TVB- the 4th decade: 1997-2007

In TVB Weekly Issue 543, the latest decade of TVB series is showcased. The fourth decade brought a lot of series that I can easily recognize. While the earlier years of the decade were focused on professional career series, the latter years of the decade aired more comedic, less dramatic series. With a lot of series that set professional careers as the theme, plots that raise discussions in society, attempting ‘never-been-done before’ series, and filming in variety of new locations, this decade can be said to be the most innovative and ambitious....

In 1997, 大鬧廣昌隆 (Time Before Time) was shown, and the comments below mentioned that its highest ratings were at 45 points. The themesong is sang by the late Anita Mui, and it is a song that not only sounds beautiful but also sets a sort of tragic and sullen tone that seems to tell a story. And Time Before Time is a serie that tells a compelling story from a ghost’s point of view. It is one of those themesongs you want to listen to before every episode begins because it is THAT good and you feel that it just ‘completes’ the series, and without it, something is missing. I remember there were just a few times that I became disappointed when the theme video doesn’t air before the episodes show on cable. Anyway, I was quite addicted to this serie, and I love watching the whole cast. It has got a right mixture of comedy, suspense, and also romance but best of the serie is sort of like a people’s version of a novel. If I remember correctly, there were several episodes which were a continuation of Siu Foo Yong’s story about her romance and eventual tragedy with Luk Wun Kwong. This type of continuation is attractive because it really drives people to keep watching as it seems like the audience is finding out at the same time as the other characters who are listening to Siu Foo Yong’s story too. It really works the best when you get one episode per day, of which I did, so it got quite addicting for me. I am not usually a big fan of Kathy Chow Hoi Mei, but in this serie, I liked her performance and her character Siu Foo Yung very much. Gordon Lam was extremely charming as Luk Wan Kwong, and he was also funny as the present day ah Kwong in the serie. I also like Gordon and Florence’s relationship as a couple. 鑑證實錄 (Untraceable Evidence) can not be a miss for Bowie-Flora fans, but I myself have only catched a few episodes. It is most probably the predecessor to recent time’s Forensics Heroes. Other than that, there was also 美味天王 (A Recipe For The Heart). I don’t remember much about it other than it was kind of funny in a quirky way…at least with Jessica’s parts.

The serie that can be referred to as the ER version in HK was 妙手仁心 (Healing Hands I) which debut in 1998. I did not watch Healing Hands I when it first aired. In fact I watched it much, much later probably around 2005 or so, but I was surprised at how much I enjoy watching it. HH has probably the best chemistry with the main and supporting casts of all the TVB series ever produced. In a way, the social relationships and the chemistry is somewhat like the US series Friends with regards to friendship and dating. The cast was wonderful, and it seems like everybody got along really well and was really friends with each other in reality. I don’t remember the cases really well, but I think the integration with the medical aspects of the show were well-done overall and touching a few times. And I may be wrong, but this may very well be the first serie highlighting an older female-younger male relationship with Stephen Ma and Astrid Chan. 烈火雄心 (Burning Flame) is another classic that I have not watched. One positive thing I heard about this serie was the friendship. I think I never watched this serie because I was not a fan of any of the couple pairings in the serie. As for this year’s 鹿鼎記 (Duke of Mount Deer), it was my first version of the story. I think I enjoyed Jordan Chan and Stephen Ma’s version at the time I first watched, but I liked Dicky Cheung’s version with Patrick Tam more later on in 2000. The comment mentions that Eason’s wife (Hilary Tsui) was one of the wives too. Another serie of the year was 難兄難弟之神探李奇 (Old Time Buddy) with Gallen Lo, Maggie Cheung, Gordan Lam, and Elaine Ng, which was a sequel to the original one with Gallen, Maggie, Jessica, and Francis Ng. I liked the original one a lot more because the main four did a great job. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy Gordan and Elaine’s performance in this one, but the original cast and serie was very different and fresh. 天地豪情 (Secret of the Heart) was quite a hit this year since the comments mentioned this serie reached 45 points. The themesongs sang by Gallen were very enjoyable to listen to. I can’t say I really liked any of the characters in the serie, but I remember I quite enjoy the serie overall. Nick Cheung did a really good job as the villain. One of the most memorable and disturbing scenes in the serie was the scene in which Ada's friend went to look for her after Ada was going to expose Nick's illegal doings, and when she looked around, blood was everywhere on the walls.

