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Draft:No Return (2024 TV series)

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No Return
巾幗梟雄之懸崖
GenrePeriod Drama, Romantic Comedy
Created byHong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited,
Tencent Penguin Pictures
Written byCheung Wah-Biu 張華標 [1]
Directed byChan Yim Kei 陳艷琪
Creative directorSai Wan Lau 劉世運 [2]
StarringNancy Wu, Wayne Lai, Edwin Siu, Hera Chan, Joey Law
Theme music composerJacky Chan Kwok-Leung 陳國樑
Opening themeEven If the Sky Falls (就算天空塌下来) by Hayes Yeung, sung by Leo Ku [3]
Ending themeRed Butterfly (紅蝴蝶) by Yip Siu Chung, Tang Chi Wai, sung by Wayne Lai and Nancy Wu
Original languageCantonese
No. of episodes25
Production
Executive producerCatherina Tsang [4]
ProducerDave Fong [1]
Production locationsHong Kong, Hengdian World Studios
Camera setupMulti camera
Running time45 minutes
Production companiesHong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited, Tencent Penguin Pictures
Original release
NetworkTVB Jade, Tencent Video
Release21 October (2024-10-21) –
22 November 2024 (2024-11-22)
No Return
Traditional Chinese巾幗梟雄之懸崖
Simplified Chinese巾帼枭雄之悬崖
Transcriptions

No Return (Chinese: 巾幗梟雄之懸崖) is a 2024 Hong Kong television period drama, and romantic comedy co-produced by TVB, and Penguin Film and Television by producer Dave Fong, and screenwriter Cheung Wah-Biu. It stars Wayne Lai, Nancy Wu, Edwin Siu, Hera Chan, Celina Harto, Joey Law, Gabriel Harrison, Lee Shing Cheong, Mary Hon, To Yin-gor, and Susan Tse as the main cast.[1]

The drama is the 4th installment of the Rosy Business franchise. The Chinese name for the series 巾幗梟雄 means Ambitious strong Woman. The Chinese name for the 4th installment 懸崖 means Precipice, or symbolically, at the edge of no return.

Synopsis

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Set in the early Republic of China era, in the 1920s, No Return follows the lives of Tang Kwai Sim "7th Master", and Chai 17. Tang Kwai Sim is a successful businesswoman in charge of Wing Yip Bank left to her by her late father. She is feared by many as "7th Master" being the 7th most influential in the Shanghai Concession business world. She is also the only woman among the cadre of the top businesspersons. Under her ruthlessness, lies a vulnerable young woman facing adversity in both her professional and personal life. There she encounters Chai 17, an out-of-luck businessman, one who's able to give business advice, but unable to personally prosper. Chai 17 saves her life and the bank from going under, and the two develop a professional relationship that blossoms into a friendship. Along the way they encounter many adversaries, including Lam Mo Choi, a manipulative villain with three separate, yet identical identities. He holds a grudge against the Tang Family, and is bent on destroying 7th Master and her allies.

Cast and Characters

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Chai Family

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Cast Role Description
To Yin Gor Chai Man Yee
柴民意
Doctor
Owner of a Chinese medical clinic
Chai 17's father
Suffered a heart attack and died after healing Luk Yik Cing.
Wayne Lai Chai 17
柴十七
Chai Man Yee's son
Kwai Fa Heung's friend
Business wizard
Benefactor of the Luk Family
He is named after the 17th Hexagram of the I Ching, overcomes all odds, drawn toward noble people, influential and successful[5]
Yuki Law Luk Yik Cing
陸奕澄
Cing Cing
Luk Wing's (9th Master) daughter.
Suffered from a strange illness before being healed by Chai Man Yee.
Became Chai 17's student.

