“Outbound Love” Ratings Improve
Airing during the holiday break, the ratings for the first three weeks of broadcast for Outbound Love <單戀雙城> were less than stellar. In Hong Kong, the TVB series drew in an average television viewership ratings as low as 24 points and had peak ratings of only 27 points. Fortunately, ratings showed an improvement on its fourth week of broadcast, which fell on the week of February 3. According to official sources, the fourth week of Outbound Love achieved an average of 29 points, reaching approximately 1.8 million viewers. It peaked at 31 points, with almost 2 million viewers tuning in.
The cast of Outbound Love attended a promotional event for the series. Ruco Chan (陳展鵬) expressed his relief on the show’s improvement, confessing that he had been worried about the drama’s ratings. He also added that his role in the drama, the sweet-talking tour guide Luk Kung Chi, is quite different from his earlier performances and considers the role to be one of his representative works.
Ruco’s costar, Tony Hung (洪永城), is also happy about Outbound Love’s viewership accomplishments and credited its success to the drama’s script, cast, and production crew. He hopes that the ratings for Outbound Love, including its finale on February 16, will be higher.
Tony, who debuted as an actor with Outbound Love, said he asked for his friends’ constructive criticism on his first performance. “I’ve earned the nickname ‘Ki of Expressions’. They said I am too over the top. I will work hard and train on them,” said Tony. Well-known for his hosting gigs and travelogue programs, Tony revealed that he will be focusing on his acting career in the next few years. “I’ll probably film one travel show a year. [TVB] has arranged me to film more television dramas.”
Aimee Chan Says Son Helped in Ratings
Outbound Love was Aimee Chan’s (陳茵媺) last television drama before she gave birth to her son, Aiden Joshua. Aimee was pregnant during the filming of Outbound Love last year, and it was amusing to watch the series with her son. Aimee said she does not feel that it is too late for Outbound Love to attain higher ratings. Comparing it to red wine, she explained, “Sometimes things need to be savored before the climax can come.”
Last week, during a Lunar New Year gathering with close friends in the industry, Cindy Lee (李思雅) accidentally uploaded a photo of a security camera shot of Aiden sleeping in his crib, revealing him to the public. The photo was later deleted. Aimee explained, “The security camera was for my parents to watch out for emergencies. I am not worried about [the photo leak].”
The 32-year-old also revealed that Aiden does not have a Chinese name yet. “We’re still thinking. It needs to be treated seriously because the name is going to be with him for the rest of his life. I hope we’ll be able to announce it as soon as possible.”
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
But this series is really boring. I guess hk audience has weird taste in tv drama. Just like picking heaven and earth as best drama of the year
Admittedly Outbound Love is not the best series (not even close), but it’s still better than many others, like When Heaven Burns. Also admittedly, Aimee Chan’s acting is pretty awful, but she’s pretty and she can improve (kinda like Eliza Sam). I’m just glad it’s not Linda or Myolie or Tavia playing Sik Sik, and super glad it’s Ruco playing Mr. Luk and not Raymond or Moses. As bad as Aimee’s acting and the script/storyline are, at least the cast/pairings are refreshing. And Malaysia looks pretty nice too.
yeah at least Mr Luk is not Raymond Wong. he left tvb though.
It’s not that bad as you make it sound to be. I like it better when the action shifts back to HK. I find the Malaysia parts rather boring and i can’t stand the acting of the Malaysian cast, very amateurish.
the movie was actually quite interesting at least from my opinion. if i had to rate it 1 through 10 i would rate it about 7 or 8. if you like love stories than you have liked it better than other people who don’t like love stories as much.
I actually quite enjoy watching outbound love
Love this series, quite different from other series.
I’ve read some said higher ratings may be because of Aimee. I believe higher ratings because nothing better to watch AND Ruco. Aimee perhaps may be a curiosity but I do not think she has that pulling power.
” “Sometimes things need to be savored before the climax can come.””
Not with this one. There is no forseeable climax.
