我可能不會愛你 ITWY [epilogue]

In Time With You - Happily ever after. :)

It's really bad timing that the drama had to air at my busiest time at work, so the lack of updates here as I could barely squeeze out enough time to complete each episode weekly. The series ended last week in Taiwan -- I promise I'll be doing some catch up writing on this site soon as I can spare time. I really loved it and self-declare this as Drama of the Year 2011. I believe I'm now suffering from some mild post withdrawal symptoms.

The goodness of this drama:

It sells on every girl's wish to have the ideal guy in their lives -- a thoughtful, caring and ever patient Li Da Ren as good friend and lover whom they can confide in and have endless topics to talk about. As I would repeatedly exclaim over and over - "OMG, that Takeshi-Kaneshiro-lookalike-at-angles guy with cute little dimples and a smile that makes you weak in your knees!"

You Qing's strong character is role model to the modern working woman in most of us. As proud and independent as she is on the outside though, she still needs the support of Da Ren to mirror and constantly remind of her strengths and weaknesses that she may not be actually aware of; she still enjoys being showered with love and affection which is why she crumbles at Ding Li Wei's constant advances.

Maggie, though I found her to be whiny and too sticky for my liking during her courtship days with Da Ren, the merits of her being reminds us that we should sometimes be pro-active in pursuit of the things we like (be it love, but more of ideals).

Then there is Ding Li Wei, an exact opposite of Da Ren. I thought the director was trying to project the stereotype guy that girls tend to look for - aggressive, ambitious, romantic and not to mention infidel! His role in the drama didn't strike a cord in me, but I'm glad they have cast him that his assets (good physique and the ABC accent) value added to the role he played.

Do you see a Cheng You Qing, Li Da Ren, Maggie or Ding Li Wei in yourself or amongst the friends around you? Bingo! To me, that's what taken this drama from reel to real. And of course, the very good script that weaves everything nicely together!

PS: Singapore fans, don't forget to catch the 2-episode finale on SH Cable TV this weekend. Hmm, I might just rewatch given that I've withdrawals to nurse... You? ;)

我可能不會愛你 ITWY Ep 6 3/3

The scene then shifts to Da Ren coming clear with Maggie on his feelings for You Qing and initiates the breakup with Maggie! Kudos to the executive producer/ director that had this executed so well, that it made me empathize that breaking up is all for the good of Maggie as well (yup, no matter how irritating she was before).

As Da Ren's advice:

DR: 我喜歡你但那不是愛啊。
I like you but it isn't love.
Maggie: 我哪裡不如程又青？為什麼你不能愛我？ 
How am I inferior to Cheng You Qing? Why can't you love me?
DR: 愛情不比較值 (愛情其實是莫非定律)。
You can't compare love (as it isn't a rule).

你可以討厭我也可以狠我，不過有一句話你一定要聽 -- 千萬不要為了結婚而結婚，要誠實面對自己的感情...
You can dislike or hate me, but please heed my advice -- Do not to get married for the sake of getting married, but please be honest towards your own feelings.

Maggie: 我沒有要嫁入豪門，也沒有想要嫁給多了不起的人，我只想嫁一個好人，我只想要最平凡的幸福而已，這樣的願望有很奢侈嗎?為什麼你都不成全我?
I don't wish to marry a rich or a great man, I just want to marry a good man and to have simple happiness. Is that a lot to ask for? Why wouldn't you grant me this wish?

TFG: A lot of times, love isn't about one granting another, but about fate and destiny.

* * * * *

(Cutting short the post. Click here for more.)

我可能不會愛你 ITWY Ep 6 2/3

Continuing with what was left off earlier...

At the match making session, Maggie's cousin turns out to be a fugly guy in contrary to Maggie's impression. His behaviour insulted and pissed the hell out of You Qing as well.

二十歲的時候
女人就像一顆「橄欖球」大家追著跑
到了三十歲之後
變成一顆「籃球」追得人變少
到了四十歲
女人變成一顆「足球」大家踢來踢去沒想要
五十歲的時候
就成了「小白球」竿子揮了越遠越好

At 20, a woman is like a "rugby ball" that everyone chases after

At 30, she becomes a "basketball" with less people chasing

At 40, she becomes a "football", kicked around that no one wants

At 50, she would become a "golf ball", the farther hit the better

Da Ren made there in time and saved You Qing from further humiliation. But You Qing was already too upset and huffs away. Da Ren gives chase but giving her the space by quietly following alongside yet not losing sight of her. *sweet*

DR: 你知道，你有多好嗎？
你知道在我眼裡，百分之九十九的男都配不上你...
你知道，其實我...
Do you know, how good you are? Do you know that in my eyes, 99% of the men are unworthy of you... Do you know, actually I...

YQ:  我知道... 我知道這不是「友情」，而是「同情」
I know... I know this isn't friendship, but sympathy.

