Boys Before Flowers(꽃보다 남자) VS Meteor Garden (2)
wow I can’t believe Boys Before Flowers (BBF) has ended. This drama has been part of my life for the past 3 months and now it feels a little.. empty. After the 2nd episode of BBF, I did a post to compare BBF and my favourite Taiwan version, Meteor Garden. Click here So it seems apt to end the series with another comparison post. (:
The Ji Hoo – Jandi VS Lei – Shan Cai relationship
In BBF, Jihoo displays a clear liking for Jandi. Although he has always been encourage Jandi not to give up on Jun Pyo, it is very obvious that Ji Hoo likes her. Although his 2 confessions always didn’t get through.. hey! at least he tried.
On the other hand, Lei’s feelings for Shan Cai is rather weak.. I get the ’soulmate’ impression more in MG compared to BBF. Lei is always rational and gives the impression that he is there to help Shan Cai solve her problems and to give her strength.
Although the ’soulmate’ theme is heavily emphasized in BBF, it’s more of unrequited love.. awww
I don’t know about you guys.. but I find myself rooting for Jandi-Jihoo pairing for the 2nd half of the drama! which is COMPLETELY not supposed to! at least I’ve nv given up on the Shan Cai-Dao Ming Si pair throughout MG
hmmm.
I guess that is because the Jae Kyung story is rather long in BBF. In Meteor Garden, Xiao Zi sort of gave up on Dao Ming Si right after the resort trip, and she told her parents to cancel off the wedding. Although Xiao Zi did ask Shan Cai to give up Dao Ming Si when his mum planned the ‘forced wedding’, we don’t really see her as a threat by then. But in BBF, Jae Kyung didn’t give up until right on her wedding day, in front of the pastor.
So perhaps I got too used to seeing Ji Hoo and Jan Di together (:
i really like this scene
Jae Kyung – Jun Pyo relationship
the only reason why I didn’t root for them is because deep now, I know that they are going to be IMPOSSIBLE. it’s the force of reason and logic that I resisted liking the couple. Seriously, they match in looks, personality and even status etc..
(heyy. Madam Kang wasn’t so bad to her son. Jae Kyung is great!! 
)
The most heart-wrenching moment for me was the last scene when Jae Kyung was on the plane to America.
I know that this (the pair of shoes) was originally Jan Di’s. But I should have something for memories keepsake right? Just let me have this one…
I really liked this part. In MG, Xiao Zi didn’t really get a proper exit and she sort of faded away in the background. But here, her character is summed up so beautifully in this scene. Compred to JiHoo’s unrequited love, I feel sadder for Jae Kyung. She tries to be bright and bubbly about the entire affair, but deep down we see her wistfulness and yearning for true love.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind if both of them pair up for a new drama (:
on the F3…
MG was wayy too focused on the main characters. The only redeeming point is that Mei Zuo seems to have more substantial dialogue compared to Woo Bin. Personally, I like how the F3 turned up when Jun Pyo is proposing. I get the feeling of their deep bonds and it’s a great way to end the drama with all of them in the scene. In MG1, no one cares about F3 anymore in the end and it’s just Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si.
Ga Eul-Yi Jung VS Xiao you – Xi Men
Ga Eul and Yi Jung’s story sort of got on my nerves in the middle. Everytime I see Yi Jung in his stupid, depression state, I feel like kicking him. There’s just something lacking in their story and their chemisty isn’t so wonderful after all. I did look forward to see how their story will play out but I’m disappointed. Oh well, I’m happy that they are together in the end.
I see more courage from Xiao You when she dares to confess to him and even ask him for ‘the whole package’. Xi Men’s character is slightly different from Yi Jung in that, he doesn’t believe in true love after all. He was upset for alittle while when Xiao You left for Canada, but towards the end, he went back to his playboy ways. HELLO. he was supposed to be rich. what’s it to him that Xiao You left for Canada?? Airplane tickets are suppposed to be cheap for him.. ><
Jan Di-Jun Pyo VS Shan Cai-Dao Ming Si
nearly there! go closer....
Shan Cai totally irritated me in the drama when she fails to admit her love for Dao Ming Si right until the end. >< Either she’s really blind, obstinate or … I don’t know. At least Jan Di knows and dares to admit her love for Jun Pyo. We see the gradual buildup of her love. From the I HATE YOU to Well –> you are not such a bad person after all –> I like you –> I really love you –> you are the other half of my life.
In MG, it’s just denial throughout a big chunk of the show.
YES! (I love this kissing scene)
On the storyline
I thought Jan Di’supposed to be poor?? Okay, I know she lost her home and had to do a few part time job s at one go.. but I never really get the impression that she’s poor. Her clothes are nice and she didn’t really worry much about money. MG does a better job in this case. The rich-poor divide was well played out and we can see that Shan Cai did worry alot about money and her life is below average.
But on the other hand, F4 in BBF is much richer than F4 in MG. so perhaps that sorts of balance it out??
Overall
Strangely, despite the fact that I seem to favor BBF in this post, I still prefer Meteor Garden after all.
I don’t feel the vast emptiness (just a little) that I felt after Meteor Garden ended.
I don’t have the urge to rewatch the drama NOW
I didn’t tear in BBF, I cried in MG
All in all, BBF is a visual feast and good entertainment. But it just didn’t have a lasting impression on me.
