La Heredera                                 The “Rant” [ re TV Azteca 13 Broadcast]   May 18, 2004 – August 11, 2004; Oct. 2004

 

Mexico (TV Azteca) May 17 -21, 2004 -

USA (Azteca America)  Aug. 2, 2004 – April 8, 2005

 

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These occasional “rants” started by Cristine on the TW forum  and “comments” from Carmen del Pilar about the episodes of the novela are like mini-summaries – but with a point of view.  Responses are included when they seem to add additional information about the episode. You may share them, but you may not sell them or include them in anything you sell. In addition, you must give credit to the authors and to Telenovela-World (for the collection).

 

A informação nesta página pode distribuir-se, mas sem cobrar por ela. Além disso, deve dar reconhecimento a www.telenovela-world.com e incluir todas as fontes.

Sources/fuentes:  Telenovela-World (www.telenovela-world.com)  

TVA = TV Azteca 13 date

Please send additions, changes, corrections to diane@telenovela-world.com/ Por favor, envia adiciónes, cambios o correcciónes a diane@telenovela-world.com.

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THE “RANT” and COMMENTS

 

     My rant about last night's episode (In Spanish) [TVA, 5/18/04] Author: Christine  Date:   05-19-04 11:53 PDT

     Me parecio un poco lento pero era de esperarse despues del capitulazo que se echaron anoche. En fin aqui van mis comentarios del capitulo de esta noche:

     -Lauro como todo un desgraciado ya anda tomando decisiones sobre los negocios de Don Julian. El pobre viejo no se ha muerto todavia y el ya se cree el rey!

     -La quimica entra Silvia Navarro y Sergio Basañez me encanta! Aun cuando estaban discutiendo se veian preciosos jaja Maria Claudia parece niña caprichosa algo asi como mi querida Paloma en "Cuando Seas Mia". Que no se dejaba de nadie.

     - El secuestro del hijo de La Chata (es la misma que se escapo de la policia en el capitulo inicial no?) estuvo un poco fuerte. Sera que los mismos que la ayudaron a ella con el trafico de armas lo secuestraron?

     -Lorena (Aylin Mujica) parece que es alcoholica y pastillera jaja. Ademas de que tiene algo que ver con el tal Salomon (la mano derecha de Lauro)...de seguro le surte las pastillas?

     -Hablando de Salomon que hombre tan abusivo. Me dieron ganas de meterme en la TV y darle un par de cachetadas y una dosis de ubicatex para que respetara a su madre. Entiendo que se sienta celoso de que ella quiera mucho a los Madero y a Maria Claudia pero no era para que le insinuara que era una cualquiera. (Al menos asi lo entendi yo). Podra ser que ella tuvo algo que ver con Don Julian y el tal Salomon en un Madero?

     -Dulce (Julieta Egurrola) parece como dije en el tema anterior...tuvo talvez un amorio o una relacion con Don Julian. Se que ya plantie la hipotesis de que Salomon sea hijo de Don Julian pero podra ser que Dionision (Juan Manuel Bernal) sea su hijo? Ya que para haber amado tanto a Julian como dice Dulce lo odia.

     -Kauris (Andrea Noli) la policia como que se esta tomando muy en serio ir tras La Chata. No se si el tipo que estaba interrogando se murio o no pero Wow! Como lo trato!

     -Tambien note que las hermanas Madero Grimaldi (Maria Claudia y Lorena) son un par de rompexorazones. Tuve la impresion de que el muchacho que llego al hospital a hablar con Lorena despues de que se fue Salomon sienta algo por ella. Otro que anda enamorado es Santiago (Bruno Bichir) que solo hablaba maravillas de Maria Claudia.

     -Por ultimo excelente la direccion de las camaras y las locaciones. Me gustaron las escenas en la selva...hasta llegue a pensar que veia "Mariana de la Noche" (bueno casi!). Esa ultima escena estuvo excelente con dos escenas en una. Maria Claudia histerica y Don Julian en el hospital.

     Muy conmovedora la escena donde Gabriela (Margarita Gralia) se acuerda de cuando Julian (Guillermo Murray) le propone matrimonio.

     -Las cortinillas excelentes. Aunque me recuerdan un poco a las de "Amar Otra Vez" y "El Derecho de Nacer" con eso de que congelan la escena muy original con el fondo negro y que achiquitan un poco la escena congelada.

     Bueno eso es todo por ahora. Para los que ven la telenovela agreguen sus comentarios.

      Keep ranting, Christine – you’re preaching to the choir! Author: Janet  Date:   05-19-04 14:28 PDT

     Agreed that last night’s episode was a little slower, but for completely selfish reasons I was glad – I’m new to Dish and ended up having to call customer service to get my picture back, so I missed the first 10 to 15 minutes…

     As for Silvia and Sergio, in spite of the somewhat dire circumstances, I loved that there was room for a touch of playful interaction. Sadly for co-pilot dude, I pretty much knew he was toast as soon as I figured the plane was going to crash – how else would Silvia and Sergio’s characters bond under duress? Sure Maria Claudia and Antonio are somewhat stressed, but I love the banter between our somewhat spoiled, rich girl and the practical (but fun-loving - I saw him smile!) pilot – it reminds me of those ‘30s movies, where you get the sparring between a pair where they are obviously attracted to each other – Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in “It Happened One Night”? Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant in “The Philadelphia Story”? Or even Delores Del Rio and her pilot dude in “Flying Down to Rio”? Sure it’s a formula, but it’s a great formula when well done and so much more interesting than having to put up with two people who constantly say “Te quiero con todo mi alma” over and over… There’s still so much chemistry with Silvia and Sergio, and what with being thrown together under stressful circumstances, and a bit of playful antagonism and snappy dialogue with some comedic touches (and yes, the monkey scene was pretty funny), it looks like the romance will be fun to watch..

     And looks like you’ve nailed down Lorena – I bet she’ll be a wild card in this novela, because it just seems you can never tell whose side addicts will end up on… I am curious as to what exactly is the extent of her relationship with Solomon. And the actor who plays Solomon? Now I have another new Azteca guy to drool over (yeah, I know he’s a badie put sometimes I go for those types)… I had the same suspicions as you about Solomon and his mom and their possible ties to Don Julian…

     And of course you know I’ll agree with you about the camera work and the direction on this novela – so far, both episodes have ended with the juxtapositions of what’s going on with Maria Claudia and what’s happening at the hospital with her father – not only is it artistically satisfying and links us back to what’s going on in the parallel stories, but it also is a rather effective technique (in a more subtle, “sneaks up on you” sort of way) of emphasizing what I assume is a close bond between Maria Claudia and her father…

     It seems that we’re starting to get to know all the various characters and how they’re all linked, and even though it goes without saying I’m looking forward to tonight…I’m glad, Christine, that you’re able to watch via Internet, love your comments, and look forward to what anyone has to say about the novela – it should be good…

         Re: Keep ranting, Christine – you’re preaching to the choir! Author: Christine  Date:   05-19-04 20:39 PDT

          I have a thing for Salomon too..I'm a masochist I think. LOL Guy who Lorena was talking to after Salomon left was cute too.

          I'm glad I can share this novela with you too Janet. We hadn't been passionate about one since CSM.

         Christine, you're right on! Author:  Date:   05-20-04 15:40 PDT

          I vote for the guy who came on after Sal left, I'm sure he won't end up in jail for a crime he was in on, LOL!

          I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering if Salomon is Don Julian's child? Or Dionisio? It would be a trip if either were, that's for sure! Can you see Lauro welcoming his gay brother with open arms, LOL? Or howsabout if Sal and Lauro are eeevil brothers? I think Octavio will be on Maria Claudia's side in the good vs. evil battle but what about Lorena? Will she awaken long enough from her drug-induced stupor to figure out what's going on? She'll have to double her dose of pills when she finds out she was kissin' on her brother, ICK!

     *~*~Spreading BennyMania One Person at a Time~*~*

         Re: Christine, you're right on! Author: Christine  Date:   05-20-04 18:15 PDT

          The out of wedlock child is a regular cliché in novelas and bothers me sometimes but I don't think it would here. My guess is they're both Madero kids, but I'm leaning more towards Dionisio at the moment. That diva faceoff between Gabriela and Dulce left me wanting more. There's a history there and it has to do with Dulce's love of Julian and their history.

          I can just imagine Lauro's shock if Dionisio is his brother. My guess is he'd never accept him and would try and make the other members of the family hate him (I can see him brainwashing Gabriela just becaus D is Dulce's son).

          Lorena needs to OD already...I'm sick of her and her comments. I love Aylin Mujica's portrayal of her though, she can play an airhead well. LOL

          Octavio is definitely on Maria Claudia's side but Lore I'm not so sure. She seems to only be interested in money and superficla things so Lauro will probably buy her off.

 

 

www.telenovela-world.com: The Rant: Episode 4 Author: Christine  Date:   05-21-04 00:32 PDT

     -Loved the Sergio and Silvia scenes. (Don't I always?) I liked how we got to know a little more of Maria Claudia. I found it cute that Antonio asked her what age she had her first boyfriend. I could actually feel MC's worry when Antonio started feeling sick and started geting delirious.

     -Aha! OK so I'm almost 75% sure that Dionisio is really Julian's son and not Dulce's ex-husband. The conversation she had with the priest about a secret and the love/hate she still feels for Julian tipped me off.

     -Those Madero kids sure are sweet huh? Lorena and Lauro lived their normal lives as if NOTHING was happening. I was pretty ticked they just left poor Gabriela alone at the Hospital.

     -Lorena seems to love having a drink at work. She needs to drop the diva attitude having money does not make her superior. If I were her co-workers I'd quit on her.

     -Chata finally rescued her son and got to shoot a gun too. She seems to love that gun it seems... I'm not sure if she was so nervous she didn't notice at first she was being followed but glad she lost 'em!

     -Dionisio is starting to suspect that obsession his mother has with the Madero's isn't normal. Good going!

     -Hm..Fermin ended up dead for trying to get money out of Lauro and Salomon. WHat I want to know is how did that all come about, and why didn't Salomon and Lauro discuss that today?

     -I felt bad for Antonio still being haunted over killing one of his own in the Gulf War. I think what he did was honorable and Miss MC sure thought so too. He only followed an order.

     -It was cute to see Octavio worried about MC and asking Angel about Antonio. He's the best brother out of the Madero bunch it seems because L&L are a piece of work.

     -Lorena has feelings! I frankly didn't think she had any good ones in there. I'll admit she kind of won me over when she was talking to her dad. We kind of got an insight into why she is the way she is, seems she thinks she's the black sheep of the family and has gotten in trouble too much.

     -La Chata has a name! (Aranza). I was pretty shocked to hear her son is Antonio's. I don't think he knows she's into the weapon smuggling.

     I don't know if it was just me but I felt like tonight's episode was a little choppy. It could be because I didn't see the intro and after 3 days I got used to seeing it. Ok enough ranting for tonight...lol

         Re: The Rant: Episode 4 Author: Jayde  Date:   05-21-04 12:26 PDT

     Christine, I love your rants!

     What a twist with Aranza and her son, huh? I guess they aren't making Antonio's old flame a "sit-down-and-shut-up sufrida". What a contrast to MC. Hmmmm...I'm not sure I'd like to face-off with Aranza for Antonio, LOL. La Chata: "He's mine" (cocks gun) MC: "okay" (runs...er hobbles until her leg heals)

     I wonder what color Lorena's outfit will be tonight? She wore the pink for the first three days and we got the blue last night. Maybe she'll finish out the week with it. I bet the next one will be yellow. I'd like to know where she gets her flask because as much as she keeps swiggin', it never seems to empty. Or maybe I've missed a scene or two showing her giving it a refill? I did get a little sniffly when she was talking to Julian and I guess it could be a little difficult being Lorena. She's not a male so she won't have a hand in THE business. She's not "perfect" like MC so she doesn't win everyone's hearts. It's like everyone sees her as sort of shallow and brainless because she likes nice clothes and trips to the salon - so let's let her run the fashion biz- but she feels that inside she has more than that to offer. But she's trapped herself and doesn't know how to get out. Or am I reading too much into Lorena, LOL?

     Christine, I agree about the Silvia/Sergio scenes. Azteca definitely knew what they were doing in bringing them back together. The little things, the looks, the way they interact (touch) each other, these are things that I think seem so perfectly done precisely because Serg and Chivis know each other so well. When Antonio was asking MC about her boyfriend, the smile went to his eyes...absolutely adorable! And poor MC dealing with Antonio's fiebre and delirium...Silvia was brilliant in last night's episode. I'm sure that Sergio had to actually work harder to seem more convincing (as far as acting went) but Silvia was almost acting all by herself and she was impressive.

     I also agree about Octavio and Tio - I love Angel's confidence in Antonio. I also love that we get little bits about MC and Antonio without them having to say it or show it. What Angel has been saying about Antonio is exactly what we see in his interaction with Maria Claudia. He's a complete gentleman and he wins my heart without even trying. Love MC's spunk and courage. She's such a contrast to Lorena, isn't she? The slightest flutter and Lore's chugging and drugging, MC gets in a plane crash and she's going to tough it out. Could you see if the places were reversed? MC would already be out tramping through the selva to find her sister!

     Glad to see Gabriela got a chance to change clothes! That suit didn't look very comfortable to be sleeping on the sofa in. I would love to see her in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt with a bag full of novels, revistas and snacks (ready for the long haul) but we know that's not gonna happen. When my husband had surgery that's what I wore!

     This episode was a little shorter than the others (41 minutes I think) and it did feel a little choppy -if you mean it jumped from scene to scene to scene a lot?

     Again, Christine, great rant! Please keep 'em coming.

     *~*~Spreading BennyMania One Person at a Time~*~*

         Re: The Rant: Episode 4 Author: Janet  Date:   05-21-04 12:47 PDT

     I also noticed the episode was a bit shorter, and maybe choppy... and if I'm not mistaken, Azteca's summary for Episode 4 goes beyond the point where the episode actually ended last night - I wonder if there were some last minute editing changes? And I assume we'll get the rest of what was in the summary tonight - as you know Azteca wouldn't dare shortchange such loyal fans such as us, right? hmmm?

     I'm hecka-busy at work today (slang nostalgia - I used to love it when a grown-up German friend of mine started peppering her conversation with a lot of "heckas" - I guess that came from hanging out too long on a California college campus?), but I've loved reading "The Rant" and "A Rant on The Rant"; and to be honest I'm just bursting to rant on as well - so for now I'll only say how good Silvia was in her scenes last night, reminding me once again why she's my absolute fave protagonista - some just cry prettily, but Silvia takes me with her through every anguished moment she feels..I'll post more as soon as I can...

         Re: The Rant: Episode 4 Author: Christine  Date:   05-21-04 19:29 PDT

     I noticed that about the summary, where was Aranza's accident and when the hell did Lauro meet Linda?

     I hope we get all that tonight.

     Janet I hope all is well. I've been pretty busy too (I have stayed up until 12-1am watching this) and it's turning me into an insomniac but in a good way. lol

         Re: The Rant: Episode 4 Author: Christine  Date:   05-21-04 19:27 PDT

     Yeah they kept jumping from scene to scene and felt like I was missing something. Glad to know I wasn't the only one who noticed it.

     The Aranza twist I wasn't expecting...I wasn't expecting the Gulf war past either.

     I've come to think that Lorena is a coward. My guess is Julian always talked her down because she wasn't like Maria Claudia. (I always feel like calling her Marcia or Maria Clara ay ay ay!)

         Thank you! Author: CarmenDelPilar  Date:   05-21-04 12:54 PDT

     The more I read and watch the episode on the Internet, the more hooked I am on this novela.....and now even more so that I just realized that Maria Claudia is Silvia Navarro who also played Catalina in "Catalina y Sebastian", a novela I enjoyed for the chemistry of the main couple!!!

     But geez, Silvia looks sooooooooooooooo different I hardly recognized her!!!

     I'm so anxious to get TV Azteca on tv that I'm trying to figure out what alternatives I have to getting the signal in my town (Long Island, NY)

     Does anybody know?

     Carmen Del Pilar

         Dish Network! Author: Jayde  Date:   05-22-04 10:15 PDT

     Hi Carmen - I moved to Oklahoma from Washington state and no way in heck was I going to be able to see all of my shows if I didn't have satellite (plus, where we live now is so far out we don't even have the option of cable!). Either place simply doesn't have the wonderful selection of spanish-language channels that you'd see in NY, CA or FL. :-(( Even though we now supposedly have Azteca America here in OK, the signal's so weak that if you don't live right on top of the transmitting tower you won't see it <g>

     I got Dish Network many moons ago and was thrilled when they added Azteca 13. Otherwise I would have missed gems like Cuando Seas Mia, La Duda and La Heredera. I've never regretted getting Dish Network and even if it didn't offer other fantastic Spanish-language channels (TVChile, TVColombia, Telefutura -which isn't local in OK, HITN, etc) I would keep it for Azteca 13 alone.

     So if you're absolutely desperate to have Azteca 13, I would suggest getting Dish Network satellite. As far as I know, it's the only way to see Azteca programming direct from Mexico without having to wait for it on Azteca America.

     *~*~Spreading BennyMania One Person at a Time~*~*

         Re: The Rant: Episode 4 Author: Janet  Date:   05-21-04 18:06 PDT

          Christine – as for Fermin ending up dead – wasn’t there some sort of subtle exhange of conversation the day before when Salomon said something to Lauro about Fermin (he’s the “regular” pilot dude, right?) being afraid, and Lauro saying that Salomon would have to do something about “getting rid” of that fear? I pretty much figured that was the order to kill – very subtle….

     How did I miss the bit about Aranza’s son being Antonio’s?! You leave the room for one minute to make tea… I am really curious about Aranza – it certainly doesn’t look like she’s into arms trading for the money – perhaps it’s ideological – is she helping out some rebel group or an oppressed group in some country? I thought I heard the cops discussing this a bit, but I’ve already forgotten…Or maybe she’s actually really deep undercover? All the gun stuff gets a little scary, but I’m definitely curious about her story, especially now that she's so linked to Antonio.

     And I’ll have to agree, Christine – I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Dionisio is Julian’s son. That sure would make for interesting family dynamics as the truth comes out.

     And as of this moment, I’m officially pegging Lorena as the Madero-Grimaldi wild card (sort of like Gloria Peralta in her CSM role as "the other woman" Marcia) – she does seem be the selfish, spoiled daughter who’s a bit of a bad girl and definitely has the addiction thing going on, but she really does have feelings…I’m suspecting that by the end she’ll pull through, but only after quite a few twists…

     And Jayde! I’m happy to see you’ve started the official Lorena Fashion Watch! I may just have to watch all the eppies a second time just so I can pay the attention that all the fashion this novela deserves – we have such a plethora of great outfits, cool ‘dos, and trendy accessories – any self-respecting graphic designer would be righteously jealous of Dionisio’s specs. It’s just that there’s a lot going on, and I’m all a-flutter going along on the big wave of emotions at first viewing, that I don’t even get the chance to breathe and take in important things like fashion!

 

www.telenovela-world.com:  The Rant Wednesday Edition Author: Christine  Date:   05-26-04 23:51 PDT

     -Those kisses!! They left me wanting more! I love those two together and how certain MC was they were going to see each other again.

     -Kauris seems to be making the rounds lately. Last night it was Dulce and tonight it was Lauro, she sure does get around. She's very perceptive since she did notice that bodyguard's gun was the same caliber as the one who kiled Fermin and his lover. It made Lauro uneasy that's for sure.

     -Fabian the sleaze ball is back. I'm glad Linda didn't go with him, and stood her ground. Typical machista attitude from that piece of trash. Glad she made it clear she isn't going anywhere hehe hope this is the last we see of this s.o.b.

     -Gabriela's two friends need to be slapped. You'd think they'd be more considerate of all she's been through and leave the fund business out of the Hospital. Typical rich women who only care about what people say, that was made clear when they told on Lorena.

     -Loved Lorena's outfit tonight..it was BRIGHT lol. Lauro sure is sneaky asking her if she really thought Julian could still run MaGri. Why does he blame it all on Felipe? It's all HIS idea and cutie is just an innocent bystander. Lorena didn't seem very convinced, I hope she doesn't tell Octavio that Lauro needs his vote. But of course since there's money involved she went for it.

     -Lauro was very slick reporting Kauris. I had a feeling he'd do it since he was REALLY intimidated by her. Kauris better watch her back because if not they'll take her off the case.

     -What was up with Antonio indirectly blaming Angel for the malfunction of the plane? I understand he's paranoid because of his memories of the war but don't over do it! I'm glad he took it back though. Antonio is pretty smart! He pieced two and two together and figured out that the accident wasn't meant for MC but Don Julian.

     -Linda set her eyes on Octavio. I can see where this is going, Lauro vs Octavio for the beautiful woman.

     -Osiris really thought that Lauro was gonna end up marrying her huh? Does she not see what kind of a person he is? I'm surprised she didn't slap him when he called her a prostitute to her face. I'm glad we didn't see much of him forcing himself on her. Kudos to Azteca for making that as brief as possible.

     -I teared up a bit during the MC/Gabriela reunion. Chivis and Margarita Gralia were excellent as was Aylin Mujica. Ahhh Chivis got to hug Felipe! (Ok I'm jealous!) I really got teary eyed with Eulalia saw MC. I wish I had a nana like that.

     -Loved the conversation between Julian and Octavio. What a difference from the way he talks to Lauro. Could be because Octavio is more of a free spirit instead of being dependent on everyone like Lauro.

     -Maria Claudia traumatized? I seriously doubt it, she seems pretty normal to me. Especially after all she's been through.

     -Lorena seemed pretty ticked off because of all the attention MC got. I wish MC would tell her that everyone loves her (Lore) too.

     -Ok I take back what I said about MC being normal. She was pretty shaken up when she was talking to Gabriela and Lorena about the ordeal.

     -Salomon the snake kissing *ss with Julian!

     -If I loved the Gaby/MC reunion you can imagine how I felt about the Julian/MC one. I'm glad she told him she's gonna be ok. Good for MC that didn't tell her dad all that happened, that would only make him stress out and would make him fall ill again.

     -Foreshadowing? He laid it all out for MC and I hope she got the message. She's the Heredera and once Lauro and Salomon find out all hell will break loose.

     -Who was Dulce taling to on the phone? and why does she want them buying stock from MaGri? Could it be that she's planning to bug Gaby with it?

     -Ok and here I thought Dulce was the only one who had lost her ethic. Looks like her son Dionisio isn't far behind.

     -How did Aranza's kid get sick?

     -After seeing that flashback of Dulce and the Priest I am convinced that Dionisio is Julian's son.

     Ok there was 2 cutie (Felipe) sightings..maybe as time goes by we'll get more.

     Janet, Jayde and everyone else feel free to add your comments.

         Re: The Rant Wednesday Edition Author: CarmenDelPilar  Date:   05-27-04 11:28 PDT

          I couldn't watch it last night so I sneaked a preview during my lunch break and right now I have the biggest smile on my face (lol!!!)....those kisses were oh so delicious....I must confess I watch it 3 times!!! Thank God for Internet access!!!!

          Lauro was so ruthless with Osiris. This guy plays a great bad guy!

          As for Dulce, like her character's description is heavily involved with playing the stock market. My guess is that she's trying to use her paper to bring the Magri stock down so she could purchase and gain some influence in the company.

          I'm really enjoying the Kauris and Aranza characters. For once I see more than one intelligent, strong and confident female characters who do not rely on anyone but themselves....

          Looking forward to more MC and Antonio scenes together!!!!

          Carmen Del Pilar

         Re: The Rant Wednesday Edition Author: Christine  Date:   05-27-04 11:43 PDT

          I get this dumb look on my face when Chivis and Antonio come on the scene. LOL

          Lauro is ruthless and trust me you've seen nothing yet, if my fear is true Maria Clau will get the control of MaGri and Lauro will go full on against her.

          That's why I like Azteca so much. They don't always make women look weak (like the Ortiz Murillo women on BLMP) and always make them independent.

              Re: The Rant Wednesday Edition Author: CarmenDelPilar  Date:   05-27-04 12:49 PDT

          I just watched it yet again!!!!...the first 45 seconds that is...lol!

          "Me voy segura de que nos vamos a volver a ver..(kiss)"...ohhhhh!! (Her words were so confident......)

