At The Dolphin Bay Review: A Classic T-Drama About True Lovers Finding Their Way To Each Other

At The Dolphin Bay is a sad show right from the very first scene. It is a drama full of good music and some heavy-duty emotional scenes. It’s a dated show so it will have all the late 90s and early 2000s melodrama, misunderstandings, evil step-mother, cunning business politics, and so on. Since it is a Taiwanese show, you can expect some “supposed” brother-sister love affair too. Don’t worry it is not really an incestuous deal because the couple is not related by blood.    

If you are game for such a show, then please carry on with this review. If not, then skip this review for now and come back when you feel want to know more about this drama.

At The Dolphin Bay (2003) (18 Episodes)

Two kids Zeya and Xiao Pin Gai meet in an orphanage and become each other’s best companions. But their time together is short as Zeya soon gets adopted but a rich businessman who believes the boy to be his late son’s illegitimate child. Before Zeya separated from Xiao Pin Gai he promised to come find her soon. But when he does keep his promise, Xiao Pin Gai is no longer at the orphanage as she too gets adopted by a single woman.

Now adults, Xiao Pin Gai is a singer on the rise while Zeya is the CEO of the music company she works for. Circumstances bring them close to each other but by the time they both realize their past connection they are already betrothed to their respective partners. Each time they try to come close an obstacle always creates a distance between them. Will this pair of lovers ever be together?

I enjoyed watching ‘At The Dolphin Bay’ because…

…of the story and the main cast. Xiao Pin Gai loses her mother in a tragic accident and lands up in an orphanage because she is the illegitimate daughter of a business tycoon who also passed away sometime back.

When she is admitted to the orphanage, she feels lonely and does not wish to interact with anyone. Her silent nature is mistaken for her arrogance and the other kids start picking in her until Zeya steps up and protects her from being bullied. Slowly, they become good friends as Zeya promises to always protect her like a big brother and never leave her alone.

But Zeya soon gets adopted and Xiao Pin Gai feels devastated as she is left lonely again. Eventually, she too gets adopted by a single mother who runs a humble noodle shop in a poor neighborhood.

Her mother is debt-ridden and so Xiao Pin Gai decides to participate in a singing competition that will help her earn some money and repay the debt so the loan sharks stop harassing her mother.

Before the audition, Xiao Pin Gain happens to meet Zeya who is kinda lost and she helps him get to an important meeting. To return her favor, he then helps her get to the music audition on time when she is about to miss it.  

When Xiao Pin Gai goes for the audition music director Hsiao Kang refuses to listen to her because of her late arrival. Since Zeya is the CEO of the music company he tells her to not lose heart and asks her to sing in the auditorium. He then puts her on speaker so that Hsiao Kang can hear her sing. And when he does he runs to her and selects her as the new talent for the company.

Hsiao Kang then becomes Xiao Pin Gai’s mentor and decision-maker. Xiao Pin Gai is grateful to Zeya for his help unaware of his actual status at the company.

Hsiao Kang takes Xiao Pin Gai under his wing and resolves to change her completely so she can become the next big thing in the music industry. Initially, he does not like the Xiao Pin Gai as he finds her irresponsible and plain annoying. But as he spends more time with her, he slowly falls for her.

The story here is very simple. Zeya and Xiao Pin Gai both like each other but circumstances and people in their lives keep them apart. They try to make peace with their life but their hearts still long for each other.

What works best for this show is its stunning cast. This show must have been one of the initial dramas for both lead actors Angela Chang and Ambrose Hsu so their acting is not the best in this one. However, they look nice together and make a good couple.

Actress Angela Chang, with her disarming smile, looks like a sweet innocent girl who needs to be protected. No wonder all the men in the show want to help Xiao Pin Gai even when she doesn’t ask for it. Through the course of the show, she goes from being a naïve and vulnerable girl to a strong and determined woman.

She may hold Zeya in her heart but she knows how much Hsiao Kang sacrificed for her and to what extent he went to make her successful so despite his erratic behavior she continues to stand by him.

The same happens with Zeya who loves Xiao Pin Gai but because of certain circumstances, he has to let go of her and marry someone else.

Actor Ambrose Hsu is good as an intelligent and humble businessman. He is torn between love and responsibility towards the family that gave him a good life. And he expresses his plight effectively.

The leads may be good in their place but my favorites were the other leads Wallace Huo and Penny Lin.  

Wallace Huo plays the role of music director Hsiao Kang who is passionate about his work and considers nothing else more important in life. He cares for his girlfriend Man Qing but his proximity to Xiao Pin Gai makes him fall for her. The man is passionate about everything in life be it his music or love. And this quality makes him a very attractive character.

Shan Ni, who is Zeya’s half-sister, is similar to Hsiao Kang as she too is passionate about her work and sees nothing beyond it. She wants to lead her grandfather’s company instead of Zeya but sadly her grandpa does not consider her fit for the role. This makes her resent Zeya. But, when she comes to see more of Zeya at work and at home, she understands how nice a person he is and slowly warms up to him.

I love the character of Shan Ni because she is honest and hard-working. In a way, she may be an antagonist but I still like her because of how passionately she pursues all that she wants for herself be it in personal life or at work. Actress Penny Lin did a very convincing job playing the ambitious girl in love Shan Ni.

 

…it has some memorable music. Xiao Pin Gai is an upcoming singer while the rest of the cast works for the music company. So, music is an integral part of the plot. And this drama has some beautifully soothing songs to its credit. The songs remain with you for long even if you do not understand the lyrics.

 

I did NOT LIKE ‘At The Dolphin Bay’ because…

…it can get really frustrating. As explained before, our two leads like each other but every time a new hurdle pushes them apart from each other. Just when you feel that the leads will finally be happy, something goes wrong in their life and their patience and bond are tested time and again.

Even though separation and struggle are important to the main plot which is about two lovers reuniting after experiencing lots of trouble and pain, it made the show draggy at times. There are some misunderstandings and some delayed confessions. If you do not have enough patience, then you might end up dropping the drama without finishing it.

You see this drama came in 2003 when such plotlines were common and loved by the viewers so do not expect it to have unique and never-seen-before storylines and characters.  

 

 

‘At The Dolphin Bay’ is a romantic melodrama in which our leads face a lot of trials and tribulations in their life in search of true love and happiness. 

I give ‘At The Dolphin Bay’ 3 out of 5 rating. This T-drama should be watched for its romance and music. I say watch it for Wallace Huo and Penny Lin as their performance stands out from the rest of the cast.

 

 

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