The Little Nyonya

The story spans 70 years (1930–2000) and follows the struggles and triumphs of two generations of Peranakan women in a patriarchal society, Huang Juxiang (Jeanette Aw) and her daughter Yamamoto Yueniang (Christabelle Tan, Jeanette Aw, and Xiang Yun),^[a] alongside the fates of the people around them.

Huang Juxiang, a beautiful and skilled Nyonya, is mistreated by her wealthy Peranakan family in Malacca due to being an illegitimate daughter and a deaf-mute. She catches the attention of multiple men:

• Chen Sheng (Pierre Png): a kind man who admires her but fails to stand up for her,
• Charlie Zhang (Desmond Sim): a ruthless businessman who wants her as a mistress, and
• Yamamoto Yousuke (Dai Xiangyu): a gentle Japanese photographer who truly loves her.

When her family forces her into marriage with Charlie Zhang for business benefits, Juxiang escapes, only to be kidnapped by traffickers. Yousuke rescues her, and they elope to Singapore where they operate a photography studio. Their happiness is cut short when Yousuke returns to Japan to visit his father and is drafted into the Japanese army during WWII. Juxiang struggles alone, raising their daughter Yueniang with help from Chen Sheng. When Yousuke finally returns after deserting the army, war erupts in Singapore, and both he and Juxiang die, leaving Yueniang orphaned.

Yueniang, mirroring her mother’s beauty and resilience, is taken in by her grandmother Wang Tianlan (Xiang Yun) and her loyal servant Ah Tao (Ng Hui). She learns Peranakan traditions in the house, and faces the same mistreatment her mother endured at the hands of her relatives, especially from Huang Zhenzhu (Eelyn Kok), her cruel and envious elder cousin, and Huang Yuzhu (Joanne Peh), her kind-hearted younger cousin who suffers due to family expectations.

Yueniang catches the eye of Chen Xi (Qi Yuwu), Chen Sheng’s nephew, who pretends to be a chauffeur to befriend her. They fall in love, but the Huang family plans to marry Chen Xi to one of Yueniang’s cousins. Despite his determination, Chen Xi is tricked into an engagement with Yuzhu, while Yueniang is forced to marry a butcher-turned-gangster, Liu Yidao (Yao Wenlong). Yidao, impressed by Yueniang’s strength, respects her, and they become sworn siblings instead of husband and wife.

Yuzhu however supports Yueniang and Chen Xi being together. She and Chen Xi, who has Chen Sheng's encouragement, help Yueniang to escape her arranged marriage. However, tragedy strikes when Yuzhu is mistaken for Yueniang in the process and raped by Robert Zhang (Zen Chong), Charlie Zhang’s son. In the aftermath, Yuzhu is married off to Robert, who abuses her, driving her to insanity. Meanwhile, Chen Xi is manipulated into marrying the jealous Zhenzhu while he is gravely ill.

Determined to take control of her life, Yueniang refuses to remain a victim. She becomes a successful businesswoman, buys back the Huang ancestral home which has been possessed by the bank due to her uncle's financial mismanagement, and reconciles with her family. Chen Xi, divorced from Zhenzhu, still loves Yueniang but cannot marry her due to societal constraints. He instead started a relationship with his good friend Libby (Pamelyn Chee). Yueniang instead marries a British lawyer, Paul Robertson (Bobby Tonelli), and adopts Yuzhu and Robert’s son, Zhang Zuye (Edsel Lim, and Zen Chong).^[b]

In the present, Yueniang’s granddaughter, Angela (Felicia Chin), uncovers their family history and learns that Yuzhu was her biological grandmother. Yueniang, now elderly, passes away peacefully in a traditional white garment, signifying her reunion with Paul in the afterlife.

This drama series took around a year of research and development, and four months for taping.^[2] More than 150 staff members were involved in production of the series and the cast was required to travel frequently from Singapore to Penang, Malacca and Ipoh during filming. This drama series was notable for having the highest production budget in the history of MediaCorp due to the elaborate period costumes like the kebaya. A pair of beaded shoes traversed over a cost of S$1,200, while a dining table acquired for the set cost S$15,000.

