Coco Martin (center) with McNeal Briguela and Simon Pineda
After more than a year of hit telecasting, “Ang Probinsyano” prides itself in boosting the image of policemen, from “pulis patola” to the heroes they’re meant to be.
However, some viewers of the show are less than thrilled, because ever since it started its now extended storytelling, the series’ resident cop-heroes, led by Coco Martin, have actually been going around in circles, unable to realize that their heroic ranks have long been penetrated and coopted by rogue cops led by Arjo Atayde’s character.
He’s supposed to be one of the heroes in blue, but he’s actually the grandson of a crime lord (Eddie Garcia) and the son of another criminal kingpin (Albert Martinez)!
For over a year now, they’ve been able to deceive Coco and the other really good guys.
Even now that Albert is behind bars, his son can’t be pinned down, and Albert himself continues to ply his nefarious drug trade—in captivity!
Why are the good cops being made to appear to be so true-blue but clueless? The practical reason, of course, is that, if the bad guys’ goose is really cooked, there goes the series’ central mystery and conflict, so it would be high time to finally end the show.
We understand the fancy footwork and double-think, but it leaves the good cops with egg on their faces and looking like brave but clueless patsies.
So, unless the show’s writers can come up with really clever, complex and realistic complications, it really could be time to pull the plug.
On the concluding show, “Be My Lady,” Daniel Matsunaga’s mata-pobre mom, Priscilla Meirelles, has already been forgiven by Janice de Belen and her daughter, Erich Gonzales—so, unless some last-minute clinkers and clunkers are thrown in to delay or complicate the series’ expected Happy Ending, it’s going to happen soonest.
Last time we caught the show, the usual huge upheavals had been replaced by the far less tempestuous preparations for Erich and Daniel’s wedding.
Another show that’s been on the tube for months now is “Pinoy Big Brother.” What makes it unique is the fact that it’s sequentially introduced different groups of young stellar hopefuls. Thus, viewers haven’t gotten bored, due to the periodic infusion of new bets.
The few who have “survived” for months now have been consolidating their fan base, and could end up on top at the end of the talent tilt, even if they aren’t “traditionally” beautiful.
So many “perfect” lookers have failed to survive the stellar selection process that it’s become clear that, to attain stardom, a new talent has to have more than physical pulchritude going for him or her.
Similarly important are the ability to ad-lib interestingly, to be emotionally open, “accessible” and “relatable,” or easy for “ordinary” viewers to empathize with and care for.
Then, there’s the undefinable “X Factor,” which makes even less than lovely bets stand out, delight and involve viewers—hopefully for the long term.