I typically enjoy period dramas but this one was a flop :(
Unlike series like Word of Honor or Untamed, which are BL coded but technically bromance, Meet You At The Blossom is 100000% gay. There’s no ambiguity about it.Key criticisms of this series include its paperthin characters and weak plot. I don’t disagree.
Many good period dramas have a sprawling universe with many characters woven into a comprehensive plot. This takes time to develop. Rush it over too few episodes and you either run the risk of confusing the audience or wind up having to simplify the storyline. Both options are not ideal, and unfortunately, in the case of Meet You At The Blossom, it was a combination of both.
It was a little hard to follow the relationships between the different factions and characters, and the series got a little taxing to finish. The love story between Xiaobao and Huaien also felt poorly thought-out. There was initial chemistry that was quite promising, but all that quickly evaporated as the story went on.
Perhaps the storyline made their relationship seem lacking in depth? Even as I approached the end of the series, I remained utterly unconvinced of their love for each other.
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One step forward, two steps back
It's nice to see Chinese bl, especially costume wuxia drama with a reasonable budget find it's way to being made uncensored through international cooperation and online distribution, but it's also going backwards to the time before the complete ban on Chinese bl that had a ton of romanticized domestic assault. I know that this story is already toned down from the original story, it would have been great if it was just removed entirely. Just Huai-en murdering innocent people and chopping hands off in a blind rage got the point that he's messed up just fine. There's already plenty of interesting psychology to explore with all the birth secrets and horrific way Huai-en was raised. The chaotic doctor guy was fun and I think it's good there wasn't too much of him and his childhood lover minion guy, but the scenes that they had could have been better expressed than they were.Was this review helpful to you?
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A Historical Saga that was a Good Attempt
“Why do you always want to go back to the past?” – Quote from “Meet You At the Blossom”This is a titanically fun series to watch. But I am biased. I love history-period pieces, especially Asian ones since I know so little about Asian cultures and customs in general. For me, I romanticize the story even more and thus, it becomes pure escapism.
I confess that I got completely lost in the complexities of the story and with the names and who is kindred to whom. I had a hard time following the lineage of who is related to whom and therefore the story for me got a shade complicated. However, I got the gist of the story and all I was interested in really were the main characters. They were not just entertaining. They were tantalizing. For some reason, decidedly handsome men in exotic period costumes add a greater dimension to the level of the portrayals of their characters they are playing.
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https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/09/07/meet-you-at-the-blossom-series-review-ep-1-to-12/
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The hype threw the drama down the cliff.
I wanted to watch this drama since it began airing, but I could not check it out earlier. And I think it was a bliss.The hype around this story being the first uncensored BL in China (a Thai co-production) helped make the drama popular despite its shortcomings.
Plot-wise, the drama does the job without giving the audience a fresh story, which is fine. I'm all in when it comes to revenge-focused plots and icy characters. With that being said, I despise promising stories that go off midway with plotholes and poor scriptwriting choices.
Let's break things down:
1- Plot holes: the plot went bananas halfway through episode 6. There is no acceptable explanation as to why a crippled side character could have the opportunity to sneak into an imperial jail (!!), make their presence unnoticed, take away to another cell Xiaobao and torture him with the Eternal Cold Poison and then bring him back to where they took him. Prove me wrong.
2- Characters share the same brain cells as the scriptwriters: after the poisoning of Xiaobao, no one can think.
It's just an endless - and pointless - accusation for Huai'en to take the blame. Despite him having zero reasons for wanting to poison XB, everyone thinks he must be the culprit, as he is a villain trying to accomplish his father's revenge. Who cares if he could kill XB and his family on the spot but didn't do it? Why bother asking the use of going to that length only to make XB suffer and, ultimately, die? That's what happened in the minds of the Jin family.
3- Que Siming x Jinbao: a pair that should have had more screen time to be given justice to them. I don't even know why or when the miracle doctor came in, but I guess that, at that point, neither the scriptwriters could bother to make the entrance of this character somewhat believable.
4- Thanks, Drama Gods, for giving me the strength and some humor to keep up with this idiotic plot.
5- Low budget: not a major con for me I don't care if the production is low budget. As long as it makes sense. This production though is ridiculous.
6- The ending: yay, (almost) everyone gets a happy ending. It feels like a retelling of the Famiglia del Mulino Bianco* (Family of the White Mill).
*fictional family in the history of Italian commercials
PROS:
- I feel sorry only for Huai’en
- Humor was my coping mechanism
- The second pair stole the show
CONS:
- PLOT HOLES EVERYWHERE
- Characters share the same brain cells as the scriptwriters
- Low budget
- The drama got worse after hitting the half
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Finally, a true danmei BL from China!
I'm really enjoying this series, wish it was longer than 12 episodes. I absolutely love the dynamic and chemistry between Li Le (Huai'en) and Wang Yun Kai (Xiaobao). The plot is very intricate, reminiscent of Word of Honor, but with elements of humor that relieve the pathos. I'm glad they replaced the brutality of the novel with more tenderness between the two lovers.Was this review helpful to you?
