Desperate to place You Mania on the axes, the Globo made a decision that seems to make little sense: he summoned the author Vincent Villari to join the team of employees at João Emanuel Carneiro. The writer was responsible for The Law of Love (2016), one of the biggest failures among the network’s nine o’clock soap operas.

Villari’s reinforcement was reported by columnist Duh Secco and confirmed by the author himself on his social networks. “I joined the writing team for Mania de Você, this soap opera by my friend-brother João Emanuel Carneiro”, he wrote on his profile on Instagram on Monday night (21).

“What a joy to meet João, ‘Marcita [Prates] my favorite’, Eliane Garcia — I feel like I’m coming home! It’s great to also meet Zé Dassilva, Marina Luisa and Marta Rangel, she’s just a great team member! Don’t miss this soap opera!”, continued the author.

Dismissed by Globo in May 2023after 25 years at the broadcaster, Vincent Villari returns with the mission of trying to raise the ratings of the nine o’clock soap opera. Despite his poor performance as the titular author in A Lei do Amor, he collaborated with João Emanuel Carneiro on some of his biggest hits.

The duo did The Color of Sin (2004), Snakes & Lizards (2006), The Favorite (2008) and All the Flowers (2022). Previously, the two had already collaborated with Maria Adelaide Amaral in the miniseries A Muralha (2000) and Os Maias (2001).

More humor, less rush

The task force to save Mania de Você will also put into practice the results of the serial’s first discussion group, held the week before last. One of the main aspects raised by the public is that the soap opera needs more humor.

The group of protagonists — also formed by Viola (Gabz) e Red (Nicolas Prattes)– was well evaluated as a whole by the interviewees. The highlight is Mavi (Chay Suede), the unscrupulous villain of the story. His scenes with his mother, Mercia (Adriana Esteves), have also gone viral.

Even so, the public felt that the supporting actors needed more prominence. Dhu (Ivy Souza), for example, is a very beloved character. Isis (Mariana Ximenes), another villain, also deserves her place in the sun in the public’s opinion. The same for the toxic Robson core (Eriberto Leão) and his wife and victim, Fátima (Mariana Santos).

Respondents also felt a lack of screen time for Nahum (Angelo Antonio) and Moema (Ana Beatriz Nogueira), the main veterans of history –alongside Eliane GiardiniBerta. Their increased participation, however, was already predicted even before the discussion group.

The soap opera must undergo changes in this sense, although Globo’s top management was already planning changes. The idea was to soften plots and even reversing the “brutal murder” of a woman linked to Mercia’s past.