Boys Before Flowers: Episode 2
I feel better about Boys Before Flowers after Episode 2. The drama is still very flawed, and I think I’m going pretty easy on it — I could snark much more if I wanted to — but I don’t want to be mean about this series. I have a lot of affection for it.
But the reason for my liking hinges mostly upon one character, and that is the tough-guy-masking-a-soft-heart, Gu Jun-pyo. Lee Min-ho, manseh!
SONG OF THE DAY
Loptimist – “갈증” (Thirst) [ Download ]
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EPISODE 2 RECAP
Jan-di fights off her trio of attackers, who grab her from the girls’ locker room and hold her down.
They stop at the arrival of Ji-hoo, who asks what they’re doing in his languid, casual manner. His presence flusters the guys, because they’re acting on Jun-pyo’s orders, and Ji-hoo is obviously Jun-pyo’s friend. As though oblivious to the scene going on in front of him, Ji-hoo peers down at Jan-di and asks if she’d left something out of her pancake recipe from before. Something went wrong when he tried it. Still held down by her attackers, bewildered at the non sequitur, Jan-di mentions baking powder. Rather an awkward way to discuss cooking techniques.
Ji-hoo addresses the three minions: “Why are you still here?” Faced with disobeying Ji-hoo to his face or Jun-pyo behind his back, they skedaddle.
Ji-hoo covers her in a towel, and as he turns to leave, Jan-di tells him, “Thank you.” In his even tone, he answers, “I wasn’t helping. These things just annoy me.”
In his mansion, Jun-pyo hears of Ji-hoo’s interference. To show us that Jun-pyo isn’t completely heartless, he criticizes his minions for their extreme measures — he’d merely instructed that they scare her (to show her a “bitter taste”).
Ji-hoo’s kindness lingers in Jan-di’s mind for the rest of the day. She happens to come across him when she bicycles past him fondling a poster of a famous model at a bus stop. Not so sure you want to be getting that intimate with anything at a bus stop, buddy.
Jan-di says as much, telling him that a bus stop poster is bound to blacken his hands with dirt. Still, she admires the poster of Min Seo-hyun, who is not only famous for her beauty but also for her charity donations and her brains; she recently passed the law exam in France. Ji-hoo asks, “Do you know her?” Jan-di answers, “Of course. She’s my idol.”
Ji-hoo enjoys her reaction, smiling at Jan-di’s wide-eyed adulation. But his smile fades when she says that Seo-hyun, who is bound for great things, could marry royalty, or a president, or something of that sort to become a “world’s princess” like Princess Di. At that, Ji-hoo says, “She’s just a model.”
Jan-di sticks to her fantasy of a foreign prince falling for her idol. Mood killed, Ji-hoo turns to leave with the parting shot, “What do you know?”
At home, Jan-di’s computer-obsessed brother finds scandalous news online about one of the students at Shinhwa High School, a second-year who’s supposedly pregnant. Identified merely as Miss “K,” the family tries to guess who it could be, like a Miss Kim or Kwon (or Keum — which I wrote as “geum” since it’s closer to the phonetic reading).
The next day, Jan-di notices the stares of the other students, but is busy wondering which of them is the notorious Miss K.
Jun-pyo is in a good mood, and when Yi-jung asks what’s up with “2,500 Won” (Jan-di) today, he says, “Just wait. She’ll come here soon.” (It’s too cute to see that this — her coming to see him — is his obvious goal, although he convinces himself that it’s all because Jan-di needs to be humbled.) Ji-hoo wonders, “What prank have you pulled this time?” Jun-pyo: “Why, so you can save her again?”
Yi-jung and Woo-bin wonder what that means, while Ji-hoo says that picking on one girl like this “is ridiculous and childish.” Jun-pyo retorts, “Do you see her as a girl?” because to him, she’s like a horse, or a dog. After all, she dared defy the Great Jun-pyo-nim (using the “nim” suffix on himself is, as one might guess, exceedingly arrogant).
Jan-di’s classmates identify her as the notorious Miss K, and news spreads fast. In class, both chalkboards have been covered in slurs like “filthy,” “get lost,” “who’s the daddy?” “crazy bitch,” etc.
The Tarty Trio leave a pile of dirty rags on her desk and taunt her. Pushed too far, Jan-di fumes, “I can’t take this anymore!” Ginger mocks, “So what are you going to do about it?”
Jan-di’s arrival at the F4 lounge brings Jun-pyo much satisfaction, but he covers it with disdain: “If you came to apologize, you’re too late.” She throws the dirty rags in his face and warns him that she won’t sit back and take his abuse anymore.
Jun-pyo’s arrogance turns to confusion when Jan-di clenches her fists and assumes a fighting stance. Puzzled, he asks what she’s doing, and she repeats: “I told you, I won’t sit back and take it anymore.” With a shriek, Jan-di jumps in the air, and whirls into a rather impressive spinning back kick — catching Jun-pyo right in the face.
The other F4 members look on in amazement as Jan-di clomps over to the fallen Jun-pyo, demanding, “Did you see me sleeping around with a man? Did you even see me holding hands? How dare you say all that about a chaste and pure girl who hasn’t even had her first kiss yet!”
She warns one last time, “If you keep up these filthy tricks, I’ll really kill you then!”
One might think that this show of defiance would piss off the Almighty Jun-pyo, but later that night, he sits alone, chuckling to himself. Woo-bin asks why he’s so amused. Jun-pyo: “Haven’t you guys caught on yet?”
With supreme satisfaction, he announces, “That chick’s totally into me.” That makes no sense to the other guys, but Jun-pyo elaborates:
Jun-pyo: “Think about it. She didn’t want the guy she likes to misunderstand, so she came herself to insist she was pure and innocent.”
Yi-jung: “Following that logic –”
Woo-bin: “– saying she hadn’t had her first kiss –”
Jun-pyo: “– is her way of saying she’s waiting for her first kiss from me.”
Yi-jung, clapping: “Bravo. Impressive, Gu Jun-pyo. You’re my friend, but that’s really something.”
Relieved at this gratifying revelation, Jun-pyo attributes Jan-di’s extreme hate of him to “thinking she could fool me by acting mad.” It is HILARIOUS, and Lee Min-ho is adorable.
The next day at school, Jan-di lies low, wanting to avoid more encounters with the Almighty Jun-pyo. Men in suits approach and ask her to accompany them, but won’t identify their boss.
She declines, and hides (in a painfully exaggerated sequence) as she sneaks her way across campus, only to be accosted at the last minute. She’s shoved into a waiting vehicle, then drugged.
She awakens on a massage table in a luxurious room, and is subjected to all sorts of painful beautifying processes like waxing.
Here, I wish they’d employed a bit more logic, because Jan-di goes along with the makeup, hair, and dressing sessions — confused, but not really protesting. Never mind that she still doesn’t know whose home she is in, or why she is there. Then again, I suppose if someone were lavishing clothes, jewels, and spa treatments on me, my guard would be down too.
The attendant (butler?) tells her that this is the first time that “the young master” has brought home a girl, although I suppose that requires a pretty loose definition of “bringing home.”
The butler can’t tell her why she’s here, because he doesn’t know, either. He deposits her at a door where someone is waiting for her; Jan-di enters cautiously and sees a tall figure standing at the window, and guesses, “Ji-hoo?”
Disappointedly realizing she’s at Jun-pyo’s family estate, Jan-di is immediately suspicious, and puts up her dukes: “What are you going to do this time?”
Jun-pyo turns her toward a mirror and tells her to look: “See, money can turn even an ugly duckling into a heron.” Jan-di: “Don’t you mean swan?”
Indignant, Jan-di retorts that she didn’t ask him for this, but he’s wrapped up in his own smug misconception, and tells her, “If you like me, just say so.” When she doesn’t respond, he recalls, “Right, you like to talk in opposites, don’t you?” (O, delusion, he is King of it.)
Jan-di accuses him of illegally kidnapping her. Jun-pyo assures her, “Nobody’s around, so you can be open about liking me here. From now on, I’ll be willing to make an exception and recognize you outside of school.”
Jan-di is completely speechless. He continues: “If you just do as I say, when nobody’s around I can treat you as the Almighty Jun-pyo’s girlfriend.”
Jan-di wonders if his brain has been addled by too much greasy food, and turns to leave.
Showing the first sign of anxiety, Jun-pyo blocks her from leaving. He tells her that she’s currently wearing 100 million won’s worth ($77,000), “But that’s nothing. If you’re with me, you can enjoy more than that every day. Are you saying you don’t want it? Are you crazy?”
Jan-di bristles: “The moment I see your face, it feels like bugs are crawling all over my body.” She takes off her jewelry and throws it on the ground, then reaches to unzip her dress (before remembering Jun-pyo’s watching — rather intently, I might add — and insists he return her uniform).
Jan-di: “You don’t seem to know this, but you can’t buy friends with money. Friends bond through feelings.” Jun-pyo replies, “There’s nothing you can’t buy,” and tells her to contradict him if she can. She can’t think of anything.
After Jan-di leaves, Jun-pyo rages against his employees, stomping on the discarded dress and telling his butler to throw away the dress and fire everyone who worked on Jan-di today.
Jan-di remembers too late that she’s still wearing the borrowed high heels, takes them off, and throws them over the gate — just as Ji-hoo finds her outside and wonders what she’s doing. He laughs: “You’re always in a dramatic situation.”
Jan-di asks Ji-hoo, “Is there anything in the world you can’t buy?” Dejected, she figures there isn’t, but perks up when Ji-hoo answers after a moment of thinking, “Air.”
Amused at her happy reaction to finding one unbuyable thing, Ji-hoo ruffles her hair and calls her “a really fun kid.” As he gets up to leave, he tosses her his sneakers, since she’s now barefoot. Jan-di watches him zoom off on his motorcycle with a smile.
She tries to return the shoes the next day by visiting the F4 lounge, but Yi-jung and Woo-bin inform her that Jun-pyo isn’t around. She grumbles that she doesn’t care about him, and asks them to give the shoes to Ji-hoo.
The guys know they owe their recent entertainment to Jan-di, and invite her to have some tea while she fills them in on her latest encounter with Jun-pyo. Seeing a commercial of Min Seo-hyun on TV, the guys mention that Ji-hoo ought to be happy that Seo-hyun is coming back to Korea soon.
She asks if Ji-hoo is acquainted with Seo-hyun, and learns that after his parents’ death, he’d retreated into autism (I remember hearing it was Asperger’s, which is a mild form of autism). Seo-hyun was the only one able to draw him out of himself, and became something of “a first love, girlfriend, and mother.” This information drags Jan-di into a funk, so much so that she even cuts dinner short, feeling inadequate next to the glamorous model.
In fact, she’s so distracted that in gym class, she fails to react swiftly when Ginger hurls a ball at her (in a game of dodgeball), and gets hit in the face. She leaves the group of laughing mean girls while the F4 guys watch, and Jun-pyo finds her washing up in the bathroom.
