BY JASMINE ADIVISO
Tabi-tabi po.
If you haven’t been living under a rock lately—unless you’re a duwende — then you’ve most likely heard of the Netflix animated adaptation of the award-winning comic series Trese.
Born from the words of Budjette Tan and the art of Kajo Baldisimo in 2005, the graphic novels follow Alexandra Trese, a supernatural investigator, as she maintains the delicate balance between the human world and the underworld.
If that wasn’t enough to pique your interest, here’s why we think Trese should be your next Netflix binge (maybe, right after this read?):
1. It’s unapologetically Filipino.
And we’re here for it! Set in modern-day Metro Manila, we can’t deny that it’s an undeniably cool tour of our rich heritage.
Whether it’s the monsters and creatures we’ve all been scared by (aswangs anyone?), or the scenery (EDSA Guadalupe and Balete Drive), or Nuno’s fave snacks (Chocnut FTW!), so many tells and elements from the series tip their hats to the Philippines and all things Filipino.
2. The talent is jaw-dropping.
The company of voice talent has us completely star-struck —especially since you’ve got the likes of Shay Mitchell, Liza Soberano, Jon Jon Briones Jr., Nicole Scherzinger, and Darren Criss lending their voices to bring Trese to life.
Behind the scenes, showrunners and producers are nothing but top guns in the industry. Jay Oliva, who’s got many of the Batman animated movies under his belt (and so much more) is the director and showrunner of the series. Plus, you have writers like Zig Marasigan, Mihk Vergara and Tanya Yuson, producer Shanty Harmayn, and directors David Hartman, Mel Zwyer, and Tim Divar on your ringside. Obviously, nothing less than magic can happen.
3. It brings Filipino talent, comics, and heritage to the mainstream.
As a show whose main premise revolves around this interesting take on Filipino mythology and culture, having this adaptation readily available on Netflix all over the globe is nothing short of amazing.
4. The adaptation is faithful to the source.
How often can anyone say their fave reads were perfectly adapted for the screen?
While changes are inevitable when adapting from page to screen, the best adaptations are born from detailed decisions that fit the flow and story artistry of the medium while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original source.
Trese is exactly that and we are living. While noticeable changes have been implemented for the on-screen adaptation, they are nothing but cool surprises we have come to love.
So get moving to your couch and fire up Netflix, because this is one media binge you won’t regret!
Complete your next Netflix-binge experience and channel Liza Soberano’s Trese-esque look on ZALORA now!
