Taiwanese Dramas With English Subtitles

***SPOILER ALERT!!!***

Lesson I learned on this drama: love is blind. Why did I say it? The female lead, a single mother, falls in love with a guy who, although he helped her during her pregnancy, left her after the baby was born, then came back after 5 years. Also, Yao Yang & Hao Quan, the other 2 guy friends of the female lead, fell in love & stayed with her, even if they don't have a chance. Nevertheless, this drama has a good story about a friendship formed between Ya Ting, a pregnant, single mother, & 3 guys (Qi Tian, Hao Quan, & Yao Yang), who met through fate, their journey of helping resolve each other's issues together, & caring for Ya Ting's safe pregnancy.

In my opinion, this was a decent adaptation of the original anime. I tried watching a quick look of its anime version. I prefer the drama version more. I liked the cast! The Taiwanese cast were like starring in a Korean drama, or it could be vice versa. On this drama, I can't tell if Park Shin Hye is Korean or not, she can look like Taiwanese as well, her beauty is a classic Asian one. This was my first Park Shin Hye drama, she did a very good job, I was not disappointed in her and in this drama. The actors were very suitable in their roles. The story was cute and romantic.

This was an absolutely fun drama! The most interesting part was whenever they discuss the business of selling clothes. I learned many good values in this drama, especially being confident and caring around loved ones. Taiwan acting & soundtrack is undoubtedly good as always. The main lead actor, Bruce Chen, was very masculine and also funny on his naughty role as a rebellious high school student turned department store executive. While the main female lead actress, Amber An, has a relatable role, as a top, pretty high school student, whose studies were delayed and wasn't able to attend university for a decade due to poverty, until she meets the main male lead and worked in his department store. I'd also like to specially commend the other supporting actors, Sean Lee as the lawyer friend of the female lead, Mao Di as the funny cousin of the male lead, and Oceana Wu, as an unexpectedly female admirer of the female lead. There's lots of laughs, romance, learnings and realizations we will get on this drama. Please enjoy!

Pure Taiwanese romantic comedy at its finest! The funny antics of Show Luo and the iconic portayal of Rainie Yang as an eccentric female social rebel make them one of the most unlikely yet well-loved on-screen couples. Another wow factor as well was lending their sweet voices to the drama OST. I'm also glad to see Lee Wei here, he's an underrated actor. I enjoyed the entire moment watching this drama, whether if the scenes make me laugh a lot, or make me cry whenever the characters were suffering, I felt different emotions based on the scene. Everything and everyone on this drama was outstanding! This was one of the best romcoms I've watched!

The volleyball plot was interesting, the couples look good together, amazing acting performance by the cast.

A sweet BL love story between a divorced man with one cute daughter and a college student working as his daughter's babysitter, this was a good drama!

The writer of this story has a dreamlike BL romance in mind, with couples who were very sweet and in love for each other, yet the story is also realistic and relatable, it shows real-life issues to deal with about family and life, there's happy or sad memories but life still goes on, life is also too short, we need to try to continue and be happy for our loved ones who care for us. Thank you to the actors and crew behind the scenes for this excellent BL drama!

If we're getting used to watching action/police genres whether movies or dramas that has a leading man and leading lady as the couple, here in 'Trapped' drama, we will get to witness the romantic love story of BL couples, policemen finding love with men from the mob world. It's a fun yet sweet drama, one of the best BL series ever!

***SPOILER ALERT!!!***

This was a funny yet heartwarming series! The friendship among the guys was also admirable as well, I liked how they were open about each other.  I also learned BL stuff for the 1st time, like what '1 vs. 0' and 'fujoshi' is, LOL.

In the drama, there was a controversial scene where the guy took advantage on his drunk stepbrother, which is totally not a right thing for anyone to do just to gain someone's love. But for me, I think the point of this drama is just to tell a story between two lovers, Xing Si & Yong Jie, who are also stepbrothers, and how their relationship began. We have saw or heard real-life stories of people even killing or committing crimes in the name of love, it's a sad truth. This BL is only fictional, but also portrays real-life situations of people in relationships, which may not be perfect on the eyes of others, as long as they are with the person they love.

While the secondary BL couple, Teng Teng & Li Cheng's story was lovely, on how they turned each other from friends to lovers. The scenes when Li Cheng was learning BL stuff and trying to pursue Teng Teng was funny! I also liked how protective and sweet boyfriend Li Cheng is to Teng Teng.

Another interesting thing I learned was, the actress Cindy Chi, who plays as Li Cheng's childhood playmate and now his workmate, Mei Fang, was also the child actress from Jerry Yan and Ella's 2010 drama "Down With Love", who acted as Jerry's spoiled niece and Xiao Xiao Bin's elder sister, as well as a part of another History series, "Make The Days Count" as a high school student. I was surprised that she has grown up as a classy and talented actress!

