The Gentlemen (2016 TV series)

The Gentlemen
Also known as	Mercurial Men
来自水星的男人
Genre	Family Men Comedy Romance
Written by	Tang Yeow 陈耀 Seah Choon Guan 谢俊源
Directed by	Lim Mee Nah 林美娜 Lin Mingzhe 林明哲 Cheong Yuan Teng 张愿庭
Starring	Chen Hanwei Pierre Png Aloysius Pang Cynthia Koh Paige Chua Carrie Wong
Opening theme	樂度明天 by Chriz Tong
Ending theme	像這樣也很好 by Xiang Hua (No commentaries for News Tonight)
Country of origin	Singapore
Original languages	Mandarin, with some English dialogue
No. of episodes	20
Production
Executive producer	Soh Bee Lian 苏美莲
Running time	approx. 45 minutes
Production company	Mediacorp Studios
Original release
Network	Mediacorp Channel 8
Release	9 August (2016-08-09) – 5 September 2016 (2016-09-05)

The Gentlemen (Chinese: 来自水星的男人) is a Singaporean drama series produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8. The 20-episode drama serial stars Chen Hanwei, Pierre Png, Aloysius Pang, Cynthia Koh, Paige Chua and Carrie Wong as the main casts of the series.

Plot

The three Zhang brothers come from a family of male chauvinists. Zhang Naiping (Chen Hanwei), the eldest, runs a maid agency. He and his wife, Zou Huimin (Cynthia Koh), are in the midst of divorce proceedings. The second brother, Zhang Nailiang (Pierre Png), is a ballet dancer, while the youngest, Zhang Naiyi (Aloysius Pang), is a students at an arts school. The family is at Naiyi's graduation ceremony. Naiping and Nailiang quarrel over a seat and are sent out of the auditorium. Their mother, He Zhaodi (Jin Yinji), bemoans the death of her husband, Zhang Weida (Zhang Wei), who died half a year ago. She is sad he is not at Naiyi's graduation. Nailiang idolises Xu Ruoqi (Kelly Liao), a dancer. When she picks him for an audition, he is elated. Naiping comes across a maid while she is being abused. Annoyed by the arrogance of the employer, he gets into a brawl with him. They settle their dispute at a police station. Caught up with her job as an insurance agent, Huimin pays no attention to Naiping's injuries. She reminds him to tell Zhaodi about their divorce as soon as possible. Nailiang rents a place on his own. He is confident he will audition successfully and get to join Ruoqi in New York. Naiyi was traumatised by a man with red nails when he was young. Since then, he has had a fear of women whose nails are painted red. Naiyi forgets to retrieve his ATM card after withdrawing money. Sally, who is in the queue behind him, chases after him to return his card. He goes berserk when he sees her red nails and hides in a lingerie shop. The lingerie shop owner is Wang Shengyi (Wang Yuqing). His daughter, Wang Kaixin (Carrie Wong), is nicknamed Princess A Class for her flat chest. She is able to tell the customer's bra cup size by just looking at them. Naiping does not wish to divorce his wife but is too proud to admit it. On his way to the audition, Nailiang notices Su Meidai (Paige Chua), who shooting a print advertisement. Watching her pose seductively while clad only in sexy lingerie, Nailiang trips over a cable. Meidai falls onto him, and the shoot is halted. During the audition, Nailing becomes dizzy and faints while dancing. A debt collector turns up at Naiping's office. Naiping refuses to entertain him, as it was his business partner, Gary, who obtained the loan. The debt collector vandalises the office. Naiyi reports for work at a fashion design company. Sally happens to be one of his colleagues, and tries to return his ATM card. He is so traumatised by her red nails that he spills his beverage...

