Do you have LimeWire? Because I just looked up the songs and downloaded it from that... Hope that helps!

The rating for ISWAK is very good. The last esp rating at 6.5%, the simple are based on 200 million, according to rating, there are 13 millions people watch this esp. The rating is even higher than MG, it is third highest rating in Taiwan drama hsitory.

wow, that is sooooo many people. There are only 17/18 million people in Australia. Boggles my mind.

Hehe it makes me happy that so many people got enjoyment out of ISWAK. mmm and it also makes me realise how popular Ariel and Joe must be. Wow.

Caru

How was everyone's weekend so far? I'm glad to see so many posts since I've been gone, its good to know that after so many years, ok only two but still, people are still interested in ISWAK.

WARNING: Be prepared for a long post.



Michh, I LOVE this topic because HONESTLY, there was a time watching this series that I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT STAND Xian Qin. Her constant following of Zhi Shu as though she was his shadow started to irritate me beyond belief and we all know how I feel about her having no identity outside of Zhi Shu. When I read this new topic I actually had to go back and rewatch a couple episodes because I do remember there was a certain scene where I went "whoa, she's not just an irritating girl after all" and I actually started to see her in a different light. Actually there were two scenes because after the first one, she started to get irritating again.

So let me cover the first scene where I started to like her and it changed my opinion of her, at least for a lil while. The first time my opinion changed of her was when she went to deliver Yu Shu's artbook to him and saw him checking a girl out. XQ went out of her way to befriend the girl and offer her the 'boyband' magazine to get her to come over. There was no reason XQ needed to do it, no gain for her, but she did it anyway; she did it for Yu Shu in hopes to help him out and I find that truly heartwarming. Most sisters would have teased the hell out of their lil brothers, but not help and here is XQ who isn't even related to Yu Shu, aiding him with the efforts to win the affection of the girl he likes. Too bad it didn't work out, but she did what she could for him and was truly remorseful when nothing came to be, even though it wasn't her fault that it didn't work out. But like I said, her actions afterward, started to annoy me again and I had forgotten all about this scene until the next scene happened, and then I realized, "wait, there was a time I actually liked this character still."

The scene I'm talking about is when Yu Shu gets sick and is admitted at the hospital. Although I never expected her to do anything less, nonetheless, it was very endearing to see. As if XQ didn't feel bad enough, here is YS telling her he doesn't really hate her and he won't blame her when he dies; I actually thought it was kind of comical but touching because we begin to see this love/hate bond between Ariel and YS, this was the first time I had ever see YS say anything not insulting to XQ. I absolutely loved it how she grabbed the physician by the shoulders and told him 'the surgery must be a success, do your best' the look of determination on her face as though by her will alone the physician will be successful was classic. XQ basically held all her fears and worries in at that point knowing she was the only one there to look over YS and she didn't breakdown until ZS arrived and she could unload and share her worries with him. Seeing how she handled the hospital situation with YS definitely had me seeing XQ differently because I work in the hospital and I've seen too many times when family members are unable to even think straight when it comes to making a decision for the patient, for her to be able to handle it the way she did, bravo to her.

Now of course there were other things XQ did that had me like her and more scenes where my opinion of her continued to improve but her interactions with YS in the scenes I mentioned were the hallmark point; besides, if I keep continuing, my post will go onto a new page.

Now onto responses:

Michh: Hahaha does my post answer your question? Yes I'm a fixture now and you still owe me an answer btw; same question you asked me on winglin applies to you. Oh and yes you can call me by my real name now.

caru: What a way to start watching a series, in the middle and then go back to the beginning. I think I would have thoroughly been confused myself. Oh also, CONGRATS on becoming a member! Oh and I like your idea about using ISWAK to learn chinese, I should give that a try too!

Quest: Good going on getting your cousin hooked! Hahah I also find it amusing how she called it the Chinese I Love Lucy. I actually think it kind of fits don't you? Hahah who would be Fred and Ethel? Jason and Pi Zi Yu?

Pearl_11: I'm in agreement with you about the wedding, XQ did seem to have matured alot in that scene, I felt that coming from her during the wedding video scene too. I don't know, it was the way she handled herself or something, I can't quite put my finger on it, or maybe it's just because she was a happy bride on her wedding day marrying the man of her dreams.

Coca: I really like your answer to Michh's topic question; XQ's a very loyal and filial person and her actions with her bestfriends proved it. Absolutely loved her for it and I was soo mad her friends left her hanging that way. I could kind of understand why they did but they didn't even ask her if she would be okay or what plans she had. But I do LOVE how her and ZS spent their christmas together, he even bought her her favorite flavor cake. Oh and as you can tell from my earlier remarks, I was right there with you with annoyance for XQ.

Tea-chan: Hey you're back! I miss reading long posts from you, but I understand. I don't think I could go on here while at work either, too scared of getting caught. Post when you can.

CAB: I LOVE your response!! Hao la, hao la, I agree ZS did help bring out those qualities in XQ, or he at least helped her recognize those qualities in herself better but to me she had already exhibited some confidence; to even give a guy a love letter in person takes a lot of courage and even though it took her 2 years, she still did it. But after contact with him, it didn't take her as long to muster up her courage for other things so I DO SEE your point. Oh and YES WINNIE is an amazing director, of course he also had an amazing cast to work with.

Rona: Hahah girl, I was going to say I don't really do long posts all the time but I guess this post would defeat the purpose of even typing that. Hahaha I LOVE ISWAK and at my house, my brothers and sisters are always rewatching their favorite episodes and scenes so I'm constantly seeing ISWAK again and again and again.

Missy: Thank you for the promo clips, I really hope the fans in Japan love ISWAK as much as we do, I wish the show much success over there.

I like your long posts! They are always so well written and fun to read! and thank you! I am now able to PM!! w00t!

Truthfully though, I watched the middle, skipped a bit then watched the last 5 episodes and then went back and watched the whole thing from beginning to end. It was rather confusing. But it wasn't so bad because it was really nice to see how their relationship blossomed over the 3 years they lived in the same house.

Yes! Please do, we can start a trend of using ISWAK to learn Chinese. By learning the common phrases in each scene and then the vocab for them. At least this way you end up learning phrases and not just really traditional/formal ways of speaking like you would in a class.

I have some more questions that I thought up for us to discuss, coz it is so much fun!

1) At what moments/circumstances do you think that XQ put herself in that were the most hilarious for you? Or name the scenes that made you laugh so much your tummy hurt, and you had tears rolling down your face. (mm really hope I am not the only one who had that happen )

2) This one isn't so serious but I am curious to know why the bridesmaids and groomsmen were Pei Zi Yi and her sister, and Jason and that other guy? Gah I can't remember his name. I really thought that was a strange chose. I think now that it was because they were bigger characters. I mean, all four of them were rivals at some point for the two protagonists.

