the drama was abit exaggerated esp towards the end that it became cheesy. seriously should have lasted only 16 or 20 episodes, they tried to add more stuff that was unnecessary. its not really a rewatchable show, one time is enough.
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Story: Chen Xin Yi is a "sticky note girl". She's the type of girl everyone walks over and uses. At the beginning, she irritated me because she just stood there and *took* everyone's treatment of her. She didn't have the courage to stand up for herself. Meanwhile, Ji Cun Xi started out as the type of male lead who doesn't really care about other peoples' feelings, but not in such a way that it makes him seem like the biggest-jerk-you-have-ever-met. He's likable, but not exactly to the point where you would consider him amazing. I liked how the main leads didn't change (mainly) because of each other, but because *they* wanted to. In Xin Yi's case, the second-lead helped her through it and gave her that courage. I thought it was a refreshing change where Xin Yi actually gave the second lead a chance to get her affections, but in the end the show stuck with the whole "the heart likes who it likes" thing. That irritated me a little, because I thought he was a better choice for Xin Yi, but by that point Cun Xi had changed enough for me to begin to root for him, too.
And the second lead girl? I wanted to like her. I really did. And it wasn't like she was overly hateful either- I honestly thought I could root for her a little too- but the things she did and the way she treated the main characters was just too much.
Acting: Everyone was sort of okay. It wasn't like they were stellar or anything, but they worked as well as they could in their roles.
Music: The usage of the music wasn't that great- it popped up at random moments and sort of messed with the mood, but it was okay.
Rewatch Value: This drama is the first one I've seen that made me *cry*- and i have the emotional capacity of a brick. I'll rewatch parts of it whenever I need to convince myself that I have a heart after all.
In all seriousness though, I don't envision myself rewatching this in the near future. This is the sort of drama you like, but you don't love.
Overall: The mood and tone was pretty standard as far as Taiwanese Dramas go. But this one just tugs at your heartstrings in a completely different way.
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This review may contain spoilers
Superb chemistry let down by poor writing and directing
I started watching this drama out of boredom after I'd finished the Korean remake. To be honest, I wasn't too enthusiastic about watching it because the leads seemed like an odd fit based on promotional photos and thumbnails. To my great surprise, their chemistry stole my heart in a big way. The two leads connect so well they make a cliché-ridden story compelling and heartfelt. But the unnecessarily slapstick, stretched out second half prevents this from being anything better than average. The direction and writing are slipshod and competency in those areas could've made this a much better, less dated drama. Ultimately, if you view this as a live action Cinderella cartoon (where Prince Charming is initially a dickhead, and the Fairy Godmother disguises herself as Cinderella's alternative suitor), this drama is a lot of fun.Pros:
1. Chemistry! Chen Qiao En and Ethan Ruan were fire together. I know this is probably an unpopular opinion, but they have the best chemistry out of all the leads in all the versions of this drama, and dare I say, out of all their romantic pairings? Ethan is great at making heart eyes at Qiao En. Qiao En, on the other hand, conveys the silent pain of what we initially believe is one-sided love (What a pleasant surprise it is to learn it isn't) really well. How I wish they would reunite in a swoony romance soon, something more mature and profound now that they're in their forties - but alas, they probably won't.
2. Great acting by Lin Mei Hsiu: Lin Mei Hsiu was the standout performer. She plays the overbearing but ultimately loving mother so well. I love the scene where she confronts Cunxi. There's a reason why she's such a well-loved veteran in the TW industry and the Chinese industry at large.
3. Raw emotions: The remakes are technically superior but this version is much more heartfelt. Every single emotion is palpable.
Neutral:
1. Acting in general: While the two leads are great at acting out the being in love part as well as the angst, their performances on the whole could have been much better. While Ethan Ruan excels at being swoony and tender, he tends to overact in funny scenes and is a bit too shouty for my liking. He also looks quite strange in the crying scenes, almost funny, but to be fair, I think that's how Ethan Ruan actually cries, having seen him in his critically well-regarded movies Paradise in Service and Monga. Qiao En gives a more balanced performance but I do think there were a lot of scenes where she could've shown more variations and nuances in her expressions. Also, she does this weird whining thing which I've seen many other Taiwan actresses do (haven't seen Mainland actresses doing it, so it's probably a regional thing). Baron Chen is gorgeous but quite lacking in charisma and has zero chemistry with Qiao En, so I can't ship Dylan with Xinyi in spite of his great qualities (I think I would have had Ethan played Dylan). Bianca Bai looks the part but her character is deeply annoying and her suffering seems to be a ploy for attention. Supporting actors are hammy, as they tend to be in old idol dramas from TW.
Cons:
1. Awful direction: continuity errors, goofs, weird camera angles. I wish they'd hired the director of either ISWAK, Autumn's Concerto or My Queen.
