Boys Over Flowers (2009)

I don't remember when I started this drama. MyDramaList shows me starting it both 2 years ago And in 2014 (I definitely did not watch this in 2014), so my guess is either it really was 2 years ago in 2020, or it was sometime in 2021. Regardless, the point is that it took me quite a few months to finish, and I only finished it because I was dogged and determined to do so.

This drama is pure soap opera, very indicative of the time it came out of. Absurd situations, obnoxious/terrible behavior, a plethora of villains, the quintessential jerk male lead and candy female lead, plenty of goofy background music (that gets stuck in your head until you begrudgingly come to love it), and overall, not very well-written or well-acted. It's also all of these qualities that gives BOF its charm, a charm that can only come from a drama of this era. That and it's so absurd that the joy of watching often comes from laughing at said absurdity.

Personally, I don't really watch dramas like this anymore. They've never truly been my cup of tea, even when I first got into dramas and most of what was out there was at least somewhat soapy. But back then in my early days of drama watching, I wanted to watch every drama ever made, and I was constantly seeking the next crack drama to grab my attention and not let go. BOF definitely would have fit that bill, and I'm surprised I never tried watching it before now.

I would say this drama is perfect for that particular period of a drama lover's journey when you're consuming drama's voraciously and always on the lookout for something to take you on a wild ride of emotions. You might re-watch BOF years later and think 'Why was I so enamored with this???', but you won't forget the experience of watching it.

I gave Boys Over Flowers a 6 overall purely because the absurdity and over-the-top drama gave me a lot of laughs, but based on actual quality, I would say it deserves a 4 or 5. The only reason I could think of someone wanting to watch this, outside of being in that particular period of the drama journey I mentioned earlier, would be because the drama is so absurd it's hilarious to watch. So definitely watch this if you enjoy wild, over-the-top, true soap opera style drama that makes your sides split from laughter. Or watch if you're in that phase where you want to consume everything, and you're looking for a drama that will grab you and not let go. BOF definitely that kind of drama. Otherwise, I wouldn't really bother.

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My thoughts on this drama.

I keep on seeing bad reviews of this show and in my option its a great k drama. It defiantly one that you have to see. Not to mention that this show was from 2009 so the acting and the story were pretty good for its time. Yes there were defiantly Tim e that I got annoyed with the main character of the drama because she would do things that didn't make sense, but for an old k drama its understandable. Plus its like an OG krarama and even though I watched it so long ago its still amazing for its time. When I give a 10/10 its not me comparing it newer ones. (like "it's okay not to be okay") Because I both give them 10's for different reasons. But I still recommend watching it because its such an OG.

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ANNOYINGLY FUN

Among the kdrama osts, I must say that this could be the best. Honestly, one of the impact it brought to me was the soundtrack, this series stands up when it comes to ost, it hits different.

I hate the fact that this drama annoyed me that much, I hate how the male lead bullies the female lead and then turned out to be the "lovers" as what clichè storylines are.

I mean Jun Pyo physically bullied and harassed Jan Di at all times and that was toxic, it ain't cute! It doesn't look like romantic. The main characters' relationship was toxic! the only couple I'd looked up to this drama was the second lead couple.

The second male lead was irksome though. He was actually the root why did the female lead was getting harassed.

Anyways, don't get me wrong, I was inlove with that series since I was a kid. I didn't even realized that my younger me carried to watch this.

As I'd rewatched it, now that I'm in a teenage years, I finally found that most of the kids found the first episodes "cute" because my 9-year-old-me before felt the same way. To be honest, it was a total wack.

Anyways, no matter how it annoyed me, this will gonna be remain "iconic" and "nostalgic" to me. This kdrama had a special place in my heart.

All of the casts were excelled in that drama and that's a point for me to give it a deserving rate.

The plot is clichè, seriously it wasn't that amazing.

The production are costly! The locations and places were eye catching.

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Had potential, couldn't live up to it

This was ... not a good show. The first 5 episodes were straight fire, and then it dropped significantly in quality, and by episode 17 I had to give up. It was becoming painful to watch.

I think the show could have benefitted from having lesser episodes, but ultimately the biggest flaw in my eyes was the acting. And by that I'm really just referring to one person, haha. The FL was hands down one of the worst actresses in a major role that I've ever seen. Someone on Reddit described her as "looking thicker than a bowl of porridge" and after I scream-laughed, I had to agree. She has no charisma or chemistry with any of her co-stars, romantic or platonic.

