Hi, @Benevolentia! :) You've just written another great MDL article masterpiece. I just happened to saw and read this article since I am a really major fan of TW dramas. I have been watching them since I was 6 years old back when 'Meteor Garden' first aired here in Philippines and was Tagalog-dubbed. I decided to rewatch the series with full understanding last 2012 and I was hooked in Asian dramas ever since. I appreciated how you introduced the language, culture, and basic info about the Taiwanese entertainment industry that non watchers may not be aware of. I usually binge watch TW dramas especially if I feel too excited in the next episodes. In reality, Taiwan TV stations air dramas once a week, so viewers may really get used to it already, I haven't tried watching a drama by only watching 1 episode per week but I'm interested to do it that way some other time. I enjoy every second of watching TW dramas. I completely disregard the awful comments about them, it really depends on the viewer's taste, but I know my taste, what I like and not like, and I like anything about TW dramas. The sad thing, though, is lack of streaming websites that have English subbed TW dramas, especially that Maplestage was just closed recently. In the future, I hope that there will be more TW dramas that will be subbed in English so that these will be preserved for fans and viewers alike. As for non viewers, start watching any TW drama, for sure you will enjoy them as much as I do. :)
How great and fun reading this whole article series, thanks to your incredible talent, @Tine, and to all the MDL volunteer members who participated, thank you for sharing your opinions on each Asian country featured here. :) I was very busy with work lately and now's the only free time I have. My 1st Korean drama is "Boys Over Flowers", but while I was still in elementary grade, I already seen some Korean dramas that are locally aired and dubbed in Tagalog like "Only You" (stars Han Chae Young, this was the drama that inspired me to take a restaurant-related college degree for 1 semester but ended up changing to business degree anyway) and "Memories of Bali" (I became a fan of Han Ji Won and the whole cast), but I have never finished them since I was not that familiar with Asian dramas until when I went in college. I am currently not into the latest Korean dramas because of me focusing on Taiwanese dramas. For me, what makes Korean dramas stand out are how unique they are in terms of history, culture and tradition. Their actors and actresses are also talented and good-looking. Just like their Asian counterparts, South Korea is now considered the most popular Asian entertainment known worldwide, from music, they have also widely expanded to movies, dramas, food, beauty, and a whole lot more. The good thing about their government, based on what I heard, is they're funding the industry. A great article and writers, indeed, and special mention to my friend, Kais, @Kaisrexci, you did great on contributing to this article and am very happy to see you here. :)
Thank you :). That was very interesting! ^-^ I guess nowadays it's everywhere based on popularity and mainstream…
It was a good suggestion, thanks but I am not attracted in any Filipino drama or movie. But I highly recommend Filipino music, we call them OPM (Original Pinoy Music), you will surely enjoy listening as much as I do. :)
Great article as always, Tine and to your team! :)
I'm a Filipino myself, but I'm not fond of Filipino dramas and movies. During my childhood, before Asian dramas, I grew up watching Hollywood movies, cartoons, animes and MYX (our own version of MTV). The Filipino shows I liked though were teen-oriented shows from the '90s and early 2000s like ''TGIS'', ''Gimik'', ''G-mik'' (sequel to Gimik), ''Hati Hating Kapatid'' and ''Click'' (the setup of these shows all had similarities with the 90s US show ''Beverly Hills 90210'' which is about high school, college, teen and adolescent life of a group of Filipino friends). The 1990s were a very fun and good time to live, as well as a memorable moment for Filipino and Hollywood entertainment . I stopped watching them in 2010 as I focused on watching Asian ones.
The last Filipino drama I watched was ''Anna Karenina'' (https://kisskh.at/57065-anna-karenina) back in 2013. It was actually a remake of the original '90s drama of the same title, and I find it good. It was about 3 sisters who were adopted by a wealthy family in search of the real granddaughter. This is an example of a good show with family values yet the plot was interesting and unpredictable. Unlike nowadays, the plot is no longer unique, no creativity, and redundant (mistress, affair, rom com, slapstick comedy). They make dramas or movies based on popularity of love teams, not based on story and creativity, which is a sad thing to know, same with Hollywood ones. Filipino entertainment shined during the '90s with great selection of movies, like action, comedy, romance, horror and fantasy.