And Luk Kung Tzi is one of Ruco best performances and also one of the worst developed series. Ruco, you have been robbed.
That seems to happen to Ruco a lot. Good character. Great performance. Poorly written script.
Hope this streak stops and Ruco can have his own break-through series.
Next series with Yoyo Mung, hopefully so but not hopeful at all. Maybe give him a series full of men like imperial time sort of series, maybe yes. Or just film Other Truth 2.
No, pls no sequels, they almost always suck.
Funn Lim, isn’t there one with Tavia Yeung and Kenny Wong? Sky Witness? Or something like that… I think that’s something we can look forward to.
But yes, Ruse of Engagement! Finally! (Well almost anyway.)
Watch this drama just for Ruco’s acting; he never fails to deliver a good performance, no matter how badly written the script or character is or how badly his co-stars act.
technology series with 2 actors falling for the same woman isn’t always good. And it has yet to film so I don’t know.
Actually the storyline of the new drama “Sky Eye” (literal translation) hasn’t been released. It is said that Ruco and Kevin Cheng are confirmed to be filming it.
And if rumours are true another sucky leading lady.
and “Ruse of Engagement” is with Aimee Chan again =( … so most probably will have to sit through half an hour of boring scenes before getting 5 minutes of Ruco & Ron actions in every episode … OH NO, PLEASE =/ !!!
agree with Funn, tvb should just cast Ruco in a series full of men … doesnt matter whether it is modern or ancient, just as long as there are enough of actors that has compatible acting skill level as Ruco (definitely there are many, most tvb men drama are extremely good) … and ‘Oh Please’ no more Ruco & Aimee paring =| … would be perfect and much nicer to watch if they couple match him with Tavia Yeung, Elaine Yiu, Linda Chung, Becky Lee or Selina Li … like someone and myself mentioned earlier in Jaynestar, they should have just cast Elaine Yiu as the main actress of Outbound Love.
im trying so hard to appreciate and accept Aimee’s acting … but seriously im still struggling to watch … surviving through the process only just to watch Ruco
No not elaine pls. She doesn’t suit the role. I’d rather samantha as Sik Sik.
Orrrr May Chan!!
anneyen, thankfully i think ROE is male dominated so hopefully we wont see much of Mrs Moses Chan. Her acting in ep 20 really annoyed me to the max >.< Her crying scenes are horrible with that fake quivering voice and no tears crying, double yucks!! Then her happy scenes are just as bad with her fake laughter. I pray that she'll take a break from acting for a long long time to look after her baby. It's not as if Moses can't afford it.
Linda wld have been perfect as Sik Sik, she does love-struck and betrayed characters very well.
@Funn @buzz… yah maybe Samantha Ko or May Chan would have been better … i would also have like if Linda acted as Sik Sik too, although i feel Linda & Ruco is not really matching in Brother’s Keepers … but Linda is quite good in some happy & comedic roles like in Daddy Good Deeds … anyway, maybe any other random actress would most probably have been better to act as Sik Sik.
@buzz … yah, it is happy & lucky thing that she was pregnant and they change the cast of “Cold Mountain, Hidden Dragon” from Aimee to Lin Xia Wei … otherwise we will have to watch Aimee with Kenneth as well =/
actually, Aimee looks ok and is still acceptable for the viewer in “The Last Steep Ascent” & “The Confidant” … her couple partner Kenny Wong and Raymond Wong is still considerably matching for her … but because this time her couple partner is Ruco (and almost Kenneth’s partner in Cold Mountain), which seems totally mismatch and unacceptable =/ … but definitely above all, her mediocre acting is the main problem … hopefully she gets roles that are more suitable for her in the future, so far all her roles are not suitable.
If Ron Ng’s comment about ROE (he said that it was similar to Tiger Cubs), then ROE would be mostly male dominated.
But I have been anticipating this series..
