Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Rollercoaster ride instead of Bus Stop
I would start this review because I just couldn't help to promote a series that was so good but failed in the middle until it drowned me down in the end. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good watch however it will leave you thinking if you are an overthinker. If you missed watching 101 Marriage Proposal or not please watch it first because this series came out after 101 Marriage Proposal was a hit in Japan during the 90's. I said so because the plot and the vibe were almost copied from 101 Marriage Proposal. And with that, it would be hard not to compare the two on where it hit the spot and where it failed.We go summarize the story of an ML Bus Driver who is hard-working, kind-hearted, and quite good-looking but poor. The FL is a blue-collar independent woman working for a company wherein she got demoted and is feeling out of confidence with herself, she is pretty and always wears high heels. The series is seen as the FL rides the bus one night and the ML has a love-first-sight moment and pursues her though the FL isn't interested as she is still in love with her ex-BF who is her boss. The ML did his best to make the FL fall in love with him and succeed. During the time that the FL accepted the love of the ML, her ex-BF came back, and their misunderstanding of why they broke up was fixed. At this point, the ML accepted his fate and let go of the FL. Some work issues came in for the ML and FL reuniting with the ex-BF doesn't feel happy with the relationship as she was asked to resign from her job and just be a housewife. The end was a couple of realizations that both the FL and ML got back together and got married in the end.
Now some points to ponder after watching the series and how it left me thinking as a viewer. The series was really at its best during the 7 episodes but failed until the end. It started great with that happy feeling vibes that would make you smile. The script was neatly and nicely written especially the tagline"Ride your life with me". It gave me the same vibe as watching a classic Japanese background series with a pure love story like 101 Marriage Proposal. Where it failed...Some of the actors' acting and character development. In characters, both the FL and ML were Wishy-Washy. First, it is understandable that the FL still has feelings for her ex since she was the one who dumped him because the parents were not in favor of her. It was really clear in the story that she and her ex were passionately in love with each other. The FL then was pursued by the ML and was moved on how he is doing everything to make her happy, thus accepting his love. Now the bad part begins, as a viewer there should be some time to blend in moments of togetherness between the ML and FL but it failed. As soon as the FL and ML got together the ex came back and the funny thing is there are more moments of togetherness between the supposedly ex-BF and the FL including the flashbacks. One of the worst parts is when the FL told the ML to trust her and that she would not go back to her ex-BF. After that moment, the ex-BF proposed to her with a ring and during that time the ML accidentally saw them together. Okay, as with every story, there should be a twist which I get, however, it depicted that the FL and ex-BF were the ones in love and the ML looked like a third wheel. It was so bad that they even had to show that they not only kissed but also slept together. The FL even said to the ex-BF after making love that she would break up with the ML. Also, when the FL and her best friend were talking, she mentioned that she and the ML have a platonic kind of relationship and could not think of being intimate with him. Even in the last part where the Ml and FL got back together, what the FL did was just give a peck on the cheeks of the ML without even hugging. I mean with that, it left me thinking as to where is the sincerity of the FL's character on that. Did she learn to love the ML or did she just choose him because he was a kind man and she could be herself with him? Is she really passionately in love this time with the ML or choose him because he was a safe choice that he could make her happy.
I know in reality women do make this kind of choice "Would you choose the one you love or the one who loves you more'?
But then again this is not reality and as a viewer, we want to see that kind of pure love that we do not see in real life.
I also have a comment about the FL's acting as she was so great in being charming but when it came to the drama part were she was supposed to be feeling resentful. I just couldn't see it in her acting, I don't know if it was supposed to be like that or if her character was just to be plain choosing the ML and not be resentful. In comparison with 101 Marriage Proposal, FL Atsuko Asano's character also chooses the other guy however, there was a certain sincerity with her acting (she cries her heart out) and her character was resentful. In the end comparing both,101 Marriage Proposal the FL chased the ML while the Bus Stop ML still chased the FL and met in between.
Now the ML's character is great, even the actor himself though I knew he was a comedian he did cry very sincerely in the series. The only negative thing is his character being wishy-washy. Several times he stood up for himself because of the FL dismissing him. However, the next day he is on his knees again pursuing the FL, this is great however they should have given enough storyline to show that the FL was at least falling in love with him. It could have been heart-warming if at some point the FL fell in love with the ML and just got confused with the return of the ex-BFas a twist. Even if the FL chooses the ex-BF, it would still be a good twist as long as it shows that the FL had a sincere love for the ML. And from Episode 7 till the end that was its downfall. In episode 7 the FL and ML just became a couple and I was rooting for the next episode to see them go on dates and moments of togetherness, but just a few scenes and the FL got back with her ex-BF instead. The ending was also superficial and very predictable. A runaway bride, a letter, friends making a way to convince the leads that they should be together, etc. And again, the ML chased the FL and finally, the FL showed up and ended with a kiss on the cheeks as an acceptance of his ring. The only good thing about the last part was again the lines which were maturely written and with depth. When the FL said she wanted to wear the heels but remove them to relax or be at home with the ML.
This series made an impact on me since I'm a sucker for one-sided love that wins at the end. However, I would just move on with another series and not re-watch this. I just want to watch a series that though has no perfectly nice characters but at least wouldn't leave me thinking after watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
