Keeping up with new rivals in TV ratings race

Ria Atayde

Ongoing TV series can’t afford to take their popularity for granted, because the competition is constantly lining up new shows to challenge their leadership.

A recent case in point is “My Dear Heart,” which has been warmly received by viewers—but now has to contend with new competition in “Destined To Be Yours,” which topbills the formidable love team of Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards.

To hold on to its viewership, “My Dear Heart” has pumped up its storytelling by recently introducing a major complication—the return of Gia (Ria Atayde), the daughter of Dr. Margaret Divinagracia (Coney Reyes).

Her comeback is a major complication, because she used to be the girlfriend of the show’s male lead character, Jude (Zanjoe Marudo)—and even gave birth to a love child!

Dr. Margaret made it appear that the baby girl died at childbirth—but she, in fact, was unknowingly adopted by Jude.

That may sound improbable, but welcome to the “imaginative” world of local TV storytelling!

In any case, the baby girl grows up into the series’ juvenile lead, Heart (Nayomi Ramos), but falls gravely ill and ends up in a coma. But, her spirit is still able to (invisibly) interact with the outside world (another fanciful twist)!

Viewers know that Gia is Heart’s birth mother, but nobody else does, so they keep watching to see exactly when the big secret will be revealed.

Unspoken rivalry

Even before that happens, however, a sort of unspoken rivalry for Jude’s affections has been hinted at between Gia and Jude’s wife, Clara (Bela Padilla).

Additional dramatic heat is being generated by the less-than-loving relationship between Margaret and her daughter.

This is being further complicated by Gia’s wanting to help get Heart to come out of her coma, because she’s a gifted heart specialist and surgeon, like her mother.

Confrontational encounters

Not knowing that Gia is the girl’s actual mom (and her granddaughter), Margaret takes Dr. Gia’s “intrusion” badly, resulting in even more confrontational encounters.

These new complications are strong enough to keep viewers interested, but “Destined To Be Yours” has its own persuasive plus point: While “My Dear Heart” focuses on parental love (and discord), “Destined” is fixated on romantic love, an even more compelling draw on TV.

The Maine-Alden love team (“AlDub”) is another major strength and draw, so “Destined” is expected to do well in the TV ratings.

The question now is which show will fare best of all? Since “Destined” has just started telecasting, it can be expected to have an initial advantage, on point of viewer curiosity.

But, after a couple of weeks, the real “time slot leader” should more definitively emerge.

Eventful developments

“Destined To Be Yours” can beef up its appeal by thinking up more “eventful” plot and character developments.

At the moment, it’s mostly been about a land dispute, Maine’s temporary displeasure with Alden, and a lot of rom-com fun and games—but, will this be enough?

For kilig AlDub fans, perhaps—but, what about the rest of the viewing population?

More varied, vivid and valid plot and character twists and turns would be most welcome.