English Title: The Gem of Life 珠光寶氣 (also known as Jewel’s Splendor)
Cantonese Title: Jyu Gwong Bou Hei
Broadcast Date: 20th October 2008 - 8th February 2009
Length: 80 Episode
Cast: Lee Sze Ki, Moses Chan, Ada Choi, Bowie Lam, Gigi Lai, Maggie Siu, Bosco Wong, Linda Chung, Wong Hei, Kenny Wong, John Chiang, Eddie Kwan, Rebecca Chan, Lau Dan, Josephine Shum, Florence Kwok, Iris Wong, Casper Chan, Catherine Chau, Carrie Lam, Queenie Chu, Cindy Lee, Maria Chan, Elliot Yue

Synopsis:
In Pak Siu-Yau (Lee Sze Kee, Louise)’s eyes, her three daughters are just as perfect as diamonds. She believes that the greatest blessing for a woman is to marry a wealthy man. To guarantee a better life for her daughters, she has started training the girls since they were young, hoping that they will marry into the richest families when they mature.

Yau’s first daughter Hong Nga-Yin (Shiu Mei Ki, Maggie) does not agree with her on her values. Yet when she sees that the man Yin is going out with is Ko Cheung-Sing (Lam, Bowie), who is very well-off, she decides to let Yin go with her choice. Yau’s second daughter Hong Nga-Tung (Lai Chi, Gigi) is hopelessly romantic but does not seem to have much luck with men. To make it up to her, Yau seeks to match her up with Ho Chit-Nam (Chan Ho, Moses), the son of Hong Kong’s most powerful business tycoon Ho Fung (Yueh Hua). Being the youngest in the family, Hong Nga-Sz (Choi Siu Fun, Ada) is well aware of Yau’s concerns. Having recovered from divorce, Sz now decides to pin all her hopes on Fung.

Yau’s persistence pays off and her daughters have all found a wealthy husband. But money does not really bring them happiness and the sisters are gradually losing themselves in vanity.

English Title: When Easterly Showers Fall On The Sunny West 東山飄雨西關晴 (also known as “The Turbulence of East and West”)
Cantonese Title: Dung Saan Piu Yue Sai Gwaan Ching
Broadcast Date: 27th October 2008 - 5th December 2008
Length: 30 Episode
Cast: Liza Wang, Charmaine Sheh, Joe Ma, Selena Li, Raymond Wong, Edwin Siu, Sharon Luk, Kiki Sheung and others.

Synopsis :
Coming from a very humble background, Poon Muk Hing (Ma Tak Chung) nevertheless is content with his lot. He works for the Poons’ of Dongshan as driver. His true identity of the eldest son of the family comes to light when he saves Poon Cheuk Wah (Wong Ho Yin), the young master, in an accident. Chong Fung Yee (Wang Ming Chun, Liza), the first daughter-in-law in the family, has to admit unwillingly the fact that when she married into the family she was already pregnant. His true identity revealed, Hing changes his name to Poon Cheuk Hing according to the genealogical table of the clan. The mother and son have since been locked in a seesaw struggle.

Yip Heung Ching (Sheh Charmaine) came from an influential family in Xiguan. She starts selling congee on a boat for a living with her elder brother after their family has fallen into decline. Ching and Wah used to go out but Yee did all she could to separate them. Later, Ching opens a teahouse with the help and support of Hing. Spontaneously, love blossoms between them. Not long afterwards, the Poon family runs into a lot of troubles. Yee and Wah are unable to handle them at all. Hing seizes the opportunity to restore the prestige of the family. For the sake of the benefit of Poons’, he is prepared to sacrifice his relationships with other family members, his love as well as his friends. By doing so, he also involves himself in a never-ending bloody battle of power.

English Title: Miss No Good 不良笑花 (also known as The Bad Campus Belle)
Mandarin Title: Bu Liang Xiao Hua
Broadcast Date: 07th September 2008 - 30 November 2008
Length: 14 Episode
Cast: Rainie Yang, Xu Qiong Yun, Will Pan, Dean Fujioka, Chen Yan Xi, Jian Chang, Wen Ying, Xi Man Ning, Tang Qi, Shi Yuan Jie, Xiao Call, Denny Huang, Jin Yu Lan, Mei Mei

