Boys Before Flowers: Episode 3

156 January 12, 2009January 24, 2016

by javabeans

There are some parts of Boys Before Flowers that are pretty good. And then there are parts that are really, really bad. Like, hilariously mockable, I’m-embarrassed-for-you bad..

That won’t stop me from enjoying the drama, but it does put the entertainment into a different category than what I was hoping for, which was sheer, heart-lifting, giddiness-inducing, shamelessly romantic fun and angst. Instead, I think this goes into the “check your brain at the door or you won’t be able to enjoy the ridiculosity” kind of fun.

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Sentimental Scenery – “Falling in Love” [ Download ]

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EPISODE 3 RECAP

At Seo-hyun’s prodding, Ji-hoo asks Jan-di to dance. Jan-di gets swept up in the romanticism of the moment, dancing with her pretty-boy crush, while he’s less enthused (she’s dancing on his feet). I suppose the entire sequence is supposed to be magical and dream-like, but when everyone on the dance floor is bumbling around in a stiff, bobbing box-step, it does kind of suck the elegance out of the moment.

Not keen to watch Jan-di dancing with his best friend, Jun-pyo leaves the ballroom and ends up by the pool, where he takes out his frustration on the poolside furniture. At least they can’t fight back. His anger turns to wussy-boy fear when he sees a bug, and freaks out when it flies toward him. He makes wild swatting motions and tries to ward off the bug, jerking around in a panic.

After her dance, Jan-di sits out and watches Ji-hoo dance next with Seo-hyun. I’m guessing she is supposed to feel wistful that Ji-hoo dances so much more wonderfully with Seo-hyun, but as that’s just not true, I’m making a guess here. Not keen to watch her crush dancing around with his lady-love, Jan-di wanders outside and hears a loud splash.

The next thing we know, a student bursts into the ballroom to announce that Jun-pyo has fallen into the pool. Dude, I’m sure announcing his humiliation is ever so much more helpful than actually, yunno, helping. Yi-jung notes that Jun-pyo cannot swim, and everyone stampedes outside.

When they arrive outside, Jan-di is dripping wet, having dragged Jun-pyo out of the pool, and shouts at him worriedly to wake up. He lies there, unmoving, so she starts performing CPR, pushing down on his chest and breathing into his mouth.

Only, well, he doesn’t exactly need the CPR. Not that he’s going to tell her that, of course. Why ruin a good thing?

Jan-di sees that that his eyes have opened and stops immediately — but he grabs her shoulder, puckers up, and tries to pull her back down toward him for a kiss. It’s hilarious, because it doesn’t work, and Jan-di punches him in the face, disgusted, thinking he was faking the entire thing. (I’m not sure how much he was faking, but I’m sure the part about him not being able to swim was real. So at least she did save him on that score.)

She storms off in a huff, but Jun-pyo is still exceedingly pleased with his one stolen “kiss.”

He remains in a fabulous mood the next morning, even surprising his butler with his eagerness to get to school early. Jun-pyo mangles the “early bird” adage by saying knowingly that there’s a proverb about “the early bug gets dead first.”

He’s feeling so cheerful that when a maid spills his tea — a previously fire-able offense — he barely notices. When his butler assures him that the maid will be fired, Jun-pyo tells him magnanimously that the household is run too strictly — loosen up!

He grins and walks off, announcing, “What great weather!” just as thunder rumbles in the distance.

Because, y’see, Jun-pyo has great things planned for today! He plays more practical jokes on Jan-di, first smearing the locker room door with what appears to be Vaseline, then filling the pool with ducks. He watches her irate reaction on his lounge television, chuckling to himself all the while. Yi-jung and Woo-bin marvel that this is the hardest they’ve ever seen him work at anything.

(In his mangled reasoning, Jun-pyo feels this is his way of expressing his “gratitude.” Well, I suppose if throwing trash in the pool is his way of tormenting her, then tossing cute live animals is a step up. Never mind the fact that she can’t swim in either scenario.)

Ji-hoo has been particularly withdrawn recently, spending more time than usual away from F4. Instead, he chooses to play his violin outside in the snow. (Who doesn’t love that?)

Jan-di comes upon him as his string breaks, cutting his finger. She senses he doesn’t want her there, so she tells him she’ll just attend to his hand, then go. She takes the handkerchief that Ji-hoo had previously lent her and wraps it around his finger, then takes out an umbrella and places it over the violin to protect it from the snow.

Little does she know that they’re being watched and taped on Ginger’s phone. Although her encounter with Ji-hoo isn’t very warm or friendly — mostly prolonged silence — it looks more suggestive from a distance, and the Bimbos Three are determined to bring Jan-di down.

Jun-pyo’s great mood lasts while he basks in the pool, anticipating Jan-di’s arrival.

When he hears someone approach, he automatically assumes it’s her, and starts to chide her for her late arrival and lax training (his equivalent to a little boy pulling a girl’s hair, or perhaps calling her “Carrots”).

But instead of Jan-di, it’s the mean girls, who eagerly show Jun-pyo the video clip. As his mood darkens, they fan the flames, adding that it looked like Ji-hoo and Jan-di have been dating for a while, calling her a gold-digger.

