Caray, Caray!

velvet ep. #75 p. 1 of 2

Since K has said she'll be away this week without Internet, I can start us
off with a barebones list of things that happened in tonight's episode. (Oops,
I tried to post it and was told it was too long. So I put some of it on a second page.)

Ana tells Alberto she's leaving. He urges her not to let Cristina win. Ana
is adamant. She wishes Alberto good luck and leaves.

Carlos tells someone he knows at a museum that he knows the guy wants to
enter the American market, and he knows the perfect thing: Velvet.

Mateo tells Clara to look at what's on the USB drive that her mother found
in the sofa. Clara looks: lots of incriminating shots of Cristina and
Victor. It's clear: Cristina and Victor had an affair.

Marga is waiting to say goodbye to Alberto. Enrique comes by and angrily
asks what she's still doing here. He orders her to leave at once. (I'm not
sure why he's so nasty to her. What am I forgetting?)

The dinner at Mateo's mother's house. It was likely to be, um, awkward no
matter what, but it was pushed from awkward to disastrous by the presence of
Mateo's long-lost father. Clara tries to be pleasant and introduces
herself to the father. Mateo's strong dislike and resentment are clear
from the start. He tells Clara he was only in second grade when his father
abandoned the family. Finally, Mateo's mother and Clara leave and go to the
bar in Queens.

Valentin gets down on his knees and asks Valeria to marry him. After a short
pause, she says yes, of course. But somehow there doesn't seem to be much
passion on her end.

Alberto tells Cris that she needs professional help, she has no control over
herself. Soon Cris is screaming "I hate you! I hate you!" Then she notices
that she's bleeding. (At the time, I thought she might be having a
miscarriage.) Alberto takes her to the hospital.

At the bar in Queens, the Velvet group is saying goodbye to Ana. Blanca says
she remembers Ana as a child making dresses for her dolls. Marga speaks of
Ana as her best friend. Raúl calls Ana "friend, muse, creative sister."

At the hospital, the doctor tells Alberto that the bleeding is normal in the
first few weeks. Alberto is puzzled--5 weeks? Cris had told him she'sbeen
pregnant for four months. The doctor not only tells Alberto that the fetus
is just 5 weeks old, but also that Cris has been wearing a fake stomach.
The doctor also says that it's important that Cris get psychological help.
Another episode could cause a miscarriage. (I suspect that this may be a
foreshadowing.)

Alberto berates himself. "This is my punishment. I did it for money. The
child isn't mine. I'm a lie, a nothing."

At the bar in Queens, Mateo's mother downs a number of tequila shots. Clara
eventually gets her to leave, but not before she has kissed Rick's father.
 

velvet #75 p. 2 of 2

Enrique comes to see Cris in the hospital. He sees that she's living in a
fantasy world in which Alberto loves her very much. He tells her he's going
to get a lawyer to have her declared incompetent, and then she'll no longer
have access to the family's money. He tells her it's the only way to stop
her from hurting others. (Do I believe that that's really his motivation?)

Clara is very excited to be the first woman to wear a wedding dress designed
by Ana Velazquez.

Clara tells Ana that Cristine wasn't pregnant by Alberto. She was only 5
weeks pregnant, not 4 months. She was wearing a false stomach. And Alberto
hadn't touched her in months.

Gloria comes to see Cris in the hospital. She tells Cris that Enrique and
Barbara don't really care about her. They just care about the money. We
have to find a family representative who will prevent them from having you
declared incompetent. If they can't have you declared incompetent, they
can't get the money your father left you. Cris tells her she doesn't care
about the money, she just wants Alberto back. He hasn't even come to see
her. Gloria says Alberto is jealous that she had an affair, and that shows
that he loves her. (???) Gloria tells her they have to find someone who
truly has her interests at heart. Cris asks, "Will you help me?" Gloria has
a Big Smile on her face as the episode ends.
 

Bahar

Well, it’s nice everyone is alive. Do I understand properly – are there suggestions that Evren might have almost let Timur die on purpose? Anyway, I’m very glad to see Timur is still among us. I really like the actor and the character is very interesting.

Looks like Rengin got her wish, but it includes the suegra. Unbelievable how everyone ragged on Rengin’s cooking. How rude. She had to dump a bunch of salt on the food before it dawned on them that they’d misstepped.

The new director Sureya is a real downer. I thought the gray-haired guy was the medical director and that he would disappear from the show when she came on. I really like him! But he’s still with us and gets to be head of cardiology. And what is Sureya’s relationship with Evren? Also, why did he show up at Bahar’s house, but when he spotted her, go to leave?

Why is Timur cool to Rengin in bed? Is he wishing he could get Bahar back?

