The Little Nyonya

The Little Nyonya (小娘惹)
The Little Nyonya theatrical Poster
Genre	Peranakan-themed Drama
Format	4:3
Written by	Ang Eng Tee (洪荣狄)
Directed by	Zhang Longmin (张龙敏)
Starring	Jeanette Aw Qi Yuwu Pierre Png Joanne Peh Xiang Yun Yao Wenlong
Opening theme	如燕 by Olivia Ong
Ending theme	保温 by 邱意淋 需要 by JS
Country of origin	Singapore
Language(s)	Mandarin Chinese, some dialogues in English, Bahasa Melayu, Japanese and Hokkien
No. of episodes	34
Production
Producer(s)	Xie Minyang (谢敏洋)
Running time	approx. 45 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	MediaCorp TV Channel 8
Original run	Singapore 25 November 2008 – 5 January 2009 (Final Chapter on 11 January 2009) Astro: March 2009 / ntv7: 26 October 2009 29 March 2009 MIPTV: March 31, 2009 24 August 2009 5 September 2009 1 December 2009 Shanghai: 2009 / China (Satellite) 16 January 2010 TPBS: 20 January 2010 TVB: 26 April 2010 Singapore Mediacorp Suria: February 2, 2011 (episodes 1-12) 4 April 2011 (episodes 13-34)
Chronology
Preceded by	By My Side
Followed by	Reunion Dinner
External links
Website

The Little Nyonya (Chinese: 小娘惹) is a 2008 drama serial on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp TV Channel 8. The storyline, which circles around the biographical flashback of an extended Peranakan family in Malacca, is set in the 1930s and spans to over 70 years. The series was partly sponsored by the Media Development Authority of Singapore. It debuted on November 25, 2008 and concluded its run on January 5, 2009.

Produced by MediaCorp in commemoration of the channel's 45-year anniversary (45载光芒·8方贺台庆), the series has been critically acclaimed by both viewers and critics, and raked the highest viewership in the country in 14 years. The success of The Little Nyonya has also led to the show being broadcast internationally. The series also became the first ever Singaporean Chinese drama to be dubbed in Malay and aired on Malay-language channel Suria.

Plot

The story spans over 70 years, from the 1930s till the present day.

Huang Juxiang is born into a large Peranakan family where her mother is a mistress. She is gentle, beautiful and a fantastic cook. Due to a serious illness when she was 9 years old, Juxiang becomes a deaf-mute. Because of her handicap, she is ostracized by people. Right before the Japanese Occupation in Singapore, she is forced to marry Charlie Zhang, a rich Peranakan, and become his concubine. Juxiang resists the marriage and runs away from home. She then meets Yamamoto Yousuke, a young Japanese photographer, and after overcoming many obstacles, they finally get married and Juxiang gives birth to a daughter Yueniang. During the World War, Juxiang is injured and both she and her husband die, leaving behind their 8 year-old daughter.

The orphaned Yueniang eventually walks to her grandfather's house on her own. Her grandmother rejoices for her presence. Under the supervision of her grandmother, she learns to cook Peranakan dishes and sewing. She grows up looking exactly like her mother and is exceptionally beautiful. After the war, her maternal relatives who ran away to England to seek refuge there returned home. Yueniang ends up leading the life of her mother – always discriminated against, beaten up, blamed and tortured. She puts up with all this mistreatment to protect her grandmother.

Yueniang's beauty incurs jealousy from her cousins and attracts the attention of many rich Peranakans. However, she only has eyes for the penniless driver Chen Xi, who lies he has 10 younger brothers and sisters to look after. Chen Xi actually comes from an educated and wealthy family. Yueniang's kindness, purity and persistence move Chen Xi and he falls deeply in love with her, and hides his identity to be with Yueniang. Unfortunately, their relationship is filled with many obstacles and difficulties. Under pressure from his family, Chen Xi is forced to marry Yueniang's cousin, Zhenzhu, instead. Yueniang is then married to a butcher, Liu Yidao. Many things happen after this and it is revealed that the Huangs use misunderstandings and mistakes for granted and resort to off-board measures.

