Encantadia

Hell no!

Yes, they have admitted that they have LOTR to thank for; because without the said film, they wouldn't know how to create a show in epic proportions.

Yes, this show is the most top-rated show on Philippine Television today. One of the reasons is that they have learned how to create lavish costumes, dreamy settings, and out of this world animatronic characters.

But this doesn't mean they copied LOTR! I mean, the story itself is different! LOTR's story involves a nobody carrying the world over his shoulders and ends up saving it in the end. While in Encantadia, it is partly the story of four sisters torn apart by one of the sister's greed; and partly the story of a young fairy princess brought to the mortal realm where she suffers tremendously. The story of Encantadia merely tells what is happening in our country right now. Not that our country is rich, in contrast, it clearly states how difficult it is to live in this country (or the world for that matter). I know it may seem a bit gloomy, but that's the reality. Life is difficult. But living life, is a job. Especially, if you have no one. All you can do is work hard, and hope for a better tomorrow. This is what Encantadia wants to show us: "perseverance is the key to survival".

Yes, i admit that an epic quest has yet to be shown. But there is more to a story than an epic scene! What matters more in a story is the HEART a writer puts in it. Like with LOTR, Tolkien gave his heart out in his novel. Likewise with the writers of Encantadia. Unlike in LOTR where the hero needs to travel away from his homeland in order to create a story, Encantadia has its story right there its lands, that's why there is no need to travel to distant places!

According to one opinion, Encantadia lacks the mythology that LOTR had. But why would Encantadia need a mythology, when Encantadia itself is the beginning of the mythology?! Unlike LOTR, Encantadia doesn't need a mythology to stand up on it's own. It has itself to stand up on.

And regarding its viewers being unintelligent. Well, i beg to differ! We may not know what 'The Silmarillion' is. But hey, do you know the world of Encantadia? As what my teacher said, a true genius knows that he knows everything and nothing at the same time. Don't call yourself intelligent when you're not! Encantadia is pure Filipino excellence, that's why Filipinos like me love them. Unlike you.

I guess GMA just don't want to stop. From the crap Mulawin, wrentched Darna and now, here's Encantadia. There is obviously no story line in this TV series, the acting was still dumb, lousy special effects and oh, a copy of Casshern and the dumb DEVILMAN. This TV series will only waste your time. There is some good points in this, cause it has Iza Calzado. She manages her emotions, like her award winning performance in The Echo. Still, a big waste of time. Whoever taught that a un-talented Karylle will be one of the leads is out of his mind. Actually,the only makes this series bad is because it has no premise, like it has no storyline. It's really a bad attempt.

Will GMA ever produce great TV series someday?

1/10 stars

Encantadia is one of the best telefantasyas that I have seen my entire life!!! It is very unique from other Filipino fantasy films like Darna or Panday and kampanerang kuba!!!!!!!!!!!1 The story is very unpredictable and is very very interesting!!! It really go me hooked up and made me want to watch in night after night and made me hate weekends! All the time, i will think of it even in my dreams i see it... It is addicting!!! Unlike Panday and Kampanerang kuba from ABSCBN, though it is very unrealistic, people like me can connect to the story. Well, most of the time it makes me want to be an encantada and live in another world. It really rocks...

Overview: "Encantadia" is a groundbreaking Filipino fantasy television series that first aired in 2005. Created by Suzette Doctolero and directed by Mark A. Reyes and Gil Tejada Jr., the series is the first installment in the "Encantadia" franchise. It tells the story of four sisters - Pirena, Amihan, Alena, and Danaya - who are guardians of the elemental gems that keep the magical world of Encantadia in balance.

Strengths:

1. World-Building and Lore One of the most notable aspects of "Encantadia" is its ambitious and richly detailed fantasy world. The show introduces its own mythology, language (the constructed language "Enchanta"), and geography, which was rare and innovative for Philippine television at the time. The attention to detail in creating the realms of Lireo, Hathoria, Sapiro, and Adamya impressed viewers and created a solid fanbase.

