Lobofied Monday: RIP Manolo, Lobo is a Freaking Movie

Manolo

Lobo has once again taken a weird turn and have started killing off more people. This time, the lucky winner is Manolo. It was evident he was going to get killed off when he proposed to Lady Elle and told Noah to really try to fully accept Lyka and all her lobo qualities as well as the clan itself. The show was making him SAY HIS GOODBYES! However, my love for the show made me think that it was utterly ridiculous if the writers did opt to kill him. I guess I was wrong.

Although, for some reason, I feel that there’s still a spark of hope that the writers will try to bring him back, or at least portray that his death was just an act because him being shot by the gunman happened all too fast. His death happened all too fast and there wasn’t even any heart-felt, crying-your-eyes-out scene at the hospital where everyone would just be looking at his heart beat pulsing down to an eerie nonstop beep. Writers, is there something up your sleeves, or was it just because there wasn’t time to fit in this scene into the already hectic and busy schedule?

Either way, I think it was unnecessary to kill off another good character, and a pretty important one at that. Hell, I still miss Choi and now Manolo? Hopefully, Manolo’s death will have contributed to something vital in the next episodes to come. But if the show keeps killing off more people, then Lobo won’t be any better than Ysabella, Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita, CRAZY FOR YOU (gosh, I hated how they killed Toni Gonzaga’s character in the end), and the list goes on. I call it unnecessary killing.

Trixie

Trixie is the next E! host aka the next Nana Sela. A part of me thinks that this storyline was just added and was never included in Mark Bunda’s original story, but I’m somewhat okay with it — it adds more to the story. But, if only her abilities were introduced in the beginning episodes of Lobo, that way, I wouldn’t be feeling like the new plot for Trixie was a kind of emergency addition. I’m hoping that the show will try to surprise us by going into past episodes and at least try to make connections to her newfound abilities — to show that the writers have been thinking about this for a long time.

Gabby

Girl, to put it simply and in very very casual American English, you are gettin’ on my last nerves!! I gave you such a beautiful report on your personality progress, but I just hated how you were blaming the sniper’s death on the lobo clan. First of all, why? Past episodes have heavily touched on the idea that you have been sucking face with Alec, but you still don’t trust him, nor his kind? Parang, it was unlikely for her character to just blame it all on the lobo. I would’ve believed it if she blamed it on a specific person, but all of the lobo clan? After she’s been with Alec? Seems not very her. Now she’s going into Anton’s lair — writers, stop killing people off. I beg you…!

Lyka and her Lobo Form

At first, I found it soooo hilarious how everyone would just be talking to a dog. Then in tonight’s episode, it shows Lyka in a translucent-ghost-like form that only Anton can see — I liked that a lot. What I didn’t like was how Lyka was able to touch and hold the jail-cell bars, but she couldn’t even touch anyone else! WTH? Seriously, things like these shouldn’t be forgotten — it’s very careless.

Overall,

Okay episode tonight. I liked how Tikboy finally told Trixie that they were related as well as related to Nana Sela. I just didn’t like how she told him to keep her newfound abilities a secret. [insert annoyed facial expression] The whole time I was shouting, “TELL THEM ALREADY.” And doesn’t anyone else (in the show) see when Trixie’s eyes turn white?! It’s like only the viewers see it…

Considering it’s Monday, it’s normal for Filipino shows to start slow at the first day (My Girl is a good exception). So I’ll just wait for tomorrow’s.

Lobo is a Freaking Movie

This is what I’ve noticed with this show — it runs like a movie. There’s never a chance to breathe, which can be both good and bad.

It’s a good thing when the show runs like you just can’t wait to watch tomorrow’s or next week’s episode (if you’re watching on a Friday). Believe me, Lobo is like that most of the time.

