It Started With a Kiss...

My friend has struck again!! Yup, it's another Taiwanese drama from Bte! Can "Taiwanese drama" be shortened to "T-drama"? Hmmm....

This story is actually more popular in it's Korean version, "Playful Kiss", which I was already planning to watch! Yuan Xiang Qin is from F class (the bottom of the school) and poor. Jiang Zhi Shu, is the top of A class (the best class) and decisively rich. So when Yuan Xiang Qin confessed to him it's hardly surprising that he just ignores her! To make Yuan Xiang Qin's day even better, her house is suddenly the epicentre of an earthquake that sends her house tumbling to the ground. Yeah, it's a very ridiculous first episode, but don't pass judgement yet! Her father's friend hears about the disaster and insists they stay at his house for the time being! And what do you know? Yuan Xiang Qin suddenly finds herself staying at Jiang Zhi Shu's house! It's so comically ridiculous, you have to find it entertaining! So, while Zhi Shu's mother dotes over Xiang Qin because she's always wanted a girl, Zhi Shu tries to avoid her as much as possible. Although, that's quite hard when hi parents have already made plans for their wedding. So, the plot is absolutely ridiculous, outlandish, verging on atrocious....
But they pull it of pretty well! You can really tell that it's based on a manga! (Everyone's so exaggerated about everything!)
I do quite like the way every one's been styled. It's probably very stereotypical, but it's cool the way Class F accessories with badges and jackets and look like their rebelling against the uniform whereas Class A wear their knitted vests and look all smart and posh! Although the uniform itself looks rather cheap.... But the production quality in general is good so I won't complain!
Unfortunately, they have basically used the ultimate stock characters for a shojo love story. A super positive girl who has a few good friends but isn't very smart. A guy who's extremely attractive but is cold towards other people, but soon you find out that he's just misunderstood! BORING! Fortunately, the minor characters make up for their lack of originality. Like --, one of Xiang Qin's friends. He's obsessive and protective of Xiang Qin and is always talking about his plan to marry her, but the way she barely even reacts to him is so funny! He's just one of those really awkward people who mean well, but just cause trouble. Then there's Zhi Shu's mother, who is probably the best TV mum ever. She always wanted a daughter, so when Xiang Qin came to stay she got all the lacy and frilly things out that she had prepared for Zhi Shu! Also, she's always trying to force them two together! She's just full of surprises!!
The acting is great! Exaggerated, but great. Zhi Shu (Joe Cheng) may be your typical Shojo guy, but he is probably one of the best acted! He can get really angry and really coy. He can also do a good secretly sad thing! Ariel Lin, who plays Xiang Qin, does seem a bit awkward in her role, but she it progressively gets better so it's not too bad to watch.
So I think it's quite obvious that I like this drama! I honestly can't think of any real reason to dislike it! The boring main characters thing gets cancelled out by the funny minor characters and the cheap looking uniforms get cancelled out by the cool accessorising! Although, I must admit, I can't quite see how this plot last 30 episodes with a second season... They've already graduated!!

Pie: