Monday, December 20, 2010
La Fea Más Bella #135-136 12/20/10 Tonight, Tonight won’t be just any night.
Capitulo 135.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
Do you remember the “Tonight Quintet” from West Side Story? If not, but sure to look at the clip. The Jets, the Sharks, Anita, Tony, and Maria each had different hopes and dreams for the same night. Today’s cap’s have their own version of the Tonight Quintet, Region 4.
1. Fernando explains to Rocío that Alicia refused to listen to sense, and now she has to learn the hard way. He’s actually describing himself too.
2. Saimon tries to comfort Ali, but she throws a fit because he dared to hug her. He says after her, “After all I did to help you? Que mala compañera eres.”
3. Fernando reminds Lety that the Yuri event is tonight. They’ll make an appearance there, and then they’ll go somewhere alone. She wipes off his kisses, reviews how his behavior lines up with the letter, and goes home for lunch. Tom tells her she should give Fernando what he deserves, but she doesn’t know how. Fernando tells Omar he doesn’t want to continue deceiving Lety.
4. Lola is falling apart because the lawyer said Efren might take 50% of her house. In the baño Paula suggests that Lola get a boyfriend to boost her ego and to show Efren her worth. She says nothing makes a man madder than to see his ex happy with someone else. In that, Lety finds her course of action.
5. Lety remembers that Fernando promised he wouldn’t tell Omar about them, and in the letter Omar told Fern to not take Lety to his apartment anymore. She is humiliated because Omar knows every detail of her intimacy, so she torments Fern, asking to go to Omar’s tonight. Zinger! He would’ve preferred his house but his back’s to the wall so he agrees. Besides, he says their night at Omar’s was very special, like no other night he spent with anyone else.
6. Lety has another revenge fantasy. Fernando compliments her looks, and she grabs him by the necktie and says, “This is the same face you and Omar mock. No more lies!”
Tonight, Tonight. Fernando sees that Lety wants to be intimate with him tonight, and that’s a change for the better. But she seems so cold and distant. He determines, “Tonight I will be entirely sincere / honest with Lety. I will show her how much I feel for her. And I will not lie to her.”
Tonight, Tonight. Saimon tries to arrange a serenade for Paula, one he can afford. He’s excited because she’ll love it. Paula thinks he’s arranging to see another woman.
Tonight, Tonight. Alicia uses Marcia’s insecurity to get what she wants, use of Marcia’s car and invitation for the Yuri event tonight. She prays, “God, tonight let me win a rich novio, but most of all, that I meet the man who will rescue me from this Hell. I need him now more than ever.”
Tonight, Tonight. Lety develops her plan for tonight. In The Letter, she sees Fernando’s Achilles’ heel, his fear that Tomás will manipulate Lety and take the company. She says, “Let’s see just how jealous you are, Don Fernando!” She tells Tom to dress well and present himself at the event as her beloved novio.
Tonight, Tonight. Tom says that tonight he finally meets that desgraciado, Don Fernando, face to face. He’ll let him have it, square between the eyes.
Tonight, Tonight. The witches find Alicia’s invitation. Celso wants to return it to her, but Sara tears it up. “Now let’s see how you get in the event.”
In his car, Lety remembers the early days of the betrayal, and she starts to cry. Fernando asks her what’s wrong. See the transcript.
Capitulo 136.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Fernando is excited to meet Yuri. He fusses over her and forgets Lety, but when Lety fusses over Yuri, Fern gets embarrassed and pushes her aside. Lety jokes with Yuri, Fernando has to enjoy his last night of freedom because Marcia gets back tomorrow and the party’s over.
2. Lety retrieves Fern’s cell because Marcia will kill him if he doesn’t answer her calls. Lety says, “We don’t want a dead president, at least not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Har, har.” Fernando follows Yuri because he’s excited to see the dancers, and he behaves just like in the old days.
3. Paula is mad because she thinks Saimon’s meeting another woman tonight. Saimon is excited that she’s jealous. Alicia can’t enter the event because she lost her ticket, so she leeches onto two guys and they take her in, but they ditch her quickly.
4. Lety sees Fernando is flirting with the dancers, and talk turns to the wedding. Luigi says it’s better that he marries and only makes one woman suffer (as Lety suffers). Luigi mocks Lety and the dancers join in, but Fernando barely protests. Finally Yuri stops them and sneers at Fern. Lety excuses herself and tells Fern to continue in his paradise, plucking the blossoms.
5. Lety privately asks Yuri to arrange to let Tom in the event. Three times, Fernando asks Yuri what Lety said. Tom arrives and he looks great. Lety orders him not to flirt since he’s supposed to be her novio, and Alicia is here. Tom hyperventilates.
6. Cute scene. Fernando spots Alicia and orders her to collect the dancers’ names and numbers so he can hire them for the Cannes event. He emphasizes that Ali is his secretary, despite her protests.
7. Lety tells Tom that his job tonight is to make Fernando jealous, the kind of jealousy that will really kill him, the financial kind.
8. Paula tells Lola that Efren dares try to take her house because she’s a doormat. She threatens but never follows through. Paula convinces her to confront him and Paula goes along.
9. Yuri introduces Fernando to Mijares. Fern says he’s looking for Lety, and Mijares asks who that is. Fern says she’s his assistant, he depends on her opinions, and she always helps him make the best decisions in his life (yes, friends, that is a foreshadow!).
10. Yuri says, “If I didn’t know you had a novia, I’d swear that Lety is the most important woman on earth to you.. because of the way you look at her.” Fern admits that she’s his friend and guardian angel. Yuri asks, “What are you to her?” He almost says, “Her novio,” but stops himself. Mijares says they seem like a couple. Yuri says he’s obviously in love with her.
Spanish Lesson. In the car.
As Lety gets in the car, she remembers a similar scene early in the deception when Fernando avoided her kiss, and she cries.
F: Lety, what’s wrong? It feels like you’re different (rara). Something’s bothering you. Tell me. What is it?
L: I’ve always been strange (rara). Or no?
F: No, you don’t have the same enthusiasm you usually have when we go out. I feel.. I feel.. Don’t you want to go out with me? Is that it? (Pleading.) Tell me. (Turns on the charm.)
L: Nothing. What could be going on regarding you? (Que me podría pasar con usted?)
F: (Worries that Lety knows about the engagement ring.) Nothing. Nothing. (Do you remember he promised himself to be honest with Lety tonight? That lasted about 10 minutes.) You should tell me. Maybe I did something to upset you and I didn’t realize it. I’ve been behaving lately. I haven’t flirted with anyone for some time. I was good with Rocío. I behaved. I didn’t even (?) so we didn’t have a repeat of what happened with Paty M.
L: That made me VERY jealous.
F: Yes, I was chatting with Paty, and I got angry at you. But I asked you to forgive me, remember?
L: Yes. It was.. unforgetable. Don’t worry. Lately you have acted very well.
F: Lety. Mi Lety. Do you know, you’re beautiful? (He tries to kiss her.)
L: No, we can’t kiss, Celso will see us.
F: I feel like this all happened before. In this same place. With Celso.
L: That was probably in a past life.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
Do you remember the “Tonight Quintet” from West Side Story? If not, but sure to look at the clip. The Jets, the Sharks, Anita, Tony, and Maria each had different hopes and dreams for the same night. Today’s cap’s have their own version of the Tonight Quintet, Region 4.
1. Fernando explains to Rocío that Alicia refused to listen to sense, and now she has to learn the hard way. He’s actually describing himself too.
2. Saimon tries to comfort Ali, but she throws a fit because he dared to hug her. He says after her, “After all I did to help you? Que mala compañera eres.”
3. Fernando reminds Lety that the Yuri event is tonight. They’ll make an appearance there, and then they’ll go somewhere alone. She wipes off his kisses, reviews how his behavior lines up with the letter, and goes home for lunch. Tom tells her she should give Fernando what he deserves, but she doesn’t know how. Fernando tells Omar he doesn’t want to continue deceiving Lety.
4. Lola is falling apart because the lawyer said Efren might take 50% of her house. In the baño Paula suggests that Lola get a boyfriend to boost her ego and to show Efren her worth. She says nothing makes a man madder than to see his ex happy with someone else. In that, Lety finds her course of action.
5. Lety remembers that Fernando promised he wouldn’t tell Omar about them, and in the letter Omar told Fern to not take Lety to his apartment anymore. She is humiliated because Omar knows every detail of her intimacy, so she torments Fern, asking to go to Omar’s tonight. Zinger! He would’ve preferred his house but his back’s to the wall so he agrees. Besides, he says their night at Omar’s was very special, like no other night he spent with anyone else.
6. Lety has another revenge fantasy. Fernando compliments her looks, and she grabs him by the necktie and says, “This is the same face you and Omar mock. No more lies!”
Tonight, Tonight. Fernando sees that Lety wants to be intimate with him tonight, and that’s a change for the better. But she seems so cold and distant. He determines, “Tonight I will be entirely sincere / honest with Lety. I will show her how much I feel for her. And I will not lie to her.”
Tonight, Tonight. Saimon tries to arrange a serenade for Paula, one he can afford. He’s excited because she’ll love it. Paula thinks he’s arranging to see another woman.
Tonight, Tonight. Alicia uses Marcia’s insecurity to get what she wants, use of Marcia’s car and invitation for the Yuri event tonight. She prays, “God, tonight let me win a rich novio, but most of all, that I meet the man who will rescue me from this Hell. I need him now more than ever.”
Tonight, Tonight. Lety develops her plan for tonight. In The Letter, she sees Fernando’s Achilles’ heel, his fear that Tomás will manipulate Lety and take the company. She says, “Let’s see just how jealous you are, Don Fernando!” She tells Tom to dress well and present himself at the event as her beloved novio.
Tonight, Tonight. Tom says that tonight he finally meets that desgraciado, Don Fernando, face to face. He’ll let him have it, square between the eyes.
Tonight, Tonight. The witches find Alicia’s invitation. Celso wants to return it to her, but Sara tears it up. “Now let’s see how you get in the event.”
In his car, Lety remembers the early days of the betrayal, and she starts to cry. Fernando asks her what’s wrong. See the transcript.
Capitulo 136.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Fernando is excited to meet Yuri. He fusses over her and forgets Lety, but when Lety fusses over Yuri, Fern gets embarrassed and pushes her aside. Lety jokes with Yuri, Fernando has to enjoy his last night of freedom because Marcia gets back tomorrow and the party’s over.
2. Lety retrieves Fern’s cell because Marcia will kill him if he doesn’t answer her calls. Lety says, “We don’t want a dead president, at least not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Har, har.” Fernando follows Yuri because he’s excited to see the dancers, and he behaves just like in the old days.
3. Paula is mad because she thinks Saimon’s meeting another woman tonight. Saimon is excited that she’s jealous. Alicia can’t enter the event because she lost her ticket, so she leeches onto two guys and they take her in, but they ditch her quickly.
4. Lety sees Fernando is flirting with the dancers, and talk turns to the wedding. Luigi says it’s better that he marries and only makes one woman suffer (as Lety suffers). Luigi mocks Lety and the dancers join in, but Fernando barely protests. Finally Yuri stops them and sneers at Fern. Lety excuses herself and tells Fern to continue in his paradise, plucking the blossoms.
5. Lety privately asks Yuri to arrange to let Tom in the event. Three times, Fernando asks Yuri what Lety said. Tom arrives and he looks great. Lety orders him not to flirt since he’s supposed to be her novio, and Alicia is here. Tom hyperventilates.
6. Cute scene. Fernando spots Alicia and orders her to collect the dancers’ names and numbers so he can hire them for the Cannes event. He emphasizes that Ali is his secretary, despite her protests. 7. Lety tells Tom that his job tonight is to make Fernando jealous, the kind of jealousy that will really kill him, the financial kind.
8. Paula tells Lola that Efren dares try to take her house because she’s a doormat. She threatens but never follows through. Paula convinces her to confront him and Paula goes along.
9. Yuri introduces Fernando to Mijares. Fern says he’s looking for Lety, and Mijares asks who that is. Fern says she’s his assistant, he depends on her opinions, and she always helps him make the best decisions in his life (yes, friends, that is a foreshadow!). 10. Yuri says, “If I didn’t know you had a novia, I’d swear that Lety is the most important woman on earth to you.. because of the way you look at her.” Fern admits that she’s his friend and guardian angel. Yuri asks, “What are you to her?” He almost says, “Her novio,” but stops himself. Mijares says they seem like a couple. Yuri says he’s obviously in love with her.