The story blends romance, drama, and historical elements, unraveling secrets and conflicts that push the boundaries of love and loyalty. It also touches on themes like personal growth, resilience, and friendship. I have to admit, at first, keeping track of who was related to whom was a bit confusing, but it wasn’t hard to follow.
Xiao Bao (Wang Yun Kai) is the spoiled, immature, and privileged son of a wealthy family, while Huai En (Li Le) is cold, emotionally guarded, and burdened by a tragic past and an abusive, controlling father. Their chemistry is electric, and their performances ground the series, adding layers to their complex relationship. They bring such authenticity to their roles that I couldn’t look away.
It’s impossible not to fall for Xiao Bao’s dimples, hopeful attitude, and innocent charm, or Huai En’s detached, calculating presence. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear it is a story about the power of love and its importance in the characters' lives. How it drives or motivates them, how its absence leads to heartbreak and suffering, and how love can be a force of redemption, pushing people to change.
The supporting cast delivered solid performances. I adored Zhao Cai (Song Jia Xi) and Jin Bao (Li Yi Mu), Xiao Bao’s loyal friends, and was impressed by the sharp mind of Que Si Ming (Kou Wei Long).
Honestly, this show deserved more episodes to fully explore all the subplots and side characters. And some of the non-consensual scenes could have been handled with more sensitivity. An amazing OST too.
Oh, and I almost didn’t recognize Kou Wei Long from I’ll Turn Back This Time as Que Si Ming!
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A fun show that is a big step forward for LGBTA+ stories in China, but with a thin plot.
While recent past BL drama adaptions are often heavily censored to work around restrictions (The Untamed, Word of Honor) or never even see an airing date in China (Immortality, Winner is King), it is with the joint efforts of a Thai team joining the roster that made Meet You at the Blossom able to limbo its way past such restrictions. In such daring a move, Meet You at the Blossom manages to pass as a Thai drama -- even though it is very much Chinese at its heart and maintains a large involvment from its Chinese team. It is a big step forward for uncensored LGBTA+ stories being shared in China, and that point alone makes me respect this drama and all involved very highly.Meet You at the Blossom is a charming show. It's not perfect, and I would argue that the the 12 numbered episode run somewhat hinders the potential for what could be a great and more interesting plot. Yet while I personally would have liked to see and understand more of the political story that's going on in the dramas background -- especially as it seems to directly affect many of the characters we come to know in this show -- MYATB isn't a political drama. It very much focuses on the relationship between Zongzhen Huai'en and Jin Xiaobao; following them from their first meeting and story of falling of love, and how they have to face the struggles of betrayal and misunderstandings due to the circumstances surrounding them and the choices which are made (namely, Huai'en's choices). In terms of how much it works as an adaption from its original source material, MYATB follows the original story it's based from almost page for page.
I must warn however that the romance between Zongzhen Huai'en and Jin Xiabao may not be for everyone. Huai'en is possessive and jealous (he has his reasons), and in being so his actions at times toward Xiaobao can be seen as questionnable. For some this may be a trigger point, so do be prepared before going into this incase that's not for you. It doesn't help that the instances of when certain actions happen during this show are followed in ways that can be seen as dismissive or even taken as an aspect of comedy to laugh off the red flag behaviour. Again, the show has 12 episodes that average at 40 minutes an episode, and I feel like even just a few more shows could have helped flesh aspects of the story out better -- especially that of Huai'en's journey from never knowing love and affection from anyone in his life to finding and learning how to love someone through the way Xiaobao treats him.
Yet for the most part I enjoyed this show. It was nice to follow the episodes as they dropped and to have a less serious story to pick up and watch along with inbetween some of the bigger, more intricate dramas that have been releasing this year. I never felt that I wasn't enjoying the show at any point, and the critiques I have do not take away from what I did like. Again, for what this show is trying to achieve I respect it, and I do believe that if people are interested in seeing what Meet You at the Blossom has to offer, they should. The actors all did a great job, the costume and set designs are beautiful, and although the dubbing could be wacky at times, I didn't mind it. You can tell the show was on a smaller budget, but if anything it only added to its charm. Plus, it was a nice change to see a male and male couple that were allowed to show outward affection for a change and to kiss onscreen. I don't know if we'll see such a thing again soon from China, but perhaps the merging of two teams from two different countries is just the start of a work around on getting some of these stories to air.
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Thank you for trying, but yikes.
This series represents the quandary of ascribing merit for attempt rather than result.Is it amazing that Meet You At The Blossom got made at all? Yes.
Does that necessarily make it good? No.
Should it be watched regardless, to ensure more projects like this are made? ...That one's up to you.
For me, Meet You At The Blossom is a strange artifact. I'm not familiar with the novel, but I can see other media influences pulling this production this way and that. It feels as if the show hesitated about being too much of one thing or the other, and as such, never commits to anything with appropriate effort. Nowhere is this more evident than the very extreme split in tone between the first half (Gender-Bender Wuxia Rom-Com) and the latter half (Political Betrayal-Laden Wuxia Tragedy). There's also a lot of intense subject matter that they straight up refuse to deal with in meaningful ways, which makes it hard to respect the effort. Why include things if you don't want address them?
