Caray, Caray!

Hey everyone. I'm Mauricio and I'll be your Friday recapper for Pasión y Poder. 

Let's get started...

Maribel, her husband, her daughter Luisita, Clara, and a new character named Doña Gisela sit down at the table for dinner. They're all eating, except for Doña Gisela, who is the Debbie Downer of the table, and who believes that Maribel should be saving a plate of food to sell at her stand tomorrow. Doña Gisela is all about saving money, because you never know what could happen, just look at her, she used to be supported financially by her daughter Caridad, but now she's the one that has to see what she does to take her daughter a plate of food to prison. When Luisita mentions her and her parents trip to Acapulco, Doña Gisela wonders with what money they'll travel. Honestly, it's none of her beeswax, and if I were sitting at the table I would have told her so, but Maribel's husband is a sweetheart and answers her question. He tells her that they have been saving up and with the travel allowance he'll receive from his job to travel to Acapulco to work he will complete the money they'll need to make the trip. Maribel thinks they should use the money they have saved up to buy their apartment, but her husband tells her that they'll do that later, right now he wants to give them this trip. Doña Gisela has moved in with Clara so the two can share expenses. When Clara mentions the monthly check that Doña Gisela receives, Doña Gisela gets nervous, and more so when she accidentally contradicts her earlier story of the reason for receiving the check. She had said that it was from her own pension before but now she tells them that it is from the pension of her deceased husband who worked for Gomez Luna. 

The next morning, Regina visits Joshua in jail. Joshua tells Regina that they took his shoes, that he had a terrible night, and he asks her to get him out of there. Regina tells him that Augustin and his parents' attorney's are working on it, but her dad told her that he could kept on lock down for at least 48 hours while the investigation takes place. Joshua is not happy, he can't stand being there a minute longer, it's the worst place ever. #suxtobeyouJoshua


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Labels: poder

Roberto and Mateo talk about why he is not bf of Alicia if he loves her. Roberto explains that he does love Alicia and eventually that is a possibility that they will be together, but for now he is focused on Mateo and for the two of them to be together for good.
Alicia talks on phone with her mom. Elsa wants to know about her and Alex being an item. Alicia will explain later or tomorrow. Then we see her 'seeing' herself in the manequin with the red dress.  She interprets it as a signal from destiny to 'show the world who i am'.
Alicia later on phone with Alex, asks him for 'a favor' in exchange to 'fake' being an item.
We see the next day Luciana coming to the office and finding Alicia sitting on "MY" desk!! Alicia happily announces to her that she is now the Creative Director for the Oki Oki account. Luciana has an internal combustion with her facial expression. Luciana claims Alicia cannot use irony or practical jokes... Alicia says she is very serious, this is the promotion she deserves for her efforts and years of work.  This is the place that is rightfully mine.   Luciana calls her cow poop and drags her out to hallway by the ears.
She causes an even louder scandal and everyone, even Elsa, notices and is listening.  Augusto whispers something to Alex's ear...  Chuchette and Nestor of course joke about ALicia's claims after Luciana announces them.   Luciana demands explanation of Augusto.  Augusto is about to support Luciana... (sikes!)... he says Alicia is right. ALex also supports ALicia's claim.  Luciana gets sad puppy tone and asks what future is ahead for her. Alicia says 'if you let me put my 2 cents she can take the dog food account.   She surely has good ideas for food for dogs and female dogs (perras). Luciana grinds through her teeth that the only 'b' is her...  Alicia tells her after everyone has left that she just paid her with the same move, except hers is with 'white gloves'.
Sandra gets Augusto in private and tries to get confirmation that ALicia's sudden promotion has to do with the 'rumors' that ALex is gay.   HE denies the 'rumors'  and yes, Alex and that 'employ-dilla' are indeed dating.  ALex comes in, says to Sandra he wanted to give her a heads up but Luciana got ahead of him with her rant.  Sandra properly wants rationale for the promotion.  ALex says why don't we evaluate everyone's role and possible promotions? Augusto firmly tells Sandra that she needs to order everyone to treat ALicia according to her new title.
Elsa talks to Alicia and Magos in private... Elsa says she could not be happier for her promotion but of course as a mother it kind of revolves her belly hearing everyone thinks her promotion is due to the rumor that her bf is gay.    btw, how come ALex is your bf now?
Roberto tells ALicia he is more than in agreement with her promotion, what he is a bit feeling odd about is the rumor that she got it because of her status as Alex's gf.  Are you with him for the promotion?  She claims it is his same move with Luciana. He says 'by now even if i told you my whole story you would not believe it, right?' She says life is ironic... she was dying for this title, which is what she studied and worked for... then changes the subject to ask if he needs anything from her 'work-related'. she reminds him that their 'interaction' is purely business related.
Augusto is head wrestling ALex... Alex reminds him that Alicia was overdue for this role.   Augusto says between the two of them they will keep her there... In comes Luciana ranting... demanding justice... She demands he take the promotion back in this moment (even snapping her fingers like he uses to do)... he yells at her even louder 'who do you think you ARE???'   She yells 'YOUR NIECE!!! and by the way! the one that knows exactly what happened in THAT ACCIDENT!!!'   Alex asks 'what accident?'  Augusto throws it under rug... but ALex asks Luciana if 'this has to do with the secrets the Toledo y Mondragons have, including my dad?'   Luciana asks Augusto 'does it?'
Roberto repeats to ALicia he is happy for her... esp with the Oki Oki account... she reminds him he had promised it to her.  He tells her Luciana planned otherwise...  Alicia asks him if he ever intended to fulfill the promise.  HE ironically tells her 'no doubt that my word means nothing to you now'.   She gives him the Oki Oki account folder.   He notes to her that she is now relating to him as 'tu' vs Ud, you are always thinking the worst of me'.  He leaves sad,  But she whispers that 'what matters still is that even with my promotion you are still my boss and i can't forget that.'   He makes a u-turn and with a yearning tone says her name like begging her to give him a bit of a chance...  she is the one that turns around and leaves... leaving him with a sad puppy face [that i feel like hugging 'there there']
Alex asks Augusto what is the mystery.   Augusto undermines it, saying it is unfinished business in Buenos Aires (you go Augusto!!)... and says 'maybe she has to go fix it personally'.  Luciana of course backtracks her aggressiveness, grinding her teeth (boy this family does have HUGE Secrets, right?) She hopes not... what about Lichis taking my spot?   ALex demands respect for his gf.   Luciana calls her dull and bland.   Alex gets more irritated and demands her not say one more insult for Alicia.
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Labels: lichita

