No Beat

After watching OTFB for 26 episodes, all i can say is the show is disappointingly boring. Perhaps they shouldnt have made a sequel - particularly when they had to change half the original cast. Unlike the action-packed Academy, multi-angular relationships take the centrestage in OTFB. They are draggy and repetitive, making me already blase as to who likes who, who makes up with who, or who breaks up with who once again. Up till the current ep, there still seems to be no sign of a conclusion in sight despite having to end after 4 more eps. Also, i was expecting more action this time round since the streets of HK would appear to offer more possibilities for activity as compared to the PTS grounds previously. But no, all they do is just take us on a patrol around Yau Ma Tei. YAWN. Cummon man! Whatever happened to all the energy?! Helloo, i wanna watch Lap Man and Pak Kiu continue to pit themselves against each other, the teamwork and camaraderie between the cadets and the life lessons they're supposed to learn from their new "Lee Sir". Sadly, this pathetic guy's too caught up with his own relationship troubles to remember at all his promise to continue teaching and guiding them. Tsk.

I gave this show the benefit of the doubt despite my initial apprehensions after reading early reports about the production. However, im sorely disappointed - not so much with the acting (the OTT Kate Tsui excepted) - but more with the plot itself rather. While the Academy at that time was slightly hindered by some weakness in the acting (*cough* Ron Ng *cough*); the focused plot and emotional storytelling well redeemed it. On the other hand, OTFB suffers terrbily from the bland story so much so that even the much-improved performances by Ron & Sammul couldn't stop me from fast-forwarding every now and then. I think i should just go back to rewatching The Academy and recall why they decided to make a sequel in the first place.