3) Do you really think that when Winnie said that he had to play the woman on the bus and the man with ZS in the apartment dream sequence it was because there was no body who would do it? Or was there some other motive there? LOL

ok can't think of any more now

Caru xoxo

I am sorry, I did a mistake, the rating is 6.5% however, the sample size is 20 millions, not 200 millions, so at the last esp, there is about 1.3 millions people watch at the same time.

Sorry about that

michhh - YAY!!!! u came up with a topic he he. cuz i was running out..lmao. hmm..i dont think i have really..ever..LIKED XQ exactly..like..i dont know..i can stand her..and there are times where she is just really funny and i love her cuz of her stupidity..but i guess i have never truly LIKED her character.....but i think i started 2 RESPECT her character....after she started to fight with HL for ZS....ha ha. yes...that's like...in the last 3 episodes of the series..ha ha. im so INDIFFERENT O_O lmao

like...for the whole series..although i KNEW that XQ loved ZS...i dont know..it didnt feel like she really meant her "love" for ZS until she realized that she was gonna lose him. NOT SURE *ahh..this requires too much THINKING* lmao

ronacious - TECHNICALLY...i think michhh started the topic..not really..i dont know. it kinda overlapped with my original topic..lmao. but im THINKING A LOT TOO!!!! *ow, my head* lmao. like..im like YOU! i always get embarrassed..and i literally stopped the video...and walked out of the room...cuz i would end up laughing and everything..lmao. unlike u..im actually NOT sure if i like XQ now..or if i EVER have!!!!!!!!!

KireinaGai - FINE FINE FINE...i guess ur right..she did need a lot of courage 2 give him that love letter..and the fact that she kept on tryin..even when he rejected her SO MANY TIMES ha ha.

CocaColi - i think i posted the link to download the ISWAK OST with direct links on the last page...check AT LEAST 2 pages back..i dont want 2 post the link AGAIN O_O
<3 ISWAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*im so glad this thread still exists...the WWL thread is ridiculous and i dont even want 2 go in there *

lol. ok. I haven't read everything. but i saw the first part of Kirei's post... sorry michh, it was you who started the topic. hehe. guess I'm so used to CAB being the topic starter so many times.. hehe...Kirei, I am just skimming though the posts, and when I saw your post, but didn't look at who posted it, as I started skimming from the last post, i was like. HEY! FX8UIN'S BACK IN THIS THREAD! imagine my surprise when i saw that it was you who posted it. haha. haven't read everything you've said, but I guess you really liked michh's topic eh? and I'd have to agree with what caru said with your posts! ok, ok, I'm leaving now. will comment (or maybe, just nod my head in agreement, again) on everybody's comments. heehee

ah i just finished this last night and i LOVE it. i think i love it as much as dby ( which was my favorite ) but now they're tied
that last episode, in the scene where they're making a video before their wedding, about the boiling water in the pot and all...that made me laugh SO much! ahh they were adorable!

i have a question, which might sound stupid, but since i'm new at this iswak/joe&ariel thing....
but are joe and ariel actually going out in real life? they're so cute in all the behind the scenes clips!
& when will we be able to watch iswak 2 online w/english subs?

thank you pearl and ronacious for tips on getting the OST! i was only able to download a few off of limewire though....i found the link that cuteaznbunni posted on the last page - thanks! but i don't understand how megaupload works - what's the ZAQ they ask for to download a song?


i thought it was interesting at the end, because all throughout the series i was so used to seeing ZS as a stoic - since he rarely shows any emotions - that i wondered what it would be like to see him really in love, and that didn't show until the last 2 episodes where it was SO cute!

and i really love that you guys are continuously coming up with new topic discussions

i saw these 2 cute pictures...

Ann is in here..WHERE O_O i dont see her!!!! lmao ronacious - ha ha. u used to like..RULE all these ISWAK threads...ha ha. guess uve been lazy these past few days..or months..lmao

CocaColi - i just realized that ur a NEW ISWAK fan..ha ha. *hits my own head* lmao. o, really, DBY and ISWAK are now tied for u? yea..that happens a lot to ppl that i know that watch both. they're both REALLY good and they both have similar beginnings, ha ha.

guess ur behind on all the ISWAK 2 and joe+ariel news..lmao. in summary:
1. joe and ariel are NOT goin out in real life (even though A LOT of us think they secretly are...and we have a LOT of backup PROOF! head over to the joe+ariel thread here at AF if u want 2 know more)

2. ISWAK 2 is currenlty filming..we dont really know when they'll b done. it was SUPPOSED 2 air in sept. of 2007..but that's kinda not possible...cuz the director is known for takin a long time 2 film and edit cuz he's a perfectionist, ha ha. so we dont know when ISWAK 2 will come out!!
[spoiler] im guessing ur REALLY REALLY new at downloading stuff too..aren't u? for Megaupload...u have 2 type in those three lettered codes..the code at the top right changes every time u refresh the page. im actually not quite sure WHY the have it..but just type in what u see..and then...u have to wait like..45 sec or sometin...then..the button will say "download" and press it. ha ha. [/spoiler]

michhh -- Thanks for the clarification! I guess blur is an adjective then...

ronacious -- I know...but my ISWAK excitement is fading...maybe in a couple of weeks I'll rewatch the series and that will get me excited again, and I'll finally draw the picture for ISWAK S.

KireinaGai -- Thanks for welcoming me back! I think I come off as snooty/mean in these forums, when, really, I'm just so glad that I'm not the only person who watches these shows. I didn't realize my posts were so long usually! But really, your comments made my smile.

As for when I started to like Xiang Qin...well, I actually never disliked her. I know a lot of people were frustrated with her, but then grew to like her...but for me it was sort of the opposite. I liked her, and admired certain qualities in her, but at the same time, some of the things she said or did really made me frustrated/sad, which is sort of how I feel about my friends sometimes--and I guess I think Xiang Qin would be a really great friend (for instance, Christmas episode).

I can't think of any situations right now...it's been too long since I've seen ISWAK! What immediately comes to mind, though, is when she vowed to make it to the Top 100 list. She really shot herself in the foot there, when they announced it over the speakers... but she did it, and I was so proud of her (and Zhi Shu started cracking because of their time together).

I think that the bridesmaids/groomsmen were Pei Zi Yu, her sister, Jason, and whatshisface because They were obvious couples. While it would have made more sense to see Xiang Qin's friends as her bridesmaids, for a tv show, they seem to like to have symmetry in such things, and Xiang Qin's friends' boyfriends weren't given enough screentime to make them groomsmen (and then it would also be really obviously not Zhi Shu's friends or anything). The fact that they were all rivals at one point also gives us some closure, some satisfying end that they're now all friends, and no longer threats to the others' significant other.

