When are we going to see a confrontation between the Japanese F4 and the Korean F4? Or how about put Mao and GHS in a Japanese game show.

Oh geez. I thought the F4 frenzy was over already...

After this - rest!

@Boraah: I remember reading some article where it mentioned how Matsumoto Jun saw BOF and Sho was mentioning something about having a Domyouji festival with all the Korean and Taiwanese Domyoujis together >.<

:DD
Hahha maan.
I missed all the drama that BBF created x]
I'm glad they're showing it at Japan too :D

@Biscuit
MatsuJun FTW! A Domyoji festival would make all the fangirls happy!

I'm glad that the cast is able to meet up again. I expect some fancams!

"When are we going to see a confrontation between the Japanese F4 and the Korean F4?"

Oh it would be a family event!!

Japanese F4 for the 11-20 year old fangirls
Korean F4 for the 35-50 year old fanmoms

By the magic wand of Hallyu, Korea has given Japanese housewives *their* F4. :D

(BTW, I'm not kidding. 35+ make huge and sometimes majority part of the K-pop audience in Japan. If you don't believe me, watch the Suju gig in Osaka . . . )

i really wonder how the japanese audience will take to the korean hana yori dango. i don't think it will be very well-received honestly.
one thing i like about japanese dramas is how well-produced it is, how every little detail was given attention to. i think since this had been going on for long, the japanese audience also prefer it to be that way.
boys over flowers is definitely not that kind of drama. but maybe if the japanese audience is looking for different things, then it will have a chance.
i seriously doubt it though. i mean who would ever prefer substandard productions over productions with better quality (musically-wise, story-wise, execution, direction, etc.)???

http://film-enthusiast.blogspot.com/search/label/Hana%20Yori%20Dango
http://film-enthusiast.blogspot.com/2009/04/boys-over-flowers.html

#6 Sere
I agree, Matsujun is still the best Domyouji. OMG, his eyes, mesmerizing... ahhh. What he lacked in height he made up for his acting. The best portrayal, me thinks.

I missed them but......but not the show......

i wonder how the japanese audience will take to boys over flowers honestly. it's everything their dramas are not (tacky, bad music, etc.).
maybe if they are looking for different things, this drama will have a chance. but whoever preferred substandard productions over productions with better quality (direction, execution, acting, music, etc.)???

http://film-enthusiast.blogspot.com/search/label/Hana%20Yori%20Dango

yaee... for F4... BBF is showing on the KBS USA and why don't they come and promote it here too... at least in LA, they can hold a pretty big event... with lots of fans... including me...:)

waaaaaaaaaaaaaa. how bowt cebu??

Wow...Lee Min Ho just returned from his CF shoot in Thailand and now he's going to go off to Japan! These guys have no rest. =)

Thanks for the update Javabeans!

@Biscuit: Are you SURE they are gonna rest after this? I really doubt it... ;-)

I think us fangirls should start a petition for K-drama to be shown in the US...that way, they HAVE to come here to promote it ^^....man! if F4 actually comes to America, can you belive the chaos? I might take time off from work to contribute to the insanity too.....

BOF writing/directing wasn't solid all the time, but there's a charm to it (a crazy/wacky/cute charm) that managed to hook us line and sinker.....DEFINITELY one of my favorites......there's a hole in my heart now that it's over now, lol......always seems to hurt worse on Mon/Tues

Wow, they need to go to sleep for a while.

I dont know about anyone else, but I giggled when I saw the swooshing hair picture (above). I would love it for the Korean F4 to come to US but I doubt it'd happen. Oh but a girl can dream can't she?

Matsujun the best Domyouji??? What he luck in height he made up for his acting?? I dunno..... have tried to watch the JapHYD to try to see what others have seen that JapHYD is better......but I almost fall asleep watching it! Took me a week to finish just the 9eps of it's Season1!.....whereas if I've been watching the regular 16eps Korean series I could finish it in just one day!....and also can't see that the Japs TV production is better than the Koreans???......been trying to watch Chinese, Taiwanese, Jap and Korean series just to compare them but I must say Korean series is a WAY MUCH BETTER than the others....PLUS the fact that Korean series/movies HAS LOTS of eyecandies!!....now for the J-series....yet to see an eyecandy from it......

