‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real’: Will it live to the ‘Buzz’ it created?

Based on the first episode of ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real’, GMA-7’s latest Primetime Telebabad drama series, which aired on June 2—it was clear that it tackles not just a simple conflict between a wife and the other woman as opposed to ABS-CBN 2’s top-rater show ‘The Legal Wife’. Kapuso’s latest series is about two women betrayed and cheated by one man.

At first glance, it’s like any other ‘wife and the mistress’ sort of issues. But, what makes this soap ‘interesting’ and ‘intriguing’—is the idea of two wives, played by the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano as Millette Gonzales-Real and Lovi Poe as Shiela Salazar-Real.

Frankly, I thought Millette was not really married to Anthony Real portrayed by Dingdong Dantes. Why so? From the ambulance scene, it was abruptly dissolved to ten years later—showing Anthony and a boy (which later on was revealed as the couple’s adopted son) greeting Millette on bed with a ‘happy anniversary’ cake.

In the story, it attempted to establish how strong and blissful the married life of Millette and Anthony, which endured for years, until the man met the Cebuana woman named Shiela. That’s when Anthony’s faithfulness began to be tested. He fell in love with Shiela and eventually made her as his second wife in the succeeding episodes.

The soap maybe about two wives and not anchored on ‘hysterias’ and ‘clichés’ of wife versus the other woman, but people would still associate this as another case of ‘who’s the legal wife?’ thingy. It’s just a matter of how they present the ‘conflicts’ and the ‘twists’.

‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real’ versus ‘The Legal Wife’.

Suzette Doctolero, the creative head of the show said, “We know na may ‘Legal Wife’. Alam namin na pwedeng magkapareho ng trajectory ng kuwento. Pero I assure you, ibang-iba.”

Again, what makes ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real’ different?

In ‘The Legal Wife’, they have Angel Locsin pitting against Maja Salvador for the love of one man. But with GMA-7’s—it’s about two wives; fighting for their rights. It’s a case of bigamy, which is really happening in a society that is dominated by Catholics and a taboo in a Christian perspective.

If Doctolero claimed that theirs is real drama that tackles about relationships, where does that leave ‘The Legal Wife’?

 Apart from the ‘bigamy issue, the only thing that I can clearly see that differs this Andoy Ranay directorial assignment is that Dingdong Dantes’s character—Anthony Real married first a more senior woman and chose to take a younger woman as his second wife.

The show’s captive audiences are the women in their 30s and above.

In analyzing further—there was already an obvious disparity between the two women—Millette and Shiela. Millette is the ‘legal wife’ and Shiela’s marriage maybe ‘null and void’, but she’s the most likely the men’s choice instead. That further adds another sort of audience for the show—the second wife or the mistresses.

Let me remind the audience, Millette isn’t really ‘perfect’ as wife. First, she’s way senior than Anthony, but filthy rich. She failed to bear a child, which is like what happened between Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII of England. The difference between Anne and Millette, the latter at her age has greater risk of getting pregnant and the former bore a daughter. I am not sure if this is what the creative team are trying to drive at in the coming days and parallel it to story on the Boleyn sisters.

Dingdong Dantes: The Only Choice for the Role?

There’s no denying that Dantes is one of the country’s gorgeous actors and one of today’s sought-after leading men. Anthony’s character may very well fit him since it’s really intended for him. But looking back, he had a similar character where he starred opposite Ms. Lorna Tolentino in ‘Pahiram Nang Isang Sandali’, another Kapuso TV series aired in November 2012. Its theme is another ‘May-December love affair’. The creative people may have defended that—Millette and Anthony’s case is another ‘May-December love affair’, but both are still married.

Being the only choice to assume the role, I guess the greater challenge is how he can transform from being the ‘knight in shining armor’ to becom ing the husband-monster. It is just a matter of tackling a bida-kontrabida kind of role. Then that would be refreshing to watch out for.

If Millette’s image is an ideal wife to Anthony, then what about the latter’s motives of having another wife? And if Dingdong is the only choice to tackle the said role, I guess it could have been appropriate to center it on Anthony and change the soap’s title as ‘Two Mrs. Real’s Husband’.

Then having such title, where will that place the Diamond Star? As a support?

Is this Maricel Soriano’s ‘Right’ Comeback?

When we talk about the biggest star in ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real’—the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano shouldn’t be sharing billing with Lovi Poe in the title.