Tang Family

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Cast Role Description
Willie Lau Tang Wing So
鄧永壽
Owner of Wing Lok Textile Mill. Founder of Wing Yip Bank
Sze Wai Ngaa's husband. Father of Tang Kwai Lan, Kwai Sang, Kwai San, Kwai Sim, and Kwai Ping.
Rosanne Lui Sze Wai Ngaa
詩懷雅
Tang Wing So's wife. Mother of Tang Kwai Lan, Kwai Sang, Kwai San, and Kwai Sim. Adoptive mother to Tang Kwai Ping.
Kiwi Yuen Tang Kwai Lan
鄧桂蘭
Elder sister of Tang Kwai Sang, Kwai San, and Kwai Sim.
Wai Kang's mother. Tang Kwai Ping's half-sister.
Carisa Yan Tang Kwai Sang
鄧桂嫦
Younger sister of Tang Kwai Lan. Elder sister to Tang Kwai San, and Tang Kwai Sim. Tang Kwai Ping's half-sister.
Gabriel Harrison Tang Kwai San
鄧桂新
2nd Master, Master San
Tang Kwai Sim's elder brother. Younger brother of Tang Kwai Lan, and Kwai San. Tang Kwai Ping's half-brother.
Covets Tang Kwai Sim's wealth and power.
Nancy Wu Tang Kwai Sim
鄧桂嬋
7th Master
Seventh most influential businessperson in Shanghai
Principal owner of Wing Yip Bank
Younger sister of Tang Kwai Lan, Kwai Sang, and Kwai San.
Tang Kwai Ping's half-sister. Gave the most attention to Tang Kwai Ping.
Edwin Siu Tang Kwai Ping
鄧桂平
Tang Wing So and Lam Fong's son
Yuri Wong Lam Fong
林方
Mother to Tang Kwai Ping, and Lam Mo Choi
Brian Chow Wai Kang
偉強
Tang Kwai Lan's son

Wing Yip Bank

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Cast Role Description
Nancy Wu Tang Kwai Sim
鄧桂嬋
7th Master
Chairperson of Wing Yip Bank.
Wayne Lai Chai 17
柴十七
7th Master's special assistant
Lisa Ch'ng Fong Yee
方儀
Investment banking manager
7th Master's closest, and most trusted colleague
Carman Kwan Lai Ga Bo
李嘉寶
Senior supervisor
Doris Chow Tsoi Kyun
徐娟
Senior supervisor
Kristy Shaw Chow Na Na
周娜娜
Senior supervisor
Josephine Hung Ah Lai
阿麗
7th Master's secretary

Lee Family / Osmanthus Restaurant

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Cast Role Description
Lee Shing Cheong Kwai Ting Fung
桂廷峰
Owner of Osmanthus restaurant
Chow Gee Ning's husband
Mary Hon Chow Gee Ning
周芷寧
Kwai Ting Fung's wife
賀楚清 (childhood) Kwai Fa Heung
桂花香
Her name means Osmanthus perfume.
Kwai Ting Fung and Chow Gee Ning's daughter. Chai 17's friend. Wai Ho's friend, later became his wife.
Hera Chan
賀楚清 (childhood) Wai Ho
韋豪
Ning Lai's closest friend, and partner in crime. Kwai Fa Heung's friend, later became her husband. Fraternal brother with Master Hao. Assassin, rickshaw driver, later working in the restaurant as a waiter.
Joey Law
Celina Harto Ning Lai
寧俐
Wai Ho's closest friend, partner in crime, and benefactor having rescued him from trouble. In love with Wai Ho. Master Hao's god-daughter. Skilled in mimicry. Took refuge in the restaurant working as a waiter.
Andy Sui Pau Gor (Leopard)
豹哥
Prisoner, broke out of prison with Chai 17. Waiter at Osmanthus restaurant
Oman Lam Ah Gai (Chicken)
阿雞
Vincent Cheung Sik Seot (Cricket)
蟋蟀

Shanghai Concession's 10 Most Influential Business Tycoons

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Cast Role Description
Gabriel Harrison Tang Kwai San
鄧桂新
2nd Master / Master Xin
Albert Cheung Ngok Cheung Ling
樂祥齡
3rd Master
Ngok Su Tong's father
Feng Li Ping 6th Master
Nancy Wu Tang Kwai Sim
鄧桂嬋
7th Master
Owner of Wing Yip Bank.
張振才 8th Master
Pat Poon Luk Wing
陸永
9th Master / Uncle Zhai齋叔
Owner of Forever Bank
Luk Yik Cing's father
徐金水 10th Master

