Monday, May 23, 2016

Sueño de Amor (SdA) #54. Monday May 23, 2016. This Dream Has Turned Into A Nightmare!

Join my telenovela, he said. It won't get messy, he said.

At a glance 

-- Esperanza is diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer. Her wedding to Ricardo is cancelled. Booo!

A closer look 

At the bridal shop, Esperanza gets her new wedding dress and cries over her latest health crisis. She doesn't want to die and leave her children alone. Mother and daughter reconcile after their earlier spat. Still, Esperanza insists Pato’s engagement is a mistake that she is not prepared to cover up (solapar), and she is not going to change her mind just because she is worried about her biopsy results. 

At the tux rental place, Ricardo senses that something is wrong with Pedro. What’s going on? Pedro cites girl problems: Aranza thinks Pedro told Kristel about her rape and she is mad. 

At the constructora, Ernesto orders Murrillo to investigate Esperanza’s illness. 

At Ernesto’s pad, Kracy is pondering ways to disrupt Esperanza and Ricardo’s wedding. She considers arson, then gets her gun out and says out loud that she will shoot Esperanza between the eyes. The kids overhear her, she tells them to get lost. They talk about attending their father’s wedding, she says that she won’t allow it. 

Margarita accompanies Salma to the OB/GYN. In the waiting room, she reminisces about the time she was expecting Silvana. When she was younger, Margarita had a killer body and a figure as slender as the stem of a tuberose plant (delgadita como varita de nardo). However, when she got pregnant with her ingrate daughter, it looked as if she had swallowed a whole watermelon. Her tummy grew and grew, and because of her short stature, she ended up looking like a beach ball. Still, pregnancy is the loveliest thing. That's if you take away the vomiting, the nausea, the cravings (antojos), the weight gain of 30-40 kilos, the swollen feet, the stretch marks (estrías),... Salma doesn’t want to hear anymore traumatizing pregnancy talk. She gets excited when she receives a phone call from Kiko, and more so when she learns that he will be starting his therapy soon. 

At Casa Guerrero, Pedro explains to Aranza that he never betrayed her trust. Kristel is there too and she confirms that Pedro never told her anything. She just assumed that something pretty serious must have happened to Aranza and that she needed support. That’s all there was to it, no need to get hysterical. Aranza doesn’t like Kristel’s patronizing tone: “Hysterical? And how would you feel if you were raped?”. In any case, Aranza is grateful for the support and hospitality but she was aware all along that Pedro stood by her out of pity and that he is in love with Kristel. Pedro is indeed in love with Kristel, but he is also Aranza’s friend and he feels affection for her. Aranza thanks him for all the help he and his family gave her. She is now ready to face the world on her own. Her bags are packed to return to the guest house (casa de huéspedes) where she used to live. 

It’s the day before the boda, Ricardo is supervising the decoration of the church where the ceremony will take place. He excitedly phones Esperanza to let her know that the church is looking lovely for their big day. Esperanza informs him that they’re almost penniless and can’t afford a professional photographer. Fortunately, Aranza offered to take photos for them. Yay! Tomorrow will mark the start of a new era for them and everything is ready for the wedding of the century! Esperanza experiences another sharp pain in the stomach and attempts to hide it, but Ricardo senses something is wrong because she went silent for a few seconds. It’s just the wedding jitters, babes. Don’t worry about it! Esperanza is lying again to her beloved and it’s not cool. 

Kracy is trying to get ahold of hydrochloric acid (ácido muriático). According to Wikipedia, it’s “a clear, colorless, highly pungent solution of hydrogen chloride (HCl) in water”. This chemical compound has many industrial uses and has “a corrosive effect on human tissue, with the potential to damage respiratory organs, eyes, skin, and intestines irreversibly.” Why does a family-oriented “comic” telenovela, watched mostly by children and teenagers (check SdA’s official Facebook page), show an instance of erotic asphyxiation turning into attempted murder in the previous episode and a vicious acid attack being planned in this episode? The vendor asks Kracy why she needs the highly corrosive solution, and she replies: “To disfigure someone!” She starts laughing like a hyena and tells the vendor that she is only joking. She claims she needs the hydrochloric acid for some pipes that calcified. The vendor smiles and goes to get her order when he should have been pocket-dialing 911 instead. 

