Mia is still distraught over Manuel’s refusal to help his own case in any way. Vico and Feli are like, “Do you wanna do something fun? Do you wanna go to Taco Bell?” I can’t quite articulate it, but Vico and Feli have gotten a lot more…idiotically comic relief-esque this season? They mostly seem to exist to be ineffective friends to Mia, instead of having their own plots like last season. Then again, we’re only on episode 22 of 179 (help me). Mia’s like, “I don’t wanna go to Taco Bell! God, Vico and Feli, you’re so stupid!” Replace ‘Taco Bell’ with ‘makeover’ and you get the gist of this scene. Sol waltzes in and is like, “Oh, you bought all this makeup for me! Thanks guys!” I feel like they should all know how Sol operates by now, but they get far too worked up over her anyway.
Seeing as Manuel’s refusing to lift a finger to help himself out, Marizza goes to Sonia. Sonia agrees to pay Manuel’s bail, so he can finally leave jail. Knowing Manuel, he’ll get all mad because he didn’t ASK them to not let him rot in jail! Then Andres waltzes in and Marizza realizes that he’s living with Sonia. She flips out, honestly, as one might when one realizes their mother is letting that spineless freeloader leech off them.
Tomás goes to meet Ana for their date, but finds that she’s not waiting for him. Well, she left him a note, didn’t she? Ha, of course Fernanda didn’t give it to him. Tomás is sad and confused.
I feel like he could’ve dressed up a little more for a first date, though.
Fernanda rocks in and is all sly and passive-aggressive about how Ana must have stood him up. She takes the opportunity to ask Tomás out instead, and he goes with her. Oh, Tomás, you poor dumb child.
Pilar tries to start her new ATV, but it sputters a bit and she completely gives up. What? Pilar, at least try to turn it on a few more times before freaking out. Rocco comes by and sees her struggling, and offers to help her. He convinces her that they’ll get busted riding around the campus, and they should go out instead. Oh, sure, that’s safer.
Dunoff is having dinner at Gloria’s house. Pilar calls to ask permission to ride around town on the ATV, which surprises me because A) has anyone on this show ever asked permission to do anything, and B) has Dunoff ever given it? Anyway, Dunoff’s in the middle of passing out from his anti-Viagra medication that he agrees. Pilar’s suspicious of his location, but Dunoff tells her that he’s in a meeting. A sexy meeting. Or it would be if Gloria was any good at being sexy, which she is not. She finally gives up on the whole “eating” thing and goes straight to giving him a massage, and by the time she manages to tell him that she wants to have a torrid affair, Dunoff’s asleep.
Gloria, this is the universe giving you a sign. If you have to seduce a married man, AIM HIGHER.
Augustina meets up with Guido, and tells him about how she told her dad that they were dating and they’re basically engaged now, because she tells her dad everything, especially about her relationships! Guido wonders if maybe they’re moving too fast, and Augustina’s like, “No such thing!” In fact, this weekend, her dad wants to meet him! Guido freaks out: he was just trying to get some sophomore tail, not like, actually date her. It’s too bad Nico’s not around anymore. He knows a few things about going out with a girl once and her entire family assuming that you’re engaged.
Pilar and Rocco’s little outing just happens to take them by Gloria’s house, where they see Dunoff’s car parked outside. Why does Pilar know where Gloria lives? Pilar gets upset that her dad lied to her, and Rocco’s like, “Yikes. Awkward.” I’m confused. Is Rocco genuinely trying to be a better person now, or is he just rolling around ingratiating himself to everyone so he can be a dick to them later? It’s unclear.
For some reason, Gloria decides to let Dunoff drive home, even though he’s half-asleep and whacked up on drugs. Don’t let him operate heavy machinery, Gloria! Pilar runs over to Dunoff’s car and she’s like, “What the hell, dad!”
Meanwhile, in some apartment, some MYSTERIOUS PERSON wonders about that girl he ran into on the street, and marvels that she has THE EXACT SAME FACE AS HIS MOTHER! It’s obviously the mysterious motorcycle stalker, and he’s talking about Marizza. Then he pulls out a photo of his mom, and she doesn’t look like Marizza at all. What the fuck.
