My Eldest Girl Should Get Married
Encyclopedia
My Eldest Girl Should Get Married is a 2010
Chinese
urban comedy
/drama
television series directed by Sun Hao. It premiered on CCTV-8
on April 3, 2010 and comprises 25 episodes. This urban romantic comedy
series with elements of farce
stars Song Jia
, Yu Xiaowei, Zhang Haotian, Liu Dekai, Guo Tao
and Zhou Jie
. The phrase dànǚ (大女) can refer to unmarried women above a certain age, and hence the title can also be translated as An Aging Woman Should Get Married.
The series concerns a working woman (Song Jia) in her thirties whose family is frantically searching for a prospective spouse for her. The series portrays the phenomenon of shengnü (剩女, lit. “leftover women”), which refer to a phenomenon in East Asia
n societies where urban women are getting married at a much older age, some of whom continue into singlehood throughout their lives.
to get married, even though Dayan feels personally it is impossible to rush romance or marriage.
After encountering many unsuitable guys and a “contract marriage
” proposal, Dayan settles on her first serious relationship in years. Banking manager Peng Tan (Zhou Jie) is polite, well-spoken and good-looking, a doctorate
from a US university who is three years Dayan’s senior, a colleague of Dayan’s sister-in-law. Although Dayan is attracted to him at first she realizes as their relationship progresses that she has difficulty coping with his extremely fastidious and demanding mum, and that the ultra-rational Peng Tan is really after a marriage, not love. The two break up after Dayan discover Peng had hired a hooligan to beat up a fellow suitor of hers.
A problem student’s father, popular on-air host Su Rushi (Liu Dekai), ushers in her second romance. The charismatic, mature radio presenter is well known in the city, but is almost 60. While Dayan’s family objects to this May–December romance, Dayan and Su are ready to ditch family dissent and pursue love. But the appearance of Su’s former wife and the emigration
of his daughter to Canada
cause the two to break up.
As Dayan nurses heartbreak, a third man appears in her life. Energetic young teacher Zhang Yaoyang (Zhang Haotian) is twelve years Dayan’s junior and was a former trainee teacher. Dayan is attracted to his youthfulness but finds it difficult to keep up with his verve or his at times not-so-mature ways. After a protracted break-up, where Zhang ends up causing the injury of another teacher, new Vice-Principal Cheng Chuang (Yu Xiaowei), Zhang whites out from her life.
Cheng Chuang, the responsible, independent vice-principal from Dayan’s school, a former soldier, is four years Dayan’s senior and is a perfect candidate from the Jiang’s family’s point of view. Dayan finds herself with increasing feeling for Cheng, especially after her grandmother’s unexpected death, until a coquettish best friend (Fan Jinlin) professes her interest in the man. Add to the fact that she is unsure of how Cheng is feeling about herself, the romance stalls.
A false diagnosis of cervical cancer
convinces Dayan Cheng is the right one for her. But will he be the man who will end her singlehood?
’s 2008 film If You Are the One
. The debut on CCTV-8 was a successful one – My Eldest Girl Should Get Married was one of the most popular Chinese series in 2010. The series provoked a debate on the phenomenon of shengnü on the Internet
. Liu Xin and Xiao Ling’s songs for the series also became popular hits online. Lead actress Song Jia has professed her dislike for the phrase shengnü, which she considers derogatory, preferring the newly coined and more neutral dǎnǚ.
2010 in television
2010 in television may refer to:*2010 in American television*2010 in Australian television*2010 in British television*2010 in Canadian television*2010 in Japanese television...
Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
urban comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
/drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television series directed by Sun Hao. It premiered on CCTV-8
CCTV-8
CCTV-8 is the television drama channel of the CCTV Network in the People's Republic of China.-External links:*...
on April 3, 2010 and comprises 25 episodes. This urban romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
series with elements of farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
stars Song Jia
Song Jia
Song Jia , also known as Xiao Song Jia , is a Chinese actress and singer. Her label is Orange Sky Entertainment Group Holdings Ltd...
, Yu Xiaowei, Zhang Haotian, Liu Dekai, Guo Tao
Guo Tao (actor)
Guo Tao is a Chinese actor.Guo was born in Beijing. He graduated from Central Academy of Drama in 1992.-Filmography:*1994, To Live*1997, Spicy Love Soup*1998, So Close to Paradise*2004, Green Hat*2006, Crazy Stone...
and Zhou Jie
Zhou Jie
Zhou Jie is a Chinese actor and singer, best known for his works on two television series as Fu Er Kang in the Huan Zhu Ge Ge trilogy and as Yang Kang in The Legend of the Condor Heroes .-Trivia and Gossip:...
