Taiwanese television on Netflix UK (May 2021)

Taiwan may see success in exporting its films abroad, yet did you know you can also find a fair dose of Taiwanese television content on Netflix? Let’s take a deep dive into the island nation’s offerings to UK subscribers!

First and foremost, horror fans will be excited to know that the hit video-game based film Detention, which gave viewers a successful scare in 2019 as it received widespread praise, has been adapted to the small screen. Released late last year, the supernatural horror was created for Netflix in collaboration with Taiwan’s Public Television Service. Set in Taiwan’s martial law era, the series reflects on in the suffocating nature of political censorship, making use of local legends to infuse an element of psychological horror.

Credit: Netflix

Looking for something slightly less scary? A Boy Named Flora A is an emotional and irreverent comedy of a layabout forced to re-examine his life after travelling home when his grandmother falls critically ill. The elements of filial piety dysfunctional family reunion led to some dark humour, whilst more serious aspects of the story may inspire some self-reflection.

Credit: Netflix

No talk of Taiwan’s television scene would be complete without a mention of Taiwanese dramas. Queen of No Marriage falls into this category, however, turned the genre upside down with an independent early-thirties women in the lead role meeting a mid-twenties romantic. With thirty-four episodes, the series will also keep viewers occupied for a while.

Credit: Netflix

Finally, On Children stands out as a unique watch on this list. A ten-part series based on novel by Wu Xiaole, the series is an anthology which explores the impact of social pressure, parental oppression, and family dysfunction on children. In this exploration of such issues, the serious incorporates sci-fi elements, similar to the UK’s own Black Mirror, but with an albeit different tone.

Credit: Netflix

This is list isn’t exhaustive – indeed, series such as a A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities and The Victim’s Game are also highly rated, falling into the genres of romance and crime thriller respectively. Futmalls.com, released last year, will also cater to fans of science fiction, and La Grande Chaumiere Violette dives into the history of Taipei’s Daodacheng district.

In conclusion, there is some Taiwanese television on Netflix for everyone, no matter what preference of genre one may have – so, why not dig into an episode or two sometime soon? You might find a new favourite!

Taiwanese films on Netflix UK (March 2021)

As Taiwan’s cinema continues to receive more and more international praise, there’s a growing library of content for UK audiences on popular streaming platforms – making it easier than ever to watch Taiwanese films. As the largest streaming website in the UK, it’s no wonder that Netflix is also in on this trend. So, you may ask, what does the streaming giant offer for the curious viewer?

Shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, 2019’s A Sun may be your first port of call for contemporary Taiwanese cinema. Directed by Chung Mong-hong, this family drama starts off with a visually shocking crime which lands troublesome teenager Chen Jian Ho in juvenile detention. This meaningful tale is punctuated with moments of intensive drama and the odd bit of comedy.

(credit: Toronto Film Festival)

A Sun isn’t the only hit with the critics to be featured on the platform, however. Your Name Engraved Herein was Taiwan’s top grossing film of 2020. Representing the growing support for LGBTQ+ rights on the island nation, the film follows the love story of male students Chang Jia-han and Wang Bo Te. Set at a time of homophobia and rapid social change at the end of Taiwan’s martial law period in the 1980s, director Patrick Kuang-Hui Liu’s film will stick with you long after viewing.

(credit: Netflix)

Keeping with the theme of intimate dramas, Big Little Women came to the platform this year. The plot follows matriarch Lin Shoying and her three adult daughters as they deal with the death of their estranged father. Directed by Joseph Chen-chieh Hsu, the film is a meditative exploration of the grieving process.

(credit: Taiwan Creative Content Agency)

Diving deeper into the Netflix treasure trove, Classmate Minus is director Huang Hsin-yao’s second feature film. Leaning more on comedic elements, the film tracks the shenanigans of a group of high school friends living in Southern Taiwan. Originally released last year, the film touches on contemporary concerns in Taiwanese society – providing not only good watching but also an insight for foreign viewers.

(credit: Applause Entertainment)

Netflix’s library of Taiwanese content reflects both the quality of Taiwan’s contemporary domestic cinema and the growing international interest in it. Through artistic films such as Mag Hsu and Hsu Chih-yen’s Dear Ex and Ho Wi Ding’s dystopian Cities of Last Things and gangster thrillers such as Gatao 2: Rise of the King, UK subscribers has the opportunity to get a taste of the country’s cinematic diversity. Not to mention the odd horror film for scare-seekers, and of course, the documentary Mayday Life, following one of country’s most successful bands – meaning there’s something for everyone to add to the “To Watch” list.