"Only You"

“Only You” is a innovative TV drama in TVB which breaks through the continuity of drama as it divides the TV series into different chapters with various topics. It uses a newly risen occupation - wedding planner as the theme and there are several stories happened helping all kinds of people through holding the wedding ceremony, for example, argumentbetween groom and bride, couples with cultural and ideological difference, and partner with disabilities. This drama involves a lot of stereotypes in order to make the characters livelier.

Nowadays, there are some special terms created to describe recent social phenomenon. In this drama, a new term “中港女” which combine the “中女” and “港女” is used to describe the female who over the age of 30 and still in single (does not get married, even does not have boyfriend) due to her highly requested conditions. It is because a lot of media reinforce the concept of “港女” is practical and focus on money. She would like to find someone who has high academic background, high income level and high position in a company.

The character Mandy (Yoyo Mung) is categorized as one of the “中港女” in which Summer (Kevin Cheng) often describes her as “中港女” in the drama. The image of “中女” is signified. Mandy is at a management position at the beginning of the story with short hair and wearing suit which represents a tough personality. It is our assumption of “中女” is always a career-minded woman, as well as iron lady. On the other hand, the “港女” characteristics is also represented. Sze-tim (Louise Lee) does not have a good impression on Mandy and thinks Mandy is very impolite and does not respect to others when meeting her at first time. It shows the general perceptions on “港女” because “中港女” always provides a negative feeling to the public. Mammonism is another feature of “港女”. Wealth is important to Mandy and she treats married the rich as the greatest achievement of female. She has stated “想要劉德華咁靚仔,李超人咁有錢”.

There is a hasty generalization on “中港女” in society. “中港女” have strong desire on marriage but they still cannot get married are their own problem, mainly due to their characteristics and high requirements. The drama classifies “中女” as a kind of “港女” who yearn for marriage but unable to do so. Since there is social norm in society, man should take a wife and a woman should take a husband. Female are always see the marriage as their goal. Mandy have already said, “書讀得多不代表有男人要” in her youth. She claims female has to be slim, beautiful pretending stupid so that they can get awareness of male. It seems what female done is all meet the expectation of male. It illustrates the gender relations between male and female. Female should be depended on male and her value seems to be constructed on marriage. Female is needed to be in relationship at certain age. Since Mandy does not have boyfriend and she would not like to be categorized as “中港女” when attending the wedding party of her old schoolmate, she try to ask for someone help to pretend as her boyfriend. Although she just want to rent someone to attend the party, she still want to find someone would look trendy and need to be have specific background and knowledge due to unwillingness of losing face. It reinforces the image of “中港女”.

Besides, from the dialogue of Summer, “這種 ‘中港女’ ,真是撿到也…得自捶三拳”, it can be seen that “中港女” is unpopular with the male, the public even. Actually, the term “中港女” is just simply mean the middle aged woman in Hong Kong. However, the media usually exemplify “中女” and “港女” as an issue and always be discussed. They are labelized by the society and seen as abnormal just because of not getting married in middle age and are claimed by having “港女” characteristics, therefore, they are unable to find the partner. Although some “中女” are not the marrying kind and “港女” is just a small proportion of female in Hong Kong, they are not often mentioned in the drama.

Yoyo Mung portrays the “中港女” in a vivid way. The characteristics of “中女” and “港女” are fully represented. It is easy for the audiences to get into the drama, meanwhile, it reinforces the image of “中港女”though. Nevertheless, this drama is really attractive and worth to watch. Audience can know more about the etiquette of wedding through the drama too.

By Cheng Shun Ning, Annie (10381089)