. The phrase dànǚ (大女) can refer to unmarried women above a certain age, and hence the title can also be translated as An Aging Woman Should Get Married.
The series concerns a working woman (Song Jia) in her thirties whose family is frantically searching for a prospective spouse for her. The series portrays the phenomenon of shengnü (剩女, lit. “leftover women”), which refer to a phenomenon in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
n societies where urban women are getting married at a much older age, some of whom continue into singlehood throughout their lives.
Plot
Eldest child Jiang Dayan (Song Jia), 33, is a schoolteacher living in a middle-income family with her doting 80-year-old grandmother, her father – a retired school principal – and forensic pathologist mother. Ever since her younger sister and brother marry, she is pressured to get herself married since, at 33, is now considered a shengnü (剩女) by Chinese standards. Immediately after her sister’s wedding, the Jiang family makes getting their eldest girl hitched their No. 1 priority and pulls out all the stops to match Dayan with any eligible bachelor in town. Despite having a group of spinster schoolmates who face similar problems, Dayan gives in to her parents’ wishes and go for countless (unsuccessful) matchmaking sessions, even appearing on a TV matchmaking program. Her grandmother gives her a one-year ultimatumUltimatum
An ultimatum is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance. An ultimatum is generally the final demand in a series of requests...
to get married, even though Dayan feels personally it is impossible to rush romance or marriage.
After encountering many unsuitable guys and a “contract marriage
Prenuptial agreement
A prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement, commonly abbreviated to prenup or prenupt, is a contract entered into prior to marriage, civil union or any other agreement prior to the main agreement by the people intending to marry or contract with each other...
” proposal, Dayan settles on her first serious relationship in years. Banking manager Peng Tan (Zhou Jie) is polite, well-spoken and good-looking, a doctorate
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from a US university who is three years Dayan’s senior, a colleague of Dayan’s sister-in-law. Although Dayan is attracted to him at first she realizes as their relationship progresses that she has difficulty coping with his extremely fastidious and demanding mum, and that the ultra-rational Peng Tan is really after a marriage, not love. The two break up after Dayan discover Peng had hired a hooligan to beat up a fellow suitor of hers.
A problem student’s father, popular on-air host Su Rushi (Liu Dekai), ushers in her second romance. The charismatic, mature radio presenter is well known in the city, but is almost 60. While Dayan’s family objects to this May–December romance, Dayan and Su are ready to ditch family dissent and pursue love. But the appearance of Su’s former wife and the emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
of his daughter to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cause the two to break up.
As Dayan nurses heartbreak, a third man appears in her life. Energetic young teacher Zhang Yaoyang (Zhang Haotian) is twelve years Dayan’s junior and was a former trainee teacher. Dayan is attracted to his youthfulness but finds it difficult to keep up with his verve or his at times not-so-mature ways. After a protracted break-up, where Zhang ends up causing the injury of another teacher, new Vice-Principal Cheng Chuang (Yu Xiaowei), Zhang whites out from her life.
Cheng Chuang, the responsible, independent vice-principal from Dayan’s school, a former soldier, is four years Dayan’s senior and is a perfect candidate from the Jiang’s family’s point of view. Dayan finds herself with increasing feeling for Cheng, especially after her grandmother’s unexpected death, until a coquettish best friend (Fan Jinlin) professes her interest in the man. Add to the fact that she is unsure of how Cheng is feeling about herself, the romance stalls.
A false diagnosis of cervical cancer
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
convinces Dayan Cheng is the right one for her. But will he be the man who will end her singlehood?
Main cast (simplified Chinese)
- Song JiaSong JiaSong Jia , also known as Xiao Song Jia , is a Chinese actress and singer. Her label is Orange Sky Entertainment Group Holdings Ltd...
(宋佳) as Jiang Dayan (姜大雁), a schoolteacher who is 33/35 throughout the series. She is the protagonist, a bespectacled, unostentatious woman who undergoes four serious relationships in the series. Like any woman she has her emotional weakness and is under enormous stress in getting herself hitched, but gets by with an attitude ready to laugh at herself.
- Zhou JieZhou JieZhou Jie is a Chinese actor and singer, best known for his works on two television series as Fu Er Kang in the Huan Zhu Ge Ge trilogy and as Yang Kang in The Legend of the Condor Heroes .-Trivia and Gossip:...
