Mars: Taiwanese Drama
At first, I was only watching Korean Asian Dramas, but then a friend suggested I should check out some Taiwanese Drama that she was watching, so I started watching with here with little to no expectations. I expected Taiwanese Drama to be similar to Korean drama, but boy I was surprised, they were quite different as apples and oranges.
Chinese Drams can be broken down to Taiwanese Drama, Hong Kong Drama, Mandarin Language Drama, Cantonese Language Drama and so on. Many Chinese dramas are not as main stream such as Japanese or Korean Dram. What it means here is that finding some Chinese drama with exception of Taiwanese drama, finding drama with English subtitle was not so easy, that means non-native speaker would not be able to see it. Another thing about Chinese entertainment industry as not commercially sophisticated as South Korea and Japan in terms of Universal appeal and story line that match mass population. That not to say, there are not so great drama from China. You can see more Taiwanese Drama in my Drama list, where I have listed all drama I have watched.
How Taiwanese Drama Different from Korean Drama?
- Parents are more understanding of kids and supportive, No evil Mom like Boys Over Flower
- Notmany evil ex-girl-friend or boy- friend from past
- If by chance there is evil person, they will be given help (example. “Just you” Taiwanese Drama)
- Kiss is more than touching lips unlike in Kdrama
- Usually much longer, 21-72 episodes
- Much more family oriented
- Male leads are less metro-sexual unlike Kdrama, where guys puts lip-gloss etc
- Some Taiwanese drama are remake from Korean Drama, Japanese Manga
Top Taiwanese Drama To See:
1. Just you: (2013)
This is my most favorite drama because of cute leading pairs and message for love and forgiving that makes me feel uplifted even with a one evil character in it. Qi Yi is a boss from hell. He is worst than a control freaking dictator. He is the saboteur of office romances. Cheng Liang Liang was tasked by her coworkers to break down the boss’ defense and have him lift the anti-office-romance rule. This series is 21 episodes long.
2. Mars: (2004)
Han Qi Luo, an extremely shy art student went to the same college as Chen Ling,a popular play boy. They both are haunted by past traumatic events of their own and began to heal together slowly. However, each of them had a secret past that needed to be addressed and overcome before they could accept and love one another freely. It is deep series that talks about many taboo subject and lovely love story within haunting and sad lives they had. It has 21 episodes.
Mars Fall in Love OST
3. Love Around: (2013)
Another series of Annie Chen and George Hu after Love Now. Radio DJ Liang Xiao Shu is outgoing, straightforward and speaks up against bad guys in her radio show. After finding out her boyfriend of three months is cheating on her, she is devastated. By a chance encounter she meets Zhou Zhen who comes from a former gangster family that has decided to go straight. Zhen is gentle, gracious and upright, he encourages and helps Xiao Shu by taking on his father and working for Liang’s radio show to help her. Little does he know the seed of love has already begun to grow. This series is 21 episodes long.
Love Around Trailer: English Subs.
4. Meteor garden : (2001)
This is Taiwanese version of “Boys Over Flowers”, story takes place in college, instead of high school. Yet another adaptation of a Japanese manga. Based upon Hana Yori Dango. It’s the story of a poor girl in a rich, private school who falls in with the four richest boys in school. At first they hate her, but her defiance to them, (when no one defies them) eventually wins them over. Can they adjust to each others differences due to their vastly incompatible social status? 27 episodes long.
5. When Love Walked In: (2012)
This series stars, idols stars, Calvin Chen, Zhou Mi (Super Junior-M) and Victoria from F(X). Young, talented, and handsome Qing Yu Jiang receives orders to look for Chairman Yuan’s long lost granddaughter, Shen Ya Yin. Because of her parents’ death, Ya Yin is bitter towards her grandfather. Yu Jiang not only eases the tension between them, but he gradually enters Ya Yin’s heart. But when their love begins, Yu Jiang backs out because of his love for his childhood friend. Yu Jiang tries to find her, but fails to realize that she has been by his side all along. This series is 32 episodes long.
