Saturday, July 16, 2011
El Mundo de Telemundo, Week of July 18, 2011: Discuss Amongst Yourselves
HEREDEROS - Gran Final
This train wreck finally ended. Can you believe that this was the one day my TiVo failed to record the program? I had to go over to my Mom's to watch it. But I had to turn down the sound at the end, it was so ghastly. This was perfect example of how bad writing can ruin the advantages of a talented and attractive cast and a beautiful setting. And they didn't really have any excuse. This novela was based on a Chilean one called Los Hijos del Monte. After Herederos had been on for a while, I looked up Hijos. Based on the two sentence descriptions of each episode, Herederos followed its plot or should I say non-plot exactly except for the fact that Emilio del Monte wasn't dead. Once Emilio/Pablo showed up, the story veered away from that of Hijos but by then it was too late. No basis in the story or characters had been laid for new plot developments. The two villians - Jose and Julieta were pathetic. There were zero interesting or surprising developments about the back story of the brothers, or the loans Juan made to Miguel and his business problems, or anything. It was pathetic and the finale was typical.
Consuelo tells Johnny that she was raped and he says nothing. She decides to leave and sort of goes into labor.
Paula finds out her baby was stolen. Fortunately, Consuelo shows up at the hospital to tell her that she saw Julieta leaving with a baby. Juan calls out the cavalry and there is a lot of footage of guys and then Paula too, driving around. There is an exciting chase scene when Jose threatens to throw the baby off a cliff and then he and Julieta leap to their deaths as Juan grabs the baby. Ooops, wrong show. No excitement. We just see Juan demand the baby from a stopped car and then being handed the baby without protest.
Meanwhile Consuelo is in labor in the hospital waiting room and no one is helping her. 'Don't they have any staff at this hospital? asked my Mother. Johnny tells Consuelo that he will love the baby like his own child. Finally, Consuelo is wheeled off to the delivery room. The baby is two months premature. Are there any problems with that? Apparently not.
Then we pop ahead one year to have a repeat of the opening episode - an engagement party. They show Juan, mercifully hatless, on a horse with the baby but fortunately don't show him galloping along like that. Lupe and Berta are both preggers and Gaspar has had a complete personality transformation. Beatriz is happy with Pedro; Adela is with Efrain. Only poor Amador gets nobody.
There is an extremely stupid attempt at suspense when two women arrive by helicopter. One of them who is dressed in red like Paula when she arrived announces that she is Lulu del Monte, Juan's sister. But it's just a joke by those funny del Monte brothers. The other woman is a judge come to marry Juan and Paula.
We see Nacho and Jose working on the rockpile in prison. Then Julieta in jail for five years. But her lawyer looked just like Juan and he proposed marriage to her. So we don't even get the satisfaction of having Julieta die. I was hoping she might collapse after giving back the baby and then die of a recurrent brain tumor. No such luck.
I guess I'll watch Flor Salvaje. The others are too far along to start on now.
Over to you.
Labels: casa-lado, herederos, insiste, telemundo
Saturday, July 09, 2011
El Mundo de Telemundo, Week of July 11, 2011: Discuss Amongst Yourselves
¡Hóla a todos! I had a great time in Iceland. Thanks to Novela Maven for taking my turn to do our weekly post.
Here are some pics from my trip.
A seaside town in western Iceland.
Everybody's favorite: a Puffin! You can't tell in this picture that the Puffin is on the edge of a cliff where the wind was blowing 50 miles/hour.
Typical Iceland scenery.
Ditto.
Ditto.
A Red-throated Loon and her chick. Red-throated Loons are common breeding birds in Iceland. I've seen them in States in their winter or non-breeding plumage.
This is me facing the camera with some of our group looking for a Snowy Owl on a typical summer day in Iceland. We couldn't get to where the owl was because the road was closed by snow. (This was a relatively high elevation in the north of Iceland - sometimes it gets to 60 degrees in Reykjavik.)
