Line #29 Series/MariaClaraAtIbarra


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/v0kzx_4f.jpg]]
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3	''Maria Clara at Ibarra'' (English: ''Maria Clara and Ibarra'') is a 2022 Philippine series by GMA Network starring Barbie Forteza, Dennis Trillo, and Julie Anne San Jose. It follows a 21-year-old nursing student, Maria Clara "Klay" Infantes (Forteza). She's overworked and underpaid as a barista, and she's desperate to graduate. To make matters worse, she lives with an abusive stepfather and her mother is determined to stay with him, hoping Klay won't leave either.
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5	The young woman feels like she simply cannot find the time or energy to care about classical Filipino literature. She doesn't even get how it's relevant to nursing. But her professor, José R. Torres, insists that she must write a good essay about ''Literature/NoliMeTangere'' by José Rizal in order to graduate. He hands her a special copy of ''Noli Me Tangere,'' which he says will truly immerse her within the text. She doesn't realize just how [[ExactWords literal]] he's being.
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7	She reads the book and dozes off. When she awakens, she finds herself trapped inside the text of ''Noli Me Tangere.'' There, she experiences life in 19th century colonial society, bears witness to the events of the novel, and meets the characters -- such as, of course, Crisostomo Ibarra (Trillo) and Maria Clara (San Jose). Klay eventually finds herself attached to many of the characters, which eventually results in her returning during the ''Literature/ElFilibusterismo'' (''Noli'''s sequel) arc once she becomes aware of the characters' tragic fates.
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9	!!''Maria Clara at Ibarra'' contains examples of the following tropes.
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11	* AbortedArc: Klay gets several ShipTease with Ibarra early in the show's run, complete with a budding LoveTriangle with Maria Clara. Nothing came off of it, and Klay is eventually paired with Fidel.
12	* AdaptationInspiration: Prof. Torres [[EnforcedTrope enforcing]] this trope on Klay kickstarted the whole plot. He wants her to write a thorough essay about ''Noli Me Tangere''but she thinks it's a drag and irrelevant to her career. So he had her experience the novel more thoroughly. [[TrappedInAnotherWorld In the literal sense of the word]].
13	* AdaptationPersonalityChange: In "El Filibusterismo", Quiroga is a reluctant accomplice. In this series, he is a loyal follower of Simoun.
14	* AdaptationalAlternateEnding: [[spoiler:Klay's involvement ultimately creates an AlternateContinuity of ''El Filibusterismo'', with a BittersweetEnding instead of the bleak DownerEnding of the original. Specifically, Ibarra/Simoun [[RedemptionEqualsDeath dies redeemed]] and several characters are SparedByTheAdaptation (Elias, Juli and her family in particular).]]
15	* AdaptationalAngstDowngrade:
16	** Very downplayed with Maria Clara. [[spoiler:She was Salvi's SexSlave in the interim between ''Noli'' and ''El Fili''. While she foils her rape here, she's still as miserable as she was in canon.]]
17	** Basilio [[PlayingWithATrope toys with this]]. [[spoiler:For starters he wasn't cheated out from Captain Tiago's will like in the original. Then there's his girlfriend Juli. On one hand Juli actually gets raped by Padre Camorra in the show, and while it did have the same effect on him, her being SparedByTheAdaptation somewhat softens the blow.]]
18	* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade:
19	** Padre Salvi is much more prone to [[ObviouslyEvil loud violent outbursts]] in the show, unlike in the books wherein he is more of a calm and collected [[EvilGenius schemer.]]
20	** [[spoiler:Unlike in the original novel, Simoun gets to see Maria Clara die [[TakingTheBullet and is even the reason for it]]. Unsurprisingly, [[AdaptationalJerkass he becomes much more antagonistic and bitter]].]]
21	** [[spoiler:Padre Camorra's AttemptedRape on Juli in the novel is ''unfortunately'' successful in the show. However, Juli and her family are SparedByTheAdaptation, and her getting past this tragic event serves as the crux of her CharacterDevelopment.]]
22	* AdaptationalAttractiveness: [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] with Padre Salvi. In the books, he is described as looking gaunt, frail, and sickly. In the show, while he is portrayed by model/actor Juancho Triviño, who was previously known for sexy hunk roles, there is a visible effort to make him convincingly look the part. He has dark perpetual eyebags, his hair is trimmed into a very unflattering [[BaldofEvil tonsure]], and his lingering cough does not seem to heal. His [[HateSink unpleasant personality]] just adds more salt to the wound.