Overall, this was a commendable History series, kudos to all the cast and crew, you all did great!

I'm satisfied with this drama. There's story twists to watch for. The couples are good for each other. Fu De is such a funny character. I would love to time travel back to the year 2000, it was better, simpler times.

***SPOILER ALERT!!!***

For me, the story is still considered a BL, since before the guy died, he has romantic feelings and fell in love with Mai Ying Xiong (Hero). Although Hero's girlfriend's soul possessed the guy's body, the fact that Hero & the other guy have feelings for each other still exists. I feel saddened for the girl, though, it's hurtful, I wished for the girl to rest in peace and move on.

What if your death was a sad ending, then you will be reborn on your past? If you will do differently than in your past life, will there be a different ending, or still the same sad ending? I just find the story cool & interesting, even if it's just fictional or nothing like that happen in real life. The couples and their scenes in this BL were romantic & hot.

Cute little BL love story between stepbrothers <3

The story was about a group of 5 friends who are all art major college students, & their journey of romance, heartbreaks, friendship & life. Recalling the first time watching this, before "Honey & Clover", I already watched Joe Cheng in the hit drama "It Started With A Kiss". Here in "Honey & Clover", he plays as a senior architecture student who falls in love with his boss (played by Tarcy Su) from a company he had an internship with. Also, I have watched actor Eddie Peng as well before this, in "Chinese Paladin", he's a perfect comedian in both dramas, he's always great at playing funny characters! Here also, he plays as a multi-skilled sculptor/comic artist, who falls in love with pretty painter Hua Ben Yu, as well as a goofy friend among the group, and a loyal younger brother who helps his elder brother (played by Shin) with their family issues. It was also my first time watching other actors. I just found out that the actress playing Hua Ben Yu is Japanese singer Ito Chiaki from the band AAA. Her character was a naive freshman brought by her uncle professor (played by Chang Han) from her hometown to the university to study painting, where two guys will fall in love with her. It was also my first time watching Lego Lee here, who is a newcomer actor at that time, he was also cute to watch as he plays an architecture freshman who also falls in love with Hua Ben Yu; he thinks he does not have skills in art, so he went on his own journey finding his own path, until he works in part-time construction jobs. I was also amazed by actress Janine Chang, who was also my first time watching her here, she plays a pottery making student who falls in love with Joe Cheng's character, but turns out her love is one-sided, and one day, meets a playboy (played by David Chen) who will also fall in love with her... (please read more on the comments section, thank you!) :)

I'm not any fan of sports, especially basketball, but "Hot Shot" is an underrated Asian drama that all both fans or not fans of basketball would like. It's a humble story of Pi Li University's school basketball team, "Pi Li Flaming Wolves", and their success story, whose team was previously not winning for decades. There's also romance, but it's not the drama's main theme, thank goodness.

The actors were all perfect, good-looking cast. Show Luo and Jerry Yan are both one of the most handsome, yet multi-talented Taiwanese singers & actors ever. Show sang the opening song, while Jerry sang the ending song, and both their songs have good melody, as well as the whole OST.

Some scenes in the drama were impossible or never happened in real life, like the basketball moves, they look like martial arts, but in fairness, they were well-executed flawlessly & perfectly. Also, girl power was also shown in this drama, like a female coach of a men's basketball team, & a good female basketball player who can play better with male players. In real life, women coaches are only seen in all-women basketball teams, and female players only play with each other. But after all, this drama is only fictional, but just like other Taiwanese dramas, what's admirable with them is how life-like they all are, even if the story is just a fairytale one. Overall, this was a funny yet inspiring, great drama of teamwork, passion for basketball & brotherhood!

a.k.a. Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu

*******

***SPOILER ALERT!!!***

2008 vs. 2024: I started watching Hana Kimi for the 1st time when I was still a high school junior student, the show was aired here in Philippines on free TV nationwide, last March 2008, at that time it was our summer break vacation. The show was also dubbed in our native language, Tagalog. Now this February 2024, I re-watched this show, after 15 years, with English subtitles online.

The 1st time I watched this show, I immediately had a crush on Wu Chun! After watching the 1st episode, I clearly remembered how funny & cute it was. While Ella was so perfect in her role as a girl disguised as a boy student, so are the other characters! I got hooked on this drama, it was so enjoyable, I never missed 1 episode on TV, I finished it from start to end. The OST was also memorable, sung by S.H.E., Fahrenheit, & Tank.

