{update} New Header

I got tired of the SSSS header with Kenta, and now here's a simple one featuring Linda. I really love this picture from the AME website, but I can't seem to find any other ones with her wearing the same dress on the site. D: Oh wells. 

I know I said I would write out a TC review, but I forgot. hehe Now it's been too long and I forgot most of the stuff I had to say. It was going to be about how Sheung Hei's character went from being my favorite to being a joke anyways, haha. 

Also, I was excited to start watching Friendly Fire and Missing You. FF is great so far, and I love all the characters. I especially like Sammy's Po Ti sir. haha He's too cute. Also, I was really excited for Missing You and the cases, but I was halfway through the first episode and found it too boring for my tastes. I mean, I like Linda, Jason, and Rams. I really want to watch the Raymond Wong and Elaine Yiu scenes, and there's Helena Law, one of my favorite veterans. But it just doesn't suit my tastes. Oh well, it also seems like not a lot of other people are watching it either. 

{tvb} Pang Sam Shun Character Appreciation

I'll get around to writing a final thoughts post on The Confidant, but first here's my thoughts on one of the best characters, Pang Sam Shun. 

     

In the beginning, Pang Sam Shun was a horrible person; he bullied the other eunuchs and maids to get what he wanted. Since his uncle, Chan Fook, was the Grand Eunuch, Sam Shun could flaunt his power around. However, as time went by, viewers learned that he was in fact, a good person who was loyal to the Qing rule. I admit that in the beginning, I was glad to see Sam Shun get punished by the princess for picking on Sheung Hei. I was angry at him for causing Sin Yung's miscarriage and was looking forward to his doom. However, after various events and the teachings of the princess (the three questions he had to ask himself), he turned over a new leaf. He made friends for the first time in his life with Lin Ying and Sheung Hei, and after that, became part of the brotherhood that also included On Tak Hoi and Tim Sau.

 

I think out of all the characters, Sam Shun was the most well written, and also my favorite. Honestly, before Sheung Hei turned into some love sick fool and did ooc actions, he was my favorite. However, he became unlikable after falling in love with the princess, and Sam Shun eventually became my favorite character. I liked his uneasy friendship with Lin Ying, and how he was so loyal to the Emperor. He used to follow his uncle's orders, but afterwards learned how to think on his own. It was sad how little scenes there were of the five brothers before it was broken up, and I wish there were more. 

I think this was the first time that I went from hating a character so much to loving them, and I hope TVB writes more characters like Sam Shun into their series. Power is a great actor, and it's just too bad that he didn't win Best Supporting Actor with Sam Shun. 

{tvb} Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles Final Thoughts

The title Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles means that although the wealthy has resources and opportunities, there are still restraints in place that prevent them from doing what they want. After watching the whole series, I think that this title is more apt than Prominent Family as it correctly describes the cast of characters. 

Well, there's too many characters to write about and I forgot some of the points I had to say, so I'll just write  down a few sentences for each of the characters.

Chung Family 

Chung Cheuk Man is a jerk, but I still felt sorry for him in the end. Damian portrayed him very well, and the scene when Sum Lan died was heart breaking. 

I have to admit, I didn't like Sum Lan in the beginning because she was mean to Chi Kwan, but her character probably suffered the most. She had to watch her husband marry three other women, her daughter in law slept with another man, and the family was almost broken. Although she was paralyzed for the few remaining episodes, Mary Hon did a wonderful job.

Yee Yin finally got her freedom, but she didn't appear in the last few episodes, so it was like she was forgotten. I liked Idy's portrayal, much better than when she was in Catch Me Now.

Elena did a great job with Yee Fong, especially during the trial scene. It's sort of weird how some man would court her so soon after she divorced Cheuk Man, though. 

Chi Kwan was a strong, independent character, but she was too in love with Cheuk Man. I would have liked it if she didn't agree to marry Cheuk Man again, but people have their flaws. Also, it may be my bias, but I think Tavia is the only current fa dan able to play this role. 

It's unbelievable what a good guy Kai Sun is. Kenneth gets another good guy role again, but he's good at it. I just wish Kai Sun would man up and beat up Mok Shui a few times. 

In the beginning, I actually thought Kai Yip was a gentleman, especially how he treated Choi Yuet at first. Of course, his character has his flaws, but I felt sorry for him the whole time. The scene where he poured out his heart and then ran away from Damian was heart breaking. 

Ho Yee didn't suffer much in comparison to the rest of her family and there wasn't that much of a focus on her. She's a cute character, though.

