Labels: [A] Introduction
The case continues but predictably Vincent wins the case with a majority of 5 jurors for him, 2 more against him. Anyway during his testimony he kinda confessed his love for Jess by saying how concerned he was and everything else. Jess was crying which was very touching. When Vincent was a-ok, everybody was very happy and it was the start of the mending of broken relationships.
Marco is very happy with Sister Na. Hung got back his license and his wife came back to be with him after Money told wife everything. Vincent ran after Jess and they became an item. Ben skated after Ling and they became an item. The entire series ended with all four happily roller skating as best friends they once were and jumping high up into the air.
I won't call it a very good episode but it was satisfying. Some highlights of this episode are ...
1. Ben went to see Vincent and Vincent asked Ben to be his lawyer and Ben heard what Vincent said and he tearfully said "I will never give up on you, so remember never give up on yourself". That was very touching.
2. Vincent apologising in court to his friends and confessing his concern for Jess
3. Jess scolding Ling after Ling dared to speculate that Vincent may have silenced that Crazy Panther for his own benefit, and Jess said "Of course it is unthinkable that after dating you he could have done all this for me!". Later they apologised to one another.
4. Ben telling Ling "I believe Vincent".
5. The almost end scene where Vincent ran after Jess, SMS-ed her and when Jess turned, there he was, smiling. It was a very happy ending for me.
If you're wondering about Vincent's career, he will be suspended for a while and whilst waiting to get back his license to practise law, Hung offered him a job at HK Firm for the time being and everybody forgave Vincent, Money included.
I like the ending, that final scene where they jumped high up (Raymond the highest, Myolie the lowest). I just like the ending.
I must mention about Jess tonight. She was definitely such a supportive person, very positive. I do not think she believed Vincent blindly but she believed him because she believed in his integrity the same way Ben believed him. Ling was disappointingly the skeptic and whilst it was alright to speculate Vincent's motive to kill Crazy Panther, but I thought she stepped over the line for even considering Vincent did it to cover his tracks. Vincent's actions may have all been unethical but he's not a murderer. Ling should know him enough to at least not pass such a haste judgment. The only crime he did against her was perhaps cheating on her. Cheating is not the same as murder. I was disappointed Ling would think that way.
As for the performances, I thought Sammul did badly in the more dramatic scenes and Raymond Lam definitely gave his best in here with his gentle voice, his trust in Vincent and his always almost crying eyes. The rest gave competent to mediocre performance.
Overall a very satisfying episode.
The final analysis and a much complete review of the characters, performances and plot will be in my review.
Thanks for reading the episodic thoughts. It was a pleasure sharing my thoughts with you night after night.
Labels: Episode 25 [Last Episode]
A devastating episode, that is the last 1 minute. But a short recap...
I missed the first half, and when I switched channle after watchingThe Apprentice, I saw Ling and Ben in a ferris wheel, Ling squeeling with fear. I don't know why I am feeling this right now as I write these words, I must confess .... I was then very very annoyed with Ling. Later did I know why. More on that later.
Ok, Vincent got that creep out. His friends deserted him, his father angry with him, Vincent feeling pretty sorry himself when he heard Ling got attacked by that creep at the funfair. It was Jess who saw him, Jess who chased after him and Jess who said he should do something to remedy the situation as he inadvertantly caused it all by defending that creep. I must say something in defence of Vincent. Someone must defend the creeps, if not Vincent, then someone else. When Vincent is counsel, he can't just do a sloppy job. But we all know why Vincent did what he did ...
He then visited his father when he saw Ben who revealed that Vincent was charged with obstruction of justice because of that cheque that true enough got the driver killed. Vincent was still angry with Ben but Ben said only Vincent could help himself and that he would always be there as his friend. Vincent was visibly ... well he looked a bit guilty. Anyway next thing we hear Vincent calling Jess apologising, regretting all his actions, went out for a drink and saw that creep who told him he kidnapped Jess. Vincent was motified. Vincent begged that creep to let Jess go, but creep took out a guy and said basically try me. Vincent didn't dare and resorted to more begging when that creep said he will rape Jess and then kill her. When Vincent begged please let her go, kill me instead, creep said he will call his men, tell his men to rape Jess and then kill her. Creep was laughing that hyena laugh and Vincent, scared and terrified for Jess quickly took the creep's gun and guess what?
He shot that guy straight into his head and that guy died. Bartended in bar came out and saw the shooting and nothing else. Then Vincent took up creep's phone but no voice. Then his own phone rang and Jess said HI! and Vincent said are you ok Jess? and Jess said of course, she just went out for I think dinner with friends. It was then that Vincent knew he was in deep shit ...
I must say, that creep's eyewear is very stylo.
Anyway, story wise, I love how Jess ran out and scolded Vincent. I love how Ben was ever so gentle with Vincent, always believing in Vincent's goodness and I love how Vincent tried his best to protect Jess, even if he had to beg and then murder. I fully support his actions. Problem is that creep was only playing mind games with him.Apparently that cheque was not real, he dragged Vincent into this little game of his. Despicable creep.
Now that scene in the pub is annoyingly too long and Sammul Chan was again at his weakest in acting out panicky scenes. The best was just the last 1 minute, the rest before it was really slow mo, too much dialogue, too much talking. I was bored half way but I really really didn't expect Vincent to shoot that creep.
Provocation is a good defence here. I am sure Ben will go all out to save him.
Bernice Liu's acting is also not very good, in fact very weak but I like her. A pity her beauty had to be buried underneath that ponytail and old style glasses but her cuteness and sunshine personality definitely shines through, even when she is sulking.
Now to answer this question I posed earlier ...
" I was then very very annoyed with Ling..."
It was the preview of the last episode where Ling even dared to speculate that Vincent pulled the trigger to hide the truth of his unethical ways! Then I saw Jess standing up scolding Ling. YA YOU GO GIRL! Oh please Ling do shut up! She is so judgmental, never giving Vincent a chance whilst Jess is not stupid but she believes in Vincent's goodness like Ben. These are true friends. I am annoyed with Ling, really annoyed but this is not the first time she put down Vincent, in fact when she flung that cup at Ben, I was like "BEN!! THROW THAT WATER DISPENSER AT HER!!". I understand why she was angry but that was no way to treat Ben, a man she knows to have great integrity.
Anyway tomorrow's episode is the end. The ending is definitely a happy one. And I just realise this series is so PG rated, no kiss-kiss. A pity.
Labels: Episode 24
Love Ben, hate Vincent, poor Jess, jittery Ling.
Kinda sums up today's episode. Details to follow right after ...
Ben successfully found the witness Ling said she saw when she was walking into that path that starry night when she witnessed her best friend Mabel molested and murdered. Ling remembered the man as a drive since he has a cap and in uniform. And amazingly 7 years later that man is still here and is even willing to testify. His testimony is crucial because
1. he was he defendant's ex driver driving the defendant to that secluded place (the cree said he wanted to pick up some things.. yeah like raping and murder I guess)
2. he remembered the time, the date, the details perfectly
3. he saw his young master's bloody hands and bloody swiss knife looking jittery just 15 minutes of so after he went up and came back down
4. he remembered teh girl died there
Vincent got hold of this witness by seducing Jess, yes he hinted how he missed home cook food and Jess ran up to cook for him and talk talk talk she revealed the witness which will be revealed in the list Vincent will get tomorrow anyway.
Vincent went to see witness who was reluctant to lie or disappear before the hearing date. Right at that moment Ben saw Vincent. Ben ran after Vincent and there was their confrontation, possibly the best scene in tonight's episode and one of the best in the entire series. Basically Ben warned Vincent not to go over the line because he promised Cheuk Sir to take care of Vincent and Vincent turned back and started scolding Ben, saying Ben was the cause of Vincent's misery, for putting his dad away, for taking away Ling making himself look like a hero in front of Ling and Vincent the loser. Gentlemanly Ben looked guilty and even said he wished life was like before where all 4 of them are close friends. Vincent challenged Ben to do something about it and Ben said he will give up Ling if Vincent was willing to return to the righteous path.
Right at that moment I love Ben the most for his selflessness and his self sacrificing attitude, that nothing NOTHING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is more important than freindship. Of course Vincent laughed and walked away. Actually he smirked, sniggered, and left.
Ben told Ling about Vincent and Ling, as usual in a very dismissive tone dismissed Vincent as long gone, cannot be saved anymore whilst Ben said in a tiny voice Vincent is not a bad person, he will come around. Jess of course refused to believe she was used as Ben told her what happened and she confronted a drunk Vincent at his house and guess what happened? Vincent actually confessed that he knew Jess loved him and he used her and that Jess was so stupid to believe him and she was so lucky it was Vincent who used her who in a way did not use abuse her physically but well Jess was very very hurt. Bastard!
Anyway, then that creep defendant's other lawyer (I think more like assistant) gave Vincent a cheque supposedly to give to one guy who will give it to that driver so that the driver will take that money and run. Vincent reluctantly did it when he heard he will earn loads of money. And the end.
Guess what? Next episode as predicted driver died! Interesting.
Tonight I find Ben a very interesting character for his view on friendship. Whilst many may say nice guys are the boring ones, tonight no one is more exciting in my eyes than Ben. I love him. And Raymond Lam gave Ben such layers of emotions as he quietly said to Vincent he will leave Ling if Vincent was willing to be good again. Right at that moment you knew Ben was filled with remorse and guilt as he actually believed he had some part to play in Vincent's descent into unreasonabless (I do not agree of course) and that he actually valued his friendship with Vincent. You could see Ben was desparate to get Vincent to back away from underhanded tactics. Raymond Lam basically conveyed all that without yelling, screaming or even crying. But you knew his heart was breaking into thousands of pieces.
