Hana Yori Dango 2 (2007)

I can't believe that no one has rewritten a review for HYD2 yet! This drama is one of my all time favorites (amongst Japanese and Korean dramas); I loved the storyline (having read the manga and seen Meteor Garden before this one) and all of its characters. HanaDan is brilliant in that it captures the lives of these seemingly unbelievable characters in such an honest and beautiful way. I will admit, when I first started the first season, I did not like any of the characters despite being invested in the story. However, Tsukasa, Rui, Makino and rest of the characters quickly won me over. When you are watching this, you can tell just how devoted the actors really are. The acting is argubly one of the best aspects of HanaDan with a great cameo by Ikuta Toma in this season. I will forever love Oguri Shun as Hanazawa Rui. He is the standard by which I compare all second leads-I also adore Matsujun as Tsukasa as he flawlessly portrays an incredibly rash and violent character who turns out to posses an enormous heart (metaphorically). The soundtrack also deserves attention of its own: I still listen to OST for this drama and love the songs to pieces.
Overall, I just want to say that I like the this drama is not as bright and cheery as the Korean version. It has a darker tone, which I think only helps to sell its story. This is BY FAR, my favorite version of BOF (I've seen all the versions including the Mainland Chinese one) and I'm an advocate of almost every aspect of this drama. I do, of course, suggest that you watch the first season before you start this one: you will appreciate the characters so much more. :)

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I doubt if there's a person who haven't seen the 2nd season after watching the 1st. As for me, I don't seperate between the two seasons, I just feel they're one part.
This season had much more events than the 1st one but the 1st season's music was better than this season's. However, if we speak about the general concept everything was nicely done; The actors showed more skills and proved their great talent : I fell for that strong acting.
Domyouji remain as my favorite character in this drama, there were new cast beside the old one wich made the drama more interesting.
Basically, if you watched the 1st season you won't feel it's finished without watching this one.

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I liked the second season a lot more than the first season. I feel the second season is more exciting and romantic.

Story: This season it's focusing on Tsukasa's love for Makino and how they are meant to be together forever. Honestly the breaking-up/getting back together was starting to get on my nerves a little by the end, but it all proves that they are destiny. I especially loved the side plot with Yuki and Sojiro but this version didn't let them get as far as the Kdrama version which kinda sucks. I like that couple. I actually can stand Rui in this version. I feel really bad for him and I think that he deserves a great girl. Also I like how this story develops the other 2 boys of the F4 more than the other versions. The fourth F4 member in the Kdrama version was hardly ever present and didn't really get much characterization. But in this version I understand him and his character. All the girls who were after Tsukasa were annoying though. But I like Shigeru, when she wasn't after Tsukasa. She was a fun character.

Acting: I honestly love the acting of this one a lot more than the Kdrama version. Oguri Shun gives Rui more depth than Kim Hyun Joong did, also by the end I was thinking that Oguri SHun is a bit more handsome than Kim Hyun Joong (Don't kill me, you're a still a super hottie KHJ). I love Masumoto's acting, I really felt like he portrayed Tsukasa really well. Inoue Mao it goes without saying is a much much much better actress than Goo Hye Sun. I though she really bought her character to life. I was really invested in the characters, and they made me believe that this was real.

Music: I really liked the Arigato song. Though it was played a little bit too much I like the melody. The only problem I had with the music overall was at some points the music was inappropriate for the scene. But other than great!

Rewatch: Definitely to watch again when I'm in the mood for a great romance drama. Maybe in a few months because I don't think I can go through the emotional roller-coaster again.

Overall: It gets a 10 since I liked this season more than the first season and I gave the first season a 10.

I still have to watch the Tdrama version of this drama and I plan on watching it in a few months. I don't think I'll be able to watch Meteor Garden without comparing it to this one if I watch it right away. Even with Hana Yori Dango I was hesitant to watch it because I had tried watching it right after watching Boys Before Flowers (Kdrama)and the anime, and I couldn't because I was bored of the story already. Again I question why I ever thought Boys Before Flowers was a good version of this story. I think even if I watch Meteor Garden Hana Yori Dango will still be the best version.

