TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
Some spoilers. For my First Impression Review, Click here

It has been a fun ride with GMA Network’s Mga Lihim Ni Urduja. In the headline of my First Impression Review, I mentioned the series having “sleek substance.” And that remained true throughout the 48 episodes, even if the series might have slowed down (or maybe sped up too fast?) a little toward the end.

Overall, Mga Lihim ni Urduja just had this cool, slick vibe. A lot of swagger in the way it told its story. And that’s for both the modern-day fantasy-adventure-heist side of the series as well as the legend and historical side as well.

The way the series was able to seamlessly blend those two sides is a testament to the creativity of the team that brought the story to life. Having a refreshingly Filipino take on a familiar premise like treasure hunting or mythical powers is such a welcome sight. Especially when the foundation of the entire series is firmly rooted in Filipino culture, history and folklore.

The first half of the series featured a lot more visits with Urduja. And again, Sanya Lopez was perfectly cast in the role with some excellent set design and creative, new production environments transporting viewers to pre-colonial Philippines.

Like with Maria Clara at Ibarra, I appreciate the creative way Urduja was able to tell these historical and period pieces by fusing them with modern-day stories. It really does help these stories previously reserved only for the classroom to be more accessible and a lot more fun for everyone to absorb and enjoy.

But at the same time, seeing how wonderfully and vividly executed those scenes of Urduja were, it still makes me hope for the day we will be treated to perhaps a more direct and full-length adaptation of such historical and legendary stories. Of course, with the same amount of visual and narrative creativity and effort.

Back in 2011, GMA Pinoy TV had this awesome TV bumper commemorating Bonifacio Day and I posted it on YouTube:

After seeing it, it made me want to see a shiny, stylized, cool live action or even animated retelling of the Philippine Revolution. And other moments in Filipino history or folklore too. I feel like Mga Lihim ni Urduja gave us a glimpse of what that could look like. And it was awesome.

Now, this early focus on the legend of Urduja definitely helped to allow the rest of the series to focus on our present-day characters and their stories. We would of course continue to check in with Urduja, especially as the series’ endgame was finally revealed in the final week or two.

But the revelation that Gemma, Crystal and Onyx were not only all descendants of Urduja, but siblings as well, opened up even more story potential that I think was well-realized by the end.

The stories of family, friendship and bonds as well as the unconditional love in those relationships delivered some wonderful and relatable character moments. Those character moments help you to care about the story’s more fantastical aspects. And again, those two sides work hand in hand to bring together a fuller and more engaging experience.

Kylie Padilla and Gabbi Garcia continued their also perfect pairing. Like I mentioned in my First Impression Review, their contrasting, yet complimentary personalities work so well together, whether it’s in dramatic moments or in more lighthearted moments.

One of the bigger surprises though is their chemistry with Vin Abrenica as Onyx too. Once the big reveal took place, it allowed for a great dynamic to develop between the three of them, filled with conflict and compassion. And that allowed the last week or two to be that much more affecting. The climactic moments felt more emotional that they might have been otherwise. And that helped to free up the action scenes to be as explosive as they could be too.

The rest of the cast also deserve their kudos. A very strong ensemble. Michelle Dee, Kristoffer Martin, Pancho Magno and Arra San Agustin continued to exude that dangerous charisma throughout. And it even made me wish to see them in their own spin-off. Maybe seeing them going on different heists around the Philippines. Or even the world! (Calling GMA Network!)

Other standouts include Billie Hakenson (actually a revelation!) as the kickass, but traitorous Astrid and Gina Pareno as the heart of the story, Lola Merly. Meanwhile, Zoren Legaspi as essentially the Final Boss was absolute fun. You could see through his performance all series-long how much he relished his moustache-twirling, though multi-faceted villain role. That progression from the first time we meet him as one of his characters until the final episode was great fun.

The direction of Jorron Lee Monroy also deserves much praise. There was a lot of talent in front of the camera, but definitely also a lot of talent behind the camera and behind the scenes as well. The stunning and glossy visuals and purposeful direction brought all the pieces including the excellent ensemble cast and the creative writing and concept together for something that looked unlike anything you normally see on Philippine TV.

And ultimately, that is such a welcome sight to see. Mga Lihim ni Urduja was a fun, exciting ride. Even if the series might have been a little too different for some viewers, it is one example of how there are still so many unique stories to tell on Philippine TV. Even familiar stories, but in truly refreshing ways and with new approaches. Urduja showed there is so much potential just waiting to be tapped. And one hopes it won’t be the last of its kind on local television.

The post Hindsight Review: Fun, Exciting, Vivid “Mga Lihim ni Urduja” Shows There’s So Much Potential Still Waiting to Be Tapped for Philippine TV appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
No spoilers. Click here for First Impression Review

In my First Impression Review, I mentioned how GMA Network’s Hearts on Ice is able to tick off familiar Filipino teleserye boxers, but still offer a unique and refreshing approach to those familiar themes. The series’ 68 episodes definitely maintained that perfect balance. And it has wrapped up its run as a fully satisfying, enjoyable and inspiring series.

The highlight, among many commendable aspects to the series, is definitely the cast. Really a strong, excellent group of actors that were well-suited to their roles and what was asked of them. There were a lot of fresh faces such as current Philippine national figure skating team member Sky Chua as now-reformed bully Sonja. Her character arc, especially as it related to Ashley Ortega’s Ponggay helped to really illustrate the competitive nature of not just skating, but sports in general. And of course the typical pressures and struggles of youth and bullying.

Roxie Smith delivered a breakthrough performance as Monique. Rita Avila definitely offered up some very intense and surely difficult scenarios as the violent, overbearing stage mother Yvanna. Chronicling the mental toll Monique suffered as it related to sport as well as past trauma really presented an eye-opening look at stories rarely, if ever seen on Philippine TV.

Ina Feleo also gave an unexpectedly surprising performance. Surprising, not because of her talent as she has proven herself many times before. But surprising in how the series was able to also tell a fascinating story about her character Wendy. Again, real and relatable human emotion with the refreshing context of sport and figure skating.

Definitely no surprise with the performances from Amy Austria-Ventura, Tonton Gutierrez and the warmth Lito Pimentel brought to Ponggay’s loving father Ruben. The veteran actors had no troubles giving the series its needed heft and authority. Xian Lim’s experience was also on great display as he balanced his character’s own personal story alongside the requisite, though never overpowering romantic angle of the series.

And of course, Ashley Ortega. This role was literally made for her. Finally getting the lead role she has long worked for and long deserved, Ashley Ortega proved her worth and then some. Her figure skating skills were as naturally graceful as her effortless performance. Being able to offer up the many sides of Pauline/Ponggay’s personality, everything from the happy to sad to dramatic; Ashley Ortega undoubtedly delivered.

Hearts on Ice was able to tackle many different aspects of sports and especially figure skating. Though perhaps there was still a lot that could have been explored and some potential left on the table, the series was still able to thoughtfully tell these stories that are not normally told or heard in mainstream Filipino media. And that goes for actual, real-life athletes especially.

When Philippine media is so obsessed with the idea of “celebrity” and how being an artista is the only dream worth having for those who want a better life, seeing a series like Hearts on Ice is so welcome and relevant today.

Being able to inspire and offer up some hope for especially young Filipinos to pursue their dreams, no matter the field, will be one of the series’ major accomplishments. The series has an empowering message. And one can only hope that the series can empower young dreamers to continue to dream big.

Of course, many of those dreamers will need a bit of tangible help too. So we also hope that those who can will be able to help make those dreams become reality. There is so much untapped potential when it comes to Filipino athletes. Sadly because of lack of resources. But with a show like Hearts on Ice and hearing more stories from those who have experienced and maybe even overcome those hardships, we can have hope that there will be more realized dreams in the future.

