Big White Duel

Big White Duel (Chinese: 白色強人; Cantonese Yale: bak sik keung yan) is a 2019 Hong Kong television medical drama produced by Marco Law and TVB. It stars Roger Kwok, Kenneth Ma, Natalie Tong, Ali Lee and Kelly Cheung as the main leads. The series follows a team of medical practitioners at the fictional Marshall Paxton Hospital, Hong Kong's leading public hospital, with its central plot structuring around the hospital's Deputy C.E., Dr. YT Yeung's (Roger Kwok) attempts in rallying support for a new healthcare plan that would change the landscape of Hong Kong's healthcare system. Big White Duel premiered on TVB Jade in Hong Kong on 10 June 2019, and aired its final episode on 12 July 2019. It aired on Mediacorp's Channel 8 on 18 March 2020 and concluded on 25 May 2020. A second season is in the works, to begin filming in October 2020.

Big White Duel
Official poster
Chinese白色強人
Mandarinbái sè qiáng rén
Cantonesebaak6 sik1 koeng4 jan4
LiterallyWhite Strongmen
GenreMedical drama
Created byMarco Law
Written byWong Wai-keung
Starring
Theme music composerAlan Cheung
Opening theme"Choice" (選擇善良) by Fred Cheng
Ending theme"Without You" (沒有你開始) by Hana Kuk
ComposerAlan Cheung
Country of originHong Kong
Original languageCantonese
No. of episodes25
Production
Executive producerMarco Law
Production locations
Running time45 minutes
Production companyTVB
DistributorTVBI
Release
Original networkTVB Jade
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Original release10 June 
12 July 2019 (2019-07-12)
Chronology
Followed byBig White Duel 2
External links
Website

Big White Duel received widespread critical acclaim throughout its broadcast period. It is currently sitting as Hong Kong's second highest-rated television drama of 2019, and won multiple awards and nominations at the StarHub TVB Awards and TVB Anniversary Awards, including My favorite TVB Actress for Natalie Tong, My favorite TVB Actor and Best Actor for Kenneth Ma, Most Improved Female Artist for Kelly Cheung and Best Drama.

Series overview

Hong Kong's leading public hospital, Marshall Paxton, is being used as a trial ground for a radical reform project that could potentially change the future of Hong Kong's healthcare system. As medical practitioners at Marshall Paxton regularly face ethical dilemmas that challenge their professionalism, they are also being put in the middle of a power struggle between Deputy C.E. Dr. YT Yeung, who seeks for healthcare reform and for the spot of C.E., and the hospital's current C.E. Dr. Lui Chung-hok, who wants to keep the status quo. Fictional depictions of the Hospital Authority (known in the series as the Medical Development Authority), the Department of Health, and the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo) are prominent entities that drive the plot.

Plot

Hong Kong's healthcare reform is imperative. The radical reform plan is to privatize public hospitals and raise capital by means of public listing to maintain operations. The leading public hospital, Marshall Paxton Hospital, has become a pilot for the reform. YT Yeung, Deputy Hospital Chief Executive and Chief of Service (C.O.S.) of Neurosurgery, has made preparations for five years, seeking to turn the hospital into a medical empire that raises more than $10 billion. He is even looking to be the person-in-charge! Dr. Tong Ming, C.O.S. of Cardio Thoracic Surgery, has a totally different ideology compared to YT's. He has fought alongside his apprentice Dr. Max Poon in accordance with the life-saving principle that is to hold human life above the healthcare system, but they are instead dragged into the power struggle initiated by Dr. Lui Chung-hok, CE of Marshal Paxton, who opposes the medical reform. YT, Tong Ming cardiothoracic surgeon Kennis Ching, A&E's Dr. Zoe So, and neurosurgeon Dr. Yan Lui, etc. are a group of strong-willed people in white robes, but their opponents are not only diseases, but also human greed coupled with the lust driven by power…[1]

Production

Big White Duel was first announced in late 2017 as a new installment to Marco Law's Strongmen series, which started with the legal drama Law dis-Order in 2016. Initially produced with the working title White Giants (白色巨人), the new series would follow a similar to theme to Law dis-Order, in which career professionals engage in political games to consolidate power. Law employed the same team behind Law dis-Order for Big White Duel, including scriptwriter Wong Wai-keung.

