sulkytofu

Some rumours that Bai Lu and Li Yun Rui are potentially cast and/or are reviewing scripts!

I checked over the recommendations and honestly some were truly a mixed bag for me personally. Love Like the Galaxy for example is extremely slower-paced and has a ton of arcs (it's much more of a better recommendation for those that like Minglan), The Double is much less romance-focused and has a more ambiguous ending, and Blossoms in Adversity was harder for me to watch because the extended cast and family dynamics are extremely large.

I think if you're okay with some older dramas, I'd definitely recommend:

The OG trifecta of Xianxia Epics: Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms (2017), Ashes of Love (2018), Love and Redemption (2020), Who Rules the World (2020), and Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022), all of them feature protagonists who are powerful/immortal elites who fall first and women who can strategize. All have relatively little filler and are very bingeable; they definitely give off the same "feeling" as Blossom did from episodes 1 to 20 (quick to complete plot lines, have to watch the next episode, etc.)

Similar Pacing Historicals: Sound of the Desert (2014), Under the Power (2018), interestingly both are more reserved with explicit romance like Blossom (e.g. limited to no kiss scenes) but feature really wholesome, mutual relationships where the women go into battle, are supported by their partners, etc.

There's something about this drama which leaves me wanting more; that is, things such as the tropes, cinematography, fantastic casting, etc. all on paper seem like they would be excellent, but together there's just something about the drama that's a bit rough.

There have been some really good comments about Wen Peng being creepy, even though when I think about it if the cinematography or the editing were slightly different, he would easily be the conventional protagonist of the series rather than the second lead. Some of his actions are not only represented cutely in other dramas, including pining after Lu Yan for years, going out of his way to always find her, doing lots of acts of service, etc. With certain tweaks to the script, he could be portrayed as an endearing "loser" for the one that he loves (a popular trope in some recent web dramas and series), yet it's credit to how well done the staging and atmosphere of this drama that instead we view him as extremely suspicious, clingy, even dangerous depending on whether you believe his actions are "him taking initiative" or "him not being able to take no/get the hint" that his affections are unwanted.

Huang Jingyu's acting is also a double-edged sword. On one hand, all of his characters are like "the same protagonist but in different fonts," yet on the other it's partly because his image and demeanour fit a specific niche that isn't really represented across other mainstream Chinese actors right now (bulky and muscular, down-to-earth, often either excels at action or has a high-energy golden retriever personality, etc.) This makes it sometimes hard for me to watch his dramas not because he's a bad actor, but rather because I feel as if I'm watching characters that are all extensions or replications of his previous works.

In some way I think that's part of the struggle of this drama; that combining romance and thriller together is often very challenging, and especially in this case when Lu Yan is clearly undergoing some extremely traumatizing and difficult events, it is hard to reconcile both the amount of psychological and professional help she needs with the fluffy romantic scenes that we may see emerging between both her and Cheng Yi. At the same time though, I came for Sun Qian, and her depiction of an extremely introverted lead who is very competent at her work but also going through serious mental challenges has been great to watch, and I'm happy that each time in her works her acting only becomes better and better.

Blossom is really a drama made with so much thought and care. The efforts of director Zeng Qingjie's beautiful camerawork (especially the constant use of water on the ground as reflections and mirrors!), and the focus on the costuming and setting by producer Zhang Yingying, can clearly be seen by how well the drama is being received across different social media platforms.

On one hand, Blossom is a beautiful love story that shows how mutual love and adoration are meant to be supportive, to enrich each other's goals and dreams, to be the safety and comfort for each other during one's darkest periods. On the other hand, it's also a story about the suffering of women, of how the men in this drama often receive multiple chances to change and grow (and often choose not to), while the women must be perfect upon their first attempt at anything. Possibly the most beautiful way to describe this drama is through the lines that Song Mo constantly provides as reassurance to Dou Zhao; that his greatest wish is not for her to love him, but rather for her to find her happiness and make her own decisions in life — whether about marriage, love, family, or life. It's quite beautiful we've had a recent wave of dramas this year including The Double (2024) where we see women who are not only equal in character and competence to their partners, but that their partners prioritize their autonomy and their well-being first before all else.

This will also no doubt be a cornerstone role for Li Yunrui — despite this being one of his first leading performances (and a demanding one as a historical project), his ability to change the rasp of his voice and his expressions (especially the difference between the fatigued and war-torn Song Mo in his first life, and the almost straightforward yet puppy-like Song Mo in his second) were done with much more maturity and experience than I had expected. Other fans were correct when they mentioned being excited to see him in this drama because he did such a great job as a supporting lead in his previous performances. In some ways, the fact that lower-budget dramas are selecting actors who are less experienced (I'm thinking here of fantastic performances such as that of Fan Zhixin) has turned out to also be a way of highlighting how much missed talent there is and the fresh new faces that have always been capable of taking demanding roles. I can't wait to see what characters he will play in the future; there's no doubt he will have many more scripts sent to him very soon.

