Astro has been around for umpteen years, but new to us. So it took me quite a while to get the hang of its programmes because these days we do not get booklets on them. Through trial and error, I found Instinct was screened 4 times a day, 2 episodes each time! Its 40-episode spanned over 4 weeks (Mon. to Fri.). I found out that the first one at 10 am was meant for those who had missed the 2-episode the day before, the second at 2 pm, third at 6 pm and fourth at 10 pm. I did not bother to find out if there were any during unearthly hours.
When watching the 39th episode, it was like hearing the curtains being drawn while watching a film in a cinema (haven't done that for years), minutes before the end, knowing in this story that the good guys are going to triumph over the bad guys. As usual, the last episode tends to be an anti-climax when everything seems to be rushed in the details of what happened to the baddies.
Based on my poor memory, a few things stood out: that a man cannot stand seeing his wife in bed with another man. The billionaire Wong Thin (Adam Cheng) could not forgive his ex-wife for years despite her attempts at reconciliation, which led to father-daughter relationship problems. Wong Thin's character was exemplary in his business dealings and his weakness of placing friendship above self led to his downfall which his nemesis took advantage of.
Poon Long Ching (Roger Kwok) stood out as 'the son from hell' who was described as worst than an animal, when he plotted with the sole aim of becoming successful. He almost succeeded in marrying Wong Thin's elder daughter, Lui (Amy Kwok) but was successful in marrying the younger one, Yean. Being sidelined by Wong Thin who favoured his childhood friend, Pau Mun Loong (Ekin Cheng), he crossed over to the side of Wong Thin's enemy, Thin Choon. It was funny seeing company meetings conducted with two sides of the divide facing each other, one plotting against the other while the other trying to prevent each plot. When one plot failed, another would be hatched.
One plot involved PLC's father (Paul Chu Kong) as major shareholder in a company, signing contracts with the main company, with punitive penalty clauses which would involve billions in compensation. Wong Thin did not want to see his old friend go to prison again, decided to give up his shares and lost control of his company. PML's determination to stay in the company despite attempts at his removal made TC wary of him. He offered a chance to anyone who is prepared to go to jail in order to get him. The plot involved PML signing an agreement (switched by lawyer without him noticing) which provides for the intended fall guy (Weng) to share any profits with PML, whilst any loss to be covered by fraudulent insurance claims. Weng even tempted PML's father to take part in an investment scheme so that he could bank in money in his account as further proof that PML was involved.
PLC's despicable acts included betraying Wong Thin despite having helped him pay off loan sharks; killing Wong Thin's wife in an unplanned car accident; set fire to the apartment (to rid of any record of the car accident, and which eventually killed PML's fiance. Lit (Nadia Chan) happened to be in because she was ill). The apartment belongs to PML's family who brought PLC up when his father was in prison; He even kicked his own father down the stairs when he prevented him from going near to find out about the fire; switching pills meant for his father to help regain his memory; It was a classic case of someone who set out to achieve personal success but failures led him to finding crooked ways to move on instead of learning from them. One mistake led to another, and the need to cover up led to more mistakes which took people's lives in the process which he had not intended. There are moral lessons here for young adults who are out to achieve success.
Listening to the theme song by Adam Cheng, I have grown to like it. Towards the end, a song by Nadia Chan which I have yet to find out, was really touching.
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