In Asian culture, there are many fantastic tales and legends. While some of this has been explored in horror and fantasy dramas, no one has really seized the reins and constructed a whole world around it. That is, until Trese, a six-episode Filipino masterpiece, came along.
Trese, a skillfully written, entertaining action-adventure that blends aspects of science fiction, action, and crime drama, leaves you wanting longer after the credits have rolled.
Trese is a drama set in the heart of Manila that delves into a world where the mysterious underworld coexists with the real world. The daylight is pleasant, but the shadows come out to play at night. Under the weight of restless dark powers, this informal union, which was forged in the past by a man named Anton, is eroding.
Anton’s daughter Alexandra Trese acts as a bridge between the two worlds. She is the sixth child of the sixth child, a female born to unite the kingdoms and rule over the underworld, according to tradition. She is pleased with her current position as an Earthly detective for the time being.
Trese’s best fantasy-realism crossovers perfectly capture Manila’s rough energy and sprawl, making the anime feel both natural and wonderful. Dwarfish earth elementals keep humans as pets. The hands and eyes of lightning elementals, who control and run power firms, crackle with raw electricity. The horses of the Encanto live in densely forested headquarters located atop high-rise structures. To survive in this society, even monsters require an off-grid system, thus the predatory aswang monsters have their own wet market for illegal human meat.
In both the series’ urban environment and story arcs, the Trese comics are noted for their folkloric aspects. Those features add to the anime’s magical realism atmosphere.
Alexandra Trese is the epitome of Trese’s reaction to the craziness of her Manila: melancholy, morose, and suspicious. Dressed in a Chinese-cut trench coat and ready to fight at the drop of a centavo, she appears to represent what any city-dwelling Filipino feels on a daily day. She is a joy to watch as a supernatural detective who is also the enforcer of the “accords” between the human and otherworldly realms.
Over the course of these six episodes, Trese is enmeshed in all kind of otherworldly spookiness, from zombie invasions to wild goblins and even a murdered ghost. The concepts are well-presented and inventive, and the voice cast does a fantastic job bringing them to life.
Trese is a well-written series that also happens to be one of Netflix’s better-animated offerings this year. The world is fed by myths and stories, which have a distinct aesthetic and are cleverly used.
Trese deservingly deserves a sequel based on her performance, but whether or not the show will do so remains to be seen. Trese has a terrific six-episode run that is definitely worth watching for the time being.
Episode 1
Trese’s first episode begins in Manila, where we learn more about the city’s secrets. During the day, everything seems fine, but at night, the shadows become darker and more agitated.
It turns out that humans have been protected from the supernatural underworld by a treaty. Unfortunately, things are starting to fall apart. The light forces are dwindling, with Alexandra Trese remaining the only bright spot of hope. For a long time, her family has served as a link between the light and the dark, straddling the thin line that separates the two states. Trese has big shoes to fill now that Alexandra’s father, Anton, has passed away.
Trese sets out to find answers after train passengers go missing, and a dead ghost, the white lady, is used as a sacrifice. This brings her face to face with Nuno, a sewer-dwelling goblin, and the Aswang Clan’s leader, both of whom point to a corrupt official involved with mermaid’s bones.
The white lady is probably the most well-known of Trese’s supernatural inhabitants. Almost every country has an urban legend about a female ghost dressed in a white gown. The most famous white lady in the Philippines is the White Lady of Balete Drive. Fans of the supernatural will recognise her story. One fateful night on Balete Drive, a woman was killed in a car accident. Several years later, she continues to haunt taxi drivers in the middle of the night. According to other reports, people driving down the street late at night may catch a glimpse of her in their rear-view mirror before she vanishes. According to reports, she has been involved in several accidents on Balete Drive.
With elections approaching, Mayor Santamaria tries everything he can to make these deaths work in his favour. He is, however, the one who is involved. Trese tries to build a case against him, given that the ghost was actually his mistress and that he reveals information about the Aswang Clan.
This includes inspecting the train cars. There appear to be two trains, one in the realm of the living and the other in the realm of the dead. The Aswang clan took the dead passengers from the train, as we will soon discover. Trese is dispatched to save those unfortunate souls, which leads her to their leader, Xa-Mul.
Trese is joined by Crispin and Basilio, who arrive wearing masks and wielding dual pistols, given the odds being stacked against her. This is enough to turn the tables on the caged humans and save them all. Mayor Santamaria is definitely involved, according to eyewitnesses. They also revealed information about the Aswang Clan, confirming that they were responsible for Trese’s mother’s death. This is enough to warrant the Mayor’s arrest.
