[TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episodes 12 and 13
Eye in the Sky <天眼>
TVB Drama 2015
Executive Producer: Catherine Tsang
Genre: Crime Thriller
Number of Episodes: 20
Cast: Kevin Cheng, Ruco Chan, Tavia Yeung, Tony Hung, Vivien Yeo
The following is not a recap but a commentary on the particular episode in the title. Major spoilers and Ruco Chan-love alert. Originally posted at www.point2e.com.
EPISODE 12 and 13
Obligatory eyecandy pic of the day …
When Simon Yam retires, Ruco can be the next camera brand ambassador.
Sigh … 2 episodes of extreme emotional roller coaster ride.
Episode 12 Ruco reveals himself to Tavia whose heart is already set on Kevin for reasons I really do not know except she SAW him first. I find her way of falling for Kevin which is love at first sight as rather shallow. Surely… it should be more? Kevin had never been affectionate towards her.. but Ruco did all he could, thinking she was waiting for him and he said something quite romantic at this point but will be scary later on;
“I have lost my family, and my face. I will not lose you too”
Tavia was right to question why reveal now and he replied with much contempt;
“Because I wasn’t sure you could accept me.. that you could accept… this ..look…”
Dear Ruco/Lik,
Some may think your new looks is an upgrade from the old one. Such contempt for your new looks and I was thinking.. come on, think about how ridiculous it is that Kevin has his face 90% burnt and he had 30 plus surgeries and ended up looking like you. Whose the surgeon? Sign my boyfriend up!!
Anyway Episode 12, Ruco was extremely happy. But in episode 13, Tavia drew Kevin’s face instead of Ruco’s and she could no longer be in a relationship with him. She tried to avoid (bad move) and when she couldn’t, she just said they can’t be together. Poor Ruco was love sick and confronted her until he saw the painting she drew, went to agency to find her only to have Samantha to tell him the absolute truth; Tavia fell for Kevin first, then Johnny appeared but it didn’t matter because she wanted the looks not the person and to Tavia Ruco was a nobody. Ruco in anger laughed like a maniac and said;
“So… I was the fool,,, what a fool I have been…”
He also found out Kevin had feelings for Tavia too. Back at home he confronted Kevin. You gotta hand it to him; he really tell the person straight in the face and angrily he said;
“If I wasn’t taken away, if I had your life, I would never have lost to you! I’ve lost my life, my family and now the woman I love. I can’t keep losing to you!!”
Kevin looked guilty, tried to persuade Ruco that since he has returned, let’s try to rebuild life but Ruco was beyond persuasion. He was pissed off.
This was also because earlier he saw his mom What’s App his dad asking if they should bring Ruco back to hometown to visit relatives and he saw his dad replying “No, he is an outsider” and he thought to himself;
“So… they haven’t accepted me as part of the family”
and it was an ugly reaction.
In actual fact the father wanted to write and did write, “He is not yet in our social circle, better not let him come and face them, making his life difficult” and his mom chastised the father for relying too much on auto correct.
But I wonder what does Tavia expect? Kevin to love her back? Kevin said to Ruco;
“I have never had any relationship with her and I will never do that”
But he is already having feelings for Tavia. This is why I dislike Tavia aka Jan. Yes Ruco shouldn’t behave so childishly but he has a right to be angry, but at some point the anger must translate to acceptance that you can’t force love. The problem is Jan. She has her head in the clouds since day 1. Her notion of love is to me childish and juvenile. And Samantha was very cruel in the way she dismissed Ruco much like how callous Tavia was for doing it the way she did. That sow the seed for hatred and what nots. Brothers, never ever fall for the same woman. Ever. Especially one as shallow as Jan.
There is another story in this story.
Susan Tse’s purpose in this series is to die. Because I can’t really understand why she is in here and her death is so meaningless. One day she was in Vivien’s apartment when suddenly a secret passageway opened and it was the blind boss so Susan thought blind boss and Vivien are lovers and very secretive about it. Later she was murdered and her death was blamed on Madam Chik who obviously isn’t the murderer. I quite like Madam Chik; wait! Is it Madam Chik? I think so! She was so pissed not because she was arrested but because anyone angry with her should kill her and not her aunt. Anyway case solved and you kinda wonder why kill Madam Chik in the first place? Because Kevin deduced the reason almost immediately except he couldn’t find the passageway.
Episode 13 did explain how blind boss isn’t blind. He is blind but he had some google eyeglass or whatever and suddenly he can see so clearly he is a sharp shooter saving Vivien’s life. He has that necklace with him and again I wonder what’s the significance of that? He is a collector that will get what he wants in anyway he can do? Anyway Kevin is now investigating Vivien, convinced she has something to do with everything and Vivien is investigating Kevin, wondering whether could he be the guy in Manila?
