Blade Heart

Many viewers complained about the beginning of the show – too hasty, too quick, too many abrupt scenes, too many new characters, etc. But for those who have not watched this show, hang in there. The episodes after the first 2 gets much better as the pace slows down.

Experience tells the whole story. From the moment, their faces popped on screen, you knew they were going to be in dictum for the rest of the show. Lisa Wang & Adam Cheng. The combination that sends TV screen spiraling. I do remember a scene where Adam was hunting down his own son (Raymond Lam) in order to kill him and it was in this poignant moment that the truth was revealed. Raymond was the son that he thought he lost. The chemistry, the spite, the hatred, the confusion, hurt, betrayal, misunderstanding spilt forth like an overfilled well. Only experienced actors had the caliber of carrying forth a scene like that. It even seems to me that in some scenes Adam Cheng and Lisa Wang could be speaking from experience. And ooohhhh.... much can be said about the kind of energy and charisma that vibrated and emanated from Adam Cheng. The young Raymond (even if I am a big fan of his) paled in comparison.

Raymond Lam gave another outstanding performance. When he found out that Lisa and Adam were his blood and bone, the tears of confusion and hurt was real. The way he wailed and let his emotions roar forth was truly touching. Who wouldn't?

Lisa Wang was made for the role – or should we say that this role was constructed and designed to fit Lisa and Adam. Yes, they command such honor in the TV arena in Hong Kong. Shirley Yeung Si Kei plays the "lover-cum-sister" of Raymond Lam. She gives a credible performance as well, but who wouldn't in the face of such fierce competition?

After all, she (and the other newer and less experienced actors) has to look at 2 of the most formidable acting mantras in the HKTVB world and up-and-rising stars, no less, everyday. If they didn't do their best, they will stick out like sore thumbs. Shirley Yeung would appear to be more compatible with her 'cousin' in the show – and might this be the reason why they both ended up as a real life couple?

I don't believe we should judge a person by just the way a person cries on screen but an actor's screaming and crying on screen can evoke very emotional feelings in the viewers. That's why most people judge an actor's ability from the way he or she cries on screen, like opening a tap and then closing it. Another scene which touched me was when Raymond and Shirley were forcibly separated by Lisa. Lisa knew they were brothers and sisters but don't want to let the lovers know. So, she used brute force (she does that a lot in the show) to separate them. The way they called out for each other, screaming unfairness and not understanding the justification behind the separation was so real. Raymond kicking up a storm as authorities drag his flailing body away from Shirley. Shirley yanking her arms away from the deathgrip of the authorities.

I don't know the name of the person who plays 'Yeung Kong Kong' (YKK), he's a real nasty actor. I mean it in the best and kindest way possible. He played the Eunuch (I believe he was a eunuch) to the tee! Absolutely. He didn't laugh the way a normal man would. He would hide his smile and evil laughter behind a tiny veil of a handkerchief. He would sort of whisper or hoot out the evil laugh instead of giving a walloping bellow of a laughter, like the ones we normally see in evil men.

I shall reserve some of my cruder comments to myself about Yeung Suet who played Si Ma Pheng Theng. As a maiden effort in a TVB series, I think she did magnificently. However, generally, it is my personal opinion that she's a real sight for sore eyes, and perhaps her eyes had a role in pulling in this role. Her eyes are magnetic, pulling in the viewers. Even if you hate the rest of her features (which you won't cause she's really beautiful), you'll be captivated with her eyes. She excelled especially when she was angry and hurt or crying. She didn't have many crying scenes, but the ones she did have, she did well.

I just find it a tad peculiar that not much focus was placed on how emotionally charged a person would normally be to find out that her 'thought dead' son is actually alive. I am referring to the time when Lisa found out that Raymond was her son. The scriptwriters should have written in a few more flashback scenes to illustrate how thankful the mother is that her son is still alive – and she is able to touch him now. At some points, it might even appear as if Lisa favored her daughter over her long-lost-but-now-found son. Lisa was willing to disgrace herself for her daughter (when she was forced to marry the King) but she would not, did not, could not do the same for her son? I don’t know about you, but this sounds a little like favoritism to me – granted she did actually raise Shirley up and didn't for Raymond. The favoritism is unjustified.

TVB and the crew probably didn't think that viewers would be too particularb about how scenes were carried out – but I particularly noticed how the Si Ma family IMMEDIATELY changed to poor-men clothing to reflect their disgraced social status. Hhhmmmm....And it's really strange how Si Ma Yi who was portrayed to be this ruthless and heartless killer suddenly becomes such a mushy fella all of a sudden. No excuse and explanation was given except that he has found truce with Adam and also found true love. The 'boy' they engaged to play the role of the King didn't have enough bones and hair on his body to carry out the role of the King. He was too inexperienced and this, my friends, as I said earlier, stuck out like a sore thumb. Infact, when he was eyeing Shirley with keen interest and commanded his intelligent officers to pursue the newfound love, he was kind of 'ham-sap'. And I just bluntly asked, "This? The King?"

I cannot and will not live with myself I do not mention the credible performance that Wong Shu Khei has put into carrying out his role. Hs an excellent actor for a baby-faced one. It's quite clear that he has aged a whole lot from the time that he held teeny-bopper lead roles in modern series back then, but his experience in acting shows. He plays the role of 'Chor Kow' who is first filial and loyal to his master and then loyal and devoted to a woman he loves, Si Ma Pheng Theng. Much can be said about the character's devotion to her and also the decisions he made thereafter (like killing his own master, cutting his own hand off to save Si Ma Pheng Theng) but I don't think it's easy to play such a terribly pathetic character. To play this character well, one must be able to evoke the feeling of pity and the hatred and sympathy, and then hatred and then pity again.

It can't be easy and you know what? Jimmy Wong (I think that's his real name) plays it perfectly. All he wanted was to be loved and to protect the love of his life – and this, he has been denied. He lives a pathetic existence and most times, I just wish that he and the love of his life would just die. And they did.

The background music and supporting effects were excellent. 11 out of 10! It is not over-exaggerated and not too subtle. Just perfect. The thumping music, melancholic yodeling of a female vocalist that makes of the theme song was perfect. At times, it magnified the scene so much so that my eyes watered and ears were prickled. It was an amazing job and they should be applauded for a job well done. Add that with Adam Cheng's charisma. To this day, I still remember there was a scene where he was chasing Raymond to kill him. He was on a horse with his half-mask hiding half of his face. The horse grunted and thunder splashed across the sky. The lightning lighted half of his face and his murderous eyes as the music thumped. The music just thumped on and on and he waited and the lightning flashed again....I was breathless. Magnificent.

The speed of the way the story was carried out was a concern instead. The bullet-paced beginning and the turtle-paced one towards the middle and then it all speeds up again towards the end. But it is rather ironic that from the start Raymond was carrying his foster mother around on his back in a makeshift seat all around to find a cure for his foster mother. And towards the end, he had to carry his real mother in a similar apparatus. I can only imagine how difficult acting in this show must be for poor Raymond. He ends up having to carry 2 women double his age on his back. It gives 'back-breaking' a whole new meaning, doesn't it?

And lastly, I felt that there was an injustice here – Mimi Lo's picture should be on the main poster. Her role is crucial and important to the storyline. She was there from start to end and has a significant role in explaining certain aspects of the show. Infact, I think her picture should replace Shirley's picture because Shirley died halfway through and did not end up with Raymond in the end. Instead, Mimi Lo ended up with Raymond (thankfully).

Generally, the show is soppy and sad. But it's tragic and emotional. I love it!