Hong Kong Dramas
Here are some of my favorite Hong Kong dramas. Many of the dramas here are classics so I would recommend anyone new to HK dramas to start with these.
Moonlight Resonance
Year: 2008
Episodes: 40
This is my all-time favorite HK drama. This drama won various awards and shot many actors and actresses to fame. It is arguably one of the most successful, if not the most, HK drama to date. This drama is one of my guilty pleasures. I have watched it like more than 7 times and I can memorize all of Sa Yee's, or Aunty Sa's, rhymes. The plot has many twists and turns and is crazy dramatic. The actors and actresses are very suited for their roles. It really is a timeless classic that is suited to be watched by the whole family. It does have a lot going on and is super intense so if you are looking for something light, this isn't for you. However, there are lots of sweet family scenes.
Plot:
Chung Siu Ho, or Ho Ma, and Gun Tai Cho, or Jo Ba, have 6 kids. They are named after the phrase, 家好月圆慶中秋, which means a nice, harmonious family celebrating the Autumn Moon Festival under a round moon. They own a bakery and specialize in making moon cakes. On the day of the Moon Festival, Jo Ba declares a divorce and makes his relationship with Yan Hong, or Hong Yee, a worker at their bakery, public. The court gives Jo Ba custody of Wing Ka (male), the eldest, Wing Yuen (male), the fourth eldest, and Wing Zhong (male), the youngest. Ho Ma, on the other hand gets Wing Hao (male), the second eldest, Hou Yuet (female), the adopted daughter, and the mute Wing Hing (female), the second youngest. Yu So Sum, nicknamed Ah Qiu, is Hong Yee's biological daughter. The once happy, united family is now separated into two. Ho Ma's bakery is still a local favorite but makes little money. All the children sacrifice their work and education for the bakery. On the other hand, Jo Ba, who convinced Ho Ma to let him use the same bakery name, now owns the most famous bakery in Hong Kong and is rich. His kids are all spoiled and unhappy. Ho Ma and jo Ba, who refuse to even speak another word with each other, cooperate with each other when they see their kids drifting apart despite being related. This makes Jo Ba visit Ho Ma's place often, which makes Hong Yee jealous and Grandma mad. The Grandma was on Hong Yee's side but soon learns that this is making her grandchildren unhappy so now she is on Jo Ba and Ho Ma's side. This enrages Hong Yee, so she decides to take legal action and tries to take 80% of the company. The family unites together to fight this lawsuit. They learn that together is when they are truly happy and that money isn't as important as they think.
Forensic Heroes 3
Years: 2011
Episodes: 30
The Forensic Heroes series has a total of 4 dramas. The first two are also really good so I also recommend them. The fourth one is terrible, don't waste your time watching it. This drama has the highest viewer rating of 2011. This is a really awesome drama that makes you think more about your surroundings and the traces you may leave behind and teaches you a couple of random scientific facts.
Years: 2011
Episodes: 30
The Forensic Heroes series has a total of 4 dramas. The first two are also really good so I also recommend them. The fourth one is terrible, don't waste your time watching it. This drama has the highest viewer rating of 2011. This is a really awesome drama that makes you think more about your surroundings and the traces you may leave behind and teaches you a couple of random scientific facts.
Synopsis:
Pro Sir (Wayne Lai) is the lead chemist and the leader of the forensics department and is extremely knowledgeable and meticulous. He is also knowledgeable about guns. The Forensics Department works closely with the Pathologist, Mandy Chung (Maggie Cheung). They are both good friends with the police officers, Senior Inspector, Ada Lin (Kate Tsui) and Sergeant Wind (Roy Ng). Together, they crack cases.
I re-watched this so many times. People who like mysteries, this is for you.
Pro Sir (Wayne Lai) is the lead chemist and the leader of the forensics department and is extremely knowledgeable and meticulous. He is also knowledgeable about guns. The Forensics Department works closely with the Pathologist, Mandy Chung (Maggie Cheung). They are both good friends with the police officers, Senior Inspector, Ada Lin (Kate Tsui) and Sergeant Wind (Roy Ng). Together, they crack cases.
I re-watched this so many times. People who like mysteries, this is for you.
Beyond the Realm of Conscience
Year: 2009
Episode: 31
This is one of the two dramas produced for TVB's 42nd anneversaey. It is another highly successful drama and stars many of the cast members of Moonlight Resonance.
