Boys Before Flowers: Episode 5
by javabeans
Our trend continues: A couple surprisingly good scenes, and then some really bad ones.
Overall, I thought Episode 5 was a pleasant one — not too challenging but had its fun moments — with lots of gorgeous scenery.
Also, folks, since commenting has been prolific with regards to this drama: Keep it clean and keep it to the point, please! Comments are welcome, positive or negative, but when they veer into flaming or trolling territory, they get deleted. I don’t usually mod comments much but I think I’m going to have to start.
Thanks!
SONG OF THE DAY
Boys Before Flowers OST – “Paradise” by T-MAX, which is the group Kim Joon (Woo-bin) is a member of. [ Download ]
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EPISODE 5 RECAP
Jan-di’s bike is set on fire, while she is assaulted with water balloons and blasted with a fire extinguisher. Seriously, are these Shinhwa kids all sociopaths? Regular bullying and taunting is bad enough, but they seem to be particularly malicious — like in Episode 1, when everyone watched the guy about to commit suicide and found it entertaining.
After being spurned by Jun-pyo and abused by her classmates, Jan-di tries to maintain a fierce exterior but is near her breaking point. She thinks to herself, “Please stop. Help me.” That plea is directed at Ji-hoo, since he’d come to her rescue several times in the past. She knows he can’t save her now, but pleads internally, “Nobody’s coming. But still… please…”
But she is not alone, because she has Jun-pyo! He bursts in on the scene, furiously shoving her tormenters away and beating them up (rather violently, I might add).
Jun-pyo kneels and takes Jan-di into his arms, saying, “I’m sorry.” Picking her up, he walks away from the now-subdued crowd.
Jan-di, thinking of the hotel pictures, tells him, “I didn’t do it, really.” He tells her, “It doesn’t matter. So keep your mouth shut.” She mumbles, “You still don’t believe me, do you?” Jun-pyo, looking upset with himself, says, “I do, I believe you!”
(I’m a little annoyed at how they took this potentially great scene and totally ruined it with ridiculous cheesy music. It’s so tragic and heartbroken, you’d think they both found out they had cancer or something. With 90 days left to live. And are also siblings.)
Back at his mansion, Jun-pyo insists on tending to her wounds himself. When she tries to take over, he asks, “Wanna sit still, or wanna be tied up?” (Why Jun-pyo, you say that like it’s a bad thing.)
Now that she’s safe, they can get back to their mating dance bickering: he reproaches her for not learning from the past and letting herself be bullied, saying she must have the learning ability of an orangutan. They argue some more until he takes a towel to wipe Jan-di’s face, and his heart starts pounding.
Rattled, Jun-pyo shoves the towel in her face and tells her to do it, then walks outside, where he clutches his heart and takes a deep breath. (So. Sweet.)
After tracing the guy in the photos to Oh Min-ji (who masterminded the plan), Yi-jung and Woo-bin now deliver Min-ji to Jun-pyo, along with her kindergarten yearbook. Inside, Min-ji’s picture has been scratched out, which takes them to a kindergarten flashback to explain why Min-ji would have done such a thing:
Cute Little Ji-hoo — wearing all white, of course! — is playing the violin, and faking it just as badly as Grown-up Ji-hoo. Little Yi-jung is playing with clay, and Little Woo-bin is counting his fake money with the board game Life. HA.
But they don’t have anything on Little Jun-pyo, who is OMG so adorable. And also afraid of bugs. Attacked by a buzzing insect, he tries to shoo it away, when Min-ji joins in and swats at the bug with her sketchbook. She assures Jun-pyo that the bug is gone now and looks at him hopefully. He catches a glimpse of the page she’d been drawing, which shows a couple labeled with their names. (She’s supposed to be ugly, which they’ve enhanced with makeup and freckles.)
Offended, Little Jun-pyo throws the sketchbook down and stomps on it. He demands, “How dare an ugly thing like you consider me for a husband?” It’s kind of weird hearing such harsh words come out of the mouth of babes, but I suppose that’s the point; he tells her to get lost, that he will never like her.
Min-ji recounts how that after that day, she was ashamed to be seen. She ended up going to Germany and underwent multiple surgeries and intense pain: “Do you know how I put up with it? That look on your face. The look when you ran away from me like I was some bug or a monster. I haven’t forgotten a moment.”
Jun-pyo has been eyeing Min-ji with cold contempt, but at this, he says, “I don’t remember, but I’m sorry for it.” Min-ji protests, “No! That’s not it. The words I want to hear from you aren’t that you’re sorry!”
Crying now, she approaches Jun-pyo: “Look at me. Aren’t I pretty? I’ve become so pretty. Don’t you want me? I came back for you. This is the moment I’ve been dreaming of. Tell me you want me!”
Coolly, Jun-pyo responds, “I feel sorry for you. Do you know why? You’re still a monster, like you were then. No — you’re worse now. The kid back then still had a good heart.”
(GREAT SCENE. Lee Shi-young as Min-ji is very good, showing how she’s been twisted as a result of the trauma without being over-the-top eeeevil, and the whole exchange is well-played. For those of us who’ve started thinking Jun-pyo is all warm and fuzzy, this is a great reminder that even if he’s not wrong, he can still be so cold as to be cruel. I suppose this means that it’s not as though Jun-pyo is exceptionally cruel to Min-ji when he’s normally so warm; it’s the reverse — he’s exceptionally warm with Jan-di when he’s normally so cold-hearted.)
