It has been a long time since I'm posting about my favourite topic, so I will take this chance to express my views on the current dramas on Channel 8 as well as those planned for the future.
7pm and 9pm are prime slots for local dramas on Channel 8. Since the start of the year, after Together, there has been a total of 4 shows, 1 per month, and the 5th show of the year started its broadcast just yesterday.
(Happy Family > Priceless Wonder > The Best Things in Life > New Beginnings > With You)
New Beginnings, mid blockbuster of the year 2010, ended two days ago with a disappointing viewership, much lower than expected of a blockbuster. At least this show is better than the mid blockbuster of the year 2009, The Ultimatum, which was confusing and unrealistic. The theme of the show is refreshing and nice for a change since the previous three shows were mostly revolving around family matters (The Best Things in Life, March 2010, had a slight difference, but was mainly similar.) A show where marriage and death meets. It is a really interesting topic to watch as death is considered a taboo in our society. Through here, we can get to know more about how the different processions of marriage work as well as how a death is treated. This is Ou Xuan's third blockbuster, and it's nice to see her in a new character, instead of acting in a show set in a historical period. The story ended proper and the ending was clear and concise. I enjoyed it, but I actually prefered The Best Things in Life better as I felt that Chen Han Wei managed to portray the character well and likable. [Rating: 3.5/5]
Although
With You only started yesterday, making its debut telecast on Channel 8 at 9pm, I enjoyed the first episode, every minute of it. Personally, this is much better than New Beginnings. The main casts are Chen Han Wei and Adrian Pang, where Adrian Pang has a sixth sense, so he is the only one who can see and help Chen Han Wei, who was killed in an accident indirectly related to Adrian Pang. Yes, Chen Han Wei acts as a ghost in this show! Don't worry, this is not a scary or horror drama, but rather a light-hearted one. The first episode attracted me enough to make me want to watch more. Adrian Pang's reactions are funny and natural while Chen Han Wei, as usual, does a great job in his role. This is Adrian Pang's last show before he leaves Mediacorp and I must say, he did a really good job. Since this show is still in its beginning stages, I cannot say much. However, I must admit that it has left a really good impression on me. [Rating: To Be Given]
We are progressing into the second half of the year 2010 soon. Wow, time really flies. The dramas for the next half have already been planned out, details of the plot are revealed. Some shows have also started filming (although others have not even compile the cast list yet).
(Precious Babies > No Limits > Unriddle > The Family Court > The Score > "Housewives Drama" > Breakout)
During the June holidays, we can relax with
Precious Babies, produced by Matrix Production who also produced "Housewives' Holiday" and "Nanny Daddy" two years ago. Now they are combining both shows! Precious Babies consist of three women, but this time career women, with a baby. This is a comedy and light-hearted drama, so I guess it will be nice. Housewives' Holiday was a normal show without much advertisements (in fact I never even saw any before the show debuted) yet it could get the Most Watch Drama Serial award. Who knows what Matrix Production will pull again this time? (Priceless Wonder, also a Matrix Production, got the lowest viewership for this year among 9pm dramas)
No Limits is the July show - an idol show! Staring Felicia Chin, Elvin Ng and Dai Yang Tian, if you are a fan of these stars, then this show is not to be missed!
The August drama is
Unriddle, which is a police and investigation drama, staring Rui En and... Chen Li Ping as informer! This is Chen Li Ping's first role after the 180 episode Your Hand In Mine. This time, Chen Li Ping changes her style completely [see hair and dressing]. (and much more thinner?)
The Family Court is a lawyer drama, airing from 2 September while
The Score will air from 28 September. No details are revealed at the moment for The Score.
The name for the
housewives drama has not been revealed yet. I am hoping it will be the sequel to Housewives' Holiday, March 2009 comedy and family drama revolving three "aunties", which I really enjoyed and brought endless hours of laughter.
