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I watched the Korean version first of the franchise, but this review is made after completing the Japanese Hana Dori Yango and the Chinese Meteor Garden 2 and partially watching the Taiwanese Meteor Garden. Therefore my reflection on this show is somewhat biased by other versions I watched. I will not comment much with the storyline as this drama follows the Japanese manga that ran from 1992 to 2003. Since I am not familiar with Japanese student's life around those years, I cannot confirm if the school bullying and toxic youth relationship were quite common back then, that writer Yoko Kamio materialized the issues into her comic. Therefore, all resentment and objections on the story theme are somewhat unjust due to the live adaptation was made from a classic manga. We better watch this drama purely as entertainment only, therefore my review below is primarily over the roles and acting.
First of all, I don't understand why the Korean version has to make the main characters of Joon Pyo and Jan Di to the extreme. Joon Pyo is portrayed way older than Jan Di, the rest of F4, and other high schoolers. He looks like a sugar daddy to Jan Di than a senior student. Plus his curly hairstyle is exaggerated. Jan Di character started nicely by being a heroine to a suicidal boy but soon it goes downhill and her initial confrontations with Joon Pyo is childish with screaming. Plus I detest her kiddy street and party clothes they made her wear. Joon Pyo and Jan Di do not have strong chemistry. I ship her with Ji Hoo, I think their friendship and chemistry is sweet and natural until the end, him being her 'soulmate' as she acknowledged. Actor Kim Hyun Joong did a great job portraying Ji Hoo that viewers get a severe case of Secondary Lead Syndrome. His scene crying over unrequited love with Grand Pa is heartbreaking. Other roles and actors/actresses are pleasing to the eye, this choice of eye candies is possibly to catch the attention of first time viewers. But I won't rewatch it again.
Will not rewatch for the second time, since I like the Japanese version better.
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My introduction to the 2nd male lead syndrome.
My first but not last Lee Min Ho drama/show.
School bullying, first loves, friendship, peer pressure, teen angst, success stories and some evil side characters thrown in made for an interesting watch.
It has been so long that I cannot even remember the details. Some memorable scenes but not a lot.
But this is certainly one of the "must-watch" for every Kdrama novice.
I will not re-watch this show though. It was a good introduction but once is enough.
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dude
Bro I watched it bcs I watched all boys over flowers from all the countries that adapted it, but so far this was the worst one to exist like ? if you’re want to watch something cringe I guess come here but then again, this was made back then and it’s so old so I guess that’s why it was so popular back then. Some of the guys were kinda nice in terms of acting but some also pretty cringe, but the main girl she... just wasn’t it. I’m sorry but that hair needs a 2025 re-run not even a 2023 ?✋ but I’ll give it some peace since its quite old. Many of the old ones are just plain cringe.anywayyyyyyyyyyys-Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
KDrama Classic - A-hole RICH BOY Hero arch for the Homely Poor Girl
what can I say other than you have to watch this because it’s one of the classics.content warning: abusive behavior, kidnapping, violence, cringy relationships, second lead syndrome
Homely poor girl teaches a-hole rich boy how to become a better person. it’s got some over the top acting, the songs get stuck in your head, and you wish the FL would choose the SML instead of the ML!
it’s got all the things you want in a KDrama:
slow motion first meeting
many damsel in distress moments where the ML and SML rescue her
sassy but annoying at times FL
back hugs
flashbacks
many kilig (Filipino word for the feeling of eeeeeeeee??) moments
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EDIT: I have watched tons of dramas since watching this. I admit at the time, I thought it was great. Now, after watching it again and other versions, I realize it wasn't that great. The acting is still the best part of it. The story is fine except Jan Di's character. She is just blah!!! I liked her character in other versions better. Anyway, just amending my review to match how I feel about this drama in the present. I still love Kim Joon though. :-)
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Toxic and frustrating
Ummmmm so yeah one of the worst shows I’ve watched it’s a classic but not a good one. I’m not a fan of any of the adaptations of this series It’s stupid and unnecessary drama like almost at the end he loses his memory for a short ass while like tf was that so unnecessary the whole show is toxic the ML and the Sml their debates who she should have end up with but their both toxic especially the ml is a bully I don’t get how she can fall for any of them she’s so stupid and naive very frustrating to watchVond je deze recentie nuttig?
