It seems to be an international tradition that identical twins in movies and novelas come in good and evil. That certainly works for Televisa productions when said twins are played by the great César Evora and the supporting cast is equally talented.
In this case, the two brothers were separated at birth or shortly after. Gabriel Cervantes-Bravo is successful, wealthy, and respected, with an extended household that includes his in-laws and adult children from his first marriage. Despite being equally wealthy and powerful now, his brother, Damien Martinez-Guerra, envies him to such an insane extent that he has made several attempts on his life. Damien suffered an accident in his youth that caused him to lose an eye and part of a leg; he envies Gabriel for this and for less worthy reasons. The contrast between the honor and sanity of Gabriel and the violent insanity of Damien is an actor's dream, and nobody realizes it better.
I guess the writers knew what they were doing when they named Gabriel for an archangel and Damien for THE OMEN's demon-child.
Gabriel's situation is far from enviable, as his (second) wife is even more insane than his brother. Edith Gonzales, in her first villain role, gives us a seductive and totally despicable madwoman who is already guilty of murder and thinks nothing of endangering the life of her own child in the name of possessively holding on to Gabriel. She is the daughter of Miriam, a selfish and manipulative woman who is behind the murder of her first son-in-law (described in flashbacks) and the mother of Karen, who is proving that the apple can't fall far from the tree. Helena Rojo, who is a veteran at novella villainy, and Michelle Vieth are the other ends of this unholy trio.
The innocent victims of all this are Damien's wife, Regina (who was once prevented from marrying Gabriel), their handsome son Juan Cristóbal, Paulina (Gabriel's adopted daughter), Mariángela, who becomes the nanny to Luisito (who may or may not be Gabriel's son). The actors here are all excellent, with a noteworthy performance by Raúl Sebastian as Luisito, the mother-dominated son of Gabriel and Joselyn. He was endearing as Adele Noriega's little brother in LA ESPOSA VIRGEN, but here so far is almost annoyingly whiny as the epitome of how insecure and weak a child can become in the hands of a highly toxic mother.
There is fabulous and romantic location shooting in the early episodes in Venice and Barcelona for the beginning of the Romeo-and-Juliet romance between Juan Cristóbal and Paulina
and Karen's first salvos at destroying it by telling him that he is the son of Gabriel instead of Damien, either of which would genetically make him Paulina's half-brother. Of course, the fact that Paulina is adopted didn't stay hidden long.
Just as LA MADRASTRA was the huge hit last year, MUNDO DE FIERAS will score big this year for acting awards as well as audience ratings. I hereby predict that Edith Gonzales will win the acting award next year for Best Female Villain.
