JhovLovesYou

Of all the adaptations of 'Hana Yori Dango' (Boys Over Flowers), I think the Thai one is by far the best when it comes to the execution of events, plot twists and resolutions, and character developments.

While I loved this version a lot, let me go first on the negative side.

I'll be honest, I did not enjoy it as much as I did with the Taiwanese, Korean, and Chinese ones. Maybe because one factor is that I know how the story revolves already, and I've seen enough tropes because all adaptations have similarities. I'm also mature and old enough to get too invested in this kind of genre and romance. Another downside why I did not enjoy it as much is because of the acting skills, especially the one playing Thyme (Tsukasa in the OG).

(1) Thyme (Akira Paramaanantra) is really a very promising character, and of all the ones playing Tsukasa, the Thai version got the best character development while still sticking with the original vibe. He's also very handsome; his visuals really suit that rich boy with a bratty personality.

However, it was just disappointing that his acting skills were not as impressive as I had expected before starting (I read some of the reviews before watching and many reviews said that the ML did well. I think I should not believe what the majority always says). Other actors who played Tsukasa did better (yeah, even Lee Min Ho/Go Jun Pyo, who many viewers hated, did better when it comes to facial and eye expressions). If the actor did better with his eye expressions, for sure, I'd love him in all versions.

Anyway, I'm not saying that Bright was really a bad actor; he did well with the happy and silly sides of Thyme—it felt genuine. But when he was acting angry, annoyed, or disappointed, I couldn't understand his facial expressions. (see for yourselves, future viewers)

(2) Another downside is the camera work. There were a lot of episodes where the shots weren't very stable, had cheap execution, and felt like they were made for a small film making (like a school project). This series is Boys Over Flowers, the series that has been adapted into many different versions and has been famous for many years. It didn't deserve the kind of camera work and cinematography that felt cheap, especially in this age where film editing is more advanced than when the other versions were made.

(3) Having many ads was one of the things that irritated me here. I get that the series needed a lot of sponsors, but why did I feel like the series was made just to advertise? It tarnished a bit of its genuineness.

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Now, I'm going to talk about the positive ones.

(1) Gorya and Thyme's mother. I think they were the ones that kept me watching this series. The actresses did well portraying their characters, and they made the series so interesting.

So far, I love how the writer/director made this version of Tsukushi Makino (OG), and she's one of the versions that had better decision-making and was not very annoying. Gorya's character was more realistic and not a total goody-goody. She was not very impulsive, and she showed wit and a strong personality as she should. She really carried what a strong, independent girl should.

As for Thyme's mother, aside from her beautiful yet intimidating looks, she really did well in making me feel so pissed and annoyed. Also, it really showed what a rich, condescending businesswoman should be like. To add, her English was so fluent that it added to the character. I'm not saying that competency in English reflects on one's social status, but as the series portrayed, their company is the biggest and at the top in the country (and internationally) and it was expected that English was most used in the field, so it is expected for someone like Thyme's mother to be so fluent in it, which, in other versions made me think like: "They sounded like they did not use English, study it, and lived in an English-speaking country for many years". I think she's the baddest (most wicked) of all the ML's mothers in all versions LOL. I also loved her facial expressions when she was both angry and sad. The actress did so well that I ended up liking her (my favorite by far).

(2) Uniqueness. Yes, this is another version of 'Hana Yori Dango', but I love how they creatively revised the story in a modern and less toxic way, in which the OG readers/viewers would check out with excitement. The plot development was so visible, no forced episodes (just don't include the ads). Also, for each conflict, the resolutions were clear and ended properly, even for Thyme's mother's internal conflict. The bullying case was resolved and had a proper closure. I love the added characters like Uncle Ga and the two maids. I also love how they did Gorya's brother a bit grown, not a kid, and that brother contributed a lot to the plot's flow. 16 episodes were just enough to cover everything.

