You Are My Destiny (2020)

As an avid fan of Asian dramas and films, ( limited by my lack of language skill to those with english subtitles), I have now seen four versions of this story. Its is impossible to not compare each of them and this definitely did not match the standard of the other three.
The Korean version was the first I encountered and fell in love with the show. The Taiwanese show ( original) was the next to come appear from my searches. It varied the story and how they played the characters and ,except for the final few episodes, I again fell in love. The more recent Thai version again played it slightly different to both previous productions . While I wasn't quite as enthusiastic, it still was quite a good show.
All three had great casts, chemistry between the leads, believable plot, fine production ....actually all the elements required to make an engaging enjoyable show. This most recent version from Japan lacked almost everyone of these elements , except for the female lead. It felt rushed, inexpensive, and amateurish which is not true for many wonderful Japanese shows.
As I watched it felt like there will be no Season 2 to complete the story as the company decided to cut it short because it was just not getting any better. This is of course my opinion. I am now excitedly looking forward to the promised Chinese version due this year starring my favorite couple from The Eternal Love 1 and 2. ( That's the one with the THE in the title)
Please still watch this drama and, if you haven't already, check out the other three, soon to be four!!

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Are we getting a 2nd season?

I am only talking about this remake, and there's no comparison between this and other versions because I haven't watched them, but this felt incomplete and needs a second season for sure!

- Story wise, it is not an original story and I've read many books with the same story-line.
Did I predict this ending? DEFINITELY NO. NOT AT ALL. It didn't even cross my mind because that's the worst case scenario in a romance story. Bro who wrote this?!!! We need to talk. Seriously, if that's it and there is no season 2, it is the worst end to ever happen to such story!

*I dislike the miscommunication trope the most, this drama relied heavily on it, and it was left unsolved which angered me a lot. I understand the female lead feelings and how hurt she was, but the male lead kinda did his best (he wasn't the most amazing husband but he tried) and he deserved to have a proper closure with her at least.

- Acting wise, I think the cast was decent and really had potential.. I know because I have watched other works for most of these actors/actresses and they were great, specially the male lead and the female lead. I guess the short episodes were unfair to them. And most of the side characters were kinda pointless.
*Tokito Yuki for example, I don't understand what his role is in the drama, his scenes were actually good but he needed more time for his character to develop!
*Nakabayashi Taiki is probably my fave here. Watching him was so much fun and this role fit him really well!

- I don't talk about the music usually, but this one had great soundtracks. Yes I am obsessed with them since I started watching this drama! These are by a boy band called "One N' Only" and I highly recommend checking them out!

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This is the third version of this story I've seen so far. (First being the Taiwanese and second the Korean.) I can't say that I have a favorite as each version has things I like and things I don't, but I think I can say that this is probably the easiest version of the three to get through. The Taiwanese version was my first ever drama, and it holds a very special place in my heart, but I absolutely cannot get myself through it again. (And I tried.) It's biggest flaw is it drags the main conflict out (the male lead trying to have his cake and eat it too) far longer than necessary, and I'm enough of a drama veteran now to not put up with that anymore if I don't want to. And while the Korean version is a much lighter, easier version to watch than the Taiwanese, it still pulls a trope or two at some really unnecessary moments (amnesia is thy name) that pulled down the middle part quite unfairly (I think it might have received an extension so they were trying to fill time). This version, however, while flawed in it's own right (and I will get to that in a moment), is still an easier viewing experience, and the main reason for that is that this drama just gets to the damn point.

The first couple episodes serve as a nice little diversion from the source material. It's still the same basic story, but they tone down some of the more outlandish aspects and make how the two leads end up meeting and 'being' together much more believable. (As believable as it can be with this sort of set up.) Of course, once you're 3 or 4 episodes in, it becomes a true remake, losing some of that believability as you go along, but I also went in knowing what sort of story this was and wanting some of that unbelievability, so that never bothered me.

The only part of the drama that had me scratching my head is the way the writers chose to deal with the abortion consent form in the final ep. I understand Aya deciding to leave after seeing it and being told it's from him and thinking about all she's been through and just not wanting to do it anymore. It makes absolute sense for her to want to heal and move on and become a braver, more confident version of herself. I even understand Kei letting her go without trying to convince her to stay or offering any sort of apology, because he feels guilty over how he's treated her and knows he has no right to hold her back or maybe even speak on his behalf. He didn't give her that form, but he didn't exactly give her much reason to believe he wouldn't have. What I don't understood is him letting her go without clearing up the misunderstanding about the form. I get feeling like you've hurt someone so much that you have no right to say or do anything anymore, but letting them continue to think you did something that horrendous to them when you didn't makes no sense. Take ownership for your choices, but don't take ownership of someone else's.

And this is where we come to the ultimate flaw of this version. The pacing is way too fast. All of the key moments are done the right way. The accidental 'trist' on the boat, stopping the abortion, Kei and Anna Actually breaking up, the terrible accident, crafting a logical misunderstanding through which the leads are pushed apart, it's all done as it should be. It's just building up these characters and their relationships with each other and filling in all of the gaps In-Between all of the key moments that is not done well. Not really done much at all, in fact. When it's all said and done, I genuinely liked the leads together, and I wanted them to fall for each other, even believed that they had by the end. But we got to see so very little of them actually falling and getting to know one another and having those little moments, and that really hampered the story. I could quibble some more over the issues around the abortion form, but it's this right here that ultimately lowers this versions rating for me. If there had been more build up to their relationship, I could have completely forgiven the writing misstep around the form, but there wasn't, so I can't.

