Marimar

When I was in Mexico in 1994, I didn't spend much time watching TV, but did see more than a few episodes of Marimar (y la Copa Mundial - oh, yeah). It wasn't until I returned to the U.S. and it was shown on Univision that I became addicted.

It can be very cheesy and melodramatic, but I must admit I love it! My students (I'm a Spanish teacher) love it as well. It has such a great, classic storyline with beautiful shots of Mexico.

Es la mejor telenovela de todas!

Thalía plays the leading role in "Marimar", the second soap opera of the "María" trilogy, where she is yet another peasant girl. She lived by the sea with her grandparents, and fell in love with Sergio, the son of the owner of an "hacienda". Sergio's family disapproved of the relationship, especially after the couple married. The cast included renowned soap opera figures such as co-host Eduardo Capetillo and actress Chantal Andere. This soap marks the beginning of Thalia's international exposure- it is distributed in 180 countries and translated in all languages, stealing the hearts of millions of fans around the World. It paralyzed TV in entire countries, such as Brazil, Mauritius, Indonesia, the Philippines and many others. It also opened new markets in Europe, Asia and the rest of South America, where she traveled to give concerts in Spanish, her native language.

Marimar is the second of Thalia's "Maria series" (Maria Mercedes before, Maria La Del Barrio after).

The telenovela begins with young and innocent Marimar Perez (Thalia) living in hut by the ocean with her grandparents. Her mother passed away and her father never met her. Marimar falls in love with Sergio Santibañez (Eduardo Capetillo), co-owner of a nearby hacienda left by his dead mother to her husband Renato (Alfonso Iturralde) and Sergio. Renato and his second, young wife Angelica (Chantal Andere) insist on Sergio getting married and settling down in the hacienda. Sergio, tired of his father and stepmother, marries Marimar without loving her and takes her to the hacienda. Angelica makes Marimar's life living hell which leads to Sergio's abandonment. And this is only the beginning.

Marimar is divided into three parts: 1) Marimar getting married to Sergio 2) Marimar's transformation into Bella Aldama 3) Marimar's vengeance against the Santibañez

Watch this if you get a chance; you won't regret it.

The vlog "Telenovelas Are Hell" was wrong! Why? Let me explain. Marimar became one of the most iconic telenovelas, not just in the Philippines but globally. It catapulted Thalia to superstardom. The show even spawned two remakes in the Philippines and ultimately led to Thalia's marriage to Hollywood music mogul Tommy Mottola.

Now, here's why poking fun at this TV show is wrong. When I was a kid, I was once a bully and tormentor. I enjoyed making fun of the children of our maids at home, particularly the beggars on the street. However, after watching Marimar, which all my aunts adored, I was drawn into her world. The show profoundly impacted me, teaching me the importance of treating others with kindness, regardless of their status in life. I empathized deeply with Marimar and, of course, feared the consequences of my actions in the future. It teaches me that the world is cyclical, so you should fear the consequences of your actions, as karma has a way of returning to you anytime!

Sure, Marimar infused some Disney-like charm and typical telenovela tropes, but it has aged like fine wine. It was a powerful portrayal of female empowerment at a time when many shows depicted women as weak and reliant on men. Marimar wasn't just a narrative reinvention but also a revolution in the pacing of Filipino television. While most shows in the Philippines would drag on for 6-9 years before revealing major plot points, Thalia's Marimar changed the game entirely. So yeah, this show is not bad at all. It offers valuable life lessons.