# It Started With a Kiss (2005)

> A clumsy high school girl and a cold, popular classmate navigate a chaotic romance in a Taiwanese school.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/14205

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 40
- Episode runtime: 90 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy, romance, drama
- Network: CTV
- Cast: Ariel Lin, Joe Cheng, Jiro Wang, Hsu Wei-ning, Aaron Yan, Bianca Bai, Cyndi Chao, Tang Tsung-sheng
- TMDB rating: 7.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1293316/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: playful, sweet, breezy, whimsical

## What critics say

Audiences rate the Taiwanese adaptation of the Itazura na Kiss manga positively, with a 7.5/10 audience score across a small number of votes.

## Synopsis

It Started With a Kiss (2005-2008) is a Taiwanese television romantic comedy drama series created for CTV, adapted from the Japanese manga Itazura na Kiss by Kaoru Tada. Across two seasons and forty episodes, the story follows Yuan Xiang Qin (Ariel Lin), an earnest and clumsy high school student who finds herself drawn into a tangled relationship with the cool, popular Jiang Zhi Shu (Joe Cheng). Their bickering, misunderstandings, and awkward encounters drive the series forward, while rival suitors and school rivalries complicate every step toward first love. Jin Yuan Feng (Jiro Wang) and Ah Bu (Aaron Yan) add further romantic tension, and Bianca Bai and Cyndi Chao round out the ensemble of family and friends. Each episode is a stream of playful mishaps, school hallway comedy, and sweet, flustered moments, with a warm, breezy tone that balances humor and heartfelt longing. Set in a contemporary Taiwanese high school, it is a lighthearted teen romance that offers the same charm as idol dramas and romantic comedies. Fans of Meteor Garden, Hana Yori Dango and the original Itazura na Kiss will find resonance in its playful rivalry, youthful romance, and cozy comedic rhythm, making it a comforting watch for anyone who enjoys sweet school love stories.

## Shows like It Started With a Kiss

- [Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo (2013)](https://ember.film/tv/57269)
- [Our Secret (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/108210)
- [Hidden Love (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/132246)
- [Meteor Garden (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/68587)
- [Meteor Garden (2001)](https://ember.film/tv/7513)
- [Our Generation (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/175346)
- [Autumn's Concerto (2009)](https://ember.film/tv/28886)
- [Mischievous Kiss (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/31671)
- [I Am Married...But! (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/155738)
- [In Time with You (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/37083)

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