The Bund

Fans of TVB must have heard of The Bund. This series represents TVB's golden era (the 80's and early 90's) and is arguably the most famous television production in TVB history. It rockets the main cast to stardom as well as launches two sequels and three remakes.

Here's the brief summary for anyone who cares: Hui Man-Keung (Chow Yun Fat), a patriotic young man, arrives in Shanghai with nothing laudable. He meets and befriends with Ding Lik (Ray Lui), a boorish vendor. Together, the duo try to make it big but under the power of crime boss Fung Ging-Yiu (Lau Dan) who happens to have a noble daughter, the beautiful Fung Ching-Ching (Angie Chiu). She and Hui fall for each other though Hui's conscience prevents him from becoming a puppet for her father. In an awry deal with the Japanese, Hui is forced to flee Shanghai, leaving behind the brokenhearted Ching-Ching. In the meantime, Ding also wants to get his hands on the lass and to replace Hui's position. Tragedy strikes once again on Hui, driving him back to Shanghai to get even with Ging-Yiu…

The Bund is the series that owns a mix of action, romance, and drama – all happens during the tumultuous time in 1920's Shanghai. If we judge these departments above separately, they are old-school and lack a polished touch, but the best thing about them is they are original. The series proves to be consistent, never becoming over-the-top or going astray to commercial purpose. The plot is straightforward, but the characters' development and the reasons behind are what make Bund interesting. Also, Bund rightly captures the feel of Shanghai during that era, which is another bonus.

In addition, the acting is top-notch. As Hui Man-Keung, the then-young Chow Yun Fat delivers a towering performance. His brooding presence and expressive eyes make Hui a believable hero. Angie Chiu is a lovely leading actress. She shows that Ching-Ching can be both gentle and strong-minded. Furthermore, her scenes with Chow are beautiful to watch, thus it's sad that they cannot be together. Ray Lui is handsome (even with mustache) and fitting as Ding Lik. Others such as Lau Dan, Susanna Au Yeung, and Kent Tong all perform well in their roles.

Besides the gripping storyline and cast, The Bund is also responsible for two classic scenes – ever – the wedding scene of Chiu and Lui, and Chow's ending scene. I also find some other scenes exquisite too, for example, the snow scene with Chow holding an umbrella for Chiu, the farewell scene in which Chow leaves Shanghai, and the heartbreaking final talks between the two doomed lovers. While Bund may appear old-fashioned these days, it is still a fun ride to experience what had built TVB's heyday. The series is an influential work with phenomenal performances and incredible music (Frances Yip's "Shanghai Beach"). A pure classic and must-see!