EPISODE 17

I missed the first 25 minutes because I was watching CSI, the better show to watch. Interesting episode, CSI.



Now, this episode, this series. I realise Cheung Ping is not naive, kind hearted, whatever, she is shallow. Simple as that. Less crying but more hypocrisy.



For once someone dared to stand up face to face with the senile king and talked to him about reason, war and everything else for a very obvious ulterior motive; to get the girl! Apparently the king lost 33 wars straight in a row, so no wonder he was going senile. But Sai Hin had a battle of wits with the king and one of the best line was about the Manchurians and how little the king knew of them, so how can he fight wars against them? Well Sai Hin, there are generals to do the planning. So that means all generals were as arrogant and shallow as the entire Ming Dynasty kingdom, except Sai Hin of course who had theories but no practical to strengthen his plans, that is if he had any at all. The king was impressed enough to award him Cheung Ping, fired a few generals and gave him 30% of the Ming army to fight a far against the chieftain of the Manchurian clan. Sai Hin panicked but well, there was Cheung Ping, happy shiny pinky Cheung Ping saying "You can do it!". I just remembered like just an episode ago she was tearfully crying "Yoke Han, I miss you! I miss you! Why God has to take you away? WHY?!" and an episode later, she is the happy bride to be without a pang of guilt or conscience that Yoke Han died and that was how she got Sai Hin anyway. At least Sai Hin's parents felt guilty and angry whilst Sai Hin well, he declared he will take care of Cheung Ping so there goes the memory of Yoke Han and who killed her. Suddenly Yoke Han was a nobody, and there was smiling Cheung Ping and panicky Sai Hin. I have no words to express my feelings towards this pair except for hypocrisy, especially when remembering the words of Cheung Ping, 'Yoke Han, Sai Hin and I are not meant to be together" and when Yoke Han died, suddenly they were meant to be together again. Why the rush? I can't understand the speed of it all. Can't they show considerate kind Cheung Ping at least feeling guilt for being the bride to be? And there she goes again, touching his shoulder, leaning on him, the old dependent shallow useless Cheung Ping. Someone said it right, shouldn't she be more assertive? Apparently this Cheung Ping could not stand on her own two feet and will die without Sai Hin's name uttered once every 10 minutes.



Meanwhile good news for Chiu Yan haters. I thought she deserved it all when her father gave her as a gift to Po Lun, no marriage, no nothing, like as she described herself, a worthless whore. Funny thing was mother was so worried about the father's health she didn't want to ask the king just yet why Chiu Yan was given away. Of course she thought Chiu Yan loved Po Lun but Chiu Yan stated very clearly, she detested him. So last resort mama said "You must marry Tong Po Lun to settle the unrest at Shanxi". What a speech. Why she never said that to Cheung Ping? And how come Chiu Yan never begged her grandmama instead of useless mother? I feel the mother's priorities are a bit screwed up. If she treated Chiu Yan the same as with Cheung Ping, I would say find, Chiu Yan marry that man. But she sang a different tune with different daughters. So I can't blame Chiu Yan for being so difficult, angry, jealous and all. But in the end she created her own karma and I hope to see her suffer at the hands of this rough gangster-like Po Lun. Least to say her father was useless as usual.



As for acting, I am getting quite sick at Charmaine's smile at the most inappropriate times. I have often said this about her performance; she is a scene per scene actress. There is no overall effect when it comes to her character, each new scene is a new experience. Shouldn't her Cheung Ping bear the reminder of Yoke Han's friendship with her when she happily smiled at Sai Hin, glad that she is marrying him after all? At least Sai Hin had that guilt, a little better than none. I am beginning to think Cheung Ping is not human, she is from another world, another dimension or perhaps it is just Charmaine's shallow interpretation of this princess or maybe the shallow characterisation of this character. I can't decide but I will have an answer in my full review in due time.



As for Sonija, I can only say her acting is shallow, inadequate and I don't know what she's doing in here. Can't they find a better actress? A more qualified actress? A less plastic-ish actress?



Chan Ho's heavy breathing gets to me big time. Funny scene was when Sai Hin was arguing with him he could not control his bowel movement so he ran back and basically well release the load of crap within his body, literally and best of all, figuratively. Is that scene supposed to be symbolic or just plain distasteful?