It Started with a Kiss (2005)

This drama introduced me to the notion that different countries created their own versions of very popular stories. It also educated me that some of these repeating stories were based off of manga/manhwa. Thanks to this show I learned a great deal about dramaland and for that I'm very grateful.

While I was still watching all my dramas on HULU, this was suggested for me after I completed Heartstrings. When I realized that it was the very same story as Playful Kiss I was really very excited. Even though I wasn't a big a fan as most with the execution of the Korean version, I really loved the story itself. So I was sold, I liked the concept so much I was very ready to give a different version a try.

As a whole, I liked this version better than the Korean version. However, I still couldn't quite connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the show, because I did enjoy it a lot. Though I think it has something to do with the lead role, she was as immature and ditzy in this version as she had been in the Korean version. It might be that character archetype that I can't handle, because that was one of my main turn offs with Playful Kiss. Everything about Yuan Xiang Qin was overly exaggerated and blown out of proportion. I could not empathize with her very well and that made it so I wasn't as invested in the feels.

The main lead, Jiang Zhi Shu, was great. For me the actor, Joe Cheng, did a much better job with the role. Throughout the entire show he showed growth and he evolved as he realized that he truly did love her. Xiang Qin felt much more static, she remained somewhat childish throughout. Towards the very end she did take major steps in growing up, but for me it felt almost a little too late to really be effective. The thing that I enjoyed the most about Zhi Shu is that when he decided that he was going to accept his feelings for Xiang Qin he actually showed her affection. He hugged her, kissed her, and generally made contact with her in a warm and sweet way. You could see his love for her.

Zhi Shu's mother was very intense as well. She falls into the same category as Xiang Qin herself. I had a hard time handling her and at times found myself fast forwarding through her scenes or wandering away from the computer for them. On the other hand, the bromance between the fathers Jiang Wan Li and Yuan Cai was so adorable. I could have watched an entire show about them. I also really enjoyed the romance between Ah Jin and Christine, they were very cute.

The chemistry between the main leads, Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng, was phenomenal. Even though the Xiang Qin character was a little grating and immature, I couldn't help but love any scene that had Xiang Qin and Zhi Shu together. You could feel the attraction and tenderness when they were together, especially for the scenes when it was just the two of them. I would watch this again just for their romantic scenes.

This was an entertaining watch. I did like it better than Playful Kiss, but it was a little too immature all the way around for me. But for a light and fluffy watch with a huge does of the warm-fuzzies this is a great choice.

Noona's Rating

Overall: 7.6 (rated 3 stars on Dramafever)
Story/Writing: 8
Cast/Actors: 8
OST: 7
Sets/Costumes: 7
Feels: 7

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After having watched Playful Kiss and not liking it much i never thought to give this a chance unless a friend asked me too.There is no need to compare this to its korean version because seriously this drama stands on its own.Its what you would call a total fluff drama filled with light moments.


The plot is pretty much okay with the usual girl chasing the guy but this time around the guy is more colder than the usual ones.Zhi Shu is not the type of a hero like other drama guys are who change their obnoxious personality just after they meet and later fall in love with our kind hearted and loving heroine.He's cold and indifferent to everything that goes around him and nothing disturbs his little world till the day an obsessed girl in love with him comes to his house to live with him.Now all the house is topsy turvy and he can't even have a moment's peace knowing that this little girl-child has the ability to surprise and amuse him.He changes from a emotionless guy to someone who feels tiny jealousy and actually loves bullying her around the house.I can understand where he's coming from and most of the times i was left wondering just because he's smart,intelligent and handsome doesnt mean Xiang Qin has to fall in love with him.So before i over analysed it i stopped thinking about it.Don't keep your brains with you while watching it.You'll suffer a lot because frankly just because of One sweeet thing the other mean things Zhi Shu does to Xiang Qin cannot be balanced out.A woman having any kind of pride or self respect will not suffer through so much toil as Xang Qin does and continues to suffer thrughout the drama.
I relate her obsession and child like devotion to the fact that she stopped growing after few years into her teen and remains frozen here and that is why its so cute seeing her doing dumb things and Zhi Shu smiling and smirking in the background.. ;)

Xiang Qin is pretty much a child who has a crush on this guy who's a genius in all of Taiwan and gets a perfect score each time.She's the most persistent of all and i love how much hardwork she puts into everything.Ariel Lin as Xiang Qin is so adorable and cute.She actually looks like she is 15 year old instead of being 18.The way she talks,walks,the pout,the running its all cute and that is why she shines much above than Zhi Shu can ever be.Even though she's dumb and stupid she has a heart made of Gold and thats why i feel its Zhi Shu who doesnt deserve her and not the other way around as she thinks.Both of them are flawed in their own way and its good to see that hard work actually gets you somewhere..:D

The Romance nevertheless has light moments and the not so light ones because Zhi Shu has a long road to travel before he can stop being so self centered and indifferent to others feelings and emotions. Ariel lin and Joe Cheng share one of the best chemistry onscreen because at the end of it Zhi Shu does love Xiang Qin in his own robotic and weird way.

