series 411: "on the first beat"
Title: On The First Beat (Hok Ging Chut Gang)
Casts: Michael Tao, Sonija Kwok, Ron Ng, Sammul Chan, etc.
Length: 30 episodes (Cantonese) // 22 tapes (Vietnamese)
Release Date: June 2007 (Canto) // July 2007 (Viet)
Genre: Modern Drama/Police/Crime/Educational
Note: Please credit "MetalAZNWarrior" and/or this site if you should use my translation of the series' plot! I worked hard to translate it, so please don't just steal or use it for another site without my permission and/or credit. Thank you!
Synopsis:
The truth is a reality, true PTU
Leaving the academy, stepping in front of the firing line
The sequel to "The Academy,"
True feelings demonstrated teach the team through the process
After going through the excruciating training of the academy, Chung Lap Man (Ron Ng Cheuk Hei) and Li Pak Kiu (Sammul Chan Gin Fung) finally become official police officers and are assigned into the same branch. One operation causes Kiu's girlfriend to die a violent death. Furthermore, it causes Kiu and Man, this pair of good brothers, to separate from one another. Newly-appointed police chief Cheung Ging Fung (Michael Tao Dai Yue) turns out to be the crime leader of last time's operation. Kiu further discovers that there's an inside story to his girlfriend's death...
The feelings between Man and his colleague Cheung Nim Yan (Joey Yung Jo Yi) gradually develop. However, his cousin Man Jing (Kate Tsui Tsz San), like before, pursues him. On the other hand, Kiu loves Fung's ex-wife, Yuen Wai Nei (Sonija Kwok Sin Nei). However, the old feelings between Fung and Nei still haven't ended. Facing the impact of career, friendship, and love, how will the two new officers deal with it all?
My thoughts: I really liked The Academy. I'm iffy about this sequel because I don't like the cast changes. The storyline, however, seems promising. Besides, I mentioned previously that I like Academy's characters and want to see what the "future" has in store for them.
I'm so disappointed that Michelle Yim is not involved in the sequel. I loved her scenes in Academy (especially with Michael Miu - the highlight and star of Academy) - I wonder what happened to "Man"'s family in the sequel?!
Poor Ron... In Academy, Sammul's acting clearly outshone his and it looks like Sammul's acting and storyline will outshine him in Beat too. Honestly speaking, "Man" only has a seemingly typical and uninteresting love triangle whereas "Kiu" not only suffers the death of his beloved girlfriend, but has a brother/sister relationship and he's involved with a central mystery as well. How interesting do the scenes involving "Kiu" sound compared to "Man" already?
I'm going to hold out for reviews on Beat and then decide whether or not I want to watch it. I hope it's good and doesn't tarnish the good name Academy built.
Labels: On The First Beat, Series 411
posted by MetalAZNWarrior at 1:42 PM
17 Comments:
According to the characters info given by 'Cadets on the Beat' official site on TVB website, Man's mother has gone oversea to accompany her daughter who went to study oversea. So, Man has moved in with Kiu.
I like the fact that the scripwriter made good use of Fiona's death subplot. Instead of just using it as an excuse for Fiona's absence, the scripwriter has made it the cause of the riff between Man and Kiu.
Seems like Kiu will have a tough life again. Girlfriend's dead and his love for madam is one-sided.
3.6.07
Very disappointed that Michelle Yim isnt in it as well..as she's my most favorite veteran. Nevertheless, this sequels seems decent..will definitely give it a shot!
3.6.07
awww no Michelle Yim and Michael Miu..
but the plot does look interesting, especially the one revolving 'Kiu'..nice plot
at least this series will have real action instead of marching in every single episode loll
4.6.07
kidd - Thanks for the info!
4.6.07
metal would u recomend it??
5.6.07
*the series 'on the 1st beat'
5.6.07
Thanks for pointing that out, sum1udunno. But, be assured that the other info I gave is correct. I just happen to use the unofficial name of the series (the name that everyone used when TVB hasn't came up with an official english name yet).
5.6.07
sum1udunno - I haven't watched it yet... haha. You are asking the wrong person. :P
5.6.07
I've watched episode 1-2 just now. So far, I like it. It's not perfect, but interesting enough to keep me hooked.
As I said before, my main concern is the characterisation of Wai Pak Kiu. I'm glad to say that, based of the first two episodes, I'm satisfied with it. They kept a lot of Wai Pak Kiu's personality intact, both his flaws and his strength. This is only for the 1-2 episode. Whether he will change later or not, we will have to wait and see.
Chung Lap Man is also a recognisable Chung Lap Man. I think their respective girlfriends have matured though. Ah Fa has become more womanly and is a very giving girlfriend. Fiona retains some of her cute nature, but her character has matured a lot thinking wise.
Another aspect that keep me hooked is the mystery behind Fiona's death. The scene was shot in a way that u really can't make out who shot who and what actually happens in Fiona's death scene. I'll have to wait for the revealation, although I have my theory. I hope my theory is wrong, or Kiu's life will be really suck (as of it's not sucky enough now)
One aspect that made the sequal felt missing something is the lack of elders/seniors that appeared in part 1. Michelle Yim and her daughter was not around. Fiona's parents and Fah's parents were not shown at all too. So, they have to skipped some scenes where the parents ought to be there like airport departure scene for Fah and funeral scene for Fiona. Kiu's grandpa has gone back to Mainland and that one we knew through Kiu's chat with Man. Only Man's aunt remain. Her tarot card business is doing well. :)
But, fortunately, a lot of the cadets in part 1 are still around. The tomboy girl and ex-cadet boyfriend is getting married. :)
I also applaud the set designers for remember the set of the first series. Kiu's bed still has the picture Fiona drawn on it. :)
That's my 2 cents. I'll keep watching. :)
6.6.07
kidd - Thanks for the review. :) Gives me confidence in this series. Hehe.