Overall, Hearts on Ice‘s thoughtful and satisfying storytelling was a joy to watch. The refreshing nature of the premise itself coupled with an excellent cast and careful production really powered the show to be one of the best and simply most enjoyable and satisfying local series in a while. And its inspiring message offers a welcome bit of hope and empowerment.

The post Hindsight Review: Thoughtful Storytelling, Excellent Cast Make GMA’s “Hearts on Ice” a Thoroughly Satisfying and Inspiring Series appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
No spoilers.

I was very excited after watching the first episode of GMA Network’s Voltes V: Legacy. It was a huge breath of fresh air. For one, finally being able to see what had been worked on for years and delivering a truly exciting first half hour was so exciting. And two, having something of this magnitude be an all-Filipino production was such a major accomplishment.

And nothing will take away from that accomplishment. That is, the technical achievement in production is something not often, if ever, seen on local Filipino television. The elaborate sets. The top-notch CGI. And bringing a classic Japanese anime to life in a live-action series. You don’t expect such things from Filipino daily series. But Voltes V: Legacy was able to deliver that.

Again, the one thing that no one can take away from Voltes V: Legacy is the effort (and huge cost!) they expended on the technical production of the series. It is very evident across these past 90 episodes. And that will always help to elevate the series.

Sadly, the series ended up needing a lot of elevating and carrying.

All the hope I had at the start would slowly and steadily fade away as the typical traps of Filipino teleseryes would end up catching Voltes V: Legacy.

Simply put, a series like Voltes V: Legacy just isn’t suited for the daily teleserye format. I know that the format is a logistical and financial necessity in order for GMA Network to maximize its return on investment. But as much effort as was put in the technical side of the series, I think the same, if not more effort was needed in the writing. And perhaps some of the editing as well.

Sometimes, it felt as if the series was originally edited into longer episodes. For example, hour-long episodes. And in order to fit the series into a weekday/daily roll-out, they edited those longer episodes into more bite-sized ~20-minute episodes. (Minus the overly-long start-of-episode recaps, long end-of-episode previews and the full theme song and ending song as well.)

That presented some awkward pacing with many episodes all series-long. Instead of potentially self-contained hour-long episodes with clear beginning, middle and ends, the teleserye-ized episodes felt abrupt and disorienting.

A typical teleserye may have a consistent flow throughout its five episodes every week. Voltes V: Legacy did not.

And that’s not to say it’s impossible. A little more careful planning and thought into the writing would’ve made things much more seamless.

Unfortunately, the odd pacing seemed to end up negatively affecting the stories. Some ideas rushed and not allowed to breathe, let alone marinate to full satisfying effect. Other ideas feeling shoehorned in and forced. Elsewhere, randomly irrelevant detours. A formulaic pattern one may see on a typical Sunday morning tokusatsu series ill-suited to the daily format.

Big moments throughout the season like learning about Mark’s family or Jamie losing her father or potentially big stories like Steve and Mark’s rivals-turned-bromance or the Voltesers needing to grow up or learn about teamwork. Just a few examples of wasted potential.

Things would get resolved within what would seem like the original one-hour episode (anywhere from two to five daily episodes) and then jump into the next self-contained story. The lack of true character and plot development, instead relying on quick resolutions and instant gratification; again, suited perhaps for hour-long weekly episodes. But not so much for an ongoing, five-day-a-week rollout.

As exciting and sincerely emotional much of the first few weeks were for Voltes V: Legacy, the series eventually and sadly overstayed its welcome. (Which is also very much typical of Filipino teleseryes.) The questionable writing and editing decisions made the show a chore to watch.

And before anyone says “No one is forcing you to watch” or any other #NetworkWarCulture-inspired retort, I like to finish what I start. Especially when I decided to recap this series. It may not have been as expensive as GMA’s, but I invested my time into watching the series and I would see it through to the end.

And it’s because I legitimately enjoyed the series at first that I’ve become sadly disappointed as it wrapped up. It seems like the greater Filipino audience felt the same way as its declining ratings in its last couple of weeks showed.

There’s a lot of nanghihinayang or regret in the way Voltes V: Legacy ended up. At least, narrative-wise and in its editing. But ultimately, the technical achievements will be what the show can hang its hat on. It’s not something that can just be brushed aside because it really is a big accomplishment. It’s just too bad everything else could not compliment it.

The post Hindsight Review: Technical Achievements Elevate and Carry Flawed “Voltes V: Legacy” appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
No spoilers. Click here for First Impression Review.

When GMMTV’s Only Friends first premiered, I thought it was a fun, soapy ride. Quite a departure from the usual fluffy series I’ve watched from GMMTV. And certainly a lot, *ahem*, sexier that any series I’ve watched from them as well.

Only Friends is pretty much the perfect depiction of the phrase “It’s Complicated” when it comes to relationships. The series focused on a group of friends, however loose the word is with relation to them, as they navigate both their personal demons and scars and each other.

An alcoholic, a perpetual playboy, a hopeless romantic, a jaded-to-romance musician, a *ahem* fuckboy and a studious virgin; an eclectic mix of characters whose personality and philosophy differences make for excellent soapy drama.

They’re all broken individuals with scars and pain to overcome, whether from the past or things that pop up in the present. Whether it’s of their own making or that of their so-called friends. Simply put, they’re all a mess.

And that’s what made Only Friends all the more fun and engaging to watch. It’s always fun to get sucked into the soapy ins and outs of relationship drama. And the series managed to effectively unravel each character and their relationships in a way that was both familiar and unexpected at the same time.

At the start of the series, it’s hard not to know who’s supposed to end up with whom. The opening credits specifically pair them up even. I hoped the series would play around with and explore some mixing and matching between them. And that they did to some entertaining results.

Only Friends had quite a voyeuristic feel to the proceedings. Kind of like you were getting the latest bit of gossip. And the characters’ lives and relationships certainly make for the kind of juicy details you enjoy hearing and telling to your closest friends.

The series does a great job at pretty much touching all the bases when it comes to the potential tension and conflict these messy characters can bring about. And yes, the series does manage to sneak in some last-minute drama too. That even while forced, still adds to the delicious drama.

Even more interesting is how the series managed to even touch on some serious topics as well. Everything from substance abuse to mental health to self-love and self-respect; Only Friends told engaging stories that touched upon each while using those stories to build up each of the main characters.

Now, don’t get the wrong idea. Only Friends is not some profound deep dive into the minefield today’s young adults have to navigate in their everyday lives or anything like that. But what it does do is refreshing enough to add some extra bits of depth to already interesting and relatable characters.

The series features a solid cast. The established pairings of First-Khaotung and Force-Book had no problem showing off their chemistry with each other. Though I have not seen their previous series, their experience is evident here.

But for me, the standout performances came from Neo Trai Nimtawat and Mark Pakin Kunaanuwit. Just based on what I’ve seen from them in other series before this, their characters in Only Friends are just so different and very much more mature. And both effortlessly proved that they have what it takes to get bigger and more challenging roles in the future. Both their characters too (Boston and Nick) were, in my opinion, the most interesting ones as well. Their journey the most engaging. And their performances definitely helped that.

Overall, Only Friends has been a fun ride. The kind of great, soapy drama that makes you come back for more. And the great cast and satisfying conclusion are just cherries on top of the delicious, juicy soap cake! Lol

The post Hindsight Review: GMMTV’s Satisfying, Fun “Only Friends” appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
Moderate spoilers. Click here for First Impression Review.

