The Wave Makers

Upon encountering a Taiwanese television drama respecting elections and domestic politics, I harbored concerns that it might excessively rely on melodrama and deviate from the realities of political operations. Therefore, my expectations for this series were not particularly high, and I intended to sample just one episod.

However, from the very first episode, I could sense the dedication of the production team. They didn't resort to sensationalism or distortions to create a nonexistent political situation. Instead, they approached the topic steadily and authentically by portraying various political maneuvers and events that occur in real political operations, allowing the audience to get closer to the reality of domestic politics.

Furthermore, the team delicately handled many crucial issues in political work, such as the pursuit of ideals and the compromises faced with the realities of power, as well as the conflicts between different political ideologies and styles within political dynasties. They also addressed the issue of maintaining a work-life balance in the face of high workloads during election campaigns or unforeseen political events. These significant issues were not merely touched upon but rather explored and well discussed throughout the entire series.

Finally, the drama also delves into contemporary issues such as workplace harassment, infidelity, and voyeuristic victimization, making it a more comprehensive and more appealing to watch for a wider audience.

This is an unmissable choice for those seeking to understand Taiwanese politics through a television drama.

I just watched the first episode of this series, and paused before watching the second to read reviews and, now, to write this. I think the show is remarkable--for the script, the acting, and the pace of action and dialogue. The naturalness of the performances, all of them, struck me, as did the surprising shifts in rhythm, as so-called "storylines" are introduced. The nitty-gritty of politics in this moment of instant communication is represented in an almost thrilling way. So too are the tactics and strategies of political calculation. As another reviewer said, people and ideas and interactions are brought on so thick and fast that it's hard to adjust to-but that's just one of the things I found admirable about the direction and photography, not to mention the script. After watching a day in life of a main character, I was exhausted when she got home!

This Taiwanese TV series is really good to watch, and it touches on many issues that China cannot mention! Such as elections, lgbt topics, democracy, freedom! Why can Taiwan have it, but China can't? Because China has been a centralized system since ancient times, and you must obey the orders of your superiors and cannot resist! In fact, the entry of this drama on Douban in China is taken off the shelves as it should be, which is not particularly surprising! To be honest, the atmosphere in Taiwan is a realm that we in China will never reach! And we don't even have the qualifications to participate in democratic elections to be elected by one person, one vote! And the media is also controlled by the Chinese Communist Party! It can only be said that in comparison, it is really the kind of realm that cannot be reached! Hope to see more dramas like this! When Yajing was sexually harassed, her colleagues could stand up and accuse her! And also defeated his opponent, revealing that he was having an affair with another woman! Lin Yuezhen's prototype is Tsai Ing-wen. Really, the conversation and image of the two people are too similar. He Ronglang is Lai Qingde! It is a really great show which I recommended to everyone!

As a Taiwanese, I am extremely proud of this show.

We are a very new country where the country was still under martial law just 36 years ago, and now our democracy is fully bloosmed and people can speak freely what's in their mind without worrying their safety. Wave Makers shows the world the energy that democracy has brought to the Taiwanese society, at the same time, perhaps also reminding those politicians, in order to win, after getting the power, have they achieved all the promises they made?

The actors are brilliant, and the story line is captive and make you think about more in terms of how election and politics make a difference to our life.

This is the best Taiwanese show ever, a must see.

This series fully embodies the spirit of Taiwan as a country where the people are the main focus. I believe that the above statement will cause a great uproar, such as Chinese people saying, "Taiwan is a part of China, not a country." I do not deny the Chinese people's position.

Although the lighting is harsh, the music is a bit too popular, and the humor is exaggerated, the series "Wave makers" showcases the character of Taiwanese people through these flaws. Unlike the conspiracy and intentional murder cases in Korean dramas, this drama is a simple political drama that discusses the behind-the-scenes staff of presidential candidates. Through this, we will see the pain, sadness, and laughter of the staff. They are campaign aides, the makers of waves, the makers of presidents, husbands, granddaughters, and even mistresses.

In the past, some have said that democracy is an invention of Europe and America, not a common heritage of humanity. This film does not discuss the most sensitive issue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait - unification or independence, but it was enough to make China's largest film review website, Douban, stop the comment function for this series. Without comments or ratings, this series will not have too much attention, because a little attention will reveal the noisy atmosphere of this life, where the people have painful struggles, but at the same time, they are free and fresh. Comparing the observation results above to China, this series becomes a troublesome creator, so let's just mute the people directly.

The plot is smooth, the acting is natural, and all the actors are the best in Taiwan. Moreover, you can taste the work style of Taiwanese people without traveling - a bit pessimistic, humorous, competitive, and striving. Highly recommended.