Before anything else, Mark Anthony ---- why are you so hot?
Warning: Spoilers ahead
Review: Second Episode Keeps the Promise
AKO SI KIM SAM SOON charms its way through. It does not disappoint from the promise it leaves us in its last episode, in fact, it got better. That is really a relief, because usually when Philippine dramas have their first grandiose pilot, they kind of have a “lag time” or fall flat afterwards. So far the scenes and the way the circumstances are at hand, are very different from the original but somehow you can see the effort of capturing the essence of Sam Soon and Sam Shik with SamSoon and Cyrus. Even though the plot directions are different it still as the same zest and wit that the original offered… but the best thing about this remake is it can stand truly on its own as almost a separate entity from the original. And why is that? Though, the actors are doing a fine job with their performances, I think the true stars of this show are the people behind the scenes as seen in each scene that seems carefully crafted in this episode.
So we start with the dashing man saving Bridezilla Samsoon from jumping off of that bridge. He crashes into her, like a knight in shining armor… we are lost in their eyes, lost in the moment--- with the romantic, “Maybe It’s You” playing softly in the background.
But right as both their eyes widened, the music cuts abruptly and they both snap out of it. Samsoon freaks out that she lost the ten thousand pesos worth of an engagement ring. She could by two phones and sacks of flour, she says!
The handsome guy was rather befuddled with her reaction… in fact, there she was throwing fits and punching him right then and there. Here he was saving her life because of this “mortal sin to God” and this is what she does?
In their heated bickering, he tells her to just jump off the building. She on the other hand, would like to punch his face.
This early on the chemistry between the two actors is tremendous, the short scene between them in the beginning of the episode would leave us wanting for more.
But the acting part is almost just an “aside”, the next few scenes just wham at us in a moment of “AHA!”
The story is told quite effectively, there it happens the connection of SamSoon and Cyrus revealed itself to us… is nothing short of seamless.
They intercut the scenes effectively… we start with a depressed Sam Soon who listens to her boisterous (but so cute) little sister try to make her pathetic life “better” by constantly talking about her situation with men (or lack of it). She tells her, even though she got dumped by a handsome man, even when it seems like she has no chance, even when she looks dumb being walked out of in a wedding… the bright side is he could have cheated on her when they are married (hahaha thanks for the consolation?). She then reassures her that she will find a handsome, kind, and strong man who would not break her heart.
From there we fade into a scene as Eliza narrates the ideal man--- Cyrus, the not-so-knight-in –shining-armor is slowly revealed to us . He walks with a hint of swagger and at the same time a dash of child-like nonchalance.
Cyrus, is a young restaurant owner who is constantly nagged by his glamorous and meticulous mother (played by the sexy Carmi Martin) to settle down. Little Mama's Boy that he is... even a bit scared of his rather cunning mother he settles and goes on set-up dates.
He complains to his best friend that he cannot stand the high-class but brainless girls his mom often pushes to him. He was bored out of his mind as he sat lazily in his date with a beautiful girl (played by Cheska Garcia), he tells his friend the only main highlight of the date was the incident he saw...
a pathetic Corpse Bride crying for a man.
Then we are whirled back into a familiar scene from Episode 1, although this time it's from Cyrus' point of view.
Cyrus had a shed of little sympathy, but it was more because he could not stand such a pathetic sight. He continued to sip his drink.
He thinks it's the Bridezilla's fault. He says if someone leaves you, you shouldn't care. They have hurt your heart, they shouldn't hurt your pride.
To the shock of his date.
He then tells his friend, he saw the same nutcase trying to kill herself. He hopes never to see such a nightmare again.
This whole sequence was brilliant, it was shown in a fast paced way but enough story was given to us for the audience to get the situation. I honestly did not expect that he was there, I thought if he was there they would have revealed it in the first episode but like shreds of mystery they show it piece by piece.
Another thing that I appreciate about KIM SAM SOON is just when you think it is going to disappoint you or bore you, it gives you a trick right up to its sleeve.
When SamSoon confides with her mother about how much despair she's in, her mother tells her own woes when Samsoon's father died.
For two whole minutes we were given the usual cliche-driven dramatic lines about how one should take these problems. Na dapat "Kayanin mo!"
So much tears. So much sorrow. So much melodrama and right when I was going to fast forward it again...
Mom: Kayanin mo... (You can do it)
SamSoon: (tearful) Hindi ko kaya (I can't)
Mom: Kayanin mo!
Samsoon: (cries even more) Hindi ko kayaaa!
Mom: KAYANIN MO!!!
Samsoon: hindi ko...
Then right then and there... Mom just smacks her right at the head. SO HARD.
And I was laughing so hard. They always tend to surprise me like that.
But SamSoon's woes would be bigger when they discovered that their bakery was being burned.