For the entertaining year of 1999, there was 創世紀 (At the threshold of an era), 金玉滿堂 (Happy Ever After), and 刑事偵緝檔案IV (Detective Investigation IV). I did not watch the whole 105 episodes of ATE. I watched the first half, but only catch a few episodes and the ending for the latter half. I remember I quite like Flora and Gallen though, so it was disappointing they didn’t end up together at the very end. Marianne and Bobby were very compatible and funny in Happy Ever After, and I also enjoy watching Roger and Fiona Leung too. And the food always looks so yummy! As for DIFIV, I think three words are self-explanatory: Louis and Jessica. I truly think they are the BEST couple in the history of TVB series. I adore them together, and when I watch them in there, it seems like they were really a couple. It is no wonder they won Best Male Lead and Best Female Lead for this serie. So even though Jessica has many memorable moments with Gallen, Roger, Bobby, and Wong Hei…..Louis would be extra special because she won Best Female Lead while costarring with him and winning it together hehe. Other than them, there were a bunch of Miss. HKs in this serie from Lee San San to Charmaine, to Anne Heung so it was probably the first serie in which Miss. HKs were getting heavily promoted. And when I go online to read posts about new series at that time then, it seems like a lot of people hated that. There were so many complaints about how Charmaine has a horrible voice, or how the Miss. Hks can’t act. Who knew that by a decade or so, Charmaine has climbed up the ladder to become one of the top, top fa dans at TVB and Anne Heung, although not as heavily promoted nowadays, has her fair share of fans too.

TVB pushed out quite a few series in 2000, but the most successful serie this year was probably 男親女愛 (War of Genders), which as the comments mentioned, still kept the record for the highest local production (in HK) rating with 49 points. I do not know what the hype is about this serie other than I believe Carol Dodo Cheng is an excellent actress, so that must’ve been an attractive factor, and knowing that somehow the comedic Dayo Wong gained a whole lot of popularity after this serie. I don’t think a lot of people knew who he was before this serie. In what could be said as Charmaine’s first popular serie, 十月初五的月光 (Return of the Cuckoo) showed in this year and Chilam and Charmaine became a favorite couple. They even had a few movies later on. Showing her compatibility with other male co-stars, Wong Hei was next in line to pair up with Jessica Hsuan in 雷霆第一關 (A matter of customs). As a couple in the serie, their characters went through a whole lot of problems so it was really sad to see the ending. An honorable mention would be Wong Hei's sub-themesong for this serie which I thought was very touching, and the MV also answered some questions for viewers. This is probably the first serie in which some questions of the ending were answered by an MV. As for an ancient serie, Anne Heung first’s female lead was in 楊貴妃 (The Legend of Lady Yang) opposite Kwong Wah. Although some may disagree about Anne’s beauty, but I think her physical attributes matched Yang Gui Fei well because she has much elegance and beauty. Although her acting wasn't the best, I still think she did an acceptable job portraying an iconic figure in China's history. Another production of the year was Loving you 我愛你 (Loving you) with Nancy Sit, Lawrence Ng, and Sheren Tang.

