Meet You at the Blossom

It gets better and better

When I started this I picked the worst time ever, because I was bombarded with work and literally had no time to breathe, let alone binge watch a series, so I watched only one ep a day then on the 6th ep or so, I started binging it~

And what a surprise it was!!!
First the story isn't by any mean serious, it has a strong basis for a melodrama but somehow the comedic relief is still there, you can feel it and enjoy it through side characters.

It started off ok-ish, basic BL with clingy childish ML and another serious and poised one, then the beginning of their peculiar relationship.
This drama has a huge-ass trigger warning of many terrible things happening between the leads but they danced around the whole thing, there is barely any touching at all so you can watch it without getting physically sick from the idea!
Don't get me wrong, it's still a horrible behaviour but what I mean is you won't watch anything that would traumatize you, that's it ~~
By ep6 and the falling of all masks (and for me with the appearance of the doctor in 7th ep or so)
The truth was the beginning of another chapter in the story that focuses heavily on the MLs away from each other, then together and I really enjoyed the second half more than the first.

I don't know if it was because I was too distracted with work or what, but the story at the beginning was confusing, like who married whom and who cheated, who is whose son and who killed whose mother, also who is whose brother... Like who the fu*k is the king!!!!! Too many whos!!! We don't have that in the second half, everyone has one target, one thing to do and that's it!!

Cast was ok, the two leads got me scratching my head in some scenes, camera angles were questionable in some scenes, specially the intimate ones, the closer shots were more funny than sexy or attractive, and aside from the two leads, shout out to the side characters, the two dumb and dumber (Jin Bao and Zhao Cai) my lord and saviour Su Yin, and my sarcastic-ass doctor Si Ming and lastly the devilishly adorable Xiao Yu.

Those characters/actors were spectacular!! I loved Si Ming the most because we have the same sarcastic sense, basically his dialogue in some scenes was what literally popped up in my mind while watching (like the detox in the tub scene 🤦🤦)
And ZhaoCai because he was lost in the middle, he has the funniest "I'm so done" facial expressions and the best eye-rolling WTF reaction to Jin Bao and Xiao Bao (I call them the idiotic BaoBao).

I didn't know this drama existed, I found it by chance and I'm glad I picked it up, so despite everything it's highly recommended~~

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disappointing dub con :\

The series started off like fanfiction-style fluff and comedy and I quite liked it - great for lazy summertime ;) Then came a dub-con sex scene, followed by more comedy… and suddenly it spiraled into an abusive, R-rated mess. There was a hint of political drama that seemed promising at first, but it lacked proper background and development. The main plotline — something about finding a flower — wrapped up way too quickly and felt anticlimactic. The ending? Disappointing and just plain stupid. Honestly, I have no idea what genre this was supposed to be. At one point, I genuinely thought a zombie apocalypse might randomly start, and I wouldn’t have been surprised.

The series could’ve been just a bit boring and weird — not great, but not terrible either. But oh god, here comes the biggest issue: the sheer amount of toxicity portrayed as romance made me sick. It gave off major Fifty Shades of Grey vibes. I absolutely hated both main characters. Surprisingly, the rest of the cast was okay — even likable.

The actors themselves seemed sweet and charming in interviews, so I don’t blame them. They were just handed a terrible script to work with. 😐

I only finished the series because of Que Siming, whom I absolutely adored 😂 I might rewatch it someday… but only the scenes with him.

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AHHHH I LOVE THISSSSS ??????

This C-drama is, without a doubt, a masterpiece that has completely stolen my heart! The intense layers of angst and the gripping drama intertwine perfectly, creating a whirlwind of emotions that pulls you in from the very first scene. Each episode unfolds like a beautifully woven tapestry, rich with complex characters who face dilemmas that tug at your heartstrings. The intricate plot twists leave you breathless, while the stunning cinematography paints a breathtaking backdrop for each poignant moment. I am utterly captivated by the stellar performances and the way the narrative evokes such a profound connection—it's an unforgettable experience that keeps me yearning for more!

