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Flawed but Under Rated.

This wasn't on my radar. It dropped into my FYP on Tik-Tok. Out of curiosity, because it was Song ZE, I watched the first episode. In the first 24 hours, I did 20 episodes.

The ML, Ethan Juan, is totally IT. He fitted the role of a broken wing bird incredibly well. This is one CDdrama where the ML actually shone for his acting merits and not for his big eyes, flawless plastic job and posing. He carried his role of total commitment to art beyond personal and emotional needs incredibly well. Especially of his relationship with Elise. He was fine until Ep 35. But then its not his fault but that of script for putting him into an impossible situation with his second sudden disability.

I don't think anyone could carry the FL role better than SJE She was ditzy. She was innocent, naive and petulant as required. She is adorable and literally melted her way into his heart. Its not a slow burn romance. Its melting butter to caramelised his heart. Her expressions are priceless and spot on. When she announces, "I am back", its heartwarming. She matured nicely in her role from being in a crush to a shared romance in delightful sequences. A lowly apprentice in art to a responsible partner in life.

My first exposure to Augusta XH. I am impressed by her. Especially in the initial episodes. Again her later parts is impaired by the later script.

Most of the supporting casts played decent roles. Especially Nina, Uncle Feng and the mentor Mr Huang. Nina deserved a more prominent part and she was sorely missed until her reappearance. The shenanigans of Victor was so irrelevant. Obviously he can't sing. Whoever is doing the dubbing did an incredibly bad job. Whose bad idea was it to introduce that bicycle shop girl into the plot? Was it to make it to 40 episodes? Blu got a little irritating. Equal honours with Boris. The evolution of Xiaoyu was psychopathic. She deserves a better script.

The OST is emotionally numbing. For any foodie, the food sequences would be delightful, especially those of the street food.

I really enjoyed the series, reveling in the developing roles of the ML and FL until Ep 30. As the script evolved beyond Ep 30, the plot holes got bigger culminating in the final episode 40. Overall it was entertaining. Of course this will be compared to "Dating in the Kitchen". DITK would is a better drama but here SJE and EJ shined brighter.

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The times and values are conservative but the Story is liberal

I started watching this for YangZi. Then I was hooked by the intricacies of the ancient ink making industry.

Its an easy going drama of a family business with its own politics and business rivals competing for supremacy. The malevolence seems more dramatic than sinister. The Eight Branch of the century old Li Ink family is expelled after an incident that will only be fully revealed in the last 2 episodes. The initial intense competition for top ink maker was between the Li and Luo families to be the Imperial Tribute Ink. Within the first 5 episodes, this dynamic changed with the rapid decline of the Li Family due to a series of misfortunes and the near demise of the Luo Family when they fell from favour in the Capital.

Into this vacuum enters the Tian Family, who were stragglers within the Huizhou Ink community. Through a series of cunning schemes and devious plots, they rose to be top dog, and top villains, headed by Tian BenChang.

On the outside the previously favored granddaughter of the disgraced Eight Branch, Li Zhen, decides to pursue her passion and heritage. She becomes the apprentice of her Grandfather, the fallen Ink master of Li Ink who had to swear never to make another ink piece again in penance.

Essentially this is the story of Li Zhen (Yang Zi) and the rejuvenation of Li Ink against all odds. It is also a chronicle of family values, the Huizhou ink industry and relationships. Beyond the impossible romance between two lovebirds, there are many other more noteworthy relationships; mothers and daughters, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, childhood friends, business partners etc.

Yang Zi did not disappoint neither was this drama her high point. She was best at her relationships with her Grandparents and most poignant at their demise. She was often inspiring when faced with challenges. I enjoyed her interactions with her mother most.

The MLs, both friends and foes, are at best, insipid. Luo WQ (EH) was more operatic than dramatic.

The settings, especially the shots around Huizhou, are magnificent. I also learned about isinglass.

