The Taiwanese Meteor Garden is the 1st TV adaptation of Boys over Flowers based on the Japanese comic series Hana Yori Dango written by Yoko Kamio. The storyline follows the love story between poor girl Shan Cai and rich boy Dao Ming Si who meet at an exclusive university. Rich boy Si is the leader of the clique F4 (Flower Four) and routinely bullies students who irritate him. The F4 members Si, Hua Ze Lei, Mei Zuo and Xi Men are rich heirs to Taiwanese businesses. Poor girl Shan Cai stands up for a friend and receives the dreaded red card (signal for the student body to bully a person). To everyone's surprise she does not break down at the repeated bullying incidents and instead declares war on the F4 earning their respect and rich boy Si's affection. Their ensuing relationship ebbs and flows.
What I liked a) Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si clicked a couple. Their kisses were refreshingly unchaste. The moments of happiness were charming. His joy at her first voluntary kiss. Her pleasure at his Meteor light display at her apartment. The narration of Shan Cai's thoughts allowing the viewer to know she loved Si. b) Hua Ze Lei was a true rival for the Si. Shan Cai chooses him over Si at one point. I liked how this series addressed that Hua Ze Lei was formerly autistic and how this directly contributed to his low-key character. d) F4 loyalty and friendship and chemistry grew throughout the series. Mei Zuo and Xi Men seemed interchangeable while the Korean and Japanese characters were more distinct.
What I did not like a) Shan Cai's refusal to admit her any part of her feelings bugged me. Si's love was portrayed as overwhelming. b) Violence against women was off-putting (Shan Cai was slapped in the face multiple times and beaten when bullied). c) Shan Cai's friend Chen Qing had a big mouth. The Japanese and Korean versions deleted this irritating character. d) The actors had limited acting skills (this also marred the Korean version) but grow into their roles. e) production values were low quality. f) Shan Cai's parents were irritating.
Comparisons between season 1 - Taiwanese Meteor Garden (2001), Japanese Hana Yori Dango (2005), and the Korean Boys over Flowers (2009). Characters and my order of preference.
Female lead: 1. Japanese Makino had spunk loved the 2 hop then punch and admitted her feelings at the airport. 2. Korean Jan-di had a spark in 2 favorite scenes, when she smacks down the boyfriend who cheated on her best friend Ga-eul and then tried to avoid admitting her error to Jun Pyo offering the apple versus apology. 3. Taiwanese Shan Cai was easily swayed away from pursuing her true love and only admits part of her feelings. When she stops the bus and runs back to him, their bickering to relief was portrayed beautifully.
Male lead: 1. Korean Jun-pyo was perfect combination of spoiled, headstrong, and first time in love. The character was manipulated and willing to marry a woman he didn't love, which the Japanese and Taiwanese characters refused. 2. Japanese Domyouji had a fire and an evolved from spoiled man-child to worthy love. The first date elevator scene showed chemistry from the get-go. 3.Taiwanese Si had a cruel streak that was tempered but remained. He portrayed the desperate intensity of love very well. His admission of love in front of the fake cousin was palpable.
F4 members:
Love rival: 1. Taiwanese Hua Ze Lei was a true rival and friend to both leads. He provided wisdom. The beach scene where he makes his move on Shan Cai was excellent. 2. Japanese Hanazawa Ru was a calm and wise friend to both leads, he portrayed the regret at missing the opportunity for love well. 3. Korean Ji-hoo was the most wooden and never much of a rival and more of a friend. The hockey game where he forces Jun-pyo to admit his feelings was a highlight.
Number two: 1. Korean So Yi-jung sculptor, playboy, saxophone player had terrific chemistry with the actress that played Jan Di's best friend Ga-eul. Their love story was compelling. Some overacting (on the rooftop with Ga-eul), but his smile helped to overcome this. 2. Japanese Soujiroh had a terrific mix of fire, humor and wisdom and was the best actor. I could have used more romance. 3. Taiwanese Xi Men was less distinct, and initially threw me off with the glasses and preppy look. In episodes 25/26 his acting peaked as he explored a potential relationship with Xiao You. He was frank about his intentions but tender at her forthright declaration.
Number three: 1. Japanese Akira, was likable and crucial to the F4 balance. Top notch F4 chemistry. 2. Taiwanese Mei Zu, cared about the continuation of F4 throughout the series. 3. Korean Woo- bin, lost the storyline lottery and had little to do. Excellent chemistry with his F4 cohorts.
Bottom line: I found each country's adaptation watchable and enjoyable.
1. Korean Boys Over Flowers was my first Asian drama and has a special spot in my heart. The production values, the clothes, the locations, the music, were the best in this series. The acting was second best but the actor's intangibles appealed to me more making this adaptation my favorite.
