Cherry Blossoms after Winter

con"gay"tulations, it was a show

it is i, the niel.

this show had warm, feel-good vibes. it was a chill watch. unfortunately, it was nothing. there was nothing stand-out bad about it but there was also nothing stand-out good about it...because it was nothing. if this is your favorite bl, i can respect that. i can truly understand why people would like this and find it comforting.

i, on the other hand, want a more robust plot. i need a little more than will they won't they will they kiss? also, i need the mc to stop being useless and stand his ground instead of being such a pushover. it is frustrating when haebom starts off so much more independent than he is after the relationship with taeseong is established. there is only one instance where haebom stands up for himself, and that's simply when he screams "stop!" at the school bully. even in that moment, taeseong still steps in.

i also appreciate that they try and address some amount of prejudice that queer couples face, but it's a pretty brief conflict and ultimately unnecessarily extends the storyline without really addressing the reality of bias against the queer community. i don't think all shows *need* to live in a reality where homophobia exists, but if the show is establishing the presence of homophobia, including it so briefly undermines/minimizes the reality of it. it almost felt like generic filler.

it's not outright bad, but it's not for me. hooray!!

best,

the niel.

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Back to Basics. Simple and sweet with a little cheese.

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ ꜱʏꜱᴛᴇᴍ: 9.5 = [ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ, ɢᴏᴏᴅ ꜱʜᴏᴡ]

It's really simple and straightforward, without any unrealistically convoluted story lines of revenge or dangerous people lurking around doing weird things. Also, there are no toxic story lines of backstabbing or blackmail or devious characters and there are no non-con elements either.

It's very, very normal really. Not much drama of any kind and the characters are ordinary, everyday sorts of people with normal feelings, which may not be everyone's cup of tea. If you like something with more action or drama, this will not satisfy you. The two ML's have over all good communication, there wasn't too much delay or hemming and hawing about their feelings and there were some valid reasons for their hesitations, like emotional, social and family considerations.
Aside from that it's very soft and fluffy and sweet, also very bright (I had to dim my screen in some scenes because of the lighting) and there are many softness effects.

I don't mind this kind of show at all, and I might have given it a 10, but I don't like the 'simp' vibe they gave Tae Sung, it annoyed me. I don't enjoy the 'give up one's whole life' for a lover/partner idea. It's too desperate for my tastes.
That's my only complaint.

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Not the best adaptation, but a wonderful drama!

I was a huge fan of the webtoon so when I saw it was getting an adaptation I was over the moon. With that in mind, I obviously had a lot of expectations and couldn't stop comparing it to the source material which doesn't do this justice. There were a lot of differences and I realized if I didn't just think of it as a separate entity then I wouldn't be able to enjoy it. With all that said, that's why I found it way more enjoyable on my second watch, because I just watched it as a cute drama and not an adaptation.
The actor playing Haebom is SO adorable, it's honestly devastating.
They're a bit (extremely) stiff and awkward at first, but in the second half of the drama they get over that and loosen up a lot. I suppose they were supposed to be uncomfortable together, so it makes sense, but with the way it was done it just seemed like the actors themselves were rigid.
I love the dynamic switch up after they officially begin dating though, because Taesung becomes such a brat in the most unexpected and cute way, and I think it was done very well! Plus Haebom gets more confident in their interactions, so we get to see a lot of sweet moments. There were a couple questionable things on Taesung's part, but he addressed that he was in the wrong so I guess that's good?
The music is alright, nothing too memorable. Production wise, there are a couple shots that don't look great, but nothing too egregious.
I can't really seem to give a full on proper review of this since I'm mostly just gushing, but it's just that sweet! When you're in the mood for a lighthearted, adorable, easy watch that's guaranteed to have lots of wholesome moments, this is perfect for that.

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Soft, sweet

I am a huge fan of Bls (obviously) and KBLs never fail to impress me. CBAW was definitely in 'I love it' category.

Story : Taesung and Haebom have known each other since they were children. For Taesung, Haebom is his everything, even though he is in a lot of denial. But while he does fall first, Haebom does fall harder. TS allows HB to grow, to become stronger, to become his own person, all the while taking care of him and loving him unconditionally. Which is exactly what HB needed. He is not weak, just a bit soft because he has always felt indebted to TS's family. However in no way does that step back when he realises that he could lose TS. He comes beautifully into his own when he takes a stand for their love. And that is something I just loved in this story. It was never about not liking TS, it was just about disappointing TS's mom. And the lack of toxicity in this drama between the two leads just floored me.

