Favourite Villains

[sehseh]

Finally found this thread. My pick:

Gallen Lo (Ambition)
I know a lot pf people choose CBWH but I prefer his role in Ambition (plus he's hot in there!)

Adam Cheng (Greed of Men)
I actually hate this character so much that I wish to jump into the TVB and shot him to death.

Deric Wan in (Looking Back in Anger)
I was too young to remember more but he was a classic villain.

[jinpok1978]

Adam Cheng as Ding Hai in The Greed Of Man - Man, this character has got to be the most unique in the annals of villains in TVB productions. How else to define a character who is big, stupid and oblivious to the point of being half a step away from a truly blind person. Not your ordinary extreme villain. In fact he preaches for good and righteousness. The problem is his understanding of the concept of good. Good equals himself and all the things he has done and goes about doing. When the fact of the matter is, what he does is the total opposite of what he preaches. And he is totally and sincerely oblivious about this. Stubborn? Selfish? Refusing to accept reality? Crazy? Or plain stupid? One thing's for sure. He caused more hurt and damage to those around him with his intentions to do "good" than any other principle villains in recent TVB productions that I could recall.

Deric Wan as Ding Yau Hong in Looking Back In Anger - The epitome of the brilliant but egoistic, selfish and dare we say sociopathic villainous characters that are the mainstay of TVB's modern epic productions. Deric Wan's portrayal of the selfish, power-and-status hungry younger brother who foregoes everything that is good (including commiting the act of murdering one's foster parent) probably became the template for popularizing villains of this type in subsequent TVB series from Gallen Lo (Vengeance, CBWH, Ambition) and Nick Cheung (SOTH) to John Chiang (RDOV) and Michelle Yim (BOL). This is one villain who knows what he does is wrong but does it anyway just because it is the easiest way for him to achieve his target in life.

Deric Wan as Ko Tin Chun in The Breaking Point - Deric is very very good at portraying bad guys who are three dimensional enough for audiences to understand the motives of his actions although they will never once agree with the said actions or decisions the character made. His portrayal of the villainous brother in LBIA propels him to stardom. Ironically, his equally convincing portrayal of the evil, greedy and vengeance-minded guy who will destroy his best friend's whole family simply because the girl he loves chooses the other fellow almost destroyed his career at TVB because he was too good in his role. Not that good a series chiefly because Leon Lai is a weak anchor in the main role but Deric totally stole the show here. How can you not love to hate a guy who will manipulate the father of his best friend to commit suicide simply for a trivial thing of a bruised ego after being jilted?

Ada Choi in The Link - I'm not sure if anybody remembers this series. I for one have forgotten the name of the character Ada plays in the series but she is good as the main villain in one of her very first main role in a TVB production. Her character who is not more than a teenager sets out to destroy the family of the woman she believes is responsible for her parents' failed marriage after being poisoned emotionally by a mentally unstable mother is one of the few female principle villain in a modern TVB production.

Wilson Lam as Ling Fung in The Key Man - One of the better portrayal of the villainous type popularized by Deric Wan. Bad to the bone and without any redemptive qualities, this character has the nine lives of a cat and keeps on finding ways to come back and torment our hero (Alex Man in this case) when he seems to be down and out for the count. Wilson Lam always portrayed the good guy prior to this role that I was pleasantly surprised he pulled it off so well when I first watched the series about a gazillion years ago

Amy Kwok in Detective Investigation Files II - Can't remember the name of this character either and she is not actually a "villain" in the ordinary sense of the word but Amy Kwok's portrayal of Kenix Kwok's rival for Michael To's affection in this already classic police drama really have me wanting to blow her brains out. I have always like Amy as an actress and this one shows her as a very versatile actress indeed although her character was in only 30 of the total 40 episodes of the series.

Kenneth Tsang as Cheung Man San in The Big Family - I wanted to pick his portrayal of crime lord Tsai Kiu Jeng in Blood Of Good & Evil initially but I like him more as the bad guy here although the series was only so so compared to BOG&E. His portrayal of Alex Man's father who slowly reveals his dark side and the many evil layers to what is at first glance a simple straight-forward role of a lazy, good-for-nothing and down-on-his-luck slacker is quite something to behold. I even began to sympathize with his character a little as we learn of how and why he became the way he is.

