Rosy Business 2 / No Regrets 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情

Evil, cunning, conniving, callous, ruthless, blood-thirsty, and just an overall cold-hearted (well, you get the idea) —  such is the character that Sheren Tang portrays in TVB’s most highly anticipated anniversary series ever, Rosy Business 2/No Regrets 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情. But wait… how can someone so vicious and so morally bankrupt become  so respected, loved, and  admired by so many people at deathbed?  Is that old lady in the coffin, surrounded by weeping faces really the same woman who single handedly turned all of Guangzhou upside down by becoming the most powerful drug lord of her time?  That’s what the public both in the show and watching the show would like to know.

After last year’s release of Rosy Business, TVB fanatics everywhere have been impatiently awaiting for its sequel.  To say that the first episode did not disappoint is an understatement because it is phenomenal.  Right off the bat, we get a glimpse of what’s to come through Sheren’s memories as she recalls bits of pieces of her past.  Some memories are shown with love and fondness, others with pain, disdain and overwhelming regret — each memory giving viewers a tease of who she is as a person, and all the while giving us an even bigger question mark as to who she really is.

The setting of the show is perfectly presented: quick, thorough, and straight-to-the-point.  The characters are introduced in such a way that makes viewers feel like they already know them.  The subtleties of each characters are amazing — the strength in their dialogue, their eye contact, their posture and gestures, and the clothing… Oh!!  did I mention the clothes??  It’s only the first episode and I’m already drooling over Sheren’s powersuits:

My grandmother use to have a jacket that looks just like this one. It might be even the same pattern 0___o;;

The men of No Regrets

 

I really, really hope it lives up to all the hype.  It’s starting out so strong, it’d be terrible for it to plummet downhill…

 

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English title:No Regrets
Also known as:Rosy Business II | Rosy Business: No Regrets
Chinese title: 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情 (Cantonese: Kan Kwok Hiu Hung Chi Yee Hoi Ho Ching) (Mandarin: Jin Guo Xiao Xiong Zhi Yi Hai Hao Qing)
Genre: Drama | Romance | War | Organized crime
Production company: TVB
Country: Hong Kong
Language: Cantonese
Episode count: 32
Producer: Lee Tim-shing
Editor(s): Cheung Wah-biu, Chan Ching-yee
Director: Luk Tin-wah, Chan Yiu-chuen, Ng Kuen-ching, etc.
Writer: Mak Sai-lung, Yeung Shut-yee, Shek Hoi-ting, etc.

SYNOPSIS:

Guangzhou 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 Yue), 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, especially for his bed-ridden younger sister LAU CHING (Fala Chen). Despite his hot temper, he values friendship and brotherhood more than anything else. Once, he almost sacrificed his life to help his timid teammate, TONG KAT (Pierre Ngo).

It is fated that MUI and SING should meet each other and survive many calamities. It is also fated that both are fierce contenders who will never give in, although mutual understanding and affection slowly grows between them.
Meanwhile, the Japanese army invades China and Guangzhou 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.

TRIVIA:

• No Regrets is an anniversary drama. (TVB anniversary dramas are big-production dramas that air at the end of the year.)
• Leo Ku sings the theme song, called “Yee Hoi Ho Ching” (義海豪情; ”lit.” “Righteous Sea, Lofty Passion”). It is the same Chinese title for No Regrets.
• The drama consists of the same cast as Rosy Business. It is roughly considered a spin-off, although the themes and characters in No Regrets are very different compared to Rosy Business. No Regrets has much darker themes.
• Kiki Sheung, Ron Ng, and Suki Chui, who portrayed major characters in Rosy Business, did not return for No Regrets. Instead, Raymond Wong and Fala Chen were added to the cast.
• Sheren Tang and Wayne Lai switched roles. In Rosy Business, Sheren’s character (the fourth wife) was the protector of Wayne’s character (Chai Kau). In No Regrets, Wayne becomes the protector of Sheren. Pierre Ngo, who portrayed a villainous character in Rosy Business, will portray a foil of that character in No Regrets.
• The drama takes place in Canton (present-day Guangzhou, China) during World War II. The drama deals with the opium trade, underground triads, and Japanese occupation.

TRAILERS:
Teaser 1: http://www.tudou.com…iew/9IpN01PEOhU
Teaser 2: http://www.tudou.com…iew/b0ffUaDVlKE
Teaser 3: http://www.tudou.com…iew/CY6le2JuBIQ
Teaser 4: http://www.tudou.com…iew/BWIj41h57i0
Teaser 5: http://www.tudou.com…iew/sXXXn-1Bj74

STARRING:
Sheren Tang as Cheng Kau-mui (aka Miss Kau)
Wayne Lai as Lau Sing
Raymond Wong as Yeung Yeung
Fala Chen as Lau Ching
Pierre Ngo as Tong Kat (aka Pai Kwat Jai)
Elliot Ngok as Cheng Long-kwan
Susan Tse as Cheng Long-hei
Kara Hui as Ng Lai-sim
Nancy Wu as Ma Lai-wah
Henry Lee as Wong Luk
Kelvin Leung as Che Wing-on
Kwok Fung as Cheng Long-hung
Ben Wong as Cheng Siu-hong
Elena Kong as Chiu Tung-nei
Evergreen Mak as Leung Fei-fan
King Kong as Mukaiyama Tetsuya

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For the series review of No Regrets, click here.