The series reboot was first broadcast in China on Hunan Television, then made available after its airing to VIP users of its streaming counterpart, Mango TV. The stream was then made available to everyone the day after it aired. Two episodes were released per day on a Monday to Wednesday basis. It was also available globally via Netflix from October 2018 through December 2024.[4][5]
Plot
The story centers around an ordinary girl, Dong Shancai (Shen Yue), who is accepted into the most prestigious university in the country, Ming De University. Shancai is a girl from a family that barely makes ends meet. Due to her strong sense of fairness and the nature of her personality, she immediately clashes with F4, an elite clique composed of the four most popular boys in the institution, especially its spoiled, rich and arrogant leader - Daoming Si (Dylan Wang). Gradually, Daoming Si falls deeply in love with Shancai, only to realize that she is in love with one of his best friends, Huaze Lei (Darren Chen).[6]
Eventually, the four boys begin to acknowledge Shancai's unyielding personality that is like her namesake: a weed that can never be destroyed. Shancai begins to see the good in the boys, paving the way for friendships and an eventual romance. However, Daoming Si's mother strongly disapproves of Shancai due to her social status and family background, thus the former doing all things in order to break Shancai and Daoming Si's relationship.[7]
The protagonist of the story. A freshman at Ming De University's Department of Food Science & Nutrition. She also works part-time at a bubble tea shop with her best friend, Xiaoyou. Shancai is a strong-willed, compassionate and bold girl who doesn't allow herself or others to be bullied. After angering Daoming Si, she receives the sacred 'Joker' card from F4, challenging her to a match of Contract bridge. Initially, she likes Huaze Lei, a member of F4. However, after a series of events, Shancai is moved by Daoming Si's sincerity and starts developing feelings for him. Due to her fearless and loyal nature, she soon earns the respect of the F4 boys and becomes good friends with them. She is later stuck in a love triangle between Daoming Si and Huaze Lei.
The stubborn, hot-headed and arrogant leader of F4. Daoming Si is a senior at Ming De University's Department of Business Management. He comes from a wealthy and domineering family, and is being primed to take over the family's multinational corporation, Daoming Group. He took an interest in finance and earned his 1st million on the online stock market by the age of 18. He never fully matured, as his parents were absent for much of his life - his father died when he was in high school and hence, his mother was often busy overseas leading Daoming Group. At the beginning of the series, Daoming Si is spoiled, entitled and short-tempered, getting angry easily when something doesn't go his way. However, after an altercation with Shancai, he becomes smitten with her due to her defiant stance to his bullying ways. He strives to protect Shancai at all costs and is willing to go to extreme ends to keep her safe as he has fallen in love with her.
The talented and quiet member of F4. Huaze Lei is a senior at Ming De University's Department of Music, unlike the other 3 members of F4 who all study business. Also from a wealthy family, Huaze Lei has been friends with Daoming Si since they were young children. He is in love with his childhood friend, Teng Tangjing, who befriended him from a young age despite his quiet and withdrawn demeanour (due to his mild autism spectrum disorder). On the exterior, Huaze Lei appears cold, quiet, and indifferent to those outside his circle of friends. He later develops feelings for Shancai.
The playboy member of F4. Ximen is a senior at Ming De University's Department of Business Management, and an expert in tea culture. He is also a charming and prolific playboy, due to scars from his parents' failed relationship, his father's infidelity and an unresolved past with his first love. He later expresses interest in Shancai's best friend, Xiaoyou.
The mood-maker member of F4. Meizuo is a senior at Ming De University's Department of Business Management. He is lighthearted, enjoys making jokes, and has an incredible memory. Like Ximen, he is a flirtatious casanova. He expresses interest in Dong Shancai's impressive competitor in the Chinese Cuisine competition, Zhou Caina, who he dates for a while before letting her go to her true love.
In April 2017, Angie Chai announced the remake of Meteor Garden, which she produced in 2001.[1] Prior to the announcement, Barbie Hsu hinted at the news on her Weibo account. Chai planned on making the remake a "fuller —and flashier— adaptation of the books".[10] The drama was budgeted at 720 million New Taiwan dollars (about US$24 million) with 15 million per episode, thirty times higher than the original.[1][11]
A casting call was announced on social media on June 21, 2017 with a video and the topic, "#FindingF4".[12] On November 7, 2017, the actors playing F4 were revealed, namely Dylan Wang (Daoming Si),[13]Darren Chen (Huaze Lei),[14]Caesar Wu (Ximen Yan) and Connor Leong (Feng Meizuo).[15]Shen Yue's role as Dong Shancai was unveiled at a press conference in Shanghai on November 9.[16]
Dee Hsu auditioned for the role of Daoming Feng and was cast as Daoming Zhuang. The role of Daoming Feng was eventually portrayed by actress Wang Lin (Lilian Wang).[17]
In February 2018, it was announced that the director had been changed from Xu Fuxiang to Lin Helong.[2]
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