“Brother’s Keeper” Recycles Lost Brother Plot
Two half-brothers, who were separated for years, meet again under improbable circumstances. Brother’s Keeper <巨輪> premiered on September 23 with a fast-paced plot in which Edwin Siu (蕭正楠) is kidnapped by his elder brother, Ruco Chan (陳展鵬). Although viewers groaned at the recycled plot of lost siblings in the first episode, it set the stage for the brothers’ conflict and offered a glimpse into Ruco’s fascinating character, who possesses questionable values despite being a former policeman.
The drama opens in present day, in which Law Wai Shun (Edwin Siu) has already become a wealthy businessman in Macau. However, he has not forgotten about his elder half-brother, Kiu Tin Sang (Ruco Chan) and hopes to find his whereabouts. One day, while dropping off Rachel Cheuk (Linda Chung 鍾嘉欣) at the airport, Wai Shun and Rachel were seized by kidnappers.
From one of the kidnapper’s scars on his hand, Wai Shun was alarmed to discover that his brother is part of the kidnapping scheme. Although Wai Shun and Rachel escape successfully from the kidnappers, Wai Shun refused to reveal to the police that one of the kidnappers was actually Tin Sang.
Through a series of flashbacks, the drama will unfold and tell the brothers’ life stories over the last two decades, while incorporating historical events such as Hong Kong’s touch base policy and Macau’s relaxed immigration and financial turmoil, as the key plot vehicles that drive the changing fates of the brothers and their families.
Tin Sang, Wai Shun, and their mother Chow Yuk Mui (Louise Lee 李司棋) were Foshan refugees who attempt to start better lives in Hong Kong. Wai Shun and Yuk Mui were intercepted and ended up living in Macau. Although separated from his family, Tin Sang obtains Hong Kong citizenship and became a policeman. With greed to attain more, Tin Sang seduces wealthy heiress, Favio (Ankie Beilke 貝安琪) and even becomes involved with the triad.
Wai Shun started from humble beginnings in Macau, but through hard work and perseverance, and with the help of Yiu Man Ying (Kristal Tin 田蕊妮) and wealthy heir Lung Fei (Louis Yuen 阮兆祥), Wai Shun made great strides in his career.
Producer’s Take on the Characters
Producer Amy Wong (王心慰) spoke of the characters, “Ruco’s character is both good and evil. In the beginning, he tried to bring his brother Edwin from Foshan to Hong Kong but unfortunately, only he could get the citizenship. Edwin had to follow his mother Louise to Macau. Edwin was envious that his brother, Ruco could study in Hong Kong and become a policeman and he had to be a hawker, selling sweets. But he has culinary talents. Through their struggles, the two brothers experienced various difficulties. Ruco’s journey through life was full of struggles, but he also has his own bottom line. Edwin’s life was relatively simple. Although he sometimes does not agree with Ruco’s work ethics, he managed to achieve success so he ended up being more fortunate than Ruco.”
Besides the two lead actors, the development of the other roles are also outstanding. The relationship shared by good friends, Kristal, Louis, and Edwin is particularly heartwarming. Kristal’s loyal, tomboyish role will have a love relationship with Edwin. Louis’ role provides the comic relief for the drama.
Linda Chung’s Rachel Cheuk is the eldest daughter of Lau Wai Kuen, the third wife of the wealthy Cheuk family. On the surface, she is a rich man’s daughter but in reality, she has no status at home and has to rely on her own hard work to change her fate.
Veteran actress Louise’s story in the show is also rather melodramatic. After meeting, Joseph Lee (李國麟), she gave birth to Ruco. But Joseph had no intention to marry her so she left for Foshan. Then she got to know Lau Kong (劉江) and gave birth to Edwin, giving rise to the intricate relationship between the three of them.
Sources: Apple Daily; Ming Pao
This article is written by Karen for JayneStars.com.
They need to do more comedy. All the series are so serious. Bring the simple comedy back.
“Brother’s Keeper” is not a comedic drama series. Thank goodness! I don’t like those stupid gags.
agree, i don’t like those funny gags….
According to some news articles that I have read onine, TVB will produce more comedic & modern drama series in the future and less of the serious ones. Really not looking forward it
They should also stop those costume / ancient series. So tired and sick of them.
Serious dramas don’t do well because they’re not very good at making them intense and intriguing!
You guys like drama for your mama series then. Hahah
TVB has the worst comedy productions their humor isn’t funny at all. I rather they do series without that humor.
