THE CONFIDANT / 大太監 [TVB][2012] : The Baffling Non-Existent Palace Struggle in “The Confidant”[O]

Written by Funn Lim

The following are not episode recaps but are ramblings and torrents of disbelief for The Confidant <大太監>. All merely personal opinion.

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Released in : 2012
Cast-Character : Wikipedia

Watched until episode 29…

You know, there are so many things I love about The Confidant. The acting, some characters like An Dehai, Pang Sam Soon and of course Li Lianying who is slowly becoming more of a man than a coward. There are some characters I love to hate, like Seung Hei, Cixi and of course the one destined for most hate, Cian. And also Tim Sau. In fact by the end of episode I believe 29, I am convinced Cian and Tim Sau caused the downfall of the empire and only Lianying and Cixi can save the empire! Very dangerous precedent this series is forming, as Yoda will say.

I also like some scenes in episode 29, such as Tongzhi explaining why he had given up on himself and dedicated his entire time to having fun, in one moving scene Sam Soon got down on his knees and tearfully said to the emperor, “Your majesty promised us loyal servants that you will always help us, you will always be on our side no matter what. But your majesty has broken your promise. Your loyal servant is now bullied and cornered by his enemies in all 4 corners and your majesty did not come to rescue me. Why your majesty has forsaken your promise?”

Tongzhi woke up for one split second from his angry moment and explained why… “Mother said I am useless. Those ministers talk behind my back and call me useless. I am nothing but a puppet emperor. So what if I do well? No one cares! Since everyone has marked me as a useless emperor, and so I shall be!!! I will be the most useless of them all!!” It was a very sad moment and I blame Cixi. I don’t get her; when he worked hard and sneaked out of the palace to actually see the problems of the people, she scolded him and said he was too stupid to make use of his ministers and therefore unfit to be emperor. I thought that was especially harsh and I was thinking, “What does she want him to do?!”

But on a good note, let me declare, I have forgiven Seung Hei! Why? Well the princess died when he was forced to go and administer medicine to Cian by that dastardly Tim Sau and so Seung Hei blamed Cian and scolded her. The moment he scolded her, I forgave him. He had the guts to say what he said,”You evil black hearted woman! Why are you still alive and all the good people dead? The princess didn’t deserve to die. But you, you deserve death and yet here you are, alive”. In modern speech, Seung Hei could have save his breath and just scream “DIE BITCH DIE!!!!!!” And when he was imprisoned as he explained why he refused to help Cian, the way he said it, I swear Seung Hei will go mad one day. He said with a tinge of a smile that grew into a full blown wide grin as he said, “Why won’t I? Right now, she would be feeling the full effects of her illness. She will be in tremendous pain, she will be suffering, and in 7 days, she will die. She deserves to die in the most painful way for what she did to the princess and Dehai” and I swear he was smiling. Kudos to Raymond Wong for that piece of fantastic acting, that satisfied look of a man who is happy to know his enemy is suffering. But of course it turns out Cian was well, not even sick and Seung Hei was baffled and he was carried away crying “WHY ARE YOU STILL ALIVE? WHY AREN’T YOU DEAD?! There is no justice in this world, there is no fairness, you evil black hearted woman, you are still alive when you should be in hell for what you did!!”

At that moment, I said “Seung Hei, bless you!” Yes I forgive him! I know he was selfish in An Dehai’s case but he was a fool for love. He was also not that nice when he knew the princess didn’t love him anymore but what he did after, the way he cared for her, the way he didn’t care if he lived or die as long as if he could save her, he will kill himself as sorry to An Dehai, the way he scolded Cian, made me forgive him. Lianying and Sam Soon have also forgiven him.

All these are the good stuff.

The Baffling Non-Existent Palace Struggle Story

And that is exactly what I don’t get. The entire story now until the end is the threat posed by Cian to the emperor and to Cixi and the empire and how Lianying came back to “clean the house of rubbish” as he puts it that way. So Tim Sau declared Lianying to be public enemy no. 1 and in return Lianying asks Cixi to give him a 4th ranked official as his title which is really very high and a pearl on top of his hat. Basically he is now “Big Eunuch”. Terribly exciting except…

where is the struggle?

First of, Cian is powerless. I don’t get Cixi don’t just chop off Tim Sau’s head? She said she gave up on her son who accused her of adultery with Dehai. Cian wants to make life hell for Cixi. So she made sure Tongzhi is a useless emperor having fun all day. BUT so? So the power struggle is…what? Because Cixi is still ruling the country. Cixi basically can just chop off Tim Sau’s head, kick out Chan Fuk and put Cian under house arrest. Why not since Cixi is RULING the country and Cian is doing what?