Yueniang is unwilling to accept the fact that her life is always manipulated by others and decides to end her own life. Yueniang's strong personality impresses Liu Yidao and they become sworn siblings instead. Yueniang decides to choose her own path in life. She begins learning how to run a business and in the process, she is framed and ousted from her business. Despite the odds, she manages save her declining family business. Soon, she marries the lawyer, Paul. She has no children as she has two miscarriages. So, she adopts Yuzhu's son as her own and names him Zuye. Zuye has two sons and a daughter. The daughter's name is Angela, in the present time. She has her business and sells cosmetics from overseas. However, Yueniang soon succumbs to intestinal cancer.

Cast

Huang family

Elders

• Huang Yuan (黄元, also known as towkay or 頭家, meaning "Head of Household", portrayed by Yan Bing Liang (严炳量)) - The head of the Huang family, he is also forced to follow the family's manipulations. For example, he is persuaded into disregarding Juxiang as part of their family.
• Guihua (桂花, also known as Tua Ji or "Big Sister", portrayed by Lin Meijiao (林梅娇))- The matriarch of the Huang family. She is very protective of her daughters, and hates Tian Lan's side of the family with a passion, treating them as mere inferiors. She blames Yueniang for all the misfortunes happening in the family, but she later confesses her sins and suffers a stroke during her attempt to burn Yueniang.
• Tian Lan (天兰, portrayed by Xiang Yun (向云)) - Mother of Juxiang. She was a maid of the Huang family. Having been raped by Huang Yuan, she was taken in as second mistress of the house. However, her status in the family remains essentially that of a maid. She is accidentally thrown off the second floor of the Huang residence by Jincheng, after Tian Lan stumbles upon his affair with Xiujuan. Tian Lan's injuries from this fall prove fatal.
• Tua Kor (大姑, portrayed by Guan Xuemei (管雪梅))- Huang Yuan's elder sister and mother of Xiulian, Xiufeng and Xiujuan. Being a very demeaning elder in the Huang family, she often abuses Ah Tao. She was later mentioned by Xiufeng to have passed out after learning that her youngest daughter, Xiujuan, went to bed with a man at a hotel in Singapore. She was no longer seen or mentioned after that, although it wasn't mentioned that she died, it was most likely that she did after the incident.

First generation

• Huang Juxiang (黄菊香, portrayed by Jeanette Aw (欧萱))- Daughter of Huang Yuan and Tian Lan, mother of Yueniang. Although born into a wealthy Peranakan family, she is treated with scorn and insult because of her mother's humble origins. She becomes a deaf-mute from the age of nine due to an illness caused by her grandmother's death. As a result, she cannot stand up for herself in many cases. She dies of internal injuries soon after her husband, Yamamoto Yousuke, is killed by Japanese soldiers.
• Huang Jincheng (黄金成, portrayed by Darren Lim (林明伦)) - Son of Huang Yuan and Guihua. He has a crush on Xiujuan but is arranged to marry her sister, Xiufeng instead. He dies of a massive heart attack upon learning that Tianbao is sentenced to death for murdering Chen Sheng, as well as Charlie and Robert Zhang.
• Huang Meiyu (黄美玉, portrayed by Apple Hong (洪乙心)) - Eldest daughter of the Huang family, and sister of Jincheng. Wife of Chen Sheng. However, Chen Sheng does not regard her as his wife. As a result, she shows a great sense of hatred towards Juxiang and Yueniang. Was later upset upon learning about Chen Sheng's death, she eventually becomes nice to Yueniang after that.
• Huang Xiufeng (秀凤, portrayed by Pan Lingling (潘玲玲)) - daughter-in-law of Guihua. Married to Jincheng. Elder sister to Xiujuan and the mother of Tian Bao, Zhenzhu and Yuzhu. Mistreated Yueniang along with the others by canning her and even leaving her in an old warehouse to die when she is in coma after being rescued from a well. She is later shocked to discover that her husband is having an affair with her sister, Xiujuan. Xiujuan takes revenge on Xiufeng and escapes the Huang household with the Huangs' money. Jincheng and Tian Bao's deaths and her youngest daughter, Yuzhu, becoming mentally unstable has a great impact on her and she learns her lesson.
• Huang Xiujuan (秀娟, portrayed by Cynthia Koh (许美珍)) - Younger sister of Xiufeng. She has an affair with Jincheng. When Huang Tianbao is arrested for the murder of Chen Sheng, she plots a scheme to defraud the Huangs of their money, under the pretext of bribing a high-ranking police officer. The plot succeeds, and the Huangs gives her the proceeds from their sale and mortgage of virtually all of their assets. She runs away to Hong Kong after she receives the money. However, she keeps the money in a bank during her years there, where it earns a tidy sum of interest. She returns the money to the Huangs after many years.

