The Unforgettable Memory
The Unforgettable Memory | |
---|---|
Genre | Romance Competitions between family businesses |
Directed by | Wang Wei |
Starring | Wang Shixian Zhang Fengshu |
Opening theme | 1. 情難忘 by Wang Shixian 2. 出外人 by Zhan Yawen 3. 擔輸贏 by Jiang Hui 4. 堅持 by Weng Liyou 5. 愛你的代價 by Gao Xiangpeng and Feng Rui'e 6. 雪中花 by Wang Shixian and Sun Shumei 7. 無人來作伴 by Lin Shan and Weng Liyou 8. 愛了無後悔 by Long Qianyu and Weng Liyou 9. 愛伊希地魯 by Weng Liyou |
Ending theme | 1. 雲中月圓 by Wang Shixian and Sun Shumei 2. 昨夜星辰 by Yao Xinying 3. 意難忘 by Cai Xiaohu 4. 真愛只有你 by Lin Shan and Fu Zhenhui 5. 無人來作伴 by Lin Shan and Weng Liyou 6. 風中的玫瑰 by Long Qianyu 7. 今生最愛的人 by Cai Xiaohu |
Country of origin | Taiwan |
Original language | Taiwanese |
No. of episodes | 526 (Formosa Television) 877 (Mediacorp Channel 8) |
Production | |
Producers | Guo Hongliang, Lin Huijun |
Running time | 90 minutes (Episodes 1–285) 105 minutes (Episodes 286–525) 50 minutes (Finale - Episode 526) |
Original release | |
Network | Formosa Television Mediacorp Channel 8 |
Release | 22 September 2004 – 28 September 2006 |
Related | |
Night Market Life The Spirits of Love |
The Unforgettable Memory is a Taiwanese prime-time soap opera, originally broadcast on Formosa Television from 22 September 2004 to 28 September 2006 for 526 episodes. With a run-time of over 50,000 minutes, it is the longest Taiwanese TV drama in the 21st century.
Broadcast
- Taiwan — Formosa Television (22 September 2004)
- Malaysia — Astro AEC (24 August 2005)
- Singapore — MediaCorp Channel 8 (9 June 2006, dubbed in Mandarin)
- China — China Central Television Channel 8 (2 September 2007, dubbed in Mandarin)
- Hong Kong — Asia Television (29 September 2008, dubbed in Cantonese)
- Vietnam — THVL Channel 1 (1 April 2014, dubbed in Vietnamese as Tình Đầu Khó Phai)
Cast
Wang Shengtian is the main protagonist in this drama. Villains include Huang Kunshan, Cai Jianpao, Du Wenjie, Wu Pinde and many others.
Wangs
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Wang Shixian | Wang Qingyun | Wang-Cheng Yuexia's husband Father of Wang Shengtian and Wang Shengzhi |
He appeared only in episode 13. In episode 89, he was killed by Huang Kunshan in Japan. |
Wang Shengtian | Protagonist Son of Wang Qingyun and Wang-Cheng Yuexia Fang Lizhu's husband Wang Shengzhi's elder brother Father of Wang Tianzhu |
He appeared in all the episodes. In episode 141, Shengtian travelled with Lizhu and Tianzhu. He married Lizhu in episode 195 and was later divorced in episode 347. Shengtian and Tianzhu met again in episode 422. Shengtian and Lizhu remarried again in episode 520. In the finale, Shengtian had successfully fought brain cancer and in the end, both he and Lizhu travelled around the world by boat. | |
Zhang Qin | Wang-Cheng Yuexia | Old Madam Wang Wang Qingyun's wife Mother of Wang Shengtian and Wang Shengzhi Mother-in-law of Lai Lizhu and Lai Suling |
She appeared in almost all the episodes. |
Zhang Fengshu | Fang/Lai Lizhu | Adopted daughter of Fang Jinchuan and Xiazi Biological daughter of Lai Tianyou and Chen Liqing Wang Shengtian's wife Lai Suling's elder sister Mother of Wang Tianzhu |
She appeared in episodes 1-148, later episodes 164-348 and episodes 467-526. In episode 34, Lizhu had Shengtian's son. In episode 79, she was jailed, and later was bailed out in episode 104. She gave birth to Tianzhu in episode 89. She thought of the care Shengtian brought in episode 140. In episode 141, Lizhu travelled with Shengtian and Tianzhu. She and Tianzhu returned to Taiwan in episode 164. She knew her biological parents in episode 186, and therefore acknowledged them in episode 191. She married Shengtian in episode 195 and was later divorced in episode 347. She returned in episode 467 after the divorce 120 episodes earlier. Lizhu and Shengtian remarried again in episode 520. In the finale, both Shengtian and her travelled around the world by boat. |
Younger: Qiu Guanlong and later Ge Jiahong Older: Xie Chengjun |
Wang Tianzhu | Son of Wang Shengtian and Lai Lizhu Chen Shanni's husband Li Jiajia's former husband Fat Cat's friend |
