Welcome aboard the "Ocean"!
The Moving Global Village, the Lifeline of Life
In the spring of 2021, I boarded a ship called the Moving Global Village — Ocean Voyager, sailing across the vast blue seas, reaching as far as Italy...
What I witnessed: The crew’s professional skills and work ethics, as well as their struggles during times of adversity.
What I saw: The crew and the tour leader sincerely accompanied a young girl battling cancer and her parents; warmly encouraged an elderly couple to bravely pursue their love; and, on the eve of the voyage’s end, the chief officer thoughtfully arranged a unique “Who’s Coming to Dinner” event at the Captain’s Dinner.
I also witnessed: On a typhoon night, towering waves surged as the chief officer jumped into the sea to rescue a crew member thrown overboard from another cargo ship; upon arriving in Italy, the captain was kidnapped; on a small island, a tour bus overturned on a hillside due to a sudden accident, and amid the chaotic rescue efforts, a crew member transported the injured to the hospital but bled to death himself; most tourists were injured, with one seriously wounded person succumbing to their injuries...
Wait a minute, you might want to ask: "Which day, what time, which cruise did you take? How could you have gone through so many twists and turns?"
A Moving Global Village
This "Mobile Global Village" was filmed in Shanghai, directed by Chen Kunhui, and features the luxury cruise ship "Ocean" from the maritime workplace drama City of the Sea, starring Zhang Han and Wang Likun in leading roles!
This drama tells the story of a group of young people, including the chief officer (Ding Kai, Wang Ziyang) and the travel agency tour leader (Tian Yue), pursuing and realizing their dreams.
The super cruise ship, carrying over six thousand tourists and crew members, is a "moving global village" and a miniature society. The myriad human experiences of the passengers—the joys and sorrows, reunions and farewells, as well as the struggles and romances of the young people—are vividly portrayed throughout the shared journey.
Chinese maritime officers and rookie tour leaders, through their interactions and clashes with passengers, colleagues, family members, and the captain, witness each other’s growth. This is not only life on a cruise ship but also a reflection of every journey in life.
(Source: Baidu Encyclopedia)
Ocean City (2021 TV Drama Directed by Chen Kunhui) - Baidu Encyclopedia (baidu.com)
The theme song "Ocean City" captures the essence of the story: "Meeting in a city, meeting at a bustling yet lonely crossroads... The moving global village is a circle united in heart... Every time we dock, we see the lights of thousands of homes, a human reunion; Every time we set sail, we chase the horizon that never fades..."
Highlights recommended for enjoying the show
1. "Multiple storylines unfolding simultaneously" — complex and intertwined yet well-organized
This drama pleasantly surprised me, as someone learning to write stories: within the three basic relationships—crew and tour leader, crew and tourists, and tour leader and tourists—it simultaneously develops multiple two-way storylines, vividly presenting each character’s individual situation and the intersections of their real lives.
Example 1: Intersections on the Ship
One day, the crew members all noticed colorful graffiti on the glass walls and sliding doors and separately started investigating who was behind the mischief. Chief Purser Ding Kai entered an empty passenger cabin and looked out to see a little girl wearing a red hat, casually drawing on the sliding door a picture of “a big head with a blank face but topped with messy curly hair.” When she pulled down her red hat, her bare little head played a “face puzzle” game beneath the messy curls — the little girl’s story followed her as she ran and ran, all the way out to the deck...
In the sofa area sat an elderly man holding a diamond ring. Amid the sparkling light, his sorrowful expression intersected with the little girl’s focused gaze.
The little girl said, "Grandpa, are you unhappy? Are you very sad?"
The elderly man replied, "Child, when you grow up, when you grow old—old like me—you will understand."
The little girl said again, "If I could live as long as you have, I would be so happy! But Mom says I won’t grow old."
This elderly man is boarding the "Ocean" cruise for the second time. On his first voyage, the tour leader Tian Yue and the crew all took care of him—he is Grandpa Jiang, who often shows signs of dementia, with Grandma Hu supporting him by his side. After disembarking, at another workplace community, it was discovered that Grandpa Jiang and Grandma Hu each have their own personal hardships and the painful reality that they cannot be together.
After talking with Grandpa Jiang, the little girl ran off again. When Tian Yue finally found her, she had already fainted on the ground. Tian Yue immediately rushed her to the emergency room. Meanwhile, at the office on the other side, a report came in: Grandpa Jiang’s diamond ring was missing!
Amid the chaotic speculation, all suspicion fell on Tian Yue, because she was the only one who had been on the deck at that time...
Example 2: The Tug-of-War Below the Ship
Ding Kai joined the crew without informing his mother for many years. When she found out, she was furious and tried every way to dissuade him. Because Ding’s father had also been a sailor who died in a tragic explosion at sea, this becomes a "hidden yet simultaneous" storyline—one that Ding Kai is secretly investigating.
