BMF'S FOOD COLUMN

30 September 2009

 by Chef BigMarianFan


Fudgy Brazil nut brownies
There is nothing better in life than chocolate. Mind you I am only 22 years old, so maybe there are better things in life than chocolate. I am yet to discover them. The fact that it is the only food to grace our lips that melts at exactly human body temperature, could explain its addictiveness.
So I woke up this morning /afternoon, looked out the window and surprise surprise, the sky was grey and it was raining. For those of you who don’t know me, I live in England and this kind of weather is standard. So I hopped into my car dressed in only my pijamas and drove to Waitrose to pick up some unsalted butter and some dark, bitter chocolate. (The rest of the ingredients, I had at home).
Now the recipe I am about to give you is a recipe I have used religiously for years and it never lets me down. I have tweaked a few things according to my taste and by all means, you can do the same. The great thing about brownies is you can serve them warmed up as a dessert with some vanilla marscapone or ice-cream OR you can have them as a snack with a nice cup of tea.
Ingredients

375 g soft unsalted butter
375 g dark chocolate (66% cocoa solids or above)
6 large eggs (free range obviously! An unhappy chicken= an unhappy egg= horrible brownies)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
500 g caster sugar
225 g
plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
300 g chopped brazil nuts

Firstly, line a baking tin (33 x 23 x 5 1/2cm) with non-stick parchment or foil and butter the sides of the tin well.

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a bain marie or heavy based saucepan until they form a glossy brown liquid. Please refrain from eating the mixture, I know it is tempting but you can lick the saucepan clean later.

Leave this mixture to cool slightly while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. (If you put the eggs and sugar in to the chocolate when it is too hot, you will end up with chocolate scrambled eggs.)

Beat the eggs and caster sugar together for a couple of minutes with a whisk (if you are feeling energetic) or an electric mixer (if you already have muscles like Pepa's and don’t need to tone them any more). This basically adds a bit of air in to the mixture resulting in a lighter tasting brownie.

Once the chocolate mixture has cooled slightly, add it to sugary egg mixture, followed by the flour, salt, vanilla extract and the chopped nuts. Stir this mixture together until the flour has been incorporated and pour in to the baking tin. Pop it in the oven for 25 mins and hey presto!

The top should look well crusted and cracked but the centre should be slightly wobbly, giving it a fudgey texture. I took the liberty of photographing the only brownie I had left over because someone (little brother), ate them all !!

Tips/suggestions:

If you don’t like nuts or are allergic, replace them with white, milk or dark chocolate chunks.

This recipe makes A LOT of brownies so if you are catering for a smaller crowd or just yourself (no shame in that!) then halve the quantities and bake for 18 minutes instead.

Swap the Brazil nuts for pecan nuts, walnuts, hazlenuts, almonds…I could go on but I think you get the picture!

DO NOT EAT ALL THE BROWNIES IN ONE GO! (Remember how poor Marianno felt when he ate all those doughnuts!)

BMF'S FOOD COLUMN

 by Chef BigMarianFan


Fudgy Brazil nut brownies
There is nothing better in life than chocolate. Mind you I am only 22 years old, so maybe there are better things in life than chocolate. I am yet to discover them. The fact that it is the only food to grace our lips that melts at exactly human body temperature, could explain its addictiveness.
So I woke up this morning /afternoon, looked out the window and surprise surprise, the sky was grey and it was raining. For those of you who don’t know me, I live in England and this kind of weather is standard. So I hopped into my car dressed in only my pijamas and drove to Waitrose to pick up some unsalted butter and some dark, bitter chocolate. (The rest of the ingredients, I had at home).
Now the recipe I am about to give you is a recipe I have used religiously for years and it never lets me down. I have tweaked a few things according to my taste and by all means, you can do the same. The great thing about brownies is you can serve them warmed up as a dessert with some vanilla marscapone or ice-cream OR you can have them as a snack with a nice cup of tea.
Ingredients

375 g soft unsalted butter
375 g dark chocolate (66% cocoa solids or above)
6 large eggs (free range obviously! An unhappy chicken= an unhappy egg= horrible brownies)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
500 g caster sugar
225 g
plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
300 g chopped brazil nuts

Firstly, line a baking tin (33 x 23 x 5 1/2cm) with non-stick parchment or foil and butter the sides of the tin well.

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a bain marie or heavy based saucepan until they form a glossy brown liquid. Please refrain from eating the mixture, I know it is tempting but you can lick the saucepan clean later.

