Netflix – C. Militar Writes

I finished watching Stranger Things season 4 volume 1–and I have thoughts about it

Warning: This blog contains spoilers from volume one of the fourth season of Stranger Things

Fans have long awaited the return of the Netflix show Stranger Things since season three ended back in 2019. However, because of the pandemic and other reasons surrounding production, the release date for the fourth season was moved to May of this year.

Luckily, May has since passed and we’re already in the first few weeks of June, so viewers (like myself) can happily binge-watch volume one of the fourth season. And let me tell you, it’s one hell of a ride!

Seriously, you might not be ready for it! Via GIPHY

This fourth season introduces viewers to the stronger, more powerful supernatural being called Vecna. This creature can inhabit the minds of people with trauma and cause them to hallucinate and eventually die. And with the deaths piling up in Hawkins, the gang must find a way to defeat Vecna and stop him from ever reopening new portals in their small town.

With the characters divided into different groups including Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) who is still figuring out a way to restore her powers, only time will tell if they can succeed and save their home town from yet another attack from the Upside Down.

Overall, it was a solid half of a season… but I did have some thoughts about it while watching. Here’s what came to mind while streaming the series:

It had a slow start but picked up by episode three

The first two episodes, in my opinion, were a bit slow. Although I understand the showrunners needed to establish what the characters have been doing––especially since some of them did already leave Hawkins––there were scenes where it felt slow and could’ve picked up the pace a bit.

However, when episode three came, the flow of the story felt gradual and the build-up to episode four was great.

I appreciated the parallels with ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’

Vecna’s method of killing is very similar to that of Freddy Krueger on Nightmare on Elm Street, wherein Krueger would trap his victims in their dreams and then kill them there. Vecna acts similarly by invading his victims’ mind and then slowly killing them in their possessed state.

Additionally, I liked the idea that the producers cast Robert Englund, the actor who plays Krueger in the horror film franchise, as Victor Creel in the Netflix show. It’s a good nod to fans of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies and an interesting easter egg for Stranger Things viewers.

Max was the star of this season

This season’s plot gave Sadie Sink’s Max a story arc that allowed her to showcase her acting prowess. From portraying a sister traumatized by her brother Billy’s death to becoming a young lady that finds new hope in her friends, Sink’s ability to express emotions on screen is admirable and it’s what keeps you on the edge of your seat while watching the first half of this season.

I’m not a fan of the whole Steve and Nancy rekindling their relationship

Personally, I think the ship has sailed for a Nancy-Steve relationship. Fans, like myself, have seen Nancy (Natalia Dyer) choose Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) over Steve (Joe Keery) in the past seasons; so the fact that the showrunners are starting up this whole Nancy-Steve-Jonathan love triangle again is just repetitive and (sorry to say this) just plain boring.

And I’m not the only one who thinks this. In an article written by Therese Lacson for the Collider, Lacson describes the idea of putting Nancy back in a relationship with either Jonathan or Steve as “unnecessary.”

“She’s (Nancy) a strong enough character to stand on her own, something we clearly saw in the most recent season. The series should focus on cultivating her platonic relationships and framing her as the lead detective of the group,” she explains in the post.

Moreover, I think the show creators and writers should just keep the Nancy-Jonathan pairing and give Steve a love interest that can complement his character’s growth and give him a happy ending in the series––and let’s be honest, Steve, of all the characters, deserves it!

Steve better NOT die in volume two of the fourth season

Speaking of Steve, the writers better not do us dirty and kill him off in the second half of the season.

The reason I’m bringing this up is because we saw Steve get attacked by those bat-like creatures in the first half of the fourth season. This left him with a massive wound on his abdomen area, which Nancy bandaged to stop from further bleeding––a potential sign that he might not make it to the end of the show.

This theory is supported by this Pop Buzz article, which explains that it can be a likely scenario because Steve has been a little “too heroic” in this new season. And as fans of the show have come to find, characters who become a little too selfless end up dying––like Bob Newby (Sean Astin) and Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery).