@Bubblez … but Tiger Cubs has about 10 main men in it … ROE only has 2 main men =P
me too, ive been anticipating ROE … i quite like Ruco & Ron combination =)
Yes, Ron and Ruco are the two main leads, along with Aimee and Yoyo. Louise is probably another important character.
But there are other male characters in the series such as Fred Cheng, Kenny Wong, Eddie Kwan, Joey Law, etc. who are a part of the policing force..
@Bubblez … wow, i didnt know Kenny Wong & Eddie Kwan was also part of the cast of ROE =D… wow, thatz really a “manly” show especially with Kenny Wong … now im anticipating even more ^ ^
Yoyo Mung is quite good in uniform shows, such as At The Treshold of a Persona (the immigration officer show – where Ruco was also in that show as the good for nothing son of John Chiang) … looking forward to watch Yoyo =) … hopefully Aimee does occupy to much of screentime =P
@Bubblez … wow, i didnt know Kenny Wong & Eddie Kwan was also part of the cast of ROE =D… wow, thatz really a “manly” show especially with Kenny Wong … now im anticipating even more ^ ^
^ Yep, I have been anticipating it since it has both Yoyo and Fred! (: I also left out Chris Lai. 🙂
haha, aren’t most series badly developed these days?
Hearing how this drama doesn’t have a climax reminds me of Big (Korean drama).
I don’t think “nothing better to watch” is the reason why. And the theme song is quite popular online as well, which may have some impact. The song on tvb’s channel has garnered 146,612 views and on trumblexx’s channel, it has garnered 81,835 views, which is as popular as Fred’s performances. And the way how Lin Xia Wei sings this song is very similar to Seasons of Love theme song. My grandma lives in HK and she has stopped watching TVB series a long time ago (back in 2010). Instead, my grandma has been watching Cantonese-dubbed Korean dramas..
in fact … Ruco & Priscilla Wong’s pairing in Reality Check (Heart Road GPS) was much nicer than Aimee … although Priscilla is not a good actress, her pairing with Ruco was more enjoyable to watch … perhaps if Priscilla acted as Sik Sik the pairing would have been more pleasing to the eyes (shun ngan), although quite a bad substitute though =P
actually Raymond Wong & Priscilla Wong pairing in Karma Rider was quite nice to watch … although Priscilla is not a good actress, speaks with a wierd slang and often quite irritating … but she is sometimes quite lovable.
Priscilla may be a good substitute because she gives me an impression of someone who is so happy go lucky, that guys like her for her charm as someone who doesn’t care how she looks. In fact she could be Sik Sik except she may not be as perky as expected but at least more genuine in some ways.
Priscilla’s role in Karma Rider “Hei Ji Ji (Cheery)” was a happy & cheerful character, always positive and make everyone around her happy despite of her tragic situation … quite like Sik Sik … after recalling my memory about Heart Road GPS, now how i wished that Priscilla was cast as Sik Sik in Outbound Love, at least more matching for Ruco =)
I liked Priscilla Wong and Ruco Chan’s acting in Reality Check. I really liked that drama.
@Bubblez … me too, i like Reality Check alot =) … in fact i feel it is the best show of 2013 although it is a short drama not a grand production, better than Brother’s Keeper because the show is more balance and well edited … Brother’s Keeper editing sometimes abruptly jump and jerk alot.
well another reason Priscilla might have been a good substitute is because they have both been rumored boyfriend and girlfriend many times so it would have been interesting seeing them together again
huh, ruco rumored with Priscilla? Never heard of it. I’d hate Priscilla to be Sik Sik as much as Aimee cos i can’t stand her crying face and quivering voice. Plus what cor-lee (Canto speak for quality)does she have to make it to lead actress since her debut if not for her powerful conections? Totally despise this type of people.
Rumoured but not true. We all know his taste.
never heard of that rumor, must be Priscilla’s wishful thinking.