23	* AdaptationalBadass:
24	** [[spoiler:Fidel by default, since the unnamed friend of Ibarra in the novels didn't even appear. Here, Fidel TookALevelInBadass as part of his CharacterDevelopment.]]
25	** [[spoiler:Technically Elias. He's ''the'' resident badass in ''Noli'' but dies in the end. Since he's SparedByTheAdaptation in this version, it allows him to continue being the resident ActionHero.]]
26	** [[spoiler:Juli, another character SparedByTheAdaptation, decides to join Elias' group and even takes part of StormingTheCastle in the climactic scene.]]
27	* AdaptationalEarlyAppearance:
28	** Crispin and Basilio appear earlier in the series than the book.
29	** Tales gets an EarlyBirdCameo towards the end of the ''Noli'' arc of the show, whereas he's introduced in the sequel. His daughter (and Basilio's later LoveInterest) Juli also gets AMinorKidroduction during the same scene.
30	* AdaptationalHeroism: [[spoiler:Downplayed. Despite the AdaptationalJerkass below, Simoun ultimately sees the error of his ways and immediately commits RedemptionEqualsDeath [[DrivenToSuicide via suicide]].]]
31	* AdaptationalJerkass: [[spoiler:Due to actually seeing Maria Clara die compared to the novel, Simoun becomes more cynical and unhinged and actually committed murder twice (Salvi and Damaso).]]
32	* AdaptationalKarma:
33	** In the novels, Padre Salvi [[KarmaHoudini gets away]] with successfully plotting against Ibarra and [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil successfully had Maria Clara for himself]] afterwards. [[spoiler:He got killed by Simoun in brutal fashion here.]]
34	** Padre Damaso suffers a BusCrash in the interim of the two novels. [[spoiler:As with Salvi, he got brutally killed by Simoun here.]]
35	** Padre Camorra didn't receive his comeuppance in his AttemptedRape of Juli in ''El Fili'' either, who was ultimately DrivenToSuicide. [[spoiler:Here, Juli is SparedByTheAdaptation, and the climactic scene shows Juli accidentally tripping Camorra before the latter gets beaten up by the former's [[PapaWolf father Tales]] while she's giving a DeathGlare.]]
36	* AdaptationalMundanity: Inverted thanks to Klay, as her presence brought TimeTravel and otherworld elements in the Rizal novels (especially when she brings stuff from her world when she returned in the ''El Fili'' arc).
37	* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:Prof. Torres gets a call to fix problems arising in "Birds of Prey."]]
38	* AlternateContinuity: [[spoiler:Prof. Torres tells Klay that she only created a version of the ''Noli'' and ''El Fili'' duology with her adventure. Rizal's original works remain unaffected by her changes.]]
39	* AndStarring: The starring cast are billed, in order; Barbie Forteza, Julie Anne San Jose, ''and'' Dennis Trillo as Crisostomo Ibarra/Simoun. This didn't change following David Licauco's promotion during the ''El Fili'' chapter. Andrea Torres (Sisa) also gets a "in a very special role" citation.
40	* AntagonistTitle: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]]. [[spoiler:Ibarra does become the BigBadFriend and FinalBoss of the series akin to his FaceHeelTurn in the novels, but he goes by the name Simoun during that time.]]
41	* AntiquatedLinguistics:
42	** The characters in the novel speak a somewhat flowery version of Tagalog with heavy Spanish influences (almost veering into GratuitousSpanish territory) and few hints of English. This mirrors the language used in the 19th century Manila.[[note]]In non-Tagalog-speaking areas of Spanish-era Philippines, many Filipinos actually did not speak Tagalog at all and instead only knew the area's native language -- the Philippines has more than 100 native languages -- and/or Spanish.[[/note]]
43	** This is however inverted in one scene at the restaurant, where one of the headings on the menu is "Still Wine" (ironically, the appropriate word, ''cerveza'', is also present on the same menu.)
44	* AscendedExtra: [[spoiler:Fidel is actually an unnamed friend of Ibarra mentioned early on in ''Noli'', becoming a BreakoutCharacter InUniverse and out thanks to his interactions with Klay.]]
