Boys Over Flowers (2021)

‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’; The Adaptation That Could’ve Been So Much More…

When ‘ Meteor Garden’ first introduced a mainstream audience to the world of Kamio Yoko’s shoujo Cinderella story back in 2001, very few individuals would’ve been able to have predicted the ongoing legacy and impact of Yoko’s work. Indeed nearly two decades and multiple adaptations later, a new generation has been introduced to the world of ‘ Hana Yori Dango’ through the Thai adaptation of the mangaka’s work ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’. The sixteen-episode series has gained popular attention by fans and critics alike. However despite its praise, it is important to acknowledge that the series hasn’t escaped the realm of scrutiny and criticism either.

Similar to its predecessor adaptations , ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ introduces viewers to its main female leader and heroine "Gorya" Thitara Jundee ( Tontawan Tantivejaku). An ordinary girl coming from a humble background, Gorya has entered Kocher High School, a prestigious school for the heirs of Thailand’s wealthiest families, through a varsity scholarship.

Gorya’s parents are over the moon with her attendance at the illustrious institution. Despite not being able to afford new shoes for their daughter, they are determined to ensure Gorya will finish high school with a praiseworthy diploma from Kocher. Yet despite rubbing shoulders with some of Thailand’s wealthiest heirs, Gorya has become weary of drawing attention to herself, especially with regards to her family status.

Aside from befriending classmate Hana (Wanwimol Jaenasavamethee), Gorya is determined to keep her head down until graduation. Indeed instead of partying or enjoying a hedonistic lifestyle like some of her classmates , Gorya spends her time predominantly divided between her studies, home and her part-time job at florist shop ‘Maytee O Garden’ ( a word pun homage to ‘ Meteor Garden’) where she works alongside best friend Kaning ( Yongwaree Anilbol).

However, Gorya’s hopes for a quiet life at school are soon dashed when she ends up on the wrong side of notorious F4 leader "Thyme" Akira Paramaanantra ( Vachirawit Chivaaree). With fellow F4 members “ Ren” Renrawin Aira ( Jirawat Sutivanichsak), "Kavin" Taemiyaklin Kittiyangkul ( Metawin Opas-iamkajorn) and "M.J." Methas Jarustiwa ( Hirunkit Changkham), Thyme’s tyrannical reign of bullying and authority over the school are suddenly challenged by Gorya’s defiance to become a scapegoat.

Despite Thyme’s bombardment of bullying tactics to make her back down, Gorya finds the determination to carry on through her growing unrequited feelings for F4 member Ren. Suave, mysterious and yearning over his childhood friend Mira ( Yongwaree Anilbol), Gorya finds her heart torn between her crush and her convoluted feelings for Thyme.

Of course it is important to to acknowledge that while ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ is an adaptation from mangaka Kamio Yoko’s bestselling work, ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ is respectfully ( like nearly all of the adaptations) a standalone production in its own right. Therefore, this has allowed certain opportunities and limitations by screenwriters Waneepan Ounphoklang, Jarinee Thanomyat and Suwanun Pohgudsai in order to encapsulate their respectfully young target audience.

One of the most efficient ways of keeping the audience intrigued came through the evident prevalence of technology in the series. From smart phones to social media, ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ placed heavy emphasis upon the sphere of modern youth culture. ( Especially through issues such as online harassment and cyber bullying in the early first part of the narrative.)

Nevertheless despite the grandeur shown through the everyday lifestyle of Thyme and the F4 , it is hard to ignore that issues such as abuse and bullying being glossed over by the series have been the subject of mixed-reception also. ( Especially with regards to the divisive relationship shown onscreen between Thyme and Gorya, arguably more lighthearted in comparison to other adaptations though not without its more controversial moments either.)

Tontawan Tantivejaku took on the role as main female lead and heroine "Gorya" Thitara Jundee. Actively involved in the world of modelling, it may surprise some that ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ marked the model’s acting debut . Nevertheless despite Tontawan Tantivejaku offering a fresh face to the role of the “tough and defiant” female lead, it became apparent that Tontawan’s inexperience at times often led to several awkward line deliverances over the duration of the series.

Of course this isn’t to entirely blame Tontawan Tantivejaku for her acting. Considering that it was respectfully the model’s first acting role, Tontawan carried herself surprisingly well throughout most of the drama , adding a surprisingly sweet and dynamic edge to her onscreen persona.

As an onscreen character, Gorya is admittedly a mixed-bag of writing strengths and flaws for the female heroine. Where other adaptations have struggled to encapsulate the female lead’s wider interactions with her family as well as their economic struggles, ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ added a surprisingly sentimental touch by focusing upon simple and daily interactions with Gorya’s family during most of the series.

