I must confess; if Kenneth Ma continues to show up wearing that white overalls, I can actually fall in love with him. He really really looks good in those white costume. It is however unfortunate his acting is a bit not up to par, not that he is terrible, but he just doesn't suit the character of Tong and thus making Tong seems a bit too soft in a way like too precious. Same goes for the manegtic Jacky Heung who has got a face with character but the acting talent of a plastic.
Let's move on. Kidd calls this the downfall of Man Kwan, but that is if he is every on top of anything. Nope, I call this episode "The Mind Of Wing Tak".
Ching in her office treating a patient but was very distracted and mixed up the patient's file and was looking for the file when the files dropped and she kneeled to pick them up but ended up just crying. Tong saw her and his face was filled with sympathy and walked to her and told the patients to leave for a while since Ching wasn't well and so the patient left and Tong knelt down with her as Ching cried "My brother ... a murderer. How can he be so cold hearted to kick someone to death? How can my baby brother become that way?"
Girl, you must be living in a dream all these while. But a consolation of some sort; he is a killer but he ain't no rapist.
Tong softly said "If it is something you can't control, better not think about it" but Ching continued to cry in disbelief that her brother was a killer.
Meanwhile Tak had a plan. He met with a doctor, bribed him with money and a villa and asked a simple question; "What sort of medicine that can induce symptoms of a major illness, like cancer?" and the doctor replied "A medicine meant for heart disease, that can induce symptoms like nose bleed and blood in stool if it is taken twice a day for a period of time" and Tak then asked the doctor for a favour which we will know later.
This is like "Gou Jiu" or a masterplan. Only Tak can think that. Man Kwan has a long way to learn.
Tak's wife, Chu wanted to deliver food or whatever to her son. She walked out and knew she was being followed and ran for her life and hopped onto a trishaw but it was actually Wai Lan in disguise. She said to go to the warehouse by the pier and halfway she saw Wai Lan's jade on her wrist and knew this was no ordinary trishaw puller and demanded "Who are you?" but Wai Lan dropped the handle and walked away, Chu rushed to her and saw it was Wai Lan. She knew she had revealed her son's whereabouts as Wai Lan said "How could you protect your son? He killed someone!" and Chu cried "Please, he is only 21. He has always been a good boy, let him go! I beg you!" and Wai Lan said "No!" and Chu cried "I helped your daughter. I didn't have to but I did because I believe in giving your daughter justice. And my husband and I quarreled and he has not forgiven me since. I did that for you. Please, let my son go, please!" and Wai Lan refused and Chu said "Who was that guy who died to you anyway? He was just your son's disciple!" and Wai Lan angrily said "Ah Kwong died a terrible death thanks to your son. He left behind a wife and a young chiild! Your son deserved his punishment!" and Wai Lan ran away and Chu ran after her, begging and Wai Lan managed to escape from her and Chu knew her son's whereabout was compromised and ran to her son and she fell very hard (I think Kara actually fell!!) but pushed on. Meanwhile Wai Lan rushed to a shop with telephone and called to inform where Man Kwan was.
Tong was told Wai Lan knew where Man Kwan was and so they all headed to find Man Kwan.
Tak with Man Kwan and I can't remember his name but one of the follower whom I shall call ** asked for his gastric pills and Tak gave him a packet of pills. Suddenly Chu rushed in and Tak angry said "What is she doing her? I told her not to come!" when Chu said "They know! Man Kwan, you must run! Wai Lan is coming here to get you! I accidentally told her" and Man Kwan complained "Mother, you will be the death of me!" but Tak said "No Man Kwan, you will stay and you will follow them to the police station" and Chu wanted to protest but Tak merely said "I know what I am doing".
Whole gang arrived and demanded for Man Kwan and Tak simply said "We have nothing to hide. Man Kwan will follow you" and indeed Man Kwan and the I think 4 other guys were thrown into prison. I wished to see Man Kwan rotting in prison but alas, not shown. What a pity! Anyway Tong and gang were curious why Tak didn't even put up a fight, didn't even ask his best friend the police commissioner for help, but was so accomodating. More importantly as Jeung wondered "What is the connection between Kwong and Man Kwan?" and Tong said "I don't know" and no one knew. So no one can explain why Man Kwan kicked Kwong to death.
Police Commissioner met with Tak and said "I am sorry I won't be able to release Man Kwan. The case is too big, getting to much publicity" and Tak said "It is alright. All I need is for you to do this..." and not shown what was said but something is going on.
