Viewers dote on ‘destined’ encounters

YEN SANTOS is poignantly compelling.

Paranormal phenomena and themes appear to be popular with TV drama producers these days, as indicated by recent or current teleserye like “Mira Bella,” “My BFF”—and now, “Pure Love” on ABS-CBN.

It’s likely that producers dote on this theme not out of a powerful personal preference, but because it’s proven to be popular with pamahiin-prone local viewers.

Initial notes

In any case, the latest “paranormal teleserye,” “Pure Love,” started telecasting last July 7, and these are our initial notes on the production:

It’s an adaption of the Korean drama series, “49 Days,” and is about two very different women, the optimistic Diane (Alex Gonzaga) and the suicidal Ysabel (Yen Santos), who “exchange bodies” and/or souls in a car accident.

Ironically, it’s the fun-loving Diane who expires or goes into a deep coma, while Ysabel, who wanted to die after her beloved’s most untimely passing, resumes her sad existence.

Uh, not quite. It appears that Diane occasionally “borrows” Ysabel’s body to tie up some loose strings, an unconventional arrangement “allowed” by a “representative” or “scheduler” from “the after life” (Matt Evans), with an apparently magical necklace serving as their mutual conduit.

Other players: Arjo Atayde as Diane’s fiancé, Joseph Marco as a friend who secretly loves her, Sunshine Cruz and John Arcilla as Diane’s parents, etc.

The first telecast revealed some of the new series’ strong and weak points: The show’s visualization of the accident was particularly deft and creative, with many characters and sundry pedestrians skillfully orchestrated to “converge” at exactly the same “slow-mo” moment.

Compelling

Also implicitly believable are some of the show’s paranormal phenomena, like Diane “passing through” other people’s bodies as she runs, with nobody noticing that something strange or

ALEX Gonzaga is too kneejerk-bubbly.

weird is going on!

On point of performances, we find the relatively new talent Yen Santos’ first lead portrayal poignantly compelling. She has a quality or mood about her that feels right for her inevitably sad character. We just hope that she isn’t made to play this simple emotional note too long, because it could quickly become boring.

As for Alex Gonzaga, as Diane, she’s too kneejerk-bubbly and “made up” in her early scenes, revealing an insufficient interiority that we hope won’t prejudice her portrayal when her character’s traumatic experience makes the laughs and giggles stop coming, and the actress has to project her “deep” and “sensitive” persona.

It’s also interesting to note that “Pure Love” appears to be ABS-CBN’s vehicle of choice for launching some relatively new stellar hopefuls this season. Aside from Yen Santos, Arjo Atayde and Yam Concepcion are relatively untested newcomers cast here in substantial roles. Let’s hope that they measure up to their roles’ more stringent thespic requirements in the coming days.

Attention-calling

Other young but familiar faces in the cast are Joseph Marco and Arron Villaflor. Matt Evans is making a comeback of sorts in the attention-calling role of the “scheduler.” Let’s hope that he takes advantage of its “possibilities” and makes up for the momentum his career has lost in recent TV seasons.