Best version
This is the best version of the manga. However, I'm a bit disappointed in some aspects regarding Thyme's behaviour. I don't understand why they wanted to push this 'bad boy' agenda because it doesn't fit in. His anger is not an excuse for beating people, like in the first episodes where he would just casually beat anyone on the street. Obviously, when he tried to PUNCH Gorya was so f****ng wrong and inexcusable. But people still romanticise it/ try to excuse him (i literally saw people asking for the name of the drama just because of that scene).The actress is so good, considering the fact that it's her debut, i wouldn't guess. Thyme's actor was lacking in the first 2-3 episodes but he got on track. I think what I hate the most is the whole bullying thing. The fact that he used to bully her it's alone a weird position to accept to become close to your perpetrator. And she was severely bullied, PTSD thing. The first 2 episodes are nonsense to me and I think they just wanted to pay tribute to the manga but the way they retold the story was much better.
Gorya and Thyme relationship was wholesome (not considering the first episodes and the one when he tries to punch the sh*t out of her), so that's why I don't understand why they needed to make Thyme so violent when his character is still interesting even though he's not 'a broken child'. The whole poor-rich dynamic was itself satisfactory for their hardships in relationship so I don't see why he needs to act like a criminal.
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Better than I thought it would be
I must say I started it with preconceptions.I think the main problem I had with it was that it was such a hit.
I remember when it was released, everyone was talking about it and I could see it everywhere. Because of this, I think I just got bored of it and lost any interest I could have with this series. Plus it’s not really the kind of tropes I know I will like usually.
However, now that some times had passed by, I thought it would be the good time to give it a try.
And I was right. Because I really enjoyed it in the end.
The story is nothing knew to be honest. The poor girl with the rich guy, we’ve seen that over and over. However, there’s something about Gorya’s will to fight that made it really interesting from my point of view.
The F4 group also really made it all for me. Despite their little fight, I really liked how deep is their bond and how they care for each other.
The same goes for Gorya and Kaning’s friendship. They were so cute.
Finally, I found Ren and Gorya’s relationship really beautiful although it was that kind of one-sided love (deep down I wish she ended up with him).
MJ and Ren were really my favourite characters. MJ is exactly what I like. The mafia kinda vibe but with his heart on his hand and always caring/prioritising his friends. I’m really happy he got his happy ending at the very end. He totally deserved it. As for Ren, how could I not like him? I think he is the most cutest and selfless character I have ever seen in a series to be honest. I would give him the world if I could.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t perfect and definitely had its flaws. Some stuff like the huge acceptance of bullying and the behaviour of Thyme’s mom really gave me the hicks.
But overall, it’s a great story and I would surely recommend it.
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A heartfelt, funny and fast paced version of a classic tale.
This was the second version I watched of the manga. IMO the thai version is superior to the korean one. It has got a faster pace, concentrates more on the main plot, exludes the most ridiculous story lines or reinterprets them in a way they make more sense and move the main plot forward. The overall tone is way more comedic, the actors clearly feel like comic-characters. The main leads both manage to stay (fl) or become (ml) likable as the story progresses. They act well in almost all the scenes. The secondary characters stay a bit bland but are okay. I liked the emphasis on the boys friendship, the meaning of family and the true meaning of beeing happy. It's also satisfiing to watch that bullying isn't okay and that bullys should be held accountable.Thymes mother was also a highlight for me.
It was an enjoyable watch from start to finish.
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Clichés done well!
As cliché and predictable at times as this story could be, it was still very entertaining and oftentimes hilarious. Also the ads made me chuckle a lot because they were so obvious x)The cast was brilliant and acted their hearts out. The story was paced well except for one or two times along the way where I got a bit bored but overall it was good. The plot was good and I don't mind clichés when they still entertain me, but one or two plot points were placed oddly in my opinion and should not have been included as they just dragged the story on and irritated me. This is why I can't rate it 10 stars, but overall it was well worth the watch and I definitely understand the hype!
Side note, Ren has my heart, he's such a great character! <3
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A Modern, Bold Twist on a Classic
The Premise: Standing Up to the "Red Card"The story is set in a prestigious high school ruled by F4, a group of four wealthy, handsome, and arrogant boys. They control the school through a "Red Card" system—a game that encourages students to bully those who stand up to them. Everything changes when Gorya, a girl from a humble background, becomes the first person to truly stand up to their leader, Thyme, and his "Red Card" game.
The Message: Courage & Change
What makes this version stand out from the others is the powerful message it conveys.
The Fight Against Bullying: Unlike older versions, F4 Thailand goes deep into the psychology of bullying and the systemic power structures in schools.
