Singaporean Drama Club

SHERO (2023)

Synopsis: Zhang Yinchen and Zhang Yinxi are sisters who are 5 years apart. After Yinxi is attacked and goes missing overseas, Yinchen takes over Yinxi's all-female bodyguard company SHERO. Together with Yue Ruixiang, the CEO of ship-building company RSB, Yinchen investigates the truth behind Yinxi's disappearance. As they get closer to the truth, it seems like the mastermind is someone amongst them...(Source: MediaCorp) (Trailer)

• Native Title: SHERO
• Episodes: 20
• Aired: 12 Jun - 7 Jul 2023
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Content Rating: PG (Parental Guidance; Suitable for all but parents should guide their young)
• Genres: Mystery, Action
• Cast: Joanne Peh, Romeo Tan, Carrie Wong, Nick Teo, Tay Ying, Aileen Tan, Rayson Tan, Brandon Wong, Priscelia Chan, Brian Ng, Cheryl Chou, Daryl-Ann, Grace Teo
• Where to watch: MeWatch, YouTube

Totally missed watching and updating this while it was airing with a busy work schedule. So can't comment on the drama itself, but got to say the drama title is pretty edgy, combining SHE and HERO. This drama have some scenes shot in the Australian capital of Canberra. From the trailer, it appears to have quite a fair bit of fight scenes. Can give this a try if you are into mystery and action genres.

 F4luv89:

Wow, this is great, thanks for compiling this! I agree that Singapore should be a country added to MDL. I have already watched a handful of these and personally loved “Your World in Mine”. Also one that I thought was good (and I’m sure it’s on your list to add here) is “Your Star Bride” (过江新娘) - love the CP of Xu Bin and Chantalle and also the OST from this was fire!

Thank you! Just some small efforts to raise some awareness of Singaporean dramas. Yes, haven't got round to include My Star Bride, for which I prior saw a MDL article on a Chinese actors adaptation.. You have just given me the push to do it right away! :)

Do feel free to copy the format and help populate the list of Singaporean dramas you have watched, and I will add on to the drama index for quick links to the drama summary posts.

My Star Bride (2021)

Synopsis: Mei Fangcao leaves her small village in Vietnam to come to Singapore to earn a living and at the same time looks for her long-lost sister Fangni. Fate crosses her path with that of a once successful but arrogant lawyer, Zhong Shijie. Shijie met with an accident and is now disabled, Fangcao convinces him to take her in as his “bride” to care for him. Her kindness and determination brings Shijie out of his despair, while the latter helped her fulfil her dying mother’s wish of reuniting with Fangni. (Source: MediaCorp) (Trailer)

• Native Title: 过江新娘
• Episodes: 20
• Aired: 28 Jan - 26 Feb 2021
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Content Rating: PG (Parental Guidance; Suitable for all but parents should guide their young)
• Genres: Romance, Comedy
• Cast: Chantalle Ng, Xu Bin, Edwin Goh, Gini Chang, Desmond Ng, Cynthia Koh, Rayson Tan, Zhu Hou Ren, Lin Mei Jiao, Zheng Ge Ping, Aileen Tan, Cheryl Chou, Jernelle Oh, Daryl-Ann, Vanessa Ho, Brandon Wong
• Where to watch: MeWatch, YouTube
• Related Content: My Star Bride - Hi, Mai Phương Thảo (Singaporean sequel, Telemovie)
• MDL Article: If My Star Bride was a C-Drama by cassiopeiastars
• Awards and Accolades:
  • Asian Academy Creative Awards National 2021
    • Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Cynthia Koh (Won)
  • New York Festivals TV & Film Awards 2022
    • Craft: Program – Best Original Music/Lyrics
    • Craft: Program – Best Performance by an Actress: Chantalle Ng (Finalist)
  • Seoul Webfest 2022
    • Best drama (Nominated)
    • Best screenplay (Nominated)
    • Best actress: Chantalle Ng (Nominated)
  • Star Awards 2022 (local awards)
    • Best Drama Serial (Won)
    • Best Theme Song - Revise (Won)
    • Best Supporting Actress: Lin Meijiao (Won)
    • Favourite Male Show Stealer: Xu Bin (Won)
    • Favourite Female Show Stealer: Chantalle Ng (Won)
    • Favourite CP: Xu Bin and Chantalle Ng (Won)
    • Best Actor - Xu Bin (Nominated)
    • Best Actress - Chantalle Ng (Nominated)
    • Best Supporting Actor: Zhu Houren (Nominated)
    • Best Supporting Actress: Cynthia Koh (Nominated)

If you are a recent watcher of Singaporean dramas, this drama is likely the very first Singaporean drama you have watched. First aired in primetime slot in Singapore in January 2021, this romcom drama won the hearts of many local viewers with its many endearing characters, especially the two leads - the very simple, pure, kind and determined Vietnamese village girl, who melted the heart of the dashing ML who was once a successful and arrogant lawyer, but crippled in an accident. A touching story with romance intertwined with family ties and friendships, brought to life by amazing cast performance, especially the FL who did plenty of homework to deliver decent Vietnamese accent for her role. 

