Director: Jeon Ki-sang
Written By: Jeon Ki-sang and Yoon Ji-ryun
Starring: Kyu Hee-sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong
Boys Over Flowers? Ever heard of that? It’s an old Japanese saying that means that one should prefer substance over just a pretty thing like a flower. In this series, it means wanting a boy of substance over one that’s just cute or good looking. The Korean TV show Boys Over Flowers was made based on a Japanese series with the same meaning in Japanese. The series was released in 2009 and has remained popular for over a decade. In India, young fans have raved over the Korean TV series. Especially Lee Min-ho, our hero of the series has reached dizzying heights in popularity in India and around the world, with many, many fan clubs and groups.
The Storyline of Boys Over Flowers:
A girl next door, Geum Jan-di (Koo Hye-sun) is simple, honest and down to earth. She is from a normal ‘commoner’ family. Somehow people notice her innate decency and smartness so she gets the opportunity to study at the exclusive Shinhwa school meant for the rich and elite of Seoul. Her parents insist she make use of the opportunity and she reluctantly joins the school. The high school is dominated by a group of super-elite and wealthy boys, the F4. Their leader is Goo Joon-pyo (Lee Min-ho) who also happens to be the scion of the very powerful and wealthy Shinhwa Group. (the school belongs to the family) Goo Joon-pyo and his three best friends rule the high school as F4.
Geum Jan-di somehow falls into the purview of F4 and after a series of confrontations, she starts to like these elitist boys. She is first drawn to Yoon Ji-hoo (Kim Hyun-joong) and later realizes that Goo Joon-pyo is a good guy too. A love triangle forms between these three. Conflicts from economic status, cultural differences and family makes for a part of the plot line. Spunky Geum Jan-di stands up to the F4 and slowly love forms between their leader and Geum Jan-di. Yoon Ji-hoo hides his love for Jan-di when he realizes that his best friend Joon-pyo loves her. Will wealth and family stand between them? Will their love survive to maturity? These form the rest of the plot.
My Review of Boys Over Flowers:
I almost binge-watched this Tv series! I admit the plot is quite cheesy! Everything about the series is cheesy. BUT, I liked it! It’s strange how this series grows on you unintentionally. I ended up binge-watching the second half as the plot thickens! (haha, how’s that for a cliché!) I got a proper scolding from my husband for watching it till odd hours of the night 😉
The way the series opens with Jan-di cycling along, the way the F4 walk into school with their fur-lined coats. Jan-di’s antiques – every one of these is fun to watch. I laughed out loud at so many things in this series. Jan-di dresses up as a maid in Joon-pyo’s house and how he gets his revenge on her. How Joon-pyo is put in his place when he tries to outsmart Jan-di at school! These are just two of the funny things that happen in this series.
There’s plenty of sentiment once Joon-pyo starts to fall for Jan-di. There’s also the sadness of handsome Ji-hoo that draws you into a sentimental trap. We also get to see the other two F4 boys’ stories as subplots. Don’t forget the sappy background songs that are part of a hit album after this series aired. They add more drama to the plot. On the whole, I can understand why this show became and is still a hit. It’s like the TV series Friends – still popular years after it ended.
Conclusion:
The Tv series Boys Over Friends is pure entertainment. But it does bring up debates about social class, privilege and the abuse of power. Everything is over the top of course – artistic license after all – but there are lessons to be learned here. Conversations on bullying in schools are something that every family should talk about. Abusing a girl in the name of love – is it right? But we do have the same kind of scenarios in our own Indian movies too – does not make it right, does it? How far should we go as parents if we think our child is with an unsuitable partner? When is the right age for love?
All of the above topics are openers for a great conversation between parents and teens. This of course does not take away from the fun of the show! Do watch it, I’m sure you will enjoy it as stress relief if nothing else.
My Ratings: 4/5
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
i haven’t watched k dramas but heard a lot about them. maybe someday ill sit and watch them.
Thanks for reading Cindy. Do watch one to see what the fuss is about – that’s how I started!
I haven’t watched any of Korean dramas.but my friends they keep on telling me about these and recently my friend has told me about this as well.i was planning to watch it and here i found a review.thank u
Do watch it and tell me how you like it.
I always wait for your K drama review. Honestly I started to watch this series but due to some reason did not watch first episode. It will go in my watch list.
Thank you for the encouragement! I am happy you like my reviews. Do watch one and tell me how you like it!
It seems I have to see atleast few episodes of k drama after reading the reviews of many of them.
Never watched K Dramas but your recommendations are good.
Thanks for reading the post!
Liked the suggestions, never thot of having watched it but I might be forced to after reading this
I have not started Korean series yet though I am badgered by my friends to do so. I am going to start now after reading your review. I am into Netflix and Pakistani serials.
Harjeet, do try watching one. Thank you for reading
Isn’t it a very old show? I remember talking about it with some friend about a decade ago. Nevertheless, a great review. Specially for someone like me who hasn’t seen it ever,
Yes it is more than a decade old. I reviewed it because it’s still so popular. I’ve mentioned that in the beginning of my review.
You are quite the K series fan Brinda… I have a friend who is totally into it too… infact kind of obsessed and Lee min ho, the hero of this one is her favourite. I am sure she gets scolded by her husband too for staying up late to watch… hehe. I also must try one I think…
Do try to watch one Kaveri – they are fun to watch.
Though your posts I am making a list of K-Drama’s I will be watching. Keep posting. Great review!
Thank you, Shail for encouraging me. I started enjoying them once I got over having to read subtitles.
I have never watched a K drama. Reading your reviews, I am surely going to give them a shot. Although this one did not appeal to me. I am too old for it.
I thought I was too old too! When my daughter asked me to watch Squid Games I said I didn’t have the patience to read subtitles! Somehow after that, I started watching others and the simplicity of the plots drew me in.
Another interesting recommendation- you are quite the K-drama fan!
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for reading. I am becoming K-drama fan and doing a lot of research about them. 😉
Another interesting K drama recommendation and very well detailed! Will have to check one out soon
Thank you so much for your encouragement! Do check out one, seeing the cultural differences is also interesting.
You sure are into K-dramas, Brinda. I haven’t watched this one either although I do hear it is very popular. Are these dubbed or with subtitles? Reading subtitles are a kill-joy for me when watching a show.
They have subtitles which is why I have not watched them till now. Curiosity made me watch one and now I like to see the cultural differences and the simplicity of the plots.
The plot looks interesting and do does the story, as per your review. “You have created enough smoke to look for the fire” through your detailed review. This is going to my watch list.
I still didn’t get any chance to watch this drama but it seems quite interesting… would like to watch it.
I have friends who can’t stop watching or talking about their fave K-dramas. I’m curious but have somehow managed to keep away because once I’m in, I’m all in. The binge-r in me is raring to go, I see.
Sounds an interesting watch. I’ve been tempted but still haven’t got myself to watch
I’m enjoying your compilation of K-Drama series. I don’t have enough patience to sit through series and movies but I like to stay updated. Your posts are a good guide.
I really enjoy reading your K-Drama reviews
Old is gold, this is so true for this drama. I had heard about this one from almost everyone who enjoys watching the K-dramas. I have not watched it yet but definitely plan to soon 🙂
Hahaha I love your enthusiasm!
Sometimes light no-brainers are good to relax with!