Jan-di’s been put in a spare room and wears his pajamas. Jun-pyo has taken the liberty of calling her parents (if she went home in her condition, they’d freak out) and throwing away her clothes. She shouts at him for getting rid of perfectly mendable clothing, at which he claps a hand over her mouth and says, “It sounds like you ate the heart of a train.” She corrects his misspoken adage: “It’s a train smokestack!” (He laughs that she’s wrong — you can’t eat a smokestack!)
There’s a moment when he leans over Jan-di, freaking her out, but it turns out he’s not making a pass but grabbing the first aid kit. Again, he tends to her injuries.
By the time he’s done patching her up, Jan-di has fallen asleep. He tucks her in, then leans down and presses a kiss to her forehead.
After he leaves, Jan-di opens her eyes.
In the morning, Jan-di awakens to find the staff at her disposal. Jun-pyo has ordered his butler to find exact replicas of everything that had been thrown away, with the exception of one thing: her bicycle.
Unable to find the exact same model, the butler parades a whole roomful of bicycles out for her appraisal. She tries them out with excitement, but then sees the price tag: 18 million won ($13,000). Her bike was much, much cheaper and very ordinary.
To encourage her to accept the expensive gift, the butler diplomatically asks her to be tolerant of the difference (like it’s doing HIM a favor) because they couldn’t find the exact match.
While Jan-di eats (a lavish, gourmet) breakfast, Jun-pyo pays a visit to Jan-di’s place.
The family is thrilled (and flustered) to receive him, and serve him a very plain breakfast. The foods are common, everyday dishes, but the Almighty Jun-pyo has never eaten anything like it, and he tries them cautiously after inspecting each one quizzically.
At school, the fickle crowd embraces Jan-di again, since (1) Jun-pyo came to her rescue and (2) there’s a new target to gang up on: Min-ji. The Catty Trio (Hateful Threesome? Evil Troika? Wicked Wenches? Vicious Bishes?) crowd Jan-di, faking concern over how much Min-ji hurt her. They rip on Min-ji for her surgeries, saying, “If I looked like her, I would’ve killed myself already.”
Not amused, Jan-di turns to them and points out, “You guys buy whatever you want, but beauty doesn’t count? You’ve all done plastic surgery too, but you mock Min-ji for it? It’s okay for pretty girls to use it to be prettier, but not for an ugly person?”
Jan-di turns to leave as Min-ji steps up quietly, eyes lowered: “I won’t ask you to forgive me.” Jan-di slaps her.
Min-ji adds, “I can’t say I’m sorry either.” Jan-di slaps her again and says she shouldn’t expect to be forgiven.
But when Jan-di comes to her desk, she finds the stuffed sheep there bearing a new message: “Jan-di, thanks. Let’s meet again.” Min-ji sings the song Jan-di once sang to make her feel better, which brings a smile to Jan-di’s face.
Jun-pyo has an announcement to make: Jan-di is now officially his girlfriend. The Gin-Sun-Mi trio collapses in disbelief and Jan-di protests, but she’s ignored while the rest of the students clap and hoot.
Jun-pyo adds, “From now on, I’ll take anything you say or do to Jan-di as an act against me, so don’t mess around.”
And then, Ji-hoo makes his reappearance.
Though everyone’s glad to have him back, this puts Jan-di into a gloomy mood. Ga-eul wonders if she’s over Ji-hoo now that Jun-pyo’s in the picture, which Jan-di denies is the reason for her distress. She worries that something feels different about Ji-hoo.
At home, the entire apartment has been crammed full of new appliances and furniture — courtesy of Jun-pyo. The whole family is ecstatic — they even had to turn some of it away because it wouldn’t fit through their doors — but Jan-di finds this wildly inappropriate.
Too enamored of the extravagance, her parents try to justify it through excuses (i.e., returning it looks bad for Jun-pyo, it would be rude), but she’s not having it.
Jan-di storms into the F4 recreation room, which has a few extra female guests today. She yells at Jun-pyo for ordering new things for her family without even telling her, and he completely misses the point by asking, “Was there something you didn’t like? Tell me and I’ll switch it.” After all, he’s her boyfriend.
She retorts, “Are you like that with all your girlfriends? Did you buy them clothes and cars and swap out all their furniture? In a little while you’ll be getting me a new house too, I bet.”
He says thoughtfully, “Actually, I was going to start with the new house, but Mr. Jung stopped me and told me to do it later since it’s attached to the dry cleaner’s.”
Jan-di reminds him, “I told you that you can’t buy friends, that you bond through your feelings. I don’t know how you were with all your previous girlfriends, but stuff like this pisses me off!”
He answers, “I don’t have any previous girlfriends.” At that, Jan-di’s ire deflates, and she says she can let it go this time — but he’d better watch it!
Looking around, Jan-di seems perturbed to see Ji-hoo flirting with a group of girls, although Yi-jung and Jun-pyo think it’s good to see him acting like a person instead of just sleeping all the time.
Sensing that things with Seo-hyun may have not gone well in Paris, Jan-di asks him when he’s going back. He has no plans to.
Asking whether she’s really dating Jun-pyo, Ji-hoo muses, “Was I too late? I was going to ask you to date me.” Jan-di’s shocked, but he smiles and tells her it was a joke. He suggests, “Then what about dating behind Jun-pyo’s back?” which she again takes for real. He laughs that she’s the same as ever, then says, “I missed you” as he leaves.
