't know that he was married. "I don't mess with married men or priests." But then she whispers to them that Rafa and Paulina are getting a divorce. Rox and Mati urge her to call Rafa and tell him how she feels. Loli doesn't want to. Rox tells her if you don't call him, it's because you care for him. Loli picks up the phone and dials Rafa's number. We see Rafa and Paulina talking about their relationship. She's urging him to think about it and decide. His phone rings. He sees that the caller is Loli. The episode ends.
 

Loli

Thanks, Juanita, for stepping up to do the recap. I haven't been able to watch the episode online yet.

You might have heard that the Northeast had a bad snowstorm. Unfortunately, besides 12+ inches of snow to shovel, the storm has disrupted my reception of Telemundo. I don’t want to commit to recapping if I have to wait until the next evening to watch. Hopefully, this weather clears out tomorrow and my Telemundo comes back soon. Anyway, I can definitely take a Friday recap and have it up sometime on Saturday.

dondi356

 

loli

Thank you SO much for the fine recap, Juanita. I'm late commenting because once in a while working from home is actually WORKING!

Well, I'm picking up a theme here. We have Loli, Mariana, and Rox. All the other grown women are unbearable. I'm starting to get tired of watching Loli, and sometimes Sam, being victimized by perras. How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways: Melissa, Carol, Nora, Paulina and Angie.

We get scene after scene of a gobsmacked Loli being pushed under the bus or falsely accused by these women.

I got a kick out of Melissa's horror when Nora announced she'd move to Los Angeles. Of course, that meant moving in with Melissa and Bruno.

I thought that Angie said that Loli decided Rox would not be streamed as video. It's pretty clear the self-important Angie thinks that showing an overweight woman would be bad for her vision of Global Radio's programming.

At least Loli cleared up her innocence with Rox and Mati.

I suppose they are meant for high comedy, but Loli's downing an amazing number of tequila shots is getting old for me.

It's pretty clear that Rafael is unable to outmaneuver Paulina and won't get a divorce anytime soon. And that the non-divorce will cause the usual telenovela distance between the protagonists.

Carol! She blamed Sam for the whole drunk fiasco right in front of her. And, Melissa, swallowed the whole thing hook, line, and sinker.
 

loli

I have been hearing about the snowstorms in the NE, dondi. I hope your issues are resolved soon. PBS Newshour had some footage of poor New Yorkers trying to get around. And that Governor Cuomo cancelled vaccinations out of fear that elders would be hurt trying to get to the vaccination sites.
 

loli

Many thanks, dondi356 and novelera, for your comments. I'm very sorry to hear about the storms you're having to deal with, dondi. I really sympathize--I lived on the East Coast for many years before moving out West, and I remember well shoveling snow and dealing with slippery sidewalks and streets. And to have the storm disrupt Telemundo as well seems more than unfair.

Yes, novelera, there seems to be an unusually large collection of perras in this novela. At the moment, I'm finding Norita the most annoying, but the competition is pretty strong.

novelera, I'm so glad you mentioned all the tequila shots. We saw it not just last night with Loli, Mati, and Rox, but also in the novela's opening scene where Loli first meets Rafael. And we're only five episodes into the novela. ¡Ya basta! (I also noticed the excessive drinking in 100 Días para Enamorarnos. I remember wondering how any of the characters got any work done.)
 

loli

Timely article in Saturday's paper. I seem to always be days behind in the actual newspaper I stubbornly insist in receiving on my driveway 7 days a week.

There appears to be a nationwide sperm shortage. Men understandably do not want to show up at sperm banks during a pandemic.
 

hija

I will do a recap of tonight's (Wed) show.
 

loli

Interesting posting, novelera, about the article re a nationwide sperm shortage because of the pandemic. I gather that was not a problem when Octavio donated his sperm to a sperm bank 10 years ago. I wonder what the "serious problem" is that has caused the sperm bank to contact him now. Perhaps we'll find out tonight.

Hmmm...Nicky thinks his father is an explorer and a spy. I wonder whether jumping from bed to bed counts as exploration. :-)
 

loli

Scenes from last night

While Loli, Rafa and Pau are in his office, Loli says out loud she’s surprised Rafa and Pau aren’t divorcing.

Armando and Loli are beginning to tear off each other’s clothes when the social worker walks in because Armando left the door open.

Miércoles – Parte 1

The social worker starts off huffy because she thinks the two are about to have sex in the Living Room with the kids around. Loli tells her the kids are having a pajama party at their uncle’s. She tries to push the woman out but then her cell rings with a robo call that Sam cut school. The social worker starts to get irate, but Loli lies and said it was Rox missing pilates.

Loli calls Bruno to talk about Sam’s cutting school and finds out that they are at Mariana’s. He doesn’t, of course, say it’s in order to avoid the thugs. Loli looks longingly at Armando, telling him to stay put. She was SO ready to jump his bones!

At Mariana’s house Sam can’t sleep. She’s tortured with guilt for ignoring her mother’s birthday.

Loli arrives at Mariana's. The insufferable Nora continues to insult her every time she opens her mouth. Nicky rushes in terribly upset, telling Loli about Sam telling him his father doesn’t exist. Sam is looking on from the doorway. Nicky shows Loli the sperm bank file he found among his mother’s things. Nicky says this means he DOES exist. Loli actually does a pretty decent job explaining the semillitas de papás. Nora looks on, horrified, and interjecting from time to time. Loli ends up promising Nicky that she’ll find his father.

