Friday, July 25, 2014
Weekend Discussion: Novela Genres; What is your preference?
Some people seem to be bailing out on Lo Que la Vida Me Robo because of the turn the story has taken. As long as Televisa (and other production companies) are in cost-cutting mode we can expect story extensions that do things like this one. I certainly will agree that doing this to a series that begins as a comedy without an advance set-up (such as we are probably getting in Mi Corazon es Tuyo) is completely wrong, but when novelas depend on suspense, we need to deal. I'd much rather have this than filler scenes that just attempt to inflate the original story.
Personally, I'd like to see more mystery-oriented novelas if we're looking for more male or younger viewers. The gratuitous violence and gore in narco stories is something I find as unappealing as the glorification of their lifestyles.
I mourn the absence of a good novela de epoca, but I guess the networks think they're too expensive a risk against the bleeding of younger and male viewers. Que lastima.
Be verbose, my friends.
Labels: mcet, robo, telenovelas, weekend
Lo Que La Vida Me Robo 181, 24 July, 2014 - Check It Out; The Show Was Blah but the Patio Has A Lively Conversation
Robo 181
Introduction
Even a yeoman recapper cannot
craft a good recap out of re-crap. At best, we resort to creative fabrication
and humor; at worst we devolve into cynical and edgy observations that are
often fueled by a tinge of self-loathing.
Please remind me, just WHY
did I volunteer for this job?
I can only imagine that what
we are viewing in Capitulo 181—sheer telenovela dreck—was not planned, but was
a scrambling response to a tragedy that occurred in the life of Angelique
Boyer—the unexpected los of her mother. We offer our deepest condolences to the
actress.
A few days ago one of our
finest recappers, Novela Maven, called for the services of a forensic
psychiatrist to assist the not-so-good people of Aguazul. Now that is an interesting idea.
I am no Forensic
Psychiatrist, but I play one on TV. Grin.
So, dear friends of the Patio
of Lowered Expectations, and those of you who are hunkered down in the Bunker
of Ironic Detachment; in order to encourage lively Friday conversation on the
Board as we enter Ultimas Semanas, I offer to facilitate a discussion on the
following (sort of) Forensic Sociological topic—the context that holds the story of Lo Que La Vida Me Robo.
Story and Context: The Mexican Drug War
The title of “Lo Que La Vida
Me Robo” sums up the experience of its’ characters—they are bereft and
victimized. Life isn’t fair; something
was stolen from them that was theirs as a natural human birthright. The
characters of “Robo’ are all victims of life itself. They are aggrieved, and
from this suffering all manner of maladaptive personal responses emerge.
Each of the main characters
has suffered major losses, but each of them still starts the story with a
lingering belief in ‘justice’, which is absolutely contrary to their personal
experience.
Labels: robo
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Breaking News! We now know who has been helping Pedro Medina! Lo que la vida me robo #!80 07/23/2014
Sorry for the late post, this is my 2nd recap in as many days and I fell asleep while working on it, my apologies!
Maria continued with her crazy rant (still pretending to be Montserrat): "I love you so much Alejandro but you have to understand me, Jose Luis is very important to me..."- Alejandro begged her to stop, but like the Energizer Bunny she just kept going and going- "No, I know this is all my fault for loving two men, sometimes I think you would have been happier with Maria, she never shared her heart with anyone and to her you were the only thing that mattered, you were the only thing she lived for. That's why I understand the things she does to hurt me, I took away your love from her, I don't blame her for the things she does, really I don't, like what she did to my truck...I deserved it for being a slut", 'You did that?!" exclaims Alejandro as he calls for the guard- "No, Maria did it!", Alejandro continues to call for help but no one shows up, "anyway I just came to tell you that I love you and I'll be sure to give the kids a kiss when I get home". Alejandro tells her to stay away from his kids as she walks away-the guards never came.
Read more »
The pokey:
When we left off last night Maria was paying a visit to our always beautiful Alejandro, who was sitting in jail for assaulting a police officer, she was dressed as Alejandro's wife but while that was disturbing enough things got worse-way worse when Maria started to pretend to be Montserrat, Alejandro stood in the tiny jail cell- the look on his face said it all, he finally seemed to understand that Maria, his childhood friend and companion had lost her sh*t.
