The Blossoming Love (2025)

? The Romance Was On But Went Off In The Middle ?

Question: are you here for pure romance and justice? Then you can watch from EP 1 to 28 and exit as soon as possible, but if you are not bent on the pure romance and justice then this review is not for you.. And you will have no problem watching to the end.

The series is masterful from ep 1 to 28, the chemistry is second to none and the FL was on a different level that you can't help forgetting the existence of time when watching her on the screen. Those episodes are the ones I saved on my device which I can rewach many times without getting bored...

#Importance notice 🔔

I gave any reviews with no bias and under this review, you get the most honest answer to whatever your curiosity on the romance Arc. And how the writer wants to manipulate and fed the audience with Lies while showing the opposite. You can check my bio to get a clear picture on how I write critiques on fiction with my standards and respect in relationship...

NOTE: this review is solely on the Romance Arc and the injustice done to the ML which is helpful to those who came for pure romance and justice. Other than that and the dramatic illogical ending, every other Aspect of the show are super good which you can judge from my star rating 🌟

#Quick info:

。First half of the show ::: FL and ML got more screen time (With A decisive FL)

。Sec. half of the show ::: FL and SML got more screen time (With An Indecisive FL)

。Throughout the show ::: Obsessive, Manipulative, Simpin, Stalker and Annorying Evil SML (With a manipulated Love Triangle)

。Marriage ::: SML and FL got married in Ep 30 in a forced marriage by the Evil SML which the FL shows no resistance to it.

。Star crossed and Fated Love Arc ::: The writer claimed this is a star crossed lovers and fated lovers Arc between the ML and FL. But is a lie, this is about the Evil SML and FL. They have been companions for generations of years in ambiguity.

。Injustice ::: The biggest injustice was done to the ML in this drama, all his heroic work and credit was given to the Evil-SML who was suddenly whitewashed from all his evil.. He was a last minute made up Artificial-Hero. An evil villain that is above consequences and retribution.... The writers force-feeded manipulated lies towards the audience...

。Ending EP 39 40 is not a Plot-Twist but Lies ::: A Dramatic ending with no existence of logics. What happened with the sudden Artificial-Hero (Evil SML) is not a plot Twist, is an utterly force-feeded manipulated lies against the audience, making us look stupid....... Waited for his deadly punishments for his evil, but the writer sudden made him a "misunderstood hero and misguided lover" in the last minutes.... Story for the kids 👎


⚠️____ EP 29 to 40 reviews specifically____⚠️

#Any Love Triangle?:

. FL's only realistic Feelings are only when she is with SML and her sympathy and care for him (she is comfortable with all intimate and ambiguous interactions with SML).... But Her interactions with ML seems fake and unrealistically forced,. No matter how they forced it on the screen, It looks absolutely Fake.
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. Even though the writer want to deceive us with no love triangle, but in reality this drama is a love triangle and the Relationship with FL and ML feels cheated due to FL's ambiguous interactions with SML... The atmospheric tension for romance became different whenever she's with SML

. This show is a good definition of (say the opposite and does the opposite)
On the way, Every thing the writer want to prove to the audience on the screen was totally lies... (force-feeding us with "white" when the real intension is "black") the illicit action and ambiguous interactions of the FL and SML says otherwise.
Especially in how the show portrayed the Evil-SML toxic behavior. Here's a clearer and more straightforward review:

#The Second Male Lead’s Dangerous Psycho Obsession:

. The SML wasn’t just a psycho jerk; his actions were dangerous and toxic. He committed terrible crimes including many evil deeds against the male lead (ML), who was a true Hero and supposed to be the true love interest of the female lead (FL).
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He does every stupid things out of jealousy and his obsessive love for FL, even though the serie wants to prove otherwise while whitewashing him, but his actions and emotions proved the opposite. And only kids will fall for those manipulated fed lies by the Writer.

