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When Duty Calls

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When Duty Calls
卫国先锋
GenreContemporary
Friendship
Romance
Military
Written bySeah Choon Guan
Tang Yeow
Directed byPng Keh Hock
Doreen Yap
Martin Chan
Khoo Khiang Ting
StarringDesmond Tan
Romeo Tan
Pierre Png
Paige Chua
Felicia Chin
Opening theme以刚克刚 by Desmond Ng and Kenny Khoo
Ending theme1) 以为的以为 by Alfred Sim and Tay Kewei
2) 一直都在 by Alfred Sim
3) 关怀新方式 by Desmond Tan and Felicia Chin
Country of originSingapore
Original languageChinese
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producerChong Liung Man
Running timeapprox. 45 minutes (excluding advertisements)
Original release
NetworkMediacorp Channel 8
Release31 July (2017-07-31) –
25 August 2017 (2017-08-25)
Related
Honour and Passion (2007)
When Duty Calls 2 (2022)

When Duty Calls (Chinese: 卫国先锋) is a 20-episode Singaporean drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8 in 2017. It was made to commemorate 50 years of National Service in Singapore. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs.

It stars Desmond Tan, Romeo Tan, Pierre Png, Paige Chua, and Felicia Chin as the main cast of the series.[1]

Cast

[edit]

Main cast

[edit]
Cast Character Description
Desmond Tan Lu Junguang (陆俊光) Army (Land)

1st Sergeant (NS) - Loke Jun Guang (Platoon Sergeant ↝ Company Sergeant Major)

Sergeant Loke (陆上士), Brother (兄弟)

  • Ding Ji Breadshop's second owner and head-baker
  • Shen Yixuan’s boyfriend
Romeo Tan Xu Longbin (许龙斌) Army (Land)

Captain (NS) - Koh Long Bin (Officer Commanding)

Captain Koh (许军官), BB (宝贝), Busy Man (工作狂), Mr Xu (许先生)

  • Kopi Kia coffeehouse's assistant operation director
Pierre Png Chen Jinbao (陈金保) Army (Land)

Young Version portrayed by Shaun Tan (陈凯轩)

Corporal (NS) - Tan Kim Poh (Trooper)

Lance Coperal Tan (陈下士), Daniel Tan, Daniao (大鸟), Play Boy (花花公子), Rich Kid (富二代), Little Airplane (小飞机)

  • Kopi Kia coffeehouse's younger boss
Paige Chua Shen Yixuan (沈宜萱) Navy (Sea)

Captain - Sim Yi Xuan (Divisional Officer)

Madam Sim (沈女官)

  • Shen Yiyun's older sister
  • Xie Mingyao's ex-girlfriend
  • Lu Junguang's poly mate and girlfriend
  • Yao Weiguo's commander
Felicia Chin Bai Jingyu (白静雨) Army (Land)

Military Expert 2 - Pey Jing Yu (Senior Brigade Medic)

Madam Pey (白女官), Brother (兄弟), Tom Boy (男人婆), Stainless Steel (铁金刚), Babe (美女)

  • Lu Junguang's childhood best friend and ex-girlfriend

Supporting cast

[edit]
Cast Character Description
Shane Pow Yao Weiguo (姚卫国) Navy (Sea)

Officer Cadet - Yeoh Wei Guo (Midshipman)
Gordon Yeoh, Mate/Buddy (伙伴), Recruit Yeoh, Sabo King

  • Yao Yixin's brother
  • Lu Xianfeng's Basic Military Training buddy
  • Shen Yiyun's ex-boyfriend
Richie Koh Lu Xianfeng (陆先锋) Air Force (Air)

Officer Cadet - Loke Xian Feng (Air Warfare Officer (C3)
Ah Boy (阿Boy), Mummy Boy, Mate/Buddy (伙伴), Recruit Loke

  • Lu Junguang's nephew
  • Lu Meiguang's son
  • Yang Yongzheng's son
  • Yao Weiguo's Basic Military Training buddy
  • Shen Yiyun's boyfriend
Jasmine Sim Shen Yiyun (沈宜芸) Air Force (Air)

Air Force Engineer - Military Expert 1 Sim Yi Yun Air Force Engineering (AFE) (Maintenance)
Cloudie Sim

  • Yao Weiguo's ex-girlfriend
  • Lu Xianfeng's girlfriend
  • Shen Yixuan's sister
Kym Ng Lu Meiguang (陆美光)

Teenage version portrayed by Cai Bei'er (蔡贝儿)
Ms Lu (陆小姐), Little White Boat (小白船)

  • Ding Ji Breadshop's owner and boss
  • Kopi Kia's previous employee
  • Yang Yongzheng's ex-lover
  • Lu Xianfeng's mother
  • Lu Junguang's older sister
  • Chen Jinbao's girlfriend and long lost childhood friend
  • Chen Weirong's previous employee
Mei Xin Yao Yixin (姚一心)