I cautioned back in my First Impression Review of GMMTV’s Dangerous Romance (หัวใจในสายลม) that the series is a very familiar story. In using a tried-and-true formula for BL stories, it might not be for anyone looking for something different and more refreshing. I had hope though after watching the first five episodes that the series would pick up with some different twists and turns. But alas, Dangerous Romance followed the formula to a tee. Which for me, is fine. After watching all 12 episodes, I come out of the series with more positive experiences than not. And it was a treat to watch Perth and Chimon, as well as a great supporting cast. But it’s hard not to ignore the potential the series left on the table.

First of all, I’m not sure Dangerous Romance is a suitable title for the series. There wasn’t much “danger” to their romance other than the requisite final arc threat from a criminal gang. The “danger” that caused our main couple Kanghan and Sailom to go on the run for a little while was thoroughly contrived. And really just meant to nudge the two closer to their eventual first night together.

But to base the title on that contrived side trip is a bit awkward. And the title itself gives a certain expectation for the story that was never fulfilled.

I think to start there, a better title would have helped ease some of the expectations for the series. Or better yet, not even include that final arc storyline.

There was plenty of material for the characters without any of that crime syndicate gang angle. Themes that were touched upon in the initial few episodes such as school violence, rich vs poor and family relationships were pretty much tossed aside in favor of attempted murder, robbery and going on the run.

But still, none of this is really surprising. And the series ends up an easy watch even if potentially forgettable for anyone who might not already be a fan of Perth, Chimon or the supporting cast.

Speaking of, after the initial five episodes I based my First Impression Review on, the supporting characters were given a bit more to do. A few even getting their own stories. But it did feel like a little bit of too little, too late. Marc Natarit Worakornlertsith and Pawin Thanik Kamontharanon as Guy and Nawa (best bros of our main couple) had a sweet little romance develop in the background. Also following a familiar BL premise. But a fun little sidestory during the series.

Papang Phromphiriya Thongputtaruk as Sailom’s older brother Saifah also became a bigger part of the story. Partly to help drive the eventual final arc conflict, but also to insert another seemingly last minute romantic story with his high school friend Name (played by Pepper Phanuroj Chalermkijporntavee). Their story could arguably fill their own series. And a final scene between them in the finale is probably one of the most affecting scenes of the series.

Another potentially romantic relationship between the main characters’ female friend Pimfah and teacher in training Napdao (View Benyapa Jeenprasom and June Wanwimol Jaenasavamethee) also felt shoehorned in. Though apparently, their relationship was originally supposed to be a major supporting plotline of the series.

A standout of the cast though is Pimkae Goonchorn Na Ayutthaya as Kanghan’s grandmother. A wonderful voice of reason and wisdom throughout the series. She too deserved a lot more material than she received.

And so enumerating all these missed opportunities for some great supporting storylines reflect somewhat poorly on our main couple. Again, Perth and Chimon did reasonably well with the material given to them. And, many might disagree, but I enjoyed their chemistry. Though since my experience with BL series is limited, maybe that affects how I receive Perth and Chimon’s on-screen chemistry. As well as having followed their off-screen chemistry too. But everyone is of course entitled to their own opinion and reception of stories and performances. And for me, I enjoyed them.

Perhaps that’s one reason I had no problem finishing the series. Both Perth and Chimon are very likeable actors. Both talented of course and very charismatic on screen. They’ve both earned the opportunity for good, substantial roles. And having them leading their own series is well deserved.

But as much as I enjoyed watching Dangerous Romance every week, I wish the material for that deserved headlining project was stronger than this was. I would definitely watch more of Perth and Chimon together as a pairing. And certainly hope any future project is more worthy of their talents.

Overall, a fine, easy watch of a series. And again, wonderful to see Perth and Chimon in lead roles. But Dangerous Romance definitely leaves a lot of potential sadly on the table.

The post Hindsight Review: Charming, Likeable Cast Carries GMMTV’s Familiar “Dangerous Romance” appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
No spoilers. Click here for First Impression Review and click here for Check-In Review.

GMA Network’s Magandang Dilag has come to an end. And its 99 episodes have been a fun, enjoyable ride. Though the series featured some familiar themes and scenarios as many Filipino teleseryes, it was able to set itself apart in many ways. It was able to blend in comedy and humor with the heavy drama. And as a revenge story, Magandang Dilag was unrelenting in dishing out sweet karma to the series’ antagonists. But perhaps the biggest outcome from the series is how it was able to showcase Herlene Budol as a lead actress.

Magandang Dilag of course enjoyed dependable performances from its experienced supporting cast including Sandy Andolong, Chanda Romero, Adrian Alandy, Benjamin Alves and Bianca Manalo. Talented newcomers Maxine Medina, Rob Gomez, Muriel Lomadilla and Angela Alarcon brought some fresh energy to the series as well.

But two specific aspects were definitely the highlights of the series.

First is that aforementioned unrelenting delivery of karma and revenge. The title character Magandang Dilag herself, Gigi Robles (played by Herlene Budol) with the help of her family and friends, was able to dish out the deserved comeuppance against the villains who made her and her mother’s life a living hell. Not only that, she was able to achieve justice for themselves and others who were victims of the antagonists’ evil actions.

After a well-developed first few weeks that laid out Gigi and her mother’s suffering, the series proceeded full speed through her plans. Being able to deliver satisfying scenes of the “Elite Squad” being shamed and embarrassed, week after week, was so refreshing. And that made the series easy and fun to watch.

It wasn’t like how teleseryes often depict vengeance with feigning morality or even trying to redeem villains. Nope. Magandang Dilag wanted to punish its villains. And that it did. Repeatedly and very satisfyingly. The fast-paced story help keep viewers engaged with the series. Even with an extension, the series never wasted time with pointless filler. Or have its story go in circles.

Viewers responded to that very well. Especially when, again, this kind of regular and steady satisfaction is not necessarily common on teleseryes. Regardless of genre.

The second refreshing aspect is of course Herlene Budol herself. It has been such a treat having followed her career since first being a contestant on Wowowin. From being a host to getting various TV guestings and now successfully wrapping up her first teleserye as the title character; Herlene Budol has had a very fairtytale-like ascent to now certified teleserye leading lady.

She is such an endearing personality and that shines through in her performance. You cannot help but get carried away by her, especially in emotional scenes. Many of the series’ highlights are when Herlene has to deliver the most emotionally charged scenes.

Some of the best examples are her performances in Episode 26:

And the climactic Episode 72:

Which I raved about when the episode first aired.

The way Herlene is able to balance that perfect comedic timing with legitimately affecting dramatic performances is something you can’t easily teach someone. It really does come naturally. And for someone like Herlene without that kind of extensive training and workshops, the performance she delivered in Magandang Dilag is quite an accomplishment. And she can only improve even more from here. She showed that she deserved this opportunity and more.

Overall, this is the kind of guilty pleasure series that really shouldn’t make you feel guilty at all. Magandang Dilag was simply a great series. A fun, exciting and enjoyable series that took familiar concepts and offered up refreshing twists to its approach and execution.

The post Hindsight Review: Herlene Budol Proves Herself in Refreshing, Fun “Magandang Dilag” appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
Moderate spoilers. Click here for the First Impression Review.

I enjoyed the first season of Disney+’s Big Bet (카지노/Casino) . I felt that the legendary Choi Min Sik delivered a masterful performance in what was a strong and intriguing story of a Cha Mu Sik, a man who came from humble beginnings in rural Korea to become an influential casino kingpin in the Philippines. The eight episodes that made up the first season followed Mu Sik as he recounted his long journey from his difficult childhood to now living comfortably with a business that brings him money and power.

