Darna: Episode 10

10. Darna's Return

Dadalo ang ama ni Regina sa kanyang paglilitis upang himukin ang anak na galingan pa ang kanyang pagiging manananggol. Magkikita si Narda at Regina kinalaunan at sasabihin ng huli sa una na ang mga kataga ni Leonor ukol sa paggawa ng mabuti ang nag-udyok sa kanya upang maging manananggol. Magmumukmok naman si Ding matapos mapagalitan ni Master Claudio ngunit hihikayatin pa rin ito ng kapatid na huwag sumuko at ipagpatuloy lamang ang kanyang pagsasanay. Babalik ang binata sa kagubatan upang hanapin ang guro subalit ang kanyang matatagpuan ay ang kanyang ina. Madamdamin man ang muling pagtatagpo ay mabilis mapapatunayan ni Ding na hindi talaga si Leonor ang kaharap kundi isa sa mga dayuhang kalaban na may kakayahang magpalit ng anyo. Darating si Narda at halos malilinlang ng kalaban na maibubunyag na si Master Claudio pala. Habang tinutugis ang magkapatid ay aamin ang kalaban na siya rin ang nakalaban ng ina noon na pumatay dito. #DarnaReturns

Mabuti naman at matalinong bata itong si Ding. Tapos na rin talaga ang panahon ng mga tangang tauhan sa mga palabas na ito. Maigi ito dahil napapabilis ang daloy ng pagsasalaysay. Kung ito ay ipinalabas sampung taon na ang nakalilipas ay malamang aabutin ng isa o dalawang linggo ang pang-uuto ni Master Claudio kay Ding. Nabitin naman ako sapagkat inakala ko sa kabanatang ito muling magpapakita si Darna ngunit tila ba ito ang gagamitin nilang pagbubukas ng unang kabanata sa susunod na linggo. Ayos na rin ito dahil may aabangan talaga tayo sa lunes! Napatunayan naman ni Calzado at Jaranilla ang husay sa pagganap. Talaga namang kitang-kita ang kaibahan ng pagganap nila sa talagang tauhan nila at sa mga pagpapanggap ni Master Claudio. Bukod sa laban na ito ay aabangan din natin ang pagbigkas ni Narda sa mga walang kakupas-kupas na katagang “DING, ANG BATO!” pati na rin ang pagpapalit-anyo ni Regina bilang Valentina. Kung kulang pa, mukhang may bagong Extra rin na darating, yung magnanakaw ng mga sasakyan. #DarnaReturns

10. A Mother's Return

Regina’s father attends her hearing to urge her to do better in being a lawyer. Later on, Regina and Narda meet up and the former reminds the latter about how Leonor’s nugget of wisdom regarding doing what is right was responsible for her to want to be a lawyer. Ding mopes around after Master Claudio chastises him, but his sister will convince him not to give up an continue his training. The young man returns to the forest to find his teacher but instead finds his mother there. In spite of a dramatic reunion, Ding quickly discovers that whoever is in front of his is not actually Leonor, but rather one of the enemy aliens who can shapeshift. Narda arrives and almost gets deceived by the enemy who is revealed to be none other than Master Claudio himself. While the siblings are being pursued, the enemy admits out loud that it is he himself who battled their mother and eventually killed her. #DarnaReturns

What a relief that Ding turns out to be a clever kid. We really are way past that era of stupid protagonists in these shows. This is good because plot development is hastened. If this was released 10 years ago, then Master Claudio’s deception of Ding would probably take a week or two to unravel. I’m annoyed by the cliffhanger, though, because I thought Darna would finally make another appearance in this episode but it seems that they will use this as an opening salvo for the first episode next week instead. In a way, this is fine because at least we have something to look forward to this Monday! On the other hand, Calzado and Jaranilla once again prove their acting prowess. You can really see the distinction of their portrayal of their real characters as opposed to those of Master Claudio’s disguises. Aside from this fight, we can also look forward to Darna’s timeless “DING, THE STONE!” line as well as Regina’s transformation into Valentina. If that’s not enough, then we might also be meeting a new Extra: the carnapper. #DarnaReturns

“Kasalanan 'to ng nanay mo e.” –Regina

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