F4 Thailand: Boys over Flowers

Just my opinion

I watched boys over flowers and meteor garden maybe like 3 years before now i didnt really liked to watch f4 maybe coz of win and bright. I first watched their drama 2gether which is bl i cant bear to watch lovers turing into friends.when i started watching in pretty suprised coz i didnt mind their characters theh seemed to bendifferent ppl props to their acting. Legit!.Even tho I watched other versions i didnt feel this much suffocating coz of fls character maybe i was chilidish then . But now I really loved when she kicked thyme but after she met with mira to stop her going to france. I thought oh my! She is stopping her idol and crush from not getting parted. I thought so at first. When she started blabbefinb thag nonsense it got on my nerves like i cant see him lost his smile forever wtf gurl its like she is tellinb mira she loves him and she is sacrificing her love for mira totally gave me pick me vibes....Okay I didnt much give it a thought she is so desperate for her crush moving onto another episode damn!that typical toxic bad guy thyme literally showing how he loved gorya yeah ofc she aint dumb to not know thaf he is lovinb her i wont een support if he is ugly but he is handsome he is trying to win her over but she acted like she gave him some chancesnand getting his hopes high but when ren came she is like oh my! Ren im feeling bad for you and crying in his arms and going out with him on a so called food date leaving thyme aside...when that idiotic friend who leaked goryas photos and got her beaten by others.....gorya be like chill!we are friends right. Why tf all the dramas show this pathetic side of fls see now in real life imagine your photos are leaked when u r working as a bar girl and the whole school shunned you would you be able to forgive that friend??welll well i dont wanna get my bp higher anymore so im dropping this series well you can watch it if you want as many said its soooooo "worth watching"

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Absolutely not

Let me be clear in saying I'm not the target audience for this drama. I haven't been in that age range for a good fifteen years. But I do enjoy the charming if cringy teen comedies from time to time. I'll also say this is my first real experience with this plot since I've never watched any of the versions of this story. And now I'm glad I hadn't.

This drama is just plain frustrating. Am I supposed to root for ANY of the F4 when they're obviously abusers, bullies and even condone rape attempts from the get go? Sweet Lord can someone please arrest these motherfuckers? Yes I'm including the sad boy artist here. I don't care how sad he looks when the rest of the school and his friends are assaulting this poor student on scene one, he still didn't stop it. It just bothered me so much that the one time he intervened during the red card treatment was when someone he was interested in was the victim. In fact all the F4s do that. They never genuinly feel bad about all the trauma and pain they have caused others, no they think with their junk.

I was rooting for all of them to die. That first episode is simply unforgivable in terms of character likeability. They are all just pricks that the show wants to manipulate you into liking by making them laugh and run around like children. Did you know the Nazi guards in charge of concentration camps have a bunch of pictures smiling and having a great time just next to the death camps? Same energy. As if I'm going to forget they were marching into that abandoned stadium smiling and feeling like kings about to brutally torture one of their subjects.

Yeah no. None of the MLs is redeemable after that.

FL... FL started out like conflicted, scared yet righteous interesting character. She had all the boxes to become something great. Unfortunately as soon as artist ML shows her his wallet we lost all of that and she becomes a love interest that screams at ML but smiles while being literally pushed around by him. Holy shitshow batman. This character makes absolutely no sense. This chick claims to be disgusted by ML's actions but still leads him on and goes on a date with him before he has even apologized? What? And she feels bad for leaving him out in the rain? Girl this man is directly responsible for people abusing you, you almost got raped... wtf run for the hills. I just- I am so frustrated. Whatever likeability this character had, has gone down the drain with her brain along with my patience and her common sense.

It's been five episodes and no one has apologized, but characters still act like they can be good friends after literal abuse and the victims are all smiles instead of creeped out. This pacing and writing is ridiculous and this drama is just wrong but wants to paint itself as charming. I have no idea how it got this rating but I wouldn't let anyone watch this problematic, toxic, shitshow.
I could have forgiven this if it were an older drama, but this is a remake and I had hoped they would have fixed dated issues but they just put on cute BG music and hope you don't notice. What an insult to its audience.

Nope. Just no. Absolutely not.

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Definitely recommend watching

Even though there have only been two episodes out so far I wanted to give my review on this up until this point.

