The Fatal Flaws in Wong Wing-shing's Revenge Plot in Infernal Affairs 2

In the 2003 Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs 2, Wong Wing-shing (played by Shawn Yue) seeks to avenge the assassination of his father, Wong Man-shing (Wong Tin-lam). However, despite Wong Wing-shing’s cunning and ruthlessness, his revenge plot is marred by several fatal errors in judgment that culminate in tragedy for him and his family.

One of Wong Wing-shing’s biggest mistakes is failing to correctly identify and target those truly responsible for his father’s death. Rather than thoroughly investigating, he lashes out indiscriminately, orchestrating the gruesome murders of the four Triad bosses. the actions of Michael Corleone in The Godfather, but lacks the surgical precision. By not pinpointing the real culprits, Wong sows the seeds for more turmoil.

Another critical error is not decisively dealing with the threat posed by Ngai Wing-hau (Francis Ng). Ngai is a formidable gangster in his own right, commanding immense power and influence. Allowing Ngai to live, and foolishly expecting loyalty from him, gives Ngai the opening to eventually turn the tables on Wong. As one character presciently notes early in the film, “What goes around comes around.” Wong’s naivete regarding Ngai proves to be his Achilles' heel.

Perhaps Wong Wing-shing’s most egregious lapse in judgment is his botched attempt to kill Officer Wong Chi-shing (Anthony Wong). Not only does he accidentally murder the wrong police officer, but the spectacular fashion in which he does it - a car bomb at police headquarters - crosses a line that puts Wong in direct conflict with law enforcement. This is an unwinnable position for a gangster to be in, no matter how powerful. It’s the beginning of the end for Wong Wing-shing.

At the same time, Wong is intent on going legitimate and leaving his life of crime behind. But he can’t bring himself to fully relinquish the reins and ill-gotten wealth of his criminal empire to Ngai Wing-hau. Straddling between two worlds leaves Wong vulnerable on both fronts. His desire to “have his cake and eat it too” is simply untenable given the cutthroat nature of the underworld.

All of these missteps compound to seal Wong Wing-shing’s fate. His own impulsiveness and hubris blind him to the precariousness of his situation until it’s too late. In the unforgiving landscape of Hong Kong triads, there is little margin for error. One character sums it up succinctly: “If you’re in the game, you’re bound to take people out, and be taken out one day.”

Ultimately, Wong Wing-shing’s tragedy stems from his inability to see the bigger picture and exercise restraint. Consumed by a burning desire for retribution, he acts rashly and digs his own grave. It’s a classic downfall arc, of a man undone by his own flaws despite his relentless ambition. While Wong is a skilled puppeteer, he fails to realize that in this shadowy world, the strings are so often pulled by unseen hands.