Reviews

Probably the highest quality show TVB has put out in a while. Episodes and scripts that are full of events and setups that pay off wonderfully, a truly toxic work environment made so in part, and yet not wholly the fault of the powerful yet flawed key players. Everyone has their moment of glory, moments of good and moments of evil. Nobody is really ever incompetent which is a rarity for TVB, so it's incredibly satisfying to see everyone jostle and vie for their best interests in the best ways available to them. The acting is top notch, the show brings a balance of seriousness and self awareness that really adds to how compelling the drama is, and the romance subplots are always only ever subplots in service of its core drama. The writers have done an amazing job with this one.

Competently acted, well written and most importantly, feels like a true crossover between two cultural worlds.

In its limited run, the show takes on the questions of tradition vs freedom, individual vs familial identity, and a big splash of moral ambiguity, while never letting these supercede the core of an engaging mafia drama. The American expy starts off individualistic and ends up finding meaning in family. The Chinese expy starts off devoted and ends up finding a healthier balance without completely "converting"/losing who he is. There is equal respect for the dyed-in-the-wool Chinese perspective, and the show is willing and even happy to sit with the complexity that emerged when the two clash and mix, instead of resolving it in dumb patricide (looking at you Shang Chi). I am satisfied without a season 2 and would happily watch if there was one.