Bad because everything is just on-going and twists and turns are being added left and right — like we’re really watching a movie and we’ve been waiting for the ending. You know, that type. However, in this case, we’ve been waiting for the ending for months. It depends on how you’d take that sentence. To me, I’m excited to know what’s going to happen in the end already: will Lyka and Noah really survive and grow old together and have tons of babies that will populate the Philippines? lol

All in all, two weeks left everyone!! [insert fan girl scream] I’m really hoping the writers stick to their greatness and stop all this killing. If I had my way, I’d want it to end already (say, this week) so there won’t be anymore killings.

Lobo Tuesday: If You Have It, Then Use It!

Watch Episode 95 Now
Sorry non-Tagalog speakers, this show is not subbed, unfortunately.
Fancy reading instead? Read the Summary Now

The Red Moon has come, Lyka and Silva are literally at each other’s necks, the lobo and the Luna are in battle, Noah is evading bullets. This is what we have all been waiting for, the moment in which the story reaches its climax, or at least its purpose.

If only tonight’s episode was executed well.

Probably what peeved me off the most was Lyka’s scene with Silva. Lyka knocked him out and as she was about to (achingly slowly) retrieve the Stone of Remus from Silva’s hand, he opens his eyes and suddenly pulls her down to the ground, proceeding to strangle her to death. While he was doing this, Lyka had two free hands that she could have so easily used to punch him off her. But no. She instead uses her free right hand to try to literally, “reach for the moon,” while the other was lightly caressing the hands that were stealing the life out of her lungs. Seriously, what were the directors thinking, let alone Angel Locsin?

You can see what I mean by clicking here. Credit goes to http://abscbn-lobo.blogspot.com/ You see her right arm? The fist attached to it could have punched Silva easily.

Another thing that I just did not like and found sickening was when Silva repeatedly stabbed Lyka as she was holding the Stone to the Red Moon. Watching that made me sick to the stomach and it was very un-Lobo like. It was where the story went from the love/drama genre to the gory one. Sure Silva is hungry for power, but from all the past 90+ episodes, never did I predict that the story would turn into a preview of Saw V.

Oh and one more thing about Lyka. Girl, if you have the freaking power of super speed, then by all means, use it!!! How many times did Lyka have a chance to quickly snatch the Stone from Silva and just throw him against a rock or over a cliff? The whole time!

Then there was Piolo Pascual, that I usually have high praises for. During his shooting scene with the Luna, it seemed like he was pretending to be Brad Pitt on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, turning round and round while shooting at invisible enemies. He did that about three times until, finally, he got shot. I was actually thankful that happened because it put a stop to all that spinning. Instead of how this was executed, I was hoping that the camera would circle Piolo as he was shooting and that it would actually show the Luna shooting at him. But no, we as viewers are forced to imagine where the shooters are. Last time I checked, it’s not our job to do that.

Aside from our two main characters, the battle scene between the lobo and the Luna was just a disappointment. The scene lacked in efficient choreography, as if everyone were told to partner up and that they would just try their best not to hurt each other, but at the same time, put in a few blows, all of this in slow motion. The editors could have improved it with quick transitions, camera angles, and different sound effects. It’s as if us viewers would not be able to tell that each blow to the face was the same sound. Oh, come on!

This is how I have been imagining THE battle of the century to happen:

The setting is on an open field, no trees, just grass. The background music has a slow drum-like beat. Along the horizon, the Luna awaits, while the lobo look on (game face applied), ready to fight from their end. Both parties are ready to cut the distance between them. The Luna starts to advance, running towards the wolves, guns pointed. Meanwhile, the lobo are engulfed by a blue pulsing glow as each are transforming to wolf form, leaping forward, going head to head into the heat of the battle. As this is going on, the background music goes from its slow pulse to a much more, harder, tougher, faster pace.

Both parties are a little far away, but when they do meet, there’s an integration of moving, fighting bodies. The camera gives us a side aerial view, then quickly zooms and cuts into different scenes of what’s happening to everyone. And it’s dark (just like tonight’s episode), with only the light of the moon giving just a hint of shine on each of their faces. Some lobo die (the extras) by the onslaught of bullets while some (Geoff) barely miss them and lunge after the Luna. Those that are not lobo, aka Choy, Gabby, and Manolo, also fight and we see quick moves, you know, the ones that make it seem like they actually went into military training.