Leave this mixture to cool slightly while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. (If you put the eggs and sugar in to the chocolate when it is too hot, you will end up with chocolate scrambled eggs.)

Beat the eggs and caster sugar together for a couple of minutes with a whisk (if you are feeling energetic) or an electric mixer (if you already have muscles like Pepa's and don’t need to tone them any more). This basically adds a bit of air in to the mixture resulting in a lighter tasting brownie.

Once the chocolate mixture has cooled slightly, add it to sugary egg mixture, followed by the flour, salt, vanilla extract and the chopped nuts. Stir this mixture together until the flour has been incorporated and pour in to the baking tin. Pop it in the oven for 25 mins and hey presto!

The top should look well crusted and cracked but the centre should be slightly wobbly, giving it a fudgey texture. I took the liberty of photographing the only brownie I had left over because someone (little brother), ate them all !!

Tips/suggestions:

If you don’t like nuts or are allergic, replace them with white, milk or dark chocolate chunks.

This recipe makes A LOT of brownies so if you are catering for a smaller crowd or just yourself (no shame in that!) then halve the quantities and bake for 18 minutes instead.

Swap the Brazil nuts for pecan nuts, walnuts, hazlenuts, almonds…I could go on but I think you get the picture!

DO NOT EAT ALL THE BROWNIES IN ONE GO! (Remember how poor Marianno felt when he ate all those doughnuts!)

Piper Sabbatical

29 September 2009

by Dr. Pied Piper 

Effective Oct 1st, I am going on sabbatical for an undetermined period of time (could be a week, could be 100 weeks). I trust that the university will be in good hands with my provost, Dr. Booker, and our esteemed lecturers.

This is a business-related, not-all-play sabbatical. I will be taking lecture materials and poll results with me as I traverse the globe. I am attending a marketing meeting in Madrid with the executives from Antena123 and SnowGlobomedia, during which I will also admire the Wall O'Postcards adorning their offices. The Transcantabrico train will take me to near and faraway places in comfort and in style.

I will post sporadically in between business meetings and clubbing with Marian Aguilera.

Please do not ever forget the Pepsi University maxim (from the "Man from La Mancha"): "To love pure and chaste from afar"


Dr. Piper's Suite @ the Transcantabrico


Piper Sabbatical

by Dr. Pied Piper 

Effective Oct 1st, I am going on sabbatical for an undetermined period of time (could be a week, could be 100 weeks). I trust that the university will be in good hands with my provost, Dr. Booker, and our esteemed lecturers.

This is a business-related, not-all-play sabbatical. I will be taking lecture materials and poll results with me as I traverse the globe. I am attending a marketing meeting in Madrid with the executives from Antena123 and SnowGlobomedia, during which I will also admire the Wall O'Postcards adorning their offices. The Transcantabrico train will take me to near and faraway places in comfort and in style.

I will post sporadically in between business meetings and clubbing with Marian Aguilera.

Please do not ever forget the Pepsi University maxim (from the "Man from La Mancha"): "To love pure and chaste from afar"


Dr. Piper's Suite @ the Transcantabrico


Silvialogy 3x26

27 September 2009

by Dr. Pied Piper 


LHDP 3x26
 

(If you want to watch the Silvia-only clip without downloading it, the link is at the end of the post. You can also download the full episode here.)

From last episode: Mr. Chipmunk is in the holding cell with Don Lorenzo who is determined to do a Dick Cheney just to get a confession out of him. Paco sends Mariano home for a time out because his pain about Bernarda's death all rush back upon seeing Mr. Chipmunk. Lucas and Sara are planning a getaway to Madagascar for Sara's 18th birthday. Since Mariano is home, Paco asks him to tail Lola whom he suspects of having an affair; the two end up flirting. Ruth The Mole activates Plan B and sends the bad guys to the comisaria to "rescue" Mr. Chipmunk (although she herself has carried on the facade of being another innocent bystander). They get in by pretending to be bad cops and cadavers in a body bag - Silvia is Ground Zero for this operation.

Photobucket

Silvia is being led down the stairs by the bad guys to take her place amongst the hostages. Great acting from MA when they throw her down the floor. Drama School pays off. Curtis, who was shot (AGAIN!) when he went to the holding cell and was used as a negotiating pawn instead, is dragged next to Silvia.
Photobucket

Silvia calls Quique over to assist her in stopping the bleeding. Silvia proceeds to remove her SUJETADOR to use as a torniquet. At which point I too want to get shot just so Silvia can patch me up with her bra.


