Barbie Hsu’s Meteor Garden Legacy
Barbie Hsu’s role as Shancai in Meteor Garden propelled her to superstardom. The TV series, adapted from the Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango , followed a middle-class girl navigating elite private school life and a love triangle with wealthy heirs. Her performance resonated with audiences, and she became a fashion icon for young women across the region.
The male co-stars from the series went on to form F4, a Taiwanese boyband that rose to fame alongside the show. Their music and appearances elevated Barbie and her co-stars to cultural icons, and Meteor Garden captured an entire generation. In the Philippines, the series aired repeatedly, and its dubbed versions in multiple local languages extended its global influence.
Even two decades later, the show remains beloved, with remakes in countries like Japan, South Korea, and China. Barbie’s performance as Shancai remains iconic and unforgettable.
Tributes to the Beloved Meteor Garden Star
On social media, fans poured their hearts out to pay tribute to Barbie Hsu. “She was only 48… this is so sudden,” noted one fan on the Chinese platform Weibo, while another wrote, “Big S has always been a part of my youth.”
Chart-topping Taiwan TV host Aya Liu wrote on Weibo about their last meet-up, saying, “I can’t believe that was our last gathering. Rest in peace, the most beautiful queen.”
The news of her death has also sparked conversations about influenza in Japan and the health risks stemming from illness. Many fans remembered her for her elegance and warmth, with many describing how Meteor Garden played an integral role in defining their youth.
Meteor Garden’s Enduring Impact
When Meteor Garden premiered in 2001, Taiwanese dramas were at the height of their international popularity. The series brought fresh storytelling by setting a modern love story in a high-school setting, akin to a contemporary Cinderella. Beyond TV ratings, it dictated regional trends in music, hairstyles, and fashion.
Songs from the show became hits, and its cultural footprint expanded thanks to dubbed versions and bootleg copies sold at roadside stalls. Barbie Hsu’s portrayal of Shancai gave life to a character that audiences rooted for, shaping generations of television history. For many, Meteor Garden remains a nostalgic touchstone, and Hsu’s passing represents the end of an era.
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