Spanish Lesson. In the car.
As Lety gets in the car, she remembers a similar scene early in the deception when Fernando avoided her kiss, and she cries.
F: Lety, what’s wrong? It feels like you’re different (rara). Something’s bothering you. Tell me. What is it?
L: I’ve always been strange (rara). Or no?
F: No, you don’t have the same enthusiasm you usually have when we go out. I feel.. I feel.. Don’t you want to go out with me? Is that it? (Pleading.) Tell me. (Turns on the charm.)
L: Nothing. What could be going on regarding you? (Que me podría pasar con usted?)
F: (Worries that Lety knows about the engagement ring.) Nothing. Nothing. (Do you remember he promised himself to be honest with Lety tonight? That lasted about 10 minutes.) You should tell me. Maybe I did something to upset you and I didn’t realize it. I’ve been behaving lately. I haven’t flirted with anyone for some time. I was good with Rocío. I behaved. I didn’t even (?) so we didn’t have a repeat of what happened with Paty M.
L: That made me VERY jealous.
F: Yes, I was chatting with Paty, and I got angry at you. But I asked you to forgive me, remember?
L: Yes. It was.. unforgetable. Don’t worry. Lately you have acted very well.
F: Lety. Mi Lety. Do you know, you’re beautiful? (He tries to kiss her.)
L: No, we can’t kiss, Celso will see us.
F: I feel like this all happened before. In this same place. With Celso.
L: That was probably in a past life.
Labels: fea-2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Sat. 12/18/10 Who's Watching India?
A very entertaining, colorful telenovela is currently airing nightly on Telefutura at 10:00 pm EST/9:00 pm CST. Several of those commenting on Caray Caray have expressed an interest or indicated that they have been watching this show. It is produced by a Brazilian company and therefore filmed (I presume) in Portuguese although here in the US it has been dubbed in Spanish and carries closed captions in both Spanish (CC1) and English (CC3).
First of all the dubbing is very good. It is well-coordinated and spoken with amazing clarity with voices that seem to match the characters represented. Secondly, the Spanish captions are by and large well-timed and accurate. I have only watched very briefly using the English captions and my experience is that they are done with much less care than those in Spanish, often woefully lagging behind the spoken words. If this is the usual case it is unfortunate and shame on Telefutura for this.
The action is fairly equally divided between India and Brazil, and more recently some of the action takes place in Dubai. It is a visual feast. There are stunning outdoor scenes
in all the venues and the indoor settings are lavish. Do people really live like this? I guess they must. Wow!
There is lots of color and in HDTV almost every scene is breathtaking. I recently saw Slumdog Millionaire and believe me, this is an all different India that is portrayed here. The Brazil we see in this does not suffer by comparison and the Dubai that is depicted is an Arab's wet dream; an indoor ski slope in Thursday's episode for goodness sakes.
The show itself is fairly standard telenovela fare with intricate interwoven plots chock full of cliches and familiar plot devises, situations, and characterizations.
There are four primary characters whose lives are intimately and inextricably intertwined. Like many of our familiar Mexican telenovelas, they are impossibly beautiful, exasperatingly shallow and self-absorbed, and not nearly as interesting or entertaining as the myriad supporting cast.
Maya is the drop-dead gorgeous favorite child of a merchant family
who has had the misfortune to fall in love with Bahuan (more about him in a moment) a Dalit (member of the untouchable caste). Of course her family is aghast when they discover this relationship. Her parents, Manu and Cotchi, arrange a marriage between her and Raj, the favored though younger son of another merchant family. She intended to run away with Baguan but he is ambitious nd has lots to prove so instead of eloping with his true love, he decides that he needs a year to pursue his internet business unencumbered by Maya. This does not prevent them from consummating their burning passion in some extremely steamy love scenes
with predictable results. On the day that he is leaving for America, she attempts to go with him but he leaves her in a rainy street with tears streaming down her cheeks as she chases his departing cab, suitcase in hand. "I'll stay in touch! It's just a year." Jerk. Shortly afterward, she, cómo no, discovers that she is...¡EMBARAZADA! Unable to convince him to return to give him the good news (such information in TNs... as you well know... can only be delivered in person). Soooo... she marries Raj in the strangest wedding I've ever witnessed and let me tell you, I've been to several New Age weddings, a number of Czech weddings, a Vietnamese wedding, and even a wedding of dogs... they don't compare... and the dancing!
Duda is a dangerously thin Brazilian lass
who has fallen in love with Raj. She is a self-sufficient liberated woman who falls for the darkly charming Indian business man. She is no stranger to the mysteries of passion and before long they are actively bumping their own little cars (Beto's... of un Gancho... way of putting it) with, once again, predictable results (protected sex is not a feature of TN's in Brazil, either). This time it's his family that objects, while she discovers that she is ¡EMBARAZADA! he's busy marrying Maya., who tells him that she is not a virgin, but leaves out the part about being pregnant.
Bahuan's parents were murdered for touching some upper class Indian (this caste stuff is really difficult for me to stomach)
and their hovel was burned to the ground (I don't think it met building codes, anyway). He was then adopted and reared by an enlightened religious thinker (Brahmin),Shankar, who just happens to be Opash's (Raj's daddy) daddy, though no one, including Opash himself, other than the holy man and of course Opash's mom, is aware of this.
(See? The usual TN stuff). Bahuan is a social climber (no place to go but up), surprisingly self-centered, impulsive, and volatile. He has become Raj's bitter enemy. He made a valiant attempt to abduct Maya on horseback but captured her servant instead... a mistake anyone could make.
Raj is a rather sanguine, moody Indian
with a very traditional family which shares the same values as that of Maya. Thus they are the perfect match except for the fact that they are both in love and expecting a child with another person. Well, all young newlyweds have their problems. After wedding Maya he vows to make a go of it and forget what'shername. Up until now, he has no idea of his son that Duda is carrying.
As I said, the main characters aren't all that compelling, but...
We also have Raul, whose in love with his wife's (Sylvia) best friend (Yvone) who just happens to be a physician with flexible ethics. The two of them recently faked Raul's death and are currently cavorting about Dubai looking for someone to recognize him and expose their charade.
It's looking more and more that Yvone does not have Raul's best interests in mind.
Meintras tanto Sylvia is feuding with Raul's brother Ramiro
who loved but didn't trust his sibling (he had his reasons). I really don't understand fully (nor care to) the details of the Cadore business. Daddy Cadore is a amiable old fart who is always the last to know. 
He likes to dance and hangs out with a free spirit shrink, Dr. Castaño,
who seems mostly lurk in a dance club sipping mojitas or whatever it is they drink in Brazil. He comes in handy, however, because Cadore's nieto, Tarso, is a pretty sad sack who is hounded by voices and is prone to violence when he's not crouching under his desk in the dark listening to Megadeath on his MP3. He somehow has managed to latch on to Tonia, a sweet, frumpy girl. 
Runaway! Runaway! Sweet frumpy girl, this kid is bad news. He does look like Rick Nelson. Anyone remember him? Anyway, his mom (a flighty, superficial New Ager)
and dad don't want to face the fact that their kid is... well... unique. Daddy wants him to eventually head up the family business. They do have a well adjusted daughter who is into body modification... piercings, tattoos and the like.
The other schizophrenic, Ademir, is more likable and involved in the world around him. He has his moments, but, when he takes his meds, is a relatively normal dancin' fool, and I mean competitively. If that weren't enough, he plays in a band made up of guys from the funhouse. Dr Castaño, of course, is his psychiatrist.
There is also a family that is pretty rough around the edges.
Not sure what the dad, César does, but it's clearly shady. He has two pleasant daughters from a former marriage and from his current marriage, a son, Zeca, who is an unlikable bully. Nacos with cash. Actually, I wish we'd see more of them.
Back in India, the fun is mainly provided by household intrigues and sibling rivalry... Borrrring... but everything is so pretty... so.... who cares? One persistent aspect that is vaguely troubling for me are a couple of little girls, Anusha and Chanti,
aunt and niece, always seem to be dancing in diaphanous colorful outfits... apparently for the amusement of the old folks who always seem to be lounging about drinking tea. Not exactly kiddie-porn, but for me, just a bit too suggestive for such little girls. They are very talented, lithe, limber, and seemingly tireless. No doubt perfectly normal for an Indian household, nevertheless it makes me a little uncomfortable... I think that playing with dolls might be more age appropriate. On the other hand, the exercise is certainly healthful and on the plus side, not a TV in sight.
The thief of hearts in this is a little waif named Hari, who helps his mom, Puja, keep the street clean. They are members of the untouchable caste and Bahuan is his hero. Unfortunately, Bahuan is not always an exemplary role model.
There are countless other characters who are in and out. Raj has a younger brother, Ravi, who is following in his brother's footsteps with a cute little Brazilian novia, Camila, the sister of Zeca.They have an ongoing Internet romance. He met her in person when he accompanied Raj on a trip to Brazil and she is now planning a trip to India. No cositas between them... yet.
Raj also has an older brother, Amithab, who is borrrring,
mired in the old ways and extremely jealous of Raj. He is married to Surya, who already hates Maya, and they are Anusha's parents.
Opash, their dad, is trying to negotiate a settlement with Duda without Raj discovering that he's going to be a daddy. There is a palpable sexual tension growing between him and Duda's older friend... He has traveled to Rio de Janero to meet with them and is experiencing quite a bit of culture shock.
A cute couple in Brazil is Abel, a street cop who mostly directs traffic, and his fiercely jealous and possessive wife, Normiña who has a roving eye, herself. She is especially fond of Indra, a youthful India immigrant. Her nemesis is Suellen,
who is Ademir's vivacious dance partner and who enjoys taunting Normiña by flirting with Abel.
Camels and cattle share the packed streets with automobiles and lorries, bicycles and pedestrians. Opash's fabric shop has a pretty bovine that comes in each afternoon for a snack and socializing.
Though we in Texas are accustomed to having livestock wandering about our stores, some of you might find this odd or even unsettling. India is very different from here. Young women take their problems to Lord Ghanesha, much as the ladies in Mexico consult with la Virgen de Guadalupe. You know what she looks like; he looks like a elephant. The results are similar.
If you have a favorite character or situation that I haven't mentioned and would like to discuss... this is the place and the reason for this posting. I want to hear what others are thinking and experiencing with his show.
Well, there you have it. Basically a standard telenovela with a mega-budget. If enough of you are interested and leave comments for discussion, we may do this again sometime.
Carlos
First of all the dubbing is very good. It is well-coordinated and spoken with amazing clarity with voices that seem to match the characters represented. Secondly, the Spanish captions are by and large well-timed and accurate. I have only watched very briefly using the English captions and my experience is that they are done with much less care than those in Spanish, often woefully lagging behind the spoken words. If this is the usual case it is unfortunate and shame on Telefutura for this.The action is fairly equally divided between India and Brazil, and more recently some of the action takes place in Dubai. It is a visual feast. There are stunning outdoor scenes
in all the venues and the indoor settings are lavish. Do people really live like this? I guess they must. Wow!
There is lots of color and in HDTV almost every scene is breathtaking. I recently saw Slumdog Millionaire and believe me, this is an all different India that is portrayed here. The Brazil we see in this does not suffer by comparison and the Dubai that is depicted is an Arab's wet dream; an indoor ski slope in Thursday's episode for goodness sakes.
The show itself is fairly standard telenovela fare with intricate interwoven plots chock full of cliches and familiar plot devises, situations, and characterizations.
There are four primary characters whose lives are intimately and inextricably intertwined. Like many of our familiar Mexican telenovelas, they are impossibly beautiful, exasperatingly shallow and self-absorbed, and not nearly as interesting or entertaining as the myriad supporting cast.
