Meteor Garden (流星花園 - Liu Xing Hua Yuan) is a 2001 Taiwanese television drama series broadcast by CTS. The series is based on the Japanese manga series Boys Over Flowers (花より男子, Hana Yori Dango) by Yoko Kamio, inspiring multiple adaptations thereafter. Directed by Tsai Yueh-hsun, it stars Barbie Hsu, Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, Ken Chu and Vanness Wu. It aired from 12 April to 16 August 2001.
A phenomenal success across Asia, the series launched the careers of its four male stars who formed the boy band F4, named after their fictional group in the story, and established Hsu as a lead actress. It is also credited with ushering in the idol drama genre and the golden era of Taiwanese TV shows.
The story centers around a poor teenage girl, Shancai, who goes to a school for rich people at the insistence of her parents. The school is dominated by four rich, handsome but arrogant students—Daoming Si, Huaze Lei, Meizuo and Ximen—collectively known as the F4, short for "Flower 4". They are heirs to four rich and influential families in Taiwan. They terrorize the school by handing out red cards to those they do not like, which allows other students to bully the victims until they leave the school.
After one of Shancai's friends receives the wrath of F4 leader, Daoming Si, Shancai stands up and berates him, which in turn results in receiving a red card of her own. Shancai hates the arrogant and rude Daoming Si. Her persistence in standing up for what is right gradually gains the F4's respect, and Daoming Si begins to fall for her. At first, Shancai is attracted to the silent Huaze Lei, but Daoming Si's constant yet annoying efforts has her question her feelings for the two F4 boys.
Daoming Si's mother arrives in Taiwan, and she instantly dislikes Shancai for her poor background. Both Daoming Si and Shancai face the hurdles his mother throw their way to separate them. Though Shancai does not profess her love for him yet, Daoming Si remains determined. The story chronicles the love between Shancai and Daoming Si for each other.
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