Tak met with ** in prison and ** said "Master Wing, I have a problem. I keep getting nosebleed and there was blood in my stool... I don't know what is going on but I feel terrible" and Tak feigned concern and said "Didn't you ask the guards to send in a doctor?" and he said "I did but for more than a week now, they just ignored me!" and Tak said "No worries, I will talk to the police commissioner about this" and ** said "Thank you Master Wing".
When did Tak become so concerned about his employees anyway?
Doctor came to see ** and ** nervously asked "Doctor.. what's the result?" and doctor said "I am sorry to say you have end stage cancer and you won't have long to live" and ** was so shocked and asked "Is it.. true?" and the doctor gave him medicine and said "Here, take these twice a day to lessen the pain...I am sorry" and he left. ** was crying "Noooooo! Noooooooo! I can't die yet! I have a wife and a small child! Who will take care of them? I didn't kill anyone, I don't deserve this fate, I don't!!!!!" and Tak said quietly "I am sorry to hear that, I myself am about to lose my only son...maybe you can do me a favour?" and ** asked "What?" and Tak said "I have asked the lawyer and he said this case is hopeless. You're dying anyway, whether by the gun or from cancer, why not you take the full blame so that my son and the 3 others can be freed? It is very simple; just say you kicked him to death. I swear I will treat your daughter as my own, I will make sure she gets the best of education that money can buy." and ** looked and was considering as he cried hard.
"Gou jiu" I tell you!
At home, Ching and I think Yau was there and saw Man Kwan walked in and Ching was shocked and asked Tak "Father, how come Man Kwan is released?" and Man Kwan took offence but Tak told him to go to his room and as Man Kwan walked up the stairs..
Pause here.
Please when you're watching this scene, see how Jacky walked up the stairs. Like a robot. It was funny!!
Anyway Ching said "Father, tell me honestly, what did you do to get Man Kwan out of prison?" and Man Kwan sorta rushed down and angrily said "You're my sister! How can you believe outsiders and not me?!" and Chu said "Enough! Everyone, stop arguing" and I think someone told her it was ** who did it and Ching said "Impossible! I was there. He died from his ribs puncturing his lungs! It was one kick that did that! He said Man Kwan. He said it was Man Kwan!" and Man Kwan wanted to argue when Tak said "Everyone, change clothes. We are all going somewhere"
Funeral procession. Everyone was sombre, Tong and gang were together... Cham and wife suddenly all missing since no use for them anymore. Anyway student rushed in and said to Tong "Master! That Wing Man Kwan was just released and walked out the front door of the police station as if he owned it!!" and everyone in disbelief. The witness, chairman of the association said "Impossible! This is proposterous! I saw Wing Man Kwan kicked Ah Kwong!" and Tong said "Calm down everyone. Let's respect Ah Kwong, finish with the procession and then we think of what to do" and so they did, tears, sadness, very pitiful.
Need to correct one thing. Kwong was Tong's disciple, not Biu's. Tong give me an impression he is very respected amongst his peers, so young already so many disciples and everyone seems to listen to him. I wonder when that changed when earlier he was sorta like the laughing stock.
As they were about to head for burial ground, Tak and entire family came in and immediately many told them to get out. But Tak said "We are here to pay respect to Ah Kwong" and in a sombre way and everyone protested and told them to leave BUT Tong stood his ground and said "Let him. Ah Kwong can take this bow of respect, and certainly he can take that bow of respect from this bastard Wing Man Kwan. After they're done, I will personally tie up this bastard and drag him to the police station. Leung, get the rope!" and Leung went and took the rope.
Tong was very decisive here, nice to see that he took charge.
Tak went to bow, everyone did, Man Kwan death stared everyone and then Tak finished, turned and again turned onto Wai Lan. Poor Wai Lan, it was always Tak doing the accusations, Wai Lan so darn quiet and sitting down and taking all the verbal abuse. For once, can't Wai Lan just slap him and say "Shut up!"???