Meng Ziyi's performance as Dou Zhao is also thrilling and exciting. She did a great job portraying a woman who is not only actively trying to help the people around her but is also just in her decisions, does everything she can to make sure she can preserve her autonomy, and precisely uses her sharp wit and quick thinking for others. It's very clear that on one hand, while Song Mo is no weak strategist, in some ways Dou Zhao also acts as the strength towards Song Mo's limits and weaknesses. The beautiful ways the drama represents Dou Zhao's feelings through flowers and the use of the magnolia tree as central components of her life and her relationship with Song Mo, are so beautifully and emotionally well done.

I'm kind of sad we are heading towards the last stretch of the drama because it's been such a breath of fresh air over the past couples of weeks. It's a beautiful way to end 2024, and I strongly believe that in their second life, the love story between Song Mo and Dou Zhao will blossom beautifully. We will definitely get our happy ending!

This is all conjecture, but I suspect they actually saved some money from (1) the script which was an adaptation (there have been some conversations about the recent trend into web novels because it manages to capture existing IP fans + there's less labour in having to edit/revise for production) and (2) the actor's fees as well.

Meng Ziyi at the time was a surprise for casting because her reputation never really bounced back from past controversies post-The Untamed, while I think Shen Mo is definitely an iconic character for Li Yunrui given how much range he showed in one of his first leading roles. I also feel like the director from her interview was extremely adept with production decisions; not only did her emphasis to highlight production visuals make this drama look extremely high quality, but her ability to draw on different cinematographers and other production staff made the series extremely fresh. She made a very interesting decision on where to place the most budget for in the show, and I think she did an awesome job (and given all the buzz for the drama it really paid off!)

I'm seeing a lot of comments with mixed reviews and am hoping to get some insight to set my expectations: What kinds of tropes are in this drama, and who would you recommend it for? Is it heavier on the fluffy and romantic scenes, or more on plot? Is this actually a villain falls for the FMC/villain falls first, or is it much more tragic and angsty instead? And what types of viewers might really enjoy this work, versus types of viewer who might be disappointed seeing this?

So I saw the comments below and honestly some of the reviews made me hesitate on watching this at first, but I decided to give it a try and I really, really enjoy it. This is a very specific type of drama that you have to be in the mood for, and it's also an extreme slow-burn with tropes like ML pining/yearning for long periods of time and an extremely competent FL with excellent boundaries. It spends a lot of its time really exploring and developing the relationships of its characters, so it's not a good watch if you want something more plot-heavy.

I'd say for those who are on the fence, it's a great watch if you're looking to spend the time with a cast of characters who have been friends for a long time, if you want something very slice-of-life with very realistic emotions, conversations, and feelings, and if you're okay with a drama that likes to meander and really show the relationships of its characters. This is not a good watch though if you want something that only focuses entirely on fluffy content (I'd recommend Wang Yuwen's other dramas with Wang Ziqi instead) or if you want something plot and action heavy (e.g. like Zhang Xincheng's work in Young Blood), or if you need a drama where something important happens in every episode. Like how Shi Yan and Tang Yang have been friends for a very long time, their relationship development goes slowly as they start to really unpack the layers of baggage, worries, anxieties, and even hopes they have together and realize that they love each other romantically.

For chemistry, in some ways that Xincheng and Yuwen have been friends for so long is a double-edged sword. From interviews you know they are very platonic and supportive of each other, and so I think even though they were casted together for their friendship, sometimes it's a little difficult to actually see them romantically because of this. However, they both did a great job acting in their roles, and Xincheng does incredible work at the "lovesick puppy" trope, while Yuwen is an extremely strong character who strategically navigates very difficult problems and conflicts of interest in her workplace. I think why some are not as fond of the plot is because there is a lot of subtleness in this drama; words and actions that other characters say which reveal hidden intentions, longing glances and expressions, and never an explosive event or situation much like real life.

All in all, if you want a very cozy, slow watch that is very realistic, and you really like these characters and their interactions, I think it's a great drama! You will be disappointed however if you aren't interested in these themes, and I'd recommend you skip if you want something more fluffy and light or if you want something story-focused instead.

THERE ARE NO DOGS IN THE SHOW?!?! I'm actually dying laughing because that was the central theme in the manga; Isumi meets and reaches out to Amasawa because he really loves Amasawa's dog, but he can't own a dog himself because he's a struggling college student. I'm actually so sad they took away all of the dog references and only left it in name; it was such a big part of the manga!

