NO0 CONCUBINES !!!
As a person who has watched every modern drama out there and finally decided to give a true historical drama a chance after the pure fucker of the sword and the brocade,and dream back to the Qing dynasty, I thought historical dramas weren't for me. But this, oh this. Beautiful show called Blossom. It deserves my first review. It's so interesting, there's no stupid magic, stupid politics that overpowers the romance. WE HAVE A STRONGGGG FLLLL. We have a man who understands heck he can read her mind. Just wonderful. I hate the scheming step-mum trope so much but the way this show did it was wonderful. i failed to complete fall in love due to how the fl was being trampled on by the step mum and step sis. Here her sis is better her mum's awful but she is so strong and it doesn't overpower anything. i must say this show has no cheap drama its so good. the cinematics, everything. if u have been put of historical dramas due to the men collecting wives like Pokémons this drama is for u. perfect chemistry, perfect aesthetics oh and I'm talking perfect speed, the ending is so good aswell.NO BREAKUPS.Was this review helpful to you?
An extremely beautiful must watch C-Drama
I initially watched this series because of Li Yun Rui (the Male Lead) but later on got really hooked on to the story line. A story about reincarnation or maybe the children had a dream (?) that lead to the Female Lead having knowledge of what will happen and the steps she takes to secure not only herself but the male lead is amazing. To top it up, this series portrays both leads as strong personalities - thankfully no faint hearted and easily swayed lady lead - along with brilliant minds makes both the male and female lead a great couple together. All the other casts is also played brilliantly by the respective actors and actresses, which definitely led to the amazing success of this series. I would really recommend a must first watch as it is an amazing series. Re-watch would really depend if you enjoyed watching it the firs time. Me personally, I watched it quite a number of times before moving on to a new series. ^^The music paired with this series is also amazing. The duet sung by both leads is also a beautiful song to listen to. Definitely recommending both series and OST to anyone and everyone.
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This review may contain spoilers
A domestic, genuine romance with intelligent and independent leads amidst complex palace dynamics
I fully understand why this drama was so popular (especially within China). If you are a fan of palace shows, you’d love this one. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of palace dynamics and plots involving 宫斗 (which translates to power struggles in the palace), so I didn’t care much for the plot and ended up fast-forwarding through most of the plot stuff, so I’m really in no position to judge the plot accurately. But I will say that from what I did watch, that the plot was done pretty well. I don’t think there were many unnecessary plot points and everything was developed quite nicely. It’s definitely not a bullshit plotline, which I highly appreciated! There are elements of fantasy especially in the beginning of the show but it’s not touched on much at all - the show starts off with a time travel plotline but it’s not circled back to much so you might even at times forget about the "past life" plot that only occurs in like ep1-2. This show is very well executed though, and delivered one of my favourite romances in cdrama history, which is saying a LOT because the quality of romance is my #1 priority when watching shows. It’s definitely worth the watch and one of the best historical shows in recent years (historical, not xianxia or wuxia).The little things like music, costumes and styling, and cinematography are done very well. Nothing incredibly special, and definitely not in a league of its own, but they are done well and add a lot to the viewing experience. They manage to meld together to create a lovely atmosphere that’s highly fitting with the rest of the show's themes, making the show even more enjoyable. Personally, I really appreciated these elements.
Plot-wise, I won’t comment on much because I’m not qualified to, seeing as I only watched bits and pieces here and there. It does get a little messy towards the end but it isn’t anything crazy, and I think loose ends were all tied up and addressed well. As far as palace plots go, I think this show managed to offer something refreshing and new while still rooting itself in the cliches of power struggles and corruption. [MILD SPOILER] It was honestly SO refreshing not to have the emperor be the ultimate bad guy LOL I’m pretty sick of this type of plot so that was really nice for a change! I also liked how the plot started off pretty strong from the first ep, it wasn’t dry or boring in the beginning at all, it was captivating from the start as we are thrown straight into the original "ending" of the fl's "past life" (or more accurately, her life before she went on a fix-it via time travel). I also appreciated how nothing was really dragged out beyond what was necessary, 34eps felt perfect and everything was tied up very well in the end and [MILD SPOILER] our leads got the happy ending they deserved, it felt very heartwarming and full-circle and not forced at all!
