Alex Yasenev

I really enjoyed Trese. Having a Filipino wife, it made it that much more engaging to watch. I enjoyed all her smirks when the Tagalog kicked in. World-building abounds in the show, and there is a sense of passion underlying the art style and characters. Trese exposes us non-Filipinos to the elements of their supernatural culture and provides a refreshing twist to the genre because of this. To me, this is the strongest draw of the show and where it truly shines. Animation is crisp with smooth and exciting battles. Music fits the mood. And character and background designs make you feel that you are really in Manila. Having said that, I understand this is a pilot season, which typically constrains the number of episodes that are produced. Yet, I feel this story needed more breathing room; it went by too quickly. Albeit, it did so in a way that leaves me wanting more which is a sign of great potential and storytelling. Often times, pacing issues can be mechanical and due to incompetent writing; however it is not the case here. It is simply kept short and engaging for its freshman entry. I'll give Trese 4.5/5 for a few reasons. There are times when the lead character felt flat. She is meant to be a badass, and indeed she is; I just wished to see more emotions and expressions out of her present version (not to discredit the range found in flashbacks of her life). And as mentioned, the plot felt slightly rushed given the story. Characters and their relationships could have been fleshed out more had there been one or two more episodes. Lastly, while many of the jokes are fine, some fall a bit flat and probably don't belong in the given scene. This is a minor occurrence and the remaining jokes serve well in lighting the mood and giving the show much needed balance. Despite those issues, I'm nonetheless captivated by this series. Trese is unique, and I am eager to see what the next season brings! The shows ends on a suspenseful cliffhanger, and if it is what the show has led us to believe, it should open the doors for an exciting conflict.