F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers (2021)

I haven't seen the other versions but I don't think I will now.

I haven't seen other versions except for the first few eps of Meteor Garden, but I can already say this is the best. I think the other versions will really dissapoint after this, because it is the most annoyance-free drama I have ever seen - and that is not easy with a story like this one. Like the story just flows so smoothly, plus its kind of changed up so the new outlook on things is the cherry on top we needed, the characters have great morals, not a single one is annoying its like you can understand them all. The ACTING!! 10/10 no doubt about it, especially when its not usually the case with high school romances. Im totally digging the bromance, all members of F4 are given good screen time unlike in meteor garden imo. Also, I keep replaying the OST all day long!!! Its that good and you can't get bored of it and when it starts playing at the cliffhanger it gives me chills for real. Now I regret watching it when its airing cuz I simply can't wait for the next eps.

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Amazing so far

I'm reviewing this from the perspective of someone who have watch the 2018 Meteor Garden and Boys Over Flower and read the Original Manga Hana Yori Dango.

I like the cinematography of F4 Thailand ALOT. As someone who work in the field of cinematography, I can tell the director put a lot of effort to condense all the details into each scenes in each episodes. Unlike the 2018 meteor garden that has 40 plus episodes, this one only has 16.

The wardrobe choice is amazing, they use branded clothing in a lot of the scene and i love it because that's how the F4 dress in Hana Yori Dango. Flashy and stylish. It's also realistic to me since i'm used to seeing real life Thai conglomerate's son and daughters dress in real life and in social media, these days they use exactly how Thyme and the other f4 dress lol. The flashy Balenciaga jacket, Louis Vuitton outfit, the fancy cars etc In my opinion it really suits the characters. I prefer the wardrobe of the F4 thailand than 2018 Meteor Garden. Not to mention i love that the setting is in highschool and the others use uniform. It really is like Hana Yori Dango! Unlike the 2018 meteor garden that uses the university setting, i prefer the highschool setting because i love when movie adaptation don't change the important aspects such as the settings of the original plot . (highschool/uni) it really is a point plus for me.

I like Gorya's character more than Shanchai of 2018 Meteor garden. Gorya's character is the perfect balance of smart, independent, nice and she doesn't look dumb. And the way the episodes goes you can see Gorya's feelings for Thyme develop so it's more realistic if in the end she likes Thyme. Shanchai on the other hand always seems to dislike Dao Ming Si and she's always rejecting his advances and overall didn't look like she's into him in general lol and it took so many episodes and draggy plot for her to finally seems to be into Dao Ming Si? Even now I forgot which episodes in the 2018 Meteor Graden where Shanchai actually make the first move for Dao Min Si or is willing to receive his advances. Is there even any? hmm. In the same plot and scenes, Gorya and Shanchai both gives different reaction, and for me Gorya's reaction is the best because she's actually seems to be into the male lead which is Thyme. And it's so refreshing to watch. I didn't have the feeling of "I feel so bad for ML because FL keeps rejecting him" that I had when I watch 2018 Meteor Garden.

Thyme was acted by the actor really great so far. I've never watch Bright before, this was my first time. I think his acting skill is nice, It was shocking to see reviews that say his acting is bad? It shows that people really does have different opinion. I thought the actor of Thyme really was good at expressing his facial emotions to show his feelings. The characters of Thyme is better in this version than Dao Ming Si or Gu Jun Pyo. Dao Ming Si threw food at Shanchai's face and Gu Jun Pyo and Domyouji Tsukasa in the manga ordered boys to as*ault the female lead and I'm glad they didn't add those in this adaptation. It's 2022 I'm glad they figured those shouldn't be romanticized. Oh and I love in episode 5 Thyme said to Hana the only person she should love is herself. Yasssss. We love self love campaign <3 That's my favorite part, thank you for including that! That's so thoughtful. Always remember to Love yourself first! I like Dao Ming Si alot, I thought Dylan wang was handsome and cute and played Dao Ming Si well. Bright also did a great job. I like both. Lee Min Ho also was really good and i remembered I like his acting as Gu jun pyo back then when I watch it years ago. So yeah there's no one i like best, i like them all. they're all attractive in different ways.