Second generation

• Yamamoto Yueniang (山本月娘, portrayed by Jeanette Aw (欧萱), older version portrayed by Xiang Yun (向云)) - The daughter of Juxiang and Yousuke, and looks exactly like her mother. Her parents' deaths make her a strong-willed woman. She is forgiving towards Guihua and her other relatives despite their mistreatment of her and her family. Tao states at the present time that she has been diagnosed with colon cancer but did not want an operation, which implied that the disease is in its terminal stages. It is at this point that she tells Angela that she isn't her biological grandmother.
• Huang Tianbao (黄天宝, infrequently called Alexandre Huang, portrayed by Andie Chen (陈邦鋆)) - The only son of Huang Jincheng and Xiufeng. He sends someone to kill Chen Sheng with the hopes that Robert will reinstate him as deputy GM, but is laughed at instead. He is sentenced to death for instigating the murders of Chen Sheng, Charlie Zhang and Robert Zhang.
• Huang Zhenzhu (黄珍珠, portrayed by Eelyn Kok (郭蕙雯)) - first daughter of Xiufeng and Jincheng. A willful girl who fancies Chen Xi. However, Zhenzhu is lazy, straightforward and naive. She witnesses Yuzhu being raped by Robert and tries to save her, but hesitates because of Xiujuan's advice and ultimately does nothing. In Episode 13, it is revealed that although she almost tortures Yueniang, she does not want to see Yueniang die. She manages to marry Chen Xi, but in the end, she runs away with another man as she does not want to stay with Chen Xi. Chen Xi ends up hating and disliking her. She is the only half-antagonist-half-protagonist of this show.
• Huang Yuzhu (黄玉珠, portrayed by Joanne Peh (白薇秀)) - Second daughter of Xiufeng and Jincheng. A demure girl who fancies Chen Xi, she often helps Yueniang and Ah Tao out of situations where they would otherwise get into trouble with the family elders. However, having been raped by Robert Zhang, she is forced to marry him, and thereafter suffers an ill fate under him. Tortured into insanity, she is committed to a mental institution for the rest of her life after giving birth to Zuye, the father of Angela. It is not known what happened to her after that.

Third generation

• Zuye (祖业, child portrayed by Lim Yongxun (林泳勳), elder portrayed by Zzen Zhang (章缜翔)) - Son of Yuzhu and Robert Zhang. Due to Yuzhu's mental condition, he is adopted and raised by Yueniang. Grows up to look exactly like his father. He became a top lawyer and has two sons and a daughter, the latter being Angela.

Fourth generation

• Angela (安淇, portrayed by Felicia Chin (陈靓萱)) - A university student in Canada. Originally considered to be the biological granddaughter of Yueniang, it is revealed at the end that she is the biological granddaughter of Robert Zhang and Yuzhu, as Yueniang adopts her father (Zuye) due to Yuzhu's mental illness. Before the series, in the present-day storyline, she has an unlucky run in romance. She decides to briefly return to Malacca, where she learns about her adoptive grandmother's bitter past.

Chen family

Elders

• Madame Chen (陈老太, portrayed by Li Yinzhu (李茵珠)) - Chen Xi's great-grandmother (Chor Chor), Chen Sheng's grandmother (Ma Ma). Likes to eat rempah udang very much. She places great emphasis on women's ability to cook Peranakan dishes and sew beaded shoes. She is one of the few people who trusts Yueniang. Juxiang's grandmother is one of Madame Chen's bosom friends.

First generation

• Chen Gong (陈功, portrayed by Chen Xiang (陈翔)) - The eldest grandson of Madame Chen, frequently comes into conflict with the Zhang family.
• Chen Sheng (陈盛, portrayed by Pierre Png (方展发)) - Married to Meiyu, but harbours love for Juxiang. After losing Juxiang, he drowns his sorrows by spending his free time drinking as well as singing and dancing pantun with young women. Sheng is later murdered on Huang Tianbao's orders, who believes that it is what Robert Zhang wants.

Second generation

• Chen Xi (陈锡, portrayed by Qi Yuwu (戚玉武)) - Son of Chen Gong. So named because on the day of his birth, his family signed a lucrative tin contract. He is the only child in his family. Having been educated in the UK, he is more liberal than his conservative family. Although he wants to marry Yueniang, his family forces him to marry Huang Zhenzhu instead. After he thinks that Yueniang perishes in the fire where Robert Zhang sets up, he later marries Libby and has six children. His career is very successful and he contributes a lot of money to charity.