The Goddess of Death appears with an ominous message as Trese returns home. The Court of Death wants to be in the good books of the sixth child of the sixth child when she takes her rightful place in the Underworld. Trese appears to be that child. She, on the other hand, ignores the call to action and instead answers a call from the police captain.
Episode 2
Trese 2 opens with a slick black and white flashback of a woman showing up at a strip club and completely cleaning the place out. The bodyguards’ hearts are cut out, and a bloody crime scene is left in their wake. The victims are actually members of the infamous Skeleton Crew, and it appears that this is a revenge killing.
Anton and a young Alexandra arrive at the crime scene. The Sigbins officers who are accompanying Anton are actually Sigbins. They change their appearance and begin following the scent.
These creatures, known as Sigbins, are familiars. They take on many different appearances depending on their master’s needs, but in some regions, they frequently resemble dogs, which is the version Trese follows.
Ramona is the woman behind everything, and she’s the leader of a band of rebels who have been murdering clan members for months. Anton warns the Colonel that he might be next, but he’s too invested in the bottle, believing Ramona will kill him soon.
Alexandra arrives with her men at the scene of a car accident in the present. But this isn’t just any crash. The winner’s car has vanished, and there are hoofprints on the roof. Trese follows the clues to a lavish skyscraper despite the lack of a trace and a body, as well as two eyewitnesses who claim the driver had real “horsepower.” She arrives to see Senor Amanaz, who welcomes her inside. Trese extends her greetings to this magnificent stallion, who also happens to be Lord of the Tikbalang.
These humanoid horses, according to Filipino folklore, prefer to live in remote mountains and forests. Alexandra meets Seor Armanaz in a penthouse that resembles an indoor jungle. They’re known for playing pranks on tourists.
Nuno is Alexandra’s elderly supernatural informant in Trese. Nuno sa punso, a nature spirit who takes the form of an old man who lives in a mound of dirt, is his inspiration. Nuno sa punso are prone to becoming enraged and vindictive, so this is an excellent opportunity to follow Alexandra’s lead and say “tabi tabi po.” Otherwise, you risk twisting your ankle or having your foot swell like a balloon as a result of intruding on his territory. Trese’s Nuno isn’t technically a nuno sa punso. He’s the nuno sa manhole because he lives in a sewer rather than a mound of dirt.
You’re essentially saying “excuse me” to any spirits who may be nearby when you say “tabi tabi po.” When you’re traveling through places where supernatural beings might live, such as a field, a mound of dirt, a tree, or a riverbank, you say this. You do this to avoid offending these spirits, who can be easily offended if you aren’t respectful or acknowledge their presence. Failure to say “tabi tabi po” may result in you becoming ill, developing a fever, or suffering from other ailments. Even if you don’t believe it, it’s one of those things you just say regardless. Why take the chance?
Episode 3
Trese’s third episode begins in the past, with more information about Ramona and her tribe. The skeleton crew’s commanding officer is tortured and fed the hearts of his men.
The blood ritual appears to be about to begin, prompting Anton to enlist the assistance of the War Council. It’s just that it’s not good. Ramona is successful in reuniting with her husband. But he’s not who she thought he was, and he transforms into the God of War, threatening to kill the kids with a knife.
Back in the present, Trese and the boys are called to investigate a gruesome murder in a parking lot. Dr. Petra is the victim’s name, and she is a dermatologist who owns and operates a number of successful clinics throughout the city. The assailant also left tracks that led to the sewers.
Trese enlists the help of a ghost named Jobert, who confirms that Dr. Petra was on the phone with Nova Aurora, a well-known actress. As it turns out, they’ve been friends since childhood, and Petra is the President of her fan club.
Trese travels to Amang Paso, Elder of the Red Earth tribe, in order to learn more. Amang Paso is a duwende and one of the Trese family’s oldest allies.
While duwende and nuno sa punso are both earth spirits, they are not the same. They’re more like irrational little goblins. They have the power to bring you good fortune. They also have the ability to serve you a heaping helping of bad luck. They can also simply steal your belongings, hide them, and then mock you when you try to locate them. It seems appropriate that a duwende would assist a woman in becoming a well-known actress in Trese, even if it means sacrificing some things along the way.
Aurora is also present, sobbing, and claims to have seen red eyes inside the structure, which has alarmed her. This creature turns out to be a feral goblin, and it’s calling out to Aurora.
