Friday 1 August 2014

TVB: The Ultimate Addiction

Cast: Bosco Wong, Kate Tsui, Nancy Wu, Ben Wong, Sharon Chan, Elena Kong, Toby Leung & MC Jin

Review:
The whole series focus mainly on Kate’s revenge plot (she thought Bosco is responsible for her dad’s death or suicide.

Overall:
The plot and script = 2/5 – Bad. The Good part is how it incorporates some hot financial topics, such as virtual currency and corporate governance structures. It’s current & also give us a look at what’s happening in the financial world. However it could be difficult to follow for the everyday viewer meaning the normal “housewife”- that ‘s probably why it didn’t do well in HKG. What saves the show is the good acting from Bosco, Nancy & Elena.
The Bad: How can a very smart calculative man like Bosco fall so hopelessly in love with a person like Kate. How can someone who’s like that, give up everything for her , who’s all out to get him? It don’t make sense. A super smart person would probably have cut lost, even if he loves her. He would understand where she’s coming from- revenge & all, but he won’t be ruined by her revenge! Also no one will be willing to go to jail. He don’t have to, he has all the means to avoid it but he didn’t, because in the story he wanted to come clean, that’s just not realistic. It’s more like being educational, but that’s not how the real world operates. Rich man don’t & wont want to go to jail- so easily.
The whole “look” of the series is odd =2.5/5. Starting from Bosco’s wardrobe- shorts with rainbow coloured jackets showing off his skinny legs. And at times no socks. Kate’s super tight office shirts not flattering either- looks as if they were too small for her. When she’s not in those, she’s usually  in checked shirts & pants, come on, she’s the star, I do expect something better. When Sharon Chan was in CCB her costume & hair-do,  was great- but the make-over evil look is really bad. The hair all combed back aged her for like 10 years. The small short dresses not pretty either, & why must it be very short dresses? Only Nancy Wu’s clothes seems appropriate.
As for the actual acting:
Bosco = 4/5 – Good acting, Bosco is especially good, portraying both good, smug & ruthless at times. But minus major points for the shorts/jackets and falling for Kate!!
Nancy = 5/5 – Nancy is good as usual. Subtle & natural. Well done.
Kate = 1/5 – Kate should stop looking so strange , was it blank or daze I cant decided. She should close her mouth & wear better fitting clothes & have more natural flowing hair.
Sharon = 2.5/5 – Looks great as madam & look strange as Villian. Should act more natural & subtle.
Ben = 2.5/5 – Miscasted, but he does have some cute moments with both of his love interests.
Elena =  4/5 – Always a pleasure to see her. They should develop her r/s with Ben further.
Toby and MC Jin = 3.5/5 – They inject some fun though did nothing much for the plot. Anyway, prefer to see them than KateJ
MC Jin’s sister & her love interest: I love these 2, very funny !
Gloria Tang: As Bosco’s sister-  I’m sure she’s brand new, so not good BUT she’ll probably improve in time. Look out for herJ



30 comments:

  1. You said " it could be difficult to follow for the everyday viewer meaning the normal “housewife”- that ‘s probably why it didn’t do well in HKG."
    I disagree Falan:
    I think the awful acting from Kate, the ugly shorts from Bosco & the stupid plot (he falling or her & risking it all) ruins it for everyone.

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    1. Haha.... you said it right ! This show is odd. On one hand they try to make it seem sophisticated by showing us the ins & outs of the complex financial world. Then Bosco's character start falling for Kate & throw everything to the wind. Unbelievable !
      It probably helps, if she's gorgeous or something, but her acting really spoils it for me!

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    2. Agree with all the above comments, still I do enjoy the show because of Bosco, Elena & Nancy. Just wish they didn't drag it on for so long.

      And of course I find it hard to understand, everyone gets punished in some way: Bosco going prison, Sharon Chan dying etc... but nothing happens to Kate's character. She really did much damage in the name of revenge. Shouldn't she be punished as well?

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    3. Hi Yin, that's the director's fault- cant think in a holistic way ! No head no tail- must like Kate a lot ...lol...

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  2. Falan ,glad you are reviewing again , I do check your blog from time to time :)

    Agree that the whole plot is crazy. Bosco was suppose to be the evil & greedy businessman. They keep hammering that down our throats by everyone in the show, from members of the CCB to those financial bigwits. Why in the middle of the show, they reduce Bosco into a dumbass love stricken married man who’s willing to give up his beloved money & his marriage to go after some lust or love and the whole character seem to turn into some kind of angel at the end? The abrupt change makes no sense. They mess up the initial "interesting ' character. Such a waste!

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    1. Agree. I just don’t know how Bosco could fall in love with Kate because, there’s nothing much between them, she didn’t really seduce him. You cant really count those dirt bike rides as seduction right? Besides it seems Bosco only felt guilty towards her after he found out she’s his mentor’s daughter. Seems he mistook his guilt towards Kate as love- but given his “intelligence”- that dont make sense.
      Oh... Falan ,happy you are reviewing again :)

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    2. Worst ! There's zero chemistry between Bosco and Kate.
      There's nothing that make ppl feel they’re in love !
      Don't think it's Bosco's fault - he acted well. It's the script & Kate's bad acting that makes it unbelievable :(

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    3. Agree, Kate's character is not written well at all- so unbelievable !

