A Fistful Of Stances [2010][TVB][E]

I must apologise for my previous recaps if they seem simplistic because after watching a 3 min recap in this final of all final episodes, I realise I missed out on so many good stuff, the dialogue especially and I blame that on my laziness on not writing notes as I watch and my memory can only remember so much. I believe even with my recap, that is knowing every spoiler there is, you can still watch this series and discover some stuff I never write about or completely forgot to recap, so there will be some minor surprises.

Anyway this is the end. This is the final. And may I say, I am a bit disappointed again with the storytelling. But let me recap my prediction from episode 24;

1. Jeung and Ming reunited dramatically and falls in love.

2. Man Kwan paralysed.

3. Wing Tak got badly hurt by Jeung and when he found out Man Kwan paralysed or killed himself or whatever, he became insane. Hence a real use for that mental institution we keep hearing about.

4. Yau and Yan together.

5. Kuen and her boyfriend got together again when his family accepts her

6. Ching will leave for awhile and Tong feeling dejected but with a promise she might come back later when her guilty conscience is abated; either that or Ching stays with Tong. I suspect she will leave, too ashamed with what her father did.

7. Chu goes to jail.

8. Wing Tak is not crazy will get executed and even when about to be executed he still thinks he is right

9. Au Yeung Biu pharmacy becomes a successful business and thus spreading the spirit of the martial arts

10. Probably a few years has passed, and last scene we will have narration or flashback of Au Yeung Biu expouding his philosophies and some flashbacks and obligatory Tavia Yeung shot.

I can reveal now that I got 1, 2 and 9 right. I got 3, 8 and 10 half right. I am happy 5 didn't happen. 4, 6 and 7 I got completely wrong, which is a rather nice surprise but strange as well especially 6.

Ok, so let's recap, or however much I can remember. Really not on the sequence of events but rather what was said.

And so we have 3 minutes recap of Fong Fong and Tong getting really worked up over the betrayal of fellow brothers and especially Pai Jeung. When no one seems to be listening anymore, and Tong knew all was lost, he was so dejected I wanted to give him a hug for at least trying. But Fong Fong, still the bravest of them all pulled another table top (!!!!) and everyone stopped as Tong I believe was the one who scolded the police chief (I know he was commissioner, then I said chief, in the end I think he is probably police chief, anyway just know he is the no. 1 in Guangzhou police force) and the chief threatened to shoot Tong but Tong said "You knew that bastard shot my father, but you did nothing. Now if you want to shoot me, SHOOT! I dare you to shoot me in front of everyone! SHOOT!!!" and the chief did nothing, shocked by Tong's outburst as Tong went to Pai Jeung and everyone and said "He kidnapped your son didn't he? He did something to your family didn't he? Everyone, my sister was kidnapped too. I don't even know what she is and I was told not to come here, if not they will kill her. But I am not afraid, because I know if I reveal all this bastard's bad deeds today, the press will know, everyone will know, and no way he will kill my sister and escape. We can't forever be bullied and threatened by him. Stand up everyone. Tell everyone what he did! Come on!" as Fong Fong also urged "Say something, tell the press, tell them who they took to threaten you!" as Tong urged emotionally "Say something! Come on! Everyone! Anyone! Say something!!" but everyone just cried or shocked or numbed as Tak sat there smirking. Tong and Fong Fong looked at everyone and Tong especially felt dejected, he felt really lost and was in tears when suddenly Pai Jeung, crying very hard walked forward and emotionally said "My son... was arrested for robbery. I was told not to come here and say unfavourable things but I can tell you now that bastard Wing Tak KILLED MY BROTHER KIN SHING!!!!" and then chairman walked forward and said "My young son was kidnapped and I too received a similar call" and slowly all came forward and said the same thing, that someone close was arrested or they themselves was arrested and received such a call from the police. Tak felt sorta shocked as police chief said "What a mess! Everyone follow me to the police station! I will investigate this!!" but no one moved when suddenly the people parted and it was Wai Lan, Ching and Yau, Wai Lan walked right up to Tak and angrily scolded "2 decades ago you tried to put me into the mental institution to shut me up, now I found out you did the same to your wife, Chu! How can you be so heartless, to even do this to your own wife?!" as Yau came "Father, let mother go!!" as Ching said "Father, Yau and I wanted to visit mother, but we couldn't get in, we saw her in a locked room on 4th floor and she was crying to be released! Father, how can you do this to mother? I know why! Because mother shot Koo Kin Shing, but she saw you killed him! That was why you locked mother up!" as Tak walked to them and said "How dare you say this? Whatever it is, we talk at home!" as Ching and Yau refused, Tak said "I am your father!! How can you stand with the Koos? They don't mean well! They want to hurt us!" as Ching and Yau were dragged to leave which they refused angrily and Tong stepped in front of Ching to protect her from being pulled and Tak decided to leave on his own when it was the rest of the Koos, led by a very angry looking Jeung who shouted "WHERE IS AH NGAN?!!!!! TELL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and yes he did shouted that way whilst everyone shouted "Where is Ngan!! Where is Ngan??" and Tak didn't reply and wanted to leave and Jeung gave him one strong iron fist punch to his chest and Tak flew back like really flew back and fell onto the floor, vomitting blood as I am happy to see Yau and Ching ran to him crying "DADDY!!".

