Environmental/Temporal Influences & Nontraditional Epic Love That We Love

Within such a telenovela that highlights various social problems that greatly exist in Columbia in the life of a contracted killer in Medellin, we are able to immerse ourselves into a world of narco-trafficking, murder, and rape. Concerning the time that the production is placed and filmed, the plot is intentionally laid out to be formatted through elements of flashback in order to tell the entire story. As I had begun the Telenovela, I was able to meet the characters in their future lives – though set in much tension and confusion as Rosario is shown being immediately taken to the hospital by Antonio as she has been mysteriously and critically shot in the stomach. With this glimpse into where we know the story will eventually turn to in the end, the telenovela is brought backwards 6 years prior (out of chronological order) in order to explain how Antonio first met Rosario, the love of his life, up until his untimely death. While a traditional narrator is absent, we are able to watch from an omniscient third person point of view, where we know all of the thoughts, actions, and feelings of the characters while they themselves do not know as we are observing from the outside. This intentionally allows the writers of the telenovela to tell the story as it moves from character to character to show the audience how each actor/actress contributes to the unfolding plot. For example, we know that Johnefe wants to kill el Papa while el Papa does not know because he does not know some of the other character's feelings/thoughts in comparison to how the audience watches and knows all perspectives.

One thing I must also commend of this telenovela as I have continued watching is how as a young woman herself, Rosario is so greatly shaped by her surrounding environment. Utilizing the knowledge I have obtained from taking AP Psychology in high school with what I have watched thus far, I can connect the behaviorist approach with Rosario’s development as a result of her environment and experience. The personality theory encompasses the social cognitive perspective that personality both SHAPES and IS SHAPED by the environment. With Rosario, the physical and emotional abuse/violence she has experienced in her adolescence leads her to become a violent person herself who is addicted to drugs and kills people for a living, fueled by her passionate revenge against her enemies. Her thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that were born as she experienced such trauma and the people in her environment are all factors that determined her actions towards becoming a hitman. In comparison, Antonio, who was raised on a wealthy ranch and went to private, resourceful schools as well a country club, grew up from a child to a man to go to university instead. By being raised in such an environment where he was raised with both of his mother and father around and always being taken care of by others, he developed much different thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and thus actions in comparison to Rosario (who was raised in the communes/slums).

However, they do not have a naturally “epic love story” as Antonio and Rosario only sleep together once after he drunkenly confesses his love. Rosario does not place much significance on it and waves off his genuine feelings as her own vendetta and business is of much more significance than love. On the other hand, the chemistry they have built up since their first kiss/meeting as they continue to miss each other by chance is what makes the audience, like myself, want to root for them. We as the audience are especially influenced by his physical appearance as he has an amazing smile while we are also encapsulated by Rosario’s own sad/nostalgic beauty through her struggles. He even describes their chemistry and his feelings for her as fiery and passionate – prompting him to influence the theme of his cousin’s modeling show with his feelings where by fate, Rosario also becomes a model in. In addition, the size of the obstacles consistently build as they cannot truly be “together” since they keep missing their chance or are caught up in something else in the wrong time. Moreover, they are also further divided by Rosario’s wavering heart and other various romances in the show. I found myself sighing out of frustration or screaming at the screen as Rosario does not meet Antonio despite working for his family at his house. Regardless, we consume the love story as we feel so much for both characters. The chemistry that we do see on screen when they are able to finally interact throughout the show is what continues to tug on our heart strings with all of the obstacles surrounding their love. For example, we are cheering when Rosario goes after Antonio defend him against the gang members and he can introduce himself again and have a chance with her. We feel for Antonio as he is so desperately enchanted by Rosario but also feel for Rosario, who is so beautiful, young, and yet traumatized that we root for her vengeance and justice. Despite all, we know in the end that they do not get to be together as a result of their continuous obstacles/additional love interests but we still feel for them both.