Coldly, he tells them to shut up, then throws the phone to the ground, breaking it. He stalks out.

Jun-pyo surprises Jan-di outside, where she has returned in hopes of talking to Ji-hoo (who has already left). Pride and feelings hurt, he lashes out mockingly: “Are you disappointed I’m not who you were hoping for?”

She starts to walk away, so he grabs her arm and demands to know, “Where are you going?” She retorts, “I have nothing to say to you so I’m going home.” Well, he has something to say to her, and sneers that she was playing around with him. He was going to make allowances for her and treat her nicely, but now he feels ridiculed.

Jun-pyo grabs her tightly and tries to force a kiss on her. Alarmed, Jan-di struggles against him, shaking her head back and forth so he can’t kiss her. She yells in a panicked voice, “No! I don’t want to! No!”

That stops him, and Jun-pyo slowly lets her go. He asks her, this time without anger, “Do you hate it that much?” He walks off.

This is easily the best scene of the episode. What could have been unintentionally funny or cheesy comes off instead with a lot of tension, a lot of conflicting emotions, great chemistry, and (for once!) a nice piece of score. Now, if only the rest of the series could be like this.

As a result, the next morning, Jan-di is mortified and refuses to go to school. Her parents are ready to force her to go anyway, but are distracted by the arrival of a fancy invitation: it’s for Seo-hyun’s birthday party.

Jan-di’s parents are immediately excited at this proof of their daughter’s social success, and look into “borrowing” a formal dress for the occasion. From their dry-cleaning service. I’m sure this is completely against their own rules, but it doesn’t matter because all the dresses suck.

Plot contrivance to the rescue! A special package saves the day: a lovely formal dress sent from Seo-hyun. (I suppose they do get points for making up reasons, however obvious, for dressing up the poor girl in rich clothes, instead of just glossing over that point as is so often the case.)

Jan-di arrives alone at the party, and is soon whisked off to the F4 table by Yi-jung, who uses her as an excuse to get away from a group of women he’d promised to call but never did.

She and Jun-pyo look at each other warily, a bit uncomfortable after their last encounter but managing to resume their bickering dynamic. To Jun-pyo’s surprise, Yi-jung and Woo-bin lavish praise on Jan-di, calling her “really pretty” and “the cutest in the room” (Jun-pyo scoffs his disagreement).

Seo-hyun arrives on the arm of Ji-hoo, and a cake is brought out. Seo-hyun thanks everyone for coming, then makes a startling announcement — she’s planning on leaving for Paris, for good. She wants to succeed on her own terms, without inheriting her parents’ law firm — she has goals for bigger and brighter things.

The F4 guys suddenly realize why Ji-hoo’s been so down lately, and Jan-di’s eyes fill in tears in empathy for his pain. She watches Ji-hoo leave the party early. Seo-hyun finishes her speech, then follows him up to a hotel room.

Ji-hoo fiddles with an old toy, a puppet she’d given to him when they were kids. “That was when you stopped calling me ‘noona,'” she reminds him (which was an indication that he had started to harbor feelings for her).

Ji-hoo angrily throws the toy in the trash and says, “I feel like I’m being abandoned.” Seo-hyun tries to tell him gently, “If there’s anything here I can’t leave, it’s you.”

Ji-hoo tells her not to lie; she responds that if it was a lie, she wouldn’t have been so bothered to see him looking at somebody else: Jan-di. She admits, “When you went running to her, I found my heart falling with a thump. Isn’t that funny?”

Ji-hoo accuses her of treating him as a toy, and argues that he’d spent the past fifteen years looking only at her, “And that’s not enough? I’m a man too.” Seo-hyun hugs him, and apologizes.

As they pull apart, Ji-hoo kisses her. (And Han Chae-young again proves she can’t kiss worth a damn onscreen. Oy, this scene is painfully awkward at points. If the earlier Jun-pyo & Jan-di argument was an example of great, intense chemistry, here we have an example of… well, uncomfortable non-chemistry.)

Jan-di arrives at the doorway to see the kiss. She retreats, closing the door quietly, then starts to beat her head into the wall. Jun-pyo calls from behind her, “If you collapse here, it’ll be really embarrassing.”

Hearing the others moving inside the room, Jan-di hurries away from the door, but not quickly enough to escape being seen. She pretends she just arrived to spare everyone the embarrassment of mentioning the kiss.

Seo-hyun mentions that she and Ji-hoo are on their way out for a drive, and invites Jan-di along. Not wanting to be the third wheel, Jan-di stutters no thanks, and Jun-pyo answers smoothly, “We’re on our way somewhere too.”

Relieved to be given an exit strategy, Jan-di jumps to agree. To make the “act” more convincing, Jun-pyo puts his arm around her, which Ji-hoo notices with… interest?

When they’re out of earshot, Jun-pyo tells Jan-di that this act of kindness makes them even; he has now paid her back for saving him from the pool. Jan-di protests that they are in no way comparable acts, and concedes that this is worth perhaps 10% of a payback. Jun-pyo: “Fifty percent.” Jan-di: “Twenty-five.”

