Omg! The Screenwriter and Director is from Forbidden Flower. That's why.... I knew it felt familiar. . .
Yup...only a handful of dramas/movies that I remember use such rich, warm, and deeply colorful palette scheme...combined with moments of poignancy. Love Forbidden Flower. 🥰
In certain Asian cultures, Chinese being one of them, the word "brother" has many meanings.
"Brother" doesn't just mean someone who's blood related to you or a step-brother like in Western culture.
In Asia, you can address someone who is unrelated to you but has close contact as your brother. Same idea with sister. Whether this person is older or younger, the title of brother and sister is used. E.g. All the guys in the neighborhood who you grew up playing with, you can call them "brother." All the guys at school who are 3 classes higher than you, you can call them "brother." Your male cousins, you can call them "brother." Your parents' friends' male kids, you call them "brother."
In Asian culture where matchmaking was a thing, especially in Wuxia or a long time ago, parents who were close friends and were about to have babies around the same time, would make a pact: If the newborns were boys, they would become sworn brothers; if they were girls, they would become sworn sisters; if they were a boy and a girl, they would be matched as a couple to be married when they were older.
Jin Zhao's dad and Jiang Mu's father were best buddies during their younger racing days. Jin ZHao's dad died in an accident so Jiang's Mu's father took him in. This scenario is like above: a boy and a girl but were raised in closed proximity. Jin Zhao always knew they weren't real sibling. Jiang Mu also knew later.
It's difficult to come across an awesome Republican Era drama because most produced always have to cast the CCP in positive light with propagandas; otherwise, it most likely wouldn't get approved for airing. The Silent Tides is able to playdown the involvement of CCP, but more about everyone coming together to fight for humanity and dignity, whether they be triad, HKnese, Macanese, British, or Tanka.
just finished ep 9. it's getting so good. can't wait to see how the scheme unfolds in saving the people of Macau from starvation. you bet i'm happy to see that everyone who misunderstood him finally knows the truth of his past benevolent doings. lastly, feel so good to watch everyone joining hands to save the people from despair.
I wonder the kanji for 'Yu' is fish. Well, sea vs fish seems fit. 😊
You brought a valid point up and got me curious. I went back to ep 1, at 6:42min where Yu was introduced. Her kanji chinese character name was indeed "fish" with the "water" radical. And this would make sense because boat dwellers are typical poor people with low access to formal education. Historically, uneducated people in China would name their kids after living things, objects, or ideas that they frequently associate; in Yu's case, would be fish since they live at sea, just as farmers would name their kids "cow, dog, etc."
As a history buff, it's the first time I heard of the term Tanka people (Yu's family background) and how they came about and why they weren't allowed on land. I've known of boat dwellers in the past, but wasn't aware they weren't allowed on land.
As of ep 6, it's such a great watch. Especially if you have ancestors from this region with displaced families due to war.
"Brother" doesn't just mean someone who's blood related to you or a step-brother like in Western culture.
In Asia, you can address someone who is unrelated to you but has close contact as your brother. Same idea with sister. Whether this person is older or younger, the title of brother and sister is used. E.g. All the guys in the neighborhood who you grew up playing with, you can call them "brother." All the guys at school who are 3 classes higher than you, you can call them "brother." Your male cousins, you can call them "brother." Your parents' friends' male kids, you call them "brother."
In Asian culture where matchmaking was a thing, especially in Wuxia or a long time ago, parents who were close friends and were about to have babies around the same time, would make a pact: If the newborns were boys, they would become sworn brothers; if they were girls, they would become sworn sisters; if they were a boy and a girl, they would be matched as a couple to be married when they were older.
Jin Zhao's dad and Jiang Mu's father were best buddies during their younger racing days. Jin ZHao's dad died in an accident so Jiang's Mu's father took him in. This scenario is like above: a boy and a girl but were raised in closed proximity. Jin Zhao always knew they weren't real sibling. Jiang Mu also knew later.
Really enjoying this one!!
As of ep 6, it's such a great watch. Especially if you have ancestors from this region with displaced families due to war.