Cast

Main cast

Cast	Character	Description	Episodes Appeared
Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮	Zhang Naiping 张乃平	Younger version portrayed by Gary Tan 陈毅丰 Cheong Zou Huimin's husband Zhaodi and Zhang Weida's eldest son Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's elder brother Zhang Jingrou's father Confinement nanny Shen Yilin's love interest Lisbon/Kusu's godfather Francis Ang's army mate Divorced with Zou Huimin, later realised that he still had not gotten over her Often misunderstood by Zou Huimin as he always appears in Shen Yilin's apartment looking after her son Gave Shen Yilin a wrong 'signal' that he is in love with her At first disapproved Zhang Naiyi's job as an undergarment designer, later approved Changed for the better and became Zou Huimin's husband again in the end	1-20
Pierre Png 方展发	Zhang Nailiang 张乃良	Younger Version portrayed by Ivan Lo Liang (良), Unlucky Star (衰神), Liang Cheong Zhaodi and Zhang Weida's second son Zhang Naiping and Zhang Naiyi's second brother Ballet teacher Hated Su Meidai when first met, later realised that he is in love with her Fell out with Zhang Naiyi over Su Meidai, later patched up Liu Yutong's friend and former schoolmate Became Su Meidai's boyfriend in the end	1-20
Aloysius Pang 冯伟衷	Zhang Naiyi 张乃祎	Smith Cheong, Boy (小弟) Zhaodi and Zhang Weida's youngest son Zhang Naiping and Zhang Zhang Nailiang's younger brother Had a crush on Su Meidai (one-sided love) Fashion designer, later an undergarment designer Wang Kaixin's friend and colleague, later realised that he is in love with her Had phobia of red nails Shen Yilin, Xena, Yen and Zoe's colleague Had a one-night stand with Wang Kaixin when the both of them were drunk Fell out with Zhang Nailiang over Su Meidai, later patched up Became Wang Kaixin's boyfriend in the end	1-20
Cynthia Koh 许美珍	Zou Huimin 邹惠敏	Zhang Naiping's wife Zhaodi and Zhang Weida's daughter-in-law Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's sister-in-law Zhang Jingrou's mother Hated Zhang Naiping's male chauvinism Often mistaken Zhang Naiping and Shen Yilin as he always appears at her apartment to look after her son Divorced Zhang Naiping, later realised that she has never gotten over him Became Zhang Naiping's wife again	1–8, 10-20
Paige Chua 蔡琦慧	Su Meidai 苏美黛	MD, Heroine, Bra Shrew (BRA婆), Woman, Soh Bee Dai Undergarment company chairman Zhang Nailiang's girlfriend Zhang Naiyi's love interest Afraid of dark areas Shen Yilin's best friend and superior Zhang Naiyi, Xena, Yen and Zoe's superior Venice's godmother Hated Zhang Nailiang when first met due to misunderstandings Indirectly caused Zhang Nailiang to not have a chance to go overseas for ballet industry	1–4, 6-20
Carrie Wong 黄思恬	Wang Kaixin 王凯欣	Princess A Class (A等公主), Happy (开心) Wang Shengyi's daughter Works at the undergarments company Knows what cup size women should wear Often mistaken as a guy due to her attire and short hair Avoided wearing dress due to her father - still couldn't get over her mother's death Zhang Naiyi's friend, later in love with him Had a one-night stand with Zhang Naiyi when both of them were drunk Became Zhang Naiyi's girlfriend in the end	1, 3, 6-13, 15-20

Supporting cast

Cast	Character	Description	Episodes Appeared
Youyi 有懿	Shen Yilin 沈薏琳	Lin (琳), Shen Yee Lin Francis Ang's ex-wife Venice and Lisbon/Kusu's mother Su Meidai's best friend and subordinate In love with Zhang Naiping (one-sided love) Zhang Naiyi, Xena, Yen and Zoe's colleague	2-12, 14-20
Jin Yinji 金银姬	He Zhaodi 何招娣	Zhang Naiping, Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's mother Zou Huimin's mother-in-law	1–8, 10–15, 20
Wang Yuqing 王昱清	Wang Shengyi 王升义	Bra King (内衣王) Wang Kaixin's father Iron Man's friend	1, 3, 6-11, 13, 15–17, 20
Toh Xin Hui 杜芯慧	Zhang Jingrou 张静柔	He Zhaodi's granddaughter Zhang Naiping and Zou Huimin's daughter Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's niece Venice's classmate
Natalie Mae Tan 陈宥蒽	Venice	Shen Yilin's daughter Francis Ang's ex-daughter Su Meidai's goddaughter Zhang Jingrou's classmate
Joey Feng 冯瑾瑜	Xena	Su Meidai's subordinate Zhang Naiyi, Shen Yilin, Xena and Zoe's colleague
Shelia Tan 陈玮甜	Yen	Su Meidai's subordinate Zhang Naiyi, Shen Yilin, Xena and Zoe's colleague
Elizabeth Seah 谢佩佩	Zoe	Su Meidai's subordinate Zhang Naiyi, Shen Yilin, Xena and Yen's colleague
Collin Chee 銭翰群	Sean	Zou Huimin's love interest Zhang Naiping's rival in love
Kelly 廖奕琁	Koh Ruoqi 郭若琪	Gigi Koh Ballet dancer Zhang Nailiang's love interest	1,13-15, 18-19
Marcus Mok 莫健发	Tim Ang	Su Meidai and Shen Yilin's superior	2-3, 20
Hu Wensui 胡问遂	Francis	Shen Yilin's boyfriend	20
Adele Wong 王惠珊	Liu Yutong	Ballet school owner Zhang Nailiang's friend and former schoolmate	9-11, 13, 18
David Leong 梁家豪	Francis Ang	Pilot Shen Yilin's ex-husband Venice's ex-father Zhang Naiping's army mate	5, 7, 9, 12
Zhang Wei 张为	Zhang Weida 张伟大	Old Man (老的) Zhang Naiping, Zhang Nailiang and Zhang Naiyi's Father Zou Huimin's Father-in-law He Zhaodi's Husband Deceased