He tries to helpfully wipe the blood from her face, but Jan-di, fighting tears, doesn’t want his help. It’s clear (to us) that he wants to make her feel better but is woefully ill-equipped with the social skills; not knowing what to say, he chides her for being absent-minded enough to get hit in the face, and tells her not to cry. Jan-di counters, “Do I have to get your permission to cry now? And weren’t you the person who was happiest to see me crying and hurting?”
Jun-pyo: “Is that all you can say to the person who came to help?”
Jan-di: “Who asked for your help? If everyone died and you were the last person on earth, I still wouldn’t accept your help.”
It’s a bit cute — and sad — when Jun-pyo stops her from leaving and demands to know, uncertainly, “W-what is it you hate so much about me? I’m good-looking. I’m tall, I’m smart, I’m rich. How — how can you hate Gu Jun-pyo? Are you stupid?”
Jan-di shoots back that she dislikes the way he looks, the way he walks, his curly hair — “and picking on weak kids for fun with your red cards or whatever with your thoughtlessness — that’s the worst!”
Jun-pyo stutters in disbelief, but Jan-di’s not quite finished: “In short, I hate everything about you! Everything!”
Is the obligatory shower scene supposed to be moving? I don’t know; it was just so obvious that I had to laugh.
But shameless half-naked water shots aside, Lee Min-ho does a good job of showing Jun-pyo’s frustration, first as he engages in a particularly rough game of rugby, then as he stares in the mirror in self-loathing.
It’s only when Jun-pyo spies the notice for a class trip that he cheers up. All second- and third-years will have the chance to go on a month-long school trip to Europe.
It doesn’t even occur to Jun-pyo that 20 million won ($15,500) is a bit rich for a commoner like Jan-di. Thus on class trip day, he spends the whole time at the airport pacing anxiously, wondering where Jan-di is. Ji-hoo is similarly distracted, but for a different reason — today marks Min Seo-hyun’s return to Korea. Seo-hyun (Han Chae-young, looking gorgeous) greets Ji-hoo warmly.
With Jan-di nowhere to be seen, Jun-pyo is a fidgety ball of nerves until he receives a call, (ostensibly) informing him where Jan-di is.
Jan-di cannot afford to go on the trip, and to make things worse, her father has run afoul of some gambling debts (ah, it wouldn’t be a kdrama without gambling debts!).
Therefore, she and her friend Ga-eul decide to make this a working vacation, so they can enjoy themselves while earning some money. Through Ga-eul, they find a job on a fishing boat. They’re enjoying the experience, until one loud, obnoxious voice cuts in on their sleepytime.
To her shock, the entire class looks down on her from a Shinhwa cruiseliner, with Jun-pyo manning a loudspeaker. Now that he’s found her, he’s happily back to taunting her (like a little boy tormenting a little girl he likes, not knowing that chocolate and flowers FIX EVERYTHING. Oh, yeah, and also a little basic kindness.).
Jan-di can’t believe her vacation is to be ruined thusly. She asks why they aren’t on their class trip, and he replies that he’s been there before and wanted a new, interesting place. He’s here on “someone’s” recommendation: “What a total coincidence, huh? I had no idea you’d be here, Dry Cleaner.”
I don’t care if you think this is corny, it is TOO CUTE.
When Jan-di and Ga-eul dock for the night, they note with dismay that Jan-di’s classmates have arrived and seem to be waiting to check into a hotel (or something).
Jan-di’s spirits further sink when Ji-hoo arrives with the radiant Min Seo-hyun on his arm.
Jun-pyo addresses Jan-di, saying, “Dry Cleaner, be honest, aren’t you happy to run into me at a place like this?” Jan-di retorts that she was having a grand time before he came along.
Jun-pyo invites her (in his careless way) to join the rest of the class. While she’s quick to turn him down flat, she has an entirely different reception for Ji-hoo. Jun-pyo looks on in displeasure when Ji-hoo breezes past him, invites Jan-di to a welcome party for Seo-hyun, and sees Jan-di’s immediate acceptance: “Yes, I’ll go, absolutely.”
The Tarty Trio, however, seize the opportunity to have a little fun, and give Jan-di some “advice” for the dress code. It’s not too hard to predict that this goes awry, and that they must have told her it’s a costume party. The instant she walks in, she realizes she’s been tricked, and berates herself for falling for the lie.
Embarrassed, she tries to leave, but is forced to enter the room to escape Jun-pyo (who, by the way, spends all his time looking around for her). When the Mean Girls find her, they taunt her and try to pull her coat off her. The result is inevitable but still humiliating: They grab Jan-di’s jacket, she tries to escape, falls into a tray of hors d’oeuvres, and lands with a loud crash.
The girls laugh gleefully, calling her delusional — perhaps she started believing the hype that she truly was Wonder Woman? Others snort in amusement, but Jun-pyo looks angry (on her behalf). He’s about to move toward her, but once again is one-upped by Ji-hoo, who arrives at Jan-di’s side with Seo-hyun.
Seo-hyun sizes up the situation immediately, and faces the Mean Girls with disgust: “I know why you did this. But do you know that this proves how low you are, not her?”
With Ji-hoo and Seo-hyun by her side, Jan-di is ushered up to Seo-hyun’s room to clean up.
Seo-hyun takes an immediate liking to Jan-di as she dresses her up and helps her with her makeup, saying that any friend of Ji-hoo’s is a friend of hers.
Jan-di brushes off the compliments, saying Ji-hoo was just being nice, but Seo-hyun knows him better and assures her that he’s not that type. This is the first time she’s seen him step in to help someone else.
Jan-di doesn’t want to give herself too much credit, and answers, “But Ji-hoo’s just attentive by nature.” To Seo-hyun, this is just proof of the opposite, that Jan-di is an exception to the rule.
She also has heard of Jan-di’s vow not to let Jun-pyo beat her down. She voices her support and wishes Jan-di victory, but explains, “It’s because he’s lonely.” Being the child of a parents who are fixated solely on their business empire has made him lonely, and his outer demeanor is just a cover-up for it.
Seo-hyun finishes the look with a pair of shoes, telling her, “Good shoes take you to good places.”
When Jan-di is ushered back to the party, people look on in surprise, but no one’s more shocked than Jun-pyo — who drops his plate in his astonishment at the purty, purty girl.
And yet, he is beaten to the punch once more, because Seo-hyun pushes Ji-hoo toward Jan-di, saying that a gentleman doesn’t ignore such a beautiful lady. So Ji-hoo walks over to Jan-di and offers his arm.
COMMENTS
All through Episode 1, I was thinking Lee Min-ho reminded me of someone, and it kept niggling at the back of my mind. I finally put my finger on it, and it’s Lee Dong-wook (La Dolce Vita, My Girl — aka, this guy). Lee Min-ho isn’t nearly as good as Lee Dong-wook (yet?), but he shows a lot of promise, in addition to the fact that he delivers some of his lines in a similar way, and even has similar bone structure to boot.
Sorry to say, however, that while I was holding out hope for Kim Hyun-joong, I don’t think he is going to do much in this drama other than look pretty. In Episode 1, he was quiet and enigmatic. In Episode 2, the more lines he had, the more clear his inexperience became, which makes him seem stiff and unnatural. Let’s hope he’s given as few lines as possible, to let his quiet mystique carry him.
On the other hand, Kim Bum is doing all right playing Yi-jung (nothing to scream about, though), and I actually do like Kim Joon’s Woo-bin — in the absence of his gangsta “Yo, yo, yo!” posturing (which was still present in Episode 2, though pulled back a little). Unfortunately, Kim Bum looks years younger than his castmates, as he’s the only one actually playing his age (19), other than Ga-eul, who’s also 19. Speaking of whom, Kim So-eun is pretty good for the newbie she is, and she also happens to be currently acting in the large-scale sageuk drama Empress Cheon-chu, playing Chae Shi-ra’s childhood role.
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Tags: Boys Before Flowers, Gu Hye-sun, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Joon, Lee Min-ho
You’re awesome, javabeans… you already recapped Episode 2… thank you so much!
be back to edit after reading ^^
Lee Min-ho manseh!!!
What does “manseh” mean??
thank you so much! thank you so much! i always look forward to your caps!
you’re the best!
thanks again! off to reading, hehehe
“I was thinking Lee Min-ho reminded me of someone, and it kept niggling at the back of my mind. I finally put my finger on it, and it’s Lee Dong-wook (La Dolce Vita, My Girl — aka, this guy). ”
For the longest time in my mind, Lee Min Ho looked like someone to me and it kept bugging me because I couldn’t put my finger on it but when you wrote out Lee Dong Wook, I was like “YEA!!!!!” ahahaha Now this won’t bug me anymore.
Thanks dramabeans! =D
Thank you so much for your hard work Javabeans
ohh, this episode is different from the Japanese version
but it’s the same as the episode from the Taiwanese version!
lol so for the korean hana yori dango, are they just combining the Japanese and Taiwanese version of hyd??
wow, so much for variety…
but i like it!!
i like Ji Hoo~<3
but i like the Japanese Hanazawa Rui moree
mkay, enough of my rant.
bye~
thanks for the summary!!!
From all the screenshots… I can’t help but think I would be very annoyed Koo Hye Sun. The facial expressions all look entirely too exaggerated. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a badly acted main character. Jan Di is a character that has to be played spotlessly, or it can divulge into whiny, annoying brat. Koo Hye Sun is trying too hard.
But they’re doing scenes from the manga that the Jdrama didn’t have time to do, which just FILLS my manga-loving heart.
thanks for all your recaps
i do feel sorry for JP when he’s trying to wipe the noosebleed
and yeah LMH is kindda good at this drama (actually the best among them)
did you notice that the songs for the 2nd ep is getting better?
lee min ho is so adorable. this is such a cheesy drama, but i’m loving every minute of it! can’t wait for ep. 3! ahhhhhh.
i am patiently waiting for the subbed version of this drama…. having watched the taiwanese version (where i feel in love with jerry and vic) and the japanese version (which was highly entertaining with the acting and music) i am having a hard time not comparing it with the first two shows….some parts were just like “ahhh that the same one as …” or “how come they did it this way and put everything in just one episode” jandi (i forgot her real name) still do not have that appeal of a 2nd year HS student (i hope it changes when i actually watch her acting)….”… i am hoping that as this show progress their will one (or two or three) defining moment/s that would make it stand out from the rest….
i definitely agree with you that episode 2 was much more promising. lee min ho seems to be carrying this drama so far, casting him seems to have been the most perfect thing. goo hye sun still has to come into character, her facial expressions aren’t helping much. however, i think you should cut kim hyun joong some slack. he was very nervous and stressed about this drama. let’s hope there’s a big improvement in the episodes to come.
the drama is getting better.. i’m getting the excited..
for the first time.. i actually liked Jun Pyo than Ji Hoo
bcause in the taiwanese version i like obviously Hua Tze lei rather than Dao Ming Si.
thanks java beans..
it’s been a while , since coffee prince, a k drama once again will make me an addict
Javabeans, thanks for the recap!
