A Borrowed Chance

Mr. Pedro Donoso's downfall was Ysabel Arroyo, his second wife at is ailing health and old age. It was a quick marriage at first in the guise of betrayal shared by the latter with Andres Corona, Pedro's most trusted servant. Days past as the newly wed couple started their new life together, the ambitious Ysabel has recently had a friction with Donoso's only daughter who was witness to her infidelity. Naturally, the old man- so in love with Ysabel would side with his new wife until his death prompted Cayetanna- a fortune teller and occultist to warn of the future. Donoso died in the hands of the woman he loves. Yet, fate decided to help a wandering Pedro's soul to take over a farmer's body owned by Salvador Serinza for his forthcoming revenge...

So much for the prelude but this unique Mexican telenovela is not like the typical rags to riches story of a woman fairy tale that ends up into a happy ending but the plot speaks of a spiritual journey of a man who is given a chance to seek the truth beyond the lies and betrayals of his beloved and gradually resolves unfinished business and conflicts with his neglected family members due to his ill-fated decisions. The funniest aspect of the story roots from his awakening from a body that supposed to be buried which prompted the grieving community folks to suspect that he has risen from death and can perform miracles because of remarkable changes in his behavior and newly-found intelligence. Donoso found himself in the body of a man whom he assumed to take as he returns to avenge his own death only to realize that as he unfolds the truth, he is still in love with Ysabel's cousin yet has to make a swallow-hard decision to stick with Ysabel up to the end of his journey. His revelations led to a collective hysteria which began with Simon, Andres Corona (who became mentally ill), Walter and Ysabel's aunt's death. The plot talks about obsession, rise to power, greed, passion, compassion, resolution, revenge, love, etc. The climax is exquisitely unexpected as both Ysabel and Donoso crashed through a car chase once authorities unlocked the mysteries of the black-widow's (Ysabel Arroyo) crimes.

What is touching is Ysabel's admission of his sins but failure to be forgiving for her cousin and the rest of Donoso's family. She was trapped by her own curse and offered death as her repentance for all the crimes she did in the name of love. I surely miss the drama, I love Cayetanna and her company, Serinza's family and his funny wife, Father Jacobo's immaturity in his religious belief's and Walter's sarcasm. This drama is a new taste and a new fold of plot yet to be re-explored as we begin to untangle the mystery of death and rebirth.