And so they're back! The re-run of the phenomenal hit series Meteor Garden in the local television on March 31, 2014 dominated the micro-blogging site Twitter with 9 out of 10 trending topics in the Philippines. The drama was first aired in the country in 2003 and created such wild popularity that the hairstyles and fashion of the actors were thoroughly adopted by the youth and the series' soundtrack topping every chart. All sorts of posters and memorabilias had stormed the streets and the main cast even came to stage sold-out concerts. And now, over a decade had passed and were still susceptible to the fever that once caught us.
I was in elementary when F4 was the coolest topic in conversations. Who wouldn't know Shan Cai, Dao Ming Si, Huaze Lei, Xi Men, and Mei Zhou? It's either you weren't born at time or you're too old or too young to comprehend that you wouldn't. Their faces had crowded billboards, magazines, shirts, mugs, posters, stickers and all imaginable things you could think of (I could quite remember having solo posters of Jerry Yan and F4 in my room which I bought at 5 pesos each from the flea market).
The Main Cast
Barbie Hsu as Dong Shan Cai
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| Barbie Hsu |
Name: Xu Xi Yuan
English name: Barbie Hsu
Born: October 6, 1976 (age 37)
Height: 5' 3"
Weight: 44 kg
Birthplace: Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation: Actress, Singer, Host
Legal status: Married to Wang Xiao Fei (2010-Present)
She played the feisty heroine in the drama that got us laughing and crying along the way. Eleven years later and she still looks very much the same. Barbie started out with her sister, Dee Hsu, as a girl band called ASOS in Taiwan. They became popular because of their funny and daring attitudes. Afterwards, they both hosted 100% entertainment (Yu Le Bai Fen Bai) for more than 8 years; the show is still running but both of their contracts have ended. She married Wang Xiao Fei in 2010 and is expecting her first baby this coming May.
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| Barbie Hsu's wedding with Wang Xiao Fei |
Jerry Yan as Dao Ming Si
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| Jerry Yan |
Name: Yan Cheng Xu
English name: Jerry Yan
Birth name: Liao Yang Zheng
Born: January 1, 1977 (age 37)
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 72 kg
Birthplace: Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation: Actor, Singer, Producer
Legal status: Single
He's the domineering leader of F4; rich and haughty, he fell in love with Shan Cai and gradually showed his child-like nature. With an ordinary - and poor - background, Jerry and his sister were raised by a single mother, and had to work in menial jobs at a young age. It was not until he won a modeling competition for UNO magazine that luck came to his side. Later on, he was cast as the main lead in the huge hit series, and eventually formed the boy band F4 (later known as JVKV) with his three other male co-stars (Ken Zhu, Vic Zhou, and Vanness Wu).
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| JVKV (formerly known as F4) from left: Vanness Wu, Jerry Yan, Ken Zhu, Vic Zhou |
A decade after he shot to fame, Jerry continues his career as an actor. He last appeared in the drama series "Unforgettable Love" in 2013. He is also cast in the upcoming Japanese film "Lupin III". Aside from that, he is the producer of "You're Beautiful" Taiwanese, starring Jiro Wang of Taiwanese boy band Fahrenheit.
To date, he is the recording star and ambassador of humanitarian organization World Vision in Taiwan.
Vic Zhou as Huaze Lei
Name: Zhou Yu Min
English Name: Vic Zhou
Born: June 9, 1981 (age 32)
Name: Wu Jian Hao
English Name: Vanness Wu
Born: August 7, 1978 (age 35)
Ken Chu as Xi Men
Name: Zhu Xiao Tian
English Name: Ken Zhu
Born: January 15, 1979 (age 35)
As soon as I learned from Facebook that Meteor Garden will be re-aired, I was immediately prompted to buy a DVD copy for the entire episodes. I hate interruptions when watching so I always avoid the telly and the internet. It's always better to use the player. So, after days of doing the drama marathon, here are my musings.
1. The fashion statements are quite a distraction. Almost horrible, in fact. Well, that applies to all dramas produced in the late 90's and early 20's. The men's pants were baggy and the shirts were hugging (emphasizing the broad muscles of the wearer). For women, the designs were nah.
2. Daoming Si's pineapple hairstyle actually suits him best. Eleven years ago, I never fancied his electrocuted locks. But now, I realized he's actually handsomer in it.
3. Xi Men is actually cute. Before, I was perplexed how Kim Sang Bum's character So Yi-Jeong from Boys Over Flowers became the counterpart of Ken Zhu's Xi Men from Meteor Garden. I mean, the former was way more good-looking than the latter and more fitted to be the ultimate Casanova of F4. Not until I've re-watched the whole series that I saw Xi Men from a different angle.
To date, he is the recording star and ambassador of humanitarian organization World Vision in Taiwan.
Vic Zhou as Huaze Lei
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| Vic Zhou |
English Name: Vic Zhou
Born: June 9, 1981 (age 32)
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 66 kg
Birthplace: Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation: Actor, Singer, Model
Legal status: Single
He played the soft-spoken and ever reliable member of F4. He was Shan Cai's first attraction but later became her close friend and protector. Vic Zhou had no public life before Meteor Garden. He just accompanied a friend to the auditions and was noticed by one of the drama's staff who thought that he looked like Huaze Lei. He was then asked to audition and got the part. After the series, he continued his career as an actor and, last year, won Best Actor at the Golden Bell Awards for his performance in the TV show "Home".