Michael Miu as Yong Hong in Legends of the Condor Heroes - Michael Miu in his heydays at TVB portrayed one of the most famous villains in a Jin Yong wuxia novel. Not many of today's younger viewers of TVB series would have known of this what with rave reviews he is getting for another villainous role in Dicey Business. But this one is Michael in top form and his best villainous turn imho as a conflicted guy caught in a dilemma not of his own doing and just happens to choose the wrong path. Way better than in DB.

Andy Lau as Emperor Hong Hei in Duke Of Mount Deer - Again not a villain in the strictest sense of the word and he can be forgiven after letting Wai Siu Poh off the hook at the end. But still, he is a very manipulative and controlling character. He knows all the while that Wai Siu Poh is a member and one of the leaders of the Heaven & Earth sect all along, but pretends he doesn't so that he can use this to his full advantage. I hated him very much for using Siu Poh's family in trying to force Siu Poh to betray the sect when all this while it is plain that Siu Poh treats him as a real friend and has been truly loyal to him.

[tvbtoday]

Michael Miu in Legend of the Condor Heroes (just simply superb)
Kent in all his series (love him as the villain, his eyes)
Lawrence Ng in The Grand Canal (he just has the looks for the villain and it's hard to believe that he's the hero)

[BearBearNweather]

Amy Kwok in Detective Investigation Files II - Can't remember the name of this character either and she is not actually a "villain" in the ordinary sense of the word but Amy Kwok's portrayal of Kenix Kwok's rival for Michael To's affection in this already classic police drama really have me wanting to blow her brains out.

Her character name in it was Carman Lam. Her character was more hateful since Dai Yong and Jessie had lots of supporters back then (including me )

[smurf120]

jinpok1978 vbmenu_register("postmenu_719628", true); - excellent analysis/recap

Deric Wan was one my favorite actors whether comedy or sociopath in the early 90's.

Lawrence Ng could never convince me as a hero after Grand Canal (his return to TVB has him in all good guy leads - ehhh?)

Other notable villains:

Susanna Kwan in Heart of Greed - have not seen more compelling female vilain in years

Kwok Fung (?) as Fok King Leung on Threshold of an Era - perfect archetypal "heartless" business man

[BearBearNweather]

Lawrence Ng could never convince me as a hero after Grand Canal (his return to TVB has him in all good guy leads - ehhh?)

I have read somewhere that he avoids taking evil roles especially after his success in Healing Hands.

Don't mind seeing him in either.

[Ken Cheng]

Kwok Fung (?) as Fok King Leung on Threshold of an Era - perfect archetypal "heartless" business man

Ever see him as Hung Pau in THE SHELL GAME? He was quite frightening as a sadistic, violent brute.

[almo89]

Ever see him as Hung Pau in THE SHELL GAME? He was quite frightening as a sadistic, violent brute.

Crap he scared me in that one when i was a kid. I still have that image of him stabbing Law 4 Hoi in the eyes. Great character actor. Not so many of these actors these days

[Ken Cheng]

Crap he scared me in that one when i was a kid. I still have that image of him stabbing Law 4 Hoi in the eyes. Great character actor. Not so many of these actors these days

He was so scary and evil as Hung Pau that I was surprised to learn later that in real life, Gwok Fung is known to be a very friendly, nice guy. Later on in his career, he got some more nice guy roles.

But he was always at his best playing loud, mean bullies.

[almo89]

He was so scary and evil as Hung Pau that I was surprised to learn later that in real life, Gwok Fung is known to be a very friendly, nice guy. Later on in his career, he got some more nice guy roles.

But he was always at his best playing loud, mean bullies.

I agree. He was always reliable as the villian. He was great as Sum Bo in Final Verdict.

[jinpok1978]

Ever see him as Hung Pau in THE SHELL GAME? He was quite frightening as a sadistic, violent brute.