          Carmen Del Pilar

 

www.telenovela-world.com: The Rant: Thursday Author: Christine  Date:   05-28-04 00:25 PDT

     -Wasn't that brave of Felipe to talk to MC about his feelings? He's so adorable! Ok Christine stop! It's only a novela. I'm kind of glad MC shot him down though, so he sees that she's interested in someone else (Antonio) and then maybe he can come to the states and look for me.

     -Lorena played Octavio like a fiddle. Looks like Lauro's gonna get the position he wants.

     -Santiago finally admitted he has feelings for MC. Wonder what Dulce will say when she finds out.

     -Poor innocent Gabriela, fooled by her own son. If I was her I'd ask what the meeting was about before agreein to let him use my vote.

     -Who was the man Aranza got money from? I'm not good with names but this is the first time I see him. Could he be that Señor X she mentioned a while back?

     -First time I see Dulce and her two sons together. Loved how Santiago called Dulce out on her lack of ethic for publishing that fake article about Julian. Of course she struck back and threw the fact that he want to look for MC in the jungle right in his face.

     -Seeing Octavio at the racetrack reminded me of Ernesto D'Alessio's character on BLMP. Of course Octavio looks better in a racer uniform.

     -Lauro got what he wanted. He is now the head of MaGri enterprises.

     -Wow.. liked Octavio and Linda's first meeting. Those two are gonna make a good couple, and boy does she have a hard hand hahaha First slap of the novela...goes to Linda. After that slap Octavio even got her a job. Hey Octavio..I need a job too lol

     -We got more insight on Kauris and her family. This is the 2nd novela I've seen that has a character with Alzheimer's disease. Kudos to Azteca for that. Kauris should take mom's advice and get a lovelife! Hm..maybe her and Felipe?

     -Lauro's enjoying his moment in the spotlight. Not sure how long it will last, but I hope he gets caught redhanded with all that money maneuvering.

     -Did I hear correctly? Lorena's partner's name is Italia?

     -Felipe is everywhere isn't he? =) Glad he told MC about the election at MaGri...this is gonna get good.

     -Lorena you FOOL! WHat the hell were you thinking going to look for Dionisio? You're outside his magazine for God's sake so of course they're gonna get more pictures of you making a fool out of yourself! Grrrrr!! This definitely hasn't been her day and I feel like slapping her!

     -Felipe did a good thing informing MC about everything that's been going on even Lauro's suspcious decisions. Ok..I have to say this again he is REALLY cute...and he looked so nervous while talking to MC. I'm guessing he thought she was gonna jump all over him for talking smack about Lauro. Back to Felipe...he has a beautiful smile -sigh-

     -Is it just me or does Eulalia (Nana) remind anyone of Sagrario on La Intrusa? She was always mistreated by the rich kids too..and respected by only a few of 'em.

     -Ahhhhhhhh Maria Clau is in love with Antonio! -happy dance-

     -Antonio made a good impression with Julian. I didn't see it necessary that he had to pay Toño off though! I'd be offended too! I'm glad he let Julian know that MC's life has no price.

     OK I don't know if I just keep wanting more or something but tonight's episode seemed a little shorter than usual. Although that last segment was 19 minutes long. Let me start off by saying that Lorena is a FOOL! I seriously felt like slapping her around tonight. Maybe all that poppin' pills and the alcohol caught up to her and made her blind to Lauro's REAL intentions at MaGri. I felt almost as helpless at Carlos (Mr. Nefertiti) when Lorena, and Salomon jumped all over him before the voting took place, and after Lauro was boasting his triumph. I hope Lauro's reign of terror at MaGri doesn't last long. Maybe if Don Julian doesn't die he can let MC take care of everything. Would be interesting if she inherited with him still being alive.

         Re: The Rant: Thursday Author: CarmenDelPilar  Date:   05-28-04 06:42 PDT

          thank you for your daily update Christine!...can't wait to see MC talk about her feeling for Antonio....that's gonna make my day!

          Once again I couldn't stay up to watch it, but hope to do it at lunch time (boss will be going out! yeepee!!)

          Carmen Del Pilar

         Re: The Rant: Thursday Author: Christine  Date:   05-28-04 10:25 PDT

          Anytime. =) It was a short scene but well worth it, Nana didn't seem to like that very much.

         Re: The Rant: Thursday Author: d83  Date:   05-28-04 08:20 PDT

          you really are in love with felipe aren´t you? ajaaj he is cute but he is kind a bad actor, when mc turn him down he was smiling ¿? oh and by the way don julian won't he will inherit to mc while he is alive...

         Re: The Rant: Thursday Author: Christine  Date:   05-28-04 10:26 PDT

          Yeah I love my Felipe. I don't know he has something I like. lol

          I guess he was smiling because he took it in stride when MC shot him down. Maybe he was thinking hmmm...since MC doesn't want me will Christine?

          Yeah I don't see MC inheriting while Don Julian is alive but it would be interesting.

         Bravo Christine!! Author: Jayde  Date:   05-28-04 13:07 PDT

          As always, I totally enjoyed the rant. And thank you for giving extra special rant-age to Felipe. Oooh, if only I were ten years younger...<g> I am NOT one of those toy-boy kinda women they seem obsessed with in Limavelas, harumph!

          Okay, I'll get the "ITAs" out of the way --- ITA about Lorena (dumb, dumb and DUMB), Gaby (can't call her dumb but distracted) and Kauris (she's the kind of character I'm dying to see who they'll pair her with). Big, fat ITA about Antonio and Julian paying him off. Loved Sergio's indignant face and square shoulders, you tell him, boy! I think it made extra points with El Suegro which he might be able to cash in when MC and Toño come out of the Love Closet.

          Lorena's annoying me now, I felt sorry for her at first but now she's showing her cunning, conniving side more. Ick, I hate people like that. It's easy to feel sorry for her when I think that she's overshadowed by MC and Lauro and she's not like Octavio in not caring what's expected of him. But to see her show a conniving side...Lorena's actually starting to scare me.

          I broke out the Daniel Bisogno Happy Dance for MC's admitting that she's got it for Antonio. Yay!!

          Forgive me if these two things have been said since I haven't read every single one of the posts in the last couple days, but here goes:

          1. I think Lauro has "Fabian" quality. He has such a magnetism and charisma that is rare in a villain, and that I can really only attribute to Rodrigo Abed in CSM. While I think in my head that Lauro is a slithering weasel yuk my eyes tell me he's sorta hunky enough to get away with things. Excellent casting of VH Martin in this role! Bravo Azteca!

          2. Did I hear correctly when Lore was in "terapia" that she was drunk driving, got in an accident and killed her aunt? Could this have something to do with Diosnisio's limp? Hmmm...

          I love the pairing of Carlos and Felipe (Cuties Viejo and Joven) they could be a kick-butt corporate crime-fighting duo. Felipe has shown some real chutzpah by not giving up on MC (which is what I attributed his smile to) and by telling her his concerns over Lauro's voting move.

          Oops, another ITA about Octavio and Linda. WOW, they have some great chemistry too and I am just eating up my little Octavio. OK, forget what I said about being ten years younger...Christine, Felipe's all yours, I'll take Octavio (don't tell Rocco).

          I LOVE THIS NOVELA!!!!!!!!!

     *~*~Spreading BennyMania One Person at a Time~*~*

         Christine – I love your rants! Author: Janet  Date:   05-28-04 18:04 PDT

          They sound as if you’re commenting right while watching the episode! Anyway, I’ll grant you that Felipe certainly is cute – has the actor been in any other Azteca novelas? Though aren’t you being a teensy tiny bit disloyal to the memory of Marianito from CSM? (Just so you know, Rodrigo Cachero is in Belinda – and I spotted a couple other CSM alums there as well – Laura Padilla (Paloma’s mom) and the actress who played the young maid working at the hacienda – I’ve only caught bits of Belinda, since obviously La Heredera is my current “appointment tv” novela, but I’m sure you’ll have fun checking it out when it arrives on Azteca America)…

          Speaking of cute guys after MariClau, I know Jayde was worried that she was suffering from “The Rebecca Syndrome” (where all eligible males fall for the protagonista), but even I can see why so many of the galanwannabees fall for her. And at least those who want to vie for her affections are all interesting, attractive, sexy guys in their own way – I just hate it when novelas throw “second fiddle” guys after the protagonista who either 1) may be cute have less sex appeal than a lump of clay (think Victor Noriega – sorry, Victor fans!), 2) if they do have sex appeal, are so overwhelmingly evil (with the protagonista being blind to it, of course) that we know there’s no way in Hades she could end up with him, or 3) are so easily manipulated and unable to think or take action, that I start to suspect the guy’s been immobilized by some poison-wielding spider! So far, in addition to Antonio, we have Felipe and Santiago interested in Maria Claudia – and even though Antonio is the clear match, it’s nice to see that both Felipe and Santiago are interesting, attractive guys (okay – I’ll grant Santiago is not necessarily conventionally good-looking, and he does have that creeping hairline to contend with, but I do think he brings a bit of magnetism to the role, and probably cleans up nice when he’s not out digging documentary dirt) who could easily turn someone’s head. But what’s even better about this whole scenario, is that Maria Claudia is clear about her feelings, and is willing to let Felipe and Santiago know how things stand – that she isn’t suffering from some mistaken notion that she has to protect their feelings by denying hers, and can still be friendly and considerate, without feeling the need to bow down and worship at the altar of the male ego…

          As for episode length? I think it was a little shorter, as Belinda before it ran longer past the hour than usual, but La Heredera still ended at the usual time (usually around 6 to 8 min. after the hour)… There’s so much more to say, but looks like I’ll have to wait ‘til next time!

      Janet good points and one OT(Belinda) comment Author: Jayde  Date:   05-29-04 11:20 PDT

      Weren't you surprised to see "Mama" all glammed up in Belinda? I'm glad to see Laura Padilla getting another interesting, fun role where she can lend her talents.

     I particularly liked your comment about MC not feeling that she has to spare the feelings of Los Otros (Felipe and Santi) I really do like that about her. Better than the simpering silly who doesn't want to make the guys feel badly by rejecting them yet doesn't think how they'll feel when they "accidentally" spy her smooching with her Truelove. I hate that! I think everyone else will think Maria Claudia's lost it when she and Antonio begin dating. I can see a lot of people attempting to change her mind. But each of them keep telling others that they just endured a harrowing moment where they almost died. Only MC and Toño seem to understand how the other feels. Everyone else is like, "Okay, now get over it." I know from simply being married for so long that you have experiences with each other that nobody else could fill in. We've traveled places and endured things that now have become family jokes and legends and we always tell each other that "that spot" couldn't be filled by anyone else. Just a certain look, gesture or one word conveys a whole world of feeling and nobody else in the world understands it the way we do. That's how I see MC and A after their time together...it was intense, it was life-or-death and it's the kind of thing that nobody else could understand specifically because only they had those particular moments. Hence Santiago's wistfully telling Antonio that he would have given anything to have gone through it with MC. Smart boy.

     You're also right about the guys in love with MC. Although I have to say that sometimes i wonder about Santiago's credibility, LOL. Today I'm feeling more that he and Lore would be a perfect pair. And they're guys who didn't just see her walking down the street and say, "hey, I gotta have that woooman!".

     This is so thrilling that I actually get to watch an Azteca novela with Janet and Christine! All those fantastic times we had since La Intrusa...and now I get to hear your comments on LH. Yay!

 

     www.telenovela-world.com: Friday rant [TVA, 5/29/04]   Author: Christine   Date:   05-29-04 10:41 PDT  Sorry I'm gonna make this pretty short. I have that horrible stomach flu and I'm not feeling very well. =(

     -Santiago is starting to bug me. Ok I understand he's into making movies and all but how dare he ask Antonio and MC to share their story so he can make a movie out of it. Then with his comment about wanting to live an "adventure" with MC made me want to throw something at him.

     -Don't fall for it Felipe! Felipe is determined to get MC and is willing to help Lauro to get her. Noooooooo... you don't need MC I'm right here! I hope he doesn't go for whatever Lauro is planning.

     -Seeing Antonio jealous was cute, and MC thought it was cute too. Those two are just adorable.

     Ok.. I'm gonna go take some medicine and lay down. Sorry I made this one so short.

          {{{Christine}}}  Author: Jayde  Date:   05-29-04 12:08 PDT       Oh, 'manita, I'm SO sorry you're ill! I sure hope you feel better soon and I'm sending lots of hugs and prayers your way for speedy healing. You are so sweet and wonderful to take the time, even though you felt terrible to share your daily rant.

              Well, I have to admit that Santiago is annoying me too. When he first showed up with his (non-WIDE!) tie tucked into his shirt my heart went "hubba hubba". But then he opened his mouth. BIG mistake, Santi! Antonio wasn't the only one getting his feathers ruffled over Santiago's pestering ways. I think Antonio was hoping when he came back down The Pest would be gone...no such luck. And here was Toño basking in the glory from Gaby and Sneaky Santi reaches in to grab MC. Glad to see Gaby call MC along with her up to Don Julian's room.

              I am amazed and impressed to see another brilliant Azteca casting move: Margarita Gralia as a loving, doting mom and wife. I absolutely eat up the scenes with Gabriela and MC. I also loved the scene when Don Julian surprised Gaby by meeting her in the hall, they were so adorable.

              So Julian has to choose between his business and his life? I was so afraid that Guillermo Murray would have a very short role in this novela and he's grown on me. I don't want him to die! I honestly like Don Julian despite his small list of flaws and shortcomings. I would much rather see everything unroll as he's there to deal with it than to have everyone sort it out without him there.

              Octavio and Linda...what a cute couple they already are! ITA with Christine when she said Octavio looks better than Andres (BLMP) in his racing gear. When I first saw that he was going to be a speed demon like Andres in BLMP I actually rolled my eyes. Yes, they both seem to enjoy the racing world because it provides an escape from their home responsibilities but I think Octavio is much more honorable and principled than Andres. And, okay, I'll be honest, Octavio is much cuter <g> Cute scene at the restaurant when Linda's Loser called.

              Antonio better watch the booze! In his case, it seemed to clear his head. Although, I was pleased to see the tequila did not come in a wide bottle with a hand-drawn label with TEQUILA clear for one and all to see. I guess Azteca's moving up in the world. Loved the bartender giving Toño a little look as T rambled to himself...what people don't ever do that in your bar, Mister?

              Lauro and his predatory look when he cottoned on to Felipe's love for MC made me shiver. Creep! See, what scares me is remember how doting he seemed when MC was in the hospital, comforting her and holding her? The same person who could use his family is very, very scary. He is one sick dude, which is another bravo for Azteca and VH Martin.

              Aranza and Ricardito are so adorable. So now they're staying by her friend's place (Milena or something?). I think Mil was right when she told Aranza that Ricardito should know about his father. No time like the present because at least he would have something solid to hold onto, he would be able to see and hear who he is, even if he didn't meet him. But on the other hand she apparently wants to keep things as calm as possible...it's not easy being on the run with a young child who's recovering from the flu! Why spin a few more plates while you're at it?

              Nice holster, Kauris! That thing looked worse than my Aunt Hilda's girdle...and don't they come in more fashionable colors? But there's no substitute for having your gun handy when you need it, even if it clashes with your wardrobe. She was still wearing that ugly green shirt though :(

              Will Antonio be good for Tio Angel? Tio seems a little...puckered...perhaps too long working for Don Julian and jumping at orders has affected him. Antonio's self-assurance in standing up for what he believes to be right, even if he offends one of the richest and most powerful men in Mexico made Tio quiver a bit. Don't be such a weenie, Tio, Antonio's right!

              Lorena just annoys me more. No tears will help at this point, Lore, quit feeling sorry for your sorry, sad self. Which reminds me...the other day when she went rushing out to meet and greet Dionisio, did she grab TWO flasks? It looked like it to me and I figured this was a serious sign, LOL.

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  The Rant: Monday [TVA, 5/31/04] Author: Christine Date:   06-01-04 02:19 PDT

     -Loved those scenes at the beginning between Antonio and Maria Clau. I know I don't have to say it but Sergio and Chivis have awesome chemistry.

     -Why does Julian want to blame Antonio's "inexperience"? They wanted to KILL YOU not MC! I know Julian is worried but why doesn't he start his own investigation. He has the money to do it.

     -Linda should have been honest with Octavio and told her she IS seeing Fabian. That's not a good way to start a relationship. I'm glad she noticed that Fabian the sleazeball IS possessive. Xavier Massimo looks really cute when he smiles...and he had this twinkle in his eyes haha Ah l'amour! l'amour!

     -I can just imagine Lorena lost in the jungle. LOL Ow my nail broke! Ugh look at what happened to me designer heels! and my clothes they're all bloody! I'm sure Antonio would have wanted to kill her hahaha

     -Cheap shot by Lore to call Salomon the son of the maid. She seems to like it rough...LOL slap slap slap

     -Linda looked like a kid in a candy shop at the fashion house. Sweet of Octavio to get her a job with Lorena.

     -Seeing Antonio confide in MC about Aranza was a surprise to me. In a Televisa novela she wouldn't have asked and just assumed he was married. I'm glad Azteca novelas aren't the same way. Seeing him just open up like that about the war and his past was wonderful. Sergio Basañez made the scene his and made it moving too. I'm glad she thanked him for speaking to her with the truth, it's something most galans can't do most of the time.

     -Was Italia flirting with Octavio? or was it just me. Ok I take that back SHE wants to get in his pants to become a Madero Grimaldi. lol Hey I want to be one too...can I have him?

     -Gaby is a little paranoid but I think that I would be too after what MC has been through.

     -Who is Mr. X's contact? It wouldn't be our lovely Lauro would it? and why does Radames want to meet him?

     -Great...Fabian and Octavio meet. Stalker much? I'm glad Octavio kicked his ass!! Well deserved! I suggest Octavio be careful from now on and take care of your car it might end up keyed. Like I said above Linda should have been honest with Octavio from the beginning and warned him about sleazeball Fabian.

     -I have to say this again... Octavio reminds me of Andres (Ernesto D'Alessio) from BLMP at times and Julian reminds me of Bruno. I remember them arguing about him racing too. Only difference is that Julian isn't a machista like Bruno.

     -Awww.. he called her Claudia and she called him mi amor!! Damn bodyguards!! AHHHHHHHH you fools you ruined my Mari Clau and Antonio moment. =(

     -Woo Hoooooo Gaby told off Lorena! I'm glad she brought to her attention that she has a last name and a reputation to uphold. Although Gaby...Lorena needs love not MONEY.

     -I love the interaction between Mari Clau and Gaby. It's nice to see how versatile Margarita Gralia and Chivis are...and to think they hated each other on CSM. (characters of course)

     -LOL @ Azteca plugging themselves. Lauro was pretty rude to the reporter eh? Scared people will see through his little act? I liked how he handled her though.

     -How did Julian get the waiter and the champaigne in there? Do Dr.'s actually ok that?

     -Felipe is working for Lauro now? =( I'm disappointed! but I still love him!

     -LoL Lauro's comment about Salomon's companions. Hm..what would he do if he knew the zorra Salmon was with was non other than his sister Miss Lorena Madero Grimaldi, who likes to play rough lol

     -Sweet gesture of Octavio to send Linda flowers. He got major points for that. Was it Octavio who sent 'em? or could it have been Lauro.

     -That Julian sure is a charmer isn't he? I hope I'm wrong and that he really is that way and isn't hiding anything.

     -Lorena talking to MC about how Lauro should take over everything and Julian should retire, was... strange. I'm surprised MC didn't see what her sister was trying to do, especially after what Felipe told her earlier.

     -Why doesn't Aranza let Antonio see their kid? I don't get that...has she been hiding for him? Does she not see that not knowing his dad is hurting the kid.

     -Can't wait for the Aranza/Antonio meeting. I can just see Basañez scraming at her for her abandonment all those years ago.

     -Grrrrr I hope Antonio doesn't stop seeing Mari Clau just because of the way she lives and because she's rich. The relationship CAN work, and WILL work. Financial status doesn't always have to play a role, in fact I don't think it should at all.

     -Why is Antonio so pessimistic?! Come on Mr. Antonio we're rooting for ya!

     -I think Julian is going to be forced to retire by his Dr. at least that is what it seemed like. Looks like I could be right and Mari Clau will inherit while her father is still alive, and that will set Lauro off.

     -Mari Clau really lit into him in those last seconds. Looks like he's gonna get busted! Go Maria Clau! Can't wait for tomorrow!!

     Ok I noticed tonight's episode was a little longer, but I still was left wanting more! I apologize for the short rant on Friday, I had that horrible stomach flu and a headache at the same time, not a pretty sight. lol I'm disappointed! We had no Felipe sighting tonight unless you count when he appeared in the oepning credits. Sergio and Chivis still make me smile like a fool, I just can't help it. My highlight of the night is when they were sitting in the park bench laughing together, as if they'd known each other for a long time. I am really looking forward to when Aranza and Antonio are finally face to face. I want to hear her reasons for being on the run this long, and why she abandoned Antonio.

          Christine – in my book you’re already an honorary Madero-Grimaldi…Author: Janet   Date:   06-02-04 10:48 PDT          ...now we just have to convince Octavio!

          Interesting point you made, that Linda should be honest with Octavio about her relationship with Fabian. I don’t remember – did Linda actually lie, or did she just sort of not disclose the truth? In either case, I think it would bode better for a future relationship with Octavio if Linda had been a little more open – it’s not as if she has to give her life’s history at this stage, but I would think better of her if she had at least admitted she had dated Fabian for a bit… Even if she knows she’s not really Fabian’s novia any more, I don’t think she’s telegraphed that message to Fabian yet… I still can’t figure Linda out – I think she genuinely likes Octavio, but I have no idea how she’ll react to Lauro’s interest…

          I’m actually feeling pretty sorry for Lorena – in spite of some of her mean, sneaky ways, I’m thinking the poor thing must be pretty messed up. Granted, as an adult and an addict, the only way she’ll really get better is if she takes responsibility for her life, but in the meantime I find her to be a pretty interesting, and sometimes even sympathetic, messed-up young woman. Even though it’s sort of sick to wish she had been the one in the plane crash just so that her family would make a fuss over her, I can’t help thinking – wasn’t she already in a car accident when she was younger that resulted in the death of her aunt? I wonder how supportive her parents were then? Given that her mami Gabriela didn’t seem all that sympathetic to the fact that Lorena is at some level trying to deal with this by going to therapy, I sort of suspect that Lorena never did get the support and warmth of her family when trying to deal with it…All that drinking and making a spectacle of herself? I can’t believe she’s stupid enough not to know the press would go after her – I think instead it’s just a cry for attention, trying to get her mami and papa to notice her, and on that level it does seem to work…And another interesting/strange thing about Lorena – even during her scenes of **ahem** “passion” with Salomon, Lorena didn’t seem happy at all, but just the opposite – she seemed extremely sad…That girl has one major self-esteem problem, and I suspect that Lorena’s development could be quite an interesting story…

          Oh, and ITA, Christine, about the scene when Mari Clau asks, and Antonio confides in her, telling her about Aranza, and about his war experiences. I just love the way this relationship is being portrayed – the intense shared experiences, the flush of excitement at first falling in love, and then the natural progression of trying to get to know each other…and yes, I thought that bit was wonderful when Mari Clau thanked Antonio for sharing and being truthful with her. I even love the natural uncertainty about when they’ll next talk, or next see each other – love doesn’t need a bunch of silly circumstances and dumb misunderstandings (e.g. false jealousy, unknown parentage causing the ugly head of possible incest to be raised, gullible protagonistas believing lies told by every other self-interested party in the novela, “evil girl pregnancy traps” that cause a galan to “do the right thing,” etc., etc. – you probably know what I mean) – when there’s chemistry and well-written dialogues, novela love IS exciting, thrilling, and romantic without all those “smoke and mirrors” distractions…

          As for Julian? He’s still a bit of an unknown for me, too. He seems pretty charming, but he’s got to have been ambitious to get to where he is. What with the doctor’s orders, maybe Maria Clau really will get involved as her father’s “heredera” – I just hope that if for some reason he does die during the novela (not a spoiler, just seems a possibility given his doctor said he couldn’t survive another heart attack), I hope it’s not early on, that he’s around for quite awhile, because I’d like to know more about him…

          As for Aranza not wanting Ricardito (is that the kid’s name?) to know his father, or Aranza not asking Antonio for help – I’m wondering if she has mixed motives for this? Granted, she and Antonio apparently had a falling out, but maybe part of the reason she’s keeping the kid from knowing his father is because she thinks it’s safer: given the clandestine work she does, maybe she’s afraid if the kid knows anything, or even if Antonio was at all in contact with his kid, it would put them all in danger.

