‘Organizing’ focus needed on ‘Calle Siete’

Christian Bautista and Eula Valdes

The “mature love team” of Eula Valdes and Christian Vasquez clicked with viewers on its first TV pairing in “Princess in the Palace”—so, it’s been brought back by way of the current daytime series, “Calle Siete.”

Initially, however, the new show hasn’t been smooth sailing for Christian and Eula, because they’ve had to share the screen with too many other subsidiary characters, each with his or her subplot to “push.”

The result has sometimes been a rather un-pretty mess, with the series’ leads left in the lurch on point of viewers’ proper focus, due to the supporting cast’s efforts to “shine.”

Of late, however, the key problem and drawback has been mitigated to some extent, with the lead couple’s story and conflict being given more of the emphasis they deserve.

Thus, Eula and Christian have been able to win more points with viewers, who delight in the screen “chemistry” the two stars obviously have.

The fact that they still look good despite their “maturing” status is a big “plus” viewing factor for older couch kamotes. Trouble is, the couple’s main problem now, how to make their karinderya profitable, doesn’t exactly hit viewers where they live and breathe.

Can’t the show’s writers whip up a more exciting problem for them to contend with?

As for the other characters in the show, we wonder why so many of them are either gay or babaeng bakla. Yes, it can make for diverting comedy, but too much of a good thing is—not that good!

Another fixation that the show’s storytelling has is its inordinate interest in the “beauty pageant” syndrome. It’s related to the overly gay coloration we’ve already cited, but it’s become a major irritant in its own right, because it’s resorted much too often, and with such undeserved gusto.

It’s also quite noticeable that the series is giving its resident child star, Ryza Mae Dizon, less focus these days. Early on, there appeared to be an effort to develop her into a versatile comedy-drama performer, aside from her precocious program-host persona on the defunct “The Ryzza Mae Show.” But, those attempts didn’t achieve their objective, so she’s been given less to do on the show.

Instead of throwing in the towel in this defeatist wise, the production should get better motivators to light a thespic fire under its juvenile star, and think up more dynamic situations for her character to contend with.

Why not a “problem” that involves her with the stellar characters played by Eula and Christian? Perhaps that would give the series the “galvanizing” focus it needs. Just saying—and hoping.