Zhang family

• Charlie Zhang (查里张, portrayed by Desmond Sim (沈金兴)) - A Baba who returned from the United Kingdom, his general disapproval of the Peranakan culture earns him scorn from the older generations of high Peranakan society. He has affairs with many women, especially paying money to bed virgin girls, and makes use of his wealth and status to collaborate with the Japanese. He had some influence behind the deaths of Yousuke and Juxiang. He is killed during a scuffle between Robert Zhang and Huang Tianbao, when a pistol is accidentally fired and hits Charlie in the head.
• Robert Zhang (罗伯张, portrayed by Zzen Zhang (章缜翔)) - Son of Charlie Zhang. A cunning one like his father, he raped Yuzhu, thinking that she was Yueniang. This incident forced him to marry Yuzhu, whom he tortures endlessly; even to the extent of drugging her so another man (Mr. Smith) can sleep with her in exchange for business benefits. He is killed by Huang Tianbao, despite Robert's promise to return the money and distributorship to the Huangs.

Other characters

• Ah Tao (阿桃, portrayed by Ng Hui (黄慧), elder version portrayed by Zhu Xiufeng (朱秀凤)) - An amah for the Huang family. Originally a personal servant of Huang Yuan's elder sister, Tua Kor (who abuses her heavily), she is bought by Tian Lan, and becomes her kitchen helper. She is loyal to Juxiang and Yueniang, and serves Yueniang all the way to the present day. Her right leg is broken by Guihua for being the bride's maid during Juxiang and Yousuke's marriage at the beginning of the show.
• Yamamoto Yousuke (山本洋介, portrayed by Dai Yangtian (戴阳天) - An ethnic Japanese, he is very interested in Peranakan culture. In order to protect Juxiang from the philandering Charlie Zhang, he marries her. Yousuke is murdered by invading soldiers when Singapore falls to Japanese forces. It is implied that Charlie Zhang has a role in his murder.
• Liu Yidao (留一刀, portrayed by Yao Wenlong (姚玟隆) - A butcher who has an arranged marriage with Yueniang, but later accepts her as his sworn sister. He and his brotherhood later assist Yueniang with her business. At the advice of Yueniang, Yidao gives up his bullying and gangster-like ways, in favour of a more civilized lifestyle.
• Libby (丽贝儿, portrayed by Pamelyn Chee (齐騛) - A woman who is more liberal than social norms at the time, she eventually marries Chen Xi, and has six children with him.
• Jonathan Li Xiuwen (李修文, portrayed by Nat Ho (鹤天赐) - A native of Hong Kong who grows up in Canada. He falls in love with his university schoolmate, Angela, and follows her from Canada to Malacca. Because of Yueniang's dramatic past, he decides to write a story about her life and will not leave Malacca until it is finished.
• Da Sha (大傻, lit. "The Big Silly [person]", portrayed by Li Yuejie (李岳杰)) - A simpleton who saves Yueniang's life when she is in a coma after being rescued from a well. Pioneer of the bird's nest dish and helps Yueniang with her business.
• Paul (portrayed by Bobby Tonelli) - A British lawyer who is originally hired by Robert Zhang, but eventually helps the Chens in a lawsuit. He later marries Yueniang. The couple have no children of their own, as Yueniang has 2 miscarriages.
• Jinhua (金花 portrayed by Jeszlene Zhou) Also an Amah for the Huang family. Often bullies Yueniang along with Zhenzhu. Fell asleep while watching Yueniang, indirectly contributing to Yuzhu being raped.

Rumours indicate that the role of Xiufeng was initially offered to May Phua, who turned the offer down due to her pregnancy at the time of filming. Huang Biren was rumoured to be in consideration for the role of Tian Lan, although the actress' decision not to renew her contract with MediaCorp ultimately resulted in Xiang Yun obtaining the part. It was also rumoured that Zoe Tay had expressed interest in portraying a role in the series, although there were no suitable roles for her.

Development and production

The Little Nyonya took a year of research and four months to film. More than 150 staff members were involved in production of the series and the cast was required to travel frequently from Singapore to Penang and Malacca during filming. The Little Nyonya was notable for having the highest production budget in the history of MediaCorp. A pair of beaded shoes traversed over a cost of SGD$1 200, while a dining table acquired for the set cost $15000.

