In retrospect, if I was to analyze every single technical detail about Mars and view it as a logical cynic would, I'm sure I wouldn't give it such a high rating. But as it happens, more often than not, the matters of heart take precedence over those of the mind. Even though it had its flaws, how could I possibly give this brilliant story which had numerous powerful moments, a lesser rating? I simply can't. Mars isn't made to impress the audience with the sparkle of a big production, instead It is made to move people. It's low budget, old and simple. Which is what makes it all the more impactful. It shines light on the ugly side of humankind. There are many things that people try to hide under rugs and make vanish out of sight but Mars drags them all out and exposes them for all to see. It highlights the crazy in everyone. But most importantly, it's an empowering story of finding the light, acceptance and hope. It assures that even if your beginning is tragic, your ending doesn't have to be. Mars doesn't romanticize mental illness and abuse, rather it delivers an honest portrayal of these issues and offers no excuses. At surface it seems like just another cliche good girl/bad boy story but when you dig a little you discover that there are layers upon layers of meaningful themes disguised under. Chen Ling was a beautiful man. And I'm not talking about his gorgeous hair, heavenly dimples and angelic face, rather, I'm talking about his beautiful personality. He was such a tortured soul who was so broken and so lost and yet, when he loved he loved deeply. He was loyal, kind, affectionate and brave. There were so many shades and so much color to his character. He laughed so freely; with a childlike glee and always joked around, painting a picture of how he was just a reckless slacker. But at the same time, when he was serious, his cruel eyes and ruthless expression sent chills up my arms. His tears were always so touching and when he was heart broken it showed on his face. His "bitch please" face made me laugh countless of times. And there was that bitter chuckle when he realized that the world had gone and fucked him over once again. There was much darkness in him, yet, he managed to radiate innocence. He was so charismatic and magnetic that you couldn't help but be drawn to him. Nowadays, bad boys are extremely over-hyped in stories, there is usually more talk than walk about how the protagonist is so badass, but Chen Ling was the real deal. He was bad to the bone with a side of crazy. He could be scary, beyond morals and a little heartless but beneath it all, there was a heart made of platinum that was purely good. I think Vic Chou did the acting of the century in this drama. He mastered every emotion and displayed it perfectly. Which is why, I find it so absurd that his role in Mars isn't as well-known as it should've been. Then comes Qui-Lou. Anybody who knows me, knows that I can't tolerate bumbling and weak heroines which is why in the beginning Qui-Lou's easy tears and meek voice really grated on my nerves. However, as the drama progressed I started to see her for who she really was; a sophisticated, mature and intelligent woman. She had gone through so much and yet, she found the courage to face it. She had so much empathy and she was tough in her own way. A lot of people were saying that her transition from a quiet presence to a talkative person was very brutal, but I couldn't disagree more, for she retained her shyness till the end and there weren't any drastic changes at all, instead, you gradually saw her become more brave and able to voice her opinion. It was an amazing message on how you can make new beautiful memories to drown the horrible ones and anyone who thinks otherwise, needs to frankly eat shit. At the start, I thought Barbie wasn't really acting at all because I barely saw her expression change except for the redundant quivering of lips when Qui-Lou was seen breaking down for the millionth of time but after a while, I saw the subtle changes in her demeanor and realized what a phenomenal actor Barbie really was. She was completely in sync with the character and she changed and became stronger as Qui-Lou's wounds healed. It showed that she really did give it all for this role. There were so many powerful scenes that made your heart hurt and a lesser actress would have failed to deliver the emotion. The relationship dynamic between the two protagonists was outstanding. Going into the series I was a little miffed by what seemed like insta-love on their part but I was proved wrong as I watched more and more. They were two complex people who were attracted towards each other for their own different reasons, they evolved together and licked at each others wounds. They were willing to sacrifice so much for the other and their love was completely unconditional. Even though together they were fearless, what I found so refreshing was that their world didn't revolve solely around each other. They were independent people with their own individual standing who grew stronger in each other's company. What I also loved about this drama was that besides the main characters, the supporting roles were great too. I know that the actress who plays Qing-Mei is very successful but unfortunately for some reason before this, she always rubbed me the wrong way, due to which I had dropped a lot of dramas she had starred in, however I thought she played her part excellently here. She's so savage, yet sweet and warm. Da-ye is also a complete cutie and I felt happy whenever he came onscreen. Other characters left noticeable impressions on me too. Tong Dao was fascinating. Qui-Lou's mother was an unredeemable bitch and the stepfather was too pathetic to put in words. I loved how the characters always spoke in such light and sombre tones which made the gravity of the serial more prominent. And the music was added on the perfect moments to make everything more influential. The OST ( Ling-Zero) is one of the best soundtracks ever made. It's hauntingly deep and even though I didn't understand a single lyric, the tune and the singer's melancholic voice made me feel serene. Mars deals with serious issues like rape, suicide and mental health and it gives a raw exposure to all that isn't pretty. It isn't a drama that's going to make you cry or heave with emotion but it's definitely something that will move you to a certain extent. Despite the horrible quality and the less than mediocre direction, you'd still be compelled to watch episode after episode. I am not gonna say that this is something you can watch again and again because its beauty is in watching it only once and enjoying it to the max but I will say, that it is one of those horribly under-rated dramas that are a must if you want to truly experience the whole Asian Drama scene. P.S: People who've read the manga say that they didn't like the show or that they decided not to watch it in the first place. However, maybe it is just one of those "you like whatever you watch first" sort of situations but I started reading the manga alongside the show, and believe you me, it's absolute trash. Kira and Rei are wholly one-dimensional characters and the parts that were so heart-touching in the drama came out extremely bland in the manga. So, don't feel wary of the drama, if you didn't like the manga. 'Cause I can vow it's better and more well-developed.