Right from the start, “La Luna Sangre” was already engaging its viewers with its intriguing, albeit extremely familiar, storyline.
The third book in the “Moonshine” trilogy, the story delves into the world of the supernatural — the beings of the dark, to be more precise, and the mortals they come across. And just like its predecessors, “La Luna Sangre” narrates the riveting journey of a “chosen one” prophesied to lead her race in its quest to vanquish the forces of evil.
In “La Luna Sangre,” the ‘Chosen One’ is Malia, played by this year’s box-office queen, Kathryn Bernardo. Her adventure begins with where the rest of the story of Mateo (John Lloyd Cruz) and Lia (Angel Locsin)–her parents–continues, in a countryside, far from the confines of their supernatural world where vampires and werewolves battle for supremacy.
The pilot week is devoted to telling what’s left of their saga, a rather abrupt but completely heartbreaking and memorable event that might have left unprecedented repercussions, ones that will surely lead the continuation of the trilogy to a more interesting place.
It was both a mind-blowing and emotionally-arresting pilot week, carrying heavier heft of tear jerking scenes and revelations with every new episode. It is worth-noting though that the premiere week was stretched into five memorable episodes teeming with not just darkness and drama, but of humor, as well.
In the pilot episode, it was unclear whether the rest of the week would stick to its mesmerizing tone, created both by its bright and gloomy atmosphere, but the last two episodes embraced the darkness of the narrative, a .surprising turn but a crucial choice, in highlighting the sacrifice that the characters of Cruz and Locsin are going to make. And it was worth it; it was beautifully poignant, but a hopeful , giving way to probably the most seminal episode the series has ever produced.
We take note of the five most heartbreaking/saddest scenes in the pilot week (in no particular order):
1.) When Young Tristan came home with a surprise gift for his father, a cane, using the money he collected from selling spiders, only to be scolded by his father who didn’t have an idea of the surprise he was going to make. (Admit it, you didn’t expect that tear to rush down your cheeks)
2.) Sandrino’s backstory. Every villain, no matter how evil, has a story to tell.
Sandrino’s isn’t empty, in fact his account was told in surprise, and revealed that his darkness is largely fueled by his desire for revenge to those who killed his father and denied his right to mourn his death. He was also pictured as someone who has made a lot of failures, but will now try not to make another.
A new prophecy about the new chosen one, who is destined to kill him will make him unleash his wrath. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled as he delivers terror.
3.) When Tonio was killed by the vampires. Tonio’s death is probably the emotionally heaviest pre-SandrinoVsMateo scene.
This tragedy was captured in all its gloominess, in a river where young Tristan found his father already dead over a rock. Him embracing his father from the back while crying was just spine-shivering. It was heartbreaking to behold.
4. Mateo’s return to being a vampire.
Giving up their powers was already a difficult choice for Mateo and Lia, but going back?
It’s probably not just extremely hard, but also painfully tragic. For Mateo, though, he would do anything just to save this family. His last sacrifice: turning back to vampirism. This particular scene broke so many hearts, I could tell, but it wasn’t the sequence, alone, that made it singularly absorbing, but also Cruz’s impeccable delivery.
I literally quivered at the sight of that tear promptly dropping from his eye as Gael (Bryan Santos) sunk his fangs on Mateo’s neck. It was mind-blowingly brilliant.
5.) Mateo and Lia’s death scene.
Most heartbreaking scene. Period. I can’t even go on expanding this to details as ‘heartbreaking’ is more than enough. The best part of it: when Mateo and Lia reached for each other’s hands before taking their last breaths. *sigh*
On the whole, “La Luna Sangre” has a solid, memorable pilot week, getting better in each new episode and culminating with an explosive payoff filled with beautifully-choreographed action scenes, and heart-rending sacrifices, both rendered in equally compelling visuals that worked with the series’ official soundtrack. The arrival of KathNiel should make this even more exciting. (JE)
Rating: 4/5
