UPDATE- Added the italic part which I forgotten earlier
A rather strange episode since the story shifted gear to Jeung and Bing Bing and frankly I feel it was so confusing since suddenly Bing Bing, suddenly no Bing Bing, like some anti climax. I find her a distraction.
A rather strange episode since the story shifted gear to Jeung and Bing Bing and frankly I feel it was so confusing since suddenly Bing Bing, suddenly no Bing Bing, like some anti climax. I find her a distraction.
Anyway Chu told Tak, Ching is back and "She is packing and will be leaving with Yau!" and Tak seemed hurt and yet didn't show as Ching walked down with luggage, so did Yau and they bade their mother farewell as Ching promised "I will come back to visit, I promise" but Chu was desperate, holding onto Ching and Yau then went to Tak and tugged at his sleeves and pleaded "Please, don't let them leave, please.. Tak, please ask them to stay!" but Tak went to the phone, called the lawyer and loudly said "I have a strategy. Why can't Man Kwan say he was defending himself? WHAT? WHY NOT?!" but we all know he is deeply hurt. Tak may be a monster and taught his son wrongly but for all intents and purposes he is I would say a good enough father and he valued family unity and he is the sort that will hurt everyone but not his own family from the way I see it. Ching looked back one more time and left with Yau Yau whilst Chu was so desperate to cling on to the family, st down heavily on the foot of the stairs, and cried in frustration.
Pause here.
This is in a way a fantastically acted scene thanks to Kara and Dominic. From his demeanour, I see Tak is being a stubborn mule. Who knows, if he had married and with child when he was much younger than say much later, he might become more reasonable and wouldn't have killed Biu or have self esteem issues. There was hurt and Dominic conveyed that well. Kara was simply fantastic. You might say it was OTT but I see her as a desperate mother, very desperately clinging onto a family falling apart. She knew her son was wrong, she knew her husband was wrong, she herself has a conscience but she herself loved her family. Kara conveyed all that so well, it was such a joy to watch and yet so painful to see, because you can sense if you were in her shoes you too would be jumping up and down and then sitting on the stair and just cry because your family, your perfect happy family is no more.
Ching met with Tong for tea, and again a rather subtle but well written scene, even if acting is a bit sketchy.
Tong said gently; "I think by now you know I was the one who caused your brother to be rearrested and now to be shot. I was visiting Tat and saw the pill, took it, analysed it and revealed the truth" and Ching looked at him, with that expression like "I knew you're lying" sort of way and he continued "I also understand you love your brother, no matter what. So if you do not wish to be friends with me anymore, I understand perfectly. I promise to stay away" and he began to walk away but how can a girl resist that puppy dog look wearing that awesome white cheongsam? Ching walke to him and smiled and said "You know the reason why I came back? You. You were the reason. You encouraged me, you motivated me, and I went back to the hospital and took back my resignation letter. I will be going back to work at the hospital" and Tong was very happy and Ching ended sadly "But I won't go home anymore. Yau Yau and I have moved out to stay at the hostel" and what more can Tong say? Well let's continue to be friends!
Yeah!
Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
Then Tong said "Come on! Let's not talk about those things! Let's drink! I know you don't drink, but just this once, a drink!" and they did.
By the way they're still friends but we know they're moving up already.
Chu and Tak in prison, visiting a very shaky Man Kwan, and I mean really shaky and in shaking. Man Kwan very scared trembling fell to his knees as he cried "Daddy, mommy, I don't want to die! I don't want to die!! I am too young to die!!" as Tak patted his head whilst Chu turned away and cried silently.
Outside the prison, Tak and Chu bumped into a very happy and laughing Wai Lan and Ming. Anyone who hates Ming will hate her even more here. Why? Read on.
Wai Lan stopped laughing, Tak strolled to her and said "ARE YOU HAPPY! MY SON IS DYING! Why is it you won't let me be? Why your family must hold on to us and not let us be on our way? Why?" and Wai Lan angrily said "My Tong did not cause your son to be this way! You know who caused your son to be this way? HIM (as in god). HE caused your son to be this way because of what you did to my family. This is retribution! This is karma!"
Sorry for those who hates the K word, tried to avoid it but she did mean Karma.