The thing I didn't like about the serial is the excessive and unnecessary dragging/stretching towards the end of the serial. It tends to get very confusing at the end with Ga Eul and Yi Jung's story. Jun Pyo's mother is honestly very irritating. Personally, I didn't like Ji Hoo as a character even though he was good as a person.
The music of the series is amazing! My favorite songs from the series are: Luck, Almost paradise(title track), Stand By Me and Because I'm Stupid. They're so good that I still listen to them after almost five years and every time I listen to them, I replay a part of this serial in my head.
I have seen the serial twice already and I'm on my way to watch it again! That's how good it is! I highly recommend all of you to watch it.
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When it comes to TV/Movies I know there has to be a certain level of suspension of disbelief from the audience. I am well aware of it and capable of it to a certain extent. That extent ends where sexual assault begins. And also I am so over the I'm an asshole because I have mommy and daddy issues and I'm lonely, but because I'm handsome and random ass side characters who eventually disappear, tell you not to give up on me you'll let it slide bs.
This show actually fairs well until about the 5th episode when the main female protagonist begins to decline from this kick ass girl who actually stands up for herself and eventually turns into the biggest Mary Sue and damsel in distress in my K-Drama journey. Hell I'd venture to say in any drama I've seen. The show throws her into ridiculous situations that cause her to need to be protected and saved at any given moment. I mean practically every character that comes in contact with her turns into a knight in shining armor for her. Eventually I could care less about any of her situations because you knew someone was right around the corner to save her. Jan Di has a problem? No worries it'll be solved in .02 seconds. Jan Di has a wish or desire? No worries it'll be granted faster than you can say Mary Sue.
The show also asked so much from the audience emotionally when it came to Jan Di. It's like they wanted you to feel sorry for her EVERY episode. The girl cried so much that I actually started believing that her tears were like a source of oxygen for her, she needed it to survive. This show is too damn long to spend it feeling sorry for the main female every episode. I'm not emotionally capable of that. I'd rather spend my time rooting for a character than feeling sorry for one. The opportunities to actually root for her were few and far between. She couldn't solve her own problems, but somehow she's the solution to everyone else's.
The secondary characters are actually where this show had a little something something to work with. I spent the majority of the show wishing that Ga Eul was the main female character. She was a breath of fresh air although she was not without issues. Her and Yi Jung's relationship faired a lot better than the two main relationships of the show. Although that scene with Ga Eul, Yi Jung and his father did piss me off thoroughly.
Woo Bin deserved a better storyline. Or maybe just a storyline because he was pretty much an extra besides that super random storyline that he got. I won't spoil it for people who decide for whatever reason to watch this show, but it was so contrived.
Anyway I managed to finish this show because of Ji Hoo (he was sweet. Naive, but sweet) Ga Eul and Yi Jung.
The acting was definitely nothing to write home about. A lot of the actors struggled with emotional scenes so they weren't as hard hitting as the director probably wanted them to be.
I cannot recommend this show as a good show, but if you're drawn to damsels or assholes and/or want to live vicariously through Jan Di and have hot guys save you this show might be for you. If not, please save your sanity and your time and watch a different drama. If you want to watch a flower boy show, watch Flower Boy Next Door, it's better (not great, but better).
Last, but not least Kim Bum has a killer smile.
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But it’s not only about the drama, the romance was exceptional too. With 25 episodes nothing felt rushed or forced. It all seemed natural. It was fun to see her fall in love with Jun Pyo and stay close with Ji Hoo.
That’s the good thing about 25 episodes, everything is evenly spaced and not forced or rushed. On the bad side it stirs up some impatience and you might find yourself wanting to rush through because it is a very, very long drama. But a really good one.
Music: Being a fan of Kpop, I loved the soundtrack. It includes songs from SHINee and SS501. It was really interesting to hear them, though they felt a bit over played towards the end.
Cast/Acting: The boys of F4 did a wonderful job. They seemed really close, like actual friends instead of actors. Not to mention, they’re all hot. Hye Sun was wonderful. I admit I didn’t like her at first, I thought she wasn’t very pretty. But my opinion changed after the show and after seeing what she looks like girlish instead of tomboyish.
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