Mui Ngo Gai
May 14th, 2008
After over a year hiatus, Mui Ngo Gai is back with the last 33 of its 105 episodes (originally 100 episodes).
The drama centers around Vi, an intelligent and respectful girl whose mother dies during labor. Her biological father, a wealthy business mogul already married to a woman of prestige, allocates a large sum of money to an indigent couple to raise her as their own on the countryside. The highlights of her childhood comes when a rich man from the city relocates his family to the neighborhood. Unbeknownst to Vi, that man is her biological father. She quickly befriends his 2 children, Khanh (who adores her) and Phuong (who envies her), as well as their friend from the city Truong (whom she fancies).
Several years later, Vi’s mother discloses the family secret that she’s adopted. Feeling betrayed, she moves to the city and is soon reunited with Khanh, Phuong, and Truong who attend the same college. Khanh’s feelings for her re-emerge, and he quickly wins her heart. Upon graduation, the four accept a job at her biological father’s company.
By twist of fate, she learns of her father’s identity. Realizing that Khanh is her half-brother, she abruptly ends their innocent courtship. As a revenge, she resigns from her father’s company, steals his business plan, and competes with him directly for an international business contract.
The series picks up with many unanswered questions. What will become of Khanh? Who will end up with Vi? How will the truth adversely affect each character?
I became addicted to Mui Ngo Gai for its intriguing plot and talented cast. The storyline is anything but predictable. The role of Vi’s adopted father is brilliantly played by NSUT Viet Anh. His sleazy facial expressions and drunken demeanor bring the antagonist to life. NSUT Thanh Loc perfects his role as a benevolent Pho Hoang owner, while NSUT Kim Xuan skillfully portrays a sensible wife and a loving mother. Ngoc Trinh brings charms and energy to Vi as a student, although she seems less believable as an unyielding business woman. Due to an illness, she did not reprise her role in the last 28 episodes. Instead, Hong Anh was casted, an extremely poor decision on the casting director. The dimpled face, soft spoken actress is even less convincing than Ngoc Trinh as an emerging business woman.
With 105 episodes, the series drags on like a soap opera, which at times becomes extremely boring and frustrating. Nonetheless, it peaks my interest in Vietnamese drama series. Plus it’s a great way for me to spend quality time with my parents, who enjoy watching it just as much as I do and whose color commentaries make it that much more interesting.