Hindsight Reviews will be written after the conclusion of a series, mostly for Korean or Filipino dramas. Or at the conclusion of a season, mainly for Power Rangers and the Toku series Super Sentai and Kamen Rider. Hindsight Reviews will only apply if I had originally written a “First Impression” review when the series first started. They’ll either be reviews of appreciation, living up to my ridiculous standards of quality or they’ll be reviews regretting all the time I spent and harping on about all that wasted potential I saw but the writers and producers did not. There will also be Hindsight Reviews in between, I suppose.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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.
In my First Impression Review, I mentioned how GMA Network’s Hearts on Ice is able to tick off familiar Filipino teleserye boxes, 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.
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.
Taxi Driver was my favorite drama series of 2021. It was such an exciting and fun television experience, mixing adrenaline-fueled action, lighthearted humor and vicarious satisfaction. Watching the Rainbow Taxi team’s unique brand of vigilante justice and their sincerity in helping the powerless was just amazing. So when a season two was confirmed, it was more than welcome news.
The Glory is a school violence and revenge plot on the surface. But its most affecting moments involved the simple connections and bonds one is able to make with another. Those relationships are what can help get them through difficult journeys. Those friendships can help guide them toward the light at the end of the tunnel. And those bonds provide the hope to keep one moving toward healing and peace.
It has been an interesting experience watching GMMTV’s Never Let Me Go. It is the first time I’ve watched an ongoing Thai drama as it aired. But it is also the first time I am watching the follow-up series of a Thai BL couple that features them as completely different characters from the ones that first introduced me to them.