'Hana Yori Dango' (Japanese) VS 'Boys Over Flowers' (Korean)

Ah, Hana Yori Dango. I've mentioned before, but this was my first drama ever. While it isn't my favourite, it's still funny and cute and ridiculous so I often come back and rewatch snippets when I have the time. And then there's Boys Over Flowers - same title, different show - the Korean adaptation of a Japanese classic. Which is better? Well, I know which I prefer, but it's only fair that I balance the positives to the negatives of both before I make a conclusion.

Obviously, there are bound to be differences between drama which were created in different countries. Japanese drama tends to be shorter to episode length and regarding the number of episodes, whilst Korean drama usually have big flashy sets and costumes - those are just a few examples. But the way the shows were handled was incredibly different from the get-go, unlike You're Beautiful and it's Japanese remake Ikemen Desu Ne.

Hana Yori Dango is an incredibly popular story that originated from a manga, which was turned into an anime series, and then adapted into drama in countries all across Asia. Basically, it's a mega hit. It tells the story of Makino Tsukushi (named Geum Jan-di in the Korean version, but I'll call her Tsukushi to avoid too much confusion), a poor student whose family are sweating blood so she can go to the prestigious Eitoku Academy. This is a school where only the elitist kids go, and Tsukushi is an exception, but she feels lonely and out of place surrounded by snobbish people who don't appreciate what they have. Terrorizing this school is the handsome and incredibly wealthy group 'Flower Four' or 'F4', a group of boys who have practically been given free reign to do whatever they please. Tsukushi was tough back in the day and wouldn't have hesitated to teach them a lesson, but now she just wants to graduate quietly. Soon enough, a war between Tsukushi and Domyouji Tsukasa, F4's violent leader, begins... followed by a romance?

The Japanese drama came out in 2005, four years before the Korean adaptation. It's short and sweet at nine episodes for the first season, eleven for the next, and then a finale movie. I actually hated Hana Yori Dango before I found the drama - I couldn't find any likeable qualities in the characters, they were just annoying and dragged down an interesting idea. That's why I like drama adaptations, they can give old characters a brand new face, and that's why I liked this. The story was bizarre - far more so than in the manga - but it's lead by a bunch of capable actors who make their characters lovable. Matsumoto Jun, for example, made the brutish and idiotic Domyouji Tsukasa into a short-tempered but ultimately lonely and loving manchild. He was a perfect choice for the role, and I'm so glad he picked it because if he hadn't he never would have met Inoue Mao, who played Tsukushi with adorable spunk and is now his real fiancee. They had undeniable chemistry, so it was easy enough to put up with the show's shortcomings.

I have more to say about Boys Over Flowers in comparison, because the longer a show is the more you have to either criticise or praise. Boys Over Flowers had to stray far from the original material in cases, because they needed enough story of flesh out twenty-five hour-long episodes. I feel that, had the show been shorter and to the point, it would have been a more pleasant watch. Two-thirds of the show ran on angst - and although Hana Yori Dango was the same way, it didn't drag quite so much. Nevertheless, this isn't to say I was ever really bored whist watching it. The show had enough sparkly settings, trips abroad and classic drama tropes to ensure I was always paying attention - things like that aren't always satsifying, but they certainly made Boys Over Flowers addictive.
  I found it so overdramatic - in that respect, Hana Yori Dango was able to remain fairly grounded. Not only was the story over the top, but the acting. I wanted to punch Gu Hye-sun most of the time, her Tsukushi was just frustrating. However, this version does some things that the other didn't. It went that little bit deeper - at one point, Tsukushi received an injury that would stop her from persuing a career in swimming, and the entire gang came out together to support her. There weren't any scenes like that in Hana Yori Dango, it didn't really honour any characters other than the leads. In Boys Over Flowers, two of the second leads get their own sweet sub-story, which for many was more engaging than the main one.

In conclusion, Hana Yori Dango is clearly the version I prefer, but I wouldn't tell you not to watch 'Boys Over Flowers'. Both versions certainly have their charms. If you'd like a show like 'Boys Over Flowers' but with ten times more heart, try Shining Inheritance, which I'll be posting a review for soon. If you'd prefer another rich-man poor-woman story, you can try Rich Man, Poor Woman, or maybe Secret Garden for a fantasy twist. Just don't watch Heirs.