However for a female lead who could be surprisingly resilient and laidback in comparison to some of her predecessors, Gorya could often feel as though she had hit a writing rut by the halfway point of the drama. This was mainly due to the fact that despite her initial growth by warming up to the F4 and attempting to navigate her own ambivalent feelings for Ren and Thyme, the second-half of ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ attempted to enforce Gorya into the leading role of the “ fickle heroine”; showing open affection, before seemingly changing her opinions out of an inconvenient dilemma and then dragging out major misunderstandings between herself and Thyme.

Although this cannot be entirely faulted as a bad writing decision per say by helping to intensify the tension of the series, ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ could sometimes inhibit further opportunities to see Gorya fully explore her mixed feelings in depth, or at least being given opportunities to grow or be explored beyond her specified role. ( This often resulted within Gorya’s later role in the series feeling somewhat stunted and enforced; rarely allowing her actions such as bending to the will of Thyme’s mother, feeling well-matched against her disposition and character.) Nevertheless despite a rocky first performance for the young model, there is certainly potential to see Tontawan Tantivejaku taking on future projects.

Then of course costarring alongside Tontawan Tantivejaku was Vachirawit Chivaaree ( alternatively known as ‘ Bright’) playing main male lead of the series, “Thyme” Akira Paramaanantra. For those familiar with Bright’s acting career, specifically for his role in the ‘2gether; The Series’, then most will probably agree that the actor certainly seemed an unusual choice. Nevertheless, Bright could be surprisingly tactful at times within his performance as Thyme; adding a nuanced touch of uncertainty and mixed-emotions through intonations and even micro-expressions onscreen.

However despite a superfluous amount of effort put into the role by the actor, it is hard to ignore that Bright’s approach to his onscreen character could feel somewhat overacted . This is not entirely the actor’s fault per say. Thyme’s written dialogue could often overblown at times and in addition to an onset of niche setups, Bright’s performance as Thyme was often somewhat inconsistent as a result.

This of course brings us onto one of the biggest elephants of the room within ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’, main male lead Thyme. There are certainly some positive attributes to comment about Thyme. In comparison to some of his previous incarnations who were defined purely by their haughty exterior and sardonicism, Thyme could often be said to be a “ kinder” version of his predecessors. Indeed, Thyme was often defined by his petulance and fractiousness around the female lead ( such as his demands and desires) , but he certainly often wore his heart upon his sleeve also.

However although it could be said that Thyme offered a more open and empathic version of the main lead in comparison to other incarnations, there is still a divisive issue for critics and fans alike surrounding the relationship between Thyme and Gorya throughout the duration of the series.

Writers Waneepan Ounphoklang, Jarinee Thanomyat and Suwanun Pohgudsai arguably did present the notion that Thyme was hopelessly infatuated by Gorya. However it is hard to excuse that despite his seeming bursting affections for the female lead, his treatment towards Gorya’s could sometimes be unnerving.

To explain this further it is important to point out that Thyme isn’t the first incarnation to come under rapid fire for his treatment of the female lead. Surprisingly this is not to say that these actions and problems should not have existed in the series. (In fact it could be argued that they could’ve allowed an open platform to address these issues, especially with consideration to the target audience.)

On the other hand it is hard to ignore that Thyme’s frenetic actions were often a sticky subject in the series. Respectfully while Thyme was held accountable for some of his actions, it will still provoke debate and discussion surrounding the initial aftermath of his actions also. ( In particular having resorted to often “ blowing up” around Gorya; resorting to yelling, throwing things or becoming openly aggressive with his body language during arguments rarely being addressed with more script .)

Then of course there’s another big issue to discuss with regards to ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’; Thyme’s “complicated” relationship with his mother and major antagonist of the series, Roselyn Paramaanantra ( Cindy Bishop). In comparison to certain adaptations which rarely ventured into the realm of Thyme’s bond with his mother being on a knife’s edge, the narrative often did present some early indications towards Thyme’s relationship with his mother being a difficult subject.

However instead of offering potential room for growth, Thyme’s estranged relationship with Roselyn was often widely disregarded until it was necessary for specific plot points. This was mainly due to the fact that
Thyme’s mother was often shoehorned ( like many adaptations) into the specific role of the antagonist; expediting the plot and dilemmas as well as giving the necessary introduction for Gorya and viewers to his older sister Tia ( Maria Poonlertlarp) but rarely being explored further. ( This was particularly shown in the latter-half of the series, leading to a dissatisfying conclusion for many.)

Then of course there’s Jirawat Sutivanichsak ( know alternatively by his nickname ‘ Dew’) as second male lead Ren. Similar to his costar and fellow model Tontawan Tantivejaku, ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ marked Dew’s first acting debut. Dew’s performance was decent enough by channelling into the mystique charm of his character. However whilst the rookie actor certainly made a decent acting debut, his performance in ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ could admittedly feel a little lacklustre with certain line deliverances.

