I just finished listening to your commentaries. Thanks so much. It was fun revisiting the first episode with your comments. Hope you keep going with this feature :)

I agreed with anything you two have said. Some scenes in Episode 1 were so redundant. You commented quite a bit on the directing and acting. I'd add that the writing was just plain awful. Geum Jan-di was just badly written to the point where I don't think any actress would be able to make this character like-able. And yes, also agreed that GHS's comedic timing was so off. Overacted too much. Not her best work for sure.

The magic of this show was that it was beautiful to look at. It was one of the first trendy dramas that appealed to various nationalities. Before BBF, most Korean drama exports were more on the serious and melodramatic sides like four seasons dramas, stairways to heaven, etc... Of course, there were a few exceptions like Full House and Coffee Prince, but for the most part the anchor of Hallyu wave was melos. BBF sort of shifted that trend.

Suggestion for future drama commentaries:

-Story of A Man - I haven't seen this one, but have read recaps. JB loved it then, maybe with the passing of time, your view of that show changes.

OR

-Coffee Prince - people seem to love this show. But I can't get into it for some reasons. It aged fairly badly for me. But I would love to hear your comments on why it was so great and popular.

THIS WAS AMAZING.

i so did this. enjoyed your commentary! doing commentary is always fun. ha.

omgosh. goo hyesun is soooo baaad. legitimate secondhand embarassment.

You should totally do Delightful Girl Choon Hyang!!

do city hunter.

i didn't enjoy that one and thought it was way overrated. i'd like to see what you guys and so many others saw in that one, especially because when i try to rewatch the bits and pieces i have seen of it, i still get all, "o..kay? so what's the big deal?"

just don't do ep 1. too much awesome setup for a compelling story in that one that i actually did like. the rest of the show couldn't really meet ep 1's epicness.

ep 2, please!

You know, GF, I think you're giving the drama too much credit, that they included the swimming for the last episode. Also also, you really need to watch Hana Yori Dango. Both seasons together are shorter than this drama, and it's so much better! It was the second Asian drama I ever watched, and it's still one of my favorites.

Suggestions for others: maybe one of the Hong Sisters ones? I think Best Love would lend itself really well. Or one of your other nostalgic favorites, like Sandglass, Story of a Man, or Biscuit Teacher, Star Candy. I saw suggestions for Sungkyunkwan Scandal, which would be good, too. (I recently rewatched it with someone, and it is just as awesome the second time around, except the for the ending). I would say Kim Sam-soon, but I guess that already happened with the recaps. Or Dal-ja's Spring. I also reiterate the idea for mind-screw episodes from classic (and terrible) makjangs.

So much fun! You guys crack me up. I completely support the drinking of scotch while watching BoF. It's funny, because I think the parents pimping her out was actually the reason they were sending her to the school in the manga and all other adaptations except the Japanese one, so I guess this one was more faithful? But HYD is much better at knowing which parts to adapt. Unfortunately, her parents have always been one of the weaker links in the story.

I also remember the disconnect I felt when I saw Jung Ui Chul. He's so much better looking than all the extras, that you could totally tell he was coming back later.

Anyway, this trip down memory lane was really fun! I can't wait for the next MDT.

Gosh, both of you makes me want to watch Hana Yori Dango.

arg. if only i had time to rewatch the entire series with you guys.

I love MST3K and Boys Before Flowers. Thank you so much for doing this. I kind of wish you would do commentary for the whole series because I really liked it and there would be lots of ridiculous things to point out and laugh at, but I don't think that's going to happen. I think if you pick a very well-done or acclaimed drama to do next, this will lose the mocking-MST3K feel and become more like a DVD commentary. I will definitely watch along with the next installment of Mystery Drama Theater 3000, no matter which drama you cover!

I should've watched this show with Scotch too. I could not swallow the bad taste this show left in my mouth since it ruined the high hopes I had for it. The reason for that hope is I am a big supporter of the original mangaka and the Japanese Hana Yori Dango Jdrama.
In hindsight, those feelings would not allow me to really enjoy the insanity of stupidity that BBF was.

Your post motivate me to grab my beer and see if I can finish off the remainder of this drama. Cheers!