Vincent himself is really becoming a caricature of his former self confident self. Now he's just self possessed, thinking everybody especially Ben wronged him. He channeled his entire dissatisfaction into Ben, making Ben his enemy numero uno. In a way I can understand why Vincent changed, but in a way Vincent has always been the jealous type, but under control because dad was there. The fact that Vincent used Jess was just too much, and at least he had the guts and the conscience to confess to Jess. He was right about one thing; another man would have used Jess' extreme naiveness and goodness to his advantage which will hurt Jess even more. But Jess was already too hurt for words. I feel in a way Vincent was more honest when he was with Jess than with Ling or Ben. Even if I could hate him for what he did, right at that moment he told Jess to go away was perhaps a scene which shows a bit of Vincent's humanity, that he still can be saved because he actually felt guilty for misusing Jess' trust. I am between liking him and disliking him.
Ling basically had less and less to do whilst poor Jess, felt used.
Performance wise, Sammul Chan today displayed all his inadequacies as an actor as he unconvincingly tried to play a drunk guilty man confessing his guilt (in a way) to Jess and also that scene where he confronted Ben.That scene was supposed to be explosive, it was supposed to be Vincent's moment of telling Ben why he felt miserable, who made him miserable and successfully making Ben feel miserable. It should have more anger, more angst, more jealousy, more hatred, more arrogance and dismissive tone. Sammul Chan had very little of these, probably because he in real life may be a soft nice guy. Perhaps Raymond should have slapped him a few times before filming that scene. I remember in Golden Faith Raymond's Oscar had more anger in him when he channeled all his entire energy into hating Gallen's Ivan. That is what I call anger. None in Sammul Chan, well not convincing enough. He just looked like an angry pissed little boy. He should be a very angry MAN.
Overall a good episode, a bit melodramatic, a bit lacking in pace, a bit not like the first few episodes. Luckily it is ending soon because TVB has a tendency of screwing the story as it goes. Characters are all already screwed up anyway as Ling does not resemble Ling, Sister Na does not resemble herself and Vincent ... the problem with this series right now is it does not have a real villain we can actually hate. Reason is simple; they want to redeem Vincent and save the friendship so Vincent can't go overboard. I kept expecting him to do something unethical to the point of no return, something mean, something bad but thus far I may disagree with his tactics but I won't say they're morally wrong. I was hoping to see Oscar you know, hopping mad and doing many many bad things to his brother, I espect to see Changing Lanes' main protaganist who rapes, commits attempted murder, cheats, lies and manipulates his way to get what he wants. This would be great because then viewers will question themselves how can this scumbag redeems himself because you know this is the main character, he has to redeem himself somehow.
Remember Flaming Brothers? That kid brother was such a nice kid, greed turned him, he did many many many bad things but in the end he redeemed himself as he laid dying, crying, and if I remembered correctly asking for forgiveness. You can't forgive him but at least you feel what a pity such a good young man had to turn out like that.
I expect that for Vincent from episode 1. Disappointingly thus far Vincent is essentially an unreasonable angry jealous being but nothing overboard,nothing malicious.
Labels: Episode 23
This series is certainly taking a novice through various court systems, levels, arguments, quite well rounded. Today the story about Ling and Ben continues.
Ben went all out to question Ling on her identification of his friend. Ling was very certain but Ben convinced the jury that perhaps she was wrong because he dead friend, Mabel once told Ling that Fai (I didn't catch his name but I think it should be Fai) who had a big nose was secretly in love with Mabel. When Ling told this to the police, the police arrested Fai who so coincidentally had the same shoes and pocket knife (suspected murder weapon, shoes) in his house. To Ben it was all a coincidence. Anyway, Ling identified Fai successfully in the parade (but she failed the first time during the photo identication stage) largely because of his big nose. Ling remembered the nose. Ben argued perhaps Ling was prejudiced, that in her mind she sealed Fai as the culprit because she was convinced when she saw him in the police lineup having been told beforehand he was Fai, her mind prejudiced towards him. Ling was crying no way, no way, Ben stepped over the line and she began to sob uncontrollably. Ben looked guilty, Jess looked guilty and Ling was furious. She basically threw a cup of water in Ben's face and stormed off.
Ben continued to investigate and with Jess' kick boxing talent, they managed to trick that Pao Kor into the restroom (or somewhere), Jess kicked him, he fell down and fainted and Ben got his blood sample. Tested it and he identified the blood as that the same as at the crime scene (I thought the prosecution never analysed the blood 7 years ago and I doubt for 7 years it was so well preserved considering the case was closed!) but Ben called him Mr A. Ling was called again as witness and Ling was asked to identify the nose she saw, from I think 6 pictures, the faces could not be seen, just the nose. To Ling's credit, she remembered the nose and opened it and the picture was Pao Kor. Right at that moment Ling again sobbed uncontrollably when she realised she has made a mistake, a man was deprived of 7 years of his prime life and Ling was wrecked with guilt, quietly went away and Ben ran after her and she poured out her anguish. One good news though, Pao Kor was quickly arrested and Ling was again asked to identify him.
Problem now is Pao Kor was represented by Vincent. Yes, VINCENT. Ling again uttered the same words she uttered to Ben just the previous episode, "Why are you helping this scumbad? He murdered my best friend!" but Vincent said, "I am a lawyer, I have no choice". Pure B.S if you ask me.
Vincent's reasons for taking the case was simple, as he told his new best friend, an unidentified fellow lawyer; "HK has no place left for me, when my dad comes out, I will migrate with him to somewhere else". He knew very well Pao Kor was guilty as charged but Vincent, still hurt from Ling's breaking off with him and Ben's so called betrayal of their friendship wanted to earn as much of money and leave.
This time Ben gave up trying to reason with Vincent and went away, Jess worried followed him and Ben said he wasn't angry with Vincent, just terribly worried.
Jess was worried too but knew she could do nothing but support her friends. She saw Vincent in the gym and when Vincent heard Ben over the phone asking Jess to dinner, Vincent quickly suggested they go for a movie together. Naturally Jess chose Vincent over Ben. Then Vincent sent her home and was extra nice to her, a bit flirtatious too but in a very ambigous way.
You see at this point I am terribly confused. Was Vincent asking Jess out an act of vendetta against Ben (like Ben was asking Jess, Jess said Yes and Vincent wanted to deprive Ben of a friend having dinner with him)? Was Vincent actually genuine in asking Jess out? Did Vincent knew Jess liked him? I think the answer is more about Ben than about Jess.I think he realise Jess liked him but didn't know how deep. At that moment in time, Vincent was truly despicable.
Performance wise, Raymond Lam rules with his guilty feeling Ben. Myolie Wu was a bit fake in her courtroom outbursts scenes, you have to watch it to know what I mean. Bernice Liu improved a lot, and is still as lovable as ever whilst Sammul Chan, I can't describe his performance because I find his Vincent so confusing with so many mixed signals. I would term it as not very good performance.
By the way Sister Na is now in love with Marco. Can we just move away from Sister Na who from strong career woman now becomes like a caricature in here? The actress is still as horrible as ever.
Labels: Episode 22
Practically no Vincent today, but loads of Ben.
How shall I start? It was obvious Ling is very attracted to Ben as she bought him his favourite out of stock roller sneakers he wore in the beginning and she bought herself a pair also, not before she had to beg the owner to sell it to her and promising in the end to give free legal representation just for that shoes.
Everything went well until one case that Ben took.
Ben had a best friend who was imprisoned for rape-murder 7 years ago, a crime he said he did not commit. The case was flimsy, evidence entirely circumstancial except for one very strong eyewitness and that eyewitness was Ling when she was in high school. She saw her friend being murdered, saw for a moment the killer's face and was very certain Ben's friend was the one. Ben was at fault for not telling her earlier and went with her to visit her friend's grave and even asked loads of questions. One thing was certain; Ling was very sure he was the one and Ben was very sure his friend could not have committed such a terrible crime. When Ling found out from Ben he intended to take this case to appeal, Ling walked away, as emotional as ever, blaming Ben for even considering she was lying or was mistaken. She said even if he won, it would mean nothing because a killer is let loose. The entire series Jess seems to be the only objective woman as she assisted Ben like a good friend should. Jess knew Ben would be jeapordising his relationship with Ling but Ben said, "How can I let my friend be imprisoned for a crime he did not commit?" whilst Ling thought she must bring the murderer to justice, even for a second time.
Ben won the appeal, got to have a fresh trial with Marco as the prosecutor. It all looks good for Ben, except Ben would have to destroy Ling's testimony.
Tomorrow we will know. But one clue said that there was a Pao Kor in this case. He must be the one.
Anyway I am beginning to dislike Ling. Again she jumped to conclusion and started berrating Ben without listening to him. But I understand why, her best friend was murdered, she was convinced he was the one, so she couldn't understand why Ben is digging up old wounds. I do not think it is her ego and her refusal to believe she was mistakn that was the culprit; I believe she genuinely believed he was the one. Likewise Ben believed his friend. Very complicated. Jess as usual is in between but like a good friend stood by both of them.
A very interesting scenario.
