Caray, Caray!

Juego

#20 "La cuarta víctima"

while Ines shows Tomas the email from Mariana saying he kidnapped her, she grabs the keys and escapes, almost, but a big guy grabs Tomas by the neck and settles him down.

Alejandra gets flowers and an apology from FJ, err... Renata, so you know my mother pretty well FJ tells her.

and to GumChew's delight, Renata has sent some chocolates (but he is more of a gum guy), the Mayor drops by to thank him for his work with Renata who has donated a statue to the city, Blanco, err... Barrios calls Cami to tell her they won't need her statement after all.

Eva mixes up a dose of Renata's daily coffee (poison) as Pascual startles her, Renata comments, Eva is lucky she has no kids with Pascual, his genes are defective.

Tomas finished off his night on a park bench.

Escobar (can anyone with that name be a good guy) helps Ines, Tomas is sick, my uncle was an alcoholic, he shows her videos of Estela and Tomas, and of him leaving with Mariana.

Cami comes across FJ searching Tomas' bedroom, he found the receipts from the ob-gyn office visit.

Federico, the fashion designer swings by to see FJ, he id's Tomas as one he saw with Ana-the-liar at the gynecologist office.

Ray zooms in on Cami, insists on driving her to San Clemente.

Pascual goes back to sleep after a nooner with Eva, while she unlocks his phone and reads the messages from Kevin (the dentist), Pascual has told him THEY will be together after his wife dies.

Ines swings by to see Cami, who is gone, but is met with Renata, who has a "million" reasons to talk with her, she wants Ines to back off investigating Tomas.

Cami stops by the furniture shop, Cesar is googly eyed, she says Noelia has called her and given her permission to see him, Cesar says he loves her, kisses her, and gets a slap in return, and this is how you are raising your daughter, Cami is disgusted.

Renata wants Eva to investigate Ines, Eva wants to know if Pascual likes men, Renata laughs.

Noelia camps out at school being bullied about her mother, but comes upon a television reporter and makes a plea for her not kidnapped mother to call her and come home as her father has given her tablet to the police.

GumChew shows FJ the very private video of Tomas near Jacinta's, who blurts out in response, Tomas killed her, and Estela, and knew Mariana as well and needs to be stopped before he kills again.

Ray takes Cami to the San Clemente police station where she sees Linda, what?, and FJ who says Cesar's wife is Adriana, and Noelia's plea on the tele, oh my goodness. (are we lucky Ray is there).

 

"JUEGO":

Deb: Body Count increasing nonstop 🤔 ?

Steve Boudreaux
 

juego

Thanks so much, deb for the recap!

I was NOT expecting the plot twist with the dentist.
 

juego

MANY THANKS, deb, for another short and sparkling recap! I love and admire them.

My main comment about last night's episode is that, at least here on the West Coast, it started TWENTY minutes late! I've gotten used to El Señor running over by 5 minutes, but 20??? However, apparently Telemundo made up for this by cutting out the commercials. At least, I don't remember there being any. I wonder how the sponsors will feel about this. At any rate, the episode did end as scheduled at 11:00 pm.

GumChew gets more corrupt as the episodes progress. Renata has bought his loyalty and silence with promises. And the Mayor, too, is pleased that GumChew will do nothing that might make statue-donor Renata unhappy. Thankfully Linda Marquez hasn't (yet?) been fired.

Wow, the evidence against Tomás piles up. This early in the novela, that's usually a red herring, but I find myself wondering whether the writers are counting on us dismissing Tomás for that reason, only to have it turn out that he really is the killer. No, I don't really think they're doing that, but it would be an interesting twist.

I'm not at all sure what to make of "Kevin" and the exchange of messages between "Kevin" and Pascual.

Well, thanks to FJ, Camila finally learns that Linda is a cop and NOT César's wife, and that César is married to DAMA.

I wonder what will come of ever-resourceful Noelia's impassioned plea on TV.
 

OT/TELEMUNDO:

Juanita: I think the main problem is that annoying Big Brother garbage which drags on for 2 full HRS OMG.

Get rid of that crap & replace it with a Telenovela or two.

