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. 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 | |
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Official poster | |
Chinese | 白色強人 |
Mandarin | bái sè qiáng rén |
Cantonese | baak6 sik1 koeng4 jan4 |
Literally | White Strongmen |
Genre | Medical drama |
Created by | Marco Law |
Written by | Wong Wai-keung |
Starring | |
Theme music composer | Alan Cheung |
Opening theme | "Choice" (選擇善良) by Fred Cheng |
Ending theme | "Without You" (沒有你開始) by Hana Kuk |
Composer(s) | Alan Cheung |
Country of origin | Hong Kong |
Original language(s) | Cantonese |
No. of episodes | 25 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Marco Law |
Production location(s) | |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Production company(s) | TVB |
Distributor | TVBI |
Release | |
Original network | TVB Jade |
Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
Original release | 10 June – 12 July 2019 |
Chronology | |
Followed by | Big 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 TVB Anniversary Awards, including Best Drama, Best Actor for Kenneth Ma and Most Improved Female Artist for Kelly Cheung.
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 casted 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
Name | Portrayed by | Occupation |
---|---|---|
Dr. Lui Chung-hok | David Chiang | Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton, Cardiothoracic surgeon |
Dr. "YT" Yeung Yat-to | Roger Kwok | Deputy Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton, Chief of Service (C.O.S.) for the Neuroendovascular Surgery (NES) Department, Neurosurgeon |
Dr. Tong Ming | Kenneth Ma | C.O.S. for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS), Cardiothoracic surgeon |
Dr. "Samuel" Yu Cham-sum | Ram Chiang | C.O.S. for the Department of Accident & Emergency (A&E) |
Dr. "Patrick" Lam Hok-kei | Stephen Wong | NES Associate Consultant, Neurosurgeon |
Dr. "Yan" Lui Oi-ling | Kelly Cheung | NES Associate Consultant, Neurosurgeon |
Dr. "Kennis" Ching Lok-man | Ali Lee | CTS Associate Consultant, Cardiothoracic surgeon |
Dr. "Hugo" Ho Bing-kwong | Willie Wai | CTS Associate Consultant, Cardiothoracic surgeon |
Dr. "Zoe" So Yee | Natalie Tong | A&E Associate Consultant |
Dr. "Max" Poon Wai-tak | Matthew Ho | CTS Resident Specialist |
Dr. "Ceci" Fong Shu-ting | Crystal Fung | CTS Resident Specialist |
Wong Ching, RN | Lily Poon | A&E Nurse Consultant |
"Macy" Wai Man-yi, RN | Moss Wu | A&E Associate Nurse Consultant |
Government officials
Name | Portrayed by | Occupation |
---|---|---|
Kwok Yat-choi | Keith Ng | Chief Executive of Hong Kong |
Chung Kin-sing | English Tang | LegCo President |
Dr. Cheung Sat-chau | Willie Lau | Department of Health Secretary |
Dr. "Ivan" Yau Kwok-tung | Timothy Cheng | Deputy Health Secretary, Gastroenterologist |
Dr. "Martin" Wan Ming-cheung | Max Cheung | Chairman for the Medical Development Authority |
Lam Hoi-sang | Chan Wing-chun | LegCo Party chairman |
Ng Wing-yip | Gary Tam | LegCo legislator |
Senior Management
Cast | Role | Description |
David Chiang 姜大衞 | Lui Chung-hok 呂仲學 |
Dr. Lui
|
Roger Kwok 郭晉安 | Yeung Yat-to 楊逸滔 |
YT, YT Yeung
|
Kenneth Ma 馬國明[4] | Tong Ming 唐明 |
|
Neuroendovascular Surgery (NES)
Cast | Role | Description |
Roger Kwok 郭晉安 | Yeung Yat-to 楊逸滔 |
YT, YT Yeung, Dr. Yeung
|
Stephen Wong 黃嘉樂 | Lam Hok-kei 林學祈 |
Patrick, Dr. Lam
|
Kelly Cheung 張曦雯 | Lui Oi-ling 呂靄寧 |
Yan, Dr. Lui
|
Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS)
Cast | Role | Description |
Kenneth Ma 馬國明 | Tong Ming 唐明 |
Dr. Tong
|
Ali Lee 李佳芯 | Ching Lok-man 程洛雯 |
Kennis, Dr. Ching
|
Willie Wai 韋家雄 | Ho Bing-kwong 何秉光 |
Hugo, Dr. Ho
|
Matthew Ho 何廣沛 | Poon Wai-tak 潘懷德 |
Max, Dr. Poon
|
Crystal Fung 馮盈盈 | Fong Su-ting 方書婷 |
Ceci, Dr. Fong
|
Accident & Emergency (A & E)
Cast | Role | Description |
Ram Chiang 蔣志光 | Yu Cham-sum 余湛琛 |
Samuel, Dr. Yu
|
Natalie Tong 唐詩詠 | So Yee 蘇怡 |
Zoe, Dr. So
|
Nursing
Cast | Role | Description |
Lily Poon 潘芳芳 | Wong Ching 汪澄 |
|
Moss Wu 吳沚默 | Wai Man-yi 韋文意 |
Macy
|
Other cast
Cast | Role | Description |
Ashley Chu 朱智賢 | Eugene, Hong Kiu 康橋 |
|
Max Cheung 張達倫 | Wan Ming-cheung 溫銘章 |
Martin, Dr. Wan
|
Timothy Cheng 鄭子誠 | Yau Kwok-tung 游國棟 |
Ivan, Dr. Yau
|
Chan Wing-chun 陳榮峻 | Lam Hoi-sang 林海生 |
|
Gary Tam 譚偉權 | Ng Wing-yip 吳榮業 |
Councillor Ng
|
Keith Ng 吳瑞庭 | Kwok Yat-choi 郭逸材 |
|
Leo Lo 盧海鷹 | Chui Tse-go 徐子高 |
|
Viewership ratings
TVB Jade
# | Timeslot (HKT) | Week | Episode(s) | Average points | Peaking points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total average | 29 | 30 |
International broadcast
Region | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|
8TV | ||
VV Drama & MediaCorp Channel 8 | Dubbed With Mandarin | |
PNN TV | Dubbed With Khmer |
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
- "'Big White Duel' official TVB website". TVB (in Chinese). Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- "Kenneth Ma replaces Moses Chan as the star of new TVB medical drama". KK News (in Chinese). 14 December 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- "Big White Duel's three major location spots". Sky Post (in Chinese). 28 June 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- "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.