Tsai Yueh Hsun, A Director’s Black and White

Despite its 2.12 average rating, Black & White’s success can be seen on PSP, torrent, youtube/dailymotion, and various self-hosted video streaming sites and blogs — hardly a profit-friendly recognition, but I hope there’s enough revenue made to cover the costs. Director Tsai, the man who made the drama possible, who is going to make the sequel movie possible, is at core, the real star of the show.

Patty Hou’s interview with Tsai Yueh Hsun and his wife Yu Xiao Hui on Azio Entertainment reveals Director Tsai to be more than the fortitudinous director with vision and ambition; he is at once a man with depth, a considerate friend with keen observation and a loving husband determined to make his marriage last.

The interview is humorous at times and serious at others. Here, the slightly truncated interview:

Ariel Lin’s Blissful Encounter

We’ve seen her act and we’ve heard her sing but we haven’t seen her album — until now.

Black & White, Episode 22

“What are you doing?!” A very bad actor yells at Hero. (Whadda you think? He’s abducting your Barbie in broad daylight.) “Follow me!” Hero grunts at Mu Sha, ignoring the flight assistant’s (the said bad actor) frantic attempt to interfere. — I say “frantic” as a terrible hyperbole. Like, barely moving kind of frantic. — “You’re not dead?” Lei Mu Sha struggles back. Uh-uh, that’s no way to talk to an ex-lover! “Thanks to you.” Hero retorts defensively, “My life is pretty resilient.” “Did you know what you’re doing is against the law?” — Using the Law to stop Hero huh? Our pretty lady must’ve ran out of witty comebacks.

My Queen Episode 21 (Last Episode)

If you were to ask me, why oh why are you recapping the final episode of a non-commitment a month after it ended? I would blatantly lie to you: because the episode is fantastic! (According to drama production teams & casts, ALL final episodes are fantastic.) Therefore I needed the time to do it justice. When really, I just wanted to dot the period and move on. Cos I’m a perfectionist like that.

Without further ado:

The Murderer, Preview

Ladies and gentlemen, itching for a bold, mind-bending psychological thriller? I present to thee …

… The Murderer!

Black & White, Episode 21

Under his two body guards’ protection, Hero fled for his life.

“I want him alive!” Zai Tian clamors as the commotion unfolds right before his eyes.

Chinese Paladin 3 ♫-track

Following the theme song’s release in late May and the teaser preview in January, the much hyped and anticipated fantasy/wu xia video game turned drama (in mainland China that is) Chinese Paladin 3 finally started broadcasting.¹

But first, let’s listen to the OST.²

¹ Broadcasting date varies by location and TV station. Number of episodes also vary from two to four per night.
For more information, check here (site in Chinese).

² Download link fixed!

Black & White, Episode 20

The Old Man’s look of shock gradually softens to a smile. “Alike, very alike.” he marvels. “What?” already choking on tears, Hero musters with great difficulty. “Your eyes. They look exactly like your mothers.” (Er, I just mentally dropped a wig on Hero’s head… Let’s just say the resulting image does not look very flattering.) “Who are you?” Hero demands confirmation, apparently not taking the all too plain truth very well.

To deepen Hero’s frustration, the Old Man walks away, shaking his head left and right while muttering to himself, “I was wrong. I was completely wrong!” “Can you PLEASE tell me what is going on?” Hero begs, “Isn’t Chen Zai Tian your son? What am I? Are we brothers?”

Black & White, Episode 19

The gun, the prints, and the body, all that’s missing is a scented note saying:

I got you! ♥ Happy belated April fool’s!

– Love, Mu Sha

PS: See ya in another 5 yrs!

xxoo

She might as well try to rub it in his face, that way, he’d have someone to blame on. But deep down, Hero knows that the fault is his, which only made him the more furious. With himself.

At least, one thing is for certain – he won’t be engaging in reckless sexual behaviors any time soon.

Black & White, Episode 18

Consider how everyone is out to get Q (Xiao Ma’s fancy code name in Sarkozy); consider again, how he escapes each and every time, it makes one wonder where the spin-off that chronicled his thrilling military adventure went. That’s a lot of excitement we’re missing out on!