Anyway Tak went to Wai Lan who was very quiet as Tak said "Sister!!! I know you hate me! I know you accused me of murdering your father and your stepmother, I know you blamed me for your husband's disappearance. Shing was my best friend, my brother, I was very hurt by those accusations, I have tried to help, tried to explain but none of those work. You still have in you a grudge against me. Is that why you accused my son of killing Ah Kwong? Is that why you blame my son for Ah Kwong's death?" and Chief of association said "I saw Wing Man Kwan kicked Ah Kwong to death! I saw it with my eyes!" and Tak went to him and said "You're always not very good with alcohol and during one time you were so drunk you thought I was your brother! That night you were drunk too! How did you know what you see was what actually happened?!" and someone said "Ah Kwong said it was your son!" and Tak said "Yes, even my own daughter, Ching heard that and doubted my son. But what did Ah Kwong actually said? He just said "It was Wing Man Kwan" and then what? It could have been many things! My son did not kicked Ah Kwong. It was a misunderstanding! It was cleared up! It was actually ** who kicked Ah Kwong, my son tried to stop him but couldn't!" and Man Kwan said "The truth is out!" but Tong said "When you're finished, tell me! Then I can start tying you up!" and Jeung went for Man Kwan and fought a little and they were locked eye to eye and Tak beat away Leung and Tak said "We have no problem following you all the the police station! I let my son be arrested, remember? He was in prison for 2 weeks! I let him be because the truth is that my son did not killed Ah Kwong!" but someone asked "Why would ** kick Ah Kwong? What grudges does he hold against Ah Kwong?" and Tak said "I can't say, that will disrespect the dead, let bygones be bygones!" and everyone insisted and Tak said reluctantly "I didn't want to reveal this in front of the widow but if you insist; Ah Kwong was kicked by ** because Ah Kwong raped ** underage cousin!" and shocking gasp everywhere as Tong shouted "THAT IS NOT TRUE!!" and Tak said "Oh it is true. Why would ** admit to murder which will put his life at stake?" and someone said "You paid him!" and Tak said (and quite wisely) "Why would anyone agree to any amount of money if the consequence is death? The truth is Ah Kwong raped the cousin, ** was very angry and went to find Ah Kwong and demanded justice and he out of anger kicked Ah Kwong to death" as the widow stared in disbelief (remember this was the original threat by Tak to Kwong?) and Tak said "If you don't believe me, go to prison and ask **. I will ask the commissioner for permission and you can find out the truth yourself. Everyone, let's leave" and they did. Leung was very angry and wanted to rush to Man Kwan but Tong shouted "LEUNG! ENOUGH! We will finish with the burial first, do not disrespect Ah Kwong!"
Not long later Tak said to Ching "Tell the Koos they're free to see ** in prison, you can go along if you want to, Yau Yau, you too if you want to". Which they did and ** looked pale and nervous as Tong asked "Why did you confess?" and ** said "I've said it many times already! Kwong raped my cousin, I was angry, I kicked him to death, Young Master Wing tried to stop me but I refused to listen! How many times must I explain?" and Chief association began to doubt himself and said "Maybe I was mistaken as to what I saw..." and Tong asked "Did he pay you? Don't admit to this serious charge! You have a wife and young child to take care of!" and ** said "I already told you the truth! And why would I admit to murder? I will be shot for that! Because it is the truth! Please, leave me alone!" and the police came and said "Excuse me, you have been here a long time" and so they all left, reluctantly.
Tong and Ching having tea/coffee together and Tong wondered loudly "Why would anyone confess to murder if they didn't do it? What did Wing Tak give him?" and Ching said "Maybe Ah Kwong did do what father said he did" and Tong said "No way! Please don't tell me until now you still believe your father's accusations?" and Ching didn't want to argue and said "Let's not argue and hurt our friendship" and Tong agreed.
Dinner time and as Tak was going upstairs, Chu, Yau and Ching were at the dinner table and Chu said "The truth is out, so you can all stop speculating on your brother's innocence" but Yau being the rather preceptive one said "But I have my doubts. I mean we all know ** so well. Does he strike you as someone who can kick someone to such injury with one kick? He always gave me the impression he is a coward and avoided confrontation" and Chu was alarmed as Tak listened in and Ching said "Me too... I wonder too frankly" and Chu told them to stop.
At night Chu went to Tak and Tak asked "What did our daughters say just now?" and Chu said "Oh nothing, the usual, Yau Yau on her schools and all" and Tak said "Then why did you tell them to stop?" and Chu said "Fine, don't be angry if I tell you ok? They doubted ** is capable of murder" and Tak was angry and rushed to Yau as Chu tried to placate him and Tak said "You, come down now!" as Chu said "Stop it! Yau Yau has exams tomorrow!" and he rushed to Ching and said "You come down as well" and he dragged them both with Chu and Man Kwan (in pyjamas-adorable!) tagging along and to the living room and Ching said "Father! What are you doing? Yau Yau has exams tomorrow!" and Tak with frustrated voice said "Yau Yau, you can stop your schooling! You don't need to go to school anymore!" and Yau Yau was shocked and said "Why?" and Tak said "I worked hard for this family, I worked even harder to create this company and put food on the table and to provide you with education. Yau Yau, I have never denied you your education because I believe you can learn to be objective and reasonable. Ching, you wanted to be a doctor, I encouraged you but you too can stop going to the hospital! All the education and what did you 2 do? You did not view this matter objectively. You dared to question if your brother was a murderer! You chose to believe strangers than to stand by your family!" and Chu said "Stop it Tak, it is late, they didn't mean that" as Ching confronted her father and said with tears "Father, we never said that! We just wondered if ** was a murderer, we never said Man Kwan was a murderer" as Man Kwan looked on in silence as Tak said "You might as well just said that he is when you questioned your brother and you questioned me! Why would anyone admit to murder? How much money is enough to make someone admit to murder when the consequence is death by the gun? Yet you questioned your brother. You never even supported him, you never defended him!" and Ching angrily said "We didn't mean that father! We didn't!" and Tak said "You didn't? Did you even care to hear his side of the story? That family can say all lies and you will believe them but your own brother tells the truth and you doubt him. He rotted in jail for 2 weeks, he suffered in there and yet you showed no concern to him! What has this family come to when we are not united at all, when we doubt one another? What more does your brother have to do to convince both of you?!" and Ching and Yau were in tears and doubted their original thoughts and both came to Tak and said "Father.. we are sorry" and Tak said "No, you don't owe me an apology, you owe your brother an apology"
Wow, "gou jiu!!"