45	* BackForTheDead: [[spoiler:After last appearing at the end of the ''Noli'' arc before Klay briefly returns home to her world, Padre Damaso shows up again not long after Maria Clara's death near the end of the series, only to be choked to death by Simoun/Ibarra. This is notable since Damaso canonically had a BusCrash in the interim of ''Noli'' and ''El Fili''.]]
46	* BackForTheFinale: Aunt Isabel comes back one more time to witness the death of Captain Tiago.
47	* BadBoss: Friar Salvi always blames his inferiors.
48	* BelligerentSexualTension: Klay and Fidel spend much of their interactions annoying the shit out of each other until their inevitable attraction becomes apparent.
49	* BerserkButton: For Klay, abusive/violent men. Doubling as a TraumaButton.
50	* BigBad:
51	** [[SinisterMinister Padre Damaso]], the abusive friar who slanders the Ibarra name, starts off as the conflict catalyst for much of the ''Noli'' arc.
52	** [[spoiler:[[DragonAscendant Padre]] [[DirtyOldMonk Salvi]], through an act of betrayal, usurps Padre Damaso]] and actively becomes the main threat to our heroes by the end of ''Noli'' and all the way through ''El Fili'', up until...
53	** [[spoiler:...in a [[AdaptationDeviation shocking turn of events,]] Crisostomo Ibarra, [[RoaringRampageofRevenge who has now become the hellbent Simoun, murders]] both [[DeathbyAdaptation Padre]] [[AssholeVictim Salvi]] and [[DiesDifferentlyinAdaptation Padre]] [[AlasPoorVillain Damaso]] and takes the reins himself as the final antagonist. See BigBadFriend below]]
54	* BigBadFriend: [[spoiler:True to [[VillainProtagonist his role]] in ''El Fili'', Simoun becomes the show's final antagonist. The final StoryArc is pretty much Klay, Fidel, and/or Elias repeatedly engaging him in an IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight.]]
55	* BigGood: [[spoiler:Elias becomes the valiant leader of the revolutionary ''[[LaResistance Tulisanes]]'' group, taking up arms against the oppressive Spanish regime.]]
56	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Klay ultimately fails to save both Ibarra and Maria Clara from their tragic fates in the novel but her actions ended up softening those tragedies somehow; both died surrounded by people they love instead of [[DyingALone alone]], and in Ibarra's case [[RedemptionEqualsDeath seeing the error of his ways]]. Klay's actions also leads to Elias, Juli and her family being SparedByTheAdaptation, and she leaves her friends in the novel with a more positive outlook in life. And ultimately, she and Fidel could finally have their romance when the latter travels to her world in the final scene.]]
57	* BothSidesHaveAPoint: Professor Torres is right that ''Noli'' is an influential novel that should be studied, but Klay is also right in declaring that studying it is irrelevant to nursing, whatever her feelings about the novel may be.
58	* BreakoutCharacter: Fidel, both InUniverse and out, and it's even a plot point. [[spoiler:He's actually a nameless friend of Ibarra mentioned early in the novel, but his interactions with Klay gets him dragged into the main plot. In an interview, David Licauco says Fidel is only supposed to be a BromanticFoil to Ibarra but Fidel becoming a fan favorite and him and Klay becoming the FanPreferredCouple increases his importance.]]
59	* CanonCharacterAllAlong: [[spoiler:Fidel being an anomaly in the Rizal novels is given focus towards the end of the show, but it's eventually revealed that he actually is a childhood friend of Ibarra mentioned passingly in the early parts of ''Noli''. His vastly increased role is due to his interactions with Klay.]]
60	* CanonForeigner:
61	** Klay is this to the Rizal novels [[InUniverse within the context of the story]].
62	** [[spoiler:Fidel, on the other hand, is actually a subversion. Klay (as well as historically savvy audience members) notices that his name isn't written in the books, which is made a RedHerring, and Fidel himself becomes aware of his absence in the novels towards the finale. It's eventually revealed that he's the nameless childhood friend of Ibarra mentioned in the early parts of ''Noli''.]]
63	* CassandraTruth: When Klay says that they're characters in a novel and she knows how things will go, everyone believes that she's undergoing a SanitySlippage. Maria Clara and the other women around her even try to send Klay off to an asylum.