Um, no…TVB hasn’t made a decent comedy in years, so I don’t have any confidence that they will be able to make a good one now. I’d rather watch a dramatic series than some lame ‘trying too hard to be funny’ slapstick comedy farce.
Please don’t bring back TVB comedies, ugh!
Also, please kill the “Love Triangle” fever that seems to be sweeping into plots. If a guy or girl has an affair, just leave it as a one night stand.
Pls read the actual plot of A Change of Time here
http://www.spcnet.tv/TVB-Series/The-Change-of-Time-review-r1704.html#.UkezP4bil8F
Other than 2 half brothers being the central characters, the plot is totally different.
Of course his series will be fast past it tells a story of 33 years
they try to bring back Alex Man TVB drama style…
but Alex Man Chi-leung (萬梓良) is the unique and the only
he surely looks unique these days…
LOL!
Hahahaha!!!
Have you seen Alex Man recently? What a joke.
alex man who? the overacting douche who make a sob story about sick with disease but later got caught red handed cheating his wife and kid and partying with hostesses wildly?
never liked alex man’s overacting in series and whatever little respect i had for this alex man douche has went down the drain the drain when he rather left his wife and kid at home during his sickness and party wildly with bar women outside. gross!
Haha Alex Man is so such a drama queen he will burst into tears upon seeing a hole in his socks.
Looking forward to this. How was the 1st episode by the way? Did it leave you wanting more?
I didn’t think the 1st ep was amazing. Heavy focus on Edwin.
i dont like edwin to lead a serie,he gives me to much a villain image,although he is co-lead but i like ruco more.
Based on the poster, looks like Edwin has a relationship with Kristal. Thank goodness! If it was a Edwin-Linda-Ruco triangle, TVB will butcher it for sure.
From the first episode, it looks like Edwin and Kristal are not a couple, more like business partners though she’s abviously in love with him; in fact Edwin considers Linda his g/f. I read somewhere that Kristal married Louis Yuen but from the trailer, we see Edwin and Kristal in wedding attire. My guess is that they never got married afterall.
Hmm … I feel Kristal is a bit old to be pairing with Edwin, and a bit old for the tomboyish, carefree admirer-of-Edwin role. She could be of the same age or younger than Edwin in real life … I don’t know … but she seems matured for Edwin in the drama.
Agree. Linda Chung is a better partner for Edwin Siu. Kristal Tin looks a bit too mature for Edwin.
Hmm, the characters chart on TVB website shows that Edwin likes Linda. So there must be some sort of a Ruco-Linda-Edwin triangle.
Edwin’s in love with Linda but her heart belongs to Ruco.
Its a good series ruco BA this year
The story plot is already boring. If it was a Edwin-Linda-Ruco triangle relationship, it will be much worse
Don’t watch the, we won’t miss you.
Don’t watch then, we won’t miss you.
If you don’t like don’t watch and stop complaining. Many of us here are absolutely enjoying Ruco’s impressive acting chops!
Its nothing to do with the series or anyone in it, but why cant someone watch and complain?
Extremely ridiculous when mydatewithspring who has just served several harsh complaints towards artists say “stop complaining”. Is s/he saying it to him/herself?
You’re basing that from reading just reading the plot and warning the first episode? Need to watch at least half to say how it is. Most of their series start out good but then in the middle towards the end is where e drama is all over the place.
Ruco’s great acting in the first episode already makes him the Best Actor winner this year, if only TVB will allow him to compete fairly.
How old are they supposed to be in the first episode/present time? Is it 50?
Also, when it was originally Moses cast in this series, did he originally have Ruco or Edwin’s role?
Shld be about 50 for Ruco and 40s for Edwin, Linda, Kristal and Louis. I read somewhere here that Moses was supposed to be the good brother but older than Ruco. When Edwin took over, the role was changed to younger brother. Going by this logic, Edwin shld be first male lead (which i hope not!) since i suppose tvb will give Moses first male lead. I dunno, maybe when Edwin took over, the script was re-written, since they don’t have completed scripts anyway at the time of casting.
Actually I found Edwin’s acting is quite good. He is quite versatile. Starting to like him. Ruco is handsome but I still not sure I like him that much as he looks a bit arrogant in my eyes… and the roles he played in the past did not really differ much in my opinion. Anyway, just saying… no hard feelings to Ruco’s fans! 🙂
@Ray Ruco’s a very nice person, i met him in person. Many of his fans are ardent supporters who attend almost all his appearances and send him off/ greet him at the airport. He can recognise those diehard fans. I think Edwin’s the one with a glib tongue who tries too hard to charm.