When we left off last night Maria was paying a visit to our always beautiful Alejandro, who was sitting in jail for assaulting a police officer, she was dressed as Alejandro's wife but while that was disturbing enough things got worse-way worse when Maria started to pretend to be Montserrat, Alejandro stood in the tiny jail cell- the look on his face said it all, he finally seemed to understand that Maria, his childhood friend and companion had lost her sh*t.
Maria continued with her crazy rant (still pretending to be Montserrat): "I love you so much Alejandro but you have to understand me, Jose Luis is very important to me..."- Alejandro begged her to stop, but like the Energizer Bunny she just kept going and going- "No, I know this is all my fault for loving two men, sometimes I think you would have been happier with Maria, she never shared her heart with anyone and to her you were the only thing that mattered, you were the only thing she lived for. That's why I understand the things she does to hurt me, I took away your love from her, I don't blame her for the things she does, really I don't, like what she did to my truck...I deserved it for being a slut", 'You did that?!" exclaims Alejandro as he calls for the guard- "No, Maria did it!", Alejandro continues to call for help but no one shows up, "anyway I just came to tell you that I love you and I'll be sure to give the kids a kiss when I get home". Alejandro tells her to stay away from his kids as she walks away-the guards never came.
Labels: robo
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Lo que la vida me robó, ep. 179, Tues 7/22/14: You can never find a forensic psychiatrist when you need one.
We have known three police chiefs in our time in Aguazul -- Loreto, Basurto and Álvarez -- and all have abused their power. But the present officer-holder may be the most loathsome of the bunch. Here he is, just happening to stroll by as Montserrat comes out of the church and sees that her van has been trashed, smashed and slashed. The windows are shattered, the tires are flat and the word ZORRA is painted in large black letters on its side.
¡Qué barbaridad¡ says Chief Álvarez. "What an outrage!" (But his smug expression belies his words.) He'll have his men investigate the incident, he says.
Montserrat isn't fooled. She knows very well that he's responsible, and that it's no coincidence that he is there to enjoy her reaction. (And he is enjoying himself. He looks like a dog sniffing around its own steaming excrement.)
Labels: robo
Monday, July 21, 2014
Lo Que la Vida Me Robó #178, Lunes 7/21/14: Suffer the Children
Chapter
178: Suffer the Children
Police
Chief's Office: Refugio stayed behind in the hopes that he could
get his old friend to talk to him alone.
“Tell
me, José Luis, what do you know about Pedro Medina?”
“I
cannot tell you,” he said. He emphasized each word to show he was
out of patience.
“Very
well, as you wish. How sad it is that you are no longer the same
person.”
He
walked out, leaving his former friend to think about that. Mad Dog
Álvarez looked like it didn't bother him.
Labels: robo
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Lo que la vida me robó, ep. 177, Fri., 7/18/14: Graciela is Sick in the Head; Pedro Has a Secret Helper; Refu and JL break up.
The Good News: Madelaine's coming back!!! Next Friday, expect her exuberant, earworm-bedazzled slant on the goings-on in Aguazul. Yay!!!
The Bad News: A Plague of Scorpions has descended on the lovely city by the sea, and the limpid pools of Blue Water have turned murky and menacing. Boo!!! Hiss!!!
It's the devil, not the humidity!
Poor Blind Nadia knows those scorpions didn't just dance into their bed by chance -- someone must have put them there. And who but Pedro Medina would do such a thing?