          I couldn’t wait for the next episode either – and I have to say it was good! Are you going to rant? ;-)

 

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  No rant for Tuesday (TVA, 6/1/04]  Author: Christine

Date:   06-02-04 12:33 PDT

     It wasn't very eventful except for all of the MG's sitting at the table arguing. Can't wait for tonight though!

          Re: No rant for Tuesday  Author: Christine   Date:   06-02-04 12:36 PDT

          Although a few points...

          -Felipe sighting!

          -The battle for Linda is about to begin. This is gonna get good!!

          -Antonio you fool! MC doesn't care if you have money or not she loves you for YOU.

          -Kauris and Antonio meeting. AM I just being paranoid os was he being to nice to Kauris? I did notice she was smiling when she saw him! Stay away woman!

          Yo're right...  Author: CarmenDelPilar Date:   06-02-04 14:27 PDT

              It was alright, but nothing out of the extraordinary (no talk, no hugs, no kisses between Antonio and MC...lol!)

              I also felt jealous of Kauris....Antonio was being way too nice with her!

              Looking forward to tonight....(if I can stay awake long enough for the links to be ready to watch!!!!)

              Carmen Del Pilar

          Most interesting scenes of the night for me…  Author: Janet Date:   06-02-04 17:19 PDT

          …were Lauro’s scenes. That started off as some intense scene between him and Mari Clau – Jayde was right when she referred to Lauro as “Fabian-worthy™” (trademark Jayde - referring to Rodrigo Abed’s “Fabian” in Cuando Seas Mia). His reaction was so intense! I have to say I think at some level he seriously felt betrayed when Maria Claudia dared to ask him for information on the dealings of the family business. Yet I think he was trying to control himself a bit, because if he let go I’m betting Mari Clau might be shocked at the intensity of his anger. And yet, while he turns her inquiry around to make it sound as if she were doubting him, he is so completely comfortable with lying to her face (saying she was still lost when the board vote was to take place, when clearly she was already found and in the hospital – someone correct me if I didn’t get that right). And in practically the next scene with Lauro and Salomon (after Salomon entered, with shoes that echoed incredibly on those floorboards, as did Lauro’s folder when he closed it on his desk – looks like we may have fallen victim to an over-eager Foley artist, something that was also noticeable throughout Corazon Salvaje), after Lauro berates Salomon for the horrible job he’s done, leaving three dead bodies (including Luis the co-pilot, who Lauro referred to as innocent), Lauro expresses anger towards Salomon because Maria Claudia didn’t die in the accident – since her death would have likely assured that his father would die too, leaving Lauro in charge to do as he likes. When Salomon dared to express some puzzlement since Mari Clau is Lauro’s sister, Lauro came back with how he loves her, he takes care of her, he protects her, he hates her – and “no sabes nada de amores familiares!” Lauro sure is a twisted, creepy, psychologically interesting piece of work, and that speech of his had chills running down my spine…

          And at the end of the episode, Lauro was quite funny at the family celebratory lunch scene – he was having a hard time suppressing a big grin on his face because he was as pleased as punch that his siblings Lorena and Octavio were being scolded by their father for their “frivolous lifestyles” – that is, until the very end, when Lorena let the cat out of the bag by casually asking if her father knew the news that Lauro had become interim acting president of MaGri – what with all her faults, ya gotta love Lorena for that! And speaking of Lorena, I think she got the best line last night – I believe her dad Julian was saying something at the table about having to handle the press carefully because they’ll pretty much hang you out to dry if they can – and Lorena chimed in with “Dímelo a mí!” (Tell me about it…) – funny!

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  Wednesday Rant [TVA, 6/2/04] Author: Christine   Date:   06-03-04 00:19 PDT

     -Let me start off with that initial scene. Exactly where we left off last night! The tension! Loved how Julian didn't hold back and lit into Lauro, looks like Gaby is blind when it comes to him. Thanks to Octavio and Lorena for chiming in. Loved Julian being sarcastic proposing a toast to Lauro's triumph. Heehee Poor MC she was so confused. If she only knew Julian has decided to make her the head of MaGri enterprises.

     -Antonio is turning into a detective here, he knows that someone made Fermin sabotage the plane. The thing is will he find out it was Lauro and Salomon? I liked it how he defended his future dad in law from Crisanto's assumptions, and how he decided to stick it out with MC.

     -Gaby is so naive! I love her but how can she not see that Lauro's obsessed with power.Doesn't keeping stuff from her set her off? HELLO! That means there's something shady going on there. About time Julian let her know that the cause of his heart attack was seeing Lauro for the monster he really is.

     -The dinner went to hell and all the MaGri kids faced off. Glad Maria Clau stood her ground and didn't let Lauro intimidate her. Looks like we're gonna see scenes like this from now on. The lines have been drawn and this is gonna get good!

     -Ahhh a Felipe sighting! Ok..let me wipe the drool for a moment.. I'm not sure if he's a good guy or a bad guy yet. His interaction with Lauro a few episodes back makes me think he's willing to do anything to have MC, but when he's with her he's so sweet. ALso he got major points...buying Julian a book. MC was pretty smart getting info out of Felipe. I saw that look of disappointment on his face when MC wanted to talk about MaGri only. Hm..maybe she can put in a good word for me? Ok he confuses me, like I said above he seems like a good guy but then I see him with Lauro..and I don't know. Oooh he looks fabulous in glasses!! -RaWr-

     -Santiago should just quit his dayjob. If he wants to make films why work making documentaries?

     -Who was that Octavio was confiding in? I just know main character names, and it seems we have new people all the time lately. I did like that Mr. Man told him to grow up and mature. Those Madero kids (Lauro and Lorena) need to get started on that.

     -As always Lorena making a fool out of herself while being drunk. Not sure what she was thinkng showing up drunk to therapy. Go Rosa Maria for not helping her out, maybe Lorena will learn some respect now. But of course before she does that she throws fits and is photographed again and will end up in Dionisio's rag of a magazine... can I slap her?!

     -What is the big secret with Dionisio? Is he Julian's son?

     -I cannot believe Santi is gonna use MC to get back at Julian! I saw it coming...but I didn't think he'd go through with it. Bastard! I seriously thought he cared about MC. Does he really think MC will fall in love with him with hunks like Felipe and Toño around? DREAM ON SANTIAGO!

     -Glad to see Dioni out on the town with his boyfriend. I thought Dulce knew he was gay? Guess not...oh well since she's bitchy lately she might not be too fond of the idea.

     -Ahhhhh finally a MC/Toño moment! Well not really...just a phone call. =( How sweet seeing MC rush out like that to go meet him.

     -Who was the guy Lore was talking to in the bar? My reception went bad on that scene and I missed most of it.

     -Ok..and here I thought we weren't getting a MC/Toño moment. =) After not having one for an episode I missed 'em! I'm glad she let him know what's wrong and how her world is falling down before her eyes and her family is slowly falling apart. I love the trust these two have each other.

     -What was the point of having Dionisi and boyfriend mugged/kidnapped?

     -Lauro the manipulator is at it again, I feel bad for Gabriela she really doesn't know what a monster her son really is. He wanted to be a jockey? Interesting...lol

     Tonight's episode made up for last night's lack of action. Antonio and Angel seem to be getting close to the truth. 2 Felipe sightings today opening credits annnnd...when he was with MC. Can I just say again how great he looked with glasses?

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  The Rant: Thursday (The Dionisio Episode) [TVA, 6/3/04] Author: Christine

Date:   06-04-04 01:28 PDT

     -Loved the initial Chivis and Antonio scene. Those two are soooo sweet!

     -Dionisio and boyfriend's secuestro express. I can't believe he thought Lore sent them. Does he not know how dangerous the Mexican strees can be? Especially if he was in a bad part of town. Also...ever heard of speeding off?

     -Gaby is slowly turning into a fool supporting Lauro like that. I can see her turning her back on Mari Clau when she takes over MaGri. I hope I'm wrong though!

     -Did Salomon expect Julian to believe all his bull$h*t? lol Idiot! Glad to see Julian called him on the VAPUR-gate haha Seeing Salomon squirm and try to suck up to Julian was amusing, now if only he could break Lauro that'd be fun to watch. "Yo seria in capaz!" Oh yeah Salomon save it! Can I say how happy I was when Julian demoted Salomon? Well done! Can't believe he told Julian that only the PRESIDENT can make those choices. Bad move you fool! Not even apologizing is gonna get you out of this one.

     -Did Dioni and boyfriend think of fighting back? Hell if I was them I would have risked it and fought the kidnappers.

     -Lorena as always drunk off her ass.

     -I hate how Salomon treats Eulalia. If I was her I'd slap him! Show him to respect people. I don't know why she lets him get away with that and he even called her stupid! Come on Eulalia wake up! You need to control your son! Good for her! She's not ashamed of being a domestic worker, now I ask why don't you slap Salomon lady?! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

     -Why did Lauro show up at Osiris' place again? I thought he said he was done with her. Oh well maybe he felt like getting some. Woo Hooooo Osiris has another lover! She stood her ground and said no commitment or no sex.

     -I felt sorry for Dioni. =( I am not too fond of what he's doing to Lorena but seeing him beg for his life broke my heart. He was brave though, daring the kidnappers to kill her. I don't know why he thinks it was Lorena who sent him. Poor Dioni ended up thrown in an alley...and naked too.

     -Another Dulce/Gaby face off! I love seeing Egurrola and Gralia go at it. The two divas! Gaby made it clear that she's not gonna put up with any of Dulce's stunts. Dulce is in love with Julian still it seems. Did Dulce really expect Gaby to believe she doesn't care about the MaGri's? Did I say already how much I love seeing these two face off? When Gaby said she was the mother of J's childen I was expecting Dulce to blurt out that Dioni is his son. It isn't confirmed but I can see it coming. This round won by Dulce by the way.

     -Poor Mr. Bodugyard waiting for Lorena to be done with random guy she picked up at the bar. Looks like she had a good time drinking and getting laid. I guess she loves self-destructing. I really feel sorry for her, it's the only way she knows how to get attention.

     -Ah honorable mention of Felipe...and not only that but Gaby out in a good word for him. Maybe I shoud ask her to do that for me too!

     -Who was Osiris sleeping with? Did she call him Carlos? Does Lauro know she's a hooker, since she DID say she was working...

     -Go Mari Clau standing her ground against Gaby trying to hook her up with Felipe. I knew I liked MC for a reason...she knows I want Mr. Felipe lol

     -Ok..even if it hasn't been confirmed they hinted at Dioni being Julian's son. All hell will break loose when Julian and Dionisio find out. That explains why Dulce hates the MaGris. Maybe she had an affair with Julian and expected more?

     -Why doesn't Gaby advise Eulalia on what to do with ungrateful Salomon? It'd be a good idea, seeing that Gaby is a great mother.

     -Sooner or later I was expecting Mari Clau to find the headline from El Insurgente. She looked as confused as I did when I heard Dulce approve that fake article.

     -Did Lorena say nice to meet you? LOL! Welll I guess we know how she meets her friends. Stay away from Felipe and Antonio please! What? The guy asked her to pay him?! Glad the bofyguard was out there! Whoa...guy turned out to be SOME psycho huh? She better watch out because guy said "me la vas a pagar!"

     -Octavio is such a good brother. After the way Lorena has treated him he still helps her out, glad to see he's handy to have around and doesn't hold grudges hehe. Makes him more attractive. lol I think he knows she does this all to get the attention she doesn't get.

     -Excellent acting by Chivis Navarro in that scene where she was cowering in her room, reading that headline triggered her crisis. I could feel her fear. Excellent!

     -Who found Dionisio and boyfriend? Why does he still think Lorena did this to him?! I have a feeling he knows it wasn't her, but will do it just to make her life miserable. I can't wait until he finds out he's a MaGri too.

     -Octavio is so sweet...taking care of MC until her crisis was over. Like I said above in the Lorena section he's a handy guy to have around.

     -Octavio wasn't aware of the headline? I thought all of the MaGris heard about it. Wooo Hooooo! Octavio good for you telling MC to be careful with Santiago. I hope she takes his advise but I doubt she will, she's Mari Clau stubborn heroine.

     -Dioni was beat up pretty bad but it seems they barely touched Eric. Why? Unless someone did send them and it wasn't Lorena like they think.

     -Those MaGri boduguards are pretty rude, and those cops too. Are they just allowed to bring out guns like that? Ha! They weren't even supposed to apprehend Lorena. Could money have been involved?

     -I really thought Dulce was smarter than this...she also thinks Lorena paid for Dioni's seucestro express?

     -Mari Clau should have just told Gaby and Julian what was going on. They would be able to help Lore get out of this jam.

     Ok no Felipe tonight, but we did get an honorable mention! Santiago bugs me...he's like a stalker or an itch that just won't go away! Kudos to Juan Manuel Bernal, Silvia Navarro, Julieta Egurrola and Margarita Gralia for excellent performances. I hope that once the truth of Dionisio's origin comes out we'll get more of those Egurrola/Gralia diva face offs. I'm not too happy since we're not getting as much MC/Toño screen tiem but I can deal. This is one of those novelas that is not only excellent because of the lead couple but because everyone does their part in making it all stick.

           Re: The Rant: Thursday (The Dionisio Episode)  Author: CarmenDelPilar   Date:   06-04-04 06:41 PDT

          -I have a question. Why is Silvia called Chivis?

MC and Antonio behaved like two perfect love birds. I loved the way she told him she wished he could guard her sleep to keep the nightmares away…lol!!

          The Dionisio saga was scary. I guess they must have been in a very dangerous part of town. Unfortunately that’s were these type of clubs are normally hidden.

          My take on Gaby’s reaction with Lauro is that as a mother she refuses to admit she gave birth to a bad, bad seed. I think that if she turns her back on MC and take Lauro’s side, it might be for the reason that she still considers MC a baby.

          The conversation between Julian and Salomon was very interesting. I believe Julian was trying to see how involved Salomon is and he got his answer. I was very shocked to find out Salomon is Eulalia’s kid. I must’ve missed it earlier. This kid has some very serious issues to deal with. My guess is that he’s been screwing Lorena since they were kids and grew up feeling frustrated at the fact that he was treated by her like garbage. Now he’s a grown vengeful man who at the moment is siding with Lauro but who ultimately is looking to be the sole owner of Magri Enterprises.

          Lauro is well aware of Osiris being a high paid hooker. That’s why he offered her double for dumping her customer (Giancarlo) to run to his side. But she’s playing hardball with him. Soo glad to see someone is making Lauro suffer!!!!

          I so totally agree on your Dulce/Gaby face off comments. These ladies are true masters of their craft and their scenes burst on the screen!!!

          I was thinking of you Christine when MC told her mom that she had no interest in Felipe…lol!!!!

          Dulce’s recollection of her talk with that priest practically confirmed that Dionisio is Julian’s son.

          The scene when Julian asked Gaby where Lauro was gave me an eerie feeling. For a moment I sensed that all might have not been too sweet in the relationship of this couple and perhaps Julian was not always the loving man we’re being led to believe.

          Me, like you, was wishing for more screen time between Antonio and MC, but I also agree that the rest of the cast is holding their own and is making this novela shine, shine, shine!!!

          (Gee, I didn't expect to get this carried away!!!)

          Carmen Del Pilar

           Re: The Rant: Thursday (The Dionisio Episode)  Author: Christine   Date:   06-04-04 10:05 PDT

          Oh no worries...I could go on non-stop about this novela.

          I'm not sure why they call her Chivis but it's cute. I picked up on it when I joined a "Cuando Seas Mia" forum and they all called her that so it stuck.

          I forgot to mention last night that even though the Dionisio/Eric secuestro express scenes were violent they were done with class and none of that over the top violence like Larrosa and Osorio regularly give us.

          I think Gaby is slowly starting to see Mari Clau isn't a child anymore and has her own opinions.

          Lauro deserves to suffer. I hope he finds out soon that his princesita Linda is interested in his brother and hasn't thought of him at all.

          LoL I need to write MC an email and ask her to send Felipe my way.

 

 

     www.telenovela-world.com: Friday/Saturday rant [TVA, 6/4/04] Author: Christine   Date:   06-05-04 20:45 PDT

     -I can understand Eric's discomfort on having a secret relationship with Dionisio. He should just come out of the closet already and even if DUlce doesn't accept him he should be proud of his preferences.

     -Lauro looked attractive in all his riding gear. LOL He did say something we all know by now, Lorena is weak. Why doesn't Lauro want Julian and Gaby to find out? I think that they need to be informed of what's going on.

     -I love Kauris' wardrobe! Looks like she gets the best clothes lately!She seems to be on every case lately, or maybe she asked for it because of the supposed MaGri connection. Did I notice them being nervous that K noticed their...relationship? Didn't know Eric was an attorney.

     -Mari Clau is quite the detective LOL So good to see she's keeping herself busy, it can help her not think about what happened. Loved her scene with Lorena's bodyguard...she's the most normal of the MaGri kids along with Octavio as far as I've noticed.

     -Why is Angel so surprised that Kauris is snooping around? News flash she IS a detective! Julian did a good thing telling him not to worry, besides why should he worry? He hasn't done anything wrong. So Angel, stop being a worrywart!

     -Here I thought Lauro was doing everything to save Lorena, but it's because of his bad movements. Ha!

     -Gaby isn't a fool! Only when it comes to Lauro it seems, because she picked up immidiately that something else was up with the visit from those detectives.

     -YES!! Finally someone noticed that Lorena is an alcoholic! Gotta hand it to Mari Clau, she is the right person to call her on it. Lorena as expected gets defensive. Was Tia Victoria the Aunt that died and who Lorena thinks she killed? If so...it's looking like history repeats itself. I hope Lorena sees that Mari Clau means well and is really trying to help her get rid of her addiction.

     -Santiago needs to just...BUG OFF! Just seeing him annoys me! =/ The characted is just so... gah I can't even describe him. He's worse than Dulce and Dioni combined. Kudos to Mari Clau for not trusting him, he isn't trustworthy and I hope she doesn't forget that. Mari Clau seems like a smart girl and I hope she noticed.

     -Oh...you can buy politicians by sending them expensive champagne? Sure looks like it! Hm...maybe I can buy Felipe or Octavio off with some liquor lol.

     -Ricardito is so cute! He's starting to ask questions. Aranza is ready to get back on the run it seems, she's got her passport and everything prepared...but the thing is. Will she get away?

     -Antonio finally called Mari Clau. =) Aw loved him begging Nana Eulalia for information on her. The smile on his face said it all.

     -Has Aranza heard of cellphones? If she had one she wouldn't have to panic everytime Milena and Ricardito aren't there.

     -Who was the actress playing Tia Victoria? Looks like she's who started Lorena's drinking binge wayyy back when. I really hope Lorena gets help, because her weakness induced her to drink.

     -Excellent scene at the restaurant. I knew the flames would set Mari Clau off...she did an excellent job portraying her fear. Another excellent scene by Silvia Navarro. I'm glad Antonio showed up when he did. Go Antonio! Not letting Santi bully him around. He just gets more hateful by the second. He seems to like making Antonio think the worst of the situation...BASTARD!

     -Tere...just needs to shove her prudeness and her arrogance you know where. I don't know why Gaby didn't just slap her and tell her to shut up. I was going to say something when she made rude comments about Brenda and Ricardito a few days ago.

     -Santiago you pathetic piece of..get your hands off Mari Clau!

     -Oh...a glimpse of Felipe in the credits.

     -I can't place Milena's accent. Is she Peruvian? I think they mentioned la Asfar (?) a few nights ago, and they're Peruvian right? Or is it Colombian? I forget.

     -Julian should stop complaining about Lorena and try to help her. He can't just give Gaby the responsibility. I think both of them can help her.

     -Good for Gaby she doesn't trust Santiago either! She should have slapped him, when he decided to give her advice on parenting.

     -At first I was glad Julian was going to see Lorena, but after he said stop causing trouble I got mad! He should encourage her and give her the love she needs and deserves. I don't think Tia Victoria loved Lorena, she just used her to carry on her legacy of alcoholism.

     -I had to laugh when Dulce called Dioni a "mapache" (racoon) LOL Dioni finally admitted he was scared, he doesn't have to pretend to be strong all the time. Why is he scared of the media? Because he'll get treated the way he's treated Lorena all this time? Why doesn't Dioni just come out and tell Dulce he's gay?! He needs to stop making it seem like the media is going to lie...when it's true.

     -Julian isn't the good parent we all thought. He loves his kids but he just doesn't show them..the way he should. Especially Lorena. Glad to see he's talking to her though and letting her know she's destroying herself and how that affects the rest of the family. I felt really bad when he started crying...and when he said he wouldn't let her destroy herself. I hope he got through to Lorena because she did say she loved him.

     -Lauro noticed that Julian is up to something...if he only knew he's gonna hand over the reigns of the family over to Mari Clau.

     -Ahhhhhhhhhh a FELIPE sighting!! YES YES YES! Here I thought I wasn't gonna get one...glad to see Julian heard my please (or maybe all the MaGris did!) and decided to call him. We even got Mr. Nefertiti for Janet heehee

     -What the hell? Who does Santiago think he is?! Grrrrr I hope Antonio knocks him down and shows him who's boss!!

     Ok I really hate Santiago. I don't know who the HELL he thinks he is...but where does he get off pushing Antonio and keeping him away from Mari Clau? Go take care of your brother you fool!!

     Highlights of the night:

     1- Maria Claudia's breakdown at the restaurant. I had a feeling the flames would set her off...Silvia was superb as always.

     2- The Lorena/Julian scenes. Aylin Mujica and Guillermo Murray work well together and that showed in that particular scene. I was moved by the way he told Lorena he would not let her ruin her life.

     3- The Felipe sighting! Even if it was for just a few seconds I'm glad I got to see him. LOL I'm getting obsessed here.. =/

     4- The Dulce/Dionisio and Gabriela/Mari Clau scenes. Loved seeing the two women take care of their children.

     Janet,Carmen del Pilar, Jayde and anyone else who reads this. Feel free to chime in! =)

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  ...little rant...[TVA, 6/9/04] Author: Christine   Date:   06-10-04 10:05 PDT

     -Loved those scenes of Kauris with her dad. Their interaction, was really sweet. Andrea Noli did a great job.

     -Looks like the weapon smuggling storyline is taking force again. At least now we know it comes from Colombia. Now I wonder what Aranza's involvement in it all is.

     -Why is Brenda so uptight about Linda dating Octavio? She should loosen up and take in stride. I'm sure Gabriela would think nothing of it, so there really is no need for her to fear she'll lose her job.

     -Lorena met Fabian. I'm really not liking this... she will probably be involved with him from now on. Ick!

     -What was up with Alejo taking credit away from Kauris with their superior? Is he trying to kick her out of the investigation so he can take all the glory? I agree with the part that she's obsessed but isn't every detective?

     -Seeing Maria Claudia beat that fear she has of planes after her accident. I'm glad she took it calmly and knew that with Antonio there no one would happen to her....but alas her fear came back.

     -Kudos to Julian for calling Salomon on not respecting Eulalia. He should be grateful to be where he is thanks to her! Salomon looked like he had been slapped a few times after Julian was done with him.

           My comments on today..... Author: CarmenDelPilar  Date:   06-10-04 14:42 PDT

          I can’t contain the smile on my face…lol!

          Starting off watching MC and Antonio making love was incredible…..

          Aranza has finally told her son about the identity of his father….the kid plays his part very well but he looks hindu to me!, his skin is way too dark to be believable as Aranza’s and Antonio’s son.

          So Julian turned out to be a cook!....he reminded me of my hubby when he got edgy about the missing saffron for the paella!....he must be a Gemini or a Virgo!

          Antonio even cured MC’s panic attacks….so she thought until Antonio asked her to fly with him….this girl definitely needs professional help…(as a matter of fact, I’ve read that this is being done as a public service to those who in Mexico still think that going to a shrink is only for loony people)…

          I’ve recently read that Chivis and Sergio used to be an item some time ago…it doesn’t surprise me at all, when these two are together, sparks fly all over my tv…what surprises me is that they finished their affair, but, hey, who knows, maybe this project might bring them back in real life as well…..

          I'm also very happy Salomon got a reprimand from Julian.

          As for Kauris' assistant Alejo trying to score points with the chief, I'm not sure if he's looking to take some of the spotlight away from Kauris out of jealousy or he believes Kauris is too obssessed with blaming the pilot and and stewardess that were killed.

