Don't Stop Believin' (TV series)

Don't Stop Believin' (simplified Chinese: 我们等你!) is a Singaporean Chinese drama which was telecast on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp Channel 8. It made its debut on 14 August 2012.[1] This drama serial consists of 20 episodes and was screened on weekdays at 9:00 pm. It stars Felicia Chin, Elvin Ng, Romeo Tan, Edwin Goh, Kimberly Chia, Ian Fang & Xu Bin as the casts of this series.

Don't Stop Believin' (我们等你!)
Genre	Drama Romance School Youth Education
Created by	Lau Ching Poon 刘清盆
Written by	Lau Ching Poon 刘清盆 Cynthia Chong 张湄纭
Directed by	Leong Lye Lin 梁来玲 Foo Seng Peng 符之炳 Lim Bee Nah 林美娜
Starring	Felicia Chin 陈凤玲 Elvin Ng 黄俊雄 Romeo Tan 陈罗密欧 Edwin Goh 吴劲威 Kimberly Chia 谢静仪 Ian Fang 方伟杰 Xu Bin 徐彬
Opening theme	《真善美》 by Tay Kewei & Wei En
Ending theme	《桃李》 by Foo Jierong
Country of origin	Singapore
Original language	Chinese
No. of episodes	20
Production
Producer	Soh Bee Lian 苏美莲
Running time	1 hour
Release
Original network	MediaCorp Channel 8
Original release	14 August – 10 September 2012
Chronology
Preceded by	Joys of Life
Followed by	Poetic Justice
Related shows	My First School (2016) Life - Fear Not (2015–2016) While We Are Young (2017) My Teacher Is a Thug (2017)

Plot

Du Siman (Felicia Chin) is a passionate teacher of a top school. After clashing with the principal over a student, she decides to join Brilliante Secondary School, the school with the worst academic results in Singapore as it accepts pupils who have failed the Primary School Leaving Examinations at least twice. Through sheer determination, she manages to convince the principal, Zhou Yaoguang (Cavin Soh) and vice principal Li Shengchun (Constance Song), to recruit her. Unfortunately, Siman's first day at the school turns out disastrous.

Wu Yanbin (Elvin Ng) is a counselor in the school. Initially, Siman was furious with Yanbin after he did not respond to her calls for help when she was locked inside a recreation room. He even seemingly rejects Siman's profession of love for him. However, her stance towards him softened after she found out that Yanbin suffers from frequent bouts of sudden deafness.

In Siman's class is a student by the name of Bai Zhixiang (Ian Fang). If not for a home visit, she will not have believed that in a prosperous First World country like Singapore, there exists such a poor family who not only cannot pay their utility bills, they do not even have gas at home. Then there is another student Cai Wensheng (Edwin Goh) who is studying, and working at the same time to support the family at such a tender age because his father, Tianshi (Wang Yuqing), is mentally unwell. Emotions well up when Siman and the new volunteer teacher Angel (Tang Ling Yi) see these students rushing off to work right after school.

Zhong Guo'an (Brandon Wong) is the disciplinary master of the school. In front of the whole school, he canes Junliang (Xu Bin) who is involved in a case where a female student, Jessie (Shelia Tan) is molested. Feeling maligned, the indignant Junliang throws a bag of urine at Jessie sneakily. Unfortunately, Guo'an slips and is rendered paralysed as a result. He is wheelchair- bound for life. Full of guilt, Junliang wants to visit Guo'an in hospital but is stopped by Yaoguang. Out of guilt, he protests about not being allowed to see his own father.

Zhixiang has his first taste of love when he falls for a classmate, Yilin (Kimberly Chia), who rejects him. Yilin confides in Yanbin every now and then. Once, when Yilin suffers a nosebleed, Yanbin carefully helps her to stop the bleeding. The young girl somehow develops feelings for him despite knowing that Yanbin is in love with someone else...

Jin Zhengnan (Romeo Tan), Yanbin's good friend, is fond of Siman after meeting her for the time. To get close to her, he volunteers to conduct a bakery class for the students of Brilliante Secondary School. Siman's heart, however, is with Yanbin. Once, Siman sums up her courage to express her feelings for Yanbin. Unfortunately, Yanbin's hearing defect leads to Siman mistaking him for rejecting her love. Disappointed, Siman finally gives in to Zhengnan's wooing.

Siman and Yanbin take the students on an overseas tour. They find out unexpectedly that Yilin is suffering from a terminal illness. In fact, Yilin knows about it all along but chooses to hide the truth from her teachers and classmates. As her condition worsens, she is unable to participate in the culinary competition organized by the TV station. She can only hope that her teammates will fulfill her wish.