64	* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Klay just can't help herself from saving people, which she herself lampshades in the penultimate episode.
65	-->'''Simoun:''' "Hindi ba sinabi kong wag kang makikialam!?"[[labelnote:Translation]]Didn't I tell you not to interfere!?[[/labelnote]]
66	-->'''Klay:''' "Kilala niyo ako, Sir. Pakialamera talaga ako."[[labelnote:Translation]]You know what I'm like, Sir. I love interfering.[[/labelnote]]
67	* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler:Padre Salvi is gunned to death by Ibarra/Simoun as RoaringRampageOfRevenge for his AccidentalMurder of Maria Clara. Padre Salvi's final scene in the novel was on Chapter 16 during the talking heads exhibit on Quiapo fair, an event that is AdaptedOut in the show.]]
68	* DeliberateValuesDissonance:
69	** Deconstructed/played with. In the 19th century, things like classism and misogyny are rampant and normalized. But the point is to show how things haven't really changed all that much. Although there have been some obvious improvements in modern society, like women (e.g. Klay) being allowed to pursue a university-level education, it's made clear that these issues are still incredibly prevalent to this day.
70	** Fidel initially has no problem trying to hit Klay to discipline her.
71	* DiedInYourArmsTonight: Poor Klay have to witness several...
72	** [[spoiler:Maria Clara dies while Klay and Simoun are with her.]]
73	** [[spoiler:After Simoun poisons himself, he gets surrounded by Klay, Fidel, Elias, Basilio, Isagani, Juli, and Padre Florentino.]]
74	* DiesDifferentlyInAdaptation:
75	** [[spoiler:Sisa died in the book from malnutrition since she did nothing but look for her sons. In the series, she was hit by a stray bullet meant for Elias.]]
76	** [[spoiler:Rizal was vague on how Maria Clara died during ''El Fili'', with adaptations [[DependingOnTheWriter either settling]] on her [[DisabledInTheAdaptation succumbing to an illness]] or being DrivenToSuicide similar to Juli (both are mentioned in a MythologyGag later). Here she dies by TakingTheBullet for Ibarra/Simoun.]]
77	** [[spoiler:Padre Damaso died due to unknown causes during the interim between ''Noli'' and ''El Fili'', with his death being ruled out as either hypertension or heart-attack. Here Ibarra/Simoun chokes him not long after Maria Clara's death.]]
78	** [[spoiler:Capitan Tiago's death was reported to Basilio while he was in jail. In the series, Basilio was there to witness Tiago's death.]]
79	** [[spoiler:At the end of ''El Fili'' Simoun was repeatedly gunned before poisoning himself. Here he drinks the poison almost immediately after the lantern bomb plan got foiled.]]
80	* DistantFinale: The GrandFinale is set in 2030, seven years after the year it was broadcast.
81	* DoItYourselfThemeTune: "Baguhin Ang Buong Mundo"[[labelnote:Translation]]"Change the Whole World"[[/labelnote]] is sung by Julie Anne San Jose, Maria Clara's actress.
82	* DoubleMeaningTitle: The Maria Clara in the title refers to both the Rizal novel character and the show's protagonist.
83	* TheDragon:
84	** Padre Salvi, despite already being the town curate, still acts as a submissive right-hand man to his predecessor Padre Damaso.
85	** Renato, the ''sacristan-mayor'', is in turn Padre Salvi's own dragon.
86	** [[spoiler: [[YellowPeril Quiroga]], a Chinese businessman and arms smuggler, is this to Simoun, being the latter's trusted weaponsmaster and confidante.]]
87	* DyingAsYourself: Ibarra declares as much before he dies.
88	* EdutainmentShow: GMA has repeatedly stated that the purpose of the show is to educate younger generations about Rizal's novels. It is safe to say they succeeded, attracting the interest of [[KoreanPopMusic K-pop]] stans and [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=VXsAgPVYUmM third graders]] (who do not have to study Rizal for six years) alike.
89	* EvilFormerFriend: [[spoiler:Simoun becomes the show's BigBadFriend for the final arc, though it's actually an {{inver\|tedTrope}}sion as it was Simoun who cut ties with Klay, Fidel, and Elias while the latter three repeatedly went out of their way to make him see reason.]]