The age thing is so weird because there’s no way any of the leads look like they’re late 40s-early 50s in the present time.
It’s most likely that Ruco is billed as the first male lead since he’s the bigger star, but the series does seem to revolve more around Edwin since it’s the story of him opening up his bakery.
2AC, Kevin Cheng is 44 but looks late 30s at most 🙂 Anyway for men, 50 isn’t very old.
@AC, the story may revolve around Edwin but it’s Ruco who’s going to steal the show and the one whom viewers will tune in to watch. Honestly, the story abt how Edwin made his fortune is boring.
Hey, do realise that not everyone has watched each and every drama ever produced whether, by tvb or not. The storyline may be recyvled to some but to others like me who have not watched those original dramas, it is new to me. Furthermore, a new cast can bring new life to an old plot ( btw, just want to add, how many new plots can scriptwriters come up with? Almost everything is recycled in one way or another). Those who dont like so-called recycled plots have the option of not watching. I thought last night’s episode was pretty well paced though i’d love to see more of ruco than edwin. When ruco takes centrestage, i have no doubts that he will wow us with his acting. Yesterday’s brief appearance was just a sweetener for us who love his acting.
Ppl b about everything. Stop complaining. It’s free to watch, if u don’t like it don’t watch it. I haven’t watch the old series before. So what if everything is recycled.
Agree with you 🙂
Agree with you. The first episode was beautifully written and acted especially all of Ruco’s scenes. My only complain is the same here, I want more Ruco instead of Edwin. Edwin has no spark and charisma as a male lead and no doubt that Ruco will be the one who shines. I don’t get why TVB gives Edwin more screentime. Ruco’s character is much more challenging and exciting and Ruco is a much better acting.
Cat. Tsang is desperate to have more siu sangs in hand and that’s why she hard sells Edwin. From the recent promo fz, I can see that Ruco is being tuned down in order for Edwin to stand out. Tbb used to be UNFAIR to Ruco. He definitely deserves to win ba if Ms. Tsang has some conscience, and not just make use of him.
You’re right, but at the same time audience nowadays aren’t fools. Just look around and see how Ruco is the hot topic of discussion and the onw who is praised for his amazing acting skills and wonderful scene delivery when Edwin has most of the focus of the episode. Audience know better on who is the better actor. TVB might be using Ruco and underpromote him and won’t give him the best actor award he deserves but this mistreatment towards TVB’s only talented actor left who is Ruco won’t go down easily. We need to support Ruco because he’s the only one talented actor in TVB and the only one worth watching for.
Yes, viewers know best. If tbb thinks we can be stuffed with whoever they sell, they will be the final loser as HKTV will get the licence sooner of later. We will abandon tbb same as they abandon good actors’ value.
wow agree with all of you here. yes tvb might try to push someone such as edwin here in keeper by ruco’s help but we all have eyes and brain and know who is the better one! hope tvb will open their eyes and not underpromote ruco anymore! tvb is rigged! hope ruco and kenneth win the awards this year!
1st episode is already awesome bring it on BK!
Kristal Lin looks cute in that poster!!! She looks prettier than Linda Chung in that poster, hahaha
Oops sorry, Kristal “Tin”.
Ruco has time and time again blown me away. His scene with Linda in episode 1 was really good; most of his acting is done with his captivating eyes, expressing countless emotions without saying a word.
Yes, Kristal Tin was awesome in episode 1 too.
Fully agree with you. The best scenes from Ruco do not require him to speak with words but with his eyes. I tell you, this man CAN really act with his body gestures, his eyes and his voice; that to me is the hallmark of fine acting-no need to rant and shout or cry loudly to be considered a good actor. I love how his eyes can redden and magically fill with tears in his emotional scenes. When he looked at the very scared Linda and hugged her from behind, you can feel so much pain for his character just by looking at his eyes and just how torn he must have felt, wanting to comfort her but at the same time he couldn’t give himself away. Omg, i think i need a tissue :'(
That was the best scene yesterday. To see Ruco hug Linda with pain. Linda did pretty good too being scared and screaming. These 2 have a lot more amazing scenes to come when their love story starts and goes thru obstacles.
agree with you,ruco is like tony leung,its very long time ago that tvb have such a class acting guy. and i like cristal tin too,she is also a very good actress.
