8 Reasons to Watch Hana Kimi - The Taiwanese Version

Have you ever thought about watching the Taiwanese version of Hana Kimi?

Were you, by any chance, discouraged - because you heard that the main actress (Ella Chen) is so bad that you’d want to gouge your own eyes out?

Yes, well. While there is some truth to that, (you may want to consider watching in a room with no sharp instruments) there are a number of really good reasons why this version of the Hana Kimi story is worth your time.

Could the 2006 Hana Kimi be something for you? Read on to find out!

(Please note that this article contains minor spoilers.)


 8. SHE can actually pass for a HE



So… the Ella thing. Let’s not beat around the bush.

I admit that I don’t always get the Taiwanese way of acting cute/aegyo/kawaii.
 There seems to be a lot of exaggerated facial expressions involved. Faces that one would normally only find among heavily medicated mental patients.

The most successful example of, what I like to call ”rubber-face-acting”, has to be Rainie - in Devil Beside You. When she does it, it’s completely adorable and funny.

When Ella does it? Weeeell, once you get over the initial shock of it and stop yourself from thinking - ”Dear GOD! What is she doing?” –  you should find yourself sinking into the story nicely. It doesn’t seem so bad after a while.

Also, you have to appreciate the fact that for all her over acting; Ella is the only version of this girl who does a convincing job out of passing for a guy.

 

7. Friendships & character development



Watching the friendship and trust between the two main leads bloom is as absorbing here as in any other version of this story, if not more. The way that they protect and depend on each other, as friends, is every bit as touching as the romantic undertones. (And those are present, and as addicting as ever.)

High jump athlete Yi Quan goes through a satisfying story arc: from prickly and withdrawn to more open and supportive. Even second male lead Xiu Yi receives some well deserved screen time to develop his story, which is a nice touch.

 

6. Utterly unmotivated ”accidental kissing”



Now… I don’t want to post an actual picture of this, for fear of spoiling too much.
This scene is unique to the 2006 Hana Kimi and is not present in the Korean nor Japanese versions.

Suffice to say that the Taiwanese seem to have funny ideas regarding re-hydration and life preserving techniques… I approve.

 

5. The doctor



The school doctor is a unicorn of a character. Rare and fabulous.
Not just because he happens to be a gay man, being portrayed in a (not uniformly but mostly) positive light… But because he’s an adult who is depicted with some personality and youthful qualities.

Instead of being the same old two-dimensional salary-man-type we usually see in youth dramas… this grown-up’s got some life in him yet!

And he has ”Bitch, I’m fabulous!” hair.

 

4. The romance

I ask you; is a drama where a person like this:



…is seen as cute and desirable by people like these:



…not worth seeing?

 

3. Fashion gone mad



I don’t know about you, but I think crazy outfits can add an enormous amount of entertainment value to dramas. *coughHEIRScough*

In Hana Kimi the kids are mostly wearing school uniforms. There are however some very funny exceptions.

 

2. Goth-kid 



Ever have that one dark classmate with weird hair, who talks about ghosts, death and creeps everyone out?

The kids in this school do. And it’s hilarious!

 

1. Yi Quan walks around without a shirt on. A lot.



Sorry. Can’t elaborate on this further. I think my ovaries just exploded.

 

Are you planning on watching? Or if you’ve already seen this; what was your favorite part?
Let me know in the comments.