Moonlight Resonance (Traditional Chinese: 溏心風暴之家好月圓) is a 2008 grand production HDTV drama by TVB. It is a spiritual sequel to 2007's award-winning series, Heart of Greed featuring most of the original cast members. The series is written and edited by Cheung Wah-biu and Sit Ga-wah. Sponsored by Kee Wah Bakery, the series began broadcast on 28 July 2008. It stars Louise Lee, Ha Yu, Michelle Yim, Susanna Kwan, Moses Chan, Raymond Lam and Linda Chung.Xinhuanet.com. "Xinhuanet.com." 溏心風暴之家好月圓劇情介紹. Retrieved 2009-10-30. Its final episode was one of the highest rated TVB episodes in the 2000s decade at 50 points. The series was met with critical acclaim, with praise to the intense plot, excellent performances by the cast, and moving storyline. It went on to receive various awards and is one of the highest-rated TVB series in viewership in the 2000s.Yahoo.com. "Yahoo.com ." 家好月圓08最強 315萬觀眾為港劇爭口氣. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
Plot
Chung Siu-Hor discovers her husband Gan Tai-Cho's affair with their employee Yan-Hung, leading to their divorce. Yan-Hung and Tai-Cho take over the successful Moonlight Bakery, while Siu-Hor struggles with her own bakery. Yan-Hung manipulates the family for years, causing strife.
After a miscarriage, Yan-Hung blames Wing-Yuen, manipulating him further. Siu-Hor's sister, Siu-Sa, attempts to sue for the bakery's name but loses. Wing-Ka overcomes his stock market addiction and falls for his cousin Ka Mei.
So-Sum abandons her feelings for Wing-Ho for Dr. Ling Chi Shun, who is already in a relationship. Despite complications, So-Sum and Wing-Ho eventually reunite. Ka Mei's relationship with Wing-Yuen ends when she has an abortion due to uncertainty about the baby's paternity.
Wing-Ho encourages So-Sum to find a job, leading to her meeting Kelvin, who they eventually marry despite initial opposition from his mother. Wing-Chung, sent to England as a child, dislikes school and is allowed to drop out by Siu-Hor.
Yan-Hung's jealousy leads her to legal action, attempting to seize 90% of the family assets. She murders Gwan-Lai to prevent evidence gathering but is eventually exposed by Ka Mei for the murder. Yan-Hung is convicted and sentenced, with Tai-Cho promising her shares upon her release.
In the end, Yan-Hung, living in New Zealand, refuses her shares and approves of So-Sum and Wing-Ho's relationship, while Wing Ka and Hou Yuet are happily married.
Production
Development TVB's 2007 series, Heart of Greed, was successful enough to commission this series. In June 2007, Louise Lee presented on the Heart of Greed (溏心) chatroom that the producers had already begun to write another series with the same actors but a different story line. Details about the new series were leaked by the media in October 2007 and Lau Kar Ho, the director, writer and producer of the series, vowed to catch the person who leaked this information because few people knew about the new series. The sales presentation clip was released on 19 November 2007. The clip gave clues about the new series which featured Michelle Yim as the new villain and a mooncake business instead of the abalone business in Heart of Greed. New cast members included Kate Tsui, Lee Heung Kam, Vincent Wan and Wayne Lai.
On 28 January 2008, the cast celebrated their kick-off in filming, which included a costume fitting. Lee, Raymond Lam and Fala Chen had to attend baking lessons in order for them to film baking scenes realistically. Filming commenced on 14 February 2008, where Lee, Lai and Lam were the first to shoot at a bakery. The main cast and Lau Kar Ho celebrated the blessing ceremony of the series on 7 March 2008. The release of its official trailer was aired at the Shanghai Television Festival on 11 June. Principal filming ended on 1 July 2008, and its official English title was revealed. TVB officially began promotional and advertising work on the series on 5 July 2008, with an advertisement being aired followed up with its official website being released on 8 July 2008.
Music The opening theme song for the series Mo Sam Hoi Ni (無心害你) was performed by Susanna Kwan, while the ending song Ai Bu Kau (愛不疚) was performed by Raymond Lam and was featured in his album Your Love.Yesasia.com. "Yesasia.com." Love TV. Retrieved 2009-01-23.Yesasia.com. "Yesasia.com." Raymond Lam Your Love. Retrieved 2009-01-23. The ending theme was nominated as one of the top-10 song of the 31st RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards. A featured song for the series entitled "Ice Cream (Talk to Me)"Yesasia.com. "Yesasia.com." Strawberry love cd. Retrieved 2009-01-23. was written and produced by London-based production team DNR DNR who are better known as The Slips.