I love it so much! After watching the trailer, it exceeded my expectations. Mike He still has the looks and charisma as a professional actor (he is now married with 2 children). Ivy Shao has always been a great actress as well. Let's watch and support this drama! And kindly sub this in English, thank you! ~
If I remember, it's a love at first sight, you will know as you watch the drama. Just a trivia, this drama is where Vic and Reen met and they end up married in real life.
As always, thank you to the awesome Tine, and the volunteer MDL members, for this wonderful article! I have been following the whole "Why Should You Watch" article series here in MDL and enjoyed reading them. I discovered HK dramas the latest, a bit long ago, after watching Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese and Korean dramas. When I was a kid, my first HK movie was "Shaolin Soccer" and it was dubbed in Tagalog language during that time when it was aired in Philippine television, so I have no idea how they sound like naturally. My first HK drama was "A Change Of Heart". It was definitely a good romantic/supernatural drama. Also, it was the first time I heard the Cantonese language, which is totally different from Mandarin Chinese language that we usually hear from Taiwanese and Chinese dramas. I was a fan of the entire cast, too, and that's how I got hooked into HK entertainment. I have to say, in terms of quality in production, acting, and story, HK dramas are as equally good as their Asian counterparts. HK is more popularly known for making action and martial arts movies in the past, which received great attention worldwide, and has been known to be the stepping stone for the career of legendary HK stars like the late Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Tony Leung, and many more. For me, I think HK movies and dramas are not as popular anymore like in the past, probably because more people will prefer Korean entertainment. But what's important though is that HK had contributed significantly in Asian entertainment during the past and there will be fans worldwide who will still remember them. HK dramas still have a lot to offer, most of them have martial arts, action, and romance themes. And the celebrities are good-looking, too. HK dramas will have an equal place in my heart. Until next time! Stay safe ♡
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I'm a Filipino myself, but I'm not fond of Filipino dramas and movies. During my childhood, before Asian dramas, I grew up watching Hollywood movies, cartoons, animes and MYX (our own version of MTV). The Filipino shows I liked though were teen-oriented shows from the '90s and early 2000s like ''TGIS'', ''Gimik'', ''G-mik'' (sequel to Gimik), ''Hati Hating Kapatid'' and ''Click'' (the setup of these shows all had similarities with the 90s US show ''Beverly Hills 90210'' which is about high school, college, teen and adolescent life of a group of Filipino friends). The 1990s were a very fun and good time to live, as well as a memorable moment for Filipino and Hollywood entertainment . I stopped watching them in 2010 as I focused on watching Asian ones.
The last Filipino drama I watched was ''Anna Karenina'' (https://kisskh.at/57065-anna-karenina) back in 2013. It was actually a remake of the original '90s drama of the same title, and I find it good. It was about 3 sisters who were adopted by a wealthy family in search of the real granddaughter. This is an example of a good show with family values yet the plot was interesting and unpredictable. Unlike nowadays, the plot is no longer unique, no creativity, and redundant (mistress, affair, rom com, slapstick comedy). They make dramas or movies based on popularity of love teams, not based on story and creativity, which is a sad thing to know, same with Hollywood ones. Filipino entertainment shined during the '90s with great selection of movies, like action, comedy, romance, horror and fantasy.
Watch the 3 minute trailer but no subs on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT2kQjmdA_E
I discovered HK dramas the latest, a bit long ago, after watching Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese and Korean dramas. When I was a kid, my first HK movie was "Shaolin Soccer" and it was dubbed in Tagalog language during that time when it was aired in Philippine television, so I have no idea how they sound like naturally. My first HK drama was "A Change Of Heart". It was definitely a good romantic/supernatural drama. Also, it was the first time I heard the Cantonese language, which is totally different from Mandarin Chinese language that we usually hear from Taiwanese and Chinese dramas. I was a fan of the entire cast, too, and that's how I got hooked into HK entertainment.
I have to say, in terms of quality in production, acting, and story, HK dramas are as equally good as their Asian counterparts. HK is more popularly known for making action and martial arts movies in the past, which received great attention worldwide, and has been known to be the stepping stone for the career of legendary HK stars like the late Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Tony Leung, and many more. For me, I think HK movies and dramas are not as popular anymore like in the past, probably because more people will prefer Korean entertainment. But what's important though is that HK had contributed significantly in Asian entertainment during the past and there will be fans worldwide who will still remember them. HK dramas still have a lot to offer, most of them have martial arts, action, and romance themes. And the celebrities are good-looking, too. HK dramas will have an equal place in my heart. Until next time! Stay safe ♡