. Instead of showing all his evil actions as unacceptable, the series tried to frame them as "Misunderstood Hero and misguided lover," in the guise of doing his Benevolent duty which was very misleading and contradicting from his evil actions.
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By doing this, the show made it seem like stalking, manipulation, lies, deception, framing and obsession could somehow be excused as Heroism and misguided love or Some made up last minute Artificial-Hero.

#The Female Lead’s Poor Boundaries:

. From Ep 1 to 28: The FL was able to set a clear boundaries with the obsessive psycho by not sending any wrong signals to him. Making the first half of the serie outstanding and super fantastic with the leads-focus and electrifying chemistry ⚡

. From EP 29 to EP-40: The FL fell from the ladder and character inconsistency. Her response to the SML’s actions made things worse. Instead of setting clear boundaries or condemning his actions, she often sympathized with him and even supported him.
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For example, in episode 36, she allowed the SML to romance her face while she seems to be enjoying his romance. She also transferred half of her powers to him only just to heal his injuries (she can't afford to see him hurt), even when he had killed and hurt the ML and caused his immense suffering multiple times throughout 10,000 years.
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Her every decisions to help and care for the Evil SML, despite his terrible actions, felt unrealistic for some one who keep advocating how much she love the ML in her speech but does the opposite in her emotions and actions. Which begs the authencitic of her commitment in a relationship with ML

. Her grief and deep emotional cry-out in EP 40, when the Evil-SML dies in his Hypocritical Noble-Sacrifice, she showed a deep emotional connection to him, even though he had caused so much harm to ML who she claimed she love. This portrayal made her look indecisive and even confused about what she truly wanted, she didn't grieve this way when SML killed ML, in fact, she didn't grieve at all but still help SML and even married him.
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I don't want to talk about EP 29 30 where she shows no resistance against the forced marriage with SML after the ML died, they even had the audacity to call it "Marriage Funeral"... Oh yes! They are Officially married couple for completing the last bow in the Chinese marriage culture.

# Redemption Without Accountability and Injustice towards the ML

. One of the biggest flaws on the drama was how it handled the SML’s redemption. Throughout the serie, he was clearly the most veil evil villain, but at the last minutes, the story suddenly later tried to whitewash and present him as a "Noble misunderstood hero and misguided lover".
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He then Suddenly became An undercover hero sacrificing everyone including ML to save the world Oh! that's normal isn't? Yet another manipulated fed lies by the Writer while portraying the opposite.

. Instead of giving real consequences or regret for his evil actions, the SML’s redemption came from one dramatic, sacrificial Hypocritical Noble-Act that was supposed to make up for every evil things he had done.
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Such a Hypocritical Noble-Act of dying to save the FL and the world despite all his evil actions is an utterly nonsense and garbage move by the Writer. Logics was no where to be found...

. This ignored all the pain he have caused to the world, especially to the ML, who had suffered for 10,000 years because of him . The show failed to hold him accountable for his actions, making it seem like forgiveness didn’t require any real change or apology, just so he is a last minutes made up "Artificial Hero" and so be it. Every reason is justified.
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The injustice done to ML who is the real example of "Hero" was defeating and there was no retribution towards the master evil who have killed him multiple times through different reincarnational circles, only for the purpose of jealousy and his obsession towards the FL which the writer wants to blush to fool everyone by proving the otherwise.

#Confusing Love and Relationship Loyalty

The FL’s feelings were inconsistent and confusing throughout the 2nd half of series and At the same time, her affection for the ML only seemed clear when he was still "Xie Xue Chen(XXC)", making her love feel conditional and selective, debunking any true-meaning of reincarnated and fated love Arc. This left me unsure of who she truly loved, creating frustration instead of emotional depth.
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Ironically but the FL couldn't accept all the versions of the ML but she can accept SML in every form. Which is enough to prove she didn't truely love ML deeply the way she advocate it, is just the writer forcing things the opposite way.
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The biggest plot mess at the End and the dramatic illogical Ending will be highly remembered, the writer is the most laziest of all time.
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Overall FL's only realistic feelings on the screen are her sympathy with SML and the ambiguous Intimate interactions between them which she enjoys.. At this point who cares if she ended up together with ML, which is almost none because there was only 5 minutes happy ending after all this nonsense..

