First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

It’s here guys! Memories of our youth coming right back…. at least with me since I’m old…or shall I say older now compared to when the original aired in 2001. Lol. It still amazes me how many countries and how many times this one story has been adapted in the past decade.

Let me know your thoughts! Have included the first two episodes after the jump.

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Stills:

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Music Videos and Episodes:

Ep. 1 Part 1.

Ep. 1 Part 2.

Ep. 2.

  1. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    Watching Meteor Garden 2018 was like meeting an ex after so many years. The memories were right there on my mind yet nothing left anymore for him in my heart. Simply because he lost the charisma i used to love.

    Lack of chemistry. Acting was so-so (some were so bad, really), and emotionless.
    HYD/MG fans would be familiar with the scenes but i personally didnt feel any sentiment feeling while watching it. It was so flat in emotion.

    BUT it’s only the first 2 episodes.
    I’ll still continue watching it. I hope it’s getting better. 🙂

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      I totally love this ex analaogy!!! I totally feel the same way. I’m watching it only for nostalgic reasons, the acting is not that great in my opinion, and Shen Yue lacks a little of the spunkiness of the original character, but the fresh factor is there so it’s still quite enjoyable to see.

      They changed the story, at least the whole part about group bullying has been toned down A LOT! Which I can totally understand, because now looking back at the original MG and the manga, there was really some very serious group bullying that happened in the school campus, with the F4 declaration basically the whole school started bullying Shancai and whoever got the red tape, NOT cool! So this new version has been updated a lot to be more morally “correct”, no mass group bullying (it’s mostly just DMS alone doing most of the tricks on Shancai), each F4 character had talents that seemed to earn them their status (in the original they were popular simply because of their looks and family wealth), and so somehow this F4 group feels more “wholesome”. But they kept the forced-kiss scene in this version though… the original still have a few more school mass bullying/lynching scenes, so I wonder how this version is going to change that up.

      • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

        What forced kiss scene? There wasn’t one in the first two episodes?

        • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

          It’s in episode 4 or 5 I think.
          I usually don’t like Chinese dramas, and it’s true that the acting in this drama is not awesome or anything, but it is really light and easy to watch. I like the male main character, I don’t know why but he is so silly and easy to like.
          This version (cause I just watched the Kdrama) is more close to the anime so I’m really looking forward to the rest of the show 🙂

  2. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    I enjoyed it. I haven’t seen other versions nor read the manga, so basically i’m more open minded.

    What i got from twitter, the drama is following the manga closely so far and quite detailed, so fans of the manga should be pleased. (If wanting to compare, it is definitely made to be compared to the manga instead of the 2001 version. Though there are also parts from 2001 that are seen in this version.) I think there are also tweaks and scenes added(?) which are a pleasant surprise.

    Really enjoying the interaction between F4. Definitely liked how it has been adapted to China currently with the inclusion of characters live streaming and paying by qr code. Also liking that the casts are rookies, fresh faces.

    Don’t like the dubbing of course.

  3. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    Will there be a version with no dub and with their real voices?

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      I don’t thing that is gonna happen. Chinese dramas don’t normally release undubbed versions. Mainly because China has so many different dialects, and from what I saw on a clip, the male lead has an extremely strong dialect accent.

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      Not sure. I read on another site that Tencent will be broadcasting the web version, and the Tencent version would be undubbed (real voices). It’s not clear when Tencent version will be aired though.

  4. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    Not too bad…my expectation was real low I guess…
    What’s the airing schedule? Is it 2 eps per day?

  5. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    My first impression is….. unimpressed. Terrible acting. Terrible dubbing.

    Shen Yue’s dumb and clumsy image from ALSB is so strong so her face just looks dumb most of the time even without she intend to. Her acting isn’t helping either, it’s gotten worse since ALSB. There’s no charm to her character. Probably because she is too short and looks too kiddish. But Zhou Dongyu can be charming just fine even with her short height and youthful face. Shen Yue’s facial expression and acting during the scenes where she tries to get her phone got me cringe…Never mind her visual and figure, she really needs to work more on her expression. It’s a lot unnatural. Even the other girl with long ponytail is better and have more female-lead worthy face.

    Among the F4, Huang Zi Lei (curly hair) and Xi Men (the one with glasses) are the only two that have natural and enchanting charisma. They got some potential. The other two are pretty meh esp Mei Zuo (the tallest one). He isn’t good at doing that boyish/ playful smirk. His face actually doesn’t suit the role. Dao Ming Si looks too much like a gangster rather than coming off chic and arrogant. His eyebrows and eye gaze need to chill. Also, the violin sound is meh and not enchanting at all. If I heard the sound from afar, I wouldn’t even feel interested to find the source of sound smh.

