Split Second

The Cast
Alex Fong - Fung Chi Wai
Kevin Cheng - Wong Ka Fai (Vincent)
Patrick Tam - Yeung Kai Dong (Ah Dong)
Marco Ngai - Hao Mun Wa
Yoyo Mung - Pang Wai
Lau Gong - Cheng Kwan/Lee Man Ho (Kwan Sok)
Guo Hung - Wong Jung Yeung (Wong Sir)

Storyline
A 30-episode police and triad thriller featuring several characters trying to outwit and destroy their nemesis in a fateful month which is being played in real time (one day per episode).

April 1st 2004
It started with an attempted assassination of the soon-to-be Police Commissioner, Wong Jun Yeung. Police Inspector Wong Ka Fai (Kevin Cheng) was put in charge of the case and soon traced the attempted murder to a triad boss Cheng Kwan from Thailand. However, there were puzzles that he couldn't solve - firstly why and how was Cheng Kwan related to the biggest triad organization in Hong Kong, headed by Hao Mun Wa (Marco Ngai), which Inspector Wong has been investigating for sometimes but without success.

Time was running out for Inspector Wong Ka Fai. He has terminal brain cancer and has around 1 more month to live. To arrest the triad boss Hao Mun Wa was the last thing the driven cop wanted to do before meeting his maker soon. Inspector Wong became very obsessed with the case. In fact, time was running short for everyone' Cheng Kwan swore by any means to prevent Police Commissioner Wong from taking his post before the month's end. While Hao Mun Wa was told by a monk that he will meet his destiny (which said he would either rule the world or lose everything) in 30 days too.

A small-time Police Sergeant Fung Chi Wai (Alex Fong) came into the picture when he got involved with Hao Mun Wa's woman Pang Wai (Yoyo Mung). This set Fung Chi Wai off into a collision course with Hao which trigged off a series of events and set Fung, Pang and Wai into a fatal path of no return. Meanwhile, Inspector Wong found his only hope in cracking the case in an undercover cop Yeung Kai Dong (Patrick Tam) who is getter closer to Hao and his shady dealings, meanwhile he also discovered that Cheng Kwan and Police Commissioner Wong go back some thirty years ago and the new Police Commissioner was perhaps not as 'clean and upright' as he appeared to be.

As the month nears its end, everyone soon became entangled into a web of cause, actions and retributions and the likes of Inspector Wong, Hao, Yeung Kai Dong and Fung Chi Wai would find their destiny waiting for them on April 30th 2004.

Comments:
The show is quite suspenseful and the unique factor of 'Real Time' gives it an intense feeling and fast pace which work well but you will soon get tired or lose track of the formula after awhile. The show does drag a bit and does not get to the main point until the last few episodes which I feel came too late. No actions scenes at all but plenty of intense situation scenes which are the main attraction of the series. The show's ending seemed a bit snubbed and felt like the storywriters have run out of ideas to end it and the main villain Hao Mun Wa deserved a better ending than this.

Alex Fong's Fung Chi Wai character seem to be a bit 'extra', His scenes are long and boring. I would like to kill off his and Yoyo Mung's Pang Wai roles. The Pang Wai role was very annoying throughout the whole series. The series can be shortened to 20 episodes and make for an even tighter pace and less confusing plot. An idea is to make the series into a direct standoff between Inspector Wong Ka Fai and Hao Mun Wai. I think Inspector Wong Ka Fai reminded me of Andy Lau's character in "Running Out of Time" except that the terminally ill guy is a cop this time. Both have a purpose in life to fulfil / keep going until death's end.

The 'Real Time Factor' worked well but 30 episodes was way too long without the viewers getting tired of it. Maybe a shorter period of 20 episodes, 20 days would be better.

And why did so many things happen within a day, do the characters sleep at all? And the terminally ill Inspector Wong Ka Fai can work and work 24 hours a day when he should be lying down in the hospital bed and breathing though a tube. These doubts should be put aside if you are to enjoy the series.

Lastly, an exciting stylish police drama series which is recommended for those who like this genre.