"The Heirs" Vs. "Boys Over Flowers"

Before "The Heirs" premiered, the drama's writer stressed that it was not a remake of "Boys Over Flowers."

"If I was going to write a drama to imitate "Boys over Flowers, I would not have cast Lee Min Ho in it," said writer Kim Eun Sook. "It's because I was so confident that this would be a completely different and more entertaining story that I asked Lee Min Ho to play a high school student again."

Now that "The Heirs" is half way over, it's time to take stock and see how it stacks up with Lee Min Ho's earlier hit drama.

The similarities are obvious. It's a story about rich kids attending an elite school. Some are bullies who intimidate those less fortunate. Check.

A poor girl gets to attend their school because of a scholarship and she faces discrimination there until she is taken under the protective wing of the previously not-so-nice popular guys. Another check. The poor girl Cha Eun Sang works several part time jobs and has to fill in for the maid at her rich boyfriend's home. Fortunately, she does not have to wear the silly maid outfit that Geum Jan Di wore in "Boys Over Flowers." Despite the embarrassing situations, she manages to keep her dignity intact.

The hero is supposed to marry a girl from his own class but must defy his family's expectations and prefer a poor girl. While both Kim Tan and some of his friends are not very nice, their interactions with Cha Eun Sang make them better people. Check. Check. Check.

But in defense of "The Heirs," these elements appear in many kdramas.

So, how is "The Heirs" different? There are a few differences, which are mostly positive. The drama is less like a manga and more like a "Gossip Girls" style story about mean rich people. There are interesting stories about the adults although few of them are likable. But that's not a bad thing because it shows how the kids inherited their bad attitudes.

Lee Min Ho's "Heirs" mom is not evil, just spoiled and ineffectual. And she's one of the few adults that is even marginally likable.

Lee Min Ho as Kim Tan is a much more appealing character from the very beginning. He's rich but he's not arrogant. Considering his background, he's down to earth and sensitive. His clothes and hair are hands-down more appealing than Gun Jun Pyo's, even though he now looks a little old to be playing a high school student.

Because the show is less like a manga, Park Shin Hye's character is more realistic. She's also cynical and cautious rather than over-the-top optimistic. Her pragmatic cynicism is appealing.

Second lead Kim Woo Bin is nothing like Kim Hyun Joong's Shi Hoo. In "Boys Over Flowers" it takes minutes to learn just how sensitive Shi Hoo is but Kim Woo Win's slow reveal of his sensitive side is more subtle and because of that much more interesting.

And "The Heirs" is not just a love triangle story. The drama is also about the relationship between Kim Tan and his former friend. It's about his relationship with his brother. A lot of healing needs to take place in his life and viewers really hope that happens.

Somehow, it's hard to imagine this drama with a vague "Boys Over Flowers" ending.

Do you agree? What do you think about the similarities and differences? Let us know.