"the boy is so exhausted doing CF’s left and right, and now he has to promote the drama in Japan? "

BBF in Korea was just Phase One. If BBF really cracked the youth market in Japan (probably unlikely given that K-dramas are still viewed as "mom entertainment" over there), it would be the single most important Hallyu achievement since Winter Sonata. And in turn, it would be a valve whereby all the K-pop acts stuffed into the soundtrack will be instantly exposed to the kids, which is partially why the OST was conceived as such.

Anyway, after Japan, there's Taiwan, the Phillippines, China, Thailand, etc. This is the Johnny Entertainment business model on an international level, using dramas to promote idols and artists, and vice versa.

"i mean who would ever prefer substandard productions over productions with better quality (musically-wise, story-wise, execution, direction, etc.)"

In terms of budget and scale, nothing like BBF has ever been attempted in a Japanese idol drama. The location shoots, expensive toys, clothes, mansions, bad CGI, etc. BBF is obnoxiously more bling than anything I've ever seen for a teen romance. The total cost of the show was probably near 7.5 billion won or 5.5 million USD. (Iris is going to be 4x as expensive . . . 4 times as good? :D ) It's a parade of eye candy, and I think that will be its main selling point.

I wonder if F4 will visit the Philippines for a press conference as well. Boys Before Flowers will be aired in the Philippines via ABS-CBN sometime in May if I'm not mistaken.

Gu Hye-Sun and Lee Minho are going to visit Taiwan sometime on May. ^^

matsumoto jun is definitely the best domyouji. and the japanese adaptation is by far the best hana yori dango version.

That ought to keep the wave going on nicely, more CF offers, and hey.. mebbe even a banju drama out of it? Put all 3 casts together. Japan, Taiwan and Korean.. hehehe... that might just stop all cross-comparisons althogether .. you think ?? :P

"Put all 3 casts together. Japan, Taiwan and Korean.. hehehe… that might just stop all cross-comparisons althogether .. you think ?"

Let's wait until the Mainland and Filipino HYDs are done. Can't wait to see the high school entrance scene for the F20!! Last Douymouji through the door loses his perm privileges!

I am REALLY curious to know how BBF will be received in Japan. OMG--this is the HOME of HYD and the legacy of HYD is seared into the Japanese psyche (no, seriously, lol). Who will watch or love the show, I wonder. Maybe 10-18 year olds who have not seen HYD? My Japanese friend who watched HYD as a teenager was horrified by BBF and stopped watching after 4-5 episodes. She marveled at the set designs and the obvious high budget production of the show, but she is so loyal to the original three (Mak, Dou, and Rui), she was unwilling to even consider GJP, GHD, and JH as legitimate representations of the characters!!!

I am willing to bet that the show will not fare too well in Japan...

@Orchid : Oh, if they dont rest, you can expect me to be on the plane to Korea with 200 pounds of rope and duck tape and a bed for each F4 (I know what youre thinking and NO I'm not gonna molest them -.- *cough*Iwish*cough* ahem...) and make sure they are tied to the bed and SLEEP (no, there are no side motives.)

-----

Even if BOF won't be expected to do well, we've got Lee Min Ho XD
Hopefully his charisma will be enough to keep the ajummas and perhaps younger ones watching! (One of the main reason I sat through 1 hour of poor directing and even went through Almost Paradiiiiiissssssssseeeeeeee was because of LMH charisma and HJ eyecandy XD)

Oh... that reminds me... I wonder how the fans will react to the Almost Paradise XDDDDDDDDDD

Hmm... I am curious to see how it will be received in Japan. I wish the best of luck to the cast and that their hard-work pays off. I would also hope that the loyal fans of HYD would give this version a shot.