The actual manga is also extremely, extremely fluffy, so in some ways if it is very slice-of-life it's quite consistent with the original storyline (although it's a shame to hear about the low production values). I think what was unique about it was that Amasawa was drawn slightly differently from an "ikemen-style" BL lead, that is he was quite muscular, rough-and-tumble, and did not have a "beautiful" appearance but rather a more rugged look. I haven't watched the drama yet, but the manga also had a very heavy focus on dogs; that is they both bond together because of Amasawa's german shepherd (which he resembles), while Isumi is always compared to a Shiba Inu (small, very cute, and feisty, with a stubborn streak).

Whoever decided to cast Yuwen and Xincheng did an amazing job; it's hilarious that they decided to use their real-life childhood photos as actual promo for the drama. Yuwen jokes that she tells her parents, "mom, dad, I have a kiss scene with Xincheng!" and how awkwardly everyone reacts to it.

For context, Yuwen and Xincheng are real-life childhood friends because their moms have been close to each other since they were very young. You can see how they're very close in some of the variety shows they've filmed and some of their interviews. In some ways, their agencies and their PR have done an incredible job; the general public went from not knowing they even knew each other to discovering that they were actually quite close (a real life "mom's friend's son") with perfect timing for their upcoming drama together.

It's been extremely interesting watching Moon Sang Min's choice of scripts, mostly because I think they've always ended up not really panning out despite the fact that it's clear he (and his team) are selecting romcom projects primarily to continue building his fanbase.

The projects he's chosen technically have all the qualities of being potentially great for ratings (e.g. Wedding Impossible was a very famous Webtoon that was ripe for adaptation, while for Cinderella at 2 AM Shin Hyun Been is a fantastic actress and it was high time that she led a romcom of her own). I really don't think Sang Min has been able to display his acting range in the same way as he did with his Baeksang-awarded performance in Under the Queen's Umbrella, and I wonder if he's going to continue choosing romcoms that technically should be quite popular, but instead have been overshadowed by other airing series instead.

In some ways he's being typecasted as the ML of very lukewarm romcoms, and I'd be quite surprised if his next project continues to be a similar role or if he decides to work on a different genre instead. Of course, actors don't get to choose their scripts all the time and they are often sent scripts directly, but I do think it's interesting that his potential seems to be relegated to relatively mediocre projects.

Ironically, the most interesting project that he's done this year isn't an acting one; rather, it's his decision to be a Music Bank host with Eunchae given how apparently the MC selection process is quite difficult and rigorous. I hope that his next project continues to be better, but I agree that So Jin and Yoon Park's chemistry here is really overshadowing both Hyun Been and Sang Min's (and honestly it's also high time that both of them also were leads in romcoms of their own).

I really, really feel like Fan Zhi Xin is on the cusp of a big break. He is immensely talented despite his age and his acting is natural and fantastic. In some ways it's quite surprising that despite the fact that he only debuted in 2020, he lacks that awkwardness or that transition phase that some newer actors have when they start headlining projects (perhaps it's because he's had a lot of experience in side roles and as an extra in other shows).

It's really smart for him to take on a bunch of supporting acts and shorter dramas where he can really show off the incredible range of his acting. I already had my eye on him in Present, Is Present, when he did an amazing job as a character who had both "villain-like" and "puppy-like" sides, and all of his acting choices (even as the main lead) often feature characters that are quite different and distinct from each other. I really hope that eventually he headlines a large budget script; he's very good at convincing his audience with his performances, and making what (could potentially) be a very cringey and melodramatic script into something believable through his acting.

I wonder if this project will be dropped now or have a new slate of actors, because Lee Jung Jae (co-owner of Artist Company, which is Kim Hye Yoon's agency) just announced that the corporation he's a major shareholder of (Artist United) is suing the production company for this drama (Raemong Raein). It seems there are legal problems stemming from Artist United's acquisition and investment contract involving Raemong.

https://www.mk.co.kr/en/society/11034527

I actually really like how the photo kind of intentionally makes the actual themes and execution of the drama a bit ambiguous? In some ways I feel strongly Lovely Runner gained quite a lot of attention because of the famous narrative twist in Episode 2 in Seon Jae's perspective, and it's better for people to go in expecting that it's a fluffy fan chasing after an idol romance (instead of the whole mash of genres that we've actually received).

Fun fact: I believe it was actually partly Hye Yoon's idea to have her climb on Seon Jae (therefore functioning as a contrast towards "piggybacking him" instead). There's a BTS clip where she suggests the idea and they roll with it, leading to these photos.

If there will be a wedding scene, it will be the first time Kim Hye Yoon wears a wedding dress for one of her acting projects! Fingers crossed and manifesting we see her as a beautiful bride at the end of the drama (may the MT "kiss" legend from Episode 9 be on our side and quickly come true!)

