Vida Feliz, Sorte Fácil (2009)

To me, this show was unwatchably bad. I went into it expecting some mindless romantic fun (which is a great thing, don't get me wrong). I expected melodrama, hammy acting, one-dimensional characters, etc. Unfortunately, it was like watching a bad, anti-feminist cartoon.

The only (ONLY) likable characters were the dog and Han Dong Jie. Seriously, that is it. The male lead is a self-centered sociopath that treats people, even his supposed love, like trash - even after he "reforms" and the actor portarying him constantly grimaces like a cartoon villain. The female lead, while initially likeable, seems to have no real personal goals, is incredibly immature, and allows herself and her younger brother to be (rather obviously) abused and manipulated. What is more, if she is really interested in family, love, and caring - she chooses the wrong guy by a mile!! The "Aunt" and "Uncle" come off like children. How do they even function in the world? Can they even tie their shoes?? The Grandfather (the second villain of the piece) is inconsistant. He comes off by turns as greedy, heartless jerk and a simpering fool. I just do not believe that any of them have any busienss sense at all. How did they become rich? Sure, he stole a popular formula, but how could these morons run a business? The cousin is just a second thought character that is never really developed or explored. It is too bad, because he could have been likable. The Granny's life story makes absolutely no sense. She knows a guy for a few months, nurses him, and falls desperately in love with him, but when he leaves her she makes no attempt to find him or contact him. Then she marries someone else, has his babies, etc., but never mentions or thinks about her actual husband, because she is too busy pining for a jerk that stole her family's recipe? BTW, why did she never hear about the stolen pill and then sue the pants off of the wealthy family? None of this makes sense at all, and the Granny's sanity and values are seriosuly questionable, since chooses to risk her life for a watch rather than be there for her grandkids.

Beyond all of this, the show treats herbal medicine like magic. While there are some merits to alternative medicinal practice; it isn't magic and a certified doctor is better to treat major illness than a girl raised in the woods by a love-obessed old lady that never thought to pick up a phone book to look for her long lost love.

If you want to watch idiots and terrible characters make selfish choices, abuse eachother, and degrade the concepts of family and love, this is the show for you. If not, then stay well away. Blech.

Leia Mais

I really don't understand the review done by Arianya6 b/c I thought this was a really good drama that did not lag in story at all. I liked the pace of story and emotion all the way through. I really liked Chen Joe's (Xie Fu An) acting in this drama. I have watched other drama's that she has done and I think this role suited her best. I really liked how Lan Cheng Long (Yan Da Feng) displayed his characters emotions. He can really play evil but sweet. Neways this is on my FAVE list even though I can only post 4 here. I will be watching more Lan Cheng Long and Chiu Roy (Han Dong Jie) who r oh so smokin' hot. I really enjoyed this drama and will watch it again.

Leia Mais

From the first episode you can guess what happens up to the end. Sure, there a few twists and turns as with most dramas but nothing to get to excited about. I was frustrated with the main male character though. Sure, most dramas have the male lead do some pretty despicable things and as a person he turns out better in the end and all is forgiven. However, I felt that the main male lead went way over the line, and did some things that could never ever... let me put some emphasis that... EVER, be forgiven. The reason I gave this story a 6 (and not lower) was because the main female character was good. She was naive, but not to the point where I wanted to reach into the tv and smack her.

