Dandelion Love

Year: 2013

Episodes: 40

Synopsis

Set between the 1960s and 1980s, this drama follows the story of Lin Jiadong (Alice Tseng), whose once-happy life is shattered overnight when her father is wrongfully imprisoned for murder. Forced to leave her comfortable life and best friend Song Lixing (Danson Tang) behind in Taipei, Jiadong is sent to live in Pingtung with her aunt, who later turns out to be her birth mother. Her mother, who abandoned her at birth, is now married to an ill-tempered fisherman with three children from a previous marriage.

Longing for the day she can reunite with her father and Lixing, Jiadong matures quickly, shedding her pampered past to become a resilient, capable young woman. Life in Pingtung is not easy due to her stepfather’s mistreatment, but she finds solace in two new best friends: the ambitious Chen Chunya (Lene Lai), who dreams of becoming a famous celebrity, and her mute yet kind-hearted stepbrother, Gao Zongnan (Nylon Chen).

A decade quickly goes by, and Jiatong, now known as Gao Wangjia, grows into a hardworking, capable young woman. She has become a jack of all trades, taking on countless part-time jobs to save for college, and still manages to do well academically. Eventually, her father is released from prison, and the two are finally reunited. They return to Taipei and try to rebuild their lives with help from their street-smart yet secretly warm-hearted neighbor Wan Hua (Sean Lee). 

Wangjia’s path soon crosses with Lixing’s again when she is hired to work at the hotel he now owns. However, fearing he might think she's trying to take advantage of their past friendship, she hides her true identity. Unaware of who she really is, Lixing constantly misunderstands her intentions. Will he ever discover the truth? 

Review

Dandelion Love is one of those comfort dramas I find myself rewatching every few years, always wondering why it never gained the popularity it truly deserves. Here are a few of my favorite things about the drama.

Setting

Set in Taiwan during the 1960s to 1980s, this drama does an excellent job of bringing the era to life, with believable details in everything from the outfits and props to the set design. It feels distinctly Taiwanese, authentically capturing the cultural atmosphere of the time.

Here is a little background to help you better appreciate the drama's setting. Between the 1960s and 1980s, Taiwan underwent a dramatic transformation, shifting from a largely agrarian society to a rapidly industrializing economy. Culturally, the legacy of Japan’s 50-year colonial rule (1895–1945) remained visible, especially in fashion, food, and entertainment. These influences are subtly woven into the story, from Japanese directors visiting Taiwan, the older brother running an eel farm to meet Japan’s growing demand, hotel staff learning Japanese for international guests, and the construction of hot spring resorts.

As the economy grew, so did Taiwan’s tourism industry, particularly from Japanese and Western visitors. This shift is reflected in the drama through key characters and settings: Lixing’s hotel caters to international travelers, Wan Hua works as a Japanese tour guide and interpreter, and later, Jiadong opens a hostel that promotes local Taiwanese cuisine and cultural experiences. 

At the same time, Western pop culture and American influence were on the rise, especially among the younger generation. The 1970s and '80s also saw the rise of Taiwanese celebrities and a flourishing entertainment industry, which many saw as a way out of poverty. This is echoed in Chunya’s dream of becoming a star—a goal that reflects real-life stories from the era, such as that of Brigitte Lin, who is referenced multiple times throughout the drama.

While the drama thoughtfully portrays Taiwan’s economic transformation, it also celebrates the warmth and tight-knit bonds of rural communities. This is especially seen in Happy Village, the small Pingtung community where Jiadong later settles. The villagers may bicker and tease, but when it matters most, they always have each other’s backs. That family-like atmosphere is one of the show’s most comforting charms.

I also love that the drama includes a character from the Rukai tribe, one of Taiwan’s indigenous groups. Through this character, we see glimpses of indigenous culture, from stunning traditional clothing to lively cultural celebrations. 