Secondly, the emperor is powerless. So what if Cian made him useless, how can that threaten Cixi? It only solidifies her position as Cixi now is the de-facto ruler. Make her feel heartsick? Like that will cause her hell?

Thirdly, Cian using the eunuchs for her grand plan of tormenting Cixi. But what eunuchs she used? Ling Tim Sau who is a joker to tell you the truth. Cian could have given Tim Sau a 4th rank position but she has no power to do so. Instead Cixi gave Lianying that ranking! So what’s the point of Tim Sau turning evil? What does he get in the end?

Finally, what is Cian’s grand plans anyway? Because the way I see it Prince Gong is still working well with Cixi! Prince Gong is a righteous man, he says what he thinks and what he sees. He is not evil. He is not even on Cian’s team. Cixi is still fine. So what is her grand plan? To be a nuisance? What a small minded “grand” plan that is!

The problem with The Confidant right now is it isn’t logical. Forget about historical accuracy. When An Dehai died, my historically accurate side went away with his death. I miss him so. For me the idea of Lianying killing the bad guys had me salivating. Their deaths will be deserving. I am not talking about that logic. I am talking about story integrity.

Here we have a story about power struggle but it was at the end a petty family squabble where one can right the damage but refuses (Cixi), one is going insane (Cian) and one who is torn in the middle (Tongzhi) with one by the side not aware what is happening (Prince Gong). It is not a reasonable power struggle. I mean so what if the emperor is useless? Cixi is there, she can run the country. What possible thing can Cian do to ruin Cixi’s life? Right now, probably killing her favourite eunuch, An Dehai, causing a misunderstanding between Tongzhi and Cixi but then nothing comes out of that misunderstanding.

Since history is screwed, why not follow half of real history? Why not show Cixi on Tongzhi’s good side and Tongzhi favouring Cian and push aside Cixi? Why not make Cian influence Prince Gong to hate Cixi? Why not Cian run the country, put Cixi under house arrest? Why not make it bigger and not make it so petty?

I seriously do not get the so called power struggle because the way I see it Cixi is still in power comfortably. So all these stuff done by Tim Sau is pointless.

My prediction of the last episode will be Prince Gong forced to take out the letter punishing Cixi. I suppose maybe I will get to see Prince Gong being misled about Cixi and at the end dramatically save Cixi. Or maybe not. Maybe Lianying will kill the enemies but the way I see it, the enemies probably fall down and hit their own heads and die. Both Cixi and Lianying’s hands will be free of blood since like I said, series is going all out to show them in a good light. Perhaps when Tongzhi dies, Cian switches back to good woman role.

Because my biggest problem with this series is making Cian the villain. It doesn’t make sense for her grand plan, whatever that is. I would have hoped Cixi was stubborn and unreasonable. Why not make Prince Gong the bad guy? I mean leave Cian alone!

But Maggie Shiu is masterful as Cian. When she was very sick, I could hear her voice trembling. When she is evil, there is a certain satisfaction in her voice. Absolutely fantastic performance.

Natalie Tong is the poor empress but again so little time, so little to do. I just feel there are some good characters wasted and they’re not the eunuchs. But since this series is about eunuchs, I must say the focus is right. But the one person that is very related to the eunuchs is Cixi and I still find her bland. In fact I find her Cixi deep down in that heart of hers is one evil minded woman. Because I just don’t get her. Cian I know. She will be mad soon. But Cixi and the way she scolded her son at the beginning doesn’t make sense.

But at least it is interesting with Lianying back in the palace and a changed man. He was always the coward and An Dehai the gungho guy. Even in death An Dehai retained his gungho-ness. Lianying whilst is happy outside with his sifu, Sin Yung and their adopted son, inside he is struggling with his anger. He is angry because he new An Dehai was wrongly accused and died pitifully. I was thinking please don’t show him returning to the palace to save Cixi. And thankfully, in one of the best moments in this episode, right up there with Seung Hei scolding and cursing Cian, is Lianying saying he wants to go back to the palace to avenge An Dehai’s death. Same goes for Seung Hei who vows to fight Cian to avenge for the princess and An Dehai’s death. Everybody got his (and his) priorities right. That is perhaps the most logical moment. Of course Lianying was also right when he said “Eunuchs scheming against one another for power is expected and I won’t argue with that. But using the emperor’s well being as a pawn is something I will not accept.”

