HONG KONG — TVB drama Radiant City aired its third episode on Wednesday night, turning into a showcase of acting prowess as Chen Ying and Gao Haining earned widespread acclaim for their emotionally demanding roles, with one half-minute crying scene and a calculated on-screen kiss becoming the talk of viewers.
Chen Ying’s Redemption Continues
Chen Ying, who previously shed her reputation for failing at crying scenes through her work in Undercover Prankster, solidified her comeback in Radiant City. In the episode, her character learns of her close friend’s death — played by Chen Xiaohua — through Dai Yaoming’s announcement. Rather than erupting into dramatic sobs, Chen’s portrayal built gradually: tears pooling in her eyes, her body beginning to tremble, and culminating in a moment where she wiped her tears with violently shaking hands.
Netizens praised the scene’s meticulous staging, noting the deliberate detail work from the production team. The sequence, though brief, was widely described as emotionally authentic and demonstrated Chen’s range. However, not all comments stayed on topic — some viewers jokingly noted that blonde hair suited Chen Ying particularly well, adding a moment of levity to the discussion.
Gao Haining’s Complex Lead Role
Meanwhile, Gao Haining commanded attention throughout the episode as Alice, a character defined by extreme composure and intelligence. The role required her to navigate high-stakes confrontations across multiple settings: negotiating with Zhang Zhilin at the Macau Tower, asserting authority against Wu Zhuoxi and Zhang Xiwen at the Guan family residence, and covering for Zhang Zhilin during a wedding banquet.
The episode’s standout moment came when Alice, with no other options, spontaneously kissed Wu Zhuoxi to retrieve a USB drive containing damaging material. The scene, performed while Zhang Xiwen was in the same house, required Gao to simultaneously convey passion while maintaining calculated awareness of the USB’s location. Wu Zhuoxi’s portrayal of mixed surprise, delight, and reluctant acceptance drew equal praise.
Director Chen Weiguan noted that Alice’s cold, introverted personality made the role exceptionally challenging. Her emotional scenes were complex — too much expression would break character, too little would lose the audience. Gao relied on subtle eye movements and micro-expressions to convey internal turmoil.
One particularly demanding scene saw Alice react to Zhang Zhilin’s proposal of marriage as a business condition. Gao initially responded with a slight frown of disbelief before shifting to subtle eye changes that revealed her shock — all while maintaining her composed facade. Chen Weiguan revealed the sequence required dozens of takes to perfect the delicate balance of “surprised yet calm.”
In another notable moment, Alice resorted to spontaneously kissing Wu Zhuoxi to retrieve a USB drive containing damaging material, all while staying aware of Zhang Xiwen’s presence in the same building. Wu’s performance as a man caught between shock and reluctant acceptance drew equal praise, with viewers noting the chemistry between the two actors.
Production Challenges Behind the Scenes
Producer Chen Weiguan acknowledged the difficulty of Gao Haining’s scenes, explaining that Alice’s reserved nature demanded subtlety — emotions could neither be overstated nor understated, requiring the actress to rely on micro-expressions and eye movements to convey internal turmoil. When her character heard Zhang Zhilin’s proposal of marriage as a cooperation condition, Gao delivered a quiet raise of the eyebrow followed by a subtle shift in gaze to express disbelief while maintaining her composed facade. The scene required dozens of retakes to achieve the precise balance of surprise and restraint.
With both actresses delivering career-strong performances, Radiant City is shaping up to be a defining project for TVB’s current generation of leading ladies, proving that nuanced, restrained acting continues to resonate with audiences in Hong Kong’s evolving television landscape.