What would you do if one day you discover you were mistaken and one man was imprisoned for many years for your mistake? I saw a documentary once where this rape victim was so sure the imprisoned man was the culprit, and about a decade later, DNA results showed otherwise. I could never live with such guilt that an innocent man went to jail because of me. Perhaps one explanation for this; like Ling, extreme trauma can sometimes make us associate the very first similar looking person as the guilty party and from thereon in our memory we forever associate him with the crime that was committed against us. I am not saying do not believe the victim, but sometimes mere words are not enough. It is good that DNA is now available.
In this episode, Ben won the new trial by finding that the prosecution did not reveal to the defence lawyer that there wa a drop of blood belonging neither to the victim or the accused, a third party's blood. Ben said this would jeapordise the defence case which could have given them a possible defence. Ben was right, the prosecution was lazy and a bit bad you know.
Ling will definitely go very emotional tomorrow. I am beginning to feel very irritated with her. Jess meanwhile argued her case with Ben! Very interesting!
Labels: Episode 21
Today's episode highlights Vincent's badness and of course Sammul Chan's weaknesses. But first what actually happened?
Money was sued by her former live in lover who left her 7 years ago to go back to his wife. His wife left him and now he came back and wanted Money to return the apartment he bought 7 years ago and to claim 7 years of arrears in rent, saying he let Money stay there as a tenant, though they were having an affair. Money didn't know he was married and when she knew she told him please go sort out your life, he went and never came back, until now. Money was furious and Ben and Ling took her case whilst her former lover's case was taken by .... GUESS WHO? Now the ridiculous part, VINCENT! First of all this is only pure drama. I thought Vincent left the law firm and worked for someone else. But he was still in Sister Na's firm, his colleague was Ben. Two people from the same firm can't represent two people involved in the same case, because there will be conflict of interest. Now I am even more confused about so called Bar status and Sister Na's law firm. Anyway pure drama aside, Vincent went all out. He described Money basically as a money hungry slut who didn't care about people's welfare or marital status as long as she got her house. This was further strengthened by the fact that Money was seen removing Homer's belt (she was trying to help him sew his pants). The argument wasn't successful because Money didn't have to pay those rent but had to give back the apartment to him (naturally since he was the legal owner and there was never an understanding he gives the house to her though Ben said there was but Vincent disputed that so my opinion is there was but Vincent twisted the truth). Money was so upset she branded Vincent a traitor whilst Ling was as emotional as ever saying "I don't think I know him anymore, our gap is getting wider" (girl! You broke up with him already, what gap?), Jess tried to justify it by saying "Maybe Vincent believed his client" whilst Ben, good old Ben simply said "Hopefully we are wrong about him and he will come around".
Next scene Vincent came by to HK Firm to collect files and everybody refused to speak to him, except Jess and Ben. Ben invited Vincent to lunch, hoping their friendship was still as strong whilst Jess also suggested the same thing, the entire firm refused to eat with him. So Vincent went back to his office but Jess, sweet Jess bought Vincent his fave hot dog and chillie sauce and they both had a pleasant lunch.
At this point I could hate Vincent but I realise he had always been nice to Jess, always. Love is in the air! Of course not before Vincent did something worse I think.
Ben then visited Cheuk Sir in prison and Cheuk Sir knew he and Vincent were still having this cold war, though it was more like a friendly cold war. Earlier Vincent told his dad (when his dad asked how was he and Ben) that friendships are more about fate, either it's there or it's not there. Translation : Ben and I are no longer friends dad. Anyway back to Ben. Cheuk Sir in an emotional plea said Vincent was someone who never gives up and hates losing (translation : kiasu) so he pleaded with Ben to please make sure Vincent will never take the same route he took (translation: make sure my son goes down the path of righteousness) because he realised Vincent never really understood why he confessed and was in jail (translation:Vincent is too arrogant and big headed to see his mistakes). Ben was reluctant (translation : if you're his dad you cannot teach him more so I now his enemy no. 1?") but Cheuk Sir pleaded some more (translation : Ben you just gotta do it because you're a decent fellow and responsible as well) and finally Ben said he will look out for Vincent (translation : oh alright! but no guarantees!). Actually this scene was very well done and the best scene in tonight's episode, illustrating the undying love and concern of a father to his wayward son and the unwavering loyalty of a misunderstood friend. I love Ben!
Anyway that no more, we see more of Ling and Ben. Ling finally realised Ben was the one who knitted her handbag because she asked Ben to ask his mom to knit her a scarf (actually meant for Sister Na to give to Homer) and Ben thought it was for Lin so he agreed and Ling saw him knitting away during lunch. When she realised that, she realised she may be attracted to Ben (FINALLY!).
That's all.
I really do love Ben, his simpleness, his loyalty, his understanding. Such a great great guy and I love watching that scene as he was knitting away. Raymond Lam totally owns this role and this actor surprises me that he can be so controlled in his acting, now I can't say he's an opera-ish actor anymore! Handsome also.
Myolie Wu had little to do. I am beginning to dislike Ling simply because she has nothing to do and she is just too judgmental over Vincent. Whilst I agree Vincent stepped over the line of friendship tonight by accusing Money of being basically a golddigger, perhaps knowing him for some time as a friend, then as a lover should entitle Vincent a little benefit of doubt, like what Ben and Jess was saying instead of just dismissing him just like that? Ling seems to take everything that happens around her too personally.
Bernice Liu is simply cute and I love her chemistry with both male leads, and I love to see Vincent falling for her, because Jess never judge him. Maybe you can say she is blinded by her devotion to him, but in a way she wasn't, not tonight anyway. She tried to make excuses but she knew Vincent was going through a rough time. I love the fact that Jess and Ben tried to give Vincent some justification, that they all have this tiny little hope that one day he will come around, and go back to the good old days. THIS teaches us all a lesson; never ever fall in love with a colleague/friend because then when broke up, things will never EVER be the same again.
Now Sammul Chan. I want to talk about him more because I find his performance tonight so unsatisfactory, so inadequate, so mind boggling, so inconsistent. I see Vincent as vindictive, as he saw Ben and Ling being so friendly with one another, he went all out in his case. When he took this case he knew he would be facing Ben and it was his own ego that he wanted to win Ben, perhaps to show Ling like "see, see I am better!". In court he was even rude to Ling with his self satisfied smile. At this point I thought Vincent was all gone, this new Vincent was despicable, angry, jealous. Then we see him next day at the office as Money said something mean to him he looked almost guilty, regretful. You don't realise the impact of your words, go all out to prove a point only to look guilty! I was hoping to see Vincent arrogant, beyond reach but is still sweet to Jess because he was never felt threatened by Jess. This would be my idea of Vincent. But Sammul Chan spoilt it by having that look. He should make up his mind where Vincent is heading. Don't do a Charmaine Sheh here, all a scene per scene performance. Very bad performance.
Anyway, I think this series is ending soon. I just want to see how bad can Vincent go or are all these just a red herring, that he never went bad??
Labels: Episode 20
Vincent, probably at his ugliest, emotionally and yet the most vulnerable. The scene where he pleaded to the judge on behalf of his father in his Obtruction of Justice charge was not just emotional to the core, but so very sad. I had tears when Vincent ran to his father, sentenced to a very light sentence of 6 months imprisonment and he grabbed his father, almost crying saying "I have failed! I have failed! I am a lawyer, I helped countless others but I can't help you father, I am sorry, I have failed!". But his father looked at him smiling that "I have learned a lesson, and I hope you have to, I could not sleep with peace on my mind, I am proud of you, you did very well!" and his father smilingly but tearfully walked away as Vincent tried to remember what was the lesson he was supposed to learn because he felt not happiness that his father was sentenced so lightly but hatred at Ben for putting his father in this position in the first place and himself for failing his father.
Actually Ben tried very hard not to put Cheuk Sir in a bad position. He questioned Cheuk Sir, he managed to avoid the important question about that drug package but prosecution had to confirm and Cheuk Sir himself admitted his wrongdoings. My sister brilliantly argued where got obstruction of justice or perverting justice since that package was from the drug dealer's house but BUT Cheuk Sir put it there after it was taken out. In away Cheuk Sir was wrong but he did it with good intentions. Ben felt guilty but knew he had to do what he had done.
Vincent couldn't understand, so he blamed Ben. It became uglier when Ling came over to console him and Vincent took that as reconciliation, tried to force himself on her until Ling screamed that their relationship was all over. I tell you, this girl had everything except tact AND timing. Talk about bad timing! And Ben was there after hearing the sounds in Vincent's office and Vincent took that as Ben challenging him, mocking him when Ben meant well. Ling told off Vincent, saying he changed for the worse (thus making the situation worse) and Ben tried to explain but Vincent was beyond listening. He screamed at Ben, saying he was acting in front of Ling to make himself look good whilst Vincent looked bad, Ling was angry that he hurled such accusations at Ben, Ben was silent and Vincent finally said "You stupid woman! He has always been in love with you!" and Ling didn't believe it and again Ben was silent. LIng left angrily and Ben tried to talk to Vincent who simply threw Ben out of his office.
The next day Jess called Vincent and Vincent coldly said he was leaving for his holiday and he left, just like that.
Ben was shocked to hear Vincent went for a holiday since he was so emotional then but he felt it was good for Vincent to do so, to calm himself down and Ling confessed to someone (I can't remember Jess or Ben) that at first she felt she could almost rekindle her love for Vincent and when she saw how ugly he was emotionally, she knew she did the right thing by breaking off with him.
She teased Ben about her crush on her which Ben readily confessed it was true, but it was a long time ago. Ling felt ackward. I believe once Vincent saw how close they were, things only get worse.
