Together (Singaporean TV series)

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Together
当我们同在一起
Genre Period drama
Created byAng Eng Tee 洪荣狄
Written byAng Eng Tee 洪荣狄
Directed byChia Mien Yang 谢敏洋
Chong Liung Man 张龙敏
Lai Lee Thin 赖丽婷
Loo Yin Kam 卢燕金
Tay Peck Choo 郑碧珠
Starring Jeanette Aw
Dai Xiangyu
Elvin Ng
Eelyn Kok
Zhang Zhenxuan
Zhou Ying
Opening theme我们 by Kelvin Tan
Ending theme我们之间 by Joi Chua
Country of originSingapore
Original languageChinese
No. of episodes36
Production
ProducerChia Mien Yang 谢敏洋
Running timeapprox. 45 minutes per episode
Original release
Network MediaCorp Channel 8
Release30 November 2009 (2009-11-30) 
18 January 2010 (2010-01-18)

Together (Chinese :当我们同在一起, literally "When We Are Together") is a Singaporean Chinese drama produced in 2009. It was telecasted on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp Channel 8. It stars Jeanette Aw, Dai Xiangyu, Elvin Ng, Eelyn Kok, Zhang Zhenxuan and Zhou Ying as the casts for the series. It is MediaCorp's 46th anniversary year-end blockbuster drama, and was sponsored by the Media Development Authority of Singapore. It made its debut on 30 November 2009 and ended on 18 January 2010. This drama serial consists of 36 episodes, and was screened on every weekday night at 9:00 pm.

Contents

The series title also refers to the children's folk song "The More We Get Together" and the tune is played during the interlude and in the introduction of the theme song.

Cast

Yao Family

CastRoleDescription
Wang Yuqing
王昱清
Yao Shi 姚狮Yao Jianhong and Yao Wuji's father
Self-proclaimed as "Master of Time"
Formerly a gambler
Deceased
Jeanette Aw
欧萱
Yao Jianhong 姚剑虹Initially a swordswoman
Yao Wuji's twin sister
Became a dance hostess; nicknamed 'Xiao-hong'
Yao Shi's daughter
Huang Zhihao's ex-wife
Crush on Lin Xiaobei
Clothes seller
Yixin and Xiaoting’s mother
Xiaobei's wife (few years later)
Zhang Zhenxuan
张振煊
Yao Wuji 姚无忌Formerly a bookstall owner
Yao Shi's son
Yao Jianhong's twin brother
Crush on Huang Jinhao

Lin Family

CastRoleDescription
Li WenhaiLin Yi 林益Tailor
Lin Xiaobei's father
Lin LiyunAh WeiSeamstress
Lin Xiaobei's mother
Dai Xiangyu
戴向宇
Lin Xiaobei 林小杯Nicknamed Lin Xiaomei (小妹, "Little Sister")
Son of Lin Yi
Event Organiser / Manager
Crush on Yao Jianhong
Huang Zhihao's best friend
Yixin and Xiaoting’s father
Yao Jianhong's husband (few years later)
Jarrell Huang
黄俊融
(Teenage version portrayed by Hong Weixiang 洪玮祥)
Lin Yixin 林一心Grandson of Lin Yi and Ah Wei
Grandson of Yao Shi
Adoptive Grandson of Huang Lifa and He Jiao
Son of Lin Xiaobei and Yao Jianhong
Adoptive son of Huang Zhihao

Lin Xiaoting’s older brother
Becomes a member of the Special Forces

Wu Jiamin
吴家敏
Lin Xiaoting 林小婷Granddaughter of Lin Yi and Ah Wei
Granddaughter of Yao Shi
Daughter of Lin Xiaobei and Yao Jianhong
Lin Yixin’s younger sister

Huang Family

CastRoleDescription
Ye Shipin
叶世品
Huang Lifa 黄利发Huang Zhihao and Huang Jinhao's father
Boss of a coffee shop
He Jiao's husband
Hong Huifang
洪慧芳
He Jiao 何娇Huang Zhihao and Huang Jinhao's mother
Huang Lifa's wife
Elvin Ng
黄俊雄
Huang Zhihao 黄志豪Tarzan
Self-proclaimed Tiger King
Huang Jinhao's older brother
Son of Huang Lifa & He Jiao
Lin Xiaobei's best friend
Yixin's adoptive father
Crush on Yao Jianhong & Jinzhu
Turned eunuch by wrestling opponent, Shan Lang
Jinzhu's husband (few years later)
Eelyn Kok
郭蕙雯
Huang Jinhao 黄金好Huang Zhihao's younger sister
Daughter of Huang Lifa & He Jiao
Crush on Lin Xiaobei
Jarrell Huang
黄俊融
Lin Yixin 林一心Adoptive grandson of Huang Lifa and He Jiao
Son of Lin Xiaobei and Yao Jianhong Becomes a member of the Special Forces

Qin Family

CastRoleDescription
Zheng Geping
郑各评
Qin Xiangling 秦相林Formerly a conman
Liu Maomao's husband
Qin Huimin's father
Aileen Tan
陈丽贞
Liu Maomao 刘毛毛Ex-member of Butterfly Gang
Qin Xiangling's wife
Qin Huimin's mother
Zhou Ying
周颖
Qin Huimin 秦慧敏Crush on Lin Xiaobei
Daughter of Qin Xiangling & Liu Maomao
Becomes a lawyer

Wang Family

CastRoleDescription
Pamelyn Chee Wang YanxiaWang family's second shareholder
Wuji's wife (later divorced)
Jian ManMaster WangWang family's business boss
Yanxia's father

