Skip to main content

Drama Review: Boys Before Friends

cast version 1


cast ver. 2
cast ver. 3
cast ver. 4
Zoey is a "commoner" who was able to get in into the prestigious Ellison University through a dance scholarship. But the school is being ran by spoiled, rich guys who call themselves as F4. It's an American series inspired by the Japanese manga, "Hana Yori Dango". This review has been sitting on my drafts ever since the show was placed on hiatus last February. I think it's safe to blog about this now since there's been news of rebooting the series.

I really cringed during the first episode. It feels like a school project taken with a single camera. But after a while I got used to the cheesy acting of some characters, the low-quality audio and terrible shots and editing..everything! But still there were a lot of glaring inconsistencies like continuity in costumes like wearing the same clothes after a few months and magically growing bra straps in the next scene. And there were also unbelievable things they think can get away with like slippery floors and talking with your sister who sounds like she's on the same room. I really think Liam's hairdresser and the douchebag in the club are the same person. But I was willing to overlook on the poor overall production because it still managed to stay fun and interesting. But what really turned me off is the drama behind the drama. They changed the main actress four times and the main actor twice in the span of just six episodes. There were press releases and a sit-down from the producer and cast where they have to explain. It also didn't help that the planned 16-episode series seems really ambitious and with crowdfunding it make it seems fishy. 

Starting from scratch would be the best way to go. By now they would have already learned a lot from  their past experiences and hopefully they'll have a more solid casting. I liked the playboy Chase and the airhead Jessica. Too bad the actress has been dropped and including Piper too. I love the second Liam since he looks younger. The first Liam is a great actor but he seems too Christian Grey-ish for me. But as for Zoey, I can't seem to find Makino in them. Yes, they don't have a license from HYD and it's just inspired but the personalities of the girls are so different from each other. The first girl was too tough, the second was a bit haughty while the third girl was too sweet. Oliver is also underutilized in the series. They should use him more. The only thing I'm really impressed with in the series is that it has a decent soundtrack particularly the main theme by Wordsmith and the ballad by the girl. (Sorry I don't have the details of the song.) It would very hard to pull off a very convincing rich lifestyle on a very limited budget. But since they already started it might as well make it more professionally done. I'm still looking forward for the series to continue. And not waiting for subtitles is a perk too since it's already in English! Oh and  also on a side note, I followed Joseph Almani, the first Liam, in twitter and he followed me back. It's a first time for me to have one of the casts to follow me back. But after he was off the show, I tweeted him:



 

Follow Reverse Harem Garden on: Youtube  |  Facebook  | Twitter  | Instagram 

Please support via  Paypal  or please whitelist  


Comments

  1. can you also write a review with the two finished reverse harem anime,Kamigami no Asobi and Kiniro no Corda Blue sky? i've watched it,but I would love to read your review

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry I'm only halfway done with KnA and a lot of catching up with LCDO. But I promise I'll try to finish it asap. Thanks for your interest with my reviews. <3

      Delete

Post a Comment

Asking "Where I can find this?" will not be published. Thanks!

Also, I do not approve spam comments. :P

Popular posts from this blog

👑 18 Treasures: Favorite Reverse Harem Reads from 2020-2025 (Manga, Manhwa, Webtoons & Novels)

Hello, Wallflowers! This is Ayreesa.  I recently shared my 18 Gems :  reverse harem reads from 2007–2019 that shaped me. Now it’s time for my personal favorite* reverse harem reads from 2020 to present , listed in the order I read them. Personal favorite = Some are problematic. 😅Sorry! Who knows, this might turn into one of your treasured favorites, too! Winning a copy of Mia and the Forbidden Medicine   Report back in 2020 gave me the push to request review copies and start covering licensed titles + licensing news . I’d love to cover even more stories, but both time and budget keep me from reading everything on my list. To make the most of my schedule, I share quick impressions and mini-reviews on Patreon. If you’d like to help me keep exploring new titles, you can support me through Patreon or Ko-fi . E very bit means so much!  This is Part 2 of 4 of Reverse Harem Garden  18th birthday series .  In the Philippines, a debut ball includes dancing with...

