MANILA, Philippines--A number of TV shows have perplexed viewers with the unexpected twists and turns they have been taking. On ?Lovers in Paris? recently, Piolo Pascual?s character threw viewers for a loop when he acted in an uncharacteristically cruel manner, leaving KC Concepcion high and dry in Nice, France, after a verbal altercation.

Wealthy couple

He got ticked off with her when a Frenchman viciously accused her of being a prostitute, turning off the wealthy couple Piolo was trying to impress so that they would invest in his business.

The radical plot twist rubbed us the wrong way, because the Frenchman was a relative stranger, so why should anybody, Piolo included, believe him over KC?s pitiful protestations of innocence?

Worse, Piolo?s shock and anger prompted him to leave KC all alone on a deserted road in Nice in the middle of the night, potentially exposing her to untold dangers and horrors?definitely not the way for an otherwise self-possessed and mature man to behave.

The cruel shift in Piolo?s characterization was uncalled for because it crossed the line in terms of empathetic male-lead characterization. Yes, male characters on TV drama series can be cold, thoughtless and temperamental, but not to the extent of exposing their leading ladies to grave danger.

That could really turn some viewers off, and in romantic dramas of this sort, that will never do. Even after the aggrieved and misunderstood female lead ?forgives? her temperamental tormentor, the audience won?t?so, goodbye, empathy.

Another unexpected twist happened on ?Pinoy Big Brother,? where after only a day or two, one of the twins in the show opted to exit voluntarily, for some personal reason or other related to his job in the ?real? world.

Selection process

His unexpected decision was off-putting, because it exposed a potential flaw in the tilt?s selection process. You would think that, after auditioning thousands of determined hopefuls all over the country, the show would be able to find gifted, interesting and strong-willed people who were prepared to remain on the show until they get ?evicted,? contra mundum.

The departing contestant?s decision made a lot of emotional sense to him, but not to the show?s viewers, whose focus on the tilt?s progression was distracted much too early in the game.