When I first heard about Korea adapting the Japanese manga Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, I groaned, especially because it was going to be produced by the K-Pop idol breeding machine, SM Entertainment. Don’t get me wrong, I love many SM artists but I knew they would be using green idols for the drama and as a fan of the Japanese live-action adaption, I couldn’t help but be cynical.
I was especially afraid of how over-the-top the production would be, considering the source material and premise- a cross-dressing girl attending an all-boys high school. But with this teaser, my fears have been eased somewhat. It’s amazing what a good soundtrack could do. The background music brings an edgy but youthful feeling to the drama. We got such short glimpses of the actors so I can’t say anything about the acting, but if we can base the drama on this teaser, it seems the tone will be nicely understated. I was going to check out this drama no matter what because I loved the Japanese version but now I’m actually excited about it. You did your job, teaser.
To the Beautiful You is directed by Jeon Ki Sang who also helmed the other Japanese manga adaption, Boys Over Flowers. That might cause some alarms to go off for some people but I thought the problem with BOF was more with the writing than the directing. So no alarms with me.
The writer is Lee Young Chul who was part of the team for the popular sitcom, High Kick 3: Counterattack of the Short Legs. By all reports, the sitcom was both thoughtful while being comedic, so I’m hoping that the writer will also bring that kind of vibe to this drama.
I love the uniforms!
As for the actors, Sulli of the K-Pop group f(x) plays Mizuki, the cross-dressing girl; Minho of SHINee plays Sano Izumi, the high-jump champion that Mizuki idolizes, and Lee Hyun Woo (God of Study) plays Nakatsu, the soccer player who becomes Mizuki’s best friend at the school. Minho is known to be athletic so the role of a high-jumper won’t be too much of reach, although I have no idea about his acting ability. As for Sulli, no opinion whatsoever. Lee Hyun Woo is an actual actor so I’m happy that he is playing Nakatsu, since Nakatsu is my favorite character. I also like how the Korean version actors actually look like that they could be high-schoolers unlike the Japanese version. But still, this teaser makes me miss Shun, Toma, and Maki.
To the Beautiful You will be a 16-episode drama, premiering August 15 on SBS, after Ghost ends. That week is going to one hell of week with Faith and Arang and the Magistrate also premiering. I guess the we’ll get to watch the drama olympics after the real Olympics ends. Let the games begin!
“Let the games begin!”…now I just need to add “May the odds ever be in your favor!”. hur!
Although seeing as how many dramas are coming out, we may need those odds to you know function on a daily basis. Sleep? Sleep is for the weak! Unlike a lot of others, the Jdrama version of Hana Kimi didn’t do much for me despite my affection for both Shun and Maki. I actually like the crack Tdrama a lot. It’s completely nonsensical and cracktastic and the acting is cringey sometimes but hey, it’s a drama about the plausibility of a girl posing as a boy in an all boy-school so I think crack is the right way to go. I didn’t like how they tone down a lot of things in the Jdrama version since I was expecting neon colored rainbows shooting off with sparkles!
The complete opposite for me. I didn’t try the TW version after I watched the JPN version so I found the TW too OTT. Watched about 15minutes and gave up.
The OTT-ness of the TW version endear itself to me so when I got to the Jdrama which was a lot more laid back, the show become more muted to me which goes to show it’s near impossible to do a good remake b/c Everyone and their Mothers have an opinion of how it should be. That doesn’t seem to stop the Asian drama community to remake everything under the sun though. I will forever side eye BOF for the mangling of HYD protagonist.
God, I’m weak too! I’m old and I swear my bones groan when I move now so all these dramas will not be very good to me bones T_T
I watched the TW version first too and found it sweet. But whenever I watch Japanese remakes, I find that my watching other countries’ versions don’t color my response to the show, because from the beginning, the entire mood of a Japanese drama is different. I actually found the Japanese one way more wacky, in a fun way, of course, but I think for all the fun I’ve had, I haven’t found any remake fully satisfying on a drama level. I don’t expect anything from the Korean one (Dream High 2 had a great teaser too) but the premise for the story and characters is fun, I’ll definitely be tuning in.
