The Journey (trilogy series)

The Journey (Chinese: 信约) is a Singaporean transmedia project about the story of Singapore, aired from 2013 to 2015. It consists of three parts: A Voyage, which is about the early settlers that arrived in Singapore, Tumultuous Times, which is about the Second World War, as well as Singapore's road to independence, and Our Homeland, which is about Singapore's progress as a nation, which is slated to wrap up during Singapore's 50th birthday. The drama trilogy focuses on a fictional depiction of the events and lives of the people in each era.^[1]

Plot

The Journey: A Voyage showcases the human spirit in Singaporeans of the past from the 1920s through the 1930s. It offers a glimpse of what Singapore is like in the 20s to 30s, where people from Tangshan sailed the seas to arrive in the shores of Nanyang, in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. Whether if it is intentional or otherwise, they will ultimately settle down in this country known as Singapore, sink their roots and lay the foundation for their descendants. Starring Li Nanxing, Elvin Ng, Desmond Tan, Joanne Peh, Jeanette Aw, Chris Tong and Pierre Png as the main characters of the series, each of a different background and with different forms of motivation, the series aims to inspires viewers with the characters’ hunger for survival and grit in overcoming adversities without lamentation. This is the third show on Channel 8 to celebrate MediaCorp's TV50, after mid-year blockbuster The Dream Makers and variety series The Joy Truck. The series is written by Ang Eng Tee and executive produced by Chia Mien Yang, who also executive produced C.L.I.F. and C.L.I.F. 2. This is also the only season to have a producer, Kwek Leng Soong, who is notable for The Little Nyonya, before her resignation in August 2014. The series garnered 12 nominations for 10 awards in Star Awards 20, to which Pierre Png won Best Actor.

The Journey: Tumultuous Times continues on from A Voyage, spanning more than 20 years from World War II to Singapore's independence. In this period of uncertainty, there were vastly different ideals among the people about how independence could be achieved; yet despite all odds, they pulled through and survived. Shaun Chen, Jeanette Aw, Andie Chen, Felicia Chin, Romeo Tan, Carrie Wong and Chen Hanwei portrays the series' main characters, where their stories unraveled as the country strove towards and finally gained independence. Key events or themes as the series progressed include World War II, secret societies, Hock Lee bus riots, student demonstrations, self-independence and Bukit Ho Swee fire. Ang Eng Tee returned to write the script for the series, after A Voyage, while Chong Liung Man, who won Best Director for A Voyage in Star Awards 20, returned as executive producer. It is Ang and Chong's third drama working together, after It Takes Two and I'm in Charge; the next being long-running television series 118. The series won 7 awards out of 17 nominations in 14 awards in Star Awards 2015, including Best Drama Serial.

The Journey: Our Homeland is set a few months after the events of Tumultuous Times. The series stars Rui En, Shaun Chen, Felicia Chin, Rebecca Lim, Romeo Tan, Zhang Zhenhuan, Ian Fang, Julie Tan, Shane Pow and Jeffrey Xu as the main characters. The series is Channel 8's mid-year blockbuster, coinciding with Singapore's 50th National Day. Spanning two decades, it depicts the development of Singapore from her budding steps during post-independence in 1966 to her era of prosperity in the 1980s. The series features the partings and reunions of the main characters in Tumultuous Times, and through one family's disintegration, bring out the changes of the era. Key events such as the 1969 racial riots, explosion of tanker Spyros in 1978 and the collapse of Hotel New World in 1986 will be presented. The series is written by Seah Choon Guan and Chen Siew Khoon, and executive produced by Wong Kuang Yong.

Cast Timeline

Note: A gray cell indicates that the character did not appear in that medium.

Development

The dramas are the first periodical dramas in Singapore to use CGI. This is done with the help of 27 students from Diploma in Digital Visual Effects in Nanyang Polytechnic.^[2]

List of episodes

References