He is still their father after all, so their concern is to me normal and a nice touch.

Jeung ran to Tak, grabbed him as Ching tried to shield Tak and Jeung angrily said "Where is Ngan? WHERE?!" and Tak laughed as he said "Do you know a person with water can survive for at most 7 days, without water probably just 3 days? I have her locked up somewhere you can never ever find her" and he smiled and Jeung so angry wanted to punch him to death as Ching and Yau tried to shielf Tak but Tong and everyone stopped Jeung. Then 2 guys in suit came and said "Wing Tak, we are special investigation unit from Nanking. We have information that you were involved in the murder of 3 people, you're to follow us to assist us in the investigation" as Fong Fong said "Wing Tak, you think you're the only one who knows people in high places? I do too!! I will get you, you pale faced man!" and you know Wing Tak hated that nickname and so quickly grabbed Fong Fong by the neck and said "DON'T CALL ME THAT!!" and Fong Fong couldn't breath and police chief suddenly feel very faint and Tak kept asking for his gun which he almost gave but fell to the floor and Tak was reaching for the gun but I think Jeung, Tong quickly punched/fought him and Tak was probably too injured and old to fight back and so released Fong Fong and he was led away whilst Ching and Yau were in tears. Fong Fong declared "Don't worry, if he knows where Ngan is, these people will beat the information out of him".

Newspaper headlines time, all the kidnapped or arrested people were found and reunited except for Ming, no one knew where she was, so it was 7 days, then 10 days and finally 14 days!!

14 days!!

Tong was sniffing his meds, Uncle was lounging on the chair, Leung was rubbing his feet, everyone was tired when Jeung walked in and saw everyone sitting around and said to Leung "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be looking at ** area?" and Leung said "I did and I sprained my ankle, I am so tired, haven't had a rest for days" and he went to uncle and asked "Weren't you supposed to find your high ranking friends to exert influence in finding Ngan?" and Uncle said "I haven't rested for day. I am just resting for awhile..."

And Jeung angrily said "Uncle, if I knew as many high ranking friends, I wouldn't have asked you to do that! You (Leung), you (uncle), everyone, Ngan is somewhere, alone, without a drop of water, she is probably afraid, she is probably begging for help, and you all just sit here and do nothing!!!" and uncle offended leapt up and said "How dare you say things like that? You think you're the only one who cares for Ngan?!" as Jeung probably said more to himself "Why is it that such a nice sweet girl is faced with such obstacles? Her father abandoned her, she was raped by that monster, she is in love with someone and yet can't bring herself to tell that man, and now she is kidnapped, why, why is it always her? She has suffered enough!"

Yeah lor, why ah? I don't want her, why not Kuen huh? Jeung, ask TVB writers lar!

