Instinct (1994)

This was a simple, no-frills classic. The story was about greed, power, love, friendship, and family. Most of all, it was about being able to let go when the time comes, when you need to. That message will stay with the viewers after so many years have passed and many tears have fallen.

The show’s success was in the good writing and perfect casting. I say perfect casting because not all the actors were great actors. They just fit their roles, or rather the roles fell within their abilities. That’s not to say there were no great actors in this series. There were plenty.

TV legend Adam Cheng played Wong Tin, a billionaire with a heart of gold. He was brilliant and idealistic, which could be boring if not done right. Adam played this character with enough vulnerability to make him interesting. Your heart will go out for his Wong Tin. This man was under constant attack by business rivals, his own daughter, and even fate. Instead of brooding about it, he took control of his own destiny. He was not just the leading man, he was an inspiration.

I applaud Kiki Sheung and the writers for creating the character of Cheung Hok Wah. This was one of the strongest female characters I’ve seen in Asian dramas. Wah was cool as ice and ruthless when she wanted to be. When sitting around the table with a bunch of male scumbags, she always had a card up her sleeve. When with Adam, she was his equal and his match in every way.

Ekin Cheng and Adia Chan earned their reputation as the golden couple of that era. Their love was not flashy, but simple and touching. These two were so sweet they even made littering look romantic. And despite all the emotional baggages, their relationship stayed healthy and was built to last.

The most annoying character award went to Amy Kwok’s Wong Lui. She was a whiny poor little rich girl who blamed everyone but herself for her problems. Luckily, Amy was able to pull the character back at the right moment, before you really hate her.

Finally, there was Roger Kwok as Poon Long Ching. This guy was smart enough to do damage, but really too stupid to do anything productive. He was a horrible excuse for a human being, although he never saw himself as a villain. He rationalized and made excuses for every lousy, selfish thing he ever did. I’m sure we all came across a Long Ching in our lifetime, or have had a Long Ching moment ourselves. Watch Roger's acting here, then watch him again in Square Pegs. Calling him a fantastic actor is an understatement.

The plot relied too much on coincidences (was Hong Kong really that small?) and felt contrived at times. Many scenes were clearly designed to tug at your heartstrings. If you have a heart, you will cry buckets and buckets. When Wah asked Tin if he can live life without her, he gave a short but profound answer: “Every time I think of you, I know only happiness, not sorrow. Whether you are by my side or no longer exist in this world, there is no difference.”

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