Maya is the drop-dead gorgeous favorite child of a merchant family
who has had the misfortune to fall in love with Bahuan (more about him in a moment) a Dalit (member of the untouchable caste). Of course her family is aghast when they discover this relationship. Her parents, Manu and Cotchi, arrange a marriage between her and Raj, the favored though younger son of another merchant family. She intended to run away with Baguan but he is ambitious nd has lots to prove so instead of eloping with his true love, he decides that he needs a year to pursue his internet business unencumbered by Maya. This does not prevent them from consummating their burning passion in some extremely steamy love scenes
with predictable results. On the day that he is leaving for America, she attempts to go with him but he leaves her in a rainy street with tears streaming down her cheeks as she chases his departing cab, suitcase in hand. "I'll stay in touch! It's just a year." Jerk. Shortly afterward, she, cómo no, discovers that she is...¡EMBARAZADA! Unable to convince him to return to give him the good news (such information in TNs... as you well know... can only be delivered in person). Soooo... she marries Raj in the strangest wedding I've ever witnessed and let me tell you, I've been to several New Age weddings, a number of Czech weddings, a Vietnamese wedding, and even a wedding of dogs... they don't compare... and the dancing!
Duda is a dangerously thin Brazilian lass
who has fallen in love with Raj. She is a self-sufficient liberated woman who falls for the darkly charming Indian business man. She is no stranger to the mysteries of passion and before long they are actively bumping their own little cars (Beto's... of un Gancho... way of putting it) with, once again, predictable results (protected sex is not a feature of TN's in Brazil, either). This time it's his family that objects, while she discovers that she is ¡EMBARAZADA! he's busy marrying Maya., who tells him that she is not a virgin, but leaves out the part about being pregnant.
Bahuan's parents were murdered for touching some upper class Indian (this caste stuff is really difficult for me to stomach)
and their hovel was burned to the ground (I don't think it met building codes, anyway). He was then adopted and reared by an enlightened religious thinker (Brahmin),Shankar, who just happens to be Opash's (Raj's daddy) daddy, though no one, including Opash himself, other than the holy man and of course Opash's mom, is aware of this.
(See? The usual TN stuff). Bahuan is a social climber (no place to go but up), surprisingly self-centered, impulsive, and volatile. He has become Raj's bitter enemy. He made a valiant attempt to abduct Maya on horseback but captured her servant instead... a mistake anyone could make.
Raj is a rather sanguine, moody Indian
with a very traditional family which shares the same values as that of Maya. Thus they are the perfect match except for the fact that they are both in love and expecting a child with another person. Well, all young newlyweds have their problems. After wedding Maya he vows to make a go of it and forget what'shername. Up until now, he has no idea of his son that Duda is carrying.
As I said, the main characters aren't all that compelling, but...
We also have Raul, whose in love with his wife's (Sylvia) best friend (Yvone) who just happens to be a physician with flexible ethics. The two of them recently faked Raul's death and are currently cavorting about Dubai looking for someone to recognize him and expose their charade.
It's looking more and more that Yvone does not have Raul's best interests in mind.Meintras tanto Sylvia is feuding with Raul's brother Ramiro
who loved but didn't trust his sibling (he had his reasons). I really don't understand fully (nor care to) the details of the Cadore business. Daddy Cadore is a amiable old fart who is always the last to know. 
He likes to dance and hangs out with a free spirit shrink, Dr. Castaño,
who seems mostly lurk in a dance club sipping mojitas or whatever it is they drink in Brazil. He comes in handy, however, because Cadore's nieto, Tarso, is a pretty sad sack who is hounded by voices and is prone to violence when he's not crouching under his desk in the dark listening to Megadeath on his MP3. He somehow has managed to latch on to Tonia, a sweet, frumpy girl. 
Runaway! Runaway! Sweet frumpy girl, this kid is bad news. He does look like Rick Nelson. Anyone remember him? Anyway, his mom (a flighty, superficial New Ager)
and dad don't want to face the fact that their kid is... well... unique. Daddy wants him to eventually head up the family business. They do have a well adjusted daughter who is into body modification... piercings, tattoos and the like.
The other schizophrenic, Ademir, is more likable and involved in the world around him. He has his moments, but, when he takes his meds, is a relatively normal dancin' fool, and I mean competitively. If that weren't enough, he plays in a band made up of guys from the funhouse. Dr Castaño, of course, is his psychiatrist.There is also a family that is pretty rough around the edges.
Not sure what the dad, César does, but it's clearly shady. He has two pleasant daughters from a former marriage and from his current marriage, a son, Zeca, who is an unlikable bully. Nacos with cash. Actually, I wish we'd see more of them.Back in India, the fun is mainly provided by household intrigues and sibling rivalry... Borrrring... but everything is so pretty... so.... who cares? One persistent aspect that is vaguely troubling for me are a couple of little girls, Anusha and Chanti,
aunt and niece, always seem to be dancing in diaphanous colorful outfits... apparently for the amusement of the old folks who always seem to be lounging about drinking tea. Not exactly kiddie-porn, but for me, just a bit too suggestive for such little girls. They are very talented, lithe, limber, and seemingly tireless. No doubt perfectly normal for an Indian household, nevertheless it makes me a little uncomfortable... I think that playing with dolls might be more age appropriate. On the other hand, the exercise is certainly healthful and on the plus side, not a TV in sight.
The thief of hearts in this is a little waif named Hari, who helps his mom, Puja, keep the street clean. They are members of the untouchable caste and Bahuan is his hero. Unfortunately, Bahuan is not always an exemplary role model.There are countless other characters who are in and out. Raj has a younger brother, Ravi, who is following in his brother's footsteps with a cute little Brazilian novia, Camila, the sister of Zeca.They have an ongoing Internet romance. He met her in person when he accompanied Raj on a trip to Brazil and she is now planning a trip to India. No cositas between them... yet.
Raj also has an older brother, Amithab, who is borrrring,
mired in the old ways and extremely jealous of Raj. He is married to Surya, who already hates Maya, and they are Anusha's parents.Opash, their dad, is trying to negotiate a settlement with Duda without Raj discovering that he's going to be a daddy. There is a palpable sexual tension growing between him and Duda's older friend... He has traveled to Rio de Janero to meet with them and is experiencing quite a bit of culture shock.
A cute couple in Brazil is Abel, a street cop who mostly directs traffic, and his fiercely jealous and possessive wife, Normiña who has a roving eye, herself. She is especially fond of Indra, a youthful India immigrant. Her nemesis is Suellen,
who is Ademir's vivacious dance partner and who enjoys taunting Normiña by flirting with Abel.
Camels and cattle share the packed streets with automobiles and lorries, bicycles and pedestrians. Opash's fabric shop has a pretty bovine that comes in each afternoon for a snack and socializing.
Though we in Texas are accustomed to having livestock wandering about our stores, some of you might find this odd or even unsettling. India is very different from here. Young women take their problems to Lord Ghanesha, much as the ladies in Mexico consult with la Virgen de Guadalupe. You know what she looks like; he looks like a elephant. The results are similar.If you have a favorite character or situation that I haven't mentioned and would like to discuss... this is the place and the reason for this posting. I want to hear what others are thinking and experiencing with his show.
Well, there you have it. Basically a standard telenovela with a mega-budget. If enough of you are interested and leave comments for discussion, we may do this again sometime.
Carlos
Labels: synopsis-cast
Llena de Amor #90 (Mex. 95) Fri 12/17/10 Llena de que?
Amor eh? Well, I'm not seeing much of that...but I'll be telling you what I do see ...
So we open with mod chica Ilitia being perfectly upset about the Espanolita bringing Manny his clothes back, of course VicMar TOTALLY takes advantage of the situation (who wouldn’t if they had the chance to give that diva wannabe the opportunity to form frown wrinkles) and plays it off as no big deal, but Ilitia will defend her man to the teeth...to which VMar aptly responds, well, I hope you have a good dentist then!! Take that ! Manny just shrugs and smirks apparently enjoying the stew.
And now a word from our sponsors, Maggi Sason de la Calle for chicken boullion…Muneca is cooking roast chicken and the maid is simply in awe of the little cubos and how to do this. Hmm, not likely.
Now we go to yuk, Bernardo visits Delicia for some of her Delights, and she has to fight him off. He is not easily dissuaded and forces her into the closet…
Speaking of closets, Oliver is wondering if GMan shouldn’t be coming out of his, but not wanting it to be with him. S-He just wants them to be friends, but he wonders about those looks…he shouldn’t be looking at him that way…Consuelo breaks in and thanks him for covering for her about, you know, the other night…he saved her life…no she’s saving his from Manoseolo…but she is oblivious.
Now Bernardo has pulled Delicia onto the bed and well of course because she’s on top the chic who bursts in thinks Deli is after some meat… and spews shame at her. She won’t believe Deli’s protesting essentially calling her a little tart and Benni no better for accepting. Hmph.
Ah jees now we go to Emiliano wanting to bond more with his daughter, umm yeah, to get closer you’ll have to etch off the 8 feet of makeup layers on this chic, which are clearly affecting her brain/oxygen flow, as she wants him to help her be top model, he wanting her to get a clue and leave her shady ass orange boyfriend. Nice try Emil, but see above re etching off layers first…your concern will not get through to her otherwise. She say Mau loooves her and he’s all she has…pulease.
So now Muneca and hubby are at the office and Low teases her about being at work and then being asleep when he got home last night and then dreaming about him as he could see her face moving funny or something and who walks in but our man orange of the hour. He wants to apologize to Muneca because the money that was stolen he intended to donate to her shelter and children’s hospital. She laughs at something ironic that the Lirio de Plata robs and gives to the poor and the money was intended for helping her help the poor, really, she laughs because she got the money afterall, but thankfully our intelligent detective has not sleuthed this yet. Orangeman promises they’ll build the hospital even though the money went missing… Muni is a little shocked.
Back to the office where VMar has had enough of princess accusing her of wanting to sleep with her husband; oh but Brandon walks in on cue and says Il’s nose is wrong, VMar is mamboing horizontally with him. Dos muy impactado looks from the newlyweds…
Fedra is fretting over the photo of her in the paper that declares her the hostess of the most elite corrupt ones in the country…how’s that for a title! This doesn’t stop them from critiquing the foto.
Benigno and Emil chat about the investigation the General is conducting and the nugget here is that it turns out that the Fedra Curiel they found, so couldn’t be his wife because of the age, instead her mother, but that chic never had children… Emil fears that Fedra has been deceiving this whole time.
Back to the office of impactados, where Brandon explains how he and VMar discovered the delights of each others flesh and the other two jeer a bit in slight disbelief. Spitting and hair pulling ensue, well figuratively, and Ilitia admits to knowing Brandon way better than VMar could ever hope to. Brandon smirks and Manny wonders why that is. Later Ili explains that she knows his type well. More bantering here but let’s move on.
Oh we didn’t get very far, back at the: hmm how can that be that the first Fedra had no kids, is he sure? Is there a mistake? No, y no, and oh our orangeman gets around because now he’s visiting Emil and proposes to him an offer he can’t refuse…uh oh…well, next we know all the suegritos are together in an office discussing that the money was for the hospital and he’s sorry he was so upset, and woes him, he carries the stigma of being the son of a mafioso (stigma?…I thought that was pretty much an absolute)…anyway, ole Emil says, curiously enough, he talked with his daughter today about him and agreed to give him a chance because he supports her but his eyes will be on Mau like flies on…well that’s the idea anyway. Don’t mess up dude, so what is your business prop?
So Brandon wants to know what Mani knows about the Lirio de Plata..they chat, Bran reciting the similarities between him and the Lirio, Eman turns it back on Bran that he too shares these characteristics. The conversation then turns to the girl…with Bran reminding him he’s a free man and well Eman has already found the girl of his dreams, no?
The girls now get their turn…and VMar gets flowers from Mau… Ilitia says take him, that will get him away from my sister in law…but stay away from my hubby!! VMar says she will play the game with him, but he will pay for all of his former insults of her when she was la gorda.
Th group now chats about this great event that Mau wants to hold to raise back the money for the hospital. Muni wants to manage it all, she doesn't need Low to help. He goes out but remarks that when this is over she'll have not interest in the investment.
Ah that Fedra, she actually goes to the rag mag office and complains about the article, she wants to know who wrote the article but the folks actually don't know...it was the Lirio de Plata...that guy gets around too. Robber, writer, man what a talented dude.
Ilitia bumps into Brandon in the hallway...did anyone else notice the car alarm going off in the background? He makes a comment about her rolling around with Mau on her wedding day. Naturally this pisses her off, but he warns her to be careful as she is deceinvg her hubby and playing with fire...she tells him not to get used to Vicki, he'll lose her too like Marianela. Later he teases her again.
