#poor her

Here comes the first of Fina’s trials and tribulations… We find Fina in the cantina, dead tired from her constant ‘work trips’ with Marta, hoping that a very strong coffee will revive her. (She should have gone for the liquor.)

Isidro enters. He is full of concern for what his daughter has gotten herself into (= an affair with a married ‘man’). He lets her know that she can tell him anything, e.g. about those ‘trips’ to Madrid (he correctly assumes they are fake). Fina deflects, and off she goes. Isidro confides in Gaspar about his worries with Fina. Gaspar is shocked to learn that she might have an illicit affair. But he sees Isidro’s pain and sweetly offers to talk to Fina about it.

Next, Gaspar awkwardly approaches Fina to ask whether she’s doing okay, or got too much work. Fina quickly sees through Gaspar, and wants to know what her father is so worried about - Isidro overhead Fina’s conversation with Carmen about some kind of affair. Fina denies any wrongdoing. Gaspar urges her to talk to her father to clear things up.

Here goes nothing: Isidro doesn’t want his daughter to be unhappy, so could she please stop that affair of hers. Fina mistakenly assumes, he knows about her situationship with Marta. But then realises that he wrongly put her with a man. Fina wants to leave it at that. But Isidro insists on learning the truth… She is NOT in love with a man (he doesn’t get it). She is in love with a WOMAN (dun dun). He is shocked that she is ‘one of those’ [inverts]. Emotions run high. Fina desperately tries to make him understand, that she’s always been like this. Nothing has changed for her (but everything has changed for Isidro). In the end, he tells her he’s glad that her mother would never know about Fina’s condition. Boom! [2]

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We return to the cantina for the second of Fina’s trials and tribulations: Isidro and Gaspar separate as soon as Fina enters. Isidro gives Fina the silent treatment, when she tries to engage with him. Fina deeply regrets telling her father the truth. No response, off he goes. Gaspar, ever so helpful, takes Isidro’s side. Maybe Fina should meet him half-way? Nope, the problem is on Isidro’s side. Fina gets annoyed with Gaspar and wants him to stay out of it.

Back in the shop: Fina attempts to sell some soap to a customer, who is not convinced by Fina's esoteric pitch. Marta observes this, and wonders what is up with Fina. Trouble with Isidro, as he now knows she fell in love with a woman (no biggie). Marta is about to explode and unceremoniously pulls Fina (by the hand) into the warehouse. They fight again (#2). Why is Fina telling everyone (and their granny) about herself? This could be serious for them – potentially prison, pulling families apart and what not. Fina defends her actions, because she believes her father will come around (not all parents are the same, she claims). She’s also sick of hiding who she is, and at least her father is aware of it now. Marta doesn’t think that the generation of their parents will ever be this understanding. Marta (in between her outbursts): ‘Are you dumb’? Fina is NOT here to be insulted. She icily tells Marta that her father ‘knows the sin’, but ‘not the sinner’. Marta’s 'perfect life' (…lie) is safe, byeee. Boom!

Isidro is covertly asking for advice from Don Augustin (the resident priest) how to best deal with people who have ‘a certain affliction’. Don Augustin thinks all hell breaks loose, if ‘these people’ are not saved from their ‘sinful behaviour’, e.g. by putting them in agricultural colonies. Isidro asks if the same applies to women. Nope. The priest thinks it’s worse if women have this ‘affliction’, as they only do it for ‘carnal pleasure’. (You bet! This whole scene is played for comedy. But it is actually quite sickening.)

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The third of Fina’s trials and tribulations brings her to the casa grande, where her father rejects to listen to her. She is still the same as before. She didn’t choose how she is. Again, she does regret telling her father the truth. Even though hiding this part of herself has done more harm to her than him. Isidro is still furious with her and ashamed, and would have preferred not to know about this before he dies. Alas, here they are. To make things worse, Isidro tells Fina that his condition is not curable, but hers would be. She’s in tears, and doesn’t know what to say anymore. (Noooo, Sad!Fina.) [3]

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We find Marta at the cantina. Don Augustin is also there, sniffing after ‘deviants’ at the colony. He asks Gaspar whether he has noticed any indecent behaviour. Nope, he hasn’t. Don Augustin warns that this might spread like cancer if not controlled. Marta strongly interjects by asking whether he thinks that ‘homosexuality is contagious’. The priest and Gaspar move over to Marta’s table, and it goes back and forth between them. Marta doesn’t think that anyone ‘like that’ is in the colony (saying it with a straight face…). The priest won’t let it go and wants to find the ‘black sheep’. Marta has had enough, and tells him very firmly that she doesn’t want the good dlR name or their company be tainted by such rumours (also looking at Gaspar here). The priest cowers before her (as he should).

Fina and Isidro clash again, this time about the anniversary of her mother’s death. She would like to go to the cemetery with him to commemorate her mother. But Isidro refuses to do so. Fina is crestfallen that it has come to this. Again, she was born that way (😏). She knew it would be hard for him to understand her, but not impossible. She is convinced that her mother would have supported her, no matter what. Certainly not, argues Isidro, as she was a ‘respectable’, ‘principled’ person. Fina is hurt by his words, and tells him she feels let down by him big time. Thus begins the fourth of Fina's trials and tribulations.