Love the mixture of romance and comedy, there was many scenes that i thought funny. Btw i love how Thyme is such a big softie and very soft to Gorya at alot of times. Like in episode 5 where Gorya was sleeping in his lap and he spoke "Gorya" so soft and sweet to ask her to be his gf and when their lips almost touch while Thyme wanted to turn off the lamp and Gorya shifted and Thyme GASPED and was so shy about it, it's so cute AHAHAHA. He's like such a giant tall baby who is actually a hopeless romantic and is such a SIMP? Lol he have so many simp moments i find so dang adorable. I just love mean looking ML who turns out to be a simp to the FL character.

And btw It's funny for me when i see reviews that the plot is cliche, like this is literally an adaptation of a manga that was published in the 90's that has alot of adaptation already and the plot basically follows the original plot lol so idk what they expect. As a Hana Yori Dango fan who have read the manga from yearsss ago, when I am about to watch it's adaptation, I am expecting it to be like the Hana Yori Dango manga which is it is what it is, cliche plot or whatever. But that's what I'm expecting though. If i wanted an original plot drama i dont think i would be watching Hana Yori Dango's 23478287742thh adaptation? lol

Anyway the F4 cast is very good looking and tall, it really is like the manga. I like it.

Love the hairstyle of the F4 too. they all have different hairstyle. Love MJ's side trim alot and that ponytail. He looks cool.

Oh and i love how this adaptation is modern and just like real life. there's twitter, instagram and they use instagram story, instagram story close friend etc lol .

and i thought the scene in episdoe 5 where they search about hanna's past and there was her old school information and stuff and there was like her paren'ts name and the details like she's from the us and stuff, basically in the sheet was all the info and how she change her name in the new sheet is so well done. Oh and btw i also noticed the little detail like how Hana gave little Thyme cookies and there was his name in the cookies and even CAT SHAPE COOKIES because thyme has cat named DANGO (love the reference) like i said yall i can tell the director put alot of thoughts in the little detail.

And i love how they make hana like an obsessive sasaeng fans alot because it justify her action and made it more realistic at least in my opinion. Because in the 2018 meteor garden version, i forgot the name of the character that was shanchai's bestfriend in the uni, but basically she liked dao ming si but there was no backstory to it. Meanwhile I know in the original manga, Makino's bestfriend was childhood classmate with the F4 and she had surgery in germany to become prettier after she was rejected by Domyouji. So you see the Thailand version is more like the original manga and i love that! I didn't like how the 2018 meteor garden didn't include that lol. I think 2018 meteor garden change so much important scene like how they change the red card to the joker card and made the card game thing. Lol

I think 2018 meteor garden was tryna omit the bullying cuz it's the modern era now and we know those things shouldn't be normalized but since the original manga has those, i prefer the thai version. and tbh bullying is still happening these days and it shouldn't be normalized but it's nice to see that Gorya is trying to put an end to it by doing what she did. So i feel like the thai version isnt normalizing the bullying but rather raising awareness on this bullying issue that i still happening in many school around the world. And i really see that there is alot of moral lesson put in the F4 thailand so kuddos to the director! hope to see more moral lessons in the next episodes.