While Paulina makes Rafael a late night sandwich, he asks who it was with whom she was unfaithful. She evades the question. [My money’s on Vicente.] They decide to do something together and it ends up with him reading, I think, the script of her podcast out loud. Paulina pours the old oil on Rafa of how he’s inspired her. She tells him he knows she didn’t have to work because of her family’s wealth [Ha! Not exactly a big surprise that she’s so entitled.]

Mati slept on Rox’s sofa because last night his credit card was declined at the hotel. She’s prepared a wonderful breakfast and asks him why he doesn’t go back to Arturo. Mati reiterates that it’s because they aren’t an equal pair. Arturo is an architect and, until recently, Mati was an asis-tonto.

Loli is in her office on a web site, laughing sarcastically at the company name: Seed Bank. She has the paper Nicky found and she looks up the donor number. Whoa! She gets a photo AND a name: Octavio Córdoba. Loli calls the office, and they say something about a breach of their site.

Melissa isn’t loving staying with her suéter at Mariana’s house. [I do love the way she says suéter instead of suegra. In this particular scene Nora was even wearing a sweater! Melissa is whining to Bruno on her cell phone. Meanwhile we see Bruno packing some bags to get away before the thugs can show up again.

Loli has Mati call Seed Bank pretending to be Octavio Córdoba. He confirms that the donor number is indeed his. Mati gives Loli a Duh! when she wants an address. “Was he supposed to tell the woman he doesn’t know where he lives?”

Loli is meeting with the same lawyer, I believe, who showed up at the funeral home with the will. She asks him if a sperm donor could get custody. The guy replies that they don’t usually try, but he thinks he could get it. [Huh?]
 

loli

Miércoles – Parte 2

Loli and the lawyer talk about the hipoteca (presumably the mortgage on Mariana’s place). Loli tells him that she sold Mariana’s car, presumably to pay a few months' mortgage payments. And she’d work something else out with the bank.

The lawyer tells her to absolutely be on time for the hearing. [Show of hands…who thinks this portends some disaster?]

Rafael comes to Loli’s office to tell her that the bean counters turned down Mati’s promotion (and the raise as well, I suppose).

Bruno is putting his luggage in the trunk of an Uber when he feels a tap on his shoulder. It’s not the thugs; it’s his neighbor asking him to take a house key and feed the cat. The Uber driver drives off with his luggage [What?]. But Bruno doesn’t mind. A light bulb goes off over his head and he quickly enters the neighbor’s house.

Loli makes 3 or 4 funny calls to a series of wrong Octavios. Then she gets the guy on the phone. When she mentions Seed Bank, he explodes about having his privacy compromised and that he’s going to file a lawsuit. Loli tells Mariana’s photo that this guy is de armas tomar (not someone you want to get on the bad side of).

Loli is losing patience with parenting. She tells Mariana’s photo that she needs to fix this problem from on high, send Nicky a dream, or something.

At the high school Jess and Sam are talking at a table outside the classrooms. Sam tells Jess she can’t study with her because of the court hearing. Jess notices Sam gazing at some guy. Just then Carol plops down and also notices. The muy perra tells both Sam and Jess that the guy, Gus, is one of the popular crowd and would never look twice at her primis. Just then Gus walks up and asks to study with Sam. But, of course, he later tells some other jerk that he’s not interested in la rara, he just wants to pass his chemistry test.

I’m getting massively tired of the scenes with Bruno/Melissa/Evil Thugs. Melissa has showed up at her own home, forget why. She still thinks the thugs are contractors (who also arrange extermination) and lights into them about their attitude toward HER, the client. The thugs then spy Bruno through the next door window. FF>>>>

When Loli sees the plant Arturo sent Mati because of his promotion, Loli is forced to tell him that it isn’t going to happen.

Rafa is in his office when Paulina walks in asking if he heard from Vicente. Just then there’s a text from Vicente telling Rafa about his in-laws coming to town and to treat them nicely because they are underwriting Pau’s podcast on Global Radio.

Loli, Mati and Rox somehow arrive in Octavio’s neighborhood. Rox is ranting about Rafa having been the one who shot down Mati’s promotion. Loli somehow has the correct address.

We see Octavio inside. He’s on the phone with his lawyer about his problems with Seed Bank. While Loli is griping about el imbécil de Octavio Córdoba, the door swings open and there he is!
 

loli

Thanks VERY much, novelera, for this terrific recap, complete with interesting Spanish and a bunch of on-target asides. I agree that Vicente is likely to be the one (if there was only one) Paulina cheated with. And I raise my hand to vote that the custody hearing is unlikely to go smoothly, probably because someone is likely NOT to be on time.

I was pleased to see that we weren't strung along for several episodes before Loli identified the mystery sperm donor. I can't say that what we've seen of him thus far inspires confidence as a father figure for Nicky.

Poor Mati doesn't get his promotion, and surely not his raise, since IIRC Rafa told Loli that her budget was being cut by 20%. I wonder whether that was Vicente's decision or Rafa's. Both of them have their reasons.

It's interesting that Telemundo has shown two novelas in a row featuring a protagonist who, at the start, does NOT want children (Demir in Hija and now Loli). My assumption is that, like Demir, Loli will wind up embracing being a parent. Though there's nothing wrong with that theme, I somehow wish that they hadn't run two novelas in a row with a similar theme/message.

I'm hoping someone will step up to do tonight's recap. Dondi has said she will do Friday's, assuming her Telemundo access is back by then. It would be great if someone gives tonight's a try.