Sang're: Encantadia Chronicles
With the news of an upcoming sequel to Encantadia in production, I couldn't help myself but revisit one of my favourite Filipino fantasy show ever produced. I watched all 218 episodes of the requel in a week and started re-watching the 2005 as well.
Growing up I remember trying to convince my mom to let me stay up late enough to watch the show and it was such a big part of my childhood. My sister, our neighbours, and I would pretend to be one of the sang're and try to reenact the show. From their fight scenes to their drama scenes, we did it all. I tuned in until the very last episode of the original version and even tried to learn the language because that's how drawn in I was with the world-building and fantasy aspect of the show.
Fast forward to 2016, I'm well into post-secondary and live outside the Philippines. When I heard about the requel, I made sure that we had GMA Pinoy TV and all the episodes were recorded. That way I didn't miss any episodes. Now, to be honest, I wasn't a fan of 2016 at first. I was very critical of some of the casting, the CGI work, and even the world-building. It felt familiar but not. I missed the mystical aspect of the show and I missed that I was able to suspend my disbelief for 30 minutes to escape to this enchanted place. I didn't get that escape from the 2016 version because it didn't feel magical enough for me. However, over time, I learned to enjoy the show because of its storytelling. I was invested in the characters and what was happening to them which led me to fall in love with Amihan and Ybrahim's romance in this version. I enjoyed the sisters' bond here and wish we saw more of it in the show. I liked how each Sang're got a chance to meet their father and we, the viewers, got to know each of them.
There were a lot of positives from the 2016 version which is why I feel sad that "season 2" of Encantadia will be focusing on a different generation. I understand that Pirena, Amihan, Alena, and Danaya have been the 4 iconic sangres for almost 20 years and it's time for new characters to succeed them. Unfortunately, I feel that the 2016 version had more stories to offer and the Sang'res had more adventures and stories to explore. Especially with the death of Amihan, there were storylines that were abandoned to accommodate Kylie's departure. I just hope that the fans get a proper closure for these 4 Sang'res and aren't left with an opening ending. Kinda like how Encantadia 2005 concluded. Arman, on the back of a dragon, narrates the story of the 4 Sang'res and properly transitions the audience to the new protectors with him, Armea and Cassandra. 2005 gave the audience a definitive conclusion to the main 4 while setting up a potential sequel. This is something 2016 tried to do but left viewers with more questions since they introduced Cassiopea's twin and set up 4 diwanis running on the beach.
Don't get me wrong, I like the actors that are playing the new Sang'res but I do hope this sequel will be a bridge to continue the original 4 stories until its creator can give those characters a proper send off. Also, I would love to see Danaya as a mother and give Pirena and Alena a chance to have children again. Additionally, it'd be nice to see the growth in Lira and Mira. Lastly, I would love to see Amihan reunite with her sisters and get the happy ending that her parents didn't have the privilege of having.
That being said, I am beyond excited to watch this show and hope that we get book 3 and book 4 like what the creator and writers have shared.