I think Winnie is a very smart man, and knew how hilarious it would be to have a man in those roles (woman on bus, Zhi Shu's lover)--and even more hilarious if that man were him.

Ha, KireinaGai, you're right...I DO post really long posts...

ah thanks cuteaznbunni! yeah i'm really new with iswak since i started it just a few days ago and i finished it last night
& this is my first time using megaupload too. thank you again! really appreciate it

tea_chan i agree with you on your responses to my random questions. :)


I found one of my most laughed at scenes last night. It was the bit after ZS has returned to the house and XQ brings in a midnight snack for them to eat. Oh dear, was soooooo funny. With YS and XQ having a slurping competition and XQ sucking at it coz she kept choking on her food and laughing too much! hehe and when those two were fighting over the piece of ham! LMAO! Then of course, ZS watching them in the background, slowly being seduced by their fun. hehehe

I also wonder how many times they had to do that because i am sure that Joe would have cracked numerous times. How could he not laugh!?

Caru

haha caru i remember that scene! it made me laugh so much i thought it was cute how they made ZS slowly give in to all the fun the other 2 were having. throughout the whole series i though the relationship between XQ and YS was really cute too...with how they went from fighting to slowly more of a brother-sister relationship

tea chan You have a really good point about the bridesmaids and groomsmen. I never really thought of it that way - I just thought it was totally random that XQ didn't put her friends as bridesmaids. You're right: it did give me closure over Pei Zi Yu, she was no longer a threat to me. However, I still found it like a betrayal to XQ's friends not to put them as bridesmaids. Pfft. Whatever floats Winnie's boat.

caruThe scene which made me crack up to the point of tears (and I can honestly say I have never seen a show which has made me laugh so much) was when Jiang Mama was trying to convince YS to tell her how he knew that ZS liked XQ! God, I had tears rolling down my face and my ribs were killing me! I loved the bit in the garage when YS is creeping around the car, while Jiang Mama is lurking somewhere, and then all of a sudden she springs out of the van and leaps on him! (I'm cracking up as I write this - it's just so funny LOL) Then, to make matters even funnier, they try to close the door in the van and you can see the door getting closer and closer towards YS's finger and then BAM! his finger is crushed!!! It's so funny when you see him scream and the shock registering on XQ's face. Priceless!

Funniest. Scene. EVER.

I also love those scenes with XQ and YS bickering like siblings while ZS would look on. For me it was not only really cute, but it was like it gave ZS more a reason to love XQ - afterall, she can get along with YS who frankly, isn't the most friendly little man in the world. I also loved seeing YS's fierce loyalty to XQ as well, when ZS started taking HL out. When ZS (the cold-hearted sonova....gun) had the NERVE to take HL to XQ's Happiness Restaurant and tried to introduce HL to YS, and YS gave her (more or less) the cold shoulder, I was like YES! Score 1 for team XQ! It was also another indication to ZS as to why he should go for XQ instead. :

EDIT: Holy crap I'm a newbie! Woop!

pearl - i love YS's loyalty to XQ too! i loved it when ZS told YS he would introduce HL to him, and YS was like you OBVIOUSLY like dumbhead XQ...
& congrats on being a newbie! i'm a newbie too hopefully we'll get up to the next level soooon!


oh & tea chan, i really love your signature! where are the pictures from? b/c i don't remember those scenes from iswak...or maybe i just have a bad memory haha.

Pearl_11 - Yeah, I remember briefly thinking that Xiang Qin's friends got the shaft...but it makes sense in TV-World.

CocaColi - Thank you! I noticed you had it as your avatar for a bit...(which was fine, except you still linked it from my personal gallery ) The picture on the left is from the MV for the ending song (or a promo shot from it?) and the picture on the right was a production picture from the episode where they graduated and Xiang Qin tried to steal Zhi Shu's second button.

hehe pearl_11 hahah that scene is also very very funny! and congrats on becoming a newbie. You know, as soon as you get over 20 posts you can submit your posts to get upgraded to an actual member. Though the more posts you post, the more likely you get promoted. There is a link in the Members Centre part.

caru

oh haha thanks teachan, sorry about linking it to your personal gallery...i've been experimenting with avatars and stuff lately. if you haven't noticed, i'm not so hott at internet stuff lol.

so since everyone's coming up with topics to talk about, i thought i'd contribute one too....

do you guys think that zi yu or hui lan were actually in love with zhi shu? i know they've both SAID that they do, but saying it is totally different than the actual feeling. i guess this topic could even spread to, do you think ah jin loved XQ, but i'm pretty sure everyone felt that his feelings were sincere haha.

The part that crack me the most was when XQ, AJ and the 3 boys were 'spying' on the 'ghost' in the hospital. AJ expression was so funny yet so adorable...meanwhile it was quite touching cos between their bickering YS trust XQ enuf to want her to stay with him that nite....She even huddled him close and he did not object....so sweet...Yeah..they bicker and banter all the way but they tend to grow on each other....Remember when XQ tot that ZS was living with ZY, he even complaint to ZS that XQ did retort to his 'bait' and that actually worries him....

I was watching the part where XQ was trying to make ZS jealous by going out with WR. Later when she asked ZS if he ever felt jealous, his answer was he knew it was all planned by his mom, therefore he didn't feel anything....But the thing is HE was already jealous BEFORE XQ even try to make him to...of cos it was unknown to Jiang mama, thats why she came up with the idea....and of cos ZS is very good at masking his jealousy...

He was jealous of AJ when he barged to their home claiming XQ is his girl and to warn ZS to keep his hand off her...

He was jealous at tennis summer camp when he caught HQ and XQ sat closely together, whispering to each other...he didn't even bother to hide his anger...

He was jealous when ZY told him that HQ and XQ was an item since she been hearing HQ talking to XQ on the phone a lot..ZS gave her a murderous look and walked away

He was jealous when he heard XQ talking sweetly to HQ on the phone that he was at the edge of his temper all day long that made even YS and his mom puzzled

He was jealous when he heard ZY said XQ was cheering for HQ when they played tennis that he didn't even bothered to concealed his jealousy and sent the tennis ball strait to HQs nose..

He was jealous was when WR came to his house to deliver his gift to XQ but try hard to cover his uneasiness by throwing some sarcastic remarks to both WR and XQ...but his eyes still followed XQ closely when she rushed after WR to rtn his gift...