Additionally, the dialogue is primarily in Mandarin but features a generous amount of Taiwanese Hokkien, especially in scenes set in Pingtung. This reflects real-life language usage since even today, over 70% of the population speaks Taiwanese dialects in Taiwan.

It’s all of these details—historical, cultural, linguistic, and emotional—that come together to create a deeply Taiwanese story. And it’s precisely why Dandelion Love holds such a special place in my heart.

Cinematography 

The directors clearly had a lot of fun with this drama, as seen through the creative and varied camerawork. One of my favorite techniques is when the villagers take turns speaking directly to the camera—breaking the fourth wall in a way that adds both comedic relief and a sense of intimacy, as if they're speaking directly to you. It creates a warm, familiar feeling, like chatting with a neighbor or an old friend.

Another clever shot is the use of a fisheye lens whenever the annoying, overly talkative sister-in-law appears on screen, perfectly capturing how intrusive she is—constantly in Jiadong’s face and all up in her business. These playful visual choices add charm and humor to the story while deepening our connection to the characters.

Acting 

The cast is diverse, bringing together talent from a variety of backgrounds—from Chinese opera–trained actresses to models and pop singers. Despite their different starting points, the overall acting was impressive. Alice Tseng, Lene Lai, and Sean Lee all began their careers as models, while Danson Tang, Nylon Chen, and Jacky Chu came from the music industry. Yet each of them delivered strong, convincing performances that added depth and authenticity to their characters.

Here are a few actors and actresses who really stood out to me in Dandelion Love:

Alice Tseng

Our female lead, Alice Tseng, truly won me over as Jiadong. Having debuted as a model, Alice was best known for playing elegant, upper-class characters, most notably in Jay Chou’s directorial debut Secret as Qingyi. So I was genuinely surprised to see her take on the role of a poor, down-to-earth girl in Dandelion Love. But to my delight, she completely pulled it off. Her performance felt natural and grounded, and she brought warmth and resilience to the character in a way that made Jiatong’s journey feel real. Also, can I just say, Alice Tseng is GORGEOUS. Her smile can melt hearts and heal souls. 

Nylon Chen

Nylon Chen plays Zongnan, a mute character who primarily communicates through sign language. Despite his disability, he has a warm presence and a quietly optimistic outlook on life that brings comfort to those around him. Nylon had one of the most challenging roles in the drama, as he had to express everything without spoken words. But even without subtitles or knowing sign language myself, I could often understand what he was trying to say—thanks to his expressive facial reactions and body language. Also, major props to him for learning sign language for the role—it looked incredibly natural and added so much authenticity to his performance.

You Anxun

You Anxun was fantastic as Chen Daren, Chen Chunya’s father. He was my favorite source of comedic relief and effortlessly portrayed a multi-faceted character: a loving “girl dad” to Chunya, a bickering yet loyal best friend to Gaoxing (Jiadong’s stepfather), and a funny and enthusiastic presence in Happy Village. Honestly, this applies to all the villagers of Happy Village—they were so realistic, kind, and genuinely hilarious. Watching them felt like being part of a big extended family. I often found myself wishing I had grown up in such a supportive, loving environment.

Sean Lee 

My favorite character in Dandelion Love has to be Wan Hua, portrayed by Sean Lee. I’ve always liked Sean Lee, but this is hands down my favorite performance from him. Wan Hua isn’t just a standout in this drama—he’s one of my all-time favorite Taiwanese drama characters, period. Charming, street-smart, secretly soft-hearted, and endlessly supportive, he completely stole my heart. If I had to choose a drama husband, it would absolutely be him.

He may not be a perfect character, but that’s exactly what makes him so compelling. Growing up in poverty and an orphan forced to fend for himself, he became someone who chased money to survive—whether that meant selling fake watches and alcohol, upselling construction jobs, scamming at pool, or working as a tour guide recommending shady activities to Japanese tourists. But through it all, his heart was always in the right place.

