Hana Yori Dango, Meteor Garden, Boys Over Flowers Visited 2

"That is so codependent!" my mom huffed in exasperation when she saw that I was reacting emphatically to a scene in Boys Over Flowers.

I bit my tongue. BOF is not worth an argument with the Queen Mother.

I wanted to say, "Aren't most love stories codependent?" (Save for A Walk to Remember which was very inspiring and spiritual.) But I kept mum...

Her Western preferences are so full of S-E-X! Betrayal and violence. What makes it any different from my preference?

Though I concede HYD, MG and BOF have more than their fair share of violence and betrayal, the sex thing is not so blatant. In fact, the kissing scenes are tame and decent (save for the episode in MG where DMSz forces his kiss on Shan Cai in the school balcony. His lack of social skills and restraint was made evident in that scene. Either that, or I'm defending the story hahahah! In fact in the manga version, there are "up yours" hand signals and expletives). But for all 25 episodes of the Korean Version, there are only a few kissing scenes which are more sweet than sensual.

Besides, the redemption of Tsukasa/DMSz/Jun Pyo's role were threshed out clearly (from my point of view) that his wrongdoings are forgivable if only as a TV show. I haven't thought about the real life plausibility of his character's evolution.

After all, I'm all in it for the fantastic relief. After all, it is a most girls' codependent dream to be a catalyst for change. After all, in A Walk to Remember, Jamie Sullivan was a catalyst to Landon Carter's improvement.

One more thing that fascinates me about HYD/MG/BOF is that Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi's role as a middle class girl thrown into the world of the spoiled, rotten and rich and overcoming obstacles just to get by is a feat many of us would like to achieve... And of course turning the frog into a prince just by being oneself is the height of that dream. Though Shan Cai and Jan Di's role of being violently oppressed by the F4 is too much for reality, it sadly resonates most women's capacity to suffer. The healthier thing to do is WALK AWAY, but Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi is a radical activist who stands up for her "rights", to the point of putting herself in harm's way. Oh well, that's why it's called fiction. The danger is that impressionable minds might think it's okay to brave it out; in real life it's called being foolhardy (but that calls for another discussion).

Going back to the fantasy, it is every person's dream to be the kind who doesn't give up even in the face of destitution and humiliation. To still have that strength to stand straight, chin up, shoulders back and walk steadily, confident that the world is still a friendly place despite all the hardships. And getting the happy ending - which Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi got in the end, after many twists, turns and tears.

And those back up guys, the rest of the F4. I love saying that the F4 in MG are hunks, while in BOF they're cuties. But nonetheless their characters which are seemingly shallow eventually revealed men whose loyalties are towards the righteous (Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi) - to the point of them being there for the T/S/JD at every whiff of trouble - is again, another favorite fantasy. In real life, we know that people only help to a point, because they have their own lives to lead; besides nobody likes to be anyone's charity case. But the genius of Yoko Kamio lies in that Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi was never portrayed thus. At the same time the F4 were not portrayed as guys who keep tabs, what is given is a gift; and it is implied that after all things in each characters' lives are taken care of, they attend to our protagonist.

Is this codependent or not? LOL...

Oh my, count on it, there's a part 3 of this...Jaa Ne for now!

Hana Yori Dango, Meteor Garden, Boys Over Flowers Visited

Jerry Yan is texting me through his Sony Ericsson cellphone. Tonight, he's saying, "Miss U".

Fantasies are for free!

Jerry Yan has been the leading man of my dreams since I went crazy over Meteor Garden back in 2003.

Before Meteor Garden, I've always been a snob in my viewing preferences; always rationalizing my choices of shows and leisure time activities etc., and mostly, if not always patronizing Western shows and literature.

It irritated me when the buzz at work was all about Dau Ming Sz and Sancai. Who the hell were they? Finally, I decided to watch an episode to see what the frenzy was all about.

Before I knew it, I was hooked to the max. After work, I would cozy up at the couch in front of the TV and cross the threshold between reality and paradise.

After the show ended, many months later, I ordered the VCD set online and would use MG as my background noise while doing paper work.

***

I think I have viewed the two seasons of Meteor Garden five times over and still get that giddy feeling while watching and even after.

***

Last year, a friend of mine introduced me to Itazura Na Kiss, an anime series, and I was sucked into the colorful world of Irie-kun and Kotoko. The same friend recommended Hana Yori Dango the anime series.

After 6 years of Meteor Garden, I found myself entrenched in Yoko Kamio's drama.

So much so that one of my bestfriends sent me the first four books of the original manga (which are part of my prized possessions).

***

And now, the same co-workers who were crazy over Meteor Garden are busy updating on Gu Jun Pyo, Geum Jan Di and Ji Hoo...

What's a girl to do? I joined the band wagon, and am hooked.

***

The Real Star of the show I must say is Yoko Kamio. She has retold the Cinderella and Little Mermaid stories in the modern day Asian setting. Who could resist a fairy tale?

It is every girl's dream. Unabashedly, it is mine.

