Boys over Flowers (2009)

Ah, Boys Over Flowers, the mother of pop culture. It was my first drama, and probably so for a lot of other people too, and of course back then it was new and glamorous and therefore good. But here's a secret for you: Boys Over Flowers is actually pretty bad. This classic Cinderella story is turned sour by a number of things. There's the overstuffed plot, that seeks to rob the best arcs from the manga and only occasionally succeeds in doing so. There's the fact that Gu Hye-sun really can't act and makes for an insufferable heroine. There's also the fact that the romance is toxic and is doomed to make our hero and heroine miserable in the future, but somehow convinces gullible teenage girls that this is what they deserve. So why haven't I rated it lower? Well, it's still Boys Over Flowers. But I would recommend the Japanese dramas over this adaptation any day of the week.

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Ultimate... It's been 11 years and still enjoyable and classic.
This drama is about how Love and Friendship is important in our life. Lee Min Ho was So cool , Hye Sun's character was honestly so good.
Jan Di and Joon Pyo... They faces many hurdles yet still wants to be together. Side love story of Kim Bum and Kim So eun was adorable, they looked so cute.
Ji hoo's character was nice, how he always supports Jan Di and always there for her was great.
F4... Daebak!! Four Charming boys together looked so damn good. Each and Everyone did Amazing job. The Swag of F4 was next level.
With Awesome acting, Strong female characters and unexpected twists... So good .
If you're a Kdrama addict then you should definitely watch this.?❤️

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Love, friendship, and high school drama collide in this addictive K-drama series.

-------------------------------- ✧✦ Pros ✦✧ --------------------------------

♥Captivating Romance: The love story between Geum Jan-di and the enigmatic Gu Jun-Pyo is both intense and heart-warming. Their chemistry keeps viewers invested in their relationship and eager to see how it unfolds.
♥Dynamic Ensemble Cast: The series boasts a talented ensemble cast, each portraying their characters with charisma and depth. The interactions and relationships among the F4 members, as well as Jan-di's friends, bring an additional layer of enjoyment to the story.
♥Engaging School Setting: The backdrop of an elite high school provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of privileged teenagers. The rivalry, social hierarchy, and power dynamics create an exciting and captivating narrative.
♥Fashion and Visuals: "Boys Over Flowers" is visually stunning, with lavish sets, stylish fashion, and eye-catching cinematography. The aesthetics add to the overall charm and allure of the drama.
♥Emotional Rollercoaster: The series effectively balances light-hearted moments with emotionally charged scenes, creating a rollercoaster of emotions for viewers. It explores themes of friendship, family, and personal growth, keeping the audience emotionally invested throughout.
--------------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ Cons ✦✧ ----------------------------------------------------------

✘Predictable Plot: The story follows a predictable trajectory, with some plot points and character developments being familiar to those who are well-acquainted with the high school drama genre.
✘Unrealistic Portrayal: Certain aspects of the series, such as the extreme wealth and influence of the F4, can feel exaggerated and disconnected from reality, making it less relatable for some viewers.

--------------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ Characters & Story ✦✧ --------------------------------------------------

Geum Jan-di serves as a relatable and likeable protagonist, showcasing her resilience, determination, and growth throughout the series. Her interactions with the F4 members, particularly Gu Jun-pyo, Yi Jung, and So Yi-Jung, provide a mix of heart-warming and turbulent moments. The complex relationships and friendships among the characters add depth and depth to the storyline.

The overarching story revolves around Jan-di's journey as she confronts challenges, faces personal dilemmas, and finds love amidst the elite world of Shinhwa High School. The series explores themes of identity, social class, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

--------------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ Conclusion ✦✧ ----------------------------------------------------------
"Boys Over Flowers" is a captivating and addictive K-drama that combines romance, friendship, and high school drama. With its charismatic cast, engaging storyline, and visually stunning aesthetics, it keeps viewers hooked from start to finish. While it may follow familiar tropes, the series's emotional depth and memorable characters make it a must-watch for fans of the genre. Prepare to be swept away by the whirlwind of emotions and discover why "Boys Over Flowers" became a classic in the world of K-dramas.

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I usually love high school romances, as well as love/hate stories and damsels in distress, but I had such a hard time getting through this drama - and I fast forwarded a lot. I probably would have abandoned it after a few episodes if I didn't love Lee Min Ho.

There are so many ridiculous and repetitive twists and turns in this story, and I believe they only got away with making 25 episodes because they had such an endearing cast. I don't think every young actor in this was great, but they were all lovable regardless.

