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 *

Down With Love: Episode 1

Main characters of Down With Love

How many dramas start off with a girl carrying a refrigerator on her back?

Singer and actress Ella Chen weaves her own hard-headed and humorous temperament with her into her character: Yang Guo. Her first task in the drama is to carry a 36 kg (80 lb) refrigerator on her back, walking 12 km (7.5 miles) on a 36 degree Celsius (97 degree Fahrenheit) day to reach a “neighbor’s” house to deliver the fixed mechanism, only to discover that they have already purchased a new one. Yang Guo walks away, short of her promised 500 TWD ($16), but with a bottle of tea, a box of sweets, and a smile of satisfaction. Yang Guo’s persistence and desire for profit shines through, but not without a tad of naivety and kindhearted-ness.

Actor Jerry Yan utilizes his extensive acting experience to play Xiang YuPing, a cold, heartless lawyer. After a rude introduction to the prosecution side of the case, YuPing remains calm and expertly angers the plaintiff into exposing a crucial piece of information. There’s a new twist to his case, as he craftily changes the evidence to favor the defense.

Within the first 10 minutes of the first episode, Director Ke HanChan has established the personalities of the lead actor and actress. The contrasting personalities hints at the potential friction between the two individuals. Upon their first meeting, YuPing has come to believe that Yang Guo is a dim-wit; YuPing, an arrogant, wealthy man in Yang Guo’s perspective. It is this perspective that causes an altercation between the duo in the streets of Taiwan. A lovely, and healthy, relationship between the boss and employee, isn’t it?

From the first episode, Down With Love has achieved the labels: “sarcastic,” “humorous,” and “exciting.” I predict that it will also soon achieve “heart-warming.” The presence of Chen, whether it be in an interview, a talk-show, or a drama, guarantees laughter and excitement. Yan, with experience of being a lead actor or a main supporting actor in 12 distinct dramas, brings not only expertise, but also love-ability. With individuals popular in both the world of singing and in the domain of acting, Down With Love will capture the hearts of the audience, for we cannot help but to cry with them, to laugh with them, to hate their enemies, and to sympathize with them. After all, what’s a drama without tears and love?

Highlights from the show

Eating Competition:

Eating contest in Ep. 1 of Down With Love

Try and try as hard as they may, the Yang sisters came in first place! However, their reactions definitely reflect the happiness and elation that victory accompanies. Why the long faces you ask? Well, the sisters were aiming for second place, hoping to win a rice cooker. Instead, they win recipe books, which are: 1. not edible, 2. take up space, and 3. hard to sell. Better luck next time girls!

Heated argument between Yang Guo and YuPing

Heated argument between Yang Guo and YuPing

Below is a translation of their quarrel:
Yang Guo: * comes running in front of YuPing’s car *
YuPing: Do you want to die?! Even if you do, don’t do it in front of my car!
Yang Guo: I don’t want to die! Do you want to… * thinks: Cr*p. I have such bad luck. It’s him again. He’ll lecture me to death for sure *
YuPing: You’re that waitress from last night, right? What do you want?! Are you hear to get revenge (NOTE: YuPing caused Yang Guo’s boss to fire her last night)
Yang Guo: Who said I was here for revenge? Who said?!
YuPing: You’re not as simple as I thought. You don’t know the difference between steak and pork chop, but you memorized my license plate. What, are you hear to make a car accident?!
Yang Guo: What car accident? Oh, you must be a lawyer, right?
* Simultaneously * Yang Guo: You’re a lawyer! Yu Ping: I’m a kindergarten teacher!
Yang Guo: Only a lawyer can be so criticizing. You’re just like my sister’s cold and heartless boss! He’s crazy! Move aside! * walks to tire to pick up her marble *
YuPing: What are you doing? Are you slashing my tires?!
Yang Guo: Look! There you go again! I ran into the street because of my marble. Now everything should be cleared up, right? Say sorry. Say it.
YuPing: You sure know how to make up stories. Who would risk their life for a marble? You should spend more time working, so you don’t GET FIRED!
Yang Guo: Not everyone’s as wealthy as you are! My sister said that if you want to lecture someone, go lecture a lawyer!
YuPing: I’m a KINDERGARTEN TEACHER!
Yang Guo: You’re a LAWYER!
YuPing: I…
Yang Guo: I told you! If my sister knows you, she’d definitely say that you will never have any descendants! * screams * GOOD BYE!
YuPing: CRAZY!
Yang Guo: * angrily gets on her bike * What are you looking at?! Are your eyes too big?
YuPing: You…!
Yang Guo: I have such bad luck. I ran into a crazy person! * screams in frustration. turns to look at YuPing: * MEAH! * bikes away *