They walked to a shocked Man Kwan who probably never saw his father so emotional, but a face Wai Lan always see as Chu cried and they said "Brother, we are sorry" and Man Kwan quietly with tears said "We are family, there's no need for that" and I think he actually meant it! Chu said "Ok ok, everyone go back to sleep" and they did and Tak sat down, rubbed his eyes as tears fell from his eyes.
My question is were those tears genuine? If it is, that means he is someone who believes in his own lies. But I think it was real; he was really disappointed with Ching and Yau.
Next episode, Man Kwan on the run again and fired a gun at Jeung and gang.
The eye to eye scene between Man Kwan and Jeung was unintentionally funny since they had to keep looking at each other, hand locked in one another as Tak delivered his speech which was rather long. Very very funny!
Anyway this episode kinda shows the fantasy of Tak. He really believed in his own spins you know? The last scene was fantastic as he scolded Ching and Yau. He has a point; family unity is important but the truth is that is one screwed up family. I still have hope for Man Kwan to turn good; the last scene convinced me he can be as he looked like a little boy in his pyjamas. His mother said he is only 21, still young, he learned from the worse that is a rapist sifu and a really "gou jiu" father. Go jiu basically means someone who knows how to manipulate someone to very effective results, using means and methods that you wouldm applaud for originality and effectiveness and it is a negative thing to say "go jiu" and that is the best word to describe Wing Tak.
In a way I like this episode because finally Wing Tak has something to do. You see how he really believes in his own lies, he hates the Koos. I am however bored with the Koos forever being bullied and only Tong and some sibling stood up and challenged Tak. Tak seems to see Tong as the enemy to beat, which he did from day 1 but as usual any problem he would go straight to Wai Lan and starts to nag and bully her. Most frustrating is Wai Lan just stood there and do.. NOTHING. At least Leung was doing something.
Again I still think the flaw of this series is too many people. Now Cham, Bing Bing, Fong Fong, all missing. Yan, Kuen, Leung all have something to do BUT too many children. And the most important of all, Wai Lan showed no leadership. She did tracked Man Kwan down but if she doesn't do that, she has practically nothing to do in this series. I just wish she just slap Wing Tak.
I also find it rather interesting for 2 families supposedly in loggerheads with one another, especially from Tak's point of view, he has not once (or maybe he did but not recently) ever opposed Ching or Yau from seeing the Koos, at all. Tak never even said to Ching to stop seeing Tong, he even encouraged her to see them in a way. It is like the friendliest all out war you know what I mean? And for such a bad father, his 2 daughters are ok you know? Man Kwan probably got the worst education by Tak.
Performance wise, Yuen Qiu, wasted. I do however like her scene with Kara but it was Kara doing the acting, Yuen Qiu just stared. Give her some kung fu scenes!
Kara Hui again dominates with her performance. She really played the desperate mother very well and I really thought she actually fell down hard. Her portrayal of Chu is that of a desperate mother trying to protect her children and keep the family together. I do think she is in denial of Man Kwan the killer and Tak the manipulator. I think in her heart she knew but she denied it to keep her family together.
Selena Li did well in the confrontation scene with Dominic Lam although I wished she really cried harder.
Angel Chiang was wonderful as the more perceptive Yau Yau. She handled the scene well.
Everyone was ok, but special note to Kenneth Ma who when needed could somehow somewhat give a somewhat somehow ok portrayal of a leader. I still have issues with his leadership quality although on paper his Tong is the leader everyone looks to although not sure when that changed.