 

juego

Thank you deb for the excellent recap. I am slammed this week so do not have a lot of time to comment, but did want to let you know how much I appreciate the great highlights!
 

juego

Deb, you did it again! Such an excellent "just the facts, ma'am" recap!

I must say the actor portraying GumChew does a lot with his face. I feel like punching him when he gives Márquez that sly grin (about the benefits of friends in high places). The fact that she isn't as corrupt as he is drives him nuts. And he keeps thinking if he gives her the grin, she'll go along.

Renata is blaming Tomás on Pascual's genes? She should look in the mirror. Pascual may be a womanizer (or maybe a bi-sexualizer), but he's still not as rotten as she is.

I'm leaning toward Pascual having another woman who spoofs her calls as Kevin so Renata can't somehow see the name on his phone. It would surprise me if Big Ed signed on to play bi-sexual.

I'm sure Cami is going to be even angrier at César now that she knows DAMA is his wife and not Linda. It's still a wife, and she still has principles. And...in the beginning he told her he was a widower. César has created a big web of lies that won't be easily forgiven.

I got a kick out of FJ and Alejandra quickly realizing that Renata sent the flowers. And...while Renata was on the phone, Chuy got to overhear this. I WISH Chuy would kick her to the curb. She needs to go back to Washington, D.C. and do some work for us Californians!

Now that Eva has seen the message from "Kevin" I think Renata's life expectancy just increased. Not sure when, but I think Eva is going to confront Pascual, refuse to continue the poisoning, and threaten to turn him in if he keeps it up.
 

juego

I'll put up something tonight, probably brief. I'm worn out spending the day training people to do my job when I am fully retired.
 

juego

#21 – Los Buitres de la Prensa – Parte 1 de 2

We see Camila at the San Clemente police department, devastated, as her own brother pours salt in her wounds. He tells the truth about César having come to LA to investigate but he makes it sounds much more calculating and devious. Gumchew yawns at seeing a woman in such distress and walks away. At first Camila refuses to believe Francisco Javier. Then she turns to Linda Márquez, asking her how she could be a police officer and lie that way. The reply is that she didn’t lie; she just didn’t contradict César. Cami also finds out that everyone in her family knew about César and “Mariana”.

Elvira is watching Noelia being interviewed by the reporter at her elementary school. [It never fails. Whenever there’s one of these “reveals” on TV, every single household has their television on that station and sees it simultaneously. Aren’t even a few of them in the shower when the segment runs?]

César comes in, sits beside his mother and sees Noelia on TV pleading for her mother to return.

Renata, amazingly, shows a smidgen of maternal feeling toward Tomás. She’s very upset about his being gone. Pascual tries to get Eva to give her some tea [!] [Why is Eva there at Casa Del Rio anyway?]

Barros aka Gumchew calls Renata to say it’s now out of his hands. Even Tomás’ own siblings are accusing him of murder.

Tomás sneaks into his house looking frazzled from his night on the park bench. He asks Olga for help and not to tell anyone he’s there. Olga babies him.

Cami insists on having the interview with Gumchew right then and there. She tells him about Estela working with her at the foundation for years; and that she was the one who found her shot. Gumchew tries to coach her into saying that César was there. She tells him he arrived after Estela had been shot. And she also tells him that Estela didn’t say it was César, rather the husband of Adriana Molina who shot her. And Adriana was a known liar.

FJ confers with Ray and tells him he’s glad Ray is around now to “distract” his sister.

César comes to the school with fire in his eye. He tells the TV reporter that she had no parental authorization to interview his daughter. The woman is thrilled he’s there. She wants Noelia on the evening news. What she wants is more time to milk the story. César is furious and she has her cameraman record César, wanting to show him as violent.

The cops come to take Tomás for questioning, but money talks. Renata runs them off.

Alejandra once again shows her true colors. She’s unwilling to be seen in public with Chuy. When he says they can talk over dinner at an out of the way place and get to know each other better, she replies that he can probably make conversation about gardening. While she’s in charge of a country. [Chuy, the sex can’t be THAT good. Kick her to the curb.]