For this to happen, it needs great camera work and a detailed fight scene between each and everyone. Instead, we’re given a small group of fighting lobo (not even in wolf form) and Luna, hitting each other at a snail’s pace. At other times, fists weren’t even making contact with skin!

Seriously, Lobo crew, you guys have been doing SO well in the past episodes, but lately, something fishy has been going on. Remember that you marketed this show to a smart community — don’t give us anything less.

The one scene that I probably liked out of tonight’s episode was when Noah shot Silva when Lyka was being stabbed and Noah ran to help keep Lyka on her feet as the Red Moon was putting its full force on her. To me, this scene was just another enforcer to the recurring fact that Noah and Lyka are stronger as one. So that when Lyka becomes weak, Noah is always there to give her the additional strength she needs. Beautiful indeed.

edit – They actually filmed the Noah/Lyka scene in daylight (link). Wow. TOTALLY different from the end product. I give props to the graphics/animation designers for this one.

Everything Lobo

The Trailer/MV/Teaser

Lobo Links

OFFICIAL WEB SITE – http://lobo.abs-cbn.com/

Episodes (Raw) – http://lobotheseries.blogspot.com/

Episodes 1-7 (English Subtitles) – MistressoftheWolff @ YouTube

Unfortunately, there aren’t many Tagalog-speakers subbing Filipino dramas. Hopefully, that will change soon.

( credit to raissa for putting the following links together! )

Music Videos – http://lobo-gelo.blogspot.com/

Photos – http://staradprom.multiply.com/, http://sixthfiddler.multiply.com/photos

Reviews – http://uhmbrr.livejournal.com/

Summaries – http://abscbn-lobo.blogspot.com

Summary

I hope to add pictures here so you won’t get bored with my yapping.

The story in a nutshell: Lobo (Wolf) is about two childhood friends turned lovers (years later) who are trying to live normally. However, due to their duty to the people close to them, will both be separated again as they were when they were kids?

Lyka Raymundo recently discovers she is a white taong-lobo (half human-half wolf) and is regarded as the last guardian and savior of the rest of the wolf population. Her duty is to find the Stone of Remus and stop its curse from killing her kind on the night of the Red Moon. However, her love for Noah becomes a hindrance when it is discovered that Noah is from the very organization trying to kill all lobo — the Luna.

[Updated June 1, 2008] Recently on Lobo, Lyka has finally told Noah the truth: that she herself is a lobo. However, how can Noah still accept her after his father was recently murdered by a black and white lobo?

On top of this, Lyka has found the Stone of Remus and is ready for the night of the Red Moon, but as she was saving her friend, the necklace that holds the power of the Stone of Remus was stolen by the lobo clan’s enemy and its own kind: General Silva, a black lobo out to get revenge for the murder of his father (the waya killed his father because he was a black lobo).

How will Lyka save the lobo now, and is there still hope left for Noah and Lyka to be together again?

The story, in detail (beware, this will be very long):

Lobo revolves around Lyka Raymundo (Angel Locsin), an upbeat budding fashion designer, and Noah Ortega (Piolo Pascual), a trained soldier of the Philippine military. Sounds simple right? No.

Their story actually doesn’t start with them — the tale of Lobo starts with Lyka’s grandfather, Lorenzo Blancaflor, the son of the white lobo clan’s waya (protector, guardian). Lorenzo was a white lobo (wolf) turned black lobo after he accidentally bit a human. Drinking the blood of a human will automatically turn a sane white lobo to a blood-hungry black lobo. To save himself from being killed by the white lobo clan (whom are against the murderous black lobo clan), Lorenzo runs away with his wife and children to let them lead lives away from the clans.

