EPISODES 1 - 4

AMENDMENTS AND APOLOGIES
Why on earth do I keep writing Red Flowers Association (RFA) when I am supposed to write Tin Dei Wui as in Heaven And Earth Sect? I made this mistake throughout this intro and Ep 1-4 summary. My apologies. I had to check back my DOMD 2000 review to realise I got it wrong. Please ignore RFA and just replace it with HES since I am too lazy to correct these two posts. And please tell me I got it right!

My first thought was WTH?! How come Wei Xiaobao is a little boy? What happened to HXM? And then I realise this director upped the game.

All previous versions started the story with a young WXB, not a child but a man. This one, oh dear, young kid? Definitely a long way to go before his 7 wives come into the picture so what now? We are shown background story of WXB? Do I have to endure purely imagined story of WXB as a child, like how he was abused and jeered at? What of the part where he is a storyteller in the prostitute house?

Well it looked like it that way. It started with a kid WXB being bullied by young ones and how he peeked and saw his mother, on the bed serving a man who was torturing her, he rushed in and kicked that man out of the bed and ended up hugging his naked mother. Then it is shown how he met Mao 18 (probably on of the RFA gang member?) who was under attack by ruthless mean guards of the Qing dynasty who bullied even young WXB and how he then followed this Mao 18, leaving his home. Then at some inn they encountered some bullies and they ended up being kidnapped into the forbidden palace by the coughing eunuch that any Duke Of Mountdeer fans would instantly recognise who then kicked Mao 18 out of the palace but still held on to WXB. Then how this eunuch suddenly had a coughing fit (he was very sick) and his own personal eunuch servant, Xiao Gui Tzi who was busy trying to get him medicine when WXB trying to escape stabbed Xiao Gui Tzi to death. The eunuch after being fed an overdose of the medicine thanks to WXB became blind and from thereon to survive and also because he was too playful for his own good, WXB stayed by the side of the coughing eunuch, to assist him and also to plan his own escape but of course the coughing eunuch was so highly skilled in kung fu, he knew what WXB was doing. WXB thought the coughing eunuch thought he was the dead Xiao Gui Tzi but in actual fact the coughing eunuch knew who he was but needed someone to assist him.

Stop for a moment.

I hated the new version up until this point. I thought why start the story when he was a child if it was to be the same story? There is nothing new, no background story, and I did not see the wisdom of starting the story proper when he was a mere child. More so when he killed the arrogant abusive guard like 15 minutes into the story and later on he will kill another young eunuch (same age as himself) and together with the boy emperor, they would stab Aobai. And then he would gamble, scheme his way into and out of trouble. Basically same story as the 2 versions except falling in love and goggling at women with lust in his eyes. That would be so wrong for his age, right? I was frankly horrified. Same story, different age. And someone so young stabbing to death another equally as young boy, even if he expressed a slight shock at what he did to the arrogant guard and then to this boy whom he felt did him wrong (both beat him you see) still didn't quite sit well with me. More so when his slight shock was for a mere 5 seconds and then he playfully smiled and was his cheeky self assured kid again. I felt like I was watching a remorseless serial killer in the making and it is scary. It's not cute, it felt wrong and it felt offensive. It was different with Aobai, since that guy was practically about to strangle the boy emperor so you could say self defense and all that but still it felt really really wrong. Wrong also was that OTT scene where he witnessed his mom being abused and he ran in. I mean of course he loved his mom and they cried and all and it was pretty moving except again, must the director be so in your face? The mom was practically naked under the sheets, the man was straddling her and we hear her moaning in pain and the boy rushed in. This is for TV and it just felt overdone. Of course the scene was also horrible for the overacting, like the boy screaming and the mother crying and playfully and all. I just felt it was odd that WXB felt very little discrimination and being a prostitute's son, living in a prostitute house and way back then in that era kinda felt all of it too cheery and happy and no stigma. If the director intended to up the story a bit, a bit of background would be nice. I would like to see a bit of stigma, that the mom wasn't exactly the most famous prostitute so surely she couldn't have had such a nice idyllic life. It would be even better to show a sharp contrast between these 2 boys and emphasis on WXB as something like a rat, as in what sparked his survival instinct, how cunning he was rather than just how ruthless or temperamental or whatever he was. I would love to see a cut to the boy emperor's boring daily routine as sharp contrast to the carefree life than WXB has so that when they meet, the boy emperor would give WXB the prestige and respect that probably WXB appreciates and WXB would give the boy emperor the childhood he never had. So that would explain why the boy emperor loved WXB and why WXB was so loyal. In fact this factor was lacking in all versions, we just assume so if there is any shift in the story, it should be like this instead of what was shown in this version; same adaptation but changing just the timeline. Things were annoying me, that is until he met the boy emperor.