Ciao, Peeps!  We pick up in the dungeon, I mean house of Dragone where Vitto scolds Fiorella for not being at his beck and call.  What need does she have to go out when he has such a beautiful garden for her to enjoy?  He motions toward the glass enclosed atrium with the nude statue.  The symbolism is too easy.  Anyway, Fiorella wants to know if he intends to imprison her.  Vitto protests that Fiorella doesn't respect him or give the least sign of appreciation for all he's done.  Fiorella shouts no, because he's buying her!  Vitto says it's because he's old and she will never feel anything for him.  Gianna comes into the living room and demands to know what's going on.  Vitto just wants an explanation.  Gianna speaks the heart of the whole Patio when she tells Vitto that Fiorella owes him nothing.  She accepted his proposal and is he forgetting that he sent a picture of himself when he was much younger?  "You lied from the start.  She gave up everything for you and you took advantage of our not having any options and my needing medical attention.  You say you're a good man, then show it!  She's doing her best and you have no right to treat her this way!  We're here now and you're responsible for us both!"  Gianna begins to feel faint.

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Labels: mivac

If you're reading this, the day got away from me.  I had a morning rehearsal scheduled for a concert this evening and I'm playing it all by ear.  (Er...my schedule, not the music!)  I will post a recap as soon as possible.  In the meantime, discuss away!

And now we have another excellent recap by the one and only sneaky two shoes!  Take it away, sneaky!


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Mexico Episode 41: Dreams Come True for One & Not So Much for Everyone Else.

We open with Augusto giving his son fatherly advice on how the real world works. Because of who Alex is everyone will want something from him, there will be people who want to take advantage of him. Alex finds this hard to believe, especially of someone like Alicia. Augusto tells Alex that the people in his mind only lives in romantic novelas and literature not the real world. He needs to be strong to move ahead. Don Augusto excuses himself to answer a phone call.

Nestor the Pest continues to drink his Haterade because he cannot stop goading Alex. This time it is about the commercial featuring a gay couple. He want to know Alex opinion of it. The competitors have a habit of stealing ideas (??) from Iconika. However Nestor the Pest is sure that they came up with this all on their own because us "Normal" folk at Iconika would never have come up with that. Alicia retorts that the competitors did their job because their commercial continues to be a hot topic. Alex continue to brush Lichita off.

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Labels: lichita

Regina and Daniela check to see if David is still alive after colliding with Joshua on the motorcycle. Once they realize he is alive Daniela and Joshua (Joshua says the accident is his fault) want to leave but Regina refuses to leave David alone on the street. She tells Daniela to call an ambulance.

