One Day Pag-ibig (2021)

Interesting basic idea, but a lot of space for improvement

It took me a while until I decided to write a review, because I usually don't write one if I don't like a series, and I didn't like it at all at first. However, I had the beautiful ost song 'Kund pwede lang' by Clark Blancaflor in one of my playlists. That song made me rewatch the series some days ago, and now I do like it.

The basic idea is the 'guardian angel' topic: A desperate boy is about to commit suicide, calls a number he finds on the railing of a bridge he's going to jump down from, and the boy who answers persuades him to stay alive. Without knowing each other, the two boys meet by coincidence, are enemies at first, but become friends/boyfriends within a day (hence the title 'One day love').

This idea would have provided a good story, but the script has some issues that are, to put it mildly, confusing. Loads of side characters, some of them mere caricatures, divert attention from the main couple too often. Whereas the background of the 'desperate boy', Roi, is being told step by step, so his actions and character become understandable, the story of his 'saviour', Kyle, remains superficial.

Some scenes are barely credible, like ex-lovers appearing out of nowhere, Kyle falling into a pool twice, almost drowning although the water isn't deep enough for that, his friends standing around yelling at each other instead of 'rescuing' him,etc etc. In short, the script lacks quality. Sound and 'cinematography' have a lot of space for improvement, too.

There are a few things, however, that make this series watchable. Although the acting is poor (you can't actually call most of the crew actors), the main couple, Ivo Rosimo as Kyle and Allen Caguioa as Roi, show glimpses of talent, especially Allen is lovely in some scenes. Same can be said about Clark Blancaflor and Dane-Dane Hernandez who would have deserved a little more screentime (which one could have achieved by leaving out some unnecessary side characters). The story, although clumsily told, is basically interesting. The best thing is the ost which mainly consists of the 'Kung pwede lang' song.

It seems there is going to be a season two, and if so, I only hope that the script will be more consistent, actors better trained, technical issues resolved, and screenwriter/director Ranz Gonzales (whose 'review' you can read below ;-) gains more experience. As I am an unshakeable optimist, I'm looking forward to it.

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