The Foundation 1984 recap eps 1-5

Chun Sik Sik (Barbara Yung) and Li Sai Man (Michael Miu), artwork by Tomoyo262

Below is the recap of the Foundation 1984 (决战玄武门) episodes 1-5. I’d like to thank the Kaypang Gallery for providing the Cantonese ver with excellent Indonesian subtitles for this series (the DVDs can be purchased here). You can also watch the Cantonese ver from Tudou. The spellings of the main characters are in Cantonese. Spellings of other characters in Mandarin pinyin. I sourced many spellings from the Wikipedia entry of Li Shimin and its associated links. Needless to say, the post contains spoilers, so you are forewarned. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

Ep 1: Li Sai Man (Li Shimin, Michael Miu) and his third brother Li Yuan Chi (Li Yuanji, played by Ken Tong) were sent to Jiang Nan by Emperor Father to observe the daily life of the commoners. They met two Hao Tian Men (Wu Tien Mun) people and were impressed by the way the HTM sect/clan conducted themselves in upholding justice. The two princes then saw two HTM folks being attacked and murdered by someone. Sai Man (who used his secret identity Wen Ding Yuan) wanted to report the incident to HTM headquarters, but his Sam Gor (third brother) Yuan Chi (who used the false name Wen Ding Jiang) said they shouldn't intervene with the wuxia world, hence the brothers went to a brothel instead. There, while Sai Man enjoying the wine, Yuan Chi tried to flirt with a woman who was courted by Meng Qing Bing (Austin Wai). Sai Man reminded YC to behave. A fight broke outside between the HTM and the murderer (played by the guy who played as Yip Shing Lan in the Chor Lau Heung 1984 series). Meng Qing Bing intervened. Meanwhile, the HTM students accused the Crow sect as the culprit behind the HTM murder. The Hau Tian Men Master Ren (portrayed by the actor who played Sit Yi Yan in CLH'84) was angry that his students attacked the Crow sect without his approval. The Master then consulted some kung fu masters, including Meng Qing Bing and General Li Qing (or Li Jing), about the murder. 

The poems in Chor Lau Heung 1984

Chor tai-gor reciting the last line of 'Tale of the Magpie Bridge' (ep 13)

Ancient series are usually peppered with poems. The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 1984 was not an exception. I could only recall three four poems from the CLH 1984, but I really like them hence I post them here. The full text of the poems can be found at the end of this post. My favourite is definitely the Tale of the Magpie Bridge, first recited by Koh A Lam (Sharon Yang) in front of Wu Tit Fa in ep 11. Later in ep 13, Wu asked Chor tai-gor about that poem, and Chor recited a part of it for Wu’s benefit. Chor Lau Heung did look pensieve though when he recited the last line (“Eternal love shall withstand the time apart”), which made me think that he was thinking of Song Siu Ching for just a few seconds there.

Tale of the Magpie Bridge is part of a famous ancient Chinese story called the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd, dated back to over 2,600 years ago, around the time of the Han Dynasty. The story involved Zhinu (the weaver girl, or the star Vega) and Niulang (the cowherd, the star Altair) whose starcrossed love made them banished such that each of them live in another side of the Silver River (the Milky Way). Once a year (7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar), magpies would form a bridge between the two lovers such that they could meet for one day.

The gorgeous costumes of CLH & SSC

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The pink/white/blue garments from Ep 1 and 4

I should really sleep now because I need to wake up before sunrise tomorrow. However, I miss Chor tai-ko and our adorable Siu Ching, hence I just want to make a short post on the gorgeous costumes worn by Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching in the 1984 Chor Lau Heung series. I counted that Michael Miu had at least nine ensembles, while Barbara Yung wore at least 12 numbers for this series, excluding her peasant-style garments in Ep 17 and 35, among others. Other actors had adorable costumes too, but I will limit this post to CLH and SSC. I will just post the photos here with some comments on the episode numbers.

My favourite CLH/SSC ensembles is actually the clothes they wore at the same time during their first meeting and Ep 4. Chor tai-ko had white garments with very little soft pink embellishment with a white gossamer cape while Siu Ching's tunic was pink and blue with white under layer, as shown above.

CLH ep 40 screen shots: the hairpin and garden scene

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Chor tai-gor only asked for Siu Ching's hairpin (and not the girl, ep 40)

We CLH fans have no doubts of Song Siu Ching's feelings to Chor Lau Heung. Barbara Yung portrayed Siu Ching as always being certain of her love for the wanderer since ep 10 at the earliest. However, despite being a ladies' man, and despite his initial attraction to Siu Ching, Chor Lau Heung was subtle with regards to his own feelings. Very subtle. Michael Miu didn't portray him with Yang Kang's or (I suspect) Li Sai Man's intensity in love. In the series, Chor Lau Heung never said he loved Song Siu Ching. He was a pragmatic. He showed he loved her, but never uttered the word 'love'. Perhaps that was the way ancient 80s series were, or perhaps that was just how Chor Lau Heung (as portrayed by Michael) was. But it sometimes, admittedly, left me wondering if he did love her, just like Siu Ching wondered if Chor tai-gor loved her too or not. It took Sowfoong from the Network54/MB Paradise to tell me that he did love her, and very protective of her. 

