The Duke of Mount Deer (鹿鼎記 1984)

A wuxia that is really a comedy: a street-smart boy talks his way into the Qing court and keeps getting promoted. Tony Leung Chiu-wai (梁朝偉) plays Wei Siu-bo (韋小寶) with a grin that never quite goes away. Andy Lau (劉德華) plays the young emperor opposite him.

I laughed more than I expected, and then felt oddly moved by the friendship at the centre. The story pokes fun at heroes, honour and power all at once. It is the odd one out in Louis Cha's work and perhaps the funniest.

Forty-five episodes pass quickly because the plot keeps changing gear. It is a good pick when martial-arts shows feel too solemn. Watching two future stars so young is a bonus.