Love Contract

[judes]

Love Contract is a Taiwanese drama made by TVBS starring Ariel Lin as Xiao Feng and Mike He as Ah Ken. It follows the story of a girl in university who wants to fall in love even though she professes to hate men by wearing a wig to hide her long hair. She is a big tomboy and is the president of the school's fencing club, but at her birthday she tells her friends of the wish. Her friends decide to help her fulfill it by tricking the new leader of the school's struggling swim team, the "Water Monster" Ah Ken to sign a love contract...

From that point on, silliness ensues as Xiao Feng is suspicious of what Ah Ken wants from her, and she proceeds to play trick after trick on him to test him and see if he will stay around. The story also branches off so that we get to know Ah Ken's family, and also the relationships her friends form. Everyone discovers how fragile their connections to their friends, their lovers, and their relatives really are.

This is probably my favorite drama from Taiwan. It's not particularily flashy, with lots of special effects and a storyline about rich and beautiful people living in their own dream world. The filming was done in Taipei, and Ah Ken's home is old and like any other's person home. Xiao Feng's family's apartment isn't particularily big either. Everyone is so normal on this show, and that's what makes it appealing in a "down to earth" kind of way.

The story seems like it could happen to anyone. It contains an exaggeration of reality that is close enough to seem real. The acting isn't particularily great in this show, but I love the thick Taiwanese accent of Mike He and how he suits the role perfectly with his quietness and his dumb sincerity. Ariel is great as Xiao Feng, with her loud attitude and her pretense that everything in her life is perfect even though she is unhappy. The two actors have the best on screen chemistry I've ever seen in a drama, and the way they fall in love with each other is absolutely adorable.

Not to say the plot is absolutely perfect though. I didn't give this story a 4.50 which it probably deserves because the last few episodes is very WTF. For such a good show the ending was terrible and extremely confusing. Even so, I still liked this show very much.

The soundtrack of this movie is well done and very fun to listen to. Most of the songs are pop rock and suit the style of the show. The opening theme is Middle (Zhong Zhen) by Jasmine Leong and the closing theme is sung by Ariel (Lonely Northern Hemisphere, Gu Dan Bei Ban Qiu). The song Shining is a lot of fun as well.

I know a lot of people have said that the show was slow to start at the beginning, but I thought it wasn't that bad. There are a lot of good looking guys in this show to satisfy the girls, and Xiao Feng's sister is gorgeous so I'm sure the guys like her onscreen time. It's a show to watch if you want to relax and have some comic relief. I highly recommend it!

[dazzlette]

I personally thought that the show was too slow moving. I admit that I'm extremely restless when it comes to watching stuff, and these days I can bearly sit through drama serials in its entirety. I gave up on this show after the first 5 episodes because I thought it was way too slow. Plus, so many online reviews said that the ending was terrible. I'm the sort who loves happy endings and so I really didn't want to be disappointed in the end. I am planning on finishing the series though, only because I think Ariel is an excellent actress and I would watch anything she is in.

Another thing, I happen to really dislike the way Mike He talks. He seems to be mumbling half the time. I don't deny that he is very good looking though. Also, I have to add that he looks much better in here than in Devil Beside You.

btw, I don't like Ariel's sister in the show at all. Maybe I'm just biased but because I know her from other Singapore shows, I find her extremely irritating and out of place in the show.

[judes]

Dazz, you gave the show 0%?! Hahahaha.

Yeah a lot of people commented the show was slow moving, but I think with the types of drama these days where every other episode there's a new "rival" coming out of nowhere (read: Tokyo Juliet) I prefer the cutesy and sometimes slow pace of Love Contract. Perhaps it's because I'm too homesick for Taiwan.

But yeah the ending sucks arse. It's so horrendous.

I would prefer it if Mike He doesn't talk at all and just walk around in his underwear all the time. He is DEFINITELY better looking and more interesting in this show than his supposed pansy bad ass character in Devil Beside You.

I think Ariel's sister is really pretty, but yes she does seem a little out of place amidst the other people who look extremely Taiwanese. Poor casting. I also hate the dad.

[dazzlette]

^^ you gave the show a 0% too! I thought we could just comment and not have to rate... Just so that I don't look bad, I'm going to go back and rate it...

Anyhow, as I said, I will go back and finish Love Contract. I'm just afraid I will be upset with the ending. >.<

Tokyo Juliet is just so-so for me. I am only watching it because of Ariel Lin. I find the storyline rather incoherent and there is little/no character development. I kept going "huh?!" at the things the characters did.

Ditto that comment on Mike He. The same goes for Vic Chou. They all should just brood their way through dramas and not open their mouths... hahaha

[judes]

i'm confused at how to rate things.
i go back to try and edit my message....but i don't find a way to add my review! *falls over* someone teach me!

the ending is extremely upsetting for me, and so ridiculous. but eh. i thought it was worth it.

tokyo juliet wasn't like mars where i was riveted and downloaded as soon as the episode came out. i'm like "meh i'll watch it next week"

hahaha Mike He and Vic Chou are my favorite asian actors!!!! i agree. they just need to be quiet and silent and hot.