Good point! Even if I don’t get how one Lianying can save the palace. Because there are no other eunuchs?

Anyway episode 29 featured a short conversation between Lianying, Sinyung and one young scholar named Kang youwei (Hong Yau Wai) and he proposes that an emperor that can’t even rule over his own household can’t possibly be trusted to rule over the empire. Meaning if you can’t even straighten your household, what more can you do for the empire? People must not be selfish to one’s own needs and must do what is right. That and his deep desire to avenge Dehai’s death drove Lianying back into the palace, with Sinyung’s blessing.

So is this Kang Youwei real?

Google says.. YES!! Got pictures also!!

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kang_Youwei

Who is he?

Political reformer hated by Cixi.

There, history screwed again but oh who cares!! Lianying, KILL! KILL! KILL!!!

Oh how TVB has brainwashed me!

>> You will also find this article with comments at Jaynestars.com 



who is online counter java hosting

Read More

THE CONFIDANT / 大太監 [TVB][2012] : The End of An Dehai [O]

Written by Funn Lim

The following are not episode recaps but are ramblings and torrents of disbelief for The Confidant <大太監>. All merely personal opinion.

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Released in : 2012
Cast-Character : Wikipedia

There is this awesome scene from Kang Xi Di Guo/Kang Xi Wang Chao (starring Chen Daoming as Kangxi) where his eunuch, Li Dequan made some mistake and Kangxi wasn’t very pleased, but not some murderous emperor, anyway he asks Li Dequan a question;

“Do you know how you will die in future?”

And Li Dequan was baffled since he was young and not very sharp and he was like “Errrr Your Majesty… I.. errrr…” and the Emperor whilst looking for his book answered sharply;

“Ni hui ben si” aka “You will die from stupidity”

It was a funny scene! And as I watched the sorry life of Seung Hei, An Dehai and gang, I suddenly remembered that scene and my feeling is everyone who will die and did die in The Confidant died from their own stupidity.

Thank you to Kangxi for highlighting the obvious!

And so here I am, continuing with this post with a bit on the single most emotional moment so far in The Confidant (and it is nearing its end) and that is the death of An Dehai and how in the end everyone in The Confidant dies because in some ways from their own stupidity or others’ stupidity. In An Dehai’s case, it was not by his own stupidity. I predicted a whole lot of things but two things I never thought of:-

1. An Dehai remained true to himself and died in my eyes a true man, balls and all.

2. The cause of his death in  a large part is thanks to people he cared about and who brought about his sorry end. And one of them his good friend Yiu Seung Hei and the other his benefactor whom he loved/hated and admired and respected who hurt him most when she insulted his perfect Siu Chai and yet comforted him when he cried for Siu Chai’s death, and that is his master, Cixi.

After I saw episode 25, I felt so disgusted with Seung Hei. For the princess and thinking if eloping with her, he betrayed An Dehai. And guess what? He lived to tell the tale. I mean what does Seung Hei have to do to actually die? He eloped with the princess, he aborted the princess’ unborn child without consent and now, the best of all, he told a white lie; he accused An Dehai and Cixi of a sexual adulterous immoral affair and yet, here he is, alive, well, crying and blaming himself. One of the best scene of Episode 26 was Sam Shun who even reprimanded his uncle Chan Fuk for his evil deed and Lianying who lost his best friend and brother An Dehai could not believe their eyes and ears when Seung Hei tried to justify himself. A scene worth recapping because I clapped at Lianying’s logic.

Seung Hei who after telling them that he bought back Dehai’s manhood and buried him with it was given dagger stares by both Lianying and Sam Shun frustratingly and with a tinge of anger says; “Lianying, what would you have done if it was your Sin Yung who was kidnapped? What would you have done?!” and Sam Shun angrily says with his trademark opener as in “Aiyah!! That doesn’t mean you can betray your friend!!” and Lianying angrily says “I would never have betrayed my brother and telling such a preposterous lie!! Poor Dehai! He already had his manhood cut off when he was little, now he had his head chopped off and his naked body humiliated by being hung at the wall for all to see!! I’d rather Sin Yung die!” and Seung Hei almost smirked as he said “You’re saying this because you’re not in my shoes!” and Lianying says “Yes I mean what I said! I will rather Sin Yung die than to frame my friend! And I will kill myself as well, so that I will not be a threat! I will never do what you did!” and I was clapping as Seung Hei looked shocked at Lianying’s reply and he knows Lianying will do what he said. Seung Hei defeated says dejectedly “I know what I did was wrong. After I have saved the princess, I will kill myself to redeem for what I did to Dehai”.