Synopsis:
Lau Sam Ho (Charmaine Sheh) and her servant and best friend Yiu Kam Ling (Tavia Yeung) enter the palace with Sam Ho's mother, Gong Choi King (Kristal Tin). Known to be from a family of great jewelry makers, Choi King is assigned to the make a golden hairpiece with a pearl for the Empress but dies when the pearl starts "bleeding." Before she dies, she tells Sam Ho to live her life doing four things: speak good words, do good things, spread the good, and that she and Kam Ling have to always be good sisters. After her mother's death, Sam Ho meets Prince Lee Yi (Moses Chan) and they become good friends. The prince is too smart so the Empress thinks of him as a threat to her own son. To protect himself, Prince Lee Yi pretends to be dumb and is sent out of the palace. When they grow up, Prince Lee Yi returns and falls for Sam Ho, but Sam Ho develops feelings for scholar and go player, Go Hin Yeung (Kevin Cheung). Lee Yi becomes the Emperor and can finally stop acting dumb. Hin Yeung becomes the Palace General and Sam Ho becomes the Head of the Jewelry Department. The Emperor knows of Hin Yeung and Sam Ho's relationship, so he hides his feeling to let them be together. Sam Ho remembers what her mother told her and tries to be nice to everyone so she has lots of friends. Kam Ling, on the other hand, is greedy and wants to rise in power to protect herself. She ends up being the emperor's concubine and even hates Sam Ho and becomes really evil after learning who the Emperor really loves.
Year: 2009
Episode: 31
This is one of the two dramas produced for TVB's 42nd anneversaey. It is another highly successful drama and stars many of the cast members of Moonlight Resonance.
Synopsis:
Lau Sam Ho (Charmaine Sheh) and her servant and best friend Yiu Kam Ling (Tavia Yeung) enter the palace with Sam Ho's mother, Gong Choi King (Kristal Tin). Known to be from a family of great jewelry makers, Choi King is assigned to the make a golden hairpiece with a pearl for the Empress but dies when the pearl starts "bleeding." Before she dies, she tells Sam Ho to live her life doing four things: speak good words, do good things, spread the good, and that she and Kam Ling have to always be good sisters. After her mother's death, Sam Ho meets Prince Lee Yi (Moses Chan) and they become good friends. The prince is too smart so the Empress thinks of him as a threat to her own son. To protect himself, Prince Lee Yi pretends to be dumb and is sent out of the palace. When they grow up, Prince Lee Yi returns and falls for Sam Ho, but Sam Ho develops feelings for scholar and go player, Go Hin Yeung (Kevin Cheung). Lee Yi becomes the Emperor and can finally stop acting dumb. Hin Yeung becomes the Palace General and Sam Ho becomes the Head of the Jewelry Department. The Emperor knows of Hin Yeung and Sam Ho's relationship, so he hides his feeling to let them be together. Sam Ho remembers what her mother told her and tries to be nice to everyone so she has lots of friends. Kam Ling, on the other hand, is greedy and wants to rise in power to protect herself. She ends up being the emperor's concubine and even hates Sam Ho and becomes really evil after learning who the Emperor really loves.
Tavia Yeung is so good at portraying evil characters.
I feel so sad for the prince but Hin Yeung is a great guy (2nd male lead syndrome).
Every Move You Make
Year: 2010
Episodes: 20
Synopsis:
Crime Unit Senior Inspector Linus Yiu (Bowie Lam) isn't an ordinary cop. He can read people through their body language, facial expression, and the sounds they make.
This drama taught me lots of cool things like how to tell if someone is lying.
Love Come Home (Season 1)
Years: 2012-2015
Episodes: 804 (yes you read that right. there is even a sequel)
This is a really heartfelt drama about the love from family members.
The drama centers around the Ma family. The grandfather is very traditional and being a retired police officer, he is very strict is constantly lecturing others. He has three kids. His eldest son died. His second son is an antique shop owner and has two kids, one boy, a fashion designer, and one girl, a college student. The youngest son works in a law firm as a legal executive. The grandfather's sister, who is much younger than him, works as a barista and food critic. All living nearly under one roof, conflict rises, especially between the grandfather and his youngest son who are like oil meets fire. However, despite their different opinions, they are still family and there is no place better than home.
I cry sometimes when I watch this drama because it is so beautiful. Watching this drama reminds me of how important my family is. Sometimes there are a lot of filler episodes so beware.
The Mysteries of Love
Year: 2010
Episodes: 25
Years: 2012-2015
Episodes: 804 (yes you read that right. there is even a sequel)
This is a really heartfelt drama about the love from family members.
