The Way We Were (2014)

EDIT: This is NOT a rip off or the same thing as "In A Good Way". I'm going to assume that viewers who are saying that haven't watched more than the first few episodes and feel that because there is a group of characters the story follows over the years that makes them too similar. I feel those people are really losing out on watching a really great drama, but of course that's up to them, it's just a shame.

I have to say right off the bat that this is hands down one of the best Taiwanese Dramas I have ever watched. The last episode is arguably the best ending to ANY Asian drama I've ever seen despite the bittersweet feel it had.

Story (10 out of 10):
Wow. Where to begin with such a thoroughly thought out and beautiful story. If ever there was a realistic drama, I feel this would be a great example. There is such depth and nuance that it is hard to put into words without spoilers. This series takes a story that has been done many times in dramas, but isn't afraid to go all out with it, it packs so many feels that you barely have time to catch your breath. Even if some things were arguably predictable, it didn't take away from the story, because of the realistic way it played out. 16 summers in 16 episodes feels so appropriate, and I feel is one of the best examples of demonstrating the passage of time. Too often it feels that dramas take place over the course of days or weeks. Fang Wei De states at one point how time passed more quickly when everyone was having a good time, and that certainly felt tangible in this show. I just can't praise the ebb of time in this show enough.

I really appreciated that we are presented with our core characters as children and see them through their experiences into adulthood, the character development is real in this. The ups and downs, and how words and actions DO have consequences whether it is in the form of regret or in the form of enlightenment. Often times, I feel like characters will say and do things in dramas with little to no repercussions, but that is not the case in TWWW, and that is why I feel it is certainly one of the best dramas I've had the pleasure to watch. There are no evil type characters, just times when people make bad or sometimes even horrible mistakes... but instead of going overboard, we're able to see each character as a person, with real problems, real emotions, and having to again really deal with what comes after.

Another big thing is closure. This is handled SO well, and it doesn't come off as though the writers were just trying to wrap things up in a nice neat bow, but to further demonstrate life in general. My only regret is not being able to articulate well enough just how great this story is.


Acting/Cast (10 out of 10):
I've only ever seen Leroy Yang in Love Forward (2012) and while I enjoyed his prickly businessman persona in that, I wasn't all that impressed. However, he more than impresses as Fang Wei De. He definitely plays jerkish well, but the latter half of this series, just took my heart and breath away. I'm definitely going to be looking into his other dramas when I can because I could seriously be missing out. I really can't think of any other Taiwanese actor to fill that role than him.

I've seen Tiffany Xu quite a bit and in general it feels like she always plays characters I can't stand. I first saw her in Autumn's Concerto (2009) and later Drunken to Love You (2011) and especially had the urge to want to slap her characters. She's had supporting roles in It Started with a Kiss (2005) and ToGetHer (2009). She's been in many other dramas, but those are the only ones I've seen so far. Having said that, I was glad to NOT hate her character in TWWW. She did something pretty awful, but the way things played out, I was even able to forgive her by the end.

Despite Ruby Lin having such an extensive drama/film career this was my first time experiencing her acting and I have to say it was great. I felt she played a great strong female lead. I always like the spunky female leads that don't take any crap. She's strong, but has a sensitive side and I think she handled them both really naturally.

Rounding out our Quintet is Jason Tsou (Ding Guo Qing) and Melvin Sia (Wang Jun Jie), this is my first time seeing them in a drama, so I really have no frame of reference but definitely I felt they owned their characters and made them feel relevant. I find sometimes when you have more than 2-3 leads in a drama the other tend to fall by the wayside or just blend into the background or at worst are just straight up forgotten. Not in this case though.

Each actor brought their A game as far as I'm concerned and it really paid off.


Music (9 out of 10):
I'm still upset that I'm unable to download Eric Chou's - Let's Not Be Friends Anymore song on itunes. Some may feel like it was overplayed, but I'm not one of them. It's such a beautiful song that was really much more than a theme song. It was the only vocal that I really liked, but even still, I felt the OST went very well with series and I enjoyed the instrumentals.

EDIT: Eric Chou's song actually IS available now on iTunes, I guess they wait to release OSTs until after the drama airs (I'm so used to K-dramas releasing singles while airing - I'm so spoiled :P ).


Re-watch Value (7 out of 10):
I wouldn't re-watch the entire series only because I don't think my heart could handle the intense feels, but there are definitely some funny and powerful scenes that are worth re-watching.


Overall (10 out of 10):
I would HIGHLY recommend this drama to every Asian drama lover. It really has it all and even though there are drama tropes scattered throughout they don't come off as tropes, but just great moments within a great story. It is not perfect, but honestly I felt especially in terms of writing and story this is pretty damn close. There are no questions regarding the characters motivations, there aren't any WTF?! moments that are never resolved. It's just a really well made drama that definitely deserves more praise than it may receive.

Some have compared this as a knock off of In A Good Way....please. Not even close. In a Good Way WAS a good drama, don't get me wrong, but it was not nearly as thoughtful as this drama, not nearly as well written. What they do have in common is that they begin in the past and you see the characters grow throughout the years a la Reply 1994 and Reply 1997. If you want something more upbeat, sure, that is In a Good Way, and then down right LOL by comparison is the Reply series.

Lastly, the writers did a great job of closing out this drama. The last episode was not filler or BS like most dramas seem to be nowadays. It was beautiful and I highly recommend having plenty of tissues when the onion ninjas come for your eyes.