César scolds Noelia and tells her she shouldn’t have told strangers about their lives. Plus she gave her grandmother’s phone number on the air, and the nutcases are starting to call.
 

juego

#21 – Los Buitres de la Prensa – Parte 2 de 2

Camila comes to accuse César of murdering Estela AND Adriana. She tells him he’s a liar. He admits lying, but says he needed to find Adriana, at least for Noelia’s sake. But then he fell madly in love with her.

Tomás tells his parents that someone is framing him. He had no idea that the place Adriana asked him to meet her was just outside Jacinta’s place. She emailed him the place to meet. And he ended up being there just when the murder happened.

Noelia comes in happy to see Cami. [She’s had quite the attitude adjustment toward Cami.] Cami is sweet to the girl but promises nothing about coming back again.

Inés emails “Mariana” and says that she wants to give back the money. Just then a cop appears at her door. He says she’s getting police protection until the killer is caught.

Chuy calls FJ to tell him that Tomás is home, as he’d agreed to do. But the muscles in his jaw tighten when he talks to his erstwhile “hermano”.

Eva convinces some other woman at JetAir to let her snoop through Pascual’s computer. She’s more or less promised the woman she’ll “take care of her” when she, Eva, rises in the company.

Renata gives Tomás some big bucks she just happens to conveniently have right there in her safe. He’s about to leave when FJ charges in and pushes him. Pascual has to pull FJ off his younger brother. FJ accuses Tomás of going after a woman that he was with. Tomás retorts that she preferred him to his older brother. Whoops. Tomás gets punched for that one.

Cami offers Inés her job back at the foundation, saying she’s missed her.

Linda Márquez comes to tell César how things went down with Cami’s interview at the station. She also tells him that whoever is sending the emails to Noelia’s tablet is using some program to hide the IP address.

The reporter is on TV promising to pull out all the stops to find Adriana. And she asks what César is hiding.

Camila arrives home just in time to see the whole soap opera of the rest of her family.

Linda warns César about what all the publicity the TV reporter set off is going to do.

Cami is in her room packing. Renata does the same thing she did with Pascual, yank the clothes out as fast as Cami put them in. Cami is furious about everyone in her family knowing about César and DAMA and not telling her. She says that for Renata her children are titeres (puppets) that she moves around as she pleases. She, Cami, is leaving for good.

César heard the doorbell. When he goes to the door he comes out into the mob on his doorstep. They fire questions at him. He loses it and throws a camera on the ground. Sigh. This is probably fuel for their continuing to portray him as a violent man. Hmmm. Some of this is starting to remind me of the movie Gone Girl.
 

juego

Thanks, novelera, for the great recap!

There was a problem with my internet provider. It's thankfully resolved now.

I'm getting tired of the Renata-Pasqual-Eva situation. I want Renata to finally die and Eva to slap Pasqual and break up with him.

Poor Camila. I hope she leaves the house, but I don't this this will happen at this point.

Ugh, I can't stand Alejandra. Chuy, just break up with her already.

Also, I just have to comment on Steve's comment: " I think the main problem is that annoying Big Brother garbage which drags on for 2 full HRS OMG. Get rid of that crap & replace it with a Telenovela or two." ITA, just ITA.
 

Juego

Novelera, I love your snappy writing style . It doubles the fun of telenovelas.

DAMA was certainly the puppetmaster with all these guys she played with. I still don't see how she missed Chuy.

If weasly Tomas is telling the truth about Mariana emailed him and setting him up to be outside Jacinta's 's place when she was killed, perhaps crazy DAMA is the serial killer getting rid of other women ...rivals for her men's affections ? If so, other women are in danger .

 

juego

Terrific and snappy recap novelera! I laughed at this comment: [It never fails. Whenever there’s one of these “reveals” on TV, every single household has their television on that station and sees it simultaneously. Aren’t even a few of them in the shower when the segment runs?] It is amazing how everybody has their TV on the same channel!

I completely agree with you that Eva is going to tell Renata that Pasqual is poisoning her. I think Kevin is a woman, although I would be impressed if Big Ed played a bi-sexual role!
Oh my goodness Chuy, get rid of Alejandra. If she really is a US Senator, she sure spends a lot of time at home. The only staff she apparently has is a PR person, although we never see that person. Maybe Chuy and Detective Marquez will manage to meet up.

