Miraculous: a BOF adaptation I actually liked

Whether or not you are a fan of previous Boys Over Flowers adaptations, you need to watch this. I went in with no expectations and was blown away.

I've never had success with any BOF iteration. The Japanese, Korean, and Chinese adaptations all had enough overplayed tropes, cringy moments, and problematic messaging to turn me off on them.

This version is an exception.

This adaptation gets it right: it maintains the heart of the original story that continues to capture hearts to this day while injecting its own charm into the story. I was charmed from the get-go. The production was sound, the OST was not annoying (the bare minimum I ask for in dramas, LOL), and the acting was impressive for a majority rookie cast.

I cannot gush enough over the script and storytelling. The redemption of our Bad Boy character was glorious-- in all previous versions, I failed to see why anyone would forgive him for his actions, but this version sold it to me with sincerity. Consent, bullying, socioeconomic class, politics, business, and feminism are all touched upon in an organic manner that never seemed forced. The family bonds and platonic friendships at the center of the story are the glue that holds this beautiful story together.

The liberal product placement is a fair trade for being able to watch the show for FREE on YouTube. Run, don't walk!

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Surprising wisdom and maturity under a frothy surface

The way I feel about this drama is similar to how Yeol describes falling for Yeon Doo: At first it was just fun and funny, but in time I came to really appreciate it's depth and how it made me change for the better.

Needless to say, I LOVED this drama. It's 8 years old and yet did not feel dated. It brought me back to my high school days. Back then, the smallest things felt so big and earth shattering. Watching these teens step up to the plate and face their problems was a delight. In a way, watching these kids be brave was cathartic.

I have so much difficulty actually finishing shows, but I flew through this one. I particularly enjoyed how friendships were handled-- particularly Ha Joon and Yeol's. The way they laughed together felt so natural, like real friends talking. And contrary to my usual tastes, I didn't mind the love triangle. I think it was handled really well. Ha Joon and Yeol COMMUNICATED-- something grown adults in k-drama land or(let's face it) real life cannot seem to do. It was a pleasant surprise.

Our MCs are fantastic. It's so easy to root for Yeon Doo. She's kind, brave, and tenacious, which describes 99% of all main characters, and yet never came across as a Mary Sue. Yeol is the perfect male lead. He checks every tropey box (smartest boy in class, rich family, handsome) but Lee Won Keun breathed so much life into this role that I didn't mind the tropes at all.

Beaming as I type this. What a lovely, much needed break from the world.

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