"This is karma! Karma for all the bad things you've done!" and Tak angrily lets slipped "You know at least my son will be given a proper burial. At least he has a body to be buried. Your husband? Not even a body, you're not even sure if he is dead!!!" and Wai Lan alarmed Tak was volunteering something about what happened then didn't get to question him since Ming suddenly launched herself at him and cried very dramatically "Where is my father? What have you done to him? WHERE IS HE? WHERE IS MY FATHER?!!! TELL MEEEEEE!!!!!!!!" and Tak cooly said "You will ber very surprised by the actual outcome! The truth will stun you!!" as Chu urged him to leave and dragged him away as Wai Lan held onto a very emotional Ming who cried "WHERE IS FATHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Pause here.
Wing Tak, what is so stunning?! WHAT?! That he isn't dead?! Is that it?! Sorry for so many ?!
Anyway Ming oh Ming, why is she so darn emotional when
a. Wai Lan the actual wife who has a missing husband over 2 decades isn't
b. Ming was adopted AFTER Shing went missing
c. Ming has never ever seen Shing before
Why? That acting was not bad BUT it was totally inappropriate. Why everything about Natalie Tong is so dramatic? She cries dramatically, she laughs dramatically, she even eats dramatically, like everything is so hyped up with her, like a million times more. Why? I was very annoyed. She spoilt the scene because it should have been Wai Lan being hysterical AND Ming holding her back!! Wai Lan told her to calm down, which is so darn wrong!
At night Wai Lan was sitting and remembering the past (Tavia again-same scenes) and then Tong and Jeung came out with the rest (they move as ONE unit you see) and Jeung said "Mother, we know what happened. Ngan told us" as Tong said "Mother don't be bothered with what that Wing Tak said" and Wai Lan suddenly turned relaxed and said "Let me as you a question; your grandfather have always wanted a tough son who can run this school and yet he let me marry your father who was gentle and too kind hearted that he ended up being used. Do you know why?" and no one knew as Wai Lan smiled and said "Because your grandfather wanted me to be happy. Do you know why your father and I let your grandfather marry your stepgrandmother eventhough we both knew her temperament?" and no one knew why and she said "Because we wanted him to be happy. Everyone, I think it is time we accept the fact that your father is dead. After what Wing Tak said to me, my feeling is Shing is dead. I am sure that is what your father wanted for us all; to be happy. To accept the truth, not to be held hostage by what that Wing Tak is refusing to tell us, not to be imprisoned by uncertainties and just be liberated by the truth; that your father is dead" and everyone agreed as I think was it Tong or someone who said they will arrange for his plague to be made and put on the ancestral altar and was it Leung who said "We then go and eat a great meal at that restaurant!!!" and uncle said "I WILL PAY!!!" and everyone cheered.
Well, Wai Lan is right. BUT I am confused; when did Biu married Ho Fa? Because earlier she did mentioned she saw the students grew up and mind you, those students were very big so she must have married Biu a long time and my impression was she married Biu before Wai Lan married Shing. And now it seems it was much later, at least 6 years before. Who was Ho Fa? Biu's maid perhaps?
Meanwhile Man Kwan was dragged into the truck, as he cried "No! No! I am innocent! That Kwong wanted to kill me, it was in self defence! Self defence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and frankly I was shocked, thinking Man Kwan is toast? Meanwhile Tak and Chu at home and Chu was crying hard and she wanted to go to Man Kwan but Tak said "No! We can't go! We are the elders, he will suffer more if we the elders see him, this is the elders sending the young ones".
Pause here.
For those who doesn't understand the "bak tau yan sung hak tau yan" or simply the white haired individuals (elders) sending away the black haired individuals (young ones), there is a tradition, for the chinese where is a child were to die before his or her parents, the parents are forbidden to go to their funeral. Why? Simple. Not because it is a cold tradition but rather Chinese believes for the son to leave the parents first, it is an act of ultimate "bat hau" or not fillial. You're supposed to outlive your parents because you're supposed to take care of them. I know the child didn't mean to die first but it is the same thing. And if the parents go to the funeral to send the child on his or her last journey, in the afterlife, the child will suffer eternal damnation. So that's why Tak refused to let Chu go.
Chu cried "My son... my Man Kwan... my son...." and Tak held her tightly and said "Hopefully he will have an easy peaceful journey"
So unlike Tak to stand there and do nothing.
Meanwhile Ching was at the hospital balcony, looking at her watch and Tong was there and she was crying "Brother, sister misses you very much" and silently she cried and she rested her head on Tong's shoulder and cried hard. Tong was there like her pillar of strength.
At the execution site, Koos weren't there but the rest were and it was far away from public eye and a black bag was used to cover his face and frankly no one can see anything. In the end a shot was fired to I believe the face and that's that.