          Aranza obviously believes in the revolutionary cause a la Lori Berenson. She is aiding terrorists and drug traffickers who pose themselves as communists looking to free their countries from Imperialistic oppression and decide to take part in a dangerous game that like in Berenson's case landed her in jail in Peru with a lifetime treason sentence....

          What I'm dying to find out is what Kauris has in mind for getting info out of Antonio...is she planning to stake him out....mmmm...if so, I want to be part of the stake out team (I'll take the night shift!)...lol!

          Carmen Del Pilar

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  The Thursday rant (The PAELLA from HELL episode)  [6/10/04] Author: Christine   Date:   06-11-04 10:11 PDT

     -When did Dulce find out that Dioni was gay? Last time I remember Dioni was scared of telling her. Did I miss something here? I'm glad she's being so supportive of him though. I really don't know what to think of Dulce she confuses me.

     -Poor Ranulfo. LoL The hoops he has to go through for Maria Claudia. He is kind of cute no?

     -Whoa that tension between Octavio and Lauro. If Salomon wouldn't have run in there I'm sure Lauro would have killed Octavio. You can see the hatred between those too.

     -How sweet seeing Ricardito talk about his dad. I really hope he gets to meet Antonio soon, although I know this will threaten Antonio and Maria Claudia's relationship.

     -LOL @ Padre asking Lorena is she's going to confession anytime soon. Hm..wonder what she'd say? Oh forgive me father for I have sinned! I have become a ho sleeping around with random men I pick up in bars and then leave without paying them.

     -Was it just me or was Maria Claudia jealous to see Lorena be too friendly with Antonio. Maybe Lorena thinks that...she can bed Antonio and leave him in the morning? Back off woman! Looks like...she can't take a HINT either! Grrrr

     -Glad Lore cleared everything up for Maria Claudia. She even gives good advice in all her drunken stupor heehee

     -Once again I love Kauris' wardrobe. She seems to be charming everyone lately, first Antonio and now icky Santiago? Well at least she's using her beauty to get information out.

     -Loved those smiles Maria Claudia and Antonio kept giving each other during the Paella reunion.

     -Sneaky Kauris! Either she gets info from icky Santi or she smacks Dulce with a citatiorio. Good strategy.

     -Was there a scene before Gabriela reprimanded Maria Claudia? I felt like I missed something before that. =/

     -Oooooh Felipe! Felipe! After one day without him we finally get to see him today. I felt like Antonio when he gave MC flowers. Jealousy! lol

     -Was Lauro being sarcastic when talking to Antonio? I think he noticed it too...

     -Lorena already making a scene...as always in consequence to her drinking.

     -Nooooo Felipe!! You REALLY shouldn't have said that! =( Your Maria Claudia?!! Grrrrrr pardon me while...I go vent!!! "Gracias por haber salvado al amor de mi vida" uhm..no you're the love of my life Mister! lol Antonio took it in stirde though..and they did get along. Maybe Antonio can give me a hand with Felipe?

     -When are we going to get to meet Felipe's family? We can't always have him hounding Maria Claudia. Oh I love the interaction between Mari Clau and Antonio. Maria Claudia set Felipe straight though...I felt for him there. =( Come to mama Felipe! He did look pissed at the end there...villain potential!

     -Ooooh drunk Felipe! He picked up on Mari CLau and Antonio's chemistry. Awwww baby it's ok...there's no need to be insecure! You're just as hot as Antonio!

     -LOL @ Antonio's comments oh yes he's going to fit in perfectly. Felipe a muñequito de pastel? hahahahaha He really was behaving like a little brat. It's cute tho!

     -Glad to see Silvia using her english. "Relax"!

     -Julian had no right to make those comments to Antonio! How would he know if MC loves him or not? He hasn't even taken the time to talk to them at the same time.

     -Kauris reached her objective. She got information out of Santiago and I have a bad feeling about these two. They could probably get together and wreak havoc against the MaGris.

     -Oh yes Lorena! Make it much worse by proposing a toast. The look on Felipe and Lauro's faces gave us a preview of what's to come. This paella is just getting started!

     -Felipe throwing a fit...and threatening Lauro. He should know better than to do that or else he'll end up like Fermin.

     -Go for Maria Claudia! She's determined to face anyone to defend her love for Antonio.

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  Here it is: The dialogues from the MG Paella Party  [TVA, 6/11/04] Author: Carmen Del Pilar    Date:   06-12-04 18:53 PDT

     I've done a rough write up (pardon me for any errors!) of the infamous Madero Grimaldi Paella Party which I think are worth savoring word by word. Kudos to the writers of this novela!)

     (Scene from episode shown on June 10, 2004)

     (Link 1)

     (MC and Antonio are still in Tequesquitengo)

     MC: ¿Estas seguro?

     A: Nunca he estado mas seguro en mi vida

     MC: Pero….no se como lo vaya a tomar mi papa Antonio…

     A: Maria Claudia

     MC: ¿uhmm?

     A: Dimelo ahora...¿me quieres?...¿realmente me quieres?

     MC: Claro que si!!!

     A: ¿Y lo que dijiste acerca de lo que nadie podra separarnos?

     MC: Lo sostengo…no voy a permitir que nunca nadie nos separe…nunca……nunca

     (They kiss)

     -----------------------

     (salomón is in the kitchen talking to Eulalia, his mother after he´s been reprimanded by Don Julian for mistreating his mom…he tells her he shouldn´t go around crying and complaining to the Madero-Grimaldis. She tells him that his treatment towards her is obvious for all to see and that it hurts her terribly. He says to her:

     Salo: No soporto como hueles…no te soporto a ti….Sabes que es lo peor de todo…que me siento muy mal cuando te digo todas estas cosas

     (He walks away, leaving Eulalia sad and crying…)

     -----------------------

     Madero-Grimaldi Paella Dinner (Lorena greets Antonio and MC)

     Lor: Hola, tu eres Antonio

     A: Si

     Lor: Tenia muchas ganas de conocerte!...¿Quieres un trago?

     A: Claro!

     Lor: Con toda confianza eh!

     -----------------------   

     (Link2)

     Lor: Me encanta lo que haces eh…eso de estar en el aire, volar y uy! Debe ser super divino y divertido

     A: Si claro…es muy divertido

     Lor: ¿Quieres un tequila?

     A: Claro que si…ademas siempre te sientes libre

     Lor: uhum!

     A:Yo no podria estar encerrado en una oficina todo el santo dia

     Lor: No..me imagino que no…oye, ¿pero me vas a invitar a Teques no?, para que me enseñes a volar y a sentirme libre!...porque a mi me encanta sentirme libre

     A: Claro que si, cuando quieras

     Lor: Si!

     A: Claro que si…ahí estoy a tus ordenes

     Lor: Muchas gracias…salud!

     A: Salud

     Lor: Y ¿es cierto que estuviste en la guerra del golfo?

     A: En esa y en otras que duelen mas

     Lor: ¿Cuales?

     A: En las del dia a dia

     Lor: oh?

     A: La guerra de tener que comer todos los dias!...es un chiste hombre…

     Lor: Ah!

     (They both laugh)

     A: Salud

     (MC approaches, looks at them laughing and then asks Antonio:)

     MC: ¿Estas bien?...¿todo bien?

     A: Si, si…claro que si…tu hermana es muy agradable

     MC: Si, si…oye Lorena..¿me acompañas?

     Lor: No!

     MC: Por favor:

     Lor: Como te voy a acompañar si aquí estoy super bien!

     MC: Mi papa quiere unas botellas de

     Lor: Bueno, si mi papa dice…si!...(looking at Antonio she says:)...pero por favor tu no te muevas eh!

     A: Ni un milimetro!

     Lor: No te muevas porque las estamos pasando estupendo…

     Si claro

     MC: vamos, vamos, vamos…

     A: (to Lorena) Aquí te espero, eh!

     Te veo contento sobrino…la verdad que te agradezco que no hayas desairado a don Julian…y mas…después del coraje y la preocupación que le hiciste pasar…

     A: ¿Yo?

     Don Angel: Tu…tu!

     Antonio laughs

     Don Angel: Dijiste que no querias nada con Maria Claudia y llegas con ella…y quien sabe de donde!

     A: Le guste a quien le guste y muy a mi pesar…la amo profundamente tio…

     Don Angel: Ay Antonio!..ya hablaremos de eso eh…deberías convivir con todos sin estar parado en un solo lugar…

     (scene changes to MC and Lorena in the house foyer)

     Lor: Estas diciendo puras, puras babosadas…hermana, como crees!

     MC: Estoy viendo todas la tarugadas que estas haciendo…no me gustan…por favor ya no sigas tomando…compórtate como gente decente si!..

     Lor: Oye…estas metidísima con el piloto, te encanta ¿verdad?

     MC: Mas! que eso Lorena…no quiero que lo hagas sentir mal

     Lor: Oye lo único que estábamos haciendo era platicando!..pregúntale!

     MC: mmmm

     Lor. O ¿estas celosa?

     MC changes the look on her face

     Lor: Mira yo no dudo que el sea un hombre muy atractivo, muy guapo, pero no es mi tipo, de verdad! No te angusties, no me voy a meter con el..

     MC: Gracias

     Lor: Oye Maria Claudia…en buen plan…no te enamores..disfrútalo, gózalo, pero no te claves, porque sino, sino hermana, vas a sufrir mucho, no te claves….la vas a pasar mejor

     MC: mmmhumm….por pensar asi no te has podido comprometer con nadie..

     Lor: No, no, no te apures…lo voy a hacer el dia que encuentre a un hombre que sea como mi papa…

     MC: Ah..Y dudo mucho que lo encuentres

     -----------------------

     (Octavio and Antonio are chatting)

     Oct: Oye la verdad, a mi me encantaria volar una de tus naves

     A: Cuando quieras te enseño

     Oct: ¿De verdad?

     A: Claro que si…elige tu el dia y volamos cuando quieras

     -----------------------   

     (MC walks towards Antonio, but is intercepted by her father who asks her to fetch his medicine in his room…she obligues and goes back into the house…)

     (At her parents room MC meets her mother who had been waiting to catch her alone)

     -----------------------

     Sabes perfectamente que no me refiero a eso…acostarse con alguien a quien apenas conoces esta mal!

     MC: Soy una mujer decente y ademas adulta…llevo años haciendo mi vida, estudiando lejos de aquí mama, siendo independiente..se perfectamente lo que hago..

     Pues lo que hiciste lastimo mucho a tu padre..oh ¿esperabas que no se de cuenta en donde o con quien estuviste?

     MC: No fue mi intencion lastimarlo

     Gab: Pero lo hiciste Maria Claudia…y lo peor es que fue con ese que ni siquiera es de tu clase!

     MC: Piensa lo que quieras mama!

     (MC walks away)

     -----------------------   

     (Antonio is strolling around and Lauro gets up and approaches him)

     Lau: ¿Lo estan tratando bien señor Bautista?

     A: Muy bien, gracias…usted ¿es?

     Lau: Lauro Madero-Grimaldi, el hermando mayor de Maria Claudia

     A: Mucho gusto

     Lau: Le agradezco mucho todo lo que hizo por mi hermana

     A: Igual que yo le agradezco a ella lo que hizo por mi..

     Lau: Me imagino que en esos dias debieron de haberse apoyado mucho

     A: Mas de lo que se imagina

     Lau: Ya me contara algun dia…

     A: Si, algun dia

     Lau: Con permiso

     A: Propio

     -----------------------   

     (MC sees that Lauro leaves A alone and quikcly gets up from her chair to go to him, but Don Angel beats her to it and starts a chat with Antonio)

     -----------------------   

     Don Ang: Y, ¿como vas sobrino?

     A: Muy bien tio…(MC gives up and slowly walks by them and hears Antonio say:) aqui disfrutando como le dan flores a mi mujer (MC gives him a sad and frustrated look)..y aprendiendo de personajes tan especiales…sobretodo del icono de la prepotencia (loved this statement lol!)

     Don Ang: Lauro

     A: ¿Cómo supiste?

     -----------------------   

     Felipe, who is in a very happy mood and has a big smile on his face approaches Antonio who looks at him inquirinly)

     Fel: Asi que usted es el muy aclamado piloto Antonio Bautista

     A: El mismo

     Fel: Es un placer conocerlo…yo soy Felipe Ramos Ochoa, asesor financiero del grupo Magri, y amigo (he stops himself), que digo amigo! Miembro de esta familia desde que era pequeño..

     A: (looks at him, thinks for a second and says.) Felipe, Felipe Ramos..(he finally recognizes him as MC´s childhood boyfriend and says:) Felipe!

     Fel. Exactamente

     A: Salud Felipe!

     Fel: Salud!...queria aprovechar este momento para darte las gracias por haber salvado a mi Mari Claudia

     A: Creame que fue un gran placer

     Fel: Me imagino…en verdad no se que seria de mi vida sin ella

     (Antonio bites his tongue and just stares at him not saying a word)

     Fel: Amigo, dejame repetirlo (he extends his hand to shake Antonios and says:)..gracias por haber salvado al amor de mi vida

     (Antonio bites his tongue once again and throws a look at MC who is seated watching them with a surprised look on her face)

     -----------------------   

     (Link 4)

     Antonio is smiling at Felipe and says

     A: Creeme, me da gusto conocerte amigo..deberas que a leguas se nota que eres el hombre ideal para Maria Claudia..

     Fel: Sabes que todos dicen que hacemos una pareja preciosa!

     (Antonio sarcastically says:

     A: ¿Tu y yo?

     Fel: (Catches the joke and laughs with Antonio)…”pero me gusta tu sentido del humor eh!”

     A: Tu novia piensa lo mismo

     A: Nooo, de mi hombre!

     Fel. Pues, a tu salud!

     A: A la tuya

     Fel: Fijate que nuestras familias se conocen desde hace mucho tiempo

     A: Hombre no sabia…porque fijate que mi papa radico en los Estados Unidos y mi mama la verdad…

     Fel: No, no, no…ya, no, te confundiste..no, yo decia…mi papa, y, y don Julian se conocen desde hace muchisimo tiempo y siempre han pensado que nosotros estamos hechos para fortalecer los lazos familiares…

     Ah!, si claro!.no hombre, disculpame…que tonto soy!...Oye, y, ¿desde cuando son novios?

     Fel. Bueno, ¿Claudia y yo?

     A: Ni modo que Don Julian y tu papa!

     (They both burst out laughing again)

     Fel: (Realizes he made a foolish question)….nosotros desde que jugabamos a la casita

     (MC joins them just as Felipe is finishing his sentence and says:

     MC: ¿Se estan divirtiendo?

     A: Uy! Si!...aqui tu novio, se pasa de simpatico

     MC: ¿Mi novio?

     Fel. Ah que ¿ya no somos novios?

     MC: Lo fuimos Felipe y ya hace muchisimo tiempo…ahora eres…un amigo..

     (Felipe stops laughing while Antonio looks at him with a winning smile on his face and says:)

     A: ¿Otro tequilita?

     Fel: Pues, yo creo que si…salud (and walks away in defeat)

     MC: (asks Antonio) ¿Qué le pasa?...hace años de eso

     A: No te preocupes, hasta el sotoluco tuvo tardes tristes (they both laugh)

     MC: ¿Me invitas un tequila?

     A: Porque no!...la casa paga!

     MC: Te digo!

     A: Haber, aquí esta

     MC: Muchas gracias

     (Felipe is watching them with absolute frustration and downs his tequila with an angry look on his face)

     -----------------------   

     (On another part of the house, Don Angel and Don Julian are chatting)

     Don Ang: Le agradezco que tuvo este detalle conmigo y mi sobrino

     Don Jul: Lo hago porque hay que ser agradecidos con los que nos ayudan, y tu sobrino hizo mucho por mi hija

     Don Ang: Si, no podia haber hecho otra cosa….

     Don Jul: Pero quiero dejarte bien en claro una cosa Angel. Antonio es bien recibido en esta casa, pero como amigo nada mas

     Don Ang: Si, si, si..por supuesto Don Julian…gracias…

     Don Jul: Solo! Como amigo….¿mmhumm?

     Don Ang: Nunca lo vi de otra manera don Julian

     Don Jul: Esta bien…..

     -----------------------   

     (MC and her mom have a chat)

     MC: Que pasa mama

     Gab: Pasa que ya esta bastante que te comportes como si nada hubiera pasado

     MC: No ha pasado nada…

     Gab: Ah no!...¿donde pasaste la noche?

     MC: ay!

     Gab: Mira!, si hemos permitido que ese hombre este aquí, es por algo que se llama clase. ¿Entiendes?, pero no abuses Maria Claudia. O cambias tu comportamiento hacia el o lo mando a sacar de esta casa..

     MC: Yo que tu….no lo intentaria mama!

     (MC leaves her mother and walks to where Antonio is chatting with Octavio and Mauricio. She greets Mauricio:

     MC: Mauricio, ¿como estas?

     -----------------------   

     Maur: Que bonita te ves!

     MC: Muchas gracias!

     MC: ¿Me lo puedo robar un minutito?

     Oct: Es todo tuyo

     MC: Gracias…con permiso

     A: Con permiso muchachos (MC takes Antonio away…)

     -----------------------   

     Once, alone MC asks A:

     MC: ¿Como te la estas pasando?

     A: (takes a big breath and says:) “Desesperado”

     MC: Porque!

     A: Me muero de ganas por abrazarte, besarte delante de todos

     MC: Yo tambien, pero no se puede

     A: Pst!..Estoy esperando el momento para hablar con tu papa!

     MC: Estoy nerviosa Antonio!

     A: Pues enfrentalo!...vine para hablar con el y lo voy a hacer

     MC: mmmmm

     A: ¿Me quieres?

     MC: Te adoro

     A: Estas de todo lo normal

     MC: Hay que payaso eres!

     -----------------------   

     (All the while, an obviously drunk Felipe is watching and talking to Lauro as they both watch MC and Antonio from a distance)

     Fel: Yo no se Lauro. Pero aquí hay algo que no me gusta, y no me gusta nada! (it must be the “lean” thing…lol!)

     Lau: Por favor Felipe! Como crees que mi hermana se va a fijar en un pelmazo como ese…¿estas loco?

     Fel: No me gusta como se miran, ni como se hablan, ni mucho menos que este tan al pendiente de el

     Lau: ¿Eres inseguro Felipe?

     Fel: Era…ahora…no se

     Lauro bursts out laughing, Felipe looks at him and says¨:

     Fel: No te burles!

     A: No voltees, pero todos nos miran como si fueramos novios

     MC: ¿Y que somos?

     MC: Ay ya! Ya! ...¿brindamos?

     A: Por ti

     MC: Bueno ya. En serio..¿como te sientes?

     A: En serio, ¿en serio?

     MC: mmmhumm

     A: Como cucaracha en fiesta de gallinas

     (MC bursts out in a huge laughter)

     A: Es que asi decia mi tio cuando se viste de traje!

     MC: Si, si….oye, y mis hermanos ¿Qué tal?

     A: Lorena es un bonbon (if he only knew what she thinks of him!), Octavio un cien!, Laurito un plomo, no y que te digo de Felipillo (lol!)…ese es tan simpatico como un gancho al higado!

     MC: Lo bueno es que no es mi hermano

     A: No, pero ese dice que es de la familia eh!, lo presume….miralo….parece muñequito de pastel

     Fel: Yo ya cumpli

     Lau: Si hombre si, pero quieres que haga, ¿Qué lo corra?

     Fel: No seras capaz

     Lau: Entonces bajale a tu paranoia. Esta en mi casa, es invitado de mis padres. Yo te di mi palabra de que mi hermana es para ti ¿cierto o falso?

     Fel: Si, si lo unico que no quiero es que por estar platicando aquí, se coman mi mandado

     (Lauro laughs again)

     Fel: No te burles!

     Lau: Descuida. La menor falta que cometa, asi sea que estornude demasiado fuerte, yo me encargo de que jamas se vuelva a parar en esta casa

     Fel: Y yo te ayudo

     Lau: okay

     A: Si, no deja de presumirte como tu novia

     MC: Pero viste lo que le dije ¿no?

     A: Si, pero se pasa

     MC: Ya, ya!...relax!

     (An obviously drunk priest spots them and walks over to speak to Antonio)

     (end of scene)

     -----------------------   

     (next scene)

     Antonio walks over to Don Julian and starts a chat with him

     A: Don Julian

     Don Jul: Si!...Hombre muchacho! Ya era hora que te dieras una vuelta por aquí. ¿Cómo la estas pasando?

     A: Con tanta cordialidad y con tantas atenciones que mas se puede esperar

     Don Jul: Pues la paella, mira nada mas!

     A: Verdad! Esta de fotografia Don Julian

     Don Jul: La autentica paella a la valenciana muchacho. La que exige la gente mas refinada. Porque se confunde mucho el arroz a la valenciana con la paella

     Mira, mira (he takes a spoonful of the paella and offers it to Antonio to taste)

     Prueba

     (Antonio tastes it)

     Don Jul: ¿Que te parece?

     A: mmmm! Una delicia Don Julian

     Don Jul: Arroz español. La perla de los productos de valencia, en fin, es mi manera de agasajar a los buenos amigos, aunque algunos dicen que como enemigo soy mejor

     A: Eso me suena a amenaza Don Julian

     Don Jul: No, hombre no! nada de eso

     A: Bueno, entonces eso me anima mas a hablar con usted acerca de mis sentimientos por Maria Claudia…(end of scene)

     Hope you enjoy!

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  The rant: Tuesday [TVA, 6/15/04] (Episode 22:Julian's demise is near...and Salomon's look of fear)  Author: Christine (---)  Date:   06-16-04 17:26 PDT

     -Loved how Julian told Maria Claudia that he needs her to be strong because he fears that someone is going to attempt to kill him again. Is he starting to suspect Salomon and Lauro? I hope so!

     -Loved the contraste between Octavio's race and Fabian almost raping Linda. I ws glad he didn't rape her though, I've seen too many rapes already this year in novelaland to have to sit through another one. Although Linda actually did defend herself which I was proud of.

     -Yay Maria Claudia is going to stay in Mexico! I guess we're not gonna see Austin anymore right? I love her scenes with Julian. Gerardo Murray and Silvia Navarro work well, they have that father-daughter chemistry. We saw more of that when she told him that she loves Antonio, and him telling her he's scared that she could be making a mistake with Antonio. I had to smile when he thanked her for her support and for understanding him.

     -Woooo hoooooo Kauris is on to Salomon! and it seems she thinks Felipe and Carlos are involved too. Why doesn't she think of Lauro though? Or is it that she doesn't think he has potential because he's a MaGri. She's after Aotnio now? Get away woman! He has nothing to do with what caused the accident. Uh oh..do I smell a love pentagon here? We have Kauris,Aranza,Antonio,Maria Claudia and Felipe all fighting over someone now. Although Kauris has a motive...getting information while the other 4 want to gain something they lost.

     -Julian is starting to ask questions and is asking the WRONG person. I'm guessing this means that his end is near...

Salomon looked so scared when Julian was asking him all those questions. Could it be that he will be the one and not Lauro who ends up getting rid of Julian? That's logical since he does hate most of the MaGris. Yes yes yes!!

     -What is it with Gaby being so bossy lately?! Does she not see that Maria Claudia is a grown woman and not a little girl anymore? I'm glad Maria Claudia holds her own and doesn't let her mother intimidate and boss her around though.

     -Salomon actually gave Julian the info? What the HELL Salomon can't even say hello to his mother anymore? Slap him Eulalia!

     -Why didn't Linda just tell Octavio what happened? and why the hell didn't she call the cops either? Does she not see that Fabian isn't going to leave her alone until she does something.

     -Nice analogy Julian... comparng Eulalia to MaGri. I hate to say this...but Salomon doesn't deserve a mother like Eulalia. She is such a wonderful person and he is trash. At least now we know he treats her that way because he doesn't know who his father is.

     -Is Salomon really gonna spy on Lauro or just use this to his advantage? Could be interesting if Lauro ever finds out.

     -Was it just my PC screen or was Antonio wearing a pink shirt. He looked damn good in it though..yum. I could be missing my Felipe...but is it just me or is Crisanto cute? I've never seen him before until this novela.

     -Looks like we're not the only ones who enjoyed the little romp with Antonio. Miss Maria Claudia can't seem to get it out of her head either heehee =)

     -Felipe calls Lauro yet we don't see him? =/

     -Patricia better watch out, seeing that Lauro and Salomon see her as a threat...she's probably gonna end up dead. Is Lauro that stupid to think that everyone would suspect him?

     -Italia doesn't seem to like Linda very much. I think that if Lorena ever finds out that Linda is dating Octavio it will be from Italia.

