Friday, May 17, 2013

Weekend Discussion: Las Mascotas; Animals in Telenovelas

We don't get enough animals in telenovelas that are characters.  We saw many prize bulls [Salud!] in Amor Bravio, horses in others, but rarely do these animals have names or enough screen time.  Animals are such big parts of many of our lives it's hard to believe that more novela characters don't have pets.  The mascotas in novelas, though, are often amusing and endearing.

In El Cuerpo del Deseo, the hero had a dog who was smart enough to spot his master after his spirit changed bodies (Dog may actually be star Mario Cimarro's dog):


Cuando Me Enamoro had a beautiful horse named Gitana that was much beloved by the heroine:
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Friday, January 11, 2013

Weekend Discussion: Bodas Interumpti... y otros desastres, Part 1


Part I

Sometimes I think there is a deal between the bridal industry and the networks that produce telenovelas. This thought first occurred to me in 2000 when Aracely Arámbula had no fewer than four bridal gowns in Abrazame Muy Fuerte: one in the bridal shop that she rejected, one for the interrupted wedding to José Maria, the third for the completed wedding to José Maria, and the fourth for the finale wedding to Carlos Manuel. Little did I realize at the time that this was close to the norm.

Here we will look at weddings that didn't or almost didn't happen and two which did but which will always be associated with tragedy.

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Weekend Discussion: Telenovela Villains; Peerless Evil, Part 2


Dirty Dozen #4: Sexual Predators

This particular class of male vermin primarily preys – or attempts to prey – upon innocent and/or wealthy females. His modus operandi can be seduction but often is rape or kidnapping. Usually perverse, and always achieving his most intense orgasmic experiences by inflicting pain, his usual motive is greed. Usually a smooth talker, often capable of moving in the upper echelons of society, he can get away with quite a lot before anyone finds out what he is really about. He may or may not be married, but he is always on the prowl because his appetite for others' pain is bottomless.

Who is the most evil of them all?
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Friday, June 29, 2012

Weekend Discussion: A Study of Novela Villains, Part One


Villains.  Where would melodramatic telenovelas be without them? As in grand opera, they are colorful and over-the-top evil, with grand gestures and outrageous fashions on the women and basso-profundo voices on the men. They come in distinct (stereo)types and for our purposes we will discuss them by classification. Therefore we will examine a series of Dirty Dozens to determine who is the most evil within each. Controlling parent villains will also include their usual surrogates (steps, uncles, aunts, grands), peers will include same-sex siblings, and there is a third category yet to be named. This week's Dirty Dozen – in this author's mind – is perhaps the most lethal of them all:


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Monday, January 09, 2012

CME Bonus post by Anita - THE DEVOLUTION* OF DR. ALVARO NESME



Post by Anita (aka NOK)

 

THE DEVOLUTION* OF DR. ALVARO NESME
OR
THE SORRY DOWNFALL OF A RESPECTED TOWN DOCTOR

*Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 2d definition—Devolution = Retrograde evolution—Degeneration.

Key—If the phrase is followed by or includes parens, it comes from the author of the phrase; if in brackets, it’s an editorial comment.  If there are …[dots] at the beginning or in the middle, the missing words were part of a longer sentence which has nothing to do with the appellation.  There will be duplicates—sorry, it’s a long list, but when they are noted, the earliest occurrence is used and subsequent uses deleted.

Our esteemed Dr. Alvaro Nesmé is introduced in Episode #3 of Cuando Me Enamoro by his given name.  However, CarayCarayers soon had his number.  He quickly is recognized as the:

