The Last Breakthrough

Cast:
Nick Cheung- Wong Po Fun
Raymond Lam- Ken Chai Bak Hang
Sonija Kwok- Hong Kiu
Leila Tong- Ha Hiu Ching
Andrew Lin- Hak Zeng
Bosco Wong- Tung Ji Kwan
Sharon Chan- Yoyo

The Summary:
The story talks about a group of medical staff, which do not only believe in healing diseases, but also use their hearts to help patients. They join the Life Force which goes to poor countries and provinces around the world to provide medical services. While trying to help their patients, they themselves are also facing many challenges in their lives.

The Dislikes:

The Storyline
There are some parts of the story I like, some parts of the story I couldn't really like, some parts of the story I hated. Sometimes, the story gets too cliché and too lame to stomach. This happens in many of the patients' cases, and gets even worse when half of the main characters started falling sick. I hate it when I heard something like 'Please keep my baby, I don't mind dying', 'this is the dragon city spirit. We believe not only in curing the body, but also in curing the heart?. However, there are some parts of the story you will like, like some of the African stories, when Nick was wooing Sonija, or the Raymond and Leila scenes.

The Cancer Factor:
Is there a better problem a couple can face together? Why must Raymond AND Sonija be down with cancer? For Raymond, the first part of his cancer broke my heart, because it's not just the cancer, but a lot of emotional struggles Raymond was facing. However, his relapse had no effect on me at all. For Sonija, fancy getting cancer in the second last episode, and HOW MANY checkups do you have to go to CONFIRM that you have cancer? It's just dragging time and making us confused for nothing. Sonija's keeping her baby and risking her own life theory is making my head ache, and the way she woke up was pretty unacceptable. Why make everything sound so serious, and then you recover for no reason? Hey scriptwriters, don't be lazy! Think of something better, and more original!

The Last 4 episodes of the series:
After Raymond was healed and Nick proposed to Sonija, the story seemed to be getting no where. I hated these 4 episodes because it's a big anti-climax. And also, Raymond's decision to leave Leila for one year was so unreasonable. I can understand that being afraid that his disease might come back any time, Raymond wants to see the world and do the things he wanted. But why can't Leila go with him? And if he was the one who refused to let Leila go with him, why must he act like they are being forced apart? I guess the scriptwriters just wanted them to have a 'reunion' at the last moment, so they have to get separated somehow. As for Sonija, I couldn't care less about her 'sweet married couple life? with Nick. As for her cancer, it's a big headache, even bigger than that of Raymond and Leila.

The Likes:

Leila's crying skills:
If there is someone who stands out the most in this series, it is not Nick, not Raymond, but Leila. This series made me realize how well Leila can cry. Her performance made me root for her so hard for 2005's Best Improvement Award. I love the way she cried when she found out about Raymond's cancer.

Nick Cheung
When Nick first appeared, I found him too typical, and his beliefs too corny. But slowly, I could understand the reasons behind his actions, and also, I started finding him very funny, especially when he was 'wooing' Sonija.

Raymond- charming as a doctor
I only liked Raymond in some parts, not other parts. I liked him so much at the beginning, when he was on mission in Africa. Raymond is so charming as a doctor, even more charming than Nick. I like him every time he told Leila 'Now you finally see my strengths' or 'Are you starting to like me?'. Somewhere towards the end, I stopped liking Raymond so much, and I've been trying to figure out why. Maybe due to his disease, Raymond started looking very sleepy in all his scenes. His character even got a little sissy. Then I started wishing that I could rewind to the earlier parts of the series, and see the charming Raymond once again.

Raymond's cancer- part one
If you?re looking for something emotional, this might be a good part to watch. From episodes 23-26, you'll find many emotional scenes, which will make you feel so sad.

Bosco Wong
This is the only character I loved from the beginning to the end, even though it is just a tiny role. He's really funny, and really cute, way too cute to be a doctor. You'll find none of Bosco's scenes boring, because he is too cute. You'll like him for the way he crushes on Leila, but gives her and Raymond all his support, because he knows they are meant to be together. Mmm, why can't Sharon learn from him?

Favourite scenes:
- When Leila and Raymond had their forced kiss, the expression of Raymond's face is hard to forget
- The second African mission, many interesting things happened.
- When Leila started falling for Raymond. That was a priceless moment.
- When Nick 'woos' Sonija, Nick is so funny!
- When Raymond just found that he had cancer, he needed Leila support, but Leila told him she never loved him, making him so heartbroken
- This is my favourite scene of the entire series. It's when Raymond sent a video clip of himself to the clueless Leila, telling her lots of touching things. Meanwhile, he was undergoing a treatment. He told Leila that Africa is such a beautiful place. He said even though humans are smarter than animals, they also have no control over their fate. Sometimes he feels really helpless. He asked Leila to take pictures of Kenya for him, because that is the place they knew each other, and he wants the feeling to stay forever. Watching all the flashbacks, with the background music, and the touching lines, you'll feel so touched
- when Leila found out about Raymond's cancer, the tears she shed will make your heart break. And the flashbacks on the plane were so bittersweet
- When Nick proposes to Sonija on the mountain, what a romantic proposal!

Worth Watching?
Even though I didn't like the storyline as a whole, there are some good parts which are worth watching. I think everyone should watch this series, or at least, catch a glimpse of the Africa scenes, and see what the other side of the globe is like. It's such a pity that an awesome theme did not get explored properly, really.