     -Maria Claudia asking the drunk priest (I decided to call him that after he got tipsy at the paella from hell party lol) for help was interesting. I was shocked when he said he agreed with Julian and Gaby. I guess he is loving those donations Gaby gives him. Padre corrupto!

     -Kauris al ataque! I have to admit when I saw the white car I wasn't expecting to see Kauris but a few goons ready to beat up Antonio. Buahaha Loved how Toño handed over Kauris over to Crisanto...looks like she's gonna have a tough job getting into his pants haha

     -I love it how Antonio isn't the typical stupid galan who doesn't see anyone's real intentions. He knows Kauris is up to something...

     -Hm..what is Dulce up to? Why does she want to see Carlos? She thinking she can weasel her way into MaGri through him? lol

     -Holy crap! Lauro at the modelling agency...was it just me or did I see Octavio there?! Oh this is gonna get good...why did Linda react that way to seeing Lauro?

     All right no Felipe sightings today. We did have some yesterday, but not enough lol Sorry for the lack of rants..I've been going crazy here lately..too many novelas so little time.

 

     www.telenovela-world.com: The Rant: Friday 6/18/04 Episode 25  Author: Christine (---)  Date:   06-20-04 12:45 PDT

     -You'd think Antonio would be more careful after his run-in with Lauro. I know he only has eyes for Mari Clau but wouldn't he notice they're being followed? I think Ranulfo noticed. Back to Maria Claudia and Antonio they are soooo sweet. I know I've said it over and over but Silvia and Sergio are wonderful. Seeing him get off to go buy flowers for our heroine was something I'd wish more men would do for us women. (Yes...I envy Maria Claudia lol)

     -I wonder if Gaby REALLY was asking Julian for a divorce or just marriage conseling. If it was marriage couseling that'd be fun to watch...

     -Where does Alejo get off criticizing Kauris' recent operation? He didn't participate so he should just shove it! Glad that boss called Alejo on contradicting Kauris...he has no information and all he's doing is sit around. Aha! So Alejo is trying to steal Kauris' glory.

     -Dulce if officially a suspect in the attempt against Julian's life...but why not suspect Lauro? He has more motives...but like I've stated before no one would suspect him because he's a MaGri.

     -Dioni really doesn't know when to stop does he? He got beat up...blames Lorena for it and still bugs her.

     -Good for Lorena! El que nada debe nada teme, and she proved that by sowing up to testify. LoL @ the criminals trying to blame Lorena for everything...and they ended up looking like a bunch of fools. Guess they're headed to the slammer...and they even involved Dulce! Ok they're headed to the morgue not the slammer. Funny how they tried to justify their lie by saying the situation in Mexico is hard.

     -Felipe sighting! Felipe sighting!He's looking spiffy like always =)

MaGri Japan? Good idea from Lorena...

     -Linda has a reason to be scared of Lauro. Not only is he older than her but she's dating Octavio already, and if she wants to avoid a family feud she'll tell Lauro to stay away.

     -Italia...you sleazy sleazy woman...trying to flirt with Octavio. Oops..lol and she got rejected too heehee

     -Ooooh Felipe with glasses...yum. Ok enough of him.. Lauro's gonna use Lorena's company as a front to launder money and smuggle weapons? I like the name of it though "Lorena dreams". Carlos as always skeptical, but with good reason.

     -"El Imperio Que No Camina" is what Dioni's magazine said.

     -Why does Gabriela want Julian out of the inaguration? Is it just because of their fight? She needs to stop stressing and try to work things out with Julian.

     -I literally jumped when idiot on the bike brougbt the gun out and said "te vas a morir!" Woooooo Hoooooooo Antonio fought back, glad tha galan didn't get beat up like always!!.. Silvia as always SUPERB...excellent on that breakdown.

     -Salomon's meeting with Mr. X... and of course he's making good use of the little camera on his tie. You'd think they'd frisk everyone and check for anything suspicious before going into those types of meetings.

     -Antonio did the right thing taking Maria Claudia to therapy. I will probably say it over and over but Silvia was great when she was telling the psychiatrist what she saw and her reaction to the danger her and Antonio were in.

     -Looks like Salomon is due...for some Lorena lovin'. I knew he hadn't just gone to see her to see how it had gone at the police station. LOL..

     -Once again Maria Claudia holds her own against Gaby. Gaby had no right to treat Antonio the way she did.

     -Octavio and Lauro...interesting scene there. Those two are definitely gonna end up killing each other sooner or later, the Linda situation will definitely fuel this. Lauro really IS insane. Wonder if he still thinks that Octavio will give him his vote...

     -So...Santiago knew that there was something between Julian and Dulce, why hasn't he suspected that Dioni is only his 1/2 brother then? Wow...so that and the drinking and his company going broke killed him.

     -Santi can't seem to get Kauris' name right. LOL Hey if I can get it anyone can get it.

     -I really don't understand Gabriela, she wants Maria Claudia to recover but will NOT let her be near Antonio. I love Felipe but she can't get any help from him.

     -Lorena vs. Dioni and Dulce... yes! Loved how Lore called her a whore, and bitter old woman who's a coward. I was really expecting her to tell Dulce that Dioni got a watch from his "love" Eric.

     I really wonder if Lorena will go ask Julian while Dice and the Sergiotorres hate them. If she does will he tell the truth? Only 2 Felipe sightings today... =/ I need to write to Azteca and beg them to give him more screen time. I feel just like Janet did when watching La Intrusa and Mr. Juvencio went from getting lots of screen time to barely being on. =(

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:The Rant: Friday 6/25/04  Author: Christine  Date:   06-28-04 23:51 PDT

     -What a scare! Like Carmen del Pilar said below...I thought Julian had a heart attack. Thank goodness it was just him fainting. Octavio looked so scared, but I think he should have called 911 or 080 over there and had him checked out. As always Julian stubborn not wanting any help, or wanting to go to the Dr. I guess now we know where the MaGris get their sturbborness. "Eres mi fuerza, y eres mi energia"... I'm glad one of the MaGris besides Mari Clau admits their family would crumble if Julian ever passed. I just loved jow Julian joked about his fainting spell...I still think something is wrong since he did look a little weak going up the stairs. I guess the memories really got to him.

     -I thought Lore's attitude after she got out of the slammer was an act but I'm glad it wasn't! Let's hope she sticks with that attitude and decides to fight her addictions, first step is rejecting Salomon's offer of a drink. Coffee? Starbucks anyone? Forgot to add she got rid of the extasis sleazy Fabian gave her. Go Lorena! Alcohol and drug free!

     -Octavio did the right thing calling Gabriela about Julian's fainting spell. Even though she's angry at Julian you can tell there's lost of love there.

     -Oooooh Sundaes in bed...LOL I had to chuckle at that scene where Lore and Salomon were in bed. I'm guessing he'd rather eat a sundae than smoke a cigarrette after doing the deed with Lorena. What the hell is Salomon so angry about? The MaGris always shared everything and I'm glad Lorena told him that he wasn't only the maid's son. He needs to get over the past and just look forward already! Drop the grudges Salomon! I think Lorena cares for him but isn't into commitment at all (that explains her sleeping around). At least she was honest with him instead of leading him on.

     -Dr. Alvaro did good scolding Julian, he needs to stop stressing about the past and try to move on. Only thing I didn't appreciate was Dr. Alvaro kicking Octavio out. Who do ya think ya are?! lol

     -The morning after...Maria Claudia and Antonio. -sigh- Can I just say how good last night was...my PC almost caught fire because of 'em. All I have to say is they both looked so happy and in love. Wonder what their significant others have to say about those scenes. They were HOT!

     -LoL Loved that scene with Lauro and Eulalia, he looked playful and acted like a young guy like him should. For once I've seen him smile and be nice to someone. I must admit he looks better with his hair slicked back. I didn't think he was attractive before but what a change a new hairstyle can do. Felipe you've got competition! Eulalia kind of reminds me of Altagracia from "El Manantial" she's like the confidante of the family.

     -Interesting how everyone from Aranza to Salomon and Lorena were watching the newscast that morning. I wonder who let the cat out of the bag and accused the Sergio Torres? Could it have been Kauris or her partner Alejo?

     -Did I see some fear in Salomon's face when Lore said that she hoped they locked up whoever helped the Sergio Torres'? The truth is about to come out I think!

     -LoL @ "You were tired and you need to recover"... Looks like our Maria Clau really worked Mr. Toño the night before. I love these two together! I've said it a few times (more like 10?) but I'll say it again...Silvia and Sergio light up the screen. It's funny how when this episode aired last week the ratings went up from 6-8 up to 10. Maybe the Azteca people will take the hint and keep this up. Silvia and Sergio along with the rest of the cast are what make this such a great novela. Back to Maria Claudia and Antonio I love how they trust each other, and how they're really honest... I had forgotten she wasn't very polite to him at first when they first met. Miss Maria Clau?! Did I hear "joto" out of your mouth young lady? lol I wasn't expecting that...but I like it how these characters are real like us, and use crude words that are used in real life too. She called Felipe a "yuppy"... welll he's a cute "yuppy" haha, she said he's missing something...that would be ME I think.

     -I honestly didn't think Aranza knew that Grupo MaGri (Lauro and Salomon) was smuggling the weapons...also we found out Milena is sterile. After hearing their conversation I think I will go with Carmen del Pilar's assumption and say Aranza will be leaving us and this world soon.

     -Antonio and Maria Claudia talking about her family was entertaining. We see that she feels admiration and a little fear of Julian. I'm glad Toño made her see that she doesn't have to be scared of her dad. Gaby has favorites? I actually thught that MC was her favorite and not Lauro and Lore. I liked what she said about Lauro, she had nothing but god things to say about him until she got to him being ambitious. I thought her saying he was ambitious would set something off and would make her think that maybe just MAYBE he had something to do with the hit out on Julian Madero.

     -Glad reporter set Santiago straight and let him know he has no price. All he did was his job and did what a decent journalist would do and that IS speak the truth.

     -Julian is asking the wrong person to help him figure out who attempted to kill him. Loved the look on Julian's face when he was cursing the person's family.

     Ok no Felipe anywhere... where is he? I know he's a secondary character but I miss him. Since we saw the Hechos AM newscast in this when will we get to see Ventaneando? LOL It'd be fun to see La Chapoy talk about Lorena's escapades.

 

     www.telenovela-world.com: Comments about last night's episode (July 5, 2004)  Author: CarmenDelPilar   Date:   07-06-04 13:50 PDT

     I thought the transition of directors was going to be more subtle and never expected so many changes to take place practically overnight! But, yet again, I was blown away starting with the completely revamped opening credits (at least they’ve kept the song!) to MC’s physical appearance (long straight hair, more makeup, chic clothes).

     There seems to be a more intimate approach to each character as well, which I liked.

     However, I found the interaction between Antonio and MC a bit colder than in previous episodes. It didn’t flow as smoothly. Especially after last week. Witnessing incredible scenes and dialogue I was feeling a very strong bond developing in the relationship between MC and Antonio. The embraces were not natural and felt phony to me. However, by the time he left the Magri household, their goodbye kiss was like old times…

     Shock was the first thing that came to mind when Lauro accepted MC’s decision to marry Antonio, but then I realized he was just trying to seize the opportunity to take his little sis out of the game.

     I really hope Kauris gets the bad guys this time, otherwise she’s going to be assigned desk duty for a long, long time…..on the other hand, if La Chata gets caught, poor Ricardito will be left without a mom and at the mercy of Milena, La Despiadada…

     Octavio has lost all his appeal to me. He’s turning out to be the spoiled little boy who’s still playing with his mini racing cars and hasn’t grown up yet, spending his family’s money without much regard. He has a long way to mature into a true man. At his point, I’m looking forward to some turmoil in his life which might push him in the right direction.

     Lorena, the addict, is getting a kick out of the whole situation. She’s got no more tears left in her so she simply laughs that sarcastic laugh that really means: “Yeah, I belong to this poor excuse of a family!”

     Antonio’s character has changed….I don’t know if it has to do with the new director or the fact that he was trying too hard to keep a low key….I was expecting him to show more assertiveness and be on the defensive, but he just took everything that was thrown at him and when asked to, simply walked out….

     Maria Claudia showed her family she’s not afraid of them. She put her mother in her place and stood her ground, even after that thunderous slap! What she didn’t expect (nor I for that matter!) was the fact that her father would consider taking her out of his will. That was yet another shocker, since I always imagined that the story would revolve around MC taking over the reigns of Magri Enterprises.

     Ricardito keeps growing on me. This kid is doing a terrific job playing the suffering boy in need of peace and security in his life.

     This story just keeps me wondering what’s going to happen next!!!

     Carmen Del Pilar

     Re:  OMG!!!I can't believe so much happened in one episode!!!  [TVA, 7/7/04]   Author: CarmenDelPilar   Date:   07-08-04 07:42 PDT

     Last night was filled with edge-of-the-seat suspense and lots and lots of revelations and discoveries and encounters, etc, etc,etc!!

     I'm still in shock from so much that took place in a single episode!

This new director really wants to stir things up and has my totally and undivided attention!!

     All the scenes were perfectly executed and has brought the novela to a new level!

     So many secrets are out in the open! secrets that by novela standards take forever to come out, but this novela has broken new ground by presenting revelations so early in the game while still keeping us, the audience, reeling with emotions.

     This was just a comment on the new direction the novela is going....I will post later my comments on the developing stories.....

     Carmen Del Pilar

     Re: OMG!!!I can't believe so much happened in one episode!!!  [TVA, July 7, 2004]  Author: Christine Date:   07-08-04 09:56 PDT

     It was excellent!!

     Surprise No. 1- I wasn't expecting Milena to betray Radames and his men to save Aranza and Ricardito.

     Surprise No. 2- Aranza calling Antonio. If this had been any other novela this would have been dragged out for a loooong time!

     Surprise No. 3- I didn't expect Santiago to face Dulce like that and especially in front of Dionisio.

     Re: My comments on last night (July 7, 2004)  Author: CarmenDelPilar   Date:   07-08-04 10:05 PDT

     Let me start by saying that even though last night there were no romantic scenes between the leading actors, on the scale from 1 to 10, we had another 11!

     What I like the most about this novela is the fact that everyone, the good and the bad, are depicted as real life people. Here’s what I mean….

     For example, Milena, the “ruthless one” who I thought was going to become Aranza’s executioner, became vulnerable upon hearing Ricardito’s words of thanks for taking care of him, she had a sudden change of heart and became Aranza and Ricardo’s savior helping them escape from the hands of their captors. This ultimately cost her own life.

     But this was just the tip of the iceberg!

     Then we see Santiago arriving at his mother’s place to engage in a conversation that turned into a revelation of all sorts. First he tells her and his brother Dionisio that the reason he was in the operative was because he was filming a documentary on how the OFI dismantled an operation of sale of arms to the Colombian guerrillas where the prime suspect is Julian Madero. Dulce’s reaction ticked him off to the point where he just burst out that he knew for a very long, long time that she had cheated on her father by becoming Julian Madero’s lover! My jaw just dropped at that moment!

     As Santiago kept going while Dulce listened speechless with shock, Dionisio’s look of disappointment towards his mom was priceless. Both brothers passing judgment on their mother based on what a drunken and obviously resentful father had said in a moment of rage!, not realizing that there are always 2 versions to a story was unique. (You’d think that at their age, they would be mature enough to understand this!)

     But the conversation didn’t stop here! There was more yet to come. We find that Santiago has also suspected that Dionisio might be the offspring of his mother’s infidelity. And what does Dionisio do? He lunges towards his brother beating him in total rage feeling overwhelmingly offended by that possibility!

     Dulce finally steps in and puts her foot down trying to clarify what really happened.

I loved when Santiago asked his mother if she had betrayed his dad with thoughts of another man and her response that her thoughts and ideas only belong to her!(Great reply!)

(Footnote: I wonder if Dulce is going to call Julian to tell him about the OFI’s suspicion! Which could make Julian realize that the 100 million dollars were in fact used for this operation!.This could change Julian’s decision regarding MC and who knows, he might send her an SOS to help him out ASAP )

     As if this wasn’t enough to declare the episode above average, we see Aranza and her son at an Internet store trying to find the website that had a pix of Antonio. I felt their desperation as they couldn’t find it, but then alas! it just popped into view!.

I was a nervous reck as Aranza dialed the number while Antonio was using his blender to make himself a fruit shake. I figured, ok here it goes, another typical novela cliché. But then on the next scene, we see Aranza not giving up and dialing again. This time Antonio hears the phone and answers the call!...(my heart was beating so fast…lol!!)

I felt so bad for the poor guy. With a single phone call his past becomes his present sending him into total turmoil! He realizes he’s got a son!

     Without much time to swallow this, he faces his long lost family, feeling as if he’d entered the twilight zone, looking at his son for the very first time and realizing the fear the boy has lived in which breaks his heart. Once, again, I have to admit the casting of this boy was right on the money. The kid portrays his role so convincingly!

     The camera closing in on father and son’s hands (reminding me of the famous Michelangelo portrait taken from the Sistine Chapel in Rome) was deeply touching.

The immediate bonding taking place between father and son had me reaching for my Kleenex box (lol!). Ricardito’s reaction of fear trying to explain to his dad that he had just witnessed a killing. Antonio’s paternal and protective instinct kicking in trying to comfort his son. Aranza’s look of despair, guilt, sadness wrapped into one. All this was taking me into a rollercoaster ride of emotions!

Watching Antonio put his son to sleep with such tenderness and loving care was priceless!

     Antonio and Aranza’s conversations had me on the edge of my seat. I thought Antonio was going to want to strangle her for putting his son in so much danger all these years. His burst of emotions was justified. Aranza’s admission that she had been fighting the wrong cause. Her explanation that she felt abandoned by Antonio when he went off to fight a senseless war. Her desire not to be treated as a second class citizen in the US looking for a better future for her son, were, to a certain degree, also understandable.

     Last but not least, we get to see MC all packed ready to leave and pursue her own future with Lorena and Octavio bidding her goodbye.

I liked the embrace and the exchange of words between sisters. MC understands that as long as her sister wants to continue filling her body with all that crap, there is nothing that could be done. However, MC does tell her sister that she’ll always be there and ready to help her.

Octavio, ahhhhh dear Octavio is starting to feel like the person he really is. A complete good for nothing, spoiled brat who is totally dependent on his family for everything.

     Then we come to the climax!

Antonio convincing Aranza to stay inviting her to take a shower to clean off the dirt and blood from her clothes. The knocking on the door (gasp!). Aranza practically ordering Antonio not to open the door and drawing her weapon in an effort to intimidate him and make him oblige. Antonio’s refusal to listen to her and walking towards the door.

I held my breath when he finally opened the door. For a split second nothing happened and I thought Oh No! its them (the bad guys!), then, as if in slow motion, MC appears throwing herself into Antonio’s arms, while Antonio stood there as a frozen statue, speechless and motionless. I held my breath again as I watched Aranza coming out of her hiding place, hair wet, bathrobe on, looking straight at MC….

I’m counting the hours and the minutes for tonight’s episode!!

     Sorry for going on for so long, but I felt this episode was worth all this and more…..

     Carmen Del Pilar

    

     www.telenovela-world.com:  Partial comments on last night's episode (Jul. 8)  Author: CarmenDelPilar   Date:   07-09-04 11:57 PDT

     Life can be unjust sometimes…..

     Poor Antonio is facing a difficult situation!

     On the one hand he’s found this incredible love he’s been holding deep down for his newly found son. And because he is a man of good values, he understands that his family (yes!, as much as we might not like the idea Aranza & Ricardito are his family!) is in terrible danger and he has to give them protection and shelter.

     On the other hand, he’s just found love again with a wonderful woman, MC who is going through her own problems and has come to look for him seeking ALL his attention and support as well as a place to live.

     I truly feel sorry for him. Life has put him in a terrible spot, suddenly merging his past against his present without notice and forcing him to make decisions that are almost imposible to make….

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  Comments on Friday's episode (July 9, 2004)  Author: CarmenDelPilar

Date:   07-12-04 11:20 PDT

     MC walking aimlessly around the park filled with uncertainty, shock, confusion, anger, frustration was very well depicted. I put myself in her shoes, and I probably would have acted the same way. This is not to say that it was the right way.

Her decision not to go back home to talk to her family was also understandable as she does want them to give them a reason for saying “I told you so… “, but I don’t know whatever possessed her to seek Santiago for help!!!

     The only thing I can think of is that she believes him to be a good hearted soul….arghhh!!. If she only knew how full of vengeance and resentment this guy is!!

     Ricardito explaining to his dad how he searched and searched for him until he finally found him was precious. The happiness reflected on his face was worth a thousand words!...this kid deserves an Emmy for convincingly portraying such an array of emotions.

     The conversation between Aranza and Antonio had me feeling jealous on behalf of MC!!lol!

In between the blames and accusations they were throwing at each other there were intimate tones, like when she said: “you’ve aged well Antonio…you look more interesting now…” with such familiarity really bothered me!. But hey!, that is what happens when two people have a child….it bonds them for life….

We also learned that they never married!!...that was news to me!

     Well, another surprise shock tonight was the meeting between Julian and Dulce. Here I was thinking their conversation was going to focus on Santiago’s accusation about the sale of arms and what do I get?...a romantic scene of two middle aged people who admit to one another that they still love each other with the same intensity and passion!!!along with a kiss!!!....I have to say that there is as much on screen chemistry between Julian and Gabriela as there is between Julian and Dulce.

     Listening to Dulce, I felt contempt for Pascual’s behavior. Using his own kid to get back at Dulce was very, very low; but then again, is very, very real, because it happens more often than we’d like to admit…

     Now, I come to Dionisio. He’s getting more beat up than the leading lady!

He goes to his ex-lover Eric’s place looking for a shoulder (and a bit more!) to cry on.

After what looked like an deep and intimate conversation which was being sealed with an emotional hug, who comes in?...Eric’s new live-in mate! Wow!

Poor Dionisio goes berserk and throws the biggest temper tantrum yelling at Eric’s quick change of heart. But I don’t blame Eric at all. Actually, I think Dionisio should remember he was the one that broke up with Eric. He could not have expected Eric to wait around for Dionisio to come back into his life!

I also have to comment on the conversation between Dionisio and Eric. It was very insightful and served to make Dionisio understand that whatever his mother did could never diminish the love and support she’s given him throughout his life.

     Gabriela’s conversation with the doc gave me the sense that our dear doc may have the hots for Gaby!...only time will tell!

     As always, I’m looking forward to tonight’s episode, which I’ll probably won’t get to see until tomorrow since they’re taking forever to make the links available!

     Once again, I went on a bit longer than I thought!

     Regards to all!

     Carmen Del Pilar

    

     www.telenovela-world.com: Comments on Monday's episode (July 12, 2004) Author: CarmenDelPilar Date:   07-13-04 12:19 PDT

     Lorena is back to being her old drug addict, drunk self. Visiting a night club bar on a Sunday morning already stoned out of her wit is clearly a sign that she keeps on sinking lower and lower.

We now have to add “drug dealer” to Fabian’s many faces. BTW, I’m still trying to figure out the relationship between Fabian and Osiris (Lauro’s girl). Are they related, is he her dealer or just another casual client?...uhmmm..

     We also got a glimpse of how tough Kauris could be in her interrogations. Enough said!

     Starting the Lauro/MC scene with a statement from Lauro playing up his surprise about the arms dealing accusations from Aranza against Julian was great. The director went straight to the point.

Again, MC turned to the WRONG person for help!...her brother Lauro!, the one member of her family who IS involved in the sale of arms, embezzlement, etc.!.....but who unfortunately is also her oldest brother, the one who she looked upon as her idol all her life. So, again, I cannot blame her because I probably would have done the same thing…

Lauro’s statement: “I’m glad you’ve come to me…because the family has to support one another” went straight to MC’s heart, who without vacillation confirmed it.

     A spiteful Dionisio, looking for someone to pick on after feeling betrayed by Eric, barges into his mother’s room demanding to know why his mother had the audacity to bring into their home the man (Julian) that ruined his dad (Pacual). Wow, apparently the house guards/servants are very nosy people!

I take my hat out to Dulce, who shot right back at him and made no apologies for loving Julian and demanded respect for her own decisions. I applaud the fact that this novela finally treats single mothers as real human beings with enough guts to confront their own children instead of the submissive, guilt ridden women we’re used to see.

