Mediacorp executive producer, Doreen Yap, spoke to James Moore about Singapore’s boldest free-TV series yet. 

In the dark alley behind a seedy brothel owned by her father, 10-year-old Gao Shuya is almost abducted. Police officer Wu Yingqiu saves her, changing her life forever. And so begins a new dramatic path for Singapore’s Mediacorp, which premiered the Chinese drama "Unforgivable" in September this year, with a M18 rating for 20 episodes on streaming platform meWatch and an 18-episode PG version for free-TV broadcast. 

The decision to release two versions in notoriously sanitised Singapore was not what raised eyebrows when the show premiered to the industry during the first ContentAsiaPREMIERES event in Taiwan in September. It was the subject matter – sex-based crime, including rape and incest, dramatised from domestic true-crime cases – that put a crack in the long-held perception of the kinds of shows prioritised on Singapore’s stories list.  
The unvarnished blow-by-blow backstory of the show’s journey from concept to air may never be made public. But when the history of Singapore’s broadcast behemoth is written, Unforgivable may well serve as the dividing line between the Mediacorp-that-was and what came next. 

"Unforgivable" stars Jesseca Liu as the grown-up Gao Shuya, the newly appointed head of the Sexual Offence Department (SOD). The unit, set up by Wu Yingqiu (Zhu Hou Ren), is tasked with investigating a wide range of sex-related crimes. SOD Unit members join for different reasons. The team includes human rights activist, Lin Yifan (played by Shane Pow); Guan Lin (Hong Ling), who put her father in jail; and Li Junhao (Gavin Teo), who has a ticking bomb in his body. While Shuya appears to be the best person to lead the unit, she remains haunted by childhood memories. 

Executive producer, Doreen Yap, speaks about breaking new ground in Singapore...  

What were the challenges of bringing to life a drama focusing on such a sensitive topic? “As the stories in Unforgivable were inspired by real-life cases, our main challenge was in keeping the content realistic and raw, yet also making it tasteful. The drama features several stories that were inspired by real-life cases seen in the news, although the characters and scenarios have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes.

“While it may leave some viewers feeling disturbed or uncomfortable, ultimately, we want them to believe that what they are watching is based on reality. To achieve this, we had to find a balance between the intensity of the language and visuals, while at the same time being mindful of sensitivities.”

Would you consider Unforgivable ground breaking for Singapore? “Yes, I think so. It is the first drama in Singapore that puts the spotlight on sexual abuse and violence with an investigative angle. We produced two versions: an M18 version that is only available for streaming on meWatch [Mediacorp’s streaming platform]; and a PG version to cater to general audiences on free-to-air TV.

“This is the first time that a drama of this genre has been screened for free-TV/broadcast audiences, and was not without its challenges. In addition to allowing more viewers to catch the show, it gives parents an opportunity to guide their children on this topic. I hope both versions will be well received and leave a lasting impression.”

What’s the history behind the project and did you have any hesitation about taking it on? “Sexual violence remains a critical issue worldwide. Yet people find it hard to discuss openly, and victims often struggle to voice their experiences. When our writer, Alisia [Alisia Pek, who wrote the series with Ong Siew Sze], pitched this concept, I was immediately attracted to it and believed that it was important to address these issues thoughtfully. 

“However, I also questioned if it was even possible to bring such a concept to fruition in Singapore. Not only had we not taken on such a project before, we also knew it would be very sensitive and challenging, especially if we were going to air it on free TV.

“After much deliberation, we ultimately felt that it would be a meaningful project and were up for the challenge. We hope that through this drama, we can normalise conversations about this subject, to break the silence and reduce the stigma associated with it.”

What did the series mean for you as executive producer? “For me, the broader message I would like to leave viewers is that sexual violence is very real and is happening all around us. I hope we can all play a part to help victims find the courage to stand up for themselves and report crimes to the authorities. And also, to be more sensitive and show concern to people around us, especially when they show signs that they need help.”

Two directors brought Unforgivable to life... “The two directors were Zhang Huiying and Yo Chen. We were cognisant that such a sensitive topic could be easily sensationalised, and were determined to portray the crimes in as realistic a manner as possible without over-dramatising them. By doing so, they were able to effectively bring out the heinousness of these crimes and convey the extent of their impact on the victims and their emotions.” 

Some cast members have gone public with their experiences of abuse. Was this something you knew would happen? “No, I did not expect them to share in this way. But as I read their personal stories in the media, I felt heartened knowing that they had spoken up. This is exactly one of the reasons that we made this drama – to encourage people to not be afraid to speak up and to create more awareness.”

▶ Published in ContentAsia's Oct/Nov 2024 Magazine