The Gentlemen (TV series)

The Gentlemen 来自水星的男人
Also known as	Mercurial Men
Genre	Family Men
Written by	Tang Yeow 陈耀 Seah Choon Guan 谢俊源
Directed by	林美娜 Lin Mingzhe 林明哲 Cheong Yuan Ting 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	像這樣也好 by 向华
Country of origin	Singapore
Original language(s)	Mandarin, with some English dialogue
No. of episodes	20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Soh Bee Lian 苏美莲
Running time	approx. 45 minutes
Production company(s)	Mediacorp Studios
Release
Original network	Mediacorp Channel 8
Picture format	16:9 Widescreen
Original release	9 August – 5 September 2016
Chronology
Preceded by	The Dream Job
Followed by	C.L.I.F. 4

The Gentlemen
Traditional Chinese	來自水星的男人
Simplified Chinese	来自水星的男人
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lái zì shuǐ xīng dě nán rén

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 characters. The first episode airs on Tuesday (August 9, 2016), 8:29pm, right after the live telecast of the nation's 51st National Day Parade. Subsequent episodes were telecast on Mondays to Fridays beginning from 10 August 2016 at 9:00pm.

Plot

Three brothers with characteristics that trumpet the belief that men are from Mars are forced to understand the work discrimination that womenfolk face in their everyday jobs when they take on occupations that are perceived to be more feminine in nature.

Zhang Naiping (Chen Hanwei)'s ambition is to be the boss, but fails in both work and marriage. Accidentally, he becomes a confinement nanny.

Zhang Nailiang (Pierre Png), a professional ballet teacher, is forced to find another way due to his hearing problems.

Zhang Naiyi (Aloysius Pang), a LASALLE College of the Arts Fashion Design graduate, finds a chairman who appreciates his fashion designs, but winds up at an office that designs women’s undergarments.

Cast

Main cast

Cast	Character	Description	Episodes Appeared
Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮	Zhang Naiping 张乃平	Main Protagonist Cheong Zou Huimin's husband He 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 (Liang Cheong) 张乃良	Main Protagonist Liang (良), Unlucky Star (衰神), Liang Cheong He 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 Fall 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 Younger version portrayed by Ivan Lo Kai Jun	1-20
Aloysius Pang 冯伟衷	Zhang Naiyi 张乃祎	Main Protagonist Smith Cheong, Boy (小弟) He 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 a 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 Fall 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 He 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 with 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 (Soh Bee Dai) 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) 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 王昱青	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
Du Xinhui 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	Francis Ang and Shen Yilin's daughter Su Meidai's goddaughter Zhang Jingrou's classmate
Joey Feng 冯瑾瑜	Xena	Su Meidai's subordiante 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	Xu Ruoqi 许若琪	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
James Hu 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 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

Development

The series is first announced in January 2016.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3][4]

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.^[5][6] 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.^[7][8][9]

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.^[10][11]

Trivia

• This will be Aloysius Pang and Carrie Wong's second drama collaboration as onscreen couple, after Life - Fear Not.
• This will be Chen Hanwei, Carrie Wong, Youyi, Jin Yinji and Wang Yuqing's second drama collaboration, after 118.
• 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.

See also

• List of MediaCorp Channel 8 Chinese Drama Series (2010s)
• List of The Gentlemen episodes

References

1. Joanna Goh (2 January 2016). "2016 local drama guide". Toggle. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
2. "陈欣淇爆新恋情 与大11岁圈外男交往" (in Chinese). Toggle. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
3. Goh Li Xin (18 February 2016). "黄思恬挥剪20年长发 笑称变"少女杀手"" (in Chinese). Toggle. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
4. Zara Zhuang (19 February 2016). "Carrie Wong: I feel like a pretty boy now". Toggle. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
5. "冯伟衷有心仪对象 不介意与黄思恬假戏真做" (in Chinese). Toggle. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
6. Zara Zhuang (11 March 2016). "Aloysius Pang likes older girls". Toggle. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
7. Tammi Tan (11 May 2016). "Pierre Png: ballet is "much, much tougher" than boxing". Toggle. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
8. Goh Li Xin (13 May 2016). "方展发爱上芭蕾舞 和刘子绚代言名车" (in Chinese). Toggle. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
9. May Seah (23 August 2016). "Pierre Png on pointe: Dance date with ballet devotee". Today Online. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
10. Tammi Tan (28 July 2016). "Aloysius Pang on bras and bed scenes with Carrie Wong". Toggle. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
11. "陈汉玮为母茹素 黄思恬冯伟衷拍床戏不尴尬" (in Chinese). Toggle. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.