The Duffer Brothers have also since chimed in on this rumor, saying that fans should be “concerned” about the characters in the second half of this fourth season.

“It feels wrong to say ‘excited,’ but I’m excited that people are concerned. And they should be concerned going into the final two episodes [of Season 4] — for everybody,” Ross Duffer tells TV Line in an interview about Steve’s fate in the show.

Like the multitudes of Stranger Things fans, I’m not sure I’ll forgive Netflix or the showrunners if they kill off Steve in the next half of this season.

How us, fans, will react if Steve dies in the second half of the season. Via GIPHY

We need more scenes with Amybeth McNulty

As an Anne with an E fan (or kindred spirits, as we fans call ourselves), I know just how amazing and diverse an actress Amybeth McNulty is. So, when it was announced that she was cast in the fourth season of Stranger Things, I was excited for more people to see just how talented McNulty is.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amybeth (@amybethmcnulty)

Unfortunately, McNulty only had one scene in the first half of the fourth season, wherein she was introduced as Robin’s (Maya Hawke) love interest. That’s why I’m definitely hoping she’ll have more screen time in the second half of the fourth season and perhaps, even more scenes in season five!

The series has been exciting throughout its seven episode run, and I am hopeful that volume two will just be as explosive as this first half. Here’s to hoping Netflix won’t disappoint us this coming July 1, 2022!

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‘Derry Girls’ might be a quirky comedy show but it’s one that will grow on you

The first time I heard about Hat Trick Productions’s television series Derry Girls was through a comment I found on a video about Bridgerton. In that video, the online user mentioned that Nicola Coughlan–the actress who played Penelope Featherington in the Bridgerton series–was amazing in her role as Clare Devlin in the Irish-based sitcom. Curious about it, I searched for Derry Girls and found that all two seasons of the show had been placed on Netflix.

So, after around three or four days of watching, I finally finished the show–and here’s what I think about it:

Although set in the 90s, Derry Girls is a coming-of-age comedy you can relate to

Derry Girls is set in the early 1990s when Ireland was experiencing ‘The Troubles.’ Although the show’s timeline was set during a political conflict, the series takes a light-hearted tone and features the lives of four 16-year-old Irish girls and one English boy as they navigate the trials and tribulations of a typical high schooler. This includes going on exciting adventures with your friends, understanding young love and its trivialities, and even, discovering one’s sexuality.

It’s a coming-of-age sitcom that will let you remember all the fun (and oftentimes, embarrassing) moments you and your friends have probably gone through at that age. And if you’re like me, who went to an all-girls Catholic high school, you might even be able to relate to how these girls interact given their surroundings.

The characters all have quirky personalities–which make for a hilarious show

When I started watching the show, I was taken aback by how strange a lot of the characters were, particularly Orla, who’s out of the blue comments and absentmindedness seemed weird at times. But as I continued watching, I came to realize that all of them had unique, over-exaggerated personalities, which all come together to make for a hilarious show.

Admittedly, it took me the first few episodes to really understand and enjoy the dynamic between the characters. However, after seeing their quirks and eccentricities complement one another in each 22-minute episode, it made me appreciate and enjoy the jokes on the show all the more.

So, if you’re considering watching Derry Girls, I suggest giving it time. You will definitely grow to love the characters on this series!

Overall, I give the series a rating of 9/10–and I’m hoping season 3 can continue its upward momentum

As a comedy series, I give the show a rating of 9/10. And with season three confirmed, I am hoping the show continues its upward momentum of producing quality entertainment.

This is the show’s current ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. Photo Credit: Screengrab from the online review platform

Moreover, I hope it would hint at a potential romance between the characters, particularly between James and Erin. Like many of the show’s fans, including actress Nicola Coughlan, I agree that the two would make a sweet and unconventional pair. And if you’re still unconvinced, take a look at the prom scene from the show!

