*Episode premise spoilers.*
There are several big things going on in this episode, although it’s not really an A-plot, B-plot format. Rather, it’s more sequential, following Wai Siu-bo as his misadventures carry him to several different places.
Fleeing the Devine Dragons, Wai Siu-bo and Sheung Yee find themselves at Mount Deer (everybody drink!), where they encounter some potential Russian allies of Ng Sam-kwai. Their best bet? Dividing and conquering by befriending the Russian princess and showing her how this alliance isn’t in her best interest. Then, back at the palace, Siu-bo plots with the emperor and deals with the very slippery Prince of Western Pacification.
For starters, several Hong Kong actors play Russians in this episode, which is fun. All the Russian characters still speak Cantonese, and honestly, why wouldn’t they? It’s not like American TV in the ‘80s was full of lengthy subtitled scenes of foreign nationals speaking their native language. The fact that some of the Russian characters are costumed with blindingly conspicuous blond wigs tickles me, but it’s too entertaining to be pressed about it.
This is just a fun episode. In addition to the Russian intrigue, we also get some clever scheming from the emperor, a pair of martial arts adepts searching a room for secret hiding places by methodically punching a wall down brick by brick, and a brainstorming session over how to rig a horse race. Good times!
As for Wai Siu-bo/Tony Leung Chiu-wai, let’s start, as the episode does, at Mount Deer. Obviously, it’s a precarious situation, since Siu-bo and Sheung Yee are in the company of folks who may or may not want to kill them. However, Siu-bo quickly decides he has a handle on the situation and is very self-satisfied about that. At one point, he literally jumps on the bed in glee, and at another, he flops contentedly onto Sheung Yee’s bed and rolls across to his bed beside it. He's such a big kid, I love it. We also get a little wink-wink nudge-nudge about just how he goes about persuading the princess not to back Ng Sam-kwai.
He has plenty of good stuff back at the palace too, especially in his scenes with the emperor. This is an episode where the emperor is less of an all-powerful monarch ruling over Wai Siu-bo and more of a friend/collaborator. The two of them cook up quite a plan to sell the other lords on Ng Sam-kwai’s treachery, and it’s a hoot to watch them playing the entire room with their performance. In the back-and-forth between Leung and Andy Lau, I like that you can definitely tell that they’re putting on a show while also seeing why the lords would be convinced.
Another bit I love comes when Wai Siu-bo is so excited and impressed about something that he tells the emperor it’s worthy of a truly respectful kowtow. The emperor is affronted, asking, “So you were not really respectful in your kowtows?” And while Siu-bo is an expert liar, he’s surprisingly earnest when he chooses to be, and he sheepishly answers, “Sometimes yes, sometimes perfunctorily.” Very fun!
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