I wrote half of this recap on an international flight and was all ready to keep writing it when we landed, only to realize that I didn’t have a plug converter. UGH. Anyway, we’re back! I have an additional recap of Rebelde planned too to make up for my absence, so I’ll tweet when that’s up.
Previously on Rebelde Way: Pablo and Marizza are about to kiss! JK, I know they’re not allowed to kiss until like, five minutes to the end of the last episode. We pick up five minutes before we left off. I don’t know why these episodes are suddenly all about showing us the last five minutes of the previous episode, but whatever.
Blah blah Pablo asks Marizza why she won’t admit that she loves him. She blows him off and tells him that she thinks he’ll hurt her again, and that hasn’t changed. But she’s considering giving Javier the panty thief a second chance? Make it make sense. Anyway, everyone comes back just then — fastest dinner prep ever — except Manuel, Mia, and Francisco who are trolling around outside for some reason. They run into Francisco’s friend, and he and Mia hit it off immediately. Manuel is salty.
Sonia rants to Hilda that Papa B is a life ruiner and she doesn’t know why he’s so hell-bent on ruining her life specifically. It’s because you’re #rebelde, Sonia. Are you new here? Hilda agrees that it’s an injustice, although it’s not like, injust enough for her to do anything about it. Sonia says she’s going to get her lawyer on the line, and Hilda beams because she thinks this is a great opportunity to get Papa C involved. For some reason?
Feli storms in and starts to rant to Vico about Lalo, but cuts off when she sees how emo Vico is. She asks if Vico fought with Rocco, which Vico affirms. That was a fight? All I remember is Vico being like, “Dude, Dani is totally in love with you” and Rocco being like “Nah” but then it turned out Dani is in love with him, which isn’t really Rocco’s fault. Whatever. Vico worries that Rocco is gay after all and likes Dani back.
Rocco wanders around the city at night being all emo and confused about his sexuality. This is mostly portrayed by showing Piru Saez walking, and then immediately playing the shot backwards at 2x the speed. When I’m confused, I walk backwards alone in parks to sort out my thoughts, don’t you? He envisions both Vico and Dani walking towards him, which I’m kind of taking as a hint that Rocco is bi, although I imagine this show isn’t planning to go so far as to have a gay/bi main character.
Pilar writes an angsty letter to Dunoff, saying that this whole situation with Martavio has made her realize that her dad is a brown-nosing coward. You’re…you’re just now realizing this, Pilar? She writes that she doesn’t like the person Dunoff has become, which — bro, Pilar, your dad has ALWAYS been like this. Guido walks in and sees Pilar reading over her letter, and obviously assumes that she’s written another sexy letter to him. Pilar runs off as soon as she notices Guido spying, which only makes him think the letter is about him some more. Guido’s so vain, you guys.
Back at Martavio’s house, everyone’s hanging out and eating pizza. Francisco’s friend is paying special attention to Mia while Manuel seethes. Everyone goes off to the kitchen, leaving Marizza and Javier alone. Marizza starts to tell Javier something about her and Pablo, but then Pablo comes back in and tells Javier to shove off, as they’re about to rehearse. The show cuts dramatically to the credits like Pablo doesn’t tell Javier to gtfo all the time.
Papa C comes over and tells Sonia that he’ll redecorate the house however she wants because he just wants to be together. They make up.
Erreway rehearses and everyone is enthralled by whatever subliminal mind control is in Erreway’s music that makes everyone love them. One person isn’t enthralled, though: Papa B, who is somehow outside the door at this very moment. I don’t know why he’s here. Did someone call him? Is that where we’re going with this?
