No Regrets (TV series)
Encyclopedia
No Regrets is a 2010 TVB
television drama from Hong Kong
created and produced by Lee Tim-shing
. The drama is the reboot successor of the 2009 award-winning drama Rosy Business
, which was the second most-viewed drama in Hong Kong of the year by average rating.
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 Guangzhou 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
).
No Regrets is one of two grand TVB productions used to celebrate the channel's 43rd anniversary, the other being Gun Metal Grey
. English subtitles are available for both dramas for the first time in Hong Kong's TVB Jade
HD channel during broadcast. The episode premiere of No Regrets aired on 18 October 2010, and the series finale was broadcast on 28 November. The series was the highest-rated TVB drama of 2010.
), 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, Pai Kuat (Pierre Ngo).
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.
, 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." Many of the cast members expressed that the ending to Rosy Business was perfect, and that there was no need to film a sequel.
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. 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. 50 random locals were interviewed in the streets, and 58% chose No Regrets as their most anticipated drama of 2010. Several Mainland China news portals also listed No Regrets as one of the top 15 for most anticipating upcoming Hong Kong/Taiwanese dramas.
A costume fitting was held on 10 March 2010 in the TVB studios. Filming began on 25 March 2010 and ended on 19 July 2010.
of Guangzhou
between 1936 to 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 frame with which 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 drug dealers. The police force at the time were corrupt and feared these triads, and this is portrayed within the drama. Then the drama focuses on the Japanese Occupation
of China in 1937, and portrayed 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 who held a facade as a ruthless opium drug 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 Guangzhou prior to the Sino-Japanese War
during the mid 1930's, 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 the United States
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 1950's, restores his memory and attempts unsuccessfully to swim to Hong Kong
and leave for America
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 Guangzhou, and living life together in the early 1980's in Hong Kong and in travelling.
. "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.
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.
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. 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.
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 , although plans for it have fallen through as the drama's script-editor, Cheung Wah Biu, would not be returning to TVB anymore.
Note: No Regrets had not started airing when nominations were first announced.
Won: Best Actress (Sheren Tang)
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Raymond Wong)
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Pierre Ngo)
Won: Best Supporting Actor (Evergreen Mak)
Won: Best Supporting Actress (Fala Chen)
Nominated: My Favourite Male Character (Wayne Lai)
Nominated: My Favourite Female Character (Sheren Tang)
Nominated: Most Improved Actor (King Kong)
Won: Most Improved Actor (Raymond Wong)
Note: The only TVB drama within the top 20.
17th Shanghai Television Festival
Nominations
Note: No Regrets hasn't been aired before the ceremony.
Note: No Regrets swept all the awards available in the TV category. The only other time this happened was in 2009, when its predecessor, Rosy Business, won all the awards available in the TV category as well.
Asian Television Awards
Nominations
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
television drama from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
created and produced by Lee Tim-shing
Lee Tim-Shing
Lee Tim-shing or Lee Tim-sing is a Hong Kong television producer, director, and writer. Lee entered Television Broadcasts Limited in 1969 as a set decorator. He became a director in 1975 and promoted to a producer a few years later...
. The drama is the reboot successor of the 2009 award-winning drama Rosy Business
Rosy Business
Rosy Business is a 2009 award-winning Hong Kong television drama produced and by TVB. The original broadcast was on the TVB Jade network with 45-minute episodes airing daily from April 27 to May 29 in 2009...
, which was the second most-viewed drama in Hong Kong of the year by average rating.
Set in the late 1930s to late 1940s in Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Republic of China
History of the Republic of China
The History of the Republic of China begins after the Qing Dynasty in 1912, when the formation of the Republic of China put an end to over two thousand years of Imperial rule. The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, ruled from 1644 to 1912...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, No Regrets is an epic
Epic film
An epic is a genre of film that emphasizes human drama on a grand scale. Epics are more ambitious in scope than other film genres, and their ambitious nature helps to differentiate them from similar genres such as the period piece or adventure film...
drama that centers on a triad family, the Guangzhou police force, and the Japanese occupation
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
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
Sheren Tang
Sheren Tang Shui-man is a famous Hong Kong television actress who is known for not signing a long-term contract with TVB, preferring to work on a per-drama contract with the TV station. She is most famous for her roles in the mega-hit TVB drama series like War and Beauty, La Femme Desperado, The...