Jun-pyo takes Jan-di to a fancy bar, which is empty of patrons because he bought the place for the night. It’s a romantic gesture, but Jun-pyo tells her in his typical (unsentimental) way that she can shout or cry or do whatever she wants.

Jan-di wonders why she would do any of that, and Jun-pyo reminds her of the kiss she witnessed. Morosely, Jan-di says she is no competition against Seo-hyun: “I’m not pretty, I’m not smart, my family is poor…” “Your figure’s not that great either,” Jun-pyo adds, “and your temper’s bad too.”

She retorts, “Fine. How can such a worthless person like me be jealous of her? I don’t even have a right to feel jealous.”

Jun-pyo says matter-of-factly that she’s right about not being that special, “But you’re not worthless. You have a right.” He continues, saying that if Ji-hoo had met her before Seo-hyun, he’d have liked her. Sure, her looks and her family circumstances suck, “But you’re the first girl the Almighty Jun-pyo has acknowledged.”

A heartbeat starts pounding loudly. It’s unclear whose it is, but I think it could be either of them — or, more probably, both. Suddenly feeling overheated, Jun-pyo excuses himself to the men’s room, where he fans his face. Outside, Jan-di does the same, then reaches for a class of clear liquid and gulps it down.

By the time Jun-pyo comes back, she’s totally wasted, her head lolling around like it’s too heavy for her neck. Impatiently, he prods her: “Hey, come on, woman!”

That word (woman) gets Jan-di’s attention, and she slurs back, “Yeah, I’m a woman. Can’t a commoner be a woman too? My family, my looks, and my brain suck, I know. Even if you didn’t point it out so clearly, I already know, got it, punk?”

Now Jun-pyo’s amused. Jan-di continues rambling about her woes — her family, money. Suddenly, she jerks up and starts laughing ruefully, saying, “I’m sad today.” She pats his face (slaps it, more like) affectionately, and concedes, “All right, let’s say you’ve paid me back fifty percent.”

She continues, “Thanks, Gu Jun-pyo, for saving me today. I can’t do anything for you, but instead…”

And she learns forward… grabs him by the lapels… and smacks her lips together.

Jun-pyo waits to see what she’ll do, and she smiles at him… and vomits all over his suit.

Jan-di awakens in the morning in a strange bed in a strange room.

Upon seeing Jun-pyo sitting nearby, she immediately jumps to conclusions and demands to know why she’s here. He reminds her of the night’s events, and the details start to flash back to her. He brought her home after the bar, and called her parents to let them know. She hangs her head, embarrassed, and mumbles her thanks.

Jan-di would leave if she could, but Jun-pyo is alerted to his mother’s return home. We get the sense that this is an unusual occurrence. Today, she’s here to host a charity auction that evening. Anticipating Jun-pyo’s reaction, Mom has ordered her men to watch over him to keep him from leaving the house — which now means that Jan-di can’t leave without being seen, either.

Jun-pyo panics and immediately calls F4 for help. The friends join Jan-di and Jun-pyo to try to brainstorm a way out of this, knowing that Mom’s reaction will be fearful to behold if she were to somehow find out the truth — not only is there a strange girl with Jun-pyo, but she’s a poor, nameless, insignificant commoner to boot.

Jan-di is dressed up in one of the fancy dresses to be auctioned off that night, and the F4 friends do their best to pass her off as a new friend. Naturally she’s from a rich and prestigious family.

Mom is coolly polite, and inquires about her family background, prompting the F4 guys to jump in and fill in the details, describing Jan-di’s father as a businessman in the fashion industry. Ji-hoo puts his arm on her shoulder and says Jan-di’s like their “F4 mascot.” (Yeah, I dare anybody to use that on a parent and see how well that works. “Mascot,” indeed!)

Thankfully, the questioning is kept short. Just as Mom seems ready to sharpen her interrogation, she is called away, and tells everyone to join her downstairs for the auction.

The first item for auction is a pair of Olympic gold medalist Park Tae-hwan‘s goggles. Jan-di’s mouth drops open as the bidding climbs up from an opening bid of 500,000 won (approximately $365) and skyrockets into the millions. Jun-pyo notices her reaction as a phone bid wins the goggles for 10 million won ($7,500).

The auction continues. Jun-pyo models his suit, followed by Jan-di modeling her dress (albeit reluctantly).

Mom eyes her with suspicion and asks her secretary, Mr. Jung, if he recognizes the girl. The man does remember her as the “Wonder Woman” who was given the Shinhwa scholarship. But unlike Mom, he’s got a heart and chooses, for now, to lie and say that all he knows is that she’s supposedly a student at Shinhwa High School. She orders him to look into the girl’s background.

After the auction, Jan-di thanks Jun-pyo again, somewhat grudgingly. Jun-pyo pretends not to hear, and forces her to repeat it twice.

It’s rather cute, actually, how he calls her “Jan-di baht,” which means “grassy lawn.” He tosses her a package and says, “Don’t drink when I’m not around.” (No doubt he wants to keep her from kissing other guys under the influence.)

After he leaves, Jan-di opens the bag to find the auctioned swimming goggles in the bag.