The drama centers around the Ma family. The grandfather is very traditional and being a retired police officer, he is very strict is constantly lecturing others. He has three kids. His eldest son died. His second son is an antique shop owner and has two kids, one boy, a fashion designer, and one girl, a college student. The youngest son works in a law firm as a legal executive. The grandfather's sister, who is much younger than him, works as a barista and food critic. All living nearly under one roof, conflict rises, especially between the grandfather and his youngest son who are like oil meets fire. However, despite their different opinions, they are still family and there is no place better than home.
I cry sometimes when I watch this drama because it is so beautiful. Watching this drama reminds me of how important my family is. Sometimes there are a lot of filler episodes so beware.
The Mysteries of Love
Year: 2010
Episodes: 25
Synopsis:
Professor Kingsley King (Raymond Lam) is a young physics professor who recently returned to Hong Kong from England. He is smart, handsome, gentlemanly, and rich. His best friend is Lo Tin Hang (Kenneth Ma), Senior Inspector of Police at Special Crimes Bureau. Kingsley often helps the police crack cases using science. He meets Choi Sui Lai (Tavia Yeung) who just joined the Regional Crimes Unit. She is rash and doesn't know when to give up. With two opposite personalities and backgrounds, Kingsley and Sui Lai still become friends but what will happen if they want to be more than that? Kingsley's mother is against their relationship because of Sui Lai's poor background. Will they ever be able to be together without Kingsley's mother' approval?
The theme song is really good. One of my favorite songs from Raymond Lam, who plays the male lead of this drama. This is kind of like Forensic Heroes but with more romance.
Rosy Business
Year: 2009
Episodes: 25
Synopsis:
Po Kei (Sheren Tang) becomes a servant after her kind father used the military's food supply to feed people in times of need and got the whole family killed. She later becomes Prince Wai's fourth wife and is entrusted with his business and is to find a successor for him before he dies. The eldest son and his mother tries to keep Po Kei from power so he could be the successor but Po Kei wants to make Bit Man, the second son, the successor. She meets Chai Gao (Wayne Lai), a worker who wants revenge from the eldest son for mistreating him. He becomes a loyal servant and helper of Po Kei and together, they run the business and escape the harm of the other family members.
I absolutely love Po Kei and Chai Gao. Po Kei is such a strong character while Chai Gao is funny to watch and I love how he gets scolded by Po Kei. He has a famous line in this drama that means "How many decades are in a lifetime?" He reminds us to make the most of our time and that sometimes we can't care so much about other things, and we have to be rebellious to achieve our goals.
Professor Kingsley King (Raymond Lam) is a young physics professor who recently returned to Hong Kong from England. He is smart, handsome, gentlemanly, and rich. His best friend is Lo Tin Hang (Kenneth Ma), Senior Inspector of Police at Special Crimes Bureau. Kingsley often helps the police crack cases using science. He meets Choi Sui Lai (Tavia Yeung) who just joined the Regional Crimes Unit. She is rash and doesn't know when to give up. With two opposite personalities and backgrounds, Kingsley and Sui Lai still become friends but what will happen if they want to be more than that? Kingsley's mother is against their relationship because of Sui Lai's poor background. Will they ever be able to be together without Kingsley's mother' approval?
The theme song is really good. One of my favorite songs from Raymond Lam, who plays the male lead of this drama. This is kind of like Forensic Heroes but with more romance.
Rosy Business
Year: 2009
Episodes: 25
Synopsis:
Po Kei (Sheren Tang) becomes a servant after her kind father used the military's food supply to feed people in times of need and got the whole family killed. She later becomes Prince Wai's fourth wife and is entrusted with his business and is to find a successor for him before he dies. The eldest son and his mother tries to keep Po Kei from power so he could be the successor but Po Kei wants to make Bit Man, the second son, the successor. She meets Chai Gao (Wayne Lai), a worker who wants revenge from the eldest son for mistreating him. He becomes a loyal servant and helper of Po Kei and together, they run the business and escape the harm of the other family members.
I absolutely love Po Kei and Chai Gao. Po Kei is such a strong character while Chai Gao is funny to watch and I love how he gets scolded by Po Kei. He has a famous line in this drama that means "How many decades are in a lifetime?" He reminds us to make the most of our time and that sometimes we can't care so much about other things, and we have to be rebellious to achieve our goals.
No Regrets
Year: 2010
Episodes: 32
Synopsis:
This drama is an unrelated sequel to Rosy Business.
