''Linlang'' (International title: ''Deceit'') is a Philippine television drama thriller series, directed by FM Reyes and Jojo Saguin. It stars

Kim Chiu Kimberly Sue Yap Chiu (; born April 19, 1990), professionally known as Kim Chiu, is a Filipino actress, model, host, singer, dancer, and vlogger. She is currently managed by Star Magic, ABS-CBN's home-based talent agency. Recognized as one o ...

, Paulo Avelino, JM de Guzman and Maricel Soriano. The series was first released on

Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming and Renting, rental service of Amazon (c ...

from October 5 to November 16, 2023. The "Teleserye Version" broadcast by

Kapamilya Channel Kapamilya Channel (stylized as Kapamilya channel) is a 24-hour Philippine pay television network formerly known as ABS-CBN Corporation, a company under Lopez Holdings Corporation owned by the López family. The network is headquartered at th ...

on January 22, 2024, replacing '' Senior High'' on '' Can't Buy Me Loves timeslot. The series concluded on June 14, 2024 with a total of 103 episodes. It was replaced by '' Pamilya Sagrado'' on its timeslot.

Premise

The story centers around boxer-turned-seaman Victor Lualhati and his investigation into his wife Juliana's affair. Victor learns more about the situation as he looks into it and comes to the conclusion that his wife's infidelity is not the only factor at play.

Cast and characters

;Main cast * Paulo Avelino as Victor "Bangis" Lualhati *

as Juliana Alcantara-Lualhati * JM de Guzman as Alexander "Alex / Da Master" C. Lualhati * Maricel Soriano as Amelia Contreras-Lualhati ;Supporting cast * Jaime Fabregas as Coach Badong Castillo * Ruby Ruiz as Pilar Alcantara * Raymond Bagatsing as Emilio Mendoza * Kaila Estrada as Atty. Sylvia Villamayor-Lualhati *

Heaven Peralejo Heaven Lyan Salvador Peralejo ( ; ; born November 25, 1999) is a Filipina actress and television personality known for joining the reality show '' Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7'' in 2016. Early life Heaven Lyan Salvador Peralejo was born on Nove ...

as Olivia Castillo-Lualhati *

Albie Casiño Alan Benedict Lee Hernandez Casiño (born May 14, 1993), popularly known as Albie Casiño, is a Filipino actor best known for his role as Christian in the 2010 hit series, ''Mara Clara''. Personal life Casiño was involved in a controversy wi ...

as Ricardo "Ricky" Torres * Benj Manalo as Jimboy Ulambay * Race Matias as Atty. Matteo Bautista *

Anji Salvacion Angie Kristine Allen Salvacion Gorbulev (; born September 24, 2002) better known as Anji Salvacion, is a Filipino singer, actress and television personality best known for winning the Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10, tenth season of ''P ...

as Kate Alcantara * Kice So as Dylan Salazar *

Heart Ramos ''My Dear Heart'' is a 2017 Philippine drama television series starring Heart Ramos, Coney Reyes, Zanjoe Marudo, Bela Padilla and Ria Atayde. The series aired on ABS-CBN's ''Primetime Bida'' evening block and worldwide via TFC from January 23, 2 ...

as Abigail "Abby" A. Lualhati ** Hanna Lexie as young Abby ;Recurring cast * Bart Guingona as Hon. Dante Villamayor * Adrian Lindayag as William * Frenchie Dy as Mema * Ross Pesigan as Bogs * Connie Virtucio * Lotlot Bustamante as Mosang * Meanne Espinosa ;Guest cast *

Jake Ejercito Juan Emilio Enriquez Ejercito (; born March 27, 1990), professionally known as Jake Ejercito, is a Filipino actor and model. He is the son of former actor and Philippine President Joseph Estrada. Education Ejercito attended Xavier School in ...

as Lucas * Mark McMahon as Eric *

Lovely Abella Lovely Abella-Manalo (born on December 11, 1986), is a Filipino dancer, host, comedian, model, entrepreneur, and an actress. She is currently under the management of Sparkle GMA Artist Center and GMA Network. Personal life Abella is an Ilongga, ...

as Emma * Daniela Stranner as Maricar * Sandy Aloba * Danny Ramos as Jessie Lualhati * Daisy Cariño as Olivia's mother

Production

''Linlang'' was first announced in October 2022 by Dreamscape Entertainment.

