# Hero (2016 TV series)

Hero (Chinese: 大英雄) is a Singaporean blockbuster drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8. It stars Shaun Chen, Chen Hanwei & Jesseca Liu as the casts of this series, and also features cameo appearances by Zoe Tay, Rebecca Lim, Xiang Yun, Jack Neo, Carrie Wong and more.

## Plot

Through the lives of Zhou Fada (Shaun Chen), Ye Xiaoying (Chen Hanwei) and Zhang Weixiong (Jesseca Liu), three ordinary characters who grew up in Dakota Crescent, a series of interesting, exciting and personal stories will unfold…
Zhou Fada, also known as Big Brother, is a man with a strong sense of justice, loyalty and compassion. He always likes to help his neighbours handle the problem in need. But because of his overzealous and reckless character, his good intentions often turn out to cause more trouble than help.
Ye Xiaoying is Fada's uncle, who always dreams of achieving phenomenal success in life, but he never did live up to his dreams as he is essentially just a slacker. He is very good at keeping out of trouble, by tactically avoiding tricky situations. His motto in life is: A man's greatest power is not his fists, but his tongue. He believes that being good with words can help one sail through career and relationships smoothly, but the fact is, his career and love affairs are almost always on the rocks.
Zhang Weixiong is a manly name, but the owner of the name is actually a cute girl. When her mother was pregnant with her, the ultrasound scan showed that it was a baby boy, so her father went to the fortune teller and got her this dashing manly name. Who would have expected that it was a baby girl! But they went along with the name “Wei Xiong” after all. Weixiong is just like her name; she has great ambitions and a gusty character, and people in the neighborhood see her as the future elite. Unfortunately, that is just her pretense. She is actually very timid and cowardly, but she believes that in order to survive in this dog-eat-dog world, you will have to “never say die”. So even though she is crumbling from fear inside, she would always put up a strong front, and her strong-headedness always gets her into trouble. If not for the help of Big Brother Fada, with this personality, she might have much consequences to suffer.
This three characters, together known as “The Great Hero”, are the three musketeers of the neighbourhood, and from them, we will get to know many other members of Dakota Crescent, and also their inspiring, interesting and heart-warming stories.

## Cast
### Zhou family

* Jin Yinji as Granny Swordswoman 侠女阿嫲
* Chen Hanwei as Ye Xiaoying 叶晓英
* Shaun Chen as Zhou Fada 周发达 (Jonathan Zhou Kaipeng 周凯鹏)

### Zhang (Zhiming) family

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Zhu Xiufeng 朱秀凤 | Granny Mahjong 麻将婆 | Zhang Zhiming's mother Xiao Jiahui's mother-in-law Zhang Weixiong and Zhang Weikang's grandmother |
| Brandon Wong | Zhang Zhiming 张志明 | Ming (明/阿明) Security officer Xiao Jiahui's husband Zhang Weixiong and Zhang Weikang's father |
| Pan Lingling | Xiao Jiahui 萧家慧 | Auntie Hui (慧姨)/Hui (慧/阿慧) Dementia patient Zhang Zhiming's wife |
| Jesseca Liu | Zhang Weixiong 张伟雄 | Teddy (大狗熊)/Xiong (雄) Lawyer Zhou Fada's girlfriend and childhood playmate Ye Xiaoying's childhood playmate Zhang Zhiming and Xiao Jiahui's daughter Zhang Weikang's elder sister |
| Ian Fang | Zhang Weikang 张伟康 | Kang (康) Zhang Zhiming and Xiao Jiahui's son Zhang Weixiong's younger brother Bonnie's ex-boyfriend Guan Meiyu's boyfriend |

### Ou (Sihai) family

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Zhu Houren | Ou Sihai 区四海 | Uncle Hai (海叔) Ou Jinguang and Ou Jinxuan's father Xiuzhen and Ye Xiaoying's father-in-law |
| Andie Chen 陈邦鋆 | Ou Jinguang 区金光 | Guang (阿光/光哥) Ou Sihai's son Ou Jinxuan's elder brother Xiuzhen's husband Ye Xiaoying's brother-in-law Zhou Fada's best friend In love with Fan Fangfang |
| Youyi 有懿 | Xiuzhen 秀珍 | Ms Buck Teeth (龅牙姐) Ou Jinguang's wife Fan Fangfang's rival in love Ou Sihai's daughter-in-law Ou Jinxuan and Ye Xiaoying's sister-in-law Auntie Teochew's daughter |
| Paige Chua 蔡琦慧 | Ou Jinxuan 区金萱 | Villain (later part) but repented in the end Youme/Ms Diana (Diana 小姐) Ou Sihai's daughter Ou Jinguang's younger sister Xiuzhen's sister-in-law Ye Xiaoying's fiancée Boyboy's mother |
| Nicholas Lim 林道锐 | Boy Boy | Little Imp (小冬瓜) Ye Xiaoying and Ou Jinxuan's son |

