Diva (GMA 7) Pilot: A Review

Disclaimer: I am not a film critic. And I do not consider myself as someone with good knowledge on any technical matter of the script, directing and producing films or TV series. I just would like to rant if it’s bad for me and praise when it’s good for me.

And why can’t I find a good poster picture for the series? It’s something networks should work on. Okay, I know there’s such a thing with IPR that I can’t Save-As the poster picture on GMA7 website but still, they could put a watermark of their station and its theirs. So enough rambling, let’s start this.

I was excited for this show because at least, it’s a “new” story for shows on GMA7. I never watched any TV series locally and go for KDramas instead because all we have here in the country are REMAKES, REMAKES and REMAKES.

So I waited for the pilot episode and never read any synopsis of the story. Which is fortunate for GMA because if I read the synopsis long before the pilot, I would not have watched this show. Before giving my thoughts, here’s the synopsis:

Diva tells the story of Sam (Regine Velasquez) and her group of friends who want to make it big sa music industry. Martin (TJ Trinidad) is a gifted musician who composes great music, na siya namang nako-compliment ng lyricist na si Gary (Mark Anthony Fernandez) who writes well. Rounding out their merry group is Barbra (Jaya), ang best friend ni Sam who compensates for her lack of musicality by becoming the group’s booker/manager.

Fresh from college, the four have banded together in their quest to become big names in the music industry. At agad rin naman silang napansin dahil sa ganda ng boses ni Sam. But there’s a problem–the executives who signed them don’t think Papin has the right look para sumikat. Enter Lady (Rufa Mae Quinto) and Tiffany (Glaiza de Castro).

Si Lady ang magiging mukha ng kanilang group, with Martin, to become a popular acoustic duo. Ang kaso, ganda lang ang meron si Lady. Sam still continues to sing for the duo, albeit only as a ghost singer for Lady. Si Tiffany naman ang pinsan at alalay ni Lady na fiercely loyal dito, kahit na lagi siyang inaapi nito.

There will come a point na hindi na matitiis ni Sam si Lady. She goes through a makeover and emerges as the new singing sensation: Melody.

Magkikitang muli sina Melody at Tiffany. Nang Makita ang pagpupursige ni Tiffany na sumikat, Melody decides to help her out and turns her into a star. Pero dahil sa pagsikat ni Tiffany, magiging competitor pa siya ni Melody!

Can Melody retain her crown as the Ultimate Diva or mapapalitan ba siya ng sariling protege? Ano ang mangyayari once people find out that Sam and Melody are one and the same? Ano ang magiging reaksyon ni Martin when he finds out that Barbra and Gary knew Melody’s secret all along?

200 Pounds Beauty much? With the ghost singer and makeover. I know there’s a local movie or a movie that has its protege going against the trainer but I forgot the title.

Is this a remake? No, not really. But not original much too. And I also don’t like themes or plot dealing with “Ugly Duckling who was maltreated then becomes the Beautiful Swan who is now the Star”. But I’ll be talking about this a little later.

So going to the pilot episode (when I’m still unaware of the synopsis), it was a fabulous pilot episode. I like how the awards ceremony was not Araneta-Coliseum-ish-fabulous but at least, it has budget and real showbiz stars. It was a flashback so by the time I’m watching Regine as Melody (beautiful swan), I was in disbelief that her character indeed went to a makeover to reach this far.

I love the cameos. Sabado Boys drinking while singing while Ms. Gloria (Melody’s mom) and Mr. Buboy (Melody’s dad) were working to produce her.

I love the fast pace of the story. By the first episode, Regine has gone from an infant, to a child who has not utter a word since birth but upon hearing music, she began singing “Thank you for the music lalalala”, then to a teenager then to Regine.

I love how it lives up to its title Kantaserye. In every 3 or 4 minutes (okay, this is exaggerated but you get the gist), they are singing a song. I am just worried that they might not be consistent about this. That by the time we are in the episodes for next week, there are only one to two songs per week.

In all honesty, I was conjuring this entry on my mind last night and it was filled with positive thoughts. But now, upon reading the synopsis, my belief that GMA7 is the best (Yes, I am a Kapuso) is now beginning to shatter. Nevertheless, I don’t think I’ll ever be a Kapamilya so that might be something good.

What I hate about the show is that the characters and the theme is not original. Maybe it was too much to ask for originality but then, do away with those stereotyped characters. I believe the setting is province. And I am a probinsiyana myself. Was an ugly person being bullied that much? I don’t think I ever experienced seeing one. Or if she was indeed bullied, she was feisty enough to fight back.

So you see what I’m getting at. My problem with the character is being such a weak one. And maybe it’s because of her family that she was one especially her mother. She was too weak that she ended-up as a ghost singer and then resorting to makeover to become a star and to end the abuse of those around her.

I’ve got so many things to say but my disappointment at the synopsis is getting me so mad. You’ve got such good actor with the script? I really don’t know.

So will I still watch it? Yes, I believe so. Maybe because I want to give it the benefit of the doubt and prove the disbelieving me that maybe the script is so good and the synopsis isn’t and that the actors could do so well even if the script is so bad. I just hope they’ll be consistent with the song productions.

And I’m so excited for TJ Trinidad. He’s the only one I’ve been rooting for in this production.

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~ by flissbreak on March 2, 2010.