Caray, Caray!

DUEÑOS, Gran Final!

So, how do you wrap up a show where almost all the characters have faults, and there are no real heroes? You COULD have a big shocking tragic ending, such as they had in Sin Senos no hay Paraiso. You could have things work out well for the fairly good characters, and worse for the evil ones. Or you could thumb your nose at all of that, and do just the opposite! Let’s see what our writers decided to give us.

It’s very sad, as Ferrara, Riquelme and Montalban eye the charred remains of Anastasia Cardona. Ferrara looks especially stunned. Riquelme sort of looks disappointed, possibly thinking, we’d tried to catch her all this time, and now she’s dead, another victim of the drug war. Did we even make a difference?

At the mansion, there is also general sadness, Modesta is especially hurt, her niña is gone, Chad and Lu are dressed for another funeral, as is Silvana. Érika and Sergio give their condolences. Renato is nowhere to be found. The casket is brought in, the services can begin. Most of our characters are elsewhere, however.

Such as in jail. On the men’s side, we have Saúl, Adán and crazy Marcelo sharing a cell. Sául gives Adán the shocking news about Anas. How did he know? He has contacts. And he knows something else, too. Adán doesn’t care about gossip, but it’s not that, it’s about Silvana.

It’s visiting time at the jail. Lu and Silvana come to visit a stone-faced Adán. After some warm words with Lu, he asks to be alone with Silvana. She’s all concerned, wants to help him any way she can. Then promise me two things, he replies tersely. One, stay away from my family. And never visit me again! Yes, I know all about how you worked with Ferrara. But, but, stutters Silvana, I MEANT to tell you, but just didn’t get to do it. Besides, at first I wanted some justice, but then I fell in LOVE with you! Adán is not listening, says get out, does not hold the phone to his ear. Adán, Adán, please just give me five minutes, I can explain. No...she...can’t. He’s OVER her.

Érika is back at the studio (or maybe at Sergio’s place), filming’s going fine for their next feature. Until the cops enter, and they’re all arrested, Érika, Sergio, Carmen, even Harry. Who knows what the charges are, but we then switch to the women’s prison. Of course, all our characters are in the same cell. Érika had to switch from her sexy outfits to prison garb. In the cell are Marcelo’s wife (forgot her name) and Irene, looking VERY menacing, no makeup. She tells Érika that it’s her fault that the love of her life is gone. Bob, that is, who was supposed to kill Érika at the beach, but goofed, and killed Verónica! Érika’s Sugar Lips have turned sour.
 

DUEÑOS, Part 2

How about our Chilean characters? Alejo and Conrado had arrived, finally back in their old country, things will be great now, right? Well....they have a meeting with Jorge and Gerardo to line up the drug distribution, and Vanessa and Analía are there. And that’s the problem, Alejo is furious with Analía, where are our children? She says they’re not here, they’re with my mother, and sorry, you can’t see them. What? He looks at Gerardo, asks Analía, what’s going on between you two? What can you two possibly have in common? “Tomás” answers Gerardo. Whoa! Alejo is really shocked now, demands of Analía is that true? She’s not answering. Conrado pulls his gun, saying we won’t use your crappy cocaine, then shoots one of the guards in the leg. Bad move, Gerardo grabs Analía, holds a gun to her head, lower your weapon. Conrado does, Jorge gives an order, and another guard shoots Conrado in the foot! Jorge then orders Alejo and Conrado to be taken away, thrown in prison, as “Communists”. Vanessa is furious, slaps Jorge, but he just smiles. And knowing how these things worked in Chile at the time, Conrado and Alejo’s fate doesn’t look good.

Leandro has opened his safe, packing all the money he can into a suitcase, he’s leaving. Iggy hobbles in, what’s up, boss, are you really scared of your ex-wife Norma’s threat? Leandro won’t admit it, but he is, just says he’s leaving, and you, Iggy can have the business. Paola enters, Daddy, what are you doing? Then Norma enters, and Paola knows. Leandro asks to speak with Norma in private, and then sirens start blaring! Iggy and Paola go to flee. Inside the warehouse, Norma lords it over Leandro, she warned him! Outside, the cops arrest Iggy and Paola, knocking Iggy to the ground, how LOW he’s gotten! Inside, as Norma hides in a corner, Leandro grabs his suitcase and a semi-automatic rifle, and turns into Superman! One after one, he shoots down cop after cop, and he escapes!

We’re now in a darkened movie theater, Sugar Lips is playing, Renato is watching, his face looks sad, defeated, he’s lost everything.

 

DUEÑOS, Part 3

Or has he? All of a sudden, we’re whisked away to an island 300 miles off the coast of Brazil, it’s a beautiful beach, and Renato is THERE. He walks over to a woman who, from behind, reminds him of Anas, she turns, of course it’s not Anas, she’d dead. But wait! A woman in a large hat approaches, gives Renato a drink, and Anastasia is alive! We now see what happened. Renato paid off a bunch of Leandro’s men, they’ll never talk because 1) so much money and 2) Leandro would kill them. They kidnapped Anas in Mexico and stabbed Ferrara. They delivered her to Leandro and Iggy. But after the fire started, when Iggy and Leandro walked away, they came in, unlocked Anasa, led her to freedom.

Then whose remains did the cops find??? Well, we see GINA, with her baby, who’s about 2 /12, but looks about 5, walking along, gets kidnapped by these same guys, SHE’s chained up to the same chains, in the same burning warehouse, and screams!!! (I have to admit I guessed this). It’s poetic justice, Gina started just about all of Anas’s problems by having the affair with Nataniel, also, Renato was supposed to kill her, and he’s finally done it. The kid? Renato tells Anas he’ll be well looked after. We also hear how Saúl was able to plant evidence get Érika in jail. Ah, sweet revenge.

What about Ferrara? He’s arrested, too, internal affairs finally caught onto his scheme. We later see that Adán served his time in jail, and formed a Chess Club. How nice.

Renato apologizes to Anas. She laughs, no need to apologize. Then what should we do? Celebrate, she says. How? Like this, she replies smiling, waving her arms to indicate the beautiful, sunny beach, their romantic island getaway, as she kisses him deeply, and all’s right with the world.

THE END
 

Dueños

I found the endiing very disturbing. Gina wasn't perfect,
but in my mind she certainly didn't deserve to die at all
much less in that horrible fashion. It GREATLY diminished my liking for the "good bad guy", Renato,
and prevented me from being happy for him finally
getting together with Anastasia. Can't wait for all
the comments. What happened to Gina's son?

AnonGringa
 

DUENOS:

As usual with my recaps, corrections and additions are welcome. I left out some stuff at the end. And I meant to say that Jorge was holding the gun on Analia.

My point in the first paragraph is to say that the writers took door number 3, with some exceptions, the bad guys came out well, and the good guys not so much. That's life. I sort of liked that they did it that way.

And they left open a door for a season 2 if they want.
 

Avenida Brasil – Lunes
The first few minutes of this capítulo were pre-empted where I live by severe weather advisories.

Max has recruited a player for the Divino football club and he is getting some money for this from Diogenes. The player is Leandro, another fresh-faced kid from the boonies. Both Diogenes and his son, Roni, warn Leandro that he is being ripped off by Max but Leandro doesn’t care – he just wants an opportunity to play. He is going to stay at Diogenes’ place and Roni will see if he can get a job at Diogenes’ store.

At said store, Suelen continues her poor work performance – showing up late, leaving early and abandoning a customer in the dressing room waiting for a different size item. Diogenes tries to fire her again but this time she shows him the video of them having sex and he backs off. Leandro is mighty taken with Suelen but she ignores him.

We recall that Nina told the family that the origin of her dessert – babas au rhum - had something to do with Marie Antoinette (see the Wikipedia entry, which is different than what Nina told the family - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum_baba). Carmina finds Tifón reading Agatha’s history book in bed and learning about the most famous line associated with Marie Antoinette – let them eat cake (the book says, “brioche,” a rich buttery bread. Tifón doesn’t know what that is either. He asks Carmina if she knows that Marie Antoinette was guillotined. Carmina is interested in sex, not history.

At breakfast the next morning, Carmina once again does not join the chorus of praise of Nina’s cooking. Nina says how much she likes the family and is told that she hasn’t met Jorgito, Tifón’s son yet.

Mama Lucinda shows up at Nina’s Copacabana apartment. She has brought what appears to be the universal hostess gift – Mamey jam. (We recall that Muricy brought the same thing to Carmina who poured it in the garbage.) I don’t what it is. There are various fruits known as Mamey but none of them would produce a green jam and this stuff is green. While Nina takes a shower, Mama Lu finds Nina’s phone, calls back a number on the call log and hears Janaina answer that this is Tifón’s residence. She confronts Nina about her lies.

Nina responds that she just wants justice, not vengeance, for what Carmina did to her and she wants to protect Agatha whom she believes is her half-sister. Mama Lucinda raises various practical objections to Nina’s plan – she might be recognized and how does she explain her apartment in Copa. Nina replies that she has changed so much no one recognized her and she has invented a sick mother to explain her trips to Rio. Mama Lu asks what her plan is. Nina replies that she is going to find out all Carmina’s secrets. She says that Carmina doesn’t like her now but she will change that and then she will decide how to exact vengeance on her.

 

Hombre, thanks for the gran recap. Loved your intro setting up how to approach this closing. My fave: Érika’s Sugar Lips have turned sour.

