Seeing double and triple in new TV treats

Jodi Sta. Maria

Now that many TV drama series are on “concluding” mode, televiewers are curious about the new teleseryes that the networks have lined up to replace them.

Looking through the list of replacements, we are struck by the relative prevalence of “look-alike” stories and conflicts.

Is everyone taking his cue from “Impostora”?

Whatever the most pertinent derivation may be, it’s interesting and instructive that so many new series are about characters who look a lot like one another.

On “Sana Dalawa ang Puso,” Jodi Sta. Maria plays two such coprotagonists, making male costars Robin Padilla and Richard Yap wonder if they should pay a visit to their
respective optometrists.

Actually, “Kambal, Karibal” has already beaten everybody to the draw, recently starting its telecasts and topbilling Bianca Umali as Crisen and Pauline Mendoza as Crisel. And, just for the record, “Impostora” has been “reextended” and is still telecasting.

But, hold your horses, “The Blood Sisters” is about to start its storytelling, and it’s trumping the numerical competition, because it topbills Erich Gonzales in three roles!

A recent teaser for the new series hints that Erich’s “triplet” characters may have been separated at birth.

In any case, when she gets to play them as adults, they turn out to be “a stripper, a wealthy woman and a delinquent.”

That sounds really impressive in terms of potential thespic range—but, could Erich have bitten off more than she can chew?

Three different personas in a single show is a feat that’s usually reserved for older and very experienced players, so a younger actress like Erich will have to really hustle and bustle to live up to “extreme” expectations. Let’s hope she’s up to it!

Another drama series that’s about to start telecasting, “Asintado,” has only one female lead, but some viewers are still eager to watch it, because it topbills Julia Montes, who hasn’t been seen
onscreen in quite a while.

Again just for the record, however, her last TV starrer, “Doble Kara,” did cast her as twins! Hmmm, this is turning out to be quite a recurring theme!

Robin Padilla

“Asintado” is made more intriguing by its teaser, which shows Julia’s character on the vengeance trail—and makes a big deal out of her being a sharpshooter.

Is this a hint that the new show will turn out to be an
action-drama show in keeping with the current trend after “Ang Probinsyano” and “Alyas Robin Hood”?

More specifically, is it ABS-CBN’s “answer” to GMA 7’s “Super Ma’am,” which focuses on the exploits of a female hero?

Other new treats being buzzed about on the TV grapevine include a new show and film for the JaDine love team, and a 2018 series topbilling Megan Young and Mikael Daez, Ruru Madrid and Gabbi Garcia, and Barbie Forteza and Derrick Monasterio—not to mention, a new TV starrer for Alden Richards (without Maine Mendoza)?

The most attractive new viewing prospect of them all? In our considered opinion, it’s “Sana Dalawa ang Puso” with Jodi Sta. Maria.

One Jodi is already a treat, so two of her in a single show is like savoring a double scoop of ice cream!