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It's only 12 episodes, just watch it and support a Chinese BL

OVERALL (no spoilers in this section):

Is this the best show I've ever seen? No, but it doesn't need to be any better to be worth watching.

As you watch the show, you can almost see a much more sophisticated version that's just out of reach, if only this had been 40 episodes with a bigger budget. The story itself is excellent, based on a novel, and especially appealing if you like star-crossed lovers, morally grey characters and complicated relationships (this is a wuxia as well, if that sweetens the deal). The main problem with the show is that it has to pack a long and winding story into 12 short episodes. As a result, the script and the acting do not have the luxury of being subtle. They are forced to hit you over the head with blatantly obvious statements of character motivation and feeling, and the viewer doesn't have much time to marinate on the plight of each character before the next thing happens. However, instead of feeling frustrated by the pacing, I found it almost comical. Just strap in for a quick zipline from start to finish, and treat the heavy-handed performances as a source of amusement rather than a blight on the show.

I started and finished this show because I love costume dramas and I love danmei, and I think for those reasons alone it's worth watching. Not every show we watch can be a masterpiece, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a less-than-perfect drama that had a lot of heart :)

THE GOOD:

- The story is great, and I will definitely be reading the novel. The main plot is predictable and low-stakes, but the character relationships are quite surprising

- The character growth for Xiaobao is well-done, if a little too fast. He starts the show as a naive young man, thinks he knows exactly what love is, and is convinced he can save his gūniang/gōngzī by showering him with gifts and empty promises. As the plot progresses, he learns that choosing to love someone is difficult and involves hard choices, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

- The Duke is a fascinating character. If anyone's performance is subtle, it's his. His true feelings and motivations are never spoken aloud, and the viewer is left to guess about his true feelings towards Xiaobao. His inclusion in the story is a good representation of the "proper path" for Xiaobao, which comes with respect and social status but seems to also carry a sense of dissatisfaction and longing that the Duke seems to exude

- I loved Xiaobao's costume in the early episodes, as well as the Jin mansion set


THE BAD:

- Xiaobao's reaction to the sexual assault that leaves him in a coma for 2 days (!!) is bizarrely underplayed. He wakes up and has an almost comical reaction of shaking his fist and saying "you bastard -- I'll get you back for this!". I know his character makes light of things, especially in the early episodes, but they should have treated the SA with a lot more weight & sincerity

- I barely knew who any of the characters were, besides Xiaobao and Huai'en's main circle. I never quite got a handle on the princes and their relationship. The voice-over at the beginning of Ep1 was not enough of an explanation to make everything clear.

- How many times did Huai'en really need to get stabbed in the chest? 4 times was too many

- There's plenty more that can be considered "bad", most of which is the result of too few episodes and not enough money, which I can't hold against the show. For example, I was left with some questions like "why is Huai'en staying at the Jin mansion for so long?" and "How long was Xiaobao actually poisoned for?", but I'm sure most of those questions would have been answered if the show had been longer

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I LOVED IT!