Unfortunately, Lorenzo, is found after he secretly met with his twin sister, Eleanora. The two are found out by the white lobo clan and proceed to rid Lorenzo from this world. Eleanora, pushed aside by her waya parents, watches hopelessly as her brother turns into ash.

Lorenzo’s wife and children leave for San Isidro where they try to live without Lorenzo. Years pass and Nessa, the youngest child of Lorenzo falls in love with a local, Emil Ortega, and gives him half of a moonstone her father left her to signify their love for each other. However, Nessa, after her 21st birthday, also turns into a white lobo, inheriting her father’s “curse”. Her mother explains everything. She then shows Emil her true side, but he is unable to accept it and runs from her. Heart-broken and unable to control her powers, Nessa accidentally kills her mother. She runs away from San Isidro and heads for a location in which she can live in seclusion.

Nessa slowly starts to get on with her life, until a neighbor, Nicholas Raymundo, falls in love with her. He goes to her house, and while she’s asleep, beds the poor woman. Nessa awakens and to her dismay, finds out she was raped. Months later, to her dismay, Nessa discovers she’s with child and is frightened as to whether she passed on the curse. She then goes to Nicholas and shows her true identity. Unbelievably, Nicholas accepts who she is and loves her anyway.

A few more years go by and Nessa’s baby, Ulayka, is around four-six years old now and by this time, Nessa already loves Nicholas. However, they once again are forced to flee their home because the villagers have started to suspect that there may be lobo in their village, and the number one suspect was Nicholas. As they run, Nicholas tells his wife and daughter to go without him and to find safety.

Nessa and Ulay go back to San Isidro, to the only family she has, her older sister, Ate (older sister) Clara. Clara, angry, still blames Nessa for the death of their mother, but lets them live at her home anyway. Nessa accidentally meets Emil Ortega again, now a very successful veterinarian. He, also a widow, now has a son, Jay-Jay. Ulay and Jay-Jay instantly becomes best friends, much to the dismay of Anton, Clara’s adopted son. Still in love with Nessa, he’s been trying to find a cure for loboism all these years. The two promise to meet on the night of a full moon where he will give her the anecdote he’s been working on.

On the night of the full moon, Nessa tells Ulay how much she loves her and gives her half of the moonstone to her daughter. After Ulay falls asleep, Nessa leaves to meet Emil. Unfortunately, the anecdote doesn’t work and Nessa is still in her lobo form. Ulay, feeling that there’s something wrong, goes with Jay-Jay to find their parents. Jay-Jay finds his father and a white lobo, and unfortunately, while trying to get away from the white lobo that is Nessa, Emil slips on the cliff and falls to his death. Nessa, still in lobo form, runs and goes head to head with the Luna, an agency created to kill all lobo, white or black.

Saddened by their loss, Jay-Jay and Ulay run away. They also discovered that both have half of a moonstone and realize that each half fits together (Emil, before he died, gave Jay-Jay his half of the moonstone). As they get on the make-shift raft they created, the water becomes wild and both are pushed off the raft.

The two later awake and both are told that the other died during the incident. It will be years filled with hardships that they later meet again.

Years go by and Ulay (now called Lyka) has graduated from college and is trying to find a job in the fashion industry, much to the dismay of her Tita (Aunt) Clara. Her Kuya (older brother) Anton (Tita Clara’s adopted son) is also in love with Lyka and has been sitting idly waiting to receive that love back. We also discover that Anton is a black lobo, but the show doesn’t give away the answer to as to how he became one.

Meanwhile, Jay-Jay (now called Noah) was adopted by Emil’s colleague, General Leon Cristobal, and has been put under intense military training since. Over the years, Noah worked to be at the top of his military career, but unknown to him, his adoptive father, under the order of a higher commander, has been training him for the Luna agency. Also, Noah has become a totally different person and has no trace of Jay-Jay in him anymore. Due to the death of his father and Ulay, Noah’s focus is solely on the military and his mission, and whatever his father tells him to do.

