It's called the dark horse cdrama of the year by cnetz. It's very popular even in china. Why is it a dark horse?…
Yeah Blossom is darkhorsing more than The Double since, like An Ancient Love Song absolutely nobody was looking at it and for its expectations before airing drama managed and exceed said expectations vastly (their episode yesterday did 45M on yuhne). Still I put The Double up there as a dark horse drama as well because before airing nobody expected the it to be a long lasting hit drama for 2024 not even a boastful and arrogant YuZheng (they most probably directed the show expecting at least a "scent of time" reception. ). It even looks like WXY was used as a prop in a show made to kinda ressucitate WJY's career. Therefore the OTP dynamism was even underestimated by the director and the Male lead was underdeveloped. Nevertheless, like Blossom, The Double numbers on Yunhe way exceeded said expectations : they went from 22M to 53M in three days and drama had a huge chunk of episodes between 85M and 93M with a couple exceeding 90M which is heaven for a drama like this. But overall I agree that Blossom dark horse statut is darkhorsing hard, really hard and gotta salute the director who showed that he cared for his product and made it in a way he wanted it to generate good results for everyone while the other show's director made his product with less care and attention.
To conclude Blossom is a dark horse cause we see a drama that wins over viewers through its director caring for its work and making the right thing concerning the important characters and events of the show. And The Double is a dark horse despite its director limitations who didn't bother too much about certain important elements of its show such as developing the male lead character.
The emperor's robes are patched. I noticed when SM confronted him some episodes ago he had a hole in his shoulder.…
The tragic scene of the emperor in the first episode (that scene went viral on Bilibili) gives me late Ming Dynasty energy with his suicide being a reminiscence of the last Ming emperor's
Is it? If it is, it’s not satirical enough. That’s the problem with Yuzheng. He tries to do a bit of everything…
I like your insights. Everything you have said explain also why The Double managed to work and stick in people mind. It is also probably the only drama this year that remained faithful to its theatrical and intriguing trailer
1 
Still I put The Double up there as a dark horse drama as well because before airing nobody expected the it to be a long lasting hit drama for 2024 not even a boastful and arrogant
YuZheng (they most probably directed the show expecting at least a "scent of time" reception. ). It even looks like WXY was used as a prop in a show made to kinda ressucitate WJY's career. Therefore the OTP dynamism was even underestimated by the director and the Male lead was underdeveloped. Nevertheless, like Blossom, The Double numbers on Yunhe way exceeded said expectations : they went from 22M to 53M in three days and drama had a huge chunk of episodes between 85M and 93M with a couple exceeding 90M which is heaven for a drama like this. But overall I agree that Blossom dark horse statut is darkhorsing hard, really hard and gotta salute the director who showed that he cared for his product and made it in a way he wanted it to generate good results for everyone while the other show's director made his product with less care and attention.
To conclude Blossom is a dark horse cause we see a drama that wins over viewers through its director caring for its work and making the right thing concerning the important characters and events of the show. And The Double is a dark horse despite its director limitations who didn't bother too much about certain important elements of its show such as developing the male lead character.