I gave you a chance. Several chances even. And I have to admit, you were interesting at the start. But oh how fast you quickly sank into clichés and sloppy execution. Yes, you. I am talking to you, My Husband’s Lover.
I mean, seriously? There’s dialogue masked—not ingeniously, if I may add—as a Guide To Straight-Acting Gays 101. There’s the classic “domineering mom and distant dad (who may actually be closeted himself)” family background. Kuh Ledesma’s character is a one-note complaining cardboard.
Speaking of notes, every time I hear the opening bars of the theme song “One More Try,” I feel like throwing a pillow at the screen. What’s with playing Kuh’s song after a couple of scenes? Did they pay an arm and a leg for the license fees? Don’t they know the concept of overkill?
Speaking of overkill, Carla Abellana’s VO is grating in its repetition, as if her character needs to underline again and again and again and again and again and again that She. Loves. Her. Husband.
The pace is slowly grinding to a numb-inducing crawl, replete with repeating scenes and extended “moody looks” shots so typical in TV soaps. So what’s wrong with sticking to TV soap conventions? Wouldn’t that make this gay soap more acceptable to regular viewers?
Yes, we’ve never had straight-acting gay guys as lead characters in a prime-time soap. That itself is cause for celebration. And there are worthwhile elements in the soap. But why stop there? If you’re going to make a soap that breaks boundaries with its subject matter, might as well break boundaries with the execution as well. There’s still time.
Demanding much, you say? Hey, you raised the bar first. Now raise it well.
