It’s a pity that Taiwanese Dramas are mostly known for their happy (sometimes mindless) rom-coms. But once in a while there’re ones that break out of this tradition but receive much less audience attention. Actually, this post was supposed to be about A Touch of Green only, but then I saw these other three on the upcoming list which sounds very intriguing!
A TOUCH OF GREEN (一把青)
Starring: Chris Wu, Leroy Young, Tian Xin, Cheryl Yang
Status: Filming started in March and expected to finish in September, to be aired around December
Anticipation Level: High (Love the cast! I have to get in the right mood for historical dramas though.)
A Touch of Green is a historical drama with distinguished credentials. Based on the short story by Pai Hsien Yung (白先勇), preproduction took 3 years with filming expected to take place in Taiwan, Nanjing and Shanghai. I must admit I only found out about this drama when there was a little controversy surrounding the casting. Originally, Sonia Sui was supposed to take part but she decided to film a Mainland Chinese movie instead. However, they brought in Cheryl Yang in her place which is more than a capable replacement.
The drama is set between 1945 and 1971, from the end of World War II to the aftermaths of the Chinese civil war. The story will focus on three women, from their school girl days to their marriages to air force pilots. They followed their husbands from Nanjing to Taiwan and experienced the pain of leaving their home and separations from friends/family. Through their love and bond, they survive through hardships and carves a motivational, touching story.
Leroy Young will play the commander of the air force, husband of Cheryl Yang’s character. The other pairings are unknown at the moment, but Chris Wu and Gaby Lan (藍鈞天) will also play air force pilots. Tian Xin, Jenny Wen Chen Ling (溫貞菱) and Lien Yu Han (連俞涵) will play spouses of pilots in the 1945 era. One news article mentioned Tian Xin will have the challenging task of taking on a character from 30 years old to 60 years old! I see that Hans Chung (Zhong Wen from Mr Right Wanted) is also listed as a cast member as well. Interesting! I’m been wanting to see him on my screen again.
A Touch of Green’s official Facebook page had been releasing some stills but the atmosphere of this drama is best captured in the 5 minute ‘concept trailer’ which Sonia Sui filmed before she pulled out of the project.
FUTURE MR.RIGHT (來自未來的史密特)
Starring: Lin Yo Wei, Tia Li, Hans Chung, Lene Lai, Christina Mok
Status: Filming started in March, expected to air in July 2015
Anticipation: High (Hans Chung! Storyline sounds quirky!)
When I saw this title, I didn’t know what to expect but looking at the photos of the cast from Future Mr. Right’s official Facebook page, everyone is having a lot of fun! Lin Yo Wei will play man from the future – with blue hair (What?).
In 2045, software engineer Shi Mi Te (Lin Yo Wei) is accused of murder. To clear his name, he goes back to 2015. He meets his father and his father’s colleague – a paparazzi reporter Michelle (Tia Li). As he discovers more clues to his case, Shi Mi Te rebuilds his relationship with his father and falls in love with Michelle. Lene Lai will play Lin Yo Wei’s ‘mother’ as well. (I know that sounds weird!)
I’m just going to spam some pics now because they’re all so cute!
SAVING 21G LOVE (搶救21克的愛情)
[No official English title yet aka 倩女魂不優 aka it’s some kind of modern crossover / remake of A Chinese Ghost Story]
Starring: Christopher Lee, Annie Chen, Morning Mo Tzu Yi, Teresa Daley aka Chi Pei Hui, Damien Lau
Status: Filming since March and expected to finish in July, unknown air date
Episodes: 20 episodes of 90 minutes each
Anticipation Level: Medium – High (I don’t understand this crossover thing! But Christopher Lee and Annie Chen?! Damien Lau!!! Is this a Taiwanese drama?)
I hardly remember the plot from the 80s classic movie A Chinese Ghost Story (倩女幽魂) or the original short story from the Strange Tales of Liao Zhai (聊齋誌異) by Pu Song Ling but the quite detailed story outline and character descriptions posted on Baidu’s Weini forum makes this drama very intriguing. I won’t translate everything because it’s rather lengthy but here’s a summary of the story outline.
Chaz Yen (Christopher Lee) is the CEO of a multinational design company Akakasumi. He is famous for incorporating Fung Shui into his design and also, he is a (supernatural?) psychologist. He often assists the government in completing secret missions and treats patients at the Formosa Hospital’s SPRL (Specialty Clinic). Behind his handsome exterior, his real identity is a Taoist Priet – Yin Chi Xia. To find the little golden urn which holds the ghost of Nie Xiao Qian (Annie Chen). He has already lived on this Earth for 1000 years.
At an auction, Chaz Yen / Yin Chi Xia finally found the urn. He was about to bid on it but an antiques robbery gang appeared. The urn somehow made its way to the emergency unit of Formosa Hospital…
Ning Cai Cheng (Morning Mo Tzu Yi) is a doctor at the emergency unit. He accidentally released the spirit of Xiao Qian from the urn. When Xiao Qian sees Cai Cheng, she is adamant he is Ning Cai Chen, the man she had been in love with for many years. So she keeps hanging around Cai Cheng to his dismay…
Cai Cheng had already forgotten his past life, but for Chaz Yen / Yin Chi Xia, he remembers everything clearly…
While Xiao Qian is determined to follow Cai Cheng, Yin Chi Xia protects her from afar. When Pandora / Shu Yao Lao Lao aka Tree Monster (Damien Lau) finds Xiao Qian, the difficult relationships from hundreds of years ago resurfaced and becomes even more complicated….
It’s supposed to be a ‘fantasy-romantic comedy’ though! But it sounds more angsty right? I chuckled a little seeing Christopher Lee play a CEO again. He definitely looked the part in Mr Right Wanted so dress him up in suits and I won’t be complaining. This could just be absolutely brilliant or fail miserably because all the past/present life stuff can be confusing if not done properly.
TO, THE DEAREST OTHER WOMAN (致，最親愛的第三者)
[No official English title yet, I used ‘the other woman’ instead of the literal translation of ‘the third person’ because the story talks about a husband possibly having an affair]
Starring: Melvin Sia, Amber An, Aggie Hsieh
Status: Filming started in April, air date unknown
Anticipation: Medium (Melvin Sia! But I’m not sure about Aggie as an actress?)
If Melvin Sia’s name appears on drama cast, I’m bound to take interest. After Dear Mom (我的寶貝四千金) finished filming a few weeks ago, he is straight onto his next project! Woah he is one busy guy! I really haven’t got much details about this, except Melvin and Amber An will play a married couple. Their marriage is in jeopardy when Amber’s best friend Aggie Hsieh comes between their marriage when Aggie/Melvin (possibly?) have an affair.
That’s it! That is all the description so far but hopefully more information will be released soon. I have doubts over Aggie Hsieh’s acting though. She was pretty difficult to watch in The Pursuit of Happiness. Although I didn’t watch Apple in your eye, Amber An is is definitely developing as an actress and this will be an interesting pairing. In the meantime, let’s just post a pic of the supercute Yi Fei couple from Dear Mom. Even though the drama has ended already (although I still have 40+ eps to go!), this pair is very much loved by the fans.
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