I do not blame Cami for her anger and hurt with Cesar. He definitely needs to curb his temper. The vultures of the press now have him right back in the spotlight.

I was sure Tomas was involved in the Jacinta murder but now it seems as if he is also in touch with the DAMA or someone pretending to be DAMA. I sort of enjoyed the fight with FJ. Superficial FJ could not believe that a woman would take his puny brother over him!
Thank again novelera! I should be able to do the recap for tonight’s episode.

 

juego

Thanks very much, novelera, for this delightful and helpful recap! You've covered everything so well that I don't have much to add.

Yes, televisions in telenovelas come equipped with a special sensor that always goes right to the key scene. Thus, when someone calls to tell a friend that they've just GOT to see this, the friend turns on the TV and bingo! there's the scene. Never mind that 5 minutes or more have passed.

And yes, Renata does for a nanosecond seem to have maternal feeling for Tomás, but it soon becomes clear that what she's worried about isn't Tomás so much as what people will say. She tells Tomás that she doesn's want her family to be "the talk of the town."

I was impressed with Camila's refusal to play Gumchew's game. As you point out, she makes it clear that no, César arrived AFTER Estela was shot, and that no, Estela never named César as the person who shot her, she only said it was Mariana's husband, and Mariana was a liar. Gunchew may not have cared, but fortunately Linda Marquez also heard what Camila said.

I loved your advice to Chuy! (And frankly, it's hard to believe that sex with a self-centered perra like Alejandra could really be that good.) I liked VVS's suggestion that perhaps Chuy and Linda might get together.
 

juego

super recap novelera, always love to read them!

yep, I flip tv channels a lot and when I glimpse something interesting by the time I get back, it's over and gone, let alone call up everyone in town so they can tune in.

I can see now how Cesar first showed up at the foundation, then was taken to the mansion by Camila. (Noelia didn't bother with any stops).

creepy Tomas sure has all of his fingers in the pie and seems to know the whole story but so far isn't talking. (I guess Cesar left the A necklace with him).

I'm sure Yvonne and Pluto have some interesting things to say as well.

label a guy a murderer and the women come running. (you won't be needing your car Ray, will you)

hmm, Adriana probably didn't mess with Chuy because he wasn't one of the rich and famous.

Sandra is the name of the other secretary who is now helping Eva.

the Adriana emailer will probably have a hard time calling Noelia after grandma ditches her phone.

Francisco Javier is such a flake, I'm glad he doesn't have my name or he would be accusing me next.

I think Arap Bethke (Cesar) makes a better psycho than a lover, in Senora Acero he was such a wacko bad guy the other bad guys got rid of him. I'm sure he will do just fine as Mr. Violent.

Noelia is the one running this show, can't wait to see what she does next.

also loving det. Linda Márquez, she brings a breath of sanity, always calming things around her.

 

juego

Hi all! I am working on a mini recap for the episode last night. It should be available by noon on the West Coast.
 

Juego

Novelera, thanks. You caught and reported every devious detail as the mysteries continue to swirl.


Deb, I agree that Arap( Cesar) makes a more convincing villain as he was in " Mujer De Nadie" on Univision.

Pasqual and Kevin . I agree that "Kevin" is most likely a woman . These writers like to stir the pot.
 

juego
#22 part 1 of 2

Detective Marquez hauls Cesar into the house and away from the reports. She demands he calm down as he is already a target for GumChew and now the whole country is going to suspect him with the aggressive response. Noelia is upset that he was mean to the reporters because now they will not want to help find her mom.

Renata continues to unpack what Cami packs in her suitcase. Pasqual comes in and tries to convince her to stay. Cami asks if he knew that Adriana was Cesars wife? Yes, he knew. She cannot believe that no one, not even her dad told her. She is leaving and if Tomas is a murderer, it is their fault as parents. Renata has another pain in the stomach that temporarily doubles her over.