Seung Hei, does it matter then? Dehai is already dead. DEAD! D-E-A-D! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! And it is YOUR fault, you spineless, ball-less, hairless piece of crappy trash garbage bacteria virus disease unfit to be called a human being!

And guess what? When the Princess confessed to Seung Hei she no longer loves him, she actually loves her dead husband (which is why she wanted to keep the pregnancy and Seung Hei thinking much too highly of his manly charms thought she loved him still-oh and yes, also because Cian lied to Seung Hei about that love part as well), he was so angry, he shook and shook her body until she fainted and when Tim Sau said “She’s dead?” and Seung Hei was so angry with hateful he said with venom “If you so want to be with your dead husband, I will let you be! Join him in hell!” and he left. Wow, what a piece of work this Seung Hei is. And I suspect, even till the end he won’t die. So far, Lianying and Sam Shun is treating him like a pariah. GOOD!!!

But the true cause of An Dehai’s death is also in part thanks to Cixi. He was to be sentenced for corruption charges, the affair part was ridiculous eventhough Tongzhi believed it for reasons I am not sure why except he saw An Dehai hugging Cixi’s legs and crying as Cixi gently patted his head. That looked more motherly and lover you know what I mean? Anyway Cixi needs to save her reputation and so she asked An Dehai to do something which he agreed. That something was screaming at Cixi saying “You know want to abandon me? After you used me during your lonely nights and now you cast me aside? I am a real man! I served your needs and now you kick me out! You despicable wanton woman!!!” and even before he was beheaded he was screaming the same thing. Then his naked headless body was hung on the city wall for all to see, that he is an eunuch so where can there be any sexual affair? Why An Dehai did what he did was because he felt he owed Cixi; he knew he was dying anyway. Might as well save Cixi who was wronged in this instance. Cixi knew it was Cian’s doing by the way and Cian knows she knows and she doesn’t care.

I have been dreading An Dehai’s death scene and it was quite underwhelming. I feel the writer could have stretched it a bit and show us An Dehai’s body on the city wall as well. Also perhaps a private scene of Cixi crying for An Dehai’s sacrifice. She did loved him like a son. All these were missing so there was no emotional punch. I am also disappointed Lianying did not vow to avenge An Dehai’s death but rather sought permission to leave the palace and join Sin Yung which Cixi permitted. I feel Lianying is so passive. But I suspect, as he leaves the palace with determination in his eyes, he is out to find a way to avenge for An Dehai’s death. Lianying can’t just leave and then come back to save Cixi. It wouldn’t make dramatic sense. Or maybe Lianying is THAT passive. If that is so, very very disappointing. Sam Shun meanwhile remains in the palace and remains as the only other character (other than Dehai) to remain dignified despite being from the enemy’s camp.

A side note on a few episodes ago about the fate of Siu Chai. I was wondering what will happen to Siu Chai when Dehai dies. Well, writer solved the problem by suddenly turning Siu Chai into a slut and then have Tim Sau to kill her and her lover off. The sudden bravery (in a way he was brave even if evil brave) of Tim Sau in killing people and his sudden association with Chan Fuk was… sudden. No rhyme nor reason, no explanation, just suddenly Siu Chai = slut, Tim Sau turns murderous. At least Seung Hei got some explanation. I was disappointed at this sudden turn of events for drama sake. I was really hoping to see that emotional side of Siu Chai crying as she sees An Dehai being executed, vowing to stay true for him and him alone. I was convinced theirs was a good love story. Unfortunately this series wants to drive home a point that even if eunuchs want love, they can’t get love since they can’t satisfy their woman and so there can’t be love with sex and there can’t be sex without that missing tool. Total and absolute BS! I hate what the writer did to Siu Chai. It was unbelievable, it was too sudden.

So far this series is more passive than aggressive. More people should be dying and yet no one is. An Dehai’s death is the first true “yuen on” (wrongfully convicted). And he remains the only character from start to end that is somewhat well developed with some emotional changes and personality changes but apart from that, he remains largely a positive sort of character.

The rest remains same old same old.

Performance wise, Michelle Yim has moved up a few leaders but thanks to the non existing writing for her character in this episode, she seems more inhuman than human. I find her rather too subdued, considering she was accused of having sex with her favourite eunuch and she did beg Cian to let Dehai go and Dehai ended up dead in such a horrifying way. She should be more angry. In private maybe throw a cup or something. But she is still same temperament.