Yes! LMH is just too cute! He’s doing quite well for the role. I can’t say the same for the rest of the cast.
Aww, you didn’t recap the bee scene. It was hilarious and again showed another adorable side of JP.
thank you so much for the recaps! I probably won’t be watching this drama in the near future since I already sort of know the story. and will save it for a day when I have nothing to watch. Just from the recaps, I love Lee MinHo’s expression- he really embodies Doumyouji. And I had just realized what was bothering me about Gu Hye Sun’s look- her hair is too neat and tidy. She looks so much better disheveled a bit. And from teh caps- it looks like she pushes her face into these expressions- maybe she acts better in video. and that dad from Witch Amusement and Delightful girl Chun-hyang and from My Girl (as an uncle)- is here again playing a dad! i love this dude!
i hope kim hyun joong can work something out!
lee min ho gets better and better.
AWESOME! Thank you so much for the recaps! I hope you continue on. I can’t wait for more.
BTW, I’m curious, I haven’t seen any Hana Yori Dango shows before (whether the Japanese or Taiwanese) nor read the manga… I’m curious if the plot is particularly close to any of which?
i think lee min ho looks like he could be kim rae won’s younger brother. but yea, he also does remind me of lee dong wook. :]
Shoot.. Iono why but I couldn’t edit my comment… So sorry for the double post >.>;;
Anyways, I watched a raw copy of episode 2 and while it was entertaining… reading your recap definitely made it more enjoyable… I agree with you, Lee Minho seems to be standing out so far (as i am sure Kim Bum will too, when the story moves forward to some of his back story ^^) due to portrayal of Joonpyo.
I can see why you likened LMH’s acting style to Lee Dong Wook’s, there is kind of that feel… Joonpyo’s a bit similar to Gong Chan (My Girl) in the aspect that both have emotional scars from the past… GC from being left by his girlfriend for fame and career, while Joonpyo has that arrogance to mask his innocence, from being ignored by his parents during childhood. Both actors, with the right script and directing shine very well in their respective roles… both having the physical appearance, subtle mannerisms, and charismatic flair to bring justice to each character.
Some thoughts:
✿ I liked the nosebleed scene… and it kinda showed a contrast between how Jandi feels about Joonpyo as opposed to Jihoo (right now in the plot). In Episode 1, when Jihoo was wiping her face she was shy and embarassed… then in Episode 2, when Joopyo tries to wipe her bloody nose she super fierce and guarded. I love how this is Joonpyo’s first sign of affection… he’s starting to develop a little crush on Jandi… cuteness!
✿ Highkick scene was… golden, it was super funny when her kick threw Joonpyo over to his couch chair… he was totally shocked.
✿ I was kinda sad when Jandi accepted Jihoo’s invitation to the party, after she totally rejected Joonpyo… Joonpyo totally had this pained betrayed look for like a millisecond, then it was gone. I love how Lee Minho does that, like switching back and forth between emotions/facial expressions without it being too overwhelming.
Thank you again, Javabeans! I hope you do continue recapping this series… us non-Korean speaking fans sincerely appreciate all your hard work!
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omg, almost 20 comments already in less than an hour… i was surprised ^^ hehe
Sad how Kim Hyun-joong isn’t really doing much. Quiet and enigmatic describes his character, all right, and his image just SELLS it to us. But I’ve always thought Ji-Hoo/Rui is a cold person, and only opens that side to a few, such as Jan Di. I think, had he gone into this side (considering Oguri Shun didn’t) he could separate himself from the others and gain depth. But he’s only being pretty, I guess.
OMGG *fangirl mode* !!!!! This episode was too cuteeeeeeeee. But I have to point out (can’t help it!) that jandi’s outfit when she had the makeover was soooo similar to the japanese version, with makino’s fur thingy. Lolol. It’s pretty.
And o yea, I hope they keep improving their songs, because episode one’s songs were… eh. Anyway, when I saw lee min ho’s permed hair on posters, I thought he was gonna be a matsumoto jun version 2. lmao thankfully, that’s not the case. He’s soooooooooo
^True, Lee Min-ho does seem to give off a Lee Dong Wook air… style and they kinda look alike. Althought Lee Dong Wook is more experienced acting wise.
And the shower scene …so hot.
Also- i think that so far this drama is progressing well, hopefully it won’t be silly in the episodes to come. I am just afraid of that.
Kim Bum is just a minor character in here, but hey he got to show his acting skills already in EOE– so I am not really dissapointed with his character.
Will Stay tune for next week, and thanks for the recaps!!!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for the recap! The episodes are so much better when you finally get to understand the gist of what was being said.
One of my favorite scenes was actually the part where Jun-pyo started freaking out because of the bee in his room… and then, once his staff chased it out, he tried to cover it up by sitting in his chair, and acting all macho (or bossy). I have no idea what he said, but it was hilarious watching his tone change completely once he realized that the mighty, infallible Jun-pyo had just been caught crouching behind a chair, lol
Javabeans you forgot to mention the bee scene. I thought that was hilarious.
Thank you for recapping dramabeans! I liked this episode better than the first too.
I just wish GHS would tone it down a bit. I find her exaggerated facial expressions annoying and her outbursts too loud and frequent (not her fault, I know but annoying the same). She’s cute enough already but it seems like she’s trying too hard.
But I’m totally enjoying this series anyway. Definitely lots of fun and LMH is great!
I loved LMH the most also. His character is kind of similar to one he played in I am Sam I think. The difference here is that he gets to be the lead in this drama hehe. I think that as long as the writer keeps his character alive, LMH will be able to continue to carry this drama.
I hate what I’m about to say but this episode did nothing for me…usually I know if I’m going to like the drama by the second or third episode and this so far has been a mixture of the Japanese and Taiwanese Hana Yori Dango.
I had told my friend I wouldn’t compare this drama to the ones already released but I’m finding it really hard not to do so…….regardless I am going to stick to this drama in hopes that it will get better
Oooh and I totally see the Lee Dong-wook resemblance now that you mentioned it…..it might just be me but I am really liking Kim Hyun-Joong (but I’ll like him in anything de does…he’s just so dreamy)
ok did anyone else notice that the theme song by shinee sounds alot like that rick astley song “never gonna give you up”? its really bothering me… but anyways i liked it better than the first but im tempted to leave it alone cuz im totally more than content w/ the japanese version the only things keeping me is kim hyun joong and well the boys period. hopefully kim hyun joong will become less awkward i have faith. lee minho is doing such a good job! im so glad he doesnt just look the part cuz imo he has the domyouji look perfected!
The 2nd ep was better so that’s a good sign.
I am so disappointed with the two dresses they had Makino wear. They looked so cliched and 90’s and the hair style that D’s people gave her was horrendous. They made her look like a small town anjuma just out of her rollers. The second dress with the fur capelet made her look like an old lady. They should have picked a cutting edge dress like the fabulous black dress Moon Geum Young wore recently when she received her daesang award. Come on, it’s 2009!
LMH’s interpretation of Domyoji is wonderful. He single- handedly carries this show. Loved his dumbstruck look when she gave him a flying kick. He also does goofy really well. The shower scene seemed a little out character for Domyoji….I don’t see him being reflective. Just adorably clueless. Those trendy dhoti pants he wore was to die for.
GHS is fine when she’s not acting cutesy, pouty and doing this baby voice thingy (1st Ep) which is so out of character. Makino would never act ditsy. She looks very young for 25 so I don’t get it when people say she’s too old.
It’s painful to watch Rui. I feel for KHJ and I hope he relaxes and gets better. Kim Joon should have been cast as the playboy. KB looks too innocent and pure.
I love your recaps!!
agree that Jun Pyo is the most shining part of the drama so far, this was a good casting choice. he looks abit like both matsumoto jun and jerry yan, but manages to fit the character better than both of them. his acting is still ablit awkward and raw sometimes but its not a big distraction — good enough for this type of drama.
a little dissapointed at the casting choice for Rui though, this actor looks the part but i think he cannot tell the difference between aloofness and dullness, the actor does not exhibit any type of character spark whatsoever. he seems like he is sleep walking through the part. the other two flowers have not had enough scenes to really make an impression yet. i think its kind of hard to accomodate them because they dont really figure into the primary love line, but they have to feel like more than just sidekicks and have some character development of their own.
Jandi is the queen of overacting,its true. its obvious that this role is not hard for her, she should be able to tone it down a notch and it’ll be fine.
still, the first two episodes were good enough, and not a dissapointment overall.
Whoa. I also associated LMH with LDW in the middle of watching episode 2. He doesn’t look like LDW, for sure, but there’s a quality in his acting that reminds me of LDW. I still think it has something to do with the subtleties he plays Junpyo with.
Lee Min Ho, let me reiterate, is LOVE! I know the show began with Hyunjoong leading the popularity trail, but I am pretty sure Minho’s gonna steal his thunder, if he hasn’t already done so.
I’m a fan of Hyunjoong but even I have to admit that instead of getting better, his acting was more uneven in ep2, which is a shame since he looks so much the part of Rui. And I don’t really know where to put the blame. His eyes look empty and blank, well to my knowledge, that’s how he usually looks anyway. He looks like he’s sleepwalking, well, I wouldn’t put it past him. He looks sickly, well, he dropped like 10lb for the drama. But anyways, I guess that’s bias talking.
omg omg. i pray pray pray that kim hyun joong will at least meet some of my expectations. please please!!!!!!!!! i beg you, be half the actor as oguri shun is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Yep!!!! You have the same thoughts as me. Junpyo makes my day. I keep giggling at that scene where he deliberately go to the island just to annoy Jandi just like a boy who annoy the girl he likes. Too adorable!!!!!
He really is the gem in this drama. *fangirling* i like him from mackerel run and so in this drama, making my love bigger for him.
I find Jandi overreacting alright… i always wonder why people think she’s bad.
Hello! This is based on MANGA, she’s supposed to be cartoonish and she has those kind of hilarious expressions.
Kim Joon without the yoyoyo- english is good. But Kim bum and him doesn’t have much screen time so… can’t comment much on them.
Kim Hyun Joong is alright but he’s not as adorable as the mighty Junpyo. Meh.
My reason to watch this is because it’s HYD, there’s Lee Minho the major cutie, there’s kibum and there’s Goo hyesun<333
i don’t see the LDW resemblance but as someone mentioned I feel the KRW earthiness. Also both KRW and LMH have this great skin tone….kind of healthy tanned bronze rugged look. I don’t care for lily white skin on men like LDW and KSW.
ohh man, i cannot wait for the subs to come out!!! this is going to good!!
Anyone know out there the song by Kim Yeon Woo. The music is the same as the Taiwan version, but the lyrics are in Korean. Does this song have anything to do with the Korean series? I think the soundtrack is very important to this series. One reason why I like the Taiwan version so much is because of the songs sung by Jerry, Van Ness and the other two F4’s ( at least attempted to sing). I am surprise this series does not have an outstanding soundtrack. The producers did a real good job in My Girl and Witch Yee Hoo.
thanks again for this one! I totally liked Episode 2..and you’re right , Lee Min-ho is hot! and yeah I still hear the yoyos but at least I hope it will be removed in the next episode
and I like Han Chae-young’s character, it really suits the actress
I still have hopes that Kim Hyun-joong will be comfortable with his acting, he’s getting there..
