From gossiping to eating dinner, Virtues of Harmony showcases over and over again what it means to be a "person." Part of the Virtues of Harmony appeal is that it's relatable to the audience. While some of the storylines and characterizations are quite exaggerated, the basis of these plots and characters remains very humanly. We can see parts of ourselves or someone that we know in these characters and their adventures and routines seem like predicaments that we hear about or might even get into ourselves. Thus, humor is spun from these humanly aspects and as a whole, the series feels homely, personable, and warm. Consequently, that is the ultimate reason why Virtues is so successful.

What Virtues episode can you name that doesn't have a dining scene? Probably none, if any. Whether it's around the dinner table, lunch-time, going out, or munching on some snacks, the Virtues characters are constantly stuffing their faces. The scenes take a lot of time and it seems "pointless" to have them eating all of the time. Well, what kind of "people" would the characters be if they didn't eat? Food is a big part of life and everyone eats several times a day, so showing the Virtues characters do so doesn't seem too much. The other importance of the dining scene is the fact that many conversations usually occur during them because food brings everyone together. Whether it's gossiping, woes, or problems, the characters dish out their voices and feed their soul, which is like what people do everyday. What comes in must also come out. While it's not a pleasant thing to talk about it, the bathroom is crucial to life. Virtues can get pretty disgusting with some of the toliet humor, especially from Gam. Perhaps, it would be better if the characters weren't shown doing such mundane and classless routines. Maybe, but it would take away from how "human" the characters are. Thus, while it is sometimes disgusting (but often humorous), the bathroom scenes are necessary in exhibiting its significance in reality. When you think about it, a great deal of people's lives are spent consuming and excreting, so it's approriate that Virtues has so many eating and bathroom scenes.

From the endearing Ma Chi to the conniving Man Gwai Fei, the Virtues characters are an interesting bunch, representing humanity's complex morals, fallacies, and follies. While the series seemingly has its share of "ideal" characters, all of them are faulty. Putting aside the series's troublemakers, or rather antagonists, let's examine some of the main characters. Sweet and cheery, Yau Nim Chi looks like a perfect mother, but she's far from the wise image that she projects; Nim Chi is in fact very foolish and is as clueless as her children. While she loves her children and tries very hard to be a good mother, she often comes short and just smiles to avoid embarrassment. Ah Yat is talented and full of perservance, but she's picky, nosy, and hates to lose face. Princess is caring and understanding, but she's also stubborn and likes to have things her way. Ah Yuet is smart, but lacks maturity and confidence, thus resulting in his childish, lazy, and push-over persona. Ah Nin seems like the perfect, intelligent, and filial eldest son, but he is indecisive and likes to keep things to himself. If you look at all of the characters, you'll find that they all have positive traits matched by equally negative ones. These characters are vain, greedy, insecure, selfish, self-conscious, show-offs, gossipy, nosy, and so on. Why do we cheer for these characters, then? Why do we feel happy when something good happens to them? Why do we feel sorry for them when something tragic happens? It's because these characters resemble how people are in reality. We all have our redeeming qualities, but we have our share of follies as well; it's what makes us humans. No one's perfect and no one can be all good or even all bad. It's because the Virtues characters exhibit this complexity in their personalities that we grow to like them, seeing and feeling them as real people.

The viewer becomes so attached to these characters and feel that they know them, as if he or she is part of their family. Because Virtues becomes so familial, we can anticipate how the characters will act. We aren't surprised when Ah Lo and Ah Yuet end up in another fight and she goes home, when Gam gambles and loses, when Joey and Ah Nin encounter another misunderstanding, when Nim Chi fails to show wisdom, and so on. So, shouldn't this mean that the series becomes predictable and mundane? No. It simply means that there is consistency in the writing and continuity in the character's personalities. If the characters don't act the way we think they will, we feel that it's off and faulty. People rarely change and by providing this consistency, the Virtues character maintain their realistic characterizations and offer the audience the intimate feeling of "knowing" someone so well. As a result, the audience becomes one with the series and the characters come to life.

The conversations and behavior of the characters are relatable. The countless topics and discussions that the characters engage in are commonly. They're things that most of us have run into or have heard about. For instance, the discussions of gender and relationships are key segments and also are the basis of several storylines. We, as people, often ponder about the difference between men and women, so when the Virtues characters dish their thoughts, it's hilarious because most of the time, their dialogues are witty and insightful or reminiscent. The characters always gossip and have misunderstandings, which reflect people's eagerness to "know" and to quickly jump to false conclusions. People do indeed have great curiosity. The characters are also seen solving their problems by modelling (or avoiding) after others who have a similar problem. It's human nature to mimick and observe when we make decisions. Stereotypes are another thing that the characters always discuss and act on. Whether it's racial, sexist, or class-linked, the characters behave according to stereotypes. While this is done for comedic purposes, a large majority of people still do act the way the characters would and still uphold stereotypes. Religion and superstitions play a large role in the characters' lives, whether explicitly or not. They pray when they're worried and seek answers or predictions of the future from a heavenly being (or usually a certain fortuneteller known as Half-a-Day God). As people, we don't know who to turn to besides religion or the supernatural when problems seem too massive. Superstitions, whether largely or not, have effects on our lives because they've been so embedded over the years that it's hard to completely ignore them, even when science proves them faulty.

Dreams and imagination scenes run the course of Virtues, whether it's a daydream, nightmare, typical bedtime dream, or thoughts. As people, we do a lot of thinking. Thoughts are important before acting, so we spend a lot of time pondering and wondering. "What would happen if...?" Our thoughts theoretically turn into dreams at night. It's also a large myth that deceased people use dreams to communicate with their living relatives. People also like to pretend and put themselves in other people's positions, seeing how they would act, or what they would do. Dreams and thoughts allow us to decide on decisions and plot out actions. Consequently, they are largely used by the Virtues characters. Nim Chi dreams to seek advice from her dead husband, Ah Lam envisions her decision and how it's for the better of Ah San, Ah Lo and Ah Yuet ponder their future if her family wanted to live with them, Ah Nin imagines what Princess would do if she found out something happened to him, and so on. Dreams and musings constitute thoughts and thinking is humanly.

The biggest theme of Virtues is family and it does a hell of a great job at this. The institution of the "family" is where people feel most comfortable, where they don't have to pretend, where they can be themselves. Outside of the home, everyone has to put on a mask (more or less) to conform to society's norms and expectations and to get along with other people. They hold their real thoughts and feelings to themselves because the world is "lean" and "mean." This is a sociological concept that suggests that people have an "onstage" and "offstage" persona; this isn't to say that people are pretentious, but they present a guarded and less truthful image of themselves to the general public as opposed to their significant others. The family is this "offstage" where people can strip off their pretense and state the truth. Hence, the characters are very casual and less self-conscious when they're at home because their family members are people they don't have to impress. The concept of the family is most clear when an outsider enters the home. When Joey lives with the Kams for a week, they put on a show for her, wearing their best jewelries and clothing and putting on their best manners. They have to resist arguing and use proper language for fear of embarassing themselves in front of Joey. One early morning, Wong Sheung pays the Kams a visit. When they walk out to open the door, everyone looks messy and dreary (as they should, considering that they just woke up). However, when Nim Chi announces that it's Mr. Wong, they all quickly dress up and appear their best before they dare to open the door to let him in. He's shocked and asks them if they go to bed looking so glamorous. They smile and lie that they always wake up early. As depicted in these examples, the family is truly a comfort zone for people, where they can freely be themselves, talk frankly about other people and issues, and not have to worry about keeping up any favorable image. Thus, the saying that "there's no place like home" is very true and is exhibited very well by the Virtues family.

When mixed together, these ingredients cook up a brew that reminds of home-made soup. Delicious and inviting, the Kams (and friends) become more than just characters on a sitcom. They showcase real, actual, living people with their personalities, routines, and actions. We are so won over by the writing and the wonderful performances of the casts that they become our family (or friends) and we enter their lives.

Whenever the Virtues of Harmony characters run into a problem, they always seek the advice or assistance of a fortune teller. Regardless of the time period, this tradition doesn't change. Why is it that fortune tellers play a part in a character's quest for a solution to his or her problem? Do they successfully predict the future or do their words cause the events to happen? A close analysis reveals the answer.