Wayne Lai had more emotional scenes in here, and he handled them well. The scene where he questioned Michelle why she let Dehai died was a good scenes, you can see his hunched back and yet he is daring to question her but he understood why. He just wanted to know whose idea it was for what happened to Dehai, was it hers or Dehai. She answered “Does it matter?”. Maybe to Lianying it does.

Raymond Wong actually did very well in that explosive scene of vindictiveness with the Princess. He was ugly! Very good performance as well in that grave side confrontation scene. But oh how I hate Seung Hei! He has got to die a terrible death. And since he plans to die in the end, why not he takes a knife and stab Chan Fuk and Tim Sau and then die?

Power Chan basically is the bystander throughout and although he starts every sentence with AIYAH!, it doesn’t feel irritating or old. He also has the honour of being the one character that is from enemy’s camp who is honest with everyone and remain good. Quite an interesting situation he is in!

Raymond Cho is the star of this episode. Although his death scene could have been so much more, he died with integrity and honour. I love his last scene, as he screamed about Cixi being slut and liar and all, the moment before his head was chopped off, he looked down a bit, became sorta quiet and faced his imminent death with dignity. He truly made An Dehai a very masculine character even if An Dehai is an eunuch and in history is really darn corrupted. But he made me sympathise with him, even in Siu Chai’s matter. I understood his desperation and his willingness to forgive Siu Chai. He changed my opinion about eunuch being sissy and all. Sam Shun is a tad sissy. Even Lianying is a bit soft with perfectly manicured eyebrows. Seung Hei is a scumbag, he doesn’t not count. And here we have An Dehai, looking manlier than them all. Even in death, he faced his death with fortitude. TVB has brainwashed me into thinking An Dehai in real life must be that good! Of course I know all these are fake stuff. But truly, Raymond Cho deserves a gong for his fine performance. If a less competent actor is cast as An Dehai, the effect may be different. Ruco Chan was invited to act in this series and my feeling is he was offered the role of An Dehai. He would have made An Dehai more suspicious as to where his loyalty lies but no doubt he would have given a manly interpretation to An Dehai. What is great about Raymond Cho’s interpretation is his An Dehai is upright and righteous in his own way. Yes he is corrupted but he is not maliciously mean like Chan Fuk. He is a go getter and ambitious but he would never betray his friends like what Tim Sau did. He is also susceptible to love but he won’t for love throw away reason like what Seung Hei did. In a way he is Sam Shun except more serious, less silly and much manlier. He is brave, he stands up for himself, even in death it was in a way by his own rules. A fantastic performance even if the writing for An Dehai falters a little in the middle. The Confidant without An Dehai will be very different because everyone is either so desperately stupid or so cowardly passive.  An Dehai represents that proactive gutsy guy and Raymond Cho is the embodiment of THAT An Dehai The Confidant shows us.

Oh An Dehai, I shall miss you so!!!

By the way raise your right hand if you are one of those who have called The Confidant as The Confident. I swear my Engrish is dam powderful somedimes.

>> You will also find this article with comments at Jaynestars.com 



who is online counter java hosting

Read More

THE CONFIDANT / 大太監 [TVB][2012] : The Roundabout Plot of the Confidant [O]

Written by Funn Lim

The following are not episode recaps but are ramblings and torrents of disbelief for The Confidant <大太監>. All merely personal opinion.

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Released in : 2012
Cast-Character : Wikipedia

Watched until episode 22….
Let’s forget about episode 20. Or even episode 21. Go straight to episode 22 and then let’s forget about everything that has developed since episode 20 because episode 22 is back to square 1. I am frustrated at how the writer is bending his or her or their backs to make Cixi the good guy. When Cian seems nice, now in episode 22 we are told.. dang dang dang dang …. those are gong rolls by the way…Cian is back to “up to no good” stance. She has never really felt sorry for what she did and she says with gritted teeth “My biggest mistake is to beg for forgiveness from that Cixi. I am an Empress Dowager for god’s sake!! Why am I subjecting myself to that insulting humiliation of being second to that Cixi?!” and then she vows to destroy Cixi by destroying everyone around her, starting with An De Hai. So I was wrong. It may seem An De Hai never turned back, he in fact has a good relationship with his few best friends, best being Linying of course and An De Hai seems to know his days is up as he says to Lianying “If anything should happen to me, all my money is yours, I only ask you take care of Siu Chai for me, as I would take care of Sin Yung for you if anything bad should happen to you.” It means An De Hai is surely dying in the next few episodes thanks to Cian.