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  3. Why Kate has to wear obvious false lashes??? I think she wears them in almost every show! I'm sure others wear them, but somehow look natural. Kate's look so strange- I mean she's suppose to be in some elite police department & she wear those long obvious lashes- don't make sense ! Very distracting for me :( of course her poor acting don't help at all !

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    1. Besides her acting, something is not right with her styling as well. And why is she wearing those super high heels, she couldn’t even walk properly. She seems to be very careful on not to tip over, which in itself is rather odd to watch.
      Regarding those fake lashes, I noticed she still has them on even when she was laying in bed at the hospital..... LOL .... that's sloppy work ya?

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    2. OMG those heels- she look unbalance all the time !!! Can’t they make her wear lower heels ? That's more realistic right? Well perhaps it's her personal preference - I notice she wore these highs when playing a cop in another series :((
      I watch this show sometime back, I still cant forget those heels- what a JOKE !!!!

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    3. I thought I was the only one ..haha... all of you are right abt Kate ! Those fake lashes R so unnatural -too out of place for any office. How can you work in those 5-inch heels? It's just not normal.

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    4. Noticed her face looked kinda bloated throughout the show- wonder what happened?

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    5. Maybe they should 'nt have too many close ups on her. Or director should "N-G" her scenes until she gets it right!

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  4. Wow, lots of Kate bashers haha.. don't blame you guys, agree she didn't do a good job. She's better in other shows.
    But to me, she's not the worst in the show. That title should be given to the CC buddies with their ridiculous slogan . It's like going back to high school with cheesy slogan & the gestures ....omg..... I seriously cant believe it.

    The CC buddies is probably the most lame cop team in the whole history of TVB. I cringe whenever they chant that cheesy slogan

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    1. CC Buddies, I still cant forget that first scene when Sharon Chan enter the office & they go chanting this ridiculous cc buddies chant! I want to hide under my couch ....lol...

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    2. CC buddies like some camp fire chant for young kids- super big joke!
      MC Jin should have highlighted to them ....lol.... he's after all a cool dude /DJ from the states :))

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    3. But he's just an actor with a small part- no say in such silly things. The director, damn childish & no standard lor :))

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    4. The first time I saw them chanting the slogan- I laughed like crazy, the second time, not so funny anymore..... just plain unprofessional :(

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  5. I'm a big Bosco fan, so I still find the series entertaining even with it's multiple plot holes. Still it's unforgivable how Bosco's team were unable to find out who Kate's father is while they were doing the background check. Come on they were "supposed" to be the best ! Dumb dumb dumb !!!!

    And of course Kate getting away with everything pisses me off too...lol.

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    1. Yup I think Kate getting away with everything is the biggest flaw in this show.

      Also the transformation of Sharon Chan to 'evil' is pretty hard to stomach. The "look" itself kills me- the new hair-do the short/tight clothes... so weird. It'll be more subtle & realistic, if she "look" the same but just changes the "intentions". Even if the styling changes, it shouldn't be so drastic. My 2 cts.

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    2. They were trying to convey the sudden change for Sharon's character, but agree it's not done well. That hair not flattering at all. The first hair-do much better.

      Also I don't understand why so much focus on her family- it's not interesting at all. It somehow don't blend well with the rest of the story !

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    3. The focus on Sharon's family is to provide the background for her character- but ya...agree... a little too much.

      I wonder if someone else were to be Gia will it be better? Kate Tsu really cannot make it :). Minus the heels, the lashes & dumb ending, her acting sucks big time.

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  6. I don't understand how Bosco can fall in love with Gia. There's nothing special about her besides her crazy need to take revenge.
    It's like her dads suicide/death is unacceptable & must be avenge through all causes- & other people's lives are relatively not important, so can be sacrifice by her actions. If Bosco understand her need for revenge - then how about those others that she cause harm to, through her actions? Shouldn't she be hold accountable for too ? Shouldn't he hold her accountable for them ? Or he's too 'guilty' to do that, since he sort of cause her dad's death.

    Anyway... whatever, it seems the audience just don't side with her. Is it the script's fault or the actress lack of charisma or bad acting or a combination of all?

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  7. I like Bosco but this series is challenging. I'm also one of those that find it hard to accept his love/lust for her ! It sems many feel the same way. That's bad- because the whole plot rest basically on that.

    I can understand Kate's position for revenge, but Bosco's action is strange. The before & after character just change. The smart "ruthless" person just vanished- blinded by obsession with Kate- WHY?????
    Another unbelievable before & after change- Sharon Chan- seriously it's so awkward . I've seen this sometime back, but all this issues are still in my mind as they are just too careless.
    And I'm no fan of the cc buddies either.....lol..... LAME !!!!

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    1. I also wonder what's the appeal of Kate? She's kinda stiff in his role, add on those 5 inch heels...omg... disaster !

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    2. Why is everyone hating on Kate? True she's not so versatile yet, her acting is like a hit/miss thing but she's fine !

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    3. She's not fine, the show is ok even with all it's flaws BUT she's the biggest flaw! If they replace her, it would have been better.

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  8. Hated the CC buddies ...lol...
    Like little children!
    Whoever come up with it should be shot!

    Also Kate's character should be subjected to some kind of karma too right?

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