Until then, I really hope you all consider watching the show and who knows, you might later find yourself screaming #IAmADerryGirl (just like James did on the show).

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‘Bridgerton’ fans might enjoy these underrated Jane Austen screen adaptations

If you are anything like me and you are obsessed with regency era films and television series, then you’ve probably already binge-watched Netflix’s Bridgerton.

The first season of the historical drama followed the whirlwind romance between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page). And through its eight episode run, viewers were able to see how the two turned from friends to eventual spouses.

Understandably, many people were drawn into the Duke of Hastings and the eldest Bridgerton daughter’s love story. And many of them–including myself–are eager to see more of the Bridgerton romances unfold. But until the streaming platform can confirm a possible next season, here are a few Jane Austen book-to-screen adaptations that Bridgerton fans can enjoy as they wait for more news on the show.

Emma (2009)

Through the years, there have been many screen adaptations of Jane Austen’s Emma. From Gwyneth Paltrow’s 1996 version to Anya Taylor-Joy’s 2020 adaptation, many Austen fans have seen different versions of the titular character portrayed on both TV and film. However, out of all of these adaptations–many of which I have seen–the BBC 2009 mini-series was the best one of them all.

Not only did it gradually showcase the friendship-turned-romance between the two best friends, but Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller seem to be the best embodiments of Emma and Mr. Knightley.

Garai’s tenacious and effervescent portrayal of Emma made the character very likeable and Miller’s stern yet endearing Mr. Knightley will leave fans rooting for him throughout the series’s four-episode run.

Why Bridgerton fans might like the show: Much like Lady Whistledown or Queen Charlotte, Emma enjoys meddling into the love lives of those around her. So, fans might take pleasure in watching her succeed–and oftentimes, fail–at her attempts in matchmaking, whilst realizing all along that she herself has found her perfect match and it was the man standing right in front of her.

Northanger Abbey (2007)

Although this is one of Jane Austen’s less popular novels, I enjoyed Northanger Abbey for its unconventional hero, Mr. Tilney. Unlike the likes of Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightley, Mr. Tilney is not always so formal and likes to tease Catherine quite a bit. And the movie version of the Austen hero is not far from how the author described her character to be in the book.

Played by JJ Field, Mr. Tilney presents a comical and amiable persona that complements Felicity Jones’s portrayal of the shy and naive Catherine. And it’s through their meetings in Bath and subsequent stay in Northanger Abbey that the two realize their true feelings for one another.

Why Bridgerton fans might like the movie: I think fans might enjoy the “rich vs. poor” kind of love story the 2007 film shows. Because like many of the socialites in Bridgerton, Mr. Tilney’s father wants to make an advantageous marriage for his son. But upon learning that Catherine has no money to her name, he forbids a possible union between her and Mr. Tilney and sends her away. But little did he know that Mr. Tilney will do a lot more for the woman he loves… even if that means disobeying his father’s wishes and giving up his inheritance.

Persuasion (2007)

Persuasion focuses on the romance between Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot.

Frederick and Anne were two young people in love. However, Anne’s parents refused the union, noting Frederick’s lack of fortune and title. So, the two parted ways.

Eight years later, Anne’s family is struggling with their finances and Frederick has now become a wealthy and recognized Royal Navy Captain. With their heart-wrenching parting still lingering in both of their minds and with the tables turned, it begs the question: is there still a possibility of romance between the two despite everything that has happened?

Starring Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins, Persuasion reignites the viewers’ belief in the possibility of second chances, when it comes to love.

Why Bridgerton fans might like the film: Fans might be able to appreciate Captain Frederick Wentworth’s unwavering love and devotion to Anne, in spite of the hardships he faced while being with her during his younger years. And despite having more options for a partner when he returned, he still chose her above everyone else.

Moreover, if fans loved the Duke of Hastings’s “I burn for you” line in the show, wait ‘til they hear Captain Wentworth’s “I am half agony, half hope” spiel–as he pours out his immense love and affection for Anne even after all these years.