2. Japanese Hana Yori Dango zipped along in a compact 9 episodes and was the best acted and written series. The airport declaration of love between our leads (final scene of season 1 was my favorite scene of all three adaptations.
3.Taiwanese Meteor Garden, hooked me as the series progressed. The desperate love and denial between the leads was the most palpable in this adaptation. The acting of this cast improved over the series. The pacing was the slowest but worked.
What I liked a) Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si clicked a couple. Their kisses were refreshingly unchaste. The moments of happiness were charming. His joy at her first voluntary kiss. Her pleasure at his Meteor light display at her apartment. The narration of Shan Cai's thoughts allowing the viewer to know she loved Si. b) Hua Ze Lei was a true rival for the Si. Shan Cai chooses him over Si at one point. I liked how this series addressed that Hua Ze Lei was formerly autistic and how this directly contributed to his low-key character. d) F4 loyalty and friendship and chemistry grew throughout the series. Mei Zuo and Xi Men seemed interchangeable while the Korean and Japanese characters were more distinct.
What I did not like a) Shan Cai's refusal to admit her any part of her feelings bugged me. Si's love was portrayed as overwhelming. b) Violence against women was off-putting (Shan Cai was slapped in the face multiple times and beaten when bullied). c) Shan Cai's friend Chen Qing had a big mouth. The Japanese and Korean versions deleted this irritating character. d) The actors had limited acting skills (this also marred the Korean version) but grow into their roles. e) production values were low quality. f) Shan Cai's parents were irritating.
Comparisons between season 1 - Taiwanese Meteor Garden (2001), Japanese Hana Yori Dango (2005), and the Korean Boys over Flowers (2009). Characters and my order of preference.
Female lead: 1. Japanese Makino had spunk loved the 2 hop then punch and admitted her feelings at the airport. 2. Korean Jan-di had a spark in 2 favorite scenes, when she smacks down the boyfriend who cheated on her best friend Ga-eul and then tried to avoid admitting her error to Jun Pyo offering the apple versus apology. 3. Taiwanese Shan Cai was easily swayed away from pursuing her true love and only admits part of her feelings. When she stops the bus and runs back to him, their bickering to relief was portrayed beautifully.
Male lead: 1. Korean Jun-pyo was perfect combination of spoiled, headstrong, and first time in love. The character was manipulated and willing to marry a woman he didn't love, which the Japanese and Taiwanese characters refused. 2. Japanese Domyouji had a fire and an evolved from spoiled man-child to worthy love. The first date elevator scene showed chemistry from the get-go. 3.Taiwanese Si had a cruel streak that was tempered but remained. He portrayed the desperate intensity of love very well. His admission of love in front of the fake cousin was palpable.
F4 members:
Love rival: 1. Taiwanese Hua Ze Lei was a true rival and friend to both leads. He provided wisdom. The beach scene where he makes his move on Shan Cai was excellent. 2. Japanese Hanazawa Ru was a calm and wise friend to both leads, he portrayed the regret at missing the opportunity for love well. 3. Korean Ji-hoo was the most wooden and never much of a rival and more of a friend. The hockey game where he forces Jun-pyo to admit his feelings was a highlight.
Number two: 1. Korean So Yi-jung sculptor, playboy, saxophone player had terrific chemistry with the actress that played Jan Di's best friend Ga-eul. Their love story was compelling. Some overacting (on the rooftop with Ga-eul), but his smile helped to overcome this. 2. Japanese Soujiroh had a terrific mix of fire, humor and wisdom and was the best actor. I could have used more romance. 3. Taiwanese Xi Men was less distinct, and initially threw me off with the glasses and preppy look. In episodes 25/26 his acting peaked as he explored a potential relationship with Xiao You. He was frank about his intentions but tender at her forthright declaration.
Number three: 1. Japanese Akira, was likable and crucial to the F4 balance. Top notch F4 chemistry. 2. Taiwanese Mei Zu, cared about the continuation of F4 throughout the series. 3. Korean Woo- bin, lost the storyline lottery and had little to do. Excellent chemistry with his F4 cohorts.
Bottom line: I found each country's adaptation watchable and enjoyable.
1. Korean Boys Over Flowers was my first Asian drama and has a special spot in my heart. The production values, the clothes, the locations, the music, were the best in this series. The acting was second best but the actor's intangibles appealed to me more making this adaptation my favorite.
2. Japanese Hana Yori Dango zipped along in a compact 9 episodes and was the best acted and written series. The airport declaration of love between our leads (final scene of season 1 was my favorite scene of all three adaptations.
3.Taiwanese Meteor Garden, hooked me as the series progressed. The desperate love and denial between the leads was the most palpable in this adaptation. The acting of this cast improved over the series. The pacing was the slowest but worked.