It Started With A Kiss

 

Cast:

Ariel Lin as Yuan Xiang Qin

Joe Cheng as Jiang Zhi Shu

Jiro Wang as Ah Jing/Jing Yuan Feng

Tiffany Xu as Pei Zi Yu

Jason as Wang Hao Qian

Chang Yung Cheng as Jiang Ah Li

Cyndi Chao as Ah Li's wife

Tang Tsung Sheng as Yuan Ah Cai

Yang Pei Ting as Lin Chun Mei

Liu Jung Chia as Liu Ya Nun

 

 

Other Titles:

E Zuo Ju Zhi Wen

 

 

Synopsis:

Yuan Xiangqin (Ariel Lin) is a naive but optimistic high school girl. Ever since she met Jiang Zhi Shu (Joe Cheng) at the freshman orientation, she's fallen in love with the genius with an IQ of 200. After two years of having a crush on him, she finally musters the courage to confess to him at school. Zhi Shu is not impressed, and his cold-hearted rejection immediately turns her into the biggest joke of the school.

Misfortune comes in a pair: that evening, the new house she has just moved into with her father collapses in a minor earthquake. She and her father are instantly left homeless. Fortunately, her father's old high school friend extends a helping hand and invites both of them to live at his house. Little did Xiang Qin know that the kind Uncle Li is actually the father of Jiang Zhishu! Because of the unexpected turn of events, the two of them begin living their lives under the same roof.

Nothing has ever seemed too hard for Zhi Shu; he's overcome every obstacle in his life with a practiced ease. However, Xiang Qin's appearance is like a tornado, turning his perfectly organized life into a whirlwind of unpredictable events. Despite his initial coldness and annoyance, Xiang Qin's blind courage and determination causes him to re-evaluate and think about his own life and future.

Will this be enough to win Zhi Shu's heart? Or will Xiang Qin break down under the full blast of Zhi Shu's coldness?

Credits: dramawiki

 

 

 

What I Think:

If you are a big Korean series fan, then just like me, you will need much time to re-acclimatize yourself to Taiwanese series like this that are a little slow-paced, and will last for 30 episodes. I was used to watching K-series that has only about 12- 16 episodes but I remembered when I watched Meteor garden 2, that too was about 30 or 31 episodes, so this is quite average for a Taiwanese series.

 

The soundtrack is awesome! This has got to be the best soundtrack in Taiwanese drama ever! I love every song because it reflects every scene in the series. My fave songs are Say You Love Me by Lara and Jason and track 3: Yu Dao/Meet by Wang Lan Yin and Come a Little Closer by Lara. Every song especially Yu Dao/Meet is so crappin good! It knocks me off my feet! Wahhhh I think I have gone absolutely crazy for the Yu Dao song and the series!!!

 

I am absolutely overwhelmed by Joe Cheng! He looks a lot like Edison Chen but a lot cooler and he does not have the air. After watching their NGs with Ariel Lin in the end, he was like laughing so darn hard, the biggest laugh I have seen in Taiwanese series land, I love Joe Cheng!  I like Edison a lot but you know there are times when he comes across too loud and has a lot of air…Joe is different. J He is a good actor, I like the scenes where he initiates the hugs and the caresses and the kisses! Aish he has no inhibitions! You should see him and Ariel in episode 29 and 30! Hilarious, awesome, funny, romantic and wonderful! I think even his chipped teeth adds much depth and cuteness!

 

Ariel Lin…wow, this is the first time I have seen her in a series. I started watching ISWAK along with Secret Garden in CTV. She is adorable and she is such a good and versatile actress. The one thing that bothered me about her very long skirts! Man that was so hard to watch Hahaha! God she and Joe Cheng have really great chemistry together!  

 

My two favorite supporting casts are Ah Jing and Ji zhu’s mother. Ji-zhu’s mom was wonderful and such a welcome and awesome comic relief. I liked her more coz she was not a bitch at all, in fact she was the biggest Xiang Qin – Zhi Shu shipper. Ah Jing, at first I thought he was just one annoying high school loser but his character evolved and I ended up even liking him down the middle of the series. I love the fact that he has been pursuing Xiang Qin for a few years already and had loved her for the longest time. I liked it when Xiang Qin decided to give him a chance and started dating him, but what can he do her heart already belonged to and has always been with Zhi Shu. I liked the way he treated Xiang Qin, he was always perky and funny and resilient..and loved him even more when he let go of Xiang Qin. 

 

Some really really nice scenes:

@ The intro where Xiang Qin thought she got a love letter from Zhi Shu!

@ When the school announced that “Xiang Qin from lower class F wants to be in the top 100 and aspires to be in class A.” the way everything and everyone stopped! Hilarious and so embarrassing!