Agree! Higher rating definitely for Ruco. I watched this initially purely for Ruco and Malaysia. But Aimee and the storyline annoyed me so much that I stopped. I occasionally checked Funn’s review for the odd chance that I should consider catching up and watch the rest of the series, but unfortunately I’m glad that I didn’t waste my time and restart watching.
ok series just wished Aimee and Ruco had more lovely dovey scenes heehe
“Airing during the holiday break, the ratings for the first three weeks of broadcast for Outbound Love were less than stellar.”
Exactly the key reason why the ratings were less than stellar! It aired during the so-called cannon fodder period over the Lunar New Year hols whereby the ratings typically dip to the year’s lows! On top of that, the 8.30 pm timeslot also typically attract lower viewership. I believe Divas in Distress which also aired during this period but in the golden timeslot of 9.30pm fared worse. The article shld have qualified its statement in order to be fair to everyone involved with this drama.
And I can’t believe Aimee has the cheek to take credit (along with her baby) for the improved ratings! OMG, she has to be kidding! I think it’s her being in the drama that’s pulling down the ratings, with many people commenting that altho they like Ruco, they will give the drama a miss becos they can’t stand her acting. Seriously, everytime i hear her annoying forced laughter or her voice trying to crack with emotion, i cringe and have the urge to turn off my PC! Sheesh! The nerve of some people! Ruco’s the best thing in this drama and the one single-handedly keeping it afloat, yet not a word crossed his lips about claiming credit for the improved ratings. See the contrast between these 2? In fact, i would say that Ruco is the central character of this drama and Aimee is only acting a secondary role as his love interest altho she’s being billed as the lead actress. Without Ruco’s multi-faceted portrayal as Luk Kung Zi, this drama is seriously just run-of-the-mill.
sorry, my bad, it’s not Divas in Distress but the one that starred Nancy Sit, Joyce Tang, i think it’s called Queen Divas.
i almost felt so “choked up” reading this article in Jaynestar … happy that the viewership increase for Outbound Love =D … but after reading the Aimee’s section of the article, im suddenly “STUNNED!!!”
@buzz ….. totally agree with you, Ruco is the only one who is “single-handedly keeping it afloat” … he is the only reason to watch this drama, other than him this drama is totally not worth watching at all … ok actually to be more precise =P, the other cast members are still nice to watch or acceptable but definitely because of 1 actress the whole drama becomes not tolerable.
as an audience we have to watch 22hours of drama in order to watch less than 10hours of Ruco … like Funn suggested in another article, they should just produce a tv special that focus on Ruco alone, it will be many times more pleasing to watch than surviving through a drama like that.
ok, some may say “If you don’t like the show then just to watch it” … but the problem is i want to watch ruco so much but not his partner … sigh =|
was trying to say “If you don’t like the show then just don’t watch it”
WORD!!! We had to watch it cuz we wanna see Ruco but we all wanna skip it cuz of Aimee!!! Spoiled the show
I love this
I agree that aimee’s acting really really needs improvement, in way of acting, speaking, and facial expression. Aimee lacks all of those. She’s just not female lead material, not even up to the supporting characters of veteran actors/actresses
while watching some mv online, i suddenly recalled that actually the “Ruco & Elaine Yiu” pairing isn’t new … they actually acted together in Ghost Writer where Ruco acted as Steven Ma’s brother, almost forgotten that Ruco was also in that show.
Oh yea,they were in there together but Ruco played his cousin if I remember correctly,not his brother. Ruco’s character was a jerk but I felt sorry for him when he died.
yes cousin but Steven referred to him as Big Brother.
@HeTieShou … haha, ruco always act as a jerk in most tvb drama before he became popular, but i seem to feel sorry for him too in every show when he has a bad ending =P … he also acted as a good for nothing son in At The Threshold of A Persona and bad guy in a few other dramas … he was also the bad guy in When Lanes Merge, also the boss of Elaine Yiu if i remember correctly.
in fact Sam Sir is also sometimes quite a jerk too but really felt sorry for his ending too, if he died at the ending maybe Brother’s Keeper would have became a classic – like Hui Man Keung in Shanghai Bund
Shanghai bund and brothers keeper shouldn’t even be in the same sentence let alone be compared. Ruco fans should wake up and smell the roses, he’s no where near fat gor’s calibre in acting or influence.
