Blossom

may this kind of love and intelligence find me

All review title jokes aside. I wasn't expecting Blossom to work so well but it just... works. Captivating visual storytelling, an intelligent, strong FL I would die for, and an adorable romance.

First of all, this was one of the best first episodes of a drama I've ever seen. The visuals?? Actually to die for. Please please just watch the first episode—even if you don't continue the drama (but you should), the opening scene alone is a treat. Also, Song Mo's long hair... it's a crime that it never makes a comeback.

I honestly really have to applaud the director and writer. I have to say the actors, while they did a commendable job, did not do the heavy lifting in the success of this drama—the director and the writer did. From the choice of scenes and editing to the overall plot, I truly believe they did a wonderful job of crafting an entertaining story that seeps into the watcher's heart, even if it wasn't necessarily unique or fresh. (There's this one scene where a maid reenacts an event in her memory to give the leads a clue that was so beautifully shot and edited.)

This drama's strongest suit? Its female lead. Dou Zhao is a force to be reckoned with: independent, strong-willed, stunningly clever, with a dose of cynicism in the first half that I personally enjoyed. I wasn't completely sold on her in the beginning, but her level of scheming and the poise she carries herself with while she does it is hard not to love. I love that she is more intelligent than the ML, and I love even more that he's proud of her for it. It's rare, at least in my experience, to see an FL save an already very strong and smart ML this many times. And Meng Ziyi's dagger eyes?? Standing ovation.

Dou Zhao's counterpart is Song Mo, a general bent on justice and revenge. I was surprised at the amount of charisma Li Yunrui had while playing the male lead. Song Mo is by no means the coolest character ever, but I have to say he had a pretty strong presence. And with just a tinge of ruthlessness, you know I'm going to like him.

The romance? Guys. This is slow burn done as well as it ever has been. Would I have appreciated more buildup to the confession? Yes. But they still did a great job of distrust to appreciation to allies to lovers. The tension before the confession was pretty darn good (they made great use of the distrust between them. good job). And their married life is adorable. One of the first times I've actually liked a romance past the chasing stage xD. True to cdrama fashion, it's less tension-filled and more wholesome, with so many sweet moments that just made me sigh at my singleness. My favorite part about the romance is honestly how well-matched their intelligence is. Song Mo calls Dou Zhao his female Zhuge (as in the strategist Zhuge Liang), which is just. This is what romance is meant to be.

On the topic of characters, Ji Yong was also a joy to watch. An enigma that might be smarter than both leads combined, he was such a compelling character in his ambitions and the blunt way he viewed the world. The twist on his character was not one I appreciated, if only in that it took away some of the more interesting parts of his story, but it made him no less likable (perhaps more likable, if less interesting).

I'm by no means the smartest watcher. I don't search for plot holes. So with that in mind, I had a lot of fun with the plot. Schemes, schemes, schemes everywhere. Family schemes among the women, and later, political schemes. With such smart main leads, watching the twists and turns in their plans was a treat. There were some subplots and schemes that didn't really get fully utilized, but overall, the scheming really made me fall in love with historicals all over again.

So is Blossom a masterpiece? No. The acting is by no means flawless; sometimes, it's slightly too formal and staged. The plot is by no means unique and the writing by no means one of a genius. But it's captivating and gives watchers exactly what they want. And somehow, it latches onto you until you wish the end didn't come so soon.

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2nd watch through and STILL DESERVING OF THE PRAISE ! ❤️

Honestly, both leads are underrated, definitely Li Yun Rui. This show was even more enjoyable on the 2nd watch through. I fell even more in love with the story and the chemistry of romance. The slightly flirty romance emerged bolder, and it brought me to respect this show even more than before. The camera work, settings, and costume work are top-notch! I feel like the script kept leading into more giddy/enjoyable moments and was giving everything you wanted. Felt like not one episode was truly wasted at all.
I'll finish this with my favorite quoted moment in the show :
"-With or without me, you can have a good life.
-How can I have a good life without you?
Are you hiding something from me?
I want you to tell me yourself.
Just trust me.
-I can give you my life
But your life is still yours to live...
-As long as we're together, your life is mine too.
Why make a distinction between us?"
*Give it a try and you won't regret it!