Then I saw ep 40 again last night. In addition to enjoying the fight between Yuen Tsui Wan and Chor Lau Heung, I was particularly interested in the garden scene after Chor tai-gor asked for Siu Ching's hairpin. Chor Lau Heung was a jovial man, and even while saying goodbye to Princess Wing Ching (aka Siu Ching), he still took time to smile. But then I saw something last night. Siu Ching was numbed when he left her. But apparently, he was not happy either. It took me a lot of freezes and screen shots to realise that he was indeed not glad to leave her in the Palace. It took me more freezes and screen shots to fast forward to the boat scene when he was alone examining the hairpin to see he was truly sad. He was broken-hearted, but as he said to Wah Jan Jan before: men are good at hiding their feelings. Chor Lau Heung was not an exception.

So here they are: the screen shots for the garden scene after Brother Chor asked for Siu Ching's hairpin. If (like I was, prior to this post) you have doubts that he was sad to leave her, see for yourself.

'The First Dance' - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fan fiction

My take on the first meeting between Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching, requested by JoNe. Romance, action. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series (click here to read all CLH'84 episodes). Special thanks to all my CLH/FD/MB regular readers, you guys have kept me going! Click this to read this fan-fiction at my new Jianghu blog.

Song Siu Ching's and Chor Lau Heung's first 'dance', ep 1

The First Dance 

Han men didn't dance with Han women. Unlike the Mongols or the Shendu people, a dance between a man and a woman was not part of the Han culture. It would be the women who performed the ethereal dance and the men enjoyed their dancing, preferably while drinking good wine. However, King of Thieves Chor Lau Heung had danced several times with the woman he loved. He particularly treasured their first dance. Oh, she wouldn't call it a dance, of course, she would call it something else. "Rudeness" or "show off" might be her opinion of that moment. But he would always remember it as the opening dance between them.

The Foundation - a heartbreaking Michael/Barbara ancient series

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Li Sai Man (Michael Miu) and Chun Sik Sik (Barbara Yung) in The Foundation 1984

After finishing Fearless Duo 1984, I want to see other Michael Miu/Barbara Yung series. I still have three to watch: Legend of Condor Heroes 1982 where they were bitter enemies (Yeung Hong or Yang Kang vs Wung Yung or Huang Rong); United We Stand 1984 (they were lovers, tho Babs played twins, and the twins loved two different men, Michael one of them); and The Foundation 1984. The last one I don't really want to watch for I will definitely cry buckets of tears and may not be able to show my face to the public for a while... 

In The Foundation (决战玄武门), Michael portrayed Li Sai Man (Li Shi Min) who was the co-founder of the Tang Dynasty. Later known as Emperor Taizong, Li Sai Man was originally a happy-go-lucky young prince who met a servant village girl in his counselor's household (Chun Sik Sik, portrayed by our lovely Barbara). Li Sai Man then fell in love with Sik Sik, the humble village girl who used to love Kong Fung (Felix Wong), a man from her village who left her to improve his kung fu career. Sik Sik then also fell in love with Sai Man and left her love for Kong Fung behind. 

Have a look at this MV by Thaijet. How beautiful and sad it is...SPOILERS ahead. For those who don't want to be spoiled, don't watch the MV till finished. The music is not the original the Foundation OST. Rather, it was from the Return of Condor Heroes (1983), featuring Andy Lau and Idy Chan. The next MV below the break contains the original OST of the Foundation. 

'The Princess who saved her wanderer' - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fanfiction

To assist Yuen Tsui Wan, Kam Ling Chi poisoned Chor Lau Heung, Wu Tit Fa and the three ladies. Chor was almost defeated by Ting Fung but Sit Siu Yan and Wah Jan Jan arrived to save the day (ep 35). Then Khoo Tai Pang found out their hideout. This fanfiction takes time after Siu Ching met Sit Siu Yan in town and went to the mansion to assist Chor tai-gor (ep 36). Instead of asking Tim Yi to play music and acting all cool, Chor et al found a hidden passage inside the house (with the help of the Pak Ah zither) where he hid his friends there. Chor then faced Khoo Tai Pang alone. Chor still sustained injuries from his fight with Ting Fung, hence he was easily defeated and captured. It was now up to Siu Ching to rescue him. Featuring Chor Lau Heung first kissing Song Siu Ching. Violence, romance, action. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series (click here to read all CLH'84 episodes). Special thanks to all my CLH/FD/MB regular readers, you guys have kept me going!

Click this to read this fan-fiction at my new Jianghu blog.

Ting Fung defeated a poisoned Chor Lau Heung, ep 35

The Princess who saved her wanderer 

Song Siu Ching crawled inside the damp tunnel. Worried that she might be trapped in the tunnel, she started to regret the idea. However, something about the air told her that she was getting onto something here. The air was fresh, not rotten. The tunnel must end in an opening where she could get out, or at least see what happened in the old mansion.

