Meteor Garden...started it all!

If you don't know this extremely popular Taiwanese Drama...Meteor Garden? You better get out of here...quick! :) In 2001, this drama which was an adaptation from a Japanese Manga "Hana Yori Dango" which literally means "dumplings rather than flowers" in Japanese Proverb, invaded the Filipino youth (and young at heart). I was one of those people who went gaga in these series. ;) This drama brought new taste and fresh looking actors in our tv screens. It was then that I got hooked in watching Asian dramas.

Title: Meteor Garden 1 (2001)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Episodes: 20
Casts: Barbie Xu as Shan Cai
          Jerry Yan as Dao Ming Si
          Vic Zhou as Hua Ze Lei
          Ken Zhu as Xi Men
          Vaness Wu as Mei Zuo
 
Synopsis: Shan Cai (Barbie Xu) is the female main lead in this series, she came from a poor family but her parents insisted on sending her to a Ying De University that was established exclusively for rich students. Dao Ming Si (Jerry Yan), Hua Ze Lei (Vic Zhou), Xi Men (Ken Zhu) and Mei Zuo (Vaness Wu) are famous F4 (Flower Four) group in the university are the heirs of the richest families. Nobody dares to cross them because their families are the founders of Ying De University. The story began when Shan Cai angered Dao Ming Si, the leader of F4. She caught the interest of Dao Ming Si as she's the only one who dared to stand up on him and because of this he made her life miserable. During those torturing days, Shan Cai fell in love with Hua Ze Lei who always come to her rescue. Then began the conflicts between Dao Ming Si and Hua Ze Lei, Dao Ming Si and his vicious mother and the differences of Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai's incompatible social status.

Meteor Garden 1 got me so hooked that I was excited to watch the sequel "Meteor Garden 2". I just lost interest of how long the story goes. First episode is the most enthralling for me. That was when Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai went to Barcelona and just the two of them. As expected, they have a lot of happy and a hoity-toity scenes together. ;) But my excitement was cut short when Dao Ming Si got into a car accident and got an amnesia. Ohhhh...the following episodes are all melodramatic so I skipped most of it.

Title: Meteor Garden II (2003) Genre: Romance, Drama
Episodes: 31
Casts: Barbie Xu as Shan Cai
          Jerry Yan as Dao Ming Si
          Vic Zhou as Hua Ze Lei
          Ken Zhu as Xi Men
          Vaness Wu as Mei Zuo
          Michelle Saram as Ye Sha
 
Synopsis: Meteor Garden II is a continuation of the life and love story of Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai after graduating from Ying De University. F4 decided to go in a vacation in Spain and Dao Ming Si invites Shan Cai to join them. But at the airport, Hua Ze Lei, Xi Men and Mei Zuo didn't go with them. Hence, told them that it is a perfect opportunity for them to spend time alone. When they arrived in Barcelona, Spain they did enjoyed their time together. Dao Ming Si then have plans in proposing to Shan Cai. He bought the ring that Shan Cai had her eyes on when they're strolling Barcelona.

In the morning, Shan Cai woke up Dao Ming Si nowhere to be found. Instead she found a box with a white dress and an instructions from Dao Ming Si, to wear that white dress, go down the lobby of the hotel and a chuffer will take her to the church to meet him. Unfortunately, Dao Ming Si got into an accident and end up having an amnesia. He lost his past memories including Shan Cai.

This sequel is somewhat draggy. I felt frustated that Dao Ming Si couldn't remember any of his old friends especially Shan Cai. And where was Xiao Yo? Of all times that Shan Cai needed a friend where was she in this series? :( This is actually all about Shan Cai doing everything she can to regain Dao Ming Si's memory. It was hard when Dao Ming Si had another relationship with Ye Sha while he's still in amnesia. Worst of it is that his mother approved of Ye Sha. Ohhh...i't's really frustrating! After the Barcelona scene there's nothing more to it that made me ecstatic. It's not a worst series though...just full of sad and frustrating scenes.