Cast : I can't say enough about the cast. Both Jin-Uk and Kang Hui are superb. Their chemistry is off the charts. I love the characters of Ji-a and Yong-hee. Friendships should be like that, completely supportive. For a moment, in the initial episodes, I got the feeling that Yong-hee likes TS, but it was just jealousy over a friend a guess. I loved the fact that Jin-Uk and Kang Hui are really cute and pleasant in real life as well.

Chemistry : The chemistry of the lead pair is off the charts. And that is an understatement. HB is the softness to TS's rough edges. They just fit so well. The kisses are not ridiculous or unwanted and desire is an always burning lamp between them, which is something rare in a KBL. HB is always blushing when it comes to TS, and TS is always possessive of his love. The dream sequence is the sweetest. I wish they had done a longer love making session, but whatever was presented was adorable.

Music : The music is not very memorable, but it didn't detract from the story or the plot, so I guess it was okay in its own way.

Things I would want to change : Some story strings were not tied up to my liking. For ex, HB's bully suddenly disappeared, the girl who like TS in college disappeared, YH and Ji-a's story.. I felt that quite a few things were left hanging.

But all in all... I loved this drama and will recommend it all and sundry!

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Shaky start but blossoms sweetly

I enjoy how HaeBom grew and changed as a characters, starting with a doormat personality, but grew to stand up for himself and take the initiative to do things that will make himself happy rather than defer to other people's will. I really like how the costume department very subtly changed up his styling and wardrobe as he matured and got more confident.

I feel the worst for HaeBom who lost his family and was so thoroughly rejected and given a cold shoulder by his only friend for 12 years while living in the same house. TaeSung is partly to blame for HaeBom becoming like this although he rejected HaeBom becoming his brother because he already knew he loved him in a different way even as a child, 12 years of not being friends with him left HaeBom isolated.

Even though HaeBom is the one with the most changes, kudos to TaeSung's steadfast love and support once he snaps out of his 12 years of frosty coldness when he realizes he may forever separate from HaeBom once they go into university. He really is the one that loves HaeBom the most in this world. He did learn that he enjoy baking too, good for him.

EunSun is a single mom who works hard and loves both her kids and even though she had a hard time accepting them as a couple immediately, it came from fearing that they will have a hard time in society rather from hatred within herself. TaeSung's besties are great, it's nice to see his guy friend YoungHee so accepting and encouraging.

I was happy to see HaeBom be the one proposing even though TaeSung was the first to say he would later, there is no binary separation of roles for them. It's also sweet that this couple gets that far whereas most k bl/lgbt dramas are loves pretty much end the story of when the couple has just gotten together.

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A feel good series with no angst and drama

For no reason that I can think of I have been ignoring this series but finally I decided to give it a watch and I am glad that I did. This series is kind of different from many other BL series that I have watched. So what makes this one different

Story: In simple terms it's about two boys that live under the same roof, stay aloof from one another but certain circumstances brings them together and love blossoms. Since it is an 8 episode series things move at a faster pace. Limitedtime is being spent to show the backstories of the 2 main characters and in more ways than one their personalities are relatable. The story could have been fleshed out but due to lack of time they decided to cut to the chase and just show the bare minimum. Like there being a bully in school tormenting one of the leads and you feel you have your antagonist but then he is no where to be found after a couple of episodes

No 3rd Act break-up: Every love story usually goes through the 3rd act break-up. Misunderstanding, family or society pressure, conflict between the leads and many other reasons are shown almost close to the ending for the 2 leads to break-up and then they get together in the final episode. There is no problem in showing that, its just that with limited episodes it always seems rushed. In this series we feel that we are nearing the third act break-up thanks to the mom but then no such thing occurs. The 2 leads always remain together. It was new and refreshing and I was happy about that but also it made me feel that the idea was to not show any drama. So I was glad but not content with this

In conclusion, the 2 actors did a fabulous job and showed great chemistry together. The story could have been managed well with certain parts fleshed out like the bully and the flower shop owner. But if you are looking for a no non-sense, less drama show that do give this one a chance. You will come out feeling good

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want cute actors and sweet story - perfect series

I just love this series from episode first episode to last. One of the best series in my list.

The story is perfect.Its short and sweet. It is also the perfect series for beginners. You will understand the meaning of shoes and sweet by watching this series. It's not much emotional but a bit emotional. But there is 10000% sweetness.

The actors are the best. Bottom is cute , innocent, sweet💫💗. Top is hot, aggressive and protective🍀🌼. As every series their acting is also damn good.

10000001% worth to watch it . Trust me you will not waste your time .

