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Las Tontas No Van al Cielo Review: A Modern-Day Cinderella Story That Earns Its Title

A tale of a woman who flees her wedding, changes her name, and writes a column that becomes a hit, while a surgeon seeks her bed.

By mitch·3 min read
A woman stands pensively before a glowing city, a column in her hand, while a surgeon watches from afar.

Las Tontas No Van al Cielo puts a modern spin on a familiar fairy tale. The show follows Candy, a young woman who flees her wedding after finding out her fiancé cheated with her sister. She moves to the capital city, changes her name, gives birth to a son, and writes a column that becomes a hit. The story is a comedy built on disguise, mistaken identity, and a slow-burn romance between Candy and Santiago, a plastic surgeon who spends his nights chasing women without ever attaching himself emotionally.

Setup

Candy is a dreamer who meets Patricio at her 15th birthday party. He becomes her husband, but on their wedding day she discovers he cheated with her sister Alicia. Angry and hurt, she leaves him and goes to Guadalajara with her uncle Manuel, faking her death to keep the move secret. She learns she is pregnant with Patricio’s child, and her son becomes the reason she holds on to life.

Santiago’s Side

Santiago López Carmona is a plastic surgeon married to Paulina, a woman driven by her career. Paulina leaves him with their daughter Rocio, and Santiago becomes deeply disappointed in love. He starts sleeping with many women without forming an emotional bond with any of them. When he meets Candy, he sets out to romance her simply to take her to bed. Instead, he finds out how special she really is and falls in love with her.

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The Romance

Though they first dislike each other, Candy grows fond of Santiago over time and tries to build a relationship with him. Their children and their exes do everything in their power to stop their happiness.

The Cast

Jaime Camil plays Santiago “Santy” López Carmona, the plastic surgeon whose coldness toward women melts slowly once he meets Candy. Jacqueline Bracamontes plays Candy “Candy” Morales Alcalde, the dreamer who runs away from her wedding day. Valentino Lanús plays Patricio “Pato” Molina Lizárraga, the man who betrayed her. Sabine Moussier plays Marissa de la Parra, one of the show’s antagonists. Karla Álvarez plays Paulina “Pau” Cervantes de López-Carmona, Santiago’s ex-wife. Fabiola Campomanes plays Alicia Morales Alcalde, Candy’s sister and Patricio’s lover. Julio Alemán plays Arturo Molina, and Manuel ‘Flaco’ Ibáñez plays Manuel “Meño” Morales. Ana Bertha Espín plays Gregoria “Goya” Alcalde Vda. de Morales, and Silvia Mariscal plays Isabel Vda. de López Carmona.

Schedule

Date Event
11 February 2008 First episode airs on Las Estrellas
22 August 2008 Last episode airs
23 August 2008 Un gancho al corazón replaces Las tontas no van al cielo
1 December 2008 Univision starts broadcasting in the United States

What Works

The show earns its title by focusing on women who don’t get the easy path. Candy’s decision to fake her death and start a new life in the capital is a bold choice for a telenovela heroine, and her column gives her a purpose beyond waiting to be rescued. Santiago’s journey from a man who slept with women without caring about them to one who falls in love with Candy is the heart of the story.

Where It Falls Short

Some of the villains’ schemes feel repetitive, and the show leans heavily on coincidence to keep the plot moving.

Dumb Girls Don’t Go to Heaven

Las Tontas No Van al Cielo is a strong entry in the telenovela genre, built around disguise, betrayal, and a romance that grows from mutual dislike into something real. The lead performances carry the show. It is not perfect, but it is memorable.

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