To Lala: Oh believe me Japan has had their fair share of tacky dramas too. Let's not just generalize it to only k-dramas. There were some outstanding ones such as One Litre of Tears but would I say Mei Chan No Shitsuji was an excellent drama? Definitely not. Just as Korea has had decent dramas as well, Winter Sonata anyone? It depends on the acting, direction, and the script. If all three are solid than ANY drama can be a great drama. I wouldn't go as far as to say only Korean dramas produce bad or sub-par dramas and that Japanese dramas are all high-end and quality dramas. There is no logic in that.

BOF wasn't a great drama but I think it was a fun drama to watch, up until the second half. It did get better towards the ending. However I'd say HYD was pretty weak in season one and picked up in season two. So it was the opposite for BOF, in this case. There were also a lot more memorable characters from BOF than say HYD. MG was more faithful to the manga over all (if you don't count season 2), HYD had down the essence, and BOF with the physical aspect. All three had MAJOR weaknesses. Also all three were just mediocre adaptations. None of them were superb or outstanding by any means. I've seen well-done manga adaptations and I'm sorry to say but all three versions failed to do that. But in terms of watching for pure entertainment, then this is the perfect series to watch. In the end it's all hype you know. ;D

I wonder what BOF would have turned out like if we had a different director like Lee Yoon Jung or Hwang In Roe, and of course a much much better script writer as well. I was so disappointed to read an article in which the SW admitted she was a bigger Rui/Ji Hoo fan, hence the excessive scenes we received during the second half of the drama. I thought the story was about Jan-di and then her relationship with Jun-pyo... I mean the SW even wanted KHJ to play Gu Jun-pyo. Oh could you imagine?!

Who knows how it will be received in Japan. I know that since it is a longer series and most j-dramas tend to be shorter, that could be a big factor on how it pans out. However there were much stronger actors in BOF and not just one stand out cast member. Also the eye-candy isn't that bad either. I would hope it does well and that the fans approve. If all else fails-- Lee Min Ho and the other F3 better be prepared to do some fan-service and go shirtless. That might help.

I would hope when it airs in Japan, the background music is edited better. Listening to the netizens and overindulging in Paradise and Lucky was not a wise decision. They should incorporate other unused songs from the 2nd OST.

If fans in Japan are very loyal to the HYD drama and refuse to watch any other version then it's their loss. BOF isn't a masterpiece by any standards but it's just as comparable to HYD. At least Jun-pyo doesn't admit to Jan-di that he loves her after 3 episodes, nor do we get a long-drawn out amnesia arc like in season 2 of MG (but we get the fiancee arc instead). Oh there are flaws, but again I don't get why people hype up the factor that HYD was excellent and the best drama ever. I've seen better j-dramas. HYD is fun but is it amazing? In my opinion-- no not really. If it's amazing then I would conclude because 1) Utada Hikaru sang a song for the soundtrack or 2) because of Oguri Shun or fans of Arashi (Matsumoto Jun). In terms of pacing and quality acting, HYD missed the mark on that.

That's just my two cents on the series over all. I still do have a soft spot for the series and it was a fun ride watching all 3 versions. Nor am I bashing on the series.

@30
i think that hana yori dango (japanese) was an excellent drama. i liked the acting there, and how the story progressed, and other things. basically, i agree with the reviews on the links that @09 lala provided.
i think the japanese drama characterizes quiet elegance (the old rich concept so to speak) while the korean drama characterizes ostentatious gaudy display (the new rich image).
personally, i preferred hyd over bof and mg. i think the acting there was excellent, it's nice that there is chemistry between the cast, and most characters developed over the flow of the story.

i really wonder how boys over flowers would be received in japan. although some japanese dramas are also not good, generally, japanese dramas seemed like more thought were put into it and everything is more subtle. mei-chan no shitsuji, although ostentatious in presentation and sometimes over the top, there's still that subdued air about it.