These are female Common Eiders and their chicks. Eiderdown is made from the downy feathers they line their nests with.
Typical Iceland scene.
This is the geysir Strókker erupting. You only see one little string that keeps people from going right up to where boiling hot water shoots out. This would never happen in the US.
There was a guy from Venezuela on the tour and he would not speak Spanish to me. He was the only Spanish speaking person I have met who wasn't interested that I spoke Spanish. It was disappointing.
This is the geysir Strókker erupting. You only see one little string that keeps people from going right up to where boiling hot water shoots out. This would never happen in the US.
There was a guy from Venezuela on the tour and he would not speak Spanish to me. He was the only Spanish speaking person I have met who wasn't interested that I spoke Spanish. It was disappointing.
OK on to Telemundo:
HEREDEROS - viernes
One week to go on this one and Friday was an episode of revelations.
Juan, Paula and Sofía returned to La Arboleda. Juan and Paula had a private interview with Emilio while the other brothers waited impatiently downstairs. Jose tried to convince the others that J & P were cutting some special inheritance deal with Emilio but nobody was buying.
Emilio told Paula that he had always known that she wasn't his biological daughter. He fathered Juan and then had an illness that left him sterile. Big relief for Juan and Paula (but I would still get a DNA test.) Emilio said that he liked Sofía and wanted a daughter so he accepted her as his child.
Then Paula leaves and Emilio tells Juan about his mother. She was a peasant (campesina). He took her baby from her and then she committed suicide. Juan is really bummed that the father he respects so much could have done such an evil thing. Later Modesto tells Juan that his mother was unstable mentally and might have hurt Emilio or him.
Paula is with Adela and Sofía when Jose comes up and accuses her of pretending to be Emilio's daughter to get an inheritance. Adela scornfully replies that Emilio has always known that Paula was not his biological child. Both Jose and Sofía are impactados at this.
Lupe is still in domestic abuse victim denial mode and Berta is still trying to talk her into accusing Gaspar.
Johnny tries to figure out what is going on with Consuelo. He concludes that she doesn't love him. She denies this and finally admits that she's pregnant but not that she was raped. He is not that excited about the news because he believes (but of course has not told Consuelo) that he is sterile.
Finally, Miguel overhears Rosario and Consuelo talking about the fact that they were both raped. He goes ballistic.
Over to you for Corazon and La Casa.
Labels: casa-lado, herederos, insiste, telemundo
Friday, July 01, 2011
El Mundo de Telemundo, Week of 7/4/11: Discuss Amongst Yourselves
Have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July, everyone! Jean is off on a birding adventure in Iceland. And I’m not. Oh well. The page is yours!
Labels: casa-lado, herederos, insiste, telemundo
Saturday, June 25, 2011
El Mundo de Telemundo – Week of June 26, 2011: Discuss Amongst Yourselves
Herederos del Monte is in its últimas semanas and according to the station promos, Flor Salvaje is on deck as its replacement. The new novela is being produced jointly by Telemundo and RTI in Colombia. Starring Mónica Spears, a gorgeous former Miss Venezuela, the novela also features several actors familiar to fans of El Clon, most notably Roberto Manrique (Alejo in El Clon). Further down the cast list are Indira Serrano (Dora in El Clon); Geraldine Zivic (Cristina in El Clon); and Juan Pablo Raba (Said in El Clon). And Herederos fans will recognize José Luis Reséndez (José del Monte).
The Flor of the title, Amanda Monteverde, is driven by desperation to look for work in a down and dirty cabaret where she will find love and lust and envy and friendship and malice – (there is even a character named ‘Alicia’ whom everyone calls ‘Malicia’!)
So. As we’ve learned – sometimes to our delight, as in the case of La Reina del Sur, but more often to our chagrin, as in Aurora – it’s the writing, stupid. Stay tuned.
