The bold and Brazilian hit the box

City of God and the name of a personal hygiene method aren’t the only things we have to high-five Brazilians about. Now you can add Destiny River to the list. That’s if it’s any good.

The Brazilian telenovela is TopTV’s latest exclusive acquisition and will premiere on Fox Entertainment today. And if Pasion Morena, the Mexican telenovela that seems to be doing pretty well on the same channel is any indication, South Africans are good at committing to these kinds of shows. Destiny River will air after Pasion Morena every weekday evening.

So what’s it about? There is a brave man named Solano who seems to have everything going for him until he loses his father, in the weirdest of circumstances, on the banks of the Araguaia River. We then discover he’s actually been put under an ancient Native Indian curse that he can never break. But then he falls in love.

Estela is Solano’s father’s widow and she is mysterious but perfect for Solano. She feels it, he feels it and Dr Quinn wants her Sully back. No, I’m just kidding about that Medicine Woman bit, but pat yourself on the back if the images of Dr Quinn and Sully are vivid in our mind.

Now, memories aside, this Solano and Estela situation looks like a page straight out of the autobiography of Brooke Forrester. And if she can keep it all in the family and still be alive all these years since The Bold and the Beautiful first aired on SA screens, then I guess Estela and Solano’s love has a fighting chance.

Anyway, Estela and Solano can never be together. You know why? Here is where some really suspense-filled, dramatic music would be great. It is Estela’s destiny to kill a man who is under the Native Indian curse. Talk about a tough break.

Well, it’s a telenovela so you know you’ll get to see all the twists and turns that will keep you coming back for more every day – if that’s your cup of tea.

This International Emmy-nominated show has several interesting characters. Like Manuela, the beautiful vet who is in love with Solano and will stop at nothing to have his heart. With Manuela’s dad being the evil Max Martinez, she may just get that heart. Literally.

So if you like drama and all things mystical, don’t miss Destiny River.

• Destiny River premieres on Fox Entertainment (TopTV channel 180) today at 6pm.