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Refresh Man
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後菜鳥的燦爛時代
GenreRomantic comedy
Created bySanlih E-Television
Written byXu Zhi Yi (Screenwriter coordinator)
Xu Gui Ying (Screenwriter coordinator Ep. 1-17, Screenwriter Ep. 4-5)
Wang You Zhen (Ep. 1-2)
Zhang Fang Ying (Ep. 1-5)
Zhan Yun Ru (Ep. 2, Ep. 7-10, Ep. 15)
Zhuang Xin Fu (Ep. 6-17)
Sun Shi Fan (Ep. 6-17)
Chen Zhao Miao (Ep. 11-14)
Directed byEri Hao
Ke Zheng Ming (Ep. 1-3)
StarringAaron Yan
Joanne Tseng
Lene Lai
Jack Lee
Opening theme"Partner (拍檔)" by Claire Kuo
Ending theme"You're The First to Come to Mind (第一個想到你)" by William Wei
Country of originTaiwan
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes17 (Original Release)
28 (Netflix Release)
Production
Executive producersHsu Gui Yíng
Lín Yin Sheng
ProducersLeung Hon Fai, Xu Zhi Yi (SETTV)
Sun Zheng Quan, Pan Yì Qun (TTV)
Production locationTaiwan
Running time90 minutes
Production companiesSanlih E-Television
Eastern Shine Production Co., Ltd.
Original release
NetworkTTV
ReleaseMarch 6 (2016-03-06) –
June 26, 2016 (2016-06-26)
Related

Refresh Man (Chinese: 後菜鳥的燦爛時代; pinyin: hòu cài niǎo de càn làn shí dài; literally "The After-Rookie's Brilliant Era") is a 2016 Taiwanese television series created by Sanlih E-Television, starring Aaron Yan, Joanne Tseng, Lene Lai and Jack Lee as the main cast. Filming began on January 27, 2016 and is filmed as it airs. The drama premiered March 6, 2016 on channel TTV, Sunday nights at 10:00 pm.[1]

Synopsis

[edit]

A "Refresh Man" is an employee who has no passion for their job. They don't care about their underachieving reputation, as long as they get paid for showing up to work they are fine. They report to work on time only to do personal stuff during working hours and count down to the end of the work day to leave on time.

In high school Zhong Yu Tang (Joanne Tseng) was the overachiever with a bright future ahead of her while Ji Wen Kai (Aaron Yan) was the underachiever with the worst grades out of the entire class. Ten years later the tables have turned when Wen Kai becomes the new CEO of the cosmetic company Yu Tang works for. Yu Tang becomes Wen Kai's personal secretary but on her first full day working for him she realizes she is not up to par being an executive secretary when she fails miserably at every given task. Wen Kai has to call in his longtime assistant Miao Ai Sha (Lene Lai) to help him translate during a business meeting with a foreign account, and because Ai Sha is the only one that can communicate with the foreign account person and read the foreign documents, she gets hired at the cosmetic company.

Due to a misunderstanding and feeling left out by Wen Kai and Ai Sha, Yu Tang asks to resign. However she is forced to stay as an employee with the company for three years due to a contract she signed in order to study overseas the previous year. Seeing that Yu Tang has no passion for her position as his personal secretary, Wen Kai transfer her to the worst performing department in the company, which is sales team 3. The rumors of sales team 3 are so bad that it is said anyone that goes to that department never rises up again. Their work quarters are located in an un-maintained area of the building basement. Whenever they hear footsteps nearby, the entire team pretends to work hard but then goes back to their natural state of doing their own personal matters during working hours.

Yu Tang thinks this is Wen Kai's revenge for her treating him harshly during high school, but the reason Wen Kai transferred her to sales team 3 is because he wants her to make sales team 3 a productive department. Also because Yu Tang's life has always been smooth-sailing, he wants to make her stronger through different obstacles he gives her as he secretly likes her. When sales team 3 loses a longtime key account that keeps their department afloat, Wen Kai gives them a new account to handle and transfer Chen You Rui (JR) from another sales team to team 3. Yu Tang's work life just went from bad to worst because You Rui is a constant flirt who is known to flirt with anyone that is female and he has a history of flirting with Yu Tang. Yu Tang starts bonding with Sales team 3 and realizes that she has taken things for granted. Wen Kai is shown to have had feelings for Yutang ever since high school but has never admitted them. When Ziyu, the head secretary of Xinwei Biomedical technology, starts getting closer to Yutang he confesses his love for her and they start dating. Ziyu is heartbroken and tries to sabotage sales team 3 and Wen Kai to get Yutang by collaborating with Ai Sha and Sales teams 1 and 2.