A fortune teller supposedly has special powers to see the future because they are "blessed" by the heavens. They outwardly try to convey a sense that they're a god. In the ancient Virtues, Half-a-Day God (Boon Yat Sin) was the man and in the modern version, Choi Ting Ting and Half-a-Day God held the "answers." Although Half-a-Day God would say that he refused to accept corruption or be bribed, he is seen taking bribes and bluntly lying for the sake of money on multiple occasions. Choi Ting Ting and Half-a-Day God take money before they will help someone and share their "magical" powers given by the heavens. Half-a-Day God likes saying that he can't reveal the future because it's against the righteousness of his power. Yet, when someone gives him more money, he willingly opens his mouth and talks. Fortune tellers, after all, are human and they need money to survive in society. Are they truly "magical?" Do they have "special powers" granted by heaven? There are several scenes where some characters criticize fortune tellers as swindlers and liars. Yet, why do the characters continue to see them and follow and "believe" what they say? In any case, it's clear that the characterizations of Half-a-Day God and Choi Ting Ting serve the humorous purpose of ridiculing fortune tellers.

In the ancient version, Half-a-Day God gave the characters a pouch with one word in it. This word supposedly held the key to the solution to their dilemma. However, because it's a single word, it's ambiguous and the characters have a hard time figuring out the exact solution to their problem. Most of the time, this word leads to a misunderstanding or intensifies the problem because of a "misinterpretation" of the word. When Half-a-Day God is approached about how his word caused them more problems, he usually tells them that it's their fault for not understanding the meaning of the word and then he goes on to reveal the intended meaning. Why is it that he's always able to explain the "real" intention behind the word after the problem was intensified by the word? Is Half-a-Day God really just a good on- the-spot liar? Yet, there are always scenes where he successfully predicts the future. This causes viewers to be confused whether he is a con-artist or a true messenger from the heavens.

Choi Ting Ting is highly respected and popular with her own show at TVB in the modern version. Her book and lectures on her TV show often swing the characters in one way or the other in regards to their "luck" or lack of it. She provides people with love and fortune help. Half-a-Day God still exists to predict the fate and luck of people who go see him. As in the ancient version, he's willing to provide "answers" as long as people pay him. He is even more so corrupted in the modern version than the ancient. Perhaps this was done intentionally to imply that the morality of fortune tellers through the times have changed. The characters follow what Choi Ting Ting and Half-a-Day God say when they're in a pinch. In fact, it's because of this that bigger problems arise.

Putting aside the question about the integrity of fortune tellers, in whatever light that Half-a-Day God or Choi Ting Ting are looked at, it's obvious that what they said to the other characters had a big effect on how things developed. Had they not open their mouth or had the other characters not listen to their "blessed words," nothing would have happened and the problems or misunderstandings wouldn't have gotten bigger. I believe that fortune tellers manipulate the future with what they say. They scare people who believe them and cause them to do wrong actions. Why, then, do we still go see fortune tellers to this day? It's because as humans, we feel lonely and unsure of the answers to our problems and questions. Fortune tellers provide a sense of "hope" of something "bigger" out there that holds the answer to our woes. In going to them, we hope that they can show us a way of light and we willingly believe that they are blessed by the heavens. It's because of this fear that fortune tellers have thrived for as long as society has existed.

From ancient to modern, Lam Yuk Lo is a misunderstood character. Whether it is by the characters in the series or the general audience, Ah Lo is regarded as being "nasty" and "unkind." I disagree. Ah Lo is actually a nice person who hides behind a mask.

Ah Lo's behavior is justified. In ancient times, most women's purpose in life was to get married and have children. Their biggest hope was that they would marry a bearable man. Luckily for Ah Lo, Ah Yuet was introduced to her by Ah Yat. However, there was still the threat that Ah Yuet might have a concubine. Thus, Ah Lo was always suspcious and controlling of Ah Yuet. She didn't want to lose him or let him cheat on her and marry another woman. Her worst nightmare came true when Ah Yuet wedded with Ah Mei. Like that, Ah Lo lost half of her husband. She would never be the only one that owns his heart anymore and she would have competition when it came to power and fortune. For ancient women, they could only be successful through their husband. Now that Ah Lo wasn't gauranteed a good life, it's understandable why she would be bitter and despise Ah Mei so much. Ah Mei was a threat to her and her future. In the modern version, Ah Lo "hates" the Kam family and is seen siding with her own family. She saves the valuable goods for the Lams and gives the Kams trash. This is also reasonable. The Kams are not Ah Lo's "direct" family; they are only her in-laws, her husband's family. It's forgivable that she would favor her own family over them.

Parents have a significant effect on their children. With a bitchy mother like Fa Kei Sam and a submissive father like Lam Sin, it's no wonder why modern Ah Lo is the way she is. Everyone fears Kei Sam because she will not let anyone take advantage of her. She's loud and not afraid of anything. Sin bows down to his wife and does as she orders. He's easily taken advantaged of and is afraid of trouble. The contrasting personalities of Kei Sam and Sin provided much insight for the young and growing Ah Lo. She saw that there were two types of people in the world - those who control and those who are controlled. Even though her mother was "scary," she was never abused by anyone. Consequently, Ah Lo took after her mother while maintaining her father's kind heart inside. She's compassionate, but puts on a fierce face. This is so no one will use her and she won't be hurt.

There are scenes where Ah Lo slips and reveals her genuine heart. In the ancient version, there are several scenes where she shows how much she loves Ah Yuet. When she and Ah Mei got divorced, the two formed a friendship and supported each other. During these episodes, Ah Lo was especially kind. In an episode of the modern version, Ah Lo leaves for a business trip. She leaves behind a note for Ah Mei, giving her a list of instructions. In this note, it reveals how careful and thoughtful she is of others. She urges them to not be cheated of their money and she ends the note telling Ah Mei to drink some medicine because she noticed that she was coughing recently. If Ah Lo was so cold-hearted, why would she pay such close attention to all of her friends and family? Her actions, even though they seemed selfish and controlling, were for the good of others. Why would she notice that Ah Mei was coming down with a cold? In fact, Ah Lo cares about her family and friends, regardless of what she might say. Ah Lo is good at talking and coming up with evil plots, but when it comes down to executing them, she is one of the first to leave. If she is really wicked, why can she never go through with the plots that she thinks up? When Ah Lo is compared to Man Gwai Fei and her mother, she is not "that bad."

As people, we are in constant interactions with each other. It's common knowledge that the weak are preyed upon. Even though Ah Lo has a kind heart, she doesn't let this show. If she does, people will not fear her; instead, she will be taken advantaged of. When she does good deeds for others, she doesn't tell anyone. When they find out, she comes up with excuses and insists that she had ulterior motives. Ah Lo wants to protect the mask and reputation that she has worked so hard to build up. Is Ah Lo selfish? Yes, she is, but, aren't we all selfish in one way or another? If you're not kind to yourself first, then no one will be kind to you. Is she conniving and manipulative? Yes, but to a harmless extent. Ah Lo's actions rarely hurt anyone "severely." A truly viscious character would go to any extent to get what they want, regardless of killing or whatnot. Ah Lo has her limits and her motives are nothing more than money or love.

It is not surprising that Ah Lo is one of the most popular Virtues characters and has so many supporters. She is a key to the humor in Virtues. The name "Lam Yuk Lo" is feared, but when the mask is stripped away, what's left is not a viscious monster, but a loving and kind woman who is scared of being hurt and used. Ah Lo is far from a saint, though. She is humanly greedy, selfish, and conniving. These traits make Ah Lo both realistic and entertaining. It's hard to hate her.

With her crazy antics and amusing appearance, an interesting character in Virtues of Harmony II is Kam Sa Sa.

Why does Sa Sa have a mushroom hairstyle and is always wearing yellow shirts and blue pants? This is a question that strikes many viewers when they first watch the modern version of Virtues. The first purpose for this strange attire is for initial comedic reasons. The viewers get used to seeing Kingdom Yuen with her modern Virtues look after a few episodes and even accepts her look. They grow to associate mushroom hair and yellow with Sa Sa. This creates a lasting and endearing image. The deeper reason behind Sa Sa's "look" is because it represents who she is. Sa Sa is an honest and diligent person, always putting herself behind everyone else. She helped Nim Chi raise Ah Nin, Ah Yuet, and Ah Yat and look after "Tung Mat Yuen." She cooks, cleans, and keeps the family in order; in a sense Sa Sa is a "mother" as well as a aunt. She was always too busy caring about the lives of others that she never gave herself attention. Consequently, she was "stuck in time" with her look and didn't change or adapt with modern times because she didn't have the time to care about herself. This explains why she appears the way she does.

