Complicated finale for ‘Forevermore’

As expected, when “Forevermore” finally ended its extended storytelling last May 22, Agnes still ended up in Xander’s arms, leaving his new squeeze, played by Erich Gonzales, with egg on her face.

Why did she agree to take on the two-week role, in the first place? “Forever” is more potent than two weeks, so it really was a foregone conclusion.

The show’s last month of telecast was a stretched-out drag—but, for a long moment there, we wondered if the series’ storytellers were toying with the intriguing idea of not coming up with the textbook denouement for all rom-coms—a Happy Ending. Hmm, that would have been interesting! But, Agnes-Xander fans would never have approved—so, cancel that innovation!

In any case, the series as a whole did offer something new as far as rom-com plotting goes, because its male lead, while he looked like a perfect prince, was actually a more negative character than usual.

In fact, he started off already flawed, as a spoiled, rich kid who had thoughtlessly driven his first girlfriend almost bonkers when he dumped her. She came back into his life years later, psychologically patched up by professionals, but the stitches didn’t hold, making her go flaky all over again, souring Xander’s new love relationship with Agnes.

Then, Xander disappeared with his “broken” first love to help her heal—driving Agnes crazy. Later, she tried to move on, but he came back for the nth time, so she couldn’t totally heal—up to almost the final fade, when they were inadvertently or “fatedly” brought together again by a dangerous misadventure in an inhospitable forest.

So, “Forevermore” may have finally had its Happy Ending, but at the expense of its male protagonist—who despite his other, more sterling qualities, was exposed as a serial heartbreaker. Cautionary food for thought for other ostensibly pluperfect princes’ potential victims: Avoid them and their cool but cruel blandishments at all costs!

Due to this deep flaw, Xander should have been a challenging character for Enrique Gil to play. However, since he chose to be generally “cool” about the whole thing, he ended up avoiding most of its possibilities for edgy acting—more’s the pity.

Instead of feelingly trying to vivify his complicated character’s many layers and levels—and make thespic sense out of all of his contradictions—Enrique took the easier, “benumbed” way out and just looked guilty and befuddled at all of the damage he had serially caused in the hearts and lives of the women he professed to love so much.

The obvious excuse was that he hadn’t meant to be so hurtful—but, tell that to the Marines—

and his long-suffering victims!

At series’ end, Xander had learned his lessons and finally “grown up”—great for him and his “last” love, Agnes. But, Enrique Gil should also learn valuable thespic lessons from this experience—and become a more emotionally honest and accessible performer!