Golden Gate

A 22-year-old law student turned FBI agent who struggles with moral compromises during the Second Red Scare. His career ambitions clash with conscience as he prosecutes suspects, only to question the justice of his actions when the case targets innocent Chinatown residents. His arc moves from naiveté to guilt, sacrifice, and a search for personal redemption.

Kevin's lover who is deeply troubled by the FBI's aggressive tactics against Chinese Americans. She challenges Kevin's choices and ultimately ends their relationship when he clings to a flawed sense of duty. Her stance embodies the human cost of national paranoia on intimate bonds.

Kevin's superior who pushes a hardline stance against suspected Communist influence. By 1962 he ascends to lead the San Francisco FBI office, embodying the institutional pressure to arrest and indict, regardless of individual innocence. His authority represents the systemic forces that drive the plot's tragedy.

The laundromat owner and central figure among the three men targeted in 1952. Feisty and respected within Chinatown, he becomes a symbol of the community's persecution under McCarthy-era paranoia. His imprisonment and subsequent fate drive the second act's emotional core and reveal the human cost of injustice.

Chen Jung Song's daughter and a powerful voice within the community. She forms a complex relationship with Kevin, bridging cultures and highlighting the personal ramifications of political persecution. Her arc intertwines with themes of forgiveness, resilience, and the possibility of reconciliation.

Leader of the Pro Asian Empowerment Movement, a movement that challenges racial oppression and asserts minority rights. His activism embodies the era's push for empowerment, while the FBI's response reveals the fragile line between reform and crackdown.

Kevin's partner in the 1968 investigations, assisting with surveillance and enforcement during a volatile period of campus activism. His presence marks the ongoing internal conflict within the agency between order and justice.