——————————————–
Boys Before Flowers was excellent, but Meteor Garden is still the one for me.
lmaoo! really cool comparison xD i really liked it… btw just curious but was MG the first adaption you saw?
and lmao… but whose OST did you feel was better? =P lol, im just asking you because i feel you’ll give me a professional opinion, not just the bias one (i know i’d be really bias xD)
and also i was looking around you’re site and you’ve inspired me to start learing korean by myself… because what i’ve been doing for the past 4 months is wait for classes… so yes. thank you! ^^
haha I watched the anime ‘Hana Yori Dango’ first. At first, I loved the anime too much that i thought any TV adaptation wouldn’t do it any justice.
But after I watched MG, I really fell in love with the show (:
I tried to watch the jap version afterwards, but gave up halfway ><
hmm as for OST, BBF is the best!! (: but the only complaint i have is that it is overused in the drama. but still, the songs are nice (:
haha wow you are starting korean classes soon? (: that’s really cool. Learning korean is really fun ^^
i thinkshan cai did a better job and had way more class even though she was poor. i didnt like the way jan di ate like a pig, made all these angry faces and walked all awkwardly.
Nice comparisons..Gotta agree with you with the JiHoo-Jandi thing.
I was never really a Lei-SC fan in MG. However in BBF I wanted JanDi to be with Ji Hoo rather than Jun Pyo. And it’s really strange because I never even for 1 second thought of Lei to be with SC in MG. I guess I just really loved JiHoo’s character that much.
MG was the 1st series I’ve watched and I really loved it. I think MG has a better depth in acting compared to BBF. I must say Shan Cai , Dao and Lei portrayed their roles very well.
to heavensent:
haha yeah i feel that MG is one of those series that leaves a deep impression in you. So far, I still haven’t find the urge to rewatch BBF yet.
have you watched the original anime version? I love it alot too (:
yeah..MG has always been one of my all-time favorite dramas. I also love BBF since they have similar plot. I must admit Korean writers did a pretty good job on the JP-Jandi-JH love triangle. They also added korean spice,thrill & excitement in the drama.
Nope. I haven’t seen the anime. I watched MG first then BBF, and later decided to watch HYD. HYD for me is so boring and I couldn’t stand watching it.
hehe..well unlike you, I did watch MG and BBF over & over again. BBF had a fast paced story while MG is somewhat normal. Either way they have their own flavor that separates them from one another.
While BBF is still airing, I thought I loved it more that MG. Right now, I’m confused..lol
There’s only 2 things I’m certain of.
1. is that I love JiHoo in BBF
2. and Dao in MG.
I also teared up on MG and tend to watch it over and over again. For me the OST for MG was amazing… BBF also had a good OST, but nothing like MG
(hello? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ScJs11SCEk&translated=1). I loved the bond of the F4 in BBF, not so much in MG…at least not towards the end.
oh my gush!!the “KILIG TO THE BONES” emotions here in the PH.,..is very exciting,..wow!!!
hi everybody jst col me cat,i came from phillipines,..and we really love ,…..so much the BOF,..I REALLY LIKE THE CHEMISTRY GOING On between jan di and jun pyo..so,KBS,..CONGATULATIONS AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK…your show conquers Filipinos hearts..saranghae BOF cast.luyv you!!!
I still like the Korean version best! The production team really spent quite a fortune on shooting this drama.
I think BOF was much better than MG other than the fact that there was more eyecandy in the korean show. BOF’s plot was really rich and had a humorous part to it too. The relationships between Jandi and Junpyo, Jandi and JiHoo, Gaeul and Yi Jeung were portrayed really well too.
Plus, I teared alot during BOF but not so much in MG. (:
i love BFF better than MG F4 guys are supposed to be rich which is depicted in BFF better than in MG plus lee min ho is soo good looking and looks the part better, though jerry yan is also handsome, the only complain i have of the korean version is that it ended so soon!
I liked MG better than BBF. There seemed to be more feeling in MG. The girl in BBF didn’t portray as much depth. Also the kissing scenes were much better in MG. I ended up buying MG and watching it again. I wouldn’t watch BBF again, unless it is to look at the hot guys.
uiii mau donkkkkkkk
BBF versiie douwa nya
hummpp kimm buumm i love uuuuuu
jun pyo i’m very like you,,,,
why bbf just 25 eps.and f4 is cute…….
The acting in MG was atrocious, I got half way through and just couldn’t keep watching. The relationships between the characters were just plain awkward. I also hated how Tsukushi ended up being portrayed by Barbie Xu.
On the other hand, I was instantly drawn into BBF. I didn’t like it at first because it was different from the manga, but in the end, the difference is what really got to me- I didn’t have to witness the same story for the umpteenth time. The acting in this one was superb, and I loved how the F4 actually dressed like they were rich. Oh, and the fact that Lee Min-Ho is gorgeous doesn’t hurt either.
hi
hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh….
I love you….
kissing scane is my favorite….
hahahaha…….
ganda naman ni jae kyung hahaha
jihoo……………..lucu deh
i preferred BBF to MG and Hana yori dango.. No one was able to touch my heart as much as Jun Pyo..he made me cry so many times. i have watched BBF 4 times and every time i break into tears. in MG Shan Cai really irritated me and i wasnt as moved as while watching BBF.