Jun-pyo sneaks up on Jan-di on her way to her job, laughing to see how excited she is to find a coin on the ground (which he dropped).
Armed with a mysterious mission, Jun-pyo grabs Jan-di and drags her along on an errand, which doesn’t turn out to be an errand so much as it’s a shopping spree. (To ensure that they have the run of the department store, Jun-pyo sets off a fire alarm, which sends everyone running to evacuate and leaves them alone.) He entrusts the next part of his plan to Yi-jung.
I love how seriously Yi-jung bursts in on the restaurant to get Ga-eul. He tells her to hurry; it’s an emergency. Ga-eul guesses, “Has something happened to Jan-di?” She frets over the possibility of an accident, to which Yi-jung tells her grimly, “If we’re late, you might not get to see her. Hurry!”
So when Jan-di and Ga-eul are driven onto the tarmac of a private runway and deposited at a private jet — where F4 awaits — they’re completely baffled. Jun-pyo announces, “We’re going on a trip.”
Jan-di sputters, no way! But what about her parents? How can she leave so suddenly?
Jun-pyo replies, proud of himself, that he’s already gotten her parents’ permission, and to keep them from worrying, he brought along her best friend, too. (He’s even made allowances for her job, providing a staff of modelesque waitresses to replace the girls, who bring in a wave of new customers.)
Jan-di can’t believe he wouldn’t even ask her first, or find out when she can make time for a trip. Jun-pyo responds, “I wanted to go someplace nice together, all the preparations were made, and it’s not like Korea will be in trouble without you. What’s the problem?”
And then, they’re in New Caledonia. It really is gorgeous.
After arriving at the Shinhwa private resort, the group goes sight-seeing and browsing.
Outside one particular shop, Jan-di spies Ji-hoo taking a look at a potted flower. After he leaves, Jan-di takes a closer look, so the flower girl gives it to her with the instructions: “Give it to your lover.” (The scene is kind of random, but I mention it because I suspect it will come into play later…)
The girls wander by a fortune-teller who is purported to be extremely accurate, and have Jan-di’s palm read. The woman foretells, “I see a man. Your future husband.” Not only that, but he’s here with her: “A soulmate.”
Ga-eul thinks that’s great — that means Jan-di will marry her soulmate. But the woman contradicts her, saying, “Two different men” — Jan-di’s soulmate and husband are not the same man.
The woman finishes with one last bit: “You’re losing something important, as a woman.” The girls wonder what that means, then shriek, their minds jumping to (probably) sex.
And then, Jan-di wakes up. It was all a dream!
Still, it’s creepy and realistic, and with the woman’s last words on her mind, Jan-di panics when Jun-pyo takes her away, jumping to the conclusion that he’s just trying to get her alone to make some moves. Jun-pyo asks Yi-jung to watch after Ga-eul, which is how Yi-jung gets reluctantly stuck with her.
Following their initial encounter, I think Yi-jung has convinced himself he dislikes Ga-eul. He sees her posing goofily and disdains that she’s acting like a corny tourist. Undaunted, Ga-eul suggests taking a hike to the top of a hill, which does not interest Yi-jung in the least.
Ga-eul goes off anyway but shortly thereafter lets out a scream. Yi-jung runs after her, looking around worriedly, when Ga-eul appears and asks, “Aren’t you glad you came up here?”
Ga-eul tells Yi-jung that it’s his punishment for lying and tricking them into coming on the trip, to which Yi-jung says that it wasn’t a complete lie. “It seems like it’s just a matter of time before the two of them get into trouble.” (His wording can mean any kind of trouble, but hints at the, er, hormonally driven variety.)
Ga-eul is immediately concerned: “No!” He laughs at her wild imagination.
Meanwhile, Jun-pyo takes Jan-di along a stretch of deserted beach. During the walk, Jan-di imagines all sorts of wild possibilities and warns Jun-pyo not to indulge in any dark, ulterior motives. Thus she is shocked to see him bringing her to a simple, lovely table set for two.
Jun-pyo tells her she acts tough but is pretty shocked at little things. Jan-di: “This is a little thing?” She marvels that it’s like magic: “Are you a genie?” Jun-pyo’s jealousy flares: “Who the hell is he? Is he better than me?” Jan-di clarifies that she meant the genie from Aladdin, who could do almost everything save three things: He couldn’t kill, raise people from the dead, or make someone fall in love against their will.
The last part seems to get through to Jun-pyo, although he’d previously insisted that people could be bought (and his actions all episode long have been proof of that).
Jun-pyo puts in a phone call to Jan-di’s family, who urge her to have a fun time and not worry about them. Afterward, Jun-pyo sees her subdued reaction and wonders, “Did I do something wrong?” It looks like she’s about to cry.
Jan-di answers, “It’s because it’s so nice here. I wondered when my parents would have a chance to come to a place like this. My family would love to see it.” Jun-pyo: “Let’s come with them. We can come back with your family.”
And then, Jun-pyo walks toward the water, unbuttoning his shirt, and announces it’s time to get down to business.
COMMENTS
I think one (perhaps unexpected) problem that may be emerging is that Lee Min-ho is so appealing as Jun-pyo that it kind of renders the love triangle moot. It also makes you want to yell at Jan-di for being drawn toward Ji-hoo at all when he has about one-tenth the charisma of Jun-pyo — plus there’s also the added part about how it’s so obvious that Jun-pyo totally adores her. Sure, his courtship is a little clumsy, and I think she was justified hating him through the first two episodes, but now he’s shown himself to be downright sweet (at times).