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A perfect blend of drama, betrayal, love, and revenge!

“Blossom” is one of those dramas that pulls you into a rabbit hole where every turn brings a new twist, and it was a great ride from start to finish.

What I loved:
1. Complex characters: Let’s talk about Song Mo and Dou Zhao. Song Mo is such a layered character, battling with betrayal, family drama, and a thirst for justice. He had such a quiet strength and vulnerability at the same time. Dou Zhao was intelligent, fierce, and unapologetically herself. I loved how she used her wit to navigate a patriarchal society and stand up to her family’s relentless scheming. The combination of these two was absolute fire.

2. The romance: Song Mo and Dou Zhao’s chemistry was everything, sometimes tender and sometimes intense. That kiss before Song Mo left for the battlefield was swoon-worthy. 🤭

3. Intriguing plot: It dives deep into themes of loyalty, familial obligations, and revenge. The “time-travel” twist was a clever touch.

4. Villains you love to hate: Watching Song Yi Chun’s and Ying Xue’s schemes blow up in their faces was so satisfying.

5. Visuals and storytelling: The sets, costumes, and atmosphere were stunning and brought the historical world alive.

What I didn't love:
1. Wei Ting Yu: I’m torn here. While his love for Dou Ming was genuine, his indecision and cowardice were exhausting. I hated him yet still felt pity for him after Dou Ming died.

2. Repetitive Interruptions: Why was everyone always barging into Song Mo and Dou Zhao’s moments? 😤

The balance between romance, action, and drama was well handled.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely.

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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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so uh.....

i honestly hate dropping things & i'll, in 99% of cases, force something down if i started it. even if i dislike a drama i will watch it at 2x speed just so i can fully say that i gave it a solid chance.

with blossom though, i just really cannot continue this without being miserable. i have about 6 episodes left of the show & i actively dread every minute of it that i see. i've also halted this watch for like a month or something simply because i grew bored of it & found better titles. i played it again earlier this week to just wrap it up so i can log it and be done, but i just cannot enjoy it. it's boring, it's bland, there's no chemistry, there's too many side plots that i don't care about, and which essentially don't serve any purpose for the show's flow in general.

the chemistry was fine during its build up, but it's completely gone in the later half of the series and i just cannot feel it to save my life. they just feel exactly like the way they describe it, a war advisor & a general discussing the matters of their country under the premise of being married & living under the same roof. it's just wacky.

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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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must watch