Ah so you like the Japanese version too Joonni? Me too…and we both love Nakatsu there! I miss Ikuta Toma already coz he perfectly played Nakatsu’s character and I think no one can surpass that! But when I heard that Lee Hyun Woo will be playing it I think I can reconsider. Goodness! I guess we will be seeing so many hotties this August with Faith, Arang and now this TTBY! Ohhhhh…swoon! 😉
Loved the JPN version. Toma was perfect as Nakatsu, so while I didn’t ship him with Mizuki, I enjoyed all the antics involved in him thinking he was gay. “Ore wa homo janai.” ROFLMAO.
Me too…I didn’t feel like shipping him with Mizuki back then, idk why but all i know is I loved his being quirky and him thinking he was gay was daebak! I think it wasn’t only Nakatsu but everyone had their own crazy antics there. I have so many favorite scenes in the JPN version but the one that I liked the most was when they danced to Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend”. I just find that part so touching not just because of the beautiful choreography but because that depicted their unity as a group even though they are divided into different dorms. The usual cute bickering was lost and instead showed how awesome they are as individuals joined by one common goal.
You like it, too, Joonni?
Well, my absolutely NOT under any circumstances, has turned into a maybe.
It is very stylish, isn’t it? Meaning the color palette.
Loved LHW ever since RoI. And Minho is awfully handsome, isn’t he? But can he act?
I love the color palette too.
Minho has done other acting projects but I have not watched a single one. I have no idea about his acting abilities. All I know is he is athletic.
Actually, I have seen a part of Minho’s acting stunts in Salamander Guru once mainly because of SNSD Taeyeon’s cameo there. Idk if it was because of the character that he was playing but he was kind of stiff in that drama so he really didn’t click for me back then. I’m hoping that he can pull it off this time especially since he will be playing the lead role here in TTBY. Even though Sano’s character is a bit bland for me but since it was Shun Oguri who acted the role in the JPN version, not that I’m being biased but I think he was able to bring justice to it. So I’m crossing my fingers for Minho to do the same.
i’ll say this however many times. how is it that this is the 4th hana kimi, boys over flowers been made 4x, with a sequel by taiwan and a japan, including a movie, but there’s been only one drama adaptation of MARS and cat street? i’d like to see the remakes of those, especially cat street, since the japanese drama was only 6 episodes and they combined the characters of rei and kouichi into one role. would love to see BECK adaptation too, considering i would love to finally hear koyuki’s voice and japan only made a movie. if loveholics and the pd that worked on SUFBB were to be involved w/ that production, i’d be so happy i can die! not that i mind all the remakes bc they’ll all have their different feel but come on already, give me something else!!!
I don’t know anything about cat street or BECK, but more Mars…Perhaps it’s harder to touch a really good drama and do a remake? Also, if you think about the HanaKimi from a production point of view, it’s a good drama to bank on and create a pop culture phenomenon. It’s also pretty easy to translate cross-culturally.
Oh, boy, Joonni! I finally watched Hana Kimi after falling in love with Shun in Rich Man Poor Woman – my new crack drama.
LOVED THAT DORAMA.
I was laughing and replaying scenes, and sighing, and crying, and cheering – and the chemistry between Shun and Maki was off the charts.
Every time the martial arts Dorm kids showed up I LOL’ed. The whole cast was great. Toma could have actually done 16 episodes all by himself and I would have watched it.
Mostly, I loved it because of the quieter moments. Maki owned this drama, despite not looking at all boyish ever. And Shun was so subtle but effective off there to the side falling in love with her. I just don’t see how this young Sulli person can have that much heart, and NOT over act. It is the same director as the one who let GHS do what she did in all those annoying episodes.
