I've come to expect just a little less from Taiwanese dramas in comparison to Korean & Japanese ones. Granted, haven't seen that many, but prior to MARS those that I have seen lacked a certain emotional oomph that I feel is often better delivered in shows from other parts of the region. In addition, previous Taiwanese shows I've seen had poorer production values - that is to say, poorer picture & sound quality, setting, production design, costume design & so on.

Can't say all of the above is true for MARS, though. While it did have a tinge of low budget TV, this is a show with a pretty solid plot & overarching storyline, even if it's a bit heavy-handed in parts. There's quite a bit of angst & melodrama, but luckily it's fairly evened out with lighter moments and a very sweet, passionate romance, so the overall mood of the show remains … less dark. I didn't feel forced to internalize too much of the drama and trauma the characters experienced. While I empathized with their struggles I escaped an onslaught of negative emotions for which I’m grateful.

I enjoyed Qui Lo's story arc a bit more than Ling's. Only because her experiences felt more relatable, like something that could happen to me or someone close to me whilst Ling's family issues were a bit more far removed from my own scope of understanding & experience.

When we first meet Qui Lo, I didn't really care for her. Her demeanour, her way of dress, her body language all screamed GRAY MOUSE. The type of heroine I can watch, probably even like, but who leaves no lasting impression on me whatsoever. Blink and she's gone from your memory like a fleeting dream. Turns out, though, that I misjudged her slightly. Yes, she's your typical Asian drama heroine: sweet, nurturing, a little submissive, but as the show progressed she also blossomed into a stronger, more confident version of herself. I grew to love her quite a bit. I also loved our hero, Ling (and his mullet), ever the debonair lady's man, but a character with so much depth and layers to his personality.

VERY satisfying to watch how their love for each other healed and transformed these people for the better. The way Ling pulled Qui Lo out of her shell with affection, humour and his natural charm; the way Qui Lo worked on Ling as if he were an onion, peeling away every last layer of false bravado and bullshit until she found the real Ling, the young man with the heart of gold. The young man with so much love to give.

The development of their love story is a testament to why I love the romance genre so much. Done well, the perennial effects of this wild, beautiful emotion is a powerful balm to the soul. The reason for being. These two by themselves exuded only half their true potential. But together, they became a powerful whole. Stronger as a unit and stronger individually. Isn’t that the greatest benefit of the best kind of love?

The actors delivered according to their age. Perhaps not as nuanced, not as grounded as a performance that comes with life experience, but they played well off each other. I can’t complain, the chemistry was off the charts. There was a natural flow between them, no awkwardness, no sense really they were acting. I BELIEVED they were indeed girlfriend/boyfriend & their reactions to their individual circumstances rang true for me.

Best of all, I’ve noticed that the Taiwanese are not as conservative as the Koreans and Japanese! The physical interaction between Qui Lo & Ling was perhaps the best I’ve seen so far in dramaland. There's a natural progression to their (physical) relationship. No cringe-worthy kissing, no wide-eyed, disengaged female, no glossing over of the characters’ sexuality! Man, nothing I dislike more than when any and all mention of sex, and the fact that the characters may want to engage in it, is the most scandalous thing ever! I'm not asking for PornHub type action here (for all you prudes who are scandalized by anything more than hand holding). All I want is something natural and convincing, esp when our leads are supposed to be two people who are madly in love with each other.

In general, I really liked the show, esp the characters and the development of the romance. The music wasn't bad either. I tend to be more aware of the OST when the lyrics are translated as they were here. It elicited all the right emotions, esp when connected to certain scenes.

What I didn't like, and what influenced my 8 rating, is that I felt, plot wise, my level of engagement had a huge yo-yo effect. There were times when I was fully engaged because something - ANYTHING - other than two people talking in a room, happened. Other times - MOST times - the show was bogged down by too much nostalgic exposition. That is to say, characters explaining why things happened in the past over and over again. ‘Show, don’t tell’ is a basic rule of thumb in all forms of creative writing. The over abundance of expository dialogue signaled the pen of an unskilled or inexperienced screenwriter, and only served to bore me more times than not.

Another thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how women tend to be portrayed, but this is an overall complaint against Taiwanese dramas (that I’ve seen) and not solely about MARS. Catty to an extreme and willing to go to blows with other females (usually our heroine) who - by no effort of her own - has won over the affection of the hero they like. Whilst the guys, in a similar situation, deal with it in a cooler, more rational & sensible fashion. I don’t like it.

In Korean and Japanese dramas that I’ve seen the cattiness is less amplified & less mean-spirited, imo. It’s a minor thing, in the grand scheme of things, but one which never fails to niggle at the back of my mind. When all’s said and done, though, I wouldn't watch & enjoy Asian dramas as much as I do if I were a raging feminist so it’s all good!

You’ll enjoy MARS if you like romance dramas that try to be more than just mindless fluff. I am not sure to what extent certain parts of the plot worked for me, but in terms of the romance - if this is a genre you like - it will not disappoint.