ABS-CBN bares its newest afternoon block line-up this August, which includes the Julia Montes-starrer, Doble Kara, and the Albert Martinez, JM De Guzman, and Yen Santos-led fantasy drama, ALL OF ME.
These two new shows have all the makings of so many other shows we’ve already seen in the past, but it’s not so easy to straightaway dismiss them as total rehashes, as both still offer exciting new twists and turns, to shake up their recognizably overly-familiar story-lines.
I could think of several local and foreign shows that these new shows might have based their plots from, All of Me, for example, seems to have borrowed some elements from the mexican supernatural-drama, El Cuerpo (del Deseo), wherein the soul of the main protagonist, transferred to a younger body, to take his revenge to those who killed him. It also reminds me of the US series, Forever, whose main character keeps returning to life everytime he dies.
Now, it would be unfair to say I’m certain they’ve indeed taken some of the elements of the said shows, and some others I don’t have the luxury of writing space to discuss about, and it may be just purely a coincidence, but if they indeed have, then I would commend them for doing such brilliantly-written shake/mix-up. 
The thing is, while it’s true that All of Me wouldn’t strike as original, at all, it would still come across as fresh, and a handful of points would make it one of the best and most innovative daytime series, we have seen in a very long time: a highly credible assemblage of stellar cast, beautiful settings exquisitely captured in breathtakingly sweeping visuals, an affectionate musical scoring and an emotional main theme, and lastly, but perhaps most strikingly, is its relatable premise.
It’s also worth-noting that the story is fast-paced. Some powerful cameos, most notable, I can say, is that of Angel Aquino, who portrays the mother of Manuel (JM de Guzman/Albert Martinez), our main hero here. Striking supports like MJ Lastimosa, is unmissable too, as she plays the mystical creature, “diwata”, who seems to play as Manuel’s guide when he returns to the love of his life, Lena (played by Yen Santos, who is yet to appear on the next episode), with his younger self.
Ina Raymundo’s very short exposure is also memorable, and no one can’t deny how irresistable those sensual shots are (which are exquisitely captured, by the way) taken, with her and Albert Martinez, on the frame.
Much of the pilot episode has mostly shown the older Manuel, played by Albert Martinez, but JM de Guzman’s part are already felt, ensuing a more emotional section of the character in the coming episodes. This is where the story seem to mostly revolve around– a man trying to get back the life and the love he lost.
Now it’s too early to tell how this already intriguing drama is going to unfold, and hopefully, further shake up its set-up, but it’s not too difficult to get excited at where the proceedings seem to go, given the amount of interest it already had generated with its pilot episode, alone. I feel like I should be saying, it’s the stunning cinematography that solely makes this pilot a total stand-out, but to forget how powerful the performances of the actors are, doesn’t sound forgivable, at all.
Check out the full trailer here:
ALL OF ME, so far, has the best pilot episode, among the afternoon shows that have premiered not just this month, but in a very long time.
