By Joanna Goh

As sudden as it gets: This Ch8 drama sure lives up to its eponymous name

Sudden premiered with plenty of hype and promise: a new TV coupling (in Rui En and Romeo Tan), picturesque scenes filmed in Tasmania, new camera, refreshing angles and even a new story-telling format. While it deserves a ‘bravo’ for attempting the abovementioned factors, there lies an emotional disconnect between the drama and its viewer (aka its missing a spark).

It also left us confused. Unlike its grim and gritty doomsday-esque posters and impactful start (which left its male lead crippled for life), Sudden felt more like a romance-themed drama series than a legal drama TV series, what with the emphasis on its two leads’ relationship (chronicling it from their courtship to cohabitation days) from the start to end of each episode. Admittedly, its love line runs strong in the show, but its storyline(s) feels less cohesive in comparison.

Okay, enough of the technicalities. We put ‘Sudden’ into perspective and see where the show got its name from.

Dun dun dun, you’re in for a ride

Sudden ascension to #1 male lead: Romeo Tan

Romeo Tan had big shoes to fill and plenty to live up to in this show: in a span of three years, he went from second male lead to starring male lead (in Sudden). Tasked to carry the weight of the show with female lead Rui En, he had a steep learning curve piled on his plate – on top of having to put up a convincing romance with Rui En’s character – which is no easy feat. Let’s face it. It’s not his best performance to date (he’s had better shows and roles) but we don’t blame the actor for it. All he needs is time to mature. In fact, to cover up the awkwardness (or lack of chemistry) between the two of them, their relationship would have panned out better should their differences be addressed from the start.

For example, branding it as a May-December romance (i.e., a mature senior lawyer Chuning falling for her adorkable pupil Qiliang) would have made for a more acceptable alternative because putting them on the same pedestal, to say the least, felt hard to believe.

Sudden death of the show’s biggest star: Flapper

Six episodes on and we still find it hard to believe that Flapper –the lovable golden retriever who’d wag his tail when his masters are home, act dead and “pray” on command and even force the main couple (Chuning and Qiliang) to get their act together, kiss and make up when at cold war – is gone. As a pivotal plot device in this show, Flaps (as Chuning calls him) was the unlikely star of the show who stole our hearts with his every whimper and bark, and it was a pity he was gone too soon in the show (and in a span of 3 mins – yes we counted).

Sudden loss of innocence in the lawyers of this show

Instead of preserving the upright and pristine image of lawyers (as seen in most dramas), this show gave the law industry a tinge of realism by painting the grey side of its characters too. The scheming, underhanded and manipulative tactics resorted by the lawyers in these show –and specifically Zhang Zhenhuan’s character, Sun Dalun, a young hotshot lawyer who has no qualms breaking the rules of the game to win a case – felt more true to life.

Sudden (and uncalled for) cliché: Brain tumour

Lest you think the only unforeseen circumstance keeping Chuning and Qiliang apart is his inferiority complex (after he became disabled from the car accident), Chuning is stricken with advanced dementia (a hereditary disease passed down from her mother) which totally throws their relationship off the balance.

While the scenes featuring the mental and emotional breakdown of her character were some of the best parts in the show, is there a need to go down this path? Things are getting dramatic tonight, guys. Be prepared for the waterworks!

Sudden bromance which provided comic relief: Wentai and Shenghua

The group scenes involving Ian Fang (as Zhong Wentai), Yuan Shuai (as Lin Shenghua), Flapper, Rebecca, Romeo and Rui En’s characters at Ah Liang’s agency formed the liveliest bits of the show. We particularly enjoyed the dynamics displayed between Ian and Yuan Shuai in the early episodes which had their characters ganging up against their “sister in-law” Chuning. Frenemies? How cute.

Sudden level(s) up in episode 18 onwards

Are you serious, drama producers? The show finally wakes up from deep slumber, makes a 180-degrees turn from its unexciting start and morphs into a suspenseful crime thriller at episode 18. Now we’re talking! The pace tightens, the plot thickens, and dear show, you have finally got our attention.

And that’s some strong acting from Rui En as her character starts to lose her mind and her tough-cookie exterior crumbles with the onset of her disease and endless hallucinations… or not….

(EPISODE 20 SPOILER ALERT NEXT!)

Sudden collision between drama worlds; Sudden suddenly became good

We bet we aren’t the only one who feel this way: the final showdown between Rebecca and Rui En’s characters was definitely reminiscent of the duo’s final scene in Unriddle 2 last year – only creepier with the existence of a revengeful and psychotic twin (called Yixin). We might be stretching it but the final scene in episode 20 could have very well been a continuation of Unriddle 2, when a psychotic twin sister returns to seek revenge on the police officer Xiaoman. Okay, we’re stretching it…

Thankfully, the final three episodes made for a satisfying watch and a conclusive end to a story that started out weak – all sins have been forgiven, including the loss of Flapper. IF only it had maintained such strong pacing in its early episodes…

Are we going to have a 50 First Dates-esque sequel next?

Sudden 骤变 is now airing on Channel 8, Weekdays at 9pm.

Source: Xinmsn

Categorised in EN, Sudden 骤变, Unriddle 2 最火搭档 2, xinmsn.