 

OT

If anyone wants to join a discussion of Kara Para Ask/Black Money Love/Amor de Contrabando, we have a lively one starting up on the Daytime & All page of the Caray blog.

This novela has Engin Akyurek (Fatmagul/Hija de Embajador) in it. It was very popular around the world. It was on Netflix and Vix until recently and is available on YouTube in various languages, dubbing, and closed caption versions. It’s a great tale. Imperio de Mentiras was a recent remake. I’ve seen them both. They share much the same story, but both are worth watching for the differences. Here’s a chance to see the original bien acompañado.

Feel free to join us!

Babachita
 

velvet

Thanks so much, Juanita for stepping in to cover.

This was a satisfying episode with the discovery of Cris’ pregnancy plot. She is totally delusional and Gloria taking advantage of her is hard to watch. Only Carlos is worse than Glo. I hope their anvils are equal to their evil. Hurry Enrique.

You raise a valid question about Enrique, Juanita, I’d like to think he somewhat cares about his sister.

Barbie totally dropped her bestie? Is she worried she will get splattered in the fallout? She deserves some splatter.

I suppose the Andrade/Hernandez family dinner was written just so Clara and Emma could bond. I really don’t care.

How is Valeria going to get out of marrying Valentin?

 

velvet

Thanks for the excellent recap on your not recapping day! We appreciate it.

I would be happy about Ana leaving Velvet if it were not for the looming threat of Carlos. She really needed to stop being such a doormat, giving loyalty to Velvet such importance that she would tolerate Cris being vicious.

Yes, Enrique was really over the top about ordering Marga out of Velvet. Was it fear of corporate espionage or just because his nature is nasty all the time except when he's trying to bed Valeria?

It was satisfying to see Mateo's horrible father pushing Mateo's mother to bond with Clara.

I feel sorry for Valentin. He's just an earnest, not that attractive guy who's fallen for Valeria. And I suppose we'll be treated to Enrique getting some kind of a personality transplant so he can end up with Valeria.

I was hoping for a miscarriage. Cris's plan to hold onto Alberto is blown out of the water. Cris is NOT a good candidate for motherhood, especially single motherhood.

These writers seem to enjoy the idea that when women drink too much, they lust after the nearest human that has testosterone. We saw Cris go for Victor. I know she had a motive, but she was drunk when she began the campaign. We've seen Clara get sloppy and go after Mateo. And now it's Mateo's mother. [Is she Emma? Can't seem to keep the whole cast's names straight.]
 

bahar

It was interesting to watch the dinner with Timur, Rengin, Nevra and Parla. It was almost a move by move re-do of the scene at the beginning when everyone at the table is ragging on Bahar about not enough salt in the food and just being awful. Rengin even slammed the saltshaker on the kitchen counter in the same way. The difference seemed to be that Rengin hasn't been worn down by years of this.

That new hospital director surely seems like trouble. Bahar is immediately frightened when hearing about cutbacks. Looks like they may have some of the same problems as we do in the U.S., when medicine and healthcare get into the hands of corporate sharks.
 

velvet

Many thanks, dondi and novelera, for your astute comments. I'd like to raise an issue I somehow failed to include in my barebones account: the unraveling of possibly two weddings. The main one is Clara's with Mateo. They're about to be married and are already dressed for the occasion, but Mateo's mother (Emma) tells Clara that Mateo is going to want what he didn't have, a solid, dependable, loving marriage. Emma says this in opposition to Clara's wanting to see the world and have a position that she enjoys. This discussion takes place the night before the wedding, if I'm not mistaken. And the day of the wedding, Mateo tells Alberto that he likes his life as it is now, and he's not sure he wants to get married.

And then there's Val1 agreeing to marry Val2, but the look on her face when she says yes is not all that encouraging.

What are we to make of all this?
 

velvet

Juanita, thanks for mentioning the possible clash of goals of Mateo and Clara. You may be right that the wedding doesn't happen. At least not yet.
 

bahar

So, we are in the “nueva etapa” that corresponds to the second Turkish season. The dizi’s title in the first season was Bahar, Uyanmaya Hazir Misin? (Are You Ready to Wake Up?) The second season was Bahar, Kalbini Dinlemeye Var Misin? (Are You Ready to Listen to Your Heart). The third season is about to start in Turkey. I wonder what the title will be.

Cagla asks Bahar if she will sacrifice herself to take care of a grandchild. Why does someone have to “sacrifice” themselves? Not saying it’s easy, but can’t people have careers and babies?

How long will they drag out the drama of Seren coming to terms with her pregnancy and telling Uraz? At this rate, everyone but him will know.

The dinner scene at Rengin’s house was very interesting. Yep, Rengin got the Bahar treatment from everyone. I laughed when everyone did a quick sniff of the food and Nevra whispered it smells bad, we will starve.