On the hunt later in the episode, Aurora drops to her knees and waits for the creature to approach. Aurora stabs the creature repeatedly with a knife, soaking herself in blood as it lets its guard down. Tiyanak is the name for this creature.
Tiyanak are vampiric babies, according to Filipino folklore. They cry like babies to entice unsuspecting victims. After all, babies are completely harmless. Isn’t it true that they can’t hurt you? The tiyanak will transform and attack you if you pick up what appears to be an abandoned infant. Tiyanak are unborn children whose mothers died before giving birth, according to some legends. According to other stories, they are the spirits of children who died before being baptized.
Amang thanks Trese for keeping Nova safe, but she isn’t satisfied. Nova is the true monster, as this goblin was only acting on its host’s instincts, and Trese warns Amang not to cross her again. In exchange, it promises that a storm is brewing and that a traitor is among her ranks, but who could it be?
Aurora is lying in bed at the end of the episode when a swarm of feral goblins appears and murders the girl.
Episode 4
Trese episode 4 opens with more flashbacks, with a young Anton and Alexandra facing off against Talagbusao, who was summoned in the previous episode’s blood ritual. Unfortunately, Anton is stabbed in the stomach as a result of his efforts, but Alexandra saves the day and manages to expel the creature from the source.
Datu Talagbusao is a mythical being with the appearance of a human, albeit an immortal one capable of adapting the appearance of others. Prior to the introduction of Christianity, the early Filipinos, like many other ancient Western and Asian civilizations, believed in their own pagan gods. Talagbusao is a myth from the Philippines’ southern province of Bukidnon, and he represents the God of War.
Guererro returns to the station in the present, having learned of a massacre. Even worse, the morgue has 50 bodies missing. Trese prepares for the fight ahead as the Underworld stirs and the gloves come off. Trese decides not to summon the War Council in the absence of Anton.
Hank arrives to see Nuno, who confirms that something is brewing and that all of the underworld tribes are stockpiling muscle and magic. Worse yet, bodies are missing from the train, and they’re on their way to the precinct. It’s a zombie apocalypse!
Alexandra goes out with her boys to quell the threat, using magic to locate a stone that could turn the tide of battle. He saves Captain Guerrero from certain death by enlisting the aid of Santelmo, the burning head.
The large fireball that Alexandra summons with her cell phone is explained in a variety of ways. According to popular belief, santelmo are the souls of the dead who have unfinished business. They could be out for vengeance. Perhaps they simply require assistance. They will sometimes pursue you. They may also deceive you into following them until you are completely lost. Ball lightning and luminous plasma are real weather phenomena, and Santelmo is most likely a supernatural explanation for them.
That stone from before is in the stomach of a prisoner named Raul, who coughs it up and throws it on the ground. Trese brandishes her pistols and fires them into oblivion as she does so. As a result, the zombies vanish from view, thus she ends up saving the day.
As the episode ends, a suicide bomber detonates a bomb inside the bar where Amang and Hank are sharing a drink. The town is shaken by the explosion.
Episode 5
Trese’s fifth episode begins in the past, with the War Council reuniting. While worrying about the God Of War’s return, the various clans decide to form a union in order to maintain balance. Anton decides to take things a step further and teach the brothers what it means to be a family. This is due to the use of the masks we’ve seen before.
We cut to the present, where Mayor Santamaria has found new life in prison. He’s the boss around here, and he’s rebuilding the prison as per his own wishes. Unfortunately, in doing so, he has declared war on the Underworld, and the previous agreements will no longer be honoured.
Maliski approaches Trese and informs her that it is now every tribe for themselves and that now is the time to call in any favors. Trese and her gang will be in big trouble as a result of this.
Amang Paso made the ultimate sacrifice to save Hank, who is currently recovering in the hospital. The Mayor’s black magic, Kulam, and dealings with the Aswang all seem to indicate that he is not the puppet master, but rather a puppet. There appears to be a higher power at work here, but who is it?
Kulam, like “tabi tabi po,” is not a supernatural being. It’s black magic performed by witches in this case. It is very important to remember that kulam only targets people who have done something wrong. According to legend, kulam does not work on people who are not guilty.
The aswang is the most well-known monster in the Philippines. It’s more of a label we give an entire family of monsters than a name for one type of supernatural creature. When Alexandra goes through the ritual trial at the balete tree in Trese, a group of aswang confront Anton. The ghouls who have formed organised gangs throughout Manila and traffic humans are the first type of aswang we meet in Trese.
