Xue Wenxi makes use of her brilliant mind by copying and writing romance stories. She will do anything to take care of her family and she's doing all this while pretending as a boy. In desperation, she agreed to stand in for scholar's examinations but ended up studying inside the all-boy Yun Shang Academy. Inside the academy, she will become part of the Yun Shang Quartet with smart and honorable Feng Chengjun, money-savvy Yu Lexuan, and problem student Lei Zexin. This is cdrama remake of Sungkyunkwan Scandal kdrama. You can also check out First Impression of episodes 1-3 of IACOHO.
After the third episode, I was telling myself the pacing is really slow but I don't mind. But I spoke too soon. It is unbelievably slow! I've been used to the pacing of 16-episode kdramas where each episode has so much going on. IACOHO has a simpler narrative that you can write what happened for each episode in a sentence or two. Eventually, I accepted it wholeheartedly. That's the only way to enjoy it. For a whole week or so, I lived inside a bubble where time is ticking slowly and all I breathe was IACOHO.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal falls under two flowers (in Levels of Reverse Harem). Only two guys like her but IACOHO is bordering on three flowers. The gray area. And it's all thanks to Yu Lexuan. I don't remember the original character having hallucinations and getting flustered by the heroine. It doesn't make sense though when they plant these lil seeds and it didn't grow into something! The only explanation is that he's like Kyoya in Ouran where he values more their friendship.
The storyline is more or less the same and they have taken liberty with their daily lives. Most of the time, it's hard to follow the political conflict and the key players from the past. It needed more flashback for this. The only difference that is very glaring is the way they jumbled up on how they discovered her identity. If I'm remembering it correctly, in the kdrama Yu Lexuan's character already knew. I was looking forward to Lei Zexin's scenario in Sungkyukwan Scandal since it's one of my favorite scenes and it didn't happen. huhuhu And yeah where are his hiccups?? When they first saw the bed setup I was grinning in anticipation but I didn't really expect on how much crazy bed arrangements will ensue.
Xue Wenxi's always frowning at the start but her character mellowed down the longer she stayed inside the academy. Life was indeed hard for her but the relationships she formed with the trio and other students have given her a happier disposition. It's just so incredulous that she's always behind in either something good or bad. She's one problematic student. In terms of looks, she's too beautiful to pass for a boy like what's new but when she appeared again dressed as a girl I was also enthralled by her like Feng Chengjun.
And for the rest of the quartet. They are all so handsome...is an understatement! Feng Chengjun is so boring in SKK but in the cdrama you are drawn to his naivete. While, Yu Lexuan started off as a minion, you will be eventually won over with his playful, boyish charms. Especially when he was sulking like an adorable kid after being paddled. If they have given him a romance angle I'm sure hell will die with second and third leads syndromes. And lastly,
The biggest surprise is it's now in my all-time top 10 reverse harem/flower boy dramas. My only concern then was it could only go either way. 1. I'll hate it or 2 I'll love it. But I didn't expect it to be on my top 10 and the list in my head hasn't been updated in a while. It's far from being a perfect drama and it had some boring parts but it made me feel so giddily happy again. I haven't had these feelings in a looong time for flower boys. I miss this feeling. The last time was with Hwarang but the storyline was disappointing. I am satisfied with the remake of Sungkyunkwan. I don't think it's fair to compare the two as nothing will ever beat experiencing the story for the first time. But I love it the way I have loved most of the remakes of Meteor Garden and Hana Kimi. My gender bender cup is overflowing now to last me for a while. How did you find the drama? Let me know in the comments.
I'll be posting all-time top 10 dramas blog and video hopefully soon? Please subscribe to Reverse Harem Garden Youtube Channel. Help it reach 200 subs! Buy me a Ko-fi too and get a special shoutout on the next video. :D
Purchase titles/ related to the titles mentioned: (I may earn a small commission if anyone will buy through this)
Sungkyunkwan Scandal- Korean Drama (6 DVD, 20 Episodes) All Region with English Subtitles https://amzn.to/2RAjMTW
Ouran High School Host Club Box Set Manga (Vol. 1-18) https://amzn.to/2Rw658J
Ouran High School Host Club - Complete Series Anime [Blu-ray] https://amzn.to/32Cnz9v
Ouran High School Host Club (Japanese Drama w. English Sub) https://amzn.to/2FHEWwM
Hwarang : The Poet Warrior Youth (K-Drama w. English Sub) https://amzn.to/32DUYkd
Hana Yori Dango 1 / Boys Over Flowers 1 Japanese Drama 3DVD, Digipak Boxset, NTSC All Region https://amzn.to/3hIltJE
Boys Over Flowers https://amzn.to/3iDaQt2
Meteor Garden ( 2018 Chinese TV Series,All Region DVD) https://amzn.to/2FBidTq
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e 2011 (Hana Kimi) / For You In Full Blossom 2011 -Japanese Drama TV Series (3 DVD set, English subtitles) https://amzn.to/3c9vYEw
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