@ When the results were released, both of them passed. Zhi Shu was rank 1 and Xiang Qin was rank 100. She started reading from the top 1 then checked her name in rank 100. Zhi Shu started reading from rank 100 and went opposite to check his name in top1.the way they crossed paths! Aish!

@ Zhi Shu kissed Xiang Qin the first time at the class party. She was shocked!

@ Zhi Shu kissed Xiang Qin the second time at the hospital without her knowing, she was sleeping and he kissed her, but Zhi Shu’s brother saw it! So romantic!

@ The scene where Zhi Shu and Xiang Qin ran away from gangsters, they ended up getting stuck with each other, biking, laughing and getting soaked in the rain, stuck in a hotel.

@ Zhi Shu cooking for Xiang Qin in a tennis match out of town game.

@ Zhi Shu carrying Xiang Qin off court when she got hurt in the match.

@ Zhi Shu giving Xiang Qin a piggy back ride to Xiang Qin’s home and back to his home.

@ All the scenes where Xiang Qin was dating Ah Jing, I swear he was so wonderful!

@ When Xiang Qin slept over at Zhi Shu’s place, they slept in bed side by side; she was imagining all the stuffs that Zhi Shu might do to her! Haha! I thought this scene was romantic!

@ When Xiang Qin and Zhi Shu made up in the rain, he kissed her and asked her to marry him, she told him “that’s the SECOND TIME you kissed me.” (She didn’t know that Zhi Shu kissed her at the hospital) Zhi Shu said “Just kiss me, stop counting.”

@ When Zhi Shu asked for Xiang Qin’s hand in marriage from her father. She lost her consciousness.

@ Both of them sleeping in Xiang Qin’s room, he just slept there the whole night.

@ At work, Xiang Qin visited Zhi Shu; he was so exhausted; he just let his head fall on her stomach, hugging her.

@ Xiang Qin kneeling in front of the grandfather CEO, Zhi Shu joined her. Then both of them kneeling down in front of the grandfather CEO, asking him to forgive them.

@ When Zhi Shu’s mom changed their family picture from fantastic 4 now including Xiang Qin and her dad! So cute!

@ When Ah Jing knew that Xiang Qin and Zhi Shu are getting married, his world just fell down; he has been planning his life with Xiang Qin in perspective.

@ When Xiang Qin was trying on wedding dressed with Zhi Shu’s brother. The dress she last wore was actually my fave wedding dress cut!!

@ Before the wedding, when Zhi Shu’s brother whispered to her that Zhi Shu kissed her when she fell asleep in the hospital.

@ The ending! Hilarious! You gotta see this wedding!!

 

 

 

Rating: 10 Taiwanese Taicha out of 10

 

 

 

Other Stuff:

Watch IT STARTED WITH A KISS ONLINE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES: HERE:

http://iswakcon.blogspot.com/

 

 

DOWNLOAD THE ISWAK OST HERE:

http;//chinesemusicblog.com/forum

 

 

IT STARTED WITH A KISS TRACKLIST (AWESOME OST!)

1. Dream Waltz -- (Instrumental)
2. Say U Love Me - Jason & Lara
3. Meet (Yu Dao) – Wang Lan Yin
4. Love Ocean (Ai Qing Hai)
5. Hear (Ting Jian)
6. Say U Love Me (Guitar version)
7. Come A Little Closer (Kao Jin Yi Dian Dian) - Lara
8. Can We (Neng Bu Neng) - Jason & Landy
9. The Whole World Could Hear (Quan Shi Jie De Ren Dou Ting Dao)
10. Peaceful World (He Ping Shi Jie)
11. Regret (Hou Hui)
12. Practical Joke - Wang Lan Yin
13. Sky [the English version of Love Ocean]

 

BROADCAST PERIOD:

2005 Sep 25 - 2006 Feb 12

 

Opening theme song: Say U Love Me by Jason and Lara

Ending theme song: (E Zuo Ju) Prank by Wang Lan Yin

TRIVIA:

*The series was based on the Japanese shoujo manga "Itazura na kiss" (Mischievous kiss) by Tada Kaoru.

*Itazura na kiss (1996) is the Japanese adaptation.

*The filming of It Started with a Kiss lasted one entire year. Some scenes were filmed in different seasons, which resulted in many goofs.

*The sequel is set to air in September 2007 due to the show's high ratings in Taiwan.

 

 credits: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/It_Started_With_A_Kiss

LINKS:

CTV Homepage (http://www.ctv.com.tw/event/2005/kiss/)

GTV Homepage (http://www.gtv.com.tw/Program/S051420051001U/index.htm)