An Analysis of Teen Ling (Ada Choi) 1.1

- This post was originally posted on the At the Threshold of an Era board.  It is almost the same as V1 but includes a few additions and better spelling
- The original post has not been changed.

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analysis of Teen Ling...
Posted By: just me <sharonapple@acmecity.com>
Date: Monday, 16 April 2001, at 7:56 p.m.

Okay, I originally posted this long answer in the HH2 forum in answer to a comment. But I think it might be better appreciated here. So I thought I'll re-post it here with a few additions & better spelling.  Hope you guys enjoy this. 

The post was in response to a comment that the character Teen Ling is pathetic and that Ada Choi didn't act much in ATEII.

BEWARE OF SPOILER INFORMATION...
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I thought Ada Choi was great in ATEII. The Teen Ling character isn't easy to act. The character is one of the more complex characters in ATEII and undergoes several stages of change and I thought Ada handled each change very well.

Teen Ling starts out as a rather lively, impulsive, strong, pro-active and confident woman. The script sets it up rather clearly in the beginning that while she loves Lik and will do anything for him... she still was her own woman and made several decisions independent of him.

Her first stage of major change probably occurs after Donald raped her. You still see the strength in her character, as Teen Ling doesn't collapse from the trauma. However, Lik's actions after the rape leads to the first step in her lost of faith in him. And it's also the first time she realises that the revenge plan will ultimately take a toil on her relationship with Lik. During a drunken stupor she confesses to an unconscious Keung that she fears that the Lik she loves is no longer the Lik she knew. This adds to her desire to return to Taiwan and to simplicity.

The script constantly reminds us that what Teen Ling really desires is stability in her life. Tim and Lik have dragged her all over the world. Her main reasons for aiding Lik are partially because she loves him and wants him to be truly happy but I feel it's also because she knows that they will never be happy if Lik doesn't go off and take revenge. This desire for stability, a family and a simpler way of life will lead to a tragic decision and tragic consequences for Teen Ling.

After the accident and the subsequent lost of memory, her character undergoes a huge change. The lost of memory deals the largest blow to her personality and Teen Ling loses faith even in herself. This lost of confidence adds an added impetus to her already present desire for a simpler life... hence, her decision to marry Lik and the tragic consequences that follow. Lik represents Taiwan, which represents the simpler life they had before they came to HK. Hence, her decision to marry Lik can be seen as a decision for a simpler way of life.

The first suicide attempt may be seen as weakness and as a way of escape. However, in the light of the montage be4 her 2nd attempt and the final reconciliation with Keung at the airport, the second suicide attempt may be seen partially as a brave sacrifice on Teen Ling's part. Of course it was an attempt to escape but it was also to keep Keung safe. After the scene at the hospital, I think Teen Ling knows that Keung will always try and save her. But she also knows now that Lik is capable of extreme cruelty and hence, as long as Keung tries to save her, his life will always be in danger. (I am in no way condoning suicide here, I'm just analysing it in the context of the script.)

Do I think Teen Ling's character is pathetic? No, I don't. I think after what her character has been through, she's entitled to a few bad decisions especially if the decisions can be seen as a desire for a simpler life and stability. Although Teen Ling does not die, I think that she pays an incredibly huge price for loving Lik as much as she did and I am glad that she does get the happiness that she deserves.

As for Ada's performance. It's top-notch in my opinion. It's all in the expression in the eyes & her body language. It's not over the top Alex Man style of acting; instead there is subtlety in her expressions, her body movements & her eyes.

enjoy