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Story: The story is just good. So many obstacles for Makino and Domyouji to overcome to be together, that makes this drama so fun to watch. They are both meant for each other of course. It's so tough to watch because of these love triangles or love squares for the two people that want to be together. I liked that they explained each character more about the life back then or so. Very funny as well in every episode along with Domyouji saying the wrong words heh

Acting/Cast: There weren't many new major people but some. I hated so much that Shigeru person and Umi as well. Their actors both played it well tho to be the hated person. Jun Matsumoto and Mao Inoue just perfect together.

Music: ugh the music here wasn't as good as the music in season 1. I preferred wish and Planetarium much better than the ones here. OST still good at the right times.

Rewatch Value: Of course you have to watch season 2 over again to get the happy ending.

Overall: I enjoyed that first episode it was pretty a great start and the ending well I'll tell you it's a happy ending of course. Makino and Domyouji are the best couple in the world!

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I fell in love with this drama after watching the first season, and I wasn't disappointed in the second at all. It had the same great humor and amazing chemistry between the actors.
The actors kept getting better and it was a pleasure to watch this fantastic sequel.
There was a lot of action in the scenes and you never had a dull moment. It had a great storyline, and I liked seeing how the two main characters love life progressed. I still think that the first season was best, but it follows close behind. You won't be disappointed if you watch it.
I really enjoyed the sweet moment there was between the main characters and how their love conquered all even if it started out rough.
I really liked I and I recommend it to everyone who has watched the first season.

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The first season I enjoyed quite a lot, and I felt that this season didn't improve whatsoever until the very end, it was extremely repetitive, so if you're planning on starting this one up then be prepared to have them run you in circles.

This drama stars the biggest jerk you'll ever see, and a girl who does and goes through far too much then he is worth. They pull her through hell and back again more then once, and throughout the whole thing, she has the perfect man standing next to her with open arms.

This is the first drama for many people, and I believe that is the only reason it gets such a high rating, but if you've seen more then just a few dramas, you probably won't appreciate this much.
This is probably the most overrated drama out there, along with Boys Over Flowers. (In my opinion this version is better then the Korean one.)

The only good news about this was the music, the acting, and the ending. I thought it was pretty good overall in those aspects.

I wouldn't recommend watching the whole second season honestly, just watch the last 2 episodes and you wont be missing out on anything. If you're still planning on watching the whole thing after this review, goodluck, I had a hard time forcing myself through this one, and even skipped a lot of slow parts.

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I loved this one much more than the first season. This is super rare for me I usually love the original so much more than the second season. This was very different I felt that there was more going on in this series than the first and there was more about the characters that you could learn about. There is a lot of rewatch value in this series, I always felt different about the characters each time that I had watched them. I loved how they went through with this second series where there was a deeper dive into the story for each of the characters and it still kept my interest.  

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A SEQUEL WORTH WATCHING

Let me preface this by saying that the first season will almost always be better than the second: That`s also the case here. Does that, then mean that this is not worth watching?ABSOLUTELY NOT. This remains as one of the best sequels of any body of work to this day. The acting is consistently excellent, the soundtrack is as great as it was the first time around and the drama is keeping true to the feel of its original material. Like I have mentioned in my review of the first season, "Hana Yori Dango" the drama is better than both the manga and the anime version and I stand by my words. It`s also better than any other adaptation of this material and I have a feeling that it`ll stay that way. This time around we have two more extra episodes, rounding up to 20 and a movie, which I`ll also review.