For the second half of the series, I forgot that Yee Fong's children existed. I bet the rest of the family did, too.

Others

I thought I would love Siu Yau forever, but her character took a change for the worst. It was a weird transition for her to cheat on Kai Sun, but I guess the scriptwriter wanted to move the plot along...Rebecca did well for her first role, though, and I anticipate her next series. 

Let's just say that I was not glad that Muk Shui lived in the end. 

I liked Adrian Chau as Tat Chi. It was sort of unrealistic how unwilling he was to change for Ho Yee, but their relationship was sweet anyways. 

Ben did a great job with Chai Yat Fai as always. It was unexpected of Yat Fai and Yee Yin not to end up together though. 

It seems Siu Yu was forgotten at the end, too. Bella Lam is really cute haha. 

{music} Wang Leehom - 12 Zodiacs

I haven't done a music post in quite awhile. Here's Leehom's new song, 十二生肖 (12 Zodiacs)! Although I don't really dig those glasses (they make his nose look big LOL) he looks cute as always. :D Plus, Jackie Chan dancing with Leehom is the funniest thing ever. haha 

{tvb} SSSS Ep 10-28 & The Confidant Ep 1-19 Thoughts

Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles

The series is enjoyable, albeit a little draggy. The main storyline that concerns Arthur Chung Cheuk Man (Damian Lau) and the building project is uninteresting to me. Although he is smart and calculating, I do not like how he deceives Chi Kwan (Tavia Yeung) and his son, Kai Sun (Kenneth Ma) into thinking that he's doing it to help the mui jai (slave girls) when in fact it is just to benefit himself. Granted, that doesn't make him a bad person, but it's sad when Chi Kwan thinks that he is doing it to help her. I also dislike that Master Fok (Sek Sau) blames Lester's (Stefan Wong) death on the Chung family. I imagine some more drama will be coming from his conflicts with Cheuk Man. 

A storyline I prefer to the business one is the one concerning Yee Yin (Idy Chan), Cheuk Man, Chai Yat Fai (Ben Wong), and in a way, Chi Kwan as well. It is surprising how wishy washy Yee Yin is to regarding her love life. She tells Cheuk Man that she does not love Chai Yat Fai anymore, but later when she hears he got beat up, she is willing to drop everything to go visit him. I don't think that she is truly in love with either of them. It feels more like she feels guilt towards the both of them. Anyways, I'm glad that Yee Yin and Chi Kwan are good friends. Chi Kwan learns more about Cheuk Man while observing the conflicts, and Yee Yin has someone to help her during her hard times. 

I also enjoy watching Siu Yau (Rebecca Zhu) and Kai Sun together. So far, Siu Yau is such a sweet character, and Kai Sun is also such a good man and loving husband. Muk Shui (Ron Ng) comes back and just has to ruin everything, though. After he comes out of his coma, it's so obvious that he is faking losing his memory. I've got to hand it to Ron, though, because he shows elements of Muk Shui onscreen when nobody is looking, and so only viewers could tell that Muk Shui is only pretending to be mentally challenged. Although I greatly dislike his character, I'm looking forward to how this storyline plays out. 

And last but not least, I just have to say that I love Ho Yee (Sire Ma) and Tat Chi (Adrian Chau) together. 

The Confidant

I am loving this series right now, after spending a few days to watch from the beginning to episode 19. I really loved the beginning, especially the Jing Ren palace and how Lady Yuen (Selena Li) and the eunuchs and maids interacted with each other. The beginning really made me dislike Empress Dowager Chee Hei (Michelle Yim), but as the episodes passed, I've come to like her. I just don't enjoy the politics scenes or the ones with Empress Dowager Chee On (Maggie Siu), though. The eunuch group of Li Lin Ying (Wayne Lai), On Tak Hoi (Raymond Cho), Sheung Hei (Raymond Wong), Pang Sam Shun (Power Chan), and Tin Sau (Edwin Siu) is especially cute to watch. I didn't like Pang Sam Shun in the beginning, especially when he bullied Sheung Hei and Lin Ying, but he wasn't a bad person. I could tell that he changed after he caused Sin Yung (Nancy Wu) to miscarry. 

I don't particularly care for the Emperor (Oscar Leung) or his empress troubles, even though I am glad that Oscar is finally getting screentime. I actually liked the kid emperor story with how Lin Ying helps him know about the Empress Dowager Chee Hei's love for him. I don't like the Princess (Aimee Chan) either. Hopefully, there are more scenes of the eunuch group before it gets all broken up.