Brimming with familiar romcom beats and elements of family drama, the new Kapuso primetime drama can be a satiating treat for those craving to be sent into a kilig frenzy.
GMA Network seems to be riding the wave of action dramas on Philippine television, with Maging Sino Ka Man. In this effort, it taps the surging popularity of its newest up-and-coming love team, BarDa, comprised by the currently prized Kapuso actors, Barbie Forteza and David Licauco.
Given the strength of its rival show in the ratings game, one could readily question if hopping on the action bandwagon, is the right choice for the now blossoming onscreen pair. Some are convinced taking an entirely different route, a different genre that is, will be a much wiser option. Indeed, counterprogramming has proven to work wonders in the past.
It is interesting to note that Maging Sino Ka Man is the television adaptation of the Robin Padilla and Sharon Cuneta flick of the same name, that has already become a cult classic in the context of local romcom movies. The challenges, then, that the series has to beat is the overfamiliarity of the audience with the plotline, and of course the expectation that this series will perform exceptionally in its bid to become a television hit.
Given its status as a limited series, and how the competition has gone favorably towards the rival series, it seems such a goal may be now far-fetched for both Forteza and Licauco. But there is still a big chance to become remarkable. Writers has to make the trope-laden story of Monique (Forteza) and Carding (Licauco) more engaging, by injecting newer twists and gimmicks.
There is no question in Forteza’s artistic arsenal, which she has already occasionally deployed in several scenes during the pilot week of the series. Licauco,as promising as his acting chops are, his visual package and ‘Chinito’ charm remain his most inviting assets.
