Chasing in the Wild (2024)

Good story, bad acting

I have watched the first 2 instalments of the univerkada series and I liked them both mostly because of their plots that took me back to my wattpad era. The highschool/ college love, something going wrong, separating because of it only to find their way back to each other cooks up a very nice story. It's sweet and light to watch why is why I love stories like these.

while the story is good overall, the plot didn't deal properly with how ely handled her grief. Her father was violent and abusive and he is shown as the bad guy, rightfully so. But her mother had an affair with a married man. from what we know, she is part of the reason that a family broke. i don't understand why she is given such a clean slate at the end. ely constantly saying that her mother was a pure heart etc. etc. seemed like the character just swept all of the mother's mistakes under the rug because she can't handle the idea of a grey personality. a person according to her is either 100% good or 100% bad.

i liked how they didn't fix everything between ely and her dad. this closure was much more realistic. apart from that, when ely talks about the worst thing that happened to her after what her father did, she just says "i had to go to therapy because of you". in my opinion, a very awkward choice of words. the point of even saying the dialogue was to show the impact of her father's actions on her, and the entire impact was just shoved into the dustbin by summarising it with therapy. if someone has an accident, the gravity of the situation is better explained when you say "i fractured my rib and broke my arm" not when you say "i had to go to the doctor". it's almost as if the writer didn't know what might happen to a traumatised person and were too lazy to do any research.

The moments between ely and sevi were very cute and i think that those moments were probably their best acting? because most of the acting sucked. the dialogue delivery was painfully slow. or is that just how rich people talk? idk. every syllable spoken by ely was stretched for some reason. also, the crying was just...awful. there was water all over the face which looked very comical. and as much as i like hearing a character's thoughts, it was so awkward to hear ely's thoughts. it was like reading lines from a script. i preferred sevi's dialogue delivery over ely's but like her, he too doesn't know how to cry properly and his expression for most part of the series was him looking at something/someone with an eyebrow raised.

Overall, the love story is very cute and was the only thing that made me look forward to the episodes. the ost was also great. but everything else is unimpressive if not horrible.

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ELYSE AND SEVI CAME OUT FROM THE BOOK

Let's start with the story. "Chasing In The Wild" is arguably the most renowned entry in Gwy's University Series, having been the gateway for her other works to gain recognition. What stands out about this story is its realistic portrayal of life, including family dynamics, the challenges of adulting, the struggles of recent graduates trying to establish themselves, and themes of love, slow-burn romance, and healthy relationships. It effectively captures Elyse and Sevi’s transition from their carefree youth to their more mature selves, reflecting real-life experiences throughout.

Next, the casting is top-notch. The series features experienced actors like Dominic Ochoa and Angelu De Leon, among others. Gab, despite his American upbringing shows an incrdiy “kanal” humor, and he shown significant improvement since his roles in "TRIE" and "SSA." I can no longer see the Vegas boy in him. Meanwhile, Hya truly embodies Elyse, proving her critics wrong, especially in a recent emotional scene with Dominic Ochoa. Her natural ability to cry convincingly adds a heartfelt touch, and her conyo and slang are effortlessly authentic. Gab and Hya share a chemistry that feels genuine and engaging, even in their simplest interactions. Though there’s always room for growth, their performances are commendable and compliments each other as they have this natural connection which is hard to find in most of the LT. They are doing great and for sure they will do even more!

Finally, the music is excellent. The background score is well-crafted, enhancing the series' chill and romantic vibes, with particularly effective sound effects that intensify key moments, like the basketball scenes.

Having rewatched the series multiple times, I find its emotional impact growing stronger. The narrative’s choice to start in the past with no foreknowledge of the future adds depth. The additional scenes enrich the story, offering better context and connections between events. The development of characters, especially Alfred, is well-handled. Sevi’s perspective at the end of each episode adds a unique touch which add flavor to the series. I highly recommend this series; it stands out as an exceptional adaptation, even for someone who usually isn’t a fan of adapt like me. It’s a must-watch for real!

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