Against the Tide (Chinese: 逆潮) is a psychological thriller drama produced by MediaCorp Channel 8. This drama features different crime cases. Each case lasts 3-5 episodes and features a main character of the case. The drama began production in March 2014 and wrapped up its filming in May 2014. It was aired from 24 September 2014 to 24 October 2014 and has a total of 23 episodes.
| Against the Tide | |
|---|---|
| 逆潮 | |
| Genre | Drama Suspense Psychological thriller |
| Written by | Phang Kai Yee 彭凯毅 Lee Yen Chie 李燕淇 |
| Story by | Phang Kai Yee 彭凯毅 |
| Directed by | Loh Woon Woon 罗温温 Lim Mee Nah 林美娜 Lin Mingzhe 林明哲 |
| Starring | Christopher Lee Rui En Desmond Tan Paige Chua Zhang Zhenhuan Xu Bin Carrie Wong Zheng Geping |
| Opening theme | Black Winged Soul (黑翼心灵) by Lin Si Tong |
| Ending theme | Love Hurt Crime (伤爱罪) by Antonio Huang |
| Country of origin | Singapore |
| Original languages | Mandarin with English and Chinese Subtitles |
| No. of episodes | 23 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Soh Bee Lian 苏美莲 |
| Producer | Paul Yuen 袁树伟 |
| Cinematography | Ang Soon Bee 洪顺美 |
| Running time | approx. 45 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Mediacorp Channel 8 |
| Release | 24 September – 24 October 2014 |
Plot
editAcclaimed novelist Di Shen's mission is to expose evil in humans, as he believes that all humans are born depraved. While Di Shen is doing a television interview, a girl escapes her captivity in which she was tortured and abused. As police officers Zhou Jianfeng and Guo Jingcheng fail to obtain information from the girl, they ask for help from the psychiatrist Qiu Xueqing who, through hypnosis reveals that the assailant had a copy of Di Shen's novel. Xueqing asks the novelist to help solve the case believing that the culprit is an imitator of his novels, but for Jianfeng, Di shen is the main suspect.
Cast
editMain cast
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Lee 李铭顺 |
Di Shen 狄深 |
Younger version played by Zong Zijie
|
1-23 |
| Rui En 瑞恩 |
Qiu Xueqing 邱雪清 |
Dr. Snow, Snow White (白雪公主)
|
1-23 |
| Desmond Tan 陈炯江 |
Zhou Jianfeng 周健锋 |
|
1–8, 11–16, 18-23 |
| Paige Chua 蔡琦慧 |
Zhang Jing Xuan 张静璇 |
Teenage version played by Alicia Lo
|
3, 6–10, 12–14, 17–20, 22 |
| Zhang Zhenhuan 张振寰 |
Zhuo Dingkang 卓定康 |
|
6–10, 12–14, 17–20, 22-23 |
| Carrie Wong 黄思恬 |
Di Yao 狄遥 |
Younger version played by Lorraine Koh
|
1–18, 20-23 |
| Scarlet |
|
14–17, 21-23 | |
| Zheng Geping 郑各评 |
Qiu Gangyi 邱刚毅 |
Nails (铁钉)
|
1–4, 6–12, 14-19 |
| Xu Bin 徐彬 |
Guo Jingcheng 郭精诚 |
Cartoon
|
1–8, 11-14 |
| Zhang Zhenxuan | Shadow Walker |
|
3–5, 7–8, 11, 17, 19, 22-23 |
Qiu (Xueqing) family
edit| Cast | Character | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wang Yuqing | Qiu Gangzheng 邱刚正 | University Professor who teaches in the same university as Li Aiqin, Xie An Ni and Tina Loh Qiu Gangyi's elder brother Qiu Xueqing's father Chen Lina's professor and rumoured lover Tang Rongyao's professor Died from a heart attack when being kidnapped and interrogated by the 'Shadow Walker' organisation (Deceased - 7 years ago) |
3, 8–11, 20 |
Police Headquarters
edit| Cast | Character | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Fong | Anton | Police detective working under Zhou Jianfeng | 1–6, 8, 11–12, 14–16, 18-22 |
| 江熙祥 | Julius | Police detective working under Zhou Jianfeng | 2–6, 8, 11–16, 20-22 |
| Rio Chan 曾佳平 | Ah Hu 阿虎 | Police detective working under Zhou Jianfeng | 1–6, 8, 11–17, 20-22 |
| 巫满文 | Da Tou 大头 | Police detective working under Zhou Jianfeng | 16–17, 20 |
Zhou (Jianfeng) family
