LOCH 1983 episode guides (eps 20-30) and interim impressions

Wong Yung bored to death listening to Yuewen's poem recital, Ep 20

Ep 20: The start of LOCH part II. Naughty Wong Yung and innocent Guo Jing went exploring around a city inside the Song region and met Hong Qigong (Hung Tsat Kung; played by Lau Dan, who also played as Supreme Master in Fearless Duo) and Yuewen. Unknown to WY and GJ, Ouyang Ke was also looking for Yuewen. WJ/GJ warned Yuewen and Hong Qigong, not knowing that the latter was actually the leader of Kaypang (the Beggar Clan). Yuewen explained that the Jurchens might be looking for the Book of Wu Mu, a book that Yang Kang was telling Mu Nianci about (so Yang Kang wasn’t really lying back then when he said that the book was very important?). Ouyang Ke et al attacked the hut WY et al was in, but then they were met with the Beggar Clans. WJ and GJ fell into a trap, but it actually saved them from the fight. Yuewen died beaten by a poisonous snake, but Hong Qigong retrieved the Book of Wu Mu from him. Qigong then asked WY/GJ to escort him to deliver the book to the Song govt.

Wong Yung pushed the boundaries of her pranks at Hong Qigong... ep 20

Somewhere else, we got news of Yang Kang. The gorgeous antagonist met his associates within the Song territory. Yeung Hong asked Ouyang Ke et al to retrieve the Book of Wu Mu from Wong Yung and Guo Jing. Within 10 days. With WY and GJ dead! Gosh... how nice of you, Yeung Hong! Not! But the Jurchens eventually realised that WY and GJ were accompanied by Hong Qigong, the North Beggar, who was one of the Five Great Masters of that time (in addition to Ouyang Feng, Huang Yaoshi/WY’s father and someone else...).

Hey, look! Yang Kang borrowed Tang Dynasty Li Sai Man's robe!

Ep 21: Wong Yung cooked delicious meals for Hong Qigong so that the Kaypang Leader taught Guo Jing some skills to defeat Liang Ziweng (the guy who owned the snake that GJ beat; he also played as Master Yuen Hong of Wutang in Chor Lau Heung 1984, and also as Szeto Man Mo’s dad in Fearless Duo 1984). Yang Kang ordered his minions to kill the Fourth Prince of Mongolia (Tuloi) who just arrived in the Song Empire to persuade the Songs to collaborate with the Mongols to fight the Jurchens. Tuloi had indeed arrived in the Song territory with Huazheng. He planned to steal the Book of Wu Mu from the Song Palace library that night, but YK’s minions attacked first, such that Tuloi and Huazheng had to run away. Tuloi escaped into the Song Palace and stole the Book of Wu Mu.  When he was attacked by the Song soldiers, Wong Yung (who came to find some snacks for Hong Qigong) helped him. Wong Yung and Tuloi were later caught by Yang Kang’s minions. Yang Kang imprisoned Tuloi for he knew the value of Genghis Khan’s son. As for Wong Yung, Yang Kang gave her to Ouyang Ke who always fancied her (how could you, Yang Kang??).  But lucky for her, Mei Chaofeng came and told Yang kang that no one should harm her sister (really, I need to check myself. I like Yang Kang and Mei Chaofeng despite them being baaaad!). Yang Kang adhered to his teacher’s wishes and told Ouyang Ke that he should be able to wait, for Wong Yung would eventually be his.

Meanwhile, Huazheng’s men caught Hong Qigong and Guo Jing. HZ was so surprised to see Guo Jing there. She eventually learned that her brother might have been imprisoned by the Jurchens along with a girl called Wong Yung, who was Guo Jing’s close... friend.

Ep 22: Ouyang Ke lured Huazheng out and asked her to poison Hong Qigong’s wine. Huazheng asked GJ if he’d ever forgiven her if she did something bad. GJ was confused, but he didn’t have time to ask anything. Huazheng eventually poisoned Qigong’s wine. Later, the team split in two: Qigong went to battle Mei Chaofeng while GJ had to save WY and Tuloi elsewhere. GJ successfully retrieved WY and Tuloi, however, WY was jealous with Huazheng, and vice versa. OTOH, Qigong found it difficult to fight Mei Chaofeng (QG arrived alone cos). However, just as the things got worse for Qigong, Guo Jing and Wong Yung arrived with the Mongols arrived to assist Qigong. They then hid inside Mei Chaofeng’s practice chamber, where Qigong taught Guo Jing another of his tricks. While Yang Kang took a rest, Ouyang Ke attacked Mei Chaofeng, who then thought it was Yang Kang’s idea to attack her. A map fell from her pouch, and it seemed to be important. Guo Jing finally blew the chamber wall, just at the time the Mongols came to assist them. Huazheng protected GJ from Yang Kang’s claws, hence she was injured. Qigong asked Guo Jing to ask Wong Yung to treat Huazheng’s injuries, for the claws was the trademark of her father’s fighting style.

