So I don’t know if I’ll be consistent in posting my thoughts about GMA Network and Viu’s Slay. (Perhaps I will because I need something to post on Tuesdays hehe) But six episodes in and it’s been a pretty good watch so far. I’m enjoying it.
It’s certainly not reinventing the wheel, let alone Philippine television. But like I mentioned in my First Impression Review, it is a refreshing approach to familiar themes we see on other teleseryes. There’s a youthful energy. There’s some non-teleserye tropes mixed in with the familiar story beats. So all together, it’s been an easy and engaging watch.
I wrote my First Impression Review after the first two episodes where we met the main characters (and suspects), but only delved deep into the stories of Julie Anne San Jose’s Liv and Mikee Quintos’ Sugar. For Episodes 3 and 4, it was Gabbi Garcia and Ysabel Ortega’s turn in the spotlight as Amelie and Yana, respectively.
Obviously, all four ladies have their grievances-slash-motives for potentially killing Coach Zach (Derrick Monasterio). And yes, at the end of Episode 4, Zach was pronounced dead.
But aside from Zach’s emotional and physical abuse of his girlfriend Liv and the abuse leading to the death of Sugar’s older brother, we learn about Zach’s encounters with Amelie (or “A”) and Yana.
Zach (probably egged on by steroids or whatnot) was basically ready to get into the pants of any woman that walked in front of him. Heck, maybe he wanted to get in guys’ pants too. You never know! But that was definitely true with A. Not only would he secretly film her working out at the gym, but he would also bully (read: attack) A’s fiancé Luke (Gil Cuerva). Who also happens to be his business partner. That’s of course in addition to A tepidly supporting her half-sister Liv’s relationship with him.
Meanwhile, Yana’s own complicated family life includes her being a spoiled brat who loves spending money she does not have. And that is what gets her in Zach’s crosshairs; selling him her father’s watch that turns out to be fake and quickly spending that money with no money to pay him back.
So, we have solid reasons for each of the Slay ladies to possibly get their revenge on Zach. Whether together or alone. Anything is possible at this point.
But Episodes 5 and 6 introduced the minor characters who could easily have been the perps. And may likely be the perp in the end.
Those other suspects include the aforementioned Luke who knows Zach’s been cheating him out of his share of the gym’s profits. Then there’s Jigger (Jin Macapagal), the gym manager who thinks (rightly so) that Zach is an asshole who mistreats them all who work for and train under him.
Speaking of, there’s Emman (Jamir Zabarte), also a gym employee and trainee. A video of Zach threatening and beating him in the ring has just gone viral on social media.
We can’t rule out Sugar’s brother too who possibly experienced the same kind of mistreatment as depicted in the video. Who knows, he could have set everything up before he died. Would be a very convenient choice to have him be the killer when he’s already dead. Lol I don’t know if that’s in my top 3 potential suspects from a good drama standpoint. lol
And finally. Inspector Juro himself. Kinakapatid pala eh! He’s certainly someone we gotta keep an eye on, even if we’ve seen him pretty straight and narrow so far as a cop in wanting to solve this case. In the end, they could do a montage of him actually just acting this entire time. And there’s definitely many reasons their bromance could’ve turned sour somehow.
In the coming episodes, we’ll probably get tidbits about how Liv’s mother and father could be the true killer. Or A’s mother. Or heck, even Sugar’s younger brother at home. Who knows!
And that’s the fun in watching a murder mystery like this! Keeping you guessing is pretty much the main reason we all watch.
But like I mentioned in my First Impression Review, I also enjoy seeing the dynamic between the four ladies. Seeing that push and pull between them four has been fun. Of the four, I think Sugar is the least likely. Yes, she has probably the most justification (as much as you can for murdering someone lolol). And she’s being portrayed as the goody-goody of the group, especially compared to the mean girls-like trio. Which would make her the most obvious in other circumstances. But I think not the case here.
You could apply that argument to Yana, the seemingly ditzy, most spoiled of the three. But perhaps not the actual perp either. I wouldn’t count out Liv and Amelie though along with the other minor characters.
As for the performances of the cast, they’re all doing a great job so far. I think basically all the leads are perfectly cast. Julie Anne San Jose, Gabbi Garcia, Mikee Quintos, and Ysabel Ortega all very much suit their characters. And each has gotten a chance to show their range even in the short time we’ve spent with them so far. All while also keeping them as suspicious as they can be.
Derrick Monasterio is just effortless in playing the asshole, which is certainly different from his hero leading man characters. And especially his most recent role in Pulang Araw. Royce Cabrera, meanwhile, is also great as the stoic detective and his performance leaves just enough nuance to keep him as a potential suspect as well.
Speaking of, I’m very happy to see Nikki Co here! He deserved more opportunities after his breakout role on Mano Po Legacy. And it’s great to see him in a completely different character here from the types of guys he continues to get typecast in.
Barring Inspector Juro as the actual killer, I would actually be interested in watching a police procedural spin-off with Royce Cabrera and Nikki Co as detectives solving random crimes. Royce Cabrera’s serious, pragmatic, by-the-book, straight man Inspector Juro and Nikki Co as his lighthearted, witty, empathetic and insightful sidekick Kirby. That’s a familiar dynamic in many a western police/law/crime series. But not necessarily in the Philippines.
So GMA Network and Viu! Perhaps that can be your next collab series. Hehe.
Overall, Episodes 3 to 6 have continued the positive momentum so far for Slay. It’s been fun and I hope that will continue all the way to the end.