I’ve grew up watching Soriano and I would not deny that I am one of her biggest fan. I’ve always admire her as an actress. Among her contemporaries (not even Sahron Cuneta), she’s the only one who can effectively pull-off a protagonist-antagonist role. I will always love and hate her in the Maryo J. Delos Reyes’s 1984 film titled ‘Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit’
Because of that, I cannot imagine her doing a support or simply be standing side by side with Lovi Poe as her rival for Dingdong’s character.

Soriano may have suffered some blows in her career, but assuming the role of Millette maybe fitted for her but still I find it quite untimely. I’m having difficulty identifying with Milette’s struggles. I should feel for her character since my late mom was a victim of my dad’s infidelity.

Prior to watching the first episode, Doctolero already told me that they do not want two quarreling women in the show. Probably that was the reason why ‘somehow’ Soriano’s facial expression was a bit tamed when dramatic scenes are called for. Probably I just miss the ‘brand’ of acting that she has shown in her movies and TV series in the past. I felt that she was even more moving when she was doing ‘Oh My Mama’ back in 1981.

For me, ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real’ is just too premature for Soriano to do. The role maybe tailored-fit for her, but she failed to better her best in her previous films even with the one with Direk Maryo J. Delos Reyes’s 2007 film ‘A Love Story’ opposite Aga Muhlach.

Not All Interesting Mix of Cast Members.

Celeste Legaspi as Aurora Gonzales, the mother of Millette is just awesome. It has something to do with her facial features that made her appropriate for the role. Having Coney Reyes as Sonia Real, Anthony’s mom is a welcome character; it is an unusual one for her to breathe into—motherly and over-protective to her sons.

Robert Arevalo as Henry Gonzales, Tommy Abuel as Justino Salazar, and Jaime Fabregas—are all equally great veteran actors, but they could have been great if they were re-assigned to these characters: Arevalo as Justino, Abuel as Jun, and Jaime as Henry, respectively.

Also, I don’t find Alessandra De Rossi as Sanday Alegre, Millette’s friend as effective. Rodjun Cruz from his stint in ‘My Husband’s Lover’ could have been given a more heavier role and not just the brother of Anthony.

Dominic Roco as Daniel Salazar, Shiela’s brother, Marc Abaya as Vincent Dumlao as a Cebuano engineer as well as Marco Alcaraz as Shiela’s Cebuano suitor do not sound authentic as Cebuanos.

Loopholes in Storytelling.

The cast may have shot in Cebu, but the dialogues may have made it even more ‘real’ as they could have sounded like the locals.

Main characters should be larger than life in some ways, but still within the possibilities for humans. Thus, if they are called to be Cebuanos in their characters—they should be close to who they are called for; something about who they are or what they do must stand out as being unique or extraordinary. They should distinct and unforgettable in all they do. In this series, I find some need for strengthening each character to make the story move forward.

I am sure that those who craft the story know exactly what I am talking about. Characters must have a story (or back story) to tell, which provides a sense for their origins. These will further build-up the characters. Or maybe use events in the past to justify how a character exhibits certain behaviors in the present and all and why are it occurring in the present.

Also, as a Cebuano, we do not just serve lechon in an ordinary day like when Anthony and Vincent came to the Salazars’ residence. I was wondering did they really research on this. I assume that when Anthony and Allan arrived in Cebu, Vincent already treated them with the sumptuous dishes in Cebu, which include the lechon.

I do hope that in the future episodes, the production would put more emphasis in covering up the loopholes and don’t settle for ‘puwede na yan’ kind of show.

The creative and the production must re-think if what really the arch in everything of the story is. If this is Maricel Soriano’s big comeback, then make this a great vehicle to capitalize her inclusion in the cast. I remember there was an idea that floated that Anthony’s character is the one who started all the conflict. If that is the case, then—the title is not even appropriate.

As a drama series, ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real’ should live to the ‘buzz’ it created. It has a great promise, but in terms of writing the script, it is quite problematic. Just take the case of the ambulance scene. From where Millette was rescued by Anthony—it took for them that long to get to the hospital. It was already sundown, I assume the creative people knew about the Highway Code that indicates one should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police cars and any other emergency vehicles, whenever on the road. One should move out of the way when it is safe and appropriate without contravening road laws, or endangering one’s self or anyone else in the area. Given this code, then, it wouldn’t be impossible for Millette to reach the hospital earlier.

Things like these are essential and scenes should be handled properly and realistically as well.

Frankly, let me throw this question—would you prefer watching a series that tends to drag or a series that is peppered with all the elements that will excite its intended captive audience? How does this GMA-7 series stand a chance against ‘The Legal Wife’?

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