When I had found out that there was a drama created from the MARS manga I read back in middle school, I instantly put it on the top of my list. It was perfectly timing really - I was thinking how much I wanted to reread MARS with a completely different perspective as I had first read it back in middle school around 2006. I remembered that it had some dark elements which is something I enjoyed a lot, and I was curious to see if I would love the story and characters around 13 years later.

This drama was super nostalgic for me. I didn't realize it had came out in 2004 and the filming reminded me of an old telenovella I used to watch with my grandma growing up. Almost like it was shot like a reality television show. I honestly remembered bits and pieces of the story line - I remembered that they both had their own tragedies, but I only remembered Qi Luo's (Kira) and not Ling's (Rei). But as I was watching, the story-line came back to me as I was yelling at the tv for the characters to watch out. I am glad that I decided to go with the Taiwanese drama route, and might watch the Japanese one in the future as it is much shorter than this one.

I loved this drama cause it was super nostalgic as I believe it followed the manga well, but also believe that it added it's own flare. I literally spent a whole day binge watching this because even though I remember how it ended and how certain situations were going to play out, I enjoyed the ride. I thought Qi Luo's transformation was a little quick and that I felt sorry for her because she was the only one who was supporting Ling during all his tragedy, but I enjoyed the romance between the two. I don't remember much from the manga, so I am not sure how it was written, but I did feel like in the beginning, their relationship was a little toxic when she was helping him with his first few tragedies. It was sweet that she wanted to support him fully and completely, but it took him until her tragedy for him to realize that there are other people in this world that are suffering, and like him, she had no one to help her through it. But also, unlike him, even though she had her family around who should have helped her, they were the people causing the pain. Both different tragedies - him dealing with internal struggle that he himself created, while her pain was created by people who are supposed to be taking care of her.

The theme and their love blossomed from supporting each other through their struggles. How if they didn't meet or have one another, would would have lost to their tragedies. It was really heartwarming to see them at the end as completely different people. Qi Luo being the introvert who hated/was afraid of everyone who transformed into a loving and supportive girlfriend, friend, and daughter and Ling being a trouble-making playboy to a protective and selfless boyfriend, friend, and son.