Hanazakarino Kimitachihe/The Tricks of Boys and Girls/Hana Kimi
Starring:
Ella Chen as Lu Rui Xi
Wu Chun as Zuo Yi Quan
Jiro Wang as Jin Xiu Yi
Aired: 2006
Plot:  Based on the Japanese shojo manga series Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (For You In Full Blossom), Hanazakarino Kimitachihe tells the story of Lu Rui Xi, a girl inspired to change her life by a high jumper from Taiwan, Zuo Yi Quan. As a result, she transfers to his school in Taiwan, disguising herself as a boy in the process only to learn that Quan has stopped jumping. Rui Xi works hard to try and convince him to start jumping again. The series tells of her struggles and triumphs with both Quan and her life at the school.

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Before I start, let me just state that I am a fan of both Ella Chen and Wu Chun. However, that does not mean I will be saying nothing but nice things about the Taiwan adaptation of Hana Kimi. If there is something I find displeasing, you can bet I’ll be saying it.

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I have to say that the Taiwanese adaptation is certainly… unique. Understand, I’ve seen this at least a dozen times because I do in fact enjoy watching it. Unfortunately it also seems to be the most over the top adaptation of the manga that I’ve seen so far.

There were a few things which I felt could have used a little more planning or just plain effort. For instance, the cheap outfit and wig that made their appearances during episode 8 did not do Ella any justice. She’s a beautiful girl, and while yes I understand that the premise of the show is to have her disguised as a boy, the other adaptations did much better with the shock factor of the heroine breaking her cover long enough to dress as a girl for the school’s beauty pageant. The reason their shock factor was so successful compared to Taiwan’s is that they all made their heroine really look like she could pass for a girl. The clothing and wig was always flattering and there was tasteful makeup. With Ella it seemed more like child’s play. Maybe that was their point, but I still did not enjoy it at all. It annoys me every time I watch the drama.

I’m not a fan of the over-acting with Ella. I think if they had dialed things down with her portrayal of Rui Xi just a little bit, it might have been a little more comfortable for me to watch. As it is I found myself cringing during scenes with the overacting,  and I love Ella Chen’s acting so that really bothered me.

Jiro Wang‘s performance was impressive. Perhaps a little over the top at times, but still within the realm of acceptability. His character is supposed to be a little over the top, so I cut him a lot more slack because he was doing very well with playing his part. I’ve seen him in several other dramas so I’m also very accustomed to his over the top antics, and it works for him.

Wu Chun. What on earth could I possibly have to say in complaint here? The answer is nothing. Really. I have no complaints. He performed superbly. No over acting, no under acting either. The man is just an acting god to me, okay? I wish I could come up with something to complain about. But… I can’t. Really.

On to my irritation with the ending. I would have liked to see her leave the school and return home, and just how they handle that. It felt like something was missing, and I’m fairly certain that is it. To this day, every time I re-watch this drama, I am always bothered by the ending. At the same time, I kind of like how they did it. I have no doubt that I’m not the only one who, in every adaptation, has wished that it would end with her being able to stay in the school and remain by his side. And yet…

The music was enjoyable. Very poppy and moving when it needed to be. So it was well matched with the drama. I absolutely adore the song used in the opening credits. Very poppy and and happy.