TV Preview of You Are The One

Love in the Lion City

By Pang Yee Huat • Urbanwire
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The eye candy of You Are The One

With Valentine’s Day approaching in less than a fortnight, couples must be planning how to celebrate that special day. Well, if you’re thinking of having a romantic dinner at home, why not tune in to Channel 8’s brand new drama series You Are The One.

Supported by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and Family Matters! Singapore, this show discusses young people’s modern-day attitudes towards relationships and love. With a star studded cast such as Nnadia Chan from Hong Kong, Jacelyn Tay, Rui En, Chew Chor Meng, Christopher Lee and Terence Cao, You Are The One marries the important topics of marriage and love with lighthearted moments.

You Are The One revolves around the marital affairs of the 3 Hao daughters and the concerns of their anxious father. Hao Shunli (Richard Low), who owns a traditional Chinese restaurant, takes on the role of a dual parent when his wife dies. A man with a kind heart and excellent culinary skills, he constantly worries about his daughters, and hopes that they will marry good husbands soon.

Chew Chor Meng & Nnadia Chan

Although all 3 daughters are very filial, each is very different. Eldest daughter Meiman (Nnadia Chan) holds a top position in an advertising agency. With both beauty and brains, the over-confident Meiman wanted to establish her career before considering marriage. She often picks quarrels with colleague Ray (Chew Chor Meng) who is biased against beautiful women, thinking that they use their looks to their advantage.

2nd daughter Meili (Jacelyn Tay) however, lags behind in the looks department. Although she’s a sensitive and loving person, the TV producer longs to have a family but is often rejected due to her lack of good looks and mannerisms.

The spoiled rotten youngest child of the family, Meide (Rui En) is a recent university graduate and is blessed with good looks. An independent woman, she has no lack of suitors and is smart to use them to her own advantage.

After countless matchmaking sessions, Meili thinks she’s found her true love, a successful young Korean entrepreneur called Zhengxi (Terence Cao). Having inherited his family’s jewellery business, he lets Meili experience what it feels like to pampered by a man for the 1st time. Meili falls for Zhengxi, but discovers to her horror that Meide is also falling for him.

In addition, Meili learns that Simon (Christopher Lee), a chef, is also holding a torch for Meide, and is devastated to know that Meide had fallen for Zhengxi. Meili encourages Simon to focus on his culinary skills instead, and they forge a closer relationship in the process.

Will it be a happy ending for the couples? Jacelyn Tay with Christopher Lee and Terence Cao with Rui En

At a press conference held at CHIJMES on Jan 28, UrbanWire learnt about cast and crew experiences in filming the show.

“During the whole filming process, I never cried a single time [due to any arguments or problems],” said Hong Kong actress Nnadia about her filming experience in Singapore. With the occasional Cantonese language being used, she continued by saying, “It was a great challenge to have this role, because my character talks a lot in the show, and there is a lot of lines to remember. My memory is good, but my translation is another thing!”

Patricia Mok & Jacelyn Tay

Jacelyn said, in jest of her role as ugly duckling Meili, “I wanted to try a different role, but the more I acted the more I regretted it!”

The producer of You Are The One wanted Jacelyn to look “ugly” in the footsteps of other local beauties like Zoe Tay and Pan Ling Ling. And though Jacelyn thought that she would then be spared of make-up, she was sorely mistaken. “In fact I spend more time making up to look ugly in this show!” she exclaimed.

Jacelyn complained in mock distress, “Whenever we are on set, people will want to take pictures with Christopher [Lee] or Patricia [Mok], but no one will want to take pictures with me!”

Look out for more hilarious moments and strange behavioural quirks on the show. Whenever a matchmaking session fails, Meili will wolf down tubs of ice cream. It doesn’t work for Jacelyn though - she once ate ice cream on the set till she vomited!

“I ate the ice cream too!” offers Christopher. As Jacelyn’s good buddy in the show, he accompanies her whenever she’s eating the ice cream. “I normally eat the ice cream first, [but] by the time Christopher has it, the ice cream [would have] already melted! So it’s even worse for him because he has to eat melted ice cream!” laughs Jacelyn.

Will Meili continue to pursue Zhengxi or give him up to her younger sister? Who will Simon end up with in the end? It’s up to viewers to find that out for themselves. With such a lineup of beautiful ladies and handsome hunks, You Are The One promises much eye candy for television audiences. Who needs chocolates on Valentine’s Day?

You Are The One premieres on Valentine’s Day, 9pm on Channel 8.