I also noticed the resemblance to Lee Dong Wook . I’m already a 100% fangirl over LDW and now it turns out that I am also getting a crush on v.2, talk about having a type.
Ep 2 was an improvement (thank God) Jan Di was slightly less annoying and Jun Pyo was even more adorable. Even with his sadistic side, it was sad to see him repeatedly rebuffed by the Jan Di.
Lee Min Ho is the true standout so far. I’ve only liked one Rui, and that was the wonderful Lei from MG, I can see that’s not going to change here.
Thanks Javabeans, I was hoping to read your recap for epi 2 today and wallopped with glee when I saw it!! You are fast this time!! yeah.. this drama has it’s flaws aplenty but I’m still enjoying it tremendously. Me in a happy mood after this!
thanks for all your hard work
kumsamidah
Im a total khj fan but his acting isnt that great… its understandable however since hes still new at acting. he already has that blank expression and empty stare, even in we got married, his face is unreadable.. its always that blank look.. so maybe he just needs more experience. i really hope that he will carry his role better later on, but i really dun think thats going to happen. i agree about lee minho, i didnt care for him in the beginning, but he brings out more to his character. i find myself enjoying lee minho’s scenes alot. but overall the cast is doing great and it would be an enjoyable show to watch.
Thanks for the recap, that was great! I’m still holding out on Hyun Joong, because so far I like his version of Rui much better. It also seems like many scenes from this episode [e.g. hug with Han Chae Yeong ] was one of the firsts they shot, so I can understand the stiffness. I’m highly anticipating the third episode!
i absolutely loved this episode! junpyo & his little crush towards jandi. oo lala
& as for hyunjoong, it’s his first time so we should cut him some slack.
hyesun is so cute & she definetly pulls of the “makino” stalwart/brave look.
some scenes i liked:
- BEE SCENE! hilarious & adorable side of junpyo?yes.
- SHOWER SCENE! – every fangirl’s fave scene. lee min ho’s too hot.
- NOSEBLEED SCENE – this just teared my heart to pieces
junpyo’s actually getting nicer and trying to help jandi, but jandi doesn’t notice that yet. and it just was a sorta SAD scene but cute at the same time.
- BOAT SCENE: haha lee min ho, chasing ku hye sun like a little boy… too cute!
- BETRAYAL SCENE: when ku hye sun said she didnt wanna go to the dance to junpyo, but said yes to hyunjoong, my heart just kinda broke again :[
- DANCE SCENE : when hyesun falls on the ground, covered my food, and junpyo tries to go afterher but hyunjoong and chaeyoung are a step ahead. :[ sososo sad.
& the best…..
WHEN JUNPYO DROPS HIS PLATE. <33333333 ah!
I’m loving this drama too! Dialogue is funny, I love the cheesy-ness, and I laughed a lot while watching. definitely a feel-good drama, at least so far
Lee Min Ho totally rocks this one so far. Not so refined but he puts life into his character. I don’t see his resemblance to LDW but more to Jerry Yan, specially from the side & 2/3 views.
Yah, you forgot the bee scene. It was hilarious.
The tough Almighty Jun Pyo is afraid of the tiny little bee!
Vic Zhou (Rui) wins hands down for this Ji-Hoo character.
He was dreamy but not lifeless as Hyun-Joong.
Gu Hye Sun’s acting is okay. She only overacts when she has to act cute/spunky.
I was hoping there’re new sound tracks in Ep.2 but still nothing memorable. Too bad as the production crew seem to pay a lots of attention to beautiful setting but fail to deliver a good OST to compliment it.
All the rants aside, I’m loving it so far and looking forward to the next episode.
Judging by the huge responses to Javabeans’ recap, looks like 2009 started off on a pretty good note!
i like lee min-ho, his character really reminds me of… gongyoo? in coffee prince? one of those kind of awkward but hard/soft guys. and kim hyunjoong… reminds me of prince yul in goong, equally blehhh… but quiet? kind?
and seriously the gangster talk gives me a laugh.
thanks for prompt recaps
something to look forward toooo!
haven’t even watch the first episode of this yet, but one thing I do know and keeps on running in my mind after your re-caps (with some pictures here and there) couldn’t agree more that Lee Min Ho is definitely CUTE
I’m looking forward to him now although it was HJ that pulls me towards wanting to watch this one. (and along the way in your re-caps, I couldn’t help thinking that HJ is being himself…pwahaha..i love that guy just because he’s real witty in real life…poor guy looks a little tired though…excuse my OT..)
off to find the episodes!
man, lee hyun joong is stiff and sarcastic in real life. thats who he is. lol
^ its Kim Hyunjoong btw.
even though his character is close to his personality in real life… doesn’t give him the excuse to not make an effort to do some acting…
don’t get me wrong, I like him eversince WGM.. but he’s a very stiff actor here.
Lee Min Ho, let me reiterate, is LOVE! I know the show began with Hyunjoong leading the popularity trail, but I am pretty sure Minho’s gonna steal his thunder, if he hasn’t already done so
deeta- sooo true. Even tho KHJ is an idol singer… LMH is definitely outshining him in the acting category.
i am going to love this show. even if it ends up sucking (fingers crossed that it won’t) I’m going to love it. Reading the recaps alone makes me all ridiculous and fangirly and OMGthisisamaaaaazing.
Slight problem with this Jun Pyo characterization. Lee MIn Ho’s natural look is intelligent. But the (Domyouji)Jun Pyo character is almost a clueless idiot.
That’s why the Japanese guy was a perfect fit. He looked dumb enough to fit right into the character.
Lee Min Ho doesn’t look dumb.
i like hyun joong as Yoon Ji Hoo! He look great and awsome! I actually dislike the emotion on lee min ho…i think he is not suitable for the character and the hair is…….i like kim bum and kim joon they look pretty handsome! Goo Hye Sun is the best choice for makino !
Kim Hyun Joong!
Fighting!
emm.. i also dont think he resembles LDW… in terms of look, LDW is handsomer than JP. but JP’s attitude is waaaaaaaaay adorable than LDW in my girl.
i think Ji Hoo sometimes resembles BYJ in wintersonata.
and GHS resembles nodame. her hair cut and her comical expression. yeah, its overacting, i usually dislike overacting but for GHS, she’s fine with it.
where are you looking to watch this episode?
I had thought that only ep 1 was out, but lo and behold you have recapped episode 2!
help would reallly be appreciated!
I love the way you write!
again thank you for your recaps…
wow… this episode is better than the first one, thank god…
when i watched the Taiwanese version, i fell in love with domyoji character (i think the name was dao ming tze, CMIIW), a lot of my girl friends did. and seeing lee minho in this episode brings the memory of my old crush on dao ming tze…
he’s so damn cute when he’s being obnoxious and jealous…
kim bum and kim joon is alright… maybe because they didn’t have any plot given on them yet, be patience… it’s only the second episode… but i do agree on your opinion javabeans when you say kim bum look a lot younger compare to his classmates…
i do hope hyunjoon will be better on the latter episode, but maybe i just keep my expectation to my self, because afterall he’s still a newbie actor…
thanks for your recap javabeans. w
I didn’t image how LMH is going, but now he is so cool and his perfoment is over expected.
[...] Recap: Episode 2 Javabeans does it again with her speed and insighfulness. [...]
Domyouji is soooooooooooo hot!!!!!!!!!!
Orchid (no. 3), “manseh” is a cheer, meaning something like “hurrah.” it’s kind of like saying “long live Lee Min-ho” in this case.
i liked ep 2 a ton better than the first <3 ahhh junpyo’s so cute!
and altho the dresses and hair looked strange, i really loved the shoes they picked out. especially the second pair – those were AWESOME.
Everybody was talking about Kim Hyunjoong or Kim Bum before the first two episodes aired, but it seems that Lee Min Ho is now gaining more and more popularity, which is good! I hope he keeps up the good work, I’m enjoying this drama so far mainly because of him.
Something might be wrong with me but… after watching the Japanese drama and Meteor Garden, I still have a thing for the Japanese anime television series. The drawings were terrible and the animation was cheap, but the seiyuus who played Domyouji and Makino were awesome!
hahah tbh i think lee min-ho resembles choi si-won! albeit with a squarer jaw. but his attitude definitely reeks of ldw
love this drama!
this is now my no.1 drama..
hehe..
hope that they will not disappoint supporters like me..
out of the three domyoujis..I think that the korean version has the hottest one..and a liiiittle less stupid than the 2 previous ones..haha
Gosh…I really love Huyn Joong a lot…For his own sake, he needs to loosen up a bit, well a lot more with his movements in each scene. I know he can act well if he can overcome that fear of strangers and his total awkwardness. Hope the show keeps getting better like how it was for epi 2 comparing to the first one.
oh no….they should have gotten second moon (the one who did goong’s OST) to do this OST. bad soundtracks are eh hem…one of the failing factors of dramas. i mean, i will watch goong solely for the cinematography and soundtrack.
just want to ask…
보다 in this case, means “over” or “before”? cause i’m a bit lost and my korean isn’t good.
On acting (comparision to Japanese version cannot be avoided, sorry)
So Gourmet-ish!
Lee Min Ho is a big surprise in this one. He’s got the ability to make Jun-pyo the most lovable version of the original Tsukasa. Until recently Matsumoto Jin was the best for me, but he’d better watch out! Min Ho’s Jun-pyo isn’t as stupid, as absurd at times as in previous series. Here he lacks the ability to understand people, to feel for them and react in the way he should react, and that makes 50% of his stupidity. The other 50% is the lack of knowledge, which probably never was an object of his interest. He doesn’t make his character lacking and dumb because he was born this way; it’s more funny because JP is ignorant and doesn’t really care about changing it. [so he ends up not only stupidish, but cute as well:)]. I mean, for me, falling in love with lacking boy is more probable than falling in love with a boy whose stupidity is awfully (negatively) transparent and incurable. Especially for a girl who is supposed to be smart (law school, right?).
Patient nr 2…Kim Hyun Joong. A serious one. A lot of hope, I still want him to succeed, but I’m afraid he won’t make it. The character should be subtle, for me Hanazawa Rui was always sensitive guy, whose emotions were hidden deep inside and we could only catch a glimpse of them through his eyes or minor face expressions. And now suddenly we have this guy with perfect look, but nothing more. His smiles, his sighs, his actions are so visible, that I don’t see the Yoon Ji Hoo, I still see the actor trying hard but ending up stiff. I know it’s based on manga, but still YJH should be the one of few characters who looks like from comic book, but act like a totally charming outsider [yet not alien].
I’m still waiting for Kim Bum’s bang! as I have a feeling he’s got the idea for his character. He may look youngest, but with his smiles and confidence he really looks like a playboy.