Yolo I agree with you. And I also must state that if Ruco had Fat Gor’s well written roles, maybe he will be half way there. Half way but better than none.
@Yolo @Funn … i was actually referring to the memorableness of the character’s ending, not comparison of Fatt Gor’s callibre … and i was refering to the storyline content of main character’s that die, which leaves a greater impact on viewers where coincidently the main character was shot … many classic korean shows also succeed in becoming very popular and memorable because the main character dies … even many main characters in tvb 1990s shows die, such as Alex Fong in 1996 Drama ‘Before Dawn’ and Francis Ng in 1991 Drama ‘On the Edge’.
furthermore, ive actually never watched Fatt Gor’s version of Shanghai Bund because it was produced many years before i was born, i can only get some parts of the story from my elders … and among actors and dramas of the times, i actually prefer to watch Ray Lui, Damian Lau & John Chiang as compared to Fatt Gor … the only version of ‘Shanghai Bund’ story that ive ever watched in full is TVB’s 1996 version “Once Upon a Time in Shanghai” by Sunny Chan & Nadia Chan … although it was also another failed tvb drama as compared to the original Shanghai Bund, but it was very meaningful for teenage kids like me and my friends of that time and the Hui Man Keong that is memorable to me is Sunny Chan.
by the way, like what Funn mention … if there were well written roles and storyline, Ruco can also go a long way … this would be almost impossible since tvb dont really have good scripts or good editing with suspense nowadays or stories touching enough for viewers … the shows tend to be not very smooth or cut off to soon before the characters can build up emotions.
what is lacking in tvb nowadays is a good script that can leave a deep impression on viewers … the suspense and emotion tend to be ended before the viewer can even get into the character, unlike dramas from the 1990s where the viewers can get connected even if it is a short story … tvb has many good actors with big potentials, but unfortunately cannot be developed due to the present style of storyline and editing that does not get deep enough =(
actually, most ATV dramas from the 1980s and 1990s are nicer to watch than TVB … ATV dramas had more touching storyline and is quite popularly aired on tv … even friends from other ethnic groups rush home to watch the drama on tv or rent tapes … everyone will be chatting about the episode last night at office or in school … then came tvb dramas that were very suspenseful and emotional in the 1990s, and a few very successful ones shot in Malaysia such as “Looking Back in Anger” and “On The Edge” … there are also many Malaysian dramas produced and acted by Hong Kong production teams and actors mix with some locals that were also very good, sometimes nicer than hong kong dramas but never aired outside malaysia … it was a craze among every ethnic group in Malaysia.
but towards 2000s, this craze ended and now the only viewer of hong kong dramas in malaysia is only a small group of malaysian chinese (other malaysian chinese watch mandarin and hokkien shows) … while other ethnic groups switch to korean dramas … even i myself watch and like more korean dramas as compared to hong kong dramas nowadays … there is only one simple reason, the storyline is more intriguing, touching and gets deep into the viewers … the viewer will be able to feel the characters happiness and sorrows deeply … this ‘missing feeling’ was available in 1990s and 1980s hong kong dramas but rarely occur in newer hong kong dramas … only in recent some can be felt in “The Hippocratic Crush”, “Reality Check”, “Highs & Lows”, “Grace Under Fire”, “Karma Rider”, Vincent Wong in “Silver Spoon Sterling Shackle” and last 10 episodes on “Brother’s Keeper” etc.
i think basically, tv drama viewers in Malaysia actually prefer to watch sentimental storylines that are touching … that is also what my Malay friends tell me … and that is the reason why other ethnic groups switch to korean dramas, and hong kong dramas lost out one big chunk of audience … as can be seen, many malaysian favourite advertisement and movies play on sentimental values such as “Ice Kacang Puppy Love” and “The Journey”.
