Conflicting signals about action-drama series’ ultimate outcome

Coco Martin in “Ang Probinsyano”

“Ang Probinsyano” has been on TV for almost two seasons now, so the big question is when it will finally conclude its extended storytelling. Turning to the TV action-drama series itself for indications or intimations one way or the other, we get conflicting signals:

One sign that it’s about to wrap things up is the fact that its hero, played by Coco Martin, is, as of this writing, gunning for his principal nemeses, portrayed by Eddie Garcia and Arjo Atayde.

Garcia has been captured and accused of murder and Atayde is “dead” but actually plotting to avenge himself on Martin’s cop character.

Being the series’ resident hero, it’s presumed that Martin will ultimately prevail—so, what else could the show have to offer?

On the other hand, the series’ teasers and trailers have been featuring “ordinary viewers” who urge the show’s producers to keep it on the air “as long as possible” because it’s become a viewing habit for them.

In fact, they credit it for “motivating” young fans to go home early to watch the show, thus avoiding dangers and enhancing family relationships, among other beneficial effects! So, what really gives?

If the show is “reextended” even after Martin has triumphed over his current nemeses, will new characters played by big guest stars be added, as has been done in the past, with mixed results?

If so, what will happen to its regular players, who are already too numerous to effectively keep dramatic tabs on?

For instance, the hero’s girlfriend, played by Yassi Pressman, used to be a hard-hitting TV reporter, but has now been reduced to fretfully “worrying” about his safety—a big loss of empowered significance for her.

Ditto for the many child actors who have been added to the series through the past months, who now clutter up some big scenes with their minimally pertinent, “en masse” participation.

Worse, the kids are made to be part of or witness violent fight and battle scenes in which adult characters are bloodily shot at and killed. Isn’t this questionable material for them and similarly young viewers to be exposed to?

More contrary intimations on the hit action-drama series: As the action and violence antes are ramped up, there has been a perceptible drop in the quality of the performances in the show.

Garcia makes an appropriately chilling villain, but Atayde falls short with his predictable depiction of evil.

Hope springs in the performance of Art Acuña as a police colonel who’s been coopted by the series’ villains.

One of our best film and theater actors, Acuña should be encouraged by better scripting to come up with a more complex and insightful portrayal that would lift the show’s thespic level of excellence up in a major way.

As it is, even Martin’s “frequently awarded” lead performance is in fact less than exceptional, because he sometimes just resorts to standard “tough guy” and “heroic” acting ploys, including an inordinate use of teeth-gritting and contorted grimaces to “indicate” anger and courageous resolve.

Surely, he can do better and go deeper than this.