“Fragrance of the First Flower” is an award-winning series starring ZaiZai Lyn and Lyan Cheng written and directed by Angel Teng. The series is the first Taiwanese show to be nominated at the SERIES MANIA International Festival and certified by the Tokyo International Film Festival.
“Fragrance of the First Flower” depicts Yi-Ming (Lyan Cheng) living alone with her son, as her husband works away from home. She meets Ting-Ting (ZaiZai Lyn) at a wedding, a girl she once had some history with back in high school. Back in the day, Yi-Ming denied their relationship out of fear of living as a lesbian woman, but meeting Ting-Ting again reignites something in her, a possibility to escape her dull married life. Now that Taiwan has legalized same-sex marriage, can Yi-Ming find the courage to admit her feelings? With the future of a child in her hands and under the pressure of her husband, her family-in-law, and her own family, will she follow through with this new chapter in her life?
WARNING! Spoiler alert. Read at your own risk!
Episode 1.
In the first episode, Yi-Ming attended a friend’s wedding. While eating at the reception, Yi Ming is staring at the woman in front of her when her seatmate accidentally spills wine on her dress. All the guests line up to have a photo session with the married couple, where she meets Ting Ting, the girl she once had a history with back in high school. They had a little chit-chat and ended up going home together. Feeling awkward, Yi Ming starts a conversation. They talk about life and Ting Ting asks her if she’s happy being a mom and a wife but the latter just stays silent.
After arriving home, Yi Ming received a call from Ting Ting. The latter told her that she forgot her wedding souvenir in the cab. Ting Ting says that she wanted to give it to her anytime she wanted and the latter agreed. The next scene is a flashback of their high school life where Yi Ming was playing volleyball and Ting Ting was watching her. She asks her if she can join the Volleyball team. Though there are no slots open, Yi Ming let her join the team.
One night after training, Ting Ting saw Yi Ming walking home alone. The latter refused, but Ting Ting insisted so Yi Ming ended up riding on Ting Ting’s bike and they went home together. Going back to the present, Yi Ming went home and saw his husband lying on the sofa. After putting his son to sleep, she typed a message for Ting Ting saying that they can meet sometime but she didn’t send it. And suddenly, she received a text from Ting Ting asking if they could meet tomorrow. That short message left a smile on her face.