The Other Truth (2011)

Never ever have I rated a drama so high no matter what. My review is a little skewed cause when it comes to lawyers, prosecutors and business drama in general, it often manages to please me.
I put a high note because I was able to finish it all without skipping a single episode, there were even times I had to stop watching and go back to my real life, which include go to work!!
I litteraly devoured this serie in a week or less, and despite being 25 episodes, I was pleased with all of them which is quite rare. I find the drama satisfying from beginning to end.
What really made me love this drama, is that even small characters get their own little story and despite the priority focus in court cases, we see them outside trying to balance work with view in their personal life. It vaguely reminded me "Avocats & Associés" (aired on France Télévision from 1998 to 2010). So it was not really like Law & Order (which I also appreciate) where you know close to nothing about the characters personal life or feeling outside their jobs. So it made it even more human I would say.

It's really hard to write a review, cause there's so much I want to say. Anyway, each case last two to three episodes which allow to build tension, suspense and rise questions about one's guiltiness or not, with the final verdict not always revealing the sole truth. Indeed, the truth can be way more tricky than it appears to be. The first case was definitely the hardest to watch, cause the victim was a hell of a nasty man, the guy was so loathsome that it was beyond tolerable, he was wilder than the wildest animal and so heinous for no reason at all.

I start to feel more entertained by HK dramas than before since I began asian series in 2011, and I never thought that this day would come, but hey only fools never change their mind. I'm so in love with cantonese speech, especially their "Weeyy", that reminds me of my african compatriot at times...
I didn't watch that many HK series, but I have to applaude them for using europeans and other faces from west asia, it add versatility especially when the people they choose aren't use to discriminate on the contrary. Best example was the episode with the man born in HK with indian roots. Stereotypes are worlwide and people often stop at appearance to assume or make wrong judgements.

When I saw Lok Man/Alex, I was fearing for the worst since I hated him in Nui Kuen (Grace under fire). Thank goodness, his character was better in here, can't say more otherwise it'd a be spoiler.
Si Kit/Keith, my gosh this guy can act, he was the real boss there with his office partner Tsi Yan/Mavis, they were carrying the show like real pros. I also like Man Hon/James, he was more reliable and competent than he appears to be, he was just so nervous like a newbie that plaintiffs were doubting his ability and capacity. And Siu Him/Wallace, how I adore him in Nui Kuen (Grace under fire), I also love him in this drama. He showed that he's able to play totally different characters and still remain credible in both roles. Hau Yu/Cecilia, there's not much to say about her, I found her average. Last, but not least the woman inspector Miu Yee, that lady have all my respect, she could fight back like nobody and she wasn't even afraid when surrounded by three man. I knew who she would end with, their moment together were so cute and hilarious, they were already addicted one to another before realizing it.

The opening song which is also the ending song, even if I didn't quite like it to start, I really loved the music and that made me enjoy the song more in the end. It was a good choice, but it's a pity that there weren't other songs or real music during all the drama.

It's clear that I'll rewatch it someday, that's a definite yes!!

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I'd skip it if I had known it was going to be this bad

The Other Truth follows barristers handling criminal cases, but what makes it interesting is how each case explores different versions of truth. Instead of clearly right or wrong characters, most people in the show sit somewhere in between, where winning a case can mean bending ethics, hiding facts, or dealing with personal compromises.

Both Keith and Mavis are two very different barristers. Keith is morally grey when it comes down to finding the truth for his clients, while Mavis is very by the book. But through their friendship they learn how to become better barristers by challenging each other’s perspectives and approaches to the law.

The romantic storyline was another part that didn’t really land for me. Keith’s feelings for Mavis felt a bit sudden considering they’d been colleagues for quite some time and their dynamic had mostly been professional and ideological. Their personalities are quite different, so the shift into romance didn’t feel fully earned. On the other hand, Wallace’s interest in Mavis made more sense since he was portrayed as a playboy type and already had that flirtatious energy built into his character.

Also, Mavis’s ex-husband is another part that felt off. It was hard to imagine her being with someone like him, and it didn’t really match what we see of her character. It would’ve made more sense they shown more of why she chose him in the first place or written in a different type of partner that better fit her personality if they really wanted to add the fact that she was a divorcee.

The characters work best when the show focuses on their moral choices and how pressure and ambition shape what they do. You can see how their decisions change as they deal with different cases, and that makes them feel more human. That said, a few character arcs feel a bit uneven, especially when the show shifts into romance or personal drama.

The Duplicitous Mother case (Episodes 11 to 16) was another point where the pacing didn’t quite work. The storyline involving Ivy felt like it dragged on longer than it needed to, and it slowed down the momentum of the legal cases. It also felt like the show leaned too heavily into melodrama there instead of tightening the courtroom focus.

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