Before I get to the best part of the show (which would be the main couple), I do have to address what I felt was lacking in this show - the side pairings (both the 2nd and 3rd couple) fell SO incredibly flat, I did not care for them at ALL. The romance between the fl's cousin and the ml's brother was so insanely forced and they have 0 chemistry and everything was just so poorly executed. Yeah I was not amused nor entertained by the side pairings at all. The other side couple was cute, but again I didn’t care much for them, I had 0 emotional attachment to them but they have some cute moments I suppose - I skipped most of them because I didn’t gaf though LOL.
Now, the main couple... LORD. They carried this show!!! They have some of the best, most natural and comforting chemistry I’ve ever seen in cdrama history. The chemistry they have is a very domestic and genuinely affectionate love - it’s pure, soft, gentle, and so achingly tender my heart actually hurt. Like, they’re so married I actually want to cry a little bit. They’re perfect for each other and their scenes together are so good, they fit so so so well and they’re one of my favourite cdrama couples ever - which says a LOT because I have insanely high standards for romances. I can’t describe it but their love makes you feel safe and it’s so heartwarming to witness. [MILD SPOILER] I also LOVE how there’s no unnecessary break-ups or misunderstandings or love triangles, just purely the two of them in love and supporting each other to the very end. Both their characters are very likeable too, they have human motivations but they’re lovable and we as viewers can really empathise with them. Of course, they were both also serving visuals - I absolutely detest the bun styling in historical shows, but somehow Li Yunrui (ml) pulled it off so well I was actually in love with him the whole time. And I’m slightly biased bc ever since I watched The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2017 when I was in fifth grade I have been in love with Meng Ziyi (fl)’s visuals, but she did not disappoint me. I love how this drama let them both shine and gave them the recognition they deserve! I don’t think this show gave them much opportunity to showcase phenomenal acting skills, purely because the situation didn’t really call for it, but their acting did not let me down. It wasn’t extraordinarily good, but it was certainly solid and a job well done. Meng Ziyi is very graceful and suits this type of intelligent fl role so well because she really gave her the aura and gentleness the fl was supposed to possess; the way she carried herself was so admirable and it’s so satisfying to have an intelligent yet not reckless fl who actually knows what she’s doing. Her characterisation was just so likeable! I’d have to say the same for the ml too, Li Yunrui definitely had the aura needed to pull this off, and his soft side towards the fl melts your heart. Seeing them together working things out for the plot and having intellectual discussions is just so satisfying. They’re actually just perfect for each other. I also love how there aren’t any exaggerated scenes of ml saving the fl or whatever (though this is a historical show, not a xianxia or wuxia, so I guess that trope isn’t really a cliche here typically anyway) - don’t get me wrong, there are scenes like this in this show, but they’re done very tastefully and nothing is over-the-top (though I am a HUGE fan of this trope anyway LOLL). TLDR: The chemistry is so beautiful in a domestic married committed and dedicated way. Their devotion to each other and decision to support each other through every hurdle and willingness to respect each other’s choices even if they themselves don’t agree with it or feel hurt by it is so rare in cdramas nowadays (the "I’m-doing-it-for-your-own-good" or "it’s-for-the-better" trope is SO overused and frankly so tasteless), it was truly a breath of fresh air.
If not for anything else, please watch this show for their romance together. The show isn’t exactly romance-focused, and I’d argue that it’s actually slightly more plot-based, but their sweet moments together make you feel so relaxed, the main couple has never caused me stress and I love how there’s never a wedge between them, hardships happen but they take them on together as a team! It’s just so refreshing from what’s usually on the cdrama market LOL. They have beautiful chemistry, trust me. Overall, I really enjoyed this show and I’m definitely on the lookout for their new works because I’m a converted fan of Li Yunrui now (and SO happy Meng Ziyi is getting more recognition, I’ve had a crush on her since The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2017, she did so well there too but she was pretty underrated in that show. Objectively, her acting skills have definitely skyrocketed since then, she was so much better in this show!).
This show is definitely in a league of its own when it comes to historical shows! I 100% understand why it’s so well-loved, particularly in China itself - which is often a much better testament to a show's quality than international popularity.