They changed the dialog a bit. After Parla acknowledged her mom was trying, but didn’t have the touch, Timur said Parla was right. He asked Rengin, what was that chicken you made last time? General Tussaud or something like that? It was like you killed the General and brought him to the table. Rengin responded, why don’t you take some of today’s chicken. Timur quipped, why? Is the rank lower on this one?

Rengin, be careful what you wish for…

 

Bahar

Dondi – thank you for telling us about the full titles of the seasons!

Why are Parla and Umay fighting? They had made up before the accident. Is it because Timur decamped to Rengin’s and now Umay doesn’t have her family any more?

Now we know what happened with Evren and Sureya. They had met not long before when we first saw them. Were they camping? Anyway, she’s hopeful. She sure is nice around him and then strict and harsh with the staff.

The tribunal about the surgery was interesting and sure didn’t end the way I thought it would. Timur said everything was cool and Evren is a great surgeon. Also look at Sureya in her strapless dress! That’s hardly appropriate for work and certainly not for an executive.

Now we see the plan – he’s trying to win Bahar back by being magnanimous. Next we’re at the boat, and Sureya and Timur both witness The Kiss. Trope time! Looks like the two are going to try to sabotage the romantic relationship. That should keep us busy for a number of weeks, maybe the whole season.

 

Velvet ep. #76 p. 1 of 3

The episode begins where yesterday's left off: Cris asks Gloria to help her,
and Gloria has a Big Smile.

Clara is in her wedding dress (which may be designed by Ana, but I don't
care for it). But she's troubled. She doesn't know if she and Mateo should
get married. She needs to speak with Mateo. She asks Marga to cover for her
with their parents as she goes off to find Mateo. They see each other on the
sidewalk and hug enthusiastically. Mateo senses something is wrong. Clara
says she's questioning whether getting married will destroy the love they
have for each other. She's not sure she can fulfill what he expects of her
as a wife. Mateo replies, "I love you, Clara." She tells him she fears that
their love will run out. Mateo asks what they can do. Clara says "We can
call off the wedding."

Gloria gives Enrique documents saying that she is Cris's legal proxy. He
replies that Cris is in no shape to make a decision like that. Gloria tells
him that he may have abandoned his sister, but she (Gloria) did not. From
now on, you have to deal with me. And if you're thinking of putting her in a
mental facility, forget it. I won't allow it.

Mateo asks Clara whether she's sure she wants to call off the wedding. Yes,
she replies. It will lead to a more serious relationship. She then asks,
"Do you accept that you won't marry me?" "Acepto" he replies. They
hug. "I love you," he shouts."

Gloria meets with Alessandro. She tells him Cris will live in the Florida
Keys house. "We're going to keep her there and never let her out."

Clara tells the Velvet crew that she and Mateo are not getting married. Raúl
says in Alice in Wonderland they celebrate unbirthdays, so we can celebrate
No Boda (unwedding). They all toast to love.

Gloria continues explaining to Alessandro what will be happening with Cris.
Gloria tells him Cris is totally crazy and obsessed with getting Alberto
back. Cris will spend her pregnancy at the Florida house, expecting Alberto
to arrive at any moment. And meanwhile, we'll make use of some of her
assets. "Why only some?" asks Alessandro. "All," replies Gloria.

Ana and Alberto discuss what Cris did. "There's nothing tying me to her,"
notes Alberto. "Let's not waste the chance to be together. Think about it,
my love."

Sofia and Valeria are talking. Valeria tells Sofia that Pilar offered to pay
for Sofia to go to college, but she refused. Valeria understands, but says
"You can't not go to college. Which is why I'm going to pay for your tuition
and rent in London."

Alberto walks into Velvet and is surprised to see Enzo Casiero, someone he
knew years ago in Paris. Alberto asks him what he, the king of Italian
fashion, is doing in New York. Enzo says he's interested in breaking into
the business here, and he thinks the best way to do that is through an
established company--Velvet. He asks Alberto to show him the dresses of Ana
Velazquez. Alberto does so, and Enzo is apparently very impressed. "Raúl de
la Riva is an excellent designer, but this collection is better than
Raúl's." He asks Alberto to sell him his shares in Velvet. He tells Alberto
that he did a study of Velvet's failure, and he mentions the fact that
Alberto's wife is the creative director. "Leave Velvet in the hands of
someone who can take it to the next level." He reminds Alberto that the last
time they talked, Alberto wanted his own atelier. "Perhaps now is the time
to do it."
 

velvet ep. 76 2 of 3

Mateo talks with his father. The father tells him he likes Mateo's decision
not to get married. "Your mother was the love of my life, but I didn't
appreciate her. I abandoned you. I was looking for something better. Nothing
ever fulfills me. You obviously love Clara, and you don't want to hurt her
as I did your mother. Don't let anyone take Clara from you." Mateo asks,
"Want a whiskey?"

