Reach for the Skies

Reach For The Skies (Chinese: 不平凡的平凡) is a 150-episode drama series produced by Mediacorp Channel 8. It stars Bryan Wong, Kym Ng, Pan Lingling, Brandon Wong, Catherine Sng, Zhu Houren, Hong Huifang, Chen Shucheng, Rayson Tan, Yao Wenlong, Joey Swee, Zhang Zhenhuan, Sheila Sim, He Yingying, Chen Yixi , Foo Fangrong and Damien Teo as the cast of this series.[1]

Reach For The Skies 不平凡的平凡
Also known as	Hope is Here (天天有希望)
Genre	Family Romance Dramedy Socio-Drama
Written by	Phang Kai Yee 彭凯毅 Lim Gin Lam 林锦兰 Kao Lie Boon 许丽雯(Assistant 助理故事)
Directed by	Lim Mee Nah 林美娜 Qiu Jian Ting 丘健廷 Lin Mingzhe 林明哲 Martin Chan 陈金祥 Foo Seng Peng 符之柄 Oh Liangcai 胡凉财 Png Keh Hock 方傢福 Gao Shu Yi 高淑怡
Starring	Bryan Wong 王禄江 Kym Ng 鍾琴 Pan Lingling 潘玲玲 Brandon Wong 黄炯耀 Catherine Sng 孙于惠 Zhu Houren 朱厚仁 Hong Huifang 洪慧芳 Chen Shucheng 陈澍城 Rayson Tan 陈泰铭 Yao Wenlong 姚彣隆 Joey Swee 徐绮 Zhang Zhenhuan 张震寰 Sheila Sim 沈琳宸 He Yingying 何盈莹 Chen Yixi 陈一熙 Foo Fangrong 傅芳榕 Damien Teo 张值豪
Opening theme	和你交换你的不安 by The Freshman
Ending theme	微笑向暖 by Le Sheng & Ruth Kueo
Country of origin	Singapore
Original languages	Mandarin, with some English dialogue
No. of episodes	150
Production
Executive producer	Leong Lye Lin 梁来玲
Release
Original network	Mediacorp Channel 8
Original release	April 2 – October 29, 2018
Chronology
Preceded by	Life Less Ordinary
Followed by	Jalan Jalan

The show replaced the second half of the 7.00 pm drama timeslot, airing weekdays from April 4, 2018, 7.30 pm to 8.00 pm on weekdays making it the 6th long form half an hour drama airing together with news-current affairs programme Hello Singapore at 6.30pm.

Plot

The story centres round the inhabitants of small neighbourhood who work in an enrichment school and a mini - mart. From ex - criminal to middle - aged workers who lost their jobs to technology, and elderlies with a seemingly disillusioned life, can there still be hopes and dreams for these everyday folks who live at the edge of society ? A light - hearted drama bursting with colourful characters, watch how Zhong Ling (Pan Lingling) the founder of Hope Training Centre, and Hong Da Cai (Kym Ng) the boss of ‘Tian Tian Lai’ mini - mart, deal with every day situation and at the same time manage their own love life.[2]

Casts

Fang (Shouyi) Family

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes Appeared
Chen Shucheng 陈澍城	Fang Shouyi 方守义	Main Villain but repentant Uncle Yi (义叔) Gang Leader Fang Zixin's father	35–36, 38, 40, 46–47, 49–53, 58, 62, 93–94, 99-102, 109–125, 131, 139–142, 144, 150
Bryan Wong 王禄江	Fang Zixin 方自新	Younger Version portrayed by Ivan Lo (卢楷浚) Gangster Boyfriend (流氓男朋友) Real name Fang Yuntian (方云天) Ex-convict Hope Training Centre's instructor (Cooking & Baking) Fang Shouyi's son Zhong Ling's ex-boyfriend Hong Dacai's love interest	1-14, 16, 19–31, 33–35, 38, 42–51, 56, 58, 62–63, 65–66, 70, 72, 75, 78, 80–82, 86, 90–91, 99-150 69, 89 (voice)

