But back in 2001, it was bold and different and unlike any other series that came out in Asia. It was fresh and really hip. The F4 was cool and trendy with their hair and outfits. It was the usual Cinderella storyline, but it was done in a funny and heartwarming way that managed to endear most of my friends and family and literally, it stopped time back in the days. It was a phenomenal series. It literally stopped traffic and launched a "Meteor Fever". We had to go home in the afternoon early just to watch this show on television. Streaming wasn't available then. A lot of people fell in love with Shan Cai and Dao Ming Xi's love story, and how they fought against all odds to be together! The F4 characters alongside Shan Cai's friends were a good supporting cast and Dao Ming Xi's mother was convincing with her portrayal as the villain to the relationship. Dao Ming Xi's transformation from a spoiled, rich brat to a caring boyfriend was something to watch for, and gave us all the "feels"! Buckets of tears were shed.
Looking back, I was watching old clips of this series, and yes it felt like a trip back to nostalgia lane! Yes, I agree that Meteor Garden looks dated, fashion-wise and production wise. It paled in comparison to the drama series of the current. But, nothing can take back the memories! This series has spawned two popular remakes which had become huge hits as well. Lee Min Ho's Jong Pyo was made to look like Jerry Yan's character too, I've noticed and now he is such a popular star. I might be biased with this one, but this first and original version is always the best! :)
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Fact is, for once I've decided to write a review which is very personal and not at all objective. It's based upon the emotions it gave me, not the cinematographic quality of the drama.
Also, I think it's necessary to say that among the 3 versions of the same story, this was the last I watched, despite its being the first live-action based on the popular manga.
And while I consider the Japanese version the best one regarding acting and music and the Korean one better in terms of photography, colours and characterization, I'm ready to face criticism and admit that the Taiwanese version was the most satisfying to me on a romantic level.
The chemistry between Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si is what makes this into a worth watching show. For the first time, I was not rooting for the heroine to end up with the second lead, but for the main couple to finally be together. While watching hana Yori Dango and Boys Before Flowers I found myself constantly thinking: throw that arrogant brat away and choose Rui, or Ji Hoo!
You are allowed to laugh.
I ascribe this to the actors and the way their interactions were portrayed.
While Shan Cai can be annoying at times, she is a consistent character and once she finally realizes who she loves - it takes her some time - she is truly convincing. The same can be said about Dao Ming Si, whose candour as a besotted lover is quite endearing.
Therefore, although I recognize this show is pretty cheap when it comes to costumes, screenshots, photography and overall acting, I still have a fond memory of it and will probably rewatch it in the future.
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acting is good but you should bare jerry yan for the first 3-4 episode but he improve to be a magical actor later. shan ci is the best amoung the three version and you belive that a man could crazyly fall in love with her. more side stories and charecter which gave us time to ubderstand and enjoy the story better. domioshil is a crazy lover but in a good way here. I know japanese version oguri shun was so (extraordinary) bewildering but Zhou Vic is kind and warm. then I guess you should give this a chance.
it's funny because now domyushil image in my memory has changed from Matsujun to Jerry yan.
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This review may contain spoilers
I agree with much of amrita828's review, so basically consider this an extension of that :-) In all three versions, I think the main love interest is a complete tool. And in all three, I think that she should get with romantic possibility #2. However, even though this incarnation of Domyouji is the most horrible to start with, of the three he has the biggest improvement in character and behaviour, so by the end I could see how a relationship between them could work. And they do have chemistry, which helps.
I like the presence of Shan Cai's male friend from her old school (although apparently not enough to remember his name :-) ), I though the provided great comedic relief. And overall I think I laughed more during this series than any of the others. There were several funny, cute moments, such as Si, Lei and the biscuits (vague to avoid spoilers). Rainie is adorable in general, so I liked her as Shan Cai's best friend.
Overall, a fun, enjoyable series.
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In the earlier episodes I felt MG did a terrific job on basing it off of the manga. It's expected that there has to be some variation, but most of it, I felt, was right on. As the show progressed, MG started to develop into it's own story. Not to say that it drifted far off, but events were done differently. Through it all, I felt the actors did a good job as the characters. Dao Ming Si's character acted like the original Domyouji, with minor differences. Shan Cai's character was bull headed like the original Tsukushi, hiding her own true feelings even from herself. The rest of F4 was portrayed well.
