What Makes “Dyesebel” far better than “Kambal Sirena?”

Back in 2008, for almost six-month run on television, GMA-7 claimed success on Mars Ravelo’s material assumed by Marian Rivera. But today, it’s ABS-CBN Channel 2’s turn—having Anne Curtis breathing into the Filipino well-loved mermaid character.

Anne Curtis: The Ultimate ‘Dyesebel’ so far.

It’s quite funny for Curtis’s detractors to use Anne’s age as a reason not to fit the said character. Pardon these words—‘sour grapes’ throw yourselves off the window.

Anne Curtis perfectly fits the mold of what a mermaid is and what Ravelo has imagined with along with the many Filipinos. Curtis is mestiza-looking with Caucasian and ethereal beauty. She embodies both the idea of combining being ‘sensual’ and being ‘virginal’. And she can play both personas effectively without a doubt.

Though fans of Louise may claim that their idol is younger, but at first glance, Curtis is the ideal mermaid—the way Filipinos are oriented to the said idea.

No Miscasting Occurred, not a Copycat as well.

On Dyesebel’s pilot episode in March, I must say the execution of the script is far from not being questionable. The love story of the merman Tino (Albert Martinez) and human Lucia (Dawn Zulueta) did click. Pairing Martinez and Zulueta is a refreshing idea and I didn’t find any ‘awkwardness’ as opposed to the lovers in ‘Kambal Sirena’ played by Yul Servo and Mickey Ferriols.  I have nothing against the latter artists’ acting skills, but watching them in their scenes—I felt off. This was a case of miscast.

Eula Valdez as Reyna Dyangga and Zsa-Zsa Padila as Elena Villamayor-Montealto are the perfect villainesses in the series.

Yes, I must agree that ‘Kambal Sirena’ maybe novel, however—I remember ABS-CBN Channel 2 also had a fantaserye based on Rod Santiago’s creation—‘Agua Bendita’ which starred Andi Eigenmann back in 2010. So where would you draw the line of being unique? It’s pretty obvious that GMA-7’s mermaid’s tale is entirely novel, but a copycat?

Since ABS-CBN Channel 2’s ‘Dyesebel’ is a Ravelo creation—it stayed loyal to the graphic novelist’s vision, but enhancing it to make it more interesting and relevant for today’s diverse TV audience.

Offers a Whole Realistic, New World.

Noel Flores, the show’s visual designer was successful enough to create a ‘culture’ in the underwater world of Dyesebel’s tale.

Every detail in the so-called ‘world-building’ was carefully thought of. It was not just created and executed out of compliance. It went beyond the usual stuff that were presented in previous Dyesebel stories. One won’t just be treated to coral formation, when a royal throne is presented on screen. There are structures, a caste system that shows classifications of members in the said underwater kingdom. It’s an entirely realistic, new world in there. It’s like watching a ‘Divergent’ story by Veronica Roth, but its setting is underwater. A popular special effects company named Digital Dodge made an excellent work in executing every episode of this series—a virtually cinematic experience.

What’s amusing is that, even to the minutest detail of making the underwater scenes were not left uncovered. The suspension of disbelief was almost handled implausible in its narrative process. The tails of the mermaids and the mermen were created from 100 percent industrial grade silicone, which are less vulnerable in long hours of being submerged in salt water. The swimming scenes are just awesome—both Marissa Floriendo and Boy Siojo, the underwater cinematographers did a beautiful job. The transitions from being in a harness to its real swimming scene are not abrupt and not impossible to believe in. The production designs of Nancy Arcega are just impeccable, too—having Palawan as its scenic backdrop for this Dyesebel series.

Directors Don M. Cuaresma, Francis E. Pasion, and Darnrel Joy R. Villaflor are to be commended for making this version of Dyesebel having not just a commercial value, but a global appeal.

And yes, it really has a good storytelling coupled with a visually appealing imagination created of course by Noel Flores. This present-day Dyesebel is a fresher take of what Mars Ravelo has started in the 1950s, and perhaps the best version, I think.

Also in the cast, Curtis’s leading men are Sam Milby as the merman Liro and Gerald Anderson as Fredo Montealto. Andi Eigenmann is Betty Reyes, Beatriz’s adopted sister (Curtis’s persona on land). Supporting cast consists of Dawn Zulueta, Ai-Ai de las Alas, Zsa-Zsa Padilla, Gabby Concepcion, Gina Pareño, Bangs Garcia, and Jason Abalos. Other cast members are Ogie Diaz, William Lorenzo, Debraliz Borres, Allan Paule, Lou Veloso, Neil Coleta, Nico Antonio, Bodie Cruz,     David Chua, Erin Ocampo, JV Kapunan, and Markki Stroem. Interesting characters in the underwater world are Pinky Pusit and Karlo Kabayo as voiced by Kakai Bautista and Thou Reyes, respectively.

‘Dyesebel’ airs on weeknights at 7:40pm.

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