Admittedly Ren served as a good example of writing an intriguing love rival for the main lead and a potential love interest for the main heroine. While he did not arguably quite possess the same joie de vivre as some of his counterparts, it was hard to ignore the fact that Ren possessed an element of enticing mystique and suave charm as an onscreen character . Nevertheless similar to some of the writing issues of the series, Ren’s character arc and development could feel somewhat flat lined by shoehorned plot events. ( In particular his character-arc and ambivalent feelings for his sister-figure Mira suffering from an anticlimactic conclusion.)

Tontawan Tantivejaku’s chemistry with costars Bright and Dew is admittedly variable from scene to scene. Nevertheless there is a certain charm especially from Tantivejaku’s onscreen and potential chemistry with Bright ( despite some arguably more divisive issues surrounding their onscreen characters), that helped to bring scenes to life and keep viewers enticed.

In addition to our main leads it is important to acknowledge the subplot revolving around supporting characters, M.J. and Kavin . Kavin’s potential wavering onscreen relationship with Kaning was placed on the sidelines of the narrative as a filler-in subplot to the main narrative ( though somewhat rushed by later plot events) , while M.J.’s “side story” was forced into a brief sponsorship sketch with KFC at the end of episodes. ( Often resulting in a conspicuous placement of a KFC food or drink product onscreen.)

However this is naturally where a major rut did hit the writing team for ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’. Instead of having the opportunities to cram in myriads of chapter titles and arcs into a space of twenty, forty or fifty episodes, the series was limited with a short and compact time space of sixteen episodes. Naturally this enforced the writers to be cutthroat at times with certain plot lines and attempting to accommodate itself to fit its restricted format.

As a consequence of this time frame, ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ often seemed to fall into the honey trap of heavily relying upon several trope-induced storyline events of its predecessors in order to pad out the narrative. While the drama did make some executive decisions with plot revelations and decisions, it could often enforce certain plot events to feeling somewhat rushed. ( This was shown in particular with the delivered ending. Although helping to deliver a satisfying conclusion for viewers with regards to the delivered verdict of the main leads’ potential onscreen relationship, the heavy reliance upon endings from previous adaptations as well as failing to wrap up some counterplots were apparent.)

The production and filming for ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ has admittedly been through a bumpy ride under the leadership of directors Patha Thongpan and Aticha Tanthanawigrai through COVID-19. As a consequence of these issues, it was noticeable that ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ could sometimes be somewhat choppy with its editing approaches and style. Admittedly this was not entirely the fault of the production team per say. Yet rather than attempting to work around production problems and missing scenes, it could often lead to these sporadic editing cuts feeling starkly presented against some of the drama’s slicker production edits and glossy gradients. ( This was apparent in particular with episodes around the halfway point where at the ending of an important scene, the episode suddenly cut off into a less than smooth transition with little context or relevancy hinted at for viewers.)

The OST of ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ is predominantly composed of an array of gushing love ballads and pop songs, upbeat and lovelorn tempos gradually blending into one another as BGM during various scenes of the series. Nevertheless despite some respectfully less memorable songs throughout the duration of the series, there were still some surprising gems such as emotional solo track “ One Last Cry” by Violette Wautier and “ Who am I” by BRIGHT, WIN, DEW and NANI arguably remained particularly ear-catching throughout the drama.

‘The series offered an ambitious and intriguing direction to mangaka Kamio Yoko’s series with updated subject areas and topics attempting to resonate with a new generation. A young cast with many notable leads being played by acting rookies served as a good launching pad ( similar to many other previous adaptations) towards potential new projects and careers. Nevertheless whilst the series could often feel flawed by its inconsistent acting, storyline direction and production problems , ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ has offered a fresh and revamped adaptation for a new generation. Although perhaps ‘ F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers’ may not appeal to everyone, it is certainly a satisfactory binge-watch.

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Uniquely compelling, modern adaptation; making it a worthy addition to the world of Hana Yori Dango

I'm astounded by how good this version is. It had been years since the arrival of the versions I loved that I thought this would simply be another uninspiring regurgitation of one of the most well-known stories in dramaland. But F4 Thailand provides a uniquely compelling, modern adaptation; making it a worthy addition to the world of Hana Yori Dango.

Before I go further, I wanted to mention that I adored Meteor Garden (2001) and Boys Over Flowers (2009) and it was to the point of obsession for both at the time I watched each. But looking back now objectively for the latter, I will admit it was a bad rendition. Having said that, I am certain that the praises for F4 Thailand currently are warranted that even when we look back 10 years from now, we'd feel the same way.

