Hana Yori Dango!

So, a few months ago I stumbled across a Taiwanese drama, called Meteor Garden.
I soon got to know it had been a big hit on Taiwanese televisions, so I decided to try it. Rainie Yang had also gotten a little part in it (she was younger and less expert at the time), and you know how obsessed I am with her.
The drama had good premises, and I was so eager to start it.
However, after a few episodes, I realized:
a) the acting sucked. I'm sorry, but it's true;
b) the clothes were so horrible I couldn't even look at them;
c) the lines were stupid;
d ) I didn't like the actors.

So all these elements were kind of a throw-off, and I gave up on the drama.
However, considering my latest obsession for SS501, I realized Kim Hyun Joong (ex leader of the band) acted in Boys Over Flowers, the Korean version of Meteor Garden.
So I told myself, "Why not?" The plot was already nice, and I'd change actors, so maybe it would be better.
In the mean time I also discovered there was yet another version of it, a Japanese one.
And here you have me unable to decide which one to try first.
My friend Erica, who studies Japanese, adviced me to 'absolutely read Hana Yori Dango', which is the title given to the Japanese version, coming right from the inspiring manga.
I decided to trust her taste and try that one.

..


AWESOME.

Hana Yori Dango stars Inoue Mao and Matsumoto Jun as main characters, respectively Makino Tsukushi and Domyouji Tsukasa. The other names I still have to learn.
Basically, in the drama you have Makino, a poor girl studying at a prestigious school, thanks to her parents' continuous sacrifices. She has a strong sense of justice and doesn't like people comanding her.
Domyouji is the leader of the F4, a worldwide-famous 'group' formed by Domyouji and three other friends of his: Hanazawa Rui, I-can't-remember-your-name Soujiroh and I-can't remember-your-name-at-all. (Hey! They're Japanese. It's hard enough in Chinese, give me a break.)
The F4 are bullies who don't care about anyone or anything, and always get what they want. Since they're probably the richest heirs in all Japan, no one can tell a thing to them. Not even the teachers. So they basically have complete freedom wherever they go.
Well, Makino and Domyouji's fates encounter when he makes fun of her friend, Sakurako, and she can't stand it. She stands up and finally tells Domyouji to back off.
Isn't he surprised at this show of courage, especially coming from a pennyless girl. And especially when she punches him in front of the whole school and then takes off.
Reaction? Domyouji gives her the 'red notice', a red paper signed F4, which basically announces that you're in deep shit. Since the F4 rule on the whole school, you're now at the mercee of everybody, ready to be picked on and assaulted.
When she doesn't back off, Domyouji appeals to more drastic ways to scare Makino. Only everytime she's in serious danger, Hanazawa Rui is always around. He's the 'angel' of the group. (he always dresses in white!) He doesn't like having all this power, he doesn't want it. He's the more reflective and introspective one of the F4. And when Makino needs him, he's always there to help her, even though he clearly states he's not doing for her, but only because he hates that sort of things (the attacks).
That doesn't prevent Makino from developing a huge crush on him.
And Domyouji's reaction? He's jealous. He's slowly coming to admire Makino's strength and courage, and he feels something deep in his chest telling him to know more about her.
So what will happen, with Makino in love with an ngel, and a demon in love with her?
Who will she choose in the end?

I totally loved this drama.
It's composed of two seasons, plus a movie. I'm currently watching the movie.
Season one was really good, and it made you think, at the end, that everything was going to be just fine. Then season two, anyway, was an emotional roller coaster. I kept sighing and being sad while watching the episode. It was so heartbreaking yet so addicting, I couldn't stop watching even though I was mentally suffering.
It ended AMAZINGLY. And maybe they should've stopped there.
The movie I'm watching right now is cool, and I like having more of M. and D., but maybe if they left it at the end of season two it would have been better. That ending was just perfect.
Anyway, I'm gonna see the end of this movie and find out how it all finally ends.

---

I felt like sharing this with you, since I liked it so much.
It took me some time to get used to Japanese, since I usually watch Taiwanese drama, but it was fun. I actually learned something of the language, haha.
So, in case you were thinking about watching HYD (Hana Yori Dango), DO IT DO IT DO IT!
It's awesome.




xx darkwriter