The secondary characters served their purpose well and special mention goes to Xiang Qin's two best buddies and Jiro Wang as Ah Jin was cute though his love for Xiang Qin is the same as Xiang Qin's love for Zhi Shu.The same madness and the same obsession..:D

ISWAK gives you the feeling of having that first crush and then knowing you won't get him but nevertheless hoping that you will.The heartbreak that ensues and the other things that happen so that we can grow up and fall in love again.Maybe with the same one or a different person.Its a simple fluff comedy filled with light moments and mixed with romance to keep one fully entertained.Treat it like Cotton Candy.Eat it and savour it. . :)

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this is just an adorable movie, the girl was just i dont even have the words. shes cute and annoying at the same time only when shes becomes a leech. i saw playful kiss korea version and i dint think i would like any other but this kept up with it. this version is longer and more detailed. the other guy (ah jin) was a leech too and every time he kept calling xiang qin was just humorous. zhi shu was so tall and handsome and cold hearted and his laugh is unique. xiang qin was awsome and her facial expressions said everything. the mother just like in playful kiss was hilarious and motherbearing. the family members were great and funny and the rest of the cast. the main difference in this drama compared to korean is the skinship, theres more kissing scenes the very last episode is fantastic. must see part two.
P/S of the three versions (Korea, Japan, China) my best has to be china then japan.

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Watching this I am reminded as to why I did not enjoy Playful Kiss (the Korean version of this drama). The story really bothers me in some aspects. I do not enjoy watching Zhi Shu verbally abuse Xiang Qin for pretty much the entire drama. What bothers me even more is that she just endures it. I get that he is emotionally closed off and she opens his heart…blah…blah…blah. I still don’t like it. By the end of the drama I wanted her to be with Ah Jin. He was cute, smarter than he seemed once he found something he wanted to do, and beyond that he was good to Xiang Qin and they had fun together.

The acting is good regardless of the story. One thing that I noticed is that even though the cinematography doesn’t compare to the Korean version, it seemed more realistic this way. It worked for me.

I won’t rewatch this. If you can get past the fact that Zhi Shu is a jerk for most of this drama, then I recommend you watch it. Otherwise just skip to the last 3 or 4 episodes.

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This is the first live-action of the manga Itazura na Kiss that I watched, and I think this was my first Taiwanese drama that I watched at the time.

I really love this drama, I watched this drama about 3 times.

I gave the story a 10/10 because I love the story-line since the manga. It's one of my favorite Taiwanese dramas of all time. I've watched the anime before this because I was an anime fanatic at the time (mostly shoujo) and it was my favorite anime in the Shoujo genre.

I gave the acting a 9/10 because I thought that the acting was amazing. The chemistry was great.

I gave the music a 7 because it wasn't memorable except for the opening song "Say that you Love me" by Jason & Lara.

Re-watch 9/10 because there were great moments that I could watch over and over again. I would re-watch it to see the character development again and again.

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This drama wrangles my feminist side, but I still loved it. Talk about a guilty pleasure! I think it's due to the acting and the overall feeling this drama creates. It really sucks you in. With 50 episodes between season 1 and 2 these characters become so real, you never want to let them go. I just finished both seasons and I'm having a drama hangover. I can't start a new drama or book because I'm still feeling this one :). I have never felt this way about a drama before, the closest I have come to these feelings is with books (which are my addiction). I love Ariel Lin, even though I thought she looked ugly and like a 13 year old here. Even the way she dressed. No offense to fans, I am one of them. Ariel Lin is my favorite Taiwanese actress, but she looked so different here, from " In Time With You", it was a bit of a shock to the senses. lol. Joe Cheng, He just got himself a new fan. He did wonderful in this drama.

If you are considering finding out why this drama is so popular you should definitely check it out.

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It Started with a Kiss is a solid drama with great acting, wonderful characters and a cute story. This drama remains one of my favorites and the only drama that I've ever fully re-watched in its entirety.

This drama captivated me from the very first scene, where Xiang Qin gives Zhi Shu her love letter and he in response asks her if she has nothing better to do with her time.

The fluid acting and chemistry between the actors is what sets this drama apart from the other versions of the series. The subtle acting is what made this drama for me, for example, even when Zhi Shu's appears cold and indifferent towards Xiang Qin he is constantly taking glances at her when she looks away.

It Started with a Kiss had a great supporting cast. There were no over the top villains or truly unlikable characters. Zhi Shu's family in particular, especially his mother was quite hilarious with her not-so-subtle hits and interfering.

When watching dramas I'm always rooting for the male lead and female lead and I find second leads to be annoyances to the main couple, but in this drama I seriously questioned who the female lead should end up with. Ah Jin as a character with his unwavering love was quite endearing and his final confession to Xiang Qin really drew on my sympathy (it gave me the same feeling as Jeremy's confession in You're Beautiful).

So overall It Started with a Kiss is a great light-hearted drama filled with likable characters and entertaining humor that takes you through a journey of unrequited love.

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After meteor garden who hits here that time.
This is the second Tdrama that i've seen and i really like it that time. I've even dream of having a boyfriend like the main character there who is a very genius person but cold at the same time. i really like mysterious and serious guy.

Since it came originally from a manga it really become so realistic when they made it in a drama the cast was so effective with their respective roles specially Ariel Lin who plays Xiangxin who deeply fall in love and find her way just to make ji shu love her back.

I recommend it to all people who has every courage fighting for love. :)

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I watched this series because my sister recommended it. It took me while to get into the story because I didn't like the supporting characters acting. Once I put that aside and focused on the main characters and their love story, I was able to enjoy it more.

Acting: Ariel & Joe were perfect for their roles (10/10). The supporting cast was the reason why I couldn't give it a perfect score.

Music: I loved the music in this series. I downloaded it and listened to it until I got tire of it.

Re-watched Value: I re-watched this series several times already. Part 2 was also good.

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