Moment of truth for Maine and Alden

Alden Richards (left) and Maine Mendoza

Numerous “moments of truth” face some stars this month that will affect their careers in significant ways for show biz seasons to come.

They are paced by the launch of the new teleserye of Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards, “Destined to be Yours.”

Plugs and teasers for the new rom-com series indicate that, true to its title, it will have a roseately romantic and even fantasticating coloration to its storytelling.

In it, Alden plays Benjie, a hardworking architect who wants to buy a property owned by the family of Sinag, the character portrayed by Maine.

Sinag is described as “a loving daughter who works in a radio station in the province, and cares deeply about the environment and the community she belongs to.”

Other stars in the show include Boots Anson Roa, Lotlot de Leon, Tommy Abuel, Gardo Versoza, Ina Feleo, Ronnie Henares, Dominic Roco and Janice de Belen. Cast in the “negatively plum” role of the series’ antagonist is Koreen Medina.

Billed as a “top priority” of GMA 7, the new series is indeed a big deal, because it extends the stellar visibility of the “AlDub” tandem, as well as Maine and Alden’s separate careers.

Yes, they have a hit movie to “prove” their popularity and bankability beyond the phenomenon they unexpectedly generated on “Eat Bulaga” not long ago.

But, TV is another field in which they have to verify their popularity, apart from the daily noontime show that gave them their big break. So, a lot is riding on how their new teleserye fares and is accepted by viewers.

Based on past experiences, that’s still an iffy proposition. While they were helping generate top ratings for “Eat Bulaga,” Maine and Alden occasionally topbilled drama specials on Holy Week, and their thespic showing on those “specials” were—well, not all that resoundingly and convincingly choice.

Being the more experienced TV actor, Alden more or less passed muster, but Maine was weighed down by her dramatic vehicles’ lugubrious and overly melodramatic writing and handling.

That was really too bad, because she is otherwise fresh, vital and venturesome as a performer. So, we hoped that she would soon get a better-conceptualized and -realized opportunity to prove that she could really act.

Well, “Destined to be Yours” is “it,” so we trust that she’ll fare better in the weeknight showcase.

Yes, it has to have rom-com and “love fantasy” kilig value “for the fans”—but, it should also be substantial enough to give its young leads enough thespic “cred” to make the biz and its viewers enough reason to take them more seriously as performers.

The fact that Maine’s character is being given significant causes and advocacies to deeply care about is a good sign that this could happen. Also upbeat in effect and influence is the fact that the young stars are being surrounded and bolstered by the presence of so many “proven” senior stars.

But, we have to catch the actual show’s first week of telecasts to definitely tell if these plus points will actually translate into a good thespic showcase and “potential-verifying” popular and critical hit for Maine and Alden—beyond AlDub!