Oh, gosh. I watched four years ago when I was 10, and I thought it was a sweet drama.
Now I see it, after watching many dramas, and I cringe.
Was it this... stupid? I didn't even know this was that comedic and light. In my mind, I only remembered the serious bloody bullying parts.

wow, great concept!! Will try to find time to rewatch with you guys soon :) HAHA

Cue...

ALMOST PARADISEEEEE

something something

IN MY LIFEEE

oh this soundtrack that was played like 1001 times

I loved the Japanese version boys over flowers. It's truly one of the best and a classic for all. But man, the Korean version just ruined it for me, except for SoEul! I just couldn't finish it and mind you, it was 1. goo hye sun. im sorry, but i dont understand why people like her so much. 2. love lee minho, hate the hair. 3. both the jap and Korean dramas need to show their actors how to fake play the violin more realistically, if you're gonna fake it. At least fake it right!!!. I know they are quite shallow reasons, sorry to all you big BOF fans but yeah it just irked me. that being said, Matsuda Shota, and Oguri Shun!! <3

Next time, I recommend Episode 2 of City Hunter. Plenty of hot Lee Min Ho and lots of cuteness.

Really enjoyed that, it incited quite the frequent fit of giggles! Cheers!

i couldnt finished watching this till now bcoz I keep on comparing it to the original Jversion :)

Oh god. BBF was my very first kdrama. I remember I kept seeing the ads on mysoju (TW Drama fan before) and I decided to watch for the pretty boys. Is it sad that I remember being super super excited during the first episode 4years ago? I thought the intro was the shit, and I rewatched it like 3 times lol. I went through all 25 episodes in 3days and suffered a range of emotions (lots of crying and a serious nose bleed). Don't judge me lol, I was younggg.

I have to thank BBF for introducing me to viki and Dramabeans though! The fandom was crazyyy. I went through such withdrawal afterwards that the next drama I watched was You're Beautiful on air or a marathon of Deightful Girl Choonyang in late '09.

I actually really liked the OST except for Paradise lol.

I swear there's something wrong with me because GHS acting didn't bother me that much the first time and I was able to go through it again this time. With GF's and JB's commentary reminded me of what a hot mess it was though. I will never be able to rematch the whole series, it'll ruin my initial experience lol.

I hate to say that I'm tempted to watch episode 2 after watching ep 1 with the commentary.

I suggest Queen In Hyun's Man. Mostly because I just finished watching it and I'm going through some withdrawal lol.

OR

Shut Up Flower Boy Band!!!

OR

School 2013 which was mentioned a couple times in this commentary.

All dramas that I loveeee and we're good, healthy, justifiable addictions.

While I will never watch Boys over Flowers ever again ( sorry Lee Min Ho and Kim Bum, it's one of those shows that you watch once and remember with fond memories).
It brought me my two favorites Oppas ever and turned me into a Kdrama addict for life.

Totally loved Hana Yori Dango (Japanese version) so much better, I was already a fan of Shun and Jin but hello Shota Matsuda(where have you been all my life cuz bay-bay you got me into stalker territory over here). Just wanna say that he is brilliant in everything that he does and and and....nosebleed

I laughed so hard I cried a little. I also haven't watched this drama since it aired and haven't felt the need to rewatch it until now, but if you guys MDT'd this whole drama, I would rewatch the whole thing... right now. The hilarity of this drama didn't properly register the first time, but in retrospect every single little detail is beyond out of control. I kind of knew that then, but not in the way where I realized GJP was wearing a giant bow, hahaha.

Oh my god, I wish there were more.

Thank you so much, this was just so awesome to wake up to this morning! BBF was my intro to Kdramas, discovered post call on Netflix trying to find something with subtitles to put me to sleep. This did not work At All, as I was sucked into the unholy bizarro version of Austen! The Outfits! The Music! The Flights from Logic and Reason! LMH!!!
I will always treasure this drama for all its wackitude because it introduced me to a culture I was sadly ignorant of and oblivious to previously. From this exposure, I found Dramabeans' insights and recommendations for really great dramas. I found an unexpected kinship with the stories of country I had never seen. Now I share the KDrama obsession! I really value this website for it's intelligence, humor, and irreverence ... again, thank you!
PS I vote for Coffee Prince

O. M. G.

Memories. :') Boys Before Flowers was my first kdrama ever (apart from Hotelier and Dae Jang Geum which my parents mostly watched) and even back then, I thought it was crap, but I watched it to the end because it was weirdly addicting and because I loved the Yi Jung/Ga Eul couple and also purely because it was pretty and shiny and the cast was hot. AWW, Almost Paradise! How I hated that song. XD Omg, so many memories. This was so fun, thanks for doing it again, jb and gf~ :)

The best part "He's wearing an ascot! not a regular ascot...like a full on bow!"