the length also may be a problem. since most japanese dramas are 9-12 episodes, i wonder if the japanese audience can stick to a drama with 25 episodes (it's even longer than the average 16-episode korean dramas).

personally, i don't think loyal fans of HYD dramas would refuse to watch BOF just because of loyalty. perhaps they'll check it out but we can't expect them to stick to it if they didn't like it. besides, like lala said, they may even watch it if they want something different.

personally, i liked HYD and i can't even begin to explain why,. i just do. perhaps whichever spoke to the audience more and appealed more to the audience, they would always favor that more than the other versions.

i hope there's a good objective analysis of HYD and BOF though (maybe even MG), that would be an interesting read. preferably unbiased comparison. or if the author had a favorite, he or she won't let that get in the way of her analysis.

@ lala:
i really liked the site you linked to in your comments. the reviews are short but detailed. maybe you know of a good blog/author that did a good comparative analysis for BOF and HYD?!

hmmm. maybe javabeans can make one!

@ belleza

somehow, i don't think a high budget correlates to a drama with a good quality. the poor scriptwriting and direction of the drama stood out more. and if it had a huge budget, instead of spending on gaudy bling and accessories that they forced on a poor/average person to wear, they should have just hired better directors, scriptwriters, and musical director.

Let's get off comparing (again) the whole BBF & HYD (maybe MG) thing shall we? >.> Let's just say they'll do well in Japan & the thing I hope for the most is they will get more rest after all these work. All drama have their strengths and weaknesses but I think most people are looking for entertainment and fun to escape their real lives so don't look into it too much.

On a side note, they only go to Asian countries... what about the U.S.? BBF has been showing on KBS World for a while now but they don't come here to promote? :P but I guess the fan base here is still not as big as the one over in Asia... :'[
Fangirls[boys] (normal ones please, not the crazy ones like -cough-youknowwho-cough) should unite!

I read with interest that some here have claimed that HYD is the best among three. Though I have not seen this version yet, I am very curious and will definitely watch this soon just to compare.
I have watched both MG and BOF and thought that BOF is just so so much better than MG in terms of the strength of the characters and how JH's character evolved, as compared to the poor Taiwanese version. The whole BOF story just touched my heart and though the flow is definitely not perfect at all, but overall it left me such a strong impression!
How i wish they will come down to Malaysia!

I am going venture out and say that JAPAN will be honored and flatterred to receive and cheer on the Korean F4 Version. After all it brings saome fame to their Japanese author and top comic storyline....

I would love to see the creative versions of my characters....if I was the Japanese HYDs

I would like to see GHS and LMH working together in CFs and promotions for their BBF....

I am actually quite tired of this "who is the best version" debate - or non-debate, as most such comments are no more than a one-sided praise over one's favourite version. And I detect that favoritism in many cases is "pre-conditioned" by one's fandom even before a new adaptation is aired.

I have seen all three drama versions and would not say which is the best because they each have their own strong and weak points. I started with the TW version, then JP and Korean finally. When each version comes up, I have the same anticipation and they satisfy and disappoint at the same time over different aspects. I love all three of them nonetheless as a viewer.

The HYD story is quintessential a cinderella story with more extreme characters, namely, you have a more strong-willed cinderella, stubborn and persistent prince, and a much more evil queen mom. And please don't get me into the logic talk. Everytime when somebody said BOF is not logic in this and that, I just want to yell out HYD is just not a logical story in the first place. (It'd be nice if they can play it out logically but it is not a big deal for me personally.) My focus would be more on how they convey the essence of the story - the undying love between the DMS/GJP and Makinao/GJD characters. On this count, all three pass the test. This may seem setting the bar too low but what I consider to be the lowest common denominator in measuring any HYD adaptation. Then, it is the other bonuses that count....

