My Two Bits:
This drama is all about Passion and Fire. Whether like His, it's fully aflame and all consuming or like Hers, slow burning but deep. It's raw emotions of wounded souls who fit perfectly together much to their own surprise and where they can offer absolutely no resistance to this odd attraction for each other.
The battles fought here are less so against the outsiders (plenty and insidious). Rather they are against inner demons and their fight to stay together despite these demons.
Early career performances by Barbie Hsu and Vic Chou, but they convince!
The rest is just your personal preference after you've invested in at least 4 - 5 episodes of your life.
An Ongoing Struggle: His hair tho' luscious, the style still makes me go hmmmm... I Don't Know!
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To start with, I liked the main couple a lot - this may sound absolutely ridiculous, but I have a very time with the fake brunette wavy hair that girls have in k-dramas. Yes, I know how superficial this is, but I hate it when a drama portrays a girl that is supposed to pay little attention to her appearance/be shy has her hair dyed and curled... Think of the time it takes! So yes, I was thankful to see ONE drama heroine (Qing Luo) with natural, straight black hair.... So beautiful! And her ears were adorable :)
Aside from that, one thing that disturbed in this drama was that the change between shy/practically mute girl to normal/relatively talkative girl was too brutal... From one episode to another she just became normal, as if the whole shyness thing had become a nuisance and the drama didn't bother to treat it correctly. Same for a few other characters: a girl that almost crushes the heroine's hand with a rock suddenly becomes her best friend the following day... Oh well...
Also, characters just came in and out too often - especially in relation to the hero, whose demons come to haunt him for an episode or two and just disappear. This was the case for the 3/4 of the drama, but towards the end the drama focused more on the secrets of the hero's (Chen Ling) family, which surprised me in being well-done and interesting.
I'm very sensitive to aesthetics, and on that aspect, this drama was terrible. It was SO. UGLY. And one could argue that the images are not as important as the story, but I'm sorry, a movie/drama is not a book. It's supposed to tell a story with images. There were times this drama was just so careless, bad filming, bad editing, bad framing... Apart from ONE image that, given the rest of the drama, amazed me - it was actually really beautiful, but I can't tell more so as not to spoil... (in the last episode). If I may continue ranting about aesthetics (there should be a category for this, it's just as important as, say, the music!) the clothes were fine (although I wonder who sponsored this show?... Hmmm, Fila, maybe, give the fact that all 4 most important characters have it written somewhere on their clothes, sometimes when they're all together, which is highly suspicious), but the art?... Bleeeeeeeeeeeeeergh. That portrait of Chen Ling, bare-chested in front of flames was simplistic and silly - looked like some cover for a trashy romance book. On the other hand, the last drawing we see of hers in the last minutes of the drama looked very interesting and nice, actually.
The main couple was strong, both characters went very well together and the actors were great. On the other hand, I felt that most of the interesting parts had faded by the middle of the drama and the couple just became repetitive: in general, some horrible thing was revealed about Chen Ling, and Qing Luo supported him despite it... in fact, most of the supporting came from her, i found, and very little from him. Now that I think of it, the crucial moment when she needed support for real, he faltered (but of course came back after a short break up). That was a bit annoying.
I feel that I have talked only of the negative aspects of the drama when I didn't even rate it that badly (7 is actually quite good, no?). To sum up the positive aspects: endearing, good-looking (very much so!) main couple and good acting from their part (they truly carry the drama and are the reason this drama, in my opinion, deserves a "good" grade), a pretty interesting plot (especially towards the end), some pretty nice music (although it is repeated so much, and sometimes awkwardly cut then played again) and... being a classic! (its "old" age makes me overlook what I would've condemned in a more recent drama).
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This is drama is way too good in every perspective. The storyline has always been best because of the manga but many times the drama or adaptations don't do justice to the main thing. But in this case the drama intesified the beautiful story even more!!!!!
The actors were incredible and did justice to the characters. The emotions they showed were so raw and tear worthy.
The chemistry between the main leads and the swoon worthy kisses made my day.
We can't thank enough the side actors for their exceptional acting cause without them the main leads wouldn't have shined so much!!!!!