One thing. I think Jorge held a gun on Vanessa, who later spit in his face. I would like to think that Vanessa somehow used her booty power with the torture squad to get Alejo and even Conrado freed, but this is not a rosa TN.

AnonGringa, ITA Renato doing in Gina (who in the end I didn't even like) and Anas getting Érika imprisoned turned me off to their happiness as a couple. I always wanted Anas and Renato to retire together to a remote island, but not standing atop a bloody heap of the near-innocent.

I feel the worst for Érika and Alejo. She never trafficked drugs and as the cheated wife, she was the wronged party, not Anas. Hopefully Érika can make a comeback when she’s released. Alejo already served his time and he looked so 80s cool in his jet black pants and checkered blazer.

I suppose Analia’s punishment is to have to put up with Gerardo’s touch and eventually become her mother, because my guess is Gerardo will make her grovel for the riches he'll dispense on her and the kids. Also, I was never convinced her oldest kid is his.

How nice that Florida prison policy puts prior associates in the same cell. Poor Érika lucked out having both Irene and the lye lady as cellies.
 

Avenida Brasil – Lunes Part 2

Débora has dragged Jorgito to an art gallery and who should also be there but Noemia and her son Tomás. He tries to hit on Débora, whom he doesn’t know is his half-sister. Jorgito warns him off and then proposes to Débora.

Carlos Eduardo is dealing with the problem of Noemia’s new apartment being in the same neighborhood as at least one of his other women. Noemia can’t understand why he won’t take her anywhere. They are walking along the beach and CE has attempted to disguise himself with a hat and sunglasses. Even so, vendors on the beach greet him by name.

Later, Carlos Eduardo is with Verónica. Verónica is not very happy that Débora is going to marry Jorgito, whose only occupation is playing football for a suburban club. CE points out that Tifón is probably richer than he is. He has done well with the football money he invested.
Nilo bribes one of the children who works for him to find out more about Nina.

We see the first of the dancing parties that will take place regularly at the Divino Football club. There is a dj and the people there do a sort of line dance mostly the same moves but with more or less skill and flair. Ivanka is dancing with Darkson, the guy with the microphone at Diogenes’ store. Suelen slithers in, takes Darkson to the trophy room at the club and takes off her clothes. They start to have sex. Ivanka follows them, steals their clothes and hits the fire alarm. Everybody runs in to find the couple covering themselves in cushions.

Also at the dance, Leleco and Tessalia continue to have a mutual admiration society for each other.

That’s what I recall from last night’s capítulo. Corrections/clarifications welcome.


 

Dueños
Many thanks, Hombre, for yet another superb recap. I'm frankly glad this novela is over. The only thing I'll miss are the recaps.

I found the conclusion somewhat disappointing, but I was unable to imagine a better one. I had long since finished sympathizing with or even being interested in most of the characters. I wonder whether Renato arranged to have Gina's son cared for by someone who might be willing to give him up if/when Anas decides she wants him. I assume that was what Renato meant by having left the boy in good hands. No matter what, I fear for the kid's future.

I loved your comment about Adán's having started a chess club in prison: "How nice." Also your observation that "Erika's Sugar Lips have turned sour."

Like AnonGringa, I didn't think that Gina deserved to die such a horrific death. OTOH, I've been assuming for some time that part of the novela's point (its PSA, if you will) is that drug trafficking does in almost everyone, good, bad, and horrible alike. Though some bad guys apparently do get away: LQ, most notably, but also of course Anas and Renato.

The "here's what happened in the future" written comments at the very end seemed to suggest that Conrado and Alejo served time in prison. That surprised me, since I thought they'd be tortured to death as supposed Communists.

I was also surprised that the internal affairs guys were able to figure out Ferrara's role after so long. What possible evidence could they have had?

Finally, the last comment in the "here's what happened in the future" said, I think, that there had been a sighting of Anas in the 1990s in a "supermercado de fortaleza." What is a "supermercado de fortaleza"?

I hope that Anas and Renato's having gotten away isn't intended to pave the way for Season 2. I was impatient to be done with Season 1, and there's no one I'm really interested in seeing again in a Season 2.
 

Dueños

what a great recap Hombre!
once again you have put it all together.

Gina was a pest all right, maybe they didn't show enough how she was working everyone so she could have the good life, but I didn't think she really needed to burn, Daisy might have thought otherwise.

so those were Leandro's guys, I missed that part.

Ferrara coming back after he helps Anas to escape, what was he thinking?

Conrado checks in, and Modesta lets him know Anas is ashes, this hit him pretty hard, but how does this affect the drug trade?

hmm, when Conrado pulled his gun I think Jorge grabbed Vanessa while Analia hid behind Gerardo, and Alejo talked him into putting down the gun to save his sister, and didn't Jorge say that he wanted them alive.

ha!, Paola and Iggy making their getaway, like a couple of turtles.

wasn't Leandro dying or something?

not quite sure why Erika had to go to jail, it was Conrado's fault for going back to her, but wow, that Irene sure does look menacing.

ahha, Renato all in white, that's what was so strange, as he walks the beach in Jericoacoara, I want to go too!

so Renato's plan was that in the end Anas would be dead to everyone, but wait, the cops get the DNA on the burnt body, so they know it wasn't Anas.


"supermercado de fortaleza" is a supermarket in Fortaleza, Brasil.

 

Avenida B
Thanks very much, Jean, for the helpful recap. I too lost the start of the episode to bad weather, and in fact even after that the episode would occasionally cut out for a minute or two. The problem seemed more with Telemundo than with the TV or Comcast, since other channels were functioning OK during those times.

Mama Lucinda is beginning to annoy me. Why is she such a metiche when it comes to Rita? Her coming to Carmina's house (at least, to the gate) could have jeopardized Rita/Nina's job and perhaps more than that, since although no one recognized R/N, several people could have recognized Mama L had they seen her. I'm really eager to know what her past connection to Carmina is, though I suspect we won't find out for a while.

Is there some point to all the nonsense with Carlos Eduardo and his families, or is it just comic relief? I'd be much more relieved if it weren't there. :-)
 

Dueños
Thanks, deb, for clarifying "supermercado de fortaleza." Had they capitalized "fortaleza," I probably would have assumed something similar, but then again I think none of the words in the "this is what happens later" comments were capitalized.

You asked whether LQ was dying. I think he just made up that story to prod Paola into being more obedient and marrying Iggy quickly.
 

AVENIDA B.
Thank you, Jean. You got more than I did, especially the names and (I hate to admit it) the fact that so many of the younger guys look alike. I couldn't figure out what the two making out in the storeroom was all about, but the cushions were funny.

One thing that has bothered me is how Nilo's kid found out the girl who came to visit is Rita. I didn't think her old name had been mentioned to the new children. I thought she'd been introduced as Nina. It's probably not important.

Why am I liking Carminha a little more now? Have no idea. She seemed actually contented, pleased, happy, to be with Tifon in their bedroom bantering about. I need to see her do more irritating, hurtful or malicious things to the folks around her to bring back the hate I had for her at the beginning.

Tessalia and Leleco--May-December thinggy starting? Or will it stay chaste. Dona Muricy already doesn't like him so near so many young girls.

Enjoying (is this possible?) this tn more than I thought I would. Anyway, it's infinitely more watchable than many and I want to see how the various storylines eventually converge on Rita.
 

DueÑos

If there is a Dueños 2, I would check it out to see if any of my favorites returned. Anyone know for sure if a sequel is planned? Were the ratings good?
 

AVENIDA B.
One sideline convo between Debora and Jorgito. Last episode we saw where he showed her the picture of Rita--the girl he "married."

After Jorgito asked Debora to marry him and she accepted, she was teasing him about already being married. She wondered what he would do if Rita ever came back. He said she would probably never return. She left a long time ago, adopted and taken away and he never heard from her again. I thought that was touching, that he still had a picture of the two of them in his wallet.
 

DUEÑOS

Wow, Hombre! What a super recap! I especially liked your overview at the beginning.

Well, with LQ, Anas and Renato at large and lots of people still out there with their ultimate fates uncertain, I think we can take a second season as a given.

Poor Erika. Irene told her she was responsible for Vero's death because she herself was the intended victim.

I think the juxtaposition of the 'happily ever after' on the beach with Gina's ghastly fate (and the dirty trick played on Erika) was quite calculated. We viewers had our noses rubbed in the heartlessness of these two – they really ARE bad guys.

Hombre, Novelera and deb,
Thanks for this and for all the terrific recaps you wrote for this uneven, but somehow compelling show. I'd like to think I could resist a season two...
 

Avenida B

Anita: Mama Lucinda initially introduced Nina to the kids in her house as Rita and then asked them to call her Nina.

Juanita: If Mama Lucinda told all the secrets she knows the novela would be over in 10 minutes.

Carlos and his women is partly about the class differences in Brazil as are the other stories but mostly it's comic relief. Get used to it, there will be a lot of it.

I can't tell you how much easier it is to figure out what is going on when I already know who all the characters are!

 

There might be a second season, though the other series to get additional seasons from Telemundo had far bigger cliffhangers guaranteeing further seasons while with this one it seems Telemundo is hedging their bets.

Two things that might stop further seasons: (1) the writer has signed with a different network; and (2), this was a Chilean co-production with TVN, and while the ratings were "eh" in the US, they were disastrous in Chile, so bad TVN had to banish it after a few weeks to a worst time slot where it continued to flounder. Right now in Chile, Duenos is averaging 3's and 2's while the competition on the rival networks is getting 20's, 14's, and 9's. Needless to say, I can't see TVN signing on for more.

