If the fandom of “Gameboys” is the most spoiled fandom in the Philippine Boys’ Love series landscape, it would be fair to say they are also the most lovingly battered with restlessness, even in ungodly hours.
Since their phenomenal series’ season one ended last Sept. 13, this passionate and protective lot has been religiously following the social media accounts of series creator The IdeaFirst Company (and even of the stars and staff) for the latest clues on the next big treat — “Pearl Next Door,” the spinoff series which focuses on the character Pearl, the friend and champion of Cairo and Gavreel. It’s a Girls Love online series this time, and one of the first in the Philippines.
At exactly 11:31 p.m. last night, just a few hours ago, IdeaFirst finally dropped via Twitter the official announcement that “Pearl Next Door” would begin showing today, Friday, Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. While nothing specific was stated about where it would stream, the company has released all its “Gameboys” episodes on its official IdeaFirst YouTube channel.
https://twitter.com/theideafirst_co/status/1319300379595608065
#PearlNextDoorThisFriday quickly became a top trending topic after retweets by its lead actress, Pearl herself, Adrianna So, and those by executive producer Perci Intalan, creative consultant Elmer Gatchalian and cast member Phillip Hernandez (a.k.a. Davao Conyo). “Gameboys” writer Ash Malanum also joined in on the nearly-midnight surprise, teasing fans: “Are you guys awake? Ok. Now go to sleep. Char. Hahaha.”
Are you guys awake? Ok. Now go to sleep. Char. Hahaha. 😅
— Cowboy Ash 🤠 (@ashmalanum) October 22, 2020
Even “Gameboys” star Kokoy De Santos (Gavreel) was part of the joyous announcement.
OMG!!!!!! #PearlNextDoorThisFriday https://t.co/rlrtzRCB1F
— Kokoy De Santos (@kkydsnts) October 22, 2020
But actually, executive producer Jun Lana was way ahead of all of them, well, by at least about ten minutes, when he let out a teaser so irresistible it was as if it was the breaking report: “Have we got news for you…”
Have we got news for you… 😊
— Jun Robles Lana (@junrobleslana) October 22, 2020
Earlier, So and “Pearl Next Door” writer Keavy Eunice Vicente gave fans and future fans a peek into what they can watch out for in the series, through a series of exclusive interviews with INQUIRER.net. Some of the revelations were that: (1) the creation of the series involved collaboration with SOGIE consultants; (2) the appearance of CaiReel is neither confirmed nor denied; and (3) while it is a “natural extension of ‘Gameboys,'” it is also “quite different and one that can stand on its own.”
Even the journey of its lead star So, who has been in showbiz for seven years now before getting this much-deserved break, fittingly stands for the fandom’s overall anticipation: finally, the woman so full of life, who selflessly gave to the friends she loved, would now have her life opened up, and shared even more.
It’s probably gonna be another blissful night tonight at nine for this side of our suffering Earth’s ever hungry and always nourished fandom. There’s a woman to the rescue. NVG
[Editor’s note: This report was updated on Oct. 23, 2020, 9:45 a.m., to correct our error and reflect that the series is one of the first, instead of the first, GL series in the PH; “Chasing Sunsets,” dubbed as a lesbian-centered digital series that tackles mental health and HIV awareness, was released by Camp Avenue Studios last June.]
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