Synopsis:
Xiao Hua (Rainie Yang), a bubbly Taiwanese girl has the style of something no one can name. Xiao Hua has no intentions of changing the way she looks and dress until her elementary school classmate, Jia Si Le (Dean Fujioka) came back from Japan. Jia Si Le is deeply in love with Xiao Hua, despite coming back to Taiwan for and arrange marriage with Jiang Mi (Chen Yan Yi), Jia Si Le does whatever he can to get Xiao Hua to be his girlfriend. One day out of coincedence, Xiao Hua met Tang Men (Wilber Pan), the famous noted fashion verdict with a dispictable tongue. Tang Men labeled Xiao Hua as ” Shen Dan Shu” which is a way of calling her a Christmas Tree. Jia Si Le and Tang Men are best friends. Jia Si Le had a party and he invited both Tang Men and Xiao Hua. That night, Xiao Hua decided she will change her sense of style just for Jia Si Le. Xiao Hua remembered that she still had the expensive set of siscors that Tang Men dropped, so she used that as a tool of getting him to revamp her style.

Along the way of Xiao Hua’s strive for a change of style she realizes that she fell in love with Tang Men; rather than whom she thought she’ve like before (Jia Si Le). On the other hand, Michelle Chen (Jiang Mi) is trying to do whatever she can to get Jia Si Le back from Xiao Hua by making Tang Men; who likes her to provoke Xiao Hua to fall in love with him. Tang Men, who finds Xiao Hua annoying and loud suddenly sees the inner beauty of Xiao Hua and begins to fall more and more in love with Xiao Hua without even realizing it. What will Jia Si Le do to get Xiao Hua back? Will the two brothers split apart because of Xiao Hua? What will Jiang Mi do to Xiao Hua? How will Jiang Mi get Jia Si Le back?

English Title: Hot Shot 籃球火 (also known as Basketball Fire / Basket Fireball)
Mandarin Title: Lan Qiu Huo
Broadcast Date: 27th July 2008 - 9th November 2008
Length: 16 Episodes
Cast: Jerry Yan, Alan Luo, Wu Chun, Zhou Cai Shi, Coco Jiang, George Hu, Zhang Yan Ming, Lin Pai Yan, Lin Qi Tai, Wang Wei Ting, Bu Xue Liang, Gu Bao Ming, Wang Xia, Li Jun Tian, Yun Zhong Yue, Li Jia Hua, Ma Zhi Qin, Michael Zhang, Chen Bo Zheng, Jeff Chen, Zhao Shu Hai

Synopsis :
In a school where academic reigns supreme and sports are relegated to a dusty corner of the campus, Li Ying vows to revive the basketball team by volunteering to be the head coach. Her first member is Yuan Da Ying, a country boy who is passionate for basketball but has no skill. Their recruitment goes into high gear when Dong Fang Xiang, a legendary basketball player, transfers to their school.

Around the same time, Yuan Da Ying falls for Zhan Jie Er, a scholarship student who reminds him of his childhood friend. Things are complicated by the fact her family works for Dong Fang Xiang, who she also grew up with. Their encounter may just rewrite the school’s basketball history.

English Title: The Four 少年四大名捕
Cantonese Title: Siu Nin Sei Daai Ming Bo
Broadcast Date: 22th September 2008 - 24th October 2008
Length: 24 Episode (TV Version), 25 Episode (DVD Version - uncut)
Cast: Raymond Lam, Ron Ng, Sammul Chan, Kenneth Ma, Kate Tsui, Natalie Tong, Selena Li, Shirley Yeung, Dominic Lam

Synopsis :
A drama adapted from the popular martial arts novel written by Wen Ruian about the four great constables, “Heartless”, “Metal Hand”, “Life Chaser” and “Cold Blood”.

Hardhearted and smart Mo Ching (Lam Raymond) became a crippled when he was young. Fortunately Ching has met Chu Kot Ching Ngo (Lam Ka Wah), the Head of the Sheriff Bureau, and has learnt from him his unparalleled skills of using concealed weapons. Chu has once helped the Sung Emperor recover an invaluable piece of article that the empire has long lost. To reward Chu, the Emperor reopened the Sheriff Bureau. In addition to Ching, Chu has recruited Zeoi Ming (Sammul Chan), a cunning swindler, Tit Sau (Ma Kwok Ming), an honest guy and the cold-blooded Lang Huyt (Ng Cheuk Hai, Ron), and called them The Four.

The Sheriff Bureau has cracked many difficult cases under the leadership of Chu. After having gone through thick and thin with the others, Ching has become a lot less arrogant. He has fallen in love with Song Chi Yin (Tsui Tsz Shan, Kate), a herb doctor, but she is only using him to sow dissension amongst The Four, furthermore deepens the hatred between him and Sau. The King of Qi Chiu Cheong (Tsang Wai Kuen) and the treacherous minister Choi King (Lau Kong) are plotting to revolt against the Sung Dynasty. Chu risks his life to ruin their plan but by doing this, he is also driving the bond between him and The Four to the verge of disintegration.

