What I loved about this series is how light-hearted and fun it is to watch. It's full of fluff and is perfect when you just want to relax and enjoy some heart racing romance. I mean, really, angst gets so annoying after a while and you just want to watch some perfect soul mates get together. Compared to ISWAK, TKA has double the romance and double the kissing. Agh, Joe Cheng's make out sessions are beautiful. Some people think that the couple doesn't progress throughout the series. I used to agree, but after watching this season for the second time, I beg to differ. If you really understand and love the characters like I have grown to, you'll root for them all the way through!
The casting, is perfect for me. Joe Cheng, while he's not the best looking guy around, he has a charm that just pulls you in after some time. The reason I rate this adaption so high among the others is because Joe's portrayal of Zhi Shu is definitely one of the best. You could tell through small hints his feelings for Xiang Qin. No offense to Playful Kiss fans, but the only reason Hyun Joong was an okay Seung Jo is because the character is not the most expressive guy around and HJ is the Kristin Stewart of k-dramas. Ariel Lin is such a great actress too! And she cries so well! Joe and Ariel's chemistry is just perfect. In both seasons, you notice moments when it seems like they're going off-script, in the best way possible! Actually, the entire cast (secondary included) just seemed to have so much fun together. The acting isn't always perfect, but the chemistry and fun between everyone is always there.
The music was okay, nothing too special to mention. I did love how both Joe and Ariel got OST songs to sing. I especially love Ariel's song ? (you)!
Since I've already rewatched this drama, of course I think it's worth watching again! As I mentioned before, watching it a second time, I better understood the characters and I really did start to see their growth and change!
This drama (or this this drama's plot in all it's adaptions) is my favorite of all time. I'm just someone who, when I get sick of the anger and worry and angst of the typical asian drama, I like to enjoy a silly, beautiful, wonderful rom-com. And TKA satisfies all those needs and more!
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The story itself isn't anything special or amazing, it's simply just a front row seat to the life of a young couple; from being a teenager to adulthood. It follows all the basic challenges that we must go through eventually into becoming mature.
Now I thought that all of the Taiwanese actors did phenomenal, but Christine and her father.....worst actors of all time. They were supposed to be from "England" and Christine could barely even speak English and her father was just a fat american that couldn't even at least try to fake a British accent, they were awful!! Thus my reason for giving them an 8 instead of a 10 was because of those two.
I thought the music was great, although the opening for They Kiss Again was pretty awful, I couldn't even watch the whole opening because it was just terrible. However the rest of the music in the show wasn't bad at all.
Overall I could definitely watch this again, but I think i'll just go and watch the other versions to get my fix, but I definitely don't recommend to miss out on this drama, it's worth the watch, it's such a cute romance! And you will NOT be disappointed by the kissing scenes, they actually know how to kiss unlike a lot of drama couples you usually encounter.
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I do think it was an episode or 2 too long, but that's a common flaw with T Dramas, a little reluctance to edit. But this sequel proved that Ariel Lin + Joe Cheng = magic. Their chemistry over 40 episodes or so was simply astonishing and I can see why Ariel Lin won an award for her performance in this Drama. Her range really impressed me, making me laugh when she laughed and cry when she cried - ESPECIALLY in the final episode. Twenty minutes of being punched repeatedly right in the feels had this 46-year old man bawling so much he thought he might wake his wife. After a few slightly draggy episodes, it was a delgiht to see they saved the best for last
Even though I was frustrated at how slowly Xiang Qin grew, I absolutely loved how Zi Shu got the time and space to really develop in a way that first leads normally don't in a single series Drama. Overall, I think I enjoyed this sequel even more than season 1, and I know there will be several scenes I'll be watching repeatedly. And of course, the answer to the question, "what's the best thing about 'They Kiss Again"? is "They Kiss Again. And Again. And Again. And Again" :)
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The second installment continued to show the evolution of the cast. I enjoyed this show more than It Started With a Kiss. It had a lot to do with the fact they weren't in high school and were dealing with more mature obstacles and issues. Xiang Qin matured a lot in this show, and I appreciated that. The character was a little hard to handle in the previous installment. But I liked her a lot more this time around.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Joe Cheng and Ariel Lin in It Started With a Kiss was phenomenal. I didn't think it could get better, however, their chemistry was even better with this series. I loved their every scene, they were closer and more tender towards one another then even in the first show. I could really see that they were in love as characters and that made me adore this installment even more when it was just the two of them.
Outside of their interactions at home Zhi Shu became even colder then he had been in the first season. I can understand what his intentions were, he wanted Xiang Qin to become independent because she relied on Zhi Shu for everything. However, I didn't feel that was the right approach, she was such an emotional person that by turning away from her all Zhi Shu managed to do was make her act worse. In the end it did manage to help her grow and mature, but it took awhile.
Between It Started With a Kiss and They Kiss Again the entire story was fifty episodes long. Even though I liked They Kiss Again better as a whole it took a very long time for me to finish it. The story had stretched on and on, expanding on each obstacle or issue so that it felt too long. I feel that it would have been even better had they shortened the number of episodes in It Started With a Kiss, fifty was just too long.
For a full synopsis of the story click this link.
Noona's Rating
Overall: 8 (rated 4 stars on DramaFever)
Story/Writing: 8
Cast/Actors: 9
OST: 7
Sets/Costumes: 8
Feels: 8
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Will there be an it started with a kiss 3?
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My favourite version of Itazura na Kiss!!
So I decided to watch this to see how much they've changed and stuff compared to other versions. I have seen and love the love in tokyo versions and the anime. I've also seen the newer Japanese movies, but the acting just wasn't natural in them. (Also part of the 1996 version). But in this version the acting is very natural and our main couple have great chemistry! They feel like a real couple, i just love them!
Since this is an older drama, the quality isn't the best on dramacool, but you can watch on youtube, because some of the eps aren't complete.
I've only seen 17 eps and am almost finished.
I wasn't expecting too much getting into this drama, but after 1 episode i changed my mind haha.
Overall the romance is nice. The thing that they lack in every version is bad communication especially in the beginning of their marriage, but that's just how the story goes. I liked the cast for the characters, although I prefer the Japanese version of Christine and some of the other side characters. I like the actor for a'Bu (hes hawt).
The music is average, but it wasn't bad and was kinda memerable.
I just loved this drama!
(Also I have burning hate for the kamogari keita dude in EVERY version! In this version he's qi tai)
Edit: I finished watching and loved it! The ending was left kinda open because the manga isn't complete but I believe like in other versions that they had a daughter.
(Also ariel lin in this kinda reminds me of mao inoue in hana yori dango)
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It sure is worth watching!!!
Have fun! ^__^
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One of the things I liked in this drama is Ariel Lin & Joe Cheng‘s tandem. They click. Their chemistry is captivating and they play their roles very well. Ariel’s portrayal of the not-so-bright but sweet and loving Xiang Qin blends with the brooding, arrogant, serious character of Zhi Shu which Joe played with flying colors.
I had so much fun rewatching this drama for Drama Rerun. My emotions are a riot like the first time I’ve seen it. I still laugh over Xian Qin’s funny and stupid antics. I still swoon on scenes I love best. Heck, I still cry in every bump & drama these two had in their marriage! Nothing changed. TKA still gives me an emotional roller coaster ride.
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