Lobo
Shaina Magdayao as Gabby
People that either quietly lurk or participate in my blog entries would know how many times I have shown my disappointment with Shaina Magdayao in the beginning and middle of Lobo. However, I have got to give the girl some props! In Friday night’s episode, during the scene where she shot Silva, in my opinion, was probably the best performance she has ever given. Ever in Lobo (because her MMK episode still reigns).
That little “absence” from Lobo helped everyone because not only did Gabby’s leave let Noah and Lyka further develop their relationship, it also gave Shaina Magdayao the opportunity to really step up and develop her character (that is, if she did go to workshops during that time).
Let me lay out the scene for you:
As Noah, Alec, and Rodolfo goes off to save Lady Elle, Gabby was left as the sniper shooter, so that if or when there was a time she had a clear shot of Silva, she can end his treachery then and there at the cemetery. So when she did have the opportunity to do so, flashbacks of her childhood suddenly crept up, reminding her of how Silva saved her from the poverty that has affected so many in the Philippines. As a child, she had competition for left-over food from the trash bins and didn’t have anyone to take care of her. So in comes Silva, bearing food, promising safety, a place to sleep, a future! All this so that he could use her in his revenge against the Waya, which I don’t think she’s realized yet.
It takes a while for Gabby to pull the trigger, and believe me, I was shouting at her to do so! But at the same time, I could not help but feel some sort of sadness for her. From her agony of whether to shoot or not to shoot, one could see that Gabby really saw Silva as her father figure — it’s just sad to know that the only love she could find was from this horrible monster. Seriously, Lobo crew, get Shain–Ooops, I mean Gabby–with A(Geoff)lec already.
Overall, I bought the whole scene — her tears, her obvious distress in deciding whether to kill Silva, the whirl of emotions construed on her face, and all of this mixed with the flashbacks = brilliant. Great job, Shaina. Seriously.
My Girl
Nina Jose as Annika and Gerald Anderson as Julian
Though I gave praises for Team Magdayao, I can’t do the same for Team Nina Jose. I understand she may be new to the whole acting biz, but her playing Annika isn’t working. Friday’s episode was supposed to be an opportunity for Nina to shine, yet she unfortunately wasn’t able to really nail the scenes she were in.
In the elevator scene with Julian, her professing her love for him was just not executed well — the scene wasn’t believable and in my opinion, it was in how she delivered her lines. Her voice was annoyingly needy which, I felt, didn’t compliment the emotions she was trying to convey on her face. It was like I was just watching someone deliver lines from a paper, rather than them actually identifying the persona, making it their own, and then portraying it. Then there were some pauses she made as if she were trying to her remember her lines (or Julian’s name — yeah, Nina, I saw that).
Later, when Annika was drunk because Julian said that they were over, she started shouting and screaming like a little 6-year-old that didn’t get her ice-cream, which got real annoying fast. Not to mention, was Nina trying to flaunt her breasts during this scene, or is it a hidden rule that all actresses that act drunk have to keep bowing down to the camera to show the goods?
What I keep questioning is how Nina Jose landed this role when there’s so many other actresses from ABS-CBN that could have so easily fit in Annika’s shoes. Was it because she was also in PBBTE with Gerald and Kim and there was a love triangle that I didn’t hear about (thanks ABS-CBN for not showing PBB, PBBTE, and PBB Celebrity shows on TFC)?
However, Nina Jose is here now and it’s not like Annika can go to Belo and get cosmetic surgery and another actress suddenly takes her place. Just like Shaina Magdayao’s amazing transformation, I’m leaving a flicker of hope for Nina because I at least have to give her a break, considering she’s new meat whereas The Kimerald have Sana Maulit Muli (or Chances as it’s called in Taiwan), a few shows and series here and there, two movies, and numerous performances under their belt.
All in all, though I seem harsh on this girl, I’m really hoping she’ll step up in her game as Shaina Magdayao has and that we’ll be able to really see what she can do.
I agree, you can really see the anguish in Gabby’s face. Wow! She has impressed me as well last night. All of us at home were shouting at her to pull the trigger then me as always the panira said well its ahrd for her coz thats the guy who saved her. LOL
as for Nina yup it would have been her chance to shine but she was lackluster. Good thing her scenes were mixed in with Kim’s scenes. But I am hopeful for her. Look at Gerald, he is starting to grow into the character. I hope she does as well
Ugh I hate Nina José too..
The reason ABS can’t show PBB is because it only has the license to show it in the Philippines and because we have Big Brother (american) here in the states.
hey guyz don’t u think nina has already improved her skills in acting?i admit that she doesn’t know how to act before when she was still starting..but like other celebrities,she also learned to improve..for the frst parts of my girl,she was not that good enough but for the latter parts,she’s just FINE..i love her role as a kontrabida!!