No Regrets (TV series)
No Regrets (Chinese: 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情) is a 2010 Hong Kong period television drama created and produced by Lee Tim-shing for TVB. Set in Canton, Republic of China during the years of the Second Sino-Japanese War, it follows the lives of Lau Sing and Cheng Kau-mui, who go against all odds to protect their families from the violence of war.
| No Regrets | |
|---|---|
 No Regrets official poster | |
| Also known as | Rosy Business II Rosy Business: No Regrets |
| Traditional | 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情 |
| Simplified | 巾帼枭雄之义海豪情 |
| Mandarin | jīn guó xiāo xióng zhī yì hǎi háo qíng |
| Cantonese | gan1 gwok3 hiu1 hung4 zi1 ji6 hoi2 hou4 cing4 |
| Literally | Veiled Heroine, Ruthless Hero: Righteous Sea, Lofty Passion |
| Genre | Period drama Romantic thriller |
| Created by | Lee Tim-Shing |
| Written by | Cheung Wah-Biu Chan Ching-Yee |
| Starring | Sheren Tang Wayne Lai Raymond Wong Ho-yin Fala Chen Kara Wai Elliot Ngok Susan Tse Ngo Ka-nin Mak Cheung-ching Nancy Wu |
| Theme music composer | Tang Chi-wai, Yip Siu-chung |
| Opening theme | Yee Hoi Ho Ching (義海豪情) by Leo Ku |
| Ending theme | Various Instrumental Music / Yee Hoi Ho Ching (義海豪情) by Leo Ku (Episodes 1-31) "Red Butterfly" (紅蝴蝶) by Ron Ng (covered by Wayne Lai) (Finale)[a] |
| Country of origin | Hong Kong |
| Original language(s) | Cantonese Japanese |
| No. of episodes | 32 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Lee Tim-shing |
| Production location(s) | Hong Kong |
| Camera setup | Multi camera |
| Running time | 45 mins. |
| Production company(s) | TVB |
| Release | |
| Original network | Jade HD Jade |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original release | 18 October – 28 November 2010 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Rosy Business (2009) No Reserve (2017) |
| External links | |
| Website | |
| No Regrets | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 巾帼枭雄之义海豪情 | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Veiled Heroine, Ruthless Hero: Righteous Sea, Heroic Passion | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
No Regrets is the companion piece of Rosy Business (2009). It premiered on Jade and HD Jade networks from 18 October 2010 and aired for 32 episodes, with the final two episodes airing back-to-back on 28 November 2010. It was one of two anniversary dramas used to celebrate TVB's 43rd anniversary in 2010, the other being Gun Metal Grey. Both dramas were the first Hong Kong dramas to broadcast live with English subtitles.
The drama received critical acclaim during its broadcast, and is the second highest-rated television drama in 2010. The final episode peaked at 47 TVRs with 3.43 million live viewers, becoming Hong Kong's most-watched episode of the 2010s decade. No Regrets received multiple awards at the TVB Anniversary Awards, including Best Actor (Wayne Lai), Best Actress (Sheren Tang), Best Supporting Actor (Mak Cheung-ching), Best Supporting Actress (Fala Chen), and Most Improved Actor (Raymond Wong Ho-yin).
Premise
Set in the late 1930s to late 1940s in Canton, Republic of China during World War II, No Regrets is an epic drama that centers on a triad family, the Canton police force, and the Japanese occupation of the city. The Chinese title of No Regrets (巾幗梟雄之義海豪情) literally translates to "Veiled Heroine, Ruthless Hero: Righteous Sea, Heroic Passion", referring to both the chaotic period of war and the complicated relationship shared by the two main characters, Cheng Kau-mui (Sheren Tang) and Lau Sing (Wayne Lai). The drama and cast received eleven TVB Anniversary Award nominations, winning five of them. The awards include Best Actress for Tang (who also won Best Actress for Rosy Business), Best Actor for Lai (who also won Best Actor for Rosy Business), Best Supporting Actress for Fala Chen, Best Supporting Actor for Mak Cheung-ching, and Most Improved Male Artiste for Raymond Wong Ho-yin. Meanwhile, No Regrets also gains other awards and achievement, including all four Mingpao Weekly awards for TV programmes, the first Shanghai Television Festival nomination for a Hong Kong TV drama and two awards for supporting actors at Asian Television Awards.