Meanwhile Homer had to run away from Sister Na who was bent on pursuing him. Money was so concerned about this that she was considering selling her property to lend money to Homer to repay Sister Na so that he can stop avoiding her. What is it about Homer that he has 3 women loving him and a cute guy like Ben had none??
Anyway acting wise the best was Liu Kai Chi who looked at his son, crying and smiling, relief and yet pain. This man is a maestro in acting. Sammul Chan for someone new did quite alright but next to this maestro, you can see his flawed acting. It could have been a very emotional scene, an even more angry scene later on as he accused Ben of everything but Sammul lacked that something I can't pinpoint right now. There was anger, there was jealousy, there was unreasonableness but he should have let go and give his extreme you know because I imagine Vincent losing his mind right then, at first with guilt next with anger and jealousy and this feeling that he must win, he blamed Ben and refused to look into reasons. A better actor could have given those scene more depth, a deeper look into Vincent that I hate to see but knew existed from day one but submerged beneath the coolness, suaveness. That should be the scene that a viewer will feel how ugly Vincent could be as he accused poor Ben, perhaps the most innocent of all in this mess with his father. But Sammul Chan gave just an emotional performance, but there was little depth. You have to really watch him to know what I mean.
Myolie Wu is wasted in this episode as she basically looked demure, playful and then angry. Her Ling is beginning to have less and less things to do.
Bernice Liu is the same, acting wise but her Jessica is getting stronger in personality and in conviction as the episodes go by.
Ruby Wong is the worst actress/actor in here.
Raymond Lam, last but not least was very good. The way his Ben looked at the mad Vincent filled with inner rage, the way he looked at Cheuk Sir, the way he looked at Ling, he did it all by basically doing nothing. He did not have any outbursts of emotions nor did he raise his voice or even talked at all, and yet through his eyes you could see such wonderful varied emotions. He has improved in his acting since Golden Faith and he gave Ben such depth for a basically boring nice guy character.
In his Ben, you can see he basically agrees with Jess who said she wished the four of them could go back to how they were before. In his eyes held a tiny hope that when Vincent comes back things will be ok but in that monentary gaze into emptiness as I think Jess told Ben Vincent left, you could see he realised maybe things may not be the same again.
Am I reading too much into his gaze? Maybe yes, but it's all sublime. That is the kind of acting I like. One gaze says it all. A lovely performance but Liu Kai Chi, whose face wrecked with guilt really looked the part.
Labels: Episode 19
Very explosive episode. No ... no explosives as in dynamite but explosive as in emotional kind, all courtesy of the usually cool calm Vincent.
Anyway, there is this funny case at the beginning. Remember that woman who ran away from her marriage? The husband thought the dating agency and his wife cheated him, when in actual fact the woman really loved him but that man was too in love with his wig! It was very funny as the woman described about her husband's shame of his baldness and how when sleeping he was wearing a wig, making love also wearing a wig! In the end of course their problems solved as the husband said he will never wear a wig and the wife loved him for he was. A very happy reconciliation.
Unfortunately for Ling and Vincent, that was not the case. Vincent made Ling promise to come to the cafe and reconcile with him, Ling went after much persuasion from Jessica and thanks to some good old memories of the good old days, until she saw Vincent in there (Vincent didn't see her) and the betrayal came back and Ling realised maybe, just maybe she never really loved him quite enough to forgive him. She actually didn't feel hate anymore, just the feeling wasn't there anymore. Ben and Jess hoped to see them back together again but well ...
At the meantime Vincent got a call that his dad was in hospital after fainting from high blood pressure induced by a complaint brought by a drug dealer that he was hoping to catch all these while (and did catched) and the complaint was Vincent's dad falsified evidence to nab this scum. Vincent naturally believed his father who looked rather troubled.
Meanwhile Ben had a case where this young man called Flying Chicken (Fei Kai) was nabbed for murder which he said he never committed though he did have an argument with the victim before because when the murder was taking place, he was at that very same drug dealer's house picking up a drug package for delivery. Ben said who will believe him and Flying Chicken remembered when he was running out a policeman tried to stop him, and he was running and out of desperation he threw that package somewhere, came back later and that that package was missing. Then that man fainted, taken to a hospital and he identified Cheuk Sir as the policeman.
Now Ben was in a dilemma and he confided in Vincent, hoping Vincent could shed some light in this dilemma. You see that very same missing drug was of the same type, weight and quantity as the one recovered from teh drug dealer's house by Cheuk Sir. Ben deduced Cheuk Sir took that package and put it in that house, thus pinning the blame on that drug dealer. Now that drug dealer was no saint, Cheuk Sir was an excellent policeman but one young man was accused of a murder he didn't commit and Cheuk Sir was his only alibi (witness). Vincent begged Ben to find other ways to save his client, to leave his dad out of it. Then Vincent went home, and his dad actually told him sometimes he had to bend the law to catch the ones who broke the law. Vincent then knew Cheuk Sir did do what Ben said he did.
Ben then met Flying Chicken and told him to be honest, that he didn't do this just to get himself out and who is the best alibi if not a police and more so this police got complained by that very same drug dealer. Flying Chicken swore he didn't know about that complaint.
Meanwhile, Ling told Ben he should do what he must to save his client, that firnedship should take a back seat to justice. I agree, but then Ling said friendship can always be mended later. Now now Ling you're so naive. The day Ben do what he plans to do, that will be the end of Vincent and Ben's friendship. Anyway Ben planned to put Cheuk Sir on the stand as an alibi, and that means Cheuk Sir will had to explain about the drug and could implicate him in the fabrication of evidence.
If you ask me, there must be another way. Even if not Cheuk Sir can always deny taking that package of drugs since anybody could have taken it. Flying Chicken didn't see Cheuk Sir take it!
But this is TVB, justice, however unjust must prevail.
You see Cheuk Sir is one good policeman, except for that one mistake done out of desperation. Vincent told Ben for friendship sake, please let your client fry. But not in that same sentence but he did say "I thought our friendship is more important than your client who is nothing but a worthless criminal". True but this worthless criminal didn't do what he was accused of. He may be a drug dealer, but he ain't no murderer.
Then Jess big mouth told Vincent a hawker can confirm Chicken's story as the policeman bumped into this hawker and that was why the policeman couldn't catch Chicken.
Vincent found the hawker first and before he could say anything Ben arrived and in one of the best scene of this series, Ben scolded Vincent for trying to talk the witness out of attending trial. Vincent accused Ben of being jealous iof his success and that he was trying to win Vincent. Many hurtful accusations were thrown by Vincent to Ben and then Vincent heard Cheuk Sir told him to stop. Cheuk Sir was there to give a bottle of medicine to that hawker and as a father to a son, this father told his son he must be punished and he did do wrong and that he didn't want his son to throw away his future for him. Then Cheuk Sir walked away, Vincent followed and more heart to heart talk. Liu Kai Chi was excellent in here and Sammul Chan was clearly the lesser of an actor here. Anyway son told father he can't just stand by and let his father go to jail whilst father said he felt guilty over what he did and that Chicken was innocent. So that was that. And father said son should listen to Ben who was a true friend for stopping him from going down the same road like father. Vincent then full of hatred said to himself; "FRIEND?!"
So what happens? Tomorrow looks mighty interesting as we see Vincent going down the path of anger.
I pity Vincent. I can understand all the hurtful things he said to Ben, I can understand Ben's predicament, I can't understand Ling's calmness and her rather bland role in today's episode. I am beginning to think Ling is nothing but a vase, because she has nothing to do, no purpose except to be the woman loved by 2 men. Jess had more things to do in fact.
I like to see Vincent in today's episode, because his reaction was very very real. I would have said what he said, did what he done and at the end of the day we see a selfish Vincent, an angry Vincent and a very guilty ridden Vincent, all the very human Vincent as the more he tried to help his father, going against Ben and Ling. He's so real. Unfortunately Sammul Chan was inexperienced in showing such conflicting emotions and guilt. That scene between Liu Kai Chi and Sammul Chan showed a master at his craft and a novice inexperienced in his craft.
Raymond Lam did well, as he displayed such conflicts, as to what Ben should do. What Ben did wasn't wrong. What Vincent did was wrong but not understandable. You can't quantify who was more or less wrong because we are human, we make mistakes sometimes. Vincent will make more of course because there must be an unreasonable person in here to push Ling to Ben and who better than the self assured, over confident Vincent now suffering from confidence crisis thanks to dad?
If you ask me, that Chicken guy is screwed for life even if he gets out. Imagine Cheuk Sir is a very respected senior police, and he framed a crook that everybody hated. So within the police force there must be some brotherhood and so this Chicken guy will probably get arrested more than others.
At the meantime if Cheuk Sir goes to jail, he too will have a hard time in there because he put criminals in there and now he is a prisoner, don't you think there might be some revenge in there as well?
What is wonderful about today's episode is the realness in the exchange between Ben and Vincent, the mean words and all. Very real, very emotional, fans of Vincent will not like hearing Vincent said what he said because all the words he uttered towards Ben were ugly to the core and yet again, real, very real. And the best is it has been a long long time a policeman in a series (apart from Vigilante Force) which showed a policeman involved in some shady deals or framing of others. Not positive things but I welcome this because it happens. What is not real is Ling's naiveness. Even Jess knew Vincent will be very much affected by this and some part of Ben realised his friendship with Vincent was all over. Ling of course was from another world today.