The Power of Courage: Gorya’s character is a symbol of bravery. She shows that one voice can disrupt a toxic cycle and that true strength isn't about money or status, but about the integrity of your soul.
Redemption: I loved watching the "Red Card" system crumble as the F4 members slowly realized the weight of their actions. It shows that people can change if they have someone who dares to tell them the truth.
The Highlight: The Evolution of the F4 Bond
The Lead Couple: Thyme and Gorya’s journey is intense. Seeing Thyme grow from a spoiled "villain" into a protective partner was a highlight.
The "Trio" Energy: Like your other favorite dramas, the friendship between Gorya and her best friend, Kaning, provides a grounded, emotional core to all the high-society drama.
Cinematography: The production quality is amazing. Every scene feels like a movie, and the music—especially the OST "Who am I"—adds to the emotional weight of the story.
My Personal Take
This is one of the most amazing dramas because it takes a story we’ve seen before and makes it feel fresh and relevant for today’s world. It’s not just a romance; it’s a story about standing up for what is right, even when the whole world is against you
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Its a one time watch but really good... Watched for REN and GORYA..
Okay i really liked it, but its really not a rewatch according to me.I personally didn't like Thyme, he was really bad with his acting especially his hideous eyes, the way he does with his eyes, i wanted to like his character but i couldn't. Really expressionless.
Metawin was again good, thank God he wasn't as expressionless than his other series Beauty newbie. I really liked him, Flirty but sweet.
Gorya was superb, i mean she was so pretty in building up her character, her voice, charmness was top notch.
Nani played his character so well, I loved him, bold but good.
Ren was excellent, i really wanted Gorya and Ren together, coz i felt they really made a good pair. Wish to see them both in other dramas. I really liked how soft Ren was in this series, his charm, personality, everything was adorable.
Loved F4 friendship and family disputes.
I would recommend it to watch it at least once.
All the casts and crews were extremely talented.
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Overhyped
Boys over flowers was my first ever korean drama and my 7th grade self loved it. I tried to look for the same giddy feels in the chinese adaptation but couldn't find it. The Thai version was recommended by a lot of people which I watched it but honestly, it was pretty overhyped.Likes-
-Thyme's character development was the best in this adaptation. In most scenarios they were able to differentiate between the right and wrong and give a clear messaging to the audience that everything you do comes with consequences. If I recall correctly, this bit was not addressed well in Boys Over Flowers. They were too busy bringing out Gu Jun Pyo as the hero/ saviour/ messiah whenever Geum Jan Di needed saving.
- This version is much more realistic. It doesn't have the weird island vacationing bit and the bit where Jun Pyo is almost marrying the girl his mother picked for him.
- Gorya is a much better version of the female lead than Jan Di. Ofcourse there's the useless screaming and hitting for no apparent reason bit. But I kind of feel that her character didn't over do "oh look i am so cute, oink oink" bit. (sorry if i sound bitter, but i really dislike even the slightest manic-pixie-dream-girlification of female leads.)
Dislikes-
- THEY ARE IN SCHOOL!!!! Did these rich brats ever go to a university WTH?
- How does Kaning not know where her bestfriend's parents live? I know it when my bestfriend's parents even go for vacation!
- I know I said that Gorya's character is better than Jan Di but her character is still not great. In my opinion, she is very physically harsh. Like imagine a person who recently had brain damage and you are just forcing your love (or whatever the fuck that is), asking him incessantly to swallow a pill. What happened to all the love, kindness and delicateness which you were preaching throughout the entire series?
- Our boy Kavin liked a girl, never admitted it to her and never came to visit her when she called him to meet, went on with his life, meets this another girl, who is now going to every rooftop in the city and showing her sincerity, love and what not. WHY? WHAT DID THE GUY EVEN DO TO DESERVE THIS? WHY ARE WOMEN CHARACTERS ALWAYS WRITTEN WITH A "SHE IS GOING TO FIX HIM" ATTITUDE IN THEM?
- Gorya was on a sports scholarship? Did we ever see her do any sports????? Did she ever talk about sports????? Any sports metaphor atleast????
Having said all this, maybe I am too old now for a series like this. Maybe if I had seen this back in 7th grade this would have appealed to me. It's a better adaptation than Boys over flowers korean and much better than the chinese version because I couldn't even sit through one episode of that one. However, there are much better watches than this one in the market.
