Not-So-Shining Inheritance: The Problematic Pinoy Localization Is Too Much Form, Too Little Substance

I remember watching Power Rangers Megaforce for the females. I learned the hard way that a show with all form and little substance is a terrible, TERRIBLE SHOW. Shining Inheritance's KDrama version only had 28 episodes (each an hour long) and the Chinese remake had 38 episodes (each less than an hour long). The recent adaptation has already reached 78 episodes and it's STILL NOT OVER. It reminds me of why Buntis Faib Legacy was just plain awful with its pacing. The same goes for the weekday schedule of the Pinoy adaptation.

I'm not going to deny that I find Kate Valdez prettier than Han Hyo Joo, Roxie Smith prettier than Moon Chae Won, and Michael Sager more handsome than Lee Seung Gi. However, the show has been spinning around the bush. Sure, some subplots were added like Inna's great-grandmother Rosario or why Joanna resents her paternal grandmother Aurea. However, we must look into the pacing and characterization problems. It really piles up one after the other!

Is there any intention to make Aimee and Joanna well, PURE EVIL? A flashback of Joanna's resentment towards Lola Aurea is because her father was chastised. Yes, that scene where Joanna's late father Rodante was chastised for spoiling the children. That was a scene not in the OG Korean drama or the Chinese localization. I noticed that both Aimee and Joanna act more like they're depowered cartoon villains than anything else. Maybe, I could say that Aimee's provocative dressing is probably just meant to communicate her lack of modesty OR just to make you forget she's BADLY WRITTEN. The fact they do TOO MANY HAIR PULLING SCENES can be a constant source of irritation. 

Take for example the scene of the wake. Was adding a scene like this EVEN NECESSARY? I understand Inna is supposed to be a strong character. I find this scene UNBECOMING of Inna. It's one thing for Inna to defend herself. Was this exaggerated drama even necessary? The villains in the script become more and more evil. This exaggerated scene tends to replay itself OVER AND OVER. The Flame from the University of Sto. Tomas gives this highlight:

You can’t call it a teleserye if it doesn’t have exaggerated drama, including a scene where the heroine and the villain are pulling each other’s hair, slapping each other’s face, and tackling each other on the ground. 

Joanna and Aimee from the OG drama weren't For the Evulz. Joanna was just another idiot brat in the KDrama. The Filipino localization makes Joanna goes full evil and it's a tired running gag. How many times has Joanna left home and returned? How many times does Aimee actually keep hurting Inna with Joanna's help? It's hard to lose count. In fact, as Lola Aurea would say it -- she's given TOO MANY CHANCES to her wayward grandchildren. There are times when Lola Aurea's words may actually reflect the show's severe flaws too. The whole added car accident plot to Joanna stealing ideas was just there to make Joanna more hateful than the Korean version. The KDrama version had Joanna actually work for Francis. Joanna started to get some character development after that incident where she and her mom Sonia threatened to disinherit Aurea. Here? Joanna's villainy is probably because she lates Lola Aurea and that's it! 

We may need to talk about what made Hyo Joo and Seung Gi better. Euan's supposedly that Royal Brat who gradually matures to become a better person. It's been explained that Euan's arrogant behavior is a result of his insecurity -- something he never admitted. Euan is full of self-pity and his arrogance is merely a front. Of course, Lola Aurea admits she's also to blame when she overcompensated Euan and Joanna due to their father's early death. However, Euan continues to blame himself and eventually admits to Lola Aurea (in her coma) the hard truth. 

Looking at some of the clips makes me think of the kalandian present between Euan and Inna in the Filipino remake. Scenes of Euan and Inna could be close to sexual harassment -- scenes that NEVER existed in the OG KDrama. Euan slowly got more respectful of Inna without the unnecessary kalandian. The Filipino version seems to like adding lascivious behavior and it's supposed to be an afternoon drama. One must wonder if Euan already wanted to bang Inna the first time they met. The fact Euan told Inna he could "buy her" is already kalandian. I'm even wondering if Euan and Inna have an upcoming sex scene? I wouldn't be surprised if Francis finds Inna cheating on him (and mind you, Inna NEVER became his GF in the OG KDrama) which might say, "Hey, it's fine to cheat!") seeing her and Euan doing it?

The drama is basically pointless. The OG KDrama gets direct to the point without crazy Plot Armor. Lola Aurea's survival in the OG KDrama has been more believable than the Filipino remake. However, Lola Aurea's Filipino counterpart would've died IRL with what was shown. Having the Filipino remake of Joanna as a child or grandchild would have a huge toll on anyone's health. The whole remake is pretty much like most Filipino remakes of KDramas -- A HUGE MESS!