At the constructora, Murrillo informs his boss that Esperanza is seeing an oncologist, that her PET scan has shown tumors in the stomach and that the results of her biopsy are not out yet. Ernesto is very concerned that Esperanza may have cancer. 

Luca had just finished a meeting and was replaying the argument he had with Esperanza in his head when the lamest most pointless villain of this show slithered into the meeting room to ruin his day. Anastasia learnt that he proposed to Pato and she came to spew her venom and tell him she wants that engagement ring for herself. Because that’s what she aspired to ever since she met him, and for some mysterious reason, her delusional mind continues to feed that wild fantasy. Replay of almost every Anastasia-Luca scene. Leave me alone. I love you. You slept with my dad. I want you. Yada yada yada. We’ve heard it all before. 

At Instituto Palacios, Pedro, Kristel and Pato are on a bench talking about Aranza. Pato learns that her brother blabbed to his new girlfriend about their mother’s illness. Kristel promises not to say anything to Ricardo. 

At the rehab clinic, Adrián learns that he gets a day off to go to Esperanza’s wedding. He’s thrilled and he hopes to see Estrella there. 

It’s the big day but I’m not excited one bit because I know where this is going. There won’t be any boda today! Just bad news and tears, shattered dreams and tears, cancelled weddings and tears, vile villainies and tears... You know the drill. 

Luca and Adrián are ready to go the wedding and Viviana is shamelessly flouting the cardinal rule against upstaging the bride because she looks simply stunning. 

Kracy packs her criminal supplies into a purple vanity and heads out the door to ruin the boda. With the housekeeper’s help, Selena and Rodrigo call their dad to come pick them up. I don’t like his suit all that much, it’s a bit ill-fitting if you ask me. Besides, I think Ricardo needs a top hat. If you’re gonna look mildly silly for a special event, then you should go all the way. Top hat, cane, monocle, oversized boutonniere. The whole nine yards. 

At Casa Guerrero, the bride is impeccably coiffed and putting the finishing touches on her makeup. The limousine will pick her up in an hour. The oncologist calls to let her know that the results are not ready yet. 

At the hospital, Estrella feels guilty for leaving her brothers to attend the boda. They tell her to just go and have fun. Kiko asks her to give Esperanza a kiss on his behalf and wish her all the happiness in the world. 

The Alegría kids are ready and the coast is clear (no hay moros en la costa). The housekeeper is worried she might get into trouble for this little stunt, but Ricardo reassures her: “Just say the kids ran away and I took them”. Huh? How is this better than saying that the children’s father came to the house to pick them up? He asks the housekeeper where Kracy is but she doesn't know. Her loonies tracker is in the repair shop. Ricardo hopes Kracy isn’t planning some mischief to ruin his wedding. 

Kracy is right outside the church. She hides the bottle of acid in her trench coat and gleefully repeats to herself that just a few drops of this substance would turn Esperanza into a living zombie. 

Ernesto is staring out the window, looking very sad. Must he be shirtless to look sad? Not that I’m complaining, mind you. Oh no! He has just finished boinking that yucky fake blonde! Ewww! He says he has the blues because Esperanza is getting married today. His sorrow would be more believable if his naked body hadn’t just slid out of another woman’s bed. 

Esperanza looks spectacular in her wedding dress! The oncologist arrives with his wedding gift: Esperanza has stage 4 cancer! She must have her stomach removed and complete a course of chemotherapy. 80% of patients in a similar case to hers get 3 to 6 months left to live, tops. So, basically, after the surgery and chemo, Esperanza has a 20% survival rate. Lovely. Cheers, Doc.

Ricardo is driving his kids to the ceremony. They hum the wedding march he’ll never get to hear and recite the wedding vows he’ll never get to make. Ricardo is all smiles when he says the “I do” he’ll never get to say. This is all too sad. 

