by mz4jun, December 16, 2013
66

Currently Watching: In a Good Way or My Freedom Years (我的自由年代)


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I just started this drama a few days ago, and it is an ongoing Taiwanese drama which airs one episode per week. In order to kill my anxiety waiting for a new episode and also because I feel this drama deserves more attention from drama addicts, I am going to share what causes my love for this drama.

So far, it has captured my heart with only the 4 episodes that have aired already. I don’t know what it will bring in the future to me, but the most important thing is what I am feeling right now (adapted from a quote from this drama).


Synopsis 

In the summer of 1995, childhood friends Zheng Ren Wei and Lin Jia En took their college entrance exam. Zheng got into a college in Taipei and was ready to start an exciting life in the big city. Lin, unfortunately, failed to get into any college and was stuck in the countryside. Bored out of her mind, Lin decided to go find Zheng and spend her 4th year of high school in Taipei as well.

Let’s start with the character introductions. 

Jia En (played by Kirsten Ren)

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Jia En is a country girl with an energetic and hardworking attitude. But her biggest weakness is depending too much on her childhood buddy, Ren Wei. She seems to be a typical female lead in the beginning: innocent and living in her own small world. But you will see her growing up, learning how to live her own life, and how to be independent.

Liu Chuan (played by Lego Li

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He is a second-year student studying history and law, who is popular, smart, good at sports, moral, and nice. And, of course, he is going to be a major influence in Jia En’s journey of growing up. I don’t want to give out too many spoilers though.

Are you thinking that he is just a ‘perfect guy’ that appears every once in a while in dramas? Hold that thought! As you watch more and more episodes, you will find him adorable, not because he is ‘perfect’, but just because he is a normal guy who is naturally falling in love.

Zheng Ren Wei (played by Jay Shih

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Coming from the countryside, he is aiming big for his university life and finally his freedom. Ren Wei is a freshman at Cheng Dong University. He seems to be a nice guy in nature although he is a bit impulsive and selfish when it comes to his crush, Bai Xue. We are yet to see how he grows up throughout the university years. 

Bai Xue (played by Smile Weng)

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She is considered the "Queen" of the university while Liu Chuan is the "King", of course. She has feelings for Liu Chuan, but they're yet to be realized by the person himself. Feminine and graceful, she is the dream girl of every guy in the university, but she has no female friends. It's rumored she is not as good with females as she is with male students. Is this rumor just because of the jealousy of other girls? It is yet to be discovered. 

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After getting a glimpse of the character introductions, you'll see that this drama revolves around university students in the '90s, and their college life and their age of freedom as the title suggests. So far, it has been doing great at incorporating college elements into the storyline, making the audience feel nostalgia for their college years. Here comes the most important part...


WHY SHOULD YOU WATCH THIS DRAMA?
1st: Because of the main OTP (Alert: cuteness overload) 

They have some of the best on-screen and off-screen chemistry. You will find every single moment of them together to be very cute. And the story has been doing well so far to get them together every now and then, doing a service for fan girls like me. 

2nd: If you like college-themed dramas 

Like I said, there are college elements. If you are doubting whether this drama is just a copycat to the Reply 1997/1994 series, there is a difference: most of the events happening in this drama are college-related, unlike the Reply series. 

3rd: If you are looking for a simple, light-weight, yet beautiful drama

This is the one!!! The story is simple, yet it is nicely done so far! And I doubt there will be too much drama coming in the future.

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Is it fate or just coincidence that you happened to watch the sunrise and the night view with the same guy?



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 Start watching the drama if you want more of these dazzling stares.




And the music is also amazing! For example, the opening and ending theme songs…



MDLers, has this drama caught your attention yet?