Princess Huai Yu

How about the series:

I only need two words to describe it: a masterpiece! Though critics compared another hit series, Huan Zhu Ge Ge, strongly with Princess Huai Yu, I still find that they are absolutely different.

Some of the reasons for its popularity:

1) It could be that of the leading actor taking part in this series, Eric Suen. You all might know that Suen, widely known as the Little Heavenly King, was once a really popular pop singer. As Princess Huai Yu is his debut series, this makes him the main attraction.

2) Not to leave out the excellent story line and plot which cleverly mix romance together with heart-wrenching tragedies.

3) The astonishingly superb performances presented were only one of the countless reasons which aided the series in getting numerous awards and praises.

4) The director and crews have made the series look remarkably real because they didn't try to be stingy by putting only a few actors in the background when the story moves on to battles and wars. Even the 'bloodshed' made is worth mentioning.

What is this series about?

The forbidden love between a Ming princess and a Qing emperor. I think I need not go

into detail as it will then serve as a spoiler for those who haven't watched it.

What about the actors?

Eric Suen as Ai Xin Jue Luo Xuan Ye/Kang Xi:

As I have mentioned above, he's a newcomer. Doubts on his acting abilities are least to your worries. What I find strange is that why they dubbed his voice? He can speak fluent Mandarin though he's a hundred percent Hong Kong born Cantonese. Anyway, he, with ease, managed to bring out the childishness of the emperor and also the emperor's deep concern for Huai Yu. It's so sweet to see them together and what Xuan Ye was willing to sacrifice for her. There was one scene which he suffered a serious injury that nearly took his life when he tried to save Huai Yu. Once, he even sat outside Huai Yu's room all night long to beg for her forgiveness. Everything he does for Huai Yu really melts ones heart.

Zheng Jia Yu as Huai Yu:

I can't really make out who Huai Yu loves, Xuan Ye or Ying Xiong. But it seems that as the story goes on, the one she finds that she really loves is Xuan Ye. She's thoroughly heartbroken when Xuan Ye ignored her and also when his evil concubine, Cheng Yun, cooked up a story and then claimed herself to be pregnant. Zheng can cry really well and her somehow hoarse voice made her in delivering the lines more dramatic.

Wang Hao as Wu Ying Xiong:

Some people wanted Wang Hao as the emperor. What I have in mind is that Wang Hao lacks the baby-face looks and child-like character that Suen possesses. These are greatly needed by the babyish emperor in this series. Wang will look too old for being the immature Xuan Ye. Anyway, Wang did a good job as the wooden Ying Xiong, son of the infamous general Wu San Gui.

Theme song:

The series' theme song 'Wei Feng Shi Ke' or, literally translated in English, 'Time of Prestige' is sung by Suen. An outstanding singer he is, the song too excelled. The singer of the ending song 'Shi Jian De Mi Mi' is Valen Hsu. Unlike the theme song, 'Shi Jian De Mi Mi' is a slow ballad. This is, too, recommendable.