Photobucket

Bad Guy asks what Silvia is doing. Really? Can't you just enjoy the show? Silvia carefully removes her bra and waves it at Bad Guy to prove that there aren't any hidden weapons.

Photobucket

Really, there's no weapon, and if I were you, Bad Guy, I'd prostrate my self in front of that piece of clothing, because I know the sacred place where it just came from.
Photobucket
Photobucket
Hello, nipples! Okay, carry on then. Silvia uses her bra as a torniquet to try to stop Curtis' bleeding. Curtis, you're one lucky sonofabitch. I want to be that bra in my next life.

Photobucket
Silvia looks at Paco - DL needs his insulin shot or he could die (or go on a diabetic coma). Before she crawls over to Paco, et. al., she asks Quique to apply pressure to the entry wound and tells him not to be afraid.
Photobucket
Silvia talks to Ruth, Montoya, and Paco about her father. Paco looks over to the Bad Guys and sees the body of Eva Internal Affairs, who was killed earlier before she could testify against Mr. Chipmunk. (Pove, who was standing near by, got sprayed all over his face by Eva's blood, hence his 2-episode red face makeup)

Photobucket

Paco cowboys up and decides to talk to the bad guys. He wants to negotiate: give DL his insulin shot and Silvia will patch up Uriarte's gunshot wound in the leg.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Silvia stands up when she hears Paco pimp her name: "Dr. Castro can save the life of your boss."


Photobucket

Bad Guy points a gun at Silvia, who remains calm and brave. She says that their boss will die without medical attention, and she is the only doctor on the floor.
Photobucket
She asks Bad Guy to let her get the medical instruments she needs and she can save his boss' life. For someone who was just shot by these very same fuckers (and boy, were we reminded over and over via slow motion flashbacks), Silvia remains brave and defiant in front of a loaded gun pointed at her head. I love you Silvia! Will you Marry me?
Photobucket
Silvia is at the holding cell applying a torniquet to Uriarte's leg to stop the bleeding while DL still has him in a choke hold with a gun pointed at this neck.
Photobucket
When Silvia attempts to give DL the insulin shot, Uriarte stops her, and with his goons all pointing their guns at Silvia, Paco, and DL, Silvia has no choice. DL tells her not to worry about him and to take care of Curtis and Rita (who, as anyone can expect from LHDP, goes into labor).
Photobucket
Uriarte wants to escape and demands a helicopter for a clean getaway. DL says No Way. Chipmunk says that if they don't comply, his goons will throw a dead body outside the window every 10 minutes. And then I tuned out because Silvia has left the building! Nah, not really, only the holding cell.

Photobucket
Next, Silvia is at the shooting-range-turned-maternity ward. She's giving clean towels and instructions to Povedilla because she has to go attend to Curtis. There's a scene when Pove was panicking and talking to Silvia where MA was trying hard not to laugh (7:03). Next scene shows a completely serious Silvia.
Photobucket

Silvia goes back to the floor to check on Curtis. He is still bleeding and being held by his secret lover Quique. Montoya comes over to assist.

Photobucket

Silvia cuts Curtis' shirt to reveal the really bad fake blood smeared all over his hairy chest. He is still bleeding profusely and Silvia says he needs a transfusion. WHAT? HERE? NOW? HOW? We learn that Curtis' blood type is O positive.
Photobucket
Silvia crawls over to Paco and suckers him into giving blood. Et voilà, instant blood transfusion. Paco tells Curtis he's also receiving his cholesterol... Small talk, blah, blah, blah, Small talk.
Photobucket

Back Stories
There are SO MANY! Lucas and Aitor are outside fighting over Sara (what else is new?) while trying to rig the comisaria's ventilation system. Lola and Mariano's innocent flirtation is no longer so innocent; daydreams, heartaches, expectations, attractions, and all those other messy stuff are already in play. They almost kiss but are interrupted by Carlota and her little sheriff star necklace. Later on, Mariano and Lola realize that written on the pendant are coordinates. They enter the numbers into a GPS which leads them to the cemetery - the grave of Lucas' mother. They go down the crypt where (gag!) Lola and Mariano think it is the best time and place to talk about their feelings, the impossibility of their situation, etc. And they kiss. AND KISS AGAIN! In a crypt, in front of an open grave with a skeleton inside - THEY KISS! What the FUCK is wrong with these fucking writers? Seriously! I thought they would start making out right there and then if not for the lapida (grave marker) falling over revealing another grave. Inside they find all sorts of documents which include pictures of Ruth all lovey-dovey with Mr. Chipmunk.

