Blossom

One of My Favorite Historicals This Year!!

Some stories grow on you because their characters are simply riveting!

I wasn’t expecting to be enthralled by the characters but everything from the storytelling to the casting was phenomenal. It’s been too long since I was this immersed in a costume historical. Starring Meng Zi Yi, Li Yun Rui in lead roles, the story is a transmigration romance with the female protagonist remembering bits & pieces of her past life while the male lead remains unaware of the same. Though they were romantically connected in their past life, Dou Zhou and Song Mo are destined to be together. This was also my first time watching a pairing that compliment each other so well. Unlike most female leads, Dou Zhou isn’t a damsel in distress. She doesn’t need saving, she solves most problems and has the business acumen that matches her intellect. Song Mo might seem all brawns, but he can easily detect lies. Both protagonists have their own strengths and together they are invincible.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/12/25/blossom-series-review/

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my first cdrama and i'm obsessed.

I want to start this review by saying, when grey/white haired Song Mo appeared on screen... BOOOMMM SHAKALAKA YES GODDD! YESS GOD! HE CAN STEP ON ME SH**T ME WITH AN ARROW AND I WOULD THANK HIM. I'm a changed woman by that one episode.

I saw this series in a Tiktok comment and the Tiktok video isn't even about them but thank the universe cause I love it. I'm hesitant to start cdramas cause the episodes are mostly like 40+ but this time I thought, if it's not good I can just drop it but oh boy first episode and it's hitting!!!

The main characters are eating, the aura is so good I could kiss the ground they walk on. It's so good to see a FL that challenges the villains head on, like girl I was scared FOR YOU what if they retaliate but our FL is a genius I love her character so much.

The story is also fast-paced which I love love especially with a series that has this many episodes. No boring fillers, resolving the problem then adds another conflict after another conflict while also mixing in romance. Makes me anticipate what happens next. The FL and ML are both amazing and resolves their own problems and each other's. They actually help each other AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT AND GET COMMUNICATED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. Some dramas, one character does something behind someone's back to solve the problem like no let us see how you'll help one another and work together.

AND A WEDDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SERIES?! Sometimes I get bored when the couple confesses their feelings so now they're okay but my god, I was still giggling and kicking my feet whenever they came on screen.

The cinematic shots? Worthy of a museum. Just breathtaking. And that kiss from the intro was one of my favorite shots. I didn't like some transitions but overall, the costumes, design, set up just make sense.

I don't particularly find grey/white haired attractive but Song Mo really made it hot especially how it contrasts with his armor. That was a very smart choice. I wanted that look to come back but I knew it wouldn't after learning it was poison ㅜㅜ

I'm not usually attentive with the acting, the only thing that would bother me is if it gets cringey or if they make it so obvious they can't act. The main characters are both fine, sometimes stiff but idgaf they made me believe they're in love so I'm also in love.

Maybe it's because I'm new to cdramas and haven't understand their historical nuances or political situations, but sometimes some of the plot twist or decisions made in the series didn't make sense to me. Also, why does the death of most villains were sad? Do they want us to feel bad because I don't lol. But I still see that some of those were tragic. Song Han really pmo, and lowkey Ji Yong too.

I heard most historical dramas have either an open-ending or a sad one, thank god this has a satisfying one.

Anyway, I didn’t like some aspects but still gonna rate it a 10 because the good weighs more and they deserve it. Now I don't know what to do anymore.

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Don’t believe the hype - this is barely a concept of a storyline…

Very disappointing, I chose to watch this drama as I have been a fan of Li Yun Rui since Love like the Galaxy and I was pleased to see him in a ML role for a change; but this drama and his performance in it has turned out to be a pretty average vehicle for his leap into stardom.

The only positive thing I could say is that I do like Dou Zhao‘s adversarial relationship with her wicked stepmother, that at least made the storyline interesting. However, once the step mother was out of the picture, the series totally jumped the shark into the dark depths of - utter boredom.

I had been binge watching this series up to episode 18 when I started to lose interest, even though the marriage between Song Mo and Dou Zhao should have been exciting but just felt like a flat device amongst all the other unsatisfactory plotlines going on especially the one about Song Mo’s uncle’s unsolved murder.

I spent most of episodes 27 & 28 wondering just WTH was going on (?!) what with Song Han’s odd progression from hero worshiping younger brother to evil arch nemesis complete with expert level martial arts skills; which even Song Mo was surprised about. The rushed wedding between Song Han and Miao Ansu, who somehow progressed from humble merchant to princess. And I nearly forgot about, Ji Yong being revealed to be the evil mastermind behind Prince Ying with his target being Mantis Song.

