Where law meets humanity

In the courtroom, criminal defense lawyer Ding Ning methodically presents evidence and points out uncertainties she has uncovered in a rape case. Rather than simply accepting a guilty plea, the young lawyer works to protect the legal rights of her client, a young nursing home caregiver accused of rape.

The scene appears in the first episode of the suspense drama The Trembling of Cicada.

Starring Hong Kong actor Francis Ng, Chinese mainland actor Zheng Yunlong and actress Zhong Chuxi, the drama premiered on Zhejiang TV on Aug 20 and is also available on streaming platforms including iQIYI, Tencent Video and Migu Video.

Through the perspectives of three legal professionals, the drama gradually unveils a complex case spanning more than 10 years, using the law as a lens through which to explore justice, moral choices and human nature.

For Ng, who plays judge Yu Songfan, the role offered a new experience despite more than three decades in acting.

"It was a rare opportunity. Almost every scene carried its own emotions and meaning, so I never allowed myself to relax," Ng said.

It is his first time playing a judge on the Chinese mainland, and the role gave him an opportunity to gain a better understanding of a judge's work.

"My character, Yu Songfan, carefully researches each case before it reaches the courtroom, and judges must deal with many cases every day. It made me realize just how demanding their work can be," Ng said, adding that judges need to remain clearheaded and make balanced judgments based on evidence and legal procedures.

For Zhong, who plays criminal defense lawyer Ding Ning, the role prompted her to think about a profession that can sometimes be controversial in the public eye because it involves defending people accused of serious wrongdoing.

"It takes courage to become a criminal defense lawyer," Zhong said.

She noted that being a suspect does not necessarily mean a person is guilty, and that criminal defense lawyers work to safeguard the legal rights to which suspects are entitled.

"Cases are rarely one-dimensional. There are often many sides to them," Zhong said. "At its core, the work of a criminal defense lawyer is about upholding justice and equality, and I find that deeply admirable."

For her, Ding's story is also one of personal growth. "Ding goes through a transformation after a long period of dormancy, much like a cicada emerging from underground. In that sense, her journey also echoes the title of the drama," Zhong said.

While Ding seeks to protect the rights of the accused, Zheng's character approaches the law from a more morally ambiguous direction.

Zheng plays prominent lawyer Zhao Yijie, who is adept at reading and manipulating others while navigating the gray areas of the law.

"It's an unconventional role," Zheng said. "He has his own ambitions and difficulties, but the way he deals with them can be quite unusual."

For Zheng, portraying the character required looking closely at the relationship between the legal profession and human nature.

He believes lawyers need to interact with people and, more importantly, understand them.

"My character, Zhao Yijie, is very good at identifying people's weaknesses. He observes them, provokes them and sets traps for them, pushing them to the point where they lose their rationality," Zheng said.

"When you play a complex character, you have to understand exactly where that complexity comes from and what lies behind it," he added.

That complexity also shaped how Zheng approached the character. As a musical theater actor, he drew on his stage experience while adapting it to the different demands of television.

"Stage and television are completely different. On stage, you're always conscious that some audience members are sitting far away, so your movements and expressions often need to be larger and more pronounced," he explained, adding that television acting, by contrast, calls for greater subtlety.

But beneath Zhao's dramatic persona and the twists and turns of the plot, Zheng believes the story ultimately deals with questions that extend beyond the legal world.

"It touches on something many people may experience: when you face adversity or even injustice, how do you overcome the negative emotions that come with it?" he said. "That is a universal theme, and I think it can resonate with audiences overseas as well."

According to the production team, the drama is set to reach audiences worldwide, with priority given to Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

Zheng said cross-cultural communication can be strengthened by finding emotional connections that resonate with people from different backgrounds.

He cited a production of Hamlet, in which he performed last year, as an example. Although the play is a Western classic rooted in a different cultural tradition, its central questions about choice and uncertainty remain recognizable centuries later.

Believing sincere emotions can cross language and cultural boundaries, Zhong hopes Chinese productions can offer international audiences perspectives they have not encountered before.

She likens an actor to a transmitter. "Our job is to convey emotions, ideas, values and perspectives," she said. "Chinese culture is incredibly diverse, and we are still exploring new ways to present it. I hope this drama can offer overseas viewers a fresh take on Chinese suspense storytelling."

For Zhong, audiences encountering stories from other cultures are often searching not for differences, but for something recognizable in themselves.

"They may see something of their past, their future or the possibilities in their own lives," she said.

"As a young actress, I also hope to keep discovering new possibilities for myself," she added.