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"Love comes in many forms and is different for everyone"

I think this was my second or third time watching this BL but my opinion didn't change... and if it did, it only got better 'cause I think this series is one of that type of show that grows in us.
This series is so cute and easy to watch, I love the chemistry between the actors and the way that the history flows is amazing.
TaeSung is really something, he's so hard to read I think that if it didn't had some TaeSung "povs" I would keep living my life without knowing what he was really thinking about. Even though he was this way, his love for HaeBom was always so honest that it hurted sometimes seeing him "admire" HaeBom from afar. Something that I don't understand and didn't enjoyed on the series was the way he changed after he started dating HaeBom... like, I know love change us but that was a bit too much, hide your feelings for someone is hard but that justifies why he was so cold for everyone all the time, after he confessed his feelings for HaeBom we saw a different face of TaeSung, not only towards his boyfriend but with everyone, including his mom with whom he didn't had a great relationship.
HaeBom, just like Troye Sivan says "Baby, you're my angel", this is exactly what I feel about him, he's so precious but he's kinda dumb and slow hahahhaha, he's a softie baby if I could keep him in my pijama's pocket I would do it, he deserves being protected at all costs and no one is better to do that than his hottie boyfie ahahhh
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I really like this series, it makes me feel confortable and loved at some point I don't know how to explain it, it kinda feels like home...

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The series is worth watching again and again ...

I have watched this series for almost 5 times ....even then I m not bored ....this story is not just a school love story .the love Tae song have for hae bom is out of the world....he love him so much .....they both have great chemistry and the height difference is ♥️.....the drama is well directed that no one will get bored in any scenes.....haebom also collected courage to accept his love for Tae song...even...i have doubt that if TS Mom say haebom to break up then he will...but I m glad the writers did not this time......I love both Tae song and Haebom....as well as Tae song friend....

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Too Many Manhwa Concepts for a Live Action Adaptation

Cherry Blossoms After Winter is a nice BL drama, but it has too many manhwa style plot points that it's better left on paper than in live action.

That being said, while most of this review will be a little critical, the drama isn't bad, especially the ending. The drama would be a better anime, rather than a live action.


PLOT:

As an young child, Haebom was left orphaned. However, he was adopted by Taeseong's mother, who was his mom's best friend. Despite Taeseong and Haebom being friends when they were children, after the adoption they grew apart. Taeseong is handsome and very popular, while Haebom feels he is inferior.

In their senior year of high school Taeseong and Haebom are put in the same class, where Taeseong learns that Haebom is being bullied at school. Despite the fact they live together, Taeseong hasn't really communicated with Haebom since his adoption. He feels the need to protect Haebom, while Haebom rejects the offer for protection, saying he only has one more year of high school. Haebom feels very grateful to Taeseong and his family that he doesn't want to cause them any more trouble, and is thinking of moving out after senior year. Taeseong isn't exactly happy about Haebom leaving, nor is he happy that Haebom doesn't mind being bullied.

As stated earlier, this drama has a lot of plot points that are better suited for manhwa or webtoons.
- Childhood Friends to Adopted siblings
- Adopted Sibling Love (Not really incest since they are not blood related)
- Bullying
- Non-con Kisses
- Popular Boy loves Bullied Nerd
- One-sided Love for over 10 years'
- High School Lover's Storyline
- College Lover's Storyline (My favorite!!)

While the plot points above don't hinder the drama, it does feel make it feel unrealistic, especially when you look at how each of the characters are portrayed. Haebom is innocent and naïve. He takes in all of the bullying and is surprisingly positive about it. Taeseong is stoic and has all of the girls screaming at him. He also is very attractive, strong, and rich. Even his mother is kind, caring, supportive, and totally not involved with her children's lives that she doesn't know Taeseong and Haebom haven't spoken to each other in ages and don't get along very well.

However, the magic of BL is still there and this drama is a good one time... or maybe two time watch. Taeseong's love for Haebom and all of the ways Taeseong protects and stands by Haebom is really the stuff of dreams. While I wasn't a fan of the high school storyline, I really enjoyed it once they got into college. In college, Taeseong is more expressive and really becomes a prince. Even Haebom surprises everyone by standing up to Taeseong's mom, and even proposing to Taeseong. Haebom, who had been hiding under Taeseong's love all this time, decided to wear his big boy pants and express his love to Taeseong! Finally!! Haebom makes the ending so adorable and sweet. I wish we had more time to see how them as mature adults, rather than as students.


