Crystal Boys (2003)
Synopsis
A-Qing, a sensitive youth in 1971 Taipei, is expelled from school and rejected by his family after a same-sex relationship with classmate Zhao Ying is discovered. Alone and searching for belonging, he begins spending time at New Park, a gathering place for gay men, where he meets friends and fellow outsiders navigating love, desire, and survival in a society that ostracizes them. Through his experiences and those of his peers, the story explores identity, friendship, longing, and the struggle for acceptance, offering a nuanced portrait of Taiwan’s gay subculture in the early 1970s and the bonds that sustain a marginalized community.
Network
PTS
Episodes
Episode 1
Barefoot and fleeing his crumbling home life, Li Qing escapes down a sunlit alley as his broken, gun-waving father gives chase, haunted by past glory and present loss.
Episode 2
After a painful reunion with their mother and the sudden loss of his younger brother, A Qing finds himself drowning in grief and guilt—until a quiet, unexpected moment with Zhao Ying offers him a glimpse of warmth in a world that’s falling apart.
Episode 3
Cast out from home and school, A Qing seeks refuge in New Park, where he’s drawn into a hidden world of outcasts, memories, and forbidden love. With Old Guo’s guidance and Xiao Yu’s friendship, he steps into the shadows of the “dark kingdom,” where pain and longing quietly echo through the night.
Episode 4
Welcomed into a chosen family, A Qing joins Xiao Yu, Mouse, and Wu Min under the wing of Master Yang. As they prepare for Sheng Gong’s party, Old Guo bids A Qing farewell with a photo and a name—“Little Goshawk”—urging him to fly forward into an uncertain future. Among wayward youth and whispered legends, A Qing’s journey through the “dark kingdom” takes flight.
Episode 5
At Sheng Gong’s party, A Qing dances among strangers and longing, while his past crashes back when he finds his mother ill and broken in a basement. Her grief over Di Wa’s death turns into blame, pushing A Qing further into isolation. Meanwhile, Xiao Yu is showered with gifts by Old Zhou—new clothes, and a gold chain once worn by his late wife—pulling him deeper into a world where affection often comes with a price.
Episode 6
Xiao Yu and A Qing visit Mouse, who proudly displays his stash of stolen memories, each tied to a forgotten moment. But the fragile calm is broken when Mouse is brutally beaten by his older brother, Crow, forcing the boys into heavy silence on a grimy kitchen floor. Meanwhile, A Qing brings his ailing mother to Di Wa’s grave. Her sorrowful confession reveals a life spent fleeing—just like A Qing. In her regret, he sees his own reflection: a runaway soul, searching for something he can’t name, headed toward the same quiet ruin.
Episode 7
A-Qing sings to his dying mother as she passes, while Wu Min faces heartbreak and Xiao Yu meets a man who may link to his long-lost father.
Episode 8
A-Qing grieves alone in the rain, haunted by loss. Wu Min attempts suicide after being dumped, and Long Zi’s comfort only deepens A-Qing’s pain.
Episode 9
A-Qing faces scorn from Master Yang and quits his job. He helps Mouse with Fumi and reunites with Zhao Ying while Xiao pursues further education.
Episode 10
Long Zi returns, sharing a painful past with A-Qing. Xiao Yu grows distant from Old Zhou, while A-Qing struggles with his own feelings and commitments.
Episode 11
Long Zi explains his tragic love for A Fong, while A Qing struggles with his own relationships. Xiao Yu tries to mend his ties, but faces new complications.
Episode 12
A Qing learns more about Long Zi's past, while Long Zi's family forces him into a painful decision. A Fong's departure leaves both men heartbroken and lost.
Episode 13
Long Zi shares his painful past with A Qing, leading to an invitation for A Qing to help him rebuild. Master Yang warns Long Zi, while tensions rise with the police.
Episode 14
At the police station, A Qing and the others face punishment, while Wu Min’s father discovers his son's sexuality. Long Zi shares a poignant story of his own exile and painful past.
Episode 15
Long Zi offers A Qing a set of keys to his home, but A Qing feels suffocated by the secrets lingering there. A Qing rescues a mute boy, reminding him of Di Wa.
Episode 16
A Qing and the others take Mouse to a doctor who turns out to be Lin-san’s old friend. Xiao Yu’s dream of going to Japan is dashed once again. Li Yue’s joy fades when her old flame asks for money. At Taoyuanchun Restaurant, Xiao Zhen’s wedding leads to the opening of the new club, “Peace Village,” on Retrocession Day.
Episode 17
At Peace Village's opening, Xiao Yu reconnects with his Japan dreams. A Qing cares for Old Master Fu, learning of the tragic past that shapes the old man's sorrow.
Episode 18
Wu Min returns to New Park, sinking into depression before A Qing takes him in. Long Zi confronts A Qing about leaving, and A Qing recalls his past with Zhao Ying.
Episode 19
With Peace Village at risk, Xiao Yu sets off for Japan. Meanwhile, Wu Min cares for Mr. Zhang, who finds peace with their relationship. A Qing learns of Old Master Fu's past with A Fong and shares it with Long Zi, who seeks understanding from both his father and Old Master Fu.
Episode 20
Old Master Fu urges A Qing’s father to forgive him, but dies after a heart attack. A Qing, haunted by visions of his father, returns home, leaving behind a gift for his father before running away. In New Park, he meets Luo Ping, and together they jog into the night, marking a new chapter in A Qing’s life.
Cast
Trailer
Details
Original Title
孽子
Status
Ended
Seasons
1
Episodes
20
Production
Taiwan Public Television Service Foundation