And this I do not get. Why on earth is Cian back to no good when viewers must be pitying her by now and wondering why that Cixi is so stubborn and vindictive and mean? Well simple! Like I said series is bending its back to show Cixi the misunderstood one and so by showing Cian is back to no good meaning she has never really changed or regretted her actions, it shows Cixi was right to doubt her and then to boycott her and then to treat her badly! Simple! To TVB all conflict is 1 + 1 equals the number TVB wants you to believe. I hate that sudden development. By trying to justify Cixi, and by making Cian the unrelentless small minded petty stupid jealous woman she is, shows how simplistic this series is. I want Cian to have good and bad side, but that is not to be. I want Cixi to be wrong but she is always right. There is nothing complicated about Cixi and Cian. And that is why this series’ storytelling is god awful if not for the performances.

Take for instance another line of story. The eunuch natural right to a loving relationship. I GET IT! OF COURSE I GET IT! Eunuch even if without his manhood deserves love, craves love, finds love, has love and is natural to love and want to be loved. I! GET! IT! So why is this theme being repeated again and again and again to the point that Cixi even approves of Lianying and Sin Yung OPENLY “dui sik” meaning intended for one another but not marrying as that would be a scandal. Cian begs Cixi to let An De Hai marry his Siu Chai. Seung Hei looking at princess He Shuo who is back by the way, longingly and sure enough will probably go back to love mode. Cian begging Seung Hei to forgive her for her sins of tearing the love birds apart. I suspect she was acting only in light of the ending. And in one unforgivably stupid dialogue and scene which is well acted but still stupid, An De Hai, and everyone laments the fact that “Why the emperor can do anything he wants, marry the woman he loves and we eunuchs can’t even love openly? It is unfair!”

Stupid, because he is the emperor. He is your master. And didn’t they for 2 episodes try to persuade Cixi to let the emperor marry his Bao Yin? Does that show the emperor can marry anyone he loves? No, he still has to beg, pout, be angry, etc before he can marry Bao Yin. And we all know how Prince Gong threatened Cixi with that letter (remember that letter?) before Cixi agrees to the marriage. No, emperor can’t do anything in here without mommy says yes and mommy won’t say yes before Prince Gong go nuclear with his threats. But best was when Cixi threatened Prince Gong back, Prince Gong said, “You can threaten me all you want, if I fall, I will be sure to drag you with me to hell”.

What a man! But what a stupid scene for the eunuchs. And that was when I threw my hands up in the air and scream “I!!!!!!!!!! GET!!!!!!!!!!! IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Now can we move on? Nope because back to Cian and back to square 1.

This series was amazing in episode 20, but the rest was “can do, can do” or in Chinese “ma ma fu fu”. It will be ending soon but from the looks of it Cixi will never be the villain. She is the good guy. She won’t go crazy or bad. But will this series end with Tong Zhi’s death? I do not doubt Cian’s love for Tong Zhi even if she is manipulating his love in a strange non manipulating way. Since Cian is dying soon, I suppose she will in TVB world die when Tong Zhi dies which means Tong Zhi’s death will be her wake up call? That she should stop being so damn petty? Maybe not. I am giving TVB too much credit in being subtle and yet meaningful.

But both Cian and Cixi are both stubborn and both petty in frustrating ways which is not giving this series a chance to tell a bigger conflict, a bigger story. Right now despite the wide angles of Heng Dian’s fake Forbidden City which is really the best thing in this series apart from the performances, the story sucks by not realizing its full potential.

And go back 2 episodes ago, where got Palace choose “sau lui” at night or so early in the morning? Easy to explain. TVB probably could only book that time for filming. Heng Dian is darn busy. And in some shots I can hear loud chatters (probably fans by the side? Can’t the director say SHUT UP?!) and in one shot, I can hear loud music blaring, probably another series filming some dance scenes. In a way it is a very noisy and happening place, in a way quite distracting. Destroys the feel of the place being the foreboding Forbidden Palace. I am sure in the Mainland China series you can hear all those sounds but since voices are dubbed, you hear echo. In TVB, credit to them for maintaining their integrity in NOT dubbing or rather by recording on site, I don’t mind the sounds. It was just funny in a distracting way or maybe distracting in a funny way which is a more apt description.

For a series with so many people, other people are not getting enough screen time or character development. The usually loud and annoying Natalie Tong gave a subdued performance but she has so little screen time, which may explain why I like her in here thus far. Nancy Wu did a good job but her role is getting lesser and lesser and less and less important. Even Lianying stopped being important. In fact everyone seems underused. I am not sure where all the time went. All I know is people walk in and out of a scene. Chan Fuk is back and that is annoying. He should be dead by now. A lot of people should be dead by now but recycling villains is seriously boring when these villains can’t do much.