The first season closed as that business and the surrounding world of crime, corruption and betrayal began to close in on him.

I hoped that this second season of eight episodes would keep up with the strong momentum of the first. And that we would see Mu Sik turn toward a more vengeful path as he deals with the people who have wronged him. The title of the series Big Bet or Casino being literal and philosophical when it comes to Mu Sik. How would the show depict Mu Sik’s gamble in life?

And that’s somewhat how this second season played out. But for some reason, the series seemed to lose a bit of its spark. The thrilling and engaging nature of the first season gave way to what felt like a much slower and more plot-driven narrative. Which would be fine if there was much of a plot to unfold.

Where the first season was a wonderful character portrait of our affable anti-hero, this second season delved into a convoluted and overly intricate web of familiar crime and corruption tropes. Alongside Mu Sik’s world beginning to collapse around him, through unfortunately contrived circumstances, was the plot thread that emerged at the end of the first season. That is investigator Oh Seung Hoon (Son Suk Ku) initially working to solve the murder cases of Koreans in the Philippines and eventually getting caught up in Mu Sik’s world.

The side-by-side plot threads move along like oil and water rather than truly intertwine. That is until the final episode that feels both rushed and unearned. On its own, a thrilling sequence that would otherwise provide a perfect climax. But in reality, merely shining a spotlight on this group of episodes’ shortcomings.

There is such a clear distance between the two seasons. Really, the series shouldn’t have been broken up into two seasons or groups of episodes in the first place. And an argument can be made that the series might have been better off with less episodes. A tighter and more fast-paced story focusing on Mu Sik’s improbable rise and eventual downfall is much more enticing on paper than what the series ended up being.

It’s hard to even take the series as a whole considering how lesser than this second season is compared to the first. And if anything, this second season weighs down the entire series by negating much of what made those first eight episodes so exciting to watch.

One of my few criticisms of that first group of episodes was the tonal whiplash. Fun, lighthearted moments with Mu Sik would abruptly cut to darker and more violent moments. Again, typical of this genre of story. But while the series had trouble balancing those two contrasting sides in the first season, it struggled even more in this second season.

And it’s a bit of a shame considering the series’ strong ensemble cast. Of course led by Choi Min Sik. And a cast featuring talented actors from both Korea and the Philippines.

When Big Bet devolved into some of the typical facets of the genre, it turned the series from being a refreshingly bold take on familiar themes into “just another one of those” in the end. The talented cast and the unique setting deserved much better material.

Maybe if the series had not been split in half, it would’ve been a different experience. But as it ended up being, the series drops the ball in such stunning fashion. That decline is even more interesting to comprehend itself rather than whatever this second season offered up in terms of story. Ultimately, Choi Min Sik’s captivating performance carried this second season of episodes. But it’s hard not to wonder whether this second season was even necessary at all.

The post Hindsight Review: Season 2 of Disney+’s “Big Bet” Stunningly Drops the Ball appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
MAJOR spoilers, with fair warning. For my First Impression Review, click here.

After the first two episodes of KBS’ Oasis (오아시스), I thought the series was off to a strong start with lots of potential ahead. Now after it has completed its 16 episode run, I think a lot potential was left on the table. But the series nonetheless ended on a high note with plenty to like throughout its run. Not the least of which being the wonderful cast delivering strong performances to elevate otherwise familiar, soapy, yet engaging material.

At its heart, Oasis is a story about three high school friends navigating life during this turbulent era in Korean history. Its historical setting, though not necessarily ever referencing actual events, almost serves as a character on its own. Not only is it a vivid backdrop for the equally tumultuous story of our main characters, but the time period works to perhaps be the biggest antagonist to our three leads and the people around them.

Political instability and rapid post-war development factor into what Doo Hak, Jung Shin and Cheol Woong must endure. They grow up and find themselves as no longer innocent high school students in rural Korea, but adults in the rough and tumble of Seoul. And it is the evolving world that ultimately drives our main characters to make the decisions that they do, especially when cutting deeper into already existing wounds and trauma from their pasts.

In my First Impression Review, I pointed out how I hoped the series would be able to find a good tonal balance as they had introduced a light, humorous aspect to the series in Episode 2. At the time, I felt like it had the potential to clash with the more dramatic side of the story. And through the rest of the series, they kind of did. One of my criticisms for Oasis is probably the series not being able to find that balance. But at the same time, the series is never too heavy nor too goofy to feel awkward or unnecessary.

Instead, the series is able to use humor to establish and develop Doo Hak’s friendships with his fellow, kind-hearted ex-convicts and swindlers. This in part helps to establish a point of contention between Doo Hak and now-prosecutor Cheol Woong while also illustrating the times and providing humble, nostalgic qualities to the story. Truly exciting action sequences also pierce through at welcome moments.

But the transition between those fun moments and the heavier, more dramatic and soapy elements of the series aren’t as seamless as they could have been.

And that’s the other side of the series. Oasis, unexpectedly for me, shifted toward a much soapier approach as twists and turns were revealed.

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

The revelation that Doo Hak and Cheol Woong were actually biological brothers was quite a nice surprise. It added a whole other angle to their relationship which was already centered around a brotherhood and all the angst and drama that can come with it. Whether it’s competition over a girl or the insecurities fueled by the adults around them, having them actually be blood brothers added a heavier weight to their conflict.

And it was a conflict that went back and forth for most of the series. Perhaps even longer than it should have.

Oasis was able to stretch out the love triangle between Doo Hak, Jung Shin and Cheol Woong until just before it would start becoming absurd. And it did fuel the conflict between the brothers even more.

But the main focus was always between Doo Hak and Cheol Woong and how the times and the people of this time molded and twisted their characters. This to a point where these two young men were driven further and further away from each other, cheating them out of a loving and caring relationship they both deserved.

The soap opera and even makjang elements encompass the secret baby identities, blackmail and the love triangle. Together, they still made for a deliciously soapy ride.

But with that approach, Oasis dropped the ball in offering a fuller exploration of the main characters’ relationships. Let’s be clear, you can still be a juicy soap opera while having sincerity and depth as well.

There were a couple of missteps when it comes to character development. More along the lines of not offering the amount of depth these characters more than deserved. Being able to explore their relationships and how their past traumas weigh on their present struggles would have added to the climactic finale. And really would for a much more meaningful and profound dramatic story as well.

The series slowed its pace at times when it was unnecessary or even unwelcome, while speeding things up when stories deserved to be better absorbed. Most especially when it came to Doo Hak and Cheol Woong’s story.
Still, the final episode (albeit somewhat rushed as well) was as satisfying a conclusion as the series was set up to provide. Climactic it was as the pivotal confrontation scene between the involved characters will be one of the most emotionally charged sequences you’ll see on any Korean drama.

Once the stunning sequence comes to its breathless end, you can almost set aside the regrets and missed opportunities from the previous episodes. Even though the scene itself can offer some new regrets too.

Oasis has a strong ensemble cast with Kim Myung Soo as Doo Hak’s emotionally tortured father Joong Ho and the always charismatic Jin Yi Han as the dangerous right-hand man Oh Man Ok being definite highlights.

But seeing the incredible performances in that final sequence alone is worth the price of admission to Oasis. Drama vets Kang Kyung Hun and So He Jung as Cheol Woong and Doo Hak’s mothers, respectively, deliver the performances that absolutely fuel those given by our lead three.

Jang Dong Yoon, Seol In Ah and Choo Yeong Woo offer some stunning moments in the climactic scene. And this after a series-worth of strong performances from them. They definitely saved the best for last. And those performances and their chemistry help to make the climax both effective and affecting. Not to mention the series’ final scene as well.

