Even with the criticism it's still a 10.

Listen, as someone who's watched over 700 dramas I think I have enough authority to come out and say that the hate against this show is unwarranted.

I've watched every. single. version of hana yori dango (the japanese, taiwanese, thai, chinese, korean, anime, and manga versions) and none of it beats the nostalgia and entertainment of this show to me, even though the others may stick more faithfully to the source material.

This show is stupid and takes itself too seriously at times but its sincerity comes across to me--the love between jandi and joonpyo is childish and oftentimes stupid but the sometimes unnecessary amount of value they perceive in their relationship makes their love meaningful and, to many viewers, unrealistic. It also has almost every cliche in the book: kidnapping, evil mother in law, amnesia, poor girl, but at the same time it's because shows like this were the ones that created and employed these plot devices that became cliches in hindsight.

the plot definitely does meander and wind around a lot, which is why I took off half a star, but it's always entertaining and it allows us to know so much more about the characters through the plot. Thinking back on more recent dramas, sometimes the characters can feel like mere plot devices to push the main character's story along and give them a happy ending. We never see much of the main lead's motivations as well. In this drama, I would argue that they do a good job in fleshing out both the characters, both in Jandi's and Joonpyo's clashing obligations towards their families, Jandi's swim career, and Joonpyo's past with his friends. Joonpyo is my favorite male lead of all time, even with complaints of his toxicity and violence (which are warranted to an extent), his initial actions and character serve to show his progression as a person later on in the series. He gets a lot more focus and growth than other male leads, and I feel like he grows through the love that he receives from the staff that serve him, Jandi, his friends, and later on his mother. I also really like the introduction of his fiance, who I thought was also really different from many other female second leads in that she was charismatic, nice, and we can see how, maybe in a world where Jandi and Joonpyo weren't dating, they would've been a good match. My favorite scene is when she's in the airplane with Fight The Bad Feeling playing, keeping the shoes they fought over when they first met. I can't hate any of the characters (except that Yumi girl god i hate her).

The cast is perfect: Goo Hyesun's acting isn't the best but it really works in the role that she's in. To me, this is arguably Lee Minho's best work--he portrays his character in a childish romance so well, from his foolish boyish smile to him weeping in his butler's arms, it works so well and a lot of the reason why the show was so successful was because his acting carried it. The female leads in this were all so beautiful the casting is crazy--and overall I wouldn't change a thing.

i admit a huge reason why I love this show is the OST--there are two versions of the show with two different OSTs used in different scenes for some reason--my favorite OST probably is What do I do by Jisun, who was the vocalist of Loveholic(!), but I also really love Making a Lover, Yearning Heart, A Little Bit, Starlight Tears, Do you know, Love U, Fight the Bad Feeling, and Stand By Me.

This show reminds me of Korea from 2009, my childhood, and maybe that's why I love it as much as I do. Or maybe it's also because I see myself in Joonpyo. I don't know, but what I do know is that it's a much better show than many claim it to be.

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