Rhea
Malaysia
Saved By The Chemistry
Once you learned that this is a contract marriage rom-com, I’m sure you have a pretty good idea what you are getting into. If you love this kind of storyline and a fairy tale romance, Once We Get Married would be a gem. But if you are tired of cliches and stale plots, you would end up questioning its value or even hating it altogether. So, do not be surprised if you see vast differences in ratings for this drama. It is really a love it or hate it kind of production.
The other point to note is that this is really a low budget flick. So, you will see choppy editing and poor cinematography at times. The costumes also suck which is made obvious because the male lead is supposed to be super rich while the female lead is a fashion designer. Compared to You Are My Glory with its beautiful gowns, Once We Get Married is like a poor relation. Thus, you will see the leads wearing the same clothes and accessories for different scenes with some of them being pretty plain which is inconsistent with the characters’ background.
Same Old Plot
Basically, the producers for Once We Get Married are merely rehashing an overused theme that is tried and tested. They don’t even attempt to inject any freshness or twists to the plot. Just stick to what has been successful in the past and simply produce another one with a different cast. So, the result is this drama that sticks to the usual of a couple being forced to marry for mutual benefits for an agreed period and then falling in love. Bring in a jealous second female lead that is hell bent on wreaking havoc and a second male lead who is always there for the girl and you end up with another contract marriage drama.
Some people may not like how the story begins though because there is an element of manipulation in getting the female lead to sign the marriage contract. But the trickery is not bizarre or cruel like in Well Intended Love. Both parties know what they are getting into. Due to the old plot, everything is predictable from start to finish. But the good thing is there is no disapproving parents to throw a spanner in the works for the couple unlike Forever And Ever. The other glaring selling point for the drama is the blazing chemistry between the leads.
Undeniable Chemistry
This is what saves the drama from being relegated to the unwatchable list. With a stale plot and typical scenes that include accidental slips and kisses, you really need vivid chemistry to make viewers hooked. Without it, those romantic moments and sweet filler scenes will be bland and boring just like in Fall In Love With A Scientist. Luckily, Wang Yu Wen and Wang Zi Qi seem very comfortable with each other so much so that their interactions are naturally captivating as an on-screen couple.
Their chemistry is what you would be hanging on to once you begin watching and will carry you all the way to the end. Their visuals and height are ideally matched. So, chances are you will love this couple as they are easy on the eyes and very natural in their sweetness towards each other.
Wang Yu Wen plays the role of Xi Xi in a convincing manner. She gives the character some toughness and mischievousness that matches up to Si Chen. This is also my second time watching Wang Zi Qi after The Imperial Coroner. He has the required charisma to make Si Chen appear attractive despite the character’s cold personality. Essentially, the casting was done right and the resultant chemistry is the key in saving this drama from mediocrity.
A Word Of Warning About The Characters
Before you decide if you should watch Once You Are Married, perhaps it is good the know a little bit more about the 2 main characters. As far as the male lead is concerned, you really need to have a thing for cold and domineering CEOs. Not everybody sees them as heroes especially one who is fond of advancing towards the female character until his face is right in front of hers. In the real world, this would be tantamount to harassment! But in the drama, it would be seen as romantic and flirty. So, you will get those scenes which may not go down well for a feminist and may be seen as sexist.
For the female lead, some viewers might see her as dumb and annoying. This is because she is close to the second male lead and seems clueless that he has feelings for her. She still has frequent contact with him even after she got together with the male lead. It is not a dealbreaker for me but her behavior might put off those who want to see more wisdom and intelligence from a female lead.
As for the second couple, they are a waste of time. I can’t understand why the screenwriters even bother with them. The second female lead is a jealous and toxic character. The second male lead isn’t evil but is annoyingly persistent. He will keep appearing in front of the female lead as he tries to gain a foothold into her life. Therefore, be prepared for not very likable supporting characters if you watch.
My Verdict – Just For Contract Marriage Fans
Well, if you like contract marriage dramas, then you would most likely enjoy Once You Are Married. But there is nothing new here that could capture a broader fan base. It is a drama that thrives on romantic chemistry and nothing more. It is for the viewers to feel good and experience all the fluff and sweetness. The drama certainly succeeded in this aspect for those who can feel the leads’ chemistry and just want a simple love story that is close to a fairy tale rather than real life.
There are a lot of near kisses in the drama especially in the beginning of the couple’s relationship. I guess they got that right to heighten the anticipation of a real kiss and those scenes will feel a lot like flirting. It helps to light up the sparks too which makes viewers crave for more from this couple. There are also a lot of kisses once love developed between them. But they are not as steamy as those in My Little Happiness.