Cast

[edit]

Main cast

[edit]
  • Aaron Yan 炎亞綸 as Ji Wen Kai 紀文凱 – Male age 30
The new CEO of a cosmetic conglomerate, Tian Xi Corporation (天璽集團). In high school, he was nicknamed "duck egg king", because he scored zero in many examinations. He was the worst student in his class. He was often looked down by teachers and made fun of by his classmates because of his under-achievements. Zhong Yu Tang, who was the best student in his class, was put in charge of him by the teachers. However, she treated him harshly for being the worst student in the class but he didn't care because he had a crush on her. Ten years later, he becomes the CEO and Yu Tang has to be his personal secretary.
  • Joanne Tseng 曾之喬 as Zhong Yu Tang 鍾雨棠 – Female age 29
She was the most senior secretary at Tian Xi Corporation and was recently promoted as the CEO's personal secretary. All that changed when she found out that her new boss is Ji Wen Kai, her high school classmate whom she had treated harshly. She soon finds out she was not qualified enough to be his personal secretary because she failed to even carry out simple tasks such as getting a lunch that the CEO would like. A misunderstanding at work makes her decide to resign but Wen Kai reminds her that because she signed a long term work contract, she is not allowed to resign. Feeling that she is not passionate enough about her job as a secretary, he transfers her to the worst department in the entire company, which is Sales Team 3.
  • Lene Lai 賴琳恩 as Miao Ai Sha 苗愛莎 – Female age 29
Ji Wen Kai's long time assistant who was brought on to Tian Xi because he needed someone who can communicate with a Russian business partner and translate their foreign sales contract. When Zhong Yu Tang asked to resign as the CEO's secretary, she becomes Wen Kai's new personal secretary at Tian Xi. Yu Tang feels inferior to Ai Sha because she seems to do everything better than Yu Tang. However, Ai Sha has developed a one sided love towards Wen Kai when they were working together.
  • Jack Lee 李運慶 as Wang Zi Yu 王子譽- Male age 33
The Head Secretary of Xinwei Biotech and an old acquaintance of Zhong Yu Tang from a Secretary gathering in the past.

Sales team 3

[edit]
  • Sara Xiu 琇琴 as Meng He 孟和 – Female age 50
The head of sales team 3. She has seniority status at TianXi since she joined the company when it was newly formed and has company stock options. She uses her working hours to do her grocery shopping and pickle vegetable at her work desk.
  • Cherry Hsia 夏如芝 as Huang Jia Ying 黃佳茵 – Female age 30
A former high level sales person at TianXi who concentrated less on her career after her marriage and the birth of her son. She is a single mother who divorced her abusive husband and depends on her salary to have sole custody of her son. She spends her work days checking up on her son through a web cam.
  • Chang Roy as Zhu Liang Yu 朱亮瑜 – Male age 26
A bookworm who is good at creating reports however he doesn't care about work and instead spends his working hours writing his romance novel that he hopes to publish one day.
  • Jenny Huang 黃甄妮 as Jiang Hui Xin 江慧心 – Female age 21
A former customer sales person who request a transfer to the corporate office because she doesn't like to deal with customers. She spends her working hours sleeping and is actually more energized when she get off work.
  • JR 紀言愷 as Shen You Rui 沈佑睿 – Male age 32
The office flirt at Tian Xi. He has a habit of flirting with ladies. He has a history with Zhong Yu Tang and tells everybody he is her ex-boyfriend even though the two have never dated before. He is transferred to Sales Team 3 by Wen Kai, who wants them to save an old account and land new sales accounts.

Extended main cast

[edit]
Zhong Yu Tang and Zhong Yu Han's father. He owns and manages a small café that mainly sells omurice.
  • Andy Ko 葛兆恩 as Zhong Yu Han 鍾雨翰- Male age 25
Zhong Yu Tang's younger brother and Zhong Kui's son. He works alongside his father at the omurice café they own.
  • Yin Fu 茵芙 as Wang Hai Di 王海蒂 – Female age 29
Ji Wen Kai and Zhong Yu Tang high school classmate. She is Yu Tang's best friend and claims Wen Kai had a crush on her.
  • Stanley Mei 梅賢治 as Cai Sheng Ren 蔡聖仁 – Male age 30
Ji Wen Kai's friend.

