Master of Destiny (Chinese: 風雲天地; Jyutping: Fung1 Wan4 Tin1 Dei6; literally "Across Heaven and Earth") is a 2015 Hong Kong-Chinese joint epic television drama created by Hong Kong director Wong Jing and produced by his production company Jing's Entertainment Limited. Master of Destiny chronicles the rise and the eventual hardships of the affluent Cho family from Hong Kong, which eventually, they fight the corruption that reeks inside their family, and stars Liza Wang, Angie Chiu, Hawick Lau, Kenny Wong, Edwin Siu, Kimmy Tong, and Monica Mok as the main cast. Filming commenced on 1 August 2013 in Tianjin, China. The mainland China version has 40 episodes and began airing on Anhui Television on 28 May 2015 with Mandarin voice dubbing. Hong Kong broadcast began airing on Jade and HD Jade channels 22 June 2015 every Monday through Friday during its 8:30–9:30 pm timeslot with 32 episodes total.[1] It was distributed by TVBC and TVB International.

Master of Destiny
Official TVB poster
Also known as'縱橫天地'
Traditional Chinese風雲天地
Simplified Chinese风云天地
Hanyu PinyinFēngyún Tiāndì
GenreDrama
Created byWong Jing
Written byWong Jing
Directed byWong Jing
David Lau
Steve Cheng
StarringLiza Wang
Angie Chiu
Hawick Lau
Tiffany Tang
Monica Mok
Wayne Lai
Selena Li
Kenny Wong
Edwin Siu
Kimmy Tong
Opening themeMainland China: There Is No Such Thing As Perfect Love (原來愛情没有剛剛好) by Li Daimo
Hong Kong: Unbeatable (轟天動地) by Edwin Siu
Country of originHong Kong
China
Original languagesCantonese
Mandarin (dubbed)
No. of episodesChina: 40
Hong Kong: 32 (Final)
Production
ProducerWong Jing
Production locationsTianjin, China
Beijing, China
Hong Kong
France
EditorTie Fo
Camera setupMulti camera
Running time45 minutes
Production companiesJing's Entertainment Limited
Beijing Energy TV Communication Co., Ltd.
Television Broadcasts China Limited
Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited
Original release
NetworkAnhui Television
Release28 May 2015 (2015-05-28)
NetworkTVB Jade, HD Jade
Release22 June 2015 (2015-06-22)
Master of Destiny
Traditional Chinese風雲天地
Simplified Chinese风云天地
Literal meaning"Across Heaven and Earth"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinFēngyún Tiāndì
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationFung Wàn Tīn Deih
JyutpingFung1 Wan4 Tin1 Dei6

The serial is produced under several titles. In Hong Kong, it is known by the title "Chung Wang Tin Dei" (Chinese: 縱橫天地; literally "across the world unhindered"). In mainland China, it is known as "Fengyun Tiandi" (Chinese: 風雲天地; literally "Across Heaven and Earth"). Release of TVB's promotional poster for the drama confirmed that the Chinese title was used in the mainland version, 風雲天地.

Synopsis

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Kwan Yeuk-nam (Liza Wang) is a legendary woman. After her husband committed suicide due to a business failure, she single-handedly raised her three sons to adulthood, also establishing her own business empire, Sun Hon Lik, in the process. Now ready to retire, she is prepared to pass down her empire to her three sons.

Eldest son Cho Chi-wang (Kenny Wong) is quietly pursuing Nam's adoptive daughter, Hau Yee (Tong Fei), but Yee is truly in love with Wang's younger brother, Cho Chi-yuen (Hawick Lau). When Yuen's girlfriend passes away, Yuen devotes his life and energy to his career, and Wang's position as heir to the empire is threatened. Song Chi-wah (Monica Mok), a new employee at Sun Hon Lik, seduces Wang and nearly tears his family apart. With her family and business at the brink of breaking down, Nam has no choice but to step up and formally pass down the business to Yuen.

Wah tells Wang that he is not the birth son of Nam. Disheartened at his family, the two team up to incarcerate Yuen. Just when Wang and Wah are about to overthrow Nam's reign, Yee returns just in time to save Yuen.

Cast

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Cho family

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The deceased husband of Nam, Cho Chi-wan's adopted father, Cho Chi-yuen and Cho-Chi-ko's father. In 1987 Yiu Dai-ming bankruptcy, jumped to his death.
Headstrong middle-aged business woman Kwan Yeuk-nam, the CEO of Hong Kong conglomerate, Sun Hon-lik,Cho Wan-hon's wife, Cho-Chi-wan and Cho-Hau-yee's adopted mother, Cho Chi-yuen and Cho Chi-ko's mother.
Second and middle son of Cho Wan-hon and Kwan Yeuk-nam. Became mentally ill at episode 24. Marries Cho Hau-yee in episode 32.
Third and youngest son of Cho Wan-hon and Kwan Yeuk-nam. Indirectly killed Tang Yiyi.
Eldest son of Cho Wan-hon and Kwan Yeuk-nam.
  • Kimmy Tong as Audrey Cho Hau-yee (曹巧兒)
Kwan Yeuk-nam's adopted daughter. In love with her second adopted brother Cho Chi-yuen and finally in episode 32 marries Cho Chi-yuen.
  • Zhao Xiaolu as Linda Kwong Shuk-han (鄺淑嫻)
Kwong Kwan-ho's daughter, Cho Chi-wan's first wife. Divorced.
Yiu Dai-ming's daughter, Cho Chi-ko's wife, Cho Wan-hon and Kwan Yeuk-nam's third daughter-in-law.

