I Am Married...But!

*I Am Married...But!*
I Am Married...But!
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	童話故事下集
Simplified Chinese	童话故事下集
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Tóng hùa gù shì xìa jí
Genre	Romantic comedy; Romance
Written by	Li Nien-hsiu
Directed by	Li Nien-hsiu
Starring	Ko Chia-yen; Jasper Liu; Ko Shu-chin; Tseng Jing-hua; Fu Meng-po; Pipi Yao; Sie Yi-lin;
Country of origin	Taiwan
Original language	Taiwanese Mandarin
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	12
Production
Producers	Iza Sun; Vita Huang;
Running time	29-49 minutes
Production company	Deal Entertainment Inc.
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	14 February 2025

I Am Married...But! (Chinese: 童話故事下集; pinyin: Tóng hùa gù shì xìa jí) is a 2025 Taiwanese Netflix original series written and directed by Li Nien-hsiu. The series stars Ko Chia-yen, Jasper Liu, Ko Shu-chin, Tseng Jing-hua, Fu Meng-po, Pipi Yao and Sie Yi-lin.

Synopsis

I-ling (Alice Ko) has spent the past three years living with her in-laws, constantly debating whether to end her marriage every week. She longs for independence but feels trapped because her husband, Zeng Xue-you (Jasper Liu), remains overly attached to his mother.^[1] Just as she reaches her breaking point, he manages to show glimpses of the man she fell for, keeping her caught in an endless loop of staying and wanting to leave.^[2] However, everything changes when she connects with a kindred spirit on a dating app, and her body begins yearning for motherhood, forcing her to navigate the delicate balance between emotional temptation and family responsibilities.^[3]

Cast

Main starring

Ko Chia-yen as I-ling
Jasper Liu as Zeng Xue-you, I-ling's husband

Support roles

Ko Shu-chin as Zeng Xue-you's mother
Jheng Chih-Wei as Zeng Xue-you's father
Tseng Jing-hua as a handsome and warm pharmacist, a chance encounter of I-ling
Fu Meng-po as I-ling's ex-boyfriend at university
Sie Yi-lin as Na-jie, I-ling's colleague

Reception

Viewership

The series received a highly positive response upon its release, quickly climbing to the No. 1 spot on Taiwan’s Daily Top 10 Series ranking within 48 hours of its premiere. The series maintained this position for three consecutive days and also secured a place in the Weekly Top 10 Series rankings, reaching No. 2 in Taiwan and No. 10 in Hong Kong.^[4] Additionally, it was featured in the Daily Top 10 rankings in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.^[5]

Critical response

The series sparked widespread online discussions, with viewers appreciating its humorous and relatable take on marriage. Many praised its script for its realistic and grounded storytelling, while others found amusement in its release on Valentine’s Day, joking that it was intended to provoke conversations about relationships.^[6]

Ko Chia-yen’s portrayal of I-ling, a sharp-witted and outspoken wife, received particular acclaim. Her character resonated with audiences, with some fans describing her as a voice for their own thoughts on marriage.^[7] Viewers also highlighted her skill in delivering comedic and sarcastic lines, adding to the show's charm.^[8] Jasper Liu’s performance as Zeng Xue-you, a well-meaning yet naive husband, was similarly well received.^[9] Fans appreciated his ability to portray a "mama’s boy" in a way that made the character both humorous and endearing.^[10]

References

^ Vivien Tan (January 14, 2025). "Happily Never After? 'I am Married…But!' Unveils the Realities of Marriage in Main Trailer". Netflix.
^ Julie de Sortiraparis (January 28, 2025). "I Am Married...But!: a funny and spicy Taiwanese romantic comedy". Sortir à Paris.
^ Pramit Chatterjee (February 15, 2025). "'I Am Married But' Netflix Review: Predictable Yet Progressive Romantic Drama Is Worth A Watch". DMTalkies.
^ 林淑娟 (February 20, 2025). "柯佳嬿《童話故事》飆髒話觀眾愛瘋". China Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
^ 洪素津 (February 16, 2025). "「童話故事下集」柯佳嬿揭婚姻黑暗面探討媽寶男能否被教化". Central News Agency (Taiwan) (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
^ 王思穎 (February 20, 2025). "柯佳嬿大膽戳破「王子是渣男」　怒飆髒話網友拍手叫好". Next Apple (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
^ 蕭方綺 (February 19, 2025). "「柯佳嬿飆髒話」直衝Netflix台灣榜第一名！網友狂讚：我的嘴替". Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
^ 莊雅婷 (February 19, 2025). "《童話故事下集》結局線上看｜劇情評價與演員陣容！台詞金句曝". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
^ 雪奈 (February 19, 2025). "Netflix《童話故事下集》：不忍直視的真實婚姻生活". United Daily News (in Chinese (Taiwan)).
^ Vivien Tan (February 19, 2025). "Taiwanese Rom-Com Series 'I am Married…But!' Wins Hearts with Its Realistic Take on Marriage". Netflix.

External links

[1] Vivien Tan (January 14, 2025). "Happily Never After? 'I am Married…But!' Unveils the Realities of Marriage in Main Trailer". Netflix.

[2] Julie de Sortiraparis (January 28, 2025). "I Am Married...But!: a funny and spicy Taiwanese romantic comedy". Sortir à Paris.

[3] Pramit Chatterjee (February 15, 2025). "'I Am Married But' Netflix Review: Predictable Yet Progressive Romantic Drama Is Worth A Watch". DMTalkies.

[4] 林淑娟 (February 20, 2025). "柯佳嬿《童話故事》飆髒話觀眾愛瘋". China Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)).

[5] 洪素津 (February 16, 2025). "「童話故事下集」柯佳嬿揭婚姻黑暗面探討媽寶男能否被教化". Central News Agency (Taiwan) (in Chinese (Taiwan)).

[6] 王思穎 (February 20, 2025). "柯佳嬿大膽戳破「王子是渣男」　怒飆髒話網友拍手叫好". Next Apple (in Chinese (Taiwan)).

[7] 蕭方綺 (February 19, 2025). "「柯佳嬿飆髒話」直衝Netflix台灣榜第一名！網友狂讚：我的嘴替". Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)).

[8] 莊雅婷 (February 19, 2025). "《童話故事下集》結局線上看｜劇情評價與演員陣容！台詞金句曝". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)).

[9] 雪奈 (February 19, 2025). "Netflix《童話故事下集》：不忍直視的真實婚姻生活". United Daily News (in Chinese (Taiwan)).

[10] Vivien Tan (February 19, 2025). "Taiwanese Rom-Com Series 'I am Married…But!' Wins Hearts with Its Realistic Take on Marriage". Netflix.

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