In 2001, Louis agree to film an ancient production, 尋秦記 (A Step in the Past) pairing up with Jessica once more again. The comments mentioned that “although the script made changes to Huang Yi’s novel, another novelist Jin Yong did enjoy Jessica’s acting, and of course including first time onscreen and being female main character Sonija Kwok.” The reason I quoted is because I don’t know whether the writer meant to say Jin Yong liked Jessica and Sonjia’s acting, or just Jessica only, due to that comma. You be the judge. ASITP was also the first serie in which I saw Raymond Lam, and he made quite an impressive first impression for me. The third continuations of two popular TVB series dawned in this year and both also had a different female lead. Though bearing a new female lead, 陀枪师姐 III( Armed Reaction III) turned out to be a favorite for many this year. Ada and Bobby played an enjoyable couple, and the cast had nice chemistry together. 酒是故鄉醇 (Country Spirit), which used almost the same name as Plain Love I and II had Charmaine Sheh and Gordan Lam as the main lead. Although I have no clue about its ratings, I find that Country Spirit was quite romantic and appealing in its own way. I especially like Sheren’s character in here also, and this is probably the serie in which many would agreed that Charmaine Sheh had potential as an actress and did indeed improved. Running a total of 322 episodes, 皆大歡喜 (Virtues of Harmony) first showed in this year. Being a major hit, it spawned a modern sequel and came to be a predecessor of many ancient series crossing over to modern serie sequels. Now that I think of it, were there any modern series that was able to cross back over to an ancient sequel? Other series of the year included 婚前昏后 (The Awakening Story), in which Maggie Cheung Hoi Yee and Tavia Yeung (who had similar features) were fated to play sisters in the serie, and 美味情緣 (A taste of love) in which Raymond Lam continued his acting in a supporting role with TVB.

Ancient Series were a great hit in 2002, so I must start with 戇夫成龍 (Square Pegs).The comments below said that this serie has let Roger reached a high level in life, and wherever he goes, he would be asked about his “lo poh jai”. I can’t say this serie was classic, but Roger Kwok did an exceptional and also hilarious job playing ah Wong. It can even be said that he saved this serie, well he and Jessica since she was his “Lo poh jai.” Oh I quite enjoyed watching Leila and Raymond Cho Wing Nim’s relationship in here. I thought Leila’s character was very endearing as the wife who always stood by her man’s side. Although 無頭東宮 (Love is beautiful) was her last TVB serie before she left to become a businesswoman, lot of people praised Marianne Chan for her acting in here. And for an average production, it also did quite well with ratings. Anne Heung also play a beautiful woman with an evil heart (although her character really had a good heart at the beginning and got switched into Marianne’s body).The beautiful woman with an evil heart type of characters have always been around in past TVB, but with a Miss. HK playing one, it is refreshing since Miss. HK winners usually have to keep a good image. Not only did Anne Heung played a villain, but Sonjia Kwok also played her first villain role in 洛神 (Where the Legend begins). I enjoyed watching this serie although I can't say it is one of my favorites. I think Ada's Yan Fook was simply too nice, while Sonjia's character was mega annoying. A modern serie with hit ratings was 絕世好爸 (Family Man) which probably play a part in Flora’s win for Best Female Lead Actress in the anniversary awards that year. The sibling interactions with the father (Chun Pui)was entertaining to watch. Though it didn’t achieve a hit rating, 流金歲月 (Golden Faith) was Gallen’s last huge production at TVB before he left to film in mainland series. Not only was Gallen-Jessica’s relationship touching in this serie, but Tavia and Raymond also won quite a few fans with their pairing in here although Raymond played a semi-villain.

