Review: ‘The Alibi’
Of course, the biggest draws are Avelino and Chiu. Their characters are complex and navigate emotionally charged, high-stakes situations.
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Of course, the biggest draws are Avelino and Chiu. Their characters are complex and navigate emotionally charged, high-stakes situations.
PAULO Avelino and Kim Chiu in ‘The Alibi.’
The most successful showbiz partnership of Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino reunites for the fourth time in The Alibi. They are back on Prime Video with a series that feels like one part Pretty Woman, one part Indecent Proposal, one part How to Get Away With Murder, and one part Dynasty — all filtered through the uniquely Filipino melodrama lens, making the gamble on love and lies even more heart-pounding and scorching to watch.
When Stella meets Vincent
After the success of their hit Prime Video series Linlang, the dynamic duo KimPau return as daring new characters harboring deep, dark secrets. Chiu plays Stella, a seductive escort and the sole provider for her broken family. Her already complicated life becomes even more entangled when she accidentally crosses paths with Vincent (Avelino), heir apparent to one of the Philippines’ most influential digital news empires, Cabrera News.
Their encounter becomes twisted when it is revealed that Vincent is the prime suspect in a high-profile murder investigation involving his rival, Walter (Sam Milby). In a desperate attempt to salvage his crumbling reality, Vincent strikes a million-peso deal with Stella: she must pose as his alibi.
As the two strangers enter this unconventional arrangement shrouded in mystery, viewers can look forward to the unraveling of the murder case and the challenge of whether Stella and Vincent can handle the truth — especially as hidden agendas surface and the morality of every suspect comes under scrutiny.
Cinematic experience
The Alibi boasts a cinematic gloss. Its breathtaking cinematography captures locations beyond the usual Cebu tourism spots, while the opulence and power of the Cabrera family are on full display — from lavish homes and grand parties to their sleek offices and impeccably dressed appearances. The Cabreras speak the language of the elite, even in Filipino, exuding authority and weight in every line. There is a cadence and rhythm in their speech that announces, unmistakably: yes, this is how the affluent speak.
Complicated relationships and twists
A promising aspect of The Alibi is its layered narrative. The first episode highlights the tense, complicated relationship between Vincent and his adoptive father, played by John Arcilla. Vincent also struggles with his mother, Zsa-Zsa Padilla, who portrays a glamorous yet overbearing matriarch blinded by lies. His brother, played by Rafael Rosell, his younger sibling (Robbie Jaworski), and his strained marriage with Sofia Andres’ character, the series’ stylish villainess, further deepen the web of family dynamics.
The narrative revolves around the Cabreras, their many games, and the masks they wear, shaped by their moods and motivations. Beyond family drama, the series explores themes of broadcast journalism, corruption, social hierarchy, power dynamics fueled by money and sex, the hypocrisy of the affluent, shallow religiosity, questionable morality, and the dangerous interplay of lust and love.
Stella’s story
Stella’s arc centers on her life as an escort with a heart of gold. She serves as the breadwinner for her two siblings, including the lovely Angelina Cruz.
The true strength of The Alibi is its cast. Arcilla channels a Blake Carrington-level authority, while Padilla’s comeback role is glammed-up, maternal to a fault, and tragically blind to deception. Sofia Andres’ portrayal of a scheming vixen adds twists and turns that keep viewers on edge. Supporting performances by Alma Moreno, Ian de Leon, Romnick Sarmenta, and Irma Adlawan add extra jolts and easter-egg surprises, making this KimPau collaboration pure guilty pleasure.
Of course, the biggest draws are Avelino and Chiu. Their characters are complex and navigate emotionally charged, high-stakes situations. In the first episode, the emotional truth and vulnerability they bring to Vincent and Stella are A-plus performances — genuine, heartfelt and compelling.
The series’ direction, by the trio of Onat Diaz, Jojo Saguin and FM Reyes, under ABS-CBN’s Dreamscape Entertainment, elevates every scene.
Dive into the dark secrets of The Alibi, streaming exclusively on Prime Video beginning 7 November (Friday). New episodes drop weekly in the Philippines and across over 240 countries and territories.