Low demostrated his namesake and blows lots hot air at Doris introducing himself to her, telling her she'll have to do some body make up. She wonders who, Ah...it's her (and our) bon bon...this is a good scene!!!
At the paper, Fedra learns and does not like that the pseudonymed Plata thief wrote the article. They have nothing to say about it...ha...anyway on the way out, she runs into GMan, who is muy impactado to see her and says her name. Of course from behind her wall of ringlets she wants to know why he's so freaked out, well he just recognized her from the mag, everyone knows her now the jefe says. She leaves, but not before she spits some more at him. Jairo recommends that Manolo take acting lessons from Netty, because these have give him lots of security.
Emil comes into VMar and Eman and says he has news...Mau will be working exclusively with VMar on this new hospital building event. Eman can't believe his ears, that his Pa is trusting that low life, and where did the money come from and so forth... yep.. She's not happy that he didn't get consulted first and Eman keeps on insulting Mau, he won't work with this kind of people, really VMar is whom he will work with...
Doris proceeds to make up the bon bon, who promises he will act like he's dead, he knows who she is, and that will make her at ease to work on him. She would like nothing more.
Emil begs Vicky to do this for him as a favor.
Axel shows up to ask forgiveness of Netty.
Mau wants to talk to Vicky alone... Eman leaves but warns her Mau is dangerous, she says he's not so undangerous.
Mau invites her to eat at his house, she can't she's busy, and he was never given permission to tutear her. Nope he says, you'll cancel your plans, oh and I will tutear you. You'll be there at 9pm...y fin
So we open with mod chica Ilitia being perfectly upset about the Espanolita bringing Manny his clothes back, of course VicMar TOTALLY takes advantage of the situation (who wouldn’t if they had the chance to give that diva wannabe the opportunity to form frown wrinkles) and plays it off as no big deal, but Ilitia will defend her man to the teeth...to which VMar aptly responds, well, I hope you have a good dentist then!! Take that ! Manny just shrugs and smirks apparently enjoying the stew.
And now a word from our sponsors, Maggi Sason de la Calle for chicken boullion…Muneca is cooking roast chicken and the maid is simply in awe of the little cubos and how to do this. Hmm, not likely.
Now we go to yuk, Bernardo visits Delicia for some of her Delights, and she has to fight him off. He is not easily dissuaded and forces her into the closet…
Speaking of closets, Oliver is wondering if GMan shouldn’t be coming out of his, but not wanting it to be with him. S-He just wants them to be friends, but he wonders about those looks…he shouldn’t be looking at him that way…Consuelo breaks in and thanks him for covering for her about, you know, the other night…he saved her life…no she’s saving his from Manoseolo…but she is oblivious.
Now Bernardo has pulled Delicia onto the bed and well of course because she’s on top the chic who bursts in thinks Deli is after some meat… and spews shame at her. She won’t believe Deli’s protesting essentially calling her a little tart and Benni no better for accepting. Hmph.
Ah jees now we go to Emiliano wanting to bond more with his daughter, umm yeah, to get closer you’ll have to etch off the 8 feet of makeup layers on this chic, which are clearly affecting her brain/oxygen flow, as she wants him to help her be top model, he wanting her to get a clue and leave her shady ass orange boyfriend. Nice try Emil, but see above re etching off layers first…your concern will not get through to her otherwise. She say Mau loooves her and he’s all she has…pulease.
So now Muneca and hubby are at the office and Low teases her about being at work and then being asleep when he got home last night and then dreaming about him as he could see her face moving funny or something and who walks in but our man orange of the hour. He wants to apologize to Muneca because the money that was stolen he intended to donate to her shelter and children’s hospital. She laughs at something ironic that the Lirio de Plata robs and gives to the poor and the money was intended for helping her help the poor, really, she laughs because she got the money afterall, but thankfully our intelligent detective has not sleuthed this yet. Orangeman promises they’ll build the hospital even though the money went missing… Muni is a little shocked.
Back to the office where VMar has had enough of princess accusing her of wanting to sleep with her husband; oh but Brandon walks in on cue and says Il’s nose is wrong, VMar is mamboing horizontally with him. Dos muy impactado looks from the newlyweds…
Fedra is fretting over the photo of her in the paper that declares her the hostess of the most elite corrupt ones in the country…how’s that for a title! This doesn’t stop them from critiquing the foto.
Benigno and Emil chat about the investigation the General is conducting and the nugget here is that it turns out that the Fedra Curiel they found, so couldn’t be his wife because of the age, instead her mother, but that chic never had children… Emil fears that Fedra has been deceiving this whole time.
Back to the office of impactados, where Brandon explains how he and VMar discovered the delights of each others flesh and the other two jeer a bit in slight disbelief. Spitting and hair pulling ensue, well figuratively, and Ilitia admits to knowing Brandon way better than VMar could ever hope to. Brandon smirks and Manny wonders why that is. Later Ili explains that she knows his type well. More bantering here but let’s move on.
Oh we didn’t get very far, back at the: hmm how can that be that the first Fedra had no kids, is he sure? Is there a mistake? No, y no, and oh our orangeman gets around because now he’s visiting Emil and proposes to him an offer he can’t refuse…uh oh…well, next we know all the suegritos are together in an office discussing that the money was for the hospital and he’s sorry he was so upset, and woes him, he carries the stigma of being the son of a mafioso (stigma?…I thought that was pretty much an absolute)…anyway, ole Emil says, curiously enough, he talked with his daughter today about him and agreed to give him a chance because he supports her but his eyes will be on Mau like flies on…well that’s the idea anyway. Don’t mess up dude, so what is your business prop?
So Brandon wants to know what Mani knows about the Lirio de Plata..they chat, Bran reciting the similarities between him and the Lirio, Eman turns it back on Bran that he too shares these characteristics. The conversation then turns to the girl…with Bran reminding him he’s a free man and well Eman has already found the girl of his dreams, no?
The girls now get their turn…and VMar gets flowers from Mau… Ilitia says take him, that will get him away from my sister in law…but stay away from my hubby!! VMar says she will play the game with him, but he will pay for all of his former insults of her when she was la gorda.
Th group now chats about this great event that Mau wants to hold to raise back the money for the hospital. Muni wants to manage it all, she doesn't need Low to help. He goes out but remarks that when this is over she'll have not interest in the investment.
Ah that Fedra, she actually goes to the rag mag office and complains about the article, she wants to know who wrote the article but the folks actually don't know...it was the Lirio de Plata...that guy gets around too. Robber, writer, man what a talented dude.
Ilitia bumps into Brandon in the hallway...did anyone else notice the car alarm going off in the background? He makes a comment about her rolling around with Mau on her wedding day. Naturally this pisses her off, but he warns her to be careful as she is deceinvg her hubby and playing with fire...she tells him not to get used to Vicki, he'll lose her too like Marianela. Later he teases her again.
Low demostrated his namesake and blows lots hot air at Doris introducing himself to her, telling her she'll have to do some body make up. She wonders who, Ah...it's her (and our) bon bon...this is a good scene!!!
At the paper, Fedra learns and does not like that the pseudonymed Plata thief wrote the article. They have nothing to say about it...ha...anyway on the way out, she runs into GMan, who is muy impactado to see her and says her name. Of course from behind her wall of ringlets she wants to know why he's so freaked out, well he just recognized her from the mag, everyone knows her now the jefe says. She leaves, but not before she spits some more at him. Jairo recommends that Manolo take acting lessons from Netty, because these have give him lots of security.
Emil comes into VMar and Eman and says he has news...Mau will be working exclusively with VMar on this new hospital building event. Eman can't believe his ears, that his Pa is trusting that low life, and where did the money come from and so forth... yep.. She's not happy that he didn't get consulted first and Eman keeps on insulting Mau, he won't work with this kind of people, really VMar is whom he will work with...
Doris proceeds to make up the bon bon, who promises he will act like he's dead, he knows who she is, and that will make her at ease to work on him. She would like nothing more.
Emil begs Vicky to do this for him as a favor.
Axel shows up to ask forgiveness of Netty.
Mau wants to talk to Vicky alone... Eman leaves but warns her Mau is dangerous, she says he's not so undangerous.
Mau invites her to eat at his house, she can't she's busy, and he was never given permission to tutear her. Nope he says, you'll cancel your plans, oh and I will tutear you. You'll be there at 9pm...y fin
Labels: llena
El Mundo de Telemundo: Week of December 20
Discuss amongst yourselves
Thanks to everyone who commented last week: Novelera, Vivi in DC, Ann-NYC, Hombre de Misterio, NJ Sue, Urban Anthropologis, Lois, shallowgal, CanuckFan, Erin, Blusamurai. (NJ Sue – have a great vacation! Travel safe!)
Best of all – Jean is due back this week!
With your terrific posts, you guys are bringing this space to life as a real discussion.
For those of you who are new here or missed last week’s page, I’m reposting our suggested format changes:
In the interest of Chaos Control:
1. Please put a clear topic heading on every comment, preferably in caps. Also, to avoid spoilers, where appropriate, add the day of the week. (Adding the day is Novelera’s idea – Thanks!) For example:
AURORA -- Tuesday
Pila melts frozen the heart …
or:
GENERAL COMMENT
Telemundo seems to be more concerned with…
That way, we can decide right up front whether to keep on reading. I realize that a lot of us are already doing this, but to those who aren’t – hey, it would help.
2. It’s hard to get away from the recap mindset – I’m the worst offender with the wordy Aurora screeds I’ve inflicted on you – but I do think comments or questions about what you’ve watched or what others have said are the way to go here. Considering the number of novelas in one place and the fact that the link is for an entire week, when we do post plot updates, it might be best to limit them to brief summaries, basically bullet points of daily episodes.
-----------------------------
The latest on Telemundo:
El Fantasma de Elena is in últimos capítulos and Los Herederos del Monte seems to be its replacement. Meanwhile, La Reina del Sur is still on the back burner. The Telemundo website says only that it is coming próximamente. I assume that La Reina will take the 9 pm slot when Alguien is done.
-------------------------------
Updates on current shows:
AURORA – as of Friday
Tonight was the Second Coming of Aurora. The absurdly complicated sham reanimación finally takes place. It is an electronic-age magic act, a media spectacle with switching of bodies and loss of screen image at strategic moments. In its wake it leaves a fake Aurora in a coma from which she is unlikely to recover; and the real Aurora with the burden of pretending to be two people: her true self and her daughter.
Collateral damage: Liliana tried, she really tried, to be a soulless, money-grubbing apostle of the great Gustavo. But in the end, she couldn’t do it. And now she is bound and gagged in a back room and at the mercy of Dra Elizabeth. Who has none. Mercy, that is.
While Aurora is recovering from the fake defrosting, she hears Lorenzo declare his love for her. She realizes that both Natalia and Vanesa were lying: Lorenzo never betrayed her. He was and is the love of her life.
But she also realizes that she has developed feelings for Martín.
She’ll have to figure out who she really is and whether she wants to look to the future with Martín or pick up the pieces of the past with Lorenzo. She continues to remind us that her love for her daughter Blanca is more important than her love for any man.
[Since telenovela writers love the conceit of the double identity, I’m thinking we’ll be seeing double Auroras for quite a while. How is the actress going to make them distinct from one another? Cloncitos, I’m sure you join me in hoping that no head-scratching will be involved.]
Meanwhile the Blanca-César-Vanesa triangle is getting ever more sordid and maybe a bit dangerous. The writers keep teasing us with situations where César almost removes his shirt giving Blanca a chance to see the telltale tattoo and realize he’s her kidnapper. But on Friday’s episode, it is Blanca who loses at strip poker. And once again, César gets to keep his shirt on. (It’s interesting that when Martín and Vanesa walk in and find her topless, Blanca seems unembarrassed.)
And in the Department of Cozy Domesticity: We see Natalia and her nasty gnome, Nina, sitting at the kitchen table nursing their Hatred, their Jealousy and their Thirst for Revenge.
---------------------
ALGUIEN TE MIRA – as of Friday
There’s no doubt now – Daniela is Julián’s next target. Julián knows that when the police investigate, they will find a trail leading back to Rodrigo. What he doesn’t know is that Mauricio has photos of him and Daniela together.