     It was also the very first time I see tremendous euphoria on the part of a daughter after hearing the news that her parents are divorcing!....My reaction, shocking but glad, very very glad. As terrible as it may sound, divorce is as common as marriage nowadays and Azteca is showing us that what could have been something almost taboo is Latin America, has become “normal”. Many children suffer far worse watching their parents fight like dogs and cats and living under the same roof.

Of course, in the case of the Madero-Grimaldis, there was an added twist. Lorena’s elation vanished when she found out that the reason’s for her parent’s divorce is none other than the woman she considers the enemy.

     Lauro really gets a kick out of insulting Salomon. The more I see scenes like this, the more I understand Salomon’s desire for vengeance.

     We had another precious moment scene, when Antonio decides to take his son out shopping and to the park. (BTW, I found out that the kid happens to be the son of a very well known clown in Mexico!).

However, I have to admit that watching Ricardito snap at MC was not pleasant. This poor kid is trying to live out is fantasy life of a mommy and daddy that have never stopped loving each other. I don’t blame Antonio for not telling yet, because very little time has gone by and he’s trying to get to know his kid. But I’m confident that Antonio will soon set the record straight and have a heart to heart talk with his kid.

     I loved Regina’s reaction upon catching Octavio and Linda sleeping together. It was a total lack of respect for her and for her son on the part of Linda who deserved everything her sister told her and more. As for Octavio, at this point, we all agree that he is still a child in a grown man’s body…..

     Now we come to the juicy scene. MC confronting Aranza. In this case, we can only blame fate for putting them alone and face to face. The conversation, IMHO started out fine. Each woman defending their position. I even applauded the proposal Aranza made to MC. But I was flabbergasted when I heard Aranza slander Antonio in front of MC. I was devastated when I saw MC walk out of the apt. with all those doubts in her head. I cannot tell you how happy I was when she ran into Antonio downstairs!. I was clapping when, thanks to Ricardito, MC decided to comment about Aranza’s claim that he abandoned them. At least our dear Antonio had a chance to look at MC right in the face and tell her that he NEVER told her a lie (I hope so!!) and better yet, he took something out of his wallet which apparently he considers very precious to him and handed it to her!!! Gees! I thought that was a nice touch!

     Well, this is it for today!

     Regards,

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

     www.telenovela-world.com: Comments on July 13, 2004 episode  Author: CarmenDelPilar

Date:   07-14-04 13:52 PDT

          Kauris and Santiago

     If she only knew about his hidden agenda….I guess he doesn’t want to share his findings with her. He wants to be the only vigilante in the game. He just sat there looking at Kauris with that innocent puppy dog look as she thanked him for saving her life.

I can’t decide whether she either finds him sexually irresistible or she hasn’t had it in a long time! (lol!)

     Is Ruthless Julian back?

     It looks like we’re now going to get a real taste of how Julian conducts himself as Chairman of Magri Enterprises.

     Just like we realized that not all was as perfect as it seemed in the beginning of the novela between Gaby and Julian, I think we’re going to see the real man that Julian Madero is. A man who runs his ship with an iron hand. A man who will obliterate anyone who doesn’t heed his orders. A man who takes pleasure in insulting and putting his employees down. I can’t wait to see more of Julian Madero as president of Magri!

     “There is nothing worse than a scorned woman”

I think this may be an apt statement for what Dulce may turn out to be. After watching her conversations with Carlos who represents the minority shareholders of Magri, I’m realizing she’s fooling us as well as Julian and her sweet kissy kissy attitude may be just a façade to cover her real intentions: To destroy Julian and all his clan!

     Dionisio bites his tongue

     I did not expect for Dionisio to go back to Eric’s place so soon and much less to beg an apology and to ask for a reconciliation. I caught a glimpse of Julian in him when he made the statement: “I could be hotheaded sometimes (no kidding!)”.

     But Eric seems to be working on his own cause: to proudly come out of the closet and fight to be accepted as a gay man living in Mexico City.

     Dionisio being a business man who runs an important publication in the city and comes from a respectable family cannot afford (should I say “yet”) to take the risk, so he humbly turns around and leaves…..

I liked when he told Eric: “At least you were good enough to get a new bed” (lol!)

     Oh Darn Fate Does it Again!

     Last but not least is the continuing set of obstacles coming up in the lives of MC and Antonio.

First Antonio is detained by his son’s illness. Then for a change he has another blow out with Aranza and storms out of the house leaving his cell phone behind as he rushes to his meeting with MC. To make things even worse he gets caught in a traffic jam!...(Oh! I’m biting my nails at this point!). But our dear Antonio doesn’t give up just yet! He gets off his car and tries to direct traffic to make sure he gets through! (That’s my boy!)

Poor MC is already at the rendezvous place waiting for her honey. I sensed doubt written on her face which as time was ticking by turned later into frustration and disappointment. I felt as if I was there reading her every thought and living her frustrations…oh!...I was yelling at my PC begging her to wait just a little longer!!!Then she has an idea!...She picks up the cell and dials Antonio, but alas! She gets no answer!! Oh this is not good!

I’m yelling again at my PC telling her, “no, please don’t get discouraged!...just have a little faith!!...he can’t answer the phone, because he was so intent on meeting you that he didn’t remember to take it with him!!”….but of course, all my yelling was useless (lol!). I could see MC convincing herself that her affair with Antonio has reached the end….:-(

     Aranza gets and earful!

     How great it was to watch Antonio give Aranza exactly what she needed. That she is a liar, a terrible mother and not attractive to him anymore! Wow! That was like a big punch in the guts and she sure as hell needed it! Great speech Antonio! Too bad, it had to end with Ricardito getting another one of his intestinal attacks.

     I cannot tell you how much more I like this novela every day! They keep disclosing more details and as they do, it keeps me guessing how this story will evolve. On top of all that, we have a leading couple with a chemistry that sizzles. What else could I want!

     Regards to all!

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

     www.telenovela-world.com: Comments on July 14, 2004 episode Author:  Date:   07-15-04 13:02 PDT  Enjoyed the scene between brothers Dionisio and Santiago. Very typical dialogue between brothers that get along reasonable well (not like the MG siblings!). I got a kick out of Dionisio’s face as he imagined a kiss between his mom and Julian Madero. His brother Santi was also amusing replying that he should instead think of more pleasant things like Jean Paul Belmondo sleeping in his (Dionisio’s) bed bitting the pillow…lol! or Diego Luna doing a salsa dance (for those of you who don’t know, Diego Luna is a young actor who became famous for his movie “Y Tu Mama Tambien” and the more recent “Havana Nights”).

     Now I’m convinced our Doc has the hots for Gabriela. I think, deep down inside, Gaby already suspects it but doesn’t want to admit it. I think she just feels good having a man tell her that she is beautiful and attractive (heck! I think any woman including me love compliments!). Not for nothing, but for a moment, she was also flirting throwing compliments at him saying things like: “You’ve become better looking” and “It seems that your divorce has had a great effect on you”. I wonder if she’s going to accept his invitation to that party….

     I continued to suffer watching Antonio get to the park moments after MC takes off in her car. One more time, the villain of their love story was fate (I kept thinking of the movie “Serendipity” where fate just kept two people from reuniting again). Watching Antonio run to a public phone to call MC just as she is calling Santiago from her cell was another nerve wrecking moment!

     I’m suspecting Lorena’s new drug is the famous “ecstasy”, unless there is a new one on the market which I’m not aware of.

     I hope Antonio can kick Aranza out before Ricardito has a chance to beg his dad not to do it!

     This is all for today folks!

     Regards,

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  Comments for the week of Jul. 19-23  Author: CarmenDelPilar (---)  Date:   07-27-04 12:56 PDT

     Hello fellow foristas!

     Since I was unable to post anything last week, I’ve made a summary of last week’s events using each character as reference.

     Gabriela and Dr. Alvaro

If I may say so, dear doc is turning out to be a real charmer!. In a very subtle and gentleman manner, he is sweeping Gabriela off her feet. I don’t think I would be able to resist either! He knows how to make a woman feel great! He has the right words and the right moves! I get the feeling that pretty soon, these two are going to give us some pretty hot scenes!

     Dulce and Julian

This relationship has me intrigued. I don’t know what to make of these two. These are very complex characters who have shown us strong personalities on their exterior but who carry deep down, a longing for not realizing their true love. However, the more I see them, the more confused I get!. Dulce is teaching me to understand how someone could love and hate with intensity.

     Dulce/Dionisio/Eric/Manolo/Santiago/Giovanna:

Dionisio keeps earning my pity. I truly feel his pain having to keep an appearance for the sake of his mother and society at the expense of sacrificing his true love (Eric). Now, he’s been pushed even further down in his misery, having to put up watching Eric and Manolo arrive together at social events and pretend interest in a girl (Giovanna) who apparently has been quite taken by him. I could not believe his mother’s proposal that he marry the girl so that he can divorce her just so that he could earn the status of “a divorce” rather than being labeled “a single older man”. At least Santiago seems to be on his side. Hooray for Santi!

     Lorena/Osiris/Salomon/Fabian:

Lorena’s chance meeting with Osiris is going to make things interesting. This is going to be Osiri’s and Fabian’s chance for getting back at Lauro and Octavio. When Lorena invited Osiris to Salomon’s place, I thought they were going to figure out that Salomon had a much better looking apt. right behind those closet doors. Salomon was not at all happy that Osiris knows his secret about Lorena.

     Lauro/Linda/Octavio:

The only thing that comes to mind when I think of these three is absolute and total disgust and contempt for Linda. I wish her sister would kick her out of the house for good!

     Kauris/Santiago/OFI:

Kauris has finally realized that she has enemies inside the OFI sitting very high places who are trying to sabotage her work and get Aranza out of the picture. Phew!, at least for the time being, Aranza’s life is going to be spared!

     Antonio/MC/Ricardito/Cuquita:

Cuquita must be on cloud nine now that she has Antonio’s total trust and attention thanks to Ricardito. I’m glad that Antonio has her to help him out with his son. What a tough place for Antonio to be in!

     Sorry guys, but I have to stop right here cause I just got a terrible allergy attack and I have to go lie down, because I just can’t stop sneezing!

     Take good care ya all!

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

     www.telenovela-world.com:  Comments on the last 10 days...don't read if you're not caught up!!!  Author: CarmenDelPilar  Date:   08-06-04 10:04 PDT

     Comments on the last 10 days…don’t read if you’re not caught up!

     Sorry to have been away for so long but between my initial rage at the dish network installer for leaving me without my regular cable and not seeing much of our beloved Antonio and MC, I just had no desire to make too many comments….plus this past weekend, I had the laser operation on my eyes so I’ve been keeping away from the computer as per doctor’s orders….

     Anyway, having said all this, I shall start…

     It’s been somewhat irritating to have to endure some much time being allotted to the Linda/Lauro/Octavio trilogy, that for the first time since the novela began, I have been falling asleep before the ending of a few episodes. I’m so happy to report that I won’t have to endure it anymore since as of last night, Linda has met her fitting end….that is death….This was totally unexpected but very welcomed as far as I’m concerned.

     Next, was Nana’s (Eulalia) discovery that her beloved son Salomon is having an affair with Lorena. Her look of horror and embarrassment when she caught them kissing was heart wrenching. I’m so glad she confided in MC who was able to convince her not to leave the house and promised to speak to her sister about it.

     The Gabriela relationship with the doctor has been entertaining. The writers have kept it light without making it too dramatic. They even added a touch of comedy during a scene of Julian tries to confide in the doctor about his intimate life with Gabriela much to the doctor’s dismay. I had expected the relationship to stay “hidden” from the eyes of Julian for much longer and was pretty shocked when Julian found out and confronted him. Once again, the dialogue between these two held my interest.

What I found so ironic is listening to Julian talk about how upset he would be if Gabriela had a lover eventhough he’s blazingly carrying an affair with Dulce. This guy is definitely from the old school of “machos latinos”!

We also found out that Gabriela has cancer. This is a very interesting twist which is going to affect Julian's decision to seek a speedy divorce from her....

     Santiago has me very puzzled. He eagerly beds Kauris, but yet he was surprised and annoyed at her admission that she had fallen in love with him. I think, that like his mother, he has fallen in love with MC and is using the excuse of seducing her for the sake of revenge when in fact that’s all he cherishes.

     Dionisio is become more likable each day. There is something about his actions lately that make me feel for him and all his inner conflicts in a way that no other character makes me feel…

     Antonio and MC are driving me crazy!...or I should say, the writers and the director are driving me crazy for not giving them more screen time together to develop their relationship. I feel that they’ve put them on hold. The only nice moment was, when out of the blue and without much notice, Antonio barges into Magri Enterprises demanding to see MC. She reluctantly takes him into her office and he begs her not to leave him. He kisses her with total desperation and when she doesn’t react to his kisses, he leaves her…

Now, destiny brought them together at the hospital when MC had to bring her sis Lorena who tried to commit suicide and Antonio brought his son with an attack of appendicitis.

However, aside from the longing looks and superficial conversation, not much else happened between these two.

     Aranza is turning out to be a more fearful and heartless character than I suspected. After being captured in front of Antonio’s bldg., she’s managed to get away and even tried to use her own son as hostage to bargain for her freedom. When unable to get her way, she manipulated Kauris and Antonio and once again, she fled only to find herself face to face with Kauris with whom she had a heavy duty fight. And just when I thought everything had ended with Aranza’s recapture, a string of bullets are fired and a man on a motorcycle takes Aranza away, leaving Kauris once again frustrated.

Now a new guy has entered the scene. I have no idea who he is, but he seems to be the guy at the very top of the criminal organization that was negotiating the arms deal with Magri and the guerrillas. I could not have cared much for him except for the fact that when he saw Aranza, he asked her if Antonio had believed her lie about Ricardo being his son. To my great shock, she nodded!!!. Then, as if that wasn’t enough of a surprise, this unknown man orders one of his guys to bring in Mr. X.

Mr. X is brought in and put on his knees. The big unknown guy takes a knife from his desk and gives it to Aranza with an order to slit his throat. She dutifully does it without much remorse!

Later in the episode, she appears with a vampy look, totally radiant and happy! This woman is giving me the creeps!!!

     Well, these have been the highlights as far as I’m concerned.

     I sincerely hope TV Azteca gives us a bit more of MC and Antonio. I miss them terribly together especially after those wonderful days they spent in that resort together!!!!

     Regards to all!

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

     Telenovela-World Comments on Friday’s episode (Aug.9, 2004) Azteca 13:  Author: CarmenDelPilar (---)   Date:   08-09-04 08:40 PDT

     Wow!!!

     That is the only way I could summarize this episode!

     Following another action packed and full of surprises episode on Thursday, this was another shocker!

     After Julian gathers his children to announce his departure from the Madero Grimaldi home so he can pursue his romance with Dulce, a shaken Gabriela arrives with the news that she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer! And totally against what I thought would happen, Gabriela in so many words, told Julian to take a hike because she was going to deal with her situation on her own!

     As if that wasn’t enough of a shocker, Lauro gets a call with the news of Linda’s demise just as Octavio is walking into his house with a total look of despair telling his family that the girl he loved was killed and died in his arms. To my continuous shock, Lauro admits to everyone that Linda was her lover. I expected Octavio to react just as he did, but what caught me off guard was Julian’s revelation that he had known about Linda bedding the two brothers all along!!!!!

     But that wasn’t all! Oh no!...on the following scene, we see Antonio taking his son to his aunt’s house for safe keeping. This aunt is Aranza’s sister. After putting Ricardito to bed, Antonio and the aunt have a private conversation where she tells him that Ricardito is NOT HIS SON!....gee, I guess I was sort of right all along when I made those comments earlier about Ricardito being much too dark to be Antonio’s kid!...so it wasn’t a miss cast after all. It was all perfectly done by the director!

I was floored!!Oh! and I forgot to mention that before Antonio left his apt. he got a visit from Kauris and her top chief who happened to have been in the US air force with Antonio. The reason for the visit was to offer him a job as an agent of the OFI!

     Things have suddenly picked up warp speed and we’re going to have a new phase in the novela with all these things taking place!

     The only thing I regret is the fact that Antonio’s uncle is probably going to die tonight, but I guess that will be the decisive factor for Antonio’s acceptance to become an agent of the OFI.

     I’m looking forward to tonight!!!!

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

     Telenovela-World: Comments on last night’s episode (Aug. 9, 2004) TV Azteca 13:   Author: CarmenDelPilar (---)   Date:   08-10-04 10:09 PDT

     Despite MC’s plea, Lorena decides to spills the beans to her family about Salomon. However, she doesn’t get a chance to tell them that she’s pregnant. During her speech, she said something that really surprised me. She told them that she might eventually marry Salomon. I was relieved to see that Julian was just as shocked with the news as Gabriela.

     On the next scene, we see Salomon showing up where Don Angel is being held captive.

How ironic it was to watch Salomon apologize to Don Angel for having to kill him. Gees, this guy has some twisted set of morals. For a moment I thought Salomon wasn’t going to have the guts to pull the trigger, but he just kept on talking about his hatred for Lauro and the Madero Grimaldi clan and about this perfect plan that couldn’t be foiled and then bang!

     For the first time (and for just a second), I have to admit I felt sorry for Lauro. He was the image of a man destroyed by his own actions. Up till now, I did not understand exactly how Linda was killed by those strangers, but now I realized what happened. Lauro had sent Salomon to kill the “other” guy Linda was seeing, not realizing that it was Octavio, his brother. Apparently, Linda got under his skin. And the worst is yet to come. An ingenious trap is being set up for him by the new Camila Mondragon and her powerful boss/boyfriend. She is going to seduce him using Lauro’s other big impossible love: horses. I’m starting to think that if Osiris keeps going after Lauro, she’ll be quickly disposed of by Camila.

     On the other hand, I was satisfied to see Octavio suffer. This young brat needed something hard to happen to him so that he can perhaps grow up and become a man!

     MC and her quick escapades to Santiago’s place are driving me crazy! Eeewww!! It was yucky to watch him try to kiss her! I kept hoping for Kauris to show up and catch them together!

     Antonio looked so sad at the funeral parlor :-( I wanted to jump into my tv and hold him in my arms! Lol! His expression just broke my heart. He looked desolate, empty, drained and lonely…and so handsome in that black suit!. (where the hell are you MC!). Luckily and much to my surprise, Cuquita called MC to give her the news.

Kauris appearance at the funeral parlor, gave us the chance to find out Antonio’s true feelings. He’s become a vengeful man with a purpose. Unfortunately, this will broaden the abyss created in his relationship with MC.

     As much as I’m looking forward to MC showing up at the funeral parlor tonight, I’m afraid that it’s not going to be a pleasant meeting for these two…especially after hearing Julian’s decision to also go to the funeral parlor…

     Carmen Del Pilar

 

     Telenovela-World:  The Rant:Tuesday August 10th, 2004  Author: Christine  Date:   08-15-04 21:29 PDT

     -Lauro and Salomon's partnership seems to be on the outs. I'm guessing they're seeing that they're both an obsctable to both of their agendas. I'm glad they both see that neither of them is a small enemy. I was actually looking forward to seeing them battle it out, maybe gun each other down but that'd be too easy.

     -Can I just say how much I missed seeing MC and my Antonio together? I know we got a few scenes when they were both in the hospital, but when she showed up at the funeral home...I knew that she would comfort him. I can see Antonio turning into a vengeful man, maybe he will take Kauris' and that other man's offer and join their operative team. For a few seconds there when he was talking to Maria Claudia you could see the hatred in his eyes. I saw the pain in his eyes too when he was telling Maria Claudia that Ricardo was not his son. His laughter and then his tears..reminded me of a scene we saw on Amarte Es Mi Pecado a few days ago, when Nora (Yadhira Carrillo) lied to Arturo (Sergio Sendel) and told him that her child was someone elses and not his.

     -Seeing Gabriela show up at Linda's memorial was a surprise. I know she wasn't angry over Linda dating Octavio and Lauro. (Well I'm sure she was..but not to the extent of hating the girl). Brenda shoudln't feel guilty because Linda brought all of this on herself. She played with fire, and ended up getting burned. Brenda shouldn't feel guilty at all, she did the best she could warning the little trollop to watch her step but she never listened.

     -Octavio shouldn't feel guilty for Linda's death either. Just like Brenda he was an innocent bystander to the tramp's lack of responsibilty. Like I said above, she played with fire and got burned badly.

     -I can understand Antonio's anger towards Julian. He's only going by what Aranza and Kauris have told him, that Julian is a weapon smuggler. I do think that Julian was a little harsh with Antonio. Antonio accusing him like that only made the abyss between him and Maria Claudia bigger.

     -Why was Fabian surprised about Linda's demise? I don't think he even cared about her anymore. I guess that this gives him more ammo to keep giving Lorena her pills and drugs, since he hated Octavio from the getgo because of his relationship with Linda. I really don't think Lorena should have told Osiris all this, because now only thing she is gonna do is go look for Lauro. Speaking of Osiris she has really turned hateful lately. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I dislike her now. I hope Camila/Aranza disposes of her soon.

     -Brenda's rant about the insecurity in the city of Mexico made me want to applaud. Her anger is well justified. She thinks that Linda died because of a mugging or an attempted mugging but I can't wait for her to find out that Salomon put a hit out on Linda's boyfriend...and she died protecting him.

     -Can I just say what an excellent actor Xavier Massimi is? I'll admit my eyes watered up a bit when he was over at Linda's casket...saying that it should be him in there. I hope to see this young man as a lead one day. He's shown that he can take on any role (I saw some of him on Mirada de Mujer: El regreso" and he was just as impressive.

     -Good for Gabriela! I'm glad she decided to go to the other room to give her respects to Don Angel. Like she said even if she doesn't like his relatives (Antonio) she respected him and that's more than enough reason to pay her respects.

     -You'd think that after her failed suicide attempt Lorena would seek some help and stop drinking. Especially now that she knows she's pregnant... her monologue while looking at the mirror, gave us an insight to the way she really sees her family, and the way she's lived her life.

     -The surprise of the night! Lauro showing up at the Don Angel's wake! I'm glad Antonio saw through it...and that he knows that Don Angel died because he found out something he wasn't supposed to. Once again the hatred in Antonio's eyes while he was talking to Lauro scared me, I can see Antonio bringing down the MaGris.

     -As if it wasn't enough...Lauro shows up at Linda's wake! Brenda's reaction was well justified! He has no right being there, especially knowing that Octavio would be there, and especially knowing that like Brenda said Linda was scared of him because of his harrassment. I was actually glad that Brenda kicked both of them out, what a lack of respect to Linda and Brenda.

     -Like I said in a comment before, Maria Claudia is the only Madero Grimaldi trying to keep the family from falling apart. Octavio is lucky to have a sister like her.. =) I had to smile when she so mother-like to order him to be careful.

     -Maria Claudia should take Antonio's advice and not trust anyone. She has a lot of people trying to get the best of her, Santiago and Lauro especially. Antonio badgering Maria Claudia about her family just ended what was left of the relationship between them. I felt sorry for him but he kind of cornered her there and she finally broke down.

     -Did I hear correctly? Only a week has gone by...I thought it was a longer time.

     -Fabian loved Linda? After the way he treated her...you'd never think that sleazebag had it in him to love anyone.

     -Lorena is going through what most people who attempt to commit suicide go through. They always think that everyone looks at them with pity, and is careful with what they say to them.

     -I think that Salomon genuinely loves Lorena. I thought he was just using her for his big evil plan against the MaGris but I've seen in these past episodes that he really does care for her, in a twisted and sick way of course. I was actually relieved to see his reaction to Lorena's news about being pregnant...but then Lorena dropped the bombshell and hinted that she doesn't want a child from him. I agree with her, she's not prepared to be a mother but she can try and clean up for act just for the baby.

     Whew! I really missed doing these summaries/rants. I'm gonna have myself a marathon of the next 3 episodes so I can be caught up for tomorrow night.

 

 

     Telenovela-World:  A few comments from 8/11  Author: Christine Date:   08-16-04 09:52 PDT

     8/11

     -Gabriela's observation that cancer is a cause of resentment. That's not entirely true, but I'm glad this helped her open up to Maria Claudia and let her know how she's worried about everyone. Maria Claudia did good telling her to worry about herself, and move everyone else vack because for now she's first. LOL @ Gaby's comment of MC being a little skinny... =)

     -Salomon's got his meal ticket! Lorena's baby is his meal ticket into the MaGri clan. It's all he's ever wanted...and of course he won't let anything happen to Lorena or the baby.

