Young love teams compared

Now that both the “KathNiel” and “Ja-Dine” love teams are topbilling back-to-back drama series on ABS-CBN, comparisons are not only encouraged, they’re inevitable. Being the frontrunner, Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo have clear advantage of experience and comfortable, palpable “chemistry.” For their part, James Reid and Nadine Lustre are newer, fresher—but also more tentative in their working and “loving” relationship. Well, that’s why they’re still No. 2—doing their best to edge closer to the “reigning” No. 1 teen tandem! Instructively, the No. 1 pair only just recently altered the parameters of the race: They’re now no longer a teen tandem, but are playing it noticeably older—still with “kilig value,” but now more young-adult than teen. Comparatively, therefore, Nadine and James are coming across as younger and more frisky in their new series, and the difference shows.

All told, however, Daniel and Kathryn are safely on top, since the “other” tandem is still trying to really get its act together. But, for how long? If the new older “Kathniel” pair keeps slowly but surely maturing, will tween fans relate and groove more to “Jadine?” Only time will tell. But, if they do, will Daniel and Kathryn delay their shift to young-adult mode and intensify their tandem’s kilig appeal anew?

Another side issue involves Kathryn and Nadine: Their case is similar to the problem Glaiza de Castro had when she made her bid for stardom years ago—she looked and came across too much like Angel Locsin, who was already an established young star. As a result, Glaiza’s career had a harder time hesting up, and it finally happened only when she changed the way she styled herself and opted for edgier and more “alternative” portrayals. Nadine has a similar problem: she looks too much like Kathryn, so she too has had to figure out an alternative packaging and projection to find her rightful place in the biz.

Bone of contention

James Reid and Nadine Lustre

Since she and Kathryn are both teen stars, this was a bigger bone of contention in their case. Still, the fact that “Jadine” is gaining in popularity indicates that the problem has been at least partially resolved, so things are looking up for her in this regard.

As for the two young male contenders, Daniel’s “bad boy” edge makes his performances exciting, even if his character in “Pangako Sa’yo” is on “reform” mode—no longer an angry rebel but a young man trying his best to make it as a chef. In addition, in some of his film starrers, Daniel has feelingly come through as an actor capable of depth and truth, so he won’t be easy to pull down. For his part, James has safely—and wisely—limited himself thus far to (sensitive) boy-next-door roles, emphasizing his good looks and boyish appeal and steering clear of the strong and hardy thespic stuff. Instructively, his and Nadine’s new series, “On the Wings of Love,” is more breezily rom-com than anything else. For this reason, compared to Daniel, James comes off as the less engaged and committed actor.

We suspect, however, that if his new show clicks with viewers, James will be working harder next year, trying to prove that he also has what it takes to go beyond kilig, and can impact emotionally on viewers, where they live and breathe!