Alex (Xavier Ong), a problem student who bears a grudge against Yanbin for punishing him, threatens another student into accusing Yanbin of molestation. He even trumps up a load of evidence and produces false witnesses, leaving Yanbin defenceless. In view of the damning evidence, the school board unanimously decides to fire Yanbin. Yaoguang goes all out to defend Yanbin, and makes up his mind to pursue the matter with him. He vows to resign as Principal if Yanbin is dismissed from his job. Siman is roused to join their camp.

Cast

Teachers

Cast	Role	Description
Felicia Chin 陈凤玲	Du Siman 杜思曼	Miss Du (杜老师/毒老师) A passionate teacher Yanbin's Girlfriend Jin Zhennan's ex-girlfriend
Elvin Ng 黄俊雄	Wu Yanbin 吴彦彬	Mr Goh Brilliante's guidance counselor Siman's Boyfriend Jin Zhennan Rival in Love
Romeo Tan 陈罗密欧	Jin Zhennan 金正南	Du Siman's ex-boyfriend Wu Yanbin Rival in Love
Cavin Soh 苏梽诚	Zhou Yaoguang 周耀光	The Principal of Brilliante
Constance Song 宋怡霏	Li Shenchun 李圣春	Vice-principal of Brilliante
Ben Yeo 杨志龙	Cui Dabao 崔大保	A teacher at Brilliante Temporary discipline master when Guo An was hospotalized.
Tang Ling Yi	Angel	Yaoguang's niece who is a teacher at Brilliante.
Brandon Wong 黄炯耀	Zhong Guo An 钟国安	Potty Mouth (大马桶) The discipline master of Brilliante Junliang's father
Zhang Wei	Uncle Lim	A Cleaner in the school

Students

Cast	Role	Description
Edwin Goh 吴劲威	Cai Wensheng 蔡文胜	The student with the worst academic result at Brilliante Deng Yilin & Bai Zhixiang Best Friends
Kimberly Chia 谢静仪	Deng Yilin 邓怡琳	A girl who suffers from kidney cancer and died Her parents are divorced Died after her operation with cancer Has a crush on Wu Yanbin Cai Wensheng & Bai Zhixiang Best Friends Deceased - Episode 20
Ian Fang 方伟杰	Bai Zhixiang 白志翔	A student with poor academic results. He is a hyperactive student who loves food and dreams to become a chef Has a crush on Deng Yilin.
Xu Bin 徐彬	Zhong Junliang 钟俊良	Boss (老大) A student who got transferred to the school. It was later revealed that he was Zhong Guo An's son. He was transferred out of the school to pursue his interest with everyone's support. Jessie's Love interest. Left for oversea to pursue his dream Left the school - Episode 15
Phua Yida	Wu Qinghua 吴清华	A student who worships Junliang.
Shelia Tan	Jessie	The class representative. She once did not want to go to school because she thought that she had no friends in school and she had been molested. Has a crush on Junliang.
Ang Ching Hui	Chen Xiaohe 筱禾	A student who is a slow-learner.
Scott C. Hillyard	Zheng Lida 郑立达	A student.
Xavier Ong 王胜宇	Alex	Main Villain of the Drama The most rebellious student in school. However, his results are better than the other students. He stays with his abusive mother.

Parents / Other cast

Cast	Role	Description
May Phua	Wang Lihong 王丽虹	She is Chen Xiaohe's mother and is also Yaoguang's ex-fianceé.
Teo Ser Lee	Anita	Yaoguang's elder sister and Angel's mother.
Silver Ang	Irene	Anita's newly hired maid in episode 4

Du Siman's Family

Cast	Role	Description
Li Wenhai 李文海	Du Qiucheng 杜秋成	Siman and Siwei's parents
林倩如	Feng Yun 凤云	Siman and Siwei's parents
Felicia Chin 陈凤玲	Du Siman 杜思曼	She is a passionate teacher and is in love with Yanbin Yanbin's Girlfriend Jin Zhennan's ex Boyfriend
Shane Pow 包勋评	Du Siwei 杜思维	Du Siman younger brother.

Cai Wensheng's Family

Cast	Role	Description
Wang Yuqing 王昱清	Cai Weifeng 蔡威风	Cai Wensheng's father.
Edwin Goh 吴劲威	Cai Wensheng 蔡文胜	The student with the worst academic result at Brilliante. He has to study and work at the same time to support his father Has a crush on Deng Yilin.