Photobucket
Meanwhile, Bad Guys take Ruth to the holding cell. At this point, the comisaria still doesn't know that she's the mole, so Montoya tries to defend her and he gets smacked. Ruth "pleads" to "Loren" (remember, they used to date, so she can forego the formality of calling him "Don") to let Uriarte go or the bad guys will kill all of them, including her and his grand daughter - all the while with a gun behind her ready to shoot DL if needed. Just as she says that "sometimes, in order to free a life, you have to take another", DL's cell phone rings. It's Mariano, who tells him that Ruth is the mole. At this point, Ruth surreptitiously pulls the gun behind her ready to shoot DL, but DL pulls his gun and shoots her first. And shoots her again. And again.
Photobucket
The clusterfuck that is San Antonio is highlighted by a series of montage: Ruth dying, Montoya crying, Pove panicking, Rita crowning, DL crying, baby coming... Quique craddling bleeding Curtis on this lap... I am now half-expecting everyone to break into a sing-a-long of Se Me Olvido Otra Vez
Photobucket
DL faints from lack of insulin and Chipmunk is freed from his choke hold. Bad Guys lead their leader out of the holding cell, but the comisaria is surrounded and they have to find a way to get out of there. So they corral everyone into the main floor and start to choose hostages. Just then, the ventilation sytem starts working, Lucas knows that Aitor has succeeded in doing whatever it is he is supposed to do, and winks at Sara.
Photobucket
I don't know what happens next, I guess the vent system starts pumping carbon monoxide CO2 into the air, and everyone starts fading. Pove puts headsets into Rita with Pachelbel's Canon in D playing to calm her down and also to provide for the dramatic music as one by one, everyone starts falling down. VERY CHEESY SCENE, especially when the last 2 standing were Lucas and Sara and of course they fall into each other's arms. SOMEBODY, PLEASE SHOOT ME NOW BEFORE I SHOOT THESE TWO!
Photobucket
Just then, Aitor walks in with a mask to see everyone on the floor, and the scene before him is kinda like the morning after one of the parties at the University 24/7 Bar. The cops and SWAT team barge in. THEY AREN'T WEARING ANY MASK! WTF?
Photobucket
THE END?

Uhm, NO. It's a cliffhanger and you don't know who dies and who survives, who goes to jail and who gets their heart broken. The story arc will go on for another 5 episodes or so before El Kaiser comes in.

Watch the episode in HD

Piper's Commentary: For some reason, some folks pick this episode as one of their favorites and I don't really know why. The whole episode fails in the realism category. It's like someone presenting you with a loaded baked potato with all the goodies like sour cream and chives and bacon and cheddar. WITHOUT THE POTATO. Well, this episode is that loaded baked un-potato.

First of all, how can a police station, you know, WHERE THE COPS ARE, be held captive by a band of hoods? Really. How could Curtis survive after this? How could anyone not miraculously recover after being patched with Silvia's bra?

AND that fake blood! Good gawd! Whatever it was, it didn't look anything like blood, which is kinda distracting afterwards especially the way it's smeared on Pove's face.

And all these triangles: Luca-Sara-Aitor, Paco-Lola-Mariano, Silvia-Curtis-Quique... yeah, yeah, we get the point. And we all know the only triangle I understand can be solved by the Pythagorean Theorem a^2 + b^2 = c^2

So this is the end of this semester. I just have one last lecture to post, then I am leaving the podium temporarily to my colleagues who I'm sure will not miss me. There are still a few pre-Pepa episodes in the next season, but they can wait. I can also go back to the first 2 seasons and give more comprehensive lectures (and pictures), but that too can wait.

Sabbatical, what a novel idea... and after the 54th episode, she rested...

Silvialogy 3x26

by Dr. Pied Piper 


LHDP 3x26
 

(If you want to watch the Silvia-only clip without downloading it, the link is at the end of the post. You can also download the full episode here.)

From last episode: Mr. Chipmunk is in the holding cell with Don Lorenzo who is determined to do a Dick Cheney just to get a confession out of him. Paco sends Mariano home for a time out because his pain about Bernarda's death all rush back upon seeing Mr. Chipmunk. Lucas and Sara are planning a getaway to Madagascar for Sara's 18th birthday. Since Mariano is home, Paco asks him to tail Lola whom he suspects of having an affair; the two end up flirting. Ruth The Mole activates Plan B and sends the bad guys to the comisaria to "rescue" Mr. Chipmunk (although she herself has carried on the facade of being another innocent bystander). They get in by pretending to be bad cops and cadavers in a body bag - Silvia is Ground Zero for this operation.