# Problematic Messaging and Conclusion

To sum up things, The 2nd half of the serie couldn't tell a satisfying or meaningful love storytelling. It did not provide justice for the characters, especially the ML, and sent troubling messages about love and forgiveness.
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By excusing harmful behavior and justifying all the evil actions of the SML and his unhealthy manipulated-relationships while at the same time misleading and denying the true-meaning of what is showing to the audience, the show missed the chance to tell a powerful and positive love storytelling.
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In the end, the series did not only just failed in romance Arc but also damaging in its portrayal of relationships and personal accountability. Which left me frustrating with psychological disorder. Justice for the ML!!! ⚖️ ⚖️

Tips ::: you might want to read the extended spoilers...
Direct-Links to important extended (spoilers) under this review comment area 🤗🤗
1) https://kisskh.at/profile/Jenny.park/review/422832#comment-20419488
2) https://kisskh.at/profile/Jenny.park/review/422832#comment-20412406

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was mostly a 10/10, but sigh….

was mostly a 10/10, but sigh the plot went downhill after ep 30. I’ll separate my reviews in parts I think

1) first off, in general
- I think the coloring, scenery and cinematography was good and beautiful
- I loved the costume and I really like the hairstyle on FL
- I loved the music
- everyone’s acting was good
- CGi was good to me and fighting scenes too

2) eps 1-29 :

I was hooked at their first encounter. I liked their fighting scene too
Cold ML, that will fall hard and soften, more bubbly flirty FL. Totally my type.
The development and the interactions between the leads was very good to me. How she was following him, flirting with him, him wanting to go way. Them slowly falling for each other. I think their chemistry was very good, their dynamic was also perfect

When ML fell, he fell hard. He would do anything for her.
- After she was imprisoned in that cold prison and they wanted to kill her, hated her. He defended her, went against the other, claiming she was one of Snow city people (one of his people). She was ready to die for him, but no he was gonna save her at all cost. And he did, he took out the demoniac power in her and make her gain spiritual power back. Even the people in snow city, accepted her back
- I have to say, I really loved ML smile and how he looked at her❤️
- She hurt him many times (even if it was intentional or she wasn’t herself). He was never mad at her, he never gave up on her, he knew she wasn’t like that. After she forgot all emotions, he did everything to get her emotions back. It was a bit reversed here it was funny, now it was her who wanted to go away and him not letting her go. Even without her emotions, her heart didn’t forget him, that was good how she had some heartache because of him.
- when she died, that made me so emotional. When he was climbing the stairs, I honestly started crying. He loved her so bad, was ready to do everything to get her back. And then, he sacrificed himself for her, I also cried here. Even the divine dude cry, that was something
FL too, she was ready to die for him and how she literally died for him, giving him the talisman from SMl because she wanted him to live… another heartbreaking moment

In general, their love story really touched me. How much they loved each other, how much they wanted to protect and do anything for each other, even sacrificing their life for each other. I was really feeling their love for each other. They also understood each other. She understood his duty and how important it was for him to protect the world. She wanted to continu protecting the world for him after he died. That episode when Sang Qi when to get her in snow city, he went back to save the village instead of saving FL right away. She understood. Like him, knew what she wanted

At the beginning I liked the friendship with SML even if later on I hated this guy… No one can make me like him

Bao was so cute, I loved every interaction with FL

Never really dislike the SFL and I liked the development and how they formed a friendship. We didn’t get much, but I like the little love story with Fu Lang