It's just not fair a good cop like Cheuk Sir had to pay for his one time sin but then Chicken was innocent. A good man and especially a good cop will never ever let an innocent man rot in jail for a crime he did not commit.
Anyway I may miss half of tomorrow's episode because my sis wants to watch the most unreal series on TV today, Alias. Sighhhhh .....
Labels: Episode 18
I missed the second half today to watch Bowling For Columbine. Interesting documentary.
For the first half, this was what happened.
Defamation Case
Ling won, purely out of good luck because that guy's secretary saw a fax by Eva about that clause in his tray. He naturally missed it, so his justification for defaming her was unfounded. Eva walked away a happy woman and Ling an ackward one. Vincent tried to talk to her but she walked away, preferring a moment alone in a bus, with Ben as her companion, as she cried her heart's out. She was confused. Should she forgive Vincent? Ben said if you loved him, and if he is regrets what he did, she should. Ling thought perhaps she didn't love him enough. Ling's mom also said the same thing, after all she too had a husband who had an affair (worse, it was probably more than once) which resulted in Ling's birth. Her mom said the same thing, but her dad said dumped him. Ling was ever more confused. Jess was having the same opinion as Ben. Jess I believe would have forgiven Vincent because she loved him so much more. Maybe it's true, Ling just had this crush on Vincent, and that wasn't love and that wasn't enough for her to forgive him. But then the more you can't forgive, perhaps the more you have feelings for this guy. I am confused too. But no worries. She will walk away because there's Ben.
Anyway Vincent was very arrogant when he told his father he thinks Ling is still in love with him, no problem, everything a-ok. I don't think that outburst in court meant she was a-ok. Ling is a fiercely independant woman. I doubt she will take the betrayal lightly.
I missed the rest of the episode but fear not. Read them all in SPCNET FORUMS by T-rinh.
Performance wise, I can't comment because I saw so little today. Definitely more and better thoughts next week because there's no shows next week that I may prefer over this series.
I want to talk about Ling's reaction to Vincent's betrayal though. Would it hurt less to know it was just a one night stand, Eva didn't care about Vincent and it was actually more about the act rather than feelings that usually came with the act as in that four letter word, L-O-V-E? Would it hurt more if Vincent actually still feel something for Eva and he slept with her several times before regretting what he did? Are women more forgiving than men and often women love longer than men as in the memory of a love lingers more in a woman's heart than in a man's heart? Perhaps what Vincent did tantamount to saying he didn't really love Ling, that she was just someone who was there that he liked? That it wasn't true love since he could so easily fell into bed with another woman simply because Ling wasn't there? Or was it a purely physical need and that would make it easier for a woman to justify the betrayal and accept him back?
What do you think? What would you have done as Ling?
My answer is simple. Like what Ben said, if I love him, if he regrets it, I might be able to accept him back but I don't think I'll ever forget. Like that Savage Garden song, "I believe trust is more important than monogamy" and if I can't trust him, I might as well walk out because sooner or later I will turn into a whiny bitch with him, because everytime he's with a woman, I'll start doubting myself and I hate losing that control over myself. Which is why I do not believe in love between two strangers, marriage and eternal happiness.
Someone asked me what if my boyfriend had a wild history with women, as in sleeping around until he found me? I would dear friend, that is different. He had tasted so many types of women out there and in the end he chose me. As long as he's faithful with me, I'm ok with that.
Labels: Episode 17
Went berserk she did, but understandably so. A new case today that reveals many many things already revealed in the preview yesterday, what a way to kill the suspense.
Defamation Case
Eva, that walking electricity factory wants to sure a former client for defaming her. Apparently, this guy who bought an insurance policy from her, signed the policy, then they had sex, later met with an accident and that guy couldn't claim from the policy because he didn't reveal something which he should have revealed, all because :-
1. he said Eva never explained to him one particular clause, was more interested in seducing him than be a professional insurance agent who explains everything AND THEN sleep with him (last part my own sarcastic observation)
2. but Eva said she explained but whatever she said fell to deaf ears as he was more interested in sleeping with her as she seductively said "Do you understand? You know what I mean?" when she meant the policy whilst he thought she meant sex.
So that guy thereafter went around telling everybody how slutty Eva was and how unprofessional, Eva became the laughing stock of her fellow colleagues and was fired from her job, all credibility gone.
She wanted Vincent to take her case but Vincent was with his policeman father who was in hospital after being assualted by a drug addict though he was trying to help this young drug addict whose face I did not see.
So Ling took her case, knowing Eva was Vincent's ex and Eva knowing Ling is Vincent's current squeeze. All came to an embarassing end when Ling wanted to call Vincent as a witness to proves, "Hey, this sex thing is only one off, Vincent was her client, he never slept with her" and then my TV went bust and I didn't watch that scene Vincent told Ling he actually slept with Eva after he signed the policy insurance. Remember that night I speculated about it all? I was right. So for about 5 minutes my whole family was thinking what we should all do when we all gave up and ran up to my mom's room to watch that tiny little TV and when I switched it on, I saw Ling in court questioning that sex crazed client of Eva.
Move forward, basically Ling was almost successful in showing that client was so into having sex with Eva, basically whether she explained or not that important clause was not relevant anymore, because she may have (as she claimed she did) and his mind would have wandered elsewhere. Eva then testified and said she had feelings for this man, she slept with him because she thought a relationship between the two was a possibility and he turned out to be a joke. She said she will only sleep with a man if he has feelings, only that he was a client was just a coincidence.
Ling then had to decide whether to call Vincent, which is something Jess said don't do it whilst she looked for evidence but Jess was nowhere to be seen, Ben was in court to give support to them and in the end Ling called Vincent and that was the scene where she went mental on Vincent.
Basically Ling proved herself to be an overemotional woman, too involved with her cases making her almost a caricature of a lawyer. If we are that emotional, we would have died of heart attacks because everyday we face such situations. Of course Ling's case was unique, BF cheated on her and so she rightly went beyond the call of duty and the line of ethics to make summation and form the questions as if to question him about what transpired to help Eva but in actual fact she was asking those questions for herself where she basically asked (as in almost screamed with watery eyes) ...
Q: Would it be correct to say she explained all the clauses to you, inclusive of that important clause before you signed where thereafter YOU SLEPT WITH HER?
A : Yes, she did
Q : Would it be correct to say eventhough she slept with you after you signed the policy, she conducted herself in a professional manner when in explaining the terms to you?
A: Yes
Q: Why did you sleep with her?
A: Ahhh because .... I knew she still had feelings for me so ...
Q : So you slept with her because of your desire for her, of your lust with one another, that eventhough you have a girlfriend, that you may have slept with my clients countless of times, that irrespective of all that before you had sex she did explained to you all the terms and that sex had nothing to do with buying the policy?!?!
A : ahhhh (before he can answer, the atmosphere very tense Ben deliberately on his phone, everybody heard a ringing tone and Ben successfully stopped the tension filled examination and the judge warned "Ben Lok, I know you. i do not know what you're doing but please switch off your phone" to which Ben answered, "My Lord,this phone is a bit faulty, I will throw it right at this minute, I am so sorry".
Then Ling went sulking back into the witness room/whatever the room is called and Vincent tried to explain to Ling but Ling refused to listen and walked away. Before that Ling did asked Jess did she do something wrong or maybe she didn't so enough as a girlfriend.
Imagine Ling writing to an Aunt Agony's column and I suspect her letter would be like this:-
Dear Aunt Angony,
I am in agony. I just found out my hot boyfriend V slept with his ex girlfriend E when we were still on very good terms. Now I do not know how to face him though he wants to go back with me. He told me himself he slept with her and I wonder, what did I do or didn't do that could have made him do what he did? Was it my fault?
Broken Hearted Ling.
Dear Broken Hearted Ling,
Poor girl. You didn't do anything wrong. All men are bastards, basically. When there is free food, they'll eat that free food. Your fault, perhaps may be in neglecting him when he needed you most but that would not justify him to go sleeping with that woman, E. Perhaps E seduced him, perhaps he didn't know what he was doing. Or more to the truth, the obvious truth dear girl, you didn't give him one thing he wanted that night which E gladly gave. Sex. That is the ultimate culprit. You can forgive him, you can walk away, at least he was honest with you or you can just move on and find someone better, perhaps there may be one standing right next to you. My point is, don't run away without a proper closure. It won't help in the healing process.
Aunt Agony
I think she will try to run a bit and then confess to Vincent, " I can't forget, therefore I can't forgive, and since I can't forgive, I can't forget. Vincent, let's take a break". If not how on earth Ben can come into the picture? Very glad Jess may have a chance now. I sometimes feel Ling too emotional, she is often ruled by her heart, not by her sense. It was right for her to be angry, but one thing you must admire about Vincent. At least he was honest.
Verdict we will see tomorrow.
But if you ask me, I do not see Vincent as a validation that she was professional and all like what Ling said but rather it showed a pattern of immoral and unprofessional conduct. Reportedly she still had feelings for Vincent and she had feelings for that man. The thing is after signing she had sex with them. Any hot blooded man would have been seduced by her "Do you understand? Do you know what I mean?". I suspect Eva was being unprofessional and I doubt she explained to him that clause. Any normal person would know there is no use explaining anything to a man who was being seduced by you. I remember that episode Eva looked at Vincent, saying "oh,come up, you're drunk, let us talk about your policy, come on, come on". She was eager, he was not. Surely she had sex in mind first, signing policy later. So basically that guy did have a valid ground to think of her as such a woman, but that is if only he knew she had a tendency of sleeping with her clients moments after signing a policy. Was it defamation? Very hard to say but that man may have ulterior motive and all. Interesting case though, how on earth you sue on behalf of a client who is basically a slut in a defamation suit questioning her professionalism and moral standing when I see very little distinction between the two in this case?
