Boys Over Flowers (2009)

Loved it. Hated it.

Goo Joon Pyo, the main spoiled, selfish, brat of the F4 is ultimately rewarded for being such a total jerk.
I hate that.

The lead girl, Geum Jan Di, was just not special enough for the F4 to be making such a fuss over her. She was constantly miserable, moping, uncommunicative, and wistful. She was hard to watch, slumping, stomping, and making weird faces. The kiss scenes were awkward and awful, and she managed to diminish what few feel-good moments there were, with her stiffness. Her character also makes stupid decisions at every opportunity.
I don't blame the young actress. The script was lame - but I hated her character.

Geum Jan Di's parents - while understandably meant to provide some comedy relief, were ridiculously over-the-top, and so goofy it made them unlikeable. Certainly unlovable. Geum Kang San, Jan Di's brother was great, and the little actor played his part admirably. I adored him.

So Yi Jung (the potter)'s story is actually quite workable, and he smoothed out any wrinkles with his fabulous acting, charisma, and charm. He did a great job, considering he didn't have much to work with. The very talented Kim Bum really rose to the occasion, and I loved his character.

Chu Ga Eul, the girl whom So Yi Jung eventually grew to love (once he'd finally worked out his issues), was a breath of fresh air. Honest, kind, enduring, and considerate. It was a straight-forward part to play, and the actress executed it admirably. I loved her.

Song Woo Bin, the mobster's son, had an embarrassingly underdeveloped back story. His character started nowhere, and ended nowhere. The entire character seems to have been an afterthought for visual effect, and a bit of rough. The actor did the best he could with the storyline, and managed to be both likable and believable.
I might have loved him, had he developed into a person. Failing a better script, options were limited. This is no fault of the actor, who did his job well. I liked him.

Yoon Ji Hoo, who was warm, kind, considerate, and steadfast ... was punished for his dazzling humanity by being given a storyline so sad and disheartening that the hopelessness of his very existence rivaled that of even Bidam (from Queen Seon Deok). The gut-punch of his storyline's ending was too much for me,
and I thoroughly hated it.

Ji Hoo himself, however, was a prince among men ... and I loved him dearly.
I've become a fan of the actor, and am starting to discover his musical talents, as well.
I was outraged by the final episode.

The music was tedious and much too loud. I was constantly adjusting the volume between blaring SONGS and modest dialogue. Watch it again? I'm too angry to answer that right now.

The F4's visuals, as well as the solidity, and dynamics, of their 4-way friendship was a big bonus in this drama.
It's a friendship I will never forget, and I feel privileged to have been a fly on the wall, watching this life-long friendship endure the hardships together. There were moments when I even liked the actress playing Jan Di, who was occasionally quite cute, and had a nice smile ... occasionally. The F4's true friendship endures the drama, and the half baked script. I loved the friendship.

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One of the first

I've watched almost every version of boys over flowers but not this one scared i'd be disappointed by it.
But luckily i wasn't, it's not my favorite version but I think out all of them this one had the best acting.
The ending got me shocked because she at first rejected to marry him and then it started again a lot of years after and they haven't had an happy ending yet.
Each character is special in their own way, Jandi even if she wasn't very brillant she was selfless, junpyo was really selfish though so I think it's like: "The opposite attracts each other" which only makes me believe harder that this was the good couple.

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um marco da minha infância

um carinho por ser meu primeiro dorama. conhecia como “a lavanderia” e gostava muito, desencadeando meu amor por outros doramas. eu tenho um carinho, porém, vendo de um lado mais crítico, é meio que uma bomba. a atuação não me agradou, os atores são meio nhe, a história é indiscutivelmente confusa é INACEITÁVEL, inaceitável pelo simples fato de ela não ter ficado com o ji hoo e sim com o jun pyo, tipo, amiga, pelo jurandir?? os pontos mais marcantes na minha opinião são a ost e os visuais, porque de resto é meio nhe. porém, tirando os pontos negativos, é uma experiência, nostálgico e todo amante de dorama deveria ver isso pelo menos uma vez na vida.