Synopsis
Canton is in a state of political turmoil in the 1930s. Gangsters are on a rampage and opium trading becomes rampant. As they watch the illicit profits from opium trading escalate, the government forms the Anti-Smoking Bureau under the guise of suppressing opium, but the bureau is under the influence of Cheng Long-kwan (Elliot Ngok), the gang's kingpin. His eldest daughter Cheng Kau-mui (Sheren Tang) who is an unscrupulous person soon returns from Shanghai to reap the rewards. Mui meticulously plans her every move.
On the other hand, Lau Sing (Wayne Lai) is the leader of the Criminal Investigation Team. He has worked hard all his life to ensure an easy trail for his family. Despite his hot temper, he values friendship and brotherhood more than anything else. Once, he almost sacrificed his life to help his timid teammate, Spareribs (Ngo Ka-nin).
Meanwhile, the Japanese army invades China and Canton falls into the hands of the Japanese. Mui enters the darkest time in her life when her aunt Cheng Long-hei (Susan Tse) frames her.
Production
Development and filming
After the critical and popular success of Rosy Business, TVB decided to produce a sequel for the drama. Most of the original main cast signed on to film the sequel, with the exception of Kiki Sheung, Ron Ng, and Suki Chui, who were reported to be not taking part in the production due to schedule conflicts. While the production was labeled as a sequel, the term was only a namesake. Wayne Lai, who portrayed Chai Kau in the predecessor, expressed that he would not film a sequel to Rosy Business: "I do not wish [to film a sequel]. Chai Kau's ending was the most significance part of his life. He will not appear in this world again."[1] Many of the cast members expressed that the ending to Rosy Business was perfect, and that there was no need to film a sequel.[2]
A sales presentation trailer of No Regrets featuring majority of the original cast was filmed on 25 October 2009 in TVB's filming studio in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong.[3] The three-minute trailer aired on the TVB Jade channel on 6 December 2009 during TVB's 42nd Gala Presentation, and received an overwhelmingly positive reception.[4] 50 random locals were interviewed in the streets, and 58% chose No Regrets as their most anticipated drama of 2010.[5] Several Mainland China news portals also listed No Regrets as one of the top 15 for most anticipating upcoming Hong Kong/Taiwanese dramas.[6]
A costume fitting was held on 10 March 2010[7] in the TVB studios. Filming began on 25 March 2010 and ended on 19 July 2010.[8]
Cast and characters
Main
- Sheren Tang as Cheng Kau-mui (鄭九妹):
Known as Miss Kau (九姑娘), she is the only daughter of Cheng Long-kwan, the most powerful drug tycoon in Canton. Holding a deep hatred for drugs, Miss Kau hopes to gain full control of her father's expansive opium business in order to destroy it from within. Tang expressed that it took her a while to grasp Miss Kau's character. "Her character is extremely complex. She doesn't abide to one direction; she may be doing one thing, but she's actually thinking of doing something else in her head. She's an extremely manipulative woman."[9] Tang describes Miss Kau and Sing's romantic relationship as "extremely complicated; there's love and hate, right and wrong; and most of the time, they oppose each other."[10]
- Wayne Lai as Lau Sing (劉醒):
The intuitive, sharp-tongued captain of a police crew in Canton. Working together to protect their families from the spoils of war, Sing develops a strong bond with Miss Kau throughout the years. Lai considers No Regrets to be his representative work. He describes Sing to be a man with a sad fate.[10]
- Fala Chen portrays Lau Ching (劉晴):
Nicknamed Ching Ching, she is Sing's younger sister who suffers from a congenital heart disease. She has feelings for Yeung Yeung, but is afraid to act on them due to the instability of her illness.