when it comes to comedy, it is very difficult for hong kong dramas to reach out to audience who do not understand cantonese too … because the joke will be missed .. although hong kong comedies are very good, but at the same time cantonese speaking population is shrinking =(
in Malaysia, we have to pay alot of money to watch Hong Kong dramas … in the past we had to rent video tapes, then later we have to buy VCD/DVD or nowadays pay a big amount to watch Astro Cable TV … with the recent quality of tvb dramas, many of my malaysian chinese friends old and young are no longer watching hong kong dramas but watching korean dramas instead
as a super fan of tvb dramas, ij ust hope that tvb can just come up with dramas that have a solid storyline with a strong impact on viewers … they have a big bank of good actors, is just that they are not put to play good roles that can developed.
by the way, a malaysian chinese comedian recently sang a parody of how much malaysian miss the “good old days” of hong kong entertainment – “the chinese song of Peter Stuyvesant advertisement that every malaysian of the time know regardless of ethnic origin”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOE2I69F-Hw
Korean dramas are ok. But they don’t have any good series last year. This year’s dramas appears to be as bland as last year’s.
haha yah, there were a few good korean shows in 2012 and then nothing much after that, the last show ive watched is “The Innocent Man / Nice Guy” … but the thing with korean show is that if it is good, it sticks to the mind for some time and it can be rewatched a few times … im more to the serious content show, not really a fan of the cute love shows.
TVB also had a bland year in 2013, normally i watch 95% of the tvb dramas every year … but 2013 i only watch 5 dramas and skipped the rest because it is too boring … good time to catch up on the earlier tvb dramas that was missed =P
Elaine and Ruco were also in Burning Flame 3, When Lanes Merge and Slow Boat Home. Plus they were in that travel show together, found it on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UxoW3Row58
@longhair … thanks for the link =D … actually i kinda find the both of them matching, love to watch more of their pairing ^ ^
I dislike Nic, and Sik Sik is so stupid to
be back with him, but I quite like his sister.
Sorry I have to disagree !! The first 10 espisodes were quiet boring but the more I watch I start to like the paring of Aimee & Roco!! Well at least her chinese has improved!! There are lots of other Tvb actress they can’t even talk properly like Christine kuo.
Aimee acting is indeed improving act least I like her pairing with Ruco hope i see more of that hehe
I don’t tvb will paired Aimee and Ruco again they are other younger artists lining up to be leading..for their turn.I think this “see lai Aimee” got to line-up from behind if there’s a chance for older male actor to be cast for her.
Yes Roco & aimeee may not be a couple again in future drama but ruse of engagement will air soon which aimee and roco will be couple again
Anyone knows the ratings for final. Episode?
It will usually come out tomorrow, Funn 🙂
Finale avg 32 points, highest 35 points.
Wow. Now Aimee can say she is a bona fide leading lady able to push the ratings to beyond 32 points. When we know it is because of Ruco.
haha right, claim all the credit for herself and her baby.
Baby I feel is true.
I think people are curious to know how it’ll develop betw Kung Zi and Sik Sik after all that non-action that they tuned in to watch. Hence the final week showed improved ratings culminating with the final episode. The final week also coincided with the return of Yi Kiu and Nic; love triangles (rectangles) do appeal to some people.
Aimee Can’t claim the credit. She’s heavily criticized at HK Discuss for her acting which made Sik Sik an annoying HK girl. Comments favour Ruco overwhelmingly as he’s the only one that lights up the drama.
How are the comments in HK forums about Ruco, Aimee, their so called romance and the series generally?
Rico needs to act with Kate Tsui. That would be a refreshing and hot pair
Agreed, I would love to see Ruco Chan & Kate Tsui as the protagonist pair of the drama with the most screen time.
I was also thinking about Ruco and Kate would give a new spark of chemistry.
Kate always has sparks with her male co-stars especially in the love scenes, if you know what i mean, haha.
Well, Kate does hold the “Sexiest Woman in …” title.