The_King Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 SINGAPORE — Last Friday (22 Nov), Netflix dropped Singapore Social, an eight-episode reality series that follows the lives of six young, affluent Singaporean influencers who also happen to be friends. Who are the six talents? They are pop star Tabitha Nauser, actor-model Paul Foster, fashion influencer Mae Tan, burlesque performer Sukki Singapora, filmmaker Vinny Sharp and blockchain entrepreneur Nicole Ong. Netflix describes the show as such: “Peer into the lives of young Singaporeans as they defy expectations and traverse the tricky terrain of career, family and romance.” This is one of those shows that I can’t decide on whether it’s so bad that it’s actually good. The most obviously bad part is the vacuous and cringeworthy dialogue interspersed in between more serious conversations. The less obvious problem is that, despite their seemingly glitzy lives, the stories and the cast are just not that interesting. Surprisingly, Singapore Social wasn’t produced by locals. Somehow alarm bells didn’t ring at Netflix when they were pitched this show by the American unit of a British production house, Love Productions. Why did Netflix executives think that a bunch of ang mohs could make a reality show that reflects Singaporean life? Oh, if you play a drinking game where you drink every time Chinatown appears or the cast dine or party with the Marina Bay skyline in the background, you’ll get drunk pretty quickly. (The Singapore Tourism Board was involved in the production, so they might have shared some of the costs with Netflix in return for embedded tourism advertisements). The series has been criticised by netizens for being unrepresentative of Singapore society. On this point, I will defend the show: reality TV doesn’t need to be “representative” of the masses to be interesting television, but the cast or characters need to be relatable in some way, in the way their lives mirror viewers’. After all, shows in the US like The Hills and Keeping Up With The Kardashians have gained huge followings even though they feature casts who are rich and privileged. But the narratives and conflicts portrayed in Singapore Social either are not relatable to most Singaporeans, or never really lead to personal growth. The producers seem to think that an unvarnished look into the lives of this group of physically attractive people would make for good TV. They might very well be perfectly charming people in real life – but the show mostly just documents things that happen to them and they rarely make decisive actions. There’s nothing much to get you invested in their lives whether in their careers, family, or romance. Vinny’s main story is that he has an ex-girlfriend who he remains close friends with, who still pines for him – but he never resolves his relationship with her at the end of the series. We all know that so-called “reality TV” is manipulated, scripted, and edited to some extent to create drama and interesting stories for viewers. At least in Singapore Social, we know that nobody could possibly have scripted the vacuous conversations that these characters have. These folks do talk about deeper things, like how they need to persevere in their dreams despite their conservative Asian parents holding them back – and in real life we all say nonsense to our friends. But the constant editing choices to feature random inane dialogue is baffling. It feels like the producers threw the cast together in scenes hoping that they would utter interesting things. Then during editing, they padded the dialogue with random bits that they thought would showcase the cast’s personalities – but they’re really just random bits of verbal filler. I reproduce some examples below verbatim and let you judge for yourself. (Left to right) Mae, Vinny and Nicole chilling out with a view. This is Mae and Nicole discussing day-drinking at a restaurant overlooking the Singapore River while waiting for Vinny to show up for brunch/lunch: Nicole: Is it too early for wine? Mae: Are you thinking of wine already? Nicole: Yes, I think it will help. Mae: I’ll have wine with you! Nicole: (squeaking excitedly) Yes! OK… red or white? Mae: Are you eating? Have you eaten? Nicole: No, I haven’t eaten. Good point. Let’s see if Vinny has wine. Do you know that “Vinny” plus “Mae” equals “Minnie”? (Both giggle at this fantastically funny joke.) Me: ???????? Here, Nicole gets into a hiccuping fit while on a date with her romantic interest Alson, which was randomly left in the final edit: Nicole: *Hic* Oh, gosh. Alson: You gotta flip your back. Hurry, flip your back! Flip your back! (What does “flip your back” mean anyway??) Nicole: I’m trying to hold my breath! *hic* Alson: Just drink this. (Offers her beer) Nicole drinks beer. Thankfully for our sanity, the hiccups subside and they carry on with a conversation about how Nicole is stressed out at her mother nagging her to pursue a conventional career over being an entrepreneur. Maybe non-confrontational Singaporeans just can’t really produce the interesting personalities needed for a reality show. How many local reality docu-series can you think of? The closest that things got to a catfight was when Tabitha indirectly accused fellow artiste Sukki of being jealous during the launch party for Tabitha’s music single. For reality TV to work, you need your cast to respond to their problems, to work through conflicts with the people around them, and to bring their stories to closure. You need villains and heroes. You need a reason to root for whoever’s onscreen. But Singapore Social doesn’t give much reason for you to be invested. Mae, while discussing the meaning of their existence on this earth with Vinny at the beginning of the second episode, says, “Sometimes I question, like, where am I going? What is all of this for? Like, what’s the purpose? Why am I here?” Indeed, those are questions that will cross the mind of anyone watching this show – if they can bring themselves to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManOfTheHour Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 Looks a dumbass airhead show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee_O Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 once i know that it is a show about singapore. i dun even bother to click on it. cos there is a reason why i stopped watching media cock channel for decades Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meng.huat Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 aiya... fake show to showcase singapore and take free money from singapore tourism board... who cares about content... get those asian girls to show some tits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaur4man Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 The Singapore dream lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homelander Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 Is this netflix crazy rich asian? why never cast @HarrisY inside? i think he will be the most interesting character with his adventures of cai peng and pgds 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisY Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 8 minutes