Honestly I started watching this without any high expectations, I was familiar with some of the other versions and just curious about what this one looks like and I was very positively surprised to see this. The first episode already got me hooked on the show and made me desperately waiting for the next episode to air.

I really like how they handled the storyline and the characters in this one. In other versions I sometimes felt like there was something a bit off even when I couldn't exactly make out what it was but for this one that wasn't the case at all. The way the story evolves as well as the reactions the characters show all seem to fit so well and gave me the feeling that the story and their emotions were a lot more genuine and serious and thus more real.

The characters also seem to be a little different to the other versions but in a positive way. I especially liked the way Ren's character is depicted here. Dew manages to give him the right amount of mysteriousness he needs without appearing too cold or making him feel too distant. The acting overall is definitely a point that makes me enjoy this show a lot more. Bright (the actor of thyme) also gives his character a lot more personality I think. Even when his actions are questionable at times he perfectly showcases his character and succeeds in evoking the right feelings in the viewer. You can sometimes even get an idea of why he reacted that way which kind of keeps it all together and makes a lot more sense to me.

Another thing I really liked about this is the pacing. There was neither a scene that felt unnecessary or boring nor did the story ever feel too rushed. The pacing just felt overall very fitting for the storyline.

I like how each version seems to have their own charm. It's nice to see how they all differ in some points and manage to show a whole different story that makes me enjoy watching this show so much even after I already saw some of the other versions of it.

All in all I can definitely recommend you watching this whether you've seen the other versions or not. I've really enjoyed the first episodes and I'm excited to see where this is going in the next ones.

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The friendships in this show are everything. You can really feel how close the F4 guys are: Bright, Win, Dew, and Nani have such natural chemistry. The romance wasn't even the part that stood out to me with this show. Although, the last episode with the rain scene was so heartwarming to see how much Thyme and Gorya matured to care for one another. What I love most is how the show is about found family. At the end, these 5 characters ended up being each other's strongest support system and pushed each other to become better people and stand up for what’s right. Every emotional moment hits so hard because you feel their bond when everyone has struggles they are dealing with.

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A tribute to the series

There has been no other story that has been told as many times as the dramatic saga of F4. Based on the original manga by Kamio Yoko, Hana Yori Dango is an ever evolving story that has seen many language and cultural adaptations over the years. Most of us have watched at least one version of it, yet some of us have watched every single adaptation in hopes of finding that one remake that sets the story apart from all the other ones that were produced.

The first viewing experience I had was when I watched Meteor Garden. The Taiwanese version was low budget and cheap looking, yet the cast brought the story to life in a way that had us sitting at the edge of our seats just waiting for Shan Chai and Dao Ming Si to defy the odds of the rich boy poor girl trope and prove to us all that love prevails no matter what. Yes, it was 2001 and most of us clung to the hope that although Dao Ming Si was a complete ass and a nasty piece of work on the outside, deep in his soul he just was a lost poor little rich boy who needed a strong girl by his side to turn him into a decent human being.

This being the premise of the story, it was easy to see that nearly every adaptation was the same in terms of the narrative and the purpose of the story:

Meteor Garden (Taiwan, 2001)

Hana Yori Dango (Japan, 2005)

Boys Over Flowers (South Korea, 2009)

Meteor Garden (China, 2018)

I had watched the Taiwanese and Japanese versions before declaring that I would skip the South Korean and China versions as it was predictable and honestly, the story was not aging well. In today's society, it is incredibly hard to watch a show about four spoiled rich boys selecting schoolmates to bully simply because they were bored and they could. The level of violence was unacceptable and as I grew older, it bothered me to a level where I questioned why I ever championed Dao Ming Si/Doumyouji Tsukasa when they were just awful people. Was there something in the water back then that made us such fans of toxic male leads? Some fans may have been rooting for Hua Zhe Lei/Hanazawa Rui instead, but don't forget that he too was a member of F4 and did absolutely nothing to help out the victims (please don't think that just because he stopped Shan Cai/Makino Tsukushi from being sexually assaulted that he became some hero, because he truly was not decent either.)

