Can I just say that I am loving this trend of high quality Filipino action thrillers showing on Netflix – from rivals TV5, ABS-CBN, and GMA 7?
As someone who grew up on Filipino soap operas revolving around romance and revenge, it’s amazing to see this level of production value from these new series.
A Secret in Prague (TV5)
It starts with a typical Filipino story – the eldest child who has to go abroad to support his family back home. Wholesome, affable Mikoy (Enrique Gil) travels to Prague for work so that his younger brother could go to college. At the restaurant he works for, he meets Chiara (Andrea Brillantes), who nearly instantly falls in love with him.
The catch is that Chiara turns out to be the half-Filipina daughter and heir apparent of a Czech mobster, Viktor Valtrovi (Ruben Maria Soriquez).
Image: IMDB/A Secret in Prague
Mikoy meets government law enforcement special agents Alex (Kim Domingo) and Sianong (Cedrick Juan) who try to convince him to spy for them as they have been investigating Chiara’s family’s mob for a while. When Mikoy resists, his innocent, diligent brother Angelito (Mark Ian Garcia), is caught in a drug bust and Mikoy is left no choice but to proceed as the government’s asset in return for the charges against his brother to be dropped.
Image: IMDB/A Secret in Prague
The rushed romance is not so convincing, but the punchy pace, lighthearted humor, colorful characters, and spy thriller action sequences… featuring female leads that are fearless, battle-hardened fighters in stark contrast to earnest, goofy male leads; makes it an entertaining watch.
Blood Versus Duty (ABS-CBN)
The series starts with a bang, as law enforcement special forces, Task Force Alpha, storm through a tranquil island to apprehend a high-profile suspect, Datu Rahman (Jaime Fabregas), of illegal firearms smuggling.
What was supposed to be a peaceful capture escalates as communications from the control center are disrupted and triggers an exchange of fire between the two sides.
Image: ABS-CBN/Blood Vs Duty
Datu Rahman’s adoptive son, Jalil (Gerald Anderson), fights back but is severely outmatched in numbers and in weapons as squad leader Marcus Reyes (Richard Gutierrez) makes the arrest.
The once peaceful island in Mindanao lies in ruins, and several members of Marcus’ squad are brought back to Manila with severe injuries and later die in the hospital.
Image: ABS-CBN/Blood Vs Duty
Marcus carries the guilt of his friends’ and colleagues’ deaths from the botched operation and becomes obsessed with seeking the truth from the island bloodbath and why there is such a strong interest in the capture of Datu Rahman, amidst a background of religious and cultural biases.
In particular, his colleagues Agent Lara Angeles (Bela Padilla) and SPO4 Felix Domingo (Baron Geisler), both members of Task Force Alpha, seem to have deeper motivations than meets the eye. Both agents have traumatic pasts that have triggered psychological illnesses, and both supporting roles are masterfully acted.
Image: ABS-CBN/Blood Vs Duty
The Master Cutter (GMA 7)
Dubbed the neighborhood Master Cutter, Atoy Padua (Dingdong Dantes), is a tailor quietly continuing his late father Delfin’s (Joey Marquez) small business.
After several years of a contentious relationship and a late reconciliation before his father’s demise in a hit-and-run, Atoy decides to honor his memory by keeping their modest tailoring shop open.
Image: IMDB/Master Cutter
Unbeknownst to many, Atoy was a Special Forces agent who specialized in finding people and objects of interest, both high and low profile.
The family drama is as heavy as the action scenes are high-octane.
If you enjoy action-packed spy shows with disguises and mysteries, this series has it all, including the added bonus of having a lot of humor and heart.
Image: IMDB/Master Cutter
Because seemingly withdrawn and standoffish Atoy, used to working alone, unwillingly meets several friends along the way, from a mysterious island teacher to a smart-mouthed pickpocket.
The pacing is just right, with never a dull moment. As Atoy helps others find what they have lost, he also unwittingly brings himself closer to the justice he wanted for his father’s death.
Image: IMDB/Master Cutter
Have you watched any of these recently? Which one did you like best?
Let us know what you think in the comments!
0 comments