“Trese” was based on the first three issues of its comic book series, written by Budjette Tan and illustrated by Kajo Baldisimo. It is a supernatural horror-drama story that combines Filipino tradition and a crime-thriller backdrop.
The series follows Alexandra Trese (Liza Soberano), a healer-warrior who protects humanity against supernatural beings. She is most known as the present-day “lakan” or the keeper of peace between humanity and the supernatural world.
Acting as her sidekicks are Crispin and Basilio (Simon dela Cruz). Two dashing demigods with the ability of flight and to conjure magical masks and pistons. Hank Sparrow (Christopher Carlo Caling), a bartender and a close ally of the Trese family. And Santelmo (R.J. Celdran), a fire spirit living inside a Nokia 3210 cellphone.
Trese’s day-to-day job is to assist Kapitan Guerrero (Apollo Abraham) with cases involving the supernatural. Although, majority of the cases are procedural, Trese's tactics are more unconventional, involving rituals and the usage of mystical items. She often consults the underworld for insights, such as the Nuno sa Manhole, the Wind Tribes, and tikbalang clan leaders.
But despite her best effort to maintain the balance between worlds, someone is determined to disrupt it. His name is Datu Talagbusao, the god of war. He only wants one thing, to destroy the world and create a new one. And to do that, he needs Alexandra Trese.
Running for six-episodes, 30 minutes each, this Filipino series has a lot to offer to fans and casual viewers.
Filipino love horror movies. They love stories of bizarre events, legends, folklores, mysteries and otherworldly creatures. And “Trese” delivers all of these plus more.
With that said, the most impressive aspect about this series is the meticulous world-building. The myths behind each character or monster are easy to follow and understand.
The homage of “Trese” to Filipino culture extends beyond its folklore, though.
The series treats the viewers with a detailed, hyper-realistic view of Manila. The details on trains, buildings and streets are spot-on.
Other things that the series excels are the character design and the action. For otakus, the fight sequences are a hit or miss. But considering that this is the first neo-noir anime for the Philippines, it is hard not to feel giddy about its potential.
Topping up all these positives is the on-point crude commentary on the current political and social issues such as corruption, police brutality, and poverty. “Trese” did not hold back in voicing out the injustices present in the country.
Despite all these, “Trese” is not perfect.
It suffers from poor pacing and dizzying back-and-forths from present to past. There is not enough pizzazz to hook the plot together. And in a good chunk of the series, there is really nothing going on.
Liza Soberano’s voice acting is obviously flawed, but she shows potential to be better.
In essence, “Trese” is worth the watch. The anime never lacks a deep appreciation of Filipino culture. It is a serious adaptation of the comic book and an genuine attempt to prove to the world that our story is compelling and important.
3.5/5
