Ying Ye 3 Jia 1

CAST

Ming Dao as Yang Jia Jiang / Ah Jiang
Chen Qiao En as Xia Tian
Jason Hsu as Wang Dao Ren / Bulu
Jerry Huang as Fang Wei
Viter Fan as Xu Ding Kai / Captian DK
Achel Zhang as Wen Hui
Queena Liu as Xiao Han

PLOT

Jia Jiang, Xia Tian, Fang Wei and Bulu were all childhood friends and grew up on West Side Street. They were all students of Ying Ye and one month away from their high school graduation. Xia Tian's father was supposedly retiring as police officer but a day before that his gun was misplaced by the principal, trying to help the 3 guys to get out in a gang conflict. So JJ, FW and Bulu decided to help XT's father to help find the gun.

While finding the gun they discovered that it has some relation to an ex-convict (Grey Wolf) and surprisingly he is in close communication and contact with students in Ying Ye. At the time, JJ and XT were not fully aware about their true feelings towards each other, they always end up arguing which leads to a fight. And when XT birthday comes, FW decided to confess his feelings to XT who has always liked XT and now becomes the love rival of JJ.

And when things got more complicated, JJ, XT, FW and Bulu get into a conflict with Congressman Kong, father of one of their classmates who always make a situation bad so that they will all get into trouble. But because of all the help of their friends and family they all pass it. And because of this, JJ and XT realized that they truly love each other (dont miss that episode when they confess their feelings, so love it).

Everything was going smoothly for JJ and XT but then things changed when Captain DK gets into the picture. Aside from DK's hidden agenda this is where he makes JJ and XT's relationship so hard for them. Which is more important - choosing your loved ones happiness or fulfilling one's own dreams? How would the friendship of the 4 affect the problems they've gone through?

PERFORMANCE

Ming Dao as Yang Jia Jiang

He's the leader of the group and is stubborn and it's very hard to tell his true feelings. But when it comes to his family, friends, and especially with XT, he will do anything even if it affect his ego and pride. He's also willing to risk his own life. He has so much concern for XT that he's always there when she gets into trouble without realizing that he's actually fallen in love with her. He did not admit right away because of the friendship ties between them.

I love Ming's character in this series, he's much better than in Frog Prince and Magicians of Love and her acting showed lot of improvement. You can feel it easily when JJ was happy or sad - a good portrayal. Ming is still one of the most adorable actors in Taiwan.

Chen Qiao En as Xia Tian

The only flower among the thorns, boyish, but it does not hinder her to be part of the group, she will also fight for her childhood friends. A good and very loving daughter, that will not easily give up and stands up for her rights and beliefs. However, she's willing to give up her dreams for her true love. The only wish by her father for her is to be happy but things got complicated when she was changed because of love. She always believed and followed what JJ told her.

Chen did a great job here, also with Ming, her acting was much better than in Frog Prince, she knows how to cry easily and she was also good in some fight scenes with JJ.

Jason Hsu as Wang Dao Ren/Bulu

I think he's one of the simplest guy in the group and his only dream is to be a chef. He had a love interest with Wen Hui. When he knew that she was involved in an investigation, he hides the truth to his friends to protect her. But in terms of his friends, he can also fight for them no matter what.

I would say he's also good in his role and a cutie one too.

Jerry Huang as Fang Wei

He's the richest among his 3 friends but it does not hinder him to be with those who grew up in west side street - Even if he can buy anything he wants. But he is very upset in terms of his family relationship. And this is when Xiao Han helps him to understand his true personality. He once confesses his feelings to XT, eventually he did realize that XT was already in love with JJ and vice versa so he decided to give up his feelings for his friends and he actually did some things to help JJ to be with XT. And in terms of his relationship with his friends, he is very dependable.

Jerry showed lot of improvement, acting wise, from his character in The Rose. I love his portrayal in this series.

Viter Fan as Xu Ding Kai/Captian DK

He has the most serious role in this series. XT considers him as her brother when he once lived with them after his mom got shot and eventually died. This has a big effect with his life so when the situations right, he plans to have a revenge with XT's dad. This makes the relationship of JJ and XT more complicated. But of course in the end, he will just realize what truly the most important thing in his life.

FAVE MOMENTS/LINES

- the friendship that ties between JJ, XT, FW and Bulu

- JJ silently follows XT, crying, after they got into an argument until XT got home while its raining (you can see JJ face how he got upset with that argument)

- the accidental kiss of XT and JJ in an auditorium, when Fang Wei confesses his feelings for XT in front of their classmates

- everytime XT and JJ looks at each other, there is always something in it and when all the people around them knew that they had feelings for each other but the two are very afraid to show and express it (really makes me crazy with it ha ha ha)

- the gift of JJ in XT's birthday was so cool! (like it so much)

- when JJ and Bulu had an argument with Congressman Kong in the police station then Fang Wei got help with foreign lawyers (that scene was really funny, cant help but to laugh with it)

- JJ apologizes to his mom, he really loves his mom that much, and when he cried after he's mom got bullied

- episode 6 & 7 , JJ's and XT's confessions and after that, when XT slept in JJ house, (I really love that scene!)

- when Fang Wei asked JJ how much he loved XT, JJ replied, "I like her so much, that if one day she leaves me, I probably wont even know how to breath" (waaahhh I almost fell down on my seat after I heard it, what a romantic line!, the best one, good script, bravo!)

- when XT got kidnapped

- the last "24 hrs" of JJ after the accident, crying scenes were really good (a heart warming episode!)

- when DK got into the picture, JJ was so cute when he's jealous

- JJ and XT first date in an island with the help of Fang Wei and Bulu

- when DK brainwashed JJ to give up XT, confused with what's more important, to fullfill their dreams or to stay with your true love

- XT father persuade her to study in America an JJ overheard it

- graduation ball (also a heart stopping scene!)

- JJ crying moments

- JJ breaks up with XT, pushing her away without telling her the real reason (one of the best scene ever! I got teary eye with it!)

- 100 seconds love contest (whaaat! it really breaks my heart!)

- the getaway party of XT, picnic/camp of the group

- the extra scene of dolls from Smiling Pasta and Frog Prince, firebugs, the bracelet and film negatives that JJ made for XT

RECOMMENDATION

After Frog Prince, Ming and Chen did another series together and I must say that it's much better than the first one. The good screen chemistry of both of them is still in it, the whirl wind emotions are very much spread that every moment of it you will surely be hooked to it.

I really love the screen chemistry of Ming and Chen, a very good one, but sadly its only for the series and not for real life.

The entirety of the series was perfectly made, from the acting to the plot of the story, from high school to facing the reality of life, and the ending part was so nice, I fell in love with it. And showing the true friendship that ties between them was also very good, that you can depend on each other no matter what happens. And one thing I love in this series is that there are no boring scenes. Every moment of it you feel excited to see what will happen next!

Highly recommended, worth to watch!