This review may contain spoilers
Blossom starts off with a bang. The first episode was captivating, from the instant connection of the lead characters to the stunning visuals and then the shocking and tragic ending. It raised expectations very high and then was followed by a couple really boring episodes, which highlights the unevenness of this show. The first episode and then most of the middle episodes were fantastic, but by the end it felt pretty boring.
One of the strengths was the chemistry between the leads. From the second they meet on screen, their chemistry was electric and this connection made it feel believable that such a short interaction would leave a permanent impression on them both. Song Mo was such a green flag male lead and their beautiful relationship was such an effective contrast to her previous life and marriage. Dou Zhao was an impressive female lead and so easy to root for. She was so smart and cunning - it was so satisfying to see her win. She was not the damsel who always needed Song Mo to come and save her; in fact, she was often the one who saved him and she was more than capable of also saving herself. The other women in Dou Zhao’s life - especially her guards/maids and her cousin - were a lot of fun to watch.
The show really held up until the last ten or so episodes. For a revenge show, Song Mo’s revenge felt very lackluster at the end and kind of like an afterthought. It felt like they were trying too hard to distance him from who he was in his previous life, but it didn’t make a lot of sense for a revenge-seeking general to not take more action. The switch to the focus on the new villain at the end was definitely the worst part. The character made little sense, the performance was not good, and it was incredibly obvious to see it coming, which made it feel unbelievable that other characters did not. So much screen time was taken up by this plot at the end and I had to skip a lot of scenes.
The pacing towards the end was very strange because many of the side characters storylines were way too drawn out but the ending also felt rushed as they tried to tie everything together. The rush caused the revenge and also the resolution of Song Mo’s illness to feel very unsatisfying and unrealistic. It was nice to see the couple in their happy ending though. I think Blossom is worth a watch for the characters, especially Dou Zhao, and the romance, but this wouldn't be the one I’d recommend to someone looking for a revenge story.
One of the strengths was the chemistry between the leads. From the second they meet on screen, their chemistry was electric and this connection made it feel believable that such a short interaction would leave a permanent impression on them both. Song Mo was such a green flag male lead and their beautiful relationship was such an effective contrast to her previous life and marriage. Dou Zhao was an impressive female lead and so easy to root for. She was so smart and cunning - it was so satisfying to see her win. She was not the damsel who always needed Song Mo to come and save her; in fact, she was often the one who saved him and she was more than capable of also saving herself. The other women in Dou Zhao’s life - especially her guards/maids and her cousin - were a lot of fun to watch.
The show really held up until the last ten or so episodes. For a revenge show, Song Mo’s revenge felt very lackluster at the end and kind of like an afterthought. It felt like they were trying too hard to distance him from who he was in his previous life, but it didn’t make a lot of sense for a revenge-seeking general to not take more action. The switch to the focus on the new villain at the end was definitely the worst part. The character made little sense, the performance was not good, and it was incredibly obvious to see it coming, which made it feel unbelievable that other characters did not. So much screen time was taken up by this plot at the end and I had to skip a lot of scenes.
The pacing towards the end was very strange because many of the side characters storylines were way too drawn out but the ending also felt rushed as they tried to tie everything together. The rush caused the revenge and also the resolution of Song Mo’s illness to feel very unsatisfying and unrealistic. It was nice to see the couple in their happy ending though. I think Blossom is worth a watch for the characters, especially Dou Zhao, and the romance, but this wouldn't be the one I’d recommend to someone looking for a revenge story.
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