All together this drama is awesome. This is a ride full of emotions such as first love, self acceptance, tragic past, friendships and importance of family.
I would definitely recommend you to watch this.
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This review may contain spoilers
Very interesting
Mars is a serious drama. There are funny elements but for the most part it deals with thought provoking issues you may not consider if you have never experienced certain things. Also, it give us an inside look on people's personal life. They my seems to look good on the outside but there are hidden personalities that you are not aware of. It shows that sometimes people are difficult to deal with but there could be some underlying issue that they don't know how to deal with.The FL & ML are great at expressing their emotions for their personal role and I applaud them. I particularly liked how the they fall in love and how he would do anything to helped her and I felt like they were a real couple and we are watching a video of their personal life.
I liked how The teacher was very caring towards his students. Even though they were difficult.
This drama had many different scenario that did not dragged out but was dealt with...that will keep you watching...
The value of friendships, people and families relationship was also shown in this drama.
What I would have loved to see is the ML fully accomplishing his dreams. I wanted to see him win the bike championship and more race practice because that's what he loved the most.
Overall it it's a great drama. I give it a 9 out of ten . Will rewatched. Also would love to see a remake of this Drama.
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It’s the first time that I’ve been this moved by the love of the main leads of a drama. I’m not even close to exaggerating when I say that I could actually feel their affection for each other through the screen. When one of them is going through pain, the other is too. The sort of love that’s too pure to be true. And in the end the viewers end up being a complete and utter mess.
To be quite honest I’m very picky with dramas, MARS had many of the elements that I generally hate watching such as love triangles, where the other characters try to snatch the leads from each other, old quality video, messed up family problems etc. but despite all of it, I couldn’t stop watching mainly because I got too attached to the leads, their tragic pasts, and my hope for them to get a happy ending.
Some of the things that I really appreciated was:
1) The leads although they seem like your typical bad boy and good girl from the summary, they’re not. Our popular playboy Ling here is the emotional and sensitive one, and not to mention he was a very complex character. And the reserved girl Qi Luo is actually a strong and independent woman with many of the time her being the one to hold up Ling. Props to the actors who didn’t even make it look like even a second was just acting
2) Except for just one or two characters (will not mention since I don’t want to spoil anything) every negative character was portrayed in a very human light and even showed their willingness to change to become better people
3) It shows some of the really dark aspects of our society such as suicide, rape and how people are affected by it
4) Heart breaking sound track. Even after a long time if I still hear it again I’d probably be a freakin mess
5) Lastly as I’ve mentioned before the way the leads truly loved each other and how they cared more about the other than themselves. Its just rare for me to feel this way about a couple in any drama or movie. Sure, I will agree there were moments in the show where I’ve felt they were absolute fools, but I don’t think I would cherish these two characters this much if they weren't.
This one is gonna be up there in my list of favorite dramas even if though I don’t think I’m never going to rewatch this for the toll it gave on my emotions. Anyway If your deciding on whether to watch this based on my review just know that it does have a very happy ending ;)
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Story- Perfect. At times I felt the story being somewhat similar to a fanfiction and I am not complaining at all! hehe. But I hoped it had more to it, I just felt unsatisfied in some areas. May be some more damsel in distress scenes?
Craving— I've mentioned before ;-)
Acting/ Cast - I LOVED the cast. Every actor or actress was superb in doing their roles. The smiles, the laughter and especially, there was no overacting! A main key to make the audience feel like everything is happening in real life as well.
Music- Music was the best, it kept the mood firmly attached to the scenes and their situations. Definitely a drama that has best OSTs ever.
Rewatch - I would love to rewatch it again. I mean, how can someone resist the beautiful couple, music and the story?
Thanks xx
(Sorry for any mistake.)
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Mars is one of the most memorable romantic series I have watched. I do not write reviews normally since I don't believe I'll contribute much after so many other reviews. That said, after watching over 1000 shows/movies by now, there are a few that I find outstanding. Mars was probably one of the first 50 shows I watched and deserves significant praise after experiencing so many other shows.
The love story is simple but the main leads acting makes Mars fantastic.
