9.5 Stars

This version missed out one very important thing that I realised after watching Hana Yori Dango: Gorya's dream/ambition despite Thyme's dream being integral to the final episodes. Makino wanted to be a lawyer, Shancai wanted to be a chef, even freaking Jan Di had the ambition of being a pro-swimmer. Is Gorya supposed to just live for Thyme? Despite this version having the least misogyny otherwise, her supposed athletic scholarship is never expanded upon despite the glaring basketball-related potential of those KFC adverts at the end of every ep. I adored the symbolism, the well handled redemption, cinematography, comedy, acting and overall interpretations of the characters (Thyme's mum being a standout). Yet I cannot give the show a full 10 stars without this crucial detail.

The stellar acting, good pace and chemistry propels this to almost being on equal footing with F4 Thailand IMO, with this intepretation of Makino possibly being my fave (season 2 and the final movie are not quite as good though, but I still loved them). Yet you cannot deny that Domyouji's redemption is not handled well enough, with his past actions being swept under the carpet and still being a bit too violent by the end of the whole plot.

I literally just want one more episode, like I know this was overall about coming of age, family and Japanese societal problems but where is the kiss? hello?   WHERE >:(

GIVE ME ONE MORE EPISODE BL GODS, I NEED TO SEE MORE FROM THE LIGHTING DIRECTION LIKE HELLO GOOD USE OF BUDGET!!!!

it is clearly a running theme that the best things are always too short, but this could bump up to 10/10 if season 2 is good

Edit: season 2 actually was good just not by enough. It featured a breakup that came about because of realistic problems very interestingly explored, but it was simply too agonising as a viewer to watch when I had waited so long for the sequel. If I was to rewatch them together, this may reach 10/10 but for now this remains

I want to gush at the world forever about how amazingly this handled the difference in perspectives between the characters despite there being only six short episodes, it's the kind of show you will rewatch again because your perception of it will change drastically by the end. For those who call this 'toxic', THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT!! These characters are flawed, don't communicate properly, and do problematic stuff in their youth but go through development and come out with a better relationship by the end of the drama. You have to watch the WHOLE thing to be able to judge it.

Why isn't this 10/10 then? it's too freaking short again, i wanted to see them happy just once more (if we get season 2 this could turn into a ten....)

Clearlyyy I spoke too soon, currently figuring out whether the first season alone deserves 10 stars

Whilst it was wonderful that this sequel focuses on Kiyoi and Hira working through their existing problems and features no breakups that dominate its entire run like the great majority of romance sequels, the pacing was definitely off in a way that bothers me so its up to the final movie to make or break the rating of this series

This show was one I took my time with, because I had to savour the sweetness of a feminist cdrama, which NEVER HAPPENS. The focus on female empowerment and friendships instead of heterosexual relationships in a romance drama was wonderful. 

The only reason this isn't 10 stars is perhaps because the hope in this drama, whilst almost entirely soothing and energising, was at moments so saccharine sweet it glossed over some of the real tragedies of the female struggle against oppression throughout human history. Whilst we need shows like this that aren't necessarily big on realism but give hope that we can change our world into an ideal one, a tad more realism would have been nice. Additionally, one of the character's behaviour towards her husband earlier in the drama is borderline physical abuse which is too common a thing I've seen in chinese dramas with  sword wielding 'masculine' woman x himbo unathletic man ships.

Also severallll of these characters are queer-coded I do not care what you sayyyy

This drama is one of the few historical time travels that is almost perfectly executed with essentially no plotholes, no bad pacing, stellar comic acting and a mostly satisfying ending.

My only qualm, one that many have voiced, is that Jang Bong Hwan's personality is what dominated So Yong's behaviour throughout the show (although I do believe So Yong had more control over the Queen's persona when he is in her body than many viewers believe), and yet the happy ending of the King and Queen's romance is between only Cheol Jong and So Yong. This feels unsatisfactory as in truth Cheol Jong falls in love primarily with Bong Hwan's personality, yet does not seem to mind his presence disappearing from the Queen's demeanour.

I understand this ending may have happened due to this: in order to showcase a queer love story in mainstream korean tv, the queerness must be toned down for queerphobic korean audiences otherwise it may never air. And yet my queer heart cannot fully accept this; if coffee prince could be released in 2007 and have a similar solution of heteronormative plot structures being utilised to hide its to exploration of bisexuality and genderqueer characters without even any transmigration involved, then Mr Queen could have approached the ending slightly differently.