La Casa de al Lado: I’m still following this one but for how long, I don’t know. The plot twists have become irritating rather than suspenseful or shocking. We’ve all remarked, in one way or another, that there are no truly likeable characters even if there are a few pretty good actors. There’s not even a good musical hook, a theme song that grabs you and keeps you watching, even when you know the song is better than the show. I just know it’s not a good sign when a lead character walks suicidally into the water (Like Ignacia did last night in what I can only assume is a weird homage to Virginia Woolf) and all I can think is: You’re not gonna sink – you have to put stones in your pockets! Sigh.
Fans of Mi Corazon Insiste and Herederos – a fresh page for your thoughts.
The Flor of the title, Amanda Monteverde, is driven by desperation to look for work in a down and dirty cabaret where she will find love and lust and envy and friendship and malice – (there is even a character named ‘Alicia’ whom everyone calls ‘Malicia’!)
So. As we’ve learned – sometimes to our delight, as in the case of La Reina del Sur, but more often to our chagrin, as in Aurora – it’s the writing, stupid. Stay tuned.
La Casa de al Lado: I’m still following this one but for how long, I don’t know. The plot twists have become irritating rather than suspenseful or shocking. We’ve all remarked, in one way or another, that there are no truly likeable characters even if there are a few pretty good actors. There’s not even a good musical hook, a theme song that grabs you and keeps you watching, even when you know the song is better than the show. I just know it’s not a good sign when a lead character walks suicidally into the water (Like Ignacia did last night in what I can only assume is a weird homage to Virginia Woolf) and all I can think is: You’re not gonna sink – you have to put stones in your pockets! Sigh.
Fans of Mi Corazon Insiste and Herederos – a fresh page for your thoughts.
Labels: casa-lado, herederos, insiste, telemundo
Saturday, June 18, 2011
El Mundo de Telemundo, Week of June 20, 2011: Discuss Amongst Yourselves
¡Hóla a todos! Happy midsummer! It seems like the folks that are watching Casa and Corazon are enjoying them. Thanks for the recapettes. I'm only watching Herederos right now. Let the discussion begin!
Labels: casa-lado, herederos, insiste, telemundo
Friday, June 10, 2011
El Mundo de Telemundo, Week of June 13, 2011: Discuss Amongst Yourselves
Hola a todos! Here’s a new page for your commenting pleasure. I’ve fallen a bit behind but hope to join the conversation later on in the week. Enjoy!
Labels: casa-lado, herederos, insiste, telemundo
Saturday, June 04, 2011
El Mundo de Telemundo - Discuss among yourselves, Week of June 7
Hóla a todos from Minneapolis where I went to my niece's high school graduation last night.
REINA- My final thought is that I wish they would do an interview with the writers because the actors were good but without the great writing, this would not have been the fantastic novela it was and there is no better example of that than...
HEREDEROS through Thurs.- Things are picking up slightly here as we go into últimas semanas. Pablo/Emilio was about to tell Juan that Paula wasn't his biological child when he had a stroke and was rendered mute. Even though he doesn't work there anymore, Modesto appeared when Juan whistled, presumably so that he could overhear Paula say that she is pregnant with Juan's baby. Since he doesn't know about Sofía's scheme, he thinks that Paula and Juan have committed incest.
Sofía tells Jose about Paula's pregnancy and he threatens to harm her unborn child if she doesn't go through with the scheme to get his brothers' inheritance.
As Novelera mentioned in her comment on Thurs., Gaspar has the hots big time for Adela. I agree that his character makes no sense. He seems to be nice guy most of the time but there is no explanation for his lapses into evil.
Julieta finally tells her parents about her cancer. Rosa is in denial.
The big record deal for the Gavilanes trio turned out to be a set up for some pretty inept criminals. Hey Efrain, If you want to impress Beatriz with your smarts, check out folks who offer you deals too good to be true. There is such a thing as the Internet.
I totally agree with you, Novelera about the Rosario rape storyline. There was zero suggestion that this had happened earlier in the novela when Rosario was portrayed as the more conventional but normal sister.
Julieta tells Paula that she and Juan are going to adopt a baby.
