Entre el amor y el odio (Between love and hatred) is a popular Mexican telenovela that was produced for Televisa in 2002. It was adapted from a Cuban radionovela entitled "Cadena de Odio" (Chain of Hate) written by Hilda Morales Allouis. Susana González and César Évora starred as the main protagonists with Alberto Estrella and Sabine Moussier as antagonists.
The story centers around Ana Cristina, an orphaned young woman who lives in Guanajuato, Mexico with her grandfather and brother. She is also the protégée of Don Fernando Villarreal, a wealthy shoe factory owner who treated Ana like his own daughter. On his deathbed, Don Fernando names his estranged nephew Octavio as the inheritor of his fortune and the factory on the condition that he marry Ana Cristina for at least a year. Octavio had previously been in a relationship with a woman named Frida and blames his uncle for their breakup and for the death and ruin of his father. Nevertheless, he returns to Guanajuato to attend the funeral and take over the family business.
Although Ana Cristina and Octavio are immediately attracted to each other, Octavio's friend Marcial, one of the factory's administrators, tries to sow discord between the two. He lies to Octavio by telling him that Ana Cristina was secretly his uncle's lover who is now trying to get her hands on the Villarreal fortune, all while plotting against Octavio to try and take over the business for himself. Marcial also begins a secret relationship with Frida when she returns to Guanajuato, as well.
Liliana Abud, who worked to adapt the telenovela, admitted that the story itself was not groundbreaking, but hoped to bring focus to modern issues in Mexico such as violence against women and kidnapping. Entre el amor y el odio was noteworthy for having an "older" leading man (César Évora was in his 40s at the time) and Abud was unsure if audiences would warm up to him due to his age and since he had previously been known for playing villains in the past. Nowadays, the series is remembered due to Marcial and Frida, its infamous pair of villains.
The novela contains examples of:
- Abhorrent Admirer: Frida towards Octavio. Although the two had previously been engaged, Octavio makes it clear that he will never truly love her again.
- Abortion Fallout Drama: Part of the reason that Marcial is able to blackmail and coerce Frida into going along with his schemes was that she aborted his baby before the series started.
- Absurdly Youthful Mother: Silvia Manríquez, the actress who plays Frida's mother Rosalia is only 13 years older than Sabine Moussier. While still possible for Rosalia to have been a teenage mother, it begs the question of how Cayetana would have been able to financially support both of them since she would have been in early teens, as well.
- As Long as There Is Evil: Part of Marcial's final speech as he's dying. He denies his last rites from a priest, stating that he wants nothing to do with God and that evil will never die.
- The Baby Trap: Frida tries to pull this on Octavio when she ends up being pregnant. In reality, the baby's father is actually Marcial.
- Belligerent Sexual Tension: Marcial and Frida's entire relationship dynamic. Even in the opening credits, they go from fighting to kissing within a span of 5 seconds.
- Betty and Veronica: Ana Cristina, who is a good, honest, and kind woman is often contrasted with Frida, who is an unrepentant seductress who is vain and only concerned with wealth and luxury.
- Frida is also the Veronica to Marcial, who seems to be a lot more interested romantically in Maria Magdalena.
- Big Bad Duumvirate: Marcial and Frida. Both of them want the Villarreal fortune for themselves so work together to bring down Octavio and Ana Cristina's relationship.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Frida. To the outside world, she builds a persona of being a sweet and proper lady, but she's actually a ruthless and seductive vamp. Ana Cristina doesn't fall for it.
- Breakout Character: Marcial as played by Alberto Estrella is seen as one of the most iconic male telenovela villains.
- The Chessmaster: Most of the conflict in the story is caused by Marcial, who tries to turn Octavio against Ana Cristina and uses Frida in his schemes against the pair. He is also able to manipulate just about everyone else and their dog by pretending to be a good friend and gain people's trust.
- Cool Horse: Ana Cristina's horse, named Parnaso after a mountain in Greece.
- Embarrassment Plot: Frida holds an event at the Villarreal manor to celebrate Octavio's return to Guanajuato and has Ana Cristina dress as a servant in order to humiliate her. Ana Cristina manages to turn the tables against her since she doesn't find menial labor demeaning and shames Frida in front of all of Octavio's friends and family.
- Evil Is Hammy: Both Marcial and Frida are always over-the-top when committing evil acts. In many ways, the two overshadowed the main couple due to their hamminess.
- Evil vs. Evil: Marcial goes up against El Catrín, who kidnaps Maria Magdalena.
- Facial Horror: Frida, when she finds out that she has leprosy. Her hair and skin start to fall off. Marcial also ends up with horrific burns on his body after being set on fire by Frida.
- False Friend: Marcial to Octavio. He tries to get Octavio to believe that Ana Cristina was his uncle's secret lover who is not plotting to take his family's fortune for herself. He also pretends to be Rodolfo's friend and confidant all while harboring a grudge towards him for marrying Maria Magdalena.
- Fight Clubbing: One of the side plots deals with Gabriel, who gets into street fights to help raise money for his family.
- Florence Nightingale Effect: Frida tries to pull this off when Marcial makes her take a large amount of pills and makes her sick, hoping that Octavio will devote his time to taking care of her. Needless to say, it doesn't really work.
- Go Seduce My Archnemesis: Marcial blackmails and uses Frida in his schemes to get the factory and Villarreal fortune by having her try and seduce Octavio and become his wife instead of Ana Cristina.
- Gold Digger: Frida. She had previously been paid off by Don Fernando since he did not approve of his and Octavio's relationship and only returned to Guanajuato for the chance to get her hands on Octavio's newfound wealth.
