Let's Go Watch Meteor Shower (2009)

As a fan of Zhang Han, it has already been written in the stars that I would watch the drama that launched his career. It really made me wonder why this unofficial Chinese adaptation of Hana Yori Dango had such a low score here and also negative comments in different blogs. As I watched every episode of the drama, it also made me wonder how it became an unofficial adaptation when it followed the basic elements of the original story. Although I completely agree with others when they said that this was more like an adaptation of Meteor Garden compared to Hana Yori Dango. So we can basically call this an adaptception (I hope you'd get what I was trying to say here ;). I have also long accepted the fact that I would definitely come to love any version of Hana Yori Dango because I'm just so in love with the story no matter how cliche it is already now. I can honestly say that the first few episodes were quite boring and ridiculous (in terms of acting maybe) and definitely different from all HYD adaptations.

However, one must be patient in watching in order to enjoy it fully. One major thing that made me love this drama was the chemistry of our main leads, Chu Yu Xun and Murong Yun Hai. No wonder Zhang Han and Zheng Shuang ended up dating in real life! In terms of acting, Zhang Han playing the Domyouji character really made my fangirl heart jump out of happiness. I believe he played it so well next to Jerry Yan's Dao Ming Si. I also can't believe that Zheng Shuang was just around 18 or maybe even younger when she acted in this drama and she was just really adorable and fierce at the same time. The only thing that I could complain about her was that she was just too pretty to play the Makino character but this is hardly even a complaint. I have always been a fan of Hanazawa Rui (both in MG and HYD) but the one here really disappointed me in terms of acting and looks (sorry for being shallow!) but he just grew on me as I continued watching. I also found the other F4 members really cute and they actually had decent storylines.

I gave the music section a perfect score because I really love the OSTs that I'm even listening to them now as I type this. My favorite ones are Love's Waltz, Let Me Sing A Song For You, I Want to Soar, etc and most of them were sang by the cast members! It was a chance for me to actually listen to their real voices as they were all dubbed in this drama.

I gave a low score to the rewatch value because I feel that it would be dragging to rewatch everything all over again. I would also be unfair and say that nothing can beat the rewatch value of Meteor Garden which is why I gave such a low score. My apologies for writing such a long review but it only means that I'm very passionate because I believe that more people should give this drama a chance. A bit of chance that would entail just enjoying the drama alone and forgetting the other adaptations even just for awhile!

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I personally don't understand why people are so critical? This drama is something really special. Despite the fact, that it is a numerous interpretation of 'Boys over flowers', it remains one of the best among the others. From the first episodes I became fascinated by this drama: actors, plot, music - everithing was perfect. It was my first Chinese drama, and I can't compare it with other Chinese creations, however, the first impression was completely positive. The new ideas in the plot make this drama unique, create 'new waves' and I even can't tell, that it is only a version of something, it is an independent drama. The acting is on the high level. Actors did great job. It was truelly sensitive and gripping. Despite the number of episodes, you move quickly throug them and I can't say, that there were some needless and boring moments. All in all, it IS a masterpiece, GREAT JOB!

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"Let's Go Watch the Meteor Shower", also known as "Meteor Shower", is an unauthorized adaptation of "Boys Over Flowers" (Hana Yori Dango) by Yoko Kamio. Note: I say 'unauthorized' because the producers failed to obtain the copyright. The same year, the popular Korean adaptation also titled "Boys Over Flowers" was released. A clause in the Korean production's contract barred any new 'official' adaptations for three years, which might explain "Meteor Shower"'s producers inability to get the copyright. Another interesting fact is the show was initially titled "New Meteor Garden". There are several particular similarities between MS and MG, besides both being adapted from BOF.

"Meteor Shower" takes places at a college (like MG), where Yunhai (Dao Ming Si) and Yuxun (Shan Cai) have a fateful encounter. Hans Zhang and Zheng Shuang's chemistry is hands down the best part of the show. I was bored during scenes without them, though their romance did drag a bit towards the end. Unlike previous versions, MS has several romance side plots for the supporting characters, including Lei and Yu Xin (Jing), Shangguan (Xi Men) and Xiao You, and a love triangle between Ye Shuo (Mei Zuo), Yunduo (Yunhai's sister), and her ex-boyfriend. Interesting at first, these side plots eventually became played out and only served to fill out the series' thirty-six episodes.

Overall, MS was fun to watch, despite being draggy at times and the last three episodes were almost agonizing. You'll probably enjoy this series as long as you don't expect too much from it.

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Of course I love the story b/c I have made it a point to watch all versions of this story. Cronologically this one is very different. The history of the characters is not the same as in the other versions. The acting (IMAO) is much better than the Japanese version, even though it is still kinda weak. The dorky laughing is what killed most of this for me. I was never a giggler and hate it when girls do that to act cute. It makes me sick. Watching this drama was almost like watching a Soap Opera here in America (really bad acting) only w/o the continuous relationship changes. I really hated the mother in this one. She was like pure evil in human form. How can a mother lie to her child and not feel guilt. I have an 11 yr old and there is nothing that she could ever do that would make me lie to her like that. I just don't understand her characters pov. She wants what is best for her son yet she does everything she can to hurt him b/c it is not what she wants him to do. As a parent u have to let ur children learn from their own mistakes, not force them to do as u want them to. That is not how they learn or grow. The fact that the father let her do these things make me really mad b/c he should have done something to stop his wife from being such a biatch. I mean really dude grow a pair and deal w/ ur psycho of a wife.



There is obviously a 2nd season to this, and I really want to finish out the story, but I may wait a while b/c this part took so long to get through. I just really hate to leave things unfinished. Which is y I will prolly go and watch the 2nd season of the Japanese version; even though I really hated it. Damn my inablity to leave things unfinished. I will suffer through it just b/c I can't leave the story like it is in my head. Yeah I even make myself finish crappy books too. Stupid OCD.

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And so the fourth (fifth?) version of Hana Yori Dango: I was not expecting much from the mainland version, but I'm glad that I did end up watching it in the end. There were it's dramatic moments that I did not like, but then again, the story of HYD comes with drama. Ye Shuo and Shang Guan were my favourite for the other two characters of F4 out of the versions I've seen. More episodes meant that their own stories could be expanded on. Zhang Han also quickly became one of my favourites for the leader of F4. The main girl was very obstinate and strong-willed, which at times felt a bit much, but in the end this version got the most tears out of me (as far as the first season goes in any case!). The characters of F4 feel more relatable in the sense that their wealth did not seem quite as over the top as in some other versions. So if you like the story, I'd definitely recommend it.

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I watched Meteor Shower because i'm totally in love with the story, and I fell in love with the actors too. Hans Zhang is a great actor and singer, and Shi Yi makes me melt. Zheng Shuang is a perfect Chu Yuxun, i love her a lot. I loved this story. I'm in love with HanaDan and each version.
I loved the chemistry of the main leading, the plot, and eveything. Music is modelled according to the character and i think that Duanmu's issues are a very agreablea plus for the story. But my love is for every character.
I want to mention Mother, since in this version you really feel that, in a bad way, she really cares about her son and her daughter. Shangguan is a little sunshine, but my love is all of Yunhai and Yuxun, i loved their characters. The plot is well deoloped, balancing sad moments with some tricky or amusing ones.
I recommend watching this show, because it's HanaDan at another level, but always likeable despite some changes.

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