Darna: Episode 13

13. Darna Saves the Day

Ikatutuwa ng sambayanan ang muling pagsulpot ng babaeng lumilipad at mapapamahal agad-agad si Darna sa kanila. Matapos makauwi ay paaaminin ni Roberta ang mga apo sa muling paglabas ni Darna gawang alam naman talaga niya ang lihim na ito ni Leonor noon pa man. Nagtataka lamang siya kung saan nanggaling ang bato dahil nawala na nga ito kasama ni Leonor. Maiinis naman si Regina kay Darna at maghahaka-haka na marahil isa ito sa mga tauhan nila dahil lahat ng pagsulpot nito ay namamataan sa paligid lamang ng kanilang tanggapan. Aatasan niya ang alalay na tuklasin kung sino ba talaga ang babaeng lumilipad. Si Bryan pa lamang ang tumatawag na Darna kay Darna sa ngayon sapagkat naaalala pa niya ang salaysay ng ama tungkol sa pagpapakilala sa kanya ni Darna noong buhay pa ito. Buhay pa pala si Master Claudio at makakatakas mula sa bituka ng tuko. Samantala, magpapakita si Heneral Borgo kasama ng kanyang babaeng alalay at magtataka kung bakit hindi si Zora/Leonor ang Darnang kanilang nasisilayan. #DarnaSavesTheDay

Hindi rin talaga ako lubos na nagagandahan sa paglipad ni Darna. Marahil ay isa lamang ito sa kakaunting kapintasan na maari nating ibato kay de Leon at Calzado. Halata kasing nakatali lamang silang dalawa habang lumulutang. Ang nakikita kong dahilan dito ay ang kanilang tindig. Maaari namang gawing matuwid ang likod at bigyang-diin ang dibdib upang ipakita na sila ay lumilipad at hindi itinali lang. Nauunawaan ko rin naman na maaring mahirap gawin iyon habang nakatali subalit kung titignan maigi ay tila ba mga kuba sila na lumulutang. Isa ko pang madalas makalimutan ay ang pinagbatayan ni Mars Ravelo sa paglikha niya kay Darna na walang iba kundi si Superman. Mula sa mga batong may kapangyarihan hanggang sa saloobin ni Regina na paano kung biglang pumitik si Darna at gamitin ang kanyang kakayahan sa kasamaan, sino ang pipigil sa kanya? Mahalaga ang kaalamang ito sapagkat sa panahon ngayon ay maaring isipin ng mga kabataan na gaya-gaya lamang si Darna. #DarnaSavesTheDay

13. An Explosive Return

The masses are delighted with the return of the flying woman and Darna immediately becomes endeared to them. After getting home, Roberta pressures her grandchildren to spill the beans regarding Darna’s comeback because she obviously knows about this secret of Leonor even from way back. She is just curious as to where the stone came from knowing the it already disappeared with Leonor. Regina openly exhibits her displeasure towards Darna and assumes that she might be one of their employees given how her appearances are always observed just in the vicinity of their office. She will ask her assistant to find out who the flying woman really is. Bryan, on the other hand, is the only person so far to refer to Darna as Darna as he recalls his father’s anecdote as to how Darna introduced herself to him back when he was still alive. It turns out Master Claudio is still alive after escaping from the gecko’s intestines. Meanwhile, Heneral Borgo and his assistant show up and are wondering why the Darna they are watching is not Zora/Leonor. #DarnaSavesTheDay

I am really not that sold with Darna’s flying scenes. Perhaps this just one of the few criticisms that we can hurl towards de Leon and Calzado. It is because it’s so obvious that they are just using a harness while floating. One reason I see here is their posture. It is totally possible to straighten the back even more and make the chest more prominent to show that they are flying and not just suspended there. While I understand that it might be difficult to achieve while tied to a harness, if you observe them closely it’s as if they were nothing more than floating hunchbacks. Another thing that I always tend to forget is how Mars Ravelo based his creation of Darna on Superman. From stones that grant powers all the way to Regina’s thoughts about what would happen if Darna suddenly snaps and uses her powers for evil as well as who will stop her. This tidbit of information is important nowadays. Otherwise, the youth of today might just dismiss Darna as mere imitation. #DarnaSavesTheDay

“Why? Kasi nagliligtas siya ng tao? Yes. For now. Pero Narda, sino ang nakakaalam kung bakit niya ginagawa ang mga 'to? What if one day meron siyang makaaway. Ka-bad trip-an. Or what if she suddenly decides to use her powers para sa kasamaan. Sinong makakapigil sa kanya? Honestly, what separates that girl from the other Extras is just one bad hair day. One day, she will snap at kawawa tayong lahat.” –Regina

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