Now regarding this season, I had to give it a 8.5 instead of 9.0 even though it contains some of my favorite moments of this drama, like the fig talk between Tsukasa and Makino(which remains one of the most romantic scenes my eyes have ever seen). The reason for that being, sadly, the AMNESIA plot point. Ugh, I hate it so much when shows do this, I can`t even explain it. We`re lucky that it is done by such good actors like Matsumoto Jun and Mao Inoue, otherwise it would be a sure skip. Now, everything stays consistently good, but what also happens is the definite moment where you`re made sure of the actors` talent when compared to other adaptations and I would like to insert that one scene here. For comparisons` sake, the scene I`m talking about and am pitting against each other, is the moment Tsukasa/Jun-Pyo sees Makino`s/Jan-di`s magazine shoot in New York. This one right here is the best scene where I can confidently say that Matsumoto Jun can out-act Lee Min-ho easily. First off, the atmosphere is completely different for both scenes. Lee Min-ho`s is well lit, filmed from a direct point where you can clearly see his facial expression being that of simple jealousy. Yes, that`s fine that`s what the original material calls for as well. HOWEVER. Matsumoto Jun`s scene is dim, with him looking over New York and his back is turned to us. We see him looking at something and then, with a dose of disdain, he throws it on the bed:The magazine cover. His face is then shown to be completely blank, yet his eyes are full of pain. He doesn`t say anything, just keeps looking over the skyline pensively. With this scene, you`re not communicated if he`s only jealous. Because he isn`t. He`s restrained by the guilt he feels towards his friend for a reason I won`t reveal here, but he is also pained by jealousy AND another layer of guilt for having such a petty emotion in that moment. Truly, Doumyouji Tsukasa BECOMES Matsumoto Jun. And I`ve never seen that happen. Same is true for Makino and Mao. And Shun and Rui. And I`ve never realized this before, though I`ve seen this drama a million times, but Tsukasa and Makino only ever kiss three times in both seasons and I was shocked by that. Because what they transmit through looks and caresses, some actors can`t with even the steamiest of scenes.

This time around we also get a worthy villain who has been lurking from the start in the form of Tsukasa`s mother, and though stereotypical, the actress chosen for this role fits it like a glove and I really felt an array of bad emotions towards her character because of her presence. Still, this is a more than worthy successor of one of the most famous Japanese dramas ever created and it has my glowing recommendation.

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This drama has really cute and sweet elements to it, but man, the bad in Hana Yori Dango 2 definitely outweighs the good.

First of all, this drama was such a chore to watch. Although I did like this Hana Yori Dango 2 a bit more than the first one, it still has the same problems and it makes the drama almost unbearable. I never read the manga or watched the anime, but this drama probably did a really good job at following the story. Jdramas usually do. The problem is that the story sucks! It has a terrible message and it pains my soul that I could find anything good about this drama at all.

It's no surprise that I liked the japanese version more than the korean one, and that's partly because I can buy Makino's and Domyoji's love. Matsumoto Jun and Inoue Mao have plenty of chemistry, and I think that's why it works (plus they go out in real life which is just super cute). My problem with their characters is their terrible communication. It's so frustrating because they're both idiots! Domyoji is an entitled brat and Makino is just stupid and pathetic. It's like the girl has no pride. Her family are pimps, and honestly I think she's too easily influenced. But whatever, that's the story. I just don't like the message of a girl being able to change someone with a terrible personality into a kinder person. Because Domyoji never really changed, he just acts one way in front of Makino but then reverts back to his arrogant and violent ways. Plus he's an idiot. I don't see what's so great about him, or Makino for that matter. I mean, what is so special about Makino really? Because she kicked Domyoji and put him in his place in the first season? Because no one ever stood up to him before?? I don't know, whatever, those are my main problems with this drama. Also, it's so elitist I can't take it.

I didn't ship anyone in this drama, and that's so strange because I absolutely loved Rui's korean counterpart. But anyways, the music is probably the best thing about Hana Yori Dango. Both seasons. I can't get it out of my head. Also, the ending is kinda cute (the first season's ending was cuter), but I'm not gonna lie, they crank up the cheese factor to the max.

So would I recommend Hana Yori Dango 2? No, not really. I would recommend either of them period. If you've seen the first one, and you want to know how it ends, go ahead, but I'm telling you it's a chore. Episodes 6-9 drag like there's no tomorrow. Honestly, I like episode 10 the best. But anyways, Hana Yori Dango 2 isn't a terrible drama per say, it's just the message that's the worst. If everything stayed the same, even the stupid plot and the ending, but they had a better message, I'd like this drama much much better.

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