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Flawed but entertaining

There is potential in the story but somehow the interpretation, or execution, falls short. Whether it is the action parts, the romance parts or the subterfuge, the script is very stilted. The story progresses predictably. The sets feels more gaudy than grand. The setting is ancient China but the story line wouldn't be amiss for 2026. There is the usual court intrigues and maneuvering but these seem more corporate than imperial.

There is much emotional overlays but the results are just superficiality. Everyone cries but the sadness is not evident. Its more melodramatic than drama. There's love and romance scripted but there's no emotional connect. Kissing just meant a meeting of lips. There is much on brotherhood bonds but the interactions feels more like acquaintances.

In the end, it seems all about the sins of the elders being suffered by the children.

This is probably the most emotionless, passionless and stilted drama to date. The script also gets more incredulous, especially the miraculous rejuvenation. The miracles of healing is somewhat incredulous. Even by C Drama standards.

The MLs that is more plasticized than the FL. Tyrant emperor? More like plastic bully. the mothers were more tyrannical than the children. The robes also seem more revealing for males than females.

Li Qin as FYH was the most memorable act. Her graceful demeanor, lithely movements and unruffled calm carried her role better than the cry baby MLs.

There is much action and lots of twists, small and big, but overall the story line was somewhat detached and not as engaging. However there is enough to be entertained.

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Watch this for Yang Zi and Peonies

The biggest reason to watch this drama is Yang Zi. There are more than enough twists and turns in the plot to keep going to the next episode. There's also much confusion as to the relationship between Prince Ning, the Emperor and San Lang. The other members of the cast are good at best with the more outstanding character being Zhu Fu.

Overall the storyline is simplistic, incredulous but entertaining nonetheless. There's enough to ensure that one continues watching Season 2, In the Name of Blossom.

Other than Yang Zi, the peonies are incredibly beautiful.

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Engaging in a refreshing manner

There will be comparisons made between this drama and "The Heir". This is an absolutely captivating drama by itself, and a must watch if one enjoyed "The Heir".

Different times, different challenges, different perspectives and yet there is an immediate sense of familiarity to the intangible aspect of a thousand year lineage of craftsmanship and culture. In "The Heir", there was pride in their "bǎi nián" (hundred years) heritage. Today it is in 35 generations spanning a thousand years. Its not merely pride but a definite sense of fragility in maintaining craftsmanship with the challenge of modern economics of scale amidst the availability of machinery.

In The Heir, it was all about ink and the challenges of a young woman in ancient China's feudal society dominated by the Imperial court. The script had somewhat liberal leanings in very conservative times where a wrong decision can mean the end of a clan. In this Paper Dreams, its all about paper in the modern socialist, communist republic of China. Just as in the intimately entwined relationship between ink and paper in Chinese culture for art and calligraphy, there is much similarities between Paper Dreams and The Heir.

Xuan paper culture has lasted a thousand years. Will it still be relevant for another thousand years? This is the gauntlet thrown at Lin Yiran as she navigates the politics of both party and civil administration as a newby in town. The xuan paper industry itself faces the prospect of economic extinction versus the challenge of adapting to another milenia in digital times. The script is written very well as the opposing forces dances around each other, at times in sync and other times brutally at each other's throat. The interaction of characters are masterfully acted out in their daily life as they coexist in their beloved Peach Blossom Town finding new angles to culture and economic existence.

Though the scenery is modern, there's much that is breathtaking and much that lend itself to nostalgia. The ancient arched bridge over the flowing river and the various modern expressways and scenes with rivers adds the link of today to a thousand years ago. The smokiness of the mountain clouds and greens adds an ethereal air and one can easily be transported through the ages.

Ma Shou Hua as Xuan Yong Nian nailed the character. Principled and unyieldingand are bind in the common thread ob being in Peach to a fault, ferociously defending the thousand years old legacy at the expense of family, he is kind, stubborn and patriarchal to all who work for him. He is the revered Master to many.

The life of Zhang Du was nicely played as a devoted apprentice who grew into the detestable comeuppance usurper. He puts a new meaning to villainy.

*will be updated*

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