Moses Chan and Ruco Chan were initially sought out to respectively star as Dr. YT Yeung and Dr. Tong Ming.[2] After turning down the roles, TVB cast Roger Kwok and Kenneth Ma in December 2017.[2] Big White Duel became Kwok's last TVB drama in his management contract. The role of Dr. Patrick Lam was first offered to Jason Chan, and then to Oscar Leung, but both turned down the role due to schedule conflicts. The role ultimately went to Stephen Wong.

In February 2018, Big White Duel held its first costume fitting press conference. Filming commenced that same month in Tuen Mun, and later in Shenzhen, China. Principal photography focused on locations in Tuen Mun's T PARK, Shenzhen's Horizontal Skyscraper, and the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, which were used as backdrops for Marshall Paxton Hospital.[3] Principal photography ended in July 2018 with a wrap-up party held on 2 July 2018.

Cast and characters

Marshall Paxton Hospital

NamePortrayed byOccupation
Dr. Lui Chung-hokDavid ChiangChief Executive of Marshall Paxton, Cardiothoracic surgeon
Dr. "YT" Yeung Yat-toRoger KwokDeputy Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton, Chief of Service (C.O.S.) for the Neuroendovascular Surgery (NES) Department, Neurosurgeon
Dr. Tong MingKenneth MaC.O.S. for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS), Cardiothoracic surgeon
Dr. "Samuel" Yu Cham-sumRam ChiangC.O.S. for the Department of Accident & Emergency (A&E)
Dr. "Patrick" Lam Hok-keiStephen WongNES Associate Consultant, Neurosurgeon
Dr. "Yan" Lui Oi-lingKelly CheungNES Associate Consultant, Neurosurgeon
Dr. "Kennis" Ching Lok-manAli LeeCTS Associate Consultant, Cardiothoracic surgeon
Dr. "Hugo" Ho Bing-kwongWillie WaiCTS Associate Consultant, Cardiothoracic surgeon
Dr. "Zoe" So YeeNatalie TongA&E Associate Consultant
Dr. "Max" Poon Wai-takMatthew HoCTS Resident Specialist
Dr. "Ceci" Fong Shu-tingCrystal FungCTS Resident Specialist
Wong Ching, RNLily PoonA&E Nurse Consultant
"Macy" Wai Man-yi, RNMoss WuA&E Associate Nurse Consultant

Government officials

NamePortrayed byOccupation
Kwok Yat-choiKeith NgChief Executive of Hong Kong
Chung Kin-singEnglish TangLegCo President
Dr. Cheung Sat-chauWillie LauDepartment of Health Secretary
Dr. "Ivan" Yau Kwok-tungTimothy ChengDeputy Health Secretary, Gastroenterologist
Dr. "Martin" Wan Ming-cheungMax CheungChairman for the Medical Development Authority
Lam Hoi-sangChan Wing-chunLegCo Party chairman
Ng Wing-yipGary TamLegCo legislator

Senior Management

CastRoleDescription
David Chiang
姜大衞
Lui Chung-hok
呂仲學

Dr. Lui

  • Marshall Paxton Chief Executive → Honorary Adviser → Health Secretary
  • Father of Lui Oi-ling
  • Opposed to the healthcare reform bill
Roger Kwok
郭晉安
Yeung Yat-to
楊逸滔

YT, YT Yeung

  • Marshall Paxton Deputy Chief Executive → Acting CE → CE
  • Supporter of the healthcare reform bill, later opposed
Kenneth Ma
馬國明[4]
Tong Ming
唐明
  • Marshall Paxton Deputy Chief Executive