It's also important to note that BTS clips themselves are also specifically edited to give certain insights or implications on the drama process. Editors choose and select which scenes they feel are important to include, and so despite the fact that "making of" clips give an impression of unfiltered authenticity, they're in fact just as edited and scrutinized as the other content that is being filmed and released.

I agree with other comments though on how Hye Yoon is extremely professional and not only has good relationships with her co-workers, but draws a strict boundary as well. She's very devoted to acting and has talked many times on variety shows about right now how she's ambitious to take on as many roles as possible, and she also received quite a lot of unjust criticisms from fans of her co-workers while working on Extraordinary You. She's very cautious about how she's presented, and she makes sure to treat everyone around her well while also being extremely professional and prepared for her job.

The other flip side is that there is always a gendered dynamic around skinship and chemistry; actresses often have more criticisms for being close to actors, while actors have a lot more leeway and instead can be praised for treating their co-stars warmly. Personally, I think a lot of the excitement and speculation over their real life relationship is simply a product of how good their chemistry is, but I feel strongly that both have been in the acting circle for long enough that at the end of the day it's just part of their job to create chemistry (as much as viewers want them to go from reel-to-real and so forth).

Rather than anything romantic, I just hope that they can work together in other films and dramas, or are casted for the upcoming production of Goong. The most exciting thing is continuing to see their acting skills develop.

Hilariously, Woo Seok himself has also emphasized that he's not very similar to Seon Jae in real life, while also admitting that sometimes his warm actions to others can be misunderstood in other interviews.

It would be ironic if it was Moon Sang Min because I think he has a lot of eyes on him right now (especially as the next young actor about to break it into top awards/mainstream popularity), but the romcom project that he did eventually choose which just finished airing was honestly not great. He's also a lot younger (23/24) which may have made him struggle a bit more with the age 30 scenes; it feels a bit more satisfying knowing that both Woo Seok and Hye Yoon have been in the acting circle for quite some time already.

I think rumours circled around it being Cha Eun Woo because of the scriptwriter having worked on True Beauty and the director's insistence on an actor with impeccable visuals as a top star (but I can also see why Eun Woo may be a bit tired of taking on a role that's very similar to several of his previous dramas).

For those who are interested, there's an Eclipse version of Star sung by Byeon Woo Seok (I hope they actually release the official version very soon!) He really, really has a deep voice; it gives such a different feel from the original one.

https://twitter.com/hellobungz/status/1790008731997999470

Also, Geon Hee and Seung Hyub are amazing singers as well. They actually used to be on King of the Masked Singer, and although I definitely expected it from Seung Hyub given how he's in N.Flying, I didn't expect that at all from Geon Hee given that he doesn't have an idol or vocalist background. If Kim Tae Sung wasn't devoted to being an online shopping mall CEO/detective, he really could have been a vocalist in Eclipse!

For new watchers or those who are joining the show after seeing the media buzz and trending topics around Lovely Runner, I can't emphasize enough that if you go in with elevated expectations you may feel that it's overhyped or not enjoy it as much as other viewers. This type of show is carried hard by the romantic chemistry between Hye Yoon and Woo Seok as Sol and Seon Jae, especially as even in the drama both characters care little about how the time slip mechanics work, and instead focus on time slipping as a function of protecting each other across time and space.

I have a feeling that the wave of more critical comments are coming in with certain expectations that may not be aligned with what the show primarily focuses on. If you're therefore looking for a drama that has a lot of details about time travelling, is a more introspective drama, or is heavy on the thriller aspects, this is not a watch that I would recommend. It is at its core a romantic comedy that is dotted with periods of angst, mostly because of the star-crossed, selfless, and all-encompassing love between our main characters. However, if you want something that's very fluffy, with a love that transcends all sorts of obstacles, lots of heart-fluttering scenes, and a lot of sweet reflections on the transition from adolescence to adulthood, then I definitely think this is a good pick.

I do feel like the drama benefitted from being a bit of a dark horse, and that those who started watching from when Episode 1 aired didn't really think it would be as much of a hit as it currently is. If by Episode 2 (which is when I would say is one of the main narrative twists of the series that really started hooking in a lot of viewers) you're not really convinced and are not enjoying it, I think you should drop the drama and move on to something else instead. There's no point in trying to watch something that doesn't work for you. However, if you are curious, I would definitely recommend you come join the rest of us fans as we continue theorizing, gasping, and giggling over the adorable, warm, and moving love story between Sol and Seon Jae.

OMG UPDATE I FOUND IT LOL ITS LIKE $250: Casio G-SHOCK GW-B5600HR-1JF

It's the version from Japan!