Together (Singapore TV series)

This article is about the 2009 Singaporean Chinese series. For the 2009 Taiwanese series, see ToGetHer.
Together
(当我们同在一起)
Genre Period drama
Created by Ang Eng Tee 洪荣狄
Written by Ang Eng Tee 洪荣狄
Directed by Chia 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
Elvin Ng
Zhang Zhen Huan
Dai Yang Tian
Eelyn Kok
Zhou Ying
Opening theme 我们 by Kelvin Tan 陈伟联
Ending theme 我们之间 by Joi Chua 蔡淳佳
Country of origin Singapore
Original language(s) Chinese
No. of episodes 36
Production
Producer(s) Chia Mien Yang 谢敏洋
Running time approx. 45 minutes per episode
Broadcast
Original channel MediaCorp Channel 8
Original run Singapore: 30 November 2009 – 18 January 2010
PPCTV: 2 June 2010 (Cambodia)
TPBS: 1 June 2012 (Thailand)
Chronology
Preceded by Daddy at Home 企鹅爸爸
Followed by Happy Family 过好年
Related shows An Ode To Life (2004)
The Little Nyonya (2008)
External links
Website

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 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.

The series also utilized the writer and some cast members from The Little Nyonya, a 2008 production by MediaCorp that went on to become the highest rated Singaporean TV series in 15 years.

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 Yao Shi 姚狮 Yao Jianhong and Yao Wuji's father
Self-proclaimed Master of Time
Initially an addicted gambler
Jeanette Aw Yao Jianhong 姚剑虹 Initially a swordswoman
Became a dance hostess
Yao Shi's daughter
Huang Zhihao's ex-wife
Nicknamed 'Xiao-hong' in dance hall
Crush on Lin Xiaobei
Clothes seller
Yixin's mother
Xiao Bei's wife( few years later)
Zhang Zhen Huan Yao Wuji 姚无忌 Initially an owner of a bookstall
Yao Shi's son
Yao Jianhong's twin brother
Crush on Huang Jinhao

Lin Family

CastRoleDescription
Li Wenhai Lin Yi 林益 Tailor
Lin Xiaobei's father
Lin Liyun Ah Wei Seamstress
Lin Xiaobei's mother
Dai Yang Tian Lin Xiaobei 林小杯 Nicknamed Lin Xiaomei (小妹, "Little Sister")
Son of Lin Yi
Event Organiser / Manager
Crush on Yao Jianhong
Yixin's biological father
Yao Jianhong's husband (few years later)

Huang Family

CastRoleDescription
Ye Shipin Huang Lifa 黄利发 Huang Zhihao and Huang Jinhao's father
Boss of a coffee shop
He Qiao's husband
Hong Huifang He Qiao 何娇 Huang Zhihao and Huang Jinhao's mother
Huang Lifa's wife
Elvin Ng Huang Zhihao 黄志豪 Nicknamed Tarzan (泰山)
Self-proclaimed Tiger King
Huang Jinhao's brother
Son of Huang Lifa & He Qiao
Yixin's father
Crush on Yao Jianhong & Jinzhu
Turned eunuch by wrestling opponent, Shan Lang
Jinzhu's husband (few years later)
Eelyn Kok Huang Jinhao 黄金好 Huang Zhihao's younger sister
Daughter of Huang Lifa & He Qiao
Crush on Lin Xiaobei

Qin Family

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

Wang Family

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

Dance Club

CastRoleDescription
Constance Song Lucy Head Hostess of Dance Club
Lucy-jie
Jeanette Aw Yao Jianhong See "Yao Family"
Yuan Long Zhang/Yang Lucy's assistant

North Bridge Road shops

CastRoleDescription
Jeanette Aw Yao Jianhong See Yao Family
You Lei Auntie Wanton Wanton seller
Wu Kegou Uncle Foot Shoe seller
Shoe repair man
Chen Huoming $5.60 Wanton's assistant
Jake Low Zhen Paper seller
Ex-member of Anti-Corruption Bureau
Fa Si Yao Wen Fortune teller

Police Station

CastRoleDescription
Yuan Shuai Ou Yuming Inspector Ou
Was Tua Kow Yang & Dehua's Superior at first but later on transferred to Anti-Corruption Bureau
Crush on Yao Jianhong
Desmond Tan Lin Dehua 林德华 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
Died

Others

CastRoleDescription
Nat Ho Louis Doctor
Huimin's husband
Huang Peibei Xing Singxin
Zhen Fuji Mr. Poet Poet
Benjamin Heng Black Mole Leader Mole gang
Zhen Ming Joe Zhang's rival

Plot

The story begins in 1967. That year, Singapore first issued her own currency and made national service mandatory for all young Singaporean males who have come of age. 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 Yangtian) 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 Zhenhuan) 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

Together dominated the 2010 Star Awards in the acting and professional categories and in audience-voted phone and online polls. Its production team garnered a record four nominations for Best Director.

Award Nominee(s) Result
2010 Star Awards
Best Actor Elvin Ng Nominated
Dai Yang Tian Nominated
Best Actress Jeanette Aw Nominated
Eelyn Kok Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Zheng Geping Nominated
Zhang Zhen Huan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Hong Huifang Nominated
Aileen Tan Nominated
Best Drama Serial Together Won
Best Drama Theme Song 《我们》 by Kelvin Tan Wei Lian Won
Best Director Chong Liung Man Nominated
Lai Lee Thin Nominated
Loo Yin Kam Nominated
Tay Peck Choo[1] Won
Best Screenplay Ang Eng Tee Nominated
Favourite Male Character Lin Xiaobei
(played by Dai Yang Tian)
Nominated
Huang Zhihao "Tarzan"
(played by Elvin Ng)
Nominated
Favourite Female Character Yao Jianhong
(played by Jeanette Aw)
Won
Most Unforgettable Villain Lin Dehua
(played by Desmond Tan)
Nominated
2010 Asian Television Awards
Best Actress Jeanette Aw Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Zhang Zhen Huan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Constance Song Nominated

Trivia

Overseas Release

The drama serial will be broadcast on PPCTV Channel 9 as a blockbuster drama series of the year.

Country of Broadcast Broadcasting Network Release Date
 Cambodia PPCTV Drama 9 2 June 2010
 Thailand Thai Public Broadcasting Service 1 June 2012[2]

See also

References

External links

17 Minutes Sneak Preview