NOTE: This review is not sponsored by Netflix or any other production houses. This was written purely from the perspective of the writer as a fan of these TV shows and movies.

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10 Moments that made season four ‘The Crown’s’ best so far

Warning: This article contains spoilers from season 4 of the Netflix series ‘The Crown.’ If you have not caught up with it yet, I suggest you to skip this review.

When The Crown first revealed its trailer for season four, fans of the show were rightfully excited to see the new additions of the ‘Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana. And since its release last November 15, it has garnered rave reviews from viewers and critics alike–even earning it a 97% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TheCrownNetflix

Rightfully so, this season featured a number of amazing sequences, storylines, and even dialogue that hooked a fan like me deeper into the show. And to further prove this point, I’ve listed down 10 scenes that I believe made this season the Netflix show’s best so far.

Diana’s first encounter with Charles

From the first few minutes of this season, viewers were treated to a scene Diana fans have all been waiting for–the moment Charles first meets the ‘People’s Princess’.

In a mysterious yet very endearing fashion, Diana crosses paths with the Prince of Wales while in costume at her home. And it is in this scene, we saw the initial chemistry the two shared–setting up the stage for what would lead to a whirlwind romance between the two.

The death of Louis Mountbatten

The death of Louis Mountbatten, or “Uncle Dickie” as Charles and Philip would refer to him, was pivotal to the show as it not only pushed Charles to finally find a “suitable wife” but it also showed the growing tensions brewing between the monarchy and the The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA).

This later set the precedent for the series to further show the growing tensions between the British royal establishment and its Commonwealth nations during this period.

Diana meets Camilla Parker-Bowles after her announced engagement to Charles

After the “Balmoral test” that Diana had to face in episode 2 of the series, she was welcomed and accepted by the royal family as a suitable bride for the future king. So, episode 3 showed her engagement to the Prince of Wales and how she went from an excited fiancé to a woman questioning her relationship with the monarch.

It further didn’t help that when the Prince had to leave for a royal engagement, she was left alone at the palace with no one to talk to or confide in about her worries. And when she takes up the offer to meet Charles’s ex Camilla Parker-Bowles, Diana realizes that she not only knows very little about her fiance, but she also discovers that another woman holds her husband’s heart and attention.

This scene was essential to the series because it cemented doubt in Diana’s mind about her upcoming nuptials.

Michael Fagan’s conversation with the Queen during his break-in of Kensington Palace

The Michael Fagan story was something I applaud the show creators for doing. Because although Thatcher did win the war for the Falkland islands, the whole ordeal did bring problems to the British economy. And the story of Michael Fagan is proof that there are casualties to endeavours like these.

The episode followed Michael Fagan as he struggled to find work and get custody of his children, amidst the rising poverty in Britain. Desperate and seemingly hopeless, Fagan addresses his frustrations over Thatcher’s actions by breaking into the palace and speaking to the Queen of England in her own room.

This particular scene was important because it was the first time the Queen questioned Margaret Thatcher’s decisions as the head of parliament–an event which would hint at the growing rift between the two female leaders.

Moreover, the whole dialogue between the Queen and Fagan was brilliant in highlighting the disparity between the two individuals and it made the monarch herself question the status of the country during this very trying time.

Diana and Charles talk about Camilla whilst on tour in Australia

This scene was vital as it was the first time we’ve ever heard Charles tell Diana that he loved her. The sequence of events that followed showed the Prince of Wales initially enamoured by his wife, but only later to get jealous of her growing popularity among the people.

At this point, viewers got the sense that it was just the beginning of the end for this royal couple.

Princess Margaret finds out the truth about her Bowes-Lyon cousins

Everyone has skeletons in their closet and members of the Royal Family are no different. And in the episode called ‘The Hereditary Principle’, we see that the palace went to great lengths to hide their cousins with special needs.

