A year later and we’re still gushing over Red (Yves Flores) and Tox (Gillian Vicencio)!

The ‘kilig’ between these two never gets old, thus everyone was excited to witness the next chapter of their love story unfold in the ABS-CBN Made For YouTube series “ReTox: 2 Be Continued,” a spinoff of the hit 2022 series “2 Good 2 Be True.” Four episodes down, and netizens’ hearts have burst into multiple emotions.

Shorter than the standard series, “ReTox: 2 Be Continued” Part 1 (Episodes 1 to 4) didn’t waste time on unnecessary drama. It features unexpected backstories but with just the right pacing. From the endearing prologue that borrows clips from the “2 Good 2 Be True” finale featuring Eloy (Daniel Padilla) and Ali (Kathryn Bernardo)’s interrupted kiss, and Red and Tox’s accidental smooch, it cuts straight to the latter pair’s ‘isaw’ date in celebration of Red’s promotion as the head of Captain Rosales (Cris Villanueva)’s investigation team.

The happy ‘kulitan’ is interrupted by an emergency call from Lola Heart (Irma Adlawan), informing Tox that her father, Mang Ben (Earl Ignacio), left for Tarlac without warning. This is where the conflict immediately escalates. It turns out that Mang Ben went to their old place due to a premonition of his nearing death, which only he believes. Even before Tox successfully convinces her father to come home and ignore the silly dreams and sneaking suspicions, a new female character named Teresa (Mercedes Cabral) enters the scene and calls Tox “anak.”

Besides the unexpected twist, flashback scenes were incorporated in the first episode, with comedic elements served at just the right amount to keep the good vibes going. Reminiscent of our favorite K-dramas, the use of cliffhangers is guaranteed to keep viewers hooked.

The second episode centers on Tox’s awkward and embittered reunion with her mother, without neglecting the feel-good rom-com elements in Red and Tox’s relationship. Indulge your funny bones in that scene of Red trying to catch a live chicken after the street vendor ran out of ‘isaw’, and then asking Tox to feed him due to his hand injury.

Meanwhile, in a heart-to-heart conversation, Teresa rehashed to Mang Ben the ordeal she went through as an OFW. As her story goes, she suffered from a head injury at work that caused her amnesia. That’s why she didn’t recognize Mang Ben on the day of their supposed meeting, and Mang Ben then assumed that Teresa was only making a way to abandon him and Tox.

While Mang Ben is thrilled by the idea of rekindling his romance with Teresa, Tox is stuck in bitterness. She couldn’t find any reason to forgive Teresa as easily as Mang Ben did. While crying her heartache, Jesse (Migo Valid), a friend of Teresa’s adopted daughter Beatrice (Kate Yalung), approached her and offered her water.

The succeeding episode commenced with loads of hilarity as Red comes up with the wittiest remarks on Jesse’s harmless act of offering Tox water. Episode 3 also made us feel warm and mushy as ReTox joined Mang Ben and Teresa in their stroll around the park where they saw the old stone bench where Mang Ben and Teresa carved their names. Red shows his cheesy side by carving “ReTox” on another bench. Insert the slow-mo moment as he saves her from a falling branch, and the butterflies as they almost kiss.

Meanwhile, the tandem launches their “Operation Iwas-in love” to block Mang Ben and Teresa’s possible reconciliation. Tox’s suspicion intensified after seeing a message that reads, “See you, bebe girl,” on Teresa’s phone. After she failed to extract clues from Beatrice, she thought of befriending Jesse to get further information. And the first strategy is to invite Jesse to a basketball game. Completely engrossed in their mission, Tox denies her relationship with Red.

What’s more nerve-wracking than an LQ with your special someone? Our ReTox hearts are deeply worried as Red and Tox slowly detach from each other due to a series of misunderstandings. He immediately repaired their relationship by giving Tox suman-yakap even before she formally apologized for denying him to Jesse.

However, a new string of conflicts arrives as Tox goes out with Jesse to join the youth organization without consulting Red first. Fighting for his territory, Red decides to join the youth org as well, and boldly confirms their relationship, much to Tox’s dismay.

“ReTox: 2 Be Continued” is more engrossing than we had expected. It unlocks our ‘feels’ in so many ways, with loads of comedy sprinkled at just the right amount to not overpower the core of the story. Even the drama and conflict are done right.

Yves and Gillian’s rom-com homecoming is worth the wait. You will find yourself gushing over their effortless ‘bardagulan' and smiling at their sweet little antics. From the main up to the side characters, everyone is portrayed naturally, making their interactions a lot more engaging.

“ReTox: 2 Be Continued” offers pure light-hearted fun and ‘kilig’ without trivializing the personal burdens carried by the characters. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself getting attached to Red and Tox again. And, we just want to mention, you’ll be LSS-ed with the theme song “Kahit Na Masungit” by Jeremy G and Kyle Echarri.

Netizens are convinced that “ReTox: 2 Be Continued” is the ultimate rom-com series of the season! Check out their reactions here:

Galing nyo! Natural na Natural parang di uma acting. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Watching from Israel. #ReTox

— Gellah ♓️ (@JustGellah) August 3, 2023

We’re all mesmerized by Gillian’s acting chops – truly her time to shine.

The reaction is giving, Ate @gasvicencio 😅#GillianVicencio#ReTox#YvesFlores pic.twitter.com/tNDIUJDWNx

— zhaii (@ultimateess) August 2, 2023

One Twitter user has even come up with his own theory!

Random thought lang: What if 'yung petsa sa panaginip ni Mang Ben, kasal pala nila ni Aling Teresa? #ReTox2BeContinued

— ge (@masayangjose) August 3, 2023

Red and Tox make us want to say: “Sana all.”

Saan ba makakahanap ng Jowa na papatay ng manok para lang mapakain ng isaw ang bebegirl? 🤣 #ReTox #ReTox2BeContinued

@gasvicencio pic.twitter.com/tyc3gl2cwg

— Gellah ♓️ (@JustGellah) August 3, 2023

Catch the Part 2 (Episodes 4 to 8) of “ReTox: 2 Be Continued”, from August 4 to August 8, on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube Channel.