Tiger Mom Blues
Tiger Mom Blues is a 2017 Hong Kong television drama produced by Kwan Wing-chung and TVB. It premiered on TVB Jade in Hong Kong and Astro On Demand in Malaysia on 6 February 2017. The series covers the tiger mother phenomenon, where children are deeply influenced by a strict and autocratic parenting style. The final episode aired on 3 March 2017, totalling 20 episodes. It stars Elena Kong, Ben Wong, Sharon Chan and Michelle Yim.
Synopsis
Raised by "Tiger Mom" Eliz Yue, stay-at-home mom Natalie Cha, who is deeply influenced by her strict upbringing, adopts an autocratic parenting style to raise her two daughters. It leads to resentment among them, especially for her elder daughter Venus Yim. Meanwhile, her husband Yim Ha, who has a softer approach in raising their children, faces a midlife crisis and the temptation of an extramarital affair, which estranges the couple.Despite being extremely strict with her children, Natalie is very tough and often contends with another member of St. Gabriel School's parent-teacher association, Rebecca Yuen. The two eventually become friends, thanks to Natalie's friend and the dean of discipline at St. Gabriel, Claire Man.
Natalie wants her children to be successful academically, but finds out that Venus is dating Claire's younger brother, Hayden Man. Eventually, a secret Natalie has been keeping for over a decade comes out into the open, souring the mother-daughter relationship.
Cast and character
Cha/Yim family
- Michelle Yim as Eliz Yue Kai-yin, Natalie's strict mother. Eliz is an acclaimed ballet dancer and pampers her younger granddaughter Echo, but was cold towards her step-granddaughter, Venus.
- Angelina Lo as Loe Fa, Ha's care-free mother.
- Elena Kong as Natalie Cha Heung-shin, the strong-willed stay-at-home mother of two academically-accomplished children. Influenced by her own strict mother, Natalie is demanding of her two daughters, and is highly involved in her children's academic progress. She is part of the PTA at her children's school, St. Gabriel School.
- Ben Wong as Yim Ha, Natalie's husband, a flat inspector, and the family's sole breadwinner. Ha has a softer approach in parenting his two daughters.
- Kaman Kong as Venus Yim Sin-yue, Ha's 17-year-old daughter and Natalie's stepdaughter, a Form 6 student St. Gabriel School, and the head of her class. Venus is filial, hardworking, and has a passion for ballet, although her step-grandmother has criticised her for her lack of talent in dancing. She has a crush on Hayden.
- Sophia Hung as Echo Yim Sin-chung, Natalie and Ha's 11-year-old daughter, a Primary 6 student at St. Gabriel School. Echo is naturally talented at playing the piano, although her true passion is track & field.
Man/Cheng family
- Sharon Chan as Claire Man Ka-hei, the dean of discipline at St. Gabriel School. Claire is a single mother of a 9-year-old boy, and is the sole guardian of Hayden, her teenage brother. Her husband died when Issac was young.
- Matthew Ho as Hayden Man Leong-hei, Claire's younger brother, who is in Form 6 at St. Gabriel School. Hayden was a gifted student, but an incident during primary school leaves him indifferent about his education. Hayden has a crush on ex-classmate Shun, who was expelled by St. Gabriel after getting pregnant.
- Ivan Chan as Isaac Cheng Tsz-yi, Claire's academically-talented 9-year-old son who is enrolled in Primary 6 at St. Gabriel, skipping two grades. Sometimes, he visits the school janitor named Sing Gat-si.
Ko family
- Koni Lui as Rebecca Yuen Yuen, nicknamed Princess Rebecca, an overindulging parent who spoils her 11-year-old son, Oscar. She comes from a wealthy family and is a member of St. Gabriel's PTA.
- Savio Tsang as Ko Yan, Rebecca's husband and Ha's close friend. Yan owns several properties and the owner of a popular noodle restaurant. His rags to riches story is an inspiration to his neighbours.
- Coleman Tam as Oscar Ko Wai-ting, Rebecca and Yan's spoiled 11-year-old son.
St. Gabriel School admin and students
- Willie Wai as Sing Gat-si, Claire's friend, a janitor at St. Gabriel and enters the school for a special reason.
- Arnold Kwok as Hugo Lin Kwok-kai, Venus and Hayden's classmate who represents Hong Kong in an international basketball competition. Though popular in school, Hugo comes from an abusive family. He has a crush on Claire.
- Hebe Chan as Meg Moe Sau-mei, Venus' classmate and close friend.
- Mak Ling-ling as Tam Kim-lan, the head principal of St. Gabriel, who admires Claire.
- Ceci So as Yau Mat-mat, the headmistress of the St. Gabriel's primary school, who always points against Claire.
- Chung Chi-kwong as Wong Sheung-ming, the chairman of St. Gabriel's PTA, who later resigned due to his health condition and was replaced by Natalie.
- Eileen Yeow as Mrs. Cheung, a member of the PTA.
- Iva Law as Mrs. Chin, referred to as Daisy, a member of the PTA.
- Pauline Chow as Mrs. Chau, a member of the PTA.
- June Chan as Mrs. Wong, a member of the PTA.
- Aurora Li as Miss Kan, a primary school teacher and the vice chairman of the PTA.
Other characters
- Becky Lee as Frances Hung Ngan-chi, the project manager of a real estate development agency, who is friends with Ha.
- Mak Ka-lun as Chong Ding-tong, Ha's co-worker.
- Russell Cheung as Chung Lok-hoi, Ha's co-worker.
- Apple Chan as Luk Siu-shun, Hayden's former classmate. Shun was expelled by the school after getting pregnant, and is struggling to make a living. She has a two-year-old, nicknamed "Little Tiger."
- Virginia Lau as Miss Kelly Chan, a highly renowned pianist who takes over teaching and improves Echo's piano skills. Has ulterior motive for teaching Echo.