Deng Yilin's Family

Cast	Role	Description
Huang Shinan	Ken	Yilin's father
Kimberly Chia 谢静仪	Deng Yilin 邓怡琳	A girl who suffers from kidney cancer and died. Her parents are divorced. Has a crush on Wu Yanbin. Deceased - Episode 20

Zhong Junliang's Family

Cast	Role	Description
Xu Bin 徐彬	Zhong Junliang 钟俊良	A student who got transferred to the school. It was later revealed that he was Zhong Guo An's son.He was transferred out of the school to pursue his interest with everyone's support. Jessie's Love interest. Left the school - Episode 15
Brandon Wong 黄炯耀	Zhong Guo An 钟国安	The discipline master of Brilliante and Junliang's father. An unfortunate incident resulted in him being wheelchair-bound for life.

Production

Filming for Don't Stop Believin' started on 10 May 2012 and ended on 16 July 2012. The school scenes would be filmed at East Coast Primary School and the production studio. Out-of-studio filmed scenes included locations like NEX, City Square Mall, Punggol, Serangoon, Bishan and Sentosa.

Producer Soh Bee Lian said that there might be a sequel to Don't Stop Believin', though this sequel would involve a new cast and would take some time to produce.[2] The sequel may replace Unriddle 2 in having a third instalment.

Reception

Don't Stop Believin' was well received by Singaporean viewers. It was the most-watched television drama of 2012 in Singapore, garnering an average viewership of 919,000 over its 20 episodes.[2] Although its debut episode garnered only 852,000 viewers,[3] the drama's last episode was attracted a total of 1,047,800 viewers, beating the previous viewership record of 993,000 viewers set by the period drama Joys of Life.[2]

A review in The Straits Times described this drama as "refreshing".[4] It also praised "the energy of the young cast", who "makes the drama more enjoyable than you expect it to be".[4] However, it added that "At second sight, Channel 8 touches, such as repetitive lines and ideas, are more apparent".[4] Overall, the newspaper gave this television drama a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.[4]

Overseas broadcast

This drama is one of the first dramas to be broadcast exclusive in Malaysia after its first telecast of two weeks, but there are possible plans to broadcast worldwide.

Country of Broadcast	Broadcasting Network	Debut	Finale	Preceded by	Followed by
Malaysia	Astro Shuang Xing[5]	30 August 2012 at 4.30pm, weekdays (encore on 31 August at 3.30pm, weekdays)	26 September 2012 (encore on 27 September)	Joys of Life	Poetic Justice

Awards & Nominations

Star Awards 2013

Don't Stop Believin' clinched 4 out of 10 nominations in the Star Awards 2013, including Top Rated Drama Serial of the year. The other dramas nominated for Best Drama Series Poetic Justice, Unriddle 2, Game Plan & Pillow Talk. The other dramas that are nominated for Best Theme Song are It Takes Two, Joys of Life, Show Hand & Yours Fatefully.

Nominee / Work	Award	Accolade	Result
《真善美》sung by Tay Kewei and Wei En 郑可为、薇恩	Star Awards 2013 Show 1 红星大奖2013 亮闪八方	Best Theme Song 最佳主题曲	Nominated
Lau Ching Poon 刘清盆 Cynthia Chong Mei Ying 张湄纭		Best Screenplay 最佳剧本	Won
Xu Bin 徐彬		Favourite Male Character 最喜爱男角色	Won
Kimberly Chia 谢静仪		Favourite Female Character 最喜爱女角色	Nominated
Felicia Chin 陈靓瑄			Nominated
N/A		Top Rated Drama Serial 2012 最高收视率电视剧 2012	Won
Ian Fang 方伟杰		Rocket 年度飞跃奖	Nominated
	Star Awards 2013 红星大奖2013	Best Newcomer 最佳新人奖	Won
Edwin Goh 吴劲威			Nominated
Constance Song 宋怡霏		Best Supporting Actress 最佳女配角	Nominated
N/A		Best Drama Serial 最佳电视剧	Nominated

PPCTV AWARDS

Nominee / Work	Award	Accolade	Result
Felicia Chin 陈凤玲	PPCTV MediaCorp Awards 2015	Favourite Female TV Character	Nominated
Elvin Ng 黄俊雄/Felicia Chin 陈凤玲		Favourite On-Screen Couple	Nominated

See also

• List of programmes broadcast by MediaCorp Channel 8
• Don't Stop Believin' episodes

References

1. "Don't Stop Believin' tops Channel 8 drama ratings". Today. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
2. "Don't Stop Believin' crosses the million mark". Today. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
3. "Don't Stop Believin' crosses the million mark". xin.msn.com. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
4. Woei Wan (6 September 2012). "TV reviews". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. C6.
5. 我们等你: 第1集. Astro TV (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2012.

External links

• Don't Stop Believin' on Facebook