Don't let the door hit you in the butt

The other day I watched the new long promo for Season 9 and I realized that Sara was not in it. This shocked me and thrilled me at the same time. I have never been a fan of Sara and I will not miss her in the coming season.

I want to make it clear that I do understand the difference between a character and an actor and my issues are directed at the character of Sara and her actions in the LHDP story lines.

We do know that Sara, at 15, had a huge crush on Lucas - even though he was twice her age and her uncle/ex uncle. That crush developed to the point where she had tunnel vision when it came to Lucas. She literally would do anything to get him, and if that meant lying to her parents or breaking the law, she would do it.

Sara had always been daddy's little girl and she was adored by her abuelo--Don Lorenzo. We would see this very tough man turn into a marshmallow in front of our eyes when it came to Sara. As for Lola, she was a tougher audience and she knew Sara very well. But still, Sara had found a way around her mother too.

Here are just two examples of Sara's philosophy of the "ends justify the means"--the only reason there was a Pepsi hangar scene, was that they were investigating the shooting of Montoya and Rita (and they were shot at by Lucas and Sara!):

During the strip joint episode, Sara basically betrayed her father to and set him up... as she was conspiring with Lucas again.

There are so many reasons why she rubbed me the wrong way. Did she really love Aitor or was she using him as a bench warmer for Lucas? Later on, she had an affair with Aitor, wore Silvia's wedding dress, and had a pretend wedding with him--while she was married to Lucas.

In fairness to Sara, she did have her good moments and those were during the Pepa and Silvia episodes when they had broken up. She showed a more mature and thoughtful side and we believed that she truly wanted them to get back together. She was a central character in one of my favorite episodes--I call it the helicopter scene--we knew that Sara wanted what we wanted.

I have stated in past lectures that it was important to show Don Lorenzo approved of Pepa and Silvia's relationship. This was a great message to older viewers in Spain. But I also think it was important for young boys and girls to see that Sara supported her two aunts and that she had no problem with them.

Having said all that, I can now focus on the absolute worst moment in Sara's history on the show. In episode 104, Sara ruins the wedding reception by having her husband and her lover together at the same table. Aitor deserved to be shot for his poutish behavior, but it was Sara who created this mess and brought it to the wedding.

When she steps out to smoke (who knew she smoked?) her life is saved by sharp shooter Pepa.

Here is the moment that I find unforgivable: at the end of this episode, during the song where she is outside along with her husband and lover, she knows that Silvia could die. And she hears Pepa's cry "no!" - everyone knows what that cry means. What does Sara do? The shooting has stopped, the bad guys are either dead or gone, and Sara has to choose between the two men. She doesn't rush into the house to check on her father. her three dead friends, or her aunts. Instead she walks off with Lucas. Like she is Dorothy skipping down the yellow brick road with Toto.

I imagine that the actress actually said to the director and producers "this doesn't feel right. Why am I not worried about the people in the house? Why aren't all of us going into the house?" I think that must have been asked on the set that day, because it was such a ridiculous choice that someone had to have raised the question.

But I think they wanted the shot of Sara and Lucas walking away. That was more important than the death of Silvia and the three others. It was a moment that was not only stupid but insulting to all of the viewers.

So that is why I am not sad that Sara is gone. Episode 104 was traumatic enough for us and we didn't need to be reminded of the selfish side of Sara. Remember, her friends were dead. She had no idea how her father was or how the others were. But she knew that Silvia had died and that Pepa and her abuelo were dealing with this tragedy. Her love life was more important. So go off with Lucas and have the life you dreamed of. I know I am ready to move on from the chronicles of Sara.