Labels: robo
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Lo Que La Vida Me Robó #176, 7/16/14: Adolfo proposes; Pedro disposes--or at least tries a few things to exact vengeance.
 |
| Red Sky at Morning, Melodrama Warning! |
For us in Viewerville it's been mere 24 hours since the events of Capitulo 175, but for our friends in that anomaly of space-time that is Agua Azul, México, a whole year has passed since just last night! During that year, some of them seem to have been given a reprieve from the drama and had a much-deserved spate of fairly ordinary life off-screen; others have continued on their various downward spirals. But it looks like the storm clouds of crazy are gathering and our Aguazuleños are now worthy of filming again. Let's check in on as many of them as we can:
In Her Beautiful House by the Sea
Still beautiful Montserrat is sitting in the living room with her adorable and well-behaved children, Laurito and Romina. We learn that Romina has just begun to walk and that if Laurito were a US citizen he would be a firm supporter of Title IX as he is impatient to be able to play fútbol with her. The doorbell rings. In bursts José-Luis still sporting his sport coat and bright T-shirt look, eager to see his little girl. It's worth noting that she begins crying as soon as he takes her from Montserrat.
 |
| Very savvy toddler who knows a Galán B when she sees one |
Read more »
Labels: robo
Lo Que la Vida me Robo 175 07/15/2014: Look at what I can do with this gun ma'
Recap fully done!
A new baby has been born, sadly her daddy is a nut job:
At the hacienda everyone rejoices at the birth of a new baby, both baby and mother are healthy and plans are made for both to make a trip back to Agua Azul for a check up. Alejandro Almonte, who is beautiful-but sadly not very bright, tries to reassure his wife by telling her that he will accept the baby as if she were his own, heck, he even says that although it is not possible he would love for the baby to be named Alejandra.
Jose Luis, the baby daddy just happens to walk in right at the moment and he is not a happy camper, he goes off on Alejandro and Montserrat asking them what's wrong with them, how dare they try and name the baby without his input? She is his daughter and he will name her! I kinda want to suggest that they toss a coin and whoever wins gets to name her, problem solved!
Read more »
A new baby has been born, sadly her daddy is a nut job:
At the hacienda everyone rejoices at the birth of a new baby, both baby and mother are healthy and plans are made for both to make a trip back to Agua Azul for a check up. Alejandro Almonte, who is beautiful-but sadly not very bright, tries to reassure his wife by telling her that he will accept the baby as if she were his own, heck, he even says that although it is not possible he would love for the baby to be named Alejandra.
Jose Luis, the baby daddy just happens to walk in right at the moment and he is not a happy camper, he goes off on Alejandro and Montserrat asking them what's wrong with them, how dare they try and name the baby without his input? She is his daughter and he will name her! I kinda want to suggest that they toss a coin and whoever wins gets to name her, problem solved!
Read more »
Labels: robo
Monday, July 14, 2014
Lo Que la Vida Me Robó Lunes 7/14/14 #174
Chapter
174: Eye of the Storm
Almonte
Hacienda: Victor Hernandez had always been a romantic. He had
begun his courtship of the beautiful Nadia Argüelles with a cart
full of flowers on the estate of his best friend. In the same place
he brought her a chamber orchestra for the proposal. She was
delighted. Their little daughter watched them. She smiled at her
parents' happiness. They had no idea what would shortly be waiting
for them.
Labels: robo
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Lo que la vida me robó, ep. 173, Fri. 7/11/14: We'll see our grandchildren building castles in the sand...Kayn aynhoreh.*
[Kayn aynhoreh is Yiddish and it means something like "No evil eye!" It's what you say when you've been lucky and you want to ward off envious spirits.]
Part One: The Ogre is forced to set the Princess free.
The dark brooding ogre pounds on the door and orders the princess to let him in. "You're going to have to live the rest of your life with the man you hate. Open the door!"
Within the chamber, the lovely princess weeps.
The handsome prince runs to the home of Faithful Macario, and he arms himself with a pistol. He is prepared to kill the ogre and rescue the woman he loves. Both Macario's good woman Dominga and the old priest Anselmo try to dissuade the prince. But the prince knows what he must do, and he will not be stopped.
Read more »
Labels: robo
Friday, July 11, 2014
Weekend Discussion: Karmageddon in Aguazul (Lo Que la Vida Me Robo)
It's
that time again, amigos! Although this is a little early, the number
of bad guys in this tale is such that we already see the villains
turning on each other. Let's cut loose now and dish about what
should happen to the evil ones in our story. As previously, we
should think about it both ways:
- What do you think the writers will do to them?