Having sworn off the series, I told myself I would never watch any other adaptations - the first two and their multiple seasons plus a movie were more than enough. Then in 2021, F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers aired. This was the one. It overshadowed all the other adaptations and paid tribute to the story of F4 by bringing it into today's world and making it relatable. This version was a masterclass in how to adapt a classic story and give it new life and purpose to exist today. It was just done right.

This adaptation was produced with a budget that could carry the show without cutting down on the quality or reality of the characters' lives. It truly made us believe that there was this exclusive school somewhere in the middle of Bangkok that catered to these incredibly wealthy children who were all set to inherit their family businesses. Done with true Southeast Asian relatability: Thyme came from a real estate mogul type family, Ren from a family that practiced traditional medicine, Kavin from a family that practiced cultural crafts, and MJ from a family that was part of the Thai mafia. I liked that the production team decided to localise these aspects of the story and make it familiar not only for their Thai audience, but also for most of us in Southeast Asia who could relate to it.

The premise of the story began the same way, F4 being revered yet feared by the entire school. I feel like the director really leaned into the audacity of the boys as he found an abandoned space that resembled the ruins of a stadium of some sort and Thyme would sit on a chair in the middle of this space and watch whichever victim he had chosen be bullied so violently, like he was some depraved king on his throne. Was it ridiculous and over the top? Of course it was, but when was this story not? The settings in the drama were chosen so well that it transported us from the school, to Thyme's palace of a home, to Gorya's regular suburb and even to the flower shop where she and her best friend worked. Each transition between these spaces felt natural and did not look like it was part of a fake set which had been created specifically for the drama. I truly believe that Thyme's family home belongs to some mogul who was kind enough (or smart enough) to lend it to the production team for filming.

Following its predecessors and the original storyline, the drama progressed as predicted however, it cleverly utilised social media and technology to make it more current. This aspect of the show was rather ingenious and drew attention to how easy it was to be a cyberbully because one can always hide behind their screen. There were moral lessons and social accountability awareness weaved into the story, eventually culminating in Thyme feeling severely remorseful for his past behaviour and visiting each victim he bullied to apologise. None of them forgave him easily, which I found incredibly realistic. The scene with him on his knees outside a victim's house begging for forgiveness was so powerful and so well executed. None of the other adaptations had ever done this. This was what made F4 Thailand stand out and break the barriers of adaptation as the director and screenwriter chose to tell the story responsibly and for it to age well into the future.

The cast for the drama was excellent. Most of us know Bright and Win from 2gether which came out the year before F4 Thailand and had already made them famous internationally. The Thai BL fandom is a global one and many of them had a hard time accepting both Thyme and Kavin who were so very different from Sarawat and Tine. For me though, I was late to the 2gether fan club and had watched F4 Thailand first, thus I shipped the characters from both shows accordingly without much trouble. Tu was cast perfectly as Gorya, she brought out that familiar rebel and kind girl energy that we all loved. Whether she was kicking Thyme, falling for Ren or carrying the weight of her family on her shoulders, Gorya was a force to be reckoned with and Tu gave it her all to make us root for this poor girl who really just wanted to go about her daily life without any drama. The final episode of the drama really clinched this version for me, as Gorya goes to see Thyme's mother (Cindy was brilliant) and it's not a confrontation, but Gorya coming to understand that Thyme's mother loves him very much and only wants the best for him. The way this scene played out in the rain and between the gates of Thyme's palatial home really showed how two women who came from such opposite backgrounds could unite in their shared love for this one boy. Thyme's mother realising that Gorya never wanted to take him from her, but just wanted to be a part of his life was such an important lesson and a realistic one too. Again, none of the other adaptations had this conversation take place and the significance of it definitely added to the success of this adaptation. Let's not forget the subtle and quiet romance of Kavin and Prim, "indie" Ren and MJ's fried chicken sponsored unfinished love story on the side, as well as the wonderful Lita who all came together with just the right amount to balance out our main couple.

For those of you who missed out on this version or didn't get around to watching it simply because you don't watch Thai dramas, let this be the one drama you watch. I promise you, no regrets.

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I had a great time watching this series, even though I had seen a lot of scenes on TikTok beforehand and had already watched the Korean version (I think the Thai version was much better).