He was jealous when he realised that XQ came to the restaurant not to see him but to date WR...Notice how his expression changes from BORED to INDIFFERENT to SURPRISED to DISBELIEF to FURIOUS to SMUG....of cos the smug came after he noticed how fast XQ pushed WRs hand away and understood that XQ was using WR to 'trap' him

AND during all this scene I think ZS was was trying to act cool though not with so much success...so cute....And in the end he always like reminding XQ and other guys that "SHE LIKES ONLY ME, JIANG ZI SHU...so back off"

lol. I am so tempted to just drop by and tell everyone how I love reading your posts. but CAB's post made me realize how lazy I am with the ISWAK threads. haha. so, yeah here goes...

i like how you guys discussed on the relationship between XQ and YS. having read your takes on that one, I now understand why Tiffy has chosen YS to be her fave character in the series, aside from XQ and ZS. and now, i do appreciate the role more. and having read the manga, I think YS will be even more likable in the sequel. OMG! I'm so not used to replying to the posts anymore that I am at a lost for words. and here I am wanting to say so much. but I don't know how.

pearl, thanks for reminding me on YS' fierce loyalty to XQ. I love the fact that even though YS treats XQ not-so-nicely a lot of times, but when XQ really needs someone to support her, YS is there for her. and because he is a kid, ZS does not get mad at him when he tells/insists on ZS that it is XQ he loves/likes. we all know that ZS does not like it when Jiang Mama insists on these things. for he hates it that his mum can control him. but YS can get away with it for ZS finds it, in my opinion, just a kid's POV, but I know that YS made ZS realize (without ZS being fully aware of it) that it is indeed XQ he loves. now I wanna watch ISWAK again, and focus on YS!

Caru, funniest ISWAK moment with me would be a scene that has got Jiang Mama on it. I just love how shameless Jiang Mama is into pairing her son with XQ. I found myself laughing when I saw that scene where Jiang mama was taking the picture of Class F with ZS, and she asked everyone to compress for they won't fit the into the cam's view. and when they showed the camera screen from Jiang mama's POV, she had the cam focused on ZS and XQ only! lol. she's crazy. and I love her. there are way too many funny scenes in ISWAK! trivia: here in our country, when they show clips of the next ISWAK episodes, ZS and XQ are actually called the prince and princess of kwelanovela, kwela=funny, novela= novel/series...I also find the hospital scene with Ah Jin really funny. when Ah Jin thought he saw a ghost. his facial expression there was really really funny. and i still laugh whenever i see that scene where XQ slept in ZS' pad. the way she slept. and poor ZS. and then the morning after, when ZS told XQ that he couldn't sleep coz he kept on looking at her, and XQ took it differently, then ZS told her that she sleeps very unladylike, and she had the nerve to say that she is ladylike when she sleeps. lol. that always makes me laugh. the answer to your second question, i believe, i would have to agree with tea_chan's answer. I was kinda disappointed when I saw that the bridesmaids aint XQ's friends. i agree that it is nice to know that all's well with the rivals, but i would have preferred it if Ah Jin was one of the groomsmen. but i doubt Ah Jin would have agreed. btw, tea_chan i think what-his-face's name is Wu Ren. Winnie said that no one wanted to do/or can do the parts he played. and it's really nice/sport of him to have done those parts. lol. just shows how much he loved the series. he was willing to do those roles.

CocaColi, as for PZY, i think that the girl is in love with the thought that she and ZS are perfect for each other more than she is in love with ZS the man. are you geting my drift? well, she went to the same uni as ZS although she also deserves to be in another uni for she is a genius herself, was she not, and I think initially, that is the situation of her "love" for ZS. but eventually, i think that she really did fell in love with ZS for it broke her heart when ZS told her that he likes someone else during the halloween party...(though, as i've said, Tiffany the actress, didn't move me at all) ...as for HL..aaaah, i think she and PZY are both alike on this one... she also fell in love with the thought that ZS is perfect for her plus! her grandpa does like ZS. so it is easy for her to like ZS. though, i believe that PZY has deeper feelings for ZS than HL. HL realized soon enough that ZS does not like her. that ZS likes XQ, whereas PZY, didn't realize that despite and inspite of. or was it a conscious effort for her not to take notice that ZS like XQ? well, i guess that is how in love she is with ZS that she was blind to the feelings ZS has for XQ. and as for Ah Jin! ah CocaColi! need you ask? I just love how AhJin shouted to ZS that XQ is not a woman, she is a princess. I just absolutely love him for that. he has XQ up on a pedestal. and the latter part of the series, when he finally accepted that XQ loves, and will only love ZS, he was so heartbroken. I can feel his pain.

lxandra, i love how you enumerated all of those jealous ZS moments! I love it when ZS becomes jealous. Joe has really portrayed his character well. for that matter, almost all of the cast portrayed their characters well... Ariel, Jiro, Cyndi Chaw (Jiang Mama)...even Xiao Ke Ai did a good job didn't he? lol. I was trying to compare the leading men of the Asian series that I have watched, and though there aren't that many I have watched, I would say that i really really really do like ZS! but I would say that I didn't like him in the beginning. the way he changed in the series really made me like him so much. of course there are still scenes when i would have loved to send the pan flying at him.. haha..so maybe that can be the other side to michh's topic starter a page back... did everybody liked ZS from the beginning? if not, then when did you start liking ZS. lol. and here i am starting a topic, when it took me so long to answer to everybody else's posts...

btw, Caru, sorry i wasn't able to reply to your question before. I have just discovered this site. I'm still on the trial period. so I'm not certain what happens after 7 days. but so far, it is very helpful. go check it out. btw, if you've got anysuggestions on where to learn Chinese online, please do share. xie xie.

kireina, I've got a question on your previous post! what does hao la hao la mean? i love saying it, but no idea what it means. heehee. just know what hao is.

hi jhaq, thanks for dropping by....me too, can't wait for the sequel! I'm with you. i love Ariel and Joe's chemistry!

so there CAB, does my long post compensate for the lazy posts I've been giving you guys the past days....weeks...

Don't mean to read and dash but can't leave long post.

lxandra: loved how you pointed out all the times ZS got jealous! Stoic ZS showed his true intentions several times in those moments.

Rona: Hao La = okay. So on my other posts, I was going: okay, okay.

I will be back to edit and leave a REAALLY LONG POST.

whaaattt? XD
i watched the whole series a long time ago
and just NOW i found out
that Arron was in it?!!? AHH!!!
how come i didn't notice???????
i can't even remember!! LOLLL
they told me he was "Ah-bu" in the series

..who was Ah-bu tho? >__<;;

Ivy.

Wow, first I have to say that I was browsing this thread and I found my very FIRST post in this ISWAK thread - it was on page 3!!! (back on Sept 29, 2005) - yikes almost 2 yrs ago. I had just started watching ISWAK and it just came out on TW tv. I haven't posted in 6 months or so.

I personally have liked ZS's character since the beginning of the series. The reason being is that he is such a contrast to XQ that it made me want to watch further and see what was going to happen btw them. I remember watching the first episode back in Sept 2005 - and there was something about it that kept me watching. He was such a mystery when it came to expressing his feelings... it was interesting to see all the little places where he does express how he feels.

