Mars (TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mars (Traditional Chinese: 戰神MARS; Simplified Chinese: 战神MARS; pinyin: Zhànshén MARS) is a Taiwanese television series that broadcast in 2004 on Chinese Television Station. It is based on the Japanese manga Mars written by Fuyumi Soryo.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Vic Zhou plays two characters; twin brothers Ling and Sheng with intense opposing personalities. Ling is reckless and brutal and enjoys racing motorcycles, whereas Sheng is quiet and reserved, hiding his emotions in his drawings. The brothers have had an interdependent relationship since the death of their mother.
When a girl, Sha Zhi, arrives in their lives, they both develop feelings for her, which tests their relationship to breaking point. It is suggested that Sheng, unable to accept the fact that Sha Zhi loves Ling, commits suicide. Ling is destroyed by the guilt of Sheng's death and undergoes therapy at a mental institution for two years. He then meets Qi Luo (Barbie Hsu); and as they become romantically attached, they believe that they can help each other walk out of the dark tragedies in their past and rebuild their lives.
[edit] Cast
- Chen Ling - Vic Zhou
Known as an extroverted playboy as well as having a destructive character, Ling races motorcycles on the professional circuit. His twin brother Sheng committed suicide three years ago and he was sent to a mental institution, shattered by his death. Since entering University, Ling is popular, but he can't seem to get involved in any relationships. However, after meeting Qi Luo, he is drawn to her and seeks to protect her.
- Chen Sheng - Vic Zhou
Ling's twin brother and a passive artist, Sheng committed suicide during their last year of junior high. Ling was raised to protect him, and thus blames himself for his brother's death.
- Han Qi Luo - Barbie Hsu
An aspiring artist, Qi Luo lives with her mother; her father died when she was a child in a car accident involving a motorcycle gang. Her stepfather raped her when she was sixteen years old and her mother, upon discovering this, separated from her husband, taking Qi Luo with her. This experience has caused Qi Luo to withdraw from her social life at school. However, a chance meeting with Ling helps her deal with the fear of men.
- An Da Ye - Xiu Jie Kai
Ling's best friend, he has had a crush on Qi Luo since they attended junior high together. However, he comes to terms with the fact that it is impossible between them and helps bring her and Ling together.
- Fan Tong Dao - An Jun Can
Tong Dao is a bisexual and effeminate sociopath who was raised in a rich and affluent family. He is weak and often bullied, depending on his abusive friend Qing Mu to protect him. Ling saved Tong Dao once, but barely remembers the event as the action was impulsively taken following grief from Sheng's death. Tong Dao later kills Qing Mu and stalks Ling, openly admitting to having a crush on him. He also has a crush on Qi Luo, whom he views as an obstacle in attaining Ling's affections. He desires to kill them at some stage.
- Lai Qing Mei - Megan Lai Ya Yan
A female classmate of Qi Luo and Ling's who has been "in love" with Ling ever since they slept together in their freshman year. Although she initially made Qi Luo a target of psychologically brutal attacks because Ling treated her differently, she later reformed and became a solid and protective friend.
- Sha Zhi- Xiao Xiao
An extremely cute but manipulative girl from Ling's past, she was first Sheng's girlfriend but left him for Ling. She also blames herself for Sheng's suicide.
[edit] Themes
Mars explores rather dark and morbid issues, discusses social taboos such as mental illness, sexual harassment, suicide, and murder but also maintains an underlying sense of hope.
- Mental Illness - Ling's Mom, Ling himself and Tong Dao had to seek help from the same mental institution. Somehow only Ling had managed to walk out of his destructive mental state while the other two allowed themselves to sink deeper into despair and hopelessness.
- Sexual harassment - This idol drama detached itself from other Taiwan idol dramas by exploring various sexual issues in a sensitive and delicate manner.
- Suicide - Ling's Mom and Sheng chose suicide instead of facing up to reality. This drama further explores the state of the loved ones who were left behind, and how they deal with the grief of loss and recover from the heartaches of abandonment.
- Murder - Viewed as a weapon to fulfill ones' desire. Ling's Mom wanted to kill Ling and Sheng out of love and possessiveness to protect them. Tong Dao murdered Qing Mu for complex reasons; revenge, freedom, boredom. Ling wanted to murder in LA for revenge and to protect Sheng. Even Qi Luo spoke about murdering her stepfather over and over again in her nightmares, so that the person she hated would disappear from the world.
- Hope - The difference between destruction and rebuilding; between Ling and Sheng; Qi Luo and Tong Dao. A significant milestone in the series reflecting this sense of hope is when Qi Luo contemplates how the huge sandcastle they had built will eventually be destroyed. Ling reassures her that they will rebuild the sandcastle together, no matter how many times it takes. They can't prevent destructive and tragic events from happening in their lives, but together, with hope, they can pick themselves up and rebuild their lives.
[edit] Differences between the Drama and Manga
- In the manga and drama, Ling tells Qi Luo he would "lend her his body". In the manga, when she asks him to, he trips and falls down the stairs . In the drama, he turns around knocks over a row of statues.
- In the manga, Qi Luo gets a job at a burger joint and on her first day of work, she is sexually harassed. This is not shown in the drama
- The drama has a different ending from the manga. In the manga Tong Dao is sent to Juvinile Hall and is never heard of again. In the drama he is shown in the hospital drawing as a technique of recovering.
[edit] Soundtrack
- 1. Ling (Zero)- Alan Kuo
- 2. Rang Wo Ai Ni (Let Me Love You) - Vic Zhou and Barbie Hsu
- 3. Bai Se Lian Qu (White Concerto) - RaRa
- 4. The Hardest Note - Megan Lai
- 5. Shuo Ai Wo (Say You Love Me) - Liang Yi Zhen
- 6. Ming Tian (Tomorrow)- Da Di Le Tuan
- 7. Wo Ke Yi (I Can)-You Hong Ming
- 8. Ling (Zero) (Instrumental)
- 9. Wo Ke Yi (I Can) (Instrumental)
- 10. Rang Wo Ai Ni (Let Me Love You) (Instrumental)
- 11. Shuo Ai Wo (Say You Love Me) (Instrumental)
- 12. Bai Se Lian Qu (White Concerto) (Instrumental)
[edit] Trivia
- Mars features an impressive production, with real motorcycle races that were shot on location in Japan.
- The DVD of this series has a special that features various interviews and at-location-shoots.
- It is rumored that although Barbie Hsu was in a relationship with Blue Lan Zheng Long at the time, Vic Zhou and her started their romance towards the end of the filming of the series.
- Mars was voted Favorite Drama of the Year at the 40th Annual 2005 Golden Bell Awards.