Drunk Doc

In which Alvaro is called on to save Rafael’s life

the butchering Doc
the really bad doctor
Dr. Borracho
El Borracho de Medico
DD [means Drunk Dr or Dr Drunk, take your pick]
DDr
Dr D
the boozy Dr
Dr. Nesme…yo, creepier than ever
Dr. Nesme…constructed from spare parts
…pathetic version of Spiderus [used in Llena de Amor]
Dr Death [First used by Carlos]
…a complete putz
Dr. Doofus
…that hideous excuse for a doc
…said creppt doc [daisynjay probably meant creepy, but creppt is so apt]
…Dr Death is not only an a**, he talks with his mouth full
…creepy hick
…he leaves with his teeny tail between his legs
Dr. Bobblehead who has everything (except manners, class and the ability to turn down a drink)
FrankenDoc
Doc Scumbag
Dr. Creepy [and all the possible permutations]
drunk doc [dup, but here he won his first Mr. Inappropriate prize]
Dr. Slime
Dr. Dumb
El Doctorcito
Dr. DoLessThanLittle
Dr.No no no no no…
Dr. Dud
Mr. Slimeball [he lost his medical title temporarily]
Doc Distorted
Dr. Yuck
Dr. Dunce
Dr. Doom
the Quack
Dr.Flask-at-the-ready
Dr. Mephesto
Doc ‘only a mother could love’
DR. BOOZE
dr.donuthin'
Frankendoctor
Dr. Ick [or Doc Ick or Icky, became a favorite]
Doc Dipwad
Dr. DoNothing Nesme
Doc Dip
Doctor Dud
Dr. Lecherous T. Pervert
Dr. Yuck
…that scumbucket of a doctor
Dr. Freaky
Dr. Drunkard

In which Alvaro forces himself on Kari to cumplir el acto—to submit as any loving wife should

Dr. Do-Less-Than-Little rapist
Dr. Duh
Dr. Drunk
Doc Dropdeadplease
Dr. Do-Nothing-But Drink (and rape his wife)
Dr. Jekyll
…he is slime
…surely there's another snake out in the vineyard... one with the Dr's name on it.
…the Dr. is one of Satan's minions
Dr. DNBD [Short for Dr. Do-Nothing-But-Drink]
…her husband is an animal (AniMAHL sounds so much worse in Spanish.)
…that dweeby snake with the beady eyes
…that slime-covered, lying, wife-raping, tequilla-guzzling mata sanos
He's wooden and  must smell of booze all the time
Doc Dastard
AlkieBrutoNesme
Dr. Dork
Dr. Disgusting
Dr Rapey-snake [aka Dr. Rapeysnake & Dr. Rapey Snake, Dr.Rapey, Dr. Snakey, Doc Rsnake,
 and other variations that got a lot of mileage; Julia first used it in Llena referring to Mauricio]
…this is DOCTOR Rapey-snake. He takes rapey-snake to a whole new level.

In which Alvaro has a roll in the dust with Alfonsina

Dr. Doom and Miss Muddypants [Alfonsina just had to stay in the picture]
…'ole beady eyes
…that ba$t@rd
Egad he’s a creep
Doctor Drinksalot
…I'm counting the days until Doc's liver flops over like a dead fish
…awaiting an equally spinless, besotted excuse for a medico to "attend" to [Renata]
Alvaro, who got his medical degree at Jim Beam University
Dr. Death--looks and acts strange
Doctor Alvaro [spare parts man]…. no doubt he's made of seamless modern external cladding material,
            which includes the cheap toupee, no doubt a cover for a USB port.  They plug him in while he
            floats in his nutrient tank at night. [gracias, Mike]
…sure his nutrient tank will take any sort of alcohol, the stronger the better
…drunken, slimy buffoon
Dr. SlimeyRapey
Dr. Sleeze
Dr. Lessthannothing
Drunk Doctor Death
…that dreck of a human being
SlimeBucket Alvaro
Doctor Buzz Kill
Doctor Scumbucket [and other near synonymous terms]
…her rapey snake husband who dreams of boinking another
Dr. I [nappropriate]
Dr. Pus Bucket
Pusaro
Doc Al
Doc Pusaro Bucket [cleverly combined by Cap’n SS)
Dr. Dim
…agree..that the Dr's assertion of pants wearing is disgusting but it almost pales next to surgery
            while drunk, spousal rape, sexual extortion, threatening to murder a child, and of course
mincing about in those ridiculous pastel leisure suits and white shoes. [Carlos can really
get to the heart of a matter with just a few words.]
Dr. RS [Dr. Rapey Snake, in case any one has forgotten]
Dr. Dingleberry

In which Alvaro learns Alfonsina, NHW*, is pregnant
*Not His Wife

Doctor Dingbat
Doc Ding Dong
Nasty Doctor Death
Slimedog Rapey Snake
Dopery Doc…simply looks like a mishmash of congenital abnormalities and syndromes that
            somehow managed to survive [more of Carlos’ marvelously picturesque language]
Doc-Is-Shooting-Blanks
…this man just looks like a cipher
He just oozes slime out of all of his pores
His Snakiness
…what... could Alfie have ever seen in this miserable tangle of defective genetic strands
Dirtbag Doc’s revenge

