Virtues of Harmony II

***Be aware of a very long review. Hence, VOH II is a long running series***

Story

Yau Nim Chi is a stepmother and also a single mother of 3: Kam Nin, Kam Yuet, Kam Yat. Kim Chi is the owner of a famous HK café. Previously, Nim Chi was a policewoman and decided to quite after marrying Kam Wah. After Kam Wah died, Chi took care of his 3 children while continuing to look after the café along with Kam Sa Sa, Kam Wah younger sister. Her eldest son, Kam Nin, works as a Merchandise Manager at Ka Yan Fashion Company. While working at Ka Yan, he meets Wong Yee and falls in love with her. Kam Yuet is the second child of Kim Chi and also works in Ka Yan as a Merchandiser. His wife, Lam Yuk Lo, also works at Ka Yan. Kam Yat is the youngest child. She has a passion for acting. Even though her talent isn’t recognized, Ah Yat never gives up and continues trying in the movie industry hoping to get famous. Ah Yat has a boyfriend named Ko Yi Hong. Nim Chi worked hard to raise her children. The story revolves around numerous mini plots for each individual character.

Characters

Nancy Sit as Yau Nim Chi: 4.5/5
I thought her character was quite different from VOH I. In VOH I, Nim Chi seemed to be a stubborn woman who was fair to everyone. However, in VOH II, in some scenes she was quite careless and seemed to follow the crowd at times. Still, her performance was very good.

Frankie Lam as Kam Nin: 4/5
I find Frankie didn’t put as much effort into VOH as much as he could. There were some scenes where he looked emotionless. As a well-known actor, and the “big brother” in VOH, I expected more from him.

Bernice Liu as Wong Yee: 4/5
Bernice improved a lot since VOH I. I enjoyed her strong-willed character who could overcome hardship. I think she is pretty good as a newbie. Besides, she and Frankie make a cute couple.

Bondy Chiu as Lam Yuk Lo: 5/5
Here is a character I find very convincing. Honestly, if Yuk Lo was a real life character I don’t think I would want to date her. She was way too bossy, but yet she managed to show that loving side of her. I don’t blame her, she was raised in a family that was very selfish.

Michael Tse as Kam Yuet: 4/5
Michael had have minor roles before and to see him carrying a big role in VOH was rather impressive. The chemistry between Bondy and Michael was great.

Cutie Mui as Sek Mei: 4.5/5
Sek Mei's character is so cute. It is totally opposite from VOH I. In VOH I, Sek Mei was very stubborn and would fight for her man or her beliefs. However, in VOH II, I find her very quiet. She was still cute even though she was not as funny as in VOH I. Cutie could pass for a 25-year-old woman.

Joyce Chen as Kam Yat: 3/5
I think Joyce has not improved. Her performance was neutral, it is neither bad nor good. Sometime her face was expressionless. I enjoyed her turn much more in VOH I because she was so funny with Johnny (Ko Yi Hong).

Johnny Tang as Ko Yi Hong: 4.5/5
He totally passed for a gay male. He looked like it and sometimes acted like one. He could also show his manly side as well.

Steven Ma as Sze Gee San: 5/5
I love Steven! He is so adorable. I am Steven's number one fan, therefore, my rating for him is biased.

Linda Chung as Hung Bak Lam: 3.8/5
Linda is very good as a beginner. As you know, VOH is her first series. Not bad for a debut. Her crying scenes seemed to improve as the series progressed. At first, I hated her character, I didn’t think she could cry, I thought she was too stiff and she couldn't act. Ever since Steven (Gee San) got in the series, I actually enjoyed her character. I saw dramatic improvement, especially when she was cute and loving in one moment and turned to be mean in a second. It was as if she had split personality. I like her expression of being in love.

Louis Yuen as Lau Gam: 4/5
This character could sometime be funny, but also could be very corny. However, he did manage to put a lot of entertainment to the series.

Yvonne Lam as Wan Ying Gei: 4.5/5
She was so stupid sometimes. I find portraying an unintelligent person harder than an intelligent person. Two thumb up for Yvonne.

Kingdom Yuen as Kam Sa Sa: 3.5/5
I didn’t enjoy her character as much as VOH I. She was so funny in VOH I. In the modern version, she lost the sense of humor. I always picture Sa Sa as a funny character, but sometime her character was so boring.

Lee Kwok Lun as Sek Dai Kei (11 brother): 4.5/5
Love his performance. I am so used to seeing him in villain roles, but I am impress with his comedy role. I find his character entertaining.

Favorite Couples:
Steven and Linda (sorry Bernice & Frankie fans, the love between Steven and Linda is so much sweeter and so romantic)
Bernice and Frankie
Bondy and Michael
Louis and Yvonne
Joyce and Johnny

Love Factor:
Steven Ma: No matter what, Steven will be in my love factor. It was touching to see how Steven changed from being a rich spoilt person into a kind-hearted person. Also, Steven and Linda's love story was enjoyable. Even though it was typical of TVB formulas: guy hated girl through misunderstanding, then saw differences in each other, then fell in love, then be apart, then got together, I still enjoyed it. It was so sweet and touching how when Linda was afraid of thunder, Steven would wrap a blanket around her and sing for her. So romantic!

Love stories between Frankie and Bernice, Linda and Steven, Linda & Hawick: Even though it wasn't shown that Linda and Hawick used to date, there were clues that they dated before. It is clear that they still had feelings for each other.

The Family: I love how the Kam family always stuck together.

Hate Factor: none

How Come Factor:
Hawick's ending: Couldn’t they find a better plot for his termination? I find his story of Princess Fiona so ridiculous.

The ending: What’s up with the ending? There is nothing mentioned about Cutie, Frankie, Bernice, and/or Hawick. Especially for Frankie & Bernice, there is no ending to their story. They didn’t even have one of the cast mention something about them. Ending sucks bad time.

Best Scenes:
- any scene with Steven Ma
- when Steven and Linda were pretending to be a couple and living together (very romantic)
- when Alex was not convinced that Linda and Steven were a couple, he went to the apartment and snooped around. Linda was scared by the sound of thunder, Steven went by her side, wrapped a blanket around her, and sang for her. Alex was touched (so was I).
- when Linda freaked out when she thought Steven was injured during a business trip
- when Bernice & Frankie were in love: wishing upon a meteorite together, when both of their watches stopped ticking at that special moment they had together, when Frankie bought her another watch, the passionate kiss between them at the airport (aww).
- when Sa Sa helped 11 brother out of debt
- the dance competition: this scene made me laugh so hard
- the bittersweet relationship between Linda and Hawick.
- when everybody was at the lake afraid Mannor (Fa Kei Sam), who was dressed in red, would commit suicide. It was funny seeing the family work together.

Worth Watching: A BIG YES!