Several artists were initially cast or considered before the final cast was considered: May Phua was originally offered to play the role of Xiufeng, but was turned down due to her pregnancy; Huang Biren was also considered for the role of Tian Lan, but also declined due to not renewing her contract at the time; Elvin Ng was originally considered to be portraying Yamamoto Yousuke, but later replaced due to injury during training; Andrew Seow was first choice to play Robert Zhang but Seow left Mediacorp. It was also rumoured that Zoe Tay had expressed interest in portraying a role in the series, although Mediacorp claimed that there were no suitable roles for her.

The series initially received a 30-episode order, although over-runs in filming led the series to be extended to 34 episodes instead. Possibly as a result, two episodes were aired back-to-back on Mondays from 15 December 2008 till the season finale for the last four weeks.

Promotion for this drama series lasted throughout the initial broadcast of the series as well after the series ended. 12 members of the cast participated in "The Little Nyonya Public Event" 小娘惹户外影迷会 at Compass Point on 27 December 2008, which included an autograph session. The unprecedented number of appearances resulted in damage of the flooring at Compass Point, due to certain tiles on the floor cracked under the pressure exerted by the crowd.^[3][4]

A "Thank You Roadshow", another meet-the-cast session, was held at Suntec City on 31 January 2009. It featured several cast members from the first event as well as the singer of "如燕", Olivia Ong.

Minor roadshows were held at various locations between January and April 2009. On 17 January 2009, Jeanette Aw and Xiang Yun promoted bird nest at Tiong Bahru Plaza, while Qi Yuwu and Joanne Peh appeared at Courts Megastore along Tampines Road. Qi and Peh later appeared in character as Chen Xi and Huang Yuzhu respectively as part of the official launch for Media Fiesta at Marina Square on 5 March 2009. On 26 April 2009, Jeanette Aw and Pierre Png made an appearance at the first anniversary of the Singapore Peranakan Museum^[5] shortly before leaving to attend the Star Awards.

This drama series achieved extremely high ratings during its initial run, with an average of 993,000 viewers^[11] per episode and peaking at 1.67 million viewers on the final episode.^[8] In addition, the series achieved the highest viewership rating in Singapore in 14 years.

Viewership for this drama series steadily increased throughout its run. Its first episode garnered an estimated 1.098 million viewers. On Episode 11, the show rating increased to 23.6%. The 15th and 16th episodes, both broadcast back-to-back, was watched by 24.1% of the country's population. The rating increased by 2.2% a week later, and further increased to 27.8% the week after. The viewership peaked at 33.8% on the final two episodes, also broadcast back-to-back.

The drama series received both praise and criticism. While some appreciated its depiction of Peranakan culture, others in local media criticized aspects of its portrayal and promotional strategies. Issues that were raised early included the castings of Pan Lingling and Cynthia Koh to portray teenage girls albeit being already in their thirties. This issue was counter-argued by being tantamount to ageism, as well as the fact that it was raised only three episodes after the show began airing.^[12] The character development of Xiufeng has come under fire due to the character's exhibitions of violence.

Some viewers perceived a bias towards actress Jeanette Aw, suggesting the series served to advance her television career and position her for accolades at the subsequent Star Awards.​ Several viewers also believe that the producers intentionally wrote Aw's first role as a mute in attempt to conceal her imperfect delivery of Mandarin.^[13] In response, producers have lauded Aw's work, saying that she performed in a professional manner. Despite this, Aw's portrayal of Juxiang and Yueniang has been praised by members of the audience.^[14]

The series employs dramatic license, leading to certain historical inaccuracies, especially in early episodes depicting Juxiang's life and Yueniang's childhood. Notable examples include the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1932 (as opposed to 1937) and the first air raid on Singapore (8 December 1941) occurring in broad daylight (which took place at night in reality).

This drama set a record of having 16 nominations (beating the previous record holder's Holland V of nine) during Star Awards 2009 held on 26 April 2009, and won nine awards (including the Drama Serial and the Top Viewership Drama Serial of 2008), a then-record for any drama awards at the time of the ceremony.

The Chinese New Year special series, The Little Nyonya Big Reunion, and the promotional advertisement for the encore telecast for the series, were respectively nominated for Star Awards 2010 and Star Awards 2011, which the latter won.

