Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng were so great together, I'm really looking forward to They Kissed Again and Love or Bread, to see more of them. I still have trouble with the passivity of the lead female character, but this version was slightly less passive and weakly self-pitying than the Korean version while the male lead character was slightly nicer and a bit less of a bully. Those small differences combined to make watching it much easier than in the Korean version which I saw first.
The other thing I really liked was Ariel Lin's performance. Before this, I'd only seen her in In Time With You and Love Contract, and in both of those she played similarly feisty, independent, in-charge kind of characters. That she could so convincingly portray the exact opposite here showed she's a real actor. And, of course, the climactic scene was priceless - that alone would have guaranteed this a better score than Playful Kiss.
I see from other reviews that I'm definitely not the first or only person who saw the Korean version first but still ended up preferring this one. Since I didn't like Playful Kiss but really liked this one, I think if you DID like Playful Kiss, you'll absolutely LOVE this one!
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This series no matter if it's this original live action adaptation of the anime Itazura na Kiss (AKA Mischievous Kiss), the Korean or Japanese. This story is well loved. As an anime fan it's outrageous popularity normally would have forced my hand into watching it. However, I read the synopsis and some of the gushing comments about it and I knew I would loath it. After many drama fans told me that I would adore the Taiwanese live action and that it was the "version to make any grumpy viewer like it" I went for it. Which is the only reason I pushed myself past episode 1. 5 episodes in was pushing it.
The main character Xiang Qin is everything I hate to see in a lead, especially when it all piles up. She's stupid, pretty much begs the jerk of a lead to keep abusing her, clumsy, is laughed and put down by everyone who knows her, and she's down right stupid. (Yeah, I know I said stupid already but it really needs to be said.) She's like this sad little puppy who keeps getting abused but still loves it master. The male lead is the worst of the awful and disdainfully rude male leads that over populate the Asian media market. If anyone has ever read Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling books, he is basically a Psy. But unlike those books he doesn't redeem himself. The problem is this is the series that Jiang Zhi Shu--the male lead--is more humanized! The relationship is mentally and verbally abusive.
On the positive side Xiang Qin is a good example of how you stick out, you'll get what you want in the end. The actors all do a pretty decent job in their roles. Even if I thought the story should have been about Xiang Qin smartening up and finding a wonderful guy--NOT THE MALE LEAD--and finding herself worth. I had hoped that it would happen in the 10 episodes that I forced myself to watch(the self worth part). But it never happens on a high enough degree to make up for this horrible story. I know I'm going to get a lot of boos from fans on this review. But I'm tired of how rude-jerky men and stupid female leads are being encouraged and glorified. Yes, I've enjoyed this type of story and plot before. Guilty. Usually those stories have great writing to over come it. The issue is both the leads are unrelatable. The lead is basically a robot. This is a lesson for me about going with your gut and quitting before you start bashing your head in.
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I liked how smart Zhi Shu was but how utterly awkward he was in relationships, but because of his beauty, he hides behind a cool and distant demeanor. I think he likes Ariel because of her fearlessness.
I do think that this show is interesting in that we have a female stalker, essentially, but because she is a woman no one is bothered by it//were it reversed everyone would be like oh my god stalker guy!
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Mi versión favorita de "ITAZURA NA KISS"
Ya perdí la cuenta de la cantidad de veces que ví It Started with a Kiss, siento que hicieron una versión tan distinta, amo el manga, pero aunque agregaron algunos detalles, hicieron la diferencia incluso trayendo momentos más cómicos a la serie.Además del elenco, me encanta la química que tienen Ariel Lin y Joe Cheng en ésta serie, no dejando de lado al eterno enamorado interpretado por Jiro Wang, recomendada 10/10, obvio también su 2da temporada They Kiss Again?
La música es memorable llevo como 10 años escuchando sus OST.
A pesar de los años que pasen y las versiones que saquen incluyendo películas, ninguna logra destronar a It Started with a Kiss.
Tenía que dejar plasmado en algún lado el gran amor que le tengo a estar serie, además se puede encontrar aún por Youtube ?
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Couple with great chemistry ^^
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The main leads were so awesmazing in portraying their roles. You can be hooked to the drama right away- you just have to think like you were in late 2000s to feel the essence of the drama. The balance of the emotions of the drama is perfect!
I never seen the Japanese and Korean versions and also the manga, so you have to be the judge
Nothing can trumple the original drama!
Sorry I prefer Taiwanese and a little bit Chinese dramas
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Its comedic, romantic, and dramatic all at the same time. And you could really understand where each of the characters were coming from, and sympathize with both of them, allowing for a less frustrating, more pleasurable experience.
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Should i say that i watched all 30 eps without pause? :P
Have fun watching, i sure did!
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Still the "standard" of all Itazura na Kiss adaptations
Still the "standard" of all Itazura na Kiss adaptations! Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng were perfectly casted and I'm not sure if I would have loved the series this much if it wasn't them as leads. They share such natural chemistry on-screen that would make you wonder why (and how) they didn't catch feelings with each other when they were filming this and Season 2 - They Kiss Again (but I guess they're both real professionals).Ariel Lin was born to play this role. She played the ditzy yet very lovable Xiang Qin so well that no one in the other adaptations came close to her performance. And when she cries.. i feel for her immensely!
Joe Cheng! He's the perfect Zhi Shu! He delivered the perfect tsundere. What I love about him playing this role is that he's a complete opposite of Zhi Shu in real life. He's very expressive and laughs a lot behind the cameras. There were a few instances in the show where you can see he's breaking from the character. So cute!
Aside from the romantic relationship between Xiang Qin and Zhi Shu, I also love characters' dynamics with each other! The true MVP, Auntie Jiang! The friendship between the families, Yu Shu and his cute quarrels with Xiang Qin (but you know he genuinely likes and cares for her), Ah Jin and his genuine affection towards Xiang Qin, Xiang Qin's father and his words of wisdom! Everyone was perfectly casted! There's more to list!
Rewatch value is 100%! I have watched this is my teens and I still watch it until now. I would pick it up when I'm feeling down. It's like an escape from reality. And every time, I would feel sad to see it ending and having to let go again.
Some may be turned off with the series because it came out 16 years ago and has low video resolution and all, but this is a real gem that you are missing out on. Go watch and witness why this is the best among the adaptations out there!
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All time favourite drama
Honestly I am kind of late to write this review given long time has passed since I finished this drama. But I have re-watched this classic drama many times because even before I fell in love with korean dramas, this was the first drama that I adored. I personally like the Korean dramas more than Taiwanese dramas, However in this case Taiwanese version surpasses all the other versions.One sided crush of the female lead ,Yuan Xiang Qin, is sometimes intriguing to watch, sometimes it is heartbreaking to watch, sometimes its absolutely cute and sometimes you kind of hate the main lead Jiang Zhi Shu for not expressing his feelings clearly.
Though you do understand the struggle of male lead expressing his feelings emotionally. You can consider this opposite attracts because female lead is not that intelligent academically and male lead is kind of dumb when it comes to the emotions. Actually they both are at this extreme end at the intellectual level and emotional level, that their interactions are fun to watch. Side characters also shine in their own way wheather they are friends of female lead, family of male and female lead, or the second male lead and second female lead. After the female lead's and male lead's life intersect with each other as their parents are friends and they start living together due to earthquake, we get to see this slow burning romance between them as they live their daily lives.
This dram is sweet balance of comedy and emotional scenes. You care about each and every character. The whole drama consists of short stories as the characters start entering the leads life and these side character also have their own stories.
Without giving any spoilers, this drama is definitely a must watch.
Hope you find thos review usefull.
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