EPISODE 12

The case continues ...



Marco Lee's Case

Some investigation by Vincent revealed that the wife of the victim was having an affair and the victim was so distraught when arguing with the wife that he ran out and BOOM! Marco's car hit him. So it could be suicide. BUT Marco is still guilty of possibly reckless driving since it is undeniable he was using a handphone whilst driving, in short Marco and victim both contributed to that accident. BUT Marco told Vincent he must win 100% to save his reputation, no need for firm to pay anything and he need not go to jail, if any. When Vincent said he will try his best, Marco said "I doubt your capabilities, I think I need a new lawyer, a more experienced one" and Vincent quickly said "Give me 2 days, if not I will withdraw as your solicitor".



Hmmmm so what did he do? Here goes the descent of Vincent! Yeah, finally something interesting from Vincent apart from smug smile.



He went to see the widow directly and did something very unethical. He convinced the widow that he will convince the court it was a suicide and so the insurance will not pay the widow. So what the widow had to do is to help Vincent win it in such a way Marco can go free and yet she can get her money. I wonder how? Well next week we will know.



But good for Vincent that he actually told Ling what he did but Ling was doubtful what he did was right or wrong but she didn't comment much whilst Vincent was convinced must win at all cost. Like I said in all my previous thoughts, Vincent will go all the way no matter what and Marco knew that which was why Marco hired him, because Vincent was hungry for fame and fortune and most of all, recognition.



But however bad Vincent may be, today's episode highlight something I highlighted the episode before. He was really very very nice to Jess. When Jess volunteered to help him, he agreed without much thought. Now we all know, like you and I know Jess is not a very good lawyer, in fact she is a very bad one. And yet Vincent saw in her sincerity and willingness to help others that he always let Jess second chair. I wouldn't think that Vincent let her be second chair simply because she was so bad she won't upstage him. i doubt that. I sincerely believe Vincent, who deep down is a very nice guy treated Jess with not just respect, but he actually believed in her capabilities. All these are very subtle, but I wonder, did the writer inserted such qualities in Vincent or did Sammul Chan who actually liked Bernice Liu inserted these qualities into his Vincent? Everytime I thought Vincent is no good I will change my mind when I see him being so thoughtful to Jess, a man can't be that bad if he is so gentle and thoughtful to a colleague who is not that good at what she does, right? To me Vincent is a big question mark. Very interesting and complex character. Anyway love to see him and Jess together because I am a bit bored with him and Ling, always either walking, eating or drinking coffee. Is there a kissing scene somewhere to give some passion into this very passionless and cordial relationship? Is it a TVB trend that a couple who is not joking with one another is doomed to fail whilst someone who is very friendly and very at ease with the other will bound to end up together? I see that with Ling and Ben (extra friendly, always at odds in a very friendly way) and Jess and Vincent (even more friendly, very thoughtful, very encouraging towards one another). Sometimes I wonder what about passion eh?



Anyway, next case ...



Arson Case

Whilst the trial was going on, poor foul mouthed store owner's house was set on fire and this prosecution witness ended up in hospital. This was Ben's golden opportunity to show the similar trend in how the fires were started (pouring I think not gasoline but I do not know what' s the English name for that substance through a rubber hose into house and set fire) and that his client, charged with fire no. 1 who couldn't have started similar fire no. 2 was therefore not the culprit of fire no. 1. The judge admitted the evidence and our hero is on his way to freeeeeeedommmmmmmm!



Anyway, interesting episode in the sense for one we got an angry female judge who told Ben and the prosecution to shut up when they went on and on and on about some facts, arguing with one another. Chill judge! Chill! I mean Ben and prosecutor were having a very friendly fight so chill! But god to show such angry judge. I was hoping someone will show the judge throwing the file at the lawyers because that happens, not frequently but it happens. How about showing a judge rushing to his golf game and so ended up not hearing the case? Or even sleeping when on trial? Or say I don't want to hear you, sit down or get out? Ahhhhh TVB is way too nice in their depiction of judges, maybe HKK judges are that nice. But for one this series depicts lawyers in a very real way, they're not noble, they're just doing their jobs. To me Vincent is the most accurate depiction of lawyers, Ben is the ideal one whilst Ling, no such lawyers who are too emotional. What is not real is the speed the cases go to trial.



Anyway back to arson case, Ling joins Ben as second chair. When they went home with client to see sister, the sister in a very malicious way said "That owner deserves it!". Then Ben saw her hand,burnt and then he saw a rubber hose and a bottle of that liquid whose name I do not know. On the way back in Ling's car, Ben confessed what he saw and whe he dared not suspect. He is placed in a dilemma. He wants to seek the truth of the case but he is afraid to know the truth. He doesn't know what to do. I pity Ben being put in such situation. If the truth is not what he wants to know, will he turn in the sister? In TVB world, the sister will probably confess. If it was Vincent, he will turn in the sister to save the brother, Ling might not. Or maybe settle it this way, which is something a real Ben might do; shut up and quietly take the sister for some therapy because I think she needs it. As long as the brother is safe, there is no point turning the sister in. If that justice? Not in the strict sense but then justice does not mean following the strict letters of the law. Justice is coming to a solution that benefits all.



Next week, I suspect Ling might break up with Vincent after discovering his unethical tactics with the widow.



Interesting episode today.



As for performances, I will highlight the bad ones.



I am beginning to feel bored saying how bad Ruby Wong is. She is absolutely monotone. But I saw one nice scene next week where her Sister Na screamed at Winnie Yeung's character and told her "If you want to help your husband, please shut up!". You know, if only Louisa So was cast as Sister Na, maybe then we will have some quality acting.



Anyway Sammul Chan was a bit weak today. When Marco left after saying what he said, Vincent was supposed to panic a bit but Sammul didn't look the part. And when he was threatening the widow, he said it all with a smile. Usually smile is good, because it shows his sinister side but it's more smug smile than sinister smile. Weak performance.



I pity Myolie having to wear that ugly coat in that scene with Ben, that girl and her brother in the shack. Acting wise, not much for her today.



Even lesser for Bernice Liu.



But Raymond Lam, still the best especially in the last scene when he looked scared of knowing the truth. Quality acting from this actor. I am so so so happy that he is not using his opera acting in this series. Maybe he has finally matured as an actor. So so so happy.



One funny scene in today's episode I must write about.



In the starting scene, Ling's mom was buying rice when Ben offered to help and Ling's mom saw Ben and asked Ben to come early for dinner. Ben of course said yes. What really happened was earlier, Ling's mom talked to Ling over the phone whilst she was driving and when Ling said she was with a guy, her mom said invite the boyfriend back for dinner. Her mom thought that was Ben when Ling was talking about Vincent. Ben arrived early and even cooked the dinner. Ling's mom and dad were so happy, saying Ling was so lucky to have Ben, then Ling came home and her mom happily said her boyfriend is too good to be true, and Ling puzzled said why her mom said such good words for Vincent, Vincent walked in and said hello auntie and Ben walked out and everybody was quite ackward as Ling's parents knew they made a grave mistake. Good for Ben though that he quickly chastised Ling for not telling her parents about Vincent, and he said he really have to leave (not having eaten the dinner he cooked), walked out and looked relieved. Such a gentleman, this Ben.