ALONZO AND PADILLA. Dramatic stress and conflict.
We caught the first telecast of the new TV “action-romance” series, “Guns and Roses,” and found that it has an ironic plot premise that, in time, could develop into a powerful conflict for its two main protagonists (Robin Padilla and Bea Alonzo).
Even as they slowly but surely fall for each other, Bea has to come to grips with the chilling realization that the man she loves could be the gun-for-hire who killed her fiancé – on their wedding day! You can’t get much more dramatically challenged and intense than that.
All of these turgid intimations reared their hydra heads during the show’s very first telecast, which says a lot about the new series’ brisk pacing and relentless orchestration and organization of the various potent elements that comprise its volatile dramatic “capital.”
Mileage
As for the all-important screen “chemistry” between Robin and Bea, it’s there – in heaps – so, the series can get a lot of diverting mileage from their constant sparring. But, it’s pretty much been seen and done before, so we hope that this new show can hit a fresher note soon, to make its standard exposition more believable.
The “problem” seems to be Robin. He’s done this before in his movies with top combative co-stars like Sharon Cuneta, who gave as well as they took. So, his cat-and-dog encounters with Bea are short of surprising.
Rogues’ gallery
Still on Robin, it’s disappointing to see that his directors in this new show haven’t been able to sufficiently rein in his signature “Robin-ness,” for him to come up with a bracingly new or at least “adjusted” characterization of yet another “bad boy” in his extensive rogues’ gallery of TV-film personas.
Years ago, Robin did succeed in taking a different thespic tack in Mark Meily’s “La Visa Loca,” but he’s back to his old tricks again.
To be sure, quite a number of viewers still find the action star’s old moves diverting – and it’s really quite amazing that he still looks so fit and “young” many years after his sneering and snarling start in the biz.
But, it would have been great if this show’s fresh “Bea factor” could have enticed Robin into adjusting his act to keep up with his lovely, dynamic and psychologically-savvy new co-star. Well, perhaps in due time . . .
Occupation
Fact is, if Robin takes a good look at his new character’s “possibilities,” he’ll see that it offers him many opportunities to come up with a remarkable performance. It’s intimated that the “hit man for justice” he portrays is no longer at peace with his lethal occupation, so there’s dramatic stress and conflict there – bigtime.
In addition, his relationship with his younger sibling, who’s quite ironically a cop, could further test and challenge his resolve. Then, there’s his secret guilt over gunning down the former fiance of the woman he now loves – which must be revealed in due time to shatter their loving relationship.
So many dramatic possibilities, if only the action-drama star would want to do more, and better. Would that he opts to do exactly that!