Things doesn't seem to be what most of the watchers think.
At first I also feel flustered when I saw yang cei Wei was played by other actress instead of JJY(in ep1 and 2).But the think at that time pan yue doesn't have proper feelings for yang cei Wei because they haven't met since 10 years and even if he loves her the most he didn't know how she looks like after 10 years when he saw characteristics of her and token then after he concluded that she is her childhood friend yang cei Wei. After body swapping he really fell in love with yang cei Wei in JJY body(at first he only wants to marry her because she was her best childhood friend and also a marriage contract was also there) so at first he didn't care about looks and wants to marry her(not because of love) but as they spend more time with each other(when JJY plays the role) he really fell for her.
This review is for those who dropped this drama because of body swapping and all.
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The bone structure thing bugged me LOL
Rated= 6~ 25/50 ~ 5RPG Scene // Fairy leading me off a cliff on the Mountain Pass. I think the Battle Axe is a flower
This started off not bad and I was genuinely enjoying it (and the accidental asmr in episode 2) but once the two characters got together, I kind of lost interest. There was also a disturbing scene that happens in a school that actually shocked me, that the chinese censorships let this through. I think that was my breaking point. I had decided to give it a rest for a while but after some time, I've just genuinely lost interest in the show.
Plot - The face swap thing kind of seemed a bit silly to me. A soul swap would have made more sense. We have a guy who can train bugs and the face swapping seems to have been done by witch doctors/dark arts practitioners anyway, so why not? Just peeling off someone's face isn't going to change bone structure or the body. If it was just her face, she would still have her body but the FL talks as though she is in another body entirely. (Or maybe it was just my subtitles.) So my brain kind of winced at that logic but I went with it. I did however, really love the slight chase between the FL and the ML because that is a perfectly understandable drama there. He thinks the FL, with her new face, killed the love of his life and the FL thinks the ML wanted to kill her.
Once we get through that trial, it becomes more of a build up romance with the leads that you would expect.
I felt like the characters kind of accepted this face swap like they had ran out of milk. It seemed more like an inconvenience than holy snowballs, I have a completely new face and body and along with that a completely new identity and lifestyle. That would really traumatise me and feel like maybe that should have been showcased a little more, esp for the FL. She goes from being a very bullied and hated woman because of her job and scarred face, to being someone who is supposed to be the most beautiful woman around, also from a wealthy family. That's quite a jump that's not really explored fully. For the most part, the FL just mentions that she's stolen the other girls identity and she must be mad for being murdered in her place. Umm, honey, she stole your identity LOL
The side couple was just sad to watch. The side ML was clearly devoted to the FL and suddenly, and the most randomly I've seen so far, the side FL is in love with the side ML and acts jealous. It just comes out of nowhere. It has 'rebound' all over it.
I have read spoilers to the end of the series and if I continued watching, I don't think I would feel sad for the couple. I would feel sadness from a friend perspective.
Acting - The ML is really at good crying. I felt that.
There are complaints about the FL's acting not matching the portrayal of the first actress. I kind of agree to an extent. It does kind of feel like a slight dissonance between them. They tried to use the flower petal plucking as a habit but I feel like they should have used some sort of personal expression to bridge the visual crossover for the audience. Like each girl having a set of habits and expressions that the audience could pick up on, other than good girl and bitch, so when the switch is made, it feels more natural for the viewer to see the character just change faces. Instead, it does feel like there's a personality change as well. The FL as the second actress, although still very intelligent and kind, does seem a lot more outgoing. If this is the character's natural personality, it's not shown very well in the first two episodes.
Music- I remember liking the background tracks to this one, although nothing to add to my playlist.
Rewatch - Since I've decided to drop this, I won't be rewatching.
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Such a great hidden identity plot, very underrated
Writing my first review even though I've watched many historical C-dramas just because this one is so underrated to me.First I'll say that I especially like hidden identity dramas so if you like dramatic irony this show is for you.
The first couple of episodes where the identity change happens is a little jarring especially since you'll have to remind yourself that they actually only swapped faces and not bodies. (But of course in real life the whole body had to come with the actress)
What I loved best was the pacing and storytelling of the drama. The pacing was steady with each case after another without anything being too rushed or getting too boring for being slow. Each individual case also leads into the overarching case without them going off and needing to do any random cases. Everything is also done in a way that ties it back to points that are mentioned before. Like at the beginning they talk about the 4 great houses in Heyang and then we have interactions with all four of them.
Another very nice thing about this drama is that it doesn't have a lot of tropes that I'm tired of watching for a lot of historical C-dramas. There was a bit of love triangles but the people not in the end couple are not bad people and doesn't become evil like a lot of other dramas. There's also no "face is behind a mask- can't recognize person". It also does not have endless suffering of one character or any stupid miscommunications aside from the hidden identity. And even that is revealed in steps that make sense.
