Down With Love: Episode 3

The many faces of Xiang YuPing (played by actor Jerry Yan)

Episode 3 was one of the most enjoyable, and fast-paced, episodes of the drama by far. Subtle but dramatic transformations in the personalities and perspectives of various characters keep the audience curious as to what is going to happen in the next episode. YuPing’s denial of the real reason behind his varying thoughts and emotions changes the viewer’s image of him in this drama. At times, he is childish and immature. At times, he is charming and sweet. At times, you wonder: I wish I had a man like. No longer is he the cold, ruthless lawyer and boss of the Yang sisters, or the passive guardian of the two children. Rather, YuPing has become more considerate and accepting, willing to spend time with the children to create the aurora of a happy family. Perhaps this is due to his realization of the children’s need for a fatherly figure, or because he is reminded of his childhood without a stable and safe environment. But for whatever the reason, one thing is for sure: the emotionless and inconsiderate lawyer YuPing is becoming warm and humane.

However, we must not forget the powerful effect Yang Guo has on individuals. Yang Guo continually offers aid to help others in any way she can, and it is this altruism that initially perplexes YuPing. Through more interactions with each other, a sense of family develops between Yang Guo, YuPing, and the children. Although both are forbidden to have any feelings for the other, YuPing and Yang Guo may be unable to keep themselves from feeling an emotional connection, and attraction, towards the other. YuPing has already done unimaginable things with Yang Guo, and for Yang Guo and the children of course!), such as riding rollercoasters, watching horror movies, and standing in line to buy Yang Guo’s favorite snack while being humiliated for being such a noob. YuPing is convinced that his concern for Yang Guo is out of gratitude, but we drama addicts all know that this is the beginning of something bigger…and better 😉

In addition, this episode saw the introduction of yet another character: the children’s “long-lost” mother. Turns out she did not die but instead left her children in order to pursue other greatness. Now, four years later, she reappears, requesting legal guardianship over her children with the famous divorce lawyer Xiang YuPing. Will YuPing let her take her children back after years of separation? Will the children even want to live with their mother? All will reveal in the next episode!

Highlights from the show

KIDNAPPED!

In order to threaten YuPing, a trio of bandits kidnapped Yang Guo and the children and held them hostage. The children managed to escape, but will YuPing and Yang Guo manage to escape from the bomb?

To get revenge from escaping running away, the bandits stick a bomb into YuPing’s mouth as they happily walk out of the run-down shed to escape the police. Apparently, the only way to prevent the bomb from exploding within 2 minutes is to hold it with your mouth. Yang Guo narrates the event with exaggerations, but keeps to the basic plotline. She intentionally leaves out the most important detail: her “kiss” with YuPing in an attempt to gain possession of the bomb to fling out of the shed and as far away from them as possible. In a Behind the Scenes special, actress Ella Chen confesses it was one of the most awkward kissing situations she had ever experienced (she had the luxury of “kissing” the famous actor Jerry Yan and…a pair of fake teeth).
Yang Guo: Let me tell you. That bomb was of the latest model. You HAD to put it in you mouth to prevent it from exploding.
Yang Duo: Isn’t that like those bombs from Hollywood movies?
Yang Guo: Exactly! You see, those bandits wanted to kill us with one shot! BUT…at that instant, the boss told those bandits that if they fired, the police would only get here sooner and catch them all! Then, one bandit took a bomb AND STUFFED IT IN THE BOSS’S MOUTH!!! But, he never thought that I, who’s sister yelled at to practice the suona (Chinese oboe) when it only cost $800 TWD…
Yang Duo: Hey! Why are you bringing this up? On with the story!
Yang Guo: Sis, thank God that you forced me to practice otherwise today I would be…How would I have the lung-power to spit that bomb out the window? Applause!
KeZhong: Wait. You just said that you spat the bomb out the window.
Yang Guo: Yup, I spat it out!
KeZhong: But the bomb was originally in YuPing’s mouth…
Yang Duo: Oh yeah, didn’t you say the bandits put the bomb in the boss’s mouth? Then, how did…? Why…?
* cough cough *
YuPing: I spat out the bomb, and she blew it out of the window.
* Yang Guo’s imagination: YuPing flings the bomb out of his mouth, Yang Guo enters and blows it out the window
Yang Guo: Sayonara!
Both: *laugh insanely *Heahheaheahheahheah…
YuPing: * chokes on spit and coughs *
Yang Guo: * imitates Andy Lau’s voice * I’m Andy Lau (a famous singer and actor from Hong Kong)
YuPing: * imitates Guo Shichang’s voice * I’m Guo ShiChang (a famous actor in Hong Kong)
Both: * sings * 对你爱爱爱不完 (translation: endless love for you) * dance and twirl; end imagination *
Yang Guo: * dumbfounded * RIGHT! That’s what happened! Right, right…
Friend: Yeah, didn’t you say that if you didn’t put it in your mouth, it’d explode?
Yang Guo: D-did I say that?
Yang Duo: Yeah! Just like those in Hollywood!
Yang Guo: No, no, they’re different from the ones in Hollywood.
YuPing: I-I think that since the scoundrel was poor, the bomb he bought was those…fake…imitations
Yang Guo: RIGHT RIGHT!
NOTE: Yang Guo’s imagination goes wild at the end as she and YuPing make references to famous Hong Kong idols.

One big happy family…or not

The kids decide to watch a horror movie, but no one knows that YuPing is terrified of horror movies.

