Reviews

Could Have Been Better

This could have been an enjoyable drama had it not been the poor performance of one of the lead actors, Yu Menglong. Though the storyline is simple, conflicts between neighboring countries, conflicts within the royal court, conspiracies, switches of identities etc. make this drama a rather good watch.

All the characters are quite interesting too. The Jing Ci character could have been so intriguing but Yu Menglong’s disastrous robotic portrayal sends it down the drain; he walks like a robot, talks like Alexa in a male voice, stands like a mannequin. Even when he tries to tell his love how much he loves her, there’re no emotions nor expressions on his face, nor can the viewers feel any heart-warming passion he has for his love. His declaration is like an announcement reading from a book – unemotional. It’s indeed such a pity because Yukee Chen (plays the Feng Mian Wan character) and the other cast members put up quite an impressive performance.

I must say I quite enjoy watching the side couples especially Princess Zhangle (played by Ma Yue) and her to-be consort. Though they don’t have many scenes but their dynamics are cute, as the princess has a forward personality whereas her consort is rather timid and unromantic. The other couple is Zuo Yanxi (played by Kid Young) and Jiang Tan (played by Xu Hao). This is a tragic romance when a great man is being brought down by his love of the woman who is also his Shimei (sister in learning). The Jiang Tan character is not likable as many viewers take her scenes as the opportunity for bathroom breaks, to put it mildly.

Overall, I would say, watch this drama if you can’t find anything better to watch, or watch it in between episode releases of other dramas. It’s not totally terrible, but it’s not fantastic either.

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Song Yoon Ah (Choi Yoo Jin) was the only reason why I finished watching this drama. She had one of the best female character roles especially as an antagonist. The overall show went downhill midway though and the only reason why I finished it was because of her again. The show had soo much potential but was ruined again by including unnecessary romance. I personally think Anna's character should have stayed as a minor role because it just got plain annoying seeing her character. I know many people mentioned the same thing as well and it is honestly such a shame because this show had soo much potential to be even better. The bright side is I discovered Song Yoon Ah's masterpiece acting! She is awesome!!

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All About My Mom needs a WARNING label. This may be kinda spoilerish, but I think the information needs to be provided. If a person has ever lost a parent from an illness, and doesn't want to vicariously experience the same emotions and pain, then this drama is not to be watched. I wish I had known, because I wouldn't have watched this.

Now on to the story. It is a well written family drama. It isn't that makjang since there are no birth secrets, amnesia and other type Korean troupes. I have a few complaints about how the parents sometimes treated their children even though they went through the same thing. There are a few unnecessary characters that make unnecessary grief for some of the characters. But I guess there were side story lines needed. However, the character development is extremely well done and I became invested in the lives of the family. I like the pacing and the ending is daebak!

Each actor took on their role splendidly. I don't believe anyone could complain about a single person's acting. Go Doo Shim is amazing as Im San Ok. Watching her progression and seeing her life felt real. I didn't realize Oh Min Suk was such a versatile actor. He impressed me the most.

The music is good and appropriate.

I will never rewatch this.

If you like family dramas with deep emotions, then this is the drama for you.

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If you’re looking for a light hearted romance drama with a bit of a storyline, this is ok

This drama takes you on journey to seek out the true father of Yu Qing Luo’s son who she has no memory of. She was drowned by her ex husband as she was found to be pregnant with another man’s child, but was fortunately saved by a lady (Jin Liu Li) who is now her confidant.

My verdict: it’s an okay drama to watch to kill time / if you’re looking for a light hearted drama.

The plot is not overly complicated just imho, rather lame. Just when you find yourself invested in the fact that Yu Qing Luo & Ye Xiu Du are finally going to get married after resolving their differences and genuinely liking each other, the FL gets kidnapped by the bad guys and then the ML goes out to save her alone and they get cornered and jumped into their “deaths” to escape from them. Except, they didn’t die and the ML goes missing and when found, has no memory of him ever loving the FL.

A bit of and back and forth thing for romance between the FL & ML but it is a happy ending in the end. Also thought the addition of a son kept their romance rather cute (the banters between nan nan and ML is cute).

The fighting scenes were okay in the show but nothing spectacular to shout about. OST is almost non existent.

The acting of the actors are not too bad.

In all, I don’t hate this drama at all and was light hearted enough to watch. Just that if you’re expecting a deep storyline or plot, this is not for you.

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A good drama with potential ruined by a lazy ending

This for me started out great, I loved the mature concept, I loved the imperfect characters that could help you bond with the story and relate more, I loved the leads chemistry ( I could sign a petition of them having a drama together) I loved both Wang Chu ran and Pen guayins potrayal of Dr Ning and Ruan, and I loved the first 30 episodes of the show before it took the drastic 180 degrees turn that made me question my ratings.