Ep 23: Guo Jing asked Wong Yung to save Huazheng. Although she originally refused due to her jealousy, she eventually relented and saved Huazheng. Meanwhile, Yang Kang and Ouyang Ke entered an abandoned temple to take a rest, and they met Mei Chaofeng who accused YK for ambushing her. Chaofeng defeated Ke, Ke asked YK to leave with him, but YK refused. He told Chaofeng truthfully that he didn’t ambush her. Because Chaofeng was injured, he then carried her elsewhere. Ouyang Ke followed them. Later inside a cave, YK was about to get Chaofeng some food when she told him that she knew he just used her. Had she been without excellent martial arts, he’d not even look at her. YK said it was true. However, “in this cruel world you’ve been the best to me.” All others (Guo Jing, Wong Yung, Qiu Chuji and Nianci) called him a traitor without thinking how it would be difficult for him to change from being a Jurchen to be a Song overnight. Chaofeng laughed and said she liked that trait of his, that he thought a despicable act as nothing wrong; just like her. With that “newfound understanding” between them, Yang Kang left to find food for his teacher. While he was away, Ouyang Ke came to attack Mei Chaofeng with his snakes, however, Huang Yaoshi came to save her and took her away. YK came back to find dead snakes and his shifu gone. Some Mongols attacked him but he could get away.

Wong Yung helped Mei Chaofeng readmitted back to the school... Ep 23

Meanwhile, WY and GJ saw Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi (Wong Yeuk Si, Cantonese) having a friendly duel. Later, WY introduced GJ to her dad. To appease her dad, she even called her “father”. Mr Wong later forgave Mei Chaofeng as well. However, he still hit GJ, which made GJ receiving hugs from Huazheng, which later made WY jealous. WY smashed things inside her room, and Mr Wong helped her smashing things (this father/daughter is so funny). GJ finally told Huazheng that he wanted to be with Wong Yung. Huazheng almost committed suicide in front of Wong Yung, which made the Han girl left GJ with her dad.

Old Heretic and his little demoness, Ep 23

Ep 24: after a series of drinking frenzy, Guo Jing finally left Tuloi (he was to be Kublai Khan’s father, apparently, this Mongol Prince!) and Huazheng, but Wong Yung’s boat has departed. Then we saw Yang Kang being captured by Mongolians by the order of Tuloi, being forced to drink poison and being dragged behind the horse (for real, Michael was dragged behind the horse! Or was it his double?). He then escaped the Mongols and arrived in a town where he stole bread because he was very hungry. He was chased by the mob and randomly hid in a house. As Fate decreed (or as Jin Yong decreed), Mu Nianci lived in that house. She took care of Yang Kang. He woke up, so surprised to see Nianci there, and threw away the porridge she made him. He yelled, asking why she was so nice to him, while because of him, Mr and Mrs Yang died. Tearfully, Yang Kang then said he regretted being tempted by wealth, for had he been stronger, his parents would still be alive and then he’d be married to Nianci already. 

I do feel that Yang Kang was sincere at this stage, Ep 24

Ah these two lovebirds...(Ep 24)

Unexpectedly, Guo Jing arrived asking for shelter (cos all inns were full). GJ was happy to see Nianci, but he was surprised to see an injured Yang Kang there. YK himself shoved a sword at GJ, telling him to avenge his anger at him. Knowing that YK was poisoned by the Mongols, GJ then departed to Tuloi’s palace to ask for an antidote, despite YK’s yelling at him, asking why he and Nianci were so nice to him. 

Because they are nice people, Yang Kang...

Later, realising that he might live, Yang Kang then promised Nianci that he'd marry her once he recovered. I do believe he was sincere here.

I don't think he was lying here. It wasn't a sweet talk...

