TVB Kung Fu Drama "Tai Chi" Episode 7 Online Playback
Watching the star Zhao Wenjuan as the absolute leading role
Zhao Wenjuan, with remarkable kung fu skills, is a peer of Jet Li (blog) and Donnie Yen (blog). In recent years, many TV series he has starred in have been hot sellers in overseas markets. TVB has been very cautious with this grand production specifically tailored for Zhao Wenjuan. In the plot of Episode 7 of the TVB Kung Fu Drama "Tai Chi," it is believed that "Zhao Wenjuan is the youngest, most skilled, and most handsome kung fu emperor from mainland China, and also the only kung fu star in mainland China who can guarantee box office success in overseas markets." It is evident that TVB aims to leverage Zhao Wenjuan's super-popular influence in mainland China to bring "Tai Chi" into the competitive mainland market filled with numerous film and television works.
It is reported that since "Tai Chi" was specially designed by TVB for Zhao Wenjuan, the name of the male protagonist was initially set as "Wenjuan." However, under Zhao Wenjuan's insistence, it was later changed to the current "Wuma." Regarding this, Zhao Wenjuan expressed: actors are there to serve the characters; he didn't want to overly emphasize "Zhao Wenjuan" himself. Giving the character a specific name could provide him with more imagination and performance space, which would be more beneficial for the creation of the character.
Enjoying genuine kung fu battles to the fullest
Zhao Wenjuan also had his fill during the filming of "Tai Chi." Apart from his main job as an actor—playing the lead role of Tai Chi master Wuma—he also took on more "off-screen roles" such as martial arts consultant and martial arts cinematography guide in the series. Zhao Wenjuan came up with many exciting real combat scenes, compensating for the monotonous rhythm caused by the lack of computer-generated special effects. Where possible, they avoided using wire stunts, preventing actors from flying around excessively, eliminating flashy martial arts techniques, and returning to the original face of kung fu films.
Although this series is not Zhao Wenjuan's swan song on screen, he frankly stated in interviews that after completing "Tai Chi," he will focus his main energy on movies while attempting more behind-the-scenes work. As a representative figure of kung fu stars, Zhao Wenjuan also hopes to summarize "kung fu" through "Tai Chi."
Love story: Hu Xinger's unrequited love for Zhao Wenjuan
In addition to showcasing "real kung fu" that pleases the eye, the drama also heavily emphasizes romantic subplots. In the series, Zhao Wenjuan plays "Wuma," an orphan with a solitary personality abandoned by his parents when he was young. He endured various misfortunes during his growth but eventually transformed his thoughts and destiny through learning the philosophical Tai Chi. Wu Meiheng, making her comeback as a new mother, plays the confidante who deeply loves Zhao Wenjuan and stays by his side throughout. Meanwhile, Hu Xinger plays a character who admires Zhao Wenjuan but fails to win his love, ultimately having to unite with the character played by Louis Koo, who truly loves her.
Additionally, TVB went all out this time, airlifting the entire crew of their annual grand production "Tai Chi" to Yunnan. More than 80% of the scenes were filmed in locations such as Jianshui, Yuanyang, and Yulongwan in Yunnan. The total shooting time in Yunnan lasted three months, with all major and minor actors arriving in Yunnan—a rare occurrence in TVB's history of filming.