It showed how far the royal family will go to maintain their “untainted” and “perfect” image.

The Queen awards Margaret Thatcher with The Order of Merit

After the Fagan episode, it was clear that the Queen and Margaret Thatcher disagreed on a number of things during female Prime Minister’s 11-year run in office.

But despite their different stances on certain issues, the Queen still respected the Iron Lady’s work in government and even awarded her The Order of Merit in the final episode of the series.

Princess Diana hugs a child diagnosed with AIDS in New York

During her first tour alone in New York City, Diana made waves in the American community as the beautiful and charismatic princess. And her popularity grew even more when she was pictured hugging a child diagnosed with AIDS–an act that was so crucial at the time since AIDS was thought to be contagious.

This particular event cemented her title as the ‘People’s Princess’ in the eyes of world.

Charles blows up after Diana returns from her tour of New York

Following her successful trip to the United States, Camilla realizes that even when Charles separates from Diana, she will always be secondary to the Princess of Wales. Seeing his beloved hurt by this, Charles confronts Diana in an explosive scene, wherein he tells Diana that he thinks only of Camilla “morning, noon, and night.”

What made this moment so captivating was Josh O’ Connor and Emma Corrin’s acting in this confrontation. You could sense the tension between the characters and can even feel the emotions they are going through as the scene played out.

Truth be told, these two young actors made this season definitely worth the watch, especially O’ Connor, whose portrayal of Charles made me sympathize for a prince who will not only never live up to his mother and father’s expectations but who also felt locked in a marriage he can never get out of.

Prince Philip speaks to Diana

What I liked about this scene was the fact that they showed the special relationship between Diana and Prince Philip. In real life, the Princess of Wales shared a special bond with her father-in-law even while her marriage to Prince Charles was slowly coming to an end.

Furthermore, this conversation hinted at the difficulties Diana will face in the later seasons as she starts to break ties with the royal family and ventures out on her own.

Overall, this season was exciting from start to finish and had me hooked throughout its run.

And with regards to the anti-Charles bias the show is accused of–I want to say that I do agree with streaming platform’s statement that although the story was based on real-life people, it is a historical fiction. And much like other shows of this genre–like Medici or Reign–a lot of the real-life events have been altered to make for an interesting storyline.

Given this, I do advise people who also love watching the show to not take everything there as fact.

Viewers can watch the fourth season of The Crown on Netflix.

*NOTE: This review is not sponsored by Netflix or any other streaming platform or program. This was written purely from the perspective of the writer as a fan of the show.

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Holiday royal romance movies are cheesy and predictable–but that’s what makes them so fun to watch

Almost all of my family and friends know that I am a sucker for this subgenre of romance movies. For years, I have watched a lot of these kinds of films from Hallmark and most recently, Netflix.

So, when my good friend Niña came across this video of YouTuber Jack Douglass discussing the “terrifying world of ‘Princess Christmas’ movies,” she knew I had some thoughts on this matter.

First off, I actually agree with everything Douglass had to say about these movies, especially on the following points:

– These kinds of movies revolve around three plots, namely the “ordinary woman becomes a princess,” “a princess pretends to be an ordinary woman,” and “a princess and an ordinary woman swap places.”

– The names of these movies sound similar (if not the same).

– All of the royal romances take place in imaginary countries that all sound the same–citing examples like “Belgravia,” “Aldovia,” and “Maldovia.”

– The Prince always seems to have a “pronounced english accent.”

– How these kinds of movies use the same actors and actresses in other films that feature the same plot.

He even makes a valid point in saying how strange it is to know that even though these movies follow the same formula, they manage to become franchises–citing the Christmas Prince films as an example.

With all of this in mind, you, as a viewer of his video, would even start to wonder, why would anyone want to watch these films after knowing this?

Now, I can’t speak for everyone… but as someone who has seen many of these holiday royal romance movies (and would probably continue to watch them in the future), what entices me is its predictability, overall feel-good vibe, and Christmas spirit.