It would also be nice if they’d given some more time to Woo-bin, though I highly doubt it. But he gives me good feeling
last – Jan-di. I actually still can’t make up my mind. Her acting is ok, but I personally lack any warm feelings towards her. And I like it when I like main characters. Oh, did I mention that Gu Hye-sun’s acting reminds sooooo much of Sang-Mi’s in Gourmet? Especially in this : http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/javabeans122/drama/kkot/kkot2-121.jpg scene. remeber how Jin-soo used to interview people and ask questions? This “aaaah.. ye..” and smile
Ohhhhhh, he DOES look like lee dong wook! No wonder I think he’s so fine ;D
Personally I think Ji-woo is way too transparent…he should be more mysterious. Oh well.
Omg whenever kim bum smiles I just melt into a pool of nothingness…* 3*
I confess, I didn’t have high expectations of this show since I have watched the T & Jversions. I love the story, but admit that I’m not always crazy about the acting in either version. Having watched both versions and now the Kversion, there are the obvious comparisons. With just 2 episodes, here’s my 2 cents. What I liked:
1. LMH is more relatable – in the Tversion Jerry was a bit one dimensional and couldn’t convey his inner emotions. Jun came across as too stupid & shallow to have inner vulnerabilities or even deep thoughts. LMH gives us moments to really see the vulnerable side of him in a subtle and thoughtful way rather than beating us over the head with it(like the Jversion); and that makes this story more plausible.
2. KHJ is a better fit than most people are giving him credit for. If you read the manga and have watched the other version – KHJ is doing the role. In the Tversion, Vic made him too broody(?) & the Jversion O.Shun was too dreamy & princely(but I confess I loved him!!!). KHJ has the awkwardness, the stiffness of the role right because Rui/Ji Hoo is the guy that distances himself from everything, sees everything from a 3rd person-like vision, so when he steps into the situation, he doesn’t fit exactly right into any situation because he’s not personally invested.
3. The father. I love this guy in everything he’s done and he’s the only one that made Witch Amusement remotely interesting.
4. The mean girls. They are so over the top, so ditzy, so…fun!!!
5. Ga-eul. So far, she’s visible and she’s a friend – not a prop like in the Jversion who is used only when they need her to cause drama. I really hope that they take a cue from the Tversion and make her a strong secondary character. The one that makes the playboy fall. In the Jversion, she turns out to be a joke.
What I don’t like so far:
1. The high school setting. The J & Tversions have the story setting in college which I think is a bit more realistic.
2. The pace. Everything seems to be moving a bit too quickly. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Jversion was much quicker and the Tversion way too slow. I don’t know how to explain, but the pace of the story seems to be off.
3. Background of each F4. Maybe its me, but I feel like the Tversion did a better job of flushing out the characters of each F4 and setting up their personalities than either of the J or Kversions have so far. Really, while the story is a romance, it is also about friendship too and I’m not really seeing that here. Hopefully, it will get better.
Thank you so much, Javabeans for your FAST and enjoyable recaps!
I did like this episode more than the first – which is always a good sign for me. I have not seen the Taiwanese version, so for me there was a lot of new stuff, which I enjoyed.
I never thought I’d say it, but I think I can come to like Lee Min-ho’s Gu Jun-pyo more than Matsujun’s Domyouji ^___^ He really is great here! Still a bit meh about Jandi.
Koo Hye Sun acting hit the nail on the coffin for me in this drama. Can no longer tolerate her over exaggerations. I do like the other characters though. Seen both Jv and Tversions. Jversion is the best.
I’d definitely watch it but only because I loved the Japanese version so much! Thanks for recapping, Javabeans!!!!!
I haven’t been this excited over a drama for a long time! Especially after Coffee Prince I couldn’t stop thinking about the episode and I think I’m starting to like Lee Min Ho character even if he’s too young for me!
Haha they played “Womanizer” by Britney Spears in the scene right after the flying kick! And boy that was an awesome /impressive flying kick there! Yay! You go girl!
he does have the dong wook thing goin on..
BUT i just LOVE the scene where he had false assumptions on!!
and it just got cuter afterwards!!!
ESPECIALLY the BEE SCENE!!!OMG~~
that was soooo cute!!!
am luuvin him noow~~
(shower scene: siwon??)
..
some if the songs just dont fit the mood~
lastly~~
dramas getting better!!!
and on ep 3—> our hJ shows more expressions!!!this is soo exciting!!!cant wait!!! seriously!!!!
Great recap! Episode 2 was a lot better in my opinion, a lot more meaningful interaction between characters and I’m really into the Jun Pyo character now…Episode 1 was a bit awkward, probably with setting up the drama and such. I can’t say much for Hyun Joong’s character either–like he’s not quite there.
Looking forward to episode 3!
I’ve always loved Rui more than Domyouji in both the jap and tw ver. But for some weird reason, I just can’t bring myself to like HyunJoong as Rui/Ji Hoo. On the other hand, Lee Min Ho has been absolutely wonderful as Jun Pyo. Totally in love with JP and I can’t wait to watch the scenes between JP and Jandi, considering its more of a Jandi/JiHoo thing right now.
Also, I absolutely can’t wait for the relationship between Gaeul and Yijung to start <3
This is tooo similar to Goong.
-Story based around an elite or school that specializes in something (the arts for Goong)
-Male lead is in love with another girl (older)
-Female lead is kind of the misfit/quirky
-Female lead goes through a transformation early on
-Male lead and Girl lead have some kind of story line with shoes in the beginning. (Goong-she had to clean his shoes)
-Male lead has a posse
-Female lead goes to party with highschool peers/elite… wangta
-Male lead is quiet, reserved, “stiff, unnatural”
-Female lead has comedic family (younger brother, father who is extremely proud of his work, mother who pushes daughter
etc. etc. but then maybe it’s more of a typical drama than a copy of Goong
@cuchery246, I recommend waiting, actually the one you’re talking about isn’t the male lead, though we’ll get a lot of him. And the transformation thing was only temporary. Trust me, this isn’t similar to Goong.
Thank you so much Sarah…
I had a great time watching this episode & reading your recap.
considering boys over flowers, the manga, was first published in 1992 and goong, the manhwa was published 10 years later (in 2002), i highly doubt your ‘copied off’ theory is correct. the drama is just following the manga, as it should, while adding its own korean twist to make it more interesting and palatable to korean audiences. do some research before you come off as sounding really ignorant.
and thanks so much dramabeans for the wonderful recap! i admit, i’m enjoying the series way too much that i kind of gloss over and accept the flaws, though obvious they are.
Thanks for the amazing recap…but you forgot the part about Jun-pyo being deathly afraid of bugs (i.e. the bee). That was a pretty funny scene.
Thank you again!
yay!!! so excited… can’t wait for subs to come out
) thanks for the recap javabeans!
Javabeans, as always you are awesome…..this is a promising entertaining show, LMH is shooting up…he had a minor role in I AM SAM…he was already noticeable…for those who are interested, he was quite fun in that drama…am soooo looking forward to your future recaps…..THANKS!!!!!
i think i’ll wait the Japanese version just to entertain me while i wait for subs. is ji-hoo the lead guy? junpyo sounds more interesting.
Thanks for the recaps javabeans! I haven’t watched the episodes yet so these are going to have to tide me over till the subs come out. From what I can tell though, it seems Lee Min Ho is doing a really good job bringing out the Domyoji from the manga (but it’s been a while since I’ve read it so I could be wrong?) but Jandi’s over-acted facial expressions are a total turn off – which is bad since she’s the main character. She needs to tone them down a bit to make it more realistic since she’s supposed to portray the average girl in a crowd of super rich kids in an over-the-top school.
Although comparisons are inevitable…….there’s WAY too much comparisons between the J and TW versions with this show. I’m just sticking to the manga and enjoying the show on its own merit. Lots of fun so far!! Thanks for the recaps Dramabeans!!!!
i am liking this drama so far…i like hyun joong but the rui played by shun in the jap version and vic zhou in the taiwanese version was much better mayb coz they were played by professional actors…but he’s passable atleast so far…mayb he will come into his character later on so i will hold out hope for him….but omg the guy casted for doumyouji is perfect i mean in the sense that it’s was wat i would have imagined the guy to look like after reading the manga…he’s acting pretty good too no complains abt him…on a side note does anyone else think he has similarity with choi si won for super junior seriously they do similar i know i am not going crazy..lol…the girl playin makino is ok but tends to over react sometimes…esp when she starts yellin there were times i had to put it on mute coz it was just annoyin…the other guys are ok but ofcourse they are not a big part of it so not indepth feelings there…i personally like kibum tho..lol…anywayz still lookin forward to the nest eppi…
in the scene where junpyo is explaining to his two friends that jandi is totally into him, i thought his two friends were more mocking him than anything?
oh, and as for logic, i decided to throw that out the window in the first episode when a kid was about to commit suicide and everyone reacted in excitement and there where no teachers in sight.
asperger’s?? That means Rui is some kind of genius right? Asperger’s syndrome is like smart autism. He’s just socially awkward.
COMMENT OVERLOAD. lol
I don’t remember but were your Coffee Prince recaps as popular as this series? Anyhow, enjoyed the episode and really liked Lee Min Ho. It’s so ZOMG corny but I love it for some reason haha.
It’s okay… I love your recaps though! I still think Go Ara would’ve made a better Jandi. She was pretty good in Who Are You… Argh. I can’t let that go. Koo Hye Sun’s acting seems too forced…
Wow, so fast! Ep 2 sounds interesting already. I do sort of agree that Goo Hye Sun’s facial expressions look overboard. I remember in the first episode when she was saying, “Not flower 4. More like fly 4. Dung flies,” looked really over-exaggerated. But Lee Min Ho is doing pretty good. I hope the rest of the cast will soon settle down into their roles.
The back kick picture/scene…..priceless. It looks so awesome already!
Thanks for the recap!
i’m in love with the rui character…lee min ho is good but i can’t help getting distracted by his curls. on the mean scale – the japanese version is 5 levels on top but i’m starting to love our very own korean f4 too
Like everybody else here, I’m already halfway in love with Jun Pyo. I had no idea Lee Min Ho was so talented, now I must go and check out I am Sam.
Both Lee Min Ho and Kim Bum, make me smile like a besotted fool. The scene with the bee was so hilarious yet tender. When JP was afraid of the bee he used a different tone of voice, softer and more childish, suggesting that he really has been putting on quite a facade. And Kim Bum can light up a scene by merely exuding his charms.
As for Kim Hyun Joong, to me he is the weakest link among the cast. His acting consists of striking poses a la “Blue Steel” (yes, he reminds me of Zoolander). Sorry Kim Hyun Joong fans, he just comes off too self consciensce and unnatural. I wouldn’t have minded so much if he had a smaller role, but I think Hanazawa Rui should be a proper foil to Domyoji. It would have worked better for the story if we, like Makino, had a tougher choice between these two boys.
You guys know what’s really a relief:
The lead pair have ACTUAL CHEMISTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY!!!
