5 reasons to watch Trese, the Filipino folklore-inspired series

Trese, a horror crime drama peppered with fantasy elements, has everything that makes for your next binge-able watch. This anime, created by writer-illustrator duo Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, is produced in both Tagalog and English with Liz Soberano and Shay Mitchell lending their voices to the titular role of Alexandra Trese in the respective languages. 

Manny Jacinto, of The Good Place fame, and Darren Criss are also part of the main cast with Kevin Kiner composing its score. Detective Trese is a lakan, a guardian or a healer, who acts as a bridge between humanity and the supernatural. The show also provides relevant context regarding the socio-economic and political commentary in the Philippines. 

Fans of anime and manga will find it satisfying to see a great execution of labour of love of an illustrator and writer coming to fruition on Netflix. 

Here are five reasons why you need to watch Trese.

1. Filipino folklore

In mainstream media, the voices of the minority usually get sidelined. Roman and Greek adapted visual media have been popular for years. But Trese has done a great job of bringing the Filipino culture into the limelight so the masses can not only be entertained by it but also learn more about it. This also presents an opportunity for more regional stories to come to the fore.

2. A badass heroine

Alexandra Trese is a badass heroine. She is a detective, investigating crimes of the supernatural world and finds them gradually intertwining with the natural order of things in Manila.

3. Top notch cast and crew

There is great talent both in front and behind the camera. What we can’t stop raving about is, there is an all Filipino cast even in the English production. The directors of the show are some of the best with Jay Olivia having the Batman animated series under his belt. Others include David Hartman, Mel Zwer and Tim Daver who have all worked on acclaimed projects. 

4. Supernatural galore

There is a horde of supernatural creatures, some fascinating and some downright scary. Zombies, ghosts, ghouls, demonised babies, warrior demons sidekicks and so much more. 

5. Packed with action and gore

Trese is jam packed with action and a lot of gore, definitely for the fans who consume true crime documentaries and Stephan King books for breakfast. The attention to detail and graphics is astounding and quite stunning, making for a pleasurable watch. 

Trese, the six-episode season, is now streaming on Netflix.