That is one of the problems with Telemundo's seasonal narco approach. It is going to hurt international sales, which is where Telemundo used to make most of its money, because channels are basically able to buy half a show to try out, and if it doesn't do well, they won't buy the later seasons.

Case in point, El Senor de los Cielos and Senora Acero are both doing poorly in Colombia, Acero is bombing so badly it's in danger of being pulled from the schedule, meaning there is almost no chance the Colombian broadcaster will buy the later seasons.

The seasonal approach is shrinking Telemundo's international catalog, and the narcos weren't all that popular internationally to begin with, their sales are miniscule compared to more traditional fare like La Patrona and Bella Calamidades. Perhaps these hiccups internationally explain why Telemundo's production values have plummeted in the last two years and why they are cutting back production to just two telenovelas instead of their usual three.
 

@Anita, about Carmina seemingly happy with Tifon, just know she is a consummate actress. She just hated the fact that Tifon was reading the book because Nina said something that him him curious. Carmina has her eyes on the prize always.
Romy
 

Dueños

RG, very interesting background on ratings and Telemundo’s international approach.

If Chileans tuned in for the Chile side of the story, I can see why the ratings were low there. That storyline wasn’t done well at all, and only worked for me a bit because our recappers and commenters here on Caray provided history on what was going on in Chile back then.
 

Tierra

Hi folks - missed most of Monday's ep so I'm out for that one
If all goes well I can recap Weds or Thurs or both if needed

 

Avenida B.
Jean--Thanks for putting me straight. I must have nodded off for 15 seconds. That would make sense. Now Nils wants more information on Rita and what she's doing in Rio.

Romy--Right on--Eyes on the Prize--and it being? MORE money? MORE prestige? BIGGER house? Oh, come to think of it, the love of her son. Too bad she doesn't know what love is, only how to act it out. She put on a whale of an act in the first few episodes for Genesio's sake, and Tifon. Who knows how much acting is going on with her around Max. Is her whole life an act? Who is the real Carminha?
 

AVENIDA

Thanks Jean for the recap. I saw it during it's first run too, and it's definitely worth another watch.

Juanita, ITA agree about MamaL.

MamaL did make me laugh though when she said Nina sounded like a sociopath after hearing her plans. Nina wants not only justice, but to save Tifon, a good man, from Carmina. She can't allow what what happened to her father happen to him.

Carlos just makes me laugh. Despite all his precautions, people still recognized him on the street LOL. That guy is headed towards an ulcer.

jlk
 

Dueños
Hombre, great finale recap.

Yep, I agree, Gina did not deserve that, nor Erika. Erika was not a bad person at all, what crime did she commit? & Gina was one of the "least worst" of them.

Looks like the slim Iggy is still alive, not sure what happened there, did he & Paloa get away?

And they live happily ever after in Brazil, instead of the usual wedding.

I will watch El Señor for awhile anyway. I like Rafael Amaya.

The main reason I wanted to watch Duenos was its location & it seemed loosely based on Griselda Blanco, VERY loosely.

What was really ridiculous, was LQ getting away. With all the shooting, only the cops got hit.

Hombre, are you in for El señor?
 

CIELOS

WoW! What a turn of events!!!

-VRO
 

Avenida B.
Romy--After Tue's episode, I'm happy to report I can hate Carminha again!
 

CIELOS

I see Telemundo's cost-cutting continues. Almost the whole thing is shot multi-camera on cheapo sets left over from the previous Argos productions.

The filmmaking is so crappy compared to Telemundo's own Camelia la TEjana from just last year.

The directing and editing is so lethargic, staid and old-fashioned. Compare just a single minute to the dynamic single-camera shooting and fast modern elliptical editing of current Colombian shows like The Fugitives and La Esquina del Diablo and you see what's missing from Telemundo's so-called "super series." No wonder the earlier Cielos is flopping in Colombia.

Amaya should have moved on already, his performance has become horribly monotonous, though his hilariously awful ugly fake cry at the end of the episode would make Blanca Soto proud.
 

Dueños:

The (remaining) cops definitely seemed to have learned that it wasn't Anastasia's remains, but I don't think they had DNA testing for police work in 1980. It's more likely it was dental records or something like that.

@Juanita, I also think Quesada was lying about his illness, both to try to get Paola to fall in line and to have an excuse to keep that lady doctor around and/or use the nice opiates he'd gotten to like.

@RG, thanks for the info about the production, etc. So Illanes went to another network -- was he on board for the whole story before leaving, or did he just do a "bible" and leave things to the other writers? If he left before the end, that might explain a lot.

With slimy Jorge in charge of the new secret police, I do not see happy futures for any of our Chileans, especially Conrado or Alejo if he has them categorized as Communist terrorists. Pinochet was dictator until 1990 (ten years after the story ends), so Jorge potentially has years to go right on torturing and killing anyone he can tag as an "enemy," provided he plays his cards right.

@Juanita and AnonGringa: ...part of the novela's point (its PSA, if you will) is that drug trafficking does in almost everyone, good, bad, and horrible alike. Even if the writers did not actually intend to make this point, I completely agree. There pretty much aren't any characters in this story who were not negatively affected in some way, either larger or (if they were lucky) smaller, by their association with the drug trade.

@all the recappers, thank you VERY MUCH for your great work!
 

Anonymous said: "So Illanes went to another network -- was he on board for the whole story before leaving, or did he just do a "bible" and leave things to the other writers? If he left before the end, that might explain a lot."

Illanes went back to Chile and signed a 3 year contract with Mega. Probably a good move because they are the most successful channel in Chile right now, though that success is built almost entirely on imported Turkish dramas.

He's a talented writer, but I personally haven't cared for any of Illanes's work for Telemundo or that network's adaptations of his previous novelas, much preferring his Chilean work.

I have no idea if Illanes wrote all of Duenos or not, but the last few episodes were, in my opinion, very sloppy and rife with plot holes, which he usually seems to avoid.
 

Avenida Brasil
I will post a recap of Tues. episode later today.
 

DUENOS:

Variopinta, Iggy and Paola were arrested. Since we never had trials in this show, they were probably just thrown into jail for a while.

For all those upset about Gina- Nobody deserves to die (well, maybe Leandro), but Gina 1) had sex with a married druglord, didn't use birth control, and had his baby, 2) when she had the chance to leave under threat, she came back, got her sister involved, and her sister got killed; 3) When she got her baby back, she could have left again, but she stayed, with a new druglord, fully aware she was still a target of Anas; 4) While Leandro considered her "his" woman, she was having an affair with Leandro's son for two years, and even got caught at it by Iggy; and 5) she killed Daisy and the driver by shooting them (of course they were kidnapping her child). So, while she didn't deserve to die, she wasn't guilt free, and should have left town. It was her continuing association with this dangerous life that was her undoing, which was the point of this show, I think.

I'm not going to be watching Cielos 3. I hated the main character AC so much in Part 2, I almost couldn't bear to watch, kept hoping he'd get killed, which he didn't.
 

Anonymous

I see your point, but I was upset by the implication that
after the horrible death of Gina, not to mention others,
Anastasia and Renato would live " happily ever after".

AnonGringa
 

TIERRA

I was sort of working on something else while I was watching, so this won't be complete, but here's what I remember from Monday's episode:

In an enormous apartment in Paris, the sisters got the news of Beatriz's death. Sofia and Irina blithely went out shopping after a perfunctory expression of sadness, but hungover Andrea was pretty upset. She called Sam and told him she was sad and also sad that her friendship with Bea had been derailed by his presence.

The funeral seemed more like a press conference than a funeral or wake. It was weird. People were wearing black and either expressing sincere condolences or being bitchy to each other as you would expect, but there was someone there taking photos, and when Sam gave the eulogy, if you can even call it that, he was at a podium with a television microphone in front of him. Who wants to be filmed while mourning?!

Soledad caught the evil housestaff rifling through her room (aka trying to plant "evidence" so they can accuse her of stealing and get rid of her). Sam chewed them out but they are pretty smugly convinced that they are going to be the heirs to the kingdom and they are already lording it over everyone. And indeed, at the end, in front of everyone at the funeral, they accused Sam of murdering Beatriz and it looks like he'll be arrested.

In other not-so-news, Leo continues to be a bully and the Valverde family continues to also be evil and creepy.

The people at Palenque Night got the news about Bea's death and think if Patricia finds out she'll be running back to Sam now that he's in the money. Pati's gigolo seems to think the same thing, because he's trying to keep her from reading the newspaper.

Veronica and Nestor had a little talk about second chances and it seemed there might be a little bit of spark between them? At least maybe on Nestor's part?

Pablo admitted to Rocio that he's still in love with Veronica but it means nothing because he thinks he has no chance of a future with her. Well, it probably means you shouldn't marry someone else who barely floats your boat, Pablo.

Oh, and Soledad told Veronica that she should stay away from her and the Gallardos to keep Miranda happy. Ugh, why does anyone cater to that witch's whims?
 

Dueños
Hombre,
Were you a prosecuting attorney in another life (or, for that matter, in this one)? You did a very convincing job of lessening my already-limited sympathy for Gina. However, though I'm convinced that she deserved to rot in prison, I still don't think she deserves the horrific death she had to endure. Even death by firing squad would have been more humane.