- What do you think should happen to them?
Let's start with their queen and work our way down:
Labels: Karmageddon, robo, weekend
Lo Que La Vida Me Robo 172 - 10 July, 2014 - Stuck On Replay: Another Of Maria’s Plots Bites The Dust
It Looks Like Jose Luis Will Allow Montserrat To Leave—Maybe
Jose Luis wants to know if Montserrat would forgive a betrayal from Alejandro. Whatever happens, he will be there waiting. Montserrat goes to pack her bags. Tomorrow she will leave the house.
I’ll Just Take The Houses and Lands; Thanks
Over at the judge’s chambers, Father Anselmo, the judge and Alejandro meet. The judge tells Padre that he trusts him completely but his declaration is too late. Father Anselmo emphatically retorts that it is never late to correct an injustice. But the judge clarifies that the tests run on the document prove forever and anon that Alejandro is the only true heir of Benjamin Almonte. Padre’s declaration does not clear Alejandro because he is already proven to be the rightful Almonte heir. As of this moment he has recovered his name, Alejandro Almonte Dominguez and all that goes with it. Congratulations!
Father Anselmo praises God for being very just. Despite all that has happened nothing has dimmed his faith. Padre encourages Alejandro and hopes he has learned from his previous errors.
Alejandro tells the Father that he is very fortunate. Not only is he recovering his name, but he is also recovering his family.
The Judge tells them that his decision is absolutely irrevocable but that it might take a while for Alejandro to recover everything. But Alejandro is way ahead of everyone else. He says that Fabiola has transferred ALL of the money to another person. He doesn’t want a penny of the money anyway. Anselmo is appalled by yet another miscarriage of justice, and he asks,
“Who ended up with the money?”
“Graciela Mendoza,” answers Alejandro.
The Judge recognizes her name as the woman who formerly perjured herself in the matter of Don Benjamin’s will. Padre Anselmo wants to know – How did that happen?
Read more »
Labels: robo
Thursday, July 10, 2014
The return Lo que LA Vida me robo 171 07/09/2014
I hope you all had plenty of tissues on hand tonight because this episode brought on the feels! I swear ninjas broke into my house and started to cut up onions-and my eyes got all moist...that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Now on to the recap, enjoy!
Dude,our mom is a scumbag:
Fabiola, our resident drunk is now behind bars, how she has managed to survive without her wine is anyone's guess, she tells her new found siblings that Graciela is a big fake, everything about her is a lie, including her name. She explains that Amalia told her the truth about Graciela, she was born in poverty to a seamstress and her real name is Gaudencia! She also explains that she got tricked into transferring all her money to one of her mothers accounts only to be ditched. Alejandro and Montserrat feel for her-and Alejandro offers to get her a lawyer to help reduce the time she spends in prison but he makes it clear that he can not forgive her and he tells her that she needs to pay for the fraud she committed and for stealing seven years of his life.
Read more »
Dude,our mom is a scumbag:
Fabiola, our resident drunk is now behind bars, how she has managed to survive without her wine is anyone's guess, she tells her new found siblings that Graciela is a big fake, everything about her is a lie, including her name. She explains that Amalia told her the truth about Graciela, she was born in poverty to a seamstress and her real name is Gaudencia! She also explains that she got tricked into transferring all her money to one of her mothers accounts only to be ditched. Alejandro and Montserrat feel for her-and Alejandro offers to get her a lawyer to help reduce the time she spends in prison but he makes it clear that he can not forgive her and he tells her that she needs to pay for the fraud she committed and for stealing seven years of his life.
Read more »
Labels: robo
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
Lo que la vida me robó, ep. 170, Tues. 7/8/14: Ezequiel Basurto is one lucky bastard. So far.
The banner on the building promises Paz y Espiritu -- Peace and Spirit.
In this dive, alas, the peace is pharmacologically-induced. As for the spirit, it's strictly BYOB (Bring your own Bible).