At home, her family oohs and ahhs over the acquisition, and urges her to sell them online since they’re worth a lot. Jan-di’s unwilling to part with them, though, and fumbles around for an excuse, saying that the goggles are worth “so much more than money” and shouldn’t be sold. She also distracts her parents so she can grab back the goggles, then runs off hoarding her prize.

Alone in her room, Jan-di opens her desk drawer. As though to show us how much this means, the space formerly used to hold Ji-hoo’s handkerchief is now given to the goggles. (Oh! The! Symbolism! Let me hit you with it.)

The next day, Jan-di has a visitor: It’s Seo-hyun (wearing a fur bib), here to say her last goodbyes, since she’s leaving the next day. Stunned to hear how suddenly she’s moving away, Jan-di tries to express her thanks.

Seo-hyun tells her, “I knew from the first time I saw you that you were the girl Ji-hoo always talked about with a smile.”

Speaking of whom, Ji-hoo spots Seo-hyun’s car outside and heads toward the pool, just in time to see Jan-di fall to her knees in front of Seo-hyun.

Jan-di explains that she’d been her fan for a long time, and understands her decision. “But let me ask a favor. Please don’t leave.”

Jan-di: “I know I don’t have a right to ask such a favor of you, but if I don’t ask…”
Seo-hyun: “Is it because of Ji-hoo?”
Jan-di: “I don’t know anything about him. But I know how special you are to him. He looks so sad to me, but there are times when he smiles, warmly enough to melt the heart of anyone who sees. You’re the only one who can make him smile. If you leave like this, he may not smile again.”

Seo-hyun explains that her decision is “like buying something in a foreign country. If you don’t buy it right then, there’s no next chance. I know too well how cruel that regret can be. Ji-hoo is dear to me, and I believe I am to him. That’s why I think he wouldn’t want me to face that regret.”

Subdued, Jan-di apologizes. Seo-hyun assures her, “No, I’m glad to hear you talk like that. Thank you.” She takes out a strappy set of heels and gives them to Jan-di: “I hope these shoes will take you to good places. I have something to ask you, too. Please make Ji-hoo smile again.”

When Jan-di walks out, Ji-hoo confronts her, asking angrily, “Who do you think you are to do that? Who asked you to make that kind of favor? It’s not even a favor, it’s begging. Don’t you have any pride?”

Jan-di: “It’s not because I have no pride. It’s because you looked so pained, like you’d die of sadness.”
Ji-hoo: “What is that to you? It has nothing to do with you. Get lost.”

COMMENTS

Like I said, some really nice moments — and then some really bad ones. It pains me to say this, but I think the weak link here is not actually the acting, but the directing. I had such great hopes because PD Jeon Ki-sang was a director I really liked after falling in love with his style in Delightful Girl Chun-hyang. I’d hoped Witch Amusement was a fluke in his resumé, but now I’m wondering if in fact Chun-hyang was the fluke, and the cheesy gimmickry of Witch Amusement is in fact his norm. Or perhaps he just had a really talented young assistant director working for him in the past, who isn’t with him now? The weird pacing of scenes, the horrible music (that grating electric guitar, for instance), the awkward framing of shots… It feels like this drama is being filmed by Garry Marshall (the later years).

On the other hand, more goodness from Lee Min-ho, and Gu Hye-sun! (Whenever she’s not being too cute.) They, more than anything else, are definitely going to carry this drama (which I suppose is the point).

156

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101 km

January 13, 2009 at 12:43 PM

wow the number of comments for this series' recaps is really telling haha.

anyway, does anyone else think that hyun joong's expressionless eyes and face are beginning to make him resemble a dead fish? it's disturbing! seriously, i love the boy in reality shows and in his music performances, but why does he seem less pretty boy and more dead here than anything? ): i understand that jihoo is supposed to be an enigmatic and charismatic character, but i hope he doesn't try too hard to look mysterious and detached, because it just isn't working.

but i'm still fairly excited for the rest of the episodes, this drama is coming along quite nicely! thanks for the recap!

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102 yoomin

January 13, 2009 at 12:50 PM

I agree with Anna; Gu Hye Sun is not working for me. No, I take that back. She does well in the serious scenes. But when it's time for her to act cute or tomboyish, it looks so fake. And I also am not feeling any chemistry between Jandi and Junpyo and the F4. The only people I'm interested in here are Lee Minho and Kim Bum. He he.

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103 ripcurl

January 13, 2009 at 12:58 PM

the first two episodes were ok for me. but now suddenly i feel like the story is too fast..... the relationship doesnt even start blooming for me yet, but there are already many things happened between them...
i thought someone would feel the same with me, but then maybe just me. uu~uuh~.. i actually really hope i enjoy this drama. i've been craving for romantic comedy since long.. and i have really BIG hope for this drama. or my age just past for this kind of drama?..

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104 Sue

January 13, 2009 at 1:28 PM

i realize what you mean by the off-directing, especially after episode 4.

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105 anon

January 13, 2009 at 1:47 PM

i think i'm gonna blame GHS's over the top portrayal on the director 'cause if he wanted her to pull back, i have no doubt she could. and before i saw the ep, reading the summary and looking at the cap, i thought that he had put rubber ducks into the pool. little did i know he had managed to wrangle fake looking CGI ducks. maybe JunPyo borrowed CNN's hologram technology?

