J-Drama of the week (1)

Hana Yori Dango

Episodes: Season 1 (9) - Season 2 (11) + a movie
Network: TBS

Year: 2005

Genre: Romance, Comedy, High school

Manga: Yoko Kamio's Hana Yori dango
Plot:

Season 1: Makino Tsukushi (Mao Inoue) is a high school student who is admitted at Eitoku Elite School following the path of her idol Toudou Shizuka (Mayumi Sada). She comes from a relatively poor family and is annoyed at her classmates and how extravagant they are. Her lone goal was to get past high school with no trouble, but that's exactly what she gets when she pisses off the school's "bosses" F4. They are four boys who practically run the school due to their parents' influence and positions. They find entertainment in condemning students with the red notice for the most trivial reasons. Being the rightful, strong person she is Tsukushi defends a friend when she gets a red notice and ends up getting one herself. This is where all her life changes and she meets Domyouji Tsukasa (Jun Matsumoto) their leader, Hanazawa Rui (Shun Oguri) her knight in shining armor, Nishikado Soujiro (Shota Matsuda) the mysterious one and finally Mimasaka Akira (Tsuyoshi Abe) the loyal friend. You'll enjoy watching Makino and Domyouji falling for each other and facing trouble together with their friends :D

Season 2: After Makino and Domyouji finally confessing to each other and wanting to be together, Domyouji has to study abroad in New York. Gradually he starts neglecting Makino till the point she flies to America to talk to him. Makino is frustrated and gets turned down without knowing what she did wrong. More trouble arouses throughout the season making it a more dramatic one than the first.

Movie:They just can't have a peaceful life! After announcing their engagement, Makino and Domyouji start having doubts and are forced into a quest to find the stolen tiara Domyouji gave Makino as an important item of his family's belongings.

My opinion: This drama is very special to us, as it is our very first Japanese drama. We absolutely love it and are so glad our first experience with j-drama was so amazing <3 If you haven't seen it yet, then I urge you to. Believe me you won't regret it.

BEWARE THERE COULD BE SPOILERS AHEAD

There are just too many things to love here:

1- Makino is such a powerful character, she's not the typical damsel in distress. She will stand for her rights and other people's as well even if it means she could get hurt. Along with that comes her little temper and that cute scream "ARIENAITSU NO!"= "UNBELIEVABLE!" :D 

2- Domyouji

3- Domyouji

4- Domyouji. He's just the most amazing character. It's among Matsujun's best work :D Domyouji is narrow minded, but has a big heart to make up for it ^_^ He's so funny with his clumsiness with words and absolute arrogance. You just can't help falling in love with him <3

5- The way friendship is portrayed is just so sweet and beautiful. Either the F4 and how they're so supportive and always helping Makino out, or Yuki Makino's best friend. You just wish you had them around you because they won't stop until you're completely fine and happy.

6- Makino's weird/hilarious family. With their games and strange habits they just make this drama warmer ^_^

7- The way they portray love that conquers differences on multiple levels, either socially, financially or intellectually.

8- Okami-san, the shop owner. With her ex-boyfriends tales and her wild imagination, she advises Makino about her relationship issues.

9- That Saturn necklace <3

10- The remarkable soundtrack. This OST has accompanied me throughout a lot of work, I just love hearing it. Really one of the best!

Some of my favorite scenes :D

-That first punch <3 Makino's hop and Domyouji's surprised face XD

-The party when she is humiliated and Hanazawa Rui rises up for the occasion, and they show you how Domyouji was just about to do the same :)

-That first date! From the way Tsukasa asks her, to the long wait under the rain and ending with that adorable elevator scene ^_^

-The ridiculously funny argument about Rui's problem with apples. The story, the way Rui totally believes it, and definitely Soujiro and Akira dancing in the background XD the whole scene is unbelievable!

-Domyouji's letter to Hanazawa Rui and his sister :)

-The whole zoo episode.

-Everyone helping Tsukushi with that contest.

-Of course the airport scene :D

-Tsukasa leaving everything behind when he learns Tsukushi is in the hospital.

-When he buys the apartment building where Makino and her brother (Susume) live and that whole part :D

-Domyouji helping Susume confess to a girl.

-The proposal!

-When he asks her parents for permission. Totally adorable and funny ^_^

-The wedding at last :D

-And finally Domyouji finding out he'll be a father with that beautiful Arashi song <3

Bonus: Hana Yori Dango was so much loved that they made a Korean and Taiwanese version :D I've watched the korean one "Boys over flowers", it was good as well with much more drama and concentrated on other relationships. But nothing will ever come to Hana Yori Dango's level for me, it will always be my favorite <3