Leia Mais

This drama sends SUCH a bad message. I know many Asian dramas have a similar narrative, but I've never seen any that are anywhere near as irredeemable as this one. It's fairly normal to have a rich, jerk of a guy, one the drama tries to guide the audience into thinking is just "misunderstood". Then along comes a girl who, through her love and other redeeming qualities, helps the guy change and turn into a great person. This drama, however, takes the jerk aspect far beyond normal, into seriously abusive. There are so many warning signs that he is dangerous, but the drama just treats it all like it's normal, just entertainment! He tries to control her by giving her a curfew, telling her who she can and can't hang out with, stalking her when she does go out without his permission, he has a horrible temper, both towards her and others, he forcibly grabs her wrists (hard) on multiple occasions, forcibly kisses her (hard) also on multiple occasions, constantly berates her verbally - and all of this BEFORE they are even dating! Not to mention that he puts a hit out on her until money changes his mind, that his actions indirectly cause the death of someone close to her AND that he at one point gets her drunk, undresses her and sleeps with her (they leave it unclear as to whether he was attempting to fool her into thinking there was sex involved or if there was actual sex involved). They totally glossed over that last one, like "potential rape? who cares? let's make a joke out of it, it'll be funny!" As someone who lives in China and has seen firsthand the naivety of some Chinese young women as well as a wider acceptance of domestic abuse (compared to America), I find it really disturbing the message that this show sent to young girls. It's like they were saying "Don't worry that he treats you like trash and tries to control you - he really is a good guy underneath that and truly loves you! Just persevere through all this abuse and he'll eventually change into the great guy you know he could be!" I'm sorry, but no - the message they should be sending is that guys like that turn into guys who beat their wives and deserve to go to jail.

Leia Mais

All dramas have holes in them, and cannot be perfect. This one is close for me. In my top 5 TW favorites. The parts that make it so great for a TW drama, is some of it is typical even the story line. Yet you do not have the weak female lead who cannot stand up for herself or on her own. Fu An is brilliant, strong, and can stand on her own 2 feet. Fu An may have had to live with her grandma and her brother. She was not expected to pay off huge debts or have family sitting home forcing her to work and squandering her money.
Of course the typical ending for a TW drama was not there, leaving us questioning and or confused with what went on. There is so much more to say..... JUST WATCH!

Leia Mais

Kiwi commercials and romanticized abused, YAY

Dear writers, honestly I fail to understand how you expect me to cheer for such abusive male lead when compared to a soft, kind, caring, with wild hair and the cutest smile second male lead.
The female lead must be an idiot, ok with naivety but just how on Earth she developed feelings for someone who treated her that poorly, belittled her, almost raped (it's a bit unclear I'd rather think he made her believe they had sex when drunk), grabbed her wrists several times, imposed his will to her (curfew? oh hell no.) Massive giant red flag to me. He was better off with the gold digger gal imo.
Same dough as his gramps who tricked the fl's nonna just to steal her secret magic herbal pill whatsoever and have a fancy life. Like he could've at least send her some money to thank her, just saying.
I didn't expect such a wholesome story but this is impossible to redeem. I resisted only because of the second lead x_x

Leia Mais

I'm having love/hate feelings for this drama. There are so many scenes that are funny, cute, and enjoyable. I even understand the last four episodes that were necessary for Fu An and Da Feng to have a truthful relationship. I understand the character development and totally get why Da Feng acts the way he does. What bothers me is all the time the director spent on all of the other characters. The last episode just drove me crazy. I would have preferred to see Fu An and Da Feng's relationship after all the adversity they had to go through, but instead I had to see closure on stories that I really didn't give a crap about. There are so many things I would change also. How can that conniving, hateful Zhen Zhen get any happiness??? Ok...I will stop, because we can't post spoilers. I will just say that the story doesn't suck, but it isn't the greatest I have ever seen either.

The acting was really good. So many people have problems with Lan Blue, but I think he is a really expressive actor and I enjoyed his portrayal of Da Feng. I thoroughly enjoyed Chen Joe's performance as Fu An also. She was feminine and tomboyish, smart and naive. Totally well done!!! I loved the aunt and uncle. They were too funny. I also enjoyed Chiu Roy as Dong Jie and Xiu Jie Kai as Yan Yang. They are good actors and eye candy.

I liked the music.

I probably won't ever rewatch this.

If you like romantic angst, then I think you would enjoy this drama.

Leia Mais

When I was contemplating watching this I only had the knowledge of Chen Joe(The Queen of Sop, Fated to Love You) an actress that I love and two reviews; one with a low ranking and one with straight tens. Both rankings I was skeptical about especially the low one since Chen Joe is in this drama, but people have different opinions, its life.