Like you, I won't be watching Cielos 3. I fear that Telemundo has gotten into the habit of offering bad sequels rather than imaginative new novelas. That doesn't mean, however, that I'm ready to move back to Univision.
 

Cielos,

wow, they compressed season 2 into one hour,
(maybe I'll wait till they do that for season 3)

way too many army guys, they all look alike.

too many back story's, Telemundo really needs to put out a who's who.

wow, Chacorta, is that what happens when you don't want to do another season?

and still Google translate doesn't have a narco category.

 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Avenida Brasil – Martes - Part 1

Great episode last night!

In my recapette of Monday’s capítulo, I didn’t include the last scene where Max is lounging by the pool. Nina brings him a drink, they talk and she offers to do some kind of acupressure to help his neck pain. Carmina comes out, assumes the worst, accuses Max of coming on to Nina. He denies it. She mentions that if he misbehaves, they won’t have their get together in the “cabin.”

Nina goes to a gas station on her motorcycle. The young woman attendant there is Betania, Nina’s friend in the tiradero. Betania introduces her boyfriend Baldo to Nina. Nina tells Betania that her name is Nina now and asks for her help as a confident and accomplice in her revenge plot against Carmina. Betania agrees.

Carlos Eduardo is at Verónica’s place, which is full of workmen doing renovations. He tells Verónica that he won’t be home for dinner as he has to meet with businessmen from Singapore. “On Saturday?” asks Verónica skeptically. CE tells her that these businessmen are only in town for a short time and work all the time. CE has found out that Alexia is going to have lunch with Verónica that day. CE calls Alexia and demands to know all the details of what Verónica says.

At the lunch, Verónica tells Alexia that her husband is a good father but may not be a good husband. Alexia asks if he is shirking his “marital duties”. “Oh no,” replies V, “that’s fine. What I’m concerned about is that he may be also performing those duties other places than at home.” Alexia urges Vero to confide in her. Vero says has a plan to catch CE the next day. Alexia reports this to CE who calls Jimmy, his assistant, tells him to call the “extras company” and have everything ready for tomorrow.

At the family dinner at Tifón’s house, everyone is raving about Nina’s food except Carmina, of course, who asks what pompous name the dish they are having is called. Tifon asks what wine Nina recommends and Nina replies red or white. Naturally, Carmina wants a rosé.

When Nina is gone, Carmina explains that she is concerned about having an unknown person in the house. The fact that she was an internet friend of Ivana means nothing. Ivana says that she doesn’t want the responsibility for bringing a stranger into the house so she had Agatha do some internet research. Agatha has printed a page from the website of the restaurant where Nina worked in Argentina. Carmina still isn’t convinced. To change the subject, Tifón announces that Jorgito has gotten engaged to Débora. Carmina and Doña Muricy want to throw an engagement party. Leleco thinks that Débora’s swanky parents will be amazed at what Nina will prepare for such a party.

Jorgito takes Débora to meet Mama Lucinda at the tiradero as his fianceé. Mama Lucinda approves the match. Jorgito wants MamaLu to lead him to the altar at the wedding but ML thinks that Carmina is his mother and should do it. Débora says that no one will be looking at who brings Jorgito into the Church; everyone will be looking at the bride.

Suelen continues her conquest of all the young and some of the older men in Divino. This time she’s doing it with Iran in his bedroom. They may have cut something because we didn’t see when they got together. Suelen is set to leave by the door but Iran doesn’t want Monalisa to see her. Monalisa hears noises upstairs, suspects a tryst and goes to investigate. She searches the room, finds no one, apologizes and leaves. We see that Suelen has hidden in a cupboard. She and Iran get busy in bed again.
 

Avenida Brasil – Martes - Part 2

Carmina and Max are in their love shack. It sounded like Max had some wrinkles around his eyes removed and Carmina gives him the money to pay for it. Max complains that 12 years have gone by and they have only gotten chump change out of Tifón. Max wants Carmina to persuade Tifón to support a business plan he has for a resort. Carmia refuses saying that the time isn’t right. She says their time will come. Carmina tells him to be patient but Max wants to have a big boat and live in Miami.

Jorgito tells Mama Lucinda that he hasn’t seen Carmina since he left the house but he has heard about the new cook at his family’s house. MamaLu tells Jorgito to forget about the cook. She recommends that Jorgito and Débora to travel abroad. “Leave the football team when it is in the championships?” asks Jorgito. MamaLu says that you’re only young once. Jorgito does not understand. Before MamaLu told him to concentrate on his football career.

Tessalia has been offered a modeling job but she just wants to be a housewife with kids. Olenka tells her that she is crazy and Monalisa tells her not to be dependant on a man.

Nina is with Agatha making suggestions about changing the décor in her room. Agatha isn’t sure that her mother would allow it. Nina suggests asking Tifón. Agatha agrees. She says that shes feels more like Tifón’s bio daughter than Carmina’s. Nina says that Tifón is a great guy who adopted his wife’s two children who raised them like his own. Agatha replies that Jorgito isn’t Carmina’s child. She doesn’t think anyone knows who his parents are.

Nina asks how old Jorgito was when he was adopted and you can see her heart practically stop when Agatha tells her that Jorgito’s early years were spent in a tiradero. Trying to be calm, Nina asks how old Jorgito was when he came. Agatha replies that she doesn’t know, she had only just been born. She knows Nina a picture of young Jorgito holding baby Agatha and it’s Batata.

Next thing we see Nina in Jorgito’s room rummaging through his stuff looking for evidence that Jorgito is really Batata. She finds a box of photographs including the “wedding” picture of her and Batata in the tiradero and he still has the ring. At that moment, Zezé comes in and demands to know what Nina is doing in Jorgito’s room. Nina tries to regain her composure. She says that Agatha asked her to get some photos from Jorgito’s room. Nina goes to the kitchen and gets Janaina to gossip about Jorgito.

Veronica can’t believe that Jorgito took Débora to the tiradero. Carmina shows up at their apartment with a gift of a hideous bird sculpture. Carmina tells Débora that she is glad Jorgito has picked such a nice girl to be his wife. She says she has many problems with Jorgito and wants Débora’s help to repair their relationship. Débora says that she will help. Carmina wants to give a dinner for the two families the next day. Débora says she will talk to Jorgito about this.

Nina tells Janaina that she has made all the preparations for dinner but she has to out for to have a blood test done. Tifón comes in and gives permission.
Nina goes right to the tiradero and confronts Mama Lucinda.

MamaLu doesn’t really have an explanation about why she concealed Batata’s whereabouts from Nina. Nina can’t understand how MamaLu could let her favorite be adopted by a witch like Carmina. She says she won’t tell Jorgito who she is. Nina says she won’t see MamaLu again until she explains what happened with Jorgito. The kid that Nilo bribed overhears all this.

Nina gets back to Tifón’s house late. Carmina is annoyed that she left and wants dinner right away. Carmina asks Zezé to be her spy on Nina.

At dinner, Carmina complains about Nina once again. Then she tells everyone that she has asked Débora to persuade Jorgito to come to dinner the next day with her family to celebrate their engagement. Toasts.
 

Tierra-

Thanks, Julia, I think you got all the important parts. That was a weird funeral for Beatriz.

I don't remember a scene between Nestor and Veronica. I must have dozed off then.
 

AVENIDA BRASIL

Thanks, Jean!
I was actually starting to believe that Carmina wants a closer relationship with Jorgito, but then she gave the over-the-shoulder-during-a-hug sneaky evil face thing when she was with Debora. What is she up to?
I'm loving the actress portraying Nina. When I'm watching, I really do believe that that is Rita.
The Leleco/ country bumpkin future supermodel story is ridiculous. Does that actor write the scripts or something?! AS IF.

~ Wee Rita

 

AVENIDA BRASIL

Wee Rita: The only person Carmina cares about is Carmina but she doesn't want it to look that way. So if she is having problems with Jorgito, she's going to do a drama queen performance of the unjustly scorned mother. Then SHE gets the attention and sympathy. She is a consummate liar and actress in the cause of appearing to be what she is not - a good mother, a faithful wife and a devoted Christian.
 

Avenida B.
Thank you, Jean. Your recap and comment confirmed why I'm back in the I hate Carminha camp.

Now I kinda feel sorry for Max. Carminha's been stringing him along for 12 years. That's a long time to be dependent on her, financially, emotionally and being manipulated into an unnecessary marriage. When he decided to go along with this new "project" of hers--marrying Tifon and Siphoning off his wealth, he was sure he was to be an equal partner in the plan.

He deserves that boat!
 

Avenida B.

I should add, Carminha gets to have her cake and eat it, too, but Max doesn't. I guess there aren't any guillotines in storage anywhere in Rio.
 

Avenida Brasil - Wed

Last night's episode was another great one. I don't have time to do a detailed recap but here are the highlights for me.

The horrible dinner party for Debora and her parents - a class war in the dining room with Nina practically swooning over being so close to Batata and having to witness him give an engagement ring to Debora. Jorgito is the only one who almost recognizes Nina as Rita.

Dona Muricy has made Carlos Eduardo's favorite but she puts too much salt in it and Nina, who has gone to bed claiming illness, has to come and save the day.

Carlos Edwardo is able to overcome Veronica's suspicions of infidelity thanks to some hired extras who pretend to be Singaporean businessmen.