🌸 Spring Reverse Harem 2025 🌸 (anime, dramas, manga, manhwa, webtoons and light novels)

Hey there, wallflowers! 🌸 Spring is here, and if you're new to Reverse Harem Garden, I also include kinda and unconfirmed reverse harem titles. And I have actually created five different levels of reverse harem and to know more about it, I highly recommend checking out Levels of Reverse Harem after this.  This list will be updated continuously, so stay tuned. Let me know if I missed anything. Happy watching and reading!  And a few disclaimers: There's a separate spring list on Patreon so make sure to check it out. Follow Reverse Harem Garden's socials.   ( Youtube   |   Facebook   |  Twitter   |  Instagram  |  Tiktok  )   Titles that haven’t been reviewed yet are considered unconfirmed reverse harem. Dates may change, and videos might not be available in all regions. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.   Ko-fi   – If you enjoyed this post, you can support me wi...

All-Time Top Ten Reverse Harem Anime

Hello Wallflowers! I am not going to do a decade in review since I did that already a couple of years ago. but I am loooong overdue for my top 10 anime. I actually made one coincidentally a decade ago but it's a consolidated top 10 of everything from anime, manga and dramas as the titles are fewer back in 2010. I should have done it sooner but it's the nagging feeling that I should finish everything before I can post this. What if there's a hidden gem in my backlog that piled up beginning 2015 (due to pregnancy)?  Fast forward to last year and major life events later, I have finished nine anime in eight months. It felt like forever. And after that, I found out I could actually start the list even without watching the backlog. LOL But the good thing is I was able to finish it and that has put off a lot of guilt feelings from me. I mean who blogs about reverse harem and never watches past the first episode??? Sadly, I don't remember most of the story of the anime...

Light Novel Review: I Reincarnated as Evil Alice so the Only Thing I'm Courting is Death!

I Reincarnated as Evil Alice so the Only Thing I'm Courting is Death~( Akuyaku Alice ni Tensei Shita node, Koi mo Shigoto mo Houki Shimasu!)  Written by Chii Kurusu Art by: Minato Yaguchi Translated by: Emma Schumacker   While carrying out her secret executioner duties Alice bumps her head and realized she is reincarnated into her favorite otome game which won the Deadliest Game of the Year award. Together with the bad boy butler, Jack; sinful man, Leeds; the Tweedle twins and walking death flag, Earl Knightley.  Disclaimer: A digital review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. She knows the ins and outs of the story but the routes are not moving forward just like it goes in the game.   I felt lost at first too with the story and was wandering aimlessly with Alice. And when she decided her purpose, I was not convinced. It is fast-paced it's just that the premise was different in how the story played out.  But those who are patient are rewar...

Anime Review: Kiskis! My Boyfriends are Mint Candies!

Kiskis! My Boyfriend are Mint Candies!- 4 episodes Tang Tang meet guys who each represent a flavor of mint candies. It has a catchy, cute opening. At first there's a different feel on it which I can't pinpoint. And then I realized that they are talking in Chinese! This is my first completed Chinese animation. Well since it was way too easy to finish it. It's 5-minute ONA for 4 episodes. I think this premiered last June 4. But the first Chinese animation I watched is still currently airing (unconfirmed reverse harem), Phantom in the Twilight, which is a collaboration between Japan and China. Oh back to back Chinese reviews after The Flame's Daughter. Is China going to be booming with reverse harem now?