Thanks Lxandra too for posting all those jealousy moments. I have mentioned before how I love jealous scenes b/c (while unhealthy) i think they work great in dramas. One of my favorites is when ZS see XQ in the restaurant trying to spy on them and he makes all these comments about the type of girl he likes (all not like her) very loudly to PZY... he's clearly lying bout it... he wanted to make her jealous =)

My favorite scene is still the one where they are in Bai dong shi zhan's company - and XQ is kneeling and ZS is trying to talk to her about her not knowing that he liked her. Love it love it love it - I still remember all the lines verbatim from when I last watched it over a year ago.

ronacious -- Wu Ren! Thanks! I forgot...

keiharu -- Ha, I feel like we answer this question a lot...but he was Chun Mei's rich boyfriend. He isn't in it very much, but he's in the episodes when Xiang Qin's friends both get boyfriends (he almost runs them over in his convertible), and also in the last episode at the wedding.

Ah...as for whether or not Pei Zi Yu or Bai Hui Lan (why do we call Pei Zi Yu by her full name and Hui Lan only by her given name?) really love Zhi Shu...well, I think they are in love with who they think he is. And I think Xiang Qin was, too. None of them really knew him all that well (until Xiang Qin got to see who he really was after living with him and interacting with him). They all sort of put him on this pedestal--he was so cool, smart, and handsome, but he wasn't a real person with faults to any of them (I think Pei Zi Yu approved of his coldness), except Xiang Qin, in the very first episode, called him on his coldness and his superiority complex. It's easy to think you're in love with someone who you think is perfect, but I consider that just infatuation.

lxandra Thanks for all the jealousy moments! I love them so much because to me it's one of the few times where we see the real ZS, not the cold mask. I know it's awful for the characters, but I LOVE triangles! There's nothing like a good, intense triangle to get the leads to realise how much they love each other. Even though in ISWAK there's more of a pentagon (ZS, PZY, XQ, AJ, HL), I think it was great when they narrowed it down to a square (minus PZY) and focused on AJ and XQ's relationship. It was totally heartbreaking and made me cry to see Ah Jin's crushed soul, but I think that it was crucial for ZS to see XQ really trying to move on. Personally, I don't think ZS suffered anything near to the extent that XQ did over him. (He deserves more pain! Hopefully ISWAK 2 will gives us a bit of that, except I'm frowning over the rumours that XQ has another love interest even though they are married.) ZS seems to always have the upper hand - it's not fair! He always knew when XQ was trying to make him jealous, and he definitely broke XQ's heart several times. ZS always seemed to think that XQ would always be there waiting for him (spoilt little boy!) so Ah Jin was like a wake up call - ZS realised that he really did love XQ. (Followed by a GREAT rain scene!)

Cocacoli I think that PZY may have loved ZS, but not for the real ZS. He never showed his true self to her like he did to XQ. Like teachan said, PZY and HL kind of liked the idea of the 'IQ200-boy-who-is-handsome-ZS.' They never really got to know the real him. HL said that he was human whenever he was with XQ, than when he was with anyone else. ZS (in his moments) opened up to XQ and would really have heart-to-hearts with her - I think he found comfort in her listening to him. But he never opened up to anyone else. As for HL, I don't think she really loved him because they only knew each other for like, a week or two? (IMO it's ridiculous how they started talking about marriage and love so early!) HL probably was falling for him and she liked him very much - but there was never any chemistry there to begin with anyway.

Ronacious I think I liked ZS from the start (looks-wise, because let's face it: he is definitely easy on the eyes!:P ) but I probably liked him from the moment he said 'Jia Yau!' for the exam! Even though he did help tutor XQ, I didn't feel that he had any good intentions. (I still found him too cold and mean - especially the first time they walked to school together and he told her the 3 rules and didn't help her on the bus: I almost hated him.) But when he wished her good luck it was 'Ohhhh - so he does have a heart...' Then there were also moments when he went to look down the end of the Top 100 list to see whether she succeeded or not (so cute!) and when he protected her from the perverts on the bus where I began to love him. God, I LOVE ISWAK!

@ rona

It was not love ZS at first sight for me...At first I was like...how can a sweet nature girl falls for an arrogant guy like him...But when they were introduced again in front of Jiang homestead, I actually like him...the part when he came out and introduced himself as the Jiang older son, very polite and amused...then he walked to the embarrassed XQ, playfully checking her out from head to toe...with twinkle in his eyes..and of cos it went unnoticed by the adults...well at this time I think ZS wasn't as bad as I first thought. But I really like him after the incident where their lunch bag was swapped by Jiang mama and he went looking for XQ...After exchanging their lunch bag, XQ would have walked away quietly as he wishes...but noooo...he has to bait her something...which ends up him tutoring her...bwahaha....at the time I think...well a genius is not so smart afterall...Even with a very high IQ, he was one confused guy...and I like him ever since though I still disagree with most of his action.

But I can tell you the time that I hate him most...When he was determined to marry BHL...though a good thing came after that...still I really hate him that time...well at least he has no excuse saying that his mom pushes him to XQ because when everybody has accepted the fact that he's gonna marry the beautiful, rich girl, he came in drenching in rain and personally proposed XQ to her dad...At least everybody knew he truly wanted to marry XQ because he wanted to not that he's being pushed or pressured by anyone....

i agree with pretty much everything you guys said haha.

at the beginning of the series, i didn't quite hate ZS but i thought he was just a snob b/c of the way he treated XQ - " i hate a woman with no brain" and all haha. but then when we saw him at his house and stuff, i saw more that he was being mean but it was more like he was playing with her rather than trying to hurt her.

question though...i saw the iswak new years' special, and ariel sang the 'practical joke' song - is she the one who sings it for real, or is it wang lang yin?

i have COME BACK O_O lmao. and this place is pretty clean..no spam posts yay!!!!!!! he he. and it's still quite alive..lmao

ronacious - ha ha..yes..ur long post DOES make up for ur lack in long posts..lmao. mayb all the things u had 2 say about ISWAK....like built up inside of u..and u just had a sudden ISWAK outburst, lmao. im actually quite lazy now..im quite lost right now..and i ahve no idea wat we're all talkin about in this thread.......o_o

keiharu - ha ha..u JUST realized that arron was in it?? lmao. i would understand if u didnt see calvin or wu zun..i didnt even notice THEM..also cuz they didnt ahve any LINES..but u should have noticed arron..a LITTLE bit..lmao

i think we need a new topic...but im too tired to think of one lmao
<3 ISWAK!!!!!!!!!!!!

aii, annoyingly I can't really answer your question of if I liked ZS from the beginning because I didn't start watching from the beginning! :( I think I missed out on that experience of learning to love the characters like you all have done. Although, even though I watched it middle, end and then all teh way through, I still think that the reason why these characters are so great now is because at times we didn't "like" them or the things that they did. I felt like I grew to love these characters over time by watching them through the whole series. I kinda like it when I don't like a character at first, because it feels like you are actually getting more out of the story and the acting etc.