*Whew* I am relieved that Man's aunt is still around. She is really funny - I like watching her.
Who's tomboy girl and ex-cadet boyfriend? I can't remember. LOL. Is Chin Ka Lok and Priscilla Koo still around? I really liked watching them.
I must say, the official poster is so ugly. :( It's very raw and rough. The Academy's poster looked so much more visually appealing.
7.6.07
I haven't see Chin Ka Lok and Priscilla Koo yet. But, Chin Ka Lok's picture is in poster I saw in my rental shop. So, he should be there. From what Man said, he and Priscilla is also getting married(He should be married now since the timeline moved forward 1/2 year after Fiona's death). That's why Man asked Kiu to move in with him. Can't be a lightbulb to the newlyweds, right? ;)
The tomboy girl is Chan Hoi Yee. In part 1, Matt Yeung was her boyfriend who later two-timed her. At the end of part one, she got together with ex-cadet who opened a toy/model store.
Tavia's and Fiona's fans will be disappointed though. Tavia was already gone in episode 1 while Fiona in episode 2.
7.6.07
Hope they appear. :)
Ah! Chan Hoi Yee... haha I totally forgot she was in Academy. Honestly, I can't remember her storyline at all. :\ I certainly can't recall this ex-cadet either. Haha. I vaguely remember the toy store bit, but nothing else.
Is he Ron's best friend from part 1? Lol, I don't remember Matt Yeung at all. Haha.
Well, Tavia apparently comes back in the end to fight with Joey for Ron... but we all know she will lose because Joey has already confirmed she ends up with Ron. :( So much for Ron promising he'd wait for her.
8.6.07
Nope. He's not Ron's bestfriend. Now u mention it, Ron's bestfriend is not in this sequal at all. Haha, everyone seems to have forgotten about him, including me :P.
10.6.07
LOL! 'Man' has such shallow relationships. Not only does he forget his 'best friend' like that but also the 'love of his life' too. Haha.
10.6.07
I've watched up to episode 12 now.
I've to say Pak Kiu is not as cool as he was in part 1 anymore. He has become more unbending and stubborn in his opinion and he's even jealous of Man. On the other hand, Man has become more understanding and flexible in his view. I see a few viewers in asianfanatics are quite annoyed with Pak Kiu now.
But I still like him. Maybe I'll be annoyed too when I see more episodes, but up to episode 12, I'm not. So far, his stubbornness of opinion seems to be directed towards Fung (Michael) only, which is understandable since Fung was always putting him down and hindering his progress. Also, Man has more opportunities to witness firsthand incidents that made him change his mind about Fung compared to Kiu. Kiu only has Man's words for it. But at that time Kiu was already unhappy with Man for taking his opportunity away (he was being considered for a special task, but Fung convinced the other senior police that he's not suitable and recommended Man instead). Also, Man himself has been causing Pak Kiu's trouble with his recklessness.
I think Fiona's and his father's death has affected his thinking alot eventhough outwardly he appeared to have gotten over it. There's still subtle shadow there. The reason Pak Kiu wants to go up the rank so fast and wants a perfect track record is to make his father's proud. I guess not being able to say goodbye really affected him. And he has been subconciously blaming Man for Fiona's death. This also affected his view towards Man.
What I still like about Pak Kiu is, eventhough he's angry and bias, he never do nonsense like writing complain letters, boycotting people and do other childish thing. He still try to remain codial. I think he must have tried to convince himself again and again and again not to blame Man for Fiona's death. They were the best of friends (collegues even called them 'brokeback buddies') until the recent events cause him to finally blow up.
Anyway, Man is not taking Pak Kiu's outburst lying down either. He's now also very angry with Pak Kiu for looking down on him (Pak Kiu thought he's reckless and not a good policeman and only got his opportunities by kissing Fung's ass) and blaming him for Fiona's death. So, they are at odds with each other now. Looking at the last scene of episode 12, Man is really angry.
Haha, looking forward to some good conflict again.
Actually, I like the change in Man in part 2. He's willing to admit his wrong and appologise when he found out he's in the wrong. The scenes between him and his aunt are very fun to watch because they are very funny whenever they are together. I also like how genuinely happy he always is for Pak Kiu when something good happen this buddy of his. But, his recklessness still remains and he causes trouble for Pak Kiu several times. :P
21.6.07
... who is that guy, with Power(the bald guy) ?
hes such a show off getting annoyed wif him!The one Power wants to get "best PC"!
that guy totally bugs me.
Who is deep ng?
9.7.07
just watched ep17, pak kiu is still very stuborn despite apologising to a Man, he should have told Man that he thought he was a good police officer, instead of not saying anything when Man asked him if he thought he was capable of his job. i also dont like how they snet Man's girlfriend to japan, its so typical of tvb to just get rid of characters like that. i like Mans character alot, although it frustrtes me that ultimately he doesnt wait for Fa and i think that s out of character of him (i consider it poor writing) :(
10.7.07
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