Fated To Love You’s 12th Anniversary:Remember The Sticky Note Girl

Starring Joe Chen and Ethan Ruan, it has been 12 years since the seminal Taiwanese idol drama Fated To Love You took the country and Asia by storm. The revolutionary original serial that changed the face of Taiwanese idol dramas created the classic character ‘sticky note girl’ Chen Xin Yi and won over legions of fans with its close-to-heart comedic storylines. Even Chen Xin Yi’s signature thick-rimmed spectacles were widely imitated across Asia.

To date, the theme songs, ‘99 Times I Love Him’ and ‘Sticky Note With Wishes’ continue to sit high on the KTV hit charts, and the lively beats and catchy lyrics are still unforgettable. The tunes bring us back to the weekday nights 12 years ago when we would camp before the TV waiting for the drama to start. A bygone era, truly.

Korean Edition: You Are My Destiny

The franchise of the drama was sold to many countries, including South Korea. Titled You Are My Destiny, this remake was aired in 2014 and starred Jang Na-ra and Jang Hyuk. The Korean version was significantly different from its original, especially in the way the male lead was portrayed. Jang Hyuk gave a unique spin to the character with a trademark ‘evil’ laugh and an unusual fashion style.

Thailand Edition: You’re My Destiny

Following the success of the Korean version, Thailand successfully remade Fated To Love You in 2016. This time, the resemblance to the original is almost complete. Every scene in the drama evokes memories of the 2008 Taiwanese hit.

Japanese Edition: You Are My Destiny

Newly released in February this year, the Japanese remake of Fated To Love You star Miori Takimoto as Joe Chen’s ‘sticky note girl’ and Takumi Kizu in Ethan Ruan’s groundbreaking character Ji Cun Xi.

The Japanese remake in 2020 has been said to be too dated, and audience has compared it to its more successful counterparts. Viewers who have previously watched the original in 2008 also complained that this new drama failed to capture the wide rich-poor gap between the male and female leads, which is essentially the highlight of the storyline.