It is beautiful to see how the ML winning over the FL; how those two fall in love; and, how they hold and help each other as they grow...
I must say I did not like it when the plot turned dark with the psycho; however, that is how the author wrote the story.
By the way, after this show, I decided to watch other Barbie Hsu and Vic Zhou's works-- Mars is the best.
I highly recommend watching this series!
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unforgetable drama
eventhough the drama is a bit old it is still not dated. I watched it when it came out and seen it kany times over since. The story in itself is beautifull, shows how people from different places in life can get drawn to one another and change each other for the better.So many amazing characters, so many paths in life being changed by another presense.
It hearwarming but also thrilling. Love for another person can change how you see yourself and life.
I highly recommend this drama to anyone that is unsure about seeing it.
The song by Alan Kuo "ling" has been on my playlist since my first watch and i listen to it every day.
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Let’s weight this psychological romantic drama on our show beam balance and see what makes the drama so popular amongst drama addicts.
Good Weights
Vic Zhou: I personally love the character of Hanazawa Rui from Hana Yori Dango. And have a crush on all the actors playing that role in their respective versions i.e. I like Ji Hoo (Korean) and Hua Ze Lei (Taiwanese) as much as I like Rui. Vic Zhou (aka Zai Zai) played Hua Ze Lei and I have been his fan since then. After seeing him play the reticent Lei, it was interesting to see him play a completely opposite character in Mars.
In Mars, Ling is this enigmatic playboy who is often surrounded by girls vying for his attention. He is a fun-loving crowd pleaser who wants to live life on his own terms. However, all of this changes when he meets Qi Luo. The fearless Ling starts to feel protective of the meek Qi Luo and wishes to provide for her. He works hard to make her feel safe and happy. But Ling himself is a broken soul and battles psychological issues because of a difficult past. He camouflages his pain and struggles with a cool, reckless attitude. He is a complex character with several shades to him.
If you talk about looks then Vic Zhou was perfectly cast for the role of a lady-killer. Acting-wise however, Vic had a slow start wherein the initial episodes his acting was far from convincing. His forced laughter and awkward facial expressions made me wonder if I would be able to sit through 21 episodes. But as the show progressed Vic seemed to get into the flesh of the character and looked every bit of the troubled Ling. He isn’t a mind-blowing Ling but he sure is decent enough to have your attention.
Barbie Hsu: I am amazed at how effortlessly Barbie pulled off the character of Qi Luo which is starkly in contrast with Shan Cai in Meteor Garden. I liked her in Meteor Garden but loved her in Mars.
Qi Luo is a restrained and diffident young girl who keeps to herself and avoids any kind of interaction with people. She has suffered a traumatic experience in the past that altered her personality. Meeting Ling helps her bring out the real Qi Luo and she realises how much she wants to be her old self again.
Barbie played the reserved and quiet Qi Luo to perfection. Her body language and dialogue delivery made her a very convincing Qi Luo. She especially shines in emotional scenes which is most required for a role like this.
Couple Chemistry: Barbie and Vic’s pairing was a much-requested one by fans of Meteor Garden who shipped the couple real hard. Ling and Qi Luo’s love story follows the typical handsome, fearless, outspoken dude falling for a guarded, introverted girl concept.
Barbie and Vic have a very easy chemistry where they look extremely comfortable with each other. Mars is a dark drama with characters dealing with extremely complicated situations. Had the producers cast any other couple for Ling and Qi Luo’s role, I don’t think I would’ve been as interested in watching it, as I was knowing of the actual cast. To be able to sit through a poignant drama like Mars, you need a realistic couple to convince you of their love and for me, Barbie and Vic were perfect as the much in love couple. It was Ling and Qi Luo romance that kept me involved with the show.
Compelling Plot: Mars has three central characters, each with a dark back-story. Each of these characters has personality issues they need to address. While Ling and Qi Luo help each other overcome their personal difficulties we have the third character Tong Dao chose a completely different path to deal with his problems. The show makers have effectively justified every characters’ behaviour and choice and have done a good job in simplifying a convoluted plot.