90	* FamilyThemeNaming: Klay's family is named after Rizal characters. Her mom, Narcisa (aka Sisa in ''Noli''), [[LampshadeHanging explains]] that ''her'' mom was a fan of Rizal's works.
91	* FishOutOfTemporalWater: 21st century Klay gets stuck in ''Noli Me Tangere,'' a novel set in the 1800s. [[spoiler:The GrandFinale has Fidel travelling to real world [[DistantFinale set in 2030]].]]
92	* FromBadToWorse: [[spoiler:Klay's numerous attempts on changing the characters' fates mostly blew up on her face. The most notable example being her quest to save Maria Clara, which failure results with Simoun being more antagonistic than he was in the books.]]
93	* GenreSavvy: Played straight at first, but eventually Subverted. Klay only read up to Chapter 3 of ''Noli'' before getting sucked in, allowing her to understand what's going on for a while before being confused later on.
94	** [[spoiler: Played straight again in the ''El Fili'' arc. Klay reads the ''El Filibusterismo'' ahead and even brings a copy with her the second time around she enters the portal.]]
95	* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Captain Tiago never recovered from finding out that his late wife Pia was raped by Friar Damaso and that his daughter Maria Clara is illegitimate.
96	* HeelRealization: Andeng feels bad about spying for Salvi and leaves town after Maria Clara becomes a nun.
97	* HeroOfAnotherStory: [[spoiler:It is indicated that Klay is not the first person to enter Prof. Torres' magic book and she will not be the last.]]
98	* HookerWithAHeartOfGold
99	** Lucia is a ''mujer libre'' (courtesan) and gets a lot of shit for it. But she's not a bad person by any means. [[spoiler:She's even a revolutionary who's fighting for the country's freedom.]]
100	** Another prostitute helps in rescuing Ibarra. [[spoiler:She is actually from the real world. She and heaven knows how many more pose as book characters to aid Mr. Torres.]]
101	* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: [[spoiler:The final stretch of the series is Klay, Fidel, and Elias reaching out to [[BigBadFriend Simoun]] to abandon his RoaringRampageOfRevenge. They (or at least Klay and Fidel, as Elias is rallying the rebel group outside) succeeded literally last minute.]]
102	* InSpiteOfANail: Despite Klay's best efforts to change things for the better for her beloved friends in the novels, the trajectory of the story mostly remained the same.
103	* InnocentFanserviceGirl: Klay is treated as this since she does not understand the clothing standards of the 19th century.
104	-->"You don't wear panties, but I'm the one who is indecent?"
105	* {{Irony}}:
106	** Klay arrives in ''Noli'' with little knowledge of the book and [[InSpiteOfANail changes little]] when she finally tries actively changing the fates of the characters. She later arrives in ''El Fili'' with fresh knowledge of the entire book but arrives in a version drastically altered.
107	** On the subject, Klay decides to return in ''El Fili'' to save her friends, Ibarra and Maria Clara in particular, from their fates. [[spoiler:Her intervention indeed resulted in several characters being SparedByTheAdaptation, but with the sad exception of the two mentioned.]]
108	* KarmaHoudini: Renato gets no serious punishment for stealing from the church and murdering Crispin. He is last seen gloating about his newfound freedom over the dead body of Friar Salvi.
109	* KilledOffscreen: Crisostomo's faithful manservant Adong died sometime after the Noli Me Tangere arc but not before he was able to bury what's left of the Ibarra family fortune for Crisostomo to find.
110	* TheLancer: Fidel is this to Ibarra [[spoiler: and later to Elias when he joins the revolutionaries.]]
111	* LastEpisodeNewCharacter: [[spoiler:Klay meets two {{identical stranger}}s who resemble Ibarra and Maria Clara in the GrandFinale. The Ibarra doppelganger (named Barry) is actually Prof. Torres' grandson, while the Maria Clara doppelganger (named Clarisse) is naturally his wife.]]
112	* ALizardNamedLiz: Ali, the magical firefly who occasionally accompanies Klay, is short for the Filipino word for it, "alitaptap".
113	* LongHairedPrettyBoy: [[spoiler:Fidel becomes a long-haired biseinen during the ''El Fili'' arc. Both Ibarra (now Simoun) and Elias also grew their hair by this time, but became more "rugged" despite still retaining their good looks. See LooksLikeJesus below.]]