2. Costumes and Production Design For a local production in 2005, the show's costume and set design were commendable. Although there were limitations due to budget, the visual presentation - from royal armors to mystical landscapes - showed creativity and passion. Many praised the elaborate costumes worn by the diwatas and the Hathors.

3. Story and Themes The series combined elements of family drama, betrayal, love, and war, all set within a fantasy framework. The dynamic between the sisters - especially Pirena's jealousy and Amihan's sense of duty - added emotional weight. Themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and power resonated with many Filipino viewers.

4. Strong Female Leads "Encantadia" stood out for its focus on strong, complex female characters. The four Sang'gres each represented different values and personalities, with actresses Iza Calzado (Amihan), Sunshine Dizon (Pirena), Karylle (Alena), and Diana Zubiri (Danaya) delivering notable performances that became iconic in Philippine TV history.

Weaknesses:

1. Visual Effects (By Modern Standards) While impressive for its time, the CGI and visual effects are dated by today's standards. Some of the fight scenes and magical elements can appear clunky or overly ambitious, given the technology and budget constraints in 2005.

2. Pacing and Length As with many teleseryes, some parts of the series suffered from slow pacing and filler episodes. Certain story arcs could have been tighter to maintain momentum throughout the show.

3. Supporting Cast and Dialogue While the leads were strong, some of the supporting characters were less developed, and certain dialogue sequences occasionally bordered on melodrama - a common feature in local dramas of that era.

Legacy and Cultural Impact:

"Encantadia" is widely regarded as a landmark in Philippine fantasy television. It sparked a renewed interest in the fantaserye genre and led to several spin-offs and reboots, including a 2016 reboot that introduced the series to a new generation. It also helped raise the bar for local productions in terms of ambition and creativity.

Final Verdict:

Rating: 9/10

"Encantadia" (2005) is a pioneering fantasy epic that captivated Filipino audiences with its rich lore, memorable characters, and imaginative world. Despite technical limitations, its emotional core and strong storytelling helped it become a cult classic and a defining work in Philippine television history.

I have heard in an interview somewhere that the production people of GMA's new fantasy soap opera 'Encantadia' admittedly watched the special features on the DVD release of the recent Blockbuster movie 'The Lord of the Rings' in order to get a grasp on how to create a full production in a high-fantasy setting.

Of course, their 'research' does not go unnoticed: 'Encantadia' is now the most watched show on Philippine TV. The people behind the show seemed to have caught the spirit of the movie it copied: colorful costumes, CGI settings, even the lovable animatronic characters were caught to a sharp T. There's only one problem though: Hello??? Universal storyline that applies to all humankind? Where are you? The producers caught everything from LOTR except the one thing that made it all special to millions worldwide: The solid themes of fellowship, perseverance, and corruption that leads to imminent danger.

Let me deliver a comparison: in LOTR, a simple, almost nobody-homebody proves that even the smallest person can change the course of the future as he goes through the toughest obstacles in his life to save the world.

in Encantadia: a royal family struggles to keep their power amidst the threats of destabilization from other groups. The story does have attempts at the usual 'universal storyline' themes (fairy princess/infant stolen and forced to live poor life, mortal falls in love with immortal, etc), but these petty events don't add up to the big picture. Wait a minute... What is the big picture anyway?? No epic quest, no test of friendship, no test of resolve or integrity, no character exploration; Just a series of soap operatic events. I guess in the end all we have to expect is that the hero royal family wins.

Storyline aside, the show works well anyway. The costumes and masks seemed believable enough. How about the mythology? What makes stories such as this is how this 'alternate world' came to be. Again, Tolkien turns over in his grave: the world of 'Encantadia' seemed to have popped out of nowhere. Unlike LOTR which originated from the creation story 'Ainulindale' from the unforgettable epic book 'The Silmarillion', 'Encantadia' does not provide a mythology which makes the story (like 'Mulawin' before it) unbelievable and a tad uninteresting.

Cheers to the network for creating a top-rater, and jeers to the shortcomings intelligent viewers cannot overlook.

By the way: who ever said intelligent viewers were the market of 'Encantadia'?