### Guan (A-li) family

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Chen Tianwen | Guan A-li 关阿礼 | Hothead (火爆王) Huang Lili's ex-husband Guan Meiyu and Guan Meimei's father |
| Aileen Tan | Huang Lili 黄丽丽 | Li (丽姐) Guan A-li's ex-wife Guan Meiyu and Guan Meimei's mother Working as a cleaner with Guan Meimei |
| He Yingying | Guan Meiyu 关美玉 | May Guan A-li and Huang Lili's elder daughter Guan Meimei's elder twin sister Zhang Weikang's girlfriend |
| Bonnie Loo | Guan Meimei 关美美 | Guan A-li and Huang Lili's younger daughter Guan Meiyu's younger twin sister Likes singing Working as a cleaner with Huang Lili Walter's love interest |

### Luo (Bei) family

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Ng Suan Loi 黃晶晶 | Granny Cardboard/Cha Kwee Kiao 纸皮婆 | Luo Bei's mother Cardboard collector (Deceased - episode 21) |
| Peter Yu 宏荣 | Luo Bei 罗北 | Someone's-in-a-big-hurry (赶着去投胎)/Xiang (阿祥) Granny Cardboard's son Ex-gambler Ex-actor Taxi driver |

### Other characters

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Sheila Sim | Fan Fangfang 范芳芳 | Fann Wong (范文芳)/Fang (芳)/Shh (嘘) Came from China to look for job in Singapore Chen Bangqing's ex-girlfriend and enemy Ou Jinguang's love interest |
| Henry Thia 程旭辉 | Steven | Villain Pervert who took Weixiong's undergarments Accused Xiao Jiahui of being promiscuous and tried to take liberties with her Granny Mahjong's playmate |
| Teddy Tang 唐崧瑞 | Jack Chan | Villain Jack Neo (梁志强)/Jack (小Jack) Zhang Weixiong's classmate and love interest Threatened Zhang Weixiong with her nude photos |
| James Seah 谢俊峰 | Chen Bangqing 陈邦庆 | Qing (阿庆)/Chen (小陈) Fan Fangfang's ex-boyfriend and enemy Granny Swordswoman's tenant Brought a drunken Fan Fangfang to a hotel and offered her to Mr Liu Framed Ye Xiaoying and caused him to be jailed, Fan Fangfang and caused her to be deported Attempted to kill Fan Fangfang but eventually it gotten himself a severe accident in episode 28 |
| Mervyn Lee 李岳杰 | Potty Mouth 臭口王 | Ex-gambler Ye Xiaoying's rival Ah Jiao's husband |
| Desmond Ng 黄振隆 | Walter Lu | Bin Trasher (踢桶男)/Mr Lu (陆先生) In love with Guan Meimei, but rejected by her family |
| Marcus Mok 莫健发 | Eric | Old Pervert (老乌龟) Guan Meiyu's sugar daddy |
| Joy Yak 易凌 | Jiao 阿娇 | Potty Mouth's wife Attempted suicide in episode 11 |
| 王慧莹 | Auntie Teochew 潮州嫂 | Offered her porridge stall to Ou Jinguang Xiuzhen's mother |
| 马天凌 | Mr Liu 刘总 | Chen Bangqing and Ye Xiaoying's boss |
| Zhang Yaodong | Zhang Zhentian 张振天 | Lawyer Zhang Weixiong's ex-boyfriend and boss |