Ultimately, Oasis is a character-driven drama that could have used a lot better character than it had. Far from perfect, Oasis was nonetheless still an engaging series with its soapy elements and exciting action. It is these captivating performances that end up truly elevating and sometimes carrying the series, preventing it from collapsing under the weight of its own missteps.

The post Hindsight Review: Jang Dong Yoon, Seol In Ah, Choo Yeong Woo Elevate KBS’ Flawed, but Engaging “Oasis” appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
Minor spoilers.

Another season of sexy singles finding love on a deserted island has come and gone. It’s now become an annual event for Netflix’s Single’s Inferno to become a reliably buzzed-about series during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. And season three delivered the same not-so-guilty pleasure that can be so fun and frustrating at the same time.

In my First Impression Review, I had positive things to say about the seemingly refreshing start to this season. Little tweaks seemed to address things that made season two feel a bit more laborious to get through compared to the breakout first season. Did the series maintain that freshness through the rest of the eleven episodes? Not so much.

I must say though that one major thing has affected my watching of Single’s Inferno the most. And that is my watching and enjoying season two of fellow Korean reality dating program His Man. The way that series, though featuring gay singles unlike Single’s Inferno, was able to capture the sort of dreamy K-drama romance that only a Korean program could do had me looking for the same in this season. It was a feeling I got in season one. And arguably why I enjoyed it almost immediately back then. But that feeling dimmed in season two. Which is why the first three episodes this time around felt very refreshing.

Unfortunately, the rest of the season kind of drifted away from the proverbial shoreline of Inferno. And while some things helped to keep the season afloat, other things did their best to weigh it down once again.

First off, I wish the series kept the singles in rough conditions a bit longer. The first three episodes featured some telling moments in revealing the singles’ personalities by way of their response to the less-than-luxury living conditions. And now at the end, it’s interesting to look back and compare those personalities to the facades some singles seemed to put on when in Paradise or even the more hospitable living conditions post-merge.

That’s why I think putting the singles in different kinds of environments like that help them and us the viewer kind of feel each other out and get a sense of who they really are.

Speaking of, one of my criticisms from last season was the lack of opportunity for singles to actually get to know each other or even meet.

It’s telling when in the final two episodes, one of the women said they hadn’t even talked to one of the men at all during her time on Inferno. Not once. What? That’s definitely a problem.

That’s why I’d love to have seen the show actually force the singles to actually interact more. One of the ways is to not have Paradise every night (another criticism I had last year). Have all the singles on Inferno together a few nights during their stay on the island.

Mix and match the singles in games. And not just games to decide who goes to Paradise. Last year, I suggested games for special Inferno dates or lunch or activities like that. Singles may find they actually have zero interest in a person they are forced to interact with. Or it’s possible they might find something they had not seen before or put the effort into getting to know the person beyond superficial judgment.

Kudos though for not repeating the same challenges from the last two seasons. Sure, it was always hilarious seeing the men wrestling in mud and getting their egos hurt. But the games, though certainly less creative and simpler this time around, were alright.

But it’s those possibilities that could push the singles to actually consider more options. Have them be more conflicted. And yes, being conflicted between two or more options makes for better TV.

Let’s not get on our high horses here. These singles are just meeting each other for a couple of days. Of course some may experience love at first sight. That’s fine. But why keep the singles from realizing they might actually connect with someone else. Neither the show nor the singles nor even the netizens and viewers at home should fault someone from attempting to get to know someone else. Even if they have already expressed their potential interest in one person.

Having the singles actually do activities instead of simply hanging out at a hotel was also a welcome change. The Jeju location certainly added some refreshing twists to the format. Both with the more rugged terrain of Inferno and with the Paradise activities that were not limited to a hotel. Being able to feature unique Jeju Island backdrops helped to keep Paradise much less repetitive than last season. Though the frequency of being off Inferno was still too much.

Still, the lack of exploration of options will lead to the kind of finale we got here. Where the only tension and excitement came with Gwan Hee’s choice. And even then, it seemed quite obvious who he was choosing. Despite what our male hosts were saying contrary to the actually correct analysis by Hong Jin Kyung and Lee Da Hee.

And speaking of. The hosts! Like I said in my First Impression Review, it feels like they’re becoming less and less relevant to the series. Even if they’re on for a total of like 10-15 minutes an episode, it feels like much more than that. Especially when the show seems to cut to reaction shots from them every other minute. There’s really no need to cut back to them in the middle of a scene unless it is to react to something truly shocking on the island. Otherwise, keep their reactions to post-scene analysis. Let’s hear from them after every chunk of scenes to get their thoughts. There is really no need for play-by-play commentary like this was a football or basketball game. Even more especially when the singles this season actually spoke for themselves a lot more than previous seasons.

You could say that the hosts are actually here to just feed whatever storyline the show wants to present. But then most of their time their commentary or analysis is so off base it is laughable. It almost feels like they are just saying things just to say things. Which then means there’s no need to cut to them just to fill time. The episodes are usually long enough as it is.

Back to the singles themselves, we did get a wide range of personalities this time. Most of them were certainly a lot more open in expressing their thoughts and emotions, both to each other and in their confessionals. Something that wasn’t really happening last season. At the same time, many of the singles’ personalities were far from endearing. And by the end, I found myself wanting to fast forward through conversations between two people I could care less about.

All this together, it left no suspense for the final decisions. But then again, the format itself did its best to lead to that outcome as well.

And on to the final decision. In my Hindsight Review last season, I said the show needed to find another way to reveal their final picks. The walking across the island was tedious and quite forced. I can’t say what they did here was great, but considering the lack of potential surprises, it was probably the best way to do it. They likely went with this reveal format knowing there wouldn’t be any surprises or tension left to mine for content.

So ultimately, the journey was much more interesting than the destination. There was a lot more drama, a lot more emotion. But not really much excitement or surprises.

Heading into a season four, Single’s Inferno definitely needs to continue and keep itself fresh. My two main hopes are:
-Tweak the format more to allow singles to actually mingle and interact with each other.
-Minimize or greatly redefine the purpose of the in-studio hosts.

Otherwise, we will be in for more of the same. And the same as this season would be something that can be frustrating and fun, but far from memorable or impactful. We’ll see!

The post Hindsight Review: Refreshing Twists Not Enough for Season 3 of “Single’s Inferno” to Overcome Its Many Faults appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

For me, many times there’s just that special something that makes me love or even simply enjoy a television series or movie or song. Sometimes it’s just as simple as “I love this!” Other times, I simply find myself not liking it. Then there are times when I am so indifferent, I can’t find the words to even describe what I feel (or don’t) for something. On the flip side, there are times when I have such strong feelings (good or bad) about something, I find myself rambling on and on, unable to stop. Lol

Which brings me now to Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger. To put how I feel about the season in the simplest terms: I feel bad I don’t like it more than I do.

On paper and in its fully produced realization, there are a lot of things that King-Ohger did right. Many things the season did excellent. It’s good! It’s a really good season. It has some really high highs. And some so-so lows. And for me, that definitely equals out to a good year of toku.

But for me, King-Ohger just doesn’t have that extra something that helps it cross into my top tier favorites list. If anything, it’s another season that gets lumped into the middle of my personal rankings of good seasons I fully enjoyed.

King-Ohger really feels like it has so many things that should make me love it more. There’s really not a lot of negative things I would point out to make it particularly hard to like or enjoy. And even the few things I will nitpick about later, are really just small things that I do not believe affected how I ultimately feel about the season as a whole.

Actually, let’s start with those nitpicks first. The biggest one is the CGI environments, virtual sets and big LED screens. It was hit or miss all season. When it was good, it was really good. Just like how we saw in the last few episodes. When it was bad, it was TikTok filter bad.