That was about it.
Over to you.
REINA- My final thought is that I wish they would do an interview with the writers because the actors were good but without the great writing, this would not have been the fantastic novela it was and there is no better example of that than...
HEREDEROS through Thurs.- Things are picking up slightly here as we go into últimas semanas. Pablo/Emilio was about to tell Juan that Paula wasn't his biological child when he had a stroke and was rendered mute. Even though he doesn't work there anymore, Modesto appeared when Juan whistled, presumably so that he could overhear Paula say that she is pregnant with Juan's baby. Since he doesn't know about Sofía's scheme, he thinks that Paula and Juan have committed incest.
Sofía tells Jose about Paula's pregnancy and he threatens to harm her unborn child if she doesn't go through with the scheme to get his brothers' inheritance.
As Novelera mentioned in her comment on Thurs., Gaspar has the hots big time for Adela. I agree that his character makes no sense. He seems to be nice guy most of the time but there is no explanation for his lapses into evil.
Julieta finally tells her parents about her cancer. Rosa is in denial.
The big record deal for the Gavilanes trio turned out to be a set up for some pretty inept criminals. Hey Efrain, If you want to impress Beatriz with your smarts, check out folks who offer you deals too good to be true. There is such a thing as the Internet.
I totally agree with you, Novelera about the Rosario rape storyline. There was zero suggestion that this had happened earlier in the novela when Rosario was portrayed as the more conventional but normal sister.
Julieta tells Paula that she and Juan are going to adopt a baby.
That was about it.
Over to you.
Labels: casa-lado, herederos, insiste, telemundo
Saturday, May 28, 2011
El Mundo de Telemundo, Week of May 30, 2011: Discuss Amongst Yourselves
La Reina del Sur – as of Friday, May 27
We viewers are having almost as much trouble as Teresa in saying our goodbyes to this amazing story.
In its last full week, we see Teo finally exposed for the rat he has always been. When Flores and his men lead a raid on the decoy ship, Teresa knows without a doubt: Teo is the Judas. Teo has to die.
When Pote takes Teo from his home and forces him to join Teresa aboard the Sinaloa, he deals with the police bodyguards Culichi style – dead men can’t talk. And Teo earns himself a burial at sea.
Spanish Comisario Flores wants the pleasure of seeing Teresa Mendoza punished. He wants her in jail, on Spanish soil.
Willy Rangel wants Teresa back in Mexico to testify against the now presidential candidate, Epifanio Vargas.
The U.S. Ambassador, he of the atrocious Spanish pronunciation and flawless Spanish grammar, wants to keep Mexico from becoming an official Narco Republic.
We still don’t know what Teresa – and her unborn child – want.
Flores has good reason to hate Teresa – she did threaten his children early on in the story and he felt forced to send his family out of Spain to protect them from her. But now his personal need for vengeance has blinded him to any sense of the greater good.
For us at home, Flores has been one of the bad guys. Willy Rangel, on the other hand, has become more and more sympathetic; and the actor’s portrayal more and more credible.
Flores has been waiting for the judge’s order to arrest Teresa. Now, even though his star witness, Teo Aljarafe, is missing, with the death of the Spanish police guards, the balance tips in Flores’s favor. The police comb Marbella looking for her.
It is Teresa’s soulmate, Oleg, who takes her in – and incidentally introduces her to the wife and child she never knew he had – and then helps her escape out the back way when the wolf, i.e. Flores, inevitably arrives at the door looking for her. By then she has already agreed to Willy Rangel’s proposal – now that she knows it was Epifanio Vargas who ordered el Güero’s death, that instead of a friend, he has always been her enemy – she is willing to return to Mexico and testify against him. She and Willy will meet at the airport where a private jet awaits them.
Twelve years ago, Teresa – hobbled by cheap blue tacones -- ran for her life through the streets of Culiacán. Now once again she runs for her life – still hobbled by ridiculously high heels, even if they are on expensive and stylish boots – this time down a steep flagstone path in the south of Spain.