The younger version appeared in episodes 123-148 and later episodes 164–212. The older version appeared in episodes 214–382 and returned in episodes 389–526. He was born in episode 89. He and his mother Lizhu returned to Taiwan in episode 164. He married Shanni in episode 316. Tianzhu and his father Shengtian met again in episode 422. He divorced with Shanni in episode 428. He was appointed the General Manager of Tianlei Enterprise in episode 440. He married Jiajia in episode 490 and was later divorced in episode 515. Tianzhu and Shanni remarried again in episode 520. He was appointed the Chairman of Tiancheng Enterprise in episode 525. |
Han Yu | Huang Xuelian | Lin Dazhong's fiancée Daughter of Huang Kunshan |
She appeared from episodes 1–95. In episode 94, She and Dazhong were getting engaged. An episode later, she jumped down to her death. |
Chen Shanni | Daughter of Yu Guangrong and Chen Yujie Wang Tianzhu's wife |
She appeared from episodes 233–508 and later episodes 514–526. She married Tianzhu in episode 316 and was later divorced in episode 428. She made suicide attempts in episode 491. Shanni and Tianzhu remarried again in episode 520. | |
Li Liren | Wang Shengzhi | Lai Suling's husband Adopted father of Wang Yuting Son of Wang Qingyun and Wang-Cheng Yuexia Younger brother of Wang Shengtian |
He appeared in episodes 1–342. He married Suling in episode 85. He made suicide attempts in episode 289 in losing his wife three episodes after her death. He married Peiqi in episode 338. He died in episode 342. |
Yang Baowei | Lai Suling | Wang Shengzhi's wife Lin Dazhong's former wife Wang Yuting's mother Daughter of Lai Tianyou and Chen Liqing Lai Lizhu's younger sister |
She appeared in episodes 1-286. She married Dazhong in episode 36 and was later divorced in episode 77. She married Shengzhi in episode 85. She gave birth to Yuting in episode 118. She died in episode 286. |
Younger: Fu Peici Older: Xie Jinyan |
Wang Yuting | Nicknamed as 'Tingting' Li Wenhua's wife Daughter of Lin Dazhong and Lai Suling Adopted daughter of Wang Shengzhi |
The younger version appeared from episodes 123–212. She was born in episode 118. She returned as the older version in episodes 215-315 and later episodes 329-505. She recovered her memory in episode 402. She married Jianzhi in episode 485. She died in episode 505. |
Wang Can | Li Wenhua | Wang Yuting's husband One of Tianzhu-Bo'ai General Hospital's doctors |
He appeared in episodes 297–315 and later 329-406. He had committed suicide in episode 406. |
Lais
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Shi Ying | Lai Tianyou | Chen Liqing's husband Father of Lai Lizhu and Lai Suling |
He appeared in episodes 1–212 and later 266–505. He accompanied Liqing to the hospital in episode 127. He and Liqing acknowledged Lizhu as his daughter in episode 191. |
Gao Xinxin | Chen Liqing | Lai Tianyou's wife Mother of Lai Lizhu |
She appeared in episodes 2–197. She was rushed to the hospital in episode 127. She and Tianyou acknowledged Lizhu as his daughter in episode 191. She died in episode 197 due to lung cancer. |
Zhang Fengshu | Fang/Lai Lizhu | See Wangs. | |
Yang Baowei | Lai Suling |
Huangs
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared |
---|---|---|---|
Huang Zhongkun | Huang Kunshan | Father of Huang Xuelian | He appeared in episodes 1-112. |
Han Yu | Huang Xuelian | See Wangs. |
Sus
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Li Xinwen | Li Quanshui | Nicknamed as 'Shui' Su Yuefong and Su Yuehong's husband Li Aiyu's brother |
He appeared in all the episodes. He was jailed in episode 2. In episode 44, he and Yuefong settled their conditions. Quanshui and Yuefong met again in episode 127. He was jailed again in episode 211. He married Yuehong in episode 296. |
Chen Ruoping | Su Yuefong | Li Quanshui's wife Su Yuehong's sister |
She appeared in episodes 1-53 and returned in episodes 123-168. In episode 44, she and Quanshui settled their conditions. She was rolled down a cliff in episode 53. Yuefong and Quanshui met again in episode 127. She died in episode 168 to rescue Quanshui from being shot by Cai Jianpao. |
