Here’s the catch.
I just recently finished watching Meteor Garden 2018 on Netflix with 49 episodes & I happened to check/google all the related shows similar to the same (which I always do in every series/movies/etc. I’ve seen) & found out that aside from the Original Taiwan version which I have also seen a few years back, there are also Korean and Japan version!
What is even more exciting is that they have the Korean version on NETFLIX too. And yes, since I’m not over the craze yet, I wanted to know and compare all the versions and write my self-review as usual, so I watched it too and completed in a little more than a week!😂
Not much different from all the versions where the story is based aside from the few little changes they made to blend with the Country, situation, latest craze, culture, and traditions I assume, plus the change of sequences where some happened first on the Taiwan/Chinese version and happened later on the Korean version and vice versas.–> but all in all, it will come to the same happy ending with the Main characters of both versions Dao Ming Si & Dong Shancai and Gu-Jun-Pyo & Geum-Jan-Di ending up together.
So, what I like in here? Of course, I will not mention that again, I developed a huge crush on Lee Min Ho (Gu-Jun-Pyo) because who else will not? –> and my husband Rj kept teasing me about this fine-young-man just like what he did when we were watching MG2018- Dylan Wang 🙂
Anyways, I super like his face especially when he smiles, super giggles!
I liked the fast-paced story. This has only 25 episodes which is shorter from the 49 episodes of Meteor Garden 2018 that some may actually bore the viewers (but not me) because of the sub-plot & additional story to spice up the series.
It’s more realistic and convincing, I think the Meteor Garden 2018 focused more on Cinderella-type Love story, Rom-com type while the Korean version tackles a little bit more of the usual daily living of an ordinary person, not only romance.
Geum-Jan-Di carries the character of an average person, not so beautiful, not so smart, not so gorgeous bod as what they want to establish in the series which made the Love story even more realistic.
In this version, Yoon Ji-hoo (Kim Hyun Joong) has a more significant role in Geum Jan-di’s life than the other versions, more strongly depicted as a romantic companion.
And yeah, it is more likable that they decided to get married after College Graduation (4 years later) rather than to marry immediately without completing their Education.
What I didn’t like? Well, I guess the lack of emotions from the characters to express their sentiments and emotions for all the problems they had to face in their relationship.
This is what I liked about in Meteor Garden 2018 anyways, both Dao Ming Si and Dong Shan Cai had given their best share and extreme efforts in proving how much they loved each other they are willing to defy all odds.
I wanted Geum Jan Di to express her inner feelings and hurt with a lot of emotions during the time Gu Jun Pyo was overseas trying to ignore her but failed to do so.
I also want to see Gu Jun Pyo fights for his love, but then, there’s a lack of emotions in here. That’s what I expect for someone who turned from a selfish bully rich kid to someone who got madly in love with a commoner despite his mom’s strong disapproval but he wasn’t able to articulate this.
Not to mention I’m longing to see the episode in Taiwan and Chinese versions where Dao Ming Si refused to eat for days in return to retaliate to his over domineering mom when she restricted him for going out of the house and later Dong-Shan-Cai went over to see him and how they talked outside his bedroom door with so much love and compassion that Shan Cai stood for days outside their home, days and night, rain and shine to support Dao Ming Si.
But then I love the way he said…“I’m in love with a girl. The first time since I was born and the last until I die.” Yay!
My thoughts about it? I liked them both with different feelings. I like the super cute yet childish ways that will give you romantic excitement to the bones on the Chinese version and I equally like the much more mature characters and outlook in life on the Korean Version.
All in, I love them both. Can’t wait to watch the Japanese version…soon!
Till next time!
Reposted from my Tumblr account- 2018
Chescadventures 