This is an addition to Netflix’s Filipino revenge comedy. Making its debut in Philippine cinemas on 27th November, the film later became available for streaming worldwide. The talented and stunning Kathryn Bernardo delivers a powerful performance as Philomena “Philo” Angeles, also known as Mercedes “Mercy” Novela.
The plot revolves around Mercy, also known as Philo, who sets out on a path of vengeance after being unfairly dismissed by business mogul Mother Molly. Determined to bring her down, she infiltrates the exclusive world Molly controls and devises a plan to dismantle her empire from within.
Betrayal, manipulation, and the price of retribution (Photo: A Very Good Girl/ABS-CBN Film Productions)However, as the revenge plot is revealed, Philo gains a deeper insight into the true nature of Mother Molly.
What Led to the Conflict Between Mother Molly and Mercy?
Mercy’s unjust dismissal by Mother Molly five years ago completely disrupted her life. Finding new employment proved impossible since Mother Molly ensured she remained blacklisted.
In a desperate attempt to rectify the situation, Mercy’s mother, portrayed by the brilliant Angel Aquino, paid a visit to Mother Molly one evening to plead for her daughter’s reinstatement. Rather than showing any sympathy, Mother Molly callously threw money at them while humiliating them with harsh words.
During this confrontation, tragedy struck when a truck belonging to Mother Molly’s company ran over Mercy’s mother, killing her instantly. This devastating incident was the breaking point for Mercy.
Swearing to make Mother Molly suffer for everything she had done, she began crafting a plan for revenge with the help of her sister.
How Did Mercy Execute Her Revenge Plan?
Determined to fund her revenge, Mercy took up a job as a virtual assistant and endured its hardships, despite the emotional toll. The job often left her in tears, but she persevered until she had saved enough money to set her plan in motion.
Once financially prepared, she re-emerged in Mother Molly’s world with a completely transformed persona. She successfully ingratiated herself into Mother Molly’s elite circle by presenting her with a rare and expensive artwork that she had been eyeing.
Taking things further, she befriended a young girl named Zab and used this relationship to uncover details about Mother Molly’s crimes. Zab’s father, a politician, was deeply entangled in a money laundering operation alongside Mother Molly.
Mercy systematically manipulated those within Molly’s circle, causing them to distance themselves from her. Gradually, she earned Molly’s trust and positioned herself as her closest confidante. Her influence grew even stronger when she secured a job in Molly’s company by orchestrating the resignation of Molly’s assistant.
She then shifted her focus to Charles, a predatory aide notorious for sexually harassing female employees. Teaming up with Joena, one of the company’s staff members, Mercy plotted to bring Charles down.
The mission was far from smooth, and there were violent complications along the way, but Mercy remained unwavering in her pursuit of justice. She blackmailed Charles, giving him the choice to betray Mother Molly or face imprisonment as a rapist.
Just when it seemed everything was falling into place, Mother Molly—ever the cunning manipulator—managed to slip through the chaos untouched.
Did Mercy Achieve Her Revenge?
When Mother Molly deflected blame for the latest company scandal onto Charles and played the role of a helpless victim, Mercy realized she needed to escalate her approach. She orchestrated an incident where she was stabbed, aiming to gain Molly’s sympathy and strengthen their bond.
As their relationship deepened, they shared their most haunting secrets. Mercy revealed that her father’s affair led to an altercation where she unintentionally caused her unborn sibling’s death.
However, to her shock, the supposed step-sister later appeared, very much alive, and asked to stay with Mercy’s family for a week. Believing fate was finally favoring her, Mercy clung to the hope that she would get the justice she had long awaited.
Meanwhile, Mother Molly lowered her guard and confessed to her role in Mercy’s mother’s death. She admitted that she panicked, fled the scene, and covered up the incident to protect her company from public scrutiny.
Eager to use this confession as evidence, Mercy recorded their conversation, thinking it would be the key to finally exposing Molly. Unfortunately, the recording held no legal weight since it had been obtained unlawfully.
At the same time, Mercy’s sister called with devastating news—her house had burned down, and her niece was in critical condition. Urgently needing funds for her niece’s surgery, Mercy realized she was broke after spending all her savings on her revenge scheme.
How Does A Very Good Girl End?
Desperate and out of options, Mercy approached Mother Molly, who was preparing for her lavish 50th birthday celebration, to ask for financial help. Instead of offering assistance, Molly ridiculed her and revealed she had been aware of Mercy’s deception all along.
A woman scorned is a force unstoppable (Photo: A Very Good Girl/ABS-CBN Film Productions)The supposed step-sister was nothing more than a pawn—someone Molly had hired to deceive Mercy and teach her a lesson. It turned out that Molly had figured things out since Charles’ arrest but had no interest in retaliating. Instead, she wanted Mercy to become her daughter.
As tension escalated, a physical struggle broke out between them. Molly retreated into a hidden room, where Mercy was met with an astonishing sight—Molly’s mother, who was long presumed missing, was lying there.
In the heat of the altercation, Molly manipulated Mercy into stabbing her mother in the neck, killing her instantly. She then thanked Mercy for eliminating a burden from her life, proving just how ruthless she truly was.
At that moment, Mercy grasped the depths of Molly’s twisted nature. She had underestimated just how vile Molly could be. Rather than seeking revenge, Molly wanted to keep Mercy close, feeding her need for control and masking her fear of abandonment.
But Mercy had reached her limit. She was no longer willing to lose herself in the pursuit of vengeance. Choosing to walk away from the toxic cycle, she declared that she was ready to acknowledge her flaws and face the consequences of her actions.
She refused to turn into a monster like Molly. As she exited, Molly chased after her, only to be struck by a car. Without a second glance, Mercy left the scene, unbothered. A call from her sister brought good news—her niece had been transferred to a better hospital and was expected to recover.
In her way, Mercy found peace, as fate finally delivered justice in ways she had not anticipated.