Photobucket

Silvia is being led down the stairs by the bad guys to take her place amongst the hostages. Great acting from MA when they throw her down the floor. Drama School pays off. Curtis, who was shot (AGAIN!) when he went to the holding cell and was used as a negotiating pawn instead, is dragged next to Silvia.
Photobucket

Silvia calls Quique over to assist her in stopping the bleeding. Silvia proceeds to remove her SUJETADOR to use as a torniquet. At which point I too want to get shot just so Silvia can patch me up with her bra.


Photobucket

Bad Guy asks what Silvia is doing. Really? Can't you just enjoy the show? Silvia carefully removes her bra and waves it at Bad Guy to prove that there aren't any hidden weapons.

Photobucket

Really, there's no weapon, and if I were you, Bad Guy, I'd prostrate my self in front of that piece of clothing, because I know the sacred place where it just came from.
Photobucket
Photobucket
Hello, nipples! Okay, carry on then. Silvia uses her bra as a torniquet to try to stop Curtis' bleeding. Curtis, you're one lucky sonofabitch. I want to be that bra in my next life.

Photobucket
Silvia looks at Paco - DL needs his insulin shot or he could die (or go on a diabetic coma). Before she crawls over to Paco, et. al., she asks Quique to apply pressure to the entry wound and tells him not to be afraid.
Photobucket
Silvia talks to Ruth, Montoya, and Paco about her father. Paco looks over to the Bad Guys and sees the body of Eva Internal Affairs, who was killed earlier before she could testify against Mr. Chipmunk. (Pove, who was standing near by, got sprayed all over his face by Eva's blood, hence his 2-episode red face makeup)

Photobucket

Paco cowboys up and decides to talk to the bad guys. He wants to negotiate: give DL his insulin shot and Silvia will patch up Uriarte's gunshot wound in the leg.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Silvia stands up when she hears Paco pimp her name: "Dr. Castro can save the life of your boss."


Photobucket

Bad Guy points a gun at Silvia, who remains calm and brave. She says that their boss will die without medical attention, and she is the only doctor on the floor.
Photobucket
She asks Bad Guy to let her get the medical instruments she needs and she can save his boss' life. For someone who was just shot by these very same fuckers (and boy, were we reminded over and over via slow motion flashbacks), Silvia remains brave and defiant in front of a loaded gun pointed at her head. I love you Silvia! Will you Marry me?
Photobucket
Silvia is at the holding cell applying a torniquet to Uriarte's leg to stop the bleeding while DL still has him in a choke hold with a gun pointed at this neck.
Photobucket
When Silvia attempts to give DL the insulin shot, Uriarte stops her, and with his goons all pointing their guns at Silvia, Paco, and DL, Silvia has no choice. DL tells her not to worry about him and to take care of Curtis and Rita (who, as anyone can expect from LHDP, goes into labor).
Photobucket
Uriarte wants to escape and demands a helicopter for a clean getaway. DL says No Way. Chipmunk says that if they don't comply, his goons will throw a dead body outside the window every 10 minutes. And then I tuned out because Silvia has left the building! Nah, not really, only the holding cell.

Photobucket
Next, Silvia is at the shooting-range-turned-maternity ward. She's giving clean towels and instructions to Povedilla because she has to go attend to Curtis. There's a scene when Pove was panicking and talking to Silvia where MA was trying hard not to laugh (7:03). Next scene shows a completely serious Silvia.
Photobucket

Silvia goes back to the floor to check on Curtis. He is still bleeding and being held by his secret lover Quique. Montoya comes over to assist.

Photobucket

Silvia cuts Curtis' shirt to reveal the really bad fake blood smeared all over his hairy chest. He is still bleeding profusely and Silvia says he needs a transfusion. WHAT? HERE? NOW? HOW? We learn that Curtis' blood type is O positive.
Photobucket
Silvia crawls over to Paco and suckers him into giving blood. Et voilà, instant blood transfusion. Paco tells Curtis he's also receiving his cholesterol... Small talk, blah, blah, blah, Small talk.
Photobucket

