Why Taiwanese entertainment is sweet sweet crack
How much do I love Taiwanese television?
Thiiiiiiis much. Yes, I know, I've never been to Taiwan and can only understand about five words in Mandarin. However, how could I resist such LOLz:
(1). As any of my drama-loving friends might know, last night was the airing of the first episode of They Kiss Again (aka ISWAK sequel). The first ep made waves for including a *gasp* bed scene between its lead characters (see icon), a honeymooning couple. Now, this being a Taiwanese drama, chances of anything being shown below the collarbones are about as probable as my hooking up with Vic Zhou. However, cue large uproar on forums prior to the ep airing. Now, the ep has aired and *gasp* the TV channel apparently cut huge chunks of it. I can't see too much complaining as the 'cut' scene (which was adorable btw) was amply long, IMO. I mean, I love the lead couple like a squealy fangirl, but this was supposedly 10 minutes long, and really, talk about stopping dramatic flow dead. 10 minutes of making out above the collarbones would get a bit old.
But apparently, the fandom is in a kerfuffle. There are rumors that the station did it because they are afraid to be sued (let's get real here, people. Much as I am sure there are a lot of people who'd love to see Joe Cheng and Ariel Lin nekkid, I doubt TKA would be the source for that). There are further rumors that a different station will show it uncut.
Best of all, there are various fangirls who make me glee like mad by declaiming that they simply must watch the uncut version because they don't want Joe Cheng's hard work to go to waste. (Joe Cheng, for those unfamiliar, is the male lead in this and is supposedly shirtless in all the cut bits :D) I mean, seriously. That is kind of adorable that they are posing it as an artistic appreciation of hard work and not 'wanna ogle Joe Cheng's cheeeeeeeest plz.' Even more adorable are other fangirls taking these statements seriously. Oh, you poor poor Joe Cheng. Your dedication and actorly craft should not be hidden through snipping bits of your shirtlessness. :)
and
(2) I have just gotten the newly-subbed versions of Bull Fighting (no idea on the name as while there is plenty of fighting there is a dearth of bulls) and trolling for spoilers on AF have come across a sentence which basically crystalized why I love Taiwanese drama. The sentence went something like this: "Oh, and I loved that bit when Mike He was protecting Hebe from whips."
Oh. I am in loooooove.
Seriously. How can it possibly get any better?
Oh yes, yes it can. Apparently he got whipped instead, and that too by Hebe's whip-happy father. This drama seems to be high on evil parents, as Mike He's dad was also smacking him. Heeee. Evil parental whipping. And kidnappings. And forced kissing. In a drama ostensibly centered around basketball.
Thank you, Taiwan.
Thiiiiiiis much. Yes, I know, I've never been to Taiwan and can only understand about five words in Mandarin. However, how could I resist such LOLz:
(1). As any of my drama-loving friends might know, last night was the airing of the first episode of They Kiss Again (aka ISWAK sequel). The first ep made waves for including a *gasp* bed scene between its lead characters (see icon), a honeymooning couple. Now, this being a Taiwanese drama, chances of anything being shown below the collarbones are about as probable as my hooking up with Vic Zhou. However, cue large uproar on forums prior to the ep airing. Now, the ep has aired and *gasp* the TV channel apparently cut huge chunks of it. I can't see too much complaining as the 'cut' scene (which was adorable btw) was amply long, IMO. I mean, I love the lead couple like a squealy fangirl, but this was supposedly 10 minutes long, and really, talk about stopping dramatic flow dead. 10 minutes of making out above the collarbones would get a bit old.
But apparently, the fandom is in a kerfuffle. There are rumors that the station did it because they are afraid to be sued (let's get real here, people. Much as I am sure there are a lot of people who'd love to see Joe Cheng and Ariel Lin nekkid, I doubt TKA would be the source for that). There are further rumors that a different station will show it uncut.
Best of all, there are various fangirls who make me glee like mad by declaiming that they simply must watch the uncut version because they don't want Joe Cheng's hard work to go to waste. (Joe Cheng, for those unfamiliar, is the male lead in this and is supposedly shirtless in all the cut bits :D) I mean, seriously. That is kind of adorable that they are posing it as an artistic appreciation of hard work and not 'wanna ogle Joe Cheng's cheeeeeeeest plz.' Even more adorable are other fangirls taking these statements seriously. Oh, you poor poor Joe Cheng. Your dedication and actorly craft should not be hidden through snipping bits of your shirtlessness. :)
and
(2) I have just gotten the newly-subbed versions of Bull Fighting (no idea on the name as while there is plenty of fighting there is a dearth of bulls) and trolling for spoilers on AF have come across a sentence which basically crystalized why I love Taiwanese drama. The sentence went something like this: "Oh, and I loved that bit when Mike He was protecting Hebe from whips."
Oh. I am in loooooove.
Seriously. How can it possibly get any better?
Oh yes, yes it can. Apparently he got whipped instead, and that too by Hebe's whip-happy father. This drama seems to be high on evil parents, as Mike He's dad was also smacking him. Heeee. Evil parental whipping. And kidnappings. And forced kissing. In a drama ostensibly centered around basketball.
Thank you, Taiwan.