A most clever twist in the storyline was the creation of the love triangle among Sa Sa, 11th brother, and Wong Sheung. This was the perfect way to write in a new love triangle to replace the Ah Lo, Ah Yuet, and Ah Mei triangle, that was written off over a hundred episodes earlier. This development also gave Lau Dan's character more screentime and prominence in the storyline; his screentime had been cut significantly since Bernice Liu left the series. Was the triangle too "manipulated"? I don't think so at all. It was a natural and satisfying triangle. Throughout most of the series, Sa Sa dedicated her love to one person. However, she was constantly repudiated and even scorned for her love. Naturally, she gave up on her love when she realized it wasn't going to be appreciated. When someone appeared and wanted to love her, she accepted it because she felt desired for the first time. Thus, Sa Sa's love triangle was an inevitable (although not initially planned).

Sa Sa's makeover was symbolic of her trying to change her life. Her mushroom hair and yellow clothes represented her past with 11th brother. In the past, she only had eyes for 11th brother. She didn't want to love anyone else. She knew that she was regarded as "unattractive" because of her appearance, but she didn't care because she only wanted 11th brother. However, after he consistently stated his hate for her, she had had enough. She always supported and loved him, yet, he never showed her a bit gratitude or kindness. Although the makeover was forced and wasn't done willingly, Sa Sa didn't change back even after she found out it had been done for nothing. Subconsciously, she was trying to change her life. With her new look, she received compliments and attention. She was no longer regarded as "unattractive" or "embarrassing." People paid attention to her and sought her affections. Sa Sa liked this feeling and thus kept the makeover. It was representative of her trying to move on with her life and forget 11th brother. When she reverted back to her old "look," it was because she had rediscovered the comfort of 11th brother's familiar love and arms; this was where she wanted to be all along. She could no longer lie to herself. The only person that she loved and would ever love was 11th brother. Even a makeover and the acceptance of a new relationship couldn't help her forget him. In this manner, the makeover was an attempt of Sa Sa's to forget 11th brother and move on with her life.

The conclusion of the love triangle is regarded by some viewers as "rushed" and "forced." I beg to differ. From the start, everyone knew that Sa Sa would end up with 11th brother. It shouldn't have come as a surprise that the two would end up together. Even though Sa Sa outwardly declared that she wasn't going to love 11th brother anymore, deep down, she couldn't lie to herself. She might have been able to deceive other people by accepting a relationship with Wong Sheung, but she always loved 11th brother. She tried her hardest to forget him and move on, but she couldn't. This was why she was so jumpy and scared when she first realized that her feelings for him were emerging again. This validates the point that Sa Sa never truly gave up her love for him. When she learned that he loved her, she was happy but at the same time fretful. In the past, she longed so much for him to show some sort of affection towards her, but he never did. When he finally loved her, she was with someone else. Thus, she was caught in a triangle between a person that she truly loved and another whom she was bound to because of their dating.

What about Wong Sheung? I admit that Sa Sa and Wong Sheung did share some very cute moments and they were quite a sweet couple, but I feel that his love for her was not as deep as he had claimed or projected. Before Sa Sa had her makeover, Wong Sheung didn't pay attention to her. He regarded her as "embarrassing" and "silly." In fact, he even threw her to his friend because he didn't want to be bothered by her! It wasn't until Sa Sa got her makeover that he realized what a kind heart Sa Sa had and how attractive she actually was. If Wong Sheung truly loved her, why didn't he when she was still in her yellow clothes? He only grew interested in her because she reminded him of his late-wife and the fact that she changed into an outwardly- attractive woman. She was also different from all the young girls that he courted in the past. He was too hurt from being used by the young girls that he just wanted to settle down and find "true love." Wong Sheung felt that an honest and compassionate person like Sa Sa could provide that for him. The two shared a happy, but not loving, relationship, while it lasted.

It's arguable that the two did care for each other, but I suspect that the feelings weren't any deeper than just "close friends." When Sa Sa changed back to her old look, Wong Sheung immediately grew disinterested in her. He repeatedly asked her to change back to her new look and feared that he had angered her and her change was a retaliation to punish him. The two had been dating for months already; if Wong Sheung truly loved Sa Sa, why does he still care about her outer appearance so much? In fact, he was so turned off by her decision to go back to yellow clothes that he rekindled his love with another woman. How could Wong Sheung have deeply loved Sa Sa when he couldn't even look pass her yellow clothes to appreciate her inner beauty? Wong Sheung's "love" for Sa Sa was merely a momentarily infatuation in something "different." I also don't believe that Sa Sa loved Wong Sheung either. She accepted his love only because she didn't want him to die; she was just being nice. She was also forcing herself to further forget 11th brother from her heart by "replacing" him with someone else. Ultimately, these "untrue" feelings in this "relationship" were exposed and the two mutually split apart. If anything, Wong Sheung and Sa Sa had a mere friendship or a brother- sister relationship.

From the beginning to the end, Sa Sa was 11th brother's biggest and truest fan. Without her, he wouldn't be who he is and where he is. 11th brother must truly love and thank his wife for everything that she did for him. Their ultimate pairing is just one of the numerous great Virtues couple. As "embarrassing" and "ridiculous" as her yellow shirts, blue pants, and mushroom hairstyle may be, this is the genuine Kam Sa Sa. She is most comfortable in this look; it is who she is. With no pretense or lies, this is the Sa Sa that modern Virtues fans adore.

Linda Chung was originally paired up with Hawick Lau, but situations led to her happy ending with Steven Ma. Despite the big difference between Hawick and Steven and their respective characters of Ah Sing and Ah San, Linda's relationships with both of them are strikingly alike and in a sense, almost the same. A close analysis will show that the writers did this intentionally and it is quite genius of them to do this.

Ah Lam's family is cursed with a hereditary heart disease, so she believed from early on that she, too, would suffer a similar fate and die when she reached twenty- eight years of age. Because of this, she vowed to live in solitude and not fall in love with anyone. She didn't want to hurt any more people than she had to when the "time" came for her to die. Consequently, she avoided love and pushed away anyone who fell in love with her.

In the past, Ah Sing fell in love with her and she found herself loving him as well. It's not clear whether or not they dated, but it's obvious that they had strong feelings for each other in the past. Because she thought she had a hereditary disease, Ah Lam pushes him away and puts up a facade of being cold- hearted and money-hungry. Ah Sing is tricked by her act and becomes heartbroken. His love for her turns into hate and resentment. He doesn't understand why she acts the way she does, but he still cares for her. When they meet again at "Ka Yan" company, there is so much tension between them in their love- hate relationship. After Ah Sing is gone, Ah San enters Ah Lam's life. Through a course of meetings and several situations, love develops between them. Ah Lam wants so badly to be with Ah San, but because of her "ill-fate", she pushes him away. She holds back tears and drives Ah San away with the same act of being an icy and selfish woman who feels no love. Ah San becomes disgusted with Ah Lam. When he returns to Hong Kong, he resents her and says bitter words towards her. Like Ah Sing, Ah San has no idea that Ah Lam is suffering inside and that she was only pretending to be a cold-hearted woman. Essentially, both relationships are the same. Ah Lam falls in love, puts up a facade of being cold-hearted and money-hungry to drive "that person" away because she doesn't want to hurt him when she "dies", and "that person"'s love for Ah Lam ultimately grows to bittersweet hate.

In episode 263, Ah Lam goes to see a perverted client. Ah Sing is worried about her and believes the client wants to get her drunk so that he can rape her. He hears Ah Lam's cries and thinks that she's being raped. He barges into the room, punches the man in the face, and "rescues" Ah Lam from the hotel room. The two then confront each other on the streets. Ah Sing asks Ah Lam why she would do "anything" just to get a contract. He then shakes his head and says, "You're still as money-hungry as in the past." Ah Lam frowns and replies, "That's right! Today, in the past, and in the future I will always love money!" She turns away from him and walks away. It's clear that she's been hurt by his words. In episode 437, Ah San saves Ah Lam from an actual attempted rape by one of "Ka Yan"'s clients. Like Ah Sing, he, too kicks his way into the hotel room, punches the man in the face, takes Ah Lam's hand, and the two run outside. In a confrontation, Ah San demands to know why she loves money so much and why she acts the way she does. Ah Lam tells him not to worry about her and walks away in tears. The two scenes are hauntingly identical and further illuminate how much Ah Lam's relationship with Ah San is like her past relationship with Ah Sing.

After Ah San returned from South American in episode 436, he became very similar to Ah Sing. He hates Ah Lam for being so mean and cold, but at the same time, loves her deeply. Ah San and Ah Sing became one and Ah Lam's relationships with the two were also unified as a single relationship. The writers did this intentionally to answer the audience's questions on "what happened" between Ah Sing and Ah Lam in the past. They developed the relationship of Ah Lam and Ah San to the point where it was left off between Ah Sing and Ah Lam. This development gives the series unity and brilliantly ties up Ah Lam's two relationships into one.

