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.

Read More

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!

Read More

HYA AND GAB CHEMISTRY IS ON TOP; CITW ADAPT IS GIVING.

Hya and Gab’s chemistry is absolutely cute and effortless! I’ve never felt this way about a Filipino series before. Even when they’re just standing next to each other, you can feel the tension and the butterflies—it's that real! Acting-wise, they complement each other perfectly. Hya has seriously leveled up; she totally nailed that crying scene. Her interactions with her reel parents, played by Dominic and Angelu, are so natural, and her “it girl” vibe doesn’t feel forced at all. I think some of the negative comments are based on a single scene, but trust me, her performances in the recent episodes 1 and 2 are impressive. She’s got room to grow, but she’s already slaying it. Gab as Sevi is just perfect—he’s got the acting chops, the looks, the talent, and the humor.

I love how the series kicked off with ELVI’s past and college life. It’s a light start, and I’m super excited to see how the story unfolds as they transition from college to adulting and professional life. This show is a must-watch, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Episodes 1 and 2 are on repeat on my Viva One app!

Read More

A MUST WATCH SERIES

This adaptation totally blew me away! I never thought I'd get hooked after just two episodes, but here we are. Honestly, I'm not usually into adaptations or Filipino series, but this one is a definite exception. The cast has such great chemistry! I love how Elyse's parents and their dynamic with Ely add depth to the story. And can we talk about Hya? She absolutely nails it alongside Dominic and Angelu.

Sevi, with his hilarious humor, is a standout! I was shocked to learn Gab was raised in the US because you’d never guess it from his acting. He completely embodies the character of Sevi, especially during the basketball scenes and all those visual gags. As for Hya, I don’t get the hate at all. She brings a refreshing authenticity to her role, and her "conyo" and "aircon" humor are spot-on – it’s not forced like some others I've seen.

Some might be judging her based on one clip, but trust me, she shines in both episodes that are out. Her ability to express emotion, especially through her eyes, is impressive. Both she and Gab have this amazing way of conveying so much with just a glance. Not everyone can pull that off, and I have to give them credit for their performances. They’re killing it, and I have no doubt they’ll keep getting better.

I can't wait for more episodes to drop! This series is a must-watch, and I love how the production brings a fresh storytelling approach compared to the first two seasons (both seasons are good). Sevi's perspective in each episode's epilogue is just the cherry on top. Bring on the next episode!

Read More

CITW brought my heart for pinoy films back to life!

I couldn't even remember the last time I was this invested in a series. As someone who has read the book, sometimes I can't help but get in awe of how they connect the scenes while maintaining a smooth flow. Hyacinth and Gab are living out exactly how I imagined Elyse and Sevi. Their chemistry gets me screaming, blushing, giggling, and kicking the air. The wonderfully made OSTs set the vibe! The production team never forgets to add flavor to the series. In fact, I love how they added epilogues to every episode. The cinematography is giving kdrama vibes; I love it. Everything about this series is perfect. Kudos to the production team for bringing my imagination from the book to life! 

Read More

Chasing in the wild

I first read citw in wattpad for almost 9x already & now that the adaptation is being aired, i must say that sevi camero & elyse ledezma really came out straight from the book.

If anyone has an hesitation on why the character of hyacinth as elyse talks that way, all i could say to you is that, before you judge hya on how she portray elyse, you should read the book for you to know & to find out why she speaks like that is because amora elyse ledezma is a conyo & she speaks more on english & that is what hya is a perfect match for elyse.

Gab really portray sevi well. We've seen gab as sevi in trie & ssa but this time, he shows what really sevi is & his kanal humor is. Sevi is sevi, w/out his kanal humor that we can easily understand, he is not sevi & gab really get sevi camero well.

overall, hya & gab is really our living elyse & sevi.

Read More