Haebom x Taeseong

Haebom and Taeseong are adorable as a couple. During the high school storyline, they are very 2D, stereotypical manhwa characters, but in the college storyline, they grow out of it and become more expressive. In high school, Taeseong wasn't really leading man material. He did have the usual high school kinkga/princely thing going for him, but the moment he non-consensually put his hand on Taeseong, that really ruined his character for me. In college, though, he did redeem himself by being completely devoted to Haeboom without being very overprotective of him, so I enjoyed his character a lot. Haebom, on the other hand, doesn't really have a big character change, so in the ending when he puts on his big boy pants and expresses his love for Taeseong is a little left field for me. It closed the drama nicely, so all's well, but if we got to see him being more expressive leading up to him standing up to Taeseong's mom would have been great. Either way, they are a cute couple.


ACTING:

The acting here isn't very terrible, but Haebom was a little too mousy to be realistic. Other than that the acting was decent. Not terrible, but not great.


MUSIC:

I hated the music choices for most of the drama. The music itself isn't bad, but it felt like the production staff hired a high schooler from the 00s to choose the music. The music choices felt very amateur compared to the rest of the production.


OVERALL:

Cherry Blossoms After Winter was a nice BL. It was fun to watch, but it definitely didn't feel realistic. I would love to see an anime version of this instead though. Taeseong was very cute and adorable once he matured, so I want to see more of him. Also that ending!! I really, really wish we could see more Taeseong and Haebom as adults. Their student lives were dramatic, but their adult lives look like it would be a dream come true. I really would like to see it. We really don't need a second season, but maybe a special episode just to see what happens after the finale episode.

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Very cute, but... (well done spoilers)

TL;DR - If you're wondering whether to watch this or not, I would still recommend you to do it, but be aware that it has some questionable elements.

Let's break down the story first. Actually, let's not do that since the writers already did that. By this I mean that the story is one of the things which I found pretty odd. The plot of the series is very simple. Two childhood friends who live in the same house avoided each other before they turn to lovers. A classical trope, which I'm here for. Where this falls flat (or, more accurately, odd) is in the delivery. There are just too many plot holes for this scenario to work. They've been living together for like 10 years, but they avoided each other the entire time? Sounds pretty unreasonable to me. In fact, not only did they avoid each other at home, but also in school, too? Up to the point where not a single soul knew they lived together? Not even the ML's best friends? I really had to suspend disbelief on this one (and many other things like this). Also, the subplots rarely made sense and some of the scenes felt really weird - to be precise, a lot of the times the story would jump from one situation to another without a thread connecting them. That being said, not all is bad. There's a decent amount of fluff which deepens their romance (before and after they get together), the story does progress beyond high-school, which was nice and kind of unusual to see, etc. The scenes that follow the main storyline do progress the plot, and the romance HIGHLY influences the character arcs, which I believe is the most important thing in the story.

Characters. MC is the cutest little bean for whom, even though he may be a tad too meek throughout the story, you really want to root for. A huge part of that I attribute to the actor's talent. I think his acting skill fascinated me the most. He does "grow up" into a more independent, mature adult, which is lovely to see. Also, this couldn't have been the case without the ML's love for him, which I think is the only way the romance should influence a character's growth. The ML is your standard popular guy in high school, who acts like he doesn't care for the MC, That is, until he learns that they will be separated after the MC turns 18 and leaves his house. He then jumps on the mission to befriend him (again?) and to cultivate a romantic relationship between them. We learn pretty early that he is in love with the MC, and he was really vocal about it, which was refreshing. I hate when the MLs brood for the entire series only to "reveal" they've been in love with the MC since forever. The ML also has a nice character arc, which is basically bonding with his mother (who he doesn't feel the real, motherly love from; which he kind of doesn't). Again, this transformation would not be possible without the MC supporting him. Now onto the negatives; it isn't all peachy, unfortunately. Pretty early they confess to each other and even kiss, but under the influence of alcohol, only for the MC to not remember it the next morning and for the ML to be furious about it. This results in ML literally assaulting MC, which I despised seeing. I cringed so hard, especially because MC was bullied in the school. Luckily (I guess?), ML immediately realised his wrongdoings and apologised, but it still left a bad taste. Also, the mother's "arc" was just not believable. She literally shipped them from the get-go, but when she learned about their relationship, she flips out, attacks them, and starts drinking heavily for literally no reason. Everything we've seen coming from her until that point could only lead us to believe she would accept them instantly. She literally saw them sleeping in the same bed together and was like "yass queens" only to tell how the world would not understand their love 3 minutes later. It didn't make sense, but, oh well.

Overall: Even though there are some shortcomings in the story and the characters, I really quite liked the rest of the show. The fluffy scenes are particularly well done and you would absolutely believe that these people love and care for each other. I like seeing them go from kinda-strangers in teenage-hood to lovers all the way into the adulthood, which I rarely see. I'm not sure if I want to rewatch it again, but I'm glad that I watched it this one time.

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