Maidens' Vow

Maidens' Vow (Traditional Chinese: 鳳凰四重奏) is a TVB drama series broadcast in August 2006. It won acclaim for its unique format of depicting four different generations of the same lineage but which have very few cross-generational interactions. (None on-screen, and few in the plot) The four generations also depict distinctly different cultural and historical settings. (Traditional late Qing dynasty, Chinese revolutionary era, 1970s Hong Kong, 2000s Hong Kong)

Maidens' Vow
鳳凰四重奏
Maidens' Vow poster
GenreDrama
StarringCharmaine Sheh
Joe Ma
Opening theme"蝶變" by
Charmaine Sheh
Ending theme"禁戀" by
Charmaine Sheh
Country of originHong Kong
Original languageCantonese
No. of episodes30
Production
Running time45 minutes (approx.)
Production companyTVB
Release
Original networkTVB Jade
Original releaseAugust 28 (2006-08-28) 
October 6, 2006 (2006-10-06)
External links
Website

Its name roughly translates as "The Phoenix Quartet's Melody".

Synopsis

The drama centers around a restaurant owned by four generations of women.

First generation

1880 - 1905: Ngai Yu-Fung (Charmaine Sheh), who was married to a good-for-nothing husband Wang Yuk-Lun (Sammul Chan). Lun gambled away their family's assets and cheated on his wife numerous times. Lun also was always suspicious about the relationship about Yu-Fung and Yu-Chi, even though they were always telling the truth, but of course, the good-for-nothing never believed it. However, Fung remained faithful to her husband, despite her and Yu-Chi (Joe Ma)'s enduring love. Fung eventually became pregnant and had a daughter with Lun. The first story ends tragically, with Fung dying with her longtime lover Chi in a train accident.

Second generation

1919 - 1925: Fung and Lun's daughter Wang Chi-Kwun (Charmaine Sheh). She fell in love with her teacher, Li Kat-Cheung (Joe Ma), and they eventually eloped to Tianjin. Though they were very poor, they were still happy because they could be together. Her husband, who had studied to become a doctor, had to work in coal mines to support the family. The owner of the coal mines didn't care about the safety of the workers at all, and the death of a good friend spurred her husband to support the Revolution. Chi-Kwun was separated from her husband and eventually returned to her home to help run the family restaurant. After two years with no news from her husband, he suddenly resurfaced, working for the Japanese. However, it turned out he was actually a double agent, and still fighting for the Revolution. He was found out and they fled for their lives, spending an unforgettable last night on the train together, before they had to part ways again. Chi-Kwun became pregnant with their child, and continued to run the family restaurant. She waited for him for the rest of her life, and died of old age.

Third generation

1967 - 1982: Bak Wai-Jan (Charmaine Sheh), the grand daughter of Kwun. Jan married Dai Lap-Yan (Joe Ma), who was firmly convinced that women should stay at home while the men worked to support the family. Wai-Jan became bored with staying at home all the time and decided to work in an advertising company without letting Lap-Yan know. However, he eventually found out, and their relationship went through a lot of turbulence. In the end, Wai-Jan made Lap-Yan switch roles with her to teach him a lesson, and showed him how hard it was to have to work and keep up with chores at home. Lap-yan learned his lesson and had a daughter with Wai-Jan. They immigrated to the United States in search of a better life, but unfortunately Wai-Jan and Lap-Yan both died in an earthquake in San Francisco.

Fourth generation

2003 - 2006: Dai Sze-Ka (Charmaine Sheh), Wai-Jan and Lap-Yan's daughter. She is hard-working and independent, and believes that only fools get married. Though she has had many boyfriends, one thing remains in common with all of them - they always go missing before New Year's and then break up with her soon after. Meanwhile, Fong Ka-On (Joe Ma), a successful accountant, is stood up at the altar by his fiancée. The two of them spend New Year's Eve together and had a one-night stand. However, they fell in love and eventually moved in together, but due to their differences and several misunderstandings, broke up again. Sze-Ka eventually gave birth to a baby boy, but did not have a chance to tell Ka-On during her pregnancy, and decided to raise the child herself with the help of her friend Sheung Yat-Kat (Sammul Chan). Sze-Ka reopens the restaurant that her great-great-grandmother opened and became famous due to her cooking books and Ka-On tries to marry her again...

