Lo Que La Vida Me Robo: Spanglish Girl’s Recap & Review (April 21-24)

So much has happened since I last blogged. I had to do a novela binge to get all caught up and now that I am—all I can say is what an emotional week! Since there is so much to talk about, let’s go couple by couple.

Josefina and Dimitrio: Well, Josefina has finally come to her senses—she realizes how foolish she was to allow Dimitrio to treat her the way he did. What I like most about Josefina’s evolution is that in the end, her decision to divorce Dimitrio was more about herself and what she deserves, rather than him and what he did to her.

I have to say I’m quite impressed with the writers: that they allowed Josefina’s character to reach such a valuable self-realization is beautiful and quite refreshing. Josefina realizes that in order to be loved she must learn to love herself first—and that is so true. So even though Dimitrio has finally learned to love her, it is too late because Josefina has realized that she was looking for validation, through love, for the wrong reasons: she was insecure and afraid to be alone and for those reasons, she allowed herself to be stepped over like a rug.

Dimitrio has also become quite likable—although, he still has is “Dimitrio” moments where I think: no he’s the same. I am eager to see if he and Josefina ever reunite. I’m still waiting for Josefina’s grand makeover, but I have to ask myself why she even needs one: I mean, after all, our idea of beauty is quite superficial and socially constructed. Can a woman be beautiful and have a unibrow? I think so because it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and Dimitrio has realized it a little too late.

Nadia y Victor: their story to this point is heartbreaking! They finally get a taste of freedom and the plane falls! Why! Why! I needed a box of tissue. I have to say that their love is probably the most challenging thanks to Pedro. I think he may be the most detested novela character of all time. He grosses me out and makes me want to jump into my TV to warn everyone about his evil ways.

With Pedro in Agua Azul, I don’t see any other option for Nadia and Victor: leaving seemed to be the only choice and until the plane fell out of the sky, I actually thought they might get to live happily ever after. Their love story has, without a doubt, been one of the darker ones due to Pedro’s actions.  I also always wonder where Nadia’s parents are; after all, Pedro married her because she came from a prominent family. Can’t they help her and Adolfo? I’m guessing I missed one of the episodes where her or Adolfo mention where their parents are or what happened to them.

If I had to point out some of the creepiest things Pedro has done to Victor and Nadia, it would be the spy cam in their “love den.” But then again, worse than that is the emotional and physical abuse Nadia is subjected to as his wife.

Monday and Tuesday’s episodes were probably the most intense to date: I caught myself watching with my mouth open. I could feel Nadia and Victor’s panic as the moments passed and they still hadn’t boarded the plane. Once they took off, I felt relief, but I knew that those bullets were going to damage the plane.  When the plane began to fall, I actually wanted to scream, but because I live in an apartment I controlled myself… Since Alejandro was the only one to make a cameo in heaven, I think there’s a chance that Victor and Nadia are still alive. Although I’ve been reading in articles here and there that Alejandro too may be alive… (hmmm)

Before I leave the topic of Nadia and Victor: Did anyone else catch the reference to “lo que la vida me robo” when Victor and Nadia were sitting by the beach talking about their plans to leave Agua Azul? I did. Is this the first mention of the title to date? If so, it’s fitting because life has been cruel to many of the characters—especially Jose Luis (but I’ll get to him later).

Carlota y Ezequiel: This is a match not made in heaven… How many of you find yourself cringing when Carlota talks about her love and happiness! Ezequiel is Pedro in the making. Ezequiel is so evil he killed the priest! Or did he? I just can’t believe it. I’m still hoping El Padrecito appears. He can’t be dead and I just don’t see why Ezequiel would spare Maria and kill the priest. I know he claims to have killed him because he knew too much, but for whatever reason I’m not buying it. I also don’t fully believe that it was his hand in the box…

So fast-forward a few years and Carlota and Ezequiel are married and to my surprise, Carlota seems very happy and rich. Well see about that, yesterday (Thursday 4/24/2014) was only day one of the future.

Now, what about Montserrat and Alejandro! OMG! Can you believe Maria finally tried to kill Montserrat?  Maria is dangerous in the worst way: she’s crazy. When Montserrat saw her dad, I thought she might be dead for good, but when she saw Alejandro–I thought, this is it! This is how the novela ends: with both of them in heaven together.

Of course Montserrat came back to life, and than the plane with Alejandro fell out of the sky.  I cried like a baby when Alejandro was confirmed dead.  I keep thinking he can’t be dead, but today (years later) he is still dead. These episodes change so quickly, so we will have to see what today’s episode shows because it just doesn’t seem right. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. We keep hearing how this novela is supposedly a remake of Amor Real, and if that is the case than Alejandro probably is dead… Let’s hope not. It’s a novela after all and miracles do happen.

So now that Jose Luis is out of jail we’ll have to see if Montserrat falls for him again. I’m not seeing any other way for this novela to continue. If Alejandro is truly gone, then of course Montserrat and Jose Luis are going to end up together. Months ago, I was team Jose Luis, but then Alejandro slowly grew on me and I finally switched sides. But now it just seems too much has happened and it won’t really be “happily ever after” unless Alejandro returns, but maybe it is this tragedy that encompasses the title most: “Lo Que La Vida Me Robo.”

Jose Luis y Angelica: Angelica’s death was sad, but she died happily in Jose Luis’s arms. I have to say that in my perfect world, Angelica would have been cured, Jose Luis would have whole heartedly fallen in love with her and that would be it–the novela would be over.  But no, I guess life is cruel even in our novelas. So now Jose Luis is free to be with Montserrat and by the look of things he is back to his old ways: chasing her at no cost. But now he is a rich man, and wait till she finds out he gave her all the money to re-start her new life. Montserrat and Jose Luis’s relationship is too far damaged, I think. Besides, years later Montserrat is still pining for Alejandro.

Now some final notes on the future: did anyone else feel surprised by Montserrat’s career? I kept thinking she would be a secretary or maybe own a clothing store, but a café was an interesting choice. And Amelia married Pedro!!! Really! I’m also surprised that she, like Carlota, seems happy. I doubt Pedro has changed so much he is a kinder husband. Oh! And Graciela’s home—so dirty. I don’t feel sad for her, she deserves to be unhappy.  And what about Adolfito—he is now a murderer. What about Maria?

I look forward to today’s episode, Fridays are always good but bittersweet because they leave us hanging until Monday!

Spanglish Girl