Dance Club

CastRoleDescription
Constance Song
宋怡霏
LucyHead Hostess of Dance Club
Lucy-jie
Jeanette Aw
欧萱
Yao JianhongSee "Yao Family"
Yuan LongZhang/YangLucy's assistant

North Bridge Road shops

CastRoleDescription
Jeanette Aw
欧萱
Yao JianhongSee Yao Family
You LeiAuntie WantonWanton seller
Wu KegouUncle FootShoe seller and Cobbler
Chen Huoming$5.60Wanton's assistant
Jake LowZhenPaper seller
Ex-member of Anti-Corruption Bureau
Fa SiYao WenFortune teller

Police Station

CastRoleDescription
Yuan Shuai
袁帅
Ou YumingInspector Ou
Was Tua Kow Yang & Dehua's Superior at first but later on transferred to Anti-Corruption Bureau
Crush on Yao Jianhong
Desmond Tan
陈泂江
Lin Dehua 林德华Main Villain

Corporal Lin
Yao Jianhong's cousin
Crush on Yao Jianhong
Killed his superior Tua Kow Yang, Lucy, and Black Mole
Turned into a wanted man allegedly taking bribes and committing murder
Deceased

Others

CastRoleDescription
Nat Ho
鹤天赐
LouisDoctor
Huimin's husband
Huang PeibeiXing Singxin
Zhen FujiMr. PoetPoet
Benjamin Heng Black MoleLeader Mole gang
Zhen MingJoeZhang's rival

Plot

The story begins in 1967. During that year, Singapore first issued their own currency and made national service mandatory for all young Singaporean males who have come of age 18 years old. That year, there were people who rented out fake eyelashes for S$4 a day; prices of eggs plummeted to a new low, propelling Singaporeans to start a movement to kill chickens to reduce egg-supply. That year, the “Vietnam Rose” (a form of syphilis) set foot on the island, visitors who called on prostitutes shuddered at its mention; that same year, Sakura and Rita Chao's “New Peach-blossom River” was popular in the streets of Singapore...

There lived 3 families in 3 houses along a horizontal street (which bustled with noise and excitement) in North Bridge Road, amongst whom were 6 youths of about the same age and had grown up together. Lin Xiaobei (Dai Xiangyu) was the only son of tailor Lin. He fought and got into trouble all the time, and was a constant headache to his neighbours. Yao Jianhong (Jeanette Aw), who grew up with Xiaobei, was the only person who could subdue him. Jianhong withdrew from school at a young age and with her father, performed martial arts in the streets to sell medicated ointment. She was in the ‘turf’ for years, and was a candid and forthright girl with a sense of chivalry. Lin Xiaobei liked her and the feeling was mutual. However she was very unhappy with Xiao Bei's frivolous attitude. She hoped that Xiao Bei would be down-to-earth and succeed his father's trade. Xiaobei did not want to be resigned to cooping in the humble tailor-shop. He wanted to venture into more ambitious grounds and strike it rich someday.

Another childhood friend of Lin Xiaobei was Huang Zhihao, nicknamed "Tarzan" (Elvin Ng), who was always building castles in the air. A fickle-minded youth, he wanted to be a car racer for a moment and fantasized about being a wrestler next. Both of them were at loggerheads sometimes and allies during other occasions. Xiaobei and Tarzan stick by each other through weal and woe. Like chopsticks, each is incomplete without the other.

Besides Jianhong, Tarzan's sister, Huang Jinhao (Eelyn Kok), also liked Xiaobei. She was a vain and materialistic girl with a naive mindset. Despite not winning Xiaobei's heart, she was loyal to him as a friend. Jianhong's twin brother, Yao Wuji (Zhang Zhenxuan) was very timid. He could only keep the feelings he had towards Jinhao to himself.

Qin Hui Min (Zhou Ying) was the only one among the few youngsters who was highly educated. Though she was physically weak, she had an unrelenting perseverance, and eventually became a lawyer.

The two generations of these families went through 30 years of changes, entwined in love, hate, grudge, jealousy, magnanimity and forgiveness.

Character analysis

Awards and nominations

The series was nominated for 20 awards in the 2010 Star Awards, and became the biggest winner with five awards, including the Best Drama Series and Theme Song.

The show went on to nominate for three more awards in the Asian Television Awards , but did not win any of these categories.

Star Awards 2010

AccoladesAwardNominee(s)ResultRef
Star Awards Best Drama Theme Song《我们》 by Kelvin Tan Won
Best DirectorChong Liung ManNominated
Lai Lee ThinNominated
Loo Yin KamNominated
Tay Peck Choo [1] Won
Best ScreenplayAng Eng TeeNominated
Favourite Male Character Dai Xiangyu Nominated
Elvin Ng Nominated
Favourite Female Character Jeanette Aw Won
Rocket Award Elvin Ng Won
Star Awards Best Actor Elvin Ng Nominated
Dai Xiangyu Nominated
Best Actress Jeanette Aw Nominated
Eelyn Kok Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Zheng Geping Nominated
Zhang Zhenxuan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Hong Huifang Nominated
Aileen Tan Nominated
Best Drama Serial Won
2010 Asian Television Awards
Asian Television AwardBest Actress Jeanette Aw Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Zhang Zhenxuan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Constance Song Nominated

Trivia

Overseas release

The series was broadcast on PPCTV Channel 9 as a blockbuster drama series of the year.

Country of BroadcastBroadcasting NetworkRelease Date
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia PPCTV Drama 92 June 2010
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Thai Public Broadcasting Service 1 June 2012 [2]

See also

References

  1. ""The Little Nyonya" director Tay Peck Choo dies". Channel News Asia. 29 June 2012.
  2. "Together...เพื่อนกันไม่มีวันเปลี่ยน – Thai PBS". 1 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-03.