Summer x Summer (full series), They Kiss Again 01, Bullfight 01-08
Summer x Summer
watching another show in which Joe Cheng plays a sulky teenager that everyone falls in love with despite his horrible personality makes me think he's getting typecast as the bitchy bishonen in all these dramas. but damn does he work that role WELL. i'll never tire of that beautiful pout. anyway, the premise of Summer x Summer is a spirited high school girl falls in love with a male model after he inadvertently helps her out one day and the rest of the show follows the development of their relationship. it started out slow, but Xia Ya (the girl) was likable enough to keep me watching. that and unmitigated boredom. and Joe. <3
They Kiss Again 01
my friend Cristina and i have been waiting so long for the sequel to It Started with a Kiss, and i worried it wouldn't match up to the original, but the first episode was surprisingly enjoyable. i watched the uncut version which was ten minutes of awkward soft-core porn... it was pretty awkward. i'm not exactly dying to see the rest of the series, but it'll be something to look forward to inbetween all the exams.
Bullfight 01-08 (Dou Niu, Yao Bu Yao)
okay, this is the show that's got me crazy this winter break. two words: Lee Wei. he plays Hebe's (from S.H.E) bodyguard. everyone knows he's not going to get the girl, but i hear that Chinese viewers split between him and Mike He had a little spat over Lee Wei's air time. i loved the first few episodes but the middle is starting to drag and Hebe and Mike He need to stop doing that thing where they stare at each other for several seconds while the camera moves around them. that's just bad direction and it doesn't help that Hebe can come off as a little cross-eyed. none of these people are acting buffs, so don't expect to be blown away by their performances. but the soundtrack, namely S.H.E's "how have you been lately," complements the show nicely, and is probably half the reason i like this show so much.