And what’s the point of the dumbass Emperor?

A 6 yo could write a better script for a c-drama than this!

There is no way that this series deserves to be labelled as the best of 2024, or even the best of a bad bunch; unless of course you are so desperate that your standards have dropped; in which case do watch The story of Pearl Girl to sort your head out.

Overall, Blossom is so poor I can’t even be bothered to see what the final outcome will be; stopped watching at episode 28.

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A Drama with Potential, but Lacks Impact!

There are quite a lot Chinese dramas with 'Blossom' in the title, and Blossom is another one I recently checked out. I watched a few scenes, and it hooked me right from episode 1. The cinematography and costumes are impressive, especially considering that the leads aren't top-billing actors. The series revolves around themes of time travel and second chances at life.

The plot follows two characters, Dou Zhao and Song Mo. In their first life, Song Mo is a revenge-driven general on a killing spree, while Dou Zhao is married to Wei Ting Yu, who cheats on her with her sister, Dou Ming. Dou Zhao eventually falls ill, slowly poisoned over time. A brief but meaningful encounter between Song Mo and Dou Zhao becomes a highlight, with Song Mo saving her. However, they both end up being killed, and an unexplained event transports them back in time to their childhood.

In their second life, Dou Zhao retains all her memories and is determined to change the future, while Song Mo forgets everything. With her knowledge, Dou Zhao tries to alter fate, and her early encounters with Song Mo lead to a different chain of events. Together, they uncover the truth behind their first life.

The pacing of the drama is engaging in the first and second halves, but it starts to drag toward the end and loses some of its charm. The period before they got married, when they were still strangers, is actually the best part of the series. Their interactions during this phase feel fresh and exciting, but once they get married, the story loses some of its appeal. The music is soothing, and the acting by both leads is decent but not outstanding.

Lin Yu Rui, who plays Song Mo, has improved from his previous works, but his performance doesn’t fully bring out the depth of the character. His expressions are good but not at their peak. Similarly, Meng Zi Yu as Dou Zhao is a bit of a letdown. She has mostly played supporting roles before, and it shows—Dou Zhao is supposed to be a sharp, strategic character capable of mind games, but her expressions often feel stiff.

Overall, Blossom is a decent drama, though I wouldn't rewatch it multiple times. It’s enjoyable, but not something that stands out as exceptional.

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Dou Zhao happens to be one of my fav FLs in both book and the drama!

Overall
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The first episode was so otherworldly, not just because of the stunning visuals but also because the story didn't flow well. The setup was too vague. And anytime anyone said anything it was poetry. I felt detached watching it and could only focus on the visuals while the story became the background. The first episode could have been executed better.

The second episode brought the drama back to the ground where I could connect with it. It was so easy to like Jiang Mei Sun [Duke of Ding] from the get go.

I knew going in that I was never going to like Wang Ying Xue, but honestly like all cheating spouses, Dou Shi Ying is the worst person to tolerate in the first 2 episodes. He just couldn't keep it in his pants. Zhao Gu Qiu, Dou Zhao's mother was a catch, such a beautiful and kind woman. Well there's no accounting for taste, to go from Gu Qiu to Ying Xue, what a sad fate, but well-deserved. I had hoped that Dou Zhao's mother could make it out alive but the betrayal was far too much for her. Anyways, their relationship was messed up at least in the second arc of the drama he grew a backbone.

For me, a drama that starts out with a knife at throat but ends with the couple in harmony is always much more enjoyable than a drama where a they start out nice and hurt each other because of love. I am glad the drama stuck to the book with this aspect, them being a sweet couple who cherished each other and considerate of each other was what attracted me to Dou Zhao and Song Mo's pairing.

The elder princess Lu De and her arc with Dou Shi Shu took me by surprise. If only he hadn't been so power-hungry, then he would have some shame and wouldn't have treated Dou Zhao's mother so poorly. I am not a fan of this character.

I wish we had seen Song Mo's sister, it might have changed the dynamics between Zhang Ru and Chen Jia, i started out thinking why and what's gonna happen to Song Mo's sister to being okay I love these two together in the drama.

