Crystal Boys

A-Qing, a sensitive youth in 1971 Taipei, is expelled from school and rejected by his family after a same-sex relationship with classmate Zhao Ying is discovered. Alone and searching for belonging, he begins spending time at New Park, a gathering place for gay men, where he meets friends and fellow outsiders navigating love, desire, and survival in a society that ostracizes them. Through his experiences and those of his peers, the story explores identity, friendship, longing, and the struggle for acceptance, offering a nuanced portrait of Taiwan’s gay subculture in the early 1970s and the bonds that sustain a marginalized community.

Directed by Tsao Jui Yuan, Crystal Boys leans on a strong ensemble — Tou Tsung-hua, Fan Wing, Joseph Chang Hsiao-Chuan — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2003.