On the other hand, the “money can’t buy love” issue is something I’m looking forward to seeing unfold, because it usually gets glossed over in the Cinderella dramas. And as much as Jun-pyo’s actions are well-intentioned (and aww-inducing for us viewers), he really is just throwing money at Jan-di, proud of showing her what his name and wealth can give her. Naturally, she’s impressed at the resort (and the plane, and the clothes), but I don’t think she even sees Jun-pyo for his money; she just sees him as a guy.
RELATED POSTS
- Kim So-eun earns praise for double duty
- Behind the scenes with Kim Bum in New Caledonia
- Flower boy power
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 4
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 3
- Overnight star Lee Min-ho awash in CF offers
- Cast members featured on Boys Before Flowers OST
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 2
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 1
Tags: Boys Before Flowers, Gu Hye-sun, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Joon, Lee Min-ho
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151 chunsa7
January 20, 2009 at 11:51 AM
i totally agree with you...though i think kim hyun joong (jihoo) is absolutely adorable from seeing him being married to hwangbo on "we got married" i'm so totally rooting for junpyo, he grew on me so fast despite his terrible hairdo...i was so excited in ep4 when he straightened it...why oh why did the curls have to come back?!?!?!
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152 risa
January 20, 2009 at 12:02 PM
thanks for the recap. thoroughly enjoying the drama aside from the exasperating fear-of-sex undertone. i'm growing to like the pretty boys and the bold curly hair look. like someone before said, i'm looking forward to the potential relationship between ga-eul and yi-jung.
who knew rich korean kids could be so snarky. yuck.
thanks! :)
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153 lily
January 20, 2009 at 12:21 PM
LOL it reminds me Bollywood system. Kind of "Leave your brain at home and enjoy the movie".
Sorry if I hurt someone
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154 le
January 20, 2009 at 1:08 PM
i agree with your comments, i just want to yell at the screen to Jandi "like Junpyo he is so sweet" & to Jihoo "go back to Paris or where ever you were before". in the 1st 2 eps Jihoo's character was nice but cold which made him funny, but then ep 3 & 4 he just seemed confusing, like when he was dancing with both girls, shouldn't we have felt that he was in love with Han Chae Young's character? it just seemed so robotic & his facial expressions are mostly blank.
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155 elmo
January 20, 2009 at 1:21 PM
actually i think i'd have to say my fave character is Jan Di's little bro, SO CUTE HAHAHA :D
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156 jacq
January 20, 2009 at 1:24 PM
I've watched both the taiwanese & japanese versions and I might be the only one, but I liked the taiwanese version (Meteor Garden I) a lot better.
This Korean version I am enjoying it so far. Lee Min Ho is absolutely the perfect actor for JP (Domyoji), totally awesome, full of charisma. Jandi, arhh...she is ok, if she doesn't over-acts and tries SOO hard to be cute. It gets annoying. JH/Rui is such an important part of the drama but in this version the actor is not channelling the right vibe. I hope he improves soon.
Kim Bum is wonderful as expected. I like to see more of him.
Can't wait to see JP's sister comes into the picture!
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157 lalala
January 20, 2009 at 1:27 PM
the music does seem like it belongs to an ahjumma drama. lol
and jandi's dress she wore to the island... o___O
(the music director and costume designer need to be shot on site)
other than that i liked the episode.
dramabeans i luv ur recaps,
99% of the time i completely agree
with how u critique the dramas.
yay!
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158 AnitaLotti
January 20, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Goo Jun Pyo's and Jan Di's acting is very, very good. Jun Pyos just never realizes that Jan Di likes him best when he is doing something nice and not when he is throwing money around.
Just love the scene with Jun Pyo at Jan Di's parents. He acts as if he were visiting the aborigines and studying their alien behaviour, surroundings and the food with (sceptical) interest.
I cannot accept Jan Di going on a shopping spree with Goo Jun Pyo without putting up at least a little fight. So accepting household appliances is not o.k. but accepting warderobe items is? And is the flunky at the mall not the one following Mrs. President a.k.a. MOM around? He seems to be putting his job on the line for not telling on Jun Pyo and Jan Di.
Do so agree to Ji Hoo being either presented badly by the director - or which I assume - the actor being a total miscast.
Especially like the Yi-Jung and Ga Eul scenes as well and I hope they will develop into a nice subplot.
I think of the Korean version of HYD as the Paris Hilton version: Blink of Swarovsky crystals (o.k. let's say diamonds), beautiful to look at, sometimes dumb and out of line, sometimes surpringsly intelligent even shrewd (I mean IQ 120), always stylish and en vogue (and of course generating lots of money from the fans). But I think when watching the whole series in three years time with some emotional distance I will probably not find it as compelling any more because there is no real flow, the scenes sometimes seem to be tacked together in an artificial way. While I still love watching Taiwan HYD because of the emotinal development of the characters and Japan HYD because of its wit.
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159 andiee
January 20, 2009 at 2:18 PM
First, I came stumbling upon this website about a year ago looking for QSS (my fav foreign drama) recaps, and found all this other stuff! Hard to believe that this is my first comment but thanks, javabeans.
The only excuse I am giving for this drama's (glaring) imperfections is that the story was originally written for a cartoon (manga, whatever). It IS exaggerated and goofy and giddy and over-the-top and it is easy to get carried away. I would have personally preferred if they toned it down to do a drama, though. Some of the actors are rolling with the cartoony-ness and coming across as lively and just real enough, others, not so much.