Hong (Biao) Family

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes Appeared
Zhu Houren 朱厚仁	Hong Biao 洪标	Main Villain but repentant Uncle Biao (标叔) Zhu Xiuxia's husband Hong Dacai, Hong Qianbei & Hong Duoduo's father. Liu Mali's father-in-law Hong Baihui's grandfather Hong Koufu's adoptive Father suffered from dementia	1 (voice） 2–6, 14, 16–18, 21–23, 27–33, 56–57, 59–60, 79, 82–84, 87–88, 92–93, 97-102, 105–114, 116, 118–121, 123–137, 139–141,147, 149-150
Hong Huifang 洪慧芳	Zhu Xiuxia 朱秀霞	Supporting Villain but repentant Hong Biao's wife Hong Dacai, Hong Qianbei & Hong Duoduo's mother Liu Mali's mother-in-law Hong Baihui's grandmother Hong Koufu's adoptive mother (Decreased - Episode 125)	83, 92, 97-101, 103–106, 111-126
Kym Ng 鍾琴	Hong Dacai 洪大彩	Big Sweep (大彩), Tom Boy (男人婆), Ahlian Bimbo Teenage Version portrayed by Shelia Tan (陈玮甜) Hong Biao and Zhu Xiuxia's eldest daughter Hong Qianbei and Hong Duoduo's elder sister Hong Baihui's aunty Tang Weiye's ex-girlfriend In love with Fang Zixin Zhong Ling's bestfriend Hong Koufu's adoptive elder sister	1-23, 26–27, 29–31, 34–37, 39–43, 45, 47–48, 50–51, 54, 56–67, 69, 73–77, 79–84, 86, 88–93, 95-100, 102–109, 111–143, 145-150
Yao Wenlong 姚彣隆	Hong Qianbei 洪千杯	Teenage Version portrayed by Huang Shengxiong (黄圣雄) Drunkard (酒鬼) Liu Mali's husband Hong Baihui's father Hong Biao and Zhu Xiuxia's eldest son Hong Dacai's first younger brother Hong Duoduo's elder brother Hong Koufu's first adoptive elder brother In love with Lin Feina	1–6, 10–11, 13–23, 25, 31–37, 39–54, 57–61, 64, 67–68, 72–75, 77–78, 85–88, 92, 95–98, 100–102, 104–127, 130, 138–144, 146-150
Joey Swee 徐绮	Liu Mali 刘玛丽	Teenage Version portrayed by Audrey Soh (苏怡妃) Lazy Bum (懒惰性), Li Li (丽丽) Hong Qianbei's wife Hong Baihui's mother Hong Biao and Zhu Xiuxia's daughter-in-law Hong Dacai and Hong Duoduo's sister-in-law Lin Feina's ex-bestfriend and rival in love Suffered from Hypersomnia & Miscarriage	1–6, 11, 14–23, 31–37, 39–41, 43–45, 48–50, 52–54, 56–57, 61, 67–68, 72–75, 77–78, 81–82, 84–88, 92, 95–97, 111–127, 130, 135, 138–140, 143–144, 146-150
	Mali's mother 玛丽妈	Liu Mali's mother Hong Qianbei's mother-in-law Hong Baihui's grandmother	81
Zhang Zhenhuan 张震寰	Hong Duoduo 洪多多	Toto/4D (多多) Younger Version portrayed by Brayden Koh (许容亨) Hong Biao and Zhu Xiuxia's youngest son Hong Dacai and Hong Qianbei's younger brother Hong Baihui's uncle Xu Jingchu's ex-boyfriend Xu Jingxin's love interest Hong Koufu's adoptive second elder brother Suffered from Muteness but recovered	1–4, 6-19, 21–23, 25–29, 32–33, 35, 37, 39, 44, 46–50, 54–55, 57, 59–60, 63–65, 68–72, 74–75, 77–79, 84, 88–90, 92–93, 95-100, 109, 113, 115–133, 135, 137–138, 141, 144–148, 150
Chen Yixi 陈一熙	Hong Koufu 洪口福	Supporting Villain but repentant Hong Biao and Zhu Xiuxia's adpotive son Hong Dacai, Hong Qianbei and Hong Duoduo's adoptive youngest brother Hong Baihui's cousin Zhang Xiaochun's best friend/ boyfriend	7–8, 19, 25–26, 28–29, 44, 64–67, 70, 77–82, 84, 89–94, 111–112, 115, 119–127, 130, 134, 136, 140, 143, 145, 150 86 (voice)
Shannen Tan 陈萱恩	Hong Baihui 洪百惠	Hong Qianbei and Liu Mali's daughter Hong Biao and Zhu Xiuxia's granddaughter Hong Dacai and Hong Duoduo's niece Hong Koufu's adoptive niece	1, 3, 11, 20–23, 35–36, 41, 49, 52, 67–68, 74–75, 81–82, 84–88, 92–93, 95–98, 101, 104–109, 111–112, 115, 119–127, 139–140, 150