And btw i love how helpful Kaning is. She's a nice bestfriend who helps FL alot. In the 2018 meteor garden shanchai's bestfriend was useless in many scenes and even in one episodes shanchai almost died because of her, she was like having fun with one of the f4 who is linked with her. lol
i prefer the FL's bestfriend in the F4 thailand basically

Btw it can be seen like I dislike the 2018 meteor garden but that's not true, i enjoyed watching it but i just prefer F4 thailand for now. But i need to compare it to 2018 meteor garden to show why I think the f4 thailand is better in my opinion

Very excited to see more episodes from F4 Thailand

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A story about hope, love and forgiveness. " A grass will rise to the stars"

Honestly F4 Thailand overall at it's core is a story about hope, love and forgiveness. This the ONLY version that successfully addresses the problematic aspects of the original story and allows the MC to realise they were a horrible person and actually do something about it. It has some of the best directing/production in a series I have seen in a long time and uses a lot of beautiful symbolism. It isn't just a high school romance it has more to say and tries to make social commentary on society as a whole by looking at class divisions and how the decisions we make can ripple towards multiple people whether we acknowledge this or not. It also talks about the power of change and like the slogan says ' a grass will rise to the stars' and how the efforts of one person can be the catalyst needed to make a big change. It is one of my most favourite shows ever!! I love the amazing character development and everything about this show. There was so much hard work and love put in by the production team and it shows!!! <3 <3

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BEST ADAPTATION OF BOF EVER MADE!

Boys over flowers (Korean version) was the first drama I ever watched back in 2012, it marked my life for the better and I also rewatched it a good couple of times haha. It didn't stop there, I watched the Taiwanese version (Meteor Garden), Japanese Version (Hana Yori Dango) and also the anime version haha. I even got to the conclusion that, even though it is quiet a toxic story, it means a lot to me, and I just love it! I love watching how every version tries for something new, and what they offer in every role.

But this Thai version, just outdid the original story, and I still can't believe it! I didn't have that much faith in it, I was ready to suffer all along, but little did I know how much this story could be modified, without changing what made it so magical in the first place! I loved every bit of it, I got scared every time the story was advancing because I just knew what would happen, and I didn't want them to do the same all over again! Also, I love how they really showed change and redemption on the characters, mostly Thyme, whom I believe, this is the best he's ever been portrayed and written!

I still have to watch the Chinese version of this story, but until now, I'm so thankful I got to watch this version and did not leave it aside!

10/10 would recommend!!

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"Captivating Drama Experience: F4 Thailand Sets a New Standard"

"F4 Thailand is an absolute gem that had me hooked from the start. It's my first foray into Thai dramas, and what an introduction it was! The storyline is gripping, with just the right balance of drama and humor to keep you on the edge of your seat. But what truly sets F4 Thailand apart is the incredible chemistry between Bright Vachirawit and Tu Tontawan. Their on and off-screen dynamic is electrifying, making their love story utterly compelling . And it's not just them—the entire cast delivers outstanding performances, bringing depth and authenticity to their characters. With stunning cinematography and a perfectly curated soundtrack, F4 Thailand is a must-watch for any drama enthusiast. It's no wonder this series has captivated audiences worldwide."

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I need compensation for the number of tears I shed. WOW this show was good.

Before I begin this review, I have not seen any boys over flowers adaptations at all. I've only heard of them and will not be comparing the 'boys over flowers' shows, but F4 Thailand caught my attention because of all the positive feedback the show was getting when it was airing. However, back then I just decided to put it on my plan to watch and just hope to see it someday. I did not expect the attachment and emotions I would feel. Even writing this review, I feel so empty now that it's over. I graduated from school this year, and am hoping to attend university soon and I feel as though I watched this show at the perfect time possible.

Now to break the show down. I do want to begin by saying that this show is not NEAR perfect neither are the characters. But one thing that I admire the most in any show, is character development. Character development alone was done perfectly, watching this show and living through each character, seeing their issues, their actions, their behaviors, and their personality adapt and change throughout was perfect. The OST was beautiful, you have no idea how many times I would play the OST while watching this and I know that even after this show I will probably end up playing the OST repeatedly. I hardly ever skipped the intro and honestly, the OST alone contributed to the amount of tears I shed throughout.

This whole drama is GENUINELY a rollercoaster, some moments have you laughing others have you sobbing your eyes out and- others have you just screaming into your pillow out of frustration. But nonetheless, the cast was perfect, the attachment I felt throughout was genuine, and I don't believe I'll ever forget this show. Sure, it has its cliche moments and classic tropes, but I feel like that was this show's charm. Thank you, F4 Thailand for putting a wide smile on my face throughout.