My thoughts: How could this moment be so missed?!! Now You Qing mistakes his affections as pity for her and throws him off. And Da Ren is so passive that he doesn't give chase to clarify. Argh~~~!!! Amidst the frustrations of a viewer however, it was a rather complex feeling - the cliche moment where actions speak louder than words, yet it warms the heart at how Da Ren quietly watches over You Qing. And Da Ren is clear about his feelings towards You Qing! Yay, finally!

我可能不會愛你 ITWY Ep7 Prelude

兩個人這麼並肩坐著
不管在哪裡，都是種愉快
如果我們從來不認識、又或者我們沒有從敵人變成朋友
那麼，我們的「不曾」是否可以換來「相愛的緣分」?
Whenever these two are by each others' side, it's a happy feeling no matter where. If we never knew each other, or have never become from enemies to friends, then can our "never before" be in exchange for "fate to love"?

如果我願意負責你的一輩子，那麼你願意愛我嗎?
還是說....依舊是最好的朋友?
只能陪你哭、陪你笑、陪你找幸福、卻不是我來給幸福?
If I take responsibility of you for life, will you love me? Or... do we still remain as best friends? I can only accompany you in times of tears, joy and helping you find your happiness. But won't it be me who gives you happiness?

很多時後
妳只是想問
當初...為什麼、現在...為什麼
問這麼多、就是怕再次陷入

倘若當初的分手不是不愛
只是因為都太過年輕
那麼五年後洗心革面再來一次
是不是...就會離幸福更進一步
Lots of time, you kept asking about why (actions) before, and why now... for fear of falling into the trap again. If the reason for breaking up then, was because you were too young and not that you didn't love, then if we tried again 5 years later... does it mean that we're a step closer to happiness?

Ep7 Preview clips：
http://youtu.be/fAeKsuByANo
http://youtu.be/ZqqO49blv4A
http://youtu.be/1TD_dxDc3DA

What a heart wrenching episode! Come to think of it, the central theme of "I possibly won't love you" - is this really Da Ren's line, or would it be You Qing's? See the twist? I'm waiting in anticipation...

(Sources:  ITWY & Ariel Lin's FB)

我可能不會愛你 ITWY Ep 6 1/3

To me, this episode continues the build on missed moments, missed moments due to hesitations, missed moments between Da Ren and You Qing, between Da Ren's mum and Uncle Bai. It just difficult to single out any one best scene above the rest. So here are the significant bits by my interpretation - I'm covering them in parts.

(via ITWY FB)

The episode opens with You Qing being distracted at the paranoia of bumping in Ding Li Wei as she wants to be looking her best if she bumps into him, to prove she's doing well without him. So distracted that she dropped her boss' ring into the coffee without realizing. The next day, she decided to pour away the overnight coffee away.

YQ: 丁立威就像忘了喝的隔夜咖啡。還是別喝它好了 有害無益。Ding Li Wei is like overnight coffee. I'd better not drink as there's more harm than good.

Who knows, she found the ring!

Boss: 鑽石就是鑽石。泡了一夜的咖啡，它還是鑽石。妳拿結婚證書來泡泡看，泡一夜早就稀巴爛了。 。 。所以我離婚了。當我發現那個結婚戒指我已經戴不太下去的時候，我就知道會有這麼一天。這是我的犒賞，對於「我的勇敢」 的紀念品。Diamonds are diamonds. Having soaked in coffee all night, it's still a diamond. Try soaking a marriage certificate, it'd rot. That's why I am divorced! When I realised the ring no longer fits, I knew this day would come. This is my reward for my courage.

YQ: 不過它真的很勇敢。泡了一夜的咖啡 還是這麼燦爛。It (the ring) is indeed very brave. It is still so bright after being soaked the night in coffee.

Interpretation: You Qing is as the diamond, bright and sparkly, despite having been through a rough patch with Ding Li Wei, whom she establishes as overnight coffee (gone bad). I thought the writer cleverly uses the ring and marriage cert as metaphors to relate the weakness of relationship built on materialism too. Not being able to withstand the test of time, it would end up like the cert soaked in overnight waters. On the other hand the diamond ring that remained is a reward rather than a momento, as the woman is able to step out of the past and shine in her regained confidence and independence. That is also why the scene was later wrapped up with YQ wanting a diamond ring of her own as a testament that "I'm good alone too".

Edit: Or perhaps...! Da Ren is compared to the Diamond in this chapter. ;)
I just love the ample of room for interpretation in this drama.

我可能不會愛你 ITWY - Mid series thoughts

So I just finished with Episode 6 of 我可能不會愛你 In Time With You (ITWY). The more I watch this drama, the more I feel intoxicated in its magic. ITWY has a lot of realness and symbolic metaphorical usage which weaves the story so nicely; a more sophisticated script than the typical girl meets prince charming; and a notch up from the atypical Taiwanese idol drama. AND not to mention, thefangirl or any girl would die for a best friend like Li Da Ren who's always there for her in times of joy and need. One as cute as Chen Bo Lin would be an added bonus of course! These are what makes it so attractive for me to be looking forward to every upcoming episode.