Relatively a modern series year, 2003 was a year filled with memorable modern series and the beginning of what I would deemed the first TVB idol appearance in the 2000s with the appearance of S4 from 衝上雲宵 (Triumph in the Skies). Sophisticated and classy, not only was it a favorite and romantic serie for many viewers, but it was also TVB’s first attempt with filming in various different locations like Italy and Japan. It renewed HK people’s (and other viewers) interest in the airplane industry, and brought up viewers' interest in younger actors at TVB due to S4. Many people say Raymond was technically the first young actor to start the way for others, and I do agree somewhat, but I think it was also partly due to S4 too since the popularity of Triumph in the Skies got people to turn their heads to notice the younger generation of actors and actresses at TVB. Probably inspired by ASITP, 九五至尊 (King of Yesterday and Tomorrow) became a major hit with people this year, and led Kwong Wah and Maggie Cheung to be strong contenders for the Best Male lead and Best Female lead awards at the anniversary awards. Although it was quite comedic at times, the serie had a nice plot that was well written in general. The acting was also superb, and Kwong Wah did a great job portraying an emperor traveling into modern times. Although Kwong Wah lost out to Roger that year, Maggie Cheung finally got the Best Female Lead award this year. However, her award speech and attitude about the whole thing caused a lot of unhappy rumors and news, and from this year onwards, there happens to be a lot of rumors running rampant during anniversary awards time regarding the Best Female leads. I only watched a couple of episodes of the modern version of 皆大歡喜 (Virtues of Harmony II), which was shown this year, and like its original, it managed to be a fan favorite. A favorite ancient serie of this year was 西關大少 (Point of No Return) which marked the return of Gigi Chiu (from The Bund). The comments said that it has reached 40 points, and while I thought the first half was very good, I felt the second half was too focused on the romance that it got kind of dragging at times. Nonetheless, I still love the themesong, and I thought the acting was overall great. Chilam got into the top 5 lead for best male actor this year, but I think he was adamant in saying Damian Lau really deserved to be nominated there instead. I think it’s quite true, since Damian Lau is one of those actors who always seem to do a great job but never seems to get the awards for it. Other serie of the year included 美麗在望 (Not Just a Pretty Face) which starred the young Joey Yung, who was known for being Cantopop’s princess at the time and a ratings-downer for movies. Although I am not sure about the ratings for this serie, I did like it because it was funny at times. I especially like Johnson Lee, who played the Dog in the serie too.

In terms of recognition and luck, 2004 must’ve been TVB’s golden year. There was the critically acclaimed 金枝慾孽 (War & Beauty) which I read from Wikipedia led many psychologist and sociologist (from HK I suppose) to talk about issues like how it can be a stressful and challenging environment at work when people would use ways to get ahead while pushing others down. The comment mentioned that this serie was able to be put on A1 headlines (in newspapers). So I think War & Beauty was one of the series of this decade that was able to contribute to a discussion of various issues in society. With ratings, 棟篤神探 (To Catch the Uncatchable) managed to score higher ratings than WAB. Since the original ending was sort of dark comedy, the audience also demanded a different ending. When I watched it the first time, I thought the original ending was better since it makes it more memorable. However, when I watched it a second time, I realized that Dayo and Ada’s character has been through a lot, and they really did deserve the happiness so I liked the second ending more. A fun fact was that Ada was initially in a promo for WAB, but I believe she rejected the role to take TCTU. In a way, it was a smart decision since TCTU scored great ratings, but yet when it comes time to the anniversary, it did not get much recognition at all. Even up to now, people would probably recognize WAB moreso than TCTU. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable serie overall. Filming in HK and Africa, 天涯俠醫 (The Last Breakthrough) was a refreshing serie that focused on the act of volunteering and having a good heart to help sick African locals. It was quite informative and moving to watch, and Raymond and Leila’s cute pairing also became a favorite for many viewers also. Other creative attempts of the year were 隔世追兇 (To Get Unstuck In Time) and 爭分奪秒 (Split Second). To Get Unstuck in time was sort of science-fictionish, and I quite like this genre. However, if watched closely, a lot of flaws would be noticed. If not, it is actually quite an enjoyable serie that keeps you watching. The father-son chemistry with Benz and Roger Kwok was very touching to watch. With Michael Tao being back to film for TVB again, of course he would first paired up with costars that he had immense chemistry with. With Michael Tao, Kenix Kwok, and Bobby Au as the main leads for 青出於藍 (Shine on You), it became quite popular with viewers.