- Raymond Wong Ho-yin portrays Yeung Yeung (楊陽):
A member of Sing's police crew. Yeung Yeung's mother owns an apartment in Chu Lung Lei (豬籠里), in which Sing is a tenant. Thoughtful and selfless, Yeung Yeung always puts Ching Ching's needs before his own.
- Ngo Ka-nin portrays Tong Kat (唐吉):
Nicknamed Spareribs (排骨), a metaphorical phrase for "skinny weakling", Spareribs is Sing's subordinate and housemate. Unlike Ngo's portrayal of the villainous Chiang Bit-man in Rosy Business, Spareribs is a much simpler and kinder character. He has no ambition in life, and becomes a police officer only because he wants to live a steady life.
Supporting
- Mak Cheung-ching as Leung Fei-fan (梁非凡), known as Fei Fan Gor, a police captain and Sing's direct superior. Corrupted by money and power, he is willing to betray others for his own gain.
- Elliot Ngok as Cheng Long-kwan (鄭朗軍), Miss Kau's father. As Canton's richest drug trader, Kwan is one of the four founding members, and its leader, of the region's largest opium business Tung Tai.
- Susan Tse as Cheng Long-hei (鄭朗喜), the youngest of the Cheng siblings and one of four founding members of Tung Tai. Fearing that Miss Kau would take full control of Tung Tai, she assists her nephews to overtake Miss Kau.
- Kwok Fung as Cheng Long-hung (鄭朗熊), the second oldest of the Cheng siblings. He is one of the four founding members of Tung Tai, but hopes to convert Tung Tai into a legal business.
- Ben Wong as Cheng Siu-hong (鄭少康), Miss Kau's younger brother who wants to take over his sister as the only successor of Tung Tai.
- Henry Lo as Choi Tai-fung (蔡大鳳), Kwan's brother-in-law and one of the four founding members of Tung Tai.
- Helen Ma as Sister Teet (鐵姐), Miss Kau's loyal subordinate.
- Kara Wai as Mrs. Yeung, Yeung Yeung's mother who is the owner of the Chu Lung Lei apartment.
- Elena Kong as Chiu Tung-nei (趙冬妮), Sing's wife who falls for Leung Fei-fan's manipulation.
- King Kong as Colonel Mukaiyama Tetsuya (向山鐵也; むかいやまてつや), a Japanese general who, after invading Canton, seeks out Miss Kau for a business collaboration.
- Nancy Wu as Ma Lai-wah (馬麗華), a spoiled, narrow-minded college student who is the daughter of Mui Lan-heung, Miss Kau's close childhood friend. With dreams of being a wealthy socialite, she goes against Miss Kau's wishes and marries Cheng Long-kwan to be his young concubine.
- Li Shing-cheong as Wong Man-fai (黃文輝), nicknamed Dr. Wong Luk (黃綠), a patriotic yet unlicensed doctor who lives with Mrs. Yeung as one of her tenants.
- Eileen Yeow as Mrs. Wong, Wong Luk's wife.
- Simon Lo as Che Wing-ping, nicknamed Big Che (大車), Sing's housemate and a member of his police crew.
- Kelvin Leung as Che Wing-on, nicknamed Small Che (細車), Big Che's younger brother, and also a member of Sing's police crew.