This is very much the most fluff, lighthearted version of this story (minus possibly the Thai version, which I have not seen and can not speak on) mainly due to it's pacing, so if you want to check out this story but don't want a lot of angst, then this is definitely the version for you (followed by the Korean version). It was apparently quite popular in Japan, and I can see why.

Oh, and for anyone reading who's confused by the ending and wondering why I haven't addressed it in this review and if there's going to be a second season to finish the story, I didn't address it because I got caught up in crafting all of my points and forgot to even mention the strangely open-ended ending, but for your answer as to whether there will be a second season, it seems likely there will be as this was advertised in Japan as only telling half of the story, and it has apparently been quite popular, popular enough to warrant another season to tie everything up.

And now any of you who are reading this review in the distant future will most likely be very confused because there will probably already be a second season out at that point and everyone will have forgotten that us western drama viewers had no idea why this drama ended the way it did and now I'm rambling for no reason so have a nice life and thanks for all the fish.

Links to my reviews for the other versions:

https://mydramalist.com/profile/OhSoEnthusiastic/review/22006

https://mydramalist.com/profile/OhSoEnthusiastic/review/22004

https://mydramalist.com/profile/OhSoEnthusiastic/reviews/274737

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Why is it the ending is not the real end lol

First of all I watch the remake of thai it was the same story content but different scenes because thai happen on a ship while japanese remake was happen on a simple grandiore place . I watch whole story and compared it I like a japanese remake it was simple but the message and emotion was there but there was some pieces that missing maybe lack of ending or closure. Audience expected a happy ending story and I was also expected of it also were the cast would happy on the ending part. After I watch the 10 episode I was crying I hope this show wouldn't end this wayyyyyyyyy. I hope it was have season 2 I will wait

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It's just not doing justice

Being out of dramas to watch and having myself watch all the other versions. This one by far is the worst in terms of story? I felt like the amount of episodes for this drama is not enough for the story which made it seem rushed. Like everything that's supposed to happen just starts happening at the last 2-3 episodes which made it so rushed. Unless they plan to make a second season, this drama is just plain bad. I understand that when the writers wrote this drama's script, they probably intended to make it more of an empowerment to women but it was just not executed well. It would've been better if there was more character development and growth so the story would've been more coherent.

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Sorry, I didn't like it

I watched all four versions and the best of all is undoubtedly the Chinese one starring Xing Zhao Lin and Liang Jie. The two Chinese actors are excellent and together they have wonderful chemistry. In addition, they are beautiful. When I watched this Japanese version, I thought it was filmed in the 80s, because of the costumes and photography. The costumes are very dated and the actors are not convincing. The dialogue between the two main actors is inconsistent and it seems that they do not feel comfortable acting together. Not to mention that this version ends in the middle of the story. For me, this was the worst version among the four that I watched.

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Ok I've seen all remakes and the original. This remake needs a second season or more episodes (also longer then 30min per episode if possible) because it shows them getting married in a lavish wedding in previews and ending scenes. But this ending so far just shows her leaving for Okinawa and her husband being ok with it. So there has to be more of this particular remake. If this is all there this for this remake I will be highly disappointed.

Sorry again these are just my thoughts and personal perceptions on the different adaptations.
So in all the remakes they technically weren't divorced. Because yes she signed the divorce agreement 2 days after getting married but he NEVER signed it or dated it. So that also begs the question why get married again as if they were divorced? But I'm actuality they never were? Also that means neither party can get married to anyone else not can they date others or that's cheating.

Sidenote if there beaten path but...
Anytime there's a show and it has multiple remakes from different countries I always watch ALL remakes whether it's anime or live action. (Example... Boys over flowers, Playful kiss..) I watch as much as I can on Netflix, Hulu, Viki, YouTube and other sites where I can see any and all Asian dramas no matter what language they are in.

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I had a high expectation for this remake. Since the moment I finished the original story (Taiwan version). I find that the personality of the female lead very much like the female in J-Dramas. So I was very curious and excited when they made into jdrama.

The story: it didn’t leave an impact on me. The ending was not good.

Acting: I find the actress okay for her character but the male lead was not what I would expect. He acted like most of the j-drama male lead. Didn’t stand out with his character. The lead actress sometimes overpowered him in acting.

I would probably rewatch it if I am REALLY out of series to watch. Just because I love the story of fated to love you and because J-drama are always short.

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I watched every version of this story but this one hit me really hard I couldn’t stop crying
I hated the fact that it ended with a cliffhanger but it was still good
And the female lead's acting was full of emotion and I loved how she would laugh even though she was really hurt and every time she cried it was so emotional. But even though it hurts so badly I feel the guy should’ve got a chance to explain himself
But If I was her I would leave to.
Anyways I wish there could be a season 2 but I doubt there will be one. But it was really good and so emotional.

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