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106 Luv

January 13, 2009 at 1:58 PM

Thank you so much for this entry...couldn't stop smiling reading it. :)
“Don’t drink when I’m not around.” She should've listened...hehe...
They're so cute together.

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107

January 13, 2009 at 2:04 PM

hahaha at the CNN's hologram technology. let just think so. i also gonna blame some GHS's overacting on the director (especially sticking a branch of leaves at her hair). she was a fine actress before. and whenever JanDi is not overacting, she is extremely good, like how she cried and shouted when they threw eggs at her uniform and thinking of her father.

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108 b020

January 13, 2009 at 2:08 PM

May I say that while the kissing scene was awkward/stiff - it is no different than from every other kissing scene I've scene in Kdramas-Delightful Girl, Samsoon, My Girl, Spring Waltz, Snow Queen, Full House, Love Story in Harvard, etc. (with the exception of Goong & Lovers)? The females always, always, always, just stands there with her eyes closed! She doesn't even move her arms!!! Every time I think, if a hot guy just declared his love and wanted to sweep me off my feet with a hot kiss, I think I'd do more than just stand there!!!

That being said, the charm of this show still hasn't worn off - flaws and all.

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109 b020

January 13, 2009 at 2:14 PM

Oooh - and a huge thanks to Dramabeans for the quick recap!!!

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110 kirara

January 13, 2009 at 2:23 PM

ok, so I think I messed something up on the comment earlier..

i wasn't trying to mention anything bad about the acting skills for the actor who's playing (RUI, Korean version) the violin.. He is a newbie.. and He's doing great so far.. I think I was trying to point out the CG with the fake snow.. not him playing his part not well.

Sorry for the confusion.. I'm not korean, so its very difficult to straighten all of the names out.

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111 Annieyo

January 13, 2009 at 4:05 PM

Hey! Thanks for the review! I have to say that the computer graphic on this show is really awful! For example, on the first episode when they were showing the campus and the "helicopter" came on the scene.. it looks like my kid brother's toy! Not cool. Then, with the third episode when Ja Di found the "ducks" swimming in the pool.. Duck, Duck, BOOO!!!! Sorry.. I had to use your analogy.. lolz
It's good so far, so don't get me wrong.. I think little details like that should not be overlooked. The viewers, I'm sure crave realism on this show..

Okay, that's my vent...

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112 aceyyy

January 13, 2009 at 4:26 PM

Having rewatched episode 3, I do think that Kim Bum's dry delivery of his character's ironic lines - usually directed at the clueless Gu Jun Pyo (see I'm starting to get them straight!) - is underrated!

And honestly I was taken in by the closeups of the ducks hehe

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113 tarayqen

January 13, 2009 at 4:52 PM

i never read the manga so not really sure about the scenes but while watching epi 3, meteor garden keeps on appearing in my mind... they do have a lot of similarities (especially here like the party,,,, the vomiting..others)

i have now figured out that i like hye sun except when she's in that uniform coz again she doesnt look like a HS student but outside of the uniform she's passable i mean the scenes with her family makes her look like a real kid but i do have to agree with some of the comments here that more often she act's too cartoonish... she's supposed to be more grounded less flighty??? than jun pyo...at times the show has that japanese feel to instead of it being a korean version of the manga...

and jun pyo i mean LMH he is becoming so adorable every minute.... he is still not your domyuji but wow with those shots and angle.... he is making me forget the KHJ is even in the show.....

looking forward to the next episodes as this show is now my monday and tuesday habit

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114 Yumi-chan

January 13, 2009 at 5:40 PM

The music PD needs to die.
Hire someone from the coffee prince sound track, either that don't use music just hum when dramatic scenes come on.
The music is very heartbreaking in the way that it sucks.

The acting is good Hyun Joong is improving.
For some reason I feel he should have stayed in variety.
Shillang suits him much much better.

The leads are doing very good even though I feel that it's lacking compared to the earler versions most specifically the japanese version.

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115 Miki

January 13, 2009 at 5:47 PM

Sad that they didn't do the scene where Seon cut her long luxurious hair short right then and there to prove she wanted to separate from all that was superficial and focus on her goal -- becoming an international lawyer. Even if she had to leave Ji Hoo behind.

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116 Meix2

January 13, 2009 at 6:20 PM

Up until now, I think the drama has been decent and watchable but since its only ep.3, it probably needs more time to establish itself, so I'll hold back on my judgement. However, like someone said before, I think I've got a case of MG/HYD/Boys over flowers fatigue... It's just too many rehashing of the same storyline in a relatively short space of time.

At the moment, I still think I enjoyed MG most, probably cos I watched it first and it wasn't so OTT (although it was going for ridiculous melodramatics near the end) and HYD was light and fun. So heres waiting to see what Boys over flowers will turn out like...

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117 Alimac

January 13, 2009 at 6:28 PM

Lee Min Ho is totally carrying the show! He is going to be a HALLYU GOD!

And that Kim Bum is pure hotness!

