Hermoso: Season 2 (Filipino Series)

The first season concluded on a cliffhanger involving a drowning during a storm; while I suspected it was Kyle, it was actually Andre, the fisherman boyfriend, who went under. Given the quality of that initial run, I was surprised the creators produced a second season. This installment is slightly better, primarily because it attempts to tell a story, even if the execution is lacking. With 13 episodes lasting only about sixteen minutes each, the series moves quickly, and you’ll find yourself finished before you realize it.
A doctor living a solitary life in the mountains discovers Andre one year after his drowning and nurses him back to health. As Andre recovers, he has no memory of his identity or origins, and the pair gradually falls in love. Meanwhile, back home, Kyle is managing the business and still mourning Andre, fueled by a gut feeling that Andre might still be alive. Kyle’s trans friend is currently in a relationship with a local fisherman, though they are considering a breakup due to their rocky dynamic. Once news spreads that someone matching Andre’s description was seen in the mountains, Kyle, the trans friend, and her boyfriend set out to locate him. During the journey, the boyfriend flirts with a local, which effectively ends their relationship. Upon finally tracking Andre down, he has no recollection of Kyle and refuses to go with him, forcing Kyle to watch the man he loves fall for someone else. Despite every effort to convince him to return, nothing works. The situation complicates when it is revealed that the doctor is a fugitive wanted by the police. Kyle alerts the authorities, but at that exact moment, Andre’s memory returns. Rather than feeling relief, he blames Kyle for cheating on him with his ex—a recurring theme from season 1—and walks away from both men. In a sudden twist in the final episode, the doctor apparently returns, and Kyle joins him to find Andre, leading to a conclusion where the three of them decide to enter a relationship together.
This is pure guilty pleasure, so you might as well switch your brain off entirely. The purpose of this show is quite apparent, especially since the men lose their shirts whenever possible for no real reason. I’m not complaining, though, as the cast is good looking and the show provides plenty of eye candy. However, the convenience of the plot is hard not to laugh at. There is no explanation for what happened to Andre during that year, and his memory returns without any real setup. The trans friend’s boyfriend meets a random man in the mountains and simply decides to stay there, while a fisherman from season 1 appears out of nowhere to confess his love for the trans friend, and suddenly they are a couple. Kyle is the weakest performer this season, and it is best not to dwell on it. Conversely, the doctor is extremely easy on the eyes, and the house and mountain setting are gorgeous. While the scenes between him and Andre are quite hot, there is only so much that skin can do. The short episode length is a blessing here, as critiquing the acting feels futile when acting ability clearly wasn’t the priority during casting.
Just as devoid of logic as the first season, Season 2 prioritizes visual appeal over actual storytelling. However, the eye candy is undeniable, and as a gay man, you really can’t complain too much.(4/10)