Recently finished watching (started watching only from somewhere in the later half of the stories) two clever stories with unlikely endings.
Clever interplay of a fictitious present-day Korean royal family and high school romance. I think the modern royal family idea is a novel one. I don't recall any TVB, Japanese or TCS drama using this idea. I really like the palace setting. What also worked well was the pairing of the Snow Prince (the Snow Queen-like Crown Prince) and the cute girl, both roles played by newbies in the acting scene.
Unlikely ending: The Crown Prince and cute girl marry for the second time (why did they have to when they didn't even divorce?) in a Catholic church (in all likelihood, though I don't remember any mention of religion, the couple wasn't Catholic)! Also, the unfortunate cousin-prince became so 'poor thing' when he lost everything that could have been his and his mother 'conveniently' had an accident and became remorseful for all her evil plotting. I thought this was going to be a show with nobody contracting a terminal disease or getting maimed. Alas, they had to throw that accident in.
Clever interplay of a fictitious present-day Korean royal family and high school romance. I think the modern royal family idea is a novel one. I don't recall any TVB, Japanese or TCS drama using this idea. I really like the palace setting. What also worked well was the pairing of the Snow Prince (the Snow Queen-like Crown Prince) and the cute girl, both roles played by newbies in the acting scene.
Unlikely ending: The Crown Prince and cute girl marry for the second time (why did they have to when they didn't even divorce?) in a Catholic church (in all likelihood, though I don't remember any mention of religion, the couple wasn't Catholic)! Also, the unfortunate cousin-prince became so 'poor thing' when he lost everything that could have been his and his mother 'conveniently' had an accident and became remorseful for all her evil plotting. I thought this was going to be a show with nobody contracting a terminal disease or getting maimed. Alas, they had to throw that accident in.
Actually, I thought that a lot of what happened was the fault of the (rather expressionless) king. First of all, he was supposed to be sick and dying, which was why they hurried the Crown Prince to get married. However, he looked rather healthy right to the end. All the needless suffering on the part of the princes and princess. Also, there was his being secretly in love with his brother's wife, which appeared to be the start of all the poor-thing prince's troubles, if you think along the lines of 'fate'.
Clever story #2: Shades of Truth
Clever story #2: Shades of Truth
(I don't actually agree with this review's assessment of the acting in the show)
Clever interplay of Water Margin and Infernal Affairs. We've had various back-to-the-future type stories with characters travelling through time but not one which is, at one and
same time, also a spoof of a movie! Of course this kind of thing is very hard to carry off. The time travel theme has been over-used, I think, and some more must spoof Tony and Andy! It's a good thing the show was meant to be funny in some parts as well. If not for the occasional comedy element, I think the plot would have just fallen flat. However, the acting could have been better. I expected much more from Wong Hei, Gigi Leung and Julian Cheung. Tavia Yeung (that's her), relatively less experienced, was the most convincing. Unfortunately, her character was the least developed. The biggest let-down must have been Wong Hei, who looked rather blank in the last few episodes. Wish they had gotten Tony and Andy (or at least Edison and Shawn) to do cameo roles.
Unlikely ending: I couldn't stop laughing at the part when the big baddie gangster transformed into a romantic husband and loving father and became a poster boy for reformed criminals. The worst, though, was the Water Margin enactment at the end of the show, when Julian had to be drugged and put in period costume to realise he loved Gigi, after all those 900 years.
same time, also a spoof of a movie! Of course this kind of thing is very hard to carry off. The time travel theme has been over-used, I think, and some more must spoof Tony and Andy! It's a good thing the show was meant to be funny in some parts as well. If not for the occasional comedy element, I think the plot would have just fallen flat. However, the acting could have been better. I expected much more from Wong Hei, Gigi Leung and Julian Cheung. Tavia Yeung (that's her), relatively less experienced, was the most convincing. Unfortunately, her character was the least developed. The biggest let-down must have been Wong Hei, who looked rather blank in the last few episodes. Wish they had gotten Tony and Andy (or at least Edison and Shawn) to do cameo roles.Unlikely ending: I couldn't stop laughing at the part when the big baddie gangster transformed into a romantic husband and loving father and became a poster boy for reformed criminals. The worst, though, was the Water Margin enactment at the end of the show, when Julian had to be drugged and put in period costume to realise he loved Gigi, after all those 900 years.
I also didn't like the hairstyles of the baddie gangster and Gigi. Gigi looked much better as her Water Margin character, Pan Jinlian. Anyway, their hair certainly rival the clothes in Goong for the please-get-a-better-stylist award.
Nevertheless, both shows were entertaining. I really dislike those dark, depressing types of gangster show so Shades of Truth was a welcome twist to the gangster story. As for Goong, comedy and fresh-faced actors/actresses beats tragic melodramas anytime.
Moral of the story: definitely, work on your smart ideas, but don't try too hard!
Moral of the story: definitely, work on your smart ideas, but don't try too hard!
Tavia's pic from here.
Goong pic from here.
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dee