The male stars carry this show on their shoulders and are the only reason I even made it to episode 17, even though the actor playing Ji-hoo is definitely the second weakest link in the show. And Ga Eul shines as well.

But considering that more than half the scenes are around the FL, it was just too aggravating for me to continue. She seems to lack complete awareness of her face and body, so 8/10 times the emotions that she's trying to project often just make her look ... well, thicker than a bowl of porridge. I can't fully blame her for this; it seems that this was in part due to the direction she was receiving.

I was really looking forward to this after Meteor Garden which I enjoyed but found just way too long. So I thought 25 episodes would be a really significant step-up to the storytelling. Unfortunately this just goes to show how one bad actor can ruin an otherwise good thing.

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This was the first drama I have seen and it's absolutely marvellous. :) The story is focusing on each character in part, although the main ones are Jan Di and Jun Pyo who made a very beautiful couple, worth observing until the end of the show. Even though the love that brings them together has many twists it does succeed in overcoming all the problems, obstacles that got into their way.
It's about meeting one's soulmate and if you're destined to stay with him or her, about learning not to make difference between the people because of their social class, about the most powerful friendship between four boys and a girl who always stood up for what's right to do! ;)
Due to this drama I've become so interested in korean dramas and I started to watch more of them, as well as in South Korea and its language. :p
Who wants to laugh, cry, be surprised, get angry, identify with the characters MUST see this drama. It is a good way to relax and also discover the true meaning of friendship, love and family and feel the warmth of having all of these! :)
Think positive and you'll win the battle against the roughness and hardhips of life! ;)

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Disappointed went by the way of CDramas

I had so much hope for this KDrama. I was disappointed that they went by the way Cdramas (poor weak, mumbling yank me around Felmale Lead) vs (Rich, arrogant, I'll do what I want or get in your face Male Lead) . Usually a KDramas are pretty fair on Male leads and Female leads. Culture clash was (Rich vs Commoner) was strong.

Geum Jan Di (female lead) started as a very strong willed, articulated female. She could take care of herself. She knew how to fight. Enter Goo Joon Pyo (ML) and she allowed him to treat her like dirt. He yanked her around like a rag doll, she did nothing. He kidnapped her and she did nothing. He talk to her like he owned her and she did nothing. He had her beat up and she did nothing. She became a mumbling, weak , yank me around and I will not do a thing) female leads, just like most CDramas do in their dramas. Geum Jan Di's family came out looking very bad. They look like a bunch of money hungry, don't care about their daughter or what she wants parents.

Goo Joon Pyo a rich , self absorbed, arrogant in can do anything to anyone Male lead. He had people beat up and no-one would tell him he was wrong. Like Cdramas , He will towards the end, changes (surprise!) and get the girl.

Hey Producers/Writers! Wake up! MOST people who get beat up and abused do not date nor marry their abuser, Please get off of the RIch vs Poor subject line, with rich arrogant Males winning all the time. In this case the Rich man (Yoon Ji Hoo) lost out. They never really address school bulling, like they could of. They need a better music score.

I will not watch this again

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Overrated and problematic

DON'T watch it! Sexist show romanticizing toxic relationships and abusive behavior.







































































































































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Unlike the vast majority of Kdrama addicts, this was not my introduction into the Kdrama fandom. So anyone's argument stating that only beginners would find enjoyment in it is completely false (first of all, the great thing about opinions is that they're subjective) but my enjoyment of this as a non-beginner does prove that theory wrong.