The circumstances he met the boy emperor was exactly the same. He sneaked into a room to taste the deserts in there and hid when he heard someone walking in. It was the boy emperor, inside alone to practise his kung fu when WXB thought he was a eunuch and so he revealed himself, much to the annoyance of the boy emperor and they fought and became fast friends. The boy emperor introduced himself as Xiao Xuan Tzi (or Xiao Yuan Tzi, anyway in Cantonese Siew Yuen Tzi) From thereon they met daily for a fight, which was how they bonded. Along the way the coughing eunuch was intrigued by the story of this young boy who knew a bit of kung fu and he knew a highly skilled kung fu master was hiding in the palace and was teaching this boy. He suspected it had something to do with an investigation entrusted on him many years before by one of the Lord I think. So he taught WXB a bit of kung fu and I suppose in the process grew fond of WXB even if he intended to kill him later because WXB did kill the real Xiao Gui Tzi. And as they met daily, WXB gave the boy emperor something he craved; freedom or at least for that few moments because WXB did indeed had a more carefree life even if it was a life where he was probably bullied or disrespected whilst the boy emperor was under constant scrutiny and is in a pressure cooker so to speak, given a heavy burden. Anyway they played, they tumbled, they confessed their fears, and one time even stole a beautifully carved something that could have gotten the careless cook a death sentence and to the cook's relief, the boy emperor sent a message he didn't want that item for dinner.

Then there was the issue of Aobai, the senior advisor to the boy emperor who was slowly trying to usurp the boy emperor's powers and killing off other supporters of the boy.

Stop for a moment.

At this point the story again revealed nothing new. Previous versions showed a more rounded Aobai and I felt this version rushed the story a bit. It was implied Aobai was bad, trying to usurp power and all. I would have wished the director gave a more fair presentation of Aobai, showing how history wrote that he wore the yellow robe under his own robe and I think how one time he actually flaunted his power in the face of the boy emperor. Aobai thought he deserved his wealth and position since he served the emperor with loyalty and so he thought and he began to develop an ego and a huge mistake; that he was above the emperor although he was however high ranking, a mere servant, something WXB understood from the beginning. So it would have been nice to see a more powerfuk, scary Aobai rather than this muddled fool. In Jordan Chan's version the Aobai was to me satisfactory whilst the Aobai in Dicky Cheung's version was more crazy than scheming. So I find this version rushed what should have been a golden opportunity to showcase a different approach and I though with 50 episodes, surely the director can spare a few more episodes.

By the way, the Aobai here is the SAME Aobai in Dicky Cheung's version! I think more lion like white hair than in this version? Seriously, but this time I thought the acting was a bit better back then though he had little to do, up until this point.