Outside the church, the guests are waiting for the wedding party to arrive. Adrián spots Estrella. They run towards each other in slo-mo and hug. Estrella’s dress is hideous but, man, everything about this girl is gorgeous, especially those long flowing luscious curls. #HairGoals 

Luca calls Pato to find out what’s holding them up and she tells him the bad news. Esperanza instructs her to insist that Luca keep this a secret from Ricardo. Pedro believes this isn’t important right now. “Ricadro IS the most important thing right now!”, retorts Esperanza. Luca informs Pato that Ricardo has just arrived, what should he say to him if he asks why Pato isn’t with Luca? “Tell him that I had a problem with my dress”, replies Pato. “It is important that nobody find out”, orders Esperanza, who seems to have gone into robotic mode. 

Viviana is glad to see Adrián so happy with Cometa/comet, errr, Estrella/star. Luca reminds her of all the horrible things she said about her before. Well, Viviana changed her mind and only a fool never changes his mind (es de sabios cambiar de opinión). 

Adrián gushes over Estrella and she thinks he looks good too, if a bit skinnier. He tells her he misses her. She reminds him that he wanted her to stay away from him. It’s because he didn't want to hurt her. Between this baby business and his alcohol issues, it was more than he could handle. Estrella understands and tells him that she sincerely hopes he is able to turn his life around. He moves in for a kiss but she hugs him instead. 

At Casa Manzanares, Margarita, Félix, Salma, Kristel and Mario are ready but they’re running a bit late. Salma hesitates to go because of her nausea but Mario reminds her of how supportive Esperanza has been to her lately. She complains that her boobs are getting bigger and that she is getting fatter. Margarita reassures her that she looks lovely, just like a princess. Kristel thought-bubbles: “I wonder what’s happening with Pedro’s mom”. 

Back at Casa Guerrero, the oncologist enumerates the many side effects of chemo. “And despite going through all of this, I might still die?”, asks Esperanza, resigned to her fate. The kids start crying. She puts her arms around them and says that the three of them must stay strong. The days ahead are going to be difficult and they have to face them with resolve. Besides, if this is God’s plan then they must accept it. They talk about chemo some more. Esperanza seems reluctant to undergo it, considering all the side effects and the low chance of survival. However, the doctor insists that, without chemo, Esperanza will kill any chance of survival and will have maximum three months to live. Esperanza believes she is in for a long and painful agony that she doesn’t want her children to witness. She will wither away (marchitar) slowly and the illness will consume her little by little until it’s time to say goodbye. This is all too sad. 

Outside the church, Luca gets a hug attack from Ricardo. The guy is so disgustingly happy and excited about his wedding, I really feel sorry for him. Iker walks past Estrella and gawks at her. “What’s up with this guy?” wonders Adrián. “Maybe he confused me with someone”, shrugs Estrella. Why are half the male characters on this show only interested in dating underaged or barely legal gals? Estrella and Adrián videochat with Kiko and Erasmo. Estrella spots Salma in the background and puts on her sourpuss face: “Well, something had to ruin the party!” Salma looks embarrassed. Kracy lurks behind the church door, wondering where Esperanza is. 

Back at Casa Guerrero, the doctor informs Esperanza that he’ll be waiting for her in his office first thing on Monday. They must start the treatment immediately. Esperanza doesn’t agree to the appointment, she just says she’ll call him later. Pedro thanks the doctor and accompanies him to the door. The music playing is recycled from the soundtrack of the unintentional comedy “La Madrastra”, starring the Queen of Tears, Victoria Ruffo. I know this because I occasionally watch “La Madrastra” on weekends. Yes, I know, I never learn my lesson. 

Esperanza decides to cancel the wedding but doesn't have the courtesy to notify the groom. Ricardo calls and calls but nobody answers. Esperanza instructs her kids to turn off their phones. How very juvenile! Esperanza loves Ricardo too much to turn him into her incredibly hot male nurse for her last days on this Earth. She doesn’t want him to suffer as he sees her get consumed by cancer. She loves Ricardo so much that she is willing to sacrifice her love, but she doesn’t love him enough to pick up a phone and avoid him the public humiliation of getting stood up at the altar. Eventually, Esperanza instructs Pedro to phone Ricardo and tell him to come to the house. She’ll talk to him alone. 

