Blood of Good and Evil

Cantonese pronunciation: Ngor Boon Sin Leung

-- Full list of main characters --
Deric Wan Siu Lun --as-- Chai Hou Nam (a.k.a. Jeung Ji Chong)
Maggie Siu Mei Kei --as-- Shek Yee Ming
Tsang Kong --as-- Chai Kiu Jing
Law Lok Lum --as-- Jeung Ding Bong
Kitty Lai Mei Han --as-- Diane
Woo Foong --as-- Shek Cheung Chun
Lee Lum Lum --as-- Gan Wai Sum
Bak Yan --as-- Yip Kwai Chee (Cheung Chun's first wife)
Ng Woon Yee --as-- Yook Bing (Cheung Chun's second wife)
Dong Lan --as Chai Hou Yee
Nathan Chan Ting Wai --as-- Shek Kah Wing (Yook Bing's elder son)
Lum Lup Yeung (a.k.a. Lum Lei) --as-- Shek Kah Ho (Yook Bing's younger son)
Lam Yee Kei --as-- Fong Ling
Lam Bik Kei --as-- So Man
Chan Po Yee --as-- So Jing
Unknown actor --as-- Sam Go Jun Fung (the architect who pursues Diane)
Unknown actor --as-- Hing (Chai Kiu Jing's driver and right hand man)

Blood of Good and Evil (BOGE) is truly a TVB classic. It has all the critical elements of a successful TVB modern costume drama: Complicated plot with lots of characters, fast-paced story, a very strong cast with shining lead actor/actress, and great songs/music. More than a decade after it was first aired in Hong Kong, it is still in the list of most popular TVB drama list, next to all time classics like "Legend of Condor Heroes" (1983) and "Looking Back in Anger" (1989).

-- The classic good vs. evil theme --
A lot of TVB series centered around this good guy vs. bad guy theme. In BOGE, it's a cop vs. head of a mafia group. Stuck in between them is their son, Chai Hou Nam, who grew up looking up to his adoptive father, the mafia leader Chai Kiu Jing. Hou Nam is willing to sacrifice anything for Kiu Jing whether it's going to jail for a crime Kiu Jing committed, or letting Kiu Jing shoot him in the end. To Hou Nam, it had always been a natural thing to do, since Kiu Jing always tells him that when he retires, Hou Nam will take over his post as the mafia lead. Add to that influence is Hou Nam's mother by birth, Wai Sum, who always reminds him that he should listen to his adoptive father. Then comes Ding Bong, who is a top sergeant and biological father to Hou Nam, and who is determined to put Kiu Jing into jail. Hou Nam resisted Ding Bong at first because he is there to protect Kiu Jing and Wai Sum's interets. But slowly through Ding Bong and the encouragement of girlfriend Yee Ming, Hou Nam re-gains a sense of self and an understanding of what's right and wrong. Slowly and painfully, Hou Nam turns against Kiu Jing, with lots of twists and turns throughout. So here goes a perfect setting of this all-time favorite theme -- the good vs. the evil. And as always, the good side has to win in the end, but not without some deaths and blood shed.

-- The story --
Just like the pace of Hong Kong, this story flows at a steady and fast speed. The full version of this series is 40 episodes. I don't know if TVB cut down some scenes to fit on their official VCD release. It's not a short drama, but the script writer managed to keep it very entertaining to watch. I was hooked on it starting with the very first episode. The main plot centers around the battle between Kiu Jing and Ding Bong, and Hou Nam's inner struggle. Other than that, there are lots of subplots that keep the story flowing at a steady speed. Very typical of HK dramas in the 80's/early 90's is lots of death and tragedies in the end. I actually did a count of tragedies -- 9 of the 17 main characters above end in tragic death, incurable illness, escaping to spiritual life, or insanity.

-- Best scenes --
* The ending, where Hou Nam finds the blind Yee Ming, and tells her that she will be his wife forever.
* All scenes in England where Hou Nam and Yee Ming are together.
* Yee Ming chases her father Cheung Chun down to his apartment where she finds he has a second wife and two sons. This is so hilarious -- Yee Ming is with Cheung Chun's other wife, who has no idea that Yee Ming is Cheung Chun's daughter. Cheung Chun sees the two coming into his apartment, and embarrassedly told his other wife (Yook Bing) that Yee Ming is his niece.
* Another funny scene -- Yee Ming stares at Hou Nam's picture inside his bedroom. Hou Nam suddenly comes out of no where and she is so embarrased. Then Wai Sum comes in and asks Hou Nam to drive Yee Ming home. Yee Ming rushes out of the Chai's mansion. Hou Nam drives behind her and asks the unwilling Yee Ming to get in his car. The two start a hilarious quarrel. Yee Ming gets out of the car in the end.
* Towards the end, Kiu Jing shoots Hou Nam in the knee. Hou Nam is heartbroken and says that he is letting the bullet pays back the 20 or so years Kiu Jing has provided him. A very moving scene.

-- An excellent cast --
Deric Wan is simply superb in this show. No wonder it shot his career up into the high sky. A lot of his fans think this is his all time best role. He is equally convincing playing both a villain and a good guy. To protect Kiu Jing, Hou Nam plots to kill his enemies and can be ruthless to people who gets into his father's way. But inside his hard shell, he is compassionate and even loving. Deric did well from start to finish showing a gradual transition. Maggie Siu is in one of her best role as a strong woman who pulls Hou Nam back into the right track. Her short hairstyle was her trademark at the time. The entire cast, I mean every one of them, did an excellent job. Wardrobe fits each character quite well too. I especially like Diane's hair, with the twisted side ponytail which made her look special.

-- The music --
Since some of the scenes are filmed in England, there is quite a number of English songs in the series. All of the songs and supporting music are not only good, but the lyrics actutally make sense to what's happening when the music/song is played. Some interesting examples are:

* Gimme What You Got (by Don Henley) -- Sung when Hou Nam is being chased by gangster members in London and wounded. The gangster lead plots to capture Hou Nam for the purpose of luring Kiu Jing to come to London for his son.
* Maggie (by Rod Stewart) -- Isn't this done on purpose?! It's actually Maggie Siu's solo scene.
* I Will Wait For You (by Andy Williams) -- The story is at Hou Nam leaving Diane's grave in deep sadness. Yee Ming follows Hou Nam's car which was driven down a cliff. Yee Ming sits at the edge of the cliff waiting and crying, and then Hou Nam miraculously climbs back up.
* Crush (Um Luin, by Shirley Kwan) -- Sung when Hou Yee first met Kah Wing. It was love at first sight (Hou Yee's crush on Kah Wing).

So in conclusion, even after all these years, this is DEFINITELY a must watch for all fans of HK drama, Deric Wan and Maggie Siu, and anyone who wants good entertainment.

Rating: It's such a great drama that there just aren't enough stars for it.

Some useful links:

Episode by Episode Synopsis (in Chinese):
http://www.dericwan.com/tvdrama/90_2.htm

General plots of the story (in English):
http://www.angelfire.com/stars3/msseries/bogaestory.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/polanski/795/summaries/blood.htm

Deric Wan Official website:
http://www.dericwan.com