Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The TV series has finally launched on prime time!
As seen in the first episode that aired last night, August 15, 2022, Jane de Leon as Narda becomes the unwitting apprentice of her mother, Leonor (Iza Calzado).
Oblivious to the responsibility ahead of her, Narda assumes she is undergoing rigorous lessons in combat to protect her younger brother Ding (Zaijian Jaranilla).
The episode also shows Iza's character Leonor transforming into the iconic superheroine when an extraterrestrial enemy attacks Earth.
She wears a red and gold one-piece suit paired with the Darna helmet as she flies and fights the enemy.
Leonor's real identity is revealed when Narda sees her mother transform from the Darna to her human form after defeating her opponent.
To Narda's surprise, Leonor explains that she is the chosen inheritor of the stone.
Viewers also get a glimpse of a mysterious woman (Janella Salvador) who appears to get poisoned by a splinter from a creature of planet Marte. The fragment fell from the sky after Leonor, in her Darna form, successfully incapacitated the hostile alien.
Others stars featured in the pilot episode of Darna: The TV Series include Joshua Garcia, Zaijian Jaranilla, Rio Locsin, Jeric Raval, Joem Bascon, Joj Agpangan, and Paolo Gumabao.
Read: Jane de Leon reacts to naysayers saying she doesn't deserve Darna role
Read: Rio Locsin recounts with amusement her low-tech version of Darna 43 years ago
NETIZENS REACT
Fans were glued to their screens as the pilot episode of Darna: The TV Series aired, and many tweeted their reactions real time.
As a result, Darna was a top trending topic on Twitter that night.
Netizens lauded Iza's portrayal. Some were also impressed by the CGI (computer-generated imagery) used in the series.
Here are some of the tweets (published as is):
"That was a really good pilot episode #DarnaTheTVSeries #Darna Jane, Ding and Iza didnt disappoint. Ang ganda ng sibling rapport nina Jane and Zaijan. Very natural. And Iza, slaying the action moves! Congrats to the whole team! Esp to Jane - a new face sa primetime!" - Kapamilya reporter MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) August 15, 2022
"Iza Calzado as Leonor and the first #Darna just oh my god. Super bagay sya sa to be the Darna!" - Claire (@claireyu) August 15, 2022
"I love the stunts, the production value, and the ensemble cast, not to mention the narrative we really need right now calling us to be our own 'hero' to and for others. I'm all for it! #Darna #DarnaTheTVSeries" - I am nobody (@sentillasdarwin) August 15, 2022
"Exactly how a real superhero should make her attack stance. Grabe ka, Miss Iza Calzado. Nag-iisa talaga. #Darna" - KPEx Official (@OfficialKpex) August 15, 2022
"#DarnaTheTVSeries Amazing fight scene of Iza Calzado in her Darna costume is shown in the second gap of pilot episode of Darna the TV Series." - leopoldo (@Masterleo222) August 15, 2022
"That explosion scene was quite near to a Hollywood production. Congrats, Team #Darna!" - I am nobody (@sentillasdarwin) August 15, 2022
According to Kapamilya World, the pilot episode of Darna: The TV Series drew 300,000 concurrent live views.