JasMINE The Series (TV5 – 2014) Episode 5 Recap

Jasmine officially meets our masked killer and she tries her best to protect the people around her but she(and us) learns to never underestimate a deranged stalker who’s willing to do anything for his favorite actress.

EPISODE 5 RECAP

Jasmine is at the police station, with Ramirez and the chief, discussing their sting operation to catch Maskara later that night. She asks if they could keep this a secret from her manager, Steven and they comply.

Later, Ramirez teaches Jasmine how to physically defend herself; he takes this opportunity to ask her if she’s sure that she wants to go through with their operation. Jasmine assures him that she is; she doesn’t want Maskara to hurt anymore people because of her. She thanks him for always being there despite everything.

Ramirez instructs her to be on high alert on their sting operation, don’t be too nervous and be sure to relax so Maskara wouldn’t suspect anything, “Just act like you’re filming a movie”. She tells him that she’s more nervous with the launch of URLoved, which coincidentally is also later that night.

He puts a hand on her shoulders then she grabs it, on reflex, and pushes him away. He compliments her; she’s such a fast learner. She replies that it’s because she has an excellent instructor. She has to leave to film the show and he asks what excuse she’ll give when they ask her why she’s late. She’s just gonna tell them that she came from a ‘yoga class’.

Ramirez requests Wendell’s help to track down Maskara based from his anonymous texts and emails. But it’s a dead end; Maskara is good at cutting of his cyber tracks. Ramirez tells Wendell and Carly about the sting operation later that night. He asks Carly to help them keep this a secret from Steven and asks Wendell to keep this a secret from the media. Both friends worry for Jasmine’s safety but they'll help anyway.

After the dance rehearsal for URLoved’s launching party, Jasmine receives a text from Maskara confirming their meeting; she worriedly looks around for any sign of him. Just then, Alexis comes up to her with his cellphone in hand and asks her if she’s as excited as he is with the premiere. Sarah Mae interrupts them and when Jasmine leaves, Sarah Mae advises Alexis to stay away from Jasmine because every guy who’s linked to her always gets hurt.

Carly notices that Ramirez is in pain and he says it’s because of Jasmine’s defensive flip. Carly teases, that after seeing him with his family, he’s a human with emotions after all. She praises his knack of reading people and figuring out what kind of person they are. Ramirez says that it’s part of his job but no matter how good he is at it, he can’t seem to figure her out.

She’s smart and beautiful but she chooses to be a personal assistant. Carly says it’s because she and Jasmine had been through a lot and because she loves her friend. But to be honest, she doesn’t know what she really wants. That just proves Ramirez’s point; he still can’t figure her out.

(Based from how Carly keeps looking at Ramirez differently, this scene is meant to subtly show that she is slowly developing romantic feelings for him.)

Jasmine receives another text from Maskara, it includes the exact location of their meeting place and once again Alexis comes up to her. He tells her that if she has a problem, he’s always there to comfort and listen to her. She tells him that she’s fine and thanks him for the kind gesture.

Alexis tries to ask her out on a date after the launching party but Ramirez interrupts them to ask Jasmine an update with her ‘yoga instructor’, which is of course code for Maskara. Jasmine tells him that her ‘yoga instructor’ has confirmed the location of their ‘yoga class’. Jasmine gets called back by the choreographer so she and Alexis head inside but not before Alexis and Ramirez look at each other smugly.

At her condo later that night, Jasmine gets ready for the launching party and when Ramirez sees her in a red dress, his jaw practically drops on the floor. He tells her that everything’s set for their operation and he hands her a phone with a GPS and his number on speed dial, in case of an emergency.

Steven calls to remind her not to be late for the party and she tells him that they’re on the way. She receives another text from Maskara and they head out but suddenly, the doorbell rings. Ramirez whips out his gun, just in case, and looks at the peephole to check who it is. Turns out, it’s just Alexis. Jasmine opens the door as Ramirez hides behind it, out of sight.

Alexis asks Jasmine if they can go to the premiere together but Jasmine declines, she’s already going with Inspector Ramirez. Alexis deflates and he sees Ramirez’s ears through the door crack. Jasmine closes the door and Alexis looks dejected and somehow pissed. After Alexis leaves, the two head out to meet Maskara.

At the launching party, with too much lighting by the way, Wendell is approached by TV5 executive Jane; she offers him a job as a showbiz reporter. Wendell refuses the offer, he wants to remain an independent blogger but Jane is adamant in hiring him. If he takes the job, he'll still get to continue with his blog, and he can even promote it on the show. Wendell is clearly tempted by the offer.

Steven gets antsier by the minute because Jasmine is still a no show and she’s not picking up his calls either. Carly tries her best to calm him down. They go to Jasmine’s building and the guard informs them that Jasmine already left and she was with Inspector Ramirez. The guard also tells them that the actor Alexis Vergara also stopped by earlier.