Yue Hong | Su Yuehong | Li Quanshui's wife Su Yuefong's younger sister |
She appeared in episodes 232–498. She married Quanshui in episode 296. She died in episode 498 to rescue Aiyu from being shot by Du Wenjie. |
De Xin | Li Aiyu | Cai Jianpao's former wife Mother of Cai Zhiying Li Quanshui's younger sister |
She appeared in episodes 38–517. She married Jianpao in episode 88. She gave birth to Zhiying in episode 122. She was nominated for the legislators in episode 214, replacing Jianpao's role. She divorced Jianpao in episode 377. She lost her position as a legislator in episode 484. She was jailed in episode 517. |
Fangs
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Tang Chuan | Fang Jinchuan | Xia Zi's husband Father of Fang Lijun Adopted father of Lai Lizhu |
He appeared from episode 113 until episode 214 when he died. |
Xiao Hui | Xia Zi | Fang Jinchuan's wife Mother of Fang Lijun Adopted mother of Lai Lizhu |
She appeared in episodes 113–217. She told Lizhu who her biological parents were in episode 186. |
Gao Yuzhen | Fang Lijun | Gao Maoxiong's wife Daughter of Fang Jinchuan and Xiazi One of Tianzhu-Bo'ai General Hospital's persons-in-charge |
She appeared in episodes 113–214 and later episodes 355–406. |
Huang Yingxun | Gao Maoxiong | Fang Lijun's husband Lin Xiuhui's former husband One of Tianzhu-Bo'ai General Hospital's doctors |
He appeared in episodes 127–214. He engaged with Xiuhui in episode 148 and was later married in episode 155. |
Lins
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Lin Zhaoxiong | Lin Tonghai | Father of Lin Dazhong and Lin Xiuhui | He appeared in episodes 26-83, episodes 158 and 159 and episodes 193-198. |
Liu Zhihan | Lin Dazhong | Lai Suling's former husband Huang Xuelian's fiancé Biological father of Wang Yuting Son of Lin Tonghai Lin Xiuhui's elder brother |
He appeared in episodes 6-108 and returned later in episodes 124–183. He married Suling in episode 36 and was later divorced in episode 77. In episode 94, he and Xuelian were getting engaged. Suling killed him in episode 183. |
Jiang Zuping | Lin Xiuhui | Gao Maoxiong's former wife Daughter of Lin Tonghai Lin Dazhong's younger sister |
She appeared in episodes 36–108 and returned later in episodes 127–214. She happened to be one of the guests of Dazhong's wedding in episode 36. She knew about Xuelian's death in episode 95, and handed the evidence to the judge in episode 104. She engaged with Maoxiong in episode 148 and was later married in episode 155. |
Cais
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Xu Heng | Cai Jianpao | Yang Shuzhen's husband Li Aiyu's former husband Father of Yang Jianzhi (Cai Zhiming) and Cai Zhiying |
He appeared in almost all the episodes. He married Aiyu in episode 88. He was nominated for the legislators in episode 122. He was jailed in episode 214. He was disillusioned in episode 375. He later divorced Aiyu two episodes later. He went to compensate the Wangs in episode 411. In episode 411, he rescued Yuting from a car accident and he becomes the victim. In episode 525, he rescued Shengtian from being shot. |
Li Yating | Yang Shuzhen | Cai Jianpao's wife Mother of Yang Jianzhi |
She appeared in episodes 98-526. |
Younger: Lin Yanchen Older: Li Zhenying |
Yang Jianzhi Cai Zhiming |
Mai Yatong's husband Son of Cai Jianpao and Yang Shuzhen Cai Zhiying's half brother |
The younger version appeared in episode 98–214. He returned as the older version in episode 224–526. He engaged with Yatong in episode 414. He married Yuting in episode 485. He later married Yatong in episode 523. |
Liu Yue | Mai Yatong | Yang Jianzhi's wife Daughter of Mai Guochuan and Zhang Huilin Angie's friend |
She appeared in episodes 380–526. She engaged with Jianzhong in episode 414 and was later married in episode 523. |
Younger: Gan Yongwei and later Huang Jie Older: Ye Jiayu |
Cai Zhiying | Nicknamed "Niu Niu" Jiang Wenbing's wife Du Anlun's former wife Daughter of Cai Jianpao and Li Aiyu Yang Jianzhi (Cai Zhiming)'s half sister |