2. Equally bad writing: soooo many logic lapses, characters acting strangely, corny slapstick. The writers added too many unnecessary obstacles in the path of true love in the second half of the drama. There was absolutely no need for Cunxi to agree to get engaged to Anna especially when he knew he was in love with Chen Xinyi. I do understand why he'd agreed to marry her, since he felt guilty about ruining her career as a dancer, and she, being the expert emotional manipulator she was, made sure to remind him ALL the time. But I do think the story could have progressed without them getting engaged. I know I'm digressing here, and this review is getting too long and rambling, but I'm thinking of a very famous drama from my homeland. The male lead (let's call him A) in this drama too is forced to marry a woman he neither knew nor had anything in common with. Of course, they end up falling madly in love (although here, they confess their feelings to each other and share several romantic moments) before the machinations of the villain force them to split. I ADORED how they showed the angst felt by A. The torture mixed with longing painted on his face whenever someone mentioned his lost love was glorious to watch. They could've attempted something similar here. They just showed montages of Cunxi looking sad and missing her but I think they should have had an entire episode where they showed him in the throes of longing, self-loathing and pain. A doesn't remarry. He doesn't start a relationship with anyone either. It's like he's dead from inside, unable to love anymore. I know FTLY is a romcom and not a flat-out melo, but Cunxi could've been honest with Anna.
Similarly, the Anna suicide plot, the kidnapping plot, and the faking blindness plot were all unnecessary. It was as the writers added these obstacles just for the sake of adding them. In my opinion, the main two obstacles i.e. Ji Cunxi's bad behaviour and the baby's death were enough. That's the thing about commercial dramas: once their makers see them succeeding, they stretch them out like taffy and end up harming the product. Xinyi and Cunxi should have sat down and had a nice long chat where Cunxi apologizes for his shitty behavior and reaffirms his love for her and Chen Xinyi tells him what she wants from a relationship with him once the misunderstanding about the abortion document was cleared in episode 19. The remaining episodes should've been them being cute together, settling into married life and becoming new parents.
3. Poor production values: It looks extremely dated for a drama released in 2008. Just to put it in context, It Started With a Kiss came out in 2005 and Coffee Prince came out in 2007, and both look more modern than FTLY. Even in HD the quality of the visuals is quite poor. The styling choices for Xinyi and Dylan are awful. IMO, Xinyi looks far more beautiful in her Sticky Note phase.
In defense of Ji Cunxi:
Based on the comments here and on other websites, a lot of people seem to dislike Cunxi and favor Dylan. I get where they're coming from but I think he's misunderstood. His uncertainty regarding whom he loves in the first half does make sense. Imagine you've been infatuated with someone for three years, for the longest time you thought the two of you would be *endgame* and out of nowhere you make an unfathomable mistake, your past life is upended and you're forced to pretend to be with a stranger. I do understand why he felt resentful and clung forcefully to the past. When he finds himself developing feelings for this strange new girl, who is so far removed from the world he occupies, he tries to dismiss them. Of course, the situation gets more complicated when Anna returns and he's in this state of guilt and confusion and he deals with it in the worst possible way and this of course sets off a chain of events that culminates in Xinyi's miscarriage.
I've also seen people in the comments call Cunxi unsupportive compared to Dylan and Lee Gun. I don't agree at all. He arranges pottery classes for her as part of her alimony. He would have definitely supported her artistic ambitions had she not ceased communicating with him after her miscarriage. Also, he constantly sends her words of admiration and encouragement as Mr Z. I wanted to strangle him in episodes 10, 11 and 12, but if you think about it, Chen Xinyi does extract revenge in the episode where she stuffs him in a barrel and kicks it off a hill.
Also, he seems like an angel compared to the male leads of two of the most popular idol dramas from TW (Kiss series and Autumn's Concerto). At least he seems to learn from his mistakes, while Zhi Shu's standoffishness never seems to fade much and Guangxi's behaviour is occasionally criminal. I think the writer was also inspired from Kim Samsoon while writing his character as well as the arc with the disappearing girlfriend but Cunxi is a much more likable character.
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Easy to watch and lighthearted
I saw there was a Taiwanese version of Fated to love you and decide to check it out. One thing I have to say the acting of the female lead was amazing she was so natural and those tears seemed to come out so easy for her. I still prefer the Korean version to this one, but I still think this version is defiantly worth the watch. At first I couldn't stand the male lead but he did grow on me at the end. The Korean Version seemed a bit more serious and this version was more lighter and supposed to be funnier. So if that's your taste you will enjoy it more. Overall a great watch I did find myself skipping some scenes here and then tho. Always I love the second male lead here wayyy more than the Korean version because of his conversations with the female lead. And the kissing scenes were hotWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I didn't mind this drama. I liked the premise and mainly watched it because of Joe Chen. I felt the leads did really well in the role and I liked Chen Xin Yi's family members, the people of Ginger Island, Anson and Cun Xi's grandmother (they were all hilarious). I did not care for Dylan or Anna and skipped through a lot of their scenes. Based on how Dylan's character was written, I couldn't believe he was a priest and I didn't like that he blabbed about things Xin Yi told him in private (something priest aren't supposed to do especially if they were told things during confession). I also felt he was a rude character and would say things about Cun Xi warranted and unwarranted. He would push himself on Xin Yi and encouraged her to run away from situations instead of facing reality. I didn't like Anna at all and never really felt sorry for her. She constantly took advantage of Cun Xi's love for her and she had a tremendous sense of entitlement.
