The Gem of Life

The Gem of Life was a high-profile TVB drama that aired from October 2008 to February 2009, produced specifically to mark the broadcaster's 41st anniversary. Rather than sticking to studio backlots, the show moved cameras to locations beyond Hong Kong, including Tibet, Taiwan and France, giving it a broader visual scope. The series assembled a veteran ensemble cast led by Louise Lee, Maggie Shiu, Gigi Lai, Ada Choi and David Chiang, and it presents interlocking stories and emotional conflicts across different settings, keeping the focus on character interaction and the consequences of personal choices without spoiling any plot turns.

Directed by Jonathan Ki-Yee Chik and created by Chow Yuk-Ming, Alex Pao and Man-Wa Leung, The Gem of Life was billed as a grand production from the start. Its on-location shoots and anniversary timing made it one of TVB's more ambitious projects of that season, with release spanning late 2008 into early 2009.

There aren’t widely reported major international awards tied to the series. Its recognition was mainly within the local TV industry and among viewers who followed TVB anniversary dramas, rather than at major global ceremonies.

At the time and since, the series has been noted for its scale and for bringing more international scenery into a mainstream Hong Kong television production. That willingness to film in distant locales and to use an experienced ensemble cast helped it stand out in TVB’s slate that year, and it still gets mentioned when people talk about anniversary productions and large-scale TV dramas from that era.

Critical and audience responses leaned positive overall, with viewers appreciating the performances and the production values; a small sample gives it an 8.0/10 user score. The show emphasizes family dynamics, ambition, and the moral compromises tied to wealth and status, and it tends to reward viewers who like multi-threaded dramas where relationships and decisions ripple across many characters.