Then Jeung vowed to keep looking for her when Tong ran to him and said "Brother, you haven't had a rest for days! You musn't go now, it is late now anyways!" and Wai Lan went up to Jeung and in one moment of motherliness (I mean she was totally silent during this scene), she held Jeung and said "Everyone, we all never expected your brother would be back but he did. Jeung, I believe in miracles. We will find Ngan!" but Jeung wasn't convinced.

At night alone, the waste of time scene, we see Jeung remembering absolutely everything about Ming and with that wasted 5 minutes of what should have been better used to show us how Ming was coping.

Tak in prison and guard came and said Police Chief wanted to see him. So he went, dressed in his suit and saw police chief in hospital garden, on wheelchair. Tak rushed to him and said "I have a plan! I can sell my company, and my mansion and I still have $1million (wah so rich!!), I can use $10,000 or even $20,000 to bribe them.." but the chief said "Tak, I have been hospitalised. Doctors told me I have diabetes and my leg has to be amputated up to the knee. I have been reading a lot of books about buddhism and I realise we were wrong. Tak, we did so many bad things, we must repent" but Tak was busy mumbling about bribing this and that when chief said "Tak, repent. Tell me, where is the girl Ah Ngan? Tak... tell me where is she...we must not hurt anyone else anymore!" but Tak snapped and refused to talk and demanded to leave as the chief cried out "Tak, repent! Where is Ah Ngan?!"

Tak in prison. Ching came and said "Father today is your birthday. We obtained special permission for you to come home for dinner with mother" and Tak feeling very happy reached home with guards everywhere, sat at dinner table and saw Chu mumbling to herself. Tak asked "Chu, this is your favourite, take..." as he gave her a piece of chicken I think when Chu looked up, saw Tak and quickly flew into craziness as she kept saying "I am so sorry! I didn't mean to shoot you!!" as he ran after her and she was backed into a corner, quickly kneel down and kow tow as she cried "Please don't hurt my children, please don't hurt my husband, he is a good man, take me! Take me!! Please don't hurt my children!" as Tak was very confused and emotionally asked Ching "What happened to her?!" as Ching cried "What happened? You! You put her into the mental institution, mother couldn't cope! Now she sees every man as Koo Kin Shing!" and Tak said "But I asked Dr. *** to take care of her!" as Ching said "Dr. *** was arrested! Mother was left alone in the hands of other people!" and I can imagine Chu was being zapped, and such so she must have became crazy under those treatments and Yau or Ching said "You're the reason she is this way!" as Chu ran away and Yau ran after her as Tak scolded "Ching, you're the doctor! How do you take care of your mother until she is this way!!" and some people never learn! Ching angrily walked away as the guards said "I suppose you can't finish your dinner now, so let's go!" but Tak kept saying "I want to have dinner with my wife!" and tried to escape but was held down as he this time said tearfully "I want to have dinner with my wife..."

Insane. I kept thinking he will go insane. Poor Chu.

Tak in prison. I suppose by this time more than 14 days has passed. Guard said "The police chief wants to see you" and again he went to the hospital in suit when the guard said "Actually someone else wants to see you" and he looked over and saw Man Kwan in hospital gown on a wheelchair. Shocked Tak asked "Man Kwan, what are you doing here? Why are you on a wheelchair?" as Man Kwan whispered "This is just for show father. I have managed to pay off some guards and we will be escaping" as Tak asked "But how?" and Man Kwan whispered "I plan to use that girl you kidnapped as bargain. You tell me where she is and I will get her and use her to bargain our way out" as Tak said "Good idea! Good idea! Yes, you go get her. She is at that abandoned warehouse near the ***" and Man Kwan said "Is that the only abandoned warehouse there?" and Tak said "Yes" and suddenl Man Kwan shouted "KOO YUE JEUNG! KOO YUE TONG! AH NGAN IS AT THAT ABANDONED WAREHOUSE NEAR ***. IT IS THE ONLY WAREHOUSE THERE!" and Jeung and Tong rushed out and then rushed away as Tak stared at his son with disbelief and said "Why? Man Kwan, why did you betray me?!" but he wasn't listening when Man Kwan explained gently "Father, this is not fake. I am paralysed. The doctors told me I took too many of those pills, I already felt faint in my legs but by the time I reached HK, I had to be hospitalised and that was when I found out I will spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair" and Tak cried "Why did you come back! You will be shot! You will be shot!!" and Man Kwan said "Father, I know I will be executed but those times at the hospital, alone, I realise I miss my family, I miss sisters and mother and you. I can't be alone. And I realise what I did in the past was wrong. I deserve my punishment, therefore I came back, I am ready to face the music" as Tak said "They influenced you didn't they? Those Koos.." as Man Kwan said "I came back voluntarily. Koo Yue Tong and Au Yeung Wai Lan came to see me and they were right when they said I need to bear the responsibility for my actions. That's why I agreed to help them to trick you into telling me where Ah Ngan is. Father, we must repent... we have done so many wrongs..." but Tak was beyond listening, even when Man Kwan was begging him tearfully.