Julia tells Simona that she didn't leave with David because she thinks Eladio is capable of taking away his inheritance. David is just starting off his career as an engineer and Julia doesn't want David to have to take care of her, and then there is also her father. (Does Eladio take care of Julia's father's expenses?) Julia says all the years she has had to suffer with Eladio are worth it for her son. Simona says that Eladio is cheap and controls Julia's expenses and cellphone. She does not care about those things, but it is getting harder to justify Eladio's actions to David. Simona comments that Franco might end up the beneficiary because he is Eladio's favorite.

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Labels: poder

Well, this one was a lot of fun: doubled up episode with plenty of action but also with twice as many scenes as a "normal" episode. My head felt like a ping pong ball in the first half hour. So, this will be more of a bullet point type presentation.

Important plot points from tonight not necessarily in order:

- Alicia is done talking with Roberto unless it is about work. Roberto is broken up about the whole thing. He is worried that she is changing and forging on ahead with her life without him.

- Alex tells his mom that she should not be so hard on Dafne. She needs their support. He tries but there is not much of a response from her. As she picks up an American football helmet he brought home, she wonders why he would like a savage and brutal sport like that. He answers that his tastes are "varied."

- Fatima tells Sandra that they need one more person to man the reception desk and ends up being responsible for hiring Magos. She is doing this to help out Elsa after hearing about the rental problem Elsa and Nacho are having:
Nacho and Elsa are still unable to find a guarantor for their business venture to open a cafeteria. Elsa does not want Alicia to know they are having problems because that would just put more pressure on her. Elsa is back at Icónika to work the cart. Elsa and Nacho become even more depressed when the place they want to rent is suddenly advertising for a renter. They are sure they have lost their chance.
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Labels: lichita

Honoria, with a nudge from Julian, admits to Esperanza that Isela is not Josefa’s daughter. Fermin comes out and joins the conversation. Honoria doesn’t want to get involved. They all know Isela had it bad growing up with Josefa, and it was a bit better when she had Orlando to lean on, but now…she’s leaning on the Bustamantes, and what she’s doing there isn’t right. They’ve got to get her out of there. Hon restates she doesn’t want to get involved. They’re all poor and they all have problems, and having extra Josefa problems is NOT something she’s looking for.  
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Hm, well, some stuff happened and I figured you might want to know about it.

The Fed Bureau of Investigations: Fed's upping her game with some incense and garudasana arms (Eagle Pose in yoga).  Dante lies about his whereabouts.  Fed reminds us all that the cards never lie.  She kept drawing The Moon and sure enough, Aitana, that two-faced woman, was skulking around in Pedro's office.  I notice the bottom of Fed's long, trailing sleeves aren't actually trailing, but attached to the hem of her blouse.  Interesting.

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Labels: mivac

Fi witnessed Vito and Diana's spit swapping, but never mentioned it again.  In fact, it's Diana who later threatens to expose Fi for a gold digging liar.

Sergio witnessed Belinda's birthday suit, and while she's right, he is eeeeeasy and never turns down a woman's advances…there's a first time for everything.  Take a hike, Belinda.

Vitto continues his relentless campaign to control EVERYTHING and vows to pay for both Gianna's tuition and find her a new doctor.  To this end, he and Fi visit Pedro's office to tell him so.  They behave like small children fighting over a toy (i.e., Fi).  Fi even says as much.  And tells them this isn't about who has the bigger…bank account.  And it STILL doesn't get her to call things off.

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Hey folks, today's episode of Lichita was brought to you by the letter "Roberto is a jerk" and the number "Luciana's past catches up to her..."

Roberto "accidentally" has a night of passion with Luciana at some fancy hotel's romantic suite. He wakes up and gasps "what have I done? The worst idiotez of my life!" He ditches her and runs out on a huge bill for the suite and champagne and stuff.

Luciana's mom is a huge and outrageous character. Augusto sends some of Luci's hair off for DNA analysis to see if she's actually his daughter.

A crew from Ikonika will go to Buenos Aires to shoot some photos for ads for Grimaldi's high heels. Everyone is excited about the shooting (shoe-ting?), but Luciana (obviously trying to stay out of Argentina because of the outstanding criminal charges against her) gets Lichita to go in her place.

It turns out to be a lot of fun. She gets close to Alex, he looks at the sexy shoe models and mentions that true beauty doesn't come from the physical, they go out to dinner, and of course he teaches her to tango (though the dance they wind up doing doesn't even appear remotely like tango). Also, while there, she happens to see a news article about the outstanding arrest warrant for Luciana (for the theft of the Duke's ring)!

