This review may contain spoilers
Hit the spot on the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines
The Filipino historical teleserye Pulang Araw has captivated audiences with its rich portrayal of wartime life and Filipino resilience during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The show follows characters like Adelina Dela Cruz (played by Barbie Forteza) and her brother Eduardo (Alden Richards), with Adelina and Eduardo's love interests: Hiroshi (David Licuaco) and Teresita (Sanya Lopez) who is Adelina's half sister. exploring their complex family dynamics and the challenges they face in a time marked by colonization and social conflict. The series has been praised for its authentic period details, like costumes and language, which transport viewers to the 1940s and help immerse them in the era's struggles and cultural nuances.The cinematography in Pulang Araw is also notable, with director Dominic Zapata using a mix of wide shots and close-ups to capture the intensity of war scenes. The production team’s attention to detail, from traditional wardrobes to period-accurate military uniforms, enhances the visual experience and keeps historical accuracy at the forefront. The use of color grading distinguishes between past and present events, adding a layer of visual storytelling that helps audiences navigate the narrative's timelines.
Performances by the cast, especially child actors, have been widely celebrated for their emotional depth, with critics highlighting how these roles add poignancy to the storyline. Overall, Pulang Araw is seen as a heartfelt exploration of Filipino identity, portraying themes of love, sacrifice, and resistance with a dramatic intensity typical of teleserye narratives.
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Plot: 4/10
The start of the series is slow and boring. The latter part has some thrill in it but falls flat in storytelling. It felt like the writer was trying so hard to get some shock value as if telling the audience "Look here, aren't they pitiful? Cry and have some pity. This is what happened to women back then. Horrible isn't it? Here, more tragedy so you can cry for more" - that's how it feels like while watching the series. The entire thing felt like it was "forcing" the audience to feel something for the characters - something that could be done with better writing, without it feeling forced
I have seen similar dramas showing Japanese brutality. I have seen dramas that show the suffering of comfort women but most of them don't feel too forced.
The story just keeps going in circles. There was no depth for the characters as well. I blame it all on bad writing.
And the lines, some lines are too cringe. Again, it's as if the writers wanted a line that will go viral or will be used as a "hugot" line.
Also, the characters felt "too modern" - the way they speak, their looks and overall acting are way too modern (especially Adelina and Teresita)
Acting: 8/10
Barbie(Adelina) doesn't fit well with historical dramas. She has what we call an iPhone face. She looks too modern for that period and let us be honest, even the way she talks sounds too modern.
Dennis(Yuta) carried this drama imo. Yuta as a villain isn't that interesting. His backstory isn't that interesting and even the reason for his actions lacks depth. To be honest, I would prefer it if they didn't give him that sob backstory. There wasn't anything special about Yuta. But Dennis made him interesting. He managed to make Yuta a scary psychopath. He does not need to say any lines, he already looks intimidating just by doing nothing.
David - improved A LOT compared to his previous works. Unfortunately, his character seems to be stuck as Adelina's simp. The story could go on without him.
Alden - His character was the most interesting at the start of the series. Alden's acting made me feel his desperation and his struggle being a peasant - abused by the rich people he works for. Unfortunately, his character also started to become boring in the latter part of the story. The story could also go on without him.
Rochelle(Amalia) - I think she has the most realistic acting, a lot of her lines are cringey though but she is one of those actresses that made me really feel for her character. I wish there was more for her character unfortunately current episode (90) just put her into another horrible situatiion and that gets tiring tbh
Supporting actors - Japanese soldiers - they all did well looking intimidating. I honestly thought they hired real Japanese actors, that's how good those extras were.
The black horse of this series imo is Jay(Akio) - I thought he would be the one who would kidnap Teresita and that he was the main villain. The actor did great looking like a creepy stalker. The actor made Akio look like a complex character.
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