Hard to imagine how after this week, there would’ve only been two more weeks left in this series. With the pacing we’ve gotten, you’d think there were at least two more months left of the series. They don’t seem to have even scratched the surface of what should be more of Filipino resistance during World War II. Instead, we got weeks wasted on tired teleserye tropes which really did little, if anything, to help build up to what should be climactic weeks now.
Putting it another way, it feels like these final weeks are to be focused on small battles rather than big wins. That is, we want to see the ragtag group of guerilla fighters, featuring our Core4, winning their smaller battles as a parallel representation of the greater war. Instead, you can’t help but feel the lethargy in how the overall story is progressing. And again, I really put most of the blame on the teleserye format. It’s hard to set out a good pace for this narrative when the show still needs to work within the confines of a daily soap opera.
The solution would’ve been to make this a shorter series. But that’s pointless to wish for at this point of course. No matter the technical achievement or the ambitious effort, if it can’t break out of the teleserye box, then it’ll be held back.
Anyway, I’ll get the nitpicks out of the way first of course. This week could’ve easily fit into one, hour-long episode. Altogether, including opening and closing credits, these five episodes had about an hour and 46 minute runtime. And you could probably chop off about an hour and still had the same emotional impact. Would greatly help pacing and be much more engaging and exciting. Especially as we are supposedly arriving at the decisive battles.
Speaking of, the whole battle for leader of the guerillas was the least interesting part of the week. Obviously, that’s probably something that happened amongst the Filipino fighters. But it was just not that interesting. Probably could’ve been done earlier. And again, makes Eduardo a less likable hero when it gets too contrived.
On the other hand, Eduardo and Tasyo’s reunion was very fun. And probably Eduardo’s best moment of the week. The idea of war separating loved ones from each other and then coming together or reuniting in the most unexpected ways is something I’d prefer to have had more of.
Just like we got with Adelina and Teresita. Them spotting each other at the birthday party like that and their big hug while in the bathroom was the most emotionally impactful sequence of the week. Yes, even more than Adelina’s fake death because 1. Of course we know she wasn’t going to die yet and 2. You could predict her costume likely shielded her from the bullets anyway.
Also, Adelina choosing to join the fight made me go “Huh?” Didn’t we already do this? That’s why she’s involved in a plan to bomb the shit out of these Japanese soldiers? Uh…. Anyway.
This dynamic of our main characters, and particularly our Core4, taking different paths toward the same end goal and one dream of a peaceful and liberated country is what I wish the show had focused more on. While that’s what they will hopefully be doing for the final four weeks, I think even in these last two months, it would’ve been better to have each character on those divergent paths and use those paths to highlight different aspects of the war.
I think too often, the show fell back on the standard teleserye tropes instead. Which takes away from the main event and the true gravitas of being a war drama.
The standout performance of the week was from Rochelle Pangilinan again of course. We again had to witness the brutality of the Japanese soldiers in the Philippines during World War II. But it hopefully is setting up the conclusion for Auntie Amalia’s story. Which of course means hopefully Uncle Lauro getting killed in the most gruesome and painful way possible. Would be much deserved lol
Elsewhere, Hiroshi killing Papa Borromeo is an unnecessary wrench to throw into the story when there’s so many other possible ideas. But it’s certainly a good example of the hell that is war. Things like this can happen. Though again, they could’ve done something else to evoke the same kind of moral conflict and inner struggle. Which reminds me, we didn’t actually get Hiroshi agonizing over his loyalty to country versus the bonds he’s made in the Philippines and being able to discern right from wrong. Too bad. Would’ve been a huge opportunity for David Licauco I think.
Honestly, I think Akio/Jay Ortega is getting better material. If the suggestion at the end of the week is real and not just a red herring. The kind of character turn around, yet still in a gray area; I think could’ve been done with one of the Core4 like Hiroshi without making him irredeemable or making it seem too forced.
…
At this point, I’d like to take this opportunity to complain about how inexplicably backwards Filipino censorship is. This isn’t specific to Pulang Araw, but it definitely applies. Especially this week.
This was another week where I had to settle for the GMA broadcast version of the episodes instead of the Netflix versions. So of course that meant having to endure the absurdity of turning the screen black and white whenever there’s blood. Which is something I always have to roll my eyes at.
Because everything else is okay on Philippine television. Physical and sexual violence. Torture. Rapes. That’s fine. But red ketchup on someone’s clothes is the worst thing ever? Give me a break. I assume it’s an MTRCB thing. And honestly, I would support a complete overhaul of that agency, if not full abolishment with a better and more contemporary body handling media regulation instead. Really so dumb. And I seriously think one of the things holding Filipino entertainment back.
…
Back to regular programming. Overall, this was an alright week of Pulang Araw. Everything was predictable, but a lot of it (Adelina/Teresita at the party, Auntie Amalia’s physical and emotional torture) was still effective on their own.
Officially four weeks left of the series. There’s still plenty of room to really pick the ball up and run with it to the end.