My thoughts are overflowing and I really don't know where to start. I would like to share every little detail of it (In other words, head over heels) yet given that I do have a proper day job, it'd probably just be at the best I can.

For a start, shout out in a reply to this post if you're a fan of ITWY alike!
Nice to meet you! :)

PS: Show-Rainie fans, I'm sidetracking for now but that does not mean that I've forsaking them. In the meantime, welcome you to follow this title with me. I certainly hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

我可能不會愛你 ITWY Meet & Greet Taipei 20111023

(Source Ariel Lin FB)

My latest fangirl obsession. A shot taken at In Time with You 我可能不會愛你 Meet & Greet in Taipei today. Ariel Lin blindfolded, did she manage to guess who's the real Li Da Ren? Chen Bo Lin looks so cute with his dimple and smile here.

洪佩瑜 - 踮起腳尖愛

(fan-made MV)

洪佩瑜 - 踮起腳尖愛 
我可能不會愛你片尾曲 
Hong Pei Yu - Tip Toed Love
In Time with You OST

作詞：小寒
作曲：蔡健雅

舞鞋　穿了洞‭　‬裂了縫‭　‬　預備迎接一個夢
OK‭ ‬繃‭　‬遮住痛　要把蒼白都填充
勇氣惶恐‭　我要用哪一種
去面對他　一百零一分笑容

等待‭的時空‭　‬有點重　重得時針走不動
無影蹤‭　‬他始終‭　不曾降臨生命中
我好想懂　誰放我手心裡捧
幸福啊　依然長長的人龍

「 想踮起腳尖找尋愛
遠遠的存在
我來不及‭　‬說聲嗨
影子就從人海暈開

才踮起腳尖的期待
只怕被虧待
我夠不著 還‭　‬微笑忍耐 唔
等你回過頭來‭  」

哪天　撲了空‭　‬折了衷　祈禱終於起作用
一陣風‭　‬吹來夢　卻又敗在難溝通
我終於懂　怎麼人們的臉孔
想到愛　寂寞眼眶就轉紅

Repeat 「 」
你會回過頭來
回過頭來

Repeat 「 」
等你回過頭來

我可能不會愛你 In Time with You

Cast:
Ariel Lin Yi Chen 林依晨 / Cheng You Qing 程又青
Wilson Chen Bo Lin 陳柏霖 / Li Da Ren 李大仁
Chen Kuang Yi 陳匡怡 / Maggie
Wang Yang Ming 王陽明 / Ding Li Wei 丁立威

Screenwriter: 徐譽庭 Xu Yu Ting
Director: 瞿友寧 Qu You Ning
TV network: GTV / FTV
Episodes: 13

Period aired in TW: 18 Sep 2011 -11 Dec 2011
Air time: Sundays, 21:40 - 23:00

Official website: GTV | FTV | Pixnet | FB

Theme Songs:
OT 還是會－韋禮安
ET 翅膀－林依晨
踮起腳尖愛－洪佩瑜
普通朋友的朋友－蔡昌憲
我不會喜歡你－陳柏霖
旋轉門－Aggie

Synopsis:
In the city, each person is looking for love and trying to find the most suitable other half. After staggering on and on, only to discover that “the one” is already beside him/her, guarding him/her silently... This drama is about “the story of a 'special friend' ”.

Cheng You Ching (played by Ariel Lin) is the shoes district manager for a department store. She's had a number of boyfriends and had gotten hurt and her heart broken.

On her 30th birthday, she is still alone. When reminded that it is the start of the "old age" symptoms, she made a bet with her best friend, the only one who wished her a happy birthday with a true heart. Whoever get married first before 35 years old, the person wins NT$100,000 red packet. With this high stake in mind, she begins searching in earnest for marriage potentials among her social circle.

”Old age to hell and goodbye to single status” plan commences! No matter if the man is a handsome young boy or a mature, responsible man, they are all within the group of potential targets!

Who says no one wants women over 30? She will be a sought after, charismatic and mature woman!

Lee Da Ren (played by Bolin Chen) is a supervisor of an airline's ground service crew. Young and capable, he's had a number of girlfriends. But the relationships were all short lived!

This pair of conflicting man and woman, have somehow stayed together since high school and became lifelong friends who will not fall in love with each other.

He once told her “I may not love you”. She replied: thank you, I appreciate it.

He didn't know why that his only condition for being his girlfriend, is to accept her presence. He didn’t know why he can't let her be alone; nor know why his world and hers seems to be entangled...Is it because they seem too much like family that they cannot fall in love?

Once he wrote a song and sang it out of tune. Behind the romantic gesture, he wanted to sing it for her.

A long, long time after, she realized, I may not love you, is in fact...I love you?

(The translation above is not the “official” one! Thanks Sesame and Shihya for doing the translation. - Ariel Lin's Facebook)

我可能不會愛你 In Time with You

2 episodes into Ariel Lin's latest drama, and her last before she takes a break from the entertainment scene. I'm rather excited now, as I've got a feeling this is a very very nice drama to watch! I was drawn in right from the first roll of the drama.