But Noemia is also suspicious especially after CE stands her up one too many times. She drugs him, has her maid pick the lock on his briefcase and finds his other phone just as Alexia is texting him about an illness of their daughter Paloma. Paloma is faking but Alexia doesn't know that.

Noemia shows up at the pharmacy instead of CE and she goes off on Alexia. Alexia claims that she has only been with CE for a month.

Classic Carmina moment - She is outraged to see that the servants are eating the same food as the family. They are only allowed to eat spaghetti with hot dogs.


 

EL SEÑOR DE LOS CIELOS 3

I didn’t much like Dueños, but it was like high art compared to El Señor de los Cielos 3 - the dialogue and acting were so much better. Cielos 3 is dull as dishwater. The actors all seem bored. There is no energy. Amaya is just mumbling in a dull monotone. The plot is ridiculous, contrived garbage, following the example of El Capo 3 in its attempt to make its title drug lord legitimate.

The last scenes were hilariously awful. Amaya is being transported to a plane, and his men are waiting to ambush the police, but they are only like 40 feet away in plain view. Amaya isn't even handcuffed and shackled for his transport, just walking freely.

The action sequence that follows is really slow. Amaya gets separated along with Carmen Villalobos's character. She isn't even watching the most notorious drug lord in the world in his escape attempt. He could have easily taken her gun and kill her. Instead, he just waits patiently as Carmen handcuffs herself to him, and he has this dumbfounded expression on his face.

I guess they are ripping off Midnight Run or something. It's all so stupid. I guess since she's the only woman on the show that doesn't worship the drug lord, they decided to fix that this season and she'll also fall in love with him. Makes me want to hurl.
 

El Senor

haha thank you for the review on el senor. For anyone thats following what also happened was that Victor jr (new actor) is gonna take over the family business for his dead father he is the one that tries to rescue Aurellio,.with walking cane and all! Aurellio for his part has agreed to go to Albuquerque to testify against the venezualian generals who ate working with Iranians

Meanwhile colonel rajada a corrupt mexican marine and his men also try to take Aurellio for el Chema has offered 1 million (dollars or pesos). this results in a three way gun fight at the end.

Meanwhile el chema trying really hard to.convince ruti that he did.not kill chacorta which he did.


 

Avenida
Jean, just a quick belated thank you for your Tuesday and Wednesday recaps. I was out Wednesday night and didn't see that episode until this afternoon, and I didn't want to read anything before that. I'm enjoying Avenida, and especially thanks to your recaps and other people's comments.
 

Cielos 3
Well, the reports so far about Cielos 3 make me very glad that I decided not to watch it. Perhaps if it's a real bust, Telemundo may come to its senses.
 

Avenida B.
Thank you, Jean
What you gave us was plenty to chew on. I'm glad to see Agata has an actual role here. It was great to see she was the one to check into Nina's credentials. It should still be a little odd to Carminha why she would give up a prestigious position in a popular restaurant to cook dinner for a nouveau-riche family and extended family members.

It was satisfying that no one else had a problem. They consider themselves lucky to be eating so well after not enjoying the cooking in Carm's house for such a long time.

I actually like Debora as Jorgito's novia. She really does care for him and didn't mind, in fact she wanted to, go to the tiradero. I think she wants to be able to get along with the new in-laws, despite Carminha's pressuring her to help, so she persuaded Jorgito to go to the dinner and behave civilly. She's teased him, with good humor about his little "wife." Who knows if her happy personality will be the same once she learns who Nina is.

I'm really looking forward to tonight's episode.
 

AVENIDA

Thanks Jean for another recap!

Does anyone else want to try Nina's cooking? With the way everyone oohs and ahs about it, they make it sound like food for the gods.

The in-laws get together was fun to watch, with their imported whiskey and conversations about money HAHA. Deborah definitely takes more after her father than mother.

Anita-I think that's why Nina created a sick mother, to give more credibility as to why she left Argentina and took her current position. But yeah Carmina tells so many lies she seems to have learned when to spot them.

jlk
 

AVENIDA BRASIL

You are right, jlk, about Carmina's ability to spot liars. She recognized Carlos Eduardo as a fraud right off.
 

AVENIDA BRASIL

Yes! It takes one to know one, I guess.
I like Debora too. I'd love for my son to have a girlfriend like her.

~ Wee Rita
 

Thank you Julia for Mon's recap

so there wasn't a funeral service or a priest or anything?
 

Tierra Weds 4/22 part 1
The reporters attack Sam w/questions - 'can you run the bank all by yourself?' ect
The butler attacks Sam w/accusations - 'he killed Beatrice Alcazar' - and says he has proof he will gladly provide the police.
Later Sam kicks the "help" out and Cabrera and two officers show up to arrest Sam.
The "help" say that when *they* were taking care of Bea she was doing fine but when this guy showed up she got worse. Luckily her doc is there to defend Sam and explain the situation - 'she was seriously ill and dying, it was just a matter of time, and when she married this man the happiness seemed to make her hang on longer' The doc also points the finger at the "help" saying she actually was getting a lot worse when they were taking care of her
Nestor starts wondering if the "help" also had something to do w/the assassination attempt on Sam

Caye threatens Sole she feebly defends herself

Caye and Leo swan around their living room and gloat over the scene @ the funeral and the impending failure of the bank.

The "help" (can we get them out of the story soon please?) retrieve the jewels from where they hid them in Sole's room and prepare to leg it but the boys ask to see what's in that suspicious looking bag & catch them red handed w/the cops looking on.
Later the boys take Bea's ashes to a place with, I'm honestly not sure what, either abandoned and rusting machinery, or some kind of weird metal sculpture (with the camera angles I couldn't tell) and Sam scatters them on the wind.

Andrea is talking to herself about how she's a coward (no arguments here) when Sophia comes in and asks her to spill. Instead Andrea changes the subject to how Sophia still loves Art and misses him in spite of all he's done to her.(because she's not sick of that subject yet - unlike me)
Andrea says there's something you should know about Art and Sophia gets the cara de 'oh no, more bad news' but Andrea just tells her about Art coming to the airport and apologizes for not telling her sooner but she didn't want to make things harder.
Sophia says its ok he wasn't there for me anyway, but for the baby. (either way honey you should have some mercy)

The two boys who weren't just widowed sit around wondering how to git their wimmen back
Sole asks them not to do anything crazy and be patient and wait for the girls to come back on their own as Sole is sure they will. (keeping these two from doing something crazy is a full time job)

Valverde and his daughter are still evil and have business in Bea's bank (I zoned out - Valverde has that effect on me)

Arturo is a moron. (I wish I could slap him through the tv screen)
Flavio finally wants to tell Vero she's their sister because it would uncomplicate all of their lives but Art the moron says no. It might hurt her feelings to know her dad isn't her dad. (I'm so angry right now, I have to change the subject)

@ home Vero and her family/staff reminisce about her dad till her mom chides the housekeeper for bringing it up and bringing them down (yet another person who needs a good slap - or maybe I'm still angry from the last paragraph)
Mom wants her working @ the publicity firm as a photographer?
But Vero makes her own decisions and will work @ Dario's spa (as what?)
 

Tierra
4/22 part 2
Sam fires Sole, but its just cause she's like family to them - like a mother, so she shouldn't be waiting on them- and they sit her at the head of the table

@ the station the "help" deny deny deny and say Bea gave them that jewelery
Cabrera brings the news that Bea's meds were placebos and the "help" get smug
Nestor says the autopsy show that she was getting the meds when Sam was taking care of her and not so much when they were taking care of her. They are all 'we would never' but nobody's buying and they are taken away in handcuffs (yay)

Flavio tries to contact Irina by computer for the 751st time and she answers. She is not pleased about the 750 messages he has left her and isn't in the least sympathetic about his sling and wants him to make it quick 'cause she's got better things to do than listen to him try to win her back for what is surely way more than the 751st time.
Flavio tries to get tough, threatening to sue Irina for abandonment but she comes back w/ 'I'll just divorce you' - and he folds

Sole tries to convince the boys that things are about to change for them and bam Sam gets a call from the bank - there has been a run and the Banco de Beatrice (almost surely not its real name) is almost out of $$
Sam is freaking out about the bank and where he will get the money to keep it afloat. Art (not)helpfully says you're so smart I know you'll come up with something, but Sam knows he doesn't have time to raise that kind of cash. Desperately he sets up a press conference in the hope that he can tell people its ok and they'll believe him.
A mysterious stranger w/a briefcase comes to the door - he is Bea's lawyer

Vero and Rocio face off - 'what are you doing to Pablo?'
Leo slides in to see the "sexy girl fight" and insult Vero. Eye rolls from Vero, Rocio, and me.

Of course Caye won't give Vero the girl's phone # she knows what Vero would do with it. Nor will she allow the boys names to be spoken in her house (seriously, she said that, her hatred knows no bounds, not logic, not common sense, not reality, not nothin)
Longing look exchange between Vero & Pablo on the way out. Both of them resolving to forget the other (I've heard that song before)

Bea's atty wants all the boys and the "help" present to read the will but only gets the not imprisoned.
We don't get all the bequests but the housekeeper gets a pension and Art gets the ranch!
And then the episode is over.
 

Sneaky Two Shoes
You're THE ONE! Thank you over and over for the helpful recap.
I totally agree about the "help". I'm SO happy that their
part in the story wasn't taken any further- couldn't take
thst smirk on the maid's face any longer.Was the housekeeper mentioned in the will Sole or the smirking
one? I'm confused because I thought the "help's"
motive for killing Bea was to get their inheritance.