     -Camila actually cares about Ricardito? Honestly I thought the b!tch had no feelings after all she's pulled. I don't think any mother in her right mind that loves her son would lie to someone telling them it's their son. We also found out that...Orlando Mondragon is Ricardito's father. I had a feeling it was him but I wasn't really sure. Her reaction to Don ANgel's death was something I didn't expect, like I said I didn't know she had any feelings (probably doesn't but she feels remorse once in a while)

     -I was right! Don Angel's death would be the catalyst and would turn Antonio into a vengeful man, who will do anything to find out the truth of what REALLY happened to his uncle. His new boss is demanding results, my guess is they'll have him working side by side with Kauris now.

     -Where does Julian get off being offended by what Salomon has done? If Gaby was ok with it, why can't he?! He needs to drop the holier than thou, and accept that he has disrespected his household just like Salomon has. I'm excited to see how Julian will react to Lorena being pregnant.

     -Osiris should keep her mouth shut and stop saying that Lauro put a hit out on Linda. If Lauro or Salomon get wind of that she's a gonner! Although I don't think we'd be losing anything if they get rid of her...she's become HATEFUL. I know Lauro treated her horribly...but she sould still keep quiet.

     That's all for now...

 

--------------------------------

 

Telenovela-World:  Message to Janet….a follow up to your rant posted on 10/14/04 (Spoiler for AA vi  Author: CarmenDelPilar Date:   10-18-04 09:26 PDT

     (What follows might be considered a spoiler for those who watch AA)

     Dear Janet:

     I just read in another forum that there has been a change of writers in the novela…I don’t know when it took place, but we should be ready for whatever may take place….

     As I had told you last week, I’ve made myself ready for anything good or bad that could happen. Unfortunately, something did happen. Right from Antonio’s mouth came the words that he was “trying” to have a relationship with Lorena. That was like another punch in the gut for me but I took it like a good trooper. At this point, I’ve changed my perspective on how I’m looking at this novela. I’ve come to the conclusion that when the writers and producers of this novela said they were going to offer a “different” story, they meant a more realistic, not so rosy, love story more appropriate to our present realities. What do I mean by that?. Well, that in this day and age nobody sits back and laments the loss of a loved one for too long, but rather we just go on with our lives and try to make the best of it…..

     When Maria Clau decided she wanted a new life, she was sort of putting her feelings and desires first, which meant that in her eyes, Antonio could not have given her what she wanted, despite the love she felt for him, peace, security and someone to trust were the things she wanted most. That is why she chose Santiago as a partner. What I’m hoping for is for MC to realize that 4 years of living a life of peacefulness and security could turn out to be just as miserable when there is no true love.

I’m hoping that seeing Antonio once again, she’ll realize she’s attempted to lead a life that was a mere illusion of happiness.

     Antonio, on the other hand had to move on as well. However, his choice of partners was just as bad as MC’s, but here I think he’s more a guardian and protector to Lorena than an actual lover. However, given the fact that Lorena is a very attractive, sexy girl with plenty of experience in how to please a man, I could not blame Antonio for letting his manly desires cloud his common good sense and decide to have a relationship with her. Furthermore, Lorena might also appeal to Antonio’s guilt over what happened with Julian Madero.

Looking at the story from this perspective, I can manage not to be repulsed by what has come to pass. And the lapse of 4 years is almost comprehensible and necessary to this story which I hope is teaching us that true genuine love can withstand the test of time no matter how much we can try to change our lives or how much we try to forget it…..

     I'd love to hear your comments....

     Carmen Del Pilar

      For Carmen: more rant follow-up (spoiler for AA viewers)  Author: Janet   Date:   10-18-04 16:24 PDT 

     Dear Carmen,

     I thought it looked like different writers were listed in the credits! The change was a big shock! But I’m recovering…

     There are a quite a few plot points that don’t make much sense if they’ve been ignored for four years (for example, the intrigue and OFI investigation were dropped for four years? I thought they were too close to solving some of the murders and drug/arms mess of crimes to let it all drop for so long! Well, I’ll try addressing some of the plot issues in another post) but I can still for the most part accept some of the changes in the story of Antonio’s and Maria Claudia’s romance, even if it does have jarring twists that are, as you said, perhaps more modern or realistic than we’re accustomed to in the genre…

     Now, Antonio’s actions and feelings are the easiest to understand, and I really don’t blame him for anything. After all, Maria Claudia is the one who broke off the relationship. Antonio tried again and again, telling MC how much he loved her – and even when she stated she was going to marry Santiago and the date was set, Antonio tried to talk with her once more: “I don’t understand how you can marry him, after what we’ve been through together, after we’ve laid in each other’s arms…” Antonio knows MC doesn’t love Santiago, but loves him, Antonio, and MC has never denied this – she just felt there were too many obstacles to their being together (the validity of those obstacles depends on how well we feel the powers that be have told the story). Antonio knows his real competition isn’t Santiago, but Maria Claudia’s own fears and unwillingness to let herself feel anything that scares her. Now granted, Antonio hasn’t been a saint – he did have that casual thing with Kauris – but he’s done his best to be honest, he knows his love for MC is the strongest love and passion he’s ever felt, but there’s only so much he can do. Antonio can’t force MC to be with him – and he came as close as he could to making that play when he sort of kidnapped her/took her into protective custody when she was about to marry Santiago – he was as honest and open as he could be, even sharing much of the confidential conversation her father had with him before he died. But in the end, when MC just freaked and bolted, leaving everything behind, there was nothing he could do – how can you force the person you love to be with you? I think the only way they can be together at this point is for MariClau to actively choose to be with Antonio.

     And as for Lorena? I’m still on the fence about that one. Yes, Antonio is definitely a concerned friend, and Lore is in love with him, but I’m not sure how far it’s gone with Antonio and Lore yet. I rather like your idea that Antonio looks out for Lore partly out of his guilt over Don Julian’s death. And you’re right, Antonio did say that he was “trying” to make a go of a relationship with Lore, but given the circumstances under which he said this, I’m not sure he’s quite telling the truth. He stated, when asked why, first by Maria Claudia, and then later by Santiago, that he came for MariaClaudia, to deal with the complicated issues of the inheritance, because Lorena had asked him and he was doing it as a favor for her. This is true, though in context, Lorena had asked Antonio to do it for her, to do it for MariClau, and to do it for himself. Antonio has yet to reveal his hand as to which of those reasons is most important to him. Also, when Antonio said he was trying to have a relationship with Lorena, he said so only after Santiago seemed to wonder why Lorena would be in the position to ask favors of Antonio. So why did Antonio say this? Is it because he really is trying to have a relationship with Lorena (still doubtful in my mind)? Because now that he’s seen MariClau really still is with Santiago and has a family, and seems intent on making it clear that this is how she wants things, that Antonio is thinking he really does need to move on and could make a go of it with Lorena if the poor woman would pull herself together and learn to keep her addictions under control (possibly)? Because Antonio has some pride and is willing to tell a lie so that Santiago won’t think Antonio’s interested in MC anymore because that would make Antonio come off as pathetic and disrespectful, and give fuel to Santiago’s fears and self-righteous behavior? Because Antonio would like to make MariClau a little jealous (well, though unflattering I couldn’t really blame Antonio for that one – and Antonio must have known Santiago would take the first opportunity possible to tell MC that Antonio’s seeing Lorena)? Because Antonio really doesn’t want to hurt MariClau, and letting her think that he’s interested in Lorena would be the easiest way to not cause MariClau to feel pain or regrets about the choices she’s made? Or is it some combination of any or all of these reasons? Human behavior and motivation is complex, and it would be interesting to see if the writers are able to have this play out in a way that addresses this in Antonio – I’ll guess we’ll have to wait and see…

     Now as for MariClau, it’s much harder to make the case for her behavior and choices. I do tend to agree with you she wanted a new life, and she chose Santiago partly because a new life with him would give her a life at least with someone she considered a trusted friend. Though I still think her marrying him was a bit extreme. I think a more logical choice would have been for her to take off on her own, leaving everything and everyone behind, including Santiago, and make a life for herself independent of anyone tied to her past. Remember, at one time she had a fairly independent life of her own (though to be fair, while she was studying in the states, she had the focus of her education and handling some of her father’s business dealings, and her family’s wealth at her disposal). So why did MariClau bail? And why did she take Santiago with her? Well, if it were just a matter of following through on finding out who had murdered her father and helping prove her father’s innocence, I think she would have stayed around if she had the support of her family. However, after Julian’s death, and right before the reading of the will, so many were turning on her – Gabriela had stated she’s supporting Lauro as new president of MaGri, and even Lorena, although she thinks MariClau is capable and good, decides to support Lauro because Lorena thinks that someone who’s cutthroat and a bit on the evil side could better protect her financial interest in MaGri (a rather funny but sad commentary on general perceptions and conditions of the corporate world). MariClau had worked so hard to try to support her family, to fix their riffs – remember, she pretty much gave up her relationship with Antonio in order to try to support her family (well, add a little jealousy into the mix as well), and here at the family’s darkest hour – Julian has been murdered, Lorena has fallen apart and lost her baby, Lauro has usurped the reigns of the family business, and her own mother Gaby doesn’t even have faith in her… She’s given up so much for them, and they repay her like this. Santiago got all mixed up in this because he’s claimed he’d give up everything and devote himself to her if she’ll only agree to marry him (and he pretty much tried to make her needs and whims the focus of his energies – even if it was in an extremely annoying way – even before she agreed to wed). Under ordinary circumstances, MC might have listened to her family members when they told her she’s making a mistake, deciding to marry Santiago – but because it’s all mixed up with their antagonism and lack of faith in her about other things, their comments about Santiago have no credibility for her, and she clings to this relationship. I think a lot of people, her family included, forget how vulnerable MC is, believing she is the tower of strength that she kept trying to be for the family. But this is one of the most vulnerable, painful moments of her life – she’s lost her father, and she was the apple of her father’s eye, “la consentida,” so the loss affects her strongly, and she really hasn’t had much time to grieve. There was the one glimpse of how much pain she’s in, when they showed her in her room the night of the big drug bust when Aranza was killed – a very “Godfather-like” montages scene there, by the way – and she was shown looking at photos, of her dad, I believe, and then becoming overwhelmed emotionally, yelling in pain, lashing out, and breaking down sobbing. She still has a lot of pain and anger inside her about all that’s happened – the loss of her father, the disintegration of her family, the loss of her love with Antonio – I just think it’s too painful for her to process it. I don't even know if she's ever adequately processed all the trauma she experienced from that planecrash with Antonio back at the beginning. So why did she run off? She just didn’t want to deal with it all anymore – she had reached her limit, and didn’t care, couldn’t care, until she found some peace of mind. And why did she choose Santiago? Precisely because he is safe for her emotionally – in their relationship, he is incredibly needier than she is, so he’ll never truly challenge the status quo that she chooses to set – she is the one who has called the shots on what their life together is. And because she feels affection for Santi, but nothing of the passion and true love that she’s capable of, she doesn’t have to open up those raw feelings that can be the source of so much happiness, but also cause so much pain, as long as she’s with him.

     So now let the emotional reckoning begin…

      Add'l rant follow-up (spoiler for AA viewers)  Author: CarmenDelPilar  Date:   10-19-04 13:11 PDT

     I think it already has begun my friend!

     Our dear Mari Clau is beginning to show signs of doubt and confusion as if subconsciously wondering if her decision to abandon Antonio to marry Santi was a total mistake. And I love Antonio’s aloofness towards her as if to let her know that he no longer wants anything to do with her (which we of course know its not true!). I think now its Mari Clau’s turn to start begging for Antonio’s love. So I hope she turns green with envy at the thought that her sis Lore wants him.

Also last night my theory about Kauris was pretty evident as she confessed to have made some terrible choices in hooking up with Lauro. And our dear Antonio, once again feeling like everybody’s big protector decides to take Kauris out for a drink…..to his apt.!

We now have to wait and see what’s going to happen to Santiago as he starts to watch his dear Mari Clau turn cold as ice on him in bed (yeepee!!!) much like Dionisio has on Giovanna….

     Carmen Del Pilar

    

Telenovela-World:  Azteca 13 on 10-18-04: more rant follow-up (spoiler for AA viewers)  Author: Janet Date:   10-19-04 17:38 PDT

     Yes, these are definite spoilers for those watching on Azteca America...

     I agree – I think Mari Clau is looking hesitant and showing signs of doubt – when she talks with Antonio, she’s ready to be confrontational, and then seems sort of surprised that he’s kind, polite, and pretty honest, but isn’t in any way trying to convince her of anything (relationship-wise, that is) or trying to win her over. I think she got so used to him pursuing her in the past, trying to convince her that they should be together, that she’s rather surprised that he’s changed. It looks like their relationship might these days border on respectful friendship, especially if they happen to be thrown in each other’s company with some frequency; and I think Mari Clau is going to really see what a wonderful person he is, and will probably come to realize how much she really does love him. Seeing how wonderful Antonio is, I bet she’ll be “comiendo ansias” when she sees Lore and Antonio – but she’ll know she has no right to say anything about it. She’s actually in the awkward position of having to admit that it would be a positive step for Lorena to have someone in her life like Antonio, rather than Salomon…

     Additionally, I hope that Mari Clau’s also going to be wracked with guilt about not telling Antonio about his child – I think she’s already feeling uncomfortable about that, because I suspect she knows it’s wrong to have kept this from Antonio (and knows how much it hurt him when Aranza disappeared when she was pregnant), but doesn’t want to say anything that would upset the status quo, because she’s married to Santiago and feels that since she made these choices, Santiago doesn’t deserve having things happen that would threaten to destroy his happy family life… But if things weren’t actually perfect in paradise (and with Santi’s comments about their sex life, and his awareness that Mari Clau is capable of passion, but that he just doesn’t bring that side out in her, we’ve been made aware that Trinidad life was good but not complete – it seemed more about Mari Clau having a safe, supportive environment for herself and her child where she found purpose in her contributions to community life, rather than all that much to do with Santiago per say), just think how things will be between MariClau and Santi now that there’s Antonio’s presence to get her all hot and bothered! Oh, and I thought I’d add how even though MariClau in some respects capitulated four years ago by marrying Santi; just as I suspected in one of my earlier posts, it’s clear she runs the show in that marriage – did you catch the bit where in the plane, after the little stop because of bad weather, MC had at first decided they should just go back to Trinidad? And how Antonio was ready to do this, and Santi was all anxious for them to return (as he should be!), and then MariClau turned to Antonio, asking that he take them to Mexico, because she changed her mind? So guess who got her way? ;-) All I can say is that when some of Santi’s earlier lies and less than honorable intentions finally come out, he’s going to be in serious trouble…

 

Telenovela-World:  Comments on recent developments...spoiler for AA viewers! Author: CarmenDelPilar (---) Date:   10-18-04 11:19 PDT

     Definite SPOILER for AA watchers!

     Sticking to my revised perspective of what I now call a contemporary love story, I’d like to comment on the development of the rest of the characters...

     As much as I would have liked Lauro and Salomon to be behind bars by now, the reality of life is that it may take a very long, long time for justice to be served. Again, here the story reflects today’s society where corruption is rampant among politicians and business leaders in many parts of the world and just because some dirty laundry becomes public, it isn’t enough to put anyone in jail. If anyone here watch the other Azteca novela Mirada de Mujer, El Regreso, you know exactly what I mean. There was a character called “El General”, a very corrupt individual who got away with murder and so much more and he manages to survive it all and make it through. I think the same is going to be applied to Lauro, Salomon and Mondragon. The moral is that evil people may never change will somehow always manage be present in our lives. The trick is to learn to live with it.

     On the subject of Kauris, she personifies the woman that has accomplished a successful career in a world where “machismo” is still almost revered. However, all her talents and intelligence are not enough to guarantee a success in her love life. A story very familiar to me as I’ve seen perfectly successful bright young women make absolute fools of themselves and destroy their lives over men. The lesson here is that in matters of the heart a college education or skills and talent are completely useless.

     Gabriela Grimaldi viuda de Madero. Here is a woman who spent all her life living in luxury and now has come to a point in her life where she had to swallow her pride and moved in with her former employee.

She seems to have come to terms with her new reality and is ready to face the world and talk about her transition from wealth to middle class in a radio talk show.

     Dulce. She has become the real villain in this story. She keeps trying to manipulate everyone around her including her sons to get what she wants. Unlike other common villains, she doesn’t seem to get much joy out of anything, except drive Gabriela mad whenever she gets a chance. I look forward to watching her find out that her dear Santiago is repeating his dad’s story and her dear Dionisio finally comes out of the closet.

     Brenda. She’s become an enigma. Except to serve as support for Gabriela, I just don’t find a logical explanation for keeping her in the story and haven’t got a clue as to where this character is heading.

     Dionisio. I’ve been enjoying watching him and Lorena develop such a close relationship. But it boggles my mind that Lorena has not realized her brother is gay. How this character ends up is probably going to depend on how Mexican society is currently embracing the subject of homosexuality. I do hope that he’s able to openly admit his homosexuality to the world without becoming a social outcast.

     Octavio and the woman doctor, Osiris, Eulalia – I have yet to see these characters show up in this new phase of the story, so I won’t talk about them until we find out what’s happened to them….

 

Telenovela-World:  Comments on 10/19 & 10/20 episodes (TV Azteca 13)...SPOILER FOR AA VIEWERS!!  Author: CarmenDelPilar (---)   Date:   10-21-04 12:28 PDT

     Comments on 10/19 & 10/20 episodes (TV Azteca 13)

     First I need to vent!...I’m mad as hell that the writers are using Lorena as a candidate to dispute Antonio’s love!

     It’s been more than established throughout the entire novela that this character is 100% damaged goods!...C’mon!, let’s get real here! First, she has a lengthy affair with Salomon, then becomes an alcoholic and provokes an accident that kills her aunt. As a result, she gets into drugs and becomes promiscuous. Nothing seems to stop her, not even a pregnancy as she continues her descent into hell provoking an abortion.

Now 4 years later, the writers are trying to give us hints that she should have a chance with Antonio. That’s just plain ludicrous! Antonio is a smart man and as much as he might have made the wrong choice living with a radicalist as Aranza, I just cannot see how he could possibly see any kind of future living with Lorena.

     This leads me to the only logical conclusion for what we’ve been subjected to since last Monday….and that is the fact that things are not what they seem….

     This actually fits with the intent of this novela since its very first day. We were all led to believe that Julian Madero and Gabriela were a loving couple. As time went on, we realized that was not true. Now, the same is being applied to Santiago&Claudia and Antonio&Lorena relationships.

     What we have been watching the last few days since the time lapse is what is being perceived by the outside world that surrounds them. However, what is really happening behind closed doors and in total intimacy between Santi&MariClau and Antonio&Lorena is something we’re slowly discovering….

     Proof of this is what we’ve seen the last 2 nights…

First MC visits Antonio’s apt. a little anxious and tentative as she had been counting on being with Santiago. Then, she couldn’t help but take a complete peak into every room of Antonio’s place as if looking for a sign of a female presence in his life. Then her sarcastic comment about his attitude towards Lorena. Later on as she visited her new apartment with Santiago and he offers to “christen it”, she quickly changes the subject as if she had no desire to be intimate with him. And finally, during the social gathering at Brenda’s home, she became very fidgety when the doctor commented on Antonio and Lorena behaving like two love birds at a restaurant. Next, she moves into one of the bedrooms and sits there quietly until Brenda comes in and starts to tell her how much her life has changed and how she knows that Antonio is with Lorena and (almost as if trying to convince herself) that she understands it. Brenda, of course, immediately picks up on this and tells her something very truthful: no matter how far and how long you go.... when you come back...things will always be exactly the same as when you leave them…..

     Antonio, on the other hand, is also in turmoil. He gets drunk with Kauris as an outlet for his frustrations of finding Mari Clau married to someone else. When Lorena finds him, he doesn’t plead for forgiveness or acts as a typical regretful boyfriend.

He then tries to treat MC with a certain degree of aloofness, but when she leaves his apt., he unconsciously moves to follow her.

When he goes looking for Lorena in her apartment, he does it out of pity and concern. And when Mari Clau calls her sister and he answers the phone, he carefully chooses his words to convince her about his love affair with Lorena.

     Do I like what is going on….honestly?.No!..But, this new perspective allows me to put up with all the smooching going on between MC and Santiago as well as all the comments regarding Antonio’s relationship with Lorena.

I'm just praying for MC and Antonio to show us the audience what is really going on in their hearts!....I'm getting tired of guessing!

Carmen Del Pilar

      Re: Comments on 10/19 & 10/20 episodes (TV Azteca 13)...SPOILER FOR AA VIEWERS!!  Author: Janet (---)  Date:   10-21-04 18:38 PDT

     With regards to Lorena…

     Well, it’s pretty sad to see that this character has not been able to overcome her addictions over all these years – Lorena’s pretty messed up and really shouldn’t even be thinking about being in a romantic relationship – and any healthy, sane person would steer clear of a romantic entanglement with her. About the only good thing about Lorena falling in love with Antonio is that at least this impulse towards someone she admires seems to keep her from falling back into a relationship with Salomon. I think it does say something about Salomon that in his twisted way, he still seems interested in Lorena – in spite of the chemistry those two have, the only way he’s ever been able to have a hold over Lorena is because she is “damaged goods” – because she is vulnerable. Well, in spite of their chemistry, I assume they can’t end up together in a happy relationship – I find the actor playing Salomon has made the character fascinating to watch, but his sins have gone too far for him to be redeemed in the novela.

     As for Lorena’s past, it seems the circumstances surrounding her aunt’s death were a bit murky – I gather Lorena was driving the car when they had the accident, but she was an adolescent at the time and her aunt shouldn’t have been letting her drive. I gather her aunt was a really strong influence in her life because she was the one family member who showered a lot of affection and attention on her; unfortunately, I also gather her aunt was an alcoholic too, and was probably the one who helped put Lore on this path when she was still very young. As for the spontaneous abortion or miscarriage of her baby? Well, that was sad and unfortunate, but I pretty much guessed that would happen, because that pregnancy was already facing so many problems – Lorena had been doing heavy drinking and drugs before she knew she was pregnant, and then there was the risk of inheriting mental illness through Salomon’s dad… and what with Salomon being a murderer, things didn’t look good for Lorena and Salomon living out a happy family life together. And though it’s sad that Lorena couldn’t pull it together enough to stay clean for her baby, I also think it’s at least more honest to show how difficult it is to instantly become sober without setbacks, without outside help (it sort of bugs me how some novelas paint an overly rosy and unrealistic picture of recovering from addiction). For me, Lorena has been a compelling picture of addiction – a fascinating, talented, and loving person who has ruined so much of her life and relationships with family, friends, and business associates because of her addiction. I guess I have some sympathy for Lorena, but that’s not to say I excuse her behavior now. She’s grown up; she’s got to take charge of her own life; she’s got to want to be sober if it’s ever going to happen for her…

     So why is the story playing with the idea of Lorena and Antonio being together? I think it’s just a tease – it’s my belief that Antonio really has no intention of forming a romantic relationship with Lorena. The reason Lorena is having a crisis right now is because plot-wise it allows for the assumption to be created in the minds of others that Lorena and Antonio are together. Because Antonio is a kind person, who probably really is interested in helping out Mari Clau’s family (well, excepting Santiago, of course! ;-) ) because he cares so much about Mari Clau, and also feels a bond with Don Julian, and a certain responsibility to his loved ones since he died practically on the OFI’s doorstep right after he came to Antonio to do the right thing – for all these reasons, Antonio is willing to help Lorena. However, it also seems to me that clearly he’s not interested in her romantically. He seems to think it pointless to address her comments about her falling in love with him – first, because he realizes that her love for him won’t save her, but only love for herself will save her from her life of addiction; and secondly, I think Antonio still does truly love MariClau. So now Mari Clau ends up thinking that Antonio and Lorena are together- and Antonio didn’t actually lie – he pretty much told the truth – but hid from MariClau the fact that the reason he was with Lore, and that she was asleep, is because he’s taking care of her as she recovers from the effects of her overdose (as Antonio and Doctor Alvaro had agreed earlier to hide Lore’s most recent suicide attempt from her family, so that it wouldn’t ruin that evening’s family get-together).