Guys… I’m so happy. I haven’t rated a BL show a 9/10 in a LONG WHILE. But this did it for me, like oh my god I just loved it. I’ve noticed I tend to like BL’s with a traditional setting more regardless of the plot, like it’s just a huge preference for me so I should definitely approach BL’s like that more often. But yeah, let talk about it! I want to appreciate the beautiful scenery in every episode, and the beautiful actors as well. They were all in a face card war cause Jesus they were all beautiful, mainly the mains. The outfits are absolutely stunning and detailed, it just made them look even better. The story was okay, a little confusing, but honestly it was a bit understandable once you reached the end more and more but still some questions. I don’t watch a lot of Chinese BL and I think this is my first traditional setting BL from China, because of the obvious laws in China, and I’m a HUGE physical touch person, it’s a bit controversial but it does make it more interesting to watch. I know this isn’t the most physical touch BL but I loved it regardless, the kiss at the end was worth it, and their chemistry was pretty good. I just loved the whole vibe. In other shows I would probably drop or skip through a lot because honestly the story was a bit mediocre but somehow it kept me hooked, idk what it was but I was hooked. I watched every single episode without skipping or fast forwarding, and that’s like so rare with shows these days, I have to at least fast forward in the last episode or last couple episodes. But here they managed to hook me in each episode, everything perfectly balanced. I really do hope in the future they have more traditional settings in BL’s it doesn’t matter where, either Korea, Japan, China, or Thailand. I know China has a lot of them but they’re very censored, but I mean a BL that’s something like this or even more would be the DEATH of me. Anyway, there really isn’t much to criticize here, other than I wish Zong Zheng Huai En and Jin Xiao Bao had a bit more of screen time being happy, a lot revolved around the drama going on rather than their relationship but at the same time it was enough, honestly a special episode of them just being together for like 20 minutes would be lovely, and last thing to mention is how Zong Zheng Shao Yu (The 2nd prince I think) had a VoiceOver in the show, he is Thai irl so idk if he was speaking Thai which explains why the VoiceOver did not match what his mouth was saying, but like they could’ve done better in that, it’s not super distracting, just something you can notice. But yeah that’s all, really good show I recommend it, I want more of them and I want more BL with a traditional setting and a HAPPY ending, can’t leave that out.

PLEASE SOMEONE STOP JIN XIAO YU FROM NOT LETTING THESE TWO LOVEBIRDS KISS UGH!!!

=-.Fav Quotes From This Diva.-=

“Why are you scolding him for no reason, instead of sucking your mother’s milk.” - Jin Xiao Bao

“Look at your creepy eyes, you must be a weasel.” - Jin Xiao Bao

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Good but could be better

I have yet to finish this show and even though im half way through it I've got a few criticism and praises.

the worst comes first:

I did NOT like the amount of SA happening so far??? I'm hoping that there sexual interactions becoming more consensual as the show progresses but i have my doubts. Especially as this is one of the first few Chinese BL i see with minimal censorship on the homosexual interaction between leads, I'm not sure what to expect for the rest of it given that I feel like they ,as an industry, aren't too familiar with dealing with such relationships. Nonetheless, there is no excuse for the romaticisation of blatant r*ape and SA.

Now for the good stuff

I really love the casting i think they've done an amazing job so far. The story line is interpreting but im not at the end so i can't comment on it properly. Of course the setting and outfits are on point as always and its really good to set the scene here. I think this is a good comfort drama for many , but i truly wish the SA wasn't as common and wasn't brushed off as quickly as it was.

I know this is a common issue with some Chinese dramas, but the dub throws me off sometimes; there was one scene where a character's lips were moving no where near to what the dub was suggesting. it was quite trippy but i think that's just something the media industry needs to improve on as a whole .

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Historical BL which is actually BL with a happy ending❤️❤️❤️❤️

Loved it!!! It was a lot better than i expected. 🤭🤭 I kept putting this on hold for a while and watched it cz i had nothing to watch. Alas!! I don't regret it. Bao is such a cutie and huai is such a beauty❤️. I cried and laughed all through the series. Loved the unexpected 2nd couple doctor x bodyguard story with the childhood reunion... ahhhh i wish we'd see more of them but yep I'm happy with what we had... loved how both doc and huai were both jealous types but their boyfriends were both clingy type😆😆. They were like "I'm gonna isolate u from the world" but their boyfriends were too extroverted 😆😆 hahaha the trio was my favorite.

i really liked xiao yu. She's such a pretty kid. I did feel she was not getting enough screen time until the last episode. That was such a beautiful ending🥺 loved how huai kept trying to have quality time with bao but she kept intruding 😆😆 and acting all innocent.

I deductsd 0.5 cz huai SAs bao out of jealousy but then they kinda brush it off and turn it into "he might be bad but i cant help but love him". He never pays for that.

Also yu gets kidnapped and everyone is like worried but for 5 mins😆😆 they literally forget her until ep 11.

Overall its a good show watch it uk how rare it is to find chinese historical BL that are actually BL and have a happy ending❤️

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