Against the Tide (TV series)

(Redirected from Ni Chao)

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
GenreDrama
Suspense
Psychological thriller
Written byPhang Kai Yee 彭凯毅
Lee Yen Chie 李燕淇
Story byPhang Kai Yee 彭凯毅
Directed byLoh Woon Woon 罗温温
Lim Mee Nah 林美娜
Lin Mingzhe 林明哲
StarringChristopher Lee
Rui En
Desmond Tan
Paige Chua
Zhang Zhenhuan
Xu Bin
Carrie Wong
Zheng Geping
Opening themeBlack Winged Soul (黑翼心灵) by Lin Si Tong
Ending themeLove Hurt Crime (伤爱罪) by Antonio Huang
Country of originSingapore
Original languagesMandarin
with English and Chinese Subtitles
No. of episodes23 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerSoh Bee Lian 苏美莲
ProducerPaul Yuen 袁树伟
CinematographyAng Soon Bee 洪顺美
Running timeapprox. 45 minutes
Original release
NetworkMediacorp Channel 8
Release24 September (2014-09-24) –
24 October 2014 (2014-10-24)

Plot

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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

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Main cast

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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
  • Di Yao's split identity
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

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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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张华珉 Wu Zhiqun 吴智群 New Shadow Walker organisation's first target 19-20

Turning Evil (ep 20-23)

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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

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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

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  • 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

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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.

Star Awards – Acting Awards
Nominees Accolades Category Result
《黑翼心灵》 by Lin Si Tong 林思彤 Star Awards 2015 Show 1
红星大奖2015
Best Theme Song
最佳主题曲
Nominated
Kee Chee Wee 纪志威 Best Programme Promo
最佳宣传短片
Won
Loh Woon Woon 罗温温 Best Director
最佳导演
Won
Phang Kai Yee 彭凯毅 Best Screenplay
最佳剧本
Nominated
Ang Soon Bee 洪顺美 Best Cameraman for Drama Programme
最佳戏剧摄影
Won
Gao Jun Wei 高俊玮 and Yong Chin Liang 杨俊亮 Best Music and Sound Design
最佳音乐与音效设计
Nominated
Xu Bin 徐彬 Favourite Male Character
最喜爱男角色
Nominated
Rui En 瑞恩 Favourite Female Character
最喜爱女角色
Nominated
Aloysius Pang 冯伟衷 Rocket Award
年度飞跃奖
Nominated
Paige Chua 蔡琦慧 Nominated
Christopher Lee 李铭顺 Star Awards 2015 Show 2
红星大奖2015
Best Actor
最佳男主角
Nominated
Rui En 瑞恩 Best Actress
最佳女主角
Nominated
Aloysius Pang 冯伟衷 Best Supporting Actor
最佳男配角
Nominated
Zhang Zhen Huan 张振寰 Nominated
Paige Chua 蔡琦慧 Best Supporting Actress
最佳女配角
Nominated
Paige Chua 蔡琦慧 Tokyo Bust Express Sexy Babe Award 观众票选性感宝贝奖 Nominated
Best Drama Serial
最佳电视剧
Nominated

See also

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References

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