According to reports, Vic and Barbie actually became an item but called it quits in 2008.
Vanness Wu as Mei ZhouHe played the soft-spoken and ever reliable member of F4. He was Shan Cai's first attraction but later became her close friend and protector. Vic Zhou had no public life before Meteor Garden. He just accompanied a friend to the auditions and was noticed by one of the drama's staff who thought that he looked like Huaze Lei. He was then asked to audition and got the part. After the series, he continued his career as an actor and, last year, won Best Actor at the Golden Bell Awards for his performance in the TV show "Home".
According to reports, Vic and Barbie actually became an item but called it quits in 2008.
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| Vic Zhou and Barbie Hsu |
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| Vanness Wu |
English Name: Vanness Wu
Born: August 7, 1978 (age 35)
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 72 kg
Birthplace: California, USA
Occupation: Actor, Singer, Model, Dancer, Songwriter, Spokesperson, Producer
Legal status: Married to Arissa Cheo
His character, Mei Zhou, was portrayed as a ladies' man in the series who later found his true love in the sequel. Vanness was born in the US and worked as a telemarketer after graduating from high school then moved to Taiwan, shortly afterwards. Like the others, he began his career in the hit series and formed the boy band F4. He also studied performance arts and acting classes in Hollywood, and became a polyglot fluent in Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.
To date, he's a successful recording artist with seven albums under his belt. He also worked with the likes of Bruno Mars and Beyonce. He married Singaporean Arissa Cheo in November 2013.
His character, Mei Zhou, was portrayed as a ladies' man in the series who later found his true love in the sequel. Vanness was born in the US and worked as a telemarketer after graduating from high school then moved to Taiwan, shortly afterwards. Like the others, he began his career in the hit series and formed the boy band F4. He also studied performance arts and acting classes in Hollywood, and became a polyglot fluent in Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.
To date, he's a successful recording artist with seven albums under his belt. He also worked with the likes of Bruno Mars and Beyonce. He married Singaporean Arissa Cheo in November 2013.
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| Vanness Wu and Arissa Cheo |
Ken Chu as Xi Men
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| Ken Zhu |
English Name: Ken Zhu
Born: January 15, 1979 (age 35)
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 72 kg
Birthplace: Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation: Actor, Singer, Model, Writer
Legal status: Single
He portrayed the playboy Xi Men in the drama. Ken was a waiter in Taiwan when he was discovered by Cai Zhi Ping, the creator of the boy band F4. He started in showbiz working as a part assistant for some artists then acting in several idol series that eventually pushed him to the center stage. He starred in the drama Meteor Garden and had succeeding title roles. He also released a cookbook, Mei Wei Guan Xi (Delicious Relations) and did a Philippine movie entitled, "Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan", together with Iza Calzado. His most recent Asian drama was "Hero".
Thoughts on the Drama
He portrayed the playboy Xi Men in the drama. Ken was a waiter in Taiwan when he was discovered by Cai Zhi Ping, the creator of the boy band F4. He started in showbiz working as a part assistant for some artists then acting in several idol series that eventually pushed him to the center stage. He starred in the drama Meteor Garden and had succeeding title roles. He also released a cookbook, Mei Wei Guan Xi (Delicious Relations) and did a Philippine movie entitled, "Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan", together with Iza Calzado. His most recent Asian drama was "Hero".
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| Movie poster for "Batanes" starring Ken Zhu and Iza Calzado |
Thoughts on the Drama
As soon as I learned from Facebook that Meteor Garden will be re-aired, I was immediately prompted to buy a DVD copy for the entire episodes. I hate interruptions when watching so I always avoid the telly and the internet. It's always better to use the player. So, after days of doing the drama marathon, here are my musings.
1. The fashion statements are quite a distraction. Almost horrible, in fact. Well, that applies to all dramas produced in the late 90's and early 20's. The men's pants were baggy and the shirts were hugging (emphasizing the broad muscles of the wearer). For women, the designs were nah.
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| Who the hell made Dao Ming Si's metallic pants?! |
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| and that bare-chested vest? |
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| Compare that with this polished look from Boys Over Flowers (another version of Meteor Garden) |
2. Daoming Si's pineapple hairstyle actually suits him best. Eleven years ago, I never fancied his electrocuted locks. But now, I realized he's actually handsomer in it.
3. Xi Men is actually cute. Before, I was perplexed how Kim Sang Bum's character So Yi-Jeong from Boys Over Flowers became the counterpart of Ken Zhu's Xi Men from Meteor Garden. I mean, the former was way more good-looking than the latter and more fitted to be the ultimate Casanova of F4. Not until I've re-watched the whole series that I saw Xi Men from a different angle.
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| I simply adore his brooding eyes. |
4. This is the best version ever. I've watched the three versions so far (Meteor Garden, Hana Yori Dango, and Boys Over Flowers) and I could say that the first got the best and most detailed story. It'll have you laughing and falling in love all throughout. I was definitely amused how most of the scenes were imprinted on my mind and it seemed only yesterday that I first watched them.
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| Shan Cai and F4 |
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| F4 (from left: Mei Zhou, Daoming Si, Xi Men, Huaze Lei) |
NOTHING BEATS THE ORIGINAL!
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