When Julián’s son is looking for family photos for a school project on genealogy and rummages through his father’s memorabilia, he finds a photo of his grandmother, Julián’s mother, in the famous black dress. (We hear her name for the first time: Fabiola. Well, that's assuming Julián is telling the truth.) Julián is furious at the perceived invasion but interestingly, Emilio continues to ask him questions fearlessly. This is a very secure little boy who has never been abused. We understand how controlled Julián’s violence has been up to now, how skillful he is at compartmentalizing his life: One part loving father, one part charming, skilled physician, one part controlling ex-spouse, one part monstrous serial killer…
Tatiana has given the police compromising information about Benja and tries to paint him as the killer. (Apparently there was a bloody shirt. He claims he hurt himself changing a tire. But how weird to burn it.) She won’t let him near his children. She is determined to make him pay for hurting her and her strategy is working. He starts to fall apart under the pressure.
Mauricio believes that Benja truly is the killer and that Camila is in imminent danger from him.
Rodrigo is hurting from Piedad’s rejection. Even so, he is determined to stay clean. His unborn child is his strongest motivation, although as Benja suggests, if he sticks to his rehab, he has a good chance of winning Piedad back.
Nevertheless, Rodrigo doesn’t lack for admirers. Valeria is sweet on him. So is Daniela, for that matter.
Piedad says that she’s giving Julián an opportunity. But Rodrigo is the one she's always thinking about. And Eva’s ghost tells Julián that Piedad will never love him. Who does that remind you of? she asks. Oh boy. Probably not a good thing to remind Julián of Mama.
With $5000 cash in her purse, Lola drags the reluctant Yoyita to her meeting with the hitman, El Buitre (the vulture). The women, disguised as a couple of plus-size Avon Lady drag queens, are met by an armed man who orders them into his SUV. Is he The Vulture they’re looking for? Or just a random predator looking to pick their bones clean?
--------------
And now it's your turn. (Ya te toca a ti.)
Thanks to everyone who commented last week: Novelera, Vivi in DC, Ann-NYC, Hombre de Misterio, NJ Sue, Urban Anthropologis, Lois, shallowgal, CanuckFan, Erin, Blusamurai. (NJ Sue – have a great vacation! Travel safe!)
Best of all – Jean is due back this week!
With your terrific posts, you guys are bringing this space to life as a real discussion.
For those of you who are new here or missed last week’s page, I’m reposting our suggested format changes:
In the interest of Chaos Control:
1. Please put a clear topic heading on every comment, preferably in caps. Also, to avoid spoilers, where appropriate, add the day of the week. (Adding the day is Novelera’s idea – Thanks!) For example:
AURORA -- Tuesday
Pila melts frozen the heart …
or:
GENERAL COMMENT
Telemundo seems to be more concerned with…
That way, we can decide right up front whether to keep on reading. I realize that a lot of us are already doing this, but to those who aren’t – hey, it would help.
2. It’s hard to get away from the recap mindset – I’m the worst offender with the wordy Aurora screeds I’ve inflicted on you – but I do think comments or questions about what you’ve watched or what others have said are the way to go here. Considering the number of novelas in one place and the fact that the link is for an entire week, when we do post plot updates, it might be best to limit them to brief summaries, basically bullet points of daily episodes.
-----------------------------
The latest on Telemundo:
El Fantasma de Elena is in últimos capítulos and Los Herederos del Monte seems to be its replacement. Meanwhile, La Reina del Sur is still on the back burner. The Telemundo website says only that it is coming próximamente. I assume that La Reina will take the 9 pm slot when Alguien is done.
-------------------------------
Updates on current shows:
AURORA – as of Friday
Tonight was the Second Coming of Aurora. The absurdly complicated sham reanimación finally takes place. It is an electronic-age magic act, a media spectacle with switching of bodies and loss of screen image at strategic moments. In its wake it leaves a fake Aurora in a coma from which she is unlikely to recover; and the real Aurora with the burden of pretending to be two people: her true self and her daughter.
Collateral damage: Liliana tried, she really tried, to be a soulless, money-grubbing apostle of the great Gustavo. But in the end, she couldn’t do it. And now she is bound and gagged in a back room and at the mercy of Dra Elizabeth. Who has none. Mercy, that is.
While Aurora is recovering from the fake defrosting, she hears Lorenzo declare his love for her. She realizes that both Natalia and Vanesa were lying: Lorenzo never betrayed her. He was and is the love of her life.
But she also realizes that she has developed feelings for Martín.
She’ll have to figure out who she really is and whether she wants to look to the future with Martín or pick up the pieces of the past with Lorenzo. She continues to remind us that her love for her daughter Blanca is more important than her love for any man.
[Since telenovela writers love the conceit of the double identity, I’m thinking we’ll be seeing double Auroras for quite a while. How is the actress going to make them distinct from one another? Cloncitos, I’m sure you join me in hoping that no head-scratching will be involved.]
Meanwhile the Blanca-César-Vanesa triangle is getting ever more sordid and maybe a bit dangerous. The writers keep teasing us with situations where César almost removes his shirt giving Blanca a chance to see the telltale tattoo and realize he’s her kidnapper. But on Friday’s episode, it is Blanca who loses at strip poker. And once again, César gets to keep his shirt on. (It’s interesting that when Martín and Vanesa walk in and find her topless, Blanca seems unembarrassed.)
And in the Department of Cozy Domesticity: We see Natalia and her nasty gnome, Nina, sitting at the kitchen table nursing their Hatred, their Jealousy and their Thirst for Revenge.
---------------------
ALGUIEN TE MIRA – as of Friday
There’s no doubt now – Daniela is Julián’s next target. Julián knows that when the police investigate, they will find a trail leading back to Rodrigo. What he doesn’t know is that Mauricio has photos of him and Daniela together.
When Julián’s son is looking for family photos for a school project on genealogy and rummages through his father’s memorabilia, he finds a photo of his grandmother, Julián’s mother, in the famous black dress. (We hear her name for the first time: Fabiola. Well, that's assuming Julián is telling the truth.) Julián is furious at the perceived invasion but interestingly, Emilio continues to ask him questions fearlessly. This is a very secure little boy who has never been abused. We understand how controlled Julián’s violence has been up to now, how skillful he is at compartmentalizing his life: One part loving father, one part charming, skilled physician, one part controlling ex-spouse, one part monstrous serial killer…
Tatiana has given the police compromising information about Benja and tries to paint him as the killer. (Apparently there was a bloody shirt. He claims he hurt himself changing a tire. But how weird to burn it.) She won’t let him near his children. She is determined to make him pay for hurting her and her strategy is working. He starts to fall apart under the pressure.
Mauricio believes that Benja truly is the killer and that Camila is in imminent danger from him.
Rodrigo is hurting from Piedad’s rejection. Even so, he is determined to stay clean. His unborn child is his strongest motivation, although as Benja suggests, if he sticks to his rehab, he has a good chance of winning Piedad back.
Nevertheless, Rodrigo doesn’t lack for admirers. Valeria is sweet on him. So is Daniela, for that matter.
Piedad says that she’s giving Julián an opportunity. But Rodrigo is the one she's always thinking about. And Eva’s ghost tells Julián that Piedad will never love him. Who does that remind you of? she asks. Oh boy. Probably not a good thing to remind Julián of Mama.
With $5000 cash in her purse, Lola drags the reluctant Yoyita to her meeting with the hitman, El Buitre (the vulture). The women, disguised as a couple of plus-size Avon Lady drag queens, are met by an armed man who orders them into his SUV. Is he The Vulture they’re looking for? Or just a random predator looking to pick their bones clean?
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And now it's your turn. (Ya te toca a ti.)
Labels: alguien, aurora, fantasma, telemundo
La Verdad Oculta #68: Garnica Hustles a Hustler and Paulita Sniffs Out a Liar
We start with yesterday’s jaw dropping dramatic end. Leo the Lion has taken out Felix the Cat. JJ has taken out Long Haired Goon. And David has taken a couple of bullets for Gabi and is lying unconscious on the pavement. JJ tries to hold back a hysterically crying Gabi who is screaming David’s name and trying to go to him.
Inside JJ’s house, Elsa and Limon note with concern that they both think they heard gun shots (disparos). The kiddies think this is exciting and want to go out to see. Elsa uses her Mommy voice and orders the kidlets to stay put while Limon goes outside to see what’s happening.
I guess the Mexico City Police Department works double time when a prominent businessman and police lieutenant are shot up in a rich neighborhood. They are already on the scene photographing and collecting evidence, along with a few ambulances. They have strapped David to a gurney and are loading him into a waiting ambulance. JJ is begging Gabi to calm down and hands her over to Limon’s care when he joins the scene. Leo is also being loaded into an ambulance, but is still in total control. He tells JJ to inform Gabi’s father before he is taken away. Limon holds a weeping Gabi who is begging heedlessly to go with David.
As Casa Genoves, FaustiMario is also noting to Abelardo all the gunshots he heard. Abelardo also heard all the ambulances and patrol cars (patrullas). They wonder what could have happened, but aren’t surprised considering all that’s happening in Mexico these days. FaustiMario is particularly worried about David and Gabi who should have been there by now. Abelardo tries to calm his fears, saying he’s sure they’re fine. But Faustiago’s face shows that he is not so sure.
In his bedroom, Adolfo is unwinding, after a long day of nefarious deeds, in front of the television. He hears the breaking news of a gun battle (tiroteo) in the neighborhood of San Angel that left two dead and two wounded (heridos). The reporter on the scene reports that David Genoves has been taken away in an ambulance. More news to come as they learn more. “Now, back to your favorite telenovela in progress.”
A worried looking Adolfo calls up and orders one of his henchmen to let him know when he hears from Felix, as he sent Felix out on a job for him and just heard about a gun battle in San Angel.
In the hospital waiting room, Gabi is trying, unsuccessfully, to get a hold of herself. Limon sits with her trying to calm her. Juli brings back news that the doctors can’t yet give any news about David’s status. The two sisters hug and cry at the uncertainty of David’s well being.
At Genoves Manor, JJ rushes in to speak with FaustiMario and Abelardo. As he goes to enter the study, impatient Ale rushes down the stairs. She’s been waiting for him over an hour! “You don’t know what just happened. A tragedy!” (una desgracia/una trajedia) FaustiMario and Abelardo have just exited the study, and JJ corrals them all back in to the study to explain what happened. He breaks down and starts to cry as he tells them of the assassination attempt. He’s not sure if it was meant for him or Leo. He explains that Leo’s been wounded, but the person in really grave condition is David. They are all horrified. David is in a hospital nearby. But the person who really needs Fausto’s support is Gabi. She’s really shaken up and affected by it all. (nerviosa/afectada) Faustiago immediately worries that Gabi was hurt too. JJ assures them she wasn’t, but she did witness it all and is very affected. Faustiago begins to strip off his disguise and rushes off to support his daughter. Ale holds JJ’s face and asks if he’s ok, before they envelope each other in a weepy hug.
Back at the hospital, Gabi is being supported on both sides by Juli and Limon. Her sobbing has turned into the barely catching a breath/hiccupping that happens when you have cried too hard for too long. (In addition to being worried about David, she’s also likely in shock from being shot at.) The doctor finally comes out and asks if there are any relations (familiares) of David Genoves present. Gabi comes forward and firmly states that she is his wife (no more talk of divorce folks). He gives her the prognosis. He was shot by three high caliber bullets. One shot in the right arm (brazo derecho), and two in the chest/thorax (tórax). He has some damage to the lungs (pulmones), lost a lot of blood, and has a lesion on his spinal column (columna vertebral). Gabi is now beside herself wondering if he’s going to die. The doctor informs her that David is in shock (I think Gabi is too), and in very delicate condition. He can’t yet give a definitive diagnosis. They have to wait and see.
After giving all this horrid news to Gabi in the most matter of fact way possible, the good doctor notices that this is really affecting her and asks her to calm down. He lets her know they’ll tell her when they have more info, and leaves. Although devastated by this news, Gabi has the presence of mind to ask how Leo is doing. He’s out of danger, Juli says, and will be released tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning has arrived, and Garnica is dodging balls in the prison yard and waiting for the appearance of Marcos. He informs Marcos that his woman has sold him the letter, for more money than Marcos can imagine. What he wants now from Marcos is an introduction to JJ. He wants to see how much money JJ would pay him for the letter. Marcos isn’t sure JJ would do that, but Garnica is positive JJ would want evidence against the bastards that put him in jail for all those years. Now what’s his address?