Extended cast

[edit]
  • Ting Chiang 丁強 as Shen Yue Feng 沈岳峰
  • Lung Shao-hua as Wang Chao Long
  • ID Yu 游喧 as Wendy
  • Jeniffer Wang 袁天綺 as Amy
  • Wang Chi Chiang 王自強 as Uncle Wang
  • Cheng Zheng Jun 程政鈞 as Chief Zheng
  • Ray Fan 范瑞君 as Yu Tang and Yu Han's mother
  • Joseph Ma 馬國賢 as
  • Lin Xin Ying 林莘穎 as childhood Yu Tang
  • John Chen 陳志強 as Lian Shi Qiang 連士強（Johnny）
  • Guan Jin Zong 管謹宗 as Director Cai
  • Gina Lim as Director Cai's secretary
  • Xue Zi Fei 薛子騛 as Deputy Wu
  • Stephenie Lim 林美貞 as Hua Ru Ping 華如萍
  • Bi Zhi Gang 畢志綱 as Uncle Li
  • Yang Lie 楊烈 as Director Luo
  • Zhang Ji Quan 張紀詮 as Xu Yong Cheng 許永承
  • Vince Kao 高英軒 as Zhang Zhu Mi 張主秘
  • Soso Tseng 曾威豪 as children toys store owner
  • Ren Yuan Yuan 任媛媛 as Zhu Mi's companion
  • Xu Mou Jun 徐謀俊 as bad boy high school prom
  • Zhan Bo Xiang 詹博翔 as bad boy high school prom
  • Paul Hsu 許騰方 as Jia Zhong Xian 賈重賢
  • Tang Tsung Sheng 唐從聖 as Zhan Shang Yang 詹上陽
  • Su An Bang 蘇安邦 as business lesson staff
  • Lin Zhe Wei 林震緯 as business lesson staff
  • Jian Yi Zhe 簡義哲 as Chief Huang
  • Yang Yu Cheng 仰雨澄 as bag saleswoman
  • Calvin Lee 地球 as Ah Hui 阿輝
  • Tan Qing Pu 譚慶普 as Executive Director Hong

Soundtrack

[edit]
  • Partner (拍檔) by Claire Kuo 郭靜
  • You're The First to Come to Mind (第一個想到你) by William Wei 韋禮安
  • What's Past is Past (坦然) by Pets Tseng 曾沛慈
  • Invent a Game (闖關遊戲) by Fang Wu 吳汶芳
  • We (我們) by Jing Wen Tseng 曾靜玟 and Fang Wu 吳汶芳
  • Old and New (新的舊的) by Wang Li Ren 王笠人
  • I Want To Be A Kid (小人物的大願望) by Pets Tseng 曾沛慈
  • This Is Not Love (這不是愛情) by William Wei 韋禮安

[2]

Episode ratings

[edit]

Competing dramas on rival channels airing at the same time slot were:

Air Date Episode Average Ratings Rank
March 6, 2016 1 1.69 1
March 13, 2016 2 1.84 1
March 20, 2016 3 2.22 1
March 27, 2016 4 2.26 1
April 3, 2016 5 2.35 1
April 10, 2016 6 2.59 1
April 17, 2016 7 2.38 1
April 24, 2016 8 2.65 1
May 1, 2016 9 2.42 1
May 8, 2016 10 2.38 1
May 15, 2016 11 2.91 1
May 22, 2016 12 2.85 1
May 29, 2016 13 2.63 1
June 5, 2016 14 2.47 1
June 12, 2016 15 2.44 1
June 19, 2016 16 2.46 1
June 26, 2016 17 2.87 1
Average ratings 2.42 --

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2016 2016 Sanlih Drama Awards Viewers Choice Drama Award Refresh Man Nominated
Best Actor Award Aaron Yan Nominated
Best Actress Award Joanne Tseng Nominated
Best Kiss Award Aaron Yan & Joanne Tseng Nominated
Best Screen Couple Award Aaron Yan & Joanne Tseng Nominated
Viewers Choice Drama's Song Award "You're The First to Come to Mind" - William Wei Nominated

International broadcast

[edit]
Country Channel
 United States Viki
 Singapore E City
 Hong Kong Chinese Drama
 Malaysia Astro Shuang Xing
 Thailand True Asian Series