Anyway, Martavio and Marizza open the door without looking through the peephole because they have no sense of stranger danger, and Papa B sees Pablo inside. He’s all, “Pablo, j’accuse! You’re still playing inoffensive teen pop music, and this cannot stand!” Pablo quickly BSes that he’s just here to support Marizza, because as everyone knows, they’re dating! Martavio double-BSes and says that the kids are helping him with his impressions — because you’ll recall that Martavio’s day job before all these shenanigans was like, a stand-up comedian who also worked with kids sometimes — so he was just trying to listen to some of their music to get the hang of it. He launches into some pretty decent impressions of Dunoff and Papa B to prove it, and Papa B finally gets tired of hearing all of this and storms out, dragging Pablo, Marizza, and Javier with him.
The next day, Feli confronts Lalo about lying to Max. She snaps at him that she’ll tattle to Dunoff the next time Lalo meddles in her life, because he’s just a lowly cafeteria worker while she’s an upper-class high school student. Would be cool if this show could acknowledge that Lalo was out of line because he’s not dating Feli and barely knows her instead of making it all about the class difference between him and Feli, but I guess that would require this show to acknowledge sexism.
Vico frets some more over Rocco’s sexuality, this time to Mia. Mia’s like, “Well, if he says he’s not gay, then he’s not gay.” Vico’s like, “Well, then, why did he go with Dani when I didn’t want him to?” I don’t know, Vico, why do any of the boys on this show constantly pick their friends over their girlfriends? Why do dudes take literal wedding photos saying they had to have their wedding on a Sunday because ~Saturdays are for the boys~? The dudes on this show constantly side with the other boys over their girlfriends; the only reason it’s an issue now is because Dani is gay. Whatever.
Then Guido rocks up looking for Pablo. Vico asks him if he’s seen Rocco, and Guido says that Rocco didn’t come back to school last night. Visions of Rocco having an all night sexathon with Dani dance in Vico’s head.
Meanwhile, Javier is losing his mind to Lujan over Pablo and Marizza being together. Lujan assures him that nothing has happened between Pablo and Marizza — recently, anyway — so Javier totally still has a chance. Lujan, why are you being like this? She’s like, “I’m sure you and Marizza will end up together!” LUJAN, WHY.
Guido tells Pablo that he saw Pilar writing another letter, ergo, she is totally his secret admirer. Pablo’s like, “It’s a coincidence,” and Guido’s like, “She uses the same pink paper and same red pen as my secret admirer!” and okay, I gotta admit that that is a hell of a coincidence. But this is also a telenovela, so let’s not get hasty, Guido. Then Michi delivers another letter to Guido, and Guido’s like, “See, she wrote the letter last night, and now it’s being delivered!” You know, if Michi is the one still writing these letters — A) gross, he’s a TEENAGER, Michi, and B) is she just…writing a new letter every day? Get a HOBBY, Michi.
Over in some other hallway that isn’t where Guido and Pablo are, because that would resolve this whole plot, Pilar shows Tomás the letter to her dad. She asks if he thinks it’s good, and he assures her that it gets her feelings across well. Why she is asking Tomás to proofread, I do not know. He’s probably just amazed that she can use compound sentences. They decide to go hand the letter to Dunoff together (aw! I love them!). Guido and Pablo rock up and try to talk to Tomás right then, but he tells them that he’s busy. Hee. Suffer, Guido!
Francisco’s friend comes to see him. He enters through the main hall and has to go through Blas, which is weird. What is the point of this school having a lobby and a receptionist if no one ever has to talk to her? JK, I know nothing in this school is realistic by now. He encounters Michi as she walks through — omg, if you were going to have him talk to Michi anyway, why didn’t he just go through the reception, why is this show LIKE THIS — and asks her to give a message to Mia for him.
Having made up over the house, Papa C and Sonia return to meddling with their kids, except in that way of theirs where they worry but don’t actually do anything. Papa C speaks to the doctor about Manuel’s headaches — not knowing, of course, that Marcos went in Manuel’s stead — and is assured that Manuel is fine. I bet he’s not.