114	* LooksLikeJesus: Both [[spoiler: Elias and Simoun in El Fili.]]
115	* MeaningfulName:
116	** In Rizal's novels, Narcisa aka Sisa is a mother who goes insane because her sons go missing. In real life, Klay's mom is called Narcisa and Klay's sudden disappearance (into the world of ''Noli Me Tangere'') causes her great distress.
117	** The name of the restaurant where Klay works, “Crispy Basil Grill”, may be a nod to Crispin and Basilio.
118	** [[spoiler: Fidel, who was formerly a snob elitist, joins the revolutionaries after a change of heart, adopting the alias ''Naliwanagan'', which translates to "enlightened".]]
119	* MiddleNameBasis:
120	** The two Maria Claras are addressed with nicknames derived from their second name; the main protagonist almost exclusively goes by Klay and the Rizal novel character is given the AffectionateNickname "Clarita" by her aunt Isabel.
121	** As with the novels, Crisostomo Ibarra's full name is ''Juan'' Crisostomo Ibarra, and he is mostly addressed via LastNameBasis anyway.
122	* MindScrew: The series initially about a girl entering a book suddenly throws in concepts like reincarnation and alternate dimensions in the finale.
123	* MistakenForProstitute: Klay gets sucked into the world of ''Noli'' while wearing a T-shirt and shorts, an outfit considered exotic and revealing in 19th century Manila. It doesn't help that she's wearing underwear and the women of the time don't wear any beneath their heavy layers of clothing. When the women find her (actually completely modest and regular) underwear, they're absolutely shocked by it and assume it must be some sort of fetish gear. Pretty much everyone assumes she's a prostitute until she starts wearing period-typical clothes.
124	* TheMole: Andeng, Maria Clara's personal servant, is coerced into spying for Friar Salvi.
125	* MultiCharacterTitle: The show refers to Ibarra and the two Maria Claras.
126	* MythologyGag:
127	** [[spoiler:The episode following Maria Clara's death, Victorina and Penchang are discussing whether she died of illness or [[DrivenToSuicide suicide]], the most common depictions of her demise in various adaptations.]]
128	** Elias uses the name Albino so he and Klay can infiltrate the monastery. Albino is a minor character from El Fili.
129	** The ImagineSpot of Simoun's lantern bomb plan is a ShotForShotRemake of the same scene in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal_(film) the 1998 Jose Rizal biopic]].
130	* NameAndName: Although in a twist, the first name in the title refers to [[OneSteveLimit two characters]].
131	* NamedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:Fidel is actually an unnamed very minor character in ''Noli'' instead of a CanonForeigner Klay (and the viewers) initially believed. Klay tells him that perhaps he represents the unsung heroes, which he takes in stride.]]
132	* NewspaperDating: Klay notices the date "May 11, 1884" on a newspaper Lucia is holding, convincing her she's traveled back in time.
133	* NextSundayAD: The GrandFinale takes place in 2030, yet nothing drastic appears aside from Klay now being a doctor.
134	* OldMaster: [[spoiler:Mr. Torres;s real job is to send today's youth into the books. He is becoming aware that age is catching up to him.]]
135	* OneSteveLimit: Due to the FamilyThemeNaming above, with Klay and Maria Clara being the most notable example, and the two women even lampshade this themselves by addressing each other as "Katukayo" (Filipino for someone sharing your name).
136	* OurNudityIsDifferent: Klay is baffled that everyone is overdressed, yet they do not wear underwear.
137	* PortalBook: The series' premise. It actually combines Types II and III; the ''Noli'' arc is Type II, with Klay being stuck there due to her professor wanting her to immerse with its story and characters for an essay. The ''El Fili'' arc, on the other hand, is Type III as Klay only returned to the sequel novel in order to save her friends from their tragic fates.
138	* ProductionForeshadowing: Klay sees a PortalBook about Urduja in the GrandFinale, promoting ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mga_Lihim_ni_Urduja Mga Lihim ni Urduja]]'' which will succeed this show's slot the following week.
139	* ProductPlacement: Klay brings a pack of Maggi Magic Sarap, a seasoning mix, into the 19th century. She also brings Bench underwear with her.
140	* ProtagonistTitle: While Klay (one of the two titular Maria Claras) is the undisputed protagonist of the show, Ibarra is the protagonist of the PortalBook she's transplanted into, and the show treats them along with the other Maria Clara as co-protagonists (see the billing via page image).