Fully agree too. Ruco is amazing in the first episode. He’s as great as Tony Leung. Every words that Ruco said and every single expression he said are fully expressive and meaningful. His acting entirely owns the first episode, Edwin and Linda has much to learn from Ruco. I’m sorry but Edwin has no calibre as a lead. He has a likeable character but Ruco dominates the entire scene with his powerful acting. If TVB is truly fair Ruco should win the Best actor award this year but I’m sure it will go to Moses Chan or Wayne Lai because they have the Anniversary series in their hands.
@Mydatewithspring, i totally love wat you said abt Ruco entirely owning the first episode. YOu are right, even with the precious few mins of screentime and so few lines Ruco managed to steal the show from edwin. Looking fwd to the coming episodes with more screentime. I think we may not see him tonight in ep. 2 which wld focus on his relationship with his father which wld motivate him to join the police force. From the trailer, there’s a scene of him wearing a trenchcoat and dark glasses and he looked so deliciously gorgeous! Can’t wait for that scene!
Chocobunny I can’t wait for more scene if Ruco too. It was so unfair of TVB to mistreat Ruco by giving too much focus on Edwin on the first episode, but Ruco indeed was remarkable and brilliant, stealing the opening episode with his remarkable acting in such little screentime. I won’t be able to handle how gorgeous Ruco will look in his shades and trench coat! I am like you I wish there will be more of Ruco’s fantastic scenes. There better be.
I like Ruco and Selena :c
Yeah, I wholeheartly agree with a few posters who say that Ruco acted really well with his eyes in episode 1 with Linda. I really like that scene too eventhough it is a bittersweet scene.
Agreed. Ruco has amazing facial expressions and to me, that’s one of the things that makes him such a great actor. Even in scenes when the focus isn’t on him, the subtleness of his gestures and expressions still make him stand out in some way.
For example — in that scene where Ruco was together with the other kidnappers and Edwin was just waking up and realized he was kidnapped…when Edwin asked where his ‘girlfriend’ (referring to Linda) was and whether she was ok, notice how Ruco reacted? He didn’t need to say a single word — his body gesture and facial expression already did the talking for him…
yesssss, i noticed that too, he was superb, love how his actions always speak louder than words and those eyes!!! they’re so amazing to be able to “talk” to you, I’m loving Ruco’s acting more and more.
I really enjoy watching Ruco. His acting does not require to speak as his actions speak for him. Since he is contracted with TVB, I think he deserves that BA award. I would live Francis, but TVB is not going to let that happen. At least give it to Ruco ):
Absolutely agree. Ruco dominates the first episode with his Tony Leung level of acting even when Edwin take most of the screentime. I don’t know why TVB is still not promoting Ruco and give him the award he deserves!
It’s because he returned from ATV awhile ago, and TVB does not really trust him yet. Usually, ATV formers are treated pretty badly at TVB like Alice Chan and Elena Kong (she used to be main but now she is supporting) Ruco was actually lucky to get to play main characters.
So tvb is worried that ATV stars leave after being promoted ruco is actually a tvb actor tvb is ruco home actually
@Smart Aleck This is not true, look at Joey Meng.
She is one of the few exceptions like Ruco who got lucky, but I doubt TVB will give her an award even though her acting is definitely flawless.
Joey Meng? If Esther can’t get it none of them should ever have any right near any award.
yes Esther is hands-down the most qualified for best actress. but i think she don’t really care about awards. am predicting that those tied between Linda or Kate might simply just vote for Esther! LOL.
Esther was perfect in Always and Ever and Joey Meng was perfect in her comeback series ACOH. If someone else play Joey’s character she will be hated and cursed by viewers but Joey puts magic with her superb acting skills and made a villain character loved by audience! It takes a great amount of skills to do that since TVB scripts are bad nowadays. Joey is a much better actress than Kristal or Alice and has always been more popular than any of them for her great acting skills. it’s because of TVB’s ugly practice that Esther and Joey will get mistreated at the end of the year award since TVB is putting their bloodchildren Linda Chung and Kate Tsui on the pedestal.
I’m sure Esther doesn’t care about getting TV Queen, especially since she already got that award 16 years ago — plus she will always be ‘honored’ with the title of the ‘inaugural TV Queen winner’ (and one of the most deserving ones too!). So TVB can pretty much give that award to whoever they want now cuz most people don’t really give a damn anymore….
It’d be a farce to give it to anyone but Ruco who has turned in a good performance again. Tvb wld be so despicable to deprive him of his award by giving it to some undeserving fave son of theirs whose acting cannot even hold a torch to Ruco’s. His acting is definitely in a superior class of its own, no one even comes close.