From the get go, I can already tell many of the things that are going to happen in these kinds of movies. For instance, I know there will almost always be some grand ball wherein the prince will be left in awe over the girl’s appearance or that the prince will always choose the “normal girl” over his betrothed.

But it’s this cliched storyline that keeps me interested because there is a certainty that it will always end in a “happily ever after.” And in this world where anything can go wrong, it’s nice to watch something that promises a happy ending.

Moreover, these are the kind of feel-good movies that won’t leave you stressed or worried about the characters. Since it’s predictable, you won’t have to agonize about the girl not getting the guy or of someone dying during the course of the film. It’s almost like the ideal kind of thing to watch when you are tired from work or household errands and you just want to relax.

Lastly, it features a picture-perfect version of the holidays, where everyone is happy and together. And I am guessing this is almost everyone’s ideal scenario when it comes to Christmas.

So, before you write off holiday royal romance films, I recommend you try watching a few of them first. You never know, you might even end up actually enjoying them!

A look back on my past celebrity interviews and encounters

NOTE: All of the article and video links here are from the POP! website and Facebook page. This post, therefore, serves only as a summary of my projects in the company as its former Content Creator.

During my time working at INQUIRER.net‘s pop culture channel POP! (also known as INQPOP!), I’ve been given the incredible opportunity to be able to interact with some of today’s established and up-and-coming artists. (Something that I will forever be grateful for during my employment there)

To reminisce on those fun times, I’ve rounded up all of the interviews and encounters I’ve had during my stint there. Most of them are interviews with celebrities and fan meeting reels (I was the AV writer for these clips), though I have one on-camera interview that I hope you all would enjoy.

Here’s the rundown of my past celebrity interviews and encounters:

Jess Connelly

Back in 2017, I had the chance to interview Filipino-Irish singer Jess Connelly on her role as the first-ever MTV Buddy in MTVph. It was there that she shared details on her new title and discussed her show called “MTV Fuel”.

You can read my full interview with her here: bit.ly/3emkAq3

Kento Yamazaki

Two years ago, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Japanese actor Kento Yamazaki for his role in the television series “Kiss That Kills”. It was there that I was able to learn more about his preparation for the show as well as how his character related to his personality.

Moreover, I was able to attend his fan meeting in Hong Kong, wherein I got to see him interact and play games with his fans.

You can read my interview with Kento Yamazaki here: bit.ly/35ZerfG
You can also read my event coverage article for the Kento Yamazaki fan meeting here: bit.ly/324eQwu

Zach Herron from the American band ‘Why Don’t We’

Zach Herron was the first American artist I got the chance to interview and by far, he was the most memorable one. He was so down-to-earth and very enthusiastic that I honestly couldn’t help but think our chat seemed more like two people catching up rather than an artist-to-journalist type of interview.

You can read my interview with Zach Herron here: bit.ly/34PelrI
You can also read my 2019 event coverage article of Why Don’t We’s ‘8 Letters’ Philippine concert here: bit.ly/382CsFx

Christopher

Also, back in 2018, I got to interview the Danish singer Christoper on his new song then called “Bad”. He also discussed with me his music career and his past experience visiting the Philippines.

I especially enjoyed how candid he got when sharing with me why he chose the name “Christopher” as his screen name in the music industry.

You can read my interview with Christopher here: bit.ly/2GpCo7m

Ji Soo

For this interview, I was with the video team in recording the responses of Korean actor Ji Soo. In this Valentine’s Day special, he shared the traits he looks for in a soulmate and what Filipino words he remembers during the filming of his movie “Seoul Mates”.

You can read my interview with Ji Soo here: goo.gl/hiB2zJ
Or you can watch the video interview I did with the POP! team here: bit.ly/3kNS6bm

Anne Curtis

During the opening of BLK Cosmetics in Alabang Town Center, I was able to speak to Anne Curtis about her special message to fans, in relation to the store’s opening in the South.

