Falling Into You (2020)

We finally have a Tdrama as well as a Puff Kuo drama in my top dramas of 2020 list! I might be biased because I love Puff Kuo and Jiro Wang and believe there should be more dramas with them, but I also loved how it contained all the elements I love in a classic Taiwanese drama as well as having this calmness to it where you might be watching an intense heartbreaking scene, but it was easy to watch. It kind of gave me elements of Love o2o how it was just an emotional but easy watch. Also, I am a HUGE fan of quirky turned emotionless woman that Puff knows how to play so well. You always want to root for her and once you see a smile or two, your heart just melts knowing the quirky girl is fighting through.

I loved all the characters! I was surprised by how the story came together at the end and the characters that we hated throughout, became likable at the end. Everyone was very mature, most of the time, and there was really no "revenge-seeking" even after the hellish childhoods the mains had. I loved the relationship that Zi Tong (Puff) & Fang Zhi Sheng (Jiro) had throughout the drama, even in the beginning when he was trying to break her at work. It came off as harmless fun and he was being a "butthead." But what I loved the most was how much of a boss Zi Tong was. And once they got together, the easiness of their relationship reminded me a lot of Xiao Nai and Wei Wei from Love o2o, which is extremely rare as we don't see a lot of drama couples like this because the director wants to add another level of drama. I think it is a bit tacky, but I still watch it! So when we see a couple like this where the writer doesn't feel the need to add that element, it is refreshing. I also liked how Zi Tong & Fang Zhi Sheng, weren't the only main characters of this drama and got about equal screen time (a little more into the drama) as Tian Lin & Fang Qing. I liked the growth in their story and how adult yet childish it was.

But the reason why I wasn't able to give this a 10-star review was because of the characters as well. As much as I loved this and will rewatch it many times in the future because Fang Zhi Sheng is a dreamboat who is equal parts silly/quirky and Mr boss man who stands up and does everything for "his people," I wish there was more fire or passion in their relationship. I needed a little more. Also, even though I loved Tian Lin & Fang Qing and how Tian Lin's daughter stole the whole show, I got a little tired of Fang Qing. She was one of the oldest characters here and she was acting like a school girl the entire drama.

Overall, it was a really good story about a girl who gave everything she had in order to have one last chance to compete and reach her goal and learned how to trust people again. It was about a man who fought through his trauma in order to heal from an abusive childhood. And it was a story about two unlikely people who reunited and got a second chance at love.

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Good pacing and enjoyable, but with Unrealistic ending.

Subjective Rating - 8.5 (exceeds my very low expectations and enjoyable)
Objective Rating - 7.5-8.0

Taiwanese romantic comedies are usually a hit-or-miss to me because I am not quite used to the humor yet. And maybe because of that, I have low expectations for “Falling into You” and am pleasantly surprised that I had a very enjoyable time watching it. “Falling into You” follows the journey of injured and retired Taekwondo champion, Chen Zi Tong (FL).


What I Like:

1. Fang Zhi Sheng (ML) - FZS reminded me of a milder version of the male lead in the K-drama “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim”. He’s a little over-the-top, narcissistic, petty and childish, but actually very sweet and caring. I was worried that I might not like his character but luckily, I find the humor to be tolerable. I enjoy seeing his character development and how he has become a caring, supportive and understanding boyfriend, yet doesn’t change his personality to always think about money and business (according to him, always a win-win situation for him).

2. Chen Zi Tong (FL) - Independent, competent, hardworking, self-sufficient, and not a damsel in distress. She never gives up on her dream despite life’s tough challenges. She’s not perfect and can be very stubborn. She has changed a lot from when we first met her in the first episode, to the woman she’s become in the last episode. I would have liked to see her cheerful self a little bit more when she’s with ML, but also appreciate the fact that she doesn’t lose herself once she’s in a relationship.

3. Chen Tian Lin/FL’s brother - A tough, dedicated and no nonsense journalist/reporter, who is always trying to find out the truth. Yet when he is with the one he likes, you see the tenderness in his eyes as he gazes lovingly at Yang Qing. I also like the interesting bromance he has with Fang Zhi Sheng.

4. Taekwondo - I think Puff Kuo and Xi Wei Lun did a pretty admirable job in all their taekwondo moves. Of course they are not as good as professionals, but I can see the effort they put in to make sure each punch and kick look as realistic as possible.


What I have Mixed Feelings About:

1. Fang Qing (2FL) - She does not sound or act like a 40 year old woman. She seems like a pretty good teacher and doesn’t teach her children good lessons. But her behavior doesn’t always seem mature, e.g. slapping Chen Tian Lin on the face at the hospital when she doesn’t know anything about him and his family. That was uncalled for and definitely not what a teacher should be doing in front of her student. She also acts like a teenage girl in love most of the time, when she’s already had experience in the romance department. There are times she could have an honest conversation about her feelings, yet she chooses to avoid and lie. I think her high-pitched voice also makes her sound really whiny and young.

2. Romance - Both the primary or secondary romances are enjoyable enough but not great. The chemistry is decent. I wish Chen Zi Tong (FL) can show more emotions and there are more cute and fluffy scenes between the main leads. I think after they get together, they dive right into a mature relationship (which I like as well) but somewhat skip the sweet and fluffy honeymoon phase. That’s partly because the drama needs to focus on the FL’s comeback. I am also a little disappointed in the kisses between the main leads. Luckily, we get a couple steamy kisses from the secondary leads. The male characters are so smitten by the ladies. I always love the loving and secret looks but also would like some more from the female leads.

3. Editing/Storytelling - In the second half of the drama, the editing got weird. Instead of straight storytelling, there are many flashbacks and scenes that are cut short or stopped. The scenes are cut back and forth, and only show enough information to keep it ‘suspenseful’.

**** Spoilers****

4. Unrealistic Ending - For an athlete who is injured and stops training for over 2 years, there’s no way FL can compete at a high level without enough training/prep time. The Olympic qualifying tournament is laughable with a cheap venue and is sparsely attended. In the last match, there’s no way Wu Qian Ni would just stand there and not attack to try to win. But of course, this is Chen Zi Tong’s comeback story and we know she is going to win eventually. Now that she wins and is injured again (possibly unable to compete ever again), what is going to happen to the investment Fang Zhi Sheng has made in her and her mother’s dojang? He spent so much money on them and probably is not going to get his money back.


Other Random Observations:
1. Both male leads have nice six packs. I wish to see them more. LOL
2. The characters in this drama like to secretly record a conversation on their cell phones.
3. We never met Chen Tian Lin’s ex-wife or Gao Yu Qian’s girlfriend.
4. The child actress is cute and does a good job, but her voice is too high-pitched.
5. Love FL’s dad - sweet and caring and reminds me of his role in “A Thousand Goodnights”.



Completed: 11/14/2022

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