Yet, Tuloi refused to help and he imprisoned GJ instead. After Yang Kang trying to run away to escape her, Nianci was left with the only other option; i.e. transfusing her own blood to Yang Kang, despite the fact that she’d be poisoned instead due to the blood transfer.

Ep 25: Nianci left after curing Yang Kang for she didn’t want him to feel guilty. Guo Jing finally arrived after Huazheng freed him and gave him the antidote. GJ arrived back at Nianci’s house to find Yang Kang awoke with guilt, for he was unconscious when Nianci transferred her blood to him. Since GJ had the antidote, Yang Kang then left with the antidote to find Nianci, but he was too weak. Guo Jing then left on his behalf, after Yang Kang thanked him (the first thank? The only thank...? at least there was gratitude). 

GJ found Nianci just in time to prevent her from committing suicide. Nianci took the antidote, then asked GJ to tell YK that she’d be waiting for Yang Kang at the Flower Pavilion with one condition: that YK gave up the status of the Prince of Jin. GJ conveyed the message to YK, who hesitated. GJ was furious and told his sworn brother that Nianci had sacrificed herself for him, so how could he be so hesitant?! (I’m angry too!). GJ also told YK that his lust for wealth had caused his mother’s demise, so he better not made the wrong decision this time! Yang Kang then left for the pavilion, but he saw Wanyan Honglie and cronies looking for him. He originally left secretly to see Nianci, but he then remembered the wealth and status (and a bit of care) that Wanyan Honglie gave him... then he ran back to his dad.

Noooooooooo!!!

Giving up on Yang Kang, Nianci and I cried together... 

God... if only letting go of a charming bastard is that easy... poor Nianci... (Ep 25)

Although to be fair to Yang Kang, he wasn't thinking of abdicating his royal status when he promised to marry Nianci... (shut up and stop defending him, Miss!)

Wong Yung was having a luck tho with her love, for Guo Jing found her. However, Ouyang Ke and Liang Ziweng also found them, such that they had to run away. Ouyang Ke and Liang Ziweng chased them and demanded them to show up. However, another couple showed up instead (they were having some romantic rendezvous behind the bush nearby WY/GJ. Later, WY/GJ found the couple again. They were Lu Guanying (Austin Wai! Austin Wai! The CLH 1984 Chuen Yung Yat Dim Hung Austin Wai!!) and Cheng Yaojia, who had to secretly meet every time for fear that their father and teacher would be mad with them dating. 

Lu Guanying (Austin Wai) secretly dating Miss Cheng Yaojia, Ep 25

Wong Yung must have seen too many dramas!!.

After Miss Cheng left, Lu Guanying (Luk Kunying Cantonese) took off with his boat, only to realise that the naughty Wong Yung and Guo Jing were in the boat. They then had lunch together. Young Master Lu apparently would have a contest soon, so of course WY wouldn’t miss it. She was right not to miss it, for Lu Guanying was actually facing his lover Miss Cheng. Due to their hesitance, their relationship was found out during the duel. Miss Cheng was escorted back by her teacher, while Guo Jing and Wong Yung returned Master Lu to his mansion. Lu Guanying was later scolded and beaten by his father (the actor who played Sit Yi Yan in CLH 1984). Wong Yung was suspicious because the mansion’s configuration and garden were the exact replica of Peach Blossom Island. They trespassed the garden successfully into the inner chamber and met the Old Master Lu.

Ep 26: The Lu family apparently was a family of noble thieves who stole for the poor; like Robin Hood and Chor Lau Heung. That night, after his father received WY and GJ, Lu Guanying and his men attacked Duan Tiande who was trying to bribe Yang Kang (who was decked as the Prince once more). YK couldn’t bother with the pearls and gold, he just wanted a map of the Song army supplies. Guanying attacked and captured YK, who later escaped but defeated again by the Old Master Lu. Mu Nianci came out of nowhere to rescue YK, and fell for his sweet talks again. Okay, I love their love story, but I hate it that YK always sweet talked his way out instead of just being honest. I mean, if he wanted to join the Jin Empire, we can discuss about it (perhaps because the Songs were full of corruptors back then?). Calling Wanyan Honglie “father”, I can understand too, for YK also eventually called Yang Tiexin “father”. But lying to your lover repeatedly like that? Yang Kang, you need to grow up!

