In Time With You (DVD) (End) (Taiwan Version) DVD Region All

Returning to Taiwan television nearly a decade after Sonic Youth, Wilson Chen shot to a new career high locally with the role of Li Da Ren, the caring and considerate guy friend who's held a torch for heroine Cheng You Qing since high school, but can't find the courage and timing to confess his feelings. Wilson Chen's heart-melting turn had many a blogger wondering about the Li Da Rens in their lives.

Ariel Lin, in her possibly last television drama, grows up into the role of You Qing, who's feeling the clock ticking as she hits thirty, but still as headstrong and self-centered as ever. Only Li Da Ren understands and appreciates her for who she is, but the more she needs him in her life, the more she fears changing their relationship. Ariel Lin is known for having great onscreen rapport with her co-stars, and with Wilson Chen, she shares a natural, low-key chemistry that feels just right for their ambiguous soulmate relationship. The pairing is almost uncannily spot-on; both stars are playing around their actual ages, but baby-faced enough to look completely at home in high school uniforms for the teenage flashbacks.

New flames and old flames come and go as the protagonists reach a crossroad in love and friendship, and audiences bite their nails wondering if the one that's by your side might also become the one that gets away. If In Time with You was any longer than its current length, Cheng You Qing and Li Da Ren's sweet yet stagnant relationship would probably outstay its welcome, but at 13 episodes the heartaches, indecisions, and frustrating personality flaws realistically fill out a story that's as much about growing up and facing oneself as it is about romance.

Moving away from the standard Cinderella stories, In Time with You finds a mature setting and storyline for its at times immature protagonists. The series is beautifully shot for an idol drama, with solid production values, a memorable soundtrack, and contemplative nuances for the pop art crowd. The drama actually opens with a dream sequence in which Cheng You Qing is being chased by Time, represented by a furry, man-sized creature. These types of reflective scenes and details pop up here and there throughout the series - disorienting dreams that reveal true feelings, quotes to mull over, a play that mirrors the characters' relationships - and they're part of what makes In Time with You different and better than the usual idol drama.