Hey Ken. Hope you don't mind that I drop in a line here. I remember Hung Pau too. In fact i think this is the peak of Kwok Fung's career playing stereotypical villains and if it wasn't for Seasons (Kwai Chit) later on, he would have been stuck in TVB's "villain hell".

He almost make my list too for the first three quarter of the series. I thought in the end he would have a final showdown with Tam Seng (Simon Yam's character) but then lo and behold he just...

*****************SPOILERS FOR SHELL GAME****************

 click to show spoilers

ups and dies by the hands of his wife who became final chief villain of the series instead. I really felt cheated because although the wife Cheok Li (Regina Tsang) is crafty and cunningly evil in a subtle way, they had already allowed Hung Pau to take too much space for all of the first half of the show that it was quite difficult to believe the way he got written out. What an anticlimax. He was a true sadistic brute indeed. You can't not hate anyone who would rape his own adopted sister.

[jinpok1978]

I agree. He was always reliable as the villian. He was great as Sum Bo in Final Verdict.

I never got to the end of the series. Just to the part where Roger Kwok makes his appearance as Adam's grown up son.

But I have to say that Kenneth Tsang is more frightening here as he goes totally psycho and did the hideous crime Adam was falsely accused of. I agree that Kwok Fung was great here. He helps frame Adam all because he wanted Adam's wife.

How did the series ended btw? Did Kenneth and Kwok Fung get their just dessert? Did Adam and Roger live happily ever after? PM me almo. I don't mind Spoilers.

Thanks.

[jinpok1978]

In this new century, the most effective villain so far in a TVB production imho is Joe Ma in At The Threshold Of An Era II. And to think Louis Koo was billed as the main villain in that one. Joe however totally stole the show. Louis just appears stupid to me for all the choices he made in the entire show but Joe's character however has every legitimate motive to be the way he is. I think TVB should give him more bad guy roles. He is totally at home when he is being bad.

[almo89]

In this new century, the most effective villain so far in a TVB production imho is Joe Ma in At The Threshold Of An Era II. And to think Louis Koo was billed as the main villain in that one. Joe however totally stole the show. Louis just appears stupid to me for all the choices he made in the entire show but Joe's character however has every legitimate motive to be the way he is. I think TVB should give him more bad guy roles. He is totally at home when he is being bad.

Oh man Joe was totally an A hole in that one. I'm glad he got AIDS hahaha. ur right, Joe MA stole the show even though it was suppose to be Louis's part. Comparing Part 1 and 2, Sunny Chan played a much better villian. Louis Koo's character was kinda retarded and fake. What's up with him still trying to kill Yim Wing Tim AFTER he knew he didn't kill his bro? So fake. First 50 episodes GOOD. Last 50 was like brutal.

[Ken Cheng]

He almost make my list too for the first three quarter of the series. I thought in the end he would have a final showdown with Tam Seng (Simon Yam's character) but then lo and behold he just...

*****************SPOILERS FOR SHELL GAME****************

 click to show spoilers

ups and dies by the hands of his wife who became final chief villain of the series instead. I really felt cheated because although the wife Cheok Li (Regina Tsang) is crafty and cunningly evil in a subtle way, they had already allowed Hung Pau to take too much space for all of the first half of the show that it was quite difficult to believe the way he got written out. What an anticlimax. He was a true sadistic brute indeed. You can't not hate anyone who would rape his own adopted sister.

Hung Pau wasn't really a fit opponent for late-stage Tam Sing, however, because although Hung Pau was a Grade A bastard, he really didn't have it in the brains department. He wasn't able to outsmart Lo 4 Hoi early in the series, and he *certainly* wasn't going to be able to outsmart the fully trained Tam Sing. Hung Pau was a classic mindless brute.

He was also a bit of a goofball as well. Hung Pau was a frightening character when working his evil, but he was also hilarious at times because he was quite an idiot as well.

