Fragrance of the Pomegranates

A Journey Through Xinjiang — A Beautifully Grounded Story of Family, Friendship, and Love

What a gem of a drama. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Xinjiang, this show did everything right—from the stunning landscapes and warm depiction of local cuisine and culture to its beautifully grounded storytelling. With its slice-of-life rhythm, the story unfolded nicely, offering heartfelt moments of love, friendship, and family, balanced with just enough conflict to keep things engaging.

The romance felt genuine and beautifully paced; sweet, gradual, and deeply sincere. The male lead, though not conventionally handsome, lit up scenes with his brilliant smile and the warmth he brought to his role. His portrayal was full of heart and conviction, and his confession to the female lead was so touching. The female lead’s quiet strength and steady presence made her an equally compelling partner, and watching them draw closer felt completely natural and rewarding.

The supporting cast was equally strong—every character served a purpose and contributed meaningfully to the story. The second couple’s arc added humor and balance, while the family and friendship bonds brought real depth and warmth. The development and growth for the main characters felt satisfying. The OSTs were perfectly chosen and beautifully woven into the narrative, enhancing and complementing the scenery and mood.

Overall, this was a joy to watch—20 episodes that felt just right. The production team nailed every element: cinematography, music, writing, acting, and direction. It’s a drama that makes you smile, warms your heart, and leaves you genuinely satisfied. I didn’t give it a perfect 10 only because a few moments of CGI could have been better—but honestly, that’s a tiny flaw in an otherwise beautifully crafted series.

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A magnificent ode to nature and humanity.

PLOT: A restaurant has been run till 30 years by Aisha, two of her old friends, and a son (Merxat). Aisha's adopted son, (ML), a painter, decides to abandon his studies and take over the restaurant (to keep the "family" together) when he learns that Aisha has a brain tumor. A mysterious gourmet appears to give advice to ML and help him revive the struggling restaurant. ML has long been in love with his childhood friend (FL), who is dedicated to wildlife conservation. Competitors emerge (restaurant and love).

+++ A host of formidable actors, bringing deeply moving characters to life. I wasn't familiar with Bai Lu Fan, but I'll definitely be following his work now ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶
+++ Sublime cinematography: landscapes, shots, sets, and the showcasing of local culture (cuisine, music, crafts, etc.).
+++ The pacing of the narrative fits the slice-of-life genre, and the story is realistic and coherent (or almost :). It's a series that highlights relationships (and not just blood ties), the value of kindness and benevolence. There are greedy, unscrupulous businessmen, but no great villains.
+++ Superb OSTs.

### The CGI (animals) is of poor quality, and you have to be forgiving to believe in the goodwill of the snow leopard (in the middle of the desert :).
### The two romances are sweet, but there isn't a single kiss in the entire drama...
### The FL's voice (dubbled ?) is unbearable :(

=> A feel-good, optimistic series that warms the heart.
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Magnifique hymne à la nature & à l'humanité

PLOT: Un restaurant est tenu depuis 30 ans par Aisha, 2 de ses vieux amis et un fils (Merxat) . Le fils adoptif de Aisha, (ML) peintre, décide d'abandonner ses études et de reprendre le restaurant (pr garder la "famille" unie) qd il apprend qu'Aisha a une tumeur au cerveau. Un mystérieux gourmet surgit pr donner des conseils au ML et l'aider à redresser le restau en perdition. Le ML est amoureux depuis longtps de son amie d'enfance (FL) dévouée à la protection de la faune. Des compétiteurs surgissent (restau & love).

+++ A host of formidable actors, bringing to life deeply moving characters. Je ne connaissais as Bai Lu Fan, mais je vais désormais suivre ses dramas ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶
+++ Sublime cinématographie : paysages, prises de vue, décors, mise en valeur de la culture (cuisine, musique, artisanat, etc.) locale.
+++ Le rythme de la narration correspond au genre Slice-of-life et la story est réaliste, cohérente (ou presque :). C'est une série qui met en valeur les liens (et pas seulement ceux du sang), la valeur de la gentillesse, de la bienveillance. Il y a des businessmen avides, peu scrupuleux, mais pas de great villains.
+++ Superbes OSTs.

### Les CGI (animaux) sont de mauvaise qualité et il faut être indulgent pr croire à la bonne volonté du léopard des neiges (en plein désert :).
### Les 2 romances sont touchantes, mais il n'y a pas un seul kiss dans tt le drama ...
### Voix de la FL (doublée ?) très désagréable.

=> Une série feel-good, optimiste, qui fait du bien.

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