Again, not so bad that it drags down the season. But it definitely took a while to get used to at the start of the season. The same with having to get used to the CGI Donbros last year.

The biggest positive is of course being able to have unique and fresh settings aside from the regular Toei locations. And for any longtime toku fan, I think we can all recognize the Toei backlot or the Tsukuba Center Building or the Yume no Onashi Bridge. The creative and new settings were a refreshing change of pace, even if it sometimes was very obvious they were standing in front of a green screen.

It’s certainly not something I’d want Toei to go to full time though. I only hope Toei was just saving some money from location shoots for other projects. Hehe.

Now the other criticism I have is the pacing. I’ve definitely talked about it all season as the brisk, nonstop pace, especially early in the season, worried me. I’ve experienced enough Toei Sunday morning toku to know that sometimes fast starts can lead to a slow crash and burn.

Slowburn stories, I like. Slow crash and burns? Not so much lol

But one thing that made King-Ohger stand out from other seasons was its pace. Fast paced is good. But I think the show really could’ve slowed things down a bit and let some legitimately good story beats breathe a little. Let those good ideas (of which the season had many) really play out.

The season’s serialized nature and its nonstop pace really pushed me to absorb everything as a whole rather than weekly pieces. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that kind of feeling for either Sentai or Kamen Rider. Needing to wait to even start thinking about whether or not I was enjoying the season was a strange feeling.

King-Ohger often relied on exposition to help push story forward. It definitely helped that our 6th Ohger was also the season’s narrator. Him often being our expository guide for everything from character backstories to world building details.

That exposition, however, was necessary considering how fast the season sped through all those good ideas. In turn, those stories didn’t get the time they deserved to fully maximize their full potential and impact.

That said, the season definitely felt like it had enough story to tell in more than 50 episodes. Maybe not two full seasons. But certainly more than the usual 50. And if there’s one thing the season has possibly shown is that maybe filler episodes really are valuable and important. We want to be able to connect with these characters by actually watching them, even in inconsequential episodes. I don’t prefer to be told how to connect with the characters, if that makes sense.

Anyway, it’s a good thing that most every other part of the season was much stronger.

First, King-Ohger had a wonderful cast. With the Ohgers being so different from each other, even the complete opposites of each other, the main cast definitely had a bit of extra work to do. And they delivered great performances that allowed each king be distinct and fully realized. The brisk pacing also presented an extra challenge. But they handled it very well and made the Ohgers characters that we could connect with in spite of whatever shortcomings there might have been with their overall presentation and development.

Then there’s the large ensemble bringing to life a big group of supporting characters to life. It is a huge accomplishment for King-Ohger to have been able to have such a large cast, yet never feel overwhelming. Especially considering other Toei toku series struggle keeping up with even smaller casts of characters.

The season offered up a refreshing approach to traditional and familiar Sentai stories. While also offering themes not often seen on Sentai as well. The unique twist on clashing personalities needing to come together to defeat evil drove the narrative all year. And that central plot thread opened up a lot of potential for many other stories to be told. Fresh themes like what it means to be a leader or find common ground between different cultures and philosophies. Or familiar themes like teamwork and personal growth. There was plenty of familial angst and past tragedies. Stories of redemption and forgiveness.

The strongest episodes this season were definitely the focus episodes for each of the Ohgers. Especially when involving flashbacks to their backstories.

And the way the season was able to match the gravity of the stakes of the endgame to the god-like nature of Dagded helped to make this climactic conclusion all the more satisfying.

So overall, I really enjoyed this season. It is not going to top my personal Sentai rankings. And I wish I loved it more than I actually do. But even so, there’s no denying the many things the season did right. The fresh ideas and approaches the season was able to bring to the table

The post Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger Season Wrap-Up appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
No spoilers. Click here for my First Impression Review.

GMMTV’s Thai adaptation of the popular manga Cherry Magic (30 ยังซิง) has been a sweet, romantic and thoroughly enjoyable treat. Tay Tawan and New Thitipoom showed they’ve still got it as the experienced actors and popular pairing led a strong cast through entertaining and relatable stories. With a bit of slice of life feels, sincere emotions and a lot of fun, Cherry Magic is an all-around success.

I had a wonderful First Impression of the series after the premiere episode. And that warm feeling continued across all 12 episodes.

With Tay and New being the first Thai BL pairing I ever watched and followed, this was an extra special experience. But the fact that the series on its own was a worthy viewing experience was just the cherry (pun intended) on top of the delicious cake.

Karan and Achi’s romantic journey was well-paced. And what the series did especially well was be able to intertwine their own personal stories in terms of career and friendships with their romance. The way the series proceeded with their story while giving deserved time to other stories (such as the blossoming romance between Jinta and Min as well as Pai and Rock) and have all them feel fully developed and ultimately satisfying is a big accomplishment.

This all contributed to the feeling of the series mainly being a slice of life drama. There is no central dilemma or clear conflict that needed to be resolved. The only thing that could be considered that would be Achi’s power. But then again, it was merely used as a way to focus the rest of the series and each character’s respective stories.

As much as Achi agonized over his ability and how it might affect his relationship with Karan, the series was able to establish that regardless of virginity powers, the two of them had sincere feelings for each other. And the fact that Karan didn’t give a second thought to Achi’s revelation after he finds out is testament to that.

Their relationship was both mature and sweet innocence. And for a hopeless romantic like myself, it was not hard to become invested in their story.

Achi’s power of course provided many funny and amusing moments. But the series was very much character-driven. Each episode allowed each character to grow and move forward. And the relationships helped that growth as well.

A big part of that was the office setting which provided plenty of opportunity for these stories to play out. Themes regarding following your dreams or getting ahead in your career as well as respecting yourself and believing in yourself too and how to navigate the bumpy road of adulthood; all these were touched upon and had strong foundations thanks to the characters involved.

The cast’s pitch perfect chemistry and the series’ dreamy visuals elevated the already strong writing.

These stories were told with good care. And that allowed for well-placed humor to be sprinkled throughout. Coming together, these pieces gave the series a warmth and sincerity that helped to engage you and really pull you in.

I closed my First Impression Review with this:

Cherry Magic Thailand‘s first episode is an absolute treat and joy to watch. Sweet, cute, heartwarming. It’s hard to watch the episode and not have a smile on your face the entire time. A feel-good story, endearing characters, a charming cast, tight writing and thoughtful direction.

And that is exactly how I would describe the series now after its conclusion. Sweet, cute heartwarming; it’s hard to watch the series and not have a smile on your face the entire time. A feel-good story, endearing characters, a charming cast, tight writing and thoughtful direction. Cherry Magic Thailand has been an absolute treat and joy to watch.

The post Hindsight Review: GMMTV’s Thai Adaptation of “Cherry Magic” an Absolute Joy to Watch appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
No spoilers.

GMA Network’s Pulang Araw may not be the definitive screen depiction of wartime Philippines we all deserve. But that does not take away from the many positive achievements of the ambitious series. Even if its execution leaves a bit to be desired.

In a television landscape filled with recycled stories and tired plots, the fact that a series like Pulang Araw even exists is an accomplishment that deserves to be applauded. To even attempt something this different and on this scale is something we should see more of on Philippine TV.

While that unfortunately might not end up being the case, Pulang Araw‘s technical achievements and its courage to feature stories that are often only relegated to a classroom rather than mainstream entertainment can only be seen as a huge positive.

Attempting a primetime series about the Philippines in World War II requires a lot of effort and a lot of care. And when it comes to the visuals, Pulang Araw delivered. A mix of existing locations (of course, those that survived the war) and creative use of CGI allowed the viewer to be transported to 1940s Philippines.

