Republican Era Dramas with English subs - a biased and incomplete list
I once made a long period cdrama rec post but excluded 20th century dramas. Well, now I feel like making a list of all Republican era dramas I am aware of that have English subs so here you go. Sharp suits and sharper dresses, lots of war and mayhem, and some cool music.
Note: some of them skirt the communist era or interlap. Oh well... I have italicized the ones I have not seen.
All Quiet in Peking - This one is supposed to be a heavy duty political and personal drama. I am not sure there is any romance. Good reviews but haven’t seen it yet. Set in late 1940s/early 1950s (so part Republican, part Communist). It does have Wang Kai, for those among us who are more shallow. Subbed on youtube.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmvhbRirSn8
Battle of Changsha - I love this one! Part family drama, part romance, part war epic, this is written by the same people who wrote Minglan, aka the best-written drama of all time, according to me. The story revolves around the close-knit Hu family, with the protagonist being Hu Xiangxiang, an idealistic school girl. Before the story ends, she will have to cope with family joys and tragedies, the terror of war and discovery of love with a military officer played, as always impeccably, by Wallace Huo. It’s a nuanced, wonderful story that I cannot recommend highly enough. Subbed on youtube.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LHQccpKOEU
Cage of Love - set in the early part of the Republican era, this involves family grudges, love triangles, mysteries and some colorful clothes. Hawick Lau looks scrumptous. Its a silly drama, but a fun one, and not too long. Subbed on youtube.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icvuzyh1w-0
Cruel Romance - Gangsters and the Japanese and the 1930s and dapper Huang Xiaoming and a happy ending for once. I only watched a little bit of it, but it looked fun. Subbed on youtube.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xQjoFO3x4
Decoded - Haven’t seen this one, but involves coders, spies and romance. It’s on my list. Subbed on youtube.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdLisJfZvus
Demon Girl - goofy, supernatural (heroine is an unknowing half demon), involves weird endings, but the clothes are sharp and the story is cracky fun.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuNCZrsUdcw
Destined to Love You - OK, I bailed out of that one because it was too anachronistic but I might get back some time because Joe Chen as somehow the only female member of an all male military academy is cracky fun. Not on youtube/viki but I am sure other streaming sites have it because I watched it with subs.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkErq8D4tlM
Detective L - have not watched that since mysteries aren’t my bag, but it’s basically mysteries and 1930s styles, so if that’s your thing. Subbed on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR_Txt7SkN4
The Disguiser - this is supposed to be THE 1930s war/spy drama and is made by the same team as the legendary Nirvana in Fire, and stars some of the same actors. I mean to get to it but have been saving it. I don’t think there is much, if any romance, though. Subbed on viki.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eY5_3PF9ts
Four Women Conflict - God, how do I love this trashy drama. Ady An is pure heroine mistreated by pretty much everyone but the awesome Feng Shao Feng in this early Republican drama. Anything bad you can think of happening, happens. But the OTP is so perfect. This one might be hard to find with subs because the site I used to pull it from a decade ago doesn’t exist any more, but they are out there somewhere.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZZgj2UtPFY
Girl Wearing a Tassel Earring - I literally know nothing about it other than it somehow involves spies. I’ve seen subs floating around, but frankly, haven’t chased them.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7L_InVMiLM
The Lady and the Liar - I haven’t finished it yet but what I saw, I loved. Our heroine is a poor street performer, whose paths cross with a powerful gangster whose life she saves and who falls for her madly. She turns out to be a long-lost heiress who ends up in a trainwreck on the way to reunite with her long-lost family. Someone else claims her identity and the smitten sexy gangster swoops in on the lovely amensiac and claims she was his fiancee. Ooooh. What tangled webs we weave...Hawick Lau and Tang Yan never looked better. Subbed on kissasian.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pia7dLeWDxg
Legend of Fragrance - something something perfume wars. Nothing about this one interested me so that’s all I know. I would imagine the usual places (aka kissasian) would have it.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsdAebzMlPw
Letting You Float Like a Dream - it’s a reincarnation story, but the bulk of it takes place in the 1930s and involves a romance between a gangster and a well-bred girl. Subbed on youtube.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y0wghUqEdk
Lost in 1949 - a slacker has to take the place of his twin revolutionary brother. High on my list because of Chen Kun. Subbed on youtube.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi0ClvDVOJ4
Love in Han Yuan - a socialite torn between two men - one a seeming traitor who is a good communist and the other the reverse. On my short list because Kevin Yan is in too few subbed dramas. Subbed on youtube.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmAcfcMrkbE
The Mystic Nine - grave robbers, nationalists, Chinese opera, awesomeness. Subbed on viki.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHV1MJteYFg
Prodigy Healer - healer of a fantasy tribe ends in in 1930s China. I checked out a bit of it and it was too shrill for me, but plenty of people liked it. Subbed on youtube.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxS4qWQ_QNA
Rookie Agent Rouge - a smart young woman gets drawn into dangerous game of spy and coutnerspy. Romance, adventure, betrayal and awesomeness. Watching it right now. Subbed on youtube.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbVpI0sk4F4
Rouge Snow - Fan Bing Bing marries into a house with a ton of secrets but luckily hunky butler Wallace Huo is there to help. I watched a little so long ago I barely remember it, but I liked what I saw. I’ve seen it floating subbed on some less than legit sites or torrent ones :)
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7g5HKthaOk
Shanghai Bund - gangsters, true love, tragedy and the sexiness that is Huang Xiaoming. Subs are on the usual less legit places.
MV (I don’t know why I can’t find an HD one, they used to be around): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgcxsE60uqQ&t=135s
Shuttle Love Millenium - hero gets transported to the 1930s. Shall he ever get back? I have no idea since it looked a little cracky for me so I did not watch it. I believe it’s on viki.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgJI5yasQrA
Siege in Fog - dysfunctional romance and civil war? Yes pls.Subbed on viki.
MV: https://youtu.be/3AjNpVkQn5Y
Sparrow - spies, spies, and more spies. I am watching right now and it’s so smart and moving and perfect.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOewgMJ-eaA
The Terracotta Warrior - OK, the bulk of it is not set in the 1930s but it does follow three lifetimes (on in Qin, one in 1930s, and one modern days), and the vignette is delightful plus I am a fan of love through millennia.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xpLSqwM-Uw
Too Late To Say I Love You - see description of Siege in Fog, only add Wallace Chung as a sexy warlord. The usual less legit places.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzctmRz7DnU
Wu Xin - monster hunter in the republican era. Yummy Elvis Han. But I am not big on horror so haven’t watched it.The usual places.
MV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGHDEmK7NWE