She was born in episode 122. She appeared as the younger version in episodes 122–214. She returned as the older version in episodes 219–513. She married Wenbing in episode 299. She later married Anlun in episode 392. She and Wenbing met again in episode 409, and later divorced Anlun in episode 424. She had committed suicide in episode 513 in losing her husband five episodes after his death. |
An Dingya | Jiang Wenbing | Cai Zhiying's husband | He appeared in episodes 230–319. He married Zhiying in episode 299. He jumped down the sea in episode 319, causing him to be missing. He returned in episodes 388–508. He and Zhiying met again in episode 409. He was shot by Du Wenjie in episode 508. |
Lins ()
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Mi Jiang | Elephant Lin | Hee's husband Father of Tarzan Lin |
He appeared from episode 1 and was later killed in episode 349 to save Cai Jianpao from being killed by Su Yuehong's men. |
Hee | Elephant Lin's wife Mother of Tarzan Lin |
She appeared in episode 259 where she died. | |
Lin Guanyu | Tarzan Lin | Son of Elephant Lin and Hee | He appeared in episode 259 where his mother died. |
Mais
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Lin Tzay-peir | Mai Guochuan | Zhang Huilin's husband Father of Mai Yatong |
He appeared in episode 195, making his return in episodes 415–524. He remarried Huilin in episode 523. |
Zhang Qiongzi | Zhang Huilin | Mai Guochuan's wife Mother of Mai Yatong |
She appeared in episodes 415–524. She remarried Guochuan in episode 523. |
Liu Yue | Mai Yatong | See Cais. |
Dus
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Li Luo | Du Wenjie | Father of Du Anlun | He appeared from episode 351 till episode 508 where he died. |
Fu Zichun | Du Anlun | Son of Du Wenjie Wang Jiayi's husband Cai Zhiying's former husband Nice Also villianic |
He appeared in episode 352–471. He married Zhiying in episode 392. He happened to be one of the capturers in a crime in episode 419. He divorced Zhiying five episodes later. He has to go to America for health treatment in episode 471. He was well, and made his return in episodes 495–526. He married Jiayi in episode 525. An episode later in the finale, he was arrested by the police. |
Zhang Ruihan | Wang Jiayi | Du Anlun's wife Wu Pinde's girlfriend |
She appeared from episodes 458–526. She married Anlun in episode 525. An episode later in the finale, she was shot. But not dead yet. |
Lis
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Zhang Yonghua | Li Jiyao | Director Li Father of He Peiqi |
He appeared in episodes 1–102, making his return in episodes 294–316. |
Kuang Mingjie | He Peiqi | Daughter of Li Jiyao | She appeared in episodes 289–425. She married Shengzhi in episode 338. She was chased out of the Wangs in episode 425. |
Lis (not again)
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Cui Haoran | Li Shimin | Father of Li Jiajia | He appeared in episodes 119–148, later episodes 308–369 and episodes 513–526. |
Younger: Shi Yuyan Older: Qiu Qiwen |
Li Jiajia | Daughter of Li Shimin Chen Shanni's rival in love |
The younger version appeared in episodes 123-148. She returned as the older version in episodes 311–370 and later episodes 409-526. She was raped by Director Zhao in episode 368. She married Tianzhu in episode 490 and was later divorced in episode 515. She died in the finale. |
Chens
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Zhang Mingjie | Yu Guangrong | Shi Liwen's husband Chen Yujie's former husband Father of Chen Shanni |
He appeared from episode 250 till episode 274 where he and Liwen returned to America. He returned in episodes 486-526. |
Zhao Yongxin | Chen Yujie | Yu Guangrong's former wife Mother of Chen Shanni |
She appeared from episode 245 till episode 274 where she died. |
Li Fangwen | Shi Liwen | Yu Guangrong's wife Stepmother of Chen Shanni |
She appeared from episodes 253 till episode 274 where she and Guangrong returned to America. |
Han Yu | Chen Shanni | See Wangs. |
Xus
