‘Lavender Fields’ off to a good start

MANILA, Philippines — The Kapamilya network, through ABS-CBN Studios and Dreamscape Entertainment, presents a contemporary drama titled, “Lavender Fields,” with familiar and relatable themes such as family, love and revenge.

It has already premiered on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z and TV5. However, its first four episodes are now streaming on Netflix.

In any story, regardless of its genre and medium, the first part or the exposition plays a vital role. To me, it determines and gauges the audience engagement.

And “Lavender Fields” has so far made an engaging and thrilling start.

The audience has been initially introduced to Arthur and Jasmin, played by Jericho Rosales and Jodi Sta. Maria, respectively, known as an accountant at Haileys and someone who works in the flowers and plants farm, Bloom Fields.

They’ve met in a strange manner, not the usual “meet-cute,” where Jasmin finds Arthur drunk and lying on the pavement.

As time progresses extra fast within the narrative timeline, there are sparks between acquaintances, who have become eventual lovers. But Jasmin’s mother, Rosita, portrayed by Lotlot de Leon, feels differently towards Arthur. It must be her ability to read people or her instinct to prioritize her child’s welfare that is working.

And then, Arthur seems to be living a double life or wearing a mask, accessible to specific circles of individuals in his life. He is also a young husband named Tyrone and works as a chief financial officer in a steel masters company.

It’s a persona only known to his family, including wife Iris (Janine Gutierrez), and friends who have to deal with their own personal and professional struggles, as one can assume, particularly when the series, “Lavender Fields” is fully told.

Iris, as the CEO of a family enterprise, seems to be living to prove her worth to her dad and stepsister. She has to save her marriage to Tyrone from totally falling apart and figure out the masterminds behind embezzlement or theft in her company.

With the way things are unfolding in “Lavender Fields” on Netflix, time flies and everything is fast-paced.

It is a refreshing approach to veer away from a slow exposition to which most of us are accustomed. There are nuanced moments of characters that viewers should catch. One instance is when Arthur has shed tears after a straight-forward, in-your-face conversation with Jasmin that reveals his true feelings even if his words say differently.

In a matter of three episodes, the characters have already presented the themes of family and love (romantic and parental, between mother-father and child) to be explored — and revenge that might take over in the succeeding episodes.

Arthur and Jasmin, well, have given one a glimpse of their true colors, as well as Iris, a woman with insecurities and a jealous nature.

To some, he appears as someone who is capable of loving truly, but is capable of “not disclosing personal information.” She can fall in love easily and has a mind of her own.

These traits are expected to create ripples of twists and turns in the narrative and hopefully consequences that will hold the viewer’s attention.

Any televiewer can make sense of the conflict — be it internal or external — every character is about to confront with.

For Arthur/Tyrone, the challenge is how to get out of that “world” he has entered to start anew.

What one perhaps could expect is a more character-driven story than plot-driven. It seems written in the stars that Jasmin will become empowered and a truth seeker.

Given the origin of their names, Arthur should possess that strong heroic personality, while Jasmin should be a gift to people around her.

Televiewers deserve some surprises along the way. The lead characters can defy stereotypes that their names bear or have defined them.

Can we look forward to watching bida-kontrabida (hero/heroine-villain/villainess) characters in “Lavender Fields” weeknights?

Let’s watch how Arthur/Tyrone and Jasmin develop and grow before our very eyes.

With its previous work, an ABS-CBN Studios and Dreamscape Entertainment production can definitely keep viewers entertained and engaged from start to finish.

(The drama series is directed by Emmanuel Quindo Palo and Jojo Saguin and also stars Maricel Soriano, Edu Manzano, Albert Martinez and Jolina Magdangal.)