In total, the entire franchise won a combined 11 awards from four award ceremonies.

The drama series has been recognized for its cultural impact on Singaporean media. The series was parodied in a segment of the variety show Black Rose. In the episode when the encore started its debut, Chen Hanwei portrayes Liu Yidao (刘一刀) and Dennis Chew portrayed Yamamoto Yueniang (山本月娘). It was also used in the skit segment of Star Search 2010 Grand Finals in which contestants played Liu Yidao, Huang Yuzhu, Ah Tao and Robert Zhang.

In an interview with Lianhe Wanbao, scriptwriter Ang Eng Tee, said that a sequel or a special could be created if the demand exists. Ideas for a possible sequel or special presentation have already been drafted by Ang, one of which would have Angela receiving a secret wooden box from Ah Tao, before Angela returns to Singapore. The box was owned by Yueniang, and Ah Tao defied her orders to burn the contents before Yueniang died. The scriptwriter has drafted potential sequel ideas, including storylines involving Angela and a mysterious box left by Ah Tao, in addition to a letter from Libby, telling Yueniang that Chen Xi and Libby did not get married after all.^[17] However, producers noted that a sequel seems to be unlikely citing high production costs and logistics, although that some other drama series were given a sequel follow-up; the unusual cases were the 2011 police drama C.L.I.F., which spawned four sequel seasons; medical drama You Can Be An Angel Too and sitcom Eat Already?, which had three sequel seasons each, and The Journey, which is a trilogy spawning three seasons.

In October 2023, Mediacorp announced that a sequel to the series would began production in January 2024,^[32] titled Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story (小娘惹之翡翠山; literal translation"}]],"parts":[{"template":{"target":{"wt":"literally","href":"./Template:Literally"},"params":{},"i":0}}]}">lit. The Little Nyonya: Emerald Hill) with Jeanette Aw making a special appearance in the sequel, reprising her role as Middle-Age Yamamoto Yueniang (山本月娘). Other casts that will join in are 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 will replace Edsel Lim and Zen Chong as Middle-Age Zhang Zuye (张祖业) in the upcoming sequel. ^[33][34]

On 2 December 2024, the music video for the opening theme song is published, titled "落花如雨", which sung by Kit Chan.^[35][36][37] The season premiered on 10 March 2025 via Netflix,^[38] 17 March 2025 via meWatch and on 19 March 2025 on Channel 8.

The drama serial was broadcast overseas, mostly in the Asian region.

More information Country of Broadcast, Broadcasting Network ...

Country of Broadcast	Broadcasting Network	Release Date
Malaysia	Astro Shuang Xing, Astro AEC	2 February 2009[39]
Malaysia	NTV7	26 October 2009
Cambodia	PPCTV Drama 9	29 March 2009
France	MIPTV	31 March 2009
Philippines	TV5	24 August 2009
Myanmar	MRTV	5 September 2009
United States	Tai Seng Entertainment Channel (broadcast on DirecTV)	1 December 2009
Vietnam	Vietnam Television	12 August 2010
China (Shanghai)	TBA	2009
China (run across China via satellite)	TBA	16 January 2010 [40]
Thailand	Thai Public Broadcasting Service	20 January 2010
Hong Kong	TVB PayVision	26 April 2010
Malaysia	Astro AEC	16 December 2019

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In Indonesia, aired on B-Channel starts July 2011. The series was originally scheduled to air in Malaysia in mid-January, but was later delayed to February. The series was also aired by TV stations in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Mainland China.^[41]

On 1 December 2009, Tai Seng Entertainment Channel, an ethnic Chinese entertainment channel on DirecTV, became the first non-Asian station to air the series. It is also the first station to air the series with Cantonese dubbing.

Hong Kong broadcaster TVB^[42] purchased the rights to telecast the series in April 2009,^[43] and aired the series a year later, in late April 2010. Just like the United States, the series has also been Cantonese-dubbed.

The series was promoted at the MIPTV Television Trade Show in Cannes, France, near the end of March 2009. Jeanette Aw and Qi Yuwu were also in Cannes to promote the series at MIPTV.^[44]