[jinpok1978]

Oh man Joe was totally an A hole in that one. I'm glad he got AIDS hahaha. ur right, Joe MA stole the show even though it was suppose to be Louis's part. Comparing Part 1 and 2, Sunny Chan played a much better villian. Louis Koo's character was kinda retarded and fake. What's up with him still trying to kill Yim Wing Tim AFTER he knew he didn't kill his bro? So fake. First 50 episodes GOOD. Last 50 was like brutal.

That goes to show TVB's real problem these days. Starting off good, but running out of steam towards the end. They really got to find writers and producers that knows how to end a show even if it's on a cliffhanger note like the classic Looking Back In Anger. Where are those days I wonder.

Agree with you that Sunny is great in part 1. Totally forgotten about him. Many people have problem about the way he turned bad but for me it was totally convincing and logical. He was too 'chup chiok' to put it in Cantonese, which finally leads to him doing all the bad things and to think it started with accidnetally stabbing to death that guy who tried to rob him in the alley.

And Louis still opting to cause trouble for Gallen after finding out he is not responsible for Sunny's death is what I meant by Louis' character turning out stupid for me instead of being an effective villain. He can be rich and successful by helping Gallen to build the Smokeless City and help achieve Sunny's dream in the process. But I guess the writers just kind of ran out of ideas at that point to get the series to the 100 episodes target and wrote crap after crap and in the end we got more than we bargained for: 106 episodes in total!

[jinpok1978]

Hung Pau wasn't really a fit opponent for late-stage Tam Sing, however, because although Hung Pau was a Grade A bastard, he really didn't have it in the brains department. He wasn't able to outsmart Lo 4 Hoi early in the series, and he *certainly* wasn't going to be able to outsmart the fully trained Tam Sing. Hung Pau was a classic mindless brute.

He was also a bit of a goofball as well. Hung Pau was a frightening character when working his evil, but he was also hilarious at times because he was quite an idiot as well.

But the whole thing was all still kind of an anticlimax, don't you think Ken?

Even if it was Cheok Li, I would be hoping they will be facing each other across the gambling table but it all ended with a bomb. What's the use of Patrick Tse and Yeung Kwan teaching Simon all their gambling skills I wonder?

[almo89]

But the whole thing was all still kind of an anticlimax, don't you think Ken?

Even if it was Cheok Li, I would be hoping they will be facing each other across the gambling table but it all ended with a bomb. What's the use of Patrick Tse and Yeung Kwan teaching Simon all their gambling skills I wonder?

Yeah I was kinda disappointed that there wasn't one big showdown on the gambling table, but as you watch it more you start to understand that it was a show about cheating instead of gambling.

[jinpok1978]

Another villain I forgot to put on my list would be Gallen Lo's first foray into villain-dom as Alex Kiu Lik in Vengeance (Fo Mui Gwai). He plays the younger brother to Deric Wan's character. And this is really the definition of playing against type.

Gallen who is known at that time for his clean cut image and as the all too good youngest son in Seasons getting all evil whilst Deric who is no stranger to villainous role playing the good brother. And the motives for Gallen's character which is what I always look to in a villain, was compelling as well. He and Deric were the sons of their father's mistress if I'm not mistaken and when their father took them in to his family they were constantly looked down, even by their own father, because of their status.

Very strange years later to see Gallen playing the older brother and Deric the younger one in Golden Faith. How things have changed.

[Ken Cheng]

But the whole thing was all still kind of an anticlimax, don't you think Ken?

Well, you know TVB and its ramble/scramble endings.

But I think the writing was on the wall when Hung Biu (Hung Pau's father) died about three-quarters into the series. It was pretty evident that the Hung Family didn't represent the true main villain of THE SHELL GAME; it was Cheuk Lei. She was the true menace. The Hung Family was just the muscle.

Even if it was Cheok Li, I would be hoping they will be facing each other across the gambling table but it all ended with a bomb. What's the use of Patrick Tse and Yeung Kwan teaching Simon all their gambling skills I wonder?

The games were meant to train Tam Sing how to think. Chances were, the outcome of their confrontation with Cheuk Lei wasn't going to come down to cards, mah jong, or dice.