edit| Cast | Character | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| 秋文 | Zhou Yongjun 周勇骏 | Provision shop owner Guo Yalan's husband Zhou Jianfeng's father |
21-23 |
| Teo Ser Lee | Guo Yalan 郭雅兰 | Provision shop lady boss Zhou Yongjun's wife Zhou Jianfeng's mother |
21-22 |
Serial Kidnapping incident (ep 1-3)
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Chen | Yang Zhenye 杨振业 |
Jack J. Fighters Club shareholder Appears in Di Shen's book event in episode 1 Jennie's boyfriend A serial kidnapper and killer Murdered Agnes Lim Killed Jennie on her own request after getting tortured by kidnappers for failing to get a ransom |
1-3 |
| Tang Lingyi | Agnes Lim | Qiu Xueqing's patient Murdered by Yang Zhenye (Deceased - Episode 1) |
1 |
| Narelle Kheng 金甄旗 |
Jennie | Yang Zhenye's girlfriend Killed by Yang Zhenye on her own request after getting tortured by kidnappers for failing to get a ransom |
2-3 |
| 徐啸天 | Tom | J. Fighters Club shareholder | 1, 3 |
| Chen Ning | Female Host 女主持人 |
Host of the television show | 1 |
| Louis Wu | Tony | Di Shen's loyal fan Appears in Di Shen's book event in episode 1 |
1 |
Tear Gas Bombing incident (ep 3-6)
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Pow | Liu Zebang 刘泽邦 |
Mastermind of the 'Tear Gas Bombing' incidents Liu Xiaojing's elder brother Chemist at a laboratory Di Yao's patient and best friend Likes Di Yao |
3-6 |
| Bonnie Loo | Liu Xiaojing 刘晓静 |
Liu Zebang's younger sister Hospitalized due to kidney disease |
3-6 |
| Chantalle Ng | Judith Tan | Chen Baisheng's daughter College student |
4-5 |
| Dylan Quek 郭景豪 |
Nicholas Goh | Dr. Goh |
5 |
| Marcus Mok | Chen Baisheng 陈百胜 |
Dr. Tan | 5 |
Vampire Hunter (ep 6-8)
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuan Shuai | Zheng Tianrui 郑天瑞 |
Qiu Xueqing's patient | 6-8 |
| 陈思燕 | Zena Ng | Zheng Tianrui's neighbour | 7-8 |
| Zakk Lim 林绍凯 |
Huang Zhiqiang 黄志强 |
Zena Ng's father; sexually abused her | 7-8 |
Missing Girls Case (ep 9-11)
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Huifang | Luo Jinzhu 罗金珠 |
Hostel Cleaner Luo Baoqiang's mother |
9–11, 19 |
| Zheng Rongming | Tang Rongyao 唐荣耀 |
Qiu Gangzheng's student | 9 |
| Jayley Woo | Huang Liqi 黄莉琦 |
Studies in the same university as Li Aiqin, Xie An Ni and Tina Loh Li Aiqin's best friend Di Shen's fan |
9-10 |
| Ivan Tan 陈永文 |
Luo Baoqiang 罗宝强 |
Intellectually disabled Luo Jinzhu's son |
10–11, 19 |
| 林楚璇 | Li Aiqin 李爱琴 |
Studies in the same university as Xie An Ni, Tina Loh and Huang Liqi | 9, 11 |
| Shine Koh | Chen Lina 陈丽娜 |
Qiu Gangzheng's student and rumoured lover Di Yao's secondary school friend |
9-11 |
| 蔡龙 | Wu Zhiguang 吴智光 |
A sexual pervert | 10 |
| Kwek Hock Choon 郭福春 |
Lina's father 丽娜父 |
Chen Lina's father | 10 |
Hammering Assault incident (ep 11-14)
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavin Soh | Chen Zhifeng 陈志丰 | Mastermind behind the Hammering Assault incidents | 11-14 |
| Tan Si Yan 陈思燕 | Jolie | 12-13 | |
| Tracer Wong 王裕香 | Meiyun 美韵 | ||
| Alicia Tan 陈欣如 | Female Passerby 女路人 | 12-13 |
'Forest-Hunt' murder case (ep 15-19)
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aloysius Pang | Zhao Keji 赵克已 |
Zhao Junlong's son
|
15-21 |
| Brandon Wong | Zhao Junlong 赵俊龙 |
Police Qiu Gangyi's colleague and friend Zhao Keji's father |
15-19 |
| 王紫绮 | Zhang Xiaoyang 张晓阳 |
Lin Guoliang's worker Ivy's mother |
15 |
| 陈天赐 | Gu De An 顾德安 |
One of Zhao Keji's past accomplice's uncle | 15 |
| 郑瑞和 | Wang Youren 王友仁 |
One of Zhao Keji's past accomplice's uncle | 18-19 |
Confining Girls Incident (ep 15-17)
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Seah | Jacob Thang | Jimmy and Zen's friend In a love-hate relationship with Scarlet |