Pause here.

What a great scene of redemption for Man Kwan. I am so very happy with this end. I thought Man Kwan was so brave to finally know he was wrong, and he came back knowing he will die. I however would have wished to see the scene of how he came back, how Tong persuaded him. There isn't much interaction between Tong and Jeung that is not bordering full on fight so would have loved that scene with Tong as his advisor. I mean if Tong marries Ching, Tong will be his brother. And imagine Man Kwan growing up under the influence of someone so positive and so good like Tong, he wouldn't have turned out rotten. Unfortunately this series was in a rush and deemed the reunion between Jeung and Ming more dramatic than an even more poignant scene between Tong and Man Kwan. What a waste of a good story.

So Tong and Jeung rushed to that warehouse and as I predicted, Tong suddenly couldn't breath and urged Jeung to go alone. Well, drama opportunity.

He arrived, and my sister said how can anyone go anywhere to somewhere most certainly locked up without hammer or axe is beyond her but in Jeung's defence, he was in a hurry. How can anyone survived more than 7 days without water??

So there he was facing a steel door and he was busy pushing and kicking when I casually said why don't he use his iron fist and he promptly did (I AM GOOOOOD!!) and as he iron fist that steel door, we finally see Ming in her condition that is an empty bowl and her on the floor, chapped lips, but not dead and she knew it was Jeung at the door and Jeung was beating till his palm was bleeding and Ming which is pretty scary to watch began to smile....what a love story eh? Anyway door fell, he rushed to her, dramatically carried her away and she was smiling.

At hospital, Jeung held her hand with concern and suddenly everyone rushed in and Ching said Ming was ok as everyone pushed past Jeung to feed Ming with porridge and Jeung could only stare at Ming with relieve and smiled as Ming smiled back, each having eyes only for the other.

Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Wing Tak in prison, alone, suddenly panicking, ripped out the bedsheet and hanged himself.

And so the papers reported his death.

Meanwhile, Man Kwan in a wheelchair being led to the courts as Ching and Yau tearfully cried "Brother" and as he looked back. Everyone were writing letters for clemency for Man Kwan for his role in saving Ming and in the end he was spared and was instead sentenced to 20 years in prison. In prison, Man Kwan inherited his father's factory and money and we are shown through headlines Man Kwan signing some papers, and it was said he donated his company to the local hospital, and Tong was there to oversee that and smiling, he patted Man Kwan on his shoulder as Man Kwan looked back and smiled happily.

AND I WAS RIGHT!!! Kidd showed me a spoiler picture, that is Man Kwan looking up and smiling sweetly with a hand clad in black cheong sam on his shoulder and I guessed that was Tong and I was RIGHT! Yeah!! Would have loved a dialogue scene. I really would have loved to see Man Kwan and Tong interact in a friendly manner. And I can imagine when Man Kwan is released probably earlier than 20 years later, Tong and Ching married, Tong will take care of Man Kwan. Again I believe Tong will be a positive influence in his life and he will probably do something good with the remainder of his life. I am very happy Man Kwan found redemption.

