The Best TV Shows on MediaCorp Channel 8

A biographic flashback of an extended Peranakan family in Malacca; set in the 1930s, the story spans over 70 years and several generations of three families.

The Legendary Swordsman is a Singaporean television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. It was first broadcast on TCS-8 in Singapore in 2000.

The Return of the Condor Heroes is a Singaporean television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. It was broadcast from 2 June to 27 July 1998 on TCS Eighth Frequency in Singapore and was later released on other Asian television networks.

Anya, abducted from wealth, endures life in a brothel. Xinniang, once a child beggar, blossoms into a refined lady. Anna, cast away as a jinx, returns to upend their lives. As secrets unravel, love and kinship are tested—will they rise above fate?

C.L.I.F. is a police procedural series produced by MediaCorp Singapore in 2011 in collaboration with the Singapore Police Force. It was aired from 31 May - 27 Jun 2011 on free-to-air MediaCorp Channel 8 and consists of 20 episodes. The drama stars Tay Ping Hui, Qi Yuwu, Elvin Ng, Joanne Peh, Chris Tong and Tracy Lee in the main roles with a large ensemble supporting cast. It was directed by Chong Liung Man, who previously directed another award-winning police procedural C.I.D., which also starred Tay and Qi in the lead roles as police officers.

Legend of the Eight Immortals is a Singaporean television series based on stories about the Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology and adapted from the Ming dynasty novel Dong You Ji (东游记) by Wu Yuantai (吴元泰).

Your Hand In Mine was a long-running drama that was produced by Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp TV Channel 8. It was the longest local drama that had been produced by Mediacorp to date, with 180 episodes. Originally dubbed as the 2010 version of the acclaimed 2003 serial Holland V, it starred the veterans Chen Liping and Huang Wenyong, as well as Yvonne Lim, Belinda Lee, Cai Peixuan and Joanne Peh.

Hong Daming is a positive and generous man. As his coffee shop and house number are both "118", the people around him gave him the nickname of "118" (or 要要发), much to his delight. Together with his wife, Liu Meimei, he makes a living by running the coffee-shop, and are well known in Tiong Bahru. Whenever someone is in need, they would always seek Daming for help. His family lives in a 3-room flat, which was built in pre-war years, above the coffee shop. He has 4 children. The children are named Hong Shunfeng, Hong Shunshui, Hong Jinzhi and Hong Yuye. Having 6 people living in a 3-room flat is cramped-up enough, yet he also rents out a room to "Ah Niang", a middle-aged man whose original name is Li Weiliang. Weiliang studied fashion design in France, but circumstances led him to simply run a stall in 118's coffee-shop, selling dumplings with the recipe that his mother left for him.

Renowned chef Qin Fen came to Singapore with his father when he was young to escape the war in his home country. Father and son started their restaurant "Wu Shuang Lou" after much struggles and was renowned for their "Wu Shang Banquet". Qin fen took in four disciples, Nan Hua, Xi Hong, Dong Bai, Bei Fa, and they received different secret recipes from him individually. Nan Hua became the most successful among the disciples. However, he went into a coma due to an accident and his wife Chen Hui Ying took over his restaurant “Hua Hua Shi Jie”. After much rivalry between his sons Qian Ruo Wei and Qian Ruo Feng, the later finally took the top post of CEO. Ruo Feng dreams of restoring the legendary “Wu Shuang Banquet” and wants to seek the help of Xi Hong, Dong Bai and Bei Fa. However, the estranged disciples do not want anything to do with each other. Will Ruo Feng be able to realise his dreams?

The Unbeatables I is a Singapore drama series that was made by MediaCorp TV Channel 8. The popularity of the series led to the production of 2 follow-ups, The Unbeatables II and The Unbeatables III.

This drama describes the trials and tribulations the teochew Cai Family under the patriarch Cai Qingyang from the late 1940s to the 1990s.

Set in the late 1940s to the '70s, this drama revolves around the lives of a group of tenants with diverse backgrounds staying in a big house located in Tofu Street. Experience the struggles of the inhabitants of a poor rural village in China who subsequently settle down in Tofu Street. This weighty drama gives an insight into the lives of post-war survivors consisting of a group of tenants with diverse backgrounds staying in a big house in the yester-years era.

Wisely, the eastern equivalent of Indiana Jones and James Bond, is a hero in every sense. He is multi-talented, believes in paranormal, knowledgeable in many cultures and oozes quiet charm. A character out of the sci-fi novels by renowned adventure-loving author Ni Kuang, Wisely was raised by a couple from a circus. His unusual milieu provided the foundation for his formidable skills. Hand-in-hand with the love of his life, Bai Su, they solve many inexplicable mysteries, namely "Shadow", "Destiny", "Reincarnation", "Hopes Eternal", "Dimensions", "Souls" and "Wishes". Not to be missed are the picturesque scenery shot in Cairo, Egypt.