The heroine in this version, Gorya, is my favorite. Her introduction as an ordinary student on scholarship at an elite school otherwise attended by wealthy students convinced me, especially because of how pragmatic she sounds in her assessment of her environment. With disillusionment about the school after having learned the true nature of the students, with being well aware of her standing within this crowd and her purpose in attending the school, she had resolved to put her head down and focus on graduating without incident. But, of course, fate had other plans for her and so she ends up standing up to the most powerful person in school, Thyme, despite knowing full well the hell she'd face getting on that collision course with him, all because she does not have the heart to disregard a friend in trouble. She is courageous not because she is fearless but because she faces Thyme in spite of her fears. That makes her a rock star in my book; an ordinary girl who is extraordinary. That iconic kick to the chest WAS SO SATISFYING.

That leads me to Thyme. I will always be Team Thyme. This boy is such a brat but he's our lovable idiot. I LOVED how Gorya just renders him speechless on multiple occasions. We come to learn that he is a product of the upbringing by a mother who is less of a mother and more of a ruthless businesswoman molding Thyme to be just like her in order to run the family empire one day. Needless to say he changes to become a better person after meeting Gorya. He often looks incongruous in Gorya's world and yet is the perfect match for her. I enjoyed their bickering but it was the subtle, sweet moments between them that were so moving and dear to my heart (midnight birthday and zoo dates come to mind).

I was truly charmed by this group of F4. I'm at that age where I don't easily go crazy over hot guys but there is merit in all the girls fawning over their hotness here. I found them cool and hot and stylish that it is totally believable that they are the most popular guys in school. Aside from keeping with that aspect of the original, I thought the F4 boys are portrayed as an ensemble cast here compared to other versions. I mean, Thyme and Ren's characters hold significant roles being the main and second leads respectively, so it's no surprise that they get a lot of screen time. My reference here is more toward Kavin and MJ. They didn't feel like the 3rd and 4th members. They are vital to the story and so supportive of our leads and just plain awesome and I was happy to see them featured just as much as others.

As one of many who is extremely familiar with the original story, some of the main dramatic plot points could have turned predictable, as if I would need to patiently wait to pass so I could watch the "good" parts; in particular, in connection to the villains in the story, like the kidnapper. Often these tropes feel as if they were there to serve the advancement of the main characters, and the "villains" would then be disregarded or forgotten at the end of their time. But instead, I was at the edge of my seat here due to the gripping suspense felt throughout, thanks to the wonderful directing and editing, music and acting. Whenever there is a focus on the side characters, it transported me to their world. I paid attention. I listened to what they had to say. I did not have the urge to skip to move forward to the main characters. Everyone had a role to play and with purpose and each of their message is clearly conveyed. I particularly enjoyed Kavin and Talay's arcs. As an aside, I do want to note that I wasn't a fan of Lita, as I've never been a fan of this character no matter how good she is as a person as I've always been a steadfast supporter of our One True Pairing.

In terms of production, this team deserves just as much praise as the cast. I would consider the production team highly intelligent. They knew exactly what they are offering to us. Every detail is carefully crafted and marvelously executed. If you witnessed something on screen, even subtleties, it is because they wanted us to notice. I felt they are effective in influencing you; clever in how they use social media to contribute to the story without taking away the original feels. They pay homage to the original premise while modernizing it, as well as incorporate Thai cultural aspects into the story and all of this is seamlessly executed for such great entertainment for the viewers.

I'll end with this: if you really think about it, you have to admit that as much as we all love it, the premise of Hana Yori Dango is pretty superficial, and at times ridiculous. But somehow, F4 Thailand manages to paint this world in realism, with a lot of heart, through a smart script, amazing directing, evocative music, thoughtful characterization, and a talented young cast. I don't think any other version will ever top this.

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A very good version of "Boys Over Flowers" !!

So… this is the first time I write a review on MyDramaList !

First of all, I want to say that the only version of Boys Over Flowers that I had previously watched was Hana Yori Dango (Japanese version), which became my favorite drama of all time ! The level of waiting was high, thus.
I must admit that if Bright and Win (I LOVE them) were’nt part of the casting of the Thai version, I probably would never watch this drama. Well, what a good surprise !

First of all, if F4 Thailand takes the key elements of the initial story (school harassment, differences between rich and poor, horrible mom, amnesia, love triangle…), this version is very good for its modernity, the treatment of its characters or even the humanistic plot. For me, it is impossible to compare HYD to F4 Thailand, as each version has its own qualities.
In F4 Thailand, the destiny of Gorya, the heroine, is part of a modern society, where school harassment is amplified by social networks ; where everyone tries to integrate, even if it means denying their own values; where the «Red Card» game is reaching catastrophic proportions… the first episodes are very intense, due to the cruelty and passivity of high school students. Moreover, throughout the drama, the question of class struggle is particularly well conducted, especially the differences in quality of life between rich families (like F4 families) and poor families (like Gorya’s family), the economic crisis affecting the poorer classes in an emerging country where the richest are always getting richer… These aspects have touched me and are, in my opinion, a good element on the drama.