6. Skip Beat: (Also Known as Extravagant challenge): 2011
This Taiwanese series stars Siwon and Donghae from Super Junior. It is based on the Japanese manga Skip Beat. High school graduate Gong Xi starts working on multiple jobs in order to support Bu Po Shang whom she has one-side love. Bu PO Shang’s popularity quickly rises, eventually becoming one of the top idols in Taiwan. One day, Gong Xi catches Bu Po Shang flirting with his manager, and learns that he only used her so she can help him with his living expenses. Heart-broken and betrayed, Gong Xi vows to get revenge by becoming a bigger star than him. Gong Xi auditions for L.M.E., Bu Po Shang’s rival talent agency, and joins L.M.E.’s new-found department “Love Me”. At L.M.E., Gong Xi meets famous actor Dun Helian, who eventually falls in love with her. This series is 15 episodes long.
7.It Started With a Kiss: (2005)
Story line is similar to Korean Drama Playful Kiss but it goes in much more depth and details. After an earthquake destroyed Xiang Qin’s house, she and her father moved in with the family of her father’s college buddy, Uncle Ah Li. To her surprise, the kind and amicable aunt and uncle are the parents of her cold and distant schoolmate Jiang Zhi Shu, a genius with an IQ of 200 whom not too long ago rejected her endless crush on him. Will the close proximity give her a second chance to win Zhi Shu’s heart? Or, will her love for him end under his cold words? What happens when there is competition for his heart? This series is 30 episodes long.
8. Fabulous Boys: (2013)
This is Taiwanese remake of a hit drama You’re Beautiful. The story revolves around a fictional boy band named A.N.JELL. The new member, Mei Nan, had to go to the States to repair a botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the idea of having his twin sister, Gao Mei Nu a nun-in-training who has to pose as her twin brother and take his place in the group and to stand in for him. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mei Nu, who was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn’t want to spoil her brother’s chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother. The story leads to a complicated relationship between the group’s members: jealousy arises and love comes in between. 13 Episodes.
9. Love Now: (2012)
Yang Yi-ru, as a workaholic never had time for a holiday, so her family tricks in to a vacation telling she has cancer and only six months to live. It was meant to be told when she reaches the hotel room, but she does not get the letter of truth in time and really believes she is dying. When Yi-ru told Shi-de that she only has six months left to live and that one of her dream was to get married and have kids, Shi-de proposed to Yi-ru. Not knowing that Shi-de actually had met her years ago and had fallen in love with her since that time, Yi-ru accepted his proposal. Now Shi-de is hurt when truth is out in open. It has 72 episodes but worth watching.
10. Lady Maid Maid: (2012)
Xiao Jie (Nicholas Teo) is a womanizer who changes girls like the way he changes clothes. Whereas, Shu Qi (Reen Yu) is a sweet and caring girl who sees Xiao Jie as her only prince charming because when Xiao Jie was at the lowest point in her life, not only did Xiao Jie give her and her family a home to live. Until one day a child shows up claiming to be Xiao Jie’s and with this changes their whole world.. With two people from two different worlds, can they be together and have happiness? It is 67 episodes long.
11. Fated To Love You: (2008)
Xin Yi sticky note girl who is ordinary and forgettable person. She gets dumped by her boyfriend at cruise vacation she paid for and ends up in Ji Cun Xi’sroom. Cun Xi is the sole male heir to his family’s company and is on cruise to propose to his girlfriend Anna, who does not show up. Xin Yi and Cun Xi end up having a one night stand. Xin Yi later finds out that she’s pregnant and Cun Xi’s grandmother forces them to get married. Will a couple forced to marry for the sake of their unborn child find love with each other? It has 24 episodes.
