Overview - Infernal Affairs

Him Law is a Probationary Inspector in the Hong Kong Police and aspires to be the fastest promoted Inspector in history. During a drug raid, he encounters a suspect, Edmond Leung. Seeking to avenge a personal matter, he allows Edmond to overdose on drugs. Later, Him finds out that Edmond died and feels extremely guilty. He is only able to slowly recover with the help of psychologist Jolie Zhu.

Mainland cop Wayne Yang, nicknamed "Bullet", comes to visit his friend Edmond, only to discover that he had fallen to his death after overdosing on drugs. Bullet is greatly surprised by this and believes that it is impossible. He resolves to find the truth to prove his friend's innocence. Soon after, Bullet discovers that Edmond's death is related to a drug network operated by the Hong Kong triads. The drug network is colluding with foreign drug cartels to open up the vast Mainland market! Bullet immediately notifies the Hong Kong Police. The Mainland and Hong Kong police join forces to destroy the cross-border drug network.

Infernal Affairs will be airing on iQiyi and myTV Super beginning December 21. The series has three seasons, consisting of 12 episodes each. 

Overview - Limelight Years

Liza Wang, the pop queen of her generation, has been through two marriages and has a son and two daughters. After recovering from a serious illness, she realizes that she is lonely behind the limelight. Reflecting on her life, she musters up the courage to travel to Taiwan to repair the relationship with her eldest daughter. In Taiwan, she meets the photographer Damian Lau, who is there to fulfill his late wife Michelle Yim's wish of returning home. When the ordinary meets the extraordinary, they develop a mutually supportive bond. Liza is inspired by Damian to hold a farewell concert for her family and friends. Despite the cold response from her younger daughter, Eliza Sam, Liza actively prepares for her concert. She hires a new assistant (Linda Chung) and creative director (Alex Fong). The two young people often quarrel because of a prior feud, but slowly develop feelings for each other during the process of preparing for the concert. Just as Alex is putting together a special issue for Liza, he learns about a scandal that she has hid for many years. At the same time, Linda discovers Liza's past connection with her uncle, while Damian suddenly experiences hallucinations... Dealt with blow after blow, how does a seasoned veteran like Liza handle this?


Limelight Years Promo Clips

Limelight Years Promo Clips

Overview - Limelight Years

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Extended Trailer

Historical Context: Mui Tsai System

I’m not watching Silver Spoons, Sterling Shackles (heard it wasn’t that great), but I do catch bits of it when my friends watch. At the end of episode 23, there was a press conference voicing opposing opinions about the Mui Tsai system.

A mui tsai (妹仔) is a female servant in China. They are usually sold as young children into rich or noble households, and performed domestic chores. The slavery system has a long history in Chinese society. In ancient China, criminals were sold into slavery and their descendants were also subjected to the conditions of slavery. During the Qing Dynasty, slavery was abolished and later, the “Mui Tsai” system emerged. The difference was that the descendants of mui tsais were not considered to be property of the master. 

The Mui Tsai system was already prevalent in Hong Kong when it became a British colony in 1841. The practice was allowed to continue on the basis that it was “traditional Chinese culture”, despite existing British anti-slavery laws. In 1879, the Chief Justice of the Hong Kong Supreme Court wrote that the Mui Tsai system was no different from slavery. Yet the British government refused to take action out of fear that it would destabilize Hong Kong society. In 1917, a case about a missing mui tsai once again brought the spotlight on their legal status. The colonial government brushed it aside, but by 1920, the tradition was increasingly scrutinized. Foreigners in Hong Kong were demanding action from the government, while influential Chinese individuals opposed any action. 

In traditional Chinese society, the Mui Tsai system is viewed as charitable. Mui tsais usually came from poor families or were orphans. At their owner’s homes, they were provided with food and housing. They were eligible to be released upon marriage (of course, their marriage was decided by their owners). Proponents of the system pointed out that when Guangdong abolished their Mui Tsai system, many of the former servants were left homeless and had to live in worse conditions. Supporters of the system were mainly from the upper echelons of society, who kept mui tsais in their own homes. They formed an organization called 防範虐婢會 (Society to Prevent Abuse of Servants). They lobbied against the abolition of the Mui Tsai system and instead, suggested that action be taken to prevent owners from abusing their servants.