Siu Ching had found the entrance of the tunnel totally by accident. Earlier that day, she had arrived at the hillside of the old mansion with Trouble Maker Sit Siu Yan to learn that a small army of Khoo Tai Pang’s had surrounded the area. She waited for a while for Wah Jan Jan (who she knew had been tailed by Khoo Tai Pang) to reappear. The Hua Shan girl did appear for a brief moment, stepping down the stairs before she stopped and returned to the mansion. Jan Jan must have detected Khoo Tai Pang then, which was good.

Fearless Duo 1984 summary of eps 15-20

The followings are the summary of Fearless Duo episodes. Special thanks to subbers and uploaders of Dramanice for uploading this series. With all my love for Michael Miu and Barbara Yung for giving me this series. Click this for all episode guides of Fearless Duo. I will add more screen caps later, so do revisit this post for more MMCY screen caps. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

Szeto Man Mo finally married Lam Chor Yin properly, ep 19

Ep 15: MMCY tracked down the black magic guy and found his hideout. MM managed to cancel out the black magic thus SM was cured. However, they didn't found anyone in the hideout. Unbeknown to them, the black magic master was killed already by his teacher. Not the Evil Master, but Sky Heart, the 1st disciple (played by the actor who played as Wai Tin Ho in CLH actually). Cured, SM then concocted a plan to make 2nd uncle n cousin Tsung admitted their rotten plan in front of the village elders, such that the two pigs were exiled (despite Madam Yip's mercy). Madam Yip then invited SM to stay at the Yip Mansion. Big Mole arrived and joined MMCY acting as a go-between for SM and Madam. MM himself, he returned his jade to CY, asking her to keep it cos it is a very important item for both of them.

Fearless Duo 1984 summary of eps 8-14

The followings are the summary of Fearless Duo episodes. Special thanks to subbers and uploaders of Dramanice for uploading this series. With all my love for Michael Miu and Barbara Yung for giving me this series. Click this for all episode guides of Fearless Duo. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

CY found the poisoned MM, ep 11

Ep 8: back to the Cantonese version!! OMG, I can't believe how significant this is for the enjoyment of my viewing! Michael's voice, OMG! Dubbing his voice in Mandarin doesn't do justice at all, unless he's the one who speaks Mandarin himself! (I’ve listened to Michael’s talk shows in Mandarin, his voice is still lovely...) Anyway. Since Chor Yin was angry with Man Mo, Tse Cheung Leung was able to accompany her here and there. She didn't fall for him, but she did like him because he was nice and always tried to protect her. Tse finally found criminal Ng Pak Tin and, after some hostage situation involving himself and Yin, Tse got Ng (who was killed by an officer during the hostage overtake). Tse then made some comical scenes about his injured legs so that Yin could take care of him longer (Tse was such a baby around Yin; it's funny that they later had a role reversal where he practically babysit and chaperoned Song Siu Ching in Chor Lau Heung). Meanwhile, Man Mo regretted being nasty to Yin, but he still found it hard to let go of Miss Fa. MM and Master then met Tung Yi, an orphaned girl whose veranda was obliterated when MM wanted to get away (again) from Master. The dumb and dumber then stayed with Tung Yi for a while to fix her house and accompany her. When they finally wanted to leave, Tung Yi went to town to buy some dinner ingredients as a farewell. There she overheard Tse asking the doctor not to heal him too soon so that he could be with Yin longer. Tung Yi borrowed that idea and twisted her ankle so that MM and teacher still stayed with her.

Fearless Duo 1984 summary of eps 1-7

The followings are the summary of Fearless Duo episodes. Special thanks to subbers and uploaders of Dramanice for uploading this series. With all my love for Michael Miu and Barbara Yung for giving me this series. Click this for all episode guides of Fearless Duo. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

Szeto Man Mo developed a habit of bickering with Lam Chor Yin, ep 1

Ep 1: Supreme Master Cheung was drinking in town. Lam Chor Yin (Barbara Yung), daughter of the governor, strolled the town in her lovely yellow dress, used her magic to reveal Wu Yat Chu Big Mole cheating and found a cute rabbit. She then saw Master Cheung fighting. She went home and asked Auntie Wu to teach her more magic, but the old lady refused. Governor knew about his daughter sneaking out, hence she was grounded. Chor Yin still managed to sneak out the day (dressed as a boy) after and met Szeto Man Mo in town. Rather, bickered with him over his jade pendant stolen by a pair of thief (so refreshing this bickering couple! As Chor Lau Heung, Michael Miu was smart but calm. As Szeto Man Mo, he was a big mouth!). Szeto and Lam were apparently business rivals; both their fathers were involved with some corruption cases. The next day the two families went to Master Cheung for support. Man Mo went along and met A Yin who was disguised as a boy (that was how Man Mo recognised her from the jade incident). They had a mouth brawl again before A Yin left for fear that her father found out. They then met Master Cheung separately. Man Mo didn’t realise the meat-eating Taoist monk was the Master, while A Yin begged the Master to accept her as a student (and was rejected). Later, the Master taught Mr Szeto and Mr Lam to be more considerate with their positions and donate some money to the temple.