The series initially received a 30-episode order, although over-runs in filming led the series to be extended to 34 episodes instead. Possibly as a result, two episodes were aired on Mondays from December 15, 2008 till the conclusion of the series.

Promotion

Promotion for the The Little Nyonya lasted throughout the initial broadcast of the series as well after the series ended. Twelve members of the cast participated in "The Little Nyonya Public Event" 小娘惹户外影迷会 at Compass Point on December 27, 2008, which included an autograph session. An estimated 5000 people were present during the event. 100 posters were given out to members of the audience. The unprecedented number of appearances resulted in damage of the flooring at Compass Point. Certain tiles on the floor cracked under the pressure exerted by the crowd.

Due to the overwhelming response of the initial public event, a "Thank You Roadshow" was held at Suntec City on January 31, where fans were allowed to take photographs with the cast and then shake hands. It featured several cast members from the first event as well as Olivia Ong, who recorded the theme song of the series.

Minor roadshows were held at various locations between January and April 2009. On January 17, Jeanette Aw and Xiang Yun promoted bird nest at Tiong Bahru Plaza, while Qi Yuwu and Joanne Peh appeared at Courts Megastore along Tampines Road. Qi and Peh later appeared in character as part of the official launch for Media Fiesta at Marina Square on March 5. On April 26, Aw and Pierre Png made an appearance at the first anniversary of the Singapore Peranakan Museum shortly before leaving to attend the Star Awards.

Home media release

The series was released by MediaCorp a 2-volume DVD boxset. The first volume, which contained the first 12 episodes of The Little Nyonya was released to stores on January 6, 2009. The remaining episodes were compiled in the second volume and released two weeks later. The boxset contains no special features, although it is accompanied by a booklet which provides descriptions of the major characters in the show, as well as a family tree.

Reception

Commercial performance

The Little Nyonya achieved extremely high ratings during its initial run, with an average of 993 000 viewers per episode and peaking at 1.67 million viewers on the final episode.In adittion, the series achieved the highest viewership rating in Singapore in 14 years.

Viewership for The Little Nyonya steadily increased throughout its run. Its first episode garnered an estimated 1.098 million viewers, which equates to 20.3% of the country population. On Episode 11, the show rating increased to 23.6%. The 15th and 16th episodes, both broadcast back-to-back, was watched by 24.1% of the country's population. The rating increased by 2.2% a week later, and further increased to 27.8% by the 27th and 28th episodes. The viewership peaked at 33.8% on the final two episodes, also broadcast back-to-back.

Critical response

The Little Nyonya has been critically acclaimed. However, despite being lauded as a drama that provides an insight into the unique Peranakan culture, the show has received criticism in local media over portrayals and promotion. Issues that were raised early included the castings of Pan Lingling and Cynthia Koh to portray teenage girls albeit being already in their thirties. This issue was counter-argued by being tantamount to ageism, as well as the fact that it was raised only three episodes after the show began airing. The character development of Xiufeng has come under fire due to the character's exhibitions of violence.

Criticism was also leveled at MediaCorp's bias towards Jeanette Aw. Many viewers saw The Little Nyonya as a television series conceived as a launching vehicle for Aw's career in television and to secure an award at the next Star Awards. Several viewers also believe that the producers intentionally wrote Aw's first role as a mute in attempt to conceal her imperfect delivery of Mandarin. In response, producers have lauded Aw's work, saying that she performed in a professional manner. Despite this, Aw's portrayal of Juxiang and Yueniang has been praised by members of the audience.

Mass publicity for The Little Nyonya began two months before the show premiered. also received criticism from the public. Within MediaCorp, there are also some misgivings in regards to the over-promotion this show has received. The cast of the long-running drama Love Blossoms have privately lamented that the show, which used to receive tremendous amounts of advertising support from MediaCorp, is being neglected in favour of The Little Nyonya.

As many of the Peranakan characters in the series (such as most of the Huang family, as well as Charlie Zhang) are antagonists (Jincheng, Xiufeng and Huangyuan are part-time antagonists), many viewers think that the series will negatively stereotype Peranakans as being ruthless. In response, the show's writer, Hong Rongdi, said that ruthlessness and petty politicking, which are basic human interactions, appears within any culture, and is not an exclusive trait of the Peranakans.

