I was in my early teenage years when we watched this Drama series. La Vendetta revolves around the chaotic life of the Cardinal Family, specifically Eloisa, Amanda, and Almira. One deprived of love, another suffering from mental trauma and low self-esteem, and the other met a tragic end. The conflict started when the soul of the deceased sister haunted the living to exact revenge on her murderer. As the story unfolds, it will also uncover people's vile nature, dirtiest secrets, and hidden desires. It is the first paranormal series on Philippine TV and is a game-changer back then. It led to the birth of a number of horror-themed Pinoy series such as Killer Bride.
The Verdict
La Vendetta's concept is ahead of its time. It came at a time when there was an onslaught of telefantasya on Philippine TV. It was a success despite the show's limited run. The story's strength comes from the unpredictable twists and turns that will leave its audience gaping in awe. You will often feel perplexed about the motivation of the murderer to kill Almira. Everyone was a suspect, and they each have a story to tell that is relatable. It is a gothic fiction that took advantage of the character's death, gloom, and fears. The plot is simple; it involves eight people in an eerie mansion engulfed in the Cardinal Family's messy life.
The show starred three of the biggest names on TV Jean Garcia, Sunshine Dizon, and Jennylyn Mercado. Nonetheless, this is a 'Jean Garcia' show. She was a scene-stealer. Compared to her other works where she was ruthless, Garcia was able to outshine everyone in this series by playing the role of a pitiful villain. There was a beautiful character development that did not feel forced. Eloisa's character here was multi-faceted, but the writer could've played with her character a bit more. There were instances when she was not authentic to the role. For example, when she was so determined in one scene, when in fact, her decisions can easily be influenced by the people around her. Her mannerism and nuances as a person suffering from trauma appeared like acting out a false role.
The supporting casts were equally magnificent, particularly Nana Mildred, JunJun, Joana, and Rhodora. Nana Mildred has perfected the art of providing support to the main character. I doubt if the series would be as effective as it was without her. Rhodora has maintained this mysterious, almost ghastly nature throughout the series. Almira has a limited appearance in the series, but you will feel chills running down your spines whenever she does.
Areas of Improvement
There are instances when you will feel that the series was jumping from one scene to another. Some actions and motivations are illogical. There was a scene when Ariel bribed the staff to make the people believe that he was dead, which in reality was impossible since there would have to be a medico-legal report about his death. I also hoped that the series would not have been too focused on finding the culprit since it felt strained. They could've investigated other crime incidents first that are related to Almira's death.
Nonetheless, the series was able to convey the essence of the story successfully. It is an exhilarating story of vengeance, deception, passion, and love. The time is ripe for GMA to make another series of the same genre.