Yolanda is watching tv in her bedroom, and Carlos is driving listening to the radio when they both learn about the gun battle and that David is gravely hurt. Carlos’s phone rings, and it’s Roberto wanting to know if Carlos heard the news. Carlos is shocked to hear David is in such bad shape. Roberto coolly implies that Carlos’ dad is involved for sure and wonders who the two dead could be. Carlos is going to call Felix to find out. (Do they accept long distance calls in Hell?)
Adolfo is still in bed, surrounded by the news papers, but obviously hasn’t learned what he wants to know. He calls up Henchman Pablo once again to see what he’s heard. David Genoves is in a private hospital in grave condition. He couldn’t find out if the wounded person was JJ or Leo. He knows there are two dead, and Felix hasn’t returned or called…If they’re lucky Felix and the other goon have been arrested (detenidos), otherwise they’re dead (difuntos). Adolfo thinks that either of these options is bad. He wants Pablo to keep him informed.
Garnica is back at home and also reading his newspaper. He sees the lead story with a picture of an unconscious David in a brace and on a gurney: “David Genoves hijo del famoso empresario hotelero herido de muerto” (David Genoves son of famous hotel empresario mortally wounded)
Garnica is impactado at reading this news. Perhaps because of the mention of David in the letter; the involvement of the Genoves household in his latest scheme; JJ’s involvement in the shooting, if he was mentioned in the article; or because he knows Adolfo is mixed up in this somehow; he decides to call Medina to cancel the beach trip. There’s business he’s got to take care of that will prevent him from traveling. He couldn't close the deal (convenio) with the investor (inversionista) he spoke about. This is not good news for Medina as the work/construction has already started and they can’t halt it. Garnica asks him for a few days, then they’ll reschedule the beach trip for the investors. Medina gives him one week, but he’s clearly frustrated and worried.
At the hospital, Gabi doesn’t look like she’s stopped crying all night. JJ is now taking a turn sitting with her and reassuring her. “David is going to be alright.” Gabi wonders if they intended to kill David. JJ tells her he doesn’t think so. JJ thinks they were after him or Leo. David just got caught in the crossfire protecting her. Gabi tells him she knows she’s seen one of the gunmen before but she can’t place where. “Where? In the place you used to work?” Gabi’s too upset to remember right now. Fausto, who must have arrived the previous night, wants her to go home to eat and rest for a while. JJ supports this idea, but Gabi refuses.
Ale arrives, looking very worried after seeing all their grave faces. She asks Gabi how David is. Abelardo informs them that the doctors are preparing David for another surgery. Ale asks if he’s conscience, but they have not been told. Ale demands that they must have more info. Seeing that this is sending Gabi over the edge again, JJ gently pulls Ale aside and tells her that David really is in very grave condition. Ale is impactada and begins to weep. She wants to know what really happened. “Was it an attempted robbery/assault (asaltar)?” The police have not yet figured it out, but JJ tells her he is sure it was an attempted hit (atentado). “Who would want to kill David?” JJ lets her know Leo is certain it was intended for him or JJ. Ale is shocked. Someone trying to kill JJ? Does he have any idea who it could be. “Quien mas?” (Who else?) Ale’s face registers immediate recognition of who the mustachioed devils could be. “Los Ávila?!” Yep.
In Michoacán, we are teased with the possibility that Dora will see the news of David’s injuries. Don Jorge’s paper is delivered, with front page news of the assault. Don Jorge doesn’t feel like reading the paper right now, so Dora bids the delivery boy to leave it near the door, where the soda delivery boy promptly places a palette of drinks directly on top of the paper.
Taking advantage of the family being at the hospital, Adolfo arrives at the guarded Genoves Casa to sniff around. He questions head body guard Edgar as to how long they’ve had guards. Adolfo assures him that he’s a family friend and business partner. When Edgar announces Adolfo to Susana, she lets him pass and checks to see if Mario is in his office. Knowing full well, he wouldn’t find Mario home, Adolfo offers his card to Susana to call him, telling her he can offer her much more than Roberto. He’d like to speak with her, but not here. Bertha comes click clacking in. Adolfo starts his act. “Is it true about David? How? Who could have done this? How awful!” Etc. He quickly learns from Bertha that David is in grave condition in a coma, and Leo was wounded. He offers to accompany her to the hospital, and she accepts (dummy!).
At the hospital JJ has learned from the doctors that David will be in intensive care all of the day and into the night. JJ and Fausto once again urge Gabi to go home and rest. She avoids agreeing to this by changing the subject. She wants to know if Don Mario has been informed. Since everyone there (Fausto, Abelardo, JJ and Ale) are in the know, and she is not, they all exchange guilty looks and begin to lie. They tell Gabi that since Mario is not well, they have decided not to tell him until David’s condition has improved a bit. Abelardo pulls Fausto aside and tells him he has to get in costume and return. Not only does it seem strange to Gabi that Mario is not there, but the press (la prensa) will wonder too. Fausto’s not keen on this but agrees. He tells Gabi that he has to leave on a work matter. She gets worried and gets his assurance that he’s not leaving the city. He kisses her goodbye and leaves her in JJ’s and Ale’s arms.
At her condo, Yolanda can’t find her glasses and needs Juanita’s help reading her book of phone numbers to find Felix’s number. Carlos comes in looking very worried. He asks if Yolanda has heard the news and she wonders if what she heard about David’s condition is true. Carlos is certain of it. He is also certain that his father is behind it. Yolanda tries to deny it, but she can’t even convince herself. Carlos has been trying to find Felix and hasn’t been able to locate him anywhere. And the news said there were two dead. Perhaps that’s why I can’t find him? Yolanda looks very worried now.
Back at the hospital, Leo is being released into the caring arms of Juli. His left arm is bandaged and in a sling, and Juli carries his bag. Ramon meets them in the hallway and learns Leo is fine but has been told to rest a few days (secretly Ramon does a happy dance). He reminds Leo that his daughter is set to arrive at 8AM today. Oh no! With the shooting it slipped Leo’s mind. His sister is about to give birth to her baby, and so his daughter is coming to spend some time with him for a while. Ramon will go pick her up, but Leo wonders how he will be able to manage in his state. Juli graciously offers to have his daughter stay with her and Gabi for a few days while he heals. When Leo tells her that’s too much to ask, she looks at him with love in her eyes. She tells him that they are friends and reminds him of all the things he has done for them. It will be her pleasure to take care of his daughter, with much affection (cariño). Leo smiles, strokes her cheek, and perhaps has begun to look at her with new eyes. (The way to a man’s heart is through his daughter.) Ramon notices, and seems to approve.
In the waiting area, Ale brings a disheveled JJ a coffee and urges him to go home, bathe, and get some rest. But JJ doesn’t want to leave Gabi alone. Ale assures him Gabi won’t be alone since she’s there, but JJ’s not convinced. His phone rings. It’s Garnica, who doesn’t introduce himself, but wants to know how much JJ would pay for a letter that tells who really killed the hotel maid Isabel over eleven years ago, for which JJ was blamed. JJ wants to know what else the letter says, but Garnica hangs up and leaves JJ hanging. JJ notes out loud that it was a private number and they hung up (colgó) on him. Ale asks who it was. “It was a man who told me he had a letter that says who killed the chambermaid (recamarera) Isabel.” “Dora’s letter?” JJ is shocked that Ale knew about Dora’s letter, and is mad to know she’s known for a while but didn’t tell him. Because she was being stupid (por tonta), and because she was mad at him and he had offended her. JJ is willing to pay as much as he needs to for that letter. Ale thinks this is crazy. Once this guy finds out how much money JJ has, he’ll take him for all he’s got. JJ doesn’t care. He just wants to clear his name.
At Mauricio’s office, Elsa is giving him the inside scoop on the shooting. He’s shocked and wonders if they know who was behind it and what the motive was. Elsa explains that they don’t yet know for sure, but JJ thinks it was an attempt on him or the police officer. David just happened to come along at that moment (por casualidad), and when he saw his wife in danger he ran to protect her and that’s how he got shot. “How horrible!” Mauricio is concerned for Alejandra and how she must be taking her cousin being hurt- he wants to call her. He asks Elsa how JJ is, but she hasn’t yet seen him since it happened. Mauricio is sure she must be very worried about JJ because of how she feels for him. She tells him she has the same kind of concern for JJ as Mauricio has for Ale. Mauricio says it’s because Ale is his friend. Well, Elsa is worried because JJ is her FRIEND. Mauricio and Elsa smile at each other.
Back in the hospital waiting room, Lucifer has strolled in with his handmaiden. They wonder how David is, and Ale gives her sister the stink eye as she tells them David is still unconscious. Adolfo starts up with his false concern. “Who could have done such a thing?” JJ appears and gets up in his face. “You sure you don’t know who it was?” Bertha asks JJ what he’s implying, but JJ tells Adolfo directly that he knows what he’s talking about. Adolfo insists he has no idea what JJ’s talking about and he doesn’t like his tone. Well JJ doesn’t like HIM, his face, or any of the crap (porqueria) he’s done. Adolfo acts offended. He’s not going to take this lack of respect! Gabi finally gets tired of this pissing match and tells them to lower their voices. “This is a hospital for God’s sake!” JJ apologizes to Gabi, then turns to Adolfo and requests that they take it outside. Adolfo tells him he’s being ridiculous (but most likely he’s shaking in his boots at the thought of being alone with JJ). Plus, he didn’t come here to talk to JJ. Things get loud and heated between them again and Ale jumps in to calm JJ down.
Adolfo thinks it’s better if he leaves, but runs into “Mario” and Abelardo on his way out. FaustiMario wants to know what he’s doing there. He says he’s come to see how David is. FaustiMario wants to know since when the health of his son was important to Adolfo. Adolfo has no real answer for that so he chooses to act offended by how everyone is reacting to his kindhearted gesture. He points his finger at Mario and demands to speak to him. FaustiMario points a finger right back and says he wants to speak to Adolfo too. Adolfo says he’ll meet him later at his house, but FaustiMario says he’ll tell him when.
When Gabi sees Don Mario, she starts to cry all over again. She says David is in bad shape and they haven’t allowed her to see him. FaustiMario has Abelardo speak to the doctors to demand that at least David’s wife get to see him. JJ takes his leave of Gabi, saying he has an important matter (asunto) to deal with, but will be back later. Gabi thanks him for everything and he gives her a hug and a kiss that seems to concern Ale. Ale wants to go with JJ, but JJ still seems a bit perturbed about her keeping the knowledge of the letter from him. He asks her to stay with Gabi and David, and leaves without kissing Ale goodbye. He says they’ll talk later.
Abelardo returns with news that the doctor will allow Gabi to see David. Gabi enters the room wearing scrubs. She’s devastated to see unconscious David, hooked up to machines and a breathing tube. She doesn’t know where to touch him that won’t hurt him, so she gingerly touches his hand and then breaks into fresh tears.
At Leo’s apartment, he is being doted on by his daughter Paulita, and Juli. Paulita wants to know if it hurts a lot and if he will ever be able to move his arm again. He tells her he will. Juli has made them all sandwiches for lunch and they sit down in the living room to eat. Paulita looks at Juli appreciatively and asks if she is her father’s girlfriend. This stops both Juli and Leo in their tracks, but Juli answers first saying she is Leo’s friend. Paulita continues her interrogation, this time of her father. She asks if he has a girlfriend. When he says no (giving her a “watch it young lady” look), she then asks why he and Juli don’t become boyfriend and girlfriend then. (I like this kid.) He tells her to eat her sandwich and not ask so many questions. Before she takes a bite, she decides to ask one more question. She asks Juli if she doesn’t like her dad. Juli dodges the question and tells her to obey her father and eat her sandwich. The doorbell rings. It’s Ramon and he obviously has some work issues to speak with Leo about that can not be discussed in front of a child. Juli gets the hint and takes Paulita to her apartment.
Leo gets right down to business with Ramon (isn’t he supposed to be resting?). They’ve identified the two dead assassins since they both had a criminal record (antecedantes penales). One of them is known as El Tuerto (One Eye) but his real name was Felix Mendez. The other was named Aurelio Cabrera, known as El Chango (The Monkey). The one eye remark immediately sparks Leo’s interest. Ramon continues to explain that they were both a part of the same gang of smugglers as the guy they caught a while back. Leo wants Ramon to interrogate the smuggler they caught to get more info. (Looks like Ramon’s To Do list will be even longer with Leo “resting”.)