And of course, in a jaded, heartbroken era, happy endings are best sellers. If it eludes us in the ground we tread, we get the vicarious victory through the TV screen for that moment in time.

Sayonara for now, xie xie ni... Jaa Ne! Till my next musing...

Thoughts on My Favorite Asian Dramas

I started watching Meteor Garden at the middle part of the second season. I was smitten by its story and having to wait till the next day to find out what happens added to the excitement.

I was amazed at how intricately these drama writers (the playwrights and Ms. Yoko Kamio herself) could've come up with almost real situations. I was just disappointed with the last episode of MG2 because it was cut abruptly. I wanted more ShanCai <3 Dau Ming Sz action - a pulling together of strings - but then, it was assumed by many viewers that a season 3 would realize. In vain.

Nonetheless, MG became my staple background noise whenever doing paper work. It helps greatly that the Taiwanese F4 are hunks!

Last year, a friend of mine recommended Itazura Na Kiss the anime series. That was something else! I'd use every chance I get to watch episode after episode, and to my secret chagrin, was even reduced to tears by paper and pencil (CGI, of course!) and the late Tada Kaoru's amazing imagination... though she went ahead before her story was finished, the ones who concluded INK did a good job in giving Irie Kun and Kotoko their happy ending.

I was glad this year to have watched Boys Over Flowers, the Korean version. It gave more depth to the Taiwanese version. Same characters, same plot. But the differences in versions give one and the same story more depth and detail.

An now, here I am loving Fated to Love You. I have to admit, the practical, level-headed part of me says that the way Ji Cun Xi and Chen Xin Yi met is bull. But then again, the escapist is more than willing to enter the story. I also have to add, it is not a series for children (unlike BOF which could at least pass, though PG is still needed due to violence) - and even too whimsical for impressionable minds. But heck! I watch it alone, so I indulge myself - - - -

Indeed many thanks to the authors of these stories, who have painstakingly followed their passions of bringing their imagination to celluloid life. These stories are wonderful in themselves, for all their merits and imperfections, but hey, they're part of us now.

At the end of the day though, I think about how, though dreamy and exciting these TV series are, they are merely 1 dimensional copies of reality. Like my younger cousin wisely said (and I bet she's not the only one who realizes this) - the best telenovela is our own lives... but hey, some jaded people (wink!) need their prince charming in 24 episodes just to get by.

Long live love stories, though many belong in books and TV... at least some of us can live it vicariously...

Insomnia attack! Despite the heavy medications I am taking due to otitis media, my mind can't find the silence of the night... I don't do well with surprises... Good thing I have my "quiet playlist" which include:

What Should I Do? by Jisun (Boys Over Flowers OST)
Can't Lose You Instrumental (Meteor Garden 2 OST)
Season of Fireworks Instrumental (Meteor Garden 2 OST)
Falling Slowly (Once OST)
God Only Knows (AmEx Commercial Chillout Version) - I couldn't find this version online :( The CD was given to me by a friend
River Flows in You - Yiruma
Rose Garden - (Becoming Jane OST)

I want to sleep so help me God!!!

What Should I Do? Jisun

I gave up my lunchbreak nap to listen to this song and look for What Should I Do? by Jisun - the English translation.

Here are youtube clips and the heart wrenching lyrics of the song.

Spoiler/comparison: This is approximates to Broken Vow of Meteor Garden. Both songs are a trip to a lonely path in heartbreak meadow! Enjoy!!!

You ask me how my day was as if it is same everyday
I say I’m okay but you really don’t know how I feel
Do you think I’ll be okay without you?
Are you okay without me?
The world without you is so hard that I blame myself for still breathing

What should I do? Even now, I live each painful days because of your words
Tell me if this is a bad thing to do
Are you living each day painfully like I am?
You and me

Are we too late? Do we not have a chance?
I still think about you and you might know this
Finally is this it? Are we going to end like this? Is it okay with you?
I don’t think I can do it. The love I find with you, I won’t find it anywhere even if I die

What should I do? If it isn’t you no one else can hold my heart
Please hold me. And you know that even though the whole world tries to
No one can erase your memories. So please hold me

What should I do? Even now, I live each painful days because of your words
Tell me if this is a bad thing to do
Are you living each day painfully like I am?
You and me

Is it too late? Do we not have a chance?
But me, I still think about you, and you might not know.

http://redgeofsanity.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/what-should-i-do-by-jisun-ost-boys-before-flowers/

Weekend First

Jaa Ne! I googled this Japanese expression which is an informal way of telling your friends, "See You!"

Just About Anything, Ne!

During my waking hours, I find myself thinking about different kinds of things: books, situations, my favorite story Hana Yori Dango and its versions, parenthood, aging, friends, money, going to my counselor, anyyyything that catches my fancy.

Right now, I am distributing my energy among chatting with one of my bestfriends (who's abroad), writing this first entry and watching Boys Over Flowers Korean version (my background noise).

Jaa Ne!