Without any doubts, Virtues of Harmony II did not end or develop the way the casts and crew envisioned when the series started its production in March 2003. Cast changes made it impossible to retain the original storyline.

The romance between Ah Nin and Joey was a crucial "glue" that kept original script together. Although the Frankie Lam and Bernice Liu have the least screentime, their characters are very important to the storyline. According to the original script, Man Gwai Fei fell in love with Ah Nin but found herself rejected by him. She learns of his relationship with Joey and becomes evil, plotting to make him suffer for not accepting her love. She tricks Wong Sheung into marrying her and becomes "Ka Yan"'s boss and Joey's stepmother. She causes numerous storms for the two. Furthermore, she costs Ah Nin his job and makes it impossible for him to find work. With the help of Joey in an emotional story, Ah Nin gets through these tough times and back on his feet. Clearly, without their characters, there is no catalyst for Man Gwai Fei's transition into the series's main villain. A lot of storylines were lost by Frankie and Bernice's decision to not partake in the show.

One of the most anticipated relationships in the modern version was the Ah Mei/Ah Yuet/Ah Lo love triangle. The writers crafted and developed this love triangle very well. It was a solid and genuine three-people relationship with no clear "third person." In Ah Mei's point of view, Ah Lo got between her "relationship" with Ah Yuet. If the love triangle had gone through, Ah Mei could be seen as the "third person" after Ah Yuet and Ah Lo divorced. There isn't a "right" or "wrong" person and this makes it exciting because it's hard to predict who Ah Yuet would and should have chosen. In the original plans, Ah Lo and Ah Yuet divorce a while after marriage because they constantly argue and he's mad at her for treating his family badly. Through many coincidences, the divorce goes through. During these rough times, Ah Yuet has the support of Ah Mei and falls in love with her. He also discovers her crush on him and the two start dating. After the divorce, Ah Lo realizes that she truly loves and misses Ah Yuet and wants to reconcile. She's furious when she learns of the dating between Ah Mei and Ah Yuet. Thus, Ah Lo and Ah Mei become enemies and are constantly fighting for Ah Yuet's affection. He is caught in between and can't choose. It is likely that it was during this time that Ah Mei would have her revolutionary character change from a meek and shy girl into a bold and loud one. Cutie Mui's decision to leave Virtues totally discarded this highly anticipated and well-developed love triangle.

Although not as significant, Hawick Lau's departure from the series also hurt the production. The role of Ah Sing was suppose to replace "big brother" Ah Nin. It also provided a breath of fresh air as a new relationship and characterization was introduced. Luckily, his character wasn't that developed yet so his character could be easily written off the show. However, his leave makes Virtues seem sloppy because they just introduced "big big brother" to replace "big brother" and now there's no big brother again?! Of course, the relationship between Ah Sing and Ah Lam was also left open-ended, but the writers did a great job implying indirect answers to this relationship through later episodes.

These cast changes had the Virtues writers scrambling for new ideas. The lost of Frankie, Bernice, and Cutie hurt the series the most because their characters had big roles in terms of the storyline. Without Ah Nin and Joey, Stephanie Che couldn't become a leading role. Consequently, Man Gwai Fei could never be developed into the big villain with a lot of screentime. In the ancient version, the love triangle between Michael Tse, Bondy Chiu, and Cutie was a big part and it was highly anticipated. Without Cutie, the triangle could not go on in the modern version. Her leave cut a huge branch of storylines from the Virtues tree. Also, the "four beauties" could never be complete in modern times without Ah Mei. It's commendable, however, that the writers were able to compensate and come up with new ideas after each lost that Virtues suffered.

If only Frankie, Bernice, Cutie, and Hawick did not leave, Virtues of Harmony II would be so different than what it has become and concluded as today. In the words of Yu Fei, the biggest regrets come from pondering the words "if only." It is indeed a shame that the modern version could not be more than what it is. It's especially disappointing when considering all of the wonderful storylines and treasures that the writers had planned. Again, if only the cast had not change and everyone was dedicated to the production. If only...

Are the endings of the ancient and modern versions of Virtues of Harmony as simplistic as they appear to be on the outside? In my opinion, their endings are much more complicated than meets the eye, especially with the abrupt ending to Virtues of Harmony II.

The conclusion to ancient version might have been due to TVB's increased budget cuts and frugality. A costume series costs much more to produce than a modern production. The props, hair, makeup, accessories, and costumes are all costly. A modern version is much quicker and cheaper to film. They don't have to worry about making new costumes and they don't have to wait until everyone is fully in costume before they can film. It is also more profitable because sponsors can easily place their products in the series. TVB is a company and money is most important to them. Virtues was profitable as an ancient version and with even less costs, it can be more rewarding as a modern version. The ending of Virtues I was to make room for Virtues II.

There are a number of different reasons as to why Virtues II ended. The first, and most convincing, might have been a consensus by the entire casts and crew to end. The show has been going on for years now, causing the casts to be tied down to the production. They don't have a lot of freedom and can't do much else besides filming for Virtues. This caused Frankie Lam, Bernice Liu, Cutie Mui, and Hawick Lau to all leave Virtues. As time progressed, there is a sense that more cast members wish to leave the production to pursue their own paths as well. The casts entertain us, but their priority is to advance their careers. After all, acting is their life and source of economy. Being on the same show for years is not good because that person only gets exposed to the core audience and random viewers now and then. Also, they've labored vigorously for the past four years, seven days a week, and twelve hours a day. They are constantly worrying about not providing enough laughs. They're all under too much pressure. Therefore, I strongly believe that everyone decided in agreement to end the show. Everyone was tired and needed a long break and separate to go down different paths.

The other reason might be because of casting complications and conflictions. Steven Ma only agreed to film for 100 episodes of Virtues because he had other scheduled projects. He would be needed for filming and other jobs in mainland China and overseas. Linda Chung is TVB's popular and rising newcomer and they want to use her in other productions. They want to promote her. How can they if she's bound to the Virtues chains? Nancy Sit also wanted a break and to film a mainland China series; she had previously turned down several productions that she really wanted to take part in because of Virtues. Michael Tse would also be getting married and everyone else also seemed to have other plans. These casting conflictions and not having enough people to film probably led to the quick conclusion. Had Virtues continued, they would have needed to bring in new characters. The problem is who would be casted for the roles. There's also a chance that the audience would be mad if TVB wrote off "Ah Lam" and "Ah San" to replace them with a new couple. Thus, to avoid complications and having to write off some characters (temporarily?) again, TVB would rather just end the show. They don't want to excessively drag out the series while looking for more cast members because that would waste the audience's time. If everyone's heart is not with Virtues, then what's the point in carrying on?

Lastly, Virtues might have been cut because TVB wanted to make changes. Virtues has been very good to TVB. It has brought in the ratings, popularity, and money. TVB knows that if it continues to let the show go on, it could continue to rake in the profits. However, TVB is currently in a state of reinvention. They want to try new things and give the audience fresh tastes. To them, Virtues is now old. It is no longer fresh because everyone has seen and know what the show is about. They want to give everyone more options of series to watch. Consequently, Virtues was sacrificed. Four years with Virtues as a prime-time favorite has been enough and now TVB wants to give everyone a refreshing change with a different series. After all, change is good, right?

Does TVB have plans for a continuation to Virtues? Did they temporarily end it just to save it for a future continuation? I would love to say "yes" and assure fans that have been terribly disappointed by the totally abrupt and unsatisfying ending of Virtues II that it's not over yet. However, time has led me to believe that there won't be a sequel. It is truly over. Without the consent of Frankie and Bernice to film, there can never be a sequel. The "main" issue that causes everyone to be so unhappy with the ending is the fact that "big brother" and "big sister-in-law" did not end up together in the modern version. They are the driving force for more episodes and storylines. Without them, the show cannot go on. If they didn't even show up for the finale or any of the final functions to promote the ending of Virtues, it's not very likely that they will dedicate time to film for a sequel. However, it is truly puzzling why the writers couldn't even mention them at the end and why they couldn't even make a single appearance, even after they were both "free." Are they saving these plotlines? The answer is really unclear. Only time will tell whether or not we will ever see "Chris" and "Joey" together. Judging how Bernice and Frankie are doing these days, it's not probable, unfortunately, that they will agree to film for a sequel. We will all have to accept their decision and suffer without a conclusive ending to Virtues.

Regardless of what the true reasons are as to why both the ancient and modern versions have ended so suddenly, the fact cannot be changed that the endings are just not satisfying. They're both abrupt, leave loose ends, and fail to give the viewer "closure." We are left wondering what's going to happen next, what's in the store for the future of the characters, and so on. However, even if Virtues was given a good ending, would we be satisfied? In my opinion, we all love the series so much that we never want it to end. No ending could ever satisfy our desire and craving. We just want to watch more and more. Thus, we will still be unsatisfied and it is because of this that TVB has been able to milk our money with Virtues all these years.