At his house, JJ looks freshly bathed and changed, but equally preoccupied and worried as before. Limon is worried that he’s just going to give money to some stranger who says he has a letter. JJ is sure he must really have it as he gave some specific and accurate details like the name of the maid, that JJ was the one found guilty, and the name of the real killers, the Avilas. JJ is positive that this letter exists. Don Fausto told him so, then Leo, and even Ale confirmed it. So who wrote this letter? Dora. Limon is shocked. HIS Dorita?! “Yes. The one who used to work for the Genoves.” Limon wants to know what he means by “used to” (trabajaba). JJ explains that she took off and no one knows where she is.
In Michoacán inside the store, Don Jorge is tired, but Dora explains she’s used to working. She talks about the years she worked for Mario and the Genoves in their palatial home, and the years before that she worked as a chambermaid in one of their huge hotels. It’s three o’clock, so they decide to close up shop to eat. They take a few drinks from the palette left on the unread newspaper and lock up. She tells him the name of the wonderful generous man she worked for- Mario Genoves.
Looks like Garnica not only got JJ’s phone number from Marcos in order to blackmail him, but also his home address. Limon and JJ come to the door, and this time Garnica puts on his “I’m a lawyer for many important people and you should talk to me” hat. As they see him in, Limon whips off his apron to make himself more presentable, and accidentally whips off his hairpiece as well. (Lol!)
Garnica explains that he’s represented important businessmen in Mexico for years and helps them invest their money in real estate (bienes raices) or tourism projects. He knows that JJ has recently come into an inheritance (patrimonio). Hold on a minute. JJ wants to know how he knows that. “Mr. Victoria, that’s my job.” Right now he’s doing a tourist project in Puerto Vallarta with an architect who has a really unique vision. His name is Mauricio Medina, and he’s the one designing this project. JJ’s ears perk up at Mauricio’s name. “You know him?” JJ confirms he knows him, but he doesn’t want to do any business with Mauricio for personal reasons. (Ok. I’m going to interrupt here for a second. Although I am glad that JJ is suspicious of Garnica’s scheme, I just don’t understand what JJ’s issue is with Mauricio, when Mauricio has only ever been helpful, gracious, and straight forward with JJ!)
Outside the hospital, Ale and Abelardo are trying to convince FaustiMario that he needs to stay in Mario mode for now, although he wants to be in Fausto mode to support his daughter. People will figure out what’s going on if he doesn’t stay in character. More importantly, her sister Bertha will figure it out. Faustiago’s scared that he’s next on Adolfo’s hit list and wants to take his daughters and flee. Abelardo asks if he really thinks Gabi would leave David in this condition. Ale suggests a solution. They’ll convince Gabi to go home and rest for a while and FaustiMario can assume Fausto mode and go home to be with her. When she returns to be with David at the hospital, he can go back into Mario mode and do what he needs to do as Mario, like meet with Adolfo. It’s the only way they will succeed and unmask the Avilas. While he’s in Fausto mode Ale and Abelardo will cover for him. And Leo can help as well.
Their discussion is interrupted by a downcast Gabi. She says how bad David looked, but FaustiMario reminds her that David is a strong young man, and he will recuperate. He finally convinces her to go home to rest.
At JJ’s, smooth talking Garnica seems to have convinced JJ to join his pyramid scheme (ah, investment opportunity). The only thing JJ asks is that he has minimal contact with Mauricio (WTF??). Once the construction is done, they won’t have any need for contact with the architect. This pleases JJ, and he asks if Mauricio knew Garnica was coming to see him. Garnica is interrupted by JJ’s ringing phone before he can think of an answer. It’s the Mirador Hotel manager telling JJ they’ve found an old address for Dora and the phone number of a relative in her old personnel file. JJ gets a piece of paper to write it down. He doesn’t say Dora’s name out loud (thank goodness), but does tell the manager to share the info with Leo. Leo’s name catches Garnica’s attention very quickly. When JJ hangs up, he asks Garnica to send him the business plan. He and his “partners” will look it over and have an answer for him in a week. Garnica knows he will not regret it and has a feeling they are going to be doing a lot of business together and making lots of money. They shake on it. Limon looks a bit wary.
At the Guillen’s, Juli has Paulita occupied helping her sort beans. She wants to be with her father and doesn’t understand why they had to leave. Juli explains that he needed to speak with the other gentleman. The doorbell rings and it’s a very weary Gabi who slowly makes her way to the couch under Paulita’s watchful gaze. Juli introduces Paula, and Gabi tries to muster up a smile. Paula asks why she’s crying and Gabi answers it’s because her husband is very sick. Her dad is sick too. He was shot. Knowing this is not doing Gabi any good, Juli takes Paulita back home to see if Leo is free. Gabi wants to know if their father has arrived home, and is disappointed to find he has not.
Leo and Ramon are still hard at work when Juli and Paulita return. Leo gives his girl a one armed hug and kiss before she scampers off to watch tv in the bedroom. Juli explains that they came back so quickly because Gabi returned and is very sad/depressed. Leo says he will stop by to see Gabi later and asks how David is doing. “Muy mal.” Leo is very sorry to hear this. Juli reminds him that he’s supposed to be resting. Getting shot is not a little thing (cualquier cosa). Ramon agrees with her and jumps at the chance to leave. Juli compliments his daughter on being so lovely (linda). Leo tells her she’s lovely as well, and gives her hand a gallant kiss. (Progress people! Yay!) They smile shyly at each other.
A bit later that evening, Gabi is still in the same spot on the couch, staring out into space. She has obviously not eaten, bathed, or rested. Juli is at a loss for what to say or do. She answers the door when the bell rings. It’s Paulita. Her father’s asleep (finally) and she’s bored. She wonders if Juli needs any more help sorting beans (the kid must be REALLY bored). Juli doesn’t need any more help, but she wants Paulita to let her father rest. Juli will bring her something to draw (dibujar). Just then Fausto arrives home and goes straight to Gabi. He asks how she is. She says she’s very sad, and David’s very grave. She wants to go back to the hospital. Fausto thinks she should stay home that night. There’s nothing she can do there. Tomorrow morning they’ll go super early.
Juli asks where he’s been. He says he had some business to attend to, and then he went over to Leo’s to see how he’s doing (como sigue). Juli gives a confused glance over to Paulita, who Fausto can’t see behind his back. Juli asks again. “You were with Leonardo?” This time Paulita approaches. She stands in front of Fausto and says it’s not true (no es cierto). “Who is this little girl?” Juli explains she’s Leo’s child. Fausto is at a loss how to explain getting caught in this lie. Paulita levels him with the same intense questioning glare as her father. (Like father, like daughter.)
At Club Sagitario, Adolfo’s day is about to go from bad to worse. Garnica comes to see him and has piqued his interest by mentioning the letter before their meeting. Adolfo wants to know what letter Garnica is talking about. Garnica happily goes on about the opportunities life can suddenly throw our way, without us even asking for them. Adolfo wants him to speak plainly and get to the point. Well it turns out that a letter has recently fallen into Garnica’s hands, that tells the tale of a murder that happened in the Mirador Hotel eleven years ago. “And what’s that got to do with me?” Garnica chuckles. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Adolfo doesn’t like his tone (looks like lots of commoners are getting uppity with King Adolfo today). He pays Garnica to deal with his legal matters, and that’s it! “You PAID me!” (past tense) “As of today we’re PARTNERS.” Garnica demands 30% of all of Adolfo’s earnings. Adolfo slams the desk in frustration and disgust. The two men rise from their seats and stare each other down.
Labels: verdad
Friday, December 17, 2010
Cast of characters in "Triunfo del Amor"
Maximiliano (William Levy) is the son of Victoria y Osvaldo. A sexy, attractive, virile young man, intellitent and audacious in his mother's business. He has exquisite taste in dress, inherited from his father and learned from Victoria. Further, he can enchang women, who fall at his feet due to his captivating smile.He works as an administrator in his mother's fashion house. He is responsible and creative, and knows how to solve problems rapidly and efficiently. He is a friend to Sergio Duarte, with whom he works.
Maximiliano meets María "The Unprotected" and is captivated by her beauty. He tries to seduce her, pretending his name is Ssergio Duarte. He just wants to pass some agreeable moments without attachment, but the girl rejects him and awakens his curiosity. He begins to get to know her and discovers she's different from all the girls he's known.
María Desamparada ("The Unprotected" or "The Defenseless") (Maite Perroni)is extraordinarily beautiful, noble and genteel. She's lived in an orphanage since the age of three, always thinking she was abandoned in the streets by her parents, when in reality her mother, Victoria, had an accident and this led to Maria being lost. She was raised with a strong resentment towards her birth parents, above all toward her mother for abandoning her. When Maria leaves the orphanage she rooms with Nati and Linda, two girls very different physically and morally, but who have also suffered greatly in life. The three are like sisters even though their personalities are completely different.
Bernarda (Daniela Romo) is an elegant, mature woman with an extraordinary personality which inspires respect, even fear, because she is very strict. Apparently she has a generous and charitable heart, dedicated to God, but in reality she is pitiless, full of rancor. She is full of contradiction, speaking of doing good while in reality she is the incarnation of evil.She feigns a nonexistant vulnerability - on the contrary, she is extraordinarily strong and uses her intelligence against those she believes are against her. She is seductive, skilled at blackmail, knows how to manipulate situations in her own favor. The fragility she pretends to allaws her to attack her enemies without awakening suspicions. She dedicates herself to persecuting those she deems to be sinners and punishes them believing this is her divine right, since her son Juan de Dios is a priest.
Victoria (Victoria Ruffo) is one of the most successful Mexican designers. Her fashion house is one of the most respected even on an international level. She is supremely talented, possessing an outstanding sensibility that makes it easy to intuit changes in popular taste and to be at the forefront, knowing and even directing the course of Mexican fashion.She's traveled a long road to become the famous woman she is now. From a past as a humble domestic employee to being the owner of an empire in the world of fashion. When young she suffered live's injustices, but that's what motivated her to leave her humble world and begin her meteoric career. Despite suffering great penalties, including losing her daughter, she began to work as a costumer in a clothing factory. It was there that she discovered her innate talent for design, combined with her experience from youth helping her godmother to sew and embroider her own clothes.
Álvaro Guillermo (García Cantú} is a mature man, bitter and resentful of life, because despite being sex and attractive, he hasn't had the same opportunities as Osvaldo, whom he's hated all his life, thinking he stole: the love of Amalia, the leading roles he thought he deserved, but above all the love of Victoria. Since then, pretending to be his friend, he has planned to destroy him.Solitary, sinister and malicious, he broods over his lack of success. He has a perverse relationship with Jimena, the girlfriend and later wife of Maximiliano, whom he subjugates to his desires and caprices. Alvaro knows well that the baby Jimena expects is his, but he doesn't care about her marriage. Ruining her life is part of his vengeance against the family Sandoval.
Jimena (Dominika Paleta) is very beautiful, the most important model in Victoria's fashion house. She has an unstable relationship with Maximiliano, whom she has attached herself to for monetary gain as she knowns he will inherit the great Sandoval fortune.However, the relationship between Jimena and Max is less viable every day since he desides to break with her because she is a jealous, possessive blackmailer. In reality she suffers from a mental disorder. She asks Victoria to intervene and prevent the separation, but Maximilian has made up his mind to leave Jimena.
Sor Clementina (Alicia Rodríguez) is Mother Superior in the orphanage where María Desamparada spent her childhood. She is full of love for all orphaned children and has a special love for Maria who from a young age gained the trust and the heart of this nun, who is Maria's protector and spiritual guide.
Juan Pablo (Diego Olivera) is a priest who loves his vocation (to protect those most in need and help them find a better life). His energies are directed toward the most helpless: the elderly, children and adolescents in danger of being snatched, molested, or falling into drug addiction. He directs them towards sports and other recreational activites. He is modern but respectful. Like all human beings, being young he doubts his calling, and this causes him to slip up and bonk Victoria one night...
Osvaldo (Osvaldo Ríos) is a mature, conservative, sexy and virile actor, married to Victoria whom he loves profoundly and who is the mother to his daughter Fernanda. He was a widow when he married Victoria; Maximiliano is his son from his first marriage, a son whom Victoria has raised as her own.Osvaldo is one of the most sought-after galans (leading men) in Mexican television. He is amiable and affectionate with his family. Victoria is convinced he is faithful, upright, incapable of deceiving her or lying to her. The reality is different - he hides a huge secret that torments him: tired of being abandoned by his workaholic wife, he begins an affair with Maria's friend Linda.
