Together (Singaporean TV series)
Introduction '''Together''' (, 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 Zhenhuan 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.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==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  '''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 motherXiaobei's wife (few years later) Zhang Zhenhuan  张振寰 '''Yao Wuji''' 姚无忌  Formerly a bookstall owner  Yao Shi's son  Yao Jianhong's twin brother  Crush on Huang Jinhao===Lin Family==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  Li Wenhai  Lin Yi 林益  Tailor  Lin Xiaobei's father  Lin Liyun  Ah Wei  Seamstress  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 JianhongHuang Zhihao's best friend  Yixin and Xiaoting’s fatherYao 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==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  '''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==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  '''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==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  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==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  Constance Song  宋怡霏  Lucy  Head Hostess of Dance Club  Lucy-jie  '''Jeanette Aw'''  欧萱  '''Yao Jianhong''' See "Yao Family"  Yuan Long  Zhang/Yang  Lucy's assistant===North Bridge Road shops==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  Jeanette Aw  欧萱  Yao Jianhong  See '''Yao Family'''  You Lei   Auntie Wanton  Wanton seller  Wu Kegou  Uncle Foot  Shoe seller and Cobbler  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==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  Yuan Shuai  袁帅    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  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==='''Cast''''''Role''''''Description'''  '''Nat Ho'''  鹤天赐  Louis  DoctorHuimin'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 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 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 *Dai Xiangyu as ''Lin Xiaobei'' – Lin Xiaobei is an eloquent, ambitious, strong and silent, upholding justice, dare to love, dare to hate and is the only son. There are a total of three women who is in love with him however his eyes are set on only Jianhong. His fate later had a tremendous change because of Huang Jinhao going from a happy go lucky chap to a drug addict. He later found out his lover had married his best friend. Xiaobei was also given a nickname as Xiaomei. *Jeanette Aw as ''Yao Jianhong'' – Yao Jianhong is a beautiful, strong girl who can pull through even the darkest period of time. She never receive any education and helps her father to perform martial arts on the street，later she became a bar girl to help her father pay his debts. She is in love with Xiaobei but she wants him to be realistic and stop being so ambitious，however he left her due to some reasons. She later was pregnant with Xiaobei's child yet married Zhihao. *Elvin Ng as ''Huang Zhihao'' –  As ‘Tarzan’ in the drama, he is someone who is brash and courageous, but naive. Often manipulated by others, he is easily distracted and does not succeed in the things he takes up. He harbors big ambitions but easily gives up in the face of difficulties. Tarzan is great buddies with Xiao Bei but falls out with him because of their love for Jianhong. He eventually marries Jian Hong but never wins her heart. *Eelyn Kok as ''Huang Jinhao'' – She plays Huang Jinhao, a vain young girl in her prime whose bubbly, pretty and fashionable. Always dreaming of a better life, she does not want to be cooped up working in a coffeeshop. Naive, she is often lucky to have Xiaobei who protects her from being cheated. She makes use of Yao Wuji who's in love with her, and fights with Jianhong for Xiaobei's affections. She later becomes the cause of Xiaobei's downward spiral change of fate. *Zhang Zhenhuan as ''Yao Wuji'' – He plays an introvert, shy, non-ambitious Yao Jianhong's brother who falls for ''Huang Jinhao''. Jinhao makes use of Wuji to get what she wants. *Zhou Ying as ''Qin Huimin'' – she plays an easily fallen ill lawyer and quietly falling in love with Xiaobei but when she finds out about his love for Jianhong, she even tries to bring them together despite being still in love with Xiaobei.
Awards and nominations ''Together'' 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 Award'', but did not win any of these categories.===Star Awards 2010===Accolades Award  Nominee(s)  ResultRef ''Star Awards 2010'' Show 1红星大奖2010 上半场 Best Drama Theme Song最佳主题曲  《我们》 by Kelvin Tan   Best Director最佳导演  Chong Liung Man  张龙敏  Lai Lee Thin  赖丽婷   Loo Yin Kam  卢燕金   Tay Peck Choo  郑碧珠    Best Screenplay最佳剧本  Ang Eng Tee  洪荣狄   Favourite Male Character最喜爱男主角  Dai Xiangyu  戴向宇   Elvin Ng  黄俊雄   Favourite Female Character最喜爱女主角 Jeanette Aw  欧萱   Rocket Award  年度飞跃奖  Elvin Ng  黄俊雄   ''Star Awards 2010'' Show 2红星大奖2010 下半场 Best Actor最佳男主角  Elvin Ng 黄俊雄   Dai Yang Tian 戴向宇   Best Actress最佳女主角  Jeanette Aw 欧萱   Eelyn Kok 郭蕙雯   Best Supporting Actor最佳男配角 Zheng Geping 郑各评   Zhang Zhenhuan 张振寰   Best Supporting Actress最佳女配角 Hong Huifang 洪慧芳    Aileen Tan 陈丽贞  Best Drama Serial最佳电视剧     2010 ''Asian Television Awards'' ''Asian Television Award''Best Actress 最佳女主角  Jeanette Aw  欧萱   Best Supporting Actor最佳男配角  Zhang Zhenhuan   张振寰   Best Supporting Actress最佳女配角  Constance Song  宋怡霏
Trivia *Fiona Xie was originally cast as Huang Jinhao, however the role was instead given to Eelyn Kok after Xie pulled out last minute due to personal reasons. *A majority of the scenes were filmed in Malacca. *Scripts of Jeanette Aw was originally written to love Elvin Ng. *Yuan Long has two names, Zhang and Yang, with the latter called more. *''Together'' was initially planned to have 35 episodes, but later extended to 36 due to filming overrun. * The TV serial was featured as material for television broadcasting for other drama series such as in episodes 4 and 7 of ''C.L.I.F. 2'' and in episode 10 of ''118''. * Desmond Tan's first villainous role. * Child actor Jarrell Huang's first acting role and second televised role after winning the singing competition in the first season of ''The Sheng Siong Show'' in 2007.Huang would later rise to prominence on winning ''SPOP Sing!'' in 2018.
Overseas release ''Together'' was broadcast on PPCTV Channel 9 as a blockbuster drama series of the year. Country of Broadcast Broadcasting Network Release Date  PPCTV Drama 9 2 June 2010  Thai Public Broadcasting Service 1 June 2012
See also *List of ''Together'' episodes
References
External links * Official Drama website* 谢宛谕辞演大制作 揣测四起* 谢宛谕经理人：辞演是因私人原因* 郭蕙雯顶替谢宛谕* Eelyn Kok fills in for Fiona Xie in 'Together'* 《当我们同在一起》精彩片段抢先看* 戴阳天承认 对欧萱日久生情
17 minutes sneak preview * Watch here