Anyway, one day WXB was waiting for the boy emperor when a young eunuch came and said the boy emperor would be late. The fact was he was busy attending to state matters in the hall, under pressure by the much older officials to make some heavy duty decisions. Cut to WXB, he playfully explored the palace when he stumbled into the main hall where the politics were going in. He stumbled in, one old minister saw him and thought he was an intruder-assassin and shouted to protect the emperor. Realistically shown, the emperor was immediately swamped by eunuchs and guards, by the dozens as the other guards ran after a very frightened WXB whose for once cheekiness and cunning mind couldn't escape from his own mistake. As he was carried off, he saw the boy emperor as the emperor, and he screamed for help whilst the boy emperor fearful of what happened rushed forward and tried to stop what was happening but he was surrounded by guards and you get the feeling at this point that though he is the emperor, he had little choice in many things. When he managed to shout the guards to move away, he defiantly stood on top of the stairs, at the throne and wiped away his tears.

WXB was locked in a scary looking torture room when he was released by the orders of the emperor. It was not shown but I have a feeling the boy emperor had to go against a few elders, such as Aobai to get him released.

The next scene is my favourite of the 3 episodes and which showed that if he had been this attentive, the director would have given more punch to the story. It was WXB kneeling with his head on the floor, begging for the emperor's forgiveness for not knowing he was the emperor, really scared and begged that his life be spared. The boy emperor stood on top of the throne (high up mind you in a really big dark hall) and as WXB begged and begged and was scared to look at the boy emperor, the boy emperor tearfully said;

"So now I am no longer Xiao Xuan Tzi? I am now the emperor? I don't want to be the emperor. You be the emperor. Why must I now be the emperor to you when I am Xiao Xuan Tzi? Stop calling me the emperor! I am Xiao Xuan Tzi! Stop it! Stop it! I don't want to wear this stupid robe! I hate this robe!" and he threw his hat, his belt and was disrobing himself and threw them all at WXB who was still muttering in fear "I am so sorry your majesty, I did now know you were the emperor, I thought stupidly the emperor was old" and after a while as the emperor cryingly shouted "Why am I now not Xiao Xuan Tzi anymore? Call me Xiao Xuan Tzi! I am not the emperor!!" and suddenly WXB looked up and shouted "Stop it Xiao Xuan Tzi!" and the boy emperor stopped and WXB smiled cheekily "You will always be Xiao Xuan Tzi to me" and then he rushed up to the boy emperor and all was well again. And so the boy emperor can now let WXB into his daily routine, no longer does he need to hide his true identity and WXB felt privileged and the emperor felt free.

Stop here for a moment.

Frankly like I said that was my favourite scene thus far. The acting was flawless and the emotions just right. I also loved how they frolick around as friends and their bonding moments. And suddenly I understood the wisdom at starting the story at such a young age. The real Kangxi disposed off Aobai when he was 13 or 14 and before that he became emperor at I think 6. Whilst these two were a bit too young then but I felt for once why it would be proper to start them young. It make their bonding believable, it made a pressured emperor even more pressure since he was so young and he had to make such decisions that would affect lives and it would be credible how much bullying he would have gotten from a much much older Aobai and why he was scared of Aobai. It just made sense, but the boy killing boy was still scary to me although in retrospect I suppose children grows up really fast back then. I love the interaction between these two boys and their bonding were heartfelt and sincere. I believed in their friendship, moved by their concern for one another and frankly the acting and chemistry was pitch perfect in that scene I described above. I was especially impressed with the dialogue where the boy emperor kept crying he doesn't want to be the emperor whilst WXB was too scared to look up. The boy emperor saw WXB as an equal and he longed for a true friendship that was not based on fear and he cried because he was frustrated at the thought that now WXB feared him instead of respecting him as a friend. WXB was of course scared witless of the idea of offending the emperor until he realised their relationship was not one of power but one of common interest and friendship.

Here I must add in what will happen in later series as in the other versions which I loved.

