Written by Deborah Lau-Yu with notes from Selena Lee

Photography by: Christopher Katsarov Luna/Breakthrough Entertainment

Just in time to fill the void left by the abrupt end of one Canadian show with a mostly Asian cast, Rogers announced the third season of Blood and Water yesterday, the only trilingual Canadian production in English, Cantonese and Mandarin that is produced in Canada. It is also a labour of love, having been brought to life during the pandemic, with the on and off shutdowns that made for an exhausting and extended filming process. After over a year in the making during the emergency lockdown in Toronto, it is finally airing June 13th on OMNI Television on Sunday evenings.

What is the drama about, and why is it significant in this moment in 2021? Blood and Water: Fire & Ice is an 8-episode crime series uniquely portrayed in three languages, English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, with an all Asian main cast. Filmed and produced in Canada, lead actress Selena Lee describes Blood and Water: Fire & Ice, “it is tailored to resonate with a multi-cultural audience, while keeping the authenticity of Chinese culture in the West (North America).”  And the compact 30 minute show time allows the emotions and tension to keep audiences at the edge of their seat.

With intensity still at an all-time high in regards to issues of inclusion and diversity,  there is a strong desire for more and more Asian representation in North American cinema and television, and in fact, in all sectors of work and products. People are looking for content that authentically and correctly represent Asian culture without any prejudice or misplaced stereotyping.  Lee shares that “Fire+Ice is precisely that, with Chinese-Canadian culture as a backbone of the story, yet without distracting from the main focus of the storyline.” In essence, it is a cross-section of the Canadian community of Chinese diaspora, which is nuanced and multi-lingual in daily life. “It is a story of strong family values, sacrifices, redemption, and betrayal, in a very corrupted world.  Blood and Water is a production that allows Asian actors to express emotions and utilize their acting skills on a level that is rarely seen in many shows due to preconceived notions of Asian casting and roles. This season is a refreshing experience for Asian audiences who have been waiting for content in which they can place themselves and relate to, in a uniquely thrilling and emotional crime series.”

Though the show has aired its first two seasons, as a niche product, the recognition of the work is lacking in mainstream media. That said, in 2019, Blood and Water in its second season, was nominated at the Canadian Screen Awards for “Best Drama Series” and “Best Supporting Actress.”  The newest season focuses on the character Michelle Chang, played by Selena Lee, an award winning Canadian actress based in Hong Kong. It is also a series that features women as the leads, including Elfina Luk and Loretta Yu who also play key roles. This is another wonderful and refreshing moment in television, as the main leads of the show are female — a notable trait in an industry where male leads have traditionally dominated the screen in both cinema and television.

Stay tuned for more, as we deep dive into the series with the Director Felipe Rodriguez and Producer Ben Lu this weekend. If you missed the live segment with main female lead, Selena Lee and producer, Ben Lu, last evening, you can rewatch it again on YouTube and Instagram in the coming days. Remember to tune into OMNI Sundays at 10:30 pm EST. https://www.omnitv.ca/on/en/shows/blood-and-water/

Fête Chinoise is proud to be the cultural media partner for Blood and Water.

About the writer, Deborah Lau-Yu

Deborah Lau-Yu is the Editor-in-Chief of Fête Chinoise Platform and the Creative Director of PALETTERA Inc. She is passionate about visual culture and design, the arts, and the Chinese Canadian diaspora.