I am however disappointed till death Tak didn't know he was wrong but I suppose that is a good ending. Tak was always unreasonable and perhaps it will be his children to give him that redemption that he himself didn't give.

Did I mention how happy I am with Man Kwan's ending? Yeah!

Anyway everything settled, some time has passed, we see Jeung winning the grand championship probably held a year later since the last one Man Kwan won, we see a celebration for opening a new store and it was Tong narrating as he was looking at everyone like a protector he is; "Father, I know you always said you were never a good businessman or good martial art artiste but I am sure you will be very proud with brother Jeung. He has proven himself a great fighter. And we are now opening our branches, business is getting better everyday" and we see Jeung and Ming eyeing each other. Shouldn't they be married already? And we see Fong Fong, uncle, everybody.

"Grandfather, I was 4 when you were murdered. Frankly I could hardly remember you but I remember the values you taught me and I especially like your favourite saying;

修合無人見 , 存心有天知

Good deeds may go unnoticed by others,

but the Heaven recognises the sincerity of the doer

And we strive to do just that. We are all well..."

I think he ended with that word. Anyway can't remember.

Last scene, was worried ended up with Jeung and Ming but in a strong indication who should have been at the front of the poster, we see Tong and Ching, Ching cycling, Tong next to her as Ching sighed and Tong asked "What's the matter? Something wrong? With auntie?" and Ching said "No, mother is fine. It's just work. I have a very serious problem with a patient" and Tong said "What problem?" and Ching said "How do you handle a patient who refuses to listen to you? I mean he treats the hospital like he owns it, he comes and goes as he likes, cuts lines, refuses to take medicine on time..." and Tong said "What? There's such patient? Well, ignore him! Ditch him!" and Ching said "I can't. Worse still, when we have lunches and dinners, he never pays, I am always the one paying" and Tong suddenly realised she was talking about him and he smiled sheepishly and said "Well.. I ermm..." and Ching suddenly stood close, closed her eyes and tilt her face and Tong stepped forward and closed his eyes as he slowly approaches her for a kiss when Ching drew back and said "And you smell terrible!" and she walked away smiling as Tong said "What? No I don't! And I don't even Hiu that much anymore! Used to be every 3 days now 3 months passes without any incident! Come on Ching, why not like this? I pay for lunches and dinners from now on, everyday, for the next 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, forever? Ok? Agreed?" as Ching smiled and ignored him and Tong chasing afte her, trying to get her to say something.

And there the series ends, with this happy cute scene.

THE END.

Wow. The ending is a bit uneventful but you know what, I love the ending! I love it it ended so cute, so happy, so positive. Ok, so I thought Biu would be narrating but I was being stupid. Biu's dead! So I was happy Tong narrated the ending. He has always been the big brother in the family so the scene of him looking at everyone was as if like Biu looking at everyone, he was the caretaker. Even Jeung listens to him. And I was expecting Ching to run away and come back later due to guilt but I think her breaking point was at home during dinner and how her father reacted to her mother's condition, so I would think whatever love and patience Ching had for Tak, it ended there. So why should she go anyway? It's not her fault! So yes I am happy she stayed. I would have liked to see Ming married to Jeung since at least a year has passed. I am also happy to see Kuen never reunited with that wimp but of course that story of hers was a distraction anyway. No news on about Yan and Yau but I supposed they will end up together anyway. I can't remember if there was an obligatory Tavia Yeung scene in the end.

As for Tak, I suppose his ending was also uneventful, almost like an afterthought, a side note and in restrospect that is appropriate. Such a selfish character should not be given a grand send off, much like how Tavia's Kam Ling in Beyond The Realm Of Conscience didn't deserve a grand death. I still find Tak's story very badly written. Why did he stay? Why didn't he leave? My only conclusion is he thinks he is right and that he will get away. It is always everyone else's fault, never his and even in death he needs to control how he dies. What a control freak.

Chu I suppose is still crazy. She may have participated in Shing's death but she I suppose paid her dues in the end.

