Meteor Garden
A whirlwind romance where a resilient, ordinary girl clashes with an arrogant elite, sparking a vibrant storm of love, friendship, and defiance.
Meteor Garden
Meteor Garden

流星花园

09 July 2018 — 29 August 2018 China 1 season 50 episode Ended ⭐ 8.5 (593)
Cast: Shen Yue, Dylan Wang, Darren Chen, Liang Jingkang, Caesar Wu
Drama Family
Social Class and Inequality Perseverance and Resilience The Transformative Power of Love Friendship and Loyalty

Meteor Garden - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Dong Shancai

Shen Yue

Archetype: Heroine
Key Trait: Resilient

Motivation

Initially, her motivation is simply to survive university and protect her friends. This evolves into a powerful desire to stay true to her principles and not be intimidated by wealth or power. Ultimately, her primary motivation becomes her deep and unwavering love for Daoming Si, giving her the strength to face any obstacle put in their path.

Character Arc

Shancai begins as an ordinary, strong-willed girl determined to get through university quietly. Her clash with F4 forces her out of her shell, transforming her from a defiant victim into a proactive fighter for justice and love. Initially infatuated with the gentle Hua Ze Lei, her arc sees her slowly recognizing the sincerity beneath Daoming Si's aggressive exterior. She grows from a girl constantly reacting to F4's world to a woman who stands as Daoming Si's equal, weathering the storm of his mother's disapproval and ultimately choosing her own path with confidence.

Daoming Si

Dylan Wang

Archetype: Antihero
Key Trait: Passionate

Motivation

His initial motivation is based on pride and a desire to conquer the one girl who defies him. This quickly transforms into a genuine, all-consuming love for Shancai. Protecting her and earning her love becomes his sole focus, driving him to challenge his mother and fundamentally change who he is as a person.

Character Arc

Daoming Si starts as a quintessential arrogant and hot-headed heir who believes money can solve everything. His encounter with Shancai, who cannot be bought or intimidated, shatters his worldview. His arc is a journey of maturation, fueled by his love for her. He learns to control his temper, consider others' feelings, and understand that love requires sacrifice and effort, not just grand gestures. He evolves from a childish bully into a devoted partner willing to defy his family and forfeit his inheritance for the woman he loves.

Hua Ze Lei

Darren Chen

Archetype: The Confidant
Key Trait: Gentle

Motivation

Lei is motivated by a desire for peace and a deep-seated loyalty to his friends. While he briefly pursues his own happiness with Shancai, his core motivation is to protect the people he cares about. He often acts as a mediator and a source of comfort, particularly for Shancai when she is at odds with Si.

Character Arc

Hua Ze Lei is introduced as a quiet, gentle, and melancholic member of F4, initially pining for his childhood friend, Jing. He is the first to be kind to Shancai, and she develops a crush on him. His arc involves him learning to let go of his idealized love for Jing and developing genuine feelings for Shancai. He struggles between his loyalty to Daoming Si and his feelings for her. Ultimately, he gracefully steps aside, realizing Shancai and Si's love is true, and assumes the role of their most steadfast protector and friend, becoming a pillar of support for them both.

Ximen Yan

Caesar Wu

Archetype: The Playboy
Key Trait: Suave

Motivation

Ximen is motivated by a desire to avoid emotional pain, which manifests as his playboy persona. He seeks pleasure without commitment. His interactions with Xiaoyou challenge this motivation, forcing him to reconsider the possibility of genuine connection and confront his past regrets.

Character Arc

Ximen starts as a smooth-talking playboy, known for his expertise in tea ceremonies and his fleeting romances. He appears emotionally detached, viewing love as a game. His arc deepens when he meets Xiaoyou, Shancai's best friend. Through his connection with her, his past heartbreak is revealed, explaining his cynical view of love. While he ultimately doesn't end up with Xiaoyou, the experience forces him to confront his emotional walls and mature, showing a more vulnerable and sincere side.

Feng Meizuo

Liang Jingkang (Connor Leong)

Archetype: The Charmer
Key Trait: Jovial

Motivation

Meizuo is motivated by friendship, loyalty, and the enjoyment of life. He is often the peacemaker and the one who tries to keep the mood light. His pursuit of Caina shows a deeper desire for a meaningful connection, even if it ends in disappointment.

Character Arc

Meizuo is the fun-loving, jovial member of F4, often seen alongside Ximen. He has a talent for art and a laid-back personality. His character arc is given more depth through his storyline with Zhou Caina, a skilled chef. His unrequited love for her forces him to experience emotional vulnerability and heartbreak for the first time. Although he doesn't win her heart, the experience matures him, and he remains a loyal and supportive friend to the rest of F4, ending the series with a hopeful outlook on finding his own love.

Cast

Shen Yue as Dong Shancai
Dylan Wang as Dao Mingsi
Darren Chen as Hua Zelei
Liang Jingkang as Feng Meizuo
Caesar Wu as Xi Menyan
Li Jiaqi as Jiang Xiaoyou
Liu Yinhao as Chen Qinghe
Sun Yihan as Teng Tangjing
Sun Qian as He Yuanzi
Wang Lin as Dao Mingfeng
Dee Hsu as Dao Mingzhuang
Dong Xin as Li Zhen
Lin Peng as Shan Cai's Father
Zhang Li as Shan Cai's Mother
Wang Runze as Tian Ye