Antonieta (Erika Buenfil) is a mature, elegant and guarded woman, chief of command to Victoria, whom she has known since that long-ago pregnancy. They worked together in the couture workshop of Humberto Padilla. Atonieta helped Victoria with her daughter until the terrible accident caused by Bernarda, in which Victoria's daughter got lost.She is faithful to Victoria and will do anything for her happiness; she is the only one allowed to confront her and point out her errors. Antonieta is in love with Claudio, adminstrator at the fashion house and suffers in silence since she knows he's been in love with Victoria forever.
Pipino (Miguel Pizarro) is the star designer at Victoria's fashion house. He's campy but not a homosexual, and lives in an extravagant manner. He hates Luchiano Ferreti, his Italian rival.
Milagros (Carmen Salinas), originally from Guadalajara and a 'Chiva' was widowed very young and had to care for her son Juanjo, so she moved to Mexico City. She has a lonely-hearts business, reads cards and horoscopes. She's a great cook.
Linda (Dorismar) was born in Monterrey, but moved early to Mexico City when her parents divorced and her mother wanted a new life. Linda had a bad relationship with her stepfather so was happy to get a chance to live alone. She is aware of her beauty, which she uses for her convenience. She is seductive and has sugar daddies. She hopes to marry a rich man.
Juanjo (Cuauhtémoc Blanco) is a handsome youth of humble origin and a generous soul. He favors the other soccer team and fights with his mother Milagros over the games. He is a fireman. He adores his mom and hopes some day she will conquer the heart of Don Napo, as he calls Napoleón. He falls head over heels in love with Linda and decides to tell her. She marries him while continuing to bonk Osvaldo.Labels: synopsis-cast, triunfo
Plot summary of "Triunfo del Amor" (Triumph of Love)
A humble girl named Victoria is attracted to Juan Pablo, a future priest, son of the Iturbe family who own the house in which she works. The attraction is mutual and in a night of absolute passion they give themselves over to love, but this has grave consequences: Victoria becomes pregnant and Bernarda, Juan Pablo's mother, discovers the truth and throws Victoria out of the house. Juan Pablo does not know there is a little girl on the way.
Victoria, defenseless and without work, is helped by Atonieta; they work together in a clothing workshop owned by Humberto (who tries to rape her). Victoria's daughter Maria disappears after an accident caused by the evil Bernarda who, blinded by religious fervor, cannot permit a daughter of sin to survive. Victoria and her friend seek the baby but never find her; full of rage, Victoria swears before God that she will never be humiliated again.
Many years pass and Victoria has kept her vow: now she and Antonieta own a grand fashion house. Victoria is happily married to a popular actor, Osvaldo Sandoval, who has two children, Maximiliano y Fernanda.
"Abandoned Maria" is now a young woman ready to leave the orphanage where she grew up and to sally forth into the world, to triumph. Linda and Nathy appear in her path, two great friends. They become roommates and decide to help each other.
Life causes Maria to cross paths with Osvaldo, who learns that her dream is to become a famous model and that she greatly admires Victoria. He invites her to meet his wife, but the interview is far from friendly; Victoria treats her with arrogance and disrespect, even more so when she realizes Maria looks exactly as she herself did when she was young. On her side, Maria meets Maximiliano and a great love arises between them, a love which is rejected by Victoria and is threatened by the capricious Jimena, Max's girlfriend.
Maximiliano is Victoria's adopted son, but he has been raised believing she is is true mother; he is accustomed to having whatever woman he wants but has only been able to maintain a relationship - albeit unstable - with Jimena. He tries his usual tricks on Maria, and seduces her - however, he finds it is true love, frustrated when Jimena tells Maximiliano she is pregnant and that he should leave Maria.
Full of rage and sadness caused by Victoria's constant disdain and by discovering that she herself is also pregnant, "Abandoned Maria" seeks help from Father Juan Pablo, now a respected priest, not imaging that his lost daughter is so near - until Bernarda, in confession, reveals that the girl is the child he had with Victoria...
Labels: synopsis-cast, triunfo
La Fea Más Bella #133-134 12/17/10 Morning dawns mostly cloudy with a chance of showers.
Capitulo 133.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Erasmo blames the neighbors for the dog noises, but then he finds Moty. Julieta refuses to get rid of the dog. He admits he’s afraid of dogs because a Chihuahua bit him when he was young.
2. Lety reads Tomás the letter and cries, “How could he not trust me, when I was unconditional with him from the beginning? How could he doubt my loyalty?” She realizes he did it so she’d doctor the balances and return his company.
3. Tom asks, “What are you going to do now?” She doesn’t know; she only wants to go far away and never return to Conceptos. Like the devil on her shoulder, Tom reminds her of Fernando’s errors. He gave her his company and then he distrusted her and treated her disgracefully. Now she owns Conceptos and she can bring Fernando to his knees. Lety considers the temptation but she recognizes that she’s in no condition to make big decisions today. He promises his complete support.
4. In his thinking chair, Fernando ponders how happy Lety makes him.
5. MamaJ urges Lety to tell her what’s wrong. She fears it’s another like the Miguel tragedy. Mama hears Lety crying through the door. She gives Lety Moty which helps, and she prays for ways to stand by Lety even if Lety won’t tell her problems.
6. Lety tells her diary, “I’m the pieces that were once a woman. Today I understand that my life is a cycle and the tragedy repeats, every time more cruel. It’s not worth the pain to go on living, because it will be the same story that has repeated since my birth.” She remembers the cruel treatment from her childhood.
7. Rather than taking revenge as Tom urged her, all she wants is to run away. But she knows she must face it because she’s at fault too, for getting involved with an engaged man. She goes to work in the morning, still not knowing what she’ll do. Alicia mocks her for being an old maid, and Lety says, “I’d rather be single for life than a failure at marriage, a failure at work, and a failure at life.
Capitulo 134.
Read Julie’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Lety purges her office of Fernando’s gifts and cards while Carolina watches. Caro is disturbed that Lety has not talked to the man involved about all this. Lety says that to him, she’s nothing. Caro still thinks Lety should give him a chance to explain his side. Lety won’t hear of it, but she doesn’t surrender the trash bag to Juana.
2. She imagines that Fernando says the letter was a joke; it was a test to see if she goes through his papers. He says that he’s incapable of hurting her. She is distant when she snaps out of the fantasy, and Fernando hopes that the cause is nothing more than her worry that he won’t break the engagement.
3. Fernando doesn’t like Omar’s card so he tries to write his own. Again he gets frustrated that it’s so hard for him to be open with his feelings and say what he wants to say to Lety. He gives up and uses Omar’s card. When Fernando checks in on her, she gives him a backhand slap that sends him across the room.
4. Lety ponders Marcia’s wedding dress. She says, “I worried so much for you, but it turns out you’re going to marry him, and I’m the one to suffer.”
5. The repo lawyers come to tow away Alicia’s car while she tries to impress the Robalde exec’s with her class and status. Cute scene, Fernando lets Alicia continue her status game until she tries to order Lety around, when he tells Ali she’s gone too far. He stands to give Lety his chair at the head of the table, and he dismisses Alicia like a child, telling her to be a good girl and bring them refreshments.
6. Celso tries to discreetly tell Alicia the urgent news, but she refuses to lower herself to talk to a doorman privately, so he announces to everyone that her car is being repossessed. The lawyers had tried to work out an arrangement with her, but she was abusive with one and avoided the calls of the other. Saimon tries his best to defend her. As they haul away her car, Alicia falls to her lowest point. So far.
Read Amanda’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Erasmo blames the neighbors for the dog noises, but then he finds Moty. Julieta refuses to get rid of the dog. He admits he’s afraid of dogs because a Chihuahua bit him when he was young.
2. Lety reads Tomás the letter and cries, “How could he not trust me, when I was unconditional with him from the beginning? How could he doubt my loyalty?” She realizes he did it so she’d doctor the balances and return his company.
3. Tom asks, “What are you going to do now?” She doesn’t know; she only wants to go far away and never return to Conceptos. Like the devil on her shoulder, Tom reminds her of Fernando’s errors. He gave her his company and then he distrusted her and treated her disgracefully. Now she owns Conceptos and she can bring Fernando to his knees. Lety considers the temptation but she recognizes that she’s in no condition to make big decisions today. He promises his complete support.
4. In his thinking chair, Fernando ponders how happy Lety makes him.
5. MamaJ urges Lety to tell her what’s wrong. She fears it’s another like the Miguel tragedy. Mama hears Lety crying through the door. She gives Lety Moty which helps, and she prays for ways to stand by Lety even if Lety won’t tell her problems.
6. Lety tells her diary, “I’m the pieces that were once a woman. Today I understand that my life is a cycle and the tragedy repeats, every time more cruel. It’s not worth the pain to go on living, because it will be the same story that has repeated since my birth.” She remembers the cruel treatment from her childhood.
7. Rather than taking revenge as Tom urged her, all she wants is to run away. But she knows she must face it because she’s at fault too, for getting involved with an engaged man. She goes to work in the morning, still not knowing what she’ll do. Alicia mocks her for being an old maid, and Lety says, “I’d rather be single for life than a failure at marriage, a failure at work, and a failure at life.
Capitulo 134.
Read Julie’s original recap, then come back here to discuss it.
1. Lety purges her office of Fernando’s gifts and cards while Carolina watches. Caro is disturbed that Lety has not talked to the man involved about all this. Lety says that to him, she’s nothing. Caro still thinks Lety should give him a chance to explain his side. Lety won’t hear of it, but she doesn’t surrender the trash bag to Juana.
2. She imagines that Fernando says the letter was a joke; it was a test to see if she goes through his papers. He says that he’s incapable of hurting her. She is distant when she snaps out of the fantasy, and Fernando hopes that the cause is nothing more than her worry that he won’t break the engagement.
3. Fernando doesn’t like Omar’s card so he tries to write his own. Again he gets frustrated that it’s so hard for him to be open with his feelings and say what he wants to say to Lety. He gives up and uses Omar’s card. When Fernando checks in on her, she gives him a backhand slap that sends him across the room.
4. Lety ponders Marcia’s wedding dress. She says, “I worried so much for you, but it turns out you’re going to marry him, and I’m the one to suffer.”
5. The repo lawyers come to tow away Alicia’s car while she tries to impress the Robalde exec’s with her class and status. Cute scene, Fernando lets Alicia continue her status game until she tries to order Lety around, when he tells Ali she’s gone too far. He stands to give Lety his chair at the head of the table, and he dismisses Alicia like a child, telling her to be a good girl and bring them refreshments.
6. Celso tries to discreetly tell Alicia the urgent news, but she refuses to lower herself to talk to a doorman privately, so he announces to everyone that her car is being repossessed. The lawyers had tried to work out an arrangement with her, but she was abusive with one and avoided the calls of the other. Saimon tries his best to defend her. As they haul away her car, Alicia falls to her lowest point. So far.
Labels: fea-2010
The DREAM Act is coming up for a vote tomorrow in the Senate. Here's how to find your senator's phone number
Go to Congress.org representatives by zip code. Enter your zip code and instantly get the phone numbers for your senators. PLEASE call them to support the DREAM Act, which will help young Latinos who have lived their lives in this country become a more secure part of its fabric.
I am a mentor and know many young Latinos, some here since they were one year old, who want nothing more than to go to college and become teachers, nurses, firefighters... I know a smart, strong 21 year old Latino who wants to join the military and get a leg up in our society that way (if he's not killed first serving our country). Why wouldn't we want them?
You, my Caray Caray readers, are an important part of the struggle to help young Latinos avoid being marginalized. PLEASE call your Senator today.
Here's one online source of information about the DREAM Act.
Call now! Thanks.
I am a mentor and know many young Latinos, some here since they were one year old, who want nothing more than to go to college and become teachers, nurses, firefighters... I know a smart, strong 21 year old Latino who wants to join the military and get a leg up in our society that way (if he's not killed first serving our country). Why wouldn't we want them?
You, my Caray Caray readers, are an important part of the struggle to help young Latinos avoid being marginalized. PLEASE call your Senator today.
Here's one online source of information about the DREAM Act.
Call now! Thanks.
Labels: announcements
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