Esperanza goes into her room and cries her eyes out, as the portrait of la Virgen de la Paz looks on. “Why God? Why is this happening? How am I gonna leave my children alone?” Well, God saved you from a vicious acid attack by giving you cancer. You gotta see the glass half full. 

Outside the church, Ricardo is starting to panic when his cellphone finally rings. Pedro delivers the terrible news: Come to the house. Mom needs to talk. Go to the house now? Yep, the wedding is cancelled. 

A quote from the capítulo   

“Aunque no lo creas, yo era menudita así como tú, ¡cuerpazo! Delgadita como varita de nardo.”* 

*Margarita reminisces about her youthful hot body: “Believe it or not, I was thin just like you, with a killer body! Slender like the stem of a tuberose.”
 
Your viewing vocabulario   
(these definitions are context-specific, unless otherwise indicated) 

solapar = to cover up, to hide. 
delgado(a) / flaco(a) como vara de nardo = slender/skinny like the stem of a tuberose plant. 
antojos = cravings. 
estrías = stretch marks. 
casa de huéspedes = guest house. 
ácido muriático = hydrochloric acid. 
no hay moros en la costa = Lit. “There are no Moors on the coast”, in other words, the coast is clear. 
es de sabios cambiar de opinión = Lit. “It is characteristic of the wise to change their minds”. This expression is the Spanish equivalent of: Only a fool never changes his mind. 
marchitar = to wither, to wane, to dry up. 

Thank you for the pleasure of your company. Please join us again for the next capítulo. We’ll be saving you a seat!

Labels:


Comments:
Well, if you can't be entertaining, try being morbid! Juabbly Juan is getting more and more desperate and this "light" family comedy is becoming depressing!

Enjoy the recap and the discussion! Good night :)
 

Hello Everyone! Sorry to post this here but I didn't know where else to post it so I figured since this was the newest blog I'd have the best luck. I wanted to see who to email regarding maybe starting a discussion page on Amor de Barrio currently airing at 2pm if there's enough interest.

Thank you to anyone who can help! :)
 

Superalfie, any questions you have about the blog should be directed to the blog mom Jane. Her email is caray@mappamundi.com
 

Thanks so much, Jarifa!
 

Nandicta, thank you for this recap of this very disturbingly sad episode. Does she really have cancer or did la sombra pay someone to mess with these people. Cuz it just don't seem right. They are kept apart for 20 years, get back together and here's death seperating them? again? Smells cancerously fishy. I love a good love story. This one sucks. God saved her from hydrolic acid with cancer? Which is worst? No comparison!!!

Ok they really need to come up with a better happier storyline. This is suppoes to be a comedy, I don't see it. Maybe something will come up happy later. For now, good nite.
 

Nandicta, thank you for a wonderful reca of such a depressing episode. "Light family comedy,", eh? Honestly if I were not recapping, I would be out of here right now with the cancer plot. The rape was bad enough, but stage 4 cancer? Let us hope la Virgen performs a miracle.

Anyway, the bottom line is if Esperanza would have told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth she would have been getting married to Ricardo no matter what. Now with all of the lies, I think we all know how this is going to play out with a lot of boo hood and regrets.

Since when do oncologists make house calls? He at least could have come dressed as the grim reaper. Yes, that was supposed to be a funny.


 

One more thing . . .

Nandicta the caption with the photo is the best.
 

I hope Pedro gets a haircut before his mom dies. It would be tragic if that were the last way she saw him.

Murder, assault, rape, alcoholism, child abuse, cancer. Hey, gather around, kiddos, it's fun family comedy time! This show gets more and more twisted. If they kill off Esperanza I will probably stop watching entirely. I'm hoping it will turn out that La Sombra is messing with the tests and the stomachaches are Espe's ulcers telling her not to marry Ricardolt.

The show is low on fun, but "“Why God? Why is this happening? How am I gonna leave my children alone?” Well, God saved you from a vicious acid attack by giving you cancer. You gotta see the glass half full." made me laugh. Thanks for braving the storm to bring us the weather report, Nandicta!
 