When I first started watching this show and saw F4 I wasn't sure how I was going to like them. Dao Ming Si and Hua Ze Lei fit Domyouji and Rui well, but I wasn't sure about the other 2. Mei Zuo as Mimasaka even fit, but Xing Men took me a while to get used to. As Nishikado, he looked different. But at the end I found myself liking him as his character. True I liked the japanese F4 better, and even Kim Bum as Nishikado better, but for the Taiwan version he played his part well.
They only had 2 songs in this drama, the opening and the ending. The opening song "Qing Fei Te Yi" (Can't Help Falling In Love With You) they played throughout the drama. It might just be me, but the song didn't get on my nerves.
For a drama that came out in 2OO1, I thought it was really good. You have to keep in mind while watching it that it came out 1O years ago, so of course fashion and technology is going to be different. The cell phones aren't as advanced as they are now. The filming for the show isn't as high quality as it is for new shows. That aside, I think it's a show worth watching. I really think that if I hadn't of seen the Japanese and Korean version I would've liked this drama a lot more. Because this was the last one that I watched, and I'd already read the manga, I found a lot of it predictable. The ending I felt was cute. I'm not sure if I'll watch the 2nd season yet, I'm still debating.
Ohh another thing I liked about this drama was how it included characters such as QingHe (Kazuya in the manga) who were eliminated in the other dramas.
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If you don't know yet? .. It is the first Asian drama in Philippines that gained so much popularity because of this TV drama started the so-called "Asianovela craze" and also aheeemm ... haha this is the first drama i watch :) well that's why i love asianovela and that time i also collect posters,text,stickers even glow in the dark of each of character of this drama i can imagined wahaha (i'm not that old) :D well i proudly to say that in that time this is the highest rate among all the other asianovela in Philippines and i watch this many times because it's refitted several times in my country :) also this series is the first live-action television adaptation of the manga, followed by its sequel Meteor Garden II and Japanese Hana Yori Dango, its sequel Hana Yori Dango Returns and South Korean Boys Over Flowers.
So if you haven't watch this yet??? and if you will watch this without comparing to other version or manga i think you will like METEOR GARDEN. Can't Help Falling in You is one of the song in this series and i really like it, i think cast is also contribute a good acting coz if they don't why people like it? Also please guys before you watch this remind your self that this drama made in 2001. That's why if you will compare the quality!? darling, obviously it will not as good as the two other dramas but about the story i believed that as much as many people like it hopefully you will like it also :)
That's why i rated this 10 i expect it's reasonable!
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The most addictive qualities of this series are very much present in this version as well. The things that Dao Ming Si say, and his endless longing glances at Shan Cai, are enough to make anyone weak at the knees.
However, at the same time it's his love for her that give birth to a couple of truly disturbing scenes.
Violence and possessiveness is a part of Si's nature in a shocking way. This wasn't there in the Korean or Japanese versions. It made Meteor Garden hard to watch.
Hadn't it been for those scenes I would have had no qualms giving the drama a 9 or 10. Simply for how kick-ass Shan Cai is and the way Si makes my knees wobble.
As I see it, HYD is a mash-up of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and her other books. The arrogant Dao Ming Si and the introverted Hua Ze Lei represent the dual aspects of Mr Darcy's personality. Si's domineering mother is Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Don't let the fact that this is from 2001 scare you off. It's a timeless story. Even crazy hair, bad outfits and old cell phones can't distract you from the heart at its core.
(Plus, he loses the headband and pineapple-hairdo a couple of episodes in. :) )
My advice is:
Watch! But be prepared for a flawed hero that wouldn't work outside of the realm of pure fantasy.
The pluses:
+ Shan Cai's reactions feel more convincing than in any other version of the series, and are full of girl-power
+ The way that the character are explained and the story plays out makes more sense than in any other version
+ The music is less imposing and annoying than in the J&K-versions
The minuses:
- Si's violent and possessive tendencies are on occasion creepy and downright shocking
- The sound and other production values leave something to be desired
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My fave character is Hwa Ze Lei (Vic Chou) (my own preference) ~ but Dao Ming Zi is a great strong lead role who sets the scene and has a lot of character development throughout the series (and series 2). Barbie plays her role of Shan Cai very fittingly she is an actread who can pull off roles of a average profile character yet can be seen aa charismatic at the same time.
The soundtrack for this drama is really good each song is catchy and fitting for the times each ost is used.
Exited to see the remake (2018) a timeless plot like this being renewed with a different cast of new actors will be refreshing. I really hope the new F4 will sing too~
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My first taiwanese drama ever.