What a better way to end an exciting and eventful day at the amusement park than to go home and watch a horror movie with the family! But, who would have thought that YuPing would be the first scream out in terror and leave the room because he is terrified of horror movies? Right off the bat, he starts isolating himself, seeking refuge and comfort from a cushion and refusing to look at the TV screen through the course of the movie (though there are those little sneaks and peeks every once in a while ^^). Better work on those bravery skills, dude; how are you supposed to protect and comfort a lady if you’re the one who’s scared out of his wits?

Down With Love: Episode 2

Ding HuiFan vs. Yang Guo

Down With Love’s Lesson Of the Day: How to insult a girl
Tell the girl that she did a good job wrapping her chest because it looks as flat as a board. She could pass off as a boy if she wanted to!

This drama is one of the most fast-paced dramas that I have ever seen. This episode saw the introduction of a new character: Ding HuiFan, played by actress Chen ZiHan. HuiFan is YuPing’s girlfriend in his long-distance relationship with her (HuiFan is an actress and is constantly traveling to news conferences, activities, and sets). Within her first few appearances, the audience has a solid grasp on her character.

She is an interesting character. Her debut in this drama consists of reporters and paparazzi chasing after her truck, crowding around her as she grandly steps onto the red carpet that leads her into the building where she will be posing and advertising a beauty product. All she does is smile and pose with the beauty product, feigning a friendly idol in front of the paparazzi while clearly ignoring the various questions reporters ask her. Although her popularity is realized, the audience cannot help but to feel a sense of superiority, and with it, a sense of egocentric-ism that prevents her from wanting to connect to the public.

Shortly after this display, HuiFan hurries to meet YuPing in a hotel room (HuiFan wants to maintain a sense of closeness as well as separation from the public and hides her relationship with the famous lawyer Xiang YuPing). The meeting immediately becomes an alteration between the couple, with YuPing fed up with these secret meetings with his girlfriend and HuiFan attempting, and failing, to reason with him. In this scene, HuiFan appears selfish and unsympathetic towards YuPing’s requests and desires, choosing to protect her own success and career over YuPing. (We later also learn that she made a drama cast halt filming for a couple of days because HuiFan was emotionally unstable).

It turns out that after HuiFan immediately regrets her decision after answering YuPing’s marriage proposal with a breakup. She appears devastated, but quickly recovers after her managers suggests getting back together with YuPing after a three month separation. Apologies for the bitterness, but to some degree, I can tolerate with a selfish, stuck-up, inconsiderate individual, but this kind of plotting behind a lover’s back is unacceptable. She has definitely stepped out of bounds within the first 30 minutes of her appearance. Chen ZiHan is extremely talented with the standoff personality.

As I said before, this drama is very fast-paced. The character Yang Guo is also developing many relationships with the other characters. She has a very close relationship with her sister Yang Duo, one that is occasionally loving and occasionally violent. She has established a friendly relationship with the interior designer Qi KeZhong, a person who she can turn to for advice and can trust to keep her secrets.

Although Yang Guo started off on the wrong foot with this children, she is starting to gain YuTing’s trust and approval. As she moves into the little boy’s heart, perhaps she will be able to melt the sister’s coldness and distrust. There is also a hint at a possible formation of romantic feelings between Yang Guo and YuPing. Despite having to continually tease and lecture Yang Guo, YuPing seems to appreciate Yang Guo’s presence in his life. But will this possible love ever develop (because, after all, YuPing believes that Yang Guo is a lesbian which she most certainly is not)?

Highlights from the show

IT’S WAR!

YuFei YuTing attempt to anger Yang Guo away

YuFei and YuTing love to play pranks on their baby-sitters in order to scare them away and get attention/some sort of emotional response from their caretaker and uncle YuPing. In this scene, the duo anger Yang Guo by hitting her and spraying her with a water gun, to the point where she throws a ball in rage. But, instead of hitting one of the kids, the ball flies over to YuPing’s beloved statue and knocks it over. It’s the end of the world for Yang Guo, but she manages to cover up the statue’s broken hand by dressing him up in clothing. Way to go!

The Many Faces of Yang Guo

The many facial expressions of Yang Guo

Ella Chen is extremely talented in the field of humor and facial expressions. Unaware of the fact that KeZhong and YuPing are best friends, Yang Guo fears that KeZhong may have blown her cover and revealed to YuPing that she is straight. After waiting for KeZhong to show up for work, Yang Guo begins her interrogation:

Yang Guo: Didn’t you just meet with my boss (YuPing)?
KeZhong: Mmhmm.
Yang Guo: D-d-did h-he mention that I was a…?
KeZhong: …a lesbian.
Yang Guo: Really?
KeZhong: Yup
Yang Guo: AH! Then…d-d-did y-you say that I wasn’t?
KeZhong: Of course I did.
Yang Guo:AH!
KeZhong: I clearly told him that you weren’t one. I also told him that you went out with a disappointing boyfriend for a very long time.
Yang Guo: AH! * Groans as she undergoes a mental breakdown, watching her world fall apart. Yang Guo eventually feigns fainting  *
KeZhong: WAH! * Catches Yang Guo as she collapses * I was only joking with you! I didn’t say anything!
Yang Guo: * Breathes…and comes back to life! * REALLY?!
KeZhong: Really.
Yang Guo: Why did you lie to me?! You scared me! If that happened, I would’ve probably been beat up by my sister. At least my sister won’t be auctioning my lungs and kidney. Oh, so close * Smiles silly-ly *