The meeting place turns out to be at a mall. Osorio assigns each disguised police officer the area they need to monitor. Ramirez asks Jasmine again if she’s sure that she wants to go through with their operation, she answers yes and Osorio assures her that they'll protect her.

Ramirez instructs Jasmine to make Maskara believe that she’s his friend to prevent him from suspecting anything. All the police officers are already positioned at their assigned location. Jasmine is nervous so Ramirez grabs her hand with his for comfort and assurance and they head inside.

Jasmine, on the phone with Maskara, sits on a bench per his instruction. Ramirez sits on a nearby bench and looks for any sign of Maskara. Ramirez, through an earpiece, checks in with the other officers and they all says it’s negative on their area. Unbeknownst to Jasmine, Maskara is just nearby and he starts picking off the other officers one by one. He lures them out and whacks them, unconscious or possibly dead, with a hammer.

Maskara tells Jasmine, still on the phone, that he’s ready to meet. Ramirez has lost contact with all the other officers so he stands up to approach Jasmine but then Alexis comes up to him, having followed them from the condo because he’s suspicious of him.

Alexis angrily grabs him and Ramirez punches him on reflex. He leaves Alexis unconscious on the bench and goes to find Jasmine who, on Maskara’s instruction, steps inside a parked car with a chauffeur and they drive off to where Maskara is.

At the mall’s security office, Ramirez and Osorio are figuring out Maskara’s next move. He wanted to meet Jasmine like they’re on a first date. So, what else do you need on a first date? Osorio: “Condom?” Dude! Ramirez: “Flowers.” Aha!

So, he goes to a nearby flower stand and sure enough someone bought all the flowers and had it delivered somewhere. Ramirez asks for the address and the lady gives it to him.

Jasmine, still on the phone, asks Maskara why he didn’t pick her up himself. She secretly dials Ramirez’s number with the phone he gave her and states the streets and landmarks they passed by to alert him of her location.

Steven, learning the truth from Carly, demands Osorio to tell them where Jasmine is. Osorio tells him that’s not possible right now which makes Steven furious. Osorio receives a call from Ramirez and he steps out while Steven receives a call from Alexis, but we don’t get to hear what it’s about.

Jasmine arrives on the location of their ‘first date’ and it’s at a warehouse. She heads inside while convincing herself that it’s just like shooting a scene. Upon arriving at a table adorned with flowers, curtains and a wall with her photos, Maskara officially introduces himself to her and he gives her a necklace, putting it on her neck.

Jasmine gets creeped out by his touch but she tries her best not to show it. She urges him to tell her why he hides his face. Maskara replies that he isn't hiding his face, it’s merely who he is. If he’s not wearing the mask, he’s hiding his real self and merely pretending to be someone else.

She asks who he really is, “I’m Maskara, your number one fan!” He brought her to this place to see the real Jasmine because he senses that even now she’s playing a part. He wheels in Miguel, who’s in a terrible state, and hands Jasmine a crowbar so she could use it to punish Miguel, while reiterating what Miguel did to her.

Back at the mall, Ramirez steps inside the van to rescue Jasmine and when he turns on the engine, the car explodes. Wha?? Osorio, seeing the wreckage, can’t do anything but to call for back-up and informs the chief that Ramirez is dead. The chief goes silent while a guy, arrogant and with a macho voice, tells him that he’s now in charge of this case.

Back at the warehouse, Jasmine starts to get angry and she picks up the crowbar. Miguel shakes in fear as Maskara keeps urging her to hit him, to get her revenge. She grips the crowbar tightly, ready to strike, and Miguel closes his eyes. But, Jasmine hits Maskara instead and down he goes. Jasmine wheels out Miguel and they run into Alexis? You again!!

Osorio, with back-up, arrives at the warehouse. They safely escort Jasmine and the others out and they survey the place to find Maskara. He’s furious that Jasmine would betray him after everything he did for her; like hurting Miguel and killing Selina and Ramirez.

At the station, Jasmine runs to hug Carly and Steven who are glad that she’s safe. She asks where Ramirez is and she gets the bad news. Carly hugs her again, for comfort, as Jasmine cries for the death of our inspector.

A guy (Robin Padilla) is watching the news report of Ramirez’s death along with 4 other police officers who was killed(by Maskara) inside the mall. The guy stews in anger as he gulps down a bottle of alcohol.

COMMENTS

Nooo! Not Inspector Ramirez. Aside from Jasmine, he was the only character that I had an emotional attachment to. I’m wishing for a twist in the last stretch and we find out that he’s not really dead. A girl can hope right? I mean, how can he just die after this happened:

Alexis is definitely shady and I find it unintentionally funny that he seemed to be ubiquitous this episode; he was literally everywhere. I’m not even gonna be surprised if he turns out to be an accomplice of our masked killer.

I usually don't comment on the technical aspects of this show but the lighting this episode was really off-putting: