The Charm Beneath (Traditional Chinese: 胭脂水粉) is a TVB period drama series broadcast in October 2005. The series was shown to celebrate TVB's 38th Anniversary.
Sheren Tang and Bobby Au-Yeung were originally cast in this series instead of Gigi Lai and Moses Chan when the teaser trailer premiered in the TVB sales presentation in 2005.
Synopsis They hide a dagger in a smile, Are they driven by desire for power, Or is it their only way to survive?
Cast
The Chuk family Cast Role DescriptionChan Hung Lit Chuk Moon-Shan 祝滿山Geng Fa Tong (鏡花堂) Founder Chuk Moon-Tin's older brother. Chuk Yau-Shing, Chuk Yau-Yip, Chuk Ming-Man's father. Died in episode 19 by Heart Failure Helen MaLo Siu Ngan 路笑顏 Chuk Yau-Shing, Chuk Yau-Yip, Chuk Ming-Man's mother.Mary Hon (韓馬利) Chan Ying-Hung 陳影紅Chuk Ming-Wai and Ling Tin-Long's mother.Savio Tsang (曾偉權) Chuk Yau-Shing 祝有成Sung Wan-Seung's husband. Chuk Moon-Shan's eldest son.-Died in episode 3 probably by internal bleeding Anne HeungSung Wan-Seung 宋雲裳 Chuk Yau-Shing's wife. Probably dead in episode 30 by drowning Moses Chan Chuk Yau-Yip 祝有業 Wong Hiu-Ching's boyfriend. Chuk Moon-Shan's son.Gigi Lai Chuk Ming-Wai 祝明蕙Lai Kwok-Cheung's wife. Chuk Moon-Shan and Chan Ying-Hung's daughter.Ram Chiang Lai Kwok-Cheung 黎國昌Chuk Ming-Wai's husband. Mandy Cho Chuk Ming-Man 祝明敏 Chuk Moon-Shan's daughter.Fred Cheng Ling Tin-Long 寧天朗 Chan Ying-Hung's son. Chuk Ming-Wai's step brother.Li Kwok Lun (李國麟) Chuk Moon-Tin 祝滿田 Li Ah-Sin's husband. Chuk Moon-Shan's younger brother. Chuk Yau-Bong's father. Jailed for attempted murder in episode 30Kiki Sheung (商天娥) Li Ah-Sin 李雅仙 Chuk Moon-Tin's wife. Chuk Yau-Bong's mother.Ngo Ka-nin Chuk Yau-Bong 祝有邦 Chuk Moon-Tin and Li Ah-Sin's son. Died in episode 22 by brain damage or severe head injury
The Ng family Cast Role DescriptionJones Soong (宋本中) Mr. Ng Ng Yi-Fong and Ng Yi-Ching's father. Deceased.Angelina Lo (盧宛茵) Ng Lo Siu-Yung 吳路笑容Ng Yi-Fong and Ng Yi-Ching's mother.Yoyo MungNg Yi-Fong 吳以方 Ng Lo Siu-Yung's daughter. Ng Yi-Ching's older sister.Oscar Leung (梁烈唯) Ng Yi-Ching 吳以正 Ng Lo Siu-Yung's son. Ng Yi-Fong's younger brother.
The Wang family Cast Role DescriptionMichael Tong Wong Hiu-Fai 汪曉暉Wong Hiu-Ching's older brother. Died in episode 25 by murderSharon ChanWong Hiu-Ching 汪曉晴 Wong Hiu-Fai's younger sister. Chuk Yau-Yip's girlfriend.
Reception With the grand production title and boasted a very impressive casts, TVB Had spent the amount of money and highly promotion into the production, likely to granted out Anniversary Series as well as set out to create a 1930s version of successful's War and Beauty but returned the disappoint rating then they been expected due to the various of reason about viewers' taste and the way the drama portray different so far from War's Darken plot,of “war and beauty” making the grand production which failed. Began with 27 average point and minor growth in the following, praised the cast and producer an unhopeful high rating already. The Drama ended up with a bit better result with 32 average point with highest peak at 36 although it still couldn't compare to War and Beauty's final rating.
Despite the loss in the terms of rating, The Charm Beneath pressed out with a majority of positive reviews, began critical acclaims. one of the Outstanding drama of 2005 already considered in some reviews, deemed it classics.Hall of Fam The Drama had memorable with Anne Heung's villain.desperate widow no. 1 (finale)The Anniversary Series: Other began with cast's Disturbing acting and well script. Its theme song also recognized well into its story line with the quiet but breathtaking sound.deciphering themesongs #3 After all, The Drama garner enough for two female nomination at TVB's 38th Anniversary award with Gigi Lai for Best Actress and Kiki Sheung for Best Supporting actress.
Viewership ratings Week Episode Average Points Peaking Points References 1 October 17–21, 2005 1 — 5 27 — Week 1 Ratings 2 October 24–28, 2005 6 — 10 27 — Week 2 Ratings 3 October 31 - November 4, 2005 11 — 15 28 — Week 3 Ratings 4 November 7–11, 2005 16 — 20 29 — Week 4 Ratings 5 November 14–18, 2005 21 — 25 31 — Week 5 Ratings 6 November 21–25, 2005 26 — 30 32 36 Week 6 Ratings
References
External links TVB.com The Charm Beneath - Official Website