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Honestly......based on this drama....I would actually give it a 7.5-8/10?? I think the reason why this drama was so popular and why I’m giving it a 9/10 overall is because it’s one of the first dramas to ever have this kind of story. The kind of rich boy poor girl theme. This was like the 2nd kdrama I ever watched....I think. I watched it when I was around 11 I think and to me.....it was very good.  But if I compare it to now.......it’s just a common high school romance drama. Which is why......I think it doesn’t have that good of a rating. If you ever start watching kdrama....you should definitely watch this first since it’s one of the first dramas to have this kind of theme and I’m sure you’ll like it and give it a good review. But if you started kdrama for a while THEN watch this....you’ll probably think it’s pretty average and *meh*.  Its also why I think it’s pretty sad that this drama isn’t getting a good rating......since there are so many new dramas similar to this.

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I watched the Korean version first of the franchise, but this review is made after completing the Japanese Hana Dori Yango and the Chinese Meteor Garden 2 and partially watching the Taiwanese Meteor Garden. Therefore my reflection on this show is somewhat biased by other versions I watched.
I will not comment much with the storyline as this drama follows the Japanese manga that ran from 1992 to 2003. Since I am not familiar with Japanese student's life around those years, I cannot confirm if the school bullying and toxic youth relationship were quite common back then, that writer Yoko Kamio materialized the issues into her comic. Therefore, all resentment and objections on the story theme are somewhat unjust due to the live adaptation was made from a classic manga. We better watch this drama purely as entertainment only, therefore my review below is primarily over the roles and acting.
First of all, I don't understand why the Korean version has to make the main characters of Joon Pyo and Jan Di to the extreme. Joon Pyo is portrayed way older than Jan Di, the rest of F4, and other high schoolers. He looks like a sugar daddy to Jan Di than a senior student. Plus his curly hairstyle is exaggerated. Jan Di character started nicely by being a heroine to a suicidal boy but soon it goes downhill and her initial confrontations with Joon Pyo is childish with screaming. Plus I detest her kiddy street and party clothes they made her wear. Joon Pyo and Jan Di do not have strong chemistry. I ship her with Ji Hoo, I think their friendship and chemistry is sweet and natural until the end, him being her 'soulmate' as she acknowledged. Actor Kim Hyun Joong did a great job portraying Ji Hoo that viewers get a severe case of Secondary Lead Syndrome. His scene crying over unrequited love with Grand Pa is heartbreaking. Other roles and actors/actresses are pleasing to the eye, this choice of eye candies is possibly to catch the attention of first time viewers. But I won't rewatch it again.
Will not rewatch for the second time, since I like the Japanese version better.

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My first ever Korean drama .
My introduction to the 2nd male lead syndrome.
My first but not last Lee Min Ho drama/show.

School bullying, first loves, friendship, peer pressure, teen angst, success stories and some evil side characters thrown in made for an interesting watch.


It has been so long that I cannot even remember the details. Some memorable scenes but not a lot.
But this is certainly one of the "must-watch" for every Kdrama novice.


I will not re-watch this show though. It was a good introduction but once is enough.

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dude

Bro I watched it bcs I watched all boys over flowers from all the countries that adapted it, but so far this was the worst one to exist like 💀 if you’re want to watch something cringe I guess come here but then again, this was made back then and it’s so old so I guess that’s why it was so popular back then. Some of the guys were kinda nice in terms of acting but some also pretty cringe, but the main girl she... just wasn’t it. I’m sorry but that hair needs a 2025 re-run not even a 2023 💀✋ but I’ll give it some peace since its quite old. Many of the old ones are just plain cringe.anywayyyyyyyyyyys-

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KDrama Classic - A-hole RICH BOY Hero arch for the Homely Poor Girl

what can I say other than you have to watch this because it’s one of the classics.

content warning: abusive behavior, kidnapping, violence, cringy relationships, second lead syndrome

Homely poor girl teaches a-hole rich boy how to become a better person. it’s got some over the top acting, the songs get stuck in your head, and you wish the FL would choose the SML instead of the ML!

it’s got all the things you want in a KDrama:
slow motion first meeting
many damsel in distress moments where the ML and SML rescue her
sassy but annoying at times FL
back hugs
flashbacks
many kilig (Filipino word for the feeling of eeeeeeeee🥰🤩) moments

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I really haven't seen many KDs as good as this one. The acting is awesome!!! I fell in love with Kim Joon because of this drama and started listening to his music. If you have the chance, then you should really check it out!!!