I realized this in the nosebleed scene, where Jun Pyo goes “Are you that stupid that you got hit in the face with a ball??” and BANG! It took me right back to FULL HOUSE and Rain’s continual berating of Song Hye Kyo…no couple has ever reminded me of FH’s lead couple (their chemistry is honestly unmatchable, in my opinion). I was really happy after that scene!
I agree with Kim Hyung Joon just being a pretty face and that’s disappointing, but Javabeans is right, he just doesn’t have the experience and it’s showing…poor guy…he makes wierd faces and is unable to emanate the mysterious allure that Oguri Shun channeled considerably well in HYD…but that’s okay…we have Min Hoo and Kim Bum to distract us…
And I honestly felt Ga-Eul is playing her role excellently. She’s very pretty yet plain, I CANNOT wait for the secondary storyline involving her and Kim Bum to start….they’re both so beautiful!!!
Min Hoo is SOOO much better as Domyouji….I’m loving the cheesiness to the max!!!!
What annoys me is the keyboard-music they use in some of the scenes… It sounds like something form an arcade game or something, but other then that I still have hope!
well… if ep 2 had some improvements from ep 1.. maybe ep 3 and 4 will be better!
Goo Hye Sun…. her acting was much better in CFs XD
like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sSrnSAbKq0
(and her skin looked less white… sad that her acting here is a bit over exagerated, but maybe its because she’s too focused on being a teen :/)
…
I just have to show this >.<
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT7993DPPnM
If only she still had long hair she would’ve really been Makino!!!
I’m still reluctant to watch this, simply because I already watched the Japanese version and my lazy ass doesn’t want to watch it again. I know there will be differences but nothing’s drawing me towards it. =
Maybe I’ll watch it before the episodes start piling in and I won’t be able to catch up.
Darn you Hyunjoong! If only you weren’t casted. XDDD He’s the only reason I’m even considering it and I can see why he was casted as Rui too.
His character is similar to him: quiet, mysterious, plays an instrument and all that jazz.
I wanted to see Jan-di break out of the ‘korean’ syndrome-sickly looking girl image, but she failed so many times at being Makino. When I thought she was going to use all her mighty wonder-women power — she just did it enough, but didn’t reach it. So …
I still like it! Especially, the shower seen for Jun-pyo. I like him lots in this role. I don’t know much about him, but he is yummy!
love love love … good looking guys in one scene.
mj
Javabeans,
Your recaps have definitely piqued my interest.
Can’t wait to check it out for myself.
Lee Min Ho is going great!
I’m a big fan of Kim Bum but his role here is just so, so.
He deserved better.
I’m rooting for Lee Min Ho in this drama.
Hope he keeps getting better.
Javabeans is correct about Kim Hyun Joong,
he looks like he’s good for display in this drama
but good exposure for
him though.
Lee Yeon Hee would have been better to play the role of
Jan-di.
*..*
I can’t help but love those cheesy parts too of LMH…calling her dry cleaners (so cuute), acting oblivious but not awkwardly stupid (2x’s cuter), and the shower scene (reflecting his true character – interject dramatic music here). I think what also helps me enjoy this drama rather than constantly comparing the J-drama and T-drama version is the advice to approach it as if this is something new. I do agree there is some overacting, bad ‘Engrish,’ and some similarities too close to the J Drama version but not true to the storyline. EP 3…I think ‘us’ fans know what to expect next….(drum roll) the 1st kiss?
I wish Kim Bum had a more prominent role but I know its just because of the character her plays.
Hope! (post # 98) – I checked out the youtube you had referenced. She would’ve been more like Makino (in appearance) if she kept the hair longer.
Lee Min-ho, what can I say that has not already been said, he is perfect for this role. You can’t help but love him as Go Jun Pyo.
As for people who hope that Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo have less of a speaking role, I read somewhere that they’re going to elaborate on his side story, so expect more of his acting/stiffness. But he’s suppose to disappear for the next few episodes, but again maybe that’s the elaboration.
** And after watching the first two episodes, it looks as if this drama is going to follow the other 2 with a few slight changes. **
Again, the scene with the bee, oh how the mighty has fallen. It was so cute with him firing everyone while ranting/raving but then cowering behind a chair at the sight of the smallest bee. LOL
After watching the raw and then the subtitles on Viikii, when Geum Jan Di takes off her black shoes by Goo Joon Pyo gate, she throws a red one over the fence. (ha, ha) Also, the scene where their in an enclosed space, when Go Jun Pyo think Jan Di likes him, you can see the puff of smoke from Go Jun Pyo mouth. They must have been extremely cold shoot this.
Well, can’t help but like Kim So Eun, she is really beautiful. Thanks for the re-cap but it looks as if there’s going to be no new development with this show. Not disappointed but I’m losing interest, no longer waiting to watch this.
#69 – believer020, I agree with everything you said. However at what you don’t like, in terms of the pace, I really think they’re going to cover everything. The anemisa, the twin, the second love interest. They also have to get through the sister as well as the scenes with the mother. I mean for 11 years of a manga, they’re trying to cover it with 24 episodes. Who knows they could be a 2 . . . .
#95 – Sparrow, “I think Hanazawa Rui should be a proper foil to Domyoji”. I agree with you that is the perfect way to state it and so far Kim Hyun Joong is not doing this. Not sure if he’s going to come around when the level between the two gets intense. Aaah, you did well in your English lit. class.
#96 – dramafreak19, “The lead pair have ACTUAL CHEMISTRY”. I saw that, when he was helping her with her nose bleed. I got that giddy feeling, you know the one, when the two leads finally get together. I felt it in that scene and a little smile was on my face. But oh, the pain we’ll have to go through with Geum Jan Di until we get to that level. But then again, it was his sweet moment not her’s. So, there’s hope.
Sorry, it I’m spoiling it, but it’s hard to comment when you’ve already seen the script. (LOL)
didnt anyone notice that da school cafeteria in ep1 look like da one in Palace S it did 2 me n i was like is did palace S the cateteria n i was it looks so similar 2 it
Don’t like Jun Pyo!!!
i thikn that Doumyoji is supposed to have a certain craziness, almost wildness to his personality that isn’t portrayed here. He isn’t desperate enough, not mean enough, not psycho enough………
cuz Makino is supposed to change him…..and i don’t think there is much to change….. Jun Pyo is just arrogant…..but hes not really that mean….u know?
I’m dying to see the jealousy, though and him and Ji Hoo fighting….
So far im really disapointed with Jun Pyo…this being a K-Drama and all, I wish Jun Pyo would show more emotion….he just makes teh same mad face all the time………
And I also think Jan Di is much better in this episode. She toned down the overacting a smidge……………….
and Han Chae Young isn’t so bad of an actress….she’s doing a nice job so far as Shizuka (Seo Hyun)
Maybe it’s cuz i know the story too well already….but this is kinda boring
mans. you are too cool. the subs are perfect.
hmm. i actually kind of kind min ho from the first ep
usually i like him after he becomes nice.
but i dunno.
the tw dms was too psychotic and crazy + dumb.
the tsukasa was good, but short. and not that cute.
lee min ho actually is nice-looking and the character comes out just nice
he actually makes you think like this kind of human can exist.
the other two was too exaggerated.
what do you for a career. you are like a pro. =]]
omigosh, this is the 1st time im drawn to the character of domyouji more than rui,
im giggling like a hs girl. im lovin it! love it, lee min ho!
im still trying to find the lee dong wook similarity u said above
gosh im a fan of ss501 leader for his antics and sarcasm on tv show, but when he said he even bring his acting teacher abroad just to study, i want some proves,
this is the stiffiest (is that a word?) rui ever, even more than vic chou
sorry, i cant help but comparing, but i must say this ver is really fresh and kdrama-like
but on a positive note, i must say that episode 1 is a vast improvement of 2. and i hope that the series just continues to get better and better
Thank you for the swift recaps! I loved the manga, but didn’t care for any of the adaptations (the Japanese version was the best, but still not great). Despite its flaws, I think this may be the best adaptation yet.
The reason: Lee Min Ho is perfect as Doumyouji, even though they toned down the “wild animal” aspect of his character. “Adorkable” is the word. Jan Di is also closer to Makino in terms of spunk (I liked that they preserved the head kick from the manga), and overall, I think this lead pair has the best chemistry of any adaptation.
I also like how the filmmakers have condensed certain parts (the cruise sequence with the Shizuka party) and added K-drama/individual twists to things (gambling debts, the bee scene, netizens, etc.).
Of course, it’s still cheesy–but so was the original manga. And you can’t start out with cheese & get cream.
Thanks Lola!!
first learned F4 thru Meteor Garden, didn’t watch tha Jap version though, coz I have yet to find a good Jap actor/actress, though I must admit I’ve watched only a handful of their films….take a quick peek at the Jap version of HYD and can’t find any eye candy there so I lose interest watching it……but of course Korean version is a way different from the other two…..and the BIG difference?…..has a lot of eye candies! plus the fact that I find Koreans better acting wise compared to Jap and Taiwanese…..AND they also have more eye candies! LOL……
first time to see Kim Hyun Joong and my first impression of him is he looks like a younger version of Yonsama Bae Yong Joon?? especially the eyes…..still yet to see Lee Min Ho’s similarities to Lee Dong Wook….anyways have yet to finish Eps 1 to see it…..
MILLION THANKS FOR THE FAST RECAPS!
I don’t know if most of you are just following Javabeans’ opinions or what but personally I disagree on the judgement on Kim Hyun Joong. Obviously he’s a newbie and I certainly respect Javabeans’ critique and opinions, but personally I quite like the Rui he’s playing. It could be better, but I feel he’s certainly doing a better job than the girl playing Jandi. It’s actually really disapointing- she’s going way overboard with the cutsie angry faces and yelling. Anyway, moving back to Rui. Personally, in the manga/MG/Jap.Vs. I’ve always liked Rui much better than Dom. Because of his autistic traits… shouldn’t he be awkward and stiff? He’s not supposed to be smooth and extremely cool or anything. That’s the two players over there LOL He could act better, but maybe it’s his own interpretation of Rui. Oguri Shun was really great, but definitely different from HJ. I hope people will look at him in his own light and stop comparing him with Oguri, whether he’s better or not! This drama is it’s own entity.
Much thanks for the recaps! Thanks a lot Java :]
BTW subs are up on mysoju.com for anyone who wants to watch.
I know this has been said a million times already but I need to say it too: I LOOOVE LEE MIN HO/JUN PYO. He’s definitely carrying the show forward with his acting skills. I think there’s room in my fangirl heart for two Domyouji’s though: I love Matsumoto Jun as well.
I think this may be a difference… with the Jdrama it was a little refreshing to see him breaking things, getting violent and wild like in the manga. So far the angriest I’ve seen Jun Pyo’s character was when he was playing rugby… or when he angrily placed the glass of water on the table… I really really hope that the korean take on things won’t take the frustratingly repressed route (emotionally and physically).
