No hissy fits allowed

Bea Alonzo (left) and Ian Veneracion

When “A Love to Last” started telecasting, we cited as one of its prime viewing prospects the “visual compatibility” of its lead players, Bea Alonzo and Ian Veneracion, who are both exceptionally good-looking.

We imagined how their romantic scenes would play out on the TV screen, with the cameras “lovingly” showcasing and highlighting their “swoonworthy” visages.

In addition, both Bea and Ian are sensitive and experienced players, so they know how to keep the series’ romantic quotient on a “kilig” high—which is exactly what’s happening now that their characters have finally “realized” that they’re truly meant and even destined for one another.

It’s taken too long for the storytelling to finally get to this point, with multiple impediments thrown in front of them to delay the “inevitable.”

Well, now we can all relax and look forward to the expected wedding scene!

But, hold your horses: To keep love-addled viewers on tenterhooks, more impediments have come to the fore, like the renewed displeasure of Ian’s ex-wife, played by Iza Calzado, and the similarly negative reaction of his son (JK Labajo).

Iza’s objections are particularly confounding and even galling, because she no longer has any legal hold on Ian—and, besides, it was her idea to end the marriage, hurting Ian to his core. So, miffed viewers cry, what right does she have to rain on Bea’s love parade?

Well, the recent “regulation” confrontation scene between Bea and Iza explained everything: This is why the series has taken this testily turgid turn—so that viewers can savor the “spicy” exchange of “quotable” dialogue that is expected of romantic teleseryes in these parts.

If the show didn’t indulge in it, more viewers would have felt bitin and even betrayed—so, bring it on!

To its credit, the romantic melodrama lived up to the required confrontation scene’s expectations and possibilities, with one woman’s arch salvo being “answered” by the other’s similarly “quotable” retort.

But, since this is a relatively “classy” show, there was no hairpulling, wrestling and screaming—what a relief!

Instead, both actresses just “tightly smiled” at each other as they pointedly released little “arrows” of warning and sardonic wit, aimed at their respective vulnerable sensitivities. A little hissing was permitted—but, no hissy fits, please!

So, who “won” the arch-eyebrowed argument? Since viewers knew that Iza’s character was coming out of left field and tended to be flaky, Bea had the clear advantage.

But, we can expect Iza to try to get the upper hand again before the series ends—so, abangan ang susunod na exchange of quotable punchlines and putdowns!

And, where’s Ian in all of this? Why should the women have all of the bitchy fun?

We hope that the show will finally give the guy they’re fighting over the chance to have his similarly feisty and witty say on the subject.

Yes, guys in local TV love dramas tend to be the silent type, but it’s time to bat for equal treatment.

So, speak up, Ian—and make sure it’s zingily quotable!