taiwanese drama recs
tragicamente asked for Taiwanese drama recs, and I find replying in one small comment box rather difficult, so what the hell, my whole flist shall be subjected to this craziness.
taiwanese dramas in a nutshell;
The two lead characters are thrown together under unforeseen circumstances. They either a) fall in love or b) simply detest each other. If they do fall in love, you'll be treated to sweet and adorable little scenes and situations. If they hate each other, the chemistry explodes with their constant banter, and eventually they'll fall in love. Following that, the Powers That Be will toss the couple into a tough situation or misunderstanding that may or may not force them to separate. They will later overcome said situation and proceed to live happily ever after. In addition, there will colorful, quirky, over-exaggerated side characters who will add to the comedy factor. And of course there's the two supporting cast who are in love with the main characters and will do anything to thwart the lovely couple.
In an even smaller nutshell; Guilty Pleasures.
1. It Started With A Kiss
details | watch on Veoh | watch on crunchyroll | download from SilentRegrets (all with english subtitles)
After an earthquake destroys Xiangqin's house, she and her father move 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 Zhishu, 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 Zhishu's heart?
This show is absolutely adorable, guaranteed to leave a stupid grin on your face all day long. The female lead's foolish antics and her senseless undying affection for the male lead might frustrate you at times, and I actually find myself wincing at a few occasions, but you will soon learn to love the girl. The male lead's growing fondness of the girl is particularly endearing. The series is so well-received that a sequel is producing. Sequels are rare in Taiwanese dramas, so this goes to show how enjoyable this series is. The second season is currently airing in Taiwan.
2. The Prince Who Turned Into A Frog
details | watch on Veoh | download from SilentRegrets (all with english subtitles)
Shan Junhao, the CEO to a large hotel chain, is the stereotypical heir - spoiled, coldhearted, and ruthless. In a series of freak accidents, he loses all of his memories and becomes a better person after meeting Ye Tianyu, a girl who is somewhat of a gold-digger, but is kind at heart. Just when love is in the air, some more “accidents” occurred, and Junhao loses all of his memories of Tianyu and goes back to being a spoiled heir. However, Tianyu fights for their love even though Junhao denies ever knowing her. Will Junhao remember his love for Tianyu?
This is definitely one of my favorites ever. The show drew me back into watching Taiwanese dramas, though few can match up to the standard of this one. With an excellent plot that is rather original compared to the onslaught of repetitive love stories, and amazing chemistry between the two main leads, this show created quite a stir when it was released in 2005. It remains one of the highest rated dramas ever.
3. My Lucky Star
details | watch on Veoh | watch on mysoju (all with english subtitles)
Under situations where one can only deem as fate, two persons get handcuffed together, and their destinies are forever intertwined. Like the boy who cried wolf, Xia Zhixing had lied one too many times. So when she did tell the truth, nobody believed her except for the most unlikely person, Zhong Tianqi, a runaway young master of a jewelry empire. His belief in her inspired her to become a real jewelry designer instead of a lying, scheming jewelry con artist. In the process, she taught him the real value of jewels that he is destined to inherit.
I actually started watching this a month earlier and I ended up liking it more than I expected. The drama started out as a typical love story with its sweet lovely moments, although it tends to move a little slow. The real drama picks up about halfway through, and from there it flows with wondering pacing and intriguing plot lines. Jimmy Lin is absolutely adorable as the male lead, and plus, he's an F1 racer, so he does all the car stunts himself. The female lead overacts sometimes, but she matures along with the series.
4. Romantic Princess
details | watch on Veoh | watch on mysoju (all with english subtitles)
Adopted by middle classed parents, Xiaomai has always had a dream to be an heiress. Who knew that one day this dream would come true. Xiaomai's biological grandfather is the head of a prestigous aristocratic family and after many years of searching, he finally finds his long lost granddaughter. As she starts her life as an heiress, everyday is filled with excitement, however, everything seems a bit different from what she had imagined them to be.
Honestly, this drama is filled with fantastical plot lines that borders on ridiculous, but then again, it is a modern fairytale. Currently one of the most popular shows in Taiwan, it captures audience with its beauty. Seriously, the two leads are ridiculously beautiful, and so are the settings and the clothes, etc. Watch this if you like fluffy and pretty stuff.
If anyone wants similar recs for Japanese or Korean dramas, just let me know.