Ga Eul is brilliant. Joon Pyo - ditto. Ji Hoo...it pains me to look at him. Some people were just not meant for the camera. Jan Di's character feels forced and most of the time it makes me feel really uncomfortable, but I do like her much better than in Ep 1.
I really didn't like the location change for this episode. I felt like they needed to kill some time and mix up the emotions, but were failing with what they had, so they threw this whole vacation thing in. That floating resort also made it look like they were in some sci fi movie. I guess we'll see what they give us have tonight. I can't say I'm not a little apprehensive...
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160
January 20, 2009 at 2:29 PM
@19
the part where Doumyouji gets beat up like others have said, is a part of a different plotline in the story and is actually one of the turning points in the Makino/Doumyouji relationship so I was really dissappointed that the jdrama didn't show it in that aspect and instead made it into sakurako's henchmen. I really hope that the kdrama includes it (except I can't remember at the moment when in the manga this happened so its possible plot wise they may exclude this scene). The taiwanese version included it and even with the bad acting you can feel these two get closer through this scene so I really hope that they somehow incorporate it into the kdrama version.
@ 159
I completely agree with you. I felt the TW version followed the manga most closely so you can really feel the emotional development between the characters esp, Rui/Makino/Doumyouji unfortunately the acting was pretty bad at points making it hard to watch. The JDrama, because of the 9 episodes, was funny but didn't have the emotional oomph of the TW and manga versions. The Kdrama I think is refreshing and maybe because I have already seen the other two, I like that they are getting to the point quickly but I do miss the development of the characters that the other two did and the kdrama left out. I was never a Rui fan although I do wish that the kdrama would make the love triangle more believable but with Lee Min Ho's charisma you really see no contest between the two especially since they are speeding through the beginning part of the story you don't really get to see why at the beginning Rui was much more appealing than Doumyouji.
even with its faults I really like the kdrama as much as the previous versions if just to see Yi Jung/ Ga Eul and JunPyo/ JanDi because they are just entertaining to watch.
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161 Luv
January 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Thank you so much for the recap.
Luv reading your comments :).
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162 Lucille
January 20, 2009 at 2:34 PM
I have to say that i agree with Daniel's comment. I can totally understand why JD would choose JH over JP. JH's acting aside, what girl would pick the overbearing, forceful, ignorant guy over the compassionate, understanding, intelligent guy. JH is the one who saves her everytime she is in trouble, he is the one who comforts her (in his own weird way) whenever she is sad or hurt, and it doesn' t help that he is handsome. JP on the other hand is the one who set the entire school on her, the one who doesn't listen when she talks (he just forces his will and desires on her), and he drags her around like she is his pet. He didn't ask her if she wanted to be his girlfrield. He just told everyone she was his girlfriend. He didn't ask her if she wanted to go the trip or on their first day. He demaned it and expected her to follow his command. To the viewer it is cute, but as a real girl it is annoying.
Also, JD and JP are sorta alike. They both are quick to anger and they both are rather bossy. What girls wants to be with a guy just like herself. All day long she has to contend with taking care of her family financially, being bullied at school, helping out in the dry cleaner, and remeber she is still a student. She still has to study, take exams, and swim. At the end of the day, do you want a boyfriend with whom you are always fighting or do you want to be able to relax and let your guard down? It must be tiring trying to be strong all day. Eventhough we all know the ending to this story, at this point in the drama if I was her I would choose JD (rui) character over JP (domyoji).
Finally, I would also like to say that I can understand why she is not trying to hard to fight off JP advances. One because he just won't listen and two because she needs a break. Without his endorsement, she is back to where she started. I know that that is not a very popular thought, but she is human. Everyone slips every once in a while and have purely selfish moments.
Javabeans thanks for the recaps. Can't wait for episode 6.
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163 plurals
January 20, 2009 at 3:37 PM
I think part of the reason more people are starting to comment here is because certain places are too heavy on one side, almost blindingly unwelcoming to any sorts of criticism to their pet drama. You otoh obviously love this drama despite its very visible and sometimes jarring flaws which you also whole-heartedly admit. I think that's why this place is sort of a nice place for people to voice out their opinion because your readership usually reflect a somewhat similar mindset in approaching a drama.
That said, I totally quit watching in the middle of the 4th episode. Not because I hated it, just that the whole thing got so boring that i got distracted by some random discussion elsewhere. After ignoring the tab with BBF for hours I just didn't feel like goin back to it, so i closed that tab and went straight here to read your recap of the rest of that episode. I must say, I share almost all your sentiments on where this drama is lacking although I'm less generous towards certain parts of this drama.
Usually recaps with this much flail-able caps and funny commentary would make me want to watch a drama but in this case, your recaps are more entertaining than the actual thing (btw those cute JanDi caps are very much cute and appreciated). However your enthusiasm on certain scenes didn't manage to draw me back to the drama. Maybe it's because i'm too familiar with the whole plot and the other aspects of the drama doesn't quite make up for that lack of suspense. I would've continued watching for LMH but am not a big enough fan of just that one guy that i'd swallow the rest, flaws and all. Essentialy this drama was for me, LMH's one man show. He needs someone he could really play off of for this to not turn very stale very quickly. So far JiHoo=not up to par, JanDi=underdeveloped (imho).