(3) Character development. Everybody's development was very evident, especially for the ML. I loved how he really decided to become a better version of himself, and that ideal was tested at the far end, and it was successfully executed. F4 guys here were more intact and the three helped the ML in his journey to become a better person. In the name of love and friendship, a person can change for the better. Whatever he/she does, not just in one's personal life, but even in the business field. The production made sure to include this theme to break the main conflict of the story. It was not even forced—it was slowly and smoothly executed. The redemption was there!

(4) Satisfactory ending. I loved it. Everybody got the ending they deserved, and it was more realistic. If I were to include more scenes, maybe I would want to see Thyme, Tia, and their mother having their hotpot together (Auntie Yu could be included). It would be perfect!

(5) Stuck with the Thai humor. I don't really watch Thai series a lot, but I've been to Thailand for a year before, and it was so evident how the series showed us Thai humor—which I enjoyed seeing.

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It took me one month to finish this series. As I have mentioned, I did not enjoy it as much as I did with the other versions. But this did not mean that the series was not interesting or whatnot, it's actually the best for me. I just hope that the actors did better with their acting. I felt like the majority who did well acting-wise were comprised of females (like Gorya, Thyme's mother, Lita, Mira, and Kaning). So far, among the male actors, I like the one who portrayed MJ. He's so cool. At first, I didn't like the acting skills of the ones portraying Ren and Kavin, but later, they redeemed themselves, especially Ren (the proposal part!!). Just that the one portraying Thyme did not have a lot of improvement acting-wise up to the end (just a little, ig). I hoped that Bright, by now, has improved his eye expressions.

Good watch! If you want the version of Hana Yori Dango with a lot of character development, improved plot and tropes, no forced episodes, and an impactful ending, then this is highly recommended.

Favorite character: Gorya
Least favorite: so far, none (I don't even dislike the mean girls, maybe June---Gorya's first friend)

Favorite actor: Cindy Sirinya Bishop (Thyme's mother)
Least favorite: Bright Vachirawit Chivaaree (Thyme)

Favorite scene: Ren's proposal / Thyme coming to Gorya when she was bullied while Kaning's motorbike was burning
Least favorite: all scenes with ads!!

Memorable scene: Gorya crying on the train


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Comparing all versions. If you easily get offended when it comes to comparisons, then no need to read this part.

Original Material: Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) by Yoko Kamio (manga series)

Favorite versions: Thai and Chinese versions
Memorable versions: Korean and Taiwanese versions
Least favorite version: Korean version

Adaptation w/ the Best Plot: Thai version
Best Characterization: Thai version
Best Actors: Taiwanese & Chinese versions
Best OSTs: Korean version (favorites: 'Yearning Heart' by A'ST1, 'Lucky' by Ashily, 'Love You' by HowL)

Best version of Tsukushi Makino: Gorya (Thai version)
Least best: Jan Di (Korean version)

Best version of Tsukasa Domyouji: Dao Ming Si (Chinese)
Least: Jun Pyo (Korean)

Sorry, I've never seen the Japanese one because I am not very fond of Japanese live action series (is it just me? But whatever adaptations they have feel forced, and the acting isn't givin'. I'd rather read manga or watch anime).

The Korean version was actually my OG version. I was compelled to watch it at first because my grandma really loved it but I grew to love it the first time I saw it. This was also the reason why I started watching Lee Min Ho's next series after it. It was so memorable and nostalgic for me.

The Korean version was the reason I checked out the OG (manga) and the other versions. Meteor Garden (Taiwanese Version) was so popular back then, but I was too young to remember, which is why I considered the Korean version to be the first one for me to watch. The Korean version was a big hit back then, too, and it was one of the reasons why K-dramas became so popular. It was one of my favorites back then.

But of course, with the existence of other adaptations, I must say that the Korean one is the least good and the most toxic, and the FL is also the most annoying (be it both the character or the portrayer's acting skill). I just realized that as I got older and rewatched it more than 2 times.