You can read my interview with Anne Curtis here: bit.ly/2Jz4uy7

Kat Graham

Before Kat Graham graced our television screens with Christmas movies like the “Holiday Calendar” and “Operation Christmas” (which is set to release this month), she was the voice of April O’ Neil in the Nickelodeon show “The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.

And in this interview, she discussed what it’s like to be a character that can inspire a generation of young girls.

You can read my interview with Kat Graham here: bit.ly/35SEANe

Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan

In this interview, Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan talked about “Whiskey Cavalier”, a show that’s about two opposing government agents who are forced to work together in a mission to save the world.

You can read my interview with Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan here: bit.ly/320Kuur

Penn Badgley and Shay Mitchell

When Netflix first announced that the “Gossip Girl” alum Penn Badgley was coming to Manila with “Pretty Little Liars” actress Shay Mitchell, I was absolutely excited! And thankfully, I was assigned to attend their press conference in Manila for their Netflix show “You”.

You can read my event coverage of the ‘You’ press conference here: bit.ly/34LJ8ps

Ryan O’ Connell

Ryan O’ Connell was quite possibly the most insightful celebrity that I got the chance to interview. His responses to my questions were so profound that I really learned a lot from my brief conversation with him.

And my absolute favorite quote from my interview with him is this: “Being like everyone else doesn’t get you a Netflix show.”

You can read my interview with Ryan O’ Connell here: bit.ly/35TT3IN

Two Door Cinema Club

During this interview, Irish band Two Door Cinema Club discussed what it was like making their fourth studio album, “False Alarm”.

You can read my interview with Two Door Cinema Club here: bit.ly/3ehq2dS

Jesse McCartney

First things first, I was (and still am) a huge Jesse McCartney fan! So to be able to be given the chance to get to interview him twice and watch his concert was definitely a surreal moment for me.

But out of the two conversations I had with Jesse McCartney, the second one was definitely the most memorable for me since that was the first time I ever had to do an interview on-camera.

You can watch my video interview with Jesse McCartney here: bit.ly/3oPIYVN
You can also read my 2018 interview with Jesse McCartney on his ‘Wasted’ tour here: bit.ly/2TKOuLg
Or you can read my 2019 event coverage of his concert in Manila here: bit.ly/3kKB5yC

Jannine Weigel

Before Thai-German singer Jannine Weigel performed at the first-ever Nickelodeon SlimeFest in Asia, she spoke to POP! about her career in music and how she was excited to meet her Filipino fans.

You can read my interview with Jannine Weigel here: bit.ly/3jR20aC

Dallas Roberts, Debby Ryan, and Gloria Diaz

I had the very special opportunity to be able to interview “Insatiable” stars Debby Ryan and Dallas Roberts, as well as Miss Universe 1969 winner Gloria Diaz, to promote the second season of their Netflix show.

You can read my interviews with them here: bit.ly/2HMULnu
Or you can watch the video highlights made by the POP! team and I on the 2019 ‘Insatiable’ fan meeting in Manila: bit.ly/3eoXXRV
You can also check out my teaser article about season 2 of ‘Insatiable’ here: bit.ly/3oIH1e1

Henry Cavill

The last international celebrity encounter I had in 2019 was in The Witcher fan meeting with Henry Cavill.

As a fan of Mr. Cavill himself, I was over-the-moon to be able to see him up close in person. And honestly, I’m still not over this encounter!

I even framed the poster Henry Cavill and ‘The Witcher’ showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich signed during The Witcher fan meeting in Manila.

You can read about my encounter with Henry Cavill here: bit.ly/2PUHDOp
Or you can watch the video highlights the POP! team and I made for his 2019 fan meeting here: bit.ly/2GjzQYe
You can also check out the article I made about The Witcher season one: bit.ly/2siWSHA

Eloisa

In my very last interview for POP!, I got to join the video team to document my friend–the “Queen of Busking in the Philippines” – Eloisa Jayloni for an episode of POP! Bio. During this POP! exclusive segment, I got to ask her questions about her experience busking in Russia, as well as, her advice for people who would like to try busking as an avenue to express themselves.