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Storytelling method is lacking, but awesome chemistry
Many times, especially in the earlier episodes, I felt disconnected from the plot because certain scenes seem too predictable/cliché. This also happens when there is an excessive use of modern ideology in the story which is understandable because it is catering to a modern, young audience, but doesn't suit the setting. Perhaps its due to the filming technique, I also felt there were too many anti-climatic scenes. There also isn't any memorable OST, I don't even recall much music from watching. But, these technicalities aside, you can't help but awe at the chemistry the main leads have and the outstanding, overall performance from the entire cast.Was this review helpful to you?
The boring politics and narrative killed this show!
During the first 10 episodes, all I cared about was the main couple, especially the female lead. Usually for this type of wuxia / costume political show, the story if written and directed well would be interesting to watch. Sadly the script was so sloppy that it took us way longer to familiarize with all the characters and their names. I think the main issue here is the "Tell" more than "Show". They need to show us what's happening instead of simply mentioning a character's name and telling us what's going on.Decent leads, boring political story. We've no clue how it got such a high rating, could it be the main casts have a high cult fan base? Anyway, this show is not worth it and is mediocre compared to shows like Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre and Love between fairy and devil. Those are worth of high praise, this drama (Blossom) is just NOT IT!
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Good timing
Plot cerita yang luar biasa; tidak terburu-buru, juga tidak terlalu lama. Pemilihan aktor dan aktris yang tepat. Aku suka bagian dimana hanya FL dan support character yang mengetahui masa depan. Kemudian timing bagaimana FL dan ML bisa mengembangkan perasaan masing-masing. Romansa kecil-kecilan diantara pemeran utama. Cinematic yang apik juga menjadi faktor semakin betah menontonnya. Saya harap yang membaca review ini menonton jalur resmi ya... Ayo kita dukung para pemeran dan drama ini.Was this review helpful to you?
Absolute Perfection!
The love story and yearn between the two main character gripped me from episode 1. I was invested to see how they would overcome what was thought to be inevitable and they did not disappoint.The leads did an amazing job conveying their undying love for each other which made this so much more beautiful. Definitely a top 5 for my favorite 2024 historical drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
we get to witness a blossoming love with the classic historical genre backdrop
Similar to The Prisoner of Beauty in that the MML must deal with their trust issues lol but also in how the FL is both powerful AND feminine. Often times its one or the other so I loveee when the female lead is both. While it takes some time for the main leads to get together, their relationship is SOLID once bonded and they are a FORCE to be reckoned with. I feel like I could watch this over again for their love as it really was cute. The royal espionage was well done over all but there are some parts I feel just had a conclusion but I'm not sure how – this can def be a translation thing but I don't know that is was. No crazy plot twists but some not so predictable moments which is also nice. Def will recommend this one.Was this review helpful to you?
How does this have an 8.8 rating on MDL?
After watching the entire 34 episodes, I don't know why or how this show got its 8.8 rating on MDL! The plotlines and story were good but in no way compares or comes close to the levels of intrigue, suspense and mental complexity of other shows like The Vendetta of An which only scored 8.5, or The Legend of Zang Hai only scored 8.4, which drives me to want to ask in despair, "Wèishénme?"!!!The sole reason I can fathom why this show has scored 8.8 on MDL is down to the fan-base and popularity of male lead, Li Yun Rui, not only incredibly hot but a skilled actor who's ended up carrying the entire show on his back. In comparison, his female lead, Meng Zi Yi, is completely missing in action with zero on-screen charisma or presence and zero chemistry with Yun Rui. Why was Zi Yi cast in the lead at all? Who makes these decisions? It's the second time I’ve noticed this issue repeatedly with her. She also had zero chemistry playing alongside Liu Xue Yi in "The Princess' Gambit". This firms up my belief that Meng Zi Yi is the problem and I do wish she would do the world a favour and change careers, but I guess after investing so much irreversible effort into her physical appearance, there's no chance of this ever happening.
Her performance in Blossom clearly demonstrates she has absolutely nothing to do with its 8.8 MDL rating - certainly not based on her performance - which leads me to speculate on what behind-the-scenes mafioso force of power is keeping this uninteresting, extremely-forgettable actress on our screens and forcing her down the collective throats of a public viewing audience? The fact she's got 6 upcoming TBA roles on MDL defies all logic. Do production houses really analyse her poor performances and think "Yes, we want to see more of that and so does a gullible paying audience".