In which Alvaro is missing in action during the Storm

…go out in the storm, look up and open your mouth. Drown, please, now!
Dr. Worthless T. Drunkard
Dr. Useless T. Pervert
Dr. Lump of wasted tissue
Doc is …as useful as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest
Stupid ass hat doc
Dr Creepo
Doctor Dim
Dr. Scuzzbucket
Dr. Drinkmuch
Dr. Drinky
Doc-of-the-bottle
Dr. Drinksalot
Dial a Doc
Dr.Drunko
Dr.Drunkle

In which Alvaro “housenaps” Kari, his long-suffering wife

Doc Demented [this label cannot be claimed by the Director of the Demented Facility]
Dr. Dial-a-Drunk
Dr. Drinks well past last call for alcohol
Doc Donor-with-a-b*n*r
Doc Disgusting
…it was pusbucket
…pie cart time for him. Can we slip a little arsenic in the pies, please.
Dr. gin and tonic
Dr. Lickyface
Dr. Scumbag
…that walking oozing wound of "human" flesh
…drunken Dr Nastynesme who murmurs Alfonsina’s name in his dirty dreams
Dr. Nesmenasty
Dr. Dreadful
Dr. Dips**t
Dr. Jack Daniels
…Alvaro takes offense, to this man [in the bar] and anyone in town he is DR ALVARO NESME!!
Dr. Never-saw-a-drink-he-didn't-want-to-guzzle-down
Dr. Killsthem
Dr. Vodka
Dr. Nesnasty

In which Alvaro is arrested and jailed for surgical malpractice

Dr. Nesmethenasty
…he could just as well been arrested by the fashion police for continuing to wear those 70’s
            leisure suits that he has in way too many colors.
…and the white shoes
Doc Creepazoid
crummy Dr.
Dr. Drunk and Drool
Dr.TankedintheTank
Dr. DrinkmeNesme
Dr. Nesme...convicted, sentenced, defrocked... and he hasn't even had time to sober up...he’s
going to be very disappointed when he gets the news.
…Dr Nesme will be pissed when he wakes up from pissing the night away
…Oh, I can see it now – [Augie] and Dr. Demented in their little white jackets playing
            checkers in the play room (complete with bars) and sipping their juice; nice...
ex-Doc
Doc Inconvenient
…he's a drunken, wife-beating, kidnapping rapist. Surely in this case annulment is in order.  That padre
needs to step up and push this, or Karina needs to get a new God.  [Man, that’s tough and we
haven’t gotten to cold-blooded killer, yet.]
Dr. Freak
…sleazy doc
…it's odd to see a woman consult her priest about having to have sex with her @%$^ of a husband
Dr. DastardlyBastard
Dr. Jailbird

In which Alvaro is revealed to be sterile

…e-vile Doc Do-Nothing is sterile! Bwahahaha
Doc Desert
Dr. Dried Up
Dr. Do Little But Drink
Doc Dirtbag
Dr. Dry-roasted
Dr Shooting Blanks
Dr. Deadsperm
Doc Esteril
Dr. LuckRunOut
Dr. Neslime
Dr. NesDeath

In which Alvaro is attacked in prison, declared dead, buried and resurrected in the third week

Dr Nasty [and all its permutations]
Dr PastyandMaybeNotDead
Dr. Dead or Alive
…really most sincerely dead…
Dr. Dopey
Dr. WhyIsHeNotDeadYet
Dr. @*!&#% is only mostly dead and not completely dead
Doc Badderthanbad
Dr. Butthead
…and was it really necessary to show this guy shirtless? Show full of hunks and we get this slime
            shirtless...gee thanks Mr. Director.
...useless, plague-take-it “doctor” had to darken our screens
Dr. Buzzkill
Doc WhiteAsADeadHalibut
Dr.Ickyshirtless
...whiterthangreysole Doc NotSoDeadAsWeWish
...greysoleex isn’t ex enough
Doc Zombie [or Doczombie]
Dr. Dreadful
The grey sole…is still beeping and pulsating
I will sign the petition…to stop the bare-chested doc scenes
Dr. Death Reincarnate
…where the hell is Dr. Van Helsing and his wooden stake to put a real end to Alvaro
DrDruginducedComaComingtoLife
Doc ShouldBeDead
…Why is this cockroach still alive?
Dr. Disgusting
Dr. WhyDon'tYouJustDieAlready
DrNotDeadYet
Doc OfTheLivingDead
Dr. JustDieAlready
DrKnowsSomething
DrDeathDefyingSlobOnaSlab