Man Kwan's ending is one satisfying ending which I have explained in detail, but how I wish those precious minutes spent on Jeung and Ming, a pair I never liked could be better spent on Man Kwan or at least how Ming was coping in the warehouse. I find this episode having a good story but very badly told, like skipping essential details and giving us waste of time fillers, much like Moonlight Resonance was.

But it is in the end a good ending.

Performance wise, I was very impressed with how Kenneth Ma handled that confrontation scene at the banquet. The surprise, the hurt, the insistence, the pain, the realisation, the betrayal, the anguish, the threats, even the shouting of "SHOOT!!" were all well done! In fact I like him so much in that scene than in almost the entire series put together but for once, he didn't pout. And I love the last scene with him and Selena, him looking handsome in that white cheongsam, and he was wearing one I believe, I wasn't imagining it I think. In fact I remember thinking thank you TVB for ending it with that cheongsam and his hair perfectly gelled into place and his handsome face. That is the memory I like to remember of Koo Yue Tong. I kinda miss him now. This is a great character, burdened only by bad writing. I may not like Kenneth in it, and I have my reasons, but at the end when the series finished, I can't imagine Koo Yue Tong with someone else's face. No doubt someone else, who is a better actor, etc will make this character even better but in retrospect everytime I get annoyed with him for pouting, I need only remember that white cheongsam and I just forget all my criticism. Kenneth Ma now has a secret weapon against me; but please don't start just acting in man chor or around that period sort of series!

Kevin Cheng didn't suck, he was all serious, all angry in here and I am so happy to see Jeung back because for 3 episodes he was Shing, and now Jeung is back.

Natalie Tong just so weird with that smile making Ming such a weird girl. Sorry but I never caught on to this pair nor her performance. She doesn't suck but the writing just kills what is essentially a rather competent performance except for her emotional outbursts of epic proportions. She really overacts or rather is so dramatic.

Yuen Qiao is wasted, her Wai Lan is already not there, her performance just doesn't have depth.

Selena Li is cute, she did that emotional scene with Dominic at home shall I say, badly. Yes, badly. Why? I couldn't hear her. Some lines were so muted, because she was busy crying. She really need to adopt Tavia brand of crying for that scene; cry loud, speak louder. Shout in fact. But her last scene was cute. She makes such a fine pair with Kenneth. And I do think she is more suited for light hearted roles, because she just seem so fluffy and nice and sugary sweet. She is competent but nothing exceptional.

Angel Chiang fared better for whatever little scene she has. I find her a better actress than Selena, better at handling more emotional scene and she can play angry. I hope she gets to play a spoilt princess or some warrior princess, she can look rather fierce.

Kara Hui did well, nothing more I can say.

Dominic Lam is bogged down by a badly written villain, if not he I would say did well within the confines of this character. I am not saying he is a bad actor, he is a competent one, but I feel Tak is such a badly developed character, more than half the series he did very little, and when he did do something I find all that so illogical. So how much Dominic could have input into the character is not important since the character itself is flawed.

The rest are as usual, ok with a special mention to the awesome Angela Tong. I never appreciated her, will probably appreciate her just this time, but she really made Fong Fong into an awesome character, and Fong Fong is my favourite female character. Would have wished Tong fell for her! Anyway love her character, love her performance. Should have won something for this performance.

And last but not least, Jacky Heung. I must say, his performance in this episode was fantastic. True! Of course he was supposed to be paralyzed but I saw his legs moving, notwithstanding that, for an actor I kept saying terrible, horrible, awful, he gave a competent performance. I think he played the repetent Man Kwan very well, there was regret, there was repentence, there was pain and in the end that simple scene of him signing some papers, his smile was so boyish and so cute. I dare say Man Kwan is happily in prison! Anyway Jacky Heung improved steadily throughout. He is still terrible if compared to others but as compared to himself, I really like his performance in here.

Anyway thanks for reading my episodic thoughts. I am glad I stuck by this and continued writing. Do feel free to continue to comment since the comment box is still opened.

As for the review proper, I think I will just end with a summary in a short post.