Casting dilemma Wayne Lai was originally cast as the character who would eventually become the husband for Susanna Kwan's character. However, Lai explained on the celebrity talk show Be My Guest that due to health problems, the role was offered to Louis Yuen instead. Lai took over the part of the baker Nin Tze Yung, which Yuen was originally assigned to.
Cast
Chung Household Cast Role Nicknames Description AgeChow Chung Chung Fan Tat鍾泛達 Uncle Tat (達叔), Grandpa (公公)Father of Chung Siu HorFoster father of Chung Siu Sa80Shirley YeungChung Siu Hor鍾笑荷 MaMa Hor (荷媽), Fei Yeh (肥嘢), Sister Hor (荷姐)Mother of Kam Wing Ka, Kam Wing Ho, Kam Wing Yuen, Kam Wing Hing, Kam Wing Chung, adopted mother of Suen Ho Yuet, stepmother to Yue So Sum53Louise LeeSusanna Kwan Chung Siu Sa鍾笑莎 Auntie Sa (Sa姨), Ah Sa (阿Sa), Lor Por (攞婆), SaSa, SalinaMother of Lo Ka MeiWife of Yuen Yan Tsz45Louis Yuen Yuen Yan Tsz袁恩賜 Yan Tsz (恩賜), PaPaHusband of Chung Siu Sa40Raymond Lam Kam Wing Ho甘永好 Steward Boy (管家仔), Ah Ho (阿好), Cake Selling Boy (賣餅仔), Sat Ah Yan (撒亞人), Beng Sui (餅碎)Husband of Yue So SumEx-boyfriend Fong Shu Ting26Tavia Yeung Suen Ho Yuet孫皓月 Ah Yuet (阿月), Lor Lui (攞女/裸女), QuotaWife of Kam Wing KaAdopted daughter of Chung Siu Hor24Fala Chen Kam Wing Hing甘永慶 Ah Hing (阿慶), Mute Girl (啞女), Ah Wing (阿 Wing)Wife of Cheng Ka Lok21Dexter Young Cheng Ka Lok鄭家樂 Ah Lok (阿樂), Ka Lok (家樂), KelvinHusband of Kam Wing HingKate Tsui Lo Ka Mei路嘉美 Ka Mei (嘉美), Tong Shan Tai Hing (唐山大兄), CamieWife of Kam Wing Yuen Ex-girlfriend of Kam Wing Ka 22Mary Hon Kuen娟 鄭太太，親家Mother of Cheng Ka LokMother-in-law of Kam Wing HingLily Leung Old Mrs Yuen袁老太No nickname specified Mother of Yuen Yan TszMother-in-law of Chung Siu Sa
Kam Household Cast Role Nicknames Description AgeLee Heung-kam Sheh Kwan Lai佘君麗 Lai Lai (奶奶), Grandmother (嫲嫲), Old Mrs Kam (甘老太), Sheh Tai Kwan (佘太君)Mother of Kam Tai Cho, Kam Tai ChuenMother-in-law of Yan Hung76Jack WuKam Tai Cho甘泰祖 Papa Cho (Jo飽), Ah Cho (阿祖)Father of Kam Wing Ka, Kam Wing Ho, Kam Wing Yuen, Kam Wing Hing, Kam Wing Chung, stepfather to Yue So Sum, adopted father of Suen Ho Yuet57Ha YuMichelle Yim Yan Hung殷紅 Sister Hung (紅姐), Auntie Hung (紅姨), Ah Hung (阿紅), Wu Lei Jing (狐狸精), Iron Hung (鐵人紅)Ex-Wife of Kam Tai Cho(Main villain) 46Moses Chan Kam Wing Ka甘永家 Ja Gu (揸沽), Ah Ka (阿卡), Kam Jung (甘總)Husband of Suen Ho YuetEx-boyfriend of Lo Ka Mei 28Chris Lai Kam Wing Yuen甘永圓 Ah Yuen (阿圓)Husband of Lo Ka Mei22Vincent Wan Kam Wing Chung甘永中 Chung Jai (中仔), Boon Mun Mang (半文盲) 20Linda Chung Yue So Sum于素心 Yue So Tsau (于素秋), Cindy, Sum Nui (心女), Princess Athena (雅典娜公主), Steward Woman (管家婆), Ah Tsau (阿秋)Wife of Kam Wing HoEx Girlfriend of Ling Chi-Shun25Alice Fung So-bor Sheh Lai Mui佘麗梅 Ah Mui (阿梅)Younger sister of Sheh Kwan LaiLee Shing-cheong Mak Yau Kung麥友恭 Biu Suk Kung (表叔恭) Ah Kung (阿恭)Son of Sheh Lai Mui(Semi-villain)Man Yeung Ching Wah Kam Tai Chuen甘泰全 No nickname specifiedSon of Sheh Kwan LaiLiu Lai Lai Mrs. Bik碧姐 No nickname specified Lee Kong Lung Kuen權 No nickname specified