This year's mega year end blockbuster is
Breakout, scheduled to air in late November to early January 2011. I have high hopes on year end blockbusters as the past years have never failed to amuse me: The Golden Path of 2007, The Little Nyonya of 2008 and Together of 2009. This year's blockbuster is a thriller (just like The Golden Path and The Little Nyonya): They met with a car accident on the 12 year old girl's birthday and everyone died except the girl, who stayed in coma. She finally awakes 13 years later, only to be a 12 year old kid trapped in a 25 years old woman's body. The only fragment of memory she had was that last phone call she overheard her father telling someone to get off his family. It is a race against time to outwit the evil. To do so, she will have to ‘grow’ up fast enough to challenge a world so filled with uncertainties and a dark force so evil even her existence could be in grave danger. All interesting script, but will the story and casts be up to standard? Only time will tell...
If you missed any episode of previous shows, you can go to
http://video.xin.msn.com/browse/catch-up-tv/ to watch at no cost! And best of all, it is legal.
While local dramas are still not up to standards like our Asian neighbours in China and Taiwan, I feel that the artistes are already trying their best. I enjoy and appreciate their effort and will continue to support them in the future.
And with that, I sum up this long review post. Mediacorp,
gambateh (try your best, good luck)!
(All references are obtained from credible sources.)
Hello drama mama! Or maybe drama papa? Okay Just kidding. Well firstly I think that our artistes are giving their best. However, I feel that there is always this X-Factor that foreign artistes possess that distinguishes us from them. If I am not wrong, foreign artistes do not really act in all these small drama that last for only 20 episodes. There are a few exceptions like "Your Hand in Mine" and "Holland Village" etc. which last for more than 100 episodes. Mega dramas like "爱" attract a faithful number of fans every Saturday and Sunday. Artistes from Europe and the sates become big just by acting in movies. This is an opportunity that not many Singaporean artistes have. Go to the US and most of the citizens will not even know who Jack Neo is. Needless to say, they would not have even heard of his movies like "I Not Stupid" and "Homerun". I think what foreign artistes have that we Singaporeans do not is foundation. Yes, foundation of what? It is the foundation of the many great movies that were made in the 20th century. Take James Bond for example. Daniel Craig who was a nobody. He just had to act in one of its film, "Casino Royale" and he became famous overnight! "Quantum of Solace", his second James Bond film boosted his popularity by a lot. Viewership increased. Singapore did not make any great movies in the 20th century. Also foundation may not necessarily be in the form of movies. Take Spider-Man, Iron Man, Superman etc. They are all Marvel characters from the famous Marvel Comics! Singapore did not make any famous comics. Children are now the number one fans of these comic-related movies thanks to the comics which they loved so much. I confess that I am a huge fan of Iron Man. There is nothing wrong about it right? I will also tell you very honestly that given a choice between "I Not Stupid" and "Iron Man 2", I will definitely go for the latter. I think Singaporean movies are targeted at the wrong audience. The movies may not appeal a lot to children. Even some adults are more interested in foreign movies. Most of the people watching movies nowadays are the younger generation. On a weekday afternoon, chances are you will see teenagers throng the mall with their friends and catch a movie. The older generation probably prefer to stay at home and save the money. No child would want to watch movies like "Money Not Enough" when there is a movie called "Night at the Museum". Movies are now like goods. When we go out we try to buy things that are "Made in Japan", "Made in USA" and often try to avoid buying things that are made in "Made in China". Singapore is no exception. Given a choice between the locally produced movie and a foreign produced movie, without even knowing the story-line of the movie, we will inevitably think that foreign produced movies are better. This is wrong mindset that most if not all of us grew up with. As such, the locally produced movies are being affected negatively Thus, I feel that Singapore artistes are lacking behind because they are not famous enough. This is because they did not have the luxury of a good foundation. They will forever be "stuck" in small drama serials that will satisfy the Singaporean population but not good enough to WOW them just like "Iron Man 2" did.
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