HONG KONG TV is often characterized by brightly lit scenes and the fast-paced delivery of its actors, as if reflecting the pulse of the city. But, going against this tide of success is “The Gutter,” which may see viewers reappraising their opinions.

With a cold tone, a slow pace, a myriad of long shots, and scrupulous arrangement of picture compositions and shadows, this TV drama is bucking the trend in what seems like a successful way.

Premiering March 28 on Chinese streaming platform Youku, the 15-episode production scored 8.9 points out of a total 10 on Douban, the country’s key online TV and film review platform.

Three main storylines are interwoven. Two roommates, Thomas and Sammy, have known each other for years, but they are reluctant to articulate their affection toward each other. Both Ken and Joyce, a couple finally getting married after dating for eight years, have their own secrets. And Catherine and Ryan, a long-separated couple, struggle to rediscover the meaning of family.

It deploys a Rashomon style in its approach. This allows characters to view and rationalize the same scenario in an often self-serving manner.

“Different people will see either the head or the tail of the same story,” said Twofive Yeung, one of the two directors of “The Gutter.” The other director is known as Fatball. “Traditional plays often tell the story through personal perspectives, and we want to borrow that to show the complexity of people.”

“The Gutter” delivers the sullen essence of a story, rather than a happy ending. Many scenes are set in winter, creating an even colder aura. “It can be too real or too straightforward sometimes, but it actually inspires people to reflect on their own life,” Yeung said. “If you grip something too tightly, it will hurt. Sometimes it’s better to take it easy. I’m not only talking about love, but everything.”

“We don’t want the story to be overwhelmingly ‘dramatic,’ but to simply reveal family ethics,” said Norris Wong, screenplay of the series. She had concerns about the drama due to its unique format, so its success turned out to be “a surprise.”

Bowie Lam, 55, who plays Thomas, also a producer of “The Gutter,” said that “We haven’t thought too much about the tastes of those people who grew up watching old Hong Kong productions. I don’t say they were not good, but it’s time to embrace the future.”

The urban romance was co-produced by Youku and Hong Kong-based ViuTV. Both directors mentioned that cooperating with online platforms from the Chinese mainland will provide more opportunities for Hong Kong scripts to be turned into productions.

Wong believes the arthouse approach of “The Gutter” may provide a possibility for other directors to try new ideas instead of sticking to tried and tested but “safe” themes, such as those of police officers or lawyers.(China Daily)