Casting backlash hits TVB drama City of Splendour
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
TVB anniversary drama City of Splendour became a major talking point after its premiere, with discussion shifting from plot twists to criticism of the actress cast as the younger version of Kate, played by Kelly Cheung. Viewers focused on Aeren Man’s appearance and screen presence, saying they found it hard to connect her with the older character. The controversy unfolded alongside strong audience momentum for the series, which recorded TVB’s highest first-week drama rating so far in 2025. The report also revisited earlier allegations surrounding Man’s personal life and noted her recent efforts to expand her entertainment and music-related work.
Key Points
- City of Splendour centres on a succession battle between brothers Koon Hau-yin, played by Julian Cheung, and Koon Hau-kwan, played by Ron Ng, with Alice and Kate drawn into the conflict.
- After the premiere, the drama reached a peak cross-platform live rating of 22 points, or 1.41 million viewers, making it TVB’s strongest first-week drama performance so far in 2025.
- The younger versions of Kate and Alice are played by Aeren Man and Sherman Poon, both from Stars Academy, in flashback scenes tied to the main love triangle.
- In the plot, Man’s character secretly likes the younger Koon Hau-kwan, played by Ng Wai-ho, and sleeps with him while her close friend is briefly away in Macau.
- Online criticism said Man and Kelly Cheung differed too much in looks and temperament, while older allegations from 2023 about an alleged love triangle were also revived.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong television audiences, the reaction shows how strongly viewers judge casting continuity in flashback-heavy dramas, especially when a younger actor must convincingly match an established star persona. It also underlines how online discussion around a TVB series can quickly expand from ratings and plot to an actor’s past controversies and off-screen image.