Thank you again. AnonGringa
 

TIERRA

Sneaky Two Shoes, thanks so much for the Wednesday epi recap. I agree one million percent with all your thoughts on our characters.

I think that what Beatriz left to both the evil smirking servants in her will was to stay on and continue to collect their salary as long as they were good and loyal to the Gallardos. She also praised their loyalty and whatnot, so she must never have had any clue how horrid they were. Although the bequest was still a huge burn since they thought they were going to inherit everything once they accused Sam of murdering her. Of course, it's moot now that she left them anything at all, but Bea tidily even got around their accusation of Sam by leaving the ranch to Arturo! He was certainly shocked.

Sneaky, the press conference you saw the end of WAS the funeral. Like I said, super weird. No priest, no music, nothing but Sam's little speech praising her and then reporters with microphones in the family's faces asking rude questions. What in the Hades kind of funeral is that?!?! Who, even among reporters, does stuff like that AT THE FUNERAL? And then they scattered the ashes by the weird metal thing out in the field.

Arturo continues making stupid decisions. Just tell Veronica the truth! It's her own origin and she has the right to know! It doesn't make her adoptive father any less her dad. He raised her. He's her father.

I thought it was funny when the Gallardos went in the dining room but they were all sad and didn't feel like eating, and that's when the Earth Day chyron popped up saying if you don't finish your food, put it in the refrigerator for later instead of throwing it out.
 

Julia

Thank you for expanding further on the will, the
funeral, etc. Even with not being a Spanish speaker,
I can get most of what's going on, but sometimes miss
important points which is why I'm so grateful to both you
and Sneaky TS.

AnonGringa
 

El senor

we open in the middle of gun fight between the deserter marines lead by rajado, vics jr guys, and the mexicans marine. Leonor handcuff herself to AC and they escape as rajado wants to capture him for chema.Rajado and his men are branded ttraitors and they form a roque paramilitary death squad
Meanwhile in Mexico City
Victor jr and his men go to the safe house and meet.up with monica. Vicotr tries to find out what happened to AC. They talk about how AC is a hurricane that destroys everything he touches.

In Veracruz
AC and la colombian leor are escaping from the roque soldiers they get on a migrant train known as la bestia the beast.the train is ambushed by a gang known as la mara (they have a stereotypical LA gang look to them, and say homies). At the same time the roque soldiers arrive. and it ends

Also. tijeras is stil in jail

while this novela has its flaws I have become invested emotionally in the characters
 

Anonymous 2:26 PM

Thank you for the comments on El Senor. I was embarrassed to admit that I kind of enjoy some of the
characters too since everyone seemed to have negative
opinions of the novela.

AnonGringa
 

El Senor

What characters do you care about and why? I'm legitimately asking because the show if very popular and I don't get it? When I watch, all I see are boring sociopaths and murderers and their enablers, none of whom I can care about.

Twitter is no help with all comments variations of how guapo the hero is, which is a fair enough reason to enjoy a show (I've liked many shows just because I liked looking at its beautiful people), but doesn't make a show any good.
 

El Senor

well I followed the show since the first season I saw the characters develop and change so I want to know how it ends. I like Aurellio for example because unlike in American series were they focus so much on antiheroes, Aurellio can only be classified as a villain. In fact he is one of the most evil characters on tv I have seen. I like how the writers don't try to excuse his evil with remorse, he is pure unapologetic evil.
Also I find the uniquely mexican narco scene with their sayings (arre, compa, al que le toca le toca) and dress to be entertaining. In short I find El senor a refreshing break from American Tv, Plus unlike my favorite show game of thrones senor is on everyday giving me something to look forward too
and yes the actors are very handsome and Rafa in interviews seems like a super nice guy maybe that's why people can't hate then
 

Tierra
You're welcome AnonGringa
Thanks from me too Julia clearing up the details, between what I miss and what I can't keep up enough to write I really appreciate all the help I can get.

Thurs recap coming!
 

Tierra
Thurs 2/23
Prt 1
I missed the very beginning and came in where the will says Sam gets the rest of Bea's stuff so comments to fill in the blanks are welcome.
Irina is mad @ Flavio for blowing up her computer w/750 messages. Andrea says divorce him like now

Caye is researching Leo trying to find a reason to trust him again, when Leo walks in and says get your money out of the Bank of Bea now 'cause its going down

The press conference is a bust. The news doesn't care that the "help" (I'd be so glad if that's the last time I have to type that ) are going to jail for trying to kill and steal from Bea

Valverde is going to "save" the bank for his own nefarious reasons by putting all his $$ in the Bank of Bea in exchange for 1% more interest that he was getting from all the other banks he used to have accounts in (I tried really hard to pay attention here 'cause I think this is going to be important, but if I missed something clue me in)
Sam doesn't want to make Art's life harder by bringing Sidepiece even closer to him but Valverde has made him an offer he can't refuse, for the good of all.

Leo flirts while Cande sings flirtatiously till Sidepiece comes in, then he shifts his attention to her. She is triumphant about the deal her dad just made. Leo is pi$$ed that they saved the Bank of Bea & calls Caye to share the bad news, and then goes and kisses Cande (Am I the only one who thinks this came out of left field? I didn't expect this at all.)

Caye and Vero's mom commiserate about how hard it is to find people on their level to talk to. Caye wants her to deep six that awful commercial Irina & Flavio made. (omg this is the first time I have agreed w/ Caye in this show)

Not having Sophia and his son around is tearing Art up inside, so the boys cook up a crazy plan.(and no one is surprised) They will hire someone to find the girls in Paris and then go and get them.

Meanwhile in Paris
Irina is making model contacts
Sophia is getting interested in herbal medicine for animals a la Arturo Rey
Irina doesn't miss the $$ or the house here in her luxe Paris apt.
Andrea is keeping an eye on the news from Houston - because their money is in the Bank of Bea ( I thought she got all of it out, did I misunderstand?)
They all get homesick for their Abuelo and remember his favorite poem about rain

Montage
Time passes w/the girls and baby in Paris
Leo & Caye - she is still cutting him off
Pablo brooding
Pablo & Rocio
Vero brooding
Vero & Flavio the good brother
Pati & her success
Sam & his bank
Sam & Flavio working to save the bank
Arturo & his new employees
Arturo & Soledad & his hat
Baby crawling
6 months later
 

Tierra
4/23 part 2

The General won't take his pills because its his b-day and he's all alone and thinks he will die alone. Outside someone starts singing las mananitas. Its Cande!
Although Caye forgot her father's birthday she is livid that Cande is there singing for him and tries to drive her off w/a gun.
Everyone else is pretty much all 'ignore the mean crazy lady' and Cande & the General have a sweet moment

Pati & Matamoros fight.
She wants money of her own and to go back to El P to sing. Matamoros says he's taking care of all the financial stuff and he has done and given her everything she wants and if thats not enough he will buy her a puppy.
Matamoros comes back to the apt and finds Pati has flown the coop. He seems less pissed than I would expect, but says she will pay.
The bank is back in the black!
Flavio did a PR campaign to attract small depositors to open savings accounts and it worked (or something - I may not have completely gotten this part)

Celebration time
Valverde calls and wants to celebrate too.
The boys have even more good news to celebrate - the ranch is doing great and the investigator comes and tells them he found the girls. Andrea has a bf, but the other two are staying true to their true loves.
Commence crazy plan and trip to Paris.
Art thought bubbles in a not at all creepy way- I found you Sophia

The girls skype (I assume not being all up on computer stuff) w/Abuelo and have a cake and everything and Caye comes in and apologizes for forgetting his b-day and gives him military dress shoes. (a much more thoughtful present than it seems)

Vero is the manager of the spa and is making dates and taking names when Pablo comes in and kisses her.
Pablo has figured out Vero is single - but is Pablo? We-eel he totally will be as soon as he breaks up w/Rocio cause he can't be separated from Vero any more.

Pati goes to El P and she and Cande do the girl thing - meet and greet- and then she segues right into asking about Sam, and learns he is viudo = widowed and a millionaire. She instantly starts planning how to get him back and to he!! w/Matamoros

The General tricks one of the maids into leaving him @ the end of the driveway, and hies himself to a taxi (jail break! really he is a grown man and should be able to go wherever he wants. What is wrong here.)

Pablo & Rocio have to talk, but Rocio faints (Pablo you devil - didn't use protection, huh)

Leo tries to get close to Caye and when she stiff arms him again, he plays his last card and proposes.
End


 

" Aurellio can only be classified as a villain. In fact he is one of the most evil characters on tv I have seen. I like how the writers don't try to excuse his evil with remorse, he is pure unapologetic evil."

I would find the series less disagreeable if I thought this was the case, but to me at least, I see the writers constantly justifying the atrocities Casillas commits. I think they want to have it both ways.

El Senor is always posited as the "good narco" who has to constantly protect his family from the "bad narco" played by Mauricio Ochmann, as well as the new bad guys they introduce ever year.

Example: His wife's lover turns out to be even worse than Casillas when he puts a knife to the young children's necks, making the audience root for Casillas to kill him and hate the wife for being so blind and not unconditionally worshiping the drug lord.

If Casillas was truly evil incarnate, he would have murdered the wife as well, but instead, she dies due to an accident, which ultimately makes her death all about poor little Casillas's pain at what he loses.