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Refresh Man

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Refresh Man is a 2016 Taiwanese television series produced by (SET TV). The drama centers on childhood rivals Ji Wen Kai and Zhong Yu Tang, who reunite ten years after high school when the former underachiever becomes the CEO of MUSE Cosmetics and the overachiever serves as his secretary, leading to workplace tensions, personal growth, and budding romance. Aired from March 6 to June 26, 2016, the series consists of 17 episodes in its original broadcast format, with an extended 28-episode international version. It stars as the charismatic but mischievous CEO Ji Wen Kai, as the ambitious and principled secretary Zhong Yu Tang, Lene Lai, and Jack Lee. The show blends elements of corporate intrigue in the cosmetics industry with themes of redemption, rivalry, and second chances in relationships. Refresh Man received positive reception for its engaging storyline and strong chemistry between the leads, earning a 7.6/10 rating on from over 300 users and a 7.8/10 on MyDramaList from thousands of viewers. It has since gained international popularity through streaming platforms like and Viki, highlighting the appeal of Taiwanese idol dramas.

Overview

Synopsis

Refresh Man is a Taiwanese romantic comedy drama that follows the lives of two childhood rivals from high school: Zhong Yu Tang, a dedicated overachiever who excelled academically and dreamed of a promising future, and Ji Wen Kai, a laid-back underachiever who often clashed with her due to his carefree attitude. A decade after graduation, their paths cross again in the corporate world of the Tianxi Group, where Yu Tang has risen to become a highly competent secretary on the cusp of promotion, only to face unexpected challenges under new leadership. Meanwhile, Wen Kai has undergone a dramatic transformation, stepping into the role of CEO after inheriting the struggling company from his family, marking a complete reversal of their high school dynamics. The series centers on the professional conflict that ensues when Wen Kai, leveraging his newfound authority, demotes Yu Tang and assigns her to Sales Team 3, the company's most underperforming division plagued by low morale, inefficiency, and internal rivalries. Yu Tang, determined to prove her worth, takes on the daunting task of revitalizing the team through innovative strategies, personal mentorship, and overcoming various workplace hurdles that test her and resilience. As she navigates these challenges, the narrative explores themes of personal growth and redemption, with Wen Kai grappling with his responsibilities as CEO while confronting his past insecurities. Interwoven with the corporate intrigue are central romantic and comedic elements, highlighting the evolving tension between Yu Tang and Wen Kai as their rivalry blossoms into mutual respect and attraction amid humorous mishaps and team-building antics. The story emphasizes workplace dynamics, where individual ambitions clash and collaborate, ultimately fostering a sense of camaraderie and self-discovery for the characters involved.

Series format

Refresh Man (後菜鳥的燦爛時代; Hòu Càiniǎo de Cànlàn Shídài) is classified as a Taiwanese idol drama incorporating workplace themes, centered around corporate dynamics in the industry. The series consists of 17 episodes, each running approximately 75 minutes. It originally aired on Sundays at 10:00 p.m. from March 6 to June 26, 2016. Produced by (SETTV) in collaboration with Eastern Shine Production Co., Ltd., the series was broadcast on SETTV. On streaming platforms such as , extended versions divide the content into shorter episodes, for example, 28 episodes.

Production

Development

Refresh Man was created by (SETTV) as an original Taiwanese drama series, drawing on common tropes of workplace role reversals prevalent in the . The concept revolves around high school rivals who reunite as adults in a corporate environment at a company. Key producers involved in the development included Leung Hon Fai and Xu Zhi Yi from SETTV. The screenplay was crafted by a team of writers, such as Wang You Zhen, Zhang Fang Ying, Zhan Yun Ru, Xu Gui Ying, Zhuang Xin Fu, Sun Shi Fan, and Chen Zhao Miao, emphasizing a blend of and elements of . Development progressed through planning in late 2015 and early 2016, culminating in the series' premiere on March 6, 2016, on TTV. No specific budget figures or promotional tie-ins were publicly announced during this phase.

Filming and crew

Filming for Refresh Man took place primarily in , with capturing the series' corporate and urban environments. The production utilized real-world settings to emphasize the workplace dynamics central to the story. The series was directed by Eri Hao, who handled the bulk of the episodes, while Ko Cheng Ming directed the first three installments to establish the initial tone and pacing. Eastern Shine Production served as the primary production company, overseeing key technical elements including cinematography by their in-house team led by experienced professionals in Taiwanese television, and that ensured the concurrent airing schedule was met without delays. The tight timeline, beginning in late January 2016 and spanning approximately five months, posed logistical challenges, particularly in coordinating shoots around the lead actors' concurrent idol activities and promotional obligations.