The characters' actions are relatively logical and makes sense based on their background and goals. (There are some small cases where the main female lead has more ability than she should in certain aspects but I can overlook those) Some reviews say that the ML and FL chemistry wasn't the best and I agree but I'm not watching this to watch a romantic comedy or a short steamy C-drama. For a crime-mystery drama, I liked how there was less focus there.
I picked this up originally due to the plot and also Liu Xue Yi who does a great job. (Saw him initially as Wuxin in Blood of Youth where he was also amazing despite acting as a 17 yr-old) Ju Jing Yi is not as good but okay enough and also very pretty. (I feel like other people rank her lower because there wasn't any super emotional scenes and she did not display a wide range of expressions)
Of the mystery crime solving historical C-dramas, I've only watched the Mysterious Lotus Casebook (MLC) and I think this is as good as that. Both has very mysterious small magical/paranormal events. Acting may be better in MLC but this definitely has less angst and better conclusion in my opinion.
Highly recommend if you like hidden identity, mystery and less tropes!
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A Tale of Love, Identity, and Intrigue
The story follows a unique premise centered around the female lead, who has a scar on her face. On her wedding day, a beautiful but obsessive woman swaps faces with her in an attempt to marry the male lead, the female lead's husband. However, the imposter meets her demise on the same day. Now with a new face and body, the female lead embarks on a mission to uncover the mystery behind her own "death" in a morally corrupt city. She works alongside her husband, who remains unaware of her true identity.One notable aspect of the drama is its unconventional structure. The first two episodes focus entirely on the guest actress playing the original version of the female lead (the scar-faced character). This approach is a clever way to establish the emotional connection and backstory between the main leads, giving depth to their love story. However, this choice also has its drawbacks. When the main actress takes over in episode three, it feels slightly jarring, and it takes some time for viewers to adjust to the new portrayal of the character.
The standout element for me is the exceptional writing of the male lead. He genuinely makes us believe in his deep connection with the female lead, showing that his love is rooted in her personality rather than her physical appearance. His unwavering devotion is beautifully portrayed, and their romance unfolds in a steady, realistic manner. It’s more of a mature, well-developed bond than a rushed love story, which adds authenticity to their relationship.
Another highlight of the drama is its captivating murder investigation subplots. These cases are intricately designed, raw, and compelling, with just the right amount of suspense and unexpected twists to keep viewers hooked. Importantly, they never feel like filler content; instead, they tie seamlessly into the central storyline. As someone who rarely watches investigation dramas, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed these elements. They added depth to the narrative without overshadowing the main conflict.
Favorite Character:
My favourite character is Yang Cai Wei/Shangguan Zhi (the female lead) is portrayed as a strong, intelligent, and brave woman with a unique talent for forensic investigation. Ju Jing Yi, the main actress, delivers a fantastic performance. Her ability to convincingly portray the face swap was truly impressive, and her performance added depth to the character's journey.
Overall, this drama was an exceptional watch for me, and I would rate it a solid 10/10.
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A (perhaps) unpopular take on the 2nd m/f lead relationship…
A lot’s been written about the plot and the leads that I agree with, and I wasn’t going to write a review but look, I finished this show last night. I am now working and out of nowhere, tears sprang to my eyes because one scene in particular popped into my head: 2FL drops her head back, fighting back tears, after she opens 2ML’s fist to find a piece of candy.Sorry, guys, but the relationship between 2FL and 2ML may not be the storybook prettiest, but it is definitely the most REAL. It happens like that, sometimes the guy ends up with the backup girl, sometimes they find comfort in each other, and sometimes that winds up being the best thing for both of them. Sometimes it ends badly.
In the end, I can honestly say that their story, even over the main leads’, is what moved me. As much for its realness as for it being cut short before either of them had an opportunity to figure it all out together.
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Awesome story but filmed weirdly
I believe it's awesome and has enough angst to satisfy me but it's filmed weirdly because it's somehow not made with all scenes to be explained properly...while a play with swapping faces and stealing FL's identity is to many people done like they couldn't have done it better? To me it's not that big of a deal plus I rather accept it as it was played out even if how could they have done the face so very identical to a FL and guest FL in a short time lol but the weirdest thing to me is a battle in a funeral or memorial hall with Pan Yue when they stabbed his belly and he fell like he died and after it he just went on the boat standing and sailor sailed him that scene is confusing to me...I noticed that this faint abd stab aren't the only plot holes but there are more if them and I don't understand why but the story us good a d their acting is entertaining but still it's a drama with quite a number of plot holes but it could be better if it was made with all the understanding and properly presented events but it is like rather averageWas this review helpful to you?