Some of the false accusations against Virtues of Harmony has been that it is "pointless" and "draggy." This is far from the truth.

Although at times the series is somewhat slow and doesn't seem to be progressing forward in terms of storyline, to term it "draggy" would be similar to criticizing someone for doing his or her job correctly. Virtues is not a normal production. It is classified as a "long-running series." This means that it is supposed to be long. Such productions have the potential to last "forever" as long as ratings and support hold high and the casts and crew wish to continue with it. Virtues is long because it is well-loved and popular, bringing in good ratings for TVB. It is not long because TVB has a surplus of money and wants to keep producing a nonprofitable series. Throughout its run, Virtues hasn't declined but has remained strong with good ratings and earning a lot of money and recognition. TVB designed Virtues to be lengthy and thus it is long because it is simply suppose to be long and is doing its job. It is not at all "draggy."

There are several objectives that Virtues aims to accomplish. The major "point" behind Virtues is to entertain its audience in a crafty and meaningful way. The show depicts the daily lives of the characters in new situations and topics each episode. It is probably due to this method of story telling that causes some viewers to feel that the series is "pointless" because it is not "breakthrough," "new," or "different" and is too "ordinary" and "plain" in accordance to reality. Some people watch series for an escape and to watch events that are outrageous and unique from reality. However, it is this daily- living storyline that causes so much comedy in the first place! It hits close to home in terms of how its humor impacts us. It is relatable and amusing because it makes so much fun at humanity and society. Virtues is a comedy that is meant to be taken for laughs and enjoyment. The series also aims to preach morals and life-lessons behind all of the comedy. It is probably due to this gradual, daily life pace and storyline that some viewers feel that it is too "common" to be entertaining and fail to see all of the wittiness and how well-crafted this comedy actually is.

The second, perhaps, is to show us how "pointless" our lives actually are. Don't we do the same things everyday? It is a constant cycle of waking up, eating, going to the bathroom, "living," and sleeping. Between this cycle are periods of leisure, work, and romance. We constantly try to find things to amuse ourselves and to occupy our time, otherwise we will grow bored and restless. This repetition of the daily life cycle is experienced by everyone in the world. However, most of us don't feel this because we're too "busy" and "occupied" to actually sit down and think about it. Through Virtues, we can clearly see how "pointless" some of the stuff that we do in reality actually are. The "point" behind this "pointlessness" is possibly a subtle, dark comedic portrayal at life. It's funny because it's true that our daily routine consists of mainly sleeping, eating, and excreting. However, it is dark and disheartening because there is such a strong sense of repetition and meaningless. Why are we alive? Why do we live day-for-day? Is there a goal bigger than us besides daily living? These are questions that no one has been able to answer and that Virtues teases, creating a humorous, but dark aura when viewed as a whole.

Perhaps it is because Virtues of Harmony haters hold such a grudge against the series that it's impossible for them to see the true essence of production. Whether this hate comes from Virtues not being that person's cup of tea or from resentment that Virtues does so much better than "bigger" and "better" productions in terms of ratings and popularity is unclear. In any case, Virtues is far from being "draggy" and "pointless." It is full of meaning and worthy of every support from its large fanbase.

Without a doubt, Virtues of Harmony is a hit. Its success is undeniable as it has a large fanbase, maintained good ratings, and lasted for four years! Despite its success, Virtues remains highly underrated. This is simply due to Virtues's comedic genre. Being a comedy, it is automatically labelled as "not meant to be taken seriously." Even some genuine fans can't look pass the humor and appreciate how well-scripted and produced the show actually is. Once the laughters are stripped away, Virtues of Harmony is revealed to be a meaningful and ingenious production.

Virtues preaches more morals and life lessons than meets the eye. The characters themselves are not virtuous, but it is through this characterization that the morals that they show are more powerful. When someone does directly preach, the other characters look bored and it's obvious that they're not taking what that character is saying into consideration. It is because directly stated morals are often clichéd and cheesy. People in general don't like being told what to do or say. However, if they're shown what is right and wrong, then they will be more willing to accept what has been indirectly taught. This is the method that Virtues chooses. All of the misunderstandings that occur among the characters has the sole purpose of saying "People must talk and not act recklessly otherwise small things will become unnecessarily big and troublesome." "A family is the place where people share love, growth, experiences, and worries" is best shown through the scenes where the Kams all stick together to solve problems or just chat over dinner. "There are more layers to things than what meets the eye and a single incident," is implied in most of the misunderstandings. "Genuine love is love that is understood without saying a word or showing off constantly to others how "in love" you are" is displayed among every couple and family; they care a lot each other, but they always bicker and don't appear loving all the time. Only those people who aren't sure of the love have to be constantly reminded of the "love." "Trying is the first step to success," "Love outweighs all," and numerous other morals are also stated. Because all of its morals are implied, most people fail to see how meaningful the series tries to be.

The comedy in Virtues is so hysterical because it is satirical of people and how we act and live. Virtues conveys how hypocritical and fake we can be sometimes and it is funny because we all know it is true. The characters, when they are to be judged by others, all put up an act of being "perfect." When Joey goes to live with the Kams for family fashion inspiration, the Kams all wear their best clothes and jewelry, they don't fight, and they all put on an act of constant high-class manners and respect for each other. People want others to see only the best sides of them and it is only in the comfort of the family that they can be their true selves. The characters dare not be direct or state the truth all of the time because they're afraid of the consequences. They will say one thing but mean another due to their personal well-being. People are quick to talk but fail to act. Ah Lo and the others always stick their noses into other people's businesses and give them suggestion, but when they are asked to help, they create excuses. Money, power, and benefits sometimes cause people to fail to uphold their beliefs and ties with others. Everyone told Ah San that they would support him, but when Sze Mo gave them goods, they all turned against Ah San. People follow the wind and hide under the shade of the biggest and most powerful tree; if the tree loses power, most will leave and try to find another. As much as the "Ka Yan" employees hate Man Gwai Fei, they will always suck up to her because she has power. People act quickly when money's involved or if they will benefit from it; if there's nothing it for them, then they will usually not partake. Some people are leechers and feed off the vulnerability and weakness of others. People are selfish and think of themselves first. When Lam Sin was about to die, Fa Kei Sam blurted out, "You can't die because you haven't bought life insurance yet!" People are lazy and only like doing things that appease them. Ah Yuet, Ah Lo, and Gam always complain about how tired they are from work and act as if they don't have a soul, but when it's announced that they have the day off, they immediately are revived with energy and make plans on how they should spend the day off. Humanitary ties, friendship and kinship, are not as substantial and strong as they are stated to be. People’s problems are never as big as they make them out to be. Some of the things that people do are quite trivial. Everyone likes to show off and boast. Most of the humor generated from the show plays on people and it is so brilliant and funny because what they say about humanity is true.

Virtues is not a dramatic series and lacks a popular cast with big names. It is not crucial to watch every episode of Virtues because most episodes have the sole purpose of comedic relief and character development. Plot movement is slow and infrequent. Virtues is designed so that anyone can watch the show at any episode and still be able to know what is going on after a few episodes of continuous watching. It is also because of this that the ratings of the show cannot continue to climb because people are not dying to see the next episodes because they know that they can miss an episode now and then and still be able to enjoy the show. Because Virtues is not a drama, it can never be extremely big. Dramatic series have the possibilities for discussion of characters, their actions and personalities, and elements of the plot. People usually have nothing more to say about Virtues besides complimenting on how hilarious it is, how great the acting is, or how good the chemistry among certain couples or families is. They rarely discuss the plot and how it’s going to advance because Virtues depends on its comedy for its success. It is because of the lack of discussion of Virtues that it can’t be further promoted to gain new fans. The stars of Virtues are only popular as a group, but not individually. There aren’t any big names in the casts. Let’s face it, there are people who watch series simply for the casts and big stars. Without bigger actors and actresses in the series, it’s not possible for Virtues to get higher ratings or viewership than what it has accomplished.

The humor of Virtues of Harmony is what elevated the show to the top and captured the hearts of families all around the world since 2001. However, it is also what limits the show from further recognition, higher ratings, and more critical acclaim. It is commendable what the show has achieved, but being a fan of Virtues, it is upsetting that it doesn’t achieve more, especially because the casts and crew put so much effort and thought into the show!