The Taiwan version (I mean MG1 not MG2 which is totally a different beast) has got the right F4 look, great raw emotions from the main leads largely and ironically due to their being inexperienced actors, and faithfully follow the manga storyline and plots. I personally think Barbie Hsu's Shen Cai is the best Makino - spunky, generous heart but stubbornly stupid. Vic Zhou as an inexperienced actor somehow channels quite well the dreamy vibe of Lei in a way that Oguri Shun and KHJ do not. (And I like his performance in MG 2 even better.) Jerry Yan has not been (and is still not) a good actor but his DMS is surprisingly effective in portraying a spoilt brat falling in love for the first time and all the stupidities that come with any first love. The pacing of this version is a bit too long and the overall production value is just not as high as the other two. It does however create the first pan-asia craze about the HYD story.

I like the Japanese version for its overall story flow and production value - a very smooth production although not the most faithful adaptation. You just go with their flow as you enjoy the drama. However, its F4 is the worst in terms of the look but it has the prettiest Makino. Do I like MJ's protrayal of DMS? Unfortunately, not. MJ is great in many other dramas but I just don't buy his DMS. Too abrupt in his line delivery that I can't help to think: he's got the sheer arrogance but not the tenderness that this character is meant to have for the love of his life, which I think both JY and Lee Min Ho fare much better. Oguri Shun does a solid job as Rui but I somehow like Vic Zhou's interpretation better. This version has got the best soundtrack, hands down! The one definitive factor that I won't classify it as the best version, at risk of offending all HYD JP Version fans is: to quote what I have read in another forum - it is passionless! The whole drama has a cold and clinical feel that even though you enjoy the story but it doesn't engage or draw you in emotionally to feel their love and passion. I did not drop a single tear for the JP version but teared up a lot for the TW and Korean versions.

I had high hopes for the K version, thinking it will excel with two versions already out there for them to benchmark. It fails me badly on that count but do I enjoy it? I did, tremendously, at least for the first 12 episodes. Those episodes are a magical ride filled with so many fun, great and re-watchable scenes that the problematic editing and story flow fades to the background. The Director and Scriptwriter should be sent to detention camp for punishment for all the flaws in the second half although its ending is the only saving grace. LMH has not just got the look but charisma and acting chop to make his GJP the best DMS. His portrayal is one of layers and complexity, and a more intellegient version than the other two (which could perhaps be the only credit I could give to the SW). How on earth would they shift the focus to KHJ in the second half of the drama is beyond belief! Go Hye Sun does well in emotional scenes but her Jandi is the least impressive among all three versions. She mentioned in an interview that she has difficulty in understanding this character and this may explain why (and probably not her fault but the SW's). KHJ is so pretty that I wish he could act as well but he just can't. His acting in the last two or three episodes has finally caught on but it is too late. The other two F4s are as lovely as the two in TW version. The pairing of GE-YJ shows a lot of promise at the beginning but it's so draggy and twisted that my enthusiam gets fizzled out to indifference. This is afterall the love story of GJP and GJD - any detour to YJH-GJD, GJP-HJK and GE-YJ is a wrong track on the part of PD and SW. I still can't get over what a lost opportunity the K version is when it has all the prerequisites to become the best. Having said all this, it is overall a very enjoyable version and LMH has carried the show almost single-handedly.

Any chance of our having a best version sometime in the future?

The HYD comparisons are fun, but generally I think whatever was your first one will be your favorite. I started on the anime, and then went to the manga, so the anime is actually my favorite (though the last story arc is obviously not canon.)

Having said that, I just want to reiterate that HYD-J doesn't really reflect Japanese dramas anymore than BBF does. There's a whole world of J-drama that exists outside manga adaptations, just like not all K-dramas involve a terminal disease or love contract.

@jen,

"i wonder if the japanese audience can stick to a drama with 25 episodes (it’s even longer than the average 16-episode korean dramas)."

Actually, what's been recently popular in Japan has been the sageuks. But the interesting thing is that NHK's satellite station is the usual feed for Korean dramas. I don't think TBS (who of course produced HYD-J) programs a lot of Korean dramas. But I could be wrong about that.