English Title: Last One Standing 與敵同行 (also known as “Walking With the Enemy”)
Cantonese Title: Yu Dik Tung Hung
Broadcast Date: 22nd September 2008 - 18th October 2008
Length: 22 Episode
Cast: Roger Kwok, Kevin Cheng, Yoyo Mung, Kiki Sheung, Law Lok Lam, Elaine Yiu, Evergreen Mak, Ellesmere Choi, Fiona Yuen, Macy Chan, Yvonne Ho, Lui Shan, Lai Xuan, Chun Wong, Yeung Ying Wai, Eddie Lee, Yu Mou Lin, Lam Yuen Ying, Lawrence Yan, Tsang Oi Mei
Genre: Modern Suspense

Synopsis :
Time was served for a crime he did not commit.
After ten years, can he discover the truth behind his father’s murder?

Cheung Sing Hei (Cheng Kevin) is accused of murdering his stepfather and he is sent to the prison for 10 years. After being discharged from the prison, Hei decides to take revenge on his best friend and cousin Tong Lap Yin (Kwok Chun On). Yin works as a notary. He is an honest and trust-worthy gentleman who never blames Hei for his short temper and unreasonable accusation. He spends a lot of time to investigate Hei’s case and help him find the real murderer. Hei and Yin used to be best companions but they fall out eventually because of deceit and trickery. What makes the matter worse is - they have fallen in love with the same woman.

Hei loses all his confidence after being sent to the jail unjustly. Lei Pui Ka (Mung Yo Yo), the reporter who visits him regularly during her voluntary services, manages to bring hope and joy to him again. Even though Ka appreciates Hei’s character, she is deeply in love with Yin and she agrees to marry him eventually. However, Ka receives some anonymous letters continuously and these letters give her a great shock.

English Title: Moonlight Resonance (Heart of Greed 2) 溏心2: 家好月圓
Cantonese Title: -
Broadcast Date: 28th July 2008 - 19th September 2008
Length: 40 Episode
Cast: Louise Li, Susanna Kwan, Raymond Lam, Tavia Yeung, Fala Chan, Kate Tsui, Michelle Yim, Moses Chan, Linda Chung, Bosco Wong and more
Genre: Modern Drama

Synopsis :
Generations come and go,
but the “love” remains forever…

Chung Siu Hor (Lee See Kei) and her husband Gam Tai Jo (Ha Yu) have been working hard for many years to establish a famous reputation for their Moonlight Cake Shop. However, Hor discovers that Jo committed adultery with her best friend Yan Hung (Michelle Yim Mai Suet) and she breaks up with him miserably. Hor brings along her children Gam Wing Ho (Raymond Lam Fung), Gam Wing Hing (Fala Chen Faat Lai), and her adopted daughter Suen Ho Yuet (Tavia Yeung Yi) and sets up another cake shop for a living.

Hung moves in to live with Jo and she starts playing tricks in the family. She tries pleasing her mother-in-law Sheh Kwan Lai (Lee Heung Kam) in every way while disuniting her stepsons and Jo. Outside the family, Hung starts expanding their business rapidly. Hor’s younger sister Chung Siu Sa (Susanna Kwan Kuk Ying) is displeased. Sa decides to fight for the ownership of their cake shop’s brand name in court with Hung. Their relationship with Hung further deteriorates.

Apart from the cake shop business, Hor also spends a lot of efforts on her children. Her oldest son Gam Wing Ga (Moses Chan Ho) is not interested in managing the cake shop at all and he indulges himself on stock trading. He also develops an entangling relationship with his cousin Lo Ga Mei (Kate Tsui Tsz Shan) and Yuet at the same time. On the other hand, Hor’s younger son Wing Ho takes up the role of a father in the family and he works hard all of the time to earn a living. Wing Ho loves his childhood friend Chau (Linda Chung Ka Yan) whole-heartedly, but Chau is in love with the doctor Ling Chi Shun (Bosco Wong Chung Chak).

