carrd by @catgirltu
F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers is an upcoming Thai romantic series, based on the Japanese manga Boys Over Flowers by Yoko Kamio. Produced by GMMTV, it is the first Southeast Asian live-action adaptation of the manga series, and the sixth overall. It will be directed by Patha Thongpan, and co-produced by Parbdee Taweesuk.
The series was first announced in 2019, with the cast confirmed by the mid of 2020. The expected release date is by the end of 2021.
About Boys Over Flowers
Boys Over Flowers (Japanese: Hana Yori Dango) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoko Kamio. Published by Shueisha, it ran from 1992 until 2003, with a total of 241 chapters and 6 side stories. It has been adapted into an anime, several dramas, films, and musicals.
It tells the story of Makino Tsukushi, a lower-class student who enters the prestigious Eitoku Academy. She clashes with the so-called F4, a popular group composed of the richest and most attractive students. She then finds herself in a love triangle between two F4 members: the reserved Hanazawa Rui, and the hot-tempered Domyoji Tsukasa.
Live-action adaptations
(in chronological order):
Hana Yori Dango (Japan, 1995)Meteor Garden (Taiwan, 2001)Meteor Garden II (Taiwan, 2002)Hana Yori Dango (Japan, 2005)Hana Yori Dango Returns (Japan, 2007)Hana Yori Dango Final (Japan, 2008)Boys Over Flowers (South Korea, 2009)Meteor Garden (Mainland China, 2018)F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers (Thailand, 2021)
Premise
(Note: This premise is based on the manga and the past adaptations, as an official premise/plot for F4 Thailand is not yet released.)
Gorya is a young student from a working class family. As she helps her parents to earn their financial needs, she also enters one of Thailand's most prestigious schools through a scholarship. Unfortunately, Gorya finds it hard to adjust in the rich and privileged nature of her fellow students. Among those wealthy students are elitists who see themselves as condescending, and thus imposing bullying towards anyone. As a lower-class girl with a classist environment, Gorya sees herself stuck between the oppressors and the oppressed.
With an unfazed and an unyielding personality, Gorya clashes with the feared and powerful clique of the school: the F4. Composed of four wealthy heirs named Thyme, Ren, MJ, and Kavin, Gorya eventually sees herself appealing towards the four inheritors; thus forming a bond with them that no one else has expected, especially with the hot-headed leader, Thyme. Unfortunately, her different social class keeps her to see more of what the F4 are really like.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will F4 Thailand air?
Around the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2021. One of the main leads, Bright, mentioned that it will start airing around that time.
Is F4 Thailand the official title?
The official and full title is F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers, but it is better known as simply F4 Thailand.
Are Boys Over Flowers and Meteor Garden the same?
They are based on the same manga, but Meteor Garden (2001) is more of a loose adaptation. The Meteor Garden reboot (2018), on the other hand, combines the plot and elements of the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese adaptations.
Will it be based on Meteor Garden or Boys Over Flowers?
Based on the teaser and trailer released, both Meteor Garden and Boys Over Flowers will be used for its concept, but the specifics are still not provided (setting, plot, etc.). We are still waiting for more information from the producers.
Is it set in high school or college?
There is still no information on the setting of the series.
Why do some people have problems with the plot?
Based on the manga and the past adaptations, the plot contains elements that romanticize bullying.
Then why would people support a series with a problematic plot?
Looking into the bigger picture, there are people who support the series as they are fans of the cast, who themselves are excited for the big production. They also want to see them grow as actors by portraying different characters. It does not mean they support the plot.
But if we are to talk about the plot, the director, Patha Thongpan, said that the issues with bullying are needed to be acknowledged and resolved as the moral of the story. The series will tackle and acknowledge this as a social issue in Thailand, instead of only focusing on the romance between Thyme and Gorya. This means that bullying will most likely not be tolerated and romanticized in this version, unlike how it was treated in the past adaptations.
(It is still one's freedom to support the series or not. Do not impose your preference on someone else, but also do not make people feel invalid if they are excited for the series. There are fans who are giving it a chance, so let them be.)
Send FAQs on curiouscat.qa/tontawans
Trivias
The full title of the series is F4 Thailand: Boys Over FlowersAlthough the title includes Boys Over Flowers, the theme of the poster and title card is similar to Meteor Garden's.F4 stands for Flower FourIn the past adaptations, Makino Tsukushi's (Gorya) names are based on plants. This is because her character is described as "a weed that cannot be brought down." In this adaptation, it is Domyoji Tsukasa who earned a name inspired by a plant, namely Thyme.This is the debut project of Tu Tontawan, Nani Hirunkit, and Dew Jirawat.It took one year for the pre-production (November 2019 until November 2020).It is GMMTV's biggest production for 2021.This is the third acting project together of actors Bright Vachirawit and Win Metawin. They previously starred as the main leads of 2gether: The Series and Still 2gether, which were both released in 2020.This is the first adaptation of Hana Yori Dango from Southeast Asia. The rest are from East Asia (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Mainland China).