Darna (2009 TV series)

Darna is a Philippine television drama action fantasy series broadcast by GMA Network. The series is based from Mars Ravelo's fictional Philippine superheroine of the same title. Directed by Dominic Zapata and Don Michael Perez, it stars Marian Rivera in the title role. It premiered on August 10, 2009 on the network's Telebabad line up replacing Zorro. The series concluded on February 19, 2010 with a total of 140 episodes. It was replaced by Panday Kids in its timeslot.

Cast and characters

 * Lead cast
 * Marian Rivera as Narda / Darna / Evil Darna / Ex-O / Phoenix


 * Supporting cast
 * Mark Anthony Fernandez as Eduardo / Black Rider
 * Dennis Trillo as Pancho
 * Iwa Moto as Valentina
 * Nadine Samonte as Roma / Babaeng Impakta
 * Ehra Madrigal as Armida / Babaeng Lawin
 * Francine Prieto as Lucifera / Babaeng Tuod
 * Maggie Wilson as Octavia Moran / Lutgarda Morales / Babaeng Linta
 * Rochelle Pangilinan as Deborah Santos
 * Jackie Rice as Helena / Helga
 * Roxanne Barcelo as Aleli
 * Buboy Villar as Carding "Ding" Santos
 * Rufa Mae Quinto as Francesca
 * Raymart Santiago as Crisanto
 * Alfred Vargas as Gabriel
 * Krista Kleiner as Liberty
 * Polo Ravales as Shiro


 * Guest cast
 * Akihiro Sato as Vladimir
 * Maureen Larrazabal as Dina Arcilla
 * Katrina Halili as Serpina / Valentina
 * Paolo Contis as Kobra
 * Regine Velasquez as Elektra
 * Angel Aquino as Darna
 * Caridad Sanchez as Loleng
 * Celia Rodriguez as Perfecta
 * Mike "Pekto" Nacua as Jerry
 * John Feir as Tomas
 * Eddie Garcia as Mateo
 * Ricky Davao as Morgan
 * Gabby Eigenmann as Apollo
 * Bearwin Meily as Watson
 * Renz Valerio as younger Eduardo
 * Jestoni Alarcon as Simon
 * Rita Avila as Alicia
 * Angeli Nicole Sanoy as younger Narda
 * John Apacible as Nestor
 * Janice de Belen as Consuelo
 * Sweet Ramos as younger Valentina
 * Allan "Mura" Padua as Impy
 * Sabrina Man as younger Serpina
 * Hayden Kho as Danny
 * Ella Guevara as Narda

Production
Principal photography commenced in June 2009.

Ratings
According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila household television ratings, the pilot episode of Darna earned a 44.1% rating. While the final episode scored a 32.9% rating.

Critical response
Darna opened with positive reviews, writer Nestor Torre of Philippine Daily Inquirer said the pilot episode is "loud and livid". Torre continues to mention "...two performances stand out because they’re 'different'. The first is Janice de Belen’s portrayal of Consuelo, the mother of Valentina. De Belen’s characterization is outstanding, because it’s deeply felt, while not being over-the-top..." and "the other interesting performance thus far is turned in by Iwa Moto as Valentina. With some help from creative scripting, her character is more tragic and conflicted than past versions of the story had it".

Jun Lana's script was complimented by Torre for creating "Valentina's secret initially pains her rather than turns her into a vengeful monster, and the ostracism she suffers adds enormously to her loneliness and grief, which are alleviated only by her only friend, Narda. Of course, the ironic twist to all this is that Narda will eventually morph into superheroine Darna, with whom Valentina must fight to the death." Lana told Manila Bulletin that this version of Darna will be "totally different" especially with the characters, he mentions "what if Narda doesn't want to become Darna?" - a subject never touched upon in other versions of the graphic novel.