Still, Nianci left to find Mei Chaofeng, who later came to rescue YK. Inside the Cloud Manor (the Lu Mansion), she met the Seven Freaks (who just happened to be there out of a misunderstanding) and Mr Lu, who was actually her cohort at the Peach Island Academy of Martial Arts (hehehe). There was a little Peach Island School of 13^th CE reunion inside the Cloud Manor, as Mei lamented her fate and Lu Chengfeng was surprised to learn that Mei’s lover had died ages ago. By the way, Lu Chengfeng was crippled because Mr Wong (Huang Yaoshi) was livid that Mei and Chen stole his manuscript (hence he broke the legs of his disciples, charmer!). In the end, Mei still demanded Lu to release Yang Kang.

Ep 27: Lu Chengfeng finally released Yang Kang. However, when his son asked whether Duan Tiande should be released as well, Wong Yung told them that Tiande caused the demise of Guo Jing’s father. The heroes then set up an altar with Guo Tiaoxian and Yang Tiexin’s tablets, and told Yang Kang how Tiande was responsible for the Guo-Yang demise.

Wait, so all those days together, Mr and Mrs Yang never told YK that Wanyan Honglie paid Duan Tiande to attack the Niu Village? Like, Yang Kang really didn’t know that Honglie paid someone to attack his parents’ village?

Yang Kang after killing Duan Tiande, Ep 27

Anyway, realising this, YK killed Tiande on the spot. This action gained approval from the Seven Freaks and Guo Jing (Wong Yung still held her reservations, of course). YK and GJ later held a sworn-brothers ceremony. But then YK left for “Niu Village”, but he actually returned to Yanjing (the capital of Jin). GJ was of course disappointed to learn about this. But he didn’t have a lot of time to be sad, because he and WY had to help Lu Guanying and Cheng Yaojia to be together. 

About this later couple, the smart WY devised a plan, involving her becoming a servant in the Cheng household (because her “husband died”), and became the match maker between Young Master Lu and Miss Cheng. She even brought the game up a level by having Miss Cheng attacked by Ouyang Ke’s snake (actually just a common snake, where GJ pretended to be Ouyang Ke). Total Wong Yung fest during this episode; she’s just so too cute!!

The busybody "servant" Wong Yung helping Yaojia, Ep 27

Ep 28: WY’s trick got Guanying and Yaojia married. However, during the ceremony, Sun Bat Yi (Canto; Sun Bu’er for Mandarin; she’s Yaojia’s teacher) and Taoist Qiu Chuji (both from the Quanzhen Sect) barged in. Both Taoist masters had just returned from the White Camel Mt and received testament from Ouyang Ke that this time he didn’t have anything to do with Yaojia’s snake poisoning. A fight broke, Yaojia ran away and fell into a valley; Taoist Qiu and Guanying were too late to rescue her. Guanying later drowned his sorrows in wine. Miss Cheng was of course still alive, rescued by Huang Yaoshi himself. After listening to her story, the Old Heretic took her back and confronted his old disciple. Old Master Lu was very happy to see his teacher again, and that he’d forgiven him. Old Master Lu then immediately approved of the marriage between Guanying and Yaojia. However, Huang Yaoshi himself didn’t approve of the marriage between his own daughter and Guojing. He left for the island with Wong Yung, leaving Guo Jing sad, drowned in wine. Later, Huazheng found GJ and talked some senses with him.

Yung-yi and Daddy on the island, Ep 29

Ep 29: GJ went to Peach Blossom Island and was trapped between Peach branches. He was then indirectly rescued by WY, then he took refuge in a cave where he met Zhou Botong, the eldest of the Quanzhen Sect who had been trapped inside the island for 15 years. GJ and Zhou became sworn brothers, then GJ met WY, who took him to see her mother who had been either dead or hybernated for at least 10 years inside an underground ice cave. Later, Ouyang Feng and his nephew Ouyang Ke arrived on the island to ask for Wong Yung’s hand in marriage (for the nephew). Hong Qigong arrived in time to assist WY deflecting Ouyang Ke’s proposal.

Ep 30: Huang Yaoshi decided to hold a contest of three tests to decide between Guo Jing and Ouyang Ke. Guo Jing finally won. 

Yung-yi and Daddy, Ep 30

However, Ouyang Feng had another agenda; he tried to steal the Jin Yin manuscript from Huang Yaoshi by capturing Guo Jing.

