Real or Reel?

I have a feeling this will be my new home for the next couple of days/weeks. Lol

Ohhh, there you go hahahah how to begin with the discussion? 

Hello po! bago lang po hehehehe

First of all, brilliant entry Vilo!

I’ve never been good at understanding or reading body language and cues, so your thoughts and insights help frame what I guess most are feeling: that there is much more to the series than what meets the eyes of viewers. It would be easy to just think it’s all kilig and that but as someone commented, the serye has become a reality show, and it’s become difficult (and enjoyable) to discern fact from fiction.

Second, I do hope people would hold their reservations on Alden. He really is at a predicament here. You’ve got millions of people rooting for you to end up with someone you haven’t even met personally but solely on the basis of on-screen chemistry. The pressure must be crazy. Here he is, with the popularity he (and her mother) could only dream of, and he’s faced with viewer pressure to try and please everyone. If I were his age, I’d go nuts. I think he’ll have it tougher because all his actions, in contrast to Maine, will always be framed within the context of him being an actor.

However, I would be more of an optimist and believe he’s a genuinely kind person whose world has taken a huge 360 turn as much as Maine’s life did, and that Alden is grateful for it. Senor Pedro pointed out something interesting, how Alden’s mother and Maine are perhaps the only two women to play such a pivotal role on his life: his pursuit of a showbiz career is in honor of his mother’s legacy; and now he’s unimaginable popularity (and fulfilment of his mother’s dream) brought about by Maine. He must be drawing parallels in his head right now.

Third, I think both Alden and Maine seem to be very sensible people. I hope, as someone also suggested earlier, they don’t succumb to the pressure of their fame and try to even “force” the attraction regardless of their electrifying chemistry. That to me, will be the true test of their sincerity. It’s funny how I actually find Alden to have loosened up over the last few weeks since their first meeting. Maybe the chemistry is seeping in?

I am continuously impressed by Maine. I am impressed by how she’s held up to the constraints and pressures of the show and remained level-headed in both reel and real life disappointments. As I said, the worst that could happen is Maine ending up faring better than Alden in terms of public perception, since she has no “showbiz” background for comparison.

Lastly, I’m absolutely encouraged by how discerning the viewers are. We have a very healthy discussion here of our thoughts and insights about the show, and it’s a big middle finger to critics who assume all of it is frivolous.

---

I'd like to add, that I hope we remember how overwhelming this whole phenomenon must be for both Maine and Alden, and that perhaps we may be asking too much from them. Within that context, we can probably understand better their situation.

Like you maidensynchronity I never really paid attention to local love teams. I mean I get to watch shows or follow celebrities, but to actually be caught up in it is new for me. I only get to watch the Saturday episodes live, the rest I have to watch via YouTube. Didn't bother watching it until saw the first and second meeting of the pair and got hooked because at the time, it was so obvious the "kilig" was real.

Hi. I'm also sharing these series of videos below supposedly confirming Alden's love for Maine. There are a few instances used in the video that I think was a stretch. But seriously, those interviews of Alden prior to the whole Kalye Serye cannot be coincidental, right? Especially that Ryzza Mae Show interview?

i want to shout @ the top of my lungs...just in alden richards tweeted CHIVALRY IS NOT DEAD, o my red cross standby! oxygen please...lol

Hi. I know all of you have watched this week's past episodes. At marami taung napapansin pagbabago sa reaction ng dalawa. I, myself, have also read Mr. Vilo's blog and it made me think that not all we see is for real. Yes, affected anv Lolay kasi I'm betting this reel to be real. Pero ung Sep.22 & 23 ep shows na TNT na to. M has learned to guard herself based sa mga simple responses niya sa FS ni A, pati reactions, plain lang. It can be seen in her eyes. Si A naman, all out. Ung mga banat at how initiate the FS. (May nagsabi sa akin, professional actor siya kaya he can handle his acts out there.) True, pero napansin niyo, this last few gifts ni Lola sa weeksary nila, mas surprised si A kesa kay M. Baka ako lang un, hehehe. At ung ep kahapon, ng sabihing pwede nang umakyat ng ligaw si A, di na akting ung paglulupagi niya dun, uyyy. Naisip ko lang, hindi kaya ang tag na Tamang Panahon ni Lola is galing na din from the people behind the camera. Well, opinion lang po. Yes, A can already make his move but I think his not only thinking of his career pero pati M's. Tas iba na mabiruan ung mga hosts from both sides and obvious ang JoWaPao sa pagiging protective kay M. Ung sa side A, todo support sila, for real.
Siguro nasasabi ko to becoz I don't want to take sides. Both are good persons. Kahit pa nanaig pagiging girl ko after reading Mr. Vilo's blog, we can't just judge Alden, tama?. Thanks.