It was the most-watched Mediacorp programme of the year,* and has gone on to won numerous awards locally and overseas. In China, My Star Bride topped the list of foreign dramas available on major streaming site Youku, just within three days of its release on the platform.*

The drama was so successful that a telemovie sequel "My Star Bride - Hi, Mai Phương Thảo" (过江新娘 - 你好，梅芳草) was filmed and aired a year later on 1 February 2022.

Did you know there was also an MDL article "If My Star Bride was a C-Drama" based on this drama?

The main theme song <<温习>>"Revise" is also a lovely song that is easy to sing-along as well. Watch the mv here on YouTube.

* source: wikipedia

What a lovely idea! I've watched a few Singaporean dramas and loved most of them, really liked the unique flavor! Here are the reviews I had written in my feeds back then for those I liked:

Tiles War

https://mydramalist.com/profile/pash/feeds/Bynn2hE

I'm Madam

https://mydramalist.com/profile/pash/feeds/1AVEPcR

A Selfie's Tale

https://mydramalist.com/profile/pash/feeds/ByYmjcE

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Ghost 

https://mydramalist.com/profile/pash/feeds/kPEgJFJ

Meet the MP

https://mydramalist.com/profile/pash/feeds/0lQoAcN

Chapalang

https://mydramalist.com/profile/pash/feeds/qRJPOCp

The Sky Is Still Blue (2023)


Synopsis: Junlin, daughter of a CEO of a tech firm wins her father's support and rallies her friends to set up HTB to help bankrupts to start anew. As they overcome obstacles in their way and help others, they also mature and find the true meaning of life. (Source: MediaCorp) (Trailer)

• Native Title: 从零开始
• Episodes: 20
• Aired: 10 Jul - 4 Aug 2023
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Content Rating: PG (Parental Guidance; Suitable for all but parents should guide their young)
• Genres: Family, Life
• Cast: Ferlyn Wong, James Seah, Zong Zijie, Sheryl Ang, Darren Lim, Chen Li Ping, Desmond Ng, Jernelle Oh
• Where to watch: MeWatch, YouTube

True to Singaporean dramas that almost always educate, this drama seeks to deliver the true meaning of life through the lives of the leads and the bankrupt folks they help. The native title's literal translation is starting from zero, so expect stories of bankrupt folks starting their lives with nothing, and eventually living "richer" (as in more meaningful) lives.

Till The End (2023)

Synopsis: Lin Huiqi can see spirits, but has always resisted anything related to death. The passing of her funeral director mother, Kehua, made her take over the business of "A Phase of Life". In a world where the living and spirits coexist, Huiqi, Pengyou, Kehua, Zhiyin and Haoming get a deeper understanding of life. Death is the end of life for the dead, but the beginning of another life for the living. (Source: MediaCorp) (Trailer)

• Native Title: 陪你到最后
• Episodes: 20
• Aired: 30 Oct - 24 Nov 2023
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Content Rating: PG (Parental Guidance: Suitable for most but parents should guide their young)
• Genres: Supernatural, Romantic comedy, Drama
• Cast: Boon Hui Lu, Richie Koh, Romeo Tan, Kym Ng, Zhu Hou Ren, Priscelia Chan, Bonnie Loo, Rayson Tan
• Where to watch: MeWatch, YouTube

A light-hearted series that can be emotional at times as it deals with deaths. It also offers a glimpse of the funeral business. Another Singaporean drama that featured the funeral business is New Beginnings (红白囍事) (2010), which depicts the conflicts and eventual understanding of two families, one managing the funeral business and the other managing the wedding business. Though dealing with the deceaseds, these are quite different from K-drama Move To Heaven, as these deals with arranging funerals while Move To Heaven is on packing the stuffs of the deceaseds.

My One And Only (2023)

Synopsis: The owner of My One and Only, Ma Limin, aspires to become a real estate developer with her son Hao Renpin, offering one-stop services for property purchase and renovation with her husband Hao Haojian and interior designer Wan Defu, who run How Luck Renovation. Their interactions with their clients reveal stories about different types of families. (Source: MediaCorp) (Trailer)

• Native Title: 只此一家
• Episodes: 130
• Aired: 27 Jul 2023 - 25 Jan 2024 
• Duration: 23 minutes
• Content Rating: PG (Parental Guidance: Suitable for most but parents should guide their young)
• Genres: Drama, Family, Life
• Cast: Zoe Tay, Brandon Wong, Shawn Thia, Ya Hui, Elvin Ng, Zhai Siming, Fang Rong, Yao Wen Long, Xiang Yun, Tay Ying, Shaun Chen, Zhang Yao Dong
• Where to watch: MeWatch, YouTube

This is the latest of long form series (comprising 130 episodes of 23 minutes per episode) offered by MediaCorp. Not many such long form series are produced but occasionally, there will be one such long form light hearted series that offer a glimpse of the current lives of Singaporeans. Unfortunately, my work schedule does not allow me to catch this series which airs weekdays, 1930H. If you have watched this series, feel free to provide your thoughts on this series on this forum!