They met as equal, bonded as friends as children but we all know, the emperor is always the emperor and WXB knew he will always be the servant even if they were friends. He could never say no to the emperor because WXB wants to please his friend and the other because he didn't want to anger the emperor after all WXB knew from the beginning he was like I said the servant. In Jordan Chan's version, at one point sadly WXB noted the emperor grew up and the dynamics of their relationship changed although the emperor, even if pressured by the freedom fighters and protestors always viewed WXB as a friend but country comes first. When WXB met his 7 wives, he too grew up in a sense now it is no longer his life alone but it involves 7 others and so although he sees the emperor as his best friend, his wives would come first. Even then, he would always be at the emperor's side protecting him even if the emperor may prioritise his country first and foremost, in the preservation of the dynasty. I hope to see this dynamics in this version and more emphasis place on it. Frankly I am not concerned about his 7 wives. What defines WXB is not his lust or love for his wives but how he manouevered his way between his loyalty to the emperor his best friend and his loyalty to the RFA and yet try to preserve himself. To him it was never about dignity or integrity but rather his life.


Now the story changes gear and moves into politics even if it involves 2 children.

WXB began to have a peek into the emperor's daily lives. At the same time he told the coughing eunuch what happened but the eunuch already knew so WXB felt stupid. The eunuch with all the gambling and teaching of kung fu actually wanted WXB to get into the Royal Study and to retrieve a book called the 42 Scriptures (sorry, translation very poor and I have yet to consult my other reviews) that even the empress dowager wanted. By the way the eunuch overheard the empress dowager teaching the emperor kung fu so he knew who was the master in hiding. Anyway WXB failed miseably to get the book, for one it was a big study, two he couldn't read and three he was quite busy with other stuff going on. But now that the emperor was the emperor, he could walk in and out of the royal study anytime and search for that book. One time he snuck in to find the emperor when he saw Aobai walked in. He hid in the corner and heard how Aobai demanded the emperor to sign the death warrant of one of the loyal old minister for something like treason. The boy emperor was smart, he thought the punishment was too harsh and tried to argue his point with Aobai eventhough he was scared. Aobai was offended his view was being overridden. Aobai kept saying "You are but a mere child, the politics are difficult to understand for someone your age. I am your advisor and is it my view that..." and all these while WXB listened. And when the boy emperor refused, quite gently, Aobai threatening walked towards the boy emperor who got very scared (I have an impression that Aobai was about to hit him or something) and suddenly WXB rushed out, pushed Aobai away and said "How dare you approach the emperor like this? He is the emperor, he will make whatever decisions he wants to" and Aobai was offended that a young nobody dared to talk to him that way but WXB was cunning and he shouted "You dare to question his majesty's wisdom? Are you threatening his majesty and committing high treason?" and Aobai knew his mistake and immediately begged for forgiveness and left, but gave WXB that killer stare. The emperor sighed in relief, so too was WXB and the emperor said "For a moment I thought... phew! That was close!" and the emperor confided in WXB that something had to be done about Aobai and to WXB he didn't understand why the emperor as the emperor couldn't do something and suddenly the emperor ordered for a transport (as in chair) and left for a secret location. WXB followed along and they went into a room where WXB was surrounded by a dozen or more ermm diaper (?) clad young eunuchs and a big one in the middle attacking him. The emperor confessed he has been secretly training these young eunuchs to take down Aobai one day and frankly WXB was quite impressed with the emperor's plan and cunningness. He said "Well you now do act like an emperor should!" and the emperor was pleased with his best friend's seal of approval.

Stop for a moment.