The fun truly begins when Lyka is accepted at the House of Elle, a notable fashion house. During one of the photoshoots, Lyka was told by her snotty, gay-fashionista boss, Sir Elton, to do a test run of the shoot by strapping herself onto the glider. As soon as Lyka straps herself to the glider, Sir Elton secretly releases the ropes and Lyka is off and away. hah And this is where the story truly begins: Lyka falls smack dab on Noah during one of his missions.

(This is will be continued later… I have about 50 or so episodes to talk about. hah!)

Lobo & My Girl Friday: Magdayao Steps Up Her Game, but Nina Jose Doesn’t

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.

Lobo is “A Must Watch” | My Girl Ep. 8 Complete, Ep. 9 Tomorrow

I wasn’t able to post updates yesterday because WordPress on my PC was being a paiiiiiin. Anyways, it’s all good now since I’m on the laptop.

Let’s begin!

Lobo

Watch Episode 92 NOW! (No Subs)

AND OF COURSE, not to forget:

In respect to Lobo, its creators, cast, and crew, you can buy Volume 1 (currently out of stock) & 2 (AVAILABLE!) of Lobo @ StarryStarry store for $13.99 each. Just search for “Lobo” at StarryStarry(dot)com.

A Few Thoughts

Today’s episode, in my opinion, was very enjoyable.

Here we finally have Noah and his friends helping the lobo clan defeat Silva for one cause: to save Lyka. In some way, General Leon’s last mission in his life is finally being satisfied.

I am so glad the writers for Lobo decided to finally have Noah see the truth and have him fight with the good guys — seriously, this should be taken as a lesson to other upcoming or current dramas: don’t start a problem in the story, then have the main characters be at each other’s necks for what seems like weeks because you’re just prolonging the annoyance! We, as viewers, find it actually satisfying when the story sometimes goes our way. And that’s why Lobo is so different from all the other teleseryes I’ve seen — we, as viewers, are actually being listened to (yep, we know you Lobo employees lurk)!

With Lobo, we have an incredible story that we can analyze to no end, actors that give their all, and now I actually do feel that we, as viewers of the show, are a part of it also. We’re really in it, contributing, analyzing, and enjoying the ride, and all of this is happening while we’re all in different parts of the world, no less! So to the Lobo cast and crew, you’re doing a great job and I can’t wait for the finale. Also, don’t stop reading our threads!

To join, visit the Lobo thread at PinoyExchange.com.

On Gabby and Alec

Though I’ve been pretty much criticizing Shaina Magdayao’s portrayal of Gabby for the duration of the series, I have to show my satisfaction with her scene last night, when she finally told Noah her love for him. This whole time I’ve been bouncing back and forth trying to narrow who Gabby really is, and last night, I finally got it: she’s not the tough soldier I thought she was trying to portray before, but rather, in the inside, she’s just a little pup wanting to be loved that was forced to join the world of the Luna in order to survive the poverty she faced as a child. Could that be why she loves Noah so much, because he can be the rock she can lean on? Let’s face it, Gabby isn’t the hard-hearted, straight-face kind of girl, but rather, she’s very emotional and that’s already affected her as a soldier.

For now, and I think the majority of the “Wolfies” from the Lobo thread at PEx can agree with me when I say that Gabby should at least be given another chance at the love she so needs. And the main contender I have in mind is no other than Alec. Did anyone capture the sheer chemistry between these two when they went head to head with each other? John Pratts, be afraid, be very afraid! Seriously, kudos to whoever cast Geoff Eigenmann in this series — it’s probably the best character I’ve seen him play yet!

My Girl

Watch Episode 8 (Yesterday’s Episode) Now!

[LINK REMOVED - Go to the Navigation on the Right]

Don’t forget to thank the subbing team. They’re probably the only team I know subbing this series (and probably the only Filipino series subbed on a continuous basis). Also, today’s episode, episode 9, will be uploaded and subbed tomorrow. So, until then!

Happy drama watching!