My Friends from Afar
My Friends From Afar (Chinese: 知星人) is a 25 episode Singaporean drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8.[1] This drama was Channel 8's featured year end offering for 2017. It stars Shaun Chen, Carrie Wong, Aloysius Pang and Paige Chua as the casts of this series.
| My Friends From Afar  知星人  | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | MFFA | 
| Genre | Alien  Romance Comedy  | 
| Written by | Cheong Yan Peng 张彦平  Lim Gin Lan 林锦兰  | 
| Directed by | 苏妙芳 Su Miao Fang  马家骏 Ma Jia Jun 张愿庭 Cheong Yuan Teng  | 
| Starring | Shaun Chen 陈泓宇  Carrie Wong 黄思恬 Aloysius Pang 冯伟衷 Paige Chua 蔡奇慧  | 
| Opening theme | 平空地带 by The Apex Project | 
| Ending theme | The Moment (那一刻) by Jean Goh & Cheeyang Ng | 
| Country of origin | Singapore | 
| Original language | Chinese | 
| No. of episodes | 25 | 
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Leong Lye Lin 梁来玲 | 
| Running time | approx. 45 minutes (excluding advertisements) | 
| Release | |
| Original network | Mediacorp Channel 8 | 
| Original release | 4 December 2017 – 5 January 2018  | 
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | While We Are Young | 
| Followed by | 118 Reunion | 
| Related shows | My Alien Girlfriend (2017) | 
Casts
    
    AMIKUS Aliens
    
| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheila Sim  沈琳宸  | Alien Queen  外星女皇  | 
 Alien Role: Basler (巴斯乐) 
 Human Role: 
  | 
1, 23 (voice)  24-25  | 
| Wang Yuqing  王昱清  | Yang Zhongyong  杨忠勇  | 
 Alien Role: TA1-2345 
 Human Role: Leonardo, Lazy Yong (懒皮勇) 
  | 
1-10, 12-25 | 
| Brandon Wong  黄炯耀  | Chen Xiaolong  陈小龙  | 
 Alien Role: TN8-5252, Tan Siao Loong 
 Human Role: Uncle Long (龙叔) 
 (Deceased - Episode 23)  | 
1-10, 12-23 | 
| 10 (Toggle Original Series - My Alien Girlfriend) | |||
| Carrie Wong  黄思恬  | Chen Fengjiao  陈凤娇  | 
 Alien Role: RSY9-3870, Tan Fong Keow 
 Human Role: Long Legs (长脚怪), Ah Jiao (阿娇) 
  | 
1-25 | 
| 1-2, 10 (Toggle Original Series - My Alien Girlfriend) | |||
| Aloysius Pang  冯伟衷  | Chen Xianglin  陈祥林  | 
 Alien Role: TP5-1487, Tan Xiang Lin 
 Human Role: 
  | 
1-25 | 
| 1-2, 10 (Toggle Original Series - My Alien Girlfriend) | |||
| Toh Xin Hui  杜芯慧  | Chen Qingxia  陈青霞  | 
 Alien Role: Your Highness (公主), Tan Ching Sia 
 Human Role: Green Prawn (青虾) 
  | 
1-4, 6-20, 22-25 | 
| 10 (Toggle Original Series - My Alien Girlfriend) | |||
| Shaun Chen  陈泓宇  | Yang Tiansheng  杨天生  | Younger Version portrayed by Lin Daorui (林道锐)
 Alien Role: TA1-2345 
 Human Role: Durian King (榴莲王), Leopard King (猎豹王) 
 (Half alien, Half human)  | 
1-25 | 
| 5 (Toggle Original Series - My Alien Girlfriend) | |||
| Zemily Leaw  廖婕汝  | Chen Yibei  陈依贝  | 
 Alien Role: VH9-6868 
 Human Role: 
 (Half alien, Half human)  | 
24-25 | 
| Naomi Yeo  杨慧诗  | Emily | Alien Role:  S(TC). 6-78910 
 Human Role:' 
  | 
1-10 (Toggle Original Series - My Alien Girlfriend) | 
| Uncredited | Alien Role:  TD5-62710 
  | 
1 | |
| Alien Role:  CX3-1462 
  | 
1 | ||
| Alien Role:  PR2-5347 
  | 
1 | 
Yang (Zhongyong) family
    
| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Wang Yuqing  王昱清  | Yang Zhongyong  杨忠勇  | See AMIKUS Aliens | |
| Adele Wong  王筱惠  | Huang Lirong  黄丽蓉  | 
  | 
5, 24-25 | 
| Paige Chua  蔡琦慧  | Yang Tianning  杨天宁  | Younger version portrayed by Natelie Tan  Complain Queen (抱怨女王) 
  | 
1-25 | 
| Shaun Chen  陈泓宇  | Yang Tiansheng  杨天生  | See AMIKUS Aliens | |
| Zemily Leaw  廖婕汝  | Chen Yibei  陈依贝  | See AMIKUS Aliens | 
Zhang (Huimei) Family
    
| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhu Xiufeng  朱秀凤  | Zhang Huimei  张慧妹  | Auntie Huimei (慧妹姨)
  | 
1-17, 19-25 | 
| Yao Wenlong  姚彣隆  | Zhou Zhiqiang  周志强  | Supporting Villain but repented Younger version portrayed by Brient Ong (黄盅艺) (Fake), Dogs & Cats Killer (狗猫杀手) 
 (Arrested-Episode 24)  | 
2-24 | 
| Eelyn Kok  郭蕙雯  | Xu Xinmei  许欣梅  | 
  | 
2-4, 6-15, 17, 21-23, 25 | 
| Alston Yeo  杨峻毅  | Zhou Guanjun  周冠军  | Ace Chou Guanjun
  | 
2-4, 6-7, 9-15, 17, 20-25 | 
Liang (Sanbo)'s family
    
| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Tan Tiow Im  陈天祥  | 
Liang Sanbo  梁三伯  | 
  | 
15-17 | 
| Brendon Kuah  柯迪宏  | 
Liang Siyuan  梁思源  | 
Xiao Yuan (小源)
  | 
16-17 | 
| Mei Xin  美心  | 
Liang Simin  梁思敏  | 
Xiao Min (小敏)
  | 
1, 6, 10-11, 15-17, 22 | 
Well Known Cafe
    
| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor Tham  谭志杰  | Dean | 
  | 
1-10 (Toggle Original Series - My Alien Girlfriend) | 
| Louis Hillyard | Thomas | 
  | 
1-10 (Toggle Original Series - My Alien Girlfriend) | 
National Environment Agency (NEA)
    
| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace Ang  洪圣安  | Li Hengxing  李恒兴  | Villain  Star 
  | 
1, 6-7, 10-14, 16-18  5 (voice)  | 
| Paige Chua  蔡琦慧  | Yang Tianning  杨天宁  | 
  | 
1-25 | 
| Sherraine Law  罗翊琦  | Fu Yayue  傅雅月  | Moon (月亮)
  | 
1, 6-8 | 
| Aloysius Pang  冯伟衷  | 
Chen Xianglin  陈祥林  | 
  | 
1-25 | 
| Carrie Wong  黄思恬  | 
Chen Fengjiao  陈凤娇  | 
  | 
1-25 | 
Other Casts
    
| Cast | Role | Description | Episodes Appeared | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Priscilla Lim  林茜茜  | Liu Lianmei  刘莲梅  | Durian Girl (榴莲妹)
  | 
1, 3-4, 6-8 | 
| Larry Low  刘龙伟  | Brother Shark  鲨鱼哥  | Villain
 (Arrested-Episode 12)  | 
1-4, 10-12 | 
| Joyce Ng  黄婉婷  | Zhao Yan  赵燕  | 3, 10-11 | |
| Le Yao  乐摇  | Sister Shark  鲨鱼姐  | Main Villain
  | 
4, 13, 21-24 | 
| Teddy  唐崧瑞  | Dave Chu | Younger version portrayed by Kaidon Lee (李景延)
  | 
8-9, 11, 15-18 | 
| Liu Junhong  劉峻宏  | Steve | Villain
  | 
8-9, 12, 14-15, 17-21, | 
| Carrie Wong  黄思恬  | Ms Wong  黄老师  | 
  | 
18 | 
Original Sound Track (OST)
    
| No. | Song Title | Singer(s) | 
|---|---|---|
| 1) | 平空地带  (Main Song for the series)  | The Apex Project | 
| 2) | 那一刻 | Jean Goh 吴思佳  Cheeyang Ng 黄智阳  | 
Reception
    
Lianhe Zaobao, in a review of the show, said that, while some episodes in the middle of the series were not bad, and the premise of aliens integrating into human society was interesting, the last ten episodes suffered somewhat from focusing too much on love affairs of the young people, causing the plot to become predictable and drawn-out. The review also suggested that the alien aspect of the show was a gimmick because the script would have been equally valid had the aliens been replaced with recent immigrants, questioning whether it might have been an improvement to include more memories or details from the aliens' home world and society.[2]
Awards & Nominations
    
    Star Awards 2018
    
My Friends From Afar is up for six nominations and has the second most nominations for Star Awards 2018.
The other dramas are nominated for Best Drama Serial with Mightiest Mother In Law, When Duty Calls, While We Are Young and Have A Little Faith.
It did not win a single award.
The Star Awards are presented by Mediacorp.
| Star Awards – Performance Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accolades | Nominees | Category | Result | 
| Star Awards 2018 Creative Achievement Award Ceremony 专业奖项颁奖礼 | Cheong Yan Peng 张彦平 & Lim Gin Lan 林锦兰 | Best Screenplay  最佳剧本  | Nominated | 
| Star Awards – Acting Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accolades | Category | Nominees | Result | 
| Star Awards 2018 Awards Ceremony 红星大奖2018颁奖礼 | Young Talent Award  青苹果奖  | 
Toh Xin Hui  杜芯慧  | 
Nominated | 
| Best Supporting Actor  最佳男配角  | 
Brandon Wong  黄炯耀  | 
Nominated | |
| Best Actor  最佳男主角  | 
Shaun Chen  陈泓宇  | 
Nominated | |
| Best Actress 最佳女主角  | 
Carrie Wong  黄思恬  | 
Nominated | |
| Best Drama Serial  最佳电视剧  | 
N/A | Nominated | |
References
    
- "知星人 My Friends From Afar, Debuts 4 December 2017, Every Mon - Fri 9pm, Channel 8". Singapore Hardware Zone. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
 - "着重儿女情长 "外星人"少了喜感". Lianhe Zaobao. Retrieved 16 January 2018.