EDIT: I have watched tons of dramas since watching this. I admit at the time, I thought it was great. Now, after watching it again and other versions, I realize it wasn't that great. The acting is still the best part of it. The story is fine except Jan Di's character. She is just blah!!! I liked her character in other versions better. Anyway, just amending my review to match how I feel about this drama in the present. I still love Kim Joon though. :-)

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Boys Over Flowers was the first K-Drama I ever watched and it has stuck with me ever since. From Gu Jun Pyo's curly hair to Geum Jan Di's adorable antics, the story leaves awestruck and the screenplay holds you captive. The way of presentation is lovely and the story is very interesting.

The thing I didn't like about the serial is the excessive and unnecessary dragging/stretching towards the end of the serial. It tends to get very confusing at the end with Ga Eul and Yi Jung's story. Jun Pyo's mother is honestly very irritating. Personally, I didn't like Ji Hoo as a character even though he was good as a person.

The music of the series is amazing! My favorite songs from the series are: Luck, Almost paradise(title track), Stand By Me and Because I'm Stupid. They're so good that I still listen to them after almost five years and every time I listen to them, I replay a part of this serial in my head.

I have seen the serial twice already and I'm on my way to watch it again! That's how good it is! I highly recommend all of you to watch it.

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This has got to be the most convoluted, contrived, frustratingly annoying drama I have ever had the displeasure of watching. I went into this show with an open mind having seen Flower Boy Next Door and relatively enjoying it. When I found out flower boys was a series I figured why not go back to the original. I had no idea of the popularity of the series when it was originally released and I supposed still is to this day.

When it comes to TV/Movies I know there has to be a certain level of suspension of disbelief from the audience. I am well aware of it and capable of it to a certain extent. That extent ends where sexual assault begins. And also I am so over the I'm an asshole because I have mommy and daddy issues and I'm lonely, but because I'm handsome and random ass side characters who eventually disappear, tell you not to give up on me you'll let it slide bs.

This show actually fairs well until about the 5th episode when the main female protagonist begins to decline from this kick ass girl who actually stands up for herself and eventually turns into the biggest Mary Sue and damsel in distress in my K-Drama journey. Hell I'd venture to say in any drama I've seen. The show throws her into ridiculous situations that cause her to need to be protected and saved at any given moment. I mean practically every character that comes in contact with her turns into a knight in shining armor for her. Eventually I could care less about any of her situations because you knew someone was right around the corner to save her. Jan Di has a problem? No worries it'll be solved in .02 seconds. Jan Di has a wish or desire? No worries it'll be granted faster than you can say Mary Sue.

The show also asked so much from the audience emotionally when it came to Jan Di. It's like they wanted you to feel sorry for her EVERY episode. The girl cried so much that I actually started believing that her tears were like a source of oxygen for her, she needed it to survive. This show is too damn long to spend it feeling sorry for the main female every episode. I'm not emotionally capable of that. I'd rather spend my time rooting for a character than feeling sorry for one. The opportunities to actually root for her were few and far between. She couldn't solve her own problems, but somehow she's the solution to everyone else's.

The secondary characters are actually where this show had a little something something to work with. I spent the majority of the show wishing that Ga Eul was the main female character. She was a breath of fresh air although she was not without issues. Her and Yi Jung's relationship faired a lot better than the two main relationships of the show. Although that scene with Ga Eul, Yi Jung and his father did piss me off thoroughly.

Woo Bin deserved a better storyline. Or maybe just a storyline because he was pretty much an extra besides that super random storyline that he got. I won't spoil it for people who decide for whatever reason to watch this show, but it was so contrived.

Anyway I managed to finish this show because of Ji Hoo (he was sweet. Naive, but sweet) Ga Eul and Yi Jung.

The acting was definitely nothing to write home about. A lot of the actors struggled with emotional scenes so they weren't as hard hitting as the director probably wanted them to be.

I cannot recommend this show as a good show, but if you're drawn to damsels or assholes and/or want to live vicariously through Jan Di and have hot guys save you this show might be for you. If not, please save your sanity and your time and watch a different drama. If you want to watch a flower boy show, watch Flower Boy Next Door, it's better (not great, but better).

Last, but not least Kim Bum has a killer smile.

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