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really over makeup ,jujingyi said she willing to makeup ugly for this drama, but.. just once and look very fake .. the rest just pale , for other cast very regular wounds!not very bad but still not that best ,lacking of profesional ,very mind
1. what happen with yang cai wei and shangguan zhi?the witch trick? not seeing
2.there's no point for them to killing Cai Wei, basically even though she's dead, there still have people looking for yang family cases, and even more provoked, Likewise with Zhuo Lan Jiang, in vain
3.It only explains how to kill Cai Wei, but not how to making her fall down ,not the guess ,the real one
4. To be honest, Mastermind doesn't look as powerful as Silver Rain Sect
5.How did Panyue know that the door lock in gambling place is fishtail shaped? thats a secret
6. the last one, panyue's father was shocked, i was shocked too..., was that done on purpose? for what??
This drama can be said to be completely finished, but deliberately made it unfinished by stating that there is still have Mastermind No. 1
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I ended up watching only for Jiang
The mains got boring and I stopped caring. I watched for Jiang's storyline and then dropped it when they killed him off. Good music. Good actors. Good initial storyline that became boring very fast for the mains. Jiang and Xiaosheng were the only reasons to keep watching. Killing him off was pointless mains-suffering-fodder BS. Wish I hadn't watched now.Was this review helpful to you?
This drama is sadly underrated. It was not super popular, or so I'm told, in China. I cannot claim to know why, but maybe that is because of the other shows airing at the time... or perhaps, the audience was looking for something more fast paced? Whatever the reason, it deserved more love.
General Plot:
On the eve of her wedding to her childhood friend, Yang Caiwei is abducted by Shangguan Zhi-- a cruel woman who craves her betrothed, Pan Yue. After being forced to swap bodies, Caiwei escapes only to discover Shangguan Zhi has been murdered. Killed, it would seem, in her stead. Armed with nothing but a stranger's face and her skills as a coroner, Caiwei embarks on a journey to unearth a conspiracy that goes back twenty years... to the murder of her parents. Pan Yue is also on the case, but could he be her killer?
Liu Xue Yi, who plays Pan Yue (male lead), took what might have been a simple character and turned him into a brilliant one. I must admit to being more attached to him than the female lead I was supposed to be rooting for! His expressions, nuances, and subtle gestures portrayed a very private individual's inner turmoil expertly. His emotions--even when the character was hiding them from other characters--were evident to the audience. His heartbreak and grief was palpable. He was confused over the change is "Shangguan Zhi" and loathed himself having feelings for her. Was that not a betrayal to the woman he loved?
Some people say Pan Yue should have caught on sooner, but in the character's defense, there is no magic in this world. Any supernatural instances are disproven with science and practicality. If someone I knew showed up and started acting like someone else, would I assume a body-swap? Not likely. Not ever, to be honest.
The female lead was alright. She wasn't my favorite, but she grew on me. I enjoyed the story enough to ignore a little inconsistency in the character when the actresses switched. Ju Jing Ye reminds me of a 'type actress'. She often plays herself--which is fine because she seems to be genuinely nice person. Her character was very resourceful and clever, and she had the perfect eyes for the part. Red rimmed and pleading... but that might have also been allergies. There were times I really wanted to get her eye drops.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the story. Why not a higher score? Primarily, it was the disappointing ending for some of the secondary characters. One in particular was very heart wrenching, and while his 'fate' was tied into the plot, it could have been done differently. What can I say? I am a sucker for happily ever after.
If you are a fan of Liu Xue Yi, this is a much watch.
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Obsessions, Realistic Details, and a "Violet" Hero
There are many moments and details that make this story worth the time spent, despite some plot holes, clichés, and sagging pacing in the second half.I liked the drama, so I don't want to dwell on minor flaws (honestly, I stretched out the viewing for subjective reasons, so I barely remember them). I am ready to forgive almost anything for realistic details like the long line for the ladies' restroom at the festival. Also, I appreciate that if a hero gets hit hard, he falls. If he gets stabbed, he faints instead of fighting epicly for another half an hour. Speaking of fights: the choreography here isn't a graceful dance. It's blunt murder or attempted murder. Swords swinging with lethal outcomes for a crowd of dumb assassins. Realistic.
What I didn't like:
The Dialogue: Too many lines start with "by the way" after an awkward pause.
The Second Half: It felt slightly less engaging. Maybe it's the genre shift — it started as a mystery/detective story and ended with palace intrigue and espionage. The tension didn't necessarily drop, but the viewing experience changed, perhaps because I'm not a fan of palace politics.
The Plot
We start with Pan Yue, a handsome official from the capital, arriving in a provincial town to work as a magistrate (basically a sheriff). Locals think he's the Princess's fiancé, and rumor has it he might have killed his bride on their wedding day. The town is run by four mafia clans. Pan Yue's predecessor was corrupt, but the new guy is righteous and starts a war on crime. This part is dynamic, interesting, and sometimes epic. Right next to him is Shangguan Zhi — his childhood friend's sister, obsessed with him and her own beauty. No spoilers, but their relationship is dynamic. The romance that follows is quite sweet. The investigation leads the main couple to the Imperial Court, where intrigues and conspiracies begin. The mysteries remain, but the pacing slows down.