Some people think that Virtues of Harmony is incorrectly named because the characters are always bickering. To me, the show is more than approriately named in all aspects of its titles. Whether it is the Chinese, English, or Vietnamese title, Virtues's name is not wrongly chosen at all . They all do the series justice and declare how hilarious the show is.

"Gai Dai Foon Hei" (皆 大 歡 喜) is the Cantonese title for Virtues. It is translated to mean "Everyone is happy." This title rings true for all of the characters and especially Virtues's audience. Although the characters are constantly arguing and fighting over frivolous things, it’s clear that they all love each other. If they didn’t care about the other, why would they even waste time and energy always bickering? Virtues plays on the old saying that "family members aren’t family unless they fight." Everyone is essentially happy together and couldn’t live without the other. The audience, by watching Virtues also becomes happy along with the characters. What they do makes us laugh and smile. Ultimately, everyone truly is happy, the characters and audience alike, as the title states, as we grow and share the experiences of the characters.

Virtues of Harmony is the English title chosen by TVB. This name means "moral excellence in getting along." As ironic and incredible as this may sound, people get along by fighting. If everyone is always nice to each other, they will easily become bored of the other. It is indeed nice to have peace sometimes, but being too calm induces boredom. Through bicerking, with those people that we care about, we can mutually release build-up stress from daily living. We can argue with people that we love and that know we love them because there’ll be no hard feelings afterwards. Even though the Virtues characters always argue, they never stop talking to or caring about the other. Of course, this only rings true among people that love each other because the fights are trivial and over "nothing." (People that actually spite each other don’t fight out of love!) Thus, the Virtues of harmony is to fight among people that you love. Petty bickering keeps everyone happy by releasing stress and refreshed with new things to talk about. Aside from the Virtues of Harmony shown in the show, the title also refers to the fact that Virtues brings whole families together in front of the TV to watch the production. Seldom is "Gai Dai Foon Siu" watched alone in Virtues II. This is an implication that the cast and crew hope and know that people watch the series together. By bringing people together to enjoy laughs, chuckles, and smiles, everyone is consequently harmonious enjoying the same show.

The Vietnamese title for Virtues aims for an ironic twist to the series by naming it "Tình Người." "People love" or "love among people" is the translated name in English. Virtues is principally about the relationships among people, just as the Vietnamese title states. The show is satirical to people and their relationships and how they act, live, and behave in society. The essence of Virtues's comedy lies there. What is ironic is how very little love is actually shown among the characters; the love is all implied and subtle. The title is automatically funny when the viewer associates the satire that is the show to the ironic "love among people" name. Whoever thought up the Vietnamese title is truly genius for thinking of such a creative, quirky, and witty title.

Every title of Virtues is named properly and with much thought, fitting the series perfectly.

The ideal image of a mother is someone who is wise, decisive, supportive, and knows what to do and say in every situation and problem. They are expected to always be right and never make any mistakes because they're suppose to guide their children on the right paths. Yau Nim Chi is exact opposite of this. She tries to put up a facade to be the ideal mother. Her efforts are commendable, but futile because she's just a human being. She makes mistakes and is quite a hypocrite. Perhaps it is because of this characterization and potrayal that "Ma Chi" is so lovable.

Every time the family gets into trouble, Nim Chi always scolds them and preaches some morals. Her morals make sense, but they're cheesy and seem too clichéd. The humor kicks in when it's revealed that Nim Chi doesn't follow her own morals. It is always ironic and hysterical. These scenes spoof the fact that every parent has the ability to preach morals, but it doesn't mean that they practice everything that they say. A mother is suppose to know everything about their kids, right? Nim Chi doesn't. She doesn't remember who has gotten the chicken pox or other trivial matters. She doesn't pay attention to what her children do or say all of the time or remembers everything about them. This is satirical of the fact that people expect their parents to be able to tell them information about their past. Parents don't have superior memory and they have to worry about too many things that they can't possible remember everything, even if they love their children a lot. (That is why medical records were invented.) When the family gets into trouble, they always turn to Nim Chi. Ah Nin even tells her, "You're our mother, say something!" In response, Nim Chi smiles and there is a sense that she is embarrassed and doesn't know what to say or do. She always starts off with strong words, but ends up saying something silly and predictable. Her plots are often laughable and something that anyone could have said. This is poking fun of the fact that parents don't always have wise words and smart solutions to everything.

In general, people have outrageous expectations of their parents, especially mothers. The role of "Yau Nim Chi" helps to make people realize that their parents are human, just like they are. They make mistakes and don't know everything. "Ma Chi" is very down-to-earth and relatable because of this. Although she tries, like other people, to be an ideal parent, she just can't do it. Nim Chi cares and raises her children; that is what the ideal parent is. We love and admire our parents because they care for us, but that doesn't mean they are perfect; just look at "Ma Chi" and you will see.

Upon examination, the adventures and personalities of various characters in Virtues of Harmony is very similar to the casts' real life experiences. It's very interesting, actually. In certain aspects, it's quite ironic and funny while in other points it's a bit depressing.

Yau Nim Chi is teased for attracting younger men in several points of the modern version's storyline. She's mistaken for having an affair with Lau Gam and the young Jiu Choi falls in love with her. Nancy Sit is, at the time of this commentary's writing, dating a 37-year-old man. It is her first relationship since her husband left her after stealing all of her money over a decade ago. Nancy was going to suicide until she decided to start over and keep living to raise her children. Nancy has three children, just like Nim Chi (although in the modern version she has four kids). The only difference is that Nancy has two daughters and one son while Nim Chi has two sons and one daughter. It is thanks to the hit and long-running "A Kindred Spirit" and Virtues that Nancy was able to rebuild her popularity and financial stability. Incidentally, all the men of the casts, Frankie Lam, Louis Yuen, Michael Tse, and Johnny Tang, are all 37 years old. It's funny that teasings of Nim Chi having a "younger lover" came true for Nancy. Perhaps like a line that Nim Chi said, "Age doesn't matter in love." In any case, it's good that Nancy has found happiness in love again.

Ah Yat holds acting as her utmost priority. She tells Ah Hong that she knows she'll never get a leading role, but she doesn't mind because she's happy just to be able to act. During the time Ah Lam and Ah Yat compete for the role of "Yuen Ling Yuk," Ah Lam has much more support than Ah Yat. Ah Yat sadly sighs that "She really has the aura of a lead actress." (Without a doubt, Linda Chung will be a leading actress when her time comes.) Ah Yat is not popular and has no press. Joyce Chen's media coverage is not much better. Ah Yat says that she's part of a group of newcomers that TVB's promoting and that people promise that she'll be popular in three years. Three years pass and she's still playing insignificant roles. In the early 1990's, Joyce was part of the "Fresh Five Beauties" (Virtues's Hawick Lau was part of the "Fresh Five Tigers") a group of newcomers (Gigi Fu Ming Hin, Jojo Cho Chung, Wallis Pang Chi Ching, and Eileen Yeow Ying Ying were the others) that TVB were going to promote. These newcomers were supposedly to replace the actors and actresses of the "Golden 80's." Being in this group, Joyce was promised promotion by TVB, but this promise never came through. Years passed and although Joyce has roles in numerous series, they are often small. Joyce, like Ah Yat, was never promoted or propelled to stardom. Ah Yat says that she would never use her body to advance her career. A search of Joyce's pictures will show a (shocking) amount of them have her in her bathing suits. Joyce even recently said that she wouldn't mind doing a photobook showcasing her body as long as it's tasteful. The similarities and differences between Ah Yat and Joyce are clear. It's sad to think that Joyce suffers a similar fate as Ah Yat, but at least she's making it slightly better than Ah Yat.

11th brother was given an award for being a veteran actor. Like his character, Lee Kwok Lun has been acting since the 1970's. Sa Sa tells Wong Sheung that there's no shame in playing supporting roles in series at all. She asks, "Acting is an art. It's not just about fame. If everyone wants to act just to play the lead, then who would play all of the important minor and supporting roles?" This line rings true to the majority of the Virtues casts. Fa Kei Sam is a nasty, greedy, and manipulative woman. In fact, Mannor Chan is the complete opposite. She's kind-hearted and easy to get along with. Bernice Liu's "Joey" character comes back to Hong Kong after studying overseas. Bernice was born and raised in Canada before starting an acting career in Hong Kong. Ah Lo says that "(Nicholas Tse) Ting Fung is not bad, but too childish." Bondy Chiu used to date Nicholas Tse and they remain good friends because he understands her well. Cutie Mui sees the series "Better Halves" on TV and screams. The producer of "Better Halves" ("Halves"'s star Steven Ma would join the Virtues cast in fall 2004) is Mui Siu Ching, Cutie's sister. Before Cutie was casted in Virtues, her sister used to have her act in a lot of her productions. Half-a-Day God is often scolded, especially by Sa Sa. "Half-a-Day God" Robert Siu is not liked by a majority of the Virtues cast because he tries to show off and act like the star. Kingdom especially doesn't like him. This is why Robert has much more limited screentime in the modern version.