Feli and Vico are still trying to make Mia feel better with the power of makeovers. They wave a bunch of perfumes under her nose, and find that one of their lotions or whatever is missing. They all assume that Sol stole it — well, Feli and Vico assume, Mia is basically catatonic — so Feli goes off to kick Sol’s ass. She finds her talking to Pablo not-at-all subtly about Pilar rigging the ATV raffle. Feli is shocked and appalled!
Sonia shows up to Elite Way, and who else should show up but Deus Ex Papa C! Oh, thank God. Papa C, please end this plotline and put me out of my misery. He and Sonia start fighting over which one of them, exactly, is responsible for rescuing Manuel and I hate to say it but it’s probably Sonia. I mean, way to ditch Manuel without even waiting to see how the investigation went, Papa C. Papa C says that they shouldn’t pay the bail, for…reasons.
Papa C’s lawyer friend, who is really not getting paid enough to put up with Manuel, goes to see Manuel again. He tells Manuel that Papa C is considered the victim in this case, since he was the one who paid up the ransom, and so if Papa C wants to drop it, then the case will be dropped. Are you serious? Is that how this is getting resolved? Okay, whatever. Manuel flips out that this CANNOT BE, since nobody believes him, not even Mia, because apparently he thinks Papa C has the same brain capacity as his teenage classmates. Lawyer Dude tells Manuel that the case has indeed been withdrawn, and Manuel is free. Free to go back to school and start pressuring his girlfriend into sex again!
Tomás meets Ana in the cafeteria, and she explains to him that she wrote him a note to tell him that she couldn’t make their date. She reveals that she gave it to Fernanda, and Fernanda insists that it’s in his folder. Tomás does indeed find it in there, and Fernanda acts hurt that Tomás didn’t believe her. Ana’s like, “How could you not believe such an innocent flower and good friend!” and now she’s mad at Tomás, too.
Fernanda’s plan seems awfully complex. She’s trying to lure Tomás into dating her instead of Ana, by…repeatedly gaslighting him and making him feel bad for being mean to her? I mean, it just seems like letting Tomás think Ana stood him up was the easier way to go about this.
Pilar and Dunoff have it out over him being at Gloria’s house at night. He blusters that Gloria’s helping him study for his master’s, and Pilar’s like, “At night? At her house?” and Dunoff’s like, “That’s where the best studying happens!” In total fairness, it’s not like any studying has ever happened at Elite Way, like ever. Pilar yells that he’s corrupt just like all other adults, and storms off. Parents just don’t understand, man.
In the cafeteria, Feli excitedly tells all the kids about how Pilar rigged the raffle, and that means that PILAS is a festering hotbed of corruption. Lock them up! Lujan comes in and starts yelling her head off when she finds out that Marizza’s honor is being bismirched. That random curly-haired boy who’s suddenly their classmate this year says that he wants his money back, and then everyone’s yelling (and trying to stop Lujan from punching them all). Lujan asks why Diego’s not defending PILAS and he’s like, “Idk, just want to see how this goes first.” Heh. Then Lujan gets up in Feli’s face and starts yelling at her. Ah, and the relentless bullying of Feli begins again. Feli points out that she’s telling the truth, and asks Sol for backup. “Yup, Feli’s right,” Sol says, shrugging. Hee. I’m starting to love Sol. She just does not give a single shit about any of these kids.
Marizza comes in as the bell’s ringing, and snaps that nobody leaves until they explain what’s going on. So now they’re all going to be late for class? Man, I would not vote for Marizza.
Some indeterminate amount of time later, Marizza storms out into the courtyard to yell at Pablo for helping Pilar. Pablo and Guido are out there for no reason in particular that I can see. I guess everyone is just skipping class. She starts trying to take a swing at him, and then Francisco comes out of nowhere (seriously, are none of them in class?) to pull Marizza off.