Of course, my favorite point of the drama was the treatment of the characters. Gorya and Thyme are the main couple of the drama, like Makino and Domyoji in Hana Yori Dango, but the other members of the F4 as well as other characters from example, Kaning, Gorya’s best friend) occupy a central place in the plot.

About my favorite characters:

- Thyme (Bright Vachirawit) is definitely my favorite character. If the Thyme of the beginning is horrible, its evolution is still beautiful and interesting to follow ! Under arrogant and disdainful airs, Thyme hides in reality a great sensitivity, a deny to grow up and become an adult and above all a heart capable of loving and be loved. I fell for him and I never doubted neither his love nor his resolutions (especially doing good around him). Bright was the perfect actor to play Thyme : in addition to his physical beauty, Bright managed to transmit to me all the emotions of his character, especially during the most intense scenes.

- Kavin (Win Metawin) was my revelation of the drama ! I wondered what Win would bring to this character who had not really marked me in Japanese version, but here, I was seduced by this character from the first seconds of the drama. I enjoyed each of his appearances very much and I was fascinated by his story, especially after his meeting with Kanning and the development of their relationship, always delicate.

- Gorya (Tu Tontawan) left me a mixed feeling ! If I admired his courage, his strenght, his loyalty, his kindness, I did'nt adhere to all her decisions/actions (in particular, in episode 15, I found her so naive…) which were at the origin of many misfortunes that could have been avoided! Moreover, despite her role as a heroine, it was not her story that captivated me the most (I preferred the sweet Kaning), even if her relationship with Thyme was so beautiful ! It was the first role of Tu Tontawan and I liked her !

- I also liked MJ (Nani Hirunkit) and Ren (Dew Jirawat), the other two F4 members. If MJ is more discreet, he forms a cute bromance with Kavin and is featured in a pleasant sequence to follow (and a nice advertisement for KFC !! ); Ren is a very mysterious character, but his role is primordial in the relationship Thyme/ Gorya!

I also appreciated very much the relations between the F4 members, but also with Gorya and Kaning. This group is endearing and will leave a trace in me for a long time! Among the other characters, Roselyn (Thyme’s mom) is perfectly detestable, but I loved the scene of the last episode in which Gorya managed to break the secret of Roselyn. Mira, Lita, Gorya’s family, Tia and Uncle Ga are also very important characters.
The entire cast is talented and contributes to the quality of the drama.

The production is also very well done, from the magnificent credits to the beauty of the images and the dynamism of the episodes where friendship, love, humor, personal development are always present.

Finally, how can I conclude this review without evoking the wonderful soundtracks of F4 Thailand, especially the songs « Who am I »; « Shooting Stars » and « One Last Cry ».

To conclude, F4 Thailand was a very nice surprise, from its characters to its originality through its omnipresent humor and its perfect cast. I would not hesitate to rewatch him !

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The Absolute Best Adaptation of Hana Yori Dango

I have a weird addiction to Hana Yori Dango. The original story is incredibly toxic and I hate the male lead in nearly every version and can't root for the main ship because the ML is just too violent and scary. But I have still watched and enjoyed every drama adaptation, almost against my will and morals because this story is a hot mess.

So when the F4 Thailand teaser trailer dropped in late 2020 I knew I'd be watching simply because I inhale Hana Yori Dango adaptations like potato chips. But right away I got excited because I could see that the director was willing to go dark and incorporate modern elements like social media bullying.

Fast forward to December 2021. I jumped on the first episode right away and was immediately floored. The bullying was much darker and more intense than in any other version. The famous F4 entrance that is glamorized in every other version was instead transformed into an entrance into a decrepit stadium that was more like Roman emperors entering a coliseum to see martyrs being torn apart by animals (emphasized by the leader of the F4 wearing a leopard skin coat and tiger striped shirt).

Additional changes to the story and characters in that first episode were remarkable. The mother was introduced right away and she was the origin of the red card game, encouraging Thyme to ruthlessly rule the school so he can learn to ruthlessly lead their business empire. Gorya, the female lead, felt realer than in other versions. Yes, she was strong, but also vulnerable and thoughtful. Her family was supportive instead of a clown show and the show gave the famous "good shoes take you to good places" line to her father. Finally the second male lead, Ren, was more active and interesting than the emo boys of other adaptations. He rescues Gorya from the red card bullies in a spectacular scene that ends with him drenched in water so it looks like he's being baptized.

