comic tease / issue.1

Issue #1 featuring The Biter Bitten

tvb chinese #3

The Chinese title of Benny Chan and Linda Chung's The Biter Bitten is translated to mean Circus of Life. Literally, the title is Life Circus Group, but a group who performs a life circus is pretty much doing a Circus of Life, hence the translated title. I think this title sounds really cute, even though it's a bit "off" since the series focuses more on a treasure hunt rather than the circus. However, it's a very unique and fun title.

Pronunciation: YAN; You guys have seen this word so many times; if I explain it again, it would be redundant.

Pronunciation: SANG; This word means life. YAN SANG is human life, but generally taken to just be "life" as we are all human.

Pronunciation: MA; This word means horse. The way I remember this word is actually from a scene in Love Is Beautiful. The horse of Mariane Chan's character was sick, so she was out looking for a "horse doctor." She misunderstood that Evergreen Mak was a "horse doctor" because she saw the word MA and DAI FU (ancient term for "doctor") on his banner/stand. Her character is illiterate and she only recognized the word "horse" means the character MA has "four legs (strokes)" like a horse! If you look at the character, Mariane is right, it does look like a horse - and that's how I learned this word.

Pronunciation: HEI; This word denotes a play, game, toy. MA HEI is literally horse & game, but together it means a circus. In Linda's song Swear, she sings, "FAT SAAI CHUNG CHI JUET MO YI HEI"; YI HEI is literally translated as child play, but better put as childish games.

Pronunciation: TUEN; This word is a group, an organization.

a moment like this #3

From The Biter Bitten episodes 9 & 15

Dan Dan (Linda Chung): Is it the last one?

Ah Fung (Benny Chan): Yes.

Dan Dan: Let go! [The flame's near his hand]

Ah Fung: It's okay. Let it keep burning. It'll be one moment less that you have to be scared.

Dan Dan: I'm not afraid. With you here, I'm not scared.

(Flame dies, match falls - darkness again; Dan Dan freaks out)

Ah Fung: Don't be scared. It's okay! (Looks down at watch) My watch has a flashlight! Look!

(Watch shines "5:20" on the cave wall)

[Flashback]

Dan Dan: Hey! What does "520" mean?

Ah Fung: I love you.

Dan Dan: (Blushes) Don't joke!

[Ah Fung: I'm serious. I love you.

Dan Dan: (Looks away shyly)]

Ah Fung: (Chuckles) Actually, "520" is telephone code for "I love you."

[End of flashback]

Ah Fung: I'm serious. (Kisses Dan Dan; tight embrace)

How sweet is this scene? It was very romantic to have Dan Dan and Ah Fung be trapped together underground. You want the flame to keep burning because it'll be one more moment that Dan Dan doesn't have to be scared. But, of course, the fire dies out. It was a clever "twist" for Ah Fung's watch to have a built-in flashlight. Although I doubt they sell a watch with that powerful of a light. I'll let it pass though because the "5:20" makes up for it.

I really like how this scene tied in with my other favorite scene from episode 9, in which Ah Fung "declares" his love for Dan Dan. I added in the two lines in brackets because the flashback in episode 15 cut it out, but I felt it was necessary for people who didn't see the previous scene to understand the significance of Ah Fung saying "I'm serious" the second time. The Biter Bitten just has the sweetest scenes for Ah Fung and Dan Dan!

a moment like this #2

From The Biter Bitten episode 14

No words are needed to describe this scene - and that's exactly how it happened - with no dialogue; only facial expressions and exchanges between Benny Chan and Linda Chung - that's all that was needed! I anticipated this scene since I saw pictures during its filming. I knew it was going to be a special moment and it was. Dan Dan and Ah Fung finally get together thanks to the abrupt rain and they share a romantic walk under a beautiful banana leaf. With nothing said, the feelings that the two of them have for each other is lucid and understood. The chemistry is great and the lovers just look so sweet together! Wonderfully acted and beautifully filmed scene.

a moment like this #1

From The Biter Bitten episode 13

Ah Fung (Benny Chan): I believe that if you have confidence, there's nothing you can't do. What can't be overcome?

Dan Dan (Linda Chung): ... It's like you with your fear of heights. You can't overcome it.

Ah Fung: Says who? If I have confidence and think that I can overcome it, I definitely could overcome it.

Dan Dan: Then do it.

Ah Fung: (Proceeds to climb up a ladder, but can't even make it up one step)

Dan Dan: (Sigh) Let's face the truth. You can't do it. How could I possibly do it?

Ah Fung: (Dismay) I will be able to do it! I'll definitely let you see!

What sticks out with this scene to me is how it's sad, touching, and subtly funny all at once. You feel sorry for Dan Dan with her self-sacrificing decision and despair. You're touched when Ah Fung shows up to support and offer encouraging words to the sorrowful Dan Dan. You root for Ah Fung to cheer Dan Dan up. But then - Dan Dan counters his words and makes him do what he preached. You can see the yearning in her eyes - hoping that Ah Fung will be able to overcome his fear of heights to validate what he told her. When he fails to do so, you can just feel the disappointment in her voice. Poor Ah Fung was so sure that he would be able to make Dan Dan happy again with his words, but too bad the scene concludes with him watching Dan Dan run away...

How is this scene the least bit funny? The irony of the dialogue/situation. Ah Fung tries so hard to persuade Dan Dan that if she has faith, she can do anything. What a cliché, right? The irony comes when Dan Dan challenges Ah Fung's encouragement instead of going along with it and proves (even though she didn't want to disprove him) that what he said is in fact not true. Just because you think you can doesn't always mean that you really can. So take the lesson from this scene - if you offer someone support/encouragement, make sure you can follow up on what you tell him or her!