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Liked it more than I thought I would

TBH, I watched it because I've watched the other versions and I wanted to compare them. This one was better than I thought it would be. I don't watch a lot of shows from Thailand because there is a lot of melodrama and a lot of over-acting, but this surprised me. In the interest of full disclosure - I skipped A LOT because of the bullying. The bullying was excessive and over the top (and I don't think it's ever okay to hit a girl, just saying).

This version was shorter than the Korean version, which was a plus. Some of the storylines were changed/omitted/combined, which I appreciated.

There is a lot of yelling. It seems like everyone yells. I don't particularly care for this. As far as the ML and FL are concerned, she wasn't a pushover (for the most part) and the ML wasn't as bad as in other versions. Honestly, I've never bought her liking the ML in any version, just because he's so toxic. However, this is the first version that I didn't ship the FL with the 2ML. They were better as friends in this version.

ML - his hair wasn't as ridiculous as in other versions (petty, I know, but it really bothered me!), and I did like this actor's take on the way his personality changed because of knowing the FL. He wasn't as high-handed, and I could sense some vulnerability in him.

Story - they took out a few of the overabundance of terrible things that happened to the FL and her family, which was great. Especially in the Korean version, it was one thing after another, just to make the story longer. I liked the way they treated the amnesia segment toward the end because they didn't bring in yet another girl to compete with the FL.

The ML's mom - oh my goodness, she was chilling to watch. I thought she ought to have something happen to her because of all that she put everyone else through, but her scene at the end was touching.

The ML and FL were interesting together. I can't really say they had "chemistry" as we know it, but they certainly had arguing down to a science.

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Such great acting from the main cast

After seeing a lot of the different adaptations of the F4/Boys Over Flowers story over the years, I couldn't help watching this while comparing them to the others. This version held its own and I think it captured the key points without putting too much filler into it while simultaneously including some side stories that I don't recall being in any of the other versions. (It's been a long time since I watched the older versions so maybe they were there and I don't remember them.)

Right off the bat, I really liked Bright's portrayal of Thyme. (All of the F4 guys were phenomenal but Bright in particular.) I thought the series did a good job at showing Thyme's personal growth and change over the course of the episodes, especially showcasing just how far he had come when he reverted back to his old self after losing his memory. Bright did a great job showing the many complicated sides to Thyme and how different he acted around different people.

Kavin and MJ reminded me so much of their Taiwanese counterparts in the 2001 Meteor Garden adaptation. Like, at times, I felt like I was literally watching Vanness Wu and Ken Chu. They even had the same basic look which, yeah, it makes sense since it's the same character. But it was just so bang on that I could immediately tell who was who when the series started.

I was kind of hoping they would have gone further into Kavin and Kaning's relationship (I guess I'm so used to series having multiple couples now) but I understand why it was left the way it was since that's how it was in the original manga. Their story was kind of left open ended.

For a series that I knew what was going to happen and what it was about, I wasn't prepared to be so invested or emotional about it. Especially the rage I felt over the bullying. The series is literally based around bullying but it's still so frustrating to watch which I guess means they did a great job at showing it. I did like how they included the bit about them going to all their victims and apologizing and, even though it was like a montage with narration over it, you can still see how the victims could finally let go of it, even if it doesn't fix what happened. Sometimes, that's all they need.

This was also a better showcase of how kids mimic their parents' behavior and the effects it can have on their life early if they don't recognize it themselves and change before it's too late. Thyme was on a fast track to being as cold and heartless as his mother and, while he wanted to please her, he didn't take a moment to step back and realize she had zero love around her and that was how he'd end up in the end. On the other side of the spectrum, you have Gorya who has basically nothing but love and yet she's happy and has healthy relationships with her close friends and her family. From one extreme to the next, they needed to find a middle ground which came at the end of a long and bumpy road.