Makino/ Jan Di – I really dislike Goo Hye Sun. Maybe I’m judging her too early but as of now her acting is just excessive, cartoonish and annoying. And she’s ALWAYS stuffing her mouth with something. The director may be responsible for that but it’s not cute. It’s kind of gross and difficult to discern what she’s saying. Her one redeeming moment was when she was a bit starstruck/vulnerable when Hanazawa Rui (I still can’t get used to the Koreanized names… give me time) handed her his sneakers. GHS is good when she tones it down a little
and ugh Kim Hyung Joon… I really really hope that his acting miraculously improves. Me and a thousand other fangirls watching are sending him good vibes, willing him to get better …
I like Han Chae Yeon’s Shizuka better than the Japanese Shizuka. HCY’s less stiff. Plus she fits the role as she’s genuinely gorgeous.
– geez, the white wintry puffs appear again. The Korean drama industry must work these actors like dogs… Didn’t the same thing happen in Hong Gil Dong? I felt cold just watching the actors’ breath appear in white fog…
Okay. First episode finished and midway through second episode. I must say I really like LMH playing Domouji because he is so adorable in his cluelessness and I think he fits the role really well.
As for Jandi…I was actually really annoyed with her character portrayal the first episode but I think she has tone it down just a tiny bit. Anyway, I hope she really doesn’t overact in the later episodes. So far, she is cute though. I think Makino is actually calmer in the acting yet still remains very adorable. Hmm….now that I think of it, somehow she kind of acts like LDH in My Girl. Is it because of the same director?? I do realize though the way she talks with her mouth so exaggerated is a bit…annoying to the eyes.
The guy who plays Rui – sorry cannot remember much Korean names so I’ll go with my familiarity – is actually okay. I think he smiles a bit too much but somehow Rui is a hard to understand character and so fall I think he is doing quite fine. He is not exceptional but his acting is alright – better to the eyes than Jandi at least – in the first episode and midway second. I’ll see. I think he is really beautiful (wrong word for a guy? lol) though.
The rest…I never really think there is much character developments for them. Lol.. Well, I was cracking up at the English and bullying scenes though. Seem a bit too much…
Yapping aside, this is actually something I enjoy even though I have read the manga and watched 2 version of it already. I can just sit back and bring out the hidden girly side in me and pamper my eyes with good looking guys. Yum!
thanks for the recaps….!!!!
i really had a lot of doubt about this drama….so i had to extremely lower my expectations and in doing so I’m really enjoying it now! Episode one was a bit awkward for me but Episode 2 totally pulled me in… and Jun-pyo, gosh! for me he is the heart of this drama…i could totally skip the other people’s line and watch his scene over and over again…I wasn’t initially ecstatic about Lee Min-Ho taking up the role of Domyouji but after seeing the last 2 episode he’s now beginning to be my favorite actor out of the last 2 that portrait Domyouji!
This drama korea good than drama taiwan ? lOVE gOO HYE sun. She so cute & casting of her beauty! (**)
As a die-hard fan of hanadan, I cannot say that I am shamelessly comparing eveything to the Japanese version. Everything I see, all I say is “NO! Stop copying them!”…sigh…I have to stop doing that…
But I’m still in love with the most romantic story ever created…:D
Anyway, thanks for the recaps…
But I have to say, I honestly thought MatsuJun’s hair was hilarious in hanadan [and I couldn't really believe that they were "natural" curls as the manga makes them out to be]…but Jun-pyo’s hair? ROFL…
Han Chae Young is love…<3
I hope that she would have more parts here even though Shizuka is actually a minor character.
“i am liking this drama so far…i like hyun joong but the rui played by shun in the jap version and vic zhou in the taiwanese version was much better mayb coz they were played by professional actors…”
uhmmm..that was the first ever acting job for Vic who didn’t intentionally auditioned for the role. shun was already acting when casted for HYD.
Qoute: 69 — 2. KHJ is a better fit than most people are giving him credit for. If you read the manga and have watched the other version – KHJ is doing the role. In the Tversion, Vic made him too broody(?) & the Jversion O.Shun was too dreamy & princely(but I confess I loved him!!!). KHJ has the awkwardness, the stiffness of the role right because Rui/Ji Hoo is the guy that distances himself from everything, sees everything from a 3rd person-like vision, so when he steps into the situation, he doesn’t fit exactly right into any situation because he’s not personally invested. —
I agree. I remember envisioning Rui to be unfitting for any situation because he’s personally uninvested in anything.
I am trying not to be jealous that you are guys are getting to see this already
Telling people to stop comparing BOF to the T or J version would be unrealistic.
I myself can’t help but compare that to the T version (for the setups, the acting, the music, their twists to the original plot…….)
I would love to defense KHJ by saying he acts that way because of what his character is. His character supposed to be quiet, reserved due to the mild autism (problem with social interaction, language skill). However KHJ went much further than that. He makes Ji-hoo so dead (if not creepy) & awkward. Having said that, it’s KHJ’s first major acting project so we should cut him some slacks. Hope he warms up and the acting will get better in the coming episodes.
I like this version of Hanadan very much. I think that this is the best looking F4 cast from all the previous versions. But I have to give the credit to Lee Min Ho for doing such a good job as Jun Pyo, because his character is rather very appealing, and I actually keep sympathising with him, GJP. As for KJH, his acting is just meh… sorry fans, I can’t lie… I mean even if the character was always sleepy, deppressed, emotionless and quiet, Oguri Shun as Rui was splendid. KJH is stiff… especially when he speaks. But Kim Joon is doing pretty good as Woobin. His gangsta slangs are actually funny. When I watched the HYD or MG, I could care less for the similar character. But Woobin is fun to watch
i love your recap! thank you so much! Im just wondering if you know any fansub subbing this series? i hope someone will sub this! thank you for your witty recap. they make my day! thank you! i hope you continue the recap of this series!
[...] everyone who didn’t catch it, you can read the recap for episode one and two by Dramabeans. It’s the same story more or less with some bad Korean fashion (cough Jan-Di’s [...]
just finish watching epi 1 and 2 with sub…. and thankfully my wish was granted as i found some defining moments and characters in this version…
1. i really like the dad of jandi having seen him in other kdramas wherein he was so adorable… a really good actor and his over the cting role here just suits him
2. KHJ … his acting just doesnt always leave you with breathless anticipation but definitely someone you would want to see on screen especially when you can capture him in your mind in certain angles… duh too dreamy… (the acting will hopefully get better …. the last part in episode 2 where he approach jandi… i immediately belive the awkwardness of that moment… wait is that ji ho or KHJ… hehehehehe……but still adore him)
3. Ki Bum… Honestly… i never thought of him as handsome or cute but here he is way hotter than KHJ (sorryt girls… have to tell the truth)… his smile can really melt you.. can’t help but smile as well…him and the other rapping dude is really into their character… kudos for casting them…
4. LMH…. wow his tall (especially standing beside jandi)… he has not totally won me over but his eyes when he was telling jandi just to tell him he loves him got into me… i actually believe that he was begging her (in his arrogant way) to tell him that she likes him….. i agree that he is not as idiotic as the way matsumoto jun played domyuji (btw he did not wow me with his looks but the way he played the character) or did not have the arrogant, manliness, cutesy, dumb look that jerry had ahhh that smile) but he definitely has a lot of potential especially everytime he gets jealous (perfection)
5. jandi might look too old for her age but when i am not to concerned about it i think she is acting the role really well….(however, the wig did not work for me and neither was that perm? she got on the cruise… come on she’s a pretty girl… they can better than that)
Verdict: this is a show that i would watch coz it’s entertaining….. the rich boy poor girl….love against all odds….love triangle with a friend will never grow old with me…. and eventhough my neurons cant help but often analyze every minor detail about the show the fun moments that make me giddy and smile is worth the time i am spending on watching it…..
Actually I think Lee Min Ho looks a lot more like the actor who played the Taiwainese equivalent of this role.
Kim So-eun is really doing a good job with her part but Kim Hyun-joong is having some problems he really looks lost and not sure about the character…. The entire cast except for the family ( who is very natural with their parts), looks unnatural… it has its funny moments but I hope as the show develops the chemistry between the cast will become stronger and not seem over done.
i really really appreciate you doing all this work & i have to say, i LOVE YOUR WRITING STYLEEEEEEEE. & going to boys over flowers,
i am starting to really like lee min ho also, lol
and i just want to say that i like how your banner has
ko ah ra and yoon gye sang from who are you.
i read your reviews for that drama
and fell in love with your writing style & summaries!
ignorant… you’ve got to be joking….
the fact that you’re so offended by my opinion is both sad and lame.
I am really enjoying this drama. I didn’t go into it expecting much because I didn’t want to be disappointed (Iljimae), but I am pleseantly suprised. Could it be better? Yes. Could someone please turn down the over acting? Yes. One of my main concern with the show is KHJ. KHJ’s (Rui) character is not too bad to me. A lot of earlier comments dissaprove of his acting. I know we are not suppose to compare, but… In the T and J version, the Jun Pyo character was mean. In the beginning, he was vicious and we all hated him. Hating him made it easier for us to love and root for the Rui character. They were direct opposite. In addition, Makino and Shan cai were both afraid of the Jun Pyo character. Their being afraid made the declaration of war more dramatic. Jan di hasn’t shown that she is really afraid of him at all. Also in the K version, Jun Pyo has shown us dozens of time that he is a fake. He’s not a really bad guy, just insenstive, clumsy, and clueless. So instead of being angry with him, we feel sorry for him. Feeling sorry for him, how can we possibly like KHJ’s character. We have no reason to like him or hope that he ends up with Jan di. That relationship angle is one of the things that made the the first two movies interesting. Here it is obvious that he doesn’t stand a chance. So, I place the blame on the writters and the director for showing us Jun Pyo softer side so early. They didn’t give KHJ’s character an opportunity to distinguish himself from LMH (Jun Pyo) character.
BTW, Thanks so much for the episode recapes.
LOL. Judging by the number of comments in this entry alone, I think we can safely say that BOF is this year’s mania drama. Not since Coffee Prince have I seen such enthusiasm and buzz over a kdrama. Hanadan Fever strikes again!
Lee Min Ho is LOVE! I had a very good feeling about his Domyouji since seeing his screen shots. Seeing him in action just confirms it. His Jun Pyo has Jerry Yan’s manliness and dorkiness, but he shows more depth and subtlety than Jerry. I loved Matsujun’s Domyouji too.
Goo Hye Sun looks a little like Hong Kong starlet Gigi Leung Wing Kei (I’ve been trying to place her, and it finally came to me….). Other than their looks, they share another similarity: stiff, overexaggerated acting. Jan Di is too over-the-top, and Hye Sun needs to tone her acting down. She’s nowhere as good as Inoue Mao.
Agree with everyone who says that KHJ is just not cutting the mustard as Rui. Vic Zhou had the broody mystique, while Oguri Shun’s Rui was really charming and princely. KHJ appears unnatural and stiff in his line deliveries. He also smiles too much.
