CENTERSTAGE: Hello Stranger

 

Tony Labusca and JC Alcantara

 Hello Stranger! ay isang Pinoy BL series produced by ABS-CBN Films and Black Sheep Productions. Bida sina Tony Labrusca as Xavier, a varsity player who often fails his classes, at si JC Alcantara as Mico, member ng Team Padawans, at isang top student. The first episode is titled 'Hello Enemy!'.

Ang context ng filming ay interesting  because it is obvious that this was done even before nagshift sa GCQ ang bansa  since all of the cast members' scenes were done in their respective rooms. Hopefully, since pwede na ulit magshooting, we will be able to see scenes in outside places like coffee shops, since that is where students hang out.

Tony and C brings kilig to BL serye viewers

My first impression of Tony as Xav is that though he has the usual pride of a varsity player, he can be sweet like the type who cooks for his partner. JC as Mico is the type of person who is an open book, his nervousness, his awkwardness, it is all obvious on his face.

Aside from the two main guys, we have thr Team Padawans comprised of Vivoreei Esclito as Kookai, Patrick Quiroz as Seph, and Miguel Almendras as Junjun. Xavier currently has a girlfriend named Crystal, played by Gillian Villavicencio.

A new Pinoy BL Loveteam

Episode 1 is how Xavier and Mico meet each other and size each other up. The scenes that stood out for me are as follows:

1. When Xav enters the virtual room of the Team Padawans having a quiz night and calls it baduy, giving that douche vibe instantly.

2. Meann Espinosa as Panitikan 1 teacher Kristine Moran convincing Mico to team up with Xavier. Her voice sounds like Ruffa Gutierrez so before her face is even 

shown onscreen, people who watched her past shows would be able to recognize her.

3. Xavier eating a huge bowl of tinola by himself. Yep, it is so huge that I think it can feed up to five people.

Kilig much ang tambalan ng dalawa online

4. Mico saying I need you and it is just episode 1.

The first episode ends in a cute cliffhanger as Xavier asks Mico an intriguing question.

What think that could be improved is the acting of Patrick Quiroz since it feels as if he is just in a first time cast reading. The chemistry of the whole Team Padawans also need to improve as well as the world-


building of Hello Stranger, since the logic is still not 100% convincing as to why freshie and a senior student would have to work in the same subject as well as why Mico is not aware that he is a top student in the first place.

Since this is marketed as BL and it has international fans, I think the reach of the show is big because of the good decision to have English subtitles available right away.

The show is available via the youtube channel of Black Sheep as well as the iWant app.