Thursday, April 18, 2024
El Amor No Tiene Receta #35, jueves 4/18: The Parent Trap
Porfirio and Humberto debrief Esteban's visit. Porfirio admits he was moved by seeing his grandkids, and now he's just confused. Humberto says, "Why not forgive him and turn the page?" Porfirio snaps out of his confusion and goes right back to being a curmudgeon. "He left when I needed him most! He is no longer my son!" Oh, well.
Elvira summons Fuego into her office for a little "about last night." He is the New Senor Disculpas: forgive me, I was out of line, I am not worthy, etc. She responds with some actual compassion, telling him to never say he isn't worthy -- but he is young, with his whole life ahead of him (well, let's be realistic: half of it, anyway), and what could he possibly see in her? He says he admires her tremendously: her intelligence, her beauty, her fierce loyalty to (some members of) her family. She wavers but pulls herself together: love is not for her. That ship has sailed.
Jeronimo goes to the barrio and starts a fistfight with Salo. They cause each other equal damage, which requires a greater-than-usual suspension of disbelief. Finally Gema breaks it up, and they throw Jero out together, which is kind of fun.
Gema then tells Salo all about Ginebra's bribery attempt. She threatens to spill the beans about the little girl they've been hiding unless Salo breaks up with Gala and gets back together with her. I guess we should have seen that coming.Nandy and Kenzo are in the office, "working", although since he never seems to do anything and she can't type and neither one of them knows what they sell, it's more like two kids hanging out in a treehouse. She has some goofy idea about dividing all the employees up into teams and having a singing? dancing? other random stuff? competition, and he thinks it's just great. (Please don't let that happen on a Thursday; I've had enough team-building to last several lifetimes.)
Talk turns to his kids, whom he misses terribly, but they're going to have to learn to respect him, damn it! Nandy agrees that respect is very important. He suddenly realizes that it's Filipa's fault they're so insensitive and materialistic. Ya think?
Paz helps Eder with his homework, which luckily is all about indigenous plants in Mexican cuisine. Or maybe she makes everything about that. He says he would like some day to be able to call her mama. Hugs; tears; let's not mention this to the rest of the family.
Gala helps Esteban plan a special evening for Paz, which unfolds exactly as you would expect if it had been planned by a 19-year-old Instagrammer. They ride a tandem bicycle to his office, where he bakes her a pie with WILL YOU BE MY NOVIA on it in icing, then he blindfolds her and leads her along a rope of paper flowers into the conference room, where he force-feeds her international cuisine and they make wishes on grapes. (I'm sorry I dissed the team-building, okay? Please give me the team-building!) He gives her a "promise ring" with a big ball bearing on it, so I guess they're going steady.
Salo visits Gala at home to tell her the charade is over. They both got what they wanted, right? To make Jero and Gema jealous? He has to get on with his life. They both pretend they don't care when they both obviously do. Elvira comes in and is gratuitously obnoxious -- he's on his way out, for heaven's sake -- but that's just her way.
Filipa interrupts Jero's gamecast to "bring him some water," which when he drinks it we can see is actually Coke, but whatever. She hits him up for a loan, and he says she really doesn't need any more shoes and handbags. Then she suavely introduces the crypto scheme, which he's not interested in, either. He lets her yammer on about it for a while before he points out that she hasn't even asked why he has bruises all over his face. What??? You have bruises on your face? (Note to Jero: If you want your Mom to actually look at you, you should probably wear mirror shades.)
Ginebra activates Mireya's bug so she can fake a conversation with Mauro about how much she misses Sam. This throws the whole Roble clan into disarray...wait; what? Ginebra is good??? Everyone argues about what this means. Monito looks like someone dropped him on his head.
After they cut the transmission, Gin gloats to her brother that Paz and her family will now be turning themselves inside out with guilt. And guess what! They can stage more fake conversations any time they want! Good times.
In other news:
* Gin shows Elvira a PowerPoint detailing how they can sell more of whatever it is in other unspecified places. Elvira looks at her like she just stood up on her hind legs and started dancing.
* Nandy tells Sam she has "croquetas en la mochila." Either she actually has chicken nuggets in her backpack, or it's some kind of expression meaning...what? "I'm in love with my boss and I dress like a candy store"?
* Elvira sends Fuego off to look for more dirt on Paz.