It’s really too bad they decided to go all Idol on this one. Such a sweet sweet story of perseverance and selfless love. I’d hate for it to come off like Dream HIgh in the Boys dormatory.
We shall see. I will keep my hopes alive.
Yay! You watched HanaKimi! I loved how cracktastic it was, and just overall fun. Hmm…were there quieter moments? 🙂 I loved the friendship among the boys and the way they gave it all for every competition. It’s why I love Japanese youth (seishun) dramas. They really emphasize the energy and hopefulness of youth and really encourage viewers to live for the moment.
And Shun was so subtle but effective off there to the side falling in love with her ) simply loved those scenes. He was so good, I had a smile on my face every time those two were on screen and he was so shy … not knowing what to do or say, and his hands keep shaking ❤
As much as I love Shun and Maki, I didn’t notice anything about their acting. I payed attention, instead, to Toma who played Nakatsu. He hit all the the comedic points. I thought character-wise, there wasn’t much to do for Shun and Maki.
Scattered Joonni 
“Let the games begin!”…now I just need to add “May the odds ever be in your favor!”. hur!
Although seeing as how many dramas are coming out, we may need those odds to you know function on a daily basis. Sleep? Sleep is for the weak! Unlike a lot of others, the Jdrama version of Hana Kimi didn’t do much for me despite my affection for both Shun and Maki. I actually like the crack Tdrama a lot. It’s completely nonsensical and cracktastic and the acting is cringey sometimes but hey, it’s a drama about the plausibility of a girl posing as a boy in an all boy-school so I think crack is the right way to go. I didn’t like how they tone down a lot of things in the Jdrama version since I was expecting neon colored rainbows shooting off with sparkles!
“Sleep is for the weak!” Alas, I am weak.
The complete opposite for me. I didn’t try the TW version after I watched the JPN version so I found the TW too OTT. Watched about 15minutes and gave up.
The OTT-ness of the TW version endear itself to me so when I got to the Jdrama which was a lot more laid back, the show become more muted to me which goes to show it’s near impossible to do a good remake b/c Everyone and their Mothers have an opinion of how it should be. That doesn’t seem to stop the Asian drama community to remake everything under the sun though. I will forever side eye BOF for the mangling of HYD protagonist.
God, I’m weak too! I’m old and I swear my bones groan when I move now so all these dramas will not be very good to me bones T_T
I watched the TW version first too and found it sweet. But whenever I watch Japanese remakes, I find that my watching other countries’ versions don’t color my response to the show, because from the beginning, the entire mood of a Japanese drama is different. I actually found the Japanese one way more wacky, in a fun way, of course, but I think for all the fun I’ve had, I haven’t found any remake fully satisfying on a drama level. I don’t expect anything from the Korean one (Dream High 2 had a great teaser too) but the premise for the story and characters is fun, I’ll definitely be tuning in.
Ah so you like the Japanese version too Joonni? Me too…and we both love Nakatsu there! I miss Ikuta Toma already coz he perfectly played Nakatsu’s character and I think no one can surpass that! But when I heard that Lee Hyun Woo will be playing it I think I can reconsider. Goodness! I guess we will be seeing so many hotties this August with Faith, Arang and now this TTBY! Ohhhhh…swoon! 😉
Loved the JPN version. Toma was perfect as Nakatsu, so while I didn’t ship him with Mizuki, I enjoyed all the antics involved in him thinking he was gay. “Ore wa homo janai.” ROFLMAO.
Me too…I didn’t feel like shipping him with Mizuki back then, idk why but all i know is I loved his being quirky and him thinking he was gay was daebak! I think it wasn’t only Nakatsu but everyone had their own crazy antics there. I have so many favorite scenes in the JPN version but the one that I liked the most was when they danced to Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend”. I just find that part so touching not just because of the beautiful choreography but because that depicted their unity as a group even though they are divided into different dorms. The usual cute bickering was lost and instead showed how awesome they are as individuals joined by one common goal.