Neuroendovascular Surgery (NES)

CastRoleDescription
Roger Kwok
郭晉安
Yeung Yat-to
楊逸滔

YT, YT Yeung, Dr. Yeung

  • Head of surgery
  • Department Chief of Service
  • In love with Yan
Stephen Wong
黃嘉樂
Lam Hok-kei
林學祈

Patrick, Dr. Lam

  • Associate Consultant → Consultant
  • Son of Lam Hoi-sang
  • Has a crush on Yan
Kelly Cheung
張曦雯
Lui Oi-ling
呂靄寧

Yan, Dr. Lui

  • Associate Consultant
  • Daughter of Lui Chung-hok
  • Best friends with Kennis
  • Friends with Zoe
  • In love with YT

Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS)

CastRoleDescription
Kenneth Ma
馬國明
Tong Ming
唐明

Dr. Tong

  • Department Chief of Service
  • Former Consultant of Chak On Hospital
  • Friends with Samuel
  • Has a love triangle with Zoe and Kennis
  • Ex-husband of Zoe, later remarried
  • Mentor of Poon Wai-tak
Ali Lee
李佳芯
Ching Lok-man
程洛雯

Kennis, Dr. Ching

  • Associate Consultant → Consultant → Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
  • Best friends with Yan and Zoe
  • In love with Tong Ming
  • Underwent Cardiac Auto-transplantation by Tong Ming in episode 24
  • Became a Doctor Without Borders in episode 25
  • Shot in episode 25, fate unknown
Willie Wai
韋家雄
Ho Bing-kwong
何秉光

Hugo, Dr. Ho

  • Associate Consultant → Consultant
  • Mean to everyone in the Cardiothoracic Surgery department
  • Jealous of Kennis’ skills and admiration by YT
  • Wife involved in accident and later dies with organs donated
Matthew Ho
何廣沛
Poon Wai-tak
潘懷德

Max, Dr. Poon

  • Medical Officer → Associate Consultant
  • Boyfriend of Fong Su-ting
Crystal Fung
馮盈盈
Fong Su-ting
方書婷

Ceci, Dr. Fong

  • Medical Officer
  • Girlfriend of Poon Wai-tak

Accident & Emergency (A & E)

CastRoleDescription
Ram Chiang
蔣志光
Yu Cham-sum
余湛琛

Samuel, Dr. Yu

  • Department Chief of Service/ Consultant
  • In love with Zoe
Natalie Tong
唐詩詠
So Yee
蘇怡

Zoe, Dr. So

  • Associate Consultant
  • Ex-wife of Tong Ming, later remarried

Nursing

CastRoleDescription
Lily Poon
潘芳芳
Wong Ching
汪澄
  • Advanced Practice Nurse/Consultant Nurse
  • A & E Nurse
Moss Wu
吳沚默
Wai Man-yi
韋文意

Macy

  • Associate Consultant Nurse
  • In love with Poon Wai-tak

Other cast

CastRoleDescription
Ashley Chu
朱智賢
Eugene, Hong Kiu
康橋
  • TNN producer
  • Wife of Martin, later divorced
  • In love with YT
  • Supporter of the healthcare reform bill, later opposed
Max Cheung
張達倫
Wan Ming-cheung
溫銘章

Martin, Dr. Wan

  • Medical Development Authority Chairman
  • Husband of Eugene, later divorced
  • Supporter of the healthcare reform bill, later opposed
Timothy Cheng
鄭子誠
Yau Kwok-tung
游國棟

Ivan, Dr. Yau

  • Deputy Health Secretary → Secretary → Resigned
  • Supporter of the healthcare reform bill
  • Threatened Kennis by her cardiac health
Chan Wing-chun
陳榮峻
Lam Hoi-sang
林海生
  • LegCo Party Chairman
  • Father of Lam Hok-kei
  • Supporter of the healthcare reform bill
Gary Tam
譚偉權
Ng Wing-yip
吳榮業