Chu saw the time, it was 3pm and she cried harder and basically half fainted as Tak held her tightly. But frankly I think he planned something because I doubt he will just stand there and cry just like that!
Ching saw the time and knew it was over. She was still tearful, then she wiped her tears and told Tong she will be alright. And then she looked at him hard and said seriously "You can leave. You've done too much for me, I don't deserve all that you've done for me" and Tong smiled and insisted on staying when Ching suddenly said "The truth is you saw my letter. You read it. I saw you burning the letter. Why? Why is it that my father has caused your family so much grief and so much pain, and yet here you are, burning the letter to protect me, to take away my burden of the revelation and take on that burden yourself. Why?" and Tong looked at her and goofily said "Well, because I want you to be happy. Let me tell you something. The other day my family was at our happiest after a very long time of mourning. We finally let go and accepted the fact that our father is dead. We officially made a plague and put it onto the alter, and then we went and have a fantastic dinner and it felt liberating. We are not going to be burdened by that feeling of lost and guilt anymore. We are free. And so should you" and Ching still cried as Tong gently wiped her tears from her cheeks, she looked at him and she stared at her.
Love! LOVE! L-O-V-E! LOVE! So gentle. Kinda beautiful too, that simple gesture of wiping her tears, kinda like declaration of love, her questioning her own worth when it comes to his attention and affection is also kinda like a declaration of love. I really like that last moment, staring at one another, wiping of tears. It would have been far better if she then hugged him tightly, that would mean there is a relationship. But as of now there is. I just find the lack of intimacy a bit frustrating.
Dead at night. Execution site and I knew it!! Man Kwan was hiding behind the execution platform, or rather underneath it and he digged his way up and ran away. Now we all know why so convenient a shot was fired into the face of the supposed Man Kwan. And why Tak was so calm. Chu obviously didn't know.
Story shifted gear to boringness.
Everyone having dinner, Bing Bing, Fong Fong and Cham were there as well as Fong Fong said "I have something to announce. Our business is getting better but the profit isn't much. Tong, remember I asked you for your list of suggestions?" and Tong gulped and said "Ermm.. well.. things have been pretty hectic lately so I didn't have time to do that" and Fong Fong laser eyed him and said "Well things have settled since. So when can I expect your report?" and Tong said "Soon... I will get to it" and as Fong Fong wanted to lecture Tong, Jeung announced to everyone he is dating Bing Bing. Fong Fong didn't look too pleased and everyone was happy for them except Ming who again started to get teary eyed and again NOBODY NOTICES HER AT ALL. Ming, he is YOUR brother! Your BROTHER! Get a hold of yourself! Get a grip!
Then everyone discussed on Bing Bing and Jeung's future as I think uncle who laughed and said "In the end it comes back to the family" and no one knew what he meant as he explained "Well I don't see Cham and Madam will be having a child so it is up to Bing Bing and if Bing Bing married Jeung, it means the business will come back to us eventually!" and Cham said "Who says we won't have children? We start straight away sir!" and everyone happily discussed a possible wedding as Ming cried and again no one noticed her. But someone did, Bing Bing and she stared at Bing Bing, with a very satisfied glare.
Fong Fong and Cham on the trishaw as Cham said "Don't lie to me, I saw your expression. You're disapproving of Jeung?" and Fong Fong surprisingly said something very shocking! "No, Jeung is a decent man and frankly, we both know Bing Bing doesn't deserve him, with her past..." and Cham said "They don't know, and her past will be a problem, you know how many she has fooled" and Fong Fong said "Hopefully Jeung will make her more mature and not be like she was. I just hope she doesn't hurt Jeung"...
Intriguing! Her sister saying that! Now what did she do? We all know she's a rotten apple, if not how we can see Ming dramatically hug our Jeung in the end?