* Kenzo tells Nandy they need to talk to a lawyer about Sam. A criminal defense lawyer, I presume?
* Esteban gets a little frisky at the surprise party, and Paz tells him she's not ready. He promises to wait until the time is right, which hopefully will be somewhere other than a giant office building with glass walls and no doors and probably a night watchman. Dude, you are out of practice.
Labels: receta
Also, did Esteban try to get it on in the office? Dude!! I guess it's better than the cucaracha table (yeah, this one will go down in history as one of the best descriptions of a WTF sexy telenovela scene).
Your recap was simply sensational. Your razor sharp wit was the perfect accompaniment to this rather low key and shockingly cruelty free episode.
"Elvira looks at her like she just stood up on her hind legs and started dancing" was but one of my favorites.
"He gives her a "promise ring" with a big ball bearing on it, so I guess they're going steady" had me laughing and nodding in agreement. "Ball bearing" was spot on; surely the most hideous ring ever. But she loved it so I guess it really is the thought that counts.
Finally, Esteban and Paz have a few more romantic moments. Although the office setting left much to be desired, the spread was inviting and flowers were lovely. I had to smile that with all that amazing food to choose from, all they ate were a few grapes and a bite of whipped cream. What a waste!
Gala looked so sad when Salo broke it off. I can't blame him though, I think Gema could take him with one hand tied behind her back.
You have to give Gin her props. Her and Mauro's fake convo really hit the mark. Inspired evil.
I was surprised Humberto urged Porfirio to forgive and forget. I would have thought he'd used the moment to his advantage, creating more of a chasm between father and son. Porfirio is a stubborn, old goat.
Finally, "Nandy and Kenzo are in the office, "working", although since he never seems to do anything and she can't type and neither one of them knows what they sell, it's more like two kids hanging out in a treehouse". The perfect ending to a superb recap...
Diana
: Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 11:42:00 PM EDT
My favorite was "Note to Jero: If you want your Mom to actually look at you, you should probably wear mirror shades.)" Perfection!
Diana, yes, that was the ugliest ring I have seen in a long time maybe ever. At first, I thought it was a big grey pearl but no it did look more like a "ball bearing" ring as you called it.
It seems like Esteban left home after his mother died. Is that what Porfirio was referring to when he said Esteban left when he needed him the most? I liked Humberto telling him to forgive and forget because Esteban and his kids are the only family they have.
Really, Mireya? She starts to believe Ginebra's act after Samara has TOLD them how her mother has mistreated her. So, they all are not going to believe the kid? Are Samara's complaints about being beat, etc. at Ginebra's hand going to be lost eventually in a police shuffle to return her to her mother?
Pathetic that Felipa has to hit on her teenage son for a loan and try to sell him on cryptocurrency.
Paz tells Esteban she is allowing Vermin to stay at her home because he has had a rough time after getting out of jail. Really? She sent him to jail for assaulting her. Stupidity! Then she lies some more about Vermin and Rubio. You can see it coming: her lying to Esteban after being asked for the truth for the umpteenth time will come to bite her big time.
If Vermin really cared about his daughter, he would take her and and Paz to a hospital out of the hood, get them a DNA test and then confess to having sold his daughter. Once Paz had the results in her hand, he could just disappear. The Mexico City metro area has more than 22 MILLION inhabitants. He could get lost in that somewhere. Too bad for him that he cannot think beyond being a stooge for Ginebra.
Where to begin ? Well, first of all , I always notice the scenery . Is every room in Esteban's house painted gray with gray bookcases ? Talk about dark and depressing , Gin's bat cave reminds me of a warehouse. ..dark, industrial, and cold. In contrast, the Robles home looks like they opened a pack of Skittles when they were choosing paint colors .
I am glad that Hum appears to be a good guy and tried to talk Grumpy Grandpa into forgiving Esteban.
Lets talk about the bicycle . Esteban ( and Daniel) looked a lot more comfortable on the horse . I guess someone thought this would be a cute start to the romantic interlude. I appreciated the surprise party , but I couldn't figure out where it was . We seem to have a foodie theme in this show. People used to say " The way to a man's heart is through his stomach " , and I also used to hear " Kissing dont last; cooking do." However, I dont like to cook , and kissing should last .
