Concluding salvos sizzle–and fizzle

SOBERANO AND GIL. Thought it best to “wait a while.”

Some TV drama series are down to their last two or three weeks of telecasting, so we’ve been doing more viewing to keep up with their fast-accelerating concluding salvos:

On “Dolce Amore,” Liza Soberano’s character is still being pursued by her two beaus, played by Enrique Gil and Matteo Guidicelli (haba ng hair!), and we thought that Enrique would be “it” come “happy ending and wedding time.”

But, the series isn’t about to just coast along to its finale, so Matteo and his violence-prone relatives are providing stiff opposition once again. And Enrique and Liza aren’t making things easier, either.

Last Tuesday, they finally, lovingly “decided” on one another “for life”—but in the same telecast, they had second thoughts and thought it best to “wait a while.” —Huh? That left the show’s fantasticating romantics for a decided lurch!

To make things worse, a kind of trailer was shown that had Liza and Matteo already dressed for a wedding in Italy—which we’re sure Enrique will foil at the last possible minute (knock on wood).

On “Poor Señorita,” the concluding storytelling has Regine Velasquez’s beau finally choosing to stay with her here, instead of flying off abroad with a wealthy hussy.

—But, like Enrique and Liza, this series’ lead players also opted to delay their happy ending, because he had to “prove” to her that he was really “worthy” of her eternal love. —More miffed viewers there.

For our part, we continue to be less than happy with Regine’s adoptive kids in the show, because they’re so unfocused and pa-cute. As for Regine’s beau, she deserves better.

‘Born for You’

On the other hand, on “Born for You,” which has just started, Janella Salvador is coming into her own as a strong and empathetic TV drama lead.

Her character has come home and lives with her lola, while trying to study and earn some money at odd jobs. She wants to be a singer like her parents, but keeps getting rejected—or propositioned.

Her costar, Elmo Magalona, isn’t faring as well. His performance is still amiable but sluggish, so his handlers should really push him hard to break loose and break through right away, before viewers conclude that he hasn’t got the edge and bite for real stardom.

We’re all for giving him more time to “find” his character’s conflicted core—but, others may not be as patient.

“Born for You” is designed to make both of its young leads certified TV stars, so it would be a pity if it were only partially successful.