This review may contain spoilers
Surprisingly ended up loving this drama
Honestly, I was hesitant about watching this version only because its a bit older. Like you know when the episodes just look old like the coloring is off lol but seeing others recommend this through feeds I decided to try it and I am happy I did! I will agree with some of the comments that the acting is pretty cringe worthy at times and Ku Hye-sun's acting was a bit over the top sometimes but if you can get past that then I believe you'll love this version like I did. Its hilarious and heartbreaking-but its still overall a light watch. Here are a few key things I liked:1. Jan Di had a hobby-she was good at swimming
2. Ji-hu's character. period lol. I literally fell in love with him and I honestly wished that Jan Di picked him instead
3. Jan Di's character isn't as frustrating as Shan Cai's character when it came to expressing her feelings. In Meteor Garden it took her forever to express her feelings and it became overwhelmingly frustrating that I was talking out loud like girl you like him enough. Here Jan Di's feelings are more natural, even though she doesn't say it until later in the show you still get the vibe and when she finally says it, there's no dragging it. She just said it.
4. the show fit everything it needed without it being draggy- at least in my opinion
There's not too much that I didn't particularly like in the drama aside from the things I already mentioned before. But I think the one that stands out the most is Jun-pyo's character. He just didn't win me over. In Meteor Garden Dao Mi Sing literally kept giving up everything and didn't care, but I feel like Jun-pyo actually went through the motions that his mom wanted him to do. I get he was trying to be more mature and so forth but still.
Anyway, I always love when I try a drama I don't think I'm going to like and end up loving it lol. Give this drama a try and you might love it like I do :)
Was this review helpful to you?
Ugh ok-
The guys aren’t really attractive. That’s mean but it’s true. Their hair was just stupid and honestly, so is the plot. They were straight up bullying people and making them commit death like what?! It makes no sense!There is humor, it’s kind of cute, a little confusing with who Geum Jan Di ends up with-Yoon Ji Hoo or Goo Joon Pyo-, very toxic, taught me things, wild, but.. I liked it.
I was introduced to Lee Min Ho from this drama <3 and also, it was one of my very first kdramas.
I definitely recommend this for beginners cause it is a MUST WATCH kdrama and will let you get used to the idea of them
Just.. be prepared
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
There’s a lot of issues and actions in this drama that will not hold up in today’s society for korean dramas. But when it aired over 10 years ago, it was just so addicting and a fun journey.
If you’re craving a tropey, 00’s drama with an annoying but ICONIC soundtrack to have a simple, fun time? This is it.
Was this review helpful to you?
It Was Great During Its Time
If you have watched/read "Hana Yori Dango" (Meteor Garden was also a great adaptation, but comes almost a decade later), you expect to watch a social hierarchy struggle with an adorable love triangle giving you false hope for relationships and daydreaming your HYD life. That doesn't happen with "Boys Over Flowers".I watched this during its air time in 2009. At that time, I screamed a perfect 10 rating. Any human that even hinted interest in K-Drama's I shouted this is a must watch. AT THAT TIME it was the perfect representation of what K-Dramas were. overdramatized high school love stories where some sort of social status affected the relationship. The actors were gorgeous, the love triangle kept you on your toes. It deserved a 10.
Re-watching it 13 years later had me cringe, roll my eyes, and scoff every episode. It hasn't aged well (especially in America), and I can't seem to understand how I glorified the terrible relationship all the characters had.
The acting is AWFUL! Another shock when re-watching because I remember praising the main actors for a beautiful portrayal of the characters. Watching it again and it was a total cringefest. I couldn't believe at how terrible the lines are delivered, how stiff and awkward they all seem on camera. The terrible, "I'm sexy, but brooding" or "I'm cute, but sad/hurt" looks made them all look constipated.
Granted, I no longer suggest this to my new K-Drama fans, I DO mention it to them as a should watch, or at least attempt to because of the impact it had DURING ITS TIME. I stress quite a bit that it just does not age well.
The OST still stands as one of my favorites! I'm heartbroken "Paradise" is no longer a featured song in every episode during every happy moment (it only plays as the intro), and the replacement "Bang, Bang, Boom" is lackluster in the spots where "Paradise" should have been. The OST is addicting and a beautiful mix of bops and ballads. Most of the songs still make their appearance on my Spotify lists, today.
I based my ratings off of my recent watch. I said it previously and meant it. Watching it during its run, I absolutely rated it a 10.
If you are curious or want to be able to say you watched a K-Drama classic, I say go for it. I will add not to expect much, and definitely be aware that in this current time, it's problematic.
Was this review helpful to you?
I’ll never understand
every time I'm reminded of this series I get annoyed especially remembering how much time I spent hearing Paradise by T-max... that song shaved at least a year off my life I think... this wasn't my first impression of kdramas (when people say this I feel bad) but I was a fan of Hana Yori Dango so I was interested when it came out... however it's been 12 years and I've never rewatched it and never will because I love myself and hated this adaptation but the OST that I can still hear in my head, truly hauntingWas this review helpful to you?