And Tavia?
Heads in the clouds.
Ruco?
Busy being very angry.
Right now I am thinking this series is exciting for some part. I mean Vivien got the interesting female role. But I am kinda bored with the love story which is non existent. I am not even convinced Kevin loved Tavia. It is getting a bit shallow in terms of the story and why certain characters die. I feel myself thinking maybe, I am watching a story with the potential but is now turning into run of the mill stuff.
Poor poor Lik.
Performance wise, Ruco and Kevin is my choice for couple of the year. Ruco is hardly tested even if he had a few emotional scenes. Kevin however is now really into biting his lips and grinding his teeth when speaking his lines. I wonder what happened. Tavia is wasted and someone please rip off that specs from her. Such high bridge for a nose and still she had to tug at the specs.
Vivien improved a lot. I do like… Becky Lee is it? Becky something? She is somehow convincing as a high level policewoman.
The rest were quite simply only required to sleepwalk in their roles.
RELATED ARTICLES
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episodes 1 to 3
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episode 4
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episode 5
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episode 6
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episode 7
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episode 8
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episode 9
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episode 10
- [TV Commentary] “Eye in the Sky” Episode 11
This commentary is written by Funn Lim, a Contributing Writer at JayneStars.com and was originally posted at www.point2e.com.
for the first time in so many years that im so addicted to a tvb drama (*^__^*) … this show is driving me crazy until the point that i daydream and cannot concentrate doing work during the day =P … excited to wait until monday for the next episode and the finale this coming friday.
this serie was good at the beginning but now it’s boring. there are also many things that doesnt make sense.
1. before pittman and his man died they had a gunfight with Kevin. now he’s murdered, shouldnt kevin be the nr 1 suspect? they may have something going on that the police dont know about. and there isnt a law that says man cant wear cologne.
2. when blind man comes into vivian’s room. it was later revealed that there was a camara in the room. he watched Kevin search the room. if there was a camara and you know that Susan might be in the room, why not check the camara first and see of there’s someone before coming down. Mr Kong seems to be someone who is calculating and careful. why make this mistake.
3. did i miss something? because i dont seem to remember tavia and rucco ever agreeing to be lovers. it was just one day they were gf and bf.
4. this is not really a fault in the series but a fault of the writers.
why make a character such as Jan. she has no screen presence, is good for nothing and even her photographic memeory doesnt help her. i just dont understand why the two men would fell for her. it doesnt make sense. beside i hate people who avoid a confrontation. just tell him you dont like him. what’s with the running away when you tell somebdy you’re breaking up with him.
this serie had potential. first week was great, 2nd week was good, 3th week was bad. will 4th week be worse?
# 1 – oh come on you should think like a detective. I too would be suspicious about the perfume. While there is no law prohibiting men from wearing perfume but the type of gangster or city slicker that he is makes it stand out. His fellow gangsters aren’t perfumed except him. AND it’s not just any type of perfume. This unique brand is a specialty and/or limited edition, only certain parts of the world carry it because it’s high-end. The fragrance is distinctive. These are all so-called detective clues that need to be uncovered and possibly will lead the police to additional leads in solving the murders/crimes.
# 2 – even the most discreet individual may at times not be completely discreet as evident by the blind man. He fails to take precautions and make sure that his trail of incriminating information won’t come back to haunt him in the future, hence we have a story to tell, this series is borne.
# 3 – did you skip any episodes and/or fast forward any scenes? I watched all episodes to date and I’m on track with the Ruco and Tavia storyline. AND it’s a necessary storyline be that. What Ruco feels for Tavia is unfortunately one-sided because she isn’t going to reciprocate the feelings, period, from beginning to end.
# 4 – the Jan character is necessary because it’s one of the things that will cause a rift between the two brothers. Ruco’s character since birth his life is at a disadvantage compare to his older brother. With everything that’s happened to him and taken away from him so far he feels SO unfair the kind of life is given. The resentment, the hurt, the hatred that have been built up in him are what’s culminating to his self-destruction in the end. Hence we have a story to tell and this series is borne.
“3. did i miss something? because i dont seem to remember tavia and rucco ever agreeing to be lovers. it was just one day they were gf and bf.”
True. There’s no question “Will you be my GF” and answer “Ok”. It was just assumed to be a continuation from where they left.
