Trese Netflix Review: 9 Ups & 2 Downs
5. Up: Real Life Elements
Something Trese does well as a series is how accurately it portrays real life elements, making Metro Manila feel lived in and its horrors more visceral.
Each case is based on real events or existing urban legends in the city of Manila, from the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) breaking down on a semi-regular basis, to human trafficking rings and the targeting of the impoverished. The series's locations are also based on real locations in and around the metro, from the monopolised electric company to the infamous Balete Drive.
Mysterious fires decimating squatters areas full of poor people to make way for new condos is a common enough headline that pops up every few years, as are the semi-regular killing sprees committed by "vigilante groups" (policemen), especially in more recent years. The involvement of corrupt politicians in many of these incidences is also based in reality.
The Skeleton Crew and their attack on Ramona's rebel group references real life clashes between army and communist rebel groups in the farther flung regions of the country.
Despite its fantastical story, Trese does a great job giving people a glimpse of life living in the big city in the Philippines.