Better Halves
Better Halves (Se Duyen)
Cast:
Steven Ma Chun Wai - Chuen Ka Fok / Kim Gia Phuc
Maggie Cheung Ho Yee - Lien Bak Hap / Lien Bach Hop
Joyce Koi Ming Fai - Ling Wu Hei (Ah Hei) / Lenh Ho Hy
Moses Chan Ho - Ko Fei / Cao Phi
Cerina da Graca - Sang Seung Seung / Tan Tuong Tuong
Auguste Kwan Tak Fai - Ping On / Binh An
Storyline:
The story is mainly about three matchmakers: Ka Fok, Bak Hap, and Ah Hei.
Chuen Ka Foks father is a gambler. Once he lost a lot of money in gambling and he agreed to sell his son to the Lien family, forcing Ka Fok to marry Lien Bak Hap. However, Ka Foks father lied to him and made him think that it was the Liens family who used money to buy him. On the marriage day, Ka Fok ran away, and with his uncle Ping On, they left their hometown to another place. When Ka Fok grew up, he became a private matchmaker.
Lien Bak Hap was married to Ka Fok on paper, but because Ka Fok left her, the Lien family felt that it was a shame and they also moved away from their hometown. Bak Hap grew up to be a beautiful but strong, stubborn woman who was also a private matchmaker, known as the Golden Fan.
Ah Hei was born in a family of matchmaking administrators. Mr. Ling Wu, her father, did not have a son to succeed the familys honorable title. When Ah Hei was born, Mr. Ling Wu was dying, so the first wife lied to him that Ah Hei was a boy. Ah Hei was raised as a boy and took over the familys business to become a respectable matchmaker officer.
Eventually, the three matchmakers went head to head in Cheung An. Bak Hap and Ka Fok realized that they were obligated husband-and-wife, fiercely fighting each other in everything, but somehow managed a compromise in which both cooperated to open a Matchmaker House to do business. In the meanwhile, Ah Hei met a guy named Ko Fei who was a famous swordsman. Ko Fei was rescued one time by Sang Seung Seung, a girl with incredible strength, and immediately fell in love with her. Ko Fei went to Cheung An to find the girl of his dreams, and became friends with Ah Hei.
In helping a couple to be together, Ah Hei stood up for them and her enemies in turn forced her to omit her title as the matchmaker officer; Bak Hap and Ka Fok admired Ah Heis courage and invited her to become one of the private matchmakers in their new Matchmaker House. At the time, Ko Fei pursued Sang Seung Seung, he paid for her freedom and her expenses to stay at the Matchmaker House, and he himself became part of the matchmaker team.
The four matchmakers collaborated to help many loving couples to have happy marriages. They had many challenges along the way, but with their intelligence and strong ethical principles, they were able to handle these situations very professionally. Being together through difficult times, Bak Hap and Ka Fok realized the good side in each others personality, and they fell in love with each other; but neither admitted their true feelings. There was also a lot of misunderstandings that kept them apart. One was because of Seung Seung, who thought Ka Fok was the one who paid for her freedom and adored everything he did.
In the mean time, Ko Fei also realized that Seung Seung was not the type of woman he was looking for. Seung Seung was very simple and naïve, and she could not understand him at all. As Ko Fei became best friends with Ah Hei, he developed special feelings toward this guy friend. He tried to control this weird feeling but cannot help falling deeply in love with her. Ah Hei also fell for Ko Fei at first sight, but she could only hide her love because she was in disguise and she did not see a future for their relationship.
In a coincidence, the four matchmakers discovered that Seung Seung was actually an adolescent of a former General whose family was assassinated twenty years ago. In helping Seung Seung to solve her familys mystery, the four found themselves head-to-head with a powerful Imperial Official. To stop them from continuing the investigation, this Official revealed Ah Heis true identity and sentenced her and all her family members to death. Fortunately, Bak Hap, Ka Fok, Ko Fei and other people in the Matchmaker House discovered the Officials true motive overthrowing the current government - and they arrived in time to rescue the Emperor, thus traded their awards for Ah Heis freedom. After the incident, Ko Fei and Ah Hei of course were very happy to be together, and Ka Fok and Bak Hap also cleared up their misunderstanding and decided to be together.
