Growing Up with new faces

(Click on pictures for larger image)

The longest running drama series on TCS 5 will return for its 5th (and final?) season on October 8. Will the Tays, with new friends from TCS 8, Cynthia Koh and Aileen Tan wrench our hearts with more of their sad tales or is it time for them to bid their fond farewell?

[Eastciti.com, September 28] They're almost like family and for the past 4 years, we've sat through the trials and heartaches of the Tay family and seen them grow up in the confusing and uncertainty-riddled decade of the 70s. Why, we can almost feel the swell of pride as the kids become adults and isn't there a little part of us which just dies when one of them goes through pain or loss…is this what they call reality TV?

Whip out the hankies and grab the most comfy spot on the couch, for we re-join the Tays as they go through more intense drama and heart-wrenching in their problem-plagued lives, and guess, what? They will be reaching their 100th episode in this run…has it really been that long? We hardly think so, as the folks grapple with more new issues and break more hearts with their life stories.

The mood will turn a lot more sombre this time round and the script writers have decided to test the actors' skills by pushing their characters' emotions further and setting them in even more dramatic circumstances. So what's to be expected in the next season? New loves (not necessarily a good thing), plaguing illnesses, fledging independence and even a murder…now how can you not want to watch the story unfold?

The existing cast of Mr Tay (Lim Kay Tong), Gary (Andrew Seow), David (Steven Lim), Vicky (Irin Gan) and Tammy (Jaime Yeo) will still be around, but this time, they've got Karen (Amy Cheng) as a permanent member of this tear-jerking series and newcomers Mae Lo (Aileen Tan) and Tracy (Cynthia Koh). Despite having done the show for a good 4 years, everyone is still as excited and bubbly as when they first started. "When we get our scripts while filming for each episode, we flip through it and can't wait to find out what happens to our characters!" says Amy and from the actors' enthusiasm in fleshing out their roles to the press, it isn't hard to imagine that at all.

Some things change but some stay the same…
For those who are sticklers for familiarity, here's what will stay the same in the new season:

• Mr Tay's stern countenance and tight shirts with high collars are here to stay and he continues his search for "a new Mrs Tay" who will take the form of Mae Lo (Aileen Tan) this time round.
• David's still the same dweeb with his horribly mismatched checked shirts and tweed jackets.
• Vicky's as stick thin as before (she's the only one who can rival Ally McBeal…no, actually, she can beat Ally hands down!) despite her pregnancy but has snipped some of her locks off and now looks much fresher

And for those who thrive on change…

• Tammy finally graduates to be a full-fledged lawyer, and she's no push-over at work either, proclaiming loudly to everyone," I'm only interested in criminal law!"
• Gary's no longer the model big brother and the seven-year-itch has hit this newly wed really quickly as he falls prey to the wiles of Tracy.
• Karen's now a full-fledged part of the Tays…will there soon be a baby Tay in the family?
• Prodigal son David returns from England but will he stay or will he be lured back for more English air? Maybe he's become an ardent fan of Man U while he was there and wants to be close to his idols….the possibilities are endless.

So while you think the Tays may have outlived their stay, we assure that for the new season, from what we've seen, Growing Up the show is not growing old and don't give up on the 70s just yet, the disco era still reigns!

Catch Growing Up when it returns on Oct 8, 8.30pm on TCS 5.

Growing Up's Official Website

Join the discussions in our message board

Like our digital photos? Print them into hard copy versions with Photoprints.
Five free 4R prints while stocks last.