Back at Casa Colucci, Lawyer Dude says that Manuel is definitely, absolutely, 100% innocent, so we can finally put this plotline to rest. Manuel’s all like, “Papa C, you care!” and Papa C hugs him and says he’s the son he never had.
Also, not to make things weird, but Papa C is looking good in this episode. Maybe he started exfoliating or something.
Blas finally manages to round everyone up and get them to art class. Remember art class? It’s okay, nobody else does, either. Feli keeps snarking to Vico and the other girls about how PILAS is a goddamn mess, and Marizza loses her shit and dumps paint on Feli’s head. Paint fight! The art teacher gets the vapours from the sight of students fighting, because that’s never happened at Elite Way before. Eventually she has to drag Blas in — again — and he reams them out. I really hate that Blas has become the most effective disciplinarian at this school, because then I have to say nice things about him sometimes. He singles Marizza out as the perpetrator, and Lujan jumps to her defense. “Who asked you?” Blas says. Hee! Then Dunoff comes in, and Feli tells him that Marizza got mad because they called her out on rigging the raffle. “Can you shut up?” Lujan snaps, even though Feli is dropping nothing but truth bombs. Why do you make it so hard to love you, Lujan? Lujan snaps that the raffle-rigging was Pilar’s fault, and Dunoff’s like, “Say what?”
Marizza’s mysterious motorcycle stalker shows up to Elite Way. Creepy! He introduces himself as Martin Andrade, and asks to see Marizza. Double creepy! Gloria rightly won’t let him, but then Marizza waltzes through the office herself, and he gets an eyeful of her anyway. Dunoff loudly exposits that Marizza’s little paint fight gave the art teacher such conniptions that she’s resigned, and HOW are they EVER going to find another teacher now?
Augustina waltzes through the courtyard, and stops by to needle Lola about how Augustina has a boyfriend — a fourth-year boyfriend, no less — and Lola doesn’t. I mean, I’d rather be single forever than admit to dating Guido, but that’s me. Lola gets mad and says that she totally also has a fourth-year boyfriend, so there! Augustina’s like, “Great, I’d love to meet him!” and Bianca’s just like, “Oh my God, here we go again.” Poor Bianca.
Manuel cries to Papa C that Mia didn’t believe he was innocent, and Papa C’s like, “Well, my daughter can be kind of dumb and shallow, what’re ya gonna do.” He advises Manuel that Mia’s not perfect — that people in general aren’t perfect, which I thought was supposed to be the lesson that Manuel learned last year. I guess he’s forgotten it. Then Maria Jesus shows up and tells Papa C that she’s found a new place to live. Manuel just kind of watches her putter around the house like, “What the fuck is my P.E. teacher doing here?” Then Sonia shows up, and she’s not pleased at all that Maria Jesus is still at the house. “Tell me why you’re here, because I’m not in the mood for your awful sense of humor,” Maria Jesus says. Hee! Say it, Maria Jesus.
All the kids file into the cafeteria after cleaning the art room. Lujan’s explaining to Tomás about how Pilar is mixed up with PILAS and Pablo. I don’t know why she thinks Tomás is grasping any of this, but he’s nodding like he understands. Then Sol rocks up and asks if Marizza’s given her modeling photos to Sonia, and Lujan’s like, “Seriously?” Heh. Once again, I love how little of a fuck Sol gives. Lujan tries to announce to the cafeteria that Fuerza Motriz are the corrupt ones, but then Guido and Pablo rock in and start snarking about how PILAS is full of criminals. I hate to say it, but Guido is really more charismatic than Lujan. I feel like PILAS might win anyway, because Marizza gets everything she wants on this show, but it really does not look great for them. Lujan is sad that she’s met a situation she can’t punch her way out of.
Pilar saves Marizza’s ass by confessing to Dunoff that she rigged the raffle on her own. Dunoff’s like, “But why?” and Pilar snaps that she’s not going to explain her cheating if Dunoff won’t explain his. Pilar finally breaks down and admits that she envies all her classmates — their money, friends, all that good stuff. “I envy what Mia has, what Marizza has — what all my classmates have,” she says, then storms off. Aw. I do feel a little bad for Pilar.