Viewership ratings
The following is a table that includes a list of the total ratings points based on television viewership. "Viewers in millions" refers to the number of people, derived from TVB Jade ratings (including TVB HD Jade), in Hong Kong who watched the episode live. The peak number of viewers are in brackets.
| Week | Episode(s) | Average points | Peaking points | Viewers (in millions) | AI | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Critical reception
Although No Regrets has more elements of romance than Rosy Business, the undying and unspoken love between the main leads touched the audience and was very well received. On the other hand, people felt that the romance between the second leads was dry and draggy.[13] The drama was praised for being 'fresh' as it is not often that one gets to see war, rivalry, love for one's country and even history in a Hong Kong drama. Also, the style of directing, editing and even the music have gone way beyond the standard of Hong Kong dramas, with many people liking it to an epic movie.[14] The acting skills of Sheren Tang, Wayne Lai, Ngo Ka-nin were praised for being versatile and vastly different from their characters in the prequel, Rosy Business. Mak Cheung-ching was also given credit for playing such a hated character so convincingly that his catch-phrase "My name Leung Fei Fan will be written backwards!" was widely used. There were many people playing the role of Japanese soldiers in No Regrets. They did not have any Japanese background, but persevered in using Japanese to film their scenes. Their professionalism has won the praise of both the viewers and producer himself.[15]
However, some netizens found that the props used in that era were not right and did not really bring out the chaotic times of that era. The drama's female lead, Tang, has also lambasted TVB for stinging on production values, which made the set look unconvincing.[16]
The finale episode had 3 million Hong Kong TV viewers, and resulted in an unprecedented zero share of ratings for rival Asia Television, which was airing a gospel programme at the time.[17] The series was the highest-rated TVB drama of 2010.
It also attracted unprecedented 3,739,955 clicks in MyTV, 5 times runner-up Some Day, and the highest ever in MyTV record. Each episode attracted more than 1 million clicks on average.
It also received the best rating in Guangzhou, with 1,710,000 viewers and 60% share of ratings; the runner-up had 5%.
After winning the Best Actor and Best Actress awards for Rosy Business, Wayne Lai and Sheren Tang successfully defended their titles based on their brilliant performance in this drama respectively. Lai became the second actor to win the Best Actor award consecutively after Gallen Lo in 1997 and 1998, while Tang became the first actress in TVB to win the Best Actress award consecutively. Both of them became the first ever couple in TVB's history to win the awards consecutively based on the same drama franchise.
After sweeping the main acting awards in the 2010 TVB Anniversary Awards ceremony, No Regrets was expected to take home the Best Drama award. However, the award went to Can't Buy Me Love unexpectedly, shocking everybody who was present. Complaints were lodged immediately after the ceremony ended, with many people saying that No Regrets should have won because of its high ratings as well as critical acclaim it had garnered during its broadcast.[18]
The drama was such a huge success that talks of having a third sequel with the original cast and crew were under way. The proposed drama, tentatively named as Rosy Business III, was slated to start filming in April 2012.[19] Although plans for it have fallen through as the drama's script-editor, Cheung Wah Biu, would not be returning to TVB,[20] there will be another script-editor, Ip Kwong-yam, to helm the script and the plans were resumed, with the new female leading role as Myolie Wu. Filming for Rosy Business III began in March 2013.
Historical elements
The period drama follows the lives of fictional characters in the Chinese city of Canton between 1936 and 1949. With Wayne Lai portraying the righteous police officer Lau Sing and Sheren Tang portraying a goodwilled daughter of a triad boss holding a facade to save people, No Regrets includes some of the biggest issues and historical events during the time when the drama is set. It has a focus on opium, the drug that many Chinese people were addicted to at the time, supplied by notorious dealers. The police force were corrupt and feared the triads, and this is portrayed in the drama.
Then No Regrets focuses on the Japanese Occupation of China in 1937, and portrays the lives of the Chinese during the Occupation. After the defeat of the Japanese Imperial Army in the 1945, civil war ensues, which, as portrayed at the latter part of the drama, affects the triads and directly affects Miss Kau; she held a facade as a ruthless opium dealer and a woman who cooperated with the Japanese Imperial Army for an opium business, when the new government of the Chinese Communist Party takes control of the People's Republic of China.