Back Stories
There are SO MANY! Lucas and Aitor are outside fighting over Sara (what else is new?) while trying to rig the comisaria's ventilation system. Lola and Mariano's innocent flirtation is no longer so innocent; daydreams, heartaches, expectations, attractions, and all those other messy stuff are already in play. They almost kiss but are interrupted by Carlota and her little sheriff star necklace. Later on, Mariano and Lola realize that written on the pendant are coordinates. They enter the numbers into a GPS which leads them to the cemetery - the grave of Lucas' mother. They go down the crypt where (gag!) Lola and Mariano think it is the best time and place to talk about their feelings, the impossibility of their situation, etc. And they kiss. AND KISS AGAIN! In a crypt, in front of an open grave with a skeleton inside - THEY KISS! What the FUCK is wrong with these fucking writers? Seriously! I thought they would start making out right there and then if not for the lapida (grave marker) falling over revealing another grave. Inside they find all sorts of documents which include pictures of Ruth all lovey-dovey with Mr. Chipmunk.

Photobucket
Meanwhile, Bad Guys take Ruth to the holding cell. At this point, the comisaria still doesn't know that she's the mole, so Montoya tries to defend her and he gets smacked. Ruth "pleads" to "Loren" (remember, they used to date, so she can forego the formality of calling him "Don") to let Uriarte go or the bad guys will kill all of them, including her and his grand daughter - all the while with a gun behind her ready to shoot DL if needed. Just as she says that "sometimes, in order to free a life, you have to take another", DL's cell phone rings. It's Mariano, who tells him that Ruth is the mole. At this point, Ruth surreptitiously pulls the gun behind her ready to shoot DL, but DL pulls his gun and shoots her first. And shoots her again. And again.
Photobucket
The clusterfuck that is San Antonio is highlighted by a series of montage: Ruth dying, Montoya crying, Pove panicking, Rita crowning, DL crying, baby coming... Quique craddling bleeding Curtis on this lap... I am now half-expecting everyone to break into a sing-a-long of Se Me Olvido Otra Vez
Photobucket
DL faints from lack of insulin and Chipmunk is freed from his choke hold. Bad Guys lead their leader out of the holding cell, but the comisaria is surrounded and they have to find a way to get out of there. So they corral everyone into the main floor and start to choose hostages. Just then, the ventilation sytem starts working, Lucas knows that Aitor has succeeded in doing whatever it is he is supposed to do, and winks at Sara.
Photobucket
I don't know what happens next, I guess the vent system starts pumping carbon monoxide CO2 into the air, and everyone starts fading. Pove puts headsets into Rita with Pachelbel's Canon in D playing to calm her down and also to provide for the dramatic music as one by one, everyone starts falling down. VERY CHEESY SCENE, especially when the last 2 standing were Lucas and Sara and of course they fall into each other's arms. SOMEBODY, PLEASE SHOOT ME NOW BEFORE I SHOOT THESE TWO!
Photobucket
Just then, Aitor walks in with a mask to see everyone on the floor, and the scene before him is kinda like the morning after one of the parties at the University 24/7 Bar. The cops and SWAT team barge in. THEY AREN'T WEARING ANY MASK! WTF?
Photobucket
THE END?

Uhm, NO. It's a cliffhanger and you don't know who dies and who survives, who goes to jail and who gets their heart broken. The story arc will go on for another 5 episodes or so before El Kaiser comes in.

Watch the episode in HD

Piper's Commentary: For some reason, some folks pick this episode as one of their favorites and I don't really know why. The whole episode fails in the realism category. It's like someone presenting you with a loaded baked potato with all the goodies like sour cream and chives and bacon and cheddar. WITHOUT THE POTATO. Well, this episode is that loaded baked un-potato.

First of all, how can a police station, you know, WHERE THE COPS ARE, be held captive by a band of hoods? Really. How could Curtis survive after this? How could anyone not miraculously recover after being patched with Silvia's bra?

AND that fake blood! Good gawd! Whatever it was, it didn't look anything like blood, which is kinda distracting afterwards especially the way it's smeared on Pove's face.

And all these triangles: Luca-Sara-Aitor, Paco-Lola-Mariano, Silvia-Curtis-Quique... yeah, yeah, we get the point. And we all know the only triangle I understand can be solved by the Pythagorean Theorem a^2 + b^2 = c^2

So this is the end of this semester. I just have one last lecture to post, then I am leaving the podium temporarily to my colleagues who I'm sure will not miss me. There are still a few pre-Pepa episodes in the next season, but they can wait. I can also go back to the first 2 seasons and give more comprehensive lectures (and pictures), but that too can wait.

Sabbatical, what a novel idea... and after the 54th episode, she rested...