Metamorphosis (TV series)

Metamorphosis
(破茧而出/破繭而出)
Genre Police procedural drama
Thriller
Starring Rui En
Chen Hanwei
Terence Cao
Yvonne Lim
Thomas Ong
Opening theme 斗神 by Daren Tan Sze Wei
Ending theme 背叛 by Chew Sin Huey, Daren Tan Sze Wei
Country of origin Singapore
Original language(s) Chinese
No. of episodes 20
Production
Running time approx. 45 minutes
Release
Original network MediaCorp
Original release September 18 – October 15, 2007
Chronology
Preceded by Like Father, Like Daughter
Followed by Dear, Dear Son-in-Law
External links
Website

Metamorphosis (simplified Chinese: 破茧而出; traditional Chinese: 破繭而出, "Breaking Out Of The Shell" in Chinese; billed as Gangster Love in the Philippines) is a Singaporean Chinese action thriller drama which is being telecast on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp TV Channel 8. It made its debut on 18 September 2007, screening at 9 PM every night on weekdays. The serial consists of 20 episodes. In the last few episodes, the serial recorded a viewership rate of over 1 million and was awarded the "Best Drama Series Award" in the Star Awards 2007. Yvonne Lim also received the "Best Actress Award" in the same event.

Cast

Main Cast:

Supporting Cast:

Special Appearances:

Synopsis

Crisis #1

Members of the secret society are fighting for power. Assassin Swift Blade has already murdered two secret society leaders. Detectives Ouyang (Chen Hanwei) and Di Lun (Terence Cao) manage to corner Swift Blade. Xin Mei, mistress of secret society leader Rattlesnake (Brandon Wong), is held hostage by Swift Blade. Ouyang decides to open fire at Swift Blade, causing Xin Mei to die as well.

Xin Mei’s death infuriates Rattlesnake, resulting in Red Pig’s (Huang Yiliang) murder. Rattlesnake is arrested by the police. However, the police discover that Rattlesnake is not the murderer after all. The true suspect behind the murder appears to be Blood Rose (Ong Ai Leng), Rattlesnake’s wife. Blood Rose has always been bitter about her husband’s affair and has every reason to set a trap to let Rattlesnake and Red Pig bring harm to each other, while letting Rattlesnake take the blame for murder.

However, Red Pig’s real murderer turns out to be someone unexpected. When the police are hot on the heels of the murderer, they discover that the latter has been killed. The method of murder is exactly the same as Red Pig’s: four bullets shot directly to the body. There is even evidence leading to the identity of this new mysterious killer. It appears that someone has been carrying out capital punishment in secret...

Crisis #2

While investigation of the identity of the killer continues, news of a horrific murder comes about once more. A dismembered female body has been discovered. The police suspect that Jin Yongjian (Cavin Soh), boss of a mechanic workshop, is the murderer. Yong Jian is a patient of Wen Wanrou (Yvonne Lim), a psychiatrist, and has fallen in love with her. The police arrest him, but discover that Wan Rou has disappeared at the same time. They suspect that Yongjian has captured Wanrou before he was arrested.

Ouyang and his team try every means to force a confession out of Yong Jian with regards to Wanrou’s whereabouts. The case complicates further when they discover that he has split personality disorder. Finally, Wanrou is successfully rescued, but she has already suffered irreparable trauma.

Crisis #3

During an operation to hunt down the mysterious killer, Ouyang unintentionally causes an accident during a car chase, taking the lives of Wanrou’s father and younger brother Pin Liang (Nathaniel Ho). Her mother was so affected that she had a heart attack and died. Wanrou is thrown into sudden darkness from the painful loss of her family. Her life begins to change dramatically.

The mysterious killer captured by Ouyang has been silenced by someone else. As the police investigate the identity of the killer, they slowly uncover the presence of a vigilante organization known as Dragontooth. This mysterious group has apparently been carrying out acts of ‘justice’, meting out capital punishment to criminals who they deem deserve to die.

Crisis #4

At this point, a male body is found, exposing a complicated string of love affairs between the protagonists involved in the case. The deceased is Leon (Bryan Wang), a male prostitute. He had a girlfriend as well as several love affairs. Everyone involved in this case seems to have a motive for murder, creating more complexity and confusion. One of the suspects, Melinda (Carole Lin), is murdered soon after.

After an intensive investigation by the police, they arrest Gina (May Phua), Gina had suspected her husband, Zhao Shi Qiang (Rayson Tan), of having an homosexual affair with Leon and had killed Leon in a fit of jealousy. Just when everyone thinks that the case has been solved, Dragontooth strikes again to mete out disciplinary action on the real killer. The truth is thus revealed; Gina did not murder Leon.

Final Crisis

Ouyang and Di Lun chase down the clues to the case. They suspect that Ryan Wu (Ix Shen) is a member of Dragontooth and forensic expert, Hu Xicun (Thomas Ong) is in fact the leader of Dragontooth. This is painful for Xiaoqian to take as she is in love with Xicun and is his wife, moreover she is pregnant with his child.

Xiao-qian (Rui En) sets a trap for Xicun to lure Ryan out so that Dragontooth can be captured in one swoop. They manage to capture Xicun successfully. At this moment, Ouyang receives a call to that his foster mother Ouyang Su (Hong Hui Fang) has been held hostage by Dragontooth. Ouyang is made to promise to rescue Xicun. With no other choice, Ouyang agrees and saves Xi Cun. However, he has already become a common enemy of Dragontooth. Not long after, Ryan’s body is discovered. At the scene of the murder, numerous evidence found point towards Ouyang as the murderer.

Finale

The police hunt down Ouyang. Ouyang, unwilling to admit defeat, becomes a wanted man. He escapes, secretly carries out his own investigations and discovers that someone close to him is involved with Dragontooth and framing him for Ryan's murder.

Xicun also finds out that a member has been going against Dragontooth’s principles in the quest for revenge. Now, he plans to discipline this errant offender with capital punishment personally...

Viewership

WeekDateAverage Number of audience in 5 weekdays (Round off to nearest thousand)
Week 118 September 2007 to 21 September 2007678, 000
Week 223 September 2007 to 27 September 2007674, 000
Week 31 October 2007 to 5 October 2007720, 000
Week 48 October 2007 to 12 October 2007722, 000
Last episode15 October 2007786, 000

Reception

The serial generated largely positive reviews from critics and recorded a viewership of over a million in its final episodes.

The serial received two nominations in the Star Awards 2007, but despite that, the serial managed to win both awards. Yvonne Lim won the Best Actress Award and the overall show won the Best Drama Serial.

See also

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