Hor works hard unconditionally to strive for the well being of her family members. Hung, on the other hand, is a very mean person who values her own benefits only. Jo is caught between the two women all of the time and he feels helpless. One day, a disaster happens at the cake shop. Here comes a time when human nature, family bonds, and love are brought to a trail…

Alternative synopsis TVBHotspot

English Title: Your Class or Mine 尖子攻略
Cantonese Title: Jim Ji Gung Leuk
Broadcast Date: 25th August 2008 - 19th September 2008
Length: 20 Episode
Cast: Au Yeung Chun Wah, Bobby; Tang Shui Man; Hui Shiu Hung; Kok Ching Hung; Lo Man Chong; Leung Lit Wai; Law Chung Him; Yuen Wai Ho
Genre: Comedy

Synopsis :
Pang Kam Chau (Au Yeung Chun Wah, Bobby) used to sell parallel imports but his girlfriend has taken away everything from him. In order to reestablish his career, Chau plays tricks to gain the trust of a soccer team leader Fan Tai Wai (Hui Shiu Hung). Through the help of Wai, Chau becomes the Operation Director of the soccer team and he promises to help all team players achieve excellent results in the coming public examinations. Chau teaches the team players in an unconventional way. He encourages them to hang around at pubs and chase girls actively but the result is disastrous. Ching Kwok Chu (Kok Ching Hung), the soccer team’s sponsor, tries to hire the famous tutorial queen Yim Ka Lai (Tang Shui Man) to help coaching the team. LAI’s teaching style is totally different from Chau and they fight with each other all the time.

The academic performance of the team varies a lot but Chau discovers that Wai’s son Fan Pui Tung (Law Chung Him) has plenty of potential so he pays special attention to him. During the time, Chu’s younger brother suddenly takes away the ownership of the soccer team. Chu tries to take revenge by asking Lai to make the soccer team into a mess. Chau is enraged and he discloses the secret relationship between Chu and Lai to everybody. All of a sudden, Lai’s splendid tutorial career is coming to an end.

English Title: Legend of the Demigods 搜神傳
Cantonese Title: Sau San Jun
Broadcast Date: 18th August 2008 (AOD), 25th August 2008 (TVB) - 17th October 2008
Length:
TVB 44 Episodes (30 minutes per episode)
ASTRO 22 Episodes (45 minutes per episodes)
Cast: Chung, Linda; Chan Ho Man, Benny; Chan Kam Hung, Sunny; Tam Siu Wan; Wu Ting Yan; Au Kam Tong, Stephen; Wai Ying Hung; Liew Hiu Tung, Annabelle

Synopsis :
“It depicts a fight among human, the immortals and the evil spirits!”

Influenced by her mother, who has transformed into a magic herb, a cheerful young lady Gwai Choi-Chi (Linda Chung) has become a demigod. As a child, Shek Kam-Dong (Chan Ho Man, Benny) was constantly bullied. Wong Tai Sin (literal translation: Great Immortal Wong) pitied him and he has since become a man of unusual physical strength. An Hei (Chan Kam Hung, Sunny) is always sleepy because of a curse that has put on his family. Once, his body has accidentally been rested upon by the God of Sword (Au Kam Tong, Stephen) and he has become the master of swordplay since.

The three of them are good friends. They are determined to wipe out the Grand Wizard (Tam Siu Wan). With each of them having an extraordinary power, will they be able to make it and bring peace to human?

English Title: Fated to Love You 命中注定我愛你 (also known as Sticky Note Girl / Destiny Love)
Cantonese/Mandarin Title: Ming Zhong Zhu Ding Ngor Ngoi Lei / Ming Zhong Zhu Ding Wo Ai Ni
Broadcast Date: 16th March 2008 – 24th August 2008
Length: 24 Episode
Cast: Chen Qiao En, Ethan Ruan, Baron Chen, Bianca Bai, Na Wei Xun, Chen Wei Min, Luo Bei An, Tan Ai Zhen, Tian Jia Da, Wang Juan, Yan Jia Le, Patrick Li, Lin Mei Xiu, Jessica Song, Zhong Xin Ling, Jam Hsiao

Synopsis :
A really unfashionable working class girl Chen Xin Yi has the desire to tie down her handsome boyfriend to be with her. Due to certain reasons, her boyfriend gets her to go on a love cruise and she started to ponder on how to lose her virginity and tie down her boyfriend. Xin Yi ended up taking cold medicine which made her drowsy and went into Ji Cun Xi’s room. Cun Xi is the sole male heir to his family’s company and has been in love with his girlfriend, Anna, for a long time. He planned to propose to Anna on the boat but she didn’t turn up on the cruise. An island owner added drugs into Cun Xi’s drink and Cun Xi became disorientated and returned to his own room. Xin Yi and Cun Xi end up having a one night stand. Xin Yi later finds out that she’s pregnant and Cun Xi’s grandmother forces them to get married. Will a couple forced to marry for the sake of their unborn child find love with each other?

Personal Note: This will be my first Taiwan drama that I will be watching. I hope it would be an interesting story. Anyway, from what I know that the original episode of the drama is 23 but due to the great success of the drama, another episode was added and therefore it has a total of 24 episodes.