"Murphy's Law of Love" tells the story of two characters, Jai-Wei and Xiao-Tong who find themselves unlucky in love. The series opens with both characters at the end of their prospective relationships. Jai- Wei proposes to his girlfriend, only to be turned down. Xiao- Tong is at a dinner with her boyfriend, hoping that he will propose, but instead, finding out that he desires a break-up. Since both events take place nearby, it's fairly predictable that the two characters inadvertently bump into each other.

Xiao-Tong is a psychologist who works at an internet dating company. For all of her philosophies about love, it's clear she knows very little about it. She's a young woman who is virtually incapable of thinking for herself. She's a bit whiny, moody, and she has a tendency to pout a lot. Xiao-Tong is someone who has been hurt so much in relationships, that she's unprofessionally given in to believing Murphy's Laws about love. Funny that psychologist is so pessimistic and negative that she would knowingly adopt such a fanciful set of arbitrary laws. Nevertheless, Xiao-Tong is a very guarded character. On the outside, she puts on a front that everything is just fine. Of course, nobody buys it. Inside, she's whirlwind of pain, angst, and self-loathing. She fails to understand that the secret of love is to, first, love yourself. You can't give what you don't have. And both characters fail to understand that true love is about the absolute courage it takes to be completely vulnerable.

Across the street is Jai-Wei who heads in own company that is in the business of renewing life through divorce. It's not as horrible as it sounds. Jai-Wei helps people come to terms in a relationship, learn to let go when it's time, and teach couples how to move on amicably. Jai-Wei is a young man who rarely smiles, has a somewhat gruff exterior, and is a bit insecure. We learn that he's had a tough past full of rejection and neglect. People who don't say "goodbye" is especially hard for a man who's in the "letting go" business. Underneath, he has a big heart. Except that Jai-Wei's problem is struggling to hold on to what he has. This puts unfair pressure on the women he's with.

However, the biggest difference between the two characters is that Jai-Wei doesn't give up. He's tenacious, and he's unwilling to allow the pains of the past to prevent him from taking a chance on love. Xiao-Tong, allowing herself to be ruled by Murphy's law, is overly cautious and unwilling to "take the plunge" when things become challenging or difficult. She's more prone to escape and run when she fears that she might get hurt again. You may not be at all surprised by which character "comes to terms" with themselves first.

Of course, like most series like this one, you have the "rival" characters, who are largely predictable and typical. You also have the character of Jai-Wei as a rich man pursuing the woman who is still living with her parents and being ordered about by them. These are the same parents who love to meddle in their daughter's affairs. Meddling always about yourself and never about the person you're proclaiming to help. It's still ironic that so many people in the world actually believe that a person can't be happy if they are not in a relationship.

The series also has the "secret past" for one of the characters that is a hurdle and an obstacle that must be overcome if things are to progress. In many ways, Eastern romance stories can be just as easily bogged down by formulaic situations as Western ones.

Still, the series is mostly very cute, and above all, it's light. It doesn't get tied up in too many twists and turns, nor does it get too melodramatic.

As a western viewer, just remember to try and put your "prism" aside. You still have the controlling Asian male who loves to order his girlfriend around, tell her what she's going to do or not going to do, and who also loves to grab her by the arm. Obviously in the west, if a man tried that, he'd likely end up with a black eye or worse. However, in the east, it's not so frowned upon. After living in South Korea and China, I've seen my share of this type of behavior. If this easily offends you, then you may have a hard time watching this series.

The performances are very good across the board, and the scenery of Taiwan is an added bonus.

Of all of the Asian series I've watched so far, Korea's "Descendants of the Sun" is easily my favorite with Japan's "Good Morning Call" just behind it. Still, if you're looking for a good time with some laughs and nothing that gets too serious, this is an enjoyable series