) and Lau Sing (Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai Yiu-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Biography:Lai entered TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the business department. In 1985, he gave up the job and trained in the TVB Acting School. He starred in a few series in 1989. He started out in some minor roles, and took on some more significant roles...
).
No Regrets is one of two grand TVB productions used to celebrate the channel's 43rd anniversary, the other being Gun Metal Grey
Gun Metal Grey
Gun Metal Grey is a 2010 Hong Kong police procedural television serial drama starring Felix Wong and Michael Miu. Produced by Terry Tong and edited by Lau Choi-wan and Leung Yan-tung, Gun Metal Grey is a TVB production...
. English subtitles are available for both dramas for the first time in Hong Kong's TVB Jade
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
HD channel during broadcast. The episode premiere of No Regrets aired on 18 October 2010, and the series finale was broadcast on 28 November. The series was the highest-rated TVB drama of 2010.
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 NgokElliot Ngok
Elliot Ngok Wah, better known as Yueh Hua, is a former Shaw Brothers actor and veteran TVB actor.-Career:Elly was born Leung Lok Wah in Shanghai, with native Cantonese roots. He immigrated to Hong Kong in 1962. He joined Shaw Brothers and started his acting career in 1965. His breakout film role...
), the gang’s kingpin. His eldest daughter Cheng Kau-mui (Sheren Tang
Sheren Tang
Sheren Tang Shui-man is a famous Hong Kong television actress who is known for not signing a long-term contract with TVB, preferring to work on a per-drama contract with the TV station. She is most famous for her roles in the mega-hit TVB drama series like War and Beauty, La Femme Desperado, The...
) 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
Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai Yiu-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Biography:Lai entered TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the business department. In 1985, he gave up the job and trained in the TVB Acting School. He starred in a few series in 1989. He started out in some minor roles, and took on some more significant roles...
) 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, Pai Kuat (Pierre Ngo).
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
Susan Tse
Susan Tse was a former famous Chinese opera actress in Hong Kong. She is the 76th generation descendant of Confucius. This was confirmed by China's family tree study of Confucius according to her appearance on the TVB show Be My Guest....
) frames her.
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 SheungKiki Sheung
Kiki Sheung Tin Ngoh is a Hong Kong TVB actress. Kiki was originally with TVB, but moved over to rival station ATV in 1995, moving back to TVB once again in 2002...
, Ron Ng
Ron Ng
Ron Ng Cheuk-hei is a Hong Kong TVB actor, singer, professional dancer, ambassador, and model. He is one of the most demanded artists from TVB.-Early Childhood:...
, and Suki Chui
Suki Chui
Suki Chui Suk-Man is an actress in Hong Kong under TVB. She participated in Miss Hong Kong Pageant 2006 and was awarded with the Tourism Ambassador Award. She married Kenny Wee on November 15, 2009....
, 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
Namesake
Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....
. Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai Yiu-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Biography:Lai entered TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the business department. In 1985, he gave up the job and trained in the TVB Acting School. He starred in a few series in 1989. He started out in some minor roles, and took on some more significant roles...
, 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." Many of the cast members expressed that the ending to Rosy Business was perfect, and that there was no need to film a sequel.
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
Tseung Kwan O
Tseung Kwan O is a bay in Sai Kung District, New Territories, Hong Kong. In the northern tip of the bay lies the Tseung Kwan O Village....
, Hong Kong. The three-minute trailer aired on the TVB Jade
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
channel on 6 December 2009 during TVB's 42nd Gala Presentation, and received an overwhelmingly positive reception. 50 random locals were interviewed in the streets, and 58% chose No Regrets as their most anticipated drama of 2010. Several Mainland China news portals also listed No Regrets as one of the top 15 for most anticipating upcoming Hong Kong/Taiwanese dramas.
A costume fitting was held on 10 March 2010 in the TVB studios. Filming began on 25 March 2010 and ended on 19 July 2010.
Cast and characters
- Wayne LaiWayne LaiWayne Lai Yiu-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Biography:Lai entered TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the business department. In 1985, he gave up the job and trained in the TVB Acting School. He starred in a few series in 1989. He started out in some minor roles, and took on some more significant roles...
portrays Lau Sing (劉醒), the leader of a police crew, who develops a peculiar affection towards Miss Kau. Although Sing is known to be very agitating, always talking in a sharp and harsh tongue, he is hard-working, intuitive, and heroic. According to Lai, he considers No Regrets to be his representative work. He describes Sing to be "experienced, but [he] has a sad fate."