     As for MariClau? Methinks the lady doeth protest too much. She is clearly still interested in Antonio, as much as she tried to be above board and convince herself that it’s kind, disinterested friendship. As for her giving him advice about Lorena, she did make some comments about how he can’t let himself get trapped in her addiction cycle (I think she gave this advice because it was true for her in the past – she was always trying to fix and save people). But I think Antonio is pretty straightforward with Lore – he’s a supportive (and probably life-saving) friend, but not an enabler. Now that I think of it, it’s an interesting parallel that earlier in the story, MariClau was the one who found Lore after a suicide attempt, and this time around it was Antonio. I also think MariClau tends to overcompensate with all the cariñoso handholding around Santi – she really does feel affection for him, but that’s so very different from true love – I was smiling to see she’s avoiding sex with him (as you pointed out, Carmen, when she was unwilling to “christen” their new apartment), and who knows how long it’s been for the two of them? Back in Trinidad, Santiago was complaining that it had been awhile, that they hadn’t had sex since the last storm (and for all us viewers’ sake, let’s hope that storm was a very long time ago)…

     And all signs are that things are about to change, that MC is scared and nervous, because she knows things will change, that the feelings she’s hidden all this time are starting to surface once again. Her conversation with Brenda made much of this clear to me. And maybe we’ve finally found a use for Brenda’s character (though I’d like to see her have some of her own storylines too) – there is a surprising dearth of strong, good women at this point in the novela (what with the current state of characters such as Lorena, Kauris, and Giovanna) – and MariClau sure could use a friend now that she’s moved back to D.F…

 

 

Telenovela-World:  TV Azteca 10/21/04 Episode: Comments and Rant (AA Spoilers)  Author: Janet (---)  Date:   10-22-04 18:10 PDT

     My disclaimer – yes, the comments below, about yesterday’s episode on TV Azteca, are spoilers for those watching La Heredera on Azteca America…

     Some nice things in last night’s episode…

     First of all, I think it’s gradually becoming clearer that as much as Lorena would like it, she and Antonio have not yet become romantically involved – I found it funny when after Antonio spent the night in her apartment, sitting up and watching to make sure she was recovering okay after her most recent drug overdose/suicide attempt, she stated rather ironically, “Finally, we’ve spent the night together!” I rather enjoy Lorena’s dark sense of humor, but I think the statement was also placed there so that we viewers would be clued in that Antonio and Lorena haven’t “slept” together…

     Eulalia’s back! I was really glad to see her; I rather like Salomon’s mama in spite of the fact that sometimes she’s hard to read. So she’s shown up at Salomon’s door to look after him after they’ve not seen each other for 4 years? Well, I certainly hope she had some savings from her salary from her Madero/Grimaldi household days, because it seems rather thoughtless that Don Julian didn’t include her in his will. Nice to see the character (and/or the actress) is finally off crutches and out of the leg cast. It would have been a little odd for her still to be wearing the cast after the 4-year time lapse… And Eulalia was so oddly charming – asking Salomon permission to buy a parakeet to keep her company at his place? That was funny! And I noticed that Salomon is being protective of his mother, not mentioning to Lauro that she’s shown up.

     And speaking of Lauro, Salomon has him completely figured out – loved it when Salomon told Lauro that his problem is that Lauro has no friends…Of course, after making Salomon drop everything to come chat with him, Lauro then chided Salomon, and figured Salomon must be in a bad mood because Lorena won’t give him the time of day, because Antonio “is pedaling his bicycle”! God, that was mean, and really funny…

     Ahh, the dueling abuelas! It’s pretty funny seeing Gabriela (now also known as “Abuela Gaby”) and Dulce battling it out for little Juliancito’s attention and affection – so who’s the fairest grandma of them all?...

     Dulce’s on a roll, as she continues to crack me up, suggesting that Dionisio should really try to repair his marriage so he could give her a grandchild that she wouldn’t have to share with Gabriela – ah well, as Dio or Santi said (I forget which), it’s not like she hasn’t shared with Gabriela before (feel free to insert your own evil grin here)! And that was an interesting conversation Dulce had with #2 Son, Santiago. Right away Dulce said she could tell he wasn’t happy, and pretty quickly got to the heart of the matter – as much as Santiago’s in love with Maria Claudia, he knows she’s never felt the same way. Sure, she likes him, she’s affectionate with him, she’s understanding, and has always been respectful, but she’s never truly loved him (as in “love” love)…

     I also enjoyed the conversation with Dio and Santi – love that novel-writing seems to be the new imagery though which we view the story of this novela – and that was interesting to see that Dio is another one of those who suspected from the start, when Santi had first communicated with Dio that MariClau was going to have a child – that the child could easily be Antonio’s… And that was definitely a sore spot with Santi! It makes me wonder, how well do MariClau and Santi really communicate? Perhaps he’s always suspected but never wanted to know?

     Mondragon! Sounds strange but I was thrilled to see him – mostly because the arms/drugs/crime/money intrigue came crashing to a halt after the time lapse, right when it seemed so much had been going on. I just love it that Kauris, while just sitting in the bar taking notes in her voice recorder, happens to spot him by chance (without her being seen, I believe). Well, I’m still not too happy about Kauris – she’s really fallen apart! But I’m hoping that this is rock-bottom for her and she’s about to get her game back. Maybe seeing Mondragon will help her get out of her stupid “falling for the wrong guy” slump and remind her how much she used to love her work, and how good she used to be at it. I’m really hoping in the end she’ll get to help take Mondragon down (and as a bonus, it would be nice if she’s instrumental in discovering both Lauro’s crimes and some of Santiago’s lesser but still nasty little lies and manipulations)…By the way, could anyone actually hear what Mondragon was talking about when Kauris was eavesdropping? There was too much background noise so I couldn’t tell – but I could have sworn he said something about Derek Jeeter!

     And the scene between Lorena and MariClau, when MC comes over to check on Lorena after her missing the party the night before? That was good on so many levels…First, I thought it was great that when MC showed up at the door, Juliancito was sprawled in her arms, asleep. That was fun and rather true-to-life: how often do kids fall asleep in the car? And why doesn’t it occur to novela directors more often? It just made MariClau seem more like a real mom to me… Of course, I also realized it suited the thread of the story, to have the little boy asleep here – first of all, because he really shouldn’t be listening to the conversation between MariClau and Lorena...

     MariClau was genuinely interested in seeing her sister, but it was fairly obvious she’s still checking out the landscape with regards to the status of Lorena’s and Antonio’s involvement – she did the “apartment check” thing. I know MariClau thinks she’s doing the right thing, by coming out and directly saying to Lorena that “Sé que estás con Antonio, y me da gusto” (“I know that you’re with Antonio now, and I’m happy for you”) but by now it seems that MariClau is practically the only one blind to the fact that the ashes of the love and passion that once existed between her and Antonio are smoldering hot – blow on them a little and the flames would ignite… Lorena may spend half her life in a haze of alcohol and drugs, but she’s not dumb. Lore’s pretty accurately figured out how MC and Santiago ended up together – compañeros de fuga (companions in flight), and when Lore said she knew that MC wasn’t really in love with Santi, MariClau never directly answered her… Lore really wants a chance with Antonio, and has even said she wants to get cleaned up and sober so that she can have a chance with him – well, it’s a misguided reason for wanting sobriety, I think, but looks like MariClau might try to avoid entangling herself with Antonio partly out of love for her sister…

     One thing I really did love was that Lore was upfront and cleared things up with MariClau, saying that the only reason Antonio spent the night at her place was because he had found her unconscious and took her to the hospital. I’m really glad Lore was decent enough to confess her continued addiction problems, and also was willing to clear up that she and Antonio weren’t “a couple” yet. I just hate it when novelas create rivalry by dragging out something based on a false assumption of who slept with whom…

     Oh, and then when Antonio showed up? That was beautiful, to see him there just stroking Juliancito’s hair as he lay sleeping, so graciously complementing MariClau on her child, of course completely unaware that he is this child’s father. But then, as he stroked Juliancito’s hair, and Lorena sitting there, just watching MariClau looking at Antonio and Julian, and then, suddenly, the look on Lorena’s face! That was incredible – with an expression on her face, and not a single word, she’s conveyed that she knows! This has to be the correct interpretation of this scene! I guess I’ll have to wait until tonight’s episode to know for sure. In the meantime, I just want to say that Aylin Mujica is an incredible actress….

     My impressions on Thursday's episode Oct.21 (spoiler for AA viewers)  Author: CarmenDelPilar (---)

Date:   10-25-04 08:28 PDT

     Here are my impressions on what happened on Thurs Oct. 21

     The following is something I wrote on Friday morning, hoping to post it on that day, but due to lack of time, I did not get a chance to finish it….

     Well, the inevitable has happened…what I was hoping not to see and maintain ambiguous in my mind finally became real last night as I painfully watched Lorena and Antonio making out and eventually heading to the bedroom. (Another punch in the gut for me…) Out the window went all my suppositions that all this time Antonio had only been behaving as a Big Brother to Lorena. Last night’s scene made it crystal clear that Antonio is indeed seeking more than a platonic relationship with Lorena.

     I’m desperately hanging on to the notion that this was the first time he’s bedded Lorena and if he did it now, it was as a desperate act to find closure to his feelings for Maria Claudia. Granted, it was a stupid way to do it, but hey! Desperate people in love are known for committing desperate and foolish acts!

I still think that choosing Lorena as a love interest for Antonio was a dumb move on the part of the writers, but at this point I have no choice but to accept it since I plan to continue watching this novela.

     Dear Janet,

     I beg to differ with you on what transpired between Lorena and Antonio during Thursday’s episode.

     While I agree that nothing sexual happened during the previous night when Antonio simply stayed by Lorena’s side as she was recovering from her overdose, the morning after is when things “happened” between them.

     Why do I think that…well to me it was pretty obvious from the dialogue and the way Antonio and Lorena looked at each other.

     I’m referring to the scene in the following link: rtsp://200.23.37.81:554/heredera/oct/211004/1.rm (starts at min. 2 approx.)

     The dialogue goes as follows:

     (Antonio is sitting by a window in Lorena’s apt. looking out as if he was watching someone). Lorena approaches him and says “Good morning”. He answers : “Good morning”.

     He points out the window and makes reference to an old lady who has been spying on him for sometime.

     Lorena thanks him and makes a funny comment that goes like: “We finally spent the night together”.

     He answers: Yeah, but how!

     Antonio gets up from the chair and stands in front of Lorena (really close), looks deep into her eyes and says:

     “You gave me a scare, but everything is going to be different”. “You don’t realize that you could’ve died”. “It would’ve hurt me had that actually happened”. “You didn’t think of that”

     Lorena answers: “Yes. I’m asking you for another chance”

     Antonio answers: “Life has already given you another chance and you must not waste it.

     Lorena says: “Just give me another chance to make through and love you. Please, give me that chance”

     (Antonio kisses her in the mouth as he waves at the nosy old woman who is still spying on them)

     Antonio turns to look out the window at the old lady and smiling he says: “Look, she went inside, she got spooked, but she’s going to be very happy”

     Lorena replies: “Happy is what I want you to be…..come” (she takes him by the hand and they walk away from the window)

     That last comment by Lorena is what made it crystal clear to me that they were headed right to the bedroom.

     On the positive side of things, I was overjoyed to hear Santiago admit to his mom that despite all his efforts and all the love he’s shown to Maria Claudia, she’s been unable to fall in love with him. This, in my opinion, is the best punishment and lesson Santiago could receive for all his deeds. For him to realize that he may have MC’s body but not her heart and soul. As much as he tried to convince a surprised Dulce that Maria Claudia had real and “honorable” feelings for him such as affection, understanding, comradeship, tolerance, solidarity, supportiveness, it was clear that he knew deep inside he would gladly trade all those feelings for the one he needs the most, MC’s love and passion. And to add salt to the wound is Santiago’s suspicion that Juliancito may not be his son. The scene between Santiago and Dionisio pretty much confirmed to me that Santiago has this thorn prickling at his side.

     Something else I enjoyed last night was Maria Claudia’s visit to Lorena’s place and finding out what really happened the night before when they didn’t show up for the welcoming celebration at Brenda’s apt.

What I’m reading from Maria Claudia’s face is that she’s finding it very difficult to realize that Antonio is heading for a miserable relationship with Lorena. I think it might have been easier if she knew that Lorena might make Antonio happy but deep inside she knows her sister Lore is never going to make it. (I’m sorry, but I think Lorena doesn’t stand a chance at getting rid of her drug/alcohol/sex addictions).

     The best part last night came when Antonio showed up at Lorena’s and saw Maria Claudia and her son.

His face just lit up like a Christmas tree! And Lorena caught it!. Maria Claudia once again became very fidgety and nervous in her attempt at behaving “normal” around Antonio. Antonio couldn’t resist caressing a sleeping Juliancito.  Finally, Lorena begins to sense something in the way Antonio is behaving towards Juliancito and she finally makes the connection... 

     That was a great performance by Aylin Mujica. She pretty much told us with her facial expressions that she had just realized Juliancito was Antonio's son....(very, very good scene!)

 

Telenovela-World:  Comments about Friday, oct. 21 TV Azteca (Spoiler for AA viewers!)  Author: CarmenDelPilar (---)  Date:   10-25-04 13:18 PDT

     THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SPOILER FOR THOSE WATCHING AA!!

     Comments on Friday, Oct. 22 (TV Azteca)

     There is a new character called Lucia, a young girl who’s been drawn to Gabriela’s lectures about getting on with life. I guess the whole idea about her doing a radio talk show was dismissed. It’s not quite clear yet what her role is going to be, but I’m suspecting she’s got a dark secret concerning her stepdad….

     The casual meeting of Maria Claudia with her nanny Eulalia at the pet store was well done by director and writers. MC was there purchasing a couple of mini turtles for her son and Eulalia was looking to buy a parakeet. It was interesting to watch Eulalia assume right away that MC was living with the father of her son, Antonio. So, it seems that Eulalia is back and she’s going to become Juliancito’s new nanny.

     Lorena’s confession to Salomon that she’s looking to kick her habits because she’s in love with Antonio is going to fuel Salomon’s desire to seek revenge with Antonio and his loved ones (perhaps his son!)…

     The next scene was my favorite of the night. Antonio is once again sitting alone in his apt. reading for the millionth time the letter MC wrote to him about taking something of his with her…as he keeps repeating the line “I have something of yours” over and over and over, he begins to realize what that something is….his seed, his son!. I felt so happy for him!...I like the use of Tufinio to get a little insight into Antonio’s true feelings about MC (jealousy, anger) being with Santiago all these years. Here, we also see a typical reaction on Antonio’s part which is to fight for his son. However, Tufinio was right on the money explaining how things have to be evaluated in the best interest of Juliancito, because after all, he is the most important and affected party in the situation.

I’m beginning to have suspicions as to Tufinio’s constant preoccupation for Kauris. Are the writers looking to pair him up with her?

     I don’t know what to make of Lauro’s reaction at Brenda’s place. It has me totally baffled. If his reaction was sincere, it wouldn’t make sense. I just cannot believe this guy would have some kind of conscience.

If he was just acting, I feel terrible for Brenda who seems to be on her way to falling into his trap…(Just how irresistible is Lauro that all girls seem to be falling for him!!!!yuck!)

     I couldn’t help but wonder during the scene between Santiago and Dionisio, that this apartment could have actually been the love nest of Dulce and Julian Madero when they were young and in love. It was Dionisio’s comment that he had experienced “déjà vu” that did it. Once again, it felt really good to see Santiago in a state of inner turmoil fighting those inner demons filling him with constant doubts about Juliancito and MC.

     I was very surprised to see Tufinio present at Lorena’s rehab therapy group. Does it mean he’s also a recovering addict?

     People lining up to see Lauro! Well, well, well. Apparently this guy is very much in demand! Standing first in line is Giovanna looking to get a “quick fix” to calm her burning desires after having been rejected by Dionisio. Second in line is Salomon, looking for some kind of companionship after dealing with Lorena’s rejection…..I just don’t get it….

     I could understand Gabriela’s reaction to Antonio’s request to obtain MC’s address. It was out of genuine concern for her daughter’s well being and respect for the family she has formed with Santiago that she could not agree to provide Antonio with the info he wants.

     OK, let’s face it, Santiago is lousy at being a handy man…lol!..His flustered face after only painting part of a wall was priceless. It seems his mind is distracting him and is becoming suspicious of everyone that might come in close proximity with Juliancito.

     Giovanna is more desperate than I thought! Here she goes again trying to seduce Dionisio only to be rejected and left feeling like a cheap tramp.

     With the next scene, we got a glimpse of what is really going on right now in the Madero/Sergiotorres marriage. Santiago holding his sleeping son in his arms and refusing to hand him to MC making sarcastic remarks about “his son” and the fact that MC is “his woman” and that they are “a couple and a family”. Maria Claudia’s reaction to all this is, in my opinion, guilt and pity. She feels guilty for not loving Santiago and for hiding the truth about Juliancito. So, out of pity, she accepts Santiago’s kisses and his desire to be intimate with her. What a miserable life this girl has chosen for herself!

     Thank you Azteca for not showing us what we did not want to see (MC and Santi doing the deed!), but did you have to subject us to a glimpse of Santiago’s white and skinny *ss!

     Santiago’s frustration keeps rising by the minute. The more he tries to assure himself nothing is going to come between him and his family the more threatened he feels when he realizes his wife is hiding, escaping from herself and her true feelings. At this point Santiago has decided he’s no longer willing to accept a one-way relationship in this marriage. He is ready to take the risk and play for broke.

     At the last scene, Antonio visits Lorena. He asks her about her group meeting, but she realizes his presence is not due to his interest in her as it has more to do with her sister. Lorena goes straight to the point and asks Antonio if he finally figured out Juliancito is her son…..(things are definitely picking up some pace!)

     Carmen Del Pilar  

 

Telenovela-World:  Comments on Monday, Oct. 26 (Spoiler for AA viewers)  Author: CarmenDelPilar (---)  Date:   10-26-04 10:19 PDT

THE FOLLOWING IS A SPOILER FOR AA VIEWERS!!!

     Comments on Monday, Oct. 26 (Spoiler for AA viewers)

     I don’t know why, but last night’s episode only lasted about ½ hour.

     We saw more of signs of trouble in the MC/Santi marriage. He apparently spent the night away from MC getting drunk with his brother and waking up at his mom’s place. MC spent the night crying and called her mom the following morning looking for some kind of consolation from a loved one.

     Lauro is stalking Brenda to find out how she feels after what happened between them.

     Looks like the Lorena/Antonio relationship was very short lived and we won’t have to be subjected to anymore kisses between them (yeepee!). Also seems that she’s going right back to her old habits. I’m starting to think this character is not going to make it alive on this novela.

     Giovanna is obviously in tremendous heat…lol!...she doesn’t give up and after another rejection by Dionisio, she goes back out again late at night looking for Lauro. This time she gets lucky and gets her much needed sexual “fix”. She is becoming sort of a comic relief character.

     But the best scene was Antonio writing a letter to his newly found son, Juliancito, as he remembers the first encounter with MC back in Trinidad. I have prepared both Spanish and English versions of the letter because I think they convey so much of the love he feels for mother and son.

     Here it is:

     Julián,

     Te escribo ahora que se que existes y que eres mi hijo, sangre de mi sangre.

     Apenas nos conocimos sentí que entre tu y yo existía algo especial que no podía definir

     No se cuando voy a poder abrazarte pero, me muero de ganas de hacerlo, de que me digas papa,

de que llenes mi vida de tus risas y tus ilusiones, así como la ha llenado tu madre…

porque ella, tu mama, es mi vida entera.

     Basto verla para darme cuenta de lo mucho que todavía la amo y lo mucho que la necesito

     Mi mayor ilusión es que los tres podamos estar juntos algún día y voy a luchar por ello.

     ------------------

     Julian,

     I’m writing to you now that I now you exist and that you’re my son, my own flesh and blood.

     The instant we met I felt something especial between us I couldn’t describe

     I don’t know when I’ll be able to hold you in my arms, but I can’t wait to do it,

     I can’t wait for you to call me dad, for you to fill my life with your laughter and your dreams,

the same way your mother has filled them, because she, your mom is my whole life…

     The moment I saw her again, I realized just how much I still love and need her.

     My greatest dream is for the three of us to be together someday and I plan to fight to make it happen.

     --------------------------

     I hope tonight, Azteca offers a full 1 hr episode because the ½ hr was way too short!

 

 

Telenovela-World:  Comments on Tuesday 10/26 (Spoiler for AA Viewers!!!)  Author: CarmenDelPilar (---) Date:   10-28-04 06:06 PDT

     (Spoiler for AA Viewers!!)

     Comments on Tues. Oct. 26

     Phew! Thank goodness we got to see almost a full hour this time.

     There is also a new feature at the end of the episode and that is the fact that we got to see a preview of the next episode.

     Lauro goes to see MC at her apt. to play the part of the “good brother” who no one understands, but MC doesn’t buy his game.

     When he sees that his “good guy” ploy isn’t working, he turns nasty on her and makes her understand that he knows Juliancito is Antonio’s kid leaving MC a bit worried.

     Santiago returns home and reconciles with MC.

     Kauris shows up at Antonio’s place to tell him that she’s spotted Mondragon meeting with people in very high places and she’s convinced he’s up to something really juicy. They go to find Tufinio at the OFI to ask for backup help.

     Mondragon has a meeting with Salomon. They talk about becoming partners in a very lucrative venture and about getting hold of Magri’s assets to finance their deal. It almost gave me a feeling that Salomon and Mondragon had been partners since the very beginning, but I could be wrong.

     Lucia goes to Gabriela to ask her for permission to transcribe her lectures so that they can be published. While there, Lucia meets Lauro who stops by to visit his mom. As usual, he doesn’t miss a chance to comment on how good looking the girl is. Yuck!

     Lucia then goes to visit Dionisio who mistakes her for a worker. When he realizes that she’s not, he finds out she wants his help in publishing Gabriela’s lectures. This whole thing about Lucia and her sudden interest for Gabriela and her lectures is very puzzling.

     Lorena has a good talk with her morning addict group therapy leader who gives her good advice about not using Antonio as an excuse to get better. As it is expected, it went in one ear and out the other setting herself up for another blow when Antonio shows up at her place and she tries to flirt with him convinced that she might get his attention. After he leaves, she finds, on the floor, the letter that Antonio wrote to his son and goes bonkers running for her medicine cabinet and grabbing a full bottle of pills to swallow along with a full bottle of alcohol.

     Carmen Del Pilar

     Re: Comments on Tuesday 10/26 (Spoiler for AA Viewers!!!)  Author: minda (---) Date:   10-28-04 19:10 PDT

     Dear Carmen:

     I so impressed with your analysis of what is going on with this telenovela...I have watched over and over again their Cuando Seas Mia and there is no comparison for this to La Heredera...I was just so disappointed that they did not follow thru what they put in the description of the character of Claudia, she is suppose to have a very strong character...of course being away from her family for several years and living independently in the United States should have made her stronger and what happen to their company...which is suppose to be one biggest company in Mexico , why isn't she back to work as the president of this company...I am just lost here after all the talked she had with Antonio before their last love encounter that she was to put her life in Antonio's hand and to see to it that they will find the person who is responsible in killing her father...

     What ever happened to Antonio's desire to look for the killer of his Uncle..Don Angel as he mentioned that he doesn't want his name just to be a number...with all his connection as one a top intellegence officer of the US.before he moved to Mexico..nothing surface on this....It seems that all the bad things that Solomon, Mondragon and Lauro did were just forgotten.

     Why is the writer trying to separate Antonio from Claudia when in fact if you remember they did have a survey to ask the audience if they like Sergio and Silvia to do a love team again and they did have an overwheming reply of yes...it seems that they do not really care for the opinion of the public...I mean the writers...so what is the point of even doing this survey..or is it because they them to split up as the famous love team of the telenovela...??????

     When will Claudia realize that Santiago really lied to her about his sickness and that he is not going to die,,is this also being set aside by the writer...(it has been four years and he is as strong as a bull)

     I enjoyed very much their love team in Cuando Seas Mia wherein Paloma fought for her love...and never gave up...nice,,,very nice plot...but with La Heredera everytime I watched it I just feel depressed...I was looking forward to be entertained but at the end it makes me so sad and upset so...I just stopped watching it and just waited for your comment on whatever will happen...

     It is said in the future capitulos that Claudia will deny to Antonio that Julian is not his son inspite of the fact that she has told Eulalia and Marina the truth..why lie I do not know...but I think what will happen is that when Lauro and Solomon will kidnapped the kid to get the money from her...she will run to Antonio for help...I hope I am right here and will tell Antonio that Julian is his son...

     I guess this is my opinion as of now....

     Thanks again for your summary..I just love reading it...

     Minda

 

 


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