The reason I'm giving this level of detail about the first episode is because it illustrates the level of care and attention given to every aspect of this production. Characters are given more depth. Key scenes are tweaked to make them more emotionally weighty. The bullying is taken very seriously and the male lead goes on a real redemption journey to transform himself into a better person and atone for the harm he's caused. There's also a strong social and capitalist critique that threads the entire narrative (the title of episode 9 is The Incident of 1% which is a reference to a term popularized during Occupy Wall Street)

The result is an adaptation that reaches the level of brilliance in certain episodes. The director really took this regressive teen franchise and turned it into sociopolitical commentary while using complex metaphors and symbolism through set design, costuming, sound design, and cinematography. I was literally gasping through some episodes and often became emotional over how much care the director gave to telling this story.

Is it perfect? No. The production ran into major problems thanks to covid shutdowns, limited episodes and the constraints of the Hana Yori Dango plot which always goes off the rails at the end (I was hoping F4 Thailand would beat this curse but alas no). The production gets very rushed at the end, character motivations go out the window and the PPL becomes oppressive. Also if you're in it for the romance just know that while there are swoony moments there aren't as many cute couple moments as other adaptations.

Despite all that, this show is an absolute must-watch. It's already a modern classic and is by far the best adaptation of this problematic teen franchise. If you've seen other versions and think you can't stomach watching another, just give this one a chance. And if you've never watched because you've heard how regressive and awful this story is, just know that this adaptation grapples with the toxic elements of the original and truly redeems the male lead.

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Best adaptation till date.

my first c-drama was Meteor Garden... which led me to my first k-drama Boys over Flowers. and it has brought me to my first thai drama, again! and I have to admit, so far (till ep.5) this is the best adaptation in all aspects (screenplay, editing, cinematography, costume, scenario, and acting). Hands down. Period. End of analysis.

if Lee Minho's Goo Joon Pyo felt awkward, Dylan Wang's Daoming Si was comedy gone wrong. Bright's Thyme is immature (which is the character attribute) but still believable and rootable.
all 2nd leads were handsome and stiff actors, and while Darren Chen's Hua Ze Lei was like a fluffy dream, I find myself liking Dew's Ren the most (I'm biased as a Yibo fan. I seriously think they look similar).
Kim Bum was the standout actor in the 3rd lead position against Caesar Wu, but I can see Win has quite a charismatic presence.
and lastly, Tu wins easily over Gu Hye Seon and Shen Yue combined. But I suppose credit needs to also be given to the character restructuring that's changed the flavor of this drama so far.

If my 2019 was spent discovering the land of k-dramas (which btw, hasn't changed) and 2021 spent exploring c-dramas... I think it's time for me to check out thai-drama-land in 2022. and what a great way to start!

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Not Bad But Not Great. Lots of yelling.

(Side note: I have seen all the other 4 live adaptions. [Tw, J, K, C] and the anime)

The pace starts off really fast. I enjoyed the first episode but then the pace sort of stays fast with little reprieve. Normally I would like this but here they seemed to jump from one pivotal moment to the next, introducing new characters and situations without proper ebb and flow. I wish they would have slowed it down a bit because it felt so choppy and rushed, making it a bit hard to connect to the characters.

One thing I like is how the bullying is portrayed in this version. I love the setup of the old stadium and how they included social media. The stadium provides an excellent visual while the social media bits gave the story an updated feel. This may be one of my favorite things they did with this version that felt superior in comparison to other adaptions.

As for the ML, perhaps they felt they couldn't get away with some of the original material because this version of the ML’s character is really watered down as far as his arrogance and almost devilish superiority complex. While I feel Thyme is certainly emotionally damaged by his mother, one big problem for me is that the FL doesn’t really hate the ML in this version. That strong intolerance for his behavior is an important element of their relationship arch. Even though the bullying is more present here than in the Chinese version, at least in that version the ML did some cruel things to the FL that made her hate him specifically, not so much F4 as a whole (forced kiss, hitting her in the face with the box of food...) Even the bullying Gorya received as directed by Thyme isn’t all that harsh in comparison to other adaptions.

For me, this lack of dislike from the FL to the ML is actually a big flaw in this version because it’s a major reason that despite his character’s constant efforts to show the FL that he likes her, she continues to fight her feelings for the ML even when the 2ML is already out of the picture and it’s abundantly clear that she does actually like him. I just didn’t feel that level of dislike from Gorya that would cause her so much apprehension towards Thyme.

However, instead, there are things he does mid-relationship that were quite aggressive. Perhaps these things would have fit better with his character at the beginning of the story but mid and later in the story just made me feel like their relationship could be an abusive one. Maybe it was Bright's acting that left me feeling that way but I don't remember feeling that way in the other versions.