At this point, this series survives on performances. But if you look at the story, it is standard ordinary stuff with some stupid moments thrown in and some amazingly idiotic dialogue with some very difficult to understand words just so to make it sound like it was back in those days when it the end it sounds pretentious. I want to love this series but right now, I am liking it for very specific reasons. And the story isn’t one of them. A suggestion to TVB; why not try following the real history? Because real history in this case makes more drama than this insipid so called drama. Waste of talent for the actors.

I hope when this series is done with the Cian conflict, it will show us a better more bigger conflict to end it with a bang. Or like I said, end it with Tong Zhi’s death to make Cian realise whatever she planned are just plain silly and a waste of time.

>> You will also find this article with comments at Jaynestars.com 



who is online counter java hosting

Read More

THE CONFIDANT / 大太監 [TVB][2012] : Life and Death in “The Confidant” [O]

Written by Funn Lim

The following are not episode recaps but are ramblings and torrents of disbelief for The Confidant <大太監>. All merely personal opinion.

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Released in : 2012
Cast-Character : Wikipedia

Watched until episode 18….

For a series about the corrupted dark world of the Forbidden Palace, there is very little death in this series. I was wondering what must someone do to get murdered in here. Well, I suppose the baseline is eloping with the Princess. Anything below that is death.

I do remember technically first death was Sing Bo, the ultra serious stressed looking assistant of Prince Gong. He got executed. Since Cixi is so nice, I assume there was no “Eliminate 9 Generations” edict. Whilst he deserves death for instigating an unneeded coup of sort, he was betrayed in a way by Prince Gong. My impression of Prince Gong lessens thereon.

But eunuchs? No one died until that Head of Medical Dept’s eunuch and I will say it was a deserving death. Because he was being a pest and An De Hai had to just stab him (out of anger) because he was basically telling An De Hai to go screw himself when An De Hai was trying to stabilize the power of handling 3,000 eunuchs. His life and career depended on it.

And thereafter no more deaths of eunuchs. We need some more body count here!!

For a civilian, so far only one death and that is the husband of Sin Yung that is Pak Lun, that useless piece of garbage who did every bad thing a garbage will do. Technically Sin Yung poisoned him with rat poison. I applauded. But he didn’t die yet when Lianying and De Hai was there to save Sin Yung, De Hai wanted to at least carry him out of the house but Lianying said let him be. Of course, Lianying the nice guy blamed himself for Pak Lun’s death, saying he murdered Pak Lun and De Hai rightly, “No you didn’t kill him. He was where he was because of himself” and I was like of all the scumbags Lianying, this one you should feel no guilt for.

And that’s it. Technically 3 deaths. Not even Chan Fuk is dead. Like I said this palace is really very nice and peachy environment.

And like I said, we need more dramatic deaths. But I gotta admit, so far, all the deaths, all are deservedly dead for various reasons.

Now about life or those living.

Princess Heshuo is married some episodes ago. I am sure she shall return to haunt my dream of a logical story for Seung Hei.

Cian has become a recluse and devotes her life to prayers and being very very thrifty, making amends with Cixi. I don’t get why Cixi isn’t ready to forgive her. I suppose Cixi is very very “siu hei”. Cian shouldn’t bother. She did all she could. What more must she do?

Cixi is Cixi. One scene she brought Sin Yung back to be her maid so that Lianying doesn’t have to go running everywhere for Sin Yung. Very nice gesture. And Sin Yung explains what sort of hairstyle Manchurian and Hans have and I was laughing because it can be 1,000 types, in the end Cixi will still have the both side puff up hairstyle like she has from episode 1. And lo and behold, I AM RIGHT!!

Tongzhi has grown into a young looking Oscar Leung who so far is doing rather well! I do miss Pako Au though and his “You servants!” with such malice. Ahhh miss that boy. Adult Tongzhi of course has a better relationship with his servants than his younger self and he has a much closer bond with Cian who dotes on him than Cixi who chastises him. Cixi loves him no doubt, as Cixi did tell Cian, “I will continue to be the bad guy, and you the good guy, let’s keep this pretense for all sake.” I love the scene where Tongzhi shows his concern for Cian and Cian is genuinely affectionate towards him. Kudos to Maggie Siu who looks maternal and older in the later scenes.

