Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story
| Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical Poster | |
| 小娘惹之翡翠山 | |
| Genre | Period drama |
| Written by | Ang Eng Tee |
| Directed by | Loo Yin Kam |
| Starring | Tasha Low Chantalle Ng Ferlyn Wong Zhang Zetong Tyler Ten Jesseca Liu Kai Hsiu Romeo Tan Dawn Yeoh Shaun Chen Jojo Goh Zoe Tay |
| Opening theme | 落花如雨 by Kit Chan |
| Ending theme | 南风吹 by Olivia Ong |
| Country of origin | Singapore |
| Original languages | Mandarin (with partial English, Malay and Hokkien) |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix mewatch Channel 8 |
| Release | 10 March – 21 April 2025 |
| Related | |
| The Little Nyonya (2008) The New Little Nyonya (2020) | |
Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story (Chinese: 小娘惹之翡翠山) is a 2025 Singaporean drama serial on Mediacorp's Channel 8. It stars Tasha Low, Chantalle Ng, Ferlyn Wong, Zhang Zetong, Tyler Ten, Jesseca Liu, Kai Hsiu, Romeo Tan, Dawn Yeoh, Shaun Chen, Jojo Goh and Zoe Tay as the main cast.[1][2][3] This series serves as a standalone sequel to Channel 8's 2008 series, The Little Nyonya, with Jeanette Aw reprising her role as Yamamoto Yueniang.[4] It is set in the 1950s to 1970s and centres around an extended Peranakan Chinese family in Emerald Hill, Singapore.[5]
The series first aired on Netflix and mewatch Prime on 10 March 2025, and every weekday on Channel 8 from 19 March 2025, at 21:00 (SGT).[5] The drama became the first Channel 8 series to top Netflix Singapore's most-watched list after its streaming debut on 10 March 2025.[6] The season finale was broadcast on 21 April 2025 for Netflix and meWatch Prime, and 30 April 2025 for Channel 8 and also Emerald Hill The Little Nyonya Story On Astro Prima With Dual Sound of Malay Language will be Coming Soon and also Repeated the Programme Drama within the Dual Sound of Malaysia Language On Astro Prima as Off Under Planning Of Via Singtel TV and Astro Malaysia On Astro Prima.
Plot
[edit]The series follows the lives of three Nyonyas from the Zhang family, a Baba Nyonya household in Emerald Hill, Singapore. The story follows Zhang Xinniang, Zhang Anna, and Zhang Anya.
Anya, born into a wealthy family, is abducted at a young age and forced into a brothel, facing a turbulent life. Xinniang, once a street beggar, is adopted by a wealthy family and grows into a striking and accomplished young woman. Anna, regarded as a bringer of misfortune by her birth family, is raised away from home, only to return with a changed temperament that unsettles her household.
As their destinies become intertwined, the three women navigate the complexities of family ties and love. Their journey explores themes of resilience and self-determination as they strive to overcome adversity and reshape their futures.
Cast
[edit]Zhang family
[edit]- Tasha Low as Zhang Xinniang Emily, Zhang Jin He and Li Shu Qin's adopted daughter
- Chantalle Ng as Zhang Anna, Zhang Jin Quan and Kang Si Li's youngest daughter
- Ferlyn Wong as Zhang Anya/Zhou Hongyu (Chew Hong Ee), Zhang Jin He and Li Shu Qin's daughter
- Zoe Tay as Liu Xiu Niang, Zhang Jin Hai/Jin He/Jin Quan's mother
- Shaun Chen as Zhang Jin Hai, Liu Xiu Niang's eldest son
- Jojo Goh as Li Shu Yu, Zhang Jin Hai's wife
- Kai Hsiu as Zhang Jin He, Liu Xiu Niang's second son
- Jesseca Liu as Li Shu Qin, Zhang Jin He's wife
- Romeo Tan as Zhang Jin Quan, Liu Xiu Niang's third son
- Dawn Yeoh as Kang Si Li, Zhang Jin Quan's wife
- Sheila Sim as Zhang Yin Niang, Liu Xiu Niang's youngest daughter
- Nick Teo as Zhang Yaozu, Zhang Jin Hai and Li Shu Yu's son
- Herman Keh as Zhang Yaoguang, Zhang Jin Quan and Kang Si Li's eldest son
- Zhu Zeliang as Zhang Yaoliang, Zhang Jin Quan and Kang Si Li's second son
- Rayson Tan as Zhang Qi Ye (Cameo appearance), Liu Xiu Niang's husband
- Priscelia Chan as Ping Jie, Zhang family's maid, serve Liu Xiu Niang
- Juin Teh as Yan Jie, Zhang family's maid
- Jernelle Oh as Ah Hua, Zhang family's maid
- Gini Chang as Ah Zhen, Zhang family's maid
- Kiki Lim as Ah Ju, Zhang family's maid
- Seow Sin Nee as Ah Hao, Zhang family's maid
Huang family
[edit]- Jeanette Aw as Yamamoto Yueniang, Zhang family's friend, Huang Zu Ye‘s adopted mother
- Zhang Zetong as Huang Zu Ye (Ng Chor Yap), Yueniang's adopted son, Zhang Xinniang's love interest
Other characters
[edit]- Tyler Ten as Bai Ah Li, gangster, Like Zhang Xinniang
- Chen Liping as Cai Zhu Niang/Ah Zhu, Zhang Xinniang's foster mother
- Elvin Ng as Chen Dong Hao, Zhang Yin Niang's boyfriend
- Desmond Ng as Kang Zhi Jie, Kang Si Li's younger brother
- Aileen Tan as Su Gui Feng, brothel owner
- Chen Tianwen as Wu De, brothel customer
- Chen Huihui as Ying Jie, Gui Feng's maid
- Zhai Siming as Xiao Lao Shu, gangster, Bai Ah Li’s fellow, Xiao Hui’s boyfriend
- Yunis To as Xiao Hui, student, Xiao Lao Shu’s girlfriend
- Guo Liang as Gao Si, police inspector
- Dennis Chew as Ni Lao Zi, storyteller
- Cavin Soh as Qian Duo Duo, a supervisor working for Yamamoto Yueniang
- Chen Shucheng as Uncle Qing, Li Shu Qin's family's old worker
- Eric Lay as Guo Zhi Bang, Zhang Anna’s fiancee, but like Zhang Anya