Luci and her mom are cute and hilarious together... They're all dolled up at some publicity event, and Luci's deflecting questions about where her fiancé is (boy, the advertising business in novela-land sure is obsessed with magazines about publicity professionals), when she's approached by a reporter. Luci preens a bit, expecting flattering questions about her wonderful life, but is horrified to be asked about the jewelry theft! No one is supposed to know about that!!!

Roberto visits Mateo and tells the kid about his secret plan. They're gonna go run away and live on a beach somewhere. There's no way kidnapping your own kid can turn out wrong, right?

Magos overhears Luci preening and boasting about her night of "passion" with Roberto. According to her, her cuerpazo unleashed unknown passions in the poor man. Sure didn't look that way, but ok, whatever you say, Luci.

Now we come to the sniveling part of today's programming. Roberto begs and pleads for forgiveness from Lichita. For an agonizing half-second she looks like she might actually fall for it, but she's super strong and cool and reads him the riot act. The most ghastly part is when he tries to tell her he must still be important to her because he took her virginity! The nerve, the presumption, the awfulness!  He snivels and pleads some more and finally gets her to come to a restaurant with him so no one will overhear the "important" things he needs to tell her. But the idiot takes her to the restaurant of the hotel where he had his rendezvous with Luciana (and ran off without paying). His pathetic and already-failing pleas for forgiveness are further undermined when the hotel boss dumps the itemized bill for the romantic evening on the table (for Lichi to gawp at) as the bellboy holds up the magazine cover with Beto and Luciana on it!!!

Ok, that was rather satisfying...

Previous: Episode 30
Next: Episode 32

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Ciao, amici del Patio!  Here's what I can make out from what they showed us.

Showdown between Granny and Petey ends predictably:  He will damn well do what's good for the family and the business and whatever else SHE tells him.  They trade charges of disrespect.

Roxi interrupts Gael and Gigi's tender goodbye.  She sucks up the tears and turns the bitch-o-meter on high.

Granny wins and Fiorella and Gigi move out.  There is a scene of them, Fidel, Simoneta, Quina and gardener dude crying together and pledging to stay in touch.  Aitana comes to eff with Fiorella as she packs in her room.  Fifi gives us a welcome but short flash of sass as she tells Aitana she'd better back down before she get's smacked down.  It's dark when the girls leave.  Freddie, Sonia and Roxi stand outside to watch and mock.  Fifi and Petey have a few minutes for more plaintive, empty phrases of hope for their love.  Fifi gives Pedro a small wad of tissue.  Vitto interrupts them and collects Fiorella.  Pedro mouths a wimpy, "take care of her."  Pedro opens the tissue.  It's the diamond ring he gave her that day on the rickety, rocky boat of love ride.

Suddenly Vitto, Fifi and Gigi are in his living room where we are reminded what Italian bumpkins they are when Gigi picks up an expensive vase and almost drops it.  Next they are in the room the girls will share.  GAG ALERT:  Vitto tells Fifi he is ready to receive her in their room when she is ready.

Osvaldo presents Aitana as an executive assistant in what I guess is a board meeting.  Pedro has cara de WTF and Freddie gives him an "in yo' face" glare.

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Labels: mivac

The subtitles were terrible today so my recap is a little vague, feel free to fill in details. A very enjoyable episode because Alicia starts to see improvements in her life due to her own merits.

Mr Reasonable tells Beto that he and his wife, after years of fertility treatments, had managed to have a son, but he died of cancer three years ago and the wife went into a terrible depression and now needs very strong drugs. Beto says, that is very tragic but it doesn't mean you get to have my son, even if he does remind you of your little angel. Mr Reasonable has to try to placate his wife at any costs and insists: "Mateo needs a mother" (though perhaps not a batshit crazy one I say) - he and Beto shake hands and say "may the best man win."

Alex tells Alicia he came to Mexico to forget a broken romance. He cries. She says, you need your family. Also, lots of girls think you're cute. He gives her some excellent advice: to stop turning every word into a diminutive because that makes it sound like she's apologizing to the whole world. (Her mother does it even worse.) She agrees to try.

I have the suspicion that Alex is shorter than Luciana and Chuchette and whenever he's in a scene with them he's standing on a box. What do you think?

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Here's a new page for the current week.  Enjoy what are arguably the two most interesting shows on Spanish language television right now – and the third one that is paying all the bills!

Labels: bajo, celia, telemundo