Last night, in the penultimate episode of our story:
Teresa gets to the airport ahead of Flores. She has had a chance to say her goodbyes to Conejo – Oleg had her brought to his house earlier – but she doesn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to Pote as well. Surprise! Pote is already on board the plane. He scoffs at the danger that awaits them in Mexico: Pa' morir nací, he says plainly. I was born to die. It’s a good thing to be able to choose the place to do it.
Pote reluctantly surrenders his gun to Willy and the plane takes off.
During the flight, Willy asks Teresa what she did with Teo. “What would you have done in my place?” is her answer. “I’d never be in your place”, says Willy rather smugly. “I’m one of the good guys”. (Soy de los buenos.) “De los buenos” repeats Teresa. “¿Cómo ves Pote?” She and the guarura exchange weary smiles.
She acknowledges that learning the truth about Don Epifanio Vargas has turned her life upside down (se me revolvió la vida). But it’s not a thirst for vengeance that is bringing her to Mexico – what she wants is to stop running:
It’s time for her to decide how she wants to live.
Back in Mexico, the President won’t take Epifanio Vargas’s calls.
And Don Epifanio won’t take Batman’s calls.
Batman and his two little boys are being followed by another vehicle. The Batman knows a hit when he sees one. He coolly calls his wife and tells her he and the boys will be home in half an hour. Then he pulls his camioneta into a clearing, inviting a confrontation with the other vehicle. Two guys get out and take aim at the Batmobile. But the Batman proves too wily for these cut-rate sicarios. He starts to drive, gunning down one with his left hand, while steering with his right. Then he runs over (and over) the second. Now we know what “rematar” really means.
Then Batman turns to his sons in the backseat:
¡Qué calor está haciendo! Les invito a una agua de cebada. ¿Qué dicen?(It’s getting hot. How about a cold drink (barley water)? What do you say?)
Both kids nod. Just another day in the family business.
In Marbella, Conejo is telling Ramos and Alberto about her secret farewell meeting with Teresa – she felt like she was in a spy movie, she confesses. She doesn’t think Teresa will be coming back. But the good news – Teresa left them the yacht, the Sinaloa. “¡Que viva México!” says Dr. Ramos happily. The trio’s toast to Teresa is cut short when Flores arrives at the door. He has a judicial order to inventory all of Teresa’s property. The beyond wilted Flores tells them they will have to testify in the proceedings against Teresa; all her property will be seized; and they are not to leave the country.
When Flores leaves, Dr. Ramos says ruefully: Adios, yate! But he brightens quickly when Conejo tells him about the second part of Teresa’s severance package for the faithful trio – a stash of twenty million Euros. She cautions them:
Va a ser muy difícil pillar la pasta.
(It’s going to be very hard to get hold of the dough.)
It’s hidden in plain sight in the living room of Teresa’s house, Las Siete Gotas!
Back in Mexico, Ratas gets the call: the idiots they sent to kill the Batman are dead. Now Ratas wants to do the job himself but Epi talks him down – Batman is old-school, he’d never betray them. [Really? After they just tried to kill him?]
Now Epifanio gets the call: “Hay piedras en el camino” he tells Ratas. Teresa gets in tonight. “Habrá que darle la bienvenida” replies Ratas.
And the Batman tells his trophy wife, who has been waiting anxiously at their NarcoMansion, that things have changed. He used to be the boss and now he’s the black sheep. He knows too much. Epifanio just tried to kill him. Mrs. Batman wants to get the hell out of Dodge. “Vámonos pa’ el Gabacho” she says. Batman agrees but first: “Vamos a medir el agua para los camotes” (Let’s analyze the situation first, let’s figure out what’s what.) If Epifanio gets the presidency, he’ll be able to get to them wherever they are.
Teresa’s arrival is imminent and Ratas is assembling the troops and their weapons. He literally has a small army of men who will cover all areas of the airport and runway. He holds out a million dollar reward to “quien se tumbe la morra” (the one who shoots the girl.)
