GMA Network/Viu’s Slay – Episodes 17-20 Thoughts

So an interesting Week 5 for GMA Network and Viu’s Slay. Interesting in the sense that it felt less like a murder mystery and more like a typical teleserye. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it also isn’t the fun that we should come to expect from what we have seen so far from the series.

It also doesn’t help (for me) that the GMA versions of the first two weeks of episodes so far have been better and more polished than the Viu episodes, even three weeks ahead.

Episodes 17 through 20 basically focused on learning about how Amelie and Zach hooked up. (Or how they tikimaned each other, as Yana puts it lol) So it may be true that neither of them were in a relationship at the time of their videotaped hook ups, it’s still pretty shitty of them to rebound with each other. Especially considering Amelie hooking up with her sister’s ex and Zach (the asshole that he is) taking his business partner’s girl.

An interesting detail that I don’t know is intentional or an oversight is that Episode 17 seemed to imply Amelie and Zach’s “relationship” happened and ended a while ago. Yet later in the week, Sugar stumbles upon Amelie sneaking out of the men’s locker room. Presumably after some sex or make out session with Zach. And Sugar has only just started working at the gym. So… what does that mean?

Anyway, in episode 18, we get a quick flashback to the cheer days of the three besties. And of course that was to setup the fracturing of their friendship that would happen in the rest of the episodes this week.

Episode 18 also showed us a flashback to Amelie and Luke’s engagement. And the interesting thing about that is how it does seem like they have been in a long relationship. One that involves mutual feelings. Especially as Amelie is shown to be remorseful of what she’s done. But again, at the start of the series, it seemed like Amelie was just being forced to marry Luke and that there were zero feelings whatsoever between the two. Perhaps a pacing issue. Perhaps some needed scenes fell victim to the awkward cuts the show seems to be making.

The highlight though is of course the poolside confrontation scene between the sisters.

Some fun lines thrown around during the scene with mentions of being makati and Liv telling Amelie to banlaw her kati in the pool.

I was definitely cheering Liv on and just hoping she’d push Amelie into the pool. That’s the kind of fun, campy soap opera catfighting we all enjoy. Lol And the show definitely delivered on that front. Especially when Mama Marga and Yana jump in too. Lol Hilarious insanity!

The episode closed out with Mama Leona trying to be the neutral party, trying to get Liv to think about Amelie’s position at this time. But I was with Liv. Be angry gurl! Lol You have every right to stew in your anger for now.

I always hate when the teleseryes are so averse to the characters feeling negatively towards others. Even the main hero or heroine getting, literally, stepped on and tossed around, yet they still find it in their goodness of their hearts to give their adversaries grace.

I rolled my eyes at Liv being conflicted about revenge on Amelie in Episode 19. Like, hello?! No! We want revenge! We want to see the villains suffer! Lolol

It’s not that serious here on Slay. Yet. But you get what I mean.

In Episode 19, I was cheering Liv on some more and hoping she’d spill the beans on Amelie. I wanted the drama! But it kind of fell flat. Especially when Inspector Juro is not very good as his job, apparently. Hmph.

I actually appreciated Kirby’s outburst accusing Amelie. It was funny.

The biggest thing about this episode was Amelie actually switching the body oil out for the tea tree oil while Zach was in the shower the night of his burning death. So talk about interesting! Why in the world would she do that?

I’m sure the GMA Network version of the episode will show us lol

When the dads were fighting at the precinto, I wondered what if Sugar is Marga and Tito Leonard’s daughter? So Sugar ends up being siblings to both Amelie AND Zach. Lol It would be crazy. But I think fitting for this kind of series. lol

The Liv and Amelie convo was okay. But probably the least impactful moment of the week, to be honest.

Especially when the next scenes in the episode involved Luke finding out about the sex video from his own mama. I had to agree with Luke with everything he said to Amelie during that confrontation. No hitting her physically. But hitting her with words was awesome lol He had valid points.

It was also great to finally see Amelie finally talk back to her mother as well. But also good that Mama Marga continues to be an asshole too. We wouldn’t have it any other way! lol Makes her eventual comeuppance even more satisfying.

Episode 20 focuses on Amelie’s suicide attempt. I liked that cinematic fall into the pool. A good scene.

But the standout this episode was definitely Gil Cuerva. He gave a great performance. From the convo with Amelie to the flashback of his confrontation with Zach. Really great stuff from him.

And also interesting that he already knew about them hooking up.

The scene of Luke and Zach was funny to me because it reminded me of this scene of Derrick Monasterio and Gil Cuerva’s towel fight on the actually great series Beautiful Justice lol

Anyway, it was only right for Luke to break things off. And I assume Amelie going to Cebu was for Gabbi Garcia to fulfill her Pinoy Big Brother duties. Whatever. lol

Also lol at them setting up Yana Week for Episodes 21 to 24. I’m looking forward to seeing what revelations may come up next week!

Elsewhere, I have to comment on the audio for the episodes. I know they use or do the noise cancellation or background and noise removal stuff or whatever. Because it is very obvious and it makes the dialogue often hard to understand when their voices end up muffled. Just get better microphones bro! Come on GMA and Viu!

Overall, an okay week. The best parts were definitely all the confrontations and cat and dog fights. Let’s see what Yana Week has in store for us.