Make way for Ruru Madrid’shigh-octane ‘Black Rider’
How will GMA’s new sleek action-drama fare against the mighty ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ of Coco Martin?
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How will GMA’s new sleek action-drama fare against the mighty ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ of Coco Martin?
"What a grand entrance!"
My exact thoughts as Ruru Madrid zoomed into the German Moreno Studio of GMA 7 astride a motorbike, a truly fitting approach for the primetime hero of the new action series Black Rider.
Ambitious, high-octane, and testosterone-driven action and fight sequences, plus the requisite heart-stirring scenes and colorful and complicated characters were all plain to see as the full trailer flickered on a gigantic television screen.
Asked how he was feeling about his new show, Madrid answered, "Excited, grateful, nervous, and honored to be Elias Guerrero" — the name of his driven character.
"Doing Black Rider is a dream come true. That is why I give it my all, puso (heart) and passion. The training that I did in hand combat, martial arts, and motocross riding was not painless. Siempre, hindi lang aksyon ang pinaghandaan ko. My character Elias' narrative is equally difficult. Kita naman sa trailer na 'yung tragedy he experienced is not for the faint-hearted. And why he chose to strike back, and not just let karma do its job, is something that I fully understand. I feel for him," the actor added.
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Black Rider's crystal-clear strengths include a relatable and fresh story rooted in the lives of pandemic front-liners, especially delivery drivers. Woman power shines as the female characters are not the usual damsels who need a knight to save them. Both Yassi Pressman and Katrina Halili are badass, feisty, and ready to fight.
Adding another layer of powerful feminine presence to the action series are Gladys Reyes, Maureen Larazabal, and Rio Locsin.
Commendable is the casting of John Paul Joseph Santos, the fairy we all love as Pipay; and Turing Quinto, the boom-bastic drag queen. The duo said they are ecstatic they get to play appealing and relatable pink characters on TV.
The brusko and brawn representation comes courtesy of seasoned action stars Zoren Legaspi, Raymart Santiago, Gary Estrada, Raymond Bagatsing, Monsour del Rosario, and Roi Vinzon.
Said taekwondo icon Del Rosario about Madrid: "His eagerness to learn, humility, and respect is, I believe, a rarity and gift. He listens attentively as well. We already taped a fight scene and I see how gung-ho he was to deliver and be as authentic as possible. Dahil nga nakikinig siya at matalas mag-isip, doing a fight scene with him becomes a breeze."
Also guaranteed to bring a wallop is Matteo Guidicelli as the resident good cop, "With a twist, of course. Nothing is just black and white in the manner my character was written," said the better half of Sarah Geronimo.
Jon Lucas is Madrid's nemesis, the alpha of the Golden Scorpion Boys. Lucas, without a doubt, is the best-looking bad boy in local TV today.
Vance Larena, who is part of the notorious posse, described their group this way: "We make the lives of everyone miserable. Mayhem is what we create. We are not just cocky, we are ruthless. No conscience whatsoever. Walang sense of remorse. For the Golden Scorpio boys, their bad deeds are opiates. Mas masama ang ginagawa namin, mas matindi ang satisfaction."
But, he hastened to add, "Sa role lang po ang ganun, hindi sa totoong buhay" (That's only for our roles, not in real life).
Madrid said he had a chance encounter with Coco Martin, whom he regards as an idol. The star of the mighty FPJ's Batang Quiapo told him: "Pinaghahandaan namin kayo."
The primetime action-drama battle is on!
Black Rider premieres this 6 November, 9:00 p.m. on GMA Telebabad with simulcast airing on GTV and Kapuso Stream.
