Meteor Garden- Season 1 30 Episodes and Meteor Garden II- Season 2 31 episodes
based on the manga, Hana Yori Dango
This is the first live series of "Hana Yori Dango" but set in Taiwan with Chinese character names and a different title. Even with all the variations from the manga, it still followed the same plot and conflicts. Shan Chai is the poor girl that goes up against the F4 and it's ringleader, Dao Ming Si and the rest is history. "Meteor Garden" paved the way for asian dramas in the Philippines back in 2003. I caught the fever as well. It's hard to compare two versions that you've watched at an entirely different time. I cringed now at my unwavering fanaticism to "Meteor Garden" then but it was a first of it's kind that I've seen and I did enjoyed it while it lasted. As I matured (perhaps), one thing that didn't changed is that I still like the opening and closing songs of the first season.
I watched the Chinese version. And the story was different from the other versions. I think,it was loosely based from the manga wherein the major characters and pivotal points were the ones reused. Though it cannot compare with this original version and the Korean and Japanese one, I think, it's still worth a mention. However, the actors are, let us say, a bit below our usual bishounen level. However, I like the main leads and that's enough for me.
ReplyDeleteThe Taiwanese version is still the most realistic in my honest opinion but I love Hana Yori Dango the most! :)