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Tanglin, The Long Channel 5 Drama, Is Ending Its Run After 823 Episodes

2018-08-01 , 11:05 am

Woah, woah, woah, hold it right there.

You mean to tell me that Channel 5 has a drama that ran for 823 episodes?

Tanglin, S’pore Longest English Drama

And unlike what you’ve imagined, this show isn’t jampacked with exciting fight scenes, cops or crimes like Heartlanders and local heartthrob Vincent Wu.

It’s a story about living in Singapore and being neighbours.

The drama focuses on the lives of four multiracial and multigenerational families in a middle-income neighbourhood.

And it showcases the trials, joys and obstacles of everyday Singaporeans.

No wonder the show ran for so long. It’s relatable AF.

The show’s last episode will be on Sep 28

Interested to know what Singapore’s longest-running English drama last episode is going to look like?

Then make sure you tune in to Channel 5 at 8.30 pm on 28 Sep 2018.

That’s the last time you’ll see Tanglin on TV before it goes on indefinite hiatus (read: don’t know when they’ll come back).

I know it’s weird asking people to tune in to TV, especially when we know you’re going to shoot at us with a SAR21 for even daring to suggest that.

But there’s a reason why we’re doing that.

Because believe it or not…

Tanglin Will Be Missed

Steven Low, a fan of the show said that his 11-year-old son is “disappointed” that the show is going to end.

He even believed that his son and friends discuss the show during their recess time.

A 29-year-old, Wilson Lee, told CNA that he was surprised to find himself a fan of the show. He described one time he met actor Tay Ping Hui at a restaurant.

He found himself wanting to go up to him and scold him for his character’s actions on the show.

Jae Liew, who plays Diana Tong on the show said that she was surprised when “young and not-so-young people” went up to her and asked when the series will be back.

Initially planned for 199 episodes, this daily drama far exceeded that expectation and ran for 823 episodes from 2015 till this year.

Even the managing executive producer Tan Wei-Lyn, was surprised that Tanglin survived for so long.

“At the beginning, when we first went into it in 2015, we were going to do only 199 episodes. I say ‘only’ now but back then we were frankly quite daunted,” she admitted. “We never imagined that we’d make it this far and be doing more than triple and maybe even quadruple that figure.

So, What’s Their Secret Recipe For Success?

And here’s the question of the day. What makes this show so successful in the age of Netflix and Torrents? And I say successful because it’s able to survive for so long.

After all, no broadcasting station will allow a program which doesn’t have viewers to have that many episodes, no?

The secret, as the cast and production team found out, is being relatable. To be able to relate to Singaporeans and let them find a piece of themselves in the show.

“Life can sometimes really suck and we find strength and take heart in our families, loved ones, friends and neighbours. Tanglin is ultimately comfort food, something to relax with at the end of an emotionally or mentally-draining day.”

It’s not about being the coolest, or the hippest. Instead, it’s about giving the audience what they really need.

Logan Paul really needs to learn from them.

So, What’s Next?

Now that Tanglin is gone, what’s next?

Replacing them on their usual slot is new Mediacorp drama, Kin. Another series based on Singaporean families.

The only thing I can think of is, wow, they (Kin) are going to fill very big shoes.

And while some fans are sad to see the show go, there are some who are happy.

Retiree Jeffrey Loh, a fan of the show, felt that the show was starting to drag, as with all long-running series. However, his suggestion is for Tanglin to go out with a bang.

Tanglin: The Movie.

“A full-length feature film might be nice,” he said. “And not too long.”

Curious to see what Tanglin is all about? You might want to catch their episodes at Toggle catch-up TV.

I don’t know about you but I’m going to check them out after writing this. After all, a well-produced drama in Singapore is as rare as the legendary Pokemon in Pokemon GO, no?