Production
[edit]Mediacorp first announced the development of the series in October 2023 as a sequel to The Little Nyonya.[7] Production officially began on 30 January 2024, with a main cast that includes Tasha Low, Chen Liping, Jesseca Liu, Chantalle Ng, Ferlyn Wong, Kiki Lim, Sheila Sim, Elvin Ng, Zoe Tay, Shaun Chen, Romeo Tan, Tyler Ten, Zhang Zetong, Dawn Yeoh, Desmond Ng, Herman Keh, Zhai Siming and Zhu Zeliang. Zhang Zetong took over the role of middle-aged Zhang Zuye originally portrayed by Edsel Lim and Zen Chong.[8][9][10]
Filming for the series took place primarily in Singapore, with select outdoor scenes shot in Malacca and Johor, Malaysia.[11] Mediacorp leased a two-storey conserved bungalow known as the Keppel House located in Mount Faber that is managed by the Singapore Land Authority to serve as the Zhang family's residence.[12] Built in 1899, the property underwent a S$1 million refurbishment for the production. The set included a specially constructed outdoor kitchen, along with the acquisition and rental of various Peranakan furniture pieces, including a round wooden table valued at S$50,000.[13] The series showcases traditional Peranakan attire, primarily the sarong kebaya, along with traditional beaded shoes. Designed by Raymond Wong and Tee Yu Yan, the outfits feature intricate motifs embellishing each kebaya. After filming concluded, the costumes and accessories were donated to the Peranakan Museum, where they are now exhibited in a section highlighting the significance of costume in Peranakan theatre and television.[14]
Release
[edit]Mediacorp secured its first pre-sale distribution agreement with Netflix for Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story in Southeast Asia. This milestone marks the first time a Mediacorp Chinese drama has been acquired through a pre-sale deal and premiered simultaneously on both Netflix and mewatch Prime on 10 March 2025.[15] The series also debuted on 19 March 2025, on Channel 8 at 21:00 (SGT) in Singapore[16] and on Astro AEC at 20:30 (MST) in Malaysia.[17]
The final episode for the series was released on 21 April, and 30 April for Channel 8; it was originally scheduled for 29 April, but was pre-empted due to the coverage for the Chinese Roundtable Forums for the 2025 Singaporean general election.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ "Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story 小娘惹之翡翠山 – Content Distribution". Mediacorp. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Taiwanese Actor Xiu Jie Kai, 41, To Join The Cast Of Emerald Hill As Zoe Tay's Son & Tasha Low's Dad". 8 Days. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Emerald Hill's Zoe Tay, Chantalle Ng and all-star cast share behind-the-scenes stories ahead of Netflix debut". Channel News Asia. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Jeanette Aw wants to 'manage expectations' for her role in The Little Nyonya spinoff". Asia One. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ a b "The Little Nyonya sequel Emerald Hill tops Netflix Singapore's most-watched list". The Straits Times. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Emerald Hill becomes first Mediacorp Chinese drama to reach No 1 on Netflix Singapore". Channel News Asia. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "《小娘惹2》明年开拍 小阿哥阿姐试镜抢角". Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese). 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ "Tasha Low Is The New Little Nyonya, Zoe Tay Plays The Matriarch In Mediacorp's Upcoming Spin-Off Of The Hit 2008 Drama". 8days. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "《小娘惹之翡翠山》5主演敲定 欧萱将惊喜客串". 8world (in Chinese). 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Star-studded The Little Nyonya spin-off in the works with Tasha Low, Zoe Tay, Chantalle Ng, Shaun Chen and many more". Channel News Asia. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "19th-century mansion turned into set for Little Nyonya spin-off". The Straits Times. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Mediacorp's recent redecoration of a conserved bungalow done without necessary approval: URA". The Straits Times. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "$1m refurbishment and furnishing fee: Inside the heritage house used for The Little Nyonya spinoff drama Emerald Hill". Asia One. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Sarong kebayas, accessories from Mediacorp's The Little Nyonya spin-off, Emerald Hill, donated to Peranakan Museum". 5 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Mediacorp announces Netflix deal for The Little Nyonya spin-off, will also create Singapore edition of kids' show Blippi". Channel News Asia. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Mediacorp's Emerald Hill Breaks New Ground with Netflix Pre-Sale". Mediacorp. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "《小娘惹之翡翠山》释出预告片❗3月19日开播". SYOK Malaysia. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "General Election 2025 Programmes and Coverage". Mediacorp. Retrieved 24 April 2025.