The Underworld

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Cast Role Description
Edwin Siu Tang Kwai Ping
鄧桂平
Half-brother of Tang Kwai Sim
Lam Mo Choi
林茂財
Republic of China Head of military affairs. Holds a huge grudge against the Tang Family
Long Sei Hoi
龍四海
General Long and Aunt May's son
Akina Hong Big Sister Red
大紅姐
Influential, and respected businessperson in Hangzhou. Tang Kwai Sim's sworn sister, and close friend.
Susan Tse Aunt May
薇姨
Long Zhan Tong's wife, Long Sei Hoi's mother
Sam Tsang Long Zhan Tong
龍振堂
Republic of China general, corrupt warlord, mass murderer
Steven Chan Adjutant Long General Long's right-hand man
Anson Ng General Long's underling
Ng Shui Ting Police Commissioner Shanghai Municipal Police. 7th Master has him in her pocket.
怖仁巴雅爾 Brother Lai
孝哥
An underworld boss, employed by 7th Master for discreet missions.
Lam King Kong Man Cing Gor
文青哥
Jailor, gambling addict
Hellston Ching Cho Dai Fu "Big Tiger Cho"
曹大虎
An underworld boss, thug.
Long Sai Hoi's scheming led to Cho Dai Fu framing Wai Ho for murder, with Chai 17 also going to prison
Marco Lee Yiu King Master Hao
侯爺
An underworld boss, took advantage of 7th Master's kidnapping to extort ransom money from the Tang Family.
Sunny Dai Wu Ying "Housefly"
烏蠅
Master Hao's god son, Wai Ho's fraternal brother, sexually harassed Kwai Faa Heung
Alan Tam Fei Fan Gor "Flying Sail"
飛帆哥
Master Hao's god son
Eric Cheng Tong Si Ling
唐司令
Republic of China warlord, nicknamed Tong Yu Maa 唐如麻 (Butcher people like flies), mass murderer, drug lord
Gordon Ip Mr Long
龍先生
An underworld boss, Cho gang member
Keith Mok Mr. Chu
朱先生
An underworld boss
Bert Mok Mr. Gam
金先生
Con artist, episode 12
Cheng Ka Sang Leader of the Axe Gang Aunt May's god brother. Tried to intimidate 7th Master. episodes 18, 19
黃福增 Slanted Head Man
歪頭漢
A famous assassin couple from Dongbei. After the death of her mother Sze Wai Ngaa, 7th Master hired assassins to kill Lam Mo Choi, but Chai 17 convinced her to abort the mission, episode 12
陳淑雲 White Haired Woman
白髮女人
Sun Zheng Yu Wu So Ban (Mr Ban with a Beard)
鬍鬚賓
Thug, extorted Wai Ho, and other rickshaw drivers for protection money, episode 4, 6
李婉儀 Hoi Tong
海棠
Wu So Ban's girlfriend, episode 4, 6

Other Characters

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Cast Role Description
William Chu Ngok Siu Tong
樂少堂
Ngok Cheung Ling's (3rd Master) son, episode 1, 4
Samuel Wong Chan Mau Long
陳茂龍
Master Sun's chief advisor
He gave a poorly written banking proposal to 7th Master and was criticized, episode 6
梁筠苓 Chu Sau Lan
朱秀蘭
Wing Lok Textile factor worker
Lam Mo Choi's wife, episode 10
Ngai Wai Man Director Ho
何廳長
Blackmailed by Lam Mo Choi, episode 23
Cheng Shu Fung Doctor Tong
童大夫
Helped 7th Master obtain a confession from Cho Dai Fu, episode 21

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Production Notes

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Filming began October 7, 2023, and ended December 17, 2023.[7] No Return was aired in October-November to coincide with TVB's launch anniversary date.[8]

The drama marked the return of screenwriter Cheung Wah-Biu who wrote the first two successful Rosy Business dramas, Rosy Business, and No Regrets his last script before leaving TVB in 2011. [9]

Filming took place at Hengdian World Studios, Nancy Wu mentioned in an interview that the bountiful environment provided by Hengdian made one feel as though one was in Shanghai. In the past, when period dramas were filmed in Hong Kong, the shooting environment was not enough to match with the drama. [10]

Artistic director Sai Wan Lo designed and tailored over 30 costumes for Nancy Wu's character, who wears both Chinese, and Western influenced clothing together. The artistic director said the hat style worn by Nancy not only added elegance to the costumes, but represented 1930s Western upper class society, and culture.[11]