Esteban and Paz...and I ...needed to get away from the mother in law from hell, the Mistress of Darkness, and the whiny teen for awhile . We all needed a break . I was as surprised as Paz at the smorgasbord which looked like a spread at a Tupperware party where the sales pitch wss seduction instead of refrigerator containers . Esteban was getting a little frisky at the end . Are they headed for the Ping pong table ???
Susan
: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 7:38:00 AM EDT
Porfirio will remain alone at the end of his life if he keeps this up. I remember someone mentioning Esteban didn't contact his father. But Porfirio didn't contact his son either. And if Porfirio is really just angry Estebandidn't stay in the farm, I don't see why Esteban should bother trying to communicate with a father who treats him this way. Even Gala mentioned this in the episode. Esteban is even aware of his jealousy towards Umberto.
Gema is pathetic. I have no patience for such women.
Felipa deserves a good punishment. Only I can't think of something satisfying enough.'I sacrificed my best years looking after you'. And someone forced you to have children? Can someone push her and Elvira down the stairs already? Porfirio can go the same way if he keeps up that petulant child behaviour.
I can't believe Miraya actually believed Mauro's promise. I can't stand it when they make good characters so stupid.
When Paz and Vermin brought Samara to the hospital the doctors found evidence of a long history of abuse. Neither of them heard the fake conversation; neither Mireya nor Lupita nor Pepa were in the hospital. They need to compare notes and Paz needs to call Monica ASAP.
Felipa is already getting part of her Karmageddon; she's put on weight since we fist saw her. As much of a brat Jeronimo is I was applauding how he called out Felipa's greed and superficiality (although he doesn't see his own, learned from her).
Paz needs a lawyer ASAP and it should not be anyone from the office who could be in Elvira's pocket. Or Ginebra's by this time.
I think that Esteban did leave after his mother died; that could have coincided with him going away to college or returning to it after bereavement leave.
Many if not most writers had bad parents. Think about Stephen King, Tennessee Williams, Eugene O'Neill...
It sounds like Humberto might be a good guy, and he’s a lawyer. I think they might need him soon.
I thought Ginebra had destroyed the bug. There’s not much point in planting a bug if they find it and plan their conversations. But I was sure they spoke just before they found it and then Ginebra discovered it. That should have been recorded.
Felipa was going to launder the money through her son. Is that what she was proposing to him. I did wonder when she would ask about his face! He had to tell her!
I wish Paz would tell Esteban the truth. He’s going to find out before she gets to tell him. Which might send him straight to Ginebra!
Elvira has no class. How can she insult Salo like that. I guess she’d prefer he be with Jero.
Liz
: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 10:11:00 AM EDT
Susan
: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 10:15:00 AM EDT
I’m nervous for the next few episodes. Given the lovely, ping pong table romantic evening they are experiencing, we telenovela veterans know the When the Caca Hits the Fan episode is very, very soon.
Monito’s expression was so funny! I had to rewind it so I could laugh some more.
UA, good point about writers with bad parents, but I was saddened to read that Stephen King was among them. Coincidentally, I am re-reading his Thinner book and last night I read the part where the main character got shot… no, sling-shot, through the hand with a BALL BEARING! Could it be the same one that’s on the promise ring?
R la O
: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 11:18:00 AM EDT
It was refreshing to see that Humberto is not a bad guy. I was all braced for his "want to inherit the hacienda" talk with Porfirio. But he seems to want Esteban and the old coot to reconcile. Looks like the hatred is mostly on Esteban's side. He outright talked about the "celos".
Sigh. Gema fits right into the well-known, "other woman" trope. She wants Salo enough to force him back to her with the threat of a little child being returned to an obviously evil woman.
I may have to FF>> through Elvira's rants. I'm frankly sick and tired of those scenes where she insults every member of the Roble family. She rants on and on about her high status but shows none of the good breeding she thinks she has.
Amen, Blue Lass, on the sophomoric courting scene Esteban came up with. Blindfolding someone to hand feed them is borderline kinky.
SO disappointing that Gin turned the tables on Mireya by using the device she planted to disturb the Robles.
There was an odd conversation between Gin and Mauro. Not sure if it was last night or early. Mauro asks what she's going to do with Sam. !Mátala Then in a short period of time she goes on about how she has to play grateful mother getting her child back for quite a while so her plan works out.
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