So, I just re-watched the drama after 15 years, now as an adult. I feel so old now, haha! My high school classmates are now married with kids, and here I am, still living like my younger self who watches dramas, but also trying to survive & earn money for myself & my family in an adult body, hehe. 

What's the difference between before & now? Firstly, I had a crush on Wu Chun before, when I was still a teenager. But now, he's not my crush anymore, since he's now married and has children... (please read more on the comments section, thank you!) :)

***SPOILER ALERT!!!***

This drama has an interesting story about a watch who is possessed by a ghost, whose body of the ghost is still in coma at the hospital for 6 years already, and his adventures with his new friend, the repairman of the watch who can only see him, to uncover the mystery of his murder. I think the story is unbelievable, I haven't heard of real-life stories where the ghost of a vegetative body can still wander around. But I have read miracle stories online of people who woke up from coma for many years. One of the stories I've read online is about a patient who woke up from a coma, then she said she was able to "see heaven and hell" during the years she was in coma.

I liked the friendship displayed in this drama. The repairman was a geeky man who likes anime and nerdy stuff. The repairman's friend gave the watch to him to repair it, then the repairman was able to see the ghost. Turns out that the owner of the watch was the ghost's girlfriend, who can't move on about her boyfriend's murder 6 years ago. Only the repairman can see the ghost, others can't. There was also romance, which was about the ghost and his girlfriend, before the murder happened.

The drama was led by 3 top actors of their time. Jasper Liu looks cool and handsome as a ghost... (please read more on the comments section, thank you!) :)

With subtitles in English: https://youtu.be/4QLwNvy7o4U?si=BMrVNc8cLw2mGILG

*******

A good mini drama led by Danson Tang, which he stars as an ordinary guy who was discovered through his good singing skills and was invited for a singing competition, but he faced a hurdle when he was told by his girlfriend to no longer join the competition. 

All of the actors played all the characters in the drama so well. I liked all the characters and actors! I empathized with Qiao Qi's feelings. It must have been hard for her dealing with her two male admirers like Shi Zhi and Chao Meng, who both gave their efforts to court her. This has been an emotional yet romantic drama.

The last episode has surprising revelations. The drama was okay. It shows the characters' different views about loneliness, living alone, and romantic relationships. Each episode will ask a question for us to ponder. One of the questions which is in the last episode was: "Do you enjoy being alone?" My answer to all questions is 'Yes'.

As for my own experience, I grew up in a family, with uncles and aunts (both my parents' siblings), who are single, never been in a relationship and now in their 60s, also even my own siblings reaching 30s already. There are people like me and them who exist and would prefer to live alone. I have decided to live this way because I do not want to add anymore problems in my life. I am already happy to be able to buy and afford what I want, see my family happy, live the life God wants me to live, and be able to serve God for His purpose in my life. I do  believe in destiny, that God formed couples. What God wants to happen will indeed really happen. I, myself, do have faith and believe that God can take care of me once I die. Please respect my post. Thank you for reading! :)

Undoubtedly, the drama is perfect itself. The characters here portray people in real life, who have insecurities and issues, that we face ourselves and we all see as imperfect.

Qing Fen has a good family, husband and child. But Qing Fen is insecure with Rebecca, her husband's ex-girlfriend. Rebecca has a good career and young suitor. But behind it all, Rebecca faces problems that women her age would encounter. Rui Zhi, the husband of Qing Fen, has a good family and career, but had an issue with his mom, who raised him as a single mom and wouldn't accept Rebecca.

Watching dramas of Ariel Lin, Tiffany Hsu & Mike He, who were still in their 20s during that time, have became a fun, memorable part of my childhood. Now that I'm nearing my 30s and they're also now in their 40s, I can't help but admire them for their great acting talent & beautiful looks, even after 19 years, which is so inspiring.

If their old dramas were funny rom-com dramas of college sweethearts, "Imperfect Us" is a serious, mature life drama of adults in their 40s & dealing with their family, relationships, insecurities & feelings.

The whole drama was made in a good way. The story starts when two childhood friends from the rural county of Pingtung, Ren Wei and Jia En, dreamed of entering college in the city of Taipei. When they both studied in the same university, Jia En met Liu Chuan, a handsome and smart guy, and their bittersweet love story began. This drama beautifully portrays the harsh realities of life, college, friendship, relationships, career, politics, and family. One of the best 90s-themed dramas I've watched, Taiwan is so good at making dramas and movies that takes us back to the good old times!

It's a romantic love story of how a novelist met a flight attendant by fate. Everything in this drama is all natural, the onscreen pairs all have good chemistry. I can totally relate to Li Xiao Yang's character, who's pressured with career on her 30s. It's a lighthearted romantic, sweet drama all in all.