Anyway, today we see how close Vincent is with his dad, how Ling learned cooking to cook for Vincent's dad, how Ben's family found out it was Ling that Ben was interested in before, how Jess tried to protect Vincent when Ling said she wants to call him as witness, how Sister Na proposed that Vincent and Ben join her bigger new lawfirm in the same building as HK Firm to get bigger clients to help save HK Firm, how nice Sister Na was to Hung ...
Performance wise, Myolie was a bit overemotional today but that's Ling I guess.
Bernice Liu's performance improved slightly and she is a joy to watch and her Jess is such a good friend. By the way Juno is interested in Jess who is annoyed with him for standing too close to her.
Everybody else was a-ok thought Sammul Chan was a bit unemotional when confronting Ling. Too cool, very little emotion. Some may say cool acting, that's how Vincent is but since Vincent is someone who wants face and all, and he craves attention and recognition, he would have been more embarrassed and annoyed when testifying in court with Ling asking questions that could hurt his credibility. I did not see all that in Sammul Chan's performance who was rather bland tonight.
Raymond Lam had little to do but still he defines Ben you know.
Tomorrow, we see Ben getting a second shot for Ling's heart, and perhaps Jess a second shot for Vincent's heart. I hope we have more interesting cases.
Anyway now I know what Sister Na meant by saying going bar. Ben and Vincent said they want to be more than solit, meaning solicitor. I think the division between solicitor and barrister still exists in HK, I do not know. But in England, when you're a solicitor, you do not go to court to argue cases. You do paperworks, even transactions. Barristers are those who goes to court. A client may approach a solicitor with a case who will do the necessary and pass it to a barrister who may have little contact with the client, except in court. So I do not know if the situation is different in HK, because Ben and Vincent is always going to court, they can't be solit and say going bar because they're more like barrister already. The division and the monopoly is very clear. Could it be different in HK? That solicitors can appear in lower courts? I doubt it because they're appearing in High Court.
Sister Na herself worked for the prosecution (I assume) and when she became a defence lawyer, she said going bar. I am very very very very very very confused. I just don't get it!
Labels: Episode 16
Missed the first half thanks to CSI:Miami. But I guess I didn't miss much.
I started with Hung in a trial for murdering a guy who molested his wife, Nancy. He punched that guy twice (once in the face, the other at the waist, near that organ whose name I just can't remember right this crucial moment) and that guy basically dropped dead and died. Yes, died. So he was charged with murder (that is with intent) and even if not murder, at least manslaughter (with intent of causing hurt as the charge read, but not to murder). The judge was fierce, the prosecutor was Marco (now I am confused! Stanton law firm is a private law firm and yet they're prosecuting! Anyone knows something I may have missed?) and the defence is the whole HK Law Firm AND miss monotone herself, Sister Na whom I guess is still in love with Hung. Anyway Hung thought he might go to jail, he suffered heavy losses in the stock market, he can't even pay the insurance premium for his law firm and basically he was more broke than before, so he asked Sister Na to pretend to rekindle love with him and basically made his rather stupid wife to believe he was with Sister Na again. So the wife believed and asked for a divorce, in a friendly sort of way. Why Hung is doing this? Because he loved her too much to let her suffer with him and she's still young, can find a better husband.
To cut the long story short, Ben and Ling found a witness who can testify that that victim fell onto a fire hydrant (hitting that organ that I still can't remember the name) after disturbing a rather fierce dog and basically when Hung punched him, that victim died not because of his punch but from the slow internal bleeding thanks to his itchy hand and ugly face which the dog obviously hated. Hung won the case, got off free but didn't care to find his wife again because he knew he couldn't give her happiness. Sister Na consoled him, in her usual loud temperamental way but she meant well.
That was when this series ended.
Next episode Vincent will confess he slept with that woman, that whatever her name is. And Ling will go mental in court because of this.
Interesting.
For a more complete summary of today's episode, check out SPCNET FORUMS.
Now the performances. Didn't see much to comment but I see enough of Ruby Wong to say she is absolutely horrible. She was practically screaming, SCREAMING when she was closing her case and yet she was so monotone. If I were the jury I would be very annoyed with her. And such a bad actress. But the worst was her screaming her every line. Ooi! People can hear ok, stop screaming!
And now I really do not understand. The end scene was Sister Na strutting into the conference room of the law firm when Hung was talking to his subordinates and then she pointed to Ben and Vincent and asked, "You two. Are you interested in going bar?"
Anyone from HK please explain to me what that means? Does it mean you must have higher standing to appear before higher court (thus wearing that wig-but is HK still wearing that wig?) or what? Because Ben and Vincent has always been doing trial work so they're advocates. So what is going bar?
I am so confused.
Labels: Episode 15
I missed today's episode because I was watching The Apprentice. It was worth missing this episode. But no worries, I found a summary for this episode at SPCNET FORUMS written by T-rinh. From the looks of it I didn't missed much.
Ben sees Lok Geen not admitting the crime, was extremely anxious, father and son began to argue. Ben ran off. Lok Geen then asked Vincent to help him defend on the court, but Vincent urged Lok Geen to ask Ben instead and think carefully first. Ben returned and decided to help Lok Geen defend until the end. Ben sees his father's relationship with people are very good, suggested to find neighbors to help him be personality witnesses. Ah Ling cooked a meal just for Vincent, Jessica helped her on the side, Vincent was greatly touched, during the meal, everyone was talking about Mr. Yu's case. Ben reminded Jessica to watch the crime scene building's security tapes just to see if Mr. Yu really did go there. Jessica saw the tapes and could not get any clues from it, Homer recognized the lady on the elevator with Mr. Yu is the dance lady, BeBe. Jessica understands why Mr. Yu hid the truth. Ben urged Mr. Yu to be honest and tell the truth to the judge and agreed that he will help him prevent Mrs. Yu from knowing it. Ben used his tricks to prevent Mrs. Yu from going on the court to listen to the case, Jessica planned BeBe to go on court as a witness, but suddenly, Mrs. Yu rushed onto the court with her grandmother, they've found the gold ornaments, Mr. Yu is innocent, the case was closed.
Before Lok Geen went on court, he was nervous and filled with thoughts. Ben finds the receipt for the home for the elderly, thinks it was a good evidence to prove Lok Geen is not a greedy person. Ben asked the home for the elderly chief to witness Lok Geen is a kind hearted and willing to help others type of person, Lok Geen admit he did not purposely took the ancient jade to keep but just wanted to get his justice. wanted his many years of friend Yuen Goi to admit he lied to him about the real value of the ancient jade Yuen Goi felt horrible inside his heart, after Yuen Goi heard Lok Geen's speech, decided to not sue him, the two ended with a settlement.
Homer's wife, Ah Gwun took on the job as an insurance agent, Homer sees her working so hard, his heart ached and argued with her client in the middle of the restaurant. Angela saw and it made her jealous, took this chance to chase him for the money. Homer wanted to pay the debts as soon as possible, he received some stock market tips and decided to enter the market taking on a very big risk. Ah Gwun got harassed by her client, Homer was furious and beaten the client, afterwards the client died all of a suddenly.
So that criminal looking guy did not steal those gold after all! He was having an affair with a woman during that time! No wonder. So the wife never knew about his affair. Good enough. Very nice of Ben to do what he did. And Jess won her first case all by herself!! Well she kinda won.
One question; did that guy give back to Mr Lok that chicken jade?
Labels: Episode 14
Oooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... hate this Ben today. I mean, ok I, s a viewer too had been taken for a ride, I too felt cheated, angry, how I can be so stooopid BUT oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... hate this Ben today.
Arson Case
Guess what? Sister did actually started that fire I talked about in the episode before. And guess what? Brother and sister were in it together, wanting to take revenge on that mean store owner. I suspect the brother actually wanted to steal that car! In fact I really doubt every sob story he said just last episode! How did Ben know? He saw them harrassing someone on the street like some street kids, like some gangsters and Ben, asked why? WHY? And they said they had to take care of themselves like what mama said and Ben said so I was stupid eh? and they said yeah Ben you were stupid lah. And guess what? They walked away after being so darn rude and Ben, having believed their story felt like the worst and most stupid idiot in the entire universe to believe they were actually so poor, so sad, so pitiful and so innocent. Ling saw all of it and didn't know how to console poor Ben, so she just followed Ben who kept saying he was so stupid to believe them.
At the same time, Vincent won his Marco Lee case. Now I was wondering how, when ,where? How come never show? Remember I was speculating what he was going to do and start of series, he won, celebrated his win with his insurance ex-girlfriend, Marco Lee and also Jessica. What he did to win that case? Maybe I will know later. I think the witness, that was the widow never turned up in court. Haven't they heard of subpoena?
