The best series of the 1980s

Q: Where should I start with 1980s Hong Kong TV?

*Looking Back in Anger* is a strong entry point — it was one of the most widely watched TVB series among Chinese audiences in Hong Kong and around the world, and its tragic storyline is cited as a key reason for its success.

Q: Are any of these 1980s series based on existing novels or stories?

Yes — *New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre* is adapted from Louis Cha's martial-arts novel *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*.

Q: Which of these series would appeal most to fans of animation?

Both *Ultra B* (a sci-fi kids' series about a boy who befriends a superpowered alien baby) and *Sally the Witch 2* (a magical-girl story about a princess who comes to Earth against her father's wishes) are animated Japanese productions from the late 1980s.

The defining series of the 1980s, ranked by rating.

The 1980s brought a wide range of television across East Asia — TVB martial-arts serials and family dramas from Hong Kong, Japanese animation finding new ambitions, and food dramas that passed on cultural memory across generations. This collection gathers eight series from the decade, spanning wuxia action, Showa-era family life, sci-fi kids' anime, and magical-girl fantasy.

Best series of the 1980s

Series New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre Series · 1986 · ★ 10.0

A TVB wuxia adaptation of Louis Cha's novel *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*, first broadcast in 1986.

Series Miotsukushi Series · 1985 · ★ 10.0

Set in early Showa Japan, a soy-sauce brewery owner's daughter navigates the divide between land and sea communities.

Series The Rough Ride Series · 1985 · ★ 10.0

A 1985 TVB drama whose theme song was composed by Joseph Koo and performed by Anita Mui.

Series Ultra B Series · 1987 · ★ 10.0

A boy chases a UFO, meets a superpowered alien baby named Ultra B, who then moves in with his family.

Series Oishinbo Series · 1988 · ★ 10.0

A newspaper compiles the Ultimate Menu for its centenary, passing on food culture across generations.

Series Looking Back in Anger Series · 1989 · ★ 10.0

One of the most-watched TVB series among Chinese audiences, known for its tragic and memorable story.

Series Blood-Stained Intrigue Series · 1986 · ★ 10.0

The Bak family, hunted by the martial-arts world, fights for survival across five members.

Series Sally the Witch 2 Series · 1989 · ★ 10.0

Sally, princess of the land of magic, comes to Earth against her father's wishes.

Frequently asked

Where should I start with 1980s Hong Kong TV?

Looking Back in Anger is a strong entry point — it was one of the most widely watched TVB series among Chinese audiences in Hong Kong and around the world, and its tragic storyline is cited as a key reason for its success.

Are any of these 1980s series based on existing novels or stories?

Yes — New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre is adapted from Louis Cha's martial-arts novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.

Which of these series would appeal most to fans of animation?

Both Ultra B (a sci-fi kids' series about a boy who befriends a superpowered alien baby) and Sally the Witch 2 (a magical-girl story about a princess who comes to Earth against her father's wishes) are animated Japanese productions from the late 1980s.