Speaking of! Sabrina tries to talk to Manuel about the band; he blows her off because he has to go to class. No, when I say Manuel’s not fine, I don’t mean that he’s being a jerk to his girlfriend. That’s just par for the course with him. As Manuel walks off, he gets another headache and faints. Leave him there, Sabrina! He immediately pops up and gets all pissy with Sabrina when she dares to show concern for his health. He pretends to have fainted on purpose just to mess with her, and Sabrina gets rightfully mad at him for like five seconds before forgiving him. Sabrina is a sad, sad girl.
Michi gives Pilar’s letter to Dunoff and tries to get him to read it. He’s like, “Who cares about my daughter and her dumb FEELINGS?” He has more important things to do! Like sitting in his chair and staring into space!
Michi forgets to tell Mia about Francisco’s friend — Alejandro, btw — for like five minutes but then she remembers and it’s played for more drama than it needs to be. Mia ditches class because no one in this school cares about learning, and Manuel follows her out. Michi tells Mia that Alejandro is waiting for her in the cafeteria but Mia meets him in the hallway because fuck continuity. Alejandro is honestly a little weird — he invites Mia to a rock concert, like actual rock music, not Erreway’s mellow pop stylings that Papa B thinks is the music of rebellion. When Mia shoots him down, he’s like, “Oh lol, did I say rock music? I actually meant early 2000s bubblegum pop! We could go today, tomorrow, whenever you’re free…” Mia isn’t overly weirded out by this and walks off with him. Manuel watches them and seethes.
Meanwhile, Rocco goes to meet Dani in some bar somewhere. He’s like, “So I’ve given it some thought, and you know, I really do love you.” Dani immediately flips his shit and is like, “Let’s get married and have six kids together!” He clutches Rocco’s hand in excitement, and Vico picks that exact time to walk in. She walks out in a huff, and that’s when Rocco decides to add on, “As a friend.” Maybe you should’ve led with that bit, Rocco. Dani’s all salty that Rocco’s rejecting him, and snipes that Vico won’t stand for Rocco being friends with a gay dude. Rocco’s like, “I’m sure it’ll be fine!” I bet it won’t be.
Mama D finds Pilar’s letter in Dunoff’s office and reads it. For a second I thought there was going to be a mix-up and she was going to read one of Michi’s sexy letters instead and we would have another subplot where Mama D thinks some woman wants Dunoff’s body. On the one hand, I’m glad we’re no longer sitting through the farcical idea that Dunoff is attractive to women. On the other hand, this show is really slacking on its contrived drama.
Papa B yells at Dunoff that he wants Marizza expelled, again, some more. “Well, I was thinking…” Dunoff starts. “You don’t think!” Papa B barks at him. Hee. Truer words.
Manuel not at all subtly tries to dig for information about Alejandro from Francisco. How the turn tables! Francisco shrugs that Alejandro is a great guy, and Manuel’s like, “That’s what he wants you think! I bet he’s a creepy stalker who’s trying to kill her dad for revenge!” Francisco sighs that he’ll look into it, and Manuel seems reassured, although I thought Francisco sounded kind of sarcastic. Whatever. Francisco leaves and Sabrina rocks up, telling Manuel that they have to start working on their upcoming show at the Gran Rex. LOL, like Erreway ever rehearses. I’m assuming they’re just gonna show up five minutes beforehand and it’ll be fine.
In the not-library, Lola cries to Laura over her letter. It turns out it was returned to sender, addressee unknown. For some reason, Lola takes this to mean that her mom is dead. Or she moved, Lola. Lujan rocks up and she’s like, “Nah, your mom is definitely dead.” Lola runs off and Lujan’s like, “Well, that’s that then.” Laura says that they can still help Lola and runs off, probably to go do something important offscreen. Then Blas rocks up and tells Lujan that he just got the most interesting call: Lujan’s mom called the school, and says that she wants to meet her. Well damn! That’s effectively suspenseful; I’m on the edge of my seat here.
Mama D tells Dunoff to read Pilar’s letter. He reads it and is all hurt by Pilar calling him a cowardly custard.