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118 KOK

January 13, 2009 at 6:42 PM

Sorry but its silly to say this is the best version when only 3 eps have been aired?

As to the people dissing the Jap version, Inoue Mao, Oguri Shun are unbeatable, the Korean ones don't come close, as for MatsuJun, yes his look was wrong but his acting as Domyouji was next to perfect, Lee Min ho is pretty good too but he still hasn't had the "Hemmingyay" moment yet and sorry to say but has next to no chemistry with the girl. As for K Rui, my god is he bad, not even the look is right.

And to the constant digs people make at the J F4 and the looks of the HYD Jap actors, grow up.

In anycase the Ep was decent enough, Im looking forward to the next ep more tho, Im glad their sticking to the source material.

As for the person talking about Lee Min ho's legs, they really are thin, same goes for his hands, they're tiny in proportion to his body. But he's still so cute.

As for Kim Bum until his own little story I guess we won't get to see his acting skills, but I hope he's as good as everyone's claimed.

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119 Pao

January 13, 2009 at 6:55 PM

i dont know if it was bc i saw this episode right after waking up, but i didnt like it one bit. first 2 eps i saw them 3 times, but this ep felt like i could barely finish watching it for the first time.

and i dont know why, but when jan-di was making all sorts of faces while looking for a dress, her over the top acting annoyed me even more than at the beginning.

btw, i must say i thought the same thing when the guy burst into the room announcing jun-pyo had fallen into the pool........ i was just stupid

the pace of the drama, i thought might keep it fresh, since a lot of things might be going on, thus no fillers or lame music-video-like scenes. but not i'm starting to think it might become a problem.

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120 KIMI

January 13, 2009 at 7:12 PM

That Jun-pyo guy's second toe is longer!!! TEHE

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121 Miki

January 13, 2009 at 8:31 PM

Jan-di's overacting is annoying everyone then, huh? The actress doesn't compare to Inoue Mao, that's true. And to top that off, Inoue Mao was a total newcomer, much younger and without ANY (well, some, but as a kid-star) acting experience.

I often want to kick her in the face. And the character! Jan-di's coming off as a whiny brat biased against the rich than against the obnoxious rich. And does she have to be so damn impolite and crude? Being tough does not constitute being without manners. Can't imagine it'd pass in Korea. And she's supposed to be intelligent and mature enough to feel disgusted by F4, and to be courageous enough to think clearly and stand up to them. It was not an impulse, a step-decision, but a true choice. Plus, her grounded practicality is what makes her stand out from the rest of the girls. Is that how you'd describe Jandi? Can you imagine Jandi is a LAWYER?

Lee Minho... He's great. I think the problem lies in his character, not the actor. We're being won over by him too quickly right now. He's not threatening, not violent, but childishly temperamental. I suppose the producers are worried about his Prince Charming image, but THAT side of him was to be shown later, and he was never really a perfect Prince Charming. He's suppose to be despicable for the first 5 eps at least.

And the chemistry. I see a spark here and there, but I can't help but think Lee Minho might be carrying it all himself. And most of the time, it's dead. Ji Hoo's love story... pity they couldn't muster up more chemistry. It could actually be rather moving.

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122 ar_arguably romantic

January 13, 2009 at 8:55 PM

love the new take on the first kiss scene. i've only been reading your recaps (thank you so much for them) but it feels like the korean version has managed to remain somewhat fresh.

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123 long

January 13, 2009 at 11:30 PM

i don't really mind the overacting as it isn't done too overboard. after all the series came from a manga/anime where it's almost a necessity to overact. it just reminds me of that fact.

however i do agree about the music, the way they transition scenes, the lame cg, and KHJ's acting (lets hope it improves, but it's safer to just not expect much). they suck. luckily there's great chemistry between the leads.

about the kiss scene, i've learned that unless it's YEH or a kmovie, better not expect much as well, specially with idols.

overall, it's still a very interesting and entertaining show to watch, whether you've watched previous versions or not. so far.

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124 withsugarplease

January 14, 2009 at 3:49 AM

i just finished watching episode three, and i really must say i agree
with your [ dramabeans ] summary of the show 100%.

i truly wanted to love this show to pieces, considering i watched the japanese and taiwanese version. however, there was something that kept bothering me at the back of my head as i watched all three episodes.

its the music. WHAT is it with this director [ PD Jeon Ki-sang ] and his pattern of only having three songs for his dramas?! why torture us, the viewers, with these irritating catchy pop songs? i also feel like there are numerous scenes that, if left on the editing floor, wouldn't have made a difference to the finished product.

i like the cast a lot ::coughs:: Jan-di not so much ::coughs:: but as much as i love KHJ... his acting... whoa. the hotel scene when he was upset, yea, i had to chuckle to myself a couple times.

don't get me wrong... i still like the show.
i'm going to keep watching it.
because i must. lol

... but i wish they would change the director to the coffee prince director.
now she was someone who understood how important an OST is for a show.

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125 yen_nguyen

January 14, 2009 at 6:58 AM

Kim Bum is great! I do like him in this drama.
however, this is not such a good one, sometimes I feel it's boring.

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126 lily

January 14, 2009 at 7:35 AM

You said it this Drama is everything but HYD (the manga).