You have no clue how funny that whole fire scene was, I'll just leave it up to you guys to either watch or rewatch it. From Eliza's "OHHHH BAKA MAY FIREWORKS!" to the OA exploding of the bakery.
So SamSoon... dumped, lonely, jobless, and just feeling really distressed. She spends her long days crossing out jobs and considering Date Match offers on the newspapers.
In her boredom, she tasted some finger licking good brownies from a restaurant called LA DOLCE VITA (haha the title of my fave K-drama at the moment)... then like a light bulb that lit up in her mind, she had a prospect.
The next few scenes were a total HOMAGE to the original KIM SAM SOON... We see the lush exterior of La Dolce Vita...Cyrus walks into the busy restaurant, swerving the doors with his hands, walking with brisk confidence and the camera just swivels with him... all to the tune of a classical violin piece.
Let me just say how REFRESHING it is to see a Filipino remake that actually thought about its transitions and shots? That actually put in some EFFORT into the camera movements and the settings? What a difference does it make to see things so pretty when it is supposed to be. It's a classy restaurant so show a classy restaurant. We have a classy guy, so show a classy guy.
We learn earlier on that LA DOLCE VITA is in need of a new pastry chef after their best one was pirated by a rival company. So taking desperate measures, they need a new pastry chef---stat.
This is when our brash heroine comes in. She walks around with her mango creme pie and her tight girdle hoping she'd get her new job today.
She is interviewed by the snooty Dina, played by the AMAZING comedienne Eugene Domingo, who just steals the show at ever frame she is in.
She judged Sam Soon right on, called her a panadera and dismisses her as just a simple, cheap, bread bun maker. Not a real pastry chef.
In Sam Soon's anger she grabbed a handful of the mango creme pie and literally shoved it into Dina's mouth. Quite a mouthful of cream and mango slices... and cake hanging on to Eugene's face.
And as I laughed there in shock and horror... I was wondering if a real primetime protagonist pull that off?
but then, I guess Sam Soon just has a vivid imagination. So she leaves calm but defeated.
She hangs around the restroom… weeping and crying hysterically. Trying to get her damn girdle out or as she says it, GER-DELLLL!(HAHAHA)!
Then, an insensitive person bangs on the door destroying her dramatic moment.
She yells out at the person... right with her whole bra and her bilbil still popping out.
To her shock, it was a man right in front of her... and there are urinals all over.
She's doing her melodrama in the men's rest room.
Make matters worse it's the same jerk from the Baguio trip.
It was so hilarious just watching Mark Anthony Fernandez's rather violated and disgusted expressions in this scene.
Then he tells her to button up her shirt because, "kitang kita na bilbil mo!" (I just about died at this point)
Poor Sam Soon... got rejected, got dumped, got stuck crying in the men's room, got stuck dealing with the young jerk who seems to care too much about her bulges and fats.
So she gets her one last piece of redemption. One last just for herself. She has had enough.
So there ya go... SPLAT MANGO CREME UP YO FACE!
So beyond the chaos of the Sheena Halili character screaming "TISHYU! TISHYU!" and Samsoon running away...
Cyrus could not stop licking his lips.
It was delicious. It was heaven-sent. It was the best mango creme pie he has ever had.
He was licking it clean on the floor, his eyes were popping in amazement and his smile just suddenly curved.
He runs after her.
Eugene Domingo as Dina, just with her spontaneity and effortless comedy looks at her boss and says, "CREY-ZEE!"
She then kneels down and takes a taste.
"DELICIOUS...WANNA TRY?!"
And by then I lost it, I was tearing up from crying with just that delivery alone.
And finally the episode comes to an end with a quick bodyguard chase.
Sam Soon finally meets Cyrus, the owner of LA DOLCE VITA. She's hired.
AKO SI KIM SAM SOON has points of great kind of light comedy and glimpses of depth to keep its story moving. The cast all work. Regine is now no longer awkward with her character and she totally embraces it. Mark Anthony Fernandez is one hot but incredily endearing leading man who has shown way more nuances than any of our current leading men at the moment. Jennica Garcia is as always great and Eugene Domingo is just godly.
The direction and interpretation of such a script jives well... so we have such a STRONG first episode. I already liked the first one but the second episode was way beyond my expectations.
Just a few quick suggestions though:
- The lighting is a bit too bright blueish---that's why it seems like the men have so much lipstick on or something is because of the really bright BLUE lighting. tone your lenses down a little.
- Though I like Eliza, I hope her love angle with her best friend does not take over the REAL STORY of Kim Sam Soon
Overall, a pleasant surprise of a second episode and I just cannot help but commend the people who showed great effort for this remake... because trust me, it shows. Thanks for giving great homage to MNIKSS.