Like most teenagers my age, I binge Netflix like crazy. From true crime shows to nature documentaries, I (shamelessly) spend hours on my couch being completely immersed into whatever I’m watching. However, this summer, I wanted to stray away from my normal Netflix habits and was determined to watch a Chinese drama to improve my listening skills. While scrolling through Netflix, one title caught my eye. It was the 2018 remake of the iconic Taiwanese drama “Meteor Garden”, or “流星花园”. Based on the manga “Boys Over Flowers” by Yoko Kamio, “流星花园” has garnered massive international success with fans adoring this heart-warming, charismatic, and light-hearted show (myself included).
Plot
The story followed an average college student named Dong Shan Cai (董 杉菜) as she navigated life at Mingde University. During her first week at Mingde, Shan Cai successfully caught the eye of the most popular group of students in the whole university: F4. Described as a gang of intelligent, wealthy, and exceptionally handsome men, F4 dominated campus life with their presence. The arrogant leader of F4, Dao Ming Si (道明寺), was accompanied by Hua Ze Lei (花泽类), the sensitive music major, Yan Ximen (彦西门), the tea-expert playboy, and Feng Mei Zuo (冯美作) the mood-maker. After a rather interesting encounter with Dong Shan Cai, Dao Ming Si fell deeply in love with her and relentlessly pursued her. Without spoiling the plot, a roller coaster of events occurred including a high-profile cooking show, a trip to London, and a kidnapping!
Original Music:
One of the aspects I loved most about the show was the soundtrack. All the songs were extremely catchy and beautifully written. To my surprise, I discovered that the majority of songs featured in this drama were performed by the actors themselves! My favorites include “你要的爱”（The Love You Want), 想你想到快疯了(I’m Going Crazy Thinking About You) and 流星雨 (Meteor Shower). All three songs were performed by the members of F4 with the last being performed by the original cast of the 2001 “Meteor Garden”. I listen to these songs on an almost daily basis and I definitely recommend them!
My Overview:
Although the plot is admittedly quite generic and cheesy, I found the acting and soundtrack to be the highlights of the show. The show is quite long (48 episodes around 45 minutes in lengths) and can feel quite repetitive at times. However, the performances from Shen Yue, Dylan Wang, and Darren Chen created an enduring and emotional experience that made me fall in love with the show. If you love sappy rom-coms or are just looking for an exciting show to improve your Mandarin shows, you’ll love this show! (I promise!)