In the DF, Don Epifanio is ignominiously turned away when he tries to see the president. And he reflects:
Se me hace que el señor Presidente ya sabe de todo.
(I think the president knows the whole story.)
Teresa’s plane lands and she, Pote and Willy walk onto the tarmac, right into the sights of the snipers. But before Ratas can give the order to shoot, Epifanio calls him and aborts the mission. He needs to talk to Teresa in person.
Teresa is introduced to the army officer who is in charge of her security, Col. Ledesma. She and Pote demand – and are given – their personal guns when she reminds Willy that this is Culiacán, not Spain.
Don Epifanio apparently thinks he can BS his way out of this one. He phones Teresa and asks her to meet with him. He waxes philosophical, Culichi style:
Pues ni modo mi hijita, al toro hay que agarrarlo por los cuernos. Mira, mi hija, en esta vida lo que te toca es para ti aunque te quites y lo que no, pues, aunque te pongas.
(Let’s take the bull by the horns. In this life, when it’s your turn it’s your turn, no matter what you do. [literally, ‘it’s yours although you may try to take it off and what’s not…well … although you may put it on.]
We see Ratas in what I think of as the Culiacán branch of the Bada Bing Club where he channels Scarlet O’Hara: Tomorrow is another day, he tells himself. Then they can eliminate all of their enemies: Teresa, Pote and Batman.
He heads to the bathroom. We see the pointy-toed black boots and the black trousers of the man following him. Then we see Batman himself reflected in the mirror. Batman aims at Ratas but doesn’t take the shot. He pauses and listens to Ratas’s phone conversation and learns that Teresa Mendoza is in Culiacán.
Now a black camioneta drives up to the secured property where Teresa and Pote will stay. That the army is guarding the outer periphery and the federal police are inside the grounds reassures neither Teresa nor Pote. She knows the Sinaloa cartel can buy off the guys who are there to protect her.
She announces, to the chagrin of both Col. Ledesma and Willy, that she will need transportation tomorrow. She’s going out. She’s not a prisoner, is she?
Tomorrow: The Last Goodbye
Tuesday: Cristina and the cast at 9pm/8central
-----------------------
Mi Corazón Insiste
This is the replacement for Aurora. I watched a bit of it and realized it’s not for me. Jean, are you going to watch this one? Hombre, thanks for getting the discussion started on this show.
------------------
Aurora
Just in case anyone missed it, Urban Anthropologist wrote a terrific wrap-up on the last few episodes of this oddly ill-conceived novela. You can find it in the comments of last week’s Telemundo page.
--------------------
La Casa de al Lado
This is the replacement for Reina. It looks intriguing but if I watch it, I’ll be a day behind in the conversation because I’ll be watching the online version. (My dance card is full at 10pm/9c.)
Ok. Your turn!
We viewers are having almost as much trouble as Teresa in saying our goodbyes to this amazing story.
In its last full week, we see Teo finally exposed for the rat he has always been. When Flores and his men lead a raid on the decoy ship, Teresa knows without a doubt: Teo is the Judas. Teo has to die.
When Pote takes Teo from his home and forces him to join Teresa aboard the Sinaloa, he deals with the police bodyguards Culichi style – dead men can’t talk. And Teo earns himself a burial at sea.
Spanish Comisario Flores wants the pleasure of seeing Teresa Mendoza punished. He wants her in jail, on Spanish soil.
Willy Rangel wants Teresa back in Mexico to testify against the now presidential candidate, Epifanio Vargas.
The U.S. Ambassador, he of the atrocious Spanish pronunciation and flawless Spanish grammar, wants to keep Mexico from becoming an official Narco Republic.
We still don’t know what Teresa – and her unborn child – want.
Flores has good reason to hate Teresa – she did threaten his children early on in the story and he felt forced to send his family out of Spain to protect them from her. But now his personal need for vengeance has blinded him to any sense of the greater good.
