Metamorphosis (TV series)
| Metamorphosis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Modern Drama |
| Starring | Chen Hanwei Terence Cao Rui En Thomas Ong Yvonne Lim |
| Opening theme | 斗神 by Daren Tan Sze Wei |
| Ending theme | 背叛 by Chew Sin Huey, Daren Tan Sze Wei |
| Country of origin | Singapore |
| Original language | Chinese |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 45 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | MediaCorp |
| Release | September 18 – October 15, 2007 |
Breaking out of Shell (Chinese: 破茧而出, Chinese: 破繭而出, Metamorphosis in English) is a Singaporean Chinese action thriller drama which is being telecast on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp TV Channel 8. It made its debut on 18 September 2007, screening at 2100 hours every night on weekdays. The serial consists of 20 episodes. In the last few episodes, the serial recorded a viewership rate of over 1 million and was awarded the "Best Drama Series Award" in the Star Awards 2007. Yvonne Lim also received the "Best Actress Award" in the same event.
Cast
The Special Police Operations
- Rui En as An Xiaoqian
- Chen Hanwei as Ouyang Li
- Terence Cao as Di Lun
- Chen Guo Hua as Cao Zhongming
- Ng Hui as Mya Sun Meiya
- Julian Hee as Meng Tianbao
Dragontooth Organization
- Yvonne Lim as Wen Wanrou (episode 14 onwards) (Angel of Death)
- Ix Shen as Ryan Hou Laien (Executor)
- Thomas Ong as Hu Xicun (Judge Ironfist)
- Nick Shen as Zhang Shaoqi (Reaper)
Synopsis
Crisis #1
Members of the secret society are fighting for power. Assassin Swift Blade has already murdered two secret society leaders. Detectives Ouyang (Chen Han Wei) and Di Lun (Terence Cao) manage to corner Swift Blade. Xin Mei, mistress of secret society leader Rattlesnake (Brandon Wong), is held hostage by Swift Blade. Ouyang (Chen Han Wei) decides to open fire at Swift Blade, causing Xin Mei to die as well.
Xin Mei’s death infuriates Rattlesnake, resulting in Red Pig’s (Huang Yi Liang) murder. Rattlesnake is arrested by the police. However, the police discover that Rattlesnake is not the murderer after all. The true suspect behind the murder appears to be Blood Rose (Ong Ai Leng), Rattlesnake’s wife. Blood Rose has always been bitter about her husband’s affair and has every reason to set a trap to let Rattlesnake and Red Pig bring harm to each other, while letting Rattlesnake take the blame for murder.
However, Red Pig’s real murderer turns out to be someone unexpected. When the police are hot on the heels of the murderer, they discover that the latter has been killed. The method of murder is exactly the same as Red Pig’s: four bullets shot directly to the body. There is even evidence leading to the identity of this new mysterious killer. It appears that someone has been carrying out capital punishment in secret...
Crisis #2
While investigation of the identity of the killer continues, news of a horrific murder comes about once more. A dismembered female body has been discovered. The police suspect that Jin Yongjian (Cavin Soh), boss of a mechanic workshop, is the murderer. Yong Jian is a patient of Wen Wanrou (Yvonne Lim), a psychiatrist, and has fallen in love with her. The police arrest him, but discover that Wan Rou has disappeared at the same time. They suspect that Yongjian has captured Wanrou before he was arrested.
Ouyang and his team try every means to force a confession out of Yong Jian with regards to Wanrou’s whereabouts. The case complicates further when they discover that he has split personality disorder. Finally, Wanrou is successfully rescued, but she has already suffered irreparable trauma.
Crisis #3
During an operation to hunt down the mysterious killer, Ouyang unintentionally causes an accident during a car chase, taking the lives of Wanrou’s father and younger brother Pin Liang (Nathaniel Ho). Her mother was so affected that she had an heart attack and died. Wanrou is thrown into sudden darkness from the painful loss of her family. Her life begins to change dramatically.
The mysterious killer captured by Ouyang has been silenced by someone else. As the police investigate the identity of the killer, they slowly uncover the presence of a vigilante organisation known as Dragontooth. This mysterious group has apparently been carrying out acts of ‘justice’, meting out capital punishment to criminals who they deem deserve to die.
Crisis #4
At this point, a male body is found, exposing a complicated string of love affairs between the protagonists involved in the case. The deceased is Leon (Bryan Wang), a male prostitute. He had a girlfriend as well as several love affairs. Everyone involved in this case seems to have a motive for murder, creating more complexity and confusion. One of the suspects, Melinda (Carole Lin), is murdered soon after.
After an intensive investigation by the police, they arrest Gina (May Phua), Gina had suspected her husband, Zhao Shi Qiang (Rayson Tan), of having an homosexual affair with Leon and had killed Leon in a fit of jealousy. Just when everyone thinks that the case has been solved, Dragontooth strikes again to mete out disciplinary action on the real killer. The truth is thus revealed; Gina did not murder Leon.
Final Crisis
Ouyang and Di Lun chase down the clues to the case. They suspect that Ryan Wu (Ix Shen) is a member of Dragontooth and forensic expert, Hu Xicun (Thomas Ong) is in fact the leader of Dragontooth.
An Xiao-qian (Rui En) sets a trap for Xicun to lure Ryan out so that Dragontooth can be captured in one swoop. They manage to capture Xicun successfully. At this moment, Ouyang receives a call to that his foster mother Ouyang Su (Hong Hui Fang) has been held hostage by Dragontooth. Ouyang is made to promise to rescue Xicun. With no other choice, Ouyang agrees and saves Xi Cun. However, he has already become a common enemy of Dragontooth. Not long after, Ryan’s body is discovered. At the scene of the murder, numerous evidence found point towards Ouyang as the murderer.
Finale
The police hunt down Ouyang. Ouyang, unwilling to admit defeat, becomes a wanted man. He escapes, secretly carries out his own investigations and discovers that someone close to him is involved with Dragontooth and framing him for Ryan's murder.
Xicun also finds out that a member has been going against Dragontooth’s principles in the quest for revenge. Now, he plans to discipline this errant offender with capital punishment personally...
Viewership
| Week | Date | Average Number of audience in 5 weekdays (Round off to nearest thousand) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 18 September 2007 to 21 September 2007 | 678, 000 |
| Week 2 | 23 September 2007 to 27 September 2007 | 674, 000 |
| Week 3 | 1 October 2007 to 5 October 2007 | 720, 000 |
| Week 4 | 8 October 2007 to 12 October 2007 | 722, 000 |
| Last episode | 15 October 2007 | 786, 000 |
Reception
The serial generated largely positive reviews from critics and recorded a viewership of over a million in its final episodes.
The serial received two nominations in the Star Awards 2007, but despite that, the serial managed to win both awards (Yvonne Lim for Best Actress 2007 and Breaking out of Shell for Best Drama Serial 2007).