Rui is ....Bkeh
Jun Pyo.... weak, mature, cold, maybe a little stupide (all but domyoji
Korean Akira.................non existent (Japanese Akira had lesser scenes than the other but he was useful in some situations and the nicer and more mature of F4)
Kim Bum is a child
Makino.... is a Bad actress
I couldn't be more agree with Mikki especially about Jun Pyo character!! people say is the best domyoji sorry but he can be the best Jun Pyo but not Domyoji!! I don't know people read the manga. Korean makers messed it up. Domyoji is threatning, dumb, childish is not a nice supporting man. Jun Pyo is Jun Pyo but not Domyoji. Someone said Min Oh lacks "Passion". I agree Because Domyoji has a lot of passion in everything he do even his love for Makino. He is all but cold!!

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127 lily

January 14, 2009 at 7:52 AM

@ KOK I couldn't be more agree
I watch this serie searching what part of this drama is "far far better than HYD" (like some people say) But I don't see. The reason is this drama "is fresh" MG and HYD were different of each other so their takes concerning their storyline were fresh too. If you simply say you simply like better the korean version although they messed it up I will understand you but (with these evidences stated) Korean version is a really bad take of HYD (the original manga).

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128 OMO

January 14, 2009 at 8:47 AM

THANKS, I ACTUALLY FIND YOUR RECAP VERY USEFUL AFTER WATCHING THE SHOW. KEEP IT UP. ^_^

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129 OMO

January 14, 2009 at 9:37 AM

What I liked some much about the Japanese version was the bond Makino and F4 developed. With the Korean version being 24 episodes I hope they’re planning to develop the relationship. With 3 episodes in I shouldn’t judge too quickly but it feels as if the Korean F4’s are strangers and not childhood friends.

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130 lily

January 14, 2009 at 9:56 AM

"but it feels as if the Korean F4’s are strangers and not childhood friends."

I couldn't more. And the chemistry between the F4 is the only thing I liked in MG

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131 Shrimp

January 15, 2009 at 8:28 AM

@lily if you don't like BFF all that much then stop watching so you can stop comparing and you know...for crying out loud just rewatch the version you like best and be worry free! To each his own dear, to each his own....

You can't force anyone to like what you like just because you say so...as much as we can't force you to like what we like...you know what im saying?

We watch to be entertained right, but if what we're watching doesn't satisfy us...then we can always turn the friggin' boobtube/pc off or if not then try find something else to watch...perhaps REWATCH!
Why complicate things...ugh!

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132 Cee

January 15, 2009 at 7:01 PM

My, my. Lee MinHo is one fine looking young man. At first I abhorred his curly coif, but now it's growing on me. =)

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133 smilingsky

January 16, 2009 at 12:46 AM

Thanks for the caps.
The most ridiculous part for me in this ep is Ji-hoo playing the violin under the snow. The funniest part, though, is HOW COME Jun-pyo was reading The Wall Street Journal in the morning after Jan-di woke up??? ROFL
& I actually learned sth new from this ep: "If U draw lines on the pumpkin, would it become a water melon?" LOL

K-dramas 2009, plzz try harder & make it at least a better year than last, could U? I seriously ran out of things to watch!! ^^

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134 serendipity

January 16, 2009 at 7:32 PM

I really like how this series has taken its own line. It doesn't feel like either the Japanese or Taiwanese versions. It takes the plots elements which work well, but weaves its own story. Pity the acting is so uneven.

I don't think the supremacy of the Japanese version is threatened - its impeccable casting, coherent soundtrack, sharp editing, beautiful photography and clever adaptation of the (repetitious) manga plot. (The TW version proved, IMO, that slavish adherence to the manga does not a great drama make.) But I will see the Korean version to its end. The two leads are great (when they are not shouting), and I'm really interested to see where they will take this.

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135 heejung

January 18, 2009 at 12:46 AM

Anne of Green Gables! yay:) I loved those books. maybe I'll read them again someday...
" Oh! The ! Symbolism! " :D:D:D:D

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136 annie

January 19, 2009 at 7:56 PM

han chae young's dress at her birthday party is the same one that choi ji woo wore at the japanese fan meeting in episode 3 of a star's lover! i remember that spectacular collar :D
reuse reduce recycle~

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137 yvree

January 23, 2009 at 2:34 AM

aniee: the reason i like k-dramas is cause the lead couple always goes thru a process to develop feelings for each other. jan di should def. take some time before showing signs of liking jung pyo. -------------- absolutely right

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138 Andrea

January 23, 2009 at 10:25 PM

I'm warming up to it, I only wish Jandi didn't shout every other line. It makes Junpyo sound like the sane one. And also I have to agree with lily^ the Korean F4 just does not compare... I still have a crush on Soujiro after watching HYD some time ago.

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139 Rovi

January 24, 2009 at 10:08 PM

okay, innovation of first kiss in Kkotboda Namja: CPR...!

hahahaha...

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140 phjfever

January 26, 2009 at 2:23 PM

you're a saviour javabeans cause w/o your recaps i wldn't be able to figure out some of episode 3 as they didn't have subs in some parts! thanks again -- you're great!