This season is the worst yet in this "good narco Casillas" ploy with him needing to "protect his family" (as always) and possibly assisting the US government in destroying Iranian terrorists in Venezuela. Yup, needing a villain worse than drug lords, they've brought in Middle Eastern terrorists for Casillas to defeat. It'a a gimmick to make Casillas legitimate: work with Uncle Sam to eradicate an Arab menace.

Even worse is if they have the character who is supposed hate him the most, the cop played by Carmen Villabos, also fall in love with him, which seems inevitable since all women featured on the show have to be part of his harem. The writers actually had them bantering last night like they were in some awful romantic comedy, with overstated "charged" staring into each other's eyes. The scenario of them handcuffed together is so contrived and stupid. REally, there's nobody in Mexico Carmen could phone to pick her up? She has to hitch a train?
 

El Senor

Another reason I don't buy the writers see Casillas as a villain is because he is always right.

There was a ridiculous scene last night that had him waxing philosophically about the poor and how corrupt politicians are the reason for their misery. When Carmen rightly tries to point out it's the violence caused by men like Casillas that is true misery, he quickly shuts her up by stating his point again, she is given no riposte, and the audience is supposed to be nodding their heads in agreement at the wisdom of their favorite drug lord.
 

Sneaky Two Shoes

Thank you for another great recap. I enjoyed reading it, as usual. I agree that , other than needing assistance
with his wheelchair, the general should be able to come
and go as he pleases. To me, he's the most intelligent
and sensible one in the bunch.

AnonGringa
 

Senor

RG
first I.want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to discuss el senor in an english setting,
I feel that the evilness of casillas is really up to personal perspective with no right or wrong answer however . Will try to explain why casillas is not a good narco but a trully evil man.
Good Narcos as shown by telemundo can be seen.in senora acero or camelia la Texana. These good narcos are characterized by having to have entered the business by an elaborate set of circumstances, killing by accident, or only killing really bad people, feeling great remorse for any kill, and having a heart of gold. Senora Acero felt disgusted when she found out her boss was using children as drug mules. Camelia felt great remorse at committing one.murder

Aurelio is not like that Now at the beginning of the first season the writters do try to portray him as justifiable however by the end of the first and the whole second season this is.not the case. Unlike the good narcos we see Aurellio kill, torture, dismember,rape, and emotionally abuse and betray the people around him notable crimes of his are
The torture and murder of marco mejias gf
The murder of monica the women who loved him
The murder of two of cousins who were deeply loyal to him
The responsibility for flooding his country mexico with drugs leading to a national epidemic
Rape of vallesteros
This is far being any good narco of telemundo.

You mention his supposite love for his family as being a redimable quality but I would argue that it is.not the case. He does.not love his family he is a psychopathic who wants to control all of them.
He could not kill his wife because he felt she belonged to him
He forced his son to get back in the business because he wanted to control his life this lead to his death. when ximenas second bf a brave a kind man wanted to help his daughter out he had him killed.
Aurellio is not shown to love his family just to want to control them. He does not.love or care about anyone chacorta told him that even
This season might have him work with the Us but.not out of regret but out of a desire to escape and continue manipulating people, plus hlas of now he.is allief.with the colombians an venezuelans and by extention the iranians

Granted I would hate it if the ballesteros falls for aurellio but if you read facebooo and twitter thats what the fans want

The blaming their.occupation on the government is a traditional theme in narco corridos
 

Senor
RG
are you gonna continue watching?
 

You forgot shooting his son's dog, or did he force his son
to do it- something like that anyway.


 

Tierra
AnonGringa- one of the things that bugs me about this show is the good characters letting other people walk all over them.
 

thats right force his son to shoot his dog
kill.father in law

this is not a good narco or gray character

Though its a bit disturbing that so many people idolize the real el senor de los cielos, he hasmany songs praising him even from before the novela began

https://youtu.be/b_tlybXSEpc

 

Sneaky Two Shoes

Yes, that is frustrating, especially so in the case of Sole.
I could understand it to a degree when she worked for
Caye, but now she doesn't have to take any bologna
from anyone.

After my last comment, I got to thinking that with all that
Del Junco money, they should buy the general one of
those specially equipped vans so he could drive himself
around and be more independent. AnonGringa
 

Was I ever WRONG about the general!! AnonGringa



 

CIELOS III

I'm just glad you guys are finally starting to talk about this show. I feel the talent has regressed tremendously from Season 1. We had Turco, Chacorta, Marco Mejia, El Letrudo, El Cabo, La Russa, Don Cleto just to name a few. But I will continue to watch as I am too invested in this series to completely drop it.

By way, most of the things exposed in the show are based on true beliefs i.e. the Mexican gov't being corrupt and the reason poverty exists in MX

-VRO
 

Does anyone else remember how Rocio is the reason Pablo and Veronica's relationship was discovered? How come Rocio is being painted as sympathetic now? Last night she fainted, and she was "starving". We all know what that means. Sigh. So tired of Rocio.
 

Avendia Brasil – Thursday and Friday

We are at the point where there were recaps of the daytime broadcast by Mads and others. I have edited and added to those in what is posted below.

Jorgito is staying at Tifón’s house after the engagement party.

Carmina gets Nina up in the middle of the night, pours wine on the floor and makes Nina start scrubbing it. She is sure that Nina has never scrubbed a floor before. Jorgito comes downstairs and sees what is going on. Then Tifón comes down and tells Carmina to go back to bed and leave Nina alone. What a witch Carmina is!

Jorgito gets knocked out in football practice and has a mild concussion. On doctor’s orders he has to stay overnight at home.

Tessalia has been lured to a room in a seedy hotel with the promise of a modeling contract. But it’s her creepy ex-novio, Yair, who holds her at knifepoint. He says if he can't have her no one can. When she doesn’t come back to the salon, Monalisa and Olenka become concerned. They call the place but no one answers.

Carlos Eduardo finds out that Noemia has discovered his relationship with Alexia. He goes to her place. She seems to accept his explanation but later decides to go out to a club by herself. Carlos goes to the club, tells Noemia that they are married till death do us part and practically drags her home.

After dinner Jorgito and Agatha come to the kitchen to thank Nina. Jorgito says that she could be the chef at a chi chi place in Rio and Agatha wants to be a chef just like Nina. Nina has to watch her step with Carmina so she doesn't encourage much conversation.

Jorgito goes sleepwalking again, this time out into traffic. Nina sees this, runs after him and saves him from being hit by a truck. Nina agrees not to tell anyone what happened and they have a nice conversation walking back to the house about their hard childhoods.

While they are out of the house, Janaina gets up, finds the door to the garden open and concludes that there is a burglar in the house. She alerts Tifón and the rest of the house. No burglar is found but Nina and Jorgito are missing and Nina’s computer was found in the garden. Carmina concludes that Nina kidnapped Jorgito and totally freaks out. Then Jorgito and Nina come back to the house. Jorgito can’t conceal the fact that he was sleepwalking but Nina lies and says that he didn’t leave the garden. Carmina totally changes her tune about Nina.

Diogenes confesses to Roni and Leandro that Suelen is keeping her job by blackmailing him with pictures of them together. Roni says that he will get the pictures back. Having found out that Suelen is terrified of toads, Roni and Leandro put a whole basketful of giant toads in the store bathroom. When Suelen shows up to work, Roni intentionally spills grape juice on her. When she goes up to the bathroom to clean up, they lock her in with the toads until she tells them where she has hidden the pictures. Roni goes and destroys all the evidence of Suelen’s tryst with Diogenes and Suelen is released from the bathroom and fired from her job. She vows revenge.

The next morning Jorgito leaves his parents’ house over Carmina’s protests that he shouldn’t be living alone with his sleepwalking problem. Jorgito says goodbye to Nina and gives her a copy of Gulliver’s Travels. He is obviously attracted to her and of course, she is still in love with him.

Nina goes to see Mama Lucinda at the tiradero. Nilo tells her that he knows that she is Rita. Nina is afraid that Nilo will out her to Carmina, but Lucinda tells her not to worry. Nina and Lucinda also talk about Jorgito and that Nina may be in love with him. Lucinda wants her to pursue him, but Nina won't since he has a girlfriend.

Monalisa and Olenka tell Leleco about Tessalia’s disappearance had he goes to Yair’s hotel room to look for her and busts the door down. Yair has a knife to Tessalia's throat and threatens to hurt her. He thinks Leleco is her amante.

 

Avenida
Many thanks, Jean, for your very skillful blending of the old recap with yours. You've provided a number of details missing from the older one.

I've realized that the older recaps don't follow our schedule--I mean, the recaps from one week overlap with what happens now over part of one week and part of the next. So in reading the older recaps, I found myself finding out things that won't happen now until sometime next week. So I am especially grateful to you for your willingness to blend your excellent recaps with parts of the relevant older ones.
 

Anonymous 7:14

I do remember Rocio "ratting out" Vero and Pablo. Please let us be spared from Ro being pregnant. I love
Vero and Pablo together.
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

TIERRA and CIELOS/SENOR COMMENTERS:

Please put the name of the tn your are posting about at the beginning of your comment.

There are still other tns being discussed here and there will probably be more that overlap.

This is directed mainly to an Anonymous poster who may not know it's a matter of courtesy to some of us who are single-tn watchers on Telemundo, but it's good advice and a reminder to everyone.
 

