Sentinel episode 2

Episode 2:

Jotting of thoughts:
The 2nd episode slows down slightly to set up for Steven to become an imperial guard.

- I like the chemistry between Do Bo and his much younger cousin sister, Sheung Hei, who obviously looks up to him as her hero. He is the leader and she's his adoring follower. The chemistry between Dor Bo and Sheung Hei was very enjoyable to watch. And Sheung Hei is a very likable and plucky girl sidekick to Dor Bo. Because of her gamine look, Sheung Hei fits right in with the guys.

the neighborhood protectors

- I especially like the scene where Ah Wong couldn't resist licking Dor Bo's face to display his immense joy. Steven said during the shoot, Ah Wong was so overjoyed at seeing him again that she couldn't stop licking him every time he got close to her. Thus this very incongruous scene whereby a runaway sick dog happily licked a stranger on the face not once but twice, what's the chance of that? So Steven improvised his line when he got licked. What to do? Even her owner couldn't repress her doggie instinct. Steven actually weibo his meeting with Ah Wong on the set whereby they were so excited at seeing each other again that they were almost inseparable on the set.  Also, notice how Ah Wong totally ignored Ji Ying, though supposedly it has been her pet for 17 years already.  Steven said that Ah Wong dislikes females and deliberately ignores them. Later in his weibo, (see above post) Uncle Choi reprimands Ah Wong for her lack of actor's ethic.

- The bickering scenes between Do Bo and Selena's Ji Yin were fun to watch too, but not all that special.

- I like Helen as Dor Bo's mom too. Like a "nui hap", no wonder her son, Dor Bo is so full of himself and youthful bravado, which can easily cross over to destructive youthful arrogance and actions, like when he and Sheung Hei beat up the Manchu guy, a very cowardly act, that.

- I even like the male narrator, he has such a rich and melodious voice and evoked a very historic documentary feel to the scenes.

- I still have to get use to Power's Hong Hei and Ching Hor Wai's Hao Chong. Their portrayals do not match their images in my mind, maybe because I have watched Cheng Dao Ming and Siqin Gaowa in Mainland tv series, Kangxi Dynasty. And must say the charcoal black eye liners and eye shadows on Hao Chong contrasted quite "horrifically" with her thick white wig.

Imo, Hao Chong's angry reprimand of Fuk Chuen comes across too fierce, too loud and pedestrian, with none of the restrain and controlled modulation of voice displayed so royally in Gaowa's performance. When one is filled with power and strength, one does not need to raise one's voice to make known one's displeasure or opinions. A look, a pause and a posture would have sufficed most royally. Ching's Hao Chong did not have the innate aristocracy and regal posturing born of power, self-control and ultra confidence.

The episode deliberately contrasted the somber, serious palace scenes vs the lively and noisy common people scenes. Imprisonment in the palace, relative freedom outside the palace. The props in the palaces were so cheap looking, especially the cherry blossoms shown right outside the window in Hao Chong's room.

Fuk Chuen's ambition and resentment are revealed. He is a volcano waiting to explode.

Uncle Choi weibo says that Stephen Wong's character was supposed to be a short lived character but Stephen did well so his scenes were extended. Uncle Choi also praised Stephen for his great improvement in his acting.

And of course can't end my jotting without mentioning my enjoyment of all Do Bo's scenes. His character is so full of male vitality, of uninhibited playfulness, brashness, arrogance and righteousness that can only come from youth.

Last word, Steven always looked so youthful in Qing drama costumes.
Steven is just so at home in the Qing Dynasty. Steven once wrote a prose essay entitled 1874, (the title to Eason's song), that he feels he was born into the wrong era, that he was born 100 years too late.

screen caps from steven ma baidu