Cast

Main cast

Aaron Yan stars as Ji Wen Kai, the central protagonist who was a mediocre and during high school, often overshadowed by his childhood rival Zhong Yu Tang. Ten years later, he returns from working abroad to assume the role of CEO at MUSE Cosmetics, the company where Yu Tang is employed, reversing their past dynamic as he becomes her demanding . Throughout the series, Ji Wen Kai challenges Yu Tang's abilities while confronting his own past insecurities, navigating the complexities of leadership and rekindling old feelings in a setting. His emphasizes personal growth from a "refresh man"—an unmotivated employee—to a capable executive driven by determination and subtle romantic motivations. Joanne Tseng portrays Zhong Yu Tang, an ambitious overachiever from high school with excellent grades and a promising future, who has advanced to become a top executive secretary at MUSE Cosmetics after nearly five years of dedicated service. Upon Ji Wen Kai's appointment as CEO, she is assigned as his personal secretary, facing unexpected professional hurdles and a shift in power dynamics with her former classmate. Yu Tang's motivations stem from her drive for career and stability, but she experiences demotivation and growth as she adapts to the reversed roles, overcomes workplace challenges, and explores evolving personal relationships. Her arc highlights resilience, transitioning from a position of superiority to one requiring humility and adaptation in both her career and romantic life. Lene Lai plays Miao Ai Sha, a key supporting lead and Ji Wen Kai's long-time assistant at the company, valued for her competence and adaptability in a high-pressure corporate environment. As a multilingual brought in to support international operations, she demonstrates talent and foresight, often stepping in to handle critical tasks like translations and planning. Miao Ai Sha's role underscores her as a reliable ally in the office dynamics, contributing to the central CEO-secretary interactions while pursuing her own professional standing. Jack Lee as Wang Zi Yu, a prominent executive and romantic rival within the company who becomes engaged to Zhong Yu Tang, complicating the central romantic tension. As a fellow high-level employee, possibly in a vice-presidential capacity, his character introduces conflict through his stable yet competitive presence, vying for Yu Tang's affections against Ji Wen Kai. Wang Zi Yu's arc involves navigating corporate rivalries and personal commitments, ultimately influencing the resolution of the .

Sales team 3

Sales Team 3, the underperforming division at Tianxi Group's MUSE Cosmetics, consists of a diverse group of long-term employees whose personal struggles and disengagement highlight the company's broader corporate inefficiencies. Led by the veteran team leader Meng He, portrayed by Sara Yu, the group embodies themes of redemption through renewed purpose under pressure. Meng He, a co-creator of the flagship Mei Mei brand, brings institutional knowledge but is often distracted by office gossip, contributing to the team's low morale and stagnant performance. Among the quirky sales representatives, Huang Chia-Yin, played by Cherry Hsia, stands out as a resilient single mother and former top salesperson who was demoted after maternity leave, her exhaustion from balancing family and work amplifying the subplot's exploration of work-life conflicts within a demanding corporate environment. Chu Liang-Yu, acted by Roy Chang, serves as the team's quiet and aspiring , his creative talents underutilized in sales tasks, which underscores the incompetence stifling innovation at MUSE. Complementing this ensemble, Jiang Hui-Hsin, portrayed by Jenny Huang, is the ambitious dreaming of marrying into wealth, her sweet demeanor masking a lack of focus that further hampers team productivity. The addition of Shen You-Rui, played by J.R. Chien, injects charisma into the dynamics as a demoted store manager and skilled communicator who excels in but falters under stress, his past relationship with newcomer Zhong Yu Tang creating interpersonal tensions that test the team's cohesion. These members' individual backstories—ranging from overlooked talents to personal hardships—fuel the workplace subplot, where their initial apathy challenges Yu Tang's efforts to integrate and rally them toward reviving key projects like Mei Mei and Yours, ultimately fostering redemption arcs tied to the company's turnaround. The quirky traits, such as Chu's daydreaming and Huang's fiery protectiveness, provide mentor-like guidance and humorous relief, propelling the narrative's emphasis on collective growth amid corporate redemption.

Extended cast

The extended cast of Refresh Man encompasses recurring supporting actors who portray peripheral characters such as close friends, family members, and minor rivals or executives, contributing to subplots centered on personal relationships and secondary workplace tensions outside the core sales dynamics. Key members include:
  • Yin Fu as Wang Hai Di, the protagonist Zhong Yu Tang's loyal best friend operating a café, who provides emotional support and humorous interludes in non-corporate scenes.
  • Stanley Mei as Cai Sheng Ren, Ji Wen Kai's longtime friend and occasional advisor, facilitating and advisory subplots with a comedic edge.
Guest appearances feature Taiwanese entertainment figures in one-off roles, such as John Chen as Huang Chia-Yin's ex-husband, adding tension to marital subplot moments, and Gina Lim as President Cai's secretary in administrative cameos.