Though I know when i didn't like ZS. IT was when he didn't do anything to help XQ when she was being mauled on the bus. I thought that was quite cold-hearted. How can anyone stand by and let that sort of thing happen. Granted, he came through in the end but when I just saw that bit, I wasn't too impressed. Though, XQ should have yelled out and hit them but that's besides the point :P

Ronacious wahh! thanks for the link to the chinese website!! YAY! I'll PM you in a second :P

ok, here is another question.

what scene made you cringe the most?

caru xoxo

caru - i definitely got mad at ZS for not saving XQ on the bus those few times too...but then i always think, maybe he wasn't sure and didn't want to assume? ah well i'm just making excuses for him now haha.
but the scenes that always made me cringe the most were the scenes where XQ would do something completely idiotic out of her love for ZS. ( and i mean idiotic in the most loving way, i swear, b/c although she annoyed me a lot, she's just too adorable to hate! haha. ) like whenever she stalked him and it was obvious that she was going to make a fool out of herself. those parts just made me cringe haha.

oh and i was wondering -- do you guys know any other series like iswak? i mean i know there isn't one that can truly compare *wink* but i want one that's cute and funny like iswak. i'll love any suggestions

cocacoli I have to agree, whenever XQ would do something so embarrassing! Ahh I just had to cover my eyes. I think the whole time that ZS was working in the restaurant and she would sit there for hours etc. I can't watch that! Too painful. I just skip to the part where he has to take her home because of the rain etc. I just cringe so much at that part because, well it is just so desperate, you know? Have some class girl! But then again, she did get to say over at his place for the night and that is one of my favourite scenes - SOOOOO funny LOL

um, other shows that are like ISWAK..well I haven't seen many at all but I have nearly finished Hana Kimi and that one is really funny and good. Have you seen that? That would be the only recommendation I would have but i'm sure others will have more up their sleeves:)

Caru xoxo.

Ok, *takes a deep breath* I haven't been here in forever and am definitely paying a steep price for it. Gosh, talk about some freakin' LONG post guys! I had to start skimming or I'd never get though it all.

About when I started loving ZS - I must say that I was a goner at the very beginning just like XQ. Something about inexpressive boys REALLY attracts me. I LOVE it. It makes all the little things have such a bigger impact. And ZS is the most inexpressive out of all the inexpressive fictional guys I've ever loved. Gosh, I loved him through out the WHOLE drama. No matter what he did btn not helping XQ on the bus, publicly insulting her, being mean to her, ignoring her, deciding to go with HL rather than XQ. All those things just made the parts when he actually shows her he cares so much more impacting. God, LOVE me some ZS!!!



I know it has been a while, even LONGER than when you posted this. I've been so busy. I've been hanging out a lot with my friends, trying to figure out photoshop, help sub at Intangible FS, watch dramas (re-watching DBY right now), and making sure to walk and feed my dog everyday. I have a lot on my plate. Plus, everyone was leaving such long messages here and I would have come in the middle of a convo, and say something stupid or random. Anyway, I'm back now!

btw - I'd never call you mom!!! Definitely Jie Jie!!!




1a. When XQ swallowed the caterpillar. REALLY?!?! How freakin' hilarious was that, and she made a complete idiot of herself. Hahaha!
1b. I have two that make me laugh the most: 1. In XQ's imagination and Winnie and ZS are in his apartment together bare chested and ZS has scratches all over his chest. 2. The part when ZS gets out of the boat at the wedding and he slips and falls in the dress. And then again as he's walking to the "alter." OMG I get TEARS in my eyes every time.

2. I personally think the wedding at the end of ISwaK is in XQ's imagination and once those were the love rivals she put them as her brides maids/grooms men bc it was a kind of sending off ceremony in her head. If they are in the wedding it's saying that they give up and you can have the other. Kind of a right-of-passage thing. Also, I agree with whoever said that Winnie is a genius and knew it would be HILARIOUS for those guys to be in dresses!

3. I think that Winnie just wanted to do it to mess with the actors. He seems like a director who makes friends with his cast and like most friends do they mess with each other, and so just to have some fun and mess with Jiro and Joe he played those roles. Plus, just in general it's just HILARIOUS to be in those roles. There were probably MANY people who would have done it if Winnie didn't want to.

And one I have to throw in! Most endearing "family" moment. I LOVE it when ZS returns home from living alone and XQ brings in the evening snack and her and YS eat while ZS studies. As they eat they SLURP the noodles and fight over the ham and choke on the noodles as the try to say their lines to ZS!!!!

I LOVE that scene SO much. I love how it reestablished the characters living together again. XQ and YS are playfully fighting, ZS is trying to stay his cool self by ignoring them and refusing to do stuff XQ asks of him, but eventually gives in. God, LOVE that scene. Winnie is a genius. Really?!?! He knows how to make the smallest things pregnant with meaning, parallels, symbolism, and metaphors. Brilliance!
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Alright, I think I'm done for the day. It took a lot out of me to read all of that and then comment! Hahaha... I'm so weak! Well, I missed you guys and I'm glad to be back! I can't wait for Ann and Nic to come back more often and hang out with us again, but they're probably just as busy if not more so than I am! Talk with you guys later!

~Tiffiany~

Tiffany:
That parts "XQ brings in the evening snack" even funnier is that, YS asking his brother why a famous Chinese love story characters love each other, if that is translated in English would be something like

YS:" brother, why is snow white eat that apple?"
ZS:" Because she is an idiot"
YS: "Then, why is the Prince love the idiot?"(see, how smart YS is, he is asking his brother why he likes XQ"
ZS: "Strop asking those kind silly questions" (Genius is still the Genius, he sees right through his brother’s intention.)

Now the things turn even funnier when YS asking the same question to XQ
YS: " Now let me asking you this, why is snow white eat that apple?"?
XQ:"?Is Snow White your new girl friend? "
YS:" No, she is not, have you ever read the book?"
XQ:"?what book are you talking hi, after Young Yun does not like you, so you are looking for another girl friend."

The part when XQ did not who SNOW WHITE is, look at ZS's face, that is priceless.

God!! 200 over pages?!!! Is this drama that good? I must confess. I only ever watch K dramas. The last time i watched a Taiwanese show was Huan Zhu Ge Ge. Can anyone tell me which Korean Drama this show is most similar with?

But..... i still went our and bought the dvd to watch. :-) Hard to believe right? My mum's eyes nearly popped out of her head. She was like what in the world?!!! Btw, are fans of this show largely teenagers or are there older fans as well?

I was reading the Joe-Ariel thread (which disappeared today. Hoping that it will surface again) and struck by the their shipper's analysis of their chemistry. (I am their shipper as well) So i wanted to c for myself. Did their super close chemistry started after the show or you can already tell in the show?

