The Vigilante in the Mask

Vietnamese Title - Quai Hiep Cay Mai
No. of Chinese Episodes - 20
No. of Vietnamese Tapes - 15

ATTENTION : Watch Out for Some Spoilers

The Cast:
Deric Wan
Tavia Yeung
Eddie Kwan
Cindy Au
Sammul Chan
Mandy Chiang
Kenneth Ma
Eileen Yeow
Fiona Yeun

“The Vigilante in the Mask” is an average serial with an average cast. The statement may seem harsh, but the series doesn’t have much originality of its own. There isn’t an urge to watch the next tape; there is no suspense to the storyline, but fortunately the few ending tapes brought some excitement!

Brief Summary:
Deric is the official of his hometown, but because of some “dark secret,” he is forced to appear useless and loses the support of the townsfolk. The only way to make up for the situation is to dress up as a “vigilante in the mask.” Tavia and Deric are engaged, but she will only marry him if he’s willing to be a great official. Mandy Chiang is from the pugilistic world, who searches for Deric to marry her because of a joke. Eddie is the best friend of both Tavia and Deric. However, he discovers he has a deadly sickness and this causes him to become...

Opinions on the Cast :
Deric Wan – nothing shocking because here he delivers a good performance portraying a kind-hearted person who appears to be useless and lazy. This performance shows his versatility and it’s quite impressive. My only complaint is that I wished Deric and Tavia had more chemistry.

Tavia Yeung – Tavia is consistent with her portrayals and this series is not an exception. Despite her adequate performance, Tavia can’t seem to really attract the audience. You have a feeling that is just neutral, you don’t dislike her nor do you admire her. One thing I have to bring up is that she looks extremely pretty even though her hairdos and costumes are just plain.

Eddie Kwan – I think he’s under-rated at TVB after his return. His transition from a calm, easy-going person to a “maniac” who strives for power and love is quite impressive. Eddie’s character is what enables the plot to have some excitement!

The rest of the cast are simply okay. Kenneth Ma is just average, I don’t think he deserves that much promotion at TVB. Cindy Au’s character is so annoying and I find her just average as well. Mandy Chiang is just hilarious, especially with her hairdo. I don’t think that takes any work because it is just like a mess when you first wake up. Performance-wise, she is quite natural and has potential, considering it’s her debut series. Also, Mandy and Sammul make a nice couple who bicker and eventually find true love.

My thoughts
The one and only factor that made this serial stands out is the fact that our protagonist (Deric) isn’t the typical heroic, generous character. His character is very realistic, which brings a feeling that you can relate to.

The series fails miserably in bringing any connection among the characters, which is a big disappointment. There isn’t much chemistry among the couples as well, which makes the series quite dull.

I also felt the storyline is too exaggerated. First of all, the scene in which Kenneth tries to rape his mother (Eileen) because he’s high from the drugs is too exaggerated. I am even more dissatisfied with the fact that Eddie, being a small official (Yes, Deric is the official, but Eddie eventually takes over), had the ability and opportunities to capture the king, forcing the king to announce him as a prince. That is just too unrealistic despite the enjoyment I had when watching this part.

My Final Comments
Being a low-budget production, there shouldn’t be too much expectation for “Vigilante in the Mask.” Overall, the series can be concluded as boring in the first half but becomes somewhat interesting in the second half. Also, if you’re a big fan of Tavia, then this might just be the series, since she has plenty of screen time and is also the sole female lead. I would only recommend this serial if there’s nothing else great to watch or if the cast is appealing to you!