This drama takes place during WW2, when the Japanese were infiltrating and occupying parts of China. Lau Sing (Wayne Lai) is a brave police officer who is really precise when it comes to shooting. He gets affiliated with Cheng Gao Miu (Sheren Tang), the daughter of the most powerful opium trader in Canton. She hates drugs but still helps manage his business. The two share a complicated relationship in this chaotic and drug-filled world. They try to protect themselves, family, and family business against the Japanese and drugs.
I enjoyed this more than Rosy Business. I like how it touched upon history and I love the Qing Dynasty's history so this added to the drama for me. For most HK dramas I have watched, the time period is merely for the setting and the costumes. Rarely did they actually focus on the history. The two leads once again did a fantastic job acting. They really showed how helpless and hopeless people were. I love how the drama talks about opium and the effects it has on the people and how hard it is to stop doing opium. The Japanese soldiers added to the drama as we can see what horrendous things they forced the Chinese to do. Also, Gao Miu is such a boss bitch. I love her.
Year: 2010
Episodes: 32
Synopsis:
This drama is an unrelated sequel to Rosy Business.
This drama takes place during WW2, when the Japanese were infiltrating and occupying parts of China. Lau Sing (Wayne Lai) is a brave police officer who is really precise when it comes to shooting. He gets affiliated with Cheng Gao Miu (Sheren Tang), the daughter of the most powerful opium trader in Canton. She hates drugs but still helps manage his business. The two share a complicated relationship in this chaotic and drug-filled world. They try to protect themselves, family, and family business against the Japanese and drugs.
I enjoyed this more than Rosy Business. I like how it touched upon history and I love the Qing Dynasty's history so this added to the drama for me. For most HK dramas I have watched, the time period is merely for the setting and the costumes. Rarely did they actually focus on the history. The two leads once again did a fantastic job acting. They really showed how helpless and hopeless people were. I love how the drama talks about opium and the effects it has on the people and how hard it is to stop doing opium. The Japanese soldiers added to the drama as we can see what horrendous things they forced the Chinese to do. Also, Gao Miu is such a boss bitch. I love her.
Inbound Troubles
Year: 2013
Episodes: 20
Synopsis:
Ng Ga Yee (Roger Kwok), a tour guide who is currently bankrupt, owns a traveling agency with his money-loving fiancee, Szema Suk Jing (Angela Tong) and his best friend, Ching Siu San (Bob Chan). During his last few months of bankruptcy, which is kept a secret from his family, his life gets messier than ever. His rich cousin, Choi Sum (Wong Cho Lam), from Mainland China comes to Hong Kong to escape his father and to become a singer. His sister, Ng Ji Ching (Ivana Wong), switched from a law major to a music major and dates a fashionista, Song Wai Ciu (Louis Cheng). Choi Sum, his best friend, Sai Sai Nup or Tiny (May Chan), Ji Ching, and Nip Siu Sin (Corinna Chamberlain) become Meng Lo's (Mimi Chu), an old singer with talent but no fame, students and form a singing group called Oh Baby. Ga Yee also meets Yik Suet Fei (Joey Meng), a social worker. While Ga Yee is bankrupt, he also has to deal with his sister's change of college major, his cousin and uncle, and problems with his girlfriend.
Review:
This is the best Hong Kong drama I have seen since Love Come Home in recent years. It realistically shows how Hong Kong'ers are reacting to the many rich Mainlanders who come to Hong Kong and their differences. It has a great plot, lovely group of family and friends, and humor. Please give this drama a chance. The romance may not be like that of a Kdrama but it is nonetheless a lovely drama.
Come On, Cousin
Year: 2014
Episodes: 30
Year: 2014
Episodes: 30
Synopsis:
Lam Joy Ye (Roger Kwok) is an environmentalist who returns to Hong Kong after learning that his father is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, Yau Tin (Wong Cho Lam), a spoiled, bratty 2nd generation heir, returns to Hong Kong after learning his father will die soon. It turns out that both their fathers were faking their sickness just to trick their son to return home. Yau Tin, whose biggest dream is for his father to die so he can inherit his father's assets, agrees to manage his father's food market after his father threatens to cut off all his financial support if he refuses to do so. He gives the market a renovation and randomly hires a group of unique workers to work for him (he literally throws all the applications in the air and tells his bodyguard to catch a couple and to hire them), including Lam Joy Ye; Mario (Louis Cheng), a gold digger who is obsessed with working out but has a secret family background; and Vivienne (May Chan), Peter (Ruth Tsang), and Wu Gai (MoMo), who all also work at a massage parlor with no business. Problems arise as Yau Tin wants to increase the supermarket's revenue; he makes the workers do crazy things to promote the store and is very "not organic" according to Joy Ye. Joy Ye wants to stop Yau Tin from being nonenvironmentally friendly and a rude boss. During this process, Joy Ye gets affiliated with the Fujian Fried Rice Residents' Association, where he reunites with his old classmate, Choi Jing Man (Joey Meng). This gives him the idea to also run for office to help make Hong Kong more eco-friendly. While Joy Ye is busy running for office, Yau Tin suspects that Joy Ye and Joy Ye's wanna-be singer-sister, Lam Suet (Ivana Wong), are actually his siblings from another mother and are here to steal his inheritance.