Wu (Simei) Family

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes Appeared
Catherine Sng 孙于惠	Wu Simei 吴四妹	Supporting Villain but repented Aunty Maggie (Maggie阿姨), Grandma Maggie (阿嫲Maggie), Old Granny (老太婆) Zhong Ling's mother Wu Xiaorong's aunty Zhang Xiaochun and Zhang Xiaocong's grandmother Derek Lim's mother-in-law Collaborates with Fang Shouyi to cause conflicts between Fang Zixin and Zhong Ling to cause misunderstanding between them	1–7, 9, 11–12, 14, 19–33, 35–38, 40–53, 55–56, 58, 60, 62–66, 69–72, 76, 78, 82–88, 90–93, 105, 113–114, 118–120, 126–127, 131, 133–135, 137, 148-150
Seth Ang 翁兴昂	Derek Lim	Lin Feina's older brother Zhong Ling's husband Sun Yuhui's son-in-law Zhang Xiaochun and Zhang Xiaocong's adoptive father Suffering from heart attack (Deceased - long time ago)	1, 37, 85, 94, 99-100
Pan Lingling 潘玲玲	Zhong Ling 钟灵	Mentally Unstable Main Villain but repentant Classy Bimbo, Ms Chong (张小姐) Hope Training Centre's owner Wu Simei's daughter Derek Lim's wife Zhang Xiaochun and Zhang Xiaocong's mother Lin Feina's sister-in-law Fang Zixin's ex-girlfriend Suffered from depression but turned out to be fake	1-10, 12–16, 19–38, 40–53, 55–56, 58, 60, 62–66, 69–73, 75–76, 78, 80, 82–86, 91-114, 118–121, 127-150
He Ailing 何爱玲	Wu Xiaorong 吴孝蓉	Grimp Face (无笑容) Hope Training Centre's receptionist Zhong Ling's cousin Wu Simei's niece	1–2, 4–7, 9-10, 12–14, 19–27, 29, 34, 37, 40, 42, 47–51, 55–56, 63, 69, 81, 83–84, 86–88, 94–96, 99, 113, 119–121, 129, 137, 144, 149-150
Sheila Sim 沈琳宸	Lin Feina 林菲娜	Mentally Unstable Villain but repentant Fiona Lim, Mistress (小三) Teenage Version portrayed by Jasmine Sim (沈家玉) Hope Training Centre's instructor (Fine-Art Culinary) Derek Lim's younger sister Zhong Ling's sister-in-law Zhang Xiaochun and Zhang Xiaocong's adoptive aunt Hong Qianbei's ex-mistress/ affair/ girlfriend/ first love Liu Mali's ex-best friend & rival in love	14–25, 31–34, 37–40, 45, 49–50, 52–54, 57, 59–61, 64, 67–68, 72–75, 77–78, 80, 85–88, 94–97, 100–101, 104–118, 120–124, 143–144, 146-150 51 (voice)
Foo Fangrong 傅芳榕	Zhang Xiaochun 张晓纯	Main Villain but repentant Zhong Ling's daughter Derek Lim's adoptive daughter Wu Simei's granddaughter Lin Feina's niece Hong Koufu's best friend/ girlfriend	1, 4–8, 15, 19–20, 23–29, 31–33, 35, 43–44, 58, 63–65, 70–73, 77–78, 80–82, 84, 86, 89–95, 99-103, 110–114, 118, 126–127, 131,133-134, 136–137, 143, 145, 148-150
Damien Teo 张值豪	Zhang Xiaocong 张晓聪	Zhong Ling's son Derek Lim's adoptive son Wu Simei's grandson Zhang Xiaochun's younger brother Lin Feina's nephew	1, 4–7, 19–20, 23, 27, 29–30, 34–35, 42–43, 45, 55–56, 58, 62–63, 71–73, 75–76, 78, 84, 86, 91, 97, 106, 113, 131, 133–134, 149-150
Hasisha Nazir	Minti	Semi-Villain Wu Simei's ex-family maid (Send back to her own country in Episode 72 after being found out for pouring pee into Wu Simei food)	2, 4-33, 35–36, 38, 42–43, 46, 55–56, 62–63, 65–66, 69-72