12. Devil Beside You : (2005)
Devil Beside You is adaption of manga Akuma de Sourou (The Devil Does Exist) by mangaka Takanashi Mitsuba. A girl writes a love letter to a boy. The wrong boy (a delinquent) intercepts the letter and blackmails her with it. The wrong boy later turns out to be her future step-brother (and love interest). Even though they were not related by blood, who will accept this step brother-sister relationship? What is to become of their relationship when other lovers come into the picture? It has 20 episodes.
Devil Besides You: English Subtitle
13. Autumn’s Concerto: (2009)
Ren Guang Xi, a cocky law student, seems to lead the perfect life with rich parents and being talented hockey player. But in reality, his lonely life lacks joy, laughter until he meets Liang Mu Cheng,who is poor bento seller but passionate and happygoing. A harmless bet brings the two together and Guang Xi slowly changes as Mu Cheng teaches him how to give and love. Tragedy strikes when Guang Xi loses his memory. His mother begs Mu Cheng to leave him and the latter has no choice but to do so. Little does she know that she already has Guang Xi’s child. They meet after 6 six years, when he is engaged to be married with someone else.How will the couple make up for six years of lost time? Happiness, which stop do I alight at? It has 21 episodes.
14. Hana Kimi: (2006)
This was remade in Kdrama To Beautiful you with Choi Min Ho from Shinee and Suli from F(x). After watching a high jump competition on TV, Lu Rui Xi was so inspired by a jumper named Zuo Yi Quan that she decides to transfer to his school, which happened to be an all-boys school; therefore, she disguises herself as a boy to get accepted to help and inspire Zuo Yu Quan back in to game. It has 15 episodes.
15. Tiamo Chocolate: (2012)
Story is very similar to Korean Drama Coffee Prince, with Coffee being replaced with Chocolates. Vanness plays a successor of a business. His dream is to open a chocolate store and be an expert in chocolates, so he leaves his business and his family to fulfill his dream. Joanne is someone who spent her days slogging and taking up part time work. One day, she ends up working for Vanness and above all, she has to dress herself as a man for the job. It has 80 episodes.
16. Smiling Pasta:(2006)
The story begins with Xiao Shi day dreaming on her balcony, wishing for a successful love. She meets He Qun by chance. This marks the beginning of their intertwined destinies. It has love story, love contract, family and sibling relationship and great Italian cooking. It has 17 episodes.
Smiling Pasta Trailer
17. Princess Stand In: (2013)
The ugly Jin Da Hua daydreams that if she is as beautiful as Du Liang Yan, maybe her best friend Lin Guan Jun will fall in love with her. Then one day, through plastic surgery, she is given the chance to change her life. It has 21 episodes.
18. In Born Pair (2011-2012)
Two strangers, who never had much luck in the love arena, found themselves betrothed by their families. They decided to take chance on arranged marriage. They fight but slowly gave way to genuine fondness for one another. In the end, the couple discovered that true love is not to be found but has to be cultivated.
19. Corner With Love (2007)
Barbie Hsu stars as Xinlei, a rich Shanghai girl who has taken for granted all her fortune and happiness. Cook and amateur painter Chin Lang (Show Luo) is less lucky. The two cross path in metropolitan Shanghai, and with the help of Xinlei, Chin Lang finally returns to Taipei. He expects never to see her again. But as fate would have it, she shows up at his door all of a sudden – and as if that is not surprising enough – to claim the ownership of his apartment.
20. Office Girls (2011)
Qin Zi Qi is a MBA graduate who has everything handed to him because he is the future successor of Jingshi Department Store. who is working as an entry-level employee for a year without revealing his identity as his father’s wishes. Qin could not have survived the year has it not been for Shen Xing Reng’s office survival guide. Together, Shen and Qin accomplish the impossible, which is to shine on the bottom of the office pyramid.
There are many great Taiwanese Dramas, which I have yet to watch, which is your Favorite Taiwanese Drama?