He’s fiercely loyal and dependable, especially to his friends, like Lixing, his former rival in love, who eventually becomes his best friend. He’s also completely selfless when it comes to Jiadong, always the first to show up when she needs someone most. What I love even more is the emotional vulnerability he shows around Jiadong’s father, Lin Yaoquan. There’s something almost childlike in how he looks up to Yaoquan and lets down his guard. Their father-son-like bond melted my heart, so when Yaoquan passed away, I was devastated, not just for Jiadong, but for Wan Hua too. But you could tell that when Yaoquan died, he did so with peace of mind knowing his daughter was in the hands of someone who would go to the ends of the earth to protect her.

I also felt that Wan Hua had more chemistry with Jiadong than with Lixing. Jiadong is very mature for her age, so she usually comes across as composed and almost boring. But with Wan Hua, we get to see a more playful, unguarded side of her. Around him, she doesn't have to be the understanding older sister or the ever-filial daughter. She can argue, throw tantrums, and be emotionally vulnerable with Wan Hua. Though the two constantly seem to be at odds, they are always by each other’s side when it matters most, uplifting one another and pushing each other to grow. 

As for the ending—yes, it was bizarre. But I’m so glad the writers gave Wan Hua the ending he deserved by letting him end up with Jiadong. After everything he did for her, he truly earned that.

My One Exception... Danson Tang

Please don’t cancel me, but I didn’t particularly love Danson Tang’s performance in this drama. While the rest of the cast felt natural and grounded in their roles, his acting stood out in a way that often felt forced. Don’t get me wrong, I grew up watching him in KO One and Rolling Love, and I do think his style works well for idol dramas. But in a more serious, character-driven story like Dandelion Love, especially when surrounded by such strong performances, his delivery sometimes felt out of place. I found myself cringing a bit during the second half of the drama, particularly in the scenes where he tries to win Jiadong back. It just didn’t have the emotional weight it needed compared to the rest of the cast. Thus, I was always team Wan Hua, so even though the ending might seem like garbage to others, I supported it because it gave both men a chance with Jiadong. 

Controversial Ending

I know I’ve mentioned the bizarre ending a few times now, and you might be wondering—what happened, and how bad could it really be? Oh, it’s bad. In the final eight episodes of this 40-episode drama, our male lead, Lixing, suddenly DIES from kidney failure. On the one hand, I appreciate that it’s a somewhat realistic choice—no last-minute miracle cures here, unlike most dramas where love magically heals everything and the leads ride off into the sunset. So in a way, it’s a breath of fresh air. But still, the whole drama was building up towards their reunion, so it definitely caught me off guard. 

And it doesn’t end there. After Lixing’s death, the story continues. Jiadong raises her two children and moves back to Pingtung to start a hostel, which feels like a full-circle moment. Then—plot twist—Chunya re-enters the story after being exiled from the village due to her many wrongdoings. I really didn’t see this next part coming: she ends up marrying Lixing’s evil uncle. Wild, but strangely fitting for her power-hungry character. She tries to sell off the hotel for profit, but eventually, justice is served. Her crimes are exposed, and in an emotional twist, she learns that the boy she kidnapped is actually her biological son, whom she believed had died during childbirth. That revelation finally brings her some much-needed repentance and growth.

And if that wasn't enough chaos, we also get a completely random and (in my opinion) unnecessary plotline involving Jiro Wang making a cameo as Song Sihan, a firefighter with amnesia, desperately trying to recover his memories. The only thing he remembers is a girl who looks just like Jiadong?? His storyline doesn’t really go anywhere and seems to serve only one purpose: to give Wan Hua closure and help him overcome his guilt over being with Jiadong after Lixing’s death. It’s a bizarre detour in an already emotional final stretch.

Conclusion

TLDR: If you're looking for a well-crafted Taiwanese drama filled with lovable, inspiring characters, thoughtful set design, and touching romances and friendships, then give Dandelion Love a try.