What I like:
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The casting is so good! I was excited to see Meng Zi Yi and Li Yun Ri bring the lead characters to life. They both did a good a job. They fit the role.
Song Mo's uncle was such a impressive character! Nothing at all like his cowardly "father".
Dou Zhao's mother was such a pretty woman! I'm sure sad that she was only on screen for a first few episodes.
So far I love that they haven't added any unnecessary drama that wasn't there in the book between the leads. What I like about them together is that they are my comfort couple. They are so damn nice to each other! The drama has brought that to light for me.
I like the idea about both of them going back in time, even though Song Mo doesn't remember there is a possibility of him remembering it one day. That's not how it happened in books but that's a welcoming change for me.
Dou Ming is so damn adorable! I was willing to let go of my resentment of her from previous life so I did not see that ending for her.
Zhao Zhang Ru has also been a favorite of mine and she gets a lot of screen time which I am very happy about!
I didn't notice it the first time but Lu Zheng and Lu Ming are twins! I thought there was only one guy named Lu Zheng who popped up everywhere.

What I dislike: (Mostly stuff that has been messed up from the book)
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The Dou family was supposed to have this rich history that's just missing. The currently Dou family was supposed to be so big with a few branches and in-laws. It would have been fun to see Dou Zhao navigate through them on screen, she did it so well in the book! (And she was just a child when she did that! I feel that it is such a missed opportunity)
The entire dynamic between Dou Zhao, her father, Wang Ying Xue, and Dou Ming lacked depth. It is much more satisfying in the books where Dou Zhao is actually the one who has the upper hand throughout their interactions and not once does she suffer because of Wang Ying Xue or Dou Ming's shady tactics. The only time she fails is to save her mother's life.
Since the book is so long with 500+ chapters it is bound to miss a lot of things but because of this I felt that a lot of things were missing in the drama and I had to fill in the gaps with the story that I remembered. I wish there were more episodes, but again a lot of things have to be taken into consideration so can't really blame them.
I'm not a fan of the changes that have been made to the Yuan Tong / Ji Yong character. I did like him better in the book.

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Strong Chemistry, Smooth Plot

Blossom, starring Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui, is a drama that I personally find good and enjoyable to watch, although it doesn’t quite make it to my list of favorites. One of the most iconic scenes is definitely Li Yunrui’s first appearance with his striking white hair, it’s by far his most visually unforgettable and handsome moment in the whole show.

The storyline is actually engaging and a bit complex, but it’s delivered clearly enough to follow without much confusion. I started this drama without high expectations, but it turned out to be a surprisingly satisfying watch. What I especially like is how the relationship between the main couple progresses smoothly. While there are a few misunderstandings, they’re handled maturely and not dragged out unnecessarily.

The chemistry between Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui is also very strong they really pull you into their story and make the romance feel genuine and heartfelt. Overall, Blossom is a well-executed drama that’s worth watching, especially if you enjoy couples with strong emotional bonds and minimal over-the-top conflict.

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I guess this is the future of Cdramas…?

This drama follows the recent (and probably permanent) trend of the advent of the western “girl boss.” Gone seem to be the days where you could see a stoic and somehow always capable manly ml who always beats the overwhelming odds while sacrificing his body to defend the fl and her honor. Now, we have the sort-of-semi-capable ml who is always dependent on the fl’s consistently superior brain (and many times brawn…?🤦🏻‍♀️). She will always be there to rescue him and tell him how he’s wrong and what to do next, which is nice, since he will make it clear many times throughout that he would be nothing without her there to give him her guidance and protection. Sigh. This drama does not disappoint in this aspect, for sure.

That said, the casting was well done, though I did think that the ml didn’t quite carry off when he was supposed to have “ice in his eyes,” and brutal hatred in his gaze, etc. He just looks too nice for that, in general. That was minor, though, and I thought the casting was good.

The music was….ok….not terrible, also nothing I’d listen to separately for enjoyment.

The storyline was not too bad, though a few really major holes were left in the plot. Example: ml’s brother had a bit of a twisted childhood that he didn’t even know was twisted until he was almost an adult. What happened to make him such a sadistic and evil person? He had a good mother figure, and a happy enough childhood….that was never explained. Other than a few things like that, though, the story kept my attention.

The ending. Hmmm. Well, I will say I’m a fan of a happy ending. I’m so glad this had one. It was like a drama full of heartbreak, betrayal and angst, then the very last episode, with very little fanfare or emotion, things just….worked out. Everything slipped gently into its own little slot, and then it was over. It was kind of weird to me. But I’ll take that over a depressing ending any day.

