Mi gorda bella

As a Mormon guy, like many mormon guys, I went on a mission when I was 19 and I served my two years in Oaxaca, Mexico from 2001 - 2003. As such, I was in Mexico when this telenovela aired on Mexican television. Now in Mexico, maybe its the same in all of Latin America, but they would run telenovelas for 6 months, one episode a day during the week, and that was the entire show. Not like America where you had 13-20ish episode during fall and winter months and that is a season. Also important to know, is that many Mormon families offer to cook meals for missionaries and we had one sister who cooked for us everyday and we would pay her for the meals. As it happened, we would be there everyday to eat right as this telenovela would come on and I also arrived in the area right when the show started AND I was in the area almost exactly 6 months before finishing my mission and coming home to the states. As such, I became absolutely obsessed with this show. The twists and turns and people going from good to bad and bad to good and the forbidden romance between Valentina and Urestes and Norkys Bataista's rocking hot body and so many other things kept me absolutely addicted to this show. There were days that I missed an episode due to traveling on mission duties and the like, but I did my best to always be at that sister's house everyday right at 2pm and we always stayed for an hour. And on Monday's, our preparation day when we didn't work or eat with the sister, I would find a restaurant that was playing the show and sit and watch as much as I could. If I missed anything, the good sister would always fill me in. I went through I think 5 companions in that area and each one of them told me to keep them updated on the plot after they left. Unfortunately however, I ended up coming home about 4 weeks before the end of the show and I never saw the ending. Actually I did catch the final scenes of the last episode years later on YouTube, but there is currently a big fat "gorda" hole in my heart where Valentina and her friends belong and it has been vacant now for almost 10 years.

first of all, I will count out the things I don't like about this telenovela: 1. still waiting (I have not seen much, but nothing annoying occurred yet)

and now the thing I love: 1. the characters - they are so vivid and lovable, you make friends with the good ones, you wish them luck when they are in trouble, you hope they get what they want, you hate the bad ones and wish them all the worst

2. the cast - it seems that they were writing the characters especially for every single actor, it just fits

3. the love stories - there is more that one, and each of them is thrilling, passionate, deep, pure, troubled. no matter which one is your favorite, because every single couple is like two pieces of puzzle that finally got together

4. Orestes and Valentina - no matter in which situation, they are as sweet as sugar, as pure as crystal, as hot as lava, as much in love as you can imagine

5. the fun - you get the usual amount of intrigues, but above all there always is fun, irony, bit of absurdity - who would not love that

6. the music - it has the best opening song ever and it goes whit the story so perfectly, it is almost unbelievable

it took about three minutes for me to get hooked and I still am

Que vive la gorda!!!

The telenovela is made in a very dynamic way. Events is changing each other quickly and that is why it is very interesting to watch this telenovela. The plot keeps you in suspense nearly during all time. The telenovela combines dramatic and comic situations. But not all actors do their job the best :( The greatest work in acting of her role made Hilda Abrahamz (as Olimpia Mercouri). I saw this actress the first time and I realized that she is one of the greatest actress. It costs to see the telenovela only for her acting! But the other actors do their jobs not so well. These actors are Norkys Batista , Aileen Celeste, Hugo Vasquez. Their acting is not very good, do you agree with me? Norkys Batista cries unnaturally as well as Hugo Vasquez and all of these unnecessary grimaces! The strong point is music. The songs suit each pairs very much. I am sure it is worth seeing this telenovela!

My first telenovela experience has been awesome. Not only is this show completely over the top, naive, silly and also totally lacking logic, it is extremely entertaining and a great way to brush up your basic Spanish... Whereas most daytime drama tends to lack self-irony and a plot proceeding rapidly enough, this show will get you hooked and make your day!

" The Bold and the Beautiful" has obviously had a very heavy influence on this show, but Mi Gorda Bella is much more refreshing and exciting than its predecessor. Stephanie Forrester, you got nothing on Olimpia Mercouri.

This kid (Jordi) is going places as soon as he learns to act better. Still.. pretty good. He is got "spunk",

Colombian and Venezuelan novels I like the best. Now, the bad part. I wish the actors will not scream so loud in "Mi gorda bella". Watch the scene where the boy is just out of surgery and those women are having a "high pitch voice match". Really... who will scream so loud in a hospital. Most of the men, of course, are more subdue except "chiquis"'s father who seems to compete with the women's hysteric styles. Anyway, the plot is interesting. I give kudos to the author. Eva OdeZ in Miami Beach