So the original manga for Hanazakari no Kimitachi e is one of my favorite graphic novels of all time, thus I have some pretty high expectations. It took me five years to get over my bias to even consider watching this remake. Though the original drama has a much more fantastical and comical tone, it starred a moody Oguri Shun and a memorable Ikuta Toma performance that honestly saved the show. The remake stays pretty true to the original work which I can appreciate ... I am not very familiar with the young cast, but they pulled off the high school drama pretty well. I particularly liked how they portrayed Sano's feelings. His growing love for Ashiya is made much more apparent than other Hana Kimi adaptions. This drama attempted to add another dimension by creating a school closing theme that flowed throughout the entire drama. To be honest, it was a little gimmicky to me and was a mild bother and detractor to the main storyline. If you have any interest in the story and have seen the other adaptions, I do think it's worth it to watch.
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