The series also contains a significant number of historical inaccuracies, particularly in the first few episodes involving Juxiang's life and Yueniang's childhood. Notable examples include the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1932 (as opposed to 1937) and the first air raid on Singapore (8 December 1941) occurring in broad daylight (which took place at night in reality).

Accolades

In the Channel 8 countdown party, Dai Yang Tian's role of Yamamoto Yousuke was ranked as one of the Top 8 Most Likeable Male Characters of the year. Jeanette Aw's portrayal of Huang Juxiang and Yamamoto Yueniang also received similar recognition by placing in the Top 8 Most Likeable Female Characters list.

This drama was seen as an extremely strong contender in the Star Awards 2009, which would be held in April 2009. The drama smashed the five year record of Holland V of 9 nominations with 16 nominations at Star Awards 2009, Best Actor (2), Best Actress (2), Best Supporting Actor (4), Best Supporting Actress (5), Young Talent Award (1) and also nominated for Best Theme Song and winner of the Top 10 viewership local drama category.

• 2009:
  • Pierre Png and Qi Yu Wu were both nominated for the Best Actor awards, but both lost to Chen Hanwei in By My Side.
  • Jeanette Aw (Yamamoto Yueniang version) and Joanne Peh were both nominated for the Best Actress award, and Joanne Peh clinches the award.
  • Dai Yang Tian, Darren Lim, Yao Wenlong and Zzen Zhang (ironically) were nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award, but all four of them lost to Chew Chor Meng in The Golden Path.
  • Eelyn Kok, Li Yinzhu, Lin Mei Jiao, Ng Hui and Xiang Yun (for both characters) were nominated for the Best Supporting Actress award. This time, two prizes were awarded for this category, and Ng Hui and Xiang Yun clinches the award.
  • Crystabell Tan was nominated for the Young Talent Award, but lost to Regine Lim in Perfect Cut.
  • This drama's theme song 如燕 by Olivia Ong clinched the Best Drama Theme Song award.
  • This drama is mostly watched by viewers in 2008, clinching the first in Top 10 Highest Viewership Local Dramas in 2008 award.
  • This drama is the Best Drama Serial.
• 2010:
  • The variety special The Little Nyonya's Big Reunion was nominated for the Best Variety Special Award, but lost to The Chinese Challenge Finals.
• 2011:
  • This drama is encored from April 27, 2010 till June 11, 2010, at 5.30pm. The promotional ad for the encore clinched the Best Promotional Ad award.

The Little Nyonya: The Final Chapter

The scriptwriter of the series, Ang Eng Tee (also known as Hong Rongdi 洪荣狄), plotted five endings for the series, 4 of which would involve Yueniang and Chen Xi reuniting and living happily ever after.

The ending used in the series was criticised by fans to be too sad and abrupt. The response also prompted Ang to say that had he know that viewers would react as such, he would have Yueniang and Chen Xi reunite, for TV dramas are, in his words, made for viewers. In response to the criticisms, MediaCorp decided to make an alternate ending, which was aired on 11 January 2009 at 9.55pm. The ending, titled "The Little Nyonya: The Final Chapter" (小娘惹之月娘与陈锡重逢篇, literally: "The Little Nyonya: The Chapter of Yueniang and Chen Xi Reuniting), lasted for three minutes. According to producers, the script for the alternate ending was finalised on 8 January, and filming was completed on the following day.

Although it was rumoured that the ending would reunite Yueniang and Chen Xi, and have them living happily ever after, the new ending merely had Yueniang and Chen Xi tell each other why they can't be together. Yueniang and Chen Xi ended up separated, just as it was in the original ending. This drew heavy criticisms from viewers, who told local newspapers that they felt they were being cheated. In response, MediaCorp said that this was not an "alternate ending", as some have suggested. Rather, it is a special presentation to show the station's appreciation to the fans of the series.

Chinese New Year Special

In response the tremendous support to the show, the producers filmed a one-hour special, showcasing the stars enjoying a special Nyonya's reunion dinner, (The Little Nyonya's Big Reunion, Chinese: 小娘惹大团圆) which was aired on day one of the Lunar New Year (26 January 2009) at 7 pm, hosted by Dasmond Koh, where the stars talked about the filming experiences and about the unexplained fates of characters that were not mentioned in the finale. The special also had a special re-run on February 8, 2009 (day 14 of the New Year) at 9 pm.

