The Executioner
Official poster
Also known as	Spare From the Blade
刀下留人
Genre	Historical period drama
Created by	Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited
Written by	Sin Chui-ching, Au Yuk-han, Tam Chui-san, Fung Yat-chun, Chan Siu-cheung, Ma Ching-man, Cheung Kai-wing
Directed by	Wong Wai-yan, Cheung Wing-fai, Ng Ciu-wing, Cheng Wing-kay, Lam Wai-ching, Au Yuk-han, Tam Chui-san, Fung Yat-chun, Chan Siu-cheung, Ma Ching-man, Cheung Kai-wing
Starring	Kenny Wong Maggie Shiu Mat Yeung Katy Kung Elaine Yiu Joel Chan Bowie Wu Hugo Ng Stanley Cheung
Theme music composer	Alan Cheung
Opening theme	A Better Tomorrow (相信明天) by Hubert Wu
Country of origin	Hong Kong
Original language	Cantonese
No. of episodes	26
Production
Executive producer	Catherine Tsang
Producer	Law Chun-ngok
Production location	Hong Kong
Editor	Sin Chui-ching
Camera setup	Multi camera
Running time	45 minutes
Production company	TVB
Original release
Network	Jade HD Jade
Release	7 December 2015 (2015-12-07) – 10 January 2016 (2016-01-10)

The Executioner (Chinese: 刀下留人; literally "Spare From The Blade") is a 2015-2016 Hong Kong historical fiction television drama produced by TVB. It is set during the Chenghua Emperor's reign in Ming Dynasty, China, and centers on a political conspiracy.

Filming took place from January to April 2015 on location entirely in Hong Kong.^[1] It premiered on 7 December 2015, on Hong Kong's broadcast network TVB Jade and Malaysia's cable television channel, Astro On Demand. It ran for 26 episodes, with the last episode airing on 10 January 2016.^[2] The Executioner received positive reviews during its broadcast.

Background

The drama is a fictional telling of the events that occurred during Ming dynasty's Chenghua Emperor reign. In actuality, the Chenghua Emperor had taken his nanny who was a mother figure to him as a consort. Consort Wan as she became known was twice the age of the Emperor, he was eighteen and she was thirty-five at the time she became his consort, but she became his favorite consort and gave birth to a son who died soon after. However Consort Wan was also an unscrupulous person who along with high ranking eunuchs would sell government titles to anyone willing to pay a high price. In terms those who bought these titles illegally would abuse their titles by raising taxes to unreasonable amounts in their county's or deal in illegal activities without getting punishment. The Emperor who did not want to offend Consort Wan would turn a blind eye on these issues.^[3] Unable to bear the Emperor a child, fearing others will be favored by the Emperor and also to continue her hold on the Emperor, Consort Wan would command her servants and eunuchs to force abortion on any consorts that became pregnant with the Emperor's child. If any consort did get the chance to carry the Emperor's child to birth both mother and child would soon be murdered. After finding out a concubine named Ji is pregnant, Empress Wu protects her and the unborn child by entrusting them in the care of the gate keeper, but Consort Wan's finds out and seeks to murder the gate keeper, Concubine Ji and her child. The child survives and is reunited with Emperor Chenghua at age five. The child later grows up to be the future Hongzhi Emperor.^[4][5]

Synopsis

One takes away life; the other welcomes life. Midwife Fa Yui-hung and executioner Yip Sheung-luk come together when they must protect a new life who is wanted dead by the Imperial government.

During Ming dynasty's Chenghua Emperor reign, Fa Yui-hung is the most renowned midwife in the capital. Her services are highly sought after by the rich and poor. She is a compassionate person that won't do harm to others even if she is paid a high price. One night a mysterious man Yip Sheung-luk shows up at her door step claiming to be the savior of her father-in-law who is away on a journey. As her father-in-law's savior, Sheung-luk claims he was welcomed to stay at the Bak household. After finding items in her home missing Yui-hung trails Sheung-luk around town, only to find that he is hiding a heavily pregnant woman who he is tasked to protect. Yui-hung agrees to help the pregnant woman, but Sheung-luk refuses to tell her the identity or background of the pregnant woman.

After saving the life of the local warden from an escaped fugitive, Sheung-luk is offered the position as the towns executioner. As he sees it as a profession everyone in town sees him as a murderer including Yui-hung who mocks him whenever she gets a chance. No one wants to be associated with him and in order to receive company he goes to the local brothel just to pay for any courtesan willing to keep him company while he has dinner.

Walking through the woods one night Sheung-luk and Yui-hung finds a ditch with a pregnant woman left for dead. After the woman dies Yui-hung immediately instructs Sheung-luk to save the baby inside the dead woman. After the baby boy is born Yui-hung wants to bring the baby to the authorities but Sheung-luk knows the dead woman was not a regular person by looking at her accessories and clothing. In order to protect him and his savior's daughter-in-law, he advises Yui-hung not to go to the authorities yet. The new born baby boy soon gets them both in trouble when they become the most wanted criminals in the kingdom. The two go through many dangers to keep themselves alive and protect the baby boy with a mysterious connection to the Chenghua Emperor.^[6]

Cast

Development

• The costume fitting ceremony was held on January 7, 2015 at 12:30 pm Tseung Kwan O TVB City Studio One Common Room.^[7]
• The blessing ceremony was held on March 5, 2015 at 2:00 pm Tseung Kwan O TVB City Studio Thirteen.
• Filming took place from January to April 2015 at TVB Ancient City backlot and on location around Hong Kong.

Viewership ratings

International broadcast

Network	Country	Airing Date	Timeslot
Astro On Demand	Malaysia	December 7, 2015	Monday – Friday 8:30 – 9:15 pm
NTV7		September 11, 2017	Monday – Wednesday 11:00 pm – 12:00 am
TVBJ	Australia	December 8, 2015	Monday – Friday 7:15 – 8:15 pm
Starhub TV	Singapore	March 31, 2016	Monday – Friday 8:00 – 9:00 pm

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• The Executioner TVB Official Website (in Chinese)