A Song to Remember is a MediaCorp Channel 8 historical-cum-musical drama which is set in the 1930s to 1940s in early Singapore before World War II. It debuted on Channel 8 on 22 November 2011 and was telecast every weekday night at 9.00 pm. This drama stars Qi Yuwu and Joanne Peh who had paired up thrice after The Little Nyonya and C.L.I.F., and Eelyn Kok, Julie Tan and Desmond Tan. Chen Hanwei plays a villain in this drama while Eelyn Kok is also another antagonist. Viewers can catch episodes on xinmsn catchup from 23 November 2011. It was reported that the scriptwriter Ang Ee Tee took several years to complete the script of this drama. Despite large amounts of resources and money pumped in for the production and promotion of this serial, the drama was not well received by the audience when it was broadcast. Many perceived the show to be boring and slow-paced, and the acting skills of some of the main cast members were heavily criticised.

Beset with foreign threats and internal turmoil, China's concoction of woes compels its citizens to leave for Nanyang in search of a better life. When Shi Tou, manages to save enough money after years of working at a tin mine, he returns to marry his childhood sweetheart, Ya Zi. On the return trip, they cross paths with two penniless brothers, Zhang Tian Peng and Zhang Tian Ying with the former becoming Shi Tou's sworn brother out of gratitude. Framed for robbery and murder, Shi Tou is thrown behind bars while Ya Zi desperately seeks help. Feeling sympathetic towards them, Hui Niang and her stepbrother, Zhang Dong'en proves Shi Tou's innocence. When he returns back to the mine, Shi Tou is lured into a destructive spiral of gambling by his scheming boss and runs up a huge debt, while his supervisor, Hei Long lusts after Ya Zi's beauty and plots to ruin him.

Set in the 1940s and then the modern world, this drama pits the traditional way against the modern. The story evolves around a popular traditional pastry shop called Xiji. Lian Wending, who is the only heir and has a gift in making pastries, is in love with a travelling songstress, Lin Xiaomei. But his father objects to the relationship and arranges for Wending to marry a rich merchant's daughter, Sun Xiulan. Bound by tradition, he accedes to his father's wish. On Mid-Autumn night, he falls into a well and loses his consciousness. When he wakes up, he is shocked to find himself in modern Singapore. He gets to know two brothers, who are his descendants. Xiji in the modern world is, unfortunately, facing a business crisis and Wending tries his best to save it. In the process, he meets his westernised rival, She Meiren, who looks exactly like Xiaomei but with a different personality. In the battle between modern and traditional ways, both of them fall in love with each other.

During the late eighties, three good friends, Yi Wei, Chu Fan and Da Wei, formed a band called "Crescendo" out of their passion for music. After graduation, they established "Crescendo" Music Company to realize their dreams. Many years later, "Crescendo" has established itself in the music industry and successfully nurtured many homegrown talents. Chu Fan, Yi Wei and Da Wei have finally realized their dreams. However, the music trend in Singapore has changed in recent years and fewer youths are interested in Xin Yao music. "Crescendo" music school faces operational and financial difficulties. Just then, Chu Fan's ex-wife, Mei Ling returns from overseas. She sees the potential in "Crescendo" and wishes to invest in their business. Da Wei's crush Xue Li returns as well to be a vocal coach at "Crescendo". Since the return of the two, the three friends find themselves embroiled in complicated love affairs. Chu Fan accuses Mei Ling of wrongdoing because of a misunderstanding.

After a betrayal drives Liwei to murder his friend, he boards a cruise planning to end his life. There, he meets Ruiming, a wealthy businessman who looks just like him and offers to help with his debts. When the cruise suffers a fatal accident, Ruming is presumed dead and Liwei is mistaken for him. Seeing a way out, Liwei assumes Ruiming’s identity and steps into a new life built on deception.

The story centres round the inhabitants of small neighbourhood who work in an enrichment school and a minimart. 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 the founder of Hope Training Centre, and Hong Da Cai the boss of ‘Tian Tian Lai’ minimart, deal with every day situation and at the same time manage their own love life.

Xilin is a dancer who becomes paralyzed after an accident. Her dreams are dashed, and her family is no longer as harmonious. With the support of Tianqing, a paraswimmer who aspires to qualify for the Paralympics, Xilin picks herself up and embarks on a new journey in life. Supporting each other through the darkest times, Xilin and Tianqing forge a strong bond and shine in their respective fields.