Despite being in the middle of trials I feel a need to talk about this drama I've watched before (and only recently stumbled upon), it's called It Started With A Kiss, and this review-thing mainly revolves around the sequel They Kiss Again. This semi-ancient Taiwanese drama dates back to the mid noughties.
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Tabloids tell you nothing about the girl's horribleness. |
The plot had been based on a Shoujo Mange, so it's bound to be super cliche. Basically, stupid, clumsy, unattractive and insolent girl wins the heart of the number one sought-after handsome genius guy in the entire school through her persistence. So realistic, no? I recently decided to look back on some of the old dramas I've watched and I'm in a Joe Cheng spree of sorts at the moment so I should feel obligated to watch this one. I've never been interested in this kind of plot (explains why I haven't watched Playful Kiss or the new Japanese version) but damn Joe Cheng was good in The Rose so I have to sit through this one and just awe over his acting skills.
Now, let me set the established stock characters and unrealistic storyline aside. My main problem is with the actors. I did mention that I watched it for Joe Cheng (and partly Jiro Wang my first obsession over an idol ever still love him to death). Other famous people like Aaron Yan, Rong Jia, Wu Xiong, Danson Tang...etc also make cameos. What can possibli go wrong? Everything, my friend.
They got Ariel Lin to play the main chick.
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SO. MUCH. WANT. TO. SLAP. HER.
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Ariel Lin. Where do I get started with you? Now firstly I can name so many other MORE DECENT AND PRETTIER actresses who can perform the role of Xiang Qin. People like Xiao Xun, Chen Yi Hang (The Skip-Beat chick, THANK GOD ARIEL DIDN'T GET THAT ROLE OR I'LL DIE) or even Cyndi Wang. My main problem with her is that she suited her character just abit TOO WELL. Shouldn't it be a good thing you ask? Wrong. The MC is pretty much created to evoke annoyance from the audience and her stupid-ass face that always look like she's gulping for air is the icing on the cake. The MC remains pretty stupid throughout the whole series but with Ariel's face and poor acting skills (appearing dumb all the time) what little remainder of possible character development has been disintegrated. NOW IMAGINE HER FACE IN THE MIDDLE OF JOE AND JIRO, NOT GOOD I TELL YOU, NOT GOOD.
So that brings me to the characterisation in this drama. I understand dramas are meant to be pretty shallow but all of the dramas I've watched convey one big message or another. The moral of this story is pretty plain obvious: "One can achieve success and prosperity through hard work." So of course you show it through having an ugly and stupid girl marry a hot intelligent guy... I also understand how the writer didn't want the girl to "take off her glasses and become hot (not that Ariel Lin can ever be hot no matter how hard she tries)". And this kind of concept works for some stories (Try 'Hiring a Hooligan' from Fictionpress, the main girl never becomes cool, but she's still lovable).
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| The decision to get married should not be made hastily. |
But too bad that's not the case. Supposedly Zhi Shu the main dude became touched at the girl's perseverance and spontaneously decides to marry her. Now being a 4U student whose major work partly critiques on relationships built on shallow foundations I still find it hard to believe that the guy loves the girl. After the marriage she just annoys the heck out of him more (she plays an embarassing video to her fellow plane passengers and tell them he has a terminal disease wtf). And ok, let's say that he does love the girl. The girl pretty much never believes it. She's so freaking insecure all the time thinking how she isn't good enough for the dude I mean cmon gurl HE MARRIED YOU. She constantly seeks proof from him and his dull character isn't built for such romantic proclamations! Everytime he gets all affectionate with her I feel awkward because I just don't see it. Some people even said that the love scene looks like the girl's getting molested (Joe is known to be a good kisser-actor) because that's how shit she is at expressing emotion other than stupidity.
What I'm saying is, I don't think they love eachother. The guy pretty much ignores her half the time while she cries, runs away from home and generally mopes about his lack of affection. Then they suddenly get all lovey-dovey but he still looks like hes violating her. Some parts are cute, but only when he tries to prove his love for her. Nothing she does can be considered cute.
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| Molestation at its finest |
At least the other characters in the story make it better right? Wrong. The film has a knack for characters spontaneously falling love with eachother and every relationship progression is screwed up. The relationship between Jin and Christina is an epitome of this. Girl sees guy, girl falls in love at first sight. Guy still hung up on MC, girl pursues guy only to be rejected. Girl leaves country, guy realises his sudden undying love for her and she suddenly comes back and they live happily ever after. Jiro as good of an actor you are you get so emotionally romantic sometimes it's hard to believe your character actually initially disliked the girl. It's awkward to see him suddenly falling for her as well okay?
So anyway, I can see why people like this drama because it gives teenage girls hope when they attempt to pursue their dream boys. It shows you that no matter how idiotic and incompetent you are you can still hook up with Mr. Perfect. And you two will eventually end up married for no reason. But I guess for me this drama just don't cut it. It's kinda addictive since majority of the actors are so cute, but considering how Ariel Lin gets 80% of the screentime it's difficult to sit through an episode without skipping everything.
