| All That Is Bitter Is Sweet | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Also known as | Big Apothecary |
| 大藥坊 | |
| Genre | Period, Medical, Romance |
| Created by | Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited |
| Written by | Yim Lei Wah 嚴麗華 Cheung Sai Chong 張世昌 Kwan Bing Hung 關炳洪 Ho Wing Nin 何永年 Lai Ga Ming 黎家明 Lai Han Gwong 蔡幸江 So Jat Kit 蘇逸傑 |
| Starring | Linda Chung 鍾嘉欣 Ruco Chan 陳展鵬 Raymond Wong Ho-yin 黃浩然 Natalie Tong 唐詩詠 Pierre Ngo 敖嘉年 Sammy Sum 沈震軒 Elliot Ngok 岳華 |
| Theme music composer | Joseph Koo 顧嘉煇 |
| Opening theme | Self Healing 心藥 by Teresa Cheung 張德蘭 |
| Ending theme | Sacrifice 大愛 by Linda Chung 鍾嘉欣 |
| Composer | Linda Chung 鍾嘉欣 |
| Country of origin | Hong Kong |
| Original language | Cantonese |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Tsui Chin Hong 徐正康 |
| Production location | Hong Kong |
| Camera setup | Multi camera |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company | TVB |
| Original release | |
| Network | Jade HD Jade |
| Release | 8 September – 17 October 2014 |
| All That Is Bitter Is Sweet | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 大藥坊 | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "The Great Apothecary" | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
All That Is Bitter Is Sweet (Traditional Chinese: 大藥坊; literally "The Great Apothecary") (Jyutping: daai6 joek6 fong1) is a 2014 Hong Kong period, medical, romance drama produced by TVB, starring Linda Chung, Ruco Chan and Raymond Wong Ho-yin as the main leads, with Natalie Tong, Pierre Ngo, Sammy Sum and Elliot Ngok as the major supporting roles. Filming took place from November 2013 to February 2014. The drama began broadcasting on September 8, 2014 on TVB Jade channel during its 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. timeslot, and will finish airing on October 17, 2014 with 30 episodes total.[1]
Synopsis
Set during the Republic of China, when each region of China was ruled by local warlords. The Dou family of Foshan is an affluent family that owns and runs Sheung Chun Tong (尚春堂), the largest traditional Chinese apothecary in town. Bad times, however, came during an epidemic. When the apothecary's product caused the death of the Mayor's eldest son (and owner Dou Sam's soon-to-be son in law), Dou Sam is imprisoned, and the apothecary was ordered closed. Sam's only daughter, Dou Gaai Kei, then took on the task of investigating her fiancé's death, in hopes of releasing her father. Together with Ding Yat Yuen, a businessman of dubious reputation, they stumble upon a big conspiracy that could rock Chinese politics.[2]
Cast
Main cast
- Linda Chung 鍾嘉欣 as Dou Gaai Kei 杜佳期
- Ruco Chan 陳展鵬 as Ting Yat Yuen 丁一元
- Raymond Wong Ho-yin 黃浩然 as Chong Kei Cho 莊繼祖 / Chong Kei Chung 莊繼宗
- Natalie Tong 唐詩詠 as Hui Kwan Yeuk 許君約
Supporting cast
Dou family
- Yan Pak 白茵 as Ling Fung Yee 凌鳳兒
- Du Yan Ge 杜燕歌 as Dou Sam 杜蔘
- Shirley Yeung 楊思琦 as Fung Yuk Kam 馮玉琴
- Pierre Ngo 敖嘉年 as Dou Yung 杜茸
Chong family
- Pat Poon 潘志文 as Chong Deoi Yu 莊敦儒
- Susan Tse 謝雪心 as Wai Chau Hing 衛秋卿
- Elliot Ngok 岳華 as Hui Sung Ming 許崇明
- Kitty Lau 劉桂芳 as Ha Jie 霞姐
- Kate Tsang 曾琬莎 as Siu Ting 小婷
- Lydia Law 羅欣羚 as Ha Yuk 夏玉
Foshan Police
- Sammy Sum 沈震軒 as Ngai Chun 魏俊
- Dickson Li 李家聲 as Man Keung 文強
- Kong Wing Fai 江榮暉 as Mo Kit 武傑
Ding Yat Yuen's gang
- Jazz Lam 林子善 as Hung Bing 洪炳
- Willie Wai 韋家雄 as Wong Fu Sau 皇甫壽
- Brian Tse 謝東閔 as Kam Fuk 金福
Shun Chun Tong
- Yu Chi Ming 余子明 as Chong Suk 昌叔
- Owen Cheung 張振朗 as Gai Gei Jai 枸杞仔
- Moses Cheng 鄭詠謙 as Ah Fu 阿富
- Aaryn Cheung 張明偉 as Ah Hoi 阿海
- Chan Wing Chun 陳榮峻 as Physician Cheng 鄭大夫
- Lee Hoi San 李海生 as Yeung Bak 楊伯
- Samantha Ko 高海寧 as Pin Pin 翩翩 killed by Ngai Chun episode 26
- Rainbow Ching 程可為 as Hung Yut Ho 洪月好
- Jimmy Au 歐瑞偉 as Wong Jing Wing 王正永
- Man Yeung 楊證樺 as Secretary Yuen 阮秘書
- Siu Koi Yan 蕭凱欣 as Cun Fa 春花
- Christy Chan 陳潔玲 as Cau Yut 秋月
- Akai Lee 李啟傑 as Wong Tat 王達
- Louis Szeto 司徒暉 as Ah Fa 阿輝
- Raymond Tsang 曾守明 as Guk's father 菊父
- Esther Wan 溫裕紅 as Guk's mother 菊母
Development
- The Sale Presentation clip was filmed in October 2013.[3] The 1 minute 2 second clip previewed in November 2013 features all the main actors that are confirmed for the drama.[4]
- On November 1, 2013 the drama costume fitting ceremony was held at 12:30 p.m. Tseung Kwan O TVB City Studio One.[5]
- The blessing ceremony took place on November 20, 2014 12:00 p.m. at Tseung Kwan O TVB City.
- On March 25, 2014, a trailer of the drama was previewed at FILMART 2014.[6]
Viewership ratings
| Week | Episodes | Date | Average Points | Peaking Points |
| 1 | 01－05 | Sept 8-12, 2014 | 23 | 28 |
| 2 | 06－10 | Sept 15–19, 2014 | 25 | 28 |
| 3 | 11－15 | Sept 22–26, 2014 | 24 | 27 |
| 4 | 16－19 | Sept 29-Oct 2, 2014 | 24 | 27 |
| 5 | 20－24 | Oct 6-10, 2014 | 24 | 26 |
| 6 | 25－30 | Oct 13–17, 2014 | 25 | 29 |
References
- ↑ afspot page. Retrieved 9-12-2014
- ↑ soompi page. Retrieved 9-12-2014
- ↑ "Big Apothecary" Filming Sales Presentation. Retrieved 9-12-2014
- ↑ "Big Apothecary" sales presentation clip. Retrieved 9-12-2014
- ↑ "Big Apothecary" costume fitting. Retrieved 9-12-2014
- ↑ Linda Chung, Ruco Chan, and Natalie Tong Fend Off Love Rumors at FILMART 2014. Retrieved 9-12-2014