Trese is available for streaming now, and we highly recommend that you watch it ASAP! The six-episode series is available on Netflix with a variety of language options, including English, Filipino, and even Japanese! Though of course, Filipino viewers will definitely watch the show either in English or in Tagalog, especially as both dubs have big-name stars, including Shay Mitchell and Liza Soberano.
Given that both language options are of high quality (as you can read in our review), you might be unsure whether to watch Trese in English or in Filipino. In case you are, here’s a quick comparison of what to expect in both Trese dubs!
For starters, the English dub of Trese is interesting in that most of the voice cast speak English with a Filipino accent. Personally, I found that this was a nice touch as the cast’s delivery was great overall. The Filipino accents also helped add a layer of authenticity, especially as the series is set in Manila. So, even if the characters all speak in English, the show still manages to feel like it’s set in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Filipino dub is a better match for the series’ Manila setting. While at first, I found that some characters spoke deeper Tagalog than what’s usually used in day-to-day conversations, it’s still overall understandable for most Filipinos. Plus, it’s good that the Filipino script quality is on par with the English dub as there was no time where I felt something to lost in translation; even some comedic bits worked great in both languages.
What’s also great is that the Filipino language option in Trese does not suffer from the usual issue of other Filipino dubs where the translation can be too literal. For instance, some lines by specific characters are far from the literal meanings of the English version, but they work for the better.
As for the voices of Trese herself, Shay Mitchell and Liza Soberano both gave excellent performances. I can’t really claim that one performed better than the other, but personally, I found that Shay Mitchell’s slightly deeper voice for Trese fit better, even if she spoke with a Western accent. On the flip side, Liza Soberano’s take on Trese was a better fit for the series’ Manila setting, especially as she pronounced words like tiyanak and tikbalang with a proper Filipino accent.
Verdict – You Can’t Go Wrong With Either Language
It might be a bit of a cop-out, but both the English and Filipino dubs of Trese are of equal quality. Both languages offer a great viewing experience thanks to awesome performances from the whole voice cast. Given this, we recommend choosing which language you can more easily understand.
If I had to choose though, I would go for the English dub as I loved Shay Mitchell’s voice as Alexandra Trese, and it made a big difference for me given that she is the main character. But if you want an experience that’s more authentic to the setting, the Filipino dub might be for you. Again, you can’t go wrong with either language. And if you really can’t decide, this is a great excuse to watch Trese twice!
Want to compare the languages for yourself? Check out the English and Filipino versions of Trese here before you watch the series:
English dub
Filipino dub
Trese is streaming now on Netflix!