Having witnesses these twos divorce, their reunion, their difficulty in understanding eachother their wanting to be together but have many insecurities and cant do that, I expected a much more fullfilling end the end that would give respect to the basis of the story and Ofcourse sad to say but the writer went with the unthought out amnesia plot, like was this a way to give male leads character a chance of redeeming but he was okay as his old character or maybe I'll try to understand it as a way to help male lead fall for her this time round, it was not a sad ending it was sort of happy- ish but it totally made the 30 episodes seem like a wastage of time, I have seen dramas with endings I can justify that's because those endings sort of reflected in the story some how but not this I couldn't justify this, I just feel utterly disappointed....🥲

This drama deserves uploads for the good chemistry between the leads, their spot on reality checks if marriage and love, the medical scenes of the series, the interactions between the entire cast and the osts....so after all that put into consideration I came up with a decent rating of this, I would like to recommend this but I won't guarantee you will be impressed by the ending.....

Personal rating: 8/10
Rewatch value: 6

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You cannot go wrong with sugarless. It's got action, cute romance and best of all, it is HILARIOUS. Not only that, but there are some ridiculously good looking guys who are shirtless for the opening song.

Ahhhhhhhh, so amazing, just do yourself a favour and watch this. You will be happy you did, then you will be sad that you watched it because you won't have the same feeling watching it again. There is always something special about watching something really great for the first time. It kind of saddened me a bit that I won't be able to watch sugraless for the first time again. Now I know what happens in the episodes and I know how the scene plays out. I wish I could watch sugarless again for the first time.

Don't punish yourself and watch this, it's almost impossible not to watch it again.

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A masterpiece, not just among BL dramas."

I don't watch many BL dramas and have little experience with them, so I compare this one with other favorite Asian dramas : it's an excellent show and shouldn't be confined to the BL category. The acting is top, especially from the actor Up, who, for me, is a revelation in Asian cinema. The plot is also not overused—where else have you seen a main character, a Top one, who is in love with another for half the series (even in hetero dramas, the male lead rarely loves someone else)? There were some plot holes, and the acting of support characters was so-so, but the main couple and the love line between them is incredible, awesome and very captivating. The intimate scenes were top. Before this, I had watched more modest dramas, but I really liked everything here.
As for the plot: Ming is an abuser and far from a positive character, but I was rooting for him from start to finish. The actor outperformed his partner, or perhaps Poom's character was just more modest and had a less complex role.
Thank you production for this great and incredible show.

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childish & immature, boring and much too long

The bad news first: While we see four couples on the poster, there are only two in this "First Part" and man was that draggy. And we see a glimpse of the third couple in the last two episodes. Why do we see that? Is it a cliffhanger for the "Second Part"? Will we get a "Second Part"? This is a typical university story with highschool flashbacks. If we need mid twenty to thirty old actors to do such a material is questionable especially because all the actors are capable of much more (brilliant acting I mean). They all did the best they could with the script given.

The story is quite boring, one couple had lots of misunderstandings in the past and the other couple typical nonsense BL trope of an onesided love but of course the love interest had a girlfriend at the time. There is nothing more basic than this. The only highlight are the hot kisses of the second couple (Bas & Maxky) and very good chemistry. There is also a fifth couple which is quite annoying, but the finale implied they solved their issue - but there was no confession (I thought when Noa recording the video Suer would confess which would have been a nice touch, but no of course not). It was also a bit irritating that half the cast vansished after the first eight epsides and may be seen only in some scenes in the second half if even that. Did the novel also tell their stories over two years and one couple after another or did it tell the story in parallel?

So in summary there is nothing to save the series for me. It's still not even medicore. The cringe factor (comedic overactiong, childish portrayal of "Ter", overall immature in many scenes) overshadowed anything because it was in the first episodes which made watching this series painful. The first six epsiodes dragged on for ever, with not much progress at all. I'm sure good screenwriters could have condensed the story in less then 10 episodes or made 18 episodes for all four couples. If the "Second Part" also has 17 epsiodes it will be boring as hell too. Overall I am very disappointed. While you can watch it with 2x speed or lots of skipping, it's nothing you need to watch. But due to the actors this show is massively overrated. I upranked the show because of the nice cinematogrphy and the second couple, otherwise my rating would be even lower.

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Five cautions if you want to start/watch/continue this drama.

1. Chemistry. Shall I say…lack there off? I did not feel any couple vibes between the FL and the ML. It felt forced and contractual. The body language between the leads was awkward, and when they were ‘alone’, the ML’s body was facing the camera in most of those scenes. However, there were some nice chemistries between the ML and Qian Tu and, the FL’s bestie Dr Cheng Wei Lan and rich girl Xue Wan Wan.

