This is another highly-acclaimed star-studded show which is much highly anticipated. Again, as with all "highly recommended" shows, this one failed to impress. Was kinda disappointed cos was so looking forward to this series. Anyway, here is the official site.
The plot is pretty typical of your concubine/empress trying to fight for a position of power in the palace - except that in this series, the emperor is a wuss (will get to that later).
The Cast:
I particularly like Myolie Wu Hang Yi (as the Empress aka Yuen Yuen), Nancy Wu Ding Yan (as the miang handmaiden who eventually became the concubine aka Lai Wah), and Joel Chan Shan-Chung (as Prince Sui aka Min Yan).
Sunny Chan Kam Hung aka the wuss Emperor. Maybe the script dictated that he has to act wussy I guess. But the character sucks! As an emperor of a nation, how can he be dictated by 3 women (namely the empress, the concubine, and his step-mother)?? And his acting was mediocre *yawns*
Myolie Wu aka the Empress aka Yuen Yuen. She so deserved the TVB Best Actress Awards! Her performance was stellar, over-the-top, and simple fabulous!!! She started off as a crazy manipulative empress to a damn kesihan down-graded concubine. I love her crying scenes! It was so convincing you can almost feel her emotions. She has improved so much as an actress. Two thumbs up!!
Nancy Wu aka the scheming handmaiden who was taken in as a concubine by the wuss emperor. Typically, Nancy Wu has the tendency to portray a miang woman who like to snatch away other people's husband. And snatched she did. Her acting really did improve tremendously. Particularly love her ruthlessness and her selfishness as Lai Wah.
Jessica Hsuan aka the Royal Concubine (i.e. one level below the empress) aka the-one-who-wears-the-pants-in-the-relationship aka Niuhuru Yee Lan. Honestly, she was a disappointment. As a veteran actress, her skills pale so much in comparison with Myolie Wu. She was suppose to be the villain in this series - she failed. Her role is very much hyped up because it will be one of those rare moments that she actually takes on a villain role. At some point in the series, she began to become quite annoying. She was wrongly cast. Period.
Joel Chan aka the manly Prince Sui aka Momma's Boy aka Min Yan. Ever since, he started dating Florinda Ho (Stanley Ho's daughter), he has been given quite a number of supporting roles. Talk about pulling strings, eh? :p Truth is, in the beginning he gets on your nerves... but as you go along the series, he is not too bad an actor. Quite monotonous at times... but bearable.
Excerpts Not Worth Mentioning:
(may contained spoiler)
Nothing! Except for the wuss Emperor who gets on your nerves because he is being controlled by women.
And maybe the part where the manly Prince Sui ber-scandal with the Empress in the cave so that she can be impregnated in hopes of cheating the Emperor that the baby is his. Oh sneaky sneaky... merampas own brother's wife. Heh~
The Ending:
(may contained spoiler)
Typical with ALL MOST TVB endings, it sucked. Because there is no ending at all. Hate series that don't have an ending (what's the point of filming in the first place?). Apart from that though, I didn't expect Yuen Yuen to commit suicide and die together with Prince Sui.
All in, the series is only so-so. Too hyped up. Wonder why when TVB has a series that consists of fantastic line-up of actors/actresses, the storyline is usually sucky? And here is the ending theme song sung by Myolie Wu.
The TVB Series Addict;
Mrs Lee
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