I will preface this by saying I hate the Makino character the most even though she is the "heroine" and the person the audience is supposed to root for. I cannot in good conscious do that because I legit hate her in every version until essentially the ending. I find the male friendships here more important and it's one of the main reasons I continue to enjoy this storyline.
I became obsessed with this series this year. So I guess there is one thing I can thank COVID for. I watched the 2009 Korean version and then googled everything I wanted to know. Found out about all the other stuff.
I watched the anime which is great considering the books were not completed yet and it leaves off at a great place. I hope they redo the anime for this one. Like they are redoing Fruits Basket.
Next, I watched the 2018 version which I loved mostly b/c of Dylan Wang (face of an Angel) and Darren Chen (cutest smile ever) even with that terrible ending. While I was finishing this one I read the manga and watched the 1995 Japanese movie version. I did like the movie b/c I found it funny and endearing and cheesy.
I then watched the 2001 Taiwanese version and enjoyed that as well. Really loved that cast and chemistry here. I think Vic Chou is the best "Rui" with Darren Chen being a close second. Currently watching the sequel to this 2001 version.
After that I watched the 2005 Japanese version which I thoroughly enjoyed. I do think that the leads in this one have the best chemistry with the 2001 cast being a close 2nd. Plus the ending on these series is hands down the best. Plus Makino tells him she loves him in this one the soonest and I was here for it.
I do want to watch them all b/c the story never really gets old and if the cast is cute and charming enough I will watch it.
Good news the 6th official version from Thailand hits in 2021. Trailer looks pretty good.
There are also 2 unofficial versions from Indonesia called Siapa Takut Jatuh Cinta made in 2002 and remake 2017 and 2 from India called Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan made in 2014 with its sequel airing in 2018. I haven't seen either of those but once I am able to do so I will watch.
I also have not seen the Meteor Showers one which is also an unofficial version or this Moon River one from the article. will watch both before Thai version comes out I hope.
No judgement. I'm lowkey in love with a lot of the guys in this cast and Mu Siyang is so cute. Agree the female characters are so unnecessary but I don't hate them as much as I hate them in the anime!!!
I love your review and it's so true but I still enjoyed it. Plus and this is a real question b/c as someone new to kdramas and other Asian dramas the recapping/flashback scenes are very annoying but I see them in all the dramas. Why is that a plot device in all of them? And why do they take up so much time?
The only 2 reasons I'm still watching. Shockingly tho I'm in it more for Song Yoon Ah than Ji Chang Wook cause…
You are not alone; her secretary is most definitely in love with her. I am too she's beautiful and I love that she gets to play the villain as a flawed but graceful and dignified woman.
Really like your review and I LOL with this take "Note to self, whenever a drama gets you super excited with its first couple of episodes, rest assured you will be disappointed!"
Agree 100% about Song Yoon Ah. She is great in this so I am looking forward to see her other work. I'm only 6 eps in and the series if definitely annoying but I'm staying for Song Yoon Ah plus I'm in love with Ji Chang Wook.
I like your review and agree 100% watch all the version if you can there are aspect about each version that I love and hate and multiple boys that I have fallen in love with b/c of this series. I love Darren Chen and Vic Chou as Rui; I love Dylan Wang, Jerry Yan and Lee Min Ho as Domyoji. I love Vaness Wu too. So many boys to love!!!
I have similar feelings and I completely hate the ending of BOF plus Jan-Di never says she love Jun Pyo to his face or ever if I recall (currently rewatching) and that just ruins it for me. I hate the wedding in MG b/c it was this dream sequence thing that I didn't understand or like plus I kept thinking where are her parents.
I'm never a 2nd ML person so I was ok with Ji hoo not getting the girl.
I loved the clothes in both series but definitely agree that BOF were dapper gents!
Plotwise you are correct the MG is the better story. It follows the manga almost to a T. So I love that about MG. BOF IMO takes too many liberties with the story that don't make since plotwise but ultimately doesn't destroy the essence of the story.
last but not least yiu are 100% correct about that unnecessary Mei Zuo storyline. It ruined the flow of MG and I have rewatched multiple times and always skip that nonsense.
Great article. Thanks for this I was looking to see what new Kdramas I could start. This website and the articles I have read here keep me fascinated and coming back for more. I appreciate all the people here who just want to share good tv/movies and their culture with other people who want to learn and enjoy.
LOL! I actually love Jun-pyo's hair in BOF plus by the end of the series they hardly curled it as much. However I hated So Yi-jung hair; it looked like a damn wig. It made him look older than everyone else and he was the youngest male cast member.
Yes this was a super cute story and I really enjoyed it to. This is the first drama I've watched with Danson Tang but he is a hottie so I am now going to watch his back catalog. Also, that las t scene was super annoying.
1 
I became obsessed with this series this year. So I guess there is one thing I can thank COVID for. I watched the 2009 Korean version and then googled everything I wanted to know. Found out about all the other stuff.
I watched the anime which is great considering the books were not completed yet and it leaves off at a great place. I hope they redo the anime for this one. Like they are redoing Fruits Basket.
Next, I watched the 2018 version which I loved mostly b/c of Dylan Wang (face of an Angel) and Darren Chen (cutest smile ever) even with that terrible ending. While I was finishing this one I read the manga and watched the 1995 Japanese movie version. I did like the movie b/c I found it funny and endearing and cheesy.
I then watched the 2001 Taiwanese version and enjoyed that as well. Really loved that cast and chemistry here. I think Vic Chou is the best "Rui" with Darren Chen being a close second. Currently watching the sequel to this 2001 version.
After that I watched the 2005 Japanese version which I thoroughly enjoyed. I do think that the leads in this one have the best chemistry with the 2001 cast being a close 2nd. Plus the ending on these series is hands down the best. Plus Makino tells him she loves him in this one the soonest and I was here for it.
I do want to watch them all b/c the story never really gets old and if the cast is cute and charming enough I will watch it.
Good news the 6th official version from Thailand hits in 2021. Trailer looks pretty good.
There are also 2 unofficial versions from Indonesia called Siapa Takut Jatuh Cinta made in 2002 and remake 2017 and 2 from India called Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan made in 2014 with its sequel airing in 2018. I haven't seen either of those but once I am able to do so I will watch.
I also have not seen the Meteor Showers one which is also an unofficial version or this Moon River one from the article. will watch both before Thai version comes out I hope.
Thanks for your article Old_Anime_Lady.
I loved the bromance of it all too.
Agree 100% about Song Yoon Ah. She is great in this so I am looking forward to see her other work. I'm only 6 eps in and the series if definitely annoying but I'm staying for Song Yoon Ah plus I'm in love with Ji Chang Wook.
I have similar feelings and I completely hate the ending of BOF plus Jan-Di never says she love Jun Pyo to his face or ever if I recall (currently rewatching) and that just ruins it for me. I hate the wedding in MG b/c it was this dream sequence thing that I didn't understand or like plus I kept thinking where are her parents.
I'm never a 2nd ML person so I was ok with Ji hoo not getting the girl.
I loved the clothes in both series but definitely agree that BOF were dapper gents!
Plotwise you are correct the MG is the better story. It follows the manga almost to a T. So I love that about MG. BOF IMO takes too many liberties with the story that don't make since plotwise but ultimately doesn't destroy the essence of the story.
last but not least yiu are 100% correct about that unnecessary Mei Zuo storyline. It ruined the flow of MG and I have rewatched multiple times and always skip that nonsense.