    So far none of the scenes really trigger any nostalgia. It didn’t get me excited or screaming like I had when I first watched first ep of Korean remake, Boys Over Flowers. The introduction of F4 also didn’t really wow me. It isn’t epic. The doll up scenes at Dao Mingsi’s house too. I think it’s because of the editing. Its predecessors are still far superior judging from the 2 eps so far.

    China really isn’t great at producing modern dramas. They need to learn more from Taiwan how to produce an immature yet fun idol dramas. They are not good at doing little dramatic editing with some background music or ost. Some scenes look so average in term of impact in comparison to Japanese version and Korean remake.

    But recently, Sweet Dreams did good job with the cute CG editing. It’s a kiddish show but fun and adorable.

    Still going to watch few more episodes to see if it can change my first impression before deciding to drop.

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      One thing I wanna add, the only thing I like is that at least the girl isnt forcefully kidnapped to the male lead’s house. That’s pretty surprising. But the dolling up scene still a let down. The female leads on previous versions are just too pretty and full of charms.

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      The drama’s produced by Angie Chai, so it’s essentially a Taiwanese production with a Chinese cast. In fact, I think the reason why the drama is so bad is because Angie Chai has no connections in China.

      Personally I’ve never liked the premise of the drama. Even when I was a kid I hated it. I think now both dramas and viewers in general are getting more mature, and so these “old-fashioned idol dramas” are getting phased out.

      I honestly don’t want to watch dramas like Meteor Garden, Devil beside Me, and all the other old classics. They are great for nostalgia, sure, but devoid of any substance.

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      I’m sorry but Taiwanese dramas are by large terrible. Taiwanese actors do not receive any sort of formal training. I do not think any Chinese dramas would want to emulate their acting or style of production. The only one I can think of that wasn’t completely horrid is fated to love you. I will agree that Chinese dramas really need to stop the dubbing, it is absolutely pointless unless the actor has a completely indistinguishable accent (which no mainland actors do).

      I find the whole premise of this manga so unfitting of current societal trends, and it’s just overall ridiculous. I do not understand how it continues to amass so much popularity.

      • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

        i think in recent years, the trend is tilting towards not dubbing the voices in modern dramas, there had been quite a number of modern dramas which were not dubbed.. but probably for this case, the production value is damn bad, and they probably didn’t have the equipment to record the voices of the actors properly, hence needing to dub.. plus the leads are all not formally trained in acting, hence their speech / tonation could be quite bad..

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      I actually find Darren’s (Hua zelei)’s acting to be stiff and he isn’t my cup of tea because he looks girlish. Oguri Shun was elegant, mysterious and quite masculine at the same time. Not sure why they trend to a more feminine version of Hua Zelei in this one.

      This had a taiwanese producer, and I agree with whomever said that it suffers from Angie being the producer. I do not think modern Taiwan dramas are very good, low budgets, bad acting and mediocre plots. I don’t think the older ones were that good either if comparing to modern day standards, they were more addicting than well made and half the time that was because they were based on manga. I did like Mars. The last one that Angie Chai produced for China was super outdated, that one with Tong Mengshi. So much cringe style jokes that were very outdated.

      • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

        Actually I find Oguri Shun fall into that ‘feminine’ category more than this Lei. Maybe ‘feminine’ isn’t the right word…but Oguri Shun & Vic Zhou were both pretty boys. This Lei is not a ‘pretty’ boy, even if his hairstyle says something differently. That’s the main reason i don’t like him as much as the previous Leis. I have a thing for pretty boys haha.

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      Agree to disagree – the fact you enjoyed K-drama’s version of Meteor Garden automatically made this a moot point (even if it’s only the 1st episode). I found K-drama’s version especially cringe-worthy and disgraceful to the entire franchise. None of the adaptations came close to what was so appealing in the first Taiwanese MG.

      With that said, however, I don’t find this Shen Yue adaptation bad at all. I’m actually enjoying it somewhat right now, even though I’m only on episode 3.

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      Kamio Yoko replied about #MeteorGarden2018 p2

      Fan: The Taiwanese F4 left too deep impression. I’m afraid to watch, but I will!

      KY: Taiwanese F4 was indeed amazing. But this new version of F4 are also wonderful. That time, story wasn’t finished, so drama wasn’t complete. This 2018 version has amazing details.

      © saturnmars2

  6. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    This drama is coming to Netflix July 13, 2018-They just announced it. So there will be subs! According to press release, Netflix has worldwide rights except for Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia. Not sure if Netflix will be showing dubbed or undubbed (real voices) version. I saw a little of the first episode raw and it looked promising. Will need to watch with subs before making a final decision.