All in all, it was a good watch. Personally for me it was really a wasted opportunity for a great series because of the “female empowerment” garbage, but I guess I’m in the minority since they still continue to make them like this as of late. As someone from the US, I stopped watching our entertainment in disgust and boredom years ago. I switched to Asian dramas precisely because they still made theirs free of this woke garbage that has ruined our entertainment industry. I wish they would see how much of the US can’t stand its own entertainment and take a cue from that to save them from the western pitfalls, but, now I’m opining on a different topic than a simple show review. Either way, give this one a try, you’ll probably like it!

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How do we get Li Yun Rui in more ML romance roles?!?!!?!!!!

==Breakdown==
Background plot - 60%
Romance - 35%
Misc comedy - 5%

Background plot - Pretty good
Romantic chemistry - Outstanding
Misc comedy - fine
Production value - Good

Wow. Li Yun Rui should only be allowed to be the ML in romance dramas from now on. HE WAS AMAZING!!!

I also have to give credit to Meng Zi Yi for her layered portrayal of the FL. The story mainly revolves around her character and she carried the show beautifully.

My only gripe is that I wish they had more scenes together, but this is because I watch CDramas for the romance... so that's a "me problem."

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It's not high budget yet everyone has a chance to blossom gracefully

I really took my time to write this review even though this drama exceed my expectation from the start. I was contemplating if it's truly deserve to join my highest cdrama rating of 2024 line up. I couldn't let excitement or momentary setback clouded my judgement. Beside, the window between me finishing this drama and year end is short. In another word, it's easier to left impression on me for my year end wrapped.

Well, turns out, it does deserve its score. After a rough later episodes journey.
Yes, i'm talkin about Song Han and Miao Ansu part. Their part seems out of order because from the beginning, one of this drama charms is making each character shine, including the minor one. I wouldn't say i didn't foresee Song Han change of attitude and Miao Ansu blinded by love act. I see the former plot sorta as exchange of fate with previous life Song Mo. Meanwhile, she had always been longing for love and actually always wanted to find husband on her own account out of the trio. However, the portrayal of both as couple feels disorderly and not in line with the main plot. Both actors isn't really at fault imo, yet the hate is genuine, many slow down or entirely skip their scene so....

Now about our leads. I knew this drama was going to be big when i saw the reuters for horseback kiss. Although, i didn't know it's gonna be this big, this explosive. The chemistry is chemistrying so hard from the get go. For real, i got hooked as early as ep 1. Second chance reincarnation is a hard sell to me. Along the way, the steady pace was able to keep me going, at least until before SH-MAS part lol. Whether the romance or the revenge, both have good pace and actually complimented each other as one big plot. Both leads work together as partner and every new step in revenge and romance aren't rush and most importantly it's not like they dump everything at the last episode. Until the end, the pace really hold on together.

The cinematography is so pretty, i can see director's style thru out the drama. Actually, no question needed since i already love his previous works. As i said, i love how every character able to shine plus the acting from all the cast is good in general. In the end, this drama isn't high budget S/S+ project yet you can see the amount of work production team, script and actor put into this. Everyone able to shine, from the behind the scene crew to the actor.

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A Dream You Wake From Slowly

Some stories dazzle you.
Blossom drifts into you like mist, so quietly that you don’t realize you’re dreaming until you try to wake.

Every frame breathes — layered fabrics, muted light, the hush of seasons folding into one another.
The wardrobe, the sets, the cinematography — each element feels lived-in, not staged, as if you stumbled upon a world still humming with its own secret life.

But Blossom isn’t just beautiful. It’s emotionally rare.
The story unfolds with patience and maturity — no false misunderstandings, no cheap emotional tricks.
Only people, complicated and real, finding their way toward each other with all the stubborn grace of vines seeking the sun.

When the final scene faded, it left an ache so soft and so deep that I wanted to begin again — to fall back into the dream.
And maybe, in a way, I never left.

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I was though it will be something which I can’t stop to watching buuut ın the end nırının

It has a good start. Fantastic , you are wondering what happened. Strong FL, smart, rich amazing woman . She is full of revenge. also twins are amazing. they cab fight. Amazing. ML is strong, believe s equality. they are always together. very supportive each other. they talk everything. they are shy also very sweet. but after 25 episode you can’t find the our couple. they don’t have screen time. I am sick of the watching old guys . they talk talk talk. where is the our couple. because of this I just watched couple screen time and finish 5 episodes less than 30 minutes. After 25 episodes They decide to began ML’s brother story. I didn’t understand his love story and I am not interested at all. I just searched couple screen time. I am little bit sad.

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