| The Confidant | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 大太監 | |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Created by | Catherine Tsang Marco Law |
| Written by | Kwan Chung-ling |
| Directed by | Fong Chun-chiu |
| Starring | Michelle Yim Wayne Lai Raymond Wong Ho-yin Nancy Wu Natalie Tong Maggie Shiu Raymond Cho Power Chan Edwin Siu Aimee Chan Oscar Leung Chung King-fai Cheung Kwok-keung Elliot Ngok Selena Li |
| Opening theme | Seung Yu Yi Mut (相濡以沫) by Shirley Kwan |
| Ending theme | Yat Yuet (日月) by Wayne Lai and Nancy Wu |
| Composers | Tang Chi-wai Yip Siu-chung |
| Country of origin | Hong Kong |
| Original languages | Cantonese Mandarin |
| No. of episodes | 33 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Marco Law |
| Production locations | Hong Kong Hengdian World Studios[1] |
| Camera setup | Multi camera |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company | TVB |
| Original release | |
| Network | Jade HD Jade |
| Release | 5 November – 16 December 2012 |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
| The Confidant | |||||||||||||
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 title screen | |||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 大太監 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 大太监 | ||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "great imperial eunuch" | ||||||||||||
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[2]The Confidant (Traditional Chinese: 大太監; jyutping: Daai6 Taai3 Gaam3) is a Hong Kong biographical fiction television drama produced by TVB under executive producer Marco Law, and stars Michelle Yim as Empress Dowager Cixi, and Wayne Lai as imperial eunuch Li Lianying. The drama depicts how a group of eunuchs survive in the weakening Qing empire, and closely traces Li's early life from the first day he entered the imperial palace to becoming one of the most powerful political figures in the latter years of the Qing Dynasty. The drama also follows Li's relationship with Cixi, and how he eventually becomes her closest confidant.
Filming began on 16 December 2011 in Hong Kong, and ended on 9 April 2012 in the Hengdian World Studios. The Confident Eunuch premiered the first two episodes on 1 November 2012 at The Grand Cinema in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.[3] It has received positive reviews from critics and viewers thus far. With a total of 33 produced episodes, The Confidant started its broadcast on Hong Kong's Jade and HD Jade channels on 5 November 2012.
The series has an indirect sequel, Short End of the Stick (2016).