Most upsetting is how talented up-and-coming actresses are losing out when someone like Meng Zi Yi keeps being offered cushy slots when she hasn't the talent to justify such blatantly brazen favouritism. It would be a different case if she did have some acting skillset but was still cast due to having powerful connections. An example of such a would-be scenario (in my own personal opinion) is Story of Kunning Palace, where I've always felt that the female there, Bai Lu, while obviously a skilled actress, still did not embody the role of Jiang Xue Ning in Kunning Palace well enough. She was physically much older than the character she was playing, as well as much older than her male romantic co-leads which I found jarring. She also came off a little jaded and worn in the show. I resented her performance even as I admit that she was proficient enough in it - just not the most suitable person to be cast for it. The Bai Lu issue is very different to the Meng Zi Yi issue. The latter case is not only a mis-cast, but a mis-cast of a poorly skilled actress. Any actor can say lines, but when that actor lacks any screen presence, charisma or genuine talent, they become talking-mouths like Meng Zi Yi - just people who always dreamt of acting when young regardless of whether or not they possessed the talent or not. And then they get offered a chance to actually do it - invariably meaning that some other actor with the requisite talent and skillset just lost out due to not having the kind of powerful support Meng Zi Yi has. Such a pity!
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Blossom was Phenomenal. Great movie! Amazing storyline!
I couldn’t wait to watch the next episode! This movie was an absolute masterpiece and a solid 10/10 for me.The actors delivered phenomenal performances, bringing every scene to life with such intensity and emotion.
The storyline was captivating, keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the plot took an unexpected turn, leaving me completely amazed.
The suspense, drama, and execution were flawless.
What an incredible cinematic experience!
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This review may contain spoilers
WEN QING THE BOSSGIRL BECAME THE FORTH DOU YOUNG LADY!
It all started from a tiktok video where Song Mo kept calling his wife "furen" and I joined the bandwagon of "Blossom" watchers. I could say Im pretty damn hooked.the female lead, Dou Zhao, was such a clever bossgirl. And even before the romance started, I have fangirled so hard with how Song Mo-Dao Zhao chemistry on screen. I can feel how even though Dou Zhao has been a strong person by herself, Song Mo wants to be a person she relied upon (the purple martyle euphemism... chef kissss), and even though Song Mo was a violent young general with a tendency to do dangerous impulse, Dou Zhao is able to reign him into so he does not danger himselg. They made me believe love is actually there
Everyone has their own charm and merit to the point I almost shed a tear when one of the villain's life was taken. They were not 100% evil people being driven by hatred, they have motives of their own that do not justify the bad things they do, but I could understand why they do that.
The plot's pacing is logical, the cinematography is phenomenal (i love he first episodes where the director made pretty shot of bells, hanging balls, etc). I give this first cdrama i watched this year a full 10 out of 10.
And i just realized Meng Ziyi played in the Untamed! She was the prettiest in that drama. i always think about her. "I wonder if the Wen girl's actress prosperous now...?" And lo and behold, she always delivered the beat drama! Im gonna be her fan from now on.
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九重紫: A hidden gem
was by far the best Chinese drama that I watched in 2024.This drama captured my attention from the first scene, and I thoroughly enjoyed the well-paced storytelling, free from unnecessary filler that often drags out. It was satisfying to see how Dou Zhao (the female lead) seized her second chance at life, with the unwavering support of Song Mo (the male lead). The drama beautifully portrayed their romantic journey ad the way they worked together to overcome various challenges.
Having previously watched Meng Zi Yi (as Dou Zhao) and Li Yun Rui (as Song Mo) in other notable works, I found this drama to be a standout in redefining my perception of their talents. Their performance in were exceptional, showcasing their depth and range as actors. Both brought their characters to life with such authenticity that I'm eager to see their future projects.
The original soundtrack (OST) also added a memorable layer to the drama. My favorite track, 不羡 by 伯远, perfectly complemented the emotional scenes between the ML and FL, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Overall, this drama was fantastic, and I wouldn't hesitate to rewatch it if time permits.
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