I think my initial problem was the lead female character. I eventually understood how she fell for Ji Hoo and Joon Pyo, but it's hard to fathom why those two fell for her. I didn't feel I was given enough significant moments that showed her nice personality until about halfway through. Also, there was way too much random shouting from her and it annoyed me. It wasn't as bad as in She Was Pretty, but it was pretty awful.

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Finally watched it . The stylist were in another level, I laughed whole heartedly at the fashion and I couldn’t get past the hair the first time but I carried on and wasted 25 hours of my life watching it.
I loved the first few episodes with the female lead, she was Vivacious , strong not some dense child like character but that personality was gone after a few episodes then she became the typical female lead character we’ve all seen before. The drama was crying out for a decent plot line. It started well but the cliches throughout were shockingly bad.
A dash of physical abuse and throw in an attempted rape scene, a strange love triangle.
It could of been so much more

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My first korean drama when I was a child, I was in love with this drama. The more I watch it, the more I fell in love with the second leads. I was in love and more attracted into what the second lead couple were going to end up, than the main couple. I was not a fan of how on and off the relationship the mian couple had. I found it annoying as it got more and more cliche to other dramas. More dramas had similar plotlines, but back then I can tell why people loved it so much, since it was a new plotline back then. The more I watch, the more I thought this drama is boring, but I come back to it everytime there is no more dramas to watch. My ALL time favourite, with exceptions.

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There's a lot to say

Like a lot of people this was my first official k-drama, I wanted it when I was 17 and now as a 20 year old I realize the only reason I highly rated and loved it was because it was the start of my k-drama and east Asian dramas journey. This story has been made many times and I've seen all of them, the OG anime, the live action Hana Yori Dango both seasons, the Meteor Garden Chinese old and new versions and I plan to watch the Thailand version just to keep the tradition.

Boys over flowers was my favorite adaptation only because I fell in love with Lee Min Ho, and he has become one of my favourite actors even though he has been typecasted; this story is extremely toxic, point blank period. I know a lot of people have brought up the faults of this and only in recent year I realize they were right. And it's not a love story anyone should want. From start to finish, I don't they should've ended up together; Goon Joon Pyo and Geum Jan Di. She should of left after a certain incident because honestly if Joon Pyo did not look like Lee Min Ho more people would of hated him but unfortunately it's pretty privilege. He did not change because of her, he changed for her, and there's a big difference between the two. If her good nature rubbed off on him and he learned what his personality was like and how horrible he has been, he would of been a better person and character for it, however he changed just for a girl and people need to learn that if you don't want to change your bad behavior on your own will but just to please another person it means you haven't had any grown yet. And Jan Di wasn't even a good person like we see in other dramas, she was annoying, however I have a soft spot for her as a character.

It's not an excuse to be a bad person because you had a terrible childhood, we see a lot in anime or live action that our protagonist have terrible childhoods and are bullied but they are still good people, that's why we root for them but how come when it comes to a secondary lead to the to the protagonist they will have terrible childhoods but they are bad people?

I wouldn't say not to watch Boys Over Flowers because it does show you what not to do in relationships and what red flags to see. This show is a classic example what toxic romantic media we see all rapped in one show. Overall I have a soft spot for this drama, even with all it's problems I still love dan di even though she can be VERY annoying, adore Joon Pyo even though he pushed some kids to suicide and was pushy with dan di, fell in love with Ji hoo even though he was manipulative if you pay close attention and have a guilty pleasure to listening to the theme song "Almost Paradise", even though some people find it annoying. Watch it at your will.

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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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classic but weaker than I expected

Boys Over Flowers might be the drama I looked forward to watching the most. All of the actors/actresses were great EXCEPT the female female lead. there were plot holes but the story was cute. The lead female character ruined the drama for me. she was crass, loud, rude and constantly has her mouth full of food. There was nothing that would attract anyone to her. with different casting and a few tweaks to the script, I would have loved it. the lead actress and her character really killed it. The writers should have given her some manners and some attractive qualities. An actress with more talent should have been cast in the lead who could have at least given the character some warmth. Her kissing scenes were so bad it was painful to watch.

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I’m a fan of the original series. I’ve watched the original one several times and even owned a copy. For this version, I like the fact that the male lead closely resembled Jerry Yan of the original version. They put emphasis on the love triangle of Lei, Shancai and Dao Ming Si. But I feel that they could have chosen a better female lead. There are times it is very hard to watch some scenes because of her acting.