Looking at and noting all of the numerous correlations between the Virtues characters and casts is quite intriguing. It's a wonder whether the script writers base the characterizations and certain subplots on real-life stories. If so, perhaps that is the reason as to why the characters and subplots are so down-to-earth and relatable.

A big complaint of many Virtues of Harmony fans and those fans of Bernice Liu and Frankie Lam who watch the series for their favorite stars is why this couple has such limited screentime. It seems as if their characters do not appear in the show at all if the current subplot in the series is not pertinent to their characters. The other characters are usually there, except for Frankie and Bernice, regardless of who's the main focus for the subplot. Why aren't 'big brother' and 'big sister-in-law' in the show more often? Why don't they have more subplots? Many people believe that it is the producer and script writers who are to blame for the limited screentime that this pair has. This is not the sole reason.

In the ancient version of Virtues, Ah Nin and Princess always appeared on the screen, regardless of what the plotline was about at the moment, at least a lot more often than they do in the modern version. In the modern version, their characters, particularily Joey, appear limitedly, sometimes not at all, if the subplot is about other characters. This change is because of the increased popularity of Bernice after the ancient Virtues. When the show first started production in the summer of 2001, everyone was dedicated and committed to the series because it was a fresh and new production and no one had any other agendas to comply with. Bernice was a new beauty trying to break her way into the industry. She worked hard to improve her performance in the show and she was in many scenes, even if she only had a few lines. Thanks to Virtues, the popularity of Bernice surged up and everyone recognized her beauty and fell in love with her cute "Princess" charm. Consequently, she was booked for lots of advertisements, movie cameos, and numerous functions and other events. Her busy schedule only continued to pile and by the time the modern Virtues rolled around, Bernice was already too busy and popular for the show. Hence, her screentime in "Virtues II" is so little and she appears and disappears frequently.

Bernice's popularity limited their screentime together in the modern Virtues, but it is also due to Bernice that they also had less screentime than others in the ancient version. Bernice's Cantonese was minimal at the start of Virtues and she had a difficult time with the language because she grew up overseas and English was (is?) her predominant language. With the help of the Virtues family and her parents, Bernice worked very hard to improve her Cantonese. Her improvement and diligence is commendable and shows throughout both versions. Whereas other newcomers just had to concentrate on improving their acting, Bernice had to worry about perfecting her Cantonese as well as her acting. It is because of this that the Virtues crew couldn't give Bernice a lot of lines for fear that she wouldn't be able to handle it. Thus, she only had a few lines each scene and her subplots weren't as numerous as the other characters. By the time her Cantonese was very good, Bernice had become too busy and even if the Virtues writers and producer wanted to give her more screentime, they couldn't.

Virtues is a comedy and loved for its witty humor. The characterizations of Frankie and Bernice are too serious and "normal" that they are only capable of cutesy comedy, not the wild hysteria of the other characters. Their characters bring in the drama and incredily sweet and cute romance elements to the show. They balance out the comedy and bring in some more layers. However, Virtues is essentially still a sitcom. It can't have too much drama or else it will lose the charm that won over viewers in the first place. That is why the dramatic subplots of Frankie and Bernice don't appear as frequently.

Viewers hope for more of Frankie and Bernice in the show, but timing and situations can never make this wish a reality. There is always some restriction regarding this couple somehow. Perhaps Frankie and Bernice are too popular for Virtues and their busy schedules aren't suited for a long-running show. Perhaps it's because the writers can't think of more plotlines for their characters. But then again, the reason the relationship between Frankie and Bernice is especially cherished is because it isn't shown a lot. We are teased and always anticipate their appearances and perhaps this is part of the spark and magic that attracts us to this couple. There is no real person to blame for this predicament. It is all due to lack of fate.

Some people feel that Bernice Liu and Linda Chung are the least promoted newcomers at TVB. They think that it's unfortunate that they aren't able to act in a lot of series like other newcomers. If anything, I feel that TVB values Linda and Bernice the most out of the whole batch of newcomers. Both are winners hailed from Miss Chinese Vancouver and Miss Chinese International. Shortly after taking the crown in their respective Miss Chinese International year, both were casted in the long- running Virtues of Harmony as one of the main casts. It is a blessing, not a curse, that they were casted in Virtues for their first series. They have both gained so much from being in the show that only time can prove the value of their participation in the show.

Who doesn't recognize the cute princess who won over hearts in the ancient version of Virtues? In fact, one of Bernice's nicknames is 'princess' and TV fans in Hong Kong recognize her as so. Who hasn't been captivated by the incredibly interesting and sweet 'Michelle' (Ah Lam) from Virtues's modern version? Linda's character is so memorable and popular and she was very happy when people called her by her character name from Virtues. Linda and Bernice's roles in Virtues give them both a very nice image; sweet, compassionate, pretty, charming, and very cute. It is thanks to this that they have gotten so many offers for advertisements, functions, and store openings. Not only that, but their popularity have been boosted a lot thanks to Virtues. TV viewers see them the most out of all the other newcomers. They are practically on TV every week! Who would have thought that Linda would be named #40 on Sina's (mainland China) Top 50 Most Beautiful People of 2004? In less than a year, she is already recognized in China and is the only TVB newcomer on the entire list! Bernice has reaped in many awards for her healthy and fit image. The speedy and sustained popularity and recognition of the two is all a consequence of Virtues.

Had Virtues not been the first series for Linda and Bernice, they probably wouldn't have improved as quickly. Practice makes perfect, right? Bernice and Linda acted for Virtues on a daily basis. They haven't stopped filming since they got into the industry and it is thanks to this that they've been able to work on and improve their acting constantly. Although they've had a single role throughout the show, the Virtues storyline is so extensive that they're able to try out many different things and portray and add different layers to their characters. This is especially true for Linda, whose character has a split personality and carries a tragic secret life. It is also to be noted that their roles in Virtues are quite substantial and they are practically one of the leads. Other newcomers have to act in smaller roles before getting more hefty parts. At the start of her career, Bernice lacked in the Cantonese department and I feel that the Virtues casts deserve credit for Bernice's immense improvement in Cantonese. They always helped Bernice with her lines and pronounciation and she improved in a rather quick amount of time. Of course, Bernice's improvement is also due to her own hard work as well. Bernice and Linda are surrounded by people who have been in the acting industry for a long time. Seeing how most of the casts are veterans, it's only fitting to assume that they had passed on their acting expertise to them.

Linda and Bernice have not only gained professionally and financially, but they have benefited psychologically as well. The safe Virtues haven protects them. They've grown up overseas and it is scary living alone, especially in a foreign country! While they have almost no friends and family, the Virtues casts are their family. They are like one big family. They protect and support Linda and Bernice, helping them when they need it. They always joke around and tease them, making them laugh and have a good time while they're filming. The cast is especially protective of Linda because she is so young and is living all alone for the first time. Virtues provides them with warmth and a sense of security as they get used to being in Hong Kong. They also have the least amount of rumors and haters.

It is completely true that Bernice and Linda are not the most popular newcomers nor are they the most well-known. Compared to Michelle Ye, Myolie Wu, Tavia Yeung, and all of the others, they are still lacking in terms of fans and popularity due to them not having as many series as the rest. Regardless, TVB treats them very well. They incorporated them into a long-running series to make the audience fond of them, to improve their acting and Cantonese, and to get situated in Hong Kong. TVB wants to sharpen the talents of Linda and Bernice before heavily promoting them. They clearly have the beauty and skills to become one of TVB's top leading actresses. Time will show this and it'll also prove how carefully and thoughtfully TVB has treated them from the start of their careers.

Why are both versions of Virtues of Harmony so popular and successful? That is the question that haters of the show ponder. They don't understand why such a production like Virtues has so many fans and beats their series in ratings. The answer to this question is simple. Virtues is composed of all the ingredients for a hit series; it would be a shock if it wasn't successful! What are the secrets to success? A talented and charming cast, an extensive storyline with lovable characters, and the fact that reaches out to a wide audience makes Virtues of Harmony so very popular.