### Cameo appearances

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Carrie Wong | Alexia | The three Charlie's Angels |
| Ya Hui | Betty | The three Charlie's Angels |
| Felicia Chin | Cathy | The three Charlie's Angels |
| Chew Chor Meng | Wei Ge 伟哥 | Loanshark boss |
| Oh Ling En 胡菱恩 | Student 中学学生 | |
| Dennis Chew | Auntie Lucy | Granny Mahjong's playmate Was owed debt by Granny Mahjong |
| Tay Ping Hui | Rice King 饭王 | Zhou Fada's friend Sold rice, curry sauce and a few other ingredients to Zhou Fada |
| Kym Ng | Fishball Girl 鱼丸妹 | Zhou Fada's friend Sold some fishballs to Zhou Fada |
| Mark Lee | Long Ge 龙哥 | A mover boss who gave a job to Zhou Fada |
| Terence Cao | Xie Xian 谢贤 | Xiao Jiahui's secondary school classmate Gave Xiao Jiahui a lift home in his branded car |
| Jack Neo | Liang Po Po 梁婆婆 | |
| Zhang Zhenhuan 张振寰 | George Pu | Ou Jinxuan's ex-boyfriend |
| Xiang Yun 向云 | Quan Min'er 权敏儿 | Zhou Fada's biological mother Suffered from a terminal disease (Deceased - episode 13) |
| Zoe Tay 郑惠玉 | Deborah | Zhang Weikang's sugar mummy Alex's wife |
| Wang Yuqing | Leo | |
| Guo Liang 郭亮 | Alex | Zhang Weikang's offender Deborah's husband |
| Rebecca Lim 林慧玲 | Rebecca Lim 林慧玲 | As herself |
| Richard Low | Old fogey 老鬼 | Humiliated Granny Swordswoman at the hawker centre |
| Huang Biren | He Xuemei 何雪美 | Tigeress (老虎)/Mdm Hor Reprised her role as a prison officer from Tiger Mum Mistook Ye Xiaoying for Antonio Chen Hongyu, who also appeared in Tiger Mum |
| Jeremy Chan | John | Runs a tropical fish shop |
| Michael Huang | Liar | Gangster who threatened Xiao Jiahui |
| Jayley Woo 胡佳琪 | Bonnie | Flat-chested (莫尼) Zhang Weikang's ex-girlfriend |
| Sora Ma 马艺瑄 | Herself | Actress Went to Guan Meimei's concert in Episode 28 |
| Desmond Tan | Himself | Actor Went to Guan Meimei's concert in Episode 28 |
| Zheng Geping | Bonnie父亲 | Bonnie's father |
| Kenneth Chung | Himself | Radio host |
| Hong Ling | Herself | Actress |
| 洪偉文 | Mr Hong 洪编剧 | Scriptwriter |

## Original Sound Track (OST)

| Song title | Song type | Lyrics | Composer | Performer | Producer |
| The Extraordinary 格外精彩 | Opening theme song | 王振声 | 周以力 | Janice Yan 阎奕格 | — |
| Tears 借你一点泪 | Sub-theme song | 姚若龙 | 郑楠 | Power Station | — |
| Wait For Love 等一等爱情 | Sub-theme song | 乐声 | 邓碧源 | Bonnie Loo | 麦如丽 |
| Watching Over You 守护你 | Sub-theme song | 高飞 | Benny Wong | Bonnie Loo | 麦如丽 |

## Production

Dakota Crescent is one of Singapore's earliest housing estates, built in 1958 by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), which preceded the Housing and Development Board (HDB). In July 2014, it was decided that the housing estate would be redeveloped under the HDB's SERS scheme and all residents would have to relocate by 2016. This prompted a campaign by activists for its conservation, work of art to be created about it and also media coverage given to Dakota Crescent.
This drama series was produced also as a means of kick-starting the commemoration of 35 years of Singapore-produced Chinese-language television in Singapore. As part of this, Mediacorp's famous Chinese-speaking comedy icons, such as Paris and Milan character Auntie Lucy (played by Dennis Chew) and Liang Po Po (played by Jack Neo) of Comedy Nite, will be making cameo appearances in this drama.
Imaging sessions were done in end-April and early-May 2016, while the first scene was shot on 23 May. On 30 July 2016, in the nineteenth season of The Sheng Siong Show, it was also announced that Power Station will be performing the drama's ending theme. They were in Singapore to promote their "Next Station" world tour which will be held on 27 August.
A post screening session was conducted at Dakota Crescent's Care and Friends Centre. The cast of Hero - Shaun Chen, Jesseca Liu, Chen Hanwei, Bonnie Loo, Paige Chua, Ian Fang, Sheila Sim, Youyi, He Yingying, Aileen Tan, Brandon Wong and Jin Yinji were present. The first episode of the show was also broadcast there.

## Accolades

The series has the most nominations in Star Awards 2017, and won two, which was Best Supporting Actress and Drama Serial.
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominees | Result |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Director | Wong Foong Hwee 黄芬菲 | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Screenplay | Ang Eng Tee 洪荣狄 | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | London Choco Roll Happiness Award | Shaun Chen | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Bioskin Healthiest Hair Award | Desmond Ng | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Actor | Shaun Chen | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Actress | Jesseca Liu | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Andie Chen | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Paige Chua | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Pan Lingling | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Bonnie Loo | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Aileen Tan | Won |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Evergreen Artiste Award | Aileen Tan | Nominated |
| 2017 | Star Awards | Best Drama Serial | — | Won |