New plot developments pull ongoing drama series in diverse directions

Dingdong Dantes in “Alyas Robin Hood”

On “Ang Probinsyano,” lead character, Cardo Dalisay (Coco Martin) has been masquerading as Miguel in Cebu City, pretending to be looking for his missing wife with his “son” Onyok,  portrayed by Xymon Pineda.

For her part, his girlfriend (Yassi Pressman) is also in Cebu, looking for him, but they kept “excitingly” but actually frustratingly missing one another by just seconds!

All this was supposed to get viewers “kilig to death,” but it was kept up for too many days, and thus had a negative effect.

This month, the series’ good guys and gals appear to be poised to pounce on the show’s young villain, Joaquin (Arjo Atayde) and his high-flying criminal partner (Ronnie Lazaro), who has been dallying with a new mistress (Sam Pinto)—who is in turn attracted to Coco! Uh-oh, is this going to confound and complicate Coco’s crimebusting plans?

All of these complications are intended to keep viewers watching the hit drama-action series, even after more than a long year of ruling the ratings. Will the gambits succeed? The show’s February ratings will answer that key question and decide if “Ang Probinsyano” will finally fold up its tents, after its triumphant run.

For its part, the similarly longrunning afternoon soap, “Doble Kara,” has opted to conclude its storytelling. Julia Montes portrays combative twins in this hit show, and so much has happened in it by way of subplots and new characters galore that it’s difficult to evaluate what it’s become.

We expect, however, that all hurts and hassles will be healed and forgiven by the final fade, as is “traditionally” the case with “extra-extended” series like this.

It’s clear, however, that the show has been good for Julia’s career, “proving” that she’s a versatile performer who’s now ready for young-adult roles on the small and big screens.

Dingdong Dantes’ current TV starrer, “Alyas Robin Hood,” is riding high on his stellar clout.

He looks the heroic part he plays, and the good fit is a plus for the show.

On the other hand, some of his heroic exploits are too fantastic to be believed, so greater realism is requested and required.

On “A Love to Last,” the storytelling has been complicated with the arrival of Xian Lim as Bea Alonzo’s old friend who now has romantic intentions toward her, thus giving Ian Veneracion a new bone to contend with.

We know that Bea will ultimately choose Ian over Xian(!), for any number of obvious reasons. So, Xian’s character should be given extra-eventful things to do, or else viewers will simply dismiss him as a temporary fuss and bother.

As for Ian, he’s currently been having to contend with some “characterization issues” of his own: He’s been presented as a mature, powerful and decisive business leader, but now that he’s starting to “fall” for Bea, he’s being made to act more like a lovestruck teen than his original character.

Now, we know that love makes some people behave in silly ways, and the show “needs” the “kilig value”—but, this is too much!

We trust that “A Love to Last” will be able to arrive at a better mix of “maturing” romantics—and playing to the “silly-making” peanut gallery!