141	* PromotionToOpeningTitles:
142	** David Licauco (Fidel) was bumped up from "also starring" to the main cats lineup during the ''El Fili'' arc.
143	** Basilio gets added to the OBB during the ''El Fili'' cast via his TimeShiftedActor Khalil Ramos.
144	* {{Railroading}}: Prof. Torres' role is to make sure the Rizal novels will unfold as written, and has clashed with Klay on a few occasions when the latter attempted to change things up. [[spoiler:He didn't hold it against Klay when she ended up creating an AlternateContinuity, though.]]
145	* ReadingIsCoolAesop: Naturally, as the show is heavily tied to two important pieces of Philippine literature.
146	* RealLifeWritesThePlot: A special episode called "Blood Moon" premiered on November 8, 2022, coinciding with a real-life lunar eclipse visible from the Philippines that night. In-universe, the eclipse opens a portal that would allow Klay to return to the real world, although she decides to stay in the story.
147	* RealityHasNoSubtitles: Klay doesn't understand anything when the ''Noli'' characters speak Spanish. Likewise, characters who are not ''ilustrados'' do not understand Klay whenever she speaks English.
148	* RecycledWithAGimmick: The show is ''Noli me Tangere'' and ''El Filibusterismo'' with TimeTravel and otherworld elements added.
149	* RedBaron: Simoun is known by his aliases ''Cardinal Moreno'' and ''Eminencia Negra''.
150	* ReincarnateInAnotherWorld: [[spoiler:Klay meets a couple in the GrandFinale who are {{identical stranger}}s to Ibarra and Maria Clara. Klay thinks they're her late friends' {{alternate sel\|f}}ves instead of this trope, however.]]
151	* ReincarnationRomance: [[spoiler:Klay meets a couple in the GrandFinale who are {{identical stranger}}s to Ibarra and Maria Clara. The Ibarra doppelganger is actually Prof. Torres' grandson, and the Maria Clara doppelganger is naturally his wife.]]
152	* RousingSpeech: Ibarra escapes custody and interrupts Christmas mass to deliver an epic one where he tells the people that they are being oppressed by the Spaniards. He begs them to "listen to us" and most of them respond in kind.
153	* RuleOfSymbolism: During the ''El Fili'' arc, the rebellion faction are composed mainly of characters with drastically altered fates (e.g. {{Ascended Extra}}s and/or those SparedByTheAdaptation) from the novels along with the InUniverse CanonForeigner protagonist, tying to the series' ScrewDestiny theme.
154	%%* SceneryPorn: The shots of colonial-era buildings are stunning to say the least.
155	* SchrodingersCast: Five major characters have their fates altered by Klay by the time of and during the ''El Fili'' arc, three are {{spared\|ByTheAdaptation}}, one [[DeathByAdaptation dying]] (though [[AssholeVictim deservedly so]]), and the remaining one [[DiesDifferentlyInAdaptation prolonging his death]] to a {{karmic\|Death}} one. This affected the trajectory of the story in various ways.
156	** The first spared character ([[spoiler:Elias]]), who should have died at the end of ''Noli'', becomes [[BigGood the primary]] RebelLeader. It helps that [[WordOfGod the author himself]] has admitted regret on killing this character due to his wasted potential, which the show capitalized on.
157	** The second spared character ([[spoiler:Juli]]) was actually about to meet her tragic fate when Klay intervenes. Though her ordeal still serves as a breaking point for [[spoiler:Basilio to push him on joining Simoun's cause like in the novel, her survival leads to a positive domino effect in which her father and grandfather also survive their tragic fates]].
158	** The remaining two characters' changed fates are intertwined with Simoun's CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler:Salvi was a KarmaHoudini in the novels but here his hatred towards Ibarra/Simoun and obsession for Maria Clara are more pronounced, and it got to a point that he accidentally killed Maria Clara when he's actually gunning for Simoun instead. He got killed by Simoun for this, but this results in the latter's [[AdaptationalJerkass more cynical characterization]]. Simoun then proceeds to kill Damaso, who should have suffered BusCrash by ''El Fili'', to illustrate [[HeWhoFightsMonsters how far Simoun has fallen]].]]