Balete trees aren’t monsters either, but they do have a special place in Filipino mythology. Strangler figs are what we call them. Balete, like other strange figs, encircles and eventually kills host trees. However, in Filipino folklore, they are home to a variety of supernatural beings such as tikbalang and diwata. They can also be used for magical rituals, as seen in Trese. The white lady living on Balete Drive was named after a balete tree that used to grow on the street.
Trese goes to the prison to persuade General Villar to let her inside so she can speak with the Mayor. However, another explosion rocks the prison as the Mayor leads his men out and deploys more bombs.
Unfortunately, whatever the Mayor’s Body is made of has contaminated all of the soldiers’ food, turning all of the guards against one another.
Trese finally confronts the Mayor, who confirms the new connections he’s made, including Nuno. He’s the one who’s been involved in the bombings, and that goes back a long way. He had originally requested to be a member of the War Council but was humiliated after he was turned down. This is his long-form revenge game.
The Mayor and Nuno’s rock golems, Laman Lupa, are pitted against Team Trese.
Laman lupa is a Filipino folklore term that refers to a family of earth elementals. Nuno sa punso and duwende would be types of laman lupa according to this definition. Laman lupa, on the other hand, refers to the mud elementals that Nuno summons for protection in Trese.
Trese triumphs and once again employs her fiery Santelmo to thwart the threat. That isn’t the end of it, though.
From behind, General Villar appears, promising Trese that she will now face her true destiny. Suddenly, the God of War appears, ready for the final battle.
Episode 6
Trese Episode 6 begins with flashbacks to the past, just like the previous episodes. Crispin and Basilio fight over the masks. Trese interrupts things, but Anton shows up and reminds them that they’re family. Trese, on the other hand, is dissatisfied and questions her father’s motives.
In the present, Talagbusao is pitted against Trese and her brothers. With both worlds in jeopardy, humans and tribes band together to defeat their adversaries.
Unfortunately, the God of War is able to control his children and turn them back to his side, proving that bond of blood is stronger than family. As the truth is finally revealed, the masks clatter to the ground symbolically. Talagbusao let things play out this way, using his children as his eyes and ears, secretly serving as the puppet master, and bringing Trese to her fate in plain sight.
That fate dates back to the prophecy we heard at the beginning of the season. The sixth child of the sixth child, Trese, is destined to upset an old balance between the underworld and the earth. For a long time, it has been predicted that both worlds – the supernatural and the world of men – will be destroyed.
Anton defied the odds and decided to join forces with supernatural forces to try to stop it, but you can’t stop fate. Anton had been avoiding the truth for a long time, but now it is crashing down around him. Alexandra, is Trese’s sister. Alexandra is the same Alexandra we’ve seen in flashbacks.
Trese’s parents had their fifth and sixth children, respectively. The prophecy predicted that one child would conquer and the other would bring balance. Anton, on the other hand, was deceptive, lying about the prophecy and his own children. Alex’s destiny is to commit genocide, killing everyone and starting the cycle all over again.
She, on the other hand, refuses to listen to Talagbusao, refusing to be swayed by this deity and instead choosing to do what she believes is right. She even reminds God that she is a Trese, and that family is stronger than blood. Trese manages to persuade the brothers to support her cause in an instant. Alexandra banishes the deity and saves the day by using dragon’s blood and stealing the knife from Talagbusao.
Trese finds herself staring at the familiar tree from the past after disappearing through a portal and being spat out the other side. The camera pans up as she looks out the window as she says, “We’re home, Alex.”
We cut down to the docks during the post-credit sequence, where two workers are killed and doused in blood. As the camera pans up, we see Trese’s sister sitting outside, gazing at the skyline. She grins and says the word “trese.”
Netflix has yet to renew the animated series for a second season, but the mandirigmang-babaylan has a bright future ahead. The animated series made it into the top 10 TV shows list on Netflix in 19 countries just three days after its release. ‘Trese’ is the first Filipino comic to be adapted for Netflix. As a result, it’s no surprise that the adaptation topped Netflix’s top 10 in the Philippines.
Furthermore, there is still a substantial amount of source material available. Only the first three volumes of the original comic series were adapted in the first season. Given Netflix’s commitment to adapting Asian stories, season 2 of ‘Trese’ is very likely to be approved. Hopefully, the second season won’t take as long as the first. Season 2 could arrive in mid-2022 or earlier if the anime is renewed soon. Season 1’s conclusion perfectly sets up the events of Season 2.