In which Alvaro, alive, is outed to the Padre by Jeronimo

Doc Invincible
… that oily skunk
Doc LousyBum
Operation: Doc Ain't Dead
Dr. Don'tTheyOwna NightShirt
Dr. upchuck
Dr. Abracadaver
Dr. Nesme the Nasty
…caldron of dead white… oh wait a minute,  those fish are thrashing around
Dr. ThankHeavensHe'sFinallyCovered
…dreaded doc
Doc DirtNap
The last thing we want to see is a reformed Doc
Dr. Overdueforcrossingover
DocIWishHeWasDead
Dr. PastyBalls
Doc-in-the-box
DocOughtToBePushingUpDaisies
Alvaricious
Doc NastyNames
Doc Makes MeHurl
Dr.Manynastynamesnesme
Doc WastedTissue
Dr. KillHimOffAlready
Dr Grossinstein
Dr. PastDueToDie
Doc JustDie
DeadDoc
Dr. DieAlready
Dr. Deathly
Doc IwannaBeFreeToDoEvil
Doc I’mSoSickOFHisFaceAlready
Dr. TooAlive
Dr.NotDeadEnough
Dr. DidYouHaveToShowYourFace
Dr. Fuzzy Balls-n-Chain
Reanimated Man
DrNotQuiteDirt
Dr. Creepy is not Dead
…return of the living dead
Dr. HaHaYouAreNotAWidow is not Dr. DustToDustAshesToAshes
…marido from hell
Dr. dirt
…the livingdead down at the jail, aka Dr. Nesme just isn’t dead enough for anyone’s liking
Dr. I wishheweredead
Dr. pleasejustdiealready
Dr. iwillneverdie
Dr. Iwillliveforever
Dr. Iamimmortal
Doc iwilldieeventually
The Undead Doc
Dr. Alvaro Nesmé - I just wrote that to see if I could spit out his proper name - I still want a shower.
Dr. AboutToCauseSomeMajorGrief NOT dead

In which Alvaro escapes from prison hospital, goes on a rampage and is rearrested

Dr WeHopeDiesSoonAPainfullySlowDeath
Dr PreviouslyInAComaThatDidn'tKillHim
Dr. Toonastytodie
Dr. Cockroach
NesmeReturnsFromTheDead
Doc Shouldbesharkchum
DrLivesOn
Dr.9lives
Manofa1000Names (aka Dr. 1000Names)
Dr. 1000 drinks
Dr. Dipsomaniac
Dr. Awful
Dr. Snatch&Grab
Dr. No
Dr. Shouldbeconsumedbyworms
doc Notdeadandgone
AlvarNo Nasty
Doc Unflushable
…runaway doc [and also Doc runaway]
…demon doctor who won't die
Dr. Drunk-o-the clown
He-Whose-Bucket-Has-Not-Yet-Been-Kicked
Detestable Doc
Dr. DrunkySkunk
Dr. AllVile Nasty
Dr. Awful
Dr. GivingUstheStinkShoes
NottheBridegroomzombie
He-Who-Should-Be-Pushing-Up-Daisies
Disaster in Disguise
Doc Please-Stop-Breathing-Our-Air
Doc DaddyYankee
Doc TryingToBeJustinTimberlake
Dr. WeddedBlissInterruptus
Creepazoid husband
Dr. LoserBoozer
Dr. OhShitHe'sNotDead
…nasty Dr. N
Dr. StealYourClothes
Return of the DeadLiving
Doc-StopforaSwig-Thenshoot
Dr. Psycho
…bad Doctor-not-dead-yet
Nastiness
NastyN
Dr. Dontlistentoherpullthetrigger
DocShouldbethestarofanautopsy
Dr. Creepamonte
Dr. Gunsucker
Dr. MyLiver'llBeLeatherSoon
Dr. WhatAWasteofAir
Doc PointShake'nShoot
Dr. Flask....don't leave home without it
…throw a match at the looney lush and he'd probably combust immediately
Nightmare on Nesme Street
Dr. HumanSlime
AlmostDeadAlvaro
Dr. RollinRatPoop
WishingAlvarooosoooDead
DocCrazy
Doctor PleaseDropDead
Doc AlwaysShootsBlanks
Dr. LockHimUpAndThrowAwayTheKey
Alvaro (refer to [Caray’s] incredible list for your own favorite alias)
Alvaro Nesmé (drop in alias here)
…booze hound doctor Nesme swigs from the flask or swills and slurps from a bottle
…resurrected Alvaro Nastay
…nightmare on Alvaro street
Dr.Dread
…may he soon rest in some kind of pieces
Dear Doctor Dastardly
Dr.NotMissingLookingAtHisFace
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,Yet-Has-Been-Named-A-Thousand-Times