The rift is not because of Jan. There’s still forced cordiality. But it kick started that sort of ill feeling between brothers.It is not necessary. At the end whether there is Jan or not the rift actually began with Hor Yee Ku’s death.
you’re right Funn. jan’s rejection of ruco kick-started the whole jealousy and anger…but cannot completely blame her because there was underlying problems as it is. tavia’s presence is not important in this drama…but can’t possibly put any tom dick harry actress.
this drama involved 2 actors who are well chosen…kevin for his calmness and ruco who can switch from puppy innocence to devil may care.
i usually enjoy watching Tavia in dramas, but i really do not enjoy watching her play Jan. The character doesnt have any screen presence and it doesnt seem like she is the main actress.
Do u think Jan’s role can be played by a kelefe? Is having a kelelfe just as effective as Tavia? Or any other actress BUT Tavia?
haha my bad, i realised i didnt word it properly.
what i meant is that i dont like the character Jan – how she acts, how she appears shallow by liking Kevins appearance etcetc and in this drama she doesnt seem that important.
Because of Jans character, its making me not enjoy watching Tavia act, regardless of how well the acting is
To what I see, Ruco & Kevin are the main characters in this drama but not Tavia, also the story is mainly around Ruco. As to Kevin, in this drama his face always looks tired, he is not that energetic like Ruco.
kevin has to use his brains and more reserved compared to bubbly ruco.
It’s kelvin’s character. In the raining scene before the store, tavia was running to find shelter from the rain, whereas kelvin was just walking. She wiped herself dry with tissue, and he doesn’t even bother. I guess because he didnt have his twin to grow up with, he went through life like it’s punishing him without he even realizing it, I.e he didn’t do it on purpose. He just couldn’t find that joy/that balance that his twin would have given him.
So agree that ruco has a harsh life, kelvin’s was easier, but it’s not as rosy as we think?
Im really enjoying this drama so far, but some parts are quite boring. I think tavia has no scenes, i rarely see her. I think shed just there so that kevin and ruco has something to fight about. But overall i reallyyy like this drama! I think kevin and tavia makes a cuter couple though.
Can someone do a TV commentary/review of The Menu? Loving that show!
100% agree with you.
The Menu is very good!
At this point, I’d rather watch Young Charioteers than Eye in the Sky. The latter is just so full of boring repetitive flashbacks. And I really can’t feel any sympathy for Ruco’s character. He’s a creepy psycho.
“He’s a creepy psycho.”
Really? At this point he is no psycho. Not even creepy. Just angry. This series never went to creepy psycho territory. He didn’t even kill anyone and I thought he was rather nice to Tavia when he told her a lie to ask her to leave when he should have done more to justify the villain tag. This is no villain. He is just an angry guy.
While I agree that he’s not a creepy psycho, I don’t agree he’s just angry. He’s more than just angry. Since childhood, it seems he finds happiness in making other feel miserable. Because he once felt it, making other feel worse or the same is what relieve him.
However, these childhood fragments are just child play, and you can grow out of it as adult. However, the accident cause that brain damage, and these fragment behaviors spring back with full force. So I would say he does have that evil gene in him, giving in to it was half the accident fault, and how he’s so strived on making ppl payback.
Out of curiosity, any idea how we go about doing a review and submitting here? I wouldn’t mind taking some time to do it for The Menu, the HKTV shows have been very impressive so far and since they’ve aired they’ve already had quite a few memorable dramas with a very diverse portfolio of topics. It would be a shame for people to miss out on good series like these and to give credit to where credit is due.
You just write in Textpad and email it to Jayne and she will do the rest. Her email should be in the contact page. Make sure you indicate which episode or which series and do the paragraphing yourself to make her life easier. If you have specific pictures to use email with the review and indicate in your review where you want it posted. If not she will put pictures herself.
Yes, great idea to do reviews on some of the good HKTV shows like Borderline, Menu, Elections, TBONTB and allow good discussions on this forum on the social issues thrown up. Even TVB’s Shades of Life is a good show to do a review on given the various social issues that was brought up – housing, mainland immigrants, education pressures etc. Perhaps the editor of the site could get writers or contributors to do reviews or commentaries on these. Thanks.
@Queen: miriamfanz (one of the contributors to this site) already did episode commentaries on The Election (all 15 episodes) and also a review on Borderline. She posted them on her blog and also some of them were posted here at Jaynestars (I recommend reading her commentaries on The Election, as it was a great supplement to the series and for me personally, it definitely helped to understand the political background better). I also wrote a review on To Be or Not To Be on my blog and also translated numerous articles related to HKTV and its series over there. We’ve also got some discussions going on HKTV series in another forum (including the currently airing series The Menu)…so there are plenty of sources for that already.
Thanks llwy12. Can you give the external links to the blogs.
@Queen: See below..