I (like everyone else) blame the producers/directors. I think the fact that they casted Hyunjoong in JiHoo's role was a huge sign at the start that they were not up for making this drama work 100%. Very gimmicky (idol popstar with the right looks but unproven acting chops) move and unfitting for a character who is supposed to hold much more weight than HJ is currently capable of.
I guess I'm just mourning the loss of potential there (hugely successful franchise!, remake by teh great korean drama makerz!!1!) and basically using this place to whine. lol sorry.
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164 esme
January 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM
does jandi really have to yell and scream all the time. it's kind of (well, very) annoying.
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165 striker
January 20, 2009 at 4:32 PM
How the production dared to show and portray Oh Min Ji when she was young and supposely ugly with this little girl, i mean it's not fair for this young little girl to be labelled as ugly, how people can do this.
Even in the japan version they were smart enough for allowed this.
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166 lily
January 20, 2009 at 4:43 PM
I am not kidding I think they should cast TOP and Gdragon (of Big Bang) as Domyoji and rUI
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167 min ho!!!!
January 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
it is quite obvious that there is no chemistry with jandi and ji hoo as well as the actors playing them.
there is SO much chem btw jun pyo and jandi tho.
i just can't imagine someone being so sweet. and yes, he is throwing money at her but it's the only way he knows how. for now.
lee min ho is so hot!
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168 Jessica
January 20, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Hello Dramabeans, I ran into your website while searching for "boys before flowers reviews" & bookmarked your site the second I read your first recap. Your witty humor and accurate episode summaries are the best I've ever found. I haven't been able to see this episode yet (NEED subs) but your synopisis managed to quench my thirst for this drama. I can say that without even watching this episode, from what I read, I prefer the Taiwanese version for theTsukushi beat down. The scene where Doumyouji rescues her, tends to her wounds and kisses her (and she corresponds to the kiss) was one of my favorite "awwwww" scenes. I believe the Koreans toned it down a little too much. Im looking forward to the other beat down where Doumyouji rescues her by not fighting back and she shields him with her body from the chair. Haven't read the whole manga. But did watch the Anime (loved it), Taiwanese Drama (loved it) & Japanese Drama (liked it). For now, gotta say Im prefering the Taiwanese version. They gave it a more drama/adult tone. I've got high hopes for the korean version. I hope they don't disappoint. Cause I've always said Koreans know how to do Romance in Dramas. Once again Dramabeans, you have a lovely site here. Im gonna go read your Painter of the Wind Reviews.....I want to see if you can get me to watch it =P
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169 jacq
January 20, 2009 at 5:21 PM
I loved the Taiwanese version too. There are a lot of parts that pulled on my heartstrings. So far this korean drama is pretty good too. Hope it will just get better & better! Lee Min Ho is HANDSOME!
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170 Miki
January 20, 2009 at 5:40 PM
@ Alice- Since Javabeans wants to keep it short and I have a rambling tendency, I have to say: I agree with EVERYTHING you've said. I DID watch the Jdrama, and am a huge HYD-the-manga fan as well, so I thought perhaps I was being unfair. But you're in correlation with all my thoughts so perhaps I'm not being as nitpicky. lol.
I do have to say that I am not enjoying the drama as much. The side characters, I agree, but it's still not reaching kdrama expectation for me, even with Jun Pyo/Domyouji's Beastliness (or lack thereof) aside. Perhaps I'm too hung up comparing Jandi with the very very likable jdrama lead? Or for that matter, ALL the likable kdrama leads I've known?
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171 jippo
January 20, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Episodes 5 & 6 could have been smushed into just one, no?
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172 Britney
January 20, 2009 at 7:30 PM
I just wanted to say that i accidently stumbled upon this show while being bored on youtube, and I LOVE IT!!!
I'm actually from Canada, and not Korean or Asian or anything, it was my first time discovering a Korean drama, and I am HOOKED! (Looove the fact that there are english subs, otherwise i would be totally lost)
The boys are extremely good looking, (which is the reason why i began watching in the first place lol) The story is super cute, the acting i find pretty good and entertaining, no complaints really.
Except for the kissing/hugging scenes....LAME!!! lol
And i also wanted to comment that as an outsider looking in (I had not idea that there was a Japanese, or comic book version or anything etc. etc.) I truly feel the show is great!! I'm glad i didn't know about the other versions because I have a clear canvas in front of me instead of comparing all the versions, and like i said, as an outsider looking in, the show has everything from good funny/dramatic story line, to good looking actors, to just being entertaining period.
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173 Garcon
January 21, 2009 at 1:34 AM
I agree with Plurals...I know there are a lot of better actors in Korea than Min ho and Hyun joong....feel sad for those who weren't chosen but have so much to offer more than looks
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174 plurals
January 21, 2009 at 2:55 AM
whoopsie
-deleted-
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175 backstage
January 21, 2009 at 4:45 AM
tis fun!!!
luuvs it!
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176 lady kier
January 21, 2009 at 5:31 AM
i really love it!!!
fun
entertaining
sweet
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177 lily
January 21, 2009 at 9:27 AM
It sucks. really. Too superficial, bad acted, Too much
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178 LDJ
January 21, 2009 at 4:05 PM
For some reason it seems as if the Ji Hoon (I always want to say Rui) role in this drama is drastically different. i remember in the beginning they mentioned that Ji Hoon had autism, so maybe they are playing up that aspect whereas Rui was just a quiet shy guy. Maybe Ji Hoon is supposed to have serious issues about opening up to people. Now I don't know if they did this because of Kim Hyun Joong's acting, or if his expressionless faces are supposed to match the directions he was given. I see Jan DI rescuing him more than he is rescuing her, as opposed to HYD where Rui was a total prince charming, riding up in a white car and all.
