# Together (Singaporean TV series)

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.
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 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

| 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 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

| 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 | 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. 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

* 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.
* 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.
* 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

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

| Accolades | Award | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Star Awards | Best Drama Theme Song | 《我们》 by Kelvin Tan | Won |
| Star Awards | Best Director | Chong Liung Man | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Director | Lai Lee Thin | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Director | Loo Yin Kam | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Director | Tay Peck Choo | Won |
| Star Awards | Best Screenplay | Ang Eng Tee | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Favourite Male Character | Dai Xiangyu | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Favourite Male Character | Elvin Ng | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Favourite Female Character | Jeanette Aw | Won |
| Star Awards | Rocket Award | Elvin Ng | Won |
| Star Awards | Best Actor | Elvin Ng | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Actor | Dai Xiangyu | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Actress | Jeanette Aw | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Actress | Eelyn Kok | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Zheng Geping | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Zhang Zhenxuan | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hong Huifang | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Aileen Tan | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Best Drama Serial | — | Won |
| 2010 Asian Television Awards ||||
| Asian Television Award | Best Actress | Jeanette Aw | Nominated |
| Asian Television Award | Best Supporting Actor | Zhang Zhenxuan | Nominated |
| Asian Television Award | Best Supporting Actress | Constance Song | Nominated |

## Trivia

* Fiona Xie was originally cast as Huang Jinhao, however the role was instead given to Eelyn Kok after Xie pulled out last minute for personal reasons.
* Majority of the scenes were filmed in Malacca, Malaysia.
* Scripts of Jeanette Aw was originally written to love Elvin Ng instead of Dai Xiangyu.
* Yuan Long has two names, Zhang and Yang, with the latter called more.
* The series was initially planned to have 35 episodes, but later extended to 36 due to filming overrun.
* The series 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.
* This would be 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

The series was 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 |