Lam Joy Ye (Roger Kwok) is an environmentalist who returns to Hong Kong after learning that his father is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, Yau Tin (Wong Cho Lam), a spoiled, bratty 2nd generation heir, returns to Hong Kong after learning his father will die soon. It turns out that both their fathers were faking their sickness just to trick their son to return home. Yau Tin, whose biggest dream is for his father to die so he can inherit his father's assets, agrees to manage his father's food market after his father threatens to cut off all his financial support if he refuses to do so. He gives the market a renovation and randomly hires a group of unique workers to work for him (he literally throws all the applications in the air and tells his bodyguard to catch a couple and to hire them), including Lam Joy Ye; Mario (Louis Cheng), a gold digger who is obsessed with working out but has a secret family background; and Vivienne (May Chan), Peter (Ruth Tsang), and Wu Gai (MoMo), who all also work at a massage parlor with no business. Problems arise as Yau Tin wants to increase the supermarket's revenue; he makes the workers do crazy things to promote the store and is very "not organic" according to Joy Ye. Joy Ye wants to stop Yau Tin from being nonenvironmentally friendly and a rude boss. During this process, Joy Ye gets affiliated with the Fujian Fried Rice Residents' Association, where he reunites with his old classmate, Choi Jing Man (Joey Meng). This gives him the idea to also run for office to help make Hong Kong more eco-friendly. While Joy Ye is busy running for office, Yau Tin suspects that Joy Ye and Joy Ye's wanna-be singer-sister, Lam Suet (Ivana Wong), are actually his siblings from another mother and are here to steal his inheritance.
Review:
This is an unrelated sequel to Inbound Troubles. Similar to Inbound Troubles, this drama is hilarious and I love the cast. My favorite character is definitely Yau Tin, and while I was watching this drama, it reminded me how much I love Wong Cho Lam. He sports a fake American accent throughout the show. All of the characters are not the most attractive of the bunch, but this shows viewers that looks, height, and weight does not make a good actor.
This is an unrelated sequel to Inbound Troubles. Similar to Inbound Troubles, this drama is hilarious and I love the cast. My favorite character is definitely Yau Tin, and while I was watching this drama, it reminded me how much I love Wong Cho Lam. He sports a fake American accent throughout the show. All of the characters are not the most attractive of the bunch, but this shows viewers that looks, height, and weight does not make a good actor.
Line Walker
Year: 2014
Episodes: 31
Synopsis:
Prior to Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB) Superintendent of Police Hong To Hang's (Jimmy Au) death, he tells his colleague CIB Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Cheuk Hoi that there are moles in the police department and to protect his five undercover cop's (UC) identity, he deleted their police files. Not being able to trust anyone in the police department, Cheuk Hoi secretly searches for the five UCs. After finding the UCs, they work together to try to bring down Hung Ying, a major triad Hong Kong, only to realize there is way more corruption and illegal business invovled than they previously expected. With fear of exposing their identies, temptations of turning to the dark side, and the hidden moles in the police department, every day for the UCs is like walking the thin line that divides the light and the dark.
Review:
This drama is so good. The characters are so well written and so well acted. I would like to specifically commend Charmaine Sheh and Raymond Lam. They never disappoint (in TVB dramas). Suspenseful plot + very likable characters + down to earth lines spoken by the characters makes this an amazing undercover police drama. I will write a dedicated post about this in the future.
There are four dramas/films in the Line Walker series. After having watched half of the second drama which is a prelude to this, it just cannot compare to the original. Though they have a larger budget, it is a very bland drama. I do not care about the characters, the acting is not bad but definitely not as great as the original, and the plot is pretty boring. If you are on the fence about which one to watch, I definitely recommend watching the first one.
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