It was so captivating that it made me want to learn—
1. How to control the pacing during "transitions" or "connections," guiding the audience's thoughts in an orderly and seamless way. 2. While organizing things logically, also ensuring the visuals are pleasing to the eye.
2. Gaining deeper insight into the “crew’s work”
For example, what is the primary responsibility of the Chief Purser? In this drama, it is managing all safety measures inside and outside the ship’s cabins. According to Wikipedia: the ship’s officers are divided into Chief Officer, Second Officer, and Third Officer. The Second Officer is responsible for managing medical equipment and supplies on the ship and reports to the Captain and Chief Officer; the Third Officer is in charge of managing firefighting, lifesaving, and rescue safety equipment and reports to the Chief Officer.
Example:
After one voyage, Chief Purser Ding Kai was inexplicably reprimanded by the First Officer for a loose “anchor locker stop valve”; a single faulty stop valve could cause a loss of one million dollars. Following a thorough investigation, the Captain expressed disappointment. Other Chief Pursers knew this was a serious “basic error” in the job. Ultimately, Ding Kai was dismissed—“sent ashore”—and had no choice but to become a lecturer at a maritime university.
This new insight made me think: if someday I meet brothers or sisters who work on ships, I can show care by asking whether they’ve experienced similar situations. Knowing a bit about this, I could gently start the conversation from angles like:
Which equipment or safety measures on the ship, if neglected, could pose life-threatening dangers to the entire crew? What rules must crew members never break, or else they will definitely be “sent ashore” (dismissed from the ship)?
Glimpse of “gospel-like elements”
It is well known that in mainland China, there are many restrictions on Christian missionary work. After film and television dramas undergo censorship, if “Christian-like vocabulary, symbols, or imagery” still remain, I feel as joyful as discovering little stars in the night sky. Let’s call these “gospel-like elements.” These elements not only prepare opportunities to open gospel conversations with non-Christian friends who have watched the drama, but also help those of us learning to write stories practice how to naturally incorporate biblical truths, vocabulary, symbols, and imagery into our works.
In this drama, I discovered two surprising “gospel-like elements”—
The colloquial phrase “God bless”
On the cruise ship, after the captain and crew learned that passengers had been involved in an accident on the tour bus, they expressed their concern for the passengers by saying “God bless” to each other (the Chinese subtitles showed “上帝祝福”).
Although “God bless” is a very everyday blessing—sometimes even used by non-Christians—it is also the simplest expression of “God’s will.” Because it is so concise, as Christians we should be even more willing to say it freely, letting “God bless” become the most natural and everyday way to open gospel conversations.
The concept of “atonement”
After the tour bus overturned, Tian Yue was overwhelmed with grief and pain. The deceased’s mother sued her in court, accusing her of negligence as the tour leader. In court, Tian Yue “confessed” that it was her fault because she believed that by doing so she could “atone” and ease her heart (the story later takes a turn).
It is natural for people who have made mistakes to want to do something to make up for their regrets and try to reverse their feelings of remorse.
But the greatest act of “atonement” in all creation is the work of the Son of God, who is the Word made flesh—Jesus Christ, the Son of Man—who willingly was nailed to the cross to redeem the sins of all the world on our behalf.
There is a difference in depth between “admitting mistakes” and “confessing sins.” When people make mistakes, as long as the facts are clarified, they should admit their errors and learn to take responsibility. But the issue of “sin” must be entrusted to Jesus Christ. Confessing sin to Him is an opportunity for a person to be reborn. Confessing to God and accepting Jesus’ redemption shows that we recognize our need for the blood of Jesus to make us new. Only after confessing and being redeemed can we humbly admit mistakes when we fall short or fail.
Admitting mistakes is a mindset, while atonement is an action. Without the redemption and mercy given to us by Jesus, what people consider as “atonement” can fall into a trap—one of self-righteousness and self-justification.
The only way to truly resolve the issue of “atonement” is to open your heart to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Savior and Lord of life!
The extension of life
The 43-episode series Ocean City doesn’t need to be rushed— you can “tour” through the entire story at a leisurely, strolling pace. Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still looming and travel not very convenient, I sincerely recommend everyone take this Ocean journey of life. Step out of your comfort zone and extend your reach in many diverse ways...
“...The moving coastline stretches from the horizon to right before your eyes; the extension of life is no longer so distant... One boat, one world, We are all together — one ship, one world, one voyage, one life.”
Author Bio:
Li Huaiwen participated consecutively in four KRC Cultural Camps from 2014 to 2017. Since 2016, he has focused on the influence of film and television culture on everyday life. He often prays for the actors and the entertainment industry he admires and has a special interest in discovering “gospel-like elements” in mainland Chinese dramas. This serves three purposes: first, to speculate whether the screenwriters, directors, and others might be “hidden Christians”; second, to explore potential entry points for gospel conversations; and third, to learn how to naturally incorporate “Christian- and Bible-related vocabulary, symbols, and imagery” into writing.