Extended cast

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The British Queen's Counsel, Cho Hau-yee's master, Cho Chi-wan's mother.
Cho Chi-wan's second wife. Caused the death of Yiu Dai-ming and Poong Siu-kei's father. Villain.
Cho Chi-yuen's girlfriend, Tang Qiqi's sister, Poon Siu-kei's halfblooded older sister, died of the car accident in episode 7.
  • Sun Xing and *Li Ang as Yiu Dai-ming (姚大明)
Yiu Li-fa's father, Cho Chi-ko's father in-law, Cho Wan-hon and Kwan Yuek-nam's natural enemy,after a good and parents of daughter in-law, the Cho family's enemy,after a good,and Song Chi-wah collusion, after the quarrel,indirectly killed Cho Wan-hon in 1987, died of the heart attack(be indirectly killed by Song Chi-wah)in episode 19.
  • Sze Yu as Kwong Kwan-ho (鄺君豪)
Kwong Shuk-han's father, Cho Chi-wan's former father in-law.
poon yau's daughter, Tang Yiyi's halfblooded younger sister.
  • Mou Fengbin as Hon Tung (韓東)
Song Chi-wah's ex-boyfriend. Main villain of the series.
  • Ben Cheung as Ben Chow (小周)
Cho Chi-yuen's friend
  • Tony Ho as To Kit (屠傑)
Cho Chi-yuen's friend

Production

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.Master of Destiny mainland China promotional poster

Principal photography began on 1 August 2013 in Tianjin, China and secondary filming started in Hong Kong. Principal production relocated to Beijing, China in early September, and finally to Hong Kong in mid-September. A press conference was held in Tianjin on 20 August.

Casting

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In August 2012, Wong announced that he was writing a 40-episode drama serial for TVB, and expressed his interest in casting Deanie Ip, Kenneth Ma, Hawick Lau, and his own managed artist, Kimmy Tong, in the lead roles.[2] In March 2013, reports confirmed that Ma was cast, replacing a role that was originally intended for Bosco Wong.[3]

In July 2013, it was reported that Liza Wang was cast as 'Kwan Yeuk-nam', the leading role in this TV drama. Edwin Siu was then cast to replace Ma, who left the cast due to scheduling conflicts.[4] Natalie Meng was also cast.[5] Wayne Lai, Selena Li, and Kate Tsui were confirmed to guest star in a few episodes.

In August 2013, it was announced that Angie Chiu had quietly joined the cast. Chiu and Wang's last major television drama together where both actors were cast in sizeable starring roles was 1978's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre. They were both subsequently part of 1985's very concise 6-episode but celebrity-overflowed The Yang's Saga, where both were already very prominent at the time as they assumed more of a guest-starring role in the series. The pair had played goddesses instead of humans with only one scene each and no screen time together the entire time.

Broadcast

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Network Country Airing Date Timeslot
AHTV   Mainland China 28 May 2015 Sunday – Saturday 7:30 pm (2 episodes)
TVB Jade/Jade HD   Hong Kong 22 June 2015 Monday – Friday 8:30–9:30 pm
Astro on Demand   Malaysia 22 June 2015 Monday – Friday 8:30–9:15 pm
TVBJ   Australia 25 June 2015 Monday – Friday 7:15–8:15 pm

Viewership Ratings

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  Hong Kong TVB Jade ratings
# Timeslot (HKT) Week Episode(s) Average points Peaking points
1 Mon – Fri 20:30 22–26 June 2015 1–5 24 29
2 29 June-3 July 2015 6–10 22 26
3 6–10 July 2015 11–15 23
4 13–17 July 2015 16–20 21
5 20–24 July 2015 21–25 23
6 27–31 July 2015 26–30 25
7 2 Aug 2015 31–32 27 29
Total average 23 29

References

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  1. ^ [1] "Master of Destiny" and "Ghost of Relativity" to Air. Retrieved 13 June 2015
  2. ^ "Wong Jing returns to TVB, eager to cast Deanie Ip and Kenneth Ma". 9 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  3. ^ [2] Wong Jing trades Kenneth Ma for Bosco Wong in new TVB drama. Retrieved 11 August 2013
  4. ^ "Wong Jing's new drama to shoot in August, cast changes" (in Chinese). IHKTV. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Natalie Meng practices Cantonese for new drama". Oriental Daily (in Chinese). 25 July 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
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