EPISODE 1

Tonight (13th April 2004) at 9.30pm at Astro's Wah Lai Toi I watched the first episode of Perish In The Name Of Love. The first scene in itself was disturbing, as former princess of the Ming Dynasty kneeling before the Qing King. Of course they both then killed themselves, which was very sad actually. Anyway I am very disappointed with the over dramatic storyline.



Problem 1

Queen (played marvellously by the gorgeous Maggie Siu) was a commoner who became a Queen thus hated by the second in line who is actually a relative of the King and a favourite of the King's mother.



Why this is a problem? Queen a commoner? King's mother hating her? Don't you get what's wrong? The Queen will always be someone who is chosen from some very prominent family and probably by the King's mother. A commoner cannot be Queen. Moreover where is the drama by Maggie being the Queen? Wouldn't it be better if she is a favoruiet concubine of the King? Then of course Cheung Ping cannot be said to be a favourite of the King's mother.



Problem 2

Concubine screaming and bullying the kind hearted Queen



Why this is a problem? Even Empress Dowager Cixi when she was a second in line as a concubine however devious and scheming never showed a bad face to the Queen. Of course rumours had it she later poisoned the Queen but that remained as a speculation. Likewise nobody would dare to scream at the Queen because the Queen has power within the concubines and as noted in this series, she even had the right to cut budget. So it's very annoying to watch such drama when I can't buy all that. The fact that the Queen is kind hearted is irrelevant. Jan Lau's portrayal of the queitly scheming concubine is more accurate and more true.



Problem 3

Chow Sai Hin lying that he farted when it was Cheung Ping who did and thus incurring the wrath of the King's mother and causing Sai Hin to be severly punished by the King's mother.



Why is this a problem? Obvious isn't it. The King's mother said Cheung Ping is the apple in her eye. So whatever Cheung Ping did would be right and perfect. So she farted. So what? She probably wouldn't be punished and King's mother may be even charmed by this sudden accident. And if Cheung Ping have admitted that fact, that evil concubine would not be able to say anything negative. The only reason the scene was like the way it was is because to show how gallant and brave Sai Hin is and how loving he is to Cheung Ping. To me it showed Cheung Ping as such a coward who didn't know her influence on the King's mother. She never even said anything when the teacher was punished severely.



Problem 4

Sai Hin and Cheung Ping in love.



Why is this a problem? Not really a problem but we are constantly reminded every 2 minutes that they are made for each other. By the end of episode 1 I had enough of that over sweet love story that didn't have a beginning but certainly will have an end. From the start we all know Sai Hin and Cheung Ping is in love. So get over it!



Problem 5

How old is Cheung Ping? The evil concubine said every since the Queen came into the palace, for 8 years the King never visited her. So I assume Cheung Ping is 7 (since pregnancy is about 9 months plus a few months for conception) and Sai Hin may be afew years older, maybe 12?



Why is this a problem? The kid playing Sai Hin is the right age if Sai Hin is a young teenager but the girl who plays Cheung Ping is too old. But the young actors did quite a good job.



Problem 6

Maggie Siu and Moses Chan parents of Charmaine Sheh!



Why is this a problem? Obvious isn't it? If Cheung Ping was 8, I say ok, right age to play parents. But When Cheung Ping is 18 (zooming 10 years later), Maggie Siu looks too young to be her mom and Moses Chan too young to be her dad. But assuming Maggie Siu married into the palace when she was a young teen, maybe. But Maggie Siu looks great for her age, she should not play a mother.



Problem 7

Moses Chan and Sonija Kwok.



Why is this a problem? I predict these two will be a problem to this series, especially Sonija Kwok a horrible horrible actress. Just 2 minutes of promo and she already irritated me with her sleep walking and effortless acting. When people say effortless mean this person is so good she can do it all by not trying at all. But for Sonija Kwok this means she is so bad she looks like she isn't trying at all!!



As for Charmaine Sheh (pretty looking but looks old because too thin) and Steven Ma (too tanned and again too dramatic in his expressions), I will reserve my comments as the episodes go by.



I will be sure to add the above in my upcoming review of this series.