Dominic Lam had more to do in this episode, and he did well in the sense his Tak is consistent. He is still a manipulative bully who believed in his own lies. You know some villain can be so convincing because they actually believed in their own tales of deceipt and lies. That is Wing Tak and I think if that is what the writer intended, Dominic Lam definitely delivered the goods. His Tak is also so convinced in himself that he just couldn't see what he did was wrong. But such a villain can't be a great villain; I still find Tak very naggy and petty. And I wonder whether the tears were really because of tears of disappointment? And I think they were, in a way Tak was really disappointed in his daughters. For that Dominic Lam did well, but frankly I don't see his Tak as menacing at all.
And last but not least, Jacky Heung who looked so adorable in that dark pyjamas I just couldn't bring myself to criticise his wooden, plastic, robotic, lifeless performance. Eh! I just did! It just shows you can't have everything. And yet in his wooden performance, I am somehow convinced his Man Kwan is redeemable. Maybe that is Jacky's charm; he may look mean, ready to chop you up and stir fry you for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the remains to the dogs, but yet there is a vulnerability in him, that somehow you wonder beyond those mean looks, is there a wounded vulnerable young innocent boy trapped in the body of a cynical looking man?
Is there?
But yes, his acting is god awful. And yes, he looks great in white western suits!
In fact I notice the young ones wear white. Tong and Man Kwan.
One more thing I must point out which someone did.
In Koo family, we see the grandpa Biu and step grandma Ho Fah's picture hung on the wall, offered prayers, etc. Excuse me, but wasn't Bill married the first time around and his first wife died? So where is the portrait of the first wife or at least the name or something? Because Ho Fah is considered 2nd wife, position wise, she was number 2 even if Biu's first wife died when he married her. So her portrait and the first wife's should be hung there as well, next to Biu even if their position is pari passu. Definitely an inconsistency.
And yeah even at Episode 19, it is still inconsistent. It is not difficult to see why this series did not garner as much support as other productions by Lee Tim Shing but I gotta admit, when it is good, it is good. However much I love Kenneth Ma, and I see him in new light and see him capable of being a leading man and darn good looking in those white overall, or how I can tolerate Kevin Cheng, I still question most of the casting decision.
Anyway, again I hope to see a happy ending for Man Kwan. Somehow I feel for this bastard. Why? WHY?!
April 19, 2011 at 8:01 PM
The photo of the first wife. Yeah, I've been wondering about this too but always forgot to mention it. And no one mentioned her at all. Wai Lan never once mentioned her birth mother. Neither did Cheung.
Btw, I like Uncle Cheung. Despite him always complaining, always talking about money etc, when it comes to moments that matter, he stick to the family and he helps. I like the part how when Ngan ask him to stop pursuing the matter with the rapist sifu and he said 'I'll do anything if you don't cry' and show genuine concern. He's kinda cute in his own way.
"Ching cried "My brother ... a murderer. How can he be so cold hearted to kick someone to death? How can my baby brother become that way?"
Girl, you must be living in a dream all these while. But a consolation of some sort; he is a killer but he ain't no rapist."
I think Ching is in denial. From Kwan's past record, he's very capable of kicking someone to death. Didn't he kick Jeung until rib broken and have internal bleeding? It's Ching who treated Jeung.
Lastly, Wing Tak. What awesome mind. So, 'Gou Jiu'. I agree with you. Wing Tak really believe in his own lies. He again reminds me of Ting Hai. The difference is, he's manipulative and 'Gou Jiu', Ting Hai is not. Would like to see more of this Wing Tak. I wonder if Man Kwan will be his downfall. Maybe the fell when attempting to save his son? The more he mess with the law, the more 'tung keuk' people will have on him.
Now, I wonder. With such highly intelligent parents (Chu's act in convicting rapist sifu is also very 'gou jiu'), how come, Man Kwan didn't inherit even a little bit of those cunningness?
I wish the series have shown more of the dynamic of the Wing family. We have enough of the MR moment in the Koo family. I want to see the Wing family, especially the relationship between Man Kwan, Ching and Yau. Yau and Man Kwan hardly has any interaction. Ching and Man Kwan only a little bit more and it was always scenes of her reprimanding or complaining (rightly so) about Man Kwan's behavior. Ching does seem to love her brother, seeing the way she cried. This reminds me of the scene where Man Kwan placate her sister by promising to reimburse the victims and burned the harmful pills. Can see a bit of the sibling love there and can show that Man Kwan does respect/fear his older sister like the usual younger siblings do towards older siblings.
But, Yau and Man Kwan totally missing interaction. Yau Yau and Ching, I can see that they are close when Yau Yau ask advice from Ching on her love problem with Yan and Leung.