Bad Weights
Redundant Scenes: Considering the types of characters and their lives 21 episodes seems justified as it takes some time to create a realistic image of the characters in the minds of the viewers. However, in an attempt at giving a deeper look into the characters, the show would end up stretching unnecessary angles and storylines. It was good that they dealt with the back-stories in detail which helped in understanding the characters better, but there were too many long conversations and flashbacks that hampered the pace of the show.
Mars is not a regular romantic drama. It is about how two battered lives converge and connect to lead to a better fulfilling life. It is about how certain events permanently change a person’s course of life. It is about how time heals all wounds and eventually we learn to make peace with our past to save our future. The drama is slow paced and slumps occasionally but its riveting storyline will keep you engaged.
If you like deep and moving dramas then go for this one. Moreover, Barbie Hsu’s acting and Vic Zhou’s charm (not to mention good looks) will easily pull you through most of the show.
Originally posted on www.alphagirl.in
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Binge worthy indeed.
This is most certainly one of the best Taiwanese series that I have ever watched and I have watched many. The series is titled Mars but it most certainly it’s not about Mars. It revolves around two people male and a female who have encountered hardships and struggles in their lives. These two people meet and these things are revealed Through their interaction with each other. Through time you see so much growth of the characters and how they fight to be free and move forward. You will need tissues, most definitely. What I found most provocative about this series was that the writers touched on things that most people would not want to talk about and it revealed so much of how an individual processes and lives after traumatic events in their lives and after other events that hurt them. This series was so amazing. Not only was it romantic but the two main leads had an amazing chemistry. There was drama, Passion, action and tears. You name it, this series had it all. I will definitely save this one set itself apart from all the other tawainese drama. This one absolutely breaks the mold from the traditional cliché naïve characters or the dense ridiculous situations. This series is most certainly realistic and the writers found a way to make it awesome.If I had to sum this up in a few words I would say “this is a romantic series that revolves around to scarred people who find healing through their love for each other. And the healing was intense, heartfelt, tearjerking and passionate. Not for the faint hearted. Not your sweet romantic comedy. The is real business here. A must watch.
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At first I was not used to the slow pace, the lack of background music and colours which make this drama kind of creepy and heavy. However later I was completely absorbed by how each and every characters and events play out, either because the drama’s pace was getting faster or the characters and events were harder to read or both. I then understood why people kept commenting saying “Don’t give up MARS, you won’t regret it” coz’ I am not regret watching it.
The drama tackles most issues that are not commonly discussed and plays out very well. One thing I found most enchanting is the psychology of the characters that are described. The drama kept urging me to question the character choices and the similarities and differences between each and every characters mind to the point that I found them very real, vibrant and alive. I would say the drama portrays the twists of the minds very well. Another thing is that the story is very synchronising; at first you thought they are fragments of many tragedies but they all connected at the end.
The only thing that stops me from give the story full mark is because its lack of focus on some characters and thus make the characters behave illogically and you kind of feel what about xxx and xxx especially Quiluo. While the story portrays Ling very well, Quiluo sometimes was forgotten. So you kind of feel Quiluo’s fear very real and vivid at the beginning, then it gone then it came up again and I just feel Quiluo transformed too quickly. Well I am not saying the drama messed up when portray Quiluo, they have described her very well, her insecurity and fear. But I just love to see more because just as much as Ling, I think Quiluo character is an interesting one or at some point, even ‘darker’ than Ling; but at the end she transformed too quickly to a ‘Mary Sue’. I know I know, this is already enough for a 21 episode drama but I am being harsh on it coz’ I love it that much.
The acting, I have seen drama that actors the character’s inner devil very well so I think the acting of the cast are not the best yet. While I would not say the acting was superb but I can feel the chemistry between them and I think they have done very well, especially Vic Zhou who had to portray two very distinct beings. After all, the drama’s characters are very hard to portray because of they were formed by layers after layers.
About the music, the drama lacks of background music however I think it was perfect for this drama. It can totally bring out the deadliness of the whole drama, like the traps that the characters wanted to break free from. You can totally feel their worlds are such a deserted and lonely place. And when there is music, it served its purpose, whether to make the drama more dramatic or peaceful or happy or full of hope.
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