- The Hermit: Animas, an indigenous hermit who decided to run away and live out in the mountains on his own after a hunter killed his father.
- Idle Rich: Frida and her aunt Cayetana lived a life of luxury in Mexico City being supported by the money Don Fernando paid her off with and the various male suitors who showered Frida with gifts and money.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: José Alfredo is in love with Ana Cristina, but knows that he can never marry her and make her happy the way that Octavio can.
- Interplay of Sex and Violence: Part of the erotic play between Marcial and Frida, contrasting them with Ana Cristina and Octavio who have a more "pure" relationship.
- Lightning Reveal: Frida's leprosy is dramatically shown to Marcial this way, who is disgusted by her appearance.
- Long-Lasting Last Words: Even after being burned, shot, and falling off a tall building Marcial still delivers a lengthy speech as he's dying on the ground.
- Man on Fire: Frida invites Marcial to an erotic oil bath at a hotel where she reveals to him that she has leprosy. When he reacts in horror, Frida sets him on fire and leaves him for dead. He ends up surviving, but has horrific burns afterwards.
- Meet Cute: In the first episode, Octavio has a chance encounter with Ana Cristina on her uncle's land while she's riding her horse. He becomes instantly smitten with her beauty.
- The Mistress: Frida at the beginning of the series. She lives a life of luxury in Mexico City dating a wealthy married man before she makes her way back to Guanajuato.
- Ms. Fanservice: Frida is most likely to show off her body in bikinis, lingerie, and cleavage-baring dresses.
- Murder the Hypotenuse: Marcial does this to Maria Magdalena's husband so that he could marry her.
- My Girl Is Not a Slut: The series explored the issue in a not-so-subtle way: Marcial tries to sully Ana Cristina's name to Octavio by insinuating that she had been his uncle's lover before he died, making it seem like she's not so innocent. By contrast, Frida's promiscuity is seen as "perverse"
- Napoleon Delusion: Marcial, who plays strategy games on a table in his house and even has a bust and statues of Napoleon that he has conversations with. At various points throughout the series, he even dresses up in a military uniform in imitation of Napoleon.
- Nephewism: In the backstory, Frida's mother abandoned her after giving birth to her, leaving Cayetana to raise her alone since she had no other family.
- Noble Savage: The mountain hermit Animas, who shuns humanity and prefers the simplicity of nature.
- Parental Marriage Veto: Don Fernando's estrangement from his nephew is due to disapproving of his engagement with Frida. He actually paid Frida off so that their wedding wouldn't take place. He did end up being right about Frida not being a good match for his nephew.
- Parental Substitute: Don Fernando to both Octavio and Ana Cristina in the backstory. Cayetana also raised Frida since birth after being abandoned by her mother.
- Perfectly Arranged Marriage: The main plot gets kicked off by Octavio and Ana Cristina marrying, who end up falling in love with each other.
- Plot Detour: In the last stretch of the series, Ana Cristina spends several episodes at a monastery helping the brothers there vaccinate children from a local village and encountering a mysterious indigenous hermit, all while Octavio searched for her.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: El Catrín, a thug who kidnaps Maria Magdalena and tries to have his way with her. Marcial is no stranger to hitting women, either.
- Red Baron: El Catrín, played by Juan Carlos Casasola, is a violent thug who runs a street fighting ring and is only known by his nickname.
- Relationship Upgrade: Octavio and Ana Cristina have two weddings: the first is a civil wedding just to fulfill Don Fernando's will and they eventually decide to be married by a priest to declare their love in front of God.
- Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: Octavio, a wealthy factory owner, and José Alfredo, a humble worker, both vie for Ana Cristina's affections. Unlike many examples though, Ana Cristina and Octavio have a very passionate romantic relationship while she doesn't return José Alfredo's affections.
- Romantic Rain: The first time Ana Cristina and Octavio realize their feelings for one another is during a dramatic thunderstorm with pouring rain.
- Rule of Drama: Naturally, as a telenovela. Often, poor communication and misunderstandings cause Ana Cristina and Octavio to be at odds with each other, even when it's clear that the two are deeply in love.
- Sickbed Slaying: Marcial does this to Rodolfo Moreno as revenge for marrying Maria Magdalena, who he was always in love with. He injects him with a drug intended to give him a heart attack so that no one would be any wiser.
- Slap-Slap-Kiss: Octavio and Ana Cristina's relationship starts off this way, due to the lie told by Marcial. Even their first kiss happens just minutes after they got into an argument and Ana Cristina slapped him.
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Special Effects Failure: During the scene of the lion attack in the mountains, it is extremely obvious that there is no actual struggle going on. This is done by cutting very quickly between camera shots of the lion, then to other characters reacting to the attack. - Surrogate Soliloquy: Marcial is seen discussing his evil schemes with a bust and various statues of Napoleon, who he is obsessed with.
- Swiss-Cheese Security: The hospital doesn't seem to have any kind of security, allowing Marcial to switch Ana Cristina and Frida's babies after they are born, murder Rodolfo in his bed, and Frida to break in so she can steal the morphine she wants.
- Switched at Birth:Done with Ana Cristina and Frida's babies. Marcial and Frida try to murder the baby that they believe is Ana Cristina's.
- Title Drop: Marcial says the title of the show the first time, wondering out loud how anyone can live "entre el amor y el odio".
- The Vamp: Frida. The only reason she returns to Guanajuato is to have another chance with Octavio and get her hands on the Villarreal fortune for herself.
