Light the Night (traditional Chinese: 華燈初上; simplified Chinese: 华灯初上), is a 2021 Taiwanese Netflix original series drama.
Taiwanese dramas, also known as “Taiwanese idol dramas,” have been popular in many Asian countries for decades since 1990s. In recent years, the development of Taiwanese dramas has continued to evolve, with new trends and emerging styles.
One notable trend in recent years is the emergence of “dark dramas,” which feature serious and often gritty storylines that address social issues such as mental illness, domestic violence, and political corruption. Examples of such dramas include “The World Between Us” (我們與惡的距離), “On Children” (你的孩子不是你的孩子), and “The Victim’s Game” (誰是被害者).
Another trend is the adaptation of popular novels and webtoons into dramas, such as “Somewhere Only We Know” (有一個地方只有我們知道) and “The Silent Sea” (沉默之海). These adaptations have attracted a large audience base and generated a lot of buzz words in the media.
Overall, the development of Taiwanese dramas in recent years has been diverse and dynamic, with a variety of new trends and new styles. These dramas continue to appeal to audiences both in Taiwan and abroad.
Synopsis
Season 1
On October 6, 1988, a group of photography club students found the body of an unidentified woman on the east slope of Jinan Mountain(雞南山) in Zhongshan District, Taipei City. After the police investigation, the deceased had a relic from the “Light”(光) Japanese-style bar in Tiaotong(條通) located in Taipei.
After a series of the police’s in-depth investigation, the past of incidents came into light. The hustle and bustle of Tiaotong culture, the love and hatred among the ladies who work in Light Bar, and the human ethics of joy and sorrow followed the truth of the female unidentified body.
Season 2
At the end of the second season of Light the Night, Jiang Han is shown listening to a tape recorder that was handed over to him earlier by Rose Luo. It had a recording of a woman panicking about another woman’s death. Just as Jiang Han is on his way to meet Rose Luo, he is hit by a speeding car and collapses on the road.
Season 3
Police officer 潘文成Pan Wencheng continued to investigate the murder of Mama Su in the Light Bar, and thorough investigation, he gradually revealed the true face of the murderer. It is discovered that there are more unspeakable secrets and complicated relationships hidden in the murder case.
What is Tiaotong Culture(條通文化)
Tiaotung Culture has been booming since 1980, and the bar ladies are “smiling but not selling the sex”
Tiaotung means “alley” in Japanese, and 華燈初上 recreates that the bar ladies who work here do not please the customers by taking off their clothes and bringing them out, but by drinking alcohol together to cheer them up. Futhermore, bar ladies observe customers’ conversation and find the topics that will arouse customers’ interests, so as to please them and “sell the smile but not the sex” each time customers visit the bar.
Back then, Japanese recovered from the economic quagmire that Japan has bogged down for decades since the end of WWII, and numerous Japanese enterprises came to Taiwan to set up branches. Expatriates from Japan moved in, and consequently this business district began to flourish in 1980 and many Japanese-style bars emerged.
Unlike the typical image of bars, many people visit Tiaotung for relaxation only after work. Japanese come every day,chat ,and drink with the ladies who are proficient in Japanese. Because Japanese clients do the big business, they order wines usually without hesitation, the main income source of the ladies is the commission of wine price and therefore many articulate ladies can always earn a fortune. The “Light the Night” takes the audience back to the modern Taipei City and the corners that are rich in history.
This series drama is also known for its actors and actress. 林心如Ruby Lin, 楊祐寧Yo Yang, 楊謹華Cheryl Yang, 鳳小岳Rhydian Vaughan, 張軒睿Derek Chang,郭雪芙 Puff Kuo, 劉品言Esther Liu, 謝瓊煖Cherry Hsieh and 謝欣穎Nikki Hsin-ying Hsieh.
- 羅雨儂”Mother Rose”, cast by Ruby Lin 林心如(Lín xīn rú)
林心如 Ruby Lin, who played the role of 羅雨儂Luo Yu nong, was known as “Mother Rose” in the drama. Although she was imprisoned because of her ex-husband 吳少強Wu Shao qiang. After being released from prison, she opened the Japanese-style bar “Light(光)” with the encouragement of her old friend 蘇慶儀 Su Qingyi. Through the popularity, with the exposure of the love triangle between Luo Yunong, Su Qingyi and 江翰Jiang Han, Su Qingyi was reported to have been murdered, and this made Luo Yunong speculated by the audience that he might be one of the suspects in the murder.
2. 蘇慶儀, cast by 楊謹華Yáng jǐn huá
Yang Jinhua played the role of Su Qingyi in 華燈初上. She was appreciated by the boss in her previous job, so she decided to cooperate with Luo Yunong to buy out the Japanese-style bar “Light(光)”. Su Qingyi’s uniquely fresh temperament and eloquent speaking skills made Su Qingyi start as the proprietress. She has gain popularity from customers since the beginning. Although she failed to have the good relationship with Jiang Han, she finally chose to marry one of Japanese clients, Nakamura, but it also made her a thorn in the eyes of the ladies and the following murders.
3. 愛子Aiko, cast by 郭雪芙 Guō xuě fú
郭雪芙 plays the role of “Wang Ailian”or her nickname, 愛子Aiko, and she is a journalism student at a well-known university. She pursues material satisfaction in her daily life, and was unexpectedly appreciated by customers when she delivered food to “Light” bar in her part time job, and became one of the bar’s signature ladies. When the business of “Light” bar becomes sluggish, she chooses to stay at the “Sugar” bar opened by Baobao. Mastering how to read words and expressions has become one of her characteristics.
4. 潘文成 Pān wénchéng, cast by 楊祐寧yáng yòu níng
楊祐寧 plays the role of “Pan Wencheng”, the leader of the police team in the play. Because of the murder of an unnamed female body, he came to “Light” bar to conduct an open investigation. This character is not a “black and white” policeman, but often walks on the edge of the gray area. This role reveals that the character’s “dark side of a certain part evokes the most primitive desires in human nature.”
5. 江翰Jiang Han, cast by 鳳小岳(Fengˋ Xiaoˇ yueˋ)
江翰Jiang Han,played by Feng Xiaoyue, is a talented screenwriter of the TV station. He seems to be full of ideals and ambitions, but in fact he is a person without sense of responsibility. He is deeply attracted, but in the process of dating, he finds that 羅雨儂Luo Yu nong’s strong personality always overwhelms him, so he feels afraid of her There are no so-called good guys and bad guys in the play, and the sentimental “Jiang Han” changed his fate and the fate pf his beloved woman because of his inner choice.
The ending theme song, 好不容易 Finally, sung by 告五人Accusefive
🚀🚀Mandarin Meta 華語元宇宙 