Sequel

In an interview with Lianhe Wanbao, the series' scriptwriter, Ang Eng Tee, said that if the demand exists, he will write a special presentation, or even a sequel to the series. Ideas for a possible sequel or special presentation have already been drafted by Ang, one of which would have Angela receiving a secret wooden box from Ah Tao, before Angela returns to Singapore. The box was owned by Yueniang, and Ah Tao defied her orders to burn the contents before Yueniang died. The box contained details on Yueniang and Chen Xi's relationship, in addition to a letter from Libby, telling Yueniang that Chen Xi and Libby did not get married after all. However, it was noted that production sequels have been much frowned upon by producers, and owing to the high production costs, a sequel seems to be very unlikely, but another drama in 2010 Unriddle is having a sequel to the original in 2012.

Cultural impact

The Little Nyonya has had notable cultural impact in Singaporean media. It was parodied in the variety show, Black Rose. In the episode when the encore started its debut, Chen Hanwei imitates Liu Yidao (留一刀) and Dennis Chew imitates Yamamoto Yue Niang (山本岳娘). Yue Niang also told the "Black Rose" viewers that she will be acting as Yue Qing, her indirect sister, in the 'possible' sequel. Perhaps the sister was illegitimate.

The Peranakan Ball

On May 16, 2009, Jeanette Aw and Dai Yang Tian starred in a musical called The Peranakan Ball (Chinese: 娘惹之恋). The musical is based on the story of Cinderella and it stars Jeanette Aw as Bee Tin, a Nyonya servant in a wealthy Peranakan household, and unrelated to the television series, even though the concept was clearly derived from the drama.

The Great Servant

While not promoted as such, and the program was produced by a different television station, many Singaporeans who watched the series Da Yahuan (Chinese: 大丫寰 "The Great Servant" in pinyin) believe it copies the main plot of The Little Nyonya. Da Yahuan was produced and broadcast by Hunan Broadcasting System in China.

Precious

A remake of The Little Nyonya titled Precious was filmed in 2011 from May to July. It stars Jeanette Aw as its lead actress again and Dai Yangtian as the male lead. It is a China and Singapore co-production and will debut in China at the end of the year 2011 and next year May 2012 in Singapore's Channel 8. The drama is expected to do much better than The Little Nyonya and Jewel In The Palace. The Story though is adapted from The Little Nyonya,it'll not be based on the Peranakan Culture but instead about the Chinese medicine with some other changes in the characters. The drama is a Blockbuster drama commemorating China and Mediacorp's 20 years of partnership.

International release history

The drama serial was broadcasted overseas, mostly in the Asian region.

Country of Broadcast	Broadcasting Network	Release Date
Malaysia	Astro Shuang Xing, Astro AEC	February 2, 2009
Malaysia	NTV7	October 26, 2009
Cambodia	PPCTV Drama 9	March 29, 2009
France	MIPTV	March 31, 2009
Philippines	Associated Broadcasting Company(TV5)	August 24, 2009
Myanmar	MRTV	September 5, 2009
United States	Tai Seng Entertainment Channel (broadcast on DirecTV)	December 1, 2009
Vietnam	Vietnam Television	August 12, 2010
China (Shanghai)	TBA	2009
China (run across China via satellite)	TBA	January 16, 2010
Thailand	Thai Public Broadcasting Service	January 20, 2010
Hong Kong	TVB PayVision	April 26, 2010

The series was originally scheduled to air in Malaysia in mid-January, but was later delayed to February. The series was also aired by TV stations in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Mainland China.

Hong Kong broadcaster TVB purchased the rights to telecast the series in April 2009, and aired the series a year later, in late April 2010.

On 1 December 2009, Tai Seng Entertainment Channel, an ethnic Chinese entertainment channel on DirecTV, became the first non-Asian station to air The Little Nyonya. It is also the first station to air the series with Cantonese dubbing.

The series was promoted at the MIPTV Television Trade Show in Cannes, France during the end of March, 2009. Qi Yuwu and Jeannette Aw were also in Cannes to promote the series at MIPTV.

Notes and references

• Jeanette Aw and Dai Yang Tian will make their pair-ups again in Together and Precious.
• Joanne Peh and Qi Yu Wu made their pair-ups again in 2011 dramas C.L.I.F., a police blockbuster, and anniversary drama A Song To Remember.

See also

• List of programmes broadcast by MediaCorp Channel 8

External links

• Official website