Synopsis of “The Confidant”
TVB Anniversary series, The Confidant <大太監> will make its debut on November 5. Wayne Lai (黎耀祥) stars as Li Lianying, the most powerful eunuch during the twilight of the Qing Dynasty, while Michelle Yim (米雪) portrays the Empress Dowager Cixi.
Additional cast members include Maggie Shiu (邵美琪), Raymond Wong (黃浩然), Aimee Chan (陳茵媺), Raymond Cho (曹永廉), Nancy Wu (胡定欣), and Natalie Tong (唐詩詠) in producer Marco Law’s (羅永賢) 33-episode drama.
Hailing from a very poor family, Li Lianying (Wayne Lai) and An Dehai (Raymond Cho) were sold to the imperial palace as eunuchs when they were young boys. The two learn from an elder eunuch Lau Dor Sang (Chung King Fai 鍾景輝) and they grow up as good friends. Both end up as the two highest ranking officials for Empress Dowager Cixi (Michelle Yim).
Unfortunately, Dehai is tempted by the palace’s materialistic and luxurious lifestyle, and his friendship with the prudent and careful Lianying starts to drift apart. When the head of the eunuchs, Chan Fu (Elliot Ngok 岳華), notices both Dehai and Lianying are gaining power and the Empress’s favor, he worries that his position may be at stake, and decides to get rid of the two at all costs.
Luckily, with the help of his friends, palace maid Qian Rong (Nancy Wu), and the royal pharmacy Eunuch, Yiu Sheung Hei (Raymond Wong), Lianying managed to escape from Fok’s plan.
When Emperor Tongzi (Oscar Leung 梁烈唯) decides to determine the next empress, Empress Dowager Ci’an (Maggie Shiu) is worried Dowager Cixi will attempt to clutch even more power. Ci’an forces Cixi into a helpless situation, with the assistance of the Emperor’s uncle, and several of his advisers.
Throughout the palace’s power struggles, the only person to preserve his loyalty to Empress Dowager Cixi is Li Lianying.
Source: ihktv.com
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Another good series based on the synopsis with plot and counterplot…I am sure Wayne Lai with put out another A+ performance.
Aptos,
Li Lianying sounds like a career-defining role for Wayne Lai. The main cast are all solid; hopefully the script is written properly.
Damien Lau had to step in as part-time scriptwriter during the filming of “Silver Spoon, Sterling Shackles,” to correct existing scriptwriters’ historical inaccuracies. It makes me wonder if TVB may fumble upon accuracy matters in “The Confidant” as well, for the sake of dramatization.
i’m way more excited to see michelle as cixi!
So Cixi is the victim here? She did poisoned the empress so this is like BTROC meets Schemes Of A Beauty “men” style.
Cixi does seem to be potrayed as the victim in the synopsis and not as the ruthless controlling Empress Dowager.
I assume here that the series will skip the timeline of Emperor Guangxu and Empress Zhenfei.
Wikipedia said about Ci’An:
“Thirty years after her death rumors would be spread that she had been poisoned by Empress Dowager Cixi. However, such claims have never been substantiated and new evidence has not appeared in the many years since.”
I believe the poison story since she was the one in her way and no one just drops dead one day. Do remember back then PR machine is more extensive than today.
She’s not ruthless. Just stupid. THe empire was dying anyway but she did help to make it go that way even more. And she died a ripe old age. Honestly Cixi’s life does not need any dramatization to be even more dramatic.
Isn’t Oscar too old to be Tong Zhi? But he does sorta look like the paintings.
But I look forward to this series for Wayne. I am just scared at the potential head dress and make up for the women.
Oscar looks like a kid so he suits the shortlived Tongzhi. If Him Law is Tongzhi that’s what I call inappropriate.
Tongzhi is supposed to be a weak guy, isn’t he?
No, he’s supposed to be a very young guy. Rumour has it he was very intelligent but since he had nothing to do he turned to what we modern speak call partying.
Can;t wait!! another classic performance by Michelle Yim and Wayne. 🙂
All the good casts in this series, except Aimee. looking forward to this!
Are there going to be forbidden romance between Wayne and Michelle?
Good grief, I hope not!
But if there’s something going on btwn wayne and Raymond Wong, that’d be okay. 😀
You know who can act an eunuch the best? Derek Kwok :). I really think so.
lo chun shun is the ultimate best eunuch
Looking forward to this one more for the cast than for the storyline.
Historical accuracy has never really been TVB’s strong suit, IMO. TVB scriptwriters are much better at the “fictionalising” and “dramatising” part and their ancient series have tended to use historical settings as an amorphous backdrop for juicy soap opera plots.
Seriously, as long as the historical inaccuracies are not too outrageous or insulting to the intelligence, then I can ignore it for its entertainment value.
I like stories where a pair of male and female share a close emotional bond but are not necessarily loves. Both Wayne and Michelle are big attractions for me.
Agree! I have seen the absolute worst so anything else I can stomach.
Super looking forward to this! The cast lineup is great especially Michelle.
i am looking forward to this…..Michelle and Maggie have been my favourite from a long time ago. haven’t been that looking forward to a series in a long time. besides, we have Wayne and Raymond Cho. 🙂
I am looking forward to this drama! Great cast so can’t wait!!!
Michelle’s scary make up reminds me of Myolie in that Cursed series last year.
LOL….love how you called it the cursed series! It really was bad.
So Wayne’s role is a baddie, right? Interesting!!! Cant wait!
Definitely looking forward to this series! Looks very interesting and period dramas are always a must watch for me.