Anyway, that insurance ex-GF was coming onto Vincent BIG TIME and Jess kinda cutely reminded Vincent to "Hey! Why don't you call Ling Ling? You know, YOUR GIRLFRIEND?" and thereafter don't know what happened to Jess because we see Vincent driving that "electric factory" home. Oh she never stopped asking him "Wanna come up to my house? Oh look you're too drunk, you can't drive, let's go up" but Vincent said he has a date, so the girl left. Vincent called Ling who was busy consoling Ben who was busy trying to understand why he was so stupid and so Ling said no to Vincent as she was busy and Vincenty sulkingly said "Ok, oh Marco is calling me" and ended the call. Next thing he walked out of the car to vomit and there she was, that "come to my place" girl and he actually walked up. When Ben was ok, Ling was driving back home and called Vincent and said Let's eat and Vincent said Sorry, party ended and just ended the call. Very ungentlemanly, a first for him. And when Ling was walking towards the stairs, Vincent jumped out and surprised Ling. She was happy to see him, he had that guilty look which made me wonder, did he do something with that wanton woman? Hmmmm maybe we will know later.
Two new cases today.
Breaking & Entering (to rob a house)
Ben was supposed to take this case but the guy who was charged was very unconvincing. He kept saying he did not steal his wife's grandma's jewelry worth $30,000-00 and his pregnant wife was there and she believed him BUT ...
1. he had an unexplained $30,000-00 in his account which he said he won lottery
2. he lied to the police by saying he never went back to that house that day but he was busted by the surveillance camera
3. someone saw him picking up some jewelry
4. he was reluctant and seemed to wonder about his answers when questioned
Ben was so frustrated that he said "YOU HAVE TO TELL ME THE TRUTH, IF NOT HOW CAN I HELP YOU, TELL ME DID YOU STARTED THAT FIRE.." and Jess immediately stopped him, client asked what fire and Ben was asked to leave, Jess said she can handle this.
Later on this guy was officially charged, he still denied stealing those jewelry and wife believed him but Ben didn't, Jess believed him but suspected he had another story to tell and Jess said she will help him. GOOD FOR JESS. For once she is taking on a case by her ownself though that guy looked guilty to me with his shifting eyes. By the way excellent performance by this actor whose name I do not know.
Next case, worse since it involved family.
Stealing Jade
I think Ben's dad is called Lok Kin but I will call him Mr Lok until I confirm this. Anyway Mr Lok was asked by the localold folks home to come to see an old man who had often taken advantage of Mr Lok but Mr Lok found out poor guy died, leaving him his worldly possessions of one bottle of medicine, one bottle of fermented something (you know, foo-yu) and one chicken shaped jade. Mr Lok went to a restaurant bemoaning how he had to settle that old man's $5,000-00 debt with that home and yet got some lousy stuff, feeling stupid when a friend came by and he asked the friend to look at the jade and suddenly the friend's eyes looked shifty and he said the jade is worthless and yet offered to buy it for $500-00. Mr Lok wanted to give him free but that guy just put the money on the table, took the jade and left.
Next thing that guy a very old friend of Mr Lok saw Mrs Lok who overheard him say something about a chicken shaped jade worthed over $50,000-00 and how on idiot believed him when he said it was worthless. Mrs Lok told Mr Lok who went to see this guy was he refused to return the jade. Mr Lok went home to Ben and now here is what I HATE ABOUT BEN.
Ben said, you took the $500-00, so sorry dad, case closed, no case. Dad said he cheated me, you have to fight for me and Ben said no fight, no more twisting the truth, just accept it dad and that was it! Ben Ben Ben, so bloody pessimistic, so unprofessional, so not like a good son! Dad was clearly cheated and he went oh so what, big deal, I got cheated too, mine was worse, let me sit on my sorry arse to feel sorry for myself, pity myself for being so stupid whilst my dad got cheated, he deserved it, he was stupid as well.
Sorry for my crude language, but for once I like Vincent's style. Work stays at the office. What happened Ben? Hate this Ben. More to hate later.
Then father said I will do something and Ben got a call and his dad was arrested for stealing! But he didn't steal because...
1. bad guy was drunk, dropped that jade and walked off, so dad picked it up but was arrested by police for looking suspiscious; and
2. dad thought that jade was his since that guy cheated him and he was taking what was his.
So Ben told Dad, please plead guilty, be fined and get on with life. Imagine this, Dad was the victim, albeit a stupid victim but Ben told him to just say he did it?! And then Dad almost pleaded guilty until he saw Jess with her client with that dishonest eyes and Jess said don't worry, if you did not do it, plead not guilty and we will fight it out and that man sat next to Mr Lok and Mr Lok said to himself if that guilty criminal looking man can plead not guilty why not I? So he pleaded not guilty, back at office Ben asked WHY DAD WHY? And Dad explained why but Ben said you did it, you took what was not yours! And Dad said I was cheated, it was mine, why are you not protecting my interest? And son said I am protecting your interest, I don't want to twist the truth and dad yelled so you will twist the truth for that arson duo (Juno told dad by the way, something Ben didn't want dad to know) and dad questioned Ben's sincerity and Ben was angry and wanted to leave but stopped by Vincent and dad told Vincent to please take my case since my son doesn't believe me and well... we will know the outcome in the next episode.
Ben! Ben! My least favourite character today. So negative, so discouraging. His dad's rights was clearly violated. Anyway at the end of today's episode Ben saw a beggar with broken legs on teh street who begged for money, Ben didn't want to give but his heart softened and he gave and police came and beggar RAN. Ben laughed at himself, like I the stupid one again when the police saw Ben and said to Ben some wise words ...
"Sometimes you will never know if it's true or false, all you have is to believe rather than not believing because you might never know ... it could be true"
Ben smiled, like some realisation that he was truly an idiot to question his ownself and the end.
Anyway wise words.
Anyway again, I told my sis, maybe we the female population has been deprived of some good old chilvary by gentleman because Vincent said to that wanton woman to just go back up to her place, and do please call me when you reach your apartment.
Ahhhh such simple gestures is enough to melt my cold cold heart. But Vincent is something of an enigma. He's bad, but not bad to the core. One very good scene had Ben eating, Ling and Vincent with him when Marco walked in with a bunch of reporters who wanted to interview him when Marco said interview my lawyer and Vincent gladly obliged. Ling looked over to a smiling Vincent and said in her dreamy voice; "I love to see Vincent when he is working ..." and in her eyes were admiration, respect. Ben felt even more an idiot when he remembered the arson duo. But Ling didn't mean to put Ben down, she was just revealing her admiration for Vincent. Like Jess, Ling saw in Vincent the ideal lawyer, efficient, very professional and concentrate on his work 100%. I guess every woman wants a Vincent who is a gentlema on the outside, dresses like a metrosexual man and is good at his work. But later I am sure we will know what Vincent actually did for Marco Lee.
Performance wise, I am beginning to see Sammul Chan's more appealing side, his boyish smile and cheeky twinkle in his eyes. But his acting capabilities is not tested, yet. Maybe later when some case involves his father, some emotional acting. I like seeing him play cool because acting cool requires minimum acting, maximum style. Wonder how he will be when he is required to actually peel away his outer coolness and give us his most heartfelt acting, someone emotionally exposed,someone naked, not literally but you know what I mean.
Best performance? Still Raymond Lam though I hated his Ben. But I like the way his Ben simply didn't care anymore. Myolie Wu had little to do today, just the supportive friend/girlfriend but her best acting moment was when she was looking over at Sammul's Vincent with such admiration in her eyes. They were rumoured to be lovers right? At that moment either it was supreme acting (which is most probably the case) or real life continuing in reel life.
Bernice Liu fared slightly better today and she is super cute today.
Worst acting is still our dear Ruby Wong. Now I don't get it. Her Sister Na quit Stanton because she got permission to be a defence lawyer from the bar?? Is Stanton some privatised prosecution firm? What is she anyway? I don't get it and I am dying here ... WHAT IS SHE? A PROSECUTOR OR DEFENCE LAWYER? HUH? HUH? HUHHHH?! Anyway even with all the confusion in my mind, I still can't get over her monotone delivery of her lines. Pure torture.
Well interesting episode with so many unanswered questions. Maybe in later episodes we will know more.
Labels: Episode 13
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.
Labels: Episode 12
Another very emotional episode and a clear indicator of the events of coming episodes. First the cases...
Sperm Donor Case
The judge accepted the DNA test (as it is the law except in USA I think but in most Commonwealth countries, the court is not concerned with how you obtain the evidence as long as it is relevant and the prejudice to the Defendant does not outweigh the relevance of it - something like that) but after hearing some very emotional closing arguments by Ling (something like the child must have a right to know her father if not she will regret it and this will be a time bomb) and Sister Na (who gave a brilliant argument that the child shouldn't be disturbed, she knew her adopted father as her real father, this would disrupt a 6 year old kid too young to understand), the judge ruled that donor does not have custody of child (I mean so what if he's rich and they're poor? He can always pay her money to keep the child right?) and no visitation rights either until teh child is 18 years of age when this court order lapses (as 18 is adult and she can do whateve she wants) because the court does not want to disrupt the child's stable life.
Ling was angry, saying that shouldn't be the case and when Ben tried to reason with her with the one dialogue I have been expecting, "Of course now you see it differently, what if you were 6? How would you have felt having known such a truth?". Ling could not answer him and said this wasn't the case. Ling, I beg to differ. You're using an adult's perspective to evaluate what a child would feel. You might have felt traumatised if you knew the truth when you were 16.
Anyway the case as expected had a happy ending. The mother gave the donor the permission to spend time with the little girl, thanking Ling for making her realise the whole thing. But the little girl only knows this man as UNCLE and in time when they got closer, she will reveal the truth to that girl. I find this solution brilliant but you know I bet the girl will still feel angry when she's grown up, having been in a lie and all. The same old argument but this would have to do for now.