Padre Anselmo adds to the cache of pills under his mattress, then sits down heavily, a portrait of misery and exhaustion. He looks ancient. How long, we wonder, has he been fooling his captors?
The Mendoza Mansion glows rosy in the night.
Carlota, Montserrat and Alejandro sit within the beautiful family home and try to make sense of Ezequiel Basurto's strategic revelation.
Labels: robo
Monday, July 07, 2014
Lo Que la Vida Me Robó #169 Lunes 7/7/14: The Price Tag
Chapter
169: The Price Tag
Almonte
House: Amelia Beltran de Arechiga finally explained to Fabiola
Guillen what she wanted to know about Gracie Mendoza. And it wasn't
pretty.
Labels: robo
Friday, July 04, 2014
Lo que la vida me robó, ep. 168, Friday, 7/4/14: What's in a name?
Many of you, I imagine, have stepped away from the Patio to celebrate this most precious of American holidays -- I like to think of you at your parties and picnics and parades, grilling your tofu hotdogs, gasping in delight at the local fireworks display. (That fewer than usual will be reading this recap is a thought I find oddly liberating. Hm?) A safe and happy 4th of July to everyone at every table on and off the Patio!
The monsters of entitlement have taken over Aguazul. They are heartless and soulless and their only thought is to protect themselves and what they believe they have coming to them.
Graciela is entitled to the late Benjamín Almonte's money -- or so she tells herself.
Labels: robo
Lo Que La Vida Me Robo, Capitulo 167, 3 July, 2014 - 'The Sting'
The Sting
The Set Up
As cons go, you have got to admit this one was a classic.
The plan, the timing, the execution—they were all first rate. The Perpetrator,
Doña Graciela Mendoza, has years of experience of fleecing the wallets, pockets
and banking accounts of her enemies, acquaintances and, sadly, yes, her
children.
But this confidence scheme was breathtaking in its audacity.
It was awesome, truly awesome in its ruthlessness. Why? Because, my friends, the
‘Marks’ were her two daughters and her son-in-law, all of whom she cheated when
they were deeply vulnerable.
Niccolo Machiavelli, rise from your dusty grave and take
notes! Even you could learn from this mistress of deception.
The Perp
As the scene opens, Graciela Mendoza, her face a very mask
of tragedy, holds her long-lost daughter Fabiola, weeping, in her arms. Her
face looks rough, covered with tears and snot.
The First Mark - Fabiola
Graciela has just told Fabiola of her true identity. She is
Graciela’s long lost daughter, believed to be dead lo, these 38 or so years.
Fabiola, is a pitiful and ruined drunk; raised with plenty of money and no one
to love in convent schools from the age of three, she is the proverbial poor
little rich girl. She shudders and weeps and keens over her unbelievable good
luck—she has found a mother after all of these years.
Graciela tells her everything a motherless child would want
to hear—
Graciela loves Fabiola
She needs her
She is all alone because her other children have rejected
her
She wants to be close to her daughter to make up for all of
Fabiola’s years of suffering
Fabiola is her dear, dear daughter; she needs nothing else.
“Mama, Mama,” sobs Fabiola as Graciela holds her in her
strong arms. And Graciela promises the woman, her daughter, that she need never
again be alone.
Later, Amalia, Fabiola’s Godmother, comes by to tell Fabs
not to trust her mother. She is a VERY bad person and Amalia is worried that
Fabiola could get hurt. She begs Fabs to get out of Aguazul before it is too
late. She reminds Fabs of pleasant times they shared earlier in life, when they
visited her in Miami—they were almost like a family. But Fabiola rejects the
great good sense of her Godmother. She tells Amalia that Graciela only wants to
be near her, to know her, to be friends. She accuses Amalia of being a liar and
tells her that she will never forgive her. Never.
Labels: robo
Thursday, July 03, 2014
Lo Que La Vida Me Robó, # 166, 7-2-2014--Ding Dong The Wicked No Balls Governor Is (Might Be?) Dead!
Hi Everyone,
It's going to be a quickie tonight. I was away at a conference in DC and just got back and also my computer has been down for the count since last Thursday. Luckily, our tech department gave me a loaner today so I could do the recap, but I had to try to take notes while watching in real time since I wasn't able to watch in advance. Please feel free to add anything I missed.
