Catch Me Now

Cast

Damian Lau Chung Yan as as Ko Chi/Jack Ko
Johnson Lee as Ben Tam (or BT for short)
Idy Chan (Chan Yuk Lin) as Bao Yung Yung
Joe Ma (Ma Tak Chung) as Kong Yeung (police officer)
Sharon Chan Man Chi as Kong Kiu (Kong Yeung's sister)
Fala Chen as Minnie Hong (wife of Kong Yeung)
Koni Lui Wai Yee as Long Leg Crab (not-so-famous actress)
Wilson Chui as Keyman
Eric Li Tin Cheung as Hau Lo (speed racer)
Aimee Chan as Nana (policewoman)
Kong Hong as Chiu King Shum
Mak Cheung Ching as Chiu Kwan Ho (son of Chiu King Shum)

Story (contains NO spoilers)

This is a modern day Robin Hood story about a gang of thieves led by Ko Chi and comprising Ben Tam, Hau Lo, Keyman and Long Leg Crab. These five take justice and law in their hands because they believe that the police is not always successful in nabbing the bad guys who are on the wrong side of justice and law. These "Robin-Hood" thieves successfully thwarted many corrupt deals.

Kong Yeung, a policeman who stands for justice and the law, is in complete opposition to Ko Chi's stand. Initially, not in full concert and understanding of Ko Chi's ways, he tried to nab him for what Kong perceived as wrong. However, as Kong gets to know Ko better he tends towards Ko's thoughts but he still insists that things must be set right and be upheld by the police.

Ko Chi and Chiu King Shum's "relationship" goes back a long way when Ko's parents were killed in a fire that was set up by Kong. From that point on, and since the law cannot take Kong under its hands, Ko set out to be a modern day Robin Hood. Years later, Ko has to deal with King Shum's son, Chiu Kwan Ho.

For "robbing the rich to help the poor" Ko Chi and his buddies set up a charitable organisation from where they put part of the stolen money to good use, for example, building schools in rural Chinese villages. In their conscience, these thieves believe that they are doing good in society.

This series therefore sees a tussle between one group of people who upholds justice and one group who fights crime by taking action that they deem right. On the romance front, there is the tussle about loving someone with righteous character and aligned with moral standards that are set by society versus loving someone whose thoughts, ideas and actions differ from society's norms. After all, thieves, ordinarily in the eyes of society, can never be good people. They ought to be placed in prison. Cops and robbers belong to different worlds.

Actors

There is clear disparity in age between Damian Lau and Joe Ma. Damian is still a good actor but I notice that he has aged a lot in years and the age difference between him and Joe is obvious (not that I'm complaining). Further, there is the problem of height; Joe is much taller than Damian.

The couples, Damian and Idy Chan, Joe and Fala Chen, do not display excellent chemistry. And given to how society perceived old age romance, it is a shame that the director did not allow more intimate kissing between Damian and Idy. Just a peck on the forehead seems so lame and condescending to society's view of romance displayed by older couples.

I personally like Johnson Lee (as BT) in this series. He is cute and cool and displays a great sense and reprise of his role. His display of cool wit and "act-tough" is spot-on and comes right on cue.

I also like Wilson Chui in his role as Keyman and as a responsible husband whose father-in-law is head of a Chinese village. Though not placed in a super hero role, I feel that he acted his role pretty well - looking stupid and not too talkative, yet smart in the head.

Speed racer Eric Li Tin Cheung is not given much to shine in this series.

Koni Lui as Long Leg Crab is okay but not exceptionally outstanding. In one scene, I find Aimee Chan (as Nana the policewoman) sexier that Koni.

Idy Chan as a "know-nothing" housewife at the beginning of the series was atrociously clad but she morphed into a pretty woman again later on. Short hair suits her better.

The series lacks a melodic song to make it memorable. Some scenes (I can't complain much because it happens with all celluloids!) are simply ridiculous and is an insult to intellectual minds.

Is the series worth watching? Yeah, better than the tragedies of romance K-soaps. Though not always in chemistry with each other, the actors gave their best acting. I like the scenes where the thieves decode and plan moves to rob. They're very high-tech and stylish in their ideas and moves. And Johnson Lee (BT) is best!