[cyn2589]

i think the whole drama is kinda zombie like...
cause' its very slow paced....
i only watched it because mike he is in it... but i prefer him in DBY though..
their acting is so-so... and the storyline is kinda not so logic i think... how on earth they can think of something as stupid as 'love' contract????
but the part that i hate the most is the ending... its by far the most ridiculous ending i've ever seen... it totally spoil the whole show *shrugs*
i love mike's mother in that show... and that japanese uncle... both of them are so cute~

[nunya415]

I would probably watch it again...or at least parts of it.....the acting was pretty good..the music..I really like the song Waiting for You by Anson Wu...love that song ^^ the story...can't really remember it right now...but overall I liked the movie minus that really really crappy ending..I'm still not too sure what happened there...: /

[xanimeotakux]

i liked it, but the first few episodes kind of bored me. but after that, i liked it. ariel did a great job acting as a tomboy, and mike did a pretty good job, in my opinion. i like the opening theme and the ending theme. in fact, i downloaded it onto winamp. the story was different, it was the usual (i love you for the whole drama, etc.etc.etc.) so overall, i give it 4 stars!
for some reasons, my ratings don't show..help?

nvm, it works now. =.=

[josh_yth]

This had to be one of the best drama from Ariel, somehow i think it's even better than ISWAK imo. I would definitly recommend everyone to watch it, but you will have to have some patience, because, like everyone said, it started out pretty slow, and get more interesting into the series. Also, the end is rather confusing, but it like having 3 different ending that allow people to have choice. Last but not least, if anyone that like Love Contract, you all should watch Let's get married, cause the plot somewhat similar to love contract.

[lwy427]

I thought this drama was pretty good. I love Mike He and Ariel together- I thought they had a better chemistry than Ariel and Joe Cheng's in ISWAK. And it was so cute how she kept tricking him hehe. I definitely agree with the first reviewer that the ending was WTF- for a drama that cute even up until episode 19, the ending was annoying.

I loved the uncle and Jin Gan!! they were soo funny! And there were times when I wanted to beat Mu Tou...arg he made me mad

But yea, overall I thought it was pretty good. I liked that they played an ordinary group of friends, like it was drama that could happen to any group of friends. But I dunno about watching it again- I like Ariel Lin better with Wu Zun in Tokyo Juliet (and I think she looks the best in that one too) and I like Mike He better in Devil Beside You (minus the really bad hair hehe)

:-)

[shez]

this is a great taiwanese drama! when i first heard that both ariel lin and mike he was in i knew that i shouldn't miss out on this!!!

mu tou was my least liked character because of his jealousy

i think ariel played her character really well (better than in ISWAK imo)

it is one of those typical love dramas but i'm a sucker for those :tongue:

[funkindagirl]

this was sooo sad...i disliked the ending tho...horrible horrible:cry:

[mellly]

(Warning: A lot of spoilers)

I took pretty long to finish the show, because like everyone's said, it's kinda slow moving and requires patience. But I really warmed up to it towards the middle when Ariel and Mike gets together and they have REALLY great onscreen chemistry.

But the BEST part has got to be towards the ending where (SPOILER ALERT) Ariel fell into a coma.

Mike's acting was superb at the part where he wanted to cook a meal for her and cried while cutting the veggies. And my favourite scene is the next scene where he imagines himself dancing with Ariel under the moonlight and sings the ending theme song.... Albeit very monotously. His singing really sucks! Haha! But the part is sooooo gooood and sad that it totally doesn't even matter that he cannot sing for nuts because you'll be so busy crying. Well, at least I was.

What I hate most about the show, however, is the ending. Because it really pissed me off!!!! Well, okay, at least I was really pissed off with the ending at the start, but as it went on (those who have watched should know what I mean... -_-... LOL), I felt better about it. All in all, I think that though the ending's not the best ending ever, and was REALLY confusing at first, it's actually pretty apt because the whole show has a kinda depressing theme and yes, recall the angel part?!

On the overall, this show deserves a good rating all thanks to the brilliant acting from Ariel and Mike and their fantabulous chemistry. The plot isn't exceptionally great, but it's very different from mainstream idol dramas AND you'll just want to watch on for Ariel and Mike. The music's pretty good too, I loved the ending theme song sung by Ariel! The opening theme sung by Fish Leong doesn't appeal immediately, but after watching a few more times you'll warm up to it and I personally find it very apt for this sad sad sad show. As for the ending, whether it is sad or not is totally up to your own perspective.

A must-watch for Ariel and Mike fans!!!! :-)

[Muzi]

The greatest attraction of Love Contract for me is its portrayal of love and friendship.
I find that the direction and filming of the drama is quite movie-like and artsy. The plot has its twists and turns. As for the ending with the fantasy element (angels), I sort of appreciated it cuz it gives me the consolation that they are finally together.
Lastly, I think Mike and Ariel were not really acting in some scenes, they look like they were in love with each other. There's powerful chemistry in there.
And I definitely like Mike in Love Contract as compared to his devil-boy roles.=)

[sam_ho]

Wow I just finished the drama and lemme just say THAT WAS HECKA DEPRESSING.

I sorta go the ending, but had to go to wikipedia to clear things out...I liked Xiao Bai...funny guy.

I must agree that their chemistry was amazing. I was really bored in the beginning, but it got really interesting. I love Mikey's character in this drama. He's so caring and persistant, and SUCH a good actor (esp when it comes to sad scenes..man he made me cry so hard...)
And yes I must agree that he is a sucky singer. Ariel did a great job too. Very stubborn character, yet insecure. I loved it!