Link to miriamfanz’ HKTV blog: http://casualhktv.blogspot.com/
Link to my review of TBONTB and a few articles on that series as well as The Election: http://llsmusings.blogspot.com/search/label/%27%27To%20Be%20or%20Not%20To%20Be%20%E4%BE%86%E7%94%9F%E4%B8%8D%E5%81%9A%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E4%BA%BA%27%27
Link to the HKTV series discussion forum at AF: http://afspot.net/forum/forum/572-hktv-series-and-programs/
I didn’t even watch ep 9 but I clicked in here anyway.
I always thought RUCO is cute but those glasses made him kind of nerdy. But above shot, WOW…..hahaa….He’s just HOT in the above pic.
Yes, Tavia – I never particularly like her acting but this role is so meaningless IMO. She is neither cute, pretty or interesting enough for both dudes to like her. Well, i am still in the early episodes but so far she’s so not interesting to watch. I hope RUCO will be more and more interesting towards the end. bad role or not… I care not. haha lol…
i gave up on this, it started okay but now just same old tvb stuff
go watch the menu, omg its so good
Can give more info on The Menu? Like where I can watch it?
I’m not sure where you’re located but I’m overseas in Canada so I usually go to either…
http://hkdrama4u.com/ or icdrama.se
Hey Funn — you’re in Malaysia, right? HKTV series actually air on Astro, so you guys should be able to watch on TV (and 1 day ahead of everyone else too). Outside of HK, you would either have to go on HKTV’s website to watch with a VPN (since it’s available to HK region only) or go to one of the many streaming websites that people have been uploading to.
I don’t think it is on my local TV yet. Haven’t seen any promo at all.
Just read the synopsis. I actually thought it is about restaurants and food business. Serious stuff. Is HK ready for serious stuff?
@Funn: Well, The Election and To Be or Not To Be were both about “serious stuff” too (TE was about HK’s political landscape and TBONTB was about the Mainland/HK society conflict) — yet both series were quite well received by HK audiences. In contrast, the less “serious” stuff from HKTV (i.e. the musical and the Black Rose parody/comedy) were not received well at all. To me, that’s an indication that HK is “ready for the serious stuff”.
Even though The Menu is about the media, there are definitely political undercurrents in the series and quite a bit of other “intense” stuff…I don’t think HK audiences will have a problem relating to the series just like they did with TE and TBONTB.
Funn, The Menu should be airing in Astro Shuang Xin now. Channel is 307 for HD and 324 for normal.
Too bad HK audience don’t like the musical much. It started out not as attractive, but, it get better later. I love it now.
Thanks. Will record to check it out but already missed so many episodes.
funn lim, “The Menu” is aired on Astro Shuang Xing now, 324, 7-8 pm…
Lol, these commentary articles is so ruco bias >_> why jan could not like ruco? Let me simply put it this way, just because someone nice to you, doesn’t mean you will fall in love with that person.
It’s more than tavia meet kelvin first. During their first meeting, kelvin was the hero, saving her, his mannerism left a deep impression on her, making her falling in love with him. Then when she met ruco, he acts like he likes her, she took his actions as if what kelvin would have done, compounding those actions with what she felt at the beginning, is what lead to the kiss. If it was a different person, doing all of the things ruco did to her, she would only say thank you, not leading to a passionate kiss.
Also, these articles failed to say she did try to go out with him once she learnt the true. But if your heart doesn’t pound, what can you do? Do you just stuck in an unhappy relationship? To you, you think it’s the face, to her, it’s how she felt. Initially, it was for kelvin, the kiss was also for kelvin (even though it was a different brother), later on, she still choose him even though he turns out quite cold and distance.
The drama is heavily focus on ruco (I feel like he got more screen time than kelvin, but don’t care if it was true or not), leaving not much room for tavia, it’s understandable, as when there are three leads, someone gotta give >_> so far, I enjoyed kelvin’s character, I do hope to see more of him as his character is rather different than the usual tvb characters, and I like how kelvin portrait this character, and show us how he feel about tavia, because ATM, he’s avoiding her due to his brother, confused about his feeling, being introvert, he always feel for other before him.
Yeah I do agree that these reviews would be more balanced had they not been so ruco biased.
I totally agree with you, Little Fishy
100% agree with your comment.
The review seems to me that it was written by a fan of Ruco.
I agree with you too, very Ruco bias.
i would like a guy like ruco…he’s fun loving and expressive…at least i don’t have to guess whether he likes me or not.