There is no question about this visual feat. From production design to cinematography, Pulang Araw captured the very distinct world of wartime Philippines in a way that many times elevated and carried the series.

If other things might be lacking, the stunning visuals would more than make up for that.

Also helping to power the series is its great ensemble. Whether it’s our Core4 of Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez and David Licauco plus of course Dennis Trillo or the many supporting actors who breathed life into the many character needed to help fill this world; there is no doubting the capabilities of this talented cast.

The five lead actors who we saw in the title card for 110 episodes were well-cast. They took the material and sometimes elevated it in welcome ways. Other times the material was perfectly suited to what the actors were capable of. And that’s fine.

But there certainly was a point when the supporting characters were much more interesting and engaging. Especially when you have such stunning performances from actors like Isay Alvarez, Rochelle Pangilinan and Ashley Ortega.

The courage to also shine a spotlight on the horrors the Japanese forces subjected Filipino women and girls to is also something to be commended. It’s a topic that honestly seems lost and forgotten amongst the Filipino people these days. But like the continued fight in Korea for justice, so too should it continue for victims in the Philippines as well. And Pulang Araw raised attention for that in a bold and courageous way.

Now for my more critical feelings about the series.

I’ve talked about it pretty much every week and increasingly so over the course of the series. And that my biggest critique will be of the horrible pacing of the series. I think the last week solidified that viewpoint for me when it felt like they were rushing through the end of the war. And that’s even as they stretched this material out to fill the two extra weeks-worth of episodes.

To think about all the time wasted on standard and tired teleserye tropes instead of more engaging topics and themes. It made most of the series feel merely like a moment in time or a small section of a larger story. Which in turn should mean that Pulang Araw‘s decided-upon narrative shouldn’t have been something stretched out to 110 episodes. Equivalent to, more or less, 40 hours total runtime. Might as well have made a movie instead.

The horrible pacing took a lot way from potential impact and from the execution of what should have been important and resonant moments.

With the amount of time of the entire series, it should have been a more comprehensive and wide-ranging presentation of this moment in history. There should have been a more substantive amount of story rather than weeks and weeks of recycled soap plots.

To think about all the time wasted on standard teleserye tropes instead of telling lost and forgotten stories of Filipinos who lived during wartime, it really goes a long way to diminish what good the series might have otherwise.

It almost felt like the war was just a throwaway plot device. And it’s hard not to see of it that way with all the quick history lectures used to move the war along rather than showing us via our Core4 and the people they encounter along the way.

I think part of the poor pacing is the series and its creatives underestimating the Filipino audience. Pulang Araw wasn’t enough to push the boundaries of what can be attempted on Filipino TV. But also not familiar enough to have the mainstream appeal of the typical adulterous soap opera.

This made for a disconnect between the very real history being depicted in the background with the typical teleserye that was shoved to the forefront most of the time.

Many times, the series was just another teleserye, only with a very specific time period and setting.

The series’ creator talked about the need to appeal to mainstream audiences. Because, after all, television is still a business. And they need to make money even if they want to do something more meaningful.

But over the years, we’ve seen that mainstream Filipino audiences seem to love action. Coco Martin’s FPJ-inspired series are the most watched on Philippine TV. GMA scored good ratings with Ruru Madrid’s Lolong and Black Rider. Yet Pulang Araw downplayed the action-focused scenes in favor of disapproving stepmothers and love triangles.

Perhaps leaning into more war action would’ve been the most mainstream-appealing thing they could have done.

But at the very least, Pulang Araw should have found a better balance between legitimate character stories and the bigger picture ideas of the war. Even if needing to infuse it with some soapy elements.

For all that time spent on family drama and love triangles, none of it really had anything to do with the series’ endgame. You would think with the amount of focus in that first half of the series, those things would play bigger roles in the endgame. Yet, you could erase much of those initial weeks and still come to the same result now at the end of the series. Those early scenes would have no discernable effect into how well things would land in these final weeks.

Earlier, I chalked it up to the idea of disrupting the familiar everyday life of Filipinos with this unexpected war. But now I see that was just a cope on my part. Trying to make sense of the now-disappointing decision to focus so much on, frankly, irrelevant stories instead of the more intriguing and important stories that we only got fleeting glances of over the year.

I mentioned in my Week 22 Thoughts how it would have been much better if we had a couple of weeks showing the Core4 in various situations to depict the struggles of Filipinos during the war. Do sidequests. Save the peoples. Engage in thrilling action sequences. There’s definitely a way to do all these things. But the show decided on a very specific direction. And it took away from what the show was capable of.

Overall, Pulang Araw deserves much praise for its scope and ambition. And its effort in re-educating and informing the Philippines of a history that might be long forgotten now. But a strong cast and stunning visuals can’t make up for the show’s narrative shortcomings and somewhat wasted potential.

The post Hindsight Review: Technical Achievement, Great Cast Help Carry GMA Network’s Ambitious, Flawed “Pulang Araw” appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

Deliverers in every sense of the word. The Boonboomgers were deliverers in the heroic sense, saving and rescuing those in danger and helping people in need. The Boonboomgers also made literal deliveries, whether special moments for schoolkids or curry lessons to a friend or even sketchy government secret missions.

But the Boonboomgers’ biggest and best delivery was probably being able to deliver to us, the fans and viewers, an excellent season this past year.

After three seasons of Toei trying something new and even experimenting with different visual and narrative concepts, Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger was a back to basics season in all the best ways possible. A more traditional Sentai in comparison to the solid last three since Kiramager.

Kiramager is a season that I love very much, sharing a lot of what I love and look for in a Sentai season. And Boonboomger was able to deliver the same. Plenty of heart and warmth fueling (yeah, there will be a lot of car puns and analogies today lol) one of the most well-paced seasons powered by a talented cast, endearing characters, engaging story and Toei’s continuing to find creative and refreshing ways to present its signature action.

There’s something to be said about Boonboomger‘s return to a more traditional way of doing things. I wouldn’t say “normal” or “normalcy” for fear of it being taken in a negative way, whether toward Boonboomger itself or toward the previous three seasons.

Those three seasons I liked perfectly fine. Zenkaiger was light and enjoyable. King-Ohger was creative and unique in many ways. And Donbrothers was just fun, good-natured hilarious insanity.

But Boonboomger was indeed a return to the more traditional way of doing things while still being able to offer up refreshing concepts and approaches to familiar qualities and themes that make Sentai such a timeless franchise that continues to entertain audiences worldwide. Most especially Japanese children and their families every Sunday morning.

I often mention when I talk about Sentai or Kamen Rider that even when a season has its flaws and faults, I can easily overlook or even forgive them if everything else is strong enough. And to be honest, I think that is the case with Boonboomger for me.

When everything else is so good, I can give the season a pass on its rushed Final Lap. I can move on from the show not giving Spindo a bit more meat to his character. I can force myself to forget how the show and the story kept sidelining Sakito (and Byundi), treating him more like an outsider rather than a full member of the team. Even more with Shirabe whose breakout episode should’ve maybe come a few weeks before 39. And definitely should have led to an increased presence from her after it.

And I can certainly grit my teeth while recalling the underwhelming climax that was Episode 47.

Again, all of those things end up being small or insignificant when for the last year, I’ve had a smile on my face or had fully welcome MaGMCM tears while enjoying every single episode, summer movie and BL manga featuring these awesome characters and great story.

Taking the handle or steering wheel of your life and driving down toward your future is such a simple, yet profound message from Boonboomger. The season established deep, character-driven stories that touched upon very real world situations. Everything from friendship to loneliness to family to even heavier topics like abuse and discrimination; Boonboomger showed us all how to take control of the wheel and be able to welcome and invite others for the ride along the way.