Before I begin, I recently read an article about this and wanted to pay tribute to our Gracie's phenomenal crying abilities tonight:
 |
| Montserrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrat! (Really crying about Fabs) |
Read more »
Labels: robo
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
Lo Que La Vida Me Robo, capitulo 165. 07/01/14.
Skipping the old and into the new....
No Balls Pedro pays a friendly visit to our resident loca, Maria. He tells the guards to leave, but she loudly pleads for them to stay. Pedro menacingly tells Maria that nothing will happen to her. He just wants to have a chin-wag. The guard informs Pedro that he has orders not to leave Maria alone but Pedro pulls rank and says he's the governor. Are you going to disobey me? The guard finally agrees but will keep watch. He turns to Maria and informs her that her days are numbered. Maria, who has more balls then Pedro, throws it back to his face that HIS days are numbered. When you are thrown in prison, I promise to visit you so I can laugh in your face. You can't hurt me. As you can see, JL made sure that I am carefully watched. Pedro says he's not afraid of her threats. He will find a way to do away with her. So make sure you be careful what comes out of your mouth. Because this time, I will not contract your death out. I will do it myself.
Esme is lovingly holding little Angel. She tells Zulema that she wants to be the best mother in the world. The nurse comes in to get the baby. Esme fills Zulema on Monica's visit. She said nothing happened between her and Refugio. At the last minute, he realized his mistake and put a kabosh on it. Zulema still thinks he is not trustworthy if he will be hanging around Monica all day long at work. Esme breaks the news that Monica is dead. Zulema feels bad that she was speaking ill of the dead. Esme says Refugio came to her last night and was heartbroken. He feels responsible. Zulema wonders if perhaps he really did have feelings for her. Esme says they worked for years together, he has to feel something. Zulema asks if she is going to forgive Refugio. No, replies Esme. The problem wasn't Monica but Refugio himself. He's looking for something that I can't give him.
Read more »
Skipping the old and into the new....
No Balls Pedro pays a friendly visit to our resident loca, Maria. He tells the guards to leave, but she loudly pleads for them to stay. Pedro menacingly tells Maria that nothing will happen to her. He just wants to have a chin-wag. The guard informs Pedro that he has orders not to leave Maria alone but Pedro pulls rank and says he's the governor. Are you going to disobey me? The guard finally agrees but will keep watch. He turns to Maria and informs her that her days are numbered. Maria, who has more balls then Pedro, throws it back to his face that HIS days are numbered. When you are thrown in prison, I promise to visit you so I can laugh in your face. You can't hurt me. As you can see, JL made sure that I am carefully watched. Pedro says he's not afraid of her threats. He will find a way to do away with her. So make sure you be careful what comes out of your mouth. Because this time, I will not contract your death out. I will do it myself.
Esme is lovingly holding little Angel. She tells Zulema that she wants to be the best mother in the world. The nurse comes in to get the baby. Esme fills Zulema on Monica's visit. She said nothing happened between her and Refugio. At the last minute, he realized his mistake and put a kabosh on it. Zulema still thinks he is not trustworthy if he will be hanging around Monica all day long at work. Esme breaks the news that Monica is dead. Zulema feels bad that she was speaking ill of the dead. Esme says Refugio came to her last night and was heartbroken. He feels responsible. Zulema wonders if perhaps he really did have feelings for her. Esme says they worked for years together, he has to feel something. Zulema asks if she is going to forgive Refugio. No, replies Esme. The problem wasn't Monica but Refugio himself. He's looking for something that I can't give him.
Read more »
Labels: robo
Monday, June 30, 2014
Lo Que la Vida Me Robó Lunes 6/30/14 #164
Chapter
164: Unlikely Allies
Judge's
Office: Maria Zamudio sat before the judge, pleading with him to
listen to her, saying she was a victim. In all her years of turning
tricks she had learned how to play to men's weaknesses and she was
using those skills for all they were worth.
Labels: robo
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