this drama has many good things
1) beautiful cinematography and beautifully shot (the fighting scenes, in the first ep the arrow scenes before they go back, the dream scenes, the shots with the petals, etc….). Well directed
2) acting was good from the leads. They did well for emotional scenes too. Also the supporting and older cast, I really like the portrayal of the emperor, I think the actor was great. Also other cast from the families of the leads.
3) the romance : it flowed nicely. them slowly falling in love, mature romance, trust, supporting each other. would do anything for each other and so much love. Good chemistry. I think compared to other cdrama, we got plenty of romance and cute moments. Also feeling confessed by ep 18 and married by ep 19 out of ep 34, I think that was very good. Less slow burn than many dramas this year. Absolutely no break or misunderstanding, strong couple till the end.
4) the transmigration/time travel was well written. I think « the dream » idea was very smart to pass censorship and very minimal since it was still obvious for us viewers that it was not a dream and they really went back in time. and only mentioned at the beginning of the story. I hate it when they do something like it was a novel or something, they add that at the very end to pass censorship.
5) I think the drama was well written in general, the plot was good, pretty fast pace, everything was going smoothly. as the story progressed, we were learning more about the villains, getting clues, etc… We got a bit of everything, some comedy, romance, action and more sad/emotional moments. ML and his uncle, mother (the pain from the deaths and seeing the flashbacks). When ML was dying, our sad couples moments, there was a pretty emotional ep, I don’t remember the number ahah but I was sad with the leads, they love each other so much. I think all the villains and their motive made senses. Like the 5th uncles who wanted his higher title (but still cared about the Dou family and his brother. I actually liked his death and I was almost sad. I think it was the scenes, the contexte and his brother/« lover » present. in the end, decided to do one last thing to protect his younger brother). The empress and her son, etc.. I actually enjoyed the political plot, I think it was interesting and I also think the villains were interesting.
6) great fighting scenes
7) Friendship. Between the girls, even the maids. ML and his guys, etc…
8) The character development of FL dad. how their story progressed and their reconciliation. He grow some bones, finally defending his daughter, standing up for his son-in-law (the drums moment), etc…
9) we got some diverse side arc/romance :
a)the sister and husband from the first life : I was feeling sad for Dou Ming. she was an asshole in her first life, but kind and gentle in her second life, she never did her sister wrong. But falling in love with the wrong guy. Not a complete trash in this life, but still a coward, a bad husband and a useless guy. Not gonna lie, they were kinda cute. She suffered a lot and her death was a bit infuriating. Dying like that and seeing her trash husband from afar drinking. Dying alone on the floor when she could have been saved. Anyway, I said KARMA when it happened, their bad deed in their first life and her mother sins. It was satisfying, the mom reaction and everything, learning she caused her own daughter’s dead. It was good how her dad didn’t even want to save her and she should be punished for her crimes. I laughed when he slapped her. Speaking of slapped, there was so many throughout the drama, that was hilarious to me.
b) An Su and Song Han : that arc made me mad. I was very mad at her for choosing/siding with the guy she barely knows against her friends for years. She was very stupid and easily manipulated at first. Their story was not interesting and making her a princess made no sense as she was literally a nobody/commoner. At last, it was satisfying when she learned the truth and killed him herself.
c) Chen Jia and Zhao Zhang Ru (FL’s cousin) : brief interactions, but they were very cute. They got their happy ending
d) the little past with the princess (sister of the emperor) and 5th uncle
e) the crown prince and crown princess. brief interactions too, but they were kinda funny at time and seemed like a good match. That was funny when they were the 4 of them and she mentioned the idea of betrothal between their unborn child, CP and ML reaction.
f)…maybe there is more ahaha
10) plot twist :
a) the fact that the dad (ML’s dad had an affair and switched the babies), didn’t saw that coming. How they explained he never loved his wife and the son they had, why he preferred Song Han. It was sad when he said those things to Song Mu. The sister was actually dead it seems, I was waiting for some plot twist and she’s alive + plus reunion, but that never happened. Anyway I think we had enough things going on ahaha
b) Ji Yong who was actually not with Prince Qing, all of this was a plan from the beginning with the emperor
c) the nephew of the empress who didn’t betrayed them
d) even the thing with the cat with Song Han, I think it was good that he was actually keeping the cat because he was using it for testing poison. I didn’t thought of that
e) the scenes when they were searching for the letter with the girl who was the maid, the flashbacks and reliving the scene and the letter that was hiding so close to them.
f) all the villains who were working together
11) villains getting what they deserved and punishment.
12) ending : great and satisfying ending. Closure for everyone and happy ending of course. Cute together and happy couple moments. Dad with his promotion, grandma being happy and travelling, them with the leads daughter was cute. Crown prince ascending the throne and the little monologue about the politics. Chen Jia and the cousin married couple. An Su doing her things and « looking for a husband ». Ji Young who will become a monk in this life too. Even them showing the kid of ML’s uncle
13 : no love triangle. We can say some side guys on liked FL, but that was very minimal, that’s not considered a love triangle. FL only has eyes for ML from beginning to end.

But, I think the kissing scenes weren’t great. I don’t know if it was a director’s choice, censorship or because the kisses were not so good (so they made it that way), but they were somehow disappointing for most of them. Pretty much cut short or we see nothing. The lips touched and them it’s all these camera angles and editing. Anyway just an observation, I wouldn’t call this an issue, I’ve seen way worst.

Also, the character of Mu (I don’t even remember if that’s the good name, but the guy at the beginning who liked FL). I think this character and arc was just completely useless and non interesting. Why did we need this useless side guy who had unrequited love. He personally annoyed me. At least, his presence was short. Even when it seemed like Ji Young liked FL, that was very annoying, can’t they just be friend?

So, to conclude, I would recommend, I think it’s a good watch, filled with romance, actions, intelligent leads, interesting plot and characters

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