Councillor Ng

  • LegCo Opposition Member
  • Opposed to the healthcare reform bill
Keith Ng
吳瑞庭
Kwok Yat-choi
郭逸材
  • Hong Kong Chief Executive
Leo Lo
盧海鷹
Chui Tse-go
徐子高
  • Trading company salesman
  • Mental Patient
  • Gunman

Viewership ratings

TVB Jade

# Timeslot (HKT) Week Episode(s) Average points Peaking points
1
Mon – Fri 21:30
10 — 14 June 2019
1 — 5
28
29
2
17 — 21 June 2019
6 — 10
28
29
3
24 — 28 June 2019
11 — 15
28
⁠—
4
1 — 5 July 2019
16 — 20
28
⁠—
5
8 — 12 July 2019
21 — 25
31
⁠32
Total average⁠29⁠30

International broadcast

RegionNetworkNotes
 Malaysia8TV
 SingaporeVV Drama & MediaCorp Channel 8Dubbed With Mandarin
 CambodiaPNN TVDubbed With Khmer
Network(s)/Station(s) Series premiere Title
Hong Kong
Macau
TVB Anywhere, TVB Jade June 10, 2019 – July 12, 2019 (Monday to Friday 21:30-22:30) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
Singapore
Malaysia
TVB Jade June 10, 2019 – July 12, 2019 (Monday to Friday 21:30-22:30) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
Malaysia Astro AOD June 10, 2019 – July 12, 2019 (Monday to Friday 21:30-22:30) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
8TV December 9, 2020 – January 12, 2021 (The best of TVB Monday to Friday 19:00-19:58) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
Singapore Hub Drama First June 10, 2019 – July 12, 2019 (Monday to Friday 21:30-22:30) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
Hub VV Drama October 22, 2019 – November 25, 2019 (Episode premiere Monday to Friday 20:00-21:00) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
Channel 8 March 18, 2020 – May 26, 2020 (Monday to Friday 19:30-20:00 (A half episode of the original version is broadcast every time)) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
Australia TVBJ (Australia) June 11, 2019 – July 13, 2019 (Tuesday to Saturday 21:30-22:30) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
United States TVBe June 10, 2019 – July 12, 2019 (Monday to Friday Golden Theater Hours 16:00-17:00) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
TVB1 December 2, 2019 – January 3, 2020 (Golden Theater Monday to Friday 22:00-23:00 EDT) 白色強人 (Big White Duel; lit: )
Cambodia PNN TV 2019 () Big White Duel ( ; lit: )
Thailand Channel 3 (33) December 19, 2020 - January 00, 2021 (Every night Monday to Sunday afternoon 3:43-04.27) Big White Duel ทีมแพทย์หัวใจทระนง ( ; lit: )

Awards & Nominations

TVB Anniversary Awards 2019

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result
2019 2019 TVB Anniversary Awards Best Actor Kenneth Ma Won
Roger Kwok Nominated
Best Actress Ali Lee Nominated (Top 5)
Natalie Tong Nominated (Top 5)
Kelly Cheung Nominated
Best Supporting Actor David Chiang Nominated (Top 5)
Matthew Ho Nominated (Top 5)
Max Cheung Nominated
Ram Chiang Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Ashley Chu Nominated
Crystal Fung Nominated
Most Popular Male Character Kenneth Ma Nominated (Top 5)
Matthew Ho Nominated
Roger Kwok Nominated
Most Popular Female Character Natalie Tong Nominated (Top 5)
Kelly Cheung Nominated
Ali Lee Nominated
Best Drama N/A Won

References

  1. "'Big White Duel' official TVB website". TVB (in Chinese). Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  2. "Kenneth Ma replaces Moses Chan as the star of new TVB medical drama". KK News (in Chinese). 14 December 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. "Big White Duel's three major location spots". Sky Post (in Chinese). 28 June 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  4. "馬國明食住《降魔的》氣勢 開新劇《白色強人》再演醫生". 2018-12-14. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
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