Alejandra shows up at casa Del Rio to pick up Cami (doesn’t Cami have a car anymore?) who is going to spend a few days at her house. Chuy is chastising FJ for hitting his little brother so hard. FJ tries to convince Ale to talk for a few minutes as she acts demure and Chuy glares behind FJ’s back.

While FJ is helping Cami with her luggage, Ale the sleaze, slithers into the kitchen to ask Chuy if he is still angry with her. He snaps that he cancelled the dinner reservation as they have nothing to talk about since he is ignorant and uncultured. She claims she never meant to offend him but they can never go out. He tells her to get the hell out of there and she tells him not to talk to her that way. He cautions her to be careful who she offends. Like the sleaze she is, she says, I don’t know why I came in her and tries to walk away. Chuy grabs her arm saying, isn’t this what you came for, as he passionately kisses her and she responds in kind.

Olga enters the kitchen and yells “Jesus!!” At first I thought she was invoking Jesus but then I realized Chuy’s real name is “Jesus.” She scolds them both and then offends Chuy, aka Jesus, by saying what happens is my son FJ finds out? Chuy says, I am your son!

At the foundation, Ines, who now has her job back, enters and finds Tomas waiting for her. He is not there to kill her but wants her to escape with him. She refuses so he braces himself, gives her a kiss and thanks her for not betraying his confidence.

Pasqual tries to keep Cami from leaving the house and reminds her that he is there for her. When Cami leaves, Pasqual tells Renata that all this is her fault and she is going to find herself all alone. She tells him, nope, not happening, he will always be at her side. Later he looks at a family picture and thinks to himself, don’t worry, soon I will rid you of the monster.

Alejandra listens to the evening news as Cami gets settled into the guest room. She hears that she is behind in the polls and then the story about Adriana comes on showing Cesar angrily addressing the press. She calls Cami to watch.

FJ almost catches Eva putting the poison into Renata’s coffee. She looks very guilty as he asks her to bring him a cup as well. I don’t think Eva has the stomach for this plan anymore as later she cannot put the poison into the cup and remembers the mysterious Kevin texts. Pasqual finds her and tells her that the poison is working. It will only be a matter of time, nod, nod, wink, wink.

 

juego

Episode #22 part 2 of 2

FJ finds Tomas in his office. After some back and forth, we discover that Tomas did want to have a child with Adriana but not in the traditional way. She froze 5 of her eggs at the gynecology office so he could live his dream of becoming a dad. He did not tell anyone but Ines about this plan because he did not want Renata to find out.

Tomas speculates that it is Adriana who killed Estela and Jacinta. She betrayed them both. FJ believes him but it is too late, the policia are there and take Tomas into custody. The filming of this arrest was very dramatic. At least we know Adriana was not pregnant.

Cami talks to Ines and is disappointed to learn that she too knew Cesar was married to DAMA. Cami wonders who visited Estela in the hospital. She even calls the hospital to try and get the security camera footage. She gets a call from FJ, Tomas has been arrested.

Renata and Pasqual pull all the attorneys together to help Tomas. Renata talks to Eva as she reads the headlines about DAMA saying she knew Adriana would be the demise of the family. Cesar needs to be taken down too.

FJ talks to Alejandra and lets her know of about Tomas. He does not want her to suffer because of his family. She says her re-election is in jeopardy. He loves her but will step away from her to help save her career. (Maybe if she actually held a few campaign events instead of romps in the hay, she might be in better shape). She kisses him.

Cesar is back at the police station to learn that Tomas has been arrested for killing Jacinta and suspicions he also killed Estela. Detective M explains that she has informed GumChew of the emails to Noelia and Cesar’s claims that someone else is involved because both Tomas and Ines claim to be receiving email from Adriana as well.

This conversation is interrupted by a furious Renata demanding to speak with GumChew. Cesar departs the office. Renata stays to scold Elvis for not helping her more with Tomas after all she has done for him. Elvis reminds her that it was her other son who accused Tomas in the first place. Plus, Tomas is being held in LA, not San Clemente. She does not care. She wants to be rid of Cesar and will give him the proof to put him in jail.