The Cast & Characters
Liu Xue Yi fits perfectly as the smart, handsome official. It's a typical role for him, but Pan Yue stands out due to his emotional range and vulnerability. He goes from mocking self-confidence to confusion, fear, and panic. It feels like in the main couple, the guy is the "violet" (damsel in distress), while the girl handles everything. This is plot-justified: he's an aristocrat, while she (after the body swap twist) lived at rock bottom working with corpses.
Ju Jing Yi looks right in place as both Shangguan Zhi and Yang Caiwei. Comments said she looks too doll-like, but that fits the plot: the character was obsessed with beauty.
Li Ge Yang looks excellent in both mafia lord robes and rags. A contradictory character whose story raises the most questions for the writers, but he embodies the moral they tried to convey.
Wu Jia Yi (the FL's friend) evoked mixed feelings. She's a scammer from the black market, so her questionable actions are actually well-written for her character.
Fan Jin Lun as Guard Liu is hilarious! Usually, such minor characters go unnoticed, but he had a great arc, changed a lot, and even voiced one of the drama's morals.
The Vibe & Details
In one episode, Pan Yue dresses as an escort for an undercover mission. They didn't develop the theme (it was funny rather than sexy), which is a shame. Liu Xue Yi isn't known for overt sexuality, but we do get a blindfolded kiss (hello, power play tropes).
We finally see the ML shirtless! A rare treat with LXY. However, I wanted more jokes about his reputation as the "Capital's Most Handsome Man." His talent for painting was shown once and forgotten.
Despite the serious tone, there are funny scenes. Liu Xue Yi turns every comedic moment into something cute. The archive scene in episode 23 is gold! He plays drama and comedy equally well.
I want to note Pan Yue's relationship with his father. The "Father of the Year" who treats his son terribly is a drama classic. I expected nothing else, but was pleasantly surprised. Their final exchange even touched me. Just a few words, but so much meaning!
The Finale
The final episode is dynamic. I didn't like the moral being preached straight to the camera with pathos music (too contrasting with the rest of the show). But everything else was great. All threads came together unexpectedly. Tension was high, and knowing the writers' love for angst, I expected a trap in every scene. The cherry on top was the very last scene — either a setup for season 2 or a hint at an open ending. After that scene, you realize a peaceful life isn't in the cards for the Pan family yet. Usually, open endings annoy me, but I liked the hint of future trouble here.
Just a funny detail — the male characters change outfits way more often than the females. It's plot-justified, but still funny. The guys are such fashionistas!
While writing this, I realized the main theme hidden among intrigues is simple: Obsession is bad. Pan Yue was obsessed with finding his bride. Shangguan Zhi was obsessed with beauty and Pan Yue. Zhuo Lanjiang was obsessed with revenge. The villain was obsessed with power. None of it led to anything good.
Verdict
Tastes differ, but I liked the drama. Some moments caused irritation, but upon reflection, the characters couldn't have acted differently. Their "cockroaches" (inner demons/quirks) differ from our expectations, which makes "In Blossom" unusual and worth watching.
P.S. In ancient China, there really was a poet and official named Pan Yue. Talented and handsome. But he got involved in palace intrigues and was executed. So viewers who googled the name watched "In Blossom" with much more tension than the average Western viewer, expecting a tragic end.
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Hmmmm FL make up???
Watched this for Liu XueYi but JJY just ruined it a little for me tbh. Finally after slowly watching, stopping and re-watching - I'm officially abandoning this one year later LOLThe story is very interesting and everything/everyone did very well, I just cannot look past the make up of the FL. I used to like JJY in Legend of Yunxi and the Ruyi Pavillion, she's not amazing at acting but not too bad. She looks so different here, yes pretty but what genre is she in ? Because it's definitely not the same time period as the rest of the cast.
Also the earlier Yang Cai Wei (Zheng He Hui Zi) was too good, JJY just could not live up to that unfortunately.
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Worth the watch??
The first 3 episodes will get you interested; and the last 3 episodes will keep you on the edge of your seat!!Don’t try to make sense of the body/ face swap thing- it was just that interesting for me. Every few episodes will have a plot twist, so it keeps the momentum going.
ML is hot:) his character is loyal and steady- he’s got brains and can fight. FL is caring but also independent and strong. Both compliment each other very well. Supporting characters are also intriguing and not at all boring. The main plot and storyline is solving crimes and sourcing who is the mastermind behind the conspiracy and unrest in the government. The romance is another main plot, and yes, someone dies:( I guessed it already somewhere halfway in the middle. But it is generally a happy ending.
A definite recommended watch. Enjoy:)
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