Welcome Plumblossom3, you can find Joe-Ariel thread in ISWAK 2 sub-forum. Happy reading there.

I can’t say for others but I love ISWAK’s even though I’m in my mid twenties and because of this series I’m now rooted for this couple.

When finding new pics of ISWAK 2 ..I just got some background ISWAK 1 pics that have never been seen !! Wanna share all U guys !!







http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...SWAK%201/3a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...SWAK%201/4a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...SWAK%201/4a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...SWAK%201/5a.jpg

I'll post more later^^

WOW! Thanks SO much for the translation ChoCho!!!! They mis translated it on the subs. It said something like why did the girl plant the garden? And then ZS said because she was stupid and then YS replies back with something I don't remember. Then, YS asks XQ and she asks if that's YS's girlfriend, and maybe she planted it because she was bored. It went something like that. But the way you translated it makes SO MUCH more sense!!! Hahaha... I love that scene even more now!!!

plumblossom3 - I'm 23 and love ISwaK. It is my favorite ASIAN drama of all time. You just have to remember that Taiwanese dramas tend to be a bit more immature than Korean ones as a whole. However, if I was going to have to decide which T-drama was closest, theme-wise, to Korean Romantic Comedies it would be ISwaK! It has really good drama in ISwaK and the comedy is FANTASTIC through out! I think you will enjoy it.

As for which K-drama is close to ISwaK... I've been pondering this question for a LONG time, and I can't think of any. The closest comparison I can come up with is Nodame Cantabile, a Japanese drama. From all the Korean dramas I've seen, none of them have a similar premise.

Hahahaha.... Thanks so much for the pics lamia!!! Apparently, Tiffany got a little fatter and uglier!!!! Hahaha... go stand-ins! I wonder what else she had to do?!?! I mean I know she's a model, but from what I know, she hasn't done a lot since ISwaK. Idk, she could be in almost every Taiwanese commercial, ad, and magazine for all I would know. However, it does make a funny bts pic! Also, seeing that last pic of Jiro in those glasses... He looks cute!

~Tiffiany~

chocho - wow after you translated it, it made the scene make a lot more sense haha. i remember thinking, why the heck are they talking about this? but do you remember what episode that was in? now i wanna go back and watch it! lol

plumblossom - yayy! that's cool that you're breaking your all-korean streak with iswak tell us what you think of it when you're watching?

lamia - thanks for the CUTE pictures! i love the group photo where joe's making that silly face....haha

chocho!!! omg, so THAT is what they are talking about!? In the english subbed version that I have, they left the name in chinese and didn't translate it to Snow White. Wah, that makes much more sense and makes it even funny given ZS's reaction!


omgoodness tiffiany the scenes that you mentioned are perfect! Even when I was reading your post and then remembering them in my head I burst out laughing all over again! hehehe the caterpillar! I totally forgot about that. hehe even funnier are the NGs at the end of the episode of Ariel trying to get it in her mouth! I can't believe that they would actually use a REAL one as opposed to some fake thing. LOL I have been watching SxS btw, and it does get better as the series goes on :)

As for my favourite family moment... mmmm... i think it was the one where they are all eating around the table and the two dads are making jokes at each other. I actually can't remember where it is and what episode it is in anymore. I have been trying to find it to watch again. Does anyone know what I am talking about?

caru xoxo

I hope I am not misleading anybody in this threat.

The translation in the subtitle is not wrong. They just translate the word exactly, which does not real meaning too much for those people whom did not know the book.
Only thing that translation have problem is using "Plant the Flowers" instead of "Burials of Flowers", Dai Yu did not planted anything. They are not talking about SNOW WHITE. I just using Snow White as English literature equalvial of the person they were talking about. They are not talking about Snow White.

The book that YS was talking about is called "The Dream of Red Chamber",

You can read the English version of the book here

http://www.woyouxian.com/b06/b060402/hlmen_enindex.html

One of main character in the book is a girl that real has a lot feeling for everything. One thing she did that is very famous is "The Burials of Flowers", she dig a hole and held a little funeral for those flowers, she even wrote a little poem for those flowers. That is why YS asking ZS why the girl is doing this.

ZS's reply in the show was "Because she is boring." The reply translation might sound like the
Dai Yu is very plain person. However, I think ZS's means the girl just like to do something that in ZS's view it is waste of time.

I hope this will clear the things up a little.

Those pictures by lamia -- I was right about Wu Zun being in the wedding party!! Well, it doesn't matter too much since he's not in the sequel, but...wow. Hmm...did I post about Wu Zun being in the wedding party in the sequel's thread? I can't remember...maybe this just seems very random then.

A few months ago, I saw a little bit of the beginning and I didn't really like it cause I don't really like ariel nor joe. But then last week, I was bored studying for my finals, so instead I decided to watch this on crunchyroll and it's so good! Joe is freaking hot. And I'm started to really like ariel too. She's so adorable and pretty. Jiro is quite a cutie. Too bad he has no chance with her. So far I'm up to episode 13. Wu zun plays the younger guy that chases after her right? He's hotttt. This series got me hooked to tawainese dramas depsite the fact that I have to read subtitles. I'm also watching tokyo juliet with ariel and wu zun. It's really good too. I can't wait till ISWAK2 comes out

haha yayy new iswak fans!

xoxo - when i started iswak, i was sort of reluctnat too b/c i never really did like ariel, and i didn't know of joe. but the plot was so funny i had to keep watching, and i ended up loving them and the series! hope you enjoy the rest

oh & caru - thanks for the recommendation! i'll try it soooon. but yeah times like you said, where she waited at the restauraunt for hours for ZS just made me embarassed for her haha. but even though ZS seemed annoyed, i guess he loved it lol

i never liked ariel until i saw this series...and i liked her even more after i saw love contract ( i just finished LC like 2 days ago ) - the drastic change b/w XQ and her character in LC made me see how good of an actor she is.

question though - i know at the end of episode 19, they show little previews for ep.20, and it shows how ZS gets XQ out of hui lan's g-pa's company...and they also show a little clip of that scene for the iswak new years eve special - but how come that scene's not in ep.20?

@ tea chan


Gasp! Your banner is so cool! Did you make it? May I know where you got those pictures? Thanks!!

cab, now you owe us a long post. hehehe. i think that atm, no need to force a topic out of your brain...we keep on moving from one topic to another as we go on with our conversations...i think it's great...like you know, how friends shift from one topic to another...