In which Alvaro has a face-to-face with Renata and then sings his heart out

Dr. Alvaro McNasty
Nastynez crawls out from under his rock at The Rock
NauseousNesme
Nas-T
Dr.Dregs
Dr.DyeTheTopOfMyHeadOnly
psycho-perverted-lush
Dr. DreadfulShouldBeDeadful
Dr. StillWearingTheBadToupee
Dr. IhaveSeenTheLight
Ain'tDeadYetDoc
DocWhoWillNotDie

In which Alvaro is seen and heard less and less

Dr. FutureWormBanquet
Dr.soontobeWormbanquet
Dr-I-only-die-my-hair-on-top (thank you R la O)
Anvil Score (Nesme)=0. Nesme has to go. There is no redemption for this dirtbag.
Dr. Shoescrapings
Dr. UnendingObstacle
Dr. WhyWasIBornTodayOrAnyDay
NauseatingNesme
Dr. BirthdayBoyOhBoy
Nesme is just such a train wreck on all levels
Dr. OneUglyRatAmidstThoseCuteActingRats
Dr. JailBaitOhWoeIsMeI'mFriendless
…that Slime Bag

In which Alvaro is redeemed and Padre-in-training Antonio is the only one who cares

Dr.IrrelevantNow
Dr. N seems to be getting off easy.  His barbaric cruelty went far beyond his alcoholism.
Doc He'llAlwaysBeAFreak is suddenly turning "good."
Dr.WasteofOxygen
I was also hoping for bitter unholy defiance from Dr. Doom, not participation in a 12 step program.

        ***     ***     ***     ***     ***     ***     ***     ***     ***     ***     ***     ***     ***

Tastefully collected and repackaged by NOK (henceforth to be known as Anita)

Friends in real life

Labels:


Saturday, January 07, 2012

Cuando Me Enamoro #182 Friday 1/6/12 Sueños Cumplidos (Dreams Fulfilled)

El Gran Final

The theme song kicks in and it's the last time we'll hear Enrique's sweet "oooh hooo" over the opening credits. Then we jump right into the action. Roberta begs Renata to forgive her and they hug tightly. Fina (who looks like a flying-purple-people-eater) takes aim from the stage.


Berta sees Fina over Nata's shoulder and twists around just in time!


Berta receives a shot in the back that was meant for Renata.

Berta falls to the ground and everyone starts screaming. Fina is in absolute shock and doesn't put up a fight when Jero and Matias de-mask her. Nata holds a wounded Roberta in her arms as Gonzo cradles Berta's head and Regina yells for someone to call an ambulance. Fina snaps out of it and rushes to her daughter's side. "Why, why, Roberta?!" Fina cries. "The bullet wasn't meant for you!"

A trickle of blood escapes from the corner of Berta's mouth as she struggles with her last words. "You hurt me ever since I was born. Your love killed me." Fina cries that everything she did was for Berta. "You took everything away from me, even Renata's love." Berta sobs and then looks into her sister's eyes. "Please, Renata, forgive me!" Nata begs Berta not to say such things. "I would have done the same for you!" Nata says.

"Renata, I hated you because I didn't know how to love you." Berta cries. Flashes of Berta's life replay and prove to us that it's true. Ever since Berta was a child, Fina poisoned her against Renata. Roberta begs for forgiveness one last time before her eyes close and she goes limp in Nata's arms. Fina cradles her daughter's body as Nata sobs and Gonzo stares into the distance with grief. All the Monterrubios crowd around in shock and in tears.


Fina loses all composure and pleads with Berta to wake up. "Fina paid for her sins in the worst way," Honorio says. "She lost her daughter, the only person she ever loved, by her own hand."

"NO!" Fina screams helplessly at the skies.

Meses Después

Fina huddles in the corner of a padded cell, cooing to a doll in her arms. A doctor tells Gonzo and Regina that Fina has not come out of shock and will probably never recover from such a tragedy. Gonzo takes a last look at Fina and says goodbye for good. Fina cries as she recalls all the horrible things she has done.



