[Icycle]

I have been riding a loaner tandem which has what seems to me to be a weird brake configuration. The right brake controls both the front and rear cantilever rim brakes simultaneously, while the left brake controls the rear drum brake.

Is this a normal brake configuration? What are the pros and cons of this setup? Anything I should be aware of or watch out for? I don't really feel comfortable making major changes to the setup of this tandem, since I'm borrowing it from relatives.

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[zonatandem]

This is an older type setup for brakes and really no longer being advocated.
Some have it setup so one lever controls both drum and rear canti . . . but this is also rather inefficient and robs you of some braking control.
Suggested set-up would be left lever for front canti, right lever for rear canti. A barend shifter can control the rear drum by captain.
Or . . . give stoker control of the rear drum as in all likelyhood it will not be used often except for long steep descents or as a parking brake.