Singaporean TV series
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.
Plot
Acclaimed 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
Main cast
| Cast |
Role |
Description |
Episodes Appeared
|
Christopher Lee
李铭顺 |
Di Shen
狄深 |
Younger version played by Zong Zijie
- Suspense Novelist
- Di Yao's elder brother
- Zhang Jingxuan's love interest
- Zhuo Dingkang, Zhang Jingxuan's old friend
- In love with Qiu Xueqin
|
1-23
|
Rui En
瑞恩 |
Qiu Xueqing
邱雪清 |
Dr. Snow, Snow White (白雪公主)
- Psychiatrist
- Qiu Gangzheng's daughter
- Qiu Gangyi's niece
- Di Shen's girlfriend
- Zhou Jianfeng's love interest
|
1-23
|
Desmond Tan
陈炯江 |
Zhou Jianfeng
周健锋 |
- Assistant Superintendent
- Zhou Yongjun and Guo Yalan's eldest son
- In love with Qiu Xueqing
- Di Shen's rival in love
- Guo Jingcheng's best friend and superior
- Killed by Shadow Walker / Zhuo Dingkang
- (Deceased - Episode 23)
|
1–8, 11–16, 18-23
|
Paige Chua
蔡琦慧 |
Zhang Jing Xuan
张静璇 |
Teenage version played by Alicia Lo
- Lawyer
- Zhuo Dingkang's love interest
- Qiu Xueqing's rival in love
- Di Shen, Zhuo Dingkang's old friend
- In love with Di Shen
- Killed by Scarlet and Qiu Xueqing
- (Deceased - Episode 22)
|
3, 6–10, 12–14, 17–20, 22
|
Zhang Zhenhuan
张振寰 |
Zhuo Dingkang
卓定康 |
- Forensic Pathologist
- In love with Zhang Jingxuan
- Di Shen's rival in love
- Di Shen, Zhang Jingxuan's old friend
- Xie Honglie's best friend
- Shadow Walker
- (Deceased - Episode 23)
|
6–10, 12–14, 17–20, 22-23
|
Carrie Wong
黄思恬 |
Di Yao
狄遥 |
Younger version played by Lorraine Koh
- Psychological Counselor
- Di Shen's younger sister
- Qiu Xueqing and Zhang Jingxuan's friend
- Liu Zebang's counselor and best friend
- Studies psychology in university
- Chen Lina's friend
|
1–18, 20-23
|
| Scarlet |
|
14–17, 21-23
|
Zheng Geping
郑各评 |
Qiu Gangyi
邱刚毅 |
Nails (铁钉)
- Private Detective
- Qiu Gangzheng's younger brother
- Qiu Xueqing's paternal uncle
- Often made Qiu Xueqing to go on a morning jog with him
- Detests Di Shen
- (Deceased - Episode 19)
|
1–4, 6–12, 14-19
|
Xu Bin
徐彬 |
Guo Jingcheng
郭精诚 |
Cartoon
- Police Detective
- Zhou Jianfeng's best friend and subordinate
- (Deceased - Episode 14)
|
1–8, 11-14
|
| Zhang Zhenxuan
|
Shadow Walker |
- Tortured Yang Zhenye (Episode 3), Zheng Tianrui (Episode 7–8) and Luo Jinzhu (Episode 11)
- Liu Zebang's accomplice
- Kidnapped Zheng Tianrui in the presence of Zhou Jianfeng in Episode 7
- Aired a 'live' screening on an online video portal site, asking netizens to vote for Zheng Tianrui's ultimate fate in Episode 8
- Gave Di Shen the anaesthetic and drove him to a deserted area by Di Shen's jeep in Episode 10
- Appears again in the video portal site to give the police 24 hours to find Jacob's body in Episode 17
- Revealed himself in Episode 20
- Launched a live recording of the punishment of Hong Qiming in Episode 23
|
3–5, 7–8, 11, 17, 19, 22-23
|
Qiu (Xueqing) family
| 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
| 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
| 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)
| 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)
| 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)
| 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)
| 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)
| 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)
| Cast |
Role |
Description |
Episodes Appeared
|
| Aloysius Pang |
Zhao Keji
赵克已 |
Zhao Junlong's son
- Killed himself after jumping off the hospital's top floor
- (Deceased - Episode 21)
|
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)
| 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)
| 张华珉 |
Wu Zhiqun 吴智群 |
New Shadow Walker organisation's first target |
19-20
|
Turning Evil (ep 20-23)
| 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
Against 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
- 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
Against 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.
See also
References