I did skip through this drama a lot though and really didn't miss much. It kept dragging on and on and even though it had a nice ending, I really didn't feel satisfied with it. Not sure if I'll rewatch it.
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Just a Heads Up: This review is being written literal Years since I watched this drama. At least ten years now, if my math is right. That means it won't be an accurate representation of what I thought of this drama just after completing it but more of a reflection of my feelings for it now with all the nostalgia, the frustration, and eyes wide open to the stories flaws.....
Ooooooh, Fated to Love You. What a history we have together. You were my first Asian drama ever, where it all began for me. You were the Definition of a crack drama; over-the-top, melodramatic, ridiculous, and yet somehow intensely watchable. Your female lead hit me in the feels so hard I'm Still feeling it. And you were So. Damn. Infuriating.
I loved and hated you at the same time.
First and foremost, I Love Xin Yi as a character. I know mousy, downtrodden, insecure, damsel-in-distress characters are considered passé now, offensive even, but I like them, and I always will. (Judge me all you want.) And Joe Chen's portrayal of such a character is simply superb. When she cried, You cried. (And don't tell me you didn't, cause you're lying.) Of course, Cun Xi is a terrible person, and you hate most of the things he does and frequently hate him himself, but he still made me like him at the same time, and whenever he did something lovely for Xin Yi, my heart melted into a puddle at my feet. (So sue me.) Anna, unsurprisingly, is one of my least favorite second female leads of all time and probably the main source of ire for me in this drama. She's bloody awful, and you spend most of the time she's on screen thinking up creative ways for her to die. And Dylan may have been a nice (ok, he Was nice), but that doesn't change the fact that I find clingy secondary leads annoying on most fronts, no matter how nice they are, and I did find him clingy.
Looking back at this drama now, I fully recognize the myriad of flaws with the story, and if I were watching it today for the first time ever, I probably wouldn't be able to finish it. I actually tried to re-watch it a few years ago, and I couldn't get more than halfway through. There are a lot of things I love about old-school dramas and sort-of miss, but there are a lot of things I put up with while watching them too. Draggy sections, extreme noble idiocy, wringing every last ounce of drama from a situation as possible to the point of inducing intense rage. I didn't enjoy those things then, and I don't enjoy them now. But I put up with them, because the stories made me care. And that's how it was with Fated to Love You. It may have had extreme noble idiocy, and it may have dragged in places, and it may have spent a large chunk of time trying to wring every last ounce of unnecessary drama from some of it's plot points, but it made me care. I wouldn't care Now, but it made me care then.
So I love this drama. And I hate it. And I will probably always feel that way, lol.
....
I don't remember anything about the music of this drama, so I've rated it a 1, but I'm sure it was like a lot of dramas of it's time and therefore holds some level of nostalgia/cringe of it's own, lol.
....
Original Review:
This is the first drama I ever watched, and I consumed it like it was crack. I both love and hate it at the same time, and it will forever have a special place in my heart.
I tried to rewatch it a couple years ago, and I couldn't get more than halfway through, lol.
Links to my reviews for the other versions:
https://kisskh.at/profile/OhSoEnthusiastic/review/22004
https://kisskh.at/profile/OhSoEnthusiastic/reviews/75009
https://kisskh.at/profile/OhSoEnthusiastic/reviews/274737
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she's ready, he's not; he's ready, she's not...repeat & repeat &repeat.....
This series is sort of entertaining; it made me laugh at times, but I wouldn't recommend it since there are several moments when I'm like...OH. MY. GOD!!! I was so annoyed with the main female lead in the first half for being too weak. The male lead is iffy for the most part. He keeps saying he wants to be with Chen Xin Yi, but always one way or another attached to Anna. EVERY SINGLE TIME he was showing his grand gesture to Chen Xin Yi, something happens to Anna and he has to to to Anna. It gets super annoying how this writer just drag this out for too long. The back and forth...now she's willing to be with him, he's not; then he's ready to be with her, she's not...mind you this keep dragging on and on for most part of the series.I just could not stand it anymore and had to drop this series at the part when everything is fine and dandy, then she has to have problem with her reproductive system (I mean who goes to check their reproductive system before getting married after had already have a kid together?!) and reject his proposal by saying she wants to go to Shang Hai to be with Dylan and just want to be Cun Xi's friend! I'm like SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!
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