I don't know if I could watch this again, seeing how frustrating the overall plot is. But I did enjoy it and I think it's a great addition to the Boys Over Flowers catalog. I would recommend it but just keep in mind, it's not for the faint of heart or if you want a light and fluffy romance. The characters are flawed and sometimes have to learn the hard way from their mistakes. But it makes the ending that much more satisfying, in my opinion.

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Best version

This is the best version of the manga. However, I'm a bit disappointed in some aspects regarding Thyme's behaviour. I don't understand why they wanted to push this 'bad boy' agenda because it doesn't fit in. His anger is not an excuse for beating people, like in the first episodes where he would just casually beat anyone on the street. Obviously, when he tried to PUNCH Gorya was so f****ng wrong and inexcusable. But people still romanticise it/ try to excuse him (i literally saw people asking for the name of the drama just because of that scene).

The actress is so good, considering the fact that it's her debut, i wouldn't guess. Thyme's actor was lacking in the first 2-3 episodes but he got on track. I think what I hate the most is the whole bullying thing. The fact that he used to bully her it's alone a weird position to accept to become close to your perpetrator. And she was severely bullied, PTSD thing. The first 2 episodes are nonsense to me and I think they just wanted to pay tribute to the manga but the way they retold the story was much better.

Gorya and Thyme relationship was wholesome (not considering the first episodes and the one when he tries to punch the sh*t out of her), so that's why I don't understand why they needed to make Thyme so violent when his character is still interesting even though he's not 'a broken child'. The whole poor-rich dynamic was itself satisfactory for their hardships in relationship so I don't see why he needs to act like a criminal.

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Better than I thought it would be

I must say I started it with preconceptions.

I think the main problem I had with it was that it was such a hit.

I remember when it was released, everyone was talking about it and I could see it everywhere. Because of this, I think I just got bored of it and lost any interest I could have with this series. Plus it’s not really the kind of tropes I know I will like usually.

However, now that some times had passed by, I thought it would be the good time to give it a try.

And I was right. Because I really enjoyed it in the end.

The story is nothing knew to be honest. The poor girl with the rich guy, we’ve seen that over and over. However, there’s something about Gorya’s will to fight that made it really interesting from my point of view.

The F4 group also really made it all for me. Despite their little fight, I really liked how deep is their bond and how they care for each other.

The same goes for Gorya and Kaning’s friendship. They were so cute.

Finally, I found Ren and Gorya’s relationship really beautiful although it was that kind of one-sided love (deep down I wish she ended up with him).

MJ and Ren were really my favourite characters. MJ is exactly what I like. The mafia kinda vibe but with his heart on his hand and always caring/prioritising his friends. I’m really happy he got his happy ending at the very end. He totally deserved it. As for Ren, how could I not like him? I think he is the most cutest and selfless character I have ever seen in a series to be honest. I would give him the world if I could.

Nonetheless, it wasn’t perfect and definitely had its flaws. Some stuff like the huge acceptance of bullying and the behaviour of Thyme’s mom really gave me the hicks.

But overall, it’s a great story and I would surely recommend it.

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Its a one time watch but really good... Watched for REN and GORYA..

Okay i really liked it, but its really not a rewatch according to me.
I personally didn't like Thyme, he was really bad with his acting especially his hideous eyes, the way he does with his eyes, i wanted to like his character but i couldn't. Really expressionless.
Metawin was again good, thank God he wasn't as expressionless than his other series Beauty newbie. I really liked him, Flirty but sweet.
Gorya was superb, i mean she was so pretty in building up her character, her voice, charmness was top notch.
Nani played his character so well, I loved him, bold but good.
Ren was excellent, i really wanted Gorya and Ren together, coz i felt they really made a good pair. Wish to see them both in other dramas. I really liked how soft Ren was in this series, his charm, personality, everything was adorable.
Loved F4 friendship and family disputes.
I would recommend it to watch it at least once.
All the casts and crews were extremely talented.

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