@anne,

"somehow, i don’t think a high budget correlates to a drama with a good quality."

Oh I agree, and believe me I'm not really making a truly qualitative HYD-J vs. BBF comparison here. The initial audience for BBF in Japan isn't going to be the 11-20 demographic, which was the main one carrying HanaDan in Japan. It's going to be the 35-50 Hallyu female audience, and THEN the 15-25 audience. It might weird people to see housewives squealing over 21 year old boys . . . but that's part of the hallyu market. :D

There have been a lot of Korean articles deconstructing BBF as a culture phenomenon. One of the things they talked about was that, even though the show was controversial for being relatively risque, there was very strong viewership between moms and daughters. The daughters loved the boys and the fairy tale elements. The moms loved the production and the almost total absence of economic uncertainty that the show exuded. Both groups agreed that the story got weaker as it went on (which is why the ratings didn't go much further after East of Eden finished), but the sheer optimism of the show was a welcome tonic to a really troubling time for everybody.

And that's how I enjoyed the show as well. I was telling a friend who was watching the show with me, "it doesn't matter to me if the show is good or not. I just really need a show like this right now." With all the layoffs going around in my company, THIS show with its insane plots and its insane toys and the insane permed dude, THIS was really welcome right now. My thinking is that they will try to market that aspect to the Japanese audience as well. And I think it could work really well.

The only real question is whether BBF can make any inroads into the 15-25 idol market. Traditionally, it's been impenetrable in Japan but for a few Korean artists because, by the time, they come there, they're already too old for the tweener market. If they're singers, they need to be somewhere around 13-19. If they're actors, no older than 22. So, for example, when Goong landed in Japan, both YEH and Jo Ji Hoon were almost out of the ideal window. However, the BBF F4 cast is young enough to pull this off. Then, you consider that this is a familiar story and all that, BBF has a shot. And, if so, the effect would extend beyond the show and enable other Hallyu products to expand in Japan.

But besides Japan, then BBF continues to travel around the rest of Asia intermittingly into next year. This is after all, the golden goose of Asian Idol Drama. The one major caveat is that with a HYD-M coming around later this year, I don't know how they plan to market BBF in the Mainland. But in Taiwan, they'll eat this up, esp. since Lee Min Ho has a likeness to Jerry Yan.

And when it's all over, Hello HYD-M!!! I can't believe they didn't the obvious and cast Han Geng as a F4.

@ epyc

i don't think hana yori dango was "passionless". contrary to what you say, i actually believed more in domyouji and makino's story; i was more invested in them as a couple, and this is because they had great chemistry.

MG was the first hyd i watched and i did find it enjoyable. HYD was the second and i loved it. i prefer this version so i admit i'm kind of biased with it but i can also say objectively that HYD had passion, it's just not as obvious as other dramas (i.e. koreans and taiwanese).

there was passion in the japanese version but it was more subtle. if one is used to obvious displays of affection, then a lot will be lost on the viewer. this is a note for all korean drama fanatics checking out japanese dramas. in terms of romance, everything is more lowkey in japanese dramas.

for example, domyouji used to drag makino around by her hand and it seemed that makino had to keep up. but in a way, it symbolizes that she's following him. so in the second season, after makino spoke to the mom, domyouji took her hand, makino stood her ground and did not get dragged (but essentially did not follow) domyouji. so these little things can get lost in the process if one is used to more obvious displays.

there are definitely not a lot of hugging or kissing. basically, the romance and love is portrayed when the guy leads, and the girl follows (basically agrees to the relationship).

one korean drama that portrays love and romance in a lowkey manner is hello! miss which i absolutely loved but i think it was not well-received in korea. in one scene, dong gyu (lee ji hoon) had to declare in an instant that he will marry su ha (lee da hae) to protect her honor. su ha who was with her was surprised to hear that because they haven't really talked about marriage but when the elders questioned her, she said it's true. so in a quiet way, she got involved in the relationship with dong gyu.

i wish they'd come to HONG KONG!!! hahaha... that does have some probability... if only... (proceeds to day dream)

Oh my goodness... I am here in Tokyo!!