However, Seung Seung was then honored as the Emperors younger sister, and the Emperor ordered her marriage with Ka Fok. After Ka Fok explained to Seung Seung that he only loved Bak Hap, Seung Seung realized that the person she loved all along was Ping On, who was always there for her. The three couples asked the Emperor to cancel the order, but failed. Ka Fok and Bak Hap were imprisoned. Ko Fei and Ah Hei did their very best to defend their friends, and they finally used a trick that made the Emperor change his mind. In the end, Ka Fok and Bak Hap were released and the Emperor agreed to grant their marriage. Ko Fei married Ah Hei and restored her former title as a matchmaker officer. The Matchmaker House became more and more prosperous. Bak Hap and Ka Fok had twins, one boy and one girl; Ah Hei and Ko Fei had a boy; Seung Seung and Ping On had a girl; all children resembled their parents and it looked like they would grow up to be great matchmakers.
Criticism on Actors/Actresses:
Steven Ma as Ka Fok: One word: INCREDIBLE! I have seen Steven in other series such as "Where the Legend Begins" and "Perish In the Name of Love", and I think his performance in "Better Halves" is the most impressive! I didnt even know that Steven could be so hilarious, witty and charming! He is very convincing as Ka Fok, and his facial expressions just crack me up the whole time. His acting is very natural as if that is part of his true personality. Steven is indeed a comedy star!
Maggie Cheung as Bak Hap: To be honest Maggie was not my favorite actress, but she IS now (after this series). Maggie was excellent in her previous comedy roles, but in "Better Halves", her performance is EXTRAORDINARY! She shines throughout the series and its very interesting to see her portraying a very different role from her previous ones. Maggie knows how to put just enough stubbornness into her character that makes it enjoyable and not-at-all overboard.
Joyce Koi Ming Fai as Ah Hei: I dont know why many people criticize this actress so much, because in my opinion, she is GREAT! She might have a little bit of makeup on, and her costumes are too colorful for a guy, which somewhat make her look a bit unnatural. However, her acting is very convincing. I love Ah Hei for her devotion to the family and feel pity for her life. Being raised as a guy and being an officer, Ah Hei is a principled, calm, reserved character who always keeps her emotions under control. Therefore, viewers should not expect her to be as fully expressive as Bak Hap. Joyce does an excellent job in portraying this character. The way she looks at Ko Fei, the way she yearns for a chance to be her real self, the silent tears she cries when she is apart from Ko Fei all are very real and touching.
Moses Chan as Ko Fei: I just LOVE him! Morse proves to be a very good actor who can take on dynamic roles. This is the first time I see him in a comedy and he is just adorable! I cant stop laughing at his lovesick expression, and all those scenes where he cites the poems are hilarious! He looks very charming and handsome and very suitable for his character. Thumbs up for Moses Chan!
Cerina Da Graca as Seung Seung: Seung Seung is not a very hard character to play, but Cerina makes it likable enough. Seung Seungs character always gets in between Bak Hap and Ka Fok, which is somewhat annoying, yet Seung Seungs acting is very innocent and you cant really blame her for that. I watched the series in Vietnamese so I have no comment on her Chinese. Cerina is very cute with her big eyes and naïve look. She manages to handle the role well.
Auguste Kwan as Ping On: This is the first time I see Augustes acting and I think its quite good. I like his expression as a child.
Favorite Scenes: Overall this is one of the few rare series that I watched from the beginning to the end without fast-forwarding any part. I especially love the scenes where Bak Hap and Ka Fok are together, where Ah Hei and Ko Fei together, where the four of them come up with a new idea to help out a couple, the part where Bak Hap and Ka Fok illustrated a story in an opera way, the part where Ko Fei writes the loving words in Ah Heis palm to let her know that he always keeps her in his heart, and the ending where the three wives are having babies.
Favorite Couple: Maggie and Steve have surprising chemistry as a couple, and they have many cute scenes together. As for Moses and Joyce, the chemistry is just as convincing. It is hard to decide which is my favorite couple. The couple Bak Hap-Ka Fok is more like friends-in-love, while the couple Ah Hei-Ko Fei is more like lovers-in-friendship, meaning that Bak Hap and Ka Fok love each other very much but they always argue and they remain two unique individuals with equally strong personalities, where Ah Hei and Ko Fei are so alike in personality that they seem to be more romantic, understanding and caring for each other.
Other comments: I love how the stories in the series are tied together; the overall structure of the story is well defined and very logical, with one thing flowing smoothly after the other, full of interesting twists and unexpected outcomes. The conversations between characters are witty, sharp and meaningful. Great background music! Very colorful costumes and pretty hairstyles for Bak Hap and Seung Seung; for Ah Hei, I only like the costume she wears when she is pregnant.
Recommendation: Highly recommended.