Again the entire confrontation with Aobai was not done very well because there was virtually no background story to Aobai, who he is and why the boy emperor feared him. A look into the Jordan Chan version I suppose would be enough to explain why. The boy emperor's father died young and left a young throne to an equally young son who was I think 8 then. So he appointed several (4 if I remembered correctly) of his most trusted advisors and generals as regents (one of whom this series mentioned as executed by Aobai) to guide the young emperor in his governance of the empire since obviously the emperor needs help. These few individuals actually held the power of the court until the emperor comes of age. Aobai was one of them and he was actually one of the generals or something that helped established the dynasty in China so he was highly respected. He did do his duty for the dynasty and he served the dynasty well. Unfortunately over the years he became ambitious and too arrogant for his own good. He basically vetoed the emperor but because he was so influential and powerful, the boy emperor waited for his time to takeover the dynasty. Aobai was so rude that he would often walk right up to the emperor's face and make demands and he was slowly usurping the other trusted advisors' role. It came to a point the emperor knew he had to do something. He can't just kill him. He had to have an excuse and so he secretly train a bunch of eunuchs for his plan. Frankly Aobai probably was too arrogant to notice what the boy was doing since he dismissed the emperor as a young boy who knew nothing. What he didn't realise was the young Kangxi was actually learned and politically savvy and was bidding his time. And he didn't kill Aobai. Aobai died in prison. Somehow I think the emperor felt he couldn't kill Aobai since he can't ignore Aobai's merits before all the mess. The boy was 14 at that time.

All these not in this series. Why? WHY? I am sure WXB can bear witness to all these. The same scene where WXB ran out to protect the emperor who was being bullied by Aobai can be seen in all versions and whilst I like this version as well, more so the emperor being so young and WXB was very brave to do what he did, I felt again the story or lack of story in terms of Aobai failed this scene.

Anyway the plan was at work. Historically as I read it quite accurate and in fact same as all versions except as I have often repeated we are dealing with really cunning young boy emperor here.

The boy emperor knew he couldn't be seen stabbing to death Aobai so the task is if I remembered it correctly left for poor WXB. And imagine that, young kid you know. Sorry if I still can't get over that fact of how young this WXB is.

Aobai was invited by the emperor to his study and on the pretense of showing off his new eunuch-fighters for Aobai's comments (who was so egoistical he didn't suspect anything since he was supposedly the best fighter in the kingdom) and when the emperor gave his cue (cup dropping to floor) they all attacked. Aobai welcomed the fight and fought and was winning when he was held down by the boys and WXB ever the opportunist too the chance and stabbed him on the leg. Aobai was furious and called WXB a coward for stabbing him like that but WXB denied he did it. Again the fight went on when the net was dropped on Aobai and this time it was the emperor who took the knife and stabbed him on I think the stomach. Aobai was still ok and furious he defeated the eunuchs (I think killing them in the process) and he rushed to the emperor and held the emperor by the throat when WXB threw some powder to his eyes and everybody cornered him and defeated Aobai.

Later alone with WXB a few dead eunuchs in his study, 2 loyal ministers were summoned and they were shocked to see the chaos and also Aobai in chains in the cupboards. The boy emperor said "Aobai threatened my life" and the two ministers suspected what actually happened and one of them suggested they must move quickly to apprehend Aobai's men. The boy emperor agreed.

Later the empress dowager wanted to meet WXB who by then thought to himself "Well well well, Aobai has been defeated. Now that is done, it is time I should leave this place!" but the empress dowager whom he couldn't see her face said congratulated WXB for helping the emperor to rid a menace and then gave WXB a new eunuch rank of 6th standing or whatever you call it and dictated he now serve the emperor. The emperor was happy whilst WXB secretly thought "Whatever, I am leaving".

Back with the Coughing Eunuch, WXB confessed what had happened and the coughing eunuch suddenly held him by his throat and craddled him like a child and said "You are very lucky. One has to serve a decade (or something like that) before one achieves that rank and you at such a young age already achieved that. Lest you forget, do remember to fetch me the book of 42 scriptures" and WXB of course said "Well, now that I am the emperor's eunuch it is easier for me to get into that room! I will surely get you the book!" but of course he was lying.

Back with the emperor in his study, the 2 ministers report how Aobai's men were arrested and Aobai amassed such a big fortune that the emperor was shocked. The emperor wisely dictated that all fortune seized by the wronged minister that Aobai wanted to to get rid off earlier (which the emperor disagreed but he went ahead anyway) to be returned to the dead minister's children whilst the rest should be taken by the state. "And I heard Aobai had 2 books of 42 scriptures" and WXB suddenly came alive on hearing that, "I want you to fetch them to me because Empress dowager wants them. Xiao Gui Tzi will follow you" and WXB agreed. The old minister thought "Ahhh he must have sent this young eunuch to check on me, I must be careful" and WXB playfully said "I am pleased to learn from you" and the old minister said "Oh no, please don't say that. We shall learn from one another" and this is from an old man to a kid!

