Nelly

As a seasoned traveler in the lands of Asian dramas, I’ve developed a rotation system that would impress even the strictest time management coach. One K-drama in, a C-drama or J-drama follows. TW-dramas? They’re a bit like rare Pokémon. Hard to find, but when I do find a good one, everything else gets benched.

Taiwan doesn’t churn out as many dramas as Korea or China, but when they hit the mark, they hit it hard. Their writers aren’t afraid to push boundaries that the mainland wouldn’t dare touch without triggering ten levels of censorship. Also, the runtimes are merciful, no 60-episode emotional marathons here. Just good, tight storytelling that’s short, sweet, and usually surprisingly deep.

Now, My Dear Boy , let’s talk about it. On the surface, you might brush it off as another noona romance (older woman, younger man... you know the drill). But this drama doesn’t just flirt with that trope; it builds a whole layered world around it. This isn’t just about a love story. It’s about her, Luo Xiao Fei Ruby Lin), her life, her heartbreaks, her complicated family, her cutthroat career, and the inconveniently-timed arrival of a boy who might just be man enough.

The drama gives you the entire arc: from her betrayal (yep, betrayal from the top hurts the most), to climbing her way up from an intern to a respected director in Taiwan’s commercial film industry. Honestly, I was constantly thinking, how do you even film a drama about filming a drama? It's like production-ception.

Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the screenwriter. No loose ends. Zero. Every character had purpose, every storyline mattered, and no one just disappeared after episode 8 like they got abducted by aliens. The narrative actually respected our time and attention spans. Revolutionary.

Our male lead played by Derek Chang(Wolf boy) who I discovered and and immediately added him to my sacred list of TW drama actors, right next to Wallace Huo,Marcus Chang,Jerry yan and Jasper Liu. Derek brought so much heart to this role. His character wasn’t just there to pine and pout, he grew. He started off idealistic, a little naive, and absolutely smitten. But halfway through, he did something most noona romance MLs never do, Because love isn’t enough if you have nothing to offer beyond love. Respect.

Now. Let’s talk about the not so good stuff, flashbacks. Or should I say: the never-ending memory vortex. I get it, they help build the story, deepen emotions, and provide context. But at some point, I started wondering if I’d accidentally switched to a time travel drama. If flashbacks give you a rash, maybe keep the antihistamines close.

Production-wise? Flawless. The visuals were clean, the soundtrack matched every emotional beat, and I swear the set designers deserve their own awards. Xiao Fei’s loft alone had me checking flights to Taipei. That place wasn’t just a house. It was a mood. A Pinterest board. A lifestyle.

At the end of the day, My Dear Boy doesn’t rely on dramatic cliffhangers or chaotic love triangles to keep you hooked. It’s more of a slice-of-life drama with grounded problems and relatable characters. It’s thoughtful. It’s heartfelt. And it’s quietly beautiful in a way that sneaks up on you.

If you’re looking for something that goes deeper than your typical romance, with a smart script, genuine character growth, and some serious emotional payoff, My Dear Boy should be at the top of your list.

Just... brace yourself for the flashbacks.