In conclusion, there is no reason to watch this except for the chemistry. If you want a more matured romance drama with a fashion design theme, you would be better off watching Sunshine Of My Life and Love Designer. So, for this Once We Get Married review, I can only give it a 6.5/10 score. But for this type of drama, the rating doesn’t really matter. It is whether you are a sucker for this type of romance that is the key once it is clear there is sizzling chemistry between the couple.
The other point to note is that this is really a low budget flick. So, you will see choppy editing and poor cinematography at times. The costumes also suck which is made obvious because the male lead is supposed to be super rich while the female lead is a fashion designer. Compared to You Are My Glory with its beautiful gowns, Once We Get Married is like a poor relation. Thus, you will see the leads wearing the same clothes and accessories for different scenes with some of them being pretty plain which is inconsistent with the characters’ background.
Same Old Plot
Basically, the producers for Once We Get Married are merely rehashing an overused theme that is tried and tested. They don’t even attempt to inject any freshness or twists to the plot. Just stick to what has been successful in the past and simply produce another one with a different cast. So, the result is this drama that sticks to the usual of a couple being forced to marry for mutual benefits for an agreed period and then falling in love. Bring in a jealous second female lead that is hell bent on wreaking havoc and a second male lead who is always there for the girl and you end up with another contract marriage drama.
Some people may not like how the story begins though because there is an element of manipulation in getting the female lead to sign the marriage contract. But the trickery is not bizarre or cruel like in Well Intended Love. Both parties know what they are getting into. Due to the old plot, everything is predictable from start to finish. But the good thing is there is no disapproving parents to throw a spanner in the works for the couple unlike Forever And Ever. The other glaring selling point for the drama is the blazing chemistry between the leads.
Undeniable Chemistry
This is what saves the drama from being relegated to the unwatchable list. With a stale plot and typical scenes that include accidental slips and kisses, you really need vivid chemistry to make viewers hooked. Without it, those romantic moments and sweet filler scenes will be bland and boring just like in Fall In Love With A Scientist. Luckily, Wang Yu Wen and Wang Zi Qi seem very comfortable with each other so much so that their interactions are naturally captivating as an on-screen couple.
Their chemistry is what you would be hanging on to once you begin watching and will carry you all the way to the end. Their visuals and height are ideally matched. So, chances are you will love this couple as they are easy on the eyes and very natural in their sweetness towards each other.
Wang Yu Wen plays the role of Xi Xi in a convincing manner. She gives the character some toughness and mischievousness that matches up to Si Chen. This is also my second time watching Wang Zi Qi after The Imperial Coroner. He has the required charisma to make Si Chen appear attractive despite the character’s cold personality. Essentially, the casting was done right and the resultant chemistry is the key in saving this drama from mediocrity.
A Word Of Warning About The Characters
Before you decide if you should watch Once You Are Married, perhaps it is good the know a little bit more about the 2 main characters. As far as the male lead is concerned, you really need to have a thing for cold and domineering CEOs. Not everybody sees them as heroes especially one who is fond of advancing towards the female character until his face is right in front of hers. In the real world, this would be tantamount to harassment! But in the drama, it would be seen as romantic and flirty. So, you will get those scenes which may not go down well for a feminist and may be seen as sexist.
For the female lead, some viewers might see her as dumb and annoying. This is because she is close to the second male lead and seems clueless that he has feelings for her. She still has frequent contact with him even after she got together with the male lead. It is not a dealbreaker for me but her behavior might put off those who want to see more wisdom and intelligence from a female lead.
As for the second couple, they are a waste of time. I can’t understand why the screenwriters even bother with them. The second female lead is a jealous and toxic character. The second male lead isn’t evil but is annoyingly persistent. He will keep appearing in front of the female lead as he tries to gain a foothold into her life. Therefore, be prepared for not very likable supporting characters if you watch.
My Verdict – Just For Contract Marriage Fans
Well, if you like contract marriage dramas, then you would most likely enjoy Once You Are Married. But there is nothing new here that could capture a broader fan base. It is a drama that thrives on romantic chemistry and nothing more. It is for the viewers to feel good and experience all the fluff and sweetness. The drama certainly succeeded in this aspect for those who can feel the leads’ chemistry and just want a simple love story that is close to a fairy tale rather than real life.
There are a lot of near kisses in the drama especially in the beginning of the couple’s relationship. I guess they got that right to heighten the anticipation of a real kiss and those scenes will feel a lot like flirting. It helps to light up the sparks too which makes viewers crave for more from this couple. There are also a lot of kisses once love developed between them. But they are not as steamy as those in My Little Happiness.
In conclusion, there is no reason to watch this except for the chemistry. If you want a more matured romance drama with a fashion design theme, you would be better off watching Sunshine Of My Life and Love Designer. So, for this Once We Get Married review, I can only give it a 6.5/10 score. But for this type of drama, the rating doesn’t really matter. It is whether you are a sucker for this type of romance that is the key once it is clear there is sizzling chemistry between the couple.
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