Bing Bing knew her ex husband was following her and she ran into the shop and told Ming "Don't let a man by the name of ** who looks ...(as she described him) into this shop." and Ming asked "Why?" and Bing Bing harshly said "Just do as I say" and went in and Ming just shrugged. Inside Bing Bing saw Wai Lan and chatted with her good naturedly, definitely a different face when with Ming. Outside, yes Ming is an idiot but she didn't know when that ex husband tricked her into leading the way to Bing Bing when he said he wanted to be a supplier of the medicine and since Cham and Fong Fong were away, Bing Bing can make the decision. So in he went and the moment he saw her, she ignored him and he launched into an attack; "You think you can hide from me?!" and Bing Bing asked said to Leung "Can you escort this man out please? He has been disturbing me lately" and Leung did but the man said "I will say whatever I want to say and then I will leave!" and Ming knew she was duped and asked "You lied to me!" and the man said "I didn't come to see you not because I am afraid of you but because I went back home to get these 2 things; one is a marriage certificate! This Bing Bing is my legally married wife! She married me when she was 16!" and Bing Bing turned to Wai Lan and said "Please don't believe him! He is lying!" and everyone confused the man walked and showed them the wedding photo and Bing Bing said "No! It's not true! Not true at all!" and the man shouted "All I want is my money and jewelry back! Give them back to me or I will go to the press and reveal all!!" and then Jeung came out and pushed him to the wall and said "I told you to leave her alone!" and the man suddenly gentle said "Look, we are both men. I don't want you to be cheated too! Be careful of that woman! She is a temptress! She is a destroyer! She will destroy you when she has no more use for you! Look at me; I am the best example!!" and Jeung told him to get lost and as he left he said "I will be back! I will be back to reveal all and all of you better get ready with chairs because it will be a glorious tale of revelations!!" and he left and Bing Bing looked stickened as Jeung said "The truth is everyone, I knew Bing Bing was married. She married that man when she was 16 to help pay for family debts. She is the victim" and Ming looked at her with new understanding and Wai Lan didn't say anything as Uncle said "But why then did you deny you were married to him?" and Bing Bing said "Auntie (Wai Lan), I didn't admit because I was too shocked by his sudden appearance. All I can think of was to deny. I am sorry" and Jeung said "I don't mind her past, I hope you all won't either" and Leung said "Well brother if you don't mind, who are we to say anything?" and Wai Lan nodded and agreed and uncle just nodded as well and that was it as Jeung held Bing Bing who looked at him appreciately but giving Ming the death stare.
Alone with her sister who came back, Bing Bing said "Sister, you must help me! I can't face the Koos after what happened unless you help me with this lie" and Fong Fong said "But to ask your brother in law to lie, when we didn't do all that..." and Bing Bing suddenly very manipulative said "If it wasn't for brother in law, I wouldn't have been this bad. Father would have taught me well and not make me into this bad girl!" and Fong Fong said "I know I know, I am always feeling guilty over that. I will talk to husband" and Bing Bing said "And one more thing. Can you do something about that Ngan? I already told her not to let him in and yet she did. She purposely did that" and Fong Fong said "She doesn't seem to be that kind of girl, why would she do that?" and Bing Bing said "Isn't it obvious? She is in love with Jeung, she wants him for herself!" and Fong Fong said "Really? I never knew she was so manipulative. I will see what I can do..."
At night, Cham refused and said "How can I admit to something I never did?!" and Fong Fong said "Do it for me! Her reputation is important!" and Cham said "I can't lie to my own student! And I can't tell such a lie! I won't! She herself was materialistic, she wanted to ride in a car, she wanted money, the easy life, she herself married that man, we never asked her to do that, you were crying that day remember? Begging her to reconsider but she went ahead anyway and now she wants to put the blame on us?" and Fong Fong said "Please Cham, just do as I say, you do owe her..." and he said "Fine! I will think about it!"
Then Cham was before the Koos, and like a robot in a monotone voice he said "Yes I was heavily in debt and I was thrown into jail and was beaten until I vomitted blood. Bing Bing had to marry that man to save me, I ... I .." and he became increasingly dramatic as he said "I was the one who forced Bing Bing into a loveless marriage and married that abusive man!!" and he sounded reluctant as well, lying was diffiult and Fong Fong said "Yeah, it was our fault... please don't mind Bing Bing's past" and everyone smiled and said no problem and all was well as Ming also understood Bing Bing's predicament and as they left, Bing Bing only had eyes for Ming and narrowed her eyes in hatred.
Later Fong Fong approached the shop with Bing Bing and said to Jeung there that "I have an idea to promote our shop using you as our leading man. You and Bing Bing both shoot a calendar, to be distributed to customers, will promote the shop and you as the eventual winner of the 7 states grand champion!". Everyone was excited, and suddenly Uncle told Fong Fong to see something on the papers; it was Bing Bing and her ex's wedding picture! Now her reputation in tatters, Bing Bing very upset and Uncle said "We can't use her as our model. This is bad publicity" and Fong Fong reluctantly agreed and said "Fine, Bing Bing can't be our model. You! (Uncle) I don't care, find a pretty model quick. We are still going ahead with this calendar project" and Bing Bing walked away dejected whilst Ming actually looked at her with sympathy.