- Sheren TangSheren TangSheren Tang Shui-man is a famous Hong Kong television actress who is known for not signing a long-term contract with TVB, preferring to work on a per-drama contract with the TV station. She is most famous for her roles in the mega-hit TVB drama series like War and Beauty, La Femme Desperado, The...
portrays 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. Despite helping her father manage the family's opium and other underground businesses, she has a deep hatred toward drugs. Tang expressed that it took a while for her 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 manipulativePsychological manipulationPsychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
woman." Miss Kau will also develop a romantic relationship with Sing, and Tang describes their relationship to be "extremely complicated; there's love and hate, right and wrong; and most of the time, they oppose each other."
- Raymond Wong portrays Yeung Yeung (楊陽), Sing's good friend and subordinate. Yeung, who has been best friends with Ching since they were children, develops a crush on Ching, but is too shy to express his feelings to her. He helps Ching the best he can in every way.
- Fala ChenFala ChenFala Chen is a Chinese-American beauty pageant titleholder. Chen has held the titles of Miss Asian America 2002 and Miss NY Chinese 2004, and placed as runner-up in Miss Chinatown USA 2003 and Miss Chinese International 2005.-Education:Chen was born in Chengdu, People's Republic of China, in 1982...
portrays Lau Ching (劉晴), Sing's younger sister who has a heart disease. She and Yeung mutually have feelings for each other.
- Pierre Ngo portrays Tong Kat (唐吉). Nicknamed Spareribs (排骨), a metaphorical phrase for "skinny weakling", he is Sing's good-natured friend and subordinate. 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; he becomes a police officer only because he wants to live a steady life and raise a family.
- Elliot NgokElliot NgokElliot Ngok Wah, better known as Yueh Hua, is a former Shaw Brothers actor and veteran TVB actor.-Career:Elly was born Leung Lok Wah in Shanghai, with native Cantonese roots. He immigrated to Hong Kong in 1962. He joined Shaw Brothers and started his acting career in 1965. His breakout film role...
portrays Cheng Long-kwan (鄭朗軍), Miss Kau's father. After many years of patience and hard work, he successfully establishes a opium den and drug trading business in Canton, becoming one of the biggest drug dealers in the county. The brother of Long-hei and husband of Lai-wah.
- Susan TseSusan TseSusan Tse was a former famous Chinese opera actress in Hong Kong. She is the 76th generation descendant of Confucius. This was confirmed by China's family tree study of Confucius according to her appearance on the TVB show Be My Guest....
portrays Cheng Long-hei (鄭朗喜), Kwan's younger sister. Kau-mui's aunty. She often questions Miss Kau's ability to be a leader, and tries her best to help her nephews gain power within the society.
- Nancy WuNancy WuNancy Wu Ding Yan is a Chinese actress contracted to TVB. In 1999, she participated in TVB's 18th Annual New Talent Singing Awards competition and finished in the top four. In 2001, she entered TVB's 3rd Annual Cover Girl Competition and won the Most Photogenic Award, the Most Fit Award, the Most...
portrays Ma Lai-wah (馬麗華), Kwan's young concubine. She's narrow-minded, bears grudges, and has very high self-esteem. She was originally taken care of by Kau-mui, but when she married Kwan, she betrayed Kau-mui by telling her secrets.
- Kara HuiKara HuiKara Hui Ying-Hung is a Hong Kong actress of Manchu ancestry.-Biography and career:Hui's family moved to Hong Kong in 1966 and she started working at night clubs at fourteen. In her interview on Be My Guest, Hui revealed her family lost their savings from her father's business acquaintances...
portrays Ng Lai-sim (吳麗嬋), Yeung's mother.
- Evergreen MakEvergreen MakEvergreen Mak Cheung-ching , better known as Makbau , is a Hong Kong TVB actor. He is lauded and best-known for his villainous portrayal of the main antagonist, Leung Fei Fan , in No Regrets, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award for.-Films:-Television dramas:-Awards:* 2010: TVB 43rd...
portrays Leung Fei-fan (梁非凡), Sing's superior. Has an affair with Sing's wife, Tung-nei, but when she leaves he gets married to another woman named Rose. He had two sons, the youngest was killed when the Japanese came.