Two new cases, pretty interesting.
Accident Causing Death Case
Marco, the lawyer from Stanton Law Firm was driving and talking business over the phone when a guy ran out into the street, and as witnessed by that man's wife, Marco's car struck that guy and he died. Marco to give him credit didn't drive away but made police reports. He knew he had it, but since when he knocked down the guy he was doing business on behalf of the firm, the firm may be sued and the firm must pay this widow compensation. The law is simple. A firm is a pertnership and so all partners are equally and together liable for the firm's losses. Marco worried that he will drag down his fellow partners. Then of course why should the firm be held liable? This is called vicarious liability, an employer is liable for an employee's wrongdoings done during carrying his work function for his employer. So Marco thought he might lose, and he even engaged Vincent as his lawyer but Vincent very confidently said, every case has its loopholes, find the loophole and win the case. I wonder what he will do?
Arson Case
A very pitiful case, given to Ben by the Legal Aid (those centres which provides free legal representation to poor people - lawyers doing volunteer work-who says lawyers are sharks and heartless? I don't see doctors doing medical aid work except in very very very poor countries). A young man was accused of setting fire to a shop after having an argument with the landlord who accused him of trying to steal his car but young man denied it all. He said he was admiring the car (sometimes I do that too at parking lots). Ben believed him. Poor guy was so hungry that Ben had to buy him not just 1 but 2 sandwiches. When Ben got his bail done, that man ran away and back home to a tiny hut and gave that sandwich to his younger sister who was eating bread crumbs. Apparently their parents died young, younger sister was placed with forster care but was abused, when bro turned 18 he took back his sister and has since lived in proverty, but happy. Poor guy thought 100% he will sure lose but Ben thought otherwise.
Tomorrow we will see Ben suspecting the sister as the real arsonist and this is probably one of the worst dilemma a lawyer can ever have to deal. Imagine this, your client is not guilty but his pitiful sister is, do you turn in the sister to save the brother though the brother would rather die than let you do that?
Arghhhhhhh... the complexities of the law and human nature. At this point I want to comment about that statue you will see at the end of the opening song, a lady (like a Greek statue) blindfolded, in one hand she has a what you call that thing, that weight measure thing (you know in Malaysia Barisan Nasional's logo) and the other hand a sword. This is the ultimate symbol of the law. Blindfolded means everybody is equal in the eyes of law(no one gets better treatment), the weight measure thing which is equal (and not loopsided) means equality, fair justice for all (I think but there may be a better way to describe this) and the sword I think means the execution of justice in a fair and just manner. Why a woman? Maybe more compassionate? I don't know. I never studied that in law school. Now many might view this differently. Blindfolded means the law is blind, can't see a thing, so can't see right from wrong, as in no eyes to see anymore, the weight measure thing is whoever richer gets more and the sword? Definitely as a weapon for more money? A woman? Emotional being? JOKING! But like I said, there's always two sides to every coin.
Anyway back to relationship.
This episode I absolutely hate Ling for the way she screamed at her adopted mom. Her mom even secretly cleaned Sister Na's house, cooked for her, told Ben to take her sweater to her and even went to see her at court and what did Ling do? Cry, scream, blame, run, in that order. The mom could only cry. I was hoping the mom would faint or something, more dramatic. When Ling saw the donor's happy ending, she happily said every child should have that right to know (in fact she was too eager to help the donor, discounting the fact that the child's mother is also the child's biological father and Sister Na asked the donor's wife who was willing to accept the child a very good question: "When you have children with this man, will you say you will love this child just as much?"-no answer!). Ben then said something which I thought was very well said, very good script. Anyway Ben said "Your adopted mom loves you too, what about her?", Ling said "She deprived me of knowing my real mother, hacking off the tie that I have to her, I will never know my real mother, she died" and she went quiet. Then she said "I will never be able to have that relationship with her" and Ben said this gem of an advice, "All the more you should appreciate and forgive your adopted mother. Since your real mother is dead, that is in the past. If you continue like this, you might lose this chance to love your adopted mother, since sorry to say, bad things might happen, who knows? You should use this time to appreciate this mother of yours ...".
Yes Ben, tell that too Ling! So hate her for pushing her mother away.
Then Ling went back home to Sister Na's place and saw her mom (peculiarly dressing in very nice dress, like going to a wedding or something) cleaning the apartment. Ling coldly said, "What are you doing here?" and there these mom and daughter went, crying, one still blaming, the other feeling regret. The mom didn't want Ling to know because at first she wanted to but May told her real mom died already and mom was afraid Ling will act the way she did and so she continued to lie. Ling asked her mom, "Why you are even here after how I treated you?" and mom tearfully said, "Because you're my daughter, I raised you, I love you". The mom in an emotional plea said to Ling "I know you will never forgive me, I will never forgive myself, I will leave" and crying and crying and Ling (that is Myolie Wu's best acting moment in this series thus far) cried and cried and then ran to her mother, hugged her very tight and cried " Mommy, I missed you, I love you". Ahhh brought tears to my eyes. Thanks to Ben and Jess of course who gave the mom the keys. But Ling still wanted to stay from home, to learn to be independant.
At this point I must pause for a while and just list a few questions ...
1. why on Earth Ling whilst crying so emotional in that scene with her mom still holding on to her handbag?
2. where is the culprit, the perpetrator that is Ling's dad? Where is he?
And MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ...
3. in earlier scene when Ben followed suspected arsonist home to his shack, he said "I am your brother's lawyer" and at the end of that scene the girl said "Brother Ben ...". Can't remember what she said thereafter. My question is Ben never introduced himself to that girl, brother never said Ben's name, in fact Ben introduced himself as Lok Bun to the brother at the police station so how on Earth the girl knew Ben is called Ben?
Now Vincent, Vincent, Vincent is heading for trouble! I suspect he will use despicable means in Marco's case. Anyway he's famous now after the ISP-$10-00 case. Jess was in awe of him as usual. But he was never there for poor Ling. So Ling was so angry she refused to speak to him. Vincent then used the same old trick, flowers, air tickets to Japan! (where has he got all that money eh?) They booked the trip, Jess felt "Aiyahhhh they're going on trip which means ..." well intimate moments) and then Marco's case popped up and the trip is cancelled. So again Vincent used the other trick, a cup of specially brewed coffee AND a specially self made blueberry cheese cake to win Ling's heart again. But Ling wasn't really angry. And that was when tonight's episode stopped.
Storywise I find today's episode very emotional and the entire episode is totally Myolie's moment of greatness. That confrontation with her mom was so well done, the camera had to move away from Lui San's suffering method of acting (good acting but I could imagine a better actress could have made this scene even better) to Myolie's teary eyes and stricken face. That is why I have always said Myolie has natural talent, from her first series (where her only fault was being way too young) to now, a grown person capable of possibly better and better acting. This is one actress who continues to grow and gets better each time. Love her though hated her Ling.
Sammul Chan's Vincent is back to smug smiles, nothing much today. I just long to see that evil glint in his eyes, or maybe more accurately that jealous glint. Sammul should be a villain.
Raymond Lam also gave a very good performance, his laid back style of acting in here is so pleasant to watch. I was so afraid he might do the Michelle Yip you know, opera acting? Well, so far his performance is natural and yet controlled. Great for him of course. Love Ben.
Bernice Liu is cute today, but nothing else really.
The end of my episodic thoughts.
Anyway I was thinking and thinking about Raymond and Myolie when I suddenly realised they were both in Golden Faith, and they both played brother and sister and Myolie played a mentally challenged girl whilst Raymond was positively unreasonable in there and with his over the top opera eyes type of acting (as in BULGING EYES). That was like so long ago when it wasn't. A little older, a little more experienced and see their transformation here! Of course Golden Faith is also one of my favourite series, Gallen Lo was magnificent together with Deric Wan created a dream team in acting and Raymond was quite ok but Myolie was the star in there. You may fault the story of Golden Faith but you can's find fault with the acting of several key players. In fact I thought the story in Golden Faith and its characters very memorable. Just watch Golden Faith and then this series just to see how much these two key players have improved. They no longer need a Gallen Lo or a Deric Wan to carry the series, they can do it themselves, especially Myolie and that ladies and gentleman, is what I call a true acting talent with screen presence, leading man/woman qualities and charisma. They're not gorgeous in physical appearance but longevity in acting industry is not by being just beautiful, having an X factor is also a bonus point.
I hope to see Myolie as a villain. By the way she was superb in Doomed to Oblivion.
Labels: Episode 11
SPOILERS alert!
All opinion remains my own
Episodic thought is a detailed recap/summary and short review of each episode (as I watch them) with a dash of my own unique way of writing (basically it means if you're not into opinion that may differ from yours, please do not continue reading.
Your comments are most welcomed. Do use Post A Comment for the appropriate episode. Do remember to bookmark the episode so you may refer back when someone replies to your comments (if any). When commenting, please observe the rules of decorum and common courtesy. If this is a new series, please avoid posting future spoilers in earlier episodes, however you may post speculations.
This series was released in 2003 but was broadcast over ASTRO Wah Lai Toi in 2004. This episodic thoughts was written during that broadcast over ASTRO on a daily basis from Monday to Friday, episode per episode and it is officially completed when the series ended its run. Episodic Thoughts consists of summary of plot and a review of the current episode, all written by me, Funn Lim. The comments are still open so feel free to post your comments. Please be informed that the posts in here are full of spoilers. Thank you.
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