I actually like the new portrayal of Ji hoon, it makes it diffrent from all the other adaptations. I have to agree though Jun Pyo really isn't that mean, but it makes his character more real. He's more like a bratty kid in love who doesn't know what to do.
I vote for the Vicious Bishes amd I miss Sakurako's crazy eyes.
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179 Jen
January 22, 2009 at 2:45 AM
OMG! soo great. I know that GaEul and YiJung will be together at the end of the series! I reckon that LMH looks better with his hair straight
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180 Marie
January 22, 2009 at 9:04 AM
I told myself I'll watch this drama objectively and not compare it to previous interpretations. However after watching this episode I'm a little disappointed that this version is taking a safe road, same as the Japanese HYD, and not really showing the darker sides of Doumiouji's/Jun Pyo's character or the physical intimacy between Tsukushi/Jan Di and Doumiouji/Jun Pyo.
Doumiouji is truly hateful in the beginning and you want Tsukushi to end up with Rui; there is real tension in their triangle. In this version you have to wonder why would she even consider Rui.
Meteor Garden is probably the closest we'll ever get to seeing the violence/rage Doumiouji is capable of. Maybe it's because I'm a huge fan of the manga that I keep wanting more. It's all just ... too cute.
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181 lily
January 23, 2009 at 6:48 AM
Marie I don't understand. Do you mean in Japanese HYD they didn't show the darker side of Domyoji?????????? If yes (what is funny)I think even BOF lovers will tell you you are ABSOLUTELY "WRONG!!"
Did you really watched HYD?? I don't think soo or you are biased to MG. So I will understand you
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182 STella
January 24, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Thanks for the recap, javabeans!
Oh gosh..I just realized that GHS resembles Rainie Yang. They have a tendency, in certain scenes, to walk forward in the same way: pouting, with the head stuck out in front. The "prowling" look. No wonder it was so unattractive.
Anyway...
@ Striker: Seriously, the same thing was going through my mind. Having a little girl play the "ugly" girl is so unethical. But at least she wasn't really that ugly. I guess Asian people really don't like freckles.
I like how the magazine reads "Borbes" instead of Forbes...They could have called it "Money Money" or some random name which isn't copyrighted.
Jan-di is very rude to her parents. Confucian values? Although the parents are supposed to be silly and all that, this is excessive. Jan-di should be one of those stereotypical drama moms who hit their children with whatever is on hand.
Also, I was wondering if Jan-di actually went to school before she was drafted to Shinhwa. I don't know how the Korean school system works, so was it the end of the semester or something? Or did she just go?
I think Jun-pyo and Jan-di really suit each other just because of the way Jun-pyo can actually control the over-violent and over-loud Jan-di. But I doubt how any relationship would actually work, seeing that everything is done without the other's permission or even knowledge. The gf announcement. The furniture. And Jan-di forgives Jun-pyo so easily after the hotel incident. He doesn't even apologize.
The soundtrack reminds me of food.
"Stand by me,
while I'm buying clothes.
Watch over this!
I'm not wearing this!"
The scenery in New Caledonia is very pretty. Well, onward to episode 6.
Sorry, I'm being very picky today. But so much of this episode is very annoying.
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183 reverie
January 24, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Jewel_L : yes, they missed the important part where Tsukasa said he likes Tsukushi for the first time (in his mansion, when he's taking care of her wound)
Many people ask why Tsukasa like Tsukushi in this forum.
If you read the manga, it's very clear that beside she's the first girls who stood up and fight back. Tsukushi character is very loveable. She speaks her mind (a bit too loud sometimes) but she has manner, she;s cute and fashionble (her clothes were simple yet adorable). And in a conversation with Rui, he stated the things that he likes about her: though her live was hard, she never complain about it, she also smile/laugh and cry wholeheartedly. She made them (not just Doumyouji or Rui, I thin all F4 in general), rethink of what live really is.....
She also taught them friendship (after she came, F4 befriend many others...let other be in their circle...like Yuki, Kazuya, Sakurako, Amon, Amakura ect). ~~ my list will go on and on....better if you read the manga yourself.
Oh....blooper (a prove that I've been watching these more than twice LOL)....
GaEul outfit....when she depart and arrived in New Caledonia......
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184 Lucille
January 25, 2009 at 8:25 AM
STella @ 184. I too am a little annoyed by the fact that he doesn't realize that almost everything that happens to her is his fault. That the people around him respond to his emotions and moods, and that she does forgive him easily for everything.
However, having said that, I must also say that that arrogance is what I like about Domiyoji. He doesn't apologize for anything. He just charges ahead and deals with the fall out later if he feel like it. Maybe that is what makes him a great leader. The ability to see what he wants and take it. The ability to make the hard and tough decision. Let's face it. If he wasn't so single minded he would never get Makino, and they would never win over his mother.
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185 Anonymous
January 25, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I really feel that the Korean BoF is character-assassinating the Makino character. I am not familiar with the manga, so maybe she really is that annoying in the beginning of the comic series, but Inoue Mao did such a great job in showing Makino to be tough and wise and loveable, while Jandi is such a moron here, I really don't feel she is worthy of the amazing change that she initiates in the Domyoji character. If LMH was less awesome, the difference between the two characters would be less noticeable, but really I feel Jun-pyo is so much more awesome than Jandi here and has a lot less to do to be "worthy" of her. Makino in the Japanese HYD, on the other hand, was totally a catch because only she was capable of putting the F4 in their places. Domyoji totally met his match in her, and the coming of age of his character was really quite lovely to watch (Matsujun is a terrific actor, you've got to admit).