🎍Winter Reverse Harem 2026 🎍(Anime, dramas, manga, manhwa, manhua, webtoons, novels & light novels)

Hello, wallflowers! I hope you had a fun holiday. Sorry this is late but here you go! If you are new to the site, this list will be continuously updated, so check back or follow  Reverse Harem Garden's socials so you won't miss out on anything.   ( Tiktok  ,  Youtube   |   Facebook   |  Twitter   |  Instagram  | Threads  )   There's also a separate list on Patreon for older teens and above lineup.     Disclaimers: Titles that haven’t been reviewed yet are considered unconfirmed reverse harem.  Some are kinda reverse harem and may fall under a different level in  Levels of Reverse Harem .  Dates may change, and videos might not be available in all regions. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.   Ko-fi   – If you enjoyed this post, you can support me with a Ko-fi! Every cup helps keep the garden blooming. ☕ @reverseharemgarden Winter ...

Winter Reverse Harem Dramas 2021 Reviews Part 1: Fling at Convenience Store, No Going Back Romance, Life of Namjoo, 3B No Koibito, Mairunovich & Girl2k

This is the record-breaking number of dramas in one season! Nine reverse harem dramas not including 300 Year-Old Class of 2020 which seems like a promotional show? I can't see myself doing one review at a time. It's going to take me forever so I'll review them in one go. I have yet to finish cdramas: Celestial Authority Academy, In Love With Your Dimples and Unique Lady/Lascivious Lady Season 2. Those are 20+ episodes each.  It's also hard to rank them as they have different formats but I've grouped them according to country of origin. Some are super short whilst others are just right. There were some that I loved but the ending left me sad. And there was one or maybe two that are not a reverse harem! Reverse harem baiting!!! asdfjisojgjrjgk And there's one drama where the heroine didn't choose anyone! Now, now...not gonna tell which drama was that. *evil laugh* kdramas Coincidentally, all these  dramas are   short and didn't disappoint. Okay, there'...

Related Review: Female Managers and All-boy Idol Groups: Idolish 7, B-Project and Top Management

I decided not to write a review of Idolish 7 since it's not a reverse harem. But I'm in the same predicament again after watching B-Project. Then I remembered, I still have another completed kdrama that fits the bill. Okay so might as well post it in one go. Here goes for my review of female managers and all-boy idol groups. It's more of a comparison and contrast of the three. Idolish 7- anime- 17 episodes Tsumugi Takanashi is a new manager that was assigned to handle a newly-formed idol group in her father's company. 

Webtoon Reviews: A Whirlwind Campus Affair, The Kiss Bet, and My Clueless Love Diary

I’m excited to share the mini-impressions and mini-reviews I first posted in the Patreon newsletter making their public debut as part of 18 Treasures : Favorite Reverse Harem Reads of the 2020s~ Manga, Manhwa, Webtoons & Novels of the    Reverse Harem Garden 18th Birthday Series . A Whirlwind Campus Affair  manhwa on Webtoons Rumor has it that Baram Oh had an affair with her married art school professor. It’s been four years since that debacle, and now she’s back at campus to try and enjoy her college life. But she’s not the only thing who’s returned: there’s rumors of a water ghost roaming the halls, and it just might be following her around. June 2, 2023 Baram returns to art school after a scandal. It's addicting, cute, funny, and I finished all season 1 in two days, and I want moooooore! I love the pink 'fits of the Baram Oh. At first, I wasn't sure who to root for as all the guys are on equal footing at the start, but as the story goes along, I know where my heart...

English Otome Mobile Apps

English otome apps are now available in smartphones! The art and the bishies are eye candy and the   premises are engaging. These are all paid apps but they all come with free prologues to tempt your wallets. Finally,  English games that are accessible! I wish I can just pay it in my local currency rather than credit card. "Pirates in Love" is the first title of Voltage Romance Sims. It's available both in itunes and play. You'll have to pay for each characters and epilogues. I really want to play Eduardo! "My Forged Wedding" is also from Voltage and are also available in itunes and play . The prologue doesn't give away the details as to why exactly they need to fake the wedding but check out the video above to have an idea why. I'm gravitating to Saeki (the ladies man) and Yamato (the rude guy). Also, the "uncle" seems to be play-able character in the future. Interesting. ...