lilili

Oh thank you so much! I have a podcast on classic Kdramas and we did a long episode on Korean Boys Over Flowers and the entire Hana Yori Dango universe (if you don't use Spotify it's also available on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, etc.):
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2DQjHxMrY41UoxjLnJr9ir?si=qtgQX7bcT0yssUm8tIL9AQ

My take is that the original story is problematic af yet also has elements that make it incredibly compelling (I've watched 6 versions of this and read parts of the manga). I'm not going to pretend that the story isn't deeply screwed up in a lot of ways. But I still get a thrill out of almost every version (sorry China, that version bored me). It's okay to love problematic things. It's not okay not to have some critical judgement about the things you consume.

Having said all that, if people are downvoting this drama based on the previous versions, they are missing out because Thailand miraculously manages to keep the sense of danger that's integral to the original while at the same time calling out the most problematic elements and making the characters more complex and interesting. It's deeply impressive.

It's in the teaser trailer https://youtu.be/L5aVKQxeMeo

It's in the teaser trailer for ep. 3 https://youtu.be/L5aVKQxeMeo

I know people who haven't seen previous versions and are enjoying this. You'll know by the end of ep. 1 whether this grabs you or not.

I know it's because of his role in 2gether but I don't know anything beyond that.

I agree on 2001 MG! Jerry Yan brought a raw vulnerability to the character that isn't in any other portrayal. He's so desperate to be loved. And Barbie Tsu's Shancai was tough but also smart and thoughtful. The voice overs let you hear her struggle with her feelings for Daoming Si and it makes her character complex and interesting.

Also, Bright has a lot of antis for some reason.

I am in the minority in that I did not like the 2005 Doumyouji at all. He was a straight up sociopath in those opening episodes and I just didn't buy his redemption arc after that. (ETA: he's the only version of the character who is okay with the attempted sexual assault of the FL). I also thought that Akira and Soujiro were too sleazy with women and that turned me off. The only F4 character in that adaptation who I really liked was Oguri Shun as Rui because he was cool and badass and not a sadist or predatory like the others.

IMO the best acted male lead was Jerry Yan in the 2001 Taiwanese Meteor Garden. He gave the character a raw vulnerability that's missing in other versions. Too bad the production values are utter shit and render it nearly unwatchable by modern standards.

LMH in KBoF was just...not great! Very handsome, pulled off the wardrobe beautifully but that's it.

But Bright is doing a damned good job with Thyme and he may end up being my fave. The writing for the characters is far more complex in this version and requires more subtlety from the actors and he's pulling it off.

Your edits are great! Great music choices and timing visuals with music beats. Looking forward to seeing more!

Another huge and obvious change I forgot to mention is how they integrate social media into the story and the bullying. Using social media to create a false shiny image for the F4 and to bully and slut shame Gorya (though she refused to buy in, loved that). And the reason why they bring people to the stadium is because there's no CCTV and no one is allowed to record in there.

Your comment about Ren not being a silent constipated weirdo 😆

YES to the students being more involved/invested in the bullying. Thyme's line about giving students anonymous accounts in real life was brilliant. I noticed that the students were usually the ones instigating the worst abuse, like when they try to shave Hana's hair. And you're right, it makes Thyme less toxic and almost someone who's trapped by the system rather than someone who just runs the show.

Good point about Kavin, he already seems disaffected even as he's pursuing women.

I watched the Japanese version but don't remember Akira doing much except for getting involved with Makino's boss (and hoo boy I'm glad recent versions got rid of his preference for older women, that's creepy)

I agree! The writing and directing are incredible. I had no idea how they were going to pull off updating this story but to my shock they are doing it. Some of the subtle changes I noticed:

- The F4 introduction isn't glamorous the way it is in Boys Over Flowers and other versions. They are introduced at the stadium when someone is about to get seriously beaten and it's scary. You are automatically thrust into a much darker world than other versions.

- Giving the good shoes will take you good places speech to Gorya's father. This is brilliant because when her shoe is cut up by Thyme and then she wears it to kick him, it isn't simply that she's fighting back, it's that she's standing up for her family and her values.

- Thyme's mother being the direct reason why Thyme bullies and gives out red cards. She goads him into this behavior because she says if he can't control the school he can't control their business empire. And even though he's terrorizing the school it's not enough for her. She still has contempt for her son's perceived weakness. This is a lot more complex than the simple "I'm a bully because my mom was mean to me" in previous versions and it makes Thyme more sympathetic.

- In the kidnapping scene, instead of Thyme trying to get Gorya to be his girlfriend, he's trying to bribe her into recording an apology so he can rescind the red card. He knows he's gone too far on this and feels guilty but he can't exit without a win so he can keep his status at the school. He's also starting to catch feelings for Gorya but he won't admit it to himself. This makes him more sympathetic and opens the door for his redemption arc.

- Ren is much more active and interested in Gorya in this version. He doesn't just stop the sexual assault, he makes sure she gets out of the school safely and he helps her at the party. Also, Mira tells Gorya that he's interested in her. This means we get to the rivalry between Ren and Thyme much faster.

- MJ has a real role in the story unlike the previous versions of the character. He's the Greek chorus commenting on the action in the story and calling out problematic elements like saying the kidnapping is illegal and that Thyme is going too far.

There's more but I'll stop before I write a book. But if you want to learn more about the approach the director took to the story you should watch the BTS interview with him: https://youtu.be/l-I7Z2kG7pI

The plot has a lot of the same story beats as BoF and other versions like Hana Yori Dango and Meteor Garden but they made subtle changes to the plot and characters so the whole vibe is very different from other versions. It's more raw and realistic. The bullying is legit terrifying. The female is complex and interesting unlike Jan Di who just cried all the time.

None this week because of NYE programming.

I love this fmv comparing Thai F4 with their Korean counterparts. I'm loving the Thai version but I have to admit the F4 entrance in the Korean version is iconic and will never be topped: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyZYsFPW4cY&ab_channel=SooNa

I wonder how much of the plot they will keep though because it's so much and they are only doing 16 episodes. For example, I think you could cut out the whole seaside thing with no problem.

I freaking loved that. Also when she leaves the classroom she says I must have morning sickness while looking at the evil trio. In all the other adaptations she screams about being a virgin. It's so cool to have a female lead in a teen drama who's all nope you can't slut shame me

That kiss scene was in the original manga and there's a version of it in every adaptation of the drama. And it looks goofy and weird in all of them. It's supposed to be ridiculous.

That's exactly what I'm doing 😅