At the store: Marta seems to avoid Fina, which the latter does not appreciate (everyone treats her like she has ‘leprosy’). But Marta is not keen to discuss things in public. Fina, still feeling down from her previous discussion with her father, tells Marta that it’s the anniversary of her mother’s death. Marta did remember it, but hasn’t said anything to Fina, for which she is sorry. She informs Fina that her father has woken up the inquisition by talking to Don Augustin. (They continue their discussion in the warehouse.) Marta thinks the priest will be on the lookout for any sign of indecent behaviour, so she wants to keep her distance from Fina. (The look on Fina’s face, heartbreaking!!!). Fina had planned to ask Marta to accompany her to the cemetery. Marta doesn’t think it’s a good idea in case Isidro sees them, and figures out what's what. Fina: That’s not going to happen, as Isidro doesn’t want to be near his own daughter. Marta is quite shocked to hear this, and would like to give Fina the most tender hug right then and there (but doesn’t). Either way, she wants them to stay apart. Fina asks for how long, which Marta inexplicably does not respond to. Instead, she goes back to the store, and calls Fina in to help serve the customers, pronto. (Wow, Marta 👿! That was incredibly insensitive, given how vulnerable Fina felt at that moment. Fina also has no say in this decision, which IMHO was a personal low from Marta.)

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At the casa grande: Isidro steps down the staircase, and comes across Marta. The latter invites him for a chat. They reminiscence about the past. Marta fondly remembers how Isidro used to tell them stories when she and her siblings were younger. Fina must have enjoyed those stories, too. Marta confesses that she envied their relationship, as it was always so affectionate. She never had that growing up. Isidro thinks there are many ways to raise one’s children, e.g. giving them a good education or discipline. Something he may have neglected on his side as a parent. Marta contradicts him, and praises Fina’s work ethics, her kindness and many virtues. Fina does well in the shop, and more importantly is an extraordinary woman, Isidro should be so proud of her. [4] (Marta fangirling over Fina was quite nice, I must say.)

Evening (no rest for the wicked): Fina asks her father why he didn’t go to see her mother’s grave (the usual flowers were missing). He didn’t want to, as he then would have had to ‘tell’ his wife about Fina (😔). She can’t believe her father’s actions. They argue again about how terrible they make each other feel. Fina reiterates that she won’t deny herself ever again. Isidro mentions that Marta has raved about her earlier (putting a much-missed smile on Fina’s face). It made him feel uncomfortable, because Marta sees someone different in Fina than him (well, well, well). This marks the end of Fina’s trials and tribulations for now.

Latest preview: Marta happily hands over keys to Fina for an apartment that she rented in Madrid for the two of them. Perfect timing for Marta’s long lost and forgotten husband to return to Toledo (courtesy of Don Damián, ugh). Marta can’t believe it either (🙈).

Wedding drama

Early on, Claudia, Matteo and Fina discuss the wedding gifts for the soon-to-be-married couple Tasio and Carmen. Claudia suggests a necklace with the initials of the three friends. Sorted.

When Claudia and Fina enter their shared room later on, they find Carmen in tears. She’s called off the wedding to Tasio, because her soon-to-be mother-in-law would go on and on about Carmen having to quit her job, get children and stay at home. To Carmen’s horror, Tasio is siding with his mother. (How dare!) Carmen leaves the scene to be on her own. Claudia is worried she jinxed this wedding, because she was musing with Matteo that maybe some people shouldn’t be with each other. Fina laughs, Claudia is way too good to have anything to do with their friend’s drama.

Much later on, Carmen and Tasio have pulled themselves together, the wedding is going ahead after all (🤦🏾‍♀️). Carmen has put her wedding gown on, which Fina and Claudia are now admiring. To celebrate the occasion, they have a drink (just a small one for Claudia). Claudia also hands over the necklace with all of their initials to wear at the wedding. Marta interrupts the joyful gathering at that moment. She just wanted to congratulate Carmen, and drop her wedding gift. (It’s another, much flashier necklace, lol!) Carmen invites her to stay over for a drink, with a hopeful Fina also encouraging Marta to join them. But Marta excuses herself, and is off. (Booh!) Carmen is now bound to wear Marta’s gift to the wedding. Fina and Claudia quickly pivot and find more stuff for her to take along (earrings, shoes).

Business bla bla

We get a number of business meetings with the de la Reinas (and Luis) throughout these compilations.

The ever so charming Jesús got some intel from Elena about the competition’s next business move (way to turn the tables on them). He wants to use this information to their own company’s advantage. Andrés is against it. Marta and Don Damián are in favour, so they proceed. The siblings come up with a plan for a new cosmetics line, but run into funding troubles. In the end, they all agree to use their mother’s old farm (Los Olmos) as guarantee for the bank. Surely, nothing could go wrong here.

Always fun: Marta having the upper hand over Jesús when it comes to running the business. (She’s just so competitive AND competent 😍!) She also wants to market the new product as ‘Anhelos de Mujer’ (woman’s desire), symbolising the modern woman who one day will be free to choose what she wants. This is much to the chagrin of her chauvinist brother.

What we learn (again) is that Don Damián, Jesús and Marta heavily lean into maximising their company’s profits, come what may. Andrés is more risk-averse, and doesn’t want to play dirty. He gets an earful from Marta that other companies will be ruthless, too, so it’s ‘do or die’ for them. (Other than that, Marta is very gentle with Andrés. They mutually support each other, which is in stark contrast to their respective relationships with Jesús.)

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[1] Hozier, Take me to church (2013)

[2] OP editor (@claraedits2) found another of Belmo’s acting gems - Puenting from 2019, adding a few scenes after this compilation. Check out TMDB or Vimeo (NSFW). Here she is:

[3] Meanwhile, OP editor brings us Himbo!Marta to soften the blow:

[4] OP editor calling out Isidro in the subs: