Going back in time
Since none of the new dramas look interesting recently, I went and re-watched It Started With a Kiss (Taiwan version).
Whenever I read comments about this drama on the internet, people gush about the cute romance. I guess I just don't understand it. I watch it for the cast, their chemistry, really good music, and good humor. Because without those, the drama is crap at romance.
The Story
It's about borderline-retarded girl, Xiang Qin, who falls in love at first sight with school genius, Zhi Shu. Then because of wacky comedy, the two of them end up living together in the same house.
Which kiss did it start with? No one knows. It could be contrived accidental sleepy studying kiss:
It could be forced random kiss:
It couldn't have been good, if that was her reaction.
It could be stalkery unconscious kiss:
None of those kisses are remotely romantic for two people that weren't already in an established romantic relationship.
Apparently, the story is based on a Japanese manga where the writer based it on her own story of meeting and falling in love with her husband (I hope she took a lot of artistic liberties). I read somewhere that the writer wanted their love story to continue on even after their death (and I believe she eventually died). So I guess it's good she got her wish. This story has been retold so many times by so many different countries!
Cast and Characters
Xiang Qin, who has barely enough IQ to function in daily life, is played by Ariel Lin (They Kiss Again, Love or Bread, Legend of the Condor Heroes, Prince of Lan Ling, In Time With You, Race the World, I Will Never Let You Go, A Choo, My Egg Boy, Sweet Alibis)
I normally cannot stand characters like Xiang Qin. She is described as someone that can't do anything on her own. Anything she tries to do, she is too dumb to function. But here, she is made bearable by the likability and awesome acting ability of Ariel Lin.
Zhi Shu is played by Joe Cheng (They Kiss Again, Love or Bread, Race the World, Chinese Paladin 5)
I also normally cannot stand characters like Zhi Shu. Being cool doesn't mean that you go around without an expression on your face. But on re-watch, I have to say I found Zhi Shu more bearable. I still think Joe Cheng is more suitable for comedic roles (hence, probably why I prefer Love or Bread to this series).
Since this is a standard romantic comedy, there are other characters that are in love with either of the two main leads. They are:
Ah Jin played by Jiro Wang (They Kiss Again, K.O. One, Hana Kimi, The X-Family, Rolling Love, ToGetHer, K.O. 3Guo, Absolute Boyfriend, Fabulous Boys, The Crossing Hero, Rakshasa Street, Falling Into You):
Zi Yu played by Tiffany Hsu (They Kiss Again, ToGetHer, The Victim's Game):
Wu Ren played by Sean Lee (K.O. 3Guo, Bromance, Hello Again!):
"He was a sk8ter boi, she "said see you later, boi".
Hua Lan played by Bianca Bai (Fated to Love You)
Pros and Cons
The main con is obviously this romance, which I just can't understand mostly because Xiang Qin is such a non-person. I guess she's supposed to be a blank slate that any random girl in the audience can project themselves into her situation. If that's the case, then I feel sorry for girls. Xiang Qin has no redeeming qualities aside from her determination to stalk Zhi Shu.
Initially, I thought Zhi Shu was such a boring, arrogant, expressionless guy and I just couldn't understand this type of characters. But on re-watch, I will say I like him more. Zhi Shu is described as way smarter than anyone else. At one point in the drama he talks about how his life has always been very predictable because he always knew what other people were going to do/react/say. Xiang Qin coming into his life made his life unpredictable. And while it's not all good, it made his life more interesting. I also think his initial coldness towards Xiang Qin makes more sense. His parents have his life planned out for him where his father wants him to take over the family business and his mother wants him to marry Xiang Qin. At one point, he said that, to give into his parents even a little bit would mean that they would dictate his life for the rest of his life. So there are parts in the drama where it shows that Zhi Shu does like Xiang Qin.
Like the above, where he leaves a Christmas party to spend the evening with Xiang Qin once he learns that her friends had skipped out on her.
But it makes sense that he wouldn't act on it and be in a relationship with her because to do so would be to give in to his parents.
Standard meddling Asian parents.
In the end, I can see why this version is so popular. At the same time, the romance is just...ugh.
In kind of LOL, but in reality, I could have seriously hurt myself/others news, my car's rotor totally rusted through and broke on me the other day. I was driving along happily when I had to brake suddenly for a car in front of me. There was a large clanking sound and I thought I blew out a tire. I pulled into the parking lot of the gas station I was in front of but all tires looked fine. Since I was probably 1-2 miles from home, I figured I'll just drive back home. The whole way, there was a loud clanking, grinding sound coming from my front driver's side tire.
Well, I made it home and Henry helped me take off the tire to take a look.
He also took off the passenger side for a look and that part was also cracked and probably another hard brake away from falling apart.
Snow and salt, man...snow and salt.
Whenever I read comments about this drama on the internet, people gush about the cute romance. I guess I just don't understand it. I watch it for the cast, their chemistry, really good music, and good humor. Because without those, the drama is crap at romance.
The Story
It's about borderline-retarded girl, Xiang Qin, who falls in love at first sight with school genius, Zhi Shu. Then because of wacky comedy, the two of them end up living together in the same house.
Which kiss did it start with? No one knows. It could be contrived accidental sleepy studying kiss:
It could be forced random kiss:
It couldn't have been good, if that was her reaction.
It could be stalkery unconscious kiss:
None of those kisses are remotely romantic for two people that weren't already in an established romantic relationship.
Apparently, the story is based on a Japanese manga where the writer based it on her own story of meeting and falling in love with her husband (I hope she took a lot of artistic liberties). I read somewhere that the writer wanted their love story to continue on even after their death (and I believe she eventually died). So I guess it's good she got her wish. This story has been retold so many times by so many different countries!
Cast and Characters
Xiang Qin, who has barely enough IQ to function in daily life, is played by Ariel Lin (They Kiss Again, Love or Bread, Legend of the Condor Heroes, Prince of Lan Ling, In Time With You, Race the World, I Will Never Let You Go, A Choo, My Egg Boy, Sweet Alibis)
I normally cannot stand characters like Xiang Qin. She is described as someone that can't do anything on her own. Anything she tries to do, she is too dumb to function. But here, she is made bearable by the likability and awesome acting ability of Ariel Lin.
Zhi Shu is played by Joe Cheng (They Kiss Again, Love or Bread, Race the World, Chinese Paladin 5)
I also normally cannot stand characters like Zhi Shu. Being cool doesn't mean that you go around without an expression on your face. But on re-watch, I have to say I found Zhi Shu more bearable. I still think Joe Cheng is more suitable for comedic roles (hence, probably why I prefer Love or Bread to this series).
Since this is a standard romantic comedy, there are other characters that are in love with either of the two main leads. They are:
Ah Jin played by Jiro Wang (They Kiss Again, K.O. One, Hana Kimi, The X-Family, Rolling Love, ToGetHer, K.O. 3Guo, Absolute Boyfriend, Fabulous Boys, The Crossing Hero, Rakshasa Street, Falling Into You):
Zi Yu played by Tiffany Hsu (They Kiss Again, ToGetHer, The Victim's Game):
Wu Ren played by Sean Lee (K.O. 3Guo, Bromance, Hello Again!):
"He was a sk8ter boi, she "said see you later, boi".
Hua Lan played by Bianca Bai (Fated to Love You)
Pros and Cons
The main con is obviously this romance, which I just can't understand mostly because Xiang Qin is such a non-person. I guess she's supposed to be a blank slate that any random girl in the audience can project themselves into her situation. If that's the case, then I feel sorry for girls. Xiang Qin has no redeeming qualities aside from her determination to stalk Zhi Shu.
Initially, I thought Zhi Shu was such a boring, arrogant, expressionless guy and I just couldn't understand this type of characters. But on re-watch, I will say I like him more. Zhi Shu is described as way smarter than anyone else. At one point in the drama he talks about how his life has always been very predictable because he always knew what other people were going to do/react/say. Xiang Qin coming into his life made his life unpredictable. And while it's not all good, it made his life more interesting. I also think his initial coldness towards Xiang Qin makes more sense. His parents have his life planned out for him where his father wants him to take over the family business and his mother wants him to marry Xiang Qin. At one point, he said that, to give into his parents even a little bit would mean that they would dictate his life for the rest of his life. So there are parts in the drama where it shows that Zhi Shu does like Xiang Qin.
Like the above, where he leaves a Christmas party to spend the evening with Xiang Qin once he learns that her friends had skipped out on her.
But it makes sense that he wouldn't act on it and be in a relationship with her because to do so would be to give in to his parents.
Standard meddling Asian parents.
In the end, I can see why this version is so popular. At the same time, the romance is just...ugh.
In kind of LOL, but in reality, I could have seriously hurt myself/others news, my car's rotor totally rusted through and broke on me the other day. I was driving along happily when I had to brake suddenly for a car in front of me. There was a large clanking sound and I thought I blew out a tire. I pulled into the parking lot of the gas station I was in front of but all tires looked fine. Since I was probably 1-2 miles from home, I figured I'll just drive back home. The whole way, there was a loud clanking, grinding sound coming from my front driver's side tire.
Well, I made it home and Henry helped me take off the tire to take a look.
He also took off the passenger side for a look and that part was also cracked and probably another hard brake away from falling apart.
Snow and salt, man...snow and salt.