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as actor ...

for the series lasted for six months. Paulo Avelino, one of the lead stars, prepared for his role by pushing "himself through a body transformation to embody his character’s journey", stating that he "had to gain around to at the start of the filming and lose around 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms) midway into the shoot."

Release

The series premiered on the streaming service

on October 5, 2023, with the first two episodes available immediately and the rest debuting on a weekly basis.

Television broadcast

''Linlang'' had its television debut (subtitled as "''The Teleserye Version''") on January 22, 2024, on

's ''Primetime Bida'' lineup,

A2Z A2Z may refer to: *A2Z (2006 film), a 2006 German action film *A2Z (TV channel), a Philippine television channel **A2Z News Alert, a Philippine television newscast broadcast by A2Z (TV channel) *A2Z Group A2Z Group is an engineering, procurement ...

's ''A2Z Primetime'',

Jeepney TV Jeepney TV is a 24-hour Television in the Philippines, Philippine pay television channel owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation, ABS-CBN's narrowcast arm Creative Programs Inc. since 2012. The programming consists of classic and archived ser ...

, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5's ''TodoMax Primetime Singko'' lineup, worldwide via

The Filipino Channel The Filipino Channel, commonly known as TFC, is a 24-hour global subscription television network based in Daly City, California with studios in Redwood City, California and offices in Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, UAE, Ethi ...

and on-demand via

iWantTFC iWantTFC is a Filipino over-the-top content platform and production company owned and operated by ABS-CBN Digital Media, a division of ABS-CBN Corporation, formed in 2020 through the merger of two streaming services iWant and TFC Online. In ad ...

, which is the uncut version of the series. It replaced '' Senior High'', but at an earlier time, while '' Can't Buy Me Love'' took over 3rd timeslot that left by ''Senior High''.

Marketing

The official trailer for ''Linlang'' was released on September 24, 2023. The following month, advance screening for the series was held at Cinema76 in

Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...

. To promote the series, the ensemble cast made special appearances in noontime musical-variety show '' ASAP'' while Chiu and de Guzman served as guest stars in the lifestyle morning talk show ''

Magandang Buhay ''Magandang Buhay'' () is a Philippine morning talk show that premiered on April 18, 2016, and airs every Monday to Friday at 09:00 ( PST), replacing ''Kris TV''. The show was originally broadcast on ABS-CBN until the network's shutdown in 2020. ...

''.

Reception

Ratings and viewership

Upon release, ''Linlang'' debuted at No. 1 on Amazon Prime Video Philippines. The series also opened with 367,069 concurrent live viewers during its premiere on ''Kapamilya Online Live'' through the streaming service

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

. According to Nielsen NUTAM People Survey, the pilot episode of ''Linlang: The Teleserye Version'' received a nationwide rating of 9.0%, winning over its timeslot rival '' Love. Die. Repeat''. The series registered its highest national rating on June 13 and 14, garnering 12.0%, the latter date being the finale episode and won over its timeslot rival '' My Guardian Alien''.

Critical response

Writing for Daily Tribune, Alwin Ignacio described ''Linlang'' as "a cautionary tale and modern-day morality check." He praised the acting performances of the lead stars

, Paulo Avelino and JM de Guzman, including the notable portrayals of Maricel Soriano, Kaila Estrada and Ruby Ruiz.

Accolades

Notes

References

External links

* {{Amazon Prime Video original series 2023 Philippine television series debuts 2023 Philippine television series endings 2024 Philippine television series debuts 2024 Philippine television series endings 2020s Philippine television series ABS-CBN drama series Amazon Prime Video original programming Filipino-language television shows Kapamilya Channel original programming Philippine crime drama television series Philippine mystery television series Philippine thriller television series Television shows filmed in the Philippines