159	* SelfFulfillingProphecy: The series runs on the idea that everything bad in the books that Klay and other character try to prevent comes true anyway.
160	* SeriesFauxnale: The antepenultimate episode resolves the entire MythArc regarding the books and its characters, with the last two episodes being {{Denouement}} regarding Klay's personal life.
161	* ShoutOut:
162	** Klay had Maria Clara read ''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo'' (which was the basis of ''El Fili'').
163	** After witnessing several tragedies and {{character death}}s near the end of the ''Noli'' arc, Klay unfavorably compares the novel to ''Series/GameOfThrones''.
164	* ShownTheirWork: It is clear that the production team did their research to portray the 19th century Philippines as accurately as they did. GMA often [[SelfPromotionDisguisedAsNews boasts]] about it during their nightly news reports.
165	* SparedByTheAdaptation: Several by the time the show reaches the ''El Filibusterismo'' arc.
166	** [[spoiler: Elias is somehow alive as opposed to being killed off in the end of ''Noli Me Tangere''. This is based on an anecdote that Rizal regretted killing off Elias.]]
167	** [[spoiler: Klay [[TalkingDownTheSuicidal successfully talks]] Juli out of being DrivenToSuicide after the latter's rape. As a result of this, her father Tales and grandfather Selo also survive their tragic deaths from the novel.]]
168	** Subverted by [[spoiler:Padre Damaso, who shows up after Maria Clara's death despite dying canonically in the interim between ''Noli'' and ''El Fili'', only to be killed off by Simoun]].
169	* TheStationsOfTheCanon: The main plot of the story, being a PortalBook series. Much of the conflict between protagonist Klay and her teacher Prof. Torres is the former becoming too attached with the characters from the iconic two-part novel that she wanted to save them from their tragic fates while the latter keeps insisting that [[YouCantFightFate the characters' fates should be preserved]] due to the novels' cultural and historical importance. [[spoiler:She ultimately created an AlternateContinuity, though Prof. Torres doesn't hold it against her.]]
170	* SuspiciousSpending:The husband of Sisa is addicted to cockfighting. He is bribed into participating in a phony rebellion. Tasyo the philosopher notes that the man was seen buying a new game cock despite having no source of income.
171	* TeamMemberInTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:Elias, Juli (both characters who are SparedByTheAdaptation) and Fidel (an AscendedExtra from the novels) became members of the revolutionaries in this version.]]
172	* TrailersAlwaysSpoil:
173	** [[spoiler:Elias being SparedByTheAdaptation is foiled for the viewers when the character appeared in a few FreezeFrameBonus during the ''El Fili'' arc trailer.]]
174	** Klay becoming a doctor is seen in several OnTheNext leading to the episode's final week. Prof. Torres gives her a medical school scholarship in the beginning of the GrandFinale.
175	** Barry Torres, Prof. Torres' grandson, is spoiled as a LastEpisodeNewCharacter by the same OnTheNext previews above. [[spoiler:What the trailers didn't spoil, however, is that Barry is an IdenticalStranger to Ibarra.]]
176	* UncertainDoom: [[spoiler:Friar Camorra is last seen being taken away by the bandits, led by [[PapaWolf the angry father]] of the girl he raped.]]
177	* UnknownRival: Salvi is this to Ibarra over Maria Clara's love but he is so egotistical that he believes Ibarra is the rival.
178	* UnwittingPawn: In "El Filibusterismo", Tales was driven to banditry due to desperation. In this series, he was manipulated by Simoun.
179	* UptownGirl: Aunt Isabel used to be this in her youth. She was forbidden from marrying her sweetheart Renaldo because he was poor. They have finally gotten married in the El Filibusterismo arc.
180	* YearInsideHourOutside: The entirety of ''Noli'' took months to nearly a year, but only a few hours pass when Klay returns to the real world. When she heads back to the novel world during the ''El Fili'' arc (a DistantSequel set thirteen years later) a week later, the characters are naturally puzzled that Klay didn't age.
181	* YouCantFightFate: Over the course of the series, Klay witnesses several ''Noli'' characters die just as written in the book, even if she tried to prevent their deaths. She is led to believe that this was the message of ''Noli'' (which is what she was supposed to discover in the book). This gives her a HeroicBSOD.

Context Series / MariaClaraAtIbarra