a moment like this #6

From War and Beauty episode 30




Hung Mo (Moses Chan): We're going to reach the pier soon.... Then we'll be safe. Don't worry. We can definitely escape.

On Sin (Maggie Cheung): That's good. [Smiles and rests her head on his shoulder]

Hung Mo: [Looks at her and grins] You're tired. Why don't you rest a bit? I'll wake you when we get there.

On Sin: Okay, but you must remember to wake me up.

Hung Mo: [Nods] Surely.



This is one of my most favorite death scenes. It is so poignantly and tragically done without being over-the-top because it feels very calm and serene. The scene is very visually appealing and it is another great Hung Mo and On Sin moment. You want to be like Hung Mo - completely ignorant of On Sin's impeding death, but you know that she's slowly dying... The dialogue is succinct, sweet, and effectively moving. As Hung Mo said, On Sin was indeed very tired. She tried to lie to herself and transform herself into a vicious and unfeeling monster for the sake of revenge, but it was useless. On Sin couldn't be a vicious person - it's not her nature. However, she kept pushing herself to avenge the wrongs committed to her. Finally, she can escape the palace and stop pretending to be the monster that she isn't. She can end the facade, be with the one she truly loves, and rest. The pain and the lies, it is all over for her... literally - and that's the sad part. She got shot when she saved Yee Shun (Charmaine Sheh).

On Sin wants to protect Hung Mo and delay his grief (and to ensure that they will indeed escape because if Hung Mo knows that she's been wounded, he will return to the Capital in a heartbeat and their chance of escaping would be greatly lowered). She wants him to continue to believe that they'll be able to escape and live happily ever after until death. Even if for just a little bit, at long last, On Sin can finally be genuinely happy without worries as she rests her head on Hung Mo's body. Sadly for Hung Mo, On Sin will continue to sleep... forever living in the dream of the happy life that they could have had.

This scene goes hand-in-hand with A Moment Like This #5 because it happens whilst the last moment is happening. Yu Fei (Sheren Tang) is reciting her poem, wishing On Sin the best of luck because she wants her to fulfill her wish of living a life of freedom and true love. She hopes Hung Mo and On Sin can finally be together - but she has no idea of the tragic twist that happened when they were fleeing the palace. I won't lie; I was moved to tears while watching the final moments of War and Beauty. Everything came together so well and the series wrapped up tragically beautiful. I really felt for all of the characters, especially On Sin, who was acted so impeccably by Maggie Cheung.