The script writers and editors are doing a shoddy job. Ruco is capable of so much more but I feel like the script is pulling him back and reducing him to just this angry character with very little nuance. It’s like he switches between happy and angry/vengeful and is incapable of being in the middle. Kevin’ plays his character well but I also feel like he is underutilized. Tavia is the most underused; however, I do like Jan. She is not enigmatic but she is spunky and doesn’t really care how she looks. These three characters are not very likeable, which is refreshing. The actors are good but the writing and direction is so frustrating sometimes. Like others have mentioned here, there are sloppy gaps and logic leaps that just mars the flow.
I agree that the script for EITS is too messy. One of the things that annoys me about the series is how it veers off course to other story arcs that have nothing to do with the original story — for example, the Tony Hung/Samantha Ko relationship line as well as the piece about Tavia’s dad. But then again, that’s typical of TVB series — characters and plot arcs that have no real purpose and are just thrown in to take up space. Though I’m still watching the series, it has gotten to the frustrating point for me in terms of the story. I’m just hoping now that the ending will be decent…
Some characters are unnecessary…for eg Jan’s father…out of the blue, his character veered off course. Kevin’s return to TVB should have more important scenes in this drama. Don’t make him just a stone face and too cool a guy.
I agree. I rather TVB make the dramas shorter. Tavia’s dad is so annoying and does nothing.
Of the 3 main characters, Jan’s role is the most difficult to play. Kevin’s character is pretty straightforward, and all he need to do is to put on a stone-face and appear cool. Ruco’s character is only slightly more complex but is still not that difficult to play, all Ruco need to do is to put on a easy-go-lucky front but with hidden angst. Jan’s character is much more difficult to portray because she needs to display a whole range of feelings, from dealing with a silly father, a silly colleague, an exploitative friend, and torn between 2 male leads. And on top of this, she has to play a diligent investigator but not all that smart. And Tavia pretty much pulled it off. I can’t think of anyone able to do so except maybe Charmaine. Imagine Linda, Kate or even Myolie in that role. Think we will stopped watching after one episode.
I totally agree with you,freedalas
Tavia’s character is ‘just nice’…not too prominent nor calefare between the 2 guys. Whoever she ends up with is just nice.
I hope ruco won’t be another UC because the blind man will make him steal things for him.
Yes, you are absolutely right. Only those who know how to appreciate great acting will see how good a job Tavia has done with her Jan character. Also if we recall most of Tavia’s roles in the past had been heavy and teary, and here she can pull off a comic,nerdy role with a variety of emotions & expressions…definitely no one else can do it better than Tavia aka Jan. Even Charmaine’s acting can be repetitive with her tei pau expression. One commented that any kelefe can play Jan. Well, tvb cant hv a kelefe to be female lead to two tv kings. And i cant think of any kelefe who would hv great chemistry with Kevin, and whom Kevin might agree to act with in his debut after 2 yrs away. So it’s Tavia, and she’s still the best! Can’t wait for her next drama 🙂
Hi says me says , I’m thanking you so much for what you talk about Tavia ‘s in this drama. Me too , I can’t wait to see for her next drama with Kevin. You know what , I have been waiting for so many years and hoped Tbv will let Tavia & Kevin can playing a couple ,, and finally they made my dream came true .
Hi freedalas I’m thank you very much , and I’m agree with you what you said about Tavia ‘s roll. She was awesome .
It’s a pleasure to share our appreciation of Tavia’s good acting 🙂
i feel like tvb writers and directors are ruining good actors and actresses talents at tvb…they cant write interesting stories or create interesting characters for their artist
totally agree, like others have talked about im watching the menu too, and look what a good story and good writing has done for an actress like catherine chau, shes amazing and the show and the writing is bringing out the best in her
Totally agree! Catherine Chau is a great actress. She did a great job in Dance of Passion. Unfortunately with her plain looks, she couldn’t make it in TVB whose formula is to promote eye candies even if they couldn’t act to save their lives.
“TVB, whose formula is to promote eye candies even if they couldn’t act to save their lives”
Because TBB caters to the wealthy sponsors. Get it?
yes! The Menu is sooo good! The plot, set, characters are all on point!
In one episode, the blind man is revealed to be ruthless…he tortured one of their friends in prison so that that fella cannot reveal secret of them stealing the painting. Now he will make Ruco steal it.
Tavia only likes Kevin’s face…I really feel so heartache for ruco at that point.
Becky Lee is awesome, so is Vivien. I really hope this series ends well. The story seems to be somewhat all over the place atm. and Kevin and Tavia’s acting is nothing new. Tony is doing pretty well too.
It seems Becky Lee can sing…not too bad.
What I like about her is the air of sophistication. I thought Susan Tse looks classy…but Becky looks better and also younger…definitely that tai tai look.