The twelve hour run time is, frankly, insufficient for the political backstory and the relationship and the fallout. Also, the presence of quite so many characters. You can see them thinking that they're going to be like The Untamed, with all this world-building and different dudes with different takes on the political situation, and yet none not enough air time is spent on the range of characters to make it anything but a waste. At the same time they tip their hats to the BL world where trope-laden writing abounds and every five paces there's another potential couple, but none of them are developed enough to be anything more than a curiosity on the sideline. Female characters? In short supply and are objects acted upon. Lurking darkness, tragic health situations and mental unwellness like Word of Honor? Present, but not quite addressed. Not taken to an extreme to make it worthwhile.
Over all, focus was constantly pulled from where it should have been: Zongzheng Huai En and Jin Xiao Bao's relationship. They only spent six episodes establishing it amongst the gobs of backstory and cast, and half of what we saw is subterfuge, lies, and general mistaken-identity goofiness. Very little sincere connection. There simply isn't enough emotional foundation to carry the romance through the second half of oh noooo prison and poisoning and complete betrayal. Huai'en needs more reasons to love Xiaobao besides that he's the first person who was ever nice to him, and Xiaobao needs more than 'he's hot and needy'. These are surface level characters, which nothing more than surface level attraction, there's no justification for the dramatics to follow.
It's possible that is where Meet You At The Blossom fails; it takes itself too seriously. This is a show where a dingbat rich playboy koalas himself onto a feral political pawn assassin he has mistaken for a lady with an aim of marriage. He's then surprised, but not dissuaded from matrimony with when it turns out she is a he. It's nonsense, and they should have stuck just with these two weirdos, rather than trying to invest in all the jockeying for the crown. Whatever Huai'en and Xiaobao have got going on-particularly in the way gender is performed, and where the power dynamics lay in the relationship- is far more interesting than omg which of these assholes should be king? I don't care. I could care about Huai'en and Xiaobao if only they would give me the opportunity to. Unfortunately they never did. I never invested properly in their relationship, so by the end I was tired of them and didn't want them to be together. That feeling was exacerbated by the stark reality that the sex scenes were all basically rape.
One of the reasons I didn't drop the show was wearied curiosity and that there was decent acting across the board. No one here is phoning it in. Props to Li Le for his performance as Huai'en, even if he sometimes felt constrained by a weak script that shied away from embracing Huai'ens madness. I think he would have had fun going full Luo Binghe. He's one of the few guys I could very well believe that a moron who saw him at night would mistake him for a statuesque lady, so, good casting. Wang Yun Kai is green but game as Xiaobao, though his performance is also hampered by poor writing. He does his best with the transition from misguided dope to tragic victim, but it falls flat a lot. The ensemble cast around them are all doing their best. The sets are good and the costuming is acceptable, though basic.
Meet Me At The Blossom must be noted for what it's trying to do. It will remain significant for being the first explicitly queer Chinese Costume drama, but beyond that, it's a confused effort with not much skill in the execution, though lots of enthusiasm. I look forward to a second effort with a more uniform vision.
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APPRECIATED EFFORT
The drama was decent for a BL series from the channel. Could it be better? Yes. Could it be different? Yes. I’ll give it an A for effort, though. Honestly, I wish I could say more, but I'm not sure what else to mention about the drama. So, I’ll just keep typing until I reach 300 characters or whatever.Was this review helpful to you?
A missed opportunity to make something remarkable
This series made a bold attempt to blend historical drama and wuxia in to a BL romance series and while it succeeded in some areas, it failed in others.The story revolves around a rich and naïve Jin Xiao Bao who mistakes Huai En to be a girl and falls head over heels for him. What starts as a mistaken identity slowly develops in to love. Their relationship is tested time and again, while a sinister plot of revenge looms in the background.
The series excels in its visual presentation. The cinematography and costumes are praiseworthy. But at the same time the character development is superficial. Huai En,
portrayed as a mysterious figure, remains enigmatic without substantial depth. The plot, despite intriguing premises, suffers from rushed pacing and predictable outcomes. The potential for a captivating love story between Jin Xiao Bao and Huai En is squandered due to a lack of chemistry and compelling interactions.
Although the series has its shortcomings, it has its moments of brilliance. The character of Jin Xiao Bao was played well by Wang Yun Kai and Li Jun Liang did justice to the character of Su Yin.
In conclusion, the series had a lot of potential and showed glimpses of a deeper story waiting to be explored. Alas, it was marred by lazy writing and lack of ambition to make it a truly remarkable wuxia themed BL series
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Acting was also superb so does music I enjoyed this very much and I will recommend this to every one who like historical bl and who enjoyed untamed and word of honour you won't regret it.
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Flawed But Engaging
Aside from the obvious red flag, the story is pretty good. They could have saved HuaiEn's character and taken a different approach, rather than the obvious one they chose in the series. They romanticized the SA scenes and made the character emotionally manipulative.Honestly, though, other than the main lead's drama, the story is fairly consistent and good enough. That being said, I wish SuYin the best—he deserves the world and has my heart. SuYin <3
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