15-18 |
| 林伟胜 | Zen | Jacob and Jimmy's pal | 15-17 |
| 林祚纬 | Jimmy | Jacob and Zen's pal | 15-17 |
New 'Shadow Walker' organisation (ep 18-20)
edit| 张华珉 | Wu Zhiqun 吴智群 | New Shadow Walker organisation's first target | 19-20 |
Turning Evil (ep 20-23)
edit| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracer Wong | Liao Meiyun 廖美韵 | Di Shen and Di Yao's mother | 6–7, 12–13, 20-21 |
| Zhang Xinxiang | He Hailiang 何海量 | Owner and stock taker of a chain of convenience stores Shuzhen's husband He Meiting's father Zhou Jianfeng's family previous part-time driver |
21-23 |
| Welyn Ang | Shuzhen 淑珍 | He Hailiang's wife He Meiting's mother |
21-22 |
| Tan Mei Kee | He Meiting 何美婷 | He Hailiang and Shuzhen's daughter | 21 |
| Remus Teng 丁森炎 | Hong Qiming 洪启明 | 23 |
Viewerships
editAgainst The Tide had an average of 937,000 views, becoming the 7th most watched drama series of 2014, following behind Three Wishes, C.L.I.F. 3, The Caregivers, Blessings, The Journey: Tumultuous Times, and World at Your Feet. Viewership in 2014 increased significantly, with the top-rated drama serial of 2013, C.L.I.F. 2, only having 901,000 viewers, and the top 10 drama serials having at least 930,000.
Trivia
edit- Christopher Lee's 2014 drama series after Game Plan.
- Carrie Wong's debut MediaCorp Channel 8 drama and first villainous and dual role, where she plays a villain due to mental illness.
- Rui En's first villainous role, where she plays a villain at the end of the drama. It is also the first time she will portray a psychiatrist. In the series, she also steps into the mind of the criminal concerned.
- Zhang Zhenhuan's first villainous role.
- Paige Chua's first villainous role.
- Aloysius Pang's first villainous role, where he played a villain due to mental illness.
- This will be the first series to have five of the "8 Dukes of Caldecott Hill" appear.
- Snippets of the next episode were shown during the ending credits of each episode, but in rewind motion.
- Ian Fang was reportedly offered a role in the series, but turned it down so that he could take a break.
- The series was mentioned twice by Dennis Chew in 118. In episode 92, he mentioned that the characters in the series killed people using knives, while in episode 201, he mentioned Rui En could not be differentiated between a good woman and a bad woman.
Awards and nominations
editAgainst The Tide has the second most number of nominations for Star Awards 2015 behind The Journey: Tumultuous Times with 16 nominations in 13 awards, winning 3 of them - Best Programme Promo, Best Director and Best Cameraman.
The Star Awards are presented by Mediacorp.
| Star Awards – Acting Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominees | Accolades | Category | Result |
| 《黑翼心灵》 by Lin Si Tong | Star Awards | Best Theme Song | Nominated |
| Kee Chee Wee | Best Programme Promo | Won | |
| Loh Woon Woon | Best Director | Won | |
| Phang Kai Yee | Best Screenplay | Nominated | |
| Ang Soon Bee | Best Cameraman for Drama Programme | Won | |
| Gao Jun Wei and Yong Chin Liang | Best Music and Sound Design | Nominated | |
| Xu Bin | Favourite Male Character | Nominated | |
| Rui En | Favourite Female Character | Nominated | |
| Aloysius Pang | Rocket Award | Nominated | |
| Paige Chua | Nominated | ||
| Christopher Lee | Star Awards | Best Actor | Nominated |
| Rui En | Best Actress | Nominated | |
| Aloysius Pang | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
| Zhang Zhen Huan | Nominated | ||
| Paige Chua | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| Paige Chua | Tokyo Bust Express Sexy Babe Award | Nominated | |
| — | Best Drama Serial | Nominated | |