Oh, Mando! (2020)

Oh, Mando! (2020): A First-Class Pinoy BL Series

Exceptional plot/storyline, superb performance, and wonderful production -- “Oh, Mando!” had all these plus more (like super hot and sexy lead stars, lol!). “Oh, Mando!” is a first-class Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series. It’s a Pinoy romantic comedy (romcom) series with metaphorical fantasy elements in dream sequences.

The symbolic fantasy elements of “Oh, Mando!,” that revolved around gay Rapunzel and Paps Charming, represented real-life issues like family relations; gender identities, sexual orientations, and sexual expressions; and even suicidal tendencies. These issues were clearly shown in the lives of the main characters of this series. Mando, Barry, and Krisha had good character background, depth, and development. Mando was in denial of being gay primarily because he blamed himself for his mother leaving him and his father for a lesbian lover. Bisexual/fluid Barry got cheated on by a boyfriend but he also cheated on his beloved sister Krisha, who was in love with Mando. Hurting his sister drove him to attempt to commit suicide. In more ways than one, Barry and Mando were both problematic characters. Ever since, I’m drawn to flawed characters because they’re realistic and relatable and most of the time, redeemable. There’s no question about it, cheating wasn’t right and what Barry and Mando did behind Krisha’s back was awful. There were no excuses for cheating on this series. And trying to kill yourself will not solve anything. Mando and Barry realized they’re wrong. It took a while, but in the end, time healed all the wounds of the past. Krisha became the star she’s meant to be and she found happiness with her new boyfriend. Barry and Mando were also content with a second chance at being together. But aside from the solid characterizations of Mando, Barry, and Krisha, the support characters were also strong. The stories of the reassuring parents, true friends, and unapologetic professor were seamlessly incorporated into the plot/storyline of this series. Sure, I would have wanted to know more about Mando’s friends Vince and Leslie, but at least their characters were integral to Mando’s development and redemption. Vince and Leslie are my kind of friends -- friends who love me and because they love me, will always call me out when I’m wrong and full of crap. The importance of Professor Siwa’s story cannot be overstated enough. In conservative Philippine society, people still get fired for being gay, and in Professor Siwa’s case, for being a transwoman. She’s a realistic representation of gender-based discrimination in the workplace. But more importantly, with her reinstatement, her story proved that collective action works. And being referred to as Ma’am, Ms. Siwa, after being addressed to as Mr. Siwa for a long time, was a fabulous conclusion to her story. This, and Mando finally being free and admitting to himself that he’s gay, were strong proclamations of triumph.

Script was excellent. Screenplay had funny, heartbreaking, and relevant lines. I loved the hilarious dialogues between Rapunzel and Paps Charming as well as Mando’s humorous internal monologues. Vince and Leslie were always witty. The lines during the confrontation/revelation scene with Mando, Barry, and Krisha was painful. Equally sad were the dialogues between Mando and his parents and Barry and Krisha. There were relevant lines about gender identities, sexual orientations, and sexual expressions uttered by Ms. Siwa that weren’t preachy at all. Yes, the protest chants were a bit cheesy, but they were significant nevertheless.

Magnificent acting performance was evident. The actors made me laugh and cry! Kokoy can do no wrong. It doesn't matter if it’s comedic or dramatic, Kokoy's perfect. He’s an actor's actor. At first, I was worried about Alex but he pretty much held his own throughout this series. He delivered what was expected of him. He was quite good actually. Both Alex and Kokoy looked extra gorgeous on this series. With all those shirtless scenes (and butt exposure scene, lol), they’re certainly among the hottest and sexiest couples in Pinoy BL series. Barbie has always been exemplary and her portrayal on this series was no exception. Veteran actors, especially Joel, were terrific. Renzie and Marynor were awesome as well. Their combo brought some of the funniest moments on this series. I was also glad to see Pinoy BL series actors Migs, Ron, Z, and Sam as guests on this series!

“Oh, Mando!” was really well-made. Production value was pretty high. The dormitory, school, and street settings looked authentic and were very Filipino. I miss fish balls and squid balls, lol! Camera shots were simple yet technically solid. Animation, graphics, and visual effects were mostly fine. Editing was alright. The soundtracks, while not specifically made for the series, were nonetheless appropriate for the scenes. I especially liked “Aray” (Ouch) by Mae Rivera, “Ikaw Na Nga” (It’s Really You) by Andrew Florentino, and “Mabagal” (Slow) by Dan Tañedo and Moira dela Torre.

All in all, I would definitely recommend rewatching “Oh, Mando!,” a first-class Pinoy BL series. It’s a pity that compared to other Pinoy BL series, it’s not being talked about much. Being on iWantTFC (only the first episode’s on Youtube), viewer accessibility has been limited. But if you have the means, please do watch “Oh, Mando!.” It will surely be a great watch.

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