  7. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    So far I like it enough to invest watching more of it! i only watched the korean version and looking back at it now I cringe! I’m glad the bullying aspect of it was toned down as it’s a real epedemic here in America and I am sure it is in the rest of the world as well. Again, I can’t compare acting to the other taiwanese or japanese version, but I think the acting is fitting for this drama. there’s still some overacting that was part of the originals. Not having watched too many taiwanese dramas I can’t compare, but I don’t think the production is bad at all.

    I’m watching on netflix with subs, so not sure if the character voices are dubbed but I don’t believe so. If they are, I can’t notice it.

  8. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    I have seen Meteor Garden 2001, Hana Yori Dango, Boys over Flowers, and even the Chinese rip off with Zhang Han and Zheng Shuang. I loved Meteor Garden 2001 but hey Meteor Garden 2018 adds a fresh take to a story that’s been told so many versions before. I still contend the 2001 version had the prettiest F4 but the 2018 version ranks second in my opinion. I appreciate that the 2018 version toned down the bullying, gave F4 abilities beyond their looks and wealth, and although I miss how hilarious Shan Cai’s parents were in 2001, I like the fact that her parents are more sensible in the 2018 version. I think this version’s DMS as written is a little less hot headed. I see a little bit of how Jerry Yan portrayed DMS. Hua Ze Lei has always been my bias and only ZaiZai did it for me in all the versions I have seen. But seeing Darren Chen in this role makes me waver. I have to say though, Da S and Jerry Yan had awesome chemistry but Shen Yue and Dylan Wang could be believable as well in a cutesy manner – at least a whole lot better than what I found lacking between Lee Min Ho and Go Hye Sun. I do commend this version though for not skimping on production budget. What 2001 lacked before was the fancy helicopter rides and the wonderful wardrobe that BOF had. However, it still remains to be seen whether we continue to see good delivery… I want more of the fresh takes (e.g. how LizHen was left out in the rain – foreshadowing of what is to come, so we see a little backstory; Bridge) – the minute details that sets this version apart from all versions. I hope I get to see more cutesy scenes between the leads because to be honest among all the versions, HYD had the most satisfying execution in terms of plot despite my gripes about the F4 in that version. I look forward to watching more episodes. This version has a lot to offer and I hope it proves worthy of all the hype.

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      I actually like this version better. I’ve watched all versions and I actually have the manga, too. Honestly, I do think that some people here are over praising the 2001 version. You were watching it maybe when you were young and with feelings of young girls while with his new version, you are viewing it from a now an adult point of view. This new version feels fresh and while the acting isn’t perfect, it’s not that bad adding the fact that most of them are newbies.

      • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

        I do see your point (about viewing it with an adult’s perspective). However with the arcs on Tian Ye needing those leaves for his cooking , and the getting stuck in the snow, and the arc on DMS barging on SC school reunion as well as the kidnapping where DMS got beaten up – I started to be annoyed with how the 2018 version treated the story. The snow arc Japan did a better job. The kidnapping arc 2001 was iconic. I recently rewatched those items with my adult POV and I’m a bit disappointed with 2018. However 2018 continues to add fresh take on things and so I will keep watching. Loved the update on the birthday cookies. As for the actors being newbies, 2001 was also Jerry, Vic, Ken and Vanness breakout roles. I think 2018 is doing well so far. As I was disappointed with a few arcs – I hope the breakup scene in the rain when SC lied to DMS to protect Xiao You’s family is done well. I don’t blame the actors at all for whatever directorial decision is made on the plot. My disappointment over the past few episodes were directed to the plot.

        • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

          I think they watered it down a bit. Coz as someone said above, in the manga and in the 2001 version, some arcs were very serious. Even Lei’s character here in 2018 version is slightly mellow (in the first few episodes). I do think this version is lighter and less.. how do I say?..dramatic?

          And while I do like Dylan’s portrayal of Daoming Si, Shen Yue’s is not there,yet. She lacks expression. I hope they improve more and I hope this version sticks to the manga and doesn’t take the route that the 2001 version took with the 2nd season…you know, with Daoming Si losing his memory and falling in love with another girl and all.

  9. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    So far I am okay with it. Although, the characters look too “baby-ish” for my taste hahahaha. The 2001 version were mature looking guys (Tall, muscular but not too much and stuff) so i was quite shocked how young looking these actors/ress were in the 2018 version. 😀

    It’s cute. I like it. It follows the manga quite well. The best f4 of course will still be the 2001 ver. but the new F4 are fresh too and very good looking boys.

    lack chemistry between yue and dylan quite a bit. But it still works. 🙂

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      Agreed. I think they can do more to show WHY Dao Mingsi in this adaptation likes Shen Yue. It felt kinda rushed and not explained very well, plus I find that this Dao Mingsi is still rather green in the acting department. He isn’t able to portray his emotions as well as Jerry Yan or maybe the way the story is captured didn’t allow him that opportunity to. In any case, I don’t understand all the negative feedback. So far i quite like this version. At least I don’t hate it and can see myself finishing the drama.

      • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

        I do thibk Dylan made a perfect Daoming Si (Daoming Si or rather Doumyoji in the manga is a hot headed, guy, a lil bit stupid, yet innocent and childish-Dylan captured these characteristic quite well) . I do think it’s the plot production didn’t allow him to show ‘the love” he has for Shancai.
        This version isn’t so bad and it is quite refreshing

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      Ahaha. But then again, I think they fit well with the image of F4 in the manga. Let’s not forget that F4 in the manga are actually just about that age 18~~~~so I think it’s okay.
      They have more chemistry in the BTS I guess? Shen Yue needs to step up and show more expression on her face (I guess Barbie and Maki set up a high bar for Shancai/makino character)

  10. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    Tbh, in the BTS i found that shenyue is not very close with other f4 members… other than dylan.. Dylan is very handsome and that’s why i like him too and all the other f4 members.. They got the looks u know… Anyhoo, i agree that shenyue lacks expression… I found it cringy in some scenes… Somehow i feel awkward eventhough i really want to like that drama.. I actually liking it quite a bit but i can’t keep myself to stay and just watch.. I need to skip .because I’m quite bored…. I’ve watch a lot of dramas in my life.. And i think that my review is that, this remake is enjoyable, but not in the sense of u feeling the flutters in ur heart.. It’s just because of the handsomeness of the characters. However, i can see myself liking all the f4 members. It’s just that i wanted an acting that makes me feel that Shancai really, honestly wanted him but forcefully push him away with the right potrayal of emotions,like a genuine feeling of not wanting to let a person go but u have to and it broke ur heart, and u somehow start crying so hard that u could feel ur heart bursting out from ur chest.. I want that kind of feeling. The expression…

  11. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    I like this new version of Meteor Garden. It has fresh takes on different things. Also, Dylan’s acting as Dao Ming si is very commendable aside from the super handsome face 🙂

  12. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    The remake is terrible. Dylan Wang as DMS has the worst acting hands down. His facial expressions are akin to that of a dining plate. He is only handsome. That’s all.
    I can’t help but notice every time he turns his head in a dramatic scene, it looks SO forced and unnatural, like a robot. Even when he’s acting angry, it looks almost like his default face.
    The one actor with decent skills is Huaze Lei’s.

    Other than the altered plot, the 2 main leads also lack no chemistry whatsoever. I did not ship them at all.
    Entire drama was so rushed. Like the long-haired girl (Shancai’s friend) suddenly asking him why do you like shan cai and not me? That was so out of the blue and random.
    Terrible.
    1.5/10.

  13. 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

    As I have watched the original I may be biased. Jerry and Dylan’s looks are both perfect for DMS except that Dylan is a little too bubbly for a DMS although I saw in one interview that it was intentional. Barbie was a better actress for the SC role but she was also more experienced than Yue was at the time of their respective dramas. Yue somehow forgets at times that she’s no longer the character in her previous drama ALSB so the SC character in 2018 seemed to have lost her straightforwardness, her being strong-willed, fierce (the so-called “weed” personality). Darren looks like a HZL. In the 2018, the roles of Meizuo and Ximen were not given relevance to the story in that they could completely be not in the drama and the plot will still be cohesive and complete while in 2001, Meizuo and Ximen were somehow more important. I love that they chose Dee as Jiejie because she fits the role. DMFeng in 2018 is totally NOT intimidating and (I’m sorry to the actress playing her) a very poor actress. The 2018 F4 are just too skinny for my taste but I like Dylan’s wardrobe more than Jerry’s. As for the story itself, 2018 version is a mess. They want to bring a new twist to the story while keeping some parts of the original but the new plots and old plots don’t mix together it’s like watching 2 different channels in one tv. I don’t know why they also decided to debase DMS’s character towards the end of the story by making him a push-and-pull kind of person. I practically watched only 25% of the 2018 version. I had to fast forward a lot of scenes because they were not keeping up with the excitement, but then, as I’ve said, the 2001 was the first one so it’s hard not to set it as a standard.

    • 33 thoughts on “First Impression: What do you think of Meteor Garden 2018 with Shen Yue and Dylan Wang?

      The story in 2018 is actually more close to the manga than any other versions (except this version give more substance to F4 than just being handsome and rich kids) and they toned down the bullying. When yoko-san cried over this version and said that it feels like her manga characters came to life and is thankful that they stayed close to the original story of her manga…you know this version is good.
      The 2001 version actually is incomplete.

What do you think?