You can watch the POP! Bio episode with Eloisa here: bit.ly/3oVhIFJ

Three ‘perfectly splendid’ reasons why you should watch ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’

Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Netflix series.

When Netflix first released The Haunting of Hill House back in 2018, it garnered rave reviews from critics and viewers alike. So, it’s not surprising that a lot of people were eager to see what the creators can come up with for the television series’s succeeding season. And after two years of waiting, the streaming website finally answered the fans’ prayers and released The Haunting of Bly Manor on their platform.

As many fans already know, the much-awaited second season is not a direct sequel to Hill House, as it follows a different set of characters and features a new plot. And this time around, the cast face another set of menacing ghostly threats in Bly Manor.

Its nine-episode run will leave you in a flurry of emotions–from being startled by the spirits lurking in the shadows to being in tears by the time you reach the last scene. It’s definitely a must-watch series for anyone who appreciates a well-written and well-crafted horror story.

To further convince you of this, I’ve listed down three–as Flora (Amelie Bea Smith) would say– “perfectly splendid” reasons why you would want to watch The Haunting of Bly Manor.

The show doesn’t sacrifice good storytelling for obvious jump scares

Through the years, there have been countless horror movies and television shows that heavily relied on the “scary aspect” of the plot rather than its storytelling. Because of this, a lot of the films in this genre end up having unnecessary jump scares that distract the viewer from actually appreciating the tale behind it.

But Bly Manor differs from these movies and shows in the way that it doesn’t sacrifice its story just for the scare factor. In fact, it frightens its audience by using ghosts as background elements–making the story the focal point of the whole series.

And with regards to the show’s storytelling, it was seamless and intriguing enough to keep viewers, like me, glued to the screens of their devices. I particularly liked how the series contained a lot of foreshadowing elements that would elicit speculation and discussion from viewers as to what would happen next. This was evident in the fifth episode, wherein we come to understand why Hannah Grose (T’Nia Miller) continues to see cracks on random places in the house.

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Moreover, every character was well-written and given a backstory that could very well explain their complexities. From Viola’s (Kate Siegel) violent past to Peter Quint’s (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) traumatic childhood, their histories have been thoroughly narrated so you would understand why the characters were driven by their actions.

The ghosts are more than just spiritual entities

In an interview with EW, show creator Mike Flanagan shared that he wanted to present the “ghosts as an expression of emotional wounds that we carry around.” This brings a deeper meaning to the ghosts shown in the series as they have evolved into manifestations of the characters’ emotional well-beings. And this can be seen through Dani (Victoria Pedretti) whose guilt resulted in the creation of her ex fiance Eddie’s (Roby Atal) ghost.

At the heart of the show is a story about love

While watching the whole series, you’ll be met with different love stories which includes Rebecca Jessel (Tahirah Sharif) and Peter Quint’s (Jackson-Cohen) tumultuous relationship, Hannah Grose (Miller) and Owen’s (Rahul Kohli) friendship-turned-romance, and Dani Clayton (Pedretti) and Jamie’s (Amelia Eve) endearing union. However, it is Dani and Jamie’s love story that will make your hearts melt by the end of the series.

Because it is through their love that Dani chooses to make the ultimate sacrifice–to become the lady of the lake so that Viola (Siegel) can never kill another human being again. This selfless act of love on Dani’s part leads to the series’s ultimate conclusion that shows the storyteller (Carla Gugino) being the older version of Jamie.

Although the show is primarily classified as horror, this tragic romance is the one thing that made the story worth telling and one that has left many viewers in a puddle of their own tears.

*NOTE: This review is not sponsored by Netflix or any other streaming platform or program. This was written purely from the perspective of the writer as a fan of the show.