"Beyond The Realm of Conscience" & "Born Rich" have average ratings of 34 points and 32 points at their first broadcasts two nights ago. They're the series that received the highest ratings in six years for their first episodes. However netizens felt "BTROC" is boring with no new ideas at all, also criticized harshly the series is a combination of "War & Beauty", "Rosy Business", and "Jewel in the Palace".
One of the netizens, '黑幕重重', sadly expressed, "Counterfeit, it embarrassed the whole Hong Kong, can't watch anymore! Very ugly, how can it sell?" Other netizens purposely compared "BTROC" to "JITP", pointed out Charmine Sheh is Seo Jang Geum, Tavia Yeung is Lee Yeon-saeng and Choi Geum-young , Kevin Cheng is Min Jung-ho, etc. As for the storyline, Charmine Sheh's Lau San Ho's father is demoted, mother is killed at a young age. They scolded the storyline is just like "JITP". Tavia Yeung, whose villain role is considered to be a hot shot for TV Queen, is already criticized harshly for its part in the first five minutes by netizens, saying her acting is not enough, voice is weakly soft, also her heavy make-up is quite scary, feeling she is rather victimized than supported.
Netizen 'k8964' left a message on the TVB website, expressing, "Her role as a villain is praised to be good, but it's highly rated, is it a little 'loving her becomes harming her' ?" Tavia Yeung said she looks at the ratings more respectably than awards, also hoping sincerely the audience to wait patiently, "I become evil gradually. Yesterday is only the beginning. Please give me more time to become evil."
As for "BTROC" arouse such feedbacks, producer Mui Siu-ching said will accept criticism, but she denied copying, " 'JITP' is talking about meals, ours is about the four departments in the imperial household bureau. It will mainly talk about the making of jewelries and sewing. We already tried hard to avoid the topic of meals. People already said I'm copying ideas when I filmed 'Forensic Heroes', it's unavoidable. Anyways, it will be improved continuously.'' She also supported greatly Tavia is doing a good job, "This is not the most evil scene, she will start to become evil later. I myself really appreciate the performance of actors."
Source: Oriental Daily / Translation: KAY @ Kay's Entertainment