Oh gosh. Watching this again literally made me fully nostalgia. The ost, the cast (cough vic zhou cough), the vibe of drama still gave me a goosebumps. I remember i rewatched this drama a hundred times when i was a kid, and even i still having the cds.Anyway, when i watched this drama this year, at this age, there's a lot of things that bothered my mind.
1. The bullying part. oh God if i ever been to that kind of college and society, i would have been kicked out myself first before i got the red letter. I just cant handle this part.
2. Dao ming tse's character. Ugh this man, so freaking sweet yet so scary at the same time. Not to forget to mention his selfishness, but well well, jerry yan successfully potrayed it so damn good. His acting as first timer was quite enjoyable.
3. Hua ze lei. Hellooo?? I am on his team when i was a kid. But again, when i watched it back at this age, Hua Ze lei literally a kind of Libra person. Sorry, i had to put some zodiac here because i dont know how to explain it well. He doesnt know what he wanted. He always followed what people said. He has no principle.
So i guess, thats all. But still, this drama is one my favourite. Old but still gold.
Pssst, Just because this drama gave me a a very first experience of watching good dramas, doesnt mean i dont like the other version. I prefer Hana Dori Yango, to be frankly honest.
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This review may contain spoilers
Flawed, but one of the most impactful dramas of it's kind
Despite the dated clothes, hair, slang and technology of this 2001 drama, you can feel the star power of the main cast and can believe that this was a drama that took Asia by storm when it originally aired. It stars Barbie Hsu, Jerry Yan and Vic Chou as the main leads and has a fairly good supporting cast.It's a classic soapy story: a poor girl stands up to a group of rich and powerful boys at her school and they become enemies. Over time, it turns to love. There's a prominent love triangle, dramatic basketball, kidnapping, attempted rape, a rich and evil mother, the female lead works multiple jobs and at one point becomes homeless, and there's even several dramatic makeover scenes. All in all, it's basically a bunch of tropes in a trench coat calling itself a drama. BUT there is some magic to Meteor Garden, because beneath all of it there is some actual raw emotion. I think that's mostly thanks to the leads (particularly Jerry Yan, who has some truly excellent scenes), but the drama isn't hindered by any of the rest of the cast.
I think that the drama is elevated by the way the female lead is written. Her inner monologues and dilemmas are so relatable, and her inner thoughts are a lot of softer than her outer actions, which I think makes her more compelling as a character. In other versions we just see the outer actions of the female lead, but in Meteor Garden we can watch her start to fall in love with Daoming Si and struggle with those feelings. Jerry Yan also does great work as Daoming Si, managing to convey the sweetness and childlike quality of the character as well as the angry and foolish parts. At the end of the day there's just something so lovable about him that you can sympathize with him even when he's being an idiot, and you can actually understand why Shancai comes to care about him.
Jerry Yan and Barbie Hsu have great chemistry. Their kiss scenes are great, as well as their fighting and teasing conversations. Despite the high drama of the script, there's a natural warmth between them, which I think helps to ground (or at least centre) the drama emotionally.
Obviously, the drama has problems. The first issue is Doaming Si's violent action toward Shancai on two occasions: the forced kiss in the stairwell and the slap later on in the show. Both of these are inexcusable, and it's a great example of the way that violence toward women is depicted as just a 'rough patch' in a romantic relationship, rather than an unacceptable action. The double standard here is clear: if another man forcibly kissed or slapped Shancai, there would be outrage that he was a bastard, but because it's Daoming Si that does it, it's just an emotional low and dramatic high. It becomes more representative of the work they both need to put in to the relationship, rather than demonstrative of an intrinsic problem in Daoming Si's personality (which is what it should be). In no way do I condone or enjoy these scenes, and they do detract from the show for me.
There are other problems: the plot can feel repetitive, the dramatic tensions contrived, Lei is fairly flat and bland as the second male lead, but we're not really watching for any of that, are we? If you wanted a tightly paced and logical drama you have come to the wrong place. The plot is vehicle for romantic character moments and nothing more. If there are gaps or repetitions... well, you can look forward to another kiss scene or dramatic monologue in the rain, can't you?
I've rated this drama higher than it probably deserves, but I can't bear to make it any lower. As an example of a classic soapy drama, there's nothing better, and the sheer power and scope of the romance can be felt even twenty years later. It may be dated and flawed, but it has an earnestly emotional heart that makes many of the other adaptations feel bland and lifeless.
Greatest Weakness: The dated attitude toward violence in relationships
Greatest Strength: The ultra high drama romance between Doaming Si and Shancai
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