Good casting choice to have Jae Hee’s dad in Delightful Girl Chun Yang play Jan Di’s dad. He’s a good comic actor and fits right into a manga-ish role. Too bad they couldn’t get Jae Hee’s mom in Delightful Girl Chun Yang to play his wife again. She’s got chemistry with this actor, and is a better actress than the one playing Jan Di’s mom.
Lastly, the soundtrack is just ineffective and forgettable. It’s pales in comparison to the TW soundtrack or the Jdrama soundtrack. I could play Ai Otsuka’s Planetarium over and over again and not get sick of it. This korean soundtrack sounds too generic. There’s no outstanding song that captures the spirit of the drama.
lol… i was wrong. you’re not ignorant. you’re just a moron. but i guess one can’t argue with stupidity, so why bother.
For me Jun stays the best Domyoji. Indeed he is the first who really understood the character of domyoji and he nailed it (although he doesn’t physically looks like dom character). The hatred, the Love, the bakaness ect… Jerry acting was mediocre (no offence ) and he was classy (he drinks coke sorry but Dom will never do that).
Joon Pyo is not classy either (dom doing sport??? Are you kidding me).
And the way F4 of japan was first untroduced you can feel the power, money .
I understand why people like Min Oh’ domyoji because of looks but please Domyoji is supposely stupid and absurd, impulsive with very bad Japanese (How is Korean Min Oh???) when I watch min oh acting I can’t help but think about the prince of Goong. Domyoji character is a Psycho (the look when he tried to rape Makino) and Jun played it very well (look at the scene when threat the studends by drowning them in his pool or when he punches his friends). The way Jun can be absurd, stupid, and a lover and at the same time powerful, threatning and very mean is simply great. The way Jun,Domyoji sits, walk you can feel he is a rich guy. (He doesn’t do what commoners do like sport with)
You can hate Jun dom because of look but Please The only one who first understood Domyoji character is Jun (Maybe Min Oh watched his work). And at least Shun and Jun had chemystry what is not the case there.
Peace
@ Lucille –
Quote “In the T and J version, the Jun Pyo character was mean. In the beginning, he was vicious and we all hated him. Hating him made it easier for us to love and root for the Rui character… In addition, Makino and Shan cai were both afraid of the Jun Pyo character… Jan di hasn’t shown that she is really afraid of him at all. Also in the K version, Jun Pyo has shown us dozens of time that he is a fake. He’s not a really bad guy, just insenstive, clumsy, and clueless. So instead of being angry with him, we feel sorry for him. Feeling sorry for him, how can we possibly like KHJ’s character. We have no reason to like him or hope that he ends up with Jan di… So, I place the blame on the writers and the director for showing us Jun Pyo softer side so early. They didn’t give KHJ’s character an opportunity to distinguish himself from LMH (Jun Pyo) character.”
(I know I should’ve quoted less of what you wrote but all of it was so true I kept most of it.) I think you hit the nail on the head. One of the main reasons why I was disatisfied with the kdrama Makino character was that she wasn’t scared or intimidated by the F4 or Domyouji AT ALL. Plus, Jun Pyo/Domyouhi isn’t hateful enough…
thanks for the recap! I only watched the episodes after reading your recaps…I loved Delightful Girl and My Girl…I also enjoy the mean male lead and the lovable and self-righteous female lead..the series kind of reminds me of Goong. I am trying to get use to the female lead, she does overract sometimes. As for KJH’s actor..he does seem dull but you can tell he is trying, I do love his smile though…that’s just the girlyness in me. I also really like Han Chae Young’s character, so classy! I never watched the Japanese/Taiwanese version of this series..so I’m glad, I am coming into it with a clear perspective. Maybe, I’ll try to catch the Japanese version of it after. Oh yes, Lee Min Ho’s character, I don’t actually think he is attractive because his horrible perm is totally distracting me, HAHA
maybe netizens will make enough noise that they will change it. Other than that, I like his character and cannot wait till more episodes come!
@ Lucille –
Quote “In the T and J version, the Jun Pyo character was mean. In the beginning, he was vicious and we all hated him. Hating him made it easier for us to love and root for the Rui character… In addition, Makino and Shan cai were both afraid of the Jun Pyo character… Jan di hasn’t shown that she is really afraid of him at all. Also in the K version, Jun Pyo has shown us dozens of time that he is a fake. He’s not a really bad guy, just insenstive, clumsy, and clueless. So instead of being angry with him, we feel sorry for him. Feeling sorry for him, how can we possibly like KHJ’s character. We have no reason to like him or hope that he ends up with Jan di… So, I place the blame on the writers and the director for showing us Jun Pyo softer side so early. They didn’t give KHJ’s character an opportunity to distinguish himself from LMH (Jun Pyo) character.”
@ Rory
omg, i so agree w/ u guys. the first episodes should have been an opportunity for KHJ’s character to shine, because Doumyouji was all being rude and violent, and Rui should be a stark contrast to him. and that’s where he gets the focus, and also where Makino should see it and notice Rui. but they made Dounyouji’s character all so likeable in the first 2 eps already. i don’t know how the changes in the character be more visible in the latter eps.
also, in both T & J version, people would be divided between the 2 F4, that’s actually the thrill of the story, having 2 f4’s for the girl. but here, they don’t make Rui stand so much as opposed to Doumyouji. he was the runaway winner.
The lead actress’ portrayal really hampers my enjoyment of the drama. All the shouting and face twisting and overacting is really bothering me >_> I wanted to see what kind of Makino she would show, but I just can’t love her version of Makino like I loved Inoue Mao and Barbie’s versions. She doesn’t look like how I think Makino should be: naturally cute (but not cutesy, Makino didn’t have time to be cutesey when she’s standing up for herself/others and as well as dealing with poverty), spunky, conscientious, and still innocent. Inoue Mao just did it for me.
LMH is just amazing at Gu Jun Pyo. He seems to embody the arrogance and naivety with just his eyes and the snark of his lips. I’m disappointed in KJH’s portrayal since Rui was my favorite out of F4 and Oguri Shun played him perfectly (and had me swooning). I’m sure that his acting will improve over the course of the series as he gains more experience.
Han Chae-young is so classy and gorgeous, and played the Shizuka role very well
The other 2 actors for F4 are doing a decent job for me, and I hope to see more out of them. Kim Bum is such a cutie but I don’t think he gives off the playboy vibe. His eyes are too innocent.
You said it Anonymous Jun Pyo is so Kind and nice that people like Him (too bad) And when I go to sites like dramaclick, mysoju ect.. People ratings is sooooooooo average. 2 or 3/5 for this kind of drama is quite disappointing
that was redundant
Hehe..i’ve always been reading dramabeans recap on k-drama never post a single word until i saw somebody’s mentioning that Go-Ara will be perfect for Jan Di part.OMO..i felt the same tooo…I think she will make a perfect Jan Di…Huhu…Saw her acting in ‘Who are you?’ and i think she’s very talented…and pretty..and young…and owh did i mentioned she’s pretty?LOL..envy her eyes..but anyway there’s no way the casting will be change anymore right..We just gotta bare it all people..i just hope KJH will give more spirit into Rui’s character..and give us all a chance to to fight and choose him for Jan Di because in this version of hanadan its seem that Go Jun Pyo will kick his ass either in the drama or real-life acting skills..for sure~ Yo Yo people ;b
yeahhh junpyo really really looks like lee dong wook and kinda like kim rae won too…and ji hoo looks like se7en and ahh i agree i could totally see go ara doing jandi
butanyways, the guys are all so cute~
oh god you’re right; he did remind me of Lee Dong Wook at some points! similar, but ultimately different. I like how he’s all GLEEHEEHEE at his head-deskly antics. I liked Ga-eul’s natural role, and omg she is younger than me? When did this happen!!
Ahck! =) I totally love Min Ho too! =D And I agree, that part where he finds Jandi is super cute though its corny its CUTE! =) I’m really loving this drama! =D
It’s inevitable to compare with the J counterpart but -
Okay am i like the only person who doesnt like this series? Everything doesnt match up to what Hanadan is really all about. Sure, the cast in the Jversion didnt sport the look but they definitely played the part.
The writing and direction here is messy. There is no chemistry among the 4 guys. I love GHS but she is not Makino. Jun pyo seems too nice as Domouji. I’m not feeling the characters at all. The 2 episodes arent working for me much.
Han Chae-young was probably the only saving grace.
I’m sorry. I hold back my expectation and really didn’t compared this version with others. But I can’t stand GYS acting. It just tooo much to bear for me. Too annoying, overacting and unbeliaveble. Yeah, if the character is annoying i can still tolerate it but this is the acting. Oh man! It just soo tiring just to watch her!
Lee Min-ho…. the shower scene was necessary!
@ Joan I couldn’t be more agree
whenever minho display that nasty look it reminds me of jerry yan, while the shower scene reminds me of Choi Siwon’s bath VTR from the supershow and later on realized thay they actually share the same facial structure(though siwon is sweeter). ^^ BLAZING HOTNESS~!!!
whenever minho display that nasty look it reminds me of jerry yan, while the shower scene reminds me of Choi Siwon’s bath VTR from the supershow and later on realized thay they actually have the same facial structure(though siwon is a lot sweeter). ^^ 100% BLAZING HOTNESS~!!!
dramabeans fighting~!!! haha ^________^
I am quiet shocked to see you praise Hyun Joong in Episode 1. But glad that you realize his stiffness.
Hyun joong, don’t be so stiff.
We all like you. But I don’t think he can be as lovely as Ogari Shun. Shun has set the standard for Rui so high that other people will have a hard time to reach the standard.
Oh God, I never thought I’m gonna hate this drama so much. The production team totally focused to make the drama looks good but throw all plots, storyline, scripts, characters’ development out the window…
And that is just SAD. T_T
ehm…..
now i’ve been searching bout kkkot or bbf so i take some screen caps yo…
i dun want u say it i’m stealing so i say it to you!!!
Just have to say they really should have stuck with the japanese formula or made it thier own…. I didn’t like meteor garden but i was a real fan of the manga back in the day and then the anime all 7 frames per second….. What really made metor garden like hana yori dango was the characters were the same in personality not that they looked like the origianls from the jdrama…. I love Kdramas especially because they seem to know what music to play to match a sceen but this is not the case here….. I still like the show for the hookieness and the barrels of laughs!
ชอบเรื่องนี่เหมื่อนกันดูตอนที่3-4แล้วอิอิแสดงความคิดเห็นเป็นภาไทยจะมีใครอ่านออกไหมนี่
much better if the choose Yoon Eun Hye as leading lady
I love ur movie U guys are so hot & sexy
[...] Screen Caps credit to: http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/boys-before-flowers-episode-2/ [...]
Love LMH to bits..
The character he plays… Gu Jun Pyo…
THRILLS ME LIKE HELLL xD
i feel like i can fly over the moon just thinking about him in my head.
i love you Boys Before Flowers
8′ so nice to watch this movie
Thank you. I couldn’t find a working link and this really helped illustrate what I could not see.