The latest Taiwan drama to get a remake is The Prince Who Turns into a Frog following a series of other popular dramas being remade. This reports follows a long line of Taiwanese drama that is being rebooted about ten years later with younger casts for shows like Meteor Garden, Lavender, Summer’s Desire and My Lucky Star.
Netizens have mixed reactions but most are opposed to the reboot as it is considered to be a classic. The Prince Who Turns into a Frog which stars Ming Dao and Joe Chen premiered in 2005. It was widely received by viewers and broke a record viewership previously held by Meteor Garden.
I enjoyed watching The Prince Who Turns into a Frog and I can’t imagine the lead characters being played by anybody else but Ming Dao and Joe Chen. I especially felt that Ye Tian Yu was written especially for Joe Chen. If you see enough drama with Joe Chen in it, you know that it’s made for her.
I am surprised by how well Ming Dao played the two different characters, Jun Hao and Tang Hao. When he plays Jun Hao, I really hated his guts and wanted to punch him for his arrogance. On the other hand, he’s quite endearing and lovable when he plays Tang Hao, so much so that I wanted to run over and give him a hug.
I can understand why some people would not want this remade because you run the risk of ruining something that’s good. Let’s just hope the powers that be know what they are doing.
Source: 1
Anonymous
Ye Tian Yu was definitely wrote for Joe Chen only. I got to agree. She was not pretty at all and matches the word "ugly duckling" very much when you first see her. It was only because of her realistic funky acting that we got used to her and the show. She was so good with that same constant role: 100% Senorita, Easy Fortune Happy Life, Fated to Love You, etc. That was really her niche.
I just don't find many actress that can convincingly act funny these days. They tried way too hard. Then of course it gets annoying. But neither can they convincingly act like a cold beauty goddess too, they overly double or triple themselves to act like a complete robot. Just no good actors today. Besides they are not natural looking like Joe and Ming Dao, or the whole group of singers in that poster above. Those are very natural looking people up there.
And who knows if the music will still be as catchy? That drama got very good OST.
Anonymous
Another remake of one of my fav cdramas omg Ming Dao and Joe Chen are a wall tho, this brings back so many childhood memories. They have good OST that I still listen to today, anyone remember 183 Club and 7 Flowers group lmao
Anonymous
They already tried to remake it — 愛情睡醒了 with Roy Qiu and Tang Yan was awful! Not even close to the quality of the original!
Anonymous
Eww… Don't even mention that crap of a 'remake'. It's making me cringe just by remembering the awkwardness and over acting of the cast (especially the female lead who's a copy of T-Ara's Hyomin). The only reason I watched it was because of Roy Qiu (though even he doesn't even compare to the performance by the original casts) LoL
Anonymous
NO. MING DAO AND JOE CHEN FOREVER. Honestly, Ming Dao swooped my sisters and I off our feet so hard, and his looks in the drama were so memorable that I don't think any other actor could replicate that exact 'feeling'. It would have to be a little different and I don't think my heart has the space for it.
On the other hand, the drama has a slight retro feel with Joe's highlights and the tacky style but I like how it sends me straight back to that time and explains certain almost (nah full out) cheesy scenes from the drama. Plus, Joe's large doe eyes grew on me.
norakirayumi
I agree with those who are against the remake. PWTIAF is not just a mere piece of classic idol drama, it's an icon. A masterpiece. Once a masterpiece, no matter how many times they try to remake, it can never hold up to the original (same goes with other highest rated series like Meteor Garden, FTLY and Autumns Concerto).
Now, if it were a different country remake, that's another story. I know PWTIAF was somewhat a Taiwanese take on Kdrama Save the Last Dance For Me, but I wish it will be remade into another rom-com Kdrama with the exact plot as PWTIAF (and not STLDFM). I always have this kind of imagination where Lee Minho plays as the Korean ver of Shan Junhao/ Dang ou.
as for the female, Tian Yu's character always reminds me of Yoorin (Lee Dahae) in My Girl, and Jang Nara in My Love Pattzi but she's too old for this kind of character now. LoL
(Btw, Joe Chen does resemble Jang Nara a bit during their early days) 😀
norakirayumi
I mean Jang Nara's character in Successful Story of a Bright Girl.
(They somehow have similar storyline).