Story for the 1st 3 parts ended here.

Frankly I really enjoyed the story of these 2 young men even if the beginning was really OTT. Whilst I would have hoped it have been given more punch and Aobai more story and even a proper background intercut with one another with regards to WXB and the boy emperor, I was pretty impressed at the simple stroke that changed the story's dynamics. Basically the story is still the same, in fact everything was the same except we have 2 young children instead of HXM and the actor who plays the emperor from the beginning. Which means WXB would have been in the palace for a decade? Which means his mom missed him for a decade? So the rise of power here is more believable, in the other versions it was too meteoric so I kinda like this version's change of age. However I am still very bothered by the scene where WXB stabbed an equally young eunuch to death and then felt remorseless. That was simply not right.

The performances in here thus far centred on the 2 young boys who played diverse roles but with equal ease. I have yet to learn their names and I hope I get to learn their names before the end of the childhood (which won't be long).

The boy who would be HXM looked like HXM. Tan and handsome, he was charming, playful, cheeky and terribly noisy at first. Oh I hated him in the beginning because he was just so darn noisy and his acting OTT. But when he went into the palace, he was less annoying but ever as cheeky and his acting whilst still hyper and all, was more subdued than the 1st 30 minutes of the 1st episode. I felt he did his scenes very well and I wonder was that his voice? A pity he was dubbed and yet some scenes seemed like the voice was recorded on set. Anyhow, I love his scenes with the boy emperor but I also like his scenes with the coughing eunuch. The way the coughing eunuch would cradle him and speak to him which is quite threatening and since he was blind, the eunuch didn't see how he did stabbing motions to the eunuch's eyes and all. Pretty funny. But this young kid can be unrestrained as well and tend to overact in certain scenes that require subtlety such as the killing of the eunuch scenes. But then it could be the lack or wrong direction of the director rather than his acting. Overall I was very impressed with the quality of Chinese child actors and this kid definitely could act. My fear though is when HXM takeover, he would be as hyper as this kid was and that would be boring because then it was like young Yangguo all over again.

The boy who played the boy emperor was equally as handsome, although in a more refined way. Where did the director find these actors? He really looked the part of a well fed learned would be wise Kangxi, but I suppose more handsome. There is a certain nobility with this boy's face that suggest in time he would be cunning, wise as well as ruthless. I was far more impressed with this boy than the other although both did different roles that are very different. My friend didn't quite like this boy's performance but I appreciate subtlety. His best scene was the scene where he was crying when WXB was too scared to look at him and at many points this boy displayed maturity beyond his age in dealing with adult matters such as the politics. He made Kangxi at that age believable and the joke is, Kangxi was that young when he was given the task to run a country. I can't praise enough this young man's performance and I love his chemistry with the boy who would be HXM. They really played off each other so well I do believe them they're best friends even if they were acting. And this boy's performance was so good that it was perfectly believable to hear him give orders to old ministers who would obey this young man's orders and even began to look at him in new light; that is to fear him. If they ever want to make a series proper for Kangxi, I think this boy can still play the well respected emperor known to be wise and noble. By the way this boy was in The Promise! Who? Nic Tse's character? That's the only boy I remember. And he seems like a veteran actor from the list I saw in Dramawiki. The boy who would e HXM seems like a newcomer.

There used to be a time where China actors, children or adults are just not that good looking but look at these 2 boys; handsome. Look at HXM, even if I suspect him of doing some work on his face, like chin and eyes, he looks handsome enough. What are they eating?

