TVB Square

Tian Xia Di Yi (40 Episodes)

Also Translated as: Number One in the World / World's Finest
* Reviewed by TVB Square

About the Name:
This is a mainland series, most mainland series does not have English names! So, I had to translate the name. Tian Xia Di Yi could translated as Number One in the World, World's Number One, or World's Finest.

Main Characters:
Roger Kwok, Li Ya Peng, Wallace Huo, Michelle Yip, Damian Lau, Chen Yi Rong, Gao Yuan Yuan

Guest Appearances :
Eva Huang as Li Ya Peng's first love
Dicky Cheung as Roger Kwok's father
Monica Chan as Roger Kwok's mother
Ken Tong as the world's richest man

What, when, where and who
The story sets in the Ming Dynasty, there were two powerful men who fight against each other. One is the emperor's uncle: Damian Lau, the other is the the emperor's servant (let's just call him Mr. Cho). It was very clear at the beginning that Mr. Cho wants to be number one in the world, he wants to be the emperor. So, Damian set up this powerful place to gather all the talented people around the world, so that Damian can fight against Mr. Cho. Out of these many talented people, there are four individuals who stand out the most, and the story goes around with them.

First, it is the "Heaven Number One" (Li Ya Peng), he is the best at the sword. He went to Japan to study for the swordplay, at there, he found his first love Eva Huang, who is a Japanese girl. The two did not end up together, because Eva's father is the enemy of Li Ya Peng. Later on, Ya Peng met Gao Yuan Yuan, who is Eva's sister...

Second, it is the "Earth Number One" (Wallace Huo), he is the best at the big knife. Wallace has a deep past, he always wanted to find out who murdered his father, so Wallace takes the wrong path to revenge. Because of revenge, Wallace went crazy, his evil spirits controlled over him, so he had to cut his hand off to stay calm...

Third, it is the "Xuan Number One" (Michelle Yip), I am not sure how to translate her title, she is the best at calligraphy, chess and strategies. Michelle always dress herself as a man (90% of the time, she dresses as a man, that reminds me of Eternal Happiness). Michelle always likes Ya Peng, but he only treats her as a sister, and then Michelle realizes that Wallace always loved her, so the two began to build chemistry...

Fourth, it is the "Yellow Number One" (Roger Kwok), he is the funny character. He was a nobody until he met Dicky Cheung's character (who also happened to be his father). He got all the kung fu from Dicky's character, including the best kung fu skill: the yellow body skill. Whenever he uses that skill, his whole body turns into gold color, and nothing can harm him. Roger also falls in love with the princess Chen Yi Rong, this couple is very cute together.

The four of them working together for Damian until they found out the fact that Damian is using them. After Mr. Cho's death, Damian's true identity was revealed, he is the one who wants to be the emperor. So, the four of them began to turn themselves against Damian...

THE FACTORS
- Dislike Factor
Gao Yuan Yuan
I hate her because she was the one killed Michelle! I hate her because she was the one framed Wallace! She is responsible to harm two of my favorite characters in the show, so I have no choice, but hating her! Well, at the beginning, she was evil! You might not realized it, because you will think that she is a very nice girl. However, her true identity was revealed (Michelle found it out, poor Michelle...), then you will realized that you got fooled. Well, the good thing is that, she actually felt in love with Ya Peng, but she did so many things that we will never forgive her!

- Love Factor
Michelle Yip

I was debating about Michelle's performances in Eternal Happiness and in this series, and I found myself enjoy her performances more in this series. Well, the big reason is the fact that she died, I love tragic stories. The other big reason is that, I love the Wallace-Michelle chemistry, it is just a pity that you don't see them together too much of the time. There is another reason, she actually got more screen appearances than ANYONE ELSE in the series! Trust me! She is the lead of the leading roles! Other than these, I also love her character very much, I love the way she falls in love with Wallace. I love the way she fights (great kung fu skills!). Her character is really special, it is a tragic that she has to die! (More detail in the Pity Factor section)

Wallace Huo

Wallace is so cute, so handsome, so skilled (good singer, good performer, good fighter!). His character doesn't laugh too much, well, he only laughs when he thinks about Michelle. He also laughed twice without thinking Michelle (that was when he was talking with Roger). Anyway, my point is that, he doesn't laugh very often, but when he does, all the girls will go crazy... Wallace did some harmful things in the series, that was when he was crazy, but the good thing is that, he was willing to control himself. I think he did a great job as playing a guy who doesn't laugh too much, a guy who does evil things, and a guy who loves Michelle dearly. Great character!