Supporting Casts

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes Appeared
Brandon Wong 黄炯耀	Zhuo Zhiliang 卓志良	'Mentally Unstable Patient Albert Toh Hope Training Centre's instructor (Information & Communication Technology) Zhong Ling's affair/lover (one-sided love) Wu Xiaorong's love interest	1–3, 7-8，10, 12–14, 19–27, 29, 34, 37, 41, 43–44, 46–50, 58, 63, 69–70, 76, 83–84, 87–88, 94–95, 106–114, 116–117, 120–121, 129, 137, 139–140, 142, 144-150 99 (voice)
Cassandra See 薛淑珊	Bona	Mentally Unstable Villain Huang Tianci's ex-wife Hong Biao's mistress	2–4, 6–7, 14, 16–18, 21–22, 27–28, 29-31
He Yingying 何盈莹	Xu Jingchu 许婧初	Mark Xu's elder daughter Xu Jingxin's elder twin sister and rival-in-love Hong Duoduo's ex-girlfriend Suffered from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Deceased - in Episode 135 mentioned by Xu Jingxin)	8-10, 12–18, 25–26, 28, 32–33, 35, 44, 46–47, 55, 57, 59–60, 63–65, 68–72, 74, 135, 138 79 (voice)
	Xu Qingxin 许婧心	Mark Xu's younger daughter Xu Jingchu's younger twin sister and rival-in-love In Iove with Hong Duoduo	116, 118, 128–129, 133, 135, 137–138, 141, 144–148, 150 131 (voice)
Wang Yuqing 王昱清	Huang Tianci 黄天赐	(Fake) Tang Weiye (假 唐伟业) Bona's ex-husband Hong Biao's rival in love In love with Hong Dacai	26–27, 29–32, 36–37, 39-45
Rayson Tan 陈泰铭	Tang Weiye 唐伟业	Tang Wee Giap Teenage Version Portrayed by Royston Ong (王俊雄) Hong Dacai's ex-boyfriend Hong Koufu's father	61–63, 65–67, 69, 73, 76–79, 82–84, 88-93 30, 41 (teenage) 60 (photo)