Lead actress Nancy Wu mentioned the strenous nature of the film shoot, taking place within a span of just over two months, with dozens of scenes daily, resulted in her losing weight.[10][12][13]

Viewership Ratings

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Episode Week Highest cross-platform ratings references
01-05 October 21, 2024-October 27, 2024 24.8 points [14]
06-10 October 28, 2024 - November 3, 2024 23.1 points [15]
11-15 November 4, 2024 - November 10, 2024 22.2 points [16]
16-20 November 11, 2024 - November 17, 2024 22.4 points [17]
21-25 November 18, 2024 - November 24, 2024 23.5 points [18]
Averaged total 23.2 points

On Douban, No Return scored 5.6 midway through the series.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "巾幗梟雄之懸崖線上看劇情劇透|全25集懶人包(持續更新)黎耀祥/胡定欣/蕭正楠/羅天宇 共譜亂世情緣". TVB. 2024-11-14.
  2. ^ "《色,戒》美指劉世運任劇集藝術總監 為胡定欣度身訂造逾三十款霸氣舊上海女強人造型". Bastille Post. 2024-10-05.
  3. ^ "巾幗梟雄之懸崖|古巨基再獻聲負責主題曲 網民︰超好聽". am730. 2024-10-21.
  4. ^ "巾幗梟雄之懸崖丨黎耀祥胡定欣第8度合作展默契 曾勵珍往橫店探班一招慰勞劇組". Sing Tao Daily. 2023-12-04.
  5. ^ "巾幗梟雄之懸崖丨黎耀祥親自拆解「柴十七」名字迷思 原來同易經有關:角色名都唔係求其架". TVB. 2024-10-22.
  6. ^ "Closing credits". 巾幗梟雄之懸崖. Episode 1–25. 43 minutes in. TVB.
  7. ^ "巾帼枭雄之悬崖》完成拍摄". yule.hk. 2023-10-22.
  8. ^ "巾幗梟雄之前世今生". Ming Pao Weekly 明周文化. 2024-11-01.
  9. ^ "巾幗梟雄之前世今生". Ming Pao Weekly 明周文化. 2024-11-01. 張華標由二○一○年離開無綫,到二○二四年帶着《巾幗梟雄之懸崖》回歸港劇創作
  10. ^ a b "专访TVB艺人胡定欣:从配角到主演,与《巾帼枭雄》的缘分用"七爷"来完成". Shanghai Observer 上观新闻 (in Simplified Chinese). 2024-11-06.
  11. ^ "《色,戒》美指劉世運任劇集藝術總監 為胡定欣度身訂造逾三十款霸氣舊上海女強人造型". Bastille Post. 2024-10-05. 對於定欣的帽子造型,劇集藝術總監劉世運說:「戴帽除增添優雅、高貴,更是30年代西洋紳士文化的代表,交際場中的風光堂皇冠冕。」
  12. ^ "巾幗梟雄之懸崖|胡定欣難忘16年前因「一個意外」與《巾幗》系列種下緣份 笑言第四季演「七爺」感覺勵志". Yahoo News. 2024-10-10.
  13. ^ Hsia, Heidi (2024-03-13). "Wayne Lai and Nancy Wu admit challenges filming "No Return"". Cinema Online. Yahoo.
  14. ^ "巾幗梟雄之懸崖丨黎耀祥孖胡定欣一齊瞓棺材 對收視感滿意:幾驚得10幾點". Sing Tao Daily. 2024-11-05.
  15. ^ "TVB收視|東張力壓巾幗重奪榜首 陳懿德郭珮文孖妹節目勁收". HK01. 2024-11-04.
  16. ^ "TVB最新收视:《巾帼枭雄之悬崖》连续下滑,综艺节目表现抢眼". sohu.com. 2024-11-20.
  17. ^ "翡翠台节目收视率(2024年11月11日至17日)". yule.hk. 2024-11-19.
  18. ^ "TVB收視|《萬千星輝賀台慶》揮低一眾劇集節目 成績破近5年紀錄". HK01. 2024-11-25.
  19. ^ "没有邓萃雯的《巾帼枭雄》 少了气场与CP感". Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 (in Simplified Chinese). 2024-11-04. 至截稿,《悬崖》在豆瓣取得5.6分。
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