A Refreshing and Youthful Adaptation
I’ve seen the Korean version and parts of the Taiwanese version (though I don’t remember much of it), and I really enjoyed this version. The Korean version is noticeably darker, particularly in the way the female lead is bullied. In the other versions, I found myself rooting for the second male lead, but in this one, I was rooting for the main leads.
Shen Yue and Dylan Wang had undeniable chemistry. Their constant bickering was hilarious and felt very natural. I especially loved how the female lead calls the male lead “Pineapple Head.”
There are a few things I’ve never liked in any version of Meteor Garden, particularly the lack of respect for Dong Shan Cai’s boundaries. Dao Ming Si basically forces his feelings on her in the beginning. However, I understand why this was included, as it is a crucial plot point that leads to major character development for Dao Ming Si.
The character Chen Qing He was especially funny. His bickering with Dao Ming Si was a highlight, and while Chen Qing He is naïve, it only adds to his charm.
I didn’t like the casting choices for F4: Caesar Wu, Darren Chen, and Leon Leong. They didn’t have much chemistry with one another. I also didn’t care for the storylines involving Caesar Wu and Leon Leong, as they lacked chemistry with their respective romantic partners. Leon Leong, in particular, came across as awkward. I often fast-forwarded through majority of all their scenes. In contrast, the actors cast as F4 in the Korean version had great chemistry, and you could really feel the brotherhood they were meant to portray. In this one, it just felt like there were cliques and it felt like they were often doing things on their own.
This version is definitely more lighthearted compared to the other two versions I’ve seen, and it’s clear that the target audience is a younger demographic. The dubbing was extremely distracting, but aside from that, the drama does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
Shen Yue and Dylan Wang had undeniable chemistry. Their constant bickering was hilarious and felt very natural. I especially loved how the female lead calls the male lead “Pineapple Head.”
There are a few things I’ve never liked in any version of Meteor Garden, particularly the lack of respect for Dong Shan Cai’s boundaries. Dao Ming Si basically forces his feelings on her in the beginning. However, I understand why this was included, as it is a crucial plot point that leads to major character development for Dao Ming Si.
The character Chen Qing He was especially funny. His bickering with Dao Ming Si was a highlight, and while Chen Qing He is naïve, it only adds to his charm.
I didn’t like the casting choices for F4: Caesar Wu, Darren Chen, and Leon Leong. They didn’t have much chemistry with one another. I also didn’t care for the storylines involving Caesar Wu and Leon Leong, as they lacked chemistry with their respective romantic partners. Leon Leong, in particular, came across as awkward. I often fast-forwarded through majority of all their scenes. In contrast, the actors cast as F4 in the Korean version had great chemistry, and you could really feel the brotherhood they were meant to portray. In this one, it just felt like there were cliques and it felt like they were often doing things on their own.
This version is definitely more lighthearted compared to the other two versions I’ve seen, and it’s clear that the target audience is a younger demographic. The dubbing was extremely distracting, but aside from that, the drama does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
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