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《高级休闲英语》“Humpback” Wins Wide Acclaim
Prim Minister Humpback, a 40-part TV series, started its screening on Beijing Television in February without much commotion. Against the odds and to the surprise of many, the series won overnight acclaim and is now spreading rapidly across the country with 46 local stations signing contracts to screen it. With no large-scale promotion, no prior media attention, and no complex plot, what makes the series so unexpectedly successful?
There has never been a shortage of films TV series about emperors and their henchmen in China. But some presented history in a solemn and serious tone to strive for historical realism, while other turned history into an absurd farce. In contrast, Prime Minister Humpback narrates the perhaps exaggerated legends with a real spirit of history, drawing inspirations from folklore and the language of the ordinary people of the time.
Most viewers have also ascribed the success to the stunning performances of Li Baotian, Wang Gang and Zhang Guoli.
Li Baotian plays the clean prime minister Liu Yong. Developing his own understanding of character, he has helped instill in the prime minister the cleverness, resoluteness, and humour that make Liu “a complicated personality not easy to judge simply as either good or bad,” says Li. Liu is a daring, upright prime minister free from the corruption rampant in imperial court. But more than an incorruptible official, his subtle resistance to the authority of Emperor Qianlong is based on Confucian philosophy, which means that it is practically limited. “But it is of great significance in itself by unveiling the complexity of human nature,” Li says. “Playing Liu Yong gave me a lot of scope to explore a complicated character.”
Wang Gang brought the character of He Shen to life, depicting the corrupt official who was an implacable for of Liu Yong. Wang’s He Shen is treacherous, crafty, greedy and shameless. But in Wang’s interpretation he is not evil but a man whose action “cater to the emperor Qianlong’s human needs, in contrast to Liu Yong’s which serve the emperor’s regulatory needs,” Wang explained.
And Zhang Guoli portrayed a Chinese emperor very difficult from the usual emperors in mainland and Hong Kong films and TV series. Instead of being dissolute and cruel, fatuous and self-indulgent or gallant and impulsive, Zhang’s emperor is wise, vivacious and sometimes cunning. He is proud, gallant and fond of women, but he is resourceful and shows sagacity in manipulating the officials who guard and manage his interests. “One of the most outstanding emperors in China’s history, I think Qianlong intervenes in the conflict between Liu Yong and He Shen and is really a master mediator.
The popularity is also attributed to the fact that the series has catered to the average viewer’s expectations of integrity in incorruptible official, especially in the light of the current anti-corruption campaign.
Don’t ask whether Prime Minister Humpback will stand the test of time. It is probably better not to read too many social and political messages into it, and to let the critics do the technical work once the dust has settled.
Multiple choices
6. The first paragraph
a) makes a brief introduction of Prime Minister Humpback.
b) elaborates the influence made on viewers by Prime Minister Humpback.
c) arouses the reader’s interest in the reasons for the popularity of prime Minister Humpback
7. Li Baotian
a) admires Liu Yong.
b) finds it hard to understand Liu Yong.
c) considers playing the part of Liu Yong challenging.
8. According to Wang Gang, He Shen
a) was in charge of Emperor Qianlong’s daily life.
b) was not worse than Liu Yong.
c) was not simply an evil man.
9. Zhang Guoli successfully portrayed Emperor Qianlong who
a) treated his officials fairly and kindly.
b) knew perfectly well how to make his officials behave in the way he wanted them to.
c) was frequently bothered by the conflicts between Liu Yong and He Shen.
10. The word “dust” (8th paragraph) refers to
a) the conflicts between officials over corruption.
b) the arguments amongst the critics.
c) the excitement caused by the TV series amongst the viewers.
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