Episodes

No. overall	Title	Original air date
1	"Episode 1"	August 9, 2016 (2016-08-09) PG Some Sexual References This episode aired at 8.29p.m., right after the National Day Parade, while variety programme BENGpire moved to 9.28p.m. Subsequent episodes were aired at 9.00p.m. from August 10 onwards.
2	"Episode 2"	August 10, 2016 (2016-08-10) PG Some Disturbing Scenes
3	"Episode 3"	August 11, 2016 (2016-08-11) PG
4	"Episode 4"	August 12, 2016 (2016-08-12) PG Some Sexual References
5	"Episode 5"	August 15, 2016 (2016-08-15) PG Some Sexual References
6	"Episode 6"	August 16, 2016 (2016-08-16) PG Some Sexual References
7	"Episode 7"	August 17, 2016 (2016-08-17) PG Some Sexual References
8	"Episode 8"	August 18, 2016 (2016-08-18) PG Some Disturbing Scenes
9	"Episode 9"	August 19, 2016 (2016-08-19) PG Some Sexual References
10	"Episode 10"	August 22, 2016 (2016-08-22) PG Some Sexual References
11	"Episode 11"	August 23, 2016 (2016-08-23) PG Some Sexual References
12	"Episode 12"	August 24, 2016 (2016-08-24) PG Some Sexual References
13	"Episode 13"	August 25, 2016 (2016-08-25) PG Some Sexual References
14	"Episode 14"	August 26, 2016 (2016-08-26) PG Some Disturbing Scenes
15	"Episode 15"	August 29, 2016 (2016-08-29) PG Some Sexual References
16	"Episode 16"	August 30, 2016 (2016-08-30) PG Some Sexual References
17	"Episode 17"	August 31, 2016 (2016-08-31) PG Some Sexual References
18	"Episode 18"	September 1, 2016 (2016-09-01) PG Some Disturbing Scenes
19	"Episode 19"	September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02) PG Some Disturbing Scenes
20	"Episode 20 (Finale)"	September 5, 2016 (2016-09-05) PG Some Disturbing Scenes

Development

The series is first announced in January 2016. Originally, Julie Tan and Xu Bin were also announced to be part of the lineup. Their roles were replaced by Carrie Wong and Aloysius Pang respectively, as Julie turned down the series to allow herself to focus on her role in long-running drama series Peace & Prosperity. Wong was told that she would have to have her long locks shorn for her role, as executive producer Soh Bee Lian feels that the character would be more convincing in a bob cut than if she were to wear a wig.

Filming began in February 2016. On 9 March, Toggle interviewed Pang, whose character falls in love with Paige Chua’s. The actors shot the scene where Chua saves his life when Pang falls over a railing at a parking complex in two hours. He was suspended from a third-floor ledge, with a ladder propping him up by the feet during breaks. Pierre Png, who plays a professional ballet dancer in the series, reveals that ballet is “much, much tougher” than boxing (referring to his previous role in Channel 5 telemovie Rise). While others have to take seven years to perfect ballet, he only has one month for his role.

A press conference was held at Cafe Melba in the new Mediacorp campus on 26 July 2016. Chen Hanwei, Pierre Png, Aloysius Pang, Carrie Wong, Paige Chua, Cynthia Koh and Jin Yinji attended the conference.

Trivia

• This is Aloysius Pang and Carrie Wong's second drama collaboration as onscreen couple, after Life - Fear Not.
• This is Chen Hanwei, Carrie Wong, Youyi, Jin Yinji and Wang Yuqing's second drama collaboration, after 118.
• The series was repeated at 8am.
• Snippets of the next episode are shown during the ending credits of each episode. This is the 15th series where News Tonight commentaries are not announced.

Awards and nominations

Star Awards 2017

The Gentlemen was up for 5 nominations. It won 2 out of 5 awards.

The Star Awards are presented by Mediacorp.

Star Awards – Acting Awards
Accolades	Category	Nominees	Result
The Road to Star Awards 2017 Episode 1 红星大奖 影聚响宴	Young Talent Award 青苹果奖	Toh Xin Hui 杜芯慧	Won
	Best Director 最佳导演	Lim Mee Nah 林美娜	Nominated
	Best Screenplay 最佳剧本	Tang Yeow/Seah Choon Guan 陈耀/谢俊源	Nominated
The Road to Star Awards 2017 Episode 2 红星大奖 影聚响宴	Bioskin Healthiest Hair Award	Pierre Png 方展发	Nominated
Star Awards 2017 Awards Ceremony 红星大奖2017颁奖礼	Best Actor 最佳男主角	Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮	Won
		Pierre Png 方展发	Nominated

See also

• List of programmes broadcast by Mediacorp Channel 8