Germaine Yeoh, B (宝贝), Lawyer Yao (姚律师)

James Seah Xie Mingyao (谢明耀)

Navy (Sea)
Captain - Seah Ming Yao (Divisional Officer)
Roger That (收到)

  • Shen Yixuan's ex-boyfriend
  • Lu Junguang's best friend and rival in love
  • (Deceased - 4 years ago by involved with a truck accident)
Darryl Yong Li Hongxun (李宏讯)

Police
Deputy Superintendent (NS) - Lee Hong Xun (Patrol)
Roger That (收到), Lawyer Li (李律师)

  • Lawyer
  • Xu Longbin's best old-friend
  • Yao Yixin's colleague
  • In love with Shen Yixuan
Zheng Geping Yang Yongzheng (杨勇正) Air Force (Air)
Teenage version portrayed by Li Bin (李彬)

Lieutenant Colonel - Yeo Yongzheng Fighter SQN (Commanding Officer)
Michael Yeo

  • Tina's husband
  • Lu Meiguang's ex-lover
  • Lu Xianfeng's father
  • Lu Junguang's brother-in-law
  • Chen Jinbao's rival in love
  • Shen Yiyun's boss
  • Chen Weirong's previous employee
Hong Huifang Zhu Cuihua (朱翠花)

Auntie Hua (花姐)

  • Kopi Kia coffeehouse's lady boss
  • Xu Longbin's lady-boss and god-mother
  • Chen Weirong's wife
  • Chen Jinbao's mother
Li Wenhai Chen Weirong (陈伟荣)

Uncle Rong (荣叔)

  • Kopi Kia coffeehouse's older boss
  • Xu Longbin's boss
  • Zhu Cuihua's husband
  • Chen Jinbao's father
  • Yang Yongzheng and Lu Meiguang's previous boss
  • Suffered from heart attack

Guest appearances

[edit]
Cast Character Description
Tommy Wong Lu Jiading (陆家钉)
  • Lu Meiguang and Lu Junguang's father
  • Lu Xianfeng's grandfather
Zack Lim Fuji

Mount Fuji (富土山)

  • Kopi Kia's employee
  • Chen Weirong and Zhu Cuihua's employee and chef
  • In love with Lu Meiguang
Caryn Cheng Summer

Sweetheart (甜蜜)

  • Chen Jinbao's ex-lover
Dylan Quek Jeffery Poh

Navy (Sea)
Jeff

  • Xie Mingyao and Shen Yixuan's best friend
Gary Tan Nick Goh

Navy (Sea)

  • Shen Yixuan's cadet
Brian Ng Roy Ho

Navy (Sea)

  • Yao Weiguo's platoon mate
  • Shen Yixuan's cadet
Benjamin Cheah

Part time Police Officer (NS) - (Patrol)

  • Li Hongxun's colleague
Amy Cheng Tina
  • Yang Zhongzheng's wife
Terence Tay Captain Khoo

Air Force (Air)

  • Yang Yongzheng's friend
  • Lu Xianfeng's sir

Awards and nominations

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Year Ceremony Nominees Category Result Ref
2018 Star Awards Creative Achievement Award Ceremony Png Keh Hock Best Director Nominated
Martin Chan Won
Seah Choon Guan & Tang Yeow Best Screenplay Nominated
Star Awards Desmond Tan Best Actor Won
Pierre Png Nominated
Shane Pow Best Supporting Actor Nominated
Kym Ng Best Supporting Actress Won
Mei Xin Nominated
Richie Koh Best Newcomer Nominated
Desmond Ng and Kenny Khoo Best Theme Song
(《以刚克刚》)
Won
Best Drama Serial Won

Soundtrack

[edit]
No. Song Title Artist
1) 以刚克刚
(Main song for the series)
Desmond Ng
Kenny Khoo
2) 以为的以为
(Song for Lu Junguang, Shen Yixuan, and Bai Jingyu)
Alfred Sim
Tay Kewei
3) 一直都在
(Song for Xu Longbin and Yao Yixin)
Alfred Sim
4) 关怀新方式
(Song for Chen Jinbao and Lu Meiguang)
Desmond Tan
Felicia Chin
5) 关怀方式
(Song for Chen Jinbao and Lu Meiguang)
Chen Hanwei
6) 关怀方式 (Unplugged Version)
(Song for Chen Jinbao and Lu Meiguang)
Pierre Png
7) I Just Wanna Be Loved
(Song for Shen Yiyun, Yao Weiguo, and Lu Xianfeng)
Tim Ellis

Development and production

[edit]

Filming began in February 2017 and was completed in May. The series was filmed in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of Home Affairs (Home Team).[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ""When Duty Calls" — Bringing NSmen's Lives to the Big Screen". Ministry of Home Affairs. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Those were _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ times". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). 1 July 2017.
Preceded by
Hero
2016-17
Star Awards for Best Drama Serial
When Duty Calls
2017-18
Succeeded by
Blessings 2
2018-19