Nandicta- Your photo and great caption drew me in to read the recap. Not watching the show, but am shocked nonetheless that it looks like the heroine is about to be killed off. Wow! No, this doesn't sound like light family fare at all!
 

Another glass half full is that she is finally losing some (a lot?) wright, LOL!

OK, Thanks for the recap, it was great!

So, remember when they were actually airing this novela in México with trueish dates because I think when Ricardo was dressed as a Marine they mentioned the date and it was close to the one of the airing, anywho, according to the invitation, the wedding will be on Sept. 1st. I don't know what year, because if it's 2016, the first falls on a Thursday, not Satuday.

So, on ''August 31'' Esperanza wrote on her little positive reaffirmation blackboard by her bedroom door: Dreams make us eternal.

Then, on ''Sept. 1st'' I could read: After a brief dream, we will wake up eternally.

Whaaaaaaaaatttttt? Is she also seeing the future? If that's I don't know, corny, what is?

Trivia: Check out Estrella love theme sung by America Sierra. Plays while Estrella was hugging Adrián outside church.
 

sorry, I meant ''weight''
 

Nandicta, your recap was excellent.

Appreciate your noting "Still, pregnancy is the loveliest thing. That's if you take away the vomiting, the nausea, the cravings (antojos), the weight gain of 30-40 kilos, the swollen feet, the stretch marks (estrías),... Your vocabulary was exceptional.

I don't have much to say today. I was very depressed during and after the episode. I can take sad - this was simply excruciating.

I'm just going to repeat some of the comments that made me smile in spite of everything, Nina's "Smells cancerously fishy" and Jarifa's "Since when do oncologists make house calls? He at least could have come dressed as the grim reaper."

As you noted Nandicta, "She will wither away (marchitar) slowly and the illness will consume her little by little until it’s time to say goodbye".

And Esperanza not telling Ricardo, leaving him at the alter, letting her son call him and cancel their lives? I hate the "dumbing down" of Esperanza as much as I despise the cancer.

Diana
 

Julia, I had your "I hope Pedro gets a haircut before his mom dies. It would be tragic if that were the last way she saw him" on my list. I lost it during the cut and paste.

Thank you.

Diana
 

OMG what? Couldn't help stopping by and see Nandicta still giving it hell.

If they were gonna give her cancer why stage 4 and not a bit more hope? Are we gonna see a love miracle performed by Tricky Rick? Or a convenient killin so Ricky can have a new love interest? Golly that Osorio is one sick puppy. I know, this can be a bucket list show and number 4 on Esperanza's list is to be a stripper.


 

Ooh, I like the idea of turning it into a bucket list show. Esperanza gets some painkillers that don't make her too loopy and goes around doing all the wild and fun and interesting things. Go ahead and rack up a ton of credit card debt, Espe! It doesn't matter anymore! No rapes or stooges or assaults or stalking! Go hot air ballooning! Swim with dolphins! Travel around the world! Eat at the fanciest places! Lounge in a beach chair while Ricardo does his exercise routine in front of you in the sand!
 

I love the bucket list idea!
 

What happened to her dream of opening the school?
 

"What happened to her dream of opening the school?"

Tricky Ricky happened
 

I agree, Vivi - Tricky Ricky happened, but also, Osorio happened.
 

She realized she couldn't run a school competing with government-sponsored schooling with no funding?
 

Hey Patio Pals! Thanks for stopping by and brightening this awful episode with your witty comments!

-- Nina: Everything Osorio touches becomes "cancerously fishy". His light comedies always turn disturbingly dark and he seems to derive great pleasure from torturing the leads until the bitter end (I find that he and Angelli Nesma are particularly sadistic in the treatment of their protas). However, I believe Osorio has really overstepped the mark with SdA, the more desperate he gets the more eager he becomes to pursue disturbing half-cooked plots. I even read that he's gonna make Betty Monroe shave her head. I read in several sources and I really hope it's just a rumor. Marjorie de Sousa's integration to the cast is not producing the ratings boost Osorio was hoping for (we all predicted it here on the Patio), so he's getting desperate for viewers to tune in, if only out of morbid voyeurism.