The character development was excellent. The main character’s transformation through love happened naturally, not all at once. The female lead never gave up despite all the obstacles she faced. The supporting characters were very interesting—each one different, yet all engaging in their own way.
Even the main character’s mother, whom I couldn’t stand for most of the series—there were hints from the beginning that she was hiding her true self, and only in the final episode did she finally reveal it.

The only downside for some might be the violence, which was quite intense in the first few episodes.

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Modern take on Boys over flowers

If you’re a millennial, Boys Over Flowers is probably one of the very first manga or anime you ever watched—or at least heard about. It’s one of those stories that feels almost universal. So iconic that, decades later, it still refuses to fade away. Different countries keep retelling it, reimagining it, reshaping it—and honestly, I’ve seen several versions myself.

I still vividly remember watching Hana Yori Dango for the very first time when I was seven years old, over 25 years ago. I remember feeling all the feelings even as a kid: the butterflies, the drama, the tension. I remember hiding somewhere in the house just to secretly watch the iconic kiss scene, feeling like I was witnessing something forbidden and magical at the same time. What a memory. That experience stayed with me, and I think that’s why this story has always held a special place in my heart.

That’s also why I was both curious and cautious going into the Thai adaptation. After all these years, I didn’t expect to feel anything new. And yet… this version surprised me in the best way.

The Thai remake fits its cultural context incredibly well. The characters are adapted in a way that feels natural rather than forced, and the story flows smoothly within a Thai setting. Nothing felt out of place. The actors did a phenomenal job bringing these iconic roles to life, especially considering how familiar and beloved these characters already are.

What truly amazed me is that even after more than 25 years since I first fell in love with Boys Over Flowers, this remake still managed to pull me in. I found myself enjoying it as if I were watching the story for the first time all over again, feeling that same excitement, curiosity, and emotional pull.
This version reminded me why Boys Over Flowers continues to be remade again and again. It’s not just nostalgia, it’s a story that, when handled with care and respect, can still feel fresh and emotionally powerful.
For longtime fans and new viewers alike, this Thai adaptation is absolutely worth watching 🌸💖

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literal masterpiece

Usually, I don’t really watch any straight dramas, so I started watching this one with pretty low expectations, but literally after the first episode I couldn’t stop.
Already in the first episode happened so much. I was able to easily adapt to the storyline, but it wasn’t boring as I thought before. Normally when I watch any dramas, there are 8 episodes of plot, but they produced 12 episodes, so it gets quite boring, but F4 Thailand has 16 episodes of plot with tension tiill the end. The story is absolutely not predictable.
In my opinion the cast is chosen carefully and very fitting. Every actor and actress has portrayed their character very well and let in the needed emotions. I followed Bright and Win from 2gether to this drama and got not disappointed. After I started watching I was able to recognise some actors, who I was seen before like Fourth, Fort and Nani, while I was also able to discover some new incredible actors and actresses. I love how the supporting roles freshen up the situation and give some kind of relatability.
The Soundtrack is well produced and is ich in variety. It is well placed and doesn’t give disturbance to the storyline, acting or cinematography.
Overall I think it’s a way too underrated drama, but that might be because it’s already a few years old and I don’t really watch straight dramas. This drama has absolute rewatch value.

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BOYS over flowers? CRAZY YES!!!!

F4 Thailand was literally a rollercoaster of emotions and the BEST version of Boys Over Flowers I’ve ever seen! From the first episode, I was glued to the screen—every moment was so exciting, dramatic, and full of heart. The storyline felt fresh, the visuals were stunning, and don’t even get me started on the F4 boys—they were all walking green flags in their own way!

But oh my GOD, Bright as Thyme was everything! His slow transformation from a spoiled, angry boy to the softest, most caring boyfriend made my heart melt every single time. And Win as Kavin—ugh, the flirt with a soft heart—I was gone. Dew as Ren was the quiet storm—soft-spoken, deep, and absolutely dreamy. His calm presence and gentle care just made my heart flutter every time he was on screen!

Their friendship, their growth, their love stories... everything was just chef’s kiss! This drama made me cry, smile, scream, and fall in love over and over again. It’s not just a remake—it’s a whole beautiful experience. If you haven’t watched it yet, you’re seriously missing out on the cutest, most heart-fluttering drama ever! My F4 babies will forever live rent-free in my heart!

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