Interim impressions:

Well, I can see why people are ambivalent towards Yang Kang. This charming bastard is indeed scheming and rather wishy washy... but he oddly also had that weird filial stroke within him. He truly cared for his shifu Mei Chaofeng, in a twisted way. He still loved his foster father, but he regretted the wrongdoings he did that brought the demise of his birth parents. He killed Duan Tiande without a blink when he realised that this cockroach was also responsible for his parents’ demise. Yang Kang loved Nianci, he was very worried when he woke up after his injuries and found Nianci gone... yet he still broke promises after promises he made. When next time YK said, “After all this time, you still don’t trust me?” (and he surely would!), Nianci should reply with, “Yeah, give me one example where you actually showed that you could be trusted!”

But that would Wong Yung’s reply, not Nianci’s... Not that Wong Yung would ever trust Yang Kang anyway!

Speaking of Wong Yung, she definitely grew up in the last 10 episodes; tho I think the way she stole Hong Qigong’s clothes were a tad mean. She was very funny, and I agree with Tammy et al that the reason this series was fun to watch was because of her interactions with Guo Jing. I should add that WY’s interactions with the Old Heretic (her dad), Hong Qigong and Zhou Botong were gold! No wonder Barbara’s interactions with Sit Siu Yan (CLH 1984) and Supreme Master (FD 1984) were very natural; they’ve worked together before in LOCH 1982...

I also love Wong Yung’s clothes and hair. I now wish that Siu Ching had her hair styled like that, for it definitely shows the ample volume of hair that Wong Yung had. But perhaps, if SC’s hair was like WY’s, then people got a bit confused whether she was WY or SC...

Now, here’s the thing. Regarding the romance between WY and Guo Jing, I still haven’t got the vibe. You can tell that from the very fleeting summaries that I wrote for the WY/GJ scenes. I don’t hate the couple; I really agree that they’re cute together. As I said before in one of my comments: “I think WY isn't compatible with Yang Kang here in this series; YK do need someone like Mu Nianci (which is so much like Mother Bao in character) to bring up his good side. With someone like Wong Yung, Yang Kang would just rebel more, cos he disliked being told what to do.”

Still, I haven’t got that butterfly feelings in my stomach whenever I watched the WY/GJ scenes. I laughed alright, particularly when WY was pretending that GJ was dead; she was so funny there! But I still see them as friends instead of lovers...

Perhaps there are couples whose chemistry is more of friendly instead of hot and fluttery (as in, giving the butterfly feelings inside the stomach)... and to me WY and GJ are one of them. And nothing wrong with that.

And don’t hate me for this please. I do think WY and GJ are compatible in LOCH 1982. I just don’t find their chemistry sizzling. It went so far that I watched eps 2-4 of CLH 1984 (scene-jumping to CLH/SSC scenes) after finishing LOCH ep 30, and I was smiling like a moron to see CLH flirting and arguing with SSC in those scenes. Sigh.

I have no doubt that Barbara Yung and Felix Wong were good friends back then. I’m not advocating otherwise, nor that I said that WY/GJ are not compatible (I think they are, but without the sizzling chemistry I personally like). But now I have a totally biased hunch that, off screen, Babs might be getting cosy with Michael as well, and the film makers caught this chemistry between them, hence they were later cast for four series as a couple.

Regarding the late Austin Wai, it was refreshing to see him in this series not as a depressed ex-assassin, but as a somewhat normal Young Master, whose only problem was that he and his lover were not able to be together. Austin looked fine in this fineries...However, I do have to say, Guanying didn't look so happily surprised when Yaojia returned after being presumed dead. I mean, he was happy, but the surprised look on his face to see the love of his life returned from dead was not enough, at least to me. Had it been Michael who played Guanying, he'd put at least 10 different emotions in those few seconds upon realising Yaojia's return... just like Chor Lau Heung's multifaceted emotions when he thought Siu Ching had arrived on the boat. But I guess, that's why we have Michael playing the multi-faceted Yang Kang instead...

Am I being mean by saying this about the late Austin Wai? I hope not. I think he was adorable... I just find Guanying's reactions towards Yaojia's return a bit too simple...

I will try to steer away from the chemistry discussion for the next round, and focus more on the story development. I do find the politics between the Jurchens, the Mongols and the Songs back then quite interesting (but yes, full of bloodshed, sadly). Oh, and I want to buy “The Secret History of the Mongol Queens”, I think it must be a very interesting read!