In the lobby, Cesar runs into Camila. She claims she is there because Tomas was arrested (but in LA, Cami. Why are you there?). She wants Cesar to tell her if he ever visited Estela in the hospital, she begs him not to lie. We flash back to the day he did pretend to be Estela’s brother to gain access to her room. Cesar looks like he is going to lie as the episode ends.

 

juego

Thanks VERY VERY much, VVS, for this excellent recap! My captions were very flaky last night, and I missed a lot.

I originally thought Chuy had a pretty clear idea of what his relationship with Alejandra was and was not, but last night he insists to Olga that Alejandra really cares for him. Duh. Olga tries to set him straight, but to no apparent avail.

Then again, maybe Chuy and Alejandra are of equal status. We again seem to sense that Olga's involvement with FJ may be more complicated than merely long-time loyal employee. You report that she says "what happens if my son FJ finds out?" Chuy replies "I am your son!" Hmmm....

I loved your comment about Alejandra and her sagging campaign: "(Maybe if she actually held a few campaign events instead of romps in the hay, she might be in better shape)."

The scene where the police arrest Tomás was rather bizarre. I'm not sure what the writers were aiming for. I was just grateful that I didn't need captions. :-)

I agree that César looks as if he's going to lie to Camila about whether he visited Estela in the hospital. It seems clear that that lie will only get him in more trouble. He'd be much better off admitting that he did see Estela after hearing that she told others that "Mariana's husband" shot her. He wanted to clear this up, but she seemed terrified of him, and so he left. Oh well....
 

"SENOR 8" RECAP UPDATE:

I will be posting the recap of tonight's episode sometime later this evening, it will be very, very SHORT & a mini-recap so be on the lookout for it.

 

juego

Thank you Juanita for the astute comments. I missed the scene with Olga and Chuy where she was a bit kinder to him and he actually thinks Ale loves him. I appreciate you adding that tidbit. I am glad you also think there is something fishy with Olga continuing to call FJ her son in front of Chuy. It may not be anything and just a term of endearment but it is the second time this has occurred.

I also hope Cesar just comes clean with Cami. At this point what does he have to lose?

 

juega

Thanks again, VVS, for another terrific recap! I loved "Ale slithers into the kitchen". I have no idea where this relationship is going. And, yes, how does Ale expect to be re-elected when there's so much evidence of her complete incompetence. She hasn't been to D.C. since DAMA disappeared. Hasn't she heard of "opposition research"? These are the guys that will be running ads about her lack of performance.

I was hoping Camila would move into an apartment of her own, but then I remembered that this is a telenovela. People almost never live alone. If they did they'd have no one to bare their souls to so as to keep the audience involved in the plot.

IIRC we had a scene of GunChew blowing a pink bubble last night. The actor is working this for all he's worth.

I hope César doesn't lie tonight. And, yes, why is Cami in San Clemente again?

That scene where they arrested Tomás WAS odd. At first I thought he was imagining it. What? They had 8 or 9 cops with guns raised to take in the guy?

I think Olga refers to FJ as mi niño because she was his nanny. She appears to have a motherly feeling toward all three of the Del Rio offspring. I don't suspect Chuy is not her son.
 

Juego

Novelera, I agree that Olga feels like the three kids are " hers" because she actually raised them as their nanny, so she loves them and cares for them. We have seen these close relationships between nannies and the rich kids in other Novelas. I think Chuy is hurt because he is her biological son .
 

juego

"Jesus", what a great recap VVS, love how you weave in your take on things.

yep, they were about ready to start cooking in Olga's kitchen.

well Ines, you are probably the only one in the entire universe that might consider running away with Tomas, so he had to ask.

how about Ale's take on Cesar's family, "they all have multiple personalities".

I thought the arrest scene was a dream, err... nightmare since it just wouldn't quit.

Renata leaving GumChew's saying she'll go get the evidence to put Cesar in jail, hmm, I wonder where this will lead, I'm sure she knows more about Adriana than she has let on, but she needs to clear Tomas at the same time.

So Cami knows someone posing as a relative visited Estela before she died, and she wanted to ask Tomas, FJ, and Cesar, hmm, I was waiting for her to grab someone that could look at the security tapes.