-I will credit the makers of that theory with the idea that the plot/story is entirely funky/ messed up (in reality I might use another word for "messed" that starts with an f), but with that, IT IS SOOoOoOOOooOoOOoO GOOD, it's one of those that takes you on a complete adventurous thrill ride from beginning to end, one that makes you nostalgic when looking back at previous phases of your journey, one that has you looking back at it as a whole after it's over thinking "wtf did I just watch      ...       I think I want to watch it again" (although, that's NOTHING in comparison to its predecessors Hana Yori Dango the Japanese live action seasons 1 & 2, and ESPECIALLY Hana Yori Dango the Japanese anime.).
(Sidenote, a huge problem I have with kdramas [particularly of this similar style and that came out around the same time] is that they're TOO dramatic. I know. Kdrama/dramatic. It's in the title, but still. This one did a PERFECT STUPENDOUS WONDERFUL job at balancing the types of feels [primarily the dramatic/heart feels with the laughter comedy feels])
-The acting is STELLAR. If you don't fall in love with a single one of the sides, I will give you my firstborn. Because that's impossible. To name names, Kim Bum is a large fan favorite in this drama (He's the clay player dude guy) (and also my favorite actor period) (this was the first drama I saw him in) (he is spectacular), but surprisingly not my favorite side (I know, "Srsly?? How can he be your favorite actor and not your favorite character??"). Well, that's because of good ol' Kim Joon (He's the mafia boss son) (and also the member of the F4 [or maybe any side character] with the littlest air time) (but boiiiiii does he make it count). Same goes for Kim Hyun Joong. Low key a proven terrible person in real life (more info on that in my "Least Favorite Actors" list, check it out!), but he plays that role perfectly, I believe there are very few that would have played it better (as proven by the fact that in every other Boys over Flowers adaptation I've seen, I've rooted for the other guy, in this one, Kim Hyun Joong was the OTP). Personally, I can't stand Lee Min Ho as an actor, but this was one role I was ok with his work. Also the lead and her best friend were outstanding!
-I'm pretty sure I'm classically conditioned to start crying of all the feels everytime I hear that cheesy music. Seriously, no one turn it on. Not because its bad, but because I will seriously start having an emotional heart attack. No joke. Or exaggeration. It has happened.
-I would rewatch it in a second if I didn't have so many darned adaptations of it to watch, or just dramas in general to watch, or a life. That to.
-9.5 outta 10 recommend (to anyone... at any stage in their drama-ing life)

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Historia entretenida y dramática sin ambiciones

Es un dorama entretenido y con actuaciones buenas. Pero después de haber visto mejores cosas no puedo darle mejor nota. La historia podría ser mejor sin duda, al final es lo de siempre, una chica pobre que capta la atención de un chico rico.
Como he puesto en mi rating, las actuaciones on buenas, porque tiene buenos actores, pero tampoco llegan a ser deslumbrantes o de lo mejor que he visto. La actuación de la protagonista en concreto no me acaba de convencer.
En resumen, es una buena serie para pasar el rato, pero no vayáis con muchas expectativas de que os cambie la vida. Al final, no deja de tener los típicos clichés asiáticos, y, con toda la personalidad que aparenta tener la protagonistas, al final acaba siendo "domesticada" en un comportamiento más sumiso.

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Story: 8/10 Well, what a cliche. Rich boy falling for a poor girl. It was okay, not bad. After ep 23 it dragged though. It started off good actually. Then it began to drag horribly and I began to hate it.
Acting/Cast: 4.5/10 Eh. They acted okay. I thought So Eun & Kim Bum were cute. They had chemistry. Lee Min Ho & Ku Hye Sun had no chemistry whatsoever. Throughout the whole drama I had to put up with Geum Jandi's annoying character. I don't know if she was supposed to act that way, but DAMN. she was so damn annoying I can't even. The way she talked and acted and dressed. It all bugged me.
Music: 8/10
rewatch value: no. nope. not ever.
Overall value: 7.5/10

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I dont usually write until end, but thought i would try something different. it will feel weird when this does end, as this story could go on and on forever..in the same vein it could have been wrapped up sooner as well.
with that said, i do enjoy watching it. i have to say it is one of the most cliche filled dramas i have seen. deep into it now, each time someone falls asleep and is covered in a blanket, or prepare food for someone, i laugh. As an American, these things are insignificant and you would not see them as being so important in US dramas, but i dont mind these cliches in these type of dramas. it is one of the reasons i watch, to escape into a world that you need to suspend belief a little...isnt that what most movies/tv shows do.
As for actors, i do like Jan Di. i like that she is not most beautiful or desirable, yet someone who has a glow in which in the end even though she has tough situations, she always makes the right choice and things seem to work out for her. my biggest irony is why do i want her to get with Goo Joon Pyo instead of Yoon Ji Hoo...i just like their interactions better i guess, even though he is not at all what you would want for a guy. Yoon is just too perfect..everything he does says that she should be with him, but i never wanted that.
So i'll continue to the end to see what happens. I am sure it will be a standard ending, but thats ok..that is why i like these.

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