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Best outcome off an outdated concept
A far better version of the same old story. It still has problematic plotlines, but I don't think that can be avoided considering the root is already rotten. I'm really glad they changed up or omitted certain plotlines. The cast is studded with capable actors and the chemistry between the main cast is great, both romantic couples as well as between friends. The female lead as well as her best friend (Gorya and Kaning) are the best versions of their characters so far. The chemistry between Kaning and Kavin is so much better than in the Chinese version. The evil mother is also at her best (kudos to the actor, who is damn sexy, by the way.) Overall, it is a good one time watch if you have a lot of free time on your hand.Was this review helpful to you?
Perfectly beautiful production, distinctive set of characters who are well-acted overall, with ALL the tropes of the entire genre of shojo manga compiled together in ONE drama, but it still feels fresh and fun which is a good thing. ML goes through quite the redemption arc, which I always like to see portrayed. And they were right, the SML Syndrome is rather heartbreaking in this one~~ (I'm so glad that Yong Hwa has the perfect HEA he deserves in LADY OF DREAMS thank you Queen Gingell)
Very, very extra and somewhat campy. So be prepared for that. I already said shojo manga right~ But it's also gorgeous in production and cast (thank you for skipping all of the bad hair stuff of the other adaptations - but keep that terrible sense of fashion for Thyme), and serious and funny by turns, so what can I complain about (except a couple of nonsense stuff I don't care for).
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Better than the other F4 dramas
If you're okay with the male lead being toxic at first, this show is great. If you're not fine with it, I would not recommend this show for you.The male lead is very toxic at first. Being violent when jealous. And all that stuff. But in the later episodes (about episode 9/10) he gets much better. (Apologizing to his victims and just in general being a better person.)
I've watched all the "remakes". The anime, jdrama,cdrama and kdrama and must admit that this one is the best so far. I like that the plot is a bit different. Some scenes changed for the better dragging the show less than the others.
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F4 thailand is the best of all versions.
To start with I have always heard great about korean version "Boys over flowers ". I wanted to see it but I couldn't get attached to start watching as I'm not a high school drama lover. Again wanted to see Chinese version but would step back due to more episodes. Finally in 2023 after watching just a scene(where lita offers herself to thyme) in yt shorts, I badly wanted to see this.I started watching it immediately and finished in less than two days. As a lakorn lover, after watching dramas for one year I lost interest in all dramas except my fav actors' dramas. Finally this drama broke my perception. Again I got my interest back in watching dramas. Glad that it is a thai drama❤.
Coming to the drama, for me f4 boys stole the show. They are so warm and compassionate in spite of being rich. FL's courage and concern towards others also not giving up were something great. I first thought the ML was ren😅 but the characterization of thyme was so natural and convincing. He is so loyal and warm person inside. Their fights were so fun to watch but never boring. There is no unwanted romance like in other versions. (Some may feel offended for having less romance) but for me, it was more natural and showcased their feelings more.
There were many messages and learnings in the drama which will make us better persons. Even though the school bullying was brutal, it ended well showing how toxic it is. The scene where thyme comes to rescue groya when her scooter is burnt, was the best of all versions coz it showed emotions more naturally. There are many situations where we can see reality in this drama. There was no exaggeration or dragging, everything was on point.
If only I should mention flaws it would be I felt bad for ren their relationship would have been clear. Music also played good role in lifting scenes. It was not like typical high school dramas but way more natural every scene was acceptable.
Finally, I am very glad I watched this drama. If anyone is hesitating to watch this, trust me it's worth watching but keep ur heart strong it may waver at times🤗. It's going to be in my head for days❤❤. Now I have to watch other dramas of these actors to get over this drama😂.
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definitely the best adaption of the source material in my eyes.
i was hesitant to give this a try because of how much i did not enjoy the korean and Chinese versions for specific reasons. its hard not to compare it to other adaptions given how numerous and popular they are but even without comparing, it is the best adaption hands down.While some may believe that it changed the story completely, i would argue that it took the source material and took it further than even the first adaption Hana Yori Dango did and even did what the 2018 version failed to do- great modernization of the story. A lot of the toxicity was tamed down especially between the two main characters but not to the extent that we would miss the angsty or fighting scenes. we even get to see the progression of their feelings including our female main character which i feel like i didn't see much in other versions. they built on so much including the f4 friendships that its hard to list everything down. the development of thyme's character was amazing to watch as well within the story as well as comparing it to other adaptions (and how he actually apologized and was ready to face repercussions for his actions)!
the director, screenwriters and the team behind this show saw the potential in the story we all love and continue to watch, and added so much to it and made it even better. im in awe of how well they did. i just wish it were longer than this was and that the second half didn't feel so messy. other wise great series and adaption.
also loved the small references to past adaptions and the source material!!
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