Boys Over Flowers will always have a special place in my heart because it was my first. On rewatching, I am still struck by the great confusion I felt watching my first Korean drama. I think javabeans and girlfriday know KDramaLand so well that they find boring the parts that explain to those of us who are uninitiated what is going on. I didn't know about cheabols, the importance and competitiveness of schooling, parental obedience, school hazing, taking English names, fashion consciousness, etc.

I struggled to grasp what it was about Boys Over Flowers that so struck me as being a completely foreign world, and I came to the conclusion it is because it is a fairy tale of over the top excessiveness contrast with poverty. As a fairy tale, I don't expect realism. Go right ahead and introduce the 4 boys with glowing back light. Have them ride horses and land in helicopters and drive luxury sports cars. All part of creating this imaginary world.

You laughed about color coding the hair on the boys, but as a first time watcher, I couldn't distinguish Asian faces yet (I have a bit of face blindness plus just hadn't known enough Korean faces to easily identify). Without the different hairstyles and clothes, I would have been even more lost. My ability to identify faces has improved with practice, and I no longer have to keep pausing the video to study the face and try to figure out which character it is. I had to teach myself to stop looking at hair color and eye color and learn to see shape of lips, nose, and eyes. (Plus reading the subtitles didn't give me much time to be looking at the actors' faces.)

You also laughed about the music, but that was one of the elements that drew me to BFF. I had never heard KPop before and I didn't know what they were singing, but I figured when the song was playing and no dialog spoken *something* must be expressed if only I knew the language. The gaps when I could relax from reading the subtitles and just listen to the music and watch the pretty faces was a relief. The songs just emphasized this sweet imaginary upbeat world.

*Sigh* I have seen BFF more than any other KDrama, and the four flower boys are a permanent part of my fantasies, but as a stand alone drama to be judged on it's merits ... I can't say it is my favorite. I can understand why javabeans and girlfriday point out it's flaws.

I remembered this drama. And am glad that I am not the only one that thinks Jandi was so miscast. No chemistry whatsoever with Lee Min Ho. But then, I've fallen inlove with KHJ's character and then the Kim Bum/Kim So Eun pairing so I watch till it ended.

I do know that if ever I will watch the drama again, I will skip forward till I see the ending credits..lol

I watched this because I wanted to comare it to the Taiwanese version,which I loved. It all started when I first read/watched Hana Yori Dango,origal. I got tired mid way. I loved Lee Min Jung's characteq tho.

I started watching dramas after this was on and so never watched. If the negative opinions weren't enough to keep me away there's something else, see the Japanese have a magic wand they wave where they make the most ridiculous stories, seem not ridiculous.

I couldn't watch this show. I was physically incapable of it, as I felt my IQ drop by a hundred each time I tried.
Regardless, I might watch this with your commentary. Haven't downloaded the audio yet, but it's probably floor-rollingly hilarious :D
Idea for next one: please please please do CITY HUNTER :D

That was a really fun way to relive BBF. I think the only way you can watch it is communally, so you can laugh at the ridiculousness of it all (JiHoon casually reclining on the gym gear? In full white suit? I don't even)

I agree with the other commenter who suggested Soulmate - otherwise maybe Delightful Girl Chun-Hyang, or another really good drama that you don't have recaps for.

Thanks for posting this! You should do MDT3K commentary for the final episode of BOF as well.

i have one request to MDT3000, Can you please bring the boys over flowers 2(korean)? Millions of fans are awaiting it for so long..My request to kbs, is not it time that we can have it now? 4 years have really passed as it should be in BOF2.......from INDIA, with hopes..