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141

January 26, 2009 at 5:25 PM

When the girl argued with the guy with the curly hair, it reminds me of Coffee Prince .. a lot. You think the actors tried to copy CP's couple?

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142 mai

January 28, 2009 at 5:05 PM

love ur recaps
i didn't realize that noise was his string popping for a while, i thought it was a gunshot, lol
it's just great though, of course if he plays his violin in the snow the string will pop
my tailpiece exploded once because it was too cold and someone moved it

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143 Sere

February 15, 2009 at 5:51 AM

Hmm-mm, I gotta admit that after watching the first two eps, I was really disappointed (me? I'm a BIG Handan fan) but in this ep I managed to forget -at least in few scenes- that I was watching a remake...I managed not to compare BBF to HYD, which hopefully will happen more and more often (*crosses fingers*). I mean, the more BBF diverges from HYD, the better, imho. It's not like I don't like BBF, cos I do, but it certainly feels like everything is sort of "forced" when the similarities are way too many.

Anyway, one of my fave scenes is when Jun Pyo tries to force a kiss on Jan di. Great chemistry there and for once Gu Hye-sun wasn't overracting (at first I thought she was irritating. Or rather, all the qualities that should've made Jan-di adorable and charming turned out to be a little bit grating. Thankfully she's toning her acting down!). And the scene at the club was rather sweet, imho. Wohoo

Lee Min-ho was such a pleasant surprise! He's really, really good!

"Oy, this scene is painfully awkward at points. If the earlier Jun-pyo & Jan-di argument was an example of great, intense chemistry, here we have an example of… well, uncomfortable non-chemistry."

Oh thank God. I thought the only one who thought that!

Also? Word on Jeon Ki-sang! I couldn't agree more

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144

February 23, 2009 at 7:03 PM

did anyone recocgnize Junpyo was reading about Obama
in the Wall Street Journal? heeheeh.

the swimming pool scene was hilarious.
i was literally choking on my own spit. xD

& didn't this same director direct My Girl?
that's one of my all time faves.

i hope in doesn't go downhill from here on though.
& i'm really hoping for a good ending unlike Witch Yoo Hee. argghh.

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145 Jacqueline Jones

March 6, 2009 at 5:14 AM

Seriously cool! "Get lost!" thought that Ji Hoo liked Jan di

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146 yoochunlove

March 7, 2009 at 7:25 AM

@Shrimp: Thank you!!! I'm starting to get really annoyed by the lily person's comments.

@lily: if you hate it so much, then why watch it? if it's that bad, people will eventually stop watching and hate it just as much as you do without you trying so hard to convince everyone like your life depends on it.

for those who hate BOF so much, do you honestly want this series to be EXACTLY like the Japanese version, and for the actors to play the characters EXACTLY like the manga or Japanese drama? Then what's the point of re-making in the first place? I honestly wouldn't want to see the exact same thing as I saw in Meteor Garden. And in my opinion, BOF is much better than Meteor Garden, acting wise and storyline wise. I can't comment about the Japanese drama or manga either because I don't really bother reading or watching it. But for the sake of people who've never heard of the storyline before, cut BOF some slack!

STOP comparing for goodness' sake! Ugh...

On a lighter note, Lee Min-ho's making me love him the more I watch him! :D

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147 lily

March 10, 2009 at 7:54 AM

@Yoochunlove and other BOF fangirls...

You may drool on LMH and other F4 look as much as you want but one sentence comes when I saw episode 1 and two "KOREAN MESSED HYD". That's all ! It's a fact ! At least MG kept HYD spirit and The F4 have chemistry and true friendship and the lead actors didn't look they forced their acting.
Have you any argument any argument to prove me the contrary (even javabean shows every weeks how this drama is simply a rushed, flawed bad executed drama) ?
Otherwise I propose you to read the manga and wath HYD japan.

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148 pinksoysauce

April 2, 2009 at 8:04 PM

Hi! I love your recaps - they're great! However, I noticed a mistake...Instead of “But you’re the first girl the Almighty Jun-pyo has acknowledged", shouldn't it be Jihoo?

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149 azi_abby

April 16, 2009 at 5:29 AM

hey...javabeans....
i luv ur recap... finally i found what i'm looking for...
this series was awsome....
thanks guyz...

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150 w9

May 20, 2009 at 11:39 PM

lily-

seriously. i think you are just too bias at the point of thinking that HYD is better than BOF. They have their own style and they added in different points of views that differ from the original manga. So? It is awesome! It has a good combination of meteor garden and HYD okie?

If you really hate BOF that much, den dun watch! Lee Min Ho is AWESOME as the character Jun pyo :D and whats wrong with u??? saying the first two episodes are KOREAN MESSED HYD!

Its not MESSED UP OR whatever, i think this 6.5 Billion production is SPLENDID and one of the remake of the HYD manga.
I agree with YoonChun that it will be really boring if every version follows the manga TOTALLY!

and PLEASE this production is an absolute success as you can see from the results! =|

you are making me really pissed off with ur comments.

BOF ROCKS!

btw, i am a great lover of HYD and Meteor garden and the manga.