Darna: Episode 72

72. Power Up

Magkakaharap sila Darna at Valentina sa isang madilim na sulok ng kagubatan kung saan lululunin ng buo ng ahas ni Valentina si Darna bago ito makawala. Bago muling magpakita sa anak na si Regina, aalalahanin ni Rex kung paano sila nakaligtas ni Ishna mula sa pagsabog ng Agrix sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalit ng anyo sa huling sandali. Nakatakas man sila ay sugatan din silang dalawa at inabot din ng ilang araw bago sila makabangon muli. Sa kanyang pagbabalik ay magkikita silang dalawa ni Narda sa tanggapan ni Regina at muling ipapakilala sa kanya ng anak ang kaibigan. Patuloy man sa paghahanap kay Borgo ay lingid naman sa kaalaman ni Narda na nasa harap na niya ito. Sasanayin ni Luna si Narda sa mga pamamaraan ng pakikipaglaban ng mga taga-Marte at sasabihan ito na kayang palabasin ng tagapangalaga ng bato ang Hiraya na isang uri ng lakas na ang tagapangalaga lamang ang nakakatawag. Huli raw itong nagamit ni Zora ng kalabanin niya ang mga halimaw sa ilalim ng Marte. #DarnaPowerUp

Binata na ang ahas ni Valentina. Lumaki na e. Nalulon pa niya si Darna ng buo ha. Kaya lang ang sagwa talaga ng Special Effects. Oo na paulit ulit na tayo sa kantyaw natin na ito subalit ganoon naman talaga. Paano mo mahahangaan ng buo ang nais nilang ipakita kung palagi na lamang mababaling ang iyong paningin sa kasagwaan ng Special Effects ng palabas, hindi ba? Wala naman gaanong dating ang pagbabalik ni Borgo. Hindi rin naman ganoon kagulo ang dahilan kung paano sila nakatakas. Ang nakakainis lang dito ay ang tagal tagal nilang binuo yang Agrix na yan tapos dalawang kabanata lang yata tumagal. Palpak ba? Sa kabila ng lahat ay ganoon pa rin naman ang ugnayan nila Borgo at Ishna. Alila pa rin siya ni Borgo ngunit hayok na hayok pa rin siyang patunayan ang sarili niya rito. Pag-ibig na nga marahil kaya nagpapakatanga ang ate mo. Hindi ba dapat lalong pagbantaan ni Rex ang buhay ni Narda dahil isa siya sa mga kahinaan ni Regina? #DarnaPowerUp

72. Power Up

Darna and Valentina face off in a dark part of the forest where one of Valentina’s snakes swallows Darna whole before she eventually breaks free. Before deciding to pay his daughter Regina a visit, Rex recalls how he and Ishna managed to survive the Agrix explosion by transforming at the last minute. While they are able to escape, the two end up injured and it takes them several days to recover. His return leads him to cross paths with Narda at Regina’s office where she introduces her to him once again. Still in constant search of Borgo, Narda is not aware that he is already in front of her. Luna trains Narda in the diverse fighting style of Marteans and tells her about the ability of the protector of the stone to summon the Hiraya, a force of energy that only the protector can summon. It is said that Zora last summoned the force when she fought the monsters under Marte. #DarnaPowerUp

Valentina’ snakes are teenagers now. Well, they’ve grown bigger and one of them even swallows Darna whole. Even then, the special effects are still really atrocious. Yes, yes, this critique has been repetitive alright but what can we do? How can you enjoy whatever it is they are trying to show you if your attention just can’t help but focus on the horrendous special effects of the show, right? Borgo’s comeback is not that impactful either. The reason as to how they were able to escape is not really that convoluted to begin with. What annoys me is that it took them quite some time to create that Agrix weapon only for it to last just two episodes. Epic fail? Despite all that has happened, the relationship between Borgo and Ishna remains the same. She is still Borgo’s slave and yet she is still oh so eager to prove herself to him. Perhaps it is love indeed. Otherwise, why be the guy’s idiot, right? On the contrary, shouldn’t Borgo actually put Narda’s life in danger because she is considered as Regina’s weakness? #DarnaPowerUp

“I've been around. May importante lang akong inasikaso. I just called to tell you, I'll see you soon.” –Rex

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