Synopsis
Overview
The 2018 version of Meteor Garden is a Chinese mainland-produced youth romance idol drama, directed and produced by the "Idol Drama Godmother," Angie Chai. The series is adapted from the classic manga Hana Yori Dango by Japanese manga artist Yoko Kamio and is a remake following the 2001 Taiwanese version of Meteor Garden...
Overview
The 2018 version of Meteor Garden is a Chinese mainland-produced youth romance idol drama, directed and produced by the "Godmother of Idol Dramas," Angie Chai. The series is an adaptation of the classic manga Hana Yori Dango by Japanese manga artist Yoko Kamio. Following the great success of the 2001 Taiwanese version Meteor Garden, this is another version helmed once again by Angie Chai. The series premiered on July 9, 2018, on Hunan TV's "Youth in Progress" theater and was simultaneously streamed online on Mango TV. It consists of 50 episodes in total. Set against the backdrop of a modern university campus, the drama tells the story of love and friendship between an ordinary yet resilient girl, Dong Shancai, and the four prominent boys known as "F4" in an elite school, evolving from conflict and opposition to mutual understanding and growth together. Although its broadcast sparked debates among viewers comparing it to the classic predecessor and criticizing some plot points and performances, it still attracted a large young audience with its strong IP foundation, exquisite visuals, and youthful portrayals, achieving considerable ratings and online discussion heat. It holds a Douban rating of 7.0.
Plot
The story takes place at the prestigious Mingde University, which gathers the children of social elites. Here, the "F4," composed of four boys—Daoming Si, Hua Zelei, Feng Meizuo, and Ximen Yan—who are exceptionally good-looking and from wealthy families, enjoy supreme status, and no one dares to defy them. Dong Shancai, a girl from an ordinary family with a cheerful and stubborn personality, unexpectedly gains admission to this university. Due to an act of standing up for justice, she offends Daoming Si, the leader of F4, and consequently becomes the "public enemy" of the entire school, subjected to various forms of bullying.
However, Shancai is not defeated. She fights back bravely with the tenacious vitality of a weed. In this process, complex emotional entanglements develop between her and the arrogant, childish yet gradually captivated Daoming Si, as well as the gentle, melancholic Hua Zelei, who offers her solace. Meanwhile, Feng Meizuo and Ximen Yan also witness Shancai's sincerity and courage. The relationships within F4 and their respective understandings of life and family begin to undergo subtle changes. The plot revolves around the main line of emotional development between Shancai and F4, particularly with Daoming Si, from adversaries to lovers. It is interwoven with subplots about youthful dreams, tests of friendship, class differences, and the pursuit of self-worth, painting a picture of modern youth's growth.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Character Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Shen Yue | Dong Shancai | A girl from an ordinary background but optimistic and strong, as tenacious as a weed, unafraid of authority. Her appearance changes each member of F4. |
| Dylan Wang | Daoming Si | The leader of F4, heir to the Daoming Group. Outwardly domineering and arrogant, but inwardly simple, childish, and devoted. He gradually learns about love and grows through his confrontations with Shancai. |
| Guan Hong | Hua Zelei | A member of F4, introverted and melancholic, skilled in playing the violin. Initially Shancai's idealized "white moonlight," offering gentle protection, he later finds his own emotional destination. |
| Liang Jingkang | Feng Meizuo | A member of F4, humorous and witty, good at sports, acts as the peacemaker within the group, and values friendship highly. |
| Caesar Wu | Ximen Yan | A member of F4, elegant and gentlemanly, loves art, has rich romantic experience but yearns for genuine feelings deep inside. |
| Sun Qian | He Yuanzi | Daoming Si's fiancée, an elegant and gracious wealthy heiress who chooses to step aside after understanding the feelings between Daoming Si and Shancai. |
| Sun Yihan | Fujieda Shizuka | The senior whom Hua Zelei admired in his youth, an independent and confident woman who profoundly influences Hua Zelei's growth. |
| Li Jiaqi | Jiang Xiaoyou | Shancai's best friend, lively and cute, Shancai's most important friend and supporter at school. |
Cultural Impact
The broadcast of the 2018 version of Meteor Garden sparked multi-layered discussions and influence within the popular culture sphere of mainland China. Firstly, it marked another reboot and localization attempt of a classic IP for a new era. Compared to its predecessors, this version features more refined and modern costumes, makeup, props, and set designs, aligning better with the aesthetics of contemporary young audiences. It also made adjustments to the original plot to fit the mainland Chinese context and broadcasting requirements.
Secondly, the series successfully launched a group of new-generation actors. Lead actors like Dylan Wang, Shen Yue, Guan Hong, Liang Jingkang, and Caesar Wu gained immense popularity through this drama, quickly rising to become top traffic stars. Particularly, Dylan Wang's portrayal of Daoming Si, with its unique "gap moe" domineering CEO image, garnered a massive fanbase, laying a solid foundation for his subsequent acting career.
Although the series faced considerable controversy upon airing regarding actors' performances, plot pacing, and dialogue design, with audiences constantly comparing it to the classic version, it undeniably reignited public memory and enthusiasm for the super IP Meteor Garden, creating sustained topic heat on social media. It also became a significant cultural phenomenon during the 2018 summer season, demonstrating the enduring market appeal of youth idol dramas among specific audiences and the potential for emotional resonance that classic story frameworks still possess across different eras.
References
- Douban Movie. Meteor Garden (2018) Introduction and Rating. https://movie.douban.com/subject/27133380/
- Baidu Baike. Meteor Garden (2018 TV series starring Shen Yue, Dylan Wang). https://baike.baidu.com/item/流星花园/22491620
- Wikipedia. Meteor Garden (2018 TV series). https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/流星花园_(2018年电视剧)
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