Does anyone know how to attend this fanmeeting?!

"this is a note for all korean drama fanatics checking out japanese dramas. in terms of romance, everything is more lowkey in japanese dramas."

For one thing, it's actually rare to hear the words "I love you" in a Japanese romance. And, if so, it's from the female protoganist and still rare.

It's sometimes said that Japanese housewives love Korean actors not because they're handsome or they're well dressed or they're passionate, though they do recognize things are true and good. It's because Korean actors say "I love you" to the other partner. A lot. Ardently. Devotingly. And when you think about what that means, it's rather sad :(

It's as much about genre as it is cultural. Most Korean trendies are soaps (inside-to-outside.) When writing a soap, the primary focus is on the couple and chemistry, and how to write a story to illuminate that. You may have big themes, but they're substantiated by that chemistry. It is a kind of "personality" or "presence" which illuminates those themes. Love is revealed. Japanese renzokus, even the melodramas, generally aren't soaps. The writing emphasizes a series of situations and how the circumstances influence (or even define) the chemistry of the couple. The performance of the actors is about best expressing those themes through the exposition of the story. If the story is strong and the acting serves the story, the chemistry will feel strong. Outside-to-inside. Love is built.

Neither is necessarily superior. The latter (J-drama renzoku) creates emotional responses through empiricism; the character is sad/happy because what the story thus far is sad/happy. Generally, male viewers view this as more realistic because the proof is in the story. The former (K-drama telenovela) creates emotional responses through empathy and subjective intepretation; the story thus far is sad/happy because the character is sad/happy. Female viewers tend this as more realistic, due to connecting with the presence (i.e. humanity) of the performance. Now, if the drama is great, there's a convergence between these two styles, and it broaches different philosophical perspectives on human experience. Do the times make us (renzoku)? Or do we make the times (telenovela/soap)?

So, with HYD-J and BBF, you're watching mostly the same story and concept reworked into these two different models. In HYD-J, Makino and Doumouji's feelings are built from their circumstances, struggles, pasts; their love is a summation of all before it. You can pinpoint when Makino felt this, when Douymouji felt that, the wheres and whys. In BBF, Jun Pyo and Jandi's emotions drive the story; their love seems to create and react to the challenges around them. You pinpoint the what and hows; what did Jan-di really mean; how could Jung Pyo do that to Jan-di; how much it hurts.

What I loved about HYD-J was that, however dense the story was, there were clean ramps of character development and themes regarding Douymouji. Here was a man who was half monster, half child, to whom nobody said no. And we got to see how his trials with Makino enable him to discover his humanity. What I love about BBF is that, for much of the story, Jung Pyo seems to really not know himself at all, not know his own heart is affected by her. He does things; he just does things (which becomes the plot), and it's like he can't help it. These aren't unfair obstacles; Jan-di just makes him grow up. SHE happened to HIM.

#39 epyc - I agree with you on many of your points, though I can't comment much on MG as I still find it unwatchable. I must first state that BOF was the drama that got me hooked on the HYD story - made me devour the manga and J-HYD while I waited impatiently for new BOF episodes over the last 3 months. With BOF over, I thought I'd give MG another chance. But I couldn't get past the bad acting. And I actually like Barbie a lot - when she's hosting with Dee. Guess I'm just not into Tdramas.

I found HYD rather passionless too - in that there were not many moments which tugged at my heartstrings (though I must add that the last wedding scene in the movie really moved me, much much more than BOF's ending). I do not buy MJ's Domouyoji too, especially when he's acting stupid or awkward, it really grates on me. In comparison, LMH totally won me over with his excellent portrayal of the arrogant but naive GJP - mostly in the first season episodes. He really did carry the show. I remember javabeans mentioning in one of the episode recaps (the first Macau episode with very little of GJP) that that episode suffered due to a lack of LMH because a lot of the intensity is derived from him. But sadly, the show kinda went downhill from there, only picking up at the end.