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186 lily
January 25, 2009 at 1:07 PM
ANONYMOUS YOU TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH!!! Indeed Matsujun really expressed Domyoji character very well, what some people tend to forget.
I feel like you especially when Jun Pyo took care of Jan-di at epi 5. I mean she did not stop to shout like a spoiled child (maybe she is afraid her parent might worry) while Jun Pyo was cold, calm, mature, nice that I wondered "is that really HYD or Goong??". I mean at first why he loves Jan-Di??
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187 sweetmochi
January 27, 2009 at 1:21 AM
"The Catty Trio (Hateful Threesome? Evil Troika? Wicked Wenches? Vicious Bishes?)" lolz. i think all of these names fit. tee hee.
i agree though.
i've basically fallen for jun pyo already, irregardless of any comparisons to HYD. its true. you're supposed to gradually fall for him as it progresses and root for the "rui" character in the beginning. i'm sorry but ji hoo just doesn't do it for me. not when he's up against jun pyo.
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188 Suhir
January 27, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Dramabeans you are completely right in your assesment of the love triangle. It doesn;t make a lick of sense and its why BOF is only enjoyable to watch in the beginning. After that is an exercise in frustration at the Makino/Jandi character. This is the inherent problem with making a live action version of the manga. In the manga Domi is a horrible molesting, slapping guy who is really really mean and violent. It makes her dislike of him more reasonable. Unfortunately a live action version of the manga HAS to tone down Domi. Look at how people reacted to the quasi almost rape scene in Que Sera Sera. That scene in QSS is very similar to the manga version of the scene where the tarty trio show him the tape and he tries to kiss her. They wisely toned down the scene to just an attempted kiss. It's HORRIBLE in the manga. Unfortunately the whole story line of the show falls apart without Domi's horribleness. It makes Jandi look wishy washy and stupid. To be fair in the manga I thought Makino was wishy washy and stupid fairly early on. But not this early!
I am enjoying these early episodes because I know (since they are following the manga very closely) pretty soon I will dispise Jandi and the show will lose a lot of it's charm for me. The producers in toning down the Domi character are pretty much garunteeing that I will be deeply frustrated by it looks like episode 10. I was hoping to make it too 13 or 14. I can only hope that they decide to deviate from the manga storyline more
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189
January 29, 2009 at 6:32 PM
jian di and jun pyo forever!!
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190 lalala
February 8, 2009 at 3:47 AM
"you’d think they both found out they had cancer or something. With 90 days left to live. And are also siblings."
hehe ^^; sounds like '90 days loving time' with kang ji hwan lol <3
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191 i
February 17, 2009 at 12:24 AM
OMG I LOVE LEE MIN HO (insert fangirlish squeal) and idk why but i love the song that comes out of the sheep (when jan di sang it though). does anyone happen to know if its like a korean children's song or something? i wanna learn it <33
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192 polip
February 22, 2009 at 5:59 AM
hi everyone =D
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193 :)
March 16, 2009 at 11:55 AM
I love reading your reviews! .. just had to point out that this comment:
"Cute Little Ji-hoo — wearing all white, of course! — is playing the violin, and faking it just as badly as Grown-up Ji-hoo. Little Yi-jung is playing with clay, and Little Woo-bin is counting his fake money with the board game Life. HA.
But they don’t have anything on Little Jun-pyo, who is OMG so adorable. And also afraid of bugs. Attacked by a buzzing insect, he tries to shoo it away..."
was wonderful! and I couldn't agree more! haha :)
....
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194 irugnotmis
April 8, 2009 at 11:03 PM
"he really is just throwing money at Jan-di, proud of showing her what his name and wealth can give her."
hmm! I've never thought of it this way but you're absolutely right!
it's neat to see things in a different way. :)
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195 ria
April 16, 2009 at 12:07 AM
can i please know were to grt all the episodes from???
i loveeeeee dis!!:)
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196
May 10, 2009 at 3:22 AM
i love boys before flowers its really good!!!!!!1
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197 ilyxerica
May 16, 2009 at 5:57 PM
OMG!!! i think yi jung and gaeul make the CUTEST couple :) <33 and this version of bbf total changes my view of the story. In the japanese version and meteor garden i <3 rui and didn't understand why she would choose the him over rui...srsly vic zhou was sooooooooooo hot!
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198 jade evannie anito
May 28, 2009 at 5:00 AM
i like lee min ho talaga kasi bagay na bagay sa kanya ang rule nya. at ang gwapo2x nya talaga!!!!!!! baliw na nga ako sa kanya eh hes so handsome talaga!!!!!!!! mwaaahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
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199 ydal
June 8, 2009 at 4:31 AM
oMG......... jun pyo s so handsome................wehwei.... i love diz... i lyk d way he showed his feelings 4 jan-di..............his doing his bezt 2 make jan_di happy... OMG.... i lyk his character sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.......................AZTIG,,,,, and da smyl of yi-jeong......
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200 sin chae kyoung
June 10, 2009 at 8:18 PM
wow... how amazing this... i haven't word for describe this movie.
i like this i like this so muchhhhhhhhhhh
go go lee min ho
go go lee min ho
you so awesome make me breathless
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