Episodes

Episode list

The 17-episode series aired weekly on Sundays from March 6 to June 26, 2016, on (TTV) and (SET TV). It was directed by Ko Cheng-Ming and Hao Hsin-Hsiang. Episodes do not have individual titles beyond numbering, referred to in Chinese as 第X集 (Dì X Jí, "Episode X") and in English as "Episode X".
EpisodeChinese TitleEnglish TitleAir DateSynopsis
1第1集Episode 1March 6, 2016Zhong Yu Tang anticipates her promotion to chief secretary at Tianxi Group but is shocked when her childhood classmate Ji Wen Kai, now the new CEO, demotes her to the underperforming Sales Team C.
2第2集Episode 2March 13, 2016Yu Tang rallies the disorganized Sales Team C to take on a challenging project, while Wen Kai begins implementing changes to seek revenge for past high school grievances.
3第3集Episode 3March 20, 2016Yu Tang assists colleague Jia Yin with her sick son and learns more about her family struggles; Wen Kai steps in to provide sales training support to Yu Tang.
4第4集Episode 4March 27, 2016Wen Kai discovers Yu Tang's clever strategy to save a key Mei Mei contract; she works to motivate Sales Team C amid the pressure of the Yours project.
5第5集Episode 5April 3, 2016After a series of mishaps, Wen Kai and Yu Tang begin to look after each other more closely; Wen Kai experiences jealousy toward another male colleague.
6第6集Episode 6April 10, 2016Wen Kai skips a planned birthday dinner with Ai Sha to help Yu Tang out of a difficult situation; Sales Team C unites to defend her from workplace bullying.
7第7集Episode 7April 17, 2016Yu Tang attends an important meeting with Auntie Ping; Wen Kai organizes a team lunch to celebrate progress, leading others to mistake them for a couple.
8第8集Episode 8April 24, 2016Yu Tang finds a way to revive interest in the Mei Mei product line; Sales Team A issues a competitive challenge to Team C with a high sales target.
9第9集Episode 9May 1, 2016Yu Tang reflects on Wen Kai's past assistance during tough times; Sales Team C brainstorms an innovative marketing approach for the relaunched New Mei Mei.
10第10集Episode 10May 8, 2016Samples of the New Mei Mei are tested with potential customers; Ai Sha opens up about her feelings toward Wen Kai.
11第11集Episode 11May 15, 2016Both Zi Yu and Wen Kai express their affections to Yu Tang; Zhong Kuei decides to reopen his family restaurant.
12第12集Episode 12May 22, 2016Sales Team C pushes to secure initial orders for New Mei Mei; Yu Tang keeps her personal developments under wraps from the team.
13第13集Episode 13May 29, 2016Sales Team C becomes aware of the connection between Yu Tang and Wen Kai; the group explores unconventional ideas to boost sales.
14第14集Episode 14June 5, 2016Yu Tang and Wen Kai share reminiscences of their high school experiences; Jia Yin travels to Singapore and aids Sales Team C in winning a key bet.
15第15集Episode 15June 12, 2016Manager Jia confronts Wen Kai over perceived favoritism in his relationship; reports emerge of counterfeit Mei Mei products circulating in Taiwan.
16第16集Episode 16June 19, 2016With Sales Teams A and B withdrawing, Sales Team C takes on greater responsibilities; Zi Yu makes another attempt to recruit Yu Tang to his side.
17第17集Episode 17June 26, 2016On her final day working alongside Wen Kai, Yu Tang faces emotional challenges; Wen Kai reveals his ultimate strategy to resolve ongoing tensions.

