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| Genre: | Historical drama Political drama | ||||||||||
| Director: | Lin Shi-zhang, Lin Long-yin | ||||||||||
| Starring: | Akira Chen Chia-Kuei Chen Yuu Chen Kurt Chou Johnny Lu Ricie Fun Yang Lie Mario Pu Chen Jia-kui An Jun-peng | ||||||||||
| Country: | Taiwan | ||||||||||
| Language: | Mandarin Taiwanese Hokkien English | ||||||||||
| Num Episodes: | 20 | ||||||||||
| Producer: | Wang Yi-xin, Xiong Jiu-shan | ||||||||||
| Location: | Taipei | ||||||||||
| Company: | Marktwain Production | ||||||||||
| Network: | Far EasTone Public Television Service |
Island Nation (Chinese: 國際橋牌社) is a Taiwanese political drama based on Taiwan's transition from an authoritarian state to a democracy in the 1990s.[1] The series will include 80 episodes over 8 seasons,[2] with the first season premiering on 20 January 2020.[3] The second season, Island Nation 2, debuted on 12 September 2021.[4]
was spent on the first season, with the Ministry of Culture subsidizing in production costs. A replica of the Presidential Office Building was built at a Republic of China Navy base in Taoyuan, while the presidential inauguration scene was filmed in the building itself.[5]
Casting was a challenge, as several local actors and actresses declined roles in the series, for fear of compromising their ability to work in China.
Cinema Escapist described Island Nation as "one of the most compelling series in Taiwanese entertainment history thus far", noting the contrast to the apolitical stance and self-censorship undertaken by many Taiwanese entertainers in order to access China's media market.[6] The second season of the series was promoted by Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen on an Instagram post.