Others Cast Role Nicknames Description AgeBosco Wong Ling Chi-Shun凌至信 Ah Shun (阿信), Ling-B (凌B), Gor Gor (哥哥), Dr. Ling Ex Boyfriend of Yue So Sum, Boyfriend of Yau Wing Lam 27Wayne Lai Nin Tsz Yung年子勇 Lin Chi Yung (蓮子容) Worked for Mama Hor, but later left to live with his sister. 43Zhong Xin Ling Yau Wing Lam邱詠琳 Wing Lam (詠琳) Girlfriend of Ling Chi Shun Tracy Ip Fong Shu Ting方舒婷 Ting-Ting (婷婷)Ex-girlfriend of Kam Wing Ho Carrie Lam Fong Shu Wing方舒詠 No nickname specified Angelina Lo Mrs Fong No nickname specified Mother of Fong Shu Ting, Fong Shu WingLam Suet Yue Hak Keung于克強 Ah Keung (阿強), Oiled Face Keung (面油強)(semi-villain) Johnny Tang Cheung Chi Yin張至賢 No nickname specifiedEx-boyfriend of Suen Ho Yuet Ellesmere Choi Wong Hiu Lung黃曉龍 No nickname specified
Characters
The Elders Gan Tai Cho - Tai Cho is a loving and witty man. In 1996, he was tricked by his employee Yan Hung into having an affair with her, which causes his and Siu Hor's happy marriage to abruptly end. Although for 10 years he did not really care about Hor, he is always worried about his children and tries his best to spend time with them. During the series, Cho admits his mistakes, asks all the children for their forgiveness, and tries to make it up to Hor. Soon, Cho and Hor go through a lot together and memories of their past together resurface. After many long years, Cho finally gets the confidence to stand up to Hung, and during the two-hour finale, he officially reunites with Hor. Chung Siu Hor - Hor is an honest, kind, independent and loving woman. Although very uncompassionate to Hung, Hor is very loving to Cho, even after he had an affair, stole the bakery name, and forcefully took three of the children. In the beginning of the series, we see Hor and her children struggling to maintain the bakery, getting by with just enough to spare. Although Hor spends much time managing the bakery, she also puts a great deal of time into raising her children and caring for her father. She is very admired by her children, including the children who followed Cho. She is very happy when Cho finally admits his mistakes and happily agrees to remarry him when he gets a chance. Yan Hung - Hung is a petty, greedy, cunning, and dishonest woman. She started out as a young worker from the countryside with no knowledge of urban technology (like the telephone). Eventually she found her way to the Moonlight Bakery and found work there as a dish washer. As time passed, Hung became better educated and became one of Moonlight Bakery's most talented and well-loved employees. It was Hung who started the affair with Cho and caused the Kam household to split up. Once Cho and Hor are divorced, Hong deliberately manipulated the family by fueling arguments between the two sides. She also steals the Moonlight Bakery trademark, and with Cho, expands the bakery throughout Hong Kong, making over one billion Hong Kong dollars. After Cho and Hor patch things up with each other and Jo gets back in touch with his children, Hong continually tries to keep him away from Hor's family. Hong even kills her mother in law when she tries to reveal all the bad things Hung has done. Eventually Hung is arrested and sent to jail for manslaughter. Yu So Sum, more commonly known as Yu So Tsau, is Hung's daughter from her first husband.