Viewership ratings

Refresh Man premiered on (TTV) with an average viewership rating of 1.69% for its first episode, measured by AGB Nielsen across the whole district. The series maintained steady growth in audience engagement, reaching a high of 2.22% by the third episode, which secured the top spot in its Sunday 10 p.m. time slot nationwide. By the eighth episode, ratings climbed to 2.65%, again leading the slot and demonstrating strong performance among key demographics like 15-44-year-olds with an effective average of 3.57%. Overall, the drama averaged 2.42% across all 17 episodes, consistently ranking number one weekly in Taiwan's prime-time broadcast. Viewership trended upward through the mid-season, peaking at 2.91% for episode 11 amid heightened romantic plot developments and promotional buzz, before stabilizing in the high 2% range toward the finale at 2.87%. This performance highlighted the series' appeal in the competitive idol drama landscape, particularly for its target audience.
EpisodeAir DateAverage Rating (%)
1March 6, 20161.69
2March 13, 20161.84
3March 20, 20162.22
4March 27, 20162.26
5April 3, 20162.04
6April 10, 20162.59
7April 17, 20162.38
8April 24, 20162.65
9May 1, 20162.42
10May 8, 20162.38
11May 15, 20162.91
12May 22, 20162.85
13May 29, 20162.63
14June 5, 20162.47
15June 12, 20162.44
16June 19, 20162.46
17June 26, 20162.87
Ratings data compiled from AGB Nielsen measurements.

Music

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for Refresh Man features the opening and ending themes along with several insert songs performed by various artists, primarily ballads and pop tracks that underscore the show's themes of challenges, , and romance. These songs were released as singles or included in artists' albums around the series' premiere in 2016. Key tracks include the opening theme "Partners" (拍檔), performed by Claire Kuo (郭靜), with lyrics by Kate Liao (廖瑩如) and composed by Nuo-Tian Li (黎偌天). The ending theme, "Think of You First" (第一個想到你), is sung by William Wei (韋禮安), who also wrote and composed the song. The following is a list of notable songs used in the series:
TrackTitle (English/Chinese)Artist(s)Lyricist(s)Composer(s)
1Partners / 拍檔Claire Kuo (郭靜)Kate Liao (廖瑩如)Nuo-Tian Li (黎偌天)
2Think of You First / 第一個想到你William Wei (韋禮安)William Wei (韋禮安)William Wei (韋禮安)
3What's Past Is Past / 坦然Pets Tseng (曾沛慈)Lu Wan-Fen (盧宛芬)LGF Seto
4Little People's Big Wish / 小人物的大願望Pets Tseng (曾沛慈)Penny Tai (戴佩妮)Penny Tai (戴佩妮)
5We / 我們Jing Wen Tseng (曾靜玟), Fang Wu (吳汶芳)Lan You Shi (藍又時)Lan You Shi (藍又時)
6Old and New / 新的舊的Li-Ren Wang (王笠人)Li-Ren Wang (王笠人)Li-Ren Wang (王笠人)
7Challenge Game / 闖關遊戲Fang Wu (吳汶芳)Fang Wu (吳汶芳)Fang Wu (吳汶芳)
8This Is Not Love / 這不是愛情William Wei (韋禮安)William Wei (韋禮安)William Wei (韋禮安)
These songs align with the series' narrative, featuring arrangements that enhance emotional depth in character interactions.

Theme songs

The opening theme song of Refresh Man is "Partner" (拍檔), performed by Claire Kuo and featured during the opening credits. Written by Liao Yingru with music by Li Nuotian, the song's lyrics center on themes of partnership and reversal, portraying companions who support each other through daily routines, dreams, and life's ups and downs. Key lines such as "按鬧鐘每天清晨多少相同動作 / 夢不完夢在真實生活之中戰鬥" (Pressing the alarm clock every morning with the same actions / Endless dreams fighting in real life) and "會失落會快樂好壞自然分工 / 全是拍檔陪伴我" (Will feel lost, will feel happy, good and bad naturally divided / All accompanied by partners) emphasize mutual reliance and the transformative power of collaboration, mirroring the series' exploration of role reversals in professional and personal growth. This upbeat track sets an optimistic tone, underscoring the motif of second chances as characters rebuild bonds in a competitive workplace. The ending theme, "You're The First to Come to Mind" (第一個想到你) by William Wei, serves as an emotional during the . Composed, written, and performed by Wei, the delve into profound romantic longing and dependence, with imagery evoking solitude and comfort in a loved one's . Phrases like "第一個想到你 / 沒有任何原因 / 在一個人的夜裡 / 握緊你的外衣 / 在黑暗中你就是最閃亮的星" (The first one I think of is you / For no particular reason / On a lonely night / Clutching your coat / In the darkness, you're the brightest star) capture an involuntary emotional pull, aligning with the series' romance arc where protagonists confront past regrets and forge deeper connections. The song's provides closure to each , reinforcing themes of renewal and enduring ties that evolve into personal intimacy. Together, these theme songs encapsulate Refresh Man's core motifs of second chances and workplace bonds, with "Partner" energizing the narrative's collaborative spirit and "You're The First to Come to Mind" evoking the heartfelt vulnerabilities that drive the story's emotional depth.

