Grew up watching TVB so mostly going to recommend HK dramas just to spread the love. Although I don't watch them anymore, I can't say enough about how good HK dramas were back then. If you're new to HK dramas, I would recommend watching the ones in the 90s to early 2000s to really appreciate how good HK dramas can be. I only watched 1 drama from the 80s so I can't say much about that era. I would say the storyline and acting would be equally as good but some may be turned off by the old production settings/effects/makeup.
I'm not sure where you can find old hk dramas, yet alone find ones with english subtitles which is kinda sad but anyways these are some of the dramas I remembered liking (many others also):
TVB
Cold Blood Warm Heart 96
Secret of the Heart 98
* 83Demi Gods Semi Devils* 97
The Legend of the Condor Heroes* 94
Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre* 2000
98/00
99
99Eternal Happiness 02
* 00
* 96/98
01
00
01Safe Guards 06' .. most recent one on this list, probably stopped around this time.
*ones that may have multiple remakes, these were the versions I watched 1st so no other versions will compare. this will be different for other people depending on whichever version they watched. storyline is bomb either way.
and ATV dramas that are must watch! :
98'
98'/00'
01'
added theme songs....so nostalgic...ahh having withdrawals listening to the songs...good times
