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Reviewed by hkopinions Rating 4 stars
Cast
Benny Chan
Annie Man
Evergreen Mak
Tavia Yeung
Intro
Finally, TVB releases another fantasy type series. "Whatever It Takes" is a series with fantasy, love, and politics. It is quite funny and is suited for everyone especially Benny-Annie fans. Annie is a goddess and her job is to protect the Tang Dynasty from collapse by protecting this magical dragon pearl. By accident, Annie gets stuck in the magical pearl causing the Tang Dynasty to go into chaos. This allows the first female to rule, Empress Wu. Empress Wu collected powers and took control of the government. She then went on to execute all officials who did not support her and also sought the death of her own families. Benny is a prince but because of Empress Wu's ambitions, he is taken away. He is adopted by a poor peasant family. Benny grows up with a brother, Evergreen, and his family. Evergreen and Benny are very different. Evergreen is greedy and uncaring while Benny is good-hearted. They both fall in love with the same girl, Tavia Yeung, but Tavia Yeung only likes Benny. By chance Benny frees Annie and now Annie is in search for the rightful heir to the Tang throne, who is Benny.
Benny Chan
Benny performs much better in ancient series than modern. Probably it is because he looks better in ancient costumes. He gave a good portrayal and also had great chemistry with Annie.
Annie Man
Of course, Annie did a great job. I am glad she is playing lead in this series. She looks very beautiful in ancient costumes. Scenes with Benny and Annie are really funny because the two act very weird towards each other. I am glad that after "Burning Flames II", TVB decided to start promoting Annie. Good idea!
Evergreen Mak
Evergreen's performance is nothing spectacular. I would say he is average. I think he is better as a good guy than a villain. Whenever he is on screen, I feel a sudden urge to hit him. Either that is good acting or I just do not like him as an actor. He did such a good job in Love is Beautiful that it is hard to see why he did not do a good job here. Maybe TVB needs to give him a part that does not downplay his talent.
Best supporting actor
none
Best supporting actress
Tavia Yeung
Best villain portrayal
none
Watch it or forget it This series is funny and Annie's performance outshines everyone else. The storyline is a little confusing especially the ending. The series seems to end to quickly and the fantasy ideals just were too confusing. TVB should have made the series a couple episodes longer and extended the ending. Maybe some more explanations will do. However, any Annie or Benny fan would definitely watch this series.
A little history
The series had many bad depictions of history. It portrayed Empress Wu as a kindhearted woman who did wrong because of a demon. In actuality, Empress Wu was T'ai-tsung's concubines. When T'ai-tsung's son, Kao-tsung, came to the throne in 649 AD, he allowed her to dominate the court. She was given the title empress and then when Kao-tsung lost his eyesight in 660, she took over the court permanently. After the emperor's death, Empress Wu deposed her two sons from succession and in 690 AD, she took the throne as the first female emperor of China. According to the series, Empress Wu did not order the slaughter of her children and grandchildren. In actuality, she did. After taking the throne, Empress Wu gave government positions to loyal officials and stiped the titles away from the real ruling family, the Li. In the series, Empress Wu gave her throne away happily but in actuality, Empress Wu was froced to abdicate at the age of eighty in 705 by the Li family. In the series, Empress Wu died after putting the pearl back into the dragon's mouth. Her son came to the throne and ruled only for a while before his son, Hsuan-tsung, came to the throne. Benny Chan is the emperor Hsuan-tsung, after his grandmother died. He was a gifted man and ruled wisely in his youth. He presided over the T'ang dynasty at its golden age. He built schools, temples, and stopped foreign invasions. In the last years of Hsuan-tsung's reign, the T'ang dynasty plummented. This fits with the series. Benny lost Annie because she had to return to heaven to be a goddess again. She told him in a dream that she has a new mission and gave him a bracelet to remember her by. According to the series, Benny was no more than 22 years old at that time. He took the throne in 712 AD but the series had Benny never marry again because of Annie. This was false. The real Hsuan-tsung had over 3000 wives. In the series, Benny never forgot Annie. After many years, when Benny was at least 40 years old, his brother, Evergreen, chose some women for him to be his wife. When Benny saw the list, he knew that one of the woman was Annie. Annie shows up late. She is the hated, Lady Yang, who causes the fall of the dynasty. Benny and Annie are reunited. Annie's new mission was to become Benny's wife and cause him to forget his people and cause the fall of the dynasty. That just doesn't seem right because Annie deserved better. According to history, in 745 AD, the emperor became infauated by a concubine named Lady Yang. Her relatives were given high postions and the court was soon ran by them. The emperor lost dedication to his work and spent time with her enumerously. In 750 AD, a chieftain rebelled causing war. In 755, Lady Yang's favorite, An Lu-shan, rebelled leaving T'ang demoralized and his chaos. The An Lu-shan rebellion caused the emperor and his court to flee into Szechwan. In the end, Lady Yang was denounced and strangle. Hsuan-tsung did not want to kill her but he had to because of the problems. He then abdicated and gave his throne to a son. Lady Yang was then blamed for the fall of one of the most powerful dynasty in China. Wow! Annie did all that. I never thought Benny deserved her because he never trusted and he caused her death.
Related series/ movies
"Gods of Honor" (Benny Chan)
"Colorful Life" (Annie Man)
"Vampire Master" (Annie Man)
"The Legend of Lady Yang" (this series portrays the life of Lady Yang)
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