As for the rest of the F4. I like them. I didn’t find anything not to like exactly but I would have liked to have seen more character development for their characters. Kavin had some development but it felt a bit unfinished. I’m confused why they had him admit to Mona that he liked her, then she wants to show him something (to also confess) and when he doesn’t show up she never went back to talk to him even though he had already admitted his feelings for her. I just find this version of his character’s storyline strange.

Let me say I love Ren. What a great guy. Learning that this is Dew/Jirawat Sutivanichsak’s first leading had me impressed. However, the way his character was adapted left me a little wanting. The manipulation tactics for his character were diminished to a minimal level which is something that makes his character stand out as opposed to a typical 2ML. In that sense, I think they did his character a bit of a disservice.

Additionally, I would have liked to see F4 together more as a group of friends. Hanging out or going out places or in their lounge. That’s definitely something the other versions have above this one.

Another loose end is Thyme’s sister. They sort of glossed over her as a character as well as Lita’s.

This is a tough one to rate. I think it's a good stand-alone drama overall which is why I rated this an 8.5. It's a very visually appealing drama. I like the direction they took with some of the points of the story (Kaning, Hana, even the amnesia was okay), but there were times were this version left me feeling like it really wasn’t the Hana Yori Dango story. They left out so many storylines and moments between the MC that really deepened their relationship and the story overall. I think it would have been better to make this into 2 seasons and spend more time on character development. Again, it’s not a bad drama but it’s definitely lacking in terms of a Hana Yori Dango adaption.

Stand-alone rating 8.5
HYD Adaptation 6

Would Recommend
Possibly Re-watch

Leggi di Più

Kind of disappointing

So I watched both boys over flowers (Korean version) and f4 for the first time both very close to each other. I watched boys over flowers and then the next week I watched f4. Both stories were definitely toxic but f4 just didn’t make sense. The story didn’t flow well and it felt really compressed and rushed. They introduced too many plot lines at the same time and failed to resolve them in a way that was understandable. The characters’ motives were also unclear and didn’t make cohesive sense. The whole time I was either mad or laughing at the characters. I feel like no one in this drama was reasonable (except for talay). Also the second couple basically had no purpose and development. Compared to boys over flowers the second couple’s story line just fell extremely short. Kavin wasn’t portrayed as a Casanova very well except for in the beginning, the rest of the time he was just there. The cast was fairly good looking but the acting was just not it. Like I love bright and win but I feel that they didn’t portray their characters very well. The scenes where the characters were emotional did not make me feel anything except for frustration that or I was laughing it. Honestly the first few episodes were ok but then it just started getting worse and worse. The only reason why I watched the whole thing was so I could judge it fairly and say that it doesn’t really get better. I mean watch it if you want to but I didn’t particularly enjoy it.

Leggi di Più

Don't worry about the trashy Chinese version because this Thai remake is made with care and love!

This Thai version really deserved the praise and it's really one of the best versions that I've seen! I really respect the production crew's effort and all the hard work to make the original manga version closer towards the Thai culture and their environment. This version definitely has the best mix of all the versions adapted, they really made good use of the iconic/significant scenes and removed the unnecessary ones.

At first, when I saw the casts I was honestly quite scared it will turned like the recent Chinese remake with only empty shell good looks but amateurish/bad acting... But this version really didn't disappoint me and in fact it has became one of the dramas I will rewatch again!

To be very honest, this version found the perfect actress as the FL. Her acting wasn't annoying at all and it's a very fortunate thing since this female character does has a lot of arguments and frustration scenes to deliver which the FL in the Korean and Chinese adaptation definitely failed to deliver the correct way of expressing emotions...

IF I really need to nitpick, I would say the plot for the fiancée part could have been better in terms of the process. To which my favourite version for this part is still the Korean one where the fiancee is very clear minded and didn't go all blinded by love like this version.

Overall, I urge everyone who are into the F4 story please watch because you won't regret it! Really the best and I'm not over exaggerating just cuz of good looks but because they really made the effort to make a good story and also a good closure for the ending!

Leggi di Più

This version >>>>>> All the other versions

No really! I will prefer re-watching F4 Thailand over watching the other versions even for once.

Before we get into my review lemme put this out. The actual story ie. Hana Yori Dango is not a great one tbh. It has so many holes and the plot is nothing but a getaway from a busy and unsatisfactory life to a happy and deluded one. That's a fact. The probability of 4 rich-nice-kind-allrounder-handsome men to be my, for that case, to be any ordinary girl's friends is less than the probability of me turning back the time. But it's fiction and we don't actually have any rules here and also this story is we received and is still getting received too. So let rationality stay aside.