These two boy would have broken the series and made it into a farce and yet they not only managed to make the series credible, they may as well continue on with the series and just forget about HXM and the adults. I wouldn't mind watching a children's version of Duke Of Mount Deer, I am sure these 2 boys can act the socks off the adults. In fact personally I felt the boy who would be HXM acts better than HXM himself and I have a feeling the boy who played the emperor is a far better actor than the actor who plays the adult emperor. We shall see.

The adults were well cast and the acting were wonderful. Nothing much to say except Aobai, same actor, same performance, less story, less screentime, a big pity. I was however very much impressed with the new coughing eunuch. So all previous versions coughed. Version 1 was an actor's whose cantonese was really hard to understand but he looked sick. Version 2 if I remembered correctly was Ng Man Tat and I hated how sentimental his death scene was because it didn't fit. This version I felt got the right actor. The coughing eunuch has always been creepy, sinister and has his own agenda. Nobody bothers him, nobody wants to bother him and he is a skilled fighter although really sick and blind. I always felt he feels a certain affection for WXB who grew to be quite affectionate with him although not as sentimental as to call him "father! father!" as in Version 2. Now that WXB is so young, it would be interesting to watch how the dynamics change from hate to fear to perhaps respect in future. I wouldn't know and I think the director can take a few liberties in changing the relationship a little if he wants to. The actor by the way was fantastic. The way he cradled WXB, strangled him and all, the actor was just simply superb in showcasing how sinister and creepy this coughing eunuch can be. I was however quite embarassed to watch the scene where he was suffering whilst sitting in bathtub slapping the water around. A bit too OTT. In fact I have been using the words OTT so often. It's true, this director tends to go overboard with visualisation and I am preparing myself with the scene where HXM shall lie with 7 wives. I hope not. The idea is just I don't know, disgusting to me.

Overall whilst I disliked episode 1 since I was shocked at the change of age of the characters, once the story kicked in and thanks to the performances of the 2 young boys, it didn't matter anymore. I will miss them when the big guys take over and I just wish they wouldn't. I like this version thus far but frankly since the director has takenliberties of changing age and all, can't he just take out the 7 wives? Waste of time to watch him go after 7 women in 50 episodes. I'd rather watch 30 episodes of his childhood and then 10 episodes of hid adulthood, 5 of RFA, 3 of his wives and 2 of the ending. Now that would be perfection.

As for the atmosphere, thank goodness no dripping roofs or blowing winds or spotlights. But there are some artistic elements such as the dim lightning of the halls, the flowing clothes, the spotlights in a room and the very shiny marble floor. I love the fact that a scene showed some construction going on in the palace, mud somewhere but overall so clean. Did they film this at the real forbidden kingdom? The floor was so shiny, the hall so huge, the main courtyard, if you call it that was oh my god beautiful. I also love the fact that this director has such high level to the attention to details. Notice Mao 18's sword, covered in dried blood! Yeah! Notice how many servants accompanied the emperor whenever he is carried on a huge chair from point A to point B even if 100 metres away! Yeah! Notice how when he wanted to go to his chair he did not walk to his chair, he was carried to his chair. Yeah! Notice the hall where the ministers were having an audience with the emperor, filled with people! Yeah! TVB, you ain't never gonna get this much people in a scene! Yeah!!

And the scenery, oh my God. The start of episode 1 showed WXB running away from bullying young ones and he jumped into a boat that was cruising along a ermm narrow canal? What a beautiful scenes. Definitely got cinematography. I mean if this is the same director as the Condor Heroes director, if he could make wet caves sexy and beautiful, what more when he is given such beautiful natural beauty and such beautiful architecture?

That being said, he still couldn't help himself with the sweeping camera work, spotlight and fan as evidenced in the scene where WXB's mom was screaming for him on I think a bridge?

And can we have on the spot voice recording? Please?

Verdict
Overall I shall continue with this series. Liked it for what it is, would have loved it for it should be or could have been but really loved it for the 2 boys and the coughing eunuch.