Roger Kwok and Chen Yi Rong

These two will crack you up no matter when! Their characters are very alike, both of them are funny, both of them are cute, therefore, this chemistry is very good. I love the way they fight against each other, or joking around. This couple is the only couple who did end up together, and we all wished that, I mean, funny people never die tragically.

The Story
It is a interesting story, from the beginning to the end, I don't find much dragging moments. It is also interesting that the story talks about one character at the time. It talks about Roger first, then couple episodes later, it was Ya Peng, then backs to Roger, then goes to Wallace, you don't see them together too much until towards the end. I think this way is a good way to present a story like this, because each main character's background is very different.

- Pity Factor
Michelle Yip

Well, her love story is such a tragic... at the beginning, she loves the man (Ya Peng) who never loves her. After she found out about Wallace's love, she rejected him. But, the good thing is that, soon after, she falls in love with him. Then, not much longer, she died! I mean, Michelle and Wallace has so little time to be together, it is such a tragic! Why she died? She found out that Gao Yuen Yuen (Ya Peng's wife) was evil. Well, Michelle could just hide what she found out and tell Ya Peng instead, why did Michelle has to reveal Gao Yuen Yuen's identity right in front of that evil woman?! If Michelle hides that secret, she didn't have to die! Poor Michelle...

- BEST SCENES
(1) When Roger and Chen Yi Rong are together, this two will always think about something to make the audiences laugh.
(2) When Wallace saw Michelle taking shower (accidentally). Don't worry, this is PG-13. Wallace was so shy, haha...
(3) When Wallace gave Michelle the medicine to heal, but he almost end up dying, that was when Michelle found out that Wallace always loved her.
(4) Wallace asked Michelle: "did you hurt you? When did I hurt you, where?" Michelle said, "you hurt my heart!" That was when Wallace realized Michelle also loves him. He smiled, very sweet smile...
(5) After Wallace healed, Michelle was about to marry to Ken Tong. Wallace came to see her and ask her why. Michelle says, "I love you, more than what you think." Wallace realizes that Michelle marries to Ken Tong because she wants Wallace to be safe.
(6) At Ken Tong and Michelle's wedding, Wallace came to beg Michelle to kill him... Michelle then escapes the wedding, she wants to be with Wallace! Such a sweet runaway bride!
(7) Wallace and Michelle's kissing scene: you get to see Wallace's tongue!!!! Against, this is PG-13, just don't be jealous, hehe
(8) Michelle's death scene (see pictures above). Before I began to watch this series, I actually saw these pictures at a forum somewhere, and I was like, I HAVE TO WATCH THIS SERIES! It was a great scene, even though I waited 36.5 episodes to see this scene, but it was worth it!

- How Come Factor
The poster (see poster)
Let's talking about the order of the appearances, Michelle gets most of the screens, then it is Roger, then it is Ya Peng, then it is Wallace. Why did Dicky's picture gets so big on the poster? He was only the guest star of the guest stars, I mean he only appeared in 1 episode, maybe just 10 minutes. I don't know why his picture was so big on the poster. Same as Eva, her picture was bigger than Michelle's picture! That is so not fair!

THE COMMENTS
- The Performances
Best Actor goes to Wallace Huo, and the Best Actress goes to Michelle Yip. I love this two very much! They topped Raymond-Michelle chemistry, for real! Roger Kwok gets my special attention as well, he was very funny. Chen Yi Rong surprised me a lot, her character was active, funny, unlike the one in "Lavender" (I like her in Lavender as well, but her character was too tragic in that series). Damian was excellent at being evil again...

- Worth Watching?
Totally! I think this is one of the mainland shows you want to watch. To all the Michelle, Wallace, and Roger fans, you just have to see it.