Oh I loved that part. The camaraderie between the boys was beautiful to see.
I loved the first jversion & the tversion so this is exciting!
You like it, too, Joonni?
Well, my absolutely NOT under any circumstances, has turned into a maybe.
It is very stylish, isn’t it? Meaning the color palette.
Loved LHW ever since RoI. And Minho is awfully handsome, isn’t he? But can he act?
I love the color palette too.
Minho has done other acting projects but I have not watched a single one. I have no idea about his acting abilities. All I know is he is athletic.
Actually, I have seen a part of Minho’s acting stunts in Salamander Guru once mainly because of SNSD Taeyeon’s cameo there. Idk if it was because of the character that he was playing but he was kind of stiff in that drama so he really didn’t click for me back then. I’m hoping that he can pull it off this time especially since he will be playing the lead role here in TTBY. Even though Sano’s character is a bit bland for me but since it was Shun Oguri who acted the role in the JPN version, not that I’m being biased but I think he was able to bring justice to it. So I’m crossing my fingers for Minho to do the same.
That LuHan and ChanYeol in the group teaser photo?
I think I see Luhan, Chanyeol, Baekhyun, and D.O. in the screencap.
i’ll say this however many times. how is it that this is the 4th hana kimi, boys over flowers been made 4x, with a sequel by taiwan and a japan, including a movie, but there’s been only one drama adaptation of MARS and cat street? i’d like to see the remakes of those, especially cat street, since the japanese drama was only 6 episodes and they combined the characters of rei and kouichi into one role. would love to see BECK adaptation too, considering i would love to finally hear koyuki’s voice and japan only made a movie. if loveholics and the pd that worked on SUFBB were to be involved w/ that production, i’d be so happy i can die! not that i mind all the remakes bc they’ll all have their different feel but come on already, give me something else!!!
I don’t know anything about cat street or BECK, but more Mars…Perhaps it’s harder to touch a really good drama and do a remake? Also, if you think about the HanaKimi from a production point of view, it’s a good drama to bank on and create a pop culture phenomenon. It’s also pretty easy to translate cross-culturally.
Oh, boy, Joonni! I finally watched Hana Kimi after falling in love with Shun in Rich Man Poor Woman – my new crack drama.
LOVED THAT DORAMA.
I was laughing and replaying scenes, and sighing, and crying, and cheering – and the chemistry between Shun and Maki was off the charts.
Every time the martial arts Dorm kids showed up I LOL’ed. The whole cast was great. Toma could have actually done 16 episodes all by himself and I would have watched it.
Mostly, I loved it because of the quieter moments. Maki owned this drama, despite not looking at all boyish ever. And Shun was so subtle but effective off there to the side falling in love with her. I just don’t see how this young Sulli person can have that much heart, and NOT over act. It is the same director as the one who let GHS do what she did in all those annoying episodes.
It’s really too bad they decided to go all Idol on this one. Such a sweet sweet story of perseverance and selfless love. I’d hate for it to come off like Dream HIgh in the Boys dormatory.
We shall see. I will keep my hopes alive.
Yay! You watched HanaKimi! I loved how cracktastic it was, and just overall fun. Hmm…were there quieter moments? 🙂 I loved the friendship among the boys and the way they gave it all for every competition. It’s why I love Japanese youth (seishun) dramas. They really emphasize the energy and hopefulness of youth and really encourage viewers to live for the moment.
And Shun was so subtle but effective off there to the side falling in love with her ) simply loved those scenes. He was so good, I had a smile on my face every time those two were on screen and he was so shy … not knowing what to do or say, and his hands keep shaking ❤
As much as I love Shun and Maki, I didn’t notice anything about their acting. I payed attention, instead, to Toma who played Nakatsu. He hit all the the comedic points. I thought character-wise, there wasn’t much to do for Shun and Maki.