Cameo Appearance

Cast	Role	Description	Episodes Appeared
Zoe Tay 郑惠玉	Herself		5 (photo)
Paige Chua 蔡琦慧	Herself
Hong Ling 洪凌	Herself
Kelvin Soon 孙文海	Trainer Sun 孙导师	Hope Training Centre's instructor (Music & Singing)	9, 15
Leron Heng 王丽蓉	Angela	Zhang Xiaochun's best friend	22
Sherraine Law 罗翊绮	Rowena	Zhang Xiaochun's best friend	22
Cansen Goh 吴开深	Ah Fan 阿凡	Ex-convict Fang Zixin's best friend	23, 26, 28–29, 31 33 (voice)
Tan Junsheng 陈俊生	Kayden	Zhang Xiaocong's classmate	29
Eelyn Kok 郭蕙雯	Annie	Villain but repented Lin Feina's rival in love	31, 33-34
Brendon Kuah 柯迪宏	Keith	Villain	31-33
	Liu Shaopin 刘少品	In love with Wu Simei Suffered from urinary incontinence	37–38, 40
Johnny Ng 黄家强	Huang Deming 黄德明	Uncle Deming (德明叔) Alex Wong's son Wu Simei's love interest Suffered from stroke (Deceased in Episode 83)	41, 44, 48, 58, 60, 69–70, 76, 83-84
Benjamin Heng 王智国	Alex Wong	Villain Huang Deming's son	42, 48, 69, 83-84
Fu Ziyao 符之耀	Jeremy	CK1998 In love with Hong Baihui	49-50
Larry Low 刘龙伟	Nex	Villain Teenage Version portrayed by Wauren Beh (马纬翰) Hong Qianbei's ex-secondary classmate Boss of a security office	51-52
Zhu Xiufeng 朱秀凤	Grandma Tenant 房东婆婆	Hong Duoduo and Xu Qingchu's tenant Nick's mother	63–65, 68-72
Wallace Ang 洪圣安	Nick	Semi-Villain but repented Grandma Tenant's son	68-72
Gong Jianli 龔庭立		A Psychologist	80-82
Tan Xiangrong 陈祥荣	Jimmy	Lin Feina's friend A Lawyer	85-86
Joyce Ng 黄琬婷	Lia	Main Villain Neil, Edison and Justin's bestfriend Pretended to be Zhang Xiaochun and drugged her and collaborated with Neil, Edison and Justin	86, 89-90
Christian Lamprecht	Robert	Liu Mali's blind date	88
Xavier Ong 王胜宇	Neil	Supporting Villain Lia, Edison and Justin's best friend (Arrested in Episode 89)	89
Henry Low 刘旭涛	Edison	Supporting Villain Lia, Neil and Justin's best friend (Arrested in Episode 89)	89
Collin Chan 陈永昌	Justin	Supporting Villain Lia, Neil and Edison's best friend (Arrested in Episode 89)	89
Wang Changli 王昌黎	Guo Li 国立	Mei Ping's husband Gladys' father Hong Koufu's biological father	115, 122–123, 126, 130, 133–134, 136, 140
Li Xuehuai 李雪怀	Mei Ping 美萍	Guo Li's wife Hong Koufu's biological mother Gladys' mother	115, 122–123, 126, 130, 133–134, 136, 140
Shanice Koh 许舒宁	Gladys	Hong Koufu's biological sister	122, 130, 134, 136, 140
Gary Tan 陈毅丰	Joshua Teng 丁协智	Villain Underage boy who accused Hong Kong selling alcohol to him	132-135
Joel Choo 朱哲伟	Kris/ Chris	Xu Jingxin's friend	144-147
Lin Zhiqiang 林志强	Mr Lim	Gain City's manager Hong Qianbei's boss	144

Original Sound Track (OST)

No.	Song	Performer(s)
1)	和你交换你的不安 (Opening Theme Song)	The Freshman 插班生
2)	微笑向暖 (Song For Xu Jingchu & Hong Duoduo)	乐声 Le Sheng & 魏妙如 Ruth Kueo

Awards & Nominations

Reach for the Skies is up for 1 nomination.

The other drama serials nominated for Best Theme Song are Blessings 2 , VIC , You Can Be An Angel 3 & Mind Matters .

It did not win it's only nomination.

Star Awards 2019

Star Awards – Acting Awards
Accolades	Nominees	Category	Result
Star Awards 2019 Award Ceremony 红星大奖2019颁奖礼	The Freshman 插班生	Best Theme Song 最佳主题曲《(和你交换你的不安)》	Nominated

References

1. "Reach For The Skies 不平凡的平凡". Content Distribution. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
2. "Reach For The Skies 不平凡的平凡 (TIF) Show Info 节目简介 - Toggle". Toggle. Archived from the original on 2018-04-07. Retrieved 2018-10-23.