Alter poster
#38442 This Week

Alter

Alter  ·  2021, Philippines
5.0
2,826 ratings
8
Episodes
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2021

"Alter" is the story of Elmo who pretends to be his twin sister Sarah and in the process discovers something about himself. (Source: Star Image Artist Management Facebook Account)

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (5)

“Alter” dives headfirst into a tangled web of identity, desire, and deception. Elmo, a gay man living a closeted life in the US, returns to the Philippines to help his twin sister Sarah—a transgender woman—pull off an impossible charade. Sarah has accidentally scheduled two boyfriends to visit her at the same time, and instead of coming clean, she persuades Elmo to cross-dress as her to keep up appearances. What starts as a frantic cover-up spirals into emotional chaos when Elmo’s performance as ‘Sarah’ begins to feel all too real. As he navigates the affections of both men, Elmo discovers hidden truths about his own heart and identity. This 8-episode Filipino web series tackles themes of gender, acceptance, and the dangerous thrill of living a lie. While its low-budget production and uneven storytelling have drawn criticism, the bold premise and willingness to explore complex LGBTQ+ dynamics make “Alter” a conversation starter for viewers who enjoy messy, thought-provoking drama.

E01
1
Alter Episode 1
Season 1 · Feb 14, 2021
~ min
E02
2
Alter Episode 2
Season 1 · Feb 21, 2021
~ min
E03
3
Alter Episode 3
Season 1 · Feb 28, 2021
~ min
E04
4
Alter Episode 4
Season 1 · Mar 25, 2021
~ min
E05
5
Alter Episode 5
Season 1 · Mar 28, 2021
~ min
E06
6
Alter Episode 6
Season 1 · Apr 01, 2021
~ min
E07
7
Alter Episode 7
Season 1 · Apr 11, 2021
~ min
E08
8
Alter Episode 8
Season 1 · Apr 21, 2021
~ min
5.0
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PL
PlotHoleHunter
January 2025
2/10
I went in hoping for a fun identity-swap story, but the logic holes are massive. How does Elmo, a supposedly straight guy, convincingly fool two boyfriends? And why does everyone just accept the time skip at the end? The editing is choppy and the story makes zero sense. Complete waste of potential.
QE
queer_eye_01
March 2025
3/10
I appreciate the attempt to include a trans character and a gay lead, but the execution is problematic. Sarah uses her twin’s identity without real consent, and Elmo’s cross-dressing is treated more like a gag than a genuine exploration of gender. The show reinforces harmful tropes about deception in LGBTQ+ relationships. Not recommended.
HR
hopeless_romantic_bl
December 2024
5/10
Okay, I know the production is rough, but I couldn't help rooting for Elmo and Nathan! The moment Nathan realizes he likes the 'male version' of Sarah felt surprisingly sweet to me. Yes, it's messy and the acting is wooden, but there's a raw emotion underneath. I want to see more BL that takes risks like this.
VP
visually_pained
June 2025
1/10
The lighting is harsh, the camera work is shaky, and the color grading looks like a home video. The actor playing Jessie has a different haircut in every scene—it's so distracting. I can forgive low budget, but not when it completely pulls me out of the story. This is an eyesore.
TI
tune_in_tune_out
April 2025
4/10
I usually love discovering new OSTs from BLs, but here the music is painfully repetitive and poorly mixed. The same generic piano loop plays over dramatic moments, and the theme song sounds like it was recorded on a phone. Even the song failed to salvage the cringey scenes. Skip this one.