For us at home, Flores has been one of the bad guys. Willy Rangel, on the other hand, has become more and more sympathetic; and the actor’s portrayal more and more credible.
Flores has been waiting for the judge’s order to arrest Teresa. Now, even though his star witness, Teo Aljarafe, is missing, with the death of the Spanish police guards, the balance tips in Flores’s favor. The police comb Marbella looking for her.
It is Teresa’s soulmate, Oleg, who takes her in – and incidentally introduces her to the wife and child she never knew he had – and then helps her escape out the back way when the wolf, i.e. Flores, inevitably arrives at the door looking for her. By then she has already agreed to Willy Rangel’s proposal – now that she knows it was Epifanio Vargas who ordered el Güero’s death, that instead of a friend, he has always been her enemy – she is willing to return to Mexico and testify against him. She and Willy will meet at the airport where a private jet awaits them.
Twelve years ago, Teresa – hobbled by cheap blue tacones -- ran for her life through the streets of Culiacán. Now once again she runs for her life – still hobbled by ridiculously high heels, even if they are on expensive and stylish boots – this time down a steep flagstone path in the south of Spain.
Last night, in the penultimate episode of our story:
Teresa gets to the airport ahead of Flores. She has had a chance to say her goodbyes to Conejo – Oleg had her brought to his house earlier – but she doesn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to Pote as well. Surprise! Pote is already on board the plane. He scoffs at the danger that awaits them in Mexico: Pa' morir nací, he says plainly. I was born to die. It’s a good thing to be able to choose the place to do it.
Pote reluctantly surrenders his gun to Willy and the plane takes off.
During the flight, Willy asks Teresa what she did with Teo. “What would you have done in my place?” is her answer. “I’d never be in your place”, says Willy rather smugly. “I’m one of the good guys”. (Soy de los buenos.) “De los buenos” repeats Teresa. “¿Cómo ves Pote?” She and the guarura exchange weary smiles.
She acknowledges that learning the truth about Don Epifanio Vargas has turned her life upside down (se me revolvió la vida). But it’s not a thirst for vengeance that is bringing her to Mexico – what she wants is to stop running:
It’s time for her to decide how she wants to live.
Back in Mexico, the President won’t take Epifanio Vargas’s calls.
And Don Epifanio won’t take Batman’s calls.
Batman and his two little boys are being followed by another vehicle. The Batman knows a hit when he sees one. He coolly calls his wife and tells her he and the boys will be home in half an hour. Then he pulls his camioneta into a clearing, inviting a confrontation with the other vehicle. Two guys get out and take aim at the Batmobile. But the Batman proves too wily for these cut-rate sicarios. He starts to drive, gunning down one with his left hand, while steering with his right. Then he runs over (and over) the second. Now we know what “rematar” really means.
Then Batman turns to his sons in the backseat:
¡Qué calor está haciendo! Les invito a una agua de cebada. ¿Qué dicen?(It’s getting hot. How about a cold drink (barley water)? What do you say?)
Both kids nod. Just another day in the family business.
In Marbella, Conejo is telling Ramos and Alberto about her secret farewell meeting with Teresa – she felt like she was in a spy movie, she confesses. She doesn’t think Teresa will be coming back. But the good news – Teresa left them the yacht, the Sinaloa. “¡Que viva México!” says Dr. Ramos happily. The trio’s toast to Teresa is cut short when Flores arrives at the door. He has a judicial order to inventory all of Teresa’s property. The beyond wilted Flores tells them they will have to testify in the proceedings against Teresa; all her property will be seized; and they are not to leave the country.
When Flores leaves, Dr. Ramos says ruefully: Adios, yate! But he brightens quickly when Conejo tells him about the second part of Teresa’s severance package for the faithful trio – a stash of twenty million Euros. She cautions them:
Va a ser muy difícil pillar la pasta.
(It’s going to be very hard to get hold of the dough.)
It’s hidden in plain sight in the living room of Teresa’s house, Las Siete Gotas!
Back in Mexico, Ratas gets the call: the idiots they sent to kill the Batman are dead. Now Ratas wants to do the job himself but Epi talks him down – Batman is old-school, he’d never betray them. [Really? After they just tried to kill him?]
Now Epifanio gets the call: “Hay piedras en el camino” he tells Ratas. Teresa gets in tonight. “Habrá que darle la bienvenida” replies Ratas.
And the Batman tells his trophy wife, who has been waiting anxiously at their NarcoMansion, that things have changed. He used to be the boss and now he’s the black sheep. He knows too much. Epifanio just tried to kill him. Mrs. Batman wants to get the hell out of Dodge. “Vámonos pa’ el Gabacho” she says. Batman agrees but first: “Vamos a medir el agua para los camotes” (Let’s analyze the situation first, let’s figure out what’s what.) If Epifanio gets the presidency, he’ll be able to get to them wherever they are.
Teresa’s arrival is imminent and Ratas is assembling the troops and their weapons. He literally has a small army of men who will cover all areas of the airport and runway. He holds out a million dollar reward to “quien se tumbe la morra” (the one who shoots the girl.)
In the DF, Don Epifanio is ignominiously turned away when he tries to see the president. And he reflects:
Se me hace que el señor Presidente ya sabe de todo.
(I think the president knows the whole story.)
Teresa’s plane lands and she, Pote and Willy walk onto the tarmac, right into the sights of the snipers. But before Ratas can give the order to shoot, Epifanio calls him and aborts the mission. He needs to talk to Teresa in person.
Teresa is introduced to the army officer who is in charge of her security, Col. Ledesma. She and Pote demand – and are given – their personal guns when she reminds Willy that this is Culiacán, not Spain.
Don Epifanio apparently thinks he can BS his way out of this one. He phones Teresa and asks her to meet with him. He waxes philosophical, Culichi style:
Pues ni modo mi hijita, al toro hay que agarrarlo por los cuernos. Mira, mi hija, en esta vida lo que te toca es para ti aunque te quites y lo que no, pues, aunque te pongas.
(Let’s take the bull by the horns. In this life, when it’s your turn it’s your turn, no matter what you do. [literally, ‘it’s yours although you may try to take it off and what’s not…well … although you may put it on.]
We see Ratas in what I think of as the Culiacán branch of the Bada Bing Club where he channels Scarlet O’Hara: Tomorrow is another day, he tells himself. Then they can eliminate all of their enemies: Teresa, Pote and Batman.
He heads to the bathroom. We see the pointy-toed black boots and the black trousers of the man following him. Then we see Batman himself reflected in the mirror. Batman aims at Ratas but doesn’t take the shot. He pauses and listens to Ratas’s phone conversation and learns that Teresa Mendoza is in Culiacán.
Now a black camioneta drives up to the secured property where Teresa and Pote will stay. That the army is guarding the outer periphery and the federal police are inside the grounds reassures neither Teresa nor Pote. She knows the Sinaloa cartel can buy off the guys who are there to protect her.
She announces, to the chagrin of both Col. Ledesma and Willy, that she will need transportation tomorrow. She’s going out. She’s not a prisoner, is she?
Tomorrow: The Last Goodbye
Tuesday: Cristina and the cast at 9pm/8central
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Mi Corazón Insiste
This is the replacement for Aurora. I watched a bit of it and realized it’s not for me. Jean, are you going to watch this one? Hombre, thanks for getting the discussion started on this show.
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Aurora
Just in case anyone missed it, Urban Anthropologist wrote a terrific wrap-up on the last few episodes of this oddly ill-conceived novela. You can find it in the comments of last week’s Telemundo page.
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La Casa de al Lado
This is the replacement for Reina. It looks intriguing but if I watch it, I’ll be a day behind in the conversation because I’ll be watching the online version. (My dance card is full at 10pm/9c.)
Ok. Your turn!
Labels: casa-lado, herederos, insiste, reina-sur, telemundo
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