It will be interesting to see how the Japanese will receive BOF. I know the very kawaii Kim Bum is already very popular here with the girls. Think LMH will appeal more to the OLs. Apparently, they brought forward the M-Net broadcast by a month due to popular demand. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for any signs of BOF fandom here.

Korean BOF was better than Hana Yori Dango. WAYYYY Better...Light years in difference. The Japanese F4s are NOT cute. The leader looks like Michael Jackson with bad bleach skin and bad nose job...seriously. I also found the girl annoying and she can't act. Even with Jan Di's worst acting moments in the show, it will be never be as worse as that. I couldn't finish it no matter how much people tell me how good it is.

KIM BUMMMMMM! Please come to America...*sigh*

Well said Kristin 42 ! Even the ending was BAD !

And I wonder what the word "passion" means for some people. I still ask to BOF fans what they feel when JP and JD kiss and while their various (forgettable) date scenes. All they can say is the usual "fangirl" thing.

For people who disse Jun/Domyoji I wonder how they reacted when LMH/Jun Pyo told at episode 1 "it's because she loves me..." while she (Jan di) was bullied by his schoolmates and after she punched him... I guess it's the directing which did not make sense...

Arrogant ?....Yeah ! especially when he wears uniform like everyone and wants to clean Jan di nose, when he was so understanding with his fiance, when he let Yi Jung Beat him ect...

"What I love about BBF is that, for much of the story, Jung Pyo seems to really not know himself at all, not know his own heart is affected by her"

In fact Arrogant Domyoji knows since the beginning he can't be with another woman expect Makino. He knows who he is ,what he want and he does anything to get it (expect if he deals with a violent situation ). And that's different him and Rui (you hardly khnow what he wants) a lot.

@ (33) anne, Amen. :P

I much preferred HYD to BOF. The Kdrama did have redeeming qualities: KIM BUM<333333, preettyy bling
but it just fell into the usual kdrama pitfalls and absolutely ruined the makino character for me. I think Makino was primarily why I fell in love with HYD. She was headstrong, bold, and responsible. (Jandi on the other hand... you go into a sketchy adult video set and willingly change into costumes for the money.... really now?)
While watching BOF, at first I was outraged, then frustrated, then apathetic, then outraged again... I honestly could not see why Jun Pyo fell in love with JanDi. Can anyone explain this to me?

belleza wrote: "In HYD-J, Makino and Doumouji’s feelings are built from their circumstances, struggles, pasts; their love is a summation of all before it. You can pinpoint when Makino felt this, when Douymouji felt that, the wheres and whys. In BBF, Jun Pyo and Jandi’s emotions drive the story; their love seems to create and react to the challenges around them. You pinpoint the what and hows; what did Jan-di really mean; how could Jung Pyo do that to Jan-di; how much it hurts."

By this definition, doesn't the HYD model just make more LOGICAL SENSE? The audience understands why Makino and Domyouji are meant for each other. Their pasts influenced their characters and Makino and Domyouji complement each other. While they bicker and fight, they need each other. JunPyo and Jandi's love seems almost illogical. Their love is intense but irrational and, most frustrating of all, unbalanced. I didn't feel that Jandi returned JunPyo's love. Now when the BOF model depends so heavily on the emotions of the characters, and if these emotions feel contrived to the viewer, she can't help but feel disconnected. (Maybe this isn't a male vs. female viewer thing but a Thinking vs. Feeling thing? I'm bringing in Meyers-Briggs here.)

/end soapbox

But anyway, a DomyoujiFest, or even better, a BOFfest with all three casts, would be AMAAAAZING. I would buy tickets immediately!! :)

belleza, that was one of the most spot-on interpretations into Japanese gender psyche that I've seen... hats off to you ^^