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Chen Yufeng | Xu Kunliang | Xu Xiaozhen's brother | He appeared from episodes 150 till episode 203 where he was shot by Cai Jianpao. |
Lü Minzhen | Xu Xiaozhen | Liao Shuiwa's wife Xu Kunliang's younger sister |
She appeared in episodes 159–214, making her return in episodes 234 and 235. |
Chen Ziqiang | Liao Shuiwa | Xu Xiaozhen's husband | He appeared from episodes 24 till episode 234 where he saved Zhao Wuxiong from being shot by Jiang Wenbing. |
Tiancheng Enterprise
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Wang Shixian | Wang Shengtian | See Wangs. | |
Zhang Fengshu | Fang/Lai Lizhu | ||
Xie Chengjun | Wang Tianzhu | ||
Han Yu | Chen Shanni | ||
Li Liren | Wang Shengzhi | ||
Li Xinwen | Li Quanshui | See Sus. | |
Qiu Qiwen | Li Jiajia | See Lis (not again). |
Tianying Enterprise
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared |
---|---|---|---|
Xie Chengjun | Wang Tianzhu | See Wangs. | |
Han Yu | Chen Shanni | ||
Li Zhenying | Yang Jianzhi Cai Zhiming |
See Cais. | |
Sun Zhiyu | Sun Jie | One of Tianying Enterprise's part-time persons-in-charge | He appeared in episodes 414–468. |
Chen Baicun | Ken | He appeared only in episode 419. |
Tianlei Enterprise
Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
---|---|---|---|
Lin Yifang | Lei Guang | Nie Chaofeng's sworn brother Power of secret societies to help bond friendship Lei Gong befriended Wang Tianzhu, Yang Jianzhi, Xiaomai, Yuehong and many others. He also let Wang Tianzhu hand over Tianlei. Nie Chaofeng is nice to He Peiqi. |
He appeared in episodes 389–526. |
Nie Bingxian | Nie Chaofeng | Lei Guang's sworn brother Nie Jiangtian's brother |
He appeared from episode 447 till episode 518 where he was killed by Wu Pinde's men. |
Jiang Zhong | Nie Jiangtian | Nicknamed as 'Buffalo' Nie Chaofeng's younger brother |
He appeared from episode 389 till episode 437 where he was accidentally killed by Wang Tianzhu. |
Ding Liqi | Wu Pinde | Nicknamed as 'De' Wang Jiayi's boyfriend |
He appeared from episode 440 till episode 526 where he died. |
Zhang Fengshuo | Bao | One of Wu Pinde's men and brother | He appeared in episode 439. |
Jiang Yi | Tarzan | One of Lei Guang's men and brother | He appeared in episodes 436−514. |
Yue Hong | Su Yuehong | See Sus. | |
Liu Yue | Mai Yatong | See Cais. |
Viewership in Taiwan
The Unforgettable Memory has the distinction of being the longest primetime drama ever in Taiwan history, with a total of 526 episodes produced. It has the highest viewership of all TV shows in Taiwan when it debuted at primetime on September 22, 2004 till its ending on September 28, 2006 almost daily (hitting above 10). It was rerun again at 6.00–7.00 pm from July 5, 2010 and still running.
Overseas reception
The series received very good critical response and viewership in other countries too and as of 2009 being shown in Singapore's MediaCorp Channel 8 (in weekday one hour series from June 9, 2006 to October 23, 2009, 4.30–5.30 pm, becoming the longest running drama on Channel 8 in 46 years) rerunning in the pre-dawn hours from Tuesdays to Saturdays 4.00–6.00 am from January 7, 2009 to September 9, 2010, and the third time from 4 October 2010 from Mondays to Thursdays at 10.00 am – 12.00 noon and ended in 2012. Singapore's Channel 8, China's CCTV-8 and Hong Kong's ATV Channel all aired with each episode running 1 hour, with a total of 872 episodes. It has ended its run on Malaysia's Astro Cable Service. The Vietnamese dub "Tinh Dau Kho Phai" was broadcast on THVL Channel and is streamable on YouTube with a total of 767 episodes.
Singapore broadcast
Due to local broadcast laws prohibiting radio or television broadcasts in non-Mandarin varieties of Chinese the show was dubbed into Mandarin when it aired on MediaCorp Channel 8 thus making it the first channel to broadcast the show in Mandarin.
External links
- Main Portal Site at Formosa Television
- Episode Synopses and Reviews at Sina
- CCTV Portal Site at CCTV
- Discussion at Baidu
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