Seung Hei miraculously is the de factor chief doctor of the palace. Please someone tell me this isn’t true. Logic out of the window. For me of all characters, Seung Hei is the least likely to exist.

Prince Gong is missing. I am sure he will turn up when the drama requires his presence. I pity this Prince Gong in a way. Whatever he says have logic. But somehow Cixi earmarked him for potentially usurping her son’s throne whilst he earmarked her for potentially usurping her son’s throne. In other words, they both have same thing in mind, except different person being the bad guy. At some point they must fall in love and elope.

Poor Cian though. Again another impossible love affair. One scene I am not quite pleased with how it is shown is Cian lamenting no one is celebrating her birthday and that eunuchs know who is their master. HELLO!! Cian is one of the 2 top persons in the palace. The eunuchs will never deprive her. She is too high ranking, even Cixi defers to her in public. If you want to use this sort of self pity line, use it for characters such as the stupidly tragic Yuen Pin! It can’t apply to Cian!

Everybody else is fine. Except very funny is corruption is so open in this series, that even Lianying accepts corruption to introduce a just minister to see Cixi about some real grievances. Is this series trying to tell us all the hypocrisy of life back then? That even a well known HONEST and JUST minister gives bribe just to see Cixi about a grievance sort of case?

And one last anomaly. We all know Tongzhi died when he was 18 or so. In this series I assume he is 14 or 15 or somewhere there. One scene says he is about to reach his 20 years of age and still unmarried. ZOMBIE ALERT! ZOMBIE ALERT!! Tongzhi back from the dead!!

Anyway Miss Drama Queen will show up soon enough. I just hope she won’t go dramatically berserk when things don’t go her way. Fact; Cixi later on hated her daughter-in-law. I am sure however this series will showcase Cixi’s positive side and just make her dislike the girl for some good reason.

Series still good even if getting more and more ridiculous. But I can tell you this much; after Gong II, this series is nothing. Change history if you must. But change it logically. Whilst I may complain about Cixi being the nice one is illogical, it isn’t that terrible. The worse is the characterizations, how such changes is presented. That is what I am complaining. And for that since Gong II is the worst offender, The Confidant is quite simply bending the rules a little but still on an acceptable level if you throw out logic and reason. In the case of Gong II, you have to throw out your sanity.

Another series I am watching right now is Beauty Palace aka Beauties Of The Tang Palace (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Tang_Gong_Mei_Ren_Tian_Xia). Yes yes I know I am watching too many Yu Zheng series, what can I do? Ch 310 loves his series.  Nice HD even though costume is too Korean. Again it is nonsense BUT I suppose Yu Zheng utilizes his entire Nonsense Arsenal into Gong II and so there is less nonsense here. The best story thus far is the fight between Zhangsun Wuji (played by the fantastic actor Zhang Chen Guang who looks better now than when he was younger) and the future Wu Zetian. Her husband is still alive at this point and terribly weak man. The story starts with the murder of Wu Meniang’s (Wu Zetian’s name) infant daughter believed to be at the hands of the unfavoured Empress Wang. Anyway drama ensued. What I like about this change of history is the emperor is the bad guy. He wants to reclaim his power from his powerful uncle who is also the chancellor, Zhangsun Wuji and so he devised a series of events culminating in an ending I have yet to reached. Wu Meiniang here is smart and quite ruthless but not heartless. The Empress is kindly and weak but not stupid. Zhangsun Wuji is cunning and smart but has miscalculated the Emperor’s cunning and the Emperor is the most ruthless of all. If you read those history books, these may not be what we know of so the writer did change that bit BUT still logically and within context of what is acceptable.

The Confidant did not do that well in that department but believe me, 5 episodes of Gong II or even Gong I and you will sing TVB praises. What is important is integrity to the idea of that era. So far The Confidant fails in that respect. Life is too peachy. Bu Bu Jing Xin however also sorta fails because too scary or urgent in the context of the rule of Kangxi. However Curse Of The Royal Harem takes the cake for TVB’s worst offender, I count is as no. 3, third to Gong II and Gong I, in that order.

Of course, as a praise for The Confidant, it is light years away from that garbage known as Curse of The Royal Harem.

So, are you watching The Confidant? If not, why not? If yes, what else should you watch that is from TVB? From the line of new series, The Confidant is  must watch BUT even then I will say, purely from my own personal opinion that seriously though, The Confidant is not that great. But amongst the many mediocre series, it is the better one.

>> You will also find this article with comments at Jaynestars.com 



who is online counter java hosting

Read More