Elsewhere, Honorio and Constanza take a stroll together. She is the happiest woman in the world and Honorio couldn't be happier either. Good and bad memories of the past replay and it's clear the two of them make will continue to overcome the odds together. Beso!


Over at Hacienda La Bonita, Carlos and Jero tinker around in the laboratory crafting the perfect wine. Inside, Manuela and Matilde help set up a baby crib decked out in shades of blue. Nata is having a boy to be named Rafael. The ladies chat happily until Nata's water breaks unexpectedly. Nata is worried because it's two months too early but the ladies reassure her as they help her out to the car.

Jero and Carlos teach Anibal the ropes of the wine business. Matilde hurries in to give Jero the news about Renata and the guys hurry out. Meanwhile, Padre and Antonio drive Marina to the hospital because she too has gone into labor.

Carlos and Mati drive Jero and Nata to the hospital. Tony calls Jero's cellphone to tell him that Marina has also gone into labor. "History is repeating itself!" Nata says. "My sister and I were born on the same day and in the same place." Jero does his best to comfort Nata through the pain.

In the hospital, Jero is right by Nata's side as baby Rafael is born happy and healthy, if two months early. The happy family welcomes their little boy into the world.


Across the hall, Marina is having a difficult time and they have to perform an emergency C-Section. The babies are in distress. A nurse comes to get Jero, which leaves Nata to have some quality bonding time with her baby.

The doctor tells Jero that he is worried about Marina's condition. The babies will probably be fine but Marina's body is absorbing the amitotic fluid; the fluid has contaminated her lungs and could cause them to collapse.

Nata chats contentedly with Mati and Carlos. Baby Rafael is safe in an incubator. Carlos muses that it must be marvelous to be a parent. Matilde agrees and can't wait to make babies with Carlos. Gonzo and Regina call and Nata tells them they're officially grandparents.

Jero coos over his twin baby girls when Marina wakes. She cries as she holds them both but suddenly has trouble breathing. Marina asks to talk to Renata as soon as possible.

Jero wastes no time in grabbing a wheelchair for Nata and bringing her into Marina's room. Nata holds Marina's hand and tries to reassure her that everything will be okay. Sadly, Marina is a doctor and she knows exactly what's happening to her. Marina asks Nata to take care of her daughters. "You can become their mother. Love them like they were your own daughters."

Jero and Nata remain firmly in denial that Marina is dying but she is persistent. "I wish it were true that I was going to live. I would have loved to raise my daughters and watch them grow up. At least you will have the privilege of being a mother, Renata. I will be a part of their past, Jero, but you and Nata are their future. I could never find better hands to leave them in." By now, everyone (including me) is crying copiously. Nata promises with her whole heart to love and care for Marina's daughters.

Jero caresses Marina's hair as she starts fading away. "Jero, you were the love of my life. You gave me the most beautiful gift in the world by making me a mother. Take care of them and protect them." Jero swears on his life that their daughters will know how much their mother loved them. The last thing Marina asks is that one of the babies be named after her and the other be named Irene after Marina's own mother.

Jero and Nata sob as they promise to fulfill Marina's requests. The three of them hold hands as Marina passes away in peace.


Nata and Jero beg Marina not to die but it's not to be. "Sevillanas Del Adios" plays while Nata and Jero grieve.

After the grieving process that is the commercial break, we're back at the mental hospital. Fina walks around the courtyard and sees a vision of Roberta, looking ghostly in a cranberry colored dress.


"I thought you were dead!" Fina says. "I didn't die. You killed me." Berta says cooly.

Split second second flashes of Berta's death appear. "Of course you killed me. Your hate for Renata finally ending by destroying me." Fina squeaks she only wanted the best for Berta. "Love is the best thing in the world, Mamá, but you never knew how to love. Thank God I repented before I died; it made all the difference because I am in peace far away from you. Gonzo, Regina, and Renata's love saved me. You and I will never be reunited again."

Fina cries that she will never let Berta go but Berta stays strong. "I paid my dues. You no longer have the power to control my life or my soul. You were the architect of your own destiny." Berta cries as she says goodbye to her madre one last time. Fina pleads with Berta not to leave and tries to hug her but Berta dissolves before Fina can touch her.


