Boys Over Flowers: Hana Yori Dango

[Prince Asbel]

Has anyone seen it? I want to talk to someone who has seen this series through because I need to feel safe about watching it further.

[yukoxholic]

I love Hana Yori Dango (or Boys Over Flowers). It's one of my favorite animes but as like most titles dealing with high school drama it has its share of melodrama and teen angst. If you've ever seen other animes in this genre like His and Her Circumstance and Peach Girl they follow the same premise.

Hana Yori Dango's Premise:
Girl gets accepted into prestigious school by good graces and not wealth, rich kids see her as an outsider, throw in some pretty boys, trouble ensues.

This anime is relatively clean but some of the issues Hana Yori Dango deals with are intended for older viewers. This anime deals with physical and mental abuse from her schoolmates as well as an attempted rape (which I do not believe is seen), some mild language, and teenage heartbreak. I think there are a few other issues but it's been awhile since I've watched this show and those are all I can think of. The situations I mentioned though are not proper for young children to be watching. So, I'd recommend this for 14 (heck even 13) and up.

I mean it's nothing ground-breaking in shoujo material but I think it's worth a watch. I enjoyed it! Also, I'd recommend reading the manga as the show doesn't technically go by it story-wise.

Hope this helps you in making your decision!

[Prince Asbel]

Okay. This is the info I want. I watched part of episode 2, and I stopped at the point where... You know. She is sexually assaulted on screen. Now I'm not bothered by psychological or physical abuse, or even sexual abuse (provided it happens off screen). But on screen is a big no-no for me. Can you tell me if episode 2 is the only one that has this, or if it's in different episodes?

[yukoxholic]

I am about 99.9% positive that besides that scene in episode 2 there are no other attempted rape/assault scenes. I believe it is just bullying after that. Though it has been awhile since I've seen this series as stated I'm close to 100% sure that is the only episode dealing with that issue but there is still that 1% uncertainty. XD

[Prince Asbel]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it.

[avidrkfan]

I haven't finished watching the series, but there is one other scene I know of where Makino winds up on the floor with the dark haired guy from the F4 on top of her. The worst that happens is that he removes her ribbon tie from her blouse and kisses her neck, but it is a bit disturbing. I think she loses a button too.

[Prince Asbel]

The big thing is the nudity, I guess. At points where it's present in movies I begin questioning myself (because I'm conscientious) and asking things like "Why am I continuing to watch this scene when I've made a commitment to avoid viewing things like cleavage and the like?", or "Is the producer doing this purposefully because it pleases the viewer?". If the whole series had that consistently through it, then I would question my purchasing it because it may send the signal that I approve of that material. I suppose it's okay at this point, I can't think of anything else in the series that bothers me.

Again, thanks a bunch, yukoxholic.