ago, Homelander said: Is this netflix crazy rich asian? why never cast @HarrisY inside? i think he will be the most interesting character with his adventures of cai peng and pgds Mai gong jiao wei rah... I live in Meyer Road Slum n nid to wait for my dad to gif me pocket marnee of a few K everi month 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meng.huat Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 7 minutes ago, HarrisY said: Mai gong jiao wei rah... I live in Meyer Road Slum n nid to wait for my dad to gif me pocket marnee of a few K everi month u sound like a 16 years old xdd just finish o level 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homelander Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 9 minutes ago, HarrisY said: Mai gong jiao wei rah... I live in Meyer Road Slum n nid to wait for my dad to gif me pocket marnee of a few K everi month Isn't it interesting story? your dad is tomy stark, weapons manufactorer...the son fire jericho missiles into atb pgd for national pride 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisY Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, meng.huat said: u sound like a 16 years old xdd just finish o level I m xdd whenever wif atbs lor wahaha jin kinky 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homelander Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 3 hours ago, HarrisY said: I m xdd whenever wif atbs lor wahaha jin kinky why kinky leh...can u elaborate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socrates469bc Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 3 hours ago, Homelander said: Is this netflix crazy rich asian? why never cast @HarrisY inside? i think he will be the most interesting character with his adventures of cai peng and pgds 3 hours ago, HarrisY said: Mai gong jiao wei rah... I live in Meyer Road Slum n nid to wait for my dad to gif me pocket marnee of a few K everi month yes, if the show cast our favorite kgk xdd, it will be more realistic. his adventures of cai png and atb pgds will resonate with many of us while his daily bas jalan jalan will be a very good advertisement for sbs/smrt. he will also be able to attract commercial endorsements from members of the gayland small bizs association and cultural exchange endorsement from the tiongland embassy in sgp. maybe kaplan will also endorse free diploma study for kgk xdd. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisY Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 20 minutes ago, Homelander said: why kinky leh...can u elaborate? Diam diam rah chiu noe rah 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homelander Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 7 minutes ago, socrates469bc said: yes, if the show cast our favorite kgk xdd, it will be more realistic. his adventures of cai png and atb pgds will resonate with many of us while his daily bas jalan jalan will be a very good advertisement for sbs/smrt. he will also be able to attract commercial endorsements from members of the gayland small bizs association and cultural exchange endorsement from the tiongland embassy in sgp. maybe kaplan will also endorse free diploma study for kgk xdd. Yeah lor he jiak cai peng i can relate he take bas i can relate he fire jericho missiles i can relate he jiak pgd i cannot relate 3/4 redeeming qualities...at the end of the season he fell in love with atb pgd as plot twist, viewers confirm want to see what happen during season 2! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homelander Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, HarrisY said: Diam diam rah chiu noe rah This zz kym? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socrates469bc Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Homelander said: Yeah lor he jiak cai peng i can relate he take bas i can relate he fire jericho missiles i can relate he jiak pgd i cannot relate 3/4 redeeming qualities...at the end of the season he fell in love with atb pgd as plot twist, viewers confirm want to see what happen during season 2! yes, i also cannot relate the jiak pgd part. the jiak pgd part must come with health warning from colorectal doctors to warn impressionable kumgong xdds against learning from our kgk xdd wholesale. "there is the increased risk of tapeworm infection from jiaking pgds if the pgds r not sanitized properly" or else there maybe a sudden upsurge of tapeworm infection in sgp. Edited November 28, 2019 by socrates469bc 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socrates469bc Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 11 minutes ago, Homelander said: 3/4 redeeming qualities...at the end of the season he fell in love with atb pgd as plot twist, viewers confirm want to see what happen during season 2! season 2 plot maybe have kgk xdd undertaking the dangerous task of sucking the tapeworms from his atb gf to save her life in a medical emergency????? then tony found out abt kgk xdd's dangerous mission. in order to keep kgk xdd safe from harm and to save the atb's life, tony takes on the dangerous pgd jiaking mission himself. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homelander Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 5 minutes ago, socrates469bc said: season 2 plot maybe have kgk xdd undertaking the dangerous task of sucking the tapeworms from his atb gf to save her life in a medical emergency????? then tony found out abt kgk xdd's dangerous mission. in order to keep kgk xdd safe from harm and to save the atb's life, tony takes on the dangerous pgd jiaking mission himself. wahaha while tomy jiak, kgk xdd kneel at a corner waiting for his turn... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meng.huat Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 4 hours ago, HarrisY said: I m xdd whenever wif atbs lor wahaha jin kinky how u act xdd? do u call them zz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisY Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 55 minutes ago, meng.huat said: how u act xdd? do u call them zz? Ya. Actually those atbs I find are really older den me in real life rah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meng.huat Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 1 minute ago, HarrisY said: Ya. Actually those atbs I find are really older den me in real life rah if can find a tall one will be jin shiok... 175cm she pull down your shorts and smack your naughty pigu... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisY Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, meng.huat said: if can find a tall one will be jin shiok... 175cm she pull down your shorts and smack your naughty pigu... I find 170cm b4 and ask her to wear heels wahaha jin kinky sia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManOfTheHour Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 4 hours ago, meng.huat said: if can find a tall one will be jin shiok... 175cm she pull down your shorts and smack your naughty pigu... I once anal a 1.8m atb. Her leg keep moving and kicking when I piak her pigu fast and hard look like frog swimming 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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