The period drama therefore portrays life in Canton before the Sino-Japanese War during the mid-1930s, the Japanese Occupation between 1937 and 1945, the civil war and the establishment of the People's Republic of China which brings the drama to a climax as the leads who share a romantic relationship are split apart. Miss Kau, a former notorious drug dealer and "traitor" to the country, flies to Honolulu via Hong Kong, and Lau Sing, who, after a twist of fate, remains within Mainland China with amnesia, joins the Korean War of the early 1950s, restores his memory and attempts unsuccessfully to swim to Hong Kong and leave for Honolulu to seek his beloved Miss Kau after the gates were closed between Mainland China and Hong Kong. The drama concludes with Miss Kau and Lau Sing reuniting in 1979 in Canton, and living life together in the early 1980s in Hong Kong and in traveling.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | My AOD Favourites Awards | My Favourite Drama Series | No Regrets | Nominated | [21] |
| My Favourite Actor in a Leading Role | Wayne Lai | Nominated | |||
| My Favourite Actress in a Leading Role | Sheren Tang | Nominated | |||
| My Favourite Actor in a Supporting Role | Raymond Wong Ho-yin | Nominated | |||
| Ngo Ka-nin | Won | ||||
| My Favourite Actress in a Supporting Role | Fala Chen | Won | |||
| Susan Tse | Nominated | ||||
| Kara Hui | Nominated | ||||
| Nancy Wu | Nominated | ||||
| Top 10 Favourite Character | Wayne Lai as Lau Sing | Won | |||
| Sheren Tang as Cheng Kau-mui | Won | ||||
| 43rd TVB Anniversary Awards | Best Drama | No Regrets | Nominated | [22] | |
| Best Actor | Wayne Lai | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Sheren Tang | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Raymond Wong Ho-yin | Nominated | |||
| Ngo Ka-nin | Nominated | ||||
| Mak Cheung-ching | Won | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Fala Chen | Won | |||
| My Favourite Male Character | Wayne Lai as Lau Sing | Nominated | |||
| My Favourite Female Character | Sheren Tang as Cheng Kau-mui | Nominated | |||
| Most Improved Actor | King Kong Lee | Nominated | |||
| Raymond Wong Ho-yin | Won | ||||
| YAHOO! Asia Buzz Awards | Most Popular Theme Song Award | Yi Hoi Hou Ching 義海豪情 | Won | ||
| Most Popular Drama Award | No Regrets | Won | |||
| 2011 | Next Magazine TV Awards | Top 10 Artist | Wayne Lai | Won | [24] |
| Sheren Tang | Won | ||||
| Fala Chen | Won | ||||
| Top 10 Drama | No Regrets | Won | |||
| 17th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Actor | Wayne Lai | Nominated | [25] | |
| Best Actress | Sheren Tang | Nominated | |||
| 2nd StarHub TVB Awards | Top 5 Favourite TVB Male Character | Wayne Lai as Lau Sing | Won | [26] | |
| Top 5 Favourite TVB Female Character | Sheren Tang as Cheng Kau-mui | Won | |||
| Fala Chen as Lau Ching | Won | ||||
| Most Improve Actor award | King Kong Lee | Won | |||
| My Most Favourite TVB Drama | No Regrets | Won | |||
| 43rd Ming Pao Anniversary Awards | Most Outstanding TV Programme | No Regrets | Won | [27] | |
| Most Outstanding TV Actor | Wayne Lai | Won | |||
| Most Outstanding TV Actress | Sheren Tang | Won | |||
| Most Outstanding TV Back-stage crew | Cheung Wah-Biu (張華標), Chan Ching-Yee (陳靜儀) | Won | |||
| 16th Asian Television Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Mak Cheung-ching | Won | [28] | |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Fala Chen | Won |
International broadcast
| Location | Network | Broadcast Date |
|---|---|---|
 |
TVB Jade | October 18, 2010 |
 |
Astro AOD | October 18, 2010 |
| Astro Wah Lai Toi | November 21, 2011 | |
| 8TV | November 28, 2012 | |
.svg.png){kind=small} |
TVBJ | October 25, 2010 |
 |
StarHub TV | May 17, 2011 |
| Channel U | February 14, 2013 | |
 |
TVBS Entertainment Channel | September 2, 2011 |
| China Television | September 5, 2011 | |
| TVBS Entertainment Channel | February 9, 2013 | |
 |
Dragon TV | September 1, 2011 |
| Dragon TV | September 10, 2011 | |
| CCTV-1 | September 19, 2011 | |
 |
TVB Korea Channel | September 2011 |
 |
TVB Entertainment | November 21, 2011 |
| TVB2 | November 21, 2011 |
References
- "Wayne Lai tours Hong Kong, hopes new drama will break ratings records". Xinmin (in Chinese). 27 May 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- "Original cast to film Rosy Business sequel, Wayne Lai does not want be Chai Kau again". Sina (in Chinese). 19 July 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- "The fourth wife not scared of Sheh and Yeung". The Sun (in Chinese). 26 October 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
- "Audiences choose 'Rosy Business II' as most-anticipated drama". Sina (in Chinese). 15 January 2010.