2. Introduction of support characters. I was slightly confused during the introduction of key supporting characters such as William and the Qian brothers. It was as if the writers dumped a bag of toys in front of me and say “here there are!” in the first two episodes.

3. Lack of explanation on the exit of some characters. There were few characters where their departure from the story felt sudden. Imagine a character been skipping and dancing for three episodes, then suddenly they appear at a morgue. This scenario happened a few times where I went, “did I miss an episode??”

4. An air of superficiality. The themes of lifespan of human life, organ donations, illegal drug testing and guardianship, mashed with comedy, romance, and fantasy. Heavy topics but filmed in the typical fluffy C-drama romcom where everything is bright with super perky FL, cold-domineering ML, and comic relief between a few duos. Despite some fresh premises within the c-romance world, the writing felt loose and superficial in dealing with, and mashing the themes with the genre.

5. Many of the sets feel like relics from the 1980s. The ML’s and the Qian family homes, the hospital, the morgue, and some cars felt “outdated” and “heavy”. Heavy curtain with heavy cars.

I completed this drama for Qian Tu, the ML’s fate and to see how this drama wrapped up.

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Even gods and immortals have growing pains

Based upon the novel “Hidden God” (which I never read), this is a sequel to Ancient Love Poetry (with different names for the drama, which is a little confusing). There is nothing particularly groundbreaking about this Xianxia drama, but I found it to be a warm, heartfelt and timeless story of the joys and pains of growing up - learning to love, learning to sacrifice and learning to treasure what you have.

To be honest, I was a little apprehensive about starting this drama initially. I’ve watched some Xianxia in the past but not as many in the past couple of years. The beginning episodes of this one reminded me of some of the earlier Harry Potter films - lackluster CGI, very young characters and a seemingly simplistic story. However, the strong performances from the cast drew me in, and by the midway point of the drama, you realize there is much more to this tale. While the story centers on Yuanqi and Fengyin’s love story, there are also many other moving story lines involving friendship and kinship. Interwoven are some themes about breaking down the barriers that divide us, cherishing all life, and not using one’s power or position to bully the weak.

This one could have used more post-production time to smooth out the visual effects and sound mix. More importantly, the script could have used another look over to flesh out the deeper thematic elements. However, I found this an engaging, wholesome watch during my winter holidays. There is something ultimately uplifting in this drama’s storytelling despite the many years of suffering experienced by the characters.

Lastly, this is my first time watching Wang Anyu as Gujin/Yuanqi, and his non-pretentious, boyish charm really fits the character well. He and Zhao Lusi make an endearing on-screen couple that brings you both joy and tears. If only there was more of them at the end - maybe another drama? Until then, this is a great one to binge, re-watch and for me sits well with my all-time favorite Xianxia dramas such as Eternal Love (Peach Blossoms), Ashes of Love, Love and Destiny, Love and Redemption and yes, Ancient Love Poetry.

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I went into this show for Suzy and Seung Gi. I stayed for the endgame and the awesome characters and also the few but still amazingly cute Hae Ri/Dal Geon moments.

Soooo PLOT:

If you need A LOT of romance - which I usually do - you will not get that. However, the few glimpses of it are truly pure and cavity inducing sweet. Which is where I live and it was enough for me.

I really like the pace of this show and the way information is delivered. A lot of dramas in this genre tend to dumb down the plot, which I don’t mind but at the same time it’s kind of like okay… I see where this is going lets just skiiiiiiim. With this drama, you kind of always have a sense of distrust of the characters because there’s always just something not clicking? Which is awesome, because you know something is off but you don’t see the endgame. Honestly, the fact that I came back and finished this is the reason I gave such a high rating. I very rarely am able to stick to dramas in this genre all the way to the end.

On to CHARACTERS.

Dal Geon and Hae Ri. Love them, typical lovable core leads. Tae Woong was honestly the most stale for me? I adore Shin Sung Rok but nothing about the character written to pop? He was just kinda there. Hanging out, doing this second lead thing helping to move the plot along. I did however see a lot of people had an issue with Hae Ri’s character I guess? But honestly watching the show, I didn’t see the problem? She’s supposed to be stumbling, earnest and making mistakes. She’s a rookie. And this just sets the foundation I think, it’s to provide us with the contrast for her growth in HOPEFULLY the next season. I think the writers did an amazing job setting up these characters to show their growth. That’s what I enjoy about good dramas, I don’t want perfect characters that know everything and are just Mary Sue clones and on the other hand I don’t want constantly bumbling ‘weak’ characters that need to be saved by dumb luck.

JESSICAAAAAAAAAA - girl. You my new favorite. I wanna be you.

Lilyyyyy love of my life. Badass with a sort of moral code. KIM DO SOO can the both of you just like get together and have a spin off of assassins in love.