Sonia insists on driving Manuel back to school, and he goes out to her car to the dulcet tones of Avril Lavigne. That should be our first hint that all is not what it seems, and it’s not, because Mia’s waiting in the car. She tries to make up with Manuel, but he won’t forgive her for not believing him. Whatever! She forgave you for trying to stab her dad! Manuel tells Mia that they’re over. Oh, great, now I’m gonna have to watch Luisana Lopilato try to emote some more. Don’t you ever think about me, Manuel? What I go through here?
Martin Andrade decides to finagle his way into Elite Way by getting the art teacher job. Of course, even Gloria’s not dumb enough to let him back in the school, so he decides to apply as his “brother”, Octavio. He makes up a whole fake resume for himself, saying he’s studied in New York and Barcelona. Normally I’d be like, “Dude, they can check that,” but Elite Way surely won’t.
Fernanda guilts Tomás into going on a date with her, to make up for accusing her of sabotaging his date with Ana. Poor dumb Tomás doesn’t notice anything suspicious about this.
Right before Pablo’s big speech, Marizza comes into his room and is like, “This presidential campaign is turning you into a major jerk.” He denies being involved with Pilar and the raffle, and Marizza points out that he knew what Pilar was doing, and he took advantage of it. Pablo mocks her, and Marizza tells him that she’s speaking from the heart. Pablo’s like, “Whatever, the ends justify the means,” and goes off to make his speech.
All the kids gather in the main hall for Pablo’s speech. Not to be all Godwin, but it’s pretty Triumph of the Will-esque. He looks down on all the lessers as he reads his speech, and all the kids are into his campaign promises. Marizza gets mad and goes up there to read her speech, which Rocco wrote. It’s super, super awkward and full of bullshit metaphors that might be poetic or might just be Rocco fucking with everyone. All the kids are like, “The fuck is this”, while Rocco grins. I can’t tell if he purposely messed up her speech or if like, he was being mega pretentious and genuinely thought people would like it. Manuel walks in and inspires Marizza to start improvising, about how she doesn’t need a speech because she has the power of friendship instead, and how PILAS is all about dignity and freedom. Liberté, égalité, and guaranteed safety from Lujan’s fists of fury for one (1) lunch period!
She asks everyone to give Manuel a round of applause, like they weren’t all advocating for him to be thrown in jail two episodes ago. Everyone seems won over by Marizza’s speech, but then Pablo takes the stand again and starts going on about his platform, and everyone’s like, “On second thought, he actually has policy proposals.”
Mia goes up to her room and cries. Manuel takes a walk with Marizza and thanks her for helping him get out of jail. Marizza tells Manuel that he’s the best person she knows in this school. Man, that is a low bar. This is, of course, as opposed to Pablo, who is THE WORST. “You really love him, huh?” Manuel asks. Heh. He defends Pablo to Marizza, telling her that Pablo’s trying to grow and learn, and it can hurt to know that the people you love aren’t perfect. Uh, this from Manuel, who heard this speech and still dumped Mia? Oh, but then he says that maybe it’s better if some dreams don’t come true. I really can’t tell if he’s endorsing Marizza and Pablo’s relationship or not. Stop mixing your messages, Manuel!
Lola tries to get Francisco to be her fake boyfriend for Augustina, but Francisco’s slightly more wise to her now, and he’s like, “Hell no.” Lola goes to Laura for help, and Laura’s like, “Oh, sure, now you want my help.” I absolutely love Lola. She’s just as bratty and immature as Marizza was, but watching her lash out is a lot more relatable and emotional because everyone reacts to her realistically, instead of worshiping all of her stupid decisions. Nevertheless, Laura caves, because she’s a doormat. Francisco refuses to help until Laura promises him a favor in exchange — anything he wants. “Anything I want?” Francisco asks. Run, Laura! He says he’ll be Lola’s fake boyfriend if Laura spends the weekend with him. And the episode ends there. What a weird place to end it. I mean, I guess we don’t know what she’s going to say, but it’s hardly a thrilling cliffhanger.
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