Cast

First generation

CastRoleDescription
Charmaine ShehNgai Yu-Fung
魏瑜鳳
Yu Chi's friend.
Wang Yuk-Lun's wife.
Wang Chi-Kwun's mother.
Joe MaYu Chi
余賜
Chef
Ngai Yu-Fung's friend.
Sammul ChanWang Yuk-Lun
汪毓麟
Ngai Yu-Fung's husband.
Wang Chi-Kwun's father.
Wu FungWang Sin-Kei
汪善琦
Tung Dai-Hei's husband.
Wang Yuk-Lun's father.
Kiki SheungTung Dai-Hei
董帶喜
Wang Sin-Kei's wife.
Wang Yuk-Lun's mother.

Second generation

CastRoleDescription
Charmaine ShehWang Chi-Kwun
汪子君
Student
Ngai Yu-Fung and Wang Yuk-Lun's daughter.
Li Kat-Cheung's wife.
Bak Wai-Jan's grandmother.
Joe MaLi Kat-Cheung
李吉祥
Teacher
Wang Chi-Kwun's husband.
Bak Wai-Jan's grandfather.
Kiki SheungTung Dai-Hei
董帶喜
Wang Chi-Kwun's grandmother.
Irene Wong (汪琳)Yung Dak-Sin
容德善
Wang Chi-Kwun's servant.
Eric LiDan Lai-Jak
范禮澤
Doctor
Elaine YiuCheung Lei
張莉
Wang Chi-Kwun's friend.

Third generation

CastRoleDescription
Charmaine ShehBak Wai-Jan
白慧珍
Housewife
Wang Chi-Kwun and Li Kat-Cheung's grand daughter.
Dai Lap-Yan's wife.
Dai Sze-Ka's mother.
Joe MaDai Lap-Yan
戴立仁
Salesman
Bak Wai-Jan's husband.
Dai Sze-Ka's father.
Joel ChanBat Ha-Kau (Henry)
畢夏裘

Fourth generation

CastRoleDescription
Charmaine ShehDai Sze-Ka
戴思嘉
Beer Girl/Restaurant Owner
Bak Wai-Jan and Dai Lap-Yan's daughter.
Fong Ka-On's lover.
Joe MaFong Ka-On (K.O.)
方家安
Accountant
Dai Sze-Ka's lover.
Sammul ChanSheung Yat-Kat
尚一吉
Dai Sze-Ka's friend.
Sherming Yiu (姚樂怡)Siu Yuk-Jing
蕭玉貞
Dai Sze-Ka's friend.
Ken Wong (王凱韋)Tang Pang
鄧鵬
Bartender
Fong Ka-On's friend.

Viewership ratings

Week Episode Average Points Peaking Points References
1
August 28 - September 1, 2006 1 — 5
32
35
[1]
2
September 4–8, 2006 6 — 10
34
37
[2]
3
September 11–15, 2006 11 — 15
34
37
[3]
4
September 18–22, 2006 16 — 20
32
35
[4]
5
September 25–29, 2006 21 — 25
30
[5]
6
October 2–6, 2006 26 — 30
29
[6]

Accolades

Year Ceremony Category Recipients and nominees Result
2006 TVB Anniversary Awards Best Actress Charmaine Sheh Won
Most Popular Female Character Won
Best Drama Nominated
Best Actor Joe Ma Nominated
Most Popular Male Character Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Sammul Chan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Kiki Sheung Nominated
Most Improved Male Artiste Sammul Chan Nominated
Best Promotional Clip Nominated
Annual Artiste Award 2006 Best TV Actress Award – Gold Charmaine Sheh Won
Best Newcomer Singer Award – Bronze Won
China TV Drama Award Most Popular TV Drama Actress for Hong Kong Region Won
2007 Next Magazine Awards Top 10 Television Programmes (#6) Won
Top 10 Television Artistes (#1) Charmaine Sheh Won
2008 Astro Wah Lai Toi Drama Awards My Favourite TVB Actor Joe Ma Nominated
My Favourite TVB Drama Characters Won
Annual Golden TVS Award Most Popular HK-Taiwan TV Actress Charmaine Sheh Won

References

  • TVB.com Maidens' Vow - Official Website (in Chinese)
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