Overall, it’s average. I only watched this version once. I’ve watched all the version so if I’m going to rank this, this will come 3rd. First will be the original one, second will be the Chinese version, this is 3rd and last will be the Japanese version.

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I get the appeal to this show, it's filled with all the typical romantic tropes exaggerated to the extreme, and the love always feels like it's on the cusp of becoming something beautiful. So if you find it easy to fall into stories, then maybe you'll love this one.

If you happen to be like me and enjoy watching shows with substance, then here's your warning. The writing is messy, and questionable at best. The motivations for certain character's actions feel flimsy at best most times, and really there's no way to excuse the severe bullying that goes on, particularly through the earlier portions of this show. The leading man seems to have absolutely no redeeming qualities, other than the fact that he has uncanny timing and luck on his side every time the heroine is in need of some help.

I'm not entirely sure WHY the main couple ends up together. The guy is obsessive, possessive, inconsiderate, rude, arrogant, and apathetic, and he has one of the worlds largest superiority complexes. The girl is irrational, and almost as entitled as the guy is, and neither of the characters really improve, or change for the better, their relationship is just as rocky and selfish as they both are so it doesn't really make sense, and it's hard for me to even see WHERE their chemistry is, especially when he was literally abusing her in the first few episodes.

The second male lead is only slightly better, but still pretty bad. His indecision and general vagueness seem to do more emotional harm than good, and the only thing that actually makes him a nicer person than the lead is that he has a slightly better grasp at socializing with other people, and that he doesn't go out of his way to be mean, which is a pretty low bar. He still doesn't seem to have too many qualms about watching his friends literally ruin people's lives and mental health to the point where a kid genuinely tries to kill himself.

Asides from the overall awful characterization and forced romance, the plot is... Not good. The trips to other places are so random and only exist to create trenches in the plot for the heroine to fall into so that the leading man can go find a way to save her life. The pacing is all out of sorts, with some plots lingering for much longer than necessary, and other sections being sped up at ridiculously unbelievable paces that make the drama aspects of the show much more dramatic than the writers probably intended, which I mean, at least it makes them funny.

If possible, try not to re-watch the show. I watched it a long time ago and remembered disliking it, but my best friend loves it so I gave it another try and it was much more awful than I remembered. The boys are beyond mean, the plot is messy, the romance is questionable, and everything really comes to light when you re-watch it.

The show's saving grace is probably the actors, who did the best with what they were given. Sometimes it was hard to find their performances convincing, but it was more the fault of the writing than the actors, and they really helped add some depth to otherwise very 2D characters, and very shallow plot. The theme song is also a solid bop, probably the flag anthem for KDramas.

Overall, it's probably a great drama for people who watch dramas to watch some dramatic fairytale, but for those who are looking for a strong plot, a good romance, stable characterization and a fun time. I'd stay away from Boys Over Flowers. If you're not mad at the characters by mid-way through the second episode, then kudos to you.

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Pretty much what I expected

Um wow lol that was really bad. On a more serious note, I definitely felt peer pressured into watching this drama by the kdrama community, since pretty much everyone and their mother watched this drama at some point or another. It was full of cliches, annoying characters, cringey acting, and lots and lots of drama, but I still found myself kind of loving the whole thing. It got to the point where it was just so bad that it got good, you know? Geum Jan Di definitely made me almost rip my hair out at times because of how passive she was most of the drama with her feelings, and there’s a certain level of immaturity in Gu Joon Pyo that never went away. Still, this kdrama reminded me of the old days when I used to stay up all night reading bad Wattpad romance books just like this one, so watching Boys Over Flowers really sent me back to my early teens when I read these cliche love stories. Because of this, I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy BOF, because I definitely had a lot of fun with this drama. However, by no means was this drama high quality. A classic, though? It for sure is. I thought that the OST was pretty catchy overall, and the only thing that sort of bothered me at the end (besides all the cliches, although I have a sweet spot for the amnesia cliche so I can’t hate that one) was the fact that the conflict with the mother never really got resolved. Like yeah, we see her lovingly watching her son on the television with her husband, but I was hoping for a more direct confrontation where she admitted how much of a jerk she was for putting Geum Jan Di through so much trouble. Anyhow, while I by no means think this drama is good, it definitely has a place in my heart, and I really can’t hate on such a classic without feeling at least a little guilty. Therefore, I will still recommend this drama to anyone because it’s honestly just a classic that was the start of many people’s kdrama obsession.

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