Personally I would deemed 2005 an average year because the series highlighted has some good series, but I wouldn’t say the series were classic. 我的野蠻奶奶 (War of In Laws I) and 阿旺新傳 (Life Made Simple) were two of the more popular serie. War of In Laws brought Bosco’s popularity up and turned away his negative rumors in the past. Not only that, but Liza Wang adored him and Myolie. The serie was funny, and Myolie and Bosco were very cute, instantly becoming a popular couple with rumors of being a real couple to this day. As for Life Made Simple, Bosco also had the opportunity to play supporting in here as sort of a really semi-villain. People love ah Wong and his ‘Lo Poh Jai’, but who knew that there are also fans of Bosco & Jessica too? Despite being in other series, this is also the first serie that Bosco & Leila played a couple and had more scenes together (unlike Aqua Heroes). The comments mentioned that Angela Tong’s Lee Siu Ho started off the “ugly girl trend.” 秀才遇著兵 (The Gentle Crackdown) were also shown this year. Surprisingly, I did enjoy this small production and Niki was actually alright as Sup Yee Mui though I once referred to her as Sup Sam Mui though haha. However, I enjoyed watching Moses Chan and Michelle Yim more. Moses was hilarious in this serie, and Michelle was so sweet as the mother. HK audience also seemed to enjoy watching 甜孫爺爺 (My Family) which had Cheung King Fai portraying the grandfather in the serie. Although I have not watched it, there seems to be some cute scenes with Shirley and Alex Fong and Shirley and Hawick Lau. Another serie of the year was 佛山贊師父 (Real Kung Fu), which had a lot of Kung Fu artists in the cast. I don’t quite remember it, but I think it was Charmaine Li’s first big role in a serie.

For some reason, the series highlight from 2006 and 2007 were on the same page. In 2006, there was 女人唔易做 (Le Femme Desperado). The comments below said that there were two endings and that it had the second highest rating for the year. Michael and Sheren had really great chemistry together, so it was not surprising that they had two endings. As to which ending I liked, I did prefer the ending which Michael knew it was his daughter, but the way he reacted didn’t seem like it totally registered that Haley was his real daughter. As for Raymond Lam and Melissa, their relationship was a hot topic since it was about an older female, younger male, which was another issue for discussion about society. Another serie shown was 鐵血保鏢 (Safe Guards), of which I read from many online fans that it was a really good production but I have not seen it. It seems like ever since this serie, Stephen’s series have been doing well with ratings. Is he just lucky or does he pick his series carefully? The comments below also said that the ending episode reached 40 points. For 2007, two big productions were mentioned. 溏心風暴 (Heart of Greed) swept the floors at the anniversary awards. I’ve always thought that Raymond has always been popular for people overseas, but somehow I don’t think he was that popular with the HK audience until this serie (Ron & Sammul had TITS, The Academy; Bosco- WOIL). Raymond got a whole lot more recognition (even more than Le Femme Desperado) and luck after this serie since his first album sold pretty well after. The other big production mentioned was 歲月風雲 (The Drive of Life), which was 60 episodes with a very good cast. I think the characters were developed quite nicely and the acting was great. It was too bad that the HK audience didn’t like it. Other than one measley award for best promo clip at the anniversary awards, this serie did not get much recognition. Hopefully, as it is shown in other areas, it would be recognized.

And that concludes the series highlights and my personal opinions for series throughout four decades. Although the series highlight mentioned only a few series for each year, it still took a while to go through them. Imagine how thick the magazine would be or how many issues it would take if they would list every serie they have ever produced! It is no wonder there are so many devoted fans to TVB even though some of their newer series just may not pass expectations. Some of their past series were simply too addicting and well-casted. Hopefully in the next decade, they would bring more series that would live up to its glory in the past.

//Other Links of Interest from Youtube:

Time Before Time Themevideo

Plain Love II Themevideo(1999)

Country Spirit Themevideo

Wong Hei's subtheme MV for A Matter of Customs, answering questions for the ending

If you are a big fan of this decade and would like to see the scans, email me at jadedreams@gmail.com or leave your email in the comments section.