Boonboomger told those stories for almost every character. Whether it was our loveable Boonboom team or characters related to the MOTW or even the antagonists like the General3 Sanseaters and (for an episode) Spindo and Grantu; the season drew upon relatable situations to help convey the season’s core message. Giving adequate focus for each character, even if we wish there was much more.

The care and sincerity the season was able to employ when telling these stories paired very well with that pure bakuage spirit that, again, fueled the Boonbooms to keep driving forward together and helping to get others going on their own roads too.

Like I mentioned earlier, the season had excellent pacing for most of the season. The first three Laps, as they were distinctly identified, actually helped focus the season in a way that might not be as easily possible in other seasons. Having that good pace allowed for stories to have beginnings, middles and ends. And that is still alongside the greater season-long plot threads.

Legitimately surprising twists. Sincerely thrilling climaxes. The season had consistent forward momentum.

And because those first three Laps were done so well is perhaps why this Final Lap felt a bit too rushed. Great ideas, such as Shashiro’s defection or Shirabe’s ISA suspicions or exploring the history between Spindo and BunBun (including Spindo’s origins beyond just passing lines in the final episode), and the profound shock of BunBun’s premature death; all of it deserved much more time to marinate and develop. Even an episode or two more just to help add more of the kind of depth we saw power the first three Laps to truly make these endgame plot threads be as impactful as they can be.

But I always go back to what I love about the season. And that’s the characters and the bonds they had forged in the 40 or so episodes before this final stretch. I’m not only invested, but I had already grown to love and truly care about these characters that no matter what crazy hurdle might be thrown at them or us the viewer in the final weeks, it wouldn’t matter. Because I knew I wanted to see these characters in the end. Winning. Being happy. Speeding forward towards their dreams.

Of course it helps that the season never did anything so atrociously bad, unlike other seasons who completely throw away all the strength and goodwill they’d built up in the early days of their runs. (hmph)

But what this endgame for Boonboomger also showed is that their story isn’t finished yet. There’s more to do. If anything, this relatively open ending and the rushed feeling of the Final Lap showed that there is so much possible material and untapped potential yet for Boonboomger. So much that they could’ve easily continued on for at the very least two more episodes to reach the traditional 50. Or even more than that too.

Which is why I certainly am hoping for more movies and TTFC specials in the future. I just simply want more of the Boonbooms!

I know they’ve announced the Boonboomger-King-Ohger crossover.

But give us the Boonbooms travels in space liberating planets. Give us Shirabe taking down the corruption in the ISA and whoever was backing Director-turned-convict Tokoyari this whole time. Give us Sakito and Byundi’s adventures on Earth with the childrens. That is, while also giving us the whole, full, complete Boonboomger team racing in the BBG together.

And sure why not. Let’s get a full-on BL spinoff with Taiya and his Shashiro. Let’s cut out the middle man and have the Toei-to-BL pipeline remain within Toei’s studio compound for once, yeah?

ETA (2/11/25): So I watched the special TikTok video Toei posted with lots of photos from the past year of Boonboomger and I don’t know how I missed this shot:

Hello?!

Overall though, Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger has easily become one of my all-time favorite Sentai seasons. I’ll be posting my updated Sentai rankings a few days after this gets posted. There are only a few seasons that I actively dislike or am indifferent toward. I’ve pretty much enjoyed most of the Sentai seasons I’ve watched the last 16 years with a couple bunched up in the middle of my list.

But Boonboomger will find itself quite high up on my list. And on its own, not tied with another season. And that’s partly because this season, even with some relatively small faults and flaws that are just due to my own preferences, brings together many of the qualities that I love from other seasons as well delivering most of what I look for when fully embracing a Toei toku season.

A talented cast. Loveable, endearing characters. Relatable story with sincerity and depth. Plenty of exciting action. Awesome suits (really!) and jackets and Supercar! Great theme song. Addictive ending song and dance. A warm and positive feeling while watching every episode with a good dose of emotional tears from time to time. Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger had it all. And I will definitely miss these bakuage deliverers.

So thank you to the entire cast and crew for making Boonboomger possible. And congratulations on delivering an amazing season of television. Until next time!

The post Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger Season Wrap-up appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.

TYPE OF REVIEW : HINDSIGHT REVIEW
No spoilers. For the Not-So First Impression Review, click here.

I wrote my “First Impression” Review after already watching nine episodes of GMMTV’s ThamePo: Heart That Skips a Beat. But the four episodes since essentially reinforced my not-so first impressions from then. A talented young cast, engaging romance, and an unexpectedly deep portrayal of the entertainment industry and fan culture have made ThamePo‘s 13 episodes thoroughly satisfying.

After initially focusing on a kinda-sorta-I think it truly was one love triangle, the series shifted back to exploring the challenges faced by idols, especially, in maintaining their public image and personal lives within the industry’s constraints.

From being forced to break up to companies covering for their talents to idols having to hide their true feelings and relationships; the series is one of the most engaging to deal with the complicated world of celebrity. Especially within Asian idol culture.

It was something I don’t think I expected coming into the series. Of course the series would have to deal with a popular idol dating someone, regardless of gender. But for the series to touch upon many of the struggles of idols and many times, unfair practices toward them as well as the harsh and cutthroat industry and even the effect of overzealous fans; I think the series can be an enlightening experience for many people.

I honestly think there’s a bit of courage in the way the series told its story because even within the series’ production company (GMMTV), there could be some critique on the behavior of fans of their shows and talents too. That is of course in addition to the critiques on idol fan culture and behavior that is prevalent across Asia, not just Thailand or Korea.

There was also a great thread throughout the series of Po himself perhaps having trouble finding his own path, place, or motivation in the world. It wasn’t neatly wrapped up at the end, but it was realistic and hopeful nonetheless.

And alongside those serious discussions, the series was able to properly balance the lighter and yes, fluffier moments of romance between our title characters.

If you read my Not So-First Impression Review, I did have some regrets about the missed potential for some good, juicy story with love triangles and friendships momentarily betrayed, things like that. (lol)

But I do think the series knew what it wanted to be and it successfully followed through on that.

No matter what small issues or regrets I might have had with some narrative choices or missed potential, the cast and characters were just so charming and endearing that it more than made up for it.

And the overall positive and feel-good vibes of the series count for a lot as well. Even with that very real commentary on idol and celebrity culture. Finding that balance is always a tightrope, but ThamePo crossed it almost effortlessly.

Just take the moment in the final episode. Miss Pemika finding the guys after they pulled that stunt at the concert. As soon as she started scolding, I think most of us already knew that it would end with a heartwarming moment. I think some of us probably expected it a bit sooner even. Some moment where she is shown to actually truly care about the guys and decides to set them free. I guess the most logical time to have that moment would be in the finale. A welcome moment, even if predictable or some might even say cliché. But it was a moment that landed so well.

The concert scenes in the finale were also well done. It was almost a MaGMCM for me as they were watching the documentary switcheroo that had Thame tearing up as well.

And it, like many of the satisfying emotional climaxes in the finale, would not have been possible without 12 other episodes that successfully laid the necessary groundwork.

With a talented and charming cast with excellent chemistry, ThamePo overall is a serious, emotional and character-driven story that successfully blends compelling romance with a deeper exploration of the entertainment industry and idol culture. And it has made it a worthwhile and satisfying watch. I am so happy to have been able to follow along in real time as the series aired.

The post Hindsight Review: Charming Cast, Careful Balance and Feel-good Vibes Power the Satisfying “ThamePo” appeared first on DryedMangoez.com.