The story is unique and cute. Huang Chun Xiang(Tan Ai Zhen) has been waiting for the love of her life for 60 years, unaware that he played her from the start. Yet on a turn of events the chairman of Bao Bao Tang(who is strangely not listed on the cast list) becomes sick and Huang Chun Xiang's granddaughter Xie Fu An (Chen Joe) saves his life. Wanting to repent for the wrong he has done to Huang Chun Xiangs he vows to find her, yet in another twist of events she dies in a fire. The only way he could repent is to help the grandchildren of Huang Chun Xiang so he offers 80 million to whomever weds Xie Fu An. A love triangle spews as two guys chase after Xie Fu An one for money and one for love. I loved the story line. It keeps a steady pace throughout and had some surprises here and there.

The characters... were tolerable. The only reason I would not give this story past an 8 is because of this. I loved the grandpa. He was calculating from the start; he tried desperately to fix his broken family any way he could. Xie Fu An did come off as annoying, but she grew on me as the show progress. Han Dong Jie(Chiu Roy) was the sexy, caring second lead. I always hate these characters because in your heart you know they will not end up with this guy, but he is so sexy and sweet. It is a shame. Those are the only characters I really liked. I hated the first lead Ya Da Feng(Lan Cheng Long). He was a completely jerk until the last two episodes and the chemistry between him and Xi Fu An was forced. To me it felt like the main reason they were together was because the writers made it so.

The acting was great except for Lang Cheng Long. I can't blame his ability though because his character wasn't an easy one to work with. He did his best given the character he was given so in my opinion the acting gets a 9, but because I combine characters with acting the score is a 7. Music was okay, nothing special.

Overall, I loved the show and I would watch it again if I was in the mood for some dark romance. I wouldn't recommend it if you love the second lead more than the first lead. As drama lovers we have to face the inevitable, the first lead gets the girl no matter how much of a douche he is.

Leia Mais

OVERALL
Average drama. Watch it if 1) You're looking for a hot guy, 2) You're looking for another drama with the girl from Fated to love you, 3) You just want a love story, doesn't matter if it's top quality or not, 4) You're desperate for something decent. Do not watch if 1) You're vulnerable to the 2nd-lead syndrome, 2) You have anything better you could watch instead.

THE STORY
It could have been so much more! That's what I was thinking...all the time. The romance could have been more, the drama could have been more. I feel like everything has been done halfway in this drama, which results in a very average show. That being said, there were a few surprisingly cool moments that'd almost make you forget it (the problem is in the "almost").

THE ACTING
It was alright. I personally wasn't feeling much chemistry between the main leads. Joe Chen, well she's here playing her usual drama persona, even though sometimes she spices it up. Blue Lan is at times not very convincing, but boy is the guy hot. Roy Chiu...he's mine.

THE MUSIC
What music? I guess it's better not to remember what the music was then to remember it sounded terrible, but it left no impression on me.

REWATCH VALUE
Maybe, one of these days when I'll have nothing new to watch, I'd have rewatched all the good shows one too many times, and all the not-as-good shows too. Just not in my priority list.

Leia Mais

This was my first Tawianese drama ever . When I saw it come up as a suggested title on Netflix I figured I'd give it a try. What I will say is that I'm now a big fan of the Blue, Joe and Roy. This drama was pretty amazing. My first thoughts were less than impressed purely because I HATED the title theme for the show. A lot of other people liked the track but personally I felt it made the show seem cheezy. Anyway, despite my dislike for that particular song. The show has a great soundtrack. I loved the ending theme from the very first episode. The aunt and uncle in this show are hilarious!! The little brother is absolutely annoying, but Blue and Joe have some SERIOUS on screen chemistry. After episode two I was hooked. This drama is hilarious, tragic and heartwarming. Despite some superficial flaws (example: in a few scenes her grandmother's hair is literally BLUE not grey) this drama was great! After watching it I've started looking into other dramas from Taiwan.

Leia Mais