Jan Di belonging to poor family fell in love with Goo Joon Pyo (heir of Shinhwa group). His mother tried to create many misunderstanding and stop them but she fails. Their love remain the same.(So call True love)
The most sadest part for me was for Ji Hoo. He also like Jan Di but for friendship he gave up his feeling .He is great and supportive.
Music-All the music in this drama is good but for me I would say the violin music (Ji hoo theme ) because it makes me feel the sadness and loneliness felt by Ji Hoo.
Acting of all the actor/actress are very good and adorable.Their coordination and timing is very perfect.
It could have been more better if they had shown that Ji Hoo had found his girl which understand him very well.
Watching it after so many years again I realized how the time has passed away . All the actor have aged so as we ..
Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful drama with good lesson to our lifes
In the beginning, I couldn't enjoy this drama very much, because of excessive bullying etc, but, after some episodes, the story and the characters started being interesting, and more and more, enjoyable. The inside and deep feelings of the boys, that are rich but meanwhile have many problems in your family and life, make us understand that humans are humans, don't matter what do you do or which family you came from, we are no different. We need to be lovely with everyone and understand the pain of our friends and stop judging people by appearance. After all, i found that this drama is beautiful and have a good lesson to us, to take it to our life. I recommend for everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Iconic Drama
This drama is one of biggest hit, story wise is not really good but if you're a avid consumer of korean culture it's a must-watch (even just to get the reference). F4 is such a iconic meme, you will always see someone mention it.Acting wise is so so, ML and FL dont have chemistry at all. The ending barely makes sense (what the hell happened with mom bad btch? Just give up like that?Since when she wants to be a doctor?).
Now, on serious note bullying is one big problem on Korea (in the whole world really) and having a drama being nonchalant about it is icky to me. You cant go around saying that bullies can change once they fall in love and deserve a happy ending too, bullies should be punished to the extension of law.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
To begin with the story is very good, really, there are a lot of things I liked and others I didn't like. But unfortunately some characters are very dumb, which is a counterpoint to others that are quite emblematic. I don't even like to mention the main one that gave me the creeps, not because of the acting but because of the personality of the character that seems like a child. As they put it on the youtube video, there is a lot wrong with this drama and it's not just the most violent and psychologically unstable parts. Clearly this drama will be on the list of those I would never watch in my life.I know that a lot of people were introduced to the world of dramas because of this, and that the vast majority watched it years ago, but for me who watched it for the first time now it was a huge crap. The ost is quite weak compared to others from the same year.
I confess that I only watched until the end because I wanted to know who the soul mate was and what she would lose, according to what that psychic said.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Jun-pyo was so toxic regardless of him changing.
Jun-pyo's character was like any of the F4 stories, the leader of F4. And the bully of the whole school. Leading him to do whatever he wants. At first, I LOVED the drama. Like I couldn't get enough of it. But now, it's like "meh." I've never realized how toxic Jun-pyo was. Even with Jan-di in his life at first. Remember that episode where Jun-pyo grabbed Jan-di by the collar because he was pissed about her photoshoot with a guy? Yeah. There was NO REASON for Jun-pyo to do that. Sure, you could say that Jun-pyo never had a girlfriend so he didn't know how to act. But he had a whole damn sister yet was never hands on hands with her. Or any girl in the school other than Jan-di. Personally I think Meteor Garden is better than this show.Also, Remember when Jan-di supposedly slept with a guy? Jun-pyo couldn't care less if the students did shit to her. Knowing that they would.
Toxic relationships in K-dramas are normalize or even were. Even if Jun-pyo changed and came back for Jan-di doesn't mean he's a good person overall. Also. Don't even get me started with Yijang and Woobin. I love Woobin but like come on, Jun-pyo in the first few episodes gave Jan-di the F4 card. Leading her to get emotionally tortured by the students. Anybody could tell that a Boy bullying a Girl is wrong. Ji-hoo was the only one that somewhat helped Jan-di? Y'know how the guys tried to r@pe her? Or at least I think. Anyways, Ji-hoo came and told those mf's to get lost. Is Jun-pyo stupid? Jun-pyo is literally telling a bunch of guys to go and torture a teenager. A girl at that.
Honestly, the only thing I really liked in this show was the damn music. The intro and outro music, the acting was okay for a 2009 show but Jun-pyo's character could've been better. Also. Before I end this review, I wanna say that Jan-di's character got somewhat weak overtime. She was strong and brave when it came to F4, but later on she became more stupid and soft. I've re watched this show probably over 3 times, but I suggest you re watch it if you wanna understand the background relationships like Eun, Yijang, Woobin, JI-hoo, Jan-di's family and more. The main couple is cute looks wise but relation wise? Not much.
Was this review helpful to you?
