Dinner time, drama time. It’s something I look forward to every day.
This is the time when I get to fully immerse myself in Hong Kong dramas. The time when I get to not only learn how to speak Cantonese, but also how to read Chinese (from the Chinese subtitles). The time when I get to feel like I am living in Hong Kong in the comfort of my own home.
In these dramas, you get to follow the characters through a certain time of their lives. Regardless of what their role is in the drama, there is usually at least one character that you can relate to in some way that makes you think, yes, I totally get how you feel! The dramas I like to watch the most are the modern-day ones or ones with lots of action (ones with too much fantasy or horror don’t interest me). I’ve been watching Hong Kong dramas for the last 15 years of my life, and throughout the years, I’ve watched as little as 30 hours a year, to as many as 515 hours a year (that’s over 21 days!). It’s no surprise that what I see in the dramas is what I imagine life in the real world would be.
Why bother?
A lot of people say that the dramas aren’t as good as they used to be – the plot is always the same, so much of it is CGI, and some of the actors don’t do a good enough job! I actually think that the dramas have been different enough that it doesn’t get boring. Of course, if you’re watching a drama about lawyers, there will be an event, then someone will need to hire a lawyer, and then the lawyer will gather facts and information to win the case, but the way they do so and approach the situation will be different. Their relationships and personal life will also be different, and that already changes the whole direction of the drama.
In terms of the dramas having a lot of CGI, it really depends on what kind of drama you’re watching, but if it’s done really well and adds more effect to the drama, I think it’s a great way to make the drama more captivating. In the past few years, there seems to be a lot of newer actors entering TVB (the main broadcasting company I watch), and the ones I am used to seeing on the screen are acting in fewer dramas because they are spending more time with their families. Some of these newer actors have been doing really well, taking on main roles and becoming quite popular, while the ones that have more room for improvement are taking on the minor roles. Overall, it’s been great seeing some new actors!
Aside from a good and well thought-out plot, what I like to see in dramas are the different interactions between characters. This is something that I think you can also take in and see how it plays out in real life too. Whenever the characters express their feelings or act a certain way, you know exactly where they are coming from and why they are doing things like that. You see what they are going through, how people treat them, and what goes on in their minds that make them feel the way they do. It helps get your mind thinking when you encounter someone doing something similar in life, and really takes you into another level of interaction with others. Some people put all their feelings on their face, while others are really good at only showing what they want you to see.
Which ship?
Friendship – Whatever the plot may be, there is always a strong group of friends in the drama. They’re always there to support each other, tell each other secrets, and have fun together. They even have a great group of trustworthy coworkers that they can hang out with, eat with, and talk to after work. The supervisor is always caring for the team and joins in on the jokes (unless they are the joke), and, of course, makes sure to treat them out when they have a big accomplishment. This builds a friendly and fun environment at work, and the teams work well together because they understand each other and where everyone is coming from. It seems like a pretty realistic relationship to have with your coworkers, but I have yet to experience this in real life.
Love Relationship – Many people think that dramas like to make it super unrealistic when it comes to love relationships where you just happen to meet your future husband/wife when you accidentally bump into them, and then go through a series of events together that make you fall in love with each other. That’s kind of what I like about the relationships in dramas, but also, that’s not how every drama is. There are couples in dramas that aren’t all lovey dovey with unrealistic encounters, and they still get along fine in the end!
Back to the cute relationships though – it’s almost like you’re living in a world where everything is just as you imagine it to be. It lets your dreams carry on and gives you a break from the real world. Sometimes it’s so cheesy that you can even get a good laugh out of it! I mean, that’s what dramas are for right? To entertain you as you relax on your couch after a long day.
Family Relationship – Aside from friends, coworkers, and love interests, the characters also have their loving families. A family full of its own flaws, but is also supportive, caring, and understanding. A family they can go to after a tough day at work or when their life falls apart. This is a bond that not even their closest friends can have with them because even after many, many arguments, their family will still be there because they’re family. It’s very touching to see families that were once torn apart come back together, or when the whole family sets aside time to come together and communicate with each other to form an even stronger bond.
What else?
Since the dramas have characters with different occupations, you also get to learn a bit more about the job itself. I especially like the ones with police officers, lawyers, doctors, firefighters, and forensic investigators. Their work is so meaningful, and there are lots of action and suspense! A lot of background research and thought also go into these dramas because the writers and directors try to depict the role as accurately as possible by consulting real doctors and officers.
Out of the 180+ dramas I’ve watched, here are a few of my favorites:
2019: 解決師 The Man Who Kills Troubles, 牛下女高音 Finding Her Voice, 白色強人 Big White Duel, 多功能老婆 Wonder Woman
2018: 跳躍生命線 Life on the Line, BB來了 Who Wants A Baby?, 三個女人一個「因」Threesome
2017: 降魔的 The Exorcist’s Meter, 同盟 The Unholy Alliance, 踩過界 Legal Mavericks
2016: 城寨英雄 A Fist Within Four Walls, 使徒行者 Line Walker
2015: 天眼 Eye in the Sky, 張保仔 Captain of Destiny, 實習天使 Angel In-the-Making
2014: 忠奸人 Black Heart White Soul, 單戀雙城 Outbound Love, 叛逃 Ruse of Engagement
2013: 巨輪 Brother’s Keeper, 法外風雲 Will Power, 心路GPS Reality Check, On Call 36小時II The Hippocratic Crush II
2012: 怒火街頭2 Ghetto Justice II, On Call 36小時 The Hippocratic Crush
2011: 怒火街頭 Ghetto Justice, 隔離七日情 7 Days in Life, 團圓 Wax and Wane, 真相 The Other Truth
2010: 鐵馬尋橋 A Fistful of Stances, 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情 No Regrets, 談情說案 The Mysteries of Love
2009: 烈火雄心III Burning Flame III, 巾幗梟雄 Rosy Business, 宮心計 Beyond the Realm of Conscience
2008: 最美麗的第七天 The Seventh Day, 溏心風暴之家好月圓 Moonlight Resonance, 原來愛上賊 Catch Me Now
2007: 學警出更 On The First Beat
Happy drama watching!