

Season 1 • Episode 155
LatestGypsy traditions set the stage for Explode Coração, which highlighted a new subject at the time: love relationships via the internet. Dara is a young gypsy woman who is proud of her origins, but refuses to be stuck with traditions. She lets her rebellious soul speak louder and breaks a tradition of her people: she refuses to marry Igor, the promised groom. The news falls like a bomb to her parents, Jairo and Lola, and is great for Yanka, her younger sister, in love with the boy. But Igor only has eyes for Dara and fights for that love. Indifferent to the consequences of his decision, Dara meets, in a computer conversation, the businessman Júlio Falcão, who moves her heart. Julio is the man who loves to make money and seduce women. He lives a marriage of appearances with Vera. Separated by the world, people as different as Júlio and Dara cross and fight against all for a love that has old traditions, and Igor and Vera as the biggest obstacles.
Writing
Glória Perez's bold internet-love premise in 1995
Acting
Tereza Seiblitz's fierce, stubborn Dara
Costume
Vivid Romani aesthetics vs. corporate power suits
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Brazil's first major telenovela to center internet romance — Glória Perez essentially predicted catfishing culture before it had a name.
Leandra Leal was only 14 playing Yanka; she became one of Brazil's most acclaimed actresses. Edson Celulari and Tereza Seiblitz's chemistry was so intense it sparked real tabloid rumors.