I agree, but then again, we all know how TVB works…as much as I like Ruco as well and feel that he deserves to win, we already know that he doesn’t stand a chance given TVB’s lame politics. I have a feeling that Ruco might end up going down Sheren Tang or Wayne Lai’s ‘award’ path in that he will get snubbed several times despite being the most deserving and the only way for him to get the award is for the fans and audiences to threaten an uprising / boycott / protest in front of TVB City or for artists to ‘threaten’ to terminate their contracts….otherwise, it’s definitely not going to happen, at least not in the near future…
agree with all the above. hope tvb will be fair this year and let ruco or kenneth win!
have to disagree on wayne. he’s overpromoted and overrated by tvb! three awards already and that’s not being snubbed, that’s overpromoted! his performance in bullet brain and forensic 3 was bad and mediocre.
@sel_fi_wu: I was referring specifically to Wayne and Sheren’s first BA wins back in 2009 — the big push that both of them got that year was tremendous support from audiences and their colleagues, which is what cemented their wins (and with Sheren especially, the award was long overdue). Not commenting on their subsequent wins in 2010 or later on because it’s irrelevant to the point I’m trying to make…
@sel_fi_wu
Wayne’s acting is always better than Ruco. And Wayne isn’t being overpromoted. The one who gets overpromoted is Raymond Lam, and he’s the only one that gets special treatments, he is allow to film for another TV station in HK(who gets these treatments). Ruco’s drama of “No Good Either Way” was bad. FYI, Wayne did deserve for his 3 time TV King title.
@penny, disagree that NGEW was bad, in fact i rather enjoyed it and found it refreshing and funny. Even if Ruco wasn’t in it, I’d have watched it for Louis and Kiu Bobo who were both so funny especially Louis who was suffering under the boss who didn’t like him and often used him as a punching bag during their morning prepping sessions, it was so hilarious. I’ve watched it at least 3 times and each time i notice aspects of Ruco’s acting that i never noticed previously, like in that scene when Violet returns to the office in a wheelchair, she and Alex were shooting killer looks at each other and when she passed him, he looked at her with narrowed eyes and ONE (emphasis on “one”) raised eyebrow. i don’t know how he manages to mould his expressions into different looks each time, be it sad, funny or serious. That is how good his acting is.
I am liking it so far. Plots are often recycled. You can’t help it, but as long as the execution is done well and it is moving, then I am fine with it. happy with ep 1 atm.
agreed.
Lol it’s not free to watch though. I live overseas and I have to pay like US60 per month just to watch it the legal way. 🙁 definitely hurts when they introduce you a series that’s ****, but hey brother’s keeper was pretty good
the storyline sounds dramatic and awesome! and wow glad to see so much support and compliments for ruco’s acting in keeper! ruco’s gonna be a serious threat to kenneth for tv king! this is ruco’s year! am happy if either of these two hot stuffs wins! they deserve it!
i like the other cast members…just don’t know if i want to watch w/ linda chung in it….
Same-I’m still debating if I should continue even though Ruco’s performance is outstanding as always. What a dilemma..
No dilemma, don’t give up the forest for one tree haha. Just sit back and enjoy Ruco’s performance, i just know his acting will blow us all away. The first episode is just the teaser.
2nd episode still awesome Mann!!! Made me :'(
Tonight we will see the cool Sam Sir in action, can’t wait!
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwesome! But no Linnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnda!!!!!!!!!! HUH
Seriously this drama is not getting any better
Looking at your posts, i think you’re here just to diss Ruco. You’ve the option of not watching, like what others here have told you. It’s your loss not ours.
Linda should win. Her acting is very natural. She has improved over the years. Much better than the others.
Good piece of Hong Kong history.
her acting is really weak. her acting still needs improvement, not tv queen level. If you said she has improved, she should get the Most Improved actress not tv queen.
agree with Penny
anybody watched ep 3 yet? ruco just killed me with his “I’m James Bond , licensed to kill” and THAT wink <3333 He just lights up the screen every time he appears…….drools…..sigh…..
Yea rite! lol
Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Linda is back in episode 4 n shes super cute mann! muahhhhh
So far, Rucco, Edwin, and Kristal are solid in their delivery. Linda is the weakest link. Her voice is so ANNOYINGLY typical school girl! Yes, her English is put to use here. But it was the way she delivered the lines. It did not have impact and believability.