Taiwanese
Drama
Fated to Love You (2008)
Grade:
B
24 episodes, about 75 minutes each
Meek office worker Chen Xin Yi has a very
kind nature that everyone takes advantage of, giving her extra work
and menial tasks to do instead of her own job. She doesn't think
much of herself, and even her boyfriend ignores and mistreats her.
Chen Xin Yi is determined to make that relationship stick, though, so
she buys the two of them passage on a romantic cruise. Meanwhile, CEO
Ji Cun Xi has plans to woo and propose to his ballerina girlfriend on
the same cruise. There is also a father-son duo that sneaks on board
in an effort to drug and blackmail Ji Cun Xi – the CEO just bought
their small island factory and has plans to lay off everyone,
destroying their island's economy. What happens when the ballerina
girlfriend doesn't show, Chen Xin Yi takes some powerful cold
medicine and wanders into Ji Cun Xi's room, and Ji Cun Xi is tricked
into drinking the islander's secret fertility moonshine? Will the
“sticky-note girl” be able to handle life attached to an
arrogant, temperamental CEO? Or will she find a different destiny?
*I saw the Korean version of this
show first, but I think I like the original Taiwanese version better.
It's a lot longer, so there is more time for deeper, more meaningful
character development. Ji Cun Xi really has the chance to grow and
mature, and while there is some “fast-forwarding,” it doesn't
feel like a “cheat.” I didn't like the extra screen time the
ballerina girlfriend received; it felt like the writers were really
trying to justify her behavior, exploring her past, when
she was absolutely responsible for *spoiler alert!*
Chen Xin Yi's miscarriage, no matter what drove her to do such a
despicable thing. Ji Cun Xi had no reason to keep going back to the
ballerina, no matter how “broken” she was. Aside from that, and
how some of the scenes were almost too goofy, this was a high quality
production for a Taiwanese drama. As long as you don't mind the
initial, risque premise (promiscuity leading to an unexpected
pregnancy and a resulting shotgun wedding), then this is a fun,
albeit long, show to watch. I might watch this again.*