- Elena KongElena KongElena Kong Mei-yee is a Hong Kong actress and presenter.Kong made her acting debut in many television commercials of the 1990s, and appeared in some of Andy Lau's music video concerts. After joining with Asia Television Limited and in 1997, she landed her first lead role in television drama...
portrays Chiu Tung-nei (趙冬妮), Sing's wife. She has an affair with a Leung Fei-fan and leaves to go back to live with her mum.
- King Kong portrays ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Mukaiyama Tetsuya (向山鐵也; むかいやま てつや), a Japanese general who invaded GuangzhouGuangzhouGuangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
. He has close business relations Miss Kau.
- Ben WongBen WongBen Wong Chi-yin is a Hong Kong actor best known for his role as Yung Heung-hoi in the long-running drama series A Kindred Spirit.-Film:-Television dramas:-Hosting gigs:*1989: 陽光節拍一小時*1991: Flash Fax...
portrays Cheng Siu-hong (鄭少康), Miss Kau's younger brother.
Historical Elements
The period drama follows the lives of fictional characters in the Chinese cityCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
between 1936 to 1949. With Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai Yiu-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Biography:Lai entered TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the business department. In 1985, he gave up the job and trained in the TVB Acting School. He starred in a few series in 1989. He started out in some minor roles, and took on some more significant roles...
portraying the righteous police officer Lau Sing and Sheren Tang
Sheren Tang
Sheren Tang Shui-man is a famous Hong Kong television actress who is known for not signing a long-term contract with TVB, preferring to work on a per-drama contract with the TV station. She is most famous for her roles in the mega-hit TVB drama series like War and Beauty, La Femme Desperado, The...
portraying a goodwilled daughter of a triad
Triad
Triad is a term used to describe many branches of Chinese criminal organizations based in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Macau, Taiwan, China, and also in countries with significant Chinese populations, such as Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom...
boss holding a facade to save people, No Regrets includes some of the biggest issues and historical events during the time frame with which the drama is set. It has a focus on opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
, the drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
that many Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
people were addicted to at the time, supplied by notorious drug dealers. The police force at the time were corrupt and feared these triads, and this is portrayed within the drama. Then the drama focuses on the Japanese Occupation
Japanese Occupation
Japanese Occupation may refer to:*Occupation of Japan, the occupation of Japan by United States forces following World War II*Japanese occupation of Burma*Japanese occupation of Cambodia*Japanese occupation of Guam*Japanese occupation of Hong Kong...
of China in 1937, and portrayed the lives of the Chinese during the Occupation. After the defeat of the Japanese Imperial Army in the 1945, civil war
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
ensues, which, as portrayed at the latter part of the drama, affects the triads and directly affects Miss Kau who held a facade as a ruthless opium drug 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
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. The period drama therefore portrays life in Guangzhou prior to the Sino-Japanese War
Sino-Japanese War
There were two wars known as the Sino-Japanese War :* The First Sino-Japanese War between China and Japan , primarily over control of Korea....
during the mid 1930's, the Japanese Occupation between 1937 and 1945, the civil war and the establishment of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
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 the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
via Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and Lau Sing, who, after a twist of fate, remains within Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
with amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
, joins the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
of the early 1950's, restores his memory and attempts unsuccessfully to swim to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and leave for America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 Guangzhou, and living life together in the early 1980's in Hong Kong and in travelling.
Viewership ratings
The following is a table that includes a list of the total ratings points based on television viewershipAudience measurement
Audience measurement measures how many people are in an audience, usually in relation to radio listenership and television viewership, but also in relation to newspaper and magazine readership and, increasingly, web traffic on websites...
. "Viewers in millions" refers to the number of people, derived from TVB Jade
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
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 Appreciation Index The Audience Appreciation Index is a score out of 100 which is used as an indicator of the public's appreciation for a television or radio programme, or broadcast service, in the United Kingdom. Until 2002, the AI of a programme was calculated by BARB, the organisation that compiles television... |
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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. 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. The acting skills of Sheren Tang, Wayne Lai, Pierre Ngo were praised for being versatile and vastly different from their characters in the prequel, Rosy Business. Evergreen Mak 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.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.
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. 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
Some Day (TV series)
-Cast:Ming familyShek familyMa familyOther cast-Award nominations:TVB Anniversary Awards * Best Drama - Top 24* Best Actress - Top 15* Best Actress - Top 15...
, 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
Rosy Business
Rosy Business is a 2009 award-winning Hong Kong television drama produced and by TVB. The original broadcast was on the TVB Jade network with 45-minute episodes airing daily from April 27 to May 29 in 2009...
, Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai
Wayne Lai Yiu-cheung is a Hong Kong TVB actor.-Biography:Lai entered TVB in 1983 as a clerk in the business department. In 1985, he gave up the job and trained in the TVB Acting School. He starred in a few series in 1989. He started out in some minor roles, and took on some more significant roles...
and Sheren Tang
Sheren Tang
Sheren Tang Shui-man is a famous Hong Kong television actress who is known for not signing a long-term contract with TVB, preferring to work on a per-drama contract with the TV station. She is most famous for her roles in the mega-hit TVB drama series like War and Beauty, La Femme Desperado, The...
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
Gallen Lo
Gallen Lo Ka-leung is a Hong Kong actor and singer who primarily acts in television series. He is sometimes credited as King Gallen or Law Ka-leung.-Career:...
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.
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 , although plans for it have fallen through as the drama's script-editor, Cheung Wah Biu, would not be returning to TVB anymore.
MY AOD My Favourite TVB Drama awards ceremony 2010
- Top 10 Favourite Character - Lau Sing (Wayne Lai)
- Top 10 Favourite Character - Cheng Kau-mui (Sheren Tang)
- My Favourite Supporting Actor - Pierre Ngo
- My Favourite Supporting Actress - Fala Chen
Note: No Regrets had not started airing when nominations were first announced.
TVB Anniversary Awards (2010)
- Nominated: Best Drama (Top 5)
TV Programme Appreciation Index Survey 2010
- Top 20 Most Appreciated Television Programs of the Year - #3 (77.47 points)
Note: The only TVB drama within the top 20.
Next Magazine Awards 2011
- Top 10 Artistes - Wayne Lai (#2)
- Top 10 Artistes - Sheren Tang (#3)
- Top 10 Artistes - Fala Chen (#9)
- Top 10 Dramas - #2
17th Shanghai Television FestivalShanghai Television FestivalThe Shanghai Television Festival It awards several "Magnolia" Awards for best television film, best television series, best director, best actor/actress, and other categories, as well as a "Special Jury Award."Since 2004, STVF added animation category....
Nominations
- Best Actor - Wayne Lai
- Best Actress - Sheren Tang
Note: No Regrets hasn't been aired before the ceremony.
2nd Starhub-TVB Awards Ceremony 2011
- Top 5 Favourite TVB Male Character - Wayne Lai (Lau Sing)
- Top 5 Favourite TVB Female Character - Sheren Tang (Gau Mui)
- Top 5 Favourite TVB Female Character - Fala Chen (Lau Ching)
- Most Improve Actor award - King Kong
- My Most Favourite TVB Drama - No Regrets
6th Seoul International TV Festival 2011
Nominations- Most Popular Actor - Wayne Lai
- Most Popular Actress - Sheren Tang
- Best Drama Award (series category) - No Regrets
43rd Ming Pao Anniversary Awards 2011
- Most Outstanding TV Programme: No Regrets
- Most Outstanding TV Actor: Wayne Lai (No Regrets)
- Most Outstanding TV Actress: Sheren Tang (No Regrets)
- Most Outstanding TV Back-stage crew: Cheung Wah Biu, Chan Ching Yee (No Regrets)
Note: No Regrets swept all the awards available in the TV category. The only other time this happened was in 2009, when its predecessor, Rosy Business, won all the awards available in the TV category as well.
Asian Television AwardsAsian Television AwardsThe Asian Television Awards is an appreciation to recognize and reward programming and production excellence in the Asian television industry. Held every December, the Awards draws about 1,400 entries each year from a wide range of broadcasters, including free-to-air TV stations and pay-TV...
2011
Nominations
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Evergreen MakEvergreen MakEvergreen Mak Cheung-ching , better known as Makbau , is a Hong Kong TVB actor. He is lauded and best-known for his villainous portrayal of the main antagonist, Leung Fei Fan , in No Regrets, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award for.-Films:-Television dramas:-Awards:* 2010: TVB 43rd...
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Fala ChenFala ChenFala Chen is a Chinese-American beauty pageant titleholder. Chen has held the titles of Miss Asian America 2002 and Miss NY Chinese 2004, and placed as runner-up in Miss Chinatown USA 2003 and Miss Chinese International 2005.-Education:Chen was born in Chengdu, People's Republic of China, in 1982...
External links
- TVB.com No Regrets - Official Website
- K for TVB No Regrets - Series Synopsis
- No Regrets No Regrets - News and translations