Not Just 'The Cleaner'! The #1 Highest-Rated Taiwanese Drama on Netflix in the Past 3 Years Is Revealed: 'Queens of the Performing Arts' and 'The Wedding I Owe You' Surpass Expectations

Netflix's new Taiwanese drama 'The Cleaner' premiered globally today (17), starring Li Ming-shun, Lou Chun-shuo, and Lei Chia-jui. The story centers on a mysterious 'cleaner' organization hiding in temples, combining triads, politics, crime action, and black humor, with all 10 episodes released at once. Looking back at Netflix's Taiwanese dramas over the past three years, it's clear that Taiwanese series have evolved from family dramas and middle-aged women's marital issues to war history, sexuality, and intimate relationships, accumulating numerous critically acclaimed works. This article compiles Taiwanese dramas that premiered between September 1, 2023, and September 16, 2026, and were officially listed on Netflix, including Netflix originals, exclusive titles, and those first aired on TV or other platforms before entering Netflix's library. They are ranked by Douban ratings, with tiebreakers based on number of raters, presenting the top 10 highest-rated Taiwanese dramas on Netflix over the past three years. 'The Cleaner' premiered on Netflix today (9/17)! Streaming link revealed: https://www.netflix.com/tw/title/82635638. 10th place: Gingle Wang, Ella Chen, and Joseph Chang in 'Clapping for Love' – Douban rating: 7.6. 'Clapping for Love' brings sex therapy and partner issues into the mainstream of Taiwanese drama. Gingle Wang plays Jia-chen, a sex therapist who helps others understand intimacy but faces her own emotional struggles. Ella Chen plays Qing-yu, a married librarian who begins confronting her body and marriage due to sexual dysfunction, with Joseph Chang as her husband. Two women who reunite years later rediscover themselves through therapy. Audience opinions on professional depictions vary, but many praise the show for addressing female sexual needs, sexual dysfunction, partner communication, and bodily autonomy in mainstream drama. Some viewers feel Ella Chen's performance adds comedic rhythm to heavier themes, while others extend discussions to sex education and sexual disorders, emphasizing the need to speak openly to overcome shame and misunderstanding. Beyond romance, the series tackles intimate relationship issues rarely addressed head-on in past Taiwanese dramas. 9th place: Gwei Lun-mei, Yao Chun-yao, and Chung Yao in 'Hell Love' – Douban rating: 7.7. 'Hell Love' continues He Bai-rui's journey, with Gwei Lun-mei portraying her gradual adaptation to being an influencer while maintaining a regular office job, only to develop new feelings while helping her boss save a dessert shop. Yao Chun-yao joins with a new romantic arc, while Chung Yao and Sonia Suen reprise their roles in her friend circle, moving the story from post-breakup recovery to truly facing love again. Public discussions focus on characters retaining the self-deprecating, teasing, and slightly awkward realism from the previous season. Viewers appreciate that He Bai-rui and her friends don't suddenly become mature adults just because they've grown older, and new romances develop gradually through daily life—work, meals, blind dates, and friendships—rather than fated encounters. The dialogue maintains its bold, contemporary style, contributing to the season's positive reception. 8th place: Tzuchi Chien, Kai Ko, and Roy Chiu in 'Light On Me' – Douban rating: 7.7. 'Light On Me' explores sexuality and intimacy, with Tzuchi Chien playing Qiu Ai, a video creator who freely discusses sex online but finds it hard to separate desire, attachment, and commitment in her personal life. Kai Ko plays Pink, her intimate partner, while Roy Chiu and Wu Chien-ho's storylines explore same-sex partnerships, marriage, and diverse emotional relationships. The plot also examines generational family perspectives on sex and love through the Qiu family. Audience interest extends beyond Qiu Ai and Pink, with some viewers particularly drawn to other relationship subplots, while others notice that despite characters' outward openness about sex, they still face traditional values when dealing with love, marriage, loyalty, and family expectations. These comments highlight the show's central theme: being able to talk about sex doesn't mean one can handle intimacy—people can be articulate, yet still confused in their own relationships. 7th place: Joseph Chang, Sylvia Chang, and Sean Yang in 'The Wedding I Owe You' – Douban rating: 7.8. Directed by Yen Yi-wen, 'The Wedding I Owe You' stars Joseph Chang as middle-aged Zhou Ke-jie and Sean Yang as the 25-year-old, ambitious version, with Sylvia Chang as Chen Li-xuan, who has stood by him through marriage. Young Zhou has a band, talent, and dreams for the future, but by middle age, he faces creative and marital lows. When the two life stages intersect, the character is forced to re-examine how their youthful love became today's reality. Audience discussions center on whether one can still love the person they fell for in youth when they reach middle age. Some viewers feel the emotional core isn't the fantasy premise but the slow erosion of relationships by unresolved daily issues after the honeymoon phase. Chen Li-xuan becomes a focal point, with audiences re-evaluating from her perspective: whose dreams are prioritized in a marriage, and who bears the often-invisible emotional labor. 6th place: Chung Hsin-ling, Ting Ting, and Susan Sun in 'Saturday Sunday' – Douban rating: 8.3. Set in Erlin, Changhua, 'Saturday Sunday' stars Chung Hsin-ling as Zhou Rui-qiu, Ting Ting as Yang Shi-mei, and Susan Sun as Xiao Ru-ru. Zhou is a local radio host entangled in an affair; Yang takes over her family's plumbing business and only begins experiencing real love in midlife; Xiao, after years playing fixed roles in prime-time dramas, returns home to rethink her identity as an actress and individual. Three childhood friends face new challenges approaching age 50. Viewers love the timeless friendship among the three women and appreciate how, despite dramatic events, character interactions feel authentic. The characters still face unemployment, wrong relationships, and rediscovering love, constrained by family and societal expectations. The story doesn't demand they become flawless adults with age but shows them stumbling and relying on themselves and friends to move forward. 5th place: Hsieh Ying-hsuan, Chin Han, and Wallace Huo in 'What We Remember' – Douban rating: 8.3. Directed by Rene Liu, 'What We Remember' stars Hsieh Ying-hsuan as Cheng Le-le, balancing work, stand-up comedy dreams, and relationships while accompanying her father Cheng Guang-qi, played by Chin Han, into old age. Wallace Huo plays Le-le's ex-husband Zhang Kai. As romantic and father-daughter storylines intertwine, the narrative shifts focus to caregivers: how does a middle-aged child's life change when parents lose the ability to care for themselves? The recurring emotion in viewer comments is 'thinking of my parents.' Some see their father's transition from riding bikes and telling jokes to needing daughter's care, prompting reflection on their own future. Others deeply relate to Le-le's exhaustion—loving her father yet needing work, income, and personal life. This portrayal of loving someone while being drained by caregiving resonates strongly with audiences in the latter episodes. 4th place: Hsieh Ying-hsuan, Gingle Wang, and Hsu Shih-ling in 'Queens of the Performing Arts' – Douban rating: 8.3. Written and directed by Yen Yi-wen, 'Queens of the Performing Arts' dives into the lives of actresses across generations. Hsieh Ying-hsuan plays Xue Ya-zhi, Gingle Wang plays Zhou Fan, while Chen Ting-ning, Hsieh Chiung-huan, Yang Kuei-mei, Chung Hsin-ling, Tseng Wan-ting, and Lin Ting-yi represent newcomers, veterans, agents, and various career stages. Auditions, awards, and age anxiety are just the surface—the story truly explores