Opponents of the Mui Tsai system argued that it essentially amounted to slavery because the mui tsais had no wages, no contract and no freedom. They were considered property of their owners. They were often treated cruelly, subjected to abuse and/or rape, and had little legal protection. They could be traded by their owners, resulting in some mui tsais being forced into prostitution. Opponents of the system tended to be from religious organizations and those educated with Western values. They formed their own organization called 反對蓄婢會 (Society Against Keeping of Servants). They issued a declaration criticizing the Mui Tsai system as a violation of human rights. They denounced the argument that the system is charitable, saying that charity should not change the status of the receiver and that givers of charity should not ask for anything in return. The organization set up centres to help mui tsais and persuaded them to fight for their own rights.

The colonial government finally could not resist the mounting pressure against the Mui Tsai system. In 1923, they enacted the Female Domestic Service Ordinance (家庭女役則例). The law invalidated existing mui tsai sale contracts and barred further trading of mui tsais. All mui tsais had to be registered and be given wages. Also, to prevent exploitation of young children, employment of domestic workers under age ten was not allowed. Although the law was passed, the government was still slow to enforce it. It was not until 1938, after several amendments to the act, that the issue of the Mui Tsai system was completely resolved. 

"Silver Spoon Sterling Shackles" Character Map

Damien Lau: The first Chinese barrister in Hong Kong. Intelligent, righteous, stubborn.

Mary Hon (1st wife): Largely neglected by her husband. Dies from a stroke.

Idy Chan (2nd wife): Esteemed social status as former Qing-dynasty princess. Most favoured by Damien.

Elena Kong (3rd wife): Daughter of a banker. Is easily jealous, leading to her divorce with Damien.

Tavia Yeung (4th wife): Was initially a maid, later becomes famous Peking opera singer.

JJ Jia (girlfriend): Nightclub dancer. Exchanges love for money. Damien uses her to anger Tavia.

Kenneth Ma (son): Barrister with reformist views that disagree with his father's opinions.

Vincent Wong (illegitimate son): Casual and loves to have fun. Falls out with Damien.

Sire Ma (daughter, wife of Adrian): Naive and simple. Love comes before anything.

Rebecca Zhu (wife of Kenneth): An orphan. Childhood lovers with Ron, but believing he had died, she marries Kenneth.

Ron Ng (mutual admiration with Rebecca): An orphan and gangster. After losing Rebecca, he enters in the Chung family to plot revenge.

Adrian Chau (good friend of Ron): Also an orphan. An upstanding character who becomes a police officer. His romance with Sire meets many barriers.

Overview - Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles

 

Hong Kong in the 1930s was precisely when Eastern and Western cultures clashed, when women gained power and status to challenge the male-dominating society. Famed barrister Damien Lau was educated in England and leads a Western lifestyle, but at his core, he is a traditional Chinese man. He takes many wives to highlight his high societal status. First wife Mary Hon comes from a rich family; second wife Idy Chan is a former Qing Dynasty princess; third wife Elena Kong is the daughter of a banker; fourth wife Tavia Yeung is a famous opera performer; and fifth girlfriend JJ Jia is greedy for fame and wealth.

 

Of the women, Damien loves Tavia the most. But they disagree when Tavia becomes an activist for women’s rights. At the same time, the children begin to rebel against the strict discipline of their father. The sons, Kenneth Ma and Vincent Wong, fall out with Damien. The daughter, Sire Ma, ignores his objections and marries a poor policeman. Rebeccca Zhu becomes the newest member of the family as Damien’s daughter-in-law. As the infighting becomes more intense, Ron Ng adds himself into the mix to get revenge on the family. A story about a seemingly glamorous family on the outside, but is broken from within…






Original Article    Pics from Asianfanatics

 

Comment: Sounds like a typical big family drama with the infighting and revenge plots. Heart of Greed 1930s version? The HK audience is going to soak it all up.

This is one of the TVB Anniversary Series this year. It will begin airing in Hong Kong on October 22, after The Last Steep Ascent.

 

See overview of the other TVB Anniversary series: The Confidant.