Lujan and Marizza puzzle over Blas’s message: on the one hand, who cares what he says, since Lola’s mom was the one who called, not Lujan’s? On the other hand, if Blas really does know like, everything about Lujan’s life, why would he have bought their story and passed the message on to Lujan? They think about it for like five seconds, then Marizza’s like, “Anyway, I have rehearsal” and Lujan’s like, “Cool, let’s hang out when it’s over so I can talk Javier up to you some more.” What did I do to deserve this from you, Lujan?
Erreway meets with Sabrina to talk about the show. She mentions doing promo, and Erreway balks at the very idea: Mia’s all like, “The show is months away! Why do we have to start doing work now!” Pablo’s like, “Wait, are you saying that being famous means that there are going to be like…photos of us?” These kids are so woefully unprepared for being a real band, I swear to God. Sabrina patiently explains that yes, traditionally, when promoting a band, there are photos of them. Admittedly, Pablo would do pretty well in the post-2010s music scene. He’d be mysterious! Pablo heaves a big sigh and says he’ll be in the photos for the good of the band. Marizza is all twitterpated by his bravery. Mia snipes at Sabrina that they’re done here, and she and Marizza immediately turn to Pablo and cut Sabrina out of the conversation. Heh.
Sabrina storms out and Manuel halfheartedly runs after her. She bitters about Manuel’s failure to defend her out there, and how Erreway are a bunch of spoiled brats who don’t appreciate her. I mean…she’s not wrong…but she’s also terrible, so…shrug. Manuel’s kind of like, “Well, the plot requires me to hang out with them and stay at this school even though I already have a diploma, so what can you do.” Sabrina suggests that Manuel go solo. Ha! He doesn’t have the range, Sabrina!
Mama Arregui comes to see Lola and tries to talk things out with her. She tells Lola that she doesn’t want to lose her, which is hilarious because wasn’t she shitting on Lola just like everyone else in that family at the beginning of the show? Whatever. Lola doesn’t bring that up, though. Mama Arregui suggests that they spend the day together and bond.
Dunoff has a meeting with Sonia. He’s like, “Papa B really wants to kick you out, so if you could just go quietly and make this easy for me, that would be great.” Sonia keeps shrieking her head off until Dunoff suggests that going quietly would make things much easier for Marizza. Sonia breaks down and wails that her lawyer told her the same thing, and she just doesn’t know what to do! Sonia’s willingness to show weakness in front of Dunoff of all people is really embarrassing for her.
Papa C is at the school too, and he’s going off on Michi about Sonia’s meeting: “Tell me how much longer she’ll be!” Michi’s like, “IDK, a while, what’s your deal? Lack of communication in your relationship?” HEE. This whole thing is just a set-up for Mia to come in and ask Papa C when Manuel’s doctor’s appointment is. Papa C’s like, “That’s over; he went yesterday.” Mia’s like, “No, he definitely didn’t.”
Over in Pablo’s apartment, Papa B is going over some information he dug up on Consuelo with her. He’s like, “I do this with all my employees!” which would be more convincing if he did this, you know, right after he hired her instead of like twenty episodes in. Oh, and if this were a background check and not a creepy invasion of her home life. Papa B evils that he knows Consuelo is the breadwinner of the family because her father is a deadbeat and her mother has telenovelaneosis. Papa B offers to get Consuelo’s mom medical care if she finds out more info about Erreway for him. What else is there to possibly know? He knows about their tour, and who the band members are, and he once caught them rehearsing. Papa B, step your game up.
Marizza finds a book of handwritten Neruda poems on her desk. She has a flashback to Pablo copying out of a book in the library and gets all twitterpated. But then, weirdly, when Javier comes in, she…thanks him for the book? Marizza, do you think Pablo gave this book to you or not? Javier is confused, but quickly takes credit for the book. They make out, and that’s when Pablo walks in. Upstaged by your 30-year-old stepbrother again, Pablo!
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