Tiffi!!! welcome back! feels like it's been forever since you've been here. I even forgot about that post that you quoted. haha. nice to know you won't be calling me mom. Jie Jie is fine with me, meimei. ..i was gonna answer cocacoli's q on the series that we think is like ISWAK...i was gonna say that you would suggest NC..but when I read further down! saw your post! tiffi, i have read the synopsis of NC, and it does look like ISWAK and NC have some(maybe a lot) similiarities..is that series Live action? real people acting on that one? or is it like an anime?

chocho! wow! thanks for telling us about that scene! now I love that scene more. so that's how that scene goes....need to watch it again..have to see ZS's reaction...YS really is smart! and ZS is smarter. he knows what his brother wanted to say... too bad our XQ didn't get what the brothers are talking about. tsk. tsk.

lamia, thanks for the pix! wow. you are sooo good searching for all those BTS! all those I have never seen except the one with Joe sleeping...but I believe it was also you who posted that one pages ago..thank you sooo much!

plumbossom, what?!?!!? you have not seen the series? i see you at the ArJoe thread. assumed that you have watched the series! go go watch it. i'm assuming you're watching it now eh? yep, it is that good! 200+ pages and still going strong! have you found the ArJoe thread? i'm surprised to find it at the ISWAK 2 thread...and I and my friends are not teenagers anymore (huhu. lol) but we do love ISWAK!

xoxo, lol. I can totally relate. I'd rather watch ISWAK than deal with office work or in your case, studying. lol. so you are now in ep 13 eh? please do share with us your thoughts on ISWAK. hmm, how come DoV has not been posting lately? missing her views on ISWAK! But that's not to say that I am not enjoying everybody else's take on ISWAK. btw xoxo, Wu Zun is not Wu Ren (that's the younger guy you were talking about right?). Wu Zun i believe only made an appearance during the wedding..and you really have to look for him in order to notice him...

tea_chan, you noticed Chun again in the pix lamia posted? lol. I once again didn't see him. lol. guess coz my eyes are always glued to Ariel and Joe. but now I did. after really looking for him! and yeah, I know. we are all so formal in here. calling ZY, Pei Zi Yu. noticed that too. hehe.

cocacoli, have to agree with you that Ariel is such a great actress. she plays her role real well that is why sooo many people think that she is dumb like XQ when in fact she is the complete opposite. I have yet to rewatch ep 19 to relate to what you are saying..oh btw, i think i have ISWAK that has got 30 episodes...haha..so will have to determine which one you're referring to..., btw don't know if anyone has answered your q on the new year special... Prank was sang by Ariel in the NY special..and there are also other events where she sang it..but it was not her who sang for the OST...it was Wang Lan Yin.

zealias, better late than never! go watch ISWAK! know why it is such a hit!

lovedramas welcome back! yeah i know. when I was not that active in AF, i still had time to read the first few pages of this thread, and i saw your posts on the start of this series. nice to see you here after 200+ pages! aren't you proud ISWAK has gained such popularity? and wow! you can still remember the lines verbatim! cool!

caru and everybody else who can't figure out which episodes to find the scenes they want ..check out the Japanese site of ISWAK..the pictures are arranged by episodes...

aaah, so many posts on when they liked ZS! but I love 'em all. I find myself agreeing with everything you guys said even though some are contradicting like when some said that it was not love at first sight for them and some said that they were a goner the first scene! heehee.. I am so maleable am I not? but you lot made such great posts that I have to agree. can definitely see where you are all coming from. I must say that I did not hate ZS the first time...I like him too coz he is a looker and I expected him to be like that, cold and all...but I did not like him all the time...there are a lot of scenes that i hated him for making XQ suffer and look more "stupid" than she already is..he did make up for his actions though..like the bus scene and all the others...so maybe that is also the reason why I have come to love ZS's character after watchng the series...he made me hate him so much but in the end he made me fall in love with him!

moment that made me cringe would always be a moment with XQ in it...that girl is just absolutely shameless! hahaha. i always find myself turning red out of embarassment for her! but i still continue on watching ISWAK. I am ashamed of her but I am also proud of her. lol. i find myself not being able to elaborate on this but I'm pretty certain that you lot know what I mean..and someone is bound to make a very great post so just expect me to once again go into the "nodding-head-in-agreement- mode

kireina, thanks for telling me about hao la. woa! long post on the way. bring it on! love reading your posts. as you ought to know by now. lol. that sounded like a song. hehe

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...SWAK%201/7a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...SWAK%201/8a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...WAK%201/11a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...WAK%201/13a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...WAK%201/14a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...WAK%201/15a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...WAK%201/20a.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/lal...SWAK%201/2a.jpg

Hey ChoCho! Thanks for clearing that up!!!! That was actually kind of ingenious to come up with that analogy between the stories! Thanks for the link to the story! When I have some time, I'm DEFINITELY gonna read it!

EVERYONE who is questioning whether to watch ISwaK or not, DO!!! You won't regret it! It's SO awesome! Really, would 200+ pages lie?!?!?!

Rona aka 'Jie' - Yes, NC is live action. It's live action, anime, and a manga. The manga was first, then the anime, and then the drama.

REALLY GUYS! If you love ISwaK and haven't watched Nodame Cantabile yet, you're missing out! It's a FANTASTIC drama! You'll love EVERY second of it. It's mostly a comedy, and the humor is the best written humor I've seen of ANY Asian drama. Really! It's great! Here are the links to watch it:

http://asiandramaresource2.blogspot.com/20...-cantabile.html

It's not exactly like ISwaK, but we wouldn't really like it if it was exactly like it! As you watch it, go over to the NC thread in the Japanese Series forum at AF and talk about it with me!!!

YEY! Thanks for the new pics Lamia!!! I always knew there was no was Ariel had walked that smoothly when she was the Japanese ghost!!! Hahaha... suspicions have been confirmed.

~Tiffiany~

lamia, thanks for the pix! wow! i love 'em all! i like the one where i-forgot-her-name-was it-hua-rong was applying make-up on chun mei. love all the pix. the iswak cast at the zoo. so cute. and Jiro the every wacky Jiro!

tiffi, thanks for the link. though I know where to find it. of course.asiandramaresource!will watch it when I have the time. and may surprise you in the Jap thread. haha. i am actually giving Jap dramas a go atm. haha. aaah, XQ as a ghost. the first time i saw that scene, i was so in awe of how Ariel walked that way! haha. then I saw a bts on that one. yep, should have known. no way Ariel could have walked that smoothly no matter how good of an actress she is.

damselfly - I did make my signature tag...Thank you! I was sort of proud of it... I got the pictures from the ISWAK gallery here (http://gallery.asianfanatics.net/index.php?act=thumbs&aid=2110), I think. I have saved a LOT of ISWAK pictures onto my computer from there...

ronacious - Haha, maybe I see Wu Zun because I watched Hana Kimi (and a little of Tokyo Juliet) before I saw ISWAK. And because he is really pretty.

Ah, I just watched the Prank MV again, and I got that familiar fluttering of excitement in my tummy...I may have to watch this series again soon...except I'm so behind on reading research articles, my advisor is not happy with me!