IN CONCLUSION. Please watch it because I thought it was wild and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope you do too.

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A Drama Adrift in Beauty and Hesitation

I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment of this saga, Flourished Peony. It was a richly woven drama where visual splendour met emotional depth, anchored by two leads whose chemistry is both undeniable and deeply refined. In my view, they rank among the finest actors working in Chinese television today. That said, I haven't always connected with all their previous performances, but here, at least in terms of craf, they were outstanding.

With such a solid foundation, I approached In the Name of Blossom with genuine anticipation. It promised a continuation both narratively and emotionally. And yet, despite flashes of brilliance, this second part ultimately falters. While the production values remain high and the acting commendable, the story’s rhythm slackens. The romantic thread, for one, takes far too long to gain momentum. What begins as a slow burn teeters dangerously close to narrative inertia. At times, the focus on the heroine’s professional journey and the broader commercial landscape overwhelms the emotional core. A viewer can endure extended tension, but only if met with meaningful emotional rewards. Unfortunately, here, those are few and far between.

A particular source of narrative frustration lies in the portrayal of the Emperor. For a man endowed with absolute authority, he comes across as curiously impotent, lurking in the shadows, plotting with unnecessary subtlety while his brother openly schemes against him. One can appreciate the need for tension and intrigue, but realism, and dramatic satisfaction, suffers when power is wielded so passively.

Equally, I found myself longing for a narrative decision that never came: for Mu Dan to be elevated from concubine to principal wife. I'm aware that such transitions may be culturally complex or historically rare, but in the realm of drama, where symbolic gestures can resonate powerfully, it would have given their relationship the weight and worth it deserved. I was reminded of a moment in the recent drama "Are You the One", where the FL, with calm certainty, tells the ML that if he truly loved her, he would never ask her to accept the role of a mere concubine. That line stayed with me, not because it was emphatic , but because it was resolute.

Moreover, the ending lacked the emotional climax one might expect. When the lovers reunite after believing each other lost, the moment feels strangely muted. One anticipates a release of long-suppressed emotion, a reckoning with grief and hope, but instead, the scene lands flat, as if afraid of its own emotional potential. The final episodes suffer from the same affliction: an overabundance of symbolic gestures, ships, markets, carts laden with goods, gestures of goodwill to the less fortunate, that, while aesthetically beautiful, begin to feel didactic rather than dramatic.

Still, there are elements worth cherishing. The secondary cast, particularly Mu Dan’s circle of female companions, bring texture, warmth, and humour. The music, delicate and atmospheric, lingers in the background like a thread of mist, subtle, but ever-present. And the costumes and makeup are nothing short of exquisite: richly detailed, elegant, and evocative of another time.

In the end, In the Name of Blossom is a beautifully produced continuation that, while ambitious, never quite lives up to the emotional strength of its predecessor. It’s clear that the creators poured their hearts into it, but the script, for all its lyricism and political intrigue, failed to move me.

That said, I would love nothing more than to see these two lead actors reunited in a future project. Their chemistry is cinematic gold, only this time, may the writing rise to meet them.

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Dark, toxic love with obsessive & abusive male lead

What the hell did I just finish watching, was my first thought as the end credits rolled. This is the darkest and most disturbing cdrama I’ve ever seen. You are not only getting an angsty, toxic love story but a full on psychological thriller.

The drama is about the female lead who pretends to be a Princess to avenge her family and the male lead, a Prince who is mysteriously scheming behind the scenes.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Love-hate relationship. In fact it’s more of a lovers to enemies trope.
- Beautiful aesthetics and cinematography.
- Strong-willed female lead.
- The epitome of red flag, toxic, obsessive, abusive and pretty much psychotic male lead.
- 1000% angst. Check the trigger warnings below. Nothing is sugar coated here and not many can stomach it.
- Republican era cdrama vibes but in historical style.
- Fantastic acting from the main leads. I watched this for He Xuan Lin and she didn’t disappoint with her fantastic aura on screen.
- Hot kisses (only those that were consensual). The male actor looks like a great kisser.
- Sped up politics/revenge. The focus is on the love story so the actual plot stuff is kind of glossed over.
- A very fitting ending that brought me to tears.
- A big contrast between the first and second half of the drama. After ep 12 the plot turns 180.

OVERALL:
Horrible things happen in this drama and yet it’s written well for the most part. Only the last few episodes felt quite draggy. I loved the aesthetics and the female lead as a character. My big complaint is that I didn’t truly understand why the male lead became so deeply obsessed and toxic with her but who knows, I might have missed that detail. Anyway, to be honest if I knew how dark the story would get, I probably wouldn’t have even started it.

TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Disturbing scenes of abuse, r*pe and forced kisses.

FAVOURITE QUOTE:
“I hope you never meet someone like me again” by the male lead.

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