I Am Married...But!

{{short description|Taiwanese Netflix television series}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image = I Am Married...But!.jpg

| caption =

| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes

| t = 童話故事下集

| s = 童话故事下集

| p = Tóng hùa gù shì xìa jí

| lit = Fairytale Sequel

}}

| alt_name =

| genre = Romantic comedy
Romance

| creator =

| based_on =

| developer =

| writer = Li Nien-hsiu

| director = Li Nien-hsiu

| creative_director =

| presenter =

| starring = {{ubl|Ko Chia-yen|Jasper Liu|Ko Shu-chin|Tseng Jing-hua|Fu Meng-po|Pipi Yao|Sie Yi-lin}}

| voices =

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer =

| country = Taiwan

| language = Taiwanese Mandarin

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 12

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer =

| producer = {{ubl|Iza Sun|Vita Huang}}

| cinematography =

| editor =

| camera =

| runtime = 29-49 minutes

| company = Deal Entertainment Inc.

| budget =

| channel = Netflix

| released = {{Start date|2025|02|14|df=y}}

| related =

}}

I Am Married...But! ({{lang-zh|t=童話故事下集|p=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.{{cite web|url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/happily-never-after-i-am-married-but-unveils-the-realities-of-marriage-in|title=Happily Never After? ‘I am Married…But!’ Unveils the Realities of Marriage in Main Trailer|date=14 January 2025|author=Vivien Tan|website=Netflix|language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-do-in-paris/cinema-series/articles/323889-i-am-married-but-a-funny-and-spicy-taiwanese-romantic-comedy|title=I Am Married...But!: a funny and spicy Taiwanese romantic comedy|author=Julie de Sortiraparis|date=January 28, 2025|website=Sortir à Paris|language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://dmtalkies.com/i-am-married-but-netflix-tv-show-review-2025/|title=‘I Am Married But’ Netflix Review: Predictable Yet Progressive Romantic Drama Is Worth A Watch|author=Pramit Chatterjee|date=February 15, 2025|website=DMTalkies|language=en}}

Cast

=Main starring=

=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.{{cite news|url=https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20250220000664-260112?chdtv|title=柯佳嬿《童話故事》飆髒話觀眾愛瘋|author=林淑娟|date=2025-02-20|work=China Times|language=zh-tw}} Additionally, it was featured in the Daily Top 10 rankings in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.{{cite news|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/amov/202502160157.aspx|title=「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|author=洪素津|date=2025-02-16|work=Central News Agency (Taiwan)|language=zh-tw}}

=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.{{cite news|url=https://tw.nextapple.com/entertainment/20250220/3FD074C1D030B0FE3A841CF7A2B3EE37|title=柯佳嬿大膽戳破「王子是渣男」 怒飆髒話網友拍手叫好|author=王思穎|date=2025-02-20|work=Next Apple|language=zh-tw}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://ent.ltn.com.tw/news/breakingnews/4956644|title=「柯佳嬿飆髒話」直衝Netflix台灣榜第一名!網友狂讚:我的嘴替|author=蕭方綺|date=2025-02-19|work=Liberty Times|language=zh-tw}} Viewers also highlighted her skill in delivering comedic and sarcastic lines, adding to the show's charm.{{cite news|url=https://news.tvbs.com.tw/entertainment/2784214|title=《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|author=莊雅婷|date=2025-02-19|work=TVBS|language=zh-tw}} Jasper Liu’s performance as Zeng Xue-you, a well-meaning yet naive husband, was similarly well received.{{cite news|url=https://stars.udn.com/star/story/10093/8553588|title=Netflix《童話故事下集》:不忍直視的真實婚姻生活|author=雪奈|date=2025-02-19|work=United Daily News|language=zh-tw}} Fans appreciated his ability to portray a "mama’s boy" in a way that made the character both humorous and endearing.{{cite web|url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/taiwanese-rom-com-series-i-am-married-but-wins-hearts-with-its-realistic|title=Taiwanese Rom-Com Series ‘I am Married…But!’ Wins Hearts with Its Realistic Take on Marriage|date=19 February 2025|author=Vivien Tan|website=Netflix|language=en}}

References

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