(周杰) as Peng Tan (彭坦), a 36-year-old banking manager who appears polite and well spoken. His extremely fastidious mother and maternal aunts prove the downfall of his relationship with Dayan.
- Liu Dekai (刘德凯) as Su Rushi (苏如是), a charismatic radio presenter in his late 50s. He has a daughter in her late teens and is a divorcee.
- Zhang Haotian (张浩天) as Zhang Yaoyang (张耀阳), a boyish 22-year-old who is first a trainee teacher then a formal photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
teacher at Dayan’s school. He is interested in Dayan and makes no qualms about declaring his romantic interest in her.
- Yu Xiaowei (于小伟) as Cheng Chuang (程闯), a 38-year-old vice-principal and teacher newly posted to Dayan’s school. He is a responsible, independent and caring teacher who knew Dayan formerly and is a former soldier.
- Chu Shuanzhong (储栓忠) as Dazhi (大志), a down-to-earth, honest, blue-collarBlue collarBlue collar can refer to:*Blue-collar worker, a traditional designation of the working class*Blue-collar crime, the types of crimes typically associated with the working class*A census designation...
taxi driver interested in Dayan. Dayan treats him as a good friend.
- Guo TaoGuo Tao (actor)Guo Tao is a Chinese actor.Guo was born in Beijing. He graduated from Central Academy of Drama in 1992.-Filmography:*1994, To Live*1997, Spicy Love Soup*1998, So Close to Paradise*2004, Green Hat*2006, Crazy Stone...
(郭涛) as Fang Quan (方泉), a suitor who offers Dayan a “contract marriage”.
- Ma Shuliang (马书良) as Jiang Haoran (姜浩然), the father, head of the Jiang family, a retired school principal. Like his wife, his most urgent wish is to get his eldest girl married.
- Zhu Yin (朱茵) as Dang Sheng (党生), the mother, a forensic pathologist who tries all means, both legal and foul, to get her eldest child hitched.
- Lu Yuan (鲁园) as Grandma/Gao Jinwen (奶奶/高锦雯), the impish 80-year-old grandmother who has a sweet tooth and a soft spot for Häagen-DazsHäagen-DazsHäagen-Dazs is a brand of ice cream, established by Jewish-Polish immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus in the Bronx, New York, in 1961. Starting with only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, the company opened its first retail store in Brooklyn, New York, on November 15, 1976...
ice creamIce creamIce cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
. Dayan is her favorite grandchild.
- Sun Yifei (孙镱菲) as Jiang Xiaoyun (姜小芸), Dayan’s younger sister, who is/was married and acts as her some-time love counsel.
- Guo Lin (郭林) as Hao Tong (郝童), Xiaoyun's miserly and rotund restaurant owner husband.
- Zhang Duo (张铎) as Jiang Xiaojun (姜小军), Dayan’s younger brother, a traffic policeTraffic policeTraffic police or Traffic cops may refer to:*Police controlling traffic, see rules of the road*Traffic Cops, a BBC real-life documentary*Highway patrol*Road Policing Unit*Traffic Guard*Sri Lankan Traffic Police*Municipal police...
man who is married to Qian Lele.
- He Haoyang (何昊阳) as Qian Lele (钱乐乐), Dayan’s sister-in-law, wife to Jiang Xiaojun.
- Fan Jinlin (樊锦霖) as Lü Wei (吕薇), Dayan’s extremely coquettish good friend, who believes in using her assets to hook the best available bachelor. She undergoes extensive plastic surgeriesPlastic surgeryPlastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
to achieve this end.
Reception
The series was marketed as a TV series with similar themes to Feng XiaogangFeng Xiaogang
Feng Xiaogang , in is a Chinese film director. He is famous in China as being perhaps the most successful "commercialized" filmmaker whose comedy films do consistently well in the box office, although Feng has attempted to break out from that mold by making drama or period drama films...
’s 2008 film If You Are the One
If You Are the One
If You Are the One is a 2008 Chinese romantic comedy film directed by Feng Xiaogang and starring Ge You and Shu Qi. The film has been very successful at the Chinese box office, and has became one of Feng's top grossing films to date, and has earned over ¥364 million at the box office.-Plot:Qin...
. The debut on CCTV-8 was a successful one – My Eldest Girl Should Get Married was one of the most popular Chinese series in 2010. The series provoked a debate on the phenomenon of shengnü on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Liu Xin and Xiao Ling’s songs for the series also became popular hits online. Lead actress Song Jia has professed her dislike for the phrase shengnü, which she considers derogatory, preferring the newly coined and more neutral dǎnǚ.