Now the actual review. The series is definitely worth watching. The wait was so worth it. From the trailer till airing. All of it. Casting 100. Acting 100. Overall production 100. Everything's just wow. What mesmerized me more is the way they made changes in the story. Even with a lot of superficial things happening this version still has a solid ground to not totally push off people into delusions. I really appreciate it. I will rewatch it just to be at awe for how they've improved a basic story to a bomb story. I also loved how there's no much screentiming for skinship and intimate scenes. They have proven them to be of no much use and I liked it. I won't write much but would only ask you to go watch it if you haven't yet cause it's nice, fun and beautiful.

Not dissing the other adaptions. But for me F4 Thailand tops all the versions of Hana Yori Dango.

#f4thailandisthebest lol.

Leggi di Più

A melhor e mais bela adaptação.

Quem está na Dramaland há bastante tempo, com certeza já ouviu falar de Boys Over Flowers e suas problemáticas adaptações que não agradaram muito o público. F4 Thailand veio para mudar isso e fez um trabalho incrível!

1. PRIMEIRAS IMPRESSÕES
Eu não tinha interesse e tampouco vontade de assistir, mas a divulgação que fizeram (tanto a emissora, quanto os atores, quanto os fãs) foi excelente e despertou a curiosidade de qualquer um.

Logo de início já a filmagem te dá uma sensação reconfortante e leva você a "entender" onde, quando e como se passa: ou seja, na Tailândia atual. Elementos culturais não passam batido e te deixam com um gostinho que faz você querer mais.

2. DESENVOLVIMENTO
Em nenhum momento eu senti que pecaram ao construir a história e desenvolvimento de cada personagem, afinal, todos ali são uma parte importante que moldam o drama pra ele ser como precisa ser. O próprio F4 diferente das outras versões não estava ali apenas para encher linguiça, cada um tinha seu próprio tempo (tudo bem que o M.J. era só pra propaganda kkkk), suas próprias vontades e próprios interesses que ao longo dos episódios foeam bem esclarecidos e resolvidos.

Os problemas que os personagens enfrentam (que aliás, são MUITOS; Thyme e Gorya só sofriam coitados) têm uma base, um começo, meio e fim que deixam o espectador curioso para ver como aquilo vai pra frente. Adorei como incluíram a Lita, Hana, Mira e Mona e não as deixaram apenas soltas.

A participação da Roselyn, mãe de Thyme, foi FENOMENAL. Ao mesmo tempo que você sente vontade de esganar ela, você também sente vontade de ver qual vai ser a próxima decisão que ela vai tomar para atrapalhar mais um pouco a vida de seu filho. O jeito que insistiram e a mostraram como uma mulher forte que luta por tudo aquilo que quer mesmo que prejudique os outros ao seu redor deixa qualquer um de queixo caído.

3. MÚSICAS
Não tenho muito o que comentar sobre a trilha sonora, ela foi maravilhosa e cada parte da história se unia bem às músicas. Até mesmo a abertura foi tão marcante que de vez em quando me pego cantando "Who am I?".

4. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS
Um drama que era apenas pra passar o tempo acabou ganhando um lugar especial no meu coração. Senti todas as emoções possíveis enquanto assistia e não me arrependo.

A única crítica negativa que tenho é que nos dois últimos episódios as coisas começaram a acontecer rápido demais: F4 Thailand não enrolou em momento nenhum, mas não precisava acabar com as coisas sendo jogadas contra o tempo assim. De qualquer forma, não atrapalhou na minha perspectiva e continuo amando.

Não costumo sentir vontade de assistir nada novamente, mas o 9.0 garantido com certeza me faria voltar a ver :)

* Menções honrosas à família de Gorya, Kaning, Tia, Yu, Gawao e Talay que não citei anteriormente mas adorei a participação.

Leggi di Più

Here's to my first review in a really long time LOL

I've seen an unbelievable amount of this show, not this show in general but the adaption of “Hana Yori Dango.” and out of all the versions that I've seen, this one is probably one of the top ones I've seen before. It's very modern and it was very aggressive in a sense of todays world and I kind of liked that, down the road I'll probably some grumpy old person about it but it exceeded my expectation and I really liked that. This version is the first version I've seen where the ML's character development was so quick and I loved it, I loved the new fresh faces and I adored the FL. The show was toxic in the sense of the bullying but it was intoxicating that you could not stop watching or look away. It was your average story, poor girl mixes with a group of rich popular boys, falls in love in the process and it was just great in my opinion.

Tu playing Gorya was amazing. She was a fresh face, I was a little off put at first but I enjoyed her, she was strong, smart, I adored her.
Bright had wonderful character development and he's adorable! Loved it.
The rest of F4 was fantastic, I loved them, great friendships all around.
Loved the sister.
Loved the best friend.

Even the bad people were just tolerable and the MOM; like sigh.

I should rewatch this show now because it was that good. Also the OST is amazing.

Leggi di Più