A Step into the Past
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Contents
Details
- Title: 尋秦記 / 寻秦记
- Cantonese/Mandarin title: Cham Chung Gay / Xun Qin Ji
- English title: A Step into the Past
- Genre: Historical fiction
- Episodes: 40
- Broadcast network: TVB
- Broadcast year: 2001
Synopsis
Cast
- Louis Koo as Hung Siu Lung
- Sonija Kwok Sin Lei as Kam Ching
- Jessica Hsuan as Wu Ting Fong
- Joyce Tang as Sin Yau
- Kong Wah as Lin Chun/Lou Oi
- Michelle Saram as Siu Sin
- Raymond Lam as Chiu Poon/Ying Jing
- Shuet Lei as Chiu Nga
- Lei Chi Hung as Chiu Mok
- Wai Kong Fung as Liu Bat
- Eileen Yeow as Chu Gei
- Sherming Yiu as Leur Leurng Yung
- Evergreen Mak as Mak Wai Gin
- Joyce Koi as Long Yeung Gwun
Review
This new TVB series, although lacking in historical detail, will echo with those familiar with the period depicted and the political atmosphere of the day. It is best watched AFTER the viewer has seen a proper historical drama.
The story starts out with the audience getting a glimpse of Louis's bravery and great skills and tactics in controlling an awkward situation. At the same time, the viewer is introduced into Louis's complicated love life, between Sonija and the other guy that Sonija is about to wed. Louis stupidly agrees to participate in an experiment conducted by a crazy physicist- to travel back in time to take a picture of the King of Qin during his coronation ceremony. In return he will get to use this time machine to go back in time and propose to his girlfriend before it was too late. The time machine takes him back too far to a time before the king was crowned so he ventures onto an unexpected journey.
The humour in the series is mainly concentrated at the beginning, based on the "fish out of water" cultural clash theme. The show became more dramatic and less funny as it continued, with Louis's character, Siu Long becoming embroiled in various political intrigues as he fought to have the "rightful" King of Qin installed, so that history would occur as it should and he could return to the present.
Some reviewers made contradictory, and to be honest, silly statements about Louis's character. On the one hand, Siu Long was criticised for adapting too quickly and too well to being a man from the past, but on the flip side he was also put down for holding onto a modern day attitude, which he tried to impart to his "olden days" counterpart. These reviewers missed the point altogether- Siu Long DID NOT adapt as quickly as some perceived. His speech and inflections is more reflective of modern-day Hong Kong than any thousand-year-old Kingdom of Qin resident. And sure, Siu Long influenced a lot of events in the past- but that is the whole crux of the story- the idea that while a single human being can create happenings in the world around him, history (and Fate) will always continue on its unaltered path.
My main criticism of the series is that the characters who are actually from the past didn't really act like it. If anything, they made a token effort at trying to sound "medieval", then gave up, adapting their own speech patterns to Louis's instead. Also, some of the female actors are pretty wooden, especially the princess.