Reception

Critical response

Refresh Man received generally positive reception from audiences for its lighthearted portrayal of workplace romance and personal growth, often praised as a feel-good series that balances sweetness with mild corporate intrigue. Reviewers highlighted the endearing romance between protagonists Ji Wen Kai (played by Aaron Yan) and Zhong Yu Tang (played by Joanne Tseng), noting how their evolving relationship from rivals to partners provided emotional warmth without excessive melodrama. The chemistry between the leads was frequently commended, with users describing their interactions as natural and engaging, contributing to the drama's charm as a modern take on second-chance romance. The series also earned appreciation for its light corporate , depicting office and "refresh man" dynamics in a relatable yet non-intense manner that underscored themes of perseverance and self-improvement. Fans particularly valued the character development arcs, such as Yu Tang's transformation from a complacent employee to a confident leader, which sparked discussions on post-2016 forums about the relevance of such growth stories in idol dramas. On aggregate platforms, it holds an average user rating of 7.8 out of 10 based on thousands of reviews, reflecting broad appeal among viewers seeking uplifting content. Critics and viewers pointed out some weaknesses, including reliance on formulaic idol drama tropes like predictable misunderstandings and plot twists that occasionally felt contrived. Certain reviews described the narrative as occasionally bland or lacking depth in its corporate elements, with the story's predictability diminishing tension in later episodes. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus positioned Refresh Man as an enjoyable, fluffy escape that succeeded in delivering heartwarming moments and subtle workplace commentary.

Awards and nominations

Refresh Man received several nominations at the 2016 Sanlih Drama Awards (also known as the 5th Huaju Awards), held on December 10, 2016, recognizing outstanding achievements in productions. The series was nominated in multiple categories, highlighting the performances of its lead actors and the on-screen chemistry between them. was nominated for for his portrayal of Ji Wen Kai, a role that showcased his transition from a rookie to a confident executive. earned a nomination for for her role as Zhong Yu Tang, praised for bringing depth to the ambitious yet vulnerable protagonist. Additionally, the drama itself was nominated for Viewers' Choice Most Popular Drama Award, competing against six other Sanlih series including and Wolf Prince. The leads' chemistry was further recognized with nominations for Best Kiss and Best Screen Couple, both awarded to Yan and Tseng for their memorable romantic scenes, such as the intense office encounters that became fan favorites. Best Kiss was awarded to An Xin-Ya and Chang Hsuan-Jui from Wolf Prince, while Best Screen Couple went to Zhang Li Ang and Shao Yu Wei from . Despite the strong showing, Refresh Man did not secure any wins at the ceremony; went to Wang Chuan-Yi for Swimming Battle, to Tsai Huang-Ju for , and the Most Popular Drama to the latter series as well. No nominations were received at the 51st , 's most prestigious television honors. No formal international drama awards followed.

Broadcast

Domestic broadcast

Refresh Man premiered in on (TTV) and (SET) on March 6, 2016. The series aired weekly on Sundays at 10:00 p.m. on TTV through its 17-episode run, concluding on June 26, 2016. It consisted of 17 episodes, each approximately 70 minutes in length. To promote the series, the cast held a on March 11, 2016, where lead actors and discussed the production and themes of workplace romance. Following the premiere episode, the cast and celebrated with an afternoon tea event to mark the successful debut. The drama has seen re-runs on SETTV channels in the years after its original broadcast.

International broadcast

"Refresh Man" became available for international audiences shortly after its Taiwanese premiere, with streaming platforms providing access to English-subtitled versions. , the series streamed on Viki starting in March 2016, offering episodes with English subtitles alongside the original Mandarin audio. The drama aired on cable networks across and . In , it was broadcast on E City, while in , it appeared on the Chinese Drama channel; Malaysia featured it on Astro Shuang Xing, and on True Asian Series. These regional broadcasts typically followed the original airing schedule, providing localized access without specific adaptation changes. Globally, "Refresh Man" expanded to major streaming services, including , where the 17-episode series became available in December 2016 with subtitles and dubs in multiple languages such as English, Spanish, and French in select regions. Although it was removed from in some markets by late 2021, it remains accessible on platforms like Viki as of 2025, continuing to support international viewership with multilingual subtitle options.

References

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