Later Fong Fong approached the shop with Bing Bing and said to Jeung there that "I have an idea to promote our shop using you as our leading man. You and Bing Bing both shoot a calendar, to be distributed to customers, will promote the shop and you as the eventual winner of the 7 states grand champion!". Everyone was excited, and suddenly Uncle told Fong Fong to see something on the papers; it was Bing Bing and her ex's wedding picture! Now her reputation in tatters, Bing Bing very upset and Uncle said "We can't use her as our model. This is bad publicity" and Fong Fong reluctantly agreed and said "Fine, Bing Bing can't be our model. You! (Uncle) I don't care, find a pretty model quick. We are still going ahead with this calendar project" and Bing Bing walked away dejected whilst Ming actually looked at her with sympathy.
Ming and Wai Lan going to visit a patient, taking trains, Ming walked away to buy snacks when Wai Lan saw a very old feeble looking man and she recalled the past and as the train moved, she cried out "Pai Jeung!!" and she ran after the train as Pai Jeung looked back, surprised to see someone knew his name as she kept crying "Pai Jeung! Pai Jeung! Pai Jeung!"
Why can't she said "Pai Jeung, I am Wai Lan, where the hell did you go for 2 decades you bastard!!!!"
Ming ran to her dramatically and Wai Lan said to go home! At home someone asked "Are you sure it was Pai Jeung?" and Wai Lan said "He may look different but the eyes, the mannerisms, those are of Pai Jeung. It is him!" and Jeung asked "Mother I can't remember the past, what is the connection between father and Pai Jeung and what happened?" and Wai Lan explained what we already know and Kuen said hopefully "Mother, if he is alive despite being missing for so many years, could another miracle happen; that father is still alive?" and Wai Lan didn't know how to answer as I believe Tong said "But why was he missing for so long?" or something like that as Jeung said "Let's just go to the trains and take the same train then!" but was it Tong who said "That's a futile attempt. The train stops at so many stops, which one did he stop at? And even if we find out, where will he be in such a big city?" and it is true. Someone said "Since he saw mother and probably recognised her, hopefully he will know how to come here and find us". I can't remember the last scene but I remember they were wondering the same question as we are at this point; why didn't Pai Jeung reveal himself sooner and can't he come back to find them since they never moved? Was is the stunning truth that Wing Tak cryptically said?
Next episode, Man Kwan returns to the grand championship but as a muay thai fighter lookalike! I swear he looked like one! Oh Man Kwan, your father must have bribed a lot of people, why can't you just run far far away?
I have to say the last scene was dumb. Why? Who would believe anyone is capable of beating Cham, a master of iron fist into vomitting? How come Tong so smart never wondered HUH?!
What a pity Bing Bing turns out to be rotten and even her sister said so. It was interesting to see her sister thinks her own sister is not good enough for Jeung! Anyway just 4 more episodes so this lie won't be too long anyway.
Performances wise, the usual. Nothing more to say except 4 scenes I love;
the one where Wing Tak resolutely ignored Ching as Chu begged, Wing Tak holding Chu as she mourned for Man Kwan that I kinda pity Wing Tak for a moment until later scene we all know why he was so calm, Ching and Tong's scene in the hospital and then in the restaurant. One united in grief, the other in love. I love how Ching and Tong are always so damn polite with one another, the fact each family is the sworn enemy of the other doesn't even bother them. They're how Romeo and Juliet should be like.
Ahhh Jacky actually did quite well in the prison scene as he trembled in fear although his brand of trembling means who body tremble. But at least an improvement. Kenneth is back to his old goofy self, and somebody please tell Natalie, you don't need to be dramatic to play dramatic.
A pity Nancy is again the one who will never ever get the guy. Why can't she later repent and become good again, like I am hoping for Man Kwan but from the looks of it, me myself becoming an actress in TVB seems more plausible that Nancy or Man Kwan repenting and being good again. It is almost inevitable Tak will either die in the hands of Jeung who will fight him or Jeung fight him until he becomes crazy. Man Kwan will be back in jail but you can't execute a man for the same crime twice. And Ming will end up with Jeung.
BO-RING.
April 21, 2011 at 6:54 PM
"Next episode, Man Kwan returns to the grand championship but as a muay thai fighter lookalike! I swear he looked like one! Oh Man Kwan, your father must have bribed a lot of people, why can't you just run far far away?"
Because he promised his rapist sifu that he will kick Jeung to death. He still wanted to do that.