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Loved it from the beginning to the end. One the best drama I have seen in ages! I have been watching drama's since a little kid. The phases of their lives going through college and how the friendships of the group started was well captured. The leading characters Wei De and Jia Ni were perfectly portrayed, actually from all main roles. But I really liked Ruby being Jia Ni, she was damn good. She did so convincing and natural. Wei De was convincing as well, and I felt his pain and hiding behind his mask of a Casanova.

Anyway cried like river watching the last episodes.

Really hoped for them to be together and spending precious time with each other.

The main song was also killer song, loved it!

10 thumbs up if I had ten of them!

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I made account to write this Series review..
I am Ruby Lin's fans since Princess Pearl.. and I know every detail (which fans should know it) of this series..

I wont make a review about the story tells about since many review wrote it but i want to add "behind the scene" of this series.

this series made from 31 March 2014 and ended on 1 July 2014.. Ruby is the producer of this series. She made t this series since she want to make Taiwan Series booming again using her own experience in Mainland China years. and hoping this series will win Taiwan Golden Bell Award next year.

this story began when Ruby met the writer, when writer said good bye to Ruby to go home, he remember and said to Ruby that he wants to make a story about "good bye" because he said "we dont ever know if this good bye will be a forever good bye, so every good bye is important".

the production is took secretly we only know that this series will be about 16 years relationship n parts in 3 (year 1998-1999, 2008, 2013-14). at first announcement she was invited Tony Yang to make an early promotion (we did thinking that he is the man lead, but after the official announcement we just know that she changed the man lead to Leroy Yang). the real title is 16 Summer as for 16 years they known each other but in english they changed into The Way We Were.

as for Tiffany Ann Hsu, Ruby always said when she choosing actors(actress) she want to choose actors(actress) who want to change their images. Ann said in media that she was always asking to play a girly, rich, smart woman, so when Ruby asking her to act in The Way We Were with this different image, she said to her manager to postpone her entire schedule n take the inviting right away.
then Ruby did said that she choose Ann because it fit her imagination about Rui Rui. (PS : she did also said a little bit regret to choose Ann because she is too pretty hahahahaha.. but since this series they become a good friend)

so, we also watch n know how good is this series. Some fact that you should know if you want to watch it.. THIS SERIES MADE IN 2 VERSIONS!!! (one chinese version, and another is taiwan version)

the different mostly in episode 11. Viki, iQiyi, etc link I know, all in Chinese version, barely can watch taiwan's version now. it was uploaded in Youtube when it airing but last time i check the link was banned by Youtube now. I want to say this editing n filming is so great 1 big different but can filming at same scene and time *two thumbs up to the director.

and i cant say where is the difference parts since it will ruin the great surprise... hahahaha.. you gotta find that episode by yourself.. then you will moved and touched more n more..

about the music, as i know the singer Eric Zhou and the song is booming now, and he well known in Mainland China too.. (Ruby had a lot of very loyal fans in China so no wonder if in iQiyi made a record for millions time re-watch.. and as for last episode I found the link was breaking since so many people watch it in same time ^^)

the other song who also booming is called "I Don't Know What Is Love" ???????? Wo Bu Zhi Dao Ai Shi Shen Me singer : Eve Ai ???. this song played in many sad scenes and the words are so touched many fans don't even notice it because they were too focus into the scene. then when they realize it they will love the song.

also to promote this series all actors asking their friend to say some words bout goodbye and we can find them in the first minute every episode. some of them are Zhang Ziyi, Vivian Hsu, Tony Yang, Cecilia Cheung, Shu Qi (you can find the entire list in wikipedia)

This series break the record for ratings since it broke rating 2 (usually in that time slot and once episode in a week the rating less than 1 in same tv station).

the other facts :
1. many Taiwan's actor are like the series and post in weibo tell how they feel bout this series like Shu QI who friends to Ruby, and Fanfan with her husband Chen Jian Zhou who also said that they watching this series with tears and thankful that they still together

2. When Ruby was in Starbucks's cafe she had her coffee with extra note from coffee maker about how good is this series, she moved and post it in her weibo

3. Vivian Hsu who also one of Ruby's best friend did came to filming place and make a huge happiness among the production team and actors too hahaha..

4. the all 5 people still keep meeting each other now the relationship become more tight in real life (since they were a good friend for 16 years in series). last filming scene only took Leroy and Ruby but all the 5 members are coming to celebrate the ending of filming itself which moved Ruby and Leroy.

5. Ann said when she acted one of crying scene she was barely stop the tears. they not even start filming yet, so the director keep asking her to calm down because there will be more crying scenes after. Ann said she was like that because she was reminded by those happy time together (since they were 16 years friends in story) those feeling come right away n tears are coming down by itself, she cried till shacking and all production team also effected with no smile and sad mood.

6. the early story many jokes about Ruby applied hahaha like watching Princess Pearl etc (in 1998-1999 princess pearl push the peak of the popularity including Ruby Lin as Zi Wei one of main roles)

7. Ruby cried many times (5-6 times) only to say the last 2 sentence of the last scene "Remember than it will be forever, an ending is just the other beginning" haha.. till months after filming her tears still coming down whenever said those 2 sentences.

last for my review, if u watch it and not crying at all.. maybe you should asking yourself if there is something wrong with you. haha just kidding but i watch it many times and cry as many as i watch it is not sad tears more about touched and moved by the story.. many scenes took an awkward situations which make u wanna cry and smile at the same time those feeling only can be know if u truly watch the entire story. ENJOY..

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