The cast of Virtues is far from being the biggest or most popular stars at TVB. In fact, besides perhaps Nancy Sit, Frankie Lam, Steven Ma, Bernice Liu, and Linda Chung, none of them have had or will have leading roles in series. However, the Virtues cast has something that most other series lack. That element is true talent and ability in acting. I'm not saying that other series don't have great acting because that is totally not true. However, every single cast member, no matter how small, can act in Virtues. This is because the Virtues ensemble is composed of all the skilled actors and actresses who are underpromoted and unfortunately not given the roles that they deserve simply because to TVB, youth and hotness matter the most. Fortunately for the Virtues casts, they get to show off their acting skills and finally get a chance to be lead actors and actresses in their own subplots. Everyone's acting adds a unique touch to the series and brings their respective characters to life from the pages of the show's script. The chemistry among the cast is natural and realistic, making audiences believe that everyone is one big family and every pair is a real couple. The cast is also very attractive and charming in their own ways. Due to this, audiences easily grow to like most of the cast and not get tired of watching them despite seeing them for lots of episodes.

It is completely true that the plotline of Virtues is nowhere near breakthrough. Regardless, the simplistic plotline is engaging because it is comprehensive, discussing many different issues and relationships. It is because of this that both versions can be accurately described as satires on ancient and modern societies respectively. The series is composed of numerous subplots that last for only a few episodes. The focus constantly shifts and rotates, giving viewers something fresh to watch every week. It is thanks to the interchanging subplots that the audience doesn't grow tired of the series. The plotline is relatable and viewers can form a connection with it. The Virtues characters are endearing, making the audience grow fond of them. Perhaps certain characters obtain more fondness than others, but no character is truly spited. The nasty 'Lau Gam', the greedy 'Fa Kei Sam', 'Chan Kiu', and 'Sek Dai Chuen', and even the evil 'Man Gwai Fei' are all humorous and delights to watch. Like a real family, there are 'good' and 'bad' characters and everyone represents different people in the world. The relationships in Virtues are all different, making each couple equally amusing and interesting to watch. The balance and variation among the plotline, characterizations, and romances make the simple Virtues plotline so enchanting.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the success of Virtues is its ability to captivate entire families and viewers in general. Unlike other series which are targeted towards a certain group, Virtues appeals to a vast majority of ages and interests. From young kids to grandparents, most people can sit down and watch it because the series isn't too 'young', 'complicated', or 'old'. Virtues has the power to bring families together just to laugh and be entertained. The structure of Virtues attracts such a wide audience that it doesn't leave out any potential customers in the market. That is why week after week, Virtues consistently achieves good ratings and lots of rentals.

Virtues is like a drug, addicting anyone who's been entranced and makes the viewer unable to stop watching. There is no doubt that Virtues of Harmony is a classical hit. It is entertaining as well as meaningful and memorable with a great script and cast. Virtues provides an escape from all of the stresses of daily living; it is relaxing, heartwarming, and hysterical to watch. The series lacks a 'popular' and 'hot' cast and isn't a high-profiled or expensive production, but it has heart and soul. It captivates the audience into its plot and makes them care about and feel for the characters, as if they're part of the family. It's no surprise that both versions remain in the heart of many!

TVB has always had a long-running production every year. For over the past 3 years, that series has been Virtues of Harmony. When the curtains close on the Virtues stage in early 2005, this may in fact be the last time that audiences see the entire cast together for a series, let alone a long-running one. Although TVB's executive has stated that the next long-running series won't be discussed until summer 2005, there is a huge cloud of doubt regarding that series's plot and casts. Most of Virtues favorite casts probably will not be involved in that production. Although the Virtues casts have great relationships and treat each other like a real family, it's hard to say whether that will be enough to keep them in their "roots." Frankie Lam admits that he misses working with the casts, but this hasn't sped up his re- entry into the show.

Ever since working on Virtues, Nancy Sit has been chained down by the production. She was forced to turn down several non-TVB productions that she really wanted to film. Frankie Lam, Bernice Liu, and Linda Chung are three of Virtues's biggest stars and people that TVB want to promote. Linda is part of TVB's "New Jade Army" of newcomers that they are going to heavily promote in 2005 so there's no way TVB would put her in 2005's long-running production. Frankie seems to wants to get away from long-running series and advance his career. Although Bernice likes working on Virtues, she wants to do more roles and aim for "My Favorite Improved Actress" at the TVB 2005 Anniversary. Stephanie Che is not under TVB management and she was also forced to turn down custom-made roles. Johnny Tang's relationship with TVB is not good and it's unclear whether or not he renewed his contract with them last month. Hawick Lau has spent a majority of his career in long-running productions and in his words, his youth is running out so it's not likely that he'll tie himself to another long-running series in 2005 after he returns to Hong Kong.

Bondy Chiu is grateful for her role in Virtues, but it seems her character as "Lam Yuk Lo" is too memorable and engraved in viewer's minds. Perhaps she wants to break away from long-running series to take on new roles to give audiences a new impression of her, rather than the same old "Ah Lo" that they have seen for over 3 years. Steven Ma is doing bigger and better things in China and he already has work arrangements for 2005. Cutie Mui is having too much fun on her variety show and enjoying her newly found freedom to go back to another long-running series. Michael Tse doesn't seem to care much about Virtues's ending as he has stated that it's just the ending of "another series" and there's no need to be sad. Perhaps this reflects his own interest in expanding his career rather than being tied down. As for the rest of the cast, because they have not been too vocal about their careers or feelings in regards to the ending of Virtues, there can be no logical assumption made on them.

In any case, for a long-running production that lacks popular stars, how can that series be successful? Even if new stars can replace old favorites from Virtues, who would take part? Long-running productions require a lot of responsibility, dedication, and willingness to stall one's career to play the same role for many episodes. Not many stars are willing to do this and it's already an achievement that the original Virtues cast has stayed together for over 2 years (up until episode 187 in Virtues II). Besides casting, there is also an issue over plotline. Virtues I & II have covered nearly every ancient and modern comedy subplots and jokes possible. The future of long-running series truly looks grim and doubtful. Good luck to the cast and crew of this future series because they truly will have a difficult job!

Lau Gam scolds the family for being useless because they can't keep the "big brother" chair in the dining table warm for very long. Little did Gam know that after Ah Sing warmed it for awhile it would become cold again as he, like Ah Nin, left the show to do better and bigger things. Why is that so? Why can't the family keep the "big brother" in the house? Perhaps the answer is a result of the "big brother" role itself. Big brothers are suppose to be successful, wise, decisive, and advance the family. That's exactly what Frankie Lam and Hawick Lau did. Virtues of Harmony is successful and popular only as an overall series. Virtues isn't the type of show that advances one's career. Unless that person is a newbie like Bernice Liu or Linda Chung, then little can be done to his or her career. All that Virtues can do is maintain one's career because it is ensemble production. There's just too many people in the cast for one's acting to get acknowledged and to dominate the screentime.

Before Frankie announced his break from Virtues, there had been rumors that he was unhappy with working on Virtues and that he wanted to win "My Favorite Lead Actor." After Frankie finally left the show, there were rumors that he would only come back in special cases and at the ending and that he wouldn't be a "regular" cast member anymore. Frankie has been in the entertainment industry for over 10 years and yet his fame and popularity is far below that of his wife Kenix Kwok. Kenix is one of TVB's top actresses while Frankie is nowhere near her level. Being a man, it's no wonder why Frankie would feel embarrassed that his wife's career is more successful than his. Hawick has never been one to be promoted by TVB as a lead actor. He has always been in supporting roles and has spent a large part of his career working on 3 long-running productions: "A Kindred Spirit," "Virtues of Harmony I," and Virtues of Harmony II. Hawick was nearing his 30th birthday and his career wasn't going anywhere.

Hawick left Virtues and TVB for 6 months in hopes of making it big in China. Frankie used the excuse of his wedding to get out of Virtues in early 2004. But actually, his real intention, besides marrying Kenix to fulfill his father's wishes of seeing him married before he died, was to become a top actor in TVB. Even after his honeymoon was far over, he started to film "Ten Brothers" with Kenix. Even after that was done, Frankie wasn't going to go back to Virtues, especially since Bernice had started filming "Healing Hands III." So he enganged in "The Herbalist's Manual" with Michelle Ye. Frankie has admitted that he does miss working with the cast and buys them food when he stops buy the studio. Yet, he hasn't mentioned the show ever since his leave way back in early 2004. Clearly the rumors about Frankie not liking his part in Virtues has been validated. He even expressed his contempt when he complained that he had been playing the same role for over 3 years. No man would want to be less than his wife. Frankie is no different.

Frankie and Hawick left Virtues truly because they were the "big brother"(s) of the cast. Just like Ah Nin is making it by himself in Shanghai and how Ah Sing married into a royal family, Frankie and Hawick are making a name for themselves. Big brothers simply can't be kept at home forever.