Fina is left to wander, cry, and scream for Berta as ominous voices hum in the background. She rants and raves until the nurses come to sedate her. Fina will remain in the hospital, eaten alive with grief and guilt until the day she dies.

Gonzo, Constanza, and Honorio chat at a cafe and are joined by Matias and Adriana. They just came from the doctor's office and have great news: they are having a baby! Gonzo, Connie, and Hon are beside themselves with happiness. (In one way or another, the baby will be blood related to all three of them: Gonzo and Hon's grandchild and Connie's second niece/nephew. Telenovela genetics!) "It's the beginning of a new generation of Monterrubios!" Gonzo exclaims. Adri is proud to call herself part of the family. Everyone celebrates their good fortune.

Años Después

Years later at La Bonita, Rafael has grown into a handsome little boy and identical twins Marina and Irene are equally adorable. Renata joins them in the living room with a baby girl in her arms (who I assume has to be named Regina).



Abuela Regina helps wrangle the kids because today they're having a huge family reunion at The Wine Fair (La Feria del Vino, the same lovely festival where Nata and Jero stomped grapes together years before). Nata is doubly excited because Jero is going to present their new wine: San Rafael, named after their son.

The festival is in full swing and absolutely everyone is there to celebrate. Gonzo arrives with Honorio and Constanza, who have their grandchildren with them. Hon holds his granddaughter's hand while Connie holds her baby grandson.


Adriana and Matias stroll with them proudly. Connie remarks on Gonzo's status as an Awesome Grandpa because he has five grandchildren by Nata and Jero and two by Matias and Adri. Gonzo is happy to have seven healthy, happy grandchildren. Honorio admits he never imagined how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren. He's crazy about them!

Ines and Isidro chat by the bar and Andrescito has grown into a dashingly handsome young man. Isidro wears Ines down into allowing Andres to have a glass of wine. Ines gushes to Connie about how proud she is of Andres; he's going to medical school next year to help children with cancer who are going through what he did.

More arrivals to the party: Alfonsina (in a fetching orange gown) with young Luz in tow, Lazaro and Karina with a son the spitting image of Laz, and Matilde with a slumbering toddler in her arms. These are some seriously fertile lands at La Bonita!


Carlos, Jero, Anibal, and Alison wait anxious at their table for the judges of the wine tasting. A few scary-looking guys in suits do all kinds of pretentious things to Jero's sample and then move on.

Nata and her brood arrive and Jero wastes no time in showering everyone with love. The results of the wine judging are in: the winner is Vino San Rafael from Hacienda La Bonita! Cheers erupt as Jero, Lazaro, and Carlos hop onto the stage to accept the award.

Jero thanks the judges for their recognition and dedicates the award to the memory of his brother Rafael. Without him, Jero never would have come to live on such blessed land. Clips from Jero and Rafa's childhood play as Jero continues his speech. Thanks to Rafa, Jero meant the love of his life. "That's me!" Nata shouts from the crowd. LOL.

Jero thanks all the hacienda workers, especially his great friends and co-workers Carlos and Lazaro. "I loved my brother and I loved my brother's dreams. We will defend his land and all his ideas. This is for you, Rafa!"

The festivities at an end, Renata and Jero spend precious time in the fields with their children. Each of them crisply dressed in traditional white clothing, they stomp grapes together as a joyous and united family.



As their love story comes to a close, Renata and Jero stand alone in the grape stomping pit at sundown. The theme song plays triumphantly in the background.


"You are the sum of all my dreams," Jero says. "Thank you for making me feel what I had never felt before. I am much more in love with you than the first day I met you."
"And I with you." Renata agrees.
"Why?" Jero asks.
"Porque cuando me enamoro, se detiene el tiempo." They say in unison.
"Because when I fall in love, time stops."


Renata and Jero kiss passionately in front of the glorious setting sun as we say goodbye to a story well told.


Queridos amigos, I'm so honored to have been a recapper for you. This show has gotten me through some hard times and some great times - I'm sad to see it go. It feels like saying goodbye to an old friend.

To recappers Cheryl, Jules, Elna June, Lila, Marta Ivette, Sylvia, Carlos, Vivi, and absolutely every commenter: thank you so much for your wit, conversation, and friendship. I'm so proud to be part of this community and having someone to laugh and cry with is priceless. I will miss our daily chats like crazy but you'll always be able to find me lurking around. I am a proud telenovela addict and will never be able to give it up completely.

Now let's party!

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