Alberto talks to Mateo about Enzo's plans for Velvet. He says he has to ask
Ana if she'd like to be artistic director. Mateo replies, "You should talk
to her before she goes to Paris...with Carlos."

Gloria tells Cris that the two of them will go to the Florida house so Cris
can rest. "I'll take care of everything," she assures Cris. She mentions
that Ana is in Paris with Carlos. Cris says that's all the more reason for
me to stay near Alberto in New York. Gloria advises Cris to give Alberto
some space.

Alberto is talking to Val. He's uneasy, sensing that there's something dark
going on here. He mentions that Clara gave the thumb drive to Mateo.

Alberto's unease becomes clear. The contents of the thumb drive are all over
social media, as well as on TV and in the newspapers. "Cristina Otegui
Exposed!" Clara is pleased. "Now everyone will know what kind of woman she
is."

Rick comes up to Sofia in Velvet and asks her whether she has called the
university. Sofia is annoyed with his asking. Rick asks Sofia why she has to
be mad at everything. Finally, he tells her "we can't be together anymore. I
can't stand your attitude. Do something with your life. But I'm not part of
it. (He leaves, and it looks as if he may be crying.)

Several of the Velvet crew talk about all the social media postings about
Cris. Clara is happy. Ana is not. Clara asks Ana whether she thinks Alberto
opened up this Pandora's Box. Ana says No.

Marga has reported for work at Fast Fashion. Pilar tells her she'll have an
office and two assistants. The first few days will be devoted to training.
But after that, Marga can expect to be doing a lot of traveling. "Be sure
to have your passport ready." Marga is over the moon.

Alberto is not pleased at all the dirt about Cris being bandied about. He
accuses Mateo of having done that. Mateo replies that someone had to. I
think Mateo calls Alberto a coward. Alberto slugs him, and the two of them
fight. Mateo is furious that this is the way Alberto thanks him. Clara
comes in, breaks up the fight, and tells them both to clean up for a special
meeting that has been called.
 

velvet ep. 76 3 of 3

Rick comes into the room where the seamstresses work. He asks Pepita for
help fixing something, a customer is waiting. Pepita says she's too busy. He
replies that it won't take long, it's pretty easy to fix. Pepita replies,
"If it's so easy, why don't you do it?" Rick takes the fabric, sits down at
an unused sewing machine, and slowly starts to work on the fabric. To
everyone's surprise, he does a very good job. Even Raúl is impressed.
However, Rick's father comes in, sees his son at the sewing machine, and is
quite unhappy.

The special meeting turns out to be called on behalf of Enzo Casiero. He
tells the committee, "I'm here because I want to own Velvet. Alberto is
willing to sell me his shares, but that is not enough for me to be the
majority shareholder. I'm here to propose that you sell me some of your
shares. I'm willing to pay twice their current worth." Gloria tells him
that as Cris's legal proxy, she can't agree to anything without Cris's OK.
Valeria says she's unwilling to sell any shares. Apparently Casiero's plan
won't succeed. Back in Alberto's office, Casiero tells him he already had a
business plan for Velvet. He was thinking of taking the dresses to Italy.
Alberto wants to make Ana a star. He says he failed, but he hopes Enzo can
succeed.

Gloria meets with her old nurse, Mariana, at a restaurant. Gloria
orders a $6,000 bottle of wine. She tells Mariana that today she is going to
taste a wine she could never afford. Gloria has a proposal "that will give
you so much money you can do whatever you want with your life. It involves
caring for someone." The waiter comes with the wine. Gloria orders water
for herself.

Rick's father is questioning his son. "Do you love men?" Rick replies No.
Pedro says Rick sews very well. Rick's father winces. Rick's father then
asks about Angi, Rick's sister. Rick replies, "She's a DJ and she works in
Queens. Carol, who I said was my novia, is really Angi's novia. You knew
about Angi, but you just wouldn't accept it."

We're back with Val and Enrique again. He tells her "You're marrying the
heir for those mines." Val asks, "Are you jealous?" "No," replies Enrique,
"because when he holds you, it's my hands you'll think of." They kiss.
Alberto sees this.

Valentin's mother comes with one of her lawyers to see Valeria. Since
Valentin is eager to marry Valeria as soon as possible, it's time for her to
sign a pre-nuptual agreement. "I hope you have no objections," Elena says.

Ana and Carlos are talking. He asks how she is. She says she's not well,
which is why she wants to get away from all this. Carlos asks whether
Alberto has come to see her. No, not today, she replies. He then proposes
that she go to Paris before him. "I can get you a private jet so you can
leave today. I'll catch you later. What do you say?" The episode ends with
this question unanswered.