Hana Yori Dango (Boys over Flowers)

EDIT:

Below is the rational, overall review, below that is the fangirl one.

Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers)
Air Date: 2005
Favourite Aspects: This is my favourite drama ever. I loved everything, the chemistry, the tension, the pace, the actors, brilliant. Also, Domyouji's transformation.
Least Favourite Aspects: Nothing much, actually.
Rating: A+ (5/5)
Overall Review: This is my favourite drama in the world. It's crazy, whacky and draws you in. The drama has a wonderful compelling quality that makes you want to do nothing but sit and watch as well as sigh and cry at the same time. Matsumoto Jun and Inoue have the best on screen chemistry I have ever seen, and Oguri Shun is an excellent Rui character who carries the right amount of ambiguity and mysteriousness. The change that progresses within Matsumoto Jun's character is gradual and believeable, which simply displays his remarkable acting talent and being able to accomplish such a change so smoothly. The last episode especially was beautiful, it wasn't cheesy, it was perfect. One of the best and most fitting love confessions for both their characters. Excellent.

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There’s just something about Asian Dramas that always seems to get me. They’re completely different from Western Dramas. They lack the flair of the Hollywood signature bubble as well as our complications and idiosyncrasies and yet still manage to encapsulate the universality of the human condition. In my opinion, it is quite a good thing that they don’t encompass the “Hollywood” feel, which is why I love them. Asian Dramas are not afraid to be cheesy. Sometimes we need cheesy. Deep down we love cheesy. We revel in it. If we released our inhibitions, we would be living in houses made of macaroni and cheese because we love cheesiness.


One of the best (and major cheesy) Japanese Dramas around is 2005’s Hana Yori Dango (Boys over Flowers) meaning, boys are more important than flowers. This is the live-action drama version of the anime and manga originally written by Kamio Yoko. This series throws cliché at you but damn, those clichés are difficult to recognise – and thus we love them. A friend of mine is a rabid Matsumoto Jun (Domyouji Tsukasa) fan and thus of course she has watched this, along with perhaps everyone else. For three years I’ve been begged, bugged, pushed and prodded to watch this series and all the while I refused. Why? For the simple reason that I do not possess the internet download limit to support an entire series, as well as the fact that watching Dramas consumes a lot of time. But boy, I had totally forgotten that they are so worth it.

This series is excellent. It begins with our very strong, vivacious female protagonist, Makino Tsukushi who happens to be the only “poor” (in fact she’s not that poor, she’s middle class) student who attends Eitoku Gakuen, the richest, most prestigious and most elite high school in Japan. This school is home to the children of politicians, company and business tycoons and movie stars. Everyone arrives to school in a limo, have been (or lived) overseas and sports labels such as Gucci or Chanel with enough gall to flaunt that they bought said “school” paraphernalia in places such as Las Vegas, LA, New York, Paris and London. It’s enough to make a gal feel dejected. But not to be deterred, our strong Tsukushi endures the superficiality of her school, but most especially the F4. The F4, simply put, are the bane of Makino’s existence. Meaning Flower 4, the F4 are the richest sons of Japan and believe it or not – they rule the school. Literally. Because their families are filthy rich, they donate unhealthy sums of money so the faculty allows these students free reign. The F4 is headed by Domyouji Tsukasa, son and heir to the Domyouji financial group, followed by Hanazawa Rui, Mimasaka Akira and Nishikado Soujiroh. These boys don’t have to go to class, (frankly, they’re very intelligent) don’t have to wear a uniform and if you as so much look at them in the wrong way you’re dead. You receive a red notice. Red notices are serious business. You receive one and you are the weed of the school. Everyone (it’s frighteningly mob-like, really) taunts you, teases and harasses you to no end. That is, until one of the F4 – Domyouji usually – beats the living shit out of you.

Makino hates the attitude of the school. They fawn over the F4 relentlessly and are equally relentless to those who receive red notices. She hates the F4. So when viciously standing up for a friend, she receives a red notice. Domyouji Tsukasa is not pleased. A girl has never received a red notice before, and she’s the only girl who doesn’t worship the ground he walks on. Better yet, Makino has punched him in the face. However, in way of Domyouji’s (not to mention the whole school’s) rage, there comes an unlikely knight in shining armour – Hanazawa Rui. He’s cool, he’s calculated and mysterious. She begins to develop a bit of a crush on him.

That’s all and well, but how does Rui feel? Better yet, why is Tsukasa suddenly jealous of his best friend? Makino is the only girl who doesn’t like him, yet why does he suddenly focus his attentions on her?

I hated Domyouji in the beginning and loved Rui.

Now I am in love with Domyouji. He’s absolutely adorable. Rui it seems, is a good friend. But gaaaah Domyouji is so adorable and, well, different.

I was like okay, you’re only going to watch 2 episodes. Which is what I did. Then I couldn’t handle it. I wanted to watch one more, then one more, then one more and the next thing I knew I was getting caught up in this, laughing, crying, shouting. My word, I watched the whole thing. Now I’m desperate for more.

Five out of five stars on this one.
I loved it.