Tracee wrote ... An issue you addressed, brings up some food for thought. The issue of Mick being no Danny, and Danny being no Mick and Carmen knowing that ... My question is, does Danny know that? I think the crux of who Danny is, depends on whether or not he believes this to be true. This is why I think I have a slightly different view of him, because I don't think Danny truly sees himself as that much different from Mick. I think Danny tells himself over and over that Michelle is turning him into something he never wanted to be, that he can be what his family wants him to be, because Danny doesn't honestly believe he's much different from them, to begin with. I think the struggle in Danny is that he wants desperately to be different, but the fear that he's not is what drives him. That's why I think he's become so sloppy and out of control, these past few weeks, because he thinks that's all there is to him, and fooling himself into believing there's more, is just a facade.

I think we are agreed in at least one point: that Danny has and is aware of his dark, ruthless (what I call his "barbarian") side, ala Mick. We are also agreed that Danny (in Carmen's and our eyes) is also different from Mick. But the question is whether Danny "actually believes" he is different, or "only wants to believe" he is no Mick. Tricky question, to which I have no straight-forward answer ....

However, I do agree that Danny does not see himself that much different from Mick. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so frightened and always seeking to be in control. At the same time, the fact that he is aware of this "Mick" in him, understands it, is frightened by it and seeks to control and be above it (while Mick probably never thought of it, let alone fought it -- which Danny also knows) makes Danny different, not just in Carmen's and our eyes, but in Danny's eyes as well. So yes, I do think that Danny sees himself different from Mick at some fundamental level. Does my distinction make sense?

Tracee wrote ... Do we know for certain that Danny was bred to take over the family, or did he inherit this position when Mick died? I never get the impression that Carmen thought any less of Mick than she does of Danny (though I do think she thinks more of Pilar than both of them combined). I actually wonder if Carmen resents the fact that it's Danny taking over, instead of her precious dead Mick. Did she see Mick as common and thug-like? Or did she think she would give him the business one day, with Danny playing second fiddle to him? Did Danny go to college, because Mama wanted him prepared to take over the business, or because Mama thought Mick would be doing that, and Danny would do the behind-the-scenes work, that would help keep them out of trouble?

Marie responded ... I don't know if you've seen this episode, but your question about Danny's potential position as head of the family was addressed in a conversation between Carmen and Danny shortly after the lighthouse scenes.

The scene: Carmen was trying to warn Danny that Michelle would hurt him. Danny didn't want to hear this negative talk about his wife. Carmen told him that he is "too emotional". She explained, "It's my fault. I spoiled you. Even as a child, I knew that you were the special one, that you would be the one to go to college, that you would be the head of this family. But you are too easily ruled by your heart."

In my opinion, Carmen very much favored Danny over Mick. Mick was the black sheep of the Santos family, but his death had to be avenged, in accordance with the family code. It would appear that the character of Mick, as orginally conceived, was a sleazy thug from the streets. The arrival of brother Danny, however, inspired TPTB to tweak Mick's history; he became the eldest son of a mob family. At this juncture in the storyline, the character of Pilar had yet to be added to the canvas. Danny seems to be Carmen's favorite son, Mick was the slimy son that only a mother could love, and Pilar, was the only child she loved enough to protect her from the evils associated with living in a mob family.

I never saw that episode which Marie refers to, but I read about it in the transcripts. Let's not also forget what Grandma Santos said to Danny on the day of the wedding "you have always been very special to me." So it wasn't just Carmen who saw Danny as the chosen one. The whole family knew this, including Papa Santos, almost certainly. BettyM has suggested that the late Papa Santos probably was like Danny. Carmen saw/sees that, and makes her love and want to "protect" Danny even more. More and more, I am convinced of this. Note however, the kind of "protection" Carmen exercises for Danny is completely different from that for Pilar. While Carmen seeks to shelter Pilar from the knowledge of the family's true nature, Carmen seeks to protect Danny by making him tougher, knowing Danny will take control someday.

Melissa