-- Jarifa: "Honestly if I were not recapping, I would be out of here right now with the cancer plot". I hear you, sister! I have to fight the urge to bang my head against the wall before watching these episodes because, really, having seen "Porque El Amor Manda" and having barely made it through "Mi Corazón Es Tuyo" (despite extensive fastforwarding), I should've known better! I had foresworn anything Osorio after MCET but I was baited by Cristián de la Fuente's participation in this clunker. Now I can't even stand to look at Cris because his character stinks, his acting leaves much to be desired and I frankly resent him for making me watch this! OK, it's not really the guy's fault but, just like Osorio, I need to blame someone other than myself for my own mistakes.

-- Julia: You are so right about Pedro's urgent need for a haircut! That man-bun has got to go! I can't tell you how many times I fantasized that a hand holding a pair of scissors would just swoop in during one of Pedro's scenes and snip that hideous hair appendage. And yes to all of your suggestions for the bucket list idea that Tofie gave us!

-- Vivi: Thanks for popping in to say hi and commiserate with us. If you ever hear me again say that I intend to watch an Osorio novela, please stage an intervention!

 

-- Pablo: I noticed the drastic weight loss too. I hope Osorio isn't keeping the poor lady in a cage, feeding her a celery stick every 3 hours. Poor poor Betty! She must rue the day she ever thought of leaving Azteca!

That's a sharp observation about the dates. The production team has dropped the ball on so many things, what's another screw-up, eh?

I wanted to mention those scribbled dream-themed quotes on the little blackboard in Esperanza's room but I couldn't understand what they meant. I mean, I understood the words but when you put them together, they don't make sense. It's like those abstract phrases you sometimes get in inspirational calendars or in fortune cookies. "After a brief dream, we will wake up eternally." Huh?

-- Diana: Glad you enjoyed that scene between Margarita and Salma about the joys of pregnancy. I did too. It was the only thing mildly entertaining in this recap. The rest was just cheap over-the-top drama. I can do sad, I can handle it when it's done with truthfulness and not just out of macabre sensationalism. The scenes of Dani's death and funeral in PyP were excellent. Heart-wrenching but brilliantly done. The scene where Julia finds out the truth about Franco was a masterful scene, so sad and emotionally charged I had a lump in my throat the whole time. The actors were actually crying, Colunga's eyes were red several scenes later. Osorio, on the other hand, plasters glycerin tears on his actors' faces and overuses slow-motion (crying grimaces in slo-mo, hugging in slo-mo, collapsing to the floor in slo-mo), that coupled with the corny dialogue and over-dramatic music makes the end result frankly risible.

-- Tofie: Good to see you! We missed you and your zingers!
"Golly that Osorio is one sick puppy" "Tricky Ricky happened" Very funny and very true! I love your bucket list idea! We could implement it here in the Patio. After every episode, we can each suggest one thing Esperanza should do for the day. Item 1 to cross off Espe's bucket list: Light those Spanx on fire!

-- Anon@6:46: Welcome to our little patio of long-suffering SdA viewers! Please choose a screen name and join the fun! A famous Spanish expression says "all griefs with bread are less" ("Las penas con pan son menos"), but I say, in the case of SdA, "all griefs with good company are less". Thank goodness for this group of commenters!

 

-- Diana: I meant to say that the pregnancy talk was the only thing mildly entertaining in this *episode.
 

Nandicta - the screenshot and caption caught my eye and my sense of humor. LOL. Stage 4 cancer, eh? Maybe Ricky can do what William Levy did in CCEA. Get a medical degree in oncology, operate in Esperanza, and save her life.

OTH, maybe this will all be a bad dream, a la Bobby Ewing.
 

Yeah I like that bobby ewing dream idea. Ricky is aslepp the morning of the wedding, he wakes up does a jerky shaky thing and goes "I gotta stop watchin reruns of dallas without the cc3 turned on". I think it was pam that had the dream.
Still what a nightmare. Cancer, acid, and jr in the same dream. This ocorio guy ( I don't think I spelled his name right I'll check later) has a very weird idea of what comedy is.
 

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