AVENIDA BRASIL

Jean--This was a work of art and hard work to blend your recap with someone elses. I'm with Juanita that I started to read the older recaps and found I was getting ahead of the story.

Nina certainly gets emotionally and physically rattled when Jorgito gets too close her (the exception being the walk back to the house from the highway). Surely at some point he will notice.

I think when they returned from their "walk," Nina told the folks waiting in the living room that they were gone so long because they were sitting on the corner talking.

Carminha's behavior is so over-the-top when it comes to Jorgito. Nina noticed. I think that's why she went to see Mama Lu right away, wanting to know what was up with the relationship between Carm and Jorgito. Mama Lu "blamed" his ending up with Tifon and Carminha because Max and Nils were in cahoots and she had to decide whether to let Jorgito have a better life, education, etc. or live out his life in the tiradero. I don't think Nina was convinced.

I think Nina figured out it was Zeze who salted the codfish dish. I was surprised Nina didn't taste it before she served it, but maybe she'd been distracted and did not suspect someone was going to sabotage it. Now, she knows!
 

Avenida
Anita, thanks for detailing the conversation between Nina and Mama Lucinda. There were several key points that I missed when I watched the novela.

Like you, I was surprised that Nina didn't taste the dish before she served it. I guess from now on she will.
 

AVENIDA BRASIL
Thanks so much for the recaps. I'm enjoying this tn immensely.
~ Wee Rita
 

Tierra
Fri recap coming
typing now
 

Tierra
Fri 4/24 part 1
This seems to be the episode of the boys getting force kissed for a change, instead of doing the force kissing, though they don’t seem to really mind that much.
I missed the very beginning so fill ins welcome

Sidepiece force kisses Arturo after confessing her “love” for him
Eventually Art breaks the kiss because he can’t love anyone but Sophia, and he won’t pretend he can return Sidepiece’s feelings. She protests that she can only love *him* and he should give her a chance since he might never see Sophia again. He hints at the planned Paris trip w/o actually telling her anything, but she leaves suspicious
Later Art tells Flavio Sidepiece declared her love – but Flavio thinks it doesn’t really matter ‘cause they’re going to Paris soon.

Pati makes her triumphant return to El P. Sam comes to watch and meet w/Valverde & some investors Valverde has dug up to invest in the Bank of Beatrice (henceforth BoB) (Also, isn’t El P a weird place to meet investors? Even if Valverde does own it, it seems like a bad place to hold a business meeting.)
Everyone is surprised to see Pati off her leash & wonders where Matamoros is – especially since she ends a song practically in Sam’s lap. Matamoros calls his 2nd in command to keep an eye on Pati till he can get there.
Pati wrangles a drink invite from Valverde and Sam excuses himself and tries to leave.

Caye turns Leo down – not because of Valverde, but because he’s her ex-yerno and what would people say.
Leo when alone swears Caye’s rejection won’t change his Mis Planes – he’ll marry her whether she likes it or not.
Pablo wants Rocio to see a doc about her fainting and she says she will if it happens again, but she looks like she’s seen a few telenovelas before and knows what it means too.
They try to start the talk again but Nieves interrupts to tell them the General is missing

@ El Pal the General accosts Sam to chew him out but Candela interrupts and then Pati grabs Sam to talk. Sam doesn’t want to and his name is Sr. Gallardo to her- but she insists she just wants a few seconds to talk and then she’ll leave him alone. He acquiesces, to everyone’s disapproval, but when Matamoros’ 2nd tries to stop him, Valverde’s henchie tells him Sam is protected by Valverde now so hands off.


 

Tierra
4/24 part 2
Nieves runs through the house shouting for Caye to tell her the General is missing. Leo thinks its no big deal, he’s probably just off somewhere reading poetry. Pablo says somebody saw him getting in a taxi & Caye freaks out like he’s three instead of 73 & chews out Nieves because he can’t be left alone.

@ El Pal Cande gets the whole bar singing las mananitas and Valverde opens a tab for the General on his account to the sound of ominous music.

Sidepiece expounds her strategy re Art to her supportive cuz. She has figured out that the boys probably know where to find the girls.

Sam tries to clarify to Pati that their relationship is over – there’s nothing between them now- but Pati won’t let it go& force kisses Sam, because he’s still the only man she loves and she’ll always be the love of his life. He shuts her down and walks out.

Vero calls Pablo to check that he’s broken up w/Rocio but he hasn’t been able to yet what with the fainting and losing the General.
Vero’s mom walks in as she’s hanging up and asks who she is talking to. Mom guesses right about it being a bf but guesses wrong about it being someone she would approve of, so she’s happy about it.
@El Pal
Sam tries to stop the General from drinking himself under the table with no success while Cande and Pati “sing” to the General. Things get rowdy and the General has some kind of attack. There is a doctor in the house but he seems pretty useless.
Caye comes in complaining and quickly moves to screaming when she sees her Papa open eyed and unconscious
They take him away in an ambulance, and Caye starts attacking (verbally) Cande, Sam and anybody else in her path. Valverde steps in and Caye heads to the hospital.

Vero, Mom & Dario arrive at the hospital and Dario asks if the girls have been told – no
The doc comes out and says the General may have suffered irreversible brain damabe and may never wake up.
Vero suggests they call the girls. Caye says yes – she wants them w/her now. Leo is not happy about that.

@ the ranch; Nieves blames herself and Pablo takes stuff to Caye. Rocio wants him to come straight back ‘cause they still have to have that talk.
Rocio tries to cheer Nieves up w/food ‘cause she (Rocio) is really hungry for some reason

End of episode \

 

Tierra
Anons - it does look like Rocio has a surprise for Pablo doesn't it :)

AnonGringa - I disagree. The fact that the Gen's trip to El P turned out badly doesn't change the fact that they shouldn't keep him encerrada in the ranch and treat him like a child.



 

Sneaky Two Shoes-Tierra

Thank you for the recap once again.

You're right about the general. I just felt pretty foolish for saying that he should be free to do as he pleased when
I saw the awful scene following his enjoyment of his
freedom. I was only thinking about his mobility issue
and had completely forgotten about his medication
and how sick he had been. AnonGringa
 

El senor de los cielos 3

Veracruz
we open up with Aurellio and leo surrounded by the mara gang, there leader demands that he hand over his wife. Aurellio says this is not is girl its a chota a cop, he has the leader break the hand cuff. but when there about to rape her aurelio knocks them out. colonel rajado and his band of expendables arrive and get into a fight with the mara. alot of no names die. vallesteros got a phone and called tim the cia agent but the call dropped Aurellio called erma but she refuse to help him, they escaped the expendables by jumping out of the train and of course walk away without a scratch
Meawhile in Mexico City
Victor jr meets with ruti and has her given him chemas nnumber. He calls and they set up a meeting
Also the comander of the colombian rebels and the iranian arrive in mexico city and meet with chema to discuss some uranian they want to move.

Also in mexico city presidential palace
We see two rival political faction
On one side its the current president and women who is.in favor of co operation with the us

On the other side we see the minister of defense who wants to excalate the war against drugs with no Us help

Veracruz
Aurelio and leo break into a house were leo tends to Aurelios wounds. Aurelio tells her women love him for being a caballero. Leo laughed at this telling him that he killed his own wife. This angers Aurellio who knocks leo on her back

Colombia
tijeras in prison takes the blame for the death of chacorta and chema turns back.on him

mexico city
El chema and victor jr meets but it could be a trap ut ends !!

If anyone has anu input or questions please ask !!



 

"Anonymous said...
Senor
RG
are you gonna continue watching?"

I watch the first two weeks of all new novelas, so I'm in for another week, mostly will be fast-forwarding through the episodes because I hate the show, not just the characters but I think the writing, acting, direction and editing all blow. Then I peek in from time to time after.

Thanks for your comments Anonymous about the show. I agree with most of your rundown about how evil the character is, I just don't think Telemundo, the writers or the majority of the show's fans see him that way. I think they see him as a hero who is superior to the alternatives: the corrupt politicians, treacherous military and rival drug lords. And this year, they are stacking the deck even further: is Casillas superior to nuclear annihilation from Iranian terrorists? It's a joke.

And now they even have him saving Carmen Villalobos's character's life. He's a narco-superman: the smartest character on the show, the best fighter, the best lover, and he'll keep us safe from the "real" bad guys: those damn Arabs.

The second to last scene in Friday's episode with Amaya and Villalobos hanging out together, so casual, like old friends chewing the fat, bantering away. I was waiting for them to do each others' toenails. In what universe do those two characters, with their past, sit down next to each other on a couch and reminisce about Casillas's love life? Villalobos's character seems borderline mentally challenged at this point.

(I find Carmen Villalobos a very hit and miss actress, but she's been absolutely terrible so far this season. And Fernanda Castillo has become a boring drip.)
 

Anonymous 4/29/15 6:59-El Senor 3

Thank you for the recap and for filling in some of the gaps for me. I will continue to watch although I agree
that it isn't as good as parts one and two. Sequels
usually aren't. I watch novelas purely for entertainment
and don't expect great drama or much connection to
reality. I certainly don't consider Aurelio anything close to
a hero.

AnonGringa
 

Tierra
AnonGringa - yeah you're right I forgot how sick he was too - it was just so nice to see him out having fun instead of moping around the house - at least for a few minutes
 

El senor de los cielos 3

thanks anonGringa uts good to know my reviews are helpful.
I will try and continue with them