- "58% choose 'Rosy Business II'". Singtao (in Chinese). 15 January 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
- "2010's Top 15 Anticipated Hong Kong/Taiwanese dramas". Shxb.net (in Chinese). 17 January 2010.
- "Rosy Business Sequel - Sheren Tang and Wayne Lai work together again". Xinmin (in Chinese). 11 March 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
- "Filming for No Regrets has finally ended!". Wayne Lai's blog (in Chinese). 19 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
- "TV Queen Sheren Tang starts from point blank to film Rosy Business II". Hunan TV (in Chinese). 4 May 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- "TVB promotes their four biggest dramas of the year". YCWB (in Chinese). 24 March 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- "Wayne Lai's new drama attracts viewers with generation jump". The Sun (in Chinese). 19 October 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
- "No Regrets receives complaints; 31 average points". Sintao (in Chinese). 25 October 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- "No Regrets gets good reception - Finale touches viewers". Yangcheng Wanbao (in Chinese). 30 November 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- "My Critic on No Regrets". Headline News (in Chinese). 30 November 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- "Small roles in No Regrets steal attention". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 30 November 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- "Why Hong Kong actors are going to Mainland - Sheren Tang explains". Southern Metropolis Daily (in Chinese). 10 May 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- "3 million tuned in for "No Regrets" finale. ATV scored zero ratings". Oriental Interactive (via tvbchannel.com) (in Chinese). 30 November 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- "No Regrets loses Best Drama award. TVB receives 31 complaints". Mingpao Weekly (in Chinese). 7 December 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- "Rosy Business series cast to reunite". 腾讯娱乐 (in Chinese). 5 August 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- "Rosy Business 3 falls through". Mingpao Weekly (in Chinese). 10 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- "《MY AOD 我的最愛 TVB 劇集頒獎典禮 2010》陳豪、佘詩曼獲選為大馬劇迷最愛的電視男、女主角" (PDF). TVBI Company Limited. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- "Hong Kong TVB 43rd Anniversary Awards". Sina Corp. 5 December 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "Hong Kong TVB 43rd Anniversary Awards Winners". Sina Corp. 5 December 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "Artists at 2011 Next Magazine TV Awards". JayneStars. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "第17屆上海電視節". Sina Corp. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "StarHub TVB Awards Gala 2011, Charmaine Sheh won a second 'My Favourite TVB Actress', Moses Chan finally garners 'My Favourite TVB Actor'" (PDF). TVBI Company Limited. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- "鍾嘉欣相信胡杏兒內定視后". Ming Pao. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- "2011 Asian Television Awards". Asian Television Awards. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
Notes
- a.^ "Red Butterfly" is the ending theme song for the series finale only. The original version, sung by Ron Ng, is the theme song for Rosy Business.
External links
- TVB.com No Regrets - Official Website (in Chinese)
- K for TVB No Regrets - Series Synopsis (in English)
- No Regrets No Regrets - News and translations (in English)