I think the story was flowing nicely and well writing, I think the plot was engaging for the most part, maybe a bit more slow in snow city, but still enjoyed it.
There was really good other parts to me, like :
- How they went with FL being the caos pearl, that episode where they revealed this and the flashbacks, I really loved that episode, think it was well written
- the time travel was well done
- how it was ML all along, when we saw it was him that went back in the past to meet FL when she was a kid and he was her ge ge all along. How it was actually her who saved his life too in the past
- Sang Qi : I liked his story later on, I truly felt bad for him when we learned what happened. the betrayal and the misunderstanding… a tragic love story. She ended her life because she thought he was dead and didn’t wanna be forced to marry someone else. When he learned she never betrayed him… Then he sacrificed himself for FL, he was like a father to her even if he did hurt her more than once, can’t deny that. I liked this ending for him
- Fu Lang parents : I liked how they showed a bit their story and spend some screentime on them. They were bickering and all that, but in the end, truly loved each other. Their last few moments make me emotional and cry a bit, another tragic love story…
- the other couple in the forest : that was seriously such a depressing story. Her, reliving the same day forever ? him, her shadow accompanying her all the time, but never being able to see each other. How she never knew he actually loved her. A misunderstanding from the past that will not be solve… how they introduced the the dude and how you can go there and make a wish, how it all link to later on when he went there to save FL.

3) ZM and pearl (past life)

That was definitely too long…

There was some cute moments between the leads, but don’t think it was well written to really feel their story. Screentime wasted on more useless things too

Interesting how ZM personality was

I like the little time on second couple, tragic end. How they were also like fated and meet again/fell in love in their second life. How what they wished for the other came true.

Probably exaggerating😅😅 but too much importance on FL and SML story that I honestly didn’t give a damn about, could have cut some moments of that. I’m the last 10 eps, felt more like FL and SML story than FL and ML

Only thing that I think was somehow interesting in this was how everything was fake, the fake memories regarding ZM actions in the book of fate and in ZM + everyone memories. Also FL going over there and crashing out killing all of them after ZM imprisonment was cool😎 and then giving like f**k you to SML was satisfying

Will finish the last arc another day, the most disappointing part of the drama…

4) last arc in the present + ending :
Weeks later ahaha should I finally finish this review 😂 what did I even wanted to say, gonna go in general, it’s far in my mind

They changed the sypnosis, wish it was this one since the beginning, it was misleading… it was something like « she uses the power of love to blah blah blah… after ML comes back as the demon Lord » this is not what happened. This was something that really disappointed me : they really separated past and present. Mu Xuan Ling and Pearl never became one, just like both version of ML (even if maybe they did at the very end…). I thought this would be about both of them like merge, being both and loving both of the other lead version. But no, after XXC died and his soul got back to ZM, she was like he his dead, etc… I thought she would go to the demon world to help him, fight for him because in the end he is still XXC and both of the version her 2 self loved, but that never happened. Don’t know if I am being clear😂😂 I was excited about demon ML, but that was disappointing in the end. Didn’t like how they went with the plot in the last few episodes and the sparks and love for the romance between the leads I was loving was mostly gone

SML was still annoying as hell. When she saved him by giving him half her power🙄🙄 I know why she did it, but just no girl. He’s still the one who did all that in the past and literally caused your death and the death of the person you love. it’s also like she could somehow recognized/accept him as NXY and TMS, but not XXC and ZM? Why again making the SML have some kind of hero dead, rolling my eyes… Cdramas writers have been doing this lately when the SML doesn’t deserve